PNPC Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis - You'll Never Believe What Happens Next
Samantha Richards
((The Shaded Roads - Central District Underground, Fereng- Ferenginar))
With a raised eyebrow, Charlotte cleared her throat before taking a step towards the Ferengi. Was she about to BS her way through the situation? She was absolutely going to give it a shot.
Brexis: I'm sure you're aware that pursuant to Section 9, Paragraph 21 of Chapter 86 of the Unified Code of the United Federation of Planets, agreed to by treaty with the Ferengi Alliance, we are legally allowed to ask about how you procured this item? ::leaning in closer:: I think we both know it found its way into your hands under less-than-ideal circumstances, yes?
She looked at Tamio for some kind of conformation with her very real bout of nonsense she was spouting off.
Shopkeeper: I am very familiar and aware of the code. ::Folding his arms and snorting:: Fine. 20 bars.
K’Wara: Hmm… Interesting offer.
There was no possible way he was familiar or aware of the code. Because she made it up. She made a vain attempt to keep herself from smiling.
He mumbled something under his breath. Charlotte was sure she saw his ears twitch with irritation. That didn’t stop her.
Brexis: ::Holding up her hand and shaking her head:: 20? If only that number was low enough to guarantee our silence on the matter.
K’Wara: I don’t know about you, but it sounds like she means business.
Charlotte tilted her head and glanced down at her fingernails, showing she was losing her patience with the shopkeep. As she did that, she noticed out of the corner of her eye, an almost identical statue to the one they saw earlier. The not-so-subtle mushroom on the top.
Shopkeeper: ::Sneering:: 15.
Charlotte: 14. ::Pointing to the statue:: And you’re going to throw in that statue too.
To further drive her point, she held up 14 strips of latinum. Was it strictly appropriate for a commissioned Starfleet officer to invoke a completely fictitious subsection of Federation law while haggling with an allied species?
Most likely not.
And Charlotte hadn't technically threatened anyone. All she did was exercise her perfectly legitimate right to inquire about the origin of a dubiously-sourced item. The made-up citation was just a splash of bureaucratic nonsense, used as a bargaining chip.
Besides - this was Ferenginar. The land where the Rules of Acquisition outnumbered the variety of local amphibian fauna - and everyone assumed everyone else was running a scam until proven otherwise.
If commerce here operated on caveat emptor, Charlotte reasoned, it followed naturally that her side of the transaction could operate under its often neglected cousin:
Caveat venditor: seller beware.
Shopkeeper: 20 for the two of them, and I include the lanallien batteries.
It took everything in Charlotte not to get excited. Batteries?! Did that mean it would light up? Or perhaps sang a little song? Perhaps both? She was endlessly intrigued, but kept her game face on. Apparently so did Tamio.
K’Wara: 18 for both sculptures and the batteries, and Charlotte here will give you the inside scoop on how to avoid ‘Chapter 86 of Section 9’ of that code.
Shopkeeper: It’s a deal.
Brexis: Smart man.
Tamio nodded and added some of their own latinum to Charlotte's and grabbed both sculptures, taking the batteries and turned towards Charlotte with their arms full.
K’Wara: ::low whisper:: Don’t break his heart too bad.
Charlotte returned the sentiment with a smirk and a nod. Tamio left the shop, while the Ferengi shopkeeper listened intently to Charlotte giving him the low down on the code.
Which was also a bunch of nonsense.
With her head held high and hands clasped behind her back, Charlotte sauntered out of the shop. Tamio waved their hand to gesture her over in their direction. They raised their cup towards her as they sipped on the straw.
K’Wara: Did he cry?
Brexis: ::Chuckling:: Only a little. ::Reaching into her pocket:: He saw things my way and decided to throw in an extra set of batteries for my kindness.
She may have let it slip that she was there with the Federation Starship orbiting the planet to help dissuade him from getting cranky with her.
K’Wara: Response
Brexis: ::Sitting down at the table:: What do you say we stick some of the batteries in and see what this thing does!
K’Wara: Response
With an excited smile, she turned the statue over to find a small opening for the batteries. She stuck them in and handed it back over to Tamio.
Brexis: You do the honors. Turn it on!
K’Wara: Response
What happened after it was turned on not only shocked her, but made her uncontrollably laugh. She only hoped Tamio was having as much of a blast as she was.
TAG/TBC!
Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis
Strategic Operations Officer
USS Artemis-A