A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [35]
Ever since Father was appointed to the very same position, Alexander had taken every opportunity to visit him here. Part of that was a desire to revisit the haunt of his infancy and youth, though the place had almost completely changed since he was a child. Still and all, despite having lived on the EnterpriseD, with his grandparents on Earth, and on the ships where he’d served in the Defense Force, he considered this embassy to be his first home.
But that was only part of it. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had a father. When Alexander first met Worf, he denied that he even had a son—his way of protecting Alexander from a dishonor he was suffering at the time—but after Mother died, he claimed the boy and tried to raise him. “Try” being the operative word. With the distance of time, Alexander could now objectively see that there were few people in this galaxy less suited to fatherhood than the son of Mogh. But his attempts to make Alexander into a warrior fell on the deaf ears of a boy who wanted to find his own path. After the EnterpriseD was destroyed and Father, Alexander, and some of Father’s friends were caught up in a Romulan plot to overthrow the empire, Alexander went to Earth to live with Sergey and Helena Rozhenko, the humans who had raised Father after his own family was killed at Khitomer.
Oddly, the cry of the warrior did not come until after Alexander had been separated from Father for a number of years. Then he enlisted with the Defense Force, serving first on the Korvak, then the Rotarran—where he was reunited with Father—and finally the Ya’Vang, where he still served.
Except, of course, when he visited Father, whether here or on one of his assignments, as he had in the so-called Genesis sector a year and a half ago. He had even unofficially aided Father in some of his diplomatic duties.
Now it’s time to help him out again. He needed to learn more about what was happening here.
Rov was now looking over the hostages. “My name is Rov, son of Pekdal. You are prisoners of Klahb. If our demands are met, you will all live, though you will probably not be able to remain in this embassy. If our demands are not met, you will all die unpleasant deaths.”
Next to Alexander, Wu spoke. The aide had not moved, had barely blinked, for the entire time Alexander had been present. “And what would those demands be, Rov, son of Pekdal?” Wu’s tone was one of respect, though not quite as deferential as Rov might have desired, in Alexander’s opinion.
Smiling, Rov walked over to the northwest corner of the room. “I know you. You are Giancarlo Wu, the ambassador’s senior attaché.”
“That is correct. That also does not answer my question.”
At that, Rov laughed. “You are brave, human.” Rov then looked at Alexander. “I do not know you.”
“I do.” Alexander looked past Rov to see Vark actually smiling for the first time since Alexander had come in the meeting room. Indeed, Alexander was sure he’d never seen Vark smile at all before. “This is Alexander.” He looked at Rov. “Son of Worf.”
That put a smile on Rov’s face as well. “Really?”
“If you think capturing me will get you anything
” Alexander started.
“I know it has gained me another valuable hostage,” Rov said. “That is all that matters.” He put his hand to his ear. “B’Urgan, have you rigged the external—”
A voice came from the meeting-room doorway. “Yes, I have.”
Alexander looked up to see a very attractive young woman, also dressed as a kitchen steward, holding a large communications unit of some kind. I’m guessing this is how they’re going to let the High Council know what their demands are. Another steward, who was armed, walked in behind her.
“You’re not gonna get away with this.”
This time it was one of the embassy staff, a human named Gorjanc, who spoke.
Rov walked