Ahn of Deep Space Nine

A fan-novel, based on Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery and STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE.

DISCLAIMER: This was written solely for the sake of fun. No money is being made here, and no copyright infringement is intended. Takes place after "What You Leave Behind," the final episode of Deep Space Nine.

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EPISODE VI
Quark Makes Up His Mind

Quark was the first to reach the doors of the asylum, and when he did, he was greeted by Vedek Moriel. An expression of surprise and welcome mingled on his wrinkled, benevolent face.

"Prophets be praised," he exclaimed, "I wasn't expecting visitors today, but I'm so very glad to see you. Please, please come in. The elderly man led them to a cramped office right off the entrance. He motioned for the three to sit, which they did rather uneasily.

"So," the Vedek inquired, slowly seating himself behind a desk that took up a majority of space, "What brings you to Rivan this day? I take it that things are going well with you and Morel..."

"She prefers to be called Ahn," Quark meekly interjected.

"So you've decided to change your name after all." The Vedek said, smiling brightly at the girl. "I hope it serves you well. And how are you doing, Ahn?"

"As well as can be expected, sir," said Ahn smilelessly. A blight seemed to have descended on her.

"The fact is, sir," Quark explained. "There's been a mistake somewhere, and I've come to rectify it. When I said I was interested in a child from your asylum I meant I wanted a...Bajoran boy."

"Oh...my," said Vedek Moriel, clearly stunned. "What a dreadful mistake. This must have been an oversight on my part. I suppose my old mind isn't what it used to be. How embarrassing it must have been for you, and how terrible for the child."

"It was my nephew's fault," Quark was quick to point out. "He should've said something to you immediately. Anyhow, the mistake has been made and the only thing to do is to set it right. So, I've come to return her. I can bring her back, can't I?"

"If that is your wish." The Vedek then turned his attention to Ahn, who had been looking down at her feet the entire time. "I'm so sorry this had to happen, child, but I promise you I'll make up for it. As a matter of fact, my dear friend Mrs. Yirol was here yesterday, and she was saying to me how much she would like a companion. She is a lady of strong character, and high standing in these parts. Perhaps you would be the very girl for her. It's a matter worth pursuing."

Quark did not look as if he thought the matter was worth pursuing. Here was an unexpectedly good chance to get this unwelcome orphan off his hands, and he did not even feel grateful for it. Quark knew of Mrs. Yirol because she had visited the station about a year before. She was the owner of a transport company, and she ruled her workers with a titanium fist. He had heard numerous tales from employees of Yirol's temper and stinginess, and of her family of snobbish, quarrelsome children. Quark felt a qualm of conscience at the thought of handing Ahn over.

"Perhaps you can give me a moment to think..."

Before he could finish, Quark was interrupted by a loud beep. Excusing himself, Vedek Moriel swung round in his chair. With a gentle tap, he switched on his communicator. In a flash, the rich gold symbol of the Bajoran faith was replaced by the pale pink image of Mrs. Yirol.

"My dear Mrs. Yirol! How glad I am to receive your call. I do hope you're feeling much better today."

"Not by much, I'm afraid. Why, I slept over ten hours, but I woke up this morning completely exhausted. I had this horrible dream that I was being chased by a pack of wild tribbles. Then, at breakfast, the maid, an Orion girl, spilled an entire container of jumja preserves on my lap. Quite frankly, dear Vedek I don't know how I put up with this from day to day. The Prophets must be testing me..."

Ahn, sitting with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, stared at Mrs. Yirol as one fascinated. Was she to be given into the keeping of this sharp-faced, dull-eyed Bajoran woman? She felt a lump coming up in her throat and her eyes smarted painfully. She feared that she couldn't keep the tears back as the Vedek finally got around to discussing her.

"It seems there's been a mistake about this young girl, Mrs. Yirol," he said. "I was under the impression that he would accept a Cardassian child, but it seems that I was in error. So, if you're still of the same mind you were yesterday, I think she'll be just the thing for you."

Mrs. Yirol sighed impassionately, brushing away a loose strand of blond hair. "I suppose if you've seen one orphan you've seen them all. How old is she and what's her name?"

"Kor Ahn, and she's ten years old."

Vedek Moriel turned around, motioning for Ahn to stand in front of the viewscreen.

"A Cardassian...humph!" she said, eying her as best she could. "Don't look as if there's much to her, but I suppose she'll do. She looks wiry, and they say the wiry ones are the best - they don't mind a lot of movement. I'll expect the girl to learn her place, and there's lots for her to learn. My breakfast must be served at the break of dawn, and my linens must be folded in stacks of three tied together with yellow ribbons..."

Quark looked at Ahn and softened at the sight of the child's face with its look of mute misery - the misery of a helpless little creature who finds itself once more caught in the trap from which it had escaped. Quark felt an uncomfortable conviction that, if he denied the appeal of that look, it would haunt him for the rest of his days. Moreover, he despised Mrs. Yirol. To hand a sensitive, 'high-strung' child over to such a woman! No, he could not live with the thought of doing that!

"Well, you know," Quark interrupted unexpectedly. "I didn't say that I had ABSOLUTELY decided that I wouldn't keep her. In fact, I may say that I was very seriously considering the idea. I just came to find out how this mistake had occurred in the first place. I think I need some time with Ahn, to see if I can make this work. I mean, why be so quick to judge? If I make up my mind not to keep her I'll bring her back by the end of the week. Now doesn't that sound fair, Mrs. Yirol?

"I suppose it is your right," said Mrs. Yirol ungraciously. "But I do not intend to wait forever." And with that, the lady flatly said her good-byes."

When the screen went blank, the Vedek stared at Quark in confusion. Meanwhile, a sunrise was dawning on Ahn's face. First the look of despair faded out; then came a faint flush of hope; then the eyes grew deep and bright as morning stars. The child was quite transfigured; and at warp speed, she flew across the room to Quark.

"Oh, did you really say that perhaps you would let me stay with you on the station?" she said, in a breathless whisper, as if speaking aloud might shatter the glorious possibility.

"Did you really say it? Or did I only imagine that you did?"

"I think you'd better learn to control that imagination of yours, Ahn, if you can't distinguish between what's real and what isn't," said Quark sternly. "Yes, you did hear me say just that and no more. It isn't decided yet and I may conclude to let Mrs. Yirol take you after all. She seems to need you much more than I do."

"I'd rather go back to the asylum than live with her," said Ahn passionately. "She looks exactly like a - like a wompat."

Quark smothered a smile under the conviction that Ahn must be reproved for such a speech.

"A little girl like you should be ashamed of talking so about a lady and a stranger," he said severely. "Now sit back down quietly and behave as a good girl should."

"I'll try to do and be anything you want me, if you'll only keep me," said Ahn, meekly settling down.

Quark said nothing further, even after returning to Deep Space Nine that evening. As he cleared the table from a quick supper, Quark debated the issue repeatedly in his mind. Finally he came to his conclusion. "I suppose I could get used to her. It seems strange, raising a Cardassian, and I dare say I'll make a terrible mess of it. But I'll do my best. As far as I'm concerned she may stay. I may not know much about Cardassians, but then no one anywhere is born knowing how to be a parent. Guess you learn something every day."

Hours after Ahn had fallen asleep, Quark lay in his bed, staring up at the pitch-black ceiling. "Well, you're really in for it now. Did you ever suppose you'd see the day when you'd be raising a Cardassian girl? It's crazy enough; but what makes it even crazier is that Nog should be the cause of it, he who always seemed to have such a fear of Cardassians. At any rate, I'm plunging into this head on and who knows what will ultimately come of it."

- - - - -

EPISODE VII
Ahn's Bringing-up Is Begun

For reasons best known to himself, Quark did not tell Ahn that she could stay until the following afternoon. In the interim, he kept the child busy with various tasks and watched over her with a keen eye while she did them. By noon, he had concluded that Ahn was smart and obedient, willing to work and quick to learn; her most serious shortcoming seemed to be a tendency to fall into daydreams in the middle of a task and forget all about it until such time as she was sharply recalled to reality by a reprimand or a catastrophe.

When Ahn had finished wiping tables down at the bar, she confronted Quark near the gaming tables. Her face had the air and expression of one desperately determined to learn the worst. Her thin little body trembled from head to foot; her face flushed and her eyes dilated until they were almost black; she clasped her hands tightly and said in an imploring voice:

"Oh, please, Mr. Quark, won't you tell me if you are going to send me back or not?" I've tried to be patient all morning, but I can't bear the wait any longer. My stomach is in knots. Please tell me."

"You haven't put the chairs back as I told you to do," said Quark immovably. "Just go and do it before you ask any more questions."

Ahn went and quickly put back the chairs. Then she returned, fastening imploring eyes on the Ferengi's face.

"Well," said Quark, unable to find any excuse for deferring her explanation longer, "I suppose I might as well tell you. I've decided to keep you - that is, if you'll be a good girl and show yourself worthy. What ARE you doing?"

"I'm crying," said Ahn in a tone of bewilderment. "I don't know why. I'm incredibly happy. Oh, HAPPY doesn't seem the proper word at all. I was happy about the Pathway and the Portal - but this! Oh, it's something more than happy. I'm so exhilarated. I'll try to be good. It will be uphill work, I expect, for Vedek Tola often told me I was terribly wicked. However, I'll do my very best. But can you tell me why I'm crying?"

"I suppose it's because you're all excited and worked up," said Quark, smiling faintly. "Sit down and try to calm yourself. I'm afraid you both cry and laugh far too easily. Yes, you can stay here and I'll try to do right by you.

"What am I to call you?" asked Ahn. "Can I call you father?"

Quark's eye twitched involuntarily at the thought. "You may call me Quark."

"It sounds awfully disrespectful to just say that," protested Ahn.

"There'll be nothing disrespectful in it if you're careful in how you speak. Everybody on the station calls me Quark, except the Vedeks. They always say "my dear child." Those words always made him recoil with disgust.

"I'd love to call you father," said Ahn wistfully. "I've never had a father or any relation at all. It would make me feel as if I really were a part of the family. Can I call you father then?"

"No. I don't believe in calling people names that don't belong to them. You are an apprentice and I am the master. I brought you here to learn. I may not be able to leave my business to you, but at least I can teach you to be a good assistant."

"But," Ahn continued, "We could imagine you were really my father."

"I couldn't," said Quark grimly.

"Don't you never imagine things different from what they really are?" asked Ahn wide-eyed.

"No."

"Oh!" Ahn drew a long breath. "Oh Mr. Quark, how much you miss!"

"I don't believe in imagining things different from what they really are," retorted Quark. "When we find ourselves in certain circumstances, there's no point in imagining them away. And that reminds me. Go behind the bar Ahn...be sure your hands are clean...and bring me those data padds on the third shelf. Those are the complete Ferengi Guides to Commerce. Everything I learned about the universe I learned from those books. I expect you to devote an hour a day to learning them by heart.

Ahn promptly departed. When she failed to return after several minutes, Quark marched after her with a grim expression. He found Ahn staring down at the padds in her hands. The station's lighting fell over the rapt little figure with an otherworldly radiance.

"Ahn, what are you doing?" demanded Quark sharply.

Ahn came back to this plane with a start.

"That," she said, picking up one of the padds. On screen was a drawing of the former Grand Nagus Zek surrounded by several reverent-looking Ferengi boys. The title appeared above in intricate, gold-colored lettering. Ahn was particularly taken by one child, dressed in a muted beige robe. He stood at the edge, furthest away from the Nagus. "I was just imagining how much this picture fits me...that I was that lone soul, standing off in the corner, not really belonging. How lonely and sad, don't you think? But he wants to belong, too, so he just crept shyly up on the outside of the crowd, hoping nobody would notice...except the Nagus. I'm sure I know just how he felt. His little heart must have beat and his hands must have got cold, like mine did when I asked you if I could stay. He was afraid the Nagus mightn't notice. But it's likely he did, don't you think? I've been trying to imagine it all out...him edging a little closer until he was beside him; and then he would notice and he would gently pat his head and oh, such a thrill of joy would run over him! But I wish the artist hadn't painted the Nagus so funny looking. Does he really look like that? I don't believe he could...the children would have been afraid of him."

"Ahn," said Quark, wondering why he had not broken into this speech long before, "You shouldn't talk that way. It's disrespectful."

Ahn's eyes marveled.

"Why, I felt just as respectful as could be. I'm sure I didn't mean to be disrespectful."

"Well I don't suppose you did - but it doesn't sound right to talk that way. Zek was the greatest leader Ferenginar ever had. And another thing, Ahn, when I send you after something you're to bring it at once and not fall into imagining. Remember that. Now take these padds and study them. I want you to learn everything by heart."

Ahn emerged from behind the counter. She climbed onto the closest stool, spread out the padds before her, propped her chin on her hands, and began reading the first verses intently for several silent minutes.

"I like this," she announced at length. "It's beautiful. I didn't know that commerce could be so beautiful. This isn't poetry, but it makes me feel the same way poetry does. 'A wise man can hear profit in the wind.' That is just like a line of music. Oh, I'm so glad you thought of making me learn this, Mr. Quark."

"Well, learn it in silence," said Quark shortly.

Ahn diligently studied the padds for some moments longer.

"Mr. Quark," she demanded presently, "do you think that I shall ever have a bosom friend on this station?"

"A what kind of friend?"

"A bosom friend...a best friend, you know - a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my innermost soul. I've dreamed of meeting her...or him...all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my dreams have come true as of late that perhaps this one will, too. Do you think it's possible?"

"Well, there are quite a few children your age on the station. Perhaps I can arrange for you to meet some of them. You'll have to watch how you behave, though. Their parents are officers and ambassadors, and they won't let their sons and daughters associate with just anyone."

Ahn looked up at Quark, her eyes aglow with interest.

"What are these children like? Are they pretty? Oh, I hope so. It's bad enough to be homely myself, but I positively couldn't endure it in a friend."

"They come from all over: Bajor, Vulcan, Earth, Bolarus, to name a few. And they all seem to be very intelligent, which is better than any outward appearances."

As of late, Quark had become quite a diligent student of morality. He memorized countless axioms, and attempted to tack one onto every remark made to the girl he was now bringing up. In this case, Ahn dismissed the lesson in favor of the delightful possibilities preceding it.

"Oh, I'm so glad. Next to being handsome, it would be best to have an intelligent friend. When I lived with Mrs. Aliv she had a bookcase in her sitting room with glass doors. There weren't any books in it; Mrs. Aliv kept her jumja preserves there...when she had any preserves to keep. One of the doors was smashed when a drunk Cardassian soldier broke into the house. But the other door was whole and I used to pretend that my reflection in it was another little girl who lived in it. I called her Nisran, and we were very close. I used to talk to her by the hour, especially before sunrise, and tell her everything. Nisran was the comfort and consolation of my life. We used to pretend that the bookcase was enchanted and that if I only knew the spell I could open the door and step right into the room where Nisran lived, instead of into Mrs. Aliv's shelves of preserves. And then Nisran would have taken me by the hand and led me out into a wonderful place, all flowers and sunshine and blue skies, and we would have lived there happy for ever after. When I went to live at the asylum it just broke my heart to leave Nisran. She felt it dreadfully, too, I know she did, for she was crying when she kissed me good-bye through the bookcase door. There were no book-cases at the asylum. But in the cellar below the building was a little room where the loveliest echo lived. It echoed back every word you said, even if only a whisper. So I imagined that it was a little boy called Gevrel and we were great friends and I loved him almost as I loved Nisran...not quite, but almost, you know. The night before I came here I said good-bye to Gevrel, and oh, his good-bye came back to me in such sad, sad tones. I had become so attached to him that at first, I hadn't the heart to imagine a bosom friend here, even if there had been any scope for imagination there."

"I think it's just as well there wasn't," said Quark dryly. "I don't approve of such goings-on. You seem to half believe your own imaginations. It will be good for you to have a real friend so you can put that other nonsense out of your head. I sincerely hope you don't let anyone hear you talking about your Nisrans and your Gevrels or they'll think you're unbalanced."

"Oh, I won't. I couldn't talk about them to just anybody...their memories are too sacred for that. But I thought I'd like to have you know about them."

"I hope you not fickle minded." Quark sniffed. "I told you to learn and not talk. But it seems impossible for you to stop talking if you've got anybody that will listen to you. So I will leave you to your learning."

"Oh, I know this one volume well now...all but just the last line."

"I want you to know it completely. Stay here and study until the bar opens."

"Can I go up to the holosuites instead?" pleaded Ahn. "There I can make a place where nothing will distract me."

"No...you'll be just fine here. Besides, holosuites are distractions by nature. I bet you would just go up there and play."

Ahn shook her head adamantly. "Oh, I wouldn't want to disrespect you that way. But I admit, the temptation is IRRESISTIBLE. What do you do when you meet with an irresistible temptation?"

"Ahn, did you hear me tell you to study?"

Ahn sighed, looking down at the padd.

"There...I know this one now. I've learned the last sentence. Now I'm going to imagine things into this room so that they'll always stay imagined. The floor is covered with a gold, plush velvet carpet and there are matching curtains at the window. The walls are hung with ancient tapestries. The furniture is Bolian mahogany. I've never really seen Bolian mahogany, but it sounds SO luxurious. This is a couch all piled high with silken cushions, green and blue and red and gold, and I am reclining gracefully on it. I can see my reflection in a splendid big mirror hanging on the wall. I am tall and regal, clad in a gown of trailing blue velvet, with my hair braided and latinum bracelets handing from my wrists. My hair is midnight black, and my skin a warm gray. Everyone calls me the Honorable Miss Ahn."

She jumped from her stool, dancing towards the edge of the counter. Peering into its shiny surface, she saw her pale gray face, solemn blue eyes, and dark auburn hair.

"No, you're Ahn of Deep Space Nine," she said earnestly, "and I see you, just as you are looking now, whenever I try to imagine the Honorable Miss. But it's a million times nicer to be Ahn of Deep Space Nine than Ahn of nowhere, isn't it?"

She bent forward, touching her reflection affectionately. Then, she returned to her stool. She sat, dangling her legs, with her eyes meeting Quark's.

"Have a good afternoon, Quark. And a good afternoon to Deep Space Nine. And a good afternoon to the stars and the Portal of Light. I wonder if I shall ever have any friends. I promise to be a good loyal friend, if given the chance. But I will never forget Nisran and Gevrel. They would feel so hurt if I did and I hate to hurt anybody's feelings, even a little bookcase girl's or a little echo boy's. I will always remember them. You always remember your first friends. And with that, Ahn reached for volume two.

- - - - -

EPISODE VIII
Commander Kira is Horrified

Ahn had been on Deep Space Nine for two weeks before Commander Kira came to introduce herself. To be fair, she was not to blame for this, for she and most of the senior staff had travelled to Klaestron IV for a conference. Kira was not used to missing visits with colleagues, but as she often said, "duty is the first call". As soon as circumstance allowed, Kira ventured to the Habitat Ring, bursting with curiosity to see the orphan, concerning whom all sorts of stories and suppositions were beginning to circulate.

During that time, Ahn had made good use of every waking moment. She became fast friends with Nog. He eagerly assumed the role of a mentor, showing Ahn the station and buying her all the jumja sticks she could eat. Ahn also met the Siskos, who gave her an antique watch; Counselor Ezri Dax, who gave her hair ribbons from Trill; and Dr. Julian Bashir, who gave her a complete physical. Ahn in particular liked the tall human with the British accent, though he often gave her the oddest looks.

During this time, Ahn had also come to know Saturn, the Sisko's pet cat. For some reason, he had taken to following her whenever she left her quarters. At first, she tried to ignore him. Quark warned her that Terran felines could be extremely violent. Yet Saturn seemed quite harmless. In fact, he greeted Ahn with the most affectionate purrs.

By the middle of the second week, Saturn had taken to standing outside her quarters. "I wonder why he does that?" Ahn thought to herself. "He has a home. He has food and a nice warm bed, but there he is, staring at me like a beggar. Perhaps he is looking for something. Maybe he's lonely. Maybe he's looking for a new friend. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to pick him up just once." So the next morning, Ahn rushed outside, where she found Saturn curled up near the door. Quickly, she rushed over, scooping up the cat and stroking his soft fur. Ahn was about to bring him inside when she spotted Commander Kira, strolling casually down the corridor with Quark. The Bajoran with the bright blond hair and the crimson uniform was describing her debate with the Tholian prime minister in such detail that Quark was beginning to think that even death must bring its compensations. Kira took her time finishing, and when she did, she finally revealed the real reason of her call.

"I've been hearing some surprising things about you."

"I don't suppose you are any more surprised than I am myself," said Quark. "I'm getting over my surprise now."

"It's a shame there was such a mistake," said Kira sympathetically. "Couldn't you have sent the girl back?"

"I suppose I could have, but I decided not to. I kind of became attached to her. I admit she has her faults, but the station seems a different place already. She's a very bright little thing."

Quark had said more than he had intended to say, for he read disapproval in Kira's expression.

"It's a great responsibility you've taken on yourself," she said warily, "You don't know much about her or her real disposition, and there's no guessing how a child like that will turn out. But please don't take it the wrong way. I don't want to discourage you."

"I'm not feeling discouraged," was Quark's quick response. "I've found that when I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything...or anyone...stand in the way. I suppose you'd like to meet her now. And there she is over there..."

Quark smiled at Ahn, motioning for her to come join them. Ahn stood motionless, as if caught in the blinding glare of a police searchlight. Saturn leapt from her arms and disappeared down the corridor. Abashed at finding herself in such a bind, Ahn could do nothing but stare helplessly as the two approached. She certainly was an odd-looking little creature in the short plain asylum nightgown, below which her thin legs seemed ungracefully long. Her face was as pale and obtrusive than ever; her long hair never messier and redder than at that moment.

"Commander," Quark said with a grand gesture, "I'd like you to meet Kor Ahn."

"Well, she's certainly an interesting little thing," Kira said emphatically as she looked her over.

She was one of those delightful and popular people who pride themselves on speaking their mind without fear or favor. "She's terribly skinny, isn't she? I hope you're feeding her! And her hair, it's brighter than Casperian beets."

"She's eating plenty." Quark said, slightly flustered. "Now, Ahn, don't be shy. Why don't you say something?"

"Ahn 'said something,' but not exactly as Quark or Kira expected. With one bound she stood before the Commander, her face blue with anger, her lips quivering, and her whole slender form trembling from head to foot.

"I hate you," she cried in a choked voice, stamping her foot on the floor. "I hate you -I hate you- I hate you!" a louder stamp with each assertion of hatred. "How dare you call me skinny- how dare you make fun of my hair. You are a rude, impolite, unfeeling MONSTER!"

"Ahn!" exclaimed Quark in shock.

But Ahn stared up at Kira undauntedly, head up, eyes blazing, hands clenched, passionate indignation exhaling from her like an atmosphere.

"How dare you make fun of my hair." she said again vehemently. "How would you like to have such things said about you? How would you like to be told that you are mean and probably hadn't a spark of imagination in you? I don't care if I do hurt your feelings by saying so! I do hope I hurt them. You have hurt mine worse than they were ever hurt before even by that drunk soldier. And I'll NEVER forgive you for it, never, never!"

STAMP! STAMP!

"Well I...I've never seen such rudeness...not even in a Klingon!" exclaimed Kira.

"Ahn, go to your room and stay there until I come," said Quark. His voice has never sounded so angry.

Ahn, bursting into tears, rushed through the door of their quarters. Like a whirlwind, she fled through the hall and into her room. Her sobs, though muffled by metal walls and pillows, could still be heard with agonizing clarity.

"Well, I don't envy you," said Commander Kira solemnly.

Quark opened his lips, attempting to offer some sort of apology. But what he actually said was a surprise to himself then and ever afterwards.

"You shouldn't have made fun of her looks."

"Quark, you don't mean to say that you're condoning her behavior?" demanded Kira indignantly.

"No," said Quark slowly, "I'm not trying to excuse her. Her behavior was unacceptable, but we've got to give her some leeway. She's new here. And to be honest, you WERE too hard on her."

Quark could not help tacking on that last sentence, although he was again surprised at himself for doing it. Kira was taken aback.

"Well, I see that I'll have to be very careful what I say after this, Quark, since the feelings of someone brought from goodness knows where have to be considered above all else. Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended. But I do feel sorry for you. You'll have your hands full with that one. Take my advice...which I suppose you won't do...and shrink that 'leeway' of yours down to a minimum. I think some DISCIPLINE would be the most effective thing for that kind of a child. Her nature matches her appearance."

With that, Kira politely bid Quark good day, and strolled off. As he stood in the corridor, alone, the Ferengi uneasily pondered his options. He couldn't believe what had just occurred. How embarrassing that Ahn should have displayed such temper before her of all people! Then Quark suddenly became aware of an uncomfortable and rebuking consciousness that he felt more humiliation over this than sorrow over the discovery of such a serious defect in Ahn's disposition.

Quark found Ahn face downward on her bed, crying bitterly, quite oblivious to the presence of another.

How in the universe was he to punish her? The traditional Ferengi method...a switch from a rizmat tree...did not seem appropriate. Besides, his own cousin Gaila was living testimony to its ineffectiveness. No, there must be some other way to make Ahn realize the enormity of her offense.

"Ahn," he said in his usual voice.

No answer.

"Ahn," much louder, "turn around and listen to what I have to say."

Ahn turned around and sat up, her face swollen and tear-stained and her eyes fixed stubbornly on the floor.

"That was Commander Kira Nerys, the COMMANDING OFFICER of Deep Space Nine. Why'd you have to make such a scene?"

"She hadn't any right to call me ugly and bright-headed," retorted Ahn, evasive and defiant.

"You hadn't any right to talk the way you did to her, Ahn. I was quite embarrassed. I wanted you make a good impression, and instead you made me look like a fool. I don't know why you lost your temper like that. All she did was say you were red-haired and homely. You say it yourself often enough."

"Oh, but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it," Ahn retorted. "You may know a thing is so, but you can't help hoping other people don't quite think it is. I suppose you think I have an awful temper, but I couldn't help it. When she said those things something just rose up in me and I reacted. I HAD to do something to protect myself."

"Well, you made quite an impression, that's for sure. Commander Kira will have quite a story to tell about you. Soon the whole station will hear it. It was a terrible thing for you to lose your temper like that."

"Just imagine how you would feel if somebody told you to your face that you were skinny and ugly," pleaded Ahn tearfully.

An old remembrance suddenly popped into Quark's head. He had just turned five when he had heard one of his uncles say of him to another, "Too bad about his ears. He won't have the business sense of a tube grub." Quark was well into adulthood before the sting had gone out of that memory.

"I don't say that I agree with Kira in saying what she did to you, Ahn," he admitted in a softer tone. "Sometimes, Kira can be too outspoken. But that is no excuse for what you did. She is an officer and an associate and my boss -all three very good reasons why you should have been respectful to her. You were very rude and" - Quark had a sudden inspiration of punishment - "you must go to her and tell her you are very sorry for your bad temper and ask her to forgive you."

"I will never do that," said Ahn determinedly and darkly. "You can punish me in any way you like. You can shut me up in a dark, damp dungeon inhabited by Klingon targs and feed me only on bread and water and I shall not complain. But I cannot ask Commander Kira to forgive me."

"We're not in the habit of shutting people up in dark damp dungeons," said Quark matter-of-factly, "and there aren't many targs in these parts. You must apologize to her and you'll stay here in your room until you can tell me you're willing to do it."

"I shall have to stay here forever then," said Ahn mournfully, "because I can't tell him I'm sorry for the things I said to him. How can I? I'm NOT sorry. I'm sorry I've embarrassed you; but I'm GLAD I told her what I was thinking. It was a great satisfaction. I can't say I'm sorry when I'm not, can I? I can't even IMAGINE I'm sorry."

"Maybe you'll be able to imagine it by tomorrow," said Quark, rising to depart. "You'll have all of today and tonight to think it over. You said you would try to be good if I kept you on the station, but it doesn't seem like it's turning out that way."

Leaving this thought to sink into Ahn's mind, Quark retired to his bed, distressed in mind and exhausted in spirit. He was as angry with himself as with Ahn, because, whenever he recalled Kira's dumb-founded expression his lips twitched with amusement and he felt a most improper desire to laugh.

- - - - -

EPISODE IX
Ahn's Apology

Breakfast and lunch were very silent meals - for Ahn remained as stubborn as ever. At each meal, Quark carried a well-filled tray to the door and brought it back later not much depleted. Quark eyed its last descent with a troubled eye. Had Ahn eaten anything at all? After Quark went to work that evening, Lieutenant Nog, who was spending his shift repairing fused plasma conduits, slipped into his uncle's quarters with the air of a burglar and crept towards Ahn's room. He stood in thought for several minutes outside the door before tapping it with his finger. When no one answered, he entered his access code.

The door opened to reveal Ahn, who was sitting in a chair by the window gazing mournfully out at the stars. She looked very small and unhappy, and Nog could feel his heart sink. As the door closed softly behind him, Nog tiptoed over.

"Well, Ahn," he said, as if nothing was wrong, "How are you this evening?" Ahn smiled wanly.

"Pretty well, Cousin. I imagine a good deal, and that helps to pass the time. Of course, it's rather lonesome. But then, I may as well get used to that."

Ahn smiled again, bravely facing the long years of solitary imprisonment before her. Nog figured that he had wasted enough time with pleasantries. "Ahn, don't you think you'd better do it and get it over with? I mean - you'll have to sooner or later. Uncle Quark's a determined man - very determined, Ahn. Do it now, I say, and the matter will be settled."

"Do you mean apologize to Commander Kira?"

"Yes - apologize - that's the very word," said Nog eagerly. "Just smooth it over so to speak. That's what I was trying to get at."

"I suppose I could do it...for you," said Ahn thoughtfully. "It would be true enough to say I am sorry, because I AM sorry now. I wasn't a bit sorry last night. I was very angry, and I stayed angry all night. I know I did because I woke up three times and I was just furious every time. But this morning it was over. It didn't burn anymore, and it left a dreadful sort of emptiness, too. I felt so ashamed of myself. But I just couldn't think of going and telling Kira so. It would be so humiliating. I made up my mind I'd stay shut up here forever rather than do that. But still, I'd do anything for you. If you really want me to..."

"Well now, of course I do. It's very sad, eating a jumja stick alone. Just go and smooth things over, like a good girl."

"Very well," said Ahn resignedly. "I'll tell Mr. Quark as soon as he comes in."

"That's right, Ahn. But don't tell him I said anything about it. I want him to think that you came to this conclusion entirely on your own."

"Wild grekhols won't drag the secret from me," promised Ahn solemnly. "How would wild grekhols drag a secret from a person anyhow?"

But Nog was long gone. He fled hastily back to Ops and his fused plasma coils. Quark should've suspected what Nog had been up to. Returning home early next morning, the Ferengi was surprised to hear a plaintive little voice calling his name.

"Yes?" he said, coming down the hall.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper and said rude things, and I'm willing to go and tell Commander Kira so."

"Very well." Quark's crispness gave no sign of his relief. He had been wondering all through his shift what he should do if Ahn did not give in. "I'll take you to her office later this afternoon."

Accordingly, later that afternoon, Quark and Ahn walked down the Promenade, the former erect and triumphant, the latter drooping and dejected. But halfway to the Commander's office, Ahn's dejection vanished as if by enchantment. She lifted her head and stepped lightly along, her eyes roaming with an air of subdued exhilaration.

Quark beheld the change with apprehension. This was not the humble penitent he wanted to bring before the offended party.

"What are you thinking of, Ahn?" he asked with a sense of urgency.

"I'm imagining out what I must say to the Commander," answered Ahn dreamily. This was satisfactory, or should have been so. But Quark could not rid himself of the notion that something in his scheme of punishment was going wrong. Ahn had no business to look so rapt and radiant. Rapt and radiant Ahn continued until they were in the very presence of Commander Kira, who was sitting behind her desk. Then the radiance vanished. Mournful penitence appeared on every ridged feature. Before a word was spoken, Ahn touched her wrists together, then went down on her knees in the traditional Ferengi posture of reverence. The Commander was astonished.

"Oh, Commander, I am so extremely sorry," she said with a quiver in her voice. "I could never express all my sorrow, no, there are not words enough. You must just imagine it. I behaved terribly towards you, and I've dishonored my master, who was kind enough to take me as his apprentice although I'm not Ferengi or Bajoran. I'm an evil and ungrateful child, and I deserve to be punished and cast out from the society of respectable people forever. It was very wicked of me to fly into a temper because you spoke the truth. It WAS the truth; every word you said was true. My hair is bright and red and I'm thin and ugly. What I said to you was true, too, but I shouldn't have said it. Oh, ma'am, please, please, forgive me. If you refuse it will be a lifelong sorrow on a poor little orphan girl. Would you, could you, forgive her for having a dreadful temper? Oh, I am sure you wouldn't. Please say you forgive me, ma'am."

Ahn bowed her head, and waited for the word of judgment. There was no mistaking her sincerity - it permeated every word. Both Quark and Commander Kira recognized its unmistakable ring. But the former understood in dismay that Ahn was actually enjoying this moment of humiliation. Where was the punishment which he had so carefully considered? How would Ahn learn from this?

In contrast, the good Commander only perceived that Ahn had made a very thorough apology and all resentment vanished from her heart.

"There, there, get up," she said heartily. "Of course I forgive you. I suppose I was a little too hard on you. I do sometimes say things that I shouldn't. It can't be denied your hair is a little bright, but I must admit that once my hair was almost as red as yours. And I didn't turn out so bad, did I?"

"Oh, Commander!" Ahn drew a long breath as she rose to her feet. "You have given me hope. I shall always feel indebted to you. Oh, I could endure anything if I only thought my hair would darken up when I grow older. It would be so much easier to be good if one's hair was a hand- some black, don't you think? And now may I go outside and have a jumja stick by the window? There's more scope to the imagination out there."

Kira looked to Quark, who nodded silently. "Well, I don't see any problem with that. In fact, tell the vendor to put it on my account."

As the door closed behind Ahn, Kira rose briskly from her seat.

"She certainly is an odd child, but I'll admit, she does have potential. I don't feel so surprised at you for keeping her as I once did -nor do I feel sorry for you, either. She may turn out all right. Of course, she has an odd way of expressing herself...a little too...forced, you know; but she'll learn better now that she's living on the station. And then, her temper's pretty quick, but I'm sure she'll outgrow that as well. On the whole, I kind of like her."

When Ahn saw Quark exit the Commander's office, she skipped towards him, happily twirling a mostly-eaten jumja stick.

"I apologized pretty well, didn't I?" she said as they walked down the Promenade. "I thought since I had to do it I might as well do it thoroughly."

"You did it thoroughly, all right," was Quark's comment. He was dismayed at finding himself inclined to laugh over the recollection. He had also an uneasy feeling that he ought to scold Ahn for apologizing so well; but then, that was ridiculous! He compromised with his conscience by saying severely:

"I hope you'll try to control your temper now, Ahn. There shouldn't be need to make any more such apologies. "

"That wouldn't be so hard if people wouldn't tease me about my looks," said Ahn with a sigh. "I don't get angry about many things; but I'm SO tired of being teased about my hair and it just makes me boil right over. Do you suppose my hair will really be a handsome black when I grow up?"

"You shouldn't think so much about your looks, Ahn. You don't want to grow up to be vain."

"How can I be vain when I know I'm homely?" protested Ahn. "I love pretty things; and I hate to look in the glass and see something that isn't pretty. It makes me feel so sad...just as I feel when I look at any ugly thing. I pity it because it isn't beautiful."

"Beauty fades, but latinum shines forever," Quark remarked.

"I've had that said to me before, but I have my doubts about it," remarked skeptical Ahn, licking the last of her jumja stick. "Oh, this is the best. I'm glad Commander Kira let me have this. I have no hard feelings against her now. It's a lovely feeling to apologize and be forgiven, isn't it? And I'm glad she let me look at the stars, they're so bright today. If you could live on a star, which one would you pick? I'd be sure to pick a lovely clear big one."

"Ahn, you'd better finish your jumja stick." said Quark, thoroughly worn out trying to follow the gyrations of Ahn's thoughts.

Ahn said no more until they entered the Habitat Ring. As they walked down the dimly lit corridor, a welcoming light illuminated the room at the very end. Ahn suddenly came close.

"You know, it's good to go home and know that it's home," she said. "I love Deep Space Nine already, and I've never loved any place before. No place ever seemed like home. Mr. Quark, I'm so happy, and I am starting to feel that I truly belong."

- - - - -

EPISODE X
Ahn's Impression of School

"Well, how do you like them?"

Ahn was standing in her bedroom, looking solemnly down at a set of miniature soldiers spread out neatly on the bed. One was a stout Ferengi; two were Nausicans holding large rifles; and the last was a Packled holding a burlap sack.

They were Marauder Moe and Associates, Quark's faithful childhood companions. He had been saving them all these years, and dreaming of the day he'd sell them on Ferenginar's collectibles market.

"I'll imagine that I like them," said Ahn soberly.

"I don't want you to imagine it," Quark insisted. "They're each worth five bars of latinum!"

"If you say so."

"Then why don't you like them?"

"They're...they're not...very interesting toys," said Ahn reluctantly.

"Toys!" Quark sniffed. "These are ACTION FIGURES! They were the best friends a boy could ever have. We had so many adventures together...fighting the death droids of Luria, escaping the Klingon prison moon, stealing the Hope Diamond. I thought you'd appreciate them with your imagination. You should be grateful to get anything after being in that institution."

"Oh, I AM grateful," protested Ahn. "But I'd be ever so much gratefuller if...if I could have a DOLL instead. In my whole life I never had one. Even when I was at Rivan, I had to share toys with all the other orphans. Most of the time, I waited so long for my turn that I just fell asleep. Oh, it would give me such satisfaction to finally have something of my own."

"Well, you'll have to do without your satisfaction. I don't see any value in dolls. I think they're ridiculous-looking things. I prefer good old action figures."

"But I'd rather have 'ridiculous-looking' like all the other children than 'good old' all by myself," persisted Ahn mournfully.

"I'm not surprised! said Quark, clearly offended. "If you can't appreciate my friends just put them back on the shelf. We've got work to do. I've got to get you ready for school. I've signed you up already, and you're due there tomorrow at 09 00 hours exactly.

Ahn put the "action figures" on a nearby shelf, then fell back on the bed.

"If I cannot have a doll," Ahn said brightly, "Then perhaps I could have a new dress for school. I'm picturing a red one with bright satin trim. I'd pray for one, but I don't much expect it on that account. I don't suppose the Divine Treasurer or the Prophets for that matter would have time to bother about a little girl's dress. I knew I'd just have to depend on Mr. Quark for it. If all else fails, I suppose I could imagine that my green one here is red with satin trim and long flared sleeves."

The next morning, a sick ear-ache prevented Quark from going to the schoolroom with Ahn.

"You'll have to go by yourself." Quark said, holding his lobes. "Just promise me that you'll behave. Pay attention to the teacher and don't say anything silly. I expect you to tell me everything when you come home."

Ahn started off irreproachable, arrayed in her green dress, which, while decent as regards to length and certainly not open to the charge of skimpiness, contrived to emphasize every corner and angle of her thin figure. Her hair hung in one long braid down the center of her back, bound by a matching ribbon. Its appearance had likewise much disappointed Ahn, who had permitted herself secret visions of dark and flowing locks. The latter was supplied before she reached the schoolroom. While on the turbolift, the child had promptly removed her bow and shook her tresses free. Whatever other people might have thought of the result it satisfied Ahn, and she tripped happily onward, holding up her ruddy unadorned head most proudly.

As she crossed the Promenade, few could help but glance with curious eyes at this stranger in their midst, with her uncommon features and extraordinary hair. Many of them had already heard the stories about her. Commander Kira said she had an awful temper; and Morn said she talked all the time to herself or to the stars and the space rocks like a crazy person. They looked at her and whispered and gave each other knowing glances.

The station schoolroom, which had been closed for several years, was re-opened shortly after the end of the Dominion war. It was modest in size, with an old-fashioned chalkboard and a computer console that stretched across the front wall. There were thirty neatly arranged desks, each covered with the hieroglyphics of various Alpha Quadrant species. The scholars ranged in age from five to eighteen, and the teacher was a blond Bajoran fresh out of university.

Quark had sent Ahn off to school on that first day with many secret misgivings. Ahn was such an odd girl. How would she get along with the other children? And how in the universe would she ever manage to hold her tongue during school hours?

Things went better than Quark presumed, however. Ahn came home later that afternoon in high spirits.

"I think I'm going to like school," she announced. "I don't think much of the teacher, through. Mr. Kretak's always smiling and making eyes at N'arelta. She's Andorian, and she's studying for the entrance examination into Starfleet Academy next year. Becky Peters says the teacher is just NUTS about her. She's got a beautiful pale green complexion and short wispy white hair. She sits at the desk in the rear and he sits there, too, most of the time- to explain her lessons, he says. But Rislan Dana says he saw him writing something on her datapadd and when N'arelta read it, her antennae shot straight up and she giggled; and Dana says he doesn't believe it had anything to do with school."

"Kor Ahn, don't let me hear you talking about your teacher in that way again," said Quark sharply.

"You don't go to school to gossip on the teacher. Besides, Mr. Kretak is an upstanding citizen. He's a VERY good customer who ALWAYS pays his tab on time. He could teach YOU something, you know. I want you to understand right off that you are not to come home telling tales about him. That is something I won't encourage. Now, I hope you behaved yourself today."

"Indeed I did, Mr. Quark." said Ahn comfortably. "It wasn't so hard as you might imagine, either. I sit at the last desk in the third row. My seat is right by the door where I can look out on the Pathway to Heaven. There are a lot of nice children at the school and we had great fun playing at lunchtime. It's so nice to have other children to play with. As for my learning, I'm SO far behind. They're all learning calculus and I'm still stuck in basic algebra with the little children. I feel that it's kind of a disgrace. But there's not one of them that has such an imagination as I have and I soon found that out. We had math and reading and astronomy and intergalactic history today. Mr. Kretak said my knowledge of the Terran system was disgraceful and he held up my padd so that everybody could see it, all marked with big red X's. I felt so mortified, he might have been politer to a stranger, I think. Then at lunch Becky gave me an apple and B'Toreth invited me to his quarters to see his father's bat'leth. After school Rislan Dana let me wear her beaded necklace all the way home. Can I have some beads to make a necklace for myself? And oh, Mr. Quark, William Toliver told me that B' Toreth told him that he heard N'arelta tell Becky Peters that I had such pretty eyes. That is the first compliment I have ever had in my life and you can't imagine what a strange feeling it gave me. Mr. Quark, do I really have pretty eyes? I know you'll tell me the truth."

"Your eyes are well enough," said Quark shortly. Secretly he thought Ahn's eyes were a remarkable shade of blue, but he had no intention of telling her so.

That was three weeks ago and all had gone smoothly so far. And now, this quiet morning, Kor Ahn strolled into the schoolroom, feeling most content. She was promptly greeted by Becky Peters.

"I guess Tared Evron will be in school today," she said, taking the seat next to her. "He's been visiting his cousins on Bajor all summer and he only came home yesterday. He's Bajoran and he's VERY cute. He teases the girls something terrible, though. He just torments our lives out." Becky's voice indicated that she rather liked having her life tormented out.

"Evron's still working through algebra just like you. He used to be the top student in class, but three years ago, his grandmother took sick and he had to go with his mother back to Bajor. He barely went to school during that time. You wouldn't know it just by looking at him though. He still likes to run the show."

While Mr. Kretak was helping N'arelta with her chemistry, Becky leaned over and whispered:

"That's him sitting at the end of the second row. Just look at him and see if you don't think he's something."

Ahn looked accordingly. She had a good chance to do so, for the said Tared Evron was absorbed in stealthily pinning the long yellow braid of Rislan Dana, who sat in front of him, to the back of her seat. He was a tall boy, with wavy dark hair, deep brown skin, and a mouth twisted into a teasing smile. Presently, the girl started up towards the blackboard; she fell back into her seat with a little shriek, believing that her hair was pulled out by the roots. Everyone began to snicker and point so that she began to cry. Evron had whisked the pin out of sight and was studying his history with the soberest face in the world; but when the commotion subsided he looked back at Ahn and winked with inexpressible drollery.

"I think your Tared Evron is something all right," Ahn thought, staring back with disdain. But it was not until the afternoon that things really began to happen.

Mr. Kretak was back in the corner explaining a physics problem to N'arelta and the rest of the scholars were doing pretty much as they pleased chewing gum, whispering, passing notes and playing games on their data padds. Evron was trying to make Ahn look at him and failing utterly, because the girl was completely oblivious not only to his existence, but of every other occurrence in the room. With her chin propped on her hands and her eyes fixed on the glimpse of the Pathway to Heaven that the door afforded, she was far away in a gorgeous dreamland hearing and seeing nothing but her own wonderful visions.

Tared Evron wasn't used to putting himself out and meeting with failure. She SHOULD look at him, that skinny Cardassian girl with the big eyes that weren't like the eyes of any other girl on the station.

Finally, Evron went over to Ahn's desk. Picking up the end of one of Ahn's long braids, he held it out at arm's length and said in a piercing whisper:

"Little red spoon-head!"

Ahn looked at him with a vengeance! Then she sprang to her feet, her bright fantasy having crumbled into ruin. She flashed an indignant glance at the boy from eyes whose angry sparkle was swiftly quenched in equally angry tears.

"You mean, hateful boy!" she exclaimed passionately. "How dare you!"

And then - THWACK!!! Ahn brought her data padd down on the Bajoran's head and cracked it - padd not head - clear across.

The children of Deep Space Nine always enjoyed a scene. This was an especially enjoyable one. They all gasped in horrified delight. Becky's mouth formed a silent "oh my gosh." Rislan Dana, who was inclined to be hysterical, began to cry. William Toliver nearly choked on his gum as he stared in total amazement at the tableau.

Mr. Kretak marched down the aisle and laid his hand heavily on Ahn's shoulder.

"Kor Ahn, what is this?" he said angrily. Ahn said nothing. It was asking too much of her soul to expect her to tell before the whole school that she had been called a "little red spoonhead."

It was Evron who spoke up.

"It was my fault Mr. Kretak. I teased her."

Mr. Kretak did not hear.

"It is a sorry thing to see a student of mine displaying such nasty behavior," he said in a solemn tone, as if the mere fact of being a pupil of his ought to root out all evil passions from the hearts of small imperfect mortals. "Ahn, go and stand in the corner near the blackboard for the rest of the day."

Ahn would have infinitely preferred a whipping to this punishment under which her sensitive spirit quivered as from a whiplash. With a sunken, cold face she obeyed. Mr. Kretak took a piece of chalk and wrote on the chalk-board above her head.

"Kor Ahnn has a very bad temper. She must learn to control it," and then read it out loud so that even the primary students, who couldn't read well yet, could understand. Ahn stood there the rest of the afternoon with those words above her. She did not cry or hang her head. Anger was still too hot in her heart for that and it sustained her amid all her agony of humiliation. With resentful eyes and passion-red cheeks she confronted alike Becky's sympathetic gaze and William Toliver's dazed expression and B'Toreth's stifled grins. As for Tared Evron, she would not even look at him. She would NEVER look at him again! She would never speak to him!

When school was dismissed Ahn marched out with her red head held high. Evron tried to get her attention.

"I'm very sorry I made fun of you, Ahn," he whispered repentantly. "Honest I am. You're not still angry with me now, huh?"

Ahn brushed him off, without look or sign of hearing.

"Oh how could you, Ahn?" breathed Becky as they entered the turbolift. The human's tone was reproachful, with a hint of admiration. Becky felt that she could NOT have resisted Evron's plea.

"I shall never forgive that boy," said Ahn firmly. "And Mr. Kretak spelled my name with two n's, too. The memory has been branded onto my soul."

Becky hadn't the least idea what the Cardassian meant but she understood it was something terrible.

"You mustn't mind Evron making fun of your hair," she said soothingly. "Why, he makes fun of all the girls. He laughs at my freckles. He's called me 'spotty' a dozen times; and I never heard him apologize for anything before, either."

"There's a great deal of difference between being called spotty and being called a little red spoon-head," said Ahn with dignity. "That boy truly hurt my feelings."

It is possible the matter might have blown over if nothing else had happened. But when things begin to happen they are bound to keep on happening.

The following day, Mr. Kretak cheerfully announced that would be spending the mid-day hour in conference with the Bajoran Minister of Education. Before leaving, he ordered everyone to stay inside and to quietly work on their lessons. Anyone caught doing otherwise would be severely punished.

Ten minutes after leaving, all of the older children and a few of the younger ones ventured across the way to Zimmerman's, a Terran restaurant specializing in hot dogs, rock music, and other inter-galactic delights. The young scholars intended to stay only long enough to get some snacks. But chocolate fudge is seductive, and potato chips most gratifying; they picked and loitered and strayed; the first thing that recalled them to a sense of the flight of time was little Ayla Krel calling from across the way.

The girls who were closest to the door started first and managed to reach the schoolroom in time but without a second to spare. The boys, who were seated in the rear, were later by a hair; and Ahn, who had not been eating at all but was standing near a jukebox, playing records and singing softly to herself, with a hat made from the paper menu on her head, was latest of all. Ahn could run with warp speed, however; and run she did with the impish result that she overtook the boys at the door and was swept into the schoolroom among them just as Mr. Kretak entered from the opposite end.

Mr. Kretak's mood significantly dimmed; he didn't want the bother of punishing the entire class; but it was necessary to do something to save face, so he looked about for a scapegoat and found it in Ahn, who had dropped into her seat, gasping for breath, with the forgotten paper hat hanging askew over one ear and giving her a particularly rakish and disheveled appearance.

"Kor Ahn, since you seem to be so fond of chasing the boys we shall indulge your taste for it this afternoon," he said sarcastically. "Take that hat out of your hair and sit in the desk next to Tared Evron." The other boys snickered. Becky, turning pale with pity, plucked the hat from Ahn's hair and squeezed her hand. Ahn stared at the teacher as if turned to stone.

"Did you hear what I said?" queried Mr. Kretak sternly.

"Yes, sir," said Ahn slowly "but I didn't suppose you really meant it."

"I assure you I did" he replied with the sarcastic inflection which all the children, and Ahn especially, hated. It flicked on the raw. "Obey me at once."

For a moment Ahn looked as if she meant to disobey. Then, realizing that there was no help for it, she rose haughtily, came forward, sat down beside Tared Evron, and buried her face in her arms on the desk. Ayla Krel, who got a glimpse of it as it went down, told the others going home from school that she'd never seen anything like it...it was "so very, very gray."

To Ahn, this was the end of all things. It was bad enough to be singled out for punishment from among a dozen equally guilty ones; it was worse still to be sent to sit with a boy, but that boy should be Tared Evron was heaping insult on injury to a degree utterly unbearable. Ahn felt that she could not bear it and it would be of no use to try. Her whole being seethed with shame and anger and humiliation.

At first the other scholars looked and whispered and giggled and nudged. But Ahn never lifted her head, and Evron continued to work his fractions as if his whole soul was absorbed in them and them only. Soon enough, everyone returned to their own tasks and the incident was forgotten. When Mr. Kretak began the history lesson, Ahn should have looked up, but she did not move, and Mr. Kretak, who was absorbed in the golden age of the Iconian empire, never missed her. Once, when nobody was looking, Evron took from his desk a little piece of gold-wrapped jumja candy and slipped it under the curve of Ahn's arm. Whereupon Ahn arose, took the candy between the tips of her fingers, dropped it on the floor, ground it to powder beneath her heel, and resumed her position without deigning to bestow a glance on the pathetic-looking boy. When the school day ended, Ahn marched to her desk, took out her belongings, and tucked them under her arm.

"What are you taking all those things home for, Ahn?" Becky wanted to know, as soon as they were on the turbolift. She had not dared to ask the question before.

"I am not coming back to school any more," said Ahn. Becky gasped and stared to see if she meant it.

"Will your father let you stay home?" she asked.

"I don't see why Mr. Quark wouldn't agree," said Ahn. "And at any rate, I'll NEVER EVER show my face in that room again."

"Oh, Ahn! think of all the fun you'll miss," mourned Becky. "We are going to make banners for the Harvest Festival; and we'll be playing baseball in the holosuites and you've never played ball, Ahn. It's tremendously exciting. Then, next month, we're going to have a talent contest. The best student will win a medal. You're sure to win, Ahn. I know you are so good at imagining."

Nothing moved Ahn in the least. Her mind was made up. She would not go to school again; she told Quark when she got home.

"Out of the question!" said Quark.

"Why?" said Ahn, gazing at Quark with solemn, reproachful eyes. "Don't you understand, I've been insulted."

"That's not an excuse. You'll go to school tomorrow as usual. Do you know what will happen to me if you don't? The authorities will swoop down on me like buzzards. They'll charge me with child neglect. They'll fine me half a year's profits."

"Perhaps I can talk to them." Ahn insisted. "If they knew the whole story, they would not punish you. I promise to learn my lessons at home and I'll be as good as I can be and hold my tongue all the time if it's possible at all. But I will not go back to school, and that is a fact."

Quark saw something remarkably like unyielding stubbornness looking out of Ahn's small face. He understood that he would have a great deal of trouble in overcoming it; and in his wisdom, he chose to say nothing more just then. "Maybe I can talk to Nog about it this evening," he thought.

"There's no use reasoning with that girl now. She's just too worked up. From what I can make out, Mr. Kretak has been singling her out, but I'll never admit it to her. I'll see what Nog has to say. He's been through Federation school. I'm sure he's heard the whole story, too, by this time."

Quark found his nephew working on a power coupling near cargo bay one.

"I suppose you know what I've come about," he said, a little shamefacedly. Nog nodded.

"About Ahn's scene at school, I suppose," he said. "Rislan Dana was on her way home from school and she told me about it."

"I don't know what to do with her," said Quark. "She looked me in the eye and told me she won't go back to school. I've never seen a child like her. I've been expecting trouble ever since she started going to that Federation school. I knew things were too good to be true. She's so high-strung. What do you think I should do?"

"Well, since you've asked my advice, Uncle," said Nog amiably - and he dearly loved to be asked for advice - "I'd just humor her a little at first. I do think that Mr. Kretak was right to punish her for her temper the other day. But today it was different. The others who were late should have been punished as well as Ahn. And I don't believe in publicly humiliating people for punishment. Rislan Dana told me that she really felt sorry for Ahn, and that most of the other students did too. Ahn seems to be kind of popular among them. Despite what happened, it is good to see she has friends."

"Then you really think I'd better let her stay home," said Quark in amazement.

"For the moment. After a week of sitting all by herself, she'll be begging to go back. If you force her, who knows what she'll do next. It's bound to cause more trouble than ever. The less fuss made the better. Anyway, I don't think she'll miss much. Mr. Kretak isn't any good at all as a teacher. He talks AT the children instead of TO them. He'd never have been hired in the first place if his mother wasn't friends with the Minister of Education. If only we could have a teacher like Mrs. O'Brien again!"

Quark took his nephew's advice and not another word was said to Ahn about going back to school. She learned her lessons at home, cleaned tables at the bar, and played with her former classmates after dinner; but when she met Tared Evron on the turbolift or encountered him in the corridors of the Habitat Ring she passed him by with an icy contempt that was no whit thawed by his evident desire to appease her. Even Becky's efforts as a peacemaker were of no avail. Ahn had evidently made up her mind to hate the boy until the end of time.