Stardate 43640, Third season of ST Next Generation, between "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "The Offspring"
The stars sailed by. Worf sat at his usual table in Ten-Forward, watching them, as he digested the briefing Guinan gave the Command Crew about the Alternate Time encounter with the Enterprise C. He would have liked to see his old friend Tasha Yar again, and he could understand how the Klingon Empire and the Federation would be locked in Interstellar War. Given the right circumstances, it could still happen. Peace was better for both the Federation and the Klingon Empire. He had never served on a Klingon vessel, but his curiosity occasionally led him to imagine himself in command of other Klingons.
Guinan came over, bringing a glass of prune juice. He smiled and accepted it gratefully, giving her due reverence for bringing him a warrior's drink. She bowed in ritual response to his appreciation. "You drink alone again tonight," she said with a glint in her eye.
"Yes, it is a necessity, as I told you before."
"If you have no objection, I would like to join you."
Worf was taken aback by the request, then indicated the other chair at the table gracefully. "Of course, please join me."
She sat across from him, holding another glass of an amber liquid. They sat in silence for several moments, sipping their drinks: he with glacial solemnity and she with contained excitement. After a few moments, Worf asked: "Are you not needed at the bar?"
"This is my night off. Jason is tending the bar now, and C'rrik takes over in a couple of hours for the rest of the Nightwatch."
"Oh. But it does not make sense you would be here off duty."
Guinan took a tentative sip of her drink. "I was hoping to run into someone."
Nodding, Worf took another sip of the thick fruit juice. Its taste lingered on his tongue, and he regarded her with confusion. "And how soon do you hope this 'someone' will arrive?"
"Oh, he's here, he's here," she smiled, and sipped her drink again.
It took a few moments before realization dawned. "Oh, you were hoping to see me?"
"At last."
The stars continued their journey past the portal, and Worf regarded his companion. She was wearing a green outfit that draped her form from top to mid calf, with a portal that revealed her hairless face. Her dark eyes shone, and her fingers were trembling as she held her drink. Her mouth was pursed in a Mona Lisa smile.
Worf leaned back trying to understand. He was raised on Earth by the Ruschenko family, had attended school with its array of social activities, gone to Starfleet Academy, and accepted a Commission. Humans had always accepted his company, although some of them were uncomfortable with an alien of a recently hostile species. The social events he attended were awkward experiences that he ended as quickly as honor permitted, and the few times a human female approached him, he retreated quickly. He knew from the experience of his friends about dating and romantic encounters between humans, but as a Klingon he was genetically unable to understand them.
Once at the Academy, he viewed a pornographic video of humans and Klingons, but the dishonor the participants submitted to haunted rather than aroused him. He knew the ways of Klingon love, but K'Ehlayr was the only partner, and she refused to complete the ritual of mating. Dishonor haunted his memory, and he had never sought out another while on Shore Leave or on the Holodeck since.
"Penny for your thoughts," Guinan interrupted.
"I was remembering many things," he replied somberly
Another pause. "Good memories?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Then we must turn your focus another direction. How's your drink?"
He turned his glass to regard its rich, dark color in the light. "Excellent, as usual. I am indebted to you for introducing me to this warrior's beverage."
"Have you thought of trying a variation?"
Scoffing, he shook his head. "This drink is too perfect to weaken by addition."
"Perhaps you'd like to try what I'm drinking."
The liquid in Guinan's glass seemed to glow with a deep scarlet light. Occasionally, a sparkle would flit from one side of the vessel to the other. As Guinan sipped it, the spark would travel from the glass to her eyes. "What are you drinking?" he asked.
"It's a mixed drink: prune juice and
ngemqul'Iw
."
Worf almost spat out his drink as he set his glass down quickly on the table. "
Ngemqul'Iw
? FireBlood liqueur from the Imperial Forest on Qo'nos? I thought it was forbidden to export
ngemqul'Iw
outside the Empire."
"It is, it is, but I have some. Are you interested?"
"I am amazed. This liqueur is the most famous of all Klingon beverages, used ritually for important state occasions and rarely presented as a gift for services rendered the Empire in extreme circumstances. Did you acquire this honorably?"
She nodded. "You do not need to know the story, but I received it as a gift from the High Council. I have several bottles."
"I must know the story."
"Someday I may be able to tell of you. In the meantime, would you be interested in trying some?"
He shook his head again in disbelief. "I am overwhelmed. Of course I would be interested. But surely this is not something kept behind the bar."
"No, I keep this in my quarters."
"But I do not understand: this liqueur is toxic to humans, as is Klingon tea. Is there an antidote to this for humans as well?"