I own nothing. Star Trek is copyright to CBS and the Roddenberry Estate etc.
The shuttlecraft Curie flew steadily through space, en-route back to the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D. The shuttle had just occupant; Lt. Worf, who was currently shining his prized Bat'leth with a cloth. Once he was satisfied with the blade's sheen, he set the sword down and moved to the pilot's console to record a log entry. "Personal log, stardate 47391.2. I am returning from the Bat'leth competition on Forcas III. The conditions were difficult... several contenders were maimed. But I was triumphant..." He picked up a large, impressive-looking Klingon trophy from beside him. "I won 'Champion Standing'." He set the trophy down again and his tone became serious. "I look forward to resuming my duties aboard the Enterprise. However, I am anticipating a... troubling situation."
~8~
Worf had soon rendezvoused with the Enterprise and was walking to his quarters with Commander Riker. "It looks like we're going to have to head out to the Argus Array." Riker was saying. "This is the third time this year it's stopped relaying data. Starfleet's beginning to think it's more than a simple malfunction. I want you to start a long range scan once we get..." He then noticed that Worf kept looking around, as if he was preoccupied with something. "Lieutenant? Are you listening to me?"
Worf snapped out of his daze. "Hmm? Yes, sir."
"You seem awfully tense for a man who just came back from vacation." Riker remarked as they reached the door to Worf's quarters.
"Today is my... birthday." Worf said awkwardly.
Riker nodded his understanding and pressed the button to open the doors. Worf cautiously entered the room and looked around, ready for anything. To his relief, no one else was there. Riker looked at him oddly. "What's the matter with you?" he asked, bemused.
"Because it is my birthday I assumed that you or one of the others would try to mount an unexpected... social gathering." Worf explained awkwardly.
"A surprise party?" Riker raised a brow. "Mr Worf, I hate surprise parties. I would never do that to you."
"I am sorry, Commander."
"Settle in. I'll meet you on the Bridge." Riker said.
"Aye, sir." Worf acknowledged, and Riker left the room. Now alone, Worf seemed to relax. He set his Bat'leth down and proudly placed his trophy on the table, before heading for the bedroom. He was halfway there when...
"Surprise!" a chorus of voices called out, and Worf could only grimace as Counsellor Troi, Dr Crusher, Lt. Cmdr. La Forge, Lt. Cmdr. Data and several other crew members all burst out of the bedroom. Some were holding birthday presents, while others had party decorations and noise-makers. They all crowded around the very annoyed Klingon, shaking his hand, offering him birthday wishes and patting him on the back, while Troi and Crusher each kissed him on the cheek. Riker returned in the middle of all this. "I love surprise parties." he said cheerfully. Worf could only roll his eyes in annoyance. He could never understand why Humans were so obsessed with holding obnoxious social gatherings.
A few minutes later, Dr Crusher had brought out a large chocolate cake with many lit candles on top. The entourage all broke out into a rendition of 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' in Klingon, while Worf stood there awkwardly, finding it worse than torture.
"Cha Worf Toh'gah nah lo Pre'tOk. Cha Worf Toh'gah nah lo Pre'tOk. Cha Worf Toh'gah nah lo Pre'tOk. Tu Mak Dagh Cha doh Borak!"
As the singing finished, Crusher held the cake out to Worf, who quickly blew out the candles. Everyone applauded, while Worf could barely conceal his disgust. "That was not a Klingon song." he grumbled.
"It wasn't easy to translate." Troi replied lightly. "There doesn't seem to be a Klingon word for 'jolly'."
Dr Crusher held a knife out to Worf. "It's traditional for the birthday boy to cut the cake."
Worf took the knife and eyed it for a moment as other uses for it crossed his mind, then he cut the cake with two quick whacks. The party then proceeded merrily, with Crusher moving off to cut the rest of the cake and other people helping themselves to drinks, all completely oblivious to Worf's discomfort. Riker clapped a friendly hand on the Klingon's shoulder. "Captain Picard sends his birthday wishes. He was needed on the bridge."
He then moved off to get some cake, while Data walked over with a large wrapped gift, which he held out to Worf. "Happy birthday, Worf."
"Thank you." Worf said begrudgingly, taking the present. He removed the wrapping paper to find a large painting; a great deal of conflicting colours and shapes. Worf found it difficult to tell which side was up and which was down. "A painting." he said, less than impressed.
"Yes. I have entered my Expressionistic phase." Data said. "This is my interpretation of the Battle of HarOS."
"The Battle of HarOS?" Worf frowned, examining the painting, hunting for any recognisable images.
"I think it's wonderful." Troi said, taking the painting. "And I know just where to put it." She joined Riker by the door.
"What are you doing?!" Worf stared as Riker removed a prized brass shield from the wall.
"I always thought this room could use a little more colour." Troi said as she hung the painting up in the spot where the shield had been.
Just then, La Forge came over to admire the painting. "Nice. The Battle of HarOS, right?"
Suddenly, Worf felt a mild wave of dizziness sweep over him.
"Worf, are you alright?" La Forge asked him as he helped to steady him.
"Yes." Worf mumbled as he shook himself back to his senses. "Yes. I think Data's painting is making me dizzy."
Just then, Dr Crusher came over with two slices of cake. "Some cake?" she asked, offering them out.
"Thank you, Doctor." La Forge acknowledged as he and Worf took the slices.
Worf looked at his slice and suddenly noticed that it was chocolate-covered sponge cake instead of the chocolate cake it had been just a few moments ago. "I thought the cake was chocolate." he frowned.
"Don't I wish?" Troi said good-naturedly as she returned with a small present. "This is from Alexander. He gave it to me just before he left to visit your parents."
Worf took the present and opened it to find a round piece of clay with the imprint of Alexander's forehead ridges in it. "What is it?" La Forge asked, noticing that Worf seemed happier with this than he had with the painting.
"It is a cast of Alexander's forehead." Worf replied proudly. "The ridges of a warrior."
"He wished he could've been here when you got back from shore leave." Troi told him. "You should've seen him, Worf. He stayed up all night talking about how proud he was of his father."
"Thank you for watching him while I was away." Worf said gratefully.
"Oh, it was my pleasure." Troi reciprocated, and went off to help herself to some cake.
Worf watched her go with a thoughtful expression, considering something. He was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by a familiar voice from behind him, "So... how old are you, Mr Worf?"
Worf turned round and was surprised to see Captain Picard standing there. "Captain, I was told you could not attend."
"I wouldn't miss this for the world." Picard replied, happily tucking into a slice of cake. "How old are you?"
Worf hesitated, uncomfortable at revealing his age. "I am... old enough."
Everyone laughed and the party continued.
~8~
The Enterprise had soon arrived at the Argus Array; a huge subspace radio telescope. Picard, Riker, Data and Worf were now all on duty on the bridge. "Report." Picard ordered.
Data checked his console. "The Array appears to be functioning normally, sir." he read out.
"That can't be right." Riker frowned. "We were told the Array stopped relaying data six days ago."
"The Array is still transmitting data, sir, but it is no longer sending that information to the Federation." Data replied, then checked his console again. "It appears that someone has redirected it's imaging systems."
"Where is the information being sent now?" Picard asked.
"Sector 1-9-6-5-8, sir." Data replied. "I am unable to access it's main computer, so it is impossible to determine the exact location."
"What's in that sector?" Riker asked.
"It is uninhabited." Worf answered, checking his console. "But there could be a ship or a subspace relay station receiving the data."
Riker turned to Picard. "Captain, I suggest we beam a repair crew aboard the Array. We can begin downloading their imaging logs, find out what the Array's been observing for the past six days."
"Make it so." Picard nodded his consent.
Riker got to his feet. "Mr Data?" he called. Data got to his feet too, and they both left the bridge to head up the away team.
~8~
Presently, Counsellor Troi was sitting alone at a table in Ten Forward, working on a PADD. Worf walked up to the table, eyed Troi thoughtfully for a moment, then approached her. "Excuse me, Counsellor. Do you have a moment?" he asked.
"Of course." Troi replied, and Worf sat down opposite her.
"I have been meaning to speak with you... about Alexander."
"Oh?"
Worf hesitated, trying to find the best way to put it. "It has never been easy for me... having Alexander on board. I have always tried to be a good father... to give him guidance... but he seems to have his own mind about some things."
"Most children do." Troi smiled.
"I could not have come this far without your help." Worf continued. "Alexander looks up to you. At times, I have felt that you are like a mother to him."
Troi was touched by his words. "Worf, that's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me."
"Once, when I thought I was going to die... I asked you to watch over Alexander. I was wandering... if you might consider formalising that arrangement." Worf pressed. "I want want you to be Alexander's Soh-chIm."
"His 'Soh-chIm'?"
"You would become his surrogate mother." Worf explained. "In case anything ever happened to me, you would be responsible for him."
Troi was surprised and flattered by the request. "I don't know what to say. It's a great honour." Then a thought occurred to her. "So this would make me your...?"
"The closest analogy is step-sister." Worf replied.
"That would make my mother your step-mother." Troi smiled cheekily.
Worf's eyes widened in horror. "I had not considered that." He took a beat. "It is a risk I am willing to take."
"I accept." Troi smiled.
Just then, Data's voice came over the intercoms, "Lieutenant Worf, please report to Engineering."
Worf tapped his combadge. "I am on my way." He got to his feet, gave Troi a small smile, then headed for the door.
~8~
Worf had soon joined Picard, Data and La Forge in Main Engineering and they gathered around the Master Systems Display. "We have analysed the imaging logs." Data reported. "It appears the Array was reprogrammed to observe several Federation sites." He worked at the console and brought up grainy, freeze-frame images of several Federation outposts and Starbases.
"This is Deep Space Five, Starbase 47, the Iadara Colony and the Utopia Planitia Shipyards." La Forge stated.
"They're responsible for new starship development." Picard noted.
"Someone is using the Array for covert surveillance of the Federation." Worf realised.
"That is our theory." Data concurred. "We believe unauthorised access was made six days ago. The imaging logs from that day show a ship approaching the Array." He worked the console and the monitor displayed the grainy but unmistakable image of a Cardassian warship.
"That is a Cardassian ship, Galor-class." Worf said grimly. He should've known that the Cardassians would be behind this.
"We're only three light years from Cardassian space." La Forge pointed out. "They would've had easy access to the Array."
Picard considered this. "Mr Worf, start a long-range scan of the region." he ordered. "See if there are any Cardassian ships nearby."
"Aye, sir." Worf acknowledged.
La Forge held out a PADD. "Worf, here's a propulsion analysis of the Cardassian ship. You might try scanning for its energy configuration."
As Worf took the PADD, he was suddenly struck by another wave of dizziness. "Are you alright, Lieutenant?" Data asked, supporting him.
"I feel... dizzy..." Worf mumbled, then, just as sudden as it started, the dizziness passed and Worf regained his bearings, only now, it was La Forge supporting him, while Data was standing on the other side of the console and Picard was nowhere to be seen. Worf blinked in confusion.
"Worf, you don't look so good. Maybe you ought to go to Sickbay." La Forge advised him.
Worf nodded, recovering slightly. "Yes... yes, perhaps I will." And he left for Sickbay. Data and La Forge could only exchange concerned looks.
~8~
Worf was soon sat on a bio-bed in Sickbay as Dr Crusher scanned around his head with a tricorder. "Any nausea or blurred vision?" she asked him.
"No." Worf replied. "However, I did experience dizziness earlier today... at my birthday celebration."
Crusher nodded and shut the tricorder. "It sounds like you're having a few side-effects from the concussion." she said, picking up a nearby hypospray. "I can give you some vertazine for the dizziness, but I'd like you to rest."
She moved to inject Worf with the hypospray, but he stopped her. "Doctor, perhaps you are thinking of another patient. I have no concussion." he told her.
"Worf, you came in here this morning complaining of ringing in your ears." Crusher told him. "I scanned you... you had a concussion." Worf stared at her, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You don't remember any of this?" Crusher asked him, concerned.
"No."
Crusher eyed him, apparently realising something. "Temporary memory loss is common for this kind of injury." she said, picking up a penlight and looking at Worf's eyes. "Do you remember telling me about the Bat'leth tournament? You said that one of the competitors hit you over the head. That's why you lost the match."
"I won that tournament." Worf countered, getting up off the bed. "And I can prove it to you." He head for the door, a concerned Crusher following him.
Worf headed back to his quarters and immediately walked to the table where he'd placed his trophy. He picked it up to find that it was a completely different trophy; smaller and less elaborate. "What's wrong?" Crusher asked him.
"It says... 'Ninth place'." a bewildered Worf replied.
Author's notes: Thought I'd do another TNG episode adaptation, this time it's season 7's Parallels. I like this episode as it explores the concept of co-existing quantum realities. I also like this episode as it provides a different sort of Worf-centric episode. The rest of Worf's episodes tend to be about either his Klingon heritage, his prickly relationship with Alexander, or both. However, this episode provides a change from the norm by having Worf face an anomaly of the week. So, here's the first chapter. See you next time!