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.

Defiant: "It's Only a Paper Moon"

2376

She had tried. She had really tried.

Nog though wouldn't even meet her halfway. She practically forced him to go out to eat. To meet with her at all.

And it was always at Fontaine's. Which, sure, she liked, but Nog practically lived there.

Okay, so he actually lived there now and... No. She wasn't going to think about that. It wouldn't help.

So instead, she again sat in the holosuite as the band played a classic tune. She had opted for the little blue dress. It made Nog's lobes engorge and his heart race when he saw her in it.

It also irritated Captain Sisko. There seemed to be a correlation, not that Defiant enjoyed testing her captain's responses like this

Well... Too much.

Nog walked into the club, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. He grinned and headed up to her, taking her hand to kiss.

"Hey Defiant! It's great to see you!"

"It's nice to see you too, Nog," Defiant said happily. She pushed past her blush to hug the Ferengi tightly.

"You know, I've got an expansion to the club I'm working on," Nog said happily, "I was wondering if you'd like to look it over?"

"Can there be auto-turrets?" Defiant asked, suddenly interested.

"Ah ah ah! No heavy weaponry for you, Miss Sisko," Vic warned, walking in after Nog. He shook his head. "Gotta think about customers- and my overhead!"

Defiant pouted.

"But don't you deal with gangsters?" Defiant asked eagerly.

"Not with Tommy guns, no," Vic said with a chuckle, "what do you think this is, a Ford picture?"

"Didn't he mainly do Westerns?" Defiant asked. At Vic's look, she blushed. "What? I started watching old films from this time period when Captain Sisko showed me 'The Jackie Robinson Story.'"

Vic nodded, some recognition in his eyes.

"Ah. That wasn't too bad-bit formulaic. Playing yourself is always a tough gig in a movie."

"No auto turrets," Nog said firmly, "but you can help me with a female touch! Come on!"

Nog led her to a table, and for the next hour Defiant worked with Nog on the expansion plans. She was very pragmatic, like most shipgirls, but...

"I like calico cat prints," Defiant said.

"Doesn't fit with the aesthetic," Nog protested.

Defiant leaned over, making googoo eyes.

"Aw... Not even a few cat paintings? Please, Nog? Pretty please?"

Nog hesitated.

"Well..."

"They could be tasteful watercolors," Defiant went on, "classy ones!'

"I'll talk to Vic about it," Nog managed.

Defiant beamed.

"There are a few watercolors like that on the Promenade, if you'd like to go see?"

He sighed and leaned back, staring at her.

"You're more patient, I see."

Defiant blinked.

"Patient about what?"

Nog shook his head.

"About trying to get me out of here."

Defiant blinked. She nodded, realizing it.

"Oh. No. I mean... I'm not going to drag you out. Terok and Ezri tried that. Didn't work."

But it had been hilarious to watch, she would admit.

Nog glared.

"So, why are you here?" He grumbled.

Defiant beamed.

"To spend time with you," she said, "because I like you. And if you don't wanna go out and see stuff on the Promenade? I understand."

Nog relaxed a little.

"I see..."

"I can't force you to do anything," Defiant said, "but you are my friend. So I'm gonna be your friend. I'm not really very complicated beyond that."

Nog managed a slow smile.

"Thanks, Defiant..."

"What are friends for?" She asked. She turned back to the plans. "So, sure I can't put one auto-turret in here? In the safe room at least?"

"They haven't been invented yet!"

"Says you!"

"If it were up to me, I would just cut power to the holosuite."

Rotarran glared at Terok.

"I spoke to everyone about it, but Ezri thinks the sudden shock would be bad for his mental status and Sisko refuses.
Even Quark said no, and that was after I pointed out how much latinium he would save by just doing it!"

"Psychology was never a strong suit of the Cardassians." Rotarran grimaced.

"oh, because the Klingons are much better at it."

"It is seen as a honorable profession: joining one in battle against their inner demons, but that is besides the point here."

Rotarran paused as she put down her mug.

"Do you know what I was like before all of this?
I mean before the war began, before Martok became my captain?"

"What?"

"I wasn't that different than what the Ensign is dealing with now. Defeat after defeat, even if my side was ultimately victorious in the Civil War.
I believed I was cursed.

It wasn't until Martok took over that I began to think otherwise."

"What are you getting at?"

"It will take time. It will take his friends to help him realize what he must do."

Rotarran turned to look into Terok's eyes.

"And it will take you coming to terms with your own problems to help him. You are more than just a Cardassian."

Terok shot her a dirty look.

"Even if you don't want to admit it, you have changed far too much to settle for such a Cardassian solution. You know what you have to do."

Last part by Dramatic_Spoon.