"You Can't Buy Fate"
At that moment, the doors to the lounge opened with the sound of a "whoosh," and in came Gaila, with two Nausicaan bodyguards flanking his side, staying at the door as he passed into the room alone. He was dressed in his best casual wear, handmade from his favorite tailor on Kiryth IV. It was a good evening, and cause for celebration as he looked at his fourth quarter expectations. Profits were projected to be nearly double of last quarter. Already he had offers to buy his company, his advisors telling him to go public, but he knew that it wasn't the time yet. There was much more to do. He stepped to the bar, not taking a seat, but ordering a glass of 2365 cabernet from the Eroth vineyard on the Mars colony. It was one of his favorite wines, and the best they had aboard this transport. As soon as he received his glass, he started scanning about the room idly, not expecting much in the form of company.
The part Romulan heard none of the commotion that was made as the Ferengi stepped into the bar. Her thoughts were still lost in her past. She had still been a Starfleet officer when she went searching for her father. With very little information to go on, Solan had gone searching for this figure whom she had always hated. It hadn't taken long until her father found her. What happened from that time onwards she didn't have a clear picture. The last she can could remember was seeing her father's face in a lounge, those glowing red eyes, the same eyes that Solan had whenever something really angered her.
He swirled his wine about in the glass, letting it catch the air as to help the flavor, as his eyes caught a figure that he had studied so much in the past. At first, he thought it was a mistake, but her voluptuous form was there, in front of him. For an instant, thoughts of his profiting corporation dropped, but only for an instant, as he was happy he now had someone worthy with which to celebrate the occasion.
She sighed softly, wondering why in the world she was here, and why she was going to this station. It has been several months since she'd set foot on Starfleet property, she wondered how she'd feel once she got to the station. It had not been an easy decision to leave the Wyld Foxx, but it had been the only decision should could make. She needed to find out about her past, who she was. This was the same reason she had taken the LOA from Starfleet to begin with. But that hadn't been the right time, other things had to be settled first. After her return to Starfleet, things weren't the same, they could never be the same. Now all those feelings turned to her as she sat on this ship, with it's destination being on a Starfleet station.
He straightened his clothing, and put on his best grin, wanting to look as stunning as he knew he usually did for his darling Solan. Taking a deep breath, he finally started walking toward her. He spoke softly as he closed in. "It's funny how fate can bring together two worlds which would seem so distant in a big galaxy like this one."
The voice caught Solan's attention. It sounded familiar, she turned her head and looked up at the ugly Ferengi standing before her. She couldn't believe it. It couldn't be. Not that annoying guy who wouldn't leave her alone. It had been at least a few years since she last saw him. Starring up at the man, she was at a loss for something to say in response. This just wasn't her week it seemed.
His grin grew wider as he uttered a very Ferengi sounding chuckle, figuring that she was just so in awe of how wonderful he looked. He had been working out recently, after all. "What're the odds of us being on the same transport? I've missed you so much..." He leaned over, attempting to give her a hug.
Recovering her thoughts quickly, and seeing the attempted hug, Solan stood up abruptly, while she kept a close eye on the man in front of her. "Yes . . . ." Her voice sounded very strained as she searched for the right words, "what . . . odds." Her head tilt to the side slightly, "How did I get so lucky?" Solan questioned, in a less then enthusiastic tone of voice.
"Let me buy you a drink my darling. Tell me, do you have a place to stay? My quarters there are definitely large enough for the both of us." He was truly enthused to see her. It was a marvelous day for him after all.
She carefully looked him over, her face expressed the disbelieve at seeing the nuisance that she thought she had been rid of a long time ago. "No, thank you Mr. Gaila." As soon as she said that she realized it was a mistake. By remembering his name it might give him a false idea, and he didn't need any more of that. "They don't serve what I drink." She indicated to Bar behind her. "As far as my quarters are concerned. I am well provided for."
He just shrugged, not taking any of her remarks personally, as he never did. He knew that she just had some emotional issues to clear up before she was ready to settle down with him. "That's too bad. We must do dinner sometime on the station...I've been reading up on things, and there's a couple of very excellent restaurants there. Cost doesn't really matter to me now, profits are through the roof!"
Solan sat back down realizing He wasn't going anywhere, she would just have to endure him . . . again. "And how long are you planing on visiting the station?" She hoped it wouldn't be too long. It didn't matter how big the station was, Solan knew that Gaila would find a way to find her, he just had that ability.
He just shook his head, taking a seat at her table. He was very happy to be in conversation with her once more. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I figured that the station would be an excellent place to have the GTO's headquarters. The rent is very cheap, plus my major competitors seem not to have much of a fleet in this area."
She sighed heavily, this isn't good, she thought to herself. He's setting up shop, and I'm stuck on this station for who knows how long. I'm trapped! She took a second to control her thoughts. "So it is. How long has it been since we last saw each other?"
He took her sigh as a happy one of affection. He was getting so close now! It was exhilarating. "Far too long, my love. I'm sorry I haven't been around, but I had to get my business off the ground before we can settle down and start a family."
We can settle down and start a family?!?!?! Solan thought, Can't this guy take a stupid hint! "How is business going?"
It was hard to take a hint when she kept making small talk with him. He figured she had changed her mind quite a bit since they last met. "Quite excellent. I intend to make Forbes holo-magazine's top ten richest men in the galaxy within the next five years. And at this rate, it looks like it's going to happen!" He chuckled a big Ferengi laugh once more.
"That's nice. Look, I really would like some peace and quiet right now. I have a lot on my mind." Her voice got more irritated as she talked to him.
He smiled at her, and then stood up, taking his half-filled glass with him. "Very well, darling...I will retire. I hope to see you soon. We have so much to catch up on. How about lunch tomorrow?"
She looked back out the view port, "Thank you." She purposely forgot to answer his invitation, hoping it would slip by him.
His grin grew even wider as he passed her, tapping his hand affectionately on her shoulder. "Wonderful, see you tomorrow," he said as he headed for the doors. The Nausicaans stood up straighter as he approached them, and they followed him, one at each side as they left the room. Gaila was sure that this was meant to be. There was so much of a...special bond between them that brought them together again. It was just like Rule of Acquisition number 236 said: "You can't buy fate."
Solan's eyes flickered red for a quick second as she starred out the view port. This trip kept getting worse and worse. She wondered what would happen once they reached the station. She hoped it wouldn't get worse, but then, how could it get worse? Quickly, she put that thought out of her head, not even wanting to think about it. She would just have to be very careful on the ship and the station, but knew that, if nothing else, the damn Ferengi was very resourceful, he always had been. A small smile flickered across her face as she realized that just maybe he could be useful to her. Fate was definitely a funny thing, and one that shouldn't be ignored.
THE END
by Solan Dahl and Mr. Gaila
Solan sat in the lounge, staring out the view port, her mind drifting off back to her family, and back to Starfleet. The young doctor idly sipped her drink, one that she brought into the mess hall, from her private stock. The lounge didn't carry her preferred drink, Romulan Ale. She had always been fond of the drink, but the last few months that she spent with her father had given her an even stronger liking for it. Her father's ship always had a huge supply, as many of the crew were full blooded Romulans. She sighed softly thinking about the first time she met her father.
