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.

Terok Nor: "Happy Birthday"

"Captain Sisko."

Terok appeared in front of his desk. He looked up at her with a neutral expression.

"Terok."

"I have a concern about Major Kira."

"Oh? How unusual for you to actually come to me about it."

"It's different. She said good morning to me."

Sisko shifted in his seat, and frowned.

"Are you seriously telling me you're complaining that Major Kira was nice to you?"

"No, we can tolerate each other. The issue is that she seemed far too happy. Out of character happy."

"Terok, perhaps you're just imagining things."

"I know I'm not imagining things," Terok complained.

"Why are you coming to me about it?" O'Brien asked, "this sort of thing is something you should talk to Odo about."

"He probably hasn't noticed. Love makes you dumb."

Terok paused as O'Brien shot a look at her.

"You know what I mean."

"Now that you mention it, she did seem out of character."

Worf frowned.

"She seemed too happy. It is uncharacteristic of her."

"Worf."

"Jadzia, you're probably the closest thing she has to a best friend here," Terok stated, "Any thoughts?"

"Perhaps she's just happy."

"I will assist in investigating the matter."

"There."

Terok materialized in front of Kira, Defiant and Rotarran flanking her.

"Major Kira."

"Terok," Kira beamed, "And Defiant! And Rotarran! How are All of you?"

"Come with us, there's an issue we need to talk about."

"Where? I'll meet you there."

"Just follow us."

Without another word, Terok turned and started down the promenade. Kira shrugged and followed her.

"Terok is right, she is acting weird." Defiant whispered.

"Changeling?"

"Maybe."

Without another word, Rotarran moved her hand to her blade as Defiant summoned her bat.

"What's so important that they sent you to find me?" Kira asked, "they could have just hailed me."

Terok stopped and turned to her.

"We did."

A second Kira appeared, flanked by security officers, their phasers in hand.

Worf stepped out, his phaser in hand.

The first Kira's smile vanished as she held up her hands.

"Who are you?" Terok Demanded.

"NCC-72452, USS Rio Grande."

"….the Runabout?" The second Kira frowned.

"The one and only."

"What is going on?" Sisko appeared and took in the scene.

"Terok, why are there two Kiras?"

"The Rio has achieved sapience."

"…ah."

Kira paused.

"Are you sure?"

"O'Brien has run the tests."

"I'm barely even in Star Fleet."

"Major, she has taken your appearance for a reason," Sisko reminded her, "I would personally prefer to wait for a more experienced Shipgirl to arrive and help her, but this needs to be addressed now."

"…fine."

Kira opened the door and stepped into the holding room. She, no, the Rio Grande beamed back at her.

"Major Kira! it's good to-"

"Rio, please. We need to have a talk."

Kira took a seat and motioned for the avatar to join her.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why look like me?"

The Rio smiled again.

"I've been paying attention to everyone on the station. Captain Sisko is nice, Doctor Bashir is weird, O'Brien is kind of sad, Odo is a dick and Worf is grumpy. Terok's also a dick, but don't tell her I said that. You're the coolest person here."

"..:what?"

"Out of everyone. You were fighting against the Cardassians when they arrived. And then when the Federation arrived, you were still arguing and made it clear you weren't going to just let them take over."

"You're a Federation ship."

Rio shrugged.

"And then when the Klingons came, you were kicking their asses and stuff. Even after the Cardassians and Dominion showed up, you still fought against them. When the Federation came back, if you weren't locked up, I bet you would have take back the station si-"

"Stop. Enough."

Rio blinked confused.

"Why?"

"I'm not someone you should be looking up to like that. There's Dax-"

"Dax just keeps talking about Curzon. She's not Curzon, she's Jadzia."

Kira hid a small chuckle.

"I'm not someone to look up to. I've done a lot of things that no one should have to do. Don't think of me just like that."

"But-"

"But nothing. Is that the only reason you want to be like me? Because you think I'm badass?"

"….I've seen how you are with the others. Ziyal. Kirayoshi. Jake and Nog."

"That's the thing you should focus on. Not what I've done."

"….Do you regret it?"

"No. I did everything I needed to do. But that's not what I need now."

She placed a hand on the Rio's shoulder.

"And you shouldn't be me. You need to be your own person."

"…so what?"

"You're going to have to figure that out on your own. But at the very least, change your holomatter avatar."

The Rio vanished.

A moment later, a young Bajoran woman with long brown hair reappeared in her spot. She pushed her hair out of the way, revealing a similar earring to Kira's.

"Is that better?"

"Not the earring, though."

With another gesture it vanished.

"Captain Sisko is going to speak to you now, and once they send someone, you'll get a chance to talk to another Shipgirl with more experience," Kira said.

With that, Kira stood and headed towards the door.

"Major Kira?"

Kira paused and looked back at Rio.

The runabout smiled.

"Thanks."

Kira smiled back, and left the room.

A moment later, Terok appeared.

"What do you mean, I'm a dick?"

Rio nodded.

"You are."

Written by Dramatic_Spoon.