“Too late—”
Three columns of light shimmered on the bridge and then solidified into the shapes of humanoids: a male and two females. Vaughn didn’t recognize any of them, although the male looked human, while one of the females was of a species Vaughn had never seen before. The third member of the group, standing behind the others, was harder to see.
He was about to address them when Dax’s voice cut through the bridge. “My God, Jake…is that really you?”
Vaughn turned back to the male human, eyes narrowing, knowing Dax could only mean Jake Sisko, son of the former commanding officer of Deep Space 9, missing since before Vaughn’s transfer to the station.
Dax ran across the bridge and launched herself at the tall young man, having to jump up to throw her arms around his neck.
“Woah, Ezri, take it easy,” Jake said, laughing.
“You big jerk,” she said. “Kasidy and your grandfather have been worried sick about you. We all have.”
“I know,” Jake said quietly, holding her close. “I’m sorry. Nothing worked out the way I expected.”
“Sir,” Bowers said to Vaughn. “The Dominion ship is moving off.”
“Stand down from red alert, Mr. Bowers,” Vaughn said, “and have Dr. Bashir report to the bridge.” He paused, trying to recall what he knew about young Mr. Sisko, then added with a smile, “Get Nog up here as well.”
Dax detached himself from the lad. “Where have you been?” Dax demanded of Jake, and as he opened his mouth to answer, she added, “And if you’re even thinking about saying ‘It’s a long story,’ you better think twice, or so help me—”
“Later,” Jake said. “I promise I’ll explain everything, but not now. Not yet.” Jake turned and focused on Vaughn. He smiled, but it was wistful. “It’s so weird to see someone else in charge here,” he said, then caught himself. “I’m sorry, Commander. I’m Jake Sisko. I’ve been away for a while. Permission to come aboard?”
Vaughn smiled. I like this young man already.“No apology necessary, Mr. Sisko. Permission granted. I’m Elias Vaughn. Welcome aboard, to you and your companions….”
As if realizing the oversight, Jake hastily corrected it. “Oh, God, I’m sorry. I forgot to introduce my new friends. This is Wex,” he said, indicating the first female. She had gray skin and an impressive mane of white hair. “She’s on a pilgrimage,” Jake explained.
Wex inclined her head but said nothing as she regarded Vaughn, seeming to scrutinize him.
“And, uh, this is my other new friend—which I suppose is kind of ironic, all things considering,” Jake continued, indicating the woman who still hung back. She stepped forward, her stout frame wrapped in worn, weathered cloaks. She pulled back her hood and revealed a head of close-cropped silver hair. And judging from the ridges of her nose, she was unmistakably Bajoran. Vaughn heard a sharp intake of breath from Dax.
“I apologize for the condition in which I greet you, Commander,” she said humbly, spreading her hands. Her voice, Vaughn thought, was soft and seemed to convey the impression of wisdom—ancient wisdom, of a kind he himself had long searched for but never found. “Permit me to express my gratitude for your timely assistance. I am Opaka, once kai of Bajor.”
THE DEEP SPACE NINE SAGA
CONTINUES IN
RISING SON
Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books
Star Trek®
Enterprise: The First Adventure• Vonda N. McIntyre
Strangers From the Sky• Margaret Wander Bonanno
Final Frontier• Diane Carey
Spock’s World• Diane Duane
The Lost Years• J.M. Dillard
Prime Directive• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Probe• Margaret Wander Bonanno
Best Destiny• Diane Carey
Shadows on the Sun• Michael Jan Friedman
Sarek• A.C. Crispin
Federation• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Vulcan’s Forge• Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
Mission to Horatius• Mack Reynolds
Vulcan’s Heart• Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Books Oneand Two• Greg Cox
The Last Round-Up• Christie Golden
Novelizations
Star Trek: The Motion Picture• Gene Roddenberry
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan• Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock• Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home• Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier• J.M. Dillard
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country• J.M. Dillard
Star Trek Generations• J.M. Dillard
Starfleet Academy• Diane Carey
Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
The Ashes of Eden
The Return
Avenger
Star Trek: Odyssey(contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return,and Avenger)
Spectre
Dark Victory
Preserver
The Captain’s Peril
#1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture• Gene Roddenberry
#2 • The Entropy Effect• Vonda N. McIntyre
#3 • The Klingon Gambit• Robert E. Vardeman
#4 • The Covenant of the Crown• Howard Weinstein
#5 • The Prometheus Design• Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#6 • The Abode of Life• Lee Correy
#7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan• Vonda N. McIntyre
#8 • Black Fire• Sonni Cooper
#9 • Triangle• Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#10 • Web of the Romulans• M.S. Murdock
#11 • Yesterday’s Son• A.C. Crispin
#12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise• Robert E. Vardeman
#13 • The Wounded Sky• Diane Duane
#14 • The Trellisane Confrontation• David Dvorkin
#15 • Corona• Greg Bear
#16 • The Final Reflection• John M. Ford
#17 • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock• Vonda N. McIntyre
#18 • My Enemy, My Ally• Diane Duane
#19 • The Tears of the Singers• Melinda Snodgrass
#20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders• Jean Lorrah
#21 • Uhura’s Song• Janet Kagan
#22 • Shadow Lord• Laurence Yep
#23 • Ishmael• Barbara Hambly
#24 • Killing Time• Della Van Hise
#25 • Dwellers in the Crucible• Margaret Wander Bonanno
#26 • Pawns and Symbols• Majliss Larson
#27 • Mindshadow• J.M. Dillard
#28 • Crisis on Centaurus• Brad Ferguson
#29 • Dreadnought!• Diane Carey
#30 • Demons• J.M. Dillard
#31 • Battlestations!• Diane Carey
#32 • Chain of Attack• Gene DeWeese
#33 • Deep Domain• Howard Weinstein
#34 • Dreams of the Raven• Carmen Carter
#35 • The Romulan Way• Diane Duane & Peter Morwood
#36 • How Much for Just the Planet?• John M. Ford
#37 • Bloodthirst• J.M. Dillard
#38 • The IDIC Epidemic• Jean Lorrah
#39 • Time for Yesterday• A.C. Crispin
#40 • Timetrap• David Dvorkin
#41 • The Three-Minute Universe• Barbara Paul
#42 • Memory Prime• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
#43 • The Final Nexus• Gene DeWeese