Post 314: The Safest Thing

Stardate: 70723.0555
Title: The Safest Thing
Author: Ensign Rada Dengar
Scene: A secluded beach on Trill
Time: Following "The Core of the Problem"

Rada looks out over the purple sea and can't help but think about the beaches back home. He looks around and sees the sparsely populated shore with only one couple he can see; both people asleep on the sand.

He can't concentrate, he knows that it's only a matter of time before the Independence arrives and he will be expected to step off the runabout and confidently shake hands with and answer the questions of the crew. How is he supposed to know the correct answer to 'Why did you choose to transfer to the Independence?' or 'What do you expect from your time here?'?

He knows he is a good liar but he attributes that to never having had any kind of interesting truth to tell people.He knows that sitting around here won't help get his mind off of what's coming but he also knows that it is the safest thing to be doing.

Suddenly a Ferengi appears, materializes in front of Rada and points a phaser in his face. Rada is naturally shocked but sees no benefit in showing it.

He asks assertively "What do you want?"

The Ferengi replies smugly "I'll ask the questions around here. Let me tell you what I want."

"That's convenient, because I just asked you to.

"The Ferengi ignored Rada's comment "Listen, Human, I need your help for a little business transaction."

"First of all I am not human," says Rada as he stands and raises his arms.

"Silence! I will fire!"

"No, you won't. A true Ferengi would never kill a potential customer. Are you a true Ferengi?"

"What business would you do with me?"retorts the Ferengi suspiciously.

"I would like to buy that phaser right about now, but I'd settle for buying my way out of you firing."

"How much are you offering?"

"How about a toffee?" says Rada whilst offering the Ferengi one from his pocket.

"There would be no profit in that!" snaps the Ferengi.

"How about just trying one?"

"You will come with me; I have made contact with some beings who would be very interested in having a Starfleet officer in their possession and would pay very well."

Rada begins to laugh to himself "I didn't know anybody was still pulling that old scam!"

"Scam, what do you mean scam?" the Ferengi says with concern.

"They send you off to capture a Starfleet officer and while you're gone, they rob all of your possessions. Then even if you do succeed in capturing a Starfleet officer, you can't complain to anyone because this is a Federation planet and they typically don't take kindly to kidnapping of Starfleet personnel." Rada says convincingly.

"Impossible, my fortune is in safe hands." says the Ferengi with doubt.

"Safe from a Ferengi perhaps, but not from them."

"You lie, they want me to succeed. They even gave me this phaser!""It's a fake."

"That's a lie!" says the Ferengi as he turns his weapon to inspect it.Rada grabs the phaser and holds it away from himself.

"While we're arguing, you're losing it all."

The Ferengi's eyes fill with fear. "I must go," he then signals his ship to beam him up.

*This is the safest thing.* thinks Rada to himself as he collapses back into the sand, amazed that he managed to get out of that and wondering what happens now.
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Ensign Rada Dengar
Engineering Officer
USS Independence