Zek 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 . Zek had one son , Krax . History . Born in the late 23rd century , Zek was a particularly hard - working Ferengi . He would spend 85 years without taking any significant vacation s . ( ) 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 . ( ) In 2370 , Zek attempted to open negotiations with the Dominion , and although he opened contact with the Karemma and the Dosi for tulaberry wine , he was unable to contact the Dominion . ( ) In 2371 , Zek appointed Quark as his representative to accompany the on its mission to make contact with the Founder s of the Dominion , through Benjamin Sisko . ( ) As Grand Nagus , Zek had the power to appoint a Grand Proxy to speak on his behalf . ( ) 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 . ( ) 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 reverting him to a point in Ferengi evolution 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 aide to poorer worlds , devised a 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 canceled all of his reform s . Zek was unaware , however , that Rom had embezzled money from the Benevolent Association while he was Senior Administrator . ( ) When someone ( later revealed to be Brunt ) pre - bought his vacuum desiccated remains , Quark thought that it was Zek . ( ) 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 . " 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 , and Zek was reinstated . ( ) In early 2374 , Zek offered to buy Rom ' s freedom from the Dominion . ( ) 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 meet with Zek on behalf of the Federation , when their Runabout was ambushed by the Jem ' Hadar . ( ) When Ishka was captured by Dominion forces while returning from a trip to , Zek commanded that Quark put together a team of mercenaries to rescue her . ( ) Zek sent Quark on another fact - finding mission to the front lines in the Chin ' toka system in 2375 . ( ) Shortly thereafter , Zek and Maihar ' du ( Zek ' s Hupyrian personal assistant ) 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 a cloaking device . ( ) 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 . ( ) 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 .