Possession - J.M. Dillard [63]
“That’s your mom?” the doctor asked in surprise. “She looks like she had a wonderful sense of humor.”
“Oh, yeah. Mother could find something funny about anything.”
That sounds so un-Klingon-like, Kyla thought.
“She was half human,” Alexander said softly, as if answering Kyla’s unasked question. “But you can’t tell by looking at me. I take after Father mostly.”
“I think you look like both your parents,” Kyla decided. “You’ve got a lot of your mother in your face, and your body structure, too. And I think you’ve got her sense of humor, too.”
Alexander grinned, even when his father’s baritone agreed.
“He is a great deal like K’Ehleyr,” Worf explained, as he left his room and joined them. “Especially in his stubborness.” Yet the chief of security smiled when he chided his son. “It is time for you to review your schoolwork and get ready for bed.”
The boy rolled his eyes, and for an instant he looked as if he might argue with his father, then suddenly stopped. Kyla could almost see the wheels turning in Alexander’s head. “Will you be here in the morning, Kyla?”
The doctor felt her face flush red and could sense Worf gearing up for a good bluster. “Excuse me?” she said quietly, smiling at the boy.
“I thought you might like to come by for breakfast,” Alexander insisted, feigning innocence.
“Well, I’m not much of a morning person, but I think I could manage. That all right with you, Mr. Worf?” She saw the Klingon work his jaw back and forth as he struggled to answer civilly.
“If it is not an inconvenience for you,” Worf grumbled, “it would be pleasant to share breakfast with you, Doctor.” Then he glared at his son who just giggled and made his escape.
Kyla hid a smile behind her hand, but not very successfully. “Don’t be mad at him, Worf. He misses his mother. Says I remind him of her. So he’s trying to matchmake.”
“I have never seen him behave this way around a human female!” Worf insisted. “I must apologize—”
“Oh, please don’t,” she interrupted tiredly, sitting down on a couch. “I’m honored to be held in such high regard. Any news about my friend?”
Worf frowned and looked troubled. “Unfortunately, no. I cannot imagine how someone injured in the way you described could hide himself so well on this ship.”
It was Kyla’s turn to look worried. “Well, this ship is not unlike a big city in the sky, Worf. It shouldn’t be that hard to find a place to hide.”
“But this is not a city,” he protested. “It is a Federation starship. There is no crime aboard the Enterprise, and it is not that easy to hide aboard this vessel!”
“I still think it was some member of the scientist’s crews, not a Federation officer. Maybe the scientist in charge of that person is hiding them, not wanting anyone to know it’s his or her aide who has questionable behavior.” She closed her eyes, reliving for just a second that terrible moment in her quarters. The Klingon didn’t know it yet, but she had no intentions of going back there. She remembered back in London, how she felt when she had to reenter her building again. “Oh, Worf, I came here tonight to forget about the attack. Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
He came and sat by her, a polite distance, giving her plenty of space, not boxing her into a corner. “Kyla. I want to respect your wishes, but I know there is still something you are not telling me about this attack.”
She sighed and faced him squarely. “No, Worf, honest, I’ve told you everything, it’s just …” She trailed off, staring at his somber expression. “Well, I guess I stirred up some memories here tonight, so I shouldn’t complain if you stir up mine.” She swallowed, reluctant to relate the tale, but knowing she’d feel better if she did. “I’ve told you everything about the incident. What you’re sensing from me is my reactions to it—and the fact that it’s reminded me of things I never wanted to think about again. When I was thirteen, my mom and I lived in an old section of London. One night,