Star Trek: Metamorphosis
Westfall/Star Trek TNG Crossover Fanfiction #2
Scene 14
“Commander.”
“Go ahead, lieutenant.”
A small screen held William Riker’s image from the Enterprise, and it had been placed beside a lantern on an otherwise bare wooden desk. Worf stood in front of it, holding his arms behind his back in a sort of attention. His armor had been removed, leaving him in a dark fabric shirt and pants.
“Our mission is proceeding well,” he began. “We have made some progress, and now, we are waiting for their decision on whether or not they will allow us to relocate them. We should know in the morning.”
“Do you think they’ll agree?” Will asked.
The Klingon’s lips tugged. “I am uncertain. If both members of the leading pair do not agree, they will not go. And we have had... trouble with one of them. Although, I believe Qul’tuq has made our position quite clear.”
“Understood,” a smirk grew across Will’s lips. “And how is Qul’tuq?”
Worf instinctively looked over his shoulder out the open back door of the small hut they were sharing. “She is well,” he turned back. “No one has suspected she is not Klingon,” he paused as his eyes again drifted away, “nor has she given them reason to believe she is not.”
“Good,” The commander’s smile widened, knowing there was much more hidden within Worf’s words than he would ever find out over the video call. “Well, we had a small hiccup over here, but I believe all is well for when you both return.”
“‘Hiccup’, sir?”
Will stroked his beard. “I’ll explain once you get back. I look forward to hearing what is decided tomorrow. Riker out.”
The screen turned back to a static image of the seal of the United Federation of Planets–moments before Worf’s hand folded the screen closed.
The Klingon lieutenant stepped onto a stone-paved patio with a fire crackling in a small pit at its center. The fire, along with droning of chirping insects, filled the night air with sound, and the embers of the fire drifted high in the cool night air.
He found the Klingon woman seated on the wall that surrounded their temporary home. She was facing away, looking out into the stars of the sky.She, too, had removed her more uncomfortable leather pieces and now rested in a breathable black tunic.
“Qul’tuq,” he said as he took another step forward.
She turned to look over her shoulder, watching as he approached her. A scar cut across her cheek–the reminder of their mission she would take with her.
“...Gemini,” he added softly.
Her lips tugged in a half-smile. “Yeah, I heard that slip earlier.”
He rolled his eyes. “I was... startled! I could not think clearly.”
She waved it off. “Don’t worry, I think our fight distracted everyone enough to notice.”
“About that.”
Gemini’s playfulness faded. A number of potential wrongdoings instantly came to mind: the greatest of which being instigating a fight with a potential ally.
Worf, however, never changed his reserved expression. “I wanted to thank you,” he spoke gently and deliberately, “for defending my honor. You... didn’t have to.”
Gemini’s initial apprehension melted into a grin, and she cocked her head. “Hey, my honor was at stake too! But, I knew whatever they called you wasn’t a good thing to be called…”
Worf’s lips puffed and tugged, as if trying to find a smile of his own. He never quite got there as he averted his eyes to the ground. “In such a short time... you have become quite a formidable Klingon.”
“Aw,” she broke into a short laugh, and she kicked up her legs to turn around and face him. “I can thank you for that,” she set her feet against the wall.
He shook his head.
“Yes, I can,” she stressed. “All of the hours we’ve spent training, the programs you’ve made to help me get stronger, assigning me to your security team... not to mention just sitting and talking me through losing my home and family when I first got to the Enterprise.” She tilted her head to better look at his downcast eyes. “So, thank you, Worf, for being a strong, patient, and faithful friend.” Her eyes lost their focus for a moment as she murmured, “A mentor...”
Worf no longer objected, but his lips again tugged and pursed in thought. “However,” he finally found his words, “I must say; tonight you fought with a fierceness I have not seen in you before.”
Gemini found his dark eyes piercing into her as the smallest hint of a smirk stretched his lips.
“I wonder why I have not seen such fierceness in our training sessions on the holodeck,” he mused as his eyes rolled away.
“Hm,” she hummed. “Well, I didn’t know Qul’tuq yet.” She scooted closer on the wall. “I think our holodeck programs may have to change a little when we get back.”
“Oh?” His smile spread to reveal his pointed teeth.
“I think I may even be ready to try the bat’leth,” she leaned into him playfully.
“I see,” the grin persevered, “I will have to devise new programs better suited for you. Although,” he paused thoughtfully, “I understand you will be planning your marriage when we return.”
“I will,” her legs kicked against the wall idly. “But I’ll still need to keep my skills sharp.”
Worf glanced into the fire. “Mister Rowlett is a lucky man,” he admitted after a moment.
Gemini laughed and looked away, her face flushing red.
“While this,” he gestured between the two of them, “is just an act, I am pleased that you have found your true mate–to form a true chang’eng.”
Her green eyes slowly rose, bemused. “Me too.”
Their conversation faded into the continual droning of the songs of the insects. Gemini looked at him with a renewed sense of admiration, and Worf’s tight smile remained upon his lips.
She bit her lip and looked down as Worf turned back to the house. “Hey, Worf, I hope you know,” she leaned further over in an attempt to catch his gaze, “it is an honor to serve at your side.”
He glanced up without turning around. “Jih qochbe’, jupna’wl’.”
She blinked. “I still don’t understand Klingon despite what it looks like.”
“I agree, my friend,” Worf looked over his shoulder before he returned to their temporary home. “I agree.”
Commercial Break
Scene Notes
- Gemini has a great friendship with Data don't get me wrong; but writing this story made me realize how cool she and Worf are together :D
- The Bat'leth is a very epic two-handed Klingon blade.