Disclaimer: Star Trek and all its characters belong to Paramount Pictures. Carrie belongs to author Stephen King but the words are mine. The characters of the Four Orders (FO*) are entirely my own.
Requested Story by T-Rex-1000
Part Two:
AU/Multiple Star Trek Shows/Carrie: Having become part of 24th century, Carrie White is enlisted in the clandestine organization Section 31 to help protect the Federation from a looming threat that has the power to change Starfleet's future forever.
Rules of Acquisition:
48 – The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife
57 – Good customers are as rare as latinum. Treasure them.
59 – Free advice is seldom cheap.
74 – Knowledge equals profit
94 - Females and finances don't mix.
153 – People will buy anything, especially junk
194 – Its always good business to know about new customers before they walk in your door
203 - New customers are like razor-toothed gree-worms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back.
214 - Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach.
218 – Always know what you're buying
239 – Never be afraid to mislabel a product
Chapter 21
Stardate 46720 (27.08.2369)
"This is Quark, owner of this establishment." Julian introduced. "Quark, this is Ms. Carrie White. She's new to the station and my date for tonight."
"Pleasure," Quark greeted. "Can I get you both interested in this late century vase?" He pointed to something that resembled a vase and apparently trying to get rid of.
Carrie smiled. "I believe that would be in violation of rule of acquisition 214 (never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach), Mr. Quark."
Quark stopped wiping the glass he had in his hand and stood petrified. It is not every day that a human quoted to him the rules of acquisition.
"I am sure after it is fulfilled then we can see if rule 74 (knowledge equals profit) is applicable otherwise I can always adhere to rule 48 (the bigger the smile, the sharper the knife)."
Quark had completely lost connection with anything that was happening in his bar. This human was using the rules with such ruthless efficiency. He was definitively in love. He did love Jadzia too but for different reason. He had just met this human and was already falling given then he failed in rule 194 (it's always good business to know about new customers before they walk in your door) though he hoped he's not fallen into the trap of rule 203 (new customers are like razor-toothed gree-worms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back).
Carrie had spent her time in the afternoon learning the rules of acquisition. She found it is best to know as much as possible about your opponent, especially if he is a Ferengi. She may not like them much but she needs a way to address them to her benefit.
Julian was also stunned at her knowledge. He had chosen well this time. And it was also a delight to see Quark speechless.
"Of course, let me get you a table." Quark jumped out his stupor and led the way to a table in the back, cleaned it quickly but efficiently. "It is one of the best tables. I will get you the menu right away."
"I have to admit I have never seen Quark speechless." Julian said as they sat down.
"I guess there is a first time for everything." Carrie said suppressing a victorious smile.
"I hope you are not going to engage in negotiations for that vase?"
"No, of course not, it is unsellable. But negations are a good sport for the brain cells."
"I can't argue with that."
Quark returned with the menu. Carrie selected all the awkward recipes in it as she would be living on this station and therefore had to taste all kinds of dishes so why not start now. Quark's was delighted of the choice and hurried to fulfill the order.
Carrie did not plan to open trade negotiations but like she said it was a good sport, and she needed the practice. The Ferengi was likely sticking to rule 153 (people will buy anything, especially junk). While the vase was not exactly what you would call junk it was nothing special either. Still, she wanted to see the price Quark would ask for it.
In the meantime, she had a wonderful dinner and the company was perfect. The Doctor offered many stories and was capable of many more. She offered a few of her own though very much out of context. The doctor was definitively jealous about one of her stories – that weird planet with the naked gods. She imagined for him it would have been paradise.
As dinner was over, Quark came to open negotiations for the vase. 'Damn', the doctor thought 'he was a long memory when it comes to profit.' Quark presented all the benefits and origin of the vase before exposing its price – five silver strips. 'That low, I was half expecting one bar of gold-pressed latinum'.
But Carrie was not an easy customer. She took the vase in her hand and looked it over as she quoted rule 218 (always know what you're buying) as she feared he might be going for rule 239 (never be afraid to mislabel a product). The rules of these people were exhausting but centered on greed, and greed was a dangerous but sometimes useful tool.
"It certainly has the qualities you mentioned, Mr. Quark. However, one can see the little scratch here that changes its authentic value. So, I would say 1 silver strip is a fairer price."
Quark looked the scratch over. "True, it has a tiny scratch but that makes it even more attractive. So, I would say the price should be higher – eight strips."
"If the scratch was bigger, I might have agreed with you but as it is tiny, we can settle on 2 strips."
Quark was reminded of rule 94 (females and finances don't mix) but this one was driving a hard bargain. He suspected the comment for the size of the scratch was not meant only for its presence on the vase.
"As it is on but not seen when you agreed to the negotiations, I will settle for 7 strips if you would take my advice."
"I can see why you covet rule 59 (free advice is seldom cheap) however I would stick to 57 (good customers are as rare as latinum, treasure them). So we can agree on 4 strips. I figure you would still make a hefty profit of 3 strips."
"Sold," Quark seldom agreed. He handed the vase while Carrie gave him the strips. He pocked them and went back to his bar.
"I have never seen Quark give in so easily." Julian exclaimed stunned. "I don't think he has ever met a woman this well versed in the rules of acquisition either."
"There is a first time for everything." Carrie smiled as she was the one that made the scratch. It was a very deceiving exercise. She estimated the real value of this vase to at least 20 strips of silver, provided the material is what she thought. If not, Quark would make a profit of 3 strips at best.
She figured that Quark knew nothing about the vase's origins and neither did the idiot that sold to him. So her little experiment only confirmed what she suspected. That technique she learnt in Section 31's training. She needed to learn how to deceive as that could get her out of trouble far more efficiently than the truth. Of course, one has always to remember the lies he tells so he doesn't fall into his own trap.
She bid farewell to Julian and Quark and returned to her quarters after the end of the evening. Quark was attempting to bribe her into a game of dabo but she excused herself, which is something that made her grow in his eyes even more.
As she returned to her quarters, she noticed that someone had been in there. Nothing was touched as she could estimate but she had placed a defense just in case. The defense was down and completely avoided. She needed cameras in here for certain. But they had to be disguised well so no intruder can spot them.
She inspected everything and closed safely the door and went to bed. The next morning she woke up and came face to face with the intruder.
"Carrington?" She exclaimed stunned.
"Hello Carrie," he smiled.
Carrie noticed he had not been smiling for a long time but he forced himself now. He did not look good.
"You look like shit."
"Hiding from everyone has a tendency to change one's appearance."
"Even S13, why?"
Carrington sighed deeply. So, she joined them, after all. Only an operative of Section 31 will refer to it as the opposite. It was a safe way to do so and also a secretive one.
"I did not want you sucked into this." He said. "But alas it has happened. How?"
"Stanton died on my door with a crystal full of secrets and then the Professor recruited me in the middle of a Romulan attack on Academy grounds."
"The Conclave of Eight, yes, I see."
"The – what?"
"That is the name of the Cabal inside Starfleet."
"Why not tell the Professor?"
"It is complicated, Carrie. The enemy has made some moves that cut me off from anyone I knew before. I can't trust anyone."
"Then why tell me?"
"You, well, the enemy doesn't know about you, which is probably why Stanton chose you."
"He said nearly the same thing."
"Good."
"So – what do we do now?"
"I will stay with you for awhile but then I will be on the move again. They are relentless and I have to keep you a secret."
"What do they want?"
"The less you know the better. It is not time to make a move against them." Carrington said. He did not want to tell her (not because she couldn't keep a secret but because this knowledge was dangerous). "What is your mission here?"
"The Professor wants to know who would be susceptible for recruitment and also to keep an eye on Garak."
Carrington laughed. He has not laughed in awhile too. The Professor definitively had developed a sense of humor. "Garak, Elim Garak?"
"Yes,"
Carrington was amused from that task.
"What?"
"Elim Garak is the son of Enabran Tain, the current head of the Obsidian Order. He was once a high ranking officer there before he screwed up and was exiled here. He is very cunning and very dangerous. Watch your back with him."
"The son of the big boss?"
"Yes, but not many know that. I imagine his father did not want everyone to know his weakness."
"I can understand that."
"The first task will also fail. Starfleet officers are very loyal and though those are the first days of this command recruitment will likely fail."
"I think so too but not because of that."
"Meaning?"
"The idiot selected to do the recruitment?"
"Who?"
"Sloan,"
"Ah, that bastard, yes, I agree. His methods are not exactly stellar or subtle. But he will get the job done. If nothing, it would prompt Starfleet to risk it."
"And take it down? Don't they know that S13 works for Starfleet?"
"No, officially, they do not. The Section is a myth and we like to keep it that way. Only the Conclave fears us."
"And Starfleet covered it."
"They had no other choice. Starting a war with the Romulans again is not an option. Besides, the section intervened and presented the attack in a different light. Most of the admirals know that those were disguises and a test."
"And I thought everyone is very gullible."
"It always depends on who is telling the story." Carrington lay down. He needed to recover his strength before continuing.
"I know you are tired but Stanton asked me to locate your boss."
Carrington stood up. That was an unusual request. Perhaps he had been on a secret mission for him. That part would not be unusual.
"Did he leave something for him?"
"Yes, a data crystal with the password Dax."
"Do you have it with you?"
"Yes,"
"Open it."
Carrie located the crystal and entered the password. The data inside was also encrypted but there were two accessible files. The first one was a map but unlike any they had both ever seen. It was even more detailed that the one in Section 31's headquarters. It was an interactive map as when touched the area or sector would enlarge with even more details about it.
"That is valuable." Carrie observed.
"No one in the Federation knows how extensive our knowledge of the galaxy is and we keep it that way. Our goals and those of the Federation align most of the time but we have separate directives dating from a time before the coalition and Starfleet were conceived."
The second file concerned the Dax symbiont and all of its spinoffs. Carrington wondered what his boss would want with this information. It was somewhat public knowledge the tree of the Trill symibionts. He figured that the rest of the information on the data crystal fitted in with it somehow. He looked at the encryption and did not like it. It was way too complicated. Breaking it would take too much time.
"Ok, until you hear from me otherwise, I am charging you at getting close to the Dax symbiont and its host. Find everything about her and it. The crystal contains only the times of change of the hosts. There is a reason why he is interested in it."
"Such as?"
"I do not know. The rest is encrypted and it would take too much time. But for whatever reason, he wants someone to keep an eye on the symbiont. Remember the slug, not the host. You are not to interfere with the host. Just make sure the slug survives."
"Ok, I can do that."
"Good. We will meet again. Be very careful. Now, I need my rest."
Carrington stayed for a few days in which he did not engage in anything linked to their work and Carrie abided by it. Then one day, he was gone. He had left her a few other instructions written on a piece of paper, which Carrie appreciated as they were tucked into her diary.
Soon enough she met Dax, Lieutenant Jadzia Dax. She was young but with the combined experience of the previous hosts she was over 300 years old. That was not something she could understand. A person lives a certain amount time and then when his time is over, it should be over.
Average life expectancy in the Federation for humans had jumped from 75 in the twentieth century to nearly 120 in the twenty forth. In her opinion, this way was too much for a human to live. She did learn that Vulcans have nearly twice the lifespan of humans but they could also die at around 140-150, and look just as old as humans do. Their counterparts the Romulans apparently had the same lifespan.
That is an annoying amount of time. But as it turned out medicine has advanced so much it can maintain their lives for longer. She wondered what it is like to contemplate a time a hundred years from now.
Still, she had to keep an eye out for the Dax symbiont. That in her head was not an easy job because how do you care for the slug that you do not see while you see its host. There were still times when she found the twenty forth century very weird and alien.
She approached Dr. Bashir on the Trill biology and symbiont situation as she wanted to better understand her ward. As it turned out, the good doctor had some knowledge but it was somewhat limited.
"When one doesn't know something, dear, she makes the time to learn all about it."
That was the advice Garak gave her when she shared some of her concerns. She decided to take his advice at heart. So, she had got everything she could find on them but it was not enough. She needed to visit Trill and speak with these guardians she kept reading about. They were apparently very shy but knowledgeable.
She booked a transport to Trill…
To be continued
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