Dax was miserable. For some reason, that made Alden feel pretty lousy too, as they trudged silently to the turbolift to Ops.

Nog caught up with them at the turbolift. "Commander, do you--"

Alden's cold stare wilted the younger officer before he could finish his sentence.

He hunched his shoulders, looking at Dax.

"Hello, Nog," she said dispiritedly.

"Hi, Ezri." A cautious glance at Alden. "Is something wrong?"

She sighed. "I don't think you'd understand."

"Well," he blinked, "does it have something to do with Captain Boday's ship having been attacked? There was a Klingon ship in the area, it intervened, they're alright...."

"It's ... Kukalaka." Dax steeled herself for explanations.

"Julian's Kukalaka?"

She was taken aback. "You know about Kukalaka?"

"Yeah! Jake and I helped get him back for Julian, when...." He cut himself off. "Well, we ... found him when he was ... lost, once."

"You were the one who stole him back from Leeta?"

"I didn't exactly steal...." He cast an embarrassed glance at Alden. "I mean, it wasn't Leeta's bear. It was Julian's. She shouldn't have kept it. And Kukalaka is very important to Julian."

"Yes, he is," Dax acknowledged. "And that's my problem. Julian asked me to take care of Kukalaka while he was on Cardassia. I loaned him to ... one of the children who was on the station. I planned to give him his own bear. But he left before I could get back to him, and he took Kukalaka with him...."

"You let someone take Julian's bear off the station?" Nog was scandalized.

"It was an accident! It was just a loan!" Alden cut in protectively. "Why is everyone making such a big deal out of it?"

"Endar...." Dax turned back to Nog. "That's not the problem. I had it all worked out. Captain Boday was bringing Kukalaka back, and he was supposed to be here tomorrow. Then his ship was attacked. But Captain Telok agreed to bring back Kukalaka -- and have him here in two or three days. Now the K'Voln's been diverted, we aren't sure for how long, or even where it's going to be for the next week, other than at the moment it's somewhere in the Dozaria System."

Nog was mentally calculating. "And Julian's supposed to be back in four days..."

Dax nodded. "And I don't know who else to contact, who could get Kukalaka back in time," she finished mournfully. "And that's if we could even reach the Klingons now."

The trio was silent a moment.

Nog snapped his fingers. "I've got it!"

"What?"

He beamed. "Uncle Quark."

"Quark?" Alden looked doubtful.

"Think of all the contacts he has! Every freighter in the quadrant comes through here and deals with Quark. He's the middleman, uh, agent for a dozen captains! The crew of every ship that docks here drinks, eats, and relaxes at Quark's!"

"Which is a good reason not to ask a favor of them!" Alden declared. "He's probably cheated, scammed, overpriced, or sold watered-down booze to every single one of 'em!"

"Not every one!" the Ferengi protested.

Alden laughed. "No, not the ones that cheated, scammed, or overpriced him first!"

Nog made a face and turned back to Dax. "You know he'd do anything for you, Ezri,"he cajoled. "And for Julian too, he's a good client -- and you know what the Rules of Acquisition say about good clients! As long as it doesn't involve losing latinum or giving up the opportunity to get latinum. Uncle Quark hears everything -- he probably knows where the Klingons are going, and how long they'll be there, and how to contact them in the meantime."

The turbolift arrived; several crew got off. Alden put one foot on the lift to hold it.

Dax thought fast, looking hopeful. "I have to talk to Quark. Endar, will you--"

"I have to get to Ops,"he interjected, then grinned. "Besides, you wouldn't want Quark to say no just to spite me, right?"

"Right. Tell Nerys-- Uh, if Kira asks, tell her I'll be there in a few minutes!"

Alden and Nog got on the lift, while Dax about-faced and headed for Quark's.

Beside him, Alden heard the Ferengi mutter, "Never leave an item of sentimental value in the hands of a female."

"What?" he asked.

Nog flushed. "Sorry, reflex. It's one of the Rules of Acquisition. Of course, the sixty-sixth Rule says nothing has sentimental value like latinum, so...."

Alden nodded slowly. "Uh-huh. Guess that proves Doc isn't a Ferengi..."

"Quark, we need to talk privately. I need you...."

Quark looked up, astonished. He stared at Dax for a long moment, then slowly began to grin and chuckled deep in his throat. "I knew you'd come to me one day, Ezri. It was inevitable--"

"Quark!"she interrupted.

The Ferengi grabbed her elbow to drag her to his private office. "Lumon! Get behind the bar. M'Pella! Keep an eye on Lumon, you know he can't keep a drink order straight for more than two seconds!" Quark bellowed. "But at least he's too much the fool to cheat me," he finished under his breath.

The door cycled shut behind them. "Now, Ezri, bright center of the universe, more precious than latinum, where shall we begin--" He nuzzled her fingers for a second, then tried to shift them to his earlobe.

"Quark!" She pulled her hand free. "I need a favor!"

"Anything."

"I need a ship to pick up an item and bring it here."

"That's all? And I thought it would be something difficult...." He reached for her hand again.

"From the Dozaria system," she added.

"The Dozaria system!" He froze. "Do you have any idea what's happening in the Dozaria system just now? The electromagnetic storms? The stellar flare-ups? The disappearing ships? The attacks by pirates? The Klingons moving in, shooting everything on their scanners?"His voice kept raising. "Only idiots go to the Dozaria system these days!"

"Quark, it's important!"she implored.

He couldn't resist the pleading in the Trill's wide blue eyes.

"Well..."

"Please?"

"All right," he capitulated. "What's your item, and where is it?"

"It's actually something of Julian's. Something that means a lot to him, from his childhood," she replied a little evasively. "And at the moment, it's aboard the K'Voln--"

"What!" the Ferengi yelped. "The K'Voln? The Klingon ship? Telok's ship? The one that tears up my bar every time it shows up -- with a little help from Commander Alden?"

"Yes, but that's--"

"You want me to ask one of my ... friends, to meet with a Klingon ship, in that system, to pick up something for Dr. Bashir?"

She looked a little chastened, but replied with a subdued, "Yes."

"I don't know what's worse, asking somebody to rendezvous with Klingons, or with pirates!"

"Oh." A beat. Then, her expression downcast, Dax said, "I'm sorry I asked, Quark. I didn't mean for any of your friends to put themselves at risk for me. I mean, I know Nog assured me you were the only person who had the contacts to do it, but I guess Endar was right...." She turned away, mentally crossing her fingers.

"What? Now wait, Ezri, wait!" Quark hurried after her, stepping between the woman and the door. "What did that ... what did Alden say?"

Dax shrugged. "He seems to think your reputation is overblown."

Quark's eyes narrowed. "He thinks my reputation is overblown! What does he know about ... my ... reputation...." Distracted, he asked, "What's he heard about my reputation?"

"Never mind, I wouldn't repeat such things." She shook her head. "But he said even if you knew a captain with a ship in the right sector, you wouldn't be able to convince them to do it for me."

"Now, wait, don't be too hasty." He leaned against the wall, tapping a finger against his jaw. "Hmm, there might be someone I know who would be willing to do it...."

"What price?" Dax asked suspiciously.

"You let me worry about that."

"Really?" She grinned in delight.

He shrugged magnanimously. "It'll be a favor, just between ... friends."

"Thank you, Quark!" She leaned over to give him a quick peck on the forehead as the door cycled open. "I knew you could help me! You're the best! I have to get to Ops -- I'll check with you later!"

Dax all but danced out of the bar.

Quark's skin felt like it was glowing where she'd kissed him. Feeling very self-satisfied, he glanced around at his employees.

"I knew she couldn't resist me," he said a little more loudly, making sure they could hear. "You heard her. I'm the one person who can help her. I'm the best--"

Quark spotted M'Pella standing just beyond the Ferengi waiter. The dabo girl's dark eyes narrowed.

"She just asked for a favor!" he said quickly.

M'Pella turned her back and headed across the bar to her dabo wheel.

"Females!" Muttering to himself, Quark turned back into his office to make his promised contact.

After hours at Quark's bar, restaurant, holosuites, and gaming emporium tended to be a quiet time of day. The Promenade would be empty, mostly silent except for the footsteps of the constable's irregularly scheduled patrols. The bar itself would dim, with only the security lights that would reveal anyone trying to be undetected where they weren't supposed to be.

Unless he had a "special" late customer or some business dealings of questionable legality, Quark would be finishing some final financial details after locking up, before retiring to bed for the night.

Tonight was an unusual night. The Ferengi had just finished locking up his personal security safe, and was glancing furtively about to be sure he hadn't been observed, when he heard it.

"Quark...." The sultry voice floated through the bar, electrifying the air.

Quark knew those tones. He rushed to the communication screen that was his personal, secure access to the outer galaxy.

"Rionoj...."

Her image formed on the screen, the beautiful Boslic Captain Rionoj. Her dark amethyst hair framed her high forehead and smooth, pale complexion. Two deep violet eyes stared directly at the world. He could imagine the slim, perfect body under her silver-and-black attire. A welcoming smile crossed her face and she all but purred at him.

"Quark, I've missed you...."

He grinned from ear to ear. "And I've missed you, Rio. It's been too long. I'm glad you'll be back on the station in a few days."

Her browlines lifted. "So what's the cargo?" she asked.

"Cargo? What makes you think I'm calling about cargo?"

She laughed silkily, deep in her throat. "Quark, we've known each other too long to play with words. You call when you want something." She cocked her head to the side. "And at this distance, that can only be something commercial -- or illegal."

"Ah, Rio, I do love the way your mind works. Almost as much as your body."

She steepled her chin on her long, sensual fingers and slowly ran the tip of her tongue over her upper lip. His lobes tingled at the sight of those fingers, and the memories of what they could do.

But....

"Actually, and you may find this as hard to believe as I do, I called to ask you for a favor."

"A favor?" She stared. "You're joking!"

"Would I joke about a thing like that?"

"No, you wouldn't. All right, if we assume I ... grant this favor, what is it?"

"I need somebody to pick up ... a package. And since I knew you were going to be in the neighborhood...."

Her smile broadened. "Indeed. And you said there was nothing commercial about it...."

Before Rionoj could ask how much, he raised a hand and said, "It's for one of the Starfleet officers here on the station."

"Starfleet? Since when do Starfleet officers indulge in base commerce?" she asked mockingly.

"I told you, it's not commerce. It's...." He considered how to describe what Dax had explained to him. "It's a gift for a friend who's returning to the station after a long absence. Sentimental value to him. No value to the likes of you and me."

"I can understand gifts," the woman replied. "As a rule, I don't give them, but I do understand them. How large is the package, and where do I pick it up?"

He'd already prepared the information. With a touch on the screen, it was on the way.

Almost instantly, she frowned. "The Dozaria System? You want me to divert to the Dozaria System? Without even having exact coordinates? Quark, there are pirates reputed to have all but taken over the system, since the war -- and far too many ships disappeared in that sector even before then."

He shrugged. "It was the Breen during the war. And from what I hear--" He leaned closer to the screen, baring his teeth in a conspiratorial grin. "--The Klingons have decided to clean out the system once and for all. That's why the K'Voln was diverted, to help the task force. Think about it. You can't be much safer than in the middle of a Klingon battle group."

"A Klingon battle group looking for trouble. I can think of few places I'd be more likely to find it," Rionoj grumbled, her mouth curling in a moue. "Less than four days.... That's not much time to get to the Dozaria System, locate a Klingon warcruiser, rendezvous with it, and get back here."

"I have faith in you and your ship," he flattered. "If I didn't know you could do it, I wouldn't have called."

She sighed. "Oh, very well, Quark. I'll find them and pick up the package, and bring it here. For you."

"I knew I could count on you, Rio. And I'll let ... the officer ... know you're on the way."

The Boslic woman smiled almost lasciviously. "But I'll expect you both to ... express your gratitude, for the special delivery...."

Quark reflexively touched his earlobe, grinning in response. "Trust me, Rio, I'll express enough gratitude for both of us...."

"How am I going to explain what happened to Kukalaka?" Ezri all but sobbed into Endar's shoulder.

"What happened to Kukalaka?" Julian's voice demanded.

She jerked around. Bashir stood at the airlock, a bag over his shoulder, frowning at her.

"I ... I'm afraid I ... accidentally gave Kukalaka to ... one of my patients...."

"My Kukalaka? You accidentally--" He glanced at Alden.

"No, not him, Palani!" she interjected earnestly. "An orphan boy I was counseling. But he left before I could get Kukalaka back."

"Oh?" Bashir stepped onto the Promenade, dropping his duffel.

All around them, the crew and civilian occupants of the station were gathering, watching avidly and whispering to each other. Ezri felt herself wilting under those stares and whispers.

She shifted uncomfortably. "Julian, can't we--"

He cut her off ruthlessly. "You had two assignments while I was gone -- keep Kukalaka safe for me, and keep the station safe from him." Bashir glared at Alden again, who didn't say a word. "You didn't succeed at either one. Apparently you were too focused on ... other things," he said sarcastically.

"I thought I could help him!"

"You thought you could help him," Bashir mimicked.

"I still think I can! I haven't given up!"

He shook his head and turned away in disgust. "I've read the reports on him. You're fooling yourself if you think you're doing him any good."

"How would you know if I'm not making any progress with Endar? You haven't even been here!" she shot back at the doctor.

"Endar? Well, we're awfully familiar, aren't we?"he replied snidely.

Around them, voices kept whispering. Ezri glanced at the crowd. People were shaking their heads, their expressions either pitying or increasingly accusing as they stared at her. She felt surrounded.

"You call him Endar," she defended herself.

"Not the way you do." He stepped close. "Maybe I shouldn't have bothered coming back at all."

"Julian--"

A chime rang across the Promenade. "It is oh-five-hundred-hours."

Dax jerked awake as the wisps of the dream shredded.