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.

Rotarran and Defiant Antics

"Everyone is blaming me for your stupid little plan."

The Rotarran lazily turned her attention to Terok, as their avatars lounged in Quark's Bar.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talkin' about."

"The whole eternal rival thing. She tried to challenge the T'Vesh to an 'Honorable duel' on the promenade."

"Is that what she called it? I saw her bash that ship over the head with her baseball bat."

"For what it's worth, the T'Vesh's Captain was more amused than angry. Then she tried the T'Kumbra."

"Why them?"

"Captain Sisko and her Captain are old rivals. Presumably she thought it was a good idea."

"And?"

"The T'Kumbra ignored it. She's a professional."

"I knew Vulcans were petty."

"And then she tried the IKS T'Farii."

"Ah, a youngling. And?"

"Sisko thinks I set it up and the two are in the brig for fighting in Quark's."

"Who won?"

"The Morn to be Wild did. She knocked them both out with one punch."

"Each?"

"No."

"Bah, she'll get her chance."

"Why are you doing this?"

"There's a certain friendship that develops out of rivalry. It's good for the spirit of competition."

"…you're just bored, aren't you?"

The Rotarran responded by blowing smoke into Terok's face. As she waved away the smoke, the Rotarran gave her a smug grin.

"Is it not amusing?"

"You did what?" Martok snarled. Rotarran shrugged, smoking her holographic pipe.

"The T'Farii has challenged me to an honorable duel."

"Over what? That silly little thing with the Defiant?"

"Yes. She finds it humiliating that I would send a Federation ship to take her out."

The Rotarran scoffed.

"I did no such thing. They're young. Naive. a rivalry from the ground up. It would do them both good."

Martok conceded the point.

"And where exactly is this duel?"

"Here. Quark has generously offered use of one of his Holosuites."

Martok hummed.

"And your second?"

"I have asked The Defiant."

"And the T'Farii?"

"She has asked The Ra'g'dr'ga."

"Observers?"

"Terok, and the Morn to be Wild for me. Captain Dr'zzt and Ensign J'yah for her."

"You didn't invite me?"

"You, Chief O'Brien and Morn have been asked to come as official Observers."

"When?"

A smile grew on the Rotarran's face.

"In ten minutes."

"Why this setting? And this hat is ridiculous."

Terok pulled the ten Gallon hat off her head.

"This is hardly a Klingon setting, what is this?"

"Old American Western town," O'Brien mused, "I suppose she was going for the Showdown at High Noon thing."

"The what?"

"It's an Earth thing," Defiant explained.

Morn shrugged and downed another drink.

The Defiant glanced back up at the Klingon Avatar: a large, muscular Klingon Woman with a shoulder Paldron decorated with a Targ's head.
A massive Warhammer sat on her Defiant glanced down at her own weapon; her baseball bat with several D'k Tahgs embedded in the head.

"You mock us with that," The Klingon grunted.

"Those are trophies from the time you tried to invade Terok. One for each ship I shot down."

"We shall see."

In the middle of the road, a young Klingon waited. Her Bat'leth at her side.

"She's late." A white haired Klingon man grumbled.

"She's on time."

Martok appeared next to the white haired man.

"Captain Dr'zzt."

"General. She is late. As are you."

"She knows exactly what she's doing."

"I know. And that worries me."

The T'Farii continued to wait. The corner of her mouth twitched.

And then she noticed.

A figure appeared at the end of the road and stood there.

"At last!" The T'Farii called out, "I feared you ran."

"Just giving you the chance. Once I start forward, that's it," She called out, "You still got one chance to call it off."

"After you sent that Federation Child to attack me? Never!"

Rotarran shrugged.

"Alright then."

"Ready?" Martok called out.

"Ready!" The T'Farii called back.

The Rotarran simply nodded.

"DAH!" Martok roared.

With a battle cry, the T'Farii charged forward, Bat'leth brought back to swing.

As she closed the distance, the Rotarran shifted her stance.

And grinned.

The T'Farii hesitated for a moment.

"That's it then," O'Brien got up.

"They haven't traded blows yet."

"They don't have to."

With a shaky roar, the T'Farii swung her blade.

The sound of metal on wood rung through the air.

The bat'leth embedded itself in the ground several feet away from the two. The T'Farii stood, the tip of the Rotarran's Slj'Leth at her throat.

The Rotarran grinned.

"I warned you."

She moved back and slung the blade over her shoulder.

"It ain't even a real blade, it's a wooden practice one. If it was real, I wouldn't be standing here telling you."

"…I know. And you shame me by doing so."

"You're young. Inexperienced. Stupid. A lot like the Defiant."

"Hey!"

"She's not wrong," Terok cut in.

"And makin' it so you stay that way ain't helping anyone.
We've got a war going on, we can't waste time killing our own or staying bullhead and subborn.

So learn from this. And like I said, you and her ain't that different.

Make a friend."

With that, the Rotarran vanished.

"I trust this satisfies you, T'Farri?"

The avatar nodded, and looked over at the young Defiant.

"….Defiant."

"Yeah?"

"You want to…to hang out?"

"Somewhere else?"

"…yeah."

The two sat.

She had insisted to Terok, Rotarran and Morn to be Wild stay out of it and let the two figure it out.

She knew they were watching at the edge of their vision on her right.

Captain Dr'zzt, General Martok and the rest of her crew were on the left.

"…so…what do you do for fun?"

"I am a Klingon Warrior," the T'Farii replied, "I-"

"They don't give you downtime?"

"What?" The T'farii's avatar paused with a confused look on her face, "No, they do."

"And what do you do?"

"I…uh, I study. And practice my Bat'Leth."

"Alone?"

"Mostly. Sometimes with the crew."

"It's not good for a young girl to spend all her time alone with a Bat'leth for company," Terok muttered.

"But you don't spend time with other Shipgirls?"

"I do! In the midst of-"

"I mean outside of battle."

The T'Farii fell slient.

"….not really."

"Have you been to the Holosuites?"

"Just for…."

She trailed off.

"Once."

Defiant beamed happily.

"I know, we can do Doctor Bashir's program!"

The two vanished.

"….are we sure that's a good idea?"

Written with Dramatic_Spoon.