Read Online Diplomatic Implausibility by Keith R. A. DeCandido - Free Book Online Page B

eyes.
The
transporter room was this way, I think.
She hated trying to navigate by herself on a Klingon ship; they always kept the lights dimmed to near-darkness. Medically, she understood the reasons—Klingons were much more sensitive to bright lights than humans—but it didn’t make it easier for her to stumble her way around.
    “Excuse me?” said a surprisingly timid voice.
    Beverly turned to see a very strange sight: a well-groomed Klingon. His hair was short and combed, something Beverly had only seen on Worf—and he did so only to conform to Starfleet uniform standards. More unusually, this Klingon lieutenant had no facial hair whatsoever, his teeth were straight, and he seemed to have an athletic, swimmer’s build.
    “Uh, yes?” she said.
    “I am looking for Commander Kurak. Did she just gointo the medical ward?” The voice was not only timid, but slightly nasal.
    “Yes, she did.”
    “Good.” The Klingon stared at her for a moment, then said, “You look familiar—do I know you?”
    “I don’t think so,” Beverly said, perhaps too emphatically.
I would’ve remembered if I met this one before.
    Suddenly, the Klingon straightened. “You are Beverly of the House of Crusher! You are the doctor who performed the blood test on Kahless II to prove his legitimacy on the
Enterprise!”
    Blinking, Beverly said, “Uh, yes—yes, that was me.”
    “It is a
great
honor to meet you, Doctor!” the Klingon said eagerly.
    “Uh, if you don’t mind, Lieutenant—?”
    “Vall.”
    Beverly nodded in acknowledgment. “How did you know that was me?”
    Vall blinked, as if the question was ridiculous. “It is in the song.”
    “Song?”
    “The song about Kahless’s return. You are in the fourth verse. I will sing it for you.”
    Vall took a deep breath, as if about to break into song. Holding up a hand to head off this dire possibility, Beverly said, “No, no, that’s okay. I, uh—I really have to be getting back to the
Enterprise,
but it was a pleasure meeting you, Vall.”
    “The pleasure was mine, Doctor!”
    “Don’t mention it.”
Please, don’t
ever
mention it. . . .
    Vall walked quickly toward the medical ward.
    Beverly stood in the corridor for a moment.
Well, that
was weird.
    She continued her journey to the transporter room, debating with herself whether or not to look up the song about Kahless’s return on the
Enterprise
computer.

    “So,” Martok said as two civilians brought trays of food for him and Worf, “how are you liking the new post so far?”
    “The honor is to serve,” Worf said as one of the trays was placed before him.
    Martok laughed. “So you hate your new role as much as I do. Good. It serves you right for forcing me into mine.”
    “Hate
is too strong a word. I view it as—a challenge.”
    Scooping a handful of skull stew into his mouth, Martok said, “As well you should. I regret giving you such a vexing one to start. But we need speak no more of that. You know my feelings, and I would not wish Klag to think we were plotting behind his back. We have concluded our business. Now is a time for family.” Martok sighed. “Which reminds me of one other piece of business that perhaps we should discuss. Family business.”
    “Oh?”
    “As you may know, my son Drex is the first officer on the
Gorkon.”
    “Yes.” Worf had been expecting something like this from the moment he saw Drex’s name on the ship’s crew roster.
    “I would ask a favor of you, Worf. Keep an eye on him.”
    Then again, I was
not
expecting that. . . .
“An eye for what, precisely?”
    “My son has many flaws, as you well know. He has always preferred to let his father’s honor speak for himinstead of creating his own. He grew worse during the time I was captured by the Jem’Hadar and that Lubbockian slime devil of a changeling took my place.” Martok spat on the deck. Worf could sympathize. The idea that someone had taken over your life—the way one of the shape-shifting Founders had done to