In Sunshine or In Shadow - Part 9
Creek Johnson & Nance Hurt
Disclaimer: Paramount owns what it owns. We own what we own. No infringement intended - hopefully, none taken.
It did not look as though Quark was going to have a good day.
Due to the station lock down two shipments of various, and perfectly legal, liquors were late. Furthermore it looked as though the Trade Delegation from Kraus-Four was going to hold up a shipment of , not so legal, goods as well. Now, to add trouble on top of trouble, there was this bit of disturbing news.
He leaned across the bar and looked the Kholanese smuggler right in the eye.
"Ginyu," he said. "Are you absolutely sure of this?"
Ginyu did not flinch. "Absolutely certain," he replied.
"Great. That's just great."
Motioning to a nearby waiter to take care of the bar, Quark quickly bustled out the door.
He finally caught up with John Marshall outside the Wardroom.
"Mr. Quark," said Marshall upon seeing his approach. "Now is not the time."
He held up his hand to forestall Marshall. "You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"Is your bar on fire?" asked Marshall, tilting his head to one side.
"No."
"Is there a bomb about to go off anywhere on the station?"
"How would I know?" demanded Quark.
"Are there thousands of Jem'Hadar ships coming through the wormhole?"
"Now you're being ridiculous."
"You are the one being ridiculous, Quark," said Marshall. "Unless the station is under direct threat, I do not have time for your nonsense."
"Fine. I'll just have to go over your head. Where's the Colonel?"
"The Colonel, is currently indisposed. And I venture to say, she has even less time to deal with your nonsense than I."
"Where is she?"
"As you will," said Marshall "The last time I saw her she was in Security with Captain Flato. But I doubt she will still be there."
Quark drew himself up to his full height. "Fine," he said. "But when she hears what I have to say, we'll see who's talking nonsense then."
"Indeed."
"Quark," said Flato Ray as he came through the doors. "Come to confess?"
"That will be the day," he replied. "Where's the Colonel?"
"Not here and if I were you I wouldn't bother her."
"Why does everyone assume I'm going to bother her?" asked Quark. "I just don't run some bar you know. I serve a very important function to the well being of this station and it's residents…."
Flato put down her padd and looked at Quark.
"Okay," she said. She was very familiar with Quark's concerned citizen routine. Sometimes it was nonsense, but on the other hand, sometimes it was not. "Okay, calm down. What do you want to see the Colonel about? Maybe I can help?"
"I have just learned some very important news."
"News? What news?"
"It's about the events of last week," he said confidentially.
"What about last week?"
"It's about Nigel Dunlap."
"Dunlap? He's dead. What news could you possibly have about him?"
"He's surfaced again."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Quark. He's dead. I say him die."
"I'm not being ridiculous! My sources tell me he's still out there."
"Sources? What sources?"
"If you must know, Ginyu."
"Ginyu?" said Flato with a laugh. "That broken down old smuggler? He'd tell you anything you wanted to hear."
"He'd tell YOU anything you wanted to hear," replied Quark. "WE, have a different relationship entirely."
"Yeah, right."
"So, are you going to do anything about this, or not?"
"I'll put it in the daily report if that will make you happy," said Falto. "But that's all I can do. Everyone else is tied up with the Trade Delegation. Once it's all over, I promise I'll look into it."
"Fine," replied Quark, not at all pleased. "Now, are you going to tell me where the Colonel is or not?"
"Whatever. When she left here, she said she was going to go visit the Infirmary, but I doubt she's still there."
Things were quiet in the Infirmary. A single nurse was busy in the diagnostic room, her back turned as she gave an injection to a pregnant Bajoran officer. Hoping not to be detected, Quark quickly peaked into Bashir's office only to find it empty.
Glancing back to make sure the nurse was still busy with her patient, he slipped through the door and into the Intensive Care Ward. There, in the back, were Bashir and Gevrik. As he stepped closer he could hear an occasional groan from their patient.
"How's that?" asked Bashir, fiddling with some equipment.
"Perhaps we should adjust the voltage a bit higher," replied Gevrik.
"Done."
The figure on the bio-bed twitched violently and then lay gasping.
"Odo?" asked Bashir. "Is that better?"
He received a slight grunt as a reply
"Good," Bashir said with a short and somewhat bitter laugh. "Mr. Gevrik, the hypospray, if you please."
Gevrik stepped forward to administer the shot.
"What the hell are you doing to him?" asked Quark.
The three men started at the sound of him voice.
"Quark?" said Julian. "What are you doing here?"
"I...ah…came to find the Colonel," he replied never taking his eyes off Odo. The Changeling lay upon the bed, a series of wires attached to his body. The wires were attached to a power cell, which hummed evilly in the sudden quite of the room. "Doesn't that hurt?"
Odo issued a short laugh as a reply.
"Of course it hurts," said Julian taking Quark by the arm and leading him away. "But you being here won't make it any better. Now, why are you here?"
"I need to talk to Kira."
"Well, as you can see, she's not here." He gave Quark a gentle push towards the door. "And if I were you, I wouldn't be bothering her right now."
"I am not a bother!" said Quark.
"Very well. What is this all about then?"
Quark glanced at Odo. "It's about Nigel Dulap," he said. "I've heard from a source that he's still around."
"Don't be ridiculous," replied Julian. "I have his ashes in the morgue. I can show you them, if you wish."
"I'm not being ridiculous."
"No, of course not. Now, I really do not have the time for this, if you will kindly leave…"
Quark paused at the door. "What exactly are you doing to him?" he asked softly.
Julian sighed loudly. "It's really none of your business, however, knowing you, if I don't tell you, you will most likely keep asking until I do."
"You know me too well, Doctor."
"Yes," replied Julian with a note of skepticism in his voice. "When Odo was brought in the night Nigel Duplap died, we discovered that the residual energy charge of the phaser blasts he suffered, actually strengthen his condition, rather than weakened it."
"What?"
"Yes, that was our reaction as well. However, as we cannot go around periodically shooting Odo with a phaser…"
"Too bad," said Quark. "I was about to volunteer for the job. And I never volunteer for anything…"
"As that is impossible," emphasized Julian. "We are attempting to replicate the results by running an low level energy charge through his body."
"And is it working?"
"It's still a bit too early to tell. Now, if you will be so kind as to allow us to continue…"
"Right," said Quark holding up his hands in surrender. "Can you at least tell me where the Colonel was going next?"
"Fine," replied Julian. "She said she was going to get a quick bite to eat before returning to the wardroom. The Trade….."
"Trade Delegation, I know."
With the Trade Delegation currently filling the Station's available quarters, the Replimat was filled to capacity. Having pushed his way through the lines waiting for a table, he had no problem spotting the Colonel. She sat alone at a table for two, the look or irritation on her face was almost palpable.
"Not now, Quark," she said. "I'm eating."
"And a good afternoon to you," he replied taking the empty seat across from her.
She managed to keep from throwing her fork at him. "Look, I have too much on my mind all ready. I don't have time…"
"For me to bother you. So I've been told. But this is important."
"It had better be."
He leaned across the table and spoke in a soft voice. "My sources tell me that our friend Nigel Dunlap has made a reappearance."
"Is that what this is about? Quark, Nigel Dunlap is dead."
"I know, but what if we were wrong about that?"
"What do you mean wrong? I was there, I killed him, or I helped kill him. Look, I'd rather not talk about it."
"But what if we're wrong and there is another," he took a look around to make sure they were not overheard. "Another…of his kind…out there."
"Okay, I'll bite. Of course there's another…of his kind…out there. There's always another of his kind around somewhere. It's a fact of life, we'll just have to live with."
"And what about Odo?"
"What about him?" she asked, starting to stand, her voice very serious.
Quark waived her back into her chair. "What if they learn he's not dead?" he asked. "Don't you think they'd come after him?"
"I'd like to see them try. Look, Quark, the station is crawling with Security while the Trade Delegation is here. No one is going to try anything for the next week. That will give us plenty of time to look into this business and if, and that's a big if in my opinion, we find that Nigel Dunlap is still alive and kicking, we'll be better prepared to do something about it."
"Fine," said Quark standing. "If no one on this Station is prepared to do anything about it, then I guess it's up to me to take care of the situation."
With that he stormed out of the replimat, leaving the dumb struck diners staring at his wake.
"Why so glum?"
Quark looked up to find Ezri Dax had taken a seat at the bar.
"It's just…No, never mind, you'll just say I'm being ridiculous."
"Maybe," she replied. "But why don't you tell me first and then I can decide for myself if you're being ridiculous."
He looked at her smiling face and never being able to resist a Dax, he gave in.
"Fine, I heard through a somewhat reliable source that our friend Nigel Dunlap has made a reappearance."
"But isn't he dead?"
"So, I've been told. But I'm not so sure."
"I see," she replied. "You're thinking that there's another Changeling out there."
"Exactly, although according to the Colonel, there's always going to be another Changeling out there. But I don't see how she can be so sure that the Nigel Dunlap we killed is the Nigel Dunlap."
"So, you're thinking that our Nigel Dunlap is working in conjunction with another one."
"Exactly."
"Have you told anyone about it?" asked Dax.
"Who haven't I told? I tried to tell Marshall, but he dismissed me. So did Flato, and Julian and Kira."
"Kira? I would have thought…"
"She said," replied Quark. "That if it is true, that with Security so tight due to the Trade Delegation, no Changeling could get in. That if we wait, they'd be better prepared to deal with the situation."
"Well, she has a point. Forewarned is forearmed."
"Now who's being ridiculous?" asked Quark. "Why wait at all, why not go to the source?"
"What do you mean?"
"Look my contacts in the Orion Syndicate…"
"I thought you didn't do business with the Orion Syndicate?"
"I don't. But I do business with people who do business with the Orion Syndicate and they tell me that the contract Nigel Dunlap put out on Odo is still in effect until someone provides proof of his demise. So, if we wait.."
"Then it may not be a Changeling at all who comes to the Station," concluded Dax. "But someone else."
"And while Security is looking for a Changeling…," prompted Quark.
"Someone else could sneak onto the Station and finish the job. Quark, you have got to talk to someone else about this."
"No."
"What do you mean, no?"
"I mean, I'm done talking."
"Well, someone has got to do something?"
"Someone is," said Quark with finality. "Me."
Ezri tried not to laugh. "You?"
"And why not me?"
Ezri shrugged. "I can't think of a reason why not. But let me ask you this? What's in it for you?"
Quark threw his towel onto the bar. "Why does there have to be something in it for me?" he demanded.
"Oh, I don't know….You prove the contract has been executed and collect the reward maybe?"
"I'm amazed at you, Dax."
"Amazed that I suggested you might be in it for the money, or amazed that you didn't think of it first?"
"A little of both," confessed Quark. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a call to make."
"Not now, Uncle," said Nog. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
Having made his arrangements with Ginyu, Quark set off in search of his nephew. He finally tracked him down to docking bay 16.
"Look, this is important," insisted Quark. "Can't your minions deal with this?"
Well aware of the dirty looks 'his minions' were giving them, Nog took Quark by the arm and pulled him out well out of hearing distance.
"All right," he said. "Just what is this all about?"
"Nigel Dunlap has made another appearance."
"Nigel Dunlap is dead and you know it. Please tell me you didn't come down here just to bother me with that bit of useless information."
"For the last time, I am not a bother!"
"Whatever. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
"Wait," said Quark. "Do you have any vacation time?"
"What?"
"Vacation time. You know, time you can take away from the Station?"
"I know what vacation time is, Uncle," said Nog with a shake of his head. "Why do you want to know?"
"I have a little plan and I'm going to need help," replied Quark.
"Okay," said Nog, placing his tool case on its end and sitting on it. "Come on, what's this about?"
"Right," said Quark. "I've heard from my contacts in the Orion Syndicate.."
"Your contacts in the Orion Syndicate," said Nog with a laugh. "You mean that broken down network of smugglers and petty thieves you call friends? You've never had any contacts in the Orion Synd…."
"Do you want to hear what I have to say nor not?" demanded Quark.
"Sorry, go ahead."
"I've heard from my contacts that the contract that Nigel Dunlap placed on Odo is still in effect until proof is provided that the contract has been executed."
"And what does that have to do with you?"
"As long as that contract is still in effect, someone is going to try and collect. Now, here's what I'm thinking. The two Finneans are dead, right?"
"I'll say," said Nog. "It took Maintenance two days to clean up the mess…"
"I'll thank you not to give me the details," replied Quark. "So, the two Finneans are…not in a position to report their failure. The Changeling who claimed to be Nigel Dunlap is also gone. If we can provide evidence that a Changeling died, we don't have to say which one, then the contract will be called off…"
"And you can collect the reward money."
"Is there anything wrong with that?" asked Quark.
"And what am I supposed to do? Pretend to be a killer?"
"Exactly," said Quark. "I always knew you were a bright boy. Why you wanted to waste your time with Starfleet I'll never know. So will you do it? I'll cut you in for, say, 20%."
"No," said Nog eventually. He rose and picked up his tool box, his voice held a wistful note. "No, those days are over for me. But thanks for asking."
"Just thought you'd at least want to be asked," confessed Quark.
Nog nodded. "I suppose it's pointless to tell you it's a fools errand and you're most likely going to get yourself killed?"
"The greater the risk," replied Quark.
"The greater the profit," concluded Nog, as he held out his hand. "Good luck, Uncle. I hope Odo appreciates this."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he does."
Quark stepped out of the shadows as the Security patrol passed. Within seconds he overrode the locks on the Infirmary and slipped inside. Making his way to the morgue, he secured the container of ashes and was just getting ready to slip back out when he heard a noise coming from the Intensive Care Ward.
Cursing under his breath, he stood for a moment, torn between the desire to make a clean get away and the notion that Odo may be in trouble. "Fine," he said, and turned toward the noise.
Entering the Ward, he walked to the back. There he found Odo, leaning against the bio-bed, his simulated breathing coming in snorts. Confident the force field was in place to protect the patient, Quark approached.
"Well, will you just look at the trouble you've gotten yourself in this time?" he said. "I always knew, you'd wind up in a holding cell."
With a stern expression on his face, Odo attempted to cross his arms, but a sudden fit of twitching sent him grasping the edge of the bed for support.
"Careful there," said Quark taking a step forward. "I just heard a noise and wanted to make sure you were okay. So, you're okay. Just go back to bed and I will leave you in peace."
Steadying himself, Odo pointed to the container.
"This? I'm…borrowing.. it for awhile. What are you going to do? Arrest me?" he said reading Odo's expression.
"Okay, look," he said eventually. "I might as well tell you. I've told everyone else on this Station. I think, you at least will believe me. I've heard that Nigel Dunlap has resurfaced. Everyone else believes it's nothing more than a rumor, but I think it's true. I mean, why not? Who would have a reason to lie about something like that?"
Odo made a snorting sound.
"Don't you dare tell me it's ridiculous. As you well know, the contract will remain in effect until proof can be provided that the contract has been executed. And this," he said holding up the container. "Is all the proof anyone could ask for."
"Don't give me that look," he said wincing slightly under Odo's scrutiny. "Don't think for one instant that I'm doing this for you, because I'm not. I'm doing it for myself. How can I be expected to run a business with who knows how many people coming to the Station waiting for their chance to kill you? If you think I'm going to let a little thing like that ruin by business, you've got another thing coming."
"So," he said smoothing the front of his jacket. "I'm going to stop it, and the only way I can do that is by taking the remains of your friend with me. Now, if you had other plans for them, tough."
He looked at Odo, standing there obviously in pain, unsure how much he even understood what was being said to him, and he shrugged. Getting a firmer grip on the container, he turned to leave. He had only taken a few steps when a thought occurred to him and he turned back.
"Listen, Odo. A lot can happen in the time it's going to take me to do this. Just in case….well…I just wanted to say…You, know, for a royal pain in the ass…. you're not such a bad guy."
He had almost reached the door, when he heard a noise. Turning, he found Odo not far behind him, clutching the power cell, trailing wires behind him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" asked Quark.
"Pain in the ass, indeed," Odo managed to gasp. "Well, this pain in the ass is coming with you."
"Fine," said Quark doing his best to hide that he was pleased. "Do as you please. See if I care."
"Fine," replied Odo. "I will."
"Fine. Just don't expect me to share the reward with you."