Chapter Seven
Two days later, aboard the Titan, the transporter cycle ended and Ryu Jayks stood on the platform looking around. He'd been told that the process would be instantaneous but that hadn't stopped him from trying to see in between during transport. He was wearing an outfit that to an earthly practitioner of the martial arts would be called a gi jacket tucked into a pair of hakama pants, a pair of simple shoes that appeared almost slipper-like and a red headband around his forehead tied in the back to help keep his slightly shaggy hair out of his eyes. Around his waist was a simple utility belt with his lightsaber on its hook and tucked under his arm was a hand-carved and highly polished, wooden case that he himself made in the months following his father's passing into the Force. The simple task had eased the ache in his heart where his father and mother had been and helped him move through his grief. Next to him on the platform was his father's R5 unit who had passed into Ryu's ownership. The droid had been renamed Warbler by Ryu's father because his droid language reminded him of the songbirds on his homeworld.
Deanna stood at the foot of the platform in her standard life-sciences blue, uniform of the day with her Commander's rank pips on the collar glinting dully in the light. "Welcome aboard the Titan, Jedi Ryu. Captain Riker sends his compliments and asks that you accompany me to the bridge if it's convenient." Ryu looked to her and stepped off the platform and shook her hand. "It's an honor to be here Commander Troi. Allow me to introduce you to my companion, Warbler. He was my father's before mine and chose to accompany me after my father passed into the Force. But before I go to the bridge, I need to find someone aboard your ship. I have something for them."
Deanna said, "Hello there Warbler. It's nice to meet you. Welcome aboard." Warbler returned the greeting to Deanna. She continued, "Maybe I can help you Jedi Ryu? It is a big ship. It's laid out differently than the Enterprise and getting lost is easier done than you might think." Ryu said, "Thank you Commander. Armis told me that I should speak with you anyway so this greatly simplifies things." Deanna smiled again and said, "You may call me Deanna if you like. Titles aren't that important to me." Ryu smiled back and said, "Then call me Ryu, Deanna. Like you, titles don't mean much to me either. Armis said that if I should encounter you, this would be a great time to give you your first lesson in the Force; to better aid in your decision of whether or not to start your training."
Deanna said, "I'm game. I cleared my schedule when I found out you were coming aboard." Ryu's eyes seemed to gaze into space a moment and when he refocused he said, "Not to be rude Deanna, but may I meet you on the bridge in two hours? The Force is telling me that the person I must find is waiting though they don't know it yet." Deanna nodded her head and said, "That will be fine Ryu. Captain Riker had an I/O port like the one Armis had made on the Enterprise D for his droid Creak. It's right over here on the wall. You can have Warbler plug in and get a basic schematic of the ship so you can get around easier. I'll see you on the bridge in two hours then." Deanna left the transporter room leaving Ryu and Warbler with the transporter operator.
With a short gesture, Ryu levitated Warbler to the deck. He pointed to the I/O jack and said, "Plug in please Warbler." The transporter operator looked on in undisguised fascination as the droid rolled over on its two main legs and its retractable third leg, extended an implement, plugged in and started to download faster than anything the crewman had ever seen before. In mere moments, the droid was done, unplugged from the jack and accompanied its human companion out the door. The crewman said to himself, "Just when I thought I'd seen it all; and to think, my parents said joining Starfleet was a mistake. I can hardly wait to see their faces if this alliance goes through and more of these droids start appearing." Chuckling to himself he went back to his work.
Ryu walked the corridors of the Titan. Using the Force like a compass, pointing him to his destination; whatever and whoever it might be. So many minds aboard the ship; human and clearly alien to him; to himself, he said, "Armis was right. It's amazing. The Force is moving in so many ways. I haven't felt this many currents in the Force since my first gathering in the rebuilt Jedi Temple on Coruscant." For his part, Ryu was largely oblivious to the looks his attire and his droid drew from passing crewmembers. "What do you think Warbler? Do you think the Titan could find uses for other droids?" Like his father before him, Ryu understood Warbler's droid language through the Force when Warbler said, "Most definitely Ryu. When I was getting the schematic of the ship, the main computer wanted to talk to me, but I had to politely decline for now. Seems the Titan, Voyager and Enterprise had already finished exchanging gossip. I would've enjoyed talking with it but this task you're on is really important to you. I can tell."
Ryu chuckled and said, "You know me too well my friend. I'm very glad you chose to stay with the family after my father died. Your presence has been invaluable, your friendship beyond measure to me." Warbler gave the binary equivalent of humble embarrassment as he said, "I worked with your father for many years. He was the best organic partner I've ever worked with. Besides, someone has to keep you out of trouble since your father went into eternal sleep mode." Ryu smiled in fond memory of his father and all that he had taught him, his brother Dieter and Armis too. In the back of his mind, the Force warned Ryu that he had picked up some company that practically radiated concerned confusion.
The pair of Security officers had just come on duty and missed the message from the Captain about the visitor that day. This was why they had been following the strangely dressed man and his strange companion for the last deck or so as he seemed to wander the corridors talking out loud to himself. They saw the stranger stiffen as he became aware of their presence. Taking their phasers from their holsters and setting them to heavy stun they approached him. Ryu could sense they meant him no intentional harm and surmised that they had not been made aware of his visit. He mused to himself, "Deanna did say it was a big ship and like all big ships, it has its own bureaucracy. I guess the message just got lost."
Ryu stopped in the corridor, turned to face the Security officers and said, "Is there a problem? You've been following me for some time now. How can I help you?" The Security officer on the right said, "We need to see your authorization to be wandering the corridors." Ryu gently motioned with his fingers and said, "You don't need to see my authorization. You should call Commander Troi. She'll explain my visit." Both Security officers' eyes glazed over as the one who had spoken before said, "We don't need to see your authorization. We'll contact Commander Troi. I'm sure she can explain your visit." Ryu said, "You've done your duty well. Have a good day." The Security officers said, "We've done our duty. Have a good day sir." Turning around, they both walked back the direction they came while replacing their phasers in their holsters."
Refocusing in the Force, Ryu found he was nearing his destination. When he got to the door the nameplate read 'Chief Michelle Karú'. And pressed the announcer button.
Michelle woke up on the second tone from her door. It was the middle of her normal sleep cycle and she was always disoriented when awoken unexpectedly. She got out of bed and put a robe on and tied it around her waist as she blearily went to the door. She mumbled, "Open." When the door did so, she saw the silhouette of a man. She couldn't see his face but instinctively felt that she was in no danger from him. He held a beautiful wooden box out to her and said, "This is for you Cousin."
The first thought to enter her sleep-fogged brain was, "The dream unfolds . . ."