Imzadi

LESSON FOR GEORDIE
by Carol Sandford
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Alexander Roschenko sat fidgeting in the Ten Forward lounge waiting for his dad to arrive. It was his birthday and his father was going to start the evening with dinner.

Fiddling with his straw, trying to make it stand up straight in his extra thick strawberry milkshake, he looked half interestedly around the room at the other occupants. Couples sat close together, talking in whispers and Alexander inwardly snorted at the fruitily of the exercise.

His father had already told him of the Klingon way: of reciting poetry and roaring like a banshee. Alexander remembered eating the carpet with laughter when he had heard.

He sniggered as he he took a healthy swig of his drink, but turned to the door expectantly when he heard its swish, expecting and hoping that it was his father. But it was not. The chief engineer, Geordi LaForge entered and headed his way. A huge grin was on his face and Alexander briefly looked behind him to see if he was smiling at someone else, but there was nobody else there.

Geordi approached the young lad and slapped him heartily on the back, "Hey there, birthday boy. I just left your dad and he wanted me to apologize for being a few minutes later than planned. He's just finishing up something."

Somehow Alexander wasn't surprised. A birthday dinner wasn't high on his fathers list of priorities, but Geordi didn't need to know that. "Okay, thanks, Geordi."

He was surprised again when the engineer didn't move away, but settled down beside him, indicating to the bartender that he wanted his usual drink, which silently appeared before him barely seconds later. "Thanks." He smiled at the bar tender. Taking a deep glug, Geordi gasped with delight, feeling instantly refreshed. "Ah, that's better. Boy, did I need that."

Alexander watched him with interest, fascinated by not only his looks, but by the visor that seemed to be glued to his face. He knew it wasn't because he'd seen him take it off, only just managing to hide the gasp at his first image of Geordi with huge, pure white eyes.

Curiosity got the better of him and he found himself asking, "Geordi, can I ask you something. Do you wear the visor to bed?"

Geordi chuckled, baring his impossibly white teeth, "No, Alex, I don't, nor do I wear it when I have a shower, or when I listen to music, or when I..." He hesitated, quickly remembering who he was talking to, and added, "No, no I don't."

Appearing very grown up, Alexander said importantly, "I know, sir, you don't wear it when you're reciting poetry."

Geordi laughed out aloud, "Where on earth did that come from. How old did you say you were today?"

Alexander flushed hotly, but being a Klingon, he braved the moment out, "I am 13 today, sir. I am now a man, according to my father. He has told me what is to be expected of me, and I know what a man, a warrior has to do to find a mate."

Geordi couldn't hide the smile as he imagined Alexander approaching some poor young girl and proceeded to show her the Klingon way of dating. "Okaaaay. Have you actually tried to...find a mate on board the Enterprise, Alex?" He asked curiously.

Alexander shook his head quickly, answering with a maturity well beyond his tender eyars. "Oh, no, sir, I'm only just 13 today, maybe tomorrow I will start the hunt."

Geordi couldn't help himself as he chuckled with glee. "Do you have anyone in mind. Is it going to be an human girl, or are you just going to set your sights for a Klingon...woman?"

Geordi bit back the grin as he watched Alexanders face try to look serious as he pondered the question. "Well, of course I would like to mate with a Klingon girl, that would please my father. But I know there are no Klingon girls on board, so maybe I will be attracted to one of the humans."

Geordi pursed his lips thoughtfully, "Okaaaay. Are you going to try to court them the same way as you would a Klingon girl?"

"Of course!" he responded, indignantly. "There is no other way for a Klingon warrior." He grinned widely, adding, "I will be triumphant."

Geordi waved his hand as he he tried to voice his curiosity, "So...you're going to recite poetry and roar to whoever you choose to make your mate?"

"Yes, sir." He replied confidently.

Just then the door opened and the counselor entered with the doctor, throwing them a quick smile and wave in greeting before heading off to a table.

Geordi was watching the youngster as Alex continued to watch the two women. "Two very nice looking ladies, aren't they, Alex?"

Alexander blushed furiously at being caught. "Um, I guess. A little too old for me though. I want my woman to be young and fit and healthy, to bare my sons."

Geordi nodded. "Uh huh. So, just supposing, the Counselor was very young, and free and interested, would you try to date her?"

Klingon's do not date." He responded derisevely. "Klingon's find their mate, perform the mating ritual, and that is that. That is the Klingon way."

"So...you would recite poems and roar at the Counselor, if you were to try and mate with her?" Geordi asked, devilment filling his thoughts.

"Yes, sir."

Geordi pondered the thought before quietly saying. "Hmm, interesting."

He studied the young man thoughtfully before asking him earnestly. "Do you think the Klingon way would work for me?"

Alexander thought about the question carefully before answering him. "Maybe. Why don't you try it out on Counselor Troi, sir. You are both old, and single. She would make a good mate for you." He decided.

"Hmm, you think?" Geordi pondered, thoughtfully.

Alexander nodded eagerly.

"Hmm, she IS a fine looking woman," he agreed. "And she would give me fine looking sons. But what about Commander Riker?" Geordi asked.

Alexander thought about that for a second before answering. "Well, Counselor Troi obviously doesn't want him to be her mate, because they aren't together, are they? Maybe she doesn't think that Commander Riker has enough honour. I think that you are a man of honour, sir."

Geordi eyed him speculatively, "You think, huh?"

Alexander nodded vigorously.

"Hmmm."

Alexander was surprised when Geordi suddenly stood up and yanked his tunic top down, his decision clearly made. "Okay, I'm going for it. I'm going to try the Klingon way. Wish me luck."

Alex grinned, urging him on. "Yes, sir, good luck, sir."

Geordi approached the two women and boldly come to a stand in front of Deanna, who looked up at the darkly handsome engineer with interest. Her soft sultry voice broke the sudden silence. "Hello, Geordi, keeping young Alexander amused, I see. That;s nice of you."

Turning briefly to Alex, unsure of what to do next. Alex indicated with his hands that he should kneel. The two women glanced at each other with a puzzled smile as Geordi suddenly dropped to his knees before the counselor. Shock stole over their features as Geordi began to recite.

"Roses are red, violets are blue,

I have decided that my love for you is true

Violets are blue, roses are red.

I can never seem to get you out of my head.

Deanna Troi, be mine for ever more

I need you with me, of that I am sure.

Walk with me, hand in hand, together as one

Let our passion add even more heat to the sun

Let our love flow like a never ending stream

let me fill your heart, let me fill your dreams.

Please be mine Deanna Troi, I do love you true

Let me show you how much, please show me too.

The lounge had fallen into a stunned silence as Geordi had begun talking, but not as much as the two women who stared down at him with their mouths hanging open and their eyes even wider.

The next moment, the entire room clapped their hands over their ears as Geordi let one almighty roar, shattering the stunned silence, until, at last stopped and once more, the room fell quiet.

For all of five seconds.

Then the room erupted into gales of laughter. Only two people stayed mysteriously quiet as it seemed the whole ship fell about with laughter. Mystified, Geordi wandered over to Alexander, frowning openly. "Why are they laughing, what was so funny? What did I do wrong, Alex?"

Eventually Alex began to chuckle himself and Geordi looked at him perplexed. "What?"

Amidst the gales of giggles, Alex managed to squeeze out, "Oh, Geordi, you forgot to take your visor off!"