A/N: Welcome back. Here is the next and final chapter. And it's a good long one. But fear not, I've got other ideas in the cooker. I am most dreadfully sorry that it took so long to get this chapter out, but I've been very busy with real life and I've also had a bad case of the cursed WRITER'S BLOCK. This chapter has been giving me FITS. Reviews are appreciated and missed when absent.
Disclaimer: Dragonriders Of Pern is a trademark of and copyrighted to Anne McCaffrey and her son Todd McCaffrey. This is fan fiction which garners NO MONEY WHATSOEVER for the author of this fan fiction.
Chapter Ten
Samuel Taylor was in his stateroom aboard the dragonliner Polenth, one of only two such liners that were not day cruisers, when his chief of security popped his head in the door.
"Mr. President, the Captain of the liner is here to see you with an offer of conveyance."
Taylor looked up from his terminal. "Send him in, Jake."
"Yes, sir," Jacob Grissom replied.
The uniformed captain stepped in accompanied by Grissom.
"Mr. President, my navigator would like to offer you conveyance to the surface. We have masks and airpacks for you and for your guard. Her rider says she can carry you and two escorts."
"Thank you, Captain." He looked at Grissom. "What do you think, Jake?"
"From what I read it would be faster and safer than a shuttle. I've read up on the records of the navigator and her rider, M'lak. They seem to be very competent."
Taylor nodded. "Thank you, Captain. I would be delighted to arrive on Pern on a dragon."
"No. Thank you, Mr. President. We achieved orbit ten minutes ago. She'll be ready to take you whenever you are ready."
A large conference room in the Landing complex was the site of the meeting. There was an enormous triangular table where sat the Lords, Weyrleaders and Craftsmasters. After the meeting had been called to order, Lord Jaxom stood and said, "I believe the President of the Confederation of Sentient States would like to make a statement."
Taylor stood. Some men would be intimidated to be addressing this many people. Taylor was not. He had to address the Senate which composed two hundred seventy some odd members on a regular basis, so this was small by comparison.
"To the Lords, Weyrleaders and Craftmasters of the planet Pern," he began, "I wish to extend the apologies of the Confederation for the attempt to abduct a dragonrider. This action was not sanctioned by my administration and the man who gave the order is in custody. He is being charged with violating The First Imperative. This is a very serious charge. One of the most serious that can be levied in our society."
"Ista Weyr requests the Floor," D'vid spoke up.
"The chair recognizes Ista Weyr," Jaxom responded.
"We have discussed this before you arrived, sir," D'vid said. "By giving that order, this man has committed a heinous crime here. If the abductee had not known how to teleport on his own, his dragon might well have suicided. Therefore, this is considered attempted murder. We would like him brought here for trial by a Tribunal of a Lord, Weyrleader and Craftsmaster."
"May I ask the punishment for such a crime?" Taylor said.
The Masterharper spoke up. "Life imprisonment in the Mines of Crom or Exile at the discretion of the Tribunal."
"What does exile entail. Is he taken somewhere and just dropped there?"
Sebell shook his head. "No. The convicted is taken to an island and given food enough for seven days and the tools and implements to survive once his food runs out."
Taylor frowned. "And life in the Mines of Crom. I assume he would be worked as a miner."
Sebell nodded.
"I would like a tour of the prison before I answer this request," Taylor said. "Although, I don't think this man could survive exile. We have food synthesizers that make food. He wouldn't know how to procure food. He would most likely be reduced to savagery to survive."
D'vid spoke up. "I can attest that what the President says is true. It's unlikely a Confederation citizen would survive Exile. And if he did, he would be subhuman. I believe it would be cruel punishment that would serve no purpose."
"It might deter others from committing the same crime," Sebell countered.
F'lar spoke up. "Benden Weyr requests the Floor."
"The chair recognizes Benden Weyr," Jaxom said.
"Thank you," F'lar said. "What this man did was reprehensible. Are we any better if we exercise vengeance? I implore this council, and the Tribunal, if it comes to that, to use restraint and seek justice. No one, absolutely no one, is served by vengeance and such would demean this council." He sat back down.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Jaxom asked.
No one spoke. "I think a show of hands would be in order. All opposed to the President being given a Tour of the mines of Crom, please raise your hand."
No hands were raised. "All in favor, please raise your hand." Many, but not all hands went in the air.
"It appears there is a majority to allow the President time to tour the prison. I'm sure a dragon can be found to give you conveyance to the Crom Prison Mine. This session is now adjourned and will reconvene at the tenth hour tomorrow."
Taylor shook his head as he mounted the green dragon for the trip back to the Polenth to spend the night. There was no way that Donavan would survive more than a year at this place. Oh, it was true that the prisoners didn't appear to be unduly mistreated. It was apparent they were even given one day off every week, but working in the mines would use up Donavan quickly. There was no way justice would be served by sentencing the man to this place and Exile was even worse. He would have to think of a way to convince the council to allow the man to be tried and punished by the Confederation.
While it was true that there was no way Pern could compel the Confederation to extradite Donavan, failure to extradite upon request could be construed, in some quarters, as a violation of the First Imperative. And, in any event, it would certainly seriously damage diplomatic relations.
Ambassador Evans was at her desk when there came a knock. "Enter," she said
The door opened and President Foster and a member of Presidential Security walked in.
Susan saw him and rose from her desk.
Foster motioned for her to sit. "Sit, sit. That's one of the things I hate about this job. All the bowing and scraping."
She sat as did the President. The security officer remained standing.
"What can I do for you Mr. President?"
"We have a problem," he told her. "Since you attended the council session yesterday, you know the man who ordered the abduction is in our custody and the Pernese want him."
"I can't blame them, sir."
Foster nodded. "I too, understand. If someone had committed a crime of this magnitude on Earth or some other Confederation member, I would want him tried there. Unfortunately, in this case, justice will not be served by sentencing him to a life sentence in that mining prison. He wouldn't last more than a year there. And Exile would be worse. He would be reduced to savagery to survive.
"So what I'm asking, Ambassador is, how do I convince the government here to let us handle him?"
Evans thought hard and then spoke. "I'm not sure you can, Mr. President..."
"But..." Foster interrupted but stopped when the Ambassador held up one hand. "Go on."
"As I was saying, I'm not sure you can, but the only hope you have is to tell them the truth. I think Weyrleader F'lar would recommend letting us handle it. He is a fair man who wants justice. You heard what he told the Council."
Foster nodded. The man hadn't attained and then held the position of senior Weyrleader by being rash and impudent. And he seemed to truly want justice. It was obvious from his statements during the last session that he was more concerned with the dignity of the council than he was with revenge.
It was too bad this planet didn't have a President. Weyrleader F'lar would have made an exemplary one.
Foster nodded again and checked his wrist unit. "Thank you, Ambassador. I believe we have forty five minutes before the next session. You will be there, of course." This was not a question.
"Yes sir, Mr. President," she responded. "I will most certainly be there."
D'rek had just finished eating breakfast when Gatorth notified him that Sulanth said his rider needed him at Landing.
'What would he want me for,' D'rek asked himself. He knew the joint council of Lords, Weyrleaders and Craftmasters was in session.
Gatorth heard his rider's thoughts and replied. He says the council wants to speak with you.
What? Why would the council want to speak with him? He had nothing to offer the council.
Gatorth picked him up and took him to the weyr they shared with Ganala and Balarth so his rider could harness him.
When they arrived it was early afternoon. The sun had just passed its zenith. He unharnessed Gatorth and went inside the complex.
He saw a man sitting at a desk just inside the door. "Rider D'rek," he told the man. "I was told the council needed to see me."
The man took his riding harness and said, "One moment while I secure your gear."
He took the harness into a room and returned very shortly. "This way, rider."
The man lead him down the hallway until they came to a door at the end. "If you will wait here, I'll inform them you are here." He pressed a button beside the door.
A tall, thin man answered the door. "Yes?"
"Rider D'rek is here."
The man stepped out and said. "Right this way, rider. The council wants you to testify."
Testify? D'rek didn't understand what testimony he could give. What had happened was established fact.
He followed the man into the room and was suddenly nervous when he saw the assembled leaders. Even more so when he recognized President Taylor.
"Be at ease, rider," Jaxom told him. "You have done nothing wrong and are not in trouble." He indicated a chair. "Please sit down."
After he was seated, Jaxom began speaking. "The President of the Confederation came here to apologize for the actions of the Epsilon Institute when they attempted to abduct you. He informs us that the man who ordered this action is now in custody.
"We want him tried and punished here as the crime he ordered took place on this world. The President has been given a tour of the mines of Crom, where criminals who aren't exiled are sent. He states that this man wouldn't last more than a turn there. Exile is also out of the question as the accused has no skills in acquiring food and would most likely resort to savagery to live.
"As the party that was wronged, we'd like your opinion as to what to do.
D'rek thought for a moment. "Exile wouldn't do anyone any good," he agreed. "We have food synthesizers on Earth so he wouldn't know how to find and cook food. While sending the man who ordered this to work in the mines for a long time does sound appealing, I wouldn't want him to die there. At least not within a turn."
He thought for a minute and then said. "Couldn't he be sentenced to two or three months there and then returned to the Confederation for trial?"
The ambassador spoke up. "That is not an option. Double Jeopardy would attach. In the Confederation someone can not be tried twice for the same crime."
D'rek actually smiled at this.
"But he wouldn't be tried twice for the same crime. He would be tried here for ordering the abduction of a dragonrider. He is sentenced to three months in the mines; to be released to the Confederation authorities at the end of his sentence. He is then arrested and tried for violating the First Imperative. No mention of his ordering the abduction need to be mentioned in the second trial. I was kept from leaving the institute when I became an adult. Seeing as I not been charged with or convicted of a crime, this is a violation of The First Imperative. He is responsible."
President Foster gave out a belly laugh. "That is inspired thinking, young man.
"His counsel could say that this was sour grapes on the part of the government," the Ambassador reminded them. "He had been convicted of a crime on a non-Confederation world and received a very light sentence. The Government didn't like that are out to persecute him."
Taylor nodded. "Of course counsel would say that. It doesn't change the fact that his institute prevented this young man from leaving their premises when he became an adult. That they had subjected him to Mentasynth treatments while in the womb.
"No, I think this would be acceptable. I would be willing to go this route if I have assurances that if convicted, Donavan would be sentenced to three months and then extradited to the Confederation."
"Does anyone have any more questions for rider D'rek?" Lord Jaxom asked.
No one spoke
"You are dismissed, rider. Thank you for coming."
D'rek rose from his seat and walked out the door.
I'm not so sure I like this, Gatorth told him. He gave orders to separate us.
He couldn't have known the full import of that, D'rek reminded his dragon.
He still needs to pay for what he did. So now he gets to work for three months at Crom and then live a life of ease at a prison on Earth?
D'rek chuckled. Confederation prisons are not places where people just lay about all day, love. I've heard some horror stories about those places. D'rek linked with Gatorth and shared what he had heard and seen on the screen..
When Gatorth saw the conditions, he was somewhat mollified.
D'rek was now outside and had began harnessing Gatorth. "Of course, there is no guarantee they'll agree to this," he told his dragon aloud.
They'll agree, Gatorth told him.
"How can you be so sure?"
Didn't you see the looks on the faces of the Weyrleader and Mnementh's rider?
D'rek stopped harnessing his dragon and looked up at him. "No. And neither did you."
Gatorth snorted at that. Humans. You don't see half of what you're looking at. Here's the picture. Look at the faces of the Weyrleader and Mnementh's rider.
Gatorth gave him the picture and he studied it for a moment. D'vid and F'lar looked relieved. He hadn't noticed when it happened, so much was going on. But obviously his dragon had.
"Excuse me, sir."
D'rek looked around and saw a pretty young woman of some fourteen turns.
"Yes," D'rek said.
"Were you really talking to it?"
"You mean the dragon?" he asked her.
She nodded.
"Yes I was. And it's him, not it. Actually, I was conversing with him. Not just talking to him."
"But he wasn't saying anything."
"That you could hear," D'rek informed her. "I am his rider. We converse telepathically all the time."
I sense something from her, Gatorth told his rider. I think she might attract a queen hatchling.
"So you're a Search dragon, now?" D'vid asked him aloud. "Since when do you Search?"
Since now. I don't know how I know it but I can feel something from her. She would attract a queen.
"What is a search dragon?" the woman asked. "And what do they search for?"
"Dragonrider candidates. He says you, would attract a queen hatchling. I'm not too sure I trust him on this, though. He's never been a Search dragon."
"You are probably right," she said. "I'm nothing special. It must be nice, though, to have a companion such as him. I'm Danella Stevens, by the way."
D'rek extended his hand. "D'rek, rider of brown Gatorth. Pleased to meet you."
"D'rek. Is that name common?" Danella asked.
D'rek shook his head, "No. Actually my name was Derek Nosk. I originally came from Earth. I contracted it to D'rek after Gatorth chose me to be his rider. And it's more than nice to be a dragon rider. It's indescribable. We are one. I know what it's like to be a dragon and he knows what it's like to be human."
"I heard dragons and their riders become so attached to one another if one dies the other will too."
"The dragon will certainly die if the rider does. The rider might survive, if the dragon dies but it isn't likely. I know I wouldn't if something happened to Gatorth. I'd follow him into death, just like he would follow me."
The woman just shook her head. To love someone or something so completely was unknown to her.
Just then an enormous brown dragon landed. His rider dismounted, and leaving his dragon harnessed, he began striding for the administration building. Suddenly he stopped and whirled.
"What did you say, Canth?"
After a brief pause he said, "Tell Mnementh's rider I've been detained. I'll be there shortly."
The larger brown rumbled agreement as F'nor strode toward D'rek and Danella.
When he reached them, he acknowledged D'rek. "Good morning, rider."
"Good morning, Wing Second," D'rek responded. "Did you need to speak to me?"
F'nor nodded his head. "Just a quick question. Did your dragon sense anything about this young lady?"
"He said he thinks she might attract a gold hatchling. He's not a Search dragon, though."
"Looks like he might have a hidden talent. My Canth is a Search dragon and he says she will attract gold.
The woman stared at him speechlessly. Then she found her voice. "You have got to be kidding me."
F'nor looked puzzled. "Kidding you? I'm not sure what that means."
"Joking with me," she clarified.
"Search is no joke, my lady," he responded grimly. "We take Search very seriously here. If a newly hatched dragon can't find a rider, he or she will die. This is something we strive to avoid at all costs."
"So you're saying I have to go with you?"
"Not at all," F'nor told her lightly. "We cannot force someone to stand for impression and wouldn't even if we could. Because it would do no good. If someone doesn't want to be a dragonrider, it's unlikely in the extreme that a hatchling would choose them."
"The choice is totally up to you," D'rek continued. "You may decline and no one would think the worse of you. But before you do that, you should know what you are giving up."
"Yes," F'nor said. "I have business with the Council. Would you explain to this young lady what it really means to be a dragonrider? I'll be back shortly."
"Of course, Wing Second," D'rek replied.
F'nor nodded to them, turned on his heel and strode for the Administration building.
D'rek began telling her what it was really like to ride a dragon. Danella was staring at him in wonder. A life long mental linkage with another person? Someone who would always love and instantly understand you? Without even words being needed for the understanding? Who would never leave you and even follow you into death?
"So what's the downside to all this?" she asked. "I know there is a downside. Anything that seems too good to be true usually is."
D'rek nodded. "There are a few disadvantages. One, you cannot raise any children you have. You won't have time, because you're dragon always comes first. Children of dragonriders are fostered out to others. But all children born in the Weyr, belong to the Weyr.
"There is also no marriage among dragonriders. They might become weyrmates. That's where they share the same living space, but no formal marriage. You also become your dragon when she mates. And you will also mate with the rider of the dragon who catches her."
Danella was shocked. "What if you don't like the person who rides the dragon who mates with yours?"
"The dragon decides, the rider complies," D'rek told her. "But usually the dragon does take the rider's wishes into consideration, even if only a little. Though that's not something most will admit."
A man emerged from the administration building and saw Danella. "There you are. I was wondering where you had wandered off to."
"I'm flattered," Danella told D'rek, "But I'm afraid Dad would never agree."
"So looks like you're meeting people," the man said.
"Yes. This is D'rek. Rider of a brown dragon. Gatorth," she said.
"Pleased to meet you, son. So you ride him?"
"Yes." D'rek said. "Are you Danella's father?"
"Yes I am. She's a bit of a wild one, but I love her."
"I'm sorry sir, but I have some bad news for you."
The man frowned. "What do you mean bad news?"
"My dragon has Searched your daughter. He's not really a search dragon, but another dragon, that big one over there, is and he agrees."
"Searched? I don't understand."
"Your daughter has been found to be acceptable to stand as a dragonrider candidate."
"I don't know why that's bad news," the man said. "I know the dragons here are important. I'm flattered that my daughter is worthy. Maybe when she's eighteen, she can come back."
"You don't understand sir," D'rek told him. "When a person is Searched, if they are within the age range of the Weyr of the searching dragon, they and they alone decide whether they stand. The parents have no say in the matter."
"That's ridiculous," the man said. "Parents always decide what's best for their children."
"On Earth, and in the Confederation. Not here; at least not when it comes to Search."
The man shook his head. "Tell him you decline, Danella."
D'rek looked directly at her. "That directive cannot be enforced here. If you really want to decline, you may. But if you decide you want to try to impress a dragon, you will be allowed to, no matter what he says."
"Now look here, young man," Danella's father said. "This is my daughter. I decide what's best for her. She will not be allowed be a candidate until she is eighteen."
"That is entirely up to her, sir!" F'nor had exited the administration complex and had heard the last comment from the man.
Danella's father turned and saw an older man. "And just who are you?"
"F'nor, Wing Second at Benden Weyr. Rider of brown Canth. Canth is a search dragon and he confirms Gatorth's search of your daughter. Therefore, she will not be allowed to leave until such time as she may decline Search. And don't even think about ordering her to decline. That order cannot be enforced. We take Search very seriously here. If a hatchling dragon cannot find a suitable partner it will die. Therefore anyone Searched has the right to decide for themselves. You daughter is clearly within the age range of Ista Weyr, the Weyr of the searching dragon."
"What's the age range there?" the man asked.
"Twelve to twenty one," D'rek answered.
The man was aghast. "You let a twelve year old child decide this for themselves? That's crazy."
"Only this," D'rek said. "I thought it was strange, myself, as I come from Earth. But that's the law here."
"There must be an exception?"
F'nor nodded. "There is but I don't see how it would apply to a Confederation citizen."
"Try me," the man said.
"If a person is in line to inherit political power and is being trained to that end, they are exempt from search."
"Inherit political power? We vote on our politicians."
"That's why I say it wouldn't apply to a Confederation citizen," F'nor confirmed.
Danella spoke up. "I've been thinking over what D'rek told me and I couldn't bear to not raise any children I might have. So I must decline."
"Are you absolutely certain, young lady?" F'nor asked. "This is for you, not your father, to decide."
"I'm positive," Danella said. "I couldn't bear to not raise my own children. I have to decline."
F'nor nodded. "Heard and witnessed. You are free to go."
"Just like that?" Danella's father asked.
"If she doesn't want to be a rider, forcing her to stand would be pointless. It would waste her time and ours as the chances of a hatchling choosing someone who doesn't want to be a rider are nearly, if not actually, zero. She is free to go." He turned to D'rek. ""D'rek, I'll speak to your Weyrleader about this and inform him Gatorth needs to be looked at as a Search dragon."
When D'rek and Gatorth returned to Ista Ganala and Balarth were waiting for them.
Gatorth and Balarth flew up to the rim to sun.
"So what did the council want?" Ganala asked.
D'rek told her, along with what he had recommended.
"What? He should serve life in the mines of Crom."
"I don't want him to die there. At least not within a turn. I want him to be uncomfortable for a long time."
"D'rek. We almost lost Gatorth," Ganala told him. "He was crouched, ready to spring and go between. I told him to stay. That they wouldn't kill you. It didn't matter. If you hadn't spoken to him when you did, he would have gone between looking for you."
"I know, dear heart. It doesn't change the fact that Donovan would be dead in a turn working in the mines of Crom. He'll be in prison on Earth for a long, long, long time. Longer than he would be if he was sentenced to the Crom mines for life. And prisons there aren't pleasant. Every aspect of your life is controlled by the institution. Much the same as Crom. But they find you work that won't kill you."
He linked with Balarth and told her, Show your rider these pictures. He sent a series of mental images, the ones he had seen on the screen of the prison conditions within the Confederation.
He broke the link to see Ganala with that faraway look that was the norm when riders communicated with their dragons. Shortly she came back to herself.
She nodded. "That's definitely not pleasant. You did the right thing."
He shrugged. "I guess. I just couldn't see sending him to die in the mines of Crom within a turn." Changing the subject, he said, "Let's get something to eat."
Later that afternoon, Gatorth told him the Weyrleader needed to see him.
Gatorth deposited him on the Weyrleader's ledge. He walked in to see D'vid and Wingleader Sh'tan.
"Rider D'rek reporting as directed, sir."
D'vid smiled. Sh'tan didn't but then he wasn't known to smile much. "Rider D'rek. You know Sh'tan, Wingleader of Fourth Wing?"
"I know of him sir. We haven't actually met." Then looking at Sh'tan, "Wingleader. It's good to meet you."
"I've heard some good things about you, rider," Sh'tan told him. "Heard is the operative word, as I don't know you."
"Wing second F'nor of Benden informed me that your dragon searched a young woman and his Canth, who is a search dragon confirmed it," D'vid said.
"Yes sir. Although she was from Earth and declined."
"The fact that he searched is signifigant," D'vid said. "I'd like to transfer you to Fourth. Fourth is where most of Ista's search dragons are assigned."
"Yes, sir," D'vid responded enthusiastically. Ganala and Balarth were in fourth. Balarth was unusually sensitive to potential candidates.
Sh'tan spoke up. "My only concern is that your weyrmate is also assigned to Fourth. Don't get me wrong. I don't like getting involved in the personal lives of my riders. But when it has the potential to affect wing efficiency, I have to make an exception."
"Sir, I have never let my relationship with Balarth's rider affect my performance as a rider," D'rek said. "And that's not going to change, no matter where I am assigned. And I understand that Balarth is senior as a search dragon so you are most likely going to go with her if there is a conflict on whether someone is or is not suitable."
Sh'tan nodded. "I think he might do very well in fourth. Who knows? Maybe his Gatorth is like Watarth, able to find queen and non-queen candidates."
"That's very rare," D'vid said. "But then again, rider D'rek is a very unique individual."
"Yes," Sh'tan concurred. "I was there when you reappeared, without a dragon after those idiot Earthers abducted you. I didn't think it was possible for a human to go between without a dragon."
"As far as I know, I'm the only one, sir," D'vid told him. "While still in the womb, I was given the same substance that the ancestors used to enhance the dragon's telepathy."
"That could explain it, I suppose," Sh'tan conceded nodding. "Well, anyway, welcome to fourth, rider." So saying he extended his arm which D'rek took in the forearm clasp.
Gatorth, it turned out did have the ability to search queen candidates. He was also able to sense some candidates for non-queen eggs but he missed quite a few in the process. But since his green wingmates were quite able in that area it evened out.
D'rek and Gatorth had found their place.
Well, that's it for this story. I know it ended a bit abruptly, but all stories have to end somewhere and this seemed the logical place. Again, I'm sorry for the long delay between this chapter and the last one. And I do have some ideas I'm working on. I have two chapters of another story already written, one of which I'll be posting in the next few days. I've decided to update stories at no sooner than 1 week intervals. Don't forget to review.