Benjamin Sisko sat alone in his quarters aboard Deep Space Nine, taking in the quiet. After thirty years of being in the company of the Prophets, he’d returned to a world that was now full of strangers. Starfleet had evolved—new faces, new uniforms, even the furniture felt different. But one thing remained the same: Sisko was still here, albeit a little out of touch.
On the desk in front of him sat a new data pad, sleek and shiny, nothing like the clunky padds he was used to. It looked more like something you’d find in a 21st-century tech store than a Starfleet-issued device. He stared at it for a moment before tapping the screen.
The device powered on with a soft chime, and the screen blinked to life. A friendly message appeared:
“Welcome, Captain Benjamin Sisko. Please select your preferred interface:
Standard LCARS UI
iOS View Overlay
Android 14 Adaptive Overlay
Windows 10 Tablet Edition (Classic Mode)”
Sisko blinked at the options.
“Windows 10? Seriously? Still?”
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Thirty years, and we’re still stuck here?" He sighed but couldn't help a smile creeping onto his face. "I bet Dillahay's behind this nonsense."
Just as he was about to tap something, the screen suddenly flickered and changed. Appearing before him, grinning like a malfunctioning over-caffeinated assistant, was none other than Badgey 2.0.
“Hey, Captain!” Badgey chirped enthusiastically. “Welcome back to Deep Space Nine! I bet you’ve got a ton of questions, and let me tell ya, this new setup is next-level. You’re probably wondering why you’ve got all these skin choices, huh?”
Sisko rubbed his temples. “Yeah, something like that…”
“Well, here’s the deal,” Badgey said, sounding far too pleased with himself. “Admiral Dillahay, the big brains behind all this, thought the old LCARS interface was too… well, ‘old.’ He said it reminded him of this ancient software called Tandy DeskMate and that we needed something fresher. So, he cooked up a few new skins for you to try out. We’ve got iOS View, Android 14 Adaptive, and Windows 10 Classic. Take your pick! We’re in the 24th century, baby!”
Sisko raised an eyebrow. “Dillahay... of course. He’s always got to be the one shaking things up.”
“Oh, and this is the iOS View,” Badgey continued, his voice oozing with enthusiasm. “Very Apple-esque, super clean, super sleek, but—heads up—it’s a walled garden. No downloading apps from anywhere but the App Store. So, maybe not your best choice.”
The screen flickered again as Badgey switched it over. “Here’s the Android 14 Adaptive Overlay—Dillahay’s personal fave! It’s all about flexibility, just like him. He loves that Samsung Galaxy Z-Fold 5, you know? You can load anything you want, no restrictions. Very… open.”
Sisko could almost hear Badgey’s grin through the screen. “And last but not least, we’ve got Windows 10 Classic, for those of you who like to feel like you’re really living in the past. It’s got that ‘good ol’ desktop’ feel, for the nostalgia buffs out there.”
Sisko glanced over all the options, now wondering if maybe he was better off just doing things the old-fashioned way. But then, just as he was about to make a decision, the door chimed.
“Enter.”
It was Kira Nerys, her face breaking into a wide grin as soon as she saw him.
“Captain!” she said with a nod of approval. “It’s good to see you again, and finally—it’s about time we got you back on this station. And guess what? Admiral Dillahay heard you’re here and he’s on his way. He said he has some huge news for you. You’re gonna love it.”
Sisko raised an eyebrow. “Dillahay? Big news? I’m not sure I’m ready for whatever scheme he’s cooked up.”
“Oh, trust me,” Kira said, clearly excited. “It’s not just news. It’s gonna blow your mind. And get this—he wants the same spot where he ran his restaurant back. If it’s available, of course. He says it’s part of this ‘grand plan,’ but you’re going to be floored when you hear what he has in store.”
Sisko leaned back in his chair, a deep sigh escaping his lips. “A restaurant? Now?”
Kira grinned wider. “Oh yeah. And he’s convinced it’s all going to be part of some big story that’s going to change the galaxy. You know how he gets with that, right?”
Sisko rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “I don’t know whether to laugh or just get prepared for the chaos.”
“Definitely laugh,” Kira said with a wink. “And maybe hold off on using Windows 10. Admiral Dillahay is the only person who could make Windows 10 feel exciting, but you’re going to need your sanity for his ‘big reveal.’ Trust me.”
Sisko gave a dry chuckle. “I’ll think about it.”
“Oh, and check out the other skins before you make your decision,” Kira added, dropping a bombshell. “Bashir picked Windows RT at first. He used it for, like, two minutes, and then immediately switched to Apple macOS. But, hey, don’t let that sway you.”
Sisko’s eyes widened for a moment, then he let out a short laugh. “Windows RT? Bashir?”
Kira nodded, her face deadpan. “Yup. And he’s never going back. But you know how he is—always trying the latest ‘tech’ until something else catches his eye. Maybe he’s just ahead of his time. Or maybe he’s just a glutton for punishment.”
Sisko rolled his eyes and muttered to himself. “I think I need a drink.”
Kira chuckled, giving him a wink. “You’ll need more than that. Alright, I’m off, but brace yourself for Dillahay. You know how he gets, right?”
Sisko grinned wryly. “Oh, I know.”
He turned back to the tablet and shook his head, tapping the screen. “Alright, Dillahay. Show me what you’ve got. I’m already prepared for the worst.”
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