Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “What did you do with the Greymarians,” she simply demanded fighting off his powerful seductiveness.

  “All in good time Fairness,” he said dismissing her question, continuing on to get what he wanted.

  He reached out stroking her left cheek, then leaned in and tried to kiss her fully on the mouth, thinking that she was completely under his sexual powerful influence. Wrong! Tayce lashed out and broke free finding the power she possessed, rise in her enough to do so taking him totally by surprise. This made him angry beyond words and he sighed in sheer angered frustration, that Tayce had not been so under his influence, as he had hoped. She went for her Slazer, she figured it was up to her to put an end to this Lord Dion, once for an all. She drew her gun and aimed it directly at him. He shook his head, what did this female think she was doing, she was no match for the likes of him, why couldn’t she see it. He held out his right hand opening it wide. Then slowly closed it. Tayce suddenly felt a strange feeling around her hand, that was holding the gun. Lord Dion tightened his grip using very little effort of his powers to crush her hold, invisibly. He plainly watched her as she felt the increasing pressure and pain as her hand was squeezed tightly around the gun. No mercy showed in his dark bearded features, as she felt the searing pain of his invisible yet powerful grip.

  “Drop it Fairness before I crush your fingers, you cannot win,” he said commandingly.

  “No chance,” she protested, fighting back against the searing pain she was experiencing.

  “Don’t make me crush your hand to dust Fairness, I will,” he said coming to stop in front of her.

  Tayce looked up at him. Tears in her delicate sapphire eyes, fighting against him at the immense force he held around her hand. With his left hand he reached out and gently gripped her under the chin making her keep looking into his powerful dark eyes, he was almost making her plead for him to stop the pressure. As both Lord Dion and Tayce stood in a stance in the middle of his elaborate dark and maroon marblex chamber, Marc had found Tayce upon the word of Dions men, that he had a beauty in his presence, fitting the description of Tayce and rounded the corner beginning to open fire in warning shots passed Dion.

  “Let her go, now, or the next shot that comes from this weapon, will be one, with your name on it,” warned Marc slowing and walking to the centre of the chamber.

  On this Lord Dion known as just ‘Dion’ by his men, loosened his grip on Tayces delicate hand and stood where he was, he was letting Marc think he’d won, but he was not the kind of being to be easily terrorised by a mere mortal such as Marc. Marc ebbed forward reaching out his hand for Tayce to grab. Which she did like a life line. Marc holding the gun aimed at Dion, retreated back to the entrance taking Tayce with him. Once clear of the room he fired a warning shot into the ceiling of the chamber over Dions head. The ceiling cascaded around him, where he stood before he had a chance to make a run for it.

  Tom and the other members of the Quest team, with the Questa Combat Team found the closely guarded device known as the Time Jump Dimensional Suspension Device and discovered it had held the Greymarians in another dimension. The Device was fully operational. Chief Penfron and his men were now working in unison with the Amalthean Quest team. It was decided that as the device was currently being guarded by forty of Dions men, they had to work together to take them out, in order to rescue the Greymarians. Everyone quickly got into position ready to open fire on the Boglayons. An exchange of fierce weapon fire between the two sides, brought the pirates down. Dean was shot in the upper arm, he dropped back against the cavernous rough wall gathering the strength for a moment to go on, then carried on shooting through the immense pain he was feeling. Donaldo glanced at Dean concerned, as he too shot back at the Boglayons. He could see Dean needed medical treatment, but could not get to him, because of the fierce onslaught, that was taking place. Dead silence filled the immediate surroundings, suddenly. Every guard was gone. Disintegrated by weapon fire. Both the chief and Tom hit hands in mid air, at the triumph of their success. He looked at the square device that sat on a stonex pillar, namely the Time Jump Dimensional Suspension Device.

  “It’s all yours Mr Stavard,” he gestured for Tom to go ahead.

  “Thanks for the assistance,” said Tom striding forward, to deactivate the device and bring the Greymarians back to the current time.

  Both teams stood ready to assist the Greymarians, as they came back. Tayce and Marc entered the room and entered the red marblex chamber, where the device had been kept. Tayce was trying to shake the thoughts that Lord Dion had placed in her mind, of him and her being totally lost in each other and him taking her to the end of the Universe in the strong sensual stakes. She was also trying to keep her fingers moving, after what he had done to them. She studied the square medium sized box, known as the Time Jump Dimensional suspension Device, finding it quite interesting. It was full of blinking lights and silver buttons. It was like the whole of the Greymarians had been held in a prison, suspended in another time. She began thinking that if she keyed in the code on the command, that was printed on the top, would it return the crew? Tom nodded to her to continue. She began keying in the seven digit sequence, then stood back, when it was done. Preying inside that it had worked. After a few minons, there was a blinding flash, Just the way Kelly Travern had described earlier, when they found her. The whole of the Greymaren crew along with Martin Travern and his lovely wife materialised in the room. Martin immediately, once they had gathered where they were, walked forth with his hand outstretched, glad to be back. He was a tall well built man, with brown short curly hair, just the same shade as Kelly’s. He was a handsome man, with a certain look of authority about him.

  “Tayce Traun, what are you doing here and who is this group?” began Martin enthusiastically.

  “We’re here to rescue you, this is my Amalthean Quests team and a Combat team from Questa, headed by Combat Chief Paul Penfron, your all safe now,” said Tayce in reassuring tone.

  “My daughter Kelly, where is she?” asked a slim woman with straight brown hair, that cascaded down the middle of her back, walking to stand beside Martin.

  “Kelly is safe, she’s gone to Questa with General Largon to the Counselling Complex, the General thought it would help considering what she’s endured from Lord Dion and his men, unfortunately Kelly was in a bad state when we found her, but she’ll be fine,” assured Tayce in a kind warm tone.

  “Commodore sir, if you would agree my vessel from Questa can more than hold your crew, I would be honoured to take you all back to Questa, where you can all get back to normality,” spoke up Paul.

  “Yes, yes good idea, what of Greymaren, is it… ?” began Martin Travern, but was cut off by Tayce.

  “Greymaren is safe, she is currently at Questa awaiting your arrival.”

  “Your Father would be proud of you young woman, thank you for helping us return,” said Martin in a kind soft educated tone.

  He gathered the whole of his crew together and began off in the company of Combat Chief Paul Penfron and his men, on the journey back to normality. Martin paused at the entrance, turning he informed Tayce that there would be merits added to her and her teams records for what they’d done. Tayce smiled and informed him it was all part of their new duty, there was no need. With this the Greymaren crew under the guide of Paul Penfron, headed to a safe position, to de-materialise off the Boglayon Hideout back to a vessel that would take them back to where they belonged Tom was about to pick up the Time Jump Dimensional Suspension Device and place it in a nearby box, ready to take back to the cruiser. Tayce put her hand up to stop him, asking him what did he think of the device, should it be recovered for future beneficial use, or destroyed there and then, as earlier Jonathan Largon had left the decision with herself when it was found. Tom thought about it. He shook his head, Tayce for the first time ever found herself reading his thoughts, that it may fall into the wrong hands and start
causing trouble all over again if it was left. With this, she took aim with her weapon and fired. Everyone ran from the room, leaving the devise to blow into a display of sparks flames and smoke.

  Lord Dion wasn’t dead, his immediate guards had pulled him free, alive but dusty, from the rubble. He’d heard the exchange of weapon fire earlier and recognised it to be his men in combat, this meant only one thing. The Time Jump Dimensional Suspension device had been claimed by the beautiful female, who he had in his enticing captivity. He ordered the twenty or so men remaining to patrol and find the source, that had taken the device. They began forward and he briskly followed after them. Upon rounding a corner, as luck would have it, he could see the Amalthean Quests team ahead and the female he had so much enjoyed, if only for a while she had been different from most females he had the pleasure of in his clutches, there was something about her. A wicked amused smile crossed his villainous features, at the thought, that he had found this female different from others he wanted more of her and somehow some dayon he would. He had so much enjoyed her, she had spirit and something else, what he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He waited in the shadow of the eves, he couldn’t believe it, the team, as luck would have it was truly on his side, was heading in his direction, The fools he thought. Tayce was running ahead, hoping to get out of their surroundings. Midge could not get a reading clear enough to Travelsport them off Boglayia where they were. So they had to make it to a much easier position. He stayed where he was, knowing that Tayce had not seen him. As the team became suddenly embroiled in firepower from his men once more, Tayce was backing up towards him, which he was finding most pleasing to say the least. As she dodged one of his men, she came straight back against him. Hitting him in the solid midriff, she spun and was alarmed to find he was alive and right in her way looking down at her. She raised her gun and was about to shoot him for real this time. But she found she couldn’t, something made her stop. Lord Dion looking down at her in silence, grabbed her once more having overpowered her and spun her round, holding her facing the team with his right arm restraining her around the upper half. His broad strong left hand around her delicate throat. Tayce tried to once more to break free. He spoke close to her left ear in his soft seductive tone, that almost made her melt.

  “Stop struggling Fairness, it won’t do you any good, your helpless against me, you know that,” he whispered in such a way it made Tayce feel helpless.

  Dion bellowed for his men to cease fire, but there were none left, he was alone. Tom looked at Lord Dion in alarm who had now stepped out of the shadows with a restrained Tayce in his hold. He raised his Slazer and ordered him to let Tayce go, otherwise he would take him out with the team, where he stood. Dion gave a look of impatient disgust to think a mere mortal such as Tom could shoot him.

  “You go ahead and shoot, one squeeze of Fairness’s neck and you might take me out, but you’ll say goodbye to her too,” he said in cold warning.

  Tom under Tayces orders to drop his Slazer, did. She continued to struggle with all her strength and might she didn’t like feeling the powerful warm presence of this Lord Dion so closely, he was truly making her feel uncomfortable in sensing his powerfulness. Suddenly her mind flashed back to the encounter she had had with the Countess, she began feeling that same strange force of power, rise within her, she found that it was growing more stronger than before in the encounter back in the chambers. She tugged at his strong muscular arm. He would not give an inch in releasing her. He just ordered her close to her ear to stop her stubbornness it was getting her no where, nor would the power that was rising inside her. He glanced around, as he was the only one left of his world, he had to plan the next move carefully. But he was also angry to discover that the last of his men had vanished in the vapours of the de-materialisation of weapon fire, he’d lost. Something he didn’t like. It was time to take a swift exit, to survive and return for this beauty some other time. Treketa to his surprise was in the right position to take Dion out, but not harm Tayce. She took aim at him.

  “Release the Colonel before I take you down, where you stand,” she said warningly.

  On this Dion pushed Tayce straight towards Tom running off down the corridor out of sight into the darkened shadows. Treketa lowered her weapon and Tayce sighed in the warmth of Tom’s hold. Treketa looked for Dean, he was on the floor out cold, with his eyes closed not moving, she had recalled that he had been shot a while ago and had kept going as long as he could. She hadn’t realised it had been so serious. Marc checked the Travelsport reading with Midge. Whilst both Donaldo and Treketa began attending to Dean as best they could until they got back to the cruiser. Upon Midge confirming they could Travelsport safely from their current position, Marc ordered immediate Travelsport. Tom pulled from his pocket a Digit Bomb, set it and threw it down the corridor in the direction of where Dion had ran.

  “That ought to keep him busy for a while,” said Tom under his breath.

  Travelsport took on just in the nick of time and the team de-materialised off Boglayia back to Amalthea One. Leaving Dion alone, with nothing more than his powers. He was the last Boglayon with nothing more than crumbling surroundings that was once his world as the Bomb Tom had set and had thrown exploded, causing untold damage. But was Dion still on the hideout? Had his exit meant he’d left in some form of transport of escape, living for another dayon?

  Once on Amalthea, the Boglayon Pirate Hideout blew apart in the most awesome explosive sight. Rocks and debris spread far and wide, way out into the far flung Universe. The Amalthea and the Questa Combat Vessel were caught in the after shock that came from Boglayias destruction, it washed over the both vessels bathing them in a powerful purple vapourish wash. Tom stood watching the sight from the Travelsport sight port, but what he hadn’t notice was that something resembling a ship, had flown clear and had gone in the blink of an eye.

  Treketa walked from the Life Ability Centre a while later tears were streaming down her face. Tom walked towards her seeing she was distraught with hurt, he asked what was wrong? Like any brother would do, he slipped his arm around her slim shoulders.

  “It’s Dean, the injury he sustained from being shot by one of Lord Dions men was a lot more serious than we first thought… he’s dead Tom,” she broke down.

  Tom pulled her into a brotherly comforting hug and guided her away to her quarters, where he would stay with her for a while for support, as he had heard how close they had been. Donaldo had emerged from the Life Ability Centre in concern of what Treketa might do, she was so distraught. He was glad to see that Tom had the situation in hand. He turned and walked back into the Life Ability Centre.

  Lord Dion or as he was known by his men ‘Dion’ had escaped, but to where? Dean Addams had been killed, only into his second monthon as part of the Amalthean Quests team, as a temporary member. Tayce was hoping that she never had to meet the likes of Dion again, but there was a feeling deep down that she would do some time in her future. She exchanged farewells over the Aircom with Commodore Martin Travern and wished him well Both the Amalthean Cruiser and the vessel from Questa went their separate ways. For a Quest that was thought to have been dangerous, it had turned out well.

  Strike of the Yarrick Raider

  It was almost a monthon since the sudden loss of temporary team member Dean Addams. Tayce and the team had committed his body to the stars, with a simple but respectful ceremony. Lance Largon had finished the assignment that his Father had asked him to take care of and was on his way back to the team, to resume his duty as Quests Research and Information Officer. He was bringing with him a further new recruit to the team named Duncan Leyres. Lydia much to Tayces disappointment had, decided that space was not where she wanted to spend the rest of her life after all. Jonathan Largon had offered her a new position at Questa, so she had decided to return there for good. She had explained to Tayce she could see that she had grown up and didn’t need her on board the cruiser any more. Her
time now was with her team and Tom. Tayce could see where she was coming from, she had to admit she would feel a lot more happier if Lydia was safe on Questa, because of the Vargon threat. She wished her luck with the new position, which was related to helping with planetary council matters. When she thought about it, Tayce realised that she and Lydia were putting their lives back together. She was Colonel of a good team and now her Mother was about to work for Jonathan and the council, it was good. She knew also that if her Father was looking down on both of them, he would be proud to see they were moving on with their lives, since the demise of their home world.

  Lance and new recruit Duncan Leyres walked aboard Amalthea. Lydia upon Lances introduction, had just enough time to shake hands with Duncan and inform him that he was on a good team, before the boarding courier announced that they were ready to take her back to Questa. She hugged Tayce then let the courier take her garment carrier and holdall, then followed on, walking on board the high ranked Launch to return to Jonathan Largon and the commencement of her new duty and life style. Duncan could see the fact his new chief and Colonel was going to miss her Mother. When the Docking Bay doors closed Lance introduced Duncan to Tayce, leaving him with her, heading off to get ready for duty in Organisation.

  “Welcome to my team, I hope you enjoy the time your working with us,” said Tayce casually.

  “I never knew Amalthea was so impressive Colonel, it’s an honour to serve on board,” he replied.

  Tayce could see that this dark haired young man, was the kind of friend Treketa could do with. He was similar to Donaldo in looks but there was a certain friendly kind charm about him, that conveyed nothing was to much bother to attempt if asked. He was around 1.83 metres tall, of reasonable good looks, But she could also see he hadn’t long been out of training in his field by the way he behaved so nervously before her. He was no doubt top of his class she thought. His most striking features were his smouldering dark eyes, that probably had plenty of young females vying for his attention and Tayce wondered if this was the reason he had decided to leave Questa and further his career aboard her cruiser.