Chapter Seventeen

The next morning found all of the former Starfleet personnel on the Command Deck with Armis and Ryu while Commander Mythril was attending to his duties in one of the crewpits. As the Redemption requested and was given an insertion point to begin its orbit of the capitol planet of the New Republic, Coruscant, Jean-Luc and Beverly couldn't hide their awe at seeing a planet almost completely covered by city structures or the sheer volume of the incoming and outgoing traffic. Deanna for her part had spent most of her morning meditation reinforcing her mental shields to keep the mental roar to a manageable level in her mind. Michelle was using the same shielding techniques as Deanna. Fortunately for Michelle, whose abilities were only just starting to manifest openly, it wasn't nearly so loud in her mind but it was still noticeable for her.

Picard looked to Armis and said, "The entire planet is basically one continuous city?" Armis said, "Pretty much; city block upon city block, building upon building. But for some small bodies of water to help maintain control of the overall weather system, a couple of mountain ranges and the polar caps where the water for the whole planet is transported from, Coruscant is a single entity built of ferrocrete, glass and transparisteel. Few people dare venture to the bottom most layers. Stories abound of troglodytic life forms, genetic and physical throwbacks and even animals that may have started as one thing but over the centuries, evolution adapted them to the dark spaces between buildings and down alleyways. While I personally have never been down to the lowest levels, I know of at least three Jedi who have, one in fact was largely raised down below by a foster parent of sorts. His name is Zekk. You might meet him someday. You will probably be meeting the other two in your interactions with other Jedi; their names are Jacen and Jaina Solo. They're the children of Leia Organa-Solo and her husband Han Solo whom you'll meet later today."

Commander Mythril stepped up from the crewpits, went to Armis and said, "We've just attained our orbit now Master Rau and the shuttle has been prepared and is ready to take you and your party down to one of the Senate V.I.P. landing platforms as soon as you're ready." Armis smiled at his XO and said, "Thank you for all your help Commander Mythril. I now return command of the Redemption to you. I hope we work together again someday, it's been a pleasure." Mythril actually smiled, slightly, and said, "The pleasure has been mine Master Rau. I too look forward to working with you again someday as well." Formalities concluded; Armis motioned to the others to follow him as they all boarded the turbolift to get their personnel bags from their quarters.

An hour later, Jean-Luc, Beverly, Michelle, Deanna and Armis were waiting to board a standard lambda class shuttle for transfer to the planet below, each with one bag on the deck near their feet and a palletized crate with the rest of their things nearby waiting to be loaded into the cargo area of the shuttle. Jean-Luc was in his dress uniform with Admiral's insignia on the collar; Beverly was dressed in a pale violet dress belted at the waist with matching shoes. Deanna wore one of her Counselor's pantsuits and matching belt with her hair held back at the top with a hairpiece that belonged to her mother. Michelle wore a khaki tan tunic with matching pants and boots, a utility belt around her waist with her lightsaber on a hook at her left hip and her hair done into a single braid that went to just below her shoulders. Armis was wearing his usual combination of robes and boots, all-weather cloak, lightsabers on their respective hooks on his belt and with his droid Creak nearby. When Ryu entered the V.I.P. bay, he was wearing the same style of clothing he wore when he met Michelle for the first time, the only addition being a simple white bag thrown over his left shoulder and the box that still held his Mother's lightsaber tucked under his right arm. Warbler following on his heels. Michelle couldn't help but ask, "Is that all you brought with you Ryu?" When he nodded yes, she shook her head in near disbelief and said, "Even after all my time in Starfleet, I've only ever been able to condense my life into two bags and a few small boxes of personnel effects. How do you do it?" When Ryu shrugged, Armis spoke up, "If it's any consolation Michelle, even I can't figure out how he does it. In all the time I've known him, I've only ever seen him with that one bag. It's like it has no bottom or something. I figure it's just one of those mysteries that have no solution." Ryu said, "Ha, ha Armis. Just another one of the little things my dad taught me was how to pack a bag properly, and don't even get me started on how many bags Shazi takes with her whenever we go anywhere."

As Ryu came to stand next to his cousin, she asked, "Who's Shazi?" Ryu said, "Shaznia, or Shazi for short, is my wife and the mother of my two children. In fact, I can sense her waiting for me down below and she has our son and daughter with her. Their names are Kenod and Gabrielle. Kenod was born first and his sister was born three years later. Our daughter is named for my Mother. Shazi adored my parents when they first met. I'll never forget the day my folks met their first grandchild." Michelle said, "I'm looking forward to meeting everyone very much. How old are your kids?" Ryu said, "Kenod is 17 and Gabrielle is 14. Kenod is the Padawan Learner of Anakin Solo, the youngest of the Solo children but one of the more powerful of the Jedi Order. Gabrielle is the Padawan Learner of Mara Jade-Skywalker, the wife of the head of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker." Michelle said, "You're not their primary teacher then?" Ryu said, "No I'm not. Shazi and I started them in their training of course, but between the ages of 10 and 13, is when a Force Sensitive child is usually assigned a Master. It was deemed better this way so that the children still have the bonds of family and the strength that gives them as well as the emotional support. In the days of the Old Republic, Force Sensitive children were taken, with the parent's permission of course, as soon as they were born once the usual battery of tests that newborns go through revealed their midichlorian count. That was one of the first things that Master Skywalker made clear when he reestablished the Jedi Council was that children would not be taken from their families until they were better prepared for the rigors of Jedi Training. Sometimes though, a newborn is found abandoned at the entrance to the Temple. It's very sad when this happens. This is why the new Jedi Order maintains a crèche, like the old Order did in its day. The children are then given to a Master to raise as their Padawan Learner. Fortunately, it doesn't happen a lot, but it still does happen."

Beverly had listened the whole time as Ryu spoke and then said, "Surely you maintain a DNA database so that these foundlings can be returned to blood relatives?" Ryu said, "A database is maintained yes, but the New Republic is enormous and while no one is ever denied basic medical care, not everyone is listed in said database and because of the bureaucracy involved, it is distressingly easy to fall between the cracks. Most of the children left at the door aren't Force Sensitive and so are turned over to social services. For those few that are, those are the ones that we take care of. When they're old enough to understand though, they're told that they were foundlings and if they want to meet up with blood relatives, we facilitate their meeting with these relatives. To my knowledge, there have only been a few meetings between foundlings and blood relatives. I've only ever heard about them so I have no idea if they went well or not." Beverly had no comment for this and so went back to stand next to Jean-Luc and converse with him some more. As soon as the crate was loaded into the shuttle, everyone got aboard and the boarding ramp sealed behind them. The next step in their journey had begun.

The descent to the landing platform was brief and shortly after Picard felt the landing gear make contact with the landing platform, he saw light flood into the passenger compartment as the boarding ramp was lowered in a rush of pneumatic hums and hisses. He stood up, unconsciously tugged on the hem of his dress uniform and waited for Armis to precede him down the ramp. With Beverly behind him and Michelle and Deanna next in line, Ryu made up the end of the debarking passengers. As Picard's eyes adjusted to the daylight he saw three people standing on the far end of the platform waiting. Picard and the rest followed behind Armis as he stopped in front of an older woman, whom Picard saw and hazarded a mental guess that she stood between 1.5 and 1.7 meters tall or so, long brown hair with strands of gray running throughout that only enhanced her mature beauty in Picard's opinion. She wore simple robes the same shade as her hair with matching slippers and a lightsaber on her belt. Next to her stood an older man, much taller with hair that leaned towards gray more than jet black, rugged features and a small scar on his chin. He wore black pants with red striping up both legs, a fearsome looking gun on his right hip in a quick draw holster, white shirt and black vest. Completing his outfit were a pair of black boots that went to just below his knees. Just behind him was one of the tallest humanoids Picard had ever seen. The being was covered in long brown hair from head to foot and wore little more than a bandolier strap diagonally across its chest. Picard remembered one of the species briefings that Emerald had given him and identified the humanoid as a Wookie and from what Emerald had told him, he concluded that it had to be the wookie Chewbacca; copilot and best friend of Han Solo.

Armis bowed to her slightly and said, "Princess Leia, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, Ambassador-at-Large for the United Federation of Planets. With him is his wife Beverly and two soon-to-be Padawan Learners, Deanna Troi and Michelle Karú." Picard stepped forward and accepted the offered hand of Princess Leia and said, "Your Highness, it is with great pleasure that I make your acquaintance. I look forward to my duties here on this amazing city-planet as the representative of my people." Leia smiled and said, "Admiral Picard, I too am happy to meet you, my name is Leia Organa-Solo. I am the Jedi Council's representative to the Galactic Senate and as such am an Ambassador-at-Large the same as you. Armis told me much about you from his first meeting with you and I'm happy to see he was right on all counts. With me are my husband Han Solo and a family friend, Chewbacca." Picard shook Han's callused hand as Leia shook Beverly's hand and then Deanna's and Michelle's as well.

Leia said, "Admiral Picard, it was decided in council that your introduction to the Galactic Senate would be scheduled for seven days from today so that you can get acclimated to the planetary climate and environment here on Coruscant as well as interview the applicants for your staff. All of the applicants have been vetted by New Republic Intelligence as well as the Jedi Master Corran Horn who specializes in background investigations. For now, it would be my pleasure to escort you to your quarters on the diplomatic floors inside the Imperial Palace where you'll be staying. Would that be acceptable for now or did you have something specific in mind?" Picard said, "That would be more than acceptable Highness. Thank you for your consideration."

Turning to Deanna and Michelle, Leia said, "My brother Luke Skywalker will meet you both in the Jedi Council Chambers of the Temple as soon as you're ready. You'll both probably be staying there until a Master is assigned to you and arrangements made from there." Deanna and Michelle both thanked her as she went back over to Jean-Luc and Beverly and spoke with them some more. Michelle started walking over to Ryu as he dropped his bag from his shoulder, set the box down that carried his Mother's lightsaber in it and embraced a beautiful woman with jet black hair arranged in three loops, one over each ear and the third behind her head. She immediately identified Ryu's wife Shaznia from his description of her. As the two broke from their reunion kiss, two teenagers ran over to them both and called out loudly, "Dad! We missed you!", as they joined together in a family hug. As Michelle finished walking over Ryu held out a hand to her and said to his family, "Shazi, Kenod, Gabrielle, I want you to meet my cousin Michelle Karú."

Shaznia's voice was soft without being faint as she said, "That's wonderful Ryu! I remember your dad telling me once of the message he sent back to his homeworld. This then must be a great granddaughter of his sister. I won't ask about the time differential since I can sense the filial bond she has with you in the Force." Holding out her hand which Michelle accepted without hesitating, Shaznia shook it and said, "Welcome to the family Michelle. My name is Shaznia Dree-Jayks, you can call me Shazi if you like. I want you to meet your cousins, Ryu's and my children." Michelle stepped over to the two teenagers. By virtue of being older than his sister, Kenod was taller than Michelle as he shook her hand and said, "I'm happy to meet you cousin. My name is Kenod Jayks." The girl shook hands with Michelle next and said, "Hi there. My name is Gabrielle Jayks. Glad to meet you too." Shaznia spoke again, "Until you're assigned a Jedi Master, you'll stay with us. We have more than enough space and I think we'd all like you to tell us all of our extended family on your side of the rift; pictures too if you have them." Michelle was overwhelmed by the quick acceptance into her new extended family and started to stifle back tears of joy as she said, "I'd be happy to tell you anything you want to know Shazi. I have to admit to being overwhelmed by all this. I wasn't sure if you'd be so accepting and I'm so glad my misgivings, what few I had, are gone now, thank you. Thank you very, very much." The two women embraced to be joined in turn by Kenod, Gabrielle and Ryu.

Introductions concluded; Deanna and Michelle bade farewell to Jean-Luc and Beverly as they got into an airbus with Leia, Han and Chewbacca. Moments after they left, another airbus pulled up, boarded this time by Deanna, Michelle, Armis and Ryu. Shaznia and the children made plans and would meet again later at their home. As the airbus merged with the traffic, Deanna and Michelle were helplessly gawking out the windscreens as they saw all the different vehicles and people operating them. Soon, in the distance and getting closer by the moment, a monolithic structure of five spires, one on each corner and the tallest in the center, situated atop an even larger rectangular structure that gradually slanted up towards the center tower could be seen. Armis walked over to the two soon-to-be-Padawans and said, "If you haven't already felt it in the Force, up ahead is the rebuilt Jedi Temple. Few descriptions and even fewer pictures survived the Jedi Purge that Palpatine instigated. Ryu's adopted brother Dieter Jayks-Bree was able to restore some computerized learning modules that were recovered from private collections as well as a few caches found scattered around the outer rim worlds of Jedi Lore. Structurally, the rebuilt Temple is identical to the original in almost every way. It was built on the site of the original Temple so as to take advantage of the focal point of Force energies there. No one has been able to figure out why that particular site is so focused in the Force, it just is. Internally, it is a combination of living quarters, dining facilities, training rooms, meditation alcoves and even our own hangar. We mostly have light repulsor-craft specifically for the use of the Jedi Order stored in the hangar but we do have a few personal ships as well. Earlier, when we first met up with you back on your side of the rift, Ryu and I had just finished our assignment of the time which was to see to the building of several other Jedi Temples all over our galaxy. Some big, some small, some hidden, most out in the open."

Ryu continued the narrative at this point, "My dad had proposed the idea to Master Skywalker originally that if there had been several Temples built and scattered about, then Palpatine would possibly have missed some during his purge of the Jedi and we wouldn't have lost so much knowledge. Master Skywalker liked the idea and as soon as the new Jedi Order had the resources to do so, he had several of his most trusted and senior Knights and other Master's go out and listening to no other guide but the Force, make the necessary plans to start building these other Temples. Currently, we already have over a dozen other Temples under construction, when each Temple that is to be in the open is completed, it will have its own cadre of Masters and Knights assigned to each. In this manner we'll be able to expand instead of keeping everything focused here on Coruscant. When we're done, there will be hundreds of them, and only a few of us will know them all."

Michelle said, "For those Temples that are to be hidden, how can you keep the construction crews from talking about their locations?" Armis said, "In every place that is to be a hidden Temple, is a series of shell corporations and investments to act as buffers. The various planetary economies are more than happy to have the credits invested in their infrastructures and won't ask where they come from. Droids will be used for the majority of the construction, their memories wiped when the work is done and while I'm not too happy about that point since one of my best friends is a droid, it will be a necessary step; and for those few unavoidable organic builders, a gentle Force suggestion of forgetfulness, a fair wage for work performed and a few sliced computer records will tie up any loose ends."

While Deanna and Michelle listened, the airbus they were on arrived at the hangar that Armis mentioned. After they had debarked the airbus auto-piloted itself into parking ring and shut down; elsewhere in the hangar could be seen some X-wings as well as other craft. As Armis led the way to an elevator, he said, "Among other things, those of us who were pilots before we became Jedi were able to purchase our own personal craft. My X-wing is over there as well as Master Skywalker's ship. His original Red-5 that he flew at the Battles of Yavin, Hoth and other places was donated to the Galactic Museum a few years ago and he had to buy a new X-wing that was rechristened into a new Red-5." The elevator they took opened onto a magnificent foyer near the main entrance. All around could be seen other beings, droids and children, most, though not all of the people going about their business wore lightsabers. When Deanna asked, Ryu said, "The Temple employs a number of non-Force Sensitive people in routine tasking, maintenance and other assorted and sundry jobs. At this time, we have several children in residence. Most are the children of other Jedi; some were left at the door and are too young yet to be assigned a Master to begin their instruction so they go to communal classes with some of the other children who are just about to be assigned a Master. In the years since Master Skywalker began teaching on Yavin 4, there are now maybe 500 full Jedi Knights. Of that 500, roughly 1/3 of them are Masters. We're growing every year and someday there will be as many of us as there were in the heyday of the Old Republic." The group entered another elevator that had viewing windows lengthwise along its entirety and so they saw themselves raise into the air, up the central spire and the Jedi Council chambers therein.

When the elevator opened, the room was empty yet waves of peace could be felt emanating from behind the Council doors. The floor of the foyer was polished marble with the anchor-like symbol of the New Republic surrounded by stars inlaid into it. Around the walls were padded benches and a couple of small terminals. Miscellaneous artwork decorated the walls that only increased the sense of peace and rightness to the room. The doors opened as the party neared them and they entered the Council Chamber itself. The floor here too was also of polished marble, this time with a large red cross in the center. Surrounding the cross was a series of chairs, some clearly made for human or humanoid occupants, others for clearly alien ones. The room was empty except for a man in the center of the cross who was floating in midair, legs in what Michelle recognized as a lotus position. He was dressed in black tunic, black pants and black boots similar to the ones that Deanna and Michelle saw Han Solo wearing. On his right hand was a black glove and a silver-handled lightsaber on his belt at his left hip.

As the doors closed silently behind them, the man put his legs underneath himself as if he was standing up from a chair and recovered from his meditation. He had been the source of the waves of peace that everyone had felt out in the foyer. He was older, with fine lines at the corners of his eyes and clearly defined smile lines around his mouth. His hair was a much lighter shade of brown than his sister Leia's with some gray at the temples and his eyes were a piercing shade of deep blue that seemed to look right through a person. His voice had a quality of tenor that immediately made you want to listen to anything he had to say. He said, "Greetings, I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and current head of the reconstituted Jedi Order. I have foreseen this moment and am glad to finally make your acquaintances Michelle Karú and Deanna Troi." He turned his blue gaze to each woman in turn as he identified them. Armis stepped forward, bowed slightly at the waist and said, "Greetings Master Skywalker. My mission was a success. I was able to reestablish contact with the Federation and bring back their envoy so that formal diplomatic relations can begin. Ryu and I have also brought back two Force Sensitives who are ready to begin their Jedi training so that a branch of the Jedi Order might someday be grown in the Federation."

Luke stepped up to Michelle first and said, "Not only do I sense the filial connection you have with my fellow Jedi, Ryu Jayks, but I also sense an intuitive grasp of the sciences and related technologies." Michelle blushed slightly at the unexpected praise, cleared her throat and said, "Thank you for your kind words Master Skywalker. Back in Starfleet, I was a certified Master Level Technician for many of the shipboard systems of my ship the Titan, Ryu is my cousin." Luke said, "Cousin? Then Ronin Jayks was your uncle?" When Michelle nodded yes, Luke continued, "Ronin was a good man and even better friend. He was the second person to become an acknowledged Jedi Master. I learned much from him and him from me. When I was able to finish his son Ryu's training, we became even greater friends. I take it that you will be staying with your cousin and his family then?" Michelle said, "If you have no objections Master, I would like to do so, yes." Luke said, "The family has become one of the founding tenets of the new Jedi Order. I have no objections."

Turning to Deanna, Luke said, "Deanna Troi, I sense something disturbs you. What would that be, if you don't mind my asking?" Deanna smiled weakly and said, "I don't mind at all Master Skywalker. It's just that when you said that the family is one of the founding tenets, I, for a moment, missed my husband. We plan on starting a family ourselves someday but with the temporal discrepancy between our two galaxies, I'm not sure when we'll be able to do that." Luke said, "One of my teachers in the Jedi way once said to me, 'Worry you should not', I say this to you now because in my meditations, I was made aware of the time difference and what I can tell you of it is that for millennia now, our two galaxies have been resonating and coming more and more into synchronicity with each other. In Ronin's time, the difference came to be measured in centuries. By the time Armis had entered your galaxy and returned it had narrowed into a decade or so. By the time you finish your training Deanna, the time difference will be down to only a few months. Eventually the difference will dissipate and the passage of time will be equal. So, worry you should not, you will have your family one day."

Walking back to the center of the Council Chamber, Luke said, "I asked for you both to be brought here so that I could meet you and explain some small matters to you. Deanna, you're already a natural empath so your training will focus on bringing all your other latent abilities to the surface so that you can harness and learn from them. I will ask Cilghal if she will consent to be your Jedi Master. Her abilities too manifested as intense empathy with and for others; one of the reasons that she is such a skilled diplomat and healer I think. Michelle, I will ask my niece Jaina Solo if she would be your Jedi Master. Like you, she is more attuned to how the Force cooperates with many of the scientific and technological disciplines." Addressing both women he said, "Your training will be different from any other you have undertaken. You both will have as much to unlearn as to learn. There will be days when you'll ask yourself 'What was I thinking?' that will be normal. There will also be times when you will fear what you learn. On those days, and they will come, believe me, seek the counsel of your Masters and your friends." Deanna and Michelle absorbed Luke's words and it was Deanna who spoke first, "With respect, I already know something of the fear of which you speak Master Skywalker. I conquered those fears long ago and with regard to this greater potential within me, I'm not afraid." Michelle nodded her head in emphatic agreement.

With a knowing look in his eyes, Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master of the reconstituted Jedi Order said, "You will be . . . you will be."