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.

"Fascination"

Defiant was enjoying the Bajoran Gratitude Festival very much. The music, the dancing, the wares! She'd bought a Bajoran necklace that she thought would make her look nice. And a street vendor gave her a free jumba stick just for being so cute! It was really tasty, too!

She practically skipped down the Promenade as she beheld all the wonderful sights and sounds, just reveling in the atmosphere. She then saw Jake, who was smiling happily.

"Hey Jake! Pel'dor joy! What's up?" Defiant asked cheerfully.

"Oh... I'm great, Defiant," Jake said dreamily. He looked at Defiant in sudden interest. "Hey... You're a girl, right?"

"More or less," Defiant agreed.

"What would be the perfect gift for Major Kira?" He asked. Defiant blinked and tilted her head.

"Um... I dunno. I've never really thought about it," she said, "why?"

"I'm in love," Jake sighed happily. Defiant blinked.

"With... Major Kira?"

"Yes! Why not?" Jake asked. Defiant blinked rapidly.

"Er... She's already involved with Vedek Bariel, for one thing," Defiant pointed out, "for another, she's way too old for you-"

"He's away all the time, it'll never last!" Jake scoffed, "and with modern medical science, it doesn't matter if she's forty years older than me! I'm in love!"

Defiant was getting concerned. She took Jake by the arm and led her big brother through the crowd to a nearby table.

"Um... Jake, are you feeling okay? This seems a bit sudden," Defiant said. "Maybe you want to slow down, think this through. You did just break up with Marta-"

"Ugh, you sound like Dad," Jake grumbles. He pulled away and headed off. "I'm not going to get any help from you. I gotta find Nerys..."

"Jake!" Defiant cried, hurt and confused. "Hmph..."

She turned and headed off, hoping to find something or someone to cheer her up. She spotted Captain Sisko and Dax coming out of the infirmary. She beamed happily as she approached...

And then she saw Jadzia kiss the captain. Defiant's jaw dropped. Sisko looked just as flabberghasted as Dax flounced away with a smirk. Defiant immediately closed the distance with her captain. He looked at her, and raised an eyebrow.

"Defiant?"

"Captain," Defiant began, "why were you making out with Dax?"

"I wasn't making out," Sisko stated with forced calm, "she just... Pranked me. By coming onto me."

"That was a prank?" Defiant asked in disbelief. "Looked like she wanted to become my new mom!"

She paused.

"Not that I would be totally opposed to that. She's kind of flighty though, and Keiko O'Brien said she could be slutty-"

"Defiant!" Sisko barked, and Defiant cringed. He softened, and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I assure you, there is nothing like that between myself and Dax," he said. "It's probably just some kind of prank. That's all. I'll see you in my quarters for the dinner, all right?"

"Okay," Defiant said. Sisko shook his head and headed off, grumbling under his breath. Defiant watched him go.

"Hmmm..."

"OH! My dear Defiant! How you've grown!"

Defiant turned and smiled happily at Lwaxana Troi, the Betazoid Ambassador. She was here for the Bajoran Gratitude Festival, and had naturally been pursuing Odo. Which was very amusing, to be honest.

"Auntie Lwaxana!" She said cheerfully. "How are you?"

"I'm great!" Lwaxana said. She then held her forehead. "Ooh... Except for this damn headache... Excuse me." She headed off. Defiant watched her go, frowning.

"Hmph... I wanted some sweets," Defiant pouted.

Nearby, Nog held his own forehead briefly. He'd been shanghaied by his uncle into selling souvenirs for the Gratitude Festival, and had been on his feet for hours. He looked over at Defiant... And then smiled dreamily.

"H-Hey, Defiant," Nog said warmly. Defiant looked over at Nog, and smiled back cheerfully.

"Hey Nog! Peldor joy! How are you?"

"Fantastic, since I saw you," Nog said, his smile wide. "Hey! Wanna go get some sweets? It's all on me."

Defiant blinked.

"Er... Sure, if you want?" She said. "It's uh... Unusual for you to be so generous. Are you sure-?"

Nog grabbed Defiant's elbow and led the confused ship AI off.

"Of course I want to!" Nog insisted, "being with you is reward enough! Worth more than all the latinum in the quadrant!"

"Uhhh... Thhhanks?" Defiant managed, increasingly confused.

"Terok?"

Ugh. Another request, of thousands of requests for this stupid Gratitude Festival. Every year...

Terok Nor appeared in front of Keiko O'Brien in the O'Brien quarters, standing imperiously with her arms crossed under her chest.

"Yes, Mrs. O'Brien?" Terok asked. Keiko scowled.

"Listen: Miles and I are going out. Will you watch over Molly, please?" Keiko hissed.

"I could watch over several million Mollies if I needed to," Terok sniffed, "it is no chore."

"Fine, thanks," Keiko huffed, sitting down on the couch, exhausted. Terok tilted her head curiously.

"Anything else?" She asked.

Keiko scowled at the hologram... But softened a little.

"... Is Miles... Okay?" She asked.

Terok frowned.

"He is in perfect health, if that's what you're asking," she stated. "As to his psychological state... I have been doing my best to help him pass the time."

Keiko's eyebrows went up.

"How so?" She asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice. Terok rolled her eyes.

"By seducing him into a torrid affair, of course," she said, voice dripping in sarcasm. At Keiko's widened eyes, she scoffed. "Please. I have assisted him with various recreational projects-Primarily holographic recreations of famous battles in Earth's history. Some of it is... Not entirely boring."

"I see," Keiko stated icily. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't make such jokes in the future."

"Why?" Terok asked drily, "that afraid I might snap him up?"

"No!" Keiko growled. "Of course not! You're just a machine!"

Terok allowed herself a venomous smirk.

"And he's an engineer," Terok stated, "a brilliant one, actually. You meanwhile have been nothing but dead weight since you got here!"

"Dead weight?!" Keiko snarled, fighting her fatigue to get back up onto her feet, "you have no idea how much I sacrificed for Miles! How much I've done for him-!"

"Oh, so you can't be a botanist or teacher anymore. So what?" Terok scoffed, "you could have come up with something to contribute to the station. A hydroponics bay, subspace teaching-something. Not just moped around like some sad child! If I were his wife, I would have done everything in my power to make him happy. Isn't his happiness your happiness?"

"Miles respects me enough to let me be my own person! To do things to make me happy, despite the costs to himself!" Keiko raged, "that's what love really is! Something you could never understand!"

"And yet when you return, all you can do is fight," Terok huffed, "just concerned with your own issues!"

"I love Miles!" Keiko snarled.

"Well I... Happen to like him! For a human!" Terok managed, "and I'm concerned for his welfare!"

"Oh please," Keiko sniffed, "you're transparent! You think that just because he fixes your ramshackle, rusty body he actually feels something for you?! You're his job! I'm his wife!"

"And yet, which of us is being more like his wife right now?" Terok growled.

Keiko nearly made to slap the AI... When the doors to their bedroom opened. Miles came out, looking concerned.

"Keiko? Terok? Is everything all right?" He asked.

Terok gave a nasty smile to Keiko, before turning a softer (but still superior) look at Miles.

"Just a mild disagreement, Chief," Terok said carefully, "but I'm sure we can resolve it. I will handle watching over your child. Don't you worry."

She flickered and reappeared next to Miles. She gave him a hug and a genuine smile.

"I would never let anything happen to your daughter. She's practically family," Terok said.

"I... Appreciate that?" Miles said, smiling nervously as he gently pulled away from her. He turned his smile to Keiko. "Ready to go?"

"Am I ever," Keiko hissed, glaring death at Terok.

Kira had been seeking somewhere to hide from Jake, and to keep herself from breaking down over Bariel, of all people, going after Dax. Dax! Her best female friend! It had come out of nowhere! And Bariel hadn't apologized!

Not a word for her feelings! For what they meant to one another!

What kind of a person had she fallen in love with, if he could act like that? Just discard her immediately!

She fumed as she walked into the Deep Space Nine auditorium. It was seldom used by the main staff as they rarely had gatherings big enough, but it was often used for conventions and larger meetings. Right now it was being used for some musical performances. Kira spotted Defiant huddled in a corner, and with a frown, she headed over to the small starship AI.

"Defiant?" She murmured.

Defiant looked up in alarm, then relaxed.

"Oh... Major Kira! I'm so glad it's you," she murmured. Kira sat down across from the AI, frowning.

"You all right?" She asked. Sure, the little shipgirl could take care of herself, but in so many ways she was just a child. It was what allowed Kira to warm up to the little warship AI.

"Oh! Uh, yeah, I'm fine," Defiant said with a smile. "Just uh... Hiding?"

"From who? You could go back to your hull for that," Kira pointed out. Defiant flushed.

"Er... Well I mean... I'm kind of hiding but not? It's very confusing."

"Well, I'm straight up hiding myself," Kira replied dryly. "Who from?"

"Nog," Defiant admitted with a flush. "Out of nowhere, he just took me out to get sweets! Then lunch! Then to the holosuite! He never stopped complimenting me and saying he..."

"He what?" Kira asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That... He..." Defiant poked her fingers together, "...loved me?" She squeaked.

Kira shook her head, her frown deepening.

"Strange. Jake Sisko's been doing that to me, too," she said, "chasing me like a puppy all over the station!"

"Isn't that something teenaged boys do?" Defiant asked, still bright red. Kira nodded slowly.

"Yes, it is, but out of the blue? A lot of people have been acting very strange today, not just your brother." Kira made to stand up.

"I can make him knock it off-"

"Oh no! No! It's, uh, it's not bad!" Defiant squeaked, fidgeting rapidly, "it-it's just so sudden! I-I don't really know what to do! I-I mean, he paid for everything!" She covered her cheeks. "It-It was... Really kind of sweet... It's just a bit overwhelming!"

"Tell me about it," Kira mumbled, sitting down miserably, "can you call your brother off?"

"I um, I tried," shrugged Defiant, "but he seemed so deadset! I'll talk to him at the dinner tonight though."

"Thank you," Kira said, "and cheer up. You've got an admirer!"

"I do," Defiant admitted, "I-I'd never even thought of that before! I mean, of having a romantic relationship with anyone!"

"No one ever does, until it happens," Kira said, a bit bitterly. She sighed, and patted Defiant's hand. "But, you should try to embrace love when it happens. You never know when it might just... Vanish."

Defiant nodded. The emcee came up on stage, clearing his throat.

"Ahem. We have a last minute entry for the open mike. Rom and Leeta are going to sing an old human love song, as a love message on behalf of Rom's son to his beloved..." He checked his PADD, "USS Defiant!"

Kira gaped as Rom (in one of Quark's most garish suits and shiny sunglasses) and Leeta in her usual dress came out on stage. Rom took up the microphone, as the music began.

"This is a love song, uh, that comes from the planet of Defiant's birth. A place she loves! I do this to convey my son's love for a wonderful girl!"

Rom pointed out Nog, who was sitting elsewhere in the auditorium. He smiled dreamily over at Defiant, and waved. Defiant awkwardly waved back.

"Oh Prophets," Kira mumbled, as Rom began to belt out the first lyrics of the song with a dramatic flourish. Leeta danced alongside him, looking overjoyed as she sang along.

"Oh, love me, mister, oh, mister
yume janai nara kikasete
nee mister, mou mister
jirasareru hodo setsunai
omoi dake ga abaredasu
sono shisen ni make sou ni naru
futari dake no abunai game
Love is war! Love is war! Love is war!"

More than a few females in the audience were transfixed. Some were hooting for Rom. Kira had to admit, the guy could sing quite well despite appearances. Nog made his way over to Defiant's table, gazing in adoration at her.

"So? What do you think?" Nog asked.

"Oh! Um... It's one of my favorite songs, actually," Defiant said, her smile a bit tense.

"Yeah. I found it out looking through your computer access files," Nog said happily. "So... Would you like a wedding on Feringinar? Or Earth?"

"I think we're going to take you right to Doctor Bashir," Kira stated, grabbing Nog by the ear and pulling him along.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Nog squeaked in agony, as Kira frogmarched him to the doors. Kira looked back at Defiant, who was lingering.

"Defiant!"

"But he's actually really good-"

"NOW!"

"EEP! Yes ma'am!"