Izi emerged from the aft section of Eaglet 2 and rejoined Hok in the cockpit.  After sitting in the co-pilot chair, she set a PADD on the console.  Hok glanced at her, but didn't say anything.  Izi let about thirty seconds of silence pass.

“We still have a long way to go before we get back to the Eagle.  You're going to tell me the rest of the story.  No more excuses.  I'm in too deep already.”

Hok glanced at Izi again and nodded.  Tapping the console, he set the shuttle to auto pilot.  “What do you want to know?”

Finally, thought Izi.  “When we were in Glosh's house, there was a flash of recognition on your face when the Syndicate guy mentioned Lorica.  It was there for only a moment and he missed it, but I saw it.  What does Lorica mean to you?”

“After my undercover mission with Doctor Weaver, Commander Perry was transferring the Doc to Intelligence.”

Izi nodded.

“I wasn't going to let that happen,” said Hok.  “We were partners and you always have your partner's back.”

“That's right,” said Izi.

“From chatting with Haia, I knew her maternal grandmother was an administrative yeoman at Starfleet HQ on Earth, so I asked Haia to reach out to her.  I thought she might have connections that could do something.”

Izi was impressed Hok thought of that.

“When the message from Earth arrived, all it said was, Lorica Operation.”  Hok shrugged.  “I had no idea what that meant, but I trusted it would help.”

“It all makes sense now, Hok.”

“When I mentioned it to Perry, he almost wet himself.”  Hok chuckled.

“How did the captain react?” said Izi.

“He was glad Doc Weaver was staying, but he wanted to know what the Lorica Operation was and how I knew about it.  I didn't know anything and I wanted to protect Haia's grandmother, so I said it was better that he didn't know.  I asked him to trust me and he did.  I'm kind of surprised I managed to pull that off.”

“Why didn't you tell me?” said Izi.  “You know I can keep a secret.”

Hok smiled.  “Sometimes you're so fixated on knowing everything, it was fun tormenting you.”

Izi frowned, but let that pass.  She knew how aggressive she could be.

“I did some research on Lorica,” said Izi.  “Every year, they have a celebration of life festival.  It recognizes all the blessings and good things they enjoy.”

“Many cultures have holidays like that,” said Hok.

“On that day, the Ay-tim is put on public display as a symbol of the favor on their lives.  The rest of the year, it's kept in the most secure location on the planet.”  Izi paused.  “The odd thing about this is there's no record the Ay-tim was stolen.  They have the celebration every year and the statue is displayed.”

Hok wrinkled his nose.  “I can understand the government keeping it secret that it was stolen, but it's still displayed?”

Izi had more to tell, the part she wished she could keep to herself.  “I contacted the Eagle and talked with the captain.”

Hok didn't say anything.

“I asked Captain Kirby to call in any favors he had to dig into this.  He wanted to know why, but I told him we'd give a full report when we got back.”  Izi pointed to the PADD.  “There's information there you're not going to like, but because of what you've lost, you deserve to know.”

Hok's reaction told Izi he was expecting the worse.

Izi sighed.  Here goes, she thought.  “About nine years ago, there were ongoing talks about Lorica joining the Federation.  A diplomatic delegation was there to honor the celebration of life holiday.  A Lieutenant Perry was in charge of security of both the delegation and helping to protect the Ay-tim.  Perry was held accountable for failing to protect the statue and it almost ended his career."

Hok chuckled.  “The Syndicate guy said they stole it, but there's no record it was,” said Hok.  “I have the statue.  I don't understand.”

“Lorica joining the Federation was important, so the theft was covered up.  That's why you were able to blackmail Perry,” said Izi.

Izi wanted to stop, but there was no going back.

“The Ay-tim is so important and valuable to the Lorican people, it never leaves its secure location.  Only a small number of officials know this, but what goes on public display is a replica and not the real thing.”  Izi stopped and waited for Hok to react.

Hok's face went from curiosity, to realization, to shock.  “Are you telling me my father, mother, and brother died, I lost my business license, was hunted by the Orion Syndicate, had to leave my home world, and hide in Starfleet because of a statue that's really a fake?”

“Yes.”

Hok turned in his chair, leaving his back to Izi.  He wasn't saying anything and his head was bowed.

Izi wanted to help, but didn't know what to say.

“I have nothing.  Everything's been taken from me," Hok whispered.

“Hok, that's not true.  You have your friends and crewmates on the Eagle.”

Hok spun in his chair to face Izi, his countenance a fury of anger.  “Haven't you figured it out yet, Iziraa?  I'm a Ferengi!”  He pounded his chest.  “That's who I am.  That's what I want to be.  I don't want to be a Starfleet officer!"

Izi didn't see that coming.  “Hok…”

“Hok nothing and that's what I am.  A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi.”

This was bad.  Izi had to say something.  “Hok, I get what you're saying, but you're far from nothing.  In the short time you've been on the Eagle, you helped bring down a dangerous drug cartel and you were part of getting the Breen deployment plans that helped defeat the Jem'Hadar fleet.  You've already done more than many officers do in years.”

“So pin a medal on my chest.  If it's made from gold, maybe that will count as profit and I can actually be a Ferengi.”

Izi started to say something, but Hok stopped her.

“I know you're trying to help, but this is all on me.  I need to decide what to do next.”

“Fair enough.”  Izi knew Hok was right.  She would respect his decision, but if he left, she would miss him.