The nightmares returned… with a vengeance. This most recent one brought me bolt upright in bed, sweat trickling down my back, my scream echoing off the Quonset hut walls.
Among the medical community, my symptoms would probably have been diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Let's face it. The Exiles Crisis and having to resort to using Thread to deal with the Ruathan assault force had practically ripped out my heart. Given the Threadfall patterns that day and the need for dealing with that plus trying to repel the Exile assault teams at Landing, Benden Weyr, and Fort Hold, we really hadn't been given a choice. That didn't make it any less unsavory or deeply revolting. But what was I going to do about it?
I needed to be alone. With Tarnaa's help, Goldie and I made the jump between back up to the Yoko. Only there could I get access to the sensor records of that fateful day in the canyon west of Ruatha… and the Thread that fell.
Calling up the logs, I first did a cursory scan of the data the Yoko had recorded that day. Clearly evident was the curtain of Thread that had fallen across the canyon. Clear, too, were the sensor readings as each of the sixteen lives of the Exile assault force was extinguished.
Or so I thought, at first. Bergrun, their leader, was the first to perish; his thirst for revenge eventually consuming him. Kara's Da, who had been standing practically next to the man, had been fortunate, shielded from the deadly parasite when a wounded runnerbeast had fallen on him. That left the remaining sixteen members of the assault team.
Still, something wasn't adding up. Search teams had found the remains of Bergrun left behind by the deadly parasite and had positively identified him from the traces remaining. However, of the remaining sixteen members of the Ruathan assault team, no trace was ever found… and that didn't make sense. If they had been consumed by Thread, there would've been small remnants of their existence left behind… metal belt buckles, metal knives, and so on; things that Thread could not consume. And yet, no trace had been found of those who supposedly had died that day. It wasn't making sense!
So, I started digging deeper into the sensor logs, trying to figure out what could possibly have happened… why there had been no trace of the Exile assault team. As I increased the sensitivity of the sensor logs, an anomaly suddenly showed up.
"What the…" I whispered, looking more closely at the data.
As I replayed the logs, now with the sensitivity heightened to an extreme level, I noticed that just before the curtain of Thread reached each member of the Exile assault team, a temporal anomaly appeared directly behind each fleeing man, their sensor reading vanishing from the log a heartbeat later… and several heartbeats before the Thread had reached them!
Sharding hell! What was going on? None of it made any sense… until I remembered what I had done to rescue Kara's mother!
"Spirits of my ancestors!" I hissed, sudden realization stealing my breath away.
The pattern of events in the sensor log was an identical replay of my 'timing' rescue of Kara's Ma! I gasped again when I realized the dizziness and nausea I had experienced that day wasn't due just to the soul-rending gut-twisting knowledge of the horror I had unleashed using Thread as a weapon to stop the attack on Ruatha. If I took my suspicions to the logical conclusion, the severe dizziness and nausea I had felt that day could've been the result of a rapid series of 'timing' rescues, carrying the missing members of the assault team off to safety!
"By the Egg of Faranth!"
I fed the data to AIVAS, relaying my suspicions about the temporal anomalies.
"Given your exceptional ability to go between without a dragon," it responded in an almost casual fashion, "the likelihood of what you suspect is nearly 100%."
But there had been no sign of the assault team members in the time since that fateful day. That meant, if I had indeed 'timed it' back to rescue those Exile soldiers, I hadn't brought them back… yet.
"Any chance these are anomalies brought on by dragons jumping between?"
"Negative, Masterhealer," AIVAS instantly replied. "The temporal anomalies are far too small for dragons. Your physical size is the only thing that fits the parameters."
"I was afraid you were going to say that," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Then, I'm going to need precise time and position calculations as well as 3d visual references to pull this off."
"As you wish," AIVAS responded.
I spent hours going over the data that AIVAS provided. I even went back over the sensor log, cranking the sensitivity up to its highest setting… that action revealing yet another anomaly.
The temporal displacements the Yokohama had recorded were not exactly all the same size. But what could explain…
"By the First Egg!" I gasped, scrutinizing the recording at its highest magnification.
Half of them were slightly larger than expected. In fact, the larger ones were right about the size of…
"Ruth!" I hissed.
That brought up another question. Did dragons suffer the same debilitating effects of 'timing it' too close to themselves that humans did? Only one way to find out.
Gathering everything I had related to my suspicions, I rejoined Tarnaa down in the Yoko's docking bay, then the three of us… Goldie, Tarnaa, and I… paid an unannounced call on the Lord of Ruatha.
"They're alive?!" Jaxom gasped, bug-eyed about what I had discovered.
"Yanked at the last nanosecond from the jaws of Death," I hissed, shaking my head at the improbability of it all.
"Timing it that close together would certainly explain the dizziness and nausea you suffered back then," Jaxom surmised. "And you believe Ruth was helping you?"
"The temporal displacements the Yoko recorded during that time are too small to be full-sized dragons," I told him, glancing out the window. "The only two beings on Pern that small are Ruth and myself."
"Sharding hell!" Jaxom hissed, staring at me. "That's how you were able to escape the Exiles when they took you prisoner. You can go between, just like a dragon!"
I nodded.
"That's quite an inheritance you got from Wirenth," Jaxom chuckled, shaking his head in wonder.
"I know humans suffer debilitating effects from 'timing-it' too close to themselves," I went on, my expression earnest, "but I haven't been able to uncover any information on whether dragons suffer the same problem."
"Well, let's try a test run," Jaxom suggested, glancing out his office window to his lifemate's weyr below.
"We'd better do it in increments," I responded, shaking my head. "There may be a limit to how many times we can 'time-it' that close. We don't want to end up like Lady Moreta. And we'd better ask Ruth how he feels about this."
Solemnly, Jaxom nodded.
Wait, Ruth snorted, his surprise coming through. I helped rescue those Exiles?!
"Looks that way, old friend," Jaxom responded, leaning on the windowsill as he glanced down to where Ruth was standing, staring up at Jaxom's office window, his eyes an uncertain orange. "Given your remarkable ability to know exactly where and when you are, it's certainly feasible."
How close will we be timing it? Jaxom's lifemate wondered.
"Within about half a breath each time," I responded, double-checking the scan results. "We'll need to do a test run to see if we can pull this off before we do the real thing."
"Agreed," Jaxom muttered. "We can use the Gather meadow for the test."
In almost no time, sixteen test dummies were laid out on the Gather meadow, thanks in no small measure to Ryeena and Kara who had insisted on coming along. Slowly, deliberately, Ruth and I went over the sensor data to be certain we didn't overlook anything. The precise position and timing data AIVAS had been able to extract helped a lot. Once we were certain we had the timings firmly in mind, Ruth took wing, me astride his neck ridge to get the necessary velocity vector I would need. And then, we vanished between.
We didn't shift the test dummies very far across the field. That wasn't the point. We were trying to determine if such close timing was even possible. The last of the test rescue dummies thudded to Earth just as Ruth and I did the same. It was all I could do to keep my stomach under control even as I heard Ruth rumbling his own displeasure.
"Dana?"
It was Ryeena, her voice full of concern as she laid her arm across my shoulders.
With some difficulty, I managed to get to my feet and made my way over to Ruth.
"You okay?" I asked, Jaxom beside me as he comforted his lifemate.
By the shards of my egg, Ruth rumbled, his eyes a rapidly whirling orange. Much longer than that…
"And we may well have ended up lost between," I muttered, resting against Ruth's neck. "We'll need some time to rest after that effort. Think you can do it again?"
To save their lives… yes, Ruth quietly rumbled, gently nuzzling my cheek. No one should die that way… not even them.
"Kara," I spoke, turning to my Eastern Islands queen riding friend. "We'll try this for real in a sevenday. There won't be any Threadfall over Robinton Cove at that time. I'll want you and other Eastern Island residents there to tend to the rescued…"
"And to help keep them under control," Kara finished, laying a hand on my trembling shoulder. "We'll bring in their spouses and family members to help calm them down. Don't worry, Dana. We'll be ready."
After a couple of hours to rest and recover, Jaxom, Ruth, and I went back over the sensor logs; rehearsing over and over again the timing that would be needed. We reviewed the data for a full sevenday. If we were going to pull this off, we couldn't afford a single mistake!
"Good thing it's only sixteen souls the two of you have to rescue," Jaxom sighed, patting his dragon on the neck. "You sure you want to do this, buddy?"
Dana has been suffering incessant nightmares about that day, Ruth replied, his red-hued eyes fixed on me. This will be a good thing. We must do this to help the people of Pern to heal.
"Tomorrow morning, then," I whispered. "We'll meet in the canyon."
Early the following morning, I made one final check with Kara and Ryeena at the hospital. The designated drop zone at Robinton Cove was clear, the Eastern Island residents and the healer-riders standing well back. I made one final change… donning my spacesuit in preparation. Flexible enough not to interfere with my movements, I was hoping the supplemental oxygen it would provide could mitigate some of the dizziness and nausea I was sure to experience.
"Good luck, Dana," Ryeena wished, giving me a hug.
Nodding my thanks, I focused on my destination… and vanished between.
Jaxom, Sharra, and Ruth were there waiting as I appeared in the canyon west of Ruatha. Seeing what I was wearing, Jaxom nodded his approval.
"Smart idea, Dana," he commented, thumping me on the shoulder.
"Ready, Ruth?" I asked, climbing aboard his neck ridge.
Yes, he responded, spreading his wings in preparation.
Drawing one last steadying breath, I said, "Then let's do this!"
Taking a running start, Ruth leapt skyward, his wings beating powerfully. We settled into a dust-churning low flightpath down the canyon, our speed critical to not injuring those we hoped to rescue.
"Now!" I commanded, vanishing between.
Seconds later, we had 'timed-it' back to the past, the running line of retreating Exile soldiers directly in front of us. As we emerged from between, Ruth and I had separated, coming up behind our designated first rescues. The dizziness and nausea from that day returned, but I forced it all to the back of my mind, seizing my rescuee just as Ruth grabbed his… and we vanished back between. Seconds later, we jumped forward through time, dropping the first pair of rescues in the open field at Robinton Cove before vanishing back between.
Seven more times, Ruth and I repeated the process, appearing precisely where we had rehearsed behind each of the remaining Exile soldiers we were determined to rescue. It was such a strain, the repeated close 'timing-it' events heaping dizziness and nausea on top of the first load. By the time Ruth and I had successfully recovered the last of the Exiles soldiers, we both crashed heavily to the field at Robinton Cove, healer-riders swarming in to help both of us.
"Dana!" Kara exclaimed, yanking my spacesuit helmet off before rolling me on my side.
And just in time. It was a good thing I had chosen to eat a light breakfast. I didn't have that much in my stomach to hurl.
"Ruth?" I managed to whisper in between blowing chunks as I glanced over to where other healer-riders along with Jaxom and Sharra were tending to the white dragon.
"He's severely off color," B'gon reported, receiving a thumbs up from Jaxom, "but he'll make it."
"The Exiles?" I hissed, sipping a little water that Ryeena provided.
"Shell shocked to be alive," Oldive reported as he knelt beside me. "Their family members are filling in the details about the rescue." His face lined with concern, he added, "That was a near thing, Dana. You and Ruth scared the bejeezes out of all of us."
"I was the one who came up with the idea to use Thread against them that day," I muttered, using some of the water to rinse the foul taste out of my mouth. "And it's been tearing my insides apart ever since. I've hardly slept a wink this past sevenday because of the nightmares. I had to try and undo what I had caused. I just had to."
Goldie backwinged to my shoulder, her feverishly whirling amethyst eyes filling me with joy as she head-stroked my cheek.
You are well, lifemate? Tarnaa rumbled, slipping her head under one of my arms.
"Now that it's over, my heart," I sighed, hugging her tightly. "But I'm going to need a sevenday to recover… and a long soak in the bath."
With Tarnaa's much appreciated assistance, I managed to get back to my shaky feet before making my way over to where Ruth was being seen to.
We did it? he rumbled, his color slowly returning.
"Couldn't have done it without you, my friend," I wept, giving Ruth's muzzle a gentle hug. "Thank you so much!"
We did good, he rumbled. That made it worth it!
When the rescued Exiles learned that the Ruathan dragon had been instrumental in their rescue, they came over in droves, thanking Ruth and I again and again. They were also stunned to learn that their exile had been lifted; that they could return with their families to where they were now living. Happily, with Lord Jaxom there, it didn't take much to convince them… aided by their relieved and tearful families.
Ryeena and several other healer-riders bustled me off to the hospital where I was given a full exam. Med scanners revealed a dangerously low electrolytes level which Audiva quickly remedied with an I.V.
"Learned about it from one of AIVAS' medical files," she explained as she was inserting the needle. "Don't worry. We'll have you back to your normal self in no time!"
What I wasn't expecting was the sedative they slipped into the I.V., knocking me out for the better part of 24 hours.
"It's a good thing you were wearing that spacesuit," L'trel commented, the first face I saw when I woke back up. "Thankfully, you didn't compromise our child, love."
He pulled up a stool, holding onto my hand as he did.
"When I heard what you and Ruth had done," he quietly spoke, gently squeezing my hand, "I was furious with you for taking that risk." With a pained expression on his face, he added, "Why didn't you tell me about the nightmares? I heard you screaming the other night. I could've helped you with it!"
"I'm sorry," I apologized, tears pouring down my face.
"I'm glad you're okay, love," L'trel whispered, kissing my hand. "Promise me you'll let me help next time, okay?"
"You got it," I just as quietly replied, kissing his hand in turn.
Once I was cleared to leave the hospital, L'trel and I flew straight back to Landing. We spent the night in my Quonset hut; L'trel never leaving my side. His lovemaking was as gentle as it was thorough, but I could tell by his trembling hands that he had been terrified of losing his first child who hadn't even been born yet. The risk had been great, but it was also the reason I had worn the spacesuit. It had self-contained heating as well as oxygen, improving the likelihood that I could pull off that insane rescue with reduced risk to the unborn child I carried in my womb.
It wasn't long before we fell asleep in each other's arms, and for the first time in months, the nightmares did not return. It also gave me the opportunity to finally make peace with myself over that gut-wrenching decision that had ultimately saved Ruatha from destruction during the Exiles crisis. A most painful episode in my life, but with a good deal of luck and support from my friends, I was finally on the mend.