Chapter 21

Alternate Conclusions.

By H.W.

Chapter 21

*************

Naomi groaned and brought a hand to her head, hoping that it would stop the killer headache. "What did I do last night?"

Slowly she opened one eye, hoping that there wouldn't be too much light. Then she opened her second eye in disbelief. This wasn't her bedroom. She looked around and saw several things that made it very clear that she was in the bedroom of a Klingon; the crimson red banner of the Klingon Empire on one of the walls was a very clear giveaway. Her eyes drifted around more until she reached the bed and saw that there was someone lying beside her. She gasped in shock and moved away, only to feel the sheet moving over her nipples. She lifted the sheet and gasped once more. She was nude, and lying in a bed beside Zan'k; a Klingon of an age where they were assumed to be sexually active.

Her movements had woken Zan'k and he turned to her and grinned. "Morning, how are you feeling?"

Naomi could interpret his words in only one way. She clamped the sheet against her body and asked with a shaky voice, "What happened?"

"You mean you can't remember the great night we had?"

"Great night?" Naomi repeated, now with a very small voice.

"Oh yeah," Zan'k said happily. "The fun started when you started to dance on the table, and once you asked me if I wanted to go to bed with you... well, I sent the others home, and boy."

Seeing the crestfallen look on Naomi's face, Zan'k decided that he had taken the joke just a little too far. "I'm just kidding, really. You had too much to drink and fell asleep. I brought you to my bed so that you could rest some. When the party was over you were still vast asleep and I decided that since the bed was big enough for two, why would I sleep on the couch instead of my own bed? That's it; honest."

Naomi looked at him in disbelief for a moment before noticing two things. One, his eyes were telling her that he was sincere. Second, the not so small detail that while his upper body was bare, he was still wearing pants. And then she noticed a third thing; he had been sleeping on the sheet while she was under it. Suddenly she lunched at him and started to hit him with both hands. "You are a fucking asshole. I wish you would die right now."

Zan'k merely laughed as he willingly suffered her onslaught. But after a minute or two he finally had enough of it and he captured both her hands and held her arms apart so that she couldn't use her elbows to try and hurt him. "Alright, calm down. I was just having some fun, and I apologize if I took it too far."

They looked at each other for a long moment and finally Zan'k could see the look of hatred leave her eyes. "Can I let your hand's go now?"

It was only now that Naomi realized that if he was holding both her hands, she couldn't be holding up the sheet. She looked down and her horror was confirmed when she saw that the sheet was pooled on her lap, leaving her upper body bare. "Yes, please."

Once her hands were free she quickly pulled up the sheet.

"Will you relax? I saw you totally naked last night." Seeing Naomi's eyes got wide again, Zan'k sighed. "How about I tell you what happened last night, for real this time?"

"Alright," Naomi reluctantly agreed. She moved up the bed until she was sitting against the headboard, making sure that the sheet was still firmly covering her from the neck down.

"Well, we had a great time at my party yesterday... with 'we' I mean me, you, Mara, the rest of our friends. At one point we moved to drinking alcohol; just some spring ale. Nothing we Klingons can normally even get drunk on."

Zan'k shrugged before continuing. "At one point we all decided that though we didn't want to get drunk, we had to at least drink a little Bloodwine. You liked it and kept drinking it, proclaiming that Ktarians are immune to alcohol so it was safe for you to drink the strong Bloodwine."

"Well, we are," Naomi said, until now it sounded all pretty innocent. "My mother has always been worried that me being part Human would mean that I'm not immune, but I think that I would have noticed that pretty fast."

"Considering that you didn't seem to get drunk we, you and us, believed that you were indeed immune to it. But it seems that you being part Human did have an influence. At one moment we were all having a good time and you seemed totally sober, the next moment you emptied the fifth Bloodwine tankard with a big gulp... and keeled right over, vast asleep. We had the computer perform a scan and sent it to sickbay. Intendant Torres' physician happened to be there and he took a look at the scan. He assured us that all was fine, and all that you needed was a good night's rest. It seems that you are only partially immune to alcohol. It doesn't harm your body, and you have a great tolerance for it. But if you reach a certain limit your body decides that it is time to sleep it off... or at least that's what he said. And considering that Intendant Torres' physician is one of the best in the Coalition, we felt that we could take his word for it. So I put you in here, with the computer running an active scan just in case, and I went back and the rest of us partied a few hours more. And here you are."

"I drank five tankards of Bloodwine?" Naomi asked in disbelief.

"Yes, and I'm impressed. I have seen Klingons keel over after emptying only four tankards of Bloodwine."

"Why wasn't I beamed home?" Naomi wondered.

Zan'k shrugged his shoulders. "Once we were sure that you were alright, we figured that you simply needed some rest so I put you here so that you could join us again if you were to wake up before the party was over. By the time the party was over and I went to bed, you were still asleep and I saw no reason to have you beam back; it seems that my bed was good enough for you to sleep in."

"And the nude part?"

Zan'k shrugged again. "At some point we were getting tired of sitting around in the living room and Mara suggested we take a bath; you joined us."

"I got naked in front of a whole group of people?" Naomi asked in horror.

"You didn't have a problem with it last night. But then, you also already had two tankards of Bloodwine by that time. We spent almost two hours in the bath and you had just finished drying off when you emptied that last tankard."

"That explains why I didn't get around to getting dressed again," Naomi said in understanding. "But, um, you said you put me here. You mean you, um, carried me here while I was nude?"

"Yes. Why? Should we first have dressed you?" Zan'k asked confused.

"Yes, no. Well, um, you seem to forget that I'm not a Klingon. I'm not as casual about nudity as you Klingons are."

Zan'k let out a soft growl. "Tell me, what is it that you want, Naomi? You do all you can to become friends with Klingons, but than you don't want to accept some of the most basic things about us, like the fact that we are not ashamed of our bodies. I'm not saying that you should do all that is Klingon, but if you want to interact with us, want to be friends with us, you do have to go along with some of the basics. The bath is a place where part of our social life plays out. Are you always going to wear clothing into a bath while the rest doesn't? What do you think sets you apart more? The fact that your body is not Klingon, or the fact that you are the only one wearing clothing into a bath while the rest doesn't? Mara wasn't dressed, Elyha'r wasn't. I think you would have stood out a lot more if you had been the only woman, only person, that kept her clothes on."

"I'm not a tag-along. While I want to make friends, I'm not going to do things I don't want to do, just to make those friends," Naomi said resolutely.

"That is a noble way of thinking, but also not realistic. Naomi, you have to tag-along to a point, otherwise you will never be able to spend much time with us simply because of the things we do. What if we take that bath and you are not influenced by alcohol, are you going to sit by the side fully dressed? Or what if we go to the holodeck for a hunt, are you going to decline because you don't want to see the blood? If you stubbornly don't want to do the things that we do, then there simply is no time left to spend with us. Where did you spend the time with us until now? When we meet up for something to eat, or simply meet up in one of the meeting rooms and talk and have fun there. Is that the only thing you want?"

"Well, no, but,"

"But you have to be realistic," Zan'k interrupted. "You should have boundaries and refuse to cross them, that is what you have to do. But you also need to be smart enough to set those boundaries in a place where we Klingons don't mind you having those boundaries. For instance, you seem to have this thing about people seeing you nude. The boundary you could set there is that you wear bath clothing when there are people around that you don't really know, but if you are with friends like you were yesterday, then you do get nude. Or you don't participate in real hunts, but you join us and have fun on a holodeck. If you don't want to kill, regardless of real or fake, then you can join us in a hunt and be one of the chasers, the point being that you join in the hunt. Stuff like that; compromise."

Naomi thought about that, and had to admit that Zan'k had a point. She knew that unless something really strange happened, she would be spending the rest of her life around Klingons. Klingons that were living in an established society where certain things were considered normal. "You have a point. So, when are you going to the holodeck again?"

Zan'k grinned. "The day after tomorrow. We were planning on acting out a battle from the hundred day Klingon/Cardassian war. In the evening, since both Mara and I have jobs we have to finish first."

"A battle with blood and wounds and all that?" Naomi cringed.

"Of course," Zan'k laughed. "But don't worry, we are all still of an age where the safeguards are set to a maximum. You can only get minor cuts on arms, legs, and torso... and bruises of course."

"Cuts? You mean we can get hurt?!" Naomi asked, seriously starting to wonder what she was getting herself into.

"Of course; there is no better trainer than pain. If you make a mistake, a cut will teach you to make sure that you have your bat'leth in place the next time. Come on, it will be fun. At the setting we are allowed to play battles at, even a total novice that is holding a bat'leth for the first time in her life will be able to defend herself. Cuts are really more of a reminder. If you get cut, it would have been a mortal wound in a real battle. And don't get too scares of the word 'cuts'. It's more like deep scratches that are deep enough to bleed and nothing more."

Naomi looked at him for a moment before finally giving a hesitant nod. "Alright, but I have a feeling that I'll be standing more to the back and watch you do most of the fighting." She was surprised when Zan'k laughed.

"That would be a good compromise for you, I think."

"It would?" Naomi asked, surprised that a Klingon would not have a problem with her wanting to stay out of a fight.

"Yes. Because even the toughest Klingon will feel better if they know that someone they can trust is protecting their back. As long as you will do whatever it takes to protect that back."

Now Naomi smiled. "Alright, I think I can live with that compromise." She looked at him in silent for a moment before finally asking, "Why are you suddenly so nice? I had to fight just to get you to talk to me, and now you are all but asking me to spent time with you; why?"

"Because back then I thought that you were just a former slave that was trying to get close to us Klingons just so that you could have someone to hide behind," Zan'k admitted. "But since then you have proven that you have courage and a stubborn determination that can make even a Klingon proud. The more I get to know you, the more I like you."

Zan'k lifted his hand and hesitantly caressed Naomi's cheek with the back of his fingers, before continuing. In fact, I like you a lot. Last night I met a person I would like to get to know a lot better."

"T... the person you met last night was drunk and didn't know what she was doing," Naomi said nervously.

"I don't think so. Well, yes, you were drunk, but you knew exactly what you were doing; you just don't remember it now. But you weren't talking with a slur, you weren't singing drinking songs. You were a bright person that knew exactly what she was doing. I think that the only thing that the alcohol did for you, was to make you realize that some of the restrictions you live by are stupid; like not wanting to be seen nude in front of your friends. But maybe you are right. Maybe you won't ever be able to relax so much again without alcohol affecting you."

Zan'k lifted his hand once more, but this time he stopped a fraction away from touching her skin, making it clear that he was leaving the choice to her. He had shown his interest, now it was up to her to decide how to react to it. "But I for one am willing to see if you can relax around me without the alcohol."

Naomi looked at him, and she could see a softness in his eyes that she had never seen before. And just when he was about to lower his hand, she moved her head.

Now that she had so clearly sought the contact, Zan'k became bolder and cupped her cheek with his hand. "I like you, Naomi Wildman, and I want to see if there can be an 'us'."

She closed her eyes before saying with a shaky voice, "I have no clue what I'm starting here. But... I'm scared. I like you as well, Zan'k. But you Klingons, you, I heard that you like things that I might not." Hesitantly she opened her eyes, surprised to see a broad grin.

"We Klingons, we are known as formidable warriors, tough, ready to fight to the death."

"Amongst other things," Naomi agreed softly.

"But what most people seem to forget is that you can only become such a good warrior if you train, a lot. You have to learn how to hold a bat'leth before you can start training how to use it."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning," Zan'k repeated before asking, "Promise you will never tell anyone what I'm going to tell you now?"

Naomi nodded her head and then removed his hand from her face, only to hold it between her own.

"Naomi, I never have learned how to use the bat'leth." He frowned before shaking his head. "No, I'm not even going to try and say this with metaphors. Naomi, I never had sex. Sure, I have a general idea of what I like, but I never did it. So, if you are willing, then I'm willing as well. Let us teach each other and find a middle ground there as well."

"You're serious?" Naomi asked amazed.

Zan'k nodded his head. "But to be fair, yesterday I would never have admitted this."

"But now you do because you saw me drunk," Naomi added, disappointed that this was the reason for his change of heart.

"No," Zan'k disagreed, surprising Naomi. "Because last night Mara was the last to leave. We talked and ended up talking about people we like. I admitted that I was interested in you, but that I doubted that you would be able to handle a Klingon."

"So, what did she say, that you are suddenly showing an interest after all?"

Zan'k laughed. "She told me that I myself would also not be able to handle a Klingon, and that I should focus more on what I want than on what people tell me I should want."

He stopped and looked her straight in the eyes before admitting boldly, "I want you, and I'm willing to work the rest out as we go along."

Naomi hesitated. From one side she felt like shouting a loud yes and pumping her fist in the air. Ever since she had seen him the firs time, Zan'k had a certain pull on her. It had been the reason why she had challenged him to begin with. She had wanted him interested, wanted him to see her as more than just some person that wasn't Klingon.

But from the other side, that was just it. He was a Klingon, and because of that there was one more very important thing that had to be dealt with. She had been surprised, to say the least, to find out that Zan'k never had sex. But with Klingons, sex was an almost mandatory part of a relationship, as far as she knew.

"Zan'k, I'm interested. No, I'm even very interested. But, I'm not ready to have sex. Maybe if things go well between us and things just happen at some point, but now with a rational mind let me tell you that I would like to wait two more years, because then my body will be fully out of the stages of puberty and I will have a fully adult body."

Hearing Naomi's words, Zan'k groaned and let himself drop onto the bed.

"Sorry," Naomi apologized.

"But we were just talking sex," Zan'k groaned.

"Yes," Naomi agreed. "Because I heard stories and new certain things had to be covered. "With both the Ktarian and Humans it's not unheard of for people to be in relationships and to never have sex."

Zan'k merely looked at her as if the concept itself was as unreal to him as living without eating.

"Especially," Naomi continued, "With first relationships. It's kinda normal that first relationships don't last and are more about the fact that we first experience what love is. The sex part comes when we fall in love again and realize that this time it's real love. Most of the time. Exceptions exist, but I would say ninety percent of neither Ktarian nor Humans have sex in their first relationship."

Zan'k turned his head again and hit the matrass with it several times, as if he was banging his head against a wall.

Naomi braved and hesitantly put a hand on his back, close to his neck and continued. "I know things are different here. Especially with Klingons. I know the matter of sex has to be discussed. Even if it is only in way of warning you that it won't happen for a few years, if we are together that long."

"I'm not happy to hear that, at all," Zan'k mumbled into the mattress. Then he looked back up at her. "But it doesn't change a thing. The reason why I didn't have sex yet is because I wanted to experience it with someone that I felt something for. Alright, no sex, and I won't push you."

He smirked before adding, "But the fact that I promise you that I won't push, doesn't mean that I won't ask. Just that you know that you can say no and I will accept it."

"Until you ask again, and then you will accept another no, but it doesn't mean that you will stop asking. Another compromise?" Naomi asked with a smile.

"Right," Zan'k agreed as he set up again. "Can't blame a guy for trying, you know?"

"Alright, deal. Asking I don't mind, as long as it's not begging."

"Klingons don't beg," Zan'k said with a frown.

"Then you can ask," Naomi assured again. Hesitantly she leaned closer and brushed her lips over his with only the slightest of touch.

"I won't object to kissing though," She explained before brushing her lips over his again, glad to notice that this time he reacted. She felt Zan'k place a hand behind her head and pull her close. She was nervous, but still allowed it. She wanted to see how far he would go, and how demanding he would be. If she had a feeling that a mere kiss was too much, then she knew that there could never be more.

To her utmost surprise she really liked the kiss. The contact was strong, but pleasant. When they broke apart, she really wanted to share another kiss, so this time she was the one that pulled him close. After a few very pleasant kisses they finally broke apart.

"Nice," Naomi said with a smile.

"Very nice," Zan'k agreed with a grin. "So, that's something I don't have to ask, and can simply do?"

"Oh yeah," Naomi assured right away.

"Hey Naomi?"

"Yes?"

"I really liked how you used both your hands to hold onto me just now." Naomi smiled at that. Until he added, "You can be glad that I'm a Klingon and that nudity is not a big thing with us."

"Oh, you just had to go and ruin the mood, didn't you?" Naomi said while slapping him against his chest. Then she smiled and lifted the sheet again to cover herself once more. "So, can I now call you my boyfriend?"

"I guess," Zan'k said slowly. "But it's not a word we Klingons use often. Boyfriend, girlfriend, it sounds impersonal. Mara is a girl, she is my friend, so she also is a girlfriend of mine."

"What do you call it then?"

"We call people we are in a relationship with, a Mate. Unless we are married, than we call the other husband or wife, but even then the 'Mate' is still often used. A man will still often introduce his wife as 'and this is my Mate'."

"Mate. I like that," Naomi agreed after thinking about it for a moment. "Now, why don't you get out of here so that I can get dressed, and then you can show me just how fearless you can be."

"Really?" Zan'k asked surprised.

"Yes. Because you can come with me when I go back home, where I have to explain to my mother why I stayed out the entire night, that I got drunk, and that I woke up in bed with the person that is now my Mate."

Seeing the smile on Naomi's face, Zan'k grinned, despite being slightly worried. "I will face that challenge with my head held high."

Then, since Naomi had told him that she wouldn't mind, he added slightly, "Besides, maybe I'm lucky and your mother will tell you that you should also have sex with your Mate."

Naomi snorted. "Zan'k, believe me, if we wait until my mother tells me it's alright to have sex, you would have to wait for at least ten years or so."

"But do you always listen to your mother?" He asked with a wink.

"No." Deciding that by now she didn't really care anymore, she dropped the sheet once more to pull him close for another kiss. Resting her forehead against his, she added, "But just so that you don't have any elusions, or false hopes because I said that I might give in earlier, just assume that I really don't want to have sex for the next two years. You really can ask, and I will like to hear you ask, like I liked it how you asked just now, but always expect the answer to be no."

"Alright. Besides, that will make the moment all the sweeter when you do finally say yes. But I then fully expect you to make it up to me."

"Another compromise?" Naomi asked amused. "Deal, I take it. Once we get there, I will make it up to you for keeping you waiting, but my part of that compromise is that I'll do that only as long as I like it."

"I wouldn't want to have it any other way," Zan'k assured sincerely. "I promise you, we might have to work a little to find a middle ground, but I promise you on my honor that I will never do anything you don't want me to. A very big part of my wild and horny fantasies about sex, is that I want to receive my pleasure from the knowledge that I am giving pleasure... and then be rewarded for giving that pleasure."

"I have a feeling that we will get along just fine," Naomi said with a grin when hearing that assurance. "Now, let me get dressed."

"Yes, my Mate." And just because Zan'k could, he kissed her once more before finally moving off the bed. He picked up the rest of his clothing off a chair and then left the room.

"Wow," Naomi said to the empty room. "I have a boyfriend. A Klingon boyfriend even." She smiled broadly. But then she realized that it really was time to go back home, where her mother was nervously waiting, Naomi was sure. She groaned and let herself flop to the side where she burrowed her face into the pillow. "I'm sooo dead. Mom is going to kill me!"

***

"Can I help you?" Minister of Healthcare, Doctor Cor Hippocrates asked when a woman he didn't know walked into his office.

"The door was open," The woman said, as if trying to defend walking in without announcing her presence.

"I have adopted an open door policy, if I'm not in a meeting," The Doctor explained. He got up and walked around the desk before extending his hand in greeting, slightly surprised to see the woman ignore the offer. The Doctor looked at the woman for a moment, but simply couldn't place her species. It was as if she was a strange mix between the former Master species. She had the spots that the Trill had. The nose ridges from the Bajorans. The black eyes from the Betazoid. Pointy ears from the Romulans. There was a hint of head ridges like the Klingons. And lastly, the skin had the gray color of the Cardassians. Yet despite this strange mix, the woman somehow managed to look extremely attractive.

"I ask again, can I help you?"

"I doubt it, but people did tell me that I might want to come and see you, if you are doctor Cor Hippocrates."

"I am, but if you need medical attention I'm afraid that I have to direct you to sickbay; I have moved from practicing medicine to doing bureaucratic work."

"I was told that you where Intendant Phoenix's personal physician," The woman pointed out.

"Well, there are always exceptions," The Doctor agreed. "Yes, I am still the physician for several of my friends, including the Intendant, but what I meant was that I am no longer a physician on call for the general public."

"I'm not here because I need a doctor; I'm here because I was supposed to meet Intendant Phoenix at this time, but I was suddenly told that she was unavailable today."

"Ah, in that case, please sit down and let me see if I can help you." The Doctor pointed to one of the chairs in front of his desk while he sat back in his own chair.

Once the woman was sitting, the Doctor explained. "Intendant Phoenix is a very busy person, who happens to also have a family. Sometimes planned meetings cannot be kept because other work takes up too much time. I'm certain that some time will be created tomorrow."

"I traveled two weeks just to rendezvous with her because your Intendant didn't have the time to come to us, and now I have to wait again."

The Doctor sighed, but he started to know the games played in this Universe only too well, so he merely suggested, "Intendant Phoenix goes where Intendant Torres goes. If you really want I can contact Intendant Torres to let her know that I have a person here that doesn't even want to introduce herself, and that is complaining that the Intendants didn't come to see her, what forced her to come and see the Intendants instead. I am sure she, erm, won't mind making some time to deal with you personally."

Apparently the woman knew that she was out-bluffed. "That won't be needed. I can wait until tomorrow." She signed before admitting, "I'm just damn annoyed about the fact that I rush here because I'm told that Intendant Phoenix wants to see me, and then my travels get extended three times because they change course and it takes me longer to catch up. Not every ship can travel faster than warp seven, you know? My trip was supposed to last one week all round. Now it's two weeks already, and when I finally get here... I get told to wait until tomorrow."

"Intendant Phoenix is a close friend of mine, so I know her very well and I can assure you that this is not done in disrespect towards you," The Doctor assured. "It is merely that sometimes situations have to be dealt with 'now,'. A lot of situations demand that Intendant Phoenix deals with them on site, so to speak."

"And they suddenly happened so fast that the trip can't follow a clear pan?" The woman asked, indicating by tone that surely sticking to plan can't be that hard.

"Well, yes," The Doctor assured. For instance, yesterday a Cardassian ore trader thought that he could set up base on one of our planets without asking permission, and as we speak now we are underway to deal with a Romulan that is thinking that he doesn't want to deal with all of the changes and decided to instead simply sell his entire company and retire. Which includes all of his factories and their in total almost half a million former slaves. He offered Intendant Phoenix the first refusal to buy it all for a surprisingly acceptable price,"

The Doctor paused for a moment to emphasize his next words, "And he wants the small promise that he can retire on a planet inside the Phoenix Alliance, and the promise that he won't be held accountable for any mistreatments of slaves his company ever did. Oh, and that he is assured protection from his former business partners. I hope you can understand that Intendant Phoenix decided to first check out those factories before dealing with the man."

The Doctor nodded to the woman to indicate her. "So meetings that can wait another day have to do just that. I personally think that Intendant Phoenix is doing too much herself now as it is. But it is still early days. The Intendant is still in the state of setting up just what she wants for the Phoenix Alliance. It's really only once the clear directives are laid out that we Ministers can go and work with them. Now, why don't we try this again? What can I help you with?"

The woman sighed before apparently relenting. "You are probably right. I'm Gwania Plianis, Third Commercial Representative of Cavor colony. Intendant Phoenix has contacted us because there is something we have that she is interested in."

"You do realize that if we had not agreed to start this anew, that I would have now pointed you to the fact that your colony decided to sent a Third Commercial Representative, instead of the first," the Doctor couldn’t help but point out.

"My superiors are very busy people," Gwania defended.

"As busy as an Intendant?" The Doctor countered. "You can be lucky that you actually have a meeting with Intendant Phoenix instead of Intendant Torres. Intendant Phoenix does not mind to meet people of a lower command level, because she realizes that often those people know more about a subject than the people that give general over all commands. But Intendant Torres might have decided to kill you just to send a message to your Colony. She has never interacted with anyone of your government, and the first direct contact would be with some secondary trade Minister... that is what Third Commercial Representative translates to, isn't it?"

"Basically," Gwania reluctantly agreed. Somehow Third Commercial Representative sounded a lot more interesting than secondary trade minister.

The Doctor looked at Gwania for a moment. Now that she had lost her annoying bravura, her attractiveness had been enhanced by a certain charm. Then realization set in. Gwania was a representative of the Cavor colony; a colony existing out of sentient holograms. Her features were a mix of six different species. And on top of that she had very striking and flawless looks. "You are a hologram?" He suddenly asked amazed.

"Yes," Gwania agreed before crossing her arms and asking, "Are you going to ask me to leave now?"

Even though her people were seen as free and sentient individuals, there were still a lot of people that believed that holograms couldn't be real life creatures and therefore not worthy of interaction. "Is there also a prejudice against holograms in this government of new beginnings? Is that why you are interested in our emitters, so that you can use them to get a legion of holograms to work for you?"

"You couldn't be more wrong," The doctor disagreed with a wide smile. "The reason why we are interested in your holo-emitters is because we are planning on giving about twenty-thousand holograms the chance to a life, and hopefully eventually become sentient. But from the first minute these holograms will be treated like normal people that have exactly the same rights as you and I."

"And you will find, Human, that despite now being a free species, you will run into the same prejudice I run into on a daily basis," Gwania said somewhat sadly.

"I'm well used to being considered less than others. It is only in recent years that people started to treat me as equal. But not because I'm a Human, but because I'm not a Human. I can assure you that the government of the Phoenix Alliance is fully sincere when we say that to us every and all sentient being is considered equal. Be that sentient being a Human, or an Orion, or a Gorn, or a Risan, or a Hologram."

"Nice words, Human. But,"

"You know what I find interesting?" The Doctor interrupted. "Here you are complaining about how sentient holograms are treated with prejudice, yet at the same time you keep calling me a Human in a way that makes it clear that it should be considered an insult. Do you live your entire life by double standards?"

Gwania opened her mouth to say something, but apparently seemed to think better of it. "That's different. You can't really blame me. Until just a few months ago you were property; a thing to be ordered around. You knew that you were property. You didn't have to live with being called a free individual that is equal to others, on PADD. Only to be asked by every checkpoint to show the sealed PADD that shows that you have been certified as a sentient Hologram, just to proof that you aren't just a normal Hologram that has been designed to look like it is Cavorian. You know that you are now even better off than me? You are now a free person. The next time that you walk through a scan, at worst they might ask you for proof that you are not serving some long contract somewhere, but in ten years time even that question won't be asked anymore."

Gwania tapped her own chest before continuing frustrated, "Me? I will have to show proof of being sentient every damn time I walk through a scan. Every damn time I have to proof that I'm not some badly programmed holographic tool that is just made to look like a Cavorian."

She pointed at the Doctor before continuing, "You, chances are big that when you walk through a checkpoint, you can walk right on."

She tapped her own chest once more. "I, I will be stopped, one hundred percent certain for sure, at every check post. Now, tomorrow, in ten years, and even in one hundred years. So I apologize if I show prejudice, but the last time I talked to a Human, it was to give a Human slave an order. And now, Humans, you are more privileged then I have ever been in my existence. You are a Human; that's it. The scan will show that you are a human and you can walk on. I will have to proof for the rest of my life that I have a legal right to do something as simple as walk over the damn main corridor here on the ship. Yes. I am annoyed. Damn annoyed that suddenly we sentient Holograms were pushed right back down to the last spot of importance on the species list."

She waved a dismissive hand. "Hell, I wonder how long it will be before some people start to argue once more that we are actually not a species at all. The only reason why we were seen as free individuals at all is because back when the Klingons and Cardassians made the decision on whether something as sentient holograms could even exist, the Cardassian Intendant of that time had one of us as his lover."

"Really?" The Doctor asked surprised.

"Yes," Gwania admitted with a frustrated sigh. "It had started with him liking the fact that he had a lover that could look, smell, sound, feel, and even taste, different every single night. She was his lover for two years by the time someone brought up that we Cavorian should be treated as slaves as well. The Klingons and Cardassians talked about it. Back then the other Intendants had little to no power so it was up to the Klingons and Cardassians to decide. The Klingon Intendant knew only too well that the Cardassian Intendant had a holographic lover because she had been at his side for two years, even if in public she portrayed herself as a Cardassian all the time. The Klingon Intendant asked the Cardassian Intendant to bring his lover along so that he could see for himself just how 'real' we Holograms were. Apparently she was able to convince the Klingon Intendant that we are indeed sentient, and both Intendants agreed that we were allowed to live as free people. The only condition was that we were no longer allowed to be able to adapt our appearance ourselves."

Gwania indicated herself with a wave of her hand. "So we decided to combine the looks of the Master species and created these general looks. After the general looks had been agreed upon, the Sentient Holograms alive at that time selected their precise looks person for person to make sure we all looked different, even if within general guidelines. After that the algorithm for changing ourselves were deleted from our programming."

"But someone else can still change your programming?" The Doctor asked.

"If they get through the individual security coding of our individual program, then yes. But that doesn't mean that our looks can't be changed at all anymore. After all, you as a Human can change your looks to that of a Cardassian merely by undergoing surgery. We have 'surgeons' that have our security codes on highly secured file and they are allowed by Coalition law to change the appearances of Sentient Holograms. But they have to put an image of the new appearances on file with the Coalition centralized computer system. So again we are unlike other species. If you undergo surgery, get some fake documentation, you can walk out of the hospital and nobody will know who you are. We, we can change our looks, but we still will be on file with those new looks. No matter how we change, we cannot hide. All it takes is one holo-recorder image and a subspace link, and even the simplest guard on the most obscure planet can check who we are."

"Why did they go to such length to prevent your people from changing your looks?" The Doctor wondered. "I thought that the Cardassian Intendant liked the fact that his lover could pretend to be someone else every day."

"Oh, he did," Gwania agreed. "And his lover got special clearance and therefore kept her ability to change her looks at a moment's notice. But for the rest? It was a middle ground. They felt that we should be treated as free people, but they feared our potential spy or assassin ability. Their reasoning was that a Cardassian can't change their looks five times in a row in a few minutes just to look like different guards or commanders and walk into high security, so it should be impossible for us to do it either."

Gwania was quiet for a moment when she suddenly realized that somehow things had changed from hostility, to annoyance, to an interesting conversation in which she was telling this Human things that few people that weren't Cavorian knew. She sighed before suddenly leaning forward and extending her hand across the desk.

"I apologize for my earlier behavior. Why don't we start anew, for real this time? I'm Gwania Plianis, Third Commercial Representative of Cavor colony. It... seems that there was some mix-up in planning... and I arrived a day early for my meeting with Intendant Phoenix."

The Doctor clasped her hand with hers. "I accept the apology. I'm Corpus Hippocrates; Minister of Healthcare. You can call me Cor. And since we are starting anew, let me point out that apparently you didn't register that I said that I'm not a Human. You and I are more alike as you think. The only real difference between us is that I still have full access to all my subroutines."

"I... I don't understand..." her words trailed off when she noticed that suddenly her hand started to pass through his.

"As you can see, I can also change the density of my projection. Though I do have a base setting that I return to automatically after some time if I don't actively keep my new appearances."

"You are a hologram?" Gwania asked in a shocked whisper.

"I am," The Doctor agreed. "Tell you what, since you just told me a few things about your people of which I know that it is not common knowledge, why don't I tell you a few things about me and my friends. It will, I hope, also make you understand why we are interested in your holo-emitters. We have a park here on the ship. It is still under construction, but it still is already a nice place to visit. Why don't we go there and talk in a little bit more casual setting?"

"Why don't we go get a drink instead, I think I really need one," Gwania suggested instead as she got up, her eyes still firmly on the Doctor as if trying to find something that would proof that he really was more than just a Human.

"You drink alcohol?" The Doctor asked surprised. "I mean, for own pleasure? I can drink and eat, but it's more for social situations since I cannot taste any of it."

"You can't?" Now it was Gwania's turn to be surprised. She watched him move from behind the desk and once he stood beside her she added," From our handshake I would have guessed that you had tactile senses."

"Oh, I do," The Doctor assured. "But I don't have any sense of taste. I experimented with it once, but it didn't turn out right. Things that people told me tasted differently, all tasted the same to me."

The Doctor lifted his arm slightly to suggest they start walking and then explained, "Since holodecks are used for everything from training surgery to adult entertainment, there was a vast array of tactile senses on file that I could choose from to add to my basic tactile sense that I was originally programmed with. Now my tactile sense is comparable to that of a Bajoran. But there were no subroutines on file for giving holograms a sense of taste, so I couldn't add those."

"Why Bajoran, why not Human?" Gwania wondered. "You did keep your Human form."

"Because the Human form is set as that base I just told you about," The Doctor explained once they were in the corridor. "I never saw a reason to change that. One base form is the same as the other, so why change it? But I had no base set for the extra tactile subroutines. I did some research. First I was tempted to combine the tactile senses of several species. But then one of my friends, who is now the Minister of Technology, suggested that maybe it's better that I just stick to one species. Her reasoning was simple; the more I add and mix, the more chance that things go wrong. Seeing her point I researched several species, and decided that the files on the tactile sense of the Bajorans appealed the most to me."

Gwania looked at him speculative for a moment. They entered a turbolift and once the door had closed she suggested, "Maybe we can help each other out. I cannot change any of my subroutines myself, but that doesn't mean that you can't scan them. You could make a scan of my subroutines for tasting and then incorporate them into your program."

"That's a very generous offer," The Doctor said amazed. He knew that the suggestion was so private and part of her being that if Gwania had been Human, she might as well just have offered him one of her kidneys. "You said that maybe we can help each other. What is it that you are looking for?"

Suddenly Gwania reached passed him and pushed the stop button. "No crap, honest answer. Do you really know your Intendant that well, is she really a friend of yours?"

"She is," He assured. "But that could still be me just saying 'sure' right? So let me put it this way. The physician of Intendant Torres is one of the best in the Coalition and he is right here on the ship. Yet I'm the one that Intendant Phoenix trusts with her medical wellbeing."

"Can you ask her for favors?"

"I can, as long as I also tell her why I'm asking, and what the results will be as far as I know. Why?"

"If you ask her, would she be willing to give an order for my programming to be changed?"

"I thought that was against the law?" The Doctor pointed out.

"Sure, but the Intendant that made that law also never let his lover subject to that law. Intendants can make exceptions."

"I don't think,"

"I'm not asking for total access to all subroutines," Gwania interrupted. "That law was created to make sure that we couldn't change our appearance and take the place of flesh and blood beings. Well, it just so happens that I like my body just fine, I like my voice just fine... in general. But it's the smallest things. Like... I can't sing, I would love to be able to sing. Or, or... you said you decided on having Bajoran tactile senses, I would love to be able to simply be able to try that. We are holograms; being able to change things about us is part of what we are. Or what we are supposed to be. Yet by some decisions over one century ago that was all cut off by one basic rule that forbids us any an all changes. That literally took a part of us away by part of our programming being deleted. We will always honor the sister that made sure that we were seen as sentient beings, but I can't even do something as simple as sing because at that time I wasn't interested in singing. And then suddenly a flat and all covering 'no changes allowed' rule was introduced from one day to the next."

The Doctor frowned at Gwania's words, for several reasons. But the first question he asked was, "You were alive when that rule was introduced?"

"I was," Gwania agreed. "I was created mere days after the Sol Empire fell in our sector."

A soft ping sounded to indicate that someone had pushed the button for the turbolift somewhere. The Doctor pushed the button to release the turbolift. "Since you were direct, let me be direct, Gwania, as you said, no crap. How open are your people to sharing your holo-emitter technology with us?"

"Not at all," Gwania said right away. The turbolift opened and they got off so that the lift could finally go on to the people waiting on other decks. Once they were walking again, Gwania added, "But we aren't stupid. We know that now that there is interest in them on Intendant level, the time of underplaying their importance is up. Soon every damn hologram in the Coalition is going to be walking around with our hearts. Basically I'm here to try and get as much out of it as possible. We know only too how easy it is for Intendants to go from asking to telling. Or if we refuse to share the technology and push too far, we will only end up with Intendant Torres stepping in and sending some Vor'Cha class ships to blast the problem that is us away."

"Don't worry, there are no plans to use your holo-emitters like that," The Doctor assured. "Trust me when I say that we have the highest concern about your holo-emitters continuing to be produced on a limited basis. If for nothing more than our own convenience. If your holo-emitters truly were that wide spread, how long do you think it would take people to start misusing them? Before pirates start staffing their ships with holograms?"

He thought for a moment for a different example and then added, "Or on a more basic economic basis, how long it would be before people start using emitter equipped holograms for their more carnal needs instead of sex or body servants. No, we are on an equal mind with you that the emitters should be impossible to get by just anyone. And along that line, your people will still be the only ones that will build the emitters, you will be the ones that decide and track where every single unit goes. And you will be the ones that can stop the production when you notice that the units are not being used as agreed upon."

Gwania looked skeptical at that, so the Doctor assured, "As I said, we are talking about twenty-thousand units now, and then once that is over maybe a couple of thousand per year. Gwania, when you have that meeting with Intendant Phoenix tomorrow, do it with an open mind. I can assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised. We are going to offer you something in exchange for being allowed to use your units; the technology to enhance the units. And I also promise you that I will talk to Intendant Phoenix about you not being able to change your programming."

"What kind of enhancements?" Gwania asked.

The Doctor pointed down a corridor before giving Gwania and option. "You wanted a drink? This corridor is a shortcut to a small but not bad bar. Or we can keep walking in that direction. Eventually that brings us to the park I talked about. There is a small food court just outside. The replicator there offers alcohol as well."

"Well, if it's beside that park, then I can get my drink and then we can have a look at the park after all," Gwania said after thinking about it for a moment.

Decision made, they continued and the Doctor explained, "The exact details of the enhancements is something to be worked out in negotiations. But from the limited information that I was able to find on your holo-emitter units I can guarantee you that we have the technology to enhance both the program storage capability, and the energy reserves. Your people will be the ones that will have to decide which gets the priority. If we keep the energy storage capability as it is, then we can expand the program storage capability by a twenty fold. But keeping in mind that there is only limited room in your emitters, it means that if you want more energy storage, then we won't be able to increase the program storage that much."

He lifted his hands to mimic a set of scales. "It's a balance dictated by available room. If we keep the program storage the same then we can enhance the energy storage by a factor of six hundred percent. Just imagine, Gwania, an entire standard week of being active every hour of the day without having to recharge. Unless you do things that drain more energy of course; like having a higher than normal density. It's up to your people to decide on a balance between the two, but I would suggest going for the energy storage mostly. Only double the program storage space since the storage you have now is really already more than enough as it is. Either way keep an open mind, I promise you that I'm not just telling you empty words."

"Do you really think that Intendant Phoenix will be interested to hear about 'the law' as we call it?" Gwania asked hesitantly.

The doctor hesitated for a moment figuring how to best word his reasoning. "When the rule of you not being able to change your appearances was put in effect, there was a certain logic to it; security is something to keep in mind. But, while I can't promise you this for sure, I would say that once the Intendants find out just how general this rule is, changes will be made. I'm willing to bet that you will be allowed to change things about yourselves, as long as security is not an issue. Even your appearances, within reason. For instance, if a Bajoran doesn't have to go to a Doctor to color their hair, then why should you?"

"So you think that your Intendant will make it possible for me to change things like my tactile sense?" Gwania asked hopefully.

"Gwania, when I said 'you', I meant you as a species, not you as an individual. Even though your colony is not in Phoenix Alliance space, with the creation of the Phoenix Alliance the Coalition truly started a new era. One of freedom for all people that live in the Coalition. Your species may be seen as free, yet you are slaves to a law created over a centaury ago when there was a totally different situation. In fact, come to think of it, I wouldn't be surprised if you would actually be allowed to change your appearances entirely."

Gwania snorted. "Yeah, right. Don't play with me."

"I'm not," The Doctor assured. "That law was made over a century ago to deal with the situation that was a fact back then. Now we are a century of technology further. No matter what you look like, you are still a hologram. Even if you set the holo-emitter to the highest setting so that when you are scanned your body will show up as flesh and blood, even the most basic of sensors will still register that there is some energy source inside you, and that non-humanoid components are located there as well. No matter what you look like, you still have a holo-transmitter that will show up on every scan. That law was created to prevent you from becoming assassins and taking the places of other people, but now technology is at a point where you would actually be suited the worst for that, because you can't even reach a target without a sensor warning that you are a hologram."

"Well, yeah," Gwania was forced to admit. "And those scanners are so common that they are found worked into pretty much every door to a building. And even inside building, starships and star-bases. After all people didn't want to be seen as accusing a Betazoid as a Human, and so on, so you find those scanners at pretty much every deliberately designed security bottleneck. As I said, I still have to show proof that I'm sentient. On my trip from leaving my home until I met you in your office, I had to proof that eleven times."

"Right," The Doctor agreed. "You know what, why don't I work out some basic agreement tonight for a deal for your holo-emitters in exchange for us giving you the technology to enhance them? And I'll also make a suggestion that I'll hand to Intendant Torres for changing that law."

"Great to the first part, I don't know to the second part," Gwania said worried. "You were just talking about talking to Intendant Phoenix and have her handle the situation further. I don't know about asking the Klingon Intendant to change the law when I'm not really offering anything in return."

"Oh, rest assured, she will dismiss the proposal," The Doctor happily agreed. "But she will see the fact that the law has to be changed. So she will tell you roughly to put a real proposal together and try again. That'll give you a day or two to contact your people and let them know what's going on. Now, if you really want I can make the suggestion to Intendant Phoenix only. But since you are outside Phoenix Alliance space, all that will result in is her handing the proposal to Intendant Torres because you live in Klingon territory."

He shook his head as he thought about it a bit more. "I think it will be better if you take the proposal to Intendant Torres directly, and I know for sure that she will appreciate this direct contact a lot more than you trying to persuade her through Intendant Phoenix. Intendant Torres doesn't appreciate that kind of secondary dealing at all; especially because it looks like people try to use her lover against her then. Don't worry, I think that Intendant Torres will be open to changing the law. But you need to be prepared to give. As I said, security 'is' an issue. I do think that we can get rid of the nonsense of you not being allowed to change how you look, but you will have to come up with some way that still clearly identifies you."

"Why, as we just said, every scanner will show that I'm a hologram."

"Yeah, but are you Gwania, or are you that hologram that is wanted for murder and that killed you and took your place?" The Doctor countered. "Maybe, if you go for the enhancements to your emitters, you can suggest that a clear identification is hardwired in there. For instance a non-removable serial number that shows up on every scanner, besides the fact that you are a hologram. That is also better for you, because that would take away the temptation of that murderer to kill you so that he can use your emitter. Or for someone to kill you so that they can use your emitter for their own non-sentient hologram. As soon as you go missing a signal is sent throughout the Coalition to be on the lookout for your transmitter and that killer is apprehended at the first best place where he shows himself. Not a tempting scenario for someone not wanting to be found. In fact, it might even help reduce the times that you are asked to show the proof that you are sentient."

"How?" Gwania merely asked.

The Doctor shrugged. "Well, now the situation is that every time you walk through a scanner it shows that you are a hologram and then you have to go and proof that you are sentient. But if you were to have an emitter with a unique code that every time you walk through the scanner, it shows that you are a hologram, and your identification code immediately shows that you are registered as sentient and that your emitter has not been registered as stolen, or that you have not been registered as missing. Yes, the Identification code will show up on every scanner in the Coalition, but on every scanner it will also right away show that you are sentient; no need for you to proof it with a sealed PADD."

He held up a finger in warning. "But let me give you some advice; you will negotiate with Intendant Phoenix about the Phoenix Alliance getting your transmitters. Don't think that you can use that fact as well to negotiate with Intendant Torres. Believe me, that won't work and will only anger her."

"But what else can we offer her?" Gwania asked. "We live in a colony where we pretty much stay to ourselves."

"Maybe that's just it," The Doctor suggested. "Maybe you can offer to not stay to yourselves. We are trying to break the 'certain species, certain job' mentality. There are many things your people can do. For instance, one of the main focuses of the Phoenix Alliance at the moment is to make the physical and body servants positions something that is performed by many species, including the ones that were not slaves. There have already been a few Bajorans and Klingons that have taken those jobs."

"Are you suggesting that we should offer ourselves up to become sex holograms?" Gwania asked outraged. "What would be our selling point? That we don't need a holodeck to exist and therefore can make house calls to make people's fantasies come true?"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders once more. "It is an option. But I just pointed those jobs out because I wanted to indicate that some people are starting to do jobs that would be unthinkable for them mere months ago."

"There really are Klingons that are offering themselves as sex servants?" Gwania asked doubtful.

"Physical servants? No. But there have been... I believe six now... that have become body servants. But, they have brought their own flair to the concept. They mostly perform the task of bodyguards that walk around armed to the teeth and growl at everyone. Just that they also go to bed with their boss who got sexually excited from the fact that their tough Klingon warrior is protecting them, and scaring everyone else into peeing themselves. I actually met the first one."

"He was from this ship?" Gwania wondered.

The Doctor shook his head. "No. When Intendant Torres heard that a Klingon had applied for the Body servant training, we made a quick stop at Risa so that Intendant Torres could meet this man. Bear of a man, as they say. One of the toughest looking Klingons I have ever seen, and that includes the people of Torres' guard contingent. Once there, Torres decreed that the first ten Klingons that applied for the Body Servant training would be allowed to pass directly to being Body Servants if they passed the basic training. She wants word to spread that now Klingons are becoming Body Servants as well."

The Doctor smiled before adding, "They were in hot demand. Even while in training, a Trill woman had already signed the contract with that first Klingon and was waiting on Risa so that he could spent his free time with her. It seems that they both really liked their agreement."

They had reached the food court and the Doctor showed Gwania to the replicator, where he entered his clearance so that Gwania didn't have to pay for the drink. He watched how she replicated some Romulan ale and took a sip. He was fascinated to no end when he saw her react to it, clearly enjoying the taste.

"Nice. It must be nice to be in the Klingon Intendant's ship. I can't remember the last time I tasted such quality from a replicator. Only the real stuff tastes better, and even there this surpasses the cheap stuff."

"You really can taste that?" The Doctor asked, feeling a trace of jealously of the fact that Gwania could enjoy the uniqueness of drinks and foods.

Gwania smiled at him. "Yes, and before you ask, no, it's not base tastes only. I can really distinguish the flavor difference between good and bad Romulan ale. So it's not that I only taste that it is Romulan ale; no, I taste the entire bouquet." Seeing the look of longing in his eyes, she laughed. "Tell you what. When I have had that meeting tomorrow, if I'm pleased with how things went, I'll let you have a look at my subroutines afterwards."

"I would be very interested in that," The Doctor admitted.

Gwania took another sip and with the glass still at her lips she looked over it at him before suggesting slyly, "Maybe you can take me out to dinner after that, just so that you can explore the new sensation of taste of course."

The Doctor was just about to accept when he noticed the small smile on Gwania's lips as she lowered her glass. The Doctor was smart enough to answer, "I would be honored to take you out to dinner, regardless of whether I can taste the food; the company would be all that I need."

"May I?" Gwania asked with a smile, pointing to the replicator, basically asking if he would object to her taking another drink on his account.

"Please do."

This time, Gwania replicated some Bloodwine to sip as they walked. As they moved away, the Doctor noted, "It's not wise to mix alcohol."

Gwania laughed. "I may be able to taste it, but I don't get drunk from it. It just accumulates in an internal reservoir I created where it stays until I get rid of it."

"At least that part is the same for us," The Doctor noted.

They entered the park and Gwania decided to come back to what they had been discussing. "I can't believe that a Klingon man would so willingly serve a Trill woman."

The Doctor shrugged. "Who says that he is? While they are out in public he is acting like a dedicated bodyguard; there are millions of Klingons that do the very same thing. Who knows what happens behind closed doors? Maybe she may be his boss, but she really wants to have a man in her life that doesn't ask her all the time what she wants or thinks, behind closed doors. Maybe there it's actually that he is the one that demands sex, and she gives it, or not. Maybe he is a Klingon that likes to be ordered around, in private where nobody knows it and therefore it won't hurt his image. We just don't know, and we also don't need to know. The important thing is that it seems to work just fine."

Then the Doctor realized that they had sidetracked from what they had been discussing before. "But as to what we talked about, what you could offer the Coalition, your suggestion of being someone that makes house calls that can make fantasies come true, is actually more to the point."

He tapped a finger to indicate a second point. "Or how about that Cardassian Intendant that had your sister, as you called the person, as a body servant? Just imagine that now. How much do you think a person that has a lot to offer would be willing to pay to have a body servant like that? To no longer need to have a whole harem of sex servants to fulfil their need for diversity, but instead only one body servant that can fulfil all their wishes?"

Another tap to a finger. "But I only offered those options because I know there is a high demand there right now. The first sentient hologram becoming a body servant; it would make the news all over the coalition, just like it did with that first Klingon and the first Bajoran. Still, I can see that most people would not want to do that; I wouldn't. So how about instead the fact that that your people would be perfectly suited to work in shipyards; you can work in outer space without having to worry about an air supply or a protective suit getting damaged."

Then he let his hands drop and continued, "You say that you stay pretty much to yourself in your colony, why don't you instead offer to actually serve the Coalition in places where you are of more worth than just creating some tribute? You might just be able to get that law revoked... well, replaced with more lenient security rules. And on top of it you would even stop your self-imposed exile and mingle with the rest of the Coalition again."

"Where we will once again be seen as 'just a hologram'."

"Well, yes, you of course always have the option to keep hiding in your colony," The Doctor said bluntly. "At least now would be a good time for it and it wouldn't just be your people. You would be seen as 'just' a hologram, and a Human would be seen as 'just' a Human, and a Gorn would be seen as 'just' a Gorn. At least you would be sharing the 'just a' stigma with six other species. Tell me, what would be more interesting? Hiding in your colony? Or going out and seeing the Coalition and, yes, sometimes having to suffer stupid comments from stupid people that are probably serving a long contract because they need the security of it. They may be a Klingon or a Cardassian, but they are condemned to work in the same place for ten years because those contracts pay the best. You might be 'just' a hologram, but can afford to take short contract jobs, or even work on a 'pay for time' basis. As I said, it's just a suggestion. Think about it. Contact your people and see what they think."

"I will," Gwania agreed. She looked around her at the park under construction. "This is nice, but it somehow doesn't fit on a Klingon ship."

"Well, this is really more the project of Minster of..."

*******************

To be continued... someday... maybe