"Well, Quark I must say that I'm let down by you. Ferengi always put profits before loyalty, don't you have a rule about that?"
"Yes yes Rules of Acquisition #55, be only loyal to latinum, not friendship. I know that rule well." Said a nervous Quark.
"Quark, my employers, were disappointed after doing so much business with you over the years, now they want me to make sure that there are no loose ends on this station. We are starting to think that maybe its because of you that I miss my target. I never miss! It's what I'm known for until this station."
"Wait wait, I can still help you get the first minister. Then you would still have your reputation; I know where he will be, and I can get the security schedule so you will know when the perfect time will be to get him."
"Why would I let you help me now, little Ferengi? If you could not be trusted when latinum was your payment, you expect me to believe that you will work free?
"Ferengi never works for free, but we value our lives very high."
"Hmmm, ok Quark you have yourself a deal, and let's see if you can redeem yourself in the eyes of my employer."
"I will not let you down; you will see that Quark always does what is right for profits."
"Quark, one more thing before you go, I remember reading somewhere that your people sell off their body parts once they are dead for profits. Is this right?"
"Yes, it's true, our bodies are valued as part of our estate. Besides, who would waste money on an expensive funeral. There is no profit in that."
"I agreed about waste spending on funerals, but let me tell you if you betray me again, then your brother the bartender will be very wealthy selling off your wrinkled body parts. Do you understand me?"
No words are exchange between the two men, as the assassin leaves, and Quark sinks to the floor. Losing count of how many times that he has had to bargain to save his life.
Elsewhere on the station, in the temple the First Minister Aar is in mediation, surrounded outside of the temple is the security detail that Odo assign to him. Behind them are onlooker Bajorans who were still frightened by the attacks, but look toward Aar for reassurance that the violence was behind them. Kira walks by with Odo, staring inside of the temple at Minister Aar.
"Odo, we can't let anything happen to him. If the First Minister was harmed on the station, it could cause a civil war within the provisional government."
"You know I never understood why the Bajoran people found so hard for their freedom from the Cardassians, but at a drop of a hat they want to fight against each other. The spoils of freedom I guess Major, but don't worry I have all available staff watching the First Minister."
"Odo but we both know that this assassin will not quit, and all we are doing are waiting for him to strike again."
"That is not true major, I have my investigation going on, and although Quark was helpful, the assassin got away, but has not left the station. We will find him, but Major I think the bigger question is who would hire an assassin to killed the First Minister?"
"I told you and Sisko already it has to be the Cardassians."
"I'm not too sure about that, especially with all the unrest on Bajor, how do we know for certain that the cause for this whole thing is not down there."
"What you are saying cannot be? If you understood the Bajoran people at all, you would not even think that Odo."
"Major during the occupation, did not some Bajorians side with the Cardassians? If they could do that, I think some might be capable of this as well."
He does not wait for an answer as Odo walks away, leaving Kira with his parting words.
Miles O'Brein sometimes wishes he was still on board the Enterprise, true he was not the chief, but it was a lot fewer problems on the ship. Plus the Enterprise did not have all the malfunctioning Cardassian equipment. Today he was trying to repair the communication array, that went out as Commander Sisko was trying to update Starfleet on the assassination attempt on the First Minister, he was sure that he had fix this same problem a thousand times, but for some reason, it would not work today. He had always come to terms that this issue would take a hands-on approach and had one Ensign Paul accompany him on a spacewalk as he attempts to repair the unseen damage.
"Ensign try not to fall too far behind me."
"I will keep up sir; just I have not done much spacewalking."
Grinning inside of his helmet Miles replies "Its no problem, just like at the Academy."
The two men walk step by step getting closer to their destination, a section of the under plyon that the sensors were not working, and they could not get a visual of the area. Miles was glad for a chance to walk on the "wild side" as he told Kira, plus it was good to see the station from the outside. They approach the part of the walk where they would have to walk upside down to reach the hidden area. Miles led the way, and Paul follows behind.
Paul hesitates before going underneath with one foot off the hull just as a shuttle came through the wormhole and the shock waves causes him to fly off into space.
Commander Sisko, Kira, and Dax were in ops discussing Starfleet's responds to the events on the station.
"Benjamin the admiral did not mean that you were not doing your job."
"Well, it sounded that way to me."
"Commander, are they going to send more security or Starfleet personnel to help? First Minister Aar must be allowed to finish the ceremony tomorrow. He will inspire all of Bajor when he does."
"Major, at Odo's request, they are not sending any more help. The Constable felt like more Starfleet security here that were not familiar with Bajor's history with the occupation might cause more harm than good."
"More harm than good, what is Odo thinking. Commander excuse me I am going to find Odo." Before Sisko could respond, she was on the turbo lift heading down to locate the station's security chief.
Paul had flown twenty feet from the station before Miles had to act. He used his remote access on his suit, to start the emergency booster jump on Ensign's Paul suit, which stops his ascent and pushes him back toward the station. Miles had to relocate to reach out to pull Paul back to the hull.
"Are you alright Ensign?"
No reply comes from the young ensign, and Miles thought that he was in shock, but instead Paul points at something behind Miles. When he turns around, he sees a red gelatin substance hanging underneath the pylon. It looks like a cocoon Miles thought as Paul walks by him. He brings out his tricorder to try to get a reading on what they were looking at. The substance move as if it was bother by the tricorder. Paul turn around to make sure that Miles was seeing what he was saw. Then a hand burst out of the cocoon and smashes through Paul's face shield. All Miles can do is watch in horror as the young ensign's life is drain from his body.