“Treat people in your debt like family. Exploit them.”

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In “Past Tense, Part I,” Quark relays Zek’s demand that Sisko repay a favor by helping Zek’s nephew, who is held by Starfleet. Sisko finishes the rule himself, recognizing obligation disguised as family treatment. The friendly language carries a demand for leverage. A small terracotta tree connects through thin roots to a much larger pale tree on a navy side.