House of the Risen Son

 Episode Name:  House of the Risen Son

   Written By:  Lace Fortunae Starfleet

         Cast:  Ashikaga, Caeli, Golden, Idrani, Ishiko, Jiasha, Kishi, Poole, Randal, 
                Starfleet, Takamura and Turtledove.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Fortunae

     Aired On:  Mon Jun 30 01:09:07 2003

     Stardate:  53325.2

Time: Sun Jun 29 18:46:25 2003

Stardate: 53324.6

Passengers spill out of the airlock as the Winter Star, a merchant passenger ship, disembarks her cargo. Some other officers and civilians are here to meet their own loved ones, and the joyous cries of successful reunions fill the area near the airlock. Then, Hiroshi cannot mistake the figures in the airlock - his grandparents, followed by his sister and her husband, who is carrying their son.

As his family comes into view, Hiroshi beams, trying to make his way closer to them. He pauses for a moment before they reach him to straighten his dress uniform.

Head held with unexaggerated pride, Doctor Toshitsuna Ashikaga moves steadily with practiced minimal wasted effort in the direction of his Grandson. Wearing a formal kimono with the symbol of Clan Toshitsuna on the left breast and emblazoned in full style on the back, the daisho at his weight seems to cause no impediment to his fluid stride, as if something long accustomed to be worn so as to have become part of his natural gait. His face is an unreadable mask to the unitiated, eyes bright and focused, lips set in a firm line. Reaching a point a few steps away from the uniformed Starfleet Officer he stops, eyes kept on the face of the younger member of his line, and bows a few inches. Extracting a card from his right sleeve, he offers it with both hands, the right side facing upward toward Hiroshi as he says, "Takamura Hiroshi-san it is pleasant to see you after so long a journey."

Doctor Toshitsuna Ishiko follows her husband out of the airlock, her hands claspsed lightly in front of her with fingers laced. As she walks with short steps, the older woman's eyes scan the airlock critically once before landing on her grandson. Coming even with Ashikaga a moment after the presentation, she also greets Hiroshi.

Kishi follows along behind the elders. Where the older two of the clan are more formal, she is more gregarious and modern. She, too, is dressed in the garb of her culture, 24th Century Terran Modern Woman, in a modern brown dress. She is nothing but smiles for her brother. "Roshi!" she exclaims and throws her arms (as well as she can) around him. "It is so good to see you. How is my little brother?"

Poole comes into the restaurant from the mall.

Poole has arrived.

Takamura takes a deep breath, composing himself into a stoic expression. However, his eyes betray the excitement he feels. With palms pressed together in front of him, he bows to his Grandfather as best he can with the exuberance his sister is showing him. "Grandfather, Grandmother it is good to see you again. I hope that your journey went well." Nodding his head, he accepts the card from the older man, then breaks into a grin as he turns to his sister. "I am doing well, Kishi. Much better now that I have been reunited with all of you."

Ashikaga makes a silent study of Hiroshi after returning to his upright posture. His eyes take in small details of comportment, hair... even the medals on Takmura's chest and the rank on his collar. His eyes make a curious expression in relation to what he finds but he doesn't make comment as yet.

Ishiko favors Takamura with a warm smile, fairly composed especially compared to Kishi. Its hard to tell if the light in her eyes is amusement or dismay, however.

Mits, carrying a sleeping Kwan in his arms, comes out of the airlock. "It's good to see you," he says. The child, for his part, is like he's been drugged up - limp as a dishrag and snoring mildly.

Kishi looks at Tak's uniform and studies him. "You've been promoted!" she says, beaming. "Oh, Roshi that's wonderful!"

Takamura smiles at Mits and the sleeping bundle that is Tak's nephew. "Likewise, Mits." He grins at his sister sheepishly, nodding. "Yes, I have. But I can tell you all about that once we get upstairs to the restaurant. I've reserved some space for us, so you can meet some of my friends."

"Oyasaku Ryukobo-san is completing a ceremony of purification. A passenger's child had a reaction to the docking manuevers and deposited his most recent meal onto Oyasuku-san. He will contact us later." His expression remains controlled through this amusing annecdote explaining the delay for the Shinto Priest that accompanyied the party of travelers. "We have brought baggage, what would one due to see that it is all delivered to one's rooms?" Ashikaga asks, a warm tone to his voice even if his face is Vulcan in it's lack of emotive expression.

Mitsuo says, "I will make sure it gets there, Ashikaga-san. I'll put Kwan down for a nap and meet with you for dinner later, if that is satisfactory?"

Ashikaga grunts to indicate this acceptable.

Ishiko turns to Mitsuo with a nod, smiling faintly. Another indiciation that it is acceptable.

Mitsuo bows at the waist slightly, dipping the dead-like boy in his arms. He gives his wife a kiss and the man moves toward a duty officer to begin the ritualistic Negotiation of Luggage ceremony that accompanies any flight. The boy never stirs.

Kishi tucks her arm in Takamura's. "Meeting your friends sounds like a wonderful idea."

Takamura nods to Mitsuo as he offers to take up the bags. Then he turns to his Elder, somewhat gravely. "Grandfather-san. Respectfully, I must ask you to remove your daisho while on the station. No weapons are allowed to be carried by civillians except when in a case for transport to their quarters." He bows slightly as he makes the request.

Making little expression to this request beyond a silent pause, Ashikaga smoothly and with no cerenmony removes his scabbards containing his daisho from their place at his waist. He offers the longer blade first with his arm straight forward, and once that is taken he offers the other shorter blade. "It would be pleasant if someone made it clear to the custodian of weapons that I would find it reassuring if my honor was treated with care and respect, if such would not be a great incovenience." The senior citizen then resumes his relaxed if alert posture.

Idrani comes into the restaurant from the mall.

Idrani has arrived.

"... and so then the Napean says, "That was /you/? I thought I was picking up the Tellarite down the bar!" Goldens winks as he finishes telling Tera the joke and after a moment laughs with gusto filling the nearby space of the Twilight's edge with his mirthful sound.

Idrani steps inside, waiting a moment to be seated.

Poole wanders into the establishment a little late, but apparently she knows where she's going, heading off for Golden and Tera and waving off Meeb. "Hello." Doesn't she look spiffy in her dress uniform?

Turtledove eyes Golden, pausing for a moment before shaking her head, grinning and chuckling. She sips from a tall slender glass, as she converses with Golden, blending in with the posh surroundings in her dress uniform. As Poole approaches, she sits up a bit straigher, and smiles. "Hello, Lt. Cmdr. How are you this evening?"

Randal steps into the restaurant, and approaches Meeb at the first opportunity. They have a brief, fairly quiet conversation. Anyone close enough to hear it might note that Randal came here to get in touch with Toog, but apparantly the Ferengi proprietor is unavailable.

"Good evening, ma'am." Dylan says in greeting to the senior officer. "You beat them here, so no worries there. Hiroshi called a few minutes ago saying they were debarking so they should be arriving soon."

Idrani is shown a place to sit and given a menu. She turns a curious glance at Poole, in her dress uniform, then looks over at Golden, as he speaks.

. o O Idrani thinks "I feel... underdressed."

"Excellent," Poole says with a smile at her officers. Slipping into a seat near said officers, she asks offhandedly, "So what was that about a Napean at a bar?"

Turtledove's grin returns. She just shakes her head slightly and looks expectantly at Golden, grinning.

Randal's conversation with Meeb leaves him disappointed, apparantly, judging by the furrowed brow he wears after the Ferengi scurries off to some other task. He glances about, eyes pausing as the take note of the gathering of Starfleet officers in formal dress.

"Just a joke I heard the other day in the Warp Core," Golden explains. "Trying to keep Tera from being nervous after all the "One time, at my grandparents' house" stories we've been hearing of late."

"/Ah/." Raising her hand, Poole flags down Meeb for a glass of water. Once that order is off, she looks to Turtledove, "I'm sure it will be fine... although, every time officer's have had their family visit sparks seem to fly." Reassuring, she is not.

Idrani speaks quietly with the waiter, pointing at a spot on the menu. Apparently, she is taking her meal 'to go'.

Takamura enters the Twilight's Edge wearing his dress whites with his family in tow. After they all file in, he leads them over to the table where the JOC officers are seated. Looking towards his family, he points to each of the officers in turn. "I would like to introduce the officers I serve with. This is Lt. Commander Gwendolyn Poole, Second officer and Joint Operations Manager. As you probably recognize, this gentleman if Lt. Dylan Golden, Rapid Response Team Commander. And this fine lady is Lt. Jg Tera Turtledove, my teammate." He then introduces his family. "I would like to present my Grandfather, Dr. Toshitsuna Ashikaga. My Grandmother, Dr. Toshitsuna Ishiko. And finally, my sister, Dr. Hiromoto Kishi."

Turtledove's eyebrows rise-up in gentle protest to Golden's explanation. Still, she grins, recovering a pleasant expression more suited to greeting the venerable grandparents and beloved siblings of one of one's best friends. She stands, as the introductions begin.

Randal's transient interest is further piqued when Takamura enters with his relatives. He starts to wander over to the table, albeit somewhat slowly. Cautiously, almost.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet all of you," Dylan says with polite confidence. "Hiroshi has been a solid anchor of skill and dependability to the team both on duty and off, and he claims most of the credit lies in some part with each of you. It is our honor to serve with him, doctors, and a happy opportunity for us to welcome you to the Station."

Idrani looks over, hearing the introductions. She stays seated at the table, not disturbing the setting, as she won't be eating there. And she doesn't want to get plugged for the 'service charge', should the fork be moved a milimeter to the left.

The elderly antecedent of Takamura considers the lanky Martian for a moment and then looks to his wife saying, "After speaking with his father I thought he would be taller." Looking back toward the group he offers a silent nod in response to the youngster's greeting and then considers the females, to them offering a smile that could almost be considered gallant, where he several decades younger.

Kishi beams proudly, her arm tucked into Hiroshi's. She says to Golden and Turtledove, "I've heard much about all of you, I feel like I've known you for years. Thaal'vor sends his regards to you all. And your mother sent a box along with us, Dylan." She gives a nod to Poole, then. "Commander, I hope my baby brother isn't causing too much of a problem for your station?"

"Certainly not, madame. ... It is an honor to meet you. All of you," Poole says in response to Kishi, pressing her palms together in front of her and bowing her head, all with a serious, but friendly look on her face. "Hiroshi is one of the best officers in my department... and he is definately one of my leaders."

Ishiko smiles in response to her husband's words. She dips a bit in a greeting bow to the officers as they're introduced, too. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you." She beams proudly at Poole's compliments of Takamura, clasping her hands in front of her.

Caeli comes into the restaurant from the mall.

Caeli has arrived.

Turtledove returns Ashikaga's greeting with a respectful grin. Kishi and Mitsuo are likewise greeted with a quietly pleasant nod, and Ishiko gets the subdued, respectful greeting. "Welcome."

Idrani is sitting quietly at a table, very careful not to disturb the placement setting. She seems to be waiting for something.

Randal wanders up behind Turtledove, quietly but not so much so as to be unnoticed. "Family reunion, huh?" He says, directing the question quietly to her. His gaze also slides over to Golden and Poole, and then Takamura, giving each a brief nod and an Etruscan sort of grin if they take notice of him, as he remains in the quasi-background for the time being.

With the initial round of introductions completed, Hiroshi smiles at the assembled group. "Please, let us all be seated. Then we can enjoy the meal I've asked the staff to fix for us." As he suggests this, he pulls a chair out for his sister. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices the Andorian officer, smiles and motions his head towards his table. An invitation perhaps. When Randal speaks up, he raises an eyebrow at the man.

Ashikaga returns the bow offered, and after straightening seems to remove himself mentally from the social nicities, or leaves such to the hands of his wife and granddaughter. Instead he very carefully scans the environs, noting each patron or server giving the appearance of searching for someone or something. He then curves his lips down, ever so slightly before giving his grandson an expression that asks with the eyebrow "What/Where/Why/?" and the continuance of the frown that indicates this question as yet has a negative resolution factor. He moves toward the indicated table though without saying anything more aloud.

Idrani's

The doors to the mall part to reveal Caeli, somewhat dressed up, and looking about, acking softly to himself as he notices the apparent effect his lateness has had and moves to intercept Takamura. "Hiroshi, sorry I'm late." Not much as greetings go, but the sheepish and apologetic look on the Bolian's face says enough.

Starfleet goes home.

Starfleet has left.

Turtledove's head turns, enabling her too look over her shoulder to address Randal, smiling. "Hiroshi's family is visiting from away, yes." Meanwhile, as people sit, she pauses briefly, regarding Randal with a sort of quietly questioning expression.

Idrani's 'to go' meal is delivered, the waiter's attempt to put it /on/ the table (and thus, wrangling the 'service charge') is preempted by Jaylas's swift intervention. Smiling sweetly at the Ferengi, the young Andorian thanks the waiter, then rises from her chair. Before leaving, however, she catches sight of Takamura's motion and approaches the table with all of the dress-uniformed officers.

Poole sits straight in her chair, folding her hands in her lap as Hiroshi's family sits. She's quiet for the moment, looking over each one of them.

Ishiko turns to match faces with voices. Following her husband to the table, she all but ignores the newcomers. Not rudely exactly, but more as if they just arent there. Gracefully she takes a seat, folding her hands primly in her lap.

Randal meets Takamura's gaze and responds, still grinning. "Ah, didn't know you were having a party. I wouldn't mind meeting your family too, unless this was supposed to be a very private party..." and he puts the proverbial ball in Takamura's court, continuing to orbit that fringe of invitation and refusal that you find at any party that can be crashed.

Turtledove's mouth quirks, and her attention shifts to Takamura with quietly bemused curiousity.

Golden pulls out one seat first, offering it to Hiroshi's married sister; then, since he's up anyway he repeats the process for Tera since Gwendylon was too fast for him to make the gesture for. Seeing Jaylas Idrani he offers her a friendly smile and a wink before scanning around the room -- noting Randal -- and then taking his own seat as Zip enters. The Bolian gets a smile as well as Dylan addresses the placement of his napkin.

GAME: Golden spends a courage point.

Idrani glances sidelong at Randal.

. o O Idrani thinks "That human never ceases to annoy me."

Kishi has arrived.

GAME: Kishi is joining this location.

Ashikaga, from his seat, reaches out to pat the arm of his wife with his left hand -- perhaps a gesture of affection, perhaps an indirect show of support for her efforts to stay pleasant and restrained. He asks, "This is a Ferengi establishment? The food should be, no doubt, interesting and broadening of our culinary horizons, neh?"

Ishiko looks at Ashikaga without uttering a word. It's just a look. But one that says volumes.

Kishi smooths her dress as she sits. "Thank you, Dylan," she says. Then, there's the anomaly in the viewport. She blinks at it and eyes it for a moment before speaking again. "Oh, how pretty," she says. "You get to see that every day?" she asks her brother.

Takamura inhales deeply as he regards Randal. "Perhaps at another time, Mr. Thorne. We were just getting ready to sit down for dinner." His attention is then brought back to his grandfather. "Yes, it is. However, I've asked for a variety of fare to please the palates of everyone." He gives his grandmother a reassuring smile. As the Bolian arrives, he grins. "No worries, Zip. Lt jg Zipok Caeli, I would like to introduce you to my family. My Grandfather, Dr. Toshitsuna Ashikaga. My Grandmother, Dr. Toshitsuna Ishiko. And finally, my sister, Dr. Hiromoto Kishi." Then, with his head on a swivel, he replies to his sister, "Yes. We do."

Turtledove gives Golden a quick wink as he carries out his high-speed gallantry, looks over her shoulder to give Randal a fleeting smile, and then quietly takes the graciously-prepared seat. She takes the opportunity to look around the table, regarding each family member with brief curiousity.

Ishiko lifts tight eyes to Caeli and nods a faint greeting, and then immediately turns to Takamura. "I'm sure you chose wisely," she says to him with a smile. And then her attention too, is turned on the anomaly. "What a fascinating phenomenon."

Randal raises his eyebrows just a little as he replies, "Alright." He sounds vaguely disappointed perhaps. Turtledove's gestures gets a quick flash of a grin and a shrug in response. His attention focues briefly on Poole and he says, "Oh, Commander, I did need to speak with you, actually. Later, of course." And with that, he turns away, heading off to find his own table that is politely distant from the gathering.

Caeli looks to each family member as he or she is introduced, smiling brightly and inclining his head respectfully while standing at parade rest. He's got the military thing down cold, yep yep. "Delighted to meet you, Dr. Ashikaga, Dr. Ishiko, Dr. Kishi." Caeli greets each in turn before moving to find a seat of his own.

. o O Caeli thinks "Well, now we know where Tak gets his professionalism."

Poole eyes Thorne, the slightest of frowns forming on her lips as he turns away. She shakes her head as if to toss off those inner thoughts and smiles, first over at Caeli and then as she looks out at the Anomaly. "It is beautiful, isn't it?"

Kishi gives a nod and smile to the Bolian. "A pleasure to meet you," she says to him. She smiles to her grandmother, then says, "They probably all take it for granted and we're sitting here staring at it like tourists."

Ashikaga returns the greeting from the Bolian with a nod of his head and continues to observe the Bolian as the speaks to the others in greeting. The conversation inspires him to look toward the Anomaly for a moment; but he soons look back toward Zip then at the table, then back to Zip, then back to the table. He raises one eyebrow, but says nothing verbally.

Idrani stands where she is, after approaching the table, but remains silent. Being totally unfamiliar with this Terran regional culture, she isn't entirely sure what is the appropriate course of action, in these circumstances.

Golden says, "We seem to be missing Mitsuo and Kwan -- will they be joining us later?"

. o O Idrani thinks "All right... this is awkward..."

Turtledove turns her attention to Kishi, giving the woman a warm smile. "Not at all. I still find myself dazzled by it, and I've been here for 10 months."

Takamura notes the Andorian's arrival with a smile. "Hello, Jaylas. Please, join us. I want you to meet my family." He then motions towards an empty seat.

"Kwan wore himself out in the excitement of getting here," Kishi replies to Golden. "Mits is putting him down for a nap. But I should check on them shortly."

Idrani smiles pleasantly, "Thank you, Hiroshi, but I'm afraid I have a long night's work ahead of me and cannot stay long. But I would be pleased to meet you family."

Ashikaga shifts his attention to the attractive, if alien, young officer. As she explains why she cannot join them he nods slightly before awaiting the actual exchange of names by his grandson.

Golden widens his eyes a bit and flushes with embarrassment when a rumble comes from his trecherous stomach, indicating audibly that it's ready to be stocked with food. Now. "Sorry," he says quietly, "The Twilight Edge and my stomach have a private agreement; if it comes here it eats, right away, lots of food. I'm afraid I forgot to send it the memo about pleasantries and the protocol there of." He tries to smile off the matter.

Takamura motions towards each family member in turn. "Lt. Jaylas Idrani here is the station's Diplomatic Attache. Jaylas, I present my Grandfather, Dr. Toshitsuna Ashikaga, my Grandmother, Dr. Toshitsuna Ishiko, and my sister, Dr. Hiromoto Kishi."

. o O Golden thinks "Power Shake indeed. I am so going to get you Mister "I insist you drink this, it's for your dietary regimin. Cod Liver oil in your coffee, that will be the start..."

Caeli's polite, amiable smile degenerates ever-so-briefly into a grin directed at Golden. "Therein lie the dangers of neural bureaucracy, Lieutenant."

. o O Idrani thinks "Doctor... Doctor... Doctor... How many doctors are -in- this family?"

Ishiko nods to Idrani in greeting. And then glances at Golden, cocking her head to the side. "Well then, we must feed it I suppose," the older woman says, with some degree of humor.

Idrani smiles, "An honor to meet you. Welcome to Station 419." Her antennae twitch briefly at the sound of Golden's belly. "Please forgive the social scientist in me, but is it traditional for your culture to place the family name before the personal name?"

Kishi offers a polite smile to Idrani. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant," she says to the Andorian. She lets her grandfather respond to the social science question from the woman.

Ashikaga nods his head once as he is named, and nods again at the question. "A product in our belief in the honor of the family being a duty we all must carry and put before our own glory. If you deal with one, you know that you deal with all, for good or ill. The family before the self, if you will, then the self. A tradition from a more ancient time, but one still held by some to this day." He considers, "I understand that the Keth system is not unlike that in practice if not in name-placement." He juts his jaw out and asks in a professorial tone, "You are on the diplomatic staff; do you find it an invigorating challenge to follow the rules of Federation diplomatic practice and mediation techniques when they so, in many places, conflict with the methods of your native people and callings of your blood urges? It is an honorable struggle I am sure, if it exits, putting the precepts of duty before the instinctive urge to leap across a table and settle the issue with a smug diplomat by watching what symbols are revealed by his passing against the wall, neh?"

Poole smiles at Ashikaga's words, obviously liking the old man quite a bit more now. Silence is still her order of the evening as the others interact a bit more vocally.

Caeli looks to Idrani. Then to each of Takamura's visiting family members in turn. And finally, the Bolian blushes a bright shade of cerulean as the realization strikes. "Oh!" he exclaims, as the cobalt pools in his cheeks. "I'm so sorry!" A flustered Bolian is indeed a sight to behold. "I had no idea... Lt. Takamura doesn't..." And then he just trails off, shoulders slumping ever-so-slightly and looking to Takamura and his family apologetically.

Idrani actually grins, a fairly uncommon occurrance. "I was just asked that question, not long ago, in fact." She says, "Yes, it is certainly a challenge. More than once, I have had to curb the urge to necessatite a replacement envoy at the diplomatic table. But, though these battles are fought with words and not blades, much of the techniques are the same. Anticipation, reaction, move and countermove. Discipline and subtlety cut as sharply on the linens as they do at the conference table."

Randal goes Out of Character.

Randal has left.

Takamura stiffles a chuckle at Golden's rumbly tummy. He motions towards the server to bring out the dishes. As the Bolian apologizes, Tak smiles at him. "I'm sorry, Zip. I should have explained that to you."

Ashikaga merely nods to the Andorian's response, and seems to make no notice of the Bolian's flush and expression of apology, instead he gently squeezes the arm of his wife and then looks back toward his grandchildren.

"So, Roshi," Kishi asks. "Are you going to tell us how you got your medal? Or is that another thing you can't talk about?"

Ishiko patiently waits for dinner to be served, her expression faintly suspicious. Alien restaurants. Alien foods. Shudder.

Idrani quietly excuses herself then, "A pleasure meeting all of you. Have a pleasant evening." She nods, to include her fellow officers in the latter statement, then walks to the door.

Golden observes the table interplay of Hiroshi's family with an expression of wistful pleasure, but keeps the corner of his eye peeled the direction of the kitchen.

Golden says, "Good evening, Lieutenant."

Caeli remains silent for a while, mentally in the process of extricating his foot from his mouth, though he does cast a brief glance to Idrani.

. o O Caeli thinks "Stupid, Zip; stupid stupid stupid."

Idrani heads out and onto the Mall.

Idrani has left.

Takamura waves to the departing Andorian, before turning to answer his sister. "I can't go into details, but it was earned on a very important mission to the Federation. And while I'm explainging my surprises, besides the promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade, I have been given the pleasure of serving as Dylan's executive officer."

Turtledove's eyes flick briefly to Takamura. Meanwhile, she picks up her still half-filled glass and lifts it for a sip, her attention shifting back to the table at large, her expression mellow.

Kishi grins. "I'm not surprised. You'll be captain in a month or two," she teases him. "But to me it sounds like that Lt. Golden made a good choice." She bows her head at Golden before saying to Tak, "We've tried to stay in contact with all the families from your team. We've got an event we're planning for - in six months we're supposed to have everyone up to Mars for a weekend, but one of the family members isn't very pleasant. I'd say we weren't inviting him but I don't think he'd come if we did."

Ishiko goes home.

Ishiko has left.

Golden looks interested in who this might be but doesn't ask directly... until he gets a light-bulb expression followed by a slight scowl covered in part by another head turning reconnoiter for the food.

. o O Golden thinks "I bet it's Wendy's brother."

Turtledove's eyes shift to Kishi, curious and surprised. She casts a quick glance at Golden and Tak, meanwhile, again curious.

. o O Turtledove thinks "Reluctant family member...? Gathering...?"

Jiasha comes into the restaurant from the mall.

Jiasha has arrived.

Still quiet, Poole shifts in her chair, listening patiently to the conversation. She finally speaks up, interjecting herself softly into the conversation, "Pardon the change of topic... but, and I beg you to please indulge me here, I was wondering if you could share some news of Earth? The media does a good job at white washing everything and giving only vague details."

Aaannnd there's Jiasha, unfashionably late, with Nua toddling along, holding her mother's hand. Enter two Bajorans into a whole room full of humans. And Caeli. Jiasha looks terribly nervous. Her cheeks are over-red, her belly is over-huge. And Nua, with usual aplomb, looks for something to 'engineer'. She brought her toy plasma torch. She's fixin' to use it.

As Jiasha enters, Tak gets up from his seat to help her into hers. He waves her over with a reassuring smile. He will respond to Kishi's statement after introductions are made. "Please, Jiasha come on in." In the meantime, the Ferengi staff begins to bring out the food. Perhaps this distraction will take some of the attention off the pregnant Jiasha.

Her brother could only be so lucky. Kishi looks Jiasha up and down as if she's about to buy the woman. "It's so nice to finally meet you," she says to Jiasha without the introductions that such a thing is usually said in response to.

Ashikaga says evenly, "Earth is... as Earth will be. There was war, there was destruction, Earth endures and rebuilds and carries on as it has before and will likely will again. There is much debate in the United Earth Government about pushing the Ambassador to the Federation to reconsider the status of the Terran Colonies as independent full members in their own right considering the ramifications of the Dominion War. There is much debate in San Francisco with the Council whether to scale back militarization and adopt a pre-war philosophy of peaceful exploration countered by the arguements of others that the Federation should have learned its lesson and should be increasing a standard more parallel to those of our neighbors of dedicated military groups with a more moderated approach to exploring and contact; they insist that were it not for our reckless exploration policies neither the Borg nor the Dominion would have threatened the Federation in the last decades. My thought is, if you prepare for a war eventually you will fight one, if you neglect to do so eventually you will lose one." He then looks toward the movement of his grandson and the woman and child he greets. To support his granddaughter's statement he merely adds a nod and begins appriasing the young woman.

Jiasha looks Kishi right back up, down. Down. Jiasha lifts her chin, firmly. Nua smiles, and does the deep Japanese bow that Hiroshi has taught her. Jiasha does not. "And you. Takamura Kishi." She is, of course, just guessing. But it's an educated guess.

Caeli, for his part, is sticking out like a bruise on a supermodel. A dot of blue in a sea of not blue. He's following the conversation quietly.

"Thank you, sir," Poole murmurs, quite satisfied. She looks up at Jiasha, smiling a greeting."

Dylan, hoping that by not watching the food arrive it will arrive faster, looks to Nua and says, "Hello, did you bring Laren to dinner as well? If you did, I'm warning you, no matter how hungry she is, I'm not sharing my part of the food." His expression is quite serious, but it is obvious in the one of his delivery, to adults anyway, that he's merely making a gest with the little girl.

"Hiromoto Kishi, actually," is Kishi's reply to Jiasha. "I'm married." And so should you be, too. But she doesn't say the latter. Just implies it in the tone of the first.

Turtledove smiles at Jiasha and Nua. She is otherwise sipping quietly from a tall glass, synthale most likely, in the wake of Ashikaga's jam-packed analysis of the Terran political situation, and the much-awaited introductions between Takamuras (present and former) and Havaris.

Takamura turns towards his family to make the introductions. "I would like to introduce Havaris Jiasha and her daughter Havaris Nua." He tries not be flustered by his sister's reaction. "Yes, Hiromoto Kishi. And these are my grandparents, Dr. Toshitsuna Ashikaga and Dr. Toshitsuna Ishiko."

. o O Golden thinks "Pow! Don't hold back Kishi, tell her how you /really/ feel."

Nua waves Laren at Dylan. She breaks away to go talks to him. Those Havarii. Always talking up the boys. She says, very intently. "Laren ate cake for breakfast, and hasperat for dinner." Jiasha offers Kishi nothing but her most charming of smiles. Charm charm charm. Look, it's a pretty blonde alien. Aww. "Please forgive me." She does note to Kishi, with utter gravity. "I did not mean any offence. It is hard for me to remember that women change their names in Terran Japan province." And Jiasha dips her head, once, at the Toshitsuna duo. "Hello, Toshitsuna."

Ashikaga considers the two females for a long moment silently. "You are late, but not /too/ late." Is all he has to say before gesturing toward some of the empty seats at the table, his manner suggesting that beyond what was noted nothing is amiss, so eating is the priority.

. o O Kishi thinks "You just couldn't keep it in your pants, could you, Roshi?"

Kishi gives Takamura a glance before turning her attention to her grandfather. "Grandfather-san, I should check on Mitsuo and Kwan." She pushes herself up from the table. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. I hope to see you again soon." Then, to her brother she says, "Roshi, if you have time to give us a tour, I should very much like to see where you work."

Caeli pipes up to Ashikaga, finally speaking again as the food is brought, "Do you think Starfleet should continue to move back towards large, explorer configurations, or remain focused on the smaller gunboats?" He offers a smile and wave to the departing Kishi as she steps away.

Poole opens her mouth to say good night to Kishi when her combadge goes off, 'Operations to Lt. Cmdr Poole.' She smiles apologetically and taps her combadge, looking politely away from those at the table. "Poole here, go ahead."

Jiasha moves along to the seat offered by the elder man, with another dip of her head, low, in regard to him.

Turtledove nods to Kishi as she gets up to leave, a polite cheery gesture. "It was lovely to meet you too, Kishi. I hope to see you again soon, around the station."

Takamura pushes the chair in as Jiasha sits down. He then smiles to cover his disappointment at the timing of Kishi's departure. "Certainly. I would love to show my big sister around the station. Please give Mits and Kwan my regards. I will pop by later to make sure you are settled in."

"Ma'am, there's a freighter captain here that requested the presence of a senior command officer," the voice says through the combadge. Poole winces and answers, "I'll be up in a moment. Tell this captain to keep his pants on. In those exact words. Poole out." Sighing, the diminutive second officer stands and bows shallowly to those at the table, "Duty calls. Good evening, everyone."

Ashikaga grunts his permission for Kishi to leave, even as Ishiko frowns -- though at which part of the situation she is frowning about remains unclear. Ashikaga looks to Zip saying, "Starfleet has a role, the constitution outlines it. If I do not agree with how that role is filled I can express my opinion by voting. Discussion beyond that only serves to dry my mouth." He takes a sip from his glass then.

Kishi smiles warmly to Turtledove. "I hope so, too." Then, her smile broadens as she regards Takamura. "Okay, Roshi. I'll see you soon." With that, she makes her way out.

Starfleet heads out and onto the Mall.

Starfleet has left.

Golden frowns slightly. "Sir, don't you think that discussing the various points of the topic improves the understanding of the subject for all involved so is a useful pursuit?"

Caeli looks to Golden as he responds, neither agreeing nor disagreeing verbally but brightening his expression somewhat at the Martian's query.

Nua bores with Golden, so she takes up after Jiasha, who sits in the rather unattractive manner of a beached whale in a suddenly-small chair.

Ashikaga shows little expression but responds, "Have you found that, after knowing which position is right for you, talking about it at great length makes your position more right for you? I have found that those who speak at great length on a matter of significance ultimately speak less about the subject but more about their own uncertainty. A collective silence on a matter can communicate far more than every voice raised in debate."

Golden says, "Complex issues require more lengthy discussion to arrive at the best resolution for all parties involved, I think sir."

Poole smiles a bit wider as Golden and Ashikaga have a dialogue. Winking over at Caeli, she heads on out, her goodbye already said.

Caeli counters, "But what if you don't know your position, or only know one side of it? Then debate, or discussion, returns to serving its original purpose: The changing or swaying of minds. While what agreement we may or may not come to at this table will likely have little effect on the policy actually pursued, we're still all the more educated and informed for having discussed it." He smiles up at Poole briefly as she passes before looking back to Ashikaga.

Turtledove's head cocks slightly to the side, her eyebrows rising gently in acute consideration of Ashikaga's hypothesis. As the conversation continues, she smiles gently and sips, mellow.

Takamura retakes his seat as his sister leaves. He then smiles at Jiasha supportively. As the others discuss politics, the servers place the food in front of them, a nice Bajoran dish of meat and vegetables. However, a plate of sushi is placed in front of his grandmother.

Poole heads out and onto the Mall.

Poole has left.

Ashikaga says, "Complexity of an issue is an illusion created by those unwilling to commit to what they know to be right and trying to find the place that makes them the most respected. If you seek to always please the majority you make yourself a servant of confusion, find the position that leaves you at peace with your conscience and if you are wrong you are at least honest. Honesty is more honoralbe than solicitude."

Golden raises an eyebrow at the older man's response, but puts off any debate to instead serve up his dish of food, stomach winning over the need to debate with the old professor in the Martian's Guide to a Happy Life.

Ashikaga looks then toward Caeli, "You are in Starfleet, you have experienced the results of one policy and the implications of the other. I have never served in Starfleet. On one hand, first hand experience. On the other, the imagination of one who has seen much in life. Together or seperate which will hold a greater truth to you? I will never experience what you have, so your words only tell me how you feel about it, not what the truth for me might be. You cannot forget what you have experienced, so my words cannot remove what you already know to be so. Our debate of viewpoints then not only will fail to clarify what the truth is, it may in fact distract us from what we already should not to be true for us, and in the process, our dinner will become cold."

Ashikaga starts eating as if to punctuate his point.

Caeli blinks in surprise at the last clause, but apparently agrees with that much, and similarly begins to eat after an acknowledging nod.

Takamura looks slightly relieved as people begin to enjoy their dinner and cease debating. Politics can be such a touchy subject, especially with an educated man like Ashikaga. Instead of worrying about it, he picks up his utensils to dig in, winking at Jiasha.

Jiasha reaches over to slice up this and that for Nua, so that it goes into bite-sized peices, that are easy enough for toddlers to make purchase upon. Jiasha only smiles, a bit shyly, at Takamura. She is so-far fairly silent. Takes a few slow bites of her dinner. Mostly, she prods at it, inspecting the vegetables.

Turtledove's eyes twinkle with interest, her grin caught between amusement and curiousity. She holds her tongue, however, preferring, it seems to eat in silence, and avoid social gaffes.

Ishiko glances over her plate and says in a deceptively conversational tone, "It was difficult to explain to Kwan-chan that he would not in fact be meeting his cousin when he arrived here as he previously understood. It seems he made a large plan to help you find his missing cousin Hiroshi-kun. Please forgive him if he pesters you about that." She then smiles with artful sweetness toward Nua.

Turtledove glances surreptitiously at Tak, amid polite consumption of her food.

Takamura hmms between bites as he watches his grandmother. "I will be sure to assist him in his understanding, then." Hiroshi than chances a glance towards the Bajorans to gauge their reactions.

Golden musters to help his teammate after swallowing his latest bite of food. "How was your voyage? I hope the recreational facilities on your vessel were up to snuff, I've only every travelled interstellar on Starfleet vessels myself. Did they have a holodeck? We have a very exceptional holosuite facility here managed by two very interesting Centauran's, some really cutting edge stuff."

Nua chews quite thoughtfully. She looks at the ol woman, she is a bit taken aback when she does finally reaslize what a strange sight this is. The truly aged. Nua stares for longer than she must. She finally states, holding tighter to her doll, now. "You are Terran too."

Caeli listens quietly, even as he busts out with the superpolite-good table manners stuff, and slowly but surely eats.

. o O Caeli thinks "The meat could be a little farther gone. Too fresh."

Ishiko deflects Golden's attempt smoothly saying, "I have found that no matter how enticing the illusions provided by a holodeck, in the end when the fantasy is revealed to be nothing but a show of light, my memory of whatever joy I found is sullied by the hollow feeling left behind. I try to focus on what is real, in my own entertainment and thus avoid such feelings when I wake." Looking to the little girl who spoke up she says, "That is one word for our species yes. In our ancient stories they say that we are descendents of the Goddess of the Dawn, and so are only partially people of the world that we are born upon, and partially from the realm of the Gods. Over time we discovered that saying to proudly that one is of the gods or the chosen of gods invites my worries upon one's head." She considers, "Do you like living on a space station more, or living on a planet?"

Turtledove reluctantly pushes her plate forward and stands, meanwhile. And it was just starting to get interesting. Casting a quick, warm smile to Golden, she then looks to Hiroshi's grandparents and makes her good-byes. "It was lovely to meet you. I'm afraid that I have to be going, but I hope to see you around the station."

Ashikaga nods to Turtledove's departure statement, he says nothing outloud by his eyes have a warm respect, which says more.

Ishiko smiles without any edges of frost toward Tera, "Perhaps if your schedule allows, we may have a Tea Ceremony and get to know each other better."

Dylan hurries to swallow the Gyoza he had just put in his mouth, and says with a slightly raspy voice, "Goodnight Tera, I'll see you in the morning."

Takamura smiles at Tera as she gets ready to leave. "Good night Tera. Thank you for sharing dinner with us."

Turtledove's eyes mirror Ashikaga's respect, in more ways than one. Perhaps, if one allows, there is more than a thread of similarity between the two souls. To Ishiko, she smiles warmly. "I would be honoured. I will make time. Thank-you." She nods to everyone else, then turns around and heads for the exit.

Turtledove heads out and onto the Mall.

Turtledove has left.

At Turtledove's departure, Caeli checks a wall chronometer and inhales in a sort of auditory wince. "I'm sorry, Lieutenants, Doctors, Ms. Havaris, but I think I've cheated sleep a bit too much tonight. Alpha shift is slowly but surely creeping..." He looks to Takamura, specifically, then with a slight smile. "Perhaps you could bring your family by the office, show them where you work when you're on loan?"

Takamura grins at the Bolian as he makes his departing remarks. "I was planning on it. Good night, Zip. I'll see you later and thanks for coming."

Caeli pushes his chair back carefully and rises, smiling at the remaining Takamura relatives. "It was great meeting you," he says earnestly, again back at parade rest. "Hope to see you again soon." With brief nods to the other officers, he makes for the door.

Nua regards Ishiko for another long moment. The little girl says very simply. "I only lived on a planet whenmaybe I was a baby. I'm a big girl now. People go to planets and they don't come back because they live with the prophets. It's safe on a space station. The prophets dont' come to teake anyone away."

Takamura's grandparents both say good-bye to the Bolians in their own way, but each polite as their culture requires.

Jiasha blanches at Nua weaves her yarms. She prods at another vegetable.

Caeli heads out and onto the Mall.

Caeli has left.

Takamura smiles somewhat embarassedly at the words that leave Nua's mouth. Trying to hide his dismay, he takes a sip of his drink.

Ashikaga looks to the little girl now as well and he says, "Station or Planet, when the time has come to move on people go. I do not believe that the prophets take them, but perhaps they go to see the prophets on their own abilities. It must be a wonderous thing, to go so far alone, perhaps that is why they leave behind their bodies, so they do not have to carry them so far." He sets his chopsticks aside and leans closer despite the table distance, his voice set to carry precisely to the little girl without unusual volume -- "There is only one place where people may go and be always, regardless of trips to prophets or travels into dangers unknown." He touches his chest over his heart, "Your heart is the strongest part of you, and like a fortress it can erect walls to keep others out. And like a prison it can keep you from letting go of those who need freedom. But, if you let someone within that fortress and they wish to stay, then a part of them is always safe with you no matter where the rest of it may a go -- and I have it on good authority that a soul, like some species, can grow whole and anew if only the smallest part is saved somewhere safe. Keep those dear to you within your heart, and no matter what happens to their body what made them special will always be safe and with you. Love is a good thing, perhaps not always healthy, but in it's absolute, a good thing."

Ishiko looks toward her husband slightly, "But it is also not so that somethings are better left locked outside, you can see what is good for your heart and what may harm it. Wisdom is be selective in what you would keep safe within your heart, would you not say? A crowded heart is not a heart at peace and may miss the arrival of the intended guests."

A lot of this is lost on Nua. She is a clever four-- but she is only four. She is begining to look upset, red in the face. Jiasha speaks up, butting the tone through with a crisp frankness. "Nua is begining to spell and write." There. Poke. Poke. "You can spell your name and ten words, can't you, Havaris?"

Ashikaga does not looks to his wife, nor make much of an expression but he says, "Iie, a true heart is boundless. There is no limit to what it may hold, rather the worry is that it may not find enough to fill it and find lonliness."

Golden dives in, "Wow! Ten words /and/ your name!?! Amazing! Someone call the Vulcan Science Academy and let them know Havaris Nua is ready to start classes tomorrow! Boy, we'll sure miss you, Nua. Do you think Laren can stay here with me? I might be scared with you gone."

Takamura looks to his grandparents and remembers what it was that he missed about them, the deep discussions that they had. It taught young Hiroshi much about life and philosophy. He admires them, then turns towards the little girl as attention is brought to her recent accomplishments.

Nua picks up her chin a little bit. This is not so scary, now. This is morcels of thought that she can chew and work around. She props up the Klingon doll with pride. "I'm her mommy." She states to Dylan, her chin still quivering now and again. She's bucking up admirably none the less. Jiasha keeps her smile on. As ornamental as a tea cerimony, she is. Nua continues to address Dylan, her commrade and equal. "So if she is left here I will come to find her. I will stay here, and i will protect you, Golden Dylan."

Golden smiles like someone uncorked the sun and it's shining from his face, and the easy infectious smile and laugh in his eyes not laughed fills the near area with it's shine. "Thanks Havaris Nua, I feel much safer now. You're the best." The eye out of line of sight with the girl winks and he resumes his food consumption with every appearance of renewed gusto.

Ishiko smiles, relenting under the pressure of the Martian's elaborate good humor... for now at any rate.

Ashikaga grunts and smiles, then picks his chopsticks back up and begins eating again after warning Nua, "Careful, I have heard from Golden Dylan's father that protecting him from trouble is a very big task. You may not have any time to play with that responsibility."

Takamura turns from Golden's encouragement of Nua to his Grandfather's teasing of his TC. Grinning, he adds his own two cents worth. "Isn't that the truth. It has become my full time job." To show there are no hard feelings, Tak winks at Dylan.

Jiasha smiles, now. How can anyone resist Pouty Golden with a big big grin. And Nua says to the older man, again, with utter, sincere and serious enthusiasm. "I'm a big girl. I have res-pon-sa-bil-i-ties."

Golden says, "Indeed you do! Someday I'll get to grow up and have responsibilities too, like assigning people to waste reclamator duty! What fun!"

Jiasha continues to eat. Her right hand stays quite still and inanimate, while the left does just abouteverything.

Nua looks at Jiasha for a moment. Squints. H-m. And jiasha suppliments with a wry sort of grin, something a bit of a departure from the decorative grin she wore earlier. "Waste reclamation is a dirty, stinky job. Golden Dylan is teasing your Hiroshi."

Ishiko, pours tea for her husband when his cup is empty then sets the pot down. He picks up the pot and pours her cup before setting the pot down. She then sips from her tea watching the interplay of the youths at the other side of the table, her eyes filled with busy thoughts but her posture seemingly placid and centered.

nua lifts her arm higer, the kimono sleeve of her dress falling over her rounded elbow. She is offering Ishiko a peice of her pre-sliced meat, snatched up in a set of spare chopsticks.

Ashikaga finishes his portion of the meal, setting his chopsticks down gracefully and after a pass at rubbing his stomach, he sits very upright and closes his eyes. So still is he, it would almost seem that he has chosen that very moment to pass away for his own trip to visit the prophets, until one of the Ferengi trying to clear his plates bumps the table and his hand flashes out with sudden and frightening speed to catch the rolling chopstick in mid-air before it hits the floor and place it solidly back on the table. The Ferengi mumbles an apology, but seems more disconcerted that the old man never openned his eyes during this process than he is that one of the eating accoutrements almost fell to the floor.

Takamura eyes Golden as he talks about reclimator duty. He shakes his head, then smiles back at the innocence of Nua. As the girl offers the old woman a slice of Bajoran meat, he observes to see her reaction. When the Ferengi bumps the table, he is not in the least surprised with the reflexes of the older gentleman.

Ishiko lifts up a little cup and uses her chopsticks to scoop rice into it, and then offers the cup under the girl's offering for her to drop it in. Once she has, she lifts the piece to her own lips and nods as a thank you before chewing thoughtfully.

Nua smiles. She is remarkably pleased. Setting the chopsticks down hap=hazardly, and taking this moment of bonding as a suitable time to say, "You look like the Vedek."

As Meep comes out from the back with the PADD that is undoubtably the bill for the meal, Dylan waves him over. There is a quiet discussion and then Golden's thumb presses down on the PADD. "Please allow me the honor of paying for the dinner, if nothing else consider it a return in favors for bringing the package from my family all this way and sparing us the shipping charges."

Ishiko's eyes move as if trying to pinpoint what the child could mean, then she smiles and says, "It is kind of you to find such a comparison if you think it is a favorable one."

Jiasha watches these goings on for a moment or three. Nua continues to Ishiko. "Your face falls down like his does. And you have a nice smile. But no ridges."

Takamura winces slightly at Nua's words, not knowing what she meant by them. As the bill comes out, he tilts his head toward Dylan, giving a 'you don't have to do that' look.

Golden whispers to Takamura, "I know, that's why it's my honor to do so and my duty."

Ishiko considers, "Wrinkles of the skin. It is said these are nature's warning to the foolish that the bearer has been alive for many years and knows many ways to defend themselves; others say that they are nature's way of keeping the very old humble as wisdom has a price, if they were young and beautiful as well as wise they would be to full of themselves and would explode, making a very inconvenient mess."

Ashikaga opens his eyes at this point. "I would like to retire for my exercises and bath before bed. Perhaps if your Lieutenant would be so kind as to show us where we are staying now, you may continue to be good host to your young ladies and perhaps will visit us this evening or tomorrow morning, Hiroshi-san?"

Nua touches her own face, thoughtfully. All of this is quick and easy enough to imagine, and so she nods. "The Vedek has lots of wise." This comes rather inclusively. Ishiko is allowed to be a part of that, in the world of Nua. "I think I would like my face to fall too. So I could be like you and Vedek Toralin."

Ishiko smiles, "The young wish to be old, the old long for their youth. Some day, your face will fall and a little girl will say to you that she wishes her face to fall, and you will remember this day and me, and that will make us both happy." She looks to her husband, "Now I must take my husband home, it seems it is past the time where I must read him stories and tuck him into bed."

Ashikaga grunts.

Takamura bows his head to the older warrior/scholar. "That would please me, Ojiisan. I will come to see you later. I hope your quarters are satisfactory." He smiles slightly as his Grandmother seems to warm to Nua and teases her husband.

Jiasha speaks up,with a bright glint in her eyes. "You ought to tell him the giant peach story. I hear that it is a family tradition."

Dylan finishes a few bits by hurridly stuffing them into his mouth and then, straightens his uniform making it clear as he stands that he is ready to play escort duty.

The mention of the giant peach story has Nua up and ready. She does love that story, yessir.

Ishiko, covers her mouth with her hands as she smiles more genuinely and rises to her feet.

Ashikaga rises to his feet and stands, now dwarfed by the Martian waiting to escort them, but seeming larger by sheer force of presence regardless as he looks toward his grandson. "It is pleasing to see you doing well, and that your fellow officers give honor to you not only to your face, but with recognition and promotion as well. You have come very far Takamura Hiroshi-san, and you carry forward the honor of your ancestors and your children into the future. It is pleasing to see that such a capable vessel carries us to the stars beyond the cradle of our family, and into the future." The old man then turns and gestures with one hand for the looming youth to lead the way, he does not spare a look back or add anything else.

After all, his sun is setting and the sun of the future has already risen.