Chapter Summary: Yet another library is found. On an asteroid.
Chapter Word Count: 5,458
The Lucia docked first, followed by the Q'uq'umatz, Sophia's ship. The discussion of who would participate in the Ice Clan ceremony and who would meet with their Clan Council had taken several hours before they'd agreed how best to make their request.
The Ice Clan Council was reluctant to let them access ruins of an ancient civilization, that they hadn't known about, but eventually Sophia convinced them that there was no ulterior motive.
"Welcome, Weaver of the Serpent Clan," the head of the Ice Clan Council said, once introductions had been made and the doors were closed. "This is an unusual looking group to travel here at this time."
"May the Goddesses of the Serpent Clan bless your celebration," Sophia said. "Yes, our journey to your shores is two fold. We are here in honor of your celebration, but several of our members are also on a quest. Their journey takes them through your territory."
"What is the quest and what do you expect to find in Ice Clan territory," one of them said.
"I am tracing the last journey of my ancestors," Andy said, stepping forward. "We have followed their path to here."
"And who are your ancestors," they asked.
"In ancient Serpent Clan legends, they were known as the Winter Folk," Andy said. "Before they left this galaxy, they visited a number of ancient cities. One of them is on the far side of your territory."
"The Winter Folk are a myth," the Councilor said. "Even we have heard of them but many doubt their reality."
"The Winter Folk truly exist, Honored Councilor," Memo said. "And not just in descendants such as Lady Andrea. My people, of the Wind Clan, last knew of them during the last incursion of the Kraal."
"And you, Lady Memory of the Wind Clan, are part of this quest? How did that come to be?" The Councilor said.
"Lady Andrea, her consort Lady Miranda, and the others visited our home planet following rumors that the Winter Folk had visited us many cycles ago. Curious as to where the Winner People had gone, I agreed to join them."
"One of our legends pointed us there," Andy said. "From there we visited an ancient Winter Folk city that had been abandoned long before the Kraal appeared in that sector. From there there were indications of another Winter Folk city or base in your sector. Once your ceremonies are complete we would petition your permission to visit it."
"Where is it?" An eager Councilor said.
"We would prefer that it remain undisturbed until we are able to visit it," Andy said. "I'm sure you can understand."
"Yes, yes, of course," the Head of their Council said.
"That was an interesting ceremony," Andy said, as the Lucia and Q'uq'umatz headed towards their next destination, the old Winter Folk base on the moon of Far Side. The Ice Clan Council had agreed to let them search for it, but had insisted that they be escorted by one of their cruisers. That the Ice Clan would take possession of the ruins was implied but unavoidable.
"You are getting a varied introduction to all of the Clans," Miranda said. "At this rate, you'll have met all of the ruling Clan Councils long before the Serpent Clan must make its appearance at the Council of Clans next convocation."
"Assuming we survive the Kraal," Andy said. "And right now? There is no guarantee that we'll find anything that will help us."
"We already know that the Prophets of Zircon Nine will not have the answers we look for," Miranda said. "But something about this quest will give us a higher probability of defeating them."
"It seems like a very indirect method," Andy said. "Go to every ancient Furling library, ask about the Prophets and what happened to the Furling and hope there's some clue."
"But we are building relationships with the other Clans in the process. Relationships that can only help in the long run," Miranda said.
"The Clans coming together will not be a bad result," Sophia said on the ship's comm linking her ship to the Lucia, glancing up from the viewer, where she'd been absorbed in one of the Furling histories they'd brought with them. "At one time they worked together much more than they've become accustomed to since the Confederation appointed them guardians of different sectors."
"An argument could be made that the Confederation intentionally spread the Clans out so they were less powerful," Ixchel said. "It is what I would have done in their position."
"If that is remotely true, at some point they'll try to interfere," Andy said. "They can't be completely unaware of what we are doing."
"Some of those Ice Clan Councilors had a lean and hungry look," Ixchel said. "I do not trust them."
"Yes," Romana said. "If we had given them the coordinates in advance there'd likely be nothing left when we got there."
"If they hadn't found it already, they aren't likely to now, without our guidance," Miranda said.
"It was going to happen at some point," Andy said. "We can't keep these Furling ruins to ourselves permanently. But the base on Far Side is even more of a ruin than most. The Furling leveled it before leaving. If the library hadn't been protected against such things it would have been destroyed also."
"The Heart on Far Side will have its own protections," Ixchel said. "They will need a Furling to gain access to it."
"Which they don't have," Miranda said.
"That's not going to stop the Ice Clan forever," Andy said. "Hoping that the defenses of a long gone civilization will continue to protect it might be asking too much."
"We can only do what we can do," Miranda said. "The Furling ruins have survived for thousands of cycles. They will continue to survive."
"And the Ring Gates cannot be used without the co-operation of the Guardians," Romana said.
"It isn't clear that the ship Gates have the same protections," Andy said. "The Guardians aren't going to come with us so we'll need a way to activate them."
"The Rings are known by the Clans but none know how to use them, or even what they are," Memo said. "Using them while the Ice Clan is watching may tell them what they are for but not the knowledge of their use."
"The Galactics know what they are now," Andy said, "But we have exclusive access to that knowledge until the Kraal are dealt with. Lady Shadow convinced them that it was strategic information we needed to keep tight control of."
"Will this not cause problems then, if we leave using the Ship Gate on the Moon?" Romana asked.
"Not necessarily," Andy said. "Unless you have a destination it's just an interesting historical artifact."
"When do we get there?" Sophia asked. With her ship, and the Ice Clan ship slaved to the Lucia navigational systems, they were all traveling together.
"Another day of travel," Andy said. "Garnes has it plotted to take us as close to the base as possible, assuming there is little debris surrounding the moon."
"How much time do we have?" Ginny said, as they watched the Ice Clan ship take up station above the ruins. "They're going to want to start looking for anything valuable."
"It'll take a week for any other Ice Clan ships to reach us," Garnes said. "You have until then before they get too nosy."
"They're watching us," Andy said. "But without cooperation of the Guardians they won't find much. The Furlings completely stripped the base of anything remotely useful."
"The Guardian has monitored a number of attempts over the centuries to exploit the ruins," Ixchel said. "But other than rubble and the library nothing remains."
"And without Guardian cooperation the library is just another ruin," Andy said.
"They'll think something is going on when we disappear from their scanners," Harry said. "You need to find the information you want quickly."
"The Guardian is already looking for it," Andy said. "If there is anything here they should have it by now. This library is mainly valuable for its star maps showing the locations of the other libraries, which we'll copy. We just need to look at it, and get the Gate coordinates for the next Gate."
"How do we know the Ice Clan won't be able to access the library?" Sophia asked.
"Eventually they may," Andy said. "But none of the Clans have the tech to breach the shields of any of the Furling libraries at this point. If the Guardians hadn't recognized us, we'd have the same problem."
"Recognized you," Ixchel corrected. "They believe you are one of their People."
"I'm not sure where they get that idea from," Andy said, grumbling.
"It is likely true," Miranda said, "though they have yet to explain why they find your ears so fascinating." Her amusement was clear.
"Yeah, what's with the ears!" Andy said. "I like my ears, don't want any other ones."
"Anyone going down to the library needs to wear an EV suit," Garnes said, over the ship's comm. "According to Lady Andrea's data from the gate trip the library itself is self contained but the only way to get to it is from the outside."
"Yes, the Ring Gate is in a sheltered location but it is in a vacuum. The entrance to the library is through an air lock," Ixchel said.
"Guardian, what do you have for us?" Andy said, once they'd all entered the library. "Were you able to find the information we are looking for?"
"Welcome back, Lady of the People," the Guardian said. "A small fleet of the People passed through here many cycles ago, after the main fleet traveled on but they did not leave behind any additional knowledge. Their destination was the Swamps of Alfa Rei, according to their logs."
"At least they were here," Andy said. "Even if that doesn't seem remotely familiar. What else?"
"There are no records of these Prophets of Zircon Nine," the guardian said. "The request for information concerning them has been propagated to the other Guardians."
"We won't be able to stay long," Andy said. "One of the local Clans is a little too interested in the remains of your base. If we stay too long they might become even more interested."
"We shall engage full shields when you leave," the Guardian said. "It is of no concern."
"We shall leave the safety of this Heart in your capable control," Andy said. "We shall mostly be browsing, though our pilot would like copies of the navigation charts, historical and the most current."
"That shall be provided," the Guardian said.
"I find myself interested in the beliefs of the People," Sophia said. "And how much we have in common. Where may I find such information, Guardian?"
"This light will guide you," the Guardian said, a small red light appearing.
"Are there additional viewers, Guardian?" Romana asked.
"Yes," the Guardian said. "I shall provide additional viewers."
"Those star maps are amazing," Andy said, watching Garnes and Kirin, Sophia's pilot place recording equipment in the room. "The data crystals aren't enough?"
"It isn't directly compatible with our current systems," Garnes said, "but is close to earlier star charts. Recording it this way will provide additional reference points. Kirin will take copies of everything back to the Fleet for analysis."
"How far is the next Ring?" Andy asked. "If we wanted to go directly there?"
"From the translation we did after the earlier trip here, it could be a month or more to take the Lucia there. The Ship's Gate should be much faster, once we find it."
"Are we sure it wasn't destroyed with the rest of the base?" Andy asked.
"According to this local chart, it's right here," Garnes said. She switched the star chart to the local system and pointed to a point above the system. "We'll need the Guardian to enable it but once that is done we can use it."
"And Sophia's ship? How are you getting home?" She asked Sophia's pilot.
"Traveling back to Serpent Clan territory will actually be faster from the next node," she said. "It's closer to our territory."
"They seem to circling towards our sector," Ixchel said. "Very curious."
"Those Rings we traveled through did end in our system," Andy said. "It may not be a co-incidence."
"Something to ask the final Guardian," Ixchel said. "The rest will claim ignorance, even though the first one we met said they share knowledge."
"Yes," Andy said. "It's interesting that they don't just tell us everything but are making us travel to each library."
"They have motives of their own for this," Miranda said, from the entryway where she was observing them. "They don't appear to be malicious but we will need to be careful."
"What kind of plotting could they be doing several hundred millennia after the Furlings left?" Andy asked.
"Possibly none," Miranda said, "but we have already encountered others interested in your quest."
"The Ice Clan flunkies?" Andy said dismissively. "They're just typical greedy spacers. No worries there."
"No," Miranda said. "You know exactly who I mean."
"Well, they haven't made an appearance since that first time," Andy said. "I'm not going to worry about them just yet."
"Of course," Miranda said. "How much longer can we expect?"
"That's up to these two," Andy said.
"Possibly another day, Lady P," Garnes said. "We also need to know the Gate controls for the Space Gate, once we pinpoint its location."
"I'll inform the others," Miranda said, nodding. Turning, she left them to work out the details of the star maps.
"Guardian?" Andy said.
"Yes, Lady?" The Guardian said, appearing in the map room.
"Where on the charts is the Gate?" Andy said. "And how do we activate it?"
"The Gate is inactive," the guardian said. "It must be activated from the inner gate."
"What do we need to activate it?" Andy asked. "And where is it?"
"The Gate is here," the guardian said. The star map switched to a view of the system. A large glowing circle appeared above the system's sun.
"That isn't visible on our sensors," Garnes said. "How is it hidden?"
"It is not a single ring," the guardian said. "It should remain hidden unless activated."
"And how do we do that?" Andy said. "Do you need to go with us? To introduce us to the other guardians?"
"No," the guardian said. "Your presence has been announced to the other guardians. They are expecting you."
"And the activation?" Andy asked, again.
"It must be activated from the Heart Rings Gate," the guardian said. "When you are ready to proceed it will be done."
"And setting the gate address?" Garnes asked. "We don't have anything to set it."
"It too must be set from the Ring Gate," the Guardian said. "A control surface will be provide for your primary vessel to activate it."
"So it can't be changed except from here," Andy said. "I assume the other gates in this Gate system are activated in a similar fashion?"
"Yes, Lady," the Guardian said.
"Good," Andy said. "We will let you know when we need to leave."
"Yes, Lady," the Guardian said, before disappearing. The Star map reverted to its previous setting.
"I hope all of the Guardians aren't as hard to talk to," Andy said, grimacing. "Yes, I know. Thousands of years of doing their own thing does not lead to automatic agreement."
"Not how I would have put it," Garnes said, shaking her head. "But essentially the same."
"How far away is the next Gate from here?" Andy asked, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
"A month's travel at our fastest, if we had to use our engines," Garnes said.
"Ouch," Andy said. "And this will really put you closer to home?" She asked Kirin.
"Yes, Lady Andrea. This will save us much travel time," Kirin said.
"How are your passengers taking the trip?" Andy asked.
"Lady Sophia and her consort?" Kirin asked. "Better than expected. The additional room when the Potter twins go with you will be welcome."
"They aren't causing problems, are they?" Andy said.
"No," Kirin said. "It is never boring with them on board. But their enthusiasm can wear down even the most hardened spacer."
"I've experienced them on a long expedition," Andy said. "We should be able to keep them out of trouble."
"If you say so," Kirin said, doubtfully. Garnes snorted.
"They're troopers," she said. "Lady Ixchel will have them behaving. She's tougher than some First Sergeants I've seen."
"She isn't that bad," Andy said.
"She likes you," Garnes said. "She has this look that can freeze you, making you wonder what you did wrong."
"Okay, she does have a very forceful personality. But Harry and Ginny have worked with her before so there should be no problems." Andy shrugged. "And their experience with Ring travel is invaluable. Just be glad you didn't have to bring the JJs with you. Those two Shadows are a handful and a half."
"Are we ready to go?" Andy asked, from where she was locked into her jump seat.
"Just finished warning the Ice Clanners now," Garnes said. "The Weaver's ship is slaved to ours. We'll go through together."
"And the library?" Andy asked Memo, who'd taken point in dealing with the Guardian.
"As soon as we start the sequence it'll all be locked down, until we come back."
"That'll disappoint the Ice'ers," Ixchel said, smirking. "They've been trying to get into it for days."
"They didn't have an invite," Andy said. "Maybe if they'd asked nicely. Maybe."
"It'll look different the next time we see it," Garnes said. "They'll likely turn it into a base for their own use."
"It is in a good central location," Ixchel said. "But the area the Guardian planned to lock down may prevent them from taking too much of it."
"You noticed," Andy said, grinning. "Let's get out of here."
Garnes nodded and leaned forward to press several buttons on her flight console. "Gate activated." A large glowing oval appeared on the forward view screen. It rotated and glowed for a minute before settling down. "All hands! Prepare for Gate transition," she said. The Lucia leaped forward into the gate, followed closely by the Q'uq'umatz.
For a timeless moment they seemed to be suspended in time, and then there was a jump and things started to happen again.
"Transition complete," Garnes said, her voice carrying across all comm channels.
"Transition successful," Kirin could be heard over the comm.
"That was interesting," Sophia could be heard saying over the comm.
"Always a rush," Ginny could be heard saying to Harry. "Even inside a big hunk of metal and plastic."
"A little too safe," Harry said grumbling.
"If you want the shear terror of jumping into the unknown, I'm sure we can find you some," Andy said. "We still have three gates after this one."
"She didn't mean that, Lady Andrea," Ginny said quickly. "Being in a nice safe ship like this during a Gate transition is fine."
"I understand," Andy said. "There's nothing like it. Except maybe stealing a rickety old ship from some Red Pirates."
"That wasn't my idea," Harry said, pouting.
"Some day one of us who was there will believe you," Andy said, laughing. "That one gave me grey hair," Ginny said, poking Harry. "I have to dye my hair now, thanks to you!"
"You don't have to dye it, the JJ's thought it was hot," Harry said, rubbing her arm.
"The JJ's aren't here," Ginny said. "They're off chasing Bugs with Lady Q."
"What do we have?" Andy asked. "How far are we from the Heart?"
"Empty system," Garnes said. "Just an old dwarf star and burnt out hulk of a planet rotting around it."
"Well, we know the library is still here somewhere. Just need to find it," Andy said.
"Scanning," Garnes said. "According to the Guardian it should be on a large mass somewhere in the system."
"Wasn't it on the star charts?" Andy asked.
"Yes, and no," Garnes said. "This system has changed drastically in one hundred thousand cycles. We know where it should be if there hadn't been a supernova."
"Invasion, abandoned base, and now supernova," Andy said. "Time hasn't been kind to these outposts."
"All of which have kept them protected from being plundered or destroyed," Miranda said.
"Good point," Andy said. "Let's find this one and move on. Do we know what is here?"
"It was a research station, according to the previous Guardian," Memo said. "This system was isolated even back then."
"So, usual defenses for one of these, which appear to be offline, and a rude Guardian," Ixchel said. "Easy."
"If it has its shields engaged, it may take a while for us to find it," Garnes said. "Our sensors just barely had the power to see through them back at the other one."
"May require some patience." Andy said. "Is there anything on that planet? It seems a little too obvious but they've done that before."
"The remains of that planet are very heavy metals," Garnes said. "A perfect place to hide a research station."
"Closer look?" Andy asked.
"We'll wait out here," Kirin said. "Once you find the research station, we'll disengage and head home."
"Agreed," Garnes said. "Everything has been transferred."
"Did I pack my extra suit?" Ginny asked Harry in a loud whisper.
"There wasn't room," Harry said. "If we need ours repaired Dart can do it. She's a wiz with suit repairs.
"Anomaly detected," Garnes said, when her console started beeping. "We have a large impenetrable area on the opposite side of its orbit."
"Where you couldn't see it from that planet?" Ixchel said. "Probably important."
"Have to wonder what kind of research they carried out here," Andy said.
"No, we don't," Miranda said, "and if it isn't in the library, we have no need to look for it."
"I'm sure Lady Shadow would approve," Andy said.
"What she said," Harry said. "They don't give out medals for just poking around old ruins."
"If you die it won't matter," Ginny said. "Posthumous medals are not a good look on your resume."
"Need something to hock when we get old and are living in boxes on the street corner," Harry said, pouting.
"How soon until we reach it?" Andy asked.
"Several hours," Garnes said. "We need to scan for any protective measures."
"Of course," Andy said. "We have those two," she pointed at the Potter twins. "Make use of them."
"Unless they want to get out and swim there isn't much to do," Garnes said.
"Will we get hazard pay?" Harry asked brightly.
"Not a chance," Andy said. "We might have to charge you for it."
"Never mind then," Ginny said. "My paycheck is already spent."
"Doesn't look like much," Andy said, staring at the large asteroid.
"It has gravity, so it's big enough," Garnes said. "That spot over there looks like a disused landing pad."
"Big enough for both of us?" Kirin said, from her ship.
"Hard to tell," Garnes said. "Might have to send someone out to look first."
"Harry will do it," Ginny said in the background.
"Only if Ginny comes along," Harry said. "Wouldn't want to hog all of the fun."
"You've been taking lessons from the JJs, haven't you," Andy said.
"Nope," Harry said. "They copied us."
"And not a good imitation," Ginny said. "We're talking with our lawyers."
"The two of you are just being silly," Romana said. "I'm surprised that the Lady of Hands thinks you make good bodyguards. You are easily distracted."
"Fortunately, it's just an act," Andy said. "They do occasionally show signs of being competent."
"It takes a lot of work to be us," Ginny said. "What're our mission parameters," she added, suddenly serious.
"Just a quick reconnaissance," Garnes said. "Just get a close up look at that landing pad. Something is blocking our sensors."
"Got it," Ginny said. "Come on Harry, let's go on a field trip."
"I'm driving!" Harry said, as they hurried out of the room. Ginny's protest wasn't understandable.
They cautiously detached from the Lucia. An EV jaunt, even as practiced as they were, was not to be treated lightly.
"Looks like a big rock," Ginny said, broadcasting over the general comm channel. "With smaller rocks scattered all over the place."
"Haven't seen this many rocks since Mars," Harry said. "That was a fun trip."
"At least we had maps," Ginny said, looking around. "My sensors aren't picking anything up except for those rocks. Where is that landing field?"
"Thirty degrees left," Harry said. "And straight on until morning."
"If we run into any Lost Boys, you're buying," Ginny said. She touched down on the asteroid. "Ginny to Lucia control. Now on big rock," she said to their watchers in the Lucia.
"Also landed," Harry said. "No dust, fortunately. Someone's been vacuuming."
They carefully moved through the boulders towards the landing field. There were no paths, just gaps between large and small rocks. Every so often they paused to get their bearings.
"Is this normal asteroid type rock?" Ginny asked, scanning a small rock with her suit sensors.
"My suit just says rock," Harry said. "Nothing special."
"Some of these have a metal in them that my suit doesn't recognize," Ginny said. "We'll have to take a sample back with is."
"And there it is," Harry said. "Looks like someone cleared away some rocks. Nothing larger than a golfball left."
"Dimensions?" Garnes asked over the comm. "Enough room for the ships?"
"Looks big enough for three of them," Ginny said. "Sending data now."
"This isn't natural," Harry said, stepping down onto the field. "A halfway decent disguise but from this close, it looks carved out."
"Waiting on your go ahead," Garnes said.
"Might take a few minutes," Ginny said. "Sensors aren't picking up anything but they might have really good camouflage."
"And there it is," Harry said in a low voice. "Far wall, there's some kind of structure. Investigating."
There was no sound for several minutes.
"Going to need the extra special lock picks," Ginny said. "Or one of the JJs. There's an entrance here but no indication on how to open it."
"We don't have the JJs," Andy said over the comm.
"Clear the landing field," Garnes said. "We'll land the Lucia first."
"That's our ride home," Harry said. "Be careful!"
"Clear," Ginny said, "Come on in." The silence seemed to stretch forever as they waited for the Lucia to land. "Looks so much bigger on the ground."
"That's the glowing rocks," Harry said. "Lucia, looks like you have landing lights, or something resembling them."
"Roger," Garnes said. The Lucia slowly settled down near the structure. Several minutes passed and then the main hatch opened and several figures came out.
"Jolly good of you to join us," Harry said, crossing the field to meet them. "Who has the can opener?"
"We'll try something a little more sophisticated," Andy said. "Where is it? Oh that's subtle."
"Invisible unless you're almost on top of it," Ixchel, the other figure, said. "If this is one of the Furling libraries, they probably expect everyone to use the Ring Gate to enter, and not come in the back door."
"There don't seem to be any protective measures," Garnes said. "Q'uq'umatz, you are cleared to land."
"Probably passive shielding," Ixchel said. "Doesn't come on unless the Guardian perceives you as a threat."
"We are definitely non-threat-like," Ginny said. "Practiced in front of a mirror and everything."
"Let's see if we can get this open," Andy said, approaching the door embedded in the wall. "Nothing on my suit scanners."
"Or mine," Ixchel said.
"We did check," Ginny said. "Your fancy special suits don't have any better sensors than ours."
"By which she means, 'Thanks for the confirmation'," Harry said. "How are we going to get in? This is even less door like than anything we've seen before."
"Fortunately, I know a little trick," Andy said, taking a small object out of an exterior pocket. Searching the flat surface, she placed it on a small depression. There was a faint shudder and the door started moving in. "Simple."
"That might be cheating," Harry said. "Nothing was said about secret decoder rings."
"Making use of the tools available," Andy said smugly.
"And the Guardians seem to like her," Ixchel said. "She probably didn't need that."
"I wouldn't bet on that," Andy said. "The Guardians don't go out of their way to be helpful."
"An in is an in," Ginny said. "We'll take it. Who's first?"
"One of us," Harry said. "We're expendable, they aren't."
"You aren't expendable," Andy said, protesting.
"Compared to you? Yes we are," Harry said. "We go first when in potentially hostile territory."
"Right," Ginny said. "Proper order of preference it is." Stepping past Andy, she entered through the open door. "Clear," she said over the comms. "Just dust."
The other three joined her in the chamber.
"Looks like an air lock," Ixchel said. "How do we activate it?"
"State your purpose," A loud voice said over their comms.
"We are here to consult with the Guardian," Andy said. "We are expected."
The door behind them closed silently. There was a faint hissing noise and the chamber filled with a gas.
"Breathable?" Andy asked.
"Not exactly Terran or straight oxygen, but breathable," Ginny said. Before she finished talking, the opposite side of the chamber moved, revealing a hallway.
"Please proceed to the central chamber," the voice said.
"I wonder how they do that?" Harry said in a low voice.
"Ancient civilization," Ginny said, taking lead out of the chamber. "They must have all sorts of tricks."
"As long as they share," Harry said, bringing up the rear.
They walked down a long, featureless corridor for several minutes, before reaching a widening of the hallway, blocked by two tall doors, glowing faintly.
"Wouldn't miss these in the dark," Harry said, scanning them with her suit scanners. "How do they open?"
"A push should do it," Andy said, putting action to her words, causing the doors to open. They all went in through the doors, following Andy.
"Welcome back, Lady," a squeaky voice said. A small chili-like figured appeared in front of them. "The Heart of the People welcomes you to this facility. How may we help?"
"We are looking for information concerning the disappearance of the People, and for those they may have taken with them," Andy said. "As requested of previous Guardians."
"Of course. Of course," the Guardian said. "Available information is being compiled now. You may browse at your leisure." With the faint pop, the Guardian disappeared.
"Not really gone," Ixchel warned Ginny and Harry.
"What's there to see?" Harry said, turning in a circle.
"Somewhere there's a small two person gate," Andy said. "We'll need to know where it is before we can leave."
"Find the baby Ring," Ginny said. "Got it. Anything else?"
"The suit translator should work with the data crystals," Andy said, "but you'll need a viewer of some kind. Guardian!"
"We need several viewers," Andy told it. "Where might we find them?"
"Each study carol contains several," the Guardian said.
"Which can be found where?" Andy asked, lookin around the empty room.
A door on the far side of the chamber glowed with an unearthly light.
"Shall we?" Andy said.
"I'll go back to the air lock and wait for the others," Ixchel said. "They'll want to see this."
"We need to find out what makes this one special, besides being between several other gates," Andy said.
"I'll keep a careful eye out." Ixchel said. "It's probably something to do with the location."
"Solar observatory? Whatever was out here was probably destroyed when the sun went nova."
"Possibly," Ixchel said, "but this did survive a supernova. We just need to find the logs of the last People to be here before us."
"Guardian, may we have a map of this Heart?" Andy asked.
"Of course," the Guardian said. "It can be found in the galactic map room."
"Excellent," Andy said. "Where is that?"
A different door lit up a quarter turn around the room, this time in deep orange.
"I'll be back with the others," Ixchel said, before turning and hurrying off.
"Miranda, you can come out now," Andy said. "No need to hide."
"I won't ask how you knew I was here," Miranda said. "But take careful note of the Guardian. I believe this one is much older than the other two. Its behavior seems a little erratic."
"I'm sure between us we can keep it from causing problems," Andy said.