Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “So you think this so called leader, used this Time Jump Dimensional Suspension device to send Kelly’s parents and the Greymaren crew to uncharted space?” asked Marc interested.

  “Quite, Donaldo I know Kelly is vulnerable right now, but what we need to do is show her an image of this Pirate Boglayon Army and ask her if she’s familiar with any of the faces, ask her if she remembers when they went aboard by force,” asked Jonathan knowing that it was not going to be easy.

  “It would be chancy, but I think it could be done, as long as we keep in mind, she is still very frightened at the fact the leader would come back for her, should she say anything, as this is what she told me and Treketa in the last houron,” said Donaldo in thought.

  “I appreciate this, but we have to know,” replied Jonathan in earnest.

  Donaldo was far from pleased at having to lay this on Kelly so soon, but if it meant finding the crew of Greymaren, then it had to be done with great gentleness. Jonathan as much as he did not want to push it, he put it to Tayce that this should be done sooner, rather than later, so that they were clear on what they were up against. Jonathan thanked everyone for attending the meeting and stated that everyone present would be involved in this rescue, once the identification had taken place. As the others headed back to duty, Jonathan waited for Tayce as Tom paused for a moment, assuring her he would take charge of Organisation along with Marc, whilst she sorted out what was needed in tracking down the Boglayon Pirates, that’s if they were identified as who abducted the Greymaren crew and the Traverns. Tayce nodded in agreement. As Tom walked on out into Organisation, she and Jonathan followed on, to head on down to the Life Ability Centre. Donaldo had hurried on ahead to prepare Kelly for her probing questions from Jonathan, even though he didn’t like putting her through it.

  “General tell me about the leader of the Boglayon Pirates, I’ve heard he can torture a woman for his pure pleasure, is there anything I need to know about him, after all there is Treketa and I on this team and I want to know what we’re up against?” asked Tayce as she and Jonathan walked along.

  “Dion is a man not to be trusted, extremely powerful, he uses his mind to seduce women, so much so that they don’t know what’s happening until it’s to late, he possess great powers of the mind, just by thought he can destroy or make happen what he wants to, with what he has in sight at that particular moment just by looking at it, be it vessel, base or being, be extremely careful, this man is no fool Tayce, if you end up in his presence remember he will do anything to possess you and use you at will, you’ll end up destroyed like all the other females he’s had as a pleasurable pause in his greedy lifestyle,” replied Jonathan warningly.

  “Don’t worry General, this female is not for the possessing, not by the likes of him anyway,” said Tayce she knew just how she was going to play this Dion.

  As they walked the rest of the way they both talked. Jonathan again apologised for removing Lance from the team so soon after joining, as he understood that he was settling in very well, but he would be back just as this urgent assignment was taken care of and it had been a top secret one, that needed one of the Largon family to take care of, it had been in the pipeline so to speak, for some time and Lance had volunteered to take it on. Jonathan without warning stopped walking in the corridor of Level 2. He put his hand to his chest. Tayce paused, concerned something was wrong. He merely brushed it off and light heartedly assured her that it was purely indigestion, it served him right to have a good meal before flying out and using the Transpot. He hated the Transpot, but it was the best alternative to put oneself on a vessel just not recommended after a full lunch! Tayce didn’t push the matter any further, she couldn’t tell him that maybe he should get himself checked over by his doctor on Questa, after all he was the General of the said base, it was not her place. They continued on. But Tayce was still worried and if Lance had been on board, she would have confided in him as much.

  Donaldo was stood by Kelly in her bunk explaining carefully that the General of Questa was on his way down to ask her some questions, regarding the group that had visited her home, it was vital in finding her parents and crew, but he did not want her to become concerned, she only had to answer the questions once and Tayce and himself would be present, plus councillor Traun, so she was in safe hands. Kelly looked at him with a look of apprehensive panic in her eyes. Lydia reached out and clasped her hand in a kind assuring way. The Life Ability Centre doors opened, Jonathan and Tayce walked in. Tayce let the General walk forth towards Kelly, she stood out of the way whilst Jonathan in a kind understanding tone expressed that he was sorry that he had to make her recall a somewhat horrific experience, but it was absolutely vital in order to get the crew and her parents of her home back. He began as gently as he could and produced images of the race that it was assumed did the dirty on Greymaren. Tayce listened with interest.

  Outside in the Universe and heading off into the distant future, was the Greymaren Station, now all in total darkness, as the on board team had done their work and shut the station down. It was a spectacular scene to be seen, the tow vessels manoeuvring the station at a cruise speed, back to Questa, keeping the right amount of travelling manoeuvrability, making the station look like it was gliding along.

  On board Amalthea Treketa, had been ordered by Donaldo to take her break, as it was a convenient time to do so, as the General would be a while with his questioning and he was present and could take care of anything that may arise. Treketa stood sipping the much needed Coffeen in thought, in the Leisure Centre. She heard footsteps behind her, ones she recognised as Deans, but somehow she wondered if she should bother talking to him, considering he had been trying to get to know her better, than just a member of the team and as Kelly had suddenly materialised she had been turned off as galactic flavour of the monthon. She didn’t much care for being treated like yesterons news. He glanced at her, as he entered the Centre and headed towards the drinks dispenser. Upon retrieving the fresh cup of Coffeen he’d come to grab, he turned studying her questioningly, feeling a sense of hostility in the air from her.

  “Taking a break then?” he said trying to break the icet.

  “I thought you’d be visiting your Greymaren girlfriend, especially as she’s back on the scene it would appear that I seem to be yesterons news I don’t much like being treated like it,” she replied not the least bit emotional towards him, quite cold in fact.

  “For Gods sake Treketa she’s just been to the equivalent of hell and back, we had this out last night, she and I are no longer an item, it’s in the past, let’s just leave it there, shall we,” he retorted somewhat surprised that she was so insensitive as to what Kelly had gone through and the fact he wanted to make amends with her. Treketa was something that just had to be put aside for the moment and he had hoped she understood that there was a past that needed sorting before they went on.

  “Let’s just forget the whole thing, shall we Dean?” said Treketa discarding her cup in the nearest incinerator shoot and beginning to storm out the entrance without further word.

  “No, let’s not we’ll discuss this off duty later in my quarters, all right?” he said grabbing her arm mid stride and restraining her before letting her go on.

  “Maybe!” she replied continuing on out the Leisure Centre, to head back to duty. Dean sighed shaking his head. She had surprised him with her cold hearted attitude about Kelly and him being friends again. He couldn’t understand it, he had never had this problem on his world. Women on Deltaline 4 were a whole lot different to what they were in this Universe, that’s for sure. He turned to look out of the sight port and sipped his Coffeen in thought. He was caught in a difficult position, he did like Treketa a lot, but he felt sorry for Kelly and understood what she had gone through and right now he figured, he had to be there, in case she wanted to talk to him.

  Kelly Travern had confirmed identity, that it was none other than Dion and his
Boglayon Pirates that had boarded the Greymaren Station, abducted the crew and her parents. She further explained that he, the leader had used the ‘Time Jump Dimensional Suspension’ device she heard him. Tayce stood in thought somewhat surprised at the way in which Kelly had described, what had happened to her parents and the crew, how the Boglayon Pirates headed by their leader boarded in the hourons of duty unexpectedly rounded up the crew in different sections, then fired a kind of weapon at the teams in each of those sections and they vanished where they stood. Even security didn’t have time to react. It was the most amazing sight to see the weapon giving off a brilliant beam, almost equivalent of lightening. Upon seeing the first group vanish, she ran into the deep depths of the station and stayed there. Tayce walked away with Donaldo out of earshot.

  “What’s going to be your next move, surely your not thinking of taking on this Dion and his army single handedly, hearing what he did to Kelly’s people, I hate to think what they’ll do to this cruiser and us?” put Donaldo discretely, one eye on Kelly.

  “I don’t know, first I have to get a Quest team together, but don’t concern yourself I have no intention of putting any of us in danger like the Greymarians,” replied Tayce.

  “If you want me along, you only have to say, I could cover all the medical needs,” he volunteered.

  “Fine,I’ll let you know, well it looks like the Generals finished, take good care of Kelly, she’s done well recalling something I know I couldn’t,” ordered Tayce.

  “Sure I will,” he assured casually.

  Jonathan left Kelly asking for a discrete word in the Officette. Donaldo agreed, turning and heading off towards the Medical Officette, wondering what it was about? Jonathan once inside explained, that he wanted Kelly ready to be transferred to the Counselling Complex on Questa. Donaldo gave Jonathan a questionable look, much to say, why? Did the the General think that he wasn’t doing a good enough job. Jonathan seeing the look on Donaldo’s face, quickly assured him he’d done an excellent job. But going to the Counselling Complex would help Kelly adjust to a new life should they not be successful in rescuing the Greymaren crew and especially the Traverns, Kelly’s parents. Donaldo much relieved nodded in total agreement. Tayce could see that both Jonathan and Donaldo were in an awkward situation. Jonathan felt he had insulted Donaldo, but hadn’t meant to and Donaldo was trying to calm himself internally at not being pleased, that he had jumped to the wrong conclusion of what the General had implied. She quickly suggested to him, he continue with the preparations to transfer Kelly. He nodded glad to be heading away. Both herself and Jonathan followed on out of the Officette and across to the entrance leaving Kelly once again in Donaldo’s hands. Jonathan outside the Life Ability Centre discretely put to her, he felt he had insulted her medical man, but hadn’t meant to. She quickly suggested, he think nothing of it Donaldo had felt as awkward as he’d done. Tayce realised that under that tough Generals exterior, Jonathan was a man of great sincerity and kindness. Lance had a lot of his Father’s qualities, she thought, as they walked along.

  Two hourons later the Medical Launch from Questa manoeuvred into position to dock with Amalthea. Preparations had been done to get Kelly ready for her transfer, she waited the final moments of docked completion with Donaldo at the Docking Bay doors. Jonathan Largon had asked to be flying back with her as he had, to send his cruiser back to base for repairs. Both he and Tayce walked to meet up with Donaldo.

  “Take care Tayce and above all else be careful, don’t trust Dion, under no circumstance, he and his army only have one thing in mind and have an ill approach to people like you and this team,” warned Jonathan.

  “Oh I’m quite sure we’ll be ready to handle the likes of him, he may find that I have a few tricks of my own when it comes to coming face to face with him,” assured Tayce, she was thinking about her own powers.

  The Docking Bay doors drew apart when docking had gone through final completion. A female medical therapist walked forth, with a gentle polite smile, which conveyed her kindness and warmth. She was in her mid forties, slim with dark brown short hair and pretty features. She was dressed in an all in one medical white close fitting suit.

  “Donaldo Tysonne, how do you do, this is Kelly Travern,” he announced lightly ushering Kelly forward.

  “Trudy Carns therapist you can call me Trudy, okay Kelly I will be looking after you from now on, your in safe hands,” assured Trudy in a gentle caring way.

  “Colonel before I go, I want to thank you for finding me on Greymaren, all I ask now, is you find my parents and people, if you can’t, make that barbarian Dion pay for what he’s done,” said Kelly

  “You found us, but you can count on us to find your parents and people, we’ll take care of Dion, if we don’t find your parents can take it from me, justice will be served,” assured Tayce.

  Tayce watched with Donaldo as Kelly, the medical therapist and Jonathan all boarded the Medical Launch and the Docking Bay doors closed. Once the Medical Launch was safely away, Tayce left Donaldo to return to his duty and headed on the walk up to Organisation to start sorting the best way to take on Dion and his army to rescue the Greymaren crew and the Traverns.

  Marc in Organisation was studying with Tom the information on the Boglayon Hideout. It was not what was considered the most interesting of planets to look at. Tom had made Marc laugh, by saying it looked like a muddy misshaped ball, that someone had put dents in. As far as Pirate bases went, it was far from impressive and especially as Dion was discovered to be a ‘Lord’. They could see that it would be near than impossible to land on. Not that anyone would want to, for fear of being shot or worse. Armed to the teeth with every means of weaponry to hold off intruders, or Nosey Parker’s who dared to venture where they were not invited. Some had and had never been seen again, for obvious reasons. This army were more ruthless than Vargon and her army. Their motto was their rule. The whole planet covered a rough diameter of a milon across. This was not going to be an easy Quest.

  “As pirates go, this Lord Dion doesn’t believe in an elaborate dwelling does he?” said Marc

  “Pirates are pirates, hostile to the end, they are what they stand for, end of story,” replied Tom.

  “Jonathan’s team on Questa have sent the coordinates and Midge has logged them in,” said Marc.

  Tayce walked into Organisation Deck, Dean not far behind, coming back from his break. Tayce glanced at the Boglayon Hideout on screen and gave an unimpressive stare. Marc looked up at her smiling, amused by her expression.

  “Don’t tell me that’s Lord Dions Boglayon Hideout, I thought he’d have something a lot more elaborate than a muddy looking ball,” said Tayce unimpressed.

  “Afraid so, but don’t let the appearance fool you, it’s armed with every available weapon to fight of any unwanted intruders, which I might add, will be us,” said Tom.

  “Whose on the Quest this time, you’ll need the members of this team, that are capable in handling the likes of that barbarian?” asked Marc.

  “We will all go, except for Mother, she can be in charge here with Midge, ready to pull us out and hopefully the Greymarians too, at a moments notice,” replied Tayce much to Marc’s surprise.

  “Are you sure we should take Treketa, considering what Lord Dion is capable of,” said Marc in concern.

  “Treketa is as much a part of this team, as any of us, we will be in just as much danger as she will,” replied Tayce.

  “Oh don’t let Treketas nice calm act make you think she’s a pussy cat, she’ll stand up for herself apparently she gave Countess Vargons daughter at the College colony a good hiding for telling her friends that her brother namely me, was a murderer over Alenea, she can hold her own,” spoke up Tom like any brother would do that knew his sister well.

  Midge announced suddenly that he would be standing by when she was ready to leave, to do what was asked of him, on this somewhat dan
gerous Quest. Tayce acknowledged, then ordered Tom, Marc and Dean to head down and get some Slazer practice in, on a Boglayon simulation Midge would programme the tactics that would be needed into the simulator and they were to make sure that they would be able to handle the members of the pirate race even if it was just in a combat practice centre. They all began on out, Tayce ordered Tom to take Treketa and show her how to do the same, she needed all the skill she could get. Tom nodded in total understanding, he could see where she was coming from in the more experience Treketa got, the more she would find it easy to take on the likes of advancing Boglayon pirates. After the others left, Lydia entered Organisation and crossed to join Tayce, now sitting in the control seat. She sat in the adjacent one as the Amalthea changed course, for the new direction of the Boglayon Hideout.

  Outside in the Universe Amalthea turned like a graceful bird in flight, making a change in course. Once in the right position, the cruiser went to Hyper Thrust Turbo and headed off in the direction of the Boglayon Hideout. The journey would have them in orbit in twenty-five hourons.

  Aboard the cruiser an houron into the journey, everything was calm and smooth running. Tom was teaching Treketa firstly how to handle a Slazer. He was discovering quite quickly how she was picking up the certain moves to avoid being shot so much so, that he took her onto the next level of the simulation of the advancing Boglayon pirates, in all their mean and beardedness.

  “Your doing well sis, your a real natural at this, watch his move and time it to the next, stay ahead of him, he’ll take you if you don’t, you cannot take chances,” warned Tom watching his sister carefully.

  Marc had exited his practice booth next to Treketa practising. He stood and watched her, amazed. He nodded to Tom and mouthed that she was proving quite good. Marc was the one on Traun to teach Tayce to shoot and watching Tom and Treketa, it took him back to how Tayce was like Treketa, naïve, but willing to do what was set before her. As he recalled it Tayce had become top of her combat class. But then she had to be, she was the Commodores daughter.