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.

In the future...

Captain Robert DeSoto had been Riker's commanding officer before the Enterprise-D, and the two got along well. They had rarely gotten the chance to talk afterwards though. Once Riker had gotten command of the Titan though, they were able to meet in person more often. At the moment, they met aboard the Hood herself as she and the Titan were patrolling the same sector.

DeSoto poured a glass of wine for Riker, which he gladly accepted. They sat and relaxed in DeSoto's ready room.

"Got yourself quite a ship, Will," DeSoto said. "How is the big chair treating you?"

"Well enough," Will said. He grinned. "Marriage has been treating me better though."

"Ha! Just you wait. Will," DeSoto chuckled, "you're still in the honeymoon. Two strong willed people like you? You'd better not make any assumptions. Marriage is tough!"

Will gave his former captain a wry look.

"This from the commited bachelor? You've been on the same ship for, what, almost 40 years?"

DeSoto chuckled, and sipped his wine.

"Let's just say," he said, "I'm married to the job."

Hood's avatar appeared: Still the same staturesque, glamorous blonde woman she had been when he'd been aboard. She rested a hand on DeSoto shoulder with a warm smile and affectionate squeeze.

"Bob, time for exercise," she said gently in a refined British accent. DeSoto grumbled.

"You're running me ragged, woman," he sighed. Hood shifted into her swimsuit, and her smile widened.

"Does this help?" Hood asked. DeSoto grumbled some more.

"One day that won't work," he said, getting up to his feet. Hood laughed, and her hand lingered on her captain's back.

"Perish the thought!" She said. She gave a wink to Riker. "Congratulations, Will! Say hello to Deanna for me, won't you?"

Somehow, a thousand little details from his service aboard the Hood came into sharp focus. A thousand looks, touches, and smiles between the two. All crystallized into the rings on their fingers. Matching rings, that vanished from Hood's finger with a bit of holographic manipulation when she saw his look.

Will then smiled and nodded.

"Of course," Will said. "I'll see you later, Captain."

"You too, Will," DeSoto agreed, heading out with Hood's hsnd in his. The doors shut behind them, and Will shook his head. He took another long pull of his wine and laughed quietly.

"Married to the job, indeed..."

Because I liked Captain DeSoto and I wanted to do more with him.