Possession - J.M. Dillard [37]
“I’m here for two reasons,” she admitted at last, “but the first and most important one is to apologize. Instead, I’ve barged into your life, invading your and Alexander’s personal space, and bringing up sad memories. I feel terrible.” She stepped closer to him, meeting him eye to eye like an equal. It was a bold act, and he couldn’t help admiring her for it; most non-Klingons would have never had the nerve. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. I acted like a prejudiced, backwater ignoramous. I insulted you, and I’m sorry. I have no excuse. I am very ignorant of your culture and your people and have little opportunity to interact with them. I promised myself tonight I would remedy that and have started reading up on these issues, but you have a complicated culture, and we will be long separated before I know enough to keep from making a fool of myself again. Will you accept my apology for the foolish things I said before—and the foolish things I will no doubt say in the future?”
Worf felt a strange sensation uncurl in the pit of his stomach as he realized, Alexander is right! She is much like K’Ehleyr! The realization was like a bitter-sweet knife to his heart. He wet his lips, his mouth suddenly dry, as he searched for the right thing to say.
“Dr. Dannelke, you are an important scientist. It is hardly necessary for you to come to an officer’s quarters to make such an open apology for a momentary misstatement.”
“You thought it was a lot more than that this afternoon,” she reminded him. “Your face was like a darkening stormcloud, threatening to hurl lightning everywhere! But what you’re trying to say—politely—is that you think I have ulterior motives for apologizing.”
He started to protest, but she held up a hand to stop him. “That’s okay. You’re right. I am really sorry I said what I did. That’s the honest truth. But, there is a favor I need to ask, and that’s the truth, too.”
“And that is?”
“I want to know what’s going on!”
“Excuse me?” he said quietly.
“Now, look, Lieutenant. We were on our way to Vulcan to pick up the scientist, Skel, with whom I happen to be working on a very important project. The next thing I know, the stars outside my quarters look funny, and the computer tells me we’re no longer on our way to Vulcan, but won’t give me any more information than that. We’re going to miss the TechnoFair for some Federation emergency, aren’t we?”
Worf sighed. He couldn’t very well share with her ship’s business, but he could reassure her. “Doctor, on my word, you will arrive at the TechnoFair on time.”
“How? We’re still not heading for Vulcan, and if we don’t pick up Skel—”
He supposed it would do no harm to tell her. “Skel is already on board, Doctor. He is currently in sickbay, but as soon as he is free to leave, I am sure he will contact you. I cannot give you more information than that.”
“Skel’s here? On board?” She let go a breath and almost smiled, making her plain straightforward features beautiful again. “Well, that’s a relief. But I can’t talk to him?”
Her single-mindedness about her work was admirable, if exasperating.
“Dr. Dannelke, you must trust that our medical staff has Skel’s best welfare in mind. It is late. No doubt he will call you in the morning.”
“I suppose you’re right. Thank you for that information, Lieutenant.” She looked at him wryly, a mischievous glint back in her eye—which made him straighten warily. “I really am sorry about this afternoon. There are times when my mouth gets the better of me, when I just blurt the most embarrassing things out. It always seems to happen at the one moment when I wouldn’t want it to.”
“And when is that?” Worf wondered aloud. How many TechnoFairs can this woman attend?
She grinned at him unabashedly. “It just always seems to happen when I meet a man I’m attracted to.”
His eyes widened in shock. That was the last thing he had expected her to say. “Dr. Dannelke!”
She moved closer to him again, grinning and narrowing her eyes like a Terran wolf. “I’ve always