This chat was part of the live coverage of Paramount's official celebration of Star Trek's 30th anniversary, held in Huntsville, Alabama.

Question: I really love your character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Do you have any plans for the future "outside" of Star Trek?

Armin Shimerman: Yes, I'm writing a science fiction novel called "Merchant Prince" for Baen Books, as well as a Star Trek novel called "Wheels Within Wheels."

Rene Auberjonois: I love my character too and as soon as Star Trek ends, which I hope isn't soon, I look forward to returning to my life in the theatre and the challenges of classical roles.

Q: How may I get an autograph of you?

AS: You can always write us care of Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave, LA 90038.

Q: Do you think Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will ever be in Motion Pictures? Would you like it do be?

RA: I personally don't believe Deep Space Nine will ever be in motion pictures and I'm happy to be doing it as a television show and have very little interest in doing Deep Space Nine as a feature film.

AS: I totally agree with Rene. I believe there is no future for us in the future.

Q: Rene, how much did you contribute to the creation/development of "Odo"? You have made "Odo" very real.

RA: Only in the sense that as the seasons have progressed and the writers have come to know aspects of my personality, has my input been to any great effect. The scripts are so strong that I'm usually thrilled to do whatever they come up with.

Q: There is a certain magic between your two characters that produces the most delightful moments. How much of this is due to your friendship rather than a strict interpretation of the script?

AS: Our two characters have a love/hate relationship. The writers write the hate part, and Rene's and my deep friendship provides the love part.

RA: I think that Armin's and my friendship has had a great deal to do with the development of the relationship between Quark and Odo.

Q: What is it like being a part of Star Trek history?

RA: Being here for the thirtieth anniversary celebration, I am humbled by the history and grateful to be part of it.

AS: I have a tendency to forget that I'm part of a continuum. I tend to focus simply on Deep Space Nine.

Q: Will there be some serious romance in Quark's future?

AS: Yes, Grilka, my former Klingon wife, reappears and we pick up where we left off.

Q: love you both! Enjoy the political overtones of show. Will Quark ever get married? Will Odo never shift his shape again?

RA: I also think the political overtones of the show are what make our show different from the other Star Treks, and I admire that about it. As to whether Odo will ever shapeshift again, your guess is as good as mine and you'll probably know before I do.

AS: Quark may or may not get married, but he will never lose his infatuation for the shapeshifter.

Q: I realize acting is "acting", but do you base your characters on any certain person or character? In other words, do your characters have any influences from other places?

AS: I draw my reactions to the script from thin air.

RA: The character of Odo has certain aspects of my own personality when I get up on the wrong side of the bed, but seriously, as a young actor, I was mentored by John Houseman, and I think that his personality is a big part of Odo.

Q: Rene and Armin: How long does it take each of you to have your makeup put on?

AS: What makeup?

RA: When Armin does my makeup, it takes five hours.

RA: Seriously, ninety minutes.

Q: Without your makeup, do you get recognized?

AS: More now than before, but I try to convince them I'm Ethan Phillips.

Q: Where would you like to see your characters going in the future? How would you like to see them grow?

RA: I get recognized all the time, sometimes because of the six years I spent on "Benson", but now more often than not because people know me from DS9, and Odo's face is not that different than my own without wrinkles :).

AS: I would like to see my character go to Dax's bedroom.

Q: Quark has become an outcast among the Ferengi will this be an ongoing sub plot or will it just be ignored.

RA: Well, I don't really try to anticipate where my character is going. I like to be surprised each week, but in the overall arc of the story, I would like to see Odo attain a kind of spiritual revelation so that he could return to his people and help them to open themselves to the rest of the universe.

AS: IT should be no revelation to anyone that the actors do not write the scripts. Therefore, that sort of plot arc is not made known to me. So like everyone else out there, I have to sit and wait to find out.

Q: My question is for Mr. Shimerman. Will Quark ever pay for his past crimes?

AS: What past crimes??

Q: For Rene: What do you think about your character having a romance with another changeling?

RA: A romance with another changeling? I sort of had a brief encounter with the female shapeshifter and that didn't work out too well.

Q: Armin - This may sound rude, but are you really as short as you appear on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?

AS: Shorter.

RA: I can answer that question... No...Armin won't let me :).

Q: Rene - I'm curious, how long does a scene take where you "shape shift"?

RA: The shapeshifting effects take a great deal of time, many hours in front of a bluescreen. It's probably, for me as an actor, the least interesting part of the character, and in terms of how old Odo is, I think we learned in the beginning of the third season that he's at least 150 years old.

Q: Armin, your character's ability to scream is unprecedented in Trek other than perhaps, Checkov. How'd you get so good at it? (Tongue in cheek!)

AS: From constantly being bushwhacked by Paramount.

RA: This is the first time I've ever done this, whatever you call it, on whatever this is :). I've been very curious and now I know I'd like to do more of it, so next time someone invites me, I'll be ready and willing!