By request, here's the first volume in its entirety.

C&C!

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				   *******
				Blue Lightning
				   *******
				   Volume I

			   (c)1995 By Damon Casale


	The year is 2008.  Overcrowding, a totalitarian government, and
vicious, constantly infighting intelligence agencies plague the world.
It's not a nice place to live.

	I had a plan.  There was a way out, away from all of the worst
humanity has to offer.  It was only a matter of time...


* Questionable Tactics


	She's dead.

	I stood in front of her.  Eyes closed, not a strand of hair out of
place, even the horrible bloodstains gone.  But her sleep will last
forever.

	I shook myself out of it.  There, the tube's closed.  Click.  The
conveyor carried it away, and a hatch opened and closed.  A dull *thump*,
and the launcher kicked it out into open space.  I felt hollow inside.
Cold.  There may be a universe out there...but the beauty is gone, leaving
an empty, mocking husk.


	"I've decided.  We're going back."

	Puzzlement, then shock played over Steve's face.  "Do you have any
idea what that'll mean?  Damon, you can't just--"
	"I know.  I don't care any more."  The bridge is silent for a long
moment.  "I assume no one wants out now..."

	Jupiter swung before us, looming large and silent.  Then Saturn, a
halo and myriad of moons spinning lazily away in space.  Finally, the solar
system was left behind.

	'It's all in the past'.  'You can't look back, only forward'.
There are dozens of them.  Each one, a silent memorial to what I'd lost.
And each one utterly devoid of pity or remorse.  No.  I've come this far,
and now even the immutable past can be remolded and reshaped.

	"Let's go."  I touched a few buttons, laying in an autonav
sequence, and stood up.  There's no turning back now.
	On the viewscreen, the stars took on a reddish haze.  A thick, inky
black ring of darkness coalesced around the ship.
	Numbers, data, tests...they mean nothing now.  In a few seconds, we
could all be--

	The viewscreen exploded into a fierce, intensely bright light,
taking me by surprise.  Blue Lightning shuddered, an unsettling tremor
reverberating throughout the ship.  I shielded my eyes, but the light
rapidly faded away.  I looked...

	"Holy--"
	I slammed myself into the nav seat.  A small, drab, grayish-white
star lay directly ahead, growing steadily larger on the screen.  The heart
and bones of the ship, suddenly thrown before a yawning abyss, lurched and
screamed in agony.  I attacked the console furiously, grabbing the control
spheres and forcing them to one side.  For a few, frantic seconds, the ship
slid ever closer to the neutron star.  Then slowly, achingly slowly, it
drifted away to the left.

	"That was *too* close."  Steve collapsed into another chair,
shaken.

	"I hate to say it, but let's try that again."
	Nick chuckled.  I glared back.
	Steve smiled sarcastically, but kept silent.

	The stars again began to take on a reddish haze.


	"We're back already?"  Jeff threw me a questioning glance.  "Didn't
you say you can't steer--?"
	Your confidence is overwhelming.  "No, look at it again.  There's
only one continent on the whole planet, plus a few scattered islands."

	The blue-green world crept closer, something out of a forgotten
dream.  A small, pithy moon slid into view.  Opposite the planet, another
was barely visible, very dim.  The first moon drifted out of sight.

	"What in God's name is THAT??"
	Steve, aghast, stood and stared at the large, ungainly lump of a
ship edging out from behind the planet.  Numb, I shook my head slowly.
Whoever they might be, we obviously weren't welcome.

	The other ship spun off to one side, and the first moon swung into
view again, growing huge against the starry night.  Blue Lightning coasted
into a slow, drifting orbit, the planet on the other side.

	"Looks like it's already occupied, D."
	I glanced back at Steve.  "Not very likely.  We didn't see or scan
any artificial satellites, and that's only one ship we've seen so far.  My
guess is they're investigating it, same as us."
	Steve paused at that, not taking my implication very well.
	I looked back at the moon, slowly drifting by beneath us.  "As soon
as it orbits back behind the planet again, which should be in about..."  A
quick jab at the console again.  "...seventy five minutes, we'll make for a
quick landing."

	He eyed me, looking a bit disturbed.  "Sure that's a good idea?"
	A quirked eyebrow and narrowed eyes, I silently told him exactly
what I thought of his question.
	Steve breathed a small sigh.  "Fine, I'm heading downstairs."  He
walked across the deck, stepping onto a protruding ladder, looking back at
me and beckoning.  "Coming?"


	In the heart of this maze of metal and plastic lay a bit of lost
paradise, a small island of Earth in the depths of space.  We climbed down
onto a carpet of fine, green grass, slightly damp.  An artificial creek
burbled its merry way across the room, though you wouldn't know it was to
look at it.  A single stub of a tree leaned over it, drooping.
	We sat down under the tree.  Steve took his boots and socks off,
rolling up his pants, and hung his feet in the cool water.
	"Care to talk about it?"
	I shook my head slightly.  "Sorry.  Not now, at least."

	Steve faced the stream, looking away.


	It was an issue of questionable tactics in the first place, years
and years ago.  I knew *someone* was onto me, but had no idea who.  My
apartment had been searched, though discreetly, my phone bugged...and I
knew it was time to do something.  And so it all began with a phone call to
a longtime friend.
	"...I just need something else in my life, you know?  I'm even
getting bored with Maison Ikkoku."
	I shrugged.  It was a stupid idea to begin with, but it was this or
nothing.  "Well, more like depressed, actually."
	Steve laughed at that.  "Can't help ya, man."
	Up to this point, I'd never had any kind of relationship with
anyone, being the geek I was.  "Even after the last episode, too!  Maybe I
just empathize with Godai too much."  I smiled slightly.
	But I'd already decided to attract some of that unwelcome attention
in a bit more of a direct fashion.  And my voice picked up a note of
sadness.  "Maybe I'm just lonely."
	"You? That *is* a change."

	It was time to go hunting, and I did it the hard way.


	The moon slid away to reveal the planet again, minus its unwanted
visitor.  Steve and I exchanged glances.

	A bay door in the belly of the ship slid ponderously open.  The
scoutcraft within drifted forward, and the door closed.

	The planet below opened up invitingly, and the scoutcraft brushed
through a few faint wisps of cloud, heading for a small island near the
mainland.
	"Just in case.  They're probably already on the continent
somewhere."


	The exit ramp descended, and a touch of breeze brought the salty
taste of the sea.  Outside, we gathered near a small copse of trees.  Vivid
green bark and a light purple ocean brought home the alienness of the
world.

	"It's a good thing this air is breathable.  I'd hate to have to
walk around in those stupid suits all the time."  Nick grumbled at nothing
in particular.
	"Then relax and enjoy it.  Let's take a look around, shall we?"

	A nearby cliff beckoned.  The sun was low on the horizon,
reflecting a rainbow of light off of the rippling water below.  So peaceful
and serene.

	I looked down...
	"Oh my god..."

	On the rocks below, a humanoid form was spreadeagled next to the
crashing waves of the sea.  Steve looked at it, his expression unreadable.


* Choices


	"Damn, he's heavy."  Steve stumbled a second time, cursing.

	Inside the scoutship, the three of us laid him on a bunk set into
the wall.
	"I hope you know what you're doing", Nick growled.
	"Do we have any choice?  Look."  I turned his head, revealing a
small, electronic device, cracked open and innards exposed.  "Something
tells me that's not supposed to be there."
	"So now what?"  Steve looked back at me as I walked down the ramp.
	"We wait for him to come around.  I'll be outside."

	I sat down, dangling my legs over the edge of the cliff, looking
down at the crashing waves. The sun was setting.
	Maybe he's right.  This isn't such a good idea.

	I looked out over the sea, as the sun dipped lower, almost below
the horizon now.

	On the other hand, I've got to do something.
	I rested my head in my hands, watching as the sun finally set, the
last, faint rays of light slowly fading away.

	"He's coming around."
	"I'll be right there."

	I stood up, kicking a pebble over the edge of the cliff, and
looking rather despondently at the darkening sky.

	The seadweller tossed restlessly.  He blinked slowly, and his eyes
opened halfway.  Just the barest hint of a melodic whistle sounded.
	"You're safe.  It's all right."  Nick rested a comforting hand on
the seadweller's arm.  His eyes opened a bit more, and he started to sit
up, then clutched at the device on his head.  It sparked.
	Nick pushed him back down gently.  "Careful there.  You need to
rest."
	"I don't think he understands what you're saying."
	I shook my head.  "Doesn't matter."  He's among friends, and that
needs no language to communicate.

	I gestured to Steve.


	"We've got to do something about that thing on his head."
	Steve looked away, at the cliff.  "We can't do anything here,
that's for sure."
	"Then we're talking about taking him aboard Blue Lightning.  Should
we risk it?"

	"If we were going to catch anything, it would have happened
already."  He faced me again, grinning.  "Besides, you said you didn't
have a choice, did you?"
	I smiled.  If only for a fleeting moment, this nothing did what
afore could not be done.  For now at least, I'm happy.

	"What..."  Now puzzled, I looked intently at the nearby copse of
trees.  Steve glanced at it, curious.
	"Give me your floptical recorder."
	He held out a small, rectangular device, with a slot in the back
just big enough for a 3.5" floptical.
	I took it, holding it out in the direction of the trees, as the
grinding sound grew louder.


	The scoutcraft flew into the night, and the clearing was once again
empty.

	...no, perhaps not.  The mystery, remained.


	John and I helped the seadweller onto a medbed.  He took a
medscanner, a calculator-like gadget with a couple of odd-looking
attachments thrown in for good measure, and panned it over the head of the
now prone humanoid.
	He gazed curiously at it.  "Maybe you boys should wait outside."

	Steve shot a satisfied look at me.  "Now's as good a time as any."
Ahead, around a slight bend in the corridor, a ladder ran through the
ceiling and floor.
	I stared rather confusedly at him.  "For what?"
	He started down the ladder.  "We need to talk.  About what happened
that day."

	"Now isn't--"
	His voice wafted up from below.  "You can't keep it bottled up
forever."

	I climbed onto the ladder, sighing heavily.  He's right.


	The door closed behind us.  I sat down on my bunk, and Steve
followed suit.  Painful it may be, but keeping it inside will only eat away
at that still small hope I clung so desperately to.  It's time to let it
go.

	"After we got out of the compound where they were holding her, we
headed for the ship."


	Below, a narrow dirt road was braced by trees.  The flitter raced
along, only a few feet above the treetops.
	"Why did you bother?"  Kerin looked at me.
	"I didn't want you hurt.  You know what they would have done to
you."

	She looked ahead, no trace of emotion.  "That's not it.  That's not
it at all."
	Embarrassed, I looked down.  She knows me well enough to realize
that much.  After more than ten years, I can't expect less.

	Behind us, a menacing black chopper rose into view, closing
rapidly.  Kerin looked back, fearful.
	"Looks like we've got company.  Keep your head down."

	"Why should you care?  You know who I am!"
	"I've known since we met."

	I looked at her again, her eyes wide.  "Now is not the time to
discuss this.  As I see it, you have two choices.  I can try to evade these
clowns and hide you somewhere where you'll be safe, or..."
	I paused, looking away.  "...or you can come with me."

	"Are you serious?  Do you really care about me that much?"
	"I..."  I stuttered, as always, unable to say it.  I *am* in love
with you.  No matter what happens...I can't lose you again.

	Machine gun fire sounded from the chopper, almost on top of us.  I
shoved Kerin down in the seat.  "Stay down!"
	The flitter dashed forward, and I broke towards the sun, high in
the sky.  In the distance, Blue Lightning came into sight, in the middle of
a large field with signs of heavy equipment having been moved across it.
"They're still tailing us."

	Another chopper came into view in front of us, swinging out from
behind the ship.  "Shit!  More trouble."

	Kerin peeked above the dashboard, and her eyes widened at the sight
of it.  "That's a...a..."
	"Stay down!  We've gotta make it to the ship!"
	I pressed a button and spoke into a grille on the dash.  "Steve,
open bay 5.  Shut it right after we land."
	"Gotcha."

	I aimed for the opening door, as both choppers closed in.

	Just before we entered, machine gun fire sounded again, and Kerin
gasped in pain.  On her chest and shoulder, two splotches of blood were
rapidly spreading.  She slumped back in the seat, her breathing shallow and
labored.

	The bay door closed behind us.  The flitter settled to the deck,
and Steve rushed forward, alarmed.
	I cradled Kerin in my arms.  In a faint whisper, she breathed her
last.  "Goodbye, Damon.  I l..."  Then her eyes rolled back, and her body
sagged.
	I buried my face in her chest.  "Noo..."

	And so it ended, with the one person I treasured more than anything
taken from me not a moment before I left Earth, never to return.


	"You know the rest already."  A single tear dropped from my cheek.
I dabbed at it, wiping it away.  "...so close", I whispered.  "Why?"

	And there was only silence.

	"Let's go."
	I looked at Steve sidewise.


	The infirmary door slid open in front of us.  The humanoid was
sitting up on the medbed, his head now free of the device, a white bandage
in its place.  The device itself rested on a small, wheeled table nearby.
John, standing next to the bed, gestured.  "He'll be fine.  But I didn't
try to take the wires out of his head, that this thing was attached to.
Too much risk of brain damage."
	He walked over.  "You wanna know something?  His brain is almost
*exactly* like ours, except for a small third lobe in the back of his
head."
	Another puzzle?  "Wait a second.  How could he be that similar to
us?"

	"I gave Nick a skin scraping.  He'll take a look at his DNA.  Let's
wait and see what he comes up with, mmm?"
	I approached the bed and held out my hand, helping the humanoid to
his feet.  "C'mon.  I want to show you something."


	Steve and I guided him from the stairway onto the bridge.  The ship
was just beyond the edge of the moon, with the planet in view.
	The seadweller approached the viewscreen slowly, a wondering look
on his face.

	The other ship begins to edge into view again, and the humanoid's
eyes widened.  He slowly touched his hand to the bandage.
	He turned around, facing us.  He pointed at his eyes...and the
ship, looking at it.
	"Look at the ship?  I don't--"
	"No, I think he means he's seen it before.  Or maybe something like
it..."  Jeff climbed off the ladder.

	The humanoid faced us again, as the ship moved back behind the
moon.

	He paused, then approached me, pointing at his mouth...then at my
ear...then at my mouth...then at his...ear?  I nodded quickly.  "You're
right.  We have to find a way to communicate."
	He slowly pointed at the bandage, then cupped his hand in the shape
of the device so recently removed.
	"Are you saying...that was a translator?"

	He pointed at the viewscreen again, then looked confused.
	"It can translate their language?"

	We faced each other silently.  There are always...possibilities.
And the mystery beckoned.

	I sat down at one of the consoles, and pressed and held a button.
"John, think you could reattach that thing?"
	Click.  "Are you kidding?"
	"No questions.  Can you do it?"  I could almost hear his
indecision...but his trust won out.  "I...think so..."
	"Alright.  Tomorrow then."  I released the button.  "Steve, go find
Jeremy.  We're gonna need to get that thing fixed before we can put it back
on."
	His concern was plainly visible.  "Don't you think you should ask
*him* first before you go messing with his head?"

	I glanced back at the humanoid.  "I think he's already made that
decision."
	"I want Jeremy to make another one, too."

	Steve's eyes widened.  He wheezed and coughed repeatedly, trying to
recover.  "Are you *nuts*??"
	"Not hardly.  I'm gonna need one."
	Steve looked even more surprised.

	"If I'm right, that thing only works one way.  You can understand
what's being spoken, but not speak the language yourself."
	"Then how will that help?"
	I returned with a knowing look.  "I can start by using that voice
sample we recorded earlier."
	"How do you know that was their language?"

	I looked back at the seadweller, who was watching us both
curiously.  "What else could it have been?  Besides, I played it for our
friend here, and he seemed to recognize it."

	Steve looked glum.  "You're crazier than I'd ever hope to be."
	I smiled sadly.  "It's not like I have a choice, do I?"


* Aliens


	"It's not just a translator."  Jeremy, sitting on a workbench,
turned to face us.
	"Come again?"  Steve asked.

	"It does a bit more than just translate."  John held up the broken
translator.  "When I x-rayed the guy's head, welll...those wires are going
to some very interesting places.  Not only does it send stuff to the
conscious mind, to the lingual centres of the brain, it also sends it to a
very specific area of the subconscious."  He dropped it back on the table,
puzzled.  "It also ties into the optic nerve, but I'll be damned if I know
why.  It's meant to act almost like a hypnotic suggestion, except the
person knows what's going on."
	Ouch.  "That's a rather nasty piece of work, then.  So you just
don't connect up those wires, right?"
	"Not quite that simple.  The thing's delicately balanced to give
out just the right current, and not fry his brain."
	"I can shunt it to a resistor, but it'll have to be outside the
casing.  If I put it inside, the heat might damage the circuitry", Jeremy
added.  "Just don't get hit in the head, and you'll be okay."
	"Otherwise, you'll have a major headache to deal with."

	Jeremy smiled at that, and turned to face me.  "So you wanted me to
make another one, right?  I'll see what I can do."  He picked up the
translator again.  "But it'll probably take a few days."
	I nodded.  "No problem.  Now we head back."

	Steve gave me an I've-had-enough look.  I returned the favor.

	"First, we need to get more samples of their language.  *And* I
want to find out what they're doing here."  I gestured at the ladder.
"Seeing as how I won't be able to find that out from *him*, we need to go
back.  So don't bother complaining."
	I smiled crookedly.  "Besides, he might be getting a bit lonely by
now.  A bit hungry, too.  Let's go."


	A lone scoutcraft descended towards the planet.


	The humanoid stepped carefully down the ramp.  Something changed,
and he stood a bit taller, almost glowing with joy.
	A few, long strides to the edge of the cliff, and he jumped.
Falling, a perfect swan dive, he disappeared far into the depths of the
sea.

	"Pretty strong.  For a female."
	"When'd you get that idea?"  I frowned at him, then stared,
wondering, at the sea below.
	"I wasn't sure for a while, but it makes sense.  Don't tell me you
haven't noticed the way she acts."

	I avoided his eyes, almost blushing.  He smiled.  "Embarrassed?"
	"A little, yes."

	He gave me a friendly slap.  "Och, dinna worry lad.  We oll make
mistekes sometuymes."
	I rubbed my back.  "Hey!"

	The sky brightened a little, and one by one the stars winked out.
I yawned, waving a hand in front of my mouth.  "They'll probably be out
during the day.  We'll come back tonight."

	I cleared away a small, circular area by the cliff.  "Here.  We'll
make a sundial, and mark it for sunset.  She'll figure it out."


	The continent loomed ahead on the screen, dark and forbidding.
They most likely didn't go there, to keep isolated.  But from what, I
wonder?

**********

	The walls and floor were steel gray, and the light was stark and
painfully bright.  Three creatures shuffled nervously through a low
doorway.  Four feet high, blackish gray, thin, fur, six legs (arms?).  The
mouths were rimmed with long, chitinous fingers, and filled with rows of
tiny, sharp teeth.
	A grinding noise echoed through the room, as the creature with
black fur and a brown underbelly rubbed his fingers against his teeth and
each other, in a complex, gyrating rhythm.  "Missing was one of workers
this morning, sir."
	The gray one answered.  "Will search you?  Needed are all workers
now.  Progressing well until now is project.  Find it you must."
	The third, dark gray with a brown underbelly, turned away,
emitting a breathy hiss.  "Sure are you that injured it is?  Escaped is
possible for it?"
	"Remove could not controller-device it.  Injured it must be.
Search will I."  The black one skitted to one side as the other two left,
stiffly marching down the long corridor.
	The grinding noise subsided a bit.  "Hope to find it soon I do.
Would not be good if died it."  His head hung low, slowly shaking from side
to side.

**********

	I must tell the elders.  My people...and my friends, are in great
danger.

	Weya swam past the coral reef, deceptively calm.  Fierce currents
threatened to dash her against the rocks, leaving her prey to the thousands
of kelpworms within.
	She glided above the ridge, finding a safer current.
	If only they will listen.  I have been an outsider to them for too
long, preferring both land and sea, the solitude of the far and distant.
And yet...now, when I need their help most, will they aid me?

	Ahead, a great, rocky protrusion came into view.  Many openings in
the rock were visible.

	Home.

	She swam toward one of the smaller openings, which shortly opened
out into a huge grotto.  A dazzling array of crystalline formations covered
the walls, floor, and ceiling.  Ordered chaos, a garden of unparalleled
beauty.  And yet the haughty stench of calm immutability hung dead in the
water.

	The guards, she thought.  Two of the younger, male seadwellers swam
towards her.

	"Why are you here, Weya?"
	"The elders are not pleased with your presence."
	Or even my existence, I am sure.  Sad, indeed.

	"I must speak to at least one elder.  I would prefer that the
circle meet."
	One snickered.  "That will not happen.  Leave now."
	"Wait!"  She paused, gathering her thoughts.  "Our people are being
taken.  Would you not know the reason?"
	"You have found something?"

	Weya looked away, distant.  "Much more than I can say now.  The
circle should meet."
	There was a long silence.

	"You are right, of course.  This time, Weya.  This time..."

	The two swam off, leaving her to wait.  A matter of this importance
should surely provoke a response, but the circle had long despised her.
She could only hope they chose reason over bitterness.

	Before long, she was escorted into a smaller chamber, nearly
identical to the first.  The circle was waiting, long, sagging faces filled
with distaste.  She sighed.  Must truly despair so easily overcome?

	"You would speak to us on this matter?  Then speak."

	She nodded.  "My people, something must be done.  Our brothers and
sisters are being taken while they gather crops from the island.  A group
of strange creatures which came in flying metal are forcing them to build
more of such metal for them."
	The water was disturbed as feet and arms were swished in
displeasure.
	"Listen, please!  Other creatures, who look much like us but are
pale and soft, helped me."
	The water grew cloudier.
	"They removed the thing controlling my mind.  See the mark it
left!"  Weya turned her head, showing the First Speaker the purple splotch
near her ear membrane, a small, white circle of bone showing through at the
center.  The bandage?  Lost, somewhere in the sea.

	"Enough of this foolishness.  We will listen no more.  This is
another of your fables from above, Weya."
	She faced the Third Speaker, the sharp jangling of anger plain in
her once melodic voice.  "Can you not see?  Our brothers and sisters are
missing, truly.  Is that a fable?"

	Low-pitched, dissonant whistling echoed harshly throughout the
chamber.
	"If what you say is true..."
	She faced the First Speaker again.
	"...we will simply not go to the island any more.  Your creatures
can deal with each other."
	"What??  And the people we have lost?  What of them?"
	"Nothing can be done.  I have spoken.  You may leave."


	I cannot go back, then.  If they will not listen...
	Weya approached the cliff, the beating of the waves upon the rocks
above growing louder.  Emerging from the sea, she walked along a small path
leading up the cliff face, smiling a small, sad smile.  The sun, high in
the sky, shone down upon her, and a cascade of light fell around the
seawater still clinging to her.
	My new friends will help me.  But is that enough?

	An arm grabbed hold of her from above, hauling her onto the top of
the cliff.  The seadweller looked forlornly at her, all the while gripping
her hand tightly.
	Another seadweller, accompanied by the black spider, approached.

	Then she noticed the controllers.

	"Safe you are!  Glad am I to see you."  He looked intently at her
head, noticing the wound.  "Have not your controller-device you?  Most
strange this is."

	Weya was slowly led away by the two seadwellers.  The taller,
spoke.  "I'm...sorry, Weya."

	I am alone.


* Captured!


	"She's not here?  Hmmm...odd."
	Steve and I walked along the cliff, reaching the sundial.  The
stick in the center was leaning slightly to one side, but otherwise intact
and untouched.  I reset the stick.
	"That's what I thought.  We're a bit late.  So is she."

	"Wait a sec."  I jogged back to the scoutcraft, and retrieved two
small elliptical pads, on the lower half of which are speaker grilles.
	"Communicators.  Since we'll be staying a while, we should have 'em
along."

	I held one out to Steve.  "Just in case."
	He pocketed it.  "Thanks.  You could've told me sooner."
	"C'mon.  Time to do a little exploring.  Did you bring that digital
recorder?"
	"Why'd you bother?"

	I grin.  "Well, it's the best we've got, considering..."
	Steve handed me the walkman.
	I pressed on the top edge of the communicator.  "Anybody awake up
there?"

	"Hullo."
	"Ben!  You're actually up at this time of night?"
	"I needed *food*."
	"Yeah, well...don't raid the icebox while I'm gone."  I looked out
towards the sea.  "How's Jeremy doing?  Any progress?"
	"Yeah, he-ahh, he had something to tell you.  Ho-uh, hold on a
minute."

	I paced along the cliff edge, then stopped.
	"Damon?  I've come up with an idea you might like."
	"How about the translator?"
	"It's coming.  John says he can set up something that plugs into
your head, to let you *think* what you want to say to our friend over
there."

	"Okay, how's it work?"
	"S'a bit complicated.  Hmmm...  Well, your brainwaves get
translated into that grinding language, and transmitted over a microwave
linkup.  Then, the translator gets it and puts it in terms our friend can
understand.  What do you think?"
	"How long?"

	"A little under a week for what's his name's.  Yours will take
longer."
	I smiled at Steve.  "Good luck, and thanks.  Oh, by the way, it's
'she', not 'he'."
	"Oh really?  See you later."

	I put away the communicator.
	"Sounds like you got yourself a bargain."
	"Who, Jeremy?  He's into that kind of stuff."  I glanced in the
general direction of the copse of trees.
	"S'not what I meant.  Your 'two-for-one' deal."
	"Eh heh.  Hmph.  Funny...let's go."


	We made our way through a rather dense stand of the alien greenery,
finally reaching what looked for all the world (mine, anyway) like a
construction site.  I peered out from behind a tree.  Seadwellers, and a
few spiders, were mulling about, the seadwellers doing most of the heavy
duty work, while the spiders fine tuned things.  A certain acquaintance was
nowhere to be seen.
	"Well, shit in a bucket.  These people have been busy."
	"Oh, quite."  Steve smiled slightly.
	"Don't start."
	"What?"  He grinned a bit more.

	"Good. What do you think they're building?"
	"What're you asking me for?  I'm just a bodyguard."
	"Seriously.  Opinions?"

	Steve looked silently at the site.
	"The only thing I can come up with is some sort of mining machines,
*maybe*."  He pointed to a rather unoccupied spot on the construction site.
"Those drums over there?  I could be wrong, but those look like ore
filters."
	"What makes you say that?"
	"Look, if you dump the ore in through the top, those pistons would
pulverize it, and those electromagnets would grab the ore.  The shit gets
dumped, and you can turn off the magnets and dump the ore wherever you want
it."
	"Brilliant."  Except for the fact that magnets don't attract much.
"Now, how do they move 'em?"
	"You got me."

	I looked around at the site, then pointed at a far corner.
"There, you see those two crawlers?  *That's* how they move 'em."

	Suddenly, everybody stopped working.  A three-creature wide line
formed, heading out of sight.  The spiders made up the sparse third column,
closest to us.
	"Quitting time.  Chow and bunk."
	"My thoughts exactly.  What say we make like a very discreet
shadow?"
	Steve looked at me, grinning mischievously.  "Your da boss, boss."
	"Oh, shuddup.  Twit."

	And we *discreetly* followed the line.  That is, except for Steve's
incessant prattling.  "I am not a twit.  Do not call me a twit.  I'm much
more intelligent."


	The line diverged.  The spiders entered a huge shuttle, and the
seadwellers continued on towards what appeared to be a barracks.
	"Gotta be at least fifty of the locals here.  More, unless I miss
my guess."
	"What could be so important that they have to mine it here?"
	"Wish I knew.  Maybe we'll find out."  I frowned.  "Hope we don't
though.  I wanna get those people out of there long before that."
	"Slow down.  We can wait an hour or so before we try anything."

	I looked back in the direction we came from.  "Right.  Let's head
back to that construction site.  Hope they don't post guards."
	"Why should they?"
	I glanced back at him.  "Good point."

	We returned to the site.  And indeed, no guards were in sight.  :)

	I craned my neck, trying to get a better view of the interior of
one of the crawlers.
	"Will you give me a hand?  I want a look at this in case we need to
use it."
	"Fine.  Watch it..."
	I clambered over the edge.

	"Great!  It figures."
	"What?"
	"The controls are built for spiders.  Naturally..."
	"These holes are deep.  Can't reach the end with my fingers.  With
my luck, they probably have some sort of manipulators in them, too..."
	"Just as long as we don't need to borrow a spider to drive one."
	I smiled down at him.  "I wouldn't bet on it.  All right.  We'll
bring the laser next time and cut the tracks."

	"Don't you think you'd better find out a little more of what's
going on before you do that?"
	"Seems pretty clear-cut to me."
	"Don't judge by what you see.  Find out."

	I sighed.  "Get me outta here, will you?"
	"Sure."


	Inside the barracks, I waited for my eyes to adjust to the gloom.
All around, seadwellers were lying in various positions on the ground.
There was no floor.  A pair of lone eyes gleamed in the darkness,
reflecting the faint light from the doorway.  I looked back at Steve and
gestured.  "Steve..."

	I approached the eyes.  But it wasn't her.
	A soft, fluted tone sounded from around his throat.  "Weya?"
	"Sorry, I don't understand."

	He pointed at Steve.  "Ssele."  He gestured at me, then beside me.
"Weya?"
	"I think he means *her*."
	I shook my head slowly.

	He pointed towards the doorway, at the spiders' ship.  "Weya."
	I took his hand.  "Can you show us where she is?"

	He slowly took it back, and I let go.  He tapped the 'translator'
on the side of his head twice.
	"I'll be back for you then.  All of you."

	A few more eyes shone brightly in the darkness, watching us.
"Let's head back for the ship.  We're gonna need...uh-oh."
	*Very* rapidly, two spiders appeared in the doorway and grabbed
both us, though gently.  Steve was pale, much more so than usual, almost
choking for air.

	I felt around in my pocket, and pressed the communicator.
"Whoever's around up there, we've been captured."
	"Say again?"  Jeremy's tinny voice sounded in the still air.  "I
can barely hear you."
	"We've been *captured*.  Hurry up with that stuff.  We're gonna
need it."


* A Little Magic

	I tapped the barrier lightly.  It gave a little.  Not glass, and it
had a bit of a metallic sheen.  Beyond, I could see a few other cells
across the corridor.
	Steve wasn't in good shape.  Pale, knuckles white. clutching the
floor.  "Will you be okay?"
	He coughed, clearing his throat.  "No.  Sorry, I just can't control
that", he rasped.

	"I know how you feel.  For now, let's get some sleep."
	"We'll need it."

**********

	The park was a little crowded this particular evening.
	"Sorry to wake everybody up, but Damon's in trouble.  I think the
aliens from that ship orbiting the planet have him and Steve."
	Ben shrugged.  "So what are we s'posed to do about it?"
	"I came up with an idea for a 'telepathic' implant."
	John quirked an eyebrow at that.
	"Whoever is wearing one can just *think* what he wants to say, and
someone else wearing one will 'hear' him."

	"Neat, but how will that help?  I don't think we're gonna convince
one of the aliens to wear one", Jeff said.
	"You'd have to hot-wire the alien's brain, too.  Difficult."  John
stonefaced it as usual.

	"That wasn't what it was for in the first place.  That native was
going to get one, along with Damon.  Originally, we could have found out
what was going on straight from her."
	Jeremy paused.  "I don't know what he has in mind for that now.
But on the other hand, we still have the translator.  If I can get one to
him, he'll be able to understand these aliens."

	"And?"  Eric gazed at him expectantly.
	"I'm guessing he hopes it'll work out from there."
	"If it doesn't?  Where's that leave us?"

	"It had better work, and soon.  I doubt they know what Damon and
Steve eat."
	"Sounds...like it could be a problem."

	"I need volunteers.  We've got to finish his translator and the two
'telepathy' burets in two days."
	"You kidding?"  Jeff shook his head.  "Why two days, anyway?"

	"That's about as long as they can hold out without food or water."
He faced Ben.  "Ben, how're you with electronics?"
	He shrugged.  "Okay, I guess."
	"Fine.  I'll give you a crash course in microelectronics in a
minute."  He turned to Eric.  "Eric, you're pretty good at programming,
right?"
	"You could say that."
	"You're doing the AI for Damon's 'telepathy' buret, then."
	"A buret?"

	"Goes around the back of your neck."  John drew an imaginary line.
"Geordi in reverse."
	"Eyes in the back of your head.  Cool."

	"Anyone else?"
	"I'm working on copying what's her face's brainwave patterns from
the translator over to the buret."
	"Great, John.  Jeff?"
	"I can cook da food."
	He chuckled.  "Thanks.  Ben and Eric?"


	Jeremy motioned Ben onto the workbench, putting a tiny circuitboard
into what looked like a microfiche viewer.
	"This should be fairly easy.  I've got the parts list right here,
and the circuit diagram."  He pointed at a nearby wall.  "The parts are in
the bins.  Be careful with them.  Just put them in the manipulator here,
and solder them in with the trackball."
	"Looks simple enough."

	He turned to leave the electronics lab, and Eric followed.  "All
right then.  Now it's your turn."


	Eric sat down in front of the mainframe screen.
	"I need an AI routine that will translate Damon's brainwaves into
the grinding language.  You can get the brainwave data from John, and the
info on the grinding language from Jeff."
	"I can do that.  What about you?"
	"I'll be working on the buret itself."

	"Good luck."

**********

	Black waved a foreleg at Weya.  "Well now are you?  Worried was I."

	She looked down at the floor, forlorn.  They had generously
provided her with another translator, but she wasn't in the mood for
conversation.
	"Wrong, is there?  Have been sad for two days you."  Black shifted
nervously.  "Strange this is.  Have been two recent, disturbing events."

	Weya looked up a little.

	"Missing were you, and found different, pale creatures we."
	Her head snapped up.  "No..."  (not that Black can understand her)
	
	He seemed mildly surprised, waving his fingers about momentarily.
"Talk you?  Have not done that before."
	Weya gestured frantically at the barrier.  Perhaps...
	"Quite intelligent are you.  Tell this to &(click)(click) I must."

	He approached the barrier, and it flew up through the ceiling of
its own accord.
	Weya shot past him, running down the corridor.  She skidded to a
halt outside one cell, and started banging on the barrier.


	I had been sitting on the floor, but bolted to my feet.  Steve
quickly rolled over from where he had been lying down, and stood up.
	"Weya!"
	A familiar grinding noise sounded, muffled, through the barrier.
"Stop!"
	Weya stopped banging, lowering her arms slowly, and hung her head.
	"Weya, what's wrong?"

	Black appeared behind her, and Steve started looking a tad green.
	"Uh oh.  She's got another translator."

	"Doing what were you?"

	I knocked on the barrier, and the two of them looked at me.
	I jerked my thumb upward repeatedly.  Come on, understand...
	I slowly moved my hands up along the barrier.

	Black finally activated the barrier, and I rushed forward.  Steve
took a couple of steps backward.
	She slowly returned the hug.
	"Thank *god* you're all right!"
	"Most strange this is."

	"Will bring him you.  Will follow me."
	The barrier closed.  Weya and I separated, and she took me by the
hand.  We walked down the corridor together.

	We entered a stark room through a low doorway.  The gray spider was
waiting.
	"Has happened again.  Has been found another."

	John was escorted into the room, a large suitcase handcuffed to his
wrist.  He started walking towards me, but Gray moved to stop him.
	He shoved Gray out of the way with amazing strength for a 5'2" guy,
and walked over.  Gray skittered across the room, trying to stop.
	"That was fast."
	"I only hope it works.  Two days for development and bug testing
doesn't leave a lot of room for mistakes."

	"So how will you install them?"

	John sat down, opening his suitcase.  Inside was a fantastic array
of medical equipment, standard issue for 2008 medical technicians traveling
in Blue Lightning.
	He took out a rather bulky, semicircular device, looking at it.
"I brought a portable x-ray machine, but the power is limited.  It won't
last more than 30 minutes, tops, without time to recharge."
	"How long will it take to install the translator and the other
thing?"

	He looked at me, quirking an eyebrow.  "For you, just under 20
minutes.  I see our local's got a replacement translator already, so we can
just make it in time."

	I laid down, and John put the x-ray machine over my head.
	"Anesthetic, doctor?"

	A clunk just above the ear with an iron mallet from his box of
tricks, and I went instantly unconscious.  "Serves him right."

	As the spiders looked on, John slowly inserted the wires and
sockets into my skull, and then Weya's, being slightly more gentle with the
'anesthetic' with Weya.

	A couple of slaps to my cheek, and I woke up.  John shook Weya
awake.  "Y'all ready to face the music?  Let's dance."

	I looked at Weya.  "Are you ready?"
	After a moment, she nodded slowly.  John handed me a translator and
buret.
	I snapped them into place, and John put on Weya's.  I smiled.
"Great.  Entering the cybernet, by Dr. John Vestar.  I tell ya doc, I..."
	My expression went blank for a second, and I looked up at Weya in
wonderment, almost disbelief.  "Weya??..."
	She was looking very carefully at me.  A tear trickled down my
cheek.

	"Weya, I never imagined...no...no, please."
	The pain.  I'd buried it deep, but somehow she'd found it.
	"Don't make me...remember..."

Memories

	-It's been almost a year now, and I still remember it clearly.-

	An image of Weya, sitting on the cliff with her legs dangling over
the edge, looking quite forlorn.  The sun was fairly low in the sky.
	
	-Life has been very unkind, for it stole from me the one I loved.-


	Youth.  Small, fragile, and beautiful, yet always sad.  Four others
were chasing her, reaching out with stiffly rippling kelpworms.

	-Since my youth, I have been an outcast, despised by the other
children.-

	Not quite fast enough, one kelpworm came within striking distance.
She screamed.


	She cowered before two adult seadwellers.  "Why do you taunt our
children?  You will be punished for this."

	-Even by the adults.-


	Solitude embraced her, and she sought refuge and comfort in it.
The crashing roar grew louder, as she neared the forbidden land.

	-Is it any wonder that I preferred the solitude of the open sea and
the continent?-

	She emerged from the water.  Just beyond the beach, a dark,
haunting forest was visible.  Large, black shapes rustled through the
trees, never clearly seen.  Angry eyes leered out at her, waiting for her
to come closer.

	-For all its danger, there was the wonder, the joy of seeing
something new and different.-

	She walked along the shore, leaving the shapes behind.  The forest
began to thin out a little.

	-I never understood my fascination with the land, but I always knew
I could find peace there.-

	The last of the trees fell away, and Weya stood before a vast,
windswept prairie of tall, wild grasses.  In the distance, a mountain range
beckoned.  The air around it was 'rippled', as if by great heat or intense
cold.

	-This land held many mysteries.  I have only seen the barest hint
of what is there, waiting to be discovered.-

	She entered the tall grass.  A small, dark opening now lay at her
feet.  She crouched down at it, looking inside.

	-Some time ago, I found something that terrified me greatly.-

	She was inside the dark cavern.  In the dim, flickering light from
the opening, many shapes were visible, lying on the floor.  Most of them
looked vaguely humanoid.  A few were unidentifiable, being too crumbled to
make out.  One however, was barely intact enough to be recognizable as the
fossilized remains of one of the spiders.

	-Long, long ago, a terrible catastrophe occurred.  What happened I
will never know.-

	She bent down, touching one of the humanoid figures, curious, yet
still fearful.  Closer inspection revealed it to be the fossilized remains
of a seadweller.

	-This rock is very ancient.  What could have killed them, I wonder?
Why are they all here together?-

	She walked towards the far end of the cavern.  A metallic glint,
but otherwise, it was too dark to see.

	-I had many more questions, but the mystery only deepened,
especially after I found...-

	Weya was facing a large boulder, one side of which had been crushed
by a recent cave in.  Inside, barely visible in the faint light, was a
metallic canister, a jagged crack near its bottom.

	-...this.  I still do not know what it is.  But something about it
frightens me more than I can bear.-

	She turned to face the fossils, and the opening.  Sadness.

	-Why do I always come here?  I have never told the others of its
existence.  What is it that draws me to it so?-


	She stood on the beach again, holding her head high.  Behind her,
the mountains rose up into the sky.  The ocean waves rippled at her feet.


	The grotto, where the world itself showed its truest beauty.  Only
a few seadwellers were present, but all were joyous on this day.  Weya and
Uris, her husband, floated in the center, hands clasped.

	-For one brief moment, was I truly happy.  Uris had always been the
only one who had ever been kind to me.

	They embraced, and the ceremony ended.  Two lives had become one.

	They swam away, and the water around them sparkled, refracting the
light of the sun high overhead.

	-I only wish that moment would have lasted forever.-


	Terror, and loss.  A six-tentacled creature rushed towards the
rocky home of the seadwellers.  The tentacles bore a remarkable resemblance
to the fingers of the spiders.  They beat the water, pulsating like a
squid's, drawing ever closer.

	-Alas, that was not to be.-

	Four seadwellers swam past the creature, trying to attract its
attention.  It made an angry grab, but they slipped away.

	It followed them, and they swam out to the open sea, towards the
nether depths where the creature normally roamed.

	Rapidly, it closed.  Nearer now, it grabbed again, narrowly
missing.

	-In an instant...-

	Again, a tentacle shot out, this time wrapping itself around the
unlucky seadweller.  A second tentacle, securing its grasp even as the
seadweller squirmed.

	-...my joy turned to sorrow...-

	Uris screamed.  And was silenced, suddenly, by a sickening crunch.

	-...for the Kraken took my beloved from me.-


	Again, she was sitting on the cliff.  The sun was much lower now,
almost touching the horizon.  A drab, grayish black ocean laughed below,
silently mocking.

	-This sorrow is buried deeply in my heart.  Is there happiness in
the world?  I cannot find it.  Is there sadness?  It is ever with me, a
kelpworm stinging my side.-

	Suddenly, she twisted around, looking up at something.  Her concern
was evident.

	-But there was to be a new horror in my life.-

	The spiders' shuttle descended from the sky, heading towards the
further parts of the island.  A low rumble grew louder, and the shuttle
settled to the ground, disappearing beyond the trees.  Weya, in a purely
human gesture of surprise, put her hand to her open mouth.

	-That was when the spiders came.-

**********

	Carnegie Mellon, where I went to college.  Several variegated
buildings are sprawled up and down a steep hill, reaching five stories high
against one.

	-I can still remember when we first met.-

	Highlander Cafe, in the serving area, facing the dining rooms.  It
was some mealtime or other, and the place was crowded with students.

	-Seems a bit of a silly way to introduce herself, now that I think
about it.-

	I was wiping the counter next to the sink in the front dining room,
slightly hunched over.

	"Excuse me..."

	-But it was effective.  I didn't realize it was her until a bit
later.-

	"Excuse me..."
	I looked up.  "Yes?  Can I help you?"

	It was Kerin, much younger.  Her hair was tied in the back, then,
and was hanging down.  She was smiling just so.
	I straightened up.
	"Do you have any teabags?"
	"Sure.  Just a sec."

	I opened a cabinet under the counter and pulled out a box of
teabags.
	She frowned slightly.  "Umm...how about herb tea?"
	I looked back at the cabinet.  "We have that too.  Raspberry, Earl
Gray, Lemon, Mint--"
	"I'll have lemon, thank you."  She smiled again.

	I pulled out another box and handed her a teabag.
	"Thanks."
	"Sure."  I put the box back and closed the cabinet.  I looked back,
and she was still standing there.
	"Was there something else?"
	"Oh.  No, thank you."

	She took a teacup and filled it with hot water.  I started wiping
the counter again, just a bit nervous.

	I watched her as she walked away, tray and teacup in hand.

	-Well, at the time, I *was* feeling a bit lonely.  That was the
truth to begin with.-


	Doherty hall, near the entrance.  Students were walking by.

	-I didn't see her again for a couple of days.  I had almost
forgotten, but...-

	"Oh, hi.  You go here, too?"

	She stopped next to the water fountain, noticing me taking a drink.

	"Yes..."
	"But I thought...I mean, I've seen you at Highlander almost every
day this week."
	"Well...I, have rent to afford and bills to pay."
	"Must be difficult."
	"Somewhat."

	She started to walk away, then looked back.  "See you later, then."
	"Bye."

	-It was then that I realized what had happened.-

	Kerin was no longer in sight.  I, however, was still standing
there.

	-This was going to be more difficult than I thought.-


	In front of Warner hall, next to the cut:  a long stretch of grass
with nothing but the occasional sidewalk to obscure the view.  I was on my
way home.

	"Hi!"

	She must have been coming *from* home.  We passed on the steps,
next to the street.

	"Again.  See you!"  I waved.

	-We saw a lot of each other after that,  I knew what was going on,
and still, I felt happier than I had been in a while.-

	"Wait a minute."  She stopped.
	"Hmm?"
	"Are you working tonight?"
	"Huh?"  I slipped, barely keeping my balance, landing on the next
step down.  "No..."

	She smiled.  "Great!  How about dinner?"

	I chuckled.  "That's...different."
	"Oh, uhh..."
	I shook my head.  "No no, that's fine!  How about lasagna?"
	"Sounds good.  Where shall we go?"
	"My place."

	She looked a bit confused.  "Are we ordering out?"
	"No, I'm cooking it."

	She smiled again.  "Terrific!  What time?"
	"Six."
	"Fine."

	"Right inside the front of Cyert Hall.  I'll walk you to my
apartment from there.  It's only a few minutes away."

	She waved, and started up the steps again.  "All right, I'll see
you then."

	I walked down the steps leading to the street, with a smile on my
face.

	-Terrific, indeed.  As long as I didn't get carried away.  Of
course, that didn't seem to matter as much anymore.-

	-Over the next few years until I graduated, nothing much happened.
I 'leaked' tidbits, but nothing important.  After all, antigravity and time
travel?  Meanwhile, I never did find out just which agency was keeping an
eye on me.  Except that it wasn't the BATF.  They weren't the subtle type.-

	-After I finally graduated, we still kept in touch.  But I wasn't
to see her again until a year later, when I started Blue Lightning,
Incorporated.-


* Communication


	The memories faded away like a half remembered dream.

	"I'm not sure what to say."
	"You could at least say, 'Thank you'."

	I smirked.  "I don't know what I'd do without you."
	"But...that....  Images, sounds, feelings.  They all flashed past
so quickly..."

	I looked at Weya.  "In the span of a few seconds, I just relived
both Weya's and my lifetimes.  It was...incredible."

	"I can tell you this much, though.  That wasn't filtered through
the spiders' language.  Pure thought.  I wonder how she did it..."
	"Well, don't leave me in the dark.  What's going on?"

	"I don't think she knows."
	"Now that *really* helps."
	"I remember them building most of those machines over at the
construction site, but not much else.  Except..."
	"What?"

	I looked back at him.  "Something one of the spiders said.  'It
must never happen again'.  It doesn't make any sense."
	"You're right, it doesn't.  Now make yourself useful.  Get that
food back they took from me."
	"You know this only works one way."
	"So?  You're good at talking with your hands.  Now's the time."

	Oh, well now.  "Thanks.  But I don't think that's gonna work."
	"What else can we do?  Steve's probably a vegetable by now, his
arachnophobia and all.  We can't stay here.  Do something."
	"Look I appreciate--"
	"Damon."

	Huh?

	Weya pointed at her buret, then at me.
	I replaced my buret.

	-Damon, listen to me.  Whatever we do, we need to do it together.
The spiders never realized we were intelligent.  We have to prove them
wrong.-
	So.  That was it.  -Okay, I have an idea.-
	-It *might* work.  Shall we try?-

	"John, come on.  Let's go."
	You sure they'll let us leave?"  He closed his suitcase.

	"Of course.  They're coming with us."
	His jaw dropped about three stories.  "W-H-A-T??"

	I chuckled.  "Finally got a reaction out of you.  Come on."

	The spiders, naturally, tried to stop us, but were more curious
than anything else.  They followed us down the corridor, and Steve joined
the parade reluctantly.
	-Weya, we'll work this out together.  I promise you that.-
	She smiled.  Or tried, rather.  It came out rather well, all things
considered.


	The two scoutcraft flew into the sky.


	"Good thing I bothered to put stairs in here."  We emerged onto the
bridge.
	Jeff gaped.  "Houseguests?"

	"You could say that."
	Weya sat down at the nav console.
	"Wait a second.  Just how much did you get from me?"
	-Everything.-

	-Strange.  I saw only bits and pieces.-
	-I'm sorry about your husband.-
	She looked away.  -Don't be.  He died saving the entire village.
That means something, doesn't it?-

	"I guess it does.  But it still hurts, down deep.  It still
hurts..."
	"Did I miss something?"

	"It's personal.  Do me a favor, will you Jeff?  Tell Jeremy I'll
need two voders ASAP."
	"Okay."  He headed for the ladder.

	I looked back at the viewscreen.  The planet looked a little
closer.
	-Weya, what are you doing?-
	-Putting the ship into orbit.  When we return our guests, we'll
take them directly to their ship.  That way, we'll get the same tour you're
about to give Krrlik and Uyykevk.-
	I smiled.  -How'd you guess?-


	-Nice atmosphere, for a spaceship.-  She sat down, hanging her feet
in the brook.
	-Thanks.-
	"You two ready?"
	"Plug us in."

	The two spiders looked on curiously, while Jeremy handed out more
presents.
	"I'm acquiring a headful."
	"That's not my fault."  He smiled.

	The grinding noise filled the air.  But it looked like the spiders
had been expecting *anything*, after seeing Blue Lightning.  Talk about
enough surprises in one day.
	Finally, communication took place.  I think we got our point
across.  Just a *bit* more intelligent than they had first surmised, and
not the 'smart monkeys' they'd expected.

	"<You probably realize now that all you had to do was ask them.
They would have helped you voluntarily, I'm sure, if it was that
important.>"
	"<Realize that we do, yes.  Changes nothing.  Must still be
repaired our ship.>"
	Black chimed in.  Or rather, Krrlik.  Old habits don't die easily.
"<Have lost many who slept.  Will die more if hurry we do not.>"

	"<I can volunteer my crew.  With their technological knowhow and
the iron you're about to mine from the surface-->"
	"<--we can repair your ship a lot sooner.>"  Weya smiled.

	"<Grateful are we.  Sorry are we to have caused pain to you.>"
	"<Let's not worry about that now.  What's done is done.  Let's save
your people.>"

	Enough misunderstandings for one day, surely.  I took out my
communicator.  "Jeremy, we need some more help.  Sorry to bother you again,
but this is gonna be a big job."


	It didn't take more than two days after the iron was mined to
repair their ship.  Fortunately, there were no more casualties in their
hibernation units.
	A new era was beginning.  Peace, even cooperation between the
spiders and the seadwellers, had finally come to pass.

	Very fortunate, since they both originally came from the same
world.


* Discovery


	Nick flipped on the projector.  The screen lit up, showing pairs of
strands of greyish-black material, speckled with whitish stripes.
	"That's right, a 97% match.  There's your theory."
	"I was pretty certain to begin with.  That fossilized spider
couldn't have gotten there any other way."

	"Just out of curiosity, how do we compare?"
	"With humans, there's about an 80% correlation.  Still fairly
impressive."
	"I'd say."

	-Weya, what say we take a look at that cave?  I'd like to get a
look at those myself.-
	She sighed.  -If that's what you want.-

	"Nick, have Eric meet me in bay four in 20 minutes, okay?"
	"No problem.  Mind if I come along?"
	"Sure.  Join the party."


	The scoutship settled onto the beach, next to the prairie.

	-Lead the way, Weya.-

	The grass came up to our waists, making wading through it a bit
difficult.  But shortly, we reached the dark opening I remembered.

	-I'll go first.  Hold the light for me to see.-

	I gestured to Nick.  He held up a softly glowing rod, and Weya
carefully crept down the unsteady rocks.

	-This is it.-
	I stood next to her, while Eric made his way down.
	-Not a pretty sight.-

	"Eric, get a sample of this.  I'd like to see how old it is."
	He slipped, landed on the floor, caught the light that Nick
dropped, and walked over.  "You're not gonna be able to date it that way.
Carbon 14 dating only works for much more recent stuff."
	"Suggestions, then?"
	"There might be other radioactive trace elements in the fossil,
but I can't guarantee it.  That's the easy way."
	"Should I ask?"
	"We look for traces of radioactivity in this strata, and date the
fossil from those."

	"Damn.  All right, let's get some help here.  Steve, you
available?"
	Click.  "Not another problem, I hope."
	"Not this time.  You get to date a fossil."
	"Beth would not appreciate that."

	I smiled.  "Oh, I don't know.  I think it looks kinda cute."
	"All right, I'll be down in a few minutes."

	I put away the communicator.  "Eric, bring that light over here."

	"Hmmm.  This must be what killed them.  Wonder what it was."
	"Your guess is as good as mine."

	"But not his.  Nick, we'll load this up and ship it back to your
lab.  You and John should be able to come up with something on it."
	"I'll see what I can do."
	"Good.  Weya and I will take a look around the area.  You guys can
work on this problem."
	Beep.  I pressed the communicator.  "All right, I'm here.  Where's
the date?"
	"I've got your dead spider right here."
	I could hear him clenching his teeth.  "I hate you, Damon."


	I had an idea that that wasn't the only remnant of the catastrophe,
so long ago.  I didn't know what I was looking for, but I needed more to
work with.
	For hours, we flew onward, covering great sweeps of the continent.
We might have passed it, for all we knew.  Buried in the forest, or long
rusted away.
	We were expecting something a little more spectacular, but...

	Something glinted in the distance.

	It turned out to be the rusting structure of what was once a small
building.  At least it was something.

	-Not much to look at.-
	-Its existence tells us a lot.  They must have built this solidly.-

	The foundation was overgrown with weeds, and rubble covered the
area.

	Ouch!  Well, tripping over it is one way to find it.  I tugged on
the rusty handle, but it wouldn't budge.
	-Weya, over here.-
	-What is it?-

	-It's stuck.  Can you lend a hand?-

	With an agonizing creak, the trapdoor slowly opened.  I got a funny
feeling that I wasn't the one doing most of the work.
	Below, a metal stairway descended into the darkness.  But the
stairs, amazingly enough, showed little sign of rust.

	Somewhere below, a room slowly brightened, and we stopped.  -Now
this is really odd.  Still power, even after centuries.-

	Weya wandered into the room.  Huge computer banks lined the walls.
Chairs?  If that's what they were, were spaced along at even intervals.
And some were still occupied.
	Weya touched one.  The spider crumbled away into dust.
	-This must have been a research center of some kind.  Nearly
airtight, but they still died.-
	-Luckily, your people survived this, somehow.-

	-But there has to be something here!-
	-I think there is.  This bank still has power.-
	-What?-

	A few, dim lights blinked on the console.  -You're right.  I can't
read anything, though.  We'll tell the spiders about it later.-

	At the end of the hall, a steel door blocked the way.

	-Locked.  That's it then.  Let's go.-


	A low growl sounded.
	-Uh oh.-

	The catlike creature crept closer.  Large, almost six feet long,
with a ring of ribbed, greenish bone around its neck.  Its feet, taloned
like a hawk's, flexed in anticipation.
	-Climb down that stairway again, very slowly.-
	-What are you going to do?-

	It didn't waste any time.  Less than six feet away, it hissed with
the satisfaction only a predator could know.

	-I'll be right behind you.-

	Ready...

	The creature leaped.
	-Run!-  I dived for the stairs, but too late. Claws dug into my
neck, tearing.

	Suddenly, an ear-shattering squeal pierced the air, and the
creature fell away, cringing.  My voder, in pieces, dropped beside it.  And
the trapdoor fell into place.  Safe.

	-It had you back there.  You could have been killed.-
	-I was lucky.-

	She hugged me tightly, nearly crying.  -Don't ever frighten me like
that again.-
	-I promise.-

	She'd almost forgotten what it was like to care about someone.  So
had I.  The pain had buried it deep, but somehow she'd found it.

	It was time to get some answers.  What had happened on the planet
below us, so long ago?

	The scoutcraft entered an octagonal portal, which promptly slid
closed.

	"<Uyykevk!  Nice to see you again.  And this is?>"
	"<Hkkex this is.  Pleased am I that here are you.  Our thanks we
give again, Weya.>"

	"<Uyykevk, we have a few questions we'd like to ask.>"
	"<About Great Death, yes.  Tell you we will.>"
	"<Long is story.  Will take some time to tell.>"

	"<Go ahead, Hkkex.>"
	"<Then our story this is.>"


* Long Goodbye


	"One last job.  Then you get a well-deserved vacation."
	Jeremy grinned.  "Thanks.  What do you need?"
	"Nothing much.  I need a set of gills."
	"That's going to be a bit difficult."

	"It shouldn't be, with John helping you.  I need a mask that I can
wear to breathe water."
	"Taking a swim?"
	"Off the deep end, Mr. Scott."  I smiled.
	"What?"

	"Never mind.  I'll see you later.  Take your time."


	That night, we all relaxed.  A space had been cleared out on the
island, under the stars.  Steve had set up his keyboard, and the rest of
us...

	"Sweet dreams are made of these
	Who am I, to disa-gree?
	I travel the world, and the seven seas
	Everybody's lookin' for something."

	I think our guests even enjoyed the music.  Though they weren't the
type to let on about it, to Steve's relief.

	After a while, Weya and I wandered out along the beach.

	-So much has happened.  To both of us.-
	-Now isn't the time to think about that, is it?-

	I stopped, facing her.  -Better now than later.  We're going to
have to leave soon.-
	-Why?  Can't you stay for a few months, at least?-

	-I think you know the answer to that.-

	-It's her isn't it.-  Weya looked away.  -You can't forget about
her, can you?-
	-Not if there's any chance of saving her, no.  Would you?-
	-I...-
	-I'm sorry.-
	-Wait.  Yes, I would.  Because he died saving my village.  Changing
that would mean changing what happened.  I can't risk my village to save
his life.-

	Then how can I do the same?

	-But your situation is different.  You *can* save her.  You're
right about that.-
	-But that might change what's happened here.  Do I have the right
to risk that?-

	She looked away suddenly.

	I'm being a bit selfish, aren't I?  Why can't I forget about her?
	-You can't feel that way about it.  Your feelings about her are no
more selfish than mine about my husband.-
	-You heard that?  But...-

	She faced me again.  And I could see how much it hurt her to say
it.
	-But you can *do* something about that.  I can't.  I don't have
that choice.  You do, and it's yours to make.-

	-I know.  But why does it have to hurt, so much?-

	There were times when words weren't enough.
	We'd shared something.  Something neither of us wanted to come to
terms with.  But in the end...


	Several weeks went by, as the island was restored.  The mining
equipment, the construction site, and the landing pad.  All gone.
	The spiders were welcome to share a home.  But the island would
remain free.

	-How long does it take to reach your village?-
	-Only about an hour or so.-
	The mask on halfway, I stopped.  -An hour?-

	Weya smiled.  -It'll be just fine.  You won't notice it at all.-
	I finished putting the mask on.  -If you say so.-

	We waded in.

	I jumped...cannonball!
	Weya looked back at me, drenched, grinning.
	With her finned arm, she cut a wide swath across the water, sending
a sheet in my direction.  It missed, barely.
	I played golf, sending a stream back at her.  It didn't miss.

	She dived in, and I followed.

	We avoided the reef, both of us remembering just how many kelpworms
dwelt there.

	She was faster, and more agile in the water.  In her element.  But
I was better at hide and seek.
	Several tall fronds of seaweed presented themselves.  I waited for
her to come back looking for me...
	Gotcha!
	She smiled.  -Damon...-

	-Hey, who put that there?-  Just above her mouth was a bony ridge,
rather sharp.  How very annoying.
	-That's not my fault.  Who designed your lips?-


	It took us rather longer than an hour.  Finally, the village
appeared ahead, and a few seadwellers swam out to greet us.  Then they
noticed me.


	Weya smiled inwardly.  The same two guards.
	"Weya, what have you done?-
	"Call the elders, Ukal'el.  I will not wait long."
	They swam into the grotto.
	-Soon.-


	Less than ten minutes later, they returned, escorting us into the
chamber of the circle.
	A hastily gathered assembly of elders awaited us.
	"We will listen.  But you will speak before the people."

	The seadwellers gathered outside, answering the call of the elders.
Usually only issued in cases of danger to the village, most were fearful,
not knowing what to expect.  Finally, the elders emerged, and we followed.

	"My people, you now know that our brothers and sisters have
returned from above.  The spider-creatures who controlled them are now our
friends.  I bring he who helped to make this possible, to show all that
awaits us.  He who brings our peoples together."

	"The spider-creatures never intended any harm, but were desperate
for help.  Almost three billion years ago, they left our planet fleeing a
terrible plague, and have only now returned.  Their ship was damaged and
without our help, and his help, many would have died.  They now offer us a
chance to explore not only our own world, but the stars above it, if we
will show ourselves willing to open our arms to them."

	"I am sorry, Weya.  When I was unwilling to take the risk, you
risked everything to save our brothers and sisters.  I thank you, Weya.
All of us thank you."  The First Speaker smiled, warmly, for the first
time.
	"Let us hope that the future will be bright for both peoples!"  I
hope I got that right.

	-We should go.-
	Weya nodded.


	There was much to be done.  But it was up to Weya and her people
now.

	-Thank you for staying.-
	-I'm glad I did.  And I'll be back soon.-

	She smiled.  -When you find Kerin.  I'm looking forward to meeting
her.-
	-I'm sure she'll feel the same about you.-

	-Take care of yourself, Weya.-

	For a long moment, we stood there in silence.

	I tilted my head to the side, and missed the bony ridge this time.
	"Awww..."  Steve grinned, ever his annoying self.

	Standing at the top of the scoutcraft's exit ramp, I waved.
-Soon.-


	The scoutcraft flew into the sky, reddish-purple.  Gleaming in the
light of the setting sun, the small group of seadwellers and spiders below
watched it, until it finally disappeared into the sunset.
	-Soon.-


	A small sphere drifted away from the planet, picking up speed.
Blue Lightning passed the larger moon, heading into open space.
	-I'll never forget you, Weya.-

	Maybe it was an afterthought, or an echo.  But somehow, I didn't
think so.
	-You will always be a part of my heart.-


* Transition


	I needed solitude.  I didn't want to deal with Steve's prying
questions, or anyone else's.  But the park was occupied this time.

	Who?
	"Sorry, I didn't realize anyone was here.  I'll leave."
	"No, it's okay."

	Reluctantly, I sat down next to her, beside the brook.
	"You're Steve's friend, aren't you?"
	"Yes."

	I'd met Beth a long time ago, briefly.  She and Steve had been
working out together, both attending the same Tae Kwon Do school.  She
seemed the decent sort, although a bit shy.

	But it wasn't the time to be renewing acquaintances.  I stood up,
ready to walk away.
	"Wait...what's wrong?"
	"I really need to be alone right now."

	"I heard about what happened down there.  Is that it?"
	"No, I just...need to be alone."

	"What you need is a little cheering up."  She casually rested a
hand on my shoulder.  "How about I make dinner tonight?"
	"That's kind of you to offer."
	"No trouble at all."

	"Then I'll see you later.  Thanks again."


	How long?  How long will it take...?

	I collapsed onto my bunk, and the door slid closed.

	Not five minutes later, it opened again, and Steve walked in.  "I
hear you've been feeling a little down lately."
	"I guess so."

	He planted himself in a chair.  "You ready to talk about it?"
	"Not really, but you're not gonna go away until I do, are you?"
	"Course not.  That's what friends are for."

	"I just can't seem to get her off my mind.  For a while on the
planet I could forget, but..."
	"Now it's hitting you all over again."
	"Beth was right.  You need a little something to cheer you up."

	It's going to be a long time before I'll ever feel happy again.  If
ever.

	"Steve, tell me something.  Do you think I'm being selfish?  Trying
to save Kerin."
	"You might call that selfish.  I'd call it something else.  You
gotta go with what's in here, man."  He held a hand over his heart.

	"Maybe.  Maybe you're right."
	"Course I'm right.  Come on."
	"No, I'll stay here for a bit."
	"Suit yourself."

	The door closed, and I was alone again.

	I'll find you, Kerin.  That's a promise.


	The mess hall was a bit crowded on this particular occasion.  Even
Chris showed up.  She'd been pouting since we left Earth.
	Andrea, Nick, Chris, Eric, John, Jeff, Ben, Jim, the other Ben, and
Lucky, were sitting around two long tables.  Steve and Beth were serving...
I don't believe it.  It must be the vegetarian version, since we didn't
pack any meat.
	"Thanks.  Both of you."  I smiled warmly.

	They finished, and sat down.  "I'd like to dedicate this piece of
lasagna to a very large stomach."
	"Whose would that be?"
	Beth glared at us with mock exasperation.  "Enough, you two.  Eat."
	A fair amount of chuckling wafted over the table, and I grinned at
Steve.

	I still didn't understand.  Somehow, in Weya's mind, it was more
important for me to rescue Kerin, and risk changing my saving her people,
than to play it safe.  Was it because it was what I wanted to hear?

	No, that couldn't be right.  She knew the risks.  It couldn't have
worked out any better for her, and it hurt her deeply to tell me I could,
and should, change things.

	"Hey, there's more.  Go get yourself a piece."

	"Come on now, cheer up."
	"You were right.  I wasn't being selfish."
	"Heh?"  Steve frowned at me.

	"I just realized.  Something Weya was trying to tell me."
	"Well, don't leave us in suspense."

	"Weya's husband died saving her village.  She knows that, and even
though she still loves him, she's willing to forget about him.  Because he
died for a reason."
	"But Kerin's death was pointless.  And Weya was trying to tell me
there's nothing wrong in wishing it otherwise."
	"I see."

	"That doesn't make the pain go away, though."
	"Thinking about it never does."

	I stood up, finally.  "I think I'll take you up on that offer."
	"Good."

	That feels a little better.


	I sat down, watching the swirls and eddies creep past me in the
brook at my feet.

	"What are you doing back here?  I thought you were feeling better."
	I smiled.  "Hi Steve.  I am.  I'm just thinking about Weya."
	"And?"

	"What's going to happen back there?  They've got all the
opportunities in the world.  More."
	"I hope she'll be happy."
	"I'm sure she is."

	"So tell me, what did you two do with all that time you spent alone
together, just before we left?"
	I smiled again.  "It's a looong story.  But I'd rather not talk
about that."
	"Didn't think you would.  But I can guess."  He laughed.
	"Hey!"
	"Don't take it so seriously!"

	He sobered up.  "You two..."
	"It was pretty obvious, wasn't it?"

	"Well, it's not like you could hide that sort of thing."
	"You get to know a person pretty well, once you've been inside
their head."
	"What was that like?"

	"Difficult to explain.  Let's just say Weya got a lot more from me
than I ever expected."
	"So I guessed.  She seemed a lot more confident after that."
	"You noticed that?"

	"I notice a lot of things.  It's my job."
	"What about you?"

	"I saw only bits and pieces, but let's just say Weya's had a very
painful past, even besides the death of her husband."

	Steve was silent for a moment.  "One last question.  What was the
name of their planet?"

	I looked out across the park, seeing something rather farther away.
"Nefaroo.  They called it Nefaroo.  'Precious life'."


	Weya stood near the shuttle, before a large group of seadwellers.
"If we are to work together, we must be able to talk to one another."
	"Each of you will receive a translator.  Together, we will build a
home for the spiders on the continent."
	She paused, contemplating.  "In time, perhaps we will venture into
space above.  Until then, we are masters of an entire world."

	The seadwellers slowly filed into the shuttle.  Krrlik separated
from the crowd and joined her.  "<Have only one warning.  Was no accident
that caused plague that probe.  Deliberate it was.  Caused it who know not
I.  Hope that dead long since are they.>"
	"<Otherwise, the Great Death can happen again.  And this time, we
cannot save everyone.>"

	He followed the last of the seadwellers inside, leaving her alone
with her thoughts.

	I hope you do not meet them, my friend.  Whoever they are, they
hold no value in life.

	A single tear fell.

	I will miss you, Damon.


End of Volume 1

Damon Casale, dc56+@andrew.cmu.edu

* Maison Ikkoku * Kyoko Otonashi * Video Girl Ai * Amano Ai *
               * Blue Lightning * Kerin Gray *
Blue Lightning forever...Kerin, are you out there?