New Opportunities and Old Habits: Part I
Posted on Sun Feb 4th, 2024 @ 12:52am by Lieutenant Vincent 'Ghost' Zandrell
Edited on on Sun Feb 4th, 2024 @ 2:11am
890 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
The Sins of History
Location: Belogg's Bar and Recreations on Betazed
Timeline: MD001 0400 hrs station time
Loktor, a Ferengi in a Starfleet Uniform, entered Belogg's Bar and Recreations. An Ferengi run establishment on Betazed. An odd sight, but about as odd as see a Ferengi in a Starfleet Uniform. Some Ferengi managed to orm their way into building a few places throughout Betazed because they were one of a few species a Betazoid couldn't read so it would be difficult for them to get caught cheating in some way. To a Ferengi, an opportunity to avoid cheating is an opportunity for profit.
Loktor wasn't a typical Ferengi. He wasn't interested in profit and he definitely hated being around his own kind. However, when he was needed to play a typical Ferengi, he was good at it. Sometimes, to him, scary good. As he looked around the room at all the Dabo and Tongo tables, the Dabo Girls and Ferengi staff, his eyes were only focused on one thing. Finding his friend, Vincent Zandrell.
The Starfleet Ferengi finally spotting him. Sitting at a Tongo table, drink on one side, surrounded by smirking Ferengi. The sight brought a smirk to his own face. Not because he thought his friend was in a hard place, but because the Ferengi obviously underestimated Vincent. He was good at the game. Loktor knew as much. He taught him after all. With a smirk on his face, he walked passed all the Dabo girls trying got get his attention and toward the table to his friend. As he approached, he saw Vincent toss a few strips into the bowl and turn the table.
"How many strips?" Loktor asked as he approached, crossing his arms over his chest, as he came to a stop behind Vincent.
"More than enough." Vincent replied, taking a look at his cards while picking up his drink. He brought it to his lips and took a sip, making a slightly displeased face, before putting it down.
"You okay?" Loktor asked softly.
"These greedy trolls can't make a decent Earth drink to save their lobes." Vincent said as he looked up briefly, watching the next player toss some strips into the bowl and spin the table.
Loktor smirked again as a Dabo Girl approached him. Without looking at her, he gestured for her to go away, before saying. "I don't know if I should be offended by that comment."
"You shouldn't. Compared to them, you'd be more of a challenge." Vincent replied with a smile.
A Ferengi shouted from across the table. "Are you going to play or talk, Hew-mon?"
Vincent's demeanor suddenly shifted. He stopped smiling and looked firmly at the Ferengi, his eyes slightly narrowed, before replying. "You should save yourself the humiliation and toss the rest of your profit in so I don't have to spend my time winning the rest, Frog."
"It is Froogg!" The Ferengi shouted as he tossed some strips in and shouted "Evade!" Before spinning the table.
Loktor shook his head. "Bad move." He said softly with a smile.
Vincent laid his circular cards on the table. "Total... Monopoly." He said in a calm tone, looking around the table as all the Ferengi groaned.
"You cheated, Hew-mon!" Froogg shouted as he stood up from his seat.
"Prove it, Frog!" Vincent countered; his fists clenched.
Loktor immediately put his hand on Vincent's shoulder and tapped it lightly. "That's if for you, my friend."
"There's still latinum to win, Loktor." He gestured to the table. "Nothing I like more than taken the Latinum from a Ferengi and watching them weep like a filthy hew-mon baby." He laughed as he motioned to the other players.
Loktor whispered in his friend’s ear. "You're done, Vincent. Rule 18. You've taken some of his money, no need to take the rest." He pulled away and taped his shoulder with a smirk before adding. "Besides, you’ll always know he has more to win next time."
Vincent looked over to Loktor. He smiled back and nodded. Loktor rarely quoted the Rules of Acquisition, in fact he hated them, but when he did he did it for a reason. Vincent knew he had to walk away and his friend as subtly telling him that's what he needed to do. With another tap of his shoulder from Loktor, he walked away from the table and toward the bar.
The Starfleet Ferengi watched his friend leave before quickly turning to the Tongo Table in time to see a few hands going toward the pot of strips in the middle. He gave them all a firm look before gesturing for a Dabo Girl to come over. When she approached, he said. "Pack this all up for my friend, Miss. And take three strips for yourself." She nodded and began to collect the strips from the bowl. "Don't take more than three. I'm going to count it later."
As he was about to walk away, Froogg said in disgusted tone. "What kind of Ferengi are you? Giving profit away."
A Post By
Lieutenant Vincent Zandrell
Reinstated Starfleet Officer
Assigned to USS Artemis
Lieutenant Commander Loktor
Starfleet Intelligence
REDACTED
Froogg
Ferengi Patron
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