Paramount
and Gene Roddenberry own Star Trek. I only play in the playground
Gene created.
Worf and Alexander exited
holodeck 4. The father and son had just concluded a rather brisk
MaQbar session and they were both clad in the traditional white
robes. Alex was learning to enjoy these moments shared between
himself and his father but some of the Klingon training programs left
him feeling conflicted too. The Klingon culture was a very serious
one and of the greatest importance to Worf and his father obviously
felt it was his duty to see to the boy's training. He had taken that
duty to heart when he had taken the boy into his care. He filled the
brief time they had shared with many lessons in his Klingon heritage.
Alexander was still very
young, but Klingon children were trained in the ways of a warrior
from birth. Being of a warrior breed meant that babies developed at
significantly quicker rate than human children. In nature the young
of both predators and prey could not afford long periods of
dependancy and helplessness in infancy. This was also true for
Klingons. Alexander had a desperate desire to prove to his father
that he was capable of following the way of the warrior, but he was
not sure that was what he truly wanted for himself. The thought of
being a warrior terrified him!
For one thing, Alexander was
not pure Klingon. He was 1/4 human and that human element was strong
in him. He worried he would not measure up to his fathers
expectations. He worried about letting his father down. His mother
had been half human and never thought it important to train the boy
in Klingon traditions. She had rejected the culture herself, often
scoffing at it's rigidity and adherence to it's strict code of honor.
Sometimes Alex felt he must be loyal to either his deceased mother's
memory or to a father that he barely knew.
Worf understood Alexander
better than the boy could ever have imagined. Worf was pure Klingon,
it was true, but he was a Klingon raised by humans on Earth and that
gave him his own unique human insight. He was proud of his heritage
but had missed many of the rituals that came with growing up within
the Klingon community therefore he was a bit of an anomaly among his
own kind. His feelings of Klingon honor were strong and fierce, but
there was something a little more refined, a little more polished
about him then the typical Klingon. His kind were known for there
love of bawdy humor but Worf felt no inclination to indulge in this
form of mirthful misbehavior. Like his son, he was caught between
worlds.
The relationship between
father and son was new to both with each trying to please the other
and there were frequent moments of frustration and misunderstanding.
But at this moment the feelings between them were amicable. The
MoQbar session had been full of challenge and exertion, but it was a
joyful challenge and they bonded over the experience.
As the holodeck doors slid
shut behind them, Alexander excitedly told his father about his day
with his playmates on the Children's Deck. In this respect he sounded
like any human child filling in his parent on all of his everyday
life adventures. And that day had been particularly exciting. One of
Alex's play mates had brought a litter of kittens to the Childrens
Science Room. Kala's mother had found them abandoned while visiting
the Zalaphed Colony and decided they would make a great learning
experience for the children. Likely they would find homes very
quickly among Kala's friends.
Alex was particularly
fascinated by the tiny creatures. He had had some difficulty
adjusting since his arrival on the Enterprise and the death of his
mother. It seemed his Klingon and human nature were at constant
battle with one another. He was typically a quiet child but had
experienced some outbursts in class. Interacting with the kittens had
a calming affect on Alex and he talked about them with his Father as
they walked side by side down the corridor.
"Father, there are
eight of then! Eight! And they are so tiny and fragile. We get to
feed them every day! And clean them! And play with them!"
Alex was often a very
serious and solemn child. It was rare to see him so happy and
carefree. Alexander's enthusiasm was infectious and Worf, trying to
keep his dignified Klingon demeanor intact, indulged his son with a
rare soft look.
"I am glad to hear that
your studies include such a variety of animals. It is important to
have a broad knowledge of all the lifeforms you may come in contact
with." Worf put a hand on his son's shoulder and they continued
down the corridor towards the turbolift.
Worf may not have had a
tender spot for helpless animals, but he could appreciate a
connecting moment with his boy. Until recently he had not been aware
of having fathered a child and now the child's mother was dead. He
had briefly considered attempting to raise the boy on his own, but
fatherhood was proving to be most difficult. Worf doubted his
ability to provide a proper home for his child and had come to the
decision that his son should be raised by his own adoptive human
parents on Earth. His parents were enroute to rendevous with the
Enterprise and take Alexander back to Earth in less than a week. But
for now he listened to the child's excited chatter and enjoyed a rare
and rather perfect father and son moment.
As they approached the
turbolift, the doors slid open and Data emerged from the tiny
cylindrical chamber. Data's intention was to spend some time on
holodeck 4 exploring his fascination with Earth's mystery literature
author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He wore his Sherlock Holmes hat and
cloak and clutched a large pipe given to him by his best friend Lt.
Geordi Laforge.
As Data approached the
father and the boy, he heard Alex continue, "There are two black
kittens, and three calicos, two white ones, and one orange! You
should see them Father! They seem to spend much of the time sleeping,
but when they are awake we get to play with them and - "
Data had heard of the
arrival of the ships newcomers and his curiosity was piqued.
"Excuse me Alexander. I
do not wish to interrupt, but I could not help overhearing your
description of the arrival of the immature domesticated felines. I am
fascinated with the bond that seems to be a common experience shared
between humans and pets".
" Yeah, well I wouldn't
know about that. I'm only a little bit human. Mostly I'm Klingon like
my Father" said Alex, scowling a little. Reminding Alex of his
struggle to balance his human nature with his Klingon side always
made him feel touchy.
"My apologies Alex, for
when I referred to the common experience between human and pet I was
not inclusive of the Federations many lifeforms and the bonds they
share with their respective pets. Klingon's have their own valued
pets, particularly that of the Targ. Although Klingon history
describes the Targ as both pet and livestock, respect for the Targ is
clearly valued. This becomes apparent when one takes into
consideration the expression 'Heart of a Targ' which is often used to
connote acts of bravery or-"
"Alexander knows what
Heart of a Targ means!" growled Worf.
Data was quite used to these
interruptions. What Data lacked in emotions he made up for in
curiosity. For reasons unclear to him, few people on board the
Enterprise shared his enthusiasm for absolutely every topic in
galaxy. When Data started to expound upon a topic of particular
interest, he often noticed a vacant look on his listeners face and
this was usually followed with an abrupt interjection. Data never
felt hurt or insulted by the lack of interest. In fact Data did not
feel anything. And so Worf's gruff tone did not phase him in the
least.
Alex decided to shift the
topic back to the kittens and away from the touchy subject of Klingon
heritage. The mood lightened immediately.
"Have you visited the
kittens yet Data?"
"I have yet to become
acquainted with the felines, but I am most intrigued by the concept!"
Data's mouth twitched at the corner, a tiny half smile that most of
the crew recognized. Data may not have emotions, but he surely had a
way of expressing something suspiciously like pleasure. How could
someone so devoid of feeling be so expressive?
Alexander happily invited
Data to visit his class the next day. So Data made his promise that
he would visit the Children's Deck by midmorning. Then Worf and his
son entered the turbolift, the doors whooshed shut quietly and
carried the pair away to the officers deck where the two shared
quarters that they called home
This should prove to be most
intriguing Data thought as he continued on to the holodeck doors. For
a moment Data paused by the doors and thought about interactions
between pets and humans. There was plenty of literature that broached
this topic. Perhaps he should create a new program to observe a
touching tale of man and animal. Perhaps Old Yeller. Or maybe Lassie?
But in the end Data turned to the holodeck console and said,
"Computer, run Data program # 331, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The
Hound of the Baskervilles"
"Accessing program "
said a feminine computerized voice.
The doors whisked open and
with that Data entered and the doors closed behind him.
