by Jeri Dion
“Let go of me Gardlen you’ve no where to run, if the S.S.W.A.T. Team are in orbit, by now they have surrounded this place and there is no where to go, give this up before it costs you your worthless life,” said Tayce feeling a lot more brave, knowing Jan was on his way.
“Shut up woman before I kill you here and now, your cruisers where we’re heading, now move,” he said ushering her forward.
Tayce turned and went for his side weapon, before he had time to blink, she drew it and aimed it directly at him, the hatred she felt inside for him killing Tom showed in her normally beautiful sapphire eyes. Gardlen was wide eyed with shock, that she had moved so fast.
“Call off your men or I’ll kill you where you stand, do it, don’t think I won’t hesitate to use this, I’ve never missed and it would give me the greatest pleasure,” said Tayce pointing the small and powerful hand gun, directly in his face.
Gardlen even though he was an outlaw, valued his life and the way in which this female was conducting herself made him realise, that he did not dare argue with her, she looked like she would fill him full of Slazer power, over and over again, to let off the pent up hurt for killing her man. He turned his head doing what Tayce requested. At this precise moment Jan’s men and Jan himself burst into the room guns primed ready for action.
“Drop all your weapons, this room is surrounded, Tayce don’t shoot him!” said Jan his eyes wide with alert.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t?” said Tayce keeping the gun primed.
“You want be doing yourself any justice, men like him expect to die,” replied Jan.
One by one some of Jan’s officers took quick control of the situation and apprehended Gardlens men. The rest of the men quickly moved between the hostages, to check that everyone was unharmed. Jan strode towards Gardlen with another officer, who quickly placed him in force field restraints, to be lead away. Jan turned to see Tayce standing in a shocked dazed state, she was still holding the gun. He realised that she was in shock and had to calmly get her to let him have the weapon.
“Tayce it’s all over, he’s going to pay for what he’s done, give me the gun,” he said putting his hands on hers and gently prizing her slim fingers lose of the weapon
Slowly he managed to get her to give him the gun and couldn’t understand why she was acting like she was. He could see that she had been to hell and back by her strained features. He hadn’t heard from Lydia that Tom Stavard had been killed by Gardlen, his only orders were, that there was a situation on Trinott and he was required to rescue the Amalthean Quests team. Glancing around he couldn’t see Tom. He looked towards Marc, who looked down solemnly.
“Where’s Tom?” he asked quietly without thought, glancing around
“He’s dead Jan, Gardlen killed him,” said Tayce slowly, then met his eyes with a sorrowful look.
“What! I’m truly sorry Tayce really I am,” he said shaking his head, not knowing what to say.
He did something that he rarely did, he gave Tayce a warm understanding and comforting hug. Tayce let him she felt exhausted, she’d used the last ounce of energy on preparing to shoot Gardlen. Jan over her shoulder ordered his men that had hold of Gardlens men, to move out, take them back to the Patrol Cruiser, then his other officers who were with the hostages, he ordered them to escort the people and aliens back to their vessels, so that they could get under way. Cordec staggered over fighting the pain of his attack, at the hands of Gardlens thugs, wondering about his design. Tayce broke Jan’s hold and walked over to the weapon on the floor, picking it up, she turned and walked back to Cordec with it.
“I think this belongs to you,” said Tayce slowly, seeing that he was in hell with the pain, but putting on a good face.
“Young woman you’ve shown amazing courage, Chief Traun will hear of this, I’m just sorry that your husband had to die,” he announced in an understanding tone.
“Me too, but you played a good part also, it was wrong what they did to you,” replied Tayce.
Marc walked across to her, he slipped a friendly arm around her shoulders. She wavered and everything had become to much, she collapsed. Seeing Tom being killed right before her eyes was something that she would take a long time to come to terms with and would no doubt see in her dreams for the foreseeable future. Marc scooped her up in his strong arms and carried her on out. Jan stopped behind making sure that the situation was under control, for a moment and met them at the entrance to the room.
“Is she going to be all right?” asked Jan to Marc discretely.
“It will take a long time to heal, what has happened, but I think she’ll pull through,” assured Marc.
“Tell her, if she needs anyone to talk to, or any help whatsoever other than Chief Traun at Questa, tell her to look me up, my door is always open,” he offered in a true friendly manner.
“Thanks, she’ll appreciate that, I’ll tell her,” replied Marc.
He continued on leaving. Leaving behind Jan and his officers to take reports from Cordec Parglen and his designers of what had happened. Tricara remained behind with Jan Barnford, she was going to return to Questa with him, but had advised Marc to watch over Tayce and be there should she need someone to confide in. She felt terrible in a way, thinking that somehow Tom’s death was not just Gardlens fault, if she had foreseen what was going happen, she could have stopped Tom from taking it into his head to protect her. She wondered if Tayce would see it the same way, she’d have to wait and treat the moment as it came, should it arise. Donaldo ran on ahead briskly to get on board Amalthea, he wanted to get everything ready for treating both Tayce and Treketa. Duncan walked beside Marc, not believing what they had just witnessed. Daniel Mayfield remained with Jan Barnford, as he was one of Jan’s men and he would have to make a full account of the situation, being a first hand witness.
Tayce two dayons later, was sitting in her quarters, still shell shocked at what had happened. She did not even want to think of commanding the cruiser, she felt that when Amalthea got back to Questa there would be no point in commanding the Amalthean Quests Team, without Tom by her side and she was considering giving the command over to Marc Dayatso. As far as she was concerned, Tom who had helped her form the team was gone, there didn’t seem any point of continuing to bring criminals to deserved justice, when he had just been killed by one. The quarters entrance doors announcement system chimed.
“Come in,” said Tayce sighing, she did not want to be disturbed.
The doors drew open and Lance walked in, he came to a pause in the middle of the living area. He looked at her studying her saddened look, she had to snap out of this hurt, he understood what was going on, but she hadn’t strayed out of her current surrounding for two dayons since she’d arrived back on board. As her long time friend he felt it wasn’t good, he was concerned for her welfare staring at four walls. They had known each other since they were young, he was not going to let her fall into the pit of total despair.
“Forgive me for being forward here, but what your doing isn’t doing you or anyone on this team any good, we all understand where your coming, from Treketa is working with Donaldo to try and keep her thoughts occupied, even though Dons beginning to wonder if he should carry a permanent container of disposable wipes for Treketas sudden floods, but she’s trying and so should you, sitting here is just making the memories make you more ill and as your long time friend, I am not going back to duty until you come too, I couldn’t believe it when Midge told me you were thinking of throwing it all in, handing over to Marc, because I know you can pull through this, you’ve come to far and done to much, to throw it all away, Tom wouldn’t want you to and I’m not going to let you,” he pointed out firmly.
“I can’t, don’t ask me to,” she blurted at him, standing to her feet, she walked away.
“If you don’t continue, there are a lot of people still out in this Universe that
would love to know that, because your not out here, they can do whatever they like, like before, take Dion for instance, if he’s alive somewhere, he’ll be laughing up his sleeve at the thought you weren’t going to be around, to put a stop to him again.”
“I know where your coming from, but I need time, Marc can do just as good as job as me, he was Father’s aide and he’s been trained for command,” said Tayce turning to face him.
“Just promise me that your not going to give up Amalthean Quests for good, okay, I understand you need time, but please don’t remain in these quarters, this is your Cruiser Tayce, you can go anywhere, one more thing…”
Lance didn’t get a chance to finish what he was saying, the Telelinkphone sounded on the small table top at the end of the soffette. Tayce crossed leaving Lance standing in the centre of the living area. She picked up the handset and was much relieved to find out that it was Lydia, but the news was not good. Lydia had told her the cuts had run deeper in council spending and she wanted to see her urgently at Questa, everyone and the cruiser were to head back. Tayce agreed, she had a feeling that her future was about to be decided for her and it had suddenly been taken out of her hands. Lance studied her interested, what was wrong he thought?
“Problem?” he asked curious.
“We’re to head back to Questa,” replied Tayce in thought.
“Maybe this is what you need, maybe whatever is waiting, is going to make you re-access your life, where you really want to go from here,” said Lance calmly.
“Will you tell Marc, we need to head to Questa.”
“No, you can tell him, we’ll go together,” he persisted.
He reached out grabbing her hand and guided her over to the entrance of the living area. As the doors opened he dragged her out into the corridor. He knew that he was probably crossing the line in ordering her around, being his leader and a rank higher than himself, but he didn’t care, this was the only way to pull her back to where she would thank him some dayon. He was glad in a way, they had been summoned to Questa, this would give Tayce something to think about, other than the sadness of Tom’s demise.
Amalthea One was on the way back to Questa minus Tom Stavard, after several monthons of rescuing crews and bringing criminals to justice, at a comfortable travelling speed. But the uncertainty of the Amalthean Quests was hanging in the balance. Lydia Traun had been asked by the Planetary Matters Council to have an audience with her daughter on Amaltheas future. But what was that future?
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