Absinthe has been somewhat misrepresented in this story. I've taken artistic licence with it. The thujone present in absinthe isn't in a high enough concentration to create hallucinations (it's the same chemical found in sage) if you ingested enough to have hallucinations, the alcohol levels of the drink would kill you before you did. While the sale of absinthe was banned for large parts of the 20th century, at the current time it is legal to purchase and sell in most parts of the world, with the thujone levels controlled.

If you couldn't tell by now, I'm a history nerd and I felt guilty posting this without clarifying some things. Now that you know more than you ever wanted to know about absinthe, read away! There will be new chapters every Saturday. - larosesombre

Chapter 1: Never Cheat a Klingon

If anyone else on the station suspected, they hadn't let on. If anyone had seen the way Quark lit up every time Odo entered the bar or had realized that their interactions had filled up with sly looks and secret grins then they hadn't made it known. Odo and Quark continued in secret, and they enjoyed every minute of their covert relationship, but today Quark felt nervous. He had a deal lined up for later in the afternoon, and the knowledge that he was going behind Odo's back sat far less comfortably than it would have before all of this had started. Quark hated the idea that he was getting soft, but he didn't know what else to call it.

He could quote a number of Ferengi rules of acquisition that told him what he had with Odo was wrong: "trust is the biggest liability of all", "latinum lasts longer than lust" and "never place friendship before profit". What he and Odo had was a bit beyond friendship at this point, a bit more profound than lust, but Quark was fairly certain the rules still applied. He knew that what they were doing, as right as it felt, wasn't the proper Ferengi thing to do. He didn't have time to fall in love. Especially not with Odo, who was a liability.

If the fact that he was in love with Odo was going to prevent him from making smart business deals, then that was a problem. But it might be a problem he'd have to live with. Quark tried to reassure himself that he could have Odo and still make profitable deals. He just had to be careful. After all, "a wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience". Still, there was a nagging doubt, a fear that nibbled incessantly at his heart. Traitor of a heart that it was, flip-flopping all over the place as Odo entered the bar, interrupting Quark's internal conflict.

The Changeling took a seat at the bar. "Up to anything illegal today Quark?" He asked, a twinkle in his eyes betraying the serious tone of his voice.

"Illegal?" Quark laughed nervously. "Nonsense." He couldn't do this today, not when he had a deal to worry about. HIs anxious eyes darted to the clock where he could see the time creeping closer to when he'd have to shut the bar for the day.

"Quark, is something the matter?" Odo seemed somewhat concerned, and it set Quark on edge. Why did he have to be so damn perceptive?

"No, just closing a little early today. I'll admit I'm worried about losing profits."

"Why close early?" Odo followed him with his eyes as Quark mixed a drink for Morn. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. There's a private event in here this afternoon. I'll be out somewhat late."

"I can wait."

Of course he could. Quark glanced up at him to see an affectionate smile on the Changeling's face. His heart wrenched again. Was it trying to kill him? It was just one little, maybe slightly dishonest deal. What was there to feel guilty about?

Odo watched him in silence for the next half hour, and Quark wanted nothing more than to lapse into their usual banter. Somehow, it just didn't seem appropriate. Finally, Quark decided enough was enough. It was time to close up the bar, a few minutes early, but Quark would have done anything to get rid of Odo at that point. Odo left somewhat reluctantly, he seemed suspicious, which was hardly new, but there was an overwhelming feeling of disappointment accompanying it this time. Quark tried to brush it off. Odo couldn't expect him to avoid good business deals, he was still a Ferengi after all.

The empty bar smelled like synthale. Quark wrinkled his nose at it as he moved between tables gathering up glasses. He counted everything twice: chairs, glasses, Dabo tables and all. Just to be doubly sure that Odo wasn't still in there spying on him. He was just wiping down the bar when his "business partners" arrived. It was a risky deal, and Quark knew it. But "the riskier the road, the greater the profit", and the profit here was immense. The client that entered was a handsome Bajoran man, flanked by a Klingon bodyguard. The doubts that had been eating at Quark earlier were gone as he saw the bag in the Klingon's hand that held the latinum. He licked his lips in anticipation. Excitement mounting, Quark hurried over.

"Are the arrangements all made correctly, Ferengi?" The Bajoran snapped. "I've no time to waste. I expect there to be a runabout ready once you've handed it over."

"Certainly, certainly. But first, the latinum." Quark couldn't tear his eyes away from the bag.

"Do you think I'm a fool? First the alcohol. Four crates of absinthe, all the way from Earth. I'm paying you a lot so it had better be genuine."

"Would I ever cheat a customer?" Quark smiled, pulling himself away from the bag of latinum. "I'll get it. You're lucky I was able to find any considering it has been banned on Earth since the 20th century." He began leading them up the staircase to a storage room up by the holodecks. "It's in these crates."

The Bajoran moved over to one of the crates and opening it pulled out a bottle full of the nasty green liquid. "Does it have a high enough thujone content?" He asked, pulling the cork out. "I'm paying you for the hallucinogens in the alcohol, not the pretty green colour."

"But of course!" Quark said, still smiling. "It's exactly what you asked for. Now, the latinum-"

"Hang on, I still want to test it." Very delicately the Bajoran dipped his pinky finger into the drink and deposited a drop on his tongue. Quark very sincerely hoped that it tasted genuine. A cold wave of panic washed over him as the Bajoran made a face. Wordlessly, he held the bottle out to the Klingon who tipped it back and took a swig. "You lied to me, Ferengi. I don't appreciate that." The Bajoran snarled. "When I make a deal, I expect to get what I'm paying for."

"I assure you! That's premium grade absinthe!" Quark said, slowly beginning to back away towards the staircase. "It's genuine, not replicated."

"It's replicated, and badly at that. We're not taking it, and furthermore, you're going to give us that runabout for free."

"I can't do that." Quark began. "I secured you your product, you have to pay me now." The staircase was almost in reach.

"Let's just take it and go." The Klingon snapped. "You're wasting time."

"This little troll thought he could fool me. I'm not leaving just yet." The Bajoran was so close Quark could smell the absinthe on his breath.

The Klingon was uncorking another bottle, "I said, take it and go!" He snarled.

"You take my orders!" The Bajoran spun round, he was beginning to flush red with anger. "I hired you, and you will listen to me!"

"Klingon take orders from no one." The bag of latinum landed at the Bajoran's feet with a thud. "I'm not taking your orders anymore. If you don't want the alcohol, then I'll take it, and if the Ferengi has cheated me then he will answer accordingly."

"Never cheat a Klingon, unless you're sure you can get away with it". That was one Ferengi Rule of Acquisition Quark had hoped never to break. Quark could tell when a deal had gone sour and this one had. Maybe the bad feeling he'd had earlier wasn't about Odo, maybe his lobes had been telling him this was unsafe from the beginning. But he could still escape with his life. With the Klingon advancing on him he turned and ran outright, his back turned to the Klingon and impending doom.

Quark didn't make it down the staircase.