oOo

"I'm telling you, Odo, something's going on with Major Kira," Quark insisted. "Look, I'm breaking a confidence by telling you this…"

"Which is something you'd never do under ordinary circumstances," Odo scoffed, but the sarcasm was lightly applied. Odo might be listening with that well-practiced air of disdain with which he approached any conversation with the Ferengi, but Quark could sense the intrigued curiosity beneath the disdain--and the beginnings of what sounded suspiciously like concern. So he ignored Odo's comment and kept talking.

"Gul Dukat is coming aboard the station tomorrow, supposedly to meet with a diplomatic contingent returning from the Gamma Quadrant," he began.

"Common knowledge," Odo interrupted. "Everyone knows he's really meeting with Cardassian spies. Giving me this information is hardly breaking a confidence, Quark."

"Would you please stop interrupting and listen to me?" Odo blinked at the uncharacteristic vehemence of Quark's frustrated demand, but showed no other sign of surprise. He waited a beat, then inclined his head, indicating that he would do as Quark requested. This time. "Look, it's also common knowledge that Dukat spoke privately with Major Kira before he gave over the codes to save the station from self-destructing last week, and that he supposedly wrung no concessions from her or anyone else. And I would have bet the house that he would have demanded at least the establishment of a Cardassian garrison here before lifting a finger to help us."

"That would seem to be a reasonable expectation, not only for the Cardassians, but for Dukat himself. He has always been an opportunist," Odo agreed.

"Right! A man after my own heart," Quark rushed ahead. "So I figured he must have struck a private deal with the major, since she was very careful to tell Commander Sisko that there would be no political cost to either Bajor or the Federation." He leaned back, looking satisfied.

"Putting aside the interesting question of exactly how you found out the contents of a private conversation between Major Kira and Commander Sisko, you still haven't told me anything I didn't already know or suspect. Nor have you told me anything in the nature of a confidence--one involving you directly, at any rate," Odo corrected himself. "Would you kindly dispense with the background and get to the point?"

"All right, I was just getting to that," Quark grumbled. "Major Kira asked me to acquire a certain item for her. When she told me what it was, and then when I found out that Dukat would be aboard DS9 soon, I figured it all out." Well, he had, it wasn't a real lie. He'd told Garak the truth when he said the Cardassian wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know or suspect. But no need to let Odo know that, not when he was doing such a splendid job of keeping Garak's name out of it. "That's why I asked you to meet me here."

"What, exactly, did she ask you to procure?" Odo asked, not bothering to hide his interest now. This conversation was turning out very differently from what he'd expected. Unless, of course, this was simply another scam of Quark's, but it didn't have that sort of feeling to it. No, for once he believed the Ferengi to be sincere. All he had to do was figure out what his angle was, how this benefitted him, and any nagging doubts he had would vanish. It certainly wasn't for altruistic purposes, he knew that much. Not if he knew Quark--which he did. Quite well.

"She asked me to get her something that told me what sort of favor Dukat had demanded for his help." Before Odo demanded he get to the point, Quark did. "She asked for an aphrodisiac that worked on Bajoran females, and then felt compelled to assure me that it wouldn't be used on anyone unwilling." Quark looked amused at the idea of needing reassurance on such a matter, but Odo ignored the ethical differences between Ferengi and Bajorans, instead zeroing in on the heart of the matter.

"That means Dukat asked for a sexual favor in return for his assistance, and that she was unable to turn him down as she would have a demand for the establishment of a Cardassian garrison," Odo concluded. Quark nodded. "And the only way she could bring herself to honor the agreement was to use something to force her to respond favorably to whatever male happened to be around. Which in this case would be Dukat."

If Quark found the entire situation mildly distasteful, it was obvious that Odo was utterly repulsed by it. "I wonder if Dukat is aware of the lengths that Major Kira has gone to in order to meet his demands," the station's constable mused.

"I don't know what you remember about Dukat's personal habits during the Occupation, but I know this much," Quark interjected firmly. "He was no rapist."

Odo nodded his agreement. He refrained from commenting on how willing Dukat's women might have been had Dukat not been in a position of absolute power over them, but in essence Quark was correct. Dukat had never used force to bring a woman to his bed. "So the chances are good that Dukat is unaware of the lengths to which Major Kira is going in order to uphold her end of the bargain."

"It's a safe bet," Quark agreed. "Not that he's above a little extortion to get what he wants, but if nothing else his pride would take a beating if he found out the only way Kira could do this is not only through blackmail, but also through drugging herself." His eyes lit up. "In fact, if you'd be willing to give me enough time to set up a betting pool--no, on second thought," he interrupted himself hastily at Odo's black expression, "that probably wouldn't be a good idea. Sorry, instinct took over there for a minute."

It was a struggle, but Odo finally gave a curt nod in acceptance of Quark's apology for his lapse. Habit and instinct could be extremely difficult to overcome, and Odo was willing to overlook it. This time. Besides, he was impressed by the fact that Quark had come to him at all regarding this matter--especially since, by doing so, he lost out on an unprecedented opportunity for a little blackmail himself. Not that he was about to tell Quark any of that; no sense in letting the Ferengi think he could impress Odo, it might give him ideas. "Perhaps I should speak to Dukat when he arrives," he murmured instead.

Quark nodded, then licked his lips and glanced around nervously. "Listen, Odo, I know you don't owe me any favors," he began.

"Quite the opposite, I should think," the security chief interjected dryly. "But don't worry, Quark. Major Kira will not hear of your involvement from me--unless, of course, I get the impression that she's being blackmailed by you. Then all bets, as Chief O'Brien would put it, are off." His smile did nothing to dispel the faint air of menace underlying his words, nor would he want it to. He still hadn't figured out Quark's angle, but there was no doubt that the little money-grubber had one.

Quark ignored the implied threat, waving it away dismissively and responding only to the security chief's promise. After all, Odo threatened him as a matter of routine. He grinned as well, more sincerely than Odo but not by much. "It's not so much that I'm worried about repercussions, you understand. It's just that I have a reputation to maintain. If word got around that I had second thoughts on a deal with as much profit potential as this one, I'd be ruined."

"On those grounds alone I should go straight to Major Kira's quarters and confront her," was Odo's prompt response. At the alarmed expression that came over Quark's face, however, he gave his own dismissive wave. "Don't look so worried, Quark, your secret is safe with me no matter what your motivation for sharing it. Major Kira would hardly welcome my interference in her private business, no matter how well intentioned."

"That's absolutely right," Quark rushed in, trying to hide the relief in his voice. "We both agree that it's best she doesn't know about any of this. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few things to take care of--and that reputation I have will hardly be spared if anyone catches me talking to you here after hours." He grinned again, then jerked a thumb at the door. "So beat it."

Odo deliberately formed a pair of Vulcan eyebrows, just so he could raise one in disdain. "Your reputation means nothing to me, Quark, I thought I just made that clear. Mine, however, means a great deal to me, and I am just as eager to end this conversation as you are." He paused, cleared his throat uncomfortably, then looked away as he added, "Thank you." He left the way he came, before Quark could respond to his last words, and it was just as well he did.

"He said thank you," Quark muttered after Odo reverted to his gelatinous form and exited through an air vent. "That means he owes me. This may not work out as badly as I thought."

He was still calculating to what degree Odo might be beholden to him for this information when an unexpected sound from behind caused him to start nervously. He whirled around, only to be confronted by the sight of his brother, Rom, emerging from the back room, stretching and rubbing his eyes. "Rom! What are you still doing here?" he demanded, partially relieved but uneasy all the same. After all, who knew what Rom had heard?

"I-I fell asleep in the storeroom," the other Ferengi squeaked, alarmed at the overtone of menace in Quark's voice. "I'm sorry, brother, but I did finish my work first. I was just going to my quarters. I didn't realize you were still here."

"You've been asleep the entire time?" Rom nodded. "Good," Quark sighed with relief. "I mean, you know how I feel about you watching me do the books." Rom nodded again, but only out of habit, since he had no idea what his brother was talking about. Quark often said things that had no bearing on reality, and Rom knew from painful experience that it was best to act as if he understood what his brother meant. Before he could say anything, however, Quark rushed on. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's get out of here. I've, er, finished with the receipts," he lied, thumping the data padd for emphasis.

Rom merely nodded again before heading obediently for the door, Quark following after a moment spent staring suspiciously at Rom's retreating back. After all, his brother had occasionally shown flashes of intelligence--and not just around broken machinery. His business instincts might be recessive at best, but every now and then they revealed themselves. Was tonight such a time? "Naah," Quark decided after another moment, then heaved himself to his feet and followed his brother out the door.

It was out of his hands now, his outraged business instincts would just have to accept that. The rest of him was feeling nothing but relief. He'd done as Major Kira had asked, gotten her what she wanted, so technically she still owed him. He would just have to make sure that nothing he asked of her could be construed as blackmail by Odo, should he ever find out. And of course Odo still owed him for the information Quark had given him, another plus. Even Garak owed Quark, to a lesser degree, for being given the opportunity to ruin Dukat's plans without any threat to himself. Dukat, the way Quark saw it, was the only person involved in this situation who didn't owe him--or did he? Quark thought about if for a moment. Looked at from one point of view, Dukat actually did owe him, not only because his pride had been salvaged, but because he'd been spared the even more important agony of not receiving what he'd bargained for. Why, they should all be thanking Quark! With a satisfied smile, he locked the doors to the bar, then clapped his brother on the back in a heartily exaggerated fashion as they headed for their quarters.

Truly, it had been a good night.