"Children, due to the untimely leave of absence taken by Ms. Mckay at the end of the last cycle, I am going to be taking over as your physical education teacher for this cycle." Worf pronounced, while pacing back and forth in front of the row of students. This class contained 10 students- 2 10-year-olds, 3 11-year-olds, 4 12-year-olds (including Ana and Max), and one 13 year old- Worf's son Alexander. They were used to sitting on the bleachers before the activity started, but Worf made them stand at attention in a straight line.
"I found your Terran-based curriculum much too soft. You will find that my Klingon-inspired curriculum will be much more… beneficial to you. You will prove your strength of character and body in the last week in my specially designed Final."
He silently walks back down the row. "Don't give me that look!" He stares directly into Max's eyes.
"What look… Sir?"
"That look I used to see on your older brother's face. I know that look. You're looking for a way to defy me. But it won't work. Take 3 laps."
Max didn't move for a few seconds, not realizing he was serious.
"I said MOVE!"
And move he did.
"You can't pick on him!" Ana interjects.
"I will not have you undermine my authority."
"I just did."
"4 laps."
"3." Ana replied smugly.
"6!"
"4."
"8." Worf sneered. "Go." He pauses. "If anyone wishes to follow the example set out by our captain's children, speak." Worf proclaims. The crowd was silent.
"As I was saying." He began after both twins returned to the line. "This is a game played by Klingon children. The name roughly translates to Blood Ball. You will be in two teams. You will throw the ball at someone from the other team. The person hit will lie down and pretend to be dead. The person nearest the dead will avenge their team mate's death by crossing the line and attempting to tackle their comrade's killer. If the avenger succeeds, their opponent is dead. First team to run out of people looses. Klingon games have no concept of what you call 'fouls.'"
—
"This guy. Is. a. MANIAC!" Max snapped once they were out in the corridor.
"He's horrible! Doesn't he get it's just gym?" Ana replied.
"It's like he thinks he's bulking us up for war!"
"I know!"
They reached a fork in the corridor.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ana turned to Max.
"What?"
"That way goes home." She pointed left. "That way goes to sickbay." She smiled smugly.
Max paused for a few seconds, then grew a similar grin and nodded.
"Do you think he'd do it?" He asks.
"I never said anything about him." Ana replied. "He'd probably get all lame and tell us how we can't fake medical excuses to skip class."
"What will we say on the note?"
"Romulan Mono." Ana joked. "Naw but we'll think of something, we just have to get the notepad first."
"You distract him." Max said.
"No you distract him!" Ana snapped back.
"Rock paper scissors?"
"Rock paper scissors shoot."
"Scissors cuts paper." Max gloated. Ana made a face.
"Ok I have an idea." She said. "Wait around the corner for about 10 seconds, but if I don't get him looking away just hang back longer."
Max nods.
Ana took a moment to think of sad things to get past Alex's Betazoid senses. There were no tears, though, because she didn't want to go overboard and be less believable.
"Ana, are you ok?" Alex ran up to her as she entered Sickbay and wrapped her in his arms. She shakes her head.
"Can we talk in a back room?" She fake-whimpers.
"Of course, kiddo."
With a hand on her shoulder, they walked to an empty operating room around the corner.
"Can we shut the door?"
"Of course, whatever you need." Alex said, shutting the door. He invites her to sit next to him on the operating table.
"How do you know if someone likes you back?" She said, looking up at him.
"Well, do they treat you the way you want to be treated?"
Ana nodded.
"Well, love always has some risks, but you never know if you don't put yourself out there! Just be nice to them and hang out and go from there."
"What if you like two people at once?"
"Well… if everyone agrees to it you can have a three person relationship. That's a thing. Or if not, follow your heart for who you'd rather be with."
Ana nodded.
"But the important part is that you do what makes you feel happy and safe."
"Thanks, Alex!" She replied cheesily.
"Are you ok?" Alex asked, taken aback.
"Yeah, why?" She replied, breaking character.
He looked at her skeptically. "I'm sensing bullshit."
Ana took a breath.
"And now I'm sensing nervousness."
"Ok, fine, you caught me." She paused. "I just wanted to spend time with you because you work so hard."
"You see me at dinner." Alex replied guiltily.
"Yeah, but I've had so much homework lately I haven't been able to really hang out with you!"
"How much do you have tonight?"
"The usual."
"How about you get super focused on your homework after dinner and then we can play a game or something at 9 or so."
"Yeah!" Ana nodded.
"Sounds like a plan!" Alex smiled and kissed the top of her head.
—
"You got it?" Ana asked Max out in the corridor.
"Yeah, right here!" Instead of stealing the notepad, he stole two pieces of paper and already forged the notes.
"Excellent. You wouldn't believe how hard that was. He almost caught me, but I saved myself with the 'I just wanted to spend time with you' angle."
"Genius."
—
"Mr. Worf, we're excused from class, we have doctor's notes!" Max said the next afternoon.
"Let me see." He says skeptically. He took them, glanced at them, and ripped them in half and handed them back.
"That doesn't exist. And furthermore, you spelled it wrong, And furthermore, I don't see how you two would run into that problem if it did exist."
"What did you write?" Ana whispered to Max.
"What you said- Romulan Mono." He whispered back.
"Damnit Max that was a joke now we look like idiots!"
They noticed Worf's icy glare and that he had heard the entire conversation.
"Forging doctor's notes is highly illegal." He replied.
"Yes, Sir."
"Yes, Sir."
"Do I need to put you two in the brig?"
"No, Sir."
"No, Sir."
"Good. You two can do a special workout while your friends play."
—
The twins got home to see their parents, brother, and Worf all talking in the living room with annoyed and disapproving looks on their faces.
"Not so fast." Riker said looking over as his kids tried to sneak into their rooms unnoticed. "Sit. Both of you."
They sheepishly sat on the floor around the coffee table.
"Apologize. Now."
"Sorry Mr. Worf."
"Sorry Mr. Worf."
They said slightly out of synch, but with the same sheepish tone.
"Thank you."
"Apologize to your brother for lying to him and manipulating him."
"Sorry Alex."
"Sorry Alex."
Alex hated seeing his siblings like this. They had the same, giant, black, puppy dog eyes that he could never be mad at for that long.
"It's ok, guys." He knew he was supposed to say something along the lines of "thank you" or "apology accepted" but he couldn't bring himself to.