Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [55]
The admiral, whose size was intimidating, was just staring at Zelik. Leybenzon wondered if something else had gone wrong with the security overhaul. He wondered if, once again, he was being assigned the blame. Three times before, when Aenni did something wrong, the Bolian had shifted the responsibility onto Leybenzon.
“I know you’ve put in for a transfer,” Haden had finally said after staring at him unblinkingly. His hands were folded on his desk. The desk was free of decoration or personal accoutrements, like the man: no muss, no fuss.
“Yes, sir, I have.”
“I can understand why. Honestly, I’m grateful you’ve stuck it out this long.” Haden actually cracked a smile, something Leybenzon hadn’t seen in his seven months serving on this starbase. “Unfortunately, Aenni is a bear we have to cross.”
Leybenzon ignored the admiral’s deliberate malapropism. “Yes, sir.”
“I was tempted to turn down your request, to be honest, but for selfish reasons. You’ve done a better job than his last three assistants fixing Aenni’s snafus, and I don’t want to lose you. However, you’re in luck.” Haden turned the computer station on his desk around so it faced Leybenzon. There was a standard officer posting request. “You seem to be desired by one Worf, son of Mogh.”
At the sound of that name, Leybenzon had stood up straight. He’d worked with Worf a few times during the war, both at DS9 and when the Andromeda had been part of a joint Klingon-Federation strike force. They had both been raised on Gault, and Leybenzon had liked working with the Klingon. Last I heard, he was Federation ambassador to the Klingons. The embassy on Qo’noS had been attacked, and Leybenzon thought that Worf was requesting him for the security detail.
“What is it that Ambassador Worf wishes me to do?”
“Not ‘ambassador’ anymore, he’s back in Starfleet and is the first officer of the Enterprise. Their security chief was killed, and Commander Worf specifically asked for you as the replacement.”
That had caught Leybenzon off guard. The absolute last place he wanted to serve was on one of the frontline starships because most of their security people were officers. Leybenzon didn’t trust any security detail that wasn’t primarily enlisted personnel, and on the flagship, he’d be ass-deep in brass.
But it was the flagship. People stepped all over each other for the opportunity to serve under Jean-Luc Picard, to serve on the Enterprise.
“So,” Haden said, “I guess you’ll be packing.”
“No,” Leybenzon replied. “With all due respect, the Enterprise is not the ideal place for me.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Haden leaned back and shook his head. “Zelik, this isn’t the kind of opportunity that comes by very often. You turn it down, and I guarantee it won’t come by again. What’s more, nothing else will. Let me be frank, Zelik. Starbase 23 is the ass end of nowhere. That’s why I asked to be assigned here. I’ve been in Starfleet longer than your parents have been alive, and after the war, I wanted something that would be a little less strenuous. Unfortunately, backwater starbases get the problem cases. Like Aenni. And you.”
“I was not aware that I was a ‘problem case,’ Admiral.”
“Which is part of why you are one. I’ve got reports from superiors of yours over the years, and they all say the same thing: ‘Best security officer I ever had, but I don’t ever want him serving under me again, under any circumstances.’” Haden leaned forward. “You piss people off, Zelik. You know that you piss people off. You don’t care that you piss people off. That’s why I asked for you. It was the only way you would ever get a favorable report from a CO. You’ve been here two years, and the only black marks are from Aenni. Command will consider the source; I’ve put nothing but praise in your jacket.”
“I appreciate that, sir.” Haden had been Leybenzon’s rabbi, advocating his commission and running