Butterflies
Posted on 19 Jan 2025 @ 3:29pm by Brek - Timeless Treasures Art Gallery
Mission:
M4 - Falling Out
Location: OC - Engineering Conference
Timeline: MD27 - Around 1200
876 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure
“Uh oh...”
Brek squared his shoulders and lost his smile.
For the past ten minutes, ‘his’ Ferengi engineers had been discussing the best way to acquire new technology. The most common way was - and they said so in a low voice - espionage. Sadly it could prove quite dangerous. Their hope was to find, someday, a reclusive inventor, who in exchange for a few bars of latinum, would let them have his latest blueprints.
Their rambling was the least of his concerns though, because Cmdr T’Sheng was walking towards him. She looked determined (as usual), which he found tiresome. Here was another unhappy customer, wanting a bargain, from a Ferengi. Has the galaxy gone mad?
He left his group of engineers to meet with the Vulcan diplomat. Once she had finished looking down at him, she complained. The sum he was asking for one butterfly brooch made of precious stones was illogical, so he had better revise his stance.
Did she think she was talking to an average Terran peddler with no love for commerce, selling stuff to fleeters just for the sake of it?
Since they were surrounded by a multitude of engineers from various species, he whispered his answer: ““My quote stands, Cmdr. If you don’t like it, there are several shops on the promenade where you can buy jewelry.”
“You know as well as I do, Mr Brek,” she whispered back, “that these vendors do not sell the kind of item I wish to purchase.”
Brek shrugged. “Not my problem.”
T’Sheng stared at him, looking almost puzzled. “I can see that. Yet, if such jewelry was available elsewhere, I could likely buy three of those butterflies for the price you are asking.”
“I have no doubt about that. I am, however, the only one to sell those items. Do I really need to explain to you the interplay between rarity and demand? Those butterflies of mine are unique. You want them, you pay the price. Welcome to my world.”
She didn’t respond, preferring to ponder. This gave him the urge to go back to ‘his’ Ferengi, some of them were now debating the way Starfleet utopian ideals presented a threat to the established economic order of the galaxy - not the sort of topic he wanted them to discuss too loudly. However he stood to make so much money from the clueless Cmdr that he didn’t move.
“Well?” He asked after a little while. The prospect of scamming her was enticing, but there was also the consideration of the most precious commodity of all: time. He couldn’t spend all day talking business with a Vulcan. What an energy-sapping task!
“I am undecided.”
“Very unusual for such a sharp mind as yours, Cmdr. I’ll tell you what...” His first idea was to tell her to take a couple of days to think about his offer. What was the rush? But then, a thought struck him, so beautiful that it almost felt like an eureka moment. “... there is another option. Do I have the permission to make a candid offer?”
“I’m listening.”
The diplomat had the nerve to look like he was the one to waste her time. The cheek of those Vulcans.
“I’m prepared to let you have... “ He made a pause, just to annoy her some more. “Three butterflies, at no cost whatsoever. So they would be entirely free. We are clear on that. If from this moment, you stop working with Admiral Harshman.”
His proposition made, he grinned. Certain things were worth saying just to see the reaction you got from your words. Obviously he was financially safe. There was no way T’Sheng would bring any change to what she perceived as a splendid career.
“You must be deranged, Mr Brek.” Her tone was icy, her stare colder than interstellar space.
“Quite the opposite, I’m exceptionally grounded, Cmdr T’Sheng. He retained his smile, although it was 100% fake. “You see, working for the Admiral comes at many prices. It gives you an aura of... how should I put it... There is a shadow of unease about you, and it has nothing to do with your superior intellect.”
T’Sheng rose an eyebrow. She was obviously not amused. Fuming would be an appropriate term. Not that a Vulcan of her standing would ever show it. No. Everything had to be internalised. “You are contemptible, Brek. Our business has just been terminated. Good day to you.”
And she walked off. Proud and resolute.
And Brek sighed. Another fiasco. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut?
Still, there was always another day... another opportunity... another chance.
He returned to his group and joined their new conversation: What was more important: profits or everything running smoothly and efficiently?
“It depends what mood you are in”, he told them. “Sometimes, it’s fun to mess things up a little, just to break the monotony, don’t you think?”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say!” one of his engineers said. “It’s counterproductive, but if everything is always done with safety in mind...”
“We might as well join Starfleet,” Brek told them, just to give them something pleasant to hear.
