Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!msunews!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!nntp.brisnet.org.au!softtech!au!org!brisnet!closer!william.gracie From: William.Gracie@closer.brisnet.org.au (William Gracie) Date: 09 Jan 95 15:31:12 Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative Subject: DS9-ALTERED SHADOW ARC: SISKO-(1) Message-ID: Organization: Soft-Tech +61-7-869-1131 Lines: 159 Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.startrek.creative:4326 REPEAT PERFORMANCES (pt1) ******************* By Raymond N. Cooper Sisko held a wedding ring. The ring was attached to a hand. The hand was attached to Jennifer. Dax, with a grunt, passed out in her plate of aubergine stew. Things like this were just not supposed to happen. Jennifer was dead, Dax had seen the body. She had died at Wolf 359, where Starfleet made its unready stand against the Borg. Starfleet lost thirty nine of its starships in five minutes of combat. The USS Enterprise was nearly lost several times in the course of those short, few days. Dax herself had been on Earth at the time, working at Starfleet Academy as Curzon Dax. Jennifer smiled, and said, "Looks like your old friend has some problems with me being around..." Sisko grinned in reply. "I had told her that I had been seeing you around the place for days." "So, you still think I'm dead?" she asked softly. Sisko shook his head. "Of course not. I can touch you, and you don't fade away. I don't see you on the Saratoga every time I shut my eyes for a moment. I can smell you, see you, hear you. And so can Dax." He paused for a moment. "But... how? How did you come back?" "Tell me what you think," the dark woman whsipered. She moved towards Dax,sat, and lifted the Trill's head into her head, cleaning off the stew. "Aubergine stew," she muttered, "My favourite!" Benjamin Sisko sat opposite his wife, placed his head in his arms, and began his story. "It began six years ago. The battle of Wolf 359. The Saratoga was hit,I tried to get you out, I knew you were still alive. The Lieutenant that was with me, he told me you were dead. But you weren't. I saw the tricorder he scanned you with. You still had brain activity. You were just clinically dead. He dragged my from you. "For three years, Jake and I lived on Mars, working at Utopia Planitia,the shipyards. I got transferred to here, Deep Space Nine, just before the Bajoran Wormhole was found." "You met the entities in there the , I take it?" Jennifer interjected. Sisko frowned, straining his memory for something. "Yes, it was. After that, Bajoran space became a heavy traffic zone, and I had my hands full with crisis after crisis, even Bajoran religious problems. We had the Circle plotting things better left unmentioned, assassination attempts on Vedeks,kidnappings, trials, and Cardassians. This place has been a madhouse more times than I care to remember..." Jennifer idly played with a knife on the table. "I... haven't seen you or Jake in six years, Ben. What's happened to our little boy that I should know about?" Sisko took a chair himself, and leaned back. "Jake's discovered girls." Jennifer stifled a laugh. "And not just human girls, but Bajoran and Cardassian. The Prophets know how, as he says these days. He's at a Ferengi's home at the moment. I think he got a big shock when I told him he could spend some time with Nog. Although, if I know those two, they'll be playing in the lower decks..." "Playing in the lower decks?" Jennifer queried. "Mmmm. They play starships, that sort of thing. I did the same when I was a child. Except we had better starships." Jennifer stroked Dax's head. The Trill stirred. Deep within the Trill's symbiont componant, Dax knew something was wrong. Benjamin had confided in her, knew Jennifer was a fake, a fraud, a... a shadow! And yet, he was still believing in this thing. Jadzia could understand why, but then, Jadzia could understand just about everything about Dax's old student. In fact, of late, Jadzia had taken more than just a healthy interest in the human. Only to be expected, of course. Curzon had been the same way. But after several of Curzon's affairs, Dax had had enough,and put 'her' foot down. No host of 'hers' was going to act in such a way,unless both halves agreed that the experience could be... beneficial to both parties. And an affair with Benjamin would not. Jennifer stroked Dax's head again. "You're close. There was brain activity, yes. It was detected, yes. Your Lieutenant lied to you, yes. But I'm here. Don't ask me how, I didn't escape the Saratoga - at least, I don't remember escaping it. There was a Warp Core breach, I know that, the computer kept on and on about it. I... it was just like going to sleep, and waking up... here. Don't ask me about it, I don't know anything else about it..." Benjamin was silent as he contemplated his stew. Jennifer's hands carressed the cutlery. Sisko forced himself to look up into his wife's eyes. "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you..." he whispered, "But I know you're not real. Jennifer didn't die immediately at Wolf 359, and maybe she did get out somehow, I don't know, maybe a Q picked her up, or something, but even if one did, you're not her." "Ben! I'm hurt to hear you say such a thing! Can you prove it?" Jennifer's face twisted in sorrow. "Yes. My talk with the wormhole entities - that's been kept secret, except at the top of Starfleet, and in my senior staff, who know not to talk about it to people without security clearance. So, just how did you manage to find out about it?" Sisko stood up, and began to walk around the table. Jennifer picked up a knife. "You think I would leave myself undefended? You humans truely are the basest of lifeforms! You think you can harm a ghost? More importantly, a memory?" Sisko paused. In that moment, he saw Dax's eyes flicker, and he thought he might garner some help from his old friend - if only he could stall the ghost... "Think not of stalling, human. Your demise will occur - whether you are willing or not. I will make sure of that!" With that, Jennifer sliced open Dax's dress, and cut Jadzia's body around the abdomen. Through all the blood,Sisko could see the symbiont squirming. The main nerve juncture between host and symbiont had nearly been cut through. Jadzia startled into wakefulness at the feeling, and screamed. Trills have a natural higher pitched voice than humans, even though they keep it low around other species, but when unleashed, their screams can be very effective. Sisko dropped to the ground, his hands over his ears, trying desperately to keep the sound out. It sliced into his brain like a hot knife does butter, and through this haze of pain, Sisko realised Jennifer was still standing. She threw Dax to the ground, and advanced on Sisko. Thankfully, Jadzia's screaming had lessened in pitch, and Sisko was able to stand against his wife. She feinted a swing, waited until Sisko dodged, then rammed the knife into his left arm. Pain shot through nerves like molten metal had been poured onto his arm, but Sisko had already braved the fires of another pain. He was facing it now. Please note that, while some of the characters and settings for this story are copyrighted to Paramount Pictures, everything else, including this storyline and all likenesses, Sasha Wren, the Armstrong and its crew, are all copyrighted (c) to Raymond N. Cooper. I don't care where this story gets to (The Gamme Quadrant, anyone?) as long as this section and my name and address (as author and this bottom bit) are attached to it. Raymond Cooper 17 Belton Crt BEERWAH QLD 4519 AUSTRALIA Southern Hemisphere Earth Solar System Sagitarius Arm Alpha Quadrant The Milky Way Galaxy Local Galactic Group This Universe more down below\ / Spoilers ahoy! \/ And if anyone is interested, I am starting on the Beyond Wolf 359 story. You get to see Sasha Wren with all her powers, and the Borg in this story. Hints of stories to come: Of Two Minds: Dax had a decision to make, and Jadzia isn't making it any easier... Shadow Defense: Kai Winn orders an innocent's execution - Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!msunews!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!nntp.brisnet.org.au!softtech!au!org!brisnet!closer!william.gracie ~From: William.Gracie@closer.brisnet.org.au (William Gracie) ~Date: 09 Jan 95 15:32:02 ~Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative ~Subject: DS9-ALTERED SHADOW ARC: SISKO-(2) Message-ID: Organization: Soft-Tech +61-7-869-1131 ~Lines: 160 ~Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.startrek.creative:4327 REPEAT PERFORMANCES (pt2) ******************* By Raymond N. Cooper He staggered back, waiting, letting Jennifer come to him. He tried to remember what Curzon Dax had taught him, oh so many years ago, in case he had ever gotten into trouble like this. Jadzia gasped weakly on the floor. "Use all available resources, Benjamin..." she muttered, trying to see what was happening. The Trill's nerve junction was parting with every movement, Dax and Jadzia's life began to drain away. Dax fought for control of Jadzia, gained it, then curled up in a ball, forcing Jadzia's hands to hold the cord together. Jadzia blacked out, leaving Dax to do all the hard work. Jennifer launched herself at Sisko, literally flying across the room at him. Sisko ducked, and brought up a fist into her midsection. "I'm sorry, Jen, but if this is the way you want it...!" He landed another thud in her body. She got up, and turned to him. Sisko dove for his comm badge, touched it, and yelled, "Sisko to Ops! I need a security detachment in my quarters right away!" Jennifer kicked the badge out of his hands, and looked down at him, a wicked smile on her face. "Come on, Benjamin, this is our fight, not theirs. Let's do this by ourselves for old times' sake, hmmm?" She kicked him again. Sisko got to his feet, waited a full five seconds before jumping at his 'wife' again. She punched him, but he was ready this time, and rolled with the punch, delivering one of his own at the same time. "You can't kill me," Jennifer said simply. "You won't kill me," Sisko growled in in reply. "That almost sounds like a domestic enquiry," Jennifer grinned smugly. The door opened, and Major Kira burst in, phaser at the ready, with a squad of security personel at her back. "You wanted us, commander?" "Yes, Major. I want this... thing taken into custody." Kira gestured with her phaser. "Come on." Jennifer meekly dropped the knife, and walked to Kira, where she stopped,and looked sadly back at Sisko. "It would have been wonderful," she whispered. No warning came between that sentence and Jennifer's arm turning into a scythe, and whipping down at the Major's head. Kira automatically swung to one side, then fired her phaser at Jennifer. The energy blast had no effect on her. Jennifer looked at Kira as though she was some kind of pond scum. ^You really think you can harm me with... that?^ the shadow asked, losing Jennifer's form, and all substance. ^I Know why [] sees you as amusing to him^ Kira stared, mouth agape. "I didn't think I'd see another one of these so soon.." her voice trailed off. ^I have need for you, Major Kira Nerys^ the shadow smirked. ^Come here^ Kira stayed where she was. The shadow's voice became angry. ^Someone has shielded you, that entity is here! Show yourself!^ "I never could resist this sort of temptation," a voice from behind the security squad laughed softly. "I would have thought that you could've worked out who was behind this easily. It hurts not to be remembered..." ^You!^ the shadow screamed. ^You are the one halting our ascention! You will now be removed^ The shadow raised its arms, and fired off a staggering amount of energy. Sasha shrugged it aside as if nothing more than a breeze. "Pu-leaze! This is getting monotonous. I've done that already." Sisko and Kira moved quietly to Dax's side, trying to protect her. Dax muttered, "Go and join your wife, Benjamin..." "She's delirious, Commander." Kira touched her comm badge. "Kira to O'Brien," she whispered, "Beam Dax straight to the Infirmary." "Aye, sir," came the answer. Orange coloured lights surrounded Dax, the Cardassian transporter functioning at an acceptable level - for a change. Sisko couldn't help but notice the look in Dax's eyes as she faded away into the matter stream. 'I wouldn't be injured if it wasn't for your wanting to believe your wife was still alive,' they said to him. Dax wouldn't forgive him for this. And yet - he did have an excuse. If Dax had seen one of her past hosts, who are supposed to die after the transition of the symbiont to a new host, walking down a street somewhere, wouldn't Dax go and say hi? Sisko had wanted to believe that his wife had gotten off the Saratoga, but he knew in his brain that she was dead. It was his heart that believed her alive. Sasha glared at the shadow. It screamed, and Sisko and Kira looked up to see the shadow burning away to nothing. Not even dust or subatomic particles was left of it. The girl turned away, and walked out into the corridor. "So, I've saved your lives - again." Sisko followed her out; she turned back to face him. "There'll be more,you know. Look carefully for them. They'll always be right under your nose." "But why are you helping us?" Sisko asked, holding his hands out to her,wishing she would take them, prove that she had form, and was not just a mass hallucination. She stepped back to the Commander, and took his hands in hers. "I help you because... I need help in return." Sisko was left holding nothing. She had just vanished. He turned back to Kira. "I'll see you in Ops, Major." Kira nodded, and supervised the clean-up of the Non-corporeals' battle. ****** The Federation startship USS Armstrong moved out of warp speed after finding a strange sensor reading. The bridge crew didn't know what to make of it, and began following the anomaly when they realised it was moving. Lieutenant Commander Yavin Telrad, a Romulan defector, looked up from the science station he was presently occupying. "I think its a cloaked vessel, Captain. I'm just waiting on the results of the local graviton displacement sweep we initiated." Captain Nicole Anko stood from her chair. "Romulan?" she queried, worried. A beep came from the science computer. "Computer recognises the cloak signature of that of a D'deridex - class Warbird. Shields, Captain?" Telrad moved to Tactical. "No, I... don't think so. Send out a message to those in its path." "Range, Captain?" Anko stared at the main screen, where Warbird schematics were overlaid on the starfield. "What's its speed?" Telrad checked an instrument. "Warp six, Captain." "Give the message a range of seventy light years. Tell them they have a Romulan Warbird approaching..." "Aye sir." The Armstrong turned, and moved away at warp seven on its original course. ****** Please note that, while some of the characters and settings for this story are copyrighted to Paramount Pictures, everything else, including this storyline and all likenesses, Sasha Wren, the Armstrong and its crew, are all copyrighted (c) to Raymond N. Cooper. I don't care where this story gets to (The Gamme Quadrant, anyone?) as long as this section and my name and address (as author and this bottom bit) are attached to it. Raymond Cooper 17 Belton Crt BEERWAH QLD 4519 AUSTRALIA Southern Hemisphere Earth Solar System Sagitarius Arm Alpha Quadrant The Milky Way Galaxy Local Galactic Group This Universe more down below\ / Spoilers ahoy! \/ And if anyone is interested, I am starting on the Beyond Wolf 359 story. You get to see Sasha Wren with all her powers, and the Borg in this story. Hints of stories to come: Of Two Minds: Dax had a decision to make, and Jadzia isn't making it any easier... Shadow Defense: Kai Winn orders an innocent's execution -and only Odo stands in her way! Dark Side Of The Force: Cardassians invade DS9, and the Borg come through the wormhole! In The Hands Of The Profits: Sela turns up! Quarks nearly dies when a Borg attempts to assimilate him! Great Borg material! The Borg invite the Path: tivoli.tivoli.com!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!msunews!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!nntp.brisnet.org.au!softtech!au!org!brisnet!closer!william.gracie ~From: William.Gracie@closer.brisnet.org.au (William Gracie) ~Date: 09 Jan 95 15:32:38 ~Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative ~Subject: DS9-ALTERED SHADOW ARC: SISKO-(3) Message-ID: Organization: Soft-Tech +61-7-869-1131 ~Lines: 121 ~Xref: tivoli.tivoli.com alt.startrek.creative:4328 REPEAT PERFORMANCES (pt3) ******************* by Raymond N. Cooper Kai Winn sat in her chambers, flicking through the various day to day duties a Kai has to go through. She reached the twentieth page when something didn't feel right. Winn looked up, expecting to see a Vedek,possibly Bareil, since he had been hanging around like a bad smell since he was beaten in the running for Kai. Instead, she saw three shadows advancing on her. They had no features, no clothing, no... audience granted with her, that was for sure. Outside her chambers, Bareil heard Winn scream, then go silent. He called for security, then ran for the doors. Inside, Kai Winn was breathing,but only just. Her robes were ripped, and her arms, legs and face were cut. Not severely, mind you, noted Bareil, but just enough to make a big show of the blood. A blood covered knife lay nearby. Bareil would have to protect the Kai now. But where could he send her where she would be safe? ****** In the Infirmary, Julian Bashir moved away from Dax. She lay on a bed,covered in a blanket, trying not to think what Julian may or may not have done while she was under the anaesthetic for her operation. The shared nerve junction was repaired, and both symbiont and host felt fine. They would be up in about two days, Julian had told them before leaving. But a new problem had emerged: Dax had made her mind up, he/she/it was getting a transfer. But the Jadzia componant was going to stay, no matter what. So much for a joined species. In the shadows of the Infirmary, it was just possible to make out a faint chuckle... TO BE CONTIUED IN Of Two Minds... Please note that, while some of the characters and settings for this story are copyrighted to Paramount Pictures, everything else, including this storyline and all likenesses, Sasha Wren, the Armstrong and its crew, are all copyrighted (c) to Raymond N. Cooper. I don't care where this story gets to (The Gamme Quadrant, anyone?) as long as this section and my name and address (as author and this bottom bit) are attached to it. Raymond Cooper 17 Belton Crt BEERWAH QLD 4519 AUSTRALIA Southern Hemisphere Earth Solar System Sagitarius Arm Alpha Quadrant The Milky Way Galaxy Local Galactic Group This Universe more down below\ / Spoilers ahoy! \/ And if anyone is interested, I am starting on the Beyond Wolf 359 story. You get to see Sasha Wren with all her powers, and the Borg in this story. Hints of stories to come: Of Two Minds: Dax had a decision to make, and Jadzia isn't making it any easier... Shadow Defense: Kai Winn orders an innocent's execution -and only Odo stands in her way! Dark Side Of The Force: Cardassians invade DS9, and the Borg come through the wormhole! In The Hands Of The Profits: Sela turns up! Quarks nearly dies when a Borg attempts to assimilate him! Great Borg material! The Borg invite the DS9 crew to hunt out the Shadows from their closets! The Large One: Once More Unto The Breach: The DS9 crew and two Sasha's take the battle to the shadow's home planet. If you loved 'I, Borg' (and listening to friends of mine, I can't see why - I liked it!), you'll love this story! Then I'll get around to doing the story continuing on with the N'tChells, and N'Col and Jake... Maybe I should work on Beyond Wolf 359? What does you guys think?