by Jeri Dion
Midge picked up the fact Tayce was not going to suffer Tom’s behaviour gladly and he could understand where she was coming from. He said no more on the matter. Tayce studied the turquoise Wallet that she’d found aboard the craft. She removed the Disc Chip and studied it.
“What have you got there?” asked Midge scanning the Disc Chip in her hand.
“It’s a Disc Chip I found it in Tom’s Wallet, which I found aboard his craft,” replied Tayce.
“Put it in the Chip Reader, lets have a look and see what makes Mr Stavard tick, I don’t believe he is as bad, as he makes out, I deter that it’s what he’s been through lately, that made him react the way he did to you, after all three dayons ago, we ourselves encountered pirates who liked this cruiser, remember,” pointed out Midge in a reminding tone.
“Okay point taken,” replied Tayce.
She opened the small clear perspexon flap, then slid the Disc Chip into it’s slot. Pressed a key. The flap closed, at the same time drawing the Disc in slowly ready to scan the information and transfer it to Small Vid Screen. The Vid Screen came to life and Tom’s figure filled it, he began by saying if whoever was playing back this information, then he was either dead, or alive, and badly injured. Tayce thought to herself, Midge had been right, this was a man that was like any other normal man, despite his earlier behaviour in time she could come to trust him. She relaxed back watching and listening on. Tom came from Earthon 2, a place called Americal (America). Midge picked out certain pieces of important facts and stored them away in his memory, for a later date retrieval. The Disc Chip stated to Tayce and Midge how good Tom was in certain aspects of space flight. Then it came to the female that had been in the craft beside Tom. He announced her as his wife ‘Alenea’ Tayce began to feel sorry for Tom, he was now in the same situation as she was, losing someone he cared for. For a moment her mind drifted back the three yearons, to that fateful night on Traun and wondering if Marc Dayatso had made it off their crumbling world, or even her parents? Midge brought her back to the present, as the Disc Chip concluded, he suggested she should go down to the craft and get all the useful information, that maybe helpful for storage and help Mr Stavard when he was back to normal health.
“Like what?” asked Tayce unsure what to collect.
“Star Charts, Disc Chips etc. anything that could be useful to us,” he replied.
“But Tom might not be staying Midge and I feel like I’m prying,” she replied casually.
“Believe me Tayce his craft is in no fit state for him to leave, for the foreseeable future, his engines are out of sync and many of his crafts components are fried, due to the assault,” explained Midge.
“But there’s a dead female on board, it’s eerie, I’d feel she would be watching me rob her husband’s craft,” said Tayce far from easy at the fact.
“Leave it to me, I will Travelsport her body, to burial casket ready for the space burial, you’re going to need the information that you may find and I can deal with Mr Stavard if I have to,” said Midge.
Tayce stood up and walked away from her seat, she began across the Organisation Deck. Midge informed her that he would inform her of any change in Mr Stavard’s condition on route. Tayce agreed. She walked on out, heading on the way back to the Flight Hanger Bay. On the way she would change back into her normal navy and white stripe Amalthean Uniform.
Once Tayce had changed back into her normal every dayon duty attire, she continued on down to the Cargo Section. Once there, she retrieved a holdall from the top storage space, she could just reach up, as she was only 1.65 metres high. Upon retrieving the holdall, she continued on along to the damaged craft.
In the Life Ability Centre Tom Stavard lay silently under restraints. Midge above monitored his heart and pulse rate, everything was returning to normality, Midge ran a new scan of Tom’s healing injuries. Everything was going according to what it should be for returning to normal human body status of a normal male. Tom’s eyes flickered open. He focussed on his sterile surroundings. It came back to him, where he was and how he had come to be there.
“Welcome back Mr Stavard, I’m Midge, the main computer for this cruiser, how are you feeling?” enquired Midge in a soothing tone.
“Where is this place, where’s she gone?” asked Tom referring to Tayce.
“By she! I assume you mean Colonel Traun, she will be here soon enough, you are on Amalthea One, an exploration cruiser, you have nothing to fear Mr Stavard, we are peaceful here, travelling the stars in an exploration capacity,” informed Midge.
“Is she always that hostile to people she rescues?” asked Tom casually.
“Not generally, but you did assault my mistress,” expressed Midge.
Tom said no more, but awaited the arrival of Tayce. He reflected on his actions, as he lay where he was, maybe he had been wrong to react the way he had, but he bet she’d do the same, if the tables were reversed.
Tayce was alerted in Tom Stavards craft by Midge on Tom’s current condition. She’d just finished retrieving Tom’s close possessions, like small mementos, besides journals, records and other things that would be useful. She quickly walked back towards the entrance stepping back out into the light of the Hanger Bay clasping up the strip on the holdall. She headed across the Hanger Bay, going on out up to the Life Ability Centre. As she went, so she kept in mind, the last encounter with Tom, if he tried anything again this time she may think twice about keeping him on board altogether.
The doors to the Life Ability Centre opened. Tayce briskly entered, but stood her distance away from Tom. He glanced over at her, in an apologetic way.
“Colonel I apologise for my actions earlier towards you,” he said half dazed.
“Apology accepted, though next time you should think twice before you strike out at a person, who saves your life, he or she may not be as understanding as I am,” pointed out Tayce, she was not going to let Tom off the hook to soon.
“Where’s my wife, where’s Alenea?” he demanded looking around at the other bunks in the centre that were vacant.
“I’m afraid to tell you… your wife is… dead… she was when I examined her upon boarding your craft when we first brought you aboard,” said Tayce in a gentle tone.
“Oh… are you the only crew on this vessel?” enquired Tom fighting back the tears of hurt for his wife.
“Yes for the moment, it’s just Midge and me,” she replied with a casual smile, she could see Tom’s pain and understood where he was coming from at the loss of his partner.
“It must get pretty lonely out here on your own and dangerous too?” he asked showing some concern.
“I’m not out here by choice, I was cast away from my home in the middle of a war between the Vargon Warriors and my people, but I’ve got use to being alone, anyway I have Midge,” expressed Tayce.
“Will you call me Tom, look, thank you for rescuing me, I guess I shouldn’t of done what I did, sorry again,” he said managing a handsome gentle smile to convey as much.
“Tom I will leave you to continue your recuperation, Midge you may remove the restraints, they are no longer needed,” ordered Tayce feeling a lot more at ease where Tom was concerned.
“Restraints deactivated,” replied Midge.
The restraints vanished. Tayce advised Tom to continue to rest, then left Midge to fill him in on what had been happening. She began back to the entrance, but paused, turning she informed Tom his craft was in no shape to travel anywhere in. It was damaged beyond repair, owing to the bombardment of weapon fire, obviously from the pirate attack. Tom didn’t know what to say, he knew the situation had got out of hand out in the Universe, but he guessed he didn’t really realise how bad. Tayce continued on out. Once outside she picked up the holdall with the contents inside and walked on back to Organisation. On the way she thought about the Disc Chips, that she’d found on Tom’s craft and what
they might contain. She would retrieve information that would be needed to compile a file on Tom and store anything else that may be needed for later retrieval. She would, then place the whole holdall in one of the quarters for Tom to find his personal belongings later to make his new quarters like home.
Three dayons lapsed. Amalthea One was now in another sector of the Universe. Tom Stavard was up on his feet and now in an Amalthean Quests uniform. Tayce had offered to do the honourable and decent thing in giving Alenea Stavard a space burial, so that Tom could say his proper goodbyes. The silver casket was set on runners to be jettisoned into the Universe. Tayce handed Tom a rose from the Lab Garden to place on the casket. It was red, aptly fitting for the occasion, Tom fought back the loving tears for Alenea, he had explained to Tayce they had only been officially linked to each other for two monthons. Tom placed the red rose on top of the casket, stood back and said a few silent words, then nodded to Tayce. She gave the command to Midge and the casket began down the runners of a blue light force field, until it reached the jettisonhatch. Tayce stood in silence waiting. The hatch opened. The casket headed on into space. Once Aleneas body had been sent into space, Tayce let Tom stand in thought for a few cencrons, then she took him on a guided tour of Amaltheas five decks and the various sections ending up back at what was to be his new quarters. Temporarily or permanent the choice was his. Here she left him to be alone and settle in. Returning to the Life Ability Centre, to clear away the various things that Midge had used to treat Tom. Half way there, her Wristlink bleeped. It was Midge, he informed her it was urgent, and she was to go to Organisation immediately. On this Tayce hurried to the Deck Travel. This was the lift between Levels. She entered as the doors opened, on approach. Once inside she selected the desired level, by depressing an inset maroon key. The Deck Travel began to ascend. It stopped abruptly, and all the lights went out. Lucky for Tayce she always carried with her, her Sonic Energy Pencil, so she was able to get out. She aimed it at the locking panel. A small thin beam emitted at the doors.
They moaned an electronic sound, then opened. Tayce found as the doors opened she was stuck half way off the level, she’d just left. But there was a gap big enough to climb out of. She quickly threw herself up and out into the corridor, landing face down on the deck floor. Standing to her feet in the dark, she began off. As she ran in the dark, she ran unknowing straight into Tom who was looking for her. They collided in full force.
“What the… Tayce is that you?” said Tom stepping back realising he’d probably winded her.
“Yes! We’ve got a circuit malfunction come on,” she replied gaining her composure.
She raised her Wristlink as they began off and contacted Midge wondering if he was still operational. Much to her relief, he came back loud and clear. He informed her he was being drained of all energy by some strange force. It was affecting the cruisers on board power supply. Tayce ordered him to keep emergency power going for as long as he possibly could, in the meantime, to release any doors and functions that could be handed over to manual control. Midge agreed. Tayce and Tom were now sprinting and working their way to Level 1. They reached the Level Steps and halted for a minon, then ran up two at a time until they reached the desired level. Level 1. They soon ran into Organisation to see out the main sight port. Nothing! but dark space. So what was unusual about this thought Tayce? Midge addressed Tom instructing him which panel to remove and check behind, under his console, before finally crashing. Tom obeyed, getting down underneath. Removing the panel, he could see the system was straining by the minon. Just as Tom went to examine the component, sparks flew.
“Tom be careful, you’ve had one accident, I don’t want to have to treat you again so soon, especially as Midge has crashed completely,” said Tayce watching on.
“Don’t panic, I know what I’m doing,” he assured her.
“I hope you do, I don’t want Midge inoperative forever, we’ll be flying blind, come to think of it, we’ll just drift,” she said thinking the worst.
“Look will you relax! I studied ship wide electronics whilst in training, and in case you’ve forgot, I did own that heap that’s in your Flight Hanger Bay,” he replied.
“I wouldn’t adopt that kind of attitude Tom, your still a guest on board this cruiser and I’m still in command and I can pull you out of there any time I want,” she retorted not liking his smart aleck answer.
“Fine then you fix this problem,” he said without further word, he turned his head looking up at her far from impressed she thought he couldn’t do the job in hand.
“Your down there now, aren’t you?” she replied knowing he’d won the point.
“Just let me get on with repairing this, and you can get under way,” he replied coolly.
“Fine!” she replied having the last word, after all it was her cruiser.
She went to her seat at the front of Amalthea Ones Organisation. Sitting down she patiently waited while Tom repaired the problem in Midges functions. Eventually Tom gained emergency power, then informed Tayce she could continue on, whilst he continued to find the real problem and restore full operations mode. Just as soon as Midge came back online Tayce asked him for an update. Tom explained getting to his knees, that the repair would hold for a while, but they would have to look for a service and repair colony, or port. Tayce ordered Midge to chart a direct course to the nearest port or colony. He accepted his orders and began to commence the request. After a few cencrons, he came back to announce he had found a service and maintenance port in sector X5. Tayce suggested he head for it and the sooner the better. Tom climbed into the adjacent seat to Tayce. Midge once Tom was seated ordered him and Tayce to place seat restraints on, it was going to be a rough ride to cut time. They were going to travel at Hyper Thrust Turbo but because of his temporary repairs, it was not going to be the usual smooth journey it normally would be. Both Tayce and Tom did as asked preparing themselves for a rough ride ahead.
Amalthea One entered Hyper Thrust Turbo speed on it’s journey to the Orge port which was were the maintenance port was situated. But it was a case of spasmodic travel. Even though the cruiser looked impressively sleek in design in a shade of white, with red line trim through the middle. She looked far from the splendid and impressive sight she normally was, as she spasmodically headed across the Universe to the destined port of call.
The speed of Amalthea One was from 186.000 milons a cencron (warp 1) to 3.360.000 a cencron which was Hyper Thrust Turbo. But with the quick reaction halting system, she could stop at a cencrons notice and all on board would not feel a thing. Amaltheas biggest problem was criminals at large. If they saw she was travelling in spasms across their path, they may feel the cruiser was easy pickings, for the taking. But what they didn’t realise was, that even in her present state this cruiser was an equal match for them, in firepower. With Slazer Cannons placed throughout the cruiser, from bow to stern. Plus, she had energy disintegrating missiles that exploded on impact disintegrating the enemy. They emanated from the lower stern of the cruiser, dropping down and heading straight for the target.
Tom watched the horizon as they travelled. Tayce found, even with all the spasmodic travel, she drifted into a sudden sound sleep. Forty-eight straight hourons she’d been on duty, without a break. Tom asked Midge how long had Tayce been on duty, and was surprised by his answer. That she had not taken a break in all that time. Midge explained that most of those hourons had been taken looking after him. Tom shook his head, he had no idea she’d been that dedicated to her position. He looked at her, and smiled to himself, thinking she was one exceptional young woman. He was beginning to like her, admire her even, considering what she’d gone through alone in the Universe so far. He suggested maybe Tayce would be a lot more comfortable in her quarters, if he could steady the cruiser long enough for him to take her there for a rest. Midge agreed, he placed the Stabilizer System into operation for the time it would take Tom, to take Tay
ce down to her quarters and the Repose Centre. Tom on Midges word, undid both his and Tayces restraints. He lifted Tayce up and carried her across the Organisation Deck to the entrance. Walking on out down to Tayce’s quarters. Midge while Tom was gone, took over control of the cruiser and continued across the last few milons of the journey towards the destined port of call. An Earthon 2 colony, especially for vessels needing repair and service.
Down in Tayce’s quarters Tom gently placed her down on the Repose Centre bunk, then draped the thermal coverlet over her. She was totally unaware Tom was doing such a thing, because she was so exhausted. He smiled as she moaned and turned over, to carry on in her comfortable state, he also wondered how she would react, knowing he was in her quarters. She’d probably lose it with him. Tom studied her for a moment noticing how peaceful she looked, before he turned and walked on out to return to the Organisation Deck.
Upon his arrival back in Organisation, he briskly crossed back to Tayces seat, and sat down. Midge released control of the cruiser back to him in Tayces absence. Together they headed on across the last few milons to the to the service port for the new circuitry for Midges repairs, for his operations port.
“Tell me about Tayce, Midge,” asked Tom waiting to hear, interested.
“I really shouldn’t, but as it’s you, I will divulge, she’s a good person, always sees fair in most situations, I think she gets this from her Father, he was a good man and good teacher, he taught her a lot, but she will not be taken in by fools and time wasters,” replied Midge in informing tone.
“How long has Tayce been out here?” continued Tom.
“Since the destruction of Traun our home world, when she lost her parents, and the people she loved, that was about three yearons ago now,” continued Midge.