It had been two hours since the Defiant had left Dax and O’Brien behind. It was a solemn mood on the bridge as Sisko contemplated their next move. However, their mission would be more difficult because of the loss of two of their most experienced officers. Sisko decided to pick his officers’ brains. To that end, he activated his communicator.
"Sisko to Odo."
There was no reply.
"Sisko to Odo. Please report to the bridge."
"I'm afraid I cannot help you at the moment, Commander. I'm busy. Odo out."
Kira got up from her seat. Sisko was about to chew him out until she intervened.
"It's alright, Commander. I'll see to him."
Leaving the bridge, Kira arrived at the door to Odo's quarters a few minutes later. When she pressed the door buzzer, she got no reply. Again she pressed the buzzer, and again, no reply. She then used her security over-ride code to open the door. When she entered she found Odo seated at the computer console. A map of the Omarian Nebula was on the screen in front of him.
"Odo, Commander Sisko asked you to come to the bridge. Why didn't you?"
"I'm too busy right now, Major. As I told Sisko, you'll have to find someone else."
Kira had heard enough. In all the years she had known Odo, she had never known him to act this way before.
"Now look here! Ever since this mission started you've been almost insufferable! What the hell is going on with you?"
Odo turned to face Kira, and she was surprised by the pained look on his face.
"Ever since we entered the Gamma Quadrant I've had a strange yearning, as if something was pulling me to a certain spot, a certain place. That place is the Omarian Nebula! I must get there!"
"If it means that much to you I'll ask Sisko to take you there after we've finished this mission!"
Odo grabbed Kira by her arms.
"But you don't understand! I must get there now!"
"You know that's not possible!"
"Then give me a shuttle! Let me get there on my own!"
"You know I can't do that!"
Suddenly, the ship shook, as if it were hit by a phaser blast. Then, it rocked yet again. They were under attack.
On the bridge, Sisko looked at the viewer to see four Jem'Hadar ships bearing down on them. Phaser blast after phaser blast rocked the ship.
"Try to cloak!", Sisko shouted.
"The device has been damaged!", Toru screamed.
Bashir, seated at the Ops/Navigation station, did not look happy.
"Shields are down to ten percent.", he reported.
Another phaser blast rocked the ship.
"Shields are gone!", Bashir shouted.
Suddenly, four Jem'Hadar warriors beamed onto the bridge.
"Prepare to repel boarders!", Sisko shouted.
A fistfight ensued. Sisko and his men put up a good fight, but as soon as they had got rid of their first opponents, several more arrived, beaming onto various parts of the Defiant as their ships continued to attack.
Kira and Odo knew that their argument had to wait. As they started to make their way to the bridge, they found their path blocked by several Jem'Hadar. The fight had made its way to the corridors, as Kira and Odo began to fight for their lives. However, Kira's struggle was ended by a phaser blast set on stun. Odo then managed to drag her away.
On the bridge, the struggle was getting useless for Sisko and his troops. The Jem'Hadar were overwhelming them. Sisko and Bashir only just managed to get out alive as the Defiant's engines went down. Seconds later Sisko and Bashir were seated in a shuttle, looking out as the Defiant, surrounded by the Jem'Hadar ships, seemed further and further away. Sisko was surprised that they did not go after them. Perhaps they were after the Defiant all along.
As Connor and Duncan McCloud approached the outskirts of Paradise City. Connor took a swig from a water bottle. Luckily, two water canteens had been transported to the planet with them, because they needed them. Even though sunset was only two hours away, the temperature was still in the high nineties. They soon saw the city gates, and to their surprise, they saw another man standing by them. The man was wearing a red and black Starfleet uniform. At first they couldn't tell who it was, but after a few more steps they could.
"It can't be!", said Duncan. "Picard!"
Upon hearing this voice Picard turned and saw the two McClouds approaching.
"Admiral! It was you who sent the transmission!"
"Commodore! Then it was you who sent the transmission!"
They were now close, so they didn't have to raise their voices.
"You mean a transmission asking you to come here?", said Duncan. "No. I didn't, because I received the same transmission."
"But the energy signature.", said Picard. "Forming the music. You're a friend of Magus', and you were one of James Watt's eldest friends. When I saw you two I naturally thought this had something to do with you."
There was suddenly a bright flash of light, which caused them to shield their eyes. When the light dimmed, the lurking form of Kosh stood before them.
"I know who contacted us, and he is waiting inside the city for us."
And with that, they entered Paradise City, following Kosh as he led them along.
An eager Commander Travis sat in the command chair of the small pursuit ship as it hurtled along at warp five. Then, the tactical officer reported something on his sensor panel.
"Commander, I'm picking up on something on the long-range sensors, a small Oberth-class vessel."
"What ship is it?", Travis sneered.
"It's the Tempest."
"The Tempest! What would the ship of Moonbase Alpha be doing out here? Try to contact them."
On board the Tempest, Captain Tarrant was almost on the edge of his seat. Then, Lieutenant Morrow at the Operations console looked at his panel.
"Captain, a small Pursuit-class ship is nearing us at a speed of warp five. They're trying to hail us."
"Do not answer.", said Commander Koenig. "It seems that the Federation knows where we're headed!"
"What do you expect?", said Tarrant. "It's obvious we aren't the only ones going to Nimbus III!"
"I'm getting another hail.", said Morrow. "This time from a Commander Travis!"
"The Commander Travis!", said Koenig.
"Seems that Servalan has sent her personal lap-dog after us!", said Tarrant.
Professor Bergman, seated at the Science station, turned to face Tarrant.
"I recommend we increase speed to warp nine, Captain. After all, the Pursuit-class ship is nothing more than a glorified fighter. It can't get much faster than warp six."
"But what about the Federation limit?", asked Tarrant.
"It hardly applies in a case like this.", said Bergman. "At warp nine they would have no hope of catching us!"
"Make it so, Mister Morrow.", said Tarrant.
"Mister Carter, take us the long way around to Nimbus III. Let's try to throw Travis off a bit!"
From his command chair, Travis could do nothing but watch the Tempest speed off into the distance. Striking the arm of the chair, he let out an expletive, the likes of which had not been heard of from a command-officer for decades.
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