The shuttle settled to the ground in the densely populated city of Ulundi, former capital of the African nation of KwaZulu-Natal. The side hatched opened and a figure, bent almost double to allow his tall frame to exit the craft, stepped out and then stood up… and up… and up. The African sun shone down on the shaved ebony head, and intense brown eyes surveyed the hustle and bustle of the shuttle port… and brilliant white teeth contrasted against dark lips as a broad smile stretched across the imposing man’s features.

He was home.

He hailed a taxi and squeezed inside and the ground craft set off. Soon, the paved and crowded streets gave way to a broad, well-traveled road leading off into the interior of the African countryside.

After about three-quarters of an hour, they pulled off the main road and traveled up a long gravel road through dense tree coverage. The sounds of animals could be heard clearly, and if one wasn’t completely aware of where they were going, cardinal directions would be lost quickly. Fifteen minutes on the gravel and the taxi pulled into a large flat area that fronted a large house.

Rather than metal and advanced building materials, the structure was made of wood. It was decorated as if it had been there in that spot for millennia, becoming part of the savanna around it. A large porch faced the parking area, on which sat many chairs of varying sizes and types but all were made in a traditional sense. Large fans turned slowly in regular places under the roof of the porch. Antlers, masks, bits of pottery and other indigenous crafts and trophies were placed all over; some on small tables and some mounted on the walls. Of the many chairs on the porch, more than several were occupied. Tall and muscular ebony skinned men and women rose to their feet, and their lips parted in smiles of joy and happiness. Several of them began shouting in the Zulu language. As the figures poured off the porch towards the car, two older figures came out through the open front door and stood in the doorway, an arm around each other and smiles on their faces. With a big grin, the traveler extricated himself from the vehicle. Standing tall, he was immediately swarmed by the people from the porch. After a few moments and the exchange of greetings and hugs and kisses, he looked up at the two figures and smiled and waved his large arm, to which they raised one each of their own.

The tall man led the way up the wide and broad wooden steps to the covered patio. The smell of fresh herbs and flowers hung thick in the air, but it wasn’t overpowering. Rather, it seemed to make everything fresh and clean. The couple in the opening of the large double doors smiled warmly and the man stepped forward and put his hands on the new arrival’s shoulders. A huge smile crossed his face as he looked up at what could only be his son, the resemblance was that strong. After a brief exchange, he wrapped his arms around the traveler, closed his eyes tightly, and embraced him. “Mthunzi… my son… welcome home.”

The woman in the doorway came forward and, following the same routine as the man, embraced her son. “Mthunzi… it has been far too long. Come.. Come inside. We know you do not have very long with us.”

Crossing the threshold, ‘house’ wasn’t quite the right term for the structure. Completely open throughout, it was a three story structure with a large square-shaped open expanse in the middle; the upper floors hidden by the trees when looking from the outside. The ceiling high above was clear so the whole interior was lit by the natural African sunlight. Large windows stood open all around the ground floor with screen over them to keep out insects. A soft, cool breeze seemed to blow continuously through the rooms, ensuring that the inhabitants stayed cool despite the heat outside. Looking up, the upper two floors seemed to be made of rooms surrounding the open space of the home, with doors leading off on all sides. Spiral staircases sat at opposite corners of the ground floor leading up the next. A large seating area decorated with large couches, chairs, stacks of pillows, and a large, low table in the center sat at the bottom of three steps that lead down from the front door; inviting all who entered to sit and relax. Past the seating area, the floor again rose into a huge kitchen complete with fire pit with a large copper hood providing an exit for smoke. Counters partitioned off the kitchen area from the rest of the room, but there were multiple openings for people to move through. Past the cooking area was another large seating area, the walls of which were covered in bookshelves. Hundreds and hundreds of books, files, albums, vids, optical disks, and holo emitters filled every shelf. Actual photographs graced the walls, as did more African and tribal artifacts and maps, some of which looked (and were) hundreds of years old.

“Don’t just stand there, you big ox. Help me fetch the drinks.” his mother said with a smile and she dragged him to the kitchen area as he dropped his traditional hide bag on the floor inside the door. They set out large clay cups and a massive pitcher made of some kind of pottery and colored in bright and contrasting colors and filled it with some kind of dark reddish-purple liquid. Mthunzi and his mother carried the drinks out and distributed them amongst the family.

Kagiso, his father, raised his glass and said in a deep voice not unlike Mthunzi’s “For the first time in many seasons, our home is blessed with all of our family within its walls. Short as his stay may be, we are truly blessed by the Ancestors.” and he smiled. “The Spirits have seen fit to put us all together, and that means we will show our thanks. Tonight, we feast as our ancestors did. In celebration of family, hearth, and home… with open arms and open hearts.” and he took a drink, but did not sit down. The family followed suit, but did not speak.

“Mthunzi, my son. My oldest. You have learned our ways perhaps better than even I have. And you bring honor to us by living in balance between the old and the new. Tonight, you will invoke the Spirits and carve our bounty.” This statement was met with a stunned look from Mthunzi and broad smiles and few soft words of celebration from his siblings.

Mthunzi remained silent for a few moments and then said “Father, I thank you for your blessings, and I will be honored to invoke the Spirits and ask for their blessing. Thank you.” and he looked down for a few moments in deep thought. He took a drink and returned the handshakes from some of his siblings and a hug or two. As everyone began settling down a bit, he leaned over to his parents and said “I need to get settled and make a call. I will be back in a few minutes.” and he smiled a warm smile at them and then went and picked up his bag. He took one of the spiral stairs to the second floor and to the room that was and always would be his. He opened the door and stepped inside and sighed.

It was good to be home.

He set the bag on the large bed and opened the clasp. Reaching in, he pulled out a standard issue communicator and flipped it open. The familiar chirp indicated it had activated and he said [O] Nkosenye to Haven. Have arrived. Awaiting orders. [O] A few moments passed and then an automated voice replied [O] Nkosenye, Mthunzi. Lieutenant. Star Fleet Intelligence. Section Thirty-One Operative Gamma Echo 9-9-9-5-1. Report to USS Sentinel one standard week from now. Assigned as Chief Intelligence Liaison Officer. Standard issue will be provided upon arrival. Assets issue will be provided upon arrival. Acknowledge. [O] Nkosenye replied [O} Acknowledged USS Sentinel one standard week from now. Issue provided upon arrival. Out. [C] and he closed the communicator. He looked around the room and then took a deep breath of the fresh air before turning to spend a few days with family.

Nkosenye, CIO