"The Perfect Mate"

Set during DS9's 5th season, sometime between "By Inferno's Light" and "Soldiers of the Empire."

Worf has always been unsure about whether or not Jadzia could be faithful to him. It never occurred to Jadzia that she might one day have the same misgivings about Worf...

"The time is 0500 hours."

The monotonous voice of the computer punctuated the quiet slumber that Jadzia had been enjoying. Within seconds she could feel Worf get out of bed. As much as she enjoyed having him there next to her, she did not like being awakened this early everyday. But, true to form, Worf was a morning person. Jadzia pulled the covers up over her head.

Worf looked down at her and smiled inwardly. Though he lived on the Defiant, the truth was that he spent as many nights here on the station with Jadzia as he did there especially since he'd returned from the Dominion prison camp. He dressed quietly so as not to wake his par'mach'kai as she tried to cling to the last moments of sleep. There was an early meeting with Captain Sisko and General Martok and Worf, true to form, wanted to get some work done before it began.

A few weeks ago Captain Sisko and Chancellor Gowron decided it would be best to have a Klingon military presence on the station in light of the Dominion threat to the alpha quadrant. General Martok was the commander of the Klingons on the station, and had set up an office in which to work out of. He had a small staff there handling the paperwork and daily drudgery that he despised. Their meeting this morning was to go over some of the responsibilities of his new staff.

Worf entered the Captain's office a few minutes early, "Good morning, Sir."

"Good morning Mr. Worf."

"I finished the upgrade to the Defiant's weapons array this morning; it is ready for inspection at your convenience."

"Mr. Worf, you get more done before breakfast than most officers do all day."

Worf nodded, "I will take that as a compliment," Worf sat across from the Captain.

"This meeting should be brief. General Martok has brought onboard as part of his staff someone that I would like for you to work with as we integrate the Klingons into our strategic and defense plans."

"Oh?" Worf shifted nervously. Though he had a very good rapport with Martok, he was not sure how he would be received by other Klingons. He was after all a traitor, and though he had been right, he sided with the Federation against the Empire and lost everything, including his name, because of it.

Across ops, the turbolift ascended and General Martok, along with someone Jadzia didn't recognize, stepped off the platform. She was positioned at her station and nodded respectfully to the General. Dax tried not to stare, but she couldn't take her eyes off the person who was with him. She was a Klingon woman, she stood as tall as Martok and had jet black hair the hung down to her waist. She wasn't wearing a defense force uniform like he did, instead she wore a rather utilitarian gray jumpsuit that didn't show the usual cleavage most Klingon women liked to display. Her skin was dark, darker than Worf's, and her figure, though slender, looked strong and graceful. To use a phrase of Worf's, she was glorious.

Jadzia watched as she entered the Captain's office with Martok. Worf jumped to his feet to greet the two of them and offered her his chair. Martok sat as well but Worf stood. Dax couldn't hear what they were saying but she could see Worf. He was staring at the woman. She didn't seem to notice him at all, but his gaze was fixed on her.

Maybe he's just paying attention, Jadzia said to herself. Whatever was happening, she needed to know. She scanned her duty station looking for a reason to interrupt them. Maybe she could break something. Oh, the sensor logs!

The doors to Sisko's office slid open, "Pardon the interruption, Captain, I just wanted to remind you that the anomalous sensor logs from yesterday still need to be reviewed."

Benjamin gave her a confused look, "Okay, Commander. As soon as I am finished here."

"Yes sir," Jadzia waited a moment. Perhaps someone would introduce her. After an awkward moment, Jadzia excused herself back to her station. She felt like an idiot for going in there just to get a look at some woman. About 10 minutes later Martok, the woman, and Worf exited the office and headed towards the turbolift. Dax looked their way but Worf never made eye contact with her.

Captain Sisko had assigned Worf to work with V'Ron, the intelligence officer sent to the station from the Klingon Empire. She was essentially his counterpart and as DS9's strategic operations officer, he'd be sharing everything he knew with her and they'd be closely coordinating their efforts.

Worf wasn't sure what to make of V'Ron right away. She was poised, reserved and all business in their meeting. She didn't seem upset about working with him, or if she was she didn't show it. After their meeting with the captain, Martok, Worf and V'Ron headed to the ward room to begin making plans for integrating the two fleets.

Not long after they got there, Martok was called away, leaving Worf and V'Ron alone. V'Ron had heard of Commander Worf, most Klingons who paid attention to politics had. He had opposed Gowron and the war and had exiled himself in the process. She knew she'd be working with him and hadn't expected much. Yet so far, after only a few hours with him she found that she was intrigued by him. He wasn't like other Klingons. He was focused, level headed and methodical as he spoke to her.

"Commander Worf," she began as they sat across from one another, "Tell me, how did you come to be here amongst humans and the Federation?"

Worf was taken aback by the question. A human might even be offended by her asking something so personal after only knowing one another a few hours. Worf reminded himself that she was not human and Klingons did not have the same level of discretion humans did.

"I was adopted by a Starfleet officer and his wife. They raised me and I joined Starfleet when I was old enough."

"I see. You have spent your life among humans then?"

His heart pounded. Here was where she was going to judge him an unfit Klingon for his lack of time spent with his own kind, "Yes, I have. That does not mean I know nothing of Klingon ways. I have devoted myself to the study of our culture and history."

V'Ron could hear that his tone changed, "I mean you no offense, you are just different than most Klingon men I have encountered." she paused and her eyes met his, "And that is not a bad thing."

That caught Worf off guard, "Oh, I, …"

She smiled, "You are very controlled and precise. I can see that you put a lot of time and thought into your duties. I think we will work well together."

"Yes, I... I agree."

If Worf was capable of blushing, he would have been doing it right at that moment.

A week passed since Martok's intelligence officer has come aboard and Worf had yet to stop talking about her. Every day Jadzia had to hear about what profound thing she'd said or what amazing revelation she had about something. Today's topic was how she brilliantly pieced together Jem'Hadar warp signatures to project their supply routes.

"So when do I get to meet V'Ron the Great?"

Worf ignored her sarcasm, "General Martok keeps her busy, but perhaps at the next staff briefing she will be there. I think the two of you would get along wonderfully."

"She sounds kind of dull," Dax said as she took a drink from her glass. They were having lunch together on the replimat.

"She is an excellent officer. She meditates daily to help maintain her focus and clarity."

In the distance Jadzia could see a tall figure taking graceful strides towards them "As humans would say, 'Speak of the devil.'"

Worf turned around and saw V'Ron approaching. Jadzia could swear that his eyes lit up.

"Commander," she greeted him evenly one she got to their table.

"V'Ron, how may I be of service?"

"Please excuse the interruption," she said, glancing at Jadzia, "but I have somewhat of a personal request."

Worf looked to Jadzia and then back to V'Ron. It was hard to read his par'mach'kai's expression, "What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I've grown weary of sparring with holograms and I hear that you are the most formidable partner on the station."

Worf couldn't argue with that.

"So if you would permit it, I'd like to join you the next time you are in the holosuite."

"Of course," Worf replied quickly.

V'Ron smiled, "I look forward to it."

Jadzia cleared her throat, reminding Worf that she was indeed still sitting there. He noticed, "V'Ron, I would like for you to meet Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax. She is the senior science officer here on the station."

V'Ron nodded respectfully, "It is an honor," she said.

Jadzia decided to reply in Klingon, "The honor is mine."

"Oh, so you speak Klingon? Is that your only language or are you simply using it for my benefit?"

The acerbic reply caught Jadzia off guard but it didn't take long for her to recover with a witty retort, "I just wanted to make you feel comfortable here on our station. Worf obviously has."

"Then I thank you," she turned to Worf, "And I will see you later."

V'Ron put an extra swing in her hips as she walked away. She knew enough about the dynamics of men and women to know what had just happened. Worf was involved with Jadzia and Dax felt threatened by her. V'Rhon smiled to herself, "Well, she should."

Worf had a feeling something was wrong, and watching V'Ron walk away probably wouldn't help. As soon as she was out of earshot Jadzia spoke, "What the hell was that about?"

"She asked me to spar with her. That is not an unusual request for a Klingon to make, especially seeing there aren't many of us on the station."

"She was totally hitting on you."

Worf frowned, "What?"

"Either you're naive or you liked it, but either way that woman has a thing for you."

"Why would a woman like that want someone like me?"

"And if she did?"

"You are being absurd."

"And what's with the 'science officer' introduction? Is that all I am?"

"I did not feel it was appropriate to bring up personal relationships at the moment."

"All I know is that if a man walked up to us and asked me out right in front of you and I gave you the brush off you just gave me, you'd be furious."

"She did not ask me out, nor did I did not brush you off."

"Alright," Jadzia decided to let it go for now, "You two have fun."

Worf thought about Jadzia's words as he headed to the holosuite the next evening. V'Ron was quickly becoming a good friend, but it was nothing more than that. A woman like that could have any warrior she wanted, why would she ever settle for someone like Worf? It was absurd, just like he'd told her. Worf had learned his lesson with Grilka, he wasn't the kind of man a Klingon woman wanted. V'Ron was virtually alone here on the station and Worf was an obvious companion, but that was all.

When Worf arrived, she was already there. Commander Data of the Enterprise was probably the only person he'd ever met that was more punctual than himself until now. V'Ron was engaged in mok'bara when he entered.

"Good evening," she said once she noticed him.

"Good evening. Would you like to proceed?"

It didn't take long for Worf to realize that V'Ron was in impeccable form. He wondered how someone who spent her time analyzing intelligence managed to keep her skills honed. She was as tall as he, maybe even a centimeter or two taller, and though her body was slender it was strong. Worf anticipated holding himself back, but he found that when she came at him he had to use all his strength.

They volleyed for about 45 minutes before taking a break. Worf tried to hide how out of breath he was as he rested. V'Ron on the other hand seemed fine.

"You have asked me much about myself," Worf began, "But have said little about who you are."

"Fair enough. I do not share this with many but I feel as if it would be safe to tell you. I have no house. I was born in disgrace when my mother mated with a married sub commander in the defense force. I have worked my whole life to make a name for myself amidst my shame, and have gotten to the point where my accomplishments have overshadowed my past. I think it's somewhat easier for a woman to make her way in the Empire without a name, I simply tell people I am not married and they don't ask much more than that"

"You carry yourself so confidently and gracefully. I would have never thought that you were anything but a great lady" Worf commented.

"I have noticed that you do the same thing. It's a skill you learn when you worry that everyone around you is judging you I suppose."

They were quiet for a moment. Worf now knew why she wasn't bothered by his disgrace, she shared in her own. He hadn't really noticed how beautiful she was until that moment when he could see how vulnerable she was as well. She was an outsider, like him, just looking for a way to fit in. She lounged on the floor of the holosuite, her long hair reached the floor behind her and sweat beaded on the dark skin of her forehead ridges. Her limbs were long and lean and her eyes were warm and inviting.

"You have an excellent command of the blade," Worf said to break the silence, "Where did you learn?"

"I fought a lot growing up, I had to to survive. You're not too bad yourself," she said with a smile.

"I practiced endlessly. I still do. I suppose that being a skilled warrior makes me feel less..." Worf let his voice trail off. She knew what he meant.

V'Ron decided to test the waters with Worf by broaching a more personal subject, "Commander Dax, she is more than just your colleague is she not?"

Worf felt his stomach clench and for some odd reason, he felt uneasy answering, "She is."

"You two are mated?"

"We are," he paused, "Well, she is my par'mach'kai but we have not taken the oath and are not married." Worf felt embarrassed to admit that.

That was just what V'Ron wanted to hear, "Other humanoids do not share the same views about relationships that we Klingons do."

Worf was silent.

"I apologize, if I am making you uncomfortable."

"No, there is no need."

V'Ron stood from where she had been seated on the ground, "I thank you for meeting with me and I hope to do it again soon."

"As do I," Worf replied sincerely.

She knew she'd done enough for tonight. Best to let him sit and stew in his thoughts than to push him too far. V'Ron had developed feelings for Worf, strong, undeniable feelings that she'd never had for any other man. She did her best to compose them so as not to scare him off; he probably wasn't used to the fire and passion that could burn within a Klingon woman. V'Ron had never met a man that she shared so many commonalities with. She usually felt defensive, but not with Worf. With Worf should could be herself and knew he would not think less of her for it.

There was just the matter of his alien girlfriend. Well, a few more meetings like this one and she'd find a way to make him forget the Trill. There were certain things only a Klingon woman could do for a Klingon man. V'Ron knew that if she wanted to get rid of Dax, she'd need to learn a little more about her. A warrior had to know their opponent in order to defeat them.