“From Tau Alpha C?” Sisko asks sitting on the couch in his office.
Beverly nods, setting her raktajino down. “Told Picard that my son was special.”
“I see,” Sisko says.
“And then a few years later—he—took him,” Beverly says.
“Took him?” Sisko asks. 1/9
Beverly nods, motioning to the stars outside the window. “Out—there—some—time.”
“And there’s no way to track this—Traveller?” Sisko asks.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Beverly says. “But that’s not the point: Wesley went—willingly. In search—of—” She pauses, unsure. 2/9
“In search,” Beverly concludes.
Sisko sets his raktajino down. “Ya know, I’ve never told anyone this, but, I think—I have to—tell you.”
Beverly’s brow raises.
“Not long ago, my son and I were hit by an energy discharge from the Defiant’s warp core,” Sisko says. 3/9
“During the wormhole’s rare subspace inversion event,” Sisko says. “Well, I was pulled into subspace and out of time, but to my son—and everyone else, it appeared that I—had been vaporized.”
“How horrible for your son,” Beverly says.
Sisko’s eyes close. He nods. 4/9
“It—was,” Sisko says. “Jake was pretty shaken up, but he had people who cared about him on the station, so I’m sure he would’ve healed and moved on with his life.”
“But—?” Beverly asks.
“One night, I appeared before him,” Sisko says. 5/9
“Apparently tethered to him by the discharge we both received,” Sisko says. “I would appear to him. To me, no time elapsed. To him, years between appearances.”
“I can’t imagine how—hard that must’ve been,” Beverly says, picking up her drink.
“Hmm,” Sisko says. 6/9
“Jake lost himself in the search for me,” Sisko says. “He abandoned his career, his family—his life—trying to get me back. And he did.”
“Obviously—but how?” Beverly asks.
“As an old man, he figured it out!” Sisko says. “He was dragging me into the future.” 7/9
“But—if he stopped moving forward, I might return back to the initial energy discharge,” Sisko says. He leans forward, eyes wet. “My son—sacrificed his life—in so many ways—chasing what he lost.”
Beverly sets her drink down, her eyes wide. 8/9
Beverly stands. “Thank you for the raktajino, Captain.”
Sisko stands. “Of—course.”
They share a silent moment, eyes locked.
“Live, Doctor,” Sisko says. “In the now.”
She nods, leaves.
Sisko taps his combadge. “Sisko to Jake. You got time for your old man, tonight?” 9/9
“So—I uh—know I should hardly be surprised by people appearing in my quarters,” Pike begins. “Especially when your older self from an alternate future pays you a visit, but—why are you here again?”
Sisko grins.
1/14
Sisko swallows the ice cold water and sets the glass on Pike’s counter. “Well, I’m—not quite sure.”
“You’re not sure,” Pike repeats.
“I—exist outside—uh,” Sisko says, the hilarity of his statement preceding the words. “Time.”
“I’m—sorry,” Pike says.
2/14
Pike grabs the handle of the pan, flicking his wrist and tossing the steak strips, sliced onions and peppers. The harsh buzz of steam fills the kitchen.
“I—got a glimpse of my future once,” Pike says. “It’s not what I ever imagined for myself.”
“That’s an interesting question,” Michael replies.
Janeway notices her stiffening face and the dryness of her voice. “I can tell you that the question itself is an answer, isn’t it?”
A thin grin pulls apart Michael’s lips. “It is—actually.”
1/14
“I suppose I should attempt an answer first,” Janeway says.
Michael nods.
“So, my father—well, first you must imagine this—figure—the figure of immense gravitas and—authority,” Janeway says. “He was nothing less than—the incarnation of Starfleet service.”
2/14
“Ahhh, I know exactly what you mean,” Michael says. “Sarek was always—the immaculate Vulcan—at least that was his goal.”
“Oh, yes, you had the pleasure of being raised by two fathers,” Janeway says. “I’m interested in how they both shaped your command.”
3/14
“Yeah—I did,” Reno says. “And it was fucking grueling to engineer my friends like some—cannibalized, engine parts.”
“But—again—you got to do something to save them,” Shaw says. 1/8
“You didn’t have to see hopelessness in their eyes as you crouched into the escape pod,” Shaw says.
“You tough enough for some straight talk, Captain Dirge?” Reno asks.
Shaw shrugs.
Reno leans forward. “Your friends died—frozen debris forever floating at Wolf 359.” 2/8
“A bit—cold,” Shaw says.
“Literally, my man,” Reno says. “You couldn’t save their asses. But who the hell do you think you are? You took that seat when one of them could’ve. You gonna wallow in the hopelessness of that horrific moment forever?” 3/8