#vreck

She looked at him intently. Thinking that the story was probably meant to intimidate her somewhat, she quipped, "I will accept your authority for as long as I think you are fit to lead."

Smirking, she added, "So far, so good."

Keras reached down to the cloth bag beside her and brought out of it a large bottle with fluorescent blue liquid in it. She unstoppered the container and took a deep drink of the Romulan ale. Smiling despite herself, she held it out to the Ferengi.

Keras was amused at that.

“Whoever said the Ferengi weren’t observant? At least your kind is honest about your lack of scruples. They cannot even accept their status as irredeemable filth. On one thing we agree: Humans are weak-minded and deserve to be manipulated.”

She shot him a poisonous look.

“Nothing that you need be informed of. All that should concern you now is that I am a loyal employee. As long as you pay me what we agreed on, that is. And as long as we do nothing that will in any way aid the Federation or any human scum. For that, I will require a substantial raise.”

Keras laughed bitterly then, and answered, “Tell me, Feh’rengii, are you always so eager to pry into your associates' personal matters?”

She was quiet for a moment and looked away.

Keras boarded the Ferengi’s small ship, a transport vessel, and they set course for the Badlands. She didn’t feel like talking, and Vreck evidently didn’t either. The peace inside the ship’s cabin was a welcome relief from the din of the station. She still hadn’t gotten used to that place…swarming with Hevam and Federation slime.

After what seemed a short flight, they came up to the edge of the Badlands. She shifted slightly in her seat, eager for the business to be done… whatever it was.

Sensing her anticipation, Vreck turned to her.

“It shouldn’t be long now. Once the cargo is aboard and coordinates given, we’ll make our way to the rendezvous point. Let me do the talking.”

She nodded. A moment later, the comm system warbled, signaling an incoming transmission.

“Hello, this is Vreck, is the specimen prepared?”

Specimen. So we’re picking up some biological sample.

A gravelly voiced replied. “Our sensors are picking up you and one other life form. Can you confirm?”

Vreck turned Keras as she shot him a look  of concern mingled with skepticism. He shrugged and whispered, “You can never be too safe.” Aloud, he said, “Yes, this is my partner, you should have been informed.”

After a few seconds, the voice replied, “Just making sure. Transporting now and sending coordinates. Remember Vreck, we expect the ‘specimen’ to reach its destination unaltered and remaining in stasis,” the voice added ominously.

“Just make sure my latinum is ready by the time we get there.” The comm system chirped again, indicating the termination of communications.

“Well, he didn’t seem one for conversation. I hope you are though, looks like this is going to a four to five day trip.” 

Four to five days. In a tiny ship. With a Ferengi.

…This is going to be all kinds of fun.

“I take it we are delivering the cargo we just picked up to a buyer?”

He nodded, focused on entering the coordinates of their meeting point with the buyer.

A few hours later, Keras strode into the port where Vreck's ship had docked. She wasn't expecting much of a ship--not compared to the massive D'Deridex class warbirds shewas accustomed to-- but was disappointed by her new employer's vessel nevertheless.

As the round door to the docking bay rolled open, Vreck's diminutive figure was revealed, standing alone.

"This isn't a threat. It is a policy. If you ever try to cheat me, betray me, or otherwise dupe me, I will find out and I will wear your ears as trophies on a necklace, fly off in your ship, and kill anyone who comes after me. I accept your insultingly low offer for this job only as a token of... good will."

"Oo-mox."

She nodded and, smiling in an eerily predatory way, leaned even further forward, staring into his beady eyes.