Chapter 2

The five of us stood around the command deck listening to Harper's explanation of why Trance was so sick. I was still monitoring her but she seemed to be almost comatose and I was out of ideas to help. Still, I was finding it hard to believe that what Harper was saying could be true of such a seemingly stable and sensible race.

"So basically what your saying is that because of some thousand year old legend all guests are fed food with this contagion in and it… and it only affects the one who wants to destroy their world?" said Dylan, disbelievingly.

"Yup, that's it. For some reason it picked on Trance. I mean can you see her destroying a planet?" answered Harper.

"Well then we just won't tell them that she's sick from their food. Simple." replied Beka, obviously very annoyed with the Passetlitten for doing this in the first place.

"I think I might have managed to locate a cure," I cut in at this point, "there seems to be a facility on the planet which may have it but I doubt it will be easy to get to and they wont want us to take it."

"Well maybe we should just talk to them and explain that this has all been a huge mistake?" asked Dylan.

Various musters of reluctant agreement came from the rest of the crew and he nodded, satisfied.

"Open a comm. link to Ambassador Recket."

"Opening comm. link."

"Ah, Captain Hunt, how lovely to speak to you again, and so soon. What can I help you with?"

"Mr. Ambassador, lovely to speak to you too. I am afraid that we have a slight problem though. One of my crew is ill and we believe it may have something to do with the food you provided at the banquet. Would it be possible for you to give us any information?"

"Your crew member is ill from the banquet? Then this is very bad, very bad indeed. There is an old legend that a destroyer will come to our world and the ingredients we added to the food is the only way of stopping them."

"We are aware of the legend, Mr. Recket, but I think there must have been some mistake. The crew member affected, Trance, is no threat to you or your people. Surely if this 'destroyer' were to come then your planet they would be advanced enough to repel an attack… and it is only a very old story. Why not give us a cure and we can continue negotiations."

"I'm afraid I cant do that, it may be old but we believe that it is still relevant to our society. We would of course be delighted to continue talks with you but there is no way I will release the antidote. Good day."

Dylan turned away from the console looking extremely annoyed. I could understand how he felt. Why were the people of this world so immersed in a few lines of old text? I turned a Beka spoke.

"Okay, we tried the talking bit, it didn't work, I'd say its time for plan B."

"And what would plan B be?" questioned Dylan, looking slightly amused at Beka's impatience.

"We go down there and forcibly remove the cure from their keeping before bringing it u here and administering it to Trance. They may not like it but I doubt any other way will work." Interrupted Tyr.

"Alright plan B," said Dylan, "Tyr you go down and find this antidote, but you will do it with minimum firepower casualties. This will be a covert mission and the government need never know until they next go and check on it."

Tyr nodded and left to go and prepare. I also left to check up on Trances condition, although I could see how she was doing from anywhere on the ship I felt better when I was there and could see for myself. Her condition seemed stable for now but as she was in a coma that wasn't much of a comfort.