Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  Three Yearons Later the Present Time

  Traun’s destruction was behind Tayce and she’d begun to live the life of an independent young female alone in the stars and perilous Universe. Midge had become like a second member of her crew and her only best friend. Together they had shared a lot of tricky moments, like buddies in times of turmoil. The space time was 00:800 hourons, mornet of yet another new dayon, travelling the stars. Down in Tayce’s quarters, she lay asleep in her sumptuous designed bunk, luxurious quality was something standard aboard the Cruiser. Midge sounded the Repose Centre alarm to signal time to get up as he did every mornet since they’d left Traun. Three short soothing notes of tone sounded. Tayce woke stretching. She brushed her blonde hair from her face and slowly opened her eyes. They were a sapphire shade of blue.

  “Mornet mistress, how are you feeling todayon?” enquired Midge trying to sound caring in his own way.

  “Fine Midge, just give me an houron and I’ll be in Organisation, we can go through what’s been happening during the night hourons in our current orbit and anything that you think we need to take care of todayon,” suggested Tayce sounding the true independent woman in charge that she’d become.

  “Very well, I’ll have it ready for you when you arrive mistress,” he replied.

  “Oh by the way Midge I’ve decided, that from now on you can call me Tayce, we’ve been together for the best part of three yearons and I’m fed up with being called mistress, even though it is polite to be addressed as such, you can call me Tayce, are you fine with this decision?” asked Tayce.

  “Absolutely Tayce,” replied Midge eagerly.

  Tayce slid from the Repose Centre Bunk and headed across to the Cleansing Unit, for the first refreshing cleanse of the dayon. Her quarters were of a comfortable size and split into three sections, a living area, a repose centre and a cleansing unit. Furnishings in the quarters gave the impression of light, airiness and quality. In the living area there was a soft grey coloured soffette and two mouldable comfortable easy chairs. There was an occasional table and various other pieces of soft furnishing, scattered around to make the area comfortable away from duty. The floor was covered with heat reflective cushion carpetron tiles, in a navy blue. The lighting for the quarters was of natural level, which emitted from square tubes in the walls here and there. Which had high and low settings, depending on what the person required at the time.

  A while later Tayce now cleansed and changed, elegantly walked out into the living area. She was of average height and slim build. She checked her appearance of her make-up in the Imager. She then picked up her Hairbrush and ran it through her straight shoulder length, blonde Hair. Once satisfied, she walked from the living area of the quarters. The doors opening and closing behind her. Once out in the corridor she began on the way to Organisation, to begin another dayons duty as Colonel of Amalthea One. A rank that her Father had left for her, in a computerized briefing the night she arrived on board.

  Organisation Deck was situated at the top level of Amalthea, to the front of the cruiser. Here everything was organised, literally, from navigation to weaponry and deck by deck functions, throughout the cruiser. The deck was 450 metres in length, by 350 metres wide and lined from floor to almost ceiling with 245 metres of computers consoles, VDU screens and chairs of chrome and black Leatherex, for a hoped future team one dayon. The front of the Amaltheas Organisation Deck, had a large wide sight port, where the main Cruisers Universal Scanners were situated underneath. The biggest computer which filled one corner of the deck, was Midge. He covered an area of two metres, which included the large triangular blue screen and console, plus components underneath. Tayce felt the space filled by Midge was well worth it, as he had pulled her away from quite a few near misses, during the past three yearons, they’d been together. Also without him she would not be able to operate and guide the cruiser, throughout the Universe, she’d just drift. There were two main seats towards the front of Organisation, this was Tayces Command Chair and the Co-pilot seat. They were navy blue in colour and designed for comfort and for long flight duration. High back and shaped to support the spine, matching in with the rest of the modern design, which made Organisation a first class command deck. As Tayce entered, a sequence of small square red and blue lights flashed on the main console. This signified that Midge was handing over command to her. She walked across Organisation Deck and dropped herself into the seat next to the empty Co-pilot seat. She gathered her thoughts of what she was going to do for a minon trying to shake off the feeling of another lonely dayon ahead, before continuing. Midge picked up on her train of thoughts, and understood that she was still feeling the loss of her home and parents after all this time, it wasn’t easy and it always hit her in the mornet.

  “Are you feeling all right Tayce?” asked Midge casually breaking her thoughts and fixed expression.

  “I’m fine honest, have you sorted anything out for us to look at todayon, what, happened as I slept, I should be made aware of out in the Universe last night?” said Tayce in questionable tone.

  “Yes sorting as you ask, there will be a slight delay, as I sift through last nights occurrences and prioritise the most important issues,” replied Midge.

  “In the meantime open main sight port, lets see what’s happening now,” suggested Tayce wondering what the dayon would bring to their attention.

  The main sight port in front of her opened it’s outer force field shutters, turning the dark blue into a full blown spacial scape and a clear present one, at that, but was it truly clear? Just as Tayce settled back Midge informed her that there was a damaged craft drifting four milons ahead, it looked like it had been pounded from all sides by weapon fire of extreme magnitude, judging by the scorch marks on it’s outer hull.

  “Scan immediately for any signs of life, humanoid preferably,” ordered Tayce watching the distant craft.

  She was concerned at the fact if any decent traveller had been caught in this present perilous sector, they would be lucky to escape with their life. It was a sector notorious for pirates, as she herself found out a couple of dayons previous when she and Midge had managed to fight off a merry band, who quite fancied the look of Amalthea One. Tayce waited thinking of the best route to take, if life was found on the damaged craft. Midge soon returned from the scan and informed her there was one humanoid life form aboard. A male, roughly in his late 30’s early 40’s and he would need medical attention, judging by the readings he was presently receiving.

  “Midge check if it’s an elaborate pirate trap, or hostile, if not place Tractor Beam on and prepare to bring it aboard, land it safely in the Hanger Bay and activate the Life Ability Centre on Level 2,” ordered Tayce in true tone of command.

  Tayce upon Midge acknowledging stood to her feet and for a moment, stood watching the small bulbous looking craft being pulled towards Amalthea via Tractor Beam. She then continued across Organisation to the entrance in thought of who might be aboard. Upon reaching the entrance Tayce glanced back across Organisation, then continued on out, walking down the corridor, heading down to the Flight Hanger Bay on Level 3, rear of the cruiser. On the walk there she would get changed into a medical protection flight designed suit, from the Medical Stores.

  The Flight Hanger Bay

  Soon the small white scorched and red bulbous looking craft came within the Flight Bay open Hanger Bay doors. Midge brought it through various decontamination procedures to rid it of any harmful radiation and infectious space particles. Once through, via a beam of yellow energy, he placed the craft on a clear area away from the on board Shuttle/fighters. Here it remained in a silent and scorched state. Tayce soon entered carrying a Medical Emergency Kit. Amaltheas Hanger Bay wasn’t massive in size just average enough to withhold a fleet of fifteen Quest Shuttle/fighters ready for the hoped crew that would one day join Tayce.

  “Is decontamination procedure completed Midge, do I have an all clear?”
asked Tayce pausing, studying the craft.

  “All clear is given,” announced Midge confidently.

  Tayce proceeded approaching the scorched entrance hatch. She paused and took a sonic pencil shaped de-locking device from her uniform pocket, which would search the right combination when aimed at the lock. Tayce aimed the device and in a few cencrons the entrance hatch gave. There seemed to be a click sound, followed by three blips, then the sound of compressed air as the hatch began to open. As the hatch slid back so Tayce stepped back raising her Slazer weapon, just in case there was any nasty surprises ready to spring out at her. Nothing! She walked up the three steps of the craft and entered the red emergency dimly lit atmosphere looking all the time for the injured humanoid. She ventured on into the pilot section that seemed large enough to withhold two people.

  “Oh my God!” came Tayces sudden spoken words.

  She was shocked to see that there were in fact two people in this crew, and Midge had not informed her of such. Whoever this was, she was female and extremely beautiful. Tayce wasted no time, she took the Heart and Pulse Counter out of the Medical Emergency Kit and placed it on the young females slim slightly tanned wrist. She waited in anticipation, but didn’t hold out much hope, the young female was injured beyond recognition, she would be extremely lucky to have survived whatever had befallen her and Tayce could only think this craft had been the unlucky victims of pirates, of the worst kind. Tayces delicate blue sapphire eyes showed concern as she waited for the reading. The signal blipped. She removed it, and read the display much to her assumption that she had been right. The young female in her mid 20’s had not been fortunate to survive the onslaught, and she felt sorry for the male beside her who was obviously her crew companion. It had Tayce wondering even though she felt she shouldn’t jump to conclusion. Was this a couple, that had been caught stealing? She quickly stopped this thought rushing through her head, and considered the fact maybe this couple were in fact legally intimately joined, as the female wore a gold band on her joining finger as did the male. She moved onto the male pilot, as there was nothing she could do for the female. He was extremely handsome, despite his cuts and bruises, she thought. As she placed the Heart and Pulse Counter on his wrist waiting with hoped anticipation that he was alive. Tayce studied his handsome features, thinking he had the kind of look that would send any females heart racing. He had a brown Moustache and a well groomed one too. His hair was brown and slightly curly, swept away from his forehead to the nape of his neck. She wondered what this pilot did, what rank he held, and what was his name. Somehow he intrigued her. The counter gave a good signal and she removed it, studying the reading. He was alive, but unconscious, she had to go to work and save him, fast!

  “Midge Travelsport this male to the Life Ability Centre and place him under emergency survival procedures, also place force field restraints on him, that’s an order, now Midge, we have to save him,” ordered Tayce in tone of urgency.

  “Yes Tayce, facilities in the Life Ability Centre are activating as you request,” informed Midge.

  “Also there’s a second person in here, she’s female, she didn’t survive the onslaught we need to arrange a space burial,” informed Tayce, as she turned to head back to the entrance.

  Turning for a moment she watched as the male pilot was Travelsported to the Life Ability Centre. She saw something fall from his uniform jacket and noticed it was a Wallet of some sort. Crossing back, she bent and picked it up, then continued on out of the craft, wondering what it contained. Once outside she looked over at the craft once more then walked away up to the Life Ability Centre. On route Tayce opened the small turquoise coloured wallet taking out the ID. Studying it, she saw in the top right corner, a colour image of the pilot. Reading down she found a name Tom Barry Stavard and a rank, Ace One Fighter Pilot, Age thirty-nine. Then it went on to his personal appearance. Most, she’d seen, but eye colour green, she hadn’t. She glanced at the other side of the Wallet, there was a silver Disc Chip tucked inside. Later, she thought. Mr Stavard was her first priority and getting him back on his feet. She would study the details on the disc later.

  The Life Ability Centre

  Tom Stavard lay on the Exam Bunk, restrained by force field restraints. Tayce did not want him waking and deciding to walk around her cruiser if he felt he could, even though he was in no fit state to do so. Midge was watching him and monitoring him from overhead. Tom was a broad tall man, strong in build but his physique conveyed he looked after himself. Tayce soon entered the Life Ability Centre. She crossed to Tom, ordering Midge to begin scan for injuries. Midge did as requested. An orange band of pure energy surrounded Tom’s head and slowly worked it’s way down his body to his feet. Tayce thought to herself, it was times like this she was glad her parents and Marc Dayatso forced her to study for a yearon in space medicine. At this moment in time she was glad she did. Midge paused, once finished.

  “Scan completed,” announced Midge.

  “Outcome and diagnosis please?” requested Tayce studying Tom.

  “Apart from a few cuts and bruises and some fatigue Mr Stavard will return to normal health, in two dayons,” replied Midge informatively.

  “Very well, I will give him a pain easing sedative, and leave him in the restraints to rest,” said Tayce.

  She moved over to the trolley on the far side of the roomy sized Life Ability Centre, where she took an Inject Pen and pushed home a vile containing a pain relieving sedative. Crossing back, she leaned over the thought unconscious body of Tom. Suddenly without warning, Tom’s right hand shot up and tightly grabbed Tayce around the throat. She struggled in the sudden onslaught of attack and dropped the Inject Pen on the floor. She fought hard to break free in the struggle of Tom’s persisting grasp.

  “Midge do something,” gasped Tayce feeling the life drain out of her.

  “Mr Stavard release my mistress, or I will be forced to use means to stop you this instance,” warned Midge.

  “How do I know you aren’t going to kill me, that your not some female pirate, tell me, what were you going to give me, something to finish me off?” he demanded angry and mistrusting, he’d been through to much already, he was prepared to fight to the end if he had to.

  “If you release me Mr Stavard, I will explain otherwise I will give Midge the word and you’ll be in a lot more pain than you already are at present,” warned Tayce, she didn’t like this situation at all.

  Tayce continued to tug at Tom’s arm with both hands. He studied her coldly for a minon as if summoning her up, wondering whether to believe her or not. From above Midge fired a thin pencil shock beam at Tom’s hand. He’d seen enough of his mistress suffering in this beings hands. The beam hit home and Tom yelled and let his grip loosen, releasing his hand from Tayces delicate neck. She stood and backed away rubbing her neck, trying to regain her composure and normal breathing.

  “Is this the way you thank people who save your life Mr Stavard, I’m not impressed,” began Tayce giving him a mistrusting look.

  “How do I know, that you weren’t a female pirate out to finish me off, with whatever you had in that thing you were about to use, I’ve been through hell travelling through this sector so far, what makes you think I could look at you any different than what I’ve been through already?” he retorted.

  “If I was a pirate you wouldn’t be here, you would be destroyed,” retorted Tayce angrily.

  Tom turned his head to study her. She didn’t fit the criteria for some of the pirates, he’d been up against so far he had to admit nor did she fit the shape for one either, she was quite breathtakingly attractive, he thought. Slim curves in all the right places, but well proportioned, almost like a galactic beauty pageant contestant. She’d probably win, he thought. Maybe he’d just made the wrong move.

  “Keep an eye on Mr Stavard, Midge,” announced Tayce heading over to the entrance.

  With that she walke
d from the Life Ability Centre leaving Midge to begin treatment with operating the many functions, that contributed to healing Tom’s cuts and bruises. As long silver arms began to move around Tom, with points attached, he began to feel very uncomfortable, panicked even, wishing that he had allowed Tayce to treat him. Midge picked up on this and assured him there was nothing to fear and that he should lie perfectly still. Tom did as requested. But the feeling of nervousness did not ease.

  A while later Tayce was back in Organisation. She sat thinking about Tom’s actions towards her. Her neck still felt sore. But in a way she didn’t blame him, in the way he had reacted, she guessed she would have done the same, if the roles had been reversed. Midge broke her silence of thought.

  “Are you all right Tayce, is your neck all right?” he enquired in soft tone.

  “Yes it will be okay, thanks for your help earlier,” she replied rubbing it.

  “Mr Stavard is resting in restraints, I have treated his injuries.”

  “He can stay there until I decide otherwise,” ordered Tayce coldly.

  “I took over his treatment for you as I could sense that you did not want to treat him after what happened and it was quite understandable,” he said understanding.

  “Can you blame me, I felt our on board guest would learn that not everyone was pirate trash and that is why I let you give him the cold hearted treatment, he wasn’t worthy of my gentle touch,” replied Tayce plainly.