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+ | {{multiple}} |
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{{sidebar individual |
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+ | |image = Zek, 2375.jpg |
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+ | |caption = Grand Nagus Zek in 2375 |
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+ | |image2 = Zek, 2369.jpg |
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+ | |caption2 = Grand Nagus Zek in 2369 |
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+ | |species = [[Ferengi]] |
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+ | |affiliation = [[Ferengi Alliance]] |
− | | |
+ | |rank = Former [[Grand Nagus]] |
+ | |occupation = Former [[Leader]] of [[Ferenginar]] |
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⚫ | |||
− | | |
+ | |status = [[Retire]]d |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | | |
+ | |born = [[23rd century]] |
+ | |partner = [[Ishka]] |
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+ | |children = [[Krax]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |actor = [[Wallace Shawn]] |
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}} |
}} |
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{{aquote|I'm your Nagus. You have no secrets from me.|Zek|2375|The Emperor's New Cloak}} |
{{aquote|I'm your Nagus. You have no secrets from me.|Zek|2375|The Emperor's New Cloak}} |
||
− | '''Zek''' was the [[Grand Nagus]] of the [[Ferengi Alliance]] throughout most of the [[24th century]]. |
||
+ | '''Zek''' was a [[male]] [[Ferengi]], who had become [[Grand Nagus]] of the [[Ferengi Alliance]] by [[2369]]. Zek was one of the most savvy and visionary Ferengi leaders, pioneering business ventures into the [[Gamma Quadrant]] and making the Ferengi Alliance the first [[Alpha Quadrant]] power that ever learned of the [[Dominion]]. In contrast to his cunning business practices, he also became known for his liberal attitudes towards the end of his reign including the expansion of [[female]] rights. |
||
− | In [[2369]], he suddenly announced his new successor, [[Quark]] (rather than his son [[Krax]]), and apparently died soon after. It was discovered that this was only a ploy to test his son's worthiness for the position. However, Krax did not succeed as expected, and Zek postponed his [[retirement]]. ({{DS9|The Nagus}}) In [[2370]], Zek attempted to open negotiations with the [[Dominion]], and although he opened contact with the [[Karemma]] and the [[Dosi]] for [[Tulaberry wine|tulaberry wine]], he was unable to contact the Dominion. ({{DS9|The Nagus|Rules of Acquisition}}) |
||
+ | == History == |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | === Early career === |
||
+ | Zek was born sometime during the [[23rd century]], and became a particularly hard-working Ferengi, having once gone [[2284|85 years]] without taking any significant [[vacation]]s. ({{DS9|The Nagus}}) |
||
+ | {{bginfo|It was unclear if Zek was Nagus or simply in business for himself over this period of time, as it was never stated when he became Nagus, simply that he was already considered to be quite old, and had wished to retire by 2369.}} |
||
− | As Grand Nagus, Zek had the power to appoint a [[Grand Proxy]] to speak on his behalf. ({{VOY|False Profits}}) |
||
+ | Zek had one [[son]], [[Krax]]; was an aficionado of [[Hupyrian beetle snuff]]; and, was also taught how to go into a [[Dolbargy sleeping trance]], by his [[servant]] [[Maihar'du]]. By 2369, Zek was already considered to be in "''his advanced years.''" ({{DS9|The Nagus}}) Following a [[physical]] later given by [[Doctor]] [[Julian Bashir]], in 2371, Zek was said to be, "''for a Ferengi [his] age''" to be "''in excellent health''", except for "''some vascular damage to [his] [[mucous membrane]]s''" from his beetle snuff use. ({{DS9|Prophet Motive}}) |
||
− | Zek would later ask Quark to remind Sisko of his instrumental role in the events leading up to [[first contact]] with the Dominion, after his nephew [[Belongo]], was detained by authorities on [[Aldebaran III]]. Sisko said he would look into the matter, but made no promises. ({{DS9|Past Tense, Part I}}) |
||
+ | In [[2346]], Zek began a 27 year winning-streak in the [[Global Tongo Championship]]s on [[Ferenginar]]. ({{DS9|Ferengi Love Songs}}) |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | Among Zek's business ventures was one partnering with [[Chairman]] [[Nilva]] of the [[Slug-o-Cola]] company, who together had made a lot of latinum over the years. ({{DS9|Ferengi Love Songs}}) |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | === Expansion into the Gamma Quadrant === |
||
⚫ | In later years Zek began to experience a dramatic change in his policies. In [[2373]] he fell in love with [[Ishka]], Quark's mother and a radical feminist who became the "power behind the throne |
||
+ | [[File:Ferengi conference on DS9 in 2369.jpg|thumb|Ferengi conference on DS9]] |
||
+ | In 2369, Zek arrived at [[Deep Space 9]] where he sought out [[Quark]], the proprietor of [[Quark's Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade]], located on the station's [[Promenade]]. Although the reason for his presence was not immediately revealed, he wished to use Quark's [[holosuite]]s, having heard that some of Quark's programs were "''quite alluring.''" When Quark gave Zek a selection of his top five favorites, he decided to sample them all, after which Quark volunteered [[Rom]]'s [[quarters]] for the Nagus to rest in. Following his rest, he told Quark to invite him to dinner, where Quark offered [[tube grub]]s, that Zek found to be "chilled to perfection." |
||
+ | As Zek slowly revealed his intentions, he complimented Quark on his "''stroke of brilliance''" to establish his bar so close to the [[Bajoran wormhole]]. He then asked Quark for the favor to using his bar and services as host "''for an important conference''" he had planned to hold the following day, to discuss "the future" of "Ferengi business interests", namely "the [[Gamma Quadrant]]." As the meeting started, Zek requested that Quark stay. |
||
− | In early [[2374]], Zek offered to buy [[Rom]]'s freedom from the [[Dominion]]. ({{DS9|Favor the Bold}}) |
||
+ | Following concerns that "''it is becoming more and more difficult to find truly lucrative business opportunities here in the [[Alpha Quadrant]] [...] because no matter where we go, our [[reputation]] precedes us.''" Zek unveiled his plan, "''thanks to the discovery of the wormhole,''" which opened access to "''millions of new worlds at our very doorstep,''" meaning that "''the potential for Ferengi business expansion [was going to be] staggering.''" As the conference attendees expressed their support for the Nagus' plan, he declined the offer, stating, "''I'm old. The fire dims. I'm just not as greedy as I used to be,''" before suddenly announced that he wished to retire, and going naming his new [[successor]] – Quark. |
||
⚫ | Despite the Ferengi Alliance's official neutrality during the [[Dominion War]], Zek maintained close relations with the [[Federation]], and periodically requested status reports about the course of the war. In late- |
||
⚫ | |||
− | When Ishka was captured by Dominion forces while returning from a trip to [[Vulcan]], Zek commanded that Quark put together a team of mercenaries to rescue her. ({{DS9|The Magnificent Ferengi}}) |
||
+ | Following his retirement, Zek began making considerations where he would go next [[Risa]] or [[Balosnee VI]], this while Quark, overwhelmed with his new responsibilities as Grand Nagus, sought Zek's counsel. As Zek explained the basics of his old role, he apparently [[died]] mid-thought, from an apparent "''massive [[infection]] of the [[tympanic membrane]]. A [[chronic condition]].''" His body was, soon after, and apparently, "''automatically [[vacuum-desiccation|vacuum-desiccated]] and sold as a prized [[collectible]].''" |
||
+ | As attempts were underway to [[assassinate]] Quark by [[Rom]] and Krax, Zek revealed himself and it was soon discovered that his death was only a ploy to test his son's worthiness for the position. However, Krax did not succeed as expected, Quark abdicated the position back to Zek, and Zek postponed his [[retirement]], hoping only "''long enough to establish a Ferengi presence in the Gamma Quadrant.''" Zek then promised Quark if "any good deals" that were right for Quark opened up. ({{DS9|The Nagus}}) |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | Later that year, when [[Odo]]'s [[imagination]] became reality and a duplicate of Quark was kept in a [[holding cell]], the [[Imagination aliens 001|false Ferengi]] demanded to talk to the Nagus over [[subspace]]. ({{DS9|If Wishes Were Horses}}) |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | In [[2370]], Zek attempted to open negotiations with the [[Dominion]], and although he opened contact with the [[Dosi]] for [[tulaberry wine]], eventually leading him to more important members of the Dominion, the [[Karemma]]. ({{DS9|Rules of Acquisition}}) |
||
− | Zek was an aficionado of [[Hupyrian beetle snuff]]. He was fairly liberal-minded for a Ferengi male, declaring his indifference towards Ferengi females who wore clothing inside the home, so long as they maintained the status quo by staying naked while in public. |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | In [[2371]], Zek appointed Quark as his representative to accompany the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} on its mission to make contact with the [[Founder]]s of the Dominion, through [[Benjamin Sisko]]. ({{DS9|The Search, Part I}}) Zek would later ask Quark to remind Sisko of his instrumental role in the events leading up to [[first contact]] with the Dominion, after his [[nephew]] [[Belongo]], was detained by authorities on [[Aldebaran III]]. Sisko said he would look into the matter, but made no promises. ({{DS9|Past Tense, Part I}}) |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
+ | === Later domestic interests === |
||
+ | Later that year, Zek came into possession of a [[Bajoran]] [[orb]], and attempted to contact the [[Prophet]]s to ask them to reveal the future to him for financial gain. Finding Zek's greed offensive, the Prophets returned him to Deep Space 9 after [[de-evolve|de-evolving]] him to "''to an earlier, less adversarial state of existence,''" when the species was less profit-driven. With his [[mindset]] transformed, he believed the future was looking very bright, and recorded his thoughts in his [[personal log]]. He promptly created the [[Ferengi Benevolent Association]] to provide aid to poorer worlds, devised a [[The Rules of Acquisition: Revised for the Modern Ferengi|revised version]] of the [[Rules of Acquisition]] that emphasized giving, and offered to give his orb to the Bajoran people for free. |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | Though Rom speculated that he had gone [[insanity|insane]], Quark quickly discovered that Zek had been altered by the Prophets, and convinced them to restore Zek to his former self. Zek then cancelled all of his [[reform]]s. Zek was unaware, however, that Rom had [[embezzlement|embezzled]] money from the Benevolent Association while he was Senior Administrator. ({{DS9|Prophet Motive}}) |
||
+ | |||
+ | [[File:Ishka and Zek.jpg|thumb|Ishka and Zek]] |
||
⚫ | In his later years, Zek began to experience a dramatic change in his policies. He was fairly liberal-minded for a Ferengi male, declaring his indifference towards Ferengi females who wore clothing inside the home, so long as they maintained the status quo by staying naked while in public. In [[2373]] he fell in love with [[Ishka]], Quark's mother and a radical feminist who became the "power behind the throne," but also helped keep the Ferengi Alliance stable with her business acumen as Zek's mental faculties were starting to fail him. He eventually amended the [[Ferengi Bill of Opportunities]] to allow females the right to wear clothing. Few accepted this radical change at first, and Zek was ousted by [[Ferengi Commerce Authority]] [[liquidator]] [[Brunt]]. However, he was able to convince a few influential FCA [[commissioner]]s that females represented an unexploited business opportunity right at home, and Zek was reinstated. ({{DS9|Ferengi Love Songs|Profit and Lace}}) |
||
+ | |||
+ | === The Dominion War and expansion into the mirror universe === |
||
+ | In early [[2374]], Zek offered to buy Rom's freedom from the [[Dominion]]. ({{DS9|Favor the Bold}}) Later, when the [[Ferengi transport 003|transport ship]] Ishka was aboard was captured by Dominion forces while returning from a trip to {{dis|Vulcan|planet}}, Zek requested that Quark rescue her, offering an incentive payment of fifty {{dis|bar|latinum}}s of gold-pressed latinum. ({{DS9|The Magnificent Ferengi}}) |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | Despite the Ferengi Alliance's official neutrality during the [[Dominion War]], Zek maintained close relations with the [[Federation]], and periodically requested status reports about the course of the war. In late-2374, [[Nog]] and [[Jake Sisko]] were on their way to Ferenginar, where Nog was to deliver an official message from the [[Federation Council]] to Zek, when their [[runabout]] was ambushed by [[Jem'Hadar fighter]]s. ({{DS9|Valiant}}) |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
+ | === Retirement === |
||
+ | Later that year, Zek finally retired just after implementing radical new social welfare programs, appointing Ishka's son Rom as Grand Nagus, and passing to him the [[Grand Nagus' staff]] as a symbol of his new office. Zek and Ishka planned a subsequent stay on [[Risa]]. ({{DS9|The Dogs of War}}) |
||
+ | |||
+ | == Alternate timeline == |
||
+ | [[File:Zek's skull.jpg|thumb|Zek's skull]] |
||
+ | In an [[alternate timeline]], Grand Nagus Zek was killed by [[General]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]] at some point before [[2401]]. His [[skull]] was later mounted on display in Picard's [[trophy room]] at [[Château Picard]]. ({{PIC|Penance}}) |
||
+ | {{bginfo|[[Dave Blass]] identified Zek on Instagram. ''{{instagram|bl=1|p/CbGMCZvvicx}}''}} |
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{{Grand Nagi}} |
{{Grand Nagi}} |
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Line 45: | Line 83: | ||
== Appendices == |
== Appendices == |
||
=== Appearances === |
=== Appearances === |
||
⚫ | |||
<div class="appear"> |
<div class="appear"> |
||
* {{DS9}} |
* {{DS9}} |
||
** {{e|The Nagus}} |
** {{e|The Nagus}} |
||
** {{e|Rules of Acquisition}} |
** {{e|Rules of Acquisition}} |
||
− | ** {{e|Prophet Motive}} |
+ | ** {{e|Prophet Motive}} |
− | ** {{e|Ferengi Love Songs}} |
+ | ** {{e|Ferengi Love Songs}} |
− | ** {{e|Profit and Lace}} |
+ | ** {{e|Profit and Lace}} |
− | ** {{e|The Emperor's New Cloak}} |
+ | ** {{e|The Emperor's New Cloak}} |
** {{e|The Dogs of War}} |
** {{e|The Dogs of War}} |
||
+ | * {{PIC|Penance}} {{small|(skull only)}} |
||
</div> |
</div> |
||
− | === |
+ | ===Background information=== |
+ | Zek was played by [[Wallace Shawn]]. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
− | *{{Startrek.com|Zek}} |
||
+ | Shawn commented: "''To be in that world and to be in that makeup really liberated me in a way that I never experienced before – or since. I felt completely free, so it was a joyful experience. But it was physically very, very arduous, and I couldn't have done it on a regular basis. Once a year, which is what I did, was basically perfect for me. But to be trapped inside that head for at least 12 hours, not counting three hours to put the makeup on and an hour to take it off, was a little bit disturbing and uncomfortable and exhausting. And if you had to scratch your forehead, you couldn't''". {{st.com|article/interview-ds9s-grand-nagus-wallace-shawn}} |
||
+ | |||
+ | Shawn also commented that playing Zek: "''was arduous, the hair and makeup – it took three hours! But it was thrilling. It was an amazing gift. It made acting very easy. If you looked in the mirror, you saw you looked very, very different. I had this anonymity; I was very free and could do what I wanted. It was fun''". {{el|showbizjunkies.com/movies/wallace-shawn-interview/}} |
||
+ | |||
+ | Zek was described in ''[[Star Trek 101]]'' as: "''[[Donald Trump]], {{w|Alan Greenspan}}, and {{w|Scrooge McDuck}} all rolled into one diminutive wrinkled body''". |
||
+ | |||
+ | ===Apocrypha=== |
||
+ | Zek also appears in the novels ''[[The 34th Rule]]'', ''[[I, Q]]'', ''[[The Big Game]]'' and ''[[Balance of Power]]''. |
||
+ | |||
+ | The novel ''[[The Buried Age]]'' establishes that Zek was responsible for creating propaganda over the supposedly threatening nature of the Ferengi in early {{s|TNG}} because the Ferengi, after hearing early reports about the Federation and their moneyless economy, decided that the Federation might well be insane if they truly did not seek profit. Zek also threw funding into a large military buildup in order to preserve their appearance as a dangerous race and in order to defend themselves against the Federation, should it prove necessary. |
||
+ | |||
+ | === External links === |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | * {{startrek.com|database_article/Zek||external}} |
||
[[de:Zek]] |
[[de:Zek]] |
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⚫ | |||
[[es:Zek]] |
[[es:Zek]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | [[mu:Zek (mirror)]] |
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+ | [[pt:Zek]] |
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+ | [[eo:Zek]] |
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[[Category:Ferengi]] |
[[Category:Ferengi]] |
||
− | [[Category: |
+ | [[Category:Ferengi government officials]] |
Latest revision as of 18:16, 15 November 2023
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
Zek was a male Ferengi, who had become Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance by 2369. Zek was one of the most savvy and visionary Ferengi leaders, pioneering business ventures into the Gamma Quadrant and making the Ferengi Alliance the first Alpha Quadrant power that ever learned of the Dominion. In contrast to his cunning business practices, he also became known for his liberal attitudes towards the end of his reign including the expansion of female rights.
History
Early career
Zek was born sometime during the 23rd century, and became a particularly hard-working Ferengi, having once gone 85 years without taking any significant vacations. (DS9: "The Nagus")
Zek had one son, Krax; was an aficionado of Hupyrian beetle snuff; and, was also taught how to go into a Dolbargy sleeping trance, by his servant Maihar'du. By 2369, Zek was already considered to be in "his advanced years." (DS9: "The Nagus") Following a physical later given by Doctor Julian Bashir, in 2371, Zek was said to be, "for a Ferengi [his] age" to be "in excellent health", except for "some vascular damage to [his] mucous membranes" from his beetle snuff use. (DS9: "Prophet Motive")
In 2346, Zek began a 27 year winning-streak in the Global Tongo Championships on Ferenginar. (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs")
Among Zek's business ventures was one partnering with Chairman Nilva of the Slug-o-Cola company, who together had made a lot of latinum over the years. (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs")
Expansion into the Gamma Quadrant
In 2369, Zek arrived at Deep Space 9 where he sought out Quark, the proprietor of Quark's Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade, located on the station's Promenade. Although the reason for his presence was not immediately revealed, he wished to use Quark's holosuites, having heard that some of Quark's programs were "quite alluring." When Quark gave Zek a selection of his top five favorites, he decided to sample them all, after which Quark volunteered Rom's quarters for the Nagus to rest in. Following his rest, he told Quark to invite him to dinner, where Quark offered tube grubs, that Zek found to be "chilled to perfection."
As Zek slowly revealed his intentions, he complimented Quark on his "stroke of brilliance" to establish his bar so close to the Bajoran wormhole. He then asked Quark for the favor to using his bar and services as host "for an important conference" he had planned to hold the following day, to discuss "the future" of "Ferengi business interests", namely "the Gamma Quadrant." As the meeting started, Zek requested that Quark stay.
Following concerns that "it is becoming more and more difficult to find truly lucrative business opportunities here in the Alpha Quadrant [...] because no matter where we go, our reputation precedes us." Zek unveiled his plan, "thanks to the discovery of the wormhole," which opened access to "millions of new worlds at our very doorstep," meaning that "the potential for Ferengi business expansion [was going to be] staggering." As the conference attendees expressed their support for the Nagus' plan, he declined the offer, stating, "I'm old. The fire dims. I'm just not as greedy as I used to be," before suddenly announced that he wished to retire, and going naming his new successor – Quark.
Following his retirement, Zek began making considerations where he would go next Risa or Balosnee VI, this while Quark, overwhelmed with his new responsibilities as Grand Nagus, sought Zek's counsel. As Zek explained the basics of his old role, he apparently died mid-thought, from an apparent "massive infection of the tympanic membrane. A chronic condition." His body was, soon after, and apparently, "automatically vacuum-desiccated and sold as a prized collectible."
As attempts were underway to assassinate Quark by Rom and Krax, Zek revealed himself and it was soon discovered that his death was only a ploy to test his son's worthiness for the position. However, Krax did not succeed as expected, Quark abdicated the position back to Zek, and Zek postponed his retirement, hoping only "long enough to establish a Ferengi presence in the Gamma Quadrant." Zek then promised Quark if "any good deals" that were right for Quark opened up. (DS9: "The Nagus")
Later that year, when Odo's imagination became reality and a duplicate of Quark was kept in a holding cell, the false Ferengi demanded to talk to the Nagus over subspace. (DS9: "If Wishes Were Horses")
In 2370, Zek attempted to open negotiations with the Dominion, and although he opened contact with the Dosi for tulaberry wine, eventually leading him to more important members of the Dominion, the Karemma. (DS9: "Rules of Acquisition")
In 2371, Zek appointed Quark as his representative to accompany the USS Defiant on its mission to make contact with the Founders of the Dominion, through Benjamin Sisko. (DS9: "The Search, Part I") Zek would later ask Quark to remind Sisko of his instrumental role in the events leading up to first contact with the Dominion, after his nephew Belongo, was detained by authorities on Aldebaran III. Sisko said he would look into the matter, but made no promises. (DS9: "Past Tense, Part I")
When someone pre-bought Quark's vacuum desiccated remains, Quark thought that it was Zek, remembering that "He always liked me." (DS9: "Body Parts")
Later domestic interests
Later that year, Zek came into possession of a Bajoran orb, and attempted to contact the Prophets to ask them to reveal the future to him for financial gain. Finding Zek's greed offensive, the Prophets returned him to Deep Space 9 after de-evolving him to "to an earlier, less adversarial state of existence," when the species was less profit-driven. With his mindset transformed, he believed the future was looking very bright, and recorded his thoughts in his personal log. He promptly created the Ferengi Benevolent Association to provide aid to poorer worlds, devised a revised version of the Rules of Acquisition that emphasized giving, and offered to give his orb to the Bajoran people for free.
Though Rom speculated that he had gone insane, Quark quickly discovered that Zek had been altered by the Prophets, and convinced them to restore Zek to his former self. Zek then cancelled all of his reforms. Zek was unaware, however, that Rom had embezzled money from the Benevolent Association while he was Senior Administrator. (DS9: "Prophet Motive")
In his later years, Zek began to experience a dramatic change in his policies. He was fairly liberal-minded for a Ferengi male, declaring his indifference towards Ferengi females who wore clothing inside the home, so long as they maintained the status quo by staying naked while in public. In 2373 he fell in love with Ishka, Quark's mother and a radical feminist who became the "power behind the throne," but also helped keep the Ferengi Alliance stable with her business acumen as Zek's mental faculties were starting to fail him. He eventually amended the Ferengi Bill of Opportunities to allow females the right to wear clothing. Few accepted this radical change at first, and Zek was ousted by Ferengi Commerce Authority liquidator Brunt. However, he was able to convince a few influential FCA commissioners that females represented an unexploited business opportunity right at home, and Zek was reinstated. (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs", "Profit and Lace")
The Dominion War and expansion into the mirror universe
In early 2374, Zek offered to buy Rom's freedom from the Dominion. (DS9: "Favor the Bold") Later, when the transport ship Ishka was aboard was captured by Dominion forces while returning from a trip to Vulcan, Zek requested that Quark rescue her, offering an incentive payment of fifty bars of gold-pressed latinum. (DS9: "The Magnificent Ferengi")
Despite the Ferengi Alliance's official neutrality during the Dominion War, Zek maintained close relations with the Federation, and periodically requested status reports about the course of the war. In late-2374, Nog and Jake Sisko were on their way to Ferenginar, where Nog was to deliver an official message from the Federation Council to Zek, when their runabout was ambushed by Jem'Hadar fighters. (DS9: "Valiant")
Zek later sent Quark on another fact-finding mission to the front lines in the Chin'toka system in 2375. (DS9: "The Siege of AR-558")
Later that year, Zek and Maihar'du crossed over to the mirror universe hoping to make some profit. However, they were captured by the Alliance. Quark and Rom rescued them, by bringing Regent Worf a cloaking device. (DS9: "The Emperor's New Cloak")
Retirement
Later that year, Zek finally retired just after implementing radical new social welfare programs, appointing Ishka's son Rom as Grand Nagus, and passing to him the Grand Nagus' staff as a symbol of his new office. Zek and Ishka planned a subsequent stay on Risa. (DS9: "The Dogs of War")
Alternate timeline
In an alternate timeline, Grand Nagus Zek was killed by General Jean-Luc Picard at some point before 2401. His skull was later mounted on display in Picard's trophy room at Château Picard. (PIC: "Penance")
Grand Nagi of the Ferengi Alliance |
---|
Gint • Lonz • Smeet • Zek (until 2375) • Quark (2369) • Brunt (2374, acting) • Rom (2375 onward) |
Appendices
Appearances
Background information
Zek was played by Wallace Shawn.
Shawn commented: "To be in that world and to be in that makeup really liberated me in a way that I never experienced before – or since. I felt completely free, so it was a joyful experience. But it was physically very, very arduous, and I couldn't have done it on a regular basis. Once a year, which is what I did, was basically perfect for me. But to be trapped inside that head for at least 12 hours, not counting three hours to put the makeup on and an hour to take it off, was a little bit disturbing and uncomfortable and exhausting. And if you had to scratch your forehead, you couldn't". [2]
Shawn also commented that playing Zek: "was arduous, the hair and makeup – it took three hours! But it was thrilling. It was an amazing gift. It made acting very easy. If you looked in the mirror, you saw you looked very, very different. I had this anonymity; I was very free and could do what I wanted. It was fun". [3]
Zek was described in Star Trek 101 as: "Donald Trump, Alan Greenspan, and Scrooge McDuck all rolled into one diminutive wrinkled body".
Apocrypha
Zek also appears in the novels The 34th Rule, I, Q, The Big Game and Balance of Power.
The novel The Buried Age establishes that Zek was responsible for creating propaganda over the supposedly threatening nature of the Ferengi in early Star Trek: The Next Generation because the Ferengi, after hearing early reports about the Federation and their moneyless economy, decided that the Federation might well be insane if they truly did not seek profit. Zek also threw funding into a large military buildup in order to preserve their appearance as a dangerous race and in order to defend themselves against the Federation, should it prove necessary.
External links
- Zek at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Zek at StarTrek.com