I'm currently working on a fanfic involving Neelix and his life before Voyager. Below is a taster scene that I hope you enjoy! 
The Baxial sat in a small docking bay in Okara's spaceport, a blocky, battered looking spacecraft that Neelix had owned for a number of years. It'd already been old when he'd purchased it from a Kolaati trader who administered a vast surplus depot on the edge of Sikarian space.
Though not a large ship by any means, the Baxial was nonetheless home to both Neelix and Wixiban for the majority of the time. Occasions where they were able to take lodgings at whatever port they happened to be visiting were few and far between, and this particular layover at Okara was no different.
Spaceport umbilical hoses were connected to points along the ship, supplying basic utility functions while the vessel was undergoing repairs. A number of technicians from worlds stretching from there to the Nekrit Expanse were working on getting the Baxial spaceworthy once again, all clad in the same drab, oily overalls that had been provided by their employer.
Normally such repairs would have been ruinous to Neelix and Wixiban's already ailing cashflow situation, but with their mysterious Haakonian benefactor bankrolling them, Neelix had little to do but wait patiently in the ship's cockpit and let the technicians go about their work.
"I wonder just what it is we'll be looking for out there in that asteroid field," Wixiban said, staring absently at the ceiling as he reclined in the co-pilot's chair. His boots were tossed carelessly on the deck beneath the console and his feet were resting on the control panel.
Neelix sighed. He felt like Wix had asked him that same question a hundred times since their initial meeting with Lotan and Vaila.
"Asteroids rich in precious metals?" Wixiban continued, apparently undeterred by his friend's lack of response. "An ancient Vostigye galleon? Buried pirate treasure?"
"I don't know," Neelix answered wearily, looking through the large forward viewport at the technicians scurrying around the docking bay where the Baxial was parked.
"I seem to remember a report about a missing freighter that vanished somewhere between Illidaria and Sikaris a few months ago," Wix said. "Perhaps Lotan has located it and wants to fence whatever cargo we find onboard."
"Perhaps," Neelix said absently, not really paying any attention to the unchecked possibilities being generated by Wixiban's imagination.
"Certainly even a small proportion of the prize will be enough to obtain that little pixie girl you're so taken with," Wix said, casting a sly glance in his friend's direction.
Neelix's head snapped around. "Her name is Kes," he said hotly. "And don't you think I haven't already considered that? Getting her away from that Kazon encampment is the motivation behind everything I do!"
"Then I don't see why you're so despondent!" Wixiban exclaimed. "In a few days we'll have found whatever it is Barel is looking for and will be rich men in short order! Then you can land on that planet in the most lavish Sikarian yacht money can buy, march into that Kazon camp and throw a million Haakonian credits at that maje's feet as payment for the girl and you can both fly off into the sunset together!"
"I think you're delusional," Neelix said, unwilling to be drawn into such ridiculous fantasies despite his heart aching for the fantastical picture that Wix had just painted for him.
"And I think you're too negative," Wixiban retorted. "I organised the meeting that is going to make us rich men and you can't stand it!"
"I just think it's a little early to be opening those bottles of Talaxian champagne I've been saving, that's all."
"For the first time in years we've hit upon some good fortune!" Wix said. "Lotan could have chosen a dozen different ships to take him on this mission but he picked us! Someone has offered us an opportunity of a lifetime and you should embrace it!"
Neelix paused, letting Wixiban's chastisement hang in the air for long moments. Perhaps he was being too negative. Perhaps the constant disappointments he had experienced in recent years had left him unable to see a golden opportunity had presented himself. Perhaps this charter by Lotan really was the answer to all his prayers.
"I'm sorry, Wix," Neelix said finally. "You have organised a job that is a worthwhile undertaking for us. Certainly better than anything I've ever been able to come up with."
Wixiban grinned broadly. "No need to apologise," he said. "You can name that Sikarian yacht after me."
Neelix smiled wryly. "You have my word," he said.
The Baxial sat in a small docking bay in Okara's spaceport, a blocky, battered looking spacecraft that Neelix had owned for a number of years. It'd already been old when he'd purchased it from a Kolaati trader who administered a vast surplus depot on the edge of Sikarian space.
Though not a large ship by any means, the Baxial was nonetheless home to both Neelix and Wixiban for the majority of the time. Occasions where they were able to take lodgings at whatever port they happened to be visiting were few and far between, and this particular layover at Okara was no different.
Spaceport umbilical hoses were connected to points along the ship, supplying basic utility functions while the vessel was undergoing repairs. A number of technicians from worlds stretching from there to the Nekrit Expanse were working on getting the Baxial spaceworthy once again, all clad in the same drab, oily overalls that had been provided by their employer.
Normally such repairs would have been ruinous to Neelix and Wixiban's already ailing cashflow situation, but with their mysterious Haakonian benefactor bankrolling them, Neelix had little to do but wait patiently in the ship's cockpit and let the technicians go about their work.
"I wonder just what it is we'll be looking for out there in that asteroid field," Wixiban said, staring absently at the ceiling as he reclined in the co-pilot's chair. His boots were tossed carelessly on the deck beneath the console and his feet were resting on the control panel.
Neelix sighed. He felt like Wix had asked him that same question a hundred times since their initial meeting with Lotan and Vaila.
"Asteroids rich in precious metals?" Wixiban continued, apparently undeterred by his friend's lack of response. "An ancient Vostigye galleon? Buried pirate treasure?"
"I don't know," Neelix answered wearily, looking through the large forward viewport at the technicians scurrying around the docking bay where the Baxial was parked.
"I seem to remember a report about a missing freighter that vanished somewhere between Illidaria and Sikaris a few months ago," Wix said. "Perhaps Lotan has located it and wants to fence whatever cargo we find onboard."
"Perhaps," Neelix said absently, not really paying any attention to the unchecked possibilities being generated by Wixiban's imagination.
"Certainly even a small proportion of the prize will be enough to obtain that little pixie girl you're so taken with," Wix said, casting a sly glance in his friend's direction.
Neelix's head snapped around. "Her name is Kes," he said hotly. "And don't you think I haven't already considered that? Getting her away from that Kazon encampment is the motivation behind everything I do!"
"Then I don't see why you're so despondent!" Wixiban exclaimed. "In a few days we'll have found whatever it is Barel is looking for and will be rich men in short order! Then you can land on that planet in the most lavish Sikarian yacht money can buy, march into that Kazon camp and throw a million Haakonian credits at that maje's feet as payment for the girl and you can both fly off into the sunset together!"
"I think you're delusional," Neelix said, unwilling to be drawn into such ridiculous fantasies despite his heart aching for the fantastical picture that Wix had just painted for him.
"And I think you're too negative," Wixiban retorted. "I organised the meeting that is going to make us rich men and you can't stand it!"
"I just think it's a little early to be opening those bottles of Talaxian champagne I've been saving, that's all."
"For the first time in years we've hit upon some good fortune!" Wix said. "Lotan could have chosen a dozen different ships to take him on this mission but he picked us! Someone has offered us an opportunity of a lifetime and you should embrace it!"
Neelix paused, letting Wixiban's chastisement hang in the air for long moments. Perhaps he was being too negative. Perhaps the constant disappointments he had experienced in recent years had left him unable to see a golden opportunity had presented himself. Perhaps this charter by Lotan really was the answer to all his prayers.
"I'm sorry, Wix," Neelix said finally. "You have organised a job that is a worthwhile undertaking for us. Certainly better than anything I've ever been able to come up with."
Wixiban grinned broadly. "No need to apologise," he said. "You can name that Sikarian yacht after me."
Neelix smiled wryly. "You have my word," he said.
