Chapter Text
Odo slid into the bar quietly and took a seat at the counter. Resting one arm on the bar, Odo leaned back against it watching Quark polishing a glass. The Ferengi hadn't noticed him yet, and Odo enjoyed seeing him with his guard down. He was humming to himself, standing over by where Morn was seated.
He was wearing something new today. Odo could never understand his need to dress up, but Quark loved clothes. He was always eager to show off his latest and most luxurious acquisition. He suddenly looked up and noticed Odo, and Odo thought he saw a brief smile slide across the Ferengi's face before it was replaced with one of annoyance.
"Come to bully me again?" Quark snapped.
"Nothing of the kind. I'm merely checking in."
"That'll be the day." Quark snorted, setting down the glass. "What do you want?"
Odo didn't have an excuse prepared, he really had just come in to be social. This was something he would never admit to, so he changed the subject. "I see you've got a new suit."
" It's Andorian silk." Quark seemed momentarily surprised, then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I suppose you're going to ask how I paid for it. I assure you, it was through profits made honestly in the keeping of this establishment."
Odo wasn't going to bring that up, but now he would play along. "One can never be sure with you," he said snidely. "Red Andorian silk is quite expensive from what I've heard."
"Yeah, and I earned the latinum that paid for it. When will you get it through your goo-filled head that I am not a thief?"
"When you show me that you're worthy of earning my trust."
"Odo. If you're not ordering then get out of my bar."
Odo had stood to go. There was no point in staying any longer. All they did was bicker. Odo still suspected Quark of making shady deals, but he wasn't hanging around solely because of that. There was a reason Odo picked on him. He was keeping an eye on his well being all the time, using Quark's dishonest business deals as an excuse.
Odo had made his way back across the Promenade to his office where he took a seat in full view of the bar. He sat there for a while lost in thought. He was startled when a noise broke into his thoughts. Not a loud noise, but the sound of static. Looking over at the surveillance monitors he was startled to see the security feeds from around the station were down. Something was wrong with the surveillance cameras.
Odo tried a couple of things to bring them back online, but they weren't responding. Sighing he turned to go. He wanted to check on the cameras himself before he bothered anyone else about it.
Making his way out of the Promenade, Odo headed towards a camera in a nearby corridor. He'd rather check on a camera in private. There was no need to advertise to the entire station that the surveillance devices were malfunctioning. He was nearly to the camera when a noise stopped him in his tracks, demanding his attention.
It was coming from behind him, somewhere back in the direction of the Promenade. A faint rumbling, the arresting and unmistakable sound of an explosion.