"Ferengi what do you want?"
"I know your employer told me never to contact you but.."
"But what, I demand to know what is so important that you feel the need to break our arrangement?"
"You don't understand they know about you. "
"Impossible, the only way they would know about me is if you talk."
"Rules of Acquisition 111, lose lips equals lost profits."
"Ah yes, your acquisition rules, but isn't there a rule about the highest bidder always wins?"
"Yes, but not when the risk of one's life outweighs the chance of profits."
"Well, in that case, neither one of us have anything to worry about."
"You don't understand Starfleet."
"Those universal do-gooders couldn't find a star on a map. Their investigations are a joke in every star system. "
"What about Odo? "
"You mean that poor excuse of a shape shifter? You may fear him little Ferengi, but he has no hold over me either."
Just then Quark's left boot melts into a yellow form before changing into humanoid form, revealing Odo. Immediately the assassin turns red and morphs into a Klingoor cougar before running out the door leaving Odo momentary shock by the sight of another shape changer. Quark just stood there staring at Odo. Who races out the door, but his prey escapes during those precious moments.
In Ops, the entire command team of the station is present plus Quark.
"Constable, are you saying that there one of your people is this assassin? "
"No, I don't think so commander. His change didn't feel natural, and his coloring was different from mine. "
"Doctor if he doesn't belong to Odo race, where could he have come from? "
"Commander there are no known species of shifters, except Odo."
"Benjamin. "
"Yes, Dax?"
"One of my past host Tobin was a geneticist, and they did work with crossing species to develop new life forms. "
"So what are you saying? That someone clone Odo? "
"Major no one clone me. Besides to do that they would need a tissue sample from me."
"Constable, could someone have gotten a tissue sample from you without your knowledge? "
"No commander I would know right away if that has happened."
"Thank the Nagus, who would want two Odos running around in the station."
"Quark I almost forgot that you were here. Tell us who he is?"
"Commander I am just an honest businessman who has mistakenly gotten caught up in this plot or whatever you humans called it."
"Enough Quark. Someone is trying to kill a Bajoran minister, and you just stand there making jokes?" Shouts Major Kira.
"Maybe I should just arrest you for your association. Ignorance is not a defense, but who knows in your case it just might work." Says Odo.
"Everyone please give Quark and me a moment alone in my office."
Both men walked up the steps to Sisko's office, with Quark going first and Sisko following close behind him. Quark stood to the side expecting Sisko to walk around to sit at his desk like he normally does, but Sisko remain standing looking at the Ferengi.
"Commander I am glad that its just you and me away from those other over emotional people. I know you understand that I am just a law abiding citizen trying to earn an honest living."
"Quark, I know that nothing escapes you that goes on this station. That you are either directly involved, or indirectly as a third party member. Now I want to know what this person is on my station trying to assassinate the First Minister. More importantly who is that person working for?"
Quark just stares for a moment at the Commander, before his slumping down his shoulders and admitted that he knows something about the person that has been causing the trouble on the station. He admitted that he was contacted by an unknown person that he was supposed to provide living quarters for a few days for a special visitor. He did not know the nature of the visitor until a few days ago when he was approach in the halo suite by what could only be a shapeshifter. He admitted that at first he thought it as Odo, but that this person turned into red goo, before changing into someone different.
Sisko asked if he knew who the person was before transforming. Quark said he did not, and that he had no way of contacting him now that he was no longer in the quarters.
Both men walked by out into Ops and Sisko begins to tell his team that Quark did not know the person's name, but yes it was a shapeshifter, different from the constable. Quark did not know how to contact him again, but he did know the contract for the assassin was for the First Minister while he was on the station. The contract was specific it had to happen away from Bajor while Aar was on the station.
While the Sisko and his command team wondered what to do next with the situation they were facing, and the question that linger in Ops was who would gain the most in the assassination happen on Deep Space Nine? In the First Minister Suite, an important meeting was going on between him and those on Bajor.
"First Minister you should return to the safety of Bajor." Said Colonel Hayes.
"No I will stay on this station, and I have been promised by the Emissary that in a day, maybe two we will continue with the ceremony."
"First Minister after what happen you can't be serious about remaining there or about the ceremony."
"Colonel we must no run from our enemies anymore. Running away is what our ancestors did when the Cardassians first showed up on Bajor, and we see where there path took our people. No, I will remain here."
"First Minister I understand your motivation, and I even argue with what you are saying. But your safety must be my number one priority at this time."
"Colonel I appreciate that, but we must have faith in the prophets and their Emissary at this station."
"You think Starfleet can protect you? This whole thing happen on their station under their watch. Even though they were forewarned, and supposedly on guard against anything. Their best was not good enough."
"Please calm yourself, Colonel."
"Yes, please forgive me First Minister. You understand I believe in the benevolence of the prophets too, but I am a military man. In my position, I must take into an account all possibilities, and you would be much safer on a planet, than on a space station."
"Colonel what is my life compare to our people? Besides Commander Sisko is also a military man, and this cowardly person that was responsible for the attack was not a normal person. I understand that there is something unique about him, and because of that we need to keep our faith in the prophets while understanding that Starfleet is most equip to deal with this enemy."
"First Minister I see that I cannot change your mind, but please understand what would happen if something happens to you. Our already fragile provisional government would crumble under the weigh of the fallout of losing you. At the very least, please let me replace your personal guards with some of my elite troops."
"If that will grant you a measure of calmness, please do so Colonel. And thank you for your passion for protecting Bajor."
Dr. Bashir was in medical reviewing all the known medical files he could find on shapeshifters and researching any known military experiments that involved any shifting of atoms. He had been doing research for the last several hours and truth be told he had not slept in the last couple of days since the attack. He was getting tired, and then he looked up and thought he was dreaming when he was Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax standing in the doorway.
"Julian you look exhausted, while don't you get some rest."
"Ok, now I know that I'm not dreaming because you sound much different in my dreams."
"Julian I think I should say thank you for that, but listen you do need some rest. What are you doing?"
"Sisko asks me to check all of Starfleet records for any mention of shape shifters, and I have even check some of our military records for anything. But so far I can't find anything."
"You know one of my Symboit host was a scientist, and I think that maybe we are going about this all wrong checking Starfleet records."
"What do you mean?"
"Think for about minute, the only known shapeshifter that anyone has ever heard of is Odo. Who besides The Federation and the Bajorans who else has had contact with him?"
"You mean the Cardassians? How would they have anything to do with this?"
"Think about it Julian, they ran what was call Tera Noir, and had access to Odo for years."
"Dax Odo would not willingly let someone experiment on him."
"I agreed, but these are crafty Cardassians we are talking about. I wonder if you can find a way to access some of their records, but after you had some rest."
Back in Quarks it was late, and there was just one customer left, he was from the Andor home world and had been mourning the lost of a crew mate. Quark was only half listening to him; he had other thoughts on his mind. For once he was not worried about Odo, but his associate who might think that Quark had betrayed him. The stool next to the Andorian turned red then reformed into the assassin. Quark looked on in horror as he turn a Cam Blade and slice the Andorian's neck, sending the him to join his crew mate in oblivion. Quark was motionless with horror as the assassin set his sights on the little Ferengi.