The Ensign braced herself, ready to dash into the crowd if she had to. Before she could do so, the fourth Klingon in the group acted instead, grabbing...onto her scarred compatriot’s weapon arm, and harshly jerking him back. The only female in the group, she was dark skinned, even by the standards of Klingons, her head completely shaven save for a short pony tail wrapped with a leather cord. The scarred Klingon snarled at her, and almost seemed about to strike his own fellow with his free hand,. As I spent time with you I found that I craved moreand more. I began to dream about you. I found it hard to breathe whenyou were in distress. Then we were together as a man and a woman and Iknew this was who I was born to be with. Amy, not even my poor Lindamade me feel this way. I loved her, but I did not crave her. I did notfeel her presence in my soul, but you I physically don't know if I cansurvive without. I have not done this yet because I was not sure if nextJanuary when you have. " But aren't you relaxed with me?" she asked."My love, there is but a single part of my body that is not relaxed in your company, and even that has succumbed now," he said dryly."Carlos, you actually called me 'my love!' Am I really? Your love?"It was too dark for her to see his smile, but she knew it was there. "Do not expect me to say such things often," he said. "Not often enough, I am sure. But yes, you are—and of that I am also sure."She kissed him, long and lingeringly."I speak as I do. You shoot a glance towards your father, Sneaktrapper, and reflect that twenty years ago, he was standing here, without a name, probably just as nervous and excited as you are now. The thought gives you some comfort. He was able to find his name a mere eighteen months later, when he returned wearing a tiger pelt and leading three slaves. He took two of the slaves as his own, and one of them gave birth to you a short while later. Having a nameless slave for a mother might hold you back in other.