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| Lpnet1-100 The Lost Planet Chapter 1: Accident with an Asteroid Chapter 2: Stranded in Space Chapter 3: Survival in Solitude Chapter 4: The Ancient Temple Chapter 5: A Virtual Reality Experience Chapter 6: The Crystal Records Chapter 7: The Knowledge of Tranqua Chapter 8: The Meta- Hydrovector Chapter 9: The Long, Hard Work Chapter 10: The Project Complete Chapter 11: The Crystal Fantasy Chapter 12: The Key of Vitreos |
The
Lost Planet
Chapter 18: A
Skirmish in Space
The Valkon had provided many things, including a large crate of clothing. I guided T’rwani out of the tomb and helped her into a blue jump-suit. It was not a Tranqua gown, but it would keep her warm. T'rwani had the basis for simple intelligence, but I had to teach her my language. I had learned enough of the Tranquan language to translate. It would take time. She was very child-like and quite naturally saw me as a father figure, since it was I alone who greeted her during the emergence of her consciousness outside the tomb. It took much time, but we had plenty of that. Within two months she knew enough of the language to follow my instructions in taking care of the greenhouse and fixing meals. I rewarded her with jewelry and gemstones from the treasure. I felt more at home than ever, now that I had a living companion. T'rwani was a wonderful child, and physically, a very attractive young lady. Then some of her memories began to emerge and I had to tell her about Tranqua. After I told her about how Tranqua had been destroyed, she wept briefly. She was very empathic; it was part of her natural physiology. Then I introduced her to the present and took her for a ride in the shuttlecraft. She enjoyed it and laughed as we swooped over and about the great, irregular stone in space. June 5, 2088: Life on the asteroid with T'rwani went well. She was a quick learner. In her free time, when she was not talking or playing, she spent time reviewing the crystal-records. Much of her memory was restored. Together, we joined the spheres and played in the Tranquan gardens many times. The asteroid was our home, but the Tranquan gardens of the temple were our favorite playgrounds. July 2, 2088: The course of the asteroid, Amplexa, finally brought us at opposition with the planet Earth and I decided to show it to T'rwani with the super-scope. This led me to tell about it and she expressed much interest. She said she'd like to visit it, but I told her it would not be possible for some time. When I admitted the fact that we would have to stop at Mars during the voyage, she became ill-tempered and decided she'd rather go to Jupiter. I thought of Callisto and said, "Maybe next year." August 10, 2088: We finally received a message from Captain Nezmot, who was somewhat overdue. She was en route for the asteroid and would arrive in about a month. She warned me that Europan pirates had been sited in the area. I acknowledged the message and checked the security monitors. If they were out there, they were still too distant for detection. September 4, 2088: I received another message from Nezmot. She was just days away. Unfortunately, the pirates came first. We were ready for them. Security was definitely being improved about the temple and the asteroid. Most recently, I had constructed remote, directional space-mines, and placed them all about the station. With a flip of a switch, I could release any one of them or all of them and use the remote control-unit to direct them. This time I was playing for keeps. If I was lucky I could at least hold them off until Nezmot arrived. Of course, I still had the Tranquan spacesuit, and the gun, but I didn't want to leave T'rwani alone in the station unless it was absolutely necessary. As a last resort, I could have her hide away safe in the shuttlecraft. I hoped it wouldn't come to that. When the pirates came, I sat at the video monitors, in the batheopath, ready for them. Trawani sat nearby, feeling my nervous tension. We were both in our spacesuits, just in case the environmental systems were compromised. "Why do the pirates bother us?" she asked. I hadn't yet showed T'rwani the treasure or the secret cave with all the artifacts. I was using the precious stones as rewards for her learning. I planned to share it all with her in due time. "Pirates," I explained, "are interested in valuable things. Like the jewelry I gave you. They don't care if we already lay claim to such things. They wish to take it from us, even if it means using violent force. We must defend ourselves and protect the elements of Tranqua." I then began to tell her about the two other times they had visited. Then an Europan ship was detected, moving quickly on close approach. About 40 km away and closing in by the second. I counted to 5 and released a mine. Within a split second I was directing it toward the gap between us. "Won't they get mad if you hit them?" "Sure. But if I damage them, they may have to hide away and make repairs. During that time, Captain Nezmot may arrive.” The Europan ship slowed and maneuvered away from the gap with the mine in it. 3-d geometry was not one of my easier disciplines, neither was computer programming for such things. I decided to take my best shot and let them know we were on the defense. Like a warning shot at best. I quickly steered the mine towards the ship and pushed a button. There was an explosion and the ship shook in the shockwave. They did a quick circle about and headed back our way from a different angle. "They don't get the message," I said, and launched another mine. I directed the mine straight for them. A ray shot from the ship's nose and the mine exploded. "Damn," I cursed, "I should've expected that." I launched 2 more mines. The ship maneuvered and shot. The ray missed the mine and blasted the stone of the asteroid, about 100 meters from the temple. I hated to think what might happen with a more direct hit. "T'rwani," I said, "Go to the shuttlecraft and wait, as I instructed." She argued shortly, and then went. She was scared and I didn't blame her. I directed one mine at the ship as it fired and hit the other. Before they could line up the other, I pushed the button. The ship maneuvered, but the blast did something. I quickly launched 2 more mines, without hesitation. The ship steered away, to a safe distance. There was no definite sign of damage, and I wasn't about to let my guard down. I saw no alternative. I let 2 more mines go, so that 4 were between us, and secured the spacesuit and helmet. I adjusted the gun and quickly left by the batheopath airlock valve. I hid amidst the irregular stone and spied the ship. It was directing its nose toward the temple and approaching it very slowly. I used the hand-remote to direct a mine into the ship's path. As they fired at it, I directed another around to its side. It looked as though they might fire upon the temple. I adjusted the invisible phase and flew towards the ship. As I did so, I fired the thin ray at the other mine and it exploded. The ship was pushed sideways. As they regained control, they began to fire at the temple-station. I flew directly at the ship, aimed the ray gun, and fired at the nose. On the third shot, I knocked the rays out, and the ship lost control. I watched as the ship went off course and drifted to the asteroid. It made a safe landing at about 100 meters from the far side of the Valkon's crash-site. I spied shortly and returned to the temple. The pirates were down and could still attack by jetpak. I went to T'rwani and together we returned to the batheopath. "Are we safe?" she said. "Not yet, but we bought some time," I answered. I attempted to radio Nezmot, but apparently the asteroids were in the way. We waited with our eyes glued to the security monitors. I told T'rwani to continue watching while I returned to the temple. I went out the airlock and spied closely with the super-scope. The pirates were busy making repairs, as I expected. I returned to the batheopath and told T'rwani to relax. "Their first priority is to repair their ship. It will take hours, perhaps even a day." "What then? Will they attack again?" "I don't think they'll give up so easily. They probably will attack, and they probably won't be so easy on us." "Then what'll we do?" "Quiet now. Let me think." It was quite possible that I could destroy the pirates and their ship, but I wasn't that kind of man. Besides, I didn't want to take the initiative in starting a war with the Europans. They could have other ships out there. What I had to do was hold them off long enough for Captain Nezmot to arrive with the AMV. She knew how to deal with pirates, in a more legitimate way. |
Chapter 14: The Asteroid Miners Chapter 15: T’rwani and Tranqua Chapter 16: The Europan Pirates Chapter 17: A Clone for a Companion Chapter 18: A Skirmish in Space |
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