Part 15 (1/2)
”You might have a point.” She considered it a moment. ”You know, it's not my place to offer advice ... ”
”Uh-huh,” said Riker, not buying that for an instant.
”But I've always thought that a party is a good way to get people acquainted. Get them more comfortable with one another.”
He put down his gla.s.s. ”Now that,” he said, ”is an excellent idea. I'll bring it to the captain.”
”Be certain to tell him it came from me,” said Guinan. ”That way he'll be certain to go for it.”
Riker laughed. ”You don't think he'll accept it coming from his first officer?”
”Well.” Guinan smiled ingratiatingly. ”Why take chances?”
Riker picked up his gla.s.s and finished his drink. ”You know,” he said thoughtfully, ”one person I should really check with is Worf. He'd know best how the Klingons would react to something like a party.” He tapped his communicator. ”Riker to Worf.”
There was a lengthy pause, as if Worf was having trouble finding his communicator for some reason. That, of course, was absurd since it was attached to his uniform. After a time, though, the Klingon's husky voice came. ”Worf here.”
Riker got that same odd feeling he had had earlier when he'd called on Deanna. The feeling that somehow his timing had been a bit out of kilter. ”Worf ... how would you feel about a party?”
”At this particular moment?”
”No, I mean later. A get-acquainted gathering for the amba.s.sador and his party.”
”Getting acquainted would be an excellent idea.”
Riker thought he heard something then-a low laugh, of all things. Female? Slowly, he said, ”All right, Worf. I'll be recommending it to the captain. Riker out.”
He turned and looked at Guinan. ”Did you ever get the feeling that you weren't certain about what was going on around you?”
Guinan considered it. Silently she poured herself a drink, pursed her lips, and seemed to be running her entire life's history through her mind in review.
”Never,” she said at last.
”What, never?”
She grinned. ”Well, hardly ever.”
In Worf's quarters, thirteen weapons were scattered about the floor.
Worf was now picking them up and replacing them in the hidden spots of his uniform. Nearby, Gava was looking in his mirror and rearranging her hair.
Klingons were not much for innocuous small talk, so Worf said briskly, ”I will see you again after I come off duty.” Then he paused and added almost as an afterthought, ”If you wish.”
She turned slowly and smiled. ”Of course, I wish.”
”Excellent.” He headed toward the door and paused. ”One question.”
”What would that be?”
”You said earlier that you know of two Klingons with human blood. One of them is Kobry, of course. But I would be interested in meeting the other sometime in the future, if that's at all possible.”
Resting her chin on her hand, she said, ”Why?”
”Having been raised by humans, I sometimes feel strained balancing their instincts against my own. It would be beneficial to meet any other Klingons with the same problem.”
”All right. I can arrange it very easily. That Klingon is on this s.h.i.+p.”
Worf's eyebrows shot up. ”He's one of Kobry's honor guard?”
”No. 'He' is me.” She stood and kissed Worf lightly on the cheek. ”Human blood flows through my veins, as it does through Kobry's.”
”Are you serious?”
”Always.”
”That is why you were chosen to be the Honorable Kobry's aide, then.”
”That, among other reasons. Perhaps that is why I was drawn so immediately to you, Worf. I sensed that human influence in you, and felt a certain kins.h.i.+p. Although kins.h.i.+p might be too mild a word. You best get to the bridge.”
”You're right, of course.” He turned, and the door hissed open. Then he stopped. Slowly he said, ”You do not feel that same sort of kins.h.i.+p ... with the Honorable Kobry, do you?”
”Of course not!”
He felt mild relief. What she did before, or for that matter after, she met him was none of his affair. But picturing her with the Honorable Kobry was a bit much for him to take. ”I appreciate your telling me that.”
”I'm glad you're appreciative,” she said in amus.e.m.e.nt. ”No, the kins.h.i.+p I feel for Kobry is entirely of a different nature.”
”Really.”
”Oh, yes.”
”What nature is that?”
”Why ... haven't you realized? The Honorable Kobry is my father.”
Chapter Eleven.
PICARD, FROM THE command chair, glanced up at Riker. ”A party?”
”Yes, sir. A sort of get-acquainted gathering. To put everyone at ease.”
Deanna Troi, seated to Picard's left, said, ”It might be good for the morale of the mission, Captain.”
Thoughtfully, Picard stared straight ahead. ”I don't know if that would be wise. Perhaps the best thing for this mission would be to keep as much distance between our people and the various diplomatic parties as possible.”
”Hmmm,” said Riker.