Over the course of the long conversation with Darneth, I learned much about Messinans that hadn't been in the Maru's database. They were very set on command and superiority. From the beginning, they learned to practice total obedience to their commanding officer. The consequences were severe for even the smallest of infractions. Not much was known about the Messinans by outside worlds or species, and I now knew it was for a good reason.
Tyr hadn't arrived after half an hour. My impatience was mounting. The images of what had become of Harper and Lise were growing more gruesome and terrifying by the minute. I kept calm and cool to maintain an appearance of strength to Darneth. Even though he seemed peaceful enough, he could turn at any second.
"Your friends are in some danger. I wouldn't recommend waiting here much longer," Darneth stated bluntly.
"I can't leave you and your commander here. I'm not the total idiot you have me made out to be." I glared at the Messinan.
"Take us with you." His voice was emotionless, and that made me wary of his intentions.
"He's out cold, and there's two of you and one of me. I don't think so."
"The young Lise is facing a death sentence without immediate care."
"So she goes from possibly getting infected to a death sentence in fifteen minutes? You just want to get out of here and head to some get away." I was sick of listening to him. He couldn't seem to get it through his head that I wasn't going anywhere without Tyr, though he was tapping into my impatience. It made part of me want to take his advice.
"I can help you. Trusting me goes against your instincts, but I'm all you have right now."
I pointed my gun at him and gave him an icy stare. "You aren't anything to me. I could shoot you right now and feel no regrets. Now, you're gonna shut the hell up. Or I will use this."
'Hurry up Tyr and get here. Please,' I thought as I took three steps back to glance outside the door. I heard a bang, a ship breaking the sound barrier. Either help was on the way, or I was in a lot more trouble than I could handle right now. 'If the ship is Messinan...I won't even think about it, and it won't happen.'
----------------------------------------------------------
I was Highland's doctor, a respected citizen. Everyone looked up to me and never questioned what I prescribed or my actions. Then, one from the techonology realm busts into my office and commands me to go against everything I had come to Highland to uphold. Technology would be the end of the human race as we knew it, but I was being forced to treat a patient for technology related injuries.
I jogged towards the outskirts of Orian. It wasn't that I didn't want to help the young woman. I just didn't want to be forced back into the world I needed to forget. The Hippocratic oath was vital to the medical profession, but the villages rules stated that technology was forbidden. I couldn't figure out why Marion would break the regulations on purpose. She was the daughter of the town's mayor and founder, after all. The only conclusion I could come to was she lusted after the young man. He wasn't unattractive, and young men were few in this area. Most left Highland by the time they reached the age of eighteen to venture into the world of technology.
"Henry!" a male voice called from behind me.
I turned around and saw Peter, a friend of mine that hailed from Orian and was also into the technology black market. "Peter, we need to talk."
"Do we need to talk...in private?" he whispered into my ear.
"Yes. It's about the market, and something I need." I scanned the area with my eyes, and no one was near.
"What do you need and when?"
"I need some medical supplies. Do you have any in stock right now?"
An elderly man walked by. "Yes, I would love to share lunch with you, Peter," I said loudly.
"Then, let's go to my house, and I'll have Martha prepare our meal," he played along.
We spent the walk to his cottage filled with small talk about how life was treating us. I told him about my newest patients, save the young woman that had just arrived. He talked about a new building project on the northern outskirts of Orian that he was to lead. It was all meaningless, for the benefit of those around us.
We entered his cottage and hurried to the back room. He walked to the corner and pulled up the loose floor boards, revealing a small flight of stairs we both knew too well. He lit a candle, and we proceeded to the depths of the clandestine cellar. The walls were lined with forbidden items, from building tools to electronic balls and games for children. He headed to a section near the middle of the room.
"What I have is right here," he said, gesturing at a single shelf.
"I could use a few of these, especially anything with disinfection." I grabbed what I could use, feeling guilt for betraying the rules I stood by.
"Don't worry about paying for it. I owe you a few."
I stuffed the items in my inner jacket pockets and began ascending the stairs. I heard someone slam the boards over the entrance and scuffling of feet. "What happened?" I whispered.
"Shhhhhhh. Listen."
I could hear Martha talking. "I think they went fishing up at the creek. I haven't seen them in a little bit."
"We must talk to both of them as soon as possible." I couldn't identify the second voice, but it definitely sounded like trouble. I looked Peter in the eyes, discovering his were also filled with fear.
Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates on this and my other fics. I've been working on a web site, an Andromeda fan fiction archive. The address is http://www.crosswinds.net/~andromeda84 . Please submit your work to themushroomkingdom@yahoo.com or martian_goddess@hotmail.com. I really need some more fics to put on the site!
Tyr hadn't arrived after half an hour. My impatience was mounting. The images of what had become of Harper and Lise were growing more gruesome and terrifying by the minute. I kept calm and cool to maintain an appearance of strength to Darneth. Even though he seemed peaceful enough, he could turn at any second.
"Your friends are in some danger. I wouldn't recommend waiting here much longer," Darneth stated bluntly.
"I can't leave you and your commander here. I'm not the total idiot you have me made out to be." I glared at the Messinan.
"Take us with you." His voice was emotionless, and that made me wary of his intentions.
"He's out cold, and there's two of you and one of me. I don't think so."
"The young Lise is facing a death sentence without immediate care."
"So she goes from possibly getting infected to a death sentence in fifteen minutes? You just want to get out of here and head to some get away." I was sick of listening to him. He couldn't seem to get it through his head that I wasn't going anywhere without Tyr, though he was tapping into my impatience. It made part of me want to take his advice.
"I can help you. Trusting me goes against your instincts, but I'm all you have right now."
I pointed my gun at him and gave him an icy stare. "You aren't anything to me. I could shoot you right now and feel no regrets. Now, you're gonna shut the hell up. Or I will use this."
'Hurry up Tyr and get here. Please,' I thought as I took three steps back to glance outside the door. I heard a bang, a ship breaking the sound barrier. Either help was on the way, or I was in a lot more trouble than I could handle right now. 'If the ship is Messinan...I won't even think about it, and it won't happen.'
----------------------------------------------------------
I was Highland's doctor, a respected citizen. Everyone looked up to me and never questioned what I prescribed or my actions. Then, one from the techonology realm busts into my office and commands me to go against everything I had come to Highland to uphold. Technology would be the end of the human race as we knew it, but I was being forced to treat a patient for technology related injuries.
I jogged towards the outskirts of Orian. It wasn't that I didn't want to help the young woman. I just didn't want to be forced back into the world I needed to forget. The Hippocratic oath was vital to the medical profession, but the villages rules stated that technology was forbidden. I couldn't figure out why Marion would break the regulations on purpose. She was the daughter of the town's mayor and founder, after all. The only conclusion I could come to was she lusted after the young man. He wasn't unattractive, and young men were few in this area. Most left Highland by the time they reached the age of eighteen to venture into the world of technology.
"Henry!" a male voice called from behind me.
I turned around and saw Peter, a friend of mine that hailed from Orian and was also into the technology black market. "Peter, we need to talk."
"Do we need to talk...in private?" he whispered into my ear.
"Yes. It's about the market, and something I need." I scanned the area with my eyes, and no one was near.
"What do you need and when?"
"I need some medical supplies. Do you have any in stock right now?"
An elderly man walked by. "Yes, I would love to share lunch with you, Peter," I said loudly.
"Then, let's go to my house, and I'll have Martha prepare our meal," he played along.
We spent the walk to his cottage filled with small talk about how life was treating us. I told him about my newest patients, save the young woman that had just arrived. He talked about a new building project on the northern outskirts of Orian that he was to lead. It was all meaningless, for the benefit of those around us.
We entered his cottage and hurried to the back room. He walked to the corner and pulled up the loose floor boards, revealing a small flight of stairs we both knew too well. He lit a candle, and we proceeded to the depths of the clandestine cellar. The walls were lined with forbidden items, from building tools to electronic balls and games for children. He headed to a section near the middle of the room.
"What I have is right here," he said, gesturing at a single shelf.
"I could use a few of these, especially anything with disinfection." I grabbed what I could use, feeling guilt for betraying the rules I stood by.
"Don't worry about paying for it. I owe you a few."
I stuffed the items in my inner jacket pockets and began ascending the stairs. I heard someone slam the boards over the entrance and scuffling of feet. "What happened?" I whispered.
"Shhhhhhh. Listen."
I could hear Martha talking. "I think they went fishing up at the creek. I haven't seen them in a little bit."
"We must talk to both of them as soon as possible." I couldn't identify the second voice, but it definitely sounded like trouble. I looked Peter in the eyes, discovering his were also filled with fear.
Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates on this and my other fics. I've been working on a web site, an Andromeda fan fiction archive. The address is http://www.crosswinds.net/~andromeda84 . Please submit your work to themushroomkingdom@yahoo.com or martian_goddess@hotmail.com. I really need some more fics to put on the site!
