3 days later and Enterprise was in orbit of Zanar. Raya and Malcolm were standing on the bridge next to each other looking at the screen and the picture of the planet.
"So this is Zanar?" Archer asked as he looked at Raya.
"I guess so sir." Having never been to Zanar before Raya had no idea what the planet's surface looked like… And now she was here she was stunned. The picture zoomed in so everyone could get a better look at things.Hundreds of birds flew in the sky, along with brightly coloured butterflies and bees. Every flower was a vibrant colour.
"Any idea where your mother would be?"
"Because she was the first Hanachi to mate with another species she's well known so it's very possible that if we ask the Chancellor he'll take us to her."
"Hoshi, see if you can contact them" Archer asked Ensign Sato as he looked at the planet on the screen.
"Yes Sir" Hoshi complied and started to try some frequencies. "I've got a response." She said and a male appeared on the screen.
"Who are you? What are you doing at this planet?" The man asked.
"I am Captain Jonathan Archer of the Earth ship Enterprise. We need to talk to someone who resides on your planet. I was wondering if you could help us out a little." Archer replied, hoping for a positive answer.
"Who are you looking for?" the chancellor asked. Archer turned his head to look at Raya.
"We're looking for Karalaia Tagia. She's my mother."
"Well. It's a pleasure to meet you at last Raya. We have been looking forward to your return. You're mother however has been rather annoyed that you have ignored her letters." The Chancellor replied.
"Yes well that's the reason we're here. I need to talk to her about the ha'llack."
"Very well. Would you like to be connected to her or would you rather meet her in person?" The chancellor asked politely,
"We would prefer to meet her in person." Archer replied.
The Chancellor nodded. "I am sending you co-ordinates of our landing site. We shall meet you there"
"Thank you." The screen went blank. Archer turned to Raya and Malcolm. "Better get down to a shuttlepod." The three of them left. Travis and Hoshi exchanged looks but said nothing.
Archer, Malcolm and Raya entered the launch bay and headed for one of the pods.
The pod was released from the launch bay and made its way down to the planet. They landed at the co-ordinates the Chancellor had given them. Once the pod had landed Archer stepped out holding Tia by her wrist. It wasn't long before he let go of her and she ran off into some nearby woods. Archer watched her scarper away and then turned his attention to the man heading towards the pod from the nearby town. It was the Hanachi Chancellor coming to greet them.
"Welcome to Zanar Captain." The Chancellor said as he shook hands with Archer.
"Thank you Chancellor."
The chancellor then turned his attention to Raya. "You are the most welcome Raya." He said shaking her hand. Even though he looked rather old the chancellor had quite a firm hand shake. When he released Raya's hand she had to stretch it a little as it had been squashed in his large hands.
"Thank you chancellor. But if you don't mind. We really need to speak to my mother. Where is she?"
"Of course. Follow me" The chancellor agreed, he then turned and started to walk to a very large building. They entered the building and soon came to a room. They entered and standing by a table giving a lecture to a group of people was a woman. Raya wasn't too pleased to see her. When Karalaia saw her daughter standing by the door in the Starfleet uniform she stopped talking.
"You are all dismissed." All the students got up and left the room after collecting their bits and pieces from the tables and floor.
"I'm sorry for interrupting Karalaia." the Chancellor said and moved over to her.
"It's about time you arrived Raya. We should get you prepared immediately." She tried to leave but Raya's voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
"I can't go through with the Ha'llack." she said sternly. Karalaia turned and looked at her.
"And why not?" Raya's mother asked sternly.
"Because I'm already married. And pregnant. That's the reason I've ignored your letters."
"What?" Karalaia asked, a bit shocked at what her daughter had just said.
"I'm married already. And we're going to have a child. And there's nothing you can do to split us up. Unless of course you want me to bring a Raka'skien down here." Raya said. Karalaia's face was a picture of horror at the mention of the raka'sakien.
"You wouldn't!" Kara said, horrified. Her daughter making friends with the enemy. It was unheard of.
"She's saved our lives. And our child's!" Malcolm said in defence of Dracona. Karalaia looked at him.
"So, you're the lucky one" Karalaia spat, disgusted at the way this was going.
"Why have you got a problem with this?" Archer asked.
"I don't have to answer to you." Karalaia replied. Looking at Archer and then walking out in anger. Raya sighed heavily. She knew this was how the meeting was going to go. She looked at Archer, but Archer had moved over to the Chancellor.
Malcolm placed his hand in Raya's and squeezed gently in reassurance
""I'm sorry captain. Maybe this was a bad idea to come here. Mum I'll never want to speak to me again, i can tell. I don't need to read her mind to know that."
Archer looked at her.
"How long until you give birth Raya?" the Chancellor asked moving over to her.
"In about 4 months."
The Chancellor nodded slowly.
"Captain, if you don't mind I'd like to try and find my mother... see if i can talk to her on my own."
"Are you sure?"
"If i need any help i can easily contact you." Raya pointed to her head, but Archer already knew what she meant.
"All right. But if you run into any trouble don't hesitate to call either me or Malcolm. Understood?" Archer queried his voice gentle.
"Yes sir." Raya replied she nodded at the chancellor, Archer and Malcolm and left the room. She stepped outside the building into the bright sunlight and using her Betazoid abilities she located where her mother was. She found her mother sitting under a tree in a garden on the soft green grass. Raya slowly moved up to her. "Mum?" she called gently.
"I don't really want to talk right now Raya." Karalaia replied, not turning.
"Mum please? I know you weren't very happy about the fact i wanted to join Starfleet... but i love Malcolm. He's a real sensitive man. I didn't want to be married to someone I didn't know and possibly even hated. I wanted to choose my own husband, and i did. I'm sorry if it's not what you wanted, but it's what i wanted. You can't rule my life."
"You still went against tradition Raya and you ignored my letters!" Karalaia spat back.
"I'm not full Hanachi, therefore you can't expect me to go along with all your traditions. And also Dracona is not at all bad. She's a really nice girl... if you got to know her, then maybe your opinion of the Raka'sakien would change, like it did for me." She said as she sat down on the grass near her mother.
"Even if i did, it wouldn't change anything."
"Why did you want me to go through with the arranged marriage anyway?" Raya picked a flower that was growing among the grass. It had a fairly long stem and a tiny purple flower at the top. She spun it in her fingers as she listened to her mother's reply.
Karalaia sighed. She had a headache forming and she was feeling a little stressed. "I don't know Raya. Maybe i wanted you to follow on with tradition." She gave in, thoughtfully. Maybe Raya had a point, but she still wasn't sure about this Raca'Sackien Raya spoke of.
"Also why weren't you happy with me joining Starfleet? Were you worried that i would never get the chance to send you letters? Or that i would be killed on the ship?"
Karalaia looked at her daughter. She shook her head slightly. "Maybe, a bit of both." She smiled weakly.
"Well... I'm, here now aren't i? And i did send you letters... and you're going to be a grandmother." Raya said smiling at her mother. Karalaia looked at her own daughter who was sitting near her. Seeing her daughter smiling brought a smile to her own face and the two of them hugged. As each other pulled away, Karalaia smiled a little.
"Perhaps, i should meet this Raca'Sackien you speak of. I'd like to know the person who saved my daughter's life, let alone my grandchild's life" Karalaia smiled broadly. Glad to be back on speaking terms, if not more.
"Will you come in and meet my husband without being rude to him?" Raya paused for a second. "You know he was born in England not far from where we lived." Karalaia nodded and together, they walked back to the building where Archer and Malcolm were talking. As they entered, Malcolm and Archer looked up. "Mum... This is Captain Archer... and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, my husband."