The Tornado Sojourns (2) – Chapter 03 – Unwelcome News

For Shiyne and Terrell the time was passing by much too quickly at the cultural centre, amidst the museums and art galleries, enjoying the sculptures and antiquities and they doubted they would get to see all the places that they wanted to.

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 forgoing 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?”

And when they turned around a smiling human was facing them.

“It is you” he exclaimed and stepped forward to embrace Terrell

“My dear Zelen” he said, “it’s wonderful to see you again so soon”

The man was Zelen who Terrell considered to be a fellow journeyman and when they both found themselves on Alwi they became very good friends.

After a moment or two Terrell proudly introduced Shiyne to his friend and then there was more embracing before Zelen said

“Do you have time to share a glass?”

“I think we can make time” Terrell replied looking at Shiyne who nodded in agreement, but she was a little uneasy as she was certain that Zelen had something on his mind but she couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

This was not mere intuition on her part because Shiyne was a Vann and all of the Vann were telepaths, by varying degrees, and many of them left their home world at some point to use their gifts to earn a wage.

Those at the zenith of their talents work as corporate negotiators or in the justice systems of the Legion. 

Shiyne was a Vann with mid-range capabilities and she could read most species to some extent, her skills were limited with the more sophisticated or complex brains, lesser minds were easier for her to explore.

In addition to reading minds she could also implant thoughts and the suggestions would stay in place longer with someone who was more intellectually challenged.

She was struggling with Zelen because although he looked like a human he was in fact from Kelissa and Kelissan’s were very closely related to humans but had some significant physiological differences.

One of those being that they had two brains, or perhaps more accurately their brains had two halves, much like a human brain, but in the case of Kelissan’s the two hemispheres were unconnected which was why she was unable to get the full picture.

 

The conversation stalled somewhat once they were seated in a crowded bar and it might well have continued to stall had Shiyne not said out of the blue

“Something is troubling you”

 “Yes, I was just wondering how to phrase it without causing offense” he said

“Speak freely we are not easily offended” Terrell said

“Ok then I will begin by saying that it is believed, and you need not confirm nor deny, but it is believed that when the Tornado left Alwi it carried a passenger of Royal blood” he began “bound for Delta 500 and once there the said Royal passenger or for arguments sake let’s say, Princess, took her leave of the Tornado and her crew and was promptly abducted by Ghambran agents”

“That all sounds very feasible” Terrell said while Shiyne continued to scan Zelens complex mind.

“Ok then now allow me to speak in hypothetical terms, firstly let’s say that persons unknown mounted a rescue of the Princess, with great success, and made their escape on a freighter after tricking the kidnappers into following the wrong ship into hyperspace”

“Well that all sounds very exciting” said Terrell “so is there to be a happy ending?”

“That is in… flux at the moment” Zelen said

“How so?”

“Well the Princess was by all accounts betrothed to Prefector Collis of Ghambra” he said

“Was?” retorted Terrell

“Yes, it appears that the Prefector is a very impatient man and although he was very taken with the young Princess, he was not prepared to wait indefinitely and has wed another” he explained

“So, there is to be a happy ending then” Terrell said brightly

“Possibly” Zelen said ominously

“Why?” Terrell asked with suspicion

“It seems that even if the Prefector has moved on his agents have not, and although they no longer seek the Princess, they are hell bent on revenge for the humiliation they endured” he said

“That’s not so good” Terrell said

“Not at all my friend”

“It would be prudent then to keep some distance between the fox and the hounds” Terrell added

“Yes, and if I were the fox I would want to put as much distance between me and them as possible” Zelen said

“It would be useful to know where the hounds are” Terrell said

“Alas I am unable to enlighten you on that matter” he responded and then added

“Well I’m afraid I must take my leave of you”

He and Terrell stood up and embraced

“Take care my friend”

“I will, it’s a big Universe”

“Be safe in it” Zelen added “And look after this beautiful you woman”

“I will” he replied and then Zelen and Shiyne hugged

“Thank you Zelen” she said

 

“So, what do you think?” Terrell asked her once they were outside in the street again

“I think we need to get back to the Stroller”

 

When they got back to the Stroller the others were already aboard Shiyne and Terrell joined them inside and then they gave an almost word for word account of the conversation that past between them.

“That’s not good” Zerrad said

“Not good at all” Malena agreed “let’s gets back to the Tornado and update the others”

“Ok back to the ship it is then” Shiyne said

 

When the Stroller got back to the ship Shiyne reported to Merri and the Captain immediately called a crew meeting in the mess room.

“So good news and bad news” Merri said, “I had hoped we might be ok for a bit longer but apparently not”

“Its great news that they aren’t interested in Asti anymore at least” Lyris said “But it would have been useful to know where the Ghambran’s are exactly”

“Zelen didn’t know that” Terrell said

“He didn’t exactly say that the Ghambran’s had lost interest in me” Asti pointed out “He just said that the Prefector had found another wife”

“But you have no value to them now” Lyris said

“They could still take me back to Gouveia so my grandfather can offer me to someone else in marriage” Asti said

“It won’t come to that” Merri said

“It sounds as if they aren’t going to give up looking for us though” Zerrad added

“What do you think Bagg?” Merri asked

“I have no problem in believing the Maxil Weltz and Vint Reganus would feel sufficiently humiliated to want to hunt us all down” he replied, “However I have two doubts, the first one is that Prefector Collis will give them unlimited time to indulge their revenge, and second that they are close enough to us to pose anywhere near an immediate threat”

“But you don’t think we are safe?” Shiyne said already knowing his answer 

“Not entirely” he replied, “So I think it would be prudent to move on to pastures new and maintain the distance between us until they are finally recalled to Ghambra”

There was silence for a few minutes before Malena broke it

“So where do we go?”

But there was only silence in response until clicks and whirls began to emanate from Vanzyl which were clearly directed at Pulsat

“Ok I speak” he said and more clicks and whirls followed

“I telling, I telling” Pulsat retorted and to the assemble group he explained

“Vanzyl say Eikon cluster”

Then more clicks

“He say, plenty planets, plenty people, plenty ships, plenty cargo”

“Eikon cluster” Parse mused

“That’s not a bad shout” Merri said

“Hiding in plain sight” Bagg added

“Well done Vanzyl”

“Yes, well done” Merri said and Vanzyl uttered a soft whistle like a plaintive flute, then he looked at his friend and whistled again

“Head very big now” Pulsat said and snorted

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tornado Sojourns (2) – Chapter 02 – Shore Leave

 

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.

 

For Shiyne and Terrell the time was passing by much too quickly and they doubted they would get to see all the places that they wanted to.

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?”

 

The Tornado Sojourns (2) – Chapter 01 – Androsin Prime

 

It had been more the 12 months since the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado left Delta 500 with a full complement aboard, full cargo pods, some funds in the coffers and work lined up for several months ahead.

They had left the space port in something of a hurry after rescuing

Asti Alegionaris, a member of the Gouveian Royal family, from the clutches of a Ghambran snatch squad, and tricking the kidnappers aboard their Scorpion Cruiser, into following the wrong freighter through the stargate and into hyperspace.

Asti was now one of the crew, although at the time of her abduction she was the Tornados only passenger, and the reason she was snatched by agents of the Ghambran state was that she was unwillingly betrothed to Prefector Collis of Ghambra and when she ran away from her home world to escape her fate he wasn’t prepared to take no for an answer.

 

Merionwen Strong was 29 years old and was best described as statuesque, she was tall, straight backed, and proud.

And was blessed with an abundance of red hair that trailed behind her like a mane and penetrating green eyes, and overall you would call her striking and then along with her striking appearance went her forthright, volatile and feisty personality.

She was owner and Captain of the Tornado, and spent much of the quite hours of the night watches thinking about the events of the previous 18 months and the remarkable change in their fortunes.

From their lowest ebb, in the Cammaratian System, when they were stranded on the surface of Alwi, the fourth moon of the seventh planet Aragon, for three months with engine trouble and virtually no crew, to where they were now, a happy ship with a good crew, a plentiful larder, a good cook, friendship, a liberal quantity of love, and the occasional adventure.

Merionwen’s love interest was Parse Sacrod, whom she called Beefy, a former Legionnaire of the Royal Guard of Gouveia who she met after the abduction at the space port.

He was huge in stature, standing 6 feet 8 high and he was broad and powerfully built, his hair was short, curly and the colour of burnished steel, and with the characteristic ivory skin of the Gouveian race and with his mercury coloured eyes he was an altogether arresting figure and he and Merri had become almost inseparable.

 

After leaving Delta 500 the Tornado had a return load to Alwi, and then a second drop on Lazarion, and a further one after that to Androsin Prime in the Androsinian system and they spent many months ferrying people and goods around the modest collection of planets and moons.

And they might well have stayed for many months more were it not for a chance meeting in a market place while on a visit to Candoran the capital city of Androsin Prime.

 

When Merri landed the Tornado on Alwi 18 months earlier to make repairs she expected a two or three week stay at most, but weeks quickly turned to months as they discovered the extent of the damage and after half her original crew grew restless and signed on with other vessels, it left her shorthanded and desperate and in danger of losing her ship. 

Technically the ship belonged to the Garangon mining company, but as they went out of business when they inadvertently destroyed the moon they were mining, Merionwen’s father Ben kept the Tornado in lieu of payment and it passed to her on his death, but after only three years at the helm, losing it had become a very real possibility. 

Fortunately, she still had the loyalty of her remaining crew, co-pilot and navigator Malena Endia and Shiyne, the latter being that rare commodity in any crew, someone who could and would perform any task required of them without question, but her real strength was in the role of negotiator and as an eternal optimist.

 

The Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines were what kept the ship grounded and although Merri was a good enough engineer to keep something limping along she didn’t possess the skillset for fixing something that had stopped limping altogether.

This problem was further exacerbated by the fact that she was the best engineer left among the crew and the ship was sitting on the outskirts of a mining town on the surface of Alwi, in the Cammaratian System, which was the sort of place that aspired to be the back end of beyond but couldn’t even manage that.

But things suddenly turned around for Merri and her friends with the arrival of Visitor Parham, a Christian minister who brought with him two first rate engineers, Pulsat and Vanzyl, who were magicians with all things mechanical and the next day they lifted off and went for a spin among the stars.

It was during that test flight that they had to go to the rescue of the Skeet brothers whose ship, the Phoenix, was attacked by Skav Raiders, and the attack was so severe that they had to eject in a life pod which nearly cost them their lives anyway, but they were saved in the nick of time and when they recovered from their injuries they joined the crew.

And it was the Skeets injuries that brought Sciberran Healer Terrell Vorton aboard the Tornado where two significant happened, firstly he saved Zerrad Skeet’s life, which was crucial in reconciling the unresolved love between him and Malena, and secondly it brought him into the close orbit of Shiyne where they fell for each other.

When the Tornado left Alwi bound for Delta 500 with everyone aboard including Visitor Parham who tended to their spiritual needs and his alter ego Bagg fortified them with his culinary prowess.

So, Merri and her best friends, Malena and Shiyne had all found love.

Also, aboard on the journey to Delta 500 was passenger Princess Asti Alegionaris, youngest granddaughter of the Regent of Gouveia but by the time they departed the space dock after her rescue she and Lyris Skeet were in each other's pockets for good and all.  

So, all concerned had the thing they wanted more than anything in the universe, someone to share their life among the stars they all loved so much, so everything for the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado was set fare.

 

In the Androsinian system they had just completed their 5^th run in 6 days so they were looking forward to a couple of days of down time in Candoran, the capital city of Androsin Prime where they could eat, drink and be merry.

 

After delivering their cargo they landed on the commerce port apron on the outskirts of the city with Merri piloting and Lyris in the co-pilot seat and she engaged the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines and the Tempest class freighter landed softly on the apron.

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 cargo so they landed with only one pod aboard.

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. 

 

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.

The Tornado Sojourns – Chapter 16 – Scenting the Hounds

 

When they got back to the Tornado after the successful rescue of Asti from the Ghambran ship, Pulsat and Vanzyl were waiting by the ramp and Shiyne drove straight in and Pulsat closed the ramp behind them.

As they decamped from the Stroller Pulsat said

“We go soon”

“We go very soon” Merri said “Prepare for take-off, Lyris you’ve got the left seat, Shiyne co-pilot”

 

Parse carried Merri into sickbay followed by Terrell, Malena and Asti

“Oh God, I knew someone would get shot” Zerrad said

“Don’t worry I’m fine” Malena said and rushed over to kiss him as Terrell started on Merri’s thigh

“Leave that” Merri said “Get the tracker out of Asti first”

“What tracker?” Asti asked

“The one in your neck” Malena said 

“Is that how they found me?” she asked

“Yes, so we need to get it out” Merri said

“Ok” she agreed

 

It took Terrell less than a minute to locate and remove the tracker and once it was out he rinsed the blood off of it and gave it to Malena and then he turned his attention to the Captains wound.

“Ok Malena you know what to do” Merri said

“I’ll go with her” Parse said

“Oh no you don’t Beefy” she said “You stay here with me in case I need to be carried again”

“Oh ok” he complied “If you think that’s best”

“I do” she purred “I definitely do”

 

Asti got the distinct impression that her presence was no longer required in the sickbay and made her way up to the cockpit just at the moment Lyris was landing the Tornado at the cargo hub adjacent to the Monsoon.

“Nicely done Cowboy” Asti said

“Well thank you Princess” he said

“I’m not a Princess anymore, I’m just Asti” she retorted

“That will do for me” Lyris said and Shiyne just smiled, not because of what they were saying, her smiles were due to what they were both thinking.

 

While the Tornado picked up the cargo pods Malena transformed into one of the Monsoon’s crew, a tall and rotund cargo handler called Florin, who was being fed freshly made pancakes by Bagg in the Tornado’s mess room and while he was stuffing his face Malena wandered up the cargo ramp of the Monsoon and secreted the tracker behind a panel in the loading bay, then she smiled and went back down the ramp and re-boarded the Tornado and became the 27 year old brunette again and walked straight into the mess room and nodded to Bagg who said

“Well Florin dear lad as much as we’ve enjoyed your company I’m afraid it’s time for us to depart”

“What so soon?” he said

“I’m afraid so” he confirmed

“Shame” he said “Those were the best pancakes I ever tasted”

“I’m glad you enjoyed them, and so many” Bagg said amiably

“If you ever fancy a change there’s a place for you on the Monsoon” he said

“I will bear that in mind” Bagg said as he walked him to the door and then Malena saw him down the ramp and once he was clear she closed it.

Malena then opened comms to the engine room as she sealed the airlock

“Pulsat, stand by for departure”

“We ready” He replied then she spoke to the flight deck

“Mission accomplished Lyris, ready when you are”

“Ok we’re cleared to go” he responded

Malena then walked down to sickbay and just as she entered Merri was trying to get out of bed.

She looked over to Zerrad’s bed and he was sleeping so she turned her full attention on Merri who was saying

“Come on Beefy help me up to the flight deck”

“That’s not a good idea Captain” Terrell stated

“Nonsense” she retorted “I’m fine”

“Stay right where you are” Malena said firmly

“Lyris is quite capable of getting the Tornado airborne without your supervision”

“But…” she protested

“But nothing, get back into bed and Parse you make sure she stays there, understood”

“Yes” the pair said

 

After kissing the sleeping Zerrad on the forehead she left the sickbay and went upstairs to the flight deck where she found Lyris in the left seat with the diminutive figure of Asti stood behind him with a hand on each shoulder and Shiyne was in the co-pilots chair.

She moved to vacate the seat when she saw Malena who was the Tornado’s second in command but the latter gestured for her to stay where she was and looked out through the glass at the pilot vessel.

Lyris was following and after a few minutes they got the signal to proceed and the pilot returned to port and Malena scanned the scene.

“Moor us on the other side of the Leviathan tanker, but give us a view of the port” she said

“Ok skipper” Lyris said and steered around the tanker.

The Tornado had an hour head start on the Monsoon and a further hour on the Scorpion so they just sat and waited.

“I’m going to get some breakfast” Malena said “Call me when the Monsoon appears”

“Will do” Lyris responded “Come on Shiyne, Bagg’s cooking pancakes”

Shiyne smiled because she knew even without her telepathic skills that Malena didn’t want her to go just to enjoy the pancakes, she was playing cupid and wanted Lyris and Asti to have some time alone.

 

Malena and Shiyne sat at the mess table while Bagg fed them his excellent pancakes and they spoke about the excitement of the early hours and the roles they all played and Bagg deft use of his staff to brain one of the Ghambran’s, which led onto a discussion regarding the Cowboy and the Princess and the fact that Merri had apparently claimed the man mountain, Parse, as her own.

 

As they laughed and joked the call came from the flight deck 

“There on the move” Lyris said

“Ok so are we” Malena responded and she and Shiyne stood up

“Sorry Bagg we have to go”

“But we’ll be back” Shiyne said and shovelled the last forkful of pancake into her mouth.

 

When they got upstairs they found Asti with her arm around Lyris and they both smiled which caused Asti to blush violently which made them smile even more.

“The Monsoon’s heading full speed towards the Star gate” Lyris said

“Good, we just have to wait for the Scorpion to appear” Malena said taking the vacant number two seat

“Is the tracker still broadcasting?”  

“Loud and clear” Asti replied

“Ok we just have to wait and see” she said as Shiyne sat in the Navigator’s chair and began plotting a course for Alwi.

They didn’t have to wait long as the Scorpion appeared twenty minutes sooner than expected and took off after the Monsoon without hesitation.

“So far so good” Malena said “I go and inform the Captain, she’ll be going insane wondering what’s going on”

The flight deck rang with the sound of laughter as Malena left it and made her way to the sickbay.

 

After briefing Merri on the situation Malena went and sat by Zerrad’s bed and held his hand while he slept and waited.

It was just over an hour when the comms buzzer sounded and she got up and picked up the handset.

“Yes”

“Good”

“Ok” 

“Keep me posted”

Then she hung up and sat back down

“Well” Merri barked “What’s happening?”

“The Monsoon has gone through the gate” Malena replied

“And what about the Scorpion?” Parse asked

“It’s still on the same course”

 

It was another hour before the comms buzzed again, and Malena got up once more and picked up the handset

“Yes”

“Good”

“Ok, then you have command, I’m going to sleep for a couple of hours” she said “Oh Lyris! Try not to hit anything”

She hung up the comms and turned towards the others

“They took the bait hook line and sinker” Malena said and smiled, then she let go of Zerrad’s hand and climbed onto the bed and lay down beside him and Terrell dimmed the lights.

“Well I need to go and find a beautiful little cerise coloured Navigator”

 

“So do you think we’re in the clear?” Parse asked when Terrell had gone

“What I think is that it’s a big universe, and we’ll be at opposite ends of it” Merri replied

“What if they come for her again?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it” Merri replied and winced “now go and find Bagg and he’ll show to your quarters”

“I’d rather stay here with you” he replied

“I’d rather you did too” she said and smiled then she closed her eyes

About an hour later she woke again and she looked across at Malena and Zerrad as they slept, he had his arm around her and she had her head on his chest, and she thought how nice it was for her friend to find love at last, then she looked at the huge Gouveian soldier sat at her bedside and thought.

“I think I might have found some for myself”

 

Merionwen spent much of the next two hours thinking about the past couple of weeks and the remarkable change in their fortunes.

She was at a very low ebb when the Tornado was stranded on the surface of Alwi for three months with engine trouble and virtually no crew.

Now they had a full complement aboard, full cargo pods, some funds in the coffers and work lined up for several months ahead.

Her best friends, Malena and Shiyne had both found love, engineers Pulsat and Vanzyl were magicians with all things mechanical, they had a Healer aboard, Terrell, for the first time ever, Visitor Parham tended their spiritual needs and his alter ego Bagg fortified them with his culinary prowess, they also counted a member of the Gouveian Royal family among their number, and she had herself a hunky Legionnaire.

And the thing Merri wanted more than anything in the universe was someone to share with her the life she loved so much.

So everything for the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado was set fare, plus she knew that apart from a good crew, good food and a liberal quantity of love she knew that on the Tornado’s Sojourns they were bound to have adventure.

The Tornado Sojourns – Chapter 15 – On a Mission

 

In the early hours of the morning after Asti was abducted Malena was in the sickbay reassuring Zerrad that she would be perfectly safe

“I don’t like it” he said

“There’s nothing to worry about” she said

“I know Lyris remember” he pointed out “he’s reckless, that’s why I’m worried” 

“You also know Merri and she’s not reckless” Malena said “And the Doc is coming too and he is the epitome of cautious good sense, ok? Now give me a kiss”

So Zerrad complied with her demand and then watched her leave with a heavy heart.

 

Already outside, pacing up and down, was Lyris Skeet, who didn’t normally get involved in other people’s problems but since Merion and her crew had put themselves in danger to save him and his brother he had changed his philosophy, so he would have helped Asti even if he hadn’t fancied the pants off her.

It was not normal behaviour for him to become infatuated in such a short space of time and based on only a handful of very short meetings, but he had done with her.

Not that he stood a chance because she was beautiful, classy, well educated, feisty, funny and wicked smart.

He was after all little more than a reformed smuggler, and she was a Princess, so he would never have made an advance towards her in fear of being shot down in flames but now he had a chance to be her knight in shining armour.

 

All though it was 3am there were still as many people milling around as there had been earlier in the day, in space, with no night and day, the conventional clock didn’t really mean much in terms of waking and sleeping hours.

With the exception of Zerrad, who was still confined to his sick bed, and Pulsat and Vanzyl who were preparing the ship for departure everyone gathered on the deck beside the Stroller and Merri addressed Bagg

“We won’t be needing the services of a Visitor this morning”

“There is always a need for man of God” he retorted

“We’re not looking for convert’s Brother” she said

“Nonetheless I’m coming” he insisted

“Alright” Merri said “But don’t get in the way”

So they boarded the stroller and drove to hanger 34 and parked up as close to the Ghambran’s Scorpion as they could without drawing attention to themselves.

“Right does everyone know what they have to do?” Merri asked and they all murmured a response

“I want no gun play unless absolutely necessary” she added looking directly at Lyris

“Why are you looking at me?” he retorted

“I wonder, Cowboy” she said “And Beefy, no attracting unwanted attention”

Before Parse had chance to object she added

“Ok let’s go”

Once outside they stayed in the shadows and Merri whispered to Shiyne

“Is she still aboard?”

Shiyne closed her eyes and tuned her mind in and scanned the ship and after a few moments she smiled.

“Well?” Lyris asked

“Yes she’s there and she’s as mad as a hornet” she replied and they all laughed

“Ok settle down now” Merri said as she looked over at the ship.

There was one guard by the ramp but they knew there were others on board

“Go and do your thing Shiyne”

The Vann telepath invaded the guards mind and when she had control of him she stealthily crossed the open ground and stood to one side of the ramp, then under her control he stepped towards her.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Parse asked

“No just stay here and pretend to be a soldier” Merri retorted

“I am a soldier” he pointed out

“Good you can guard Brother Bagg, Ok Doc we’re on” Merri said and she Malena, Terrell and Lyris quickly joined Shiyne by the ramp, but out of sight of the door

Once they were concealed Shiyne quietly said to the guard

“There is a problem with the port engine, call you friend, then go to the engine”

Without showing any emotion he turned and called up the ramp in his native tongue and then walked slowly towards the engine but after three paces Terrell dispatched him with an injection to the neck and he crumpled to the floor.

A minute later the other guard emerged onto the ramp and Shiyne immediate took control of his mind and lead him to the same fate as his compatriot.

With the two guards safely unconscious Merri withdrew her sidearm and gestured for them to follow and Parse and Bagg watched as they disappeared from view.

 

Once inside the Scorpion they proceed quietly into the bowels of the vessel.

“Where is she?” Merri asked

“Beyond the main cabin, in a sleeping berth, she’s bound and gagged” Shiyne replied

As they pressed forward they suddenly heard footsteps above their heads which then proceeded down the stairs and the owner of those footfalls was Vint Reganus the smaller of the two abductors and the moment he set foot on the deck Malena put a gun in his face and gestured with her finger for silence.

“Where’s the other one?” Merri asked adding her own gun to his already nervous field of vision and he nodded in the direction of the main cabin.

Shiyne nodded her agreement so Merri gestured to Terrell who struck with his needle again.

But before Vint hit the floor Malena touched his arm and she instantly transformed into the Ghambran and she was an exact copy down to every blemish and flaw, pulled thread and tarnished button.

As an Obgaronian shape shifter she could transform at will but she could only shift into a being she had touched.

Only the briefest moment was required and then it was in her memory banks and could be recalled when required.

She could also manipulate that memory and add or subtract from it for example in her everyday life she chose to take the form of a 27 year old human whom she met on a remote mining colony when she first entered Legion space, but she chose to be the human girl and wear clothes on that form but it wasn’t necessary and that night for the rescue mission she chose to simulate her clothes in case she needed to shift, it would have looked very odd indeed if Vint Reganus was wearing girls clothes.

The necessity for her to shape shift was so she could get into the main cabin without raising the alarm and distract Maxil just long enough for Shiyne to paralyze him.

He was cut from different cloth to Vint and wouldn’t be so susceptible to suggestion so she was going to paralyze his voice box and the nerve endings in his neck so he couldn’t move.

But she had to be in close proximity to the target for that to work hence the need for Malena to shape shift.

Malena opened the door and stepped inside without speaking and took two steps forward before Shiyne stepped out from her shadow and although Maxil opened his mouth to speak, no sound came out, and then Lyris, Merri and Terrell rushed in behind them.

“Where now?” Merri asked

“This way” Shiyne said and lead the way

“Terrell, if he makes a move stick him with the needle” Merri said

“Pleasure” he retorted

Shiyne opened the cabin door and as she foretold, Asti was lying on the bed with her hands tied behind her back and a gag in her mouth, then Lyris pushed past her and took out his knife.

“Let’s get these bonds off” he said gently as the blade severed the ropes, then he sheathed the knife and untied her gag.

“Are you ok?” he asked as she sat up and rubbed her wrists

“I am now” she replied and wrapped her arms around his neck

“Ok cowboy put her down and let’s get out of here” Merri said

 

First they returned to the main cabin where Terrell was still standing with a needle to Maxil’s neck under the watchful gaze of Malena who had shifted back to her former self.

Merri lead the way back the way they entered, followed by Malena and then Asti who suddenly stopped and yelled

“You bastard” and spun round and delivered a roundhouse kick to Maxil’s head and rendered him unconscious

“Sweet” Lyris said “Now let’s get out of here”

 

Outside on the deck Parse and Bagg were waiting anxiously for the raiding party to return when another Ghambran guard approached and when he saw his two countrymen lying unconscious beside the ship he drew his weapon and started up the ramp.

“Shit” Parse exclaimed “Start praying Brother Bagg”

For a huge man Parse was incredibly light on his feet and he closed the distance between himself and the Ghambran very quickly but not before he had opened fire on the boarding party. 

But the moment he reached him he knocked the gun from his hand and grabbed him around the neck and in a matter of moments he had the man by the throat and was holding him two feet off the floor, but what he couldn’t see was a fourth guard who was approaching him on his blind side with a large curved knife in his hand which he was going to thrust it in Parse’s back until Bagg hit him soundly on the head with his staff rendering him unconscious and bloody.

“Way to go Bagg” Merri said as Malena helped her down the ramp”

“You can put him down now Beefy, and pick me up instead”

She had a Pulsar strike on the thigh and couldn’t support her own weight

“Ok” he said and dropped the guard unceremoniously on the desk “And scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the Stroller and Bagg and Asti followed in their wake while Lyris, Malena and Terrell dragged the unconscious bodies inside the Scorpion.

 

When everyone was aboard the stroller Terrell began attending to the wound on Merri’s thigh.

“Ok let’s move it” she said through gritted teeth and held Parse’s hand and winced with pain as Terrell cut the fabric away.

“How is it?” Malena asked

“Not good” Terrell said “So straight to sickbay when we get aboard”

The Tornado Sojourns – Chapter 14 – Regrouping

Shiyne curtailed her shopping expedition because she knew there was something wrong, she wasn’t sure what exactly, there were too many people around for her to tune in precisely but she knew something was wrong so she relieved Bagg of all his purchases and left him to finish the shopping alone.

“I’ll be along soon” he said not questioning why she was in such a hurry to get back.

 

She found the huge Gouveian pacing up and down beside the Stroller and by the time she reached him she had read his mind and was fully appraised with what had happened so when Parse began to speak she said

“I know”

Then she gestured to him to be silent and closed her eyes while she searched for Lyris and after a moment or two she nodded and opened her eyes.

“He’s found her, their ship is in hanger 34, bay 21” 

“So what do we do?” he asked.

“We load the stores onto the Stroller” she replied as a delivery drone pulled up beside them.

 

When Lyris returned to the Stroller he related everything that he’s seen to the others and informed them of his and Parse’s intention to effect a rescue.

“Can you go to hanger 34 Shiyne, bay 21, and get close to them, and read their intentions while we return to the ship and arm ourselves?” Lyris said

“Of course, but you must involve the Captain” she responded “She’s good at that stuff”

 

Lyris stopped the Stroller outside the commerce wing of the space port where Merri was waiting and the passenger side door opened and Parse jumped down    

“My God” she exclaimed “I know I asked for some steak but I wasn’t expecting a huge slab of beef”

Then she climbed up to the passenger seat and Parse got in the back

“Who’s the moose?” she asked Lyris and he made the introductions and then Bagg gave chapter and verse on Asti’s lineage, betrothal and subsequent abduction.

“Good God, I let you out of my sight for a few hours and everything goes to bat shit” Merri exclaimed before adding I assume a rescue is in the offing”

“With your approval” Parse replied

“Never mind my approval, it will be with my participation Beefy” she retorted and Lyris felt great pride in the woman with the immense personality and a heart as big as the moon, and a tongue as sharp as a razor who he was honoured to call his Captain.

“That’s what we were hoping you would say” Lyris said

“Ok back to the ship then” she said

 

With the exception of Zerrad who was still not well enough to leave sickbay everyone was arranged around the mess table.

“So this tracker” Merri said addressing Parse, “where is it?”

“In her neck”

“Will it still transmit once it’s out?” she asked

“Oh yes”

“Good”

“Didn’t she know she was tagged?” Lyris asked

“No it was implanted when she was a child, its protocol for all of the Royal family to have trackers just in case of abductions” he explained “she was too young to remember it being put in, it’s very small and unobtrusive”

“Can you remove it Terrell?” Merri asked

“Of course” he replied

“How long will it take?” she asked

“Minutes” Terrell replied

“Ok then Shiyne tell us what you know” she said

“The small one” she began and paused to extract the name from Parse’s mind

“Vint Reganus, isn’t very bright, so he’s very suggestable”

“That could be useful” Bagg interjected

“That’s what I thought” Shiyne agreed

“How many are we up against?” Malena asked

“4” Shiyne replied “Maxil Weltz is in charge, Vint Reganus is his lieutenant and the other two are the muscle”

“And there are definitely only 4” Malena asked

“I only saw those four and the only other being that I sensed on board was Asti” Shiyne said

“Could there have been more elsewhere?” Healer Terrell asked 

“It’s possible” she replied

“What else did you find out?” Merri asked

“They are leaving tomorrow at 08.00 so we have a very small window in which to rescue her” Shiyne said

“It’s even narrower than that because we depart at 06.00” Merri said

“That’s very tight” Lyris added

“Yes but it works to our advantage on several levels” she replied “And I have a plan for the tracker”

“What plan?” Parse asked

“Well I ran into Dirk Sharmour, the skipper of the Monsoon at the dock office”

She explained, the Monsoon was also a Tempest Class Freighter

“The smug git was full of himself as he had just secured a plum cargo run to Santon 5”

“In the Pocardin System” Bagg asked

“Yes, and better than that he has a pick up and return” Merri added

“Lucky pig” Malena exclaimed, she didn’t like Dirk very much and she certainly didn’t wish him good fortune.

“Indeed, so how do you fancy secreting the tracker aboard the Monsoon” Merri suggested and smiled

 

The Scorpion was a fast ship but it wasn’t fast enough to outrun a Tempest so as they would be more than an hour later leaving Delta 500 that would be the closest they got to their quarry.

They would not be able to get close enough to identify the freighter but from their signature they would detect it as a Tempest Class heading for the Star Gate and the scanner would pick up the tracker and they would assume it was the Tornado and that Asti was aboard.

In order to reach Santon 5 the Monsoon would be in hyperspace for months and the Scorpion would have no choice but to follow them and they would cross three systems before the pursuers realized they were tailing the wrong freighter.

Meanwhile the Tornado, who had a return load to Alwi, a second drop on Lazarion, and a further one to Androsin Prime which was two star gates in the opposite direction from Santon 5.

“So what’s the plan? Do we go in all guns blazing?” Lyris asked

“No we don’t” Merri said “Subtlety is the name of the game and I have a plan which will play to our strengths”

“Let’s hear it then” Malena said

 

The Tornado Sojourns – Chapter 13 – The Ghambran Encounter

 

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.