Voyage of the Dawn Rider

Chapter 5

Voyage of the Dawn Rider 3.

"I love my mother captain," started Magiere, "But I was always closer to my father, I was his "little girl." Most men especially kings pray for a son to inherit the throne perhaps my father thought mother would provide him with one, but after she had me, the doctors said "no more." It never seemed to bother him though, we were so close." Pausing to take another sip of beer , she continued. "After he died in the accident, my whole world slid out from under my feet, I was a "lost" girl, I literally went to pieces, mother wasn't doing much better so she was of no real help or support. Somehow I got it in my head the accident was my fault, I was a f*****g mess. Anyway I lost all self respect, I started f*****g anything with two legs, drank, smoked, I was one bad girl. Mother sent me to school in Barkesh, basically a military school for f**k-up's like myself, I spent two cycles there, most of which I barely remember. Then it was up to a private academy in Aeravas, failing that mother twisted some arms and got me into the Star Riders." Chuckling to herself, the princess continued. "The only worthwhile thing I learned to do was fly, for some strange reason it's the only thing…Wait, the second thing, I really do well, when my mother told you I was good she wasn't kidding, I really am, natural talent or something." "What's the other thing you mentioned," I asked. Magiere grinned and shook her head, "f*****g up!" "Aren't you being rather harsh on yourself Lieutenant?" I mused. "Perhaps. Not long ago some friends and I were in Aeravas partying our asses off, the next thing I know a bunch of nasty Faeries were hauling my sweet ass off, not to jail but to a stinking dungeon. When I sobered up I got a visitor, it was queen Kolee. Man-o-man did she ever read the riot act to me. She asked me if I knew how much I was making my mother cry. She told me how my mother was coming to her all torn up inside over what I was doing to her. Anyway Bivale explained a few things to me, and to her everlasting credit she somehow got through my thick skull. In the end I cried, man did I ever cry, I just let it all out. Captain, you can never know the depths I fell but Bivale literally saved my life. She went to my mother, got us to meet at a secret place only the pixies know of. For three days we raged and roiled and screamed at each other. When it was all over we hugged and cried, I finally realize how much we loved each other, for that I can never repay Bivale, I would do anything for her, this assignment was as much her idea as it was mother's. Soooo here I am, I suppose if I f**k this one up it's "Queen of the Cantard" for me, but I intend to make good of that you have my word of honor." When she was finished with her story Magiere acted as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. I reached over and took her hand, "I'm so sorry Magiere, I wish there was something I could do or say, I will take you at your word. "So what do you know about Elansa?" The princess shrugged, "She's the queens lover, but aside from that fact she is one of the best doctors in Mythal. Lately she's been lecturing at all the medical universities, she was in of the meeting with the scholars along with my mother, and king Furgas who made the decision to mount this expedition. Mother wouldn't talk about it much, other than to say that she was really scared that somebody is creating another army of super Ogres. She like the others are truly worried for the future of Isseth, any more you'll have to ask Garet Leah when he arrives." "What was that business about Elansa being a witch?" "It's true captain, like mother told you, she's a senior sister in the witches guild, very powerful, but all her energy is focused for the good thank God. I first met her at Heaven Light, she showed me a few things,you asked about my dancing, she's the guilty party. Even though she's a lesbian she's never hit on me and always maintains her decorum, she's an extremely disciplined woman, God I only wish I could be half the woman she is." The princess looked at her wrist cron then said, "It's getting rather late I wonder where the others are?" I started to look around when all of a sudden I felt something grab my ankle, thinking a dog must have gotten loose in here I yelled. Magiere looking equally horrified cryed out . Looking down I saw that the source of my surprise wasn't a dog but a laughing Spanner Valsung looking up at me. "How the hell did you get under there?" I demanded as he scooted out from under the table. Still laughing uproariously Spanner said, 'It was easy while you were staring into her eyes I slipped right by you." Shaking my head and laughing I took a breath and said, "Spanner this is…" Looking around, I stopped in mid sentence and said, " I'll tell you later you never know who's listening." "Oh you mean someone like me perhaps?" Suddenly appearing right next to us was Elansa, her sudden appearance scared the s**t out of me, Goddamned witch! She took a seat but didn't go for any of the beer, Spanner was however on his second mug already. I signaled for the waitress and then turned to Elansa. "Welcome Elansa, got your affairs in order?" She gave me a strange look and said, "Very funny captain, keep it up and I'll turn you into a goat." I looked at her then at Magiere, "Can she really do that?" Magiere shrugged, "Maybe?" The Faery was wearing a white peasant blouse trimmed with gold and silver wire, matched with a brown leather bodice. She also wore tan cargo pants with all sorts of little pockets, for all her magical potions and all the "witchy" things no doubt. Like Renee, Elansa wore the fancy ear jewelry, as well as very stylish high heeled leather boots. The waitress finally arrived and put me down for another pitcher, Elansa ordered a glass of wine. Spanner then spoke up, "Say captain I've got a bone to pick with you." "Now what?" Spanner finished his third mug of beer , and continued. "I was sleeping soundly last night when the next thing I know I'm being dragged out of bed told I've got half an hour to s**t shower and shave and get my ass on a fighter that was leaving for Star City, and if I didn't have my butt aboard as per orders I would end up in a place I really didn't want to be. I heard your name mentioned and not in a good way, so I figure you're up to something, mind telling me all about it?"

I looked at Magiere and then at Elansa, "So where's our "scholar" seems to me the reason for our being here isn't here." "Relax captain," said Magiere, "He'll be along." In the meantime, I resumed my conversation with Spanner, who was dressed in the standard navy dress uniform of dark blue coat, pants and white dress shirt. Spanner also wore rating and service stripes on his right sleeve as well as his squadron insignia on the shoulder of his left sleeve. Spanner, like most Dwarves wore a mustache and beard, but both were well trimmed as per regulations. We chatted about personal acquaintances and what they were up to, then we touched on my little run-in with the management over my handling of a certain tactical problem. " The top brass is nervous around improvisation," I observed. "They don't know what to do about situations that aren't in the book, as the old saying goes; "I seed my chances and I took 'em" simple as that." "So I take it that's what put you here?" asked Spanner. I nodded towards the princess and said "The queen liked my style, I met with not only her but queen Kolee as well, they've been looking at reports dealing with not only the Goks, but Ogres as well. And speaking of Ogres, I had one for a cabbie coming out here, I wasn't aware they were allowed to have jobs, much less one that brings them into contact with military personnel." "All that started to change around six cycle ago," said Magiere, "However that surprises me as well, even driving a taxi requires more thought and skill than most Ogres are capable of." "His name is "Smash" and he told me he also works here part time as a bouncer." Then looking at Magiere, and grinning, I continued. "He claims he and your pals in the Star Riders have some sort of understanding, know anything about that?" Before Magiere had a chance to answer, Spanner interrupted, "Are you with those Star Riders Lieutenant?" Magiere suddenly became very defensive, "What's wrong with the "riders" we have a solid record." Spanner laughed, "If you call wrecking taverns and officers clubs a "record" then I suppose so." Magiere glared daggers at Spanner. I couldn't afford any animosity between crew members this early ,so I interrupted. "Belay that you two, the Star Riders are a fine group of men and women charged with defending this planet, they do a fine job, but when your training all the time and flying ships that can kill you with only one mistake you tend to get pretty defensive."

This seemed to relieve the pressure, and both parties backed off. "Sorry Lieutenant, I was out of line," said Spanner in apology. The Princess continued to glare at him for a moment longer, then accepted the apology. I then turned my attention to Elansa who was sitting quietly listening to us yammer on. "So Elansa, what's been going on in Mythal lately?" Without missing a beat, she looked at me and said, "Nothing I can tell you about captain," I chuckled, "Are things so secret in Mythal you're not permitted to reveal anything to outsiders?" "You're entitled to your opinions captain, but you should realize that we Faerie enjoy our privacy, I'm sorry to inform you that Mythal is a lot more than a nation of over-sexed Faeries or Succubi looking for men to seduce." I started to protest, but she held up her hand, "There's no use trying to deny it, we know all too well from bitter experience, and frankly we're more than a little pissed off. Now I'm not accusing you of anything in particular." Waving her hand to indicate the rest of the tavern she continued. "I'll bet you any amount of gold these mopes are just full of juicy stories about, "Hey I've got an idea! Let's all go over to Aeravas and get laid!" I shook my head, Elansa certainly had quite an imagination, unfortunately that's all it was…An imagination Taking a deep sigh, I leaned forward looking Elansa dead in the eye, "That's what I like, a Faery with attitude, I hope you're not going to be a problem?" Elansa immediately went on the defensive, "Me captain? I think you've got the wrong lady." I continued to stare at her, then leaned back, "So I'm safe for the time being from being turned into a goat?" Elansa barely cracked a smile but tapped me on my nose with her slender finger, "If you're a very good boy, perhaps I'll introduce you to a very good friend of mine, who just happens to be "Queen" of the Succubi, she'll turn you every which way but loose." I was about to make a witty remark when a Dark Elf came rushing up to our table carrying a flight bag and a briefcase, All of us immediately turned our attention to the newcomer.

"You must be Garet Leah?" I said, looking the man over. Dressed in the ubiquitous cargo pants and an Engineer shirt and tan spitfire cap. He appeared to be out of breath and began to apologize for being late. "Never apologize sir, it's a sign of weakness," I returned. He took the last seat, and helped himself to the beer. 'I would have been here sooner, but they made me wait and come down on what I understand is to be our ship," explained Garet. "Is it a Comet?" I asked. Finishing a swig of beer, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and replied, "It is, sir the Dawn Rider I believe, even has a little fighter sitting in the cargo area." "I nodded in approval, "That would be the pup, very good," I replied. "Where is it?" "Landing area C, I believe," said Garet. I studied him for another moment, then said, "The queen has filled me in a little bit, Garet but she said you'd give us the full story," "That is true captain," replied Garet. Looking over the crew, I announced, "Since we're all here now, I suppose we should get to our ship." Everybody left a little for the tip I went right to the waitresses' station and paid the bill. Near the entrance there was a special phone to call base transport, I was told it would be a few minutes, so we walked across the street to wait in a small park. Garet seemed entranced by Magiere who realized she had a new admirer.

While we were waiting, I noticed Elansa was carrying a medium sized hard cased bag that I hadn't noticed before. I didn't get too close to look at it further, but it sure looked to me like there were what appeared to be air holes all along one side. Before long the Jitney arrived, and in no time we were off to our ship. Once we arrived at the base proper, ID cards had to be shown, as well as calls made to the "proper authorities." Once we cleared the main gate, we headed for zone C, where again we had to check in at the security and flight office. Again ID's had to be produced, as well as signing off on the receiving sheet which basically said that I was the commanding officer, and that I was taking charge of the Dawn Rider, and that inspection had shown no discrepancies or damage to said craft. Since the ship was coming right from the naval station orbiting Isseth I dispensed with the inspection. The crew on the "Sorbold" had a cushy job up there and they were smart enough to know that one screw up they were out of there.