Cerulean Stars: An Asari Security Officer in Commander Sisko's Court

"Can you believe it? An honest to goodness cosmozoan?" Keiko offered from across the replimats small table as Raine took a sip of her tarkalean tea. "I didn't think I'd have a chance to study anything like that after we left the Enterprise. Did you know most actually share a number of characteristics in common with plants? "

"No." She offered with a shake of her head, giving the excited woman a small amused smile. "I'm sad I missed it."

"Since Commander Sisko caught it so early in the birth process we were able to fully document the hatching." Keiko continued, the look of pure scientific excitement on her face, reminding Raine of more than a few of the almost fanatical scientists she'd been stationed with over the years.

"Which means I should be able to use the records to recreate it for a holosuite program if you want?"

"That's." Raine paused in her refusal, tilting her in consideration for a moment as her mind flashed back to the few cosmozoans she had encountered over her years and the generally breathtaking beauty of each. "Something I'd really appreciate."

"So what about you?" Keiko finally asked, turning a look of concern to the Asari. "I know Saya's back in school, but Miles mentioned the Commander still has you on medical leave?"

"Still seeing the occasional flash of purple at the corner of my vision." Raine offered holding back a wince as the intermittent throbbing in her temples chose that moment to hit. "On top of a mild migraine. But Doctor Bashir says both should disappear fully in the next couple days."

"That Vash." Keiko muttered, shaking her head angrily. "To think she ignored even the most basic safety protocols. I really wonder what Captain Picard even saw in her."

"Given they met on Risa, I'm guessing it was less what he saw in her, and more what he saw on her." Raine offered with a teasing lit to her voice.

"Men can certainly be like that." Keiko agreed with a knowing nod and giggle. "There's this red dress I have. Complete pain to get into and wear. But it drives Miles absolutely wild."

"You should talk to Garak." Raine offered with a smile. "He's surprisingly competent as a tailor, and could probably make a few subtle adjustments on it that would make things easier for you."

"Oh?" Keiko returned, leaning forward over the table in interest. "Did you get something from him?"

"Put in an order for a red dress of my own." Raine began, her look turning a bit distant as she remembered the design. "This beautiful Andorian silk that just feels divine."

"For a date?" Keiko probed. "Maybe with that young Doctor Bashir that Miles likes to hang around with? I know he's mentioned the Doctor has a bit of a thing for you."

"The doctor has a thing for anything attractive with a pulse." Raine muttered under breath, though from the amused look she caught flit across Keiko's face, it likely hadn't been quite enough for the woman not to overhear.

"The good Doctor is very much not my type." Raine continued with a bit of a grimace.

"Ah." Keiko replied with a nod, and Raine could all but see several things slot together in her mind as a look of understanding flashed across her face. "Too male?"

"Yes." Raine paused after the almost instinctive response before shaking her head and correcting herself. "Well no, more too human."

An almost offended look began to make its way across Keiko's face that had Raine cringe before quickly expanding on her answer.

"My people tend heavily towards the xenophile edge of the sexuality spectrum. And near as I can tell, being raised on Earth by Humans like I was kind of combined with that to affect just what kind of beings I feel attracted to."

"I see." Keiko acknowledged a look of understanding passing across her face. And Raine was once more thankful for the extraordinarily accepting nature of modern Federation culture when it came to such things. "So what is Saya's father then?"

"Orion." Raine offered with a shrug, not minding to admit it to the woman who had become such a fast friend. "We were both young, drunk, in possession of questionable impulse control, and on Risa."
"We still keep in touch." She continued, her look turning a bit wistful. "Mostly for Saya's sake. But Federation security officer and Orion pirate don't exactly make a stable long term pairing."

"I can imagine." Keiko offered with a commiserating smile.

"There's a secure locker in storage half full with various weapons she's sent Saya as gifts over the years." Raine added in, holding back her giggles at the look of confusion that swept over her friend's face.

"Or maybe not." Keiko admitted with an amused shake of her head.




Raine knew she had not been one of those people who always had to be doing something in her original life as a human. She had quickly discovered that was very much not the case in her new one as an Asari. And a week of enforced down time had practically had her crawling up the walls before her daughter had suggested she go to the holodeck and blow something up.

She hadn't, mainly because the extreme physical activity behind any of the programs she preferred for that sort of thing likely would have gotten back to Doctor Bashir and had her spending an additional week of enforced rest.

But the fact that even her daughter had noticed the problem had been enough to set her to focusing her energy on the project that currently had her standing in front of Major Kira's quarters clutching a padd as she waited for the woman to answer her door.
"Lieutenant Brooks." The moderately tall Bajoran woman offered in surprise as the door slid open. And Raine was relieved to see she was still in uniform. Since that meant she hadn't disturbed Kira after settling in for the night like she'd been half afraid of.

"Major Kira." Raine returned with a nod giving the woman who she'd barely interacted with outside of work a somewhat awkward smile.

"Can I help you with something?" Kira continued, her eyes flicking to the pad in Raine's arms.

"Yes." She got out, running a hand over her crest for a moment to help beat back the nervous awkwardness. "I don't know if you know this, but I originally applied to Starfleets diplomatic branch."

"It was in your file." Kira returned with a nod, her tone telling Raine she wasn't entirely sure where this was going.

"I haven't really given that up." Raine admitted, though she knew that with her disposition it would likely be years down the road before Starfleet entertained such a division transfer with any amount of seriousness.

"So I was wondering if I could talk to you about some Bajoran cultural issues I had questions on?"

"Of course." Kira agreed, her shoulders relaxing significantly as an almost happy smile appeared on her face.

"Why don't you come in, I was just settling down with some tea." She continued motioning for Raine to enter. "If you don't mind Jumja we could share a cup while we talk."

"I've never not been a fan of tea." Raine admitted following the woman in and taking one of the seats offered.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Kira questioned from her seat across from Raine a few minutes later as the two women waited for their respective cups to cool.

"Well." Raine began, fingering the padd she had brought with her. "I was going over pretty much everything I could find on Bajoran views of the Celestial Temple."

"Not a small task." Kira admitted with an amused lit.

"No." Raine agreed with a nod, reaching down to take a sip of the now cooled tea before continuing. "But it's the best lead I had in trying to figure out why Bajor wasn't utilizing the Barzan example to assist with post occupation recovery."

"The what?" Kira asked in confusion, her own cup frozen half way to her lips.

"Requesting payment or trade for various groups' use of the celestial temple as a passage." Raine expanded, resisting the urge to smack herself for using a specific diplomatic case example with someone who had literally been fighting for her life in the trenches less than a year ago.

"Oh." Kira exclaimed, an amused look passing over her features as she resumed her motion and took a sip of the tea. "There aren't any precepts or anything against it. The provisional government is just hoping to put their best foot forward in regards to Bajor's application for Federation membership."

"Lieutenant?" Kira inquired in concern at Raine's look of open mouthed shock.

"Sorry" Raine muttered, shaking her head to help focus her away from what had to be yet another example of the problems she had with the federation diplomatic corps methods.

"It's just, assuming you meet the minimum qualifications for membership everything else is just perfunctory. To the point the Federation would literally accept the Ferengi."

She paused to give a half nod of personal acknowledgement to the one real sticking point on that theoretical. "Assuming they could get over the whole oppressing their women thing."

"There's certainly been more than a few times I've had to resist shooting Quark." Kira offered with a smile that didn't quite reach all the way to her eyes.
"If you don't mind me asking though." She continued, swirling the tea in her cup slightly. "Which one was your favorite?"

"Which one?" Raine repeated, a confused and disgusted expression spreading across her face as the mental image of various Ferengi she knew played itself out in her mind's eye.

"Bajoran prophecy." Kira clarified, holding in a chuckle at the look. "Everyone always has one."

"Trakor's ninth." Raine returned almost immediately as a smile flitted across her features. "They shall ride on a chariot with wings of blue, passing through the unending storm to glimpse that which has never before been seen. Lost, but with troves aplenty they will eventually return, heralding the rise of a new dawn for those who had been forgotten."

"Certainly not one of his more well known one's." Kira admitted, a look of clear surprise crossing her features at the recital.

"I know." Raine agreed with an almost wistful look. "But with the mention of wings of blue I like to imagine he was seeing some far flung Starfleet ship."




Walking into Quark's, Raine was left wondering once again just how a Ferengi with as much adaptability as the location's proprietor, always somehow seemed to land on his ass.

"Ah Lieutenant." Quark greeted walking up to Raine with a smile on his face.

"Just Raine when I'm off duty please." She demurred, giving the man a somewhat friendly smile.

"Raine it is then." He agreed, returning her smile with one of his own. "So what can I get you? Maybe an Andorian Sunset? The same color green as your eyes, and almost as beautiful to look at."

"Still not interested Quark." She returned without missing a beat, all the while idly wondering how it was that Quark of all people was better at flirting with women then Julian Bashir. "Though I will try the drink."

"Ah well." Quark continued, returning to the bar and motioning her over. "Can't blame a Ferengi for trying."

"You can." She shot back with a grin before sitting herself down on one of the bar seats. "It'll just cost you a couple strips of gold-pressed latinum.

"See that's why I like you." He put forward as he set a glass out and began filling it with a number of different liquids that swirled together before combining together in a green flash. "You're one of the few members of Starfleet who actually get the way the universe works."

"Which is actually what brings me here today." Raine offered, sliding a padd forward before taking a sip of the drink only to hold back her look of surprise at the pleasant yet sharp taste.

"Good huh." Quark returned with a grin as he caught it nonetheless before picking up the pad and beginning to page through the information within.

Raine could practically see his lobes twitch with interest the moment he got to the relevant information. And she held back a smile and sipped her drink in compilation as she waited for him to finish.

"Don't think Starfleet would be too happy about that." Quark finally put forward before reluctantly sliding the padd back over to her. "And while I normally wouldn't care, sex tends to be one of the things they get touchy about."

"It's not sex." She argued, only to pause and admit defeat when Quark gave her a 'you can't really be that stupid' look. "Okay it's not just sex, it's general image rights for holo-novel utilization of the Asari."

"And it's perfectly legal under Federation law so long as it's authorized by a recognized representative of the race in question. Which, as one of the only two known representatives of the race in question, I currently am."

"Tempting." He admitted, and she could all but see him weighing the potential profits against the risk in his head. "But what about Starfleet?"

"As long as it's not using my actual image, there's nothing in Starfleet regulations against it." She offered, feeling a sudden bout of pity for the no doubt numerous officers who had likely gotten themselves screwed over before that had been added.

"Hmm." Quark murmured to himself, tapping his finger on the bar. "Payment to an account in the Bank of Bolias? I could get you a much better interest rate with the Lissepians. For a modest finders fee of course."

"Saya's father insisted I open an account there." Raine admitted rolling her eyes. "Said she would find me and stab me in the eye if I didn't have at least some safety net for Saya in case I died horribly."

"Sensible woman." Quark agreed with a toothy grin that quickly turned into a narrow eyed stare of suspicion. "But you still haven't told me what's in this for you."

"Latinum isn't enough?" Raine tried, internally cursing the fact he had caught that.

"For me, sure." He admitted with a half nod. "But you're Starfleet. The only time you care about money is when it's a means to some end."

"A security net for my daughter." Raine admitted, giving a shake of her head that she hoped Quark would read as acquiesces.

"Believable." He agreed with a nod after looking into her eyes for a moment. "But that's not it. I know personal greed. And for a moment there, there was the spark of it in your eyes."

Seeing he wasn't going to budge, Raine slumped in on herself a bit. Because like it or not Quark was the only Ferengi she trusted to pull this off while only somewhat fucking her over.

"I want my own ship." She finally mumbled. "Not now, but whenever it is I end up retiring from Starfleet. And I have a better chance of Q showing up to present me a gift wrapped Promellian Battlecruiser then I do successfully navigating the byzantine bureaucracy required for a sole Federation Citizen to actually requisition their own starship."

"See, now that I can believe." Quark returned with an almost predatory smile as he pulled the pass back over. "Now let's talk contract details."


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Authors Notes: Fun fact I discovered when writing this. Episode number is actually a bit off from in universe time code. So if certain events end up happening in a slightly different order that's why.

Now to get a couple of likely questions out of the way, Raine is in fact Bi. Though with the highly limited number of 'model level' male aliens around it often appears she skew's more one way then the other. (And let me tell you, the fact that she actually finds Gul Dukat hot disturbs her on multiple levels.)

And yes, that prophecy is a stealth reference to something, though Raine herself has in fact not figured out what.

Commander Sisko gave Raine a nod as she walked up to the cog shaped airlock of docking bay four, her dress uniform tugging uncomfortably in a way she was pretty sure it hadn't the last time she had had to wear it five years ago.

"Lieutenant." Sisko offered with a nod, his eyes flicking to Doctor Bashir who was trying his very best to hide in his regular uniform behind a dress uniform attired Dax. "I see you were able to find your dress uniform."

"A little tight in places" Raine admitted with a shake of her head as she took up a position slightly to the Commander's left.

"Little loose for me." Sisko returned, his tone one of consoling amusement.

"So the Wadi, was there anything more than the briefing you sent me?" Raine asked in hope as the clunk of docking echoed out through the station's inner hull.

Commander Sisko gave a shake of his head, and she once again held in a mental curse at the Vulcans and their complete lack of diligence when it came to first contact briefings.

The hiss of the airlock cycling filled the hall and she stood to attention as the door opened and the six members of the Wadi delegation walked through it into the station.

"I am Falow, Master Surchid of the Wadi." The somewhat rotund humanoid with an almost iridescent purple facial tattoo offered, making a triangular double hand motion that Raine suspected was the Wadi equivalent of a respectful bow.

"Welcome in the name of Bajor and the United Federation of Planets." Commander Sisko returned with the tone of someone who had spent long hours practicing. "I am Commander Benjamin Sisko, and on behalf of my senior staff officers, Major Kira, Lieutenant Dax and Doctor Bashir I."

"Yes, yes, yes." Falow interrupted, waving off the commander's introduction with two fingers of his hand. "Now, where are the games?"

"Games?" Sisko asked in confusion, turning back from his introduction to address the Wadi. "

"We were told you had games." Falow offered, giving the commander a somewhat inscrutable look as one of the other members of the delegation leaned over and whispered something in his ear. "Quark's. Take us to Quark's."

"Right this way." Kira muttered, motioning for them to follow after her as she began walking. The Wadi followed behind without further comment.

"First contact is not what it used to be." Commander Sisko muttered to the rest of them the moment the Wadi were out of earshot before moving to follow.

"Sir." Raine began her tone full of caution as she lightly placed a hand on the commander's shoulder in a way she knew would tell both he and the other officers that she wanted a minute for a private talk.

"Lieutenant?" He asked, waving the other two off to continue following the Wadi delegation.

"I think we have a Risian situation on our hands." Raine began, referring to what was almost the textbook definition of a culture that hyper focused itself around a particular type of cultural pursuit.

"That type of insight is why I wanted you here." Sisko began with an understanding nod. "But are you sure?"

"No." Raine admitted with a shake of her head after considering what she remembered for a moment. "But the two most likely options are either that or a response test of some kind."

"Possibly even both." She added in after a moment, trying not to let her annoyance show at just how difficult some races could be when it came to first contact issues.

"Well, good catch either way Lieutenant." Sisko offered, clapping her on the shoulder before following the others.

"Why can't things ever be easy?" Raine heard him mutter as he walked.

"If either of us wanted it easy we wouldn't have joined Starfleet." Raine answered with a grin as she followed behind.

"I'd probably be a chef working at dad's restaurant." He admitted with a nod of half longing as they walked.

"A dancer." She returned, the skeptical look Commander Sisko shot her making the small tidbit of her more embarrassing teen years worth it. "Mom thought I should have hobbies, and turns out, I have pretty good flexibility and axial movement."



"If they don't have money, then how are they going to wager." Raine heard as she and Commander Sisko entered Quark's.

"There a problem Quark?" Sisko asked, the Ferengi's eyes turning to the pair with a look of equal parts dread and excitement as Jadzia Dax gave a slight nod of confirmation from next to him.

"No problem Commander." Quark rejected with a shake of his head as he walked over to the two. "I was just explaining to Jadzia about how as an ambassador of goodwill, the more good will that I can generate, the longer your wonderful guests will be able stay entertained."

"Quark." Sisko warned, his tone clear that he wasn't going to be having any of the Ferengi's obsession.

"Now now Commander." Quark began, holding up his hands in protest. "Let me put your concerns to rest." He continued, walking over to the Wadi who were gathered around the main Dabo table. "So, do you do a lot of gambling where you come from?"

"We like games." Falow offered, looking up from the table to give Quark a small smile.

"Everyone does." Quark agreed with a rapid bobbing of his head. "So have you figured out the essentials yet?"

"I believe so, yes." Falow returned, turning back to the wheel with a look of consideration.

"Tell you what then." The Ferengi continued, shooting Sisko a look of annoyance. "Give her a spin, first try on the house for our new friends from the Gamma Quadrant."

Falow gave a nod, the dabo girl giving the wheel a spin the moment Quark set down a strip of latinum for the bet. The games wheels ticked for a moment before coming to a stop and a relieved look made its way across Quark's face.

"Ah, one pinch. Too bad. Maybe you'll have better luck next spin. What would you care to wager?"

The Wadi's representative took a moment to consider the issue before giving a nod to the shorter of his female aides. A brief lull Raine used to subtly position herself in whisper range of Quark's Ferengi hearing.

"Interesting craftsmanship." Quark offered as he looked over the box Falow's aide returned with.

"Klon peags." Falow explained as the aide opened the box revealing a number of stick-like objects one of which he pulled out and began showing off. "Highly sought after in our culture, they have a number of interesting uses."

"Scan before refusing Quark." Raine whispered, seeing the almost immediate look of skepticism flash across Quark's face as he took in the offering.

"Do you mind if I?" Quark began, motioning to one of his Ferengi waiters who quickly reached behind the bar and brought out a Ferengi model scanner.

"Of course." Falow returned with a smile as Quake accepted the scanner from his waiter and ran it over the box.

Raine took an inordinate amount of satisfaction watching the Quark's eye ridges go up over whatever it was the scanner showed. Even though her security training was telling her she should probably be moving to confiscate what was in all likelihood some kind of heavily narcotic Wadi plant.

"I suppose these will do." Quark answered with a smile, as he gave a somewhat innocent look to Commander Sisko. "There's always a market for rare Gamma Quadrant goods after all."

"Girls." Quark began, motioning to some of the bars' more attractive serving girls. "Let's get these fine people some drinks."




Raine looked between the two padds she was working on from her seat at the bar as another cry of Dabo echoed out across the room.

"That's it, McCoullough." Sisko muttered, almost dead to the world from his seat next to her.

"Who?" Quark asked, looking with worry between the Commander and the large stack of Latinum the Wadi had accrued.

"Captain McCoullough." Sisko returned. "That's the name I've been trying to remember for the last six hours. He's the one who wrote the revised first contact procedures for Starfleet."

"The man was a hack." Raine muttered as another yell of Dabo rang out. "Proper diplomacy requires figuring out why, not just going along with whatever to keep the other side from being offended."

Raine paused in her work, looking towards Sisko as a moment of silence seemed to engulf the two despite the bar's continued background noise.

"Thanks for volunteering Lieutenant." Sisko finally began as the smile of a man who had just been thrown a lifeline made its way across his features. "Try and keep them happy. And if they ever get tired of playing dabo, let me know. Good night."

Sisko gave Raine a nod before getting up and walking out of the bar as she stared in almost bemused shock after him, certainly not having expected the man to just dump it all on her.

"Certainly not good for me." Quark muttered as he walked around the bar and over to the Wadi. "I know you fine people are on a streak, but given the time it might be a good idea to give the poor girl a break." He put forward, motioning to the tired looking dabo girl.

"You have a replacement?" Falow asked, turning to look over the girl a clear bit of suspicion showing in his eyes.

"Of course." Quark agreed, waving over one of his Ferengi workers. "Broik, take over."

The indicated Ferengi gave a nod, moving over to the wheel before seamlessly exchanging positions with the exhausted looking woman.

Raine watched the game continue for a moment, a small frown making its way across her features as an inkling of memory nagged at her before with a mental groan she motioned for Quark to join her.

"Lieutenant Brooks?" The Ferengi asked, making his way over to her, his lips quirking into a small smile as a disappointed groan issued out from the table. "What can I help you with?"

"Keep it honest." Raine hissed out, giving the short Ferengi an angry look as she lowered her voice to a level she hoped the Wadi wouldn't overhear.

"No need to worry Lieutenant." Quark began, giving a reassuring smile. "Broik's my best man, he'll."

A loud Ferengi shout interrupted Quark before he could continue, and both of their eyes darted over to the Wadi, only to see Falow now angrily holding Broik by the arm. Quark shot Raine a worried look before putting a smile onto his face and walking over to the Wadi.

"Is there a problem?" He asked, looking between Broik and the Falow, the panicked look Quark's employee was giving him doing nothing to really help sell the act.
Falow released Broik's arm, walking over to Quark, the Ferengi backing up with each step the alien took forward as he was joined along the way by his various aides..

"Sit." Falow finally said, pointing at the bar stool now directly behind Quark as Raine got to her feet and walked over to the group. The relief on Quark's face as she approached was more than a little gratifying given the circumstances.

"I'm really sorry, the Ferengi can be a little." She trailed off in her apology as Falow turned and gave her a look that all but directly stated how little they cared.

"Given your people's enjoyment of games." She continued, seamlessly switching tracks. "I thought you might be interested in."

"We shall see." Falow interrupted, holding up his hand to forestall her. "But first." He continued, turning back to Quark. "You like our Klon peags. So you will be given the opportunity to win more."

"I will?" Quark asked, his eyes wide and his tone halfway between happy and surprised.

"In a new game." Falow continued, motioning to one of his aides, who gave a nod before walking over to dig an odd looking box out of one of the group's satchels that she quickly brought over to the Dabo table.

"A fair game." He finished, giving Quark a hard look as his aide opened the box and with a stuttering transporter like flash a new gaming table replaced the Dabo wheel that had previously taken center position in the bar.

Giving the Ferengi a grim smile as he motioned for him to follow. Falow walked over to the upside down pyramid of different triangular platforms. And began setting what Raine assumed were the game pieces on the second triangular platform from the top.

"Rather unusual." Quark offered with an uncertain grin as he made a circuit of the new game in his bar. "What is it called?"

"Chula." Falow returned with a grin.

"Okay." Quark agreed with a bobbing nod of his head. "What are the rules?"

"These are your players." Falow explained, pointing to the game pieces he had just set up. "They'll start on the second shap."

"Not the first?" Quark questioned looking between the top and second levels of the board in confusion.

A somewhat amused smile made its way onto Falow's face as he turned to look at game pieces representing the players. "Only children enter at the first shap."




Raine's combadge chirped.

"Security Chief Odo to Lieutenant Brooks."

"Raine here." She responded with a tap of her fingers to the device.

"Lieutenant Primmin." Odo began, and Raine could practically hear the extreme disapproval at the Lieutenant in his words. " Seems to have lost Commander Sisko, Major Kira, Lieutenant Dax, and Doctor Bashir. Would you have any idea where they might be?"

"Potentially?" She returned with an uncertain look towards the Wadi game-board.

"Potentially?" Odo repeated, his tone somehow both intrigued and angry at the same time.

"Given what happened with Quark a couple hours ago, if the senior staff are missing it's probably a standard first contact diplomatic kidnapping."

"What happened with Quark?" He growled out.

"He tried to cheat the Wadi sir." Raine admitted, her tone telling anyone listening just what she thought of that bit of stupidity.

"I'll be down in five minutes." Odo stated, and she heard the telltale sound of a turbolift activating before the com channel closed with a chirp.

"Allamaraine!" Falow yelled out a moment later.

Raine was pretty sure it had been less than five minutes when Odo stalked into the bar. But given the look of utter anger on his face she wasn't going to congratulate him for his time.

"Quark!" He yelled out, looking around the room before his eyes settled upon the Ferengi in question.

"I'm busy!" Quark yelled out, waiving off the questioning look one of Falow's aides shot him.

"I heard." Odo growled out as he stomped over to the Ferengi. "You cheated the Wadi, and now four of the station's senior officers are missing."

"Four." Quark muttered, turning a sudden look to the game pieces on the Wadi's board.

Falow looked over to Quark, a small smile playing across his lips as everyone in the room could see the realization settle across the Ferengi.

"Choose their path." Falow offered, the smile not leaving his features.

"Odo?" Quark began, looking at the changeling before his head turned over to Raine. "Lieutenant Brooks? How about one of you take over?"

"Choose their path." Falow repeated to Quark, his tone informing all listening that substitutions wouldn't be allowed.

"The safer path." The Ferengi finally answered with a fearful mutter.

Falow gave a nod, a disappointed look flitting across his face for only a moment before handing the dice over. "Then roll."

Raine had to hold back a sigh, as she made a note on her second padd that the Wadi were absolutely okay with playing psychological games to throw people off in the games they played. But drew a hard line against cheating.

That little bit of information narrowed the choices she had been debating between down to pretty much a single destination.

"Omicron Delta Three it is." She muttered to herself.

"What is?" Odo asked, and Raine had to hold back a start to keep from jumping at the shapeshifters sudden appearance next to her.

"Where to direct the Wadi to after this." She began, offering over one her padds, which now displayed a picture of the planet alongside a number of relevant details. While keeping an eye turned to the Wadi aide that had been subtly watching her since the encounter earlier.

"It's been built up to be pretty much the biggest entertainment planet in the beta quadrant. Run by a sentient computer that absolutely despises cheating. Even though it's technically a neutral planet, the Federation has a pretty significant diplomatic presence there. One that would be much better suited to dealing with a species like the Wadi then Commander Sisko and Quark."

"So you don't think they're in any actual danger?" Odo asked after taking a moment to read between the lines of what she was saying. While giving her a piercing look that said there would be consequences if she said no and was anything less than certain.

She waited till Quark had moved to have his back to her before giving the Security Chief a subtle shake of her head.

"I see." He muttered too low for even Ferengi ears to hear.

"In that case, I'll return to Ops and work on figuring out a way to rescue them from whatever it is the Wadi have done before the worst can happen." He continued, shooting Raine a wry grin while purposefully angling his voice in a way intentionally chosen so that Quark would be able to hear. "You continue to keep watch over things here Lieutenant."

Raine gave a nod of agreement to Odo before going back to finalizing the navigational data the Wadi would need if they actually accepted the offer. Something which, if the small smile she had just seen flit across Falow's face was anything to go by, was looking more and more likely as the first contact progressed.




Raine blinked her eyes a few times to clear out the spots left by the stuttering flash of what she had come to suspect was in fact the Wadi version of a transporter.

"They made it! I won!" Quark cheered upon seeing the four members of the station's senior staff who had appeared in the flash of light.

"No Quark." Falow offered with an amused shake of his head. "Though they played a good game, I'm afraid to say all your players were lost."

"So Commander Sisko was right then." Major Kira muttered, shooting Raine an apologetic look that left the Asari wondering just what had gone on inside the Wadi game.

"It was only a game." Falow admitted, giving a shrug as an aide returned the Chula board to wherever it was the Wadi normally kept it.

"I hope you know now we take First Contact very seriously." Commander Sisko began, clearly not happy with the circumstances he just went through but willing to at least entertain the idea that it was done with good intentions.

"Commander." Raine interrupted before he could continue. "There was a minor incident shortly after you left, with Quark attempting to cheat the Wadi by rigging the Dabo wheel."

"Quark." The man muttered angrily, turning to the Ferengi.

"Trust me commander, I learned my lesson, it'll never happen again." Quark returned, holding up his hands to protest in a sincere enough showing that left even Raine believing it might be true.

"Your aid plays the game well." Falow told Sisko, turning to give Raine a knowing smile of amusement before swiveling back to address the Commander. "And I believe she has something for you to look over and potentially present to us in regards to a rematch."

"Lieutenant?" Commander Sisko inquired, turning to Raine with a raised eyebrow as she quickly separated the presentation padd from her small pile and stepped over to hand it to him.

The almost inaudible beeps of a padd switching between pages filled the room for a few minutes, and she could almost see Commander Sisko fighting off a smile as he finally finished skimming the document.

Another slightly louder beep sounded out as Sisko provided his authorization, before he handed the device over to Falow who had been waiting patiently with a smile of his own. "It's certainly a good location for a rematch."

"It certainly does." Falow agreed, his eyes skimming the document before tucking the device up against his side.

"Time for us to move along then." He finished giving a nod and smile to the group before leading his aids out of the establishment once and for all.

A minute of silence passed in the bar, everyone seemingly waiting for either the Wadi to return or one of the other people inside to speak.

"Good work Lieutenant." Commander Sisko finally offered, his shoulders slumping slightly as the built up tension seemed to leave them. "The Wadi will be someone else's problem now."

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Authors Notes: I'm trying something a bit different and including an actual date with the stardate for this and hopefully future chapters. And for those wondering about the episode Dax and The Passenger. The former will show up later since I'm going by in universe chronology. While the second was butterflied away completely by a several minute delay that had Vantika dead by the time the Runabout arrived.

As for the chapter itself, I hope you all enjoyed getting to see the first real example of Raine utilizing her Diplomatic chops.