Chapter 13

The following day, the Jedi and Diya joined Kirk and his crew on the bridge as they made their approach to their destination. The planet Bajor shined like a jewel in the light of her sun. Cities could be seen on the surface. "According to the Shepard's reports, the Bajorans have had spaceflight for several centuries," Spock stated. "And there are signs of advanced planetary civilization going back for millennia."

Kirk watched the Jedi as they stared at the screen intently. "Master Laden?", he queried.

Kee-Xi breathed in. He could feel it here. The Force resonated around this world. "Yes," he said. "This is the world. This is where the Force has drawn us."

"The Bajorans are an insular and private people," Spock noted. "We cannot guarantee they will accept your residence on their world."

"I understand, Captain Spock. But I wish to make the attempt."

"Captain." Uhura turned in her chair. "I'm receiving a transmission from the planet. They..." Uhura seemed surprised. "They say they've been expecting us."

Kirk gave Spock a surprised look. Spock, in turn, raised his eyebrow. "Fascinating."

"Well. Since we're expected, I suppose we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer. Mister Chekov, you have the conn. Spock, Bones, let's accompany our guests down to the planet."

"I'll relay coordinates to the shuttle bay, sir," Uhura said.

Their arrival point was a grand courtyard. Spock set their shuttle down with expert precision at a place readied for its arrival. The three Starfleet officers and Diya followed the Jedi out of the back hatch.

Waiting for them were a crowd of people. Many were in robes of light oranges and yellows, a few reds and violets. Among them stood a single figure, an older man who was clearly the one in authority. A woman in a light-colored suit that was more like a jacket and long dress than robes stood nearby with similarly-garbed figures.

Kirk stepped up beside Kee-Xi. Together they walked up to the Bajoran leader and his assembled people. Kee-Xi noted the mirthful sense in the green eyes of the leader as they looked over his group. When they got close he bowed in respect.

"I am Kai Pereno," the man announced. The Universal Translators provided to the Jedi and Diya enabled them to understand along with the Starfleet personnel. "We have been expecting you."

"You have?", Kirk asked.

Pereno smiled serenely at him. "Captain Kirk, is it? I am honored to have you on our world. And I see you have brought those from Beyond with you."

"You expected our arrival," Kee-Xi said.

"It was foretold long ago by those who spoke with the Prophets," Pereno answered. "That three from Beyond would come to us and give a blessing to our people."

"We come from another galaxy," Kee-Xi stated. "I am Kee-Xi Laden, Master of the Jedi Order. These are Silas Torson and Zeala Del, Jedi Knights who have accompanied me. We ask your permission, Kai Pereno, to found a new Jedi Temple on your world, and to rebuild the Jedi Order on Bajor."

Pereno said nothing at first. The assembled murmured among themselves. Kee-Xi sensed curiosity, bewilderment, amazement, and some irritation among various attendees.

After the silence, Pereno lifted his right hand to the side of Kee-Xi's head. His fingers pinched Kee-Xi's earlobe, enough for it to become an annoying sort of pain. "I feel your pagh, Master Laden," Pereno said. "I have never felt such a pagh before. Such light. Such radiance." He followed up with doing the same to Zeala and Silas. "All of you. I read the Prophecies, but I never imagined..." After a moment of thought Pereno nodded. "Master Laden, I am but a servant of the Prophets. It is clear that your coming is indeed their will. A blessing being given to our world and our people. I welcome you and your Jedi to Bajor."

"We are honored, Kai," Kee-Xi answered.

"Before we go further, there is something I must show you, Master Laden." He gestured toward the main building behind him. "You may all await us in the gallery."

While the others stayed behind, Kee-Xi followed Pereno and other Bajoran clergy into a hall leading away from the indoor gallery. Stairs went downward into a subterranean level, leading into torch-lit halls that looked millennia old.

He was brought into a chamber attended by two robed Bajorans who bowed wordlessly to Pereno. On the far side of the room was a simple container, an ark of some sort. Pereno led Kee-Xi to it. "This," he began, "is the Orb of Prophecy and Change."

Kee-Xi stepped toward the ark. He could feel the power within; the Force pulsed and resonated with strange energy he had never experienced before.

Sensing Kee-Xi's curiosity, Pereno continued. "They are the Tears of the Prophets, sent to guide the Bajoran people. It was with this Orb that your coming was predicted long ago. 'The Light-bearers of the Beyond'."

Kee-Xi put a hand on the ark. "These Prophets you speak of?"

"They are our protectors. They watch over us, they guide us, from the Celestial Temple."

Normally such words would have seemed to Kee-Xi as local religious beliefs, spiritual convictions at most. But he could feel the power within the Orb. The Force reacted to it and he grew curious.

Pereno reached from Kee-Xi's side and swung the ark doors open. Green light erupted from the hourglass-shaped object inside and enveloped Kee-Xi.

He was back in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He stood in the Jedi Council chambers. The Council were arrayed around him. So was Tyva, and Silas, and Zeala. The light, though, was wrong. An amberish hue seemed to permeate everything. "Where am I?", he asked.

"Beginning," said Master Windu.

"Master Windu?"

"We have taken forms familiar to you." Tyva spoke uncharacteristically. Without the usual warmth or fierceness she would use. "You have come from across the path."

"The path." Kee-Xi looked to her. "The hyperspace current."

Her reply was, "All is as must be."

"Light and darkness. Existence shifts but remains. That which occurred will always occur," added the Zeala figure.

"I'm afraid I do not understand," Kee-Xi said. In this strange world the Force did not answer his thoughts as it normally would. But he could still feel something of this place.

"See what is. See what was. See what will be," the being with Silas' voice insisted.

Kee-Xi took in a breath and gathered his thoughts. He focused on the Force. On that sense of the future that Jedi could attain, the sort of clairvoyance that had been the source of the nightmares that had plagued him from the time he was an apprentice to their fulfillment with the Clone Wars.

And he saw.

No dream could match the strength of the visions. An intense barrage of scenes and images rippled through Kee-Xi's being, so quickly that his mind reeled at the attempt to decipher what they meant. He saw the Jedi, the Sith, starships moving across the void of space, great planetary vistas, scenes of peaceful harmony and utter destruction.

And though the details eluded him, Kee-Xi could sense what they meant. This journey had truly been the will of the Force. They had been guided here for a purpose, a greater purpose that he could not yet understand. But one vital to their future. To the destinies of both galaxies.

Kee-Xi reeled as the green light died. He was back in the Orb Chamber with Kai Pereno. The Kai looked at him expectantly. "I have never had such visions," Kee-Xi confessed. "But it is clear to me that we are meant to be here."

"The Prophets provide us with the knowledge we need," Perebno answered. "But rarely what we come seeking."

"That much is expected."

The two contemplated that similarity. Pereno broke the silence. "The old Kenar Monastery in Kendra Province should suffice for your new home. It is rewarded to you by my order and with my blessing."

Kee-Xi felt his heart swell as he thought of that. A new Jedi Temple. The Jedi Order, reborn. Here, on this world. After all of the danger, the long spaceflight that never seemed to end, he had found a place where the Jedi could be rebuilt. "I am honored, Kai Penero, by your generosity. The Jedi will treat your monastery with respect, and we welcome the people of Bajor to call upon us for aid. All who seek knowledge of the Force will be welcomed." He bowed again to Pereno.

"And all who come to learn your ways will come with the protection of the Temple and of the Prophets," Pereno promised. "Let us return to the others then and tell them of this good tiding."

Kirk and Spock found themselves standing away from the others. "So, what do you think of all of this?", Kirk asked.

"It is interesting, Captain," Spock said. "That they should have been aware of this timing. Perhaps there is more to the Bajoran religion than appears?"

Kirk spotted Pereno leading Kee-Xi back into the gallery. "A study for another time then, Spock," Kirk said, watching as Pereno spoke of further bequests to the Jedi Order.

The Kai walked over to one of the young Bajoran clergy seeing to Silas and Zeala. "Ranjen Meressa," Pereno said with a friendly, yet firm, tone.

"Yes sir?"

"I am appointing you to be my official representative to the Jedi," Pereno said. "They will be taking up residence in the Kenar Monastery. It will be their new Temple."

Meressa nodded. "I will be honored to be of service in this manner." She turned to Kee-Xi. "Master Laden, please, direct any needs to my attention."

"I am grateful for any and all efforts on our behalf," the Jedi Master answered.

"I, for one, would like to see this old monastery they're getting," McCoy remarked.

"I would too," Diya added. "Hopefully it has a good view."

Pereno nodded. "Ranjen Meressa can accompany you there whenever she is ready."

"Allow me to gather what few things I require. I shall join you shortly."

Both Bajoran clergy walked away. Silas, who had been observing it all dispassionately, remarked, "It seems rather too good to be true, don't you think?"

"In normal circumstances I would agree," Kee-Xi noted. "But I have experienced their visions first hand. These beings called 'Prophets' have great power."

"So you have experienced one of their Orbs?", Spock asked.

"Yes." Kee-Xi was still processing all of the images and scenes it had shown him. "It was rather interesting. I have never felt something of its like before."

"It would appear to have impressed our hosts," Kirk said. "The idea of the Bajorans accepting the Jedi on their homeworld, of opening up to other species, is not something we expected."

"The Bajorans do not seem to be xenophobes, Captain," Zeala pointed out. "There is a difference between fear of outsiders and simply staying to one's self, even if they are often found together."

"Your point is accepted, Mrs. Del," Kirk answered.

After Meressa returned to join them, the group took the Enterprise shuttle to the Kenar Monastery. On this part of the planet the sun was starting to creep over the horizon, providing a fitting new dawn for the occasion.

The monastery was a work of architectural wonder. Bajoran columns of fine marble supported the high circular roofing of the assorted structures. Smaller versions of these columns supported the protective stone coverings that provided shelter to any walking the various causeways between the structures of the monastery. Aside from the white marble were walls of fall coloration giving color to the entire complex. A great courtyard was opened in the center. Planets were growing in most of it.

"It looks remarkably well-preserved for an abandoned monastery," Silas observed.

"Some peoples in the valley below traditionally maintain the grounds in exchange for using the local land," Meressa explained.

"A wise policy," Kee-Xi noted.

Spock did not land the shuttle in the courtyard. He found an open area around the back of the temple, an old outside pavilion partly built into the mountainside. Everyone stepped out onto said pavilion and looked around at the plant life starting to reclaim the compound. They all stepped out of the shuttle and walked across the pavilion and into the temple.

The inside was built with archways that reminded Kirk of old Earth cathedrals, but Spock suggested they were closer, in Human architecture, to East Asian structures. "A little on the big side for three people," McCoy pointed out.

"It will not be for just three. Not for long," Kee-Xi noted. He turned to face Kirk and his officers. "Captain Kirk, we thank you. Without your help, this day would never have come for us. We owe the future of the Jedi Order to you."

"I look forward to seeing what you do here, Master Kee-Xi," Kirk answered. "I will have the Enterprise beam down extra supplies before we leave orbit."

"We are further grateful for your offered help." Kee-Xi looked to Spock. "Captain Spock, I would look forward to any visits you find the time to make. Any of your people interested in discussing Jedi philosophy are more than welcome to come and stay with us."

"I too have enjoyed our discussions, Master Laden," Spock said. "I will pass that offer on."

"Not every young couple gets such a big place to start with," McCoy remarked, smiling at Silas and Zeala. "Make sure you make the best of it."

A faint blush appeared on the cheeks of the two Jedi.

Spock looked to McCoy. "Doctor, I find it highly unlikely that the young couple needs or even desires such encouragement."

McCoy gave Spock an exasperated look.

Diya stepped up to the Jedi. "I'm going to miss you," she said, hugging Silas first. "It's been great traveling with you."

"You too will be missed," Zeala assured her upon their hug.

"I'm very happy for you, Diya," Silas said. He smiled at the future he saw for this young woman, thinking of how different things had turned out for them given their circumstances when they met.

Kee-Xi accepted a hug as well. "You will do well in their Starfleet, Diya," Kee-Xi said. "That I am certain of."

Diya nodded. "I'll give it everything. Will you let me know how things are going for the Jedi?"

"We'll make sure word gets to you," Silas promised.

"Right." Diya hugged Zeefive last. "Goodbye, Zeefive. I'll miss you."

A series of bleeps and tones answered, followed by a sad warble.

"I know. But your place is here with the Jedi. And I'm sure we'll see each other again." She gave him a pat on his silver-domed top and looked into his violet optic sensor. There was a tear in her eye.

That prompted happier sounds from the astromech droid.

With this goodbye done, Diya returned to a place with the Starfleet officers while the Jedi remained with Ranjen Meressa. She gave them a final goodbye wave.

Spock brought his right hand up. His fingers spread in the middle; index and middle finger together on one side, ring and pinky finger on the other. "Master Laden, Mr. Torson, Mrs. Del, may you live long and prosper."

They returned the gesture. "Live long and prosper, Captain Spock, Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy." Kee-Xi nodded to Kirk and McCoy. "May the Force always be with you in your travels."

Kirk nodded. "And may the Force be with you, Master Laden, as you work to restore your Jedi Order."

With farewells given, the Enterprise crew departed. The Jedi watched their shuttle fly over the empty old monastery and ascend into the heavens as the Bajoran sun cast its light upon them all in a beautiful dawn.

There was much work to be done. But for the moment, the three Jedi - and their droid ally - could enjoy the Bajoran dawn and what it meant.

After everything, they had succeeded. The Jedi would live on.

Bajor was continuing its peaceful rotation on the viewscreen of the Starship Enterprise when KIrk and the others returned to the bridge. Scott was at a spot along the rear of the bridge, Chekov was at his spot with a Betazoid ensign at the helm, and Uhura was again at Communications. "The Jedi have received the transported supplies and equipment, Captain," Uhura confirmed.

Spock took up his station while McCoy joined Scott at the rail behind Kirk. Diya stood between them, heart pounding with excitement as she absorbed everything she was deciding to do. Casting off from the Jedi, going alone to live on the Federation capital world and attend Starfleet Academy… it was all so terrifying and exciting at the same time.

Kirk slipped into his command chair. "Excellent news, Commander." He put his hands together. "Well. We're long due to return to Spacedock."

"Course for Earth set, Keptin," Chekov said. "Ready to leave orbit on your order."

"Thank you, Mister Chekov. Status on the warp engines, Mister Scott?"

"My wee bairns are back t' full health, sir," Scott promised. "Ye've got all th' warp speed ye need."

"Excellent." Kirk turned in his chair and looked to Diya. "Don't worry about your friends, Miss Suun. I trust they're going to be fine. And so will you."

Diya nodded in agreement. "I'm just… I guess it's a little scary, that's all. I've been alone in my life before, but nothing like this."

"Don't you worry your little headweights, little lady," McCoy said. "You'll be in fine company soon enough."

Diya nodded back at him for that.

"I do wonder what this world will be like in two decades' time," Spock mused. "And what effect the Jedi Order might have upon our own galaxy."

"That's a question for the future, Mister Spock," Kirk observed.

McCoy "hah"ed as a sort of laugh. "I think they'll do well enough, so long as they don't go for that nonsense about attachments being bad for you."

"Doctor, I believe you are allowing your Human tendency toward emotion to overlook the place of calm contemplation in the Jedi way."

McCoy directed a look at Spock. "Contemplation, Spock? There's a difference between contemplation and turning yourself into a damn robot."

"And now you add standard Human arrogance to compound your error…"

"Gentlemen," Kirk chided gently. "I think we should leave those questions up to the Jedi, don't you?"

"Obviously, Jim," Spock said.

McCoy replied with crossed arms and a look of mild irritation.

Kirk smiled thinly. Together they were a dynamic team, but all teams had their frictions, and Spock and Bones usually . So did all groups of people, Jedi included.

That made him think. Where would the Jedi be in a year's time? A decade? A quarter-century, much less a century. What did their presence mean for Kirk's galaxy?

"It's a new beginning, all right," he said softly to himself. "A new beginning for them, for Bajor…" He reached forward and gestured for the helm to break orbit. "...and for us. Helm, break orbit and put us on the course for Earth, Warp 5."

Starship Enterprise moved away from the planet Bajor with Bajor's sun illuminating the ship's fine hull as she did so. Once again the proud ship and her crew had been in the center of events that would forever change the course of history in the galaxy. And Kirk and his crew would be left to wonder just what changes were to come for the Federation, for Starfleet, and for themselves.

After several moments the Enterprise went to warp, departing the start of one future for the continuation of her own.