Gateways 07_ What Lay Beyond - Diane Carey [60]
Shutting down the computer terminal, Kira stared straight ahead for a moment, then picked up the baseball.
Benjamin Sisko had always kept that baseball on his desk. The central element of a human game that he’d been inordinately fond of, the white spheroid with red stitching was a symbol of Sisko’s presence. When the station had been taken by the Dominion during the war, Sisko had deliberately left the baseball behind as a message to the occupying forces that he planned to come back a promise he had fulfilled.
Even though the station was now hers to command, Kira had not been able to bring herself to remove the baseball. She wasn’t sure why she had left it there.
No, I know why. I kept thinking in the back of my head that the Emissary was going to return hoping that he’d return and take the burden off of me, that he’d take the station back just like he did two years ago, and everything would be back to normal.
But that’s not going to happen. This station is mine, now. I may have lost the Emissary, Odo, Jast, and the kai, I may be Attainted but I’ve got responsibilities, just like Torrna did.
And dammit, I’m going to live up to them.
She opened a drawer in the desk and placed the baseball in it.
I’ll hold it for you, Benjamin, for when you come back.
But I need this to be my office now.
She got up and went back into ops, knowing her journey was far from over.
Two gates for ghostly dreams there are: One gateway of honest horn, and one of ivory. Issuing by the ivory gate are dreams of glimmering illusion, fantasies, but those that come through solid polished horn may be borne out, if mortals only know them.
Homer, The Odyssey
STAR TREK VOYAGER
IN THE QUEUE
Christie Golden
Chapter 1
“Intruder alert!” The voice was rich, deep, and oh so wonderfully familiar.
Janeway stared, almost unable to bear the joy of it, at the familiar surroundings of a starship. Not just any starship, either. With Barkley/Fluffy still wriggling in her arms, she turned and beamed at Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
“Captain Kathryn Janeway requesting permission to come aboard,” she stated in a voice that, despite her best efforts, quavered. “Belatedly.”
That patrician mien softened and melted into a warm, surprised smile.
“Kathryn,” Picard rumbled, rising and staring at her. “My God. You are literally the last person I expected to ever see on my bridge.” He strode to where she stood beside the turbolift, hand outstretched. “Welcome home, my dear. Welcome, welcome home.”
Janeway let Barkley jump to the floor, where he obediently plopped his behind down in a formal sit/stay right beside her left foot. She moved forward quickly and gratefully took the extended hand, feeling it close, warm and strong, about her own slender fingers. Tears welled in her eyes, and for once, she let them come.
“I can’t believe this,” she stammered. She heard voices talking in murmured excitement, felt rather than saw the strong presence of Will Riker loom up beside her. She had met him once before, when Q had transported him to Voyager as a witness in the trial of the alien who later took the name Quinn… and not long after that, took his own life. Riker, of course, would have no memory of the encounter. She turned to address him. She’d forgotten what a large man he was. Shaking and laughing, she wiped at her wet eyes while extending a hand.
“Captain Kathryn Janeway. We’ve met. I’ll tell you about it later. I can’t believe this,” she repeated.
“So, Captain, I’m delighted that you’re here, but I’d like to know why and how,” said Picard, stepping back and letting her regain control. “The last we heard, you were still in the Delta Quadrant. Operation Pathfinder has only just reported making contact with you. We’d hoped that you’d make it home one of these days, but I confess, manifesting on my bridge like some sort of ghost was not