Page 9
Raven had heard enough. He shifted
back to his bird form and left through the roof. He had taken care of the
fake clue earlier. A small piece of rubber from one of the Solit logo's
had been loose. he had grabbed it and put it in his pocket. It was time to
go to the hospital now.
When he arrived there the emergency room was still full of activity. Raven
slipped in and walked to the night reception desk.
"Hello. he said.
"What is it?" a single nurse, knitting on a chair, asked.
"I'd like to get the number of a room."
"It's past visiting hours."
"I know, but my employer would love to get this information. Ring her
if you want to be sure. Her name is Ilandra Merend. She was brought in
earlier tonight."
"I have her here, but I can't ring now, she'll probably be
sleeping."
"No she won't."
"Hey Raven!!" A voice yelled behind him.
"Silence is a virtue." The nurse said and kept on knitting.
"Follow me. I know where the room is." Ryan said smiling. He was
carrying 4 different cans of soda, "Want one?"
"No thanks." Raven said and followed Ryan through the emergency
exit up the stairs.
"They weren't hurt badly, the doctor said they could leave as soon as
tomorrow which is really good. We are still going after the thief
right?"
"We sure will. How do you feel about space travel?"
"Space travel?"
"I'll explain later."
Roughly 3 light years away from the
hospital, an old research ship was pulling out of hyper drive. It entered
regular space and appeared in a small solar system with one medium, yellow
sun and three planets that were all possible future colonies.
Inside Lloyd 'Mechs' Iterane was busy bringing the ship in orbit around
the first of the planets. The colony vessel was old, but reliable and
Mechs knew her like she was his daughter. His daughter felt heavy.
The colony-research ship was equipped to take three crewmembers to a
planet and return them. But this journey Stevan, Mechs' nephew had been on
board as well. They both had packed lightly and Mechs had made sure his
darling 'Medea' had enough fuel in her to overcome the burden. But in the
middle of their journey they had picked up a stranded traveller. Mechs
hadn't been cold-hearted enough to leave him behind on that deserted
planet.
"Come on darling." he said, "You can make it."
The ship fought back a little, but then returned to his control and
steadied herself in an orbit. They'd use a lighter vehicle to get to the
surface of the planet.
"All systems stabilised." he reported to Liv Taymin.
"How soon can we get to the surface?"
"How about right now?"
"I'll alert Xander." she said and smiled.
"Better get Stevan and Ponte too. This one isn't classified as
dangerous."
"Sure thing."
Liv left her seat and went through the short metal hallway to the rear of
the ship. She knocked on each of the three bedroom doors and waited for
the men to come out. Stevan was first, as always on this trip. Then Ponte opened his
door and a little later Xander, his eyes still half closed.
"Did I catch you in your nap, Xander?"
"Laugh all you want, I was up all night guarding."
"You didn't shut your eyes even for a little while?"
"If it isn't a bed, I can't sleep."
Liv grinned. What an odd spacer Xander was. He should be used by
travelling by now, even on a small ship as the Medea.
Lantessama
Isle
Cy
DragonStake - Darkling
Dawn
Credits:
Backgrounds compiled with images found on Google