AMIDST THE MYRIAD STARS

 

Amidst the myriad stars

The bright crescent moon

Hangs in the midnight sky

And palely paints the ocean

With its gentle lunar light

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 09 – Distant Cousins

 

The planned posh frock and dinner jacket grand dining experience that the Tornados crew were looking forward to, never happened, and was replaced by beer and burgers in the hotel bar where Merri and Dwyn tried to make sense of the doppelgangers in front of them and the rest of the crew watched with fascination as Merri and her carbon copy found out about each other.

 

Dwynwen Strong, like Merri, was born on Earth Secundus in the Overtonis System, but a year later than her cousin, and to Ben Strong’s younger brother Owen, and the reason neither of them knew of the others existence was because the brothers had a falling out when Merri was three years old, which was why Ben Strong left the Overtonis System to work for the Garangon Mining Company, and from that moment on, the Brothers raised their daughters in isolation and with no mention by the fathers regarding the existence of their cousins.

 

At the time the Garangon Mining Company went out of business, after inadvertently destroying the moon they were mining, and Ben Strong kept the Tornado in lieu of payment, Owen Strong was pursuing his own career as an archeologist, and Dwynwen followed in his footsteps, and by the time of Ben Strong’s death, when the Tornado passed to Merri, Dwyn was well respected Archeologist in her own right, while her father Owen had found that his strengths lay in the halls of academe, and was a Professor back on Earth Secundus.

 

Because of her reputation in her field and a recommendation from her father, Dwyn had spent the previous three years aboard the Alexandretta, which was an exploration vessel, searching for all things of mineral, zoological, agricultural and archeological interest, and she had planned to spend a further two years aboard, but something happen and she disembarked at the Aurora 6 space station and took a berth on the first vessel to depart in the opposite direction which was a heavy transport called the Agamemnon, bound for Eikon Major, a journey which took three months.

But she surprised the whole group, including Merri, when she said that her first port of call, after three years away and three months on the Agamemnon, was the Andraxian Embassy in Rendon.

 

Dwynwen explained that the mission brief for the Alexandretta scientists was to ascertain if planets had ever sustained any significant civilizations in their past and gather data by the least invasive means and document their findings, this did involve taking samples, but again these were kept to a minimum, but when evidence pointed to significant sites of a former sophisticated culture, and their locations were identified, Dwynwen and her team were allowed down to the surface to investigate further which ultimately lead to some excavations, and if any artifacts were recovered they were again documented and packed for return to the museum on Andraxis.

However, after three years it came to Dwynwen’s attention after she quite by chance came across a data packet, which contained shipping manifests, but not the ones she had initialed, after completing the loading, but substitutes, detailing that of all the artifacts shipped to the museum, less than half of them completed the trip.

After further discreet investigation she discovered that Captain Bersian of the Alexandretta, two of the Science Directorate aboard, Brenhol and Ocec and the Captain of the freighter Hollander,

Ca Erdd, had all signed off the falsified manifest.

She continued to gather information until the Alexandretta docked at Aurora 6 Space Station to take on supplies which was when she made her move and without telling a soul aboard she gathered up her most precious belongings, and the data tablets, and while everyone else was looking for some fun she was boarding the Agamemnon bound for the Eikon Cluster.

 

“So, what now?” Merri asked

“I have to get to Andraxis and give evidence to the Messengis Science Congress”

“Wasn’t the physical evidence enough?” Asti asked

“No, I have to give a verbal account as well” she explained

“So, until you do, you’re a target” Parse pointed out

“That’s why I have the body guards” she replied and indicated with a nod, the two Andraxian Agents, who couldn’t have looked any more conspicuous if they’d had signs around their necks.

 

The senior agent was Ferro Scanner, tall dark and strikingly handsome, with jet black hair and the typical Andraxian opaque grey green skin which darkened or lightened depending on their mood, he was physically fit, well-toned and could no doubt look after himself and Dwynwen, his second in command was Ambor Etra who was five foot eight with short black hair, in a pixie cut, mesmerizing eyes and a very decent figure with a pert derriere and disproportionately large breasts and long slender legs.

“How long before you leave?” Merri asked

“I have to report to the Embassy in Rendon tomorrow night, then leave the next morning and later that day we have to Rendezvous with an Andraxian Frigate, which will take me all the way there” she replied

Andraxis was two systems away from the Cluster in the Messengis System and the Andraxian’s were an ancient Culture and considered themselves to be the moral guardians of the known universe.

“So soon?” Merri asked

“I’m afraid so” Dwyn replied

“The universe can be very cruel, one day I discover I have a fully-grown cousin and the next she’s off again” Merri said

“Yes, but I know you exist now and where you are” Dwynwen said and hugged her newly found cousin.

 

After a prolonged hug Merri pulled herself free and discreetly wiped a tear from her eye and said

“Well if you’re off leaving tomorrow we need to make the best of the time we have left so let’s get partying!”

 

In ones and two’s, the rest of the crew called it a night, including Merri’s lover Parse, but Merri and Dwynwen partied long and hard and Merri ended up crashing in Dwyn’s suite.

It was far better accommodation than Merri and the crew could afford, but then Dwyn couldn’t afford it either, the only reason she was there was because it was provided by the Andraxian Embassy where she and her body guards could stay and keep her protected. 

 

I SEE THE BRIGHT STARS HIGH ABOVE ME

 

I see the bright stars high above me

I almost feel they are a part of me

But as each one sparkles like a gem

I know one day I will be part of them

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 08 – Clarissoss

 

So, once they had made their decision it was left to Malena to make all the arrangements and they spent the following two weeks suppressing their excitement.

 

During their time in the Eikon Cluster They had heard a lot about Clarissoss, but they had never been, in fact the closest they had got was the capital, Rendon.

 

After spending two days on Eirkos at the agrarian settlement of Montrose they said their goodbyes and leaving Pulsat, Vanzyl and Bagg, they boarded the Stroller for the drive back to Cranack.

When they got back Malena remotely opened the ramp on the Tornado.

“Alright everyone, get aboard” Merri said to the crew “next stop Clarissoss”

Once disembarked from the Stroller they all walked up the ramp and then Merri drove up the ramp into the cargo hold.

Ten minutes later the Tornado lifted off and headed towards Eikon Major.

 

After what seemed like an eternity, which was in fact marginally quicker than usual, Merri entered the atmosphere of Eikon Major, with her piloting, and Malena in the co-pilot seat and she used the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines and landed softly on the apron at the Rendon Space Port.

Once they had shut down all the Tornados systems and secured the ship they left the space port and boarded the shuttle to the resort.

 

Clarissoss was originally a family-oriented leisure resort geared more towards children, but it wasn’t different enough from all the other similar attractions to pull in enough visitors, so the owners closed the traditional loss-making family resort and opened something that targeted adults, and offered a wide range of entertainment, not all of which were entirely legal.

But over the years Clarissoss evolved into the premier resort in the system.

 

The diminutive Princess Asti Alegionaris was beside herself with excitement, and her Ivory skin tingled with delight, and her silver eyes sparkled, when she saw where they were staying.

The Galileo Hotel was located between the Casino district and the Sports complex and adjoined the Spa center which offered, fitness classes, gym, rock sauna, infra-red sauna, aroma steam room, ice fountain, drench showers, Jacuzzi, a Romanesque pool, Reflexology, Raki, facials, scalp massage, hand massage, Manicure and Pedicure, and that was only the tradition array of services that originated on Earth but there was also an extensive catalogue of practices and treatments from other systems including her own home world of Gouveia in the Dania system, and she hadn’t had any of those for a very long time, but she was soon going to rectify that, and then she would have a full range of beauty treatments and put some life back into her platinum hair.

Her huge fellow Gouveian Parse Sacrod, contrasted immensely from Asti, apart from the ivory skin.

He stood 6 foot 8 high, broad and powerfully built, with short curly hair the colour of burnished steel, and mercury coloured eyes, and he had no interest in relaxing or being pampered, so he headed straight for the sports area.

 

Merri, Malena and the Skeets wanted some adrenalin fueled fun, and although Shiyne would also enjoy that, she and Terrell also enjoyed the cultural Center in Rendon, where museums, art galleries, sculptures and antiquities, so they did alternate days.

One day Terrell would join Shiyne and the others for whatever nerve tingling event Merri and the others came up with and the next day they would get the shuttle into Rendon for a day of cultural pursuits.

But at the end of each day they would all go out and eat together and exchange tales about their days, followed by drinking and dancing.

 

In addition to the gambling, pampering, partying, clubling and catering for the sport obsessed, Clarissoss had also become a very popular venue for the sin seekers, but the visitors in pursuit of seedier activities found that they were to be found hidden away from more sensitive eyes, but although the Tornado crew were far from sensitive, they had no interest in that part of the resort.

 

After ten days none of the crew were showing any sign of slowing down but they had begun to tire of the usual restaurants that they had been frequenting so on night ten they were going to a very up market place, which even had a dress code.

So, it was decided that they would dress in posh frocks and dinner suits and would meet downstairs in the bar.

 

Merri was still getting ready when Parse left their room as he had broken a cufflink and needed another set, so he went downstairs to the Hotels Plaza and bought some new ones, he didn’t dress up much since joining the Tornado so when he did he wanted to do it properly.

He quickly chose a set he was happy with and the girl in the shop put them in his cuffs for him and then he ambled slowly across the plaza to the bar where they were all to meet, which was when he caught sight of Merri, but she wasn’t wearing the beautiful green dress she’d had on when he left the room, instead she had on a figure hugging top, leather trousers and knee high boots, and although she still looked gorgeous he was a little disappointed.

He picked up the pace and followed her and caught up with her halfway between the door and the bar.

 

“Hey, why did you change?” he said touching her arm “you looked stunning in that dress”

In response she turned around to face him

“Whoa steady on big fella” she said “No touching”

“Oh” he exclaimed when he looked at the familiar face possessed with someone else’s eyes

“Sorry, I thought you were someone else” he said meekly “you are the spitting image of her”

“Seriously? Is that the best you’ve got, I’m the spitting image of a girl you once went out with?”

“No, you’re the spitting image of the girl I’m going out with now, and she’s… standing over there”

She craned her neck to see this remarkable double but as she was a foot shorter than the big Gouveian she couldn’t see her.

“Of course, she is” she remarked and then he smiled and said

“Very funny Malena, you got me, morphing into Merri”

“Who the hell is Malena?” The doppelganger asked

“I am” she said as she appeared and then Merri joined the group and she did a double take, looking firstly at Mal then at her double and then Mal again before saying

“What the…? You’ve got my face, and my eyes and my hair,

And you dress like me, who the hell are you?”

She demanded

“I like your boots by the way”

“Thanks, I got them on Androsin Prime” she replied

“I’m Dwynwen”

“She’s even got a sing songy name like you Merri” Asti said as she joined the group along with the Skeets, Shiyne and Terrell

“So, what’s your name then?” Dwyn asked

“Merionwen Strong” she replied

“No that’s my name” Dwyn replied

“I thought you said your name was Dwynwen?” Merri asked

“It is, Dwynwen Strong”

There was a full minute of total silence as the two redheads took in the new information and then the pair said in unison

“I need a drink”

 

SATURN VI

 

Saturn VI

Iced water Titan

Largest Moon of Saturn

Dense Orange sphere

A planet like moon

Iced water Titan

The Tornado Sojourns (4) – Chapter 07 – Holiday Talk

 

After an enjoyable and surprising Eastertide Festival on Marikya the Tornado returned Bagg’s brother, Trebreh, his wife Xandra, and her brother Ale, along with Duff Tarver and his wife Chani to the peaceful agrarian settlement of Montrose on Eirkos, and then proceeded to Soman to pick up a load for delivery to Eikon Minor.

After delivering the three pods of freight to the Legionnaires Garrison they returned Wisma Berita to the Visitors Rest which was the bar she owned in Gipki, then with all their passengers returned to their homes, the Tornado returned to plying its trade in the Eikon Cluster.

The system was known as the Eikon Cluster due to the high number of M class planets and moons in the Eikon solar system,   they could always rely on an abundance of work with Golbolt Interstellar, based on the moon Soman, and the main reason for that was that the Operations Manager was Oshwin Lemik and he fought against the Legion in the Shaxson War along with the Skeet brothers, they as pilots and Oshwin as Logistics Commander.

From the moment they were reacquainted, the Tornado got as much work as they wanted and regularly ran between Eikon Major and Minor, Eirkos and its moons, Soman, Rekar and Marikya, and neighbouring planet’s, Achrem and Zenden as well as Zenden’s moon, Linden, plus a host of other smaller moons and asteroids.

In the time they had been in the Eikon Cluster they had familiarized themselves with the planets and moons they visited and had cultivated great friendships along the way, and in the months that followed their Sojourn to Marikya they delivered their cargo to every planet, moon and asteroid in every corner of the system with barely a moment’s respite.

Until after almost nine months of continuous toil Merri exclaimed

“We need a vacation!”

She was on the flight deck, sitting in the left seat with the huge framed figure of Parse Sacrod stood behind her with a hand on each shoulder, the Tornado’s second in command Malena Endia was in the co-pilots chair and Shiyne was at the nav panel.

They were in a holding pattern on approach to Eikon Major following a Leviathan tanker, which was going painfully slowly, and it was as she looked out through the glass at the arse end of a Leviathan when she made her exclamation.

“We need a vacation!”

“Yes, that would be nice” Shiyne said unenthusiastically, she had made the Vacation statement countless times before and they never got one, so they had no reason to think this time was any different, they had short breaks of course like the one on Marikya, but not a proper holiday.

“I’m serious, we really need a vacation”

“We agree” Malena said “But that doesn’t mean we’ll get one”

“Why not?”

“Because you always say you need one and then another job comes up and then bang goes the vacation” Shiyne replied

“Well we’re having one” Merri said indignantly “Get everyone in the mess room once we’ve unloaded”

“Aye, aye Captain” Malena said and threw a salute

 

The Tornado wasn’t a huge ship as freighters go, especially compared to a Leviathan or a Gargantuan, 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.

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, but not so much in recent years, they had even toyed with the idea of doing away with the “special” pod, but couldn’t bring themselves to do it. 

 

Once on the surface the Tornado dropped their cargo pods, which were driven away, and then the ground crew maneuvered the three loaded pods into position for the return trip.

Once the Pods were in place Merri lowered the Tornado to secure them and then lowered the front ramp, so the remaining smaller freight could be unloaded.

There were only four small pieces for the return so once they were aboard and the manifests had been checked and signed they closed the door and as they had three hours until they could take off again, Merri called the meeting.

 

Lyris was the last to arrive in the mess and Merri said

“Good of you to join us”

“I thought it was just the usual scones and coffee, or is there a special occasion?”

“Yes, there is and that’s because we all need a vacation” she replied, and her remarks were met with a chorus of derision

“Not that old chestnut” Lyris said

“We’ve heard all this before” Asti added

“You always talk about a vacation but that’s as far as it goes” Zerrad chimed in

Even Pulsat and Vanzyl were emanating unsympathetic noises so she asked

“What about you Bagg?” 

“Well we have been here before” he replied “and we probably will be again”

“Oh, is that right, well let me tell you this, I’ve already contacted Oshwin and told him to clear us a fourteen-day window so what do you think of that?” she said, and a happy murmur spread around the room.

“That’s made you change your tune” she said, and they all took it in turns to kiss her and say thanks.

“Well I suggest you all start making plans” she said trying to keep her composure and then added “and now I will have pancakes”

The whole mood aboard had changed, and the mess room was buzzing with excited chatter as they made their plans while Bagg fed them freshly made pancakes.

 

Merri checked the time and after finishing her mouthful she said

“Our departure time is approaching, so it’s time to prepare for take-off, Lyris you’ve got the left seat, Asti co-pilot, and I’ll be up when I’ve had more pancakes”

 

There was a lot of discussion among certain members of the crew as to how exactly they would spend their holiday, but not so much for others, as Bagg would spend it with Wisma and along with the two engineers, Pulsat and Vanzyl, go to the peaceful agrarian settlement of Montrose on Eirkos, where Bagg and Wisma could enjoy two perfect weeks with his family, brother Trebreh, sister in law Xandra, her brother Ale and friends Duff and Chani Tarver.

For the engineers the time would be a little less peaceful but nonetheless enjoyable as they would be run ragged entertaining the village children, or “small humans” as they called them, Pulsat running and chasing them in the meadows and Vanzyl swimming with them in the lake.

For the rest of the crew however, as much as they loved Montrose and the people, had something a little more adventurous in mind, they would obviously spend a day or two enjoying their warm hospitality, but the bulk of their holiday would be spent elsewhere, the problem was where.

Merri, Malena and the Skeets wanted some adrenalin fueled fun, and although Shiyne would also enjoy that, she and Terrell also enjoyed cultural centers, 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.

Asti was looking for luxury and pampering, while Parse Sacrod primarily wanted to play some sports, but they all wanted to spend the vacation together.

So, they looked for common ground and in addition to their first choices, they all liked to dance, they all liked to drink, and they all loved to gamble, so in the end it was an easy choice, The Clarissoss Resort City on Eikon Major.

With Luxury Hotels, casinos, bars, clubs, and restaurants, sporting facilities to suit every taste, located close enough to the wilderness for the adventurous types and only an hour’s shuttle ride away from Eikon Major’s Capital City, Rendon where those of a more cultural bent could indulge themselves to their hearts content.

 

So, once they had made their decision it was left to Malena to make all the arrangements and they spent the following two weeks suppressing their excitement.

 

During their time in the Eikon Cluster, they had heard a lot about Clarissoss, but they had never been, in fact the closest they had got to it was the capital, Rendon.

LUMINARY STAR

 

Luminary star

Celestial body

Shine down

Life giving light