Chapter 3

Ryu sped through the air-traffic lanes of Coruscant like a man possessed. Like his Father before him, Ryu had never assumed he was anything more than a man. A man with the gift of the Force, but a man just the same, and now this man feared for the safety of his only son. From the moment he had entered the traffic flow, he had shoved the throttle to maximum and tore through the air, headband flying straight back, juking and weaving, in, around, over or under any other vehicles in his way.

Any moment now, he knew that air-traffic control would contact him and tell him to decrease speed or it would dispatch patrol units to force him down, but he didn't care at the moment. Trusting unwaveringly in the Force to guide him safely, onward he flew. The speeder's comlink crackled to life as he knew it would, but Ryu turned it off before the voice coming from the unit could do more than identify itself. Moments later, he heard the siren of the patrol units start up behind him, causing even more of the traffic to get out of his way.

Coming at last to the building with his home, he decelerated as quickly as the airbrakes could bite into the air. A patrol unit had responded from another sector nearby and sat waiting on the landing deck reserved for tenant parking. Ryu jumped clear of the speeder a moment before it came to a complete stop and landed on the deck with a tuck and roll before getting to his feet and started towards the door leading to the turbolifts going up. The New Republic Peace Officer drew their weapon and fired a blue-ringed stun blast that Ryu deflected easily with his blue-bladed lightsaber using Form V, also known as Shien. The officer crumpled to the landing deck, stunned by their own blast, as Ryu walked on by, extinguishing his blade but kept it in hand, ready for anything once he got to his floor.

Entering the foyer he could see that one of the lifts was already on his floor. Using the Force again, he pressed the call button for another one. The doors opened as he walked through the foyer and pressing the button for his floor, waited for a small eternity, but in reality was only a few seconds as the lift brought him to his destination. Upon exiting on his floor and moving towards his door, he could hear the building alarms going off and see the emergency warning lights flicker through the corridor.

Nearing the remains of his front door, Ryu edged cautiously to the entry way and did a Force scan of the interior. Sensing four lifesigns, three of them in varying degrees of unconciousness, calmed him considerably. Entering his door, Ryu saw a Bothan, a Falleen and a Barabel, one sprawled on the floor, the other one on its side, up against the wall. The last would-be attacker had been knocked through the door of a closet next to the door. This one, the Bothan, had clearly taken the brunt of the kinitite-hadoken. His shirt slightly shredded, the chest fur underneath was matted and a little singed around the edges. Of the three, only the Barabel and Falleen were beginning to twitch and there was something about the Falleen that seemed familiar, some vague memory or other. Ryu would think on it later but was more concerned for his son at the moment. Peripherally, he could see that the Bothan was probably headed for a bacta-dip to repair the concussion to its ribs, sternum and body in general.

Looking around, he found Kenod on his knees catching his breath as the high altitude wind blew in through some broken windows and stirred up what little smoke and dust there was as a result of the blast. Clipping his lightsaber back on his belt, Ryu knelt down and gathered his son in a strong hug. Kenod looked around and focused on his father, "I did it dad! I did it! I can summon a hadoken at will now."

Ryu couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride mixed with a healthy dose of parental concern in his voice as he said, "That you can. Rest easy son, you've had a busy day. You're fortunate to be in one piece. I felt you focus your power clear from the Temple grounds and got over here as quickly as I could."

As he helped his son to his feet, the first of the emergency medical personnel arrived and started taking stock of the scene just as another NRPO walked up and spoke, "Citizen, though you are Jedi, it is still expected that you obey established traffic patterns and laws. Admittedly, had we known that you were responding to a family emergency, your reckless disregard could be overlooked, but then you had to stun another Peace Officer. I'm afraid you'll have to come with me and make a statement at the station and then you will be held until tomorrow when you can be arraigned. Out of respect, I will ask you to come with me of your own free will, but I will arrest you if I must. Am I clear, sir?"

Ryu checked Kenod once more and then turned to the Officer, "I understand completely and will comply. For what it's worth, I apologize sincerely for my actions, but before I go with you, I want to question the Barabel or the Falleen; and before you ask, yes, I will press charges against them for what is clearly on unlawful entry into my home and the attempted assault on my son Kenod Jayks."

The Officer just finished listening to an update over his comlink on his helmet and replied, "Your request has been recorded and noted. I have just been informed that the two persons in question are conscious but have already requested representation and are refusing to speak. The Bothan who has been extracted from your garment storage space is being taken to the nearest Medical Center under guard. It seems that he has lost the ability to speak Basic. The preliminary medical evaluation says that trauma like his is commonly accompanied by short term and sometimes long term memory loss, especially for languages."

At that moment, Warbler emerged from where he had taken shelter and came to stand at Ryu's side all the while whistling and beeping at the Officer. The Officer was clearly listening to a translation over his comlink and said, "If you do have holo-evidence in your memory, you can come with us and provide said evidence for your Master's statement and at his arraignment."

Kenod was about to speak in his Father's defense but was silenced with a gesture before he could speak. Ryu said, "Kenod, go to the Temple for tonight since the house is a bit of a mess. Find Master Corran Horn and tell him everything that you can up to this point. He'll know what to do."

Recognizing that there would be no swaying his Father, Kenod nodded his head, "Yes Father. It will be as you say."

Gesturing to the door, the Officer followed Ryu, Warbler behind them both, out and down to the landing platform and into a larger transport.

Med-center, Jedi Temple

Two hours later, Kenod was speaking to a split-screen image of his Mother and Sister while one of the Healers was going over his scans that were taken shortly after he arrived. With him was the one time Correlian Security Officer turned Jedi Master, Corran Horn.

Shazi was speaking, "Arrested? What do you mean arrested? He was defending his son the only way he could at the time!"

Corran answered, "Actually Shaznia, he's only being detained, not arrested. There is a difference. A small one albeit, but a difference none the less; and according to what your son has told me, he went of his own accord so as to expedite the matter. I've already been in contact with my sources inside the New Republic Peace Officer Corps. They have Ryu on hologram breaking just about every speed limit on the books, ignoring repeated communications from traffic control and even though he only deflected the stun bolt that was fired at him, I'm not sure that it will matter with the Judge. Even though Ryu has not asked for representation, a bad decision I think, Luke has already gotten Nawarwa Ven, a lawyer that I used to fly with in Rogue Squadron, on the case to make sure that everything is on the up and up. I'm sure that Ryu will be released on his own recognizance before you even clear the Arrival gate at the Spaceport tomorrow. Don't worry. Nawara is a damn good lawyer and I mean that both as a person and a representative of the law."

Gabrielle took the momentary break in the conversation to ask, "How are you doing Kenod? Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine sis. A little tired and a lot hungry but I remember Grandpa saying that was normal for a hadoken experience; and before you ask, I don't really remember much more than flashes and images. I can just remember seeing the intruders in the foyer at home and then I saw a horizontal streak of color across my line of sight. I can vaguely remember the sensation of the hadoken leaving my hands and flying straight and true. The next thing I remember after that is dad hugging me to him like he thought he might lose me or something. Turning to his Mother's image he said, "Sorry mom, I kind of made a mess of the house."

Shaznia chuckled more out of stress relief than humor and said, "Messes can be cleaned up, doors reinstalled, but a son is irreplaceable. I'm just glad you're alright. I'll be arriving around 1130 hours tomorrow and we can talk again then. What about you Gabrielle? When can you get back home?"

Gabrielle turned away from the visual pick-up a moment and a muffled voice could be heard in the background and then faced the screen on her end again, "Master Mara says she's waiting on a couple of parts from the capital to arrive late tonight and says we should be back en route tomorrow first thing. She's not too happy with the Technicians who last serviced the Shadow; scary woman, my Master. I would not want to be in the boots of those folks when we get back. By all appearances and Chewbacca agrees with the assessment, the parts that failed, while not critical, which is to say that when they failed it wouldn't have destroyed the ship or anything, but they were substandard to say the least. Almost as if they were meant to fail. I think Grandpa Ronin, if he were still around would say, 'Something's rotten in Denmark', I don't know what a Denmark is, but something is rotten. At any rate, we should be home in about two to three days. Master says we'll microjump to the Perlemian Trade Route and ride that all the way to Coruscant."

Shaznia spoke again, "Until then Kenod, be careful and until we see each other again, may the Force be with you and Gabrielle. I love you both.", and signed off.

Gabrielle said, "I love you too. See you soon.", and signed off as well.

Kenod answered, "I will mom. See you both later."

New Republic Peace Officer Corps Station 17

Elsewhere, while Kenod was speaking with his mother and sister, Ryu Jayks sat in an interview room with Nawara Ven at his side across from a senior detective, a Cerean man with flowing white beard and an equally long topknot on his conical head, by the name of So Leet sitting across from him plying him with questions.

"So, Jedi Ryu; you admit to breaking several laws and twice as many ordinances regarding speed limit, reckless piloting, eluding law enforcement officers, assault against said officers and to top that off, you demand to question three nonhumans for allegedly breaking into your home and attempting to assault your son, Kenod Jayks who by rights should be sitting in an interview room down the hall from here for assaulting the alleged intruders himself with some kind of heretofore unknown type of energy weapon called a kinitite-hadoken? Have I left anything out or does that about cover it?"

As Ryu took a breath to speak, Nawara stopped him with a gentle touch on the shoulder of a talon of one manicured hand. "My client has made it clear in his statements to the responding Peace Officer and to you here in this room Detective that while he did exceed the speed limit, he at no time was reckless in his piloting thanks to his Force abilities. There was no eluding as that he was already well ahead of any units, and he did not assault any of the uniformed Officers. In fact, the Officer in question should be questioned as to his or her actions. From what I understand so far, it was your uniformed Officer who fired on my client first without any attempt to identify themselves or any attempt to verbally deescalate the situation. My client merely deflected a stun blast fired at him without cause and did little more than inconvenience a trigger-happy person. As to the as you say, "alleged" intruders, you have seen for yourself the hologram taken by my client's astromech droid and it should be clear from that that my client's son was clearly defending himself. It is also a matter of record with the new Jedi Order that so far, only the Jayks family line is capable of the kinitite-hadoken. Therefore, there is no need to concern yourself with it. The Bothan who was struck by it, while he was slightly injured, will recover his physical and linguistic abilities in a short time, or so I have been told. The crime scene investigators have recovered the blaster pistols and vibroblades that were on the intruders' persons or immediate vicinity. Each of these weapons has been matched by fingerprint and DNA trace to each of the intruders, two of which it has been ascertained already have criminal records for petty crimes thicker than the day is long and the Bothan while having no criminal record is assigned to the household staff of a minor functionary of the Bothan Consulate here on Coruscant. In regards to your allegation that my client "demanded" to question the suspects, I will remind you that he has that right since as you should be well aware, the Jedi Order upon it official reconstitution, has been afforded limited police powers wherever they are and can be asked to assist with any investigation if it is in the best judgment of the senior law official present at the time. Since this incident is directly related to the Jedi, or at least two of them, there is no question of improper procedure. Have I left anything out or does that about cover it?"

The Detective's jaw muscles could be seen twitching in irritation as he bit back his initial retort to Nawara's statement.

"Shrewd Counselor Ven, shrewd. Tell me again, just why are you here? I was made to understand that Jedi Ryu never requested representation from you or anyone else for that matter and according to my information; he himself is a former law enforcement officer. Just how did you hear of this matter in the first place?"

Nawara smiled, with an almost feral openness, showing his pointed teeth. The smile stopped just shy of his gleaming red eyes as he said, "I am here at the request of the Jedi Masters Luke Skywalker and Corran Horn. Both are personally acquainted with my client and know that his naturally occurring optimism and faith in the sentient condition can sometimes backfire so they asked me to make sure that he doesn't accidentally say anything to his detriment in his efforts to cooperate fully with this investigation. Since it has been established that my client is willing to accept the consequences of speeding through midday traffic and let's be honest here Detective, that is the only thing you can truly prosecute him for, how about we stop here until the arraignment tomorrow and you release my client on his own recognizance, return his lightsaber to him and allow him to go on his way. I'm sure he would like to see his son again and ensure that he is alright."

The Detective knew that Nawara was right on all counts and chose to save face as he said, "Alright Counselor. You've made your case very well. That being said, you are free to go Jedi Ryu. We have your verbal statement on full spectrum hologram and a copy of your astromech's hologram of the incident. You may retrieve your weapon when you sign out. Good evening then, until tomorrow at your arraignment."

Fifteen minutes later, Ryu was standing outside the station with Nawara as Warbler trundled over to stand at his side. "Thank you Counselor Ven. I appreciate your presence and insight. Luke and Corran were right about me. I probably would have dug myself into a very deep verbal hole all while trying to cooperate. Ironic, isn't it?"

Nawara smiled again only this time it was a genuine one that suffused his naturally pale complexion as he said, "You're very welcome Jedi Ryu. As that I owe Corran Horn several times over for all the times he got an eyeball or squint off my head-tails during the Rebellion, I'm very happy to help out when I can. Besides, Corran speaks well of you and I can see why he does. Your openness and demeanor are truly refreshing to an old rules lawyer like me. Can I give you a lift back to the Temple?"

"That would be greatly appreciated Counselor; and call me Ryu. No need for formality because I think we're going to be friends after this blows over."

Nawara smiled again, "In that case, call me Nawara because I think you're right about becoming friends. Just so you know, I don't think the Judge, whoever it is will do more than assess a rather hefty fine against you for the speeding. I've seen some pretty cut and dried cases in my time and I think this qualifies as one of them. All the same though, I think it might be wise the next time you travel, to either take public transportation or pilot your own speeder about 5 klicks under the posted limit for the next century or so."

Ryu laughed and agreed as he assisted Warbler into the cab and climbed into Nawara's speeder after him.

Back in the Station, the Detective was speaking to his handler over a secure line, "I'm sorry sir. That human got the services of Nawara Ven before I could maneuver him into so many verbal knots that I could have gotten him to admit to attempting to assassinate the President of the Senate. Ven is truly one of the best in the business and after seeing him in action like I did today, I can see why that is so". A moment later he asked with undisguised disgust in his voice, "It is true that he took a human as his mate? How can we achieve our goals if there are human-loving traitors like him among us?"

His handler could only be seen in silhouette on the monitor and their voice distorted electronically, "It is of little consequence. When our goals have been met, Nawara Ven and others like him will have even less of a place in our Order than the humans themselves. The team that was assembled for the attack has been accounted for?"

The Detective said, "Yessir. The two muscle have been released on a technicality and the leader is going to develop an allergy to bacta. Their part in this will never go to court but the case against Jedi Ryu is flimsy at best. He'll get off with a hefty fine and maybe a suspension of his piloting license for a time. It would have been better if the Officer who fired had remembered to switch her weapon to kill but I guess she got too eager. She's a rookie in the Corps. anyway and will be suspended for negligent discharge of her weapon. She can't hurt the cause in any shape, way or form."

The handler nodded its shadowed head and said, "Very good then. Be patient and soon we will take our rightful place of power."