THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 1015 words) [6/18] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 04 2016	Views/Reads: 1758/1259	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 1 - CH 5

FIVE 

When Kane saw the Ship he came to a skidding halt on the sodden grassy
moor. It wasn't a Transporter. It was one of those sleek, dark blue 
Falcons which the Fleet used when it wanted to move somewhere very 
fast. 

As he'd been racing down the hill there was no thought of what kind of
Ship it might be. The only thing going through his mind was that one 
was landing on Sirene. Where it was from or what kind didn't matter. 
When he saw it sitting there on the moor however, it threw him. To see 
a Falcon again after all this time. Here of all places. 

Half the prisoners were already gathered around it, milling about
outside its force-field but he never noticed them. All he could see was 
the Falcon. 

For a while he stood and stared, transfixed. Then he saw it all
again....him sitting in the Captain's seat on the Bridge of a similar 
Ship, the crew busy around him, instrument panels flashing, scanner 
reports from the Ship's computer, stars and planets slipping by on the 
wide observation screen in front of him. 

Someone yelling in the crowd jolted him back and the scenes shimmered
and faded. In their wake, the old hate of Tyler rekindled. He let it 
burn briefly then doused it as his cold control returned. He started 
slowly across the moor, his eyes never leaving the Ship. 

A panting Miller caught up with him. “From the Fleet,” he gasped, seeing
the Falcon. “What the fuck do they want?” 

Kane shrugged. “If they want anything from us they must be pretty
desperate.” 

Miller's breathing eased a bit. “They must need something,” he said,
wiping some sweat from his face with his coat sleeve. “They wouldn't 
send one of those babies here for nothing.” 

They reached the back of the crowd of prisoners. Engrossed in the Ship,
no-one noticed them arrive. They merged in with the others and waited. 

They didn't have long to wait. The Exit Bay door slid open and some
steps slid smoothly to the ground. The noise in the crowd died away and 
curious eyes fastened on the doorway. A few seconds later, a tall 
elegant figure wearing the black uniform of the Fleet Commander 
appeared. It was Tyler. 

As if he had all the time in the world he reached into a pocket, took
out one of his thin black cigars from a silver case, lit it and stood 
there in the doorway, smoking and examining the crowd. Then he slowly 
descended the steps and strolled forwards a few paces. 

Totally ignoring the prisoners he had a stroll along the inside of the
force-field, taking a long look round at Sirene. When his inspection 
was over he strolled up to where the force-field ended. In the Ship 
they were following him on a monitor, ready to lower the force-field 
and when he dropped his cigar in a pre-arranged signal he was through 
and it was raised again before any of the prisoners had a chance to 
make a move. 

He walked forwards and stopped a little in front of them, hands on hips.
They looked each other over. Tyler – elegant and arrogant. The 
prisoners – a ragged, hostile crowd. 

Tyler smiled at them. “Don't waste your time trying anything,
gentlemen,” he said, his voice booming out via a throat microphone, 
“there's still a three feet moveable force-field round me.” He smiled 
at them again and waited. 

From the middle of the crowd someone threw a rock, just to be sure.
Tyler saw it coming but made no attempt to avoid it and it bounced 
harmlessly away off his force-field and fell to the ground. 

He reached out and tapped the force-field with his fingers. “Point
proved, gentlemen? Good. Let's get down to business,” his voice boomed 


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