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 XI
Becky's Visit Ends In Disaster

One morning, Ahn stood quietly at the entrance to the bar, watching customers come and go. She couldn't believe that so many different people could fit harmoniously in one place. In one corner, a Bolian couple gasped excitedly as a Dabo girl handed them a stack of latinum. At the opposite end, Nausican youths snarled and laughed loudly. In the center, an elderly Bajoran savored a plate of fried chicken. And in the rear, Ensign Xarvik pulled brown goo from a clogged replicator.

Ahn reveled in the diversity about her.

"Oh, Mr. Quark," she exclaimed, "I'm so glad I live in a universe where there are so many different people. It would be terrible if every one were green, or, tall, or had big ears, wouldn't it? Look at those Nausicans. Don't they give you a thrill? Perhaps I could go and ask them some questions."

"Now is NOT the time to ask questions," said Quark, shoving a rag in her hand. "And besides, Nausicans are a thrill I could do without."

Without another word, Ahn set about her appointed task. She moved about the rest of the morning in dejected silence, until Quark finally motioned for her to return.

"Look, I don't think there's going to be much business today. No sense in having to feed another worker. Take off the rest of the day, go do as you like. Better yet, why don't you invite one of your little friends for a visit?"

"Oh, Mr. Quark!" Ahn clasped her hands. "How kind and generous of you! You ARE able to imagine things after all or else you'd never have understood how I've longed for that very thing. It will seem so nice and grown-uppish. Oh, please, can I use your latinum plates?"

"Absolutely not! Those are for the Nagus only! You'll use replicated ones like we always do. But I will let you have some Andorian sponge cake. It's time they were being used anyhow - they're a couple of years old. Oh, and there's a bottle of cherry cola that was left over from Ensign Jeffries' birthday party last week. They're both on the bottom shelf behind the dining room table."

"I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table," said Ahn, shutting her eyes ecstatically. "I've laid out the cakes on a tray in a neat little circle and the cherry cola is in a fancy glass pitcher, just off to the side. And for decoration, there is a bouquet of wild flowers right in the center...it's a wonderful feeling just to think of it..."

An hour later, Becky Peters arrived at Ahn's quarters, dressed in an outfit usually reserved for her Sunday church service. At other times she was wont to announce herself by yelling; but now she primly rang the door chime. And when Ahn primly opened it, both little girls shook hands as gravely as if they had never met before. This unnatural solemnity lasted until after Becky had been taken to the dining table and then had sat for ten minutes in the place of honor, toes in position.

Between bites of cake, Becky had much to tell Ahn of what went on in school. She had to sit next to William Toliver and she hated it; William chewed gum all the time and it just made her blood run cold; B'toreth "said something" in Klingon and Mr. Kretak grabbed him by the arm and tossed him out of the room and his mother came to the school and challenged Mr. Kretak to a duel; and Rislan Dana had a new red crystal earring and the airs she put on about it were perfectly sickening; and Vorel broke his leg when Shane Wilson dared him to jump from the top of the stairs; and everybody missed Ahn so and wished she's come back to school again; and Tared Evron -

But Ahn didn't want to hear about Tared Evron. She jumped up hurriedly and excused herself to retrieve the cherry cola.

Ahn looked on the bottom shelf but there was no bottle of cherry cola there. The search revealed it way back on the top shelf. Ahn put it on a tray and set it on the table with some tall glasses.

"Help yourself, Becky," she said politely. "I don't believe I'll have any just now. I'm too excited to eat."

Becky poured herself a glass, looked at its sparkling brown hue, and then sipped it daintily.

"This is very good, Ahn," she said. "I didn't know cherry cola could be so nice."

"I'm real glad you like it. Drink as much as you want. I'm going to bring out some more cake. There are so many responsibilities on a person's mind when they have a visitor, isn't there?"

When Ahn came back from the kitchen Becky was drinking her second glass of cola; and, being entreated thereto by Ahn, she offered no particular objection to the drinking of a third. The glasses were generous ones and the cola was certainly very nice.

"This is the nicest thing I ever drank," said Becky. "It's much better than drinking lemonade, although they say my mom's is the best this side of the Alpha Quadrant. This just dances on my tongue."

"I should think your mother's lemonade would be just as nice," said Ahn loyally. "I've also heard she's a very good cook. Mrs. Sisko is trying to teach me to cook but I assure you, Becky, it is uphill work. There's so little scope for imagination in cooking. You just have to go by the rules. The last time I made a cake I forgot to put the flour in. I was thinking the loveliest story about you and me, Becky. I thought you were lost on a desolate moon and everybody had given up the search, but I stole a shuttle and rescued you; but I was gravely injured and died and I was buried on Bajor on a grassy hill and you planted a rosebush by my grave and watered it with your tears; and you never, never forgot the friend of your youth who sacrificed her life for you. Oh, it was such a pathetic tale, Becky. The tears just rained down over my cheeks while I mixed the cake. But I forgot the flour and the cake was a dismal failure. Flour is so essential to cakes, you know."

"Mrs. Sisko was very cross and so was Mr. Quark. It's no wonder, I seem to be a great trial to everyone. Why last week, we had some fresh Vulcan pastries for breakfast and there were a dozen left over. Mr. Quark said there was enough for the next day and he told me to set them on the shelf and to cover them. I meant to cover it just as much as could be, Becky, but when I was carrying them away I was imagining I was a monk guarding sacred tablets, and I forgot what he said. I thought of it again the next morning and ran to the dining room. Becky, you can't imagine my horror at finding four pastries gone and a vole dead in the middle of the plate. I lifted it out and threw it in the trash receptacle. Mr. Quark was still asleep and I fully intended to tell him; but when he woke I was imagining that I was a light spirit going through the woods turning the trees red and yellow, whichever they wanted to be, so I never thought about the pastries again and I went on, business as usual. Well, Dr. Bashir, Morn, and Counselor Dax came by one evening to play cards. They are very nice people, except for the fact that Morn is always talking. When I happened to pass by the dining room, I saw that refreshments were laid out and everybody was standing around the table. I tried to be as polite and dignified as I could be, for I wanted everyone to think I was a ladylike little girl even if I wasn't pretty. Everything went right until I saw the pastries at the edge of the tray. Becky, that was a terrible moment. I remembered everything and I just stood up in my place and shrieked out, "You can't have those! A vole ate himself dead on them! I forgot to tell you before."

"Oh, Becky, I shall never forget that awful moment if I live to be a hundred and fifty. Morn and Dr. Bashir and Conselor Dax just LOOKED at me and I thought I would sink through the floor with mortification. Then, Mr. Quark's ears turned red as fire but he never said a word...then. He just carried that tray out and replicated up some muffins. He even offered me one, but my throat was so tight that I couldn't swallow a thing. After everyone had left, Mr. Quark gave me a dreadful scolding. Why, Becky, is something wrong?"

Becky had stood up very unsteadily; then she sat down again, putting her hands to her head.

"I'm...I'm awfully sick," she said, a little thickly. "I...I...must go right home."

"Oh, you mustn't dream of going so soon," cried Ahn in distress. "You've told me all about yourself and I've haven't really said anything in return."

"I must go home," repeated Becky, stupidly but determinedly.

"Let me get you something to take home," implored Ahn. "Let me give you some cake and some of the cherry cola. Lie down on the sofa for a little while and you'll feel better. Where do you feel bad?"

"I MUST go home," said Becky, and that was all she would say. In vain Ahn pleaded.

"I never heard of company going home with nothing," she mourned. "Oh, Becky, do you suppose that it's possible you've got the fever? If so, I'll go and nurse you, you can depend on that. I'll never forsake you. But I do wish you'd stay another hour. Where do you feel bad?"

"I'm awfully dizzy," said Becky.

And indeed, she walked very dizzily. Ahn, with tears of disappointment in her eyes, took Becky to the turbolift. Then she wept all the way back to her quarters, where she sorrowfully put the remainder of the cherry cola back on the shelf and then got dinner ready for Quark, with all the zest gone out of the performance.

The following afternoon, Quark sent Ahn out on an errand to the Klingon consulate. In a very short space of time she came flying back into their quarters with tears rolling down her cheeks. Onto the sofa she dashed and flung herself face downward in agony.

"What's wrong now, Ahn?" asked Quark in doubt and dismay. "I hope you haven't gone and said something smart to one of the Klingon officers."

No answer from Ahn save more tears and stormier sobs!

"Kor Ahn, when I ask you a question I want to be answered. Sit up this very minute and tell me what you are crying about."

Ahn sat up, tragedy personified.

"On my way to the turbolift, I overheard Morn talking to Ensign Gery. He had spoken to Nurse Peters today and she was in an awful state," she wailed. "She says that I got Becky DRUNK yesterday. She says Becky had to be taken to the Infirmary and that she had never been more humiliated in her life. Nurse Peters says I must be a thoroughly bad, wicked little girl and she's never, never going to let Becky have anything to do with me again. Oh, Mr. Quark, my heart is broken."

Quark stared in blank amazement.

"Got Becky drunk!" he said when he found his voice. "Are you insane, girl? What in the universe did you give her?"

"Not a thing but cherry cola," sobbed Ahn. "I didn't know that cherry cola could get people drunk...not even if they drank three big glasses as Becky did. Oh, it's just like the time I was in the house with that awful soldier! But I didn't mean to get her drunk."

"Drunk my lobes!" said Quark, marching to the dining room. There on the shelf was a bottle which he at once recognized as one containing some Bajoran current wine for which he saved for a lady friend. And at the same time, Quark suddenly remembered that he had left the bottle of cherry cola at the bar.

He went back to the living room with the wine bottle in his hand. His face was twitching in spite of himself.

"Ahn, you certainly have a genius for getting into trouble. You went and gave Becky current wine instead of cherry cola. Didn't you know the difference yourself?"

"I've never tasted it," said Ahn. "I thought it was cola. I meant to be so...so... hospitable. Becky got awfully sick and had to go home. Nurse Peters told Ensign Gery that she was simply dead drunk. She laughed silly-like when her mother asked her what was the matter and went to sleep and slept for hours. Her mother smelled her breath and knew she was drunk. Then Becky ended up in the Infirmary with a fierce headache. Nurse Peters is unforgiving. She will never believe that I didn't do it on purpose."

"I should think she would do better punishing Becky for being so greedy as to drink three glasses of anything," said Quark shortly. "Why, three of those big glasses would have made her sick even if it had only been cola. Stop that crying now, looks like I'm more to blame for this than you are."

"I must cry," said Ahn. "My heart is broken. The stars in their courses fight against me, Mr. Quark. Becky and I are parted forever. Oh, I never dreamed of this the day I first set foot on this station."

"Don't be a fool. Nurse Peters will forgive you when she finds out you're not to blame. I suppose she thinks you've done it for a silly joke or something of that sort. You'd best go tell her how it was all a mistake."

"My courage fails me at the thought of facing Becky's injured mother," sighed Ahn. "I wish you'd go for me instead. You're so much more persuasive. She'd listen to you more than she would me."

"Well, I guess I will," said Quark, reflecting that it would probably be the wiser course. "Don't cry any more, Ahn. It'll be all right."

Quark had changed his mind about it being all right by the time he got back from the Infirmary. Ahn was watching for his coming and flew down the corridor to meet him.

"Oh, I know by your face that it's been no use," she said sorrowfully. "She won't forgive me."

"Of all the unreasonable women I ever saw she's the worst. I told her it was all a mistake and you weren't to blame, but she just simply didn't believe me. And she really rubbed it in about the wine and what kind of an idiot would let their a child get their hands on it. I just told her plainly that Bajoran currant wine wasn't meant to be drunk three glasses at a time and that if a child I had to do with was so greedy I'd sober her up with a faceful of cold water."

Quark stormed into their quarters, grievously disturbed, leaving a very much distracted little soul outside behind him. Presently Ahn turned around, then very determinedly and steadily made her way to the Infirmary. When Nurse Peters emerged from the supply room, she found a pale-lipped, eager-eyed suppliant before her.

The woman's face hardened. Amanda Peters was a woman of strong prejudices and dislikes, and her anger was of the cold, sullen sort which is always hardest to overcome. To do her justice, she really believed Ahn had made Becky drunk out of sheer malice, and she was honestly anxious to preserve her little daughter from the contamination of further intimacy with such a child.

"What do YOU want?" she said stiffly.

Ahn clasped her hands.

"Oh, ma'am, please forgive me. I did not mean to...to...inebriate your daughter. How could I? Just imagine if you were a poor little orphan girl and that a kind person had adopted and you had just one true friend in all the universe. Do you think you would harm her in any way? I thought it was only cherry cola. I was firmly convinced it was cherry cola. Oh, please don't say that you won't let Becky be my friend anymore. If you do you will take what little joy I have left in life."

This speech which would have softened a Borg's heart in a instant, but it had no effect on Nurse Peters except to offend her even more. She was suspicious of Ahn's big words and dramatic gestures and imagined that the child was making fun of her. So she said, rather coldly:

"I don't think you are a fit person for Becky to associate with. Now I think you'd better go on home."

Ahn's lips quivered.

"Won't you let me see Becky just once to say farewell?" she implored.

"I'm afraid I can't allow that," said Nurse Peters, turning and walking away.

Ahn went back to her quarters, resigned to fate.

"My last hope is gone," she told Quark. "I went and saw Becky's mother myself and she treated me very insultingly. I do NOT think she is a woman of conscience. There is nothing more to do except to pray and I haven't much hope that that'll do much good because, Mr. Quark, I do not believe that the Prophets or the Divine Treasurer or anyone can do very much with a person like Nurse Peters."

"Ahn, you shouldn't say such things" rebuked Quark, striving to overcome that unholy tendency to laughter which he was dismayed to find growing upon him. And indeed, when he told the whole story to Nog that night, he did laugh heartily over Ahn's tribulations.

But when he slipped by her room before going to bed and found that Ahn had cried herself to sleep an unaccustomed softness crept into his face.

"Poor little soul," he murmured, lifting a loose strand of hair from the child's tear-stained face. Then he bent down, gently patting the flushed cheek on the pillow.

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EPISODE XII
A New Interest in Life

The next afternoon Ahn, while dusting a Dabo wheel, happened to glance out and see Becky standing outside beckoning mysteriously. In a flash, Ahn was out of the bar and flying towards her, astonishment and hope struggling in her expressive eyes. But the hope faded when she saw Becky's dejected countenance.

"Your mother hasn't changed her mind?" she gasped.

Becky shook her head mournfully.

"No; and oh, Ahn, she says I'm never to have anything to do with you ever again. I've cried and cried and I told her it wasn't your fault, but it wasn't any use. It was an effort to get her to let me come down and say good-bye to you. She said I was only to stay ten minutes and she's timing me by the clock."

"Ten minutes isn't very long to say an eternal farewell in," said Ahn tearfully. "Oh, Becky, will you promise faithfully never to forget me, your dear little Cardassian friend, no matter what?"

"Indeed I will," sobbed Becky, "and I'll never have another bosom friend- I don't want to have. I couldn't love anybody as I love you."

"Oh, Becky," cried Ahn, clasping her hands, "do you LOVE me?"

"Why, of course I do. Didn't you know that?"

"No." Ahn drew a long breath. "I thought you LIKED me of course but I never hoped you LOVED me. Why, Becky, I didn't think anybody could love me. Nobody ever has loved me since I can remember. Oh, this is wonderful! It's a ray of light which will shine forever through the darkness that has fallen on my life. Oh, just say it once again."

"I love you devotedly, Ahn," said Becky stanchly, "and I always will, you may be sure of that."

"And I will always love you, Becky," said Ahn, solemnly extending her hand. "In the years to come your memory will shine like a star over my lonely life. Becky, will you give me a lock of your hair to remember you by?"

"Have you got anything to cut it with?" queried Becky, wiping away the tears which Ahn's affecting accents had caused to flow afresh, and returning to practicalities.

"Yes. I've got this cutting tool here in my pocket," said Ahn. She solemnly clipped one of Becky's curls. "Farewell, my dear friend. From this moment on, we must be as strangers though living side by side. But my heart will be forever faithful."

Ahn stood and watched Becky out of sight, mournfully waving her hand whenever she turned to look back. Then she returned to the bar, not a little consoled for the time being by this tragic parting.

"It is all over," she informed Quark. "I will never have another friend. I'm worse off than ever before. Becky and I had such an affecting farewell. It will be sacred in my memory forever. I used the most pathetic language I could think of. Becky gave me a lock of her hair and I'm going to sew it up in a little bag and wear it across my heart all my life. Please see that it is buried with me, for I don't believe I'll live very long. Perhaps when she sees me lying cold and dead before her Nurse Peters may feel remorse for what she has done and will let Becky come to my funeral."

"I don't think we need to worry about you dying of grief as long as you can talk, " said Quark unsympathetically.

When the new week began, Ahn surprised Quark by coming from her room with her books beneath her arm and her lips primmed up into a line of determination.

"I'm going back to school," she announced. "That is all there is left in life for me, now that my friend has been ruthlessly torn from me. In school I can look at her and muse over days gone by."

"You'd better muse over those Rules of Acquisition," said Quark, concealing his delight at this recent development. "And I hope I don't hear anymore about you breaking data padds over people's heads. Behave yourself and do just what the teacher tells you."

"I'll try to be a model pupil," agreed Ahn dolefully. "There won't be much fun in it, I expect. Mr. Kretak said William Toliver was a model pupil and there isn't a spark of imagination or life in him. He is just dull and nosy and never seems to have a good time. But I feel so depressed that perhaps it will come easy to me now. I'm taking the long way, so I don't have to pass Becky's quarters. I couldn't bear to go by there now. I would weep bitter tears if I did."

Ahn was welcomed back to school with open arms. Her imagination had been sorely missed in games, her voice in the singing and her dramatic ability in recitation. Alice Pickett offered her part of her lunch; Judy MacPherson let her play with her kickball; and little Ayla Krel wrote carefully on a piece of pale pink paper the following Bajoran effusion:


When twilight drops her curtain down
And pins it with a star
Remember that you have a friend
Though she may wander far.


"It's so nice to be appreciated," said Ahn rapturously to Quark that night.

The girls were not the only scholars who "appreciated" her. When Ahn went to her seat after lunch hour - she had been told by Mr. Kretak to sit with the model William Toliver - she found on her desk a bowl of fresh Aldebaran greenberries. Ahn grabbed a handful and was ready to take a bite when she remembered that the only place on the station where one could get them was the small market run by the Tarod family on the first level of the Promenade. Ahn dropped the berries as if it were plasma and wiped her fingers on the sides of her dress. The berries lay untouched on her desk until the next morning, when B'Toreth, whose turn it was to sweep the school and clean the erasers, claimed them for his own. Shane Wilson's gift, a stack of previously-read comic books, met with a more favorable reception. Ahn was graciously pleased to accept it and rewarded the donor with a smile which exalted that infatuated youth straightway into the seventh heaven of delight and caused him to make so many errors in his spelling that Mr. Kretak kept him after school to rewrite it.

The only thing that dampened Ahn's triumph was the marked absence of any tribute or recognition from Becky Peters, who sat the whole day near Rislan Dana.

"Becky might just have smiled at me once, I think," she mourned to Quark that night. But the next morning a note most fearfully and wonderfully twisted and folded, and a small parcel were passed across to Ahn.

Dear Ahn, (ran the former)

Mother says I'm not to play with you or talk to you even in school. It isn't my fault and don't be angry at me, because I love you as much as ever. I have no one now to tell my secrets to and I don't like Rislan Dana one bit. I made you a beaded bracelet. They are very fashionable now and only three girls in the school know how to make them. When you look at it remember that I am your true friend.

- Becky Peters

Ahn read the note, put the bracelet on, and wrote a prompt reply back to the other side of the school.

My true friend Becky:

Of course I am not angry with you becauze you have to obey your mother. Maybee we can learn to talk telepathically. I shall kep your lovely present forever. I'm sure you can learn something from children like Rislan Dana and William Toliver. They speek well and sit perfectly straight- although neither have much imagination. Pleze excuse any mistakes you see, since my spelling isn't very good yet, although much improoved.

Yourz until death us do part,

Kor Ahn

P.S. I shal sleep with your letter under my pilow tonight.

Quark pessimistically expected more trouble since Ahn had returned to school. But none developed. Perhaps Ahn caught something of the "model" spirit from William Toliver; at least she got on very well with Mr. Kretak thenceforth. She flung herself into her studies heart and soul, determined not to be outdone in any class. A rivalry even developed between she and Tared Evron. He too was determined to make up for time lost. This rivalry soon became apparent; it was entirely good natured on Evron's side; but the same thing cannot be said of Ahn, who had certainly an unpraiseworthy tenacity for holding grudges. She was as intense in her hatreds as in her loves. She would not stoop to admit that she meant to rival Evron in schoolwork, because that would have been to acknowledge his existence which Ahn persistently ignored; but the rivalry was there and honors fluctuated between them. When Evron won the class spelling contest, Ahn studied nights until she beat him. Not long after, Ahn did all her algebra correctly and was added to the honor list. Then Evron, having wrestled wildly with x's and y's, joined her the week after that. One awful day there was a tie and they had to share a prize. It was almost as bad as a wanted poster and Ahn's mortification was as evident as Evron's satisfaction.

When the written examinations at the end of each month were held the suspense was terrible. The first month Evron came out three points ahead. The second Ahn beat him by five. But her triumph was marred by the fact that Evron congratulated her heartily before the whole school. It would have been ever so much sweeter to her if he had felt the sting of his defeat.

Mr. Kretak might not be a very good teacher; but a pupil so inflexibly determined on learning as Ahn was could hardly escape making progress under any kind of teacher. By the end of the term Ahn and Evron were both promoted to the fifth level and allowed to begin studying the elements of "the branches"- by which calculus, chemistry, and physics were meant. In chemistry Ahn met with a Wolf 359.

"It's some awful stuff, Mr.Quark," she groaned. "I'm sure I'll never be able to make heads or tails of it. There is no scope for imagination in it at all. Mr. Kretak says I'm the worst dunce he ever saw at it. And Evr- I mean some of the others are so smart at it. It is extremely mortifying. Even Becky gets along better than I do. But I don't mind being beaten by Becky. Even although we meet as strangers now I still love her with an INEXTINGUISHABLE love. It makes me very sad at times to think about her. But really, Mr. Quark, one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting universe, can one?"

- - - - -

EPISODE XIII
Ahn to the Rescue

ALL things great are wound up with all things little. At first glance it might not seem that the decision of a certain Bajoran Ambassador to include Deep Space Nine in a political tour could have much or anything to do with the fortunes of the little Cardassian named Kor Ahn. But it had.

It was early afternoon when the Ambassador arrived on the Promenade to address not only her loyal supporters, but also those non-supporters who had chosen to be present. Since most of the denizens of the station were people on the Ambassador's side of politics, the crowd was stifling.

Commander Kira had gone too. She was red-hot on politics and couldn't have believed that a rally could be carried through without her, although she was on the opposite side of her politics. So she went to the Promenade and took Dr. Bashir - he would be useful in case things took a nasty turn. Quark had a sneaking interest in politics himself, and as he thought it might be his only chance to see this Ambassador, he promptly took it, leaving Ahn and Nog to tend the bar until his return later in the day.

Hence, while Commander Kira, Quark, and Dr. Bashir were enjoying themselves hugely at the mass meeting, Ahn and Nog had the bar all to themselves. The Dabo girls were laughing and talking amongst themselves, while Morn was slumped over, peacefully sleeping at the counter. Nog was in the rear, standing before an open access panel and Ahn was at a corner table studying with grim determination, despite sundry wistful glances at a holosuite program tucked into her front dress pocket. The Packled who sold it to her said it was guaranteed to produce any number of thrills, or words to that effect, and Ahn's fingers tingled to reach for it. But that would mean a triumph for Evron Tared. Ahn shut her eyes and tried to imagine it wasn't there.

"Cousin Nog, when you were in school, did you ever have to memorize the names of all the Bajoran Kais?"

"Well, no," said Nog. As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the panel. Some of the station's internal sensors were on the blink, and until he isolated the problem they had to be taken off-line.

"I wish you had," sighed Ahn, "because then you'd be able to sympathize with me. You can't sympathize properly if you've never studied it. It is casting a cloud over my whole life. I'm such a dunce at it"

"Well now, I don't know about it," said Nog soothingly. "I think you'll be fine. Mr. Kretak told me last week on the turbolift that you were among the top of his class. 'Among the top' were his very words. Now I used to think he wasn't much of a teacher, but maybe I guess he's all right."

Nog would have thought anyone who praised Ahn was "all right."

"Well, I'd also do better with calculus if only he wouldn't change the letters," complained Ahn. "I learn an equation by heart and then he writes it on a test and puts different letters from what are in the book and I get all mixed up. I don't think a teacher should take such a mean advantage, do you? We're studying computers now and I've found out at last why they all talk in that lady's voice. It's a great comfort. I wonder how Mr. Quark and Commander Kira and Dr. Bashir are enjoying themselves. Dr. Bashir says Bajor is going to the dogs the way things are being run at the Capitol and that it's an awful warning to the people. He says if they'd allow the Federation to help more we would soon see a blessed change. What way do you vote, Nog?"

"Liberal," said Nog promptly. To vote Liberal was fast becoming part of Nog's religion.

"Then I'm a Liberal too," said Ahn decidedly. "I'm glad because Evr- because some of the children in school are Conservatives. I guess Mr. Kretak is a Conservative too because his mother is one, but that may change because N'arelta's father is a die-hard Liberal. B'Toreth says that when a man is courting he always has to agree with the girl's mother in religion and her father in politics. Is that true, Nog?"

"Well now, I don't know," said Nog.

"Did you ever go courting, Nog?"

"Well now, a few times," admitted Nog reluctantly, "But it's never really worked out."

Ahn reflected with her chin in her hands.

"It must be rather interesting, don't you think, Nog? Rislan Dana says when she grows up she's going to have ever so many beaus on the string and have them all crazy about her; but I think that would be too exciting. I'd rather have just one in his right mind. But Rislan Dana knows a great deal about such matters because she has so many big sisters, and Mr. Quark says the Rislan girls have been married off faster than warp speed. Mr. Kretak goes to see N'arelta nearly every evening. He says it's to help her with her lessons but Mordel Krevik is studying for Starfleet Academy too, and I think he needs help a lot more than N'arelta because he's much stupider, but he never goes to help him in the evenings at all. There are a great many things in this universe that I can't understand very well, Nog."

"Well now, I don't know as I seem to be able to comprehend a great deal myself," acknowledged Nog.

"Well, I suppose I must finish up my lessons. I won't allow myself to be tempted by that holosuite program until I'm through. But it's a terrible temptation, cousin. Even when I close my eyes I can see it there just as plain. I could just cry myself sick over it. I can love something so much that it makes me cry. But I think I'll carry that little program to my quarters and lock it away and give you the key. And you must NOT give it to me until my lessons are done, not even if I implore you with both my wrists pressed together. It's all very well to say resist temptation, but it's ever so much easier to resist it if you can't get the key. And then shall I make some hasperat, Cousin? Wouldn't you like a hand-made meal ?"

"Well maybe I would," said Nog, who really never ate the spicy Bajoran dish but knew of Ahn's weakness for it.

Just as Ahn triumphantly poured the red sauce, in rushed Becky Peters, breathless and trembling. Ahn promptly let go of the plate in her surprise, letting it crash down on the counter.

"Oh, Becky?" cried Ahn. "Has your mother relented at last?"

"Oh, Ahn, come quick," implored Becky nervously. "I was watching Azran Sisko while his mother went to see the Ambassador. I was playing with him in their quarters and I turned my back for a second and he unlocked the door and now he's gone. My mother is on the Promenade - and so is his brother, Jake. Oh, Mrs. Sisko counted on me and I don't know what to do - and oh, Ahn, I'm so scared!"

Ahn turned to Nog. "Can't the computer locate him?"

He shook his head. "The sensors are still off-line. I'm going to get help. Both of you, stay here."

With that, he dashed out the bar.

"What if something's happened to him," sobbed Becky. "Azran's so little. He doesn't know the station like you and me. Oh, Ahn!"

"Don't cry, Becky," said Ahn cheerily. "I know exactly what we can do. We can look for him too. You forget that I've been around lots of little children. When you've lived in an asylum you naturally get a lot of experience. They were always running off here and there. Come on now."

The two girls ran through the Habitat Ring, hand in hand. They looked over and under, poked into corners, and called out child's name. Ahn, although sincerely sorry for Azran Sisko, was far from being insensible to the romance of the situation and to the sweetness of once more sharing that romance with a kindred spirit.

"Where could he be?" Becky began to sob,. "What if he got kidnapped?"

Ahn grabbed her friend by the shoulders. Though she thought it delightful to go skimming through all this mystery with a friend once departed, her panic was becoming a distraction.

"We have to think," she exclaimed to Becky. "What were you doing before Azran ran off?"

"We were playing pretend in the living room," she sniffled.

"What kind of pretend," Ahn inquired.

"We were pretending we were starships. I was the U.S.S. Luna and he was the U.S.S. Sisko. We were conducting battle exercises. We were having a lot of fun, going to warp and changing course and outrunning the enemy when all of a sudden Azran stopped in the middle of the room. He folded his arms and just stood there. I asked him what was the matter, and he said he didn't like his ship. All he kept saying was 'I want a big one.' I thought maybe he wanted his toy ships, so I went to his room to get them. When I came back, he was gone."

Fifteen minutes later, Ahn, Becky, Nog, and Security Chief Jackson stood outside Shuttle Bay 2. Azran Sisko was smiling, face pressed against the observation window.

"I was awfully near giving up in despair," Ahn explained to the Chief. "Becky and I had looked all through the Habitat Ring. I didn't think a little child could get very far on his own. I began to fear that perhaps someone might have taken him off the station. Then when Becky told me about the 'big one' it occurred to me. Where would a person go to see a real live big runabout? You must imagine my relief, ma'am, because I can't express it in words. You know there are some things that cannot be expressed in words."

"Yes, I know," nodded the Chief. She looked at Ahn as if she were thinking some things about her that couldn't be expressed in words. Later on, however, she expressed them to Cassidy and Jake.

"That little redheaded girl of Quark's is a bright one. I've never seen anyone so young keep such a level head. The Shuttle Bay can be a dangerous place for adults, God knows what might have happened if we didn't find Azran sooner. You know, Ahn seems to have a skill and presence of mind perfectly wonderful in a child of her age. Perhaps she'll make a good officer one day."

Ahn and Nog were making their way through the crowds back to the bar. Though exhausted from the search, Ahn was still talking unweariedly to Nog when they paused before a window on the Promenade.

"Oh, Nog, isn't it a wonderful afternoon? The universe looks like something the Prophets had just imagined for their own pleasures, doesn't it? The stars outside look as if I could blow them away with a breath - pouf! I'm so glad I live in a universe where there are stars, aren't you? And I'm so glad I was sent to the asylum after all. If I hadn't been I mightn't have known what to do for Azran Sisko. I'm real sorry I was ever cross about being there. But, oh, cousin, I'm so tired. I can't go to school tomorrow. I just know I couldn't keep my eyes open and I'd be so stupid. But l hate to stay home, for Evr - some of the others will get ahead, and it's so hard to catch up - although of course the harder it is the more satisfaction you have when you do catch up, correct?"

"I guess you'll manage all right," said Nog, looking at Ahn's little pale face and red hair scattered wildly. "You just go to bed and have a good sleep. I'll watch the bar."

Ahn accordingly went to bed and slept so long and soundly that it was well into evening when she awoke. Neither Nog or Quark had come home. After washing her face, she headed towards the Replimat for dinner. As she stepped in, she caught sight of Dr. Bashir, who was sitting and reading a datapadd.

"Oh, did you see the Ambassador?" exclaimed Ahn at once. "What did she look like?"

"Well, I thought she made an impressive show," said Julian, smiling. "She spoke very well. I believe she can do a great deal for Bajor. Of course, Quark, being a Conservative, had no use for her. I suppose you're quite exhausted, considering the day you've had. Nog has been telling me about Azran. I must say it was fortunate you knew what to do. I'm not sure I would've known where to look, for I never thought a child that young could make it all the way to the Shuttlebay. There now, never mind talking till you've had your dinner. I can tell that you've plenty to say, but it will keep."

Julian had something else to tell Ahn, but he did not tell it just then for he knew if he did Ahn's consequent excitement would lift her clear out of the region of such material matters as appetite or dinner. Not until Ahn was halfway finished eating did he say:

"I was speaking with Nurse Peters this afternoon, Ahn. She'd gone by your quarters, but no one answered the door. She says you did a very noble thing today, and she is very sorry she acted as she did over the incident with the currant wine. She says she knows now you didn't mean to get Becky drunk, and she hopes you'll be good friends with her daughter again. Why don't you go over this evening and talk to her. Now, Ahn, don't get yourself too excited..."

The warning was necessary, so uplifted and aerial was Ahn's expression and attitude as she sprang to her feet, her face irradiated with the flame of her spirit.

"Oh, Dr. Bashir, should I go right now...before finishing my chores? I have lots to catch up on, but I cannot tie myself down to anything so unromantic as cleaning at this thrilling moment."

"Yes, yes, run along," said Julian, laughing. "Ahn...what about the rest of your meal? Oh, I might as well be talking to the wind. She's left everything here for me to clean up. Look at her just tearing through the Promenade with her hair flying in every direction. I hope she doesn't fall and break her neck."

An hour later, Ahn came dancing down the corridors towards her quarters.

"You see before you a perfectly happy person, Mr. Quark," she announced. "I'm perfectly happy...yes, in spite of my red hair. Just at present I have a soul above red hair. Mrs. Peters gave me a hug and said she was so sorry. I felt fearfully embarrassed, but I just said as politely as I could, 'I have no hard feelings for you, Mrs. Peters. I assure you once for all that I did not mean to intoxicate Becky and henceforth I shall cover the past with the mantle of oblivion.' That was a pretty dignified way of speaking wasn't it, Mr. Quark?"

I felt that I was heaping buckets of plasma on Mrs. Peters head. And Becky and I had a lovely evening. Becky showed me a new game her father on New Bajor taught her. Not a soul on Deep Space Nine knows it but us, and we've pledged a solemn vow never to reveal it to anyone else. Becky gave me a beautiful card with little hearts drawn on it and a verse of poetry:


"If you love me as I love you
Not even death can part us two."


And that is true, Mr. Quark. We're going to ask Mr. Kretak to let us sit together in school again, and Rislan Dana can go with William Toliver. We had a wonderful dinner. Mrs. Peters had the very best china set out, just as if I was real company. I can't tell you what a thrill it gave me. Nobody ever used their very best china on my account before. And we had steak and potatoes and broccoli and cake and two kinds of ice cream, Mr. Quark. And Mrs. Peters asked me if I would like tea and said 'Dear, would you like one lump or two?' It must be lovely to be grown up, when just being treated as if you were is so nice."

"I don't know about that," said Quark, leaning his head into his hand.

"Well, anyway, when I am grown up," said Ahn decidedly, "I'm always going to talk to little children as if they were people too, and I'll never laugh when they use big words. I know from sorrowful experience how that hurts one's feelings. After tea Becky and I tried to dance. We weren't very good, I suppose because neither Becky nor I had ever really tried before. Becky turned on some music then she took my hand and tried to lead but she stumbled then I stumbled and we just kept falling on the floor. Nurse Peters just laughed and laughed, but the attempt was was splendid fun. Then before I left Nurse Peters said I could come over as often as I wished and Becky stood at the door and waved to me all the way to the turbolift. I assure you, Mr. Quark, that I feel like praying tonight and I'm going to think out a special brand-new prayer to the Prophets in honor of this occasion."

- - - - -

EPISODE XIV
A Celebration, A Catastrophe, and A Confession

"Mr. Quark, can I go over to see Becky just for a minute?" asked Ahn, running breathlessly into the bar late one evening.

"I don't see why you want to go traipsing about the station at this hour,"said Quark shortly. "You and Becky walked home from school together and then stood in the corridor for half an hour more, your tongues going the whole time, clickety-clack. So I don't think you're very badly off to see her again."

"But she wants to see me," pleaded Ahn. "She has something very important to tell me."

"How do you know she has?"

"Because she left me a message. We have arranged a special way to communicate. We write notes in code on a piece of paper and leave them at certain designated spots on the station. If anyone else tries to read it, it makes no sense, but Becky and I know what they say. A circle means a certain thing, a squiggly line means another, and so on. It was my idea, Mr. Quark."

"I'll warrant you it was," said Quark emphatically. "And the next thing you'll have me cited for littering with this note-writing nonsense."

"Oh, we're very careful, Mr. Quark. And it's so interesting. One circle and one triangle means, 'Are you there?' Three straight lines mean 'yes' and four 'no.' Five mean, 'Come over as soon as possible, because I have something important to reveal.' I have just found a paper with five lines on it, and I'm really dying to know what it is."

"Well, I wouldn't want to be the cause of your demise," said Quark sarcastically. "You can go, but you're to be back here in just ten minutes, remember that."

Ahn did remember it and was back in the stipulated time, although probably no mortal will ever know just what it cost her to confine the discussion of Becky's important communication within the limits of ten minutes. But at least she had made good use of them.

"Oh, Mr. Quark, what do you think? You know tomorrow is Becky's birthday. Her father will come from New Bajor. And her aunt is coming on a transport tomorrow afternoon. There is going to be a big party and the whole school is invited. And her mother told her she could ask me to go home with her from school today and stay the night and go with them tomorrow. That is, if you'll let me go. You will, won't you, Mr. Quark? Oh, I feel so excited."

"You can calm down then, because you're not going. You're better off here working and learning about business and listening to the Vedeks and their sermons and stuff like that. As for birthday parties, it's all nonsense. Young females have no business taking place in that kind of useless frivolity."

"But they are all good people," pleaded Ahn.

"I'm not saying they aren't. But you're not going to begin running about the station and staying out all hours of the night. People will say I'm unfit."

"But it's such a very special occasion," mourned Ahn, on the verge of tears. "Becky has only one birthday in a year. It isn't as if birthdays were common things, Mr. Quark. And Becky's parents have planned such a day. Her father will make a bar-b-que, and her mother and aunt will bake a HUGE cake. They have only invited the best sort of people, and I'm sure it would do me lots of good to be around them. And there will be games. And oh, Mr. Quark, maybe even Commander Kira will stop by; yes, indeed, she may even give an address. That would be just about the same thing as a sermon. Please, may I go, Mr. Quark?"

"You heard what I said, Ahn, didn't you? Go back to our quarters now and go to bed. It's way past your bedtime."

"There's just one more thing, Mr. Quark," said Ahn, with the air of producing the last shot in her locker." Becky told me that at the party, I would be sitting in the seat next to her. Think of the honor of your little Ahn being seated at the right hand of the honored guest."

"It's an honor you'll have to get along without. Go to bed, Ahn, and don't let me hear another word out of you."

When Ahn, with tears rolling over her cheeks, had gone sorrowfully to her quarters, Nog, who had witnessed the whole encounter, came forward and said decidedly:

"Uncle, I think you ought to let Ahn go."

"Well, I don't" retorted Quark. "Who's bringing this child up, you or me?"

"Well, you Uncle," admitted Nog.

"Don't interfere then."

"I'm not interfering. It's not interfering when one expresses their own opinion. And my opinion is that you ought to let Ahn go."

"You'd think I ought to let Ahn rule the universe if she took the notion, I've no doubt" was Quark's amiable rejoinder. "I might have let her go stay the night at Becky's, if that was all. But I don't approve of this party plan. She'd go there and catch some sickness, or have her head filled up with nonsense and excitement. It would unsettle her for a week. I understand that child's disposition and what's good for it better than you, Nog."

"I think you ought to let Ahn go," repeated Nog firmly. Argument was not his strong point, but holding fast to his opinion certainly was. Quark gave a grunt of frustration and took refuge in silence. The next morning, when Ahn was placing the breakfast dishes in the replicator, Nog paused on his way out to Engineering to say to Quark again:

"I think you ought to let Ahn go, Uncle."

For a moment Quark looked things not lawful to be uttered. Then he yielded to the inevitable and said tartly:

"Very well, she can go, since nothing else'll shut you up."

With that, Ahn flew into his arms.

"Oh, Mr. Quark, Mr. Quark, say those blessed words again."

"Once is good enough. This is Nog's doing and I wash my hands of it. If you catch some kind of space sickness up there, don't blame me, blame Nog. Kor Ahn, you're wrinkling my suit. I never saw such a careless child."

"Oh, I know I'm a great trial to you," said Ahn repentantly. "I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make, although I might. Take off your coat and I'll fix it before I go to school. Oh, Mr. Quark, my heart was just set on spending the day with Becky. I never was to a birthday party in my life, and when the other children talk about them in school I feel so out of it. You didn't know just how I felt about it, but you see Nog did. Nog understands me, and it's so nice to be understood."

Ahn was too excited to do herself justice as to lessons that morning in school. Evron Tared spelled her down in class and left her clear out of sight in calculus. Ahn's consequent humiliation was less than it might have been, however, in view of the upcoming party. She and Becky talked so constantly about it all day that with a stricter teacher than Mr. Kretak dire disgrace must inevitably have been their portion.

Ahn felt that she could not have borne it if she had not been going to be with Becky, for nothing else was discussed that day in school. The Universal Scouting Association, which met twice a week all school year, had held several smaller free entertainments; but this was to be a big affair. The entire class had been invited to the celebration, but not all were able to go. Those lucky enough to make it had spent days picking out gifts and thinking of what they would wear.

For Ahn the real excitement began with the conclusion of the weekly school session and increased therefrom in crescendo until it reached to a crash of positive ecstasy the day of the party itself. Ahn entered Becky's quarters, and true, she could not help a little pang when she contrasted her plain, odd-colored, replicated outfit with Becky's jaunty tailored dress and smart little jacket. But she remembered in time that she had an imagination and could use it.

"Oh, Becky," breathed Ahn, squeezing Becky's hand, "isn't it all like a beautiful dream? Do I look the same as usual? I feel so different that it seems to me it must show in my looks."

"You look awfully nice," said Becky, "And you've got the loveliest color."

The celebration that night was a series of "thrills" for at least one of the guests, and, as Ahn assured Becky, every succeeding thrill was thrillier than the last. Upon entering the specially reserved room, decked out in colored streamers and balloons, Ahn clasped her hands in pure delight. When Ahn tasted the ribs and potato salad and various other Earth delicacies, she gazed at the ceiling as if a Prophet's orb had made an appearance. When B'Toreth failed in his attempts to "pin the tail on the donkey," Ahn laughed at the sight until the people standing near her laughed too, that is, until the young Klingon growled in their immediate direction. Then, Mr. Kretak stood to recite a traditional Bajoran birthday blessing in the most heartstirring tones - looking at N'arelta at the end of every verse - Ahn felt that she could rise and mutiny on the spot if but one citizen led the way.

Only one guest failed to interest her. When Evron Tared led the class in a chorus of "Happy Birthday," Ahn stared down at her feet until everyone had finished, then sat rigidly stiff and motionless while Becky clapped her hands until they tingled.

It was late evening when Ahn, Becky, and the rest of the Peters family returned to their quarters. Though sated with dissipation, there remained in the girls the exceeding sweet pleasure of talking it all over. As Becky's parents and aunt dispersed to their rooms, they tiptoed into the guest quarters. It was a long narrow room that had been warmed to suit a Cardassian.

"Let's change here," said Becky. "My outfit's just cooking me."

"Hasn't it been a delightful time?" sighed Ahn rapturously. "It must be splendid to receive so much attention in one day. Do you suppose I could ever be the center of attention?"

"Yes, of course, someday. You're a big scholar, you know. They expect all the big scholars to enter the competitions. N'arelta's done it often and she's not that much older than us. Oh, Ahn, how could you pretend not to listen to him today? When he came to the line,

"'May the Prophets bless you...' he looked right over at you."

"Becky," said Ahn with dignity, "you are my bosom friend, but I cannot allow even you to speak to me of that person. Are you ready to turn in? Let's run a race and see who'll get to the bed first."

The suggestion appealed to Becky. The two little blue-clad figures flew from one corner of the room, and bounded on the bed at the same moment. And then- something- moved beneath them, there was a gasp and a cry- and somebody said in muffled accents:

"For the love of ALMIGHTY GOD!"

Ahn and Becky were never able to tell just how they got off that bed and out of the guest room. They only knew that after that frantic moment they found themselves bolting down the hall.

"Oh, who was it - WHAT was it?" whispered Ahn, her teeth chattering with cold and fright.

"My Uncle Quinn," said Becky, gasping with laughter. "Oh, Ahn, it was Uncle Quinn, however he came to be there. Oh, and I know he will be furious. It's dreadful - it's really dreadful - but did you ever know anything so funny, Ahn?"

"Who is Uncle Quinn?"

"He's my father's brother and he must have come with him from New Bajor. He absolutely HATES kids, and I don't believe he was EVER a little boy. I never expected him to come here for a visit. He's awfully prim and proper and he'll scold dreadfully about this, I know. Well, we'll have to sleep in my room now, even though it's probably too cold for you."

Quinn Peters did not appear at breakfast the next morning. Nurse Peters smiled kindly at the two little girls.

"Did you have a good time last night? I was so tired from cleaning up after the party that I forgot to tell you Uncle Quinn had come with Mr. Peters. He couldn't make it to the party, but he did help us set up and cook. I hope you guys didn't disturb him."

Becky preserved a discreet silence, but she and Ahn exchanged furtive smiles of guilty amusement across the table. Ahn hurried home after breakfast and so remained in blissful ignorance of the disturbance which presently resulted in the Peters household until the late afternoon, when she went down to the Infirmary on an errand for Quark.

"So you and my daughter nearly frightened poor Quinn to death last night?" said Nurse Peters severely. "He and my husband just left for New Bajor a few minutes ago. Old Quinn was in a terrible temper when he got up this morning, and Quinn Peters' temper is no joke, I can tell you that. He wouldn't speak to any of us."

"It wasn't your daughter's fault," said Ahn contritely. "It was mine. I suggested racing to see who would get into bed first. The sight of a Cardassian must have...thrown him a bit."

"I knew it!" she said, with the exultation of a correct guesser. "I knew that idea came from your head. Well, you've made some trouble for us now. Before he got on that transport, Quinn solidly declared that he would NEVER set foot in this sector again. Even worse, he took back his promise to pay for Becky's piano lessons. Her teacher's the best in the quadrant, and ONLY takes payment in latinum. We can't afford it on our own and Quinn was her only hope. Now the only thing he's considering paying for is a restraining order. I bet Becky's father is having a time of it now. He must feel as if he's being flattened. Quinn Peters is a quick-tempered man and we were TRYING to keep him on our good side."

"I'm such an unlucky girl," mourned Ahn. "I'm always getting into scrapes myself and getting my best friends...people I'd shed my heart's blood for...into them too. Can you tell me why it is so?"

"It's because you're too heedless and impulsive, child, that's what. You never stop to think. Whatever comes into your head to say or do you say or do it without a moment's reflection."

"Oh, but that's the best of it," protested Ahn. "Something just flashes into your mind, so exciting, and you must out with it. If you stop to think it over you spoil it all. Haven't you never felt that yourself, Nurse Peters?"

No, Nurse Peters had not. She shook her head sagely.

"You must learn to think a little, Ahn, that's what. "Look before you leap - especially into guest-room beds."

Nurse Peters laughed comfortably over her mild joke, but Ahn remained pensive. She saw nothing to laugh at in the situation, which to her eyes appeared very serious.

Later that evening, as she made her way across the Promenade, Becky encountered Ahn.

"Your Uncle Quinn was very cross about it, wasn't he?" whispered Ahn.

"Yes," answered Becky, stifling a giggle with an apprehensive glance over her shoulder. "He was fairly dancing with rage, Ahn. Oh, how he scolded. He said I was the worst-behaved girl he ever saw and that my parents ought to be ashamed of the way they had brought me up. He says he won't give me any money and I'm sure I don't care. But my parents do."

"Why didn't you tell them it was my fault?" demanded Ahn.

"It's likely I'd do such a thing, isn't it?" said Becky with just scorn. "I'm no telltale, Kor Ahn, and anyhow I was just as much to blame as you."

"Well, I'm going send a message to him. I'll tell him myself," said Ahn resolutely.

Becky gasped. "Ahn, you'd never! Why, he'll eat you alive!"

"Don't frighten me any more than I am already," implored Ahn. "I'd rather walk up to a torpedo's head. But I've got to do it, Becky. It was my fault and I've got to confess. I've had practice in confessing, fortunately."

"Well, you can try," said Becky. I wouldn't dare, though. I don't believe it'll do you a bit of good."

With this encouragement Ahn walked over to a nearby computer. She prompted it to open a line to the Peters' residence on New Bajor. A sharp "Yes?" followed.

Quinn Peters, short, prim, and rigid, was sitting at his desk, his wrath quite unappeased and his eyes glaring through the viewscreen. He leaned forward in his chair, expecting to see Becky, and beheld a red-headed Cardassian girl whose great eyes were brimmed up with a mixture of desperate courage and shrinking terror.

"Who are you?" demanded Quinn, without ceremony.

"I'm Ahn of Deep Space Nine," said the caller tremulously, clasping her hands with her characteristic gesture, "and I've come to confess, if you please."

"Confess what?"

"That it was all my fault about jumping into bed on you last night. I suggested it. Your Becky would never have thought of such a thing, I am sure. Becky is a very ladylike girl, sir. So you must see how unjust it is to blame her."

"Oh, I must, eh? I rather think Becky did her share of the jumping at least. Such carryings on in respectable quarters!"

"But we were only in fun," persisted Ahn. "I think you ought to forgive us, sir, now that we've apologized. And anyhow, please forgive Becky and let her have her music lessons. Becky's heart is set on her music lessons, and I know too well what it is to set your heart on a thing and not get it. If you must be cross with anyone, be cross with me. I've been so used in my early days to having people cross at me that I can endure it much better than she can."

Much of the glare had gone out of the man's eyes by this time and was replaced by a twinkle of amused interest. But he still said severely:

"I don't think it is any excuse for you that you were only in fun. In my family, little children never indulged in that kind of fun when I was young. You don't know what it is to be awakened out of a sound sleep, after a long and arduous journey, by two girls bouncing down on you."

"I don't KNOW, but I can IMAGINE," said Ahn eagerly. "I'm sure it must have been very disturbing. But then, there is our side of it too. Have you any imagination, Mr. Peters? If you have, just put yourself in our place. We didn't know there was anybody in that bed and you nearly scared us to death. It was simply awful the way we felt. And then I couldn't sleep in the spare room after being promised. I suppose you are used to sleeping in spare rooms. But just imagine what you would feel like if you were a little orphan girl who had never had such an honor."

All the snap had gone by this time. Quinn Peters actually laughed- a sound which caused Becky, waiting in speechless anxiety out of visual range, to give a great gasp of relief.

"I'm afraid my imagination is a little rusty, it's been a while since I've used it," he said. "I dare say your claim to sympathy is just as strong as mine. It all depends on the way we look at it. Well, why don't you stick around and tell me something about yourself."

"I am very sorry I can't," said Ahn firmly. "I would like to, because you seem like an interesting man, and you might even be a kindred spirit although you don't look very much like it. But it is my duty to go home to Mr. Quark. He is a very kind man who has taken me to bring up properly. He is doing his best, but it can be very discouraging work. You must not blame him because I jumped on the bed. But before I go I do wish you would tell me if you will forgive Becky and will consider letting her have her lessons."

"I think perhaps I will," said Mr. Peters.

A week later Quinn sent a communique' to Becky's parents notifying them that said funds had been transferred to their account.

Quark's only comment when he heard the story was, "I told you so." This was for Nog's benefit.

Several months later Quinn Peters did return to the station for a visit. He turned out to be a more agreeable guest than was expected, for Ahn kept him in good humor. They became firm friends.

When Mr. Peters went away he said:

"Remember, my girl, when you get the chance, come to New Bajor and visit me. I'll put you in my very sparest spare-room bed to sleep."

"Mr. Peters was a kindred spirit, after all," Ahn confided to Quark. "You wouldn't think so to look at him, but he is. You don't find it right out at first, as in our case, after a while you come to see it. Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the universe."