In just one dance I'll make your dreams come true - [semi plot]

Posted on Wed Jul 9th, 2014 @ 7:12pm by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova

1,600 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

Nug looked over the contract his sister had sent him again, shaking his head. He hadn't realized his sister had the business sense to write a contract this solid, but it explained why moogie's lawsuit against their father failed. If he had realized she was this shrewd, he may not have agreed to let her open the negotiations with the first draft of the contract. Hopefully this hew-mon crew friend of hers wasn't as sharp.

He used the encryption code that Zola had provided him with, and opened a comm channel to this Tierney Rinehart.

The secure comm chirped at Tierney as she set about the living area of her quarters. After the visit from the doctor she'd felt slightly more secure, but not enough to show her face and expose her back to the open corridors of the ship. Once upon a time, long ago a single member of her father's bloodline, her great grandfather, had been a God among men on that very same vessel... How he'd have laughted at her, at the irony. She heaved a sigh at the thought and answered the call. "Nug. It's a pleasure."

As Tierney appeared on the screen in front of him, Nug let his eyes drift over all of her he could see. There was no effort to hide the evaluative nature of his look, though it wasn't entirely clear how much of it was his sizing up a business partner, and how much of it was consideration of her feminine charms.

"Lew-tenant Commander Tierney, the pleasure is all mine," he insisted, cupping his hands together in front of his chin, and bowing slightly. "Zola has spoken highly of you, and of the urgency of your situation." He grinned wide, displaying his sharp teeth.

"I appreciate your quick response." She smiled, crossing her coltish legs and offering him a nod of her own head. Ferengi were a strange sort, not unlike the shrewd Wall street business men of the twenty-first century, full of customs and double meanings, quick to screw anyone lacking the brain power to keep up with them. This the petite half-breed knew all too well, and still she played the role of charming, ignorant human woman to his masterful Ferengi businessman. "It's... an unfortunate situation to say the least, but one that can be remedied by a good deal. I hear you're the best in this quadrant."

"Flattery will get your everywhere, my dear," he returned with a laugh. He looked down at the PADD he had his sister's handiwork on. "You really shouldn't dye your hair, it makes you look too much of a hew-mon. Still lovely, but hew-mon." He'd done a little reading on Miss Rinehart's background. It'd taken a few bribes and favors called in, but with what he uncovered, it proved to be worth it.

The Commander stiffened slightly at the quick revelation that he knew what she was. The flash of her throat as she brought in that initial surprised breath was an easy give away of her discomfort. "You know as well as I do that being human affords great advantages. They can't handle the unknown. Fear change. Such flighty creatures." She managed a smile, working to guard herself.

Tierney knew she shouldn't be surprised by the Ferengi's knowledge. They were such crafty little things.

Nug grinned at her again, again offering her the cupped bow. Making her uneasy should help with the negotiations, he mused to himself. Something to make up for the ground lost to his sister's contract.

"It was not my intention to offend," he insisted. "And as a gesture of good faith, I would like to propose an addition to this contract Zola wrote up for you. A statement that you can not be sold into slavery by me, any of my associates, or anyone who may buy out this contract at a later date. I know that being not pure blooded, you would not fetch as high of a price, but there are some who would be foolish enough to think the price they would get would be a fair trade in giving up what other benefits doing business with you would render."

This addition cost him nothing, for if he wanted to make a profit off selling her, the bounty on her head from the Federation would be ever so more profitable.

Shrewd. That was the word Tierney would use to describe the Ferengi, shrewd. "No harm, no foul." She replied, offering the same bow to square them up once again. In truth she'd never thought that there was ever a risk of her being taken and sold as a slave... the environment, however, was changing radically for the worst, deteriorating to a point where martial law had already been declared. Her life had already been threatened once, but now came a small flicker of redemption; protection by the same people who had brokered her mother into slavery.

"I appreciate that. While the Federation may have a target on my back, the Fleet is less inclined to dispose of me. It wouldn't end well for your less savvy comrades. You're very wise, Nug, and very generous." She graciously admonished, "I believe we'll make beautiful business together given this honesty."

He considered the woman on his com screen a long moment. The complements left him suspicious, as coming from a Ferengi they were often hollow and intended to do nothing more than facilitate the negotiations. Other species often actually intended them genuinely, but he could not figure out if this female was genuine or not. He wasn't as sure of his superior skills in this negotiation now, as his sister had shown he should never under estimate a female. That should be a new rule of acquisition, he mused.

"Now, in order to acquire a ship that meets your specifications, certain special care will be needed upon my part, which may drive up my expenses. Zola laid out an even fifty-fifty split of profits in the initial draft of the contract, but I think something higher would be in order. Ninety-ten perhaps? In light of your Starfleet not using currency itself, you should have little need for it, hmm?"

Shrewd.

Tierney nodded as if deep in thought, she hadn't thought of him going directly to such a high margin. Never underestimate your opponent, even if the battlefield is something as 'simple' as privately procuring a ship. "Unfortunately desperate times call for desperate measures, Nug. We'll need to find supplies and supplies cost money. Sixty-forty your favor, with an additional clause that you'll be given first call during supply purchases. There's money to be made in the long run, don't milk the cow dry so quickly." She tutted gently. Zola had taught her well.

He made a face at Tierney's metaphor. He wasn't sure what a cow was, but the sentence still seemed to say something of taking too much too quick. He could only guess she was hinting that this could be a long term business relationship. The idea of a regular customer in addition to a profit share was appealing. He may have to send his sister some trinket of appreciation for introducing him to this opportunity.

"Sixty-five thirty-five, and you'll get a discount on your supplies purchased through me," he suggested.

The Commander's expression changed to one of deep thought as if she were deeply considering the offer in genuine earnest. It was better than she'd hoped to achieve in dealing with him. "The ship will be in better than fair shape? Our failure would be disastrous to your bottom line. I can sweeten the pot, Nug, sixty-five thirty-five your favor, an exclusive on supply trades and I'll agree not to simply desert the Enterprise crew and take my dealings or give away the fact you're behind our survival, to anyone of consequence... So long as the ship is in better than fair condition."

He thought about the ship he had already started negotiations on, and the state it claimed to be in. Rek insisted the ship was in like new condition, which means it was probably closer to fair, perhaps a little better. As long as the systems were functional, he could probably find someone who'd clean it up otherwise to make it qualify as better than fair. He hated to potentially have to cut into profit margins, but the long term implications on this deal were too tempting. The added assurance she would keep his name out of it, for an added level of protection from the looming war, suited him; after all, as Rule of Acquisition 125 states, You can't make a deal if you're dead.

"The ship I am currently working to acquire will certainly be in better than fair condition," he confirmed. "Let me amend the contract my sister has written for you, and if it is agreeable, we can discuss where you shall pick up the ship." He once again cupped his hands and bowed to her.

"Splendid. I'm glad we could reach an accord, Nug. You're a true testament to the Ferengi." She smiled a genuine smile, relieved to say the least and pleased that with this; she'd live to see another day. She'd sign that contract with her eyes pressed closed and a bitterness welling in her soul, but they'd all be safe. She'd bought them time. Cupping how own hands, She bowed to Nug, "peace be with thee. Rineheart out."

And the screen went black. Next stop? Rhodes.

=/\= END LOG =/\=

Lieutenant Commander Tierney Rinehart
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Enterprise

Nug
Ferengi Businessman
(apb Pond)

 

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