Part 14 (1/2)
”I'm afraid I don't know, Data. I'm afraid I don't have all the answers. If I had all the answers, why ... I'd be a machine.” And she gave her most ingratiating smile.
At that moment Wesley came back in without the Wa.s.serman Chamber. ”Oh, Data, you're still here.”
”I was just leaving, Wesley,” said Data. ”Doctor ... it's been a very educational conversation.”
”Why, thank you, Data. I certainly hope you'll be able to store it away somewhere.”
”And I hope you will as well, Doctor.”
”Well, Data, not being a machine, I wouldn't know where.” She turned away to give a last bit of advice to Wesley.
And Data, without batting an eyelash, said with unmistakable inflection and intent, ”I think, Doctor, you know where you can store it.”
Pulaski's jaw hit the floor as she gaped openly at Data. Wesley was just as stunned, but recovered faster, pus.h.i.+ng the cart and grabbing Data by the elbow as they barreled out of sickbay.
”I can't believe you!” said Wesley once they were safely in the hallway. And now Wesley was starting to laugh. ”I can't believe you said that.”
”I was going to suggest she store it up her-”
”I got that, Data. She did, too. But how did you come up with that?”
”I remembered something Geordi once said and made a slight modification. It seemed to fit the circ.u.mstances.” Data stopped and looked concerned. ”I certainly hope it was an appropriate thing to say.”
”It was an insult!”
”Was it?” said Data calmly.
”Yes!”
Data considered this, his pale face unreadable.
”Are you quite certain?”
”Absolutely certain.”
And a slow smile spread over Data's face.
”Good.”
”Worf, it's ... it's enormous.” Gava gasped.
”Yes,” rumbled Worf with obvious satisfaction. ”It is, isn't it.”
”I never would have thought it possible.”
”I take great pleasure from it.” He dropped his voice to a confidential tone. ”Do not mention it to others, but I take it out at the end of every s.h.i.+ft and simply ... look at it.”
She stepped back a couple of paces to see it better. ”I must admit, throughout the Klingon Empire, I've seen quite a few ... and you know how Klingons take pride in this sort of thing. But I've never seen one this large or impressive.”
”Thank you,” Worf said modestly. He picked up yet another medal in his huge collection. ”The honor I feel when I survey all the awards I've received ... it is indeed one of the few things on this s.h.i.+p that gives me genuine gratification. This one, for example, was for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. I led a battalion in action on Cantos V. I almost refused the medal.”
”Why?” she asked in surprise.
”I disagree with the concept of 'above and beyond.' Whatever duty calls for, that is what is required. Duty has no limits.”
”Interesting point.”
”Thank you. I do have my pride.”
”Yet you accepted the medal anyway.”
”There's pride,” said Worf crisply, ”and then there's foolish pride.”
”Ah.” She smiled and moved about his cabin, admiring the starkness and simplicity of its design. Worf securely closed the cabinet in which the medals and awards were kept and turned back to her. ”How long,” she asked, ”until we rendezvous with the Kreel s.h.i.+p?”
”Two days,” said Worf.
She nodded. ”That gives us plenty of time to get to know each other.”
”Not really. I spend the majority of my time on the bridge. I usually prefer to work two s.h.i.+fts.”
”Why is that?”
He gave what approximated a shrug. ”What else is there for a warrior to do?”
”Oh, I don't know.” She paused. ”You said that virtually the only thing that gives you pleasure is your collection of honors. Is that true?”
”Yes.”
”With all the available women on this s.h.i.+p? I find that difficult to believe.”
”Available to others. Not to me.”
”Why ever not?”
”Relations with any other female than a Klingon one would be ... most unwise. For her.” He paused, and to emphasize the point, he added, ”Physically.”
”Yes, I suppose I should have surmised that.” She appeared puzzled and leaned against the wall, appraising him thoughtfully. ”Worf ... why do you stay here? Why serve the Federation? Someone of your obvious talents would do well in the ranks of the Klingon Empire.”
”Perhaps.”
”Certainly the problem of finding female companions.h.i.+p would not exist.”
”There is that.”
”Then why-”
”I am not given to discussing my personal motivations,” said Worf stiffly.
Gava looked at him in surprise. ”I did not mean to pry, Worf. Merely to know you better.”