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.
During "In the Pale Moonlight..." By Dramatic Spoon
"I can live with it.
Computer. Erase that entire personal log."
Silence filled the room as Sisko slouched in his seat. He moved to get up.
"Captain."
"Terok?"
He slumped back in the chair as the station's AI manifested, a serious look on her face.
"I'm surprised you're not at the celebrations," Sisko began, "Even you w-"
"I know."
Silence returned to the room as Sisko's gaze hardened and he shifted in the chair.
"You were listening?"
"Not entirely. I notice everything around the station. I keep an eye on who leaves, comes, what goes missing..."
she shrugged.
"Seeing you plot with Garak was the first clue. You've worked together before, but never like that."
"Then you understand what is at stake."
"It's not the first war I've seen and I doubt it will be the last."
"Terok. Erase your memory of this incident and all related files."
"Only after I finish my piece."
She walked towards his desk and place her hands on the desk.
"From my point of view the Federation has always been...soft. Quark makes the comparison to root beer. Sickly sweet, bubbly... Part of me always wondered how the Cardassians would have lost to such an organization. The Klingon attack, the Battle for the Station, and everything I have seen since made me realize that the Federation is much more than it claims to be. Much more savage. More manipulative. More...willing to do things it has claimed they wouldn't. Things your personal have said is beneath them.
So before I follow your instructions, I only have one thing to say."
Her gaze shifted, as she looked directly into Sisko's eyes. There was something familiar in the look she gave him.
"This was a very Cardassian thing to do, Captain."
The AI flickered and vanished.
Just a bit more of Terok Nor-chan.