by Jeri Dion
Tayce later down in her quarters after duty hourons, was summoning up the last dayons events, she was glad things were returning to near normality, Jonathan Largon was going to be okay after all. The Yarrick Raider was under investigation. How easily things could have been so different if she hadn’t of returned to Amalthea when she had the notion to. Next time she would take the cruiser to Questa.
The Arrival of Vargons Daughter
In the weekons that followed after the attack by the Yarrick Raider, Donaldo Tysonne contacted Lydia at Questa to find out more on the sudden power ability Tayce seemed to have gained. It transpired that the source Marc had informed him of in where the power ability had originated from was confirmed as that of her Grandfather and it was also confirmed, that it had skipped a generation. The reason for it triggering in Tayce so suddenly, was the fact that she had built up such hatred towards Countess Vargon, over what she had done to Traun. The more he thought about the first time Tayce had used her powers, it was in fact against the Countess. Lydia discussed with him, that she was a little concerned in the fact she knew that Tayce would not use the sudden gift to harm anyone, in an evil way. But it was unsure just exactly how powerful that gift would become, if her anger grew overwhelmingly in an a moment of confrontation. They had to monitor the situation very carefully. Donaldo agreed and after talking with Lydia, summoned both Marc and Tayce to the Life Ability Centre, to inform them of what he had found out. Tayce found it hard to take and believe, that she was gifted in such a powerful way, even though she was quite a gutsy person, it shook her a little to know the uncertainty of the new force she possessed. She had to agree with Donaldo that the power did appear in moments of emotional control. He assured her, that they would monitor the situation and he would find out more. In the meantime, she should let her body naturally adjust to the new found ability and not fight against it when it happened, as it could end up causing her serious damage internally. In time no doubt, she would adjust and cope, everything was strange when it was new and took a little getting use to. Whatever happened, the gift would never leave. It was now apart of her life and existence, she would probably be surprised just how good the effects became. He suggested to Marc discretely that he keep an eye on the situation, other than Tom, because he had known her growing up on Traun and knew her well, He agreed. They talked on about what Donaldo had discovered and what she might find happening to her in the moments when her powers struck, at length, for another houron.
15:09 hourons, under Tom’s guidance, Amalthea was slowly cruising through the current territory of space heading towards an Annual Achievements Ceremony, on Questa. Every yearon certain aliens and people in space were awarded for an achievement of some sort for what they had done during the past yearon. The event was titled the Annual Space Achievement Awards Ceremony or for short the A.S.A.A.C award. It was a rare chance for the team to try out their ceremonial attire. Tayce was in her quarters, she was standing before the Reflection Imager, studying every angle of her elegant appearance in the white body hugging gown, that was edged in silver thin piping. It fitted her perfectly she thought. She couldn’t remember when she had dressed up so glamorously, it had to be back on Traun. A party thrown for her Father in being another yearon in power, before the war of possession, by the Countess. Tom entered the quarters and stood admiring the way she looked, she was certainly appealing to the eye, he thought. He crossed dressed in his navy close fitting ceremonial uniform of trousers and jacket and came to a pause just behind her. He softly and seductively whispered close to her right ear, something very sexy, which made her smile and come back to the present.
“You sure you want to go to this awards ceremony looking the way you are, we could make our own entertainment, send the others in your absence?” he teased her softly.
“Afraid so, I think we better get going, we’ll be late,” she replied softly pulling away from him.
Tayce picked up the small clutch silver purse and headed for the quarters entrance doors, walking across the living area. Tom smiled and shook his head, how he loved to tease her. He followed her on out of the quarters, as the doors drew apart and closed again as they walked to Organisation to watch their arrival at the Ceremonial Venue. All duty had been suspended until after the awards event. Midge would be in overall control, until they returned.
Elsewhere aboard, the other team members were all getting changed into their ceremonial attire for what was suppose to be a spectacular annual event. Each team member was wondering who was going to be the unexpected guest of honour. Treketa walked from her quarters feeling back to her normal happy self after the nasty run in with the Yarrick. It was hard to imagine she thought, that it was almost two weekons since the attack. She guessed it would be on her mind for some time. Maybe this spectacular awards ceremony was what they all needed to unwind for a while, she thought, as she made sure the satinex pink trouser suit she was wearing, fitted just so, on heading up to meet up with the others at the top of the Level Steps. Upon passing a glassene fronted cabinet, she paused to check her hair, that was clasped up in a gold clasp. In a ponytail style. Checking that it was as exquisite as she thought it looked. This night was going to be a good one to remember.
Tom and Tayce entered Organisation. Duncan stood concealing a surprise for Tayce. It was something that Tom had nearly given up hope on completing in the last monthons. It was his walking talking four foot high robot called ‘Cargo’ from his vessel, that had been part of the crew. Duncan stepped aside to reveal a new shiny version of the little robot. Tom explained that Marc had helped him with a few modifications, to bring him up to date. As from that moment on, he could communicate with Midge, if ever the team were ever in danger, via high frequency link-up. The little robot walked forth and lifted his arm opening his hand. Tayce glanced at Tom, wondering what she should do. Tom smiled and gestured for her to go ahead, shake Cargo’s hand. Tayce held out her hand cautiously to him, wondering what he would do to her. He slowly applied just the right amount of pressure to grasp Tayces hand and gently shook it. He lifted his head up to look at her, with his small round blue lens eyes.
“Hello Colonel I’m Cargo… lady your beautiful,” he said in cheeky child like speech.
“Thank you Cargo, he’s great Tom!” said Tayce laughing softly.
“He’s ours and he’s coming to the event with us, if that’s okay?” put Tom, hoping Tayce would agree.
“All right, but I don’t want any trouble with him, understand?” agreed Tayce in a meaningful way.
“You’ve got it,” assured Tom.
“Midge we’ll be down waiting at the Docking Bay doors, let us know when Docking is complete with Questa,” ordered Marc.
“Of course, I’ll let you know on route if need be,” he offered eagerly, he did not want Tayce thinking this Cargo would be as equally good as he’d been to her so far.
“Okay,” replied Tayce, as they went on out the entrance.
Tayce, Tom, Marc and Duncan walked from the Organisation Deck, briskly heading on along to the steps. Cargo walked behind like an obedient servant. Tayce found that every step she took, the bottom half of her long gown flowed in the breeze of her movement. Tom took hold of her right hand, as they began to walk down the Level Steps. She had to lift her gown slightly to avoid tripping down the steps, as she walked. Marc and Duncan discussed the forthcoming awards, as they followed on behind. On Level 2 Treketa, Donaldo and Lance were all waiting, talking amongst themselves. Lance looked nearly to tired to attend the ceremony thought Tayce, as she came down towards them. He had only arrived back on the team just on an houron ago, she had suggested earlier, that he remain at Questa and meet them there, but he had declined, saying that his ceremonial attire was on the cruiser, he had to travel back and change, he hadn’t even had time to take a break thought Tayce, she could see he looked all in, but was putting a brave face on.
“Are you sure your up to going to this cer
emony, I would fully understand if you feel that you would rather rest,” she gently put it to him.
“No I’m fine, honest!” he replied giving her a reassuring smile.
With this they all walked on towards the Docking Bay doors discussing who might be up for an award and joking who would definitely not be ideal for an achievement award!. Tayce wondered if she would get one for the team, owing to what Martin Travern had said in rescuing the Greymarians, he was going to make sure there was a good word put in for what they had done on Dion’s Hideout. Tayces Wristlink sounded on her wrist. She activated it to hear Midge announce, that the last moments of docking were under way. Tayce acknowledged saying she’d see him later, then deactivated the Wristlink. As they reached the Docking Bay doors, so the final part of docking commenced. Tayce proudly glanced around her team in their ceremonial attire and then to the new addition to the team ‘Cargo’ who stood by the side of Tom in an obedient kind of way, this finished what was the ideal scene of her newly formed crime fighting Team. The men’s suits were well designed in a navy colour, with high collars and white thin piping going from shoulder to wrist and from waist to ankle of the trousers. It was topped off by slip on grey shiny leatherex flat shoes. The team would be the best there was this night, thought Tayce, even if it was just for their ceremonial attire. Docking was soon completed it was time to go.
“Everyone ready for a night of a lifetime?” said Tayce light heartedly.
“We’re all ready and right behind you,” confirmed Marc.
Tayce glanced at him, he was looking really handsome and was about to break a few female hearts tonight dressed the way he was. Poor girls, she thought. Her attention was brought back to the opening Docking Bay doors before her and the sudden waft of warm air rushing in from Questa. It was followed by the sight of a joyous occasion, mixed with the sound of music and various crew personnel and high ranked dignitaries all topped off in their glamorous attire, heading to the ceremony. Tayce slipped her hand through Tom’s arm, in a linking way and they all began off Amalthea down the walkway into the spectacular colourfully decorated scene, that was the Annual Space Achievement Awards Night on Questa.
Vessels came and went at the headquarters base, bringing people and aliens in for the celebratory night from all over the Universe, then departed to allow others to come in to dock at the Arrival and Departure Area. It was turning out to be a night that many would remember for a long time to come.
She was young tall and slender and arrived dressed in a black sparkling suit. She would blend in with the crowd on this night. She had long straight jet black hair and conveyed a certain evil edge about her. She glanced around with dark brown eyes, that conveyed treachery and deceit. Eyeing everyone in a scrutinizing interest, as if she was searching for someone in particular, which made her somewhat suspicious, to say the least. She was sent to seek out one person in particular. That person was wanted dead by her evil guardian, she moved with a certain prowess almost cat like, as she sauntered her way through the crowd of merry makers. Then as she neared the ‘Check in’ desk her sight homed in on the vary person of the coming and going, crowd she wanted as, her intended victim, that person was Tayce Traun. Her guardian had been right who had sent her on this task ahead, this Tayce Traun was everything she said she would be. The desk clerk gained her attention away from Tayce in a sudden spoken request, in asking her to sign in, which she did to stop any unwanted trouble so early in her plan. She signed in under a false name. The name ‘Sallen Corford’. As she looked around she could see Tayce laughing with the team. Tayce coincidentally looked her way, she quickly glanced away pretending to look at something else.
“Excuse me, that women, who is she?” asked Sallen in an innocent way glancing back towards Tayce again.
“That ma’am is Colonel Traun, one of our top dignitaries, she heads a team that fights crime, known as the Amalthean Quests team,” explained the young smart looking desk clerk.
He handed her, her overstay Apart-House key innocently. She snatched it with her black silkene gloved hand, then picked up her holdall and briskly began away with the first part of her plan done, she’d identified Tayce. Now she thought, she had to sum up and plan the next part of what her female guardian had required of her. As she walked away the young male desk clerk found her presence somewhat disturbing and cold. He was quickly distracted by another person, who was signing in for overstay accommodation, but when he looked back in her direction, she was gone.
Lydia and Jonathan walked towards the Amalthean team. Lydia looked regal in her appearance, she was truly stunning. Her gown was a low cut body hugging sparkly cream design, that showed her every curve. It was topped off by gold coloured shoes, that could be seen under the full length gown. Her hair was designed in the usual blonde bob style, that rested on her shoulders like a shinning hood. Her make up was perfect to emphasize her beauty and show off her beautiful sapphire blue eyes. Jonathan had hold of her arm gently in an escorting kind of way. Even though he was present for this auspicious occasion, he still looked pale thought Tayce as she walked to meet him. But she could see he was being brave for her Mother’s sake. As she greeted him with a gentle hug she noticed that he was not well yet, but didn’t say anything.
“You made it then?” asked Jonathan in a delighted way.
“Yes and it looks like it’s going to be a fantastic night, judging by what I’ve seen so far,” replied Tayce glancing around at the celebratory surroundings and the mingling of smartly dressed people and aliens with different coloured hair and the strangest of strange appearances.
“Whose this little chap?” asked Jonathan seeing Cargo.
“This is Cargo, our new addition to the team, he’ll be no trouble we promise,” promised Tom.
“He’s quite something,” said Jonathan impressed.
“Your all looking lovely tonight, a team to be proud of even,” said Lydia.
“Thank you Mother,” replied Tayce kissing her Mother gently on the cheek in greeting.
“Shall we get this night to remember under way then?” suggested Jonathan happy to do so.
“Yes!” replied Tayce.
Little did Jonathan know that this night to remember, would be one that would not be forgotten for a while, at least by what unfolded in the next so many hourons. They walked on into the Celebrational Hall and to the available seating area, where the audience were taking their seats ready for the awards announcements to commence. The Celebrational Hall was the largest gathering complex on Questa, especially constructed for social functions, on a grand scale from music concerts to awards functions, such as the one that was currently being held this night. It could seat around 600 people in the seating area, with an isle down the middle. A 15ft ceiling gave the hall a large roomy feel. There were coloured lights of reds, yellows and blues, giving the occasion a soft relaxing atmosphere. Golden banners hung here and there, from the silver stealex rafters, with the words ‘QUESTA ANNUAL SPACE ACHIEVEMENTS AWARDS’ in gold on a white background. A soft music played in the background, to match the grand occasion.
“This place is already getting full, where do you want us to sit?” asked Marc glancing around.
“Over there, so you have easy access should you need to leave for an emergency,” replied Jonathan gesturing to the far side of the hallway.
Tayce glanced around, then back at Marc, meeting his questioning look. He was somewhat puzzled as to why Jonathan should think that there should be an emergency, was there something he knew that they didn’t and wasn’t saying? Tayce discretely whispered as Jonathan began away, that she had an uneasy feeling about this night, but she couldn’t put her finger on it just yet. She suggested they all stay on alert. Marc suggested he pass it on to the others to be on their guard. Tayce nodded. Lydia after talking to some other people, made her way up to the front to be with Jonathan Largon on the platform. Tayce watched her go hoping that whateve
r this uneasy feeling was, she hoped it didn’t involve her Mother, or Jonathan. She recalled the young woman that she had found herself staring at quite suddenly earlier, out in the foyer, cross her mind, where had she gone? Was she to do with the uneasy feeling, she was feeling? She certainly wasn’t present at the present time she thought as she glanced around.
“Is anything wrong, only you look like your searching for someone?” asked Tom seeing her look about with a scrutinising look.
“No, it’s just someone I saw earlier, she looked a bit suspicious, I wondered if she was in here with us that’s all,” replied Tayce.
“Will you relax, your off duty Colonel, perhaps she was an artist, there are quite a few out there in the foyer making the evening more entertaining,” replied Tom trying to get Tayce to relax.
Tom was right she thought, but it didn’t stop her from wanting to keep an eye on everyone that entered the hall on this night. Eventually the seating area was full. All the people and aliens that were going to attend were there and seated. Some jabbering on in a language that was impossible to understand. Silence filled the hall as Jonathan Largon stood to his feet and walked forward to the stand where a tiny pick up microphone no bigger that a small button, was built into the podium. He stood for a moment welcoming the many guests that had come from all over the Universe, picking out certain ones as he glanced around the 500 or so seated. Then he began the awards ceremony.
