Chapter One
'A Cardassian sunrise please', said Diane Jones, taking a seat at the bar at Quark's. She looked around for a moment. Everything was coming back to her, everything was the same, but still looked different. She sighed and tried to hide her face with her long blonde hair as the Ferengi turned to look at her.
'Coming right up', said Quark. His smile faded when he got a better look at her. 'Don't I know you from somewhere?' he asked.
'I don't think so, unless you've been hanging around Vulcan the past five years', she replied, lowering her face so he couldn't see her very well, but smiling as she did, so he wouldn't suspect her.
'Vulcan? What was a pretty human girl like you doing on a computerized and cold planet like Vulcan?' he said and pushed his brother Rom away from the counter and ordered him to take more prune juice to the table Worf was sitting.
'Actually', Diane started, 'Vulcan climate is almost desert-like'. She sat back reassured he would not recognize her if she kept talking. Besides, things had changed since the Occupation. Now, she was almost amused by the Ferengi asking her questions and didn't look anything like she did when he last saw her, six years ago. 'But I know what you mean. Vulcans are not that much fun, but I knew that when I moved there. I was studying History.'
'Ah!' he exclaimed, forgetting about his previous belief that he knew her, 'A scholar! So you have both looks and brains, right? If that's not too bold to say.' He served her drink and waited for an answer, but since he didn't get one, he went on. 'And may I ask what brings you to Deep Space Nine?'
'Just making a short stop' she answered as she took a sip of her drink, 'I'm writing a book and I've been traveling in order to find my… inspiration'.
'A book? That's nice. And will you stay long?' he asked.
'Oh, I should think not. After this of course, I might change my mind. You make a hell of a Cardassian sunrise, you know that?' she said and smiled.
'It's been known…' he replied with a devilish grin.
'Don't push it!' she said as she paid him and got up to leave. She was near the exit when he shouted 'I didn't catch your name!' She turned around, hesitated for a moment and then replied 'It's Diane'.
