A Burning House

by Keith R. A. DeCandido

  The others all laughed and ate heartily.

  It is good to be back home, G’joth thought.

  First Epilogue

  Federation Embassy

  First City, Qo’noS

  “Remember, Vulcans do not eat meat, so make sure there are plenty of vegetables for them.”

  Eduardo Mazzerone was a short, round human with a head that was too big for the rest of his body—no mean feat, given how stocky he was—and a high, raspy voice. Of all the humans that Ba’el had met in her short time at the Federation embassy, she found Mazzerone to be the most difficult to deal with.

  Unfortunately, she now worked for him, so she had to make the best of it.

  The oddest thing about humans to Ba’el was that they didn’t smell like much of anything. And they were all so small. Ba’el had a hard time taking them seriously as a species.

  Still, Mazzerone was her supervisor, which was the only reason why she didn’t remind him that he’d told her about Vulcans’ vegetarianism six times already.

  “Also, the Trill like that yellow-leaf salad, so stock extra of that—and do try to limit the amount of gagh. I know the ambassador loves the stuff, but I swear we get at least six people throwing up when they see the worms move, and at least one idiot who insists on ‘going native’ by eating one and forgetting to chew it thoroughly first, and we have to send them to medical.”

  Ba’el had been taking notes on the padd Giancarlo Wu had given her, but now that Mazzerone was repeating himself, she just nodded a lot. The reception was not to be held for another twenty-four hours, and Ba’el was fairly certain that she would be able to make sure that Mazzerone’s instructions were followed.

  “Now remember, I’m going to be far too busy making sure that the performers are lined up. Last time, we had Sinnravians, and I still get migraines just thinking about it, so I have to ride herd on that before it gets out of control. So I’m trusting you with the food, all right?”

  “Of course, Mister Mazzerone,” Ba’el said. “I promise to make sure that all your orders are followed.”

  “Good.” Mazzerone stared at her with his beady little eyes. “Well, why are you just standing there? Go! Do your job!” With that, Mazzerone wandered off, muttering to himself.

  “Ba’el.”

  Turning, Ba’el saw Worf standing in the entryway to the dining hall where the reception was going to be held. “Worf!” she said with relief. She practically ran toward the entrance so she could stand in front of him, take in his glorious scent. After spending the day around humans, she reveled in his musk.

  “How are the plans proceeding?”

  “They would proceed faster if Mister Mazzerone were not so fond of repeating himself.”

  “No doubt.” Worf spoke with the air of someone who had long suffered this particular problem.

  Not wishing to talk about Mazzerone, Ba’el instead said, “Thank you for taking me to that opera last night.”

  “If you wish to learn about Klingon culture, then the opera is a good place to start.”

  Ba’el hesitated. “Does the audience always… throw things like that?”

  Worf let out a small smile. “Only when it is a good opera.”

  “I did like the love story between Klag and Tereth. I just wish it had a happier ending.”

  “It does—after a fashion,” Worf said.

  “What do you mean? Tereth died.”

  “It is—” Worf hesitated. “It is a long story, and it is not my story to tell.”

  Then Ba’el put it together. “That woman the real Captain Klag was with! Was that the real Tereth?”

  “No, Tereth is truly dead, though she died at Narendra III, not San-Tarah. But B’Oraq is Klag’s true par’Mach’kai.”

  “Good,” Ba’el said. She preferred happy endings since real life rarely saw fit to provide them. “Might you take me to another opera?”

  “I am afraid that I have many meetings between now and tomorrow night’s reception—and as soon as that is over, I must travel to No’Mat. I will be gone for several days.” He bowed his head. “We will revisit the possibility upon my return.”

  With that, Worf took his leave. Ba’el, for her part, went to the kitchen to see what was already in stock and what needed to be procured.

  She allowed herself a glimmer of hope. The opera had indeed been wonderful—and she was grateful that Worf’s position allowed them to sit in the front row near the stage, as she doubted she’d have been able to enjoy the performance if she was behind so many crazed Klingons showing their appreciation by shouting, singing along, and throwing their drinks onto the stage—and she wanted to go to another.

  Her life had been taken away from her. She would never stop grieving for the family she had lost on Carraya. But where most Klingons, even Toq, seemed to think that the best response to death was to avenge it, Ba’el thought it better to honor the memory of those who fell by living a good life.

  She hoped to do so with Worf’s help. Perhaps that help would only be as her employer. Perhaps she would be able to convince him to let her be his—what was the word he’d used? Yes: par’Mach’kai.

  Either way, she would live.

  Second Epilogue

  Imperial Intelligence Headquarters

  Qo’noS

  “What was the point of that exercise?” Lorgh asked B’Etloj as his mek’leth sliced through his opponent’s belly.

  B’Etloj stood against the wall of one of I.I.’s workout rooms. Lorgh had chosen this place for two reasons: he wanted a workout, and he wanted to question B’Etloj while she was forced to watch Lorgh kill things.

  The things in this case were holographic opponents, all female Klingons who looked similar to B’Etloj.

  He swung his mek’leth around so it struck the neck of another woman, holographic blood spurting out against the wall and floor.

  B’Etloj said, “The fleet response to the Elabrej threat was—”

  “Entirely proper. The Elabrej needed to be made an example of. Klag was correct—ships can be rebuilt. Honor cannot be. All you did was give I.I.’s detractors another blade to put in their belts when they attack us. We work best in the shadows, B’Etloj.” Lorgh was not even out of breath as he took down two more of his opponents while dodging their bat’leth swings. He had programmed the holograms to be poor fighters. The idea was for him to win, after all, and he was getting too old to rely on his fighting skills all by himself, especially when there was a larger point to be made to his subordinate. “The only time the High Council should even be aware of us is when we give them information. Now when Martok thinks of us, he will not be reminded of the intelligence we provided that allowed us to win at Elabrej. Instead, he will think of Trant trying to take Klag’s command from him, and of you and D’khon and Councillors Tovoj and Merik wasting his time and that of his generals and captains.” With a final swing of his mek’leth, Lorgh sliced through the thigh of his last opponent, who stumbled to the floor. He then kicked her in the face, knocking her onto her back, and then plunged the mek’leth into her chest.

  That done, he looked back at B’Etloj. “Am I understood?”

  B’Etloj’s face was almost vibrating, as she attempted to hide her emotions. That alone disappointed Lorgh. She should have been a good enough operative to have better control of herself. It was difficult, he knew, for Klingon society encouraged outward showing of passion, but if B’Etloj was to succeed in I.I., she needed better discipline than that.

  Not to mention learning not to waste the time of the chancellor.

  Finally, B’Etloj said, “Councillors Merik and Tovoj—”

  For the first time, Lorgh raised his voice. “I asked you a question!”

  Recoiling as if he’d struck her, B’Etloj said, “Yes, sir, you are understood!”

  “Good. Tomorrow, you will receive your new assignment.”

  Again B’Etloj did not keep her emotions in check, this time by letting the relief she felt show on her face. She probably thou
ght that Lorgh was going to end this discussion by doing to her what he did to the holograms.

  As she walked toward the door, Lorgh decided to answer her unasked question. “If I wanted to put you to death, I would have done so at the outset. There is no point in teaching a lesson to someone who will not live to learn from it.”

  “Thank you, sir,” B’Etloj said and departed.

  Lorgh walked over to the control panel on the work-out room wall and removed the holographic corpses from the floor. That same action removed the holographic blood from his mek’leth.

  Nevertheless, he walked over to another wall, on which hung rags, and he began the ritual cleaning of the blade. His mentor, the great I.I. agent Kveld, had taught him always to clean his blade after using it, whether it was d’k tahg, mek’leth, bat’leth, tik’leth, or qutluch, though he used the latter rarely.

  As he ran the cloth over the metal, he thought about how things had gone.

  Toq had learned his lesson. The boy probably didn’t even realize it, but he would soon enough. He understood that the universe was an infinitely more complicated place than he’d imagined, and he knew just how difficult it was to keep a secret—and how important it was, as well. Toq probably knew that intellectually, but seeing the disastrous consequences of the secret of Carraya getting out probably drove the point home effectively.

  Kurn had his memories back. Lorgh had always been grateful that Worf had not given Kurn the Mauk-to’Vor he’d asked for. Indeed, his solution was very much an I.I. one. Years ago, when he was a very young I.I. agent, Lorgh had been sent undercover as part of General Worf’s staff. The old diplomat had become a good friend to Lorgh, and in return, Lorgh had become a good friend to Worf’s son, Mogh. When Mogh went to Khitomer at Lorgh’s request, Lorgh had agreed to care for Kurn until they returned.

  Of course, they never did, and Lorgh had raised Kurn as his own. He had plans for both of Mogh’s sons, and they would have come to naught had Worf killed Kurn on that Bajoran space station.

  But he did not, and now Kurn was restored to life, for all that he still insisted on calling himself Rodek. True, his transfer off the Gorkon was disappointing, as having Toq and Kurn on the same ship simplified things, but Lorgh could play klin zha with whatever game pieces he had available.

  Still, the plan remained in place.

  Lorgh just hoped he wouldn’t have to implement it.

  With one final swipe, he finished cleaning the blade, replaced the rag, sheathed the mek’leth, and left the workout room. There was work to do.

  Glossary of Klingon Terms

  Most of the language actually being spoken in this novel is the Klingon tongue and has been translated into English for the reader’s ease. Some terms that don’t have direct translations into English or are proper nouns of some kind have been left in the Klingon language. Since that language does not use the same alphabet as English, the transliterations of the Klingon terms vary depending on preference. In many cases, a more Anglicized transliteration is used instead of the tlhIngan Hol transliterations preferred by linguists (e.g., the more Anglicized bat’leth is preferred over the tlhIngan Hol spelling betleH).

  Below is a glossary of the Klingon terms used. Anglicized spellings are in boldface; tlhIngan Hol transliterations are in bold italics. Please note that this glossary does not include the names of locations, people, or ships. Where applicable, episode, movie, or novel citations are given where the term first appeared. Episode citations are followed by an abbreviation indicating show: TNG = Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9 = Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Note that a word in the text with the suffix pu’ is the pluralized form. It is listed in the glossary in its singular form, without the suffix.

  adanji. Incense used in the Mauk-to’Vor ceremony. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]

  bat’leth (betleH). Curved, four-bladed, two-handed weapon. This is the most popular handheld, edged weapon used by Klingon warriors due to its being favored by Kahless, who forged the first one. The legendary Sword of Kahless now held by Chancellor Martok is a bat’leth, and most Defense Force warriors are proficient in it. [First seen in “Reunion” (TNG).]

  bekk (beq). A rank given to enlisted personnel in the Defense Force. [First referenced in “Sons and Daughters” (DS9).]

  bok-rat liver (boqrat chej). Food made from the liver of a bok-rat, apparently cooked to some degree, making it unusual among Klingon foods. [First seen in “Soldiers of the Empire” (DS9).]

  bolmaq.An animal native to the planet Boreth that makes a bleating sound and tends to run around in circles a lot. [First referenced in Honor Bound.]

  bregit lung (bIreQtagh). Food made from the lung of an animal, presumably a bregit. [First seen in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]

  cha’DIch. Literally, “second.” During a legal proceeding, the accused is denied combat and so must have a second, called a cha’DIch, to defend him or her. [First referenced in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]

  chech’tluth (chechtlhutlh). An alcoholic beverage best served heated and steaming. The word seems to derive from the verbs meaning “to drink” and “to get drunk.” [First seen in “Up the Long Ladder” (TNG).]

  chuSwI’.A rodent that mostly lives underground and makes an annoying noise. [First referenced in Enemy Territory.]

  chu’wI’.Literally means “trigger” but has also come to be slang for “rookie” or “beginner” (or “newbie”).

  d’k tahg (Daqtagh). Personal dagger. Most Defense Force warriors carry their own d’k tahg; higher-born Klingons often have them personalized with their name and House. [First seen in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.]

  gagh (qagh). Food made from live serpent worms (not to be confused with racht). [First seen in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]

  ghIntaq. A type of spear with a wooden haft and a curved, two-bladed metal point. Also the name given to a person who serves as a close and trusted adviser to a House. It is possible that the latter usage evolved from the first, with the adviser being analogized to a House head’s trusted weapon. Sometimes Anglicized as gin’tak. [Spear first seen in “Birthright Part 2” (TNG); adviser first referenced in “Firstborn” (TNG).]

  ghojmoq. Nursemaid. [First used in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]

  gonklik (ghonglIq). A vegetable, usually served sliced.

  grapok sauce (gha’poq). Condiment, often used to bring out the flavor in meat dishes. [First seen in “Sons and Daughters” (DS9).]

  Gre’thor (ghe’tor). The afterlife for the dishonored dead—the closest Klingon equivalent to hell. Those who are unworthy spend eternity riding the Barge of the Dead to Gre’thor, led by Fek’lhr. [First mentioned in “Devil’s Due” (TNG).]

  grinnak (ghInaq). A game that involves tokens and wagers. [First referenced in Honor Bound.]

  hurkik (HurqIq). A fruit grown on Klingon farms.

  jeghpu’wI’.Conquered people—more than slaves, less than citizens, this status is given to the natives of worlds conquered by the Klingon Empire. [First used in Diplomatic Implausibility.]

  jIH.“I am.”

  jInjoq.A type of bread. [First referenced in A Time for War, a Time for Peace.]

  khest’n (Hestlh’ng). Adjective with no direct translation, generally a curse word. [First used in The Final Reflection.]

  khrun (Hun). A riding beast.

  klin zha (tlhInja). A popular board game. [First seen in The Final Reflection.]

  klongat (tlhonghaD). A beast native to Qo’noS that is much larger than a targ and more difficult to subdue. Sometimes used as a riding beast. [First referenced in Honor Bound.]

  korvit (qorvIt). A rodent that eats through plants, commonly found on Klingon farms, where farmers have to set traps for them.

  krada legs (Qa’Da’). Food made from the extremities of a krada. [First mentioned in “The Sound of Her Voice” (DS9).]

  loSpev.A particular type of wheat grown on Klingon worlds.

  lotlhmoq.Predatory bird native to Qo’noS that swoops int
o the water to catch food. [First referenced in Enemy Territory.]

  Mauk-to’Vor (ma’Do’vor).Ceremony whereby one is killed by a family member or other comrade in order to die with honor without the stigma of suicide. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]

  may’ron.A musical instrument, similar to an Earth accordion. [First seen in “Melora” (DS9).]

  mek’leth (meqleH). A swordlike one-handed weapon about half the size of a bat’leth. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]

  meqba’.When evidence is presented to a court or some other judicial body, such as the High Council. [First seen in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]

  Mok’bara (moqbara). Martial art that focuses both the body and the spirit. [First seen in “Man of the People” (TNG).]

  par’Mach’kai (parmaHay). A term for “lover,” though the Klingon word is far more intense than the human one. [First used in “Change of Heart” (DS9).]

  petaQ.Insult with no direct translation. Sometimes anglicized as pahtk. [First used in “The Defector” (TNG).]

  qaDrav.Literally “challenge floor,” it is a raised, fenced platform in the plaza outside Klingon Defense Force Headquarters where challenges between warriors were once regularly held.

  Qapla’.Ritual greeting that literally means “success.” [First used in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.]

  QaS DevwI’.Troop commander on a Defense Force vessel, generally in charge of several dozen soldiers. Roughly analogous to a sergeant in the modern-day army. [First used in The Brave & the Bold Book 2.]

  qelI’qam.Unit of measurement roughly akin to two kilometers. Sometimes anglicized as kellicam. [First used in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.]

  QI’yaH.Interjection with no direct translation. [First used in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]

  QongDaq.A Klingon bed. [First seen in The Brave and the Bold Book 2.]

  qutluch.A weapon favored by assassins, which leaves a particularly vicious wound. [First seen in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]