A Home That Far

Chapter 5 Lightning Strikes Anew

It took three days for Kale to recover from her race. Though she had enjoyed every step she ran, she'd strained her muscles and sprained her hind leg badly. Duncan had her swimming in a deepwater trench, designed to rehabilitate horse injuries like this, when a large robot cautiously strode up to hiale ale snorted and tried to turn the other way. She'd never seen this thing before, the last time she'd seen any robots, she had to run for her life. Duncan guided her to the ramp and stood to her side as she limped from the water. "What can I do for you Roboto?" he asked, swishing water off Kale's back.

"The analysis you requested is back, Man-at-Arms," answered the machine. "The alloys the containers are made of are not native to Eternia. Carbon testing is inconclusive as to how old they are, but many of the containers located did not have the characteristic red patch on the inside padding."

'Inside paddin she she tossed her head as she tried to limp away. 'They are finding the pods! I've got to get out of here!'

"Easy Lightning, he wont hurt you," he patted her neck turning her back to the water, though not letting her enter. "What about their locations. Any indication that where they've been found are a pattern? A possible invasion?"

"Negative. They appear to be random. Flights over the Sands of Time have also revealed one pod in the desert. No occupant was found, and there were no tracks. However, again there was no red patch on the upholstery inside."

"Thank you Roboto. Keep looking. There has to be a reason that these things are all over Eternia. They can't just be just garbage left behind."

'Garbage? Is that what you think?'

"Indications of the object in the desert are conclusive. The objects have come from orbit."

"Carbon Scoring?"

"Yes, on the surface of the object, and heated glass trailing behind the object. The outer casing also had sand particulate embedded in the surface. The impact was uncontrolled. My hypothesis is that these containers are some kind of escape pods."

Kale tossed her head to agree. Duncan patted her neck to settle her. "Have the Masters inform the troops and village officials, to be on the look out for any strangers in the area. They may be gathering. If they're in trouble, we may be able to help."

"At once Man-at-Arms." The robot stalked away to carryout its orders, and Duncan tried once more to lead the mare back into the water. But she wouldn't go.

"Had enough have you?" he asked, smoothing out her wet mane.

'We're not going to hurt you,' she said. 'Please, don't hunt us like animals.'

"Come on, we'll get some pressure bandages on your leg. And I'll dry you off reaod.\od."

'You're not listening to me!' she pleaded, trying to head for his lab, wherever that may have been. 'What am I thinking. You can't understand a thought I have. I wish I could change! I wish that you could see me, the REAL me! Please Duncan, please don't fear my people. We only want to live in peace.'

Carefully she limped back into her stall, as Duncan took towels and hay and started to rub her down. She loved the feel of his strong hands massaging her sore legs, the feel of his arms over her back and around her neck. She may have been a horse, but she was still a mutant, even though she was based on a human genetic line.

Deftly he applied the pressure bandage around her hind leg, wrapping it from her hoof, up and around her hock, the second joint on her leg. Duncan secured the ends, and patted her hindquarters as he rose. He gave her one of her favourite treats before leaving the stall.

He stood there, just looking at her, trying to forgive himself for what he'd done to her, though her eyes showed no malice to him now, he was sure she was angry for putting her in the race.

Kale's head snapped around as she caught the scent of danger pass the entrance to thrn. rn. There at the door she saw the blond man, the strong one that Duncan called He- Man, and he wasn't alone. He was riding a green tiger like cat, decked out in large saddle like apparel along its back, with armour over its head and paws. Kale stepped back a bit, her leg aching as she moved.

"Duncan. There's some kind of disturbance in the Snowy Mountains. They say there's a man who shoots fire from his eyes. They have him pinned down, but they don't know for how long." uncauncan pressed a few buttons on his wrist mount armour, and his plating drastically changed. "Lets get moving."

Kale watched helplessly as they left the barn. 'Fire from his eyes?' she thought. 'Oh no, Cyclops! I gotta get out of here! NOW!!!' At once She started to kick at the door, hoping to knock it off its hinges or at least dislodge the latch hook from the post. Quickly the young stable hand was at he door, his face a bit puffy from his own wounds.

"Easy girl," he spoke, a bit congested from the swelling around his broken nose. "He'll be back." She continued to pound on the door, pulling slivers away as she dug the front of her hoof in. The boy undid the latch to go in to sooth her, but once the door sprang free, she bolted, holding her injured leg off the ground, finding a confident speed even on three legs. "No! Lightning! Come back!"

She rounded the yard and headed for the brickwork, only in time to see the men fly off on personal sleds, the great cat leaping over the castle walls as though it were just a log in the jungle. She made for the gates, running between some of the wagons that were leaving, leaping into the trees when she was clear of the castle walls. The boy reached where she'd disappeared in the vegetation, scanning the forest for any sign of her, but she was gone. "Man-at-Arms is gona kill me!"

The now whipped around them, trying to pull them to the ground, though the ground was no better. You had to struggle through three-foot drifts, some even deeper than that. Duncan pressed a button and spoke into his microphone, louder than he should have had to, just to be heard over the wind. "Roboto! I ght ght the Mountains wouldn't get more snow for another three months!? What's going on?!"

"Unknown, Man-at-Arms," came the reply. "The barometric pressure has dropped three more points in the last two minutes. Temperature continues to fall. Risk to human exposure is increasing. Frostbite danger immanent."

"This isn't normal!" Teela shouted, moving her sled next to her father's. "If it gets much colder, the sled's fuel cells will freeze!"

"Confirmed," Roboto agreed. "Temperature gauge is continuing to fall. I advise we land and wait for the storm to pass."

Suddenly a red beam caught the bottom of Roboto's sled, and both machines plummeted to the ground. Another red blast came between Teela & Duncan, forcing them apart as they descended. On the ground they joined their robot companion behind an outcropping of boulders, which were quickly being covered by snow. He-Man quickly joined them.

"Are you alright?" he asked his friends.

Roboto quickly assessed his condition. "My right leg was damaged on impact, otherwise I am fully functional."

"He's got us pinned down!" Teela said, after ducking below the stone to avoid another blast.

"Where is he?" Duncan asked, pulling out his repair tools and setting to work on Roboto's leg.

Roboto turned to the rock, finding a thin crack straight through the outcropping. "Distance 27 Meters, elevation 18 degrees down angle. There are two of them. One appears to be manipulating the weather conditions."

"A sorceress?! Of course, Evil-Lynn! Where did she get that kind of power?!"

"Identity incorrect. The sorceress is not Evil-Lynn."

"Worry about it later!" Duncan ordered, closing the casing around Roboto's leg, his repairs temporary, though complete. "Roboto, ready a concussion blast. We need to surround them. We'll take the weather witch, He-Man, the one with the blaster is all yours." He-Man nodded. "Go!"

Roboto fired his shot, landing it in the middle of where the pair was held up. As the two went down, the Masters spread out, the snow and wind subsiding somewhat.

"Storm!" they heard the man yell. But the ebony woman didn't answer as a large robot pointed what looked like a gun for an arm, right at her head. The man let loose another blast from his eyes, but found it deflected by a metal strip, firmly held in a large blond man's grasp.

"Sorry friend," the blond man stated. "The storm has passed."

"I'm not your friend Human!" the man spat. "And the storm has only just begun. NOW!"

A bright flash of lightning lashed down from the sky, striking the robot square in the chest. Overloaded, the metal man fell back in the snow, all his functions ceased. "Roboto!!" Teela yelled, making her way to the machine. The dark skinned woman rose in the air with the updrafts of wind, but she abruptly fell to the ground, struck by a stun blast from Duncan's weapon. The woman rolled in the snow to the top of the drift, Duncan close by to be sure she was all right. Sounds of metal striking something drew his attention back to He-Man, as the Eternian defender blocked deadly blasts from the strange man's eyes,with his sword.

The stranger made a break for the cliff behind him, as He-Man stood to protect Teela and Roboto. The stranger turned to see the fourth attacker secure manacles around his colleague's wrists, and he hissed with anger. She'd soon be his prisoner, held captive by a human. Fury rose to his face, and he pulled off the visor over his eyes. "LET HER GO!!!" he demanded, and opened his eyes.

"Father!!!"

"Duncan!!!"

As Duncan turned to see the red flash, that would have ended his days, a white sheet dashed in front of him. A shocked, pain filled neigh filled his ears, as the bulk of a white horse pushed him over. The horse cried in agony as it tumbled down the other side of the drift.

Duncan rose to see what had happened, noticing a gold band near a dark hoof lying in the snow. The dark woman recovered enough to kick Duncan away from her, sending him closer to his friends. Teela had already stunned the man with the red beam eyes, and quickly stunned the dark woman again.

Teela crouched next to her father as He-Man gathered the prisoners. "Father! You're ok! What was that thing?"

"I think,..." he gasped, noting the blood on his arm. "I think Lightning...I think she just saved my life."

"That's not possible. She's back at the castle."

Frantic, Duncan pulled out a small device. The blip on its tiny screen blinked madly. "No, she not. She's over there. She followed us."

"Oh, father..."

"Give me your gun Teela."

"The vet can help her!"

"Teela! Look at me!!" He too looked himself over, half his uniform was covered in blood. "She's hurt bad. She can't be saved."

"Then I'll..."

"NO!! She's my responsibility. I'll do...what needs to be done." Teela nodded, and handed him her pistol. He-Man held their captives close, tying a blindfold over the man with the fire-like eyes.

Duncan went to the crest of the snowy hill, and scanned the other side. Blood was sprayed over the crystal flakes coating the ground, his heart sunk deep in his chest. His horse, his lovely white mare, was dying.

He looked to where he'd seen the mare's foot, only her limb was no longer there. He couldn't' believe that she'd be able to walk away, but with her spirit, it didn't surprise him. He took two more painful steps, following the bloody powder. He braced himself for what he'd find, but never expected what he saw.

In the middle of the snow blood buddle, lay a woman with long white hair. She was young, maybe twenty, but the whole right side of her body was covered in burns, wounds, and blood. Shock filled his mind as he knelt in the snow, pushing her hair back from her face. Quickly he sought out her arm closest to him, following it into the snow. He found her left hand first, and pulled it clear of the powder to check her pulse. Around her wrist he found a cold bracelet. His owner's ring.

Tomanoman coughed the blood from her mouth, turning her green eyed gaze to the man at her side. "My name is Kale," she gasped. "Please...help me."

He cradled her naked from in his arms, not caring about the blood. He practically flew over the snow, back to the gathering, calling for Teela to get a first aid kit, as he approached He-Man, and demanded his fur cloak.

"Who is she?" He-Man asked at last, when the last of the girl's wounds were bound.

The snow had stopped falling, and the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. "She said her name is Kale," Duncan answered, unsure where his voice was finding its stability, for he didn't feel that kind of strength just now. "I think...I think she's my horse."

"What?"

"Oh god, no! Kale!!" The trio turned to the prisoners as the woman tried to get to them. "Kale!!"

"You know her?" Duncan demanded. The woman nodded. "She's a shape sifter, isn't she?" Again she nodded. "Than you better pray she lives."

Doctors had worked feverishly to save the strange woman brought back by the Masters. The prisoners safely secured in the prison, Duncan paced nervously outside the door to the guest room they had left the girl in with the doctors.

"I don't understand," He-Man said at last, crouched on the hall floor with Teela. "Why didn't she change back? Why did she stay a horse for so long?"

"Maybe she was a scout," Teela offered. "Gathering informatiboutbout us. She may very well have changed at night. If she could be a horse, who knows what else she could be."

"Stop it!" Duncan snapped. "Both of you. She's not a spy. There's no way you'll get me to believe that."

"Father, why else would she have stayed?"

"Because she needed us. It's the only explanation. I'll never believe she's a spy!"

"What proof do you have that she's not, my friend?" The trio turned to find Randor coming down the hall, a pair of guards and a newly repaired Roboto with him.

"If she were a spy, you majesty, why did she save me?"

Randor pondered this. "Perhaps it is part of their plan. For you to trust her so blindly."

Duncan shook his head, then turned to the opening guest room door. The doctor stepped out, handing his gloves and bloody smock to the nurse that followed. "I'm amazed that she's made it this far," the man said. "She's lost nearly half her blood. If the cold didn't freeze her open wounds so quickly, she may have bled to death before you could finish bandaging her in the field."

"Will she be alright?" He-Man asked.

"I don't know. In addition, she's had some major tissue damage. I've sent for a specialist in organ and tissue regenerative therapy, he'll be here in the morning. She also has several broken bones, and…please explain this Man-at-Arms, she's wearing your Horse Owner's Ring on her left arm."

"That doesn't matter now. Will she live?"

The man backed away from the gruff Master as he barked his question in his face. The gathered colleagues pulled the man back, allowing the doctor room to breath. "If she makes it through the night, well, she may stand a chance. But we must find a compatible blood donor. But with her blood, it may be difficult."

"Do what you have to. I'll get answers elsewhere."

"Father! Where are you going?"

"To the prison. One of them knows her. I intend to find out how."

The prison had a multitude of cells, but the guards soon found that one of thw prw prisoners couldn't stand being in such a small space, and opted to keep her restrained outside the cells. It seemed barbaric, the woman was shackled around her wrists and ankles, and again at her waist and neck. She been warned, if she summoned her powers, she'd be given a massive electrical shock strong enough to render her unconscious, instantly. She agreed not to cause trouble, as long as she didn't have to be in one of the confining cells, and she kept true to her word.

The guards stood to attention as another soldier entered their area. He paid no attentionke the responsibility."

"Yes sir."

The steel cables keeping her to the wall dropped away, along with the bindings, all except the collar around her neck. "Where are you taking her?!" Scott demanded.

"I wouldn't mind knowing that myself."

"You asked to see Kale. Well, I've a few things I want to discuss first, then I'll take you to see her."

"Thank you."

"One cloud however, and that collar will put you on the floor. Understood."

"Quite."

"Just like a human."

"Oh Scott. Do shut up."

Duncan had showed the woman the pods that he had been examining, he'd also gaind some useful information. She'd told him that when she and Scott woke, the were only a few miles apart, but it took them several days to find eachother, because their clothes had disintegrated, and they needed to find something to cover themselves. Not liking the idea, she told the War Master that if the children were near, they would mostlikely steal clothing that wouldn't be missed, then try to blend into the village, in small groups. Duncan sent word to the surrounding authorities asking about thefts of clothing for children, or young people. He'd get the information he requested by morning.

After that, he took her to see Kale, as he'd promised. The girl's body was practically all one huge bandage, the doctors had even wraped her hair in a cloth to keep it out of the way, so that her wounds would close without the strands getting caught. Storm never saw her friend's now white locks, so she had no idea there was any other problem. Storm sat gently on the edge of the bed, carefully patting her left hand. She looked at the bracelet, then to Man-at-Arms who shook his head when he knew she was asking about the device.

After about an hour, Duncan had one of the guards return the woman to the prison, and sat down in a chair nearest Kale's bed. He couldn't' believe that this small person could be his beloved horse. Though now that he thought about it, some of her behaviure of late, did make a lot of sence.

Evening dragged on into night, and Duncan never moved. He didn't even sleep. He watched the girl on the bed, her breathing becoming quick at one moment, then slow the next. He wished he knew what was happeing to her, not really sure if he could even help if he did know. But this girl, regaurdless of her abilities, was his charge. Horse, or human, she was his. Perhaps not in property, but in responsibility, and he'd hold himself to that pledge.

Night turned to dawn, and morning quickly crept in. The door opened, and the doctor and his staff made their way inside. "Have you been here all night?" the head surgeon asked. Duncan just got up and walked out. He gathered the report he'd been waiting for from the village authorities, then gathered the rest of the Masters and his King to brief them.

"Storm also told me that there are a lot of children with her group. One hundred and twenty six to be exact."

"What? How many in total?" asked the king.

"One hundred and thrity seven pods had people in them. Of the group that managed to survive, there were only eleven adults, Kale included."

"Why are they so afraid of human?" Teela asked.

"Storm didn't say. Your majesty, I think we all got off on the wrong foot with these people. The mountain people are a reclusive race. They don't like outside visitors, even if they are invited. They do use scare tactics to keep their lands safe, and to scare off any unwelcome visitors. The battle that happened was a misunderstanding, what Storm and her people need, is our help. For some reason, they have come from another world. They have ended up here, maybe on purpose, maybe by accident, but they need our help. They are spread out all over the planet. Some of the pods may even be in The Sea of Rakach. If that is the case, they're going to need our help to get them."

"What if the pods opened up on the bottom of the sea, what happened to the occupants?"

"That won't happen. Storm said that there is a fail safe in the system. If thke the responsibility."

"Yes sir."

The steel cables keeping her to the wall dropped away, along with the bindings, all except the collar around her neck. "Where are you taking her?!" Scott demanded.

"I wouldn't mind knowing that myself."

"You asked to see Kale. Well, I've a few things I want to discuss first, then I'll take you to see her."

"Thank you."

"One cloud however, and that collar will put you on the floor. Understood."

"Quite."

"Just like a human."

"Oh Scott. Do shut up."

Duncan had showed the woman the pods that he had been examining, he'd also gaind some useful information. She'd told him that when she and Scott woke, the were only a few miles apart, but it took them several days to find eachother, because their clothes had disintegrated, and they needed to find something to cover themselves. Not liking the idea, she told the War Master that if the children were near, they would mostlikely steal clothing that wouldn't be missed, then try to blend into the village, in small groups. Duncan sent word to the surrounding authorities asking about thefts of clothing for children, or young people. He'd get the information he requested by morning.

After that, he took her to see Kale, as he'd promised. The girl's body was practically all one huge bandage, the doctors had even wraped her hair in a cloth to keep it out of the way, so that her wounds would close without the strands getting caught. Storm never saw her friend's now white locks, so she had no idea there was any other problem. Storm sat gently on the edge of the bed, carefully patting her left hand. She looked at the bracelet, then to Man-at-Arms who shook his head when he knew she was asking about the device.

After about an hour, Duncan had one of the guards return the woman to the prison, and sat down in a chair nearest Kale's bed. He couldn't' believe that this small person could be his beloved horse. Though now that he thought about it, some of her behaviure of late, did make a lot of sence.

Evening dragged on into night, and Duncan never moved. He didn't even sleep. He watched the girl on the bed, her breathing becoming quick at one moment, then slow the next. He wished he knew what was happeing to her, not really sure if he could even help if he did know. But this girl, regaurdless of her abilities, was his charge. Horse, or human, she was his. Perhaps not in property, but in responsibility, and he'd hold himself to that pledge.

Night turned to dawn, and morning quickly crept in. The door opened, and the doctor and his staff made their way inside. "Have you been here all night?" the head surgeon asked. Duncan just got up and walked out. He gathered the report he'd been waiting for from the village authorities, then gathered the rest of the Masters and his King to brief them.

"Storm also told me that there are a lot of children with her group. One hundred and twenty six to be exact."

"What? How many in total?" asked the king.

"One hundred and thrity seven pods had people in them. Of the group that managed to survive, there were only eleven adults, Kale included."

"Why are they so afraid of human?" Teela asked.

"Storm didn't say. Your majesty, I think we all got off on the wrong foot with these people. The mountain people are a reclusive race. They don't like outside visitors, even if they are invited. They do use scare tactics to keep their lands safe, and to scare off any unwelcome visitors. The battle that happened was a misunderstanding, what Storm and her people need, is our help. For some reason, they have come from another world. They have ended up here, maybe on purpose, maybe by accident, but they need our help. They are spread out all over the planet. Some of the pods may even be in The Sea of Rakach. If that is the case, they're going to need our help to get them."

"What if the pods opened up on the bottom of the sea, what happened to the occupants?"

"That won't happen. Storm said that there is a fail safe in the system. If the pods sensors detect an incopatable atmostphear outside the pod, it uses whatever means it can to draw on power sources from the outside, to keep the occupant alive. But they're running out of time. The procedure like that is only designed to operate for three months. If they don't find all the pods soon, dozens of their kind will die."

Randor put the papers down that Duncan had handed him. They contained reports of minor theft of items such as clothing, food, supplies like cook pots, untencils, and small hand knives, all from the surrounding villages, and farther. He scanned the table of Masters, who'd all been provided the same information. He then thought about the two in the prison, both possessing powers that could flatten their city. Then he thought about the girl in the guest room, now submerged in some kind of liquid with countless wires, and tubes running into her body. "Do they have a camp that you could go to?" he asked.

"Yes, your highness. Storm said that a small number of them, one other adult and several children, have made camp in some caves near the village of Darna. King Karnavis has already been alerted, and is waiting for your approval to approach them. Sense they are not human, I believe they may be better received than we."

"Inform him that I await his report. Any assistance that he needs, he shall have. If their village can not accommodate the visitors, have them transported here. We'll do what we can."

"Yes my king."

The rest of you, report to Man-at-Arms' lab to receive your scanner, you're going to spread out and search for these pods, if they are open, and apparently without a red dot, you will not search for the occupants. You will be provided a note, written by this Storm, if she is willing, informing them where they can find their people. Hopefully, they will come."

"Father," Adam interrupted, "Duncan's report also stated that when the occupants woke up, their clothes fell apart. Perhaps we should leve a standard hospital gown, or gowns, so that if the survivors hadn't found clothing yet, they will have something to put on."

"Of course my son. I'd almost forgotten. I'll leave you to see to it, since it was your idea. Masters, keep me posted. I'll be in conference with King Karnavis." The assembly bowed as Randor left, and then each of the attendants left as well to carry out their tasks.

"You told them everything?" Scott hissed. "Storm! How could you!?"

"We are running out of time! The pods in the mountains can't wait much longer. Besides, the more people searching the better."

"They're humans! Need I remind you what they did to our kind?!"

"No Scott. You don't. But need I point out, that these humans, AR NOT the humans that we left behind!"

"You sure about that?"

"Would you two please stop!" declared one of the guards. "You sound like my parents."

"Stay out of this human!" Scott barked.

"Look around you!" Storm continued, as though she was never interrupted. The guard shrank back behind the consol. If this is what they were like with one outside of the cell, he'd hate to see what would happen if they kept the two of them together. "These people don't have the capacity of space flight, they are a blend of a simple agrarian culture, and advanced technology. Not only that, the stars above, the planets for heaven sake, are different. This isn't our home world!"

"We don't have a home world, Storm! Don't you get it! This was supposed to be our home! Without Humans!!"

"It still can be," called a familiar voice.

The pair turned to see a large blue furred man walk in with Duncan, and another man in a fur like cloak and a full beard and moustache. "Doc. McCoy!"

"Oh God! The camp!"

"Scott, please be at ease. I'm here of my own choice. The Eternians have agreed to help us find the pods, and help us set up our own village, as far away from the local population as we care to be."

"And you believe them?! They're HUMANS!"

"I am also the only one on this planet, with is the proper blood type to help Kale." Scott fumed in his cell, stomping back and forth on a path he'd memorized as free of obstacles. McCoy sighed and shook his head. "Gentlemen, would you all mind? I need to have a word with my friend alone."

Randor looked between the two as he himself removed Storm's restraining collar. "As you wish. Everyone, clear the room."

"Your majesty?" The guards asked, looking to the other occupied cells.

"You heard me! Unlock his cell, then clear the room. I'm sure the other prisoners will be quite safe
\
"Yes sir." The door to Scott's cell released. Duncan handed the blue man Scott's visor, and the key to the metal blindfold over his eyes. Once the room was cleared Doc. Hank McCoy stepped into the cell.

"I heard about how Kale came to be here," he said gently, forcing Scott to stop in his tracks, "and how you were responsible for her injuries."

"Just give me my visor," he said heatedly, knowing that his friend would help him. "Well, I would, but you see, we really need to talk first."

"What?!"

"Scott, we're worried about you. You've been on edge for a while, and I fear you're beginning to crack under the strain."

"There's over a hundred kids out there! We have to get to them before the human's do!"

"Will you shut up!!" It wasn't that Hank had raised his voice, rather there was a dangerous growl behind each word. Suddenly Hank's hand was clasped around Scott's throat, lifting him above the cot like bed. "You released your powers on a human! AT FULL FORCE!! Kale is lucky to be alive! You will curb your temper, and stop acting like Logan, or so help me, you will be blind for the rest of your life. Do we understand each other!?" Scott gasped an incoherent answer. "I can't hear you!"

"Yes!" he gasped again.

Hank lowered the man to the cot and deftly removed the moulded metal strip from around his head. He gave Scott his visor and waited for him to look up. "I'm glad we understand each other," he said, and escorted him out of the prison.