Another Day, Another Haggle

Posted on Thu May 11th, 2023 @ 7:27am by Nez

885 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 116 - "A Bounty of Trust"
Location: Section A1 - Level 108
Timeline: MD1 - 1011 hours

Nez's shop was a small, dimly lit space filled with all sorts of eclectic and unusual items. The futuristic lighting gave the space an otherworldly feel, with the occasional flicker of blue or green light illuminating the shelves.
As he stood behind the counter, Nez surveyed his wares with pride. He loved the thrill of the hunt, searching the galaxy for rare and unusual artifacts to sell in his shop. He gave loans to those in need, but also allowed people to trade for his wares.

One of the rare artifacts Nez had for sale was a small, intricately carved statue of a Tholian. Made from a type of crystal found only on Tholia, it was a one-of-a-kind piece that had been passed down through generations of Tholian royalty.

Another item on display was a sleek, silver-and-black dagger from the Klingon homeworld. It was a family heirloom of a Klingon warrior who had fallen in battle, and had been passed down through his family for centuries. The blade was said to have mystical properties that made it nearly indestructible.

Nez also had a colorful, beaded necklace from the Bajoran people, adorned with small, delicate charms and trinkets that jingled as they moved. The necklace was said to bring good luck and fortune to those who wore it. It was made of rare and fashionable materials from Bajor.

A small, intricately detailed model of a Vulcan starship was also on display. It had been crafted by a Vulcan master artisan and was a perfect replica of the ship it represented. Nez knew that collectors of Vulcan artifacts would pay a high price for such a unique piece.

Finally, Nez had a rare, hand-carved wooden mask from the planet Talos IV. It was believed to have been crafted by the Talosians themselves, and was said to have mind-altering properties when worn. Nez had acquired it from a rogue trader who had obtained it on one of his journeys to the planet.

As Nez watched a group of curious customers examining his wares, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. His shop may be small, but it was filled with treasures from all corners of the galaxy.

As Qorla entered the shop, the Ferengi owner immediately recognized her towering figure and golden skin. Her sandy brown hair was tied behind her, revealing her fierce expression and sharp features. Nez had dealt with her kind before - Klingons who thought they could intimidate their way into getting whatever they wanted.

Qorla strode up to the display case where the Klingon artifact was held, her eyes scanning the item hungrily. "I want that artifact, Ferengi," she growled, her voice low and menacing. "And I want it now."

Nez stood behind the counter with his arms folded, his purple eyes gleaming with determination. "That artifact is not for sale, Qorla," he replied calmly. "It's one of my rarest items, and I'm not going to part with it easily."

Qorla leaned in close to the counter, her eyes fixed on Nez's. "You're going to give me that artifact, Ferengi," she snarled. "Or else there will be consequences."

Nez stood his ground, unimpressed by Qorla's posturing. "I don't respond well to threats, Klingon," he replied coolly. "If you want the artifact, you'll have to pay the price I'm asking for it."

Qorla's expression hardened as she realized that Nez was not going to back down. "Fine," she spat. "I'll pay your price. But you better watch your back, Ferengi. You don't want to cross me."

Nez raised an eyebrow at her, unimpressed by her attempts to intimidate him. "I'll keep that in mind," he said, as he began to ring up the sale. "But I'm not one to be easily scared off. That will be two and a half bars of gold-pressed latinum”, he told her.

“That is an exorbitant price, Ferengi”, she shouted.

“This is no ordinary dagger”, Nez replied. “It is an ancient artifact handed down through members of the House of K’raQ. It is over 500 years old.”

Qorla scoffed. “Ha! House of K’RaQ? That is the House of that science officer… K’lar. I do not want anything from such a mediocre clan.” The truth was that this made her want it even more. She thoroughly enjoyed teasing K’lar. He seemed to keep his cool no matter what insults she threw at him.

“If you know that House, you know there would be many who would covet a blade attached to that period in their history”, Nez said. He saw the look in her eyes when he mentioned the House. It was clear that she really wanted it.

As Qorla continued to stare, Nez repeated the price. “Two bars and ten strips of latinum”, he said.

“Okay Ferengi”, Qorla replied. “I will return with your latinum.”

She left, along with the two Klingon males who had been shopping with her. They left the store and soon made communications with their Bird of Prey. After transporting aboard, Qorla dug into her stash of latinum in her quarters.

She would return to the Ferengi’s shop later in the day and buy the dagger. Now she would have something K’lar would want. She would force him to pay attention to her, no matter the financial cost.

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