A/N: Bicycle is a brand of playing cards.

Chapter Fourteen – Krleiuvans

Late into the night, four officers sat around a circular table. A deck of playing cards was on the table near the center, and each officer had a stack of plastic chips next to them. A few of the chips were in the middle of the board, and each person studied the five cards in their hands.

"I'll see your five and raise you ten," Damian said at last, dropping a few chips in the pile.

Karin threw in ten more chips, but didn't make another raise. Sam decided to fold, and put her cards face-down in front of her. Allison smiled enigmatically over her cards, and tossed in a few extra poker chips. "I'll raise you fifteen," she said.

Karin made a noise of protest, and also folded. Damian dropped fifteen more chips into the pile. "All right, Ael, here's to your fifteen. Show 'em."

With that, she grinned and dropped her cards on the table. Three aces and two kings; a full house.

Damian groaned, and all but threw his hand of cards down. Two pair. "How do you bloody DO that?" he muttered.

"Practice, practice, practice," the captain quipped as she scooped up the pile of chips and dragged them to her side of the table. She gathered up the cards and began to shuffle. Once she was satisfied with the randomization, she dealt five cards to each of them. Then she put the deck to the side, and studied her hand. It was a straight.

Karin threw in a card and drew another, and then frowned for a moment. Sam kept her hand, apparently satisfied with whatever she had gotten. Damian, on the other hand, glanced innocently over at Allison. The captain felt him poking into her mind, trying to find out what hand she had.

"Hey Damian," Allison said, pretending she hadn't noticed. "I've got a riddle for you. The police get called to investigate a death. The man was found dead, surrounded by fifty-three bicycles. How did he die?"

With a subtle yank of the Force, Allison nonchalantly pulled his chair out from underneath him. With a yelp, he crashed to the carpet and his cards went flying. "Answer: he was caught cheating at poker!" she declared, dodging and laughing as he threw a poker chip at her.

Karin and Sam laughed at the outraged look on the Lieutenant-Commander's face. Damian glared at them for a good ten seconds, then gave up and began laughing too. "Okay, I admit it, I tried to cheat. I thought you wouldn't notice."

"Oh, ye of little faith," Allison immediately replied, and offered him a hand up. He took it, and the two Vulcans exchanged a brief mental hug. "I think we should call it a night."

"Aww, but we were having fun," Karin complained, but she tossed her cards onto the table, revealing a hand with ace high nothing. "And I was so close," she joked.

Sam also threw her cards onto the table. She had a straight, but her highest card was a ten whereas Allison's highest card was a King. "I give," she agreed. "It's a bit late for poker, anyway."

Allison elbowed her in the ribs. "Unless you can play with Weeeeeesleeeeeey," she teased. "You got a crush on the Crusher!"

Sam good-naturedly smacked her older cousin in the arm. "You're never going to let me forget about that, are you?"

"Nope!"

"Didn't think so!"

Damian's cards were still scattered around the floor, but they only had one pair of anything. Allison grinned and waved her cards, showing everyone her winning hand. "Right. Let's get some sleep, people. Tomorrow's almost here already."

The next morning, The Yel'Hal-tor received a commcall from StarFleet headquarters, directing the ship and her crew to the planet Krleiuv in the Swoi sector. The planet's native species, Krleiuvans, were a reptilian humanoid race that vaguely resembled dinosaurs. The majority ethnic race was greenish-blue in color, and they were involved in a campaign against the reddish-colored minority group. The majority, called the Tor, wanted the minority, called the Shal, banished to their most forbidding continent after a group of Shal had been caught in a scandal against the government. As the planet was being considered for Federation membership, StarFleet was dispatching the Yel'Hal-tor to Krleiuv and Captain Danks was to serve as diplomatic mediator in the fiasco.

"Am I suddenly the galaxy's most requested diplomat or something?" Allison muttered under her breath as she ordered a course change. "I swear, they all want me to cure plagues or feed the five thousand."

"Oh, surely it can't be THAT hard," Cobalt mused out loud. The sapphire dragon was calmly sitting on his haunches next to her chair, occasionally spouting off a smart remark into the boring old routine of alpha watch. His humorous tendencies had toned down slightly after he had shed his skin, maturing and learning exactly what to say and when to say it. But even so, his link with Allison kept his practical joker side close nearby, as nearly a second nature to both of them. "It's just a little rebellion. No biggie. So, what's our ETA, anyway?"

"Approximately twenty-eight hours," Lia immediately responded. The bridge crew had long since become accustomed to the dragons' presences, and Allison had given orders that until further notice, the two dragons held the same ranks and privileges of their respective padmiris. Any order given by Cobalt, therefore, would be as if Allison had given the order instead. StarFleet Command, of course, would not necessarily acknowledge that authority, but then again they didn't need to know about that.

Allison had been wary of StarFleet Command ever since her first day as a Vulcan. In turn, that careful caution had been shared with her Bondmate, his dragon, and her own dragon. There was just something about the Admiralty that rubbed her the wrong way, and after awhile she suspected that it was genetic, considering Captain Kirk's track record. It was as if StarFleet Command consisted of naive people only, who couldn't see the opportunities in front of them.

Still, for the moment they were her superiors, and it might be a good idea to at least act as if she was obeying orders.

Allison abruptly stood. "I'll be down in the gym. Inform me immediately if anything comes up." As she stepped up to the turbolift, Cobalt smoothly rose and also entered the enlarged elevator. "Kristian, you have the conn," Cobalt called over his shoulder.

"Aye, sirs."

Since the discovery of the dragons of K'ti'ma, Allison and Damian had been practicing their newfound Jedi skills almost constantly, and after the first month or so they had both taken on a few apprentices. Allison was in the midst of training Kristian, May, Karin, and Sam. Damian, on the other hand, was training Michael, Monica, and Cheryl. The nine officers met regularly to practice their lightsaber techniques, and at random intervals a new lesson would be brought forth.

As Allison entered the gymnasium, she mentally reached out through the master-padawan training bond she shared with her four apprentices. Karin, Turtle, would you two mind joining me in the gymnasium? Kristian, May, you two can join us at the end of your shifts.

Karin and Sam acknowledged the summons, and Kristian and May also sent affirmative answers. After a few minutes, the two Romulans entered the room. Cobalt, who was reclining on a special branch-like couch that had been put in just for him, lazily waved at the duo, who saluted in response.

It had been scientifically proven several years earlier, during an incident with a Romulan woman called Ael i-Mhiessan t'Rllaillieu, that Romulans (or Rihannsu, as they preferred to be called) could learn Vulcan mental disciplines either through mind-meld or lots of patience. As patience was the Jedi code itself, and because Samantha and Karin both preferred traditional Jedi style, the two Rihannsu had decided to learn such powers under Allison's supervision. During Allison's Dream, the dragons of K'ti'ma had shown to her that telepathy and all related powers were merely fueled by the Force, and most telepathic species were capable of so much more but would never get the chance to be trained properly. Therefore, it stood to reason that the Rihannsu, descended from the telepathic Vulcans, would also be fairly Force-sensitive but untrained. And half-Rihannsu would also be capable of learning Jedi techniques and skills.

Karin frowned slightly. "Isn't this way off of our normal lesson time? I thought it was still alpha shift."

"It is," Allison replied, but didn't elaborate. Instead, she casually twisted her wrist and fluidly pulled her right-hand lightsaber out in one smooth motion. "I thought that we could use some practice before our next mission. I get the feeling we'll need it. Turtle, would you care to do the honors?"

Sam reached to her belt, grabbed her lightsaber, and activated it. A brightly glowing silver blade sprang from the hilt, hissing and humming in the empty gymnasium.

Allison activated her own lightsaber, a long spear of green elegance. She crossed her blade with her cousin's, and looked her in the eyes. "Remember, don't think. Just feel. Once you have the rhythm, there is nothing to fear from any enemy as long as you remember to listen constantly. The flow of the Force may change without warning. En guarde!" With that, she tore her blade away from Sam's and slashed in a butterfly sweep from the left.

Sam's lightsaber came up somewhat slowly, compared to the speed of the green blade, and silver met emerald in a blaze of light. Sam broke away and swung toward Allison's shoulder, but the captain quickly parried and struck again, this time in an age-old Crescent Moon maneuver from the days of the Old Republic. Sam was barely able to sweep the blade aside as it darted in, and then immediately had to block another strike from the left.

Abruptly, Allison lowered her lightsaber and deactivated it. "This isn't working," she grumbled, and then quickly added, "It's not your fault, Sam. I'm just a bit...well, I dunno how to describe it. The Force is practically tingling with a sense of urgency. Can't you feel it?" Sam and Karin both shook their heads. "All right...then let's work on meditation for today."

Meditation was one of Allison's favorite activities. If she ever felt mentally off-balance or disconcerted, a Jedi meditation, even a quick one, tended to orient her quicker than anything she'd ever tried before. Sometimes she had visions, other times she just enjoyed the sensation of reaching out to touch the galaxy.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she closed her eyes and reached out to her Bondmate. Deletham?

What is it, Ael?

Just making sure you were paying attention. Listen, I'm going to lead Karin and Sam through a complicated meditation for the next hour or so. Can you make sure everything runs smoothly in my absence? If all else fails, come to the gym and get Cobalt. I'm sure he can settle any disputes.

Will do, Ael. Be careful. And he sent along a sense of love and joy so great it nearly overwhelmed her.

She smiled, and then turned her focus towards her patiently waiting apprentices. "The first step is to calm your mind. Clear it of all distractions and stray thoughts." Her voice took on an imitating tone, low and slightly rough. "Clear your mind of questions." The Rihannsu giggled at the excellent Yoda impression, and then did as they were told.

The next day, the U.S.S. Yel'Hal-tor pulled into orbit around Krleiuv. The diplomatic landing party consisted of Captain Danks, Lieutenant-Commander Beresford, Lieutenant-Commander Flom, and Lieutenant-Commander Eads. Cobalt and Illumina reluctantly stayed behind on the starship, due to the fact that their presence would probably unnerve the reptilian Krleiuvans.

A group of five Tor were waiting patiently when the four officers materialized on the surface of the planet. The apparent leader of the group, a dinosaur-like male with an aquamarine crest, stepped forward and made a fluid bow, bending his double-jointed arms in a gesture of respect. "Captain Danks and companions, we of Krleiuv welcome you." He straightened, and his crest swayed gently from side to side with the motion. "I am Chief Archyx of the Tor." He gestured to his escorts. "These are my aides: Jinat, a'Mro, Thyle, and Buhds."

"Chief Archyx," Allison responded, inclining her head respectfully. "A pleasure to meet you. These are my assistants: Damian Beresford, Jessie Eads, and Karin Flom." She indicated each officer as she spoke their name. "And I see no reason to introduce myself, for you already know of me."

Chief Archyx's black eyes blinked, and Damian later swore that the creature was laughing inwardly. "Such is the wisdom of your kind. If you would be so kind as to follow me to the Capital Building, we shall begin discussion of our current situation."

The S'abrel Continent was a deceptively peaceful land, with fresh golden grasses and orange trees. The Kreleiuvian buildings were mostly made of a unique purple stone, and more often than not they were made from a single spherical boulder. A large ring-shaped structure arose from the blue fog that swirled along the edge of the tawny grass. That ring opened to a large courtyard, which lay in front of an area protected from the Krleiuv acid rain by an unidentifiable roof structure. That area seemed to serve as a front porch for the Capital Building, which was literally built into the side of a mountain. Inside the massive rock, tunnels and chambers stretched out in all directions.

The Tor led them through the courtyard and into the first chamber of the mountain. A few Krleiuvans stared as the StarFleet officers passed by, but most ignored the group as they entered a large audience chamber.

Chief Archyx stopped and waved a clawed hand at the room. "This is where we conduct our negotiations and business dealings. I trust it is adequate for this discussion?"

"Yes, it is certainly up to the task," Allison assured him. "Shall we begin?"

Chief Archyx explained the situation in more detail over the next few hours. A group of Shal had been swindling top Tor officials out of millions of dollars, using a phony mine as a cover story. The Shal had been caught in the act when a Tor inspector had traced back the mine and found that it didn't really exist. In a rage, the Tor had immediately captured the Shal group and were trying to imprison the rest of the minority race. A rather large group of Shal had fled the major cities and had taken up residence somewhere in the foothills, and they began to carry out small raids on the minor towns over the past few months. Even more recently, the Shal had begun to strike at the middle-sized cities as well.

The Tor had sent a message to StarFleet, asking for assistance in hunting down the rebels. StarFleet Command had responded by sending the Yel'Hal-tor for negotiations on the situation, and they gave specific instructions to observe the situation first, and then begin to persuade the Krleiuvans to make a correct decision.

After Chief Archyx finished his explanation, arrangements were made to contact the leader of the rebel Shal for negotiations on the situation. Allison decided to keep her officers planetside for the night, and they were led to private guest chambers near the top of the mountain tunnels. The rooms had obviously been designed with humanoids in mind, and no one had any problems settling in for the night. Jessie and Karin opted to share a room, leaving the other for Allison and Damian, which was just fine with them.

As the torches began to burn low, signaling nightfall, Damian wrapped an arm around Allison and pulled her close. "Have I ever mentioned how beautiful you look in the dark?" he said sleepily.

She gave him a playful swat. "Yes, you have. Several times."

"Just makin' sure."

"Go to sleep, Deletham."

"Yes, Captain."