FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Strong Soul never got over just how long some of the journeys took between the stars. Even with all the technology that the humans had brought with them, and the improvements they'd made with it in the time since the Night of Blood, there was still the seemingly interminable waiting while the ships made their way through hyper. Now that she had to worry about more than a single ship, she found that things took even longer. A wave that would have carried the Pride for days was now not large enough.

They could have shortened the journey if arriving together was not nearly so important, but they couldn't risk arriving too far apart. While they had the latest patrol schedules, there was still the inherent error that came with the unpredictability of the hyper waves. It was the reason she'd laid in so much leeway with their plans, planning to arrive a full two days before their prey. She couldn't risk though, one tug arriving and encountering something unexpected without the backup of the second tug and the Pride.

Finally, just when she thought they were going to have to scrap their plans and try for something else, they found a wave on the correct vector that would carry both ships with the Pride safely docked in the Ferret. While she'd made the Pride her official flagship of the operation, with it docked, she found herself in her quarters on the Ferret more often than not, and they were becoming more and more comfortable. She found that she liked having the extra space, even though it didn't feel as much her home as the Pride did.

She had to face the fact that even though she'd always call the Pride home, she was growing out of the small freighter. Not in size, but in status. The ship around her and the one beside it hummed with quiet activity. On the Ferret, she was joined by Night Star and Stargazer with her Guardians. First Spark and the other Frr'a'narr'ahn were housed comfortably on the Sisko, with First Spark enjoying nearly the same comforts that Strong Soul now did. And through both of the ships, the Mrr'tani and the three humans who had elected to stay with them went efficiently about their business, needing hardly any conscious thought from Strong Soul or any of the Frr'a'narr'ahn. The links and the way that they bound the Mrr'tani together were no more than a habit and an accepted part of life.

The darkened room was quiet around her, and though there was still the bright and alert glow of Steal Heart's mind just beyond the door, she knew that there was nothing happening on board either of the two ships that would require her attention. With a calming breath, she let the links drift into the background, growing quieter and quieter with each and every breath. It was something she'd been practicing, so that she didn't have to focus on them every hour of every day, and instead could enjoy a bit of time to herself. There were a few that simply refused to be pushed to the rear no matter how much she tried. Night Star, Stargazer and surprisingly Micah were the three that always surrounded her.

Still, even they were quiet for the time being, each involved in his own task. A focus on Stargazer's link found him training the Guardians in one of the cargo bays. Night Star's eyes brought her the scene from the inside of one of the assault shuttles as he went over the operation with one of the crew of the Sisko, another that was adept at piloting. Micah, though, drew her attention with the sheer flood of information that was flowing both to and from him. With the capture of the Sisko, they'd found the latest set of Allied codes that let them read the transmissions between ships and also between stations and command in the central core. Micah was taking full advantage of it, using his connection to Strong Soul and the other Mrr'tani to expand his own ability to process by utilizing what he'd explained to her was an unused channel of the network she was building, something down beneath the surface, unoccupied and unutilized connections between the Mrr'tani.

When he began to spread his consciousness into these channels, she began to feel him almost all the time, though none of the others could. It was like an undercurrent of a river that she could feel with just her toes, enough to know it was there, but unless she dove beneath the surface, she couldn't feel exactly what it was doing.

That wasn't what she was interested in for now, though. Right now, she wanted the peace and quiet that came with ignoring everything around her, focusing only on herself and what her own body was telling her. Even before her awakening, she found that taking time to do that was important to her. It helped her to recenter herself and also to realize when something was wrong that needed fixing.

You truly are a piece of the legend, Catcher of Souls' voice said in her mind.

Strong Soul couldn't help the twinge of annoyance at the intrusion, but she quickly contained herself. Catcher of Souls was someone who still held great wisdom, even if she was simply an entity who resided in the connections between the Mrr'tani. Strong Soul still hadn't figured out exactly what she was.

I expected to hear your voice earlier than this, Catcher of Souls, she replied. Indeed, more than a few nights had passed since she'd made the link with Bridge Walker, and there had been nothing but silence.

You had enough on your hands, Keeper of Hearts, Catcher said, the amusement plain in her voice.

And yet you're here now.

Do you have something requiring your attention?

Strong Soul chuckled, the sound loud in the silent room and she shook her head. In her mind, a shape began to form, the familiar curves and angles of a bipedal being, crown tipped with the characteristic feline ears of a Mrr'tani, the curve of the hips and the swell of the chest slowly morphing the shape into that of a Mrr'tanah, only slightly taller than Strong Soul. The patters in the fur began to take shape, resolving into nearly the same pattern as Strong Soul's, deep amethyst eyes forming from the clouds as the body took full shape in her mind.

You were Mountain clan as well? Strong Soul asked quietly.

Yes. The only two recorded Frr'a'tan'lass'i'ahn are from the Mountain clan.

You mean that there have never been any others?

It's not known. There was never a need for one as far back as we can remember. Perhaps once at our dawn, there was one who drew the clans together and created civilization, but even our memory is not infallible and it does not extend back that far.

I thought there was always one. If not, how do the Frr'a'narr'ahn remain bonded? How do the clans remain united?

It is something I gave great thought to in my time, Keeper of Hearts, Catcher said, standing plainly in front of her. But you already have come to the conclusion that I did long ago.

If there were, they were unaware of it, Strong Soul answered. Otherwise there would be records of them, or at least their memories would be a part of us, as you are.

Yes, indeed. I did not realize the extent of my power until after the Night of Blood, when my abilities were needed. The Frr'a'tan'lass'i'ah has never been special, has never been revered, they've simply existed, binding the Mrr'tani together with their presence. But it seems that evolution is not finished with the Mrr'tani.

You're stronger than you were, Strong Soul remarked. How are you doing that?

I am no more than a collection of the memories within the minds of the Mrr'tani, Keeper of Hearts. I am no more real than any imagination. There is something unique in the way that the Mrr'ouwffi are shared between the Mrr'tani. With each one, more memories are shared, more is remembered about our history. With each link, the stories that were passed down are added back into the memory, and our past begins to take shape once again. There is one who said that we must remember our past for it to inform our future, and that is my task now.

Then I assume you have something to inform me about, if you're here.

I am also here to help you learn your way. Though you are quickly growing beyond my ability to help. You've surpassed everything that I was trying to do. By the time I realized what I was, it was far too late for the Mrr'tani, but in just this short time, you've managed to bring the clans together. Once again, there are free Mrr'tani existing together in the way they were meant to. Even from such a distance, I can touch the minds of the Mrr'tani at Mss'delai and at Mss'ranaw.

There was a sense of wonder in Catcher's words, but it was accompanied by a sadness that was so deep that it left Strong Soul's eyes wet in her empty cabin, her ears low against her head and her tail wrapped around her waist.

There is so much that you've done that I wouldn't have even imagined, Catcher said. You've bonded with a machine, you've brought not just one, but now four humans into the Mrr'ouwffi. All of this has never been heard of before. When the humans first arrived on the homeworld, there were many who tried to share with them the bond and the Mrr'ouwff. None could touch a human mind, there was too much difference. There was no common ground from which to draw.

Perhaps you've noticed, Catcher continued, that those who have the most in common with you are the ones that burn the brightest in your mind?

That can't be, Strong Soul said, shaking her head. Micah is one of the brightest, and I would think that I have little in common with him. He isn't even a living being.

You are closer than you think, Catcher said with a laugh. Think hard. There is something about you, personally, that makes that link one of the most powerful. For you have a more intimate connection with another of Micah's kind than any of our kind have ever experienced.

Unbidden, visions of the shuttle crash, the injury to her leg and the hike through the forest came into her mind, flashing before her as she watched, finally ending with her mastering the use of the new cybernetic leg.

It's the controller for the limb, isn't it? She asked.

Yes. You've bonded with the controller, and it reads your thoughts, translating them into action. You and it have bonded so thoroughly that it is akin to a Mrr'ouwff. But as the controller has no mind to speak of, you cannot sense it in your thoughts. But your mind has changed enough by its communication that the Mrr'ouwffi were able to be formed between you and similar minds. It is the same with the humans. Your closeness to Marcus, a bond so close that you consider him your father, has opened your mind to those of the humans. You understand how they think and what they value. It allows you much more insight into their minds than any Mrr'tanah before you. And it is that gift that has brought you so far, and it is what I believe will allow you to finally win the Mrr'tani freedom.

I suppose I'm starting to see that, Catcher, Strong Soul said, admitting something that she'd had trouble even contemplating for herself.

You are not one to seek the spotlight, Keeper of Hearts, and neither was I. All who know you know that you don't do this for fame or for any other reason than life has forced you into it. You don't need to worry about your companions believing you conceited, but they do recognize your power, even if you haven't yet fully realized it.

Am I doing the right thing, Catcher? Strong Soul asked abruptly. Is this the path that we need to be on?

I cannot tell you what the correct path is, Keeper, Catcher said softly, shaking her head. All I can do is tell you that you are doing everything I wished I could do before I left your world. I see a great deal of my ambitions in you and your actions, and I believe that you are doing what is best for the Mrr'tani. But I also know you realize just what this might cost. The path you've chose, while it is similar to the one that I would choose myself, is not an easy one, and it will not be a comfortable journey.

I know, Catcher. But I can't just turn my back any more. It's clear what I am and what I'm meant to do. I can't just ignore that.

And I would expect nothing less from the one who has inherited the position. No one asked you before you awakened, nor would it have changed anything if they had, but while many before us never had to do more than exist, you have much to accomplish, and you have a foundation built that will serve you well. Listen to your advisors, heed the word of your friends, for they will see you through, no matter what.

Thank you, Catcher, Strong Soul said, finally, bowing to her. The words swelled in her mind and her chest, a feeling of satisfaction that her mentor and the one who she was supposed to live up to was telling her that she was doing the right thing. Whatever else happened, she at least had that.

You have much to do, and the time of your test draws near. The humans will soon know the threat you pose, and if you wish to accomplish more before that happens, then you must hurry. Everything you can do before the word reaches the human's capital must be done, and time marches on.

You are much more a leader than you believe yourself to be, Catcher continued, smiling proudly. Even I would follow you on your journey. Go well, and see your journey through, Keeper of Hearts. I shall be here, among the Mrr'ouwffi, listening and watching. I will be here if you need me.

And with that, the apparition faded from Strong Soul's mind, Catcher's kind and gentle face lingering with a kindly smile before it, too, faded from view. Slowly, Strong Soul opened her eyes to the darkened room around her and drew a deep breath.

As she began to let it out, the soft chime from the ships communications sounded next to her on the small table.

"We will be arriving at the crossing to normal space in twenty minutes, Keeper," Wave Catcher's voice said over the intercom. The younger Mrr'tanou had developed a habit of finding all the waves in the hyper, a sixth sense for when they would develop and where they would be going. Even the AI's were astonished by his ability to feel the fluctuations in hyper. Linked with him, they were able to refine their calculations even more so that the waves dropped them off within minutes of their planned stop.

"Sound the alert, please, Wave Catcher," she replied. "Pilots to the shuttles, and pass the word for Night Star. I'll be on my way to the bridge, I'll meet him there."

She flicked off the intercom and took another breath, this one nowhere near as effective as the first. The first test of her plan and her abilities lay ahead of her, and as Catcher had said, time marched on, with no way to slow it down, the only way to forestall what was to happen would be to turn tail and run. But to do that would condemn hundreds of thousands of Mrr'tani. The path was laid out ahead of her and she no longer had a choice. It was hers to follow.