Chapter Nine: The First Law of Metaphysics

 Captain D'arko stood at the head of the conference table, his hand lightly gripping the back of his unused chair as he looked fixedly at the book sitting as the current centrepiece.Since its arrival, he'd made certain it, the ship, and himself, had undergone extensive tests to ensure there was no immediate danger.

"...So, what have we established here?" he asked the assembled senior staff.

T'Upok began, "Well, the book exists. It scans indicate it composed of wood fibre based paper and various inks common in the late 19th century on Earth. Historical research indicates no such book ever having been published and only brief mention of a 'Benny Russell', being an early to mid 20th century pulp magazine writer with no connection to the characters of work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.Examination of the text shows it is, in fact, simply a compilation of the stories 'The Valley of Fear' and 'The Adventure of the Final Problem', both written by Doyle. The title on the book, itself references the Kosst Amojan, a figure of Bajoran mythology who leads the so-called Pah Wraiths, the embodiment of evil in the Bajoran religion."

"Pendragon," Crad interjected, "is completely intact with all primary systems functioning at peak efficiency. No damage has been reported and a diagnostic of your command chair shows normal. We also show no logs of any red alert."

D'arko turned his attention to Dr. Torgas, his antennae curling in query.

"Results from your medical scans show you're in perfect health, Captain, though your cellular organelles show a slightly increased fluctuation on a quantum level. Other than that minor anomaly, though, I'd wager on you to win an Ushaan challenge," Torgas said, allowing a smile to come to its lips.

"And before you ask," Omehrtiis interrupted, "You are not crazy. I believe you saw what you say you did. The book being here is evidence of that."

"Lieutenant Starr? Thoughts?"D'arko asked his his Tactical chief.

"Well, Captain, I do think we need to be at a heightened alert, but I don't think we need to go to yellow just yet. I am curious about two things, though, "D'arko nodded,"The captain you described in your vision. I played a hunch and did some digging."

Syn Starr tapped the PADD in her hand, then pointed it in the general direction of the wall screen. An image of a dark-skinned Starfleet captain with a shaved head and goatee appeared. D'arko's recognition was obvious.

"This," Starr continued, "Was Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, former commanding officer of Deep Space Nine, former adjunct to Admiral William Ross, hero of the Dominion War, and father of journalist and novelist Jake Sisko. Officially, Captain Sisko was declared missing in action and presumed dead on stardate 52902.0, though his son and widow are adamant that he is not dead. 

"Interestingly, Captain Sisko held a place within Bajoran religion, the 'Emissary of the Prophets', a kind of messianic figure supposed to be a messenger between the Bajoran people and their gods, the 'Prophets of the Celestial Temple', which is the term they use for the aliens who built and reside within the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. 

"Sisko's logs from his time on Deep Space Nine tell of these aliens, who don't exists in time on a linear manner as we do, periodically communicating with him through visions, the first of which occurring on his first trip through the wormhole."

D'arko paused, looking at the image of Captain Sisko.

"It may be possible," he said after a thought, "That Captain Sisko's wife and son are correct. I have the feeling I just spoke with him. T'Upok, would it be theoretically possible that Benjamin Sisko was not killed, but was, in essence, brought into the wormhole to join these aliens on 52902.0, where he began a non-linear existence with them? That he, somehow and for some reason, contacted me and left me this book as some kind of message?

T'Upok raised an eyebrow.

"As a hypothesis, I would say it is... not terribly likely, though, yes, it WOULD be possible. I feel the need, however, to remind you of both Occam's Razor, which states that when a question is examined, the simplest solution is generally the most likely...And Kiri-kin-tha's First Law of Metaphysics: Nothing unreal exists."

"Duly noted, but I'll take a slim possibility as still being a possibility, "D'arko turned his attention back to Starr, "And the second thing you're curious about, Lieutenant?"

"Well, Sir... I'm actually told I'm an excellent singer. Why didn't I get a solo in your vision?" 

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