Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  Down in the Questa Arrival and Departure Area, Lance climbed from Tayces Quest and glanced around as he locked it up. It was busy he thought, watching the many people and aliens passing through and heading aboard flights of various shapes and sizes. Once he’d locked the Quest he headed off. There was a certain eerie silence in the air. That he put down to his Father’s possible demise, many people on Questa respected his Father and thought a lot of him, for the things he had done for them in making the base proud to work and live on. As he went people that knew him as Jonathan Largons son, expressed their sympathy and assured him they were around should he need a friend, someone to talk to. Lance politely thanked them, as some were old friends of his Father, some were even his own friends, before he left Questa for Amalthea One. He crossed over to the moving stealex steps that would take him to the City Level and would take him the shortest walk to the Medical Health Complex. He glanced at his Wristlink time display as he headed up the moving steps that ascended to the next Level. He’d made good flying time. Something suddenly down deep in the heart of him egged him on quicker, as if he could sense his Father was calling out to him to hurry. He crossed to the Medical Health Complex in shear urgency, narrowly escaping collision with other people on route. Passing through the glassene and stealex doors, with the same urgency, he was pleased to see that Adam had received his message and was waiting for him.

  “Where is he Adam?” began Lance as he walked towards him.

  “Follow me, he’s through here,” said Adam beginning away towards the room where Jonathan was laying.

  “How is he really Adam, the truth?” demanded Lance as he walked with him.

  “Straight, it’s not good,” replied Adam, he knew that Lance hated a sugary version of telling things to soften the blow, if it was bad news, it was bad news and he wanted to hear it as it was.

  Both men rounded the far end of the corridor corner and came to the double doors, that were the entrance to the room where his Father lay. Lance upon reaching the doors, drew a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He found that he was beginning to feel really strange, at the thought, his Father was near to death the other side of the entrance. He entered leaving Adam outside. Lydia inside stood giving him a reassuring and understanding smile, to try and make him see she knew what he was going through. They both hugged and Lydia then informed him, she’d be around if he should need her. Lance nodded, then walked on to his Father’s frail side. Jonathan held out his hands to him, glad he had made it in time. Lance quickly took hold of Jonathan’s hands and came to sit down on the stool by his bunk. He tried to hide the pain that he felt inside at seeing his Father the way he was, ashen and near to death. It hurt like nothing he could describe. He fought back the tears. He had decided to tell him of the last Quest the team had endured, he figured that even though his Father was near to death, he would enjoy hearing the latest great feat, the Amalthean Quests team had pulled off. He began and found his Father listening with fighting interest.

  Outside Lydia turned to look at the doors to Jonathan’s room. She could hear Lance explaining the last Quest. She thanked God he had made it, to be by his Father’s side in the final moments that there were. Adam crossed suggesting that maybe she should have some refreshment, as she had had nothing since first light that mornet before the Council Meeting, when Jonathan’s trouble had struck suddenly. Lydia knew that Adam was trying to look after her and agreed, she walked with him on to the Refreshments Hall, but whether she would be able to eat, was another thing, thinking about what the outcome would be for Jonathan.

  Mr Morganforn entered back into the room, as the silent alarm had sounded no sooner had he left the room earlier. He asked Lance for a discrete word. Lance agreed standing to his feet, he crossed with the Consultant to the other side of the room, where Morganforn explained that his Father had not taken the advice in taking things easy, hence his current condition, but there was something that he figured Lance should know, that had come to light. His Father’s latest heart trouble had been brought on by an extreme heated argument in the chambers earlier, but what over his Father wouldn’t divulge. Lance listened with great interest as he knew his Father to be one that never lost his patience, he was an extremely placid man. Jonathan behind them began going into the final moments before death. He called Lance with great difficulty in his voice and began going into the wheezing difficult to breath stage. Lance hurried to take hold of his Father hand and sit by his side for one last time.

  “I’m right here Father,” said Lance fighting back the tears of shear uncontrollable emotion.

  “Lance my son, your now the last known Largon, I’m proud of you, serve Tayce well, she and Lydia will be like a family to you now, be good^e,” said Jonathan then he faded again for the last time.

  “I’m sorry Lance, he’s in the final decline, there’s nothing more we can do,” said Morganforn in an apologetic tone putting a comforting hand on Lances shoulder.

  “I want to know one thing?” asked Lance resting his Father’s hand back down on the bunk.

  “Of course what is it?” asked Morganforn giving Lance his full attention.

  “Why couldn’t he have had a new heart?” asked Lance, he found it strange that his Father hadn’t been offered one.

  “Your Father’s organs surrounding his heart were too badly damaged, believe me Lance when I say, we advised your Father on his health many times, but you know what he was like, more than anyone, he was too stubborn for his own good and neglected his health a lot, sorry to say this, but he was his own destructive force,” said Morganforn calmly and as gently as he could, he did not want to offend Lance.

  “Dad, why didn’t you listen?” said Lance turning back to Jonathan now gone.

  Lance broke down, just as the young nurse that had been helping in Jonathan’s care, entered the room. She glanced to Lance and then the still lifeless form of Jonathan Largon and felt Lances sorrow. She felt a certain sinking feeling in her own heart, Jonathan Largon had always been a good kind and understanding man, he would be missed. Lance stood to his feet tears showing clearly on his face, the hurt beyond all reason in his brown eyes. He slowly subconsciously turned to his Father. Looking at him for one last time.

  “Bye Father, say hello to Mother for me,” said Lance fighting another onslaught of emotional tears.

  He walked away under the caring eyes of Mr Morganforn and the young nurse out of the room into the corridor. The founder and first leader of the Questa Headquarters Base, was gone he thought and everything good had gone with his Father, as he walked towards the open area balcony and looked to the wide open area beneath on the next level. He fought hard not to let go of the emotions, that were tugging at his heart making him cave in to tears, clouding his vision. He shook his head to try and fight the strong emotional loss. He didn’t care if someone saw him, it didn’t matter, people that knew what had been unfolding in the last hourons, would put two and two together and understand.

  “Lance!” said a familiar female voice coming up behind him.

  He turned to see Tayce, looking at him in a questioning way. Then she read his face and could see all that she wanted to know. Jonathan was gone. She opened her arms in a true understanding way. Lance walked into them, glad she was there. She knew what it was like to be going through what he was suffering, at that moment and she knew also, he was hurting beyond control. She reassured him again, that she and the team were there for him. He suddenly let go off all the hurt inside, pouring his heart out on her shoulder once more. Tayce let him go ahead, she realised that no one more than Lance, loved his Father the way he did and that special bond was now broken of Father and son forever. After a few minons Tayce let him go.

  “I felt that something was wrong when I arrived and ran on ahead of the others, leaving Tom and Marc to take care of final procedures, security gave me a bit of a funny look, running, but I didn’t care, I had this burning feelin
g that all was not right,” she explained.

  “Thanks for the loan of your Quest Shuttle/fighter, it gave me time to get here and spend time with him, before he said went,” said Lance upset, holding back the tears with difficulty.

  “Your welcome, my Quest is faster than the others in the fleet, I specifically asked for a faster model, I’m glad you made it on time,” said Tayce studying him.

  “I can’t believe this has happened,” said Lance not believing, what had occurred in the last hourons.

  The doors to Jonathan’s room opened and the medical internment team began out with Jonathan’s body. Without warning it seemed like everything had suddenly gone very silent in the section and throughout the base. All noise around the area became deathly quiet, as if the whole base seemed to know that Jonathan Largon had gone never to return. Lance watched his Father leave for the last time, feeling the sudden emptiness as he passed on the Hover Trans Bunk, off to be prepared for the final ceremony of his life. Adam Carford and Lydia walked into view, both looked shocked at what they were witnessing. Both shook their heads at the loss. Adam forgot protocol and put an understanding arm around Lydia’s shoulders to comfort her, as she had tears forming in her eyes. Treketa also soon came into view, she was surprised to see what was happening, she immediately crossed to Lance with support in mind as a friend, which he was glad of. Tayce crossed to her Mother, she couldn’t believe Jonathan had gone so quickly.

  “I think we better head to what was Jonathan’s Officette, have you told the others where to meet us?” asked Lydia quietly.

  “No, I just left Tom and Marc when I felt that something was wrong and Lance needed me,” replied Tayce.

  “I’ll arrange everything for the General with our new assistant Aidan at the Officette, Lance won’t need to worry about a thing, please tell him all will be taken care of, as his Father asked me to do this on his behalf, recently, after his last belt of heart trouble,” explained Adam lightly.

  “I’ll contact the others, just to tell them where we’re heading on to,” suggested Tayce turning away to Wristlink Tom, to tell him what had happened and where they would be.

  Tayce discreetly raised her Wristlink calling Tom on route as they all began away from the Cardiac Area of the Medical Health Complex off to what would now be termed as the Generals once Officette, until a new replacement could be found, to run the whole of Questa. They passed people who quickly offered their sincere sympathy and condolences to Lance at his loss of such a wonderful man, his Father. Workers in all aspects of Questonian life who knew Jonathan and Lance and respected them, acknowledged Lance with a smile and a reassuring nod. Once out of the Medical Health Complex area, they headed on across the square, enduring more sympathetic sincerities along the way, until they could see a vacant Vacuum Lift much to Lances relief. Lydia, Treketa and Tayce watched Lance concerned under great strain. They soon boarded the lift and were ascending to the Level where Jonathan’s Officette was situated. Tayce thought about the first time when she had arrived on Questa and how Jonathan had made her very welcome, it was a shame that he would no longer be around, she thought. As the lift stopped on the destined level, everyone walked out the opening doors. The others were waiting for them, from the cruiser. Adam lead the way on into the Officette. Tom glanced at Lance, not quite knowing what to say, he understood his loss and what he was going through at that moment though, as he himself had been through just as much pain when Alenea died. Tayce followed on upon meeting Tom, falling in behind with the team. They soon walked through the opening doors into what was Jonathan’s Officette. It felt strange, there was a certain deathly stillness, that hung in the air. Aidan Lord, newly appointed Assistant to Jonathan and Adam, in the Business section, stepped forth offering his extreme condolences. Lance accepted his words with a sorrowful nod, walking to the nearest seat sitting down. Adam gestured for everyone else to be seated. Lydia having temporary authority now that Jonathan had gone. It had been something Jonathan had made a condition, in the event should anything happen to him that Lydia would have immediate authority to take care of matters until a new replacement for his position could be found and recruited. Began giving orders to Adam and Aidan.

  “Aidan you will be requested to take any orders as necessary, regarding ceremonial internment preparations from Adam here, when all is taken care of report back to me, with the final time and place,” ordered Lydia in a true soft spoken tone of command.

  “Would you like me to assist Aidan?” asked Adam as he could see that Aidan was looking unsure of what he was requested to do, as he had informed Lydia earlier, that he would take care of everything, but she had decided otherwise.

  “No, I want you here to help me, you know what Jonathan put in place, should this situation unfold, you are to become my right hand man, in this instance,” said Lydia straight she felt it was time Aidan did things on his own.

  Adam nodded. Tayce looked at her Mother and recalled something that her Father had once said, when she was in her teens, that her Mother could quite easily take command in any situation should the reason for it arise. Adam stood by patiently waiting for his first orders, he was quite happy to become assistant to Lydia, as Jonathan had told him, tread carefully and she would treat him fairly. Lydia soon after her orders of what she wanted him to undertake, left him to continue, while she talked with Tayce and the team. Tayce crossed over to her, she could see that this wasn’t going to be easy for her Mother, to adjust to.

  “Mother, are you going to be all right?” she asked concerned.

  “Yes I’ll be fine, as unexpected as this situation is, it’s something Jonathan has been training me up for, so even though I know I’m going to find it difficult to start with, until a replacement can be found, it will be strange but rewarding,” replied Lydia assuringly.

  Treketa crossed and sat by a sorrowful looking Lance, putting a friendly arm around his shoulders. Marc grabbed a cup of Coffeen handing it to Lance, suggesting he drink something, he hadn’t had anything earlier so he’d been told. Lance accepted it with a nod of thanks, then began to drink the refreshing beverage. Marc headed back to the refreshments tray, that had been brought in to get himself a cup of refreshing Coffeen, asking if anyone else wanted one at the same time.

  “Listen up everyone, one thing Jonathan did put into place was the written promise that in the event of what has happened, the Amalthean Quests are perfectly safe, so there is no threat at present of them taking the success of crime fighting away from any of you,” explained Lydia.

  “That’s great news Mother,” said Tayce greatly relieved at the fact, she was not about to lose the Amalthean Quests voyage at the present time anyway.

  Lydia suggested that as they were all required to remain on the base for the internment, then it would be wise to use this out of space time, as shore leave. Tayce didn’t like the idea of her Mother telling her team what to do, but on this occasion she would allow it. She agreed and the team split up heading on out under the words from herself, to stay out of trouble. Lance remained behind with Tayce, Tom and Lydia, there was much to do.

  Two dayons later Questa Headquarters Base continued on in morning over the unexpected death of Jonathan Largon. In ‘Q’ City Square, black flags hung that had replaced the Questa colourful ones, in honour of the occasion. Many personnel walked around with black or grey arm bands on, in respect of the dayon. It was the mornet of the internment, Questa was having what was classed as a ‘Break Dayon’, where only the few personnel worked. Enabling others to attend the ceremony of Jonathan and pay their respects. The Docking Bay doors on Amalthea opened. Tayce walked forth with Tom on her arm, dressed in a black close fitting suit. The whole team as they ferried out, were dressed in dark colours of some sort, as a mark of respect to the founder of Amalthean Quests and Questa. Lance walked with Donaldo and Treketa. Tayce had suggested to Donaldo that he should keep an eye on Lance, as there was no telling which way
his shock was going to surface, considering it hadn’t surfaced as yet and he was bottling it up. Everyone walked through the Arrival and Departure Area, to meet up with Lydia in the square, with Adam and Aidan. It could be seen that it was going to be an elaborate affair, even as sad as it was. Both male and female delegates that knew Jonathan on the planetary council were heading to the Ceremonial Hall. The team followed on behind the delegates to be greeted by the sight of Jonathan’s silver lead casket, ahead of them down the isle to the front area of the Hall. Tayce glanced to Lance and then Donaldo, watching understandingly the way Lance was feeling. There was a seating area up both sides of the isle, with elaborate displays of flowers around here and there, in colours befitting for the occasion. Tayce suggested the team go and find seats. She paused to speak to Adam who was walking in.

  “Is everything all right, no questions needing answers?” he asked discretely as he approached her.

  “I’d like to say a few words about Jonathan, if I may, is that possible?” asked Tayce.

  “Of course, I’ll call you up when it’s time,” replied Adam agreeably.

  Empress Tricara acknowledged the teams presence, as she gracefully entered the Hall. She like others who knew Jonathan on a personnel basis, offered her condolences to Lance, then headed on to the front to take up her seat. Time slipped by in waiting for all the mourners to arrive, that were going to arrive. Finally the almost floor to ceiling doors to the Hall closed. An uncanny Silence filled the air and after a few minons Adam walked down the centre isle to the front. He bowed in respect of Jonathan, before his Casket then moved to one side, to wait to go and pick Tayce out for her speech later