Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “Shall we walk, I’ll explain things as we go,” gestured Tayce.

  “Of course! Colonel,” replied Duncan pleasantly.

  Tayce found Duncan’s nervousness of her quite amusing. She guessed that it was because she was his chief. For the first time out of Questa. But in time he would fit in as part of the team, his nervousness would soon fade when he’d been on a few Quests. They walked together along Level 2 heading down to what would be Duncan’s new quarters, they talked on the way, firstly Tayce explained the on board procedures. Then they talked a bit about things in general.

  “I hear you just took on the Boglayon Pirates Colonel, nasty bunch from what I’ve heard?” he said casually.

  “Yes, but they no longer exist and we achieved good success from the Quest, we were asked to take on, as for the leader of the Boglayon Pirates, we’re not quite sure if he perished or not, Midge our guidance computer picked up something that left the planet after it’s destruction, but it couldn’t be determined whether it was an escape vessel or not, why the sudden interest?” asked Tayce curious.

  “I was in the section that the Greymarians returned to, one of the Greymarians explained what had happened to them, excuse me for saying this but the leader sounds like a real bastard, considering what he did to Kelly Travern,” replied Duncan.

  “We each have our own opinion of Lord Dion, believe me, I don’t think he’s someone I care to meet again too soon,” replied Tayce feeling the feelings she’d felt whilst in his company, like it was yesteron.

  They walked down the Level Steps and met with Treketa coming up. Tayce introduced Duncan to her and watched silently as Duncan gently expressed how sorry he was to hear of the loss of her friend Dean. Treketa managed a small smile of thanks, then welcomed him to the team with a gentle handshake, before excusing her presence and hurrying on up the steps to duty. Duncan watched after her, as she headed on up the rest of the Level Steps to the next level Level 2, then quickly turned back to Tayce continuing on down in discussion about the last Quest. Tayce began thinking that Treketa was not going to be sad over Dean for long, where Duncan was concerned she could already see there was a connection between the two. On the Quarters Level Tom walked towards them. Upon seeing Tayce with their latest team arrival, he paused to welcome him to the team. He began he couldn’t stop he was testing out the new Quest Mark 2. One of the new fighters, that had arrived.

  “I’ve heard their quite something, capable of roughly 700 milons a minon, their the fastest in service so far, reports say that they are considered quick and nippy,” said Duncan remembering.

  “Really thanks for telling me,” replied Tom, glad to hear what Duncan had just told him.

  With this Tom silently announced he’d see her later and continued in the direction of the Flight Hanger Bay. Tayce continued on towards what was to be Duncan’s quarters. She suggested that he make the place like home and join them later upon deck. She handed him his Wristlink, briefly explaining the various commands to push to activate what he wanted to do, then left him to settle in. Tayce raised her Wristlink as she headed away ordering Midge that when Duncan had settled in, his name was to be entered into the quarters memory. Midge could be heard agreeing. As Tayce walked on so she suggested he fill her in about their latest recruit by giving her some in depth background information. Midge began explaining about Duncan in what he had received from Questa Recruitment Agency. If the information was anything to go by, he was going to turn out to be a good asset to the already growing team. Midge continued on going into Duncan’s personal details. He was twenty-nine yearons old and had originally come from a human colony called Antraglex. It was a colony that withheld a band of Earth settlers, whose forefathers took over many yearons ago, after the original Earth was made nothing more than a barren wasteland, through the massive war, with the continents. His Grandfather was the first to discover the Astro Planes of Cartegran on the same world, that had come to be known as something of a phenomenon, similar to the northern lights on original Earth. Tayce remembered the sight on Cartegran, it was truly breathtaking and that people travelled from all over the Universe to see it. She walked up the Level Steps, listening to Midge via her Wristlink, until he was through.

  No sooner had Lance returned to duty for the first time in ages, when Marc turned telling him he had an urgent communication from the Chief of the Medical Health Complex at Questa. Lance frowned, what was wrong he thought? Marc suggested he take the call in the privacy of the Meeting Centre. With this Lance hurried on in as quickly as possible in concerned thought. Marc tried not to appear nosey, but was concerned, also, as the call was about Jonathan Largon. Tayce entered the Organisation and looked around for Lance, as she had heard Marc talking with him, coming up the corridor. She looked to Marc and somehow she picked up that something was wrong. He discretely pointed to the Meeting Centre.

  “What’s wrong, what is it, what’s going on, why is he in there?” asked Tayce looking in the direction of the Meeting Centre curious seeing Lance in discussion.

  “It’s a call from the Medical Health Complex at Questa, they said they wanted to talk to Lance, it was extremely urgent,” replied Marc in a whisper.

  The Meeting Centre doors soon opened, Lance came out looking somewhat shocked, shaking his head in utter disbelief at what he had just heard.

  “Lance are you okay, what is it what’s happened?” asked Tayce in true friendly concern.

  “It’s Father, he’s been taken to the Medical Health Complex Cardiac Section as an emergency patient,” said Lance in sheer total disbelief.

  “Look sit down, I’ll get you a drink,” said Marc not liking the fact, Lance looked like he was about to drop from the sudden shock.

  He hurried out to the corridor Plicetar dispenser and retrieved a beaker of Plicetar. He quickly returned and went straight to Lances side, handing it to him. He suggested he sip it slowly. Tayce waited to hear what his plans were regarding his Father, she didn’t mind if he had to return back to Questa, as this was somewhat of an emergency.

  “I hate to ask you this, but could you accompany me back to Questa, I don’t think I can face the worst, if it happens before I get there alone, they tell me it’s bad this time Tayce,” said Lance holding back the tears for his Father and the thought that he may lose him. She was torn, she had to think of the team and unsuspecting Quests that might lay ahead, that could materialise in her absence. Marc stepped in and offered Tom to take command of the cruiser and team in her absence, he could contact her if she needed to return. She knew that Tom was capable he had been good at taking charge at such short notice, he’d done so on many an occasion when it was just the two of them and she was doing something else on board that needed her immediate attention. She agreed. Marc suggested they get going, time was not for the wasting. He’d contact Tom tell him what had happened, so that he could return to the cruiser and meet them down in the Flight Hanger Bay, he’d join them just as soon as he’d called Tom. Tayce her mind on Jonathan, nodded, ushering Lance on out. Marc continued to contact Tom over the Aircom and informed him of what had happened. Tom could be heard telling him that he was heading in as he spoke and would be on board soon.

  Tom a while later in the new fighter came into land on the Flight Hanger Bay, floor, gliding in and setting down gently. Upon ceasing the engines of the beetle shaped new Quest, with a protruding point, he jumped out and walked to meet both Lance and Tayce, entering the bay.

  “Marc just told me what’s unfolded Lance, I hope everything is all right when you get there, your Father is a good man,” expressed Tom in great sympathy.

  “Is the Quest all right to fly long distance, I want to take it to Questa?” asked Tayce studying the first craft of her fleet.

  “Yes! Are you sure your going to be all right, flying all the way alone?” asked Tom a little concerned, as Vargon was at large and she’d be an easy target for the picking in a Ques
t Fighter.

  “She’s not going alone, I’m flying them,” said Marc walking into the bay

  “You could stay if you wanted to, believe me I can handle her, flying this cruiser is not all I can fly, you ask Mother, see you when I get back?” she replied finding it not fair that Marc, was going to fly the first of her new fleet.

  “Not while we’ve got the threat of Vargon out there, your Mother would kill me if anything happened to you,” said Marc heading towards the new Quest ignoring her protest.

  Tayce gave a look that said, you think your flying to Questa don’t you, not if I’ve got anything to do with it, then followed on. Tom stood and watched Tayce, Marc and Lance board. He smiled to himself, as he saw Tayce got her own way and had dropped into the pilot seat, before Marc had, had a chance. She could be seen going through the various checks and starting the quick reaction turbo nuclear engines, lifting up turning to head off out of the Hanger Bay doors, that were opening once again, before them. He stood watching as the fighter headed on out through the doors into space, off towards Questa at immense speed. Walking back to Organisation, he thought to himself that it was a good thing he had tested the first Quest Fighter of the fleet. The only members on board Amalthea, were himself, new recruit Duncan, Treketa and Donaldo it was going to be quiet unless something happened, which he hoped it wouldn’t.

  At Questa in the Medical Health Complex General Jonathan Largon lay in a medical bunk. He’d been present in the complex for the best part of two hourons. Optic thin wires and Discs were attached to him, sending the necessary readings to a nearby heart machine, giving the medical staff all they needed to know to keep an eye on his condition. He was in a near unconscious state and seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, as whatever had struck him down with such force, had been fast. He looked frail and very ill. His face was pale and not the normal warm slightly tanned complexion that it generally was. A nearby Medical Officer of the cardiac knowledge was busy studying Jonathan’s continuous heart rhythm, he looked concerned to say the least. The officer shook his head not liking what was unfolding by the minon, but made a note on his hand held Porto Compute. It concerned the young brown haired officer, that so far things were not improving as they should have been considering his time with them. The young brunette cardiac care nurse could see he was concerned, she glanced to the fluctuating readings and had to agree that the injections they had given Jonathan so far, were not improving his condition, which they should have been. But the young officer knew that Jonathan had, had this materialising for a long time, he had warned him to slow down in his duties, but Jonathan had refused to acknowledge that there was anything wrong with him. If only he had listened he thought.

  “Councillor Traun is outside and wondered if she could see the General,” said the young nurse softly.

  “Only for a few minons, he needs no strain at the present time with long visits, has his son been informed?” said the officer with Dr Neekum on his name badge.

  “Yes sir, he’s on his way Amalthea contacted us a while ago to let us know,” replied the young nurse.

  “Good, show Councillor Traun in,” he replied in a kind but educated voice.

  Dr Neekum keyed in the necessary information that he wanted to continue to try and save Jonathan at all odds. He turned studying Jonathan wondering if he could pull through, even at this late stage of treatment, or would it be a case of to much to late. Finishing the notes he walked on out leaving Jonathan with an alert disc attached to wrist to rest undisturbed, the door closing behind him. Before Councillor Traun saw Jonathan he wanted a word with her.

  Back on Amalthea Tom ran up the last of the Level Steps to reach Level 1. He turned at the top, walking on along and into Organisation. He was met by Duncan, busy at the research position, taking over for Lance. Midge suggested he take up his position and take care of research until Lance returned. Tom greeted Duncan with a nod of acknowledgement upon entering, then crossed to the control seat, ordering Midge to release controls to him.

  “Are you on command duty?” asked Midge.

  “Until Tayce gets back,” replied Tom sitting down.

  “I can continue to be in charge if you have anything else you want to attend to, I can call you if I need you in an emergency,” offered Midge.

  Tom was about to agree to Midge taking full command, when without warning below Levels there suddenly came a piercing scream from Treketa that could be heard through the open entrance doors of Organisation Deck followed by the sound of a Slazer being fired. Duncan and Tom both gave each other alarmed looks, then urgently flew out of their seats, grabbed their Slazers from their holsters, and raced on out of the deck. Midge was announcing as they went, that there was an intruder aboard and that all necessary precautions had failed in stopping the intruder. At the top of the Level Steps both men paused, either side poised ready to open fire. Tom over his Wristlink ordered Midge to seal off Organisation, but stay in touch. Midge could be heard agreeing. Both men began on down cautiously. Waiting for whoever was on board to appear. Just as Tom stepped onto the third stair, up from the Second Level. A masked armed raider, dressed in black all in one suit, looking rather like an original Earth Ninja warrior, but built like a Mr Universe of the first order, appeared armed to the teeth swinging his weapon around, that every time it touched the corridor wall gave off sparks. He was so fast on Tom he did not get the chance to retaliate, the weapon swung and the raider open fired at Tom. Excruciating pain rained through his whole body, as the weapon hit home, sending him through the air and hard up against the wall. Where he remained out cold. The raider turned his attention quickly to Duncan, Duncan quickly back tracked, but found that his footing slipped as he tried to avoid being the next victim. The raider gained on Duncan, with amazing fastness and as he neared the last steps to the top the raider fired at him and he felt all life drain from his whole body, everything went dark. He dropped onto the steps and rolled all the way passed the raider, uncontrollably to the bottom on Level 2 where he remained out cold. Blood oozing from his wounds. The raider stood for a moment then stepped onto Level 1. Back on Level 2 further towards the Life Ability Centre Treketa was sprawled out cold. Blood seeping from a severe gash to the side of her head. She had been the raiders first victim, he had thrown her hard against the corridor wall as she had tried to fight him off, using her own armed combat skills, from the dayons on College Colony. It could be seen that the next unsuspecting victim was Donaldo, who was slumped over the Hover Trolley head on one side, through the open doors of the Life Ability Centre out cold beaten and shot. There was blood slowly dripping from his nose, he like Treketa tried to put a fight, even though he had been caught off guard.

  Midge felt powerless, as he watched the whole horrific scenario unfold. He began running over in his memory what he could do to deter this unwanted raider, who he had searched the data files to find fitting the description of their present unwanted guest and had come up as.

  ‘YARRICK’ known burglar type intruder-steals anything for the fancy – uses very high energy power rod and weapon on anyone who tries to deter him in his quest to take what he wants has been known to kill to gain the spoils of his raid.

  Midge knew he had just seen the power rod act, unfortunately on several of the team plus the weapon via the Intruder Cam. He recorded all he could, he was somewhat surprised to discover that this raider was no alien, his body shape was of a human. Under the black head covering mask, with only slits for his eyes to see, he spoke very clear, but rough English. There was something mysterious about this unwanted burglar and why he had picked Amalthea, but what?

  On Level 1, the Yarrick was studying a device in his hand, that looked somewhat like a Porto Compute. He was checking where he wanted to head next and steal what he had come for. He was abruptly interrupted when he heard a noise that made him suspicious, perhaps there was someone else fancying his or her chances against him, he had over looked on
board.

  “Any more of you want to surprise little olé Yarrick, come on out and give it a go, what are you waiting for?” he announced in a tormenting tone, standing poised ready both weapons primed.

  Midge wished he could and face this jerk, teach him a lesson he wouldn’t forget. As the Yarrick looked up so he caught sight of the small corridor Vid Cam lens, in the Intruder Cam. Midge knew he was about to lose his only way of spying on this no good vagrant. The Yarrick raised his weapon in hand and shot the lens of the Intruder Cam. Sparks flew as Midge lost all chance to track him. But the bad thing was, the main feed had also been blown and it sent an electrical surge to the rest of the Intruder Cams, throughout the rest of the cruisers corridors blowing each Intruder Cam it reached in succession. Now Midge had no way of tracking him, what was he to do?

  On Questa Lydia was sitting by Jonathan Largons bunk side. He was now awake, but still very weak, talking with the greatest of strain. Lydia didn’t like seeing him this way, he was a long standing family friend and had been very reassuring that she would adapt to a new way of life, when she came to Questa for good. The door opened behind her and much to Jonathan’s relief Lance casually slipped into the room concerned to see his Father in his current condition. He walked across to his Father, shocked to see him like he was, they had only cracked a joke before he’d left for Amalthea One a while ago. Jonathan could see the shocked look on Lances face and reached out his left hand to his son. Father and son had always had a good relationship, since Lances Mother had been tragically killed, when he was just five yearons old, Jonathan knew it was hard for him to see him in this condition. Lydia stood and upon passing Lance, discretely informed him that she was there for him should he need her. Lance nodded, with this, Lydia walked from the room allowing Father and son to have quality time together.