FAIR TRADE
Episode 55
Part B

 

Chakotay and Paris look round the depot while Janeway meets with Bahrat.

They are noticed by one particular alien, whose name we later learn is Sutok.

He hurries after them and insinuates himself in front of them, forcing them to stop, as he says ingratiatingly: "Good day, gentlemen, good day. Anything in particular you're looking for, anything I can help you with?" Chakotay: "We're hoping to find some magnetic spindle bearings for our reaction control assembly." Sutok: "Spindle bearings, spindle bearings. No, can't help you with that. Long voyage ahead?"

Paris: "Er, you could say that."

Chakotay smiles at Paris' humorous understatement.

Sutok: "I have something that might ease your journey, ease it considerably." He produces some tubes containing a substance. "Rhuludian Crystals. Ingesting just one of these will make days of tedious travel seem like moments of exquisite rapture."

The Starfleet officers realise that they are being offered narcotics. Paris: "No, thank you."

Sutok: "Er, the price is surprisingly-"

Chakotay, very firmly: "No." Sutok leaves them. Paris comments sarcastically: "Nice place."

Elsewhere on the station, Neelix visits a stall. Neelix: "I see you're a map dealer." Map dealer: "I have co-ordinate charts for the local mining colonies."

Neelix: "Actually, I'm interested in maps of the Nekrit Expanse." Map dealer: "You must be a stranger here or you'd know there aren't any maps of that region."

Neelix: "Surely there's an astrometric chart or a database that would help me plot a safe course." Map dealer: "The Nekrit Expanse is too unstable to chart."

Someone comes up to the stall, a Talaxian. "No matter. He never could plot a straight course anyway."

Neelix turns to the speaker: "Wixiban???" He looks him up and down in surprise. "Wix, is that you?! I can't believe it!"

They hug each other.

Wix: "What are you doing here? I've never seen another Talaxian this far from home." Neelix: "It's a long story. I'm one of the crew of a highly advanced starship."

Wix, impressed: "I want to hear all about it! The tavern here serves the best Toffa ale I've had in years." They set off with their arms round each other's shoulders.

Wix: "Ever since that nasty business with the Ubeans..." "...I'm not needed."

In the tavern, Neelix tells Wix what he is doing now. Neelix: "I do a little of everything - a cook, a guide, advisor to the Captain, possibly even an unofficial ambassador." Wix, impressed: "Life's been good to you." They clink glasses. Neelix, after taking a quick sip of Toffa ale: "Yes, I'm very very lucky. What about you, what are you doing on this station? Wix: "A little of this, a little of that. To tell you the truth, things haven't gone quite so well for me." Neelix: "I'm sorry." Wix: "Ever since that nasty business with the Ubeans," here Neelix looks down, ashamed to meet the other's eyes, "things have been difficult, but, you know me, you can't keep Wix down long. I'm working on a trade deal now that should put me right back in the thick of things again." Neelix: "I hope it works out. Er, Wix, about the Ubeans, I don't think I ever told you how much I valued what you did." Wix: "You'd've done the same for me." Neelix: "Yes, I would've, but you were the one who got caught. I owe you a great deal. If there's anything I can do to help-" Wix: "Oh, I'm fine, honestly. Maybe not on the crew of a magnificent starship, but I'll get by." Neelix, confiding in him: "To tell you the truth, it's not quite what I told you. In fact I may not be on Voyager much longer." Wix is surprised: "Why?" Neelix: "The main reason Captain Janeway needed me was as a guide, to give her information about this Quadrant. But I've never been beyond the Nekrit Expanse. I can't tell her anything about what's ahead." For a moment Wix is bewildered: "But your other jobs - cook, ambassador...." Neelix: "They don't really need a cook, and I don't think our Captain really requires an ambassador. I've tried to find some other area where I might be useful but, the truth is, I'm not needed. I'm hoping you can help me. I can't let Voyager go into that dangerous part of space without some idea of what's out there. I have to find a map!"

Voyager, holding position within transporter range of the Nekrit Supply Depot.

Neelix's mind is so preoccupied with his troubles that he drops a pan in the Messhall as he exits from the Galley, just as Vorik enters carrying an engineering toolkit.

Vorik: "Can I be of help, Mr Neelix?" Neelix, flustered: "Dinner isn't for another hour, Ensign Vorik, and I don't have time to prepare a snack." Vorik: "I don't require food at the moment. Lieutenant Torres sent me to adjust the control interface on your food replicators. You said you were experiencing difficulties with them."

Neelix: "Oh, of course. Go ahead."

Neelix bends down to clear up the mess. Vorik heads for the starboard replicator and starts work. Chakotay enters the Messhall with Wix. As Vorik passes the pair, he nods to acknowledge Chakotay.

Chakotay: "Neelix, I thought you'd like to say hello to your old friend."

Neelix is suspicious of Wix's reason for visiting, but hides this as he shows delight: "Er, yes, yes, of course!"

Wix to Neelix: "So, this is where you prepare your legendary feasts." To Chakotay, helping his friend Neelix by talking him up: "You know, Commander, Neelix has more varied talents than anyone I've ever known. You're lucky to have him on board."

Chakotay: "Mr Wix was able to find those magnetic spindle bearings we were looking for. I don't know what we'd've done if he hadn't come up with them." Neelix: "Yes, Wix has always had a knack for finding those hard to locate items."

Chakotay: "I'll let you two reminisce for a while. Thanks again, Wix." Wix: "You're more than welcome." Chakotay leaves.

Neelix: "Yes, this is the Mess room. On any given day, I must be prepared to feed over a hundred people."

He remembers that Vorik is in the room and says to the Vulcan: "About done, Ensign?"

Vorik: "Not quite."

Neelix: "Well, I really don't need the replicators today, so you can finish later." Vorik: "As you wish." Neelix: "Oh, and remind Lieutenant Torres, er, when she has a moment, I'd still like to go over a few things with her."

Vorik: "I'll relay the message." Neelix: "Thank you." Vorik leaves.

Neelix takes Wix into the Galley.

Neelix: "Wix, please tell me those spindle bearings weren't stolen property."

Wix: "Of course not. I wouldn't do that to you."

When Neelix looks sceptical, Wix says: "Neelix, I need the work. I don't live on a comfortable starship. No one looks out for me, except me. Maybe you've forgotten what that feels like." Neelix: "I haven't forgotten."

Wix: "I've been stuck on that trash heap of a space station for 3 years. My ship's been impounded. I can't afford to give Bahrat what he wants to get it back. Do you begrudge me an opportunity to make a fair trade?" Neelix: "Of course not." And he is now pleased for his friend.

Wix: "I have news for you. I've located some pergium for your ship."

Neelix: "That's great news. Captain Janeway hasn't had any luck." Wix: "And I've found someone with a map." Neelix: "Wonderful! How do we get it?"

Wix: "It will involve several bartering sessions. I have the opportunity to sell medical supplies to an outpost whose people are dying of a lung disease. It's a good cause, and it will make me enough to pay Bahrat to get my ship back." Neelix: "Where does the map come in?" Wix: "When I deliver the medical supplies, one of the physicians will give me an astrometric chart."

Neelix: "I can't thank you enough."

Wix: "I'll have to ask your help, though. We'll need a shuttle. First we have to get to a nearby freighter to pick up the medical supplies, then we return to the space station and meet with one of the physicians from the outpost. With your transporter technology we could be in and out of the station within minutes. Then I could finally get away from here and back to a Talaxian colony." Neelix: "I don't think that would be a problem." Wix: "Just one thing. Don't tell anyone that we're delivering medical supplies to the station, not even one person. If Bahrat finds out he'll take 20% and I can't afford that."

Neelix, not really happy: "I, I er suppose there's no need to mention it."

Wix: "Thanks, Neelix. I knew I could count on you." He leaves.

Neelix is worried.