by Jeri Dion
“Does this mean that I can go now?” asked Tayce standing up.
“Yes young woman your free to go,” said Paclan he could see where she was coming from in that she couldn’t wait to leave.
“I’ve a surprise for you on Amalthea, something you thought you’d lost forever,” said Marc keeping her in suspense.
“Oh what?” asked Tayce intrigued to know.
“You’ll have to wait,” said Marc with a teasing smirk.
Paclan handed Tayce a small container of small pink capsules, that she had to take for the next two weekons until they were all gone. Donaldo walked into the room carrying his holdall and garment bag.
“Marc this is Donaldo Tysonne, he’s going to be our new Medical Officer on the team,” introduced Tayce.
“Welcome to the team,” said Marc in a true friendly easy going manner
Tayce began towards the entrance. Paclan suggested she take it easy. Was he kidding thought Tayce with all the criminals there were out in the Universe! Everyone walked out into the corridor. Paclan shook hands with Marc, then all three walked down the corridor, back to Amalthea. Donaldo looked back at the place that had been his life since he was sixteen. Even though he had learnt everything he needed to learn, he was glad to be walking away and into what promised to be an exciting life.
Finally they arrived back at the Docking Bay doors. Not a moment to soon thought Tayce as she stepped aboard. Marc announced that her surprise was waiting in Organisation. No more needed to be said Tayce left him and ran at full pelt to find out what it was. Her mind was in total overwhelmed excited anticipation, as to what it might be. As she ran so her blonde hair blew out in the corridor warm air. Who was it? What was it that was waiting she thought? Upon approach to Organisation, she slowed. Cautiously walking along trying to get some indication of what was waiting for her. Pausing at the Organisation doorway, she looked about. Nothing out of the ordinary, was this some kind of joke Marc had played on her. Then she stood up. Tayce couldn’t believe who she was seeing. Tears of utmost overwhelming joy filled her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Lydia held open her arms to her daughter.
“Don’t I get a hug after all these yearons?” she asked in a true motherly loving tone.
“Sure you do,” replied Tayce running into her Mother’s open arms
Lydia closed her arms around her daughter and held her tightly and lovingly overwhelmed with emotion to know and see that Tayce was very much alive. Tears of joy were running down Tayces and her Mother’s cheeks. Both Mother and daughter held each other in a loving affectionate way. After a few minons Lydia held Tayce a little way away from her, taking a good look at her. It had been yearons since she had last seen this young impressionable face of beauty and she had grown like a younger version of herself. She wished Darius could see what a grown up independent young woman Tayce had become.
“Oh Mother it’s good to see you and know that your here back where you belong?” said Tayce hugging her Mother yet again.
“I’m not going anywhere from now on, now tell me more about this Amalthean Quests Team,” said Lydia.
As they talked Lydia could see that it hadn’t been easy for Tayce alone in the stars for the past yearons but she knew that it wouldn’t be, this is why they had Midge designed to keep her company. But now she was back and things were going to look upwards and onwards for the both of them a new future would be made.
Tom Under Trial
Everyone on board Amalthea was engrossed in some kind of on board activity. Marc was in command of the cruiser with Midge, checking through the new update programming changes that had been made to his software. They were working as a mini team in taking the cruiser on to a new sector, heading across the Universe. It had been almost two weekons since leaving the Intergalactic Medical Colony and life on board was becoming more like a team environment. Lydia was settling in, not only in being Tayces Mother once more, but being an active member of the team, Mother and daughter were growing close again.
Tom Stavard was pacing up and down the floor of his living area, in his quarters in agitated fury because of a communicative print out he’d received. The more he paced, the more he became agitated at the contents. Who had done this sick thing to him and why? He was vastly progressing beyond the realms of trying to keep his cool about the communication in his hands. Midge who monitored everyone’s vital signs on board was getting readings from Tom that were far from perfect. He informed Tayce immediately, something was badly wrong with Tom in his quarters. He was reading very unrealistic high adrenaline levels and it was a great cause for concern. Tayce felt something was wrong as well, she didn’t know how, or why, but she did. It was unlike Tom to be showing this kind of strange behaviour, he was generally a calm person at the best of times. Lydia suggested she go, they could work together later. Tayce on this, left her Mother and walked along to Tom’s quarters. The doors opened upon her approach under orders to Midge to open them in case anything was happening inside. Tom turned to face her. His eyes were like wildfire with anger. Tayce looked at him wondering how he was going to be towards her, she glanced to the computerized printout he had in his hands, she could see whatever the contents were, it had something to do with his extreme anger.
“You want to talk about it, it obviously seems to be connected with what your holding?” asked Tayce cautiously and calmly.
Tom sighed an exasperating sigh. He was trying to find the words to describe the false accusation that was stated before him. He couldn’t, instead he thrust the printout at Tayce, almost making her flinch in the way in it came at her. Tayce grabbed it before it fell to the floor. The information had come from Tom’s home planet. It summoned him to a trial at the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony over the mysterious death of his wife Alenea Stavard. Tayce looked to Tom, she had to admit, that she’d assumed that Alenea had died of her injuries. But had she? It had also been Midges diagnosis, that Alenea had in fact died of her massive internal wounds was there something he wasn’t telling her? She looked at Tom, not knowing quite what to say. He suggested she read further down. Tayce continued reading, the next paragraph stated that he was requested to appear, as he was the only suspect in the case.
“Believe me, I didn’t kill Alenea, you know what my craft was like when you found me,” he turned on her almost shouting at her.
“I know your sore over this and I would be too, you must keep your calm, you go to that trial and be like you are now and they’ll think the worst, that you did kill Alenea,” said Tayce forthrightly.
“What am I going to do, as far as they are concerned I’m sent to the Prison Colony before I have a chance to state my case at trial,” he replied.
“Tom calm down, I know that you’ll probably take this the wrong way, but I’ve got to tell you, when Midge and I found you Alenea was dead from serious injuries, anyone who didn’t know you would assume that you did kill your wife, although Midge knows otherwise and we’ll help clear your name,” assured Tayce waiting for Tom to lose it with her again she felt awkward and was not sure of what to say for fear of him lashing out verbally again.
“Thanks! I know you probably have your doubts deep down, but I loved her, we were childhood sweethearts the last thing I would have done is kill her, I would have done anything to protect her from those barbarians that were attacking us,” replied Tom calming down.
“You need to attend this trial as I see it and tell it like it was, exactly word for word, what happened, Midge and I will put together a report of his findings, when we rescued you and put this up as your evidence to sustain that you did not kill Alenea,” said Tayce.
Tayce walked over to him. He reached out pulling her in close in a thankful gentle way. Looking down at her, now with calm warm gentle eyes again. He informed her he was no murderer, proof of the first night aboard Amalthea when they were on duty, officially, should prove this to her, also when she fell
down the steps, how he came to her aide. A murderer would have taken his opportunity to take the chance to bump her off and steal her present surroundings. Tayce knew this was true, he had been really concerned and like he had said, a murderer would have finished her off at the bottom of the Level Steps and probably jettisoned her body into space without so much as a thought. She drew away from him and walked to the nearest mouldable chair and sat down. She began by suggesting he explain to her fully what occurred before she and Midge rescued him and Alenea, so that she could compile her report, how Alenea was killed. Midge would record it on Disc Chip. Tom agreed. She ordered Midge via Wristlink to record Tom’s words of how Alenea died, ready for the report for trial. Midge agreed. Tom began explaining how the Universe they were travelling through had suddenly changed, one moment it was all calm, then the next they were hit by a meteorite, or what they thought was a meteorite. Then they appeared out of nowhere a bunch of fighters, coming fast. Alenea had been running tests on some samples they’d picked up on the last planet of call, that was her job, she took samples for analysis. Then they were hit by some real powerful weapon fire, that threw her across the deck hard against the front control panel. She’d fallen to the floor, blood oozing from her face and forehead and she was out cold. He’d tried to reach her, but one, his safety harness had jammed, and secondly he was fighting off the onslaught of the criminal band that were after their surroundings.
“Didn’t you call for help, send out a distress call of some sort?” asked Tayce.
He continued that he had, but no one came. When he did finally win the dayon against the attackers the craft was in the condition she found it in, and he hadn’t realised, he too, had been injured, how he never quite knew. But despite his injuries when all was calm and the criminal race had left, he managed to lift Alenea blood stained back into her seat. She was breathing very shallow. ‘Cargo’ was like Midge was to her and he had ordered a scan of Aleneas injuries. Cargo did it, confirming her injuries were life threatening. He’d ordered him as he lost his fight to stay conscious, to find a non hostile vessel to hopefully try and help out. Hence he found Amalthea, or she and Midge found him and what remained of the craft. To top it all life support was damaged and failing by the minon. Tom as he sat opposite Tayce was doing his utmost to hold back the tears recalling the past with pain. The whole incident was like it had been yesteron, it still hurt like hell he thought inside. Tayce could believe Tom’s side of what had happened, she’d come up against some real lawbreakers in her travels, over the yearons until now.
“I hope that helps, because it’s the truth Tayce,” said Tom breaking down.
She stood to her feet and crossed to sit down beside him, ordering him to let the hurt go. Midge overhead confirmed that he had recorded the whole testament. Tayce, when Tom had gained his composure, stood to her feet and understandingly informed him.
“Don’t worry what you’ve told me, Midge and I will have this report of evidence compiled, plus any medical records of that dayon what condition I found Alenea in, ready when we need it,” she assured.
“Your one hell of a good friend Tayce Traun, thanks for believing in me,” said Tom managing a small smile of thanks.
“I’m just doing my duty, you told the truth and I would do the same for any of this team, If I have to, I’ll also give the evidence that I found verbally, if it should be called for,” she replied.
She glanced at the date on the computerized document. The trial was tomorron. It didn’t give them much time to play with. As she began towards the doors of the living area, so she suggested he take the rest of the time off duty until they reached the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony where the trial would take place. Marc and herself would take care of getting him to the trial on time and when her Mother had heard what had happened, she too would want to help. With this she slipped out of the opening doors as they parted leaving Tom to sit in silence.
Marc was returning from a duty break and was half way up the Level Steps, when he heard Tayce running up behind him. He paused, turning. Tayce caught him up. Marc could see she had something on her mind by the look of preoccupied thought. Upon them both reaching the top of the steps Tayce guided him to the side of the corridor wall. She began by explaining what was on her mind. Then handed him the document that Tom had thrust at her earlier. Upon studying it, Marc found it hard to take in and gave her a look to match.
“This is absurd, he’s no killer, okay so he’s a little rough around the edges at times, but he’s no murderer, he was even scared of how he was going to meet your Mother,” expressed Marc.
“Really, so your on my side when I say I feel the same?” put Tayce.
“Sure he’s a decent bloke, unless he’s been fooling all of us into thinking as much,” said Marc seriously.
“I definitely don’t think so, you weren’t there a minon ago, when he told me of what had happened, when Alenea died he was between you and me, fighting back the sheer emotional hurt of the situation that had unfolded aboard his craft.”
“Then you get my help on this, where do we start?” replied Marc eagerly.
“The course to the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony, we have to get there, the quickest route in time to be there for the trial tomorron,” replied Tayce turning and beginning off in the direction of Organisation.
Both stepped into Organisation and made their way to their seats. As soon as Tayce sat down Midge began informing Marc next time he went for a break, he’d like a little more warning, as he had wondered where he’d gone, he thought he was still on duty. Tayce sat in the pilot seat, ordering Midge to lock in a course to the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony, the quickest available route to be there for a trial tomorron. He agreed eagerly. Marc sat back relaxingly and exclaimed he’d been to the colony once for her Father and he wouldn’t care to mix with them again. The personnel there, were not the easiest to get on with. Tayce recalled herself that she remembered going once at around the age of fifteen and one officer was giving her the evil eye, he felt that minors such as herself were considered not appropriate to be allowed on the colony that catered for criminals. She thought to herself, she hoped that same officer was not still present, when she went back with Amalthea now.
“Believe me Tom is going to go through a hard time, on that colony,” said Marc warning her to expect the worse ahead.
“It does make me wonder what they’ll do to him, in their eyes he’s just like any other criminal that attended trial at the colony, but with our evidence and even if I have to take the stand, we should be able to convince them, Tom is no murderer,” exclaimed Tayce.
Marc nodded in an understanding way, they both sat looking ahead, as Amalthea went into Hyper Thrust Turbo mode and headed on it’s swift journey to the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony to clear Tom’s name.
The Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony sat in the dark depths of the known Universe, looking every inch what it stood for. Gun metal grey in colour, it covered five milons in diameter. It was the only Earthon 2 law colony of it’s kind in the current space and time. It was known for it’s tight rules and laws, anyone going there felt the wrath of sheer fear. Decent or otherwise. It upheld the most tight laws on murder and for any other crime committed in the known or unknown Universe. If you were found guilty of murder or had taken another persons life without good reason even accidentally, then you were taken to the termination point and put to death by electrical slow increasing current. Tom Stavard was not going to have an easy time of it. There was nothing attractive about the colony. It was hexagonal in shape, with a lot of smaller hexagonal shapes encircling one large central one. It had been constructed by human effort and of stealex and glassene construction. Withholding four small courts for small cases, and two large ones for cases to be heard like Tom’s. Anyone who was found to be guilty, suffered either the electrical slow increasing current induced death, or were sent to the Prison Colony. Fine
s were steep, to say the least 20,000 for a light crime 40,000 for a serious crime. Some accused beings had been known to lose their vessels, in having them repossessed to pay for what crime they had committed. The courts were ultra modern inside. The witness would stand on a one step platform, which lit up on impact, then he or she would place their right or left hand on a small octagonal hand sized pad, set on a white tube shaped podium that lit on touch when the answer was given. In the centre of the frontal wall of the large courts, was a large Sight Screen, enabling playback of evidence that had been filmed for the trial. The Judge would sit up high, above the lawbreaker, looking down on him, or her, or alien for that matter. The Jury sat in a circle, around the court. There was a spot light fixed, where the lawbreaker would stand. This is the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony.
Back across the Universe on board Amalthea Tayce took the computerized printout evidence from Midges main printer and studied what he and she had put together. She smiled and nodded her head, this was enough good evidence to confirm that Tom did not murder Alenea, the trial would no doubt go in their favour, as she saw it. He had nothing to be concerned about. Marc stood to his feet after putting the cruiser back under Midges guidance walking round to take a look.
“Good is it?” said Marc looking over her shoulder.
“Let’s see their faces when they get this,” said Tayce pleased.
“Quite convincing, I’d buy it,” he replied agreeably.
Tayce handed him the printout. He took it studying it in more detail with interest, raising his eyes at what he was reading. He congratulated her on it being truly impressive to say the least. She exclaimed it wasn’t down to just her, Midge helped too. Lydia walked into Organisation, wondering what all the excitement was. Marc turned giving her the printout and let Tayce explain. Tayce began that she had to share something important with her, that involved a member of the team. Lydia gave her a look of questioning interest.
