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: "You Are Cordially Invited..."

Testing Jadzia took up a great deal of time. But Lady Sirella had many other duties to attend to, thanks to her husband.

She strode down to the Federation starship's berth, Rotarran striding just a step behind as a proper retainer of the House of Martok should.

"She was informed, I trust?" Sirella asked as they neared the airlock. Rotarran nodded.

"Yes, My Lady."

"Hmph," Sirella grunted, "accepting aliens into our House... And alien ships. Your assessment of Defiant, Rotarran?"

"She is young, with all that implies," Rotarran stated, pausing only to take a drag off her pipe, "reckless, cheerful... But a fearsome, cunning and loyal warrior. She has gained my respect."

Sirella nodded.

"So has Jadzia," Sirella stated blandly, as she held up her pass card. The airlock opened, and Sirella strode in, regal as a queen, as Rotarran followed.

"But not mine," the Lady finished, just as they entered Defiant's hull.

The ship's avatar waited for them in the mess hall. She was dressed in formal Klingon attire for a girl her apparent age, and sitting on her knees. She looked up, a most serious expression on her face.

On all young beings, such an expression could look comical. But Sirella was reminded of her daughter Na'toth, when she had come home bruised and injured from trying to ride a wild targ. It was a look of intense determination from a brush with death.

Sirella, however reluctantly, approved. Though she gave no sign of this.

"Lady Sirella," Defiant spoke, bowing her head, "I welcome you to Deep Space Nine. I am Defiant, daughter of Sisko. I have prepared the Tea of Welcome."

Sirella slowly nodded, acknowledging the ship AI. Only then did Defiant rise.

"Very well, Defiant, daughter of Sisko," Sirella stated, "but I want fresh tea. Prepare it before me! I will not have replicated slop!"

"The poison content would be too low with replicated leaves," Defiant agreed. Sirella and Rotarran sat, and Defiant set the tea tray on the table before them. With typical speed of a gynoid, Defiant began to crush the tea leaves... Before Sirella slapped the implements right out of her hands.

Defiant stared in brief shock at Sirella's icy glare.

"A daughter of the House of Martok does not treat her tea set like targ iron! Start again, more slowly!"

Defiant nodded.

"Yes, My Lady!"

Defiant started again... And Sirella again slapped her hands.

"Too fast again! Take more care, you worthless pile of junk!"

"Yes, My Lady!"

Defiant again nodded, twitching a bit, but she took to the preparation. Sirella continued her onslaught, criticizing every step and making Defiant go through them multiple times.

"The water is too hot! Cool it down!'

"You crush the leaves too harshly! Stop acting like a clumsy machine!"

"You let it seep too long! Start again!"

The whole time, Sirella was expecting some sort of Federation groveling or apologies. Or for the AI to go blank as she focused on her task.

But Defiant's motions betrayed her feelings. Her shoulders clenched, her teeth were grit.

Yet she persevered. Rotarran was silent and unreadable as always, just smoking as Defiant was run ragged.

Finally, Defiant produced three cups of the tea in the old, plain set on the tray. The gynoid was looking a tiny bit frazzled... But that same determination was on her face throughout.

It was all... Too familiar.

Sirella took her time, slowly lifting the cup to her lips.

Sirella tasted the tea. It was... Not perfect in the slightest. In fact, one could argue it was poorly made. Despite her gynoid precision and knowledge, Defiant had made bad tea.

Just like a beginner would.

"This tea..." Sirella paused for longer than she needed to, "is acceptable. For a beginner."

Defiant nodded, trying to hide her relief... And failing. Honestly, these shipgirls...

"But not acceptable in my House," Sirella thundered, and Defiant fought against her wince. Rotarran held her breath next to her Lady.

"However," Sirella continued, "as Lady of the House, it falls upon me to teach my daughters the proper way of things."

She rose, and walked to the other side of the table. But it was easy to see the happiness in the eyes of Defiant, and thr brief smile on Rotarran's face.

"Y-Yes, My Lady!" Defiant said happily.

"First off, you need to focus on the smell-you can smell, yes?"

"Yes My Lady!"

"Good. The tea leaves must be properly dry before being crushed, you ensure this by smell..."

It was hours later before Sirella and Rotarran left Defiant: A training session was beginning and the Federation crew needed the space. The two Klingons, one biological, one technological, walked in silence for a time.

"... I like her," Sirella said at last.

Rotarran nodded.

"I thought you might. You could have kept that tea ceremony going for days."

"We have a wedding to deal with," Sirella stated. Rotarran smirked, puffing some smoke.

"It is your right."

Sirella nodded.

"It is." She looked up at the ceiling. "Strange to find a Klingon spirit in an alien computer."

Rotarran nodded.

"I believe Jadzia will be a bigger challenge."

Sirella grinned toothily.

"I hope so."

Keep in mind, Sirella went easy on Defiant because she's being adopted into a lower level in the household. She's not marrying Martok's righthand man, so she has fewer hurdles to make than Dax.

But I think that a lot of Klingon rituals are to test your mettle, and that can be proven in many ways. Defiant for example was humble, gave Sirella the respect she deserved, and never complained. Jadzia... Kind of wasn't. (Though she did swallow her pride for love eventually).