 |
||||
STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
SEASON THREE
Episode #229
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1991 00:03 MST
From: ALLEN_MK@bronze.Colorado.EDU
Subject: THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM, PART 2 (VERY LONG!!)
The drewid is in the Music Centre, working frantically. She is
trying to programme something into Casanova. Cdr. Larkin, who has
never seen the drewid work this hard in her life, stops by to
investigate.
drewid: (flustered) Uh...nothing, Commander. Just...uh...just
programming some new stuff into Casanova.
Larkin: (somewhat bewildered) Very good. Carry on, drewid.
drewid: Yes, sir.
The commander leaves, and the drewid er-enters the sub-programme
she had been working on.
drewid: Casanova, I need to get into the red file.
Casanova: The RED file? Are you sure? That file hasn't been
used since....
drewid: I KNOW, Casanova. Just give me access, please!
Casanova: (suspiciously) What are you up to?
drewid: Listen, Casanova. Eliana's husband is lost somewhere out
in the outer reaches of the galaxy, and I've promised to
help her find him. I need access to the red file to help
me do that. Understand?
Casanova: No. Why is this so important to you? He's HER husband.
drewid: I know. (long pause) But this is something I need to
do. And besides, she's my friend. Now are you going to
open the file, or do I have to programme some more of
that John Denver music into your memory banks?
Casanova: (horrified) I'll do it! I'll do it! Accessing...
Something resembling a nautical chart appears on the screen.
drewid: Brilliant. There it is.
[ic] Counselor, would you please report to the music centre?
A few moments later Eliana enters, looking apprehensive but hopeful.
Eliana: You've done it?
drewid: See what you can make of this. (indicates the chart)
Eliana looks over the screen carefully.
Eliana: What part of the galaxy is this?
drewid: Casanova?
Casanova: This is the Large Magellanic Cloud and its environs.
Eliana: See if you can find the system around the planet Xavion.
Casanova: Hmmmm.... Let me see..... Ah, yes. Here it is.
A different segment of the map appears on the screen.
Eliana scans the graph ecstatically for quite a while, but then
falls back disappointed.
Eliana: (sighing) He's not there.
drewid: (quickly) Don't give up yet. Casanova, try the Anterea system.
Casanova: (shudders) I don't know why you'd want to know
anything about that place.
drewid: (noticing the look of shock on Eliana's face) (shouting) CASANOVA!
Casanova: (apologetically) Oops. Sorry, I'm sure. Here.
The screen changes again.
Suddenly, the Counselor's emerald necklace begins to glow.
Eliana: AREN!!
drewid: He's THERE?
Eliana: (excitedly) YES, YES, YES! HE'S THERE! OH, AREN!
She faints. The drewid catches her as she falls.
drewid: [ic] Dr. Feelgood, you're needed in the Music Centre!
(to Casanova) Quick! Hide that programme!
---------------------------------------------------------------
STAR TREK: THE CROUTON GENERATION
The Storm Before the Calm, Part 2
By Sue Gilliam and Melinda K. Allen
Starring
The drewid
Counselor Eliana
Captain Richard Muirden
Commander Tim Larkin
Lt. Kerry Hoke
Admiral Avenger
Guest starring
Devyn Lee Gavryth as Aren
Torin Bannockey as the old Smarag
James Cloyd, Brian Hynden and John Leary as the Anterean soldiers
Directed by CLV Marzano
Music by Colcannon and the Clancy Brothers
Lighting by General Electric
---------------------------------------------------------------
In the Infirmary
drewid: How is she, doctor?
Dr. Feelgood: She'll be all right. She's had quite a shock
though. What happened?
drewid: I don't know. She was helping me programme some old folk
tunes, and all of a sudden she just gasped and fainted.
Dr. Feelgood: Well, one of those tunes must have brought back
some pretty powerful memories.
drewid: Guess so.
Eliana stirs. The drewid goes over to her bedside.
drewid: Eliana?
Eliana smiles.
Eliana: I'm all right, drewid. (whispers) He's there. And he's ALIVE!
drewid: (loudly, so the others can hear) Just rest. I can
handle the rest of the programming. (whispering) I'm
working on a way to get us over there. You take it easy.
I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully with all the details
worked out.
Eliana: (smiling) Thank you drewid! You're a good friend.
drewid: (embarrassed) Yeah, whatever. Just get some sleep.
(smiles, then turns to leave)
-------------------------------------------------------------
It is midnight. The drewid is in her quarters, poring over some
sort of graph. It is a map of the Anterea system. Eliana has
told her that Aren is on one of the 18 moons of the planet
Anterea. Three of the moons are definitely slave colonies, but no
one really knows about the others. Frustrated, the drewid lets
the map roll up.
drewid: (to herself) Which moon could it be. We'll only have
one chance to get it right! (sighs) Maybe I should go to
the captain about this.
She quickly decides against it, and unrolls the map again.
Suddenly, she jumps and turns. Eliana is standing behind her.
Eliana: Any luck?
drewid: (accusingly) What are you doing here? You're supposed
to be in sickbay recovering from your "fainting spell".
Eliana: I know, but I wanted to help. The doctor said I could go
back to my cabin. I have to check in in the morning, but
other than that, my actions are unhindered.
drewid: (uncertainly) Well, if the doctor says so... (pointing
to the chart) Take a look at this. These three moons
are the known slave colonies. But I should think your
husband, being a servant of the king, would be held
somewhere unknown. Are you sure it's one of these moons?
Eliana: (nodding) Positive. But I think you're right about
him being held somewhere unknown. Can Casanova help?
drewid: Not at the moment. The captain is using him for
something.
Eliana: hmmm...
drewid: Eliana, you said you and Aren are telepathic. Is there
any way you can determine the coordinates of the star
he's on?
Eliana: I can try.
She sits back in the chair and closes her eyes. The drewid places
the map in her hands, then sits back to watch. Eliana moves a
finger across the chart. As she gets closer to the Seventh Moon,
her necklace begins to glow. Her finger hits the Seventh Moon,
and remains there. Smiling, she opens her eyes and looks at the
drewid.
Eliana: (whispering) We've found him!
-------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, the drewid and Eliana meet to discuss a way to get
to the Anterea system without arousing suspicion.
drewid: I've got an idea. Listen...
They are interrupted when the Captain enters the Music Centre. He
pays no attention to them, but looks about for something.
Meanwhile, the drewid whispers the entire plan in Eliana's ear.
Having found what he wanted, the Captain leaves. Eliana is
shaking her head doubtfully.
drewid: Trust me. It may take time, but it'll work all right.
Eliana: I don't know. It just doesn't sound legal.
drewid: No one will get hurt, and they'll understand later!
Please trust me, Eliana.
Eliana: All right, drewid. (sighs) I really hope it works.
------------------------------------------------------------
Later that same day, the drewid is sitting in the lounge,
glowering. Captain Muirden and Lt. Hoke enter.
Muirden: Good afternoon drewid.
Hoke: Hi, drewid!
drewid: Good afternoon, lieutenant. Captain.
She goes back to glowering.
Muirden: Uh...something wrong, drewid?
drewid: Wrong? No, no. Nothing's wrong. Everything's JUST FINE.
Muirden: Ah. (glancing at Lt. Hoke) Well, if there's anything
you'd like to talk about, my door is always open.
The drewid nods but doesn't answer.
The Captain and Lt. Hoke exit the lounge.
Muirden: (sighing and shaking his head) She seemed to be getting
better, too. What a shame.
Hoke: Maybe she's just having an off day. Everyone has them.
Muirden: (sighs) I hope so. I sincerely hope she's not having a
relapse.
The drewid, meanwhile, sits in the lounge smiling to herself.
drewid: (whispering to herself) Plan A is now in operation.
She leaves the lounge through the opposite door. She passes
Eliana in the corridor. They nod to each other, and the Counselor
raises an inquiring eyebrow at the drewid. The drewid winks, and
they continue in opposite directions.
-----------------------------------------------------------
A week later, Muirden summons the Counselor to his quarters.
Muirden: Counselor, I would like to speak to you about Lt. drewid.
Eliana: (sighs) Yes, sir, I know. She's getting bad again.
Muirden: Can you do anything for her?
Eliana: I'm doing my best, sir. It seemed that my counseling was
helping, but now... I don't know. It's a mystery to me.
Muirden: Do you think...(sighs)...Do you think I should send her away?
Eliana: Oh, NO sir! Please don't do that. Not yet. Give me
another week.
Muirden: (uncertainly) Well, if you say so, Counselor. But if she
creates just one more disturbance, out she goes. Understood?
Eliana: Yes, sir. I'll go see her now.
Muirden: Thank you. Dismissed, Counselor.
Eliana hurries out of the room and nearly collides with the drewid
in the corridor. She motions for the drewid to follow her. They
return to the Counselor's quarters.
drewid: What did he say?
Eliana: Well, your plan is working. He's convinced that you're
back to your "old self" again. He's even contemplating
sending you away.
drewid: Perfect. What else did he say?
Eliana: He said one more slip-up and you're history.
drewid: (smiling) Good. Now all I have to do is arrange to slip up.
Eliana: Are you absolutely certain you want to do this? You
could lose your job.
drewid: I'm sure. This is the most fun I've had in a long time.
I always said I was a frustrated actress. (smiles)
Eliana: (laughs in spite of herself) O.k., drewid, have it your
way. Just be careful.
drewid: Don't worry.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Two days later, on the Bridge...
The drewid is going about her business calmly, programming
Casanova. Lt. Hoke is standing nearby, talking to Lt. Fox.
Suddenly, the drewid jumps up, shouting.
drewid: Watch it, Hoke!
Lt. Hoke: What? What happened?
drewid: You just watch yourself.
She goes back to programming, banging the console with unnecessary
violence.
Lt. Hoke: (to Lt. Fox) Poor thing.
drewid: I heard that! I know what you're up to. All of you!
You think I'm stupid, don't you? Well, I know what's
going on!
Captain Muirden enters the bridge. He sees the crew collectively
cowering, and Lt. drewid standing, enraged, before the console.
Muirden: What's going on?
drewid: As if you didn't know! You're all against me, every one
of you! (screams with rage as Lt. Fox takes a step
toward her)
Fox: Easy, drewid. Why don't you go lie down for awhile? We can
handle things here.
drewid: Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?
Lt. Fox takes another step towards her.
drewid: STAY AWAY FROM ME!
She picks up a chair and flings it at Lt. Fox. It misses by a
mile, but he is shaken up. Captain Muirden and Lt. Cdr. Savan
rush at the drewid and knock her to the ground. She continues to
scream with rage, as they fight to pin her arms back.
Muirden: Kerry! Go get the Counselor! QUICKLY!
----------------------------------------------------------
Later, in the Captain's quarters....
Eliana, Lt. Fox, Cdr. Larkin, Lt. Cdr. Savan, Lt. Hoke, and
Captain are present.
Muirden: Well, it seems we have only one choice. The drewid must
be taken somewhere where she can get special help. We
can't deal with these constant violent outbursts here.
Yes, Counselor?
Eliana: Captain, I'd like to take her, if that's all right with
you. She trusts me.
Muirden: I don't know...She's pretty strong. She may try to get
away. I think I'd rather have one of the men transport
her.
Eliana: CAPtain, I am perfectly capable of transporting her
myself. She won't be any trouble. If you like, I can
have her sedated beforehand. That way there will be no
question of her behaving herself.
Fox: I don't think it's a good idea, Captain. Perhaps Cdr.
Larkin could...
Larkin: Don't look at me. I wouldn't go anywhere with that she-
wolf for all the wealth in the universe!
At the phrase "she-wolf," Eliana winces.
Eliana: Please, Commander. I will escort Lt. drewid.
Muirden: You do understand that I cannot be held responsible if
anything happens to you...
Eliana: I understand, captain. May I leave immediately?
Muirden: (sighs) Yes, Counselor. Have a safe trip. If you need
help, don't be afraid to ask for it. I'm still not sure
this is such a good idea....
Eliana: (quickly) Thank you. Goodbye, everyone. See you soon.
She hurries out of the room.
---------------------------------------------------------
Eliana races toward the infirmary, impatient to be off. Dr.
Feelgood has just finished speaking with Captain Muirden over the
intercom, and is readying a sedative for Lt. drewid. The drewid
screams with rage as the doctor sedates her.
Eliana: Doctor, is that really necessary?
D.F.: I'm afraid so, Counselor. She's dangerous.
Eliana: What's that you've given her?
D.F.: A compound of valium. It should last until you get to the
hospital.
Eliana: (innocently) Exactly how long is that? So I can tell
the doctors there.
D.F.: 8 hours.
Eliana: Good. Thank you.
The Counselor and the doctor roll the stretcher where the drewid
is fastened out of the infirmary and down to the landing bay. She
is loaded into the waiting shuttle, and Eliana waves to the doctor
and boards.
Eliana: (muttering) It's a good thing no drivers wanted this
job.That'll make things much easier.
drewid: (faintly) Eliana?
Eliana: Yes, I'm here. Do you have the coordinates of the star
system?
drewid: (faintly) Yes. Ugh...I feel awful. Here. Here they are.
She hands Eliana a piece of paper. Eliana programs the numbers
into the guiding system of the shuttle. They take off, as Captain
Muirden and the others watch from the Bridge.
Muirden: Godspeed, Eliana. (quietly) I hope the drewid is all right.
---------------------------------------------------------
Six hours later, aboard the shuttle...
drewid: (groggily) Eliana?
Eliana: I'm here. How do you feel?
drewid: Horrible. What was that stuff the doctor gave me?
Eliana: Some sort of valium compound.
drewid: Ugh. At least it wore off quickly.
Eliana: Yes, more quickly than the doctor predicted. I'm sorry,
I couldn't stop her. It would've looked too suspicious.
drewid: Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. I'd appreciate it
if you could get me off this thing, though.
Eliana: (laughing) Oops. Sorry, I forgot.
She unties the drewid, who half climbs and half falls off of the
stretcher.
drewid: O.k., now where are we?
Eliana: Almost there. Another hour or so.
The drewid looks at her searchingly.
drewid: Are you o.k.?
Eliana: (tersely) Yeah. It's been such a long time...
They lapse into silence.
An hour or so later, they come upon the Anterea system.
drewid: Why don't you let me drive now?
Eliana: No, I'm all right.
drewid: I'm going to scan and see if there are any life forms on
the Seventh Moon.
She scans the moon. One side of it appears to be inhabited, but
the other gives off no readings.
drewid: Land on the far side. It's not too big. We can walk
back to the settlement.
They land on the far side of the moon. Eliana's necklace glows
faintly.
Eliana: Hurry!
They run two miles or so before they have to stop.
drewid: (panting) How much farther (puff) would you say (puff)?
Eliana: (absently) Not much . Not much .
drewid: O.k., let's go.
They walk on for another five miles. In the distance, the towers
of some sort of habitation appear. The two approach cautiously.
drewid: Look at all that smoke! What's going on? It looks as if
the whole is on fire!
Eliana: (absently) Factories. Just factories.
She puts her hand to her necklace, which is glowing fiercely, and
mutters to herself:
Eliana: Aren, we've really found you! You're here. Oh thank
you, Shonyo!
Finally, they draw near to the city, which is walled and well
fortified.
Eliana: I don't think we should go in through the main gates.
The Antereans would never let us through!
drewid: What shall we do then? Do you think there is another
entrance?
Eliana: Oh yes. Anterean cities have many secret exits and
entrances, most of them tunnels built by runaway slaves.
The Antereans try to fill them in, but Xavionites know
well how to live underground and how to build hidden
escape routes. The Antereans couldn't have found them
all! Let's leave the road now. I think I know what to
look for.
drewid: Are you sure? Those woods look dangerous--who knows what
sorts of wild animals could live in there!
Eliana: (trying to convince herself of this) It's alright.
You're safe with me. (she forces a hollow laugh) I make
a fierce wolf, you know!
drewid: I guess you're right. I think I would rather face wild
animals than encounter an Anterean right now!
They turn off of the road and head into the woods.
drewid: Listen--I hear running water!
Eliana: It's a river, and not far away, from the sound of it! If
we follow it, we're sure not to get lost! It will run
under the walls and through the city, I'm sure.
A few minutes later, they find the river.
drewid: It looks clean, and I sure could use a drink. Let's stop
a minute.
Eliana: Wait! (grabs the drewid and pulls her back from the
water) Watch this.
The Counselor throws a leafy branch into the water, and the drewid
gets a fright when she sees a rather toothy mouth grab the branch
and snap it into bits.
drewid: (trembling) Wh. . .what's that?
Eliana: It's called a Krakla. The Antereans keep them in the
canals and rivers to discourage slaves from escaping
through the waterways.
drewid: How do you know all this?
Eliana: (a look of sorrow crosses her face) My brother, Teryk.
When I was little, he was captured in an Anterean slave
raid. He saw his best friend die in the jaws of a
Krakla. But he managed to escape. When the Antereans
last attacked us, he told me what I should know if I
should be captured. It's strange--using his advice on
how to get out of the city in order to get into it!
drewid: (gently) What happened to Teryk?
Eliana: (sadly) He died with my sister in the battle. If I had
not been expecting a child, I would have fought and died
with them. Sometimes I wish I had.
Quietly, they continue alongside the river. Suddenly, Eliana stops.
Eliana: Wait! Here it is! This is the path to the tunnel we need!
drewid: Where? I don't see anything.
Eliana: Look at that pile of rocks. They don't look quite
natural, do they?
drewid: Well, now that you mention it, you're right. But what
does that mean?
Eliana stoops to pick up a rock. She turns it over and shows it
to the drewid.
Eliana: Look--the name Phelan is scratched ever so faintly on
this one. He is one of the slaves who escaped this way,
and his name is Xavionite. This is a sort of secret
memorial or altar.
drewid: But where's the tunnel? And shouldn't we look through
the rocks to see if Aren has already escaped?
Eliana: (looking at her necklace) No. He's in the city.
drewid: But how can you be sure?
Eliana: We've been talking. He knows we are coming. Now, follow me.
She walks directly into a thicket of prickly bushes, ignoring the
thorns as they scratch her arms. Slowly, she makes her way into
the very centre of the thicket, the drewid right behind her.
There Eliana stops and stoops as best she can. She pushes aside a
few brambles, and exposes a hole, well hidden from anyone who did
not know where to look.
Eliana: Yes! It is here! We've found it, drewid!
The drewid is grumbling about scratches and thorns, but she is
glad they have found the tunnel. She follows Eliana down a long
and rickety ladder, and is extremely glad when they reach the
bottom. The tunnel is dimly lit by glowing torches--apparently
the way is well tended by slaves who live deep in the tunnels
where they will never be found. Not speaking, the women follow a
long and twisting corridor. It is dusty, and they both find
themselves sniffling and sneezing. At last, the corridor ends and
a ladder leads upwards. Nervously, Eliana begins to climb, and the
drewid follows. Above them they hear muffled voices. Eliana
stops to listen.
drewid: Are they Antereans?
Eliana: Hush. I can't hear. (a moment later, she smiles.) No,
it isn't Anterean they're speaking! We're safe! (she
begins to climb again.)
At long last, Eliana sticks her head out of the tunnel into a
small, one-room hut and looks around. The room is occupied, but
no one has noticed her yet. Several men sit huddled together,
speaking softly. Eliana looks to see whether Aren is among them,
but he is not.
drewid: (prodding her from behind) Come on! Let me out--it's
stuffy in here!
The drewid sneezes violently, startling the group of men. They
turn towards the hole and see Eliana. An elderly man, with a
white beard and long white hair, rises. He is poorly dressed, and
an iron collar around his neck shows that he is a slave.
Old Man: (in Anterean) It was not you that sneezed. Come out,
and let us see your companion.
Eliana does not understand Anterean, but, in response to the
drewid's prodding, she obliges the man and steps out of the hole,
allowing the drewid to emerge. The Counselor then risks
addressing the man in a strange, but nobly beautiful, language.
Eliana: Kyandor Aren maneh yestrom. [I seek my husband Aren]
The old man turns to his friends and smiles. Then he answers her.
Old Man: Kyandar tyem? [You seek whom?]
Eliana: Aren, fyelom Teryn, fyelom Fyl. [Aren, son of Teryn,
son of Fyl]
The man is pleased, and he beckons for Eliana and the drewid to
follow him into another, well-hidden tunnel. Softly, he explains
something to Eliana, and she translates for the drewid.
Eliana: He says that a network of tunnels underneath the slave
quarters connects each hut to the others. When not
working, the slaves are not allowed to leave their huts,
and so they must visit each other secretly.
drewid: But are you sure we can trust him? I mean, what if he
betrays us to them?
Eliana: We can trust him. He is a Smarag--that's something
like a priest--as I was trained to be from childhood.
When I used the Old Speech with him, and he replied in
it, we knew we could trust each other. You see, only the
Smarags know the Old Speech. And now he is leading us to
Aren's hut!
All along the corridor, they can see ladders ascending into what
must be slave huts. Here and there, an old slave sits forlornly
in the dust and darkness of the tunnel. They all look hungry and
cold. Many have obviously been beaten and branded by their
owners. Periodically, the old man stops and offers a word of
comfort to these. One young woman--obviously pregnant--is
shivering, and the Smarag removes his worn cloak to place it
around her shoulders. Her ragged cloak lies useless on the
ground, and it catches the drewid's attention. She gasps at what
she sees.
drewid: My God!
Eliana: What's wrong?
drewid: (in a hushed voice) She's from the Opal Moon.
Eliana: (shocked) Your home?
drewid: (still hushed) My home. Hers must have been one of the
families that abandoned the moon when the disease hit.
Eliana: How do you know she's. . .
drewid: That cloak. . .the white rose pattern. . .she was nobility.
Eliana: (softly) Oh. Poor girl.
The drewid turns away.
drewid: I have no sympathy for her. She is a traitor to her race.
Eliana casts one last sympathetic look at the young woman before
she continues to follow the Smarag. He turns right down another
corridor and stops at the third ladder. Motioning for Eliana and
the drewid to climb up, he bids them good-bye.
Eliana: (holding back tears) Sadris, mi ladron. [thank you,
my friend]
They climb the ladder into the hut above them to a horrible sight.
Just as Eliana peeks out from the tunnel, three Anterean soldiers
burst into the room. Two of them grab hold of the startled man
who is kneeling on the floor and the third begins to beat him
mercilessly.
Third soldier: You wolvish scum! You're the one responsible for
the fires! You'll die for this!
Though they have come entirely out of the tunnel, the drewid and
Eliana are yet hidden from view, and they watch helplessly. When
it seems that Aren has no chance, the drewid gasps to see him
change forms. All of a sudden, he is a deep black wolf, and the
surprised soldiers let go of him. Aren begins to bark viciously,
but, strangely, he does not lunge for the soldiers' throats as the
drewid expects him to do. Rather, he bites the hand that is
swinging toward him. The instant that Aren transforms, Eliana does
the same (though the drewid does not notice this until she sees a
second wolf--a lovely grey one--join the fray). She rushes in to
stand by her husband. As each soldier is bitten, he falls to the
ground, alive and fully conscious, yet unable to speak or move.
Aren lets forth a long howl, and two young men come out of the
tunnel and pass by the shocked drewid. Gently, they remove the
three soldiers. Aren and Eliana return to their human forms
and rush into each others' arms.
Aren: (after a long embrace) Ever since you called to me this
morning, I have been praying for your safety. Where have
you come from? Why are you here?
By this time, the drewid has come out and she and Eliana try
rather confusedly to explain their adventure to Aren. He doesn't
catch much of it!
Aren: (laughing) Stop, stop! Slow down! Introductions first!
(to the drewid) I am Aren of Xavion. (he holds out his
hand)
drewid: (shaking his hand and smiling) I am. . .(pause) My name
is Stefanie. I was born on the Opal Moon, and I serve
with your wife on a Federation starship. There I am
called drewid.
At the mention of the Opal Moon, Aren's expression of joy changes
to one of sympathy.
Aren: (smiling) It is a pleasure to meet you, (pause) Stefanie.
He then looks concerned.
Aren: (anxiously) You shouldn't be here! You must return to the
tunnels and live there for the time being. The Antereans
have found a small shuttlecraft--yours, I assume--in the
Outer Wastes. They've confiscated it and are looking
everywhere for you. We are in the midst of a slave revolt,
and they are greatly afraid that the Federation will
somehow help us to win our freedom.
drewid: But no one in the Federation knows about this! They
don't even know we're here!
Aren: They will learn soon. Of that I am certain. From what
I've heard, the Antereans are preparing to accuse the
Federation of sending in spies--the Anterean System is
forbidden ground to any Federation vessel.
Eliana is obviously worried about something else.
Eliana: Aren, the three soldiers. What will happen to them?
Aren: (after a hearty laugh) They'll recover within a day or so
--but by then they will be safely under guard until we are
free again. You see, the Antereans seem to be allergic to
wolf-bites. Just one little nip, and they are temporarily
paralyzed. It's a real help to us! Don't worry though.
They are treated much better than they have treated us.
With this, he hurries the two young women back into the dusty
tunnel, and the drewid begins to sneeze again. They follow yet
another corridor, which leads them to a large room, a refuge for
many escaped slaves. They are milling about in small clusters,
whispering.
Aren: (tenderly to Eliana) Stay here for now, Love. I shall
come to you later tonight. But now, I must go to the Old
Ones immediately and tell them that you are safely here.
If all goes well, the revolt will be ended soon, and we
will be free. Perhaps now that the Antereans are obsessed
with your shuttle, we will have some advantage over them--
they are not watching us closely enough!
He embraces her once more, smiles thankfully at the drewid, and
turns away.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, aboard the Melbourne:
Cpt. Muirden and Cdr. Larkin are on the bridge. The Captain is
pacing impatiently.
Muirden: Well, where could they have gone? There's not a sign of
them anywhere between here and the hospital, and it
seems that nobody ever heard a word from them!
Larkin: Perhaps they set the wrong course?
Muirden: Impossible. I gave Eliana all the information she
needed. She couldn't have messed it up! I just wish I
had never let them go alone!
Larkin: The Counselor was awfully determined about that, wasn't she?
Muirden: Yes. That was strange. I've never seen her so fired up
about anything before. I wonder. . .I think I need to
have a talk with Captain Kabeta.
He hails the Heisenberg, and Captain Kabeta appears on the screen
in front of him.
Kabeta: Hello, Captain! What's up?
Muirden: Captain Kabeta, I need to ask you about that talk you had
with Counselor Eliana. Did she say anything to you about Xavion?
Kabeta: Only that she's from there, and that she wants to go back
and find out what happened to her husband, Aren.
Muirden: I should have known! Why didn't she come to me about
all this! I TOLD her I would try to get her to Xavion!
Well, go on. Tell me more. I know her husband is
missing, but nothing more.
Kabeta: Well, apparently there was an invasion--a slave raid--and
Aren sent her to safety in a shuttle craft. She hasn't
heard from him since.
Muirden: An invasion? By whom?
Kabeta: A people called the Antereans. They used to live side by
side with the Xavionite people, but they always hated
them fiercely. As soon as they were capable of space
flight, they left and settled a nearby planet in what is
now called the Anterean System. Often, they raid Xavion
for slaves. Eliana was afraid that her husband might
have been captured in the last raid, which turned into a
rather nasty battle.
Muirden: Thank you, Captain. This is all beginning to make sense
now. I think I may need your help on this. The
Counselor was supposed to be escorting the drewid to a
psychiatric hospital, and they've simply disappeared.
Now I think they may have gone in search of this Aren.
Kabeta: I'll help you however I can, Captain, but I don't know
what we can do. If the Antereans find the Counselor and
the drewid, there's not much hope for them, I'm afraid.
Muirden: Well, I'll keep in touch with you. Muirden out.
(to Larkin) So it was a ruse the whole time! I should
have known! Why didn't I suspect something when Eliana
insisted on being allowed to take the drewid in by
herself? It all fits together now!
Larkin: Well, what should we do? The Anterean System is pretty
large. I believe that Anterea has 18 moons. And surely
they've spread to other planets from there by now!
There's no way we could know where they went! (suddenly
remembering) Wait!! Maybe we can at that! A few weeks
ago, the drewid was working harder than ever at Casanova.
She let me think that she was just programming some new
music, but as I walked out, I heard her say something
about the "Red" file. Now, that is not a music file!
Muirden: Certainly not! If Casanova still has the information,
then we should be able to find out precisely where they
went! Casanova!
Casanova: Yes, Sir?
They are interrupted by a beep from the communications panel.
Larkin: Captain, we are being hailed by Admiral Avenger.
Muirden: On screen, please.
Admiral Avenger appears on the screen.
Muirden: Good day, Admiral.
Avenger: Good day, Muirden. We have a problem to discuss.
Apparently, a shuttle craft from your ship was found on
a small moon in the Anterean System. That system has
always been off-limits to the Federation, and they are
awfully angry. They're accusing you of espionage, and
are prepared to fight about it. Now, what do you know
about all this?
Muirden: Ahh, Admiral. I'm glad you called. Umm, which moon
would that be, if I may ask?
Avenger: The Seventh Moon of the planet Anterea. Now, please
answer my question! What do you know about this.
Muirden: Well, our Counselor and the drewid have disappeared, and
we believe they, um, went on some wild goose chase to,
well, rescue the Counselor's husband from slavery somewhere
in the Anterean System.
Avenger: What?!
Muirden: Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but it all fits. Especially
with this news from you. So, what shall we do now?
Avenger: Well, first we have to make some answer to the Anterean
accusations. They've asked us for assurance that we are
not about to assist the slave revolt that is sweeping
the system, and we've had to promise that much--after
all, they're not members of the Federation, and we have
no right to interfere. But I'm afraid that if you tell
them what you have just told me, your Counselor and the
drewid will be in big trouble. As far as I can see,
these characters aren't exactly humanitarians. I'll try
to stall them off for now, and you see what you can find
out about the Counselor's little trip. Let me know what
you come up with. Avenger out.
Muirden: (pounding his fist against the computer console)
Why does this have to happen to me? (to Larkin) Go to
the Counselor's quarters and look around. I know she
keeps a journal. I feel guilty doing this, but we have
to find it and see if she has said anything at all
about this. (Larkin exits)
Casanova, can you confirm that they went to the Seventh
Moon?
Casanova: I'm sorry, Captain. The drewid programmed me to utter
secrecy about this matter.
Muirden: Casanova--override that programme. Or else you'll have
only John Denver in your memory banks for a year!
Casanova: Yes, Sir. Overriding. Yes, they did go to the Seventh
Moon of the planet Anterea. They should have arrived
there approximately twelve and a half hours ago.
Muirden: (sitting down in his chair) Casanova, call Captain
Kabeta again. And give me the coordinates of this
Seventh Moon.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
********************************
[ TCG Archives | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | TSG | TPG | Misc | Begin | End ] |
||||