Just to get this cleared up: I own nothing. Enjoy!

One: A Slippery Customer

"Captain's log stardate 49712.5. The Enterprise has discovered a wormhole in the Arinis sector, in a class 4 nebula. From our current readings, our scientists believe that we may have discovered the second stable wormhole known to exist."

Captain Picard sat in the centre chair of the Enterprise, impatient to know what the readings from the wormhole were.

Commander Riker smiled.

"You seem tense, captain. I thought you didn't like boring, scientific missions, because the Enterprise is too important a ship in the fleet to waste time on charting nebulas."

"Yes," Picard answered. "But if this is a stable wormhole, then it could give us a tactical advantage against the Dominion. We could find allies from places like the Delta Quadrant, if the wormhole goes that far."

"Captain," Data interrupted from Ops. "Astronomics reports that they have gathered enough information to confirm their original theory that this is a stable wormhole, but they cannot predict where the wormhole will open up on the other side. The only way to find out is to send a probe or a ship through."

"Very well." Picard said. "Prepare a class 1 probe, get it to send out standard Federation greetings."

"Aye sir."

Riker's commbadge chirped. He tapped it.

"Riker here."

"Commander, I believe it's time for your physical examination." Came the voice of Beverly Crusher.

Riker raised his eyebrows.

"Uh, I think Data just picked up something on scanners. The examination will have to wait."

"Belay that, Doctor." Picard smiled. "Commander Riker is on his way."

Riker grinned back.

"I guess I can't put it off any longer." Riker stood up and started to walk towards the turbolift.

"Launching probe." Data announced.

Riker was just about to open the turbolift doors, when Data said,

"Sir, communication from the probe has failed."

Riker stopped, looking round at Captain Picard, pleadingly.

"Number One, do I need to relieve you of duty before you will leave the bridge?"

Riker sighed, and walked into the turbolift.

Picard turned back to Data.

"Cause?"

"Unknown, sir. Just before the probe stopped transmitting, a multiphasic disruption was detected."

"Could it have been weapons fire?"

"Unless it is a type of weapon we are not familiar with, I do not think so sir. A ship that would fire weapons within a wormhole must have a quite deranged commander."

"Indeed." Picard agreed. "Send another probe."

"Aye, sir. Launching probe."

The probe was seen to enter the wormhole on the main viewer. Five minutes later...

"Sir, the second probe has stopped transmitting."

Picard frowned. This was very unusual.

"Take the Enterprise through the wormhole. Notify Starfleet Command. Hopefully our shields will bee able to protect us against whatever is in there."

The Enterprise went through the opening of the wormhole, and disappeared as it closed.

Suddenly, the bridge shook.

"What was that?"

"We appear to have passed through a multiphasic rift. Sir, we are receiving transmissions from the probes. One has exited the wormhole, and one is nearing the end."

The Enterprise exited the wormhole a few minutes later.

"Data, what is our position?"

"Unknown sir. No star systems within this sector are recognizable."

"Captain," the Tactical officer, Ensign Burke, interrupted. "Sensors are picking up a ship approaching our co-ordinates. Configuration, unknown."

Picard stood up.

"Hail them."

"Hailing frequencies open."

"This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise. We have come here by means of a wormhole we have found. We are on a mission of peaceful exploration."

The view screen flickered to a completely black background with a pair of white glowing eyes in the centre. Picard raised his eyebrows. Clearly this mysterious person did not wish to be identified.

"Slim Cognito's my name, upgrading's my game. Whether you want weapons, shields, or a new hyperspace module, we'll fix you up quickly, cheaply, and most important, quietly."

The slick tone this person used reminded Picard of dealing with Ferengi.

"We wish to contact any important governments within this quadrant. We hope to conduct peaceful negotiations."

"I can put you in touch with Megacorp. I'll even throw in some maps of this sector. For a price, of course."

"That depends. What do you use for currency?"

"Bolts, what else?"

"We don't trade in bolts. But we are willing to let you replicate some of our ships systems. Our holodecks for example. Mister Burke, transmit all information on our holographic capabilities."

"Aye, sir."

The eyes on screen looked down, presumably at a console, and widened in surprise.

"I'm sure we can come to some agreement." Slim said.

Picard smiled. "Excellent."

"I am transmitting co-ordinates to my...er...base of operations. There you may collect whatever you need to contact Megacorp."

"Thank You, Mr Cognito. We will proceed immediately. Picard out."

The screen returned to Slim Cognito's ship in space.

"Helm, set a course for the base, warp five."

"Aye, sir."

Data turned to look at Captain Picard.

"Sir, could Mr Cognito be a Ferengi?"

"It is possible, though he did seem shocked by the holographic technology we gave him. I am sure a Ferengi alone in this part of space would at least recognize the technology."

"Coming up on the base sir."

Picard frowned. "That was fast."

"Sir, the co-ordinates Mr. Cognito gave us were only a light-year from our previous position."

"The base seems to be an asteroid with numerical underground structures and a space port on the surface." Data reported.

"Take us into the spaceport." Picard ordered.

"Captain, an unidentified ship is coming in orbit of the asteroid." Burke reported.

"On screen"

A small, blue ship with a white stripe going lengthways painted on it appeared on screen.

"We are being hailed."

"Open a channel. This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise."

A tall, pink skinned man in blue uniform appeared on screen.

"This is the police ship Gunga. I hereby place you under arrest."