"...will leave no indication of having disrupted...."

"...one will be able to alert..."

"...can be monitored, if necessary..."

"Perfect. All we have to do now is..."

"On command, yes."

Ruth and Jilla completed their Valjiir routine by staring innocently at the guard. He had spent the past twenty minutes going from "Huh?", "Wha'?", "Whajasay?" to open-mouthed head-bobbing; from Jilla to Ruth and back, obviously not comprehending a word.

"Well?" Ruth demanded as she stood from the reassembled control board.

"Huh? Wha'?" the man responded.

"You are keeping Mr. Oxmyx waiting," Jilla clarified. She remained seated.

"Waitin'? He didn't call me!"

"We're finished," Ruth enunciated clearly. "We have to tell Mr. Oxmyx what to do. Go. Fetch." She pointed.

The guard swung the rifle to her. "I ain't no dog, doll-face."

"Doll-face?" Jilla repeated.

"Oy," Ruth muttered and shook her head. "Just go get him, all right?" The guard shifted, standing straighter.

"I'm supposed to guard you. That's what I'm doin'"

Ruth took a few measured steps toward him. "Then how," she said softly, " is he going to know we're finished?"

The guard swallowed, being unaccustomed to Antari pheromones. "Uh...I..." he stammered.

"Let him stay," Jilla broke in. "The longer he delays, the less time Oxmyx has to implement our work."

"Hey! You tryin' to stall me, doll?!" the guard barked.

"Brilliant deduction," Ruth muttered under her breath as she spun to face the Indiian. "Jilla!" she hissed with a fair show of feigned anger.

"Well, it ain't gonna work! I got too much on the ball to let a coupla dames snow-ball me!" He jabbed the rifle into Ruth's side. "Move it, doll!"

Ruth moved back to Jilla. The guard backed up to the bulkhead and hit the com switch with the end of his weapon. "Hey, Boss!" he shouted. "Where are ya? The broads is finished!"

Ruth grimaced. "Damn," she whispered ruefully. "It didn't work."

"He is more intelligent than he appears," Jilla agreed with a sigh.

"Which isn't saying much."

"It is obviously enough. But it does not matter. Our work is done."

Ruth grinned. "Yeah. I hope we bought Spock enough time."

"I would say so." Jilla inclined her head toward the exit to the corridor.

Sulu stood there, motioning silence.

Neither Ruth nor Jilla moved. Sulu said '"Night," and fired the phaser he held. The guard went down without a whimper - but he looked very surprised.

"'Night'?" Jilla questioned as she stepped over to the guard's body to relieve him of his weapon.

"I learn fast," was Sulu's reply. "Come on, Spock's gone to secure the Bridge."

Jilla shook her head. Ruth deftly secured the guard to a support with some patch cord. "Where's Oxmyx?" she asked.

"Spock beat him at fizzbin." Ruth made a face. "Was pally here right? Did you finish?"

"'Pally'?" Jilla said but Ruth chuckled.

"Yeah," she said. "The cloak is disabled - or will be as soon as any command from the Helm is fed into the engineering computers."

"Great. Let's go."

The three officers started down the corridor, then froze as a distinct 'click-click' sound came from around the curve ahead. Ruth grinned, motioning for Jilla and Sulu to stay back.

"Ruth..." Sulu began warningly.

"It's okay, Roy," she said, and took several steps forward. Sulu and Jilla exchanged glances.

Ruth's voice, with a strange, nasal twang said, "Freeze, doll-face." There was a gasp, almost an 'eek' sound, then an equally nasal hiss of "You!"; slight sounds of a very short scuffle, then Ruth said in her normal voice, "All's clear, Roy."

The blonde woman who had been on the Bridge with Oxmyx was held easily in Ruth's grasp. Ruth held her phaser and the band of elastic that had held it to her leg.

Sulu grinned. "How did you know?"

"'Click-click'," Ruth replied, pointing to the spike-heeled shoes the woman wore. Then her eyes lit up. "She's a..."

"Moll," Sulu supplied, then both he and Ruth looked at Jilla as her mouth began to open.

"Don't say it," they said together.

Jilla closed her mouth.

"I always wanted to be a moll," Ruth mused. "I wonder..."

"I'm gonna scream!" the moll broke in.

"I doubt it," Jilla said, and calmly reached for the woman's shoulder. She slipped quietly to the deck.

"Thanks, hon," Sulu said. Jilla nodded.

Ruth bent down, tugging off her boots, then grasped the woman's shoes. "A bit tight, but..." She slipped the elastic up around her right thigh, then stood, tucking the phaser into the band. "How do I look?" she asked, striking a pose.

"Ridiculous," Jilla murmured.

Sulu only stared, smiling appreciatively.

"Well, let's go," Ruth said, again with a nasal twang. "Can't keep da boss waitin’." She strutted down the corridor, only a little unsteady. Sulu chuckled, following. Jilla sighed in uncomprehending resignation.

"Remember Captain Kirk," Spock said to McCoy just before the turbolift door opened. McCoy was about to apologize again when the door slid open and Spock abruptly swung the phaser rifle up, striding aggressively forward.

"Awright youse guys," he barked, "we're takin' over! Turn to stone!"

McCoy raised his weapon, trying not to laugh as the Iotian guards froze.

"Over there," Spock ordered, gesturing to the front of the Bridge, away from any controls. The guards moved. "Get the heaters," Spock said to McCoy. McCoy collected the phasers as Spock settled himself in the con, legs stretched out in front of him, rifle aimed at the Iotians but resting almost casually on his arm.

"Now the problem is," he went on, dropping the atrocious accent as McCoy came to stand beside him, "what to do with these small-time operators. Obviously Captain Kirk's deal didn't suit them."

"It was Oxmyx," one of the guards began. "He said..."

"Shut up," McCoy answered, then rocked back on his heels at Spock's raised eyebrow and approving nod.

The turbolift door opened and a delighted, nasal voice called out, "Baby!" Spock turned the con as Ruth barreled down the Bridge step and, with another delighted squeal, into his arms. "Honey, I was so worried!" she exclaimed in a tone several notes higher than her usual speaking voice.

"Indeed," Spock replied, controlling a flush as Ruth covered his throat with kisses. Ruth then winked at him and settled herself on his lap. "Hardly appropriate," he murmured.

"Right, boss," she murmured back. "You say 'move it, doll-face'."

He did, and she did, only to take a place perched on the back on the con, her legs crossed and swung over Spock's shoulder. Which Spock did his best to ignore and Ruth made more difficult by occasionally rubbing her thigh against his cheek.

"Captain..." Jilla began.

"Boss," Sulu interrupted. Jilla stared at him.

"Boss?"

"You should call...."

"Your report, Lieutenant?" Spock broke in. Jilla turned to him gratefully.

"Assignment completed, sir," she said.

"Yeah," Ruth added, studying her nails, "Piece o' cake."

Sulu stared at her for a minute, then shook his head and took a spot at the turbolift door. After a moment of confused silence, Jilla sighed and sat down on the Bridge step, hoping she would at least be out of the way.

"Now what?" McCoy murmured to Spock.

"We contact the Enterprise and wait for Mr. Oxmyx."

"...and it occurred to me that they talk just like you do - I mean about deals and profits and percentages. If anyone can understand them and control their - uh - more undesirable urges, it's you."

Gage leaned against the railing on the Bridge of the Enterprise. He had smoked thoughtfully all through Uhura's explanation, and as she concluded, he remarked to Rand, "And not a batted eyelash in the whole speech." Rand shot him a pained look.

"So, can ye help us, Ambassador?" Scotty put in before the Haven security man could get started.

"Well...." Gage began slowly. "I can, certainly. The question is..."

"Federation," Rand put in pointedly. "As in member of."

Gage frowned. Security, being the only organized Haven profession that wasn't a profit center, sometimes got silly ideas. They got paid handsomely for foregoing honest work.

"Not to mention certain unfavorable impressions that it would be in your interest to dispel — pusher," Rand continued with his best 'I-love-my-work' smile.

The frown turned to a scowl. Gage hadn't really needed the reminder of his last visit to the Enterprise; zenite gas in the ventilation system had turned an honorable dealer - him - into a pusher; an unsuccessful one at that.

"Of course," Gage said at last. "I am at your service, Mr. Scott."

Communications signaled and Uhura turned to her board. Her face lit up. "Mr. Scott, it's the Captain!"

"On audio, lass," Scott returned. "Aye, sir," he said briskly, "Scott here."

"Mr. Scott, we have temporary control of the Pocahontas. You should be able to get a fix on her position."

"Cloak's gone," Jan Bergmann reported from the Science Station.

"Got her, Mr. Scott," Ensign Castall affirmed from the helm.

"Whaddid I tell ya'?” came an unrecognizable voice from the Pocahontas.

'"A piece of cake", I believe," Spock answered it.

"You got dat right, honey," the voice giggled. And the picture of Ruth seated on the back on the con over Spock's right shoulder resolved on the Enterprise's main viewer. Scott snorted in amusement. Uhura did her best to hide a chuckle. The rest of the Bridge crew gaped in awkward silence.

Gage and Tomor Rand stared, exchanged glances, then applauded sardonically.

"Captain," Scott began as a frown started to lower Spock's eyebrows at the sight of the Havens, "I took the liberty of askin' the Haven ambassador for his assistance."

"It was my idea, sir," Uhura broke in quickly. "The Iotians speak of deals and I thought..."

"It's my responsibility," Scott rejoined in Uhura's defense, " and I'll accept the consequences."

"Mr. Scott, Miss Uhura, " Spock interrupted, "we can assign credit once this situation is resolved." Scotty and Uhura exchanged surprised glances, then Scott grinned, nodding. "For the moment," Spock continued, "I expect Mr. Oxmyx to rejoin us in a short while and I would like to avoid any further unpleasantness. If Ambassador Gage would agree to transport..."

"Sure thing, Captain Spike," Gage answered.

"Spock."

"Whatever."

"I will keep you posted, Mr. Scott. Spock out."

The screen went blank.

"Credit, Scotty," Uhura mused quietly.

"Aye, lass. I heard."

"It's nice having him back."

"Aye." Scotty turned to the Haven. "I'll escort you to the transporter."

"Sure thing," Gage replied again. "Come on, Rand."

"I'll see you later, Beauty," Rand said on his way to the turbolift.

"Be careful, Tomor."

Rand looked surprised. "Of course! I've got some gratitude to collect."

Uhura smiled as Rand blew her a kiss.

Bela Oxmyx groaned, then cursed furiously as he came to consciousness. He rubbed the very bruised spot on the side of his neck, glancing around the brig cell to assess the situation. When he realized that though he was unarmed, he was also unfettered, he grinned. "Stupid move, pally," he said aloud, then straightened his jacket, squared his shoulders and left the Brig, heading down to Engineering to check on Valjiir.

The first thing he saw upon arriving was his moll crumpled on the deck in the hallway like a rag doll. He quickly knelt beside her, lightly slapping her face.

"Hey, doll, come on, wake up," he said. "It's me, Bela, come on, sweetie."

She groaned, her eyes fluttered; then she squealed, sat up and, throwing her arms around his neck, pouted, "They don't play fair, Bela!"

"Yeah, don't I know it. We're just gonna hafta fight fire with fire. Where's your heater?"

She made a face. "Blondie took it. One of them Fed dames."

"And your shoes," he continued skeptically.

"Yeah." She widened her eyes. "Baby, they took me by surprise!"

Oxmyx rolled his eyes heavenward. "Sure, baby, sure." He stood, pulling her up. "Come on. We gotta regroup."

They hurried to the workroom to find Kalo struggling in his bonds. With a disgusted sigh, Oxmyx untied him.

"Boss!" he sputtered. "The dames..."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard it already. We gotta get us some heaters!"

"There's the boys on the Bridge..." Kalo began.

"Think, stupid! Spocko's gotta be up there!" Oxmyx bellowed.

"Yeah, right,” Kalo mumbled. "Hey, we could go to that storeroom by the sparklers and break out some more!"

"Now that's what I pay you for!" Oxmyx said, slapping a hearty hand to Kalo's back. Kalo grimaced but said only, "Right, boss," and the three Iotians moved down the corridor.

Sulu was on his guard as he went to the transporter to meet Gage. He hadn't wanted to, recalling his last run-in with the Ambassador. He'd threatened the Haven's life - under the influence of zenite. And while he wasn't concerned about Gage holding grudges, knowing Gage, the Haven would also disregard what had caused the threat... which meant Sulu would again have to firmly resist the temptation of amber. Easier without the effects of zenite, of course, but still...

Which isn't being on your guard, he chastised himself. Watch it or you'll have to explain to Spock how you got the bag put on you.

He saw nothing out of the ordinary as he reached the transporter and moments later, Ambassador Gage appeared, accompanied by Tomor Rand.

"Hi, Kam," Gage said casually as he stepped off the platform. "How's stressful brass life?"

"Not as annoying as it once was," Sulu answered and, deciding on the best defense, added, "and no, I don't care to do business."

Gage's hand went to his heart. "Why Kamikaze, you wound me! This is an official...."

"It was last time, too, Gage."

"But this is different, my friend. We're here voluntarily to help you out of your unfortunate dilemma."

"Cut the crap, Gage," Rand offered.

"And if I understand the situation," Gage shot back coolly, "we stand to make a profit for the Empire."

"He's testy," Rand explained to Sulu. "Jealous."

"Uhura," Sulu replied.

"So I'm in a little hurry here."

"Give her my best."

"I'll go one better and give her my best."

"Gentlemen," Gage broke in. "Business?"

"See?" Rand added.

Sulu chuckled and gestured with the phaser rifle. "This way."

"You do that well," Gage commented, then turned to Rand. "Jealous indeed!" he snorted.

"It makes good copy," Rand returned, "and stopped Kamikaze from jumping all over your ass."

"It also stopped me from realizing any profit of my own in this little free-for-all."

"That's my job as long as you're in the service of the Emperor."

"Since when are you a Monolem?"

"Be grateful I'm not."

Gage thought about that for a moment, then said, "Yeah."

Oxmyx watched Sulu leave the turbolift, then motioned his comrades into the cleared car. When the door closed, he cleared his throat and said, "Bridge." His moll smiled adoringly as the turbolift obeyed.

"Now when these doors open," Oxmyx said to Kalo, "you find Spocko and let him know we mean business."

"Right, boss."

Seconds later the door opened, Kalo took a menacing step forward -- only to be stunned by a blast from Jilla's phaser. The moll screamed, Oxmyx aimed his phaser, and Ruth twanged, "Don't try it, pally," her own weapon trained on him.

Oxmyx glanced quickly around the Bridge. "Looks like we got us a stalemate," he said jauntily. "You got my boys, but I still got this ship and she's still invisible..."

"I'm afraid not, pally," Spock returned. Oxmyx looked skeptical for a moment, but Ruth smiled at him, all teeth, as Spock patted her thigh. "I told you we had Valjiir." Oxmyx sighed heavily.

"Okay, okay, I give. Call 'em off, Spocko," he complained, raising his hands over his head. "Sorry I didn't believe you, baby," he said to his moll.

"'No way’ is, I believe, the correct response," Spock told him, then added to Jilla, "Keep him covered, Lieutenant."

"Covered?" Jilla questioned.

"Keep your weapon aimed at Mr. Oxmyx," Spock clarified. "Doctor, if you will assist Mr. Kalo from the turbolift and relieve our guests of their weaponry."

"Right, Spocko," McCoy replied gleefully. Spock kept his sigh in check.

"Awright, pally, you got me," Oxmyx said after surrendering his phaser to McCoy. He nervously strode past Jilla to the con. "Let's be reasonable about this."

"I am attempting to be, Mr. Oxmyx. The Enterprise is sending over a mediator." Oxmyx paled and gulped.

"Y'know, it ain't our fault," he continued. "We was just tryin' to pull our own weight, y'know?"

"Of course," Spock replied.

"More like throwin' it around," Ruth drawled, tucking her phaser back in her garter.

"Shut up, doll-face," Oxmyx returned.

"Who you tellin' to shut up?!" Ruth blazed.

"I'm tellin' you to shut up!"

"Who?!" Spock put in with as much menace as he could muster.

Oxmyx gulped. "Ah, nobody, Spocko, nobody."

Ruth hmmphed triumphantly as the turbolift doors again opened. The voice of Ambassador Gage was saying, "...for an old friend."

"Ambassador Gage," Spock said, claiming the Haven's attention. "This is Bela Oxmyx. Reason with him."

Sulu breathed a sigh of relief as Gage turned to his legitimate business. Havens were very persistent - and Gage was a persistent Haven. His eyes sought Jilla, ascertaining her safety; then he glanced at Ruth. Then did a double-take.

Her hair, previously barely shoulder length, was now hanging just below her collarbone.

He shook his head. Must be my eyes playing tricks on me.

He moved next to Jilla as Bela Oxmyx blustered his demands.

"His words make sense, after a fashion," Jilla whispered, "yet he cannot be serious." She paused. "Can he?"

"If he wasn't, we wouldn't be here, hon."

"But to think that he could actually bargain for a portion of the Federation..."

"That's Iotian culture."

"It makes no sense," Jilla said firmly. Sulu smiled.

"...so we figured ten percent off the top was fair," Oxmyx finished.

Gage stroked his jawline. "Seems reasonable," he mused. "But you've overlooked the overhead."

Oxmyx gestured expansively. "What overhead? I told ya, we got our own fancy heaters!"

"Heaters don't build ships. You have to figure in labor costs and material... plus the knowledge..."

"We got this here crew..."

"... plus food and shelter for your work crews... Fleet officers don't count, except the engineers and computer people. And keeping the rest on ice will get very expensive, besides the fact that you can't ensure proper cooperation."

"I did explain that earlier, Mr. Oxmyx," Spock put in.

Oxmyx looked blank. "Uh - yeah - right, pally."

"So you're going to have to pay - up front," Gage went on. "Feds don't work on credit, isn't that right, Captain Spike?"

"Spock."

"Whatever."

Sulu choked off his laughter. 'Spike', huh, Gage? He again glanced at Ruth to share the joke. Her hair reached her elbows. "No," he said aloud.

"What?" Jilla asked.

"Nothing, hon."

Gage paced thoughtfully, pursing his lips. "And, of course, after the ships are built, you have to train your people to run them - and repair them..." He frowned, then turned to Spock. "There's always the Academy for that, right?"

"Right," Spock replied without missing a beat.

"What Academy?" Oxmyx broke in. "I ain't gonna lose control of my people!"

"It's a school," Gage explained.

"We don't need no school but The Book!"

Gage brightened. "Then you won't need the training! Great; cuts out one of the middlemen."

"Now I didn't say that, exactly," Oxmyx hedged.

"Well, does your book tell you how to build and run a starship or not?!"

"No, but..."

"Then I'd say you need some education besides the book."

Oxmyx looked confused. "Uh... yeah, I guess. But listen, pally. We're gonna do this my way, right?"

Gage smiled.

"Right."

Sulu shook his head yet again. Gage was talking circles around Oxmyx, as though he really intended to make a deal with the Iotians. Then again, being a Haven, that night actually be the case.

And Sulu refused to think about the fact that another glance at Ruth had shown her hair now down to her hips and curling contentedly around Spock's right ear.

Spock ignored the familiar tickling as long as he could, then turned his head to remind his moll to control her errant tendrils.

Then realized that at last observation, Ruth's hair was far too short to reach his ear from her perch on the back of the con.

A giggle sounded in his mind, with a child-like, it missed you.

Ruth, how...?

Mind over matter. Plus enough recovery from the sauvrn. And you missed it.

I am most grateful.

Later. Just give me lots of steak when we get home.

"Now," Gage said, ticking off a list on his fingers, "we've covered overhead, education, information services, training... looks like that's everything." He straightened. "So, let's talk financing."

"Ah, the good stuff," Tomor Rand murmured from his position - on the deck, one hand on the back of Kalo's neck, forcing the Iotian to stay face down.

"We ain't got much of a nest egg," Oxmyx mused. He turned to Spock. "I thought maybe..."

"No credit, Oxmyx," Spock said firmly.

"Ah, be a pal, Spocko. I'm good for it."

"No."

"There is your ten percent,” Gage rejoined.

Oxmyx's eyes lit up. "Yeah, we agreed to that, right?"

"Right," Rand put in happily.

"And that'll just about cover your up-front expenses," Gage agreed. "You've got the forms from Budgets and Federation Revenue, right? And transfer of credit authorization and..." Oxmyx stared blankly and Gage, with a glance at Spock, added, "...or I can take care of all that for you."

"Hey!" Oxmyx bellowed. "Ain't nobody takin' over my operation!"

"No, no, my good man. You'll retain full control. I'll be - uh - your manager."

"Manager? Hey, like the fights, huh?"

"Exactly."

With a huge smile, Oxmyx stuck out his hand and said, "You got yourself a deal, pally!"

Gage shook his hand. “Done, Mr. Oxmyx.”

"Mr. Oxmyx," Spock broke in, "you will, of course, return full control of this vessel to its crew for the return trip to Iotia."

"Yeah, sure, Spocko; anything you say."

"And the Ambassador will accompany you."

"Sure," Gage replied. "We can discuss my service fee."

Rand stood up, allowing Kalo to get up. "That's business, boss," he said. Gage made a slight bow.

"Then my crew and I will return to the Enterprise."

"Not with my shoes!" Oxmyx's blonde moll complained petulantly.

"All right, they hurt my feet anyway," Ruth said, hopping down from the con as Spock rose. "Here, honey," she added, reprising her twang as she handed over the spike heels. "This, too." She slipped off the garter, tossing it casually at Oxmyx.

"Mr. Sulu, Lieutenant Majiir, Dr. McCoy," Spock said as he and Ruth stepped toward the turbolift. "I trust, Doctor, you haven't forgotten anything?"

McCoy made a face. "Right," he said. Sulu pretended not to notice that Ruth's hair was hanging nearly to the deck.

Jilla, after an initial stare, accepted it with the same calm confusion that had characterized the entire situation.

As the turbolift doors slid closed, Gage's voice could be heard, discussing the terms of his service contract with Bela Oxmyx.

"...and naturally will include the standard sanity clause..."

"You can't fool me, pally," Oxmyx broke in. "I ain't no dummy, y'know. There ain't no Sanity Claus!"

"...and so what Gage actually got Oxmyx to agree to was preparation for full-status membership in the Federation," Sulu finished. He, Ruth, Jilla and several other officers were in the messhall after a short debriefing and report to Starfleet.

"With a nice profit for himself," Daffy Gollub added.

"Of course, he's a Haven," Ruth agreed. No one had commented on the return of her hair to its former glory.

"I still do not understand," Jilla said. "How can Ambassador Gage collect ten percent 'off the top'?"

"He won't, hon," Sulu explained. "He'll just fill out a lot of paperwork making it look as though there's been a transfer of money."

"And collect a fee for his trouble," Daffy reminded again.

"That is unethical," Jilla frowned.

"Not for a Haven," Ruth said happily.

"Or for an Iotian... unless Oxmyx finds out and puts everybody on ice," Sulu added.

There was general laughter, except from Jilla. She started to ask the obvious question, then sighed. "Never mind," she said to no one in particular.

Sulu smiled at her, then stretched lazily. "You know, this is the first time in a long time that I've actually enjoyed working?"

"I take it then that you no longer wish to be promoted the hell out from under me," a voice said from over his shoulder.

Sulu jumped, flushing scarlet, turning to face Spock. "...uh...Captain..." he stammered.

"Nevertheless, I intend to keep Starfleet informed of your excellent potential." Spock gestured elegantly to Ruth. She smiled warmly and joined her fingers to his.

"'Night, all," she called as she and Spock left the messhall.

Sulu sat back down, once again relaxing. He reached for Jilla's hand and shook his head. Maybe, just maybe, Ruth's hair isn't the only thing returning to its former glory.

The End