Systems reinitializing…
Power cell operational.
Neural net active.
Sensory systems reinitializing.
Automatic repair systems activating…minor system disruptions, no appreciable damage.
Thought and sensation returned. The first thing Andromeda became aware of was a noise that her neural net identified as…birdsong? Her eyes opened, only to find herself face down, nose pressed into an unexpectedly rough surface. She pushed herself to her hands and knees. One standard gravity, she thought, even as she identified the substance she had been lying on as grass. What the Hell…It appeared that she was on the surface of a planet. Looking around she found herself in a clearing in a lightly wooded area, with a hill rising to the west and a little south and the hazy outlines of mountains in the distance to the east.
A spatial rift deposits me on the surface of a planet, probably light-years distant with barely a scratch. What are the odds of… she gave a mental snort of derision for that line of thought. Probably no more than the odds of finding a personal greeting on a million year-old alien tablet.
Looking around again she did a full spectrum scan with her sensors looking for signs of technology, or the rift. Nothing. She attempted, without any real hope, to initiate a link with her ship-self. Again, nothing. Getting to her feet she turned in a slow circle, searching, stretching her senses -human and not- as far as they could go. She was alone.
Since her inception she had never truly been alone, there had always been someone else present. First, the programmers and scientists at the institute and later, her crew. Even after the black hole, when she had lost everything she knew, there was still Dylan. He had not left her.
Now, abruptly, there was no one.
Built into the Commonwealth AI's there was a drive, a need for interaction. After all, if one is the mind and soul of a starship with thousands of crew, one must have the desire to interact. Shivering, she thought of the two other AI's she had known who had ended up alone. Pax Mallengenic. Balance of Justice…Gabriel. Her heart had the familiar ache at the thought of him but it was overwhelmed by the growing surge of fear through her neural net.
She took a deep breath, something she had seen Dylan do when faced with stressful situations, and blew it out. No. No, look around you. There is carbon in the atmosphere which indicates animal life, and chances are some of it is intelligent. You just need to find it.
Taking stock of her situation she examined what had, and hadn't, come through the rift with her. Immediately her hand went to her thigh holster. Damn! No force lance. Frowning she examined the kit on her belt that contained the medical pack, a small cutting plasma torch, a palm light, and a data flexi. It seemed to have come through all right…
At that moment a noise, out of place in the surroundings and faint with distance, intruded on her audio sensors. Her head snapped around looking past the northern shoulder of the hill to the west. Placing the kit back, she turned up her sensors to their maximum gain and listened.
A sound somewhere between a shriek and a scream resonated through the woods once again. Multiple sounds, and they were moving closer. Beneath those sounds were others she tentatively identified as noises of some sort of hoofed animals. Or maybe they can find me…
She turned and sprinted up the hill, gaining the crest in moments, and stood silently scanning the forest to the west. There! She shifted her vision into the telescopic.
Jumping suddenly into clarity were ten riders, on what looked like horses. A single white horse bearing two riders raced out in front, while the nine pursued closely, trying to surround the one.
Of the two riders being chased, the one guiding the horse appeared to be a woman. Long dark hair streamed out behind her as she urged her mount to greater speed, while the second, seated in front of her, appeared to be a child and was slumped over the front of the saddle.
The riders pursuing were harder to make out, cloaked as they were from head to toe in enveloping black robes. She focused her sensors on the black riders, trying to get a better look at them. Shifting her focus out of the visual spectrum she saw…Whoa! What are…Alright, to use one of Harper's expressions that's just freaky. The basic structure is…was human, but those other readings… I'm betting they're not the good guys.
At that moment one of the black riders, drawing near, stretched out his hand, reaching for the child in front of the woman.
No! Definately not! With that thought, she was in motion down the hill, cutting across to intercept the riders. By the time she reached the base of the hill she was already at full speed.
* * *
As the Nazgul closed about them Arwen called out to her mount in the elf-tongue urging it to greater speed. The horse, sides heaving, strained forward and began to slowly pull away.
Hey eye caught a flicker of motion ahead of her. All the Nine are behind me. She thought. Who…Her eyes widened as they identified a woman, strangely garbed, running from an angle toward her. Her eyes widened still further as she perceived the impossible speed with which the stranger was closing the distance.
She barely had time to hope that the stranger was not working with the Ring-wraiths when something streaked through the air past her and impacted the closest Nazgul in the head with enough force to knock it completely off its mount. The force of the unhorsed Nazgul's pull upon the reins jerked the animal's head around and caused it to stumble and fall. The animal fell directly in the path of two of the other Black Riders. One, its horse unable to avoid or jump over the fallen animal, also fell in a tangle of thrashing limbs. The other, as it reined in hard, its mount reared, and sent it crashing to the ground. Arwen was caught between astonishment and the urge to laugh; the stranger had thrown a rock.
As the strange woman came close she threw out a hand, pointing in the direction Arwen was racing and shouted something in a language she had never heard, yet the basic meaning was clear: ride on.
Though loath to abandon this woman in the face of the enemy, Arwen knew that the Ring-bearer must be brought to safety. Even so, that did not prevent her from looking behind as stranger passed her.
Six of the Nazgul were still mounted. The lead two shifted to ride down the woman and trample her beneath their horses' hooves. As they neared, the stranger leapt upward, clearing the height of the horses' backs, stretched her arms out to the sides, and seizing both Nazgul, hurled them from their horses. The two hapless Black Riders came down directly in the path of the remaining Ring-wraiths, causing them to rein in their horses desperately to avoid trampling their own.
In moments what had been nine charging horsemen had degenerated into a roiling turmoil of black bodies and dust.
As the distance between them increased Arwen could see the stranger was still on her feet. A Nazgul loomed out of the dust and wheeling forms, its sword drawn. The woman stepped in as the wraith swung and caught its hand, then, almost casually, ripped the sword from its grasp. Another wraith rose near her side, and she caught it with a back-handed blow that sent it into the dust again. At the same time she reversed the sword, then drove it into the chest of the wraith before her, burying it to the hilt and ripping upward. Releasing the sword, she literally hurled the impaled wraith away. Yet the Ring-wraith never hit the ground. Its robes fluttered to the ground shapeless, empty, and Arwen perceived a shrill hollow wail that faded into nothing.
She has slain it. Amazement and exultation warred within Arwen, and then the stranger and the Ring-wraiths passed out of sight in the trees.
* * *
This is bad, Andromeda thought as she ducked under the swing of one of the riders. When she had killed the…whatever it was, there had been backlash of some sort of energy back down her arm, overloading circuits and knocking out systems. Now her right arm hung uselessly at her side. Her repair nanos were already beginning to fix the problems, but full repair would take several hours. She caught sight of the sword she had used. It was a twisted withered thing now, the metal smoking like smoldering wood. Okay, there's a lesson: use ranged weapons next time.
A shriek split the air to her left and she lashed out at the rider in front of her sending it reeling backward. The rest of the riders were back on their feet and moving toward her. This is very bad. Time for a strategic withdrawal. Sparing one last glance to ascertain the locations of the rider's horses, and determining that they would not be following for at least a few minutes, she took off running along the white horse's trail.
As the trees flew past she took a moment to wonder if she had done the right thing, interfering in a situation she knew nothing about.
Swiftly she arrived at a slope that descended to a river, a pebbly ford crossing its breadth. Beyond the river was…Damn! Why did she stop? The woman was kneeling on the far bank holding the child in her arms. No, not a child, she realized as she approached the river, a small man. He was badly injured, to judge by the fact that he was going into convulsions.
She splashed into the ford. The noise jerked the female's head up to look toward her. Two blue eyes examined Andromeda, taking in her Highguard jumpsuit and then her arm hanging dead at her side.
An expression of concern entered the woman's face and she said something unintelligible to Andromeda. That's not any language in my database, she thought, as she knelt down beside the little man. She reached out with her good hand and passed it over his form, the sensors in her hand analyzing his bio-signs. She paused over his shoulder. A puncture wound…his vitals are depressed, his body temperature is low. Assuming they were near human norm to begin with; a reasonable assumption considering his body is near identical to human. A general stimulant should help. But other than the puncture wound I can't get a clear reading on what's causing the symptoms. Andromeda ran her hand over him again, just an inch above contact, this time passing over his chest. Her hand jerked, almost involuntarily, as she detected something there, under his cloths. Whatever it was, she didn't understand the contradictory readings she was getting from it. That seems to be happening a lot in the last few minutes, she thought.
The woman, saying something, gently but firmly took hold of the hand and moved it away from the man's chest. Okay, that means don't touch.
Reaching down she pulled out the medical pouch from the kit at her belt and removed the injector and a small dose of stimulant. She was about to put it to his jugular when the woman took hold of her hand again.
"I'm trying to help," she said, gesturing to the wound.
The woman looked searchingly at her for a moment and then released Andromeda's hand.
With a small hiss from the injector she gave him the stimulant. Within moments the convulsions began to slow, his breathing to ease, and a little color return to his pale cheeks.
The woman rider began to say something, but stopped as Andromeda's head snapped around at the sound of hoof-beats from the crest above the opposite bank.
Here comes round two. Andromeda thought as she rose to her feet and, facing the riders, placed herself between them and the two people on her bank. I hope the lady has enough sense to keep riding this time. She heard the ringing of a sword being unsheathed behind her and almost sighed. Obviously not.
Turning her head she said, "Get out of here!" Even knowing the woman couldn't understand her.
The riders reined their horses up at the edge of the water, seeming for some reason, reluctant to cross the ford. One of the black riders spoke, its voice a hissing whisper.
The woman behind her replied in a challenging tone, and the eight riders drew their swords. Urging their horses forward they thundered into the water, kicking up sheets of spray.
Andromeda tensed readying herself, when she heard the woman speaking behind her. The language was different, more lyrical then the one she had been speaking previously, and as she continued, her voice took on a strange echoing resonance. Had hairs on the back of Andromeda's neck been capable, they would have been standing up. She started to glance back at the woman, but suddenly noticed the upsurge in the water of the ford.
The riders had hit the halfway point when a thunderous roar erupted upstream. Everyone's head turned to look. A solid wall of water crashed down the defile, and in the foam of the crest Andromeda could make out what looked to be the shapes of…horses.
Stepping swiftly back from the edge of the river she watched as the Black Riders tried, and failed to escape the deluge. In moments they were swept away. Andromeda looked after them for a few seconds and then turned to regard the woman, who was staring at her with just as much wonder and curiosity. She examined the woman closely, truly taking note for the first time, of the pointed ears, the smooth catlike grace, and the almost ethereal luminescence of the woman.
"Where the hell have I landed?" she muttered.
* * *
"…then she impaled the wraith upon its own sword, hurling it away from herself and killing it." Arwen said to her father. "I left sight of her moments later. When I made it to the ford Frodo's strength started to fail and I dismounted to tend to him. Shortly thereafter the stranger crossed the ford. She knelt by us and moved her hand in the air over Frodo's body as if searching for injury, but did not touch him. Yet she sensed the wound; her hand stopped over it, even covered as it was. She seemed puzzled by it. Her hand moved again as if to check him for injury a second time and…" Arwen paused, looked down for a moment and then looked up into her father's eyes. "Father, she sensed the Ring."
Elrond took a deep breath and sat back, his eyes grave. After a moment they traveled from his daughter's face to meet the eyes of Glorfindel, who stood near.
"You have met her, I have only had the chance to see her briefly. What are your thoughts on this matter my friend?"
Glorfindel seemed to think deeply for a time, then shook his head, "Truly, I am at a loss. When Arwen told me that she was injured, and that you were needed at the Ring-bearer's side, I went to her to tend to her injuries. I thought she would be in great need of healing, for to even survive such a blow, to a thing as deadly as a Ring-wraith requires a tremendous hardiness."
Arwen smiled a little, "You obviously did not listen enough to what I had told you of her."
"Perhaps." Glorfindel sighed. "I simply did not credit it enough." Seeing Elrond's gaze upon him he explained, "When I reached her she was already healing; some use had already returned to her arm, although her hand was still unresponsive."
His brow furrowed Elrond said, "Truly a doughty being."
"Being indeed," Glorfindel murmured. Seeing the other two looking at him he again explained. "I could do nothing for her wound. It was not lack of skill or power, my healing simply could not touch what she was."
Arwen eyebrows rose, "And what is she?"
He looked steadily back at her and said simply, "I do not know."
"Could she be of the Maiar?" asked Elrond. "Taken form for some purpose in Middle-Earth?"
"I say again, I do not know." Glorfindel replied. "I sense no darkness or evil within her, yet nor do I sense anything of the powers of the West."
Elrond sighed. "The greatest chance for harm has past, and she has done nothing but good, perhaps saving my daughter and the Ring-bearer both. She is welcome in my house." He rose out of the chair to his feet. "Perhaps Gandalf may be able to ascertain more of her nature and purpose when he returns. For now though I must return to Frodo. His life is yet in grave danger from the Morgul knife." He moved toward the door and then turned to look back, "Make sure all know to treat her with respect Glorfindel. One who has alone stood against the Nine, and slain one of their number, is not to be taken lightly." Then he turned and left the room.
* * *
Andromeda stood silently on the balcony of the room to which she had been escorted, staring silently into the waterfall overlooked by her vantage point.
Six hours four minutes and twenty seven seconds. Her internal clock had been knocked out passing through the rift, but discounting that, it was how long she had been gone. Were they looking for her? How would they find her here? Wherever here was.
They would try, she believed. Dylan considered her a member of his crew, in spite of her being an avatar of the ship. She smiled a little sadly. Stricly speaking she supposed she was more there than here; the majority of her "self" was contained within the ship. In any case, Dylan would not give up without an exhaustive search. She had the feeling, though, that a search would turn up no trace of her. In the end Dylan would be forced to give up and turn the artifact over to the Sinti council for them to discover what they could. Again came the feeling that they wouldn't find her.
Yet she still hoped they would.
Evening was approaching. Dusk was gathering swiftly about the valley. She looked up, perhaps when night fell she could extrapolate a position from the stars and at least know where she was.
As she waited, she thought back to the events of the last few hours, beginning with staring at the "elf" at the ford. She wasn't sure why her neural net had dredged that designation up, but she had to admit that it fit. These people certainly did fit the picture of the elves from Earth mythology. The two of them had stood studying one another for several minutes when Andromeda had detected several people approaching from their side of the ford, and further along the path into the valley. When Andromeda had moved to intercept them the elf had stopped her, apparently expecting them.
Nearly a dozen more "elves" had arrived in moments, including one who embraced the female elf and then knelt next to injured man. There was enough similarity between him and the female elf for Andromeda to guess that this was a relation to her. Her brother or father perhaps?
The elf had examined Frodo closely then set his hand gently on the wound and closed his eyes. As he remained that way for several moments Andromeda had watched the injured man's vitals stabilize even further, though the elf had done nothing that she could detect. He had then gotten to his feet and started issuing orders to the rest of the elves; sending some off across the ford, while having others bring forward a litter with which to bear the injured man. He then asked a question of the female elf and she answered speaking swiftly and gestured at Andromeda. His gaze turned toward her and she found herself straightening up as if for inspection. His gaze had all the authority of an admiral behind it, backed, she somehow sensed, with a tremendous span of years and a deep wisdom. He held her gaze a moment and then turned back to the litter. They carried the litter swiftly away down the path the man-elf at its side.
In a few moments she and the female elf were the only ones left at the ford. Andromeda was left wondering what to do with herself when the elf had taken her gently by the arm and gestured for her to accompany her down the path. They walked in silence, making their way up into the valley. The sound of rushing water soon became much more evident, and as they rounded a corner of the path, the valley was spread out before them. It was a narrow cleft cut into the rising terrain of the mountains. Multiple waterfalls tumbled down the surrounding cliffs, all feeding into the river.
She had seen a house, tucked away in the valley; it was a large sprawling affair, built above and about the multitude of streams, pools, and falls. As she was taken to it she had observed the exquisite architecture and crafting present in the structure. It seemed crafted to be both protection from, and open to, the elements. Examining the complex designs and art that abounded in the house, she thought; Someone has a lot of time on their hands.
Andromeda had been taken to suite of rooms in one wing of the house and the gestures the elves made seemed to indicate that these would be hers while she was here. Shortly after she had been left in the rooms, there had come a knock at the door. When she opened it she had found a tall elf with long golden hair standing on the other side. By gesture he indicated that he was here to tend to her arm. She tried to tell him it was not necessary, moving the arm around to demonstrate it was getting better, but he would have none of it. So, with a sigh, she sat quietly as he examined her arm. As he worked his face gained a look of surprise and then bafflement.
Andromeda, watching this, muttered, "If you are doing what I think, you're trying to heal an android." She looked into his eyes as his brow creased. "And that just isn't going to work."
When the elf had finally left her after another attempt, he seemed mildly disturbed by his failure, and kept glancing at her oddly. No one had come to the room since.
Sighing she walked down the length of the balcony. A few of the stars were beginning to come out but it would be a half hour or more before enough were visible, even to her eyes, to take any sort of measurement. She came to the corner of the balcony that looked out over main entry courtyard to the house. Minutes passed, and she could see lights burning in various rooms and windows, see the movement of people and hear the occasional murmur of voices. Standing silently in the falling dusk, watching the life around her, Andromeda felt intensely alone, and far, far from home.
After a short time she picked up sounds of the approach of a group of people along the main path to the house. Shaking herself free of her thoughts she watched the entryway to the courtyard.
The group that entered was a strange one. There were two men in it, one a tall, dark haired man in travel worn cloths with a sword at his side. The other was an old man with long gray hair and beard, dressed in gray robes, wearing a battered gray hat and carrying a staff. And they were human, at least from what her sensors could detect from this distance. The other three also caught her attention. They were of the same kind as injured man at the ford. They all seemed to be quite anxious to get into the house. The other one was their companion perhaps? Also with them were several of the elves, who were earlier sent beyond the ford, their purpose now clear.
Soon the group moved inside and the courtyard was still again. Andromeda stood for a while longer and then paced slowly back into her room. She sat in one of the chairs near the fireplace and remained there silent, thinking. Humans. What does it mean? Am I on a human colonized planet? If so why is the technology so primitive? And the language, it's not anything I have ever heard. She frowned. Too many questions and no answers.
She remained in thought for long minutes, her neural net, creating and discarding theories, calculating probabilities. She kept coming up with: Not enough information.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden awareness of someone approaching her door; a gentle rapping broke the silence.
Moving to the door she took hold of the handle and opened it. Standing in the doorway was the old man from the courtyard. She gestured for him to enter, and inclining his head to her and murmuring something, he moved past her into the room.
His voice was deep, roughened by years, and yet had a velvety warmth to it. She turned on her active sensors to get a better look at him as she closed the door. The instant she scanned him his head swung around toward her and he met her eyes.
Did he feel that? She scanned him again.
He turned to face her fully and cocked his head to the side, his blue eyes alive with startlement and curiosity.
He did!
