Hagasi was hunched over his console, his fingers mashing the console carefully as he confirmed each step, “There’s plenty of interest in this thing. I love a pretty lie or an ugly lie – but this one nearly puts a fat finger on my damned scale.” The Ferengi did a few more taps, “Nearly, to be precise. I love some good old-fashioned bait-and-switch. Not sure how I feel about adding the Borg into that equation.” Three days had passed since the initial idea had been born out of necessity. They had returned to their hideout, and in the intervening 72 hours, Hagasi, Krov, Sinai, and Hasara had worked tirelessly on every hustler, two-bit loser, villain, scum, and reprobate in, around and beyond the rimward.

Hasara was working on his console across the table. “Osha Gac isn’t going to like any of us when it eventually gets back to us as the founders of the feast.” Another beep brought a smile to his face. “That’s ten bidders, including Tougun. We didn’t give her much of a choice.”

Sinai walked in, languid and disinterested, but perked up at Hasara’s last line, “This will probably go sideways within ten minutes. The Syndicate groups are falling over each other to consolidate representatives. Nine isn’t a big group. You should see all the messages. Bunch of pretty boys trying to preen and prance.”

Hasara glanced up from his console, “Alliteration – those studies must be doing some good.” She rolled her eyes and slid into a smooth rock outcropping, sipping at a mug and reading off a device. The Cardassian tapped at his console as he finished the last of the messages. “Tougun wants us to join him and his delegation.”

Hagasi closed his mobile console, “We’ll need to keep him happy. Otherwise, he’ll stomp a hole or two in us. His bid will be for show. Having a name and a face to put to my notes has helped build a larger profile.” He stood and tottered over to his shelf, picking out a fresh-looking journal. He flipped through a page or two, “He’s going to ask us to run the op to get the device. We’re disposable, and he cares less for anyone who hasn’t been with him for at least six months. There’s a trail of failures to discourage stupid attempts to join his merry band. You have to want to get into bed with the man. Metaphorically, of course.”

Sinai cackled, “He’s not bad looking.” All three of them turned to stare at her. She shrugged, “I can have wants, too. I call ‘dibs’ as the humans say.”

Krov rumbled from the other corner of the room, “Do they, though?”

She replied, “In the Earth films I watch.”

Hasara said, “Moving on. Hagasi’s correct. We’re the perfect patsy for Tougun. We’ve got rough schematics for the station where the auction is happening. Sinai will run interference if we have to get constructive; otherwise, she’s going to…circulate with her eyes and ears with Krov. Hagasi and I will work on getting into the viewing area. I’m hoping I can bring Tougun with me so we can show him the truth about this device.”

The Ferengi asked, “Do you think he’ll walk away from such a thing? It’s tempting enough to bring a lot of angry Syndicate groups together with enough credits to bankroll some serious operations.”

Hasara leaned back on his heels, wondering that himself. “Even with Hagasi’s expanded profile, we don’t know. At a minimum, we have to hope he’s brighter than Osha Gac.” He turned back to the group, “We leave in the morning – pack up what we need, destroy the rest. Whatever happens next…we’re going in with what we have on our backs.”

The large mercenary ship carrying Tougun and his group was as large and slim as an Intrepid Class. Armed to the teeth with overpowered phaser banks, rippling with four torpedo bays. Hasara and his team had been quartered in a large bunk. Tougun had met with them briefly, revealing that he did indeed wish for them to get the device. Hasara had convinced him to join them in verifying the package. The ship dropped from warp, and they could feel it angling for a docking port. There was a requisite thump, and the door to their room slid open.

Tougun stood with his pistols in holsters and rifles strapped to his back, “Let us begin.”

Hasara led the team, with the Orion leader walking beside him. “I understand you are acquainted with Osho Gac,” he said offhand.

The Cardassian held his face’s movement as he replied, “Tangentially. I suspect she’s more aware of me – she may be harboring feelings towards me or the groups I ran with in the past.” He did not share details, and the Orion did not ask.

“Well, she’s selling something I want, so she’ll have to get over whatever encrusted grudge that is hanging on.” The dock door slid open, and a young Orion woman stood at the door, her eyes wide. “Uh, greetings, Master Tougun. If you’ll follow me, I will guide you to the bidding floor.” Hasara watched her flinch as The Gun pointed his eyes at her, holding a stern gaze until she cast her eyes to the ground in instinctual deference.

He spoke, a renewed menace in his words, “Take us.”

It took a few minutes to traverse the medium-sized Syndicate station, and they turned a corner. A large meeting room had been converted into a bidding hall with rows of chairs facing a stage. Some arrivals had taken seats and were casting glances around the new guests. Hasara cast his glance, irritating as few. His lips curled into a cruel smile, and Tougan nodded approvingly, “You have to make them know who you are. Asserting dominance and ownership – whatever it takes. It’s never pretty, but it delivers on results.”

“Hasara.” They turned to face Osho Gac as she approached with her staff. “I can only wish we were in a more… more accommodating place. Then I could kill you for your treachery and treason.”

The former Gul bowed slightly, “That day may yet come. I’m not sure what the betting pool would have on our chances, but I’d like to think we’d give them a show.” Her eyes squinted. Hasara could sense the raw rage flickering behind her eyes. He motioned to his partner, “I believe you are familiar with Tougun.”

She spat out a barely contained reply, “I am. I make him a similar offer for the future.”

For his part, Tougun remained placid, observing it all as if it were a mild amusement. His eyes indicated his true feelings, and it continued to unsettle Hasara how much raw menace was being projected from them. He spoke gently, “My schedule is full for today. I’ll have my people work with yours – do dinner and settle our feelings for each other.” He looked around, the first inklings of irritation crossing into his voice, “I was told we could see the item in question and make an inspection of it.”

Gac grunted, “Yes. Kroc will escort you.” With that, she stalked off, entourage in tow. Hasara nearly laughed but held it in reserve. She was haughty and prone to a deep personal anger as he remembered her. Good qualities in a Cardassian, he admitted to himself, but the rest of her violent and dangerous record had driven her further mad.

Kroc was a young Cardassian, and Hasara watched him as he led them haltingly through a side corridor, down a stairwell, and into a large cargo bay room. In the center sat the device. Two guards on either side, armed and ready. It was a rectangular device that was about four feet tall. A rough console was embedded, and the lights blinked. Tougun walked up and began to scan the unit. Hasara joined him with his device. They stepped away to compare notes quietly. Hasara first revealed what he had: “There’s still someone in there.” He shared his suspicions about the who, which earned an unusual eyebrow-raising from Tougun in response.

“Her daughter? I find new ways to admire Osha Gac at every turn of this tale. What aren’t you telling me?” He glanced at the scans Hasara was bringing up.

“Whatever her daughter was…it’s not her anymore. Look at this.” He scrolled, “I’m unable to detect any Cardassian DNA or life signs inside that thing. It’s all…Borg. And more – I’d need a better scanning device, but there’s more than just her daughter in there. I think there are a few more cowboys with her in there.”

Tougun read the data, chewing on his lower lip as he did so. His eyes moved from the scanner to the capsule, “This isn’t what she described to us, is it?”

Hasara didn’t feel anything about the subterfuge he had engaged in with Tougun. The game of chess he was playing on the side with Starfleet required his scruples and integrity to be paper thin. Guilt was not part of him for today. The death and destruction that had been rained down from the gathered Syndicate operatives on the station required some form of justice. Those they had killed, enslaved, injured, and destroyed – there had to be a balance in the universe somewhere.

He had a terrible idea about what to do next. He turned to Tougun, “She lied to us…all of us.” He stared at the box and then returned his eyes to the Orion who had a look of confusion on his face before he had a realization.

“You want to…oh, you Cardassians are cruel to a degree I so do adore.” He pondered the idea and shrugged, “In truth…I had a different plan coming here.” He glanced around. They were alone, besides the guards, who were more interested in watching the area five feet in front of them. He led Hasara some distance away before he said, “I planned to kill them all and take their people.” A wide smile crossed his lips, “But your plan… of releasing that thing…that makes it less about me and my plans…and introduces an act of the universe to even the scales. I get what I want, and they all die. Probably.”

Hasara had operated in the grey. He’d seen and done things that would have sent Captain Samara Ki running…maybe. What Tougun had planned… was far closer to the inky blackness that he’d long strove to avoid. He was at the mercy of Tougun and would have to make his amends with himself after they’d escaped this corner of hell. He suggested, “We’ll have to lead it to the hall. We’ll have to fight our way out from there.”

Tougun’s smile remained as it took a sly turn, “Then let’s wake her up.” He strove straight for the console, startling the guards who moved to intercept him. His pistols were out before they could aim, and their bodies dropped with a crunch to the ground. Shouts were heard as the noise sounded alarms. The Orion tapped quickly, and the lid began to hiss, a klaxon sounding as it opened. He walked quickly towards Hasara, “Get ready to run.”

The lid opened halfway before what was contained, and asleep, woke up with a roar. What had once been a young Cardassian woman was a horrifying, macabre creature.  It slammed into the heavy lid, sending it whistling over their heads. Four spindly arms swung from the main body, and four legs served as the rolling base for the beast. Borg implements covered every inch of the body. At the top was an oblong head that was an amalgamation of at least four or more – the size had been expanded with the additional materials of skin, brain, and skull – a throbbing brain rumbled beneath a mechanized cage. The roar resounded again, and four mechanical eyes landed on Hasara and Tougun.

Hasara shook away the shock and awe, “Now we leave.” They both took off running, the guttural growling booming through the station.