"vem, Lursa." The voice of her mother, Kunnalla, broke through the darkness of Lursa's sleep, and the Klingon girl came to wakefulness to find her mother stood over her in the bedroom she shared with her little sister, B'Etor. "I have to speak to all of you, daughter," Kunnalla said. "Your brother is already awake. Rouse your sister and come to the main chamber."

"HIja', SoS," Lursa responded dutifully, noticing Kunnalla's seriousness. As Kunnalla walked out the door, Lursa rose from her bed and went over to where B'Etor lay snoring.

"What is it?" B'Etor mumbled when Lursa shook her awake. "I was asleep."

"Mother wants us," said Lursa. "We must rise."

"But I'm tired," moaned B'Etor. The youngest of Lursa's two siblings, she had yet to fully learn discipline and obedience.

"DaH, B'Etor. tugh!" Lursa said in her sternest voice. Reluctantly, the younger girl hauled up and followed her sister into the hall.

As they entered the main chamber of their home, they stood with their brother, Duras. Older than B'Etor, but younger than Lursa, he was first among the children of their father, Ja'rod. Lursa was small for her age, being only slightly taller than Duras, four years her junior. All three were silent as their mother stood before them, her expression solemn. "Hear me, my children," Kunnalla said. "I have tonight received news which effects our entire House. The outpost on Khitomer, where your father was stationed...has been attacked and destroyed by a Romulan force."

The children all exchanged concerned glances at this news. "And vavoy?" B'Etor asked. "What of him, Mother?"

Kunnalla drew a deep breath before responding. "Apart from a boy and a woman, who were rescued by a vessel of the Federation...the Romulans left no survivors..."

Duras, Lursa and B'Etor stood in stunned silence as it sank in. Finally, Duras murmured "Father is dead...Did he die well?"

Kunnalla sighed. "None can say for certain, Duras, though we must hope that he met death with honor, as befits a noble Klingon."

Lursa looked at her brother then, and thought she could read in his eyes the thoughts now forming in his brain. His expression was one which she had often seen worn by their late father. "With Father gone, I now lead our House," he said. Ambition grows within you already, eh, brother, Lursa thought to herself.

A displeased expression came over their mother's face. "loDHom Dogh, now is not the time to be thinking of yourself," she sternly told her son. "Besides, you have yet to reach the Age of Inclusion. Until that time, the House of Ja'rod is in my hands. But your time will come, Duras."

As the children made their way back to their rooms, they each reflected in their own way on what this meant for the family. Lursa's thoughts were perhaps deepest, for she dwelled on things she knew of Ja'rod that her brother and sister did not...

OOOOOOOO

It was natural curiosity which had moved her to position herself outside her parents' room late in the night and listen to their conversations without their knowledge. "I still feel uneasy about this whole thing, husband," Mother was saying that night. "The Romulans have ever been deceitful."

"va, woman, cease your worrying!" Father sounded irritated. "Have faith in me! I have arranged everything carefully, and they have given me their word! Once I give them Khitomer, the Romulans will aid me in taking over the Empire! Think of the power that will be ours!"

"Mogh suspects you," Kunnalla said. "I hear he goes to Khitomer also."

Ja'rod chuckled. "Then he will die there!"

"But it is not honorable," murmured Kunnalla.

"Qu'vatlh, speak to me no more of honor!" Ja'rod suddenly exploded. "I know what truly matters in life - power! By any means! You will see that in time...as will our children!"

OOOOOOOO

Lying awake in bed now, Lursa thought perhaps she did see her father's wisdom.