"Star Trek: DS9" - "Bar Association" Quiz

Answer: Ear infection

Rom tries to soothe his ear with Moogie's home remedy, but grows dizzier and dizzier. "Brother, am I still standing?" As Quark argues with Leeta over Rom's health (and Leeta's relationship with the doctor), Rom collapses. Dr. Bashir is shocked to learn that Rom has had to live with a deadly ear infection for weeks, as he was not allowed to leave the bar during business hours - a standard provision in Ferengi labor contracts. "No sick days, no vacations, no paid overtime," Rom explains. Julian suggests a union to help end the exploitation.

Answer: The Bajoran Cleansing ritual has lowered profit

"The only thing this Bajoran Cleansing Ritual has cleansed is my profit margin," Quark claims, due to the current lack of Bajorans patronizing his bar. His staff contests the pay cut, and Rom attempts to speak to Quark. His effort is futile, as Quark refuses to acknowledge family relations when it comes to business and expresses regret over having a sibling. Knowing that Quark is just using the ritual as an excuse to raise profit, Rom, for the first time, takes a stand against his brother.

Answer: Tooth sharpener

Worf, reluctantly commending Jadzia on her skill with the Klingon mek'leth, hears a suspicious sound from above. He opens the ceiling's panel and the alien thief falls, scattering his ill-gotten goods; Jadzia identifies Worf's tooth sharpener, purchased from Nog, among them. Worf drags the "p'tak" before Odo, questioning how this could happen. Odo reminds him of two instances where even the starship Enterprise's security was compromised, and explains how much more likely security breaches are at an open spaceport - something else to "get used to" on DS9.

Answer: Led a mining strike in Pennsylvania

When Rom proposes a union, the bar's Ferengi employees are struck with fear of the Ferengi Commerce Authority. Rom agrees that they are probably doomed, but declares, "If they're going to come after us, let's give them a good reason." He reminds them that it is a Ferengi's duty to seize opportunity, and succeeds in rallying everyone to the cause. Speaking to Miles about unions, Rom is inspired by the story of Sean Aloysius O'Brien, who led Pennsylvanian miners in a 1902 strike. Sean O'Brien ended up in a river, filled with bullets, but was a hero and, best of all, a union man.

Answer: Insurance benefits

All of Quark's employees - Ferengi and non-Ferengi, waiters and dabo girls - gather in the bar in the name of the Guild to show their demands. Quark realizes that this sounds suspiciously like a union, barely able to say the word that is so contemptible to Ferengi.

He reads their padd with incredulous laughter: "Increased pay, shorter hours, paid sick leave!" When he threatens to fire them all if they don't give it up, the Guild wastes no time in declaring a strike, much to Quark's consternation.

Answer: Indignant; they get into a brawl with him

While Quark tries to manage the bar with malfunctioning holograms of himself for employees, the Guild gives out latinum and thanks to anyone not entering the establishment. Above, Julian and Miles watch the upper entrance and try to predict who will demonstrate support for labor. Since he rarely visits the bar at the best of times, Worf's unexpected entrance proves too much for them; they feel obliged to intervene.

This leads to a brawl, a dressing-down from Sisko, and a stay in Odo's holding cell. O'Brien later describes it this way to an apologetic Worf, "It wasn't much of a brawl, really. I grabbed you, you shoved me, and Julian was tossed over a table!"

Answer: Five years' worth of back rent

Although Quark is eager to see things settled, dealing with strikers would violate traditional Ferengi principles. "Maybe I don't know much about Ferengi culture, but I do know who holds the lease on your bar," Sisko counters. Quark has to speak well of the Federation, who has asked no rent and no maintenance or power fees for the last five years.

When Sisko points out how much latinum this back rent would run to, Quark agrees to speak to Rom. He offers latinum, but his brother refuses to take any amount and is unwilling to even talk to Quark.

Answer: Quark

Brunt, sent by the FCA to "help" Quark, promises to settle the strike at any cost. Frool caves under the pressure of his threats, but Grimp, Leeta and the rest determine to keep going until they achieve victory. Quark, in a rare demonstration of concern for his brother, tries to warn Rom, who refuses to be intimidated by the Nausicaans. "Don't you see, Rom? You should be intimidated.

There's no telling what Brunt might do, and I don't want you to get hurt." To avoid creating a martyr, however, Brunt opts for a less likely target: Quark. Two broken ribs, a broken eye socket, and punctured lung later, Quark's position changes considerably.

Answer: Opera recording

Worf believes he has found the ideal solution for his unease with the station, and moves to the Defiant. O'Brien objects, "But you'll be living out there all by yourself!" "I know," Worf answers with satisfaction. As he makes some adjustments to his new quarters, namely, removing the mattress from its bunk, Jadzia brings a gift he considers thoughtful: a collection of her favorite Klingon operas.

She warns him that new quarters won't solve his long-term problem, but Worf's roguish answer is met with a smile: "Perhaps in the end it will be all of you that have to adapt to me!"

Answer: He's quitting his job

Quark, battered and bruised, is visited in the infirmary by a gloating Rom - the intended, yet undaunted, target of Brunt's message. He tells Rom that he will not press charges against the liquidator, knowing the FCA would just send another to threaten both of their lives. Quark, though, has a brainstorm: "You dissolve the union, make it look like I've won, and I'll give you everything you want." Rom agrees to this unofficial, yet complete victory.

The Cleansing Ritual is over, the bar is full, and the employees are happy with their raises. Quark, however, is stunned to learn that his brother now enters the bar as a customer, not an employee. Rom proudly explains, "Starting today, I'm one of the station's diagnostic and repair technicians. Junior grade, night shift." The union has helped Rom find his backbone, and learn that he manages better without Quark. Now, with more to look forward to than just inheriting the bar, Rom has a fine job and a budding relationship with Leeta in his future. What more could a Ferengi engineer ask for?