It didn't take long for those working in the Dragons Moon tower to settle into a comfortable routine. The dragons and their riders proved to be surprisingly well focused and dedicated; likely due in part to the intensity of their focus and desire when combatting Thread. Thankfully, that part of their painful past was now behind them, and they could all look forward to a promising new future. The FSP facilities at the Petaybean spaceport kept busy, helping Dragons Moon shunt messages all over the cosmos quickly and accurately. That effort by the Lua dos Dragões' tower staff brought about a most unexpected discovery.
"Akie, got a minute?" Tai asked as she entered Tower control.
"What's up?" Akadeanna wondered, lifting herself to a sitting position on the edge of the control couch.
"Not sure," Tai admitted, looking a little puzzled.
"Go on," Akadeanna urged, rising and retrieving a drink from the energy drink dispenser.
"For the past several months, I've been monitoring the message traffic being shunted all over the galaxy…"
"And?"
"I think I found something strange," Tai admitted, squarely meeting Akadeanna's gaze.
"I'm listening."
"It's nothing I can put my finger on," Tai muttered, shaking her head. "Just some strange message traffic."
When Akadeanna didn't say anything but nodded for Tai to continue, she blurted out, "I'm not even sure if it means anything, it's just that…"
"Tai, I wouldn't have asked you to join the T2 staff here if I didn't trust your instincts," Akadeanna calmly responded, laying her hand gently on Tai's shoulder. "You wouldn't have brought it to my attention if you didn't think it was important. So fill me in."
"Three months ago, someone on Altair VI reported feeling intense chills…"
"Chills?"
"In the middle of one of the hottest days on the planet!" Tai exclaimed, shaking her head.
"What else?"
"About a month after that report, several of the crew of the FSP cruiser Acadecki reported experiencing an overpowering feeling of dread."
"Go on."
"A crowd attending a sporting event on the orbital colony Excelsior all reported hearing cries of anguish."
"How long ago?"
"About five weeks."
"What else?"
"A robotic transport was found dead in space, its navigation systems somehow disabled. That was a couple of sevendays… sorry, weeks… ago."
"And?"
"The most recent incident… a woman on Iota Aurigae was found screaming her head off… for no apparent reason."
The two women locked eyes.
"You think they're related?" Akadeanna asked.
Gulping, Tai nodded, her face turning pale.
"Why?" Akadeanna wondered.
Reaching over to one of the monitoring terminals, Tai brought up a 3D map of the local star region.
"These are all the locations of the odd reports," she explained, pointing to bright red pinpoints of light that appeared in the map. "And there's this…"
Pressing a few more keys, a line appeared, connecting the points of light.
"A straight line!" Akadeanna gasped.
"And if we extrapolate that line out…"
Tai pressed a few keys on the console and the line extended, passing right through Dragons Moon!
"When?" Akadeanna inquired.
"Assuming the speed of the anomaly is constant… 48 hours."
"Then we have work to do," Akadeanna grimly replied.
With Admiral Sharpton's promotion to Fleet Admiral of the FSP, Firlea's Fury had needed a new commanding officer. So, in his stead, Colonel Johnny Greene had been promoted to General and transferred over to Fleet FSP where he assumed the rank of Admiral and commander of Firlea's Fury. As a telepath and telekinetic, his assignment to replace Admiral Sharpton was met with joyous cheers and plenty of applause.
The morning following Tai's grim discovery, Akadeanna called the Fury.
"Admiral," Akadeanna greeted the vessel's new skipper over the FTL link. "Sharpton speaks very highly of you. So does your new crew."
"Your reputation precedes you as well, Prime," Johnny Greene responded, grinning broadly. "I was in the complex on Procyon when you did that amazing retrieval of the Bellatrix. What can I do for you?"
"One of my aides has alerted me to an approaching anomaly."
"Do tell! What sort of anomaly?"
"We're not certain what it is, but we would like your assistance to investigate it."
"How?"
Tai hit some keys on her control console. "I'm sending you the data we have, Admiral. We're projecting the anomaly to intercept Dragons Moon in less than two days."
"We'd like you to position your vessel along its projected flightpath," Akadeanna explained. "Hopefully, your sensors will give us a better idea of what we're dealing with before it gets here."
Mom, I'd like to go with the Admiral, Luna broke in. Something's warning me to be there… me and Princess Tigress. They may need my help.
"Precognitive warning?" Admiral Greene wondered, his worried expression clear on the FTL comm screen.
"You have to be a damned good telepath to have heard that, Admiral," Akadeanna chuckled, giving Luna's hand a proud squeeze. "With your permission…"
Smiling broadly, Johnny Greene nodded. Moments later, with a timely teleport assist from the Dragons Moon Tower, the crew of Firlea's Fury gathered once more in the ship's massive docking bay to celebrate the return of Luna, Artimeth, and Princess Tigress. Breela and her fire lizard, Bruiser, were the first to greet her.
"Luna!" Breela exclaimed, wrapping Akie's adopted daughter up in a warm bear hug, a smile on her face from ear-to-ear. "So good to see you again!"
"Thank you!" Luna replied through her voice box – headband combo.
"Nice to see you, too, Princess!" Breela cheerily added, giving the Barque cat's ears a scratch astride Luna's shoulder.
"Coo!" Bruiser trilled, rubbing noses with Princess Tigress.
Her expression turning serious, Breela asked, "What's all the mystery about?"
"We don't know," Luna confessed, lowering her eyes. "Just a bunch of strange events but apparently on a direct path for Dragons Moon. My mom wants us to find out what we can."
"And you had some sort of prescient event about it?"
Luna nodded. "I can't explain it, but somehow I have a feeling that whatever this is it's important to me in some way."
"Well, we should know any second," Breela remarked, checking her wrist chrono. "We're coming up on the intercept point right… now!"
It hit Luna with no warning… an overwhelming sense of pain and loss. Whatever it was, it ripped a scream from her so loud and discordant that it fried the voice box, reducing the sensor headband to smoldering rubble. Princess Tigress was equally affected, her plaintive howl of distress echoing off the walls of the docking bay! The Fury's crew, caught off-guard by the twin outbursts, could only cover their ears against the cries.
Lifemate! Artimeth howled, picking Luna and Princess Tigress up in her front claws.
Luna! There was no mistaking the anguish in Akadeanna's desperate call, her adopted daughter's cry of distress exploding in her mind.
Back on Lua dos Dragões, there was a sudden surge in demand from the Tower generators. A heartbeat later, Luna, Artimeth, and Princess Tigress were 'ported directly to the Tower control room.
They are here, a familiar voice calmly reported, Akadeanna blinking in amazement. They are safe.
Elara?
Yes.
Akadeanna ran to where the trio had been deposited, skidding to her knees and scooping Luna's unmoving form up into her arms.
Code Red! Elara calmly broadcast. Medical teams to the tower control room, STAT!
Like a well-oiled machine, the Tower staff responded, med techs 'porting in, swarming all over the downed trio.
"Akie, what the hell's going on?" Vance demanded as he knelt beside his wife and child. "I'm getting panicked calls from all over Dragons Moon! What happened?"
"I wish I knew!" Akadeanna sobbed, clutching Luna's unresponsive body to her. "Luna had just gotten aboard the Fury when all of a sudden…"
Mom?
Luna?! Akadeanna gasped, brushing the hair out of the girl's eyes. Sweetheart, what happened?
Blinking her eyes, Luna looked up at her Mom. I felt them!
Them? Who?
My people!
"What?!" Vance exclaimed, having overheard. "Your people?!"
Struggling to move, Luna barely nodded her head.
"By the Egg of Faranth!" Tai whispered, her eyes like saucers. "How can that be?"
Akadeanna knew. "Just like the Bellatrix!" Her eyes fixed on her daughter, she hissed, "A teleport accident!"
Another weak nod from Luna.
Looking at the crowd of concerned faces around her, Akadeanna ordered, "Someone contact Firlea's Fury. Let them know that Luna, Artimeth, and Princess Tigress are okay."
"On it," F'lessan responded, moving off.
"Tai!"
"Prime?"
"How soon before the anomaly reaches us?"
"Twelve hours," she replied after checking her wrist computer.
"Vance, get your wife and child to the med bay," Lessa ordered, sliding down her dragon's side just as she and Ramoth arrived; F'lar and Mnementh a heartbeat later. "We'll take care of Artimeth."
No, Luna insisted, struggling to stand.
"Sweetheart…" Akadeanna spoke, rising with her changeling daughter.
I have to do this, Mom, please. Don't you see? That's why I had the prescient episode. I had to be there to identify the anomaly. Just like I have to be here now to bring them back!
There was no mistaking the conviction on Luna's face or in her determined eyes. Grimly, Akadeanna nodded.
Artimeth?
She will be fine, Vornath informed her rider. Ramoth and Mnementh are looking after her.
Unexpectedly, something landed on Luna's shoulder, purring quite loudly.
I'm with you, Kibble. Let's do this!
Chuckling softly, Luna hugged Princess Tigress' head to her own before nodding to the people gathered around them.
If there was a way to measure the level of excitement and uncertainty, for the inhabitants of Dragons Moon, it would've been pegged off scale high! The tower staff, including its Prime, had no idea how big or what sort of configuration this changeling vessel possessed. So it was decided to land the retrieved vessel just outside one of the larger isolation domes that were part of the tower complex. Medical staff in full environment suits would then board the vessel to assess the condition of its inhabitants and, if necessary, 'porting them directly to the emergency medical clinic that had been established within the isolation dome.
Prime!
Not now, Reidinger, Akadeanna responded as the final minutes ticked down. We're kind of busy.
Every Prime is on standby to join the gestalt… if you need it.
Given what we expect, Akadeanna sighed, letting out a breath to relax, we'll take all the help we can get. Elara?
Ready.
"Contact in 10… 9… 8…" Tai counted down, the Tower's generators rising to a fever pitch. "7… 6… 5…"
Stay sharp, everyone! Akadeanna ordered as the last of the Talents, human and dragon, joined the gestalt.
"4… 3… 2… 1…"
NOW! Luna suddenly cried.
The Bellatrix retrieval had been a small miracle, the passengers and crew recalled to reality. Just like that incident, Akadeanna felt the disturbance… but stronger, more intense. She didn't waver, reaching out with all the Talent energy she could channel, including Elara's contribution. She sensed the strange vessel, enwrapped it in the power coursing through her, gently, firmly pulling it out of the depths of that unimaginable void. Just like the Bellatrix, the changeling vessel resisted, fighting the retrieval. Every Prime available in the FT&T had joined the effort, focused through Akadeanna. Slowly, the vessel began to move, climbing out of the bottomless pit of oblivion.
And then, a second sentience gently joined the gestalt, making Akadeanna smile. There was no mistaking that mental contact!
Petaybee! Thank you!
You helped Sky. Now I help you!
Renewed by the contact, Akadeanna increased her efforts, the changeling vessel responding. Moments later, a fairly large, strangely designed vessel emerged back into reality, settling with nary a bump to the surface of Dragons Moon not far from the isolation dome! The explosion of cheers in the control room and throughout the gestalt was almost deafening. All Akadeanna could do was weep and stare at this latest miracle.
"We did it!" she sobbed, tears pouring down her face as the Tower's generators slowly wound down.
"By the Egg of Faranth!" Lessa whispered, clearly in awe of the power that Akadeanna had wielded.
Knew you could do it, my heart! Vornath rumbled, nuzzling her lifemate's teary cheek.
Sobbing with joy, Akadeanna wrapped her arms around Vornath's muzzle, not relinquishing her grip until her dragon had lifted her rider to her shaky feet.
Mom! Luna cried, seizing her adopted mother in a vice-like bear hug.
Sadr Prime?
Earth Prime? Akadeanna responded, glancing out the viewing windows at the pandemonium below as the medical teams swarmed towards the changelings' rescued vessel.
Well done! was all he said before leaving the gestalt.
Heaving an enormous sigh of relief, Akadeanna dissolved the gestalt. Then, in a powerful leap, she was astride her dragon's neck, the pair soaring out the massive control room door, closely followed by all the others.
A speedy descent brought everyone to ground next to the isolation dome. Racing to one of the nearby support tents, Akadeanna suited up in her own environmental suit, Luna and the others on the control team doing likewise. Once properly attired and the equipment checked out, they all made their way over to the enormous changeling vessel.
"Whoa! Hold on, Akie!" one of the med techs interrupted, blocking her approach to what was clearly a hatch in the side of the changeling vessel. "We haven't secured the interior yet."
"Luna and I have to go first," Akadeanna argued, stepping around him. "We're the only other changelings here. If anyone on board is alive, we're the only ones who might be able to communicate with them and gain their trust."
"Better take this, then," he muttered, holding out a blaster.
"No, no weapons," Akadeanna said, shaking her suited head and crossing her hands in front of her. "Those beings will have no idea where they are or what has happened. We don't even know how long they've been lost in the void."
Can you sense anything, sweetie? Akadeanna asked her changeling daughter.
Luna nodded. They're alive… but very confused.
Can you tell how many are aboard?
Luna shook her head. A lot… but I can't understand what they're saying.
If they've been trapped in the void long enough, F'lessan suggested, nodding towards the hatch, there could be a linguistics shift. Chuckling, he added, The Harpers back on Pern were dismayed to learn that it had happened in the time since the Ancients first landed on our world.
They are confused, Elara remarked, joining the discussion. They say that this doesn't look like the place they were headed for.
Elara, you can understand them?! Akadeanna gasped.
I understand all living beings, Elara matter-of-factly stated.
Just like Petaybee! Luna realized.
Sharding hell! Akadeanna heard Reidinger curse.
Then you can act as our translator, Elara, Akadeanna said, a broad grin on her face as she opened the hatch in the changeling vessel.
Akadeanna and Luna boarded the vessel. They appeared to be in a short passageway with an illuminated opening at the far end. Slowly, cautiously, the two made their way forward, emerging into a rather large space… an enormous crowd of clearly humanoid beings gasping and backing away from them at their approach.
Do not be afraid, Akadeanna heard Elara speak, the changeling strangers gasping and frantically looking about them.
Luna! Do your Princess Tigress form!
And you can do Giant River Otter Akie!
Even garbed in the environment suits, the aliens couldn't help staring as the two aliens confronting them shape-shifted before their eyes! Boldly, one of the changeling children stepped up to Akadeanna and Luna.
Are you one of us?
Elara! She was translating as the child spoke! Smiling, Akadeanna knelt before the child, reverting to her human form. Do you have a name, little one?
The child's eyes grew positively enormous as Elara translated. Atera, she replied, grinning shyly.
A planet-sized Talent with a gift for universal translating! Reidinger gasped, clearly disbelieving. Chuckling, he added, Wait until this gets around the galaxy!
My name is Akie, Luna's Mom told the child. Do you know who is in charge of this vessel, Atera?
The child turned, pointing to what appeared to be a uniformed officer approaching.
I am G'ntag'r Preeton, the being addressed Akadeanna, nodding as he did, b'lit'tlai of the Quitallen vessel, R'mer's Ruse.
You're from Quitall?! Luna gasped, tears springing to her eyes as she clung to her adopted mother.
Commander (Elara translated the title to its Terran equivalent) Preeton nodded. You know of our home, child?
Luna burst into sobs, clinging tightly to Akadeanna.
"Sharding hell!" Akadeanna softly cursed.
Elara, translate for me.
The sentience did as Akadeanna tried to explain. From what she was able to learn, R'mer's Ruse had been trapped in the void for close to four centuries. This came as a painful shock to the passengers and crew of the vessel, but not nearly as agonizing as when they learned that their homeworld had been destroyed by the Kleevi. Luna bravely did her best to explain how it had happened, reliving the nightmare as she spoke. When she finished, there was nothing but silence aboard the vessel.
I thought I was the last of my kind! Luna sobbed, hugging Akadeanna tightly.
But you're not, her adopted Mom softly replied, returning the hug. Thanks to you, your people have a chance to survive.
A rebirth, G'ntag'r Preeton added, kneeling in front of Luna. Looking up at Akadeanna, he asked, With our world destroyed, what will happen to us? Where can we go?
Friend Akie?
Somehow, in that simple contact, the Sadr Prime knew the answer, one that brought a smile to her lips.
You tell them, Elara.
Except for the Tower complex and the scattering of Pern colonists that had recently taken up residence, there was still plenty of room available on Lua dos Dragões for the Quitallens to start anew, to rebuild their civilization… to undergo a rebirth and renewal of their people and their ways.
Fleet Admiral Sharpton of the FSP and Phon Tho Anaciliact of the Collective Interplanetary Societies enthusiastically supported the idea. It wasn't often you had a chance to study an ancient civilization during its reemergence. And, as it turned out, the Quitallens had ranged farther afield in the galaxy than first thought. Not long after word reached the rest of the habitable worlds of the Nine Star League, the Central Worlds, and the FSP, emissaries from across known space began to arrive on Dragons Moon, representatives of offshoots of the Quitallen race, all of them shapeshifters in one respect or another. Genetic analysis of the various races pointed to a common progenitor… the people of Quitall! Quite a shock to some of those races when they discovered their great, great 400 years removed grandparents were actually still alive, preserved by the quixotic time suspension while the R'mer's Ruse was stuck in the void.
It wasn't long before a small city arose on the plains of Dragons Moon, one inhabited by the crew and passengers from R'mer's Ruse and their various great, great 400 years removed aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and more, all thrilled to find such a priceless treasure as the survivors of Quitall. Following the naming precedent used by the Portuguese explorers who had first found the moon, to honor the one who had been key in finding them, the new city of changelings was called Coração de Luna… "Luna's Heart", leaving Akadeanna's adopted daughter totally overwhelmed and speechless!
They really shouldn't have, Luna muttered, blushing furiously during the naming celebration.
And why not? Akadeanna retorted, smiling as she gave her daughter a heartfelt hug. If it hadn't been for you, they'd still be stuck in the void. Grinning broadly, she added, I am so proud of you!
They had originally come to Lua dos Dragões to set up a new Talent tower. In the beginning, it had offered Sky and his otter family a new home, a place to begin again. With the end of Threadfall on Pern, it had also offered the people of Pern a new start. Now it was offering the Quitallens a home where they could begin anew. Dragons Moon and its residents were developing quite a reputation!