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Sorkana's Rise, Combining Forces, 2 By: Malissa Madison FSP Longbow; Lomanith in the lead, M'gon led the twelve Gold and three Bronze dragons in their jump to the much larger number five hold. Captain Tillek stood at the front of the group of ships officers to welcome his distinguished guests. "Captain, there are two Transgenders in the group," whispered Dr Marchand the Chief Medical officer. "Weyr Woman Sorkana and her adopted daughter Sorki," she identified them. "Is there a problem with that Doctor?" he asked. His concern wasn't one of prejudice, it was more curiosity. He knew that in the FSP, among the line troops especially, gender orientation didn't matter when the battle started. "Not in the Weyrs. I just thought you should know, the Weyrs are even more openminded than the FSP." "That's good to hear," stated Master Nolly. "Sorry, Romnorth has very good hearing," she apologized, then began introducing those he had not met before. They had just started for the big conference room when the fluttering of leathery wings erupted near Dana, who had arrived aboard Romnorth with Master Nolly. "Forgive me," she chuckled. "Pretty is here to let me know if Ballith needs me," she explained the presence of the Fire Lizard. Soon there were more of the little creatures, but they were staying out of the way. Sorkana recognized Val, the Queen Fire Lizard of Liza, rider of Green Darnath. She also knew exactly why the little queen was here now, D'ven wanted to know that Sorkana, Sorki and Gayleth were safe. The conference was going well, they were reaching a lot of agreements regarding incorporating the FSP Crew of the Longbow into Pern and Between. Accepting that technology which was approved by the Original Charter. They'd just begun discussing the other FSP ships when they were interrupted. "Sir, we have an emergency transmission from Nacona," stated the Communications Officer. "Excuse me, I need to find out what is happening," he left stepping into the Captains Ready Room. "Jeffrey, Star here," she began even before the view screen cleared. "Star, you look distressed," he noted instantly. He'd known Captain Star Boyle before either of them had entered the academy. "You know where they sent me, Gemstone Six." "The last CA Colonization planet?" he answered. "Oh Jeffrey, it's horrible. They imported Fusion Powered Mining Equipment. That planet is nothing but slag, they drilled all the way to the core, Jeffery. There is nothing left, we have to stop those Arks. Jeffery, this isn't the first Colony where this has happened." There was something she wasn't saying. "Star, I'm meeting with the leaders of both Pern and Between. I want to bring you into the conference," he told her. "Listen to me Jeffery. There is a Probe from the Yokohama orbiting Kaus Australis Five. We barely picked up the signal, but there's also, a dead ECC Probe in orbit too." she said quickly. An ECC probe would mean the planet had been scouted for colonization. "That's in the Red Planets Orbital pattern," he reasoned. The Kaus Australis system was a full month away under Full Military Thrust from the engines. "I'm leaving Wolfe and Creeper here to study it, the rest of us are pushing on to you there." "I want you to sit in on the rest of this meeting, hold on," he stepped back into the conference room. "Sorry about that, Captain Star Boyle has given us some new information." He punched in the command to open the comm screen, "Captain?" "I'm here, Look Jeffery, we can't let them do that to any of those planets," said the older woman now on the view screen. Then she looked at the others behind him in the conference room, "Is that one of those Fire Lizards from your report?" Suddenly there were more of the little creatures. "Val is a Queen," said Sorkana as she reached up and stroked the little creature affectionately. "I'd sure love to meet her when we arrive," stated Captain Boyle. 'I could send Stomper,' Gayleth commented silently to Sorkana. 'Only if you believe it would be safe, I do not wish to have anyone come to harm,' answered Sorkana. "Captain Boyle." "Please, call me Star," she answered. "If you could stand next to something with your ships name so that we can see you on the screen, My Queen, Gayleth will attempt to send a Bronze named Stomper to you," Sorkana suggested. "I would ask her to send Val, but at this time, during a Pass, Queens are too valuable to risk." The little Bronze came to Sorkana who mentally encouraged him to look at the view screen, Gayleth helping to show him the image as Sorki coaxed him to hold a stylus in his front claws. Suddenly he let out a little squeak and disappeared as he lept toward the view screen. Sorkana and the others waited, the worry beginning to show on their face. 'Did we lose him?' she asked Gayleth almost a full minute later. But then he suddenly appeared on the view screen in the room. He flitted around a moment, then finally settled onto Star's outstretched hand. "He's so dull," commented Zinda. "He needs to be fed and rested before he tries to come back, Momma," Sorki stated the obvious out loud. "He's absolutely beautiful," said Star as she accepted the stylus from him. "What should I feed him?" still she didn't look away from him as she gently stroked his head "Meat, raw meat," blurted out M'gon. "Then let him curl up and sleep for as long as he wants. But don't let your crew treat him as a science project or disturb him, he'll probably choose to sleep curled up in the crook of your arm." "Chief, bring me a bowl of raw meat to the secure briefing room, STAT." "Is there anything I should do like cut it up or anything else he might like?" "Small bite sized pieces, otherwise he'll gorge and choke," added Zinda. "Captain Star?" interrupted Sorki. "Stomper is a Wild Born Bronze only a few months old, if you show him that you care, he might choose to stay with you. But wilds don't usually bond after they learn to fly." Still everyone in the conference room could see it on the view screen. She pinched off a bit of a sweet roll, then fed it to him as she waited for the fresh meat to arrive, they were bonding. Sorkana thought of the records from Benden Weyr. Brekke a former queen rider who had lost her dragon, had been saved by her bond with Fire Lizards. She had even been presented as a candidate for another Dragon at the next hatching. But her Fire Lizards had intervened before she was injured. But it was later, much later that another rider who had lost his dragon had re-impressed. The newly hatched Brown had turned away from the candidates and climbed to the first tier of ledges where R'chard had been sitting like a lifeless stone. That triggered a more recent memory in Sorkana's mind. Norsella, a rider from Ista, had lost her Green in a Weyrling training accident. Weyr Woman Faynella caught her eye and nodded, signaling that she'd picked up the thoughts through her own Dragon. The big thing would be getting Norsella to ride another's dragon long enough to get to Western. They would need to dose her with Fellis to stop her from panicking. Her thoughts returned to the meeting in time to hear Tiva say, "We can begin teaching your nonessential crew members a few at a time to work them into our society." "Of course, they will need to learn the Teaching Ballads, which are an essential part of our lives as well our histories," stated Nolly. "So they will begin at either the Harper Hall or the Harper Weyr until it is determined where best they fit in." They hammered out a few more details, then set a time and date to begin the orientations. The first group would begin learning at the Harper Weyr, while being trained to work with the ground crews for the next 'Fall'. But there were some who would be allowed to transition into the society without having to go through those classes. They were the teams sent to help carve out the holds and get the mines started. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Western Weyr; Garth and Torrith bugled their welcome as she and Sorki descended to the high ledge outside D'ven's weyr. N'rissa sat cross legged next to D'ven, thick strips of Weyrhide in their hands as D'ven patiently taught her to stitch and mend her own flying harness. "Momma, can we join daddy and Sis? I think Creadith is outgrowing her Flying Harness," Sorki prompted as both dragons approached the ledge. "Sorki, Creadith's harness looks a little tight, are there any notches left?" asked D'ven. "No Daddy, she needs a new one," she gave him a hug and kiss on his cheek. Then dashed into the weyr to fetch his extra leather crafting tools. 'Gayleth, could you?' began Sorkana then grinned seeing her own set floating to her from her Queens Weyr below. "Come on Sorki, let me help you," Sorkana began by pulling a long thin strip from the box. All along its length were marks at different increments that were used for taking measurements. She handed it to Sorki who hurried to begin taking the needed measurements. D'ven set the strap cutter in place on his booted foot, then began drawing the wide thick pieces of hide through it. carefully keeping the outer edge against the guide, the sharp blade cutting it three fingers wide. As each strip was cut, N'rissa shaved the ends so the overlap would stay the same thickness. The new straps would, like the old, be two layers thick with the joins reinforced by the offsetting of the second strip. Sorkana started to slide on her Palm Push glove, a thick leather glove with metal reinforced palm used to push the heavy gauge needle through the strips to sew them together. "Me, Momma, please," Sorki reached for the glove. Picking up the needle tipped awl, Sorkana asked, "Can I mark the holes for you?" she winked at D'ven. Sorki knew what was happening, Sorkana wasn't just marking the holes for the stitches, she was making tiny holes that would make it easier to push the needle through. But she was still getting to make each stitch herself. She also knew that there would be three other people to check her work. Plus, the work went faster, it would have taken her three days at least. But, with their 'non' help, it was ready by the time N'rissa announced it was almost mid of night and she was due on watch. The new harness in place, Sorki and Creadith led the way down to the Queens weyrs. Sorkana pretended not to notice when Sorki slipped up onto Creadith's back. The little queen carefully easing past Gayleth, doing her best not to disturb her sleep. It was an hour into her watch when N'rissa watched the young queen leap into the air and begin to gain altitude, then suddenly go between before reappearing just above the star stones. "What are you doing here?" she asked her baby sister as she slid to the Watch Dragons ledge. "I brought you some Klah, and Sweetmeats. And I, I wanted to talk to you," she looked sad. But then Sorki continued, "I know Mother loved us. Just look at everything she did to keep us safe." "Sorki, I know that she did too, especially after I impressed Garth," the older sister looked sad. "That's why it's harder for me than it is for you, I knew her a lot longer, and," N'rissa broke off mid-sentence holding up her hand as the sound of a falling rock caught her ears. She rushed to the outer edge to look down. In an instant she both thought and called out loud, "Ligons! Ligons on the outer cliffs" Garth let out a horrendous bugle of alarm, then lunged his head to scoop up a chunk of fire stone from the ready pile as N'rissa jumped to her seat. There was easily a dozen in plain sight, but how many were lurking in the shadows or climbing up the other cliff faces. Creadith screamed near panic as one topped the ridge straight across the rim from them. The young, Wild Dragon on watch there, bugling his distress as he was set upon. Hundreds of Fire Lizards winking in and out around him, short gouts of flame lashing out at the creatures. Sorki was astride Creadith in four fast strides, leaping the last few feet to land in place as Creadith made her dive down into the Weyr, her Bugles rousing everyone as she projected the images of Ligons. They looked like a cross between the Lions of the Southern Continent and a Watch-where. With their wings outstretched they could glide down on their prey, or, leap up and glide a short distance as they fought. But those wings were short, stubby and bristled with sharp spikes that could do serious damage in a fight. Two Ligons, one on each side got hold of Myloth's wings near his shoulders just as he launched himself in a turning roll from the heights. He vanished between half a length from the edge, then reappeared, hidden in the darkest shadows moments later just above the lake. The Ligons were gone, left between. But the damage to his wings was already done, he plunged headlong into the cold water. In the healers weyr, the Journeymen and Apprentices were scrambling at the orders of the master healer. No one noticed as the near comatose Norsella sat bolt upright from the sleeping pallet. They were in a rush to gather Numb Weed, bandages, Fellis and suturing supplies to help those who might be injured. Already Garth was spouting flames as he dived at the invading Ligons. Parth, riderless for the moment was diving at the lower entrance leading other dragons to breath gouts of flame into that passage cut through the natural wall of rock. Now older dragons joined the fight, dragons who had been taught to use their telekinetic abilities. Latching onto them with their thoughts they tossed them about like Dragon balls from their rider's favorite game. Most caught by more than one dragons mind were simply torn in half by the forces used against them. In less than fifteen minutes the Weyr was eerily silent as riders assessed damages and everyone looked to be sure the danger was over. Most injuries were minor, but they knew at least one dragon had been injured badly. "Norsella is missing," called out Valine. Immediately, people began scanning the upper ledges. She had tried in the past to throw herself from the fire heights at Ista. "We also need to find that dragon that fell from the heights," added Master Tollbar. The searchers split into groups heading in different directions. "Sorkana, come quick, we found her, them, I mean," urged Valine twenty minutes later. Myloth lay half out of the water, his head cradled in Norsella's lap, her arms around him holding him tightly as her tears rolled down her cheeks. She was soaking wet, but Myloth's warm breath and body kept her from freezing. It took a bit of coaxing and the aid of telekinetic Dragons, but they finally got them both to a ground level weyr where Myloth's wings could be tended. Still, Norsella refused to leave his side. Of course, still keeping one hand on him as if afraid he would vanish, she gobbled down a full platter of Meat Rolls, bread and Klah without being prompted. The sun was just easing over the ridge when she finally fell asleep. Sorkana smiled, seeing the pair, N'sella curled up, her head resting on a foreleg, the other draped over her protectively. "She's going to be alright now," she smiled to herself. She realized suddenly just how young Myloth was, still none of the wilds over three turns had bonded with anyone. Not even all the ones who had allowed a person to tend their injuries had bonded. It was maybe one out of five, but still that was something special about this new world. The dragons were evolving, clearly becoming even more than their creator Kit Ping anticipated, she thought to herself. Never, had any Dragon or Fire Lizard that wasn't impressed at hatching, formed a bond later. But here, both species seemed to be doing just that, even if it was just the very young. Vitath, had been the first Queen hatched from a Greens clutch on Pern, not so here. Unimpressed Dragonettes always went between, here they simply left on their own once they learned to fly. Which was much sooner than on Pern. What other surprises were in store here that hadn't been discovered yet? And could this be where those unimpressed dragons had gone to? Sorkana sent messages to the other Weyrs and to the Holds and Halls telling them about the Ligon attack. Then she reported the bonding between N'sella and Myloth. It was late afternoon when Z'kiel arrived to confirm that Myloth had been at the Harper Weyr up until Norsella had arrived at Western. But they had thought his absence was like that of the other Unbonded Wilds, they went where and when as they pleased, unless Thread was falling. Sorkana wandered through the kitchen cavern, on her way to check on the new Weyrlings. Spotting the newest Weyr Women in a tight group she noticed Sorki was with them. Timia started to stand up but she quickly motioned to keep her seat. "How are your Dragon's?" she asked as she set down her mug of Klah before stepping over the bench to join them. "Growing by the minute," from Seelah. "She's an Eating machine," chuckled Seka. "Trying to do what the older dragons did this morning," commented Timia with a wrinkled brow. I noticed that she had a new bruise on her forehead. Gayleth gave the images of her being hit with a small rock. "Well, be sure that she starts smaller, and nothing that is living until she learns to control it," Sorkana smiled gently. "When do you think they'll be ready to fly?" asked Timia. "All they do is eat and sleep, I want to fight Thread damnit," complained a young blue rider at a nearby table. "You think you're ready to fight Thread?" demanded N'rissa of the older boy, as she slammed her fist down on the table. "Let me tell you about Fighting Thread. Without training, without discipline, without coordination, you're a liability to every dragon and rider in the sky. The only thing you are going to accomplish is getting yourself and your dragon killed." She'd bared her arm and shoulder so that her scars were visible before she stomped off to where D'ven was sitting with the Wing Leaders. "Talk about a drama queen," commented the boy. "Weyr bred brats always think they know everything." "She's right. Or don't you know who she is?" "That, is N'rissa, rider of Brown Garth. And when she speaks, I'm damned sure going to pay attention to what she has to say. Or didn't you notice those Thread Scars?" Sorkana was trying to remember where she'd seen the boy. "What, a nine turn Weyr Brat," he didn't get the chance to finish. "No, a nine-turns, experienced Dragon Rider who grew up here. She fought the First Thread Fall and hadn't had any training in fighting Thread. She gets my respect and my full attention when she speaks." He picked up his Klah and plate then wandered over to the Wing Leaders Table. "J'richo, how is Janteth?" asked V'gil as he scooted over to give him room to sit down. "He's growing every day," grinned J'richo. "Hey, can I join you too. Those guys are going to find out real fast that there is more to Riding a Dragon than just riding," he stole a look at N'rissa sitting beside D'ven. "Sit here D'van," she offered patting the bench beside her. D'van like J'richo had impressed a Bronze. "Thanks, N'rissa. I just hope I can learn enough that you'll let me fly in your wing when you form your own," he was blushing. "Well then, it looks like I have my first volunteer to help train all the new Riders," stated old R'nold, the Weyrling Master as he looked across the table at N'rissa. "Absolutely, I would love to help in any way that I can," she answered. "And I can help them get started on their training Harnesses." Turning back to her breakfast, Sorkana smiled at Seelah, then at Timia, Seka and Sorki. "Zilla, I think today we will divide the junior Queen riders between us," she directed. She wanted to leave the other two junior Weyr Women to tend their dragons. One had a clutch on the sands already and the other was expected to lay her clutch any day now. "I think I can handle Seelah and Timia today," answered Zilla. "I was thinking you could take Seelah and Seka, that way you have a semi experienced and an inexperienced new rider. Seka was born in Igen," answered Sorkana. "Myth," Timia jumped up grabbing the rest of her sweet bread. "Sheesh starving already." She giggled as she gulped down the rest of her Klah, stuffed the last bite into her mouth and hurried toward the Weyrling Barracks. "I'll go help her Momma," Sorki gave her a hug then hurried after Timia. Sorkana spotted someone who looked both proud and sad at the same time. Searching her memory, she remembered his name only a half second before Gayleth provided it. She knew he was a self-taught Leather Crafter, but before that he had been a Beast Master, a Herder and Cot Holder in Bitra on Pern. "Thorne, please come and visit a minute," she invited him. She'd not gotten the chance to visit with the man since the hatching feast. He looked worried now, being called upon by the Leading Weyr Woman of the Weyr. "Relax, and have another cup of Klah," she encouraged. "I wanted to ask you about your experience, to see where you might fit in." "Well you'll probably find out soon enough," he began. "We left Bitra after Lord Dorson decided a spoiled nephew needed to manage our cot hold since it was the most productive." He and his family had left after being forced out of the home they had built, and into the servants' quarters. Thorne had honestly tried to work with the young man, but then the Lordling had begun to berate Timia in front of the rest of the workers that he'd brought with him. Thorne had loaded his family and their few possessions into a cart with a pair of draft beasts and left while the new 'Holder' and his cronies were off at a gather. Lady Nori had died in childbirth the next spring at a Holdless camp in the hills around Benden Hold. "And you ended up at Benden, where young Lord Norman took advantage of your Beast Craft skills," she looked him in the eye. "And then he used your position as a holdless to take further advantage of Timia," her hand covered his in a gentle squeeze of understanding. "He won't receive a majority at the next Holders Conclave, nor will Lord Bilgernon of Bitra." "I've heard of how my old hold has been ruined," he said with more than a hint of bitterness. "But that is in the past. I want to know if you would take a position here as our Beast Master, overseeing the care and purchase of not just the herd Beasts, but the Runners for those who do not ride dragons." After a few moments pause she added, "Or you might look to Western Hold, where Lady Dorrita is searching for an acceptable and experienced Beast Master." "If I was here I could see Timia more often," he blurted out. "You do know that just because she is a Dragon Rider now, doesn't mean that you can't visit together when she is not in training sessions," V'gil stated as he joined the conversation at the table. "What brings you here this morning?" asked Sorkana. "M'gon was wondering if we could bring Timia's mother here, where her memory could be honored." Then before anyone could ask why or how, he finished, "The Longbow has the means to recover remains and transport them to a new location. M'gon wants to do it for Timia and you, sir." "Was she really related to James Tillek, who was one of the first leaders of our people?" asked Thorne changing the subject. Sorkana let the change take place, she didn't want to bring up painful memories. She already knew how the woman had died, and that it had been difficult for him as well as Timia. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FSP Nacona; Star Boyle awoke to sounds of a screeching Stomper as the lights in her quarters came on seconds before the room was filled with wildly fluttering wings of nearly every color. Sitting up she held out her hand to him, then began the process of trying to calm him down. His eyes were whirling hues of red and green, he was hungry, and his hide was cold, and so were these new arrivals. But where had they come from? She keyed in her request for her breakfast as well that for Stomper adding extra to accommodate the new arrivals. Slowly she managed to count them, three Browns, two Greens, five blues, one other Bronze and then the one who always stayed behind her out of sight no matter which way she turned to look. Finally, she used the mirror of her rooms vanity console after they had all settled down. Behind her clinging to one of the corner light strips was a little golden queen. Not turning around, she looked into the queen's eyes using the mirror, "You little lady are absolutely gorgeous." She almost swooned as the flood of thoughts and images filled her mind from both the little queen and Stomper. She managed to get herself back to somewhat normal and keyed the Comm panel. "Number One, I'll be in the Officers mess until further notice," she informed her first officer. Then hurriedly got dressed to avoid upsetting the new arrivals. She hadn't missed Stompers dull coloring and correctly guessed that he had gone to Between while she slept and returned with this little group. She was about to step through the door when the little queen finally settled onto her other shoulder. She seemed fascinated with the shiny emblems and decorations of her Officers uniform. Then as the door whooshed open, the little Queen's claws dug into her shoulder. Stomper had gotten used to the doors, and the little queen hadn't gotten frightened and gone between like the rest. All along the corridor crew members moved to the walls, staring at the little queen on her left shoulder and Stomper on her right. As the door opened she called out 'Carry on' before anyone could call attention. The Chief Steward was just setting the last bowl of chopped up meat on the Captains table when the rest arrived from between. "Doc, Lt Nichols, sit down and carefully begin feeding them. They're not yet attached to anyone, but try to get one to accept you," she ordered the two most senior officers present, then began scanning the room for others who might be worthy of a Fire Lizard. Her usual ten-minute breakfast stretched out to twenty minutes as she fed not just herself, but Stomper and Gorgeous as well. "So where did you come from?" she asked the little queen. Her mind filled instantly with the image of a sandy stretch of beach between a rock cliff and the sea. The sand heated by the sun, dozens of Fire Lizards either roosting at entrances to tiny nesting holes, or flitting around. Diving into the water catching fish or crustaceans at the water's edge. Finally, she saw inside the largest opening halfway up the cliff, it was large enough to fly into. Inside it opened into a much larger cavern, light from the smaller entrances filtered in to show a large flat area. The center seemed to be dominated by piles of eggs. Each pile tended by a little queen. She chuckled to herself, well she had asked the question. More junior officers had joined in to help feed the creatures, and she now realized that while Lt Nichols had bonded with the other Bronze, Doc McCormick had a Brown and two of the Blues clinging to her arm. But there seemed to be even more than before. "Ma'am, what do I do with her? I have to report for duty," asked Ensign Holly Mayes. She had a Green curled up in the crook of her arm. "Take her with you. Maybe you can get her to roost on your shoulder while you work," suggested Star. "Doc, I understand your curiosity, but no experiments, not even blood tests. We don't want these little creatures to become frightened of us." The crew of the Nacona had no idea how truly remarkable it was that a bond had formed with these Fire Lizards. Stomper was able to jump to the moving ship because he knew her, the others had been able to jump to him. "Ensign Mayes, when we reach the bridge, please open communications with Longbow. We need more information about these little guys," directed Star. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Between, Western Weyr; "M'gon?" her radio crackled to life as the shuttles pilot called for her attention. She dipped the mitt covered hand into the oil bucket again as she worked her jaw to activate her mastoid communications implant. "Yes?" "Captain Tillek has Captain Boyle in a conference and requests your attendance. He said to tell you Captain Boyle needs more information about the Fire Lizards that have shown up on the Nacona." Several other Riders heard the conversation. "They'll need to train them," said N'rissa. "Otherwise they'll get into mischief and cause problems." "We need Liza, of course you are welcome to join us," she extended the offer to N'rissa. Aboard the landed shuttle, everyone in the conference call was paying attention to Liza as she stroked her little Queen while explaining her methods of training a fire lizard. A Blue suddenly screeched and flashed between, then reappeared, a Space Vole clutched in its claws. "Davey, Good boy," praised the ships Doctor. "Well at least they've found something to hunt," commented M'gon. It was a very common plague aboard space ships. No matter how careful, Space Voles, a type of Rat, always seemed to find a way to inhabit ships as well as space stations. It was always a steady chore to keep the populations down and under control. "Davey, here," Doc directed the Blue to a specific unused equipment stand. "You don't want to get that all over the equipment." They were interrupted a moment later by a green winking out and back with another. Ensign Mayes was quick to react as she pulled out a service tray from the console beside her station. "Good girl Emerald, good girl." "The most important thing to remember, is their behavior depends on your own self-discipline," stated Liza. "Remember though, they aren't like Canines or children, you cannot spank them, not physically anyway. But they do respond to your mental expressions of displeasure. But don't let it get out of hand or you'll lose them." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Between, Western Weyr; They'd finally gotten everyone settled down. D'ven knew Sorki was disappointed that he had not over ridden Sorkana's decision not to let her join the Queen's wing for the next day's Thread Fall. She had been practicing really, hard with the HNO3 sprayer. Sorki wasn't the only one disappointed either, there were two other Junior Gold riders and eight Green riders from Pern who had been practicing with her, who were not included in one of the Queen's Wings. She looked so peaceful laying there under the sleeping furs, D'ven almost felt guilty for what he was about to do. He carefully slid under the furs, his arms going around his mate, his nose nestling into the hair behind her left ear. "Mmmmm," she wiggled her bottom back against him as her hand guided his to her bare breast. Gently she rocked her hips against his erection, as his fingers teased her stiff nipples. He wasn't oblivious of the fact she'd already prepared herself for him, but his plan called for seducing her into agreeing to let Sorki join a wing. He began teasing with the intention of bringing her to point of begging. 'Please save me the long drawn out pretense that you haven't already decided that Sorki and Creadith are to lead the junior Queens wing,' interrupted Gayleth. "I guess that means you're not interested in being seduced," D'ven commented. "Is that why you told her to be ready in her flying leathers?" Sorkana rolled over in his arms then proceeded to pin him on his back. She could see it in her eyes, she knew he'd planned to coerce her into giving in at the last minute. She leaned forward kissing his lips. "Now let your Queen ride her Bronze Dragon so no one gets suspicious." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It was still dark, an hour before sunrise, and the Weyr was in full preparation. The Dragons were gathered in wings, the Wing Leaders all meeting in the Weyr Conference cavern. "So, what are we waiting for? We know the predicted fall pattern, the direction and wind speeds," pointed out C'leb. "Sorry I'm late," Sorki hurried to join the meeting. "Sorkana?" questioned Zinda. D'ven jumped in assigning the wings to their sections and altitudes. "The two Junior Queen Wings will follow below Sorkana and Tiva," he paused. "Sorki, your wing will track anything that gets through. M'gon will guide the ground crews to the infestations that you relay to her," stated Sorkana. "But I would appreciate it if you didn't let anything reach the ground," he directed to the other Wing Leaders. She knew that L'mar was briefing the other Wing Leaders at Eastern as was Master Z'kiel at the Harper Weyr. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ False dawn over the central plane; Sorkana was surprised to see the arrival of five more wings they hadn't counted on. She hadn't realized how busy Dana had been at Ice Mountain, or that they had five Light Wings of Dragons. She recognized each of the Wing Leaders as they began requesting position and altitude assignments from the three Fight Leaders, D'ven, L'mar and Z'kiel. A full wing was considered to be twenty to thirty dragons. Here were fifty-three more dragons they hadn't counted on. The big question now was, how well were they trained? Their formations were much more open, lots of space between their dragons that a well trained and coordinated Wing would not allow. "Heads up, here it comes." It looked like a heavy rain storm at first, but then the knots and tangles began to separate out. The strands and clumps writhing as they hit the warmer atmosphere. No more time to critique the wings, it was time to fight their dragons. Suddenly the sky was lit by flames as the upper most wings began the attack. The plan was simple, as well as time proven. The wings coordinated in layered altitudes. Each one reducing the amount that fell to the next level. Sorkana had been watching the newest wings and knew that Ladina must be proud of how much T'ker had accomplished in the short-time he and the others had been there. They were working well with the Wilds that had arrived riderless, each rider not only feeding Fire Stone to their own Dragon, but the wilds around them that had filled in the gaps between each ridden dragon. Still it wasn't fool proof, it all hinged on the dragon's ability to skip between and the number and types of injuries. Injured dragons left gaps in the coverage. Already things were not as predicted, the larger clumps weren't breaking up as quickly as they usually did. Further the dragon flames were dispersing them into wider blankets of falling death. Sure, the majority was the spread-out strands, but the denser clusters were a bigger threat. True they were easier to track, but they took more direct flaming. One such clump was falling, riding the wind current when it was caught by a midlevel wind shear. Sorki's right wing rider had just skipped ahead getting out from under the edge of it. M'gon saw movement on the ground, her mind calculating the clumps fall it could be easily flamed to char before it hit the ground, but anyone under it would be charred as well. There shouldn't be anyone there, so what was the movement? At fifty feet, the clump had spread out larger, the blues of the resupply wing were converging to flame it. The figure on the ground looked up, then began to hobble in panic. "Sorki, grab her," M'gon urged through their dragon's bonds as Lomanith dove in under the sheet of falling thread. The gout of flame starting in the middle and spreading outward. Lomanith planted his hind legs against the ground and rebounded upward as he swept his head side to side as he rose. But still the breach was nowhere large enough for Creadith. Creadith winked in, her foreclaws grasping at the child, then whipped her tail as she beat her wings for altitude. No time to firm her grasp on the child, she couldn't go between for fear of losing the child between. Lomanith rose into the sheet of thread, winking out just as it began to wrap around his wings, taking the clump with him between. "Sorki!" Gayleth winked out then in again directly under Creadith as she lost her grip on the child. Suddenly Sorkana lunged forward, grabbing the terrified child even as she reached the ends of the fighting straps. "Got em'," echoed N'rissa as Garth and V'gil emerged under Lomanith. All three dragons winked out, then back in again just above Western. Lomanith back swept his wings, sure they were scored, but he had timed his skip just right avoiding more severe injuries. Gayleth landed, Sorkana handing the child off to the waiting Weyr Crew as she released the three empty tanks and full ones were strapped in their place. "Lomanith stays here until his injuries are tended," she ordered before she rejoined her wing. Two more dragons were seriously injured but no one was lost. The number of riders and dragons injured was more than Sorkana wanted to accept, but still it was tempered by the fact no riders or dragons were lost. "How are M'gon and Lomanith?" she inquired upon landing. The other serious injuries were at the Harper Weyr. "Recovering," answered Healer Tollbar. "And the little girl is going to be fine." "What was she doing out there alone?" asked Sorkana. "Where's V'gil?" "With M'gon and Shadow," answered D'ven. "Shadow?" "The little girl," grinned Tollbar. "Why Shadow?" she asked D'ven. "That's just what she calls herself," M'gon answered as she walked into the room carrying the sleeping girl on her hip. "She's been living in the shadows, looking for other people, hiding from Ligons and something she calls Pytho's." she could see that M'gon was holding something back, but none of the dragons seemed concerned. "Giant snakes," answered Sorki. "Shadows are the wandering people, they live in the shadows of our society," answered N'rissa. "They just wander from place to place. Maybe they were going to one of the other Weyrs. Or maybe one of their hidden communities." "They're like the Holdless and the Roving Trader caravans on Pern then," reasoned Sorkana. "Her family was attacked by Ligons, but she escaped when a Pytho attacked the Ligons, according, to what Creadith skimmed from her mind," added Sorki. Sorki knew something else as well. Lomanith projected the image of a Pytho to M'gon. "That looks a lot like one those old earth snakes from the Constrictor family called a Python," she said. "They could reach up to twenty plus feet in length in the wild." There had been a lot of speculation after discovering that the big cats and other predators on the southern continent had been created from Earth specimens by Ted Tubberman, one of the original colonists. It had been discovered that he had also tried including Mentasynth augmentation and parts of Kit Ping's Bio-engineering on the big cats. "We need to know everything about that man's experiments," gasped Sorkana. "Surely, he wouldn't have tried altering Tunnel Snakes, or any of those native to Pern. "What man's experiments?" asked D'ven. "Tubberman, the guy responsible for the big cats in the south of Pern," she said. "Remember, he was doing all kinds of experiments, trying to create creatures along the same lines as Kit Ping." "Yes, but they never got access to his computers, they didn't know his passwords. And then the volcano blew up and everyone had to evacuate to the north," added B'nard. "The computers on the Longbow are more advanced and have incription breaking technology. Maybe they could do something with them," offered M'gon. "Do we even know where those computers are today?" asked D'ven. "Would they even still work?" "Gayleth, we need Liza and her little queen," stated Sorkana. The mystery of Shadow temporarily forgotten. Liza arrived a few minutes later, the little queen hovering about her until she stopped. "Liza, we need Val to take a message to Zinda at Southern," stated Sorkana. She was busy writing the message on a slip of paper. 'Zinda, we need to locate the Tubberman PCs. We may have a way of finding out about all, of his experiments. Sorkana.' She quickly rolled it up and slipped it into the tiny message tube, then handed it to Liza. She took note of the fact Val was already wearing the message harness, decorated in the colors that would identify her as being from Between's Western Weyr.