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.

Roon: Interview

By jhmoser

(minor spoilers for Star Trek Lower Decks S03E09, "Trusted Sources")

"So, Roon," Commander Ransom said, "I want you to tell me, in your own words what happened with the FNN reporter."

"We had just sat down to the interview," Roon said. "And she asked me about the Cerritos and how I fit into it."

"So, Roon, this is quite exciting," Victoria Nuzé, FNN reporter said as the gynoid settled into her seat in the bar interview room.

"It is?" Roon asked innocently.

"I think that the Cerritos might be the only Starfleet vessel to have two black boxes on board," Nuzé said. "And one of them serving as a so-called 'lower decker.' It's unique."

"It's all because of my Bradward," Roon said, clasping her hands together. "He rescued me from my crashed hull and nursed me back to health. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be the perfectly normal AI you see today."

Nuzé coughed. "Yes, Ensign Bradward Boimler. He seems to have a lot of bad luck with shipgirls, from what I can tell."

"Oh, no," Roon said. "He doesn't."

"No?"

"I don't let him," Roon said, her smile growing a little fixed. "He's my captain, you know. Not theirs. They should keep their mitts off him."

"Well, yes, of course," Nuzé said, trying to get the interview back on course. "A very promising young officer, but getting back-"

"My Bradward is the captainliest captain who will ever captain!" Roon declared, then narrowed her eyes as she looked at Nuzé. "And why are you asking so much about him, hmmm?"

"Well, I assure you," Nuzé said, panicking a little, "that I have absolutely no interest in him other than an interview subject."

"Why not? He's handsome, he's brave, he's helped save the Federation. Why wouldn't a young sapient be interested in my Bradward?"

"Well, yes, of course, but-"

"So you are interested in him! I knew it!"

"And then I had to axe a bitch," Roon concluded.

Ransom sighed. "Doctor T'ana?"

T'ana raised the squirt bottle. "Bad AI! No assaulting reporters! Bad!"