Chapter 6

Be'lana Tom and they're daughter had been waiting in the transporter room for half an hour. They had arrived aat the Klingon homeworld that day and had spent the last half hour waiting for clearence to beam down. Tom was getting very impatiant. C'mon already. Every second wasted here is more time for the Borg to carry out they're objectives. Be'lana was tense and paced around the room nervously. Tom rarely saw Be'lana like this. The only time she was nervous was when they were in serious trouble and she had to make split second decisions that could save they're lives, and thats exactly how she looked now. She was kind of red in the face, sweaty, and the look on her face suggested that everyone around her had better stay away. She felt like punching someone or something at the moment. Finally the captain spoke over the comm.

"Be'lana we just heard from your mother's half of your family and they said you can stay with them for the time of your stay."

"Is that supposed to be good news?"

"I'll ignore that...we have clearance to beam you down to the surface. I would just like to wish you luck on this trip.

"Thanks captain, I'm going to need it." She stopped pacing and went over to the transporter pad where Tom was putting down the bags of clothes and a few other things they had packed for the trip. They're daughter who was watching went over to stand next to Be'lana.

"Now your sure we have everything?"

"Don't worry about it Be'lana everything will be fine.Just hope your family doesn't decide to have any P'lath for dinner." She smiled for the first time since she decided to stay on the Klingon homeworld. P'lath was an extremely spicey dish served inside a pouch made of th'kot hide. It was normally served at a celebration. But she silently hoped there would be none while she was there.

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you to." He turned to look at his daughter. "Now you be good for mommy, ok?" She nodded and he kissed both of them on the forehead and then said "Energize" and they were gone.

When they rematerialized they found themselves surrounded by relatives Be'lana had never seen before. Since she had been raised in a colony where she and her mother were the only Klingons she never got to see any of her aunts or uncles (Who are pretty darn old) or her cousins.

Then one Klingon male stepped forward. He stopped right in front of Be'lana and withdrew a knife. He held it at waist level and waited.

She looked at the knife and then at him. Not knowing what else to do she grabbed the blade of the knife. The Klingon waited a little longer seeing that she didn't understand what to do next and yanked the knife back cutting her hand.

It took a couple seconds for the pain to register in her mind, and when it did she let out a yelp and clutched her hand tightly. Blood ran through her fingers and anger spewed forth. "What was THAT for?!" She demanded.

"We have welcomed you into the family."

"Wasn't I already part of the family?"

He looked at her as if she had turned into a Romulan and said "You are part of the family by blood yes. But when a family member has never visited his or her family ever, it is our custom to bring the person into the family by spilling the blood from they're hand as a symbol of renewal. You have been accepted."

There was a cheer from the other family members surrounding her and they placed a belt with a knife in it's scabord on her. Then they led her to the celebration at her aunt Chokan's house where they feasted on all sorts of foods and drinks. There was roasted Dik'ai a reptillian avian that was found inside caves and other dark places. They also had live Gorth. Gorth was an insect that ate "stuff" off of dead animals. There were lots of other dishes including...P'lath. Great. Be'lana stared at the unsavorydish and sighed. It was going to be a long visit.