The bar was empty as Julian and Myles entered. Vic was waiting for them looking a lot better. He smiled as they came in and gave them a notebook each. He didn't know if they would use them but they were always useful. Julian looked around the bar. It was weird seeing it so quiet but knew it would soon be very busy again.

"Are you all ready?" Julian asked, sitting down behind the desk Vic had laid up in front of the stage.

"I think so. You?" Vic said, sitting in the middle of both Julian and Myles.

"No. I've seen some of the acts rehearsing. I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you Vic." Myles tutted.

"Please tell me we've got some acts that are alright!" Vic pleaded.

"We hope so. Sisco won't be very pleased if the show doesn't go right or the acts are bad."

"Is he coming to watch?"

"He said he might catch the end. Ross might need to speak to him so he has to be available." Julian thought.

"I thought that situation was taken care of." Vic questioned.

"It has but Sisco said that he wants to be kept aware of things happening." Myles sighed shrugging.

Vic nodded as he heard this coming from the two men. Sisco was very hardworking, Vic knew that but sometimes everyone needed a break. Vic knew that all too well now. The door of the holosuite opened before they could discuss it more.

"Are we the first ones here?" Nog asked, looking around.

"Yeah. Nog what do you think about the acts so far? I mean do you think they're going to be good?" Vic asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"I would like to say my father will do very well but I haven't really heard the others so I don't know." Nog sighed thinking over the last time he had heard his father's act.

"Are you going to sing for us Kira?" Julian smiled seeing her sort of hide behind Nog.

Everyone in the room then stared at Kira. Kira went red when this happened. She had thought about singing but had thought against it. Odo had tried to change her mind but didn't get very far.

"No thanks. I'll sit back and watch everyone else." Kira finally admitted.

"Alright but if you change your mind, there are some spots still open." Vic mentioned looking at the list.

"I'll keep that in mind." Kira went to sit at the bar.

Julian and Myles smiled at each other as she did this. The crew of the Deep Space Nine knew Kira liked to sing. She just didn't like singing in front of people or a large crowd and as they were expecting a lot of people from the station, they couldn't blame her.

"I'm afraid Lieutenant Buckley won't be joining us." Kira mentioned before the show started.

"Why? what's happened?" Julian sounded surprised.

"He's broken his leg and Captain Picard wants him back on the Enterprise for care." Kira retold what Odo had told her.

"And who wants to argue with Captain Picard?!" Julian mentioned, looking over at Myles.

"Very funny!" Myles punched Julian in the side.

Vic didn't have a clue what everyone was talking about but just nodded as they kept talking. Picard sounded important and they all sounded scared of him so he would have to keep out of his way! They could then hear voices outside the holosuite. The door then opened with a windswept Odo barging in through everyone. Kira quickly closed the door behind him just in case everyone came in at once.

"Thanks. I thought there weren't many acts involved with this whole show?!" Odo muttered.

"There aren't." Kira folded her arms, staring at Julian.

"It's probably the audience. Quark has been trying to drum up business for it all week." Julian answered.

"What for?! He's not even getting involved!" Nog smirked.

"Probably because he can get more business for the bar." Myles sighed.

"Well we're all ready so let them in. If you guys are ready, that is?" Vic asked, sitting down in the seat in front of the stage.

"Do we know who's going first?" Odo asked Nog.

"It's whoever appears first. I just hope it's not my dad. Unless you're ready for jokes about wormholes." Nog shuddered.

Odo smiled and helped Kira to open the holosuite doors. Julian and Myles joined Vic with Nog standing at the side of the stage waiting for the acts to appear. They all nodded at each other and opened the doors. A lot of people were waiting.

"Anyone who wants to go first please go to Nog who'll sort you out. If you're in the audience please follow us." Odo motioned to himself and Kira.

The crowd made a lot of noise as they came through. Most of them, like they had discussed, were in the audience but there seemed to be more acts then they were expecting at least.

"Alright Nog." Ezri smiled walking over to him.

"I think so. Just make sure everyone does what they're told." Nog shook his head just thinking about it.

"I've come to sign up actually." Ezri revealed.

"You want to go first?"

"Yeah why not? Someone's got to haven't they."

"Great. Well I'll just introduce you and then you can get started." Nog patted her on the back for luck.

Ezri looked really confident which was always a good thing. Nog went up to the stage and everyone went quiet.

"Alright. Hello everyone and welcome to the first Deep Space Nine talent show." Nog announced.

Everyone applauded with Ezri getting more and more nervous.

"Our judges for tonight, Vic Fontanine. Julian Bashir and Myles O'Brien." Nog pointed to the judges table.

"Our prize tonight: to perform in front of Vic's bar for a few nights this month." Nog continued.

"Come on Ezri. You're going to be fine." Ezri whispered to herself.

"Now please come to me when you're ready to present your act. Our first act tonight's Commander Ezri." Nog applauded as Ezri took the stage.

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Ezri performed really well. As the night continued more and more great acts took to the stage. Four of the Bajoran security officers performed in a quartet, two trill ambassadors performed a tap dance inspired by Barckley. Morg did a little dance but didn't tell too much. Others either sang or did a dance. Rom was still waiting for his chance and it was getting to the latter part of the show.

The holosuite door then opened with Sisco and Admiral Ross on the other side. No one paid them any attention however, as they were too engrossed in the show. They just went over to the bar.

"The show's going well." Ross whispered to Sisco.

"Well I hope it is. Julian and Myles have been through so much to try and do this show." Sisco responded.

Nog then re-took the stage and looked a little worried. Sisco soon saw Ezri and welcomed her over.

"How did your act go?" Sisco smiled.

"It went well. I got a lot of applause and they seemed to like it." Ezri looked at the audience.

"I'm glad to hear it."

Ezri nodded at Sisco and Ross and then left towards Kira and Odo who were in the audience. Ross was staring at the stage however so didn't really notice.

"What's wrong sir?" Sisco asked worriedly.

"I think we're about to hear some jokes." Ross moaned.

Sisco looked towards the stage as Rom took the stage. No one looked very happy to see him up there including Nog.

"I'm sure he's going to do fine." Sisco tried to have faith.

"You might be the only one thinking that." Ross said as his communicator sounded.

"Is it important?"

"I'm afraid so. I'll leave you to it. Congratulate everyone for me." Ross said as he left.

Rom stood there on stage. He was shaking a lot and wasn't getting any sympathy from the crowd either. He then started.

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"That's just what wormholes do." Rom finished his final joke.

The crowd gave an awkward amount of applause as Rom bowed. Quark looked pleased at least as his brother left the stage.

"They didn't like it did they?" Rom asked.

"I did. I think they just know talent when they see it." Quark nodded over to the judges.

"You sure? I mean I've tried before and Vic didn't want me the first time."

"You have an equal chance as anyone else."

"I'm not sure about that one brother." Rom shrugged.

Quark rolled his eyes as Nog took the stage. He looked a bit more happy then he did when Rom took the stage at least. He did however, look around the room a little lost.

"Right well I guess that was the last act." Nog looked hopefully over to Kira and Odo's table.

"I thought you were going to do an act." Odo whispered to Kira.

"I thought better of it." Kira shook her head.

"Go on. You'll love it once you're up there. I did." Ezri tried to comfort Kira.

"I'm not going up there!"

"Oh go on. I'll go up there with you. We can do a duet." Odo even tried to get her up on stage.

"No!" Kira said once again.

"Alright, your choice." Odo shook his head to Nog.

"Alright. Well that was our last act of the night. I'm sure the judges have a lot to think over so goodnight everyone and we'll let you know the decision soon." Nog said goodnight.

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Once everyone had left, Julian, Myles and Vic were left together to think everything over. Vic had made notes about every act as he would have to share the stage with them every night. Myles and Julian were ready just to agree with whatever he said.

"So who do you think should get the job Vic?" Julian asked after what felt like ages talking.

"I don't know." Vic decided.

"What do you mean? I thought you wanted someone to help out." Myles was confused.

"It's not that. Just I don't think we saw an act on the stage that would work." Vic groaned, rubbing his forehead.

"You're so fussy!" Julian snorted.

"Oh sorry! Maybe I should just think this over. You two need your rest anyway." Vic showed them the door.

"Okay Vic. Tell us tomorrow your decision." Myles yawned.

Julian and Myles said their goodbyes and left Vic to it. Vic put his head in his hands. This was going to be tough.

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Ezri was on the bridge looking at some things before she went to bed. The talent show was amazing and she really enjoyed it. She didn't even mind if she didn't get the prize in the end. Odo came over to her.

"Keeping busy?" Odo asked her yawning.

"Something like that. Just a few things to do and then I'm done for the night. How do you think the talent show went?" Ezri asked.

"I enjoyed it. I think you did really well."

"Thanks. You're just saying that though. I bet you've said that to everyone."

"Maybe."

"Was there something you wanted?" Ezri saw Odo was thinking of someone else.

"Have you seen Major Kira?"

"Not since the talent show. She hasn't been up here."

"Just keep an eye out for her. I'm not worried or anything but I need to speak to her."

"Of course." Ezri turned back to her work.

Odo nodded and then went back to the security station, hoping Kira might be waiting for him.

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"Kira?" Vic asked seeing her at the bar.

He just got a groan in response. She must have fallen asleep or something. Vic welcomed her over to sit with him.

"You look exhausted." He smiled.

"A little. A few late nights in a row haven't helped I guess." Kira stretched out her shoulders.

"I was surprised not to see you on the stage." Vic brought up.

"I decided not to."

"Why not? Odo said you sounded interested a few days ago."

"I didn't think I would be good enough."

"I think you would have been amazing."

"Can I tell you the truth?" Kira breathed out.

"Course." Vic could see some fear in her eyes.

"I was scared to be in front of the crowd. I don't like people watching me." Kira finally told.

"A lot of people suffer from stage fright."

"I know."

Vic looked over to the stage. Some of the band's instruments were still out including the piano. He went over to it and started to play.

"What are you doing?" Kira laughed.

"Come on. No one else is here. Might as well see what it would have been like." Vic laughed back.

Kira rolled her eyes. It was very tempting though. She started to sing a song she had heard Vic play a hundred times. Vic continued to play along. He was happy to see her actually enjoying performing.

After the little performance, Vic couldn't help but clap.

"That was great!" Vic chuckled.

"Stop it!" Kira chuckled.

"I think I've made my decision about next week." Vic told her not giving anything away.

"I'm sure it was the right one." Kira smiled.

"I think it is."