9

Kira found that Picard was a lot less intimidatin g than she’d remembered, although it probably had a lot to do with the respect he showed to Vedek Capril, and to the Orb itself. The Orb of Contemplation was now in a private room that adjoined the shrine, and Captain Picard had asked to see it in a truly reverent tone, confessing an interest in Bajoran artifacts.

Vedek Capril left them alone and Kira watched as Picard walked in a circle around the supported ark, hands behind his back as he leaned in closely, examining the carved detail. She knew he’d seen it before, but wouldn’t have guessed from looking at his face; his gaze was very bright, the slight smile he wore a genuine expression of wonder. His few questions indicated that he knew as much about where and when the Orbs had been found as most Bajorans.

When he finished his scrutiny of the ark, he stood straight and adjusted his uniform, still smiling.

“Colonel, it’s seems to be a matter of fate that the Enterprise comes to be at your station.”

Kira nodded, a little puzzled at his choice of words. Picard’s ship needed repairs and access to subspace communications; she wasn’t sure that qualified. Probably means to meet with the task force.

“May I arrange to have something beamed directly to our position from the Enterprise?” Picard asked, looking at the ark again, obviously fascinated by it. “It was actually Commander Vaughn’s discovery, but I think he expects me to present it. Kind of a surprise gift, to go along with our surprise visit.”

He looked at Kira again on the last, and she had the impression that beneath his pleasantly placid exterior, he was grinning. His eyes sparkled with good humor.

“Of course, Captain,” she said, feeling slightly apprehensive.

Picard gave their coordinates to someone on his ship, and a few seconds later, a small object materialized at their feet. Kira couldn’t credit what she saw for a few blinks, thinking that she’d somehow mis -seen it, but it didn’t waver. It was an ark for a Tear of the Prophets.

“We believe it’s the Orb of Memory,” Picard said as Kira moved toward it, reaching out to touch it, knowing that it was the Orb of Memory as a sigh escaped her. The design at the opening was a series of curved lines radiating out from a central sphere, a design that every Bajoran child knew as belonging to the missing Orb.

She was speechless for a moment, so struck with awe that she forgot Picard was present. The mystical, beautiful connection to the Prophets that each Orb

represented was always cause for joy, but to see one that had been taken away early in the Occupatio n, lost to Bajor for so many years … to know that it was with them again was a blessed, precious knowledge, and for just a few seconds, it filled her up.

“Where did you find it?” Kira asked finally, unable to take her hand from the closed ark.

“In the Badlands, actually,” Picard said. “On a derelict. Commander Vaughn led the away team, so I’m sure he can better describe the exact circumstances.”

Kira straightened, the depth of her gratitude and happiness inexpressible as she turned to Picard. She floundered for an appropriately diplomatic response to his miraculous gift, aware that words were insufficient but that they were all she had.

“Captain, on behalf of the Bajoran people, please allow me to thank you and your crew for what you’ve done.”

Picard nodded, a deeply satisfied look on his face. “You’re welcome, Colonel. I have some idea of what this means to Bajor, and I’m delighted to have played even a small part in returning it to you … though it really is Commander Vaughn you should be thanking.”

“I will,” Kira said, gazing at the Orb, deciding who she should contact first, thrilled to have such a decision to make. Shakaar was still on Earth, she thought, but that might be the bestHer combadge signaled, and her bright mood immediately darkened. She stepped away from Picard and the beautiful ark, expecting the call to be trouble; she couldn’t imagine the day bringing anything else at this point, and although she’d planned to keep

her expectations to a minimum, it was turning out that she couldn’t expect her plans to work out, either… .

Keep it together, you haven’t slept in at least twenty -six hours.

“This is Kira.”

“Colonel, this is Ro,” Ro said, sounding out of breath. “I’ve got a situation here with Vedek Yevir, and

Kasidy Yates is also present, and I, ah, request your immediate presence at the security office. Sir.”

Not just out of breath. Ro sounded like she was about to kill someone.

“On my way,” Kira said, looking back at Picard as she tapped out. Ro’s office was close, but she didn’t want to leave the Orb unattended, and it didn’t sound like she had time to track down Vedek Capril, he’d been on his way home …

… the candle cabinet. There was an indiscreet panel on the south wall of the small room, a space where extra candles were stored. The shrine was closed for the evening, but she wanted to take the extra precaution, at least until she had time to tell one of the vedeks about it

Perhaps after Yevir leaves … An unkind thought, but sincere. She wasn’t feeling particularly trusting toward her old friend’s motives.

“My apologies, Captain,” Kira said, “but I’m needed somewhere immediately. Would you mind terribly if we put off announcing the Orb’s return for the moment?”

Picard smiled, shaking his head. “The Orb belongs to you now. And I should be returning to my ship, to prepare my own argument against what the

Allies have in mind. I’m sure you’ve got enough to do without having to escort me around.”

Kira asked Picard to open the cabinet for her, and she gently lifted the ark, putting it on a low shelf. It would be safe. The Prophets had wanted it brought back to Bajor, or it wouldn’t be here.

Kira suggested that they walk together toward the security office; there was a turbolift directly across from it. Picard n odded, and they walked out onto the Promenade, Kira just putting one foot in front of another, moving toward the next event in line. The Prophets knew that she rejoiced inside for the return of the Orb, but she had the station to consider, and the idea that Ro might stab Vedek Yevir with something had to take precedence over her own elation.

Things were bad, and they were probably going to get worse. When she realized that there was no point in trying to tell Yevir anything, Ro called Kira and then held her tongue, letting the man quietly poison the air. Kasidy had arrived only a few moments after the vedek and had watched their exchange silently, her arms crossed, her face drawn. When he’d started his monologue, she’d turned away.

Hurry up, Kira, Ro thoug ht miserably, fighting an urge to leave the office and an even stronger one to start yelling. Yevir was exactly the kind of man she most disliked, so convinced he was right that he believed the entire universe was backing him up.

“-worse than malicious, it was immoral and criminal,” Yevir was saying, calm and absolutely furious, his polite words dripping with threat. “I’ll see to your immediate dismissal, and that you’re

remanded to the custody of the Militia’s justice department. I can only hope that you’ll find the love of the Prophets in the end, to beg their forgiveness for what you’ve done …”

Where is she? Ro looked past Yevir, and-oh.

Yevk was still talking, but Ro didn’t hear him. Standing not two meters in front of her office was Jean-Luc Picard. Kira was with him, but that didn’t seem as important, I knew a starship had docked but not yours …

Picard, who had once trusted her because she’d given her word. Ro hadn’t seen him since she’d broken it, but had spent many a moment in the years that followed wishing that things had been different. Regardless of the necessity of her actions, she knew she’d disappointed him, and being a disappointment to Captain Picard had easily been the worst consequence of her decision. The intensity of her feelings seemed too obvious, her own father had died badly when she’d been a child, but Ro wasn’t sure what it was; she’d just always wanted his respect.

The captain looked past Kira, glanced at Ro-and quickly found her gaze, his own as sharp as blades as he studied her, frowning. Yevir was still telling her how much trouble she was in, and Kira had turned away from Picard, heading for the office door, but Ro was frozen, feeling herself flush with shame, hoping it wasn’t showing. How many years had it been? Long enough for her to have forgotten what a hard place it was to be, standing in the path of his scrutiny, knowing that you’re being inspected and are about to be found wantingPicard held her gaze a second longer and then turned his back to her, walking to the turbolift. He didn’t look at her again.

Great, her defenses mustered, laying on the sarcasm. This is just wonderful, a real experience. I needed a reminder that I don’t belong anywhere, that I don’t measure up… .

Kira stepped into the offic e and Yevk immediately turned his attention to her, demanding that Ro be dismissed, that she be disciplined severely. Poor Kasidy looked as though she wanted to be physically ill.

Kira didn’t even look at Yevir, fixing her gaze instead on Ro, completely ignoring the vedek’s apoplexy. “Report, Lieutenant.”

“Colonel, it appears that approximately three and a half hours ago someone with access to the translation of Istani’s book uploaded it, in its entirety, into the Bajoran comnet. Reports are being filed to the station from every province, asking about it.”

Kasidy finally spoke, looking at Kira pleadingly. “I just got a call from the Commerce Ministry; they want to know if they can issue a release saying that I believe the prophecies are false. They said they’ve received over a thousand direct calls in the last hour from people asking to speak to me.”

Kasidy lowered her voice, but Ro could hear her. “Nerys, I don’t want to deal with this, not now.”

Kira took Kasidy’s hand and squeezed it, looking into her eyes. “Everything is going to be okay, Kas.”

“I don’t see how you can say that,” Yevk said, still managing to keep his voice down, still playing the part of the angry victim. Maybe he actually felt that

way. Ro figured it didn’t make much difference, in the end; he was a fanatic.

“All moral issues aside, a crisis has been deliberately unleashed, and all because an admitted opponent of the Vedek Assembly was given access to sensitive materials,” Yevir said. “She used her position to promote her own intolerance, with no thought as to how it would affect anyone else.”

He was glaring at Ro as he spoke, and she decided that she was ready to end this particular party, hopefully with Yevir’s apology. Seeing Picard had left her off balance, but she was still confident that Colonel Kira would believe her word over Yevir’s. Ro knew she didn’t come off that well with a lot of people, but even her enemies knew her to be honest, and she had never lied to Kira about anything.

“Colonel, I absolutely did not,” Ro said. “Vedek Yevir is mistaken. I haven’t seen the translation or the book since we all met in your office this afternoon, and I had nothing to do with its transmission to Bajor’s communications network.”

Yevir smiled, a small, sanctimonious smile. “The word of a nonbeliever, that certainly holds its own with a lie.”

“Please don’t call me a liar,” Ro said, just tired of listening to him.

“I didn’t, child, I just don’t understand why you won’t admit to it,” Yevir said. “You’re the only one here with reason. That treacherous book validated your damaged beliefs, and you couldn’t stand to be alone anymore, could you? A nonbeliever from a world that embraces spirituality-“

Kira was nodding along, her expression neutral.

When he hesitated long enough to draw breath, she

spoke quickly, looking directly at Yevir for the first

time.

“I did it,” Kira said. “I uploaded Ohalu’s book.” Yevir finally shut his mouth, but Ro felt her own

hanging open.

Kasidy didn’t believe her. They all stared at her, and Kas saw her own feelings in their faces-Ro’s eyes were wide with incredulity, and Vedek Yevir looked tike he’d had the wind knocked out of him.

“You’re joking,” Yevir said. He seemed smaller, somehow.

Kira’s chin was raised, her head high. “I gave a lot of thought to what you said earlier. You asked me what I thought would happen to Bajor if the book were made public, and after I considered it carefully, I came to the realization that you don’t know the Bajor I know.”

Yevir was the very picture of injured confusion. “Nerys, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The Bajoran people aren’t children,” Kira said. “They don’t need anyone to censor information on their behalf, and frankly, Vedek, I’m surprised and a little offended by the Assembly’s attempt to do so. It’s patronizing, it suggests that you don’t think the Bajoran faith is strong enough to tolerate a different perspective.”

“And this is your answer?” Yevir asked. “To send blasphemous and offensive words into people’s homes, like some kind of … of test? “

Kira didn’t hesitate, her manner angry but controlled. “And are you that desperately afraid that

they’ll fail? I’m tired of wondering whether or not I’m being manipulated by people who say they speak for the Prophets. I have my own relationship with Them, and I trust my own judgment. And whatever you think about that, what gives you the right to decide what’s bad for me, or what’s best for anyone besides yourself?

“I see it as an opportunity for all of us. Here it is, almost eight years since the Occup ation ended, and we still haven’t found our balance. I see our world as a place that’s trapped in transition. I see a struggle to integrate the cultural spirituality of thousands of years with what we’ve learned in the last century, and I think a good look at ourselves is exactly what we need to get through it, to create an atmosphere of positive change. To let every Bajoran reevaluate what the Prophets mean for their lives.”

Yevir was aghast. He ran one hand through his silvering hair, mussing it, his face screwed up in distress as he took a half step back.

He’s not faking it, he really thinks this is a holocaust. Kas could understand his reaction, could see perfectly why he felt so betrayed. And she could see why Kira might have done it; the politics couldn’t be plainer. The thing was, Kas still didn’t actually believe it.

“I love the Prophets,” Kira said seriously, still addressing Yevir. “And it doesn’t matter to me what anyone thinks of my faith, because I know the truth. Reading that book only confir ms for me that the love of the Prophets can be interpreted in other ways. I prayed about this, and I truly believe it’s the right thing for Bajor. I’ve been given a sign, that the

Prophets support us. Ohalu’s book belongs to every Bajoran, Vedek; please, have faith in us, have faith that each individual can only grow as the Prophets intend.”

Ro seemed almost to smile, and for some reason, that look of approval finally did it for Kasidy’s belief problem. Kira Nerys, who had been there for her, who had help ed her find workers and apply for permits on her new home, who had been a real friend to her … Kira Nerys had just created absolute chaos for her and the baby. And she had done it on purpose.

Kasidy hated public confrontation, but there was no help for it, she needed to understand and she needed it now.

“How could you do this to me, Nerys?” Kas asked, and Kira turned away from Yevir, finally, her head not quite as high. She at least had the decency to look ashamed, but at the moment, Kas didn’t care a whit for Kira’s shame. What good did it do her?

“Kas, I’m so sorry,” she said, and it certainly looked like she meant it. “It was just-it was the right thing to do, I had to do it.”

“That’s fine, good for you,” Kasidy said tightly, folding her arms, and then she took a deep breath, baby, it’s okay, relax, then another. The kind of anger she was feeling couldn’t possibly be harmless. After another deep breath, she started again.

“So you and the Vedek Assembly have now each made a grand statement of how right you are,” Kasidy said, making the anger and pain become words instead of heat, struggling to keep her body from reacting to her distress. “I can appreciate that. But I didn’t ask how you could do this, I asked how

you could do this to me. To be hones t, I don’t care why, because all of this means that if I want a moment’s peace for the rest of my pregnancy, I’ll have to go into hiding.”

Silently watching her, Kira was obviously unhappy, her expression guilty and apologetic-which for some reason seemed to make things worse. How convenient for Nerys, that she could betray her friend and then feel sorry about it, knowing all the while exactly what she was doing. Kas knew she wasn’t being entirely fair, but decided that she was allowed.

She looked at Yevir, at the way he was practically wringing his hands, his thoughts as clear as if they were written in the air above his head, The mother of the Emissary’s child’s is unhappy, oh, dear, what can I do?

Relax. Breathe.

“I’m sorry, but this is not okay,” Kas said slowly, talking to herself as much as to Kira and Yevir, her words gathering speed as they poured out. “I can’t stay here if this is what it’s going to be like. I’m a person with a life, I’m not some indirect religious figure in a cause, and if you think I’m going to let my child be involved in any part of this particular dilemma, think again. Ten thousand Bajorans, dying so that my baby will be born into peace, so that he or she can be worshiped as some kind of spiritual embodiment, as some thing?”

Kas folded her arms tighter and then deliberately relaxed them, so tuned to the second life inside her that she almost reflexively protected it now. It wasn’t a matter of choice, her current priorities didn’t allow for choice; she just couldn’t have this in her life.

“I’ll leave,” she said calmly. “I’ll get as far away from here as possible. In fact, my things are already packed.”

I could leave. It sounded so possible, so easy. So tempting. Just … fly away, and never come back.

Her pronouncement was followed by silence. All three of the Bajorans in the room looked mortified, but as far as Kasidy was concerned, Ro was the only one with any credibility, the only one who hadn’t actually done anything wrong.

Before anyone could speak, a man’s unfamiliar voice spilled out of an open com on Ro’s desk, deep and clear and very fast

“Security alert, the Jem’Hadar soldier has killed at least two people and is no longer in containment. Starfleet medical officer down, needs emergency transport to medical facilities, Dax is with him. We’re at cargo bay 41C or C41, this is Commander Elias Vaughn, acknowledge.”

Kira hit her combadge as the last words were spoken, calling for medical transport, already striding for the door; Kasidy barely had time to get out of her way. Ro acknowledged and hit the security alert, and Yevir Linjarin stood uncertainly, perhaps wondering who he would complain to now.

Worried and wounded and afraid, Kas left immediately for her quarters, planning to throw the manual on her door as soon as she got there. No matter what else happened, she was moving away from DS9 as soon as possible.