Those going ashore to
enjoy the delights of Candoran would travel into the city in the Stroller but
not everyone was leaving the ship because unfortunately there was a large
Legion Garrison outside the City and as Parse was still technically a
Legionnaire of the Royal Guard of Gouveia, and he knew that there was a large
detachment of Gouveian troops in that sector, some of whom might recognize him
and inadvertently give away the Tornado’s location, so he had to stay aboard,
and as they were a couple Merri chose to stay with him, in the hope that they
might actually get a bit of “alone” time.
Similarly, the
diminutive Princess Asti was confined to the ship as she was still a fugitive
from her betrothed and with her short platinum hair, ivory skin and silver
eyes, she was too easily recognised.
As Asti was grounded
she was not about to let her six-foot-tall, broad and muscular, black haired,
dark eyed boyfriend ashore on his own to be preyed upon by wanton women in the
City’s fleshpots, not that she had any personal experience of fleshpots, but
she had an imagination and that was quite enough for her.
But they weren’t the
only ones remaining behind, although engineers Pulsat Rad and Vanzyl where not
remaining for fear of being recognised or for reason of love, they had no
significant others and their only love was the ships engines and all things
mechanical, and it was the engineers who were the first to emerge onto the
apron when the ramp was lowered.
The short heavy set
Prinsloovian, Pulsat, was first down the ramp, he had a rough bony skull which
raised up like a crown and then receded to give way to a Mahogany scaled brow,
cheekbones and jawline which framed an ivory coloured face, and he had yellow
eyes and his entire countenance betrayed his reptilian ancestry.
On reaching the apron
proper he turned stiffly to address his companion Vanzyl, who was uttering a
string of whirls whistles and clicks.
“I know it, I know it”
Pulsat said to his Kesslerian friend, who also owed his origins to reptilian
DNA but his slender and sleek form,
scaly countenance and
silver scaled skin, large opaque eyes, pursed lips, and gills clearly indicated
that his kind evolved from fish.
Vanzyl whistled and
clicked again and Pulsat snorted.
Pulsat was the only
one of the crew who could understand every tone and toot Vanzyl uttered, as if
it were in his own tongue, but that was common place for his species, there
were very few races he had met on his travels that he couldn’t understand,
although he couldn’t speak to them in their language, but he nonetheless
understood every word that they spoke.
While they spoke
Shiyne drove the Stroller down the front ramp and everyone followed in a group
in her wake.
The Tornado’s APMTV,
(All Purpose Multi Terrain Vehicle) was nicknamed the “Stroller” which was an
ironic name because when Shiyne or Merri were behind the wheel it did anything
but stroll.
The moment it came to
a halt the remainder of the group climbed aboard, Zerrad, Malena and Bagg in
the back and the Healer Terrell Vorton got in the passenger seat beside his
lover Shiyne.
And as they departed
Pulsat and Vanzyl were already engrossed in the job in hand which was to take
advantage of the engines being offline to do some routine maintenance, while
Merri and Parse and Asti and Lyris found other ways to pass the time.
Shiyne parked the
Stroller as close to the City Centre as she could possible get, which still
left them someway short of their destination, so after they decamped they
walked towards the sound of chattering commerce and then got on the first Hover
Tram that came along.
When the Tram arrived
at the great market place Bagg said his farewells and got off and then entered
the market and went in search of the herbs, spices and dried and desiccated
fruits that he needed to replenish his depleted stocks.
He loved markets, even
if he didn’t need provisions he would never give up an opportunity to stroll
around among the abundance of food stuffs on offer and allow him to indulge his
passion for the exotic foods, and his vocation in one fell swoop.
He was in his element
as he wandered market, as the ships cook it was in his remit to get the best
ingredients and as the Visitor his job was to go among the people, so what
better way to achieve both, than at a market.
After Bagg left the Tram,
the remaining four crew members continued aboard the Hover Tram, although both
couples had very different plans for the day.
Zerrad and Malena were
looking for food, drink and atmosphere, and intended to spend the day together
at one of the many lakeshore café’s overlooking the calm still waters of Lake
Candice.
But the other pair had
different fish to fry as Terrell and Shiyne were headed for the cultural centre, where museums, art galleries,
sculptures and antiquities would keep them enthralled, an activity to be
made all the more enjoyable as they were doing it with each other.
“It’s a shame Merri
and Lyris had to stay on the Tornado” Shiyne said
“I know” Malena agreed
“Well I’m quite
relieved myself” Zerrad said
“Why?” Malena
exclaimed
Lyris and Zerrad had
flown Spider Hawk Fighters against the Legion in the Shaxson rebellion and
although he had managed to compartmentalise his war time experiences, his
brother hadn’t always managed to do the same, so as the city was crawling with
off duty Legionnaires from the Garrison he thought it was best that Lyris
stayed away.
Physically Zerrad and
his brother were very similar only blonde hair and grey eyes distinguished
Zerrad from his older dark-haired brother, and their temperaments, he was
measured, quiet and thoughtful whereas Lyris was impulsive with a very short
fuse.
“Too many Legionnaires
about” he replied
“Do you mean his short
fuse?” Malena asked
“Yes, there’s no way
he would have been able to resist picking a fight with one of these soldier
boys” he replied
“He’s been much better
of late” Shiyne pointed out
“He has” Lyris agreed “I
think that has a lot to do with Merri”
“Who’d have thought
that the feisty redhead would have had such a calming influence” Malena said
and they all laughed.
Shiyne and Terrell
were getting off at the next stop
“This is us” Shiyne
said excitedly and Terrell smiled
“We’ll meet back at
the Stroller in four hours” he said
“Ok” Malena responded
as they stood by the doors “Have fun”
As Malena watched them
walk away hand in hand she thought love was a funny thing, but wonderful too.
They were both the
same height but that was the only thing they had in common, he was older than
her by 6 years and was stoutly built while she was slim, his skin was of chalk
white and hers was cerise, his eyes were violet, Shiyne’s were purple and
Terrell’s hair was midnight blue and she was bald.
The other difference
was that he was very quiet and she would often chatter incessantly but Malena
thought there was no doubt at all that they were in love, and she smiled at
that thought.
She was still smiling
when she turned to look at Zerrad and she found that he was looking at her and
smiling too.
After reaching Lake
Candice they disembarked from the Tram and walked for about 20 minutes until
they found a suitable venue to meet there needs.
Bagg had a very
fruitful expedition and found everything he was looking for plus a few things
that he wasn’t.
There were far too
many things for him to carry himself so he paid for them and took a chit in
return and then after all his purchases were made he took his chits to the
market office and arranged delivery, it was then up to them to collect
everything he had purchased from the vendors and deliver it all to the ship in
one consignment.
When his business was
concluded he found he had more than an hour before the arranged meeting time by
the Stroller so he had a quick look at his surroundings and after a minute or
two he smiled to himself as he had spotted, looming high above the rooftops of
the surrounding buildings, the spire of a Visitor church.
Visitors were a
Christian sect who took to the stars with the first migrants to visit new
worlds, spreading the word while seeking enlightenment, and they had
established Visitor enclaves in every corner of the known universe, they even
thrived in Mehreen space and they were the least spiritual beings to ever draw
breath.
The difference between
Visitors and the established Christian Church on earth was its spontaneity,
they didn’t wait until Sunday to worship, they did it wherever and whenever it
was desired and it didn’t need to happen in a church, Visitors worshipped
everywhere, but that didn’t mean that they didn’t have churches.
So, they decided to forgo lunch or refreshments, this
was a tough call for Shiyne as she had an enormous appetite for such a small
being.
But her appetite for culture and knowledge was even
more voracious.
By skipping lunch, they managed to view all the
exhibits on their list without having to rush and they were just walking
towards the main thoroughfare where they alighted the Hover Tram when they
heard a voice
“Terrell is that you?”
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