The Lower Decks Series:
PRICETAGS
by ALM_Voyager
© October 5, 2000
Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.
- Many thanks to Celia for agreeing to be in the story! And to Clare009 for helping with the plot a bit. This is a VERY, VERRRRRRRRYYY late birthday present for Caffey dear!
It was the first time the bridge had been empty of the senior and commanding officers. It was also the first time that Neelix had been on the bridge alone. The Captain was in her ready room talking with Mr. Chakotay. Harry Kim was in his quarters on deck nine. And Tom Paris? Well, since the ship was docked at Spacial Hub Two, in the Delta Quadrant, there was no need for a pilot at the console.
Neelix shifted from foot to foot, waiting for his transmission to be received and a reply to be returned. The bridge, with all of its Starfleet gadgets, wasn't his first choice for scenic pleasures, especially since he didn't know how to work half of it. And if it hadn't been the Captain's suggestion that he establish a repore with his . . . friend . . . than Neelix would've left the first contact up to the Federation crew. Yet, if he was planning on getting a ride all the way to the Alpha Quadrant, he had to make himself useful and useful, in this case, was reminding his old friend Chebrik of the favor that was owed to Neelix himself.
And the fact was, it was 0200 hours in the morning and he wanted nothing more than to go cuddle with Kes.
The Computer signaled an incoming transmission with one precise, mechanical beep prompting Neelix to push the command to accept it.
"I should've known you'd turn up again," the stout bi-pedal alien stated to the screen. His eyes were a murky grey, his forehead composed of circular ridges that would contrast vividly against the sharp lines that marked Lieutenant Torres' species, the Klingons. Chebrik's mouth was small, and as it had always been in the past, pursed into a tight line of noticeable regret which set off the length of his nose.
"Well," Neelix smiled with the good intentions his mother had taught him to always foresee, "hello to you too, Chebrik. I trust that the Engineering team our Captain sent over solved all of your," he waved his hands in the air searching for a technical term that would not find him, "mechanical . . . problems?"
"They did," Chebrik replied grudgingly.
"Lucky for you we were close enough to intercept that distress call from your hub," he added.
"Lucky for me? Ha!" Chebrik laughed, taking it all into full consideration. "I know what you want."
"You do?" Neelix added with truthful confusion.
"You've come to collect that money you *swindled* me out of four years ago," Chebrik glared. He was a rather sturdy man, but even the huge viewscreen of Voyager's bridge could not hide the fact that he was as short and uncertain in his frame as Neelix was in his own Talaxian body.
"Four years -- four years --" Neelix thought aloud, trying to remember. His head rose with recognition, "That was an honest to goodness--"
"Clever Talaxian," Chebrik broke in, "Nothing in this space is 'honest to goodness.' So," Chebrik looked over a console that was obviously in front of him, "I've decided to let you have your money --"
"But -- Chebrik --" Neelix started, wanting to clarify that he had been prompted by his Captain to make first contact, to establish a repore that would gain them supplies for the starship . . . not to lay claim to a four year old cash-pot.
"Don't interrupt me!" Chebrik stated and went on while Neelix fumbled with his own thoughts. "I refuse to pay you money . . . but . . . I *will* transfer the amount in the form of credit which is good while you stay at this hub."
"Cr-credit good . . good!" Neelix folded his hands behind his back, twiddling his thumbs. He had lost complete control over where their negotiations were going. "Does that mean we'll have enough for provisions and supplies?"
As if offering up an immediate and willing answer, Voyagers main computer stated a reply, "File transfer from docking bay station zero three three five complete."
Neelix moved toward the blinking console that stood in front of him, and watched as numbers scattered across the screen.
"Well?" Chebrik asked, waiting.
"Ahhh," Neelix said with a high pitch at the numbers, "Ah, yes, that more than covers it."
"Hmph," the other man pursed his lips again, "I thought so." Chebrik made a move to end communications but halted midway, retraining his attention to the screen one last time, "Oh and Neelix. You may have been a friend, in the past, but don't let the federations cause any problems on the hub. I'd hate to think of what my boss might do if they did."
"They're not of that sort Chebrik!" Neelix protested, silently hoping the Captain hadn't heard any of the conversation through those mechanical doors of her ready room.
"I hope not," Chebrik stated and ended the transmission, leaving Neelix pondering how he was going to explain to his leaders how Voyager had just acquired 40,000 pintbics of credit.