Amalthean Quests One

by Jeri Dion

  “Don’t you think it’s dangerous to attend this seminar, if someone is determined to stop you, this could be the one they try to carry out that threat at, I for one do not want to lose you,” said Tayce pausing in alarm at what Tricara was contemplating.

  “And you won’t, I will not be intimidated Tayce, you know this in the past, that’s why I want your help, I’d like you to go with me take a team if you have too, I want to discover who this being is, who is carrying out the threats against me and if they see that I am not travelling alone they’ll not attempt what they say they will and maybe we can catch them once and for all.”

  Tayce didn’t like this idea, as far as she was concerned Tricara was deliberately placing her life in danger, just to prove that she was not going to be intimidated by a mere threat. They had to find a way to protect her from harm, considering she was determined to do. What she wanted to do. But what? Tom suggested they get under way for Trinott. Tayce nodded in agreement. He handed her Tricara’s things, then hurried on ahead back up the steps to Level 1, whilst Tayce and Tricara walked onto Guests Quarters, where Lydia had stayed last time she had been on board.

  A while later Marc entered the Organisation Deck having completed the final checks on Midges running repairs, he had made sure that the temperature was what it should be, for a comfortable living and working environment, instead of more like Siberia then the tropics. Everything checked out, much to both Marc’s and the teams relief. Donaldo was concerned that the way the temperatures were going on board, that the team would catch a cold virus, that could prove fatal. Marc was glad, he didn’t have to have Donaldo screaming in his right ear any more, on when was he going to get the temperature on board regulated. The course was set for Trinott colony/world. Duncan and Lance were in discussion on how they had to agree with Tayce, who was now, back in the Meeting Centre with the Empress, that it was madness for such a highly thought after and well respected woman, such as the Empress was, to contemplate putting her life in danger, just to prove the fact she was still alive and was not going to be intimidated over the fact, she still had the right to vote for her own planetary realm of Tristarcus, even though it wasn’t there. Still it didn’t matter what they thought, there would be no changing the Empresses mind. All they could do was attend the seminar, which was to prove interesting and protect her as best they could, from the person making the threats. Duncan’s fingers keyed in a sequence to make sure that whoever had it in for the Empress, was not trailing them, waiting their chance.

  “Where’s Tom?” asked Marc curious.

  “In with the Empress and Tayce,” replied Lance running, checks for any unsuspecting trouble on their journey.

  Marc on this sauntered up the three steps and entered in through the open doors. Tricara stood and turned delighted to see him as usual, both hugged in greeting. Marc had heard about what had been happening and the fact that she was prepared to put her life in danger, just to make a point. Upon parting he walked around the meeting table and casually perched on the edge.

  “We’re heading to Trinott for a seminar and exhibition on Planetary Needs and Spacial Requirements which includes a display on the latest weaponry and equipment, for medical and safety in space, I’m taking us all not only as a matter of interest, but as back up protection to Tricara here, it will also give you Marc a chance to see what’s on offer, Midge will be in charge whilst we’re on Trinott,” said Tayce in the true tone of leader.

  “I’m in total agreement with that,” said Marc nodding.

  “Maybe we can find something that could protect Tricara, like some kind of invisible portable force, so that should one of us not be near when this being decides to take a good shot at her, it will protect her,” asked Tayce to Marc.

  “What now, or at the seminar?” asked Marc.

  “Now please,” replied Tayce.

  “Sure I think I can find something,” said Marc thinking already on what he might be able to come up with.

  He stood at the end of the meeting and casually walked on out tossing over in his mind, ideas of such a protection device, that could surround the Empress at a minons notice if called for. Tayce walked on out back into Organisation to find out what Lance had found out about Trinott, as not only had she suggested he keep an eye out for pirates during their journey, owing to the area of space they were journeying through, but to find a reference map of Trinott so that they could work out where the seminar was being held.

  “Hows it coming Lance?” she said, leaning on the back of his chair.

  “So far, no pirates you’ll be glad to hear, I’m searching for the information on a chart of some description, I’ll get back to you as soon as I find anything out of the ordinary, are you looking for anything in particular?” asked Lance, so it would help to know what he was looking for.

  “Yes, escape routes, just in case this person who has been threatening Tricara makes an attempt at carrying out what they’ve threatened and makes a run for it afterwards,” replied Tayce.

  “Leave it with me,” assured Lance getting on with the request.

  Tayce returned to the middle of Organisation and came to a stop beside Tricara, she glanced at her powerful friend and could almost pick up on her thoughts of determination in the fact, no one, upon no one, was going to make her feel small regarding the threats, she’d had to date on her life. She turned her head to face Tayce and whisperingly said that it was rude to read another’s thoughts, without knocking on the door so to speak! Meaning she should ask her first. Tayce smiled and apologised, together they stood watching the immediate Universe ebb passed Amalthea. Both talked casually, as the journey progressed towards Trinott.

  Trinott was along the lines of Questa Headquarters Base, in the fact that it was a living thriving colony in space. It’s size was average, in comparable with universal planets, it came into a category of Neptune which is 30,775 milons in diameter. Trinott catered for all spacial entertainment and exhibition needs. The entertainment was considered totally breathtaking. Many space concerts were held there and the imagination was pure magic. People would come for milons around when a concert was in there. Hologram complexes were the biggest attraction, where anyone could live out their fantasy for a night, or longer stay of time. The hospitality motto was, ‘we serve to please’. There was a vacation resort, totally under a glassene roof, for people from ships etc. to take a vacation at. Trinott was the kind of destination that remained open all yearon round. Part of the hospitality and staff on Trinott were young shapely females, in alluring costumes, that were known as Pleasure Queens. Everyone a stunning beauty and not above twenty-two yearons. Handsome males of roughly the same age dressed alluring costumes, that didn’t leave much to the imagination were known as Pleasure Kings. Pleasure was their duty in any shape or form and a way of life. Their motto was to serve to the highest degree in pleasing guests. This was something Tayce was going to have to watch for, as far as her team were concerned. They were solely there for duty not pleasure and it would be quite easy for them to be persuaded to stray in the wrong direction, she’d be keeping an eye on them if not herself, then Marc and quickly remind them that they were there to serve the protection of the Empress, duty came first.

  Marc roughly an houron later walked back into Organisation carrying a modified Wristlink. Tayce glanced at him and then to the Wristlink, wondering what was the reason for it, as she didn’t see the fact that he had just worked what was termed a miracle in protection field stakes. He asked Tricara to raise her right wrist, so that he could place the Wristlink on. She did as requested, then Marc ordered her to step a bit away into free space and press the commun button twice. Tricara glanced to Tayce, then Marc uneasy. He smiled and assured her that everything was all right, to just try it. She did so and figured nothing had happened. Much to everyone’s surprise and sudden horrified shock, Marc took a step back, drew his gun and fired in a stun setting directly at Tricara. She
flinched and closed her eyes, feeling the shock that the others were wondering if Marc had lost his mind. The Slazer fire bounced off the invisible shield, that was surrounding her. Tayces sudden shock calmed, as she could see the point that he was making, even though it had been somewhat drastic in proving it worked. Tricara tried to calm her heartbeat at the past moments of shock, over what had taken place. Then after a few moments everyone realised the reason behind Marc’s madness, he wanted to show Tricara just what would happen, if the being that was making the threat against her, carried out their threat and how the modified Wristlink would protect her. Tricara smiled, she was glad Marc had made such a device that would be undetected to the naked eye, that would protect her. But by what Marc had just done it made her realise how easy it would be, if whoever was out to get her, shot at her the same way and without the protection, she would not live to tell the tale. She thanked Marc congratulating him on such a wonderful device. He just shrugged his shoulders, brushing what he had done aside, to him it was nothing. He informed her that all he wanted to do was see her protected. He also apologised if what he had suddenly done earlier in testing had freaked her out. But he just wanted to make a point. Marc was the kind of man who enjoyed making something out of the ordinary, technical wise, that stretched his imagination.

  It was the middle of the night hourons aboard Amalthea. Every corridor and level was in dusk mode and all that could be heard was the sound of the cruisers engines, as it travelled on to Trinott. Midge was on night mode that meant he was in overall charge of the cruisers many functions, which was his normal mode during off duty hourons. The team were in a state of relaxed deep slumber. Tayce was peacefully curled up in Tom’s arms, in their bunk sleeping blissfully unaware of what was about to unfold on board, in the next twenty or so minons.

  They stepped aboard totally undetected by Midges on board scanner for intruders. They were dressed all in one drab jet black, from head to foot, as if they were wearing a tight body stocking. There were just two of them and they crept along in an alert manner, their forms were of humanoid shape, their faces were covered by matching masks, that were close fitting, over their heads, all that could be seen of the intruders faces, was the slits in the mask, for their eyes. Silently one intruder pointed to the door, thinking that according to their map it was the quarters where the Empress was suppose to be sleeping peacefully, unaware that in fact their map was wrong and in fact it was Treketa’s quarters. One took out a large black bag almost the kind you could fit a body in. They entered Treketa’s quarters silently, making sure that they did not make a sound for fear of trouble, if they woke who they thought was the Empress. But they did not enter the quarters through the normal way, they walked through the closed doors, like a blade cutting through paper. Once inside, they moved quickly. They moved through the living area on into the Repose Centre. Pausing by the bunk. They opened the large black bag and in the moments that followed, they would be moments that Treketa would remember for a long time to come. One of the intruders held her down, whilst the other produced an injection and quickly held it against the delicate skin on her neck, pressing the release key letting the contents enter her system. she slowly went under the influence of the drug. Soon she lost the fight to lash out and fight off the intruders. Her body went limp. Once she was rendered unconscious, they grabbed her up roughly into a sitting position and together they dropped the bag over her head bringing it down her body sealing her away into darkness, then one intruder flung her over his left shoulder. In a blinding purple flash with Treketa in their grasp unaware that they had got the wrong person, they vanished from the quarters and Cruiser Midge was still unaware that there had even been anyone aboard.

  Tom didn’t know why, but he found himself sitting bolt up right in his bunk, sweat glistening on his bare upper body. Was it a nightmare he thought. Suddenly something had woke him with a fright and was telling him that something had happened to Treketa. Tayce woke beside him, sitting up, looking at him concerned.

  “Are you all right, what’s wrong, tell me?” she asked in a true loving and caring tone.

  “I don’t know… It’s Treketa. I don’t know why but, something is wrong with her.” On this Tom flew out of the bunk and headed for the entrance doors to their quarters, he grabbed his ‘D’Gown on the way not waiting for Tayce, slipping it on, doing it up as he went in urgency.

  “Tom wait, hold on! It might not be anything serious at all,” said Tayce racing after him, hurrying to catch up in her silkene long length grey chemise.

  She reached the outer living area entrance open doorway and stepped out into the corridor. Tom was at Treketa’s quarters doors, banging for him to be let in and calling out her name in urgency, for her to open the doors. Tayce realised that the night before Treketa had locked her doors, when she had entered through them she had said she did not want to be disturbed till mornet.

  “Tom stop it, you’ll wake Tricara and the rest of the team, there is probably a simple explanation for her not answering, maybe she’s taken a sleeping aid”.said Tayce in urgent whisper.

  “Midge this is Tom, get these damn doors open, now!” demanded Tom impatiently over his Wristlink.

  “What’s going on, what’s happened, is there a problem?” asked Tricara coming from her Guest Quarters tying up her ‘D’ Gown.

  As soon as the quarters doors were opened Tom raced inside and on into the Repose Centre. Nothing! Treketa was no where to be found, it was as if she had simply vanished. He turned back to face Tayce realising what he had was a premonition of Treketas sudden disappearance. But where had she gone and with whom? Tricara looked to Tayce, still unsure of what was happening.

  “This is your fault Empress, they were probably looking for you, considering the threats you’ve been getting they probably thought Treketa was you,” said Tom angrily at her.

  “Tom that’s enough, you have no proof, we don’t know if it has anything to do with Tricara,” said Tayce angry at his rudeness to her friend.

  He sighed angrily and looked away in frustration worried beyond words what could have happened. Tricara felt uncomfortable and saddened, if Treketas disappearance had something to do with the threats she’d been receiving, she genuinely felt sorry for what had occurred.

  “I know your angry Tom and I genuinely feel sorry, if this has anything to do with me, I have a feeling that somehow your right, it does!” began Tricara delicately feeling awful, that the intruders mistook Treketa for herself.

  Tom turned back to face her, he stood at ease his arms folded far from pleased, ready to hear just what she meant by her words. Tayce looked to her friend also interested, considering the beings that had dragged Treketa away, had obviously been on board searching for her, in the first place. She couldn’t understand why Midge had not picked them up as intruders.

  “It would appear the people that have been threatening me have persisted in their determination to stop me attending this seminar on Trinott and found out somehow, that I’m travelling with you, they obviously boarded to take me and made the dreadful mistake of taking Treketa instead, I’m dreadfully sorry Tom, really I am,” said Tricara apologetically.

  By now the rest of the Amalthea team were now standing in the Quarters Level corridor, listening to what was going on, half awake and half asleep. Tayce glanced around to the others and decided that if Tricara could help in some way by identifying the boarders, they maybe able to track Treketa down before it was to late. Lance stepped up offering to forgo the rest of his nights sleep, if they wanted to get started on finding the kidnappers straight away. Tayce nodded, it was a good idea. Duncan suggested they count him in. It was settled. The team headed back to their quarters to get cleansed and changed into duty uniforms for the dayon ahead, even though it was going to be a long one. This thought Tayce was a true case of mistaken identity where Tricara was concerned, the beings that had done what they had, in kidnapping Treketa. Had to be a bunch
of total idiots. Where were they going to start first, maybe pin pointing their abductors identity she thought which wasn’t going to be easy. She walked on behind heading to get cleansed and changed.

  Where Treketa had woken, it was dark and she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. Where was she? Wherever it was, it was cold. She felt a shiver run up her spine, but then again she was dressed in next to nothing, having been grabbed in nothing more than her night attire. She could hear engines in motion in the distance, they were obviously in transit, but where were they taking her? She could hardly turn around in this dark environment, it felt like they had locked her in some kind of cube like prison, it was obvious they didn’t want her to escape easily and find her way back to Amalthea. She shuddered and was beginning to think the worst. Paranoia was beginning to give her all sorts of wrong thoughts and scenarios, that were playing out in her head. Was this her sticky end, but why? Quite suddenly she felt herself feeling frightened, for probably the first time in her galactic life. Were they going to kill her? Were they going to torture her before they did? Abruptly the sound of the distant engines stopped. Treketa braced herself for what would possibly happen next. She began telling herself, that she’d be all right, Tayce and Tom would find her before it was too late. She decided to keep telling herself this, it would keep her going for the time being. But as she tried, it was easier said than done. Without warning the entrance to her dark existence opened. Light blinded her for a few cencrons. She tried to focus and found herself staring into grey cold looking evil eyes and matching face of a tall thin man, who did not look too pleased to see it was her. She was hauled out of the darkened cramp surroundings, in a rough way and was brought to stand before the same evil man that had peered at her earlier.

  “You idiots, who is this wretch?” he demanded coldly at the two masked beings, that had grabbed Treketa, thinking that she was in fact the Empress.