by Jeri Dion
Jan, Tayce and Marc soon arrived at the main entrance into the Central Point of the hideout. Vargons new operations section, thought Tayce. As the entrance was sealed shut, so both Marc and Jan open fired on the door mechanism panel. The doors gave and slid back into the wall, each side. All three were met by another wall of more outlaws, that had doubled as operatives. Jans men quickly fell in and backed up Tayce, Marc and Jan in firepower. Before more operatives could leave their consoles and join in protecting their mistress, namely Vargon. Jans men rushed forth inside and aimed their guns, almost bearing down on the remaining operatives mid rise from their seats, quite prepared to kill if they had to.
“I wondered how long it would take you to come down from the surface, you’ve brought guests and he’s quite handsome, isn’t he?” said Vargon walking forth summoning Jan up interested.
Jan gave Vargon a cold uninterested look, that conveyed just what he was thinking, that she was no more than a poisonous pathetic woman. Sallen walked in with Treketa in front of her, with a gun aimed at Treketas head with Lance, Duncan and one of Jan’s officers following in pursuit. Sallen walked to the centre of the large white chamber, turned and pushed Treketa before her Mother.
“Look what I found Mother, the one person I’ve been dying to meet,” said Sallen keeping her gun aimed on Treketa.
So young woman, you thought you would out smart my daughter, wrong!” said Vargon and she struck Treketa across the face with force almost sending her to the ground.
Tayce fought back the strong urge to use her powers on Sallen and bring her to her knees in retaliation for her Mother’s actions to Treketa, because she wanted to find out what Vargon was up to, this time around before Jan and his men took over the whole set up.
“Tell me Vargon, what’s this all for, it’s pretty elaborate even for you, hoping to build another empire?” asked Tayce sarcastically.
“So what if I am Traun?” replied Vargon coldly.
“We can’t allow it this time, your under arrest by order of Questa Headquarters Base, for escaping during trial and you can come peacefully or be terminated here were you stand,” spoke up Jan, in the true tone of security representation of Questa.
“Ha! You think your orders effect me man, you see I’m beyond Questa boundaries of being apprehended, so you’ve wasted your time, you have no rights here, so leave before I show you the kind of treatment I give to unwelcome visitors, that goes for you to Traun,” replied Vargon.
But what she said fell on deaf ears, Jan was not the kind of man to be intimidated and as far as boundaries went, this woman had violated them more than once it meant nothing. The next move he made surprised Tayce and the Amalthean Quest team. He aimed his Slazer in a point blank aim at Vargon, setting it to stun, he ordered her abruptly to comply or die. The air was filled with deadly silence. Vargon looked at the gun and then Jan, she did not know if the gun was on stun, or disintegrate. Jan knew that he may be reprimanded himself for this actions, but when he’d thought about the many of innocent lives Vargon had taken, he didn’t care, he was taking this bitch back to Questa either living or dead. Vargon began to walk away in thought. Tayce could sense that something of great proportion was about to come forth from her and did. She turned to face Jan with a deadly dark look in her eyes, she unleashed her power on him. Tayce without thought blocked her with her own powers, as the flaming ball of pure energy emitted from Vargons right hand Tayce dived and blocked it, with her own power, to Jans surprise. The gun he was holding went off and brought down ceiling above them.
“As usual Vargon you want to play power games, well play them with me,” said Tayce in front of Jan and using her own energy, to reverse the Countesses sudden continuous power throws.
“Go ahead Traun, you will diminish long before me,” retaliated Vargon.
Tayce laughed to herself, as she knew that Vargon was not aware that since they had last met, she had been trained by Empress Tricara to make her power strikes count. A battle of two forces commenced between Vargon and Tayce, each one unleashing what they felt towards the other. Jan was speechless that Tayce possessed such a power in the first place, he had to remember never to get on the wrong side of her, ever! Little by little for the first time and much to the delight of the rest of the Amalthean Quests team Tayce was winning against Vargon. Marc dropped back and walked from the central point of the hideout. Once out of sight he raised his Wristlink and contacted Midge on Amalthea, he wanted to find out, if in fact Vargon had been telling the truth about the boundary aspect.
“Midge check and see if this planet is out of Questa patrol space for apprehension, now please!”
“Checking now, what’s happening down there?” asked Midge interested.
“Tayce is giving Vargon a lesson in powers, she won’t forget,” replied Marc.
Quite suddenly as he waited, he heard a piercing scream and it didn’t sound like it had come from Tayce. He stayed out of the way, letting whatever was going on in the Central Point continue. Midge came back with the most interesting information.
“According to Questa scan of the universal area, Genuslan 2 is just inside the boundary for law enforcement but according to the Countesses charts, she is as usual making boundaries to fit her purpose,” replied Midge.
“Thanks mate, I owe you one,” said Marc signing off.
Marc knew they had got Vargon. As usual she had been bending the rules to fit her own gotten gains like Midge had said. Now they had something to call her bluff. He headed back into the Central Point to a sight that he was not expecting to see, Vargon under arrest by two of Jans officers, looking somewhat drained of life. She looked totally power drained. The operatives she had ruled, were all dead. As he glanced to Treketa so he was glad to see the sight he was seeing and that was, Sallen in a strong much enjoyed grip of Treketa and she was not prepared to let her go. She threw a pleased look in Marc’s direction. Tayce was coming back to normality, from the powerful onslaught under the concerned and watchful eye of Donaldo.
“Officer Barnford should there be another occasion which I hope there won’t be, think twice when going head to head with this bitch,” said Tayce seriously looking to him, then at Vargon.
“Sorry I guess I didn’t take in what you told me about her, but thank you, you saved my life, I won’t forget it,” said Jan grateful giving her smile.
“You might be interested to know, Vargon here has been moving the space boundaries, to suit her unlawful dealings,” explained Marc.
“That doesn’t surprise me, okay James take the daughter as well,” ordered Jan to his officer now holding Sallen in a tight force field restraining grip.
“Yes sir, move!” ordered the young brown haired officer, taking Sallen, shoving her forth in a rough manner.
“I’m going to seal this place down, so that if she does the unmentionable and escapes, she won’t be able to return and take up where she left off again,” said Jan glancing around, as he stood with Tayce and Marc.
He left Marc and Tayce walking away to organise the explosives to be placed where they would do the most damage. He then sauntered on out into the outside cavernous tunnels. Sallen was led away struggling and protesting by two security officers. Treketa, as she passed Sallen in leaving the hideout, gave her a pleased spiteful look. Tayce caught up with Jan and enquired as to what would happen to Vargon this time around? He explained that she would be brought before the High Court, for Planetary Matters and before her Mother Chief Traun, where she would either decide to terminate her life, or send her to a confinement colony that she would not escape so easily from, as for Sallen, her future was uncertain. One thing was for sure she would be brought before trial for helping a criminal to escape hearing, even though it was her own Mother.
“What would be her penalty?” asked Tayce.
“They’ll treat this as a first offence, despite what we think about it, she�
�ll probably walk free unless your Mother has other ideas of what she wants done with her, she could send her to a mind correction colony where they will wipe her mind of evil thoughts and give her a new identity,” explained Jan.
“If I know Mother, considering what Vargons done to us, she won’t be able to contain her judgement over what punishment she’ll unleash on her,” said Tayce knowing whatever sentence Vargon was handed down, it would not repay what she did to her people of Traun, the innocent lives that were lost unnecessarily.
Jan suggested they get going, as all the explosives were set. The Amalthean Quest team and Jans officers began briskly walking back to the surface. Jan announced that he had discovered one thing, that was going on in the hideout when one of his men had questioned, one of the operatives before he was killed, that Vargon was planning to wipe out Questa Headquarters Base. Tayce gave a look of sheer shock, but she could believe it, considering what she did to Traun, her home world.
Once on the surface Jan shook hands with Tayce and Marc, expressing it had been a good success to the Quest in hand. then headed off to his vessel to leave the surface. Tayce began procedures to recall the Quests from space. In no time at all both teams had gone from the surface of Genuslan 2 leaving it to the detonation of the specially placed explosive devices.
The two teams made it off Genuslan 2 just in time, as the planet surface began to rock from the explosions going off below surface, so much so, it was becoming unstable. Trees up rooted and the destruction of the hideout began, hence the burial of Vargons material forever in dirt and fire. Tayce before heading back to Amalthea behind the team, paused outside in the Universe.
“This is one time you failed miserably Vargon,” she said pleased at what had occurred
She watched the planet falling apart at the seams then put her Quest in forward motion and headed on behind everyone else back to the cruiser.
Blunder Over the Empress
Marc was in Organisation, he was working on Midge, as after the onslaught with the outlaws Vargon had teamed up with had fired on the cruiser, one of the shots had fried his on board temperature setting circuitry. One moment the team were dressing for Siberia, the next they were stripping off, as the temperature headed for the tropics. Marc had conversed with Jamie Balthansar back at Questa, on what to do and was trying in the somewhat difficult temperatures to restore normality. Tayce entered the deck, still feeling elated that she had almost killed Vargon in the power struggle. She crossed the deck with an up to date report from Lydia on Questa, over the decision of what was to happen to Vargon, after all. Marc upon seeing her approach slid out from under the console. He had to hear the latest and figured Midge wouldn’t mind waiting just a bit longer to restore normal atmosphere. It had been almost a weekon since they had left Genuslan 2 behind in ruins. It was that time on board when duties that had been shelved for the Quest, had to be undertaken to keep the cruiser running smoothly. Tayce began reading the update, as the team members around her gave her their full attention. Countess Vargon much to their delight was on her way under a close guarded patrol team to a confinement colony where she would remain for the rest of her natural evil life. Marc gave a cheer then went back to repairing Midge. Tayce continued.
“Sallen because it’s her first offence and the fact that most of her evil duties were thrust upon her by Vargon, is being sent to a Mind Correction Colony for a period of six monthons.”
“Maybe she’ll come back a much better person,” replied Lance.
“She’ll be a changed person, the life of crime Vargon forced on her to endure, will no longer exist I’ve heard of the mind wipe procedure, they programme your mind with a new existence, some say you come back with a new identity,” explained Tayce.
“It’s what she needs, a fresh start,” spoke up Marc finishing his repair.
Midge broke the moment as he still had communication facility, by announcing that there was an incoming message. Tayce crossed to the control seat, ordering him to play it, when it had been fully received. After a few minons the Sight Screen flashed into life and Empress Tricara appeared.
“Tayce I’m on my way to rendezvous with you, I’d like you to escort me, to a seminar of importance which is to be held on the colony world of Trinott, I have clearance from your Mother, to ask you to do this for me, it’s a planetary matters seminar, I need security protection, that I know and I can trust, I’ll see you soon,” said Tricara signing off.
“Why should she want us, surely Jan Barnford could have found someone trustworthy of escorting her,” said Tayce, somewhat puzzled that the Empress had not asked Jan.
“Maybe there’s more to it, she’ll obviously tell you more when she arrives,” spoke up Tom.
Tayce wondered if there was an ulterior motive behind the Empress wanting her and the team as chaperones? Was it a top secret meeting and still something left over from the dayons of Tristarcus that she felt she couldn’t trust anyone finding out about, only herself? Was the reason for asking for her help also down to someone threatening her because of this meeting and she only felt safe by using the Amalthean Quests team? Whatever the reason, she would be there for Tricara, as she had always been there for her, whatever the situation and especially recently when she had helped with her power training. Tom looked up from his seat, he could see she was worried, he stood and walked to her side. He reached out and squeezed her upper arm reassuringly.
“You worry to much, it might not be anything to concern yourself about, wait and see,” he discretely said in a whisper, then leaned in to kiss her gently on the cheek.
“I know I seem worried, but we don’t know what’s still lingering from her dayons of being on Tristarcus maybe there’s an issue that has to be sorted by Tricara, she feels she can’t divulge to much about, because it could be considered life threatening, she’s a good person Tom and I’ll do anything to protect her, she’s done a lot of good things in this Universe and helped my parents and me in the past,” said Tayce looking directly at him.
“I agree she’s a good friend, all you can do is just wait and see, that’s all,” replied Tom in understanding soft tone.
Tayce nodded, then walking onto Lances position, to request he find everything he could on the colony world of Trinott. Lance nodded in agreement, getting straight on with the request. Tom sat back down in the Control seat in thought. He silently had to admit, that he was finding the fact of Tricara wanting to use the team instead of Questa Security somewhat strange. Because Questa Security were trained in situations to protect people like the Empress, at any cost, but maybe Tayce was right, there was a threat made against her over the unfinished business, regarding Tristarcus and she figured she could only trust someone she knew would protect her at this so called seminar and could sense trouble before it unfolded, also Tayce being gifted was something she was relying on in her being assisted. He silently didn’t like this situation, it could get any of them killed, or injured, because of the very idea. But what Tayce decided, went, he would have to watch how everything unfolded and step in with his thoughts and warning advice, should he see trouble arising from what they were required to do.
Empress Tricara two hourons later, came along side in a Questa Private Launch. Tayce waited at the Docking Bay doors with Tom. The doors soon drew apart and Tricara walked aboard dressed in a close fitting silkene mauve long skirt suit. She looked truly breathtakingly regal. She looked at Tom upon coming to a stop and was reading his thoughts on why she was there, but quickly brushed them aside hugging Tayce. The young Private Launch courier handed Tom Tricara’s holdall and silver attaché case, turning he headed back aboard the Private Launch, the Docking Bay doors closing behind him. Tricara began explaining why she had announced her ask for help, at such short notice, as they walked along the corridor.
“Firstly Tom I must apologise, I read your thoughts when I arrived, you have nothing to worry about getting any of this team o
r Tayce injured or killed, that’s the last thing I intend to do, the reason I want all your help is, it all started after the destruction of Tristarcus, meetings and seminars that I would generally attend and were considered part of my every dayon existence, were suddenly ignoring my request to be there, I found that I was not being included in the guest lists of some of the most important ones, that would not have thought twice of not inviting me, because of who I am, they also made decisions behind my back, which they have no rights to do, I still hold the vote to have a say on behalf of Tristarcus, even though it’s no longer in existence, I’m still classed, or should be classed as the sole leader,” explained Tricara.
“You don’t think it’s just a genuine case of them thinking you perished along with your people of Tristarcus, after all, when Traun was destroyed no one knew I existed apart from Jonathan Largon and he had to search for Amalthea still being even in space?” asked Tayce carefully.
“No! At first I would have agreed with you, but I’ve been receiving threatening communications for me to stay away from any seminars and decline voting as once ruler of Tristarcus. If I valued my life, most of the threats were untraceable and the ones I did try to trace, they went into nothing,” continued Tricara.
“Covered their path well then?” said Tom cutting in.
“Quite! Well this seminar on Trinott gives me the chance to find out just who is behind these threats,” said Tricara.
