CHAPTER FOURTEEN

-TIGELLA-

In no time, the cargo carrier had travelled across the constellations to mysterious Tigella, that laid far off and out of Federation space. When the ship landed on the barren world lightening streaked across the dark skies. With his hands on his hips, Travis stood on the ships ramp and watched as the team lead by a Professor Yoshiba, were organising the distribution of the equipment in the crates.

There was another crack of thunder, Travis shuddered, this was a long and ancient dead world and it briefly reminded him of the unnamed planet he was transported to by Sinofor the power. A duel to the death with Blake, and he had a vivid memory of holding Blake by the hair and had a blade to his throat. This place was just as bleak.

"You man!", called Yoshiba, Travis looked down to the old professor, "Are you talking to me?" he asked rather abruptly.

Anya hurried to Travis's side and nodded, "he was...", and then in his ear, "We have to blend in remember", she hissed a warning.

With some reluctance, Travis strode down the ramp and approached the Professor, "what is it?"

Yoshiba pointed his finger to a set of boxes "would you be so kind? You look brawn enough to heave-ho that lot"

One by one, Travis lifted the boxes onto the transporter trolley ready for the journey to the ruins where the expedition was being made ready.

Yoshiba noticed Travis' uniform, "You're a Federation soldier?"

Travis stood straight and bared down on him, "An Ex Federation soldier...I just like the uniform too much...or...I might just be employed to keeping a close eye on you"

Professor Yoshiba looked flummoxed, so Anya strode forward, "Ignore him, It's this way is it?"

Travis smirked at the professor and followed her down the barren hill side in long strides.

XXX

Within their group, they caught the attention of a young man called Kymola He kept on looking at Travis. As they neared the entrance to the subterranean ruin, Travis pulled him up on it, "Does my appearance bother you boy?"

Kymola shook his head, "It's not you appearance, it's who you are"

Travis stepped back, as Anya's face turned to the one of concern, "You know him?"

Kymola nodded staring right at him, "Space commander Travis...or the butcher of Beta Max 4"

Travis defended that title, "Beta Max 4 is a raging frontier world full of freeloaders, greedy for those precious stones that lay down those mines"

Kymola held his hands up in defence, "I'm just saying what I heard...word is that you were dismissed from the service anyway"

With conversation cut short, Professor Yoshiba led the way into the dark eerie gloom of the ancient city. The expedition itself was to uncover a new tomb at the very heart of the ruin. Not much is known about Tigella's ancient inhabitants , it seems they died out thousands of years ago, according to the Federation's planetary archives anyway.

Yoshiba was a scholar in ancient planetary history, and was excited about what would be unearthed. From it's grand entrance to a large tunnel, he put his hands together and said, "today we finally unlock it's long lost secrets"

Practical as ever, Travis wasn't impressed, "has it ever occurred to you that some things are sealed up for a reason?"

The professor was determined to get into the inner sanctum and he spoke to his followers and students flocking around him, "small explosive charges should do it", he told the group.

Travis glanced at Anya and Kymola, then strode forward, "You can't blow your way in there old man, you'll have this lot on top of us", waving his hand above them to empathise his point.

Feeling like Travis was becoming an obstacle, Yoshiba came closer and said, "Young Kymola here is not the only one that recognises you Space Commander...your failures over the Blake affair made the broadcasts, and i suppose you escaped from that prison transporter that disappeared?"

Travis stood tall and glowered at him, fists clenched, although he wouldn't strike an old man.

"I don't care who you are or if you absconded, military affairs don't interest me, but they interest you. Tell me...", he pointed to the entry hatch to the sealed inner sanctum, "...have you a better idea?"

Travis huffed and came forward and shoved a man away from the explosives crate and had a rummage through, "You'll need something that will implode rather than explode", he suddenly picked out an explosive charge and snapped his head round to the professor, "these are TX45's, I'm surprised high command issued you with these with out clearance"

Yoshiba smiled thinly, "lets just say I called in a few favours from a few contacts"

Travis blew out a chuckle turning the charge over in his hands, "You expect me to believe that?"

Ignoring the jibe, Yoshiba came forward, "what do you recommend?"

Travis shook his head and then took another rummage through as he spoke and picked out a few smaller rounder objects, "Ahh, micro blasters, they implode effectively, providing these walls are as sturdy as they look"

The professor started to hand the small charges out to members of the group, "it's been standing for thousands of years, why shouldn't they be"

After the charges were set, they blew inward. Once inside the ancient tomb, some kind of cosmic gale blasted outward in their faces. There was a terrific howling around them, like the walls were alive. Travis backed away and snatched hold of Anya's hand, "we have to get away from here now!", he yelled at her.

Kymola was already scrambling up the tunnel. Travis and Anya were in hot pursuit.