Home > Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Progress

QUARK: I thought I told you to cancel that order.

Now, what am I supposed to do with 5,000 wrappages of Cardassian yamok sauce?

They're the only ones who could stomach that swill.

Hey, Nog, are you going to play or what?

You ordered it, you're going to pay for it.

I'm going to take half your paycheck every week for the next six years!

From now on, no more Cardassian food in here ever!

Come on, Nog, it's your turn.

5,000 wrappages.

That's a lot of yamok sauce.

Look, either take your turn, or I win.

It'd be a shame to let it go to waste.

That's it-- game over.

Jake, I'm getting that tingling in the lobes and when a lobe tingles, it means only one thing-- opportunity.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about gold-pressed latinum-- maybe four or five bars.

I thought you were talking about yamok sauce.

You've got a lot to learn about opportunity.

Come on.

Where?

SISKO: Station Log, Stardate 46844.3.

With the help of the Federation

Bajor is about to commence

its first large-scale energy transfer--

the tapping of the molten core of its fifth moon, Jeraddo.

Magma pressure's remained constant.

Differential subsurface movement is at 0.3 percent.

Is that good?

They'd tell you if it weren't.

Oh, uh, why is that red light blinking?

We're in normal standby mode.

Oh, I take it, then, we're not expecting any surprises.

We don't like surprises any more than you do.

Minister Toran, these people are professionals.

Forgive my bureaucratic nit-picking, Major but we're counting on Jeraddo's energy to heat a few hundred thousand

Bajoran homes this winter.

And, with that in mind we're due to make our next inspection.

Anyway, so there I was, sitting in Quark's when Morn just comes over to me and invites me for dinner.

Grid square 12-delta reads clear of life-forms.

Morn? Are you serious?

Beginning scan of grid square 15-delta.

So, what did you say?

I said I was busy.

Good.

But you know those seven or eight little wiry hairs that come out of his forehead?

What?

Well, they make him look kind of cute.

That's odd.

Sensors read a humanoid presence in 15-delta.

Could be one of the project thermologists.

Not in 15-delta.

Look for yourself.

All the inhabitants were supposed to be evacuated by now.

Well, I better beam down there take a look around.

Ready to transport.

I won't be long.

MAN: The problem is, they don't like uniforms.

Neither do I, but it comes with the job.

Which is?

Do we talk, or do they attack?

You're halfway pretty.

Does that mean I can come in?

No. No, I don't like uniforms either.

I'm scared of them.

See, we had our fill of uniformed bullies.

I'm no Cardassian.

You know you were supposed to be out of here by now.

All I know is this farm, girl.

Now, you want proof, just look at my crop.

Uh, I'd rather you didn't call me "girl."

It's mostly katterpod beans but you won't find better katterpods.

My father always said you get bigger katterpods when you spray in some chlorobicrobes.

Is that right?

Well, that could be.

Your family's farmers then?

No, but if I don't get on your good side soon my arm's going to fall off.

Yeah, pretty eyes like yours deserve a meal.

You come on in.

I'm afraid we don't have time.

Look, obviously you were overlooked in the general evacuation.

I got to get you out of here.

We'll talk about that over supper.

Come on.

There he is.

220, bottom price. 220.

( scoffing )

Excuse me, sir.

Are you the Captain of the Lissepian cargo ship?

That's right.

And you do a lot of trading with the Cardassians.

Why not? One thing about Cardassians-- they pay their bills.

Yes, I've heard that.

I have also heard they love their yamok sauce.

Look, if you're trying to buy some yamok sauce from me, boy you're wasting your time.

I'm not carrying any.

We're not buying, we're selling.

5,000 wrappages of it.

Original, not replicated.

Where would you two boys get all that yamok sauce?

We have connections.

5,000, you say?

And they could be yours for, say five bars of gold-pressed latinum.

That's a lot of latinum.

That's a lot of yamok sauce.

Look, I'm not carrying any latinum but I'll tell you what I'll do--

I'll trade you something for it.

We were counting on latinum.

Hold on.

What would you trade?

I'll give you 100 gross of self-sealing stem bolts.

Some Bajoran ordered them from me, and now he can't pay.

Self-sealing stem bolts?

Top-grade merchandise.

You won't find a better stem bolt in this sector.

I don't think so.

We deal strictly in latinum.

Nog, are you sure?

What are we going to do with stem bolts?

What are we going to do with yamok sauce?

Sir, I have discussed it with my partner and you have a deal.

Good.

I'll meet you at Cargo Bay 9 at 2100 hours.

We'll make the trade then.

Now, the question is, what are we going to do with a hundred gross of self-sealing stem bolts?

I have a better question.

How do we get your uncle's yamok sauce?

At least you're not the type that's going to dispossess a man on an empty stomach.

Wouldn't think of it.

Well, that's good, 'cause these roots are going to take three hours to soften.

What?

You wouldn't want to eat your roots hard, now, would you?

I'm in no hurry.

Kira to Ganges.

This is Dax.

Are you all right?

A man with a talent for delay has just invited me to a farewell supper here.

You go on.

I'll have one of the thermologists bring me back.

Enjoy supper. Dax out.

Here you go.

You wash it off first and then you scrape the skin off.

You don't talk much.

Oh, they don't talk at all.

The Cardassians took care of that.

They escaped up to this moon 18 years ago.

I've been here 40.

We did real well together.

Oh, get out the plates and utensils like a good girl, would you?

That cupboard right over there.

You know, you look real good even from this angle.

But you know something?

You walk like a carnivorous rastipod.

Now, look...

You're trying to make me mad.

How am I doing?

Not well enough to get rid of me.

Damn!

( sighs )

Well, what do they call you, dear?

I'm Major Kira.

I'm in charge of evacuating...

Your given name.

Nerys.

Nerys.

Well, Nerys, I'm Mullibok.

And these roots are really going to take three hours to cook so you might as well just sit down and relax yourself, child.

It's going to be tasty.

Mullibok... they begin tapping the core of this moon in seven days.

I know.

You are only three people.

This project is going to benefit thousands... hundreds of thousands.

I made myself unconcerned with that 40 years ago when I escaped from a Cardassian labor camp on your precious Bajor.

What we're trying to create now is what you weren't allowed to have then.

It can be your Bajor, too.

This is where I live.

This is my home.

You can have a home on Bajor with people to welcome you and your friends.

Life will be different, yes, but it will be fine really.

No, it won't.

I told you, my life's here.

If I leave here, I'll die.

So I'd rather die here.

Dabo!

Uncle Quark!

You.

Last night, that dabo player who dropped his drink?

I saw you run and get him another one without charging him.

I warned you about picking up your father's habits.

It'll never happen again, Uncle.

You know, I was trying to find some storage space for the shipment of lokarbeans that are due in tomorrow.

Is it okay if I stack them on top of the yamok sauce-- if I can reach that high?

Please don't talk to me about yamok sauce.

Do you want me to get rid of it?

I could take it to the matter reclamation unit.

Anything. Just get it out of my sight.

Nog... you're a good boy.

I stowed away aboard a Cardassian survey vessel which was making stops all through the Bajoran system.

They were looking for possible mining sites.

Anyway, when we got here to Jeraddo

I overpowered the crew and I stole whatever I'd need to start building a life here.

You overpowered the crew?

Yourself?

There was only six of them.

That was fortunate for me because I was somewhat weakened by the captivity and starvation.

Anyway, here I was the first person ever to settle on this moon and the only trouble was that I didn't have any kind of farm implements.

So, once again, starvation and I were staring each other in the face.

Uh... I'm not boring you?

No, no.

I want to hear who won.

Ah.

Well, it was mind over matter.

Every 26 hours

I'd just tighten up my waist belt another notch and, that way, my belly didn't know that it was shrinking.

Excuse me?

You asked me to tell you how I got started here which I'm very politely trying to do.

Now, will you kindly let me finish?

I assume you found some food before you ran out of belt notches.

Are you telling the story or am I?

By all means.

I can't wait to hear how it ends.

Obviously, I was going to have to plant and harvest a crop.

So I did what any person would do who had to build an entire world for himself.

First, I rolled back and forth on the ground till it surrendered.

Then I got down on my hands and knees and I started to plow using nothing but my fingernails, mind you.

I plowed every furrow in that field straight as a plumb line.

Now, that is inventive.

Yeah. If I came across a deposit of mineralized clay what I'd do is just grind it up in my teeth.

That way, it enriched the soil.

Baltrim, how about some of that wonderful wine here?

What I'm telling you, Major...

I tamed this place.

Me.

I believe you.

You look like a bit of a fighter yourself.

Well, on Bajor, we had to be.

To get rid of the Cardassians, huh?

Mindless butchers.

We paid them back.

I bet you did.

They probably didn't know what hit them.

I'm sorry I missed the fun.

Fun?

Must have been like spearing kandippers in a bottle.

Wait a minute. Are you serious?

You know what the Cardassians were like-- what weapons they had.

We didn't stand a chance against them.

How did you beat them then?

Well, we beat them because... because we hung on like fanatics.

Hung on like fanatics.

I got to remember that.

Mullibok, listen to me.

One of these days

I'm going to have to finish up that kiln.

Then I can temper my baking pots put some colorful lids on them.

That'd be nice, wouldn't it?

I appreciate your trying to hang on here.

I sympathize, but you can't stay here.

The minute they start tapping the crust it will release carbon and sulfur compounds.

It will make the air unbreathable.

The Cardassians probably told you you didn't stand a chance either.

Did you surrender?

No.

Why do expect me to act any different than you?

Now, you tell them they can start cracking this moon apart whenever they're ready.

I'll be here.

I'll tell them.

So that's a stem bolt.

A self-sealing stem bolt.

There's a difference.

You're sure about that?

What's important is that it's top-grade merchandise.

You can't get a better stem bolt in this sector.

And we have a hundred gross of them.

That's a lot of stem bolts.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Anyone know what this cargo's doing here?

It belongs to my Uncle Quark.

They're stem bolts.

Will you do me a favor, and tell your uncle we're getting a little weary of him bypassing import procedures.

I'll certainly do that, sir.

It's just that my Uncle Quark really needed some stem bolts.

You mean self-sealing stem bolts.

That's right! That's it!

Self-sealing stem bolts.

Well, he sure needs a lot of them.

It's top-grade merchandise.

You can't find a better stem bolt in this sector.

Oh, I don't doubt it.

What does he need them for?

Uh, the usual.

The usual?

Well, you know.

Why does anybody use self-sealing stem bolts?

I wouldn't know.

I've never used them.

Never?

I've never even seen one.

Then how do you know they're self-sealing?

I read it here on the manifest pad.

I would have bet anything that he would have known what they were.

I told you, we should have asked that freighter captain.

Wait.

I know who could tell us what self-sealing stem bolts are-- the Bajoran who ordered them in the first place.

His name's got to be on the shipping codes.

Sirco Ch'Ano.

It has his address and everything.

You think he'll be mad that we have his stem bolts?

He couldn't afford them. Remember?

But we'll offer to sell them to him at a discount.

I'm glad you finally made it back.

I was getting worried about you.

Is he alone?

I think Minister Toran is in there with him.

Even better.

I don't understand.

There were 47 other people living on that moon.

They all left willingly.

How do we know?

All we know is that they obeyed the order to leave.

And so will these people.

You haven't met Mullibok.

Is there anything you can offer that might make him more willing to leave?

Not a thing, believe me.

Would a postponement help?

Give us time to work something out with him.

We can't postpone.

And, if he stays, he'll be committing suicide.

We'll have to beam him off the surface.

If we take him like that, we'll be killing him.

I refuse to allow three stubborn holdouts to jeopardize a project that will benefit so many of our people.

I am sorry, Major.

If there was anything else that we could do we'd have done it.

But there is another way.

We can tap the core using phased energy retrieval.

I thought we'd agreed phased energy retrieval would take too long.

It would mean waiting a full year before we can extract any meaningful amount of energy.

I wish we had the time to be more delicate but we don't.

So, instead, we'll act like Cardassians.

Easy, Major.

I resent that.

It's obvious to me that you've developed a feeling for this man.

Fine, I can accept that.

But if you're not comfortable with completing this assignment

I'll find someone else who is.

That won't be necessary.

Mullibok?

Mullibok?

What about the other two?

They, uh, have a cottage

35, 40 meters through there.

Now, remember, these people were victims of the Cardassians.

They don't speak.

They're very frightened of uniforms. Understood?

Understood, Major.

If, uh, you find them working in the fields just gather up their clothes and supplies, I guess.

Without permission?

We're not going to get their permission.

Just be very careful with everything.

You plan to use that?

Protocol.

If you like, I'll help you pack your things.

You sent those two uniforms after Baltrim and Keena.

That's right. I'm doing what has to be done.

Me, too.

Don't make us take you by force.

Please.

I promise you, it won't be so bad.

You can plant whatever you want to on Bajor.

Stay by yourself if you want to-- that's fine.

Take some seeds with you for those terrible roots of yours I had to eat.

Just listen to reason.

Listen to yourself, Major.

Tell me what you hear.

What do you mean?

Well, I mean, you sound like a two-headed Malgorian I knew when I was a boy.

You ever try to talk to a two-headed Malgorian?

This is no time for one of your stories.

See, the thing with two-headed Malgorians is that it can never figure out what it really wants to do and that can be very confusing, believe me.

You know, eventually, you're going to have to stop talking and deal with this.

And the trouble with my Malgorian friend was he had all kinds of problems and he couldn't decide how to solve them.

So he'd always come running to me so I could solve them for him.

Mullibok...

You know what I finally said to that Malgorian?

I said, "Fellas, deal with it yourselves." Hmm?

( chuckling )

Fine.

I'll pack your things myself.

Major!

They're crazy!

This man just stuck me with a farm implement.

And she attacked me from behind.

Let her go!

Stay back!

Let her go!

( grunting )

No!

( grunts )

You!

Beam up to the runabout and call the station.

Get Dr. Bashir.

Move!

SIRCO: I still can't see you.

What did you say your name was?

I'm getting some kind of subspace interference.

My name's...

We're the, um, the Nog and... the Noh-Jay Consortium and we have 100 gross of self-sealing stem bolts.

And we were wondering...

You have my stem bolts?

What would you want for them?

We'll let you have them for... five bars of gold-pressed latinum.

Five bars?!

Four bars.

I don't think I...

Three bars.

If I had any latinum, I'd already have the bolts.

Would you consider an exchange?

I would consider one bar of latinum.

He doesn't have any latinum.

Let's exchange for something.

I don't want "something."

I want latinum.

I can't hear you.

Can I interest you in a piece of land?

Land is good.

For what?

It's nothing but dirt.

How much land?

I can let you have seven tessipates.

Seven sounds good.

First yamok sauce, then stem bolts now tessipates-- and still no profit.

We're getting closer.

I can feel it.

You can?

I think so.

Do we have a deal?

We'd have to see proof that you own the land.

Naturally.

You'll get the transmission on that by 1200 hours.

You just bought yourself some stem bolts.

Land.

Dirt.

( Mullibok groans )

Just rest easy.

You took a phaser blast which punctured your peritoneum.

It's serious.

And if you try to move around, you'll make it worse.

Another uniform.

Dr. Julian Bashir

Starfleet.

Major Kira sent for me.

She did, huh?

You're backwards, Nerys.

I told you.

With me unconscious she could have swept us all off of here with no trouble at all.

My friends Baltrim and Keena?

They've been evacuated to Bajor.

I'll be taking you back to our station, so I can...

No.

I stay here.

He refuses to leave.

Really?

Well, he's got to be cared for.

I'm going to take him without his permission.

No, you're not.

Well, he needs close attention.

I'll be here.

There's no medical facility here.

Leave the instructions and whatever medication you think he'll need.

She didn't offer a word of explanation, sir.

She simply removed her uniform tunic and started building.

Well, Doctor right now she stands a pretty good chance of being out of uniform permanently.

I'm going to tell Minister Toran that she's remained temporarily on Jeraddo at your request.

But, sir, that isn't true.

Make it true, Doctor.

Now, please.

Commander, I'd advise that Major Kira remain on Jeraddo for humanitarian reasons....

How long?

The next day or two.

For the next day or two, sir.

Thank you, Doctor.

I will consider that request.

Dismissed.

What's that?

It's for deep bruises.

Don't ask me why it works.

I'm not the doctor.

What are they going to do to you for staying here?

Probably the same thing they're going to do to you.

I don't really know.

What are you so angry about?

I don't really know.

( sighs )

When I was very small

I remember there was this tree right outside my window.

It was the ugliest most gnarled and battered old tree I'd ever seen.

Even the birds stayed away from it.

But you loved it, huh?

Hated it.

Because it had grown so huge its branches blocked out the sun for kellipates and its roots buried themselves so deep in the soil nothing else could grow there.

Oh, it was a big, selfish, annoying...

Nasty...

Nasty... nasty old tree.

Hmm.

Sounds to me like it had a lot of character.

A lot.

So what happened?

Did you cut it down?

I don't know yet.

Sisko to Kira.

Commander.

I'm preparing to beam down.

I don't think that's a good idea.

Major, either I'm coming down or you're coming up.

He doesn't have much faith in you, does he?

Nerys.

This is still my home.

What do you want?

I'm here to see Major Kira.

Well, she doesn't want to see you.

Neither do I.

Wait a minute.

Don't speak for me.

You know, you're causing a lot of trouble.

I can't tell you how delighted I am to hear that.

How many of you Federated uniforms you going to send after me?

40, 50?

I don't think it will come to that.

That depends on how bad you want to get rid of me.

Mr. Mullibok, I'm here because I'm concerned about my First Officer.

What about her?

By staying here, she's jeopardizing her career.

Would you go back to bed?

You quit telling me what to do.

Major can I see you outside for a minute?

Talk to him as long as you want.

Why don't you tell him the story about your tree?

Be quiet.

There was this big, ugly tree, uh...

Go on.

Never mind.

I can see why you like him.

What can I do for you, Commander?

You and I have a material subsistence report to finish by the end of the week.

I don't think I'm going to be able to help you with that.

It's part of the liaison officer's job.

I know.

I don't like the prospect of having to break in a new one.

You have a job to do here, Major and you're not doing it.

It's not that simple.

I'm not saying it's simple.

I'm saying it can't wait.

( sighs )

Look... I understand you're used to sympathizing with the underdog.

You've spent your life fighting to overcome impossible odds just like he's doing.

But you have to realize something, Major.

You're on the other side now.

Pretty uncomfortable, isn't it?

It's awful.

When I first met you, Major

I thought you were hostile and arrogant but I was wrong.

Bajor needs you, and I need you.

I like you and I don't want you to be hurt.

So, as a friend, I'm here to remind you that his fate is already decided.

Yours isn't.

Thank you.

There will be a runabout standing by.

One to beam up.

( mumbling )

( mumbling )

Mullibok.

Mullibok.

( mumbling )

No!

You're... you're hurting her.

Let go.

Easy.

Lussilla...

Easy.

I told you... take your hands off me.

( sighs deeply )

That's right.

It's okay.

Everything's going to be fine.

Oh... it's you.

You were having a bad dream.

Not just a bad dream-- bad memories.

I didn't say anything, did I?

No.

You thirsty?

No.

Hungry?

No. Leave me alone.

Go back to sleep.

Where you going?

I'd like to get some sleep, too.

Fine, bring the chair over here.

Well, are you my nurse, or not?

Is this better?

Are you going to talk all night?

Let me sleep.

( snoring )

Nog, I'm waiting.

I'm thinking.

About what?

Latinum, and how we don't have any.

All we have is dirt.

How many times do I have to tell you?

It's not dirt-- it's land.

What are we supposed to do with this land?

Sell it, I guess.

To who?

Why do I have to think of everything?

We should have kept the stem bolts.

Land is better than bolts.

How do you know?

You can build things on land.

You can't build anything without bolts.

( sighs )

Just throw down a card.

QUARK: And you say they're based here on the station?

ODO: That's correct.

The Noh-Jay Consortium?

No, never heard of it.

Why do you ask?

I was contacted by a government official this morning.

They want to build a reclamation facility on a strip of land owned by four different people.

Three of them have agreed to sell but the government doesn't know how to reach the fourth-- this Noh-Jay Consortium.

You mean the government can't build without that one piece of land.

Apparently not.

What a wonderful opportunity for profit.

I told you that land was better than bolts.

( speaks Ferengi )

And you think I'm part of this Consortium?

I think very little goes on here without your knowledge.

True. This time, however someone has failed to include me.

Are you telling me you're not involved?

Oh, not yet, but that will be remedied.

You can tell the Bajorans

I'll be opening negotiations with them shortly.

Let's see.

Who on this station is clever enough?

Uncle Quark?

Not now.

But, Uncle Quark...

Go sweep the floor.

It's important.

All right, make it fast.

I have a business opportunity that might interest you.

Huh?

It'll only cost you five bars of gold-pressed latinum.

Nog...

( sighs )

( tiles clattering )

( sighs )

( groaning )

Any pain?

Just a little sore.

I was starting to think you'd sleep all day.

That's because I was taking care of you all night.

I don't recall asking you to do that.

I can handle this.

Go get something to eat.

There isn't time.

You're finally leaving?

Last one.

I didn't think I'd ever finish it.

It's finished.

Nothing to do but fire it up.

What's all this?

You finished your work.

Now I have to finish mine.

But you don't want to.

I could use a friend on Bajor.

I'd like it to be you.

As long as that cottage is standing, I stay here.

What the hell are you doing?!

Saving your life.

So you chose your uniform over me after all.

That's not true.

The time I've spent here with you has meant so much to me, but it's over.

It's time we went on with our lives-- mine and yours.

You say you're my friend.

Prove it.

Use that weapon on me.

I can't.

If I leave here, I'll die.

No, you won't.

I won't let you.

Two to beam up.