Chapter 6

"You will be back in time for the wedding?"

"Of course, Father. We will only be away for a few days."

Worf stood in the doorway of his son's room with his arms folded and eyes narrowed. He'd been back from his mission with the Argosians on the Enterprise just a few days. Alexander was filling a bag with his things so that he could spend the weekend exploring the caves of No'Mat with a young lady that he had been seeing. It was hard for Worf to believe that his son was becoming a young man.

"And what of your work at the consulate?"

"Father, seriously? Have I ever left any work undone?"

No, he hadn't and Worf knew that. He'd meant what he said to his friends back on the Enterprise, Alexander was better at this than even he was.

"Alexander, I know that you and I have never really discussed the dynamics of a relationship between a man and a woman. It is important that you behave in a way that is respectful and maintains both of your honor."

Alexander groaned, "Oh no, Father, we are not having the talk. I know where babies come from."

"I was not much older than you when your mother and I first-"

Alexander put up his hands, "Please Father, I can't take a play-by-play about you and Mother. Hearing you and Anderel at night is more than enough."

Worf could feel his face flush, "You can hear us?"

"I'll be good, I swear. And if I'm not then I'll do the honorable thing and marry her," he said with a smirk.

Worf sighed and shook his head, "I am trying to be serious. Sometimes you are just like your mother..."

Alexander placed a hand on Worf's shoulder, "I hear you, I really do."

Worf marveled at how his son was tall enough to look him right in the eyes, "There is something else that I wish to speak to you about."

Alexander could hear the gravity in his father's voice. His eyes narrowed in concern, "Is something wrong?"

"A long time ago you asked me about my brother Kurn and I told you that I had lost contact with him."

"I remember…"

"I have found him. The details are for another day, but I would like to reconnect with him."

"Why do you sound like that's not a good thing? Is he angry with you?" Alexander asked as he went back to his packing.

"He might be. I do not know how he will react. He has moved on with his life and started a family of his own."

"So he wouldn't join Martok's house like you and I did?"

"I... I do not know."

Just then, Alexander realized that his father was trying to get his advice but had no idea how to just come out and ask for it.

"You know, it doesn't matter what house he belongs to for him to be your brother. I would just be happy to see him again and I think it would be good for you to have him around as well. Someone that connects you to who you were before all this," Alexander replied, motioning to the house they were standing in but referring to the way their lives had changed in the last few years.

"I have had a lot of good fortune since I met Martok," Worf replied.

"Of course, Martok is great. But Kurn is your brother," the young man said as he slung his pack over his shoulder.

"Yes, he is."

"I think it would be nice to have a brother. Then again, by the sound of things I probably won't have to wait much longer."

Worf ignored that last comment. He really was getting more like his mother every day, "Thank you, son."

"Anytime."

Ktana placed a weary hand on her belly, now large with the child that was nearly due. She could see her husband standing at the window and staring out pensively. He'd been doing that a lot lately and it was not like him. Ktana loved Drex, but he wasn't exactly known for being a man who spent time deep in thought.

"Par'machkai," she said quietly as she stood next to him, "What is wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Please, I know you have been agonizing over something. Let me help you."

There was a long pause before he finally spoke, "I have some information and I am not sure what to do with it," Drex admitted.

"Can you tell me what it is?"

"I have found a person from Worf's past that he has worked hard to keep there. I could take this information to Father and show him who Worf really is. Or if I wanted, I could find a way to manipulate the situation to my advantage, perhaps by turning this person against Worf completely."

"And you are trying to decide which one of these paths to take?" she asked.

"I would love to see Worf fall from that pedestal Father puts him on," Drex paused, "But if I take this to Father, there is a chance he already knows or simply won't care. Then I will look like a fool. And then there is Anderel," Drex sighed, "I cannot help but think that no matter what I do, it will end up hurting her as well. She drives me crazy but she is my sister and I cannot bring myself to cause her harm. So here I am, sitting on something that could change my life, but without the courage to do what needs to be done."

"Drex," Ktana began, "This is not what needs to be done."

He gave her a puzzled look, "All you ever talk about is being a Great Lady like my mother. Worf is standing in the way of that."

She placed a gentle hand on his folded arms, "Then it is not ours to have. I do want to be a Great Lady. But to come to it in this way… there is no honor in it. I want us to be better than that. I want our children to be better than that."

Drex was getting upset now, "I cannot sit back and let Worf take what is mine!"

"Then challenge him openly and honorably."

He shrugged her off and walked away, "Now you mock me. You know what happened the last time I tried to challenge Worf," and when they first met on DS9 for that matter, but Ktana didn't know about that time.

Ktana sat and looked up at her husband, "Then it is not ours to have," she repeated, firmly this time.

"There are more weapons that a man can wield than a sword or a fist. Knowledge and information can be weapons a well."

"So use them openly, not in schemes behind Worf's back. He would not do that to you."

Now Drex was definitely angry, "Are you on his side too? I suppose you're going to go on about how he's stronger and more honorable than me the way Father does!"

Ktana said nothing. She knew not to engage him when he got like this.

Drex was seeing red, but he did not want to mistakenly direct it at his wife. He loved Ktana, she and the child she was carrying were the only true things in his life. Drex hadn't even wanted to lead Martok's house until he saw Worf sitting there at that banquet, smugly relishing in everything that should have been his.

"I need a drink."

Drex left the room, his boots stomping hard across the floor as he did.

Worf's bat'leth came crashing down on Martok's. The two had been sparring for the past hour, and the Chancellor was barely keeping up. Worf hated holding back but he found that he had to to keep from injuring him.

Finally, after being bested, Martok tossed his weapon aside angrily, "This damned job is making me soft! I need to be on the bridge of a ship with a battle before me. Who can I start a war with so I can get back into shape?"

"There's always the Romulans."

Martok laughed, "How are you staying in fighting form?"

"I come here as often as I can. Diplomacy doesn't exactly keep my skills sharp either."

The Chancellor grunted, "I need to start doing the same."

Worf had invited Martok to the sparring range for a reason, more than just to get some exercise. He took a breath, "Chancellor, there is something I need to ask of you."

Martok took a swig from his bottle, "It must be big if you are using my title."

"In all these years I have never asked you for anything…"

Martok sat as he tried to catch his breath, "Actually, I think you have. But I'm listening."

Worf kept going before he lost his nerve, "I would like you to restore to me the lands that once belonged to the House of Mogh."

"What?" That was the last thing he expected to hear.

"My family owned ships, sizable land holdings and had a seat on the High Council that Gowron took from us. I am asking for it back."

"You did openly oppose Gowron, the Chancellor at the time, you know."

"And I was right to do so. The only reason he wanted to go to war with the Federation was because the Changeling that was impersonating you convinced him to do so."

"What do you need with more land? You've got quite the set up there in Ketha."

"It is not for me," Worf let out a shaky breath, "It is for my brother."

"Ah, I see. Is this the brother I'm not supposed to know about?"

Worf was confused "Sir?"

"Anderel came to me furious that you'd kept this from her. For someone who loves his secrets, this has got to be your worst kept one, Worf. It's hard to make a member of the High Council just disappear without someone noticing. So this brother of yours is wanting his lands and titles back?"

"No, he has asked for nothing. I did try to hide him as a way to protect him. He has suffered because of my decisions and I would like to make things right."

"I would think that Gowron gave those lands to someone else?"

"Yes. E'dar, son of Rogan. He is a junior member of the High Council and a Gowron loyalist who initially opposed you when you came to power."

"And you want me to kick him out?

Worf let his silence be his answer.

Martok sighed and slowly rose to his feet, "The lands, but not the council seat."

"Of course, Sir."

The Chancellor gave a wry laugh, "Worf, it is a good thing my daughter loves you so much."

Worf smirked, "Let us not pretend it's just Anderel."

That brought out one of Martok's trademark belly laughs, "There is that sense of humor of yours!"

This place was unlike any Rodek had ever seen before. He got a short and somewhat cryptic message saying that Ambassador Worf wanted to finally meet him. He was to come to this place, and to come alone. The Ambassador had arranged transport and was going to pay him for the day's missed wages. Rodek was apprehensive, but he owed so much to this man that there was no way he could refuse.

He transported to the front entrance of the largest home he'd ever seen. One of the massive double doors was ajar and Rodek pushed it open. Before him was a cavernous hallway, walls bare and without furnishings. The sound of his boots echoed with each step that he took.

"Hello?" he called into the emptiness. Maybe he was in the wrong place. Who would leave a home like this abandoned? Instinctively, he reached for the d'k tagh at his hip.

Footsteps were coming toward him. Rodek gripped his weapon tighter but did not brandish it. The man before him was staring at him. He said nothing for a long while, just stared as if he were searching his face for something. Finally he spoke, "Rodek," the voice was calm and the tone even, "Thank you for coming."

"Where am I?"

"Please, follow me. There is much to explain."

Rodek followed him through another series of corridors. Finally, they came to a terrace that overlooked an expansive area of land. Rodek could see smaller homes in the distance, trees, rolling hills and fields. It was nothing like the crowded slum he lived in now.

The man gave him a moment to take in the sight before speaking, "My name is Worf, son of Mogh."

"Ambassador," Rodek, immediately bowed his head respectfully, "I do not know how to begin to thank-"

"No," Worf stopped him, "Do not thank me."

Rodek paused, now he was the one staring. "Forgive me, I do not know if you remember but we have met before," he said to the Ambassador.

Worf nodded, "We have."

Rodek continued, "It was when I was found on Deep Space Nine. You were there. My father came to get me and you were there."

Worf let out a pained breath. This was the first time that he had seen his brother since that day on DS9 and it was overwhelming. The ridges were different, but the voice, the eyes, it was unmistakable, "I was there. I was an officer on the station at that time."

"Please tell me Ambassador, why have you done so much for me and my family? Why take an interest in me? And why bring me here?"

"As I said, there is much to explain. Please sit," Worf motioned to a pair of chairs, the only signs that anyone occupied this massive place. Between the chairs was a small table with two metal cups, a bottle of wine and a data padd. Rodek sat first, pensively perching himself on the edge of the seat. Worf sat back, trying his best to exude some level of calm even though his heart was pounding.

"The best way to make sense of all this is to start by telling you about myself. I was born on the Homeworld, the eldest son of Mogh, a noble of high birth who held a position of honor and distinction in the Empire. My father's work periodically took him to the Khitomer outpost. On one of those trips the Romulans attacked the outpost killing everyone, except for me. I was rescued and then raised by Humans."

"The Khitomer massacre, I have heard of this. You were the sole survivor?"

"Yes."

"Wait, you said eldest son…?"

The corners of Worf's mouth turned upwards slightly, "My infant brother did not accompany us on that trip and therefore was spared. He was raised on the Homeworld by a family friend and years later he found me. Our father was being accused of treason and we stood together to defend his name. Ultimately we were defeated by Duras, son of the actual traitor. I killed Duras in single combat and my brother and I fought alongside Gowron as he took control of the Empire. He restored our House to its former glory, granted my brother a seat on the High Council and rewarded our loyalty with lands, ships and wealth."

Rodek listened, he'd learned bits and pieces of this part of recent Klingon politics but was always eager to hear anything that could help him fill the gaps in his memories.

Worf took a breath and continued, "Things were good for our family for several years. However, when Gowron went to war with the Federation, I could not stand with him. As punishment, he stripped away all that had been given to us. I was still in Starfleet but my brother, who lived on the Homeworld, lost everything. In his despair, he asked me for mok'tovah."

"That must have been a difficult thing to do," Rodek said.

Worf nodded, "It was. So instead of ending his life, I gave him a new one."

They were silent but Worf's words hung heavily in the air. All of a sudden, Rodek began to feel very uneasy. Why was the Ambassador telling him all this? He leaned forward, poured a generous amount of wine and helped himself to a drink.

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked directly.

There was no easy way to do this, "Rodek, this is going to be hard to hear, but I need you to hear me nonetheless. You were never in a shuttle accident and you did not lose your memories," one last pause for courage, "They were taken from you. By me."

"What?"

"You were born Kurn, the second son of Mogh. Your parents died when the Romulans attacked the Khitomer outpost when you were only a baby. I am your elder brother."

Rodek could feel one of his headaches coming on, "My father's name was Noggra. I was in a shuttle accident five years ago-"

"You came to me five years ago, begging me to end your life. I gave you a new start, with a new face, a new name and a new family."

"No!" Rodek stood angrily, knocking the table over and sending the blood wine everywhere, "Noggra was my father, he helped me recover from the accident and taught me all I know. I was his only son and he was everything to me."

"Noggra worked with our father Mogh before either of us was even born. His wife died young and without bearing any children. He was honored to take you in as his own."

Rodek was pacing back and forth, fists and teeth clenched, "Why bring me here, why spin this elaborate tale? What do you gain from all this?"

"My only intention is to make right what was done years ago." Worf replied.

"Have you told any of this to Nebara?"

"No, your wife knows none of this."

"Then you will not speak to her again. She is never to hear a word of your lies! Perhaps this is the kind of game you nobles enjoy playing with commoners like me but I will have no part of it."

Worf did his best to remain calm, even though with the way Rodek was reacting there was a good chance this could come to blows. He picked up the padd that had been tossed to the floor, tapped a couple buttons and handed it to Rodek, "This is no game. I am giving you back your life. This house, this land, it is all yours. This is you."

Rodek looked at the face on the screen. It was his face. The ridges were different but the face, the eyes, they were his. He shook his head and hurled the padd to the floor, this time breaking it, "You are of the House of Martok, the Chancellor's House. His son came to us not long ago asking questions that made no sense. And now this? I am supposed to believe that I'm your brother and you want to just give me all this? I may be a simple man but I am no fool. I don't know what you people are up to but my family will have no part in it," Rodek stepped closer to Worf, finally pulling out that knife that he'd kept ready. Rodek was taller than Worf, and his days of laboring at the shipyard probably meant he was stronger as well. "You are not to ever see or even speak to my wife and children again. We want nothing from you."

Worf held his ground but did not move into a defensive stance. He came here to give his brother his life back, not to fight him, "I know this is a lot to accept, but I give you my word on my Honor, everything I have said to you is true. You once lived in this very house and you governed these lands firmly and fairly. I did what I did to protect you, Kurn. Now I want to restore what is rightfully yours."

Rodek shook his head, his face showing both anger and fear as he took several steps back, "No. For the last time, I don't know what this is all about, nor do I want to." Without another word, Rodek turned and took long fast strides toward the exit.

"Kurn!"

Rodek stopped at the sound of Worf's booming voice but did not turn around.

"Before you go, I want to thank you."

Silence, but he was listening.

"We were raised apart but years ago, but you found me. You challenged who I was, the life I was living. You pushed me, and you reminded me of my duty as a Son of Mogh. I never thanked you for what that meant to me, Kurn."

Silence again, but then finally, "My name," he began, "Is Rodek."

Anderel had been on edge all morning. Worf left early that day, barely able to contain himself as he told her about his plans for his brother. It seemed like an ambitious prospect to her, but Worf was confident. She imagined that if all went well, he might not be home for a while. Or when he did come home, he might have his brother with him.

Anderel could hear the door to the home they shared open and then close. Heavy footsteps followed- one set of footsteps. Wordlessly, she could hear the footsteps ascend the stairs. Anderel went to the bottom of the stairs and looked up. She was about to call after him when she heard the door to their bed chamber open and then close.

She sighed. It had not gone well.

"Worf…"

He was standing in front of the window, arms folded tightly, staring intently at the open space that surrounded their home, "He refused, would not even accept the possibility that he could be my brother."

"I am sorry."

"I should have known this would happen."

"Finding out that everything you know is untrue is a lot to take in. Give him some time," Anderel said quietly.

There was something more in his mind, and he knew now was as good a time as any to come out with it, "I have decided that I cannot accept your father's offer to lead this House."

To Anderel, that seemed to come out of nowhere, "Wait… what?"

"If I cannot even get my own family in order, how can I ever lead his?"

Anderel was quiet for a moment, trying to figure out how to proceed, "When did you decide this?"

Worf turned to face her "I have been thinking about it since we returned from the Enterprise. After today, it became clear."

Anderel sighed, "Let's get out of here."

Now it was Worf's turn to be confused, "What?"

She crossed the room and playfully wrapped her arms around his waist, "Let's get in a shuttle and just go. We can head to one of the colonies, get married there and leave all this madness behind us."

Worf returned the embrace, "As tempting as that sounds right now, you know that we cannot. We have responsibilities here. Your mother-"

"She'll be fine."

Worf touched her face gently, "No, I have to face this. All of this."

Anderel knew that he was right, "Is there anything that I can do?"

"I got myself into this and I have to get myself out."