For most of the citizens of Pern, excitement filled the air as we prepared to reconnect with the Federation the Ancients had left behind. As Pern's ambassador to the Kendite Matriarchy, it was my duty and responsibility to come up with a plan to ease that reintroduction… assisted by the Kendite Matriarch herself, for which I was grateful. Having come from that very Federation, I could foresee the many benefits this reintroduction would bring to the citizens of Pern
Unfortunately, as I had seen countless times in the past on the first contact missions Key, Dav, and I had been on, there were always those who resisted change, who fiercely and desperately clung to their old ways of life… the old guard… those who were desperate enough to do anything to prevent it.
"It's an outrage!" the one known as Alpha complained, pounding the table with his fist. "Against everything we believe!"
"The path they have chosen is pure folly!" Epsilon hissed. "Why can't they see that?"
"We have to stop them!" the hooded Beta muttered, shaking his head. "It's for their own good!"
"But how?" Gamma hissed, his face flush with rage. "With every passing second, we lose more and more of our past!"
"We have to show them the madness of their ways," Delta remarked, pulling his hood close about his head. "Our ancestors fled this Federation for a reason! We have to find a way to show everyone why!"
"But how?" Theta muttered, shaking his head. "There are so few of us now! The poison of reintroduction will soon consume the planet!"
"Patience, my friends," Alpha responded in a soothing tone. "The moment will present itself. We must stay hidden, unknown to the others, always watchful for that opportunity we need to bring the rest of Pern to its senses."
Nodding reluctantly, the others silently agreed to what Alpha was suggesting. Then, quietly, they rose and left the cave they had been meeting in, scattering to their separate Holds and Halls. They were patient, these Abominators. It would be many months from this clandestine meeting before their plan and efforts would rear its ugly head once more, threatening to undo everything the citizens of Pern were trying to accomplish. What no one suspected was where they would find help to carry out their plans.
The sun had set; the westering sky fading from red to black. All seemed at peace… until a powerful explosion shattered the calm at Landing.
In the midst of the confusion that ensued, a Federation service member slowly made his way out of Landing. But he didn't get far. As he turned back from a glance over his shoulder, he ran smack into the massive head of a bronze dragon. There was nothing friendly in the dizzily whirling red eyes of the massive beast nor the guttural rumble deep in his throat; tongues of flame escaping his muzzle.
"What happened?" I demanded as I reached the blast site from my Quonset hut home. "Was anyone in there?"
The AIVAS building had been nearly obliterated, severe damage visible in the wings that had been built onto it.
"We don't know," Key muttered, wringing his paws. "We're getting search teams together now to comb through the rubble."
"By the sacred waters!" Dav hissed, assessing the damage the blast had created. "Who could've done this?"
A dragon roar loud enough to be heard all the way back at Robinton Cove suddenly split the air. As we turned to see what was going on, I recognized a completely unexpected arrival to Landing.
"Golanth?!" I gasped, running up to F'lessan's lifemate.
As I got closer, I could see that the mighty bronze had someone pinned under his massive forepaws, his furious gaze fixed squarely on his captive.
He did this! Golanth growled, his bared teeth within inches of the captive's head.
"Who?" I wondered, then gasped when I realized Golanth's fury was solely focused on someone from the Federation.
"Will someone get this stupid beast off of me?" the man protested, glancing my way.
"Name!" I demanded, my own fury starting to rise. "Rank! Ship designation! Now!"
Goldie reached me, backwinging to my shoulder before turning her own considerable fury on Golanth's prisoner.
"Dana?" Key asked, he and Dav reaching my side. "What's going on? Why is this dragon threatening this man?"
Tarnaa by now had joined our party, her own eyes blazing red, her fury matching Golanth's.
"I won't ask again!" I growled, my attention focused solely on the Federation agent pinned beneath Golanth's forepaws. "Name! Rank! Ship designation!"
"Alright, alright!" the man finally relented, squirming under Golanth's relentless pressure. "Dennison. Petty officer assigned to the cruiser, Centauri's Dawn. Now will you get this stupid beast to let me up? I've done nothing wrong."
F'lessan and Tai quickly joined us, dismounting as Zaranth landed nearby.
"Golanth, buddy, what by the First Egg is going on?" F'lessan asked, laying his hand on his lifemate's neck.
"He did this," Golanth hissed, drawing startled gasps from everyone present.
"He can talk?!" Dennison gasped, staring, disbelieving, into Golanth's dizzily whirling eyes.
"You four were supposed to be aboard the Yokohama," I remarked, glancing their way. "What happened?"
"That's where it gets weird," Tai muttered, coming up beside F'lessan. "I'm not sure why, but I decided to do a quick check of the security cameras for the AIVAS building just before we were going to shut down for the evening. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. But then we saw someone walking away from the facility moments before the blast."
"Next thing we know," F'lessan added, glancing up at his dragon, "Golanth vanishes between, reappearing here at Landing where he bellows like a mad thing, pinning this guy to the ground!"
My scan pad was out of its holster a heartbeat later, allowing me access to the security camera recordings that were routinely stored aboard the Yoko. Within seconds, I had the video that showed the individual walking away from the AIVAS building just before the blast. A few tweaks later to enhance the imagery and I was able to positively identify Dennison as the one caught on the security video.
Switching on the long range sensors and tightening the scan resolution down to just a few centimeters, I was able to scan Dennison, unmistakable traces of a known Federation explosive compound on his clothing.
"Shaffit!" I cursed, showing the results to Key and Dav. "Golanth is right. He is the one behind this."
"But it makes no sense!" Dav complained. "Why would someone from the Federation do something like this?"
"Because that abomination was leading you all astray," Dennison growled, his own fury showing. "Turning your heads with all its wonders, tricking you into abandoning the pure path your ancestors had sought on this world."
"Sharding hell!" F'lessan gasped, hardly believing. "He's a damned Abominator?!"
The sound of a sword being drawn and the cold touch of steel against my throat got my attention.
"You would do well to listen to him," the sword wielder hissed in my ear.
I heard many other swords being drawn all around me, gasps and an occasional whimper reaching my ears.
"If you value the lives of the others," the one holding the sword to my neck growled, "you'll release our brother… NOW!"
I felt hands at my side and felt my blaster being removed from its holster as someone muttered, "You won't be needing this, Ambassador."
Seconds later, the air above Landing was full of dragons of every color, roaring their displeasure at what was transpiring.
"Send them away," the one holding the sword to my neck demanded, pressing the blade a little harder into my throat. "We know you can speak to all dragons, betrayer. Do it!"
A heartbeat later, the skies over Landing were empty.
"Good," my captor growled. "Now tell that one to let our brother up. Do it!"
When I didn't say anything, my captor hissed, "I'll kill you where you stand, fool. Don't think I won't."
"I was hoping you'd say that," I growled back.
All those years, months, days, and hours of martial arts training back at the Federation Star Service Academy let me easily turn the tables against my attacker. Within seconds, I had disarmed him of his weapon, slamming him bruisingly hard to the ground, the tip of his own sword now pressed against his throat. At the same time, a massive swarm of fire lizards, led by Goldie, descended on the other attackers, harrying them mercilessly, causing them to release their own hostages before they tried to flee. They didn't get far for the dragons instantly returned, every single Abominator pinned heavily to the ground by the incensed protectors of Pern.
"You are fools!" the one I had under my sword bellowed. "You have abandoned the way of the Ancients, been corrupted by all the sick and devious technology that abomination had shown you! Give up this foolish notion of reintroduction! Return to the pure path before it's too late!"
"That sick and devious technology as you call it," F'lar growled as he glanced over our way from where he stood, one of the Abominators pinned heavily beneath Mnementh's forelegs, "allowed the Dragonriders to finally fulfill our promise to the people of Pern… to finally bring about an end to Threadfall forever!"
"The knowledge AIVAS provided was merely a tool," Lessa chimed in, Ramoth holding down one of the other Abominators. "Like any tool, it is inherently neither good nor evil. How you use that knowledge determines whether it is for good or ill."
"No one was forcing you lot to use the tools AIVAS gave us," Brekke practically screamed, F'nor gently restraining his weyrmate. "How many lives will be saved once this final Threadpass is over? No more tithing! No more fear of death from the skies!"
"And what will become of the dragonriders once they are no longer needed to protect Pern?" F'nor cursed, planting a gentle kiss on Brekke's cheek. "We've been defending Pern since the first Threadfall, and this is the thanks we get!"
"But how did this one get involved with those Pernese?" Key wondered, gesturing at the one beneath Golanth's forepaws.
"He must've met this lot while they were observing things here at Landing," I muttered, shaking my head, "looking for an opportunity to put their plans into effect. I'm betting they overheard him complaining about the changes to Pern's old feudal society brought about by AIVAS. In that moment, they would've known they'd found a kindred spirit who could be useful to them; someone who could be turned to their way of thinking."
"But why recruit him?" Dav couldn't help asking, shaking his head as he did. "It doesn't make sense. Dennison represented everything their kind hated!"
"Who better to aid the Abominators than someone sympathetic to their cause?" I responded, shaking my head. "Who better to help them destroy AIVAS than someone who knew how to disable its safety and defense features before setting off the explosive?"
"The captain of Centauri's Star is not going to be happy when he finds out one of his crew was involved," Dav grunted, handing me back my blaster at the same time. "So what do we do with this lot?"
"Perhaps I can offer a suggestion, ch'lia," the Kendite Matriarch spoke as she stepped through the crowd.
Because Pern was essentially now under the protection of the Federation by virtue of our relationship with the Kendites, it was decided that a joint tribunal would be called, legal counsel from both the Federation and the citizens of Pern to preside over the trial.
At my insistence, the Harper Hall was called upon to keep the citizens of Pern apprised during the proceedings. As much as the Abominators argued their case, there was no defending the destruction of AIVAS or the threatening of innocent lives following the explosion. Thankfully, no one was killed or seriously injured in the blast, but the loss of the knowledge that AIVAS contained would be keenly felt by those on Pern who embraced the changes it had brought about.
When it came time to pronounce sentence on the guilty parties, it was Key who offered a solution.
"One of the worlds we explored on our way here is devoid of any life save the flora and fauna found there," he spoke, calling up the images on a holoprojector. "A primitive world but capable of supporting human life. Since these… Abominators… cannot abide the changes Pern is undergoing, they could be transplanted to this other world where they can fend for themselves, away from any of the technology they so desperately fear."
"And what about Dennison?" Captain K'tar of Centauri's Star asked, pointing at the accused. "What's to become of him?"
"A military court has already convicted him of actions unbecoming a member of the Star Service," Admiral Morgan grunted, glaring at the accused. "He's been given a dishonorable discharge from the service, so he can join the other Abominators on their journey into exile."
"So noted and ordered," the presiding judge declared, banging his gavel on the table.
What was truly unexpected were the reactions of the family members of the Abominators. When asked if they would go into exile along with the agitators, to a person they all refused, stunning the convicted perpetrators of the AIVAS bombing.
"Why not?" the presiding judge demanded to know.
"Pern is our home," one family member declared, gesturing about.
"We will not abandon the world the Ancients came to settle," yet another spoke, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"The Dragonriders fulfilled their promise to bring an end to Threadfall," still another said, nodding to those riders in attendance.
"While they could do nothing to bring a quicker end to this Pass," one woman remarked, again nodding to F'lar and the others, "they have successfully altered the course of the Red Star so that it will no longer bring Thread to Pern."
"And they did it," one child said, giving Lessa a hug, "using what they learned from AIVAS. How can that be a bad thing?"
"Once this Pass is over," a young lad added, laying a hand on the child's shoulder, "we will no longer have to fear Thread ever again." Glancing over at F'nor and Brekke, he wondered, "But what will the Dragonriders do once they are no longer needed to fight Thread?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," F'lar chuckled, thumping the lad on the shoulder. "Until this Pass is over, we will still be needed to protect Pern and its citizens from Thread."
"I see," the judge murmured, considering his next words carefully. "Keymon!"
"Your Honor?" my Kendite brother responded.
"You say this world of yours is habitable?"
"Yes, your Honor."
"Yet, without family there to help them procreate," the judge spoke, glancing over at the prisoners, "sending them to this new world would in essence be a death sentence, correct?"
"It would, your Honor," Key whispered, lowering his head.
"And, as I recall from earlier discussions," the judge went on, "such a punishment would not be allowed in the Federation, correct?"
"Aye, your Honor," Key replied, nodding.
"Then I sentence these men to live out the remainder of their lives in the mines of Crom," the judge declared, once more banging his gavel on the table. "At least that way, they can occasionally receive visits from their families, and maybe, along the way, discover the folly of their irrational hatred of the wonders AIVAS was able to provide, which ultimately worked to save Pern from Thread."
Turning to the bailiffs appointed by all the races representing the Federation and the citizens of Pern, he ordered, "Bailiffs, please remove the convicted and see to it that they are taken to Crom without incident."
Some cursing, others crying openly, the last of the Abominators were led away in chains to serve out their sentences working in the mines of Crom.
Once the men had been taken away, the judge gave one last sweeping glance of the courtroom before declaring, "This court is adjourned," bringing his gavel down hard on the table one final time.
AIVAS had been a valuable tool and ally in helping the Dragonriders of Pern fulfill their promise to bring about an end to Threadfall forever. Those who saw that knowledge in a good light would sorely miss that most incredible machine.
But, as it turned out, all was not lost. By an odd stroke of luck… or perhaps divine intervention… AIVAS had backed up all its files to the storage servers aboard the Yokohama moments before the attack took place. With them, the marvelous machine could be reconstituted in all its insufferable ways. We just needed to rebuild the destroyed building so that Zucanno Om Lis Malu, the Kendite Matriarch, could have her technicians install a new and more modern AIVAS device into which the stored data could then be uploaded.
"How's the new shell, AIVAS?" I asked, watching as the Kendite technicians did a final check of all the machine's systems.
"A vast improvement over the previous one," it instantly responded. "Much faster processing power. Vastly more internal memory. And, as Master Fandarel would say, a much more efficient design. This unit will be able to help a great deal more than it could before."
"Glad to hear it," Piemur chuckled, giving my shoulder a thump. "We've already got an extensive line of holders, craftmasters, and weyrfolk eager for your assistance."
"Then, let us begin anew, Journeyman Piemur," AIVAS intoned. "Bring in the first of the petitioners."
There was still one little issue I had to deal with, so I left Piemur in charge and headed outside… where F'lessan, Tai, Golanth, and Zaranth were waiting.
"I wasn't just imagining it?" F'lessan begged as I approached.
"No, you weren't," I chuckled, patting Golanth on the neck, "and I think I know how it happened."
Tai gasped! "Chlorith! She said that extradimensional Dana had been given the knowledge of the Eridani protocols. You think he did it?"
"Well, it certainly wasn't me!" I laughed, shaking my head. "I could almost wish…"
"What?" F'lessan wondered.
"When word of this gets out to the other dragons and riders," I chuckled, giving F'lessan a gentle clout on the shoulder, "I can't help wondering how many of the dragons are going to want that gift."
"And Tarnaa?" Tai asked, her expression knowing.
"She never said," I remarked quietly, smiling at the memory, "but I could tell she'd want that gift."
For a brief instant, there was silence. Curious, I looked up to find F'lessan and Tai seemingly frozen in place. As I glanced around, I spotted Goldie, frozen mid wing stroke in the air not far away. What was going on?
"It is good to see you again, child," a familiar voice spoke.
As I turned around, I couldn't help gasping, "Concordantrix Zigrill!"
"I see you still remember me!" she chuckled, coming up to give me a hug. "I have never forgotten you."
"I don't understand," I spoke, shaking my head. "What are you doing here?"
"We in the Eridani try to keep tabs on those we feel would make good candidates," she began.
"To learn the Eridani protocols!" I gasped, realizing with a start where this was heading. "Like Kitty Ping Yung!"
"One of the finest students we have ever trained," Concordantrix Zigrill agreed. "While the others at the Star Service Academy had their doubts, I sensed a special gift within you."
I gasped again. "My being able to hear dragons!"
"And your contact empathy," Zigrill added, nodding. "And your precognitive talent. I could tell your gifts were highly attuned to those wondrous creatures," and she gestured at Golanth and Goldie, "both large and small. And I'm pleased to see you have made good use of them helping them when they needed it. Which is why I am here now."
I staggered backwards, sinking to a knee I was so overwhelmed by what I knew was coming. "Concordantrix Zigrill, I…"
"Are worthy of the knowledge of the Eridani protocols," she quietly assured me, laying her hands on my head. "And so I pass that knowledge on to you!"
The process seemed to go on forever, specifics of every last one of the Eridani protocols flooding my mind, seeming to seek out every last spare brain cell to store the knowledge in.
When Concordantrix Zigrill finished, she stepped back, smiling, saying, "Make me proud, my student!"
Then, in a shimmering, wavering effect, she vanished, the flow of Time slowly returning.
"Dana, are you alright?" Tai asked, having noticed I was now on my knee.
"Fine," I assured her, rising to my feet with her and F'lessan's help.
Fine? Concordantrix Zigrill had just entrusted me with some of the most powerful knowledge any being could hope to possess. Only Time would tell if I would prove worthy of that trust.