The Giving-part 6
Disclaimer in part 1
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.
Disclaimer in part 1
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.