Chapter 1 - updated 01/07/03
Chapter 2 - updated 01/07/03
Chapter 3 - updated 02/07/03
Chapter 4 - updated 02/07/03
Chapter 5 - updated 06/07/03
Chapter 6 - updated 06/07/03
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Completed under the +++++++
Merc
-------------------------------
Commander Parrel paused for a moment and then said, “So that’s Tor Grall,” Caran nodded his head and Parrel continued thoughtfully, “The same Mr Grall that got caught up in the UFO incident?”
Caran did not answer and Parrel then asked, “Any chance we’ll get our science officer back?”
Caran commented quietly, “You were telling me about the sectors, and an anomaly.”
The commander chose not to press for more information on the well being of Tereana and looked at Caran, “As we found no evidence of the Khaak we checked the Split incident dataset against the X-five sector which is where the event is supposed to have taken place. We took the limited data records and generated these virtual maps.”
The main screen came to life and played forward. Caran looked at Parrel and said, “That’s not the same solar system.”
Parrel nodded, “So we’ve checked it against all the X-sectors and nothing came up that’s even close.”
Caran picked up a snack and looked at it thoughtfully, “So is there another gate in sector X-one that we’ve missed?”
The commander sighed, “I only wish there was, it would help to solve the mystery, but we’ve searched the system reasonably extensively and found nothing.”
Caran looked questioningly at Parrel, “Any suggestions?”
Parrel answered, “The one that seems most palatable at the moment is that the Ancients don’t want us to meet the Khaak and have shifted the gate destinations.”
Caran considered the answer and decided in his own mind what the unpalatable answer was likely to be and said, “Let’s hope you’re right.”
Tor spent some time being guided around the station by Broden as he wanted to see first hand the extent of the damage. He felt a twinge of pain and sadness when they eventually arrived at the command centre. The maintenance robots had fitted new wall and ceiling panels. Most of the coordinator control centres were in place but many of the floor panels were still waiting to be put down.
“How do you think the team will feel if we move back in here?” Tor asked quietly.
Broden looked at him and breathed in deeply before answering, “I’d say what happened here is still fresh in their minds and that they’re apprehensive.”
Tor suddenly reflected on the dead alien sitting alone in the command centre of the station and then the image of Pors last moments alive, having just saved his own life from the grenade attack. His body went tense and his teeth were clenched together.
Brodens’ voice broke his train of thought, “Are you okay Sir?”
Tor replied, “Hmm, yeah, yeah sure.”
They turned and left the room and Tor was still deep in thought when they entered his office. He stopped and looked around, the crew had decorated his office with banners and streamers saying ‘Welcome back’
Suspended from the ceiling on the far side of the office was the hellfire mini-gun. A holo-image replay of the Sentinel standing victorious over the Devastator was projected above the briefing table. Crates of Batral Ale stood on the far side of the room with a number of bottles of spacefuel.
Tor looked at Broden with an eyebrow raised. Broden commented, “This is for the wake Sir. The crew are expecting a memorial service for the dead and this…” He let the sentence hang and looked uncomfortable.
Tor stated, “Let us honour the dead by remembering the things they did in life and feel proud that we knew them.”
Broden glanced across at Tor who was looking resolutely at the image of the Sentinel and Devastator as it revolved over the table.
Tor sighed heavily, “When do you think we should do the service?”
Broden looked across and said quietly, “As soon as we can. I’ve spoken to the Paranid and they have said they are willing to perform the Service of Ascension for the all the deceased.”
Tor glanced over at Broden, “Paranid?”
The former captain replied, “Two of the visitors killed in the initial assault were Paranid, they have been asking to do the service or at least have us release the bodies to them. According to their custom it has to be done before the end of the current waning moon on Paranid Prime which is quite soon I believe.”
Tor commented, “How about the security personnel, I don’t recall seeing many Paranids amongst them, any other particular beliefs we should be observing?”
Broden commented, “The only belief most of us have is in the search for the ultima Thule.”
The conversation rolled on and Tor, despite his personal reservations, insisted that they should respect all the dead including the troopers. Broden did not feel comfortable that the rest of the crew would be happy with this arrangement but conceded that these people were only obeying orders and had no choice but to fight or die.
Half a Stazura later and Caran Belign was on the station, the noise of the reconstruction droned on in the background and Tor greeted him at the dockside, “Welcome aboard.”
Most of the pilots and crew knew Caran by name and reputation, only a small few had actually seen him before and usually at a safe distance. It was this curiosity that had an unusually high number of pilots and security mingling and consuming a variety of hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages in the open fronted pilots bar.
“Don’t they have work to do?” Caran asked quietly.
“I guess you’re the closest thing to a celebrity they’ll get to see on this station.” Tor replied.
Caran asked with a serious tone, “Thing?”
Tor gave a slight smile, “Just a figure of speech, but I’m surprised you let the celebrity bit get past you.”
Caran commented, “I was saving that for later.”
Tor smiled and gestured towards the exit, “Prisoners this way.”
The Agent followed Tor and asked, “So have you identified who they are yet?”
Tor answered, “Sweety has run a complete check on all the prisoners, makes for some interesting reading. One of them appears to have been born on the pirate station in Brennans’ Triumph, two are runaways and the last was on a passenger ship boarded by pirates four Mazura ago. I guess she volunteered to join rather than be a slave. Anyway I’ll give you access to all the records.”
Caran was impressed, “Are you sure you don’t want a career in the service?”
Tor gave a short bitter laugh and said quietly, “Not for all the gem stones on Argon Prime.”
Caran nodded slowly and he understood why Tor would not want the job, “What about an interview room?”
Tor spoke up as they passed the temporary command centre, “We assumed you’d want to talk to each one individually. They stopped in front of a closed door and Tor signalled for it to open. The room was bare except for two chairs and a plain white table, “Good enough?”
Caran stepped inside and looked at the furniture and frowned, “If it can’t be secured to the floor then take it out,” Tor looked surprised and without turning to look at him Caran added, “A desperate man will look to any object that isn’t fixed to the floor as a means to defend himself. I’d rather save them the inconvenience of trying.”
After a couple of Mizura the room was bare and Caran commented, “It’ll do,” He pulled out his personal pad and scanned his palm. Turning to Tor, “Okay let me see the records you have on the prisoners.”
Sweety made the upload and Caran took a while to scan through each one, “Very good, now I want you to bring them in the following order. First the Teladi, Zeelanamoula, then the eldest of the Argon women Wilasma, followed by Daraman and finally youngest Helass. These interviews will be no longer than five Mizura each but I don’t want any of them to be returned to the cell. It is vital that you keep them separate from now on, as it is important that none of them knows what has happened to the others. Can you do that?”
Tor nodded slowly, “Okay.”
Caran spoke up, “Although each interview will only last five Mizura the amount of time between interviews will vary. I will let you know when the next one is to be started. Ensure that no one mentions that it’s me doing the interview. Also I want the room cleaned after I’ve seen each prisoner as the smell of cleaning fluid sometimes helps in persuading people to give information.”
Tor started to wonder if he had done the right thing by calling in Caran as some distant memory had been rekindled. The thought of seeing justice done surged through him driving away any doubts, “When would you like to see the first one.”
Caran did not look up from the datapad and commented, “I need to be back in the core sectors to report on the murder of Agent Tullet. Not that this is my investigation you understand. So now would be a suitable time.”
*************************
The Teladi tried to look defiant in the room that now acted as a cell for the four prisoners. However Tor could see a flicker of uncertain fear reflected in the reptilian eyes as he was led by two security guards wielding stun batons, silently down several corridors. Made to face the doorway before it opened there was a momentary pause. The teladi shuffled uneasily until the door slid to one side.
Caran was leaning against the back wall with datapad in hand. The Teladi took a moment to view the empty room and his eyes widened when he realized who was waiting for him.
“Please come in Zeelanamoula,” The words appeared to freeze the Teladi to the spot until he was pushed forward whereupon he turned on his heels and tried to escape whilst shouting, “Noooo.”
The prisoners made it half way along the corridor when Sweety transported him back into the room. Still running as fast as he could the Teladi went straight into the wall and bounced back crashing to the floor in an ungainly heap. Caran said unsympathetically, “There’s no point running,” The door closed.
Tor had expected to hear cries of pain and pleading, but Sweety had applied a noise dampening field inside the room.
When the door did open after the five Mizura the prisoner was sitting on the floor rocking backwards and forwards still watching Caran, who did not appear to have moved.
The two security guards stepped forward and standing either side they lifted the Teladi to his feet. The prisoner whimpered slightly and with a look of unhappy resignation was guided away. Tor looked at Caran then at the state of the room almost expecting to see blood on the walls and floor but there was none, “How did it go?”
Caran did not look up straight away, slowly he put his pad away and gave Tor a penetratingly thoughtful look and said slowly, “Perhaps I need to add your name to the list.”
Tor gave a nervous laugh, “If there’s anything you want to know just ask.”
Caran moved forward and stepped out of the room but as he passed Tor he commented quietly, “Good, I’d hate to think you’re hiding something from me.”
The cleaners entered the room and began to polish the floor. Although it only took two Mizura to complete Caran waited another six before requesting the second prisoner was brought forward. This time Liann was to be present to witness the interview. When Tor asked why Caran responded, “A legal technicality that a male interrogator cannot interview a female prisoner alone. It has to be done with another woman being present to ensure nothing unsavoury or degrading takes place.”
When the cell door opened the three remaining prisoners looked round expectantly, but when they saw that Zeelanamoula was not with them Daraman asked, “What have you done with him.”
Tor looked at him and without feeling or emotion he commented, “I think you should be more concerned about what’s going to happen to you.”
The young woman called Wilasma said defiantly, “You bastards.”
Tor raised a questioning eyebrow, “I’m sure Feran would have liked hearing you call me that, but if you ever see him again he’d kill you for your failure,” He paused and then added, “As far as the rest of the universe is concerned you’re already dead, just don’t tempt me to prove them right.”
He signalled to the guards who stepped forward with stun sticks buzzing. Tor looked into the defiant eyes of Wilasma and said, “Follow me,” The look of defiance faded to fear.
Once again the prisoner faced the door. She glanced around nervously before it opened. The effect was profound when she recognised Caran standing on the opposite side of the room. All the colour appeared to drain from her face and Tor felt almost certain she was about to faint.
Caran said casually, “Please step inside Miss Wilasma I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
Unlike the Teladi who tried to run, she took a deep breath, stepped forward and the door closed behind her. Again there was no sound coming from the room and Tor just had to be patient, he was reasonably certain that Caran knew about the Sentinel but how he was going to explain having it was another problem.
Having seen the effect the interview had with the Teladi, Tor wondered what condition the current interviewee would be in. After the five Mizura passed the door slid open.
Again Caran was leaning against the wall not having appeared to move. Liann was standing to one side talking to him quietly she stopped as soon as the guards stepped into the room and even she looked pale. The prisoner was sat against the opposite wall with her head in her hands. Once again the guards helped her up and with dragging footsteps they led her away.
The big agent led Liann out of the room but before she left them, Caran commented gently, “I appreciate your assistance but I need you to say nothing about the interview to anyone, and if you’re up to it I will need your help with the second woman.”
Tor was surprised to see Liann give a feint smile and nod.
Caran gave her a smile and commented softly, “Good, go get yourself a drink and I’ll let you know when.” His expression hardened as he turned to face Tor and asked, “Are you ready to chat now or do you want to wait until I’ve finished?”
Looking into the face of Caran, Tor commented, “I guess this is about the Sentinel?”
Caran neither nodded nor showed any sign of acknowledgement, he simply loomed and somehow seemed both taller and broader. Tor felt oppressed and that somehow the feeling would not leave him if he did not try to explain, “We found it and brought it back so we could find out more about it.”
At that moment Tor could have sworn he saw the artificial eye glow, he blinked and shook his head quickly and pondered that it must have been a trick of the light, still he was standing with his back to the wall and could retreat no further.
Carans words sliced through the space between them, “Found Mr Grall?”
The words just tumbled from Tors’ lips, “Creed found a gate in the nebula, it’s damaged and only appears periodically, but it leads to another sector. We found it on an abandoned station.”
Caran stepped back and looked thoughtful, “Creed did like his little secrets. I find it incredible that you managed to discover alien technology and in astonishingly short time managed to master the finer details of programming, in what must have been a completely unknown language,” He paused, “This revelation may just save you from explaining how you come to have implemented an outlawed security system. Still we shall have time to discuss the finer points later.”
Tors’ jaw dropped he could have kicked himself and he almost definitely heard the comm system give a heavy sigh. Somewhere inside he knew Sweety would now give him a hard time and for a moment he could not decide which was worse. Slowly a smile crept across his face and then he gave a brief laugh before saying cheerfully, “You really need to show me how to do that looming thing. It’s very good.”
Caran said nothing for a moment but studied Tors’ face for signs of temporary insanity and then gave a half smile, “Laughter in the face of adversity can be a very effective defence Mr Grall,” He paused, “But I think to loom properly you’ll need to be stretched and broadened before you can hope to get it right. However there are other ways.”
Tor was now relaxed again and still smiling said, “Come on let’s have a drink and I’ll tell you about the other sector.”
“Not yet Tor, I think we should finish the interviews first,” Caran spoke casually and added, “I need to re-familiarise myself with Daramans’ accomplishments before the next interview. So I’ll comm you when I’m ready.”
Tor took this as his cue to leave. He avoided going anywhere that Sweety would be able to have a private chat and ended up in the pilots bar drinking a hot and spicy Garrow root cha. After eight Mizura the call came and once again Tor found himself standing outside the last two prisoners’ cell accompanied by two security guards wielding charged stun batons.
The door opened and Daraman ceased pacing the room whilst Helass sat nervously biting her finger nails. Tor felt a pang of sorrow for the girl as somewhere deep down inside she simply did not fit the mould for being an assault trooper. However as he looked at Daramans’ expression the feeling faded in the reflection that they had both donned the suits, carried weapons and fired them, perhaps killing several of his own people.
Tor signalled to the man, and he strode with purpose, head held high with resolve and defiance burning in his eyes. Once again the door opened and Caran stood casually against the back wall, he requested, “Please step inside Daraman.”
For once the expression on the prisoners face did not change but he said out loud, “What is this some kind of a joke, and who the hell is he?”
Caran answered casually, “Mr Grall, I strongly advise you to have some medics on hand.”
Daraman scoffed, but Tor could see a hint of nervousness in the eyes. The prisoner stood still and commented loudly, “I’m a prisoner of war and I have rights.”
Tor gave Daraman a helpful push into the room and as the door closed he commented, “I’ll let Mr Belign introduce himself.”
=======================
Tor waited patiently with the two guards who were quietly chatting when the medical team turned up un-requested. The guards stopped talking and looked at Tor who felt the blood drain from his face.
The lead medic looked at all three men and commented, “Someone called?”
The three looked at each other perplexed when Sweety commented over the comm, “Location incorrect, casualty on level ten section delta.”
The medics looked at each other, muttered, shrugged their shoulders and then marched off toward the shuttle lift. Tor commented under his breath as his heart beat returned to normal, “You did that deliberately to upset me.”
Sweety said nothing. When the five Mizuras ended Caran stepped out of the room and looked around, he signalled to a man hurrying down the corridor towards them. The medic dashed past as Caran stepped out of the way and Tor suddenly felt sick.
“Everything okay?” Caran asked quietly. Tor looked at him but was unable to speak. The big agent leant close to Tor and added quietly, “Getting information out of people isn’t always about looking big and threatening Mr Grall, sooner or later someone will try and call the bluff. It is simply unfortunate when they find out you’re not bluffing.” He paused for a moment, “But don’t worry, I didn’t do anything to the boy. All you need to do is examine his medical history, and I’m still impressed on how much you managed to find out.”
Caran walked away and Tor watched him leave, ‘only one more’ he thought to himself, ‘just one more’.
This time when he approached the bar he ordered an extra large spacefuel with a large glass of ale to wash it down with. The pilot serving as temporary barman asked, “Bay day in the office?”
Tor took a sip of the spirit and sighed, “I’m just hoping it’s not going to get any worse.”
The pilot who Tor now recognised as Mathos stepped out from the bar carrying a drink and patted him on the shoulder before wandering off. Tor looked down the bar and realized no one was serving and in essence it was a free for all but at this moment he did not care.
He was just contemplating finding a quiet room so he could have a private chat with Sweety after all when he received the call for the last prisoner to be taken to the interview room.
Tor looked at the remaining ale and resisted the temptation to drain the glass, he stood up and took a deep breath, and after a Mizura found himself once again in front of the holding cell, the two guards looked resolute in their duty and the door opened.
Helass jumped to her feet, she tried to compose herself and put on a brave face, but the terror in her eyes spoke volumes and the pity inside began to rise to the surface once again. The memory that connected reading that this girl was captured in a pirate attack on a transport jumped to the surface. Once again the thought that she had been involved in the attack on the station and potentially killed some of his crew drove the feeling of pity to one side. This time however the doubt surfaced that she was only a foot soldier obeying orders and he could not be certain that she killed anyone.
Tor looked at her for a few moments and in a much gentler voice commented, “Follow me.”
The distinct lack of enthusiasm in his voice somehow gave Helass a small glimmer of hope. She glanced questioningly at Tor as he stopped her in front of the door and stepped to one side, but he did not look at her. The door opened and she turned her head and gasped.
Carans’ voice requested, “Please step inside Helass.”
The girl dropped to her knees and shook her head before grabbing the leg of Tors’ trousers and looked up at him murmuring, “No. Please no. Not this.” Tor gritted his teeth and resolutely tried not to look into the girls tear filled face.
The two guards moved forward, but it was Caran Beligns’ voice that stopped them, “Leave her!”
Tor looked forward towards Caran and tried to ignore the soft cries of, “Please,” That sliced into his conscious worse than any physical cut. Caran just looked back the expression hard and unforgiving. Liann also watched him carefully, her expression a mask of uncertain fearfulness and Tor had the distinct feeling that all eyes were on him as his eyes were fixed on the agent.
Caran stepped forward, “Compassion Mr Grall? She’s a trooper that attacked this station. Many people died here and yet,” Caran paused for effect, “You let the tears and soft cries of a weeping woman cloud your judgement.”
Tor closed his eyes and tried to step away, but she had taken hold of his left ankle. He began to lean down in order to pull Helasss’ hands from his ankle when Caran commented quietly but firmly, “No Mr Grall, don’t touch her. Step into the room and drag her along if she refuses to let go.”
Tor stood upright again and did as Caran suggested, this time the girl let his ankle slip through her hands. He spoke to Caran whilst trying to muster a hard edge to his tone even though his heart was no longer in it, “I can have her transported into the room if you want.”
“No Mr Grall,” Caran replied and addressing the young woman directly he spoke with a firm but not unkind voice, “Helass I can assure you that I intend you no harm as I have enough information from your companions for my reports. Please take a moment to compose yourself, this chat is a mere formality and I can either tell you the charges brought against you in front of one witness in which case they will not be officially recorded and you will be allowed your say. Or I can read them here with everyone present and that is what you will be prosecuted and found guilty of.”
Tor looked slightly surprised as did Liann at Carans’ sudden change of tack and turned to watch Helass. She slowly moved to a sitting position and looked up through red, puffy eyes at Caran, several tears trickled down and she sniffed loudly whilst dabbing them away with her cuff.
Caran returned to leaning against the wall and although his expression was still stern he commented gently, “That’s better. When you’re ready come forward and I assure you this won’t take long.”
Tor had to stop himself from stepping forward and helping Helass to her feet, the look of fear was still strong in her face and as she crossed the threshold Tor stepped out of the room and the door closed.
The two security guards looked at him and appeared to reflect his own thoughts. Turrak, the older of the two guards being in his early forties, stocky and with flecks of grey in his receding hair line, asked the question on all their minds, “What’s she doing here Sir? How the hell does someone like her even get considered suitable as an assault trooper?”
Standing with his back to the door, Tor replied quietly, “I have no idea, but she’s here so I guess she must have some aptitude for something.”
The three of them fell silent for a moment as each one considered the last thought. After a Mizura the younger guard, Shelton also of stocky build, in his late twenties with thick brown hair and a thin pale white scar over his left eye commented, “What do you think he does to them in there?”
Tor reflected on how to answer this even though he had never witnessed an interview by Caran, he said, “He gets them to talk.”
Shelton replied with a slight shrug, “Yeah but what type of questions does he ask?”
Tor fixed Shelton with a long stare before he answered, “What makes you think he asks questions?”
The guard slowly went pale, “Yeah but surely that would be against the law?”
Looking away Tor answered quietly with a bitter tone and a wry smile, “As far as Caran is concerned he is the law, and I’m pretty certain that if you’re ever in there with him that’s the only law you’ll care about.”
+++++++++++++++++
Five Mizuras slipped by. Tor and the guards readied themselves but this time the door did not open. They looked at each other anxiously, Tor checked his time piece. By the time ten Mizuras had passed Tor was pacing the corridor. A few Mizuras later and he was glancing around expectantly for the medics to appear.
“Sweety what’s going on?” Tor asked quietly near one of the com units.
“I’m not allowed to say,” Sweety whispered back softly.
Trying not to raise his voice above a whisper Tor commented harshly, “If there’s anything bad going on in there then I want to know.”
Sweety replied gently, “Well perhaps you should have looked over the prisoners records and interviewed them yourself before handing them over to the service.”
Tor responded in the same harsh whisper, “Sweety, I’d rather you don’t play on my conscience right now and just tell me what the hell is going on.”
There was a certain finality in Sweetys’ response, “Nothing that you would not approve of.”
“You know I think I’ll have you unplugged for a while,” It was the only threat that Tor could think of and even then he doubted that he would have it carried out. Sweety did not respond.
The interrogation ended after thirty Mizuras and Tor had to push himself up from his seated position on the floor. For once, the prisoner was still standing and the look that she gave Tor was more of worry and concern than fear.
He sighed heavily when Caran commented, “Tor please step inside. I would like a little chat,” He looked slightly alarmed but stepped forward without any sign of hesitation and the door closed behind him.
Taking the fact that Liann was still in the room as a good sign Tor asked, “So what now?”
Caran looked at his datapad for a moment and then at Tor. Speaking reasonably slowly he commented, “We have an interesting situation developing.” He paused for a moment.
Tor chipped in, “How do you mean?”
Caran continued, “When your computer highlighted that these four would give you the least trouble it was for a reason. The second and the third one that were interviewed are on their first active mission. Feran has to train new blood somehow and active service is a quick if not brutal way to see if potential troopers are up to the task. The first and the last are computer hackers their job is to break into the station computers, get past any security protocols and shut down defensive systems or reprogram them to identify enemies as allies and vice versa,” Caran paused before adding, “Those two were in the team that attacked the control room where you were.”
Tors’ opinion was changing once again and he remarked bitterly, “So which one hit me with the rifle butt?” He noted that Liann looked away when he asked the question.
Caran thought for a moment and looked around the room as if only now taking in the details for the first time, “Perhaps we should discuss this in more amenable surroundings.”
Tor thought for a moment, “My own office has been set up for the wake. I’ll get the things moved to the pilot bar so we can use that.”
Caran suddenly looked at Tor with a questioning glance, “No Tor! I hadn’t realized you were planning on one so soon.”
Tor gave a half hearted smile, “Yeah in the next half Stazura.”
Caran put the pad into his pocket and stood up straight and stepped forward. He put his left hand on Tors left shoulder, the door opened and without another word he walked out of the room. Liann and Tor looked at each other completely lost for words.
“What the hell happened there?” Tor eventually asked quietly and Liann shrugged her shoulders.
Sweety broke the silence and spoke softly, “You are taking time to remember the dead. It is something he did not do when he lost his wife.”
There was an uneasy silence after this, and although Tor wanted to ask Liann what Caran was going to talk to him about, he decided that he would wait until the big agent was ready. Instead he commented to Liann, “Can I get you a drink?”
As time slipped by Tor noticed new faces on the station and he asked Liann, “Who are these people?”
She answered, “They’re from the Crystal Fab.” And sure enough as he looked around the bar he saw some agent faces that he had seen on the Boron Shipyard. Then he saw a few military pilots and Tris, she smiled and gave a quick wave just before his view was obscured by the imposing figure of Broden.
Tor glanced up questioningly and saw Broden shoot Liann a quick glance before his eyes darted back to Tor and said, “Don’t mind if I join you?”
With a smile Tor stood up and replied casually, “Take my seat, I need to go mingle.”
Tor carried his ale out to the security dock and looked around. The X-shuttle was missing and he wandered over to a comm panel and asked quietly, “Where’s Caran?”
Sweety answered, “If my scan is correct he is back in Argon Prime. Do you want me to call him?”
Tor sighed and commented, “No that’s okay.”
Tris tapped him on the shoulder, “Hi Tor.”
A smile crept over his face as he turned and said as enthusiastically as he could, “Tris! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She smiled back and replied, “Most of us knew someone that was either hurt or…” She let the sentence hang.
The smile faded as swiftly as it appeared on Tors face his thoughts and feelings mixed. He sighed again, saying, “It’s tough being in charge and I don’t like this job anymore.”
Tris looked at him sternly, “You’re doing okay. You managed to keep the station from being taken over and most of your people are alive against all the odds because you managed to keep your head and didn’t give in.”
Tor gave a half hearted smile and responded, “I had help,” He paused briefly and added, “Unfortunately the person responsible is still out there.”
Tris gave him an encouraging smile and commented, “We’ll get him don’t you worry about that.”
He looked into her green eyes and asked, “Can I get you a drink?” Tris nodded and they made their way back to the bar.
Time passed quickly once they found a place to sit and chatted until it was time for the remembrance ceremony to begin.
The three Pegasus ships had returned with yet more station supplies from the core sectors and so had Caran. Having sent his initial draft report on the incident to the various officials, he then made his excuses and returned in order to show his last respects to Agent Tullet.
The Paranid priest gave a brief eulogy on each of the station personnel and the two Paranid visitors that had been killed and although each one was brief it took over forty Mizura to cover them all. The priest then concluded the ceremony by reading the Service of Ascension in the native Paranid language with a final statement in Argon, “Let us remember the dead as they were in life. Take honour in knowing their names and let us enjoy the lives we have,” After this the priest moved slowly through the gathering, smiling benevolently and making eye contact with each and every individual.
The wake was noisy and lively as the crew appeared to have taken the ‘enjoy life’ message to heart. Some of them had retrieved a mix of various musical instruments and although they occasionally went out of sync with each other, they played a number of favourite songs and generally just jammed.
At some point in the proceedings someone had let slip that Tor could play the Guilard and he found himself being persuaded to play something and then some more. The rest of the musicians allowed him to get carried away with several solo pieces without him even noticing they had stopped during some particularly difficult riffs. Several of the female coordinators had taken to dancing on the table with the rotating holo-image of the Sentinel standing victorious over the Devastator. They also added the vocal backing to several of the songs, and each time Tor finished a piece there was applause and a stamping of feet whilst he allowed the final notes to linger and die off slowly. Whisky and ale flowed and the food trays were stripped bare of every morsel. How long the wake lasted no one knew or cared.
When Tor eventually woke up, he was unable to move as no part of his body seemed capable of obeying any instructions from his brain. Not that it was trying particularly hard. Slowly he realized, as he gently forced his eyes open, that he had not made to his bed and it was still a couple of metres away from where he lay. However someone else had made it the extra distance as their pilot boots hung off the end of the bed. Tor moved slowly trying not to upset any part of his body. As far as he could tell he was still drunk and slowly he collapsed down to the floor again.
Too bad.
evil man
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