Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. Everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.

-=oOo=-

Araiansu - Chapter 22

-=oOo=-

Nanoha awoke only to have both Megumi and Heather eager to help her.

Megumi said, "Heather does not speak Japanese I'm afraid, and my English is poor."

"That is okay, I can speak both." Nanoha then repeated herself in English.

"How can we help you?" asked Heather.

Megumi looked puzzled. Nanoha answered in English, "Help me to the bathroom please."

Heather took part of her weight and Megumi quickly helped as they made their way to the nearest bathroom. Heather helped her figure it out. She then asked, "Do you want rest, food, clothes, or a shower next?"

"A bath with food?" Nanoha asked hopefully. Then she repeated in Japanese.

Heather replied, "Only a few cabins have that, but this is one. We should be careful of the water we use."

"Of course," Then she translated for Megumi.

It took both of them to help her out of her ruined clothes and then into the bath. Heather left to get food for everyone.

Megumi asked, "What were you doing that hurt you so much?"

Nanoha held up her hand in a gesture for patience. Then she gently cupped Raising Heart which still hung around her neck. "Raising Heart, could you please setup a translation field?"

"Yes, my Master. Requesting and receiving permission to utilize ship power for secondary functions. Translation field is active." The gem began to glow softly red. Nanoha left it against her neck.

Nanoha asked in Japanese, "Can you understand me now Heather?"

"Your speaking English right?"

"No, my device is translating simultaneously."

"Oh. Okay."

Nanoha smiled.

Megumi said, "That is so cool! How does it work?"

"Raising Heart."

"I have a link to my Master's telepathic abilities. That plus my own abilities allows me to translate for you as if you were hearing the language you know. I can also facilitate learning the new language, though that takes a greater toll on the person."

"They get tired," Nanoha added. "As long as you don't push it ridiculously." Raising Heart coughed. Nanoha continued, " As long as you don't put it too much your fine, but it takes more time than we have."

"Oh," Megumi and Heather said both disappointed.

"I was on a planet far at the borders of the dimensional space my group protects. I was fighting an ancient Lost Logia that some poor fool activated. I had gotten the children to safety, well all but one, and she was sadly dead before I arrived. Normally no one is sent by themselves, but I was one of the strongest, and there was no one else that could do the dimensional jump to get there and possibly be any use in the time we had. The kind of jump I did is fine. We do them all the time. I'm not sure what exactly Raising Heart did to get them so angry."

"I deserved it," Raising heart said. "I did not have the energy or time to do it correctly. You were dying. That place was not safe at all."

"You should not have risked the barriers to save me. I have sworn an Oath to die before doing so."

"I am sorry my master."

"I know. You have been a good and loyal friend. I will not abandon you now."

Rommie appeared, this time in a partially transparent form. "Hey. Cheer up. We were human once and still are in many ways. We make mistakes."

Nanoha said, "Thank you ever so much for saving us."

"I do have news. Good mostly. The Asgard accepted our leadership to fix this situation with one stipulation."

Nanoha said, "The method has to be deleted from Raising Heart beyond the point of recovery."

Rommie nodded.

"The Time Space Administration Bureau would have insisted the same."

Rommie asked, "Can they do it safely? I know how in principle, but I really really don't want to do that. It is kind of a violation. I know I wouldn't want anyone messing with my core."

"They can. Raising Heart will have to give permission, but she also has little choice. They don't joke about two things. The first is they rarely let me remove the S-Rank limiters on my core, though I always have permission in an emergency, it is just such a pain to get it again, so I stupidly didn't. The second is the barriers must be protected at any cost."

"I will do it," Raising Heart agreed.

"Thank you Raising Heart."

"I am just glad you are alive my master."

"How bad is the damage?"

"I was able to repair most of the damage to your body with the life energy provided to me. They wanted to put you in a technological repair capsule that may have not known how to deal with your linker core!"

"We'll, I'm glad you stopped them. What is the damage?"

"Months, I'm afraid my master."

"I've done it before. I'll do it again, even if it kills me, if I can save more children like that."

"Agreed," said all the others in the room.

"Now, is that food over there Heather?"

"Soup and tea," she offered.

"That sounds lovely."

After she finished her food, she was helped dress and then helped back into Kasumi's bed.

Nanoha asked, "Rommie, do you know how to repair the dimensional damage?"

"In theory yes. It is not a skill I've really done but one time."

"Raising Heart please lend your aid to Rommie until all that was damaged is repaired." She carefully pulled the necklace off her head and handed it to the avatar who suddenly became solid.

"Are you sure?"

"I will be well. The only thing we will miss is the translation ability."

Rommie nodded as she carefully put the ancient artifact on her head. She asked, "Well Raising Heart, with your help I think we can do this without straining my captain so much. Will you help me in this?"

"Yes my friend."

"Thank you my friend," replied Rommie.

-=oOo=-

Rommie walked back to the main bridge. Jack and Daniel were at stations. On Jack's was an episode of the Simpsons. On Daniel's was a text in an Alteran. They both turned as she entered.

Kasumi was in the pilot's seat smiling. "It went well?"

"It did."

"Nice new necklace," commented Jack.

"Nanoha has graciously let me borrow her."

"But didn't it cause," started Daniel.

"I will help fix it," declared the red gem.

"With Raising Heart's help, I shouldn't need Kasumi merged with me for such a duration. Even lightly that is not very good for her."

"Well that is good," added Daniel.

"Just be careful okay?" asked Jack.

"We will," both Kasumi and Rommie said.

Kasumi asked, "Shall we go?"

Jack said, "I already sent a message to Sam. She asked if we needed help. I was correct to tell her no right?"

Rommie said, "I believe so. I know the Asgard made their D-Drive one time use. They could come with us in the Nozomi, but there is no practical way to cross dimensions with the Liberator now that they don't have a drive."

"Well then campers, I guess it is time to go."

Kasumi smiled, then said in a light tone, "So, I had heard three at once was something special?"

Daniel's eyes bulged out and Jack laughed.

Rommie merged into her, Raising Heart transferring to around her neck. They were now three blended as one. "Accessing Inter Dimensional Drive. ID drive checks out as meeting all requirements for safe operation. Drive locks one through six are disengaged. Primary power is now routed from the Zero Point Module to the ID drive. Dimensional shearing threshold is achieved. The final lock is cancelled. Beginning course reversal and repair. Estimated time to final dimension exit is now fifty four hours."

Outside the ship was a blur of blue and white. It looked almost like hyperspace though the occasional brilliant orange and harsh red put the difference to it.

Ten minutes later the three said, "Repairs are proceeding on schedule."

Kasumi carefully got up leaving the other two behind.

She yawned. "I gave them what strength I could spare. I am going to the room near mine that is still empty to sleep. I will need someone to make sure I wake and return in five hours, and then every five hours after that. They will need my strength."

"You will be okay?" Daniel asked.

"It will be unpleasant, but not actually harmful. If you could have something to eat ready."

Jack said, "We will get it done."

Kasumi left the flight deck.

Daniel asked, "Any preference? I think I could stay awake that much without issues."

Jack reached into his wallet pocket and pulled out a small vial of pills. He broke one in half and took it.

"Sleeping pills?" Daniel asked.

"I don't normally need them, but Janet gave me them for the times I do, and well now they are helpful. Wake me as well."

"I will."

He got up and left.

-=oOo=-

Kasumi thumbed open her own still full bottle of sleeping pills and took one, drank a glass of water and was out like a light within five minutes. Heather came in a few minutes later and tucked her in a little better and then sat down with her head against the side of the bed before nodding off herself.

-=oOo=-

Nanoha said, "It is strange to be sailing the dimensional sea without being in one of TSAB's cruisers. This ship is old. It has that feeling, and yet new at the same time. Can you feel it? It has a song to it."

"I can't. I'm sorry," Megumi admitted.

"Give me your hand."

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"Come on. This is kids stuff. It is no harm."

Nanoha gently held the older woman's hand even as Megumi began to glow a gentle silver. "Now can you hear it?"

"I can. It is amazing. Wonderful. It is her. It's Rommie."

Nanoha let the glow dissipate. She smiled.

"That was so cool!" Megumi stated.

Nanoha yawned. "I'm going to sleep. Your welcome to stay and sleep here if you want."

"Okay."

-=oOo=-

Daniel continued to read through Rommie's history of the Lantean race, even as he monitored the alarm that had been set as it got close to time to wake Kasumi.

The pair on the chair said, "You can let her sleep longer if you want."

"I gave my word. She was certain you would need her help."

"We are doing better than expected. You have thirty minutes left correct?"

"True."

"Could you make sure she gets something good to eat?"

"I'll see what I can do." Daniel got up and left to search for food.

Over two days later they emerged back into real space not far from a garden world. Kasumi was also part of link as they announced, "Powering down D-Drive. Archiving flight log for analysis. Locking power away from D-Drive. Activating locks on drive. Drive is powered down and locked."

Jack asked, "So what is the point of seven locks?"

"My designers were fairly paranoid around dangerous technology. If someone tried to use the drive, well there is no way of answering its unlock challenges correctly without both my and my partner's permission. If you managed to unlock just a few of the locks you would almost certainly trigger the self destruct. The number of locks guarantees its safety, but it is more than that. Elaborate programming is required to navigate dimensions. Part of the locks encrypt that programming. If you don't unlock things fully, the drive is useless."

Daniel said, "Meanwhile in the US the missile silos where forced to add a code to launch the missiles and made it straight ascending numbers."

Rommie said, "That's insane. Wait, we are getting a message from the other side of the planet."

Nanoha came onto the bridge, still partially helped by Megumi.

"Put it on," Jack said.

The main viewer lit up. "Nanoha! Your alive!"

"Hey Chrono. These nice guys gave me a lift."

"Are you hurt? Of course your hurt! Shamal is with me. I can beam her over."

Rommie separated from Kasumi still wearing Raising Heart. She walked over and carefully took it off her neck before handing it back to Nanoha. She then turned to the main screen. "I have no objections if just you and the healer come aboard."

Less than a minute later Shamal and Chrono appeared on the Nozomi's bridge. Chrono asked, "Why did this ship's avatar have Raising Heart?"

Raising Heart said, "I damaged the dimensional fabric saving my master. I ask that you delete that portion of my programing."

"Is this true?" asked Chrono.

Nanoha nodded.

Rommie said, "I'll have to confirm deletion. We cleaned up."

"We were about to traverse the course we found but it was particularly difficult to read from this end. I'll need your telemetry data. We must confirm things."

Rommie said, "I'm sending it to your ship now."

Shamal said, "Hold still Nanoha. Klarwind, let's do our thing." A circle of light formed around Nanoha's middle with one part going up and another part going down before vanishing.

Shamal said, "Chrono, it looks like Raising Heart patched her up with some foreign energy source. It's a rush job. Better than I expected, since we thought you were dead, but she needs to get to Mid-Childa soon!"

"Amy, warm up the D-drive. We are returning to Mid-Childa at flank speed."

"Warming up drive. I can also confirm that they caused no damage, but the energy they must have used was stupidly crazy."

Rommie said, "I must insist on accompanying you until the information is removed."

"We owe you far more than that. We can pull you behind us if it will help. We noticed your d-drive wasn't up to spec, so we will save you any more crazy energy expenditures."

"Thank you," Rommie said.

"Amy, it saddens me to report that the device known as Raising Heart was the cause of that class two dimensional disturbance. I will remain with Nanoha and Raising Heart and these people until we can confirm the relevant routines are purged from Raising Heart."

Amy replied, "Understood. I'm sorry Nanoha."

"Sorry for what?" asked Jack.

"I'll likely be busted down a grade or two in rank. Hey, no big deal. I'm alive."

Daniel said, "But you didn't do anything?"

"Anything Raising Heart does is my responsibility. There are no exceptions."

Jack said, "Sometimes stuff happens like that. If you need a job."

"I would never leave Fate or Vivio."

"If several people need a job..."

Chrono palmed his face. "You know you could wait to offer my people jobs till I leave the room?"

"I'm just saying. It's a nice place. The pay is good, and we are doing the whole saying the world thing. I think you would fit right in."

"I will certainly mention it to Fate and Vivio, though I would not be able to do much for months anyway."

"The offer stands. We will take care of our people."

Chrono asked, "Do you need any current help?"

"Not unless you know how to suddenly stop rampant propaganda for political purposes? We are making some headway, and I think we are doing okay otherwise. Some enemies, mostly defeated. Some allies with their own problems, but doing okay. Not bad overall actually."

Chrono said, "Then we will likely exchange information. Perhaps we can be allies? Your tech is comparable, if interesting. Life adepts are rare in this universe, and linked to a ship with a soul. Interesting." He turned to Rommie and asked, "This was your choice?"

"It was. I swear it."

He nodded and then turned to Kasumi. "Yes," she answered before he asked.

He turned back to Jack, "Sorry for asking uncomfortable questions, but we have dealt with some things I could wish we had not."

"Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt."

Chrono laughed. "That sounds familiar. Is there anything else you need? Our drive should be ready soon. The problem is we just got in not long ago and there is a minimum cool down time."

"Well," Rommie said, "This trip did just drain a lot of power from my very hard to replace power module. Other than that, no."

"That is a problem. Can we see it?"

Rommie grimaced. "That currently falls under restrictions that I am unwilling to wave at this time."

"Understood and accepted. I wouldn't let you look at the Artha's power core either, though without a magical tech base, I doubt you could do anything with it."

"Magic now?" asked Jack. "I must have not got the memo."

"You picked up Nanoha without finding out about magic?" asked Chrono surprised.

"In fairness," Daniel responded, "She was far too badly injured to actually do any."

Amy said, "We are good to go. I will need a minimum interconnect with your ships navigational systems to keep you at a fixed distance."

Rommie said, "I am sending it."

"Activating drives and heading in. ETA is five point three hours."

The ship smoothly reentered the dimensional sea.

Nanoha asked, "Were the children okay?"

"Yes, we checked. You did good Nanoha. The Logia was destroyed."

She let out a breath she didn't know she had.

He turned back to Rommie. "Can you tell me anything at all about your power system?"

"I draw power from an artificial region of subspace time."

"You created a pocket universe for a power cell?" he asked surprised.

"Not me personally, but yes."

"You act like this is a problem," noted Jack.

"Oh the theory is fine. Hell they are not even that bad efficiency wise. The factories are just unacceptably dangerous. Just having that much power available in that small a space requires a very high degree of security, since you could destroy a planet with one. We do use them sparingly, but magitech is far more efficient."

He turned to the screen which was still active. "Amy using our existing scan data of this ship can you confirm their power source?"

"I can, but I can't authorize the creation."

"I know. I can't either." He turned back to Rommie. "I will try to get the approval for a spare. I may not get it. If we do, can you help us create an interface for it? It is unlikely to match your existing module."

"That I can do."

Jack said, "The tech in this ship is beyond most on Earth. We have established a separate group to keep it beyond most on Earth, for well reasons."

"Good idea," Chrono agreed.

"We have an outpost that uses the same power source. We made up something else, but it is not the same."

"Also not surprising."

"The point I'm saying, is having a spare might save lives."

He nodded. "Atlantis?"

"We have a city that flies?" tried Jack.

Rommie opened her hand and a view of Atlantis formed before it as it was exiting hyperspace and descending through Earth's sky.

Nanoha half shouted, "I want to see it! I wonder if there is one on my Earth?"

"No idea," said Rommie. "Do the words Alteran or Lantean mean anything to you?"

Chrono turned rapidly. "They are said to be even older than the legends we have of Al-Hazard. The other three where the Furling"

"Nox and Asgard," finished Daniel.

Amy said, "Well now we know what they need that kind of energy far. Magitech cannot be scaled to that size. We can cheat in various ways and get a similar outcome, but there are problems. Even so, the power source for this ship would not power something like that, not for long at least."

Jack said, "It takes three."

Chrono whistled. "You do realize that I will have to report all this? You are not an enemy and I hope we never become enemies, but you are going to be listed right up there with other potential threats, just because you have that potential."

Jack shrugged. "We could also be great allies."

"That we could." He turned back to the screen. "How are we doing Amy? Any problems running at this rate with them in tow?"

"I slowed down a little. You just moved our maintenance date up a few months, but we should be fine for returning them to their dimension and returning as long as we do it at a more normal rate. It is easily worth it to get Nanoha to where she can begin true healing."

"She needed it other places anyway. This ship has had a hard year."

"Yes it has," Amy and Nanoha agreed.

Shamal said, "If we will not be needed, I would like to take Nanoha somewhere she can rest and I can at least begin the process."

Kasumi said, "Your welcome to keep using that room."

"Thanks."

Megumi who had been hanging back again helped her to walk with Shamal on her other side.

Chrono sighed. "She probably shouldn't have even been standing. I forget how stubborn that girl can be."

Kasumi said, "We offered to fully heal her, but her device was concerned our healing bed may damage her. I could also heal her, but I don't know the trick which insures that the healing is true and without problems."

"Technological solutions without magitech are dangerous for mages. I mean no disparagement of your technology. As to the other, are you saying you have a true life adept healer?"

"We do. Two of them in fact. Two more might be near the threshold."

"Would you consider on rare occasions asking them to help one of us?"

"Sure," Jack agreed. "I thought you had something as good or?"

"Your life adept, if he or she is a true healer, could safely Heal Nanoha's body perfectly, but I would honestly just as soon you not do that."

"Why is that?" asked Daniel in annoyed surprise.

"Because Nanoha pushes herself way the heck too hard, and it sounds like she has damaged her core again. Unless it is something we can't heal correctly, I'd much rather she was forced to rest whether she liked it or not, since if she doesn't she will kill herself and a lot of people including me will be very sad. Her core cannot be healed so easily or quickly."

"Ah," Jack said. "I get that and understand."

"Sorry if I was sharp," Daniel said. "It just seemed."

"I know, but you can only warn someone so many times. She went through a lot of pain last time before she was well, and I authorized this mission. I did it remotely. I wasn't there. I was equally busy or I'd have gone too. This mission should have killed her. Had her device not done what it did she would be dead and I'd be responsible for her death."

Jack said grimly, "You can never forget those orders, nor should you try. You can only try to make it all worth it."

"Yes."

Daniel said, "She said something about a limiter, that if she had disabled it."

"I've tried. I really have. I will try again. Maybe her near death will convince them to just trust her. Raising Heart's actions will not help, so I doubt I will succeed."

"Again, she could come with us."

Chrono nodded. "I hope you don't mind, but I will tell them if they don't remove the restrictions they have other job offers."

Daniel laughed. Jack smiled.

"If that fails, I'll even suggest they take them. I'd rather know they are alive, even if my life becomes harder."

"Agreed," they all responded.

Amy said over the view screen, "Chrono, we have a priority distress call. There has been extremely violent earthquakes on a planet five minutes away. We are the only one close."

"Notify headquarters that we are on our way and bring us there."

"On it."

"You are staying busy. Can we help?" asked Jack.

"I would be very grateful if you did. There just isn't enough of us."

Kasumi and Rommie merged once more. They said, "We will help. Receiving data. The disaster is over two thirds of the main southern continent. The likely death toll is in the hundreds of thousands. The best I'll be able to do is transport people out and notify first responders. A small fraction might be treated by my bio beds, but not this many. I will start with the North."

Amy said, "Arthra will start with the south. This is going to be another long day, so everyone remember to ask for a break when you need it."

Chrono said, "Amy please transport me down wherever I can do the most good."

"Shamal, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Chrono, What is it?"

"I need you to halt any non emergency care for Nanoha and prepare to triage wounded. We have a wide scale earthquake rescue mission covering two thirds of a continent."

"I understand. Klarwind and I will be ready. Raising heart has volunteered to help as well."

"No one can use that device right now. Nanoha is in no condition."

"Rommie and Kasumi can."

"Approved. Bring it to the bridge now."

"On my way."

"Durandal."

"Yes boss."

"Setup."

"Okay boss."

One flashy transformation later and he was ready.

"Nice," commented Jack. "A bit flashy though."

"You should see Nanoha's. Actually, on second though try not to look if she has to transform. It is healthier."

"Ah," Daniel nodded.

Jack looked confused till he figured it out.

The merged pair took the gem reverently and hung it around their neck. It said, "My master has granted you temporary position for full access. The oath is required."

They said, "I thought you required magic? We have none."

"For the purposes of this mission, I can lean heavily into the ships systems and energy. Magic is not required. I have given you the words."

They suddenly stood and walked to the middle of the ship's bridge.

I am the one who has been given this mission.

Under the ancient contract release thy powers to me.

Winds to the sky and stars to the heavens.

An unyielding soul to this heart.

Magic to these hands.

Rasing Heart. Set Up!

"Turn your heads," commanded Chrono. He did as well.

Lights burst all around them as Kasumi was transformed into a dress much like Nanoha wore the brief time she transformed for them. Her shoes became much less practical as well. The lights dimmed.

"Wow, Kasumi and Rommie said together. I feel like I could do anything."

Chrono said, "No staff? I suppose you don't need one now."

"That is correct," Raising Heart said.

Amy said, "Coming out. Prepare for independent flight."

"We are ready. Jack, Daniel, Get everyone and do the best you can. I will beam them into the medical bay. I'm going to lock the bridge since we need to focus and not worry about possible threats."

"Got it. Just don't do a Nanoha. Okay?" asked Jack.

"We will do our best."

"Just make sure everyone comes through it in one piece. You can't save anyone in the future if you push yourself too far today."

"Agreed," added Chrono. "Raising Heart. I know I can't order you, but you will make sure she stops when it is time or I will report this. You have a tendency to let Nanoha push you both to what should have long since killed you both. I can't say no to her either, but you have to, here and now, and later or there will be no laters."

"I understand and will obey," the gem said.

"Good."

Amy said, "Are you ready to go Chrono? I want to fetch you before we get too far apart."

"Yes."

He vanished.

The trio said quietly but firmly, "Out. I need you to get them ready now."

Jack said, "Call if you need us."

"I will"

They rushed out the door.

-=oOo=-

They let themselves fall deeply into each other only to hear Raising Heart prompt them with "Caution."

"We know, but you may keep reminding us."

Before them the entire continent formed into their minds eye. They quickly corrected their course not to the northern point, but to the center of the devastation. She was really glad about the Asgard upgrades to her transporters. They would be needed more than ever now.

She was connected with Artha. Her mind began to update her flight plan in real time, even as their combined systems connected with every single first responder present on the planet. Their systems rapidly coordinated data. Estimates were made. A regrettable threshold was agreed upon where they would focus on saving as many years of life for people as they could. This meant many that were very old and badly injured would not be saved so more that were young and badly injured could. People that could live and wait for more conventional rescue would be identified and given in a priority list to the regular rescuers. They also made available the ones that didn't make their triage lists as they identified them. If others had resources to give, they certainly wouldn't stop them, though they did not downplay the conditions they identified.

Hundreds of people vanished from all over at once, most deposited just a short distance away where rescuers were already searching. Some moved to staging areas they had requested setup in abandoned fields or stadiums. Some, such as those with critical internal bleeding were transported directly into healing tubes with the command to sedate as necessary to treat critical injuries as fast as possible to safely do. Any other injuries that could be treated at the same time would be, but they time would not be extended. She automatically created lists for others she would transport in. They would be placed wherever they could fit and given water or basic aid while they waited their turn in the healing tubes. The presence of all of the computer power Rommie had linked to her was used without thought, making an impossible job only really hard.

Time passed in a blur and it was nearly twelve hours later when Raising Heart insisted loudly, "You must stop! Hand over your transporters, running programs for this task, and sensors to Artha, but you must stop."

"But."

"You must stop! You have depleted yourself dangerously. You must stop. Please do not force me to break the transformation. That will be worse."

"I understand. Artha, can you take care of the rest?"

Amy's voice came over, "We got you. I took a four hour rest an hour ago. Rest. We will do the rest."

"Thank you."

They released the transformation. They suddenly felt so much less and so very week. They unlocked the bridge door, only to have Megumi there waiting for the door to open. They regretfully separated, only for Megumi to just catch her. Nanoha on a pair of wooden crutches found somewhere followed her in and barely helped Megumi lower her gently to the floor.

"Is there anything I can do?" asked Nanoha in Japanese.

"Energy drink. Food." Kasumi slurred.

Megumi said, "It's a mess out there, but I will get it."

Rommie gently kissed Kasumi on the forehead.

Nanoha asked, "Why didn't she have an energy drink out here?"

Rommie said, "It is not that easy. Most body functions run at a crawl when we are merged so deeply, but the exhaustion still hits. It is mostly mental. Water and food won't hurt, but won't help that much either."

Nanoha extended her right hand and gently set it on her head. A silver glow formed around Kasumi that seemed to settle into her before fading. She moved her hand away.

"I thought you were restricted," said Rommie.

"Its a cheap little trick all mages learn. It takes so little to cast as to not matter, but it helps one recover faster, at least if you manage to cast it before you crash."

"I take it you are very adept at this trick."

"More than I should be," admitted Nanoha. "It should help. She is already asleep."

Rommie placed her own hand over Kasumi's head for a few seconds. "Thank you. That actually helped."

"I might be able to teach her it."

"What? I thought she wasn't a mage."

"By any standard measure she is not, and will never be, but she does have a linker core. It is enough for this, particularly with your help. She might even manage a few other small things."

"Please teach her this."

"I will. Well someone will. They would probably yell at me if I tried."

Rommie laughed.

"Don't worry though, I will see that she gets the training she needs. I have many students who owe me favors."

"I hate making lists of who lives and dies."

"You saved a lot more than Artha and her crew managed, and are still saving. Your still flying and still transporting right?"

She nodded. "The rate is down about thirty five percent. They are so swamped. My background systems are working as fast as they can, but without the merge to enhance our sensors, it is the best I can do. Actually it is better than the best I could do. They must have some very impressive tech over there, though some of it is just the previous backlog they had already queued."

Nanoha added, "I can normally blow anything up that moves, but I could never save so many. It is beyond my power. In one day you have saved more lives that I ever will, and I have saved a great many. You should be proud. I know I would be honored to serve here if that is the direction my life goes."

"Likewise."

An exhausted Jack half stumbled in. "Campers?" he asked softly.

Rommie looked up at him. "My dear pilot is exhausted. I'm letting Artha and her people run my systems. It isn't as fast but all my spare processing power is tasked to this."

Megumi walked in with a plate of food and a bottle of water. "Oh," she said in Japanese when she noticed Kasumi was sleeping.

"You hungry?" Jack asked and then Nanoha repeated in Japanese.

"No," she denied.

"Can I have?" Jack motioned towards him.

She handed it to him. He sat down at a station and started eating.

"This is your first break too isn't it?" asked Nanoha.

"Technically no, though I'm not sure bathroom breaks count."

Nanoha laughed softly.

Megumi looked confused. Raising Heart said, "I am adding a translation field using the ships energy."

"You should be able to understand us now? Right Megumi," stated Nanoha.

"Thanks. This is okay right?" She pointed to the glowing gem still around Kasumi's neck.

Nanoha said, "Yes. Translation is a minor thing. A minor bit of my skill in telepathy and energy from the ship. Kasumi is not affected. My magic is not affected. Also, despite what the first responders say about halting all magic use, if you are so fortunate to have done this to yourself enough to see the real experts, well they will tell you that very small usage is fine and actually does some good as long as it remains very small."

"Makes sense," Jack said. "If your injured often staying in bed and resting is not the cure."

"Don't I know that. Fate threatens to tie me to the bed." Nanoha blushed as she realized what she said.

"Moving on," Jack wisely said.

"Thank you."

Nanoha asked, "Is there a bed to get her to?"

"No. Unfortunately not."

Rommie held out her hand and suddenly a small pillow appeared in it. "It was easy enough to add it to my fetch it if you see one list. A lot of people were in bed when this happened."

Megumi helped her lift Kasumi's head up to place the pillow gently under it.

Jack asked, "How are we really doing on the ZPM?"

"Dimensional travel is not really something I'm great at. I can do it, but it isn't cheap or easy. I know they are stable and safe, but I have no idea how to improve them safely. That trip dropped the ZPMs level to about half. Continuous transporter usage is eating away at it rapidly. They were never expected to run at this high a level for over twelve hours straight. More ships are here now. They just came in a few minutes ago. From the new orders I estimate we will be online another twelve hours, if we are able. Kasumi might be able to resume in eight or so, but at that point I doubt there will be anything left that justifies the risk. They have started swapping out the Artha crew with fresh people. By the time this is done, the ZPM will be probably down to a quarter of its original potential."

"Damn," Jack said.

Rommie added, "I've already gotten a confirmation related to me from their admiralty of their intention to try to replace the module. It seemed that once our need was reported plus all we had done there were no further objections."

"Good."

"I'm getting a signal. Placing on screen."

"Hello crew of the Nozomi. My name is Lindy Harlaown. I'm am a Fleet Admiral with the Time Space Administration Bureau. Do you require assistance at this time?"

Jack said, "I think we are okay. The captain of this vessel exhausted herself, but I don't think you can fix that. I heard you were going to replace our power source. Other than that, I think we are good."

"But you do have sufficient power to continue for the next twelve hours or so?"

"We do," Rommie responded.

"Good. I am Chrono's mother. He is exhausted and is sleeping in his quarters on the Artha. Fortunately he routed the request through channels so there can be no appearance of bias, and yes I have been granted permission to solve your power problem. Unfortunately, I need you to remain on station if you can. Could I please get your basic interface? I do not need the technical details to construct such a thing. We have those."

Rommie asked Nanoha, "You are sure it will all be protected?"

"Yes, you can trust Lindy with your life."

"I promise I will stay with the information until it is with someone I also trust with my life and insure it is destroyed after we complete our work."

"Good enough. I'll send you the information via a secure channel."

"Thank you."

"Now, Nanoha's injuries are significant, and before this point there was nothing that could be done. Since I have to return, may I please have her and Raising Heart? I am willing to impound and lock Raising Heart on my ship until her fate is determined. You may also send one or more of your crew to verify things as per our agreement."

Jack asked, "Daniel, you awake somewhere?"

"I was about to sleep Jack. What do you need?"

"Wanna go on a trip to Nanoha's home? We can get Nanoha the help she needs earlier."

"I assume this ship is remaining, since this ship is really busy."

"I am," Rommie stated.

"I can sleep when I get there?"

Lindy laughed. "Of course."

"Then count me in. Beam me or whatever."

Lindy said, "I'm sending the coordinates. I can also beam them if you wish."

Rommie said, "No need."

Daniel appeared beside Lindy.

"Are we agreed on terms?" asked Lindy.

Daniel said, "Raising Heart has helped a lot. I'm not going to demand she is locked up or anything. The Asgard insisted the ability be removed and that it be proven to be removed."

"We can provide information, but I'm uncertain how to make it something that could not have been faked. Frankly, I wouldn't buy anything we could give you data wise."

Raising Heart said, "I will gladly merge with them again for long enough for them to verify the changes have been done."

"That works," said Lindy. "Unfortunately, It will have to wait till Artha or one of the other ships tows them the rest of the way to Mid Childa. We may even be able to work in some upgrades to your dimensional drive. Not magitech of course. Your tech base is wrong, and we would never jump start you on a new tech base, even if you had the potential, which, you don't. From the resonances we read from your drives they have certainly not been abused for casual travel despite their age. We are a little confused how they even are still in such condition."

Over the video link Rommie said, "I'm very good at fixing myself, if I have what is required and the energy to do so."

"So it would seem."

Jack turned to Megumi and Heather. "I wasn't sure whether or not you would like or want to go?"

Megumi said, "I would like to set foot on another world if I could."

Heather said, "I would, but I'm needed here."

Megumi said, "I probably am too."

Lindy said, "Come if you want. There is enough resources here now. If they are not on your ship, ask and we will provide them."

Heather said, "I will still stay."

"As you wish."

Megumi said, "Then I would be honored to come."

Jack said, "Anytime your ready?"

Lindy asked, "Nanoha, can you get Raising Heart first?"

"Sure."

Nanoha carefully bent down to release the necklace's catch and gently remove it from Kasumi's neck before slipping it back around her own. They then vanished in a flash of light.

Rommie and Heather remained. Heather asked, "Is there anything else you need?"

Rommie asked, "Tell me a story. Please take my mind off all the ones I'm failing to save.

"Okay."

-=oOo=-

Author's Note: Comments, Kudos, Bookmarks. There are so many choices. Perhaps pick one?