Oh, the look of joy on Luna's face as she tenderly saw to the care of her dragon. The two were inseparable! But then, so were her two friends and their new lifemates! B'nar Impressed bronze Zeltarth and R'na surprisingly Impressed brown Holnath! Yes! A female brown rider!
From the relative privacy of the ledge of the queen's weyr, Lessa watched the threesome and their peers caring for their new lifemates. Thirty two new riders and their dragons to be schooled in the ways of the weyrs. As she watched Luna oiling Artimeth's golden hide, Akadeanna and Vornath watchfully nearby, Lessa heaved a genuine sigh of regret for trying to turn the child away from the Hatching. Akie had been absolutely right. No one, not even the Weyrwoman, knew why a dragon chose one rider over another. Lessa was also relieved that Luna hadn't shape-shifted and flown away. The little queen would most likely have gone between if she had.
"By the First Egg, Ramoth, I think I'm getting too old for this," Lessa sighed to her dragon curled up nearby.
Not in my eyes, her queen rumbled in answer, broadcasting the purest of love to her rider.
Chuckling softly, Lessa gave her dragon a gentle pat before descending to the weyr bowl.
As Luna was oiling Artimeth's flank, she felt a presence behind her. Turning, she found the Weyrwoman standing there. Princess Tigress took umbrage with Lessa's proximity, leaping up onto Artimeth's neck ridge. She hissed at the Weyrwoman, her ears flat against her head. B'nar and R'na stepped up on either side of Luna, demonstrating their solidarity with their fellow rider. It was also a tacit reminder of what Lessa had done earlier. Even Artimeth's eyes had shaded to an angry red.
Lessa knelt on the ground in front of Luna, her head bowed.
"You have every right to be angry with me, Luna," she quietly spoke. "What I said and did to you was hurtful and thoughtless."
She looked up then, people all around gasping at the sight of tears pouring down Lessa's crestfallen face.
Managing a weak smile, Lessa told Luna, "I am so happy you didn't lose Artimeth." Her expression once more displaying the pain she felt, Lessa begged, "I can't even put in words how sorry I feel. Please forgive me."
That said, Lessa lowered her head, awaiting Luna's response.
Akadeanna, on many occasions, had told her adopted daughter that she trusted her. Drawing a long, slow breath… she waited.
Luna reached out, laying a hand on B'nar's and R'na's shoulders, smiling and shaking her head. She turned, giving Princess Tigress a scratch behind the ears, gave her dragon a gentle pat or two, and then placed her hand tenderly on Lessa's shoulder. Startled by its gentleness, Lessa looked up. Luna was smiling, motioning for Lessa to rise. When she had, Luna held out a pot of oil and an applicator brush. Sobbing openly, Lessa gave Akie's precious changeling daughter a grateful hug before accepting the pot and brush. Someone produced a second pot and brush, offering it to Luna, and together the Benden Weyrwoman and the newest queen rider resumed oiling Artimeth's hide.
For many sevendays, life in the weyr proceeded in a predictable fashion. Akadeanna did notice Lessa keeping a close eye on Luna and Artimeth. Lingering doubts? No, Akie realized. After the initial misstep at the Hatching, Lessa was being absolutely certain the pair got the best care possible. She had made a bad mistake and was doing everything she could to correct it.
Several months after their initial return to Pern, Vance was called away to FSP headquarters for discussions about how to proceed with Pern… and the Talent tower that had been built there. While not along the typical transit lanes the FT&T normally used, Akie's rescue of the Bellatrix and the dragons part in that herculean effort weighed heavily in their considerations. There was even the possibility that the Pern tower would be dedicated solely to the FT&T's search and rescue efforts for those vessels lost in the early teleport accidents. If the Bellatrix was any metric, the others that had been lost stood a chance of rescue… if they could only be located.
One day, as Akie was taking care of business at the FSP liaison office at Landing, she suddenly felt strange. Telepathic contact? No, she was certain that wasn't it, but something was definitely wrong… and it had come on fast. Her pulse was racing, waves of dizziness assailed her, and she felt like she was on fire! Ancestors, no! Not Firehead! Please!
Lifemate?
Help… me!
Vornath's howl of distress reached all the way to the teaching hospital, bringing scores of healer-riders swarming into Landing! Akadeanna was teleported directly to the hospital and whisked into the nearest med bay. Laid out on the exam table, the med scanner sensors initially checked her vital signs. Somewhere, in the midst of all the diagnostic beeps and whistles, Akie passed out.
An indeterminate time later, awareness slowly returned. Akie felt the soft cushioning of a Pernese rushes mattress, a sleeping fur covering her. She felt something else… someone holding her hand.
Mom?
Akadeanna slowly opened her eyes. Fear clutched at her heart. Firehead was known to cause blindness in those who came down with it. But to her intense relief, she was able to clearly make out Luna's concerned face peering down at her, tears making traces down her face.
Mom? she heard once more.
It had started out with her being called Kibble, and Akie remembered those moments with fondness. She felt tears anew come to her eyes hearing that word. Mom.
Are you alright?
Luna nodded, the tears growing more numerous. I'm so sorry!
Was something else wrong? Why would Luna be apologizing to her?
Artimeth?
She's fine. So is Princess Tigress and everyone else. Mom, forgive me!
For what?
Luna lifted her mother's hand up where she could see it… and Akie gasped. The hand that was hers now had only four fingers instead of five… and the hand and arm were covered with what looked like Princess Tigress' fur!
"By the First Egg!" Akie hissed, turning her hand over and over.
She brought the other hand up… and gasped again! Four fingers… hand and arm covered with more fur! What the hell was going on?!
Glancing about, Akie realized she was in one of the hospital rooms… with its own bathroom. Throwing back the sleeping fur, she sat up, noticing whatever parts of her body that were exposed, the cat fur was there! She got to her feet, wobbling until Luna threw her Mom's arm across her shoulders, providing support. Together, they walked over to the bathroom, pulling the door open. There was only one thing Akadeanna was looking for… the mirror that was hanging there. One look in it confirmed her worst fears. But for her size, Akie now looked just like Luna had when she had first found her changeling daughter on that doomed cargo tug.
"Shards and shells!" Akie hissed, her cat-like eyes narrowing to slits.
Healer-riders arrived, suited up in full environment suits. They wouldn't be wearing those, she realized, unless they were worried about some sort of contagion! That old cargo tug! But, no. They'd been wearing spacesuits while aboard. Akie turned, staring at Luna.
I'm sorry, Mom!
Akie recognized one of the suited healer-riders.
"B'gon, any ideas?"
"Just theories, really," he sighed, shrugging under the suit. "There are rare examples of certain viruses that attack the DNA, altering its structure. We think that's what's happening with you."
"What do you mean?"
He whipped out his portable med scanner, running it over Akie. Then, he made a similar pass over Luna before bringing the scan results up in a holographic projection.
"Your genetic readings are nearly identical to Luna's now."
"What?! Are you saying I'm…"
"Turning into another changeling," B'gon concluded. "Right now, you don't have any control over the shifting ability. Luna says you look just like she did when you first found her."
Akadeanna whirled, staring first at Luna then once more examining her furry four-finger hands.
"Stars above!"
"Right now, your vitals are strong," B'gon continued, closing down his scanner. "You just don't have any experience yet controlling the shifting. I'm convinced that, with time… and Luna's help, you'll get there."
"Vance?"
"We're keeping him apprised of your situation," B'gon replied. "We've got you in an isolation ward at the hospital. No one but healer-riders directly involved in your care are allowed in or out. We've also contacted Firlea's Fury to put them on alert for possible contagion spread aboard their ship. So far, you're the only one who has manifested any symptoms. Don't worry, Akie. We'll get through this, I'm sure of it."
Mom?
It's okay, sweetheart, Akie told her daughter. You didn't know.
Mom! Luna sobbed, giving Akadeanna a frightened hug.
Kneeling in front of Luna, Akie took her daughter's hands, squeezing them gently as she said, We'll get through this, dear one. We all will. But I'll need your help, okay?
Okay, Luna sniffed back some tears, hugging Akie once more.
Then, a new worry made Akadeanna gasp.
Mom? What's wrong?
My Talents. What if this weakens those gifts?
Let me be the first to reassure you, the familiar voice of Prime Reidinger interrupted. You're coming through clear… and perhaps even louder than before.
Sorry.
So let's be proactive about what has happened, he told her. I'm dispatching Talent instructors to Pern ASAP. They'll work on your focus and concentration. That alone should help you better attune your mind to your new ability. Who knows? Your new shifting talent might actually work in concert with your esper Talents.
Akie met Luna's worried expression. Giving her precious daughter a comforting hug, she quietly said, Alright. Hurry, please!
Prime Reidinger was as good as his word. Within a day, the necessary instructors were rounded up, arriving via FT&T transport to Pern. Jeran Raven, son of Angharad Gwyn, the Rowan of Callisto station fame, would lead the team.
"A pleasure to finally meet you, Akadeanna," he said as he shook her hand through an environment suit. "Your actions rescuing the Bellatrix is the stuff of legend!"
"I did what I had to," Akie sighed, returning the shake. "Now I'm hoping you and the others can help me with this new difficulty."
"Actually," Jeran spoke, releasing her hand as he glanced over at Akie's daughter, "I think Luna can better serve your needs."
Me?! Luna silently gasped.
Indeed, Jeran just as quietly replied. While I admit that you are young by any measure… you alone have any experience with this shifting ability.
Gesturing at the team he brought with him, he added, I think our best option is to work to strengthen your own telepathic abilities, youngling, so that you are closer in level to your mother's. That should allow for a stronger mental bonding between the two of you and allow you to guide your mother toward realizing her own shifting abilities.
Mom?
Akadeanna gave her daughter the warmest hug possible. We can do this, sweet one! I believe in you!
Smiling, weeping, Luna returned the hug.
First came the Talent testing. The trainers needed to know Luna's capabilities before they could start her instruction. To everyone's surprise, except Akadeanna's, they discovered that Luna was already a T3 telepath!
"That would certainly explain how you were able to sense her on that old cargo tug, Akie," Jeran remarked, nodding approvingly at Luna.
Our hearts, Luna silently spoke, hugging her Mom.
Calling out to each other, Akie responded, returning the hug.
Yes! Luna wept. I'm so happy you heard me!
So am I! Akie replied, planting a tender kiss on Luna's forehead.
With that, the training began. Grueling, exhausting, one mental exercise after another. Only it wasn't just Luna who was struggling through the training. Akie did everything Luna did. In spite of the Procyon incident, Akie knew she was inexperienced with her Talents. If she was to also master her new shifting ability, she knew beyond certainty that she would need to master her esper Talents first.
Several months into this grueling endeavor, Jeran had Akie and Luna attempt a mind-meld.
"Like the Procyon gestalt!" Akadeanna gasped, recognizing the similarity.
Jeran nodded. "You must sense each other… connect with each other. Keep your focus, Akie. Relax… and open your mind."
Breathing deeply, Akadeanna willed her body to calm itself. Gently, she reached out… feeling Luna do the same. In the next breath, she felt the link!
"Hello, Mom," Jeran heard them both say.
For this part of the training, Luna had chosen to wear her voice box. With the link established, she was speaking not only through the device but also through her Mom!
"Hello, precious," Akie responded, the words coming out of her own mouth and out of Luna's device.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
Akadeanna turned inward, focusing on shifting her appearance to her original human shape.
You can do this, Mom!
Akadeanna touched something… feeling a new energy flowing through her. Her eyes closed, she heard Luna's quiet gasp. The energy swept throughout her entire body. Akadeanna could feel the changes, her body responding to her will, rearranging itself down to the chromosomal level. When the feeling ended, Akadeanna slowly opened her eyes.
"You did it!" Luna cried, throwing her arms around her Mom's human neck and hugging her tightly.
Glancing at her hands, Akie wept! Five fingers, not four! Skin supple and smooth, not a bit of fur in sight! Weeping, Akadeanna returned Luna's hug.
"No, we did it, dear one!" Akie sobbed, tears of joy slipping down her very human face. "I don't think I could've done it without you. Thank you!"
"Mom!"
Akie heard that on two levels… audibly through Luna's voice box… and telepathically… filling her heart to bursting with joy!
"A good start," Jaren commented, nodding to the two as they pulled back to look at each other. "Now we work on your mastery of your new… talent!"
For the next several months, Akie and Luna continued their training… Luna to improve her budding telepathy… and Akie to master her changeling skills.
One day, as Jeran showed up to continue Akie's training, he spotted two queen dragons circling above a pair of much smaller dragons.
Now! he heard the older queen order.
From the ground, first the smaller then the slightly larger dragon leapt skyward, their beating wings carrying them higher and higher into the sky. Smiling to himself, it didn't take Jeran long to figure it out.
Stay focused, Akadeanna, he quietly urged. You've got this!
The four dragons swirled around in a great circle, and Jeran found himself smiling, feeling the joy that Luna… and Akadeanna in her new dragon form… were radiating. It was like watching a dance in the sky, and Jeran knew that anyone watching could not help but feel the joy Luna and Akadeanna shared.
Akie had once wished that she had Luna's gift so that she could join her daughter in the skies. And now, she did and she had… dragons and riders soaring through the skies of Pern under their own power.
Still, Akie knew that neither she nor Luna had the same staying power as their dragons, and, with great reluctance, she and Luna landed, reverting back to their human forms as their dragons landed nearby. While Jeran watched, Akie and Luna hugged each other, their dragons joining them, wrapping their wings around their riders. The Rowan's son felt such an overpowering wave of joy radiating from the four, he was certain everyone else on Pern felt it, too!