Ferenginar

Izi and Hok rushed off the street and stopped under a canopy just outside a typical Ferengi house.  Frowning, Izi shook off as much of the rainfall as she could. 

“Are you sure this is it?” said Izi.

“Yes.”

Hok’s tone was flat and void of feeling.  Izi could easily see how being there was emotionally affecting him.

“Let’s do this.”  Hok rang the door chime.

While they waited, Izi thought about the situation.  It made perfect sense that Hok’s mother had been discharged from the hospital after waking from a coma.  By the time they received the news and traveled to Ferenginar, she would be at home.  It was odd there were no records of her as a patient.  Ferengi were meticulous at keeping records.  Izi hoped it was just some sort of error.

Hok was nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other.  Reaching again for the chime, the door slid open first.

“Hello, Glosh.”

“Hok!”  The older Ferengi looked at Izi.  “And friend.”  He poked Hok in the ribs.  “I always knew you were good with the females.”  He chuckled.

Rolling her eyes, Izi studied the man.  He had typical features and appeared to be about age 60.  He seemed genuinely glad to see Hok, but something about him set off an alarm in her mind, though she didn’t know what.

“Come in, come in.  It’s good to see you again.”  Glosh stepped to the side to allow his visitors to enter.

“Welcome to my home.  Please place your imprint on the legal waivers and deposit your admission fee in the box by the door.”  Glosh touched his wrists together, palms angled upward with his fingers curled.  “Remember, my house is my house.”

“As are its contents,” said Hok.  He placed a slip of latinum in the box and left his thumbprint.  He handed a slip to Izi.

With another eyeroll, Izi took the slip and did as instructed.  Glosh handed them small towels to dry themselves.  Hok wiped his head and face.  Izi did the best she could to carefully dry her antennae and wipe her hair.

“Please sit.  Would you like something?” said Glosh.  “I can give you a discount on the replicator fee.”

“No, we’re fine,” said Hok.

Glosh shrugged.  “So Hok and friend…”

“Iziraa.”

“Hok and Iziraa, what can I do for you?  Why have you come back now after so many years?”

Izi squinted.  What was that supposed to mean?

Hok glanced at Izi before answering.  “I got your message.”

“What message?” said Glosh.

“The message you sent that my mother woke from her coma.  I got it through Starfleet.”

Glosh had a confused expression on his face.  “Starfleet?  You’re in Starfleet?”

“You didn’t know?”

“How would I?  I heard you drifted from planet to planet and ended up on the Hewmon world, but I had no idea you did something so silly as joining Starfleet.”

“Then who sent the message and where is my mother?”

Izi saw regret in Glosh’s eyes.

“Hok, your mother died three years ago.”

Hok gasped.

Izi felt like she had been gut-punched.  Hok must have been devastated.

“I tried to contact you, but no one knew for sure where you were.  I’m sorry, Hok.”  Glosh paused to give Hok some time.  “I loved Jexa, too.”

At that point, Izi had to step in.  Something bad was happening and she needed to find out what that was.

“What’s going on, Glosh?”

It had been over 25 years since Ferengi females were given equal rights, but Glosh was alive under the old ways and he initially appeared uncomfortable being addressed so aggressively by one.

“I don’t know, Iziraa.  I’m just as surprised as you.”

Izi tried to interpret Glosh’s body language.  Ferengi were expert negotiators, which meant they could lie to your face without any way to read them.

“Who would send Hok that message?  Who would want him to come back here?”

“How should I know?  I said, I’m just as…”

“You have three options, Glosh.”  Izi cut him off.  “You can just tell me what you know, we can bribe you…”  Izi leaned in close, her eyes narrowing,  ”…or I can tear off your lobes.”

Glosh’s eyes bugged out.  “You can’t talk to me like that.  This is my house and you’re a female!”  He looked to Hok for help.

Hok’s face was buried in his hands.

“It’s been a long time since I interrogated…”  Izi made air quotes.  “…a Ferengi.  I need the practice.”

“Hok said you’re in Starfleet.  You can’t treat people that way.”

Izi grinned.  “Hok said he’s in Starfleet.  He didn’t say I was.”  She got up, reached into a pocket, producing a small device.  Pressing a button, it clicked and a blade popped out.  “I guess it’s option three.”

Glosh stumbled to his feet, holding out his hands in a defensive posture.  “Why are you doing this?  I don’t know anything.”  He let out a short whimper.

“Who wanted Hok back on Ferenginar?”

“The Orion Syndicate.  Hok’s father and brother stole something from them and they think Hok has it.  That’s all I know.  I swear.”

Izi slowly caressed her blade.

“I really don’t know anything else.”

“Luck is with you today, Glosh.  I believe you.”

Glosh collapsed back onto his chair.

“Tell me how to contact the Syndicate,” said Izi.  “I’ll pay you for your effort.”

“You don’t need to do that.”  It was Hok.  “If it is the Syndicate, they’ll find us.”

There was a crack and a spark of electricity at the door, which slid open.  Three large men with disruptors rushed in.

Izi jumped, ready to fight.

“Drop the knife, Andorian, or you die where you stand.”

Izi considered her choices, then tossed her weapon onto the floor.

“It’s nice to see you again, Hok.”

One of the men pulled the door closed.

“Please, everyone sit.  Let’s chat.”  A satisfied grin formed on his face.