Part 6
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The lancer pods landed a short distance from the Maru. Dylan, Tyr, Rommie, and Harper approached the damaged ship cautiously.
"I can detect no life forms in the vicinity," Rommie stated.
"O.K. people let's get on board and access the damage," Dylan said.
"And what of Captain Valentine?" Tyr asked.
"As much as I hate the idea, there isn't much we can do about finding her until morning," Dylan replied.
****
An hour later:
"Well Doctor Harper," Dylan said, "What's the diagnosis?"
"Best thing we could do for her is a proper burial," Harper sighed. "But since Beka would dig my grave right beside the Maru. I guess I better be ready to pull off a miracle. Give me a day or two and I can probably get her back to the Andromeda. After that it will take a lot longer to complete all the repairs necessary for her to make a longer trip that that."
****
Beka awoke with the strangest feeling of being watched. She opened her eyes slowly only to realize she was alone. Despite the protests of her aching body she rose from the bed and ventured into the living area of the small cottage. She heard soft voices coming from behind a door to her left. Approaching slowly she pushed the door open as quietly as she could. Neffa stood with her back to Beka talking to several men from the village. Beka recognized one of them as the man that had told her of the Maru's condition.
"What if we are wrong? What if she cannot fulfill the requirements for the Giving?" asked the man Beka recognized.
"Then we are doomed, Pello. She is our last chance. Time is running out for us." Neffa replied. "Be ready in two hours. Lord Tourk is waiting for us."
Beka backed away form the door and returned to the bedroom before she could be noticed.
"Now what did she mean by that? Beka wondered. "And why am I getting the idea that meeting this Tourk guy is a bad idea?"
****
After only a few hours rest the crew of the Andromeda was awake and making plans for retrieving their lost crewmate.
"Alright, Harper," said Dylan, "Do your best to get the Maru ready to move. Rommie stay and help him. Tyr and I will make our way to the settlement and see about Beka. If we run into any trouble getting her back we will contact you immediately."
"Good luck, Dylan," Rommie said.
"Thanks. Lets just hope we don't need it," He replied.
"Ready Tyr?" Dylan asked looking at his weapons officer.
"I am a Nietzschean. I am always ready," Tyr answered before turning and walking in the direction of the settlement Andromeda had detected.
"Ooh boy, this is going to be fun," Dylan muttered before following Tyr.
****
"Goddess are you awake?" Neffa asked, entering the small bedroom where Beka had slept.
"Yes," Beka replied. "I was going to get dressed but I can't seem to find my clothes."
"They were ruined, My Lady. I have something over here you can wear." She turned to a small chest in the corner of the room. Opening it she removed several items bringing them over to Beka. " These belonged to my daughter. I am sure they will fit you."
"Thank you but will you please call me Beka. All this Goddess and My Lady stuff just isn't me."
"As you wish Go.. I mean Beka."
Beka took the small pile of clothes and walked behind the changing screen.
A moment later she asked, "Neffa, you must have something else I can wear. These clothes seem a bit over-done to me."
Beka walked from behind the screen. She was wearing a maroon colored dress made from a soft, filmy material. It reached her ankles and had a full skirt with several layers of lace underneath. The bodice was very low-cut and showed a bit more of herself than Beka was comfortable showing.
"You are beautiful, My Lady. You must look your best when you meet our God Tourk."
"Yeah about that. I am not sure that is such a good idea. My friends will be wondering where I am. They will be looking for me and I should really return to my ship and let them know I am alive."
"But you must meet Lord Tourk. He has already sent word that he is awaiting your visit anxiously. He will be very upset if you do not visit him."
"But my friends," Beka began to say.
"I will send Pello back to your ship. If your friends show up looking for you he will be able to assure them that you are well and can bring them to the palace. Now we must get you something to eat. It would be considered extremely rude to keep the Lord waiting."
Saying this Neffa turned and left. Beka had little choice but to follow.
****
Part 7
****
Trance stood on the command deck. She was silent and had a very worried expression on her face. She was so deep in thought she did not notice when Rev Bem entered command and approached her.
"Why so quiet?" Rev asked, causing Trance to jump slightly.
"Oh, hi Rev. I was just. .thinking."
"About anything in particular?"
"Not really. I am just worried about Beka."
"Why are you so concerned Trance?" Andromeda's hologram form inquired. "Is there something about the Palorians that you didn't tell Dylan and the others? If there is you should really tell us now."
"No there isn't anything. Well not anything that would be important. At least I don't think it would be important. And its not like I know for sure. Just rumors and stories and and stuff." Trance was rambling and she knew it. She wanted to tell them but what would she say without making them even more suspicious of her than they already were.
"Perhaps you should tell us what you know and let us decide whether it is important or not." Rev said. "If nothing else it will make you feel better knowing you did everything you could to help get Beka back."
Trance was silent for a moment as she considered what Rev said. She really didn't want anything to happen to Beka. Making up her mind she began talking.
"Alright but you have to understand that what I am saying is simply stories I heard as a child. They may or may not be true. I have no proof of these stories and we aren't even certain that those people are the Palorians."
"We understand that Trance." Andromeda replied. "Just tell us what you know."
"What Harper found in the archives is essentially true. But the archives left out some details. The Palorians didn't simply use up a planet's resources and then move on. They stole the very life source of the planet. After the life source was depleted the planet became uninhabitable. No crops would grow and the water and air would become poisoned. The technology mentioned, the energy source you couldn't identify, was a type of magic."
"Trance there is no such thing as magic." Andromeda interrupted. "I am sure that it is simply a form of science not yet identified."
"Do you want to hear my story or not?" Trance asked.
"Please continue."
"As I was saying, the stories claimed it was magic that the Palorians used. Magic stolen from the very core of the planet they were living on. The Palorians were very bad people. They had many beliefs and ceremonies that offended anyone who heard of them. Beliefs that included the sacrifice of livestock as well as other living creatures. They performed rituals that were an offense against nature itself. The Palorians were said to live very long lives. Because of their magic they were nearly impossible to kill. So about one thousand years ago another race of people decided to put a stop to the horrors the Palorians were performing. My.. The other race destroyed the source of their magic as well as the knowledge to reclaim that power." Trance hesitated a moment as if not sure she wanted to continue. Neither Andromeda nor Rev mentioned the little slip of the tongue she had made but both had noticed it and filed it away for a later date. "Then they took away all the female Palorians ability to reproduce."
"But if that is true then the people down on that planet could not be Palorians. Unless, Trance when you said they lived long lives, just how long did you mean?" Rev asked.
"Thousands of years." She replied quietly.
"Then those could very well be them. But that would also mean they have found a way to recover this, magic, as you called it."
"Yes and that is exactly why I am so worried."
****
Tyr was actually having problems keeping up with Dylan. Dylan was barely watching where he was going. All he was concentrating on was getting to the village as quickly as possible. Tyr finally caught up with him and pulled him to a stop.
"I think a little more caution may be warranted." Tyr said.
"There may not be any time for caution if the information Andromeda relayed about Trance's theory is correct. If these people are the Palorians Beka may be in danger."
"If these people are the Palorians then that is all the more reason for caution. We will do Beka no good if we get ourselves captured or killed. I will not needlessly risk my life and neither should you."
Dylan wanted nothing more at that moment than to argue with Tyr but he knew he was correct. They needed to assess the situation before they went barging in with swords drawn. But he could not stand the thought of what may be happening to Beka while they took their time getting to her.
After several minutes of silence he answered Tyr. "Fine we will move slower and with more caution. But when we find her all bets are off."
He then turned and began making his way toward the village again, this time staying within the cover of the trees. After a brief hesitation Tyr followed him.
****
Pello and his companions waited, hidden from sight on the side of the road. His scout had returned only moments ago. The Goddess' two companions would arrive within minutes and Pello would be ready to greet them.
****
Beka wished they would just kill her. It would be much kinder than the torture she was enduring at the moment.
"Neffa how much longer must this go on?" she pleaded to know.
"We will be there within the half hour Lady Beka." Neffa replied turning around on her horse to look at Beka.
Beka groaned aloud. It was bad enough that she was forced to ride this smelly beast when her entire body was already bruised and sore from the crash. But to be forced to do so in this horrible dress was simply too much.
"If I survive this trip I am never coming planet side again as long as I live." She thought to herself. "And if anyone tries to make they will die a horrible painful death."
****
Part 8
****
The ambush was well thought-out. It was a simple plan and was carried out to perfection. The fighting itself was brutal but short lived. When the conflict ended only the ones who made the plan and carried it out were left standing. The victims had had no warning of the onslaught and had no real chance of defending themselves until it was too late.
The light haired man groaned softly as he regained consciousness. Every part of his body ached and his leg felt as though it were on fire. He tried to remember what had occurred. He seemed to remember hearing the soft snap of a twig. He remembered turning toward the sound and then suddenly falling, as his leg no longer would support his weight and his head exploded with pain. After that he remembered only blackness. Slowly opening his eyes he looked up to see his attacker looking down upon him.
"This one is awake now." A dark haired man said to his companion.
"Good," replied the voice of another man. "Let's find out what he can tell us and quickly. We can waste no more time here."
"Now listen to me and listen well. You will have one chance to answer our questions. If we are not satisfied with your reply we will finish what we started. Do you understand?" said the first.
Though it caused him great pain the poor man lying in the dirt nodded his head.
The unseen man approached and asked, " Why were you waiting in hiding to attack us?"
"How did you know?" the injured man asked clearly shocked.
Tyr laughed condescendingly. "We spotted your pitiful excuse for a scout before he ever saw us. We then followed him back to you."
"Tell us why you were waiting to ambush us. And then tell me where the Hell Beka is." Dylan screamed.
Without waiting for an answer he grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and dragged him up until they were face to face.
"Tell me!" he screamed again.
The injured man could barely breathe. His vision swam before his eyes at the sudden movement.
"Dylan, be calm." Tyr said while lazily sharpening a knife against a stone, "We will get no answers if you cause him to pass out again. And I do not believe that the only other living one will awake anytime soon."
Dylan took a deep breath and released the man who immediately fell back to the ground.
"You question him then, Tyr, but I will wait only ten more minutes. Then I am going after her with or without your help."
Dylan then turned his back to both men and walked a little ways down the path. He sat down on a large stone and dropped his head into his hands. He did not understand why he was acting this way. Always before when presented with a dangerous situation he had been able to keep his cool and react with wisdom or at least with a little knowledge and a lot of luck, assuring that he and his allies were on the winning side. Now he simply could not think straight. Imagine Tyr telling him to keep his cool. He almost laughed aloud at the absurdity of the situation.
"I don't understand what is happening." He thought to himself. "I mean I know Beka is a part of my crew but I have lost crew members or had their lives endangered before and been able to distance myself until I did what needed to be done."
"But she isn't just any member of your crew," Another part of him argued.
"No she isn't. She is a friend. A very good friend of course," He countered.
"And is that all she is? Just a friend? Or has she come to mean more to you after all this time?"
The other part of his brain remained silent. He simple could not answer that question. He simply WOULD not answer that question. Not even to himself.
Tyr approached Dylan, as he remained sitting deep in thought. Tyr understood what was going on in Dylan's mind. He had watched Dylan's feelings for Beka grow and change over the past months. He had also observed that Beka's feelings seemed to mirror Dylan's. But he knew they were both too stubborn to admit it. Too stubborn and too scared. Tyr didn't blame Dylan for falling for Beka. He had after all, harbored his own attraction for the feisty blonde first officer in the beginning. But after that ill-fated dinner he had realized that she would never be a match for him. Or rather that she was perhaps too much of a match for him. He laughed silently at the direction his thoughts had taken him. He only hoped they were in time to save Beka from whatever fate the Palorians had planned for her. He had seen what losing Sarah had done to Dylan. He was unsure if the man could recover from losing another love. Even a love he had so far refused to acknowledge, even to himself.
"We are about a half hour walk from the village." Tyr said startling Dylan out of his silent contemplation. "But they have already taken her to the royal palace to meet the ruler of this world. Our friend back there called him "God Tourk".
"And just where are we to find this "Tourk"? Dylan asked rising quickly.
"We must obtain horses from the village. After that it is a two-hour ride to the palace. But after that warm reception from the welcoming party, I do not believe getting the horses will be an easy task."
"Since when is anything we have to do, easy?" Dylan asked with a groan.
**** Beka watched the palace grow closer with each second. The trepidation she had felt earlier about being brought here had grown ten-fold. Something bad was going to happen to her at this place and she was unsure if she could handle it on her own.
"Please, Dylan," she pleaded silently, "If ever there was a time for you to play hero, I think this is it."
****
Part 9
****
Harper looked around in dismay. Nearly every part of the Maru was broken, battered or just plain beyond repair. If he didn't know just how much this pile of junk meant to Beka he would simply throw his hands up in despair. Still, he was never one for walking away from an engineering challenge. Rolling up his sleeves, he turned to Rommie.
"Let's get this show on the road Rom-doll. Stand back and let Seamus Harper show you just how much of a genius he really is."
"Whatever you say Harper," Rommie said with a sigh.
****
Beka was grateful when the riding party came to a stop before the palace. As unsure as she was about being brought here, she did not think she could ride for another minute. But then as she dismounted she was equally unsure if she could stand at all.
"Are you all right my Lady?" a woman from the palace asked. She appeared to be only slightly older than Beka.
"Sure, just a little saddle sore." Beka replied looking up at the young woman. "You look very familiar. Do I know you?"
"This is my daughter Reenia." Replied Neffa proudly. "She is the palace doctor."
"I am pleased to meet you Goddess. I am here to serve you and to help you in the coming times."
"What exactly do you mean by "the coming times"? I am not staying here. I have to return to my ship and my friends." Beka was becoming extremely agitated. The uneasy feeling she had been experiencing was now a full-blown desire to get as far from these people as possible. 'Exactly what need am I to have for a doctor?' she wondered.
"Ahh, but my dear, surely you would not deprive us of a beauty such as yours. Especially before we were even properly introduced." Said a soft male voice from behind Beka.
Turning, Beka saw what she could only describe as 'the most beautiful man alive.'
He was well over six feet tall and broad of shoulder. His skin held a deep bronze glow. He had shoulder length jet-black hair that ended in soft curls. And his eyes were so green she felt as though she were staring into the depths of a lush jungle. He wore leather pants and a soft silken shirt that was the same color as his eyes. A small gold crown circled his brow and a cape embroidered with gold trim completed the outfit.
"I am Tourk." He said taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. "And you must be our Sky Goddess, come to us when we need you most."
For a brief moment Beka was speechless, just gazing into his eyes. Then she quickly collected herself and standing taller she answered him in her typical abrupt fashion.
"Actually I am Captain Rebeka Valentine. I am not a Goddess, Sky or otherwise and the only needs I am concerned with at this moment are my own."
Instead of being offended, Tourk threw back his head and laughed. It was not an embarrassed or condescending laugh but one which was deep, rich, and full.
****
Dylan and Tyr walked into the village with their weapons at ready. There had been no choice of approaching stealthily as only open fields and meadows surrounded the village.
The people came out of their cottages to stare openly at the two strangers but no one challenged them. When they reached the center of town they waited uncertainly to see if anyone would speak. After a moment of silence Dylan spoke.
"I want to speak to someone in authority. Who is your leader?"
At first no one answered him. Then the young boy who had assisted Neffa in helping Beka spoke up. "My grandmother, Neffa, is our leader but she is not here."
"Where is she then?" Dylan asked.
"She has journeyed to the palace with the Sky Goddess," Another villager replied.
"The Sky What?" Dylan and Tyr asked simultaneously.
****
Part 10
****
As his laughter died out, Tourk once again took Beka's hand, this time tucking it within the crook of his own. He began leading her toward the steps of the grand palace. An entourage of guards fell into step behind them with Neffa and Reenia bringing up the rear.
"For someone that professes not to be a Goddess you most definitely display the proper attitude for one," Tourk said with a sideways glance at her.
"Well," Beka replied with her trademark grin, "Just because I am not a Goddess, does not mean I do not enjoy behaving as, or being treated as, one."
"And where you come from you are not treated this way?" Tourk asked sounding genuinely surprised.
It was Beka's turn to laugh. "Not hardly."
"My dear, you shall not only be treated as a Goddess but as if you were the most important person in existence." Tourk replied looking at Beka as if she truly were the rarest gem in the universe.
Shivering inwardly at the way Tourk was looking at her and not knowing for sure why it bothered her, Beka asked cautiously, "And just why is that?"
"Because, at this time, on this world, the most important person, is exactly what you are," Tourk answered.
"Why is that no one is able or willing to give me a straight answer?" Beka demanded coming to a complete stop. "I do not know just what you think it is I am here to do but all I want is to return to my ship and get the Hell out of here."
Beka tried to free her arm from Tourk's grasp but he simply tightened his hold on her.
"I am afraid that is not going to be possible" Tourk said raising his voice slightly for the first time. "Please relax, you are in no danger from me or my people." Tourk paused then added softly, "At least not at the moment. As I said, you are very important to us and we cannot allow you to just walk away."
Turning her head slightly, Beka eyed the guards behind her. There were twelve of them and each was armed with a sword and several knives. She was not carrying any weapons.
Turning back to Tourk she demanded again, "Tell me what you want from me."
"All in good time My Goddess. For now let us speak of this no more." Gesturing for Neffa and Reenia he waited until they stood before them. "Reenia has been kind enough to help prepare chambers for your stay with us. She will take you there so you may refresh yourself. You will then join me for the mid-day meal." Without so much as another glance her way he turned and walked away. Half of the guards followed him, leaving the remaining six to guard Beka.
Sighing loudly Beka turned to the other women. "Lead the way since I seem to have no choice in the matter." Echoing Tourk she added softly, "At least not at the moment."
****
Dylan was getting frustrated. They had been trying to get some answers from the villagers for the last quarter of an hour with no luck. None of the people were willing to say anything about their 'Sky Goddess' other than that she was on her way to the palace to meet with 'God Tourk'. No one mentioned the ambush party nor did they seem overly concerned that the ambush had failed to stop Dylan and Tyr.
"Talking is getting us nowhere Dylan." Tyr growled. "I believe now is the time for a more active approach."
The worry and frustration showing clearly on his face, Dylan replied, "For once I agree. However, these people do not seem to care that we are armed. For that matter they do not seem to care about us at all."
As if to prove the validity of his words most of the villagers had returned to the tasks they were doing before the two strangers arrived in their midst.
"If they are so unconcerned with us, why did they send a party to ambush us?" Tyr countered. "For a people who were trying to kill us less than an hour ago this makes no sense."
"No it doesn't." said Dylan. "And that worries me more than if they had attacked us when we arrived."
The young boy approached them and said rather smugly, "I overheard what you said. My grandmother said that you might come to our village. She seemed concerned that you may try to stop our Goddess from arriving at the palace. But it doesn't matter now that she is with Lord Tourk. Our people know you can not stop what must be done."
"And just what exactly is it that your people think Beka can do for you?" Dylan asked suspiciously.
"She will save our people. She will bond with our God and become a part of The Giving. And it is too late for you to stop it." The boy turned and quickly disappeared into one of the cottages leaving the two would-be rescuers standing alone in the middle of the village.
****
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