To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [68]
“Gnnnnggghh!” The evidence was not solid but the hamster’s teeth were. Rudely roused from sleep, swooped down upon from above, lifted high into the air, all of the little creature’s instincts for self-preservation kicked in at once, along with a good portion of its nasty temper. A gnawer by nature, the hamster had formidable, chisellike incisors in both upper and lower jaws, and it knew how to use them. It bit deep, it bit hard, and it bit for keeps.
The hamster had a vicious bite, but Lt. Worf could bear pain as well as any Klingon warrior. Gritting his teeth, he tried to remove the beast by flicking it from his impaled finger, only to encounter yet another unguessed quality of Alexander’s pet: It knew how to hold on. Though Worf whipped his assaulted hand sharply back and forth, the hamster set its teeth still more firmly in the Klingon’s flesh, closed its eyes, and refused to let go.
“Hold still, sir. I’ll help you!” Ensign Wolf shouted.
For an instant her hand dropped to her phaser until she realized just how ridiculous a solution that would be.
“Father/” Worf froze in mid-fling. His son Alexander stood in the doorway to their quarters, staring at him with a mixture of surprise and horror. The boy rushed forward and cupped his hands around the determined hamster. Perhaps it was the familiar scent of its master, perhaps it was the promise of the immediate feeding which always seemed to follow its master’s arrival, or perhaps it was just the convictionmheld even by hamsters—that enough was enough. For whatever reason, the little creature released its hold on Worf’s finger and dropped docilely into Alexander’s hands.
“What were you doing with Fido?” Alexander demanded.
“Er, if you’ll excuse me, sirre” Ensign Wolf decided that this would be her golden opportunity to leave. Domestic incidents were touchy things, even for a trained Starfleet Security officer, but when it was a domestic incident within a Klingon family, in that case, the best place to be was far, far away.
“Ensign Wolff” The sound of Lt. Worf barking her name had the same effect as if someone had yanked her back by an invisible rope. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around slowly. Her superior officer was standing beside his son, studying his savaged finger. Fido had done a thorough job of minor mayhem. The finger was bleeding profusely and was already beginning to swell up. The Klingon’s face betrayed not even the shadow of pain, though the wounded finger must have been throbbing. Instead he regarded it with an expression that could only be described as.
Bemused:? Lori pursed her lips. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Klingon looking bemused. And I don’t think I ever want to do it again.
“Yes, sir?” she responded.
“Ensign Wolf, you will tell my son why I asked you to come here.” “Sir, are you—” “Tell him.” There was no mistaking that tone. It implied that nothing but the whole truth would be acceptable. Taking a deep breath, Lori informed Alexander of Lt. Worfs failed attempt to give her the hamster. There was no describing the expression on the boy’s face when he turned to his father.
“Did you?” Alexander asked. “Did you really try to give away Fido?” “Do not question the honor of Ensign Wolf; she does not lie. I did all that she reports I did.” Worfhad a few basic first aid supplies in his quarters. During Lori’s explanation he had brought these out and was now applying a bandage to his bleeding finger, one that would do well enough until he could get himself to sickbay. “I had my reasons. I did not believe that this… hamster was a fit companion for you. It seemed to be meek and lazy, a bad example.” He tied off the bandage and