Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

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By MTrek

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Episode 1: Deviations

Dedicated to my foul-weather friend and sister in Christ, DataLady. You've made so many vids and fics for me, I'm honored to return the favor with a fic of my own. ^^ It may not be your fave flavor of Trek, but this one's for you nonetheless. I love ya, mon ami! :D

At the perigee of DS9's orbit, a small Federation ship docked with pylon two. As it began unloading its weary occupants, a unique face stood out from the tired crowd. A female Cardassian officer, in a green astronomer's uniform.

Oh great, she thought to herself, one freezing station after another. Her neck ridges were instantly chilled by the cool air, nearly causing her to shiver. The environment of humans was never warm enough for her; she felt as though she'd been living in a perpetual ice box her entire life. Stations were particularly cold, and why the captain had chosen DS9 as their shore leave spot, she couldn't begin to fathom. But at the moment, she didn't care. The only thing she wanted to do was get in a steaming shower and find the hottest drink she could.

Outwardly, you couldn't tell she was experiencing discomfort. Blue tinted scales, slate gray skin, and a determined look dominated her petit veneer. Several of her fellow officers entered the turbolift with her.

Down on the Promenade, the officers filed out of various doors. Some others had stayed in to go to their assigned quarters, but the Cardassian woman strode toward the first eatery she saw. Quark's.

Inside, the Ferengi owner was placidly doing accounting on the day's profits when the officer strode past him. Sitting at the end of the bar, she sighed in relief. It felt so good to finally rest her feet. Their last assignment had been murder for her back and her feet since there were no chairs in Stellar Cartography. She had spent seven hours cataloging new systems without a break.

Quark stared at the Cardassian female. Nearly in shock, he couldn't trust what his eyes were sending him. His brother walked past and Quark caught his arm. "Rom, do you see that at the end of the bar?"

The younger Ferengi glanced at her and his sharp toothed mouth dropped open slightly. "That depends. Do you see her too?"

Quark smiled slightly. "Well, what do you know… there really is a Cardassian in Starfleet."

"I guess Nog isn't the only oddity," Rom offered, still staring at her.

"And not a bad looking one either…"

Quark ignored him and advanced toward the officer as she was massaging her bony forehead. Putting on his suave, flirty persona, Quark leaned on one elbow with a disarming smile. "Now.. what can I get you, my beautiful jewel?"

His charm was completely wasted on her as she closed her eyes wearily. "I'll have a Kashyylkan Molten, please."

Quark was taken aback, not because his charm hadn't worked, but because of her choice. "Ahh… I don't think you'd want that. It's not for precious gems like you. Might I suggest the fruity kanar? I have it in good stock."

She opened her eyes at this. Indigo tinted irritation showed prevalently. But instead of lashing out, she surprised him again, smiling. "Your concern is noted, but if you are worried about me getting inebriated, I'm sure you know that a molten isn't even alcoholic. I just need something hot – scalding hot." She stood in her place, bringing her face close to Quark's. "Now… if you will be so kind as to get me my order?"

The blue eyed Ferengi smiled back at her and tilted his head. "As you wish." He walked across his supply line, and pulled out a heavy tankard. Opening the compartment, he brought out the tall glowing cup and carefully walked back over. "You're lucky I have this in stock. Kashyylkan products are hard to--"

She snatched the cup from him quickly, downing half of it in a single swig. A couple of the other bar patrons saw her, their attention captured for the moment.

"—Come by," he finished, watching her finish the rest. She sighed in relief at the last drink. Finally, she didn't feel like she was going to die of frostbite. The thawing contents warmed her insides as they rushed around her stomach.

"Such a fine drink - you do plan to pay for that, right? It-it's 13 strips of latinum. " Quark asked.

The Cardassian wiped out the rest with her finger and licked it. "You still use currency here? How disappointing… I never carry around money."

Now Quark's eyes widened. He did not like hearing people say that. "Look, you may be in Starfleet, but that doesn't give you a right to go around getting free drinks just because you 'never carry money'. I'm willing to be reasonable, but you are going to pay for this -- one way or another."

An amused grin spread across her craggy face then she started laughing. Standing back up, she leaned on her palms. "My dear Ferengi, I was kidding!" She flicked the strips out of thin air and gave them to a stunned Quark.

He smiled again, realizing he was victim of a joke truly meant for him. She already knew how to read him. Chuckling, he put the payment into his register. Putting his charm back on, he continued, "My name is Quark, as you've probably already surmised."

"Lieutenant Commander Fyi Jeluik," she relied pleasantly.

"So tell me, Commander, why would you choose this place as your shore leave? Deep Space Nine isn't really the idyllic vacation spot." He was trying to impress her with his knowledge on current arrivals.

She wasn't fazed. "I can tell you it wasn't my choice. We are too far from Earth to stop there and our next assignment is near the far edge of Klingon Space."

Blinking, that was apparently news to him. "Klingon space, huh… But if I may be so forward as to bring this up, a Cardassian in Starfleet is a rare occurrence indeed. I've never seen an officer quite like you."

Fyi inclined her head. "I don't expect you ever will again. I'm the first and probably last of my kind," she teased. "But I do need to check into my quarters. Thank you for your company and the molten, Mr. Quark." She stood from her seat and headed for the stair case.

Just then, Elim Garak entered the bar. Upon seeing Fyi ascend the stairs, he was struck still. She didn't notice him, continuing above on the upper level.

Quark was smiling to himself as he added more on his datapadd, delighted with the interesting tête-à-tête. Garak came up to the edge of the bar, keeping his gaze on the virile woman until she was out of sight. "Do you know who that was?"

Quark looked up, still in a good mood. "A lieutenant commander on the new ship. Good woman, but she's nearly as big a liar as you are. You'd like her."

Garak raised his brow. "How can you be so sure?"

"She told me that her ship was going to the far side of Klingon space." He shook his big ears.

"Ah." Garak looked up to the last spot he saw her.

"Told you you'd like her."

Garak smiled bemusedly. "I have not even met the woman. For all you know, she could be misdirective just to Ferengi."

Tilting his head, Quark conceded to that fact. "True, but you act like that around me, and you do it to everybody. Who's to say she isn't that way as well?"

Garak pondered that fact, looking down thoughtfully. The fact that she was a Cardassian peaked his interest more than anything, but the real fact -- being an out of the ordinary individual comparable to himself? I should like to find more out about this woman…