Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “Maybe so, but your going to be here for a weekon at least, because of your actions, or until I feel your well enough to leave,” he replied dismissing her attitude, he could see she was becoming worked up.

  Tayce looked away, she was too angry to continue, and went back to staring at the other side of the room. Hoping that Paclan Sellecson would simply leave her alone, but she could hear him talking to another Medical aide over her treatment. Before leaving, he suggested she rest. An amused look crossed his features, she certainly was a young woman with a lot of spirit he thought.

  “Nurse keep an eye on Colonel Traun in case she tries to escape,” he said light-heartedly exchanging amused smiles with the young nurse.

  “You wish,” said Tayce under her breath.

  “Yes Dr Sellecson,” replied the young brunette female nurse, amused by the situation in hand.

  Paclan Sellecson walked from the room much to Tayces relief. The nurse crossed and made sure that Tayce was comfortable. She relaxed into the pillet, wondering where Marc and Tom were, she heard they had to leave her there. Wherever they were, she bet they were having more fun than she was and a lot more action to boot!

  On board Amalthea, Marc was in silent thought, in the Co-pilot seat. Tom was in the seat adjacent to his. Midge noticed that they were both in silence. Had they fallen out, or was Tayce on their minds, wondering if this woman that had been found, was Tayces Mother, Lydia Traun. Tom was tossing over in his mind what Lydia would be like and would she like him? Marc was thinking about the last time he’d seen her alive. Tom turned his head in Marc’s direction, enquiring what was Lydia like? Marc without taking his sight from the sight port advised him to form his own opinion, when he saw Lydia, he would know how to take her. Tom agreed, he was right, he may not look at Lydia the way Marc did, he’d known her a lot of yearons. Both men travelled on the last hourons of the flight to the Micacer Colony. Marc hoped that the person who claimed to be Lydia Traun, was in fact who she said she was. He imagined how over ecstatic Tayce would be. It brought a smile to his face, at the thought of the Mother and daughter reunion.

  Adam Burnford and Lydia on Micacer walked through a wide open doorway into a bustling and busy Centre where people were working away, some heading off for their next mission. Some sat at computer screens. Adam explained that the Centre was for research into planetary weather conditions, also it was where the weather pattern for Micacer, or for other colonies that needed weather programmes, were created. Lydia was amazed at the thought of such a thing happening. She glanced around the weather creating equipment, and other layout of hi-tech pieces of equipment, as they walked across. Adam explained that the dayon would be warm and sunny around the temperature of mid 70’s, the equivalent of an Earth One summers dayon. She was impressed, Traun had done their own testing on weather procedures and conditions, but nothing nowhere near on a grand scale of what was being currently created. A man in his mid forties with short sandy blonde hair crossed. He wore a pastel green uniform.

  “Councillor Traun, this is our Meteorologist for our planet and other planets weather conditions, Christopher Orkland,” introduced Adam.

  “Councillor, welcome officially to Micacer, it’s an honour to have a member of the Traun family here with us,” expressed Christopher outstretching his hand for Lydia to clasp and shake.

  “Thank you, it’s quite impressive, what you have here,” replied Lydia shaking hands.

  “Traun was quite an impressive world Councillor, it was a shame what that criminal army did to it, they deserve to pay for what they’ve done,” expressed Christopher in a sincere understanding way.

  “Thank you, we use to look at Traun the way you do too, impressive!” replied Lydia.

  “Would you like to see what we have in store for Micacer this evening?” asked Christopher changing the subject and rubbing his hands together, as if he was about to form some amazing feat.

  “Councillor are you feeling all right?” asked Adam noticing Lydia suddenly slightly waver and gently fight back a sudden moment of feeling weak.

  “Forgive me gentlemen, I guess I’m not quite up to what you term full speed, do you mind if I return to my quarters, I suddenly feel quite exhausted, maybe next time Christopher,” said Lydia in an apologetic tone walking away feeling awkward that she had to cut her visit short.

  “Councillor if you get a chance to, look out of your quarters this evening, you won’t be disappointed,” called Christopher after her.

  Adam took Lydia’s arm gently, she felt a fool having to leave, but for some strange reason whilst standing with Adam and Christopher, she had a very alive startling image of Tayce flash into her mind, this combined with the way she still felt weakened by her ordeal on the time trapped planet, she realised she had to rest because it had given her an unsteady weak attack. But why had Tayce flashed into her mind? What could it mean? Adam silently and in a caring manner walked her slowly back to her quarters. On route a Hover Car came up behind them. Adam quickly stopped the on board courier, explaining the situation. He suggested they ride the rest of the way to conserve her strength she had left. Lydia nodded thanking the courier as she boarded. Both she and Adam travelled the rest of the journey in the open top buggy type vehicle, back to her quarters.

  On board Amalthea Marc and Tom were watching, as they came within docking distance of Micacer. They left the final approach to Midge, going on out of Organisation to go down to the Docking Bay doors on Level 2. Tom, as they went was trying to sum up in his mind what Lydia was like, all Marc had said, was he should form his own opinion of her, but had further added, that she was one extremely intelligent high class lady, and no more. It certainly was hard, how he was going to treat her he thought? On the way Midge announced overhead, that final docking was near completion. They walked to the Docking Bay doors on Level 2 and stood waiting for final docking completion. Tom was finding he was getting more uneasy at the prospect of meeting Lydia by the minon. He was scared that he may say something that would be offensive when he wouldn’t mean to. The doors soon opened, both walked through and onto Micacer. Adam Burnford had been told of their arrival and had been ordered to meet them on docking. He stepped forward as they both walked into sight, outstretching his hand and welcoming them with a smile.

  “Welcome to Micacer, I’m Adam Burnford, please to meet you both,” said Adam shaking hands with Marc and Tom in turn.

  “We understand you believe you’ve rescued councillor Traun?” asked Marc.

  “Yes! Would you come this way?” he replied turning to head away.

  Tom looked about interested, as they followed Adam on up the corridor, leaving the Docking Bay doors of Amalthea to close behind them, until their returning arrival. They soon surfaced onto the main concord, crossing the Micacer Complex, passing through bustling crowds, some carrying out small experiments, holding note takers on the way to some class, or other destined point of duty. Marc glanced away at an experiment as they passed, then looked back to where they were heading. They eventually came to white winding stonex set of steps. Tom wondered where they were being taken. Wherever it was, it sure had taken a long time to get there, still the scenery wasn’t bad on the way, he thought. Lots to look at over the sprawling picturesque complex.

  General Dayarn was a man in overall charge of the Micacer Colony. A man of medium stout build, in his mid forties early fifties. He was with Lydia, who had taken a small rest in her quarters. General Dayarn looked the true authoritative man that he was and showed this by the way he stood, he was truly a man who looked like he knew his job and the responsibilities that came with it. He had been explaining to Lydia that he had contacted General Largon at Questa and informed him of her possible whereabouts and that General Largon had sent two men, from a new team, called the ‘Amalthean Quests Team’ to find her. Suddenly behind them the quarters doors drew apart. Lydia looked over the Generals shoulder in anticipation to see
who it could be. To her utter stunned amazement, Marc was the first through the open doorway. An overwhelming feeling of pure ecstatic joy filled her very existence, she was stuck for a few minons, as to what to say, she was so overwhelmed. Both forgot the past ranking they held on Traun. Marc walked forth with a warm smile and almost tears of joy to see it was the true Lydia Traun after all. Both hugged in a true feeling of escalation to know that each other was alive and well. They stayed together for a few minons savouring the fact that they had found each other. Marc had always seemed like the son she could never have.

  Lydia drew slightly away, taking note that he looked slightly more older than she last remembered him. She expressed how good it was to know, he was safe and that now she was not the only Traunian alive. She looked at Tom in a questioning manner, without prejudice. Who was this handsome man standing looking somewhat awkward in her presence.

  “No sign of Tayce, I was hoping she would have found you and be here, please don’t tell me she’s dead,” said Lydia hoping that above all else he wouldn’t.

  “No she’s not, allow me to introduce you to the second member of our new crime fighting team, Tom Stavard,” said Marc stepping back allowing Tom to walk forth.

  “Councillor Traun, it’s an honour to meet you, Tayce talks about you quite a lot,” expressed Tom taking hold of Lydia’s outstretched hand gently.

  “Tom!… You both talk of Tayce as if she’s with you, but where is she?” asked Lydia wanting to know just where her daughter was, looking extremely concerned.

  “We’ll take you to her, if your well enough to leave?” said Marc looking to the General for approval.

  “You are free to go whenever you wish, it’s been a pleasure to be able to help you back to health and rescue you from the perilous planet you were on,” said the General in a forthright friendly way.

  “Thank you General, thank you Adam for looking after me, you are a credit to Micacer and a good host, in fact would you thank all the people of this colony for their help in making me feel welcome and treating me, I really do appreciate what they and you have done to get me back to normal health,” said Lydia.

  “We’ve enjoyed having you here Councillor, good luck with your future endeavours, may that army get what’s coming to them,” expressed Adam sincerely.

  With this Tom asked Adam to lead them back to Amalthea. Both walked ahead of Lydia and Marc who followed on behind. Marc began they would be going to pick Tayce up, and he knew she was going to be overjoyed to know she was alive. Lydia couldn’t wait and as she walked, she realised that, that mornet when she had woken, she had no idea at the mid part of the dayon she would be meeting Marc and getting to know Tayce was alive after all. Marc on route explained that they would be boarding Amalthea One soon. Lydia gave a look of surprise to know that Tayce still had the same cruiser, with all the crime in the Universe that was going on. She couldn’t wait.

  09:00 next mornet aboard the Intergalactic Medical Colony. Tayce had had a good nights sleep something she hadn’t been able to get for a long time, though she had a feeling it was something they had slipped into her drink. She in the last houron, had been up and walking in the company of a young Medic in the Parkland Area. He’d been assigned to guide her back to normal health. Dressed in a beige leisure suit, she was now taking her daily exercise, that had been prescribed to tone up her muscles. Donaldo Tysonne was the young Medics name. He was of athletic build, as if he’d spent most of his off duty hourons in the nearest Gym. He was lightly putting her through some supple exercises that would get her toned up back to normal mobility. Tayce didn’t see the point in this, she used these muscles every dayon, why should she want to exercise them just because Dr Sellecson said it had to be done. Okay, she’d do it under protest, just until Tom and Marc got back. This she hoped was soon, as she didn’t know how much more of this treatment she could take. Donaldo studied her, he could see she was finding this whole thing annoying, he could understand her frustration, she was use to life in space and a hectic lifestyle, he’d read her background and admired her for what she’d gone through. He wondered what it would be like travelling the stars aboard a space cruiser, as all he’d known was the Intergalactic Medical Colony. Tayce looked up studying his jet black hair, that was neatly styled in a short off the face layered look, that swept to the nape of the neck. His eyes were Italian dark brown, but showed alertness and kindness. He had a sort of educated look about him, someone that wanted to go further in life, than what he currently was doing. Donaldo was twenty-nine yearons old. He wanted to ask her what it was like travelling the stars, it was kind of boring being just another physio medic for Dr Sellecson undertaking physio with people such as Tayce, but he figured she might think he was being nosey. He wasn’t what you called tall in statue, he was around 1.75 metres in height. Tayce sighed she could take no more and stopped.

  “I know that Dr Sellecson said you had to try these new exercises todayon, but are you sure your well enough to try them, there’s no use running before you can walk, as they say,” he put to her concerned she was pushing herself more than she needed to.

  Tayce was under the assumption that the more she got better, the quicker, she would get out off her surroundings.

  “Let’s just get on with this, I’m not enjoying this no more than your enjoying making me suffer,” she said looking at him with a look conveying she’d rather be some place else as he probably would.

  “Shall I tell you the truth, I understand you don’t like being in this position, well your not the only one, I don’t much like being here on this colony any more, it’s the same tedious duty every dayon, but I have to do it and I’m suggesting you do the same, until your team come back and collect you, sorry if that sounds spiteful but I’m trying to make you see, that your not the only one fed up here,” pointed out Donaldo much to Tayces surprise.

  “What do you mean you don’t like being here any more, why don’t you change your job, surely there must be other colonies crying out for someone like you?” said Tayce climbing to her feet, from the last exercise move.

  “I’ve been here a lot of yearons under Dr Sellecson and I’ve just finished training in the medical field, there is nowhere else to go I’ve tried, believe me, if there was somewhere else to go, I would go,” he replied calmly and in thought.

  Tayce on this began thinking. Her cruiser could do with a proper medical man to take care of the sudden on board medical emergencies. Could Donaldo be suited for the position? She thought about it in silence for a moment. Donaldo looked at her realising maybe she needed a break.

  “Donaldo what are your real qualifications besides doing this?” she asked in the true tone of Colonel.

  “I’ve just passed my final medical exams to become a Medical Officer in space medicine, but doing this is all I could get at the end of my training, why?” he asked looking at her curious.

  “What if I could change this situation for you, and I ask you to join me on Amalthea, you’d have your own medical facility known as the Life Ability Centre and that you would also be part of a crime fighting team known as the Amalthean Quests Team, you would be serving under the Questa Emblem, your job would be to take care of all the medical matters during voyage?” put Tayce.

  “Are you serious about this, why I would jump at the chance, it’s actually what I’ve been looking for, my own medical facility travelling the Universe as part of some kind of team, yes I would,” he replied eagerly not worrying about what he’d be giving up.

  “Then it’s settled, I offer you the position of Medical Officer in the Life Ability Centre aboard Amalthea, welcome to the Amalthean Quests Team, you’ll be my third new member, you’ll meet the others later, Tom and Marc,” said Tayce glad she had found another member of her new team.

  “You won’t be disappointed,” assured Donaldo, ecstatic that at last he’d found what he was searching for.

  He didn’
t know what to say. He instead suggested they call the exercise regime finished for the dayon they had been exercising long enough. Tayce agreed, feeling somewhat relieved, she couldn’t see the benefit of this exercise lark. They both left the Parkland exercise area and headed back into the main stay complex.

  Later that same dayon Marc Dayatso entered the Intergalactic Medical Colony reception area. Dr Sellecson was summoned and soon appeared. Marc crossed to meet with him, he knew it was a lot sooner than he had anticipated in returning for Tayce. Dr Sellecson listened to Marc’s explanation for returning early. He was a bit apprehensive to let Tayce go. Marc could see there was a problem, he wondered if Tayces condition had become a lot worse, than first thought.

  “What’s the problem here doctor, Tayce is going to be all right isn’t she?” asked Marc apprehensively.

  “Yes, there’s no problem, but for the time being I’m releasing one of my team to be on your cruiser, just to keep an eye on Tayce, she’s a lot better, but it may happen again if she doesn’t take care, so when Tayce asked for me to release one of my team to become your new Medical Officer, I figured this would be a good idea to let him join your team and at the same time keep an eye on her,” explained Paclan.

  “Why do I feel that your not particularly pleased to release her?” said Marc standing at ease.

  “I feel she should be here another weekon, but now that Donaldo Tysonne is part of your team, I’m hoping it will suffice,” he said not happy to be letting his patient leave without completing the treatment

  “Don’t worry we’ll take care of her and we’ve someone on board Amalthea who will make sure she takes breaks, when she should, her Mother!” said Marc knowing that Lydia would do just that.

  They both walked to the room where Tayce was staying. Paclan entered first and Marc walked on in to see Tayce sitting in a chair by the sight pane. She turned glad to see him, glad also that he’d returned early, now Dr Sellecson wouldn’t be able to keep her where she was any longer, she could go back to Amalthea.