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Sorkana's Rise, the Search for Answers By: Malissa Madison Pern, Landing Weyr; Zinda was just stepping out of the Weyr kitchens, it had been a hurried afternoon, after returning from Between. But the injured Dragons and Riders had all been tended and treated. Thankfully none serious enough to prevent them returning to their Home Weyr. The excited chittering of Fire Lizards caught her attention and she turned to see the little gold with a message tube from Western. She searched her mind for this one's name, 'Val', supplied Lilith. The creature landed on a ledge in front of her and she carefully retrieved the message tube. "Val, thank you. Please wait, I may need to send another back with you." She snapped her fingers and a drudge hurried to place a bowl of chopped wherry meat in front of the little queen. "What do we have?" asked K'lar. "A message from Sorkana," she scanned it then handed it to him. "She's thinking about the Ligons?" he surmised. "I think those computers are in the Archives Building. You know, the one that was the airfield tower?" "Yes, the one that isn't open to everyone. You know they never were able to read anything off those things, right?" he continued. "Master Shozin needs to be notified anytime those records are accessed," he reminded her. A dragon was sent for the Master Harper of Pern, then a return Message was sent to Sorkana. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 'Sorkana, those are secured Archives under joint control of the Weyrs and the Harper Hall. Recommend including Master Nolly when you arrive. Zinda'. Sorkana read the return message. Sorkana was already in her flying gear when Nolly arrived. She had gotten a copy of both messages. "Is this about the Ligons?" she asked. "Yes, and a lot more that doesn't make a lot of sense," answered Sorkana. "Like those big jungle and swamp snakes, and their obvious kin, the Snow Beasts that they keep spotting around Ice Mountain." "Access to those records and the artifacts require that the Master Harper be present any time they are accessed," pointed out Nolly. "Then I am glad you're here, Master Harper Nolly. M'gon may have a way to get into the memory of the Tubberman computers," said D'ven. "But I don't think Lomanith is up to going between until his wings are fully healed." "He's not, we are taking them to the Longbow," said Sorkana. "We have to know what is on those computers," she finished before Nolly could protest. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nolly, Sorkana, Zinda and Cassie were all present as Master Shozin accessed the entrance to the Tower Archives. They'd met briefly and Sorkana had voiced her concerns and her suspicions. It took nearly thirty minutes to locate the computers, during which time Captain Tillek had arrived with his senior Communications Officer. "Wow, look at all this ancient technology," Lt Sherry O'Connell commented. "What I wouldn't give to play around with these." "Captain," he turned to Master Shozin. "We need answers that we fear are only on these computers. The man who owned them is the same one responsible for sending the distress beacon. He also did a lot of experimentation with Predatory Beasts combining Bio-Engineering and Mentasynth." "Wasn't he a Botanist?" the Captain showed how much he already knew. "Yes, and the creator of the Grubs that protected Southern for so long," answered Zinda. "There are predators on Between that share a lot of characteristics of the ones he was creating here," stated Sorkana. "I can use an external power source easily enough, but I'll have to make an interface cable to match up with my remote unit," the Lt was thinking out loud. "Bio-Tech gives me the creeps though. Can we get Morgan or Lt Benden to help?" "M'gon is not available, Lomanith is recovering from injuries and she is taking care of Shadow," stated Sorkana. She turned to Captain Tillek. "M'gon has adopted a little nomad girl called Shadow. That's what got this whole thing started." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Between, Western; "She's beautiful," commented V'gil for the umpteenth time, as he caressed the hair of the sleeping girl. "And so very young to have been out there on her own for so long." "Well she isn't alone anymore," said M'gon. "And neither are we," V'gil kissed her forehead. She was quiet for a bit, then she asked quietly, "Can you tell me the story about the Lost Wing? I think I should know it since I'm a Rider now." It almost startled him remembering that M'gon, as natural as she was at Riding, wasn't born on Pern or Between. "It was during the time before the Third Pass. D'nor had been assigned by the Weyr Leaders to explore the Southern Continent. They took with them, their weyr mates and enough supplies to tide them over for a while until they could find what they needed or send for resupplies. They'd been in the south for maybe three, seven-days when the Weyr lost all contact with them. The last anyone had heard was that they had gotten images from wild fire lizards that they were sure, were good enough reference points to follow." "Evidently, the entire wing, even those non-riders with them had jumped together. They were just lost, poof, never seen or heard from again," he finished. "You mean all of them made a blind jump together?" asked M'gon. "Yes, and that's the crazy thing. Both D'nor and F'ken knew better than to take the entire wing on a blind jump. Even weirder was the fact that none of the Weyrs dragons set up a Mourning Keen the way they do when one is lost between. They just said they could not reach them," finished V'gil. "After that, the fire lizards stopped communicating with people. At least until F'nor and Harper Menolly impressed theirs." "Of course, it could have to do with every Queen Dragon on Pern demanding they leave because of the sickness that also infected the dragons," finished Liza as she arrived with a platter of sweet rolls from the kitchens. "Sorry, I just wanted to tell you that the Weyr Leaders have gone to Landing. And I thought maybe Shadow would be hungry when she wakes up." M'gon looked puzzled at Val sitting nervously on Liza's shoulder, then over at the little Queen sitting just inside the weyr entrance. "If that's Val, who is that one?" she nodded. Val chirruped, then the other little queen fluttered to land beside Shadow. "That one is 'Gabby' I think she's attached to Shadow here. Oh, and the rest of us, after we got things settled here went back out trying to find the rest of her caravan. Not a trace of it anywhere," pointed out Liza. "Has she said anything about where they might be?" "Liza, she hasn't spoken a word since she was rescued," V'gil stated cautiously. "Oh, you mean Lomanith read it from her mind," guessed Liza. "Liza, can you keep a secret?" pleaded M'gon. "Please?" She looked at her little queen then at Gabby, and finally back to M'gon before answering. "She's telepathic like the dragons and fire lizards." "Please, I don't want her to be treated like some kind of freak." M'gon was worried. "We, don't want her treated like that," corrected V'gil. "We?" questioned Liza. "Are you two declaring a Union as set forth by the Charter?" "What's a union? Is that like a marriage?" asked M'gon. "It's as close as Weyr Folk get to one. Only holders and the like have marriages. Weyr Folk have Unions, they give us more leeway should things change between people," answered Liza. "But other than that, yeah, it's about the same thing, only freer." "Most Weyr Folk never officially declare a union," stated V'gil. "Of course, when you share children and parenting responsibilities for said children you don't need to. Just like our Weyr Leaders." The discussion ranged back and forth between Shadow's abilities, the lost wing, and the Dragon Plague which almost wiped out the Dragons on Pern. Understandably the dragon plague made everyone nervous. She did learn that it had started effecting the fire lizards first, but it also came so soon after a human plague that had taken its own toll. It was several hours later, walking across the bowl towards the kitchens holding Shadows hands as she walked between them, that they heard a Dragon arrive. It was a common enough occurrence that they paid no attention to it. Shadow was so new to being around so many people and they knew it, so no one made a fuss over her not talking much. She wasn't mute, she always gave the same short answers of 'yes' or 'no', but nothing more, at least not verbally where they could hear. The dragons all knew that she could talk, but to the dragons it was a natural ability. Now sitting at the table between V'gil and M'gon she was silently asking questions about everyone and everything around her. Gabby sitting on her shoulder chirruping away with the other fire lizards was doing her part in disguising the telepathic communication going on. "M'gon, V'gil," the three looked up to see Captain Tillek. "Dad!" M'gon seemed startled to see him. 'Who is he?' Shadow silently asked. 'My father,' she answered just as silently. "What brings you here sir," inquired V'gil. 'He knows about Shadow,' he thought to both M'gon and Shadow. "Well, I just happened to be at Landing, where I learned that I have a Granddaughter here. So naturally I had to come meet her," he answered. His warm smile as he looked her over was approving, "She's absolutely beautiful." Shadow blushed and blinked her eyes as she tilted her head in shyness. "Dad, she's very shy and still a bit afraid of everything," M'gon informed him. "Not too shy to enjoy a Star Brite, I hope." He dug out one of the Peppermint candies that hat out lasted the eons where other candies had become forgotten. "It's ok Sweetie," encouraged M'gon. Then grinned with excitement as he pressed a second one into her own hand. 'Is he really your father?' asked Shadow. Only V'gil noticed the man's eyes widen momentarily. 'Yes, he is. And he is a Starship Captain which is nearly the same as a Weyr Leader,' answered M'gon. 'Then why are you afraid for him to know I can talk with my mind?' 'Yes indeed, why are you afraid M'gon?' asked her father as Shadow finally popped the offered candy into her mouth. "D, Dad?" 'No one else will know if you do not wish. But I assure you, I will not allow anyone to study her.' The look in his eyes told her he meant what he said. Just then one of the shuttle troops entered looking for him, the man's sudden appearance had everyone's attention. Everyone but the three had missed the sudden disappearance of Shadow. Before V'gil, M'gon or the Captain could ask, Lomanith and Arroth reassured them that Shadow was safe with the dragon pair. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Landing; Lt O'Connell worked steadily, the microscopic glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she spliced together three different interface cables to create one that would allow her to connect into the ancient computers. She was glad that those asking her to do this work understood and didn't hover. Sure, they were just outside waiting. They had even sent one of those fire lizards to the Longbow to bring back two of the interface cables. She had been truly surprised when it had returned directly to her to deposit the cable. Finally finished, she plugged the cables into the appropriate ports. She pressed the power button, then started the encryption interrogation program that would read the computers security protocols and access passwords. "Well?" questioned Lt Benden when she stepped out into the hallway. "Now we give it about an hour to run through all the possibilities. And in the meantime, I could sure use a cup of coffee," she answered him. "How about a cup of Klah, and a Sweet roll?" she was offered the Pern equivalent. She accepted the offer and joined the others. She'd just started on her second cup of Klah when her wrist comm chimed. Chuckling she stood up, "That was easy." She entered the room and checked the computers. Scrolling through the files she was unable to repress a shiver. "Unless you need me, I think I'll leave the rest to Lt Benden," she moved out of his way. "Those are some really messed up experiments." Her disgust at the man who had conducted them was apparent. She was still a bit shaken after seeing some of the images from the experiments. "Sherry, thank you for your help," Benden told her. "I think Master Shozin has a surprise for you." "Yes indeed," Master Shozin beckoned a young Harper wearing a Journeyman's knot on his left shoulder forward. "Torgull, please take Lt O'Connell to Master Frith. The good Master has agreed to see if Joyell will allow her an egg," directed the Master Harper of Pern. She caught her breath, a Fire Lizard egg, for her? Stepping out the door the air was filled with Fire Lizards racing toward a small cottage. The roof was already covered, and they were crooning the most soothing melody. "Hurry," Torgull took hold of her hand pulling her along. "The Hatching is starting." Already the crowd was growing outside, but it parted for the Journeyman. In the main room, children ringed the hearth. A little Queen stood reared back, wings fanned out, her head laid back as she added her voice to the rest. The Eggs were rocking, many showing spider webs of cracks. Out of habit, Sherry scanned the room then the pile of eggs on the hearth. Finally, she noticed the number of young children kneeling in the loose ring. There was one more egg than there were children. The little queen launched herself from the hearth then grabbed at Sherry's sleeve pulling her toward the hearth. Torgull chuckled as he guided her to kneel with the youngsters. The eggs were rocking and rolling towards the children who put their hands out to stop them. But there was one egg that was practically hopping off the hearth. The little Queen though was stopping it from rolling. Finally, each egg had a pair of hands protecting it from rolling into the floor. All but the one held by the little Queen. 'Please, she needs someone to protect her, to feed her,' Sherry thought as she looked around for another worthy candidate. The cracks were growing larger. 'Then catch her,' she heard the little Queen in her head as she took her foot away. The egg burst apart as the little golden creature unfurled her wings, fanning them as she looked around, keening in hunger. She felt something wet in her hand but refused to look away from those whirling eyes. "I know Sweets, we'll get you something to eat," she promised then realized someone was guiding her hand forward. After the third handful, she finally glanced around to notice all the children were gone. "Sweets was the last to hatch," explained Master Frith. Still the little Queen was gobbling down the bits of bloody raw meat. The unchewed pieces beginning to show in her expanded stomach before she slowed down. "That's enough for now," she was advised. You don't want her to eat too much at once. "She'll probably fall asleep on your arm." "What should I do? Shouldn't I talk to her?" "You've been talking non-stop since you saw her," and Frith pressed a cup of Klah into her empty hand. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Those Ligons are definitely something he created. Look at this, he spliced Fire Lizard DNA, the same strand that give them their Teleportation. But it only worked a few times with the other Predator Species. The original Species rejected the new DNA," reported Benden. "Is there a list of the Predators he experimented with?" asked Sorkana. "Oh, yeah right here," he pulled up a file list. There were no snakes, or reptiles. Only the big cats and two species of Wolfe. "This is interesting," Benden pulled up the files on the wolves. "The Mentasynth worked well, no adverse reactions. The DNA bonded but it seemed to be lost in the successive generations. And they grew bigger than the original species." There were pictures of the fully-grown pairs. "Timber Wolves and Arctic Wolves," commented Benden. "They are naturally intelligent and look at the notes. He was using them to track the escaped Predators, the Mentasynth bonded to their DNA." "Oh," he was reading the last report. "He sent them ahead without a clear picture of where and they were never seen again." "If they can go between, that would explain why no one has ever caught more than a glance of them," commented Sorkana. "But we have wolves here on Pern, living in the wild." "It's possible that those snakes evolved naturally," commented Benden. "We, Space faring humans I mean, have encountered lots of worlds with similar life forms. The difference will show in their DNA if their ancestors originated from Earth." "Yes, the tunnel snakes were already here when the colonists first arrived," confirmed Zinda. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Between, Western Weyr; Timia stood next to Myth, her hands covered in the oiling mitts, but the oil was all over her as well. 'I don't know who is getting more of this, me or you,' she thought amusedly to her Dragon. 'You will be as soft as me,' commented the dragon as she settled in the sun. 'Nothing can be as soft and loving as you are,' Timia returned the thought. 'I wonder if there are any new settlers from Fire Hold or the High Reaches area. They have the best fire stone.' She pictured the blue/green rock in her mind. The stuff they had been using before, after the migration to the north, but before it was rediscovered by a Miner and the Harper hall was yellowish and very dangerous. It came in two qualities. The first exploded violently when in contact with water, the second produced a deadly noxious gas, but both could be found in the same deposits it was a matter of purity. Fire Lizards would have nothing to do with the yellow Fire Stone, which was the whole reason that led to the discovery of the blue green version. Sure, the Dragons would use the old stuff, but only if there was none of the newer stuff available. But it was always located with large deposits of Sandstone, Just like the high ridges south of Ice Mountain. The stone cutter crews from the Longbow speculated that the sandstone had once been ocean floor, before the ancient volcano had pushed it upward to create the mountain range. They were much lower than the range created by the lava flows, and they showed the miners an aerial survey from one of the satellites that showed the tectonic fault lines. There were plenty of deposits of both types of Fire Stone marked on the geologic survey maps. And the science officers were busy not only with the miners, but with the new holders. They needed to choose stable hold locations positioned over bedrock. Meanwhile, another geologic survey was being conducted over Pern's norther Continent. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FSP Longbow, Science Lab; Ensign Forester had been collecting samples from the old exploded Firestone mines of Pern trying to figure out how the reactions took place. None of her samples were large enough to cause damages if they exploded within the armored containers or in the labs research chamber. There was a marked difference between the samples taken from the last three known mines and the other eight that had operated before blowing up. And she was perplexed by a strange trace element that was more an organism than an element. She'd recorded her findings and sent copies to the Captain so that he could share them with the planetary leaders. Carefully she isolated the sample after extracting it using her microscope. There was something familiar about it, but she couldn't identify it. It was if it was a separate part not completely adhering to the Phosphine rock but moving through it, not really adhering to it. "Hey, wake up," she roused her assistant who seemed to be more, drowsy for no apparent reason. "Sorry, I must be coming down with something, apologized the young Sergeant. "Help me get this in the analyzer for a cross comparison. It doesn't show up anywhere else," she ordered before she started coughing. A good swallow of coffee and she was back to normal. But that only lasted a few seconds before the Sergeants Fire Lizard, Archie, began to hack and cough, then the contamination alarm went off sealing the Laboratory. The contamination alarms blared throughout the ship, in every section people donned oxygen masks, section doors closed and sealed on automatic as the ships computers began analyzing the air samples from each section. "Longbow to all Landing parties, you are to remain on the surface at your present locations. The Longbow is under Biologic Quarantine until further notice." The message was repeated as the shuttles and teams on both planets acknowledged receipt of the Quarantine. "Everyone who has been in contact with the Science Department please report to Medical Quarantine," ordered the Captain. "Sir, we have a request from the surface, it's the Master Healer." "Wait we have the Master Harpers calling also." He stood up, "Transfer them to the secure briefing room." "Master Tollbar, Harpers," he acknowledged them as Doctor Marchand joined him. "How bad is it Doc?" "We don't know what it is, but it's everyone who was in the science lab in the last five days." She reported. "What are the symptoms?" asked Tollbar. He was concerned that they might have carried a new contagion to the planets. "Drowsiness, followed by a hacking cough, then congestion in the lungs," she reported. "The science team is the most effected, even their Fire Lizards are coughing." At mention of the fire lizards being effected an almost panic set off alarms in the Master Healer and Master Harper. "Keep them away from any Fire Lizards and don't let any of your crews Fire Lizards fly around. If it is what I think it is we're going to lose a lot of People, Dragons and Fire Lizards," conferred the Master Harpers and Master Healer. "What is it?" asked the Captain. "We never discovered where it came from, only that it seemed to hit the Fire Lizards first. But it hit the Weyrs the hardest, we lost a lot of Dragons and Riders before it ran its course," Stated Master Shozin. "Where were the Science teams working? We have to know," stated Master Tollbar. "They were researching the old Firestone mines around Fort and High Reaches Weyr's," answered Dr Marchand. "They were trying to determine why the stuff was so volatile." "What do you mean?" from Master Nolly. The Captain consulted his monitor. "The same stuff found on other planets is nowhere near as explosive. It looks like they found some unknown trace element though, but they haven't identified it yet." Master Nolly turned to Master Shozin, "What did they do at Fort Weyr? Remember they were the last Weyr hit by the Fire Lizard Plague." "They only called it that because the first reported victim was the Benden Harpers Fire Lizard," commented the Master Healer. "I need to go to the Healer Hall and review the records, but I think there was something else," he trailed off in thought. "Captain, we would like to meet with you at the Fort Harper Hall, we have most of our records there. I think I remember something that may help," stated Master Shozin. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Harper Hall, Fort Hold; Since the reinvention of computers on Pern for record keeping, the Harper archives had begun scanning their older written records into the memory of the Computers. They still had the old handwritten records as well. One of the first gifts from FSP Longbow had been new computers. The Archivists had been busy over the last few months converting the older records to the new system. They'd just begun on the records from the second interval. "I need all the records concerning Harpers Kinden and Pillar from the time of the Fort Hold Plague up to the Fire Lizard Plague," directed Master Shozin. "Including the Written records." "Master what is happening?" asked the Master Harper in charge of the Archives. A soft but insistent beeping interrupted the conversation. "Yes?" answered Captain Tillek. "Ensign Second Class Foster's Fire Lizard just died," reported Dr Marchand. "I don't want the Pernese mad at me, but I am going to do an Autopsy. We have to know what we are dealing with." Foster was the Navigator assigned to the Science Labs first shuttle, his little Blue, Scrounger had become ill at about the same time as Archie. "Dr, I would like to be there," requested Master Tollbar having returned to research his own Halls records. "Master Tollbar, if this is 'Fire Lizard Fever'," began Shozin. "Yes, every Dragon on both worlds is in danger. That is why I must go, don't you see that?" argued Tollbar. "Yes, you must," agreed Shozin. "But please, leave Zori? here with me, for his own safety." Tollbar looked directly into the little Brown's eyes, "Stay with Master Shozin until I return my lovely boy," he repeated it over and over until the Fire Lizard finally went to the Master Harper. "Master, both Kinden and Pillar were at the last two destroyed Mines and then later founded the first of the new mines," reported one archivist. "Is that all?" "No Ma'am. The mine records from the new mine show that their Fire Lizards were effected before Benden Weyrs. There were a few miners that had survived the next to last old Firestone mine, they also became sick, but it wasn't reported right away." "Forester was studying the old firestone mines," stated the Captain. "She said she found a strange element, and isolated it, that was the last I knew before the incident occurred." "Sir," it was Dr Marchand. "Forester says the Element acted more like the organism." "The Organism? What organism?" "Hold on, let me patch in the Science Lab." "Captain, Captain?" "I'm here Forester." "The organism, it has similar base DNA structures as the Thread Organism. But more like an advanced version," reported Forester. "It's a mutation of the original organism possibly turned into a Virus. I think, I think we have formulated an effective Antivirus, I just hope it works in time." Everyone was aware of her tears rolling down her cheeks as she turned away from the screen. Turning back to continue urging encouragement to Archie, she squeezed the sergeants shoulder as well. Not waiting to discover if the vaccine worked, Dr Marchand began producing it and Dosing the Fire Lizards of the Medical Staff that were just now beginning to show symptoms. Next, she began inoculating her staff and then the rest of the ship. True, it wasn't fatal to humans or other animals, just Dragons, Fire Lizards and most likely Watch-where's. But the humans could be and most likely would be carriers for the virus, so she wanted to be safe. She was pouring over the notes and medical reports from the autopsy when she discovered it. It wasn't a virus, it was a bacteria, one that reacted to the same antibiotic concoction she had created to fight the possible virus. It was nearly twenty hours later that Archie began to complain that he was hungry. "Captain," she had just reviewed the specimen slides from the autopsy. "The Fire Lizards were infected by a Bacteria, not a Thread based Virus. It's the same one that we are all inoculated against due to the recirculation of our Recycled Air. They got pneumonia Sir, then it mutated, and we became infected," reported the doctor. "I've ordered Engineering to clean and service the Life Support Filters, it's a wonder we all didn't get sick. But it hit the Med and Science Labs the hardest due to the multiple recirculation of the air. The filters weren't cleaned as often as they needed to be and some bacteria got through." "Is there enough vaccine to treat everyone who has been aboard or at least the Dragons and Fire Lizards?" asked the captain. "Sir, they seem to be spreading the antibodies naturally to each other now. We need to be sure that those on the surface are getting the immunity though." But in her notes, she discovered something else that she cross reference with Dr Marchand. The results of the Fire Lizard Autopsy revealed that it had a natural Antibody to the Fire Stone Virus. She also discovered that virus was indeed a Thread Mutation that reacted with the Fire Stone. It was harmless until it was separated as fine dust particles. But it took a high concentration to survive and infect a living creature like a Fire Lizard or Dragon. Also, fire destroyed the Virus, as did the Acids in a Dragon or Fire Lizards stomach. Now, with her samples in a safe containment Work box, she tested the Virus and then Virus-free Fire Stone. Water killed the virus, it literally exploded from contact. The fire stone, without the virus attached, didn't explode either, it just turned to a yellowish flammable sludge. That explained what happened to some of the organisms that had burrowed into the soil. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Early Morning, Western Weyr, Between; three days later. Anya was stressed, the last four days she'd discovered foot prints in the sand around the Queen Egg. 'They are fine, no one has disturbed them,' Darlith assured her. 'Are we going? I am hungry,' she complained as the sounds of the Weyrlings doing their morning run around the Weyr Rim reached them. A startled gasp caused her to turn around. "Well hello there, Shadow, right?" prompted Anya as Darlith rose unconcerned from her clutch preparing to go to the feeding grounds. 'She is here to visit with Caliseth,' the queen informed her rider. "Caliseth?" questioned Anya. She almost missed the movement as she turned to face her Queen. Suddenly, Shadow was across the sand standing beside the golden egg. Anya was stunned, this girl just skipped between like a dragon. 'Please don't tell!' she felt almost faint hearing the very young voice in her head. In response nearly, every dragon in the Weyr bugled to add their support. "Shadow!" gasped M'gon and V'gil together as they threw off the sleeping fur. Both rushed toward the ledge making the leap together as their dragons leaned forward, launching themselves toward the second Hatching Ground. In the kitchen cavern Sorkana smiled. 'Yes, please calm the rest of the Weyr, Love," she told her Dragon as she sipped at her morning Klah. "I suppose I should go and intervene.' She stepped quickly into the back corridor that led around, and through the mountain from the Dining Cavern positioned between the first and second Hatching Caverns all the way to the third Hatching Ground which was now occupied by Salluth and her clutch. "Did you know?" Anya asked quietly of V'gil and M'gon. "Yes, they knew she could jump between," interrupted Sorkana. "But they did not know that she was visiting here each morning at sunrise." The Weyr Woman reached out gently and caressed the child now in M'gon's arms. "Go ahead and visit little one, do you know her name yet?" Now every Bronze rider gathered on the Hatching Grounds stood in shock as the girl mentally answered, 'Caliseth'. And every rider had heard it echoed in their own mind by their dragon. "It seems as if we only need Queen Candidates for two of the Golds of Salluth's clutch," she pointed out. Sorkana then took hold of Shadow's hand leading her and M'gon over to the gold egg. "I suppose next you'll suggest the other candidates be led in to manhandle the rest of the clutch," spouted Anya as she supported her own protruding stomach. "Only, if our Queens allow them to enter," stated Sorkana casually. This was something new to the dragons as well, very rarely did a Queen lay more than one gold in a clutch, but never more than two. The Between Weyrs had now had several clutches with two, and now a third clutch with three. It was as if their reproductive systems knew the need for more dragons was greater here. "You know we only have two candidates for a Queen Egg," pointed out Jillie. "But Salluth only finished clutching this morning, forty-seven eggs." She turned to Sorkana, "How did you know there were," she stopped before saying, "three golds?" "I listened to the gossip around the morning hearth," answered Sorkana. "Or did you forget someone delivering Klah to you on the Hatching Grounds before first light?" "Ona, Ona told you," Jillie guessed. "Yes, Ona who surprisingly has been mentally projecting to everyone since last night that she is going to be a gold rider." Sorkana turned smiling and walked out through the front entrance past everyone. "If anyone is deserving of a Queen it is that girl," stated Jillie with a warm almost maternal smile before going in search of her. Ona was fifteen turns and had been raised at Landing Weyr after being found by Southern Traders seven years before. But the girl had a badly deformed right foot, so she was never considered before. But since coming to Between, the Kitchen Drudges and other Weyr Folk had come to depend on her advice now that Rita had become R'ta. Only Gina the Temporary Head Woman had problems with the girl, and often expressed her dissatisfaction that she was there. Ona had been spending a lot of her free time taking care of Jillie since arriving here. And it was probably only because of that care that Jillie had overcome the fact she had lost yet another child going between not knowing that she was pregnant the week before migrating to Between. She had been depressed for nearly two months after finding that she had lost her third child. Ona had dedicated her every free moment to caring for her. Ensuring that neither she or Salluth wanted for anything. Many people thought that Salluth might have lost her clutch as well, she'd not begun to lay it until two days ago. No one knew how long a Queen could go between mating and clutching, it varied not just from Queen to Queen but from clutch to clutch. But usually the longer they went, the larger the clutch. Salluth had gone nearly two months. Sorkana had met with M'gon moments ago and received word about the Bacterial infection affecting the Fire Lizards that were aboard Longbow, and the fact that they were all recovering. She was happy to know that somehow, they were sharing the new immunity with each other. Then M'gon had smiled, "And Lomanith allowed us to test his blood. He has the Antibodies now as well and will pass them to the other dragons." This was good news, they could go forward integrating the crew into their society. She smiled inwardly, then decided to finish her plans for the day as she headed out to see how the Weyrlings were coming along. She stood watching the morning Weyrling drills, N'rissa drilling her half hard, but fairly. She had them repeating everything three times in a row. She had the Weyrlings standing beside their dragons as she gave the hand signals and called out, "Wing Right!" "Dive" "Wing Left" "Skip Forward", each Weyrling pumped their hand in the visual signal as they mentally relayed it to their dragons. Finally, she called out, "Rest break, water your dragons, then yourselves." "D'van, when we resume, trade places with me, You and J'richo will need Wing Leader experience as well," she seemed to be in a hurry for some reason. 'Gayleth, have the four most junior Queens and their riders gather in front of their weyrs.' she directed. 'Are we going to drill them?' Gayleth sounded excited. 'It will be the perfect distraction.' 'Distraction from what?' Sorkana asked her dragon. Just then N'rissa and Garth launched into the sky along with the younger Bronze and Brown Riders under seventeen turns. 'Ballith is blooding her kills,' answered Gayleth. 'She will fly high and well.' +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ice Mountain Weyr; "Don't you dare gorge, Ballith. Do you hear me, you have to out fly all those other Dragons, do you hear me?" she was forcing her will onto her Queen. "Control her, Weyr Woman," urged T'ker as he pulled C'rril into the group around her. Suddenly Ballith screamed her frustration and launched herself skyward. Her wings swept, taking deep bites from the morning air, propelling her higher and faster with each sweep. Dana's eyes fluttered as she became lost in her dragon's lust filled mind. The two Bronzes and a dozen browns taking flight to catch her she was rising fast, faster than the rest. "Don't let her go between, keep her here," urged T'ker and C'rril both. Now she was nearly the highest, only two had a chance of catching her, a Bronze and a Brown. She feinted from the Bronze, but the brown was there blocking her way. Suddenly she was caught in the middle, 'Stay with me,' urged Dana as two necks twined with hers. A brown and a bronze holding her between them, she couldn't escape. They began to fall, three dragons locked to together in mating flight. The ecstasy of creating new life, providing for the future, finding her mates. The three were falling fast, then suddenly they snapped out their wings together, the fall checked into a glide as they continued to mate. On the ground, three bodies were locked in ecstasy, oblivious to the world around them, connected, linked to their dragons in flight. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Western Weyr, afternoon; "So Ballith rose," commented D'ven. "Why the smug look?" "She was flown by T'ker's Bronze and C'rril's Brown," there was an excited twinkle in Sorkana's eyes. "She was flown by two at the same time, they didn't fight over her?" "No D'ven, they didn't," she answered as he searched his memory for C'rril. "She, is a Wild Rider, and a friend of your oldest daughter," pointed out his Weyr Woman. She was watching Sorki as Timia taught her about supervising part of the kitchen staff. "And where is N'rissa this afternoon?" he asked absently. "Keeping the younger riders of Ice Mountain occupied while Dana, T'ker and C'rril sort out their Weyr responsibilities," she answered with pride. "It will be interesting to see what type of clutch Ballith lays." It was a return to a more critical issue. While it wasn't the first time a Brown had flown a Queen, it was the first time they knew of that a Dragon Queen had been flown by more than one male in the same mating flight. The fact they had flown her at the same time without a fight or losing the dragons in the process was to the Pern born riders a miracle. "So, Shadow is to stand on the hatching grounds," D'ven brought her attention back to their own Weyrs developments. "And not so 'little' Ona," the corners of her mouth turned upward in a grin. From what Gayleth had been able to glean from the girl's mind, and backed by Master Tollbar's examination, Shadow was ten turns old, nearly eleven. By the time her Queen was ready to rise in thee years, she would be fourteen, legally of age within the Weyrs customs. It had been the maturity of the dragons that had first worried her for Sorki's sake. But then Gayleth had told her, 'We dragons may grow rapidly, but we only mature at a rate to match our riders.' Meaning that Creadith would not rise to mate until Sorki was mature enough to do so. As if summoned, Weyr Woman Jillie entered the kitchen cavern, Ona and the two other suitable queen candidates in tow. She didn't miss the way Jillie's hand was affectionately guiding the crippled girl, or that she was moving slower, more carefully to allow for the deformed foot. She also noticed how more than a few conversations stopped, how riders took notice of Ona. She also noticed the one rider who had been paying the most attention to Jillie, M'rcus. It had been M'rcus Bronze who had flown Salluth. 'It was M'rcus who found her in the Igen Desert not the Southern Desert as everyone believes,' from Gayleth. And she arrived here on Salluth with the first of new arrivals as did M'rcus, realized Sorkana. This was Salluth's second clutch, it was also the second time she had been flown by Mreddith. "D'ven, where did M'rcus come from before he impressed?" she asked. "His parents were Desert Traders who happened to be at Igen when Mreddith hatched," commented Zilla, Gold Dineth's rider. "Jillie is originally from Igen too, she was searched though. Not like M'rcus who rushed onto the hatching grounds," put in B'nard. Suddenly he looked up, "M'rcus?" "B'nard, Weyr Woman," he nodded. "Please, you three should join us," Sorkana invited. "Oh no, we couldn't," began Jillie, her arm around Ona's shoulders. "Jillie, this is the Weyr Women's table, the Queens Table. You belong here as does Wing Leader M'rcus who is your Weyrmate and Ona who will soon be a Queens Rider," pointed out Anya as she and N'ron joined the group. Ona was big eyed at being invited to eat at the Weyr Women's table, this was going to cause her trouble in the kitchen again. "I need to get back to the serving Hearth," she said after a moment. "They'll be looking for me." Everyone noticed the way she acted, the fear of Gina the Head Woman. Sorkana raised her hand and motioned to Gina. "Yes, Weyr Woman?" she saw the look of disapproval then she cast an accusatory glance at Ona. "Ona is now a Candidate, her duties have just been changed," stated Sorkana. "She will be training with the other Junior Weyr Women, thank you." She dismissed the woman after noticing the dirty looks she again shot at the girl. Long after the woman walked away, she was still deep in thought. 'I will ask R'ta to recommend someone,' stated Gayleth. 'Never mind,' she made her decision. 'Please ask Pelloroth to ask Bethany for Olinda to join us here, we will work out a trade.' "Sorkana?" questioned D'ven having heard the discussion between the Queen and her rider. "I will not have anyone in my Weyr who is 'Prejudiced' toward someone else," her voice was loud enough to carry past most of the tables. "We have to work together as a Weyr, 'We' are Western, Between. And everyone here are my family." She slapped both hands on the table and stood up. "Please come get me when Olinda arrives." "Is this my fault?" asked Ona after Sorkana had stormed out of the Dining Cavern. "No, it is not your fault. Our Weyr Woman was treated worse than you, by Holders, because she's different," stated D'ven. "Those types of feelings have no place within the Weyr. 'We', depend on each other, Dragons, Riders and Weyr Folk together." "There is a reason why the Holders and others settling here are Former Holdless, and nearly as free of Prejudice as the Weyrs. Excuse me, please enjoy your meal." He hurried after Sorkana. Zilla wiped her mouth, "Our Weyr Woman needs our support." She looked at the other Gold Riders then her eyes settled on Ona and Shadow. "That includes the both of you, you 'will' be Gold Riders," she smiled. 'Dragon's, especially Queens, are never wrong,' she thought to herself. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Igen Weyr, Pern; Bethany started as her Dragon spoke to her. 'Gayleth says that Sorkana needs Olinda as soon as possible. She wishes to replace her Head Woman.' 'Olinda has the experience as well the determination, but why is Sorkana asking for her? I thought she had Gina,' Bethany questioned her Queen as she started off in search of Olinda. 'There is a problem between Gina and certain riders who were born here. I think she is making a point to her Weyr." 'Ask N'mel if he and Blue Erlith would like to transfer to Western,' she directed her dragon. 'I wonder who we could get in exchange for them?' 'Perhaps, D'ross and Skorth,' suggested Pelloroth. 'That pair would be worth the trade of all three from our Weyr.' 'I hear they have four Queen eggs on their hatching grounds.' 'Yes, but two are already spoken for," Pelloroth informed her rider. "How?" she spoke out loud drawing the attention of several people around her. 'They were impressed in the shell. But Western only has two other candidates.' 'And you know this how?' 'Bethany, I asked Gayleth.' Bethany began to laugh, leave it to the Queens to gossip between Weyrs. With these four new Queens, Western would have thirteen. 'Fifteen,' corrected her dragon. 'You forgot the two riderless wilds, and one will rise before their next Fall.' "R'dall," she began as she spotted Olinda and D'ross hurrying toward her carrying their carry sacks. "You called," he grinned at her, already knowing what she was thinking. He'd picked up Pelloroth's silent conversation through Mredorth who began suggesting candidates from their own Weyr.