No Way Home "
By: Quark , Propriater, Quarks Bar , [NPC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58206.28 2240

Quark frowned, "Forty-percent. That's my finder's fee," he said to the Pakled.

"That is too much. Ten-percent," the heavy set alien countered.

Quark turned and waved off the Pakled, "Never mind, I can see you are clearly not interested in this business proposition. There are others.

"Wait," said the Pakled taking hold of Quark's sleeve. Quark turned and gave him an indignant and annoyed look as he took the Pakled's hand and lifted it from his sleeve.

The Pakled looked down, "fine, forty-percent."

Quark smiled, "I'm glad you see it my way, now wait here."

Quark turned and walked toward the private table he had secluded Dr. Dane earlier.

"How are you doing" he asked, "can I get you a refill?"

"Yes can you get me another coffee"?"

"I have found three who could help you in your...quest," said Quark looking back over his shoulder for a moment. "They will come and negotiate with you. I have fulfilled my part of the bargain."

With a solemn nod, he took a few steps back into the view of the the Pakled and motioned for him to come.

The Pakled came up to the table and stood before Dane. "This is Golgadahga. Captain of the Kabohka.

Quark turned and walked a distance and stood where most species would think to be out of earshot.

"Eeehh heeee," giggled the Pakled, "Pleeeased to meeet you," he said offering his hand.

"You are Doctor, Yes?"

"Yes I am," Teilani said with a small smile

"You need ride," he asked, "to Earth?"

"Not so loud," she whispered as she motioned for the Pakled to sit down.

The Pakled pulled out a chair and anxiously sat down.

"Two bars is all it costs."

Teilani nodded. "I think I can manage that."

"But you must be ship's doctor until we get to earth."

"Sure, I can do that but what do you mean by until you get to Earth?"

"We pick up magnasite ore on Kalla III and *then* take you to earth."

"How long will that take?"

"hmm.. about 3 months."

Teilani shook her head. "Thats impossible I need to get there as fast as possible. 3 Months is way too long. Can't you get to Earth first and then get to Kalla III??

"No." said the Pakled sympathetically. "Earth too far."

"Please?" Teilani said softly. Carefully she looked around her. All the other occupants looked busy with their own affairs but she felt unease as if multiple eyes were looking at her.

The Pakled thought about it. "Okay," he said, "direct to Earth. Price is fourteen-bars of latnium."

All to himself some distance away from Golgadahga and Dane, Quark smiled to himself. It was profit to his ears. "That's more like it," he mumbled to himself.

Fourteen bars Teilani thought where would I get 14 bars...."How long will it take to get there then?"

Golgadahga looked at a small instrument he produced from his vest pocket. He used it make computations. When he was done he returned the instrument to his pocket and looked up and smiled at Dane as if he had what she wanted to hear: "Only Nine weeks and six days."

Teilani bit her lower lip. Almost 2 month on a pakled ship, with no comfort. It was not acceptable. She shook her head again. "I need to get there within a week," she whispered. How fast does your ship go?"

The pakled appeared to be stunned at Dane's response, "ship only go so fast. Ship only go warp 4."

"Don't you have any friends who have a faster ship? Look its really important that I get there fast."

Quark shook his head. Pakleds were great clients... at the dabo table, but he wondered why he bothered with their species for anything else.

They could never seem to cinch a deal. Impatiently he turned and entered the private area where the negotiations were taking place.

"How are we doing here," he asked with a forced smile.

"Quark, I thought I made it clear I needed a fast ship...... Teilani said feisty. "I appreciate the offer but I need to get to Earth in a week. Don't you have anything else?"

Quark nodded at the Pakled who left with a sorry sounding, "aaaaw," of disappointment"

When the Pakled was out of site, he responded "Yes," he said. "I have two more. They should be here shortly. I will send them in when they arrive."

Quark snapped his fingers at a waitress as he walked away from the table. She immediately brought Dane a fresh coffee. Jamaican, Double strong, double sweet.

Brushing her hair from her face Teilani sighed. Was she doing the right thing? If she got busted they would strip her rank and maybe even put her through a court martial. Was it worth the risk.... betraying all her crewmates. Well she wasn't actually betraying them, merely bending the rules in her own favour. She didn't have much choice though, the call for home was much stronger then ever before.

With all the latest so-called adventures she wanted to make a clean plate, see her family just one more time. Nobody would ever know if the next mission or encounter would end it abruptly. She had to know how they were. The call from Uncle Brexen had somehow released this urge, but Teilani knew that if she made it all the way to Mars, life would never be the same.

Could she live with herself then? Would she be able to continue being a doctor, something she loved the most.

She finished the coffee and sighed deeply.

The next alien entered shortly. The man appeared to be Rutian. "I am Stee'ha. I understand you are seeking passage to the Terran system?"

Indeed I am.

"Price is 30 bars of latinum. Upfront."

I haven't got that much with me now, Teilani whispered. But I can work during the trip and when I get to my final destination I promise you will get paid. If necessary I double it. She said sounding desparate. She had absolutely no idea where to get 60 bars of latinum but perhaps Joshua could help her out once she got home.

The alien frowned, "How much do you have?"

"I only have about 5 bars." she replied. She had in fact 2 more bars but he didn't need to know that.

The alien frowned and grabbed Quark by the lapels of his jacket, "You said she had money," he said letting go of him roughly.

He scowled at the doctor, "30 Bars of latinum. Up front. We leave tomorrow night. You have til then." The alien turned and left.

"Your last option will be here in 10 minutes," hissed Quark.

Teilani nodded. She became agitated and more nervous, all dreadful scenarios played through her head. Lots of what if and such. Fidgeting with the now empty mug she waited for the next alien.

The next alien came in and sat down, leaning on the table. He was a Dopterian. "I understand you are trying to get to the Terran System?"

Yes I am, she confirmed softly.

"We are leaving for Epsilon Erandii, day after next," whispered the alien. "It is near by. You should be able to find passage the rest of the way. It is dangerous though. Very close to battle lines. Expensive it will be. Ten bars of latinum it will cost.

Teilani squeezed her eyes and glanced at Quarks, who was busy doing something unimportant but she knew he heard everything. 10 you say?

The alien nodded.

I can give you 3 upfront and the rest when we get there.

The Dopterian contemplated, "That is an unusual request. You are bringing with you the seven bars which you will pay when we arrive?"

Teilani shook her head. "No, but I will make arrangement to have them transferred to any account you like. After all I do not want something to happen to me while carrying 7 bars of Latinum. No pun intended Sir."

The alien contemplated, "That is an unusual request. You are bringing with you the seven bars which you will pay when we arrive?"

Teilani shook her head. "No, but I will make arrangement to have them transferred to any account you like. Afterall I do not want something to happen to me while carrying 7 bars of Latinum. No pun intended Sir."

The alien eyed Dane suspiciously. "How do *we* know you have the latnium at all."

"You don't but I give you my word as a Maqui officer that I do have them." Teilani looked at the Alien without fear.

"M-m-maquis, Y-y-you are a Maquis officer? W-w-what do you want..." the alien looked about nerviously, "w-with me" it asked starting to back away.

"Absolutely nothing, I just want to get to Earth." Teilani said softly. Inwardly she sighed. Perhaps it was not such a good idea and she cursederself for mentioning she was Maqui.

"You-You don't look like a maquis, you are not wearing a uniform...."

This made Teilani chuckle. "We do have regular cloths as well. But you know why don't you think about it and let me know if the ride is still available alright?"

The Alien stood up and quicker than some one could say Razzamataz he left.

Teilani closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Then she rested her head in her hands, it turned out to be so difficult finding a ride. Nobody wanted to get burned, which was understandable. If only she could find some other ship.

Unseen from a slight distance, Quark rolled his eyes and mumbled as he folded his arms and disappeared into the crowd. He had fulfilled his obligation