I thanked the barkeep before taking the bottle of amasec and book to a table. I poured a shot and began to read.
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
This is a tale from Holy Terra, why is Lukth interested in it? I was given to understand that until quite recently the Federation and Klingon Empire were enemies. I read on. Okay, feuding houses and fights. Now, this begins to make some sense. Although the titular Romeo seems a bit of an idiot, even for a blueblood. Okay, he meets Juliet, they dance and fall in love. Which is a bad thing because you know, feuding houses. So there's a lot of moping and declaiming how this is dreadful before they come up with the cunning plan. There is a lot of fighting and an appalling mix up, involving sleeping draughts and then almost everyone is dead. Woe, woe, woe. Seriously? All this could have been solved with a camo-cloak and an auspex.
"Interesting reading?" says Ms Deveruex.
I look up at someone who, back home would have been arrested, tortured and executed, not given their own academic posting to promote their depravity.
"It's very strange, it reads like a text for juves. A parable, that one should follow the rules and not get carried away over matters of lust.
Ms Deveruex looks at me for a few moments, no doubt processing my answer. "Romeo and Juliet is perhaps Humanity's greatest love story. It has been translated to almost every culture in the Alpha Quadrant, from Andor to Qu'nos. It speaks to the very heart about what it means to be human." she says.
"Really, all that? Why didn't either of those stupid kids use an auspex? It's all too convenient." I say.
"The play is from the sixteenth century. Your auspex, or indeed any electronic device had yet to be invented." says Ms Devereux.
"Then this Romeo, could have least checked Juliet's pulse." I say, pointing out some basic medicae fieldcraft.
"Not practical. Romeo is young and untrained, the drug mimics death well and he really did so love Juliet that he was overwhelmed by grief," said Devereux.
"Okay, wait. It still sounds like a cautionary tale." I said with a shrug.
"Romeo and Juliet as nothing more than a cautionary tale? Well, best not let your paramour hear that. The Klingons take their appreciation of The Bard very seriously," she said.
"They do?" I said. Well, it explained the bartender handing me the book.
"Yes, there are several competing theories as to why. Most favoured is that Klingon society underwent some crisis that purged their culture of such tales and they have latched onto their neighbours..." began Devereux as she launched into a baroque description of this mad universe's culture. Like any member of the. Federation she could have easily continued forever if a more interesting topic did not distract them.
"Deathbringer!" interrupted Lukth as she entered the bar.
Like their speciality subject. Devereux paused and then discretely withdrew, the better to observe her subject I guess.
Meanwhile Lukth had approached and smiled as she spied the book. "Is it your favourite too then? Tell me, what is the best part?"
My mind raced. The fights were out, as was the highly contrived mutual suicide. The silly scheming? No, Lukth was a spy, she doubtless loved all that camoline and vibroblade stuff.
"Juliet on the balcony," I said after deciding on what was a rather dull monologue and the heroine suffering a bout of brief common sense.
I was rewarded by the machine spirit in peril noise that I had learned was a sign of arousal in Klingon women. That and a surprised gasp and hurried notation that was the equivalent for Federation females from Devereux.
"Yes, that is mine as well Deathbringer. To know the anguish of having your hearts' desire within your grasp and yet be restrained by duty and honour. I know the feeling all to well," Lukth said.
She would have continued were I not summoned to even more deadly peril.
"Tactical Officer Lukth and Mr Ciaphas Cain to the Transport Room," came the announcement through the ship's vox unit.
"There's that duty now," I said.