4: Going All In

Going All In: Parts Two, Three and Four
by Dabin Reece


71201.00


~Outpost in Ferengi Space- Tongo Tournament~


*This wasn't part of the plan.* Dabin thought.

*Think fast, or run fast.* Bru replied, as she returned to the table with his club soda. She set it on the table in front of him, and Gleen gave her a toothy grin.

"Perhaps your female could find me a glass of slug juice?" He spoke to Dabin, while looking at February. She resisted the urge to filet him.

"Of course, I would be delighted." Gleen reached out to deposit a strip of latinum for the barman in her cleavage. Bru snapped her hand up and grabbed the latinum, and stepped away. "Thanks."

[Attention all players. The tournament has begun.]

Gleen dealt out the first round of cards. The Nausicaan did not hesitate for a moment, throwing a handful of chips into the bowl in the center of the table. He laughed in excitement as he spun the bowl. Dabin watched as the Ferengi made their bets.

"Acquire."

"Confront."

"Evade." Dabin threw down his cards in disgust, as Gleen won the first bet, and retrieved his winnings from the bowl.

"I had a feeling this wasn't going to be easy." He said to Gleen.

"I have played this game before. A few times."

Again the betting began, as Bru approached the table with Gleen's slug juice, holding it at arm's length. The Ferengi at the end of the table held their cards up, making it easy for her to see. Gleen played like a professional, peeking only momentarily at his hand before laying it flat on the table.

"Ahhhhhhhhh EVADE!" The Nausicaan howled in frustration. Only two hands into the game and he already appeared agitated. Dabin wondered how long it would be until someone had to evade the twisted and dirty blade dangling from his waist.

"Aquire!" the Ferengi to Gleen's right with delight.

*He's got nothing, Dabin.*

"Your slug juice." She set the drink down. Gleen ignored her now, his attention only on his opponents.


"Evade," he said calmly, pushing his cards away.

Dabin made a good show of it, pausing to study the Ferengi next to Gleen, before calling "Confront," and tossing a few more chips into the bowl. The Ferengi laid his cards on the table. Dabin examined his hand, then laid his own down.

"Sucks to be you." Dabin picked up the bowl, and dumped the chips out into his pile.

"Did you win the tournament? Yay!!!" February squealed with delight, clapping her hands.

"Just one hand baby, take it easy."

"Well played." Gleen commented simply.

"Nah. Just good timing."

"What brings you so deep into Ferengi space, Day-bin Reece? Did you come all this way just to play Tongo?"

"Does anyone come here just to play Tongo?" Dabin asked, not sure exactly what to say, but hoping he could keep Gleen talking.

"Indeed they do not." The Ferengi to Dabin's left dealt out the cards and the betting began once again. Dabin looked at his hand, and he was loaded. February looked over his shoulder at his cards.

"Oh Dabin! I know this! You have a Full Consortium!"

"Evade."

"Evade."

"Evade."

"Evade."

"Evade."

Dabin, threw his hand on the table, and turned slowly, staring at February.

"What? What did I do?" She asked innocently.

*That was perfect.* He thought to her, as he turned and reached into the bowl, taking out the three chips that had gotten into it before everyone else gave up on the hand.


Gleen cackled with delight. "That hand was not so well played my friend."

"Yeah. That was a shame." Dabin said, sounding very agitated.

"Your female is beautiful and stupid, you are very lucky." Said the Ferengi next to Gleen, piping up for the first time.

"Hey, no comments from the snail-shell gallery, please." Dabin shot the man down. "Why don't you find something to do." He said to February. She stuck out her lower lip.

"Fine." She pouted, spinning on her heel. She scuffled around behind Dabin, before wondering aimlessly around the other side of the table. The betting began once again. Bru snuck a peak at the Ferengi to Dabin's left. The Nausicaan shot her a glance out of the corner of his eye, smelling a rat.

*The guy on your left has a great hand. You should evade.*

"TRILL!" The Nausicaan stood up and leaned over the table, his face close to Reece's, and his stench even closer. "Tell your female to sit down, or I will sit her for you."

"Maybe you should check out the shops, baby. Here." Dabin tossed her a few strips of latinum to spend.

*I'll be nearby, just call if you need me. Good luck.* February left the gaming area, but could still hear his thoughts. Play continued and it became apparent the Nausicaan and Gleen were the class of the table.

Dabin waited patiently for Gleen to strike up a conversation again. As Dabin's pile of chips slowly sank, Gleen figured he would be out of the game soon, and if he were ever going to speak to him again it would have to be soon. The next hand was dealt and play continued as Gleen address Dabin in a hushed tone.

"Are many females on Trill like yours Day-bin?"

"Not really. Most are hard working, intelligent and independent. A real waste of a good female, am I right, my man?"

"A pity. I know certain parties that would be very... interested in acquiring a female like yours, if you knew where to find them."

"Do tell. I may be able to find you something, and I may even know someone looking for a female of their own, if you are selling as well," Dabin said, feeling like he may finally be getting somewhere. The less scrupulous Ferengi were known to traffic in people sometimes, and Dabin felt this might be the lead he needed if Zanh Liis had been taken for this purpose.

"Recess is in one hour. Perhaps then would be a better time." Gleen looked at his cards, and threw half of his stake into the bowl. "Acquire!"

"Evade," Dabin sighed, tossing his cards down, as did the Ferengi next to him. Dabin caught a quick flash of white across the table out of the corner of his eye.
"CONFRONT!" The Nausicaan leapt from his chair slamming his cards on the table. "Full Consortium Ferengi! HAHAHA! Maybe you should try your hand at Dabo." The Nausicaan howled with delight as he took the large portion of Gleen's chips from the bowl into his pile.

"That's impossible." Gleen snarled.

"Yeah it is, he snuck that last card into his hand!" The Nausicaan's eyes flew wide open as he snapped his head towards Reece, and his hand to his hip.

"What are you saying Trill?" His voice was elevated, and caught the attention of the tournament director, who signaled for security as he approached the table.

"What seems to be the problem here?"

"This dude snuck a card into his hand! That one!" Dabin pointed towards the last card. The director snatched it off the table and scanned it.

"You are disqualified." The director said calmly. "Remove him." A large hand clasped onto the shoulder of the Nausicaan. A second Nausicaan, nearly a foot taller then the first, was to escort the cheater from the building.

"Ah! I thought you left this place?"

"Are you not happy to see me again?"

"I would be happy if you let me go so I could disembowel this Trill."

"You did not seem to want me to let you go when we made Hach'Kaa last night."

*Oh God, please tell me Hach'Kaa is Nausicaan for waffles.* Dabin thought.

*I beg your pardon?* Came Bru's reply to his thoughts.

*Nevermind, long story. Long, gross, story.*

"You're a female?" Dabin asked, realizing how incredibly rude that sounded. The woman was nearly seven feet tall, towering above her six-foot tall "friend."

"Do you not know a female when you see one?" She asked, as she left the table with the other Nausicaan.

"I guess not." Dabin said to no one. He turned back towards the table.

The director divided the rest of the Nausicaan's chips among the other players, and it was clear that it was only a matter of time before Gleen cleaned out the table. Dabin was satisfied with the meeting he had set up, and didn't want to upset his new contact by winning, so he made a few ill-timed bets and was soon bankrupt.

"Good game my friend. See you soon." Dabin patted Gleen on the shoulder and left the room. He met up with February outside and updated her on what happened at the table.

Fifteen minutes later the recess was called, and Gleen walked out of the gaming room. He saw Dabin and February, and pointed towards an empty room down the corridor. Dabin nodded, and they followed twenty paces behind him.

"Trill, my associates are holding an auction in two days. This data rod contains a listing of the.... lots up for sale, and also the secret location of the auction." Gleen tucked the rod back into his shirt. "You indicated you might be interested in making a purchase? May I ask what exactly you are in the market for?"

"That depends on what you are offering doesn't it? I have, friends, with very specific needs."

"They sent you, didn't they? I was wondering if they got my message." Gleen smiled, clearly pleased.

"You are very observant my friend." Dabin had no idea who "they" were, but he knew Gleen was happy "they" had sent Dabin, so he was going to play it for all it was worth.

"I would like to meet your associates in person Day-bin, just to make sure they are legitimate, and they have access to the funds for payment, which I assure you will be very high. Then you may have the data rod." Gleen's eyes gleamed at the prospect of the profit he was going to turn. "The Bah-jor-ahn's knowledge will serve the Praetor well."

*Jackpot Bru.* Dabin thought. "I'm sure it will." He said aloud. "I assure you payment will not be an issue, nor will price."

*We need that data rod Bru. We need a buyer.*

*I have an idea. We need to get out of here though.*

February sighed. "Dabin, when are you going to be done? I want to go look at the shoes at the shop down the way."

"Ok baby, we're almost done." He looked back at Gleen. "Meet back here in 10 minutes? I'll inform my buyer you have what we need."

"I'll be here."

Dabin dragged February out of the small room and back into the corridor. They walked clear of anyone's earshot, and February tapped the communications device she had hidden in the top of her dress. "Grace to Alchemy."

[Salvek here.]

"Commander, you need to replicate yourself a Tal Shiar uniform, a disruptor, and get down here in ten minutes. No time to explain."
Dabin smiled at her, "Damn, you're good."


Lt. Commander Dabin Reece

Chief of Sciences

USS Serendipity NCC-2012