THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 2821 words) [16/18] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 05 2016	Views/Reads: 1793/1263	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 1 - CH 15

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

then began another wide curve to avoid a large red circle. 

“Know it, Kane?” Tyler asked. 

Kane nodded. “Modas,” he replied. 

“Correct,” said Tyler. “Again, stay well away. Kol Davros is the ruler
of Modas and to say he is slightly unbalanced would be an 
understatement.” 

Miller sniggered in the dimly lit room. 

“You'd probably like him,” Tyler remarked, glancing at Miller in
disgust. 

Sinto laughed and slapped Miller on the back. 

The blue triangle again accelerated, passing numerous coloured circles
then began a third long curve to avoid another red planet. 

“Chameleon!” Miller said, a touch of fear and awe in his voice . “That's
right,” said Tyler. “Absolutely no stopping there. You all know what 
could happen if you do.” 

In the dimly lit room, the prisoners exchanged glances. None of them had
actually been to Chameleon but they had heard so much about the planet 
from different people who had that the stories about the place must be 
true. 

The blue triangle accelerated across the remainder of the map and curved
away again to bypass a huge area dotted with small black circles. 

“The Empty Quadrant,” Tyler told them. “To be avoided unless you want to
return to Sirene.” 

“Aw, you're making me feel homesick!” Sinto said and this brought some
laughter. 

The small blue triangle travelled on then slowed and stopped as it came
to the far side of the wall map where the Black Hole lay. 

“You'll feed in the co-ordinates for the Corridor here,” Tyler told
them. “Just outside the Hole's gravity field.” 

The blue triangle picked up speed again and entered the Hole's gravity
field. The map then changed and was replaced with a three dimensional 
mock-up of the inside of the Corridor. 

The blue triangle had been replaced with a small version of a Falcon and
they watched as it travelled through the dark section then through the 
section with the massive green and purple triangles. The Ship was tiny 
against them. 

Tyler glanced at the prisoners – their faces were all bathed in the same
greenish/purplish light as the Bridge crew of the Zenon's had been when 
its Captain had looked round at them. 

He looked back at the mock-up in time to see the first massive yellow
and red spiked ball heading towards the Ship. 

“Doesn't the Astro-Physics Division have any idea what those spiked
balls are made of?” Muslik asked. 

Tyler shook his head. “They've studied the film from the Zenon intensely
but they still can't come up with an answer. The best guess is titanium 
which is stronger than steel. Remember everything inside the Corridor 
remains a mystery. This is really the early days of Black Hole 
exploration. Earth has never had time to explore them before.” 

“I wish they didn't have time to explore them now,” moaned Miller. 

The Falcon travelled on, meeting the magnificently coloured, undulating
shapes and then forcing its way through the giant yellow net. 

“Before any of you ask,” Tyler said, “the Astro-Physics Division can't
offer any information about those undulating shapes that pass through 
the Ship or what the net material is made of.” 

“Don't worry, Commander,” said Sinto, “we'll bring back samples for them
to analyse. We'll send Miller out on a life-line to collect them!” 

The others laughed and Tyler permitted himself a grin. 

“Why that would be most helpful,” Sinto he said. “On behalf of the Fleet
Astro-Physics Division I thank you.” 

Sinto stood up and bowed. 

“There will be a specially reinforced Safety Cabin in the Falcon,” Tyler
told them. “It has been installed specifically for when you meet those 
undulating shapes that pass through the Ship. It has a force-field 
which can be activated from the inside.” 

“Can the Ship be controlled from there?” Kane asked. 

Tyler nodded. “Yes. There's also a small Observation Screen which will
pick up pictures from the forward and rear scanners.” 

Back on the mock-up the Corridor started to narrow, becoming cave-like,
with tunnels leading off here and there. The Ship was continually 
manoeuvring to avoid the rocky outcrops and the stalactite and 
stalagmite formations. 

“This is when it gets difficult,” Tyler reminded them. 

As the Corridor grew narrower and narrower, another of the gigantic
spiked balls appeared coming towards the Ship. 

“If we meet one of them at that stage we're finished,” said Miller. 

“No we're not,” said Kane. “Remember we'll be in a Falcon. Smaller and
faster than a Battle Cruiser. We could easily duck under that ball.” 

“Agreed,” said Tyler. “Plus we don't know how often they appear or what
size they're going to be. It could've been the Zenon's bad luck that 
they met one too big to get round.” 

On the mock-up, the Falcon easily dodged under the spiked ball which
continued along the top of the Corridor. When the Ship reached the left 
side of the wall it stopped and Tyler pressed a button on his belt and 
the room lights came back on and the mock-up disappeared. 

“That's it as far as we know, gentlemen,” he said. 

“No clues as to what's in the next part of the Corridor?” Muslik asked. 

Tyler shook his head. “You gentlemen are going to be in the privileged
position of being the first to find out,” he said. 

“Great,” said Miller. “Just great. My heart bursts with pride at the
thought of it.” 

“If we get into that cave section it'll probably be your asshole that
bursts!” Sinto said to him . This brought some laughter from the others 
and Tyler even managed a smile. “Any more questions about your route?” 
he asked. 

There were none. 

“Good,” he said. “Next we will go through the roles each of you will
have on the Ship.” 

Sinto started making snoring noises. 

Tyler glared at him. “But first I'd like to introduce an addition to
your crew – your Pilot.” 

The prisoners glanced at each other in surprise while Tyler spoke some
commands into his wrist-radio. Shortly afterwards the room door slid 
open and the Pilot strolled in. 

“Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Pilot Officer Talis.” 

Sinto stopped making snoring noises and whistled. Miller's eyes widened.


Kane took one look then muttered, “Oh Christ!” and held his head in his
hands. 

Pilot Officer Sarah Talis was a woman and an extremely pretty one at
that. Her long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail but this only 
heightened the loveliness of her high cheek-boned face. She was wearing 
a dark blue Pilot's uniform which hugged her perfect slim figure. From 
dark brown eyes she looked round at the prisoners then smiled at them. 

“Hi,” she said. 

Sinto was about to make some obscene remark when Tyler caught his eye.
Instead he whispered something to Miller who grunted and nodded 
enthusiastically in agreement. 

Kane cursed and stood up. “It won't work!” he said. “Look what's
happening to them already and she's just come into the room. What the 
hell's it going to be like when we've been stuck on the Ship a while?” 

“Of course it'll work,” Tyler said. “I'll show you how.” 

Puzzled, they waited for his next revelation as he spoke into his wrist
radio. Shortly afterwards Miller screamed and shot out of his chair. He 
writhed about on the floor holding his thigh. Pilot Officer Talis 
winced in sympathy. 

Tyler smiled at them. “Clone-pain, gentlemen,” he said. “Do remember
I'll be watching you from hidden cameras all over the Falcon. If any of 
you try anything with the young lady then what happened to Miller will 
be mild compared to what will happen to you.” 

The message sank in. 

“Do we have any choice about whether she goes or not?” Kane asked. 

“None,” Tyler replied. 

“Why does it have to be a woman?” 

“Because she's a volunteer.” 

Muslik removed his short-stemmed pipe from his mouth. “Well that
certainly makes her unique in this crew,” he remarked. 

“Oh she is,” Tyler said, glancing at her, “she's very unique. She's
going to be the only one among you who knows the entry co-ordinates for 
the Corridor.” 

‘Oh no she's not!' thought Muslik. 

Tyler went on. “Pilot Officer Talis has already been thoroughly briefed
about the mission. She knows exactly what's involved and what may 
happen. She's also aware of the rewards after the mission which for her 
would mean guaranteed promotion – command of her own Ship.” 

“If she lives,” said Kane. 

“Pilot Officer Talis will be performing one other function on the
mission,” Tyler informed them. “She'll be keeping an eye on you and 
reporting to me every day in case I miss anything.” 

‘A fucking spy!' they all thought simultaneously. 

Pilot Officer Sarah Talis immediately became less attractive to them and
they glared at her in disgust. 

Tyler grinned at their reaction. “She'll also be wearing a mind-blocker
at all times just in case any of you can read her thoughts,” he told 
them, staring at Muslik. 

Muslik smiled and nodded at him as Talis leaned her head to the side and
they all saw the small blue circular patch below her left ear. 

“Pilot Officer Talis is aware you are all lifers from Sirene and what
crimes you committed,” Tyler continued. “I'll now introduce you to her 
one by one and at the same time, explain your roles to you.” He pointed 
at Kane. “Frank Kane will captain the Ship and lead the mission,” he 
said, glancing at Talis. 

Kane's piercing blue eyes held Sarah's dark brown eyes. He nodded curtly
at her. 

“I'll do a good job for you, Captain,” she said. 

“You can do a good job for me right now!” said Sinto. 

Tyler glared at him. “Sitting next to him is Muslik Gra,” he went on.
“He's a two-way telepath so naturally he'll be in charge of 
communications.” 

Muslik stood up and bowed. “Charmed,” he said. 

Talis smiled at him. 

“Next is Keith Miller,” Tyler continued. 

Miller stood up. He drew on his cigarette and tried to look handsome and
sexy but was his usual scruffy self and failed. 

“A first class Ship's Engineer,” Tyler explained. “And unfortunately a
first class drug user.” 

Talis nodded at him. 

“Sinto Ad!” announced Sinto, standing up and flexing his muscles. 

“Sinto will be the Weapons Officer,” said Tyler. 

“And there's a weapon here I'd like to introduce you to right now!” said
Sinto, grabbing his groin. 

Miller sniggered. Talis did not seem fazed. 

“Sit down Sinto!” Tyler barked. “Or it's clone-pain time!” 

Sinto flipped him the finger and sprawled back in his chair. 

“And last is Corthan Yanu,” said Tyler, “the second Weapons Officer.” 

Corthan stood up and bowed politely. 

Talis grinned at him. 

“One of the crew is missing,” Tyler said to her. “You'll meet him later.
Blaze 14 is his name and he'll be the cabin boy. He had a slight 
accident with a laser rifle yesterday.” 

Talis nodded. “He's the teenager who can dematerialize at will, isn't
he?” she asked. 

“That's correct,” Tyler told her. “Which is why he is in the group.” 

Talis smiled. “I'm looking forward to meeting him.” 

“Take him for a drink,” suggested Miller. “He'll love that.” 

The others laughed. Even Corthan managed a smile. 

“Well gentlemen, that concludes today's session,” Tyler told them. “Make
the most of your diversions tonight. Tomorrow night will be your last 
with them. And don't ever forget – clone-pain. Have no doubt I'll use 
it if anybody causes Pilot Officer Talis any trouble on the mission.” 

Corthan quietly entered Blaze's room. The room was in darkness save for
the weak glow of a night light next to the bed. 

He sat in silence a while until Blaze woke with a start. He sat up
quickly then wished he hadn't. His head started throbbing and every 
part of his body ached. He groaned and sank back on to the bed. The 
soft laughter from the corner of the room startled him and he sat up 
quickly again and groaned even more. 

“How does your first hangover feel?” Corthan asked, stepping out of the
shadows and sitting at the end of the bed. 

“Lousy,” Blaze answered. “What's a hangover?” 

“It's how people feel the next day when they've had too much to drink
the night before.” 

“Oh. So that's what happened to me?” 

“You don't remember?” Corthan asked. 

Blaze screwed up his face. “Only some of it,” he replied then groaned
again. 

Corthan reached into his robe and brought out a small bottle of yellow
liquid. “Here, Muslik gave me this for you,” he said, uncorking the 
bottle and handing it to him. “It'll get rid of the pain and help you 
sleep again.” 

Blaze drank the liquid and lay back down. “So tell me what happened
then, Corth.” he said. 

“Well after you got drunk you visited Sinto and his women then scared
the hell out of Miller. After that you wound up over at Fleet HQ,” 
Corthan told him, “where you proceeded to give some of the Guards the 
run around before Tyler nailed you with a laser rifle set on ‘stun'.” 

“So that's why I ache.” 

“The effects of the laser and the drink,” said Corthan. “You were
unconscious most of the night and Tyler sent a couple of Guards over 
with you this afternoon. I put you to bed and you went back to sleep.” 

Blaze groaned again. The yellow liquid was quickly beginning to take
effect and he was having difficulty keeping his eyes open. 

Just before he dozed off he managed a weak grin. “Hey Corth, now I
remember about Miller,” he said. “Don't know what he'd been taking but 
you should've seen his face when I appeared upside down in front of 
him!” 

Corthan was still laughing quietly to himself as Blaze fell asleep. 


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