Two Days Later

"Major?" Quark's voice echoed through the empty chamber as he peered into the dimly lit depths, nose wrinkled in distaste. Why would Major Kira want to meet him here, of all places? He'd been immediately suspicious of the message his brother handed him, but Rom had assured him that Major Kira had personally delivered the note, so he reluctantly gave up the idea of it being some sort of trick, and even more reluctantly decided to do as the note requested and meet her. But where was she? He had just opened his mouth to call her again when he felt a hand clapped against the lower half of his face, effectively gagging him.

"It's me," Kira's voice hissed in his ear, and he stopped struggling as she released him and stepped back. She continued in a hushed voice, "Do you always advertise your private meetings like that?"

Quark looked offended. "That would be very bad for business," he huffed quietly. "But I wasn't aware this was a business meeting, Major."

"Well, it is," she snapped, then took a deep, calming breath. "I need something, and I'm betting you can get your grubby little hands on it, if anyone can."

"That depends," the Ferengi replied cautiously. His curiosity was aroused, but years of experience kept him from revealing how intrigued he was. If he was reading this situation correctly, then Major Kira Nerys, Sisko's second in command and a ranking officer in the Bajoran militia, was asking him for a favor. And not just any favor, but one that required secrecy. Even better. This had the potential to be one of the most profitable meetings he'd ever held--if he handled it correctly. "What is it you need?"

Kira leaned forward and told him, as succinctly and quietly as possible.

Quark listened with an attentive frown, then gaped at Kira as she finished. She managed to look defensive, nervous, and slightly annoyed all at the same time. He couldn't help his reaction; he burst into laughter, stopping only as she moved forward and backed him against a nearby wall. "You can't be serious!"

"Dead serious, and keep your voice down," she hissed in annoyance. "This is no laughing matter."

"It is if you just asked me what I think you asked me," Quark replied, but he lowered his voice even though he couldn't restrain a smirk. "It's either some sort of joke or else you brought me here to seduce me, and although I'm flattered by the offer…"

Kira's face turned an interesting shade of purple at Quark's words, and it was obvious she was keeping herself from throttling him only through sheer force of will. "You can get that thought out of your mind right now," she snarled. "Not even in jest, do you hear me?"

Quark raised his hands in a defensive motion as he skipped nervously out of reach. "Now, Major, no need for violence, certainly not at this stage of the negotiations." His eyes lit up at the word, the threat of bodily harm negated as he remembered that this was, indeed, a negotiation. Something the Ferengi excelled at--and, as the major had already pointed out, certainly no laughing matter. "Let me make sure I have this straight. You want me to obtain an aphrodisiac, one strong enough to make someone willing to--" he used a vulgar Klingon phrase that made Kira wince, "--with someone they normally would not be willing to do that with, and you promise that, in spite of this stipulation, it isn't be used on someone against their will." Kira nodded. "Is that everything, or have I missed a detail or two?"

Kira shook her head. "No, that's it. That and the fact that this cannot be repeated to anyone, and I do mean anyone," she stressed, eyes glittering dangerously. "If so much as a hint of what I'm asking for gets out, I'll know exactly who to throttle." She glanced around, uncomfortably aware that she had raised her voice. She and Quark were alone in one of the unused sections of the station, but prying eyes and ears could be anywhere. However, it was a risk she had to take, she was that desperate. She'd wracked her brains all week, and this was the only thing she'd been able to come up with, the only way she could find to fulfill her part of the demon's bargain she'd made with Dukat. It wasn't strictly honest or honorable, but he had specified willing and this was the only way she could even consider sharing her body with him without throwing up.

Besides, time was running out. Her and Chief O'Brien's estimates of the time needed for repairs had been nearly identical, and she had no doubt that Dukat was aware of their schedule as well. "Can you get it, or not?"

"Well, I'm certain I can put my hand on any number of such items, but of course I need to know what sex and species its to be administered to," Quark replied blandly. "Otherwise there might be... unfortunate side effects."

Kira gritted her teeth, forcing herself not to grab him by his oversized ears and shake the information out of him. "It is for a Bajoran female," she ground out, aware that he needed to know but also aware that he was using it as an excuse to get more out of her than she wanted to give. "And that is all I'm going to tell you. Now. Can you get it or can't you?"

"I think I might have just the thing you're looking for," was Quark's cautious reply. He knew when not to push his luck as far as the major was concerned, and she was just about at that point. A good negotiator knew when to back down a bit, and he already had more than enough information for now. "I might have something left over from the Occupation..."

He could tell by the sudden fury in her eyes he'd almost gone too far with that one. He scuttled sideways, nearly tripping over himself in his haste to distance himself from Kira's disgusted anger. Not to mention her rapidly clenching and unclenching fists. "Now, Major, I'm not saying I ever sold it to any Cardassians, I'm just saying I happen to have something in my possession from that period of time that might suit your current needs. Honestly," he added, his words coming in a near babble as panic began to set in, "I've never used it or sold it, it was just something I happened to pick up once. A long time ago." He ran out of breath and placating words at the same time, uncertain if Kira was even hearing him anymore.

Quark watched warily until she lowered her eyes, unclenched her fists, and forced her breathing back to normal, logging her reaction for future reference. It had to be important that she wanted this item more than she wanted to kill him for actually possessing it and having possibly sold it to anyone. Especially Cardassians. Of course, he'd spoken nothing but the absolute truth when he said he'd never used it personally or sold it, but she hadn't asked him anything about trading it, and he wasn't about to volunteer the information. Especially not now, with her still half-inclined to do him severe bodily harm. "All right, whatever," she finally said through clenched teeth. "I need enough for one night, and I expect the rest of it to disappear. Forever."

Quark thought better of protesting; Major Kira was still teetering on the edge of changing her mind, and he didn't want to be the one to push her the wrong way. Redheads were so volatile, no matter what the species. Chief O'Brien had made that remark once, and Quark had found it to be nothing but the truth. "We still haven't agreed on a price," he reminded her.

"I suppose that my agreeing not to kill you or turn you over to Odo for questioning isn't going to be enough this time?" He shook his head firmly. She wanted this item more than he feared retaliation, and they both knew it. The fact that she didn't simply order him to give it to her told him that much. "Never let the seller know how desperate you are for what's being sold," was one of the cardinal rules of Ferengi business dealings; she really should study her Rules of Acquisition before trying to strike a deal with an experienced Ferengi businessman, Quark thought smugly.

Kira sighed, and Quark kept the victorious smile from his face only through years of practice. "All right, just tell me what you want."

"Exclusive video rights?" Quark suddenly found himself with a pair of very strong Bajoran hands wrapped around his throat. "Urk! Just kidding, Major," he wheezed. Her hands unwrapped themselves from around his neck with what seemed to Quark like great reluctance, and he skittered further away, rubbing his throat. "You have no sense of humor. I realize it's due to your upbringing, but you might try to work on it now that the Occupation is over!"

"What. Do. You. Want?" Kira ground out, her patience nearing its admittedly short limits. "No jokes, no innuendo. Just tell me."

"I don't know," Quark admitted after a moment of intense thought. "I could think of about a hundred things, but I have to admit that you caught me off -guard with this. Give me a little time to think of something appropriate."

"No!" Quark's eyebrows shot up at the major's half-shout, and she modulated her voice to an intense whisper with her next words. "I need it soon. Very soon," she stressed. "I'm willing to talk about payment later, but I need it no later than tomorrow."

Quark's mouth dropped open in an automatic objection--give up the merchandise before extracting payment? No self-respecting Ferengi would ever do business with him again. Then he reconsidered. This time, there might be more profit in waiting and allowing Kira to have what she wanted. If she got her way now, then she'd be even more obligated to him. Yes, this situation definitely had possibilities, and Quark was no fool. Ignoring the small voice that warned there might be more trouble in this than any possible profit could make up for, he nodded. "All right, Major. You can pick it up tonight, at the bar. Don't worry," he added, forestalling the objections he saw forming on her face. "No one will know what it is. Or even that I gave it to you."

She hesitated a moment longer, then nodded. Without another word, she turned and left. Quark watched her go, his mind racing, then glanced at his surroundings distastefully. This vole's nest was no place to sort things out; he needed to be at the bar, or in his office. Besides, Rom couldn't be trusted to run the place for much longer on his own.

Kira allowed herself a shaky sigh of relief as she and Quark headed their separate ways. Relief not only that this clandestine meeting was over, but also because she'd finally found a way--after too much lost sleep and focus--to fulfill her part of the bargain.

There had been no communication from Dukat since his departure, but Kira had no doubts that he'd been keeping tabs on the station's situation; she noted after a few days had passed and repairs were well underway that a Cardassian "diplomatic contingent" had been scheduled to come through the wormhole at the end of the week, and that a Cardassian warship was scheduled to meet it at Deep Space Nine. Dukat's warship, of course. The official purpose of the visit was debriefing and exchange of information before the "diplomats"--it was an open secret that most Cardassians with that title, at least those going to the Gamma Quadrant, were really spies--returned to Cardassia Prime and Dukat's ship headed for a nearby Cardassian colony in an unsubtle show of colors. But none of that mattered to Kira, although part of her mind analyzed the situation before dismissing it as typical Cardassian politics. No, the important facts were that Dukat was coming to Deep Space Nine just about when the major repairs were expected to be finished, and he and the "diplomatic contingent" would be spending a full day--and night--on the station.

Kira Nerys had never believed in coincidences, and she certainly didn't bother trying to tell herself that situation hadn't been orchestrated by a certain Gul with a hidden agenda. Oh, the "diplomats" were no doubt scheduled to return, but Dukat had doubtlessly arranged their exact arrival date, and his own appointment as the mission debriefer.

She just hoped Quark could come up with what she needed, or else she would be forced into the unpleasant position of breaking her word, however she'd been coerced into giving it. Although why she should care what Dukat thought of her, especially after using the near-destruction of the station to wrangle such a promise from her…

Don't go there, Nerys, she warned herself as she made her way to the nearest turbolift and from there to Ops. This is not about what Dukat thinks of you or what you think of him. This is a bargain that you agreed to, plain and simple. And breaking your word is not an option, no matter who you made it to.

Not at all comforted by her thoughts, she entered the nearest 'lift. For some reason, the passengers that joined her two decks later decided against saying anything to her.

It just didn't seem in their best interest.