Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “Tom is been accused of murdering his wife Alenea, but Midge and I found his craft badly damaged and his wife was dead from her injuries, which would confirm otherwise, he confided in me a while ago and told me the whole story what had happened in the fact they were ambushed by a criminal race who opened fire on them,” explained Tayce.

  “So what’s this here?” said Lydia quite calmly

  “It’s the evidence compiled on what happened by myself and Midge, I believe it’s sound enough to clear Tom’s name, at the trial that’s going to be tomorron at the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony,” said Tayce as Lydia studied what was before her.

  “Marc a word alone with my daughter here a moment, please,” said Lydia waiting until Marc had left the deck so that Mother and daughter could talk.

  “I’ll see you later, I want to check on some modifications I’ve done,” he said walking from Organisation.

  Lydia waited until Marc was out of earshot and she’d finished reading the report. Tayce had a feeling despite telling her Mother the whole story, she was going to come in for one of her famous lectures and it no doubt had something to do with trusting Tom. She stood ready, thinking her Mother had only been on board a couple of weekons and she was already trying to take command. How long did she think she’d been travelling the stars since leaving Traun and being in command of their present surroundings. She knew who to trust and not to trust.

  “Are you sure that this Tom is as innocent as he claims to be?” asked Lydia quite sternly.

  “Yes! I’ve been in charge of this cruiser for three yearons, I know when someone is telling the truth, I’m a woman now Mother and not the naïve little Traunian daughter of a Commodore that you knew I’m leader of this team and I know Tom well enough to know when he’s telling the truth,” retorted Tayce.

  “Spy’s and Pirates come in all kinds of guises Tayce,” replied Lydia ignoring Tayces tone of voice.

  “What are you getting at?” replied Tayce sharply, she resented the path that her Mother was going down over Tom.

  “You don’t know Tom didn’t kill Alenea, you’ve only his word he didn’t,” replied Lydia trying to make Tayce look at it from another angle, that even the most convincing killers sounded truthful.

  “Well my judgement tells me otherwise, I’m not prepared to discuss this any further Mother I’ve made up my mind over the truth and that’s final,” retorted Tayce turning away she didn’t want to hear any more.

  Midge had witnessed the whole thing, he considered Tayces side of the story the right side, he’d monitored Tom’s vital signs all the time he’d told Tayce, what had happened on board his craft with Alenea and the levels he read stayed normal, if not a little stressed. Tayce walked from Organisation, she was not going to stand and argue any more with her Mother she didn’t see the point. Lydia sighed thinking that sometimes Tayce was a bit too headstrong for her own good. She was just like her Father, Darius her husband. Still she’d learn. Lydia figured that fair enough if she was wrong about Tom, she would apologise, but only if she was wrong. She stood in thought looking out of the sight port. Midge remained silent, guiding Amalthea on to the destined port of the call, he was not going to get involved.

  Marc walked up the Level Steps towards Tayce, he could see she’d had an argument with her Mother. He couldn’t understand it, considering both had been apart for so long. He noticed Tayce looked like thunder about to erupt. He reached out and grabbed her by the arm, bringing her back to him. She came back to face him giving a look that said don’t patronise me, I’m not interested. He had always been able to put her right when things became heated between her Mother and herself in the past, this appeared to be like one of those times.

  “Take it easy, you look like your about to explode, this isn’t good for you right now with your health in it’s current state,” said Marc softly.

  “Why can’t she realise that I’m not that naïve little girl from Traun any more and I know what is right aboard my own cruiser and especially when it comes to a member of this team, she doesn’t know Tom like I do and you would think that for once she would believe in what I believe?” protested Tayce.

  “This is hard for her, she has your best interests at heart, she probably wants to believe you, but your right she doesn’t know Tom like you do, give her some time to get to know him, she probably feels also out of things she’s hasn’t been here when you’ve faced things, she doesn’t realise the Universe has moved on from our dayons on Traun, it’s going to take time for her to adjust to this new way of life, come on Tayce, she is trying,” pointed out Marc.

  “So you think it’s okay for her to call Tom a liar, do you, you heard his story?” continued Tayce sharply.

  “I’m not saying that, I believe Tom didn’t kill Alenea, but you both need to realise that things have changed since you last saw each other three yearons ago, you’ve grown independent and she’s trying to come to terms with that, there are two factors here, one that you’ve grown up and secondly you have someone, namely Tom, that you believe in, she knows the Universe and how convincing bad guys can be, until she finds that Tom’s not guilty she is going to see the bad in him, later on your both going to regret the spat you’ve no doubt just had, patience is the key here Tayce try exercising it,” said Marc quietly but firmly.

  “Okay point taken,” said Tayce with a sigh.

  “You’ll look back on this somewhere down the line, she only has your best interests at heart, come here,” he said pulling Tayce into a comforting hug.

  He smiled to himself things hadn’t changed much between Mother and daughter, he could remember dayons on Traun when they had these argumentative moments of debate. It hadn’t changed a bit. He released her seeing that she was a lot more at ease. They stood talking about the forth coming trial. Marc informed her everything was working as it should be aboard. Midge via Wristlink informed Marc that Lydia seemed upset and it would be a good idea to go and find her on board. Upon Tayce hearing this, she realised what Marc had just said was true she had to be patient with her Mother. She felt guilty in a way. Marc could see this and suggested in a joking tone whilst she return to Organisation, he went and found her Mother before she jumped cruiser. Tayce turned and walked back to Organisation Deck, she realised now she was acting no better than that spoilt Traunian child. Marc turned and went back down the Levels Steps asking Midge via Wristlink where Lydia was on board, so he could find her.

  The Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony was now moving into orbital view of Amalthea One. Midge began going through the tough clearance to dock at the colony. The treatment he was receiving, as he went through the tight security procedures wasn’t far short of being the equivalent of a strip search! Beams of sensory light ran over the cruisers hull probing every nook and cranny for something that wasn’t there. He found the whole thing very undignified and near damn right draining on his circuits. Once through, he was informed by the operator at the colony, that an escort would meet the criminal for criminal transfer in a very abrupt tone, upon arrival, Midge explained what was happening as far as Tom’s transfer was concerned and that there would be people travelling to the hearing with him. The operator paused and the air was filled with deadly silence. Then after a few minons the request was granted with an abrupt reply. Midge was glad he wasn’t Tom. This was going to be tough, it was good that Tayce had managed to get Tom’s sound evidence, he was going to need it, judging by the treatment he’d received just being the cruisers high IQ Computer. Docking procedures commenced. Midge found the attitude of the Control Centre for docking just as up tight as the scan search and in his estimation. It was about time someone informed them, that there was an old Earth One saying where a trial was concerned. “Innocent until proven guilty” and they needed to take a crash course in customer care. Not everyone was coated with the same criminal coating. Tayce returned to Organisation. Upon entering she briskly crossed the deck
, and slid into the pilot seat.

  “Are you okay Midge, your silent?” asked Tayce noticing so.

  “I have just endured the most undignified search, this side of the Universe, just to be cleared for docking, not a pleasant situation I want to be in again,” he expressed in a disgusted tone.

  “You won’t have to endure it again, I promise,” said Tayce feeling sorry he had to in the first place.

  “I have requested your presence, they say they are sending an escort to meet Tom, though not quite in those words, they stated that they were sending an escort for criminal transfer of the criminal,” said Midge.

  “Tayce can we talk a minon?” asked Lydia softly walking back into Organisation.

  “Mother can it wait, I’m trying to watch the final moments of docking,” replied Tayce watching as the cruiser went into the final moments before docking at the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony.

  “No it can’t,” said Marc leaning round the chair at her.

  “Fine, you take over then, right Mother let’s talk,” said Tayce leaving her seat letting Marc take over.

  Both Mother and daughter walked to one side of Organisation. Both stood talking, then both hugged after a brief silence. Midge informed Marc quietly that his discussions with both Tayce and Lydia earlier might have worked. Marc explained that he had informed Lydia of how a good colonel Tayce had become in the yearons since leaving Traun. He had suggested she let Tayce handle things in general, she was a grown up girl now. He smiled at the fact that both of them had sorted the situation out and it looked like things were going to be on an even footing from that moment on. Tom appeared in the doorway, looking somewhat ashen faced and trying to hide his apprehension of the forthcoming trial. Tayce turned seeing his uneasiness feeling, sorry for what he was about to endure. All she could do was hand the evidence over to the officer in charge of handling Tom’s case. She crossed and in full view of her Mother gave Tom a reassuring hug. He slowly hugged her back. He felt bad having to put her through this unnecessary mess.

  “How long till we’re there?” he asked nervously looking out the sight port at the approaching sight of the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony.

  “We’re nearly there, they have announced an escort will meet you, to take you in to trial, but don’t worry Tom we will be watching and as I said earlier, I will stand up and speak on your behalf, tell them like it was,” insisted Tayce looking up at him.

  “Thank you my love, he said calling her it for the first time.

  “We’ll all be there for you mate,” spoke up Marc from the pilot seat.

  Final docking concluded. Midge took control whilst they were in Docking Port. He wished Tom luck before he began out of the Organisation Deck. Tom acknowledged then walked on behind Tayce. Lydia and Marc followed with Donaldo at the rear, taking his Medic Emergency Kit, in case he needed it. They all began on the walk down to the Docking Bay doors.

  On the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony two strong looking sturdy officers in guard uniforms stood waiting the arrival of Tom. They had weapons in their holsters, ready to use if need be, to act at a moments notice if Tom proved awkward in any way. Their current stance until Tom arrived was at ease, one, watching for the first signs of the emerging team that would soon be coming down the walkway. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, they moved to the foot of the walkway and began up placing their right hands to the powerful looking handguns, ready to withdraw should any trouble arise. The senior looking of the two officers with ginger hair upon seeing Tayce, stepped forward.

  “Which one of you is in charge of the Amalthean prisoner?” he requested to the point.

  “I’m Colonel Traun and the man you seek is Mr Stavard here,” replied Tayce introducing Tom in a tone that matched the officers.

  Without warning and in quick movement, the two officers roughly reached out and grabbed Tom on both sides. They dragged him away from the team. Tayce gave a look of shear alarm at the sudden behaviour she couldn’t believe the way in which everything had happened so fast. Marc could, he’d seen it too many times before on previous visits for Darius Traun. Tom was out of sight within minons. Tayce turned to Marc. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, quietly informing her he had told her what the personnel were like. A young uniformed dark haired officer stepped into view and began towards them. Marc tried to calm Tayce down, she was fuming inside at the way in which one of her team had just been treated and it showed on her beautiful features.

  “I apologise for that action Colonel, it must have come as quite a shock, but I’m afraid that is how everyone who goes for trial is treated here, until they are proven innocent,” he explained, in a regretful tone seeing the look of utter displeasure cross her face

  “My team member is no criminal, as you will find out soon enough,” replied Tayce displeased at the way in which Tom had been treated.

  The young officer would say no more, for fear of further anger from Tayce. He suggested they follow him and he would take them where they had to go and wait. The remaining Amalthean team members followed on. They walked through a large reception, then on across the courtyard. On the way, the young slim officer explained they would have to wait in the waiting area, until called for. Tayce was finding it tough to keep her cool as she walked along in silence. She wondered how Tom was bearing up, hating the thought they had been separated until the trial. As they walked down a walkway Tom could be seen being lead away in the distance roughly Tayce looked with alarm, helpless to do anything in the careless handling of one of her team that she was witnessing. Marc discretely informed her, she might as well take it easy, there was nothing she could do. She listened, but hated the fact it was out of her hands. They soon walked into a room that withheld three bench type seats. Lydia sat down on one whilst Tayce and Marc on the other. Donaldo looked concerned for Tayce. He sat beside, her, asking her if she was all right? She nodded in thought, even though she was Colonel and leader of the team, she hated situations such as this.

  “This is disgusting keeping us in here like this, I shall be reporting this to General Largon when I get to Questa Tayce, don’t worry,” pointed out Lydia understanding her daughters anger.

  “I wonder how long they’ll keep us here?” asked Marc wonderingly.

  “Until they send for us I should imagine it’s a bit bare of comforts, if this is the waiting room,” commented Donaldo looking about.

  “If I knew we would have to wait, we would have done it on Amalthea,” replied Tayce, she was growing fed up in which they had been treated.

  “I know how you feel, but unfortunately Tayce they make the rules, and we have to abide by them or end up where Tom is, it’s out of our hands,” said Marc positively, but he also couldn’t understand the long wait.

  All four sat and waited in the barest of waiting rooms reserved for waiting members for watching the trial. Each Amalthean members thoughts were on something. Noise could be heard outside, people shouting, going by, some arguing. Tayce decided to stretch herself out on the long bench and lean against the wall, there was no telling how long they would have to be there. She decided to Wristlink Midge aboard the cruiser to see if he could find out just what was going on outside their current surroundings, they called a waiting room. He soon informed her that he would come back to her.

  Tom was seated further down the corridor looking somewhat lost. The area he sat in looked just as sparse as the waiting area and furnished just as much. He was so bored, he was trying to make out the many amusing words of inscribe on the walls. Obviously put there by the past inhabitants waiting for the same thing he was. Some were very interesting to say the least and amusing. His thoughts kept drifting in and out of what he was going to say, when called. Also his thoughts were wondering what Tayce thought of all this and how she was bearing up. He glanced at his Wristlink, wondering if the trial was going to happen on this dayon at all, it was growing
late and in a couple of hourons it would be the end of court session for the current dayon. It was fast becoming obvious, he was going to be present for the duration of night hourons. He turned pounding the hard square material block, that was supposed to be a pillet trying to mould it into a shape he could rest against and drop off in to some kind of sleep, not that he was going to do much of that, with the prospect of being grilled the next mornet for a murder, he did not commit. He found himself staring at the uninteresting ceiling the moment he lay down and put his head on the hard equivalent of a pillet. Sounds from other criminals rang through the echoing corridors outside, complaining about their accommodation. Tom drifted into an uneasy sleep. Lights dimmed to go out, the room soon filled with total darkness and the noise from other prisoners that had been loud to say the least, faded into the distance ending another dayon.

  Mornet came round soon enough on the Intergalactic Criminal Court Colony. The two guards that had dragged Tom away to his current surroundings the dayon before, walked along to Tom’s room. Where he’d had the most uneasy of nights. The doors opened and they marched in. Tom sat up wondering what they were going to do to him, this time. He managed to gather his thoughts and himself together, when they once more hauled him onto his feet and marched him out of his present surroundings. As he went he wondered where they were taking him. People in the area looked him up and down in a summoning cold way. This he couldn’t understand. He was totally innocent, but he guessed in their eyes, he was guilty as charged. The two guards took him along a narrow corridor which was once again dimly lit. They turned the corner at the far end going on through double automatic opening doors. Once inside, they ordered him to freshen up, then left him. Without further delay. Tom began to do just as they had ordered and he soon found himself feeling better for it, ready to face whatever was thrown at him in the dayon ahead.