It
had not been an entirely uneventful time aboard the Tempest Class Freighter,
Tornado, on the journey to Delta 500, but not in a bad way, there were no
hostile run-ins with Scav Raiders as they crossed the Cammaratian System, the
only attacks came courtesy of cupids arrows, which well and truly found their
marks.
And
all those strikes occurred between the occupants of sickbay, where Zerrad Skeet
was recovering from a Laser wound to the abdomen under the watchful and
concerning gaze of Malena Endia and while Sciberran Healer Terrell Vorton
brought Zerrad back from the brink of death he lost his heart to the Tornado’s
Navigator Shiyne.
The
rest of the freighters occupants were ship’s Captain Merionwen Strong, pilot
Lyris Skeet, Engineers Pulsat Rad and Vanzyl, Visitor Parham known as Bagg and
one passenger Asti who was getting off at their destination.
So
with Merri piloting and Lyris in the co-pilot seat she used the Tornado’s four
vertical take-off jumper engines which were engaged and the Tempest class
freighter landed softly in the space dock.
It
wasn’t a huge ship as freighters go but pound for pound The Tempests had the
highest freight to fuel ratio yield of their class.
The
front section comprised of a sizable pressurized hold for large freight
accessed via a front loading ramp, above which was the flight deck, living and
sleeping quarters, mess facilities and bath rooms, at the rear was the main
propulsion and amidships were the universal pod bays, which allowed for a mixed
cargo option, which allowed for quick inspection and loading, although
sometimes pods were sealed which meant it was either very valuable or very
illegal, either way Merri didn’t mind and transporting sealed cargo paid much
much better.
But
this time there was no dodgy cargo so they lowered the three pods ready for
unloading.
The
Tornado always flew with at least one pod but then that was because it was
where they stowed their gear and where the hidden compartments could be found,
or not, which was where they hid the contraband, or even fugitives when
necessary.
Terrell
stayed in sickbay with his patient and Malena volunteered to supervise the
unloading so she could stay close by and Pulsat and Vanzyl took advantage of
the engines being offline to do some routine maintenance.
While
the cargo was unloaded Shiyne drove the stroller down the front ramp and
everyone else stood in a group waiting to board.
The
moment the Stroller came to a halt the remainder of the crew plus Asti the
passenger climbed aboard and Merri got in the passenger seat beside Shiyne.
“Drop
me at the commerce wing” Merri said
“You’re
not coming with us?” Bagg asked
“I’m
afraid not, so while you lot get to enjoy yourselves in the Mall I’m going to
be sat in the space port office looking for our next job”
“Can
anyone else hear violins?” Lyris asked
“Very
funny” She said “Drop me up here on the left”
Shiyne
brought the Stroller to a halt and Merri climbed down and before she closed the
door she shouted up
“Pick
me up on the way back and make sure you pick me up some prime steak”
“Will
do Captain” Shiyne said and Merri slammed the door shut.
As
Shiyne drove off again she said
“Remind
me again what a violin is?”
Shiyne
parked the Stroller as close to the Mall as possible and then they all decamped
and walked towards the sound of chattering commerce and they had just entered
the throng when a huge cloaked figure approached
“Princess
Asti!” he called
“Oh
God they’ve found me” Asti exclaimed and backed away to hide behind Lyris
He
was clearly Gouveian as she was but he was huge in stature, stand 6 foot 8 high
and he was broad and powerfully built, his hair was short, curly and the colour
of burnished steel, ivory skin and mercury coloured eyes, an altogether
striking figure.
“Don’t
be afraid Princess?” the man said
“Princess?”
Lyris asked
“Yes
Princess Asti Alegionaris, youngest granddaughter of the Regent of Gouveia” he
replied
“And
who might you be?” Lyris asked
“Parse
Sacrod, Legionnaire of the Royal Guard” he said proudly
“My
family have sent you to find me” Asti said
“Well
I’m not going back”
“Is
this true, you’ve been chasing her?” Shiyne asked
“No,
no, it’s not like that” Parse said
“They
didn’t send me after you to take you back”
“So
why are you here?” Asti asked
“Your
mother asked me to follow to make sure you came to no harm, that’s all” he
explained
“She’s
on your side, she doesn’t want you to marry some old man, which you neither
know nor love”
“He’s
telling the truth” Shiyne said
“Marry?”
Lyris asked
“Yes
I’m betrothed to Prefector Collis of Ghambra” she said
“A
very old and by all accounts very unpleasant man, and I’m not doing it”
Just
at that moment a transit shuttle arrived and disgorged its passengers so Asti
took her chance and ran and although he tried to keep his eyes on her Lyris
lost sight of her in the melee as another shuttle arrived and everyone decanted
from it.
“We
must go after her” Parse said
“You
didn’t just come here protect her from harm did you” Shiyne said
“No
I’m also here to warn her” he admitted
“About
what?” Lyris asked
“The
Prefector is not so understanding is he?” Visitor Parham reflected
“No
he is not” Parse admitted “He wants her and he will stop at nothing to get her”
“How
did you find her so easily?” Lyris asked
“She
has a subdermal tracker” Parse replied
Parse
and Lyris spent the next hour tracking Asti around Delta 500 while Shiyne and
Bagg made the necessary purchases at the Mall,
It
wasn’t an easy task because being so tiny Asti was not easy to keep in sight at
all time, she was also very fleet of foot and they struggled more than once to
keep up with her fortunately they had Parse’s scanner.
But
when they finally got within striking distance of her they were just in time to
witness her abduction.
Two
men, one either side of her, grabbed her and bundled her unceremoniously into a
waiting vehicle, one was tall and heavy set the other shorter and leaner.
“We’re too late” Parse said “They’ve got her”
“Who
are they?”
“Ghambran
agents sent by Prefector Collis, those two are Maxil Weltz and Vint Reganus, I
didn’t get a look at the driver” He replied sombrely “I have to rescue her”
“We,
have to rescue her” Lyris corrected him, but for now we need to know where
they’ve taken her”
“Ok,
let’s go” Parse said
“No
you stay here” Lyris corrected him “you stand out too much, I’ll meet you back
at the Stroller”
The
giant Legionnaire had no argument so he just nodded and Lyris set off at a run,
fortunately because of the crowds the vehicle hadn’t got far and was making
slow progress and as there was only one way they could go from there he decided
to press on up the thoroughfare and get ahead of them.
With
regular glances over his should to make sure they didn’t deviate he reached the
Mall exit and secured himself a “Pediscoot” which was a single person two
wheeled ride and waited until the bushwhackers caught up with him and then when
they passed he fell in behind them.
There
was sufficient traffic to ensure he didn’t stand out but not enough to threaten
the success of his surveillance and he was rewarded with the location of their
ship after about fifteen minutes.
The
ship was a Scorpion Cruiser, small fast and well-armed, a popular choice among
men of importance and unlimited funds.
Lyris
kept watch from a safe distance as the two men that snatched Asti manhandled
her up the ships tail ramp.
The
driver followed on and there was a fourth man at the top of the ramp and they
were all laughing as they pushed the tiny figure of Asti inside.
He
couldn’t hear her but he imagined she was giving them all an un-princess like
tongue lashing.
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