Apple IIE

Posted on Mon Nov 30th, 2020 @ 9:03pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: Healing of Minds
Location: Marketplace

Vornick hastily stroked his lobes as the young officer pondered over the antique computer. His sales had been down lately, the crew of the Liberty not parting with their latinum as easily as he would have liked. Not to mention the two special items he needed to find a buyer for, sooner rather than later.

Snip -/- From behind Bonnie rose a voice from a little Ferengi who had been watching her. “If you like that Apple antique, I have something you will love even more.”
Snip -/-

Her skin cringed at the sound of someone's voice, meaning someone was watching her and now she would have to talk with them. She took a breath and put on her best smile as she turned to face the man behind the voice. In her haste she nudged a shelf to her right almost knocking several items off. A small glass tray fell to the floor and made a clattering noise. She stared in amazement for a moment before commenting to the Ferengi before her, "Huh, they usually shatter."

"You'll have to pay for that, it's still damaged" he said hastily, making a show of inspecting the tray and pointing to several already existing marks on it.

“Pay?” She looked at the item the Ferengi now held. Normally she was used to breaking something here or there, but this clearly wasn’t broken and those scratches clearly weren’t her fault. “I, I didn’t mean for it to fall. And I’m sure those scratches were already there.” She wasn’t in the mindset to have to haggle her way out of this situation. She just wanted the treasure she had found.

“ I would not have sub-standard merchandise in my store!” The Ferengi retorted angrily “ You insult me with your insidious insinuations” He spat, working himself up in a realistic anger in order to push his point “ You must pay for the damage you have caused”

Bonnie was startled by how forward the Ferengi was being. He clearly wanted her money as all Ferengi did but she wasn’t prepared to deal with that level of arrogance. From behind her came a deep yet familiar voice. “Don’t pay him any mind, he’s got his mind on rule 10 if I’m not mistaken. While I prefer rule 57.” He then stepped out of the shadow, his head dragging the low hanging tarp.

“Remal!” Bonnie exclaimed. “I thought you were still on the Liberty.” She was clearly happy to see him, her eyes pleading for mercy.

“I was supposed to meet up with Rhen at the food court, but when I saw you head down this way I thought I would come and check on you, just in case some greedy Ferengi decided to take advantage.” He eyed the Ferengi with disdain. “Glad I followed.”

“ I’m not greedy. I’m merely requesting...no… insisting that property damaged within my store is promptly paid for” Vornick retorted, standing up to his full non-impressive height. At least he had large lobes.

Remal looked around and then back into the eyes of the Ferengi. “You claim rule 77 but I see nothing broken. At least nothing of value anyway.” He saw the glass piece in the small man’s hand. “Is that trinket worth you trifling over?”

"Rules are rules are rules" Vornick stammered, beginning to get flustered at this newcomer who seemed to know the rules as well as he did. "She damaged it, she pays for it"

He gave the Ferengi an eye like he understood the game and was a man not to be trifled with. “How much are we talking because rule 141 is clear. And I don’t look like a fool to you, do I?” He bent down and used his large frame as an intimidation factor against the little man.

"Ah...um…" the Ferengi stammered, not liking this oversized bear who knew which rules to play and when. "2 slips would cover it"

Without even batting an eye Remal spoke, "One." And then he smiled for he knew he had backed the small man into a corner.

TBC