Chapter Text

Nunk sat down, pleased that his two hour laundry detail was finished. Well, not pleased. It meant he had to return to his cell...and Blont. Maybe he could volunteer somewhere else. As he stood, his foot kicked something. He looked down, surprised to see a PADD. He'd take it to the guard. Perhaps the owner was looking for it. He turned it on, to see if the owner's name was there.

"The Terran Inquirer." He continued to read, then sighed as he started reading the third article. "She had such lovely fingers...And those nanoprobes."

Terran Inquirer: Missing Person
  WHERE IS ANNIKA HANSEN?
By Geraldo French


One year after the Starship Voyager returned, no satisfactory answer has yet been given for the whereabouts of Federation citizen (and civilian) Annika Hansen, daughter of renowned scientists and space pioneers Drs. Magnus and Erin Hansen. Annika was abducted from her parents' ship (the Blackbird) and assimilated by the Borg in 2354, on the eve of her seventh birthday. Her parents were presumed killed or assimilated at the same time. Little Annika grew up among the soulless drones of the Collective until her liberation by Captain Janeway in early 2374.

For all the difficulties involved in rescuing and deprogramming her (rumor has it that Annika, known as 'Seven of Nine, tertiary adjunct to Unimatrix One', was the only survivor of an entire Borg cube--destroyed by a mysterious enemy or possibly Voyager itself), Annika more than repaid her benefactors with her expertise and knowledge gained from the Borg Collective. Captain Janeway's own logs point to several incidents where it is doubtful the ship would have survived were it not for Annika's unique talents. Indeed, the leggy blonde proved herself to be a true 'Renaissance Woman', excelling in every area she was put to work, from charting Voyager's course through perilous regions of space to working miracles in Engineering to creating culinary masterpieces in the galley and even finding time to raise and be a role model to the children of Voyager, including a young man who had also been recovered from the Borg.

Which brings us full circle to our original question: Where is Annika Hansen today? The other former victims of the Borg, Sarexa, wife of the Talaxian ambassador, and Icheb Paris, adopted son of Admiral Owen Paris, head of the Pathfinder Project, both returned to Earth with Voyager. But Annika Hansen disappeared somewhere around the time of Voyager's final and most climactic encounter with the Borg Collective more than a year earlier. The various official explanations given range from Annika voluntarily leaving the ship to rejoin the Borg on one of their colony worlds to her having died in battle in order to save the crew, as she had many times before. Confirmation of any of these possibilities is hard to come by, due to Starfleet's reluctance to shed light on the matter under the guise of the Personal Privacy Act of 2369, allegedly invoked by Mrs. Irene Hansen, Annika's aunt and sole surviving relative on her father's side. Mrs. Hansen refused to be interviewed for this article, and her spokesmen will only say that she had no knowledge of the fact her niece would not be returning to Earth until Voyager entered Federation space. Court records indicate that the Privacy Act was invoked within days of Voyager's appearance at Station Deep Space Nine, shortly after Mrs. Hansen received an encrypted message from one of Voyager's senior officers, Lieutenant Harry Kim.

But one possibility remains unexplored--that Annika did not leave Voyager voluntarily and this is the reason for the resounding silence from official quarters on this subject. All sources agree that, among her own kind for the first time in nearly two decades, Annika found a home on Voyager, a surrogate mother in Captain Janeway, and many close friends. There were even rumors of various romantic attachments, unsurprising for the young woman who inherited her mother's Nordic beauty. Why would a young woman in this position give it all up with little or no warning? What obstacles prevented Annika from returning to the planet of her birth? And why would anyone liberated from the Borg choose to return to them voluntarily?

Our sources dug deeper and found that not everyone on board Voyager considered Annika an asset, that many, such as First Officer Chakotay (himself a former Maquis rebel) was openly outspoken over the initial recovery of Annika from the Borg as "presenting too great a risk." Commander Chakotay displayed a great deal of anti-Borg hostility and prejudice at various points of the journey, repeatedly warning the captain not to attempt any further contact with the Borg and he was not alone in these sentiments. On more than one occasion Annika's loyalties were under suspicion. An anonymous source states that after she rejected his advances, Lieutenant Harry Kim (the bearer of the mysterious letter to Annika's aunt) claimed that Annika attacked him in an attempt to rejoin the Collective and deliver Voyager over to them.

Due to these scurrilous and unfounded accusations, it is no wonder Annika felt her position was untenable, and would become increasingly more so as Voyager journeyed ever closer to Earth. After all, she had no formal affiliations to shield her from such unpleasantness--not being the spouse of an accredited diplomat or the soon-to-be-adopted son of one of Starfleet's most prominent admirals.

Other things might have contributed to Annika's unease, such as the professional jealousy and envy of her peers. Voyager's chief engineer B'Elanna Torres-Paris (another member of the powerful Paris clan) filed several reports complaining of Annika's 'interference' in Engineering matters at various points along the journey. We have to ask--was it interference, or correcting the chief engineer's own bungling? Lieutenant Torres-Paris had the reputation of being the 'miracle worker' on board Voyager--but how much of that title rightfully belonged to her as opposed to Annika Hansen? We all know what happened to Voyager's transwarp drive--developed *after* Annika was no longer on board. The much-hailed slipstream drive, the instrument of Voyager's return, was actually developed by one of Torres' subordinates. Who knows what other credit the chief engineer appropriated from the "lowly former drone"?

Wouldn't Captain Janeway have stepped in to defend her protégée? Quite possibly, except when one considers that the captain herself had many close ties to Admiral Paris, having served under his command. Janeway already showed her loyalty at the beginning of Voyager's mission by stepping in to obtain Admiral Paris's son's early release from prison by having him appointed a member of her crew. In a choice between her own career advancement, and that of the reputation and well-being of Annika Hansen, what would a pragmatic officer do? It is well known that Captain Janeway did not try to prevent Annika from leaving the ship, nor has she made any discernible effort to maintain communication with her afterwards.

Another piece of information, recently uncovered by our investigative team, is that Captain Janeway may have had a motive to get rid of Annika beyond fear of the influential Paris family. As previously stated in this report, Annika Hansen had several romantic liaisons with members of the Voyager crew, including the Head of Ops, Lieutenant Harry Kim, and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Lewis Zimmerman. First Officer Chakotay, who to all appearances cemented his own position on board Voyager by his romantic involvement with the captain (see related article: A New Eden--Janeway and Chakotay's Idyllic Love Nest in the Delta Quadrant), was known to have a roving eye and a weakness for blondes. It is not outside the realm of possibility that he was attracted to this young woman and Captain Janeway manipulated events to remove her younger rival without drawing any attention. The chaos of the battles of the Borg Civil War would have provided the ideal opportunity for such a move on the captain's part.

Where is Annika Hansen today? Is she even alive? Can a Federation citizen be unceremoniously dumped off in a hostile region of space, in an alien colony, without cause or even due process? Inquiring minds want to know!

Nunk quickly looked through the index, hoping that perhaps the story about New Eden would be there. He heard the door open and quickly turned the PADD off. A frustrated looking human entered.

"Did you find a PADD?" the human asked.

Nunk handed it to him. "Is this it? I found it on the floor."

"Thank you." The human jogged out of the room before Nunk thought of asking for a reward.

"Oh well," Nunk sighed. He just wouldn't tell his brother.

Delta Quadrant Special Report:
Stellar Chicanery or Starry-eyed Captain?
by E.T. Maryhart

A trustworthy Starfleet source informed this reporter of a possible deletion or erasure from Captain Kathryn Janeway's supplemental logs during the USS Voyager's tenure in the Delta Quadrant. The 'blurps', which have not been completely identified as either intentional tampering or electromagnetic interferences in the recorded information, occur several times during the documentation of a ten-day period of the fifth year of their trip.

This reporter interviewed several of the Voyager crew regarding Captain Janeway's unusual behavior in regards to an incident during this period, when a supposedly defecting Devoran inspector, named Kashyk, sought asylum aboard Voyager. Only with a promise guaranteeing them anonymity did any of them offer to speak.

One female officer provided an interesting physical description of Kashyk. "He was tall--two meters plus in height. His stature, of solid and muscular build, was demanding ... almost regal. His hair was short but longer than Starfleet's defined official length. It was inky black and wavy, with a wayward lock that frequently fell onto his forehead. His eyes were as dark as his hair, full and round--and quite mesmerizing. Add to all of this a sonorous voice that demanded your attention, and you had an alien male who, although treacherous and loathsome, drew aroused glances and stares from most of the women aboard Voyager." This dangerous attraction apparently included that of their captain.

The officer continued in noting that Captain Janeway's behavior took on some interesting changes during Kashyk's 'sanctuary' stay aboard Voyager. She stated that the captain appeared more relaxed and happy than she had been in many months. This officer even used the word 'glowed' in describing her commanding officer. "She walked with a quicker step, smiled more than any of us had remembered in quite a while. Her eyes seemed brighter--almost as if she knew she had a secret that none of us knew about. And--I'm almost certain that there was something--going on." This reporter is certain that the officer winked conspiratorially as she concluded with this remark.

Another crewman, who frequently acted as a guard during Kashyk's residence, stated that Captain Janeway made several visits to the man's quarters. On three of the latter visits, she dismissed the guards before entering. She also relieved security personnel of duty for a lengthy after-hours meeting of only herself and the Devoran in a deserted mess hall. While Janeway's logs do indicate that these meetings occurred, they do not report details, stating only that they were 'strategy sessions'. There is no mention of the fact that she relieved the guards of their posts.

Most puzzling of all is a record of conversation at the time of Kashyk's departure from Voyager. He volunteered to return to his Devore comrades, to try gain Voyager's safe passage. When the scheduled time for his exit came, Captain Janeway dismissed all security and she alone escorted him to the shuttle bay, engaging locks on all entries to the area for the duration of her stay. When security reviewed recordings of Kashyk's final moments aboard Voyager, the databases were devoid of all audio or visual information as to events that transpired within the shuttle bay prior to his departure. Captain Janeway suggested that possible radiation that may have entered Voyager during Kashyk's departure, hampering recorded documentation. However, engineering logs do not verify any radiation leakage.

The incident with Kashyk concluded with his return to Voyager, now back in his former position and knowledgeable about the concealment of the Vulcans and Brenari. He demanded Voyager's immediate surrender and relinquishment of all telepaths. However, the original thoughts of Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay, that his defection was indeed a piece of infiltrating duplicity, proved to be correct. Their original plan to thwart his turncoat actions succeeded--the Brenari, safely aboard two Starfleet shuttlecraft, escaped from Devore territory via a wormhole. Denied their anticipated victory and without their quarry, Kashyk and his cohorts returned to their vessel and departed. Voyager proceeded through the remaining Devore territory without further incident...or inspection.

Additional interviews with Voyager personnel indicate that following this episode, even though it was a great success for the Starfleet vessel, Captain Janeway isolated herself from staff and crew whenever she wasn't on duty. Although she remained professional in her actions and outward demeanor, for several weeks she chose to remain alone in her quarters during her off hours, even taking her meals in solitude. Her prior cheerfulness and hyper-energy disappeared and her expressions frequently seemed vacuous and despondent. The EMH notes in his logs that she lost 3.6 kilograms of weight during the succeeding six weeks, even though her replicator logs showed many orders for Sumatran-hazelnut coffee with frequent side orders of caramel brownies. A search of her entertainment database usage during this period of self-imposed seclusion indicates that Captain Janeway listened almost exclusively to symphonies by Tchaikovsky and Mahler.

When Captain Janeway was contacted and quizzed regarding these events, she responded coldly, "No comment".

It is the studied opinion of this reporter, given the types of responses regarding the behavior of Captain Janeway during this particular incident, that there is indeed much more to this story. We shall keep you posted regarding any additional information we uncover.

Blont leaned back and closed his eyes. Nunk hoped he was finally falling asleep. Nunk let his thoughts turn to leather.

"Nunk! We have plans to make. You can sleep later."

Nunk opened his eyes with a sigh. "I wasn't sleeping. Really. But, think of the bewitching B'Elanna in leather. Or for that matter, the seductive Seven, the delightful Delaney's..."

Blont grimaced. "I told you to stay away from Pov. If he was so good getting females, what is he doing in here?"

"An honest accounting mistake," Nunk retorted. "He says females like poetry."

"On your time...which belongs to me, so no more poetry. Did you find us a Vulcan?"

Nunk sighed again. He'd really hoped Blont had forgotten about this Pon Farr stuff. It would be a long night.

Nunk yawned three times as he sat down at the empty table. He liked eating in the back, where no one would bother him. Blont had sat at the first table. Nunk dreaded to think about what schemes his brother was concocting. He glanced at the PADD.

     

Ask Astral Andy

 

Ask Astral Andy is a regular feature of the Risian Ribald. All views, statements and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the Ribald or its sponsors .

 

Dear Andy:

I have fallen deeply in love with a Bolian woman, and she with me, and although we know of the dangers inherent in such a relationship, we would like to pursue it. I have read up on and studied Bolian traditions and am more than willing to adapt to her way of life, except in one key matter. As you probably know, Bolian marriages can include more than one spouse--co-husbands as well as co-wives are not uncommon. But I am unwilling to share my love with another. Can you help me?

Signed:

Blue Daze

Dear Blue:

I assume you are bald?

As you are obviously discovering, interspecies relationships are tricky things. Have the two of you discussed your concerns? Perhaps she is just as worried about being in a union with only one significant other. There are very few recorded Bolian/Human marriages, but those that have thrived have done so only after the parties involved have undergone extensive counseling. The two of you must come to some agreement about this issue before you make any long-term commitment. I suggest you enquire as to the availability of interspecies support groups in your sector. Good luck to both of you.


Dear Andy:

My new boss recently returned from an extremely long out of quadrant mission and is obviously not used to doing things the way most people in our organization do them. I'm at a loss as to how to handle this. There are certain protocols and procedures that really should be followed, and by ignoring them he is alienating a lot of people. I have tried to explain departmental methods to him several times, and have offered him all our office pamphlets and instruction manuals but it seems to have had no effect whatsoever. In fact, he just waves me away and says he knows what he's doing.

Although our department's productivity has increased, and all our projects are on schedule, several people in other branches of my organization have already started commenting on his unorthodox methods. In fact last week at lunch, several of my friends made mention of the fact that I'd better look out or people would think I actually condoned this individual's flaunting disregard for policy.

Initially I was very excited when I was assigned to this person, but now I'm not so sure, as I think his actions will reflect on me and might affect my career and my chances for future advancement in my organization.

Signed:

Looking to the Future


Dear Looking:

Imagine that. Someone who does things a little bit differently, and yet produces the required results in a timely manner. It sounds as if your boss has both character and ingenuity, and you might do well to follow his example. Starfleet (and from the sound of your letter, you must be Starfleet) could use a few more people like him.


Dear Andy:

My fiancé has accepted a two-year posting on an interplanetary mission in the Beta Quadrant. We have been together for more than five years, and engaged for three, and he assures me he will be faithful. I have done some reading about the planet where he will be stationed and although I understand there are a lot of potential 'temptations' out there, not to mention alien diseases, and the like, I trust him implicitly. But my mother keeps telling me that I should insist on accompanying him as two years is a long time, and that she's seen pictures of those alien women and they could be trouble. I don't want to him to think I don't trust him, but I admit it would be nice to go with him. What do you think?

Signed:  
Unsure


Dear Unsure:

Listen to your mother.


Note: Astral Andy is a Mark 3, AK-4 Medical Hologram, developed and programmed at the Jupiter Station Programming Center. His systems contain data from 4674 cultures and 92 specific psychologists and psychiatrists. His database is updated on a regular basis.

Nunk finished his gruel without a single slurp. Perhaps he should write this Astral Andy.

Dear Astral Andy, he thought.

My brother is considered by the family to have the 'lobes for business,' while I do not. His schemes keep getting us in trouble...

Nah, he decided. He wouldn't write.

"Perhaps you should," a voice said. He looked up. He didn't recognize the Betazed female who spoke to him. "Why do you let him boss you around?"

"He's my brother. I don't have the lobes for business." She had luscious fingers. "Who are you?"

"Relena," she said. "You must be Nunk. The warden said you were the sensible one. I'm the new counselor."

Nunk stared at her, the fingers forgotten. Sensible? He wasn't sure if he should be insulted or not.

"Take my advice, don't let your brother get you involved with any of his schemes." She took the PADD and shook her head. "The Risian Ribald." She handed it back. "I suggest you find something else to occupy your time. Perhaps you should schedule an appointment."

"Oo-mox?" he whispered after she left. What an opportunity. To spend time with her alone in her office. He jumped when someone slapped him.

"Ouch."

"Next time brother, don't start daydreaming. Noren has some friends who might be willing to help us."

"Yes, brother." Nunk decided--no, he admitted, he'd decided soon after Blont had fixated on the Pon Farr virus idea--it was time to leave his brother.

"Have you found anything else in that PADD to help our enterprise?"

"No, brother," As Nunk answered, he placed the PADD in front of Blont. He managed to keep a straight face. He even knew what Blont's reaction to the open advertisement would be.

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Nunk was not disappointed. Blont had left quickly for the communication center to contact potential sponsors to discuss how they could use this information to help fund research into developing a similar product. Once he was sure Blont was gone, Nunk picked up the PADD and walked over to the guard. "I'd like to make an appointment with the Warden."

#

Family loyalty only went so far, but Nunk hadn't told the Warden about Blont's newest scheme. He had made his request and now just had to wait to see if his transfer came through. He glanced at his brother lying in his bunk. Maybe Blont had finally fallen asleep.

"You can't even read correctly," Blont snarled. "Keep going."

Special Report: Is Voyager a Secret Weapon?
by: A. Aileen Quintorr

It has come to this reporter's attention that the Federation Starship Voyager, supposedly lost for eight years in the Delta Quadrant, has come home chock full of technology, and some say, weaponry, never before seen on this side of the Galaxy.

An unnamed source within Starfleet has hinted at modifications to the newly returned ship that are "incredible in their complexity". This same source (whose name is protected for fear of repercussion from his superiors) told me the military hardware on Voyager is "not to be believed".

Today, another source revealed Voyager's technicians have also developed a new cloaking device--something Federation vessels have agreed not utilize under the terms of the Treaty of Algeron. This source suggested that Captain Janeway violated this dictum several times during the course of her mission. There was also a hint of possible biological weaponry. When confronted with this information today on the steps of Starfleet Headquarters, Admiral Norman Blanc issued a terse "no comment" before hurrying into the building.

Starfleet has been exceedingly reluctant to release any detailed or specific information regarding Voyager and her crew. We know that there were several in camera hearings, and that a board of review spent many intensive weeks questioning Janeway and company. Although no charges were filed, the hearing was closed, and records were sealed. The ship has been dry-docked, and as yet, no reporters have been allowed on board, although there have been repeated requests to Starfleet for permission to tour her.

"All that lovely alien technology," Blont murmured. "We would have been rich."

Nunk stood and turned the lights out.

"We're not done!"

"Yes we are. That was the last article." Nunk smiled. "Even Ferengi with brilliance and lobes like yours need their sleep." Blont chortled at the compliment (which Nunk didn't mean).

Nunk was glad that he didn't have to explain to his brother why he was grinning. Blont had gone to a meeting of the executive board of his new corporation. Nunk had politely declined. The silence to enjoy his good news was wonderful.

He picked up the PADD that had haunted him for a week to reread one section. The most important section...

He just didn't know which one actually applied to him. He'd tried to find how Ferengi months corresponded to Risian months, but hadn't been able to find out.

Not that it really mattered.

Astrological Advice By Odra. T. Tar 

The Laughing Monkey: You are a giving spirit and this aspect of your personality will be challenged by those from the Fountain Spout as your life will be affected by the crossing of the moons of Trestor. Be aware of pleasing those whose motives are not quite true.

The Prancing Pronger: The color blue still tints your chart, while a tender romance is in the offing. Could it be with that Bolian who's been blushing with azure-hued bashfulness at your flirtatious looks, or could it be with the secret admirer who sent you Betazed sapphire blossoms with an unsigned card? An extended relationship may be just the thing to steady your capricious nature.

The Fountain Spout: You will have some financial arranging to do before you can relax into the moods of your choice in this month. The full moon of Stensot will cross the 16th planet of Jor at a key time and will send you a message you might not wish to receive. Deal with it.

The Dripping Dewmelon: An unfortunate business investment may leave you frustrated. Perhaps it's because your naivete, while often charming, allowed you to be duped into another Ferengi land deal. Or was it a Klingon consortium gagh farm? There is a snowy-tailed comet streaking through your configuration, which indicates a favorable week for travel. So never mind your losses, a few days at the water casinos on Risa west-sea will cure your ills!

Altanor: You must balance passion and profit in order to arrive at your chosen destination. Beware of those who offer an easy way to both. They are driven by others who do not have your best interests at heart. The three planets of the Astern sector will dictate a positive outcome--if you allow it.

The Three-legged Firelizard: A new friend enters your life, and the possibilities are endless. Could he or she become much more than a friend? Overcome your sense of vanity, and do not dismiss this potentially life-altering relationship based on outward appearance. Even Tellarites have mothers. Avoid Cardassians however, since gray is descending in your chart.

The Twisted Bean Sprout: Acquired credits figure importantly in your schemes. Guard credits carefully, and bargain wisely. Do not allow your inclination for greed to influence you. A modest investment in Argelian saffron mines may be a good choice, since the color yellow is ascending in your chart this month.

The Mating Treespiders: Another passionate encounter, this time with a partner even more sensually skillful than you, will leave you breathless, and satiated beyond your wildest imaginings. Now that the red in your chart has faded to a desert rose, your exhilarating tryst may be with an Andorian, or even a Vulcan. But do not try to hold onto what you cannot keep--this partner definitely has other commitments.

The Knife-wielding Wifesmother: A close relative will again cause you grief. Whoever it is, your tendency to retreat may be to your peril. Rein in your shyness and offer the harmony stick first. If this does not work, then by all means show this relative the door to the grassroot cellar with your foot. The color green is bright in your chart, after all!

Twins of Benevolence: You have finally discovered that following through with a task from beginning to end has its own rewards. Keep up the good work! Do not allow any carping to unroll your carpet. Especially avoid those of the sign of the Laughing Monkey. They will lead you astray and ruin the consistency of all your grand plans...

To learn more of your astrological future, listen to Odra. T. Tar weekly on the Risian Relay, or access her special data stream. A minimal charge will be applied. Must meet the legal age requirements to use.

Nunk jumped at the sound of the slamming door. "So, I hear you are being transferred. Don't worry," Blont said. "I have connections."

Nunk didn't respond. Blont wouldn't...would he?

"Ummm, that's okay. I don't want to cause any trouble."

"Nonsense. I need you here. We start selling Ponfaria next month. Think of the latinum we'll be making. I can buy my way out of this place." Blont growled. "The Federation had no right to jail businessmen."

"Ponfaria?" Nunk had missed this one.

"If you'd come tonight, you'd know that Ponfaria is going to make us rich."

"Pon Farr. I get it. But won't the Vulcans complain?"

Blont laughed. "They won't get involved. At worst one might say 'no comment.' It's perfect. And there is so little information about Pon Farr out there that we can't get in trouble."

Nunk glanced at the PADD. Two of the horoscopes leapt out. "An unfortunate business investment may leave you frustrated. Perhaps it's because your naiveté, while often charming, allowed you to be duped into another Ferengi land deal."

That's how he'd been forced to work with Blont--after Blont had lost everything years ago in a land deal.

"A close relative will again cause you grief. Whoever it is, your tendency to retreat may be to your peril. Rein in your shyness and stand up for yourself."

Nunk took a deep breath. "Blont, I asked for the transfer. It was approved today. I want to go."

Blont stared at him. The stunned look pleased Nunk. He'd finally been able to surprise his brother. "You what?"

"I want to go. Not one of your plans has worked. I'm tired of it. The Warden says I'll be eligible for parole in a year. I don't want you to ruin it for me."

"Me ruin it for you?" Blont continued to stare at him. "Be that way. But when the latinum starts rolling in, don't ask me for any. Business before family loyalties."

"I agree." Nunk tossed the PADD onto Blont's bed. "You might want to read the Sign of the Dripping Dewmelon. It's been the story of all your schemes."

Blont picked up the PADD. "How low can you stoop? Risian horoscopes? Such nonsense. 'The Sign of the Profitmongols is on the rise.' " Blont grinned. "The Ferengi Business Journal is in the library. I happened to see it. 'Well planned ventures are sure to succeed if started before the rise of the latinum star.' Our timing is perfect." He put the PADD down again.

Nunk shook his head. He should have done this years ago. "I leave in an hour. I've written Moogie." He didn't have much. A few clothes and the credits earned working in the laundry. He smiled. Laundry was a lucrative business. He was always finding things in the machines afterwards. He had packed those things carefully. Not that he was worried about being caught--he was worried that Blont would find them.

"And my cut?"

Nunk turned around. "Your cut of what?"

"My finder's fee. For finding you a job you can handle."

Nunk frowned. Then pulled two credits out. "Here. And good-bye."

He was out of the cell before Blont shouted that two credits was not the agreed upon amount.

Several months later Nunk read that the Federation Food and Drug Department had raided a factory for making illegal and dangerous drugs. He smiled. Ponfaria had not been the aphrodisiac Blont had dreamed of. Klingons and Bajorans in particular had developed severe rashes after using Ponfaria.

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