Chapter 5

Spaceport 27, New Arrivals Gate

Shaznia Dree-Jayks came down the ramp and saw her husband Ryu, standing next to their son, Kenod. Running to them both and hugging them tightly to her, she at last felt true relief. Ryu kissed his wife soundly and held out a Naboo lotus blossom to her, "Welcome home Shazi."

Taking the blossom from him and inhaling its scent took Shazi down memory lane of their first actual date and made her smile widely. "It's good to be home, so very, very good to be home again. When does Gabrielle arrive?"

As Ryu put his arm around his wife's waist and the trio began walking towards the parking area to get their speeder, Kenod spoke, "She and Master Mara will be back in three days time, two, if Mara pushes her hyperdrive to .5 past lightspeed. The repairs to the house will be done tomorrow afternoon, and Anakin told me just this morning that after Gabrielle gets home, the four of us are to present ourselves to the Jedi Council. More than that, I can't say."

Shazi nodded her head in understanding. "Speaking of speeders, husband of mine, are you still allowed to pilot one after the other day?"

Ryu answered in a similar tone, "I was arraigned first thing this morning, wife of mine, and received the expected penalties. 1000 credit fine, suspended sentence of six months confinement due to the fact I was responding to a family emergency and my license was almost revoked but Nawara pointed out to the Judge that this is my first offence, so my license has been suspended for three months in lieu of revocation. The prosecutor was rather zealous in trying to have the figurative book-chip thrown at me and all through the hearing I could sense a clearly defined sense of dislike. Not hatred but intense dislike. I'm not sure why and I remarked upon it to Nawara later."

"I've heard of Nawara Ven, Attorney-at-law, and ace fighter pilot of Rogue Squadron." Shazi asked.

Ryu said, "That's him. He also told me that lately he's been seeing a lot of anti-human sentiment. Which is to say, there's always some kind of anti human sentiment here, or anti-alien sentiment there, but lately, it's been more focused, better organized. I think Nawara would have let it go as no more than the usual agitator activity associated with any group but when his wife Rhyshati, herself a decorated ace of Rogue Squadron as well, was targeted for harassment, he kind of took it personal. He told me he would put the word out to his contacts in the lower levels to keep him informed and would let me, among others know what was going on, if anything."

Shazi asked, "What about Kenod? Will anyone try to press charges against him? What about his attackers, anything on them yet?"

Kenod spoke, "The Judge wouldn't allow Warbler's showing the hologram of me summoning a kinitite-hadoken in open court, but viewed it in his chambers during recess. He believes it was self-defense on my part, which it was, and said he would dismiss any charges brought against me. Unfortunately, the Falleen and the Barabel were released on a technicality late last night and they both went underground upon their release. Master Corran wasn't too happy about that but is hoping to get something out of the Bothan after he gets out of the Bacta tank. Other than that, we wait. For now though, can you drop me off at the dojo, I have classes to teach. I'll catch a ride on public transit to get back to our rooms in the Temple later tonight."

After dropping Kenod off at the family Teräs Käsi dojo, Shazi turned to her husband and said, "Where to now?"

Ryu smiled, kissed his wife deeply and whispered in her ear, "Room Service."

Coruscant, Equatorial orbit

The Titan entered regular orbit after being given permission from Planetary Traffic Control. The Ensign at the Helm said, "Now entering standard orbit over the Coruscant equatorial belt Captain."

Riker responded, "Thank you Mister Shiles." Turning in his seat to his Operations officer at their station, Riker then said, "Ship wide please Mister Ansom."

A moment later, the ship wide intercom tone sounded, "All hands, this is the Captain. We have reached Coruscant on schedule. My thanks to the Engineering Division and their flawless field test of our new hyperdrive engines; at this time, we will now be standing down to Shore Leave status for the next five standard days. The first shuttle to the surface will leave at 1800 hours tonight. Please contact your department heads to obtain the roster to find out when your section is due for shore leave. If you choose to take shore leave, be sure to wear civilian attire, keep your communicators discreetly on your person at all times, stay in pairs at minimum and draw phasers from the Armory for personal protection. Also remember that Coruscant, like most of the New Republic is a currency driven economy. Your Starfleet ID cards have all been modified to draw on the credit line established through the Federation Consulate. Do keep in mind that anything costing more than your allotment that is established by your rank, will have to be privately arranged, much like if you were to order something at Quark's Bar on DS9. Please enjoy yourselves and enjoy the cultural immersion you are about to experience, if you so choose. Above all, please be safe and watch out for each other. Due to the sheer volume of traffic coming and going at all hours to the surface of the planet, transporter locks are very hard to obtain but for very few instances. That being said; do remember that the Federation has a S.O.F.A. agreement in place. If you find yourself in any kind of trouble, don't hesitate to request that you be taken to the Federation Consulate. That is all."

When the ship wide intercom closed, Riker turned to Harry and said, "The Conn is yours Commander Kim. I'll be leaving the ship shortly with our guest for a slightly delayed family reunion of sorts. I hope you plan on taking some shore leave though."

Harry smiled, nodded his head and said, "Wouldn't miss it Captain. As soon as my turn comes up, you might even hear me from the surface as I declare to 'Make a hole!', and get on the next shuttle. I heard about this Twi'lek dancing troupe that could put an Orion Slave Dancer to shame so I plan on seeing that first."

Riker smiled in return and remembered a time when he would have led the charge to such a spectacle. Then he remembered that he was happier now, a married man, than he had ever been when single and left the Bridge with Lwaxanna a step behind him in the turbolift. After directing the turbolift to his deck, he turned to his Mother-in-Law, noticed a slight paling to her normal healthy complexion and said, "How are you feeling Lwaxanna?"

She rubbed her forehead and said, "I'll be fine William. I haven't had to strengthen my mental shields to their current level in a long time; I'm getting out of practice is all. I'll be fine in a little while."

He said, "If you like, we can stop and see Doctor Cruz in sickbay."

She answered back, "Thank you again for your concern, but I'll be alright. Really I will. Don't worry. I'll meet you in the shuttle bay in a few minutes."

Riker got off on his deck and Lwaxanna continued to hers. When he got to his quarters, he changed quickly into a preselected change of clothes. Going over to his desk, he opened a channel to an old friend and mentor. "Captain Riker to Admiral Picard . . ."