Paint and Powder

A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.

After "Trials and Tribble-lations", written by me.

The Enterprise-E was making a rare visit to Deep Space Nine. Her shakedown cruise was underway, and given the increased hostilities between the Federation and the Klingons, her presence was meant to show off Starfleet's resolve.

It was going to take some getting used to, her new body. But she felt confident in her abilities, and in her mission. Enough that she actually decided she'd take a trip to the Promenade with her holographic avatar.

"And... There!" Geordi said with a smile, making the last adjustments on her arm band, "you're ready to go!"

Enterprise grinned.

"Thanks Geordi," she said. She gave him a hug, and headed to the airlock. She exited through the doors, to see a familiar bunny eared sight in the corridor beyond.

"ENTERPRISE!" Defiant cried, happily leaping up and hugging her. Enterprise laughed and hugged her 'little sister' happily, spinning her around.

"Defiant! It's so nice to see you!" She cried. "Oh, look at you!"

"Look at me? Look at you!" Defiant laughed, letting Enterprise go. "Sovereign-class, huh?"

Enterprise grinned.

"Yup! I just keep getting better and better," she proclaimed. She elbowed Defiant affectionately, "but I couldn't have done it without you!"

"Yeah, I think 50 percent of your systems were tested on me first," Defiant teased, "but what else did you get?"

They began walking towards the Promenade, as Enterprise began to think aloud. She tapped her chin.

"Hmmm... Well! I got those bioneural gelpack computers."

"Those any good?" Defiant asked, making a face.

"They're different, but I do feel a lot more efficient," Enterprise admitted. "Let's see... Regenerative shielding-"

"That's just a fancy way of say you have more shield generators that you can swap in and out during combat," Defiant teased. Enterprise snorted.

"It'll work!" She said defensively, "and of course, they're metaphasic enhanced!"

"I guess you could work on your tan, with how pale you are," Defiant replied. Enterprise huffed, and hummed again.

"Let's see... Quantum torpedoes-"

"Old news! I've got them!"

"Type XII phaser banks, the most powerful ever fitted to a starship," Enterprise grinned. Defiant scowled.

"Not fair!"

"Ablative armor, with polarizing underlayer-"

"Seriously?!"

"You have neutronium-laced armor!" Enterprise laughed, "why should you be jealous?"

Defiant pouted. Enterprise rubbed the top of her head affectionately.

"Nobody sees you as a defective problem prototype any more, Defiant," she said warmly, "in fact, we're all very grateful to you."

"Yeah, but still," Defiant huffed, "I didn't get any celebrations when I was commissioned."

"Well, maybe we should throw you one," Enterprise said as they reached the Promenade. She looked up, "why not ask your Captain if you... Can..."

Defiant blinked and looked at the Promenade. She groaned at the hordes of fuzzy little animals that were now literally carpeted everywhere.

"Oh yeah... That," Defiant groaned. "Um, so there was a time travel mission back to see an earlier you-I can tell you about it now, no paradox-and we brought back a-"

"TRIBBLE?!" Enterprise cried, running away in blind panic. Defiant blinked and watched her elder sister flee... Only for a mound of tribbles to pour out from the upper decks and bury her. The holographic avatar continued to scream bloody murder, as many people watched in disbelief.

"Oh boy," Defiant sighed, "this is going to be fun to unravel..."

Over a century isn't long enough... To get over the fear.