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The Star Beagle Adventures                                                
Episode 7: The Roundabout
Scene 7: Pel’s Exchange

7.7
Pel’s Exchange

It had taken a few months for everyone to get used to Pel’s marker system. It would have been a horrible mess without Pel’s guidance. And it would have been a horrible mess without the rules committee, which consisted of Commodore Yui Song, Captains Skip Howard and Rhonda Carter, Major Janet Carter, and Dean Sakura Nakamura Holland… And, of course, Trader Pel. 

Each person could request up to three markers from another individual for favors to be provided at a later time - when the marker would be called in. All exchanges were recorded and the entire system was available for everyone to view via Pel’s Exchange, which updated continuously. The system noted who owed a marker to whom, but did not explain the basis for the exchange.

A set of arbitrary rules, unofficially known as Pel’s Rules, was designed and updated periodically to keep the market friendly. No person could carry a negative balance of more than 9 markers at any time. And if there was any dispute, both parties were required to surrender their markers to Pel, who would immediately call the markers in and always managed to find an acceptable resolution. Pel held that good will was also of economic value - and he had certainly managed to amass quite a store of it.

Pel was explaining to Commodore Yui Song the strange web of business relationships he had developed that had caused the task force to carry his shuttle from one system to another: Elevator improvements traded for ghoal and a locally built shuttlecraft from the Ghoal moon, the ghoal traded for high quality manure from the farms of Gheethal, which was of no great commercial value to anyone except the florists of Choutbro, a planet located nearly 20 light years away. 

The flowers weren’t of great local value, but in the high courts of Ead, 18 lightyears away, the freshness of the displays Pel was able to mysteriously provide netted 80,000 Eadhels (a considerable amount of spending power) and, more importantly 1700 docking hour chits for Roundabout Station.

“I will leave 60,000 eadhels and 1500 docking chits with the task force,” said Pel. “You have to understand that this is a significant amount of wealth. A single chit will provide one docking hour for any of our shuttles. Docking any of your ships for an hour would cost 10 chits.” 

Pel was looking up at Commodore Yui Song, standing next to Pel’s Shuttle, which was docked in the U.S.S. Mako’s secondary shuttlebay. Pel was looking up at the commodore because, at about 5’7”, the elderly Chinese woman was about 9” taller than the minuscule ferengi trader. Behind them, U.S. Marines were offloading 60 small, but heavy cases, each containing 1,000 eadhel coins.

“Of course, given your beaming technology, you wouldn’t have to dock. But none of these people have transporter technology. And even letting them know such a thing exists could cause that economic tsunami we were talking about…”

“Our plan is to keep our ships well out of scanning range from the station,” Commodore Yui responded. “You have done exceptionally well, Pel. It will be 18 hours before we arrive in the Roundabout system. I’m sure you need some down time.”

“Once this mission is complete, if you’re willing to give me a berth here, I plan to remove my quarters to the shuttle,” Pel replied. “But for now, I’m very much looking forward to a big plate of tube grubs and a long nap.” He yawned widely, then: “And not necessarily in that order.”

Yui Song smiled at the minuscule ferengi businessman as he walked away. She was surprised that she had become rather fond of him. She looked up at his marine escort. “Lieutenant Pushkin, your team has performed well. It will be another 18 hours before the next leg of your mission. Transporter room 5 is on standby to return you to the U.S.S. Beagle.”

The marines stood at attention and saluted. “Thank you sir,” 2nd. Lt. Iov Pushkin replied.

Pel was already exiting the shuttlebay en route to his quarters…

Only to find Captain Skip Howard in his quarters waiting for him.

“Captain,” Pel said, rather exhaustedly, “to what do I owe the honor?”

“You can take the ears off, Pel. You’ve had them on for days. I’m sure they’re hurting by now,” Howard responded. 

Pel sank into a chair. Captain Howard brought over an instrument that somewhat resembled a dermal regenerator. “Shall I?”

The tiny ferengi leaned forward, elbows on knees. Made an exhausted noise, then a heavy sigh. “Go ahead, Skip.”

Skip Howard deftly and carefully unsealed the prosthetics that adhered the large ears to Pel’s head, revealing the smaller ears of a ferengi female. Pel sighed heavily in relief and massaged her ears gently as Howard carefully stored the large prosthetics in a case that was designed not only to store but also to repair the edges of the prosthetic appliances. 

“Would you like for me to disrobe too? Become the compliant little ferengi female?” Pel asked with some asperity. 

“You know that won’t work on me,” Howard replied. “I told you a long time ago, you cannot lie to me.” Howard produced a dermal regenerator and used it to treat the pink and irritated parts of Pel’s ears and scalp where the prosthetics had been anchored, causing the small ferengi to sigh in relief. 

Howard took a seat across from Pel and regarded her with a look of admonishment. “You’ve been avoiding me like the plague, which means you’re hiding something. Something you really don’t want me to know about. There’s something about the Roundabout station that you’re not telling me about. Something that will put my people at risk. You have to know I will never accept that.”

“This would be so much simpler if you were to allow me to go there on my own,” Pel said, with some small amount of heat.

“Can’t risk that,” Howard said.

“I am a free actor,” Pel replied. “You have no legal right to stop me.”

“Except to prevent the development of threats to the Federation or to local cultures,” Howard retorted. “It is in our contract.”

Pel sighed heavily again. “Okay. Okay, I’ll tell you. But then I want you to put yourself in my place before you make a decision whether or not to let me go…”

7.7