Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [76]
Worf turned and lunged again-and for a moment Data feared he might be annoyed enough to skip to a degree of difficulty that Data couldn’t cope with. But no, Worf would never betray his sense of honor. When
Data executed the proper turn and tossed the Klingon over his hip, Worf went down gracefully-to a round of applause. Data hoped their chief of security understood that it was more for his sportsmanship than for the minor skill Data had demonstrated.
The next skill Dare had had Data practice with the holodeck warrior projection, for the mercenary was not large enough himself to pick Data up as Worf could, and throw him. When an opponent had that kind of size and strength, it was best to let him toss one out of reach, then come back with speed and flexibility moves in an attempt to exhaust him. So Data did not struggle when Worf grabbed him, but spent his effort on landing without injury, to bounce up and come at the Klingon from behind. By this time, the spectators were making new bets. “Fifty that Data takes Worf down twice more!”
“I’ll take that!”
“Twenty-five that Worf can pin Data.”
“Naw-he’s too fast. Look at “im!”
But Data could not listen to the crowd. Dare had warned him, “Your only concern is to qualify. Do the very best you can, and don’t let anything distract you.,” As a result, he performed the required moves adequately if not expertly, and as a good instructor Worf allowed himself to be bested when Data demonstrated the correct technique.
As the match continued, Data heard the bets on his ability increasing, and didn’t understand why.
Surely these people knew he was nearing the limits of his skills. To his amazement, he heard Pris wager, “One hundred that Data pins Worf!”
That, anyone ought to know, was impossible. A man of Data’s size might knock a larger skilled opponent off his feet-but never keep him there! In a genuine fight, he would try to exhaust or befuddle such a man, and then either escape, find a weapon, or simply survive until help arrived.
None of those options was available in a test situation, so it was not long before the tables turned. The next time Data attempted to use Worf’s own weight against him, the Klingon grabbed Data’s wrist and pulled him over, twisted, and kicked the smaller man into the safety field with such force that had he connected with the wall he would have been a mass of broken bones.
Even with the safety field, it knocked the breath from him, and before he could recover Worf had him again.
Data struggled gamely, but all his moves were elementary; Worf countered easily, and in seconds he was pinned helplessly beneath the Klingon.
There were moans from those who had lost their foolish bets, but Data’s attention was on Worf, who carefully removed himself without hurting Data, then offered him a hand up. “You qualify,” he said, no hint of a grudge in his voice. “If you learned that well in three days, I’d like to see what you could do with advanced training.”
Worf was not even breathing heavily. Data was panting, dripping sweat, his heart pounding. Still he managed a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Worf.”
He paused to gulp down more air before he could continue, “However, I do not wish to transfer to Security.”
Worf glared. “I didn’t say you were that good.”
Their audience laughed, and people who had won sensible bets came up to congratulate Data.
He was 212 surprised to see Dare and his gang paying off quite a number of crew members. Dare, of all people, should have known his limitations. Before moving on to the next test Worf and Data took time to rest and drink some water, then Dr. Pulaski ran her scanner over them. Worf, to no one’s surprise, showed no effects at all. “You’ve got a few bruises and strains,” the doctor told Data, “but nothing serious. So you won’t stiffen up, go take a sonic shower before you move on to the phaser range.”
When some of the audience protested the delay, Pulaski said, “You want Data to have his best chance, don’t you? Give him ten minutes to get his breath back, then.”
Data was glad of