Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “I’ll see you later back on the cruiser,” he announced.

  “Fine, but take it easy, Treketa will go with you and if you start to feel unwell, she has my authority to take you back to Amalthea, is that understood?” pointed out Tayce in the tone of authority.

  “Yes that’s okay,” agreed Lance.

  Tayce before joining the others, watched both Treketa and Lance walk away, she was not pleased that Lance was hiding the fact he was in serious pain and would not give in. She continued on shaking her head at his stubbornness. Lance explained to Treketa, as they both walked along, about the many buildings at Questa and what they were used for. They both headed to the Vacuum Lift that would take them near to his and his Father’s residence on the lower levels selected residential area. Treketa as well as keeping one eye on Lance, was admiring the many different spectacular sights around the base. In a way she felt proud to be with Lance, after all, he was the Generals son. Lance was spotted by old friends, especially girls, on the way to the Largon residence, they all gave Treketa the once over, something she found amusing, as she thought they must have thought, she was Lances latest flame. The girls tried to catch his eye and blew kisses telling him to look them up the next time he was home. Treketa just shook her head, thinking she thought Tom used to be bad enough for the fanciful eye of the ladies. Lance once the admiring glances etc. were over apologised to Treketa, she laughed and told him not to worry, she was use to Tom once being in his position. They soon arrived at a white modern architectural designed home of great splendour. Lance keyed in his command to enter the residence. The doors soon opened inward. He gestured for Treketa to go first. She was totally taken back by the lavish splendour within.

  Up in Jonathan’s Officette he enquired who would be remaining for the Countesses trial, to give evidence on what she had done to Traun, as it would carry great weight in her final sentence. Lydia stood suddenly to everyone’s surprise and walked over to the sight pane. Donaldo looked at her, concerned she may be unwell. Lydia paused, looking out the sight pane, in thought. Tayce glanced to the General, then Tom in questioning manner. Lydia turned.

  “I’ll remain for the trial, nothing would give me the greatest pleasure of seeing that woman go where she belongs, you can pick me up in a monthon, I want to stay for this for your Father’s sake Tayce.”

  “It’s all right Mother I understand, really I do,” replied Tayce in a true tone of understanding.

  Even though Tayce could see where her Mother was coming from, she was concerned for the strain it would cause her when faced with bringing up that fateful night on Traun at trial, and the cruel treatment Vargons men put many of them through. She also realised leaving her Mother behind, when she had only just found her was not going to be easy, they had not had true time to get acquainted as Mother and daughter again. They were really close on Traun. Jonathan could see Tayces disappointment, that Lydia was not travelling on with them and she was genuinely concerned for her Mother’s safety, should Vargon escape before trial. He assured her that Lydia would be a guest at the Largon Residence for no matter how long she decided to remain on Questa, and security would be of the most vital importance during her stay, she would be assigned someone to escort her everywhere for her own safety, whilst Vargon was awaiting trial. Tayce felt a lot more at ease knowing at least her Mother would have a good friend and the proper protection should she need it. She stood to her feet.

  “If there’s nothing else you want us for, we had better head back to the cruiser, criminals don’t rest in the current times as you know and with us not out there to stop them, well who knows what will unfold,” said Tayce.

  “Quite!” replied Jonathan.

  “Tayce I need some free time before we head off, I need to pick up some supplies,” said Marc standing.

  “Fine, but don’t be late back,” ordered Tayce.

  Marc with this excused his presence, and headed off. Lydia and Tayce hugged in a goodbye way. She then ordered Tom to look after Tayce, she did not want to hear of any mishaps. Tom agreed wholeheartedly. They all headed over to the entrance of Jonathan’s Officette. Just as the doors opened Treketa stood waiting. Without warning a Slazer shot went off. Treketa was shot in the upper arm and fell against the wall beside the entrance. Donaldo rushed forward, catching her before she crumpled to the floor. Lance quickly turned to try see who fired the shot, but they had vanished from sight. Jonathan ordered the two present security men who had arrived upon hearing Slazer fire, to search the base immediately, he wanted the culprit found.

  “Treketa where are you hurt?” enquired Jonathan in true caring concern.

  “It’s my arm,” she replied wincing every time she moved her right arm.

  “Take her to our medical facility,” ordered Jonathan.

  “It’s fine General, we’ll take her back to Amalthea, thanks,” replied Donaldo supporting Treketa taking her on out the entrance.

  “Bye Mother, stay in touch and take care,” said Tayce then walked on.

  “General, until next time,” said Tom following on behind Tayce.

  “Look after yourselves, it’s a treacherous Universe,” replied Jonathan after the team, as they walked away.

  Lydia watched Tayce proudly as she walked with the team on back to the cruiser, until she was out of sight hoping she was going to be all right, like any Mother would.

  As Tayce went so she thought of how the last hourons had seemed. Countess Vargon was now rightfully where she belonged and was going to get what she deserved, coming to her for all the murderous actions she’d so freely enjoyed in her time of reign as leader of the Warrior Army. Marc soon rejoined the team at the Docking Bay doors. Midge made a crew check to make sure everyone, except Lydia had returned to the cruiser for departure then sealed the Docking Bay doors. Amalthea left Questa behind once more, heading off into the Universe.

  Questa disappeared slowly, ebbing away behind them like a disappearing blot in the vast Universe.

  Pilot From The Storm

  In the dayons that followed Treketa returned to her healthy normal self, after the unfortunate incident of being shot outside the Generals Officette. It was night hourons to be exact, of the following weekon, Tayce’s quarters, she was in deep sleep, but that deep sleep was tinged with the fact this night was an unusual one, because it was one of those nights where she was reliving the fateful night on Traun. A nightmare that made her relive the final moments before Trauns demise, from the moment she was ordered to be taken to her current surroundings by Marc. Her Father kissing her goodbye for what was thought to be the last time and her being thrust forward in the crowd, never to see her Father again. She tossed and turned in an agitated state, as she progressed through the dream sequence, which was heading to her looking back from Amalthea to see her home world explode in a million trillion pieces. Tears now ebbed down her delicate cheeks dropping onto the grey silkene pillet. Her body was perspiring from the agitated state, she’d slid into when going into the deep nightmare scenario. She tried to turn away from the same repeating scenes, of for some strange reason trying to find her Father against all odds. That he wasn’t dead. She woke suddenly sitting up with a breathless start. Shaking like a leaf and looking around the dimly lit Repose Centre. Why had she had this recurring dream again she thought, there was no reason, it had been monthons since she’d dreamt about the last moments of Traun? She took a deep breath to try and relax herself. Then laid back down the bunk, trying to think of something else. She soon drifted back into a peaceful calm sleep.

  Outside in the distant Universe, developing as it ebbed towards Amalthea and into the current spacial sector, was the most spectacular Intergalactic storm that ever was, which was being monitored by Midge as it headed in their direction. Bright flashes of red, yellow, orange and greens, with a crimson edge emitted from the storm in dagger shaped lightening, off into the Universe in no particular direction simultan
eously. The more the storm developed, the stronger and more powerful it’s energy strikes became.

  On board Amalthea Midge was taking no chances for what might be and was putting preparations for Storm Attack in place. He being guidance and main operations computer never went to standby, he was on watch of the Universe the whole time to protect his mistress and crew at a moments notice. To his surprise Midge was picking up what he found to be a vessel of sorts, trapped in the heart of the moving storm. He wondered whether he should assist in a rescue, but he would have to do a scan first and identify the vessel in case it was a trap to gain his trust. He took no chances preparing to open fire the moment he did the scan if it proved hostile. The Universe was a treacherous and hostile place, at the best of times and it was growing harder to establish the friendly vessels from enemy type. He realised whoever, it was after the scan came back safe, this was an innocent victim of the storm being tossed around. He began trying to make contact. But because of the extreme powerful energy of the mass, it was increasingly hard to establish a solid contact. He was receiving what he was sending. The call was literally bouncing off the storms energy barrier. He continued to try undeterred increasing the signal strength each time he sent a call, that he was there to assist in anyway he could. He would continue to try and rescue the vessel, until Tayce came on duty, first light.

  Tayce walked into Organisation next mornet feeling somewhat still agitated by the fact she’d had her recurring nightmare again and couldn’t understand why, she wondered whether it had something to do with the trial and Vargon, as this was on her mind greatly, she wanted the witch out of circulation for good she thought. But did it mean that the evil witch would escape and return to get her again? She crossed to the sight port that was showing the immediate Universe. In the centre of the storm, that suddenly caught her immediate attention, was the vessel that Midge had been trying hard to communicate with. She crossed to her seat and sat down looking at the vessel caught in the colourful tempestuous sight.

  “Midge report please, what have we got?” demanded Tayce not taking her sight from the small vessel.

  “It materialised in the early hourons, while you were in sleep, I have been following it’s progress and trying unsuccessfully to make contact with it, so far we have nothing coming back in returned communications and it continues to drift, I have also put into operation precautions for our protection from the oncoming storm I don’t fancy their chances Tayce, whoever is inside that storm and vessel,” said Midge.

  “What is that?” said Marc in amazement, at the sight of the storm, as he entered Organisation.

  “That Marc, is a storm to end all storms and what’s more there’s a small vessel caught right in the heart of it,” explained Tayce glancing over her shoulder at him.

  “Have we tried to contact it?” asked Marc looking out to the spectacular sight.

  “I have tried many times without any success,” replied Midge.

  “What if we try extreme tractor mode AX-1,” asked Marc.

  Tayce watched, as did Marc, as to what would happen, when the tractor mode was applied. From the front of Amalthea, the familiar green intense energy force, that was the AX-1, shot from the cruiser across the sector they were currently occupying, straight into the heart of the storm. It locked on to the unidentified craft dragging it with unsteady awkwardness slowly out of the storms interior into clear space. Then slowly as the tractor beam withdrew back into Amalthea, it brought the vessel with it. Midge ran a scan over the vessel once within boarding distance. It was somewhat scorched, owing to the energy lightening strikes that had bombarded it, but it was sleek by design and considered to be a first class fighter type vessel. Tayce waited watching with great interest, as to what would unfold.

  “One life sign on board, currently using standby Life Support,” announced Midge informatively.

  “Marc have Donaldo meet us down at Docking Bay doors on Level 2, in twenty minons, I’m heading down there,” said Tayce leaving her seat, heading across the Organisation to the entrance.

  “Be right with you, just as soon as I’ve done this,” replied Marc continuing on with the orders for Donaldo to meet Tayce at the Docking Bay doors.

  Tayce hurried on out and along Level 1 to the Level Steps towards Level 2. As she went, it had her thinking the nightmare she’d had last night hourons, may have been something to do with the strange vibes that were coming from the storm in their path and not Vargons trial after all. Some people in the past had reported experiencing strange phenomenal forces and experiences in the event of these strange type storms. The more Tayce thought about, it as she went, the more it seemed feasible. Tom soon joined her on the steps coming up from Level 2.

  “What’s happening, Midge said it was urgent, is something wrong?” asked Tom studying her concerned.

  “No I’m fine it’s just we have a vessel well a fighter to be exact, that we’ve hauled from the approaching storm, Midge is bringing it in to dock on Level 2, care to join me?” asked Tayce casually.

  “Sure, of course,” replied Tom.

  Both continued on down the steps, stepping onto Level 2 on walking along they wondered what was awaiting them.

  In time Donaldo came running briskly up the corridor to the Docking Bay doors, with a Hover Trolley and Medic Emergency Kit on top. Treketa was laughing and talking with Donaldo as they came. Tayce noticed that she and he were growing together, not just as working buddies, but close in friendship of the intimate kind. This she was glad to see. It was something that she had noticed a lot, ever since the team had come together, everyone seemed to work in unison. It was understandable, that there were the odd dayons, they each had their problems and moments of agitation, but they soon got over it, if it couldn’t be resolved then she wanted to hear about it, so it could be sorted. She appreciated the people that had come together to be considered for her team, they had all given up their spacial lives to try something new and that meant a lot in itself. Tayce Wristlinked Midge as she walked.

  “Midge hows it coming?” she asked.

  “Final docking in progress Tayce,” replied Midge informatively.

  Marc hurried down to join them at the Docking Bay doors. He soon stood waiting until decontamination was completed. It seemed to take ages. Midge ordered whoever was volunteering to go aboard the vessel, to get into special protection suits, the air according to his scan readings, was not breathable, very virulent. Tom and Marc agreed to go on board, so went off to get suited up in the nearby suiting up room. Tayce didn’t like the sound of Midges findings and wondered whether she was putting both Tom and Marc in danger by letting them do, what they had volunteered to do, by going into the poisonous atmosphere, but they had no choice. Donaldo looked at Tayce and could see her uneasiness, he assured her that whatever happened he would more than be able to put it right. Tayce nodded, then began pacing impatiently. She wanted to get started, to see what, or who, was on board. Treketa could see Tayce was apprehensive at the thought of Tom going into the unsteady atmosphere and she understood that, she felt uneasy too. Tom and Marc soon returned. Tayce, discretely advised Tom the moment he felt they’d been in the bad atmosphere long enough, she wanted him out, she did not want to lose him. Tom pulled her to him and assured her he would. Both himself and Marc once Midge gave the all clear for them to step into the airlock proceeded with caution. Donaldo meantime prepared the Hover Trolley, ready to rush the pilot or being off to the Life Ability Centre, when he was brought from the fighter type vessel. Everyone stood waiting patiently.

  Inside the fighter type vessel, it was cramped and the atmosphere was filled with a hazy and poisonous gas. Marc considered it impossible to almost see in front of his face, the air was so thick. But they had come aboard to do a rescue and that was just what they intended to do, they wouldn’t give up until they found the pilot they had come to rescue. Upon finally discovering him, they quickly grabbed him from th
e seat on either side hauling him back to the entrance, watching their footing as they went.

  “We don’t want to be here to long, there’s something leaking, this thing is going to go up, we need to jettison it before it takes Amalthea and us with it,” said Marc as they returned to the entrance of the fighter.

  Tom nodded. Once back at the entrance, they both dragged the pilot out into the airlock, letting the entrance hatch to the fighter close behind them. Tom ordered Midge via his suit comceive, to jettison the fighter before it blew and took them with it. The airlock soon returned to normal level and the Docking Bay doors to Amalthea opened. Tom and Marc struggled out back aboard the cruiser, with the humanoid looking pilot. He was not a big built person. Tom and Marc helped lift him onto the Hover Trolley. He was unconscious. Donaldo quickly operated the hand held panel and took the pilot to the Life Ability Centre. Marc removed his protective head shield with much relief, after being in the hazardous atmosphere. Tom did the same. Just as Marc and Tom removed their head shields out in space the fighter that had been jettisoned and had drifted away to a safe distance, exploded from all the dangerous gases that had built up aboard. There came a wave of aftershock that rocked Amalthea. Tom slightly toppled as did Tayce.

  “That is what you call a near miss, any longer aboard that thing and we would have gone with it,” said Tom with relief he and Marc hadn’t stayed aboard the dangerous fighter any longer.

  “Have to agree with you there buddy,” agreed Marc in utter relief of the fact.

  “Besides the gaseous interior, did you find anything in the fighter that would help us identify who our on board guests might be?” enquired Tayce.

  “Nope! Nothing except the pilot and the gaseous atmosphere,” replied Marc pausing before beginning to walk off to get out of his suit.