CHAPTER 5

By the third official's speech, Hoshi was aware of a fundamental difference between the governments of Estab and Lanari. The government of Estab was working for the betterment of its people. On Lanari, the government sought to take advantage of its people whenever it could.

She'd had minimal contact with the Estabi government when she'd set up her clinics in the last year. Every time she had had to work with the government, however, the persons involved, from lowly clerk up to head of the Estabi health ministry, had been unfailingly cordial and helpful. All had been working toward the goal of a better life for everyone on the planet.

On the other hand, the Lanari government, no matter how much its officials tried to downplay it, had a different motive for wanting her help in establishing health clinics. It was a public relations gambit to offset its ineffectual, often cruel, policies.

As if that would blot out all the miseries in the Lanari people's lives, she thought, remembering the ride from the airfield a few hours earlier. The signs of poverty were easy to see -- poor housing, ill-kept properties, boarded up storefronts, groups of idle people gathered on street corners who watched through hooded eyes as her escorted vehicle swept toward the city's business district.

Even more indicative of the planetary situation had been the protesters outside the government hall where these endless speeches were going on. About thirty Lanari dressed in little more than rags had been standing off to the side of the stairs leading into the hall. Many of them had been holding placards that demanded government reform. The two Lanari aides who had met her at the airfield had hurried her past the silent, sullen protesters.

She sighed. She had been stuck in this excuse of a consultation for two hours now, and she hadn't been consulted yet. Her gaze traveled down the row of dignitaries seated at the long table, and estimated the meeting would take another two hours if all of them were to speak.

As the current speaker finished and was moving to sit down, Hoshi hastily stood up before another official could go to the podium at the head of the table. All heads swiveled in her direction.

"I find this very interesting," she said, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. "What would be most helpful, however, is on-site inspection of what facilities are currently available for health care for your people. I can make a better determination of what you need after that."

There were some murmurings from around the table, and D'rima, the health minister, stood up to face her. "Of course. That is on the agenda for tomorrow," he said amicably. "In the meantime, we have prepared information--"

"There's no need to present it in this manner," she cut in. To soothe the ruffled feelings she could see her words had provoked, she added, "I do appreciate the effort you have put in to your presentations. But a simple download that I can review would suffice."

There was a long pause before D'rima dipped his head in acquiescence, but not before she could see the disapproval in his eyes. "If you think that is best, that is what we will do." An insincere smile crossed his puckered face. "Already you have improved our method of doing things."

Hoshi wondered if he thought she was a fool. If she'd known this undertaking was going to be so tedious, with the officials trying to make themselves look good, she would have postponed her visit. All she wanted right now was to get her work done and go home to Malcolm.

D'rima snapped his fingers, and the assembled officials rose and begin filing out of the room. D'rima came to stand by her, his obsequious manner irritating her as he bowed slightly.

"Come. We have arranged suitable visitor quarters for someone of your stature," he said, and Hoshi bit her cheek to keep from laughing. She knew he was referring to her work with the medical clinics on Estab, but his statement also could be taken as an insult. She was at least thirty centimeters shorter than the average Lanari. Maybe she would be shown to small quarters, she thought with an inward grin.

She and D'rima were joined by the same two aides who had brought her from the airfield. As they walked out into the corridor, the health minister began going over the itinerary for the next day. Hoshi listened with only half an ear, glancing at the artwork on the walls. The paintings were bright and cheerful, in direct contrast to the conditions outside the government building.

Better health care could be a step in the right direction for the government as well as the people, she knew. Perhaps in time, it could lead to reform in other areas.

She sighed heavily as they exited the building, seeing the protestors still in place by the steps. Her eye was caught by a woman holding a small baby, obviously malnourished, its stomach distended, and Hoshi felt a pang of sorrow. If circumstances were different, Hoshi knew, it could easily be her standing there with a baby in dire need of help. She felt a renewed determination to help these people despite their government's less than above-board reasons for doing so.

Hoshi hurried to catch up with D'rima and the two aides. When she had paused to stare at the woman and child, they had gotten a few steps ahead of her in their haste to get by the protestors.

Hoshi turned for one last look before getting into the vehicle waiting at the curb. She saw the woman watching her, and felt a chill run down her spine.

"No, the connector needs to be put here," Trip said, gesturing toward a junction near the top bulkhead.

Slanea glared at him from under the starboard-side phase cannon. "No, it should be down here, closer to the power source," she said, pointing with a spanner toward an open panel.

As Trip tried to stare her down, he watched her expression change from its usual haughty superiority to something resembling uncertainty. She lowered the spanner and looked away, and he heard her mutter something.

"Come again?" he asked.

She looked back at him questioningly, tilting her head as her brow furrowed in confusion at his words.

"That means I didn't hear or understand ya," he said, trying to keep a straight face.

She looked at a point over his shoulder, refusing to meet his eyes. "I said, 'Maybe you are right this time.'"

"Come again?" Trip asked in amazement.

When her eyes squinted and he saw her open her mouth to speak, he cut in. "The first time, I didn't hear ya. This time, I just can't believe what ya said."

"Why is it hard to believe?" she asked, staring at him.

Did they need to work on the environmental controls, too, Trip wondered, tugging at the neck of his jumpsuit. It was getting awfully warm in the cramped area surrounding the cannon. He ran a hand over his forehead, wiping away the sweat that was beading up. He used the movement as a stalling tactic as he tried to tactfully phrase what he wanted to say.

"Well," he started, looking anywhere but at Slanea, who was sitting back on her haunches, hunkered down under the phase cannon assembly and watching him intently. "You have to admit, we mix about as well as oil and water."

He risked a glance at her and saw her puzzling over the idiom for a moment until comprehension dawned. Her eyebrows rose and she began to nod.

"Yes," she said. "That is an appropriate description of our working relationship. You have a very...colorful...way of speaking your language."

He gave her a grin, which she returned. For a Klingon, she had a nice smile, but he immediately shoved away that thought. The last thing he needed was a physical relationship with a female warrior who could probably rip him apart with her bare pinkie.

Now might be a good time, though, to press his advantage -- as far as working with her, that was.

"Um, Slanea? Could we agree to try to be a little more civil to each other when we work together?" he asked.

In true Klingon fashion, her response was blunt and to the point. "You do not like to argue?"

"No, I do not like to argue."

Looking at him, she nodded after a moment. "If that is your order, then I will follow it, since you are my superior officer."

"No, no!" he said hastily. "I don't want you to be civil because it's an order. You're missin' the point here. ... See, I find it more productive not to be argumentative, not to mention it's easier on my mental well-being."

"So you are asking me...civilly...to refrain from arguing with you?"

Trip grinned. "Now you're gettin' the idea."

She began closing up the access panel. "If it keeps your mental state from deteriorating, I will agree," she said.

Trip shook his head. He doubted he would ever understand Klingons. At least she'd agreed to put the connector at the spot he believed was best. It was a start.

Malcolm closed the communicator and looked at Kleth where he was hunched under the port-side phase cannon.

"They're putting the connector in the junction in the overhead bulkhead," Malcolm said.

Kleth moved out from under the cannon and handed him a spanner. "In Klingon ships, such assemblies would be connected down here," he said.

Malcolm grinned as he took the spanner. "I'm sure Slanea told him that," he said. "That's probably why it took so long for them to let us know where to put it."

"Tell me, Ma'Com," the big Klingon said. "How is it that you have a Klingon female as a member of your crew?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask," Malcolm said, grunting as he loosened the connection plate. "She was at the merchant marine employment office at Estab when I went to check their listings. Found several crewmembers that way."

Kleth mulled over the information before remarking, "It is strange that she would be so far from Klingon space. Did she say why?"

"No, and I didn't ask," Malcolm said. "All that mattered was that she had no criminal record. She also has the required certification for operation of a warp engine."

Kleth rumbled softly to himself.

"Excuse me?" Malcolm asked as he tightened the connector in place.

"You need to leave?"

"No, no!" Malcolm said hastily. "'Excuse me' is a polite expression to indicate I didn't hear you or didn't understand what you said. I was wondering what you were muttering about."

"Ah," Kleth said. "I was muttering about Slanea. She has a lot of fire, that one."

"Don't all Klingons?" asked Malcolm with a smile.

"Excuse me?" Kleth asked, his deep voice even lower than usual, causing Malcolm to laugh.

Malcolm looked down at his Klingon partner. "You have to admit, Slanea is attractive...for a Klingon."

"You have your own mate," Kleth said. "Keep your eyes off your chief engineer-to-be."

"Do I detect some interest on your part?"

Malcolm could hardly believe it -- Kleth sighed. He didn't know Klingons did that. He was even more surprised at Kleth's next words.

"It has been a long time since I have seen a woman with such a powerful spirit, and she interests me," Kleth said. "First, my duty to our mistress to seek and kill the p'taq who killed Ma'Hew, and then the glorious fight..." A smile crossed Kleth's face as he became lost in memories of that time, but it was soon replaced by a frown. "Now, I am in 'business' again. I find I have time to think about other aspects of my life which are lacking."

"And you're lacking a mate?" Malcolm asked as he stepped down off the short ladder he had used to get to the overhead bulkhead.

"As you humans say, I am not getting any younger," Kleth said. "I find I desire to start my own house."

"And you are considering my engineer?"

"Yes," Kleth said honestly. "She has the fire, and she is strong. Not many could knock me down the way she did. But first I must win her."

All sorts of images flashed through Malcolm's head at his last remark. He had no idea how Klingons went about courting. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, in any case.

"Just so long as winning her doesn't involve damage to the Morning Star," Malcolm said with a grin.