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.

Written by Dramatic Spoon.

Worf did not know how to feel about what he was staring at.

He had been summoned to The Defiant with a rather cryptic message. On one hand, it might have been serious. On the other hand he has assumed it might have been Jadzia idea of a joke or some sort of frivolous flirting.

This was neither and he would have preferred a Dominion attack.

"What do you think?"

A short, muscular, dark skinned human girl with long white hair and a strange Starfleet themed Leotard stood in front of him, grinning proudly.

Under normal circumstances he might have had very different thoughts, but he was a married man and he noticed one other thing.

A set of rabbit ears.

"Defiant, what is the meaning of this?"

Defiant gave him a victory sign.

"I wanted a new avatar so the rest of the fleet would take me seriously and I picked this one."

The Defiant grinned and flexed a muscle.

"I like it! I think I look much more adult and cool and-"

"And what do you think you're doing, young lady?"

The Defiant winced as Sisko entered the bridge with a glare.

"Dad, I-"

"What is the meaning of this get up?"

"She wants a new holographic avatar," Worf said, his instincts immediately demanding self preservation, "I was not aware of this either, Captain."

Sisko's glare deepened.

"You are not going out there dressed like that."

"But Dad!" Defiant whined. Sisko shook his head.

"Don't 'but dad' me, young lady. Computer, reset avatar."

The muscular rabbit girl vanished, replaced with the Defiant's original avatar. Defiant pouted. Sisko shook his head again, his glare softening.

"Let me make it clear, if you want to change you appearance? You will have to run it by me first."

Defiant huffed.

"…fine."

"May I go now?" Worf asked.

Everyone at Quark's stared as the newcomer entered. A couple of the patrons murmured to each other, uncertain of what they we looking at.

Some sort of small, anthromorphic rabbit dressed in a Starfleet Uniform.

With a hop, she leap from the deck up onto a barstool.

Quark glanced down at her and did a double take.

"Well, you're a new face. Welcome to Quark's. Interred in a Dabo game? Or maybe a drink? Kanar? Romulan Ale? Root Be-"

"Quark, it's me."

Quark paused.

"What?"

"It's me," the rabbit waved her hands, "The Defiant."

Quark was too old a hand at bartending to laugh. But it was hard.

"…what, did Rom repair your holomatter emitter? You should have never trusted him with anything that vital."

"No, after the last time I tried to change my avatar, Captain Sisko made me get his approval."

She looked down at herself.

"I feel ridiculous."

"So what are you supposed to be?" Quark asked, "Zen Wobian Racoon? Selenite?"

"I'm a rabbit."

"What is that, some sort of Hew-mon pest?"

"I don't-"

"There she is!"

Leeta and several of the Dabo girls surrounded the Defiant.

"Awww, you're so cute!" One of them cooed as she petted the Defiant's head.

"So adorable."

"Where can I get one?"

"Quaaaark," the Defiant groaned, "Make them stop."

Defiant naturally tried to look like Mirko the Rabbit Hero from "My Hero Academia." And then, she looked like Judy Hopps from "Zootopia".