Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “I’m not interested in what your intending to do, like I said, I want you off this cruiser, now, without my two men,” said Tayce in just as much plain tone.

  Tayce suddenly felt her power ability rising within her. Tom and Duncan stepped away a bit. A sudden white protection aura surrounded her whole body. She raised her hands ready to emit the pure energy of her gift and warned Arkaran that he had given her no choice, but to end this charade, there and then. As if by some unknown force of extreme magic, a wind suddenly began that blew the gowns of the Arkarans, Marc and Lances hair. The force of wind grew to such a super strength, it was tough to hold their footing.

  “Arkaran leave while you still can and hand back my two members of team, free them now from your link otherwise I will show you just what I can to do regarding powers, to keep what is rightfully mine,” said Tayce almost shouting through the wind.

  “Since you insist Lieutenant Commander, you leave us no choice but to return power, to retain your team members forms, say goodbye to your men,” retorted Arkaran his men falling in with him and beginning their own powers against Tayces.

  Tayce unleashed a ball of pure white energy against the Arkaran Leader, she figured if she could take him down first, the others would follow. She then closed her eyes to concentrate on a much higher degree of power source within her, to withhold her own against the Arkarans. She concentrated on breaking the link between Lance and the Arkaran Leader and Marc and the Deputy Arkaran. Lance writhed in the torture as the Arkaran fought to hold onto his form, it was a full scale power struggle between Tayce, the Arkarans and separating the Amalthean members. Treketa and Donaldo walked into the bay, not believing what they were witnessing.

  “Give it up now Arkaran, give my officers back to me, or you will suffer in your own power struggle to an ultimate death,” warned Tayce in the commotion, her face taking on the look that conveyed she was using her highest degree of power.

  He refused to be intimidated by Tayce and her threats. He looked upon them as childish wishes of a naive beginner in dealing in powers. An Orange glow appeared and travelled towards the Arkarans from Tayce, she had gained the higher degree, she wanted to obtain. It enlarged as it neared them, they tried to fight back but for probably the first time in their lives, they were losing big time. Tayce found herself using every once of her power strength, just to gain what she wanted, she was not prepared to lose Lance or Marc at any cost. The Arkarans were failing in their power struggle and it began to slowly decline. Treketa couldn’t believe what she was seeing, Tayce use her powers so violently. The Orange immense power aura swallowed the Arkarans, bathing them in a brilliant almost blinding light. Suddenly, they and their ship vanished in that blinding light. Tayce dropped to the floor out cold, her power immediately diminished. Donaldo rushed forth with his Medic Emergency Kit, bending down next to Tayce. Marc was slowly trying to adjust to life back in his own body, once more. He couldn’t understand what he was doing in the Flight Hanger Bay, as the last thing he recalled was being in a meeting with the Arkarans. Lance who had been under the influence of the Arkaran leader the longest, stumbled. Treketa hurried over to quickly steady him and assure him that he was safe, back where he belonged.

  “Take it easy Tayce, that was some power feat you just pulled off,” said Donaldo softly down at her, as he began to check her over upon her coming to.

  “I’m fine, just give me a moment, see to the others,” she ordered.

  “You pulled off what you set out to accomplish, the Arkarans and their vessel are gone, both Marc and Lance are back,” informed Tom softly proud of her.

  Tom raised his Wristlink ordering Midge to get Amalthea out of orbit of Arkanoss, then go to Hyper Thrust Turbo. Midge could be heard agreeing.

  “Despite you all probably wanting to return to duty, I want all three of you to rest in your quarters for a while, that’s an order,” said Donaldo addressing Tayce, Lance and Marc.

  Marc crossed to Tayce, she wondered what he was going to say to her, considering she had volunteered his body to the Arkarans, much against his protest not to be part of them. She stood up. He paused before her for a moment giving her a plain look that was making her feel not quite sure of what he was going to say. Everyone fell silent around them, so much so that the atmosphere could have been cut with a Slazer knife wondering what was going to happen. He then reached out and pulled her into a warm hug and informed her jokingly if she ever did anything like that again, he’d throttle her. The experience was somewhat unnerving to say the least. He guided her on out of the Flight Hanger Bay, suggesting that he tell her, what life was like being part of an Arkaran. Tom followed on laughing to himself silently, Marc was going to teasingly make Tayce suffer. Lance and Treketa walked slowly on out behind to head off to his quarters, Donaldo had given him a Vit Boost to bring his system back to good normal strength and also a relaxant injection to aid him in his recovery. The bay was soon empty and silent once more, with just the Quests being the only vessels present. It was hard to imagine that the Arkarans had even been on board. But it was an experience that the Amalthean Team would not forget for a long time to come, Tayce especially had been taught a lesson she would not forget in a hurry, before going out on a whim to investigate, find out more first.

  The Arkarans were now on their home world, whether they would be accepted back was another thing. As far as the Amalthean Quests team were concerned, they really didn’t care but their encounter with the race would live on for some time to come in their memories.

  Generals End and a Newly Elected Chief

  The news had come as a total shock a weekon later for the Amalthean Quests Team, from Adam Carford at Questa via Satlelink. Jonathan Largon had been rushed as an emergency back into the Cardiac Complex with a severe heart attack again and was not expected not to survive. The team waited with uneasiness for the outcome. Lance found it hard to concentrate on his duty and it was understandable. Adam an houron later after the notification had been received over the Satlelink, came on screen. He looked like he was fighting back great sadness and looked ashen faced. He gathered himself together on what he was going to say to deliver the news he had to deliver. Tayce picked up on the way in which he was stuck for words, he felt totally awkward, she guessed it wasn’t good news. He began trying not to sound shocked and shaken.

  “It’s not good I’m afraid, the Generals in a critical condition, it’s serious this time, he’s asking to see Lance, could you come to Questa as soon as possible?” said Adam in a solemn tone.

  “Of course, we’re on our way, we will be there as soon as we can,” assured Tayce.

  She didn’t need to ask Midge to lay in the course to Questa, he was locking it in the moment Adam had requested if they could head to Questa. She turned to see that Lance had left his duty position and left Organisation, this meant one thing, he had taken the news badly, she figured he’d need her support. Leaving her seat she put Tom in command of getting them to Questa, explaining as she walked across Organisation that she was off to find and support Lance, she had a feeling he was taking the news badly. Tom nodded in total understanding and continued taking command in her absence. As he sat, strangely enough and quite out of the blue he, found the thoughts of the accident and death of Alenea his first wife, rushing into his mind how she had died so tragically. He quickly concentrated on the journey ahead, trying to forget what had just occurred. Telling himself he had a new life now with Tayce.

  Tayce as she made her way down the Levels Steps to find Lance, knew if the outcome was the death of his Father, it was going to be a real tear in Lances life and one where he was going to need a lot of support to pull him through. All she could do was be there as a friend, she thought. She Wristlinked Midge trying to find exactly where Lance was at that precise moment on board. Midge soon came back after searching Lances whereabouts, announcing that Lance was in his quarters. She hurried on there.

  Lance
stood looking out of the sight port, in the living area of his quarters, in thought. His Father worked too hard and everyone that knew him, had said as much, urging him to take more breaks. He wished he could somehow magically Transpot straight to his Father’s side, there and then. But it wasn’t possible, he just had to wait. God it hurt to think of the inevitable, that this was it, the end of the last relative he had and the end of the best man in charge of Questa. Tears swelled in his dark brown eyes and began to ebb down his face. The emotion was getting to much for him, his head was filled with the sole thought of his Father no longer being there for him to talk to, to confide in and someone to look up to when undertaking something complex on Questa. He crossed to the soffette and sat down putting his head in his hands. Thoughts raced through his mind past and present, one above them all was the fact that he was going to be the last known Largon alive. The quarters doors opened. Tayce entered to find the quarters lighting on the twilight mode.

  “Lance, it’s Tayce, are you in here, Midge said you were here?” she said walking fully into the silent interior.

  “I’m here, sorry for walking off duty, I just couldn’t stay hearing Adam talk about Father in such a solemn way, it’s bad isn’t it, tell me Tayce?” began Lance looking to her with tear stained eyes, fighting back the onslaught of the hurt.

  “We’ve no way of knowing yet, but I’ll be honest, it doesn’t look good this time,” replied Tayce understanding Lances sadness.

  “It feels so wrong, I feel so helpless, it’s not fair Tayce, he’s the last member of my family I’ve have,” he said looking at her deeply in pain of the fact he could lose his Father.

  “I’m here for you, you know that, come here,” said Tayce crossing quickly, she softly pulled Lance into a friendly hug of understanding support, as he broke down.

  “I’m sorry,” he said crying on her shoulder.

  “Don’t be, Duncan will take over your duty, whilst this is happening and I’m here for as long as you need me Tom’s in command and he understands where your coming from over this, he lost his wife at the beginning of this voyage he knows exactly what your suffering right now,” she replied reassuringly.

  “Tayce I feel so alone, the possible emptiness is unbelievable,” he said pulling away from her gently looking at her.

  “You’ll never be alone, of that you can be sure, we Trauns have always considered you as a member of our family too, you also have this team and we will be there for you and you know this deep down,” said Tayce in an soft assuring manner.

  “Thanks, it means a lot,” he replied managing a slight smile.

  “You know your Father may still pull through, he did the last time remember?” said Tayce.

  Tayce could see that he would not rest until his feet were on Questa and he was heading to be with Jonathan, maybe in the final hourons. She thought about if for a few cencrons and decided that even though they were travelling at Hyper Thrust Turbo speed, it would be a couple of hourons before they docked at Questa, so she decided to let him take her Quest Shuttle/fighter. Taking the de-locking key from her jacket pocket, she handed it to him.

  “Here, take my Quest we’ll join you just as soon as we can get there,” she said planting the square slim key in his hand and closing it.

  “Are you serious, I can’t take your Quest, it’s yours…?” he began surprised.

  “This is classed as an emergency, go before I change my mind, I don’t make a habit of lending it to anyone you know,” she replied light heartedly.

  “Your one in a million Tayce Traun, thanks!” he replied taking the de-locking key and reaching for his jacket he headed on out of the quarters.

  He paused briefly in the doorway for a minon, to tell her he’d see her later, then hurried on out. Tayce walked from the quarters slowly in thought about Jonathan, hoping that for Lances sake, he would somehow recover again, but if it meant Jonathan spending the rest of his dayons in pain and unable to live his life to the fullest, then the outcome that was meant to be, would be the right one. Her Mother crossed her thoughts and she wondered how she was coping with what had happened to Jonathan, it couldn’t be easy for her. After all it hadn’t been proven whether her Father, her Mother’s coupling partner had perished after the destruction of Traun and maybe he was still alive somehow, somewhere, in the Universe. Poor Mother thought Tayce, she and Jonathan were close friends and always had had a great relationship, it would be a wrench if anything happened to him for her. Once out of Lance’s quarters. Tayce walked up the Level Steps in thought on the way back to Organisation.

  Lance was soon manoeuvring the Quest up off the Hanger Bay floor. Once in position, he turned the Quest and shot off out the open Hanger Doors into deep space, using the highest degree of manoeuvring speed. Destination was Questa and the quicker he could get there, the better it was. Amalthea ebbed away behind him continuing on in the Hyper Thrust Turbo speed it was currently in. In a short period, Lance was gone off the scanner and out of orbital sight.

  On Questa the atmosphere was very sombre, with the news of General Largons sudden decline in health once more. Personnel were talking about it amongst themselves. Lydia Traun dressed in her long close fitting council robes of navy blue, with decorative white trim and stand up collar, entered the room where Jonathan was connected to the breathing and monitoring equipment silent. She had been allowed to see him briefly. He opened his eyes slowly, looking up at Lydia’s breathtaking beauty. She clasped his hand gently, hoping that he would hold out until Lance arrived.

  “Your a sight for sore eyes Lydia Traun, but you always were, Darius beat me to it you know,” he said with difficulty, teasing her.

  “Lance is on his way, Tom just informed me, he’s using Tayces new Quest Shuttle/fighter to get here ahead of everyone else, Tayce is following on behind,” informed Lydia in soft caring tone.

  “He’s a son to be proud of Lydia, if anything happens to me, promise you’ll be there for him,” asked Jonathan in a sincere way.

  “You have my word, I promise, I’ll treat him like he was my own,” replied Lydia feeling the hurt of seeing her friend in such a frail way.

  She sat on the stool that a young female nurse had brought her. She would stay by Jonathan’s side until Lance had arrived to be by his Father instead. The young nurse moved around checking Jonathan’s equipment. The male Medical Officer in charge of Jonathan, who was an extremely experienced in cardiac knowledge and had been handed his case to take on, was present and he was far from impressed at Jonathan being back before his team in his cardiac section, through no fault of his own. Lydia glanced at him, understanding his displeasure. ‘Morganforn’ was his name on his uniform Lapel badge and underneath the words, CARDIAC CONSULTANT GRADE 1. This thought Lydia meant he was top of his field and it also meant one thing. This was serious this time around. He shook his head in an impatient way. Lydia stood, walking over to meet him on the far side of room, as he studied the latest computer notes, out of earshot of Jonathan.

  “Mr Morganforn I’m Councillor Traun, how bad is he really?” she asked softly, giving the consultant her full attention.

  “Councillor, I’m afraid it’s not good news and it’s all his own fault, he’s not expected to make it through the night hourons I’m afraid,” replied the Consultant softly and quietly to her.

  “His son Lance will be here soon, he’s coming all the way from Amalthea One,” expressed Lydia hoping that at least Jonathan could hold out until then.

  “We’ll keep an eye out for his arrival, nurse make sure that when General Largons son arrives, he is to be shown in immediately,” ordered the Consultant.

  “Yes sir of course sir,” replied the young female nurse, in an understanding tone.

  She finished running her final checks and suggested that with Mr Morganforns approval, as Councillor Traun was known to both the General and his son, she remain present whilst she t
ook a brief break until the Generals son arrived. Mr Morganforn thought about if for a moment, then looked to Lydia in a questioning way. Lydia nodded agreeably. It was settled. She crossed back to Jonathan’s side, whilst the young nurse went for her break. As she walked from the room so she passed Adam Carford walking in. Mr Morganforn turned.

  “Mr Carford, only one person at a time with the General please!” he began.

  “I won’t be long, I wanted a word with Councillor Traun here,” said Adam discretely.

  Mr Morganforn nodded in understanding. Adam calmly and discretely enquired how Jonathan was doing, to Lydia. He at this moment opened his eyes and looked up at his loyal assistant questioningly.

  “I’m not gone yet Adam, is there a problem?” he asked, as if he was still on duty.

  “General sir, I for one, am glad that you still are and I hope that your here for a long time to come yet Questa would be lost without you, you don’t have to worry about problems, Questa is as usual running well and I have taken care of all the things that you asked me to take care of earlier,” said Adam sounding like the real reliable aide that he was.

  “Very well…” replied Jonathan drifting back into a sleeping state.

  Both Lydia and Adam moved away from Jonathan to talk discretely on the far side of the vast room, fit for a General. But not to far away just in case Jonathan would pass away suddenly. Both looked back at him occasionally saddened at what was unfolding before them. It had appeared and was well known, that even though Jonathan was generally a strong man, deep down after the sudden horrific death of his late wife, it put a great strain on his heart from the effect of the shock of losing her so suddenly. As they had been together since childhood, back when the Universe was a lot more dangerous and crime was a way of life just to scrape by for some. But Jonathan had been brought up by decent parents and what he saw, had made him more determined, that his headquarters base would up hold the law and make it a pleasant place to stay, work and also travel through. Both Adam and Lydia knew that the loss of Jonathan Largon would signify a great change for the whole base and it’s run of things. Lydia wondered if Lance, would turn out to be like Jonathan in leadership one dayon, she hoped so.