Deep Space Nine
The Book
by Roger Rehberg Jr.
(rehberg@ns.sympatico.ca)

The Book

Synopsis:
In another time and in another place, the Borg had decimated the Alpha Quadrant and assimilated the Federation. This is the story of the Enterprise in Lieutenant Commander Data's words with their quest to survive.

* * * * *

Twelve small children ran through a wide-open field filled with dark green colored grass that stretched for hundreds of miles in every direction. School had just ended for the day, but the bright Bajoran sun was continuing to shine bright and there would be time for play once each had completed their chores at their homes. A young girl, not even three feet tall approached a recently plowed area owned by one of the local farmers. She knew that the farmer would not be pleased, as he usually was not, if she attempted to cross it to get home just a little bit sooner.

She had done it often, and almost every time the old Bajoran man would come rushing out after her, which to the both of them was more of an innocent game than a chase. It truly amused the two of them even if the hard working farmer refused to ever admit it. She peeked through the wooden fence that was made of thick logs that were once tall trees that grew in the man's field years before. He was nowhere to be found so she made her move.

She squeezed through and took off across the recently unearthed dirt. For a small person the young child could run very fast, but she was only half way when she tripped over something sticking out of the ground. The shaken but unhurt girl quickly jumped to her feet first checking to see if the farmer was yet on approach. There was no sign of him, and even though she knew his movement was usually quite silent, she bent down to observe the exposed object, which had stopped her.

She pushed the dirt away and discovered it to be silver colored and comprised of a metallic substance. Even though she could only see it very minimally, even she could tell that it had been in the ground for a very long time. From behind, the farmer appeared, but it was only for a short moment that he believed that he had finally caught the small and innocent trespasser. He bent down beside her, and the two of them began to dig out the cylinder shaped object.

* * * * *

The one-meter long machine was held chin level in the air by a tractor beam-like power as Captain Benjamin Sisko, Chief Miles O'Brien and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax examined it closely. The Bajoran government had agreed to let Sisko and crew remove the object and bring it to Deep Space Nine for further study realizing that Starfleet's technology was better at doing so.

Dax was circling the device the three of them had determined was a small vessel. With her tricorder she gathered every bit of information she could. Captain Sisko stood observing from behind, and could tell that O'Brien, who was positioned to his other side, did not want to be here. He knew that the Chief had many other things to do, and his day could not be complete until they were done, but nonetheless, he needed him here. It was the life Chief O'Brien had chosen.

"Well people?" Sisko looked to the two of them for answers.

Dax was the first to speak. "It's from the Gamma Quadrant, that much is for sure…"

"Explain…" The Captain was rubbing his chin as he wondered and listened to his close friend.

"It's made of a unique metal that can only be found on two planets in the same solar system… A solar system located in the Gamma Quadrant. The strange thing is however, is that these two planets are not even in the vicinity of any intelligent species… Even if they were, this is not a metal that would be a first choice to use for a space worthy vehicle… There are other planets in the same solar system with more versatile substances…"

Sisko spoke up. "Perhaps whoever constructed the craft had no choice … Is it possible that they were from one of these planets many years ago? Was there any evidence of an intelligent race ever inhabiting them?" He looked to Dax for a response.

"It is possible that a race could have lived there before, but because of Dominion activity, an in-depth study was never conducted… There's still much we don't know."

"Chief?" Sisko looked to the seemingly agitated O'Brien who later that night was supposed to celebrate his anniversary with his wife. O'Brien lifted his eyes from the floor and looked at the device again having been caught not paying attention. "The propulsion system is… How can I say this… familiar…"

A confused expression crossed the Captain's face. "What do you mean?"

O'Brien gathered his words. "Well… It almost seems as if a Starfleet Engineer had constructed it. Everything from the thrusters to the circuitry design tells me it was built by a Starfleet Engineer, or at least, someone with advanced knowledge of Starfleet technology…" O'Brien moved forward to expose an internal piece of the machine to further validate his unusual claim.

"Starfleet engineering?" Sisko was shaking his head at the notion until something on the small ship caught his attention. It was not the circuitry the Chief was trying to show him or the mysterious readings Dax was continuing to take, but on the small panel O'Brien had removed and placed upon the floor was an engraved symbol that immediately convinced him. The Captain bent over and picked it up to get a better look.

"Sir?" O'Brien noticed Sisko staring at the metal cover.

"It really is Starfleet…" Sisko's eyes did not move from the object.

"Ben?" Dax had stopped taking her readings and was curious as well.

Sisko turned the panel over and showed the two officers what had caught his attention. A Starfleet insignia had been carved into the metal with laser-like precision, and any doubts any of them had quickly vanished. The doubts were immediately replaced by questions.

"Theories?" asked the Captain.

Dax and O'Brien both shrugged their shoulders. What kind of theory could explain this? The machine had been buried on Bajor for over four hundred years, but Starfleet itself had not even existed that long, let alone have such technology in that period. Dax returned to her tricorder readings and from the expression on her face found what appeared to be another problem.

Sisko took notice. "What is it Lieutenant?"

"Well, it's the quantum signature of the ship, it's different. I've run every possible test and I keep coming to the same conclusion… It is not from our universe…"

"What do you mean?" Sisko was completely confused and at this point was not afraid to admit it.

"Everything in the universe can be connected at the quantum level by a certain signature… Everything from the deck plate below you to your physical self have the same quantum signature… That ship, that machine, does not…"

"So it came here from another universe? From another Starfleet?" asked O'Brien.

"If it did cross some kind of universal bridge, it could have come from any time or place… It might be from this alternate universe's future or the past…" Dax then dropped the scanning tricorder to her side to make several more natural observations.

O'Brien was on the other side of the ship poking at its exterior. "It has some sophisticated sensors," the Chief said. O'Brien knew it to be a vessel, and a vessel is constructed for one primary reason, to carry something. When he opened a hidden hatch and an object fell to the floor, he knew its cargo was information.

Sisko moved close and picked up the rectangular object which was obvious to them all to be a book. The Captain examined the old but intact collection of pages to get a better look. It was relatively large, bound in homemade materials, but it was the title and the author that interested Sisko the most. It was titled, "A Different Time, A Different Place" and its author was Lieutenant Commander Data, the famous android who was an officer on the USS Enterprise. Sisko recognized the name, but he assumed it to be a different Data, from another universe. Nonetheless, the Captain opened the book and began to read.

In Data's words.

As I sit here and write this I find it very difficult to find a place to begin. And so I will begin one week prior to our "great landing" on this planet we termed Haven, and I will describe the events that had occurred just prior to our arrival here fifty years ago to this very day. Events preceding our arrival, although considered immense tragedies then, and still so to this day, I now understand were major periods in our history, from the initial sighting of the Borg cube, to Captain Jean-Luc Picard's capture, to the assimilation of the Earth itself.

It was only when the Earth fell that I fully realized that the Enterprise and its crew were going to be involved with my existence for the rest of my life. I knew this, even in a sentimental sense, even though then I did not have the emotion chip that I now possess. I believe the feelings were indeed present, but just in a different kind of way.

We had just received news that the Borg had taken Vulcan. With Earth already gone, and most of Starfleet having been destroyed at Wolf 359, the information was not of great surprise. At that point the crew couldn't really feel any worse because whatever emotions any of them had left had been completely exhausted. Although the news was disheartening, too many tears had fallen for Earth and the rest of the Federation which was gone days before. I expected serious problems to follow from the crew, but most remarkably maintained their composure, primarily because of Captain Riker's desperate push to escape.

I was busy at my station when the Captain walked out of his ready room and stood over his command. The expression upon his worn face was beyond sadness. It was pure and utter depression. He slowly sat down in his seat, crossed his legs, and tried as much as he could to get comfortable. Counselor Deanna Troi was close at his side, trying to look as cheerful as she possibly could, but the thoughts she was receiving from the rest of the ship was clearly the only thing she could concentrate upon.

The Captain then spoke, without lifting his head or turning to anyone in particular. "The Gorn want us to be part of their strike fleet… They plan to intercept the cube before it enters their system…"

I was now the Enterprise's first officer and I knew if anybody had to speak it had to be me. Riker had become Captain when Picard was assimilated and Commander Shelby had been killed in our last encounter with the Borg, so the position sort of fell to me. I offered some words. "Gorn technology is quite different than that used by Starfleet. They may have a chance at…"

"We're not going…" The expression on the Captain's face never changed and he continued to stare at the main viewer ahead.

"Starfleet General order…" It was going to be a foolish reply, but before I could make it he cut me off.

"Forget it Data, Starfleet's gone. Everyone's gone… We're alone, and we've got to take care of ourselves now… The only thing that matters now is the Enterprise…"

"So we run…" It was Lieutenant Worf, positioned above the Captain at his usual tactical station. The idea of it was completely against everything Worf had believed in, and he was not afraid to tell others, even Riker himself, that this was not a route he was prepared to take.

Riker's head swung around to look up at the intimidating Klingon. He didn't like anyone questioning his orders, Worf or not, but he was not in the mood to argue with him. "Yes Worf, we run…" Worf refused to continue the conversation and his eyes returned to his controls below. He despised the idea of fleeing, but I could tell that he respected the Captain for being truthful and not pretending to make it sound like something it was not. We were going to run.

"Where can we go, Will?" Deanna, like the rest of us, needed to know. Where could the Captain be thinking of as a place to hide?

"The Gamma Quadrant… It's our only hope…" Riker felt uncomfortable about the whole concept, for running was not something he was used to doing either. The Gamma Quadrant could just be that place to get away from the Borg however, at least for a little while.

"I assume you are pertaining to the recently discovered wormhole near the planet Bajor?" I had read the news of the discovery in a recent issue of the Starfleet Journal, and I knew that the Captain read the publication as much as I.

"Yes, Data… The Cardassians are trying to fortify their territory to prevent anyone from getting close to it, but we're going through no matter what."

Deanna was anxious to speak. "Won't the Borg do the same? When they learn of this wormhole they will follow us…"

"The Tholians have offered to construct a distortion web around the wormhole and the Cardassians have agreed to let them. When completed the spatial disruption it will create will render the wormhole unusable for approximately half a century, and even then no one can predict what will become of it…" Riker then looked to me for he knew there was something else I was going to add.

"The Borg do have transwarp technology… It has allowed them to travel to the Alpha Quadrant from the Delta Quadrant and there is nothing to stop them from doing the same…"

"I know, but all Cardassian reports concerning the Gamma Quadrant indicate that the Borg have no presence, at least from what they know of. Without transwarp conduits, the Borg has no means of transportation there. I'm not promising anything… Of course it is quite possible that the Borg could eventually travel to the Gamma Quadrant, but we can't worry about that right now…"

Riker looked away from everyone who still was closely watching him. He was done explaining things. His decision was made, and at that point, it was the best glimpse of hope we had. He turned to the helm officer. "Helm, set a course for the Bajor system and engage at best speed…"

The trip to the wormhole was going to take several days so it gave us some time to conduct repairs. My shift ended shortly after Riker had made his decision concerning our escape, so I decided to offer my services in Engineering. I knew that my good friend, the Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge would be extremely busy and I knew that I could be of use. Geordi, perhaps even more than Riker, was physically drained. He had done everything within his power to keep the Enterprise going long after when it should have been assimilated or destroyed.

People were scurrying all around me in every direction busy at their various tasks. I met Ensign Wesley Crusher, who the Captain had just assigned to engineering, at the warp core. "Wesley, where is Geordi?" I looked all around, but he was nowhere to be found. Wesley glanced up from the tricorder within his hands. It was obvious to me that he was calculating the temperature of the core.

"Geordi…" He had to stop and think. Even Wesley was finding it very difficult to concentrate even on the smallest tasks, let alone finding the time to talk. "Geordi went to check on some problems we've been having with auxiliary power… Are you here to help Data?"

I could tell that Wesley needed some. "Yes I am…"

"I could use some help with the core… Temperatures have been slightly fluctuating ever since the last battle. I can't figure out what might be causing it…"

Wesley handed the tricorder to me and I examined the warp core to determine my own calculations. As Wesley had stated, the temperatures were indeed unstable, but it was still not enough to produce a serious threat. I turned to notice Geordi approaching.

"What's the problem?" he asked.

"The warp core is behaving strangely…" replied Wesley.

Suddenly the problem was all too noticeable for me. It was a crack. A small but extremely dangerous fracture was located upon its outer shielding. Before I could react, plasma shot out and connected with Geordi very hard. Geordi was sent to the deck floor in a disturbing manner. As much as I wanted to reach out and help him, I realized that the Enterprise was the priority, and it needed to be attended to first.

"Take Geordi to sickbay!" I managed to be heard above the loud hissing sound of the escaping gases. I then tapped my communicator. "Bridge, we have a warp core breach in progress… I am preparing to eject the core…"

Half of my positronic brain was going through the ejection process while the other half was trying to solve the problem in another manner. Geordi had been planning for something like this, with the Borg targeting Engineering sections. It was one easy and deadly hit, at least for a Borg cube.

Geordi knew that a breached warp core would mean either one of two things: the destruction of the ship, or an ejection and the unavailability of warp drive. Either scenario was, to say the least, not ideal, especially in the current situation. Geordi only briefed me on the new shielding he had been planning, but at that moment, I was quickly learning everything he had done.

It was a force field of his own design, but it had the assistance of Borg nanites that would actually repair the core damage. If not a time like it was, and if things had not happened like they did, the invention, in my view, would have surely warranted an award from the Federation Discovery Society. At that moment however, it had become a necessity of survival.

"The core is safe…" I had done it. The warp core casing had quickly begun to repair itself. The technology was truly revolutionary, maybe not to the Borg who had been using nanite technology for years, but to Starfleet who had just begun to understand the possibilities these small robots had to offer.

"Data report!" Captain Riker was shouting over my com badge.

"The core is reducing to normal temperature Captain, and the breach has been sealed… Geordi's new nanite shielding has proven effective…"

"Good Data… Take care of everything there until I arrive…"

It was over four hours later before I was able to go to sickbay and see Geordi. As I stared at him motionless on the bed I was almost hesitant to enter. It was late, and the lights in the room were very dim. Everyone else had already been in earlier to see him so the room was now quiet and he was all alone. Nurse Ogawa smiled at me as I walked pass and approached my injured friend.

I looked down at his body and could see that the plasma had burned a great deal of his skin, and even though at that time I was incapable of feeling any form of guilt, I knew I should have realized what was wrong with the core. It quickly became clear to me that when the deflector dish was used as a weapon against the Borg cube, it was just too much power for the core to handle. To this day, I blame myself for not discovering the problem.

Geordi was silently resting, and I turned away to leave in the hopes I had not disturbed him. He needed the sleep before the accident, and although he did not deserve to get it in this way, that was unfortunately how it was going to be. Before I was several feet away from the bed, I heard him call out my name.

"Data..." His voice was so low but soft. "You saved the ship…"

"No Geordi, it was your shielding… You saved the ship."

"It really worked…" Geordi was relieved and even happy that his hard work had paid off.

"Yes it did, and quite flawlessly I might add…"

"How is Engineering?" Geordi was trying to sit up in the bed and I leaned forward to assist him.

"Everything is under control." Wesley and I completed the remaining repairs… We learned that it was the deflector, Geordi… The deflector overload caused the breach… I should have known."

"No Data. There was no way for you to know… We never channeled that much power through the dish before. None of us knew what could happen. It was a risk we had to take."

I had decided to stop talking about the ship and its problems. Geordi was lying in front of me, injured, having almost been killed, and I was far more interested in his health. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes… Sleeping and dreaming… Maybe it's more of remembering… I haven't slowed down enough in days just to think, and now everything is catching up to me… I envy you Data… You don't have to go through the things everyone else is… I don't mean it in an insulting manner, I just…"

"I know what you mean Geordi, and I understand…"

"I don't know what I would do Data, if I didn't have you and the others… In a sense, I still have most of my family… But so many others are gone… My mother, my father…" Geordi raised his hand and snapped his fingers. "Just like that, thousands upon thousands of years of humanity gone in an instant…"

"Humanity will live on Geordi. Earth maybe gone, but we still have this ship, and there are others. It will not end by the Borg…"

"I hope you're right Data, I really do…"

For some reason my quarters were the last place I wanted to go. I was walking through the Enterprise's numerous corridors, and even though it was quite late, I was not the only one. On any regular night, these corridors were near empty, but like myself I suppose they had much on their minds.

I decided after some random walking that I would go to the bridge. There were several promising simulations I wanted to test with Lieutenant Worf who I knew was on duty, but when the turbolift doors opened Counselor Troi confronted me. For some reason she never looked to be tired and even a smile appeared across her face as she took my arm and led me back down the same corridor I had just walked from.

"Counselor, it is late… Why are you not sleeping?"

"I don't know. I haven't been sleeping well lately. There are too many things to think about and too many voices that keep me awake."

The smile was still on her face and only now do I understand what a beautiful woman she was. "Data, would you come with me to the holodeck?"

"Yes Counselor, but what for?"

"There is a place I want to see…"

The loud holodeck doors slip apart and before Deanna and I was a dark green landscape that stretched for a hundred kilometers and ended in a mountain range far off in the distance. To the right was a high crystal white waterfall that I could feel spraying on me as we entered the magnificent scene.

Deanna's face was bright and joyful. All of the turmoil going on outside the room was suddenly pushed to the side of her mind for a moment of pure and peaceful tranquility.

"Do you like it Data?"

Birds were flying above us near the top of the rumbling waterfall. "It is an excellent representation of nature…"

The smile grew larger upon her face, but I suppose I would have been amused by the response as well. "It's on Betazed… It's called the Katanna…"

"Have you been here?"

"Only once, when I was young, but I should have come more… Now, this is all I have, a holographic projection…"

Her smile faded somewhat. "Do you think it's still there Data? Do you think the Borg see the beauty it offers?"

"I would guess that it is still there, but I have my doubts as to whether the Borg can recognize any form of beauty…"

Deanna moved forward and looked down into a small stream that extended away from the falling water. She bent down to look at her perfect reflection. "I hope we find a new home… I hope we can find a place that can bring me peace like this one can… A place that I will never take for granted again… That's all I ask for Data. I want a new home…"

"We will find one Counselor. The Enterprise and its crew have always found a way to survive… I am sure we will find a new home…" I reached out my hand and she took it. I helped her back to her feet and we then turned to the holodeck doors to leave Katanna behind forever.

It was three days later when I next encountered the Captain face to face. I had just entered the turbolift to go to the bridge when I realized that he was beside me. He did not even notice my entrance. Both of us were on the next shift, and we both knew that on that day we would be arriving to the Bajor system and the wormhole.

"Is Geordi feeling any better?" It was the first time in a week that the Captain talked about anything other than the operation of the ship or our plan to escape to the Gamma Quadrant.

"Yes sir… He is feeling much better. Nurse Ogawa believes he will be ready for duty tomorrow."

"That's good… Geordi's a strong person…"

"Captain…" I turned to directly face him. "I was thinking sir. There is still some time before we arrive to the Bajor system. If you would like to get some further rest I can take care of everything on the bridge…"

"I appreciate that Data, but no. I need to be on that bridge. The crew deserves the right to face me whether this succeeds or fails. It's a decision that I'll have to live with for the rest of my life…"

"I just wanted to let you know sir, that I believe we are doing the best thing…"

"Thank you Data, that means a great deal to me…"

The turbolift stopped at the bridge and the Captain and I exited and headed for our positions. Captain Riker sat there silently until we finally arrived to the border of Cardassian occupied Bajoran space five hours later. The Enterprise dropped to impulse but it was unexpected that no Cardassian ships confronted us. I guessed they were preparing themselves for the eventual invasion, but still this was not like the Cardassians. They never left anything unprotected. At the time I never realized the other possibility of where they could be.

The planet Bajor was now in sight. The once innocent people of this planet had been conquered and subjugated by the Cardassians who still dominated Bajoran space. During this time period the Bajorans were treated no better than slaves on their own homeworld that had been ravaged for all of its precious resources to help support the Cardassian military. Recently, with the eminent Borg invasion, and the Cardassian's attention elsewhere, the Bajorans succeeded in driving the Cardassians from the planet. The Cardassians however still managed to hold on to Bajoran space for the Bajorans had no significant army of starships to battle them on that arena, at least not yet.

Doctor Crusher and Geordi joined us on the bridge. Geordi looked to be fit and ready for duty and quickly took the engineering station located on the back wall behind Lieutenant Worf. Doctor Crusher sat alongside the Captain in the seat Counselor Troi usually occupied. The Counselor for some reason had remained in her quarters. Captain Riker never asked where she was.

The Captain never questioned the presence of Geordi either. Nurse Ogawa had informed me that he would not be returning to duty until the following day, but there he was back at his station like nothing had occurred. I believe we all realized that ready or not, we needed Geordi right now, and no one was going to tell him to leave. Besides our attention was focused elsewhere.

The Enterprise passed close to the Cardassian space station known as Terok Nor. It had been seemingly abandoned, for its outer ring was empty of vessels, minus one, the command ship of the Cardassian Gul who had been last in charge of Bajor, a man by the name of Dukat. He had been forced to retreat to Terek Nor upon the Bajoran revolt.

The dark blue gases of the wormhole were now in view as the Enterprise drew closer to the recently discovered phenomena. I can only now describe the sight as pure elegance, but at the time it was just another spatial anomaly to me. In the center of the swirling gases was a bright concentrated light that almost blinded everyone else on the bridge with the exception of Geordi and I. Geordi, more than the rest of us, would later tell me that he could see hundreds of shades of colors.

Not far from the wormhole we could see the Cardassian patrol ships, and we soon realized why they had little time and resources to guard their borders. I calculated six thousand fifty-one ships all trying to enter the wormhole and the intense traffic was causing unimaginable confusion. Some of the vessels refused to wait, such as several large Romulan Warbirds which pushed their way through. Several ships who were positioned in their way were quickly torn apart by disruptor blasts, but the Romulans were not interested in assessing the damage.

"Full stop!" ordered the Captain quickly realizing that a new problem had arisen.

This was unexpected. We had predicted that the wormhole was still somewhat of a secret and we would be of the few who knew of its existence. Beyond the jammed ships I could see the diamond-like Tholian craft already weaving their web. Time was growing short, and like always of late, it was our enemy.

Bigger vessels were continuing to push forward, and even though I knew we could do the same, I could not imagine Captain Riker ever ordering us to do so. We continued to watch as Cardassian warships attempted to maintain some form of order, which ultimately proved to be useless.

Suddenly Worf spoke and it broke the silence. "Captain a ship is closing fast…" All of us knew right then just who it was. "It's the Borg…" Worf looked deep into the Captain's eyes and awaited his orders. First came the basics.

"Red alert! Shields up. Ready all weapons… Inform the other ships…"

"The Borg are hailing everyone sir…" said Worf.

We really didn't need to hear it again, we all knew it too well, but the Captain nodded his head for the Lieutenant to open the channel. "We are the Borg… Disarm all weapons and prepare to be boarded… Resistance is futile… You will be assimilated…" It was the voice of the Borg spokesperson, Locutus. I couldn't even call him Captain Picard anymore. That part was gone forever. He was Borg now.

The cube had already begun to slice apart Terek Nor before the Cardassian ships turned to intercept. Gul Dukat's vessel however, was headed towards us and was making a move for the wormhole. As the cube tore apart the helpless station Gul Dukat's warship was now busy battling a small army of Bajoran fighters. They had been hiding amongst the six thousand ships waiting for him. With the other Cardassian ships busy with the cube their chance was now.

With the various distractions around them, some of the ships made a dash for the wormhole and were successful, while others panicked and headed in other directions. Dukat's ship continued to take the pounding it was receiving from the fifteen or so small fighters that were slowly tearing open the Cardassian hull.

Worf looked to the Captain. "Captain, the Cardassian vessel is requesting assistance."

We anxiously awaited the Captain's response for none of us on the bridge knew exactly just what he would say. "Helm, get us to the wormhole, and do what you have to, to get us by, but don't hurt anyone…"

Doctor Crusher was quick to speak up. "You can't just ignore them!"

"Yes I can Doctor… This system will be assimilated in hours… The Bajorans deserve some retribution for everything the Cardassians did to them… It might be the last thing they ever do…"

The Captain's decision was final and no one else was about to argue with him. Besides, most us knew he to be right. He had decided to move forward and in doing so this might have meant pushing others aside. In a different time, in a different place, and under other circumstances, I would never believe that the Captain would place our lives above those of so many others. We understood what he was doing however, and that it was going to save us, but we also realized it was a desperate measure.

We were dodging around all kinds of ships, from Klingon Birds of Prey to Andorian freighters. Behind us was the Borg cube that had already begun its offense through the waiting ships. In a twist of irony, the Borg unknowingly assisted in the destruction of what remained of Gul Dukat's ship, but it then turned to the Bajoran fighters. As we managed to squeeze by the other ships I noticed that the Tholian web was near completion. We passed the remainder of the craft and before I knew it, we were within the wormhole.

* * * * *

I look back upon those events with a great many feelings. Unlike then, I can grieve for the many people who died and the others who were assimilated, but I also realize that it was a time of transition. Our lives on Haven are so far removed from my days in Starfleet and aboard the Enterprise. This world is made up of many different people from Klingons, to Romulans to Bajorans among them. A vibrant and peaceful society has arisen here, and it continues to grow each day in a new found harmony.

Many of my friends from the Enterprise have passed away, while others have moved on to different lives, but those historical times, and that life I lived will always be sacred to me, just as the one I have now, with my beautiful wife, does as well. As I write these final words, as a person who has experienced a great deal, I truly hope that the future generations of this planet learn from our event-filled past, but can also evolve from it.

It is fifty years later, and as the Captain had stated, the wormhole should once again be useable. Whether the Borg come through, or whether they are present now, none of us know, and we can only live each day as it comes. If you have read this material it means that my plan has succeeded, and non-Borg life still exists beyond the wormhole within the Alpha Quadrant. I can only hope that one day we meet, for as good as Haven is, we all long to return to our respected worlds. Perhaps that day will come.

Captain Sisko slowly closed the ancient book and gave it a small tap upon its cover. O'Brien and Dax were still studying the levitated object the book came in. The Chief was interested in the sensors he had earlier deemed to be sophisticated. He had them removed and spread out on a nearby table. Sisko moved to his side.

"These sensors were designed to detect Borg signatures. From what I could make out from the vessel's design, if it was to detect a Borg ship, probe or whatever, it was to overload its thrusters and ignite its own fuel…"

"A kind of self-destruct method…" added the Captain.

"Precisely…"

"He wanted to make sure the Borg never found the craft or his book…" Sisko took a glance down at the book which was still in his hands. He turned and moved to the cargo hold door without saying another word. Dax and O'Brien simply watched.

"Sir?" The Chief was unsure as what to do.

Sisko's head slightly turned in their direction. "Go home to your wife Chief… Dax, you go home too..."

"What about the book?" asked the Lieutenant.

"I'll take care of it…"

Sisko moved through the corridor towards the busy Promenade. The book had reminded him of the events going on around him now. The war with the Dominion had already cost the Federation thousands of lives, and the conflict threatened to destroy its very foundation. The events in this alternate universe were similar to the ongoing war, and with much of the responsibility of this war on Sisko's shoulders, he knew that the outcome could ultimately be his to either blame or praise. He walked into Quark's bar and ordered a strong drink. He sat down by himself, with the book at his side and immediately drank the glass of liquor before ordering another. At least he could put his war out of his mind for just one night.

The End