"NOW, IF YOU want to put a letter of reprimand in my file for that," Sisko said, "go ahead."
Dulmur and Lucsly exchanged a look of helpless concern, communicating to each other and to Sisko that there really wasn't anything they could do about all this, even if Sisko had decided to stay in the past beyond the requirements of his mission.
They could confiscate his autograph, though, and thus he wasn't about to tell them he had it.
"We'll have to review the case," Lucsly said eventually, as if there were much else he could say, "before making any recommendations."
"However," Dulmur put in, "I don't think there was any harm done." When both Sisko and Lucsly looked at him, he admitted, "I probably would've done the same thing myself."
Dulmur blushed at his own ultimate transgression, but Lucsly didn't say anything.
Lucsly closed his briefcase in silent conclusion and stood up. The two time cops let Sisko lead them to the door without further comment on the terrible crime of having pushed the envelope of risk in time.
"There is one thing, Captain," Dulmur asked as the door opened before them.
"Yes?" Sisko encouraged.
Dulmur slowly began, "In regard to Captain Kirk … what color was his uniform?"
Sisko looked at them blankly for a moment, giving them an instant of terror that he hadn't paid any attention. Then he simply said, "Green."
The time guys looked at each other again, eyes wide with secret pleasure. Lucsly smiled and made a diagonal motion across his own chest—and, yes, Kirk's shirt had been the wraparound kind.
Dulmur swallowed a giggle.
"What does that have to do with the case?" Sisko tormented.
Instantly the two dropped their delight and tried to act serious.
"Nothing," Lucsly admitted.
"The important thing," Dulmur said, "is that your trip into the past had no lasting repercussions here in the present."
Uneasily, forcing himself not to grin, Sisko shifted and led them out of the office, through Ops, toward the turbolift. In the background, Dax and Kira looked up expectantly, then controlled their curiosity.
"You'll be receiving our report in about a month," Dulmur said. "But based on what you've told us, I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"I'm glad to hear it," Sisko said.
"Goodbye, Captain."
"Goodbye."
The two guys stepped into the lift, and Lucsly said, "Docking Port Seven."
The lift closed and hummed, taking the investigators nice and away.
Dax and Kira were at Sisko's side before the sound faded. "It went well?" Dax asked.
Sisko only nodded.
"Good," Kira said. "The constable wants to see us on the Promenade."
Sisko looked at her and nodded. "I wouldn't be a bit surprised."
The Promenade. Quark's bar. Home Sweet Station.
Sisko led Kira and Dax out into the public area on the first level, and Odo was there to meet them, looking grim. The door to Quark's bar hung open, and the constable was gazing passively in, but didn't seem anxious to actually go in.
"Did you tell them?" he asked.
"They didn't ask," Sisko said. "I'm open to suggestions, people."
"We could build another station," Dax suggested.
Luckily, no one had the bad taste to suggest a really big barbecue.
Inside the bar, the Ferengi bartender Quark stood behind his bar, staring as if hit with phaser stun. His gnomish face was creased with unhappiness, and upon his misshapen head rested a cooing, purring tribble.
Not such a problem, given the shape of Quark's head, but for the tribbles on the bar—over a hundred at first glance—and the thousand more tribbles on the tables, on the floor, in the kiosks, on the chairs, in the pitchers and carafes, and dotting the very walls.
There were even more than this morning.
Sisko and his crew stood as if iron-bound, staring as the carpet of tribbles inched toward them and slowly swarmed around their feet, jockeying for a cuddle.
Sisko pressed a grin flat. He glanced to the upper-level walkway, where Lieutenant Worf glared down in disgust.
"Well," Sisko decided, "This is just part of the life on a deep-space station. One of the many trials and tribble-ations we face every day. Suddenly I feel like having a chicken sandwich and some coffee. Anyone care to join me?"