One of the best things about watchingStar Trekis falling in love with characters like Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko. From jetting out on five-year missions to exploring the galaxy, each is a different interpretation of what it means to boldly go where no one has gone before. Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) ofDeep Space 9, in many ways, is a rare breed even for a class of officers whose experiences range from time travelto being possessed by cyborgs. Fans had the privilege of watching him earn his captain title. Captain Sisko was also pivotal in helping Bajor reclaim its primary space station after it had been claimed during the occupation of Cardassia.
The captain in Sisko was a ferocious spirit, unafraid to tackle combat no matter the cost or repercussion to his moral center. The father in him knew when to push those in his care to their full potential, and when they needed someone to lean on. At the end of the day, though, he was just like any other captain navigating a story that pushed him to limits and maximized his personal growth. When Captain Sisko’s series decided he’d reached the peak of his character development, things took a turn that no fans could have expected.
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Captain Sisko Left for the Celestial Temple
Star Trekhas never been afraid of putting a philosophical spin on its own adventurous space narrative. Most of the time, this meant asking deeper questions about the moral consequences of the work being done by the Federation throughout the galaxy.Deep Space Nine, on the other hand, brought in an element of religion and spirituality that had previously been unseen in the franchise. The series opens with Captain Sisko reaching out to Bajoran spiritual leader Kai Opaka (Camille Saviola) and receiving the role of Emissary of the Prophets.
This made him a religious leader to the Bajoran people and left him with the responsibility of connecting Bajor to their holy figures – known as the Prophets – and the Celestial Temple they called home. Kai Opaka has him use an Orb of the Prophets to consult with the celestial beings and start his own spiritual quest. Captain Sisko was initially reluctant to accept the role, especially with so many political stakes on the line. The Federation was in the midst of re-earning the trust of Bajor after having stood by and allowed them to be occupied by Cardassia. In the end, though, Sisko grew into the role and even found ways to balance his spiritual obligations with those of a respected officer.
The series finale ofDeep Space Nineculminates into a two-part epic battle of galactic and spiritual proportions. Captain Sisko leads an air charge of the Federation and its allies against the last of the Dominion forces before their Founding leader concedes victory. Meanwhile, Kai Winn Adami (Louise Fletcher) has lured Cardassian exile Gal Dukat (Marc Alaimo) into being sacrificed, so she can commune with the Pah-Wraiths – a darker version of the Prophets.
Captain Sisko shows up in time to defeat them both. However, instead of being allowed toreturn home to his son Jake(Cirroc Lofton) and wife Kasidy Yates (Penny Johnson), the Prophets inform him that now that his duty to Bajor is complete he must turn his attention to the Celestial Temple itself. His last message is that he’ll return to his family “in a year, or maybe…yesterday.” It’s a solemn end to a poignant story, but in many ways, it doesn’t end there.
Captain Sisko in theStar TrekComics
When it comes to the ever-expanding world ofStar Trek, most people are only familiar with its movies and TV shows. It takes someone with a deep love of the franchise to dive into the comic book iterations of their favorite stories. In live action, Captain Sisko’s fate after leaving for the Celestial Temple remains unknown. In the comics, however, his galactic adventures continue.
IDW’sStar Trek #1picks up whereDeep Space Nineleft off, and has Sisko returning to the captain’s chair to work with fan-favorite characters such as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Data, Spock, and even Worf. Captain Sisko has basically ascended to a level of Godhood that makes him as powerful as the elusive trickster Q.Star Trek: Defiantwas released in March 2023 and features the captain struggling to keep his new-found powers from making him forget about the casualties of war. Otherwise, Captain Sisko is as formidable as always, and only time will tell where he’ll lend his services next.
Captain Sisko’s Alternate Timelines
In 1967,Star Trek: The Original Seriesintroduced the concept of alternate realities in the now-iconic episode “Mirror, Mirror.” Alternate realities have since become a staple of the Trekkie viewing experience. Characters discovering different versions of the world and people they know gives creators a chance to explore a wide variety of themes.
In the case of Captain Sisko, comics and novels alike play around with the potential directions his story might ha ve taken him –not unlike MCU’sWhat If…?. In one version, the captain’s experience with the Orb of Souls gives readers a glimpse into what his life could’ve been like had he remained a captain, held different Starfleet titles, or resigned altogether after the death of his first wife Jennifer (Felecia M. Bell). There are so many versions of Captain Sisko and very little time for fans to get to know them all!
So far, Sisko is the onlyStar Trekcaptain who hasn’t been revived for any live-action or animated projects. This makes the chances of getting real answers as to where his journey took him afterDeep Space Nineslim to none. It’s unfortunate, because Captain Sisko is such a dynamic character. He can be a ruthless leader, but also a complete softie. He’s an avid lover of vintage styles of cooking, even though food replicators were widely used when he was growing up. He isn’t afraid of war. But he doesn’t seek out conflict just because he can. These attributes make him stand out among greats like Captains Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew).
Still, Paramount Plus has been doing its due diligence in reviving thelove of old-schoolStar Trek. One day, fans might finally get the answers they seek and also – if they’re lucky enough – get to see Captain Sisko’s story returned to their screens. For now, he’ll just have to live on in mystery.
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