STAR TREK QUOTES - DEEP SPACE 9

Like the show's reliance on old-fashioned storytelling conventions, such episodes comprised of entirely distinct A and B plots (which is annoying) or the almost complete absence of flashbacks and prequels (which is enormously refreshing), there is something almost quaint about the niceness that underlies even Deep Space Nine's grimmest episodes... It had a thirteen year old boy's sense of humor and an eight year old girl's notion of romance. But though it was never spectacular in a single respect it was quite often good, or even very good, in several, and the overall effect of that steady, low-key competence was a wholly satisfying story. First and foremost, Deep Space Nine's accomplishment is the creation of a completely believable, richly textured world...  Life on the station is sometimes painfully ordinary, but therein lies the show's strength.
        - Abigail Nussbaum, revisiting DS9 on her "Asking the Wrong Questions" blog

CONTENTS
~ Season #1
~ Season #2
~ Season #3

SEASON #1

"Commander, laws change, depending on who's making them. But justice, is justice"

- Odo, "A Man Alone" "I have no use for fantasy adventure, I am Tosk, I live the greatest adventure one could ever desire " - Tosk, DS9 "Captive Pusuit" "I am sorry - I have no vices for you to exploit." - Tosk to Quark, "Captive Pursuit" "You sleep a full third of your rotation. You rest and relax while you are awake. The Alpha quadrant has too much... 'down' time."

        - Tosk to O'Brien in Quark's, "Captive Pursuit"

"I am Tosk, the hunted. I live to outwit the hunters for another day to survive until I die with honor."

        - Tosk, "Captive Pursuit"

"One day as a Tosk is enough for me."

        - O'Brien bids farewell to Tosk, "Captive Pursuit"

"Still chasing your own tail? Picard and his lackeys would have solved all this techno-babble hours ago. No wonder you're not commanding a starship."

        - Q taunts Sisko, "Q-less"

"You Klaestrons are allies of the Cardassians. Your knowledge of this station confirms that. They must have given you the layout, which not only compromises Bajoran security, but also... annoys us."

        - Kira, representing Bajoran interests, "Dax"

"Dad, I'm fourteen."
"I'm glad we agree on something."

- Jake & Benjamin Sisko, "Move Along Home" "And remember -- when in doubt, be ruthless!" - The advice of the Grand Nagus, "The Nagus" "They're putting out a mutual induction field that would block 99% of all transmissions to and from the surface."
"Is there any way for us to get a comm line through the field?"
"I've got one percent to work with, don't I?"

        - O'Brien & Dax, "Battlelines"

"Why do we tell her stories about evil dwarfs who want to steal children?"

        - Miles questions the wisdom of telling fairytales to Molly, "If Wishes Were Horses"

"She really is submissive, isn't she? Is that how you'd like me to be, Julian? So submissive?"
"I am not submissive. Am I?"

        - Jadzia & Julian's fantasy Jadzia, "If Wishes Were Horses"

"Perimeter sensors are picking up a subspace oscillation. What the hell does that mean?"

        - Kira faces technobabble from the computer, "If Wishes Were Horses"

"Don't look at me that way - I'm perfectly normal."

- Ouark, ‘Dramatis Personae’ "You can never undo what I've accomplished -- the dead will still be dead!!" - Gul Darheel, ‘Duet’ "Procreation does not require changing how you smell, or writing bad poetry, or sacrificing various plants to serve as tokens of affection." - Odo, on romance, "The Forsaken" "It's easy to look back seven centuries and judge what was right and wrong."

        - Sisko, "In the Hands of the Prophets"

"Odo, I am not a killer."
"No. But most of your friends are."
"True. And I would gladly sell one of them to you if I could."

        - Quark & Odo, "In the Hands of the Prophets"

"I once asked Kai Opaka why a disbeliever was destined to seek the prophets. She told me one should never look into the eyes of one's own gods."

        - Vedek Winn to Sisko, "In the Hands of the Prophets"

"Today, I am only a Vedek. If the prophets will it, someday, I may be Kai. And I can be a better friend to you then."
"In other words, being my friend now might hurt your chances."
"The prophets teach us patience."
"It appears they also teach you politics."

        - Vedek Bareil & Sisko, "In the Hands of the Prophets"

SEASON #2

"Every once in a while, declare peace -- it confuses the hell out of your enemies."

        - Quark quotes a Rule of Acquisition, "The Homecoming"

"What you did, Major, was declare war on Cardassia. Thankfully they declined the invitation."

        - Minister Jaro to Kira, "The Homecoming"

"It might be interesting to explore useless for a while..."

- Kira, after being relieved of duties, ’The Circle’ "We've got to leave! Well, I do, anyway; you can just turn into a couch." - Quark, on the impending takeover of the station, ’The Circle’ "We've got to do something. *I've* got to do something."

        - Li Nalas, "The Circle"

"There is one problem. The guys flying those ships... used to be the guys flying these ships."

        - Kira dogfights, "The Siege"

"I've done everything I can to help. I would die for my people but--"
"Sure you would. Dying gets you off the hook. Question is, are you willing to live for your people? Live the role they want you to play. That's what they need from you right now."

        - Li Nalas & Sisko, "The Siege"

"Humanoid death rituals are an interest of mine."
"Death rituals?"
"Everybody needs a hobby."

- Odo and Quark, "The Alternate" "I believe in coincidences. Coincidences happen every day. But I don't trust coincidences." - Garak, "Cardassians" "Excuse me. But if I understand the Cardassian political system, the civilian leaders have no direct authority over military officers..."
"Who's been tutoring you in Cardassian social studies, Doctor?"
"Your old friend, Garak."
"Well, remind my old friend that the withdrawal from Bajor was a decision made by the civilian leaders... one that I clearly opposed."

        - Bashir & Gul Dukat, "Cardassians"

"So, you _deduced_ that Garak _thinks_ Dukat is lying about something you're not sure of, and you proceeded to interrupt _my_ conversation to confront him about whatever that might be."
"I'm sorry, Commander."
"Don't apologize -- it's been the high point of my day. DON'T do it again."

- Sisko & Bashir, "Cardassians" "You're not as stupid as you look."
"I am too!" - Rom pleads ignorance to Odo, ’Necessary Evil’ Commence station security log, Stardate 47282.5. At the request of Commander Sisko, I will hereafter be recording a daily log of law enforcement affairs. The reason for this exercise is beyond my comprehension, except perhaps that humans have a compulsion to keep records and lists and files, so many in fact that they have to invent new ways to store them microscopically; otherwise, their records would overrun all known civilizations. My own very adequate memory not being good enough for Starfleet, I am pleased to put my voice to this official record of this day: Everything's under control. End log. - Odo, "Necessary Evil" And of course, it doesn't hurt to be a raging egomaniac. - Prof Seytik, "Second Sight" "I thought the theoretical maximum for those engines was warp 9.5."
"It was." - O’Brien pushing a ship too far, ’Second Sight’ Phasers on stun, Mr. O'Brien. I want those voles taken ALIVE. - Sisko deals with a rodent invasion, ’Playing God’ "Serious? No. I just threw my whole life out a porthole. Nothing serious." - Arjin has a bad day, ’Playing God’ "So, how well does this woman know you? Just enough to dislike you, or well enough to *really* hate you?" - Odo to Quark, ‘Profit & Loss’ "She wants to know if it hurts. Of course it hurts, it's supposed to hurt, it's a PHASER..." - Quark, after being hit, ‘Profit & Loss’ "They made you a Gul? I didn't realize the situation on Cardassia had gotten so desperate." - Garak, ‘Profit & Loss’ "If you're not a spy ... maybe you're an outcast."
"Or maybe I'm an outcast spy."
"How can you be both?"
"I never said I was either." - Bashir and Garak, "Profit and Loss" "The trouble is EARTH. On Earth, there is no poverty, no crime, no war. You look out the window of Starfleet Headquarters and you see Paradise -- well, it's easy to be a *saint* in Paradise." - Sisko, "The Maquis, Part II" "How do you propose to stop them?"
"What's that human expression? Shoot to kill.'"
"We'll stop them with words if possible... with force if necessary."

        - Dax, Dukat & Sisko deal with the Maquis, "The Maquis, Part II"

"I'm having dinner with Captain Bouday."
"The Galumite? You're going out on a date with him?"
"Is something wrong with that?"
"No. Not at all."
"He happens to be brilliant. His brain is twice the size of yours and mine."
"I know, I've seen it."
"It's not his fault that Galumites have transparent skulls."

- Dax & Kira, "The Maquis I" "The demilitarized zone."
"Not so demilitarized, I'm afraid." - Sisko & Admiral Necheyev, ‘Maquis’ A good interrogator doesn't allow his subject to die; you lose the advantage. - Gul Dukat, "The Maquis I" "I am _way_ beyond frustrated." - Kira, "Sanctuary" "That's a rather personal question."
"Sorry, but after seven lifetimes, the impersonal questions aren't much fun any more." - Odo and Dax, "Shadowplay" Garak has been lecturing me on surveillance techniques. - Julian, in way over his head, "Shadowplay" "Doctor, did anyone ever tell you that you are an infuriating pest?"
"Chief O'Brien, all the time, and I don't pay any attention to him, either." - Garak and Bashir, "The Wire" "I wasn't yelling; I was just expressing my opinion, LOUDLY." - Sisko, "The Wire" SEASON #3

"The only explanation I can find it that our leaders have simply gone *insane*."

- Garak, The Search #2 "Can I ask what you're doing?"
"Yes." - ‘Equilibrium’ "I should have gone into insurance: better hours, more money, less scruples." - Quark, "The House of Quark" "All right... let's try a less subtle approach." *fires phaser"

        - Kira, "Civil Defense"

"You humans, you never learn. You let your women go out in public, hold jobs, wear clothing... and you wonder why your marriages fall apart."

- Quark, "Fascination" "How many games of racquetball have we played in the last two months?"
"I don't know ... 15, maybe 20?"
"Try 70; I've been keeping track of that, too. And you know what all those games have proved to me? That I'm a poor substitute for your WIFE."
"I coulda told you that 60 games ago." - Bashir & O’Brien, ‘Fascination’ "This ship was built to fight. I think it's time she got her chance." - Tom Riker, "Defiant" "You know, the rate we go through Runabouts, it's a good thing that Earth has so many rivers." - Kira, "Family Business" "I think you'll find that random and unprovoked executions will keep your work force alert and motivated." - Intendent Kira, "Through the Looking Glass" Sorry to hear you say that, but if you're asking for a refund, forget it. The contract specifically says that satisfaction is not guaranteed. - Quark to his customer, "Meridian" "You better hurry. I got the dampening field on this ship for a substantial discount." - Nagus Zek, regarding turbulent wormhole passage, "Prophet Motive" "Treason, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder." - Garak, "Second Skin" "Why should I care what the Bajoran government thinks of me? "
"I don't know. But it seems to me if someone were in trouble with the Cardassian Central Command a Bajoran space station under Federation control might just be the safest place in the galaxy."
"Commander, this is extortion."
"Hmmm.....Yes, it is." - Garak & Sisko, "Second Skin" "I'll go along on your fool's errant, but I want one thing to be perfectly clear. I have no intention of sacrificing my life to save yours. If it looks like we're in danger of being captured, if there's any sign of trouble at all, you're on your own."
" Mr. Garak, I believe that's the first completely honest thing you've ever said to me."
"How perceptive of you, commander." - Garak & Sisko, "Second Skin" "After all, we've been in worse situations than this one and come out all right."
"Name three." - Kira & Odo, ‘Heart Of Stone’ "Tell me how you got your name."
"Well, as you know, when Doctor Mora first brought me to his laboratory, it was under Cardassian supervision. All specimens had to be clearly labeled in Cardassian, so that the
overseers would always know what the scientists were working on. Since no one could decide exactly what I was, Mora labelled me 'Unknown Sample', which the overseer translated into Cardassian as Odo'ital."
"So your name is 'Unknown Sample'?"
"No. Odo'ital literally means 'Nothing'. Even after it became clear that I was sentient, the Bajoran scientists kept calling me that. As a joke, they split it into two words, like a Bajoran name: 'Odo Ital'. Which eventually got shortened..."
"To Odo."

        - Kira and Odo, "Heart of Stone"

"I'm sorry, Major -- but where you see a Sword of Stars, I see a comet; where you see vipers, I see three scientists; and where you see the Emissary, I see a Starfleet officer."

- Sisko, "Destiny" "I HATE temporal mechanics!" - O’Brien, ‘Visionary’ "Who am I, to argue with me." -Dr Bashir to O'Brien who gave him information from the Dr's future self in "Visionary" "Is there anything I can do for you while your gone?"
"As a matter of fact there is. In my shop, next to the replicator, if you examine the bulkhead you will find a false panel. Behind that panel is an isolinear rod. If I'm not back within 76 hours I want you take that rod and eat it."
"Eat it! You must be joking."
"Yes Doctor, I am."
"Very funny."
"Well I thought so." -Bashir to Garak as he is leaving for Cardassian space in "Improbable Cause" "Why is it no-one ever believes me even when I'm telling the truth ? "
"Have you ever heard the story about the boy who cried wolf ? "
"No "
"It's a children's story about a young shepard boy who gets lonely while attending his flock, so he cries out to the villagers that a wolf is attacking the sheep. The people come running, but of course there's no wolf. He claims that it's run away and the people praise him for his vigilance. "
"Clever lad! Charming story."
"I'm not finished. The next day the boy does it again and the next two and on the fourth day a wolf really comes. The boy cries out to the top of his lungs, but the villagers ignore him and the boy and his flock are gobbled up. "
"That's a little graphic for children, wouldn't you say? "
"But the point is; if you lie all the time nobody's going to believe you, even when you're telling the truth "
"Are you sure that's the point, doctor? "
"Of course. What else could it be? "
"That you should never tell the same lie twice " - Garak & Bashir, "Improbable Cause" "Always burn your bridges behind you; you never know who might be trying to follow." - Enabran Tain, "Improbable Cause" "No wonder the Romulans can't conquer the galaxy; no one can stomach their cuisine!" - Enabran Tain, ’The Die Is Cast’ "With all due respect, Major, you're beginning to sound like a Romulan." - Sisko to Kira,’Explorers’ "For a moment there, I thought you had been put in charge of the Cardassian Ministry for the Refutation of Bajoran Fairy Tales." - Sisko to Dukat, ’Explorers’ "People either love you or hate you. [...] I mean, I *hated* you, when we first met ... and now..."
"And now?"
"And ... now I don't." - O’Brien to Bashir, [both very drunk], "Explorers" "It has been my observation that one of the prices of giving people freedom of choice is that sometimes they make the wrong choice." - Odo, "Shakaar" # NOVELS

[By John G Betancourt — The Heart Of The Warrior #17]

"Since we're going to be flying for most of the day, this seems like a good chance to get to know one another better. Tell me about yourself, Commander. What's it like being the first Klingon in Starfleet?"
Worf sighed and rolled his eyes. "That is the question everyone in the universe seems to ask," he said.
"And you're sick of it."
He nodded.
"I understand. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked by Bajorans what it's like to serve under a Federation captain."
        - Kira and Worf

The Bajorans jostled O'Brien again, this time spilling half his stout across the bar.
"Watch it," he said sharply.
The Bajoran glanced back at him. "You talking to me, human?" he demanded.
...
Suddenly Quark was there, patting his arm soothingly. "Easy there, Chief," he said, leaning forward to refill O'Brien's mug from a pitcher. "I can't afford any more murder investigations this month. It cost me a fortune paying off the families of the two Caxtonians you killed in that brawl last week."
O'Brien blinked in puzzlement. Caxtonians were huge, hairy humanoids with great natural piloting skills but few social graces. He knew better than tackling one in a fight. He'd certainly never killed a pair of them in a brawl.
"Two... Caxtonians?" the Bajoran said.
        - Quark tries to defuse a situation

"I just got in a shipment of the most delightful Oslan silks," Garak said. "I hadn't realized word would spread so quickly. That is what brings you here on such a fine day, isn't it? And who are those people you're watching?"
"Every day is like any other day on a space station," Bashir said, only half listening. He had to keep his mind on his mission, he reminded himself; Garak might well play a mild-mannered tailor, but he was a veteran of the Obsidian Order. "The environmental controls don't change much, remember?"
"It's a fine day," Garak said expansively, "because I've had a sudden influx of Cardassian customers, all with fresh gossip from home."
        - Garak and Bashir

Worf burst from his locker the moment he heard the changeling give the order for Snoct's execution. Blood roaring in his ears, he dove forward, phaser firing. Some distant and more primitive part of him thought, this was what a Klingon lived for, the may'boq — the battle fever that came with fighting. It sent his emotions soaring and filled his body with an almost electric energy. His first shot hit the Jem'Hadar holding Snoct by the back of the neck. The universe seemed to be slowing down around him, Worf thought. He felt the thudding rhythm of his heart pumping blood in his chest. Colors blared with vibrant energy as his sight narrowed to the targets ahead of him.

"I've never seen a Founder before," the bartender said, lowering his disruptor rifle, "but we all know enough to fear them and their evil ways."
"They are powerful," Odo said. "Determined, yes. Wrong, yes. And certainly stubborn. But not evil."
"So you're defending them—"
"No, I'm saying they're wrong."
"But..."
        - Odo meets some Gamma Quadrant natives

"What's wrong?" Sisko asked, looking around. "Where is everybody?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Quark grumbled. "You have one brawl, one terrorist attack, and one rumor of contaminated Bajoran spice ale—" Sisko noted the dark look Quark shot at Bashir, who shifted uneasily and didn't meet the Ferengi's gaze. There had to be a story there, Sisko thought. They'd worm it out of Bashir after he'd had a few drinks. "—and all of a sudden nobody wants to drink here anymore."
"They'll be back," Bashir said.

[By Sandy Schofield — The Big Game #4]

The lift stopped at Ops. Sisko stepped out, glancing briefly, as was his custom, at the Cardassian architecture: the almond-shaped portals on the top tier that revealed stars, Bajor, and the docking bays; the multilevel operations area, and the prefect's office- now his- straight across from the turbolift. He had never thought he would feel comfortable here, but during the last few months Ops had become the deck of his own personal starship. (p2)

Quark twisted his hands together. He knew that he would have to face having Romulans and Klingons play against each other, but he wasn't looking forward to it. At the last major poker tournament in the quadrant, two Klingons had died at the hands of Romulans. (p15)

This was the worst thing that could happen. The worst. Rumor would spread across the sector that Quark's was a low-life dive that couldn't even host a proper tournament.
"Please, everyone," Quark shouted above the noise. "Remain in your places. The emergency lights will come on in a moment." He hoped. He wasn't even sure the bar had emergency lights... Rom's voice almost had a human whine. Rom had picked up too many habits from the Federation do-gooders who filled the station. Before, the Cardassians had been teaching Rom proper, treacherous manners. (p17-18)

"We're going to play with a killer on the loose?" Baun asked.
If Quark could have kicked Baun, he would have. "Gamblers never let anything get in the way of a game." The men at the table nodded. "Of course, you could resign, Baun. I'm sure I could find another to take your place." Baun frowned. No one else seemed terribly upset by the turn of events. Kinsak was still focused on Xator, and Darak, the other Romulan, was pointedly staring at his cards. It seemed that Naralak didn't even have friends among her own kind. What luck. Quark suppressed a smile. He loved professional gamblers. (p23)

The Enterprise at its worst never achieved the level of engineering disaster O'Brien dealt with each day in the Deep Space Nine. And, judging from Kira's tone, that level of disaster had suddenly grown measurably worse...  The Ferengi made him nervous. Their unabashed avarice made him feel as if they ran naked in public. Such blatant emotion grated against his own conservative upbringing... After the turbolifts, he would work on the replicators. He had a hunch coffee would grow in importance as the hours wore on. (p27)

"That security uniform of yours might make some of my guests a little nervous," Quark said to Odo. "Could you wear some other clothes?" Quark realized he had never seen Odo in anything but his brown Bajoran garb. "Do you own any other clothes?"
"Don't be stupid," Odo said, and leaned forward as his brown uniform turned a molten red, then reformed into a blue and orange civilian jumpsuit. "I don't own any clothes." (p65)

Bajoran planetary defense. Without hearing the message, Sisko knew he would be facing another problem. Kira was peering at him. She had seen his hesitation. "Sir, maybe I should take this one."
"On screen, Major Kira." He would deal with any problem. He had seen Kira's attempts at diplomacy.
"Sir, they're not happy- "
He tilted his head and smiled just a little at her. "Major, I have dealt with angry Bajorans before."
Kira's lips pursed. O'Brien stifled a laugh and Dax grinned. They were all getting punchy. Normally the crew would not have reacted to that statement. Normally, Sisko wouldn't have said it. (p68)

"When it comes to poker, ladies, I am a gambler, not a cheat. I play by skill and I have a reputation to maintain. If anyone saw us together, they would suspect something, and I cannot afford the suspicion."
"You live under suspicion, you ignorant fool," B'Etor said.
"Of being a Cardassian spy." Garak smiled. "I rather like that. It gives me an air of mystery."
...
"Do you plan to turn us in?" B'Etor asked.
"To whom? Quark? He's a Ferengi. He has probably figured out a way to cheat all on his own. No, I will not turn you in. Nor will I be your victim. In exchange for my silence I would like your word that you will warn me when I am at a table where one of your decks is in play." (p80)

He couldn't tell them the most important thing. They wouldn't understand. People who gambled for money were fools. Garak would pay his gold-pressed latinum — and lose all one hundred bars if he had to — to play against those of his own caliber. The game itself was all that mattered. (p81)

The Grand Nagus of the Ferengi cackled from his chair in the center of the room. Speaking of tensions. If Bashir had to hear that laugh on a continual basis he would go crazy. (p85)

"You're a doctor, not a gambler! You can't even hold your Evarian beer!"
"But I can play poker."
"'But I can play poker,"' Quark said, imitating Bashir's inflections. "Anyone can play poker. My nephew can play poker. He just can't play very well."
"I'm sure I could beat your nephew," Bashir said. "And I'm willing to wager I could beat most anyone in that room."
"I'm sure you can..." Quark said, "...beat my nephew, that is." (p90)

"Quark has asked me to sit in on the game," Odo said, "to make sure all of your worthless lives continue long enough for him to make a profit."
Rasmussen frowned. "Doesn't seem like Quark's profit would be of interest to you."
"It's not," Odo said. "But keeping my eye on this collection of thieves and murderers is. There is a lot of money here, Mr. Rasmussen. I will be watching your hands very closely."
"I always keep my cards close to the chest," Rasmussen said.
"I was referring to your real hands. I couldn't care less what you do with your cards." Odo nodded to Rasmussen, and then went into the room. (p101)

"Chief," Kira said, "I'm getting reports that all the turbolifts in the habitat ring are out."
"Let them use the stairs," O'Brien snapped.
"Not funny, Chief. At least one has passengers." (p121)

Garak frowned at the others. "I don't think it would hurt us to be polite to each other."
Kinsak shook his head. "What kind of Cardassian are you, anyway? Polite. Hah!"
"I am a simple clothier," Garak said, as he picked up his cards. He had an eight of spades and a jack of hearts.
"Who stays on a Federation space station," Harding said around his cigar. He tossed in two red chips. "Hey, Klar. Are spies always polite?"
Klar put two red chips in the pot. "It's easier not to get noticed if you're polite."
"Unless you're Cardassian," Kinsak said as he checked.
"Or Klingon," Garak said with distaste. He checked as well. (p133)

"You hailed me, Major?" Litna's tone had a trace of sarcasm, emphasis on the word Major.
Kira swallowed. "Yes, Captain. Commander Sisko wanted me to clarify a few things— "
"Smart man," Litna said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Did he want you to speak woman to woman or Bajoran to Bajoran?" (p139)

"What I have been wondering is how you manage to bluff," Rasmussen said. "I thought Vulcans never bluffed."
"Really," Bashir said. "That is a tasteless question. You're asking Sarlak to explain his betting strategy."
Sarlak put his hand on Bashir's arm. "No, he is asking an important theoretical problem that has bothered Vulcan games theorists for a long time. While it is true that Vulcans do not bluff, neither does anyone else in poker."
"Knock it off, Pops," Pera said. "Everyone bluffs in poker."
Sarlak nodded. "That is the poker parlance, yes. If you consider bluffing to be a claim that you will perform an action you do not intend to, then you are correct, Vulcans do not bluff. But, in poker, bluffing has a different meaning. Players play to win. Poker players use the bluff as a strategy for winning. In poker, you win by claiming that you can win and having other players believe you. Or not believe you. Since the action is understood by all to be a potential ruse, it is not really a ruse at all."
Bashir grinned and leaned back. "I think I got that," he said. (p148)

Once everyone in the room realized that the lights weren't coming back on right away, mutters of dissatisfaction began.
"- stupidity of playing in a place designed by Cardassians- "
"- what if we're under attack?- "
"- some ploy by the Ferengi to steal all our money- "
"- Krax! Where is my idiot son? Krax!- " (p152)

He had gotten life support, lights, and environmental controls working for what seemed like the thousandth time. The replicators were his next chore no matter what Sisko said. O'Brien had learned on the Enterprise that when he couldn't sleep, he had to eat. If he failed to do both, he would collapse. (p220)

Odo calculated the odds. A heart flush was more likely than a straight flush, of course, but still the odds were not good. He would do as he had done before- put enough in to continue playing, but not raise any bets. The system had worked well for him, and he had found, at times, that the other players assumed he was bluffing. He had just discovered that if he stayed in the game through at least the fourth down card no matter what his hand (unless he knew he had no chance), his opportunity to win went up. Etana had explained to him, in her own sideways manner, that the players didn't know how to respond to him, so that they altered their betting strategies to cover. In keeping with his nonstrategy, he checked the first bet and waited for the flop. (p229)

Odo would always be plagued by Ferengi. He had decided, sometime in the last five minutes, that it was his lot in life. (p249)

The showdown and final hand came quicker than Odo would have expected. Hours earlier he had watched Lursa bet chips worth hundreds of bars of gold-pressed latinum and wondered how anyone could do that.
Now he knew. The chips had become a scorecard. The room had blurred into nothing. All that mattered were the cards and the Nagus's time-worn face. The money meant nothing at all. Winning did... Even though the game had remained the same, the odds had changed dramatically in the last few hours. As each player left, the chances of getting good cards diminished. The Nagus had taken a few hands because Odo had not bluffed. Odo hated the fact that the Nagus had figured him out. Odo wondered if he should try bluffing. But that would have him no better than the other liars, and it just wasn't his style. (p260)

A straight flush. An honest straight flush. Odo had actually drawn into a straight flush, queen high. The odds were so high against getting a hand of that caliber that he nearly choked. Then he realized that it had to happen. Enough hands had been played since the tournament started that the odds — farfetched as they were — had been achieved. It was a matter of simple logic. He studied his chips until he could control the gleam that he knew was in his eyes. He was going to beat the Ferengi at their own simple-minded game. (p262)

"Cheer up, Quark," Odo said. "It's only a game."
Quark looked up and watched Odo wheel the gold-pressed latinum through the bar. "Constable," he said,  when he knew Odo could no longer hear him. "Money is never a game." (p268)

"But you were going to let them go!" Kira said, some of her old fire returning.
Sisko shook his head. "Seems I've been playing poker for the last few days too. No. I wasn't going to let them go. Once the crisis was past, I would have sent you out to hunt them down."
"No offense, Commander, but your bluff didn't work."
"That's the risk in bluffing," Sisko said. "Sometimes you have to show your cards. Sometimes you lose."
Kira smiled. "This time we won."
Sisko nodded. "This time." (p271)

#

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