Something aroused her. It was the sound of voices. Voices raised in anger. Terri sat up. It was still dark and she felt a chill. She reached for the blanket, but could not find it. The voices grew louder. Frantically, she reached for Shade, but he was not there. Then she realized she was not in her bed. A moment of panic set in as she felt all around her. Her hands touched cold objects, like metal and stone. She grasped at it and found that it was coins and gems. She was sitting on a pile of treasure and as she looked around, she saw that she was gazing down on a fearsome scene.
She was in a great cavern. Light from below her reflected off the vaulted ceiling. The light source was a large glowing stone on the floor of the cavern. Around that glowing stone were gathered six great dragons. Dragons!
A vision. As always, they came uninvited while she slept. When she first remembered having them, she thought that they were nightmares. She had awakened screaming in fright the first time. It had taken Jessie hours to calm her down and explain what it was. Over the years there had been many such visions. Though she finally grew to understand that they would not harm her, she still felt a chilling unease when they came upon her.
She was always like a ghostly presence in the visions. It was as if she was in the same room, but unseen by the participants. She could sometimes move among them and view the scene from different perspectives. Some visions were pleasant, like the one of Marcus and Alaine. But others were frightening and fearsome to behold. She could never leave until the vision had run its course. She had no control and sometimes she had no idea what the reason for the vision was.
She had never seen dragons in a vision before. They were in a circle around the glowing stone, and in the space between them and the light, a small,(small compared to the others) red dragon was pacing and ranting. At first she could not make out what she was saying, but then the voice came through loud and clear.
Then he must die! We must kill him while we still can. Marcus Grant cannot be allowed to live.
Her heart froze. No! She screamed voicelessly as a great bronze dragon arose to his full height and repeated her silent protest. Then suddenly, she was no longer in the cavern.
Her eyes would not focus in the harsh glare of light that replaced the dim glow stone of the dragons cavern. Then her vision cleared, and she saw that she was in a room lighted by long white tubes in the ceiling. The walls were lined with strange boxy objects. All were different shapes and sizes, made of some shiny metal, like highly polished armor. There were multi-colored lights, flashing on and off, arranged in no definite pattern that she could discern. Turning slowly to gaze at this new marvel, she saw that one wall was comprised of what looked like a large window. The glassy surface was a milky white and she could see nothing through it. Then suddenly, the window seemed to open and she saw images leap into being. It must be some kind of huge crystal ball, she thought.
As the images became clearer, she gasped in surprise. She was suspended high above an open plain. A great black castle with twin towers was in the center of the scene. Facing that castle was an army of armored soldiers and the machines of war. They were catapults, capable of heaving large stones at the enemy. Three of them were monstrous in size with puffs of black smoke billowing from stacks. Then her view changed as she swooped in toward one of the towers. Then she saw Marcus. He was standing on the very top of the tower, facing down on the army in the plain. Standing behind him was a group of people that at first she could not identify. Then she saw that one was the Princess Alaine, but not the Alaine she remembered. There was something different about her. She seemed older, more mature than the teenaged Princess she remembered. Then there was Bardok beside her--but no--not the dwarf that was a friend of Jessies. A dwarf she did not know. Three older women and a man, all human, stood behind two elves, a female and an elderly male.
A shout went up from the army on the plain and a shower of arrows flew over the lower wall. Another shout and a second cloud of the missiles whistled toward the walls. But this time Marcus held up his hand and they disappeared in a puff of smoke. Suddenly, the other tower exploded in a shower of shattered stone and the edifice began to crumble. The great catapults were throwing destruction at the castle. By the gods, was she supposed to witness Marcuss death? Then she saw Marcus raise his hand again and a blue-white shield snapped into being around the castle.
In horror she watched another stone, this one on fire, hurled toward the lower wall. It struck the shield and exploded into fiery debris. Then, another burning missile seemed aimed directly at the group atop the remaining tower. This one, too, was destroyed by a gesture from Marcus.
A swishing sound behind her caused her to turn from the images on the wall. A door in the opposite wall had opened. A man-shaped figure, dressed head to toe in what seemed like silver armor, strode into the room. She could not tell what it was as there was no life-aura about it.
The being approached one of the boxy shapes next to the window, and touched one of the flashing lights. Its head turned toward the window and a monotone voice said, Report, comp.
Then another voice, with that same monotone quality, interspersed with a strange crackling sound, seemed to come from the box with the flashing lights. Large energy fluctuations noted at survey area bee nine eight four. Images should be on screen now, Guardian.
Yes, interesting. How long has this been going on? asked the being addressed as Guardian?
Approximately fifteen point six planetary minutes, Guardian.
Turning back to the window, Terri saw the image of Marcus disappear, then a moment later reappear. He was carrying an armored figure in his arms and then set him on the roof with the others.
The silver being spoke again and Terri turned back to him. Comp. Broadcast to relay satellite. Possible subject of main purpose programming. Unconfirmed at this point. Will update periodically and await instructions. Guardian out.
None of the words spoken by the being called Guardian and the invisible Comp, made any sense to Terri. But they were burned into her mind, as was everything she ever heard or saw in a vision. She turned back to the window, but she was no longer in the harshly lit room with the flashing lights and crystal window.
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