A Computer, Shocking a Dragon
Last Chapter...
Oh! The dragon replied, I'll tell him then.
Harry stared in awe as the giant beast turned to his rider and apparently had a private telepathic conversation. The rider then released Harry's arm and gave him an embarrassed smile. Just as he opened his mouth as if to apologize, Harry's family came stampeding out of the hold. Before they could do anything, like attack the rider, they were frozen in shock by a voice...
Hello! The dragon exclaimed. I am called Golanth and this is my rider F'lessan!
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Viktor and the others froze in shock near the door to their hold. None of them could quite comprehend the fact a dragon had just spoken to them. Viktor shook off his shock and slowly made his way to Harry’s side. The other were slow to follow. He could practically feel his companions awe, not that he blamed them. Though he did wince when the dragon gave a draconian smile.
You can speak like us? Viktor asked, just to make sure he wasn’t imagining things.
Of course! Golanth responded. All dragons speak this way. Though I only know of a few humans that can understand all dragons. Most riders only understand their own dragons.
Harry’s eyes darted between the dragon and his rider. He doesn’t understand us correct? Only you?
Yes. Golanth responded. F'lessan did not inherit his mother’s ability.
F’lessan tapped Golanth’s side. The dragon turned to him and once more they had a private conversation. After a few moments, Golanth and F’lessan attention turned back onto Harry and his family. F’lessan motioned towards Harry and held his hand out. Harry uncertainly reached for his hand. After a quick handshake F’lessan released him.
F’lessan wondered if its alright to translate for him. Golanth said.
Yes please. Harry responded. It would be greatly appreciated. Would it be alright if we asked a few questions of him as well?
Golanth bobbed his head. Yes, we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. Though if we don’t know the answer is it alright if I ask a fellow dragon.
We’d prefer if you didn’t. Teddy replied. We really don’t know enough of this place and the people here to want to be revealed yet.
Both F’lessan and Golanth seemed to frown at that statement. We understand. If its your prefernce, we won’t announce your presence. Though we can’t help if another dragon and their rider see you here.
Thank you for what you are doing. Blaise stated.
Can you answer a few questions for us first? Golanth asked.
Of course. Teddy answered.
How have you all lived here without the language change the rest of Pern has gone through? Golanth asked, Also who is your odd garments? And where is the rest of your Hold?
Harry glanced at his friends in confusion. What language change? What exactly is a “Hold”?
Oh dear… Golanth replied with obvious concern.
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The Landing, AVIS chamber
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Lessa was surprised to receive a summons to see AVIS. As she and F’lar stepped into the room, they were equally surprised to discover Master Robinton already in attendance. They made their way to his side. Lessa rose an eyebrow and tilted her head in greeting.
“Hello my dear Lessa.” Robinton greeted. “Before you ask, I am just as confused by this summons as you. Though I do wish to ask if you’d brought any good Benden wine to wet this poor man’s parched throat?”
F’lar laughed heartily and replied, “If we had know to expect you, we would have brought a skin.”
Lessa shook her head and said, “Perhaps after this we can fly by Benden before returning you to your hall.”
“Oh how I wish I could take you up on your offer.” Robinton bemoaned “But unfortunately I am due to attend a Gather in Rutha Hold.”
“That will have to be postponed.” AVIS announced. “We have a pressing mater to attend to instead. I have recently detected activity in a missing shuttle from the Yokohama as well as a previously believed deactivated remote computer.”
The riders’ and Master Robinton’s eyes widened in surprise. It was a shock to discover here might be someone else on Pern able to access AVIS, let alone the very advanced technology of the ships. Robinson couldn’t help but ponder if it was possible there was other explorers that may have decided to settle on Pern. He could only hope they could locate them before they met their end by Thread.
“What does this mean?” F’lar questioned. “Do we have other colonist landing here? Are they settling in old Holds? Is there a way to contact them to warn them of Thread?”
“No.” AVIS answered. “The shuttle in question went missing shortly after the Yokohama arrived at Pern. It launched from Yokohama prior to the rest of the colonist departure. The remote computer in question was only accessed a day after the shuttle registered activity.”
“Do you believe a hold-less or southerner accessed them both?” Robinton inquired.
“I am unsure.” AVIS responded. “There is another, though unlikely, possibility.”
“Explain.” Lessa demanded.
“The shuttle in question was believed to house six cryogenic chambers.”AVIS acknowledged. “From my records they were archaic models illegally loaded onto the Yokohama. I am unaware if the passengers survived either the trip to Pern or the landing on the planet.”
“Are you trying to tell us, there might be colonist alive?” F’lar exclaimed.
“No.” AVIS responded. “The passengers are recorded be a few thousand years older.”
“WHAT?!” Lessa and F’lor shouted while Robinton stared in shock.
“Yes. Their chambers were recorded to originate approximately 2000 AD Earth time.” AVIS replied. “The first Pern destined vessel did not leave Earth until approximately 3900 AD Earth time.”
“Oh my,” Robinton whispered. “And these people will be alive? Even with the volcano eruption?”
“Most likely, if their chambers were not damaged in the landing.” AVIS responded. “The more archaic chambers were designed hardier then later models but they had a major flaw.”
“How so?” Robinton inquired.
“Once a timer was set, it could not be altered. Also any linked timers were changed according to any change.” AVIS replied. “They were also easy to accidentally add more time to an extreme variable. They had a maxed time of 2000 years but it could be reset to the max at any time.”
“If the activity is these forgotten persons,” Robinton began, “Does that mean they are not affected by the language shift you mentioned previously?”
“Yes.” AVIS answered. “Though it may be more severe. I do not have a history of language shift from their point in time to my creation. It is possible I maybe unable to communicate with them as well.”
“Well that’s not good.” F’lor said.
“Yes. Its not.” Lessa added. “What are we to do if that is so? Is there location near here?”
“It is not to far from our location.” AVIS reported. “The location of the shuttle is fifty-seven miles southeast from here. The remote computer is an additional five miles to the south from there. It is not properly connect to my system and does not have my security systems.”
“That is distressing.” Robinton declared. “Is there a way those adverse to you can damage you through the other computer?”
“No. Your current level of computer knowledge would not allow for such.”AVIS countered. “Though the fact the access did not link my system, gives credence to the idea it may be hold-less or southerners. A person born in that era would be knowledgeable enough to link to my AI. Unless the hard-drive that manages the connection are damaged.”
“We should head out there immediately.” Lessa declared. “We need to find the persons either way...”
“Actually,” F’lor interrupted. “We shouldn’t head out alone. Thread Fall in that region was recent. We all know how useless the Old Timers are. The grubs can only do so much.”
“According to the Thread Fall calendar you provided,” AVIS began, “Thread Fall should have been yesterday.”
“Then there may not be anyone to find.” Robinton said grimly.
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Unnamed Hold (Harry’s Location)
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Have we said something odd? Harry asked.
Well… That depends on perspective. Golanth responded. In reply to your questions; a hold is what you came out of. Its a… well home built inside a mountain.
Oh. Harry said, Is that because of those “thread” things that fell from the sky?
F’lessan cursed when Golanth translated what Harry had said. He then began to rant in his own tongue. He gestured wildly, seemingly in anger. Golanth stared wide eyed at his rider. Without a doubt, the dragon had never heard his rider use such… extreme language.
I’m not going to translate what he’s saying. Golanth announced. I’m not sure children should even hear that. I also don’t know where he learned most of those…
Teddy giggled. I’m much more mature then I appear. He said, But thank you for limiting foul language. Harrys too innocent for such.
Harry glowered at his godson. Really?< He grumbled. Golanth and the others chuckled at Harry.
What exactly set off F’lessan? Viktor asked.
Golanth sighed before responding. It was the fact you’d already dealt with Thread. It was a bit upsetting. Most don’t survive hold-less. Thread eats everything. Only metal and stone are left.
Harry and the others winced slightly. Yes we discovered that. Blaise uttered with another wince. Harry has a burn thanks to it.
Golanth’s and F’lessan’s eyes widened drastically. It miraculous he survived. Very few people besides dragon riders survive. Golanth announced, I would never guess you had encountered Thread. You don’t appear scoured.
Harry shrugged his shoulder and held out his arm to F’lessan. He pulled up his sleeve a bit. The rider and dragon could see a thin burn mark that almost wrapped around his forearm. They couldn’t believe an encounter with Thread left such a small scar. How was that possible?! F’lessan thought. I’ve never seen such a small Thread scoure. What type of healers did they have?!
May we meet your healers? Golanth asked. They did an amazing job! We’d much appreciate learning how they treated your injury.
Harry and the others shared a glance. We’re it. Harry responded, There isn’t anyone else.
F’lessan gasped. Really?! Golanth exclaimed. Which of you cared for the injury? What herbs did you use? How long ago were you scoured?
I healed Harry’s wound. Blaise replied, I didn’t use any herbs just magic. And it was only a day ago.
Harry and his crew were the first ever treated to seeing a dropped jaw from a dragon… well and his rider.
TBC...