The Storm Came and the Dragons Danced. Part 2.

Posted on Sun Jan 25th, 2026 @ 8:18pm by Commander Milani & Lieutenant Commander Dex & Commodore Finchley Kerr & Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar & Lieutenant Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis

Mission: Delivering on the undeliverable.
Location: Planet 351 Gamma.
Timeline: Current.

"Pegasus!" Milani exclaimed, "don't you see the dragon shooting flames into the ground, i never thought they ever existed and you, Sir, Commodore you look so wonderful in that golden armour, if you don't mind me saying." The security guards looked at each other and then back at their Commanders.

"You don't look to shabby yourself" Finchley replied, a touch embarrassed at Milani's comment.

Kilbane looked back and forth between them as he exclaimed, "What are you two havering about, you're both still in your uniforms...both grimy, tatty and torn!"

Milani noticed Kilbane and bent to her knee immediately bowing her head. "Sire, why did you not tell us you were visiting today. I would have had the guard out ready for your inspection." Milani noted her silver greaves and sabatons were not as shiny as they could be. She knew it was not really possible for women to be knights but she had saved his life on the field of battle and he had knighted her there.

Kilbane was about to go off on one when he stopped himself and thought of how he might turn this to an advantage to find out what was really happening.

"We eh, we didn't announce our visit as we wanted to see our trusted kin on the field and find out what the state of pla...find out what is vexing our King here" Kilbane replied, "He has not been himself and there are others in our realm who have seen strange things. Sightings of friends and foes who have since passed, imaginings of creatures from tales told by the elders from times distant. Tell us Sir Milani, have any of our kin spoken or witnessed such happenings, have they spoken of them to you?"

Milani stood, "Yes Sire several members of my group have reported seeing creatures from their own heritage as some of our bond are not from this world. When the dragons appear a blue mist appears with them which seems to...." Milani struggled for the word.."Seems to taste. I feel our King, has been corrupted as he is not himself." She bowed again her armour creaking and clanking against her sword.

"Rise Sir Milani, there's no need to continually bow" Kilbane replied, perplexed that she and Kerr seemed to be able to see the mysterious 'dragons' or 'Pegasus' creatures. "It's true, the...King...isn't himself, but I wouldn't go as far to say he's corrupted. Tell me, this blue mist that appears, you say you can taste it, describe to me what kind of taste it is. I mean, is it sweet or sour, is it something you believe you've tasted before?"

Milani bowed again this time even lower, "sire Princess Shoniara also mentioned to me a particular...taste when our carriage came down. At the time I paid no attention, I should have been able to protect her." Then she unexpectedly stood her armour clanking. "Something is coming," she exclaimed grabbing Finchley's hand. "Danger, we must get the king, yourself and the King to safety in the caves." The sky began to turn dark and the black clouds boiled.

Kilbane looked up but saw nothing, not a cloud in the brightly lit sky. Whatever this was, whatever was affecting Milani and the others was more than merely a hallucination problem, but it was affecting them visually. Still, he didn't want to rock the boat if he was to get to the bottom of this, so he allowed both himself and Finchley to be taken into the caves nearby. Once inside, he took Milani to one side, "It's obvious there's more to this danger which you see."

An idea suddenly came to him, but it was how to put it in such a way as to not antagonise those around him. "Tell me Sir Milani, is there a quest you're on, one which may put the King in danger?"

Milani looked at her Lord with fear in her eyes. "Yes sire there is something the King has to face, a quest he has to go through." she moved closer to him suddenly attracted to him.....no, to her, Karadis stood before her. "My lady Karadis, my fair one." she grasped Kilbane and kissed him full on the lips. "Lend me a favour for my quest?"

Kilbane was taken aback at the sudden kiss from Milani and stood back, holding her at arms length, "I'm not this Lady Karadis you speak of, I'm Kilb..Sir Kilbane, the Kings trusted right hand man! If the King has a quest, tell me what it is so that I can ready him for the journey."

Milani stood for a moment as if she had momentarily closed down then rebooted. "The King must journey to the mountains east of here where he must fight the great wizard. If he wins our chariot will be able to survive," she pointed to the sky, "up there. But first Sire, you have a quest before you in order to assist the King....you must.....learn to forgive."

Kilbane was confused, "Learn to forgive who?" he asked.

Milani looked at him. "your own personal quest is...difficult and you may not be able to do it all at once but it concerns...." Milani stopped again and this time her head drooped. Raising her head she continued. "Those who have hurt you, the hatred in your heart is turning it black and it will die as you will." Milani closed her eyes and stood there.

"My personal matters do not come into this Sir Malani, all that matters is the King's safety on this...quest of his" Kilbane answered, now getting angry, "You will be best at remembering that. Our lives are forfeit to the King, we serve him at his pleasure and my pleasure is to see that he comes to no harm fighting this wizard you spoke of a moment ago. My personal life gets put to the side and on only matter 'if' it distracts me from my main task. However, I will give it some thought if we get through this, am I clear?"

Milani looked away and appeared to be processing this information. The her gaze returned to him and she nodded. The cave shook for a few seconds and then something like a dagger of flame appeared and struck Finchley in the chest, Milani screamed and collapsed unconscious on the cave floor. Suddenly Shon appeared at the entrance and walked inside. "I am here to show the way" she said in a hollow voice.

It all happened so quickly, Kilbane wasn't sure at first to go to Finchley, check that Milani was still alive or tell Shon to see to one of them whilst he saw to the other. Then it struck him, Shon was there, in the cave with them. "How did you get here?" he began, "Never mind, you can tell me later, see to the Commod...I mean King, I'll see to Milani!" he yelled.

Shon walked over to Finchley and bent over him and the smoking hole in his chest. The staff in her hand vibrated with light as she touched it to his chest. "Live again to quest great king, you have to lead your people out!" Sparks flew into Finchley as Shon's hand caressed his face.

Finchley opened his eyes and looked at Shon. He sat bolt upright, "Lady Shon, you're here!"

Shon smiled, "Yes my king, I could feel you needed me and I must help you in your quest. It is not your time to die but you must look to your people so they do not."

"A King must do well by his people, they are after all under my protection so I must do what needs done...for them" Finchley replied, slowly standing up.

Meanwhile Kilbane had gotten to Milani and bent down to make sure she was still breathing. His heart was beating quickly, he didn't want to think she was hurt so he gathered her up in his arms and cuddled her closely, "Come on Milani, you can't go doing this to me, we need you here and now to get through whatever's going on, even if it doesn't make sense to me...but does to you."

Milani woke and looked at him her eyes fixed on him, they flickered with uncertainty and....something else. "you saved me my lord, I will never forget that." She did not want to leave his arms but struggled up and stood. "Now the magician is here we will begin our quest, follow me."

Kilbane watched as Milani walked away, there was something in her stare, something...and he shook his head, "Come on Kilbane, get with the programme and stop being stupid!" he rebuked himself. He took off after her and was soon over by Finchley and Shon, "It's good to see you on your feet my Liege, for a moment there I feared you had been taken from us by the flame that struck you."

Finchley nodded to Kilbane by way of acknowledgement of his kind words then replied, "It's Princess Shoniara you should be thanking Sir Kilbane, it was she who brought me back from the brink of death."

Kilbane shuffled his feet as he looked everywhere except at Shon, "Yes, well...thank you Princess Shoniara, you did us all a great service saving the Kings life" he mumbled.

Finchley clapped a hand on each of their shoulders, "There now, friends we all are again I say, let us be to the quest at hand and save our people."

He then looked at Milani, "Lead on Sir Milani, it appears you know the way."

"I lead the way but our getting there will be...unusual. Outside the cave were two enormous green dragons fire dripping from their maws prone on the valley floor. Milani led the way carefully until she stopped them on a ledge about five meters from the ground. Once on the level the dragons were at the height for settling on their backs. Milani looked proudly at Shon. Our magician breeds these magnificent beasts and they will carry us safely into the mountains. High King you first." Shon held out her hand to help him up. "Sire you must lean on me let me carry you in the soft arms of Morpheus.

"Morpheus, named after the God of sleep and dreams" Finchley replied as he took hold of Shon's hand and got up onto the dragons back, "I doubt we'll be doing much of either on this quest we undertake"

"My lord" Milani said. "I will be riding behind you, please step up."

Kilbane was about to answer that nothing was there when an eery sound, like a light wind passing, came upon him, making him blink several times. His demeanour changed as he straightened up to his full height and he now saw the two dragons Milani had spoken of just moments before. He looked at Milani, "A noble gesture Sir Milani, but I must insist upon you being up front to guide the dragon, seeing as you know where we're going and I would hasten to believe you've ridden on a dragons back before."

The blue fog began to dissipate until the grey black clouds full of rain could be seen. The far away mountains looked ominous as their dark ragged crags seemed to change their form in the light.

"Of course my lord." Milani said. the other dragon was now eager to be off, its huge scaled body moving from side to side. Milani climbed on, "this is Gritivix he is still very young but I was present at his birth." Taking the chain in her hands she stroked the dragons ears as she waited for Kilbane to mount.

A little unsure of what was going to happen, having never ridden on a dragon before, Kilbane gingerly got on behind Milani and got himself comfortable as possible. "You say he's a very young dragon, does that mean he's not as obedient as the other one, will he still fly safely and can we trust him...eh, her?"

"He will obey my thighs as most beasts do," she said proudly. "Now, hold on tight." She bent over and whispered something to the beast who pushed off with his back legs springing up into the sky. Looking down she saw Shon and Finchley take off. The dragon went higher and turned flying over the stricken USS Thall. "Your beast will not fly again," Milani shouted over the wind. The Thall lay on her side her belly ripped open. Small fires could be seen as the crew had their evening rations. The dragons flew higher up into the clouds as the raindrops began to fall. "We are nearly over the glacier sire." she called enjoying his warmth pressing into her.

Kilbane chanced looking down and saw Finchley and Shon on the other dragon just below them. Looking back up, he heard what Milani said and saw the glaciers, they were an eery sight indeed. They reminded him of the old horror films he watched as a young man, and he actually smiled for the first time in what seemed like an age.

"When we get past the glaciers, how far is it to our destination?" he yelled over the rush of the wind.

"Another twenty boles to the highest mountain pass. There we ill pass into the world of legend and truth, of dreams and wakefulness, and of time itself." Milani shouted." there we will really need our mage."

Suddenly with the rush of the wind came a hail of what looked like arrows. Unable to pierce the dragon hide one settled itself in Milani's shoulder. She shouted as Shon's dragon drew level with hers. "Agnons!" she shouted at Shon who raised her staff, a blinding blue light flowed from it and covered both dragons and their riders in an impenetrable dome that protected them. Milani leaned backwards and whispered to Kilbane..."Poison...you will have to fly use..." then her eyes rolled and she passed out.

Kilbane caught Milani in his arms as she passed out, leaning back against him. They were in a really awkward position now, as he didn't know how to guide a dragon, and he doubted whether or not it would listen to him if he instructed it. He looked over at Shon and shouted "WE NEED TO SET DOWN, SIR MILANI IS HURT, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THIS DRAGON TO LAND, DO YOU?"

Shon looked at him and pointed downwards, his dragon followed on as they moved through the wind buffeted by the failing arrows. Soon they descended into a night sky with millions of twinkling stars as they left the wind behind. Landing with a thump on all four feet Shon's dragon was down and she pulled Finchley off its back. Gritivix landed next to them in the cool night light of a glade. "Bring her down to me," Shon asked.

Kilbane dismounted the dragon, being careful to make sure Milani didn't slide to one side or fall off, and gently lowered her to the ground.

Shon knelt down by Milani, "This is bad, very bad." she said. she has been poisoned and the cure is beyond me. When we get to the mountain pass there is someone who can help both Sir Milani, The King and, also you sire, you can see now cannot you?" Shon looked at him.

Kilbane looked at Shon, not understanding, "I can see what?" he asked.

"You can see us as we really are, and the dragons." She produced a small bottle containing a blue liquid. "Please give three drops of this to the King and then, we will move on. Sir Milani only has a few hours now. You will have to control your dragon but he knows your mind. Tell him where you want him to go and he will obey."

"Yes, yes I can who we really are" Kilbane replied, thinking it odd Shon would say that, after all he was on the same quest as they were. He took the the bottle and held it up to look at it, there was an odd shimmering every now and again, but he didn't question what it was so long as it made the King feel better. As for the dragon, that was a whole other thing, he'd never had any interactions with dragons save being on one for the last hour or so, so to think that it would know his mind kind of scared him a little. Did he just think thoughts and it would know, or would he have to 'talk' to it, there was only one way he'd find out.

He looked at Shon again, "I eh...I'm not entirely sure where it exactly is we're going, save into the mountains. Sir Milani whispered something into the dragons ear before we took skyward, I was assuming it would be to our destination, so I hope he remembers what it is she said and where abouts we're going."

Shon nodded, “he is Sir Milan’s dragon so she will have so ordered him.” She turned away for a moment, it felt like she was looking at herself through someone else’s eyes and she felt dizzy. She stumbled against the wall and caught herself. “The air is thin up here.” She said in case Kilbane had seen her.

He moved over to Finchley and unstopped the bottle and held it to his lips, "Sire, drink a little of this, it will help aid your recovery."

Finchley looked at Kilbane and then the bottle, he didn't have the will power to ask what it was he had to drink, but if his closest knight deemed it safe for him to have, he would trust him. Opening his mouth, when the three drops were administered to him he swallowed them down, the liquid tasting sweet and warming. Kilbane turned back to Shon, "Help me get the King back onto your dragon, I'll then get Sir Milani onto ours and we'll be on our way."

Shon took Finchley’s arm and put it round her neck and, with Kilbane’s help, managed to get him onto the kneeling dragon. “Get onto Gravitix, I will assist Sir Milani.” She looked at him. “Sire we will be flying very high, almost so high breath will become short so, be prepared. However it will not be long.”

Finchley smiled tiredly at Shon, "Does it matter if I die here on the dragons back or up in the air through lack of oxygen? Actually don't answer that, I don't want to die at all, I need to continue to serve my people, see to their welfare and good upkeep so sooner we can find help, the better."

Milani lay, white upon the rock as Shon muttered under her breath and brought her staff up. Moving her hands she weaved the spell as Milani stood and walked over to the dragon, then, moving up into the air she settled across the dragon’s neck. “Be of brave heart Lord Kilbane we will soon be there and Sir Milani can bathe in the healing waters.” Shon remounted her Dragon and secured Finchley to her. “Always one my king.” She whispered to him. “Ready?” She shouted.

Kilbane got onto the dragons back and sat behind Milani, holding her tight for both her safety and his feelings for her. He looked across to Shon, "READY!" he called out. Both dragons pushed hard off the ground and soon rose to dizzying heights as they headed for the mountains in the distance, a never ending cold vista that brought dread and fear to the very bones of anyone who headed there.

It took them a couple of hours, but finally the mountains looked as though they rose to greet them as they approached. The chill of the flight seeped into Kilbane's core, his hands now numb from holding Milani tightly to him for fear that she would slip and fall to her demise. Gravitix began to descend into the clouds, and once they were through them, an unwelcome sight of jagged outcrops of rock, slippery shale and ice sheets met Kilbane's gaze.

"A wretched place to behold" he whispered to himself, and he knew that evil lurked there, an evil that was as old as time itself, an evil that was hungry for more souls and an evil that dared them to face it. As Gravitix neared the ground, an unholy wailing began, soft at first, distant, but growing louder all the time till it's very being echoed of the mountains walls. They touched down on the ground with a thud, and Milani groaned at Gravitix shook himself, Kilbane making sure she was still held close to him. He saw the other dragon touch down and he called across to Shon, "How fairs the King?"


Shon shouted above the wind and the dreadful keening sound that froze the soul and entered every cell of the body coalescing it into a block of ice. Shon shivered despite carrying the staff of life. "He will, I think now be fine but," she looked over at Milani. "I am not sure about Sir Milani. "The dragons will look after themselves, bring her inside the cave." for a moment the rock face remained smooth and vertical. Shon touched her wooden staff to the rock and began to whisper in a strange language. After a few minutes the sound of groaning shrieking rock saw movement as it slid back. "In here" Shon shouted.

Kilbane carefully brought Milani down from Gravitix back and gathered her up in his arms. Steadying himself, he picked his way through the rock strewn floor and entered the cave.

The rock began to close behind them with a thud and the dreadful keening sound disappeared. Shon breathed a sigh of relief. "Esusu fornus" she said pointing her staff to the floor where a fire began to burn brighter, casting bright shadows into the gloom. "Lay sir Milani down here," she asked as she reached into her pack bringing out a handful of herbs which she scattered on the now bright fire. "come, warm yourself sire. I will treat her now, reach into my bag and you will find bread, cheese and mead. Eat and drink your fill you will need it for the final quest after we sleep."

He gently placed Milani down on the cave floor by the fire so she would get the best warmth. "I'll see to myself once the King and Sir Milani are comfortable and had some food and drink, they are the priority." He reached into the bag Shon had brought and withdrew the food and mead, seeing to it there was enough to go around for everyone. He approached Finchley and sat him up, holding up a small cup for him to drink some of the mead.

"Sire, drink some of this to keep your strength up" Kilbane said.

Finchley looked at him and smiled, "See to the others first, then yourself and then see to me."

"I've divided the food and mead up so that we all have enough to keep us going for a few hours Sire" Kilbane replied, "this is your share, please, drink and then eat, your safety and wellbeing is our priority."

Finchley nodded and opened his mouth to drink the mead, it's warmth on the way down a welcome feeling. "How is Sir Milani?" he asked.

Kilbane looked across at Milani, "Not so good Sire, but our healer here believes she can help revive her and make her well again."

"That's good, she is indeed a brave subject, worthy of our kinship" Finchley replied.

"And more..." Kilbane added.

"What was that?" Finchley asked.

Kilbane, realising what he'd just said, looked up at the cave ceiling, "I meant she deserves more than just our kinship, she deserves our respect as well."

Finchley knew what Kilbane had meant and it wasn't respect in the sense of being a fellow knight, though that was part of it, he had meant a depth of feeling in love. "You should tell her you know."

Kilbane looked at Finchley with a questioning look, "Sire?"

"I may be unwell, but I'm not blind" Finchley answered, "You're falling in love with Sir Milani, and I don't blame you, she's a beautiful woman to behold. Not only that but she's strong in both and emotional and physical sense. You should tell her of your true feelings towards her."

"I fear she's destined for another Sire, and besides, she's never once shown any feeling towards me save that of knightly respect" Kilbane replied.

"I've seen more" Finchley replied, "when you're not looking, her eyes soften and she longs after you in looks."

"Well, first things first Sire, we need to see to it that she regains her strength, after that we'll see how fate plays out" Kilbane said, rising. "You're food is on the plate there, call if you require help."

With that, Kilbane moved back to Shon and Milani around the other side of the fire. "How is Sir Milani fairing?"

Shon was busy leaning over Milani and muttering. Reaching into her bag she brought out what looked like an infusion burner. She lit it and placed herbs and a blue liquid into the burner and stirred. It grew thicker and a noxious stench began to pervade the growing warmth in the cave. "I need to get this into her bloodstream, It is very toxic and she will begin to react. Whatever you do keep hold of her."

Shon brought out a knife and made a deep cut in Milani's arm. Milani moaned as Shon began to pour the liquid inside the cut. It bubbled as it sunk deep into Milani's arm and she screamed out in pain. Sitting up she grabbed Kilbane with her other arm. "PLEASE STOP SIR!" she screamed and fell forward onto his chest. Milani's skin began to turn blue as the antidote burned up towards her heart. She gasped once more as her heart stopped.

"Well that's it, I tried," said Shon as she began to put her things away. "We will have to leave here here as there is nowhere to bury her," she said matter of factly.

Kilbane looked at Shon in disbelief, "What do you mean by Well that's it, I tried?" he said loudly, gently placing Milani on the ground. Standing up he walked across to Shon and grabbed her by the arm, "You're meant to be looking after the group, you can't possibly just give up that easily, you're a healer, do your fucking job, heal her!"

"Sir Kilbane" Finchley said from his place at the fire pit, "getting angry doesn't help out situation."

Kilbane looked round at him wildly, "What Sire, I meekly accept that Sir Milani is dead and nothing more can be done?"

"If our friend here determines nothing more can be done to help our kin, we should accept that as it is" Finchley replied.

"Well I don't accept it my King, if it were you this had happened to, my guess is that our 'friend' here would try everything she could to try to save and revive you!" Kilbane answered, his voice cracking in vehemency.

Finchley sat a moment, thinking what to say, then looked at Shon, "You are sure there is no more that can be done to try and save our fallen kin?"

"Very well my king, yes, there is something I can do but," she turned to Kilbane. "It involves an exchange, some part of your brain will be inside her as a part of her will be inside you. This will never leave either of you, it will induce a bond, where it will go will be unknown but it is now the only way to save her. What will you do my Lord, tell me now" she looked up her eyes steely blue holding the universe in as the stars flicked inside her.

"Explain" Kilbane replied, "What part of our brain will you give to the other, and how will the one who has had that part of their removed be affected?"

"You mistake me my lord" Shon said, "you will know some of Sir Milani's mind, you will," she paused seeking the right words, "be more aware of her and she of you. She will understand how you think and sometimes what you feel as you will her, you will form a bond of friendship that cannot be broken even by death. Now tell me will you save her?"

A light began to swirl around Milani and she stirred, moaning. Shon stood and pointed her staff at the prone woman. "DECIDE NOW!" she shouted into the wind. "Her life force is leaving her."

Kilbane was about to reply when he remembered something, Milani's heart had been given to another...Karadis. Though he hadn't paid much attention to the comings and goings of what happened in the court, per say, he had taken onboard that the two had become very close. If he were to do as the magician said, he could be party to the break up of that close relationship, but of he were did not, Sir Milani would surely die, it was a double edged sword.

He made a split second decision, "ALL RIGHT, DO IT!" he shouted back.

Shon stood back and touched the blue light of her staff to Milani's heart. A blinding light shot from it and Milani jerked her eyes opening, "What the fuck!" she exclaimed and lay back down her eyes closing. "Kilbane" she whispered. Shon sat down exhausted. "I need a few minutes rest then we will be able to carry on to the ending of our quest." She closed her eyes.

Milani sat up again and looked at Kilbane. "You miss the moors and mountains of your homeland?" she asked gently.

Kilbane looked at Milani, "Yes I do...but how do you...", then he understood. He continued to look at her, then his eyes widened a little, "You seek the comfort of...", but he stopped, looking away and then back again, now understanding, "...of ties that bind you together to another, for servitude and for love."

Milani's eyes opened wider and she blushed. "I, I, yes you speak the truth but....how do you know." she asked. She was obviously confused. "The King..." she asked Shon. "how is he?"

Shon opened her eyes. "His Majesty needs food and sleep but we will move on to somewhere out of prying eyes."

Milani stood swaying slightly. "A threat to the king?" she drew her sword. Sire how are you?"

Finchley looked at Milani, "I'm weary if truth be told" he replied, "but all the better now to see you are back with us Sir Milani." He looked at Kilbane, "And you Sir Kilbane, are you well after...after, what we just witnessed?"

Kilbane stood silent, looking between Finchley, Shon and Milani. Finally he found his tongue, "I am not sure my Liege, bodily I'm well, but my mind, my thoughts, it's as though they are not my own to a degree, they are mixed."

Finchley smiled, " Believe it or not, I know how you feel, it's very strange having the insight of another as part of your own thoughts. It takes time to get used to it, but when you do, you are suddenly aware that it can be a very powerful lift to your wellbeing."

Kilbane was back looking at Milani, "I mean, I had no idea you had those feelings, it's like a sledge hammer to my heart, but in a good way. However, there must also be caution, you have feelings for ano...", and he then stopped, realising this wasn't the time nor the place to discuss what he knew to be true. He looked at Shon, "You must lead the way to wherever this place is where we can have the King rest and eat, help him regain his strength, then we finish this quest."

Shon stood, "this way" she said as she walked through solid rock, once through she waited for the others.

Milani looked at the rock face and stood beside Finchley. "We must follow." she looked at Kilbane smiled and spoke to his mind. "Wherever our hearts may go." She then walked through the rock face with Finchley into another small cave through which floated the smell of fresh air and meadowsweet. Finchley walked on towards Shon who stood at the entrance. Milani stood and waited for Kilbane.

Kilbane, ever the sceptical one, walked towards the solid rock wall, his arm extended. He fully expected to touch the rough hewn surface of stone and was surprised when he walked straight through it and out into another cave. He saw the others waiting on him so he quickly caught up with them and stood beside Shon, "I don't think I'll ever understand the ways of magic, but I trust you're judgement on what we're doing."

"As well you should Sir Kilbane" Finchley said, "It's been more than once that Shon here has brought us out of a sticky situation and lead us to safety."

Kilbane simply nodded but added nothing more.

The entrance to the cave lead out onto a meadow blue with flowers. "we can rest by those trees, eat and drink and then I can tell you about the Lorii." She waked the few yards to the trees, muttered some words and rich tapestry rugs appeared around a large basket containing bread, cheese, thick rich butter and wine. Crystal glasses and gold cutlery lay beside fine china plates. A bottle of cold sparkling water lay in a flagon. To finish deep cushions spread across the ground.

"Please your majesty, Lord Kilbane, Sir Milani sit, take your ease, eat, drink and listen to my tale."

Finchley gladly sat amongst the deep cushions and began to pour some of the water for everyone before pouring himself a glass and then taking some of the food on offer. Kilbane helped Milani to be seated before he himself sat and drank the water poured for him and he to partaking in some of the food provided.

He looked at Shon, "Tell us your tale" he said.

Milani refrained however from eating or drinking her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. She felt nervy, on edge despite the beauty of their surroundings.

Shon sat and took a hunk of the warm bread. "This tale begins on this world forty millennia ago. One race lived here the Lorii who were a proud space faring race who were unfortunately xenophobic. After a long while a civil war broke out between faction who wanted to live with and welcome other races to the planet. The war was vicious and devastating, the world, once a paradise turned into a blasted heath fed by the blood of both."

Milani stood, "Please excuse me Sire, my lord, I will patrol the area" and walked off.

Shon carried on. It continued until there were very few of either faction left but they still hated each other. Their gods grew weary and placed a plague across the land that culled the souls of the others. it is they that dance in the storms tormented by the sight of what they had." Shon waved her staff and the pleasant green land vanished to be replaced by rubble and fires as far as the eye could see. No bird, no animals were left, no oceans, no water all gone, destroyed by their weapons.

Kilbane was instantly on his feet, sword drawn, and across to protect Finchley, "What devilish hell is this that now lies before us, we must protect the King!"

Shon moved her staff and once again the land was beautiful. "This is not how the land is now, you have just seen it as it is.

Milani had walked off around the trees and, suddenly it turned into a wasteland, turning and running back she looked out over the bluff. "SIRE !" she called into the wind the smell of burnt rock covered her. "Lord Kilbane!" The earthquake took her to her knees "WE MUST PROTECT THE KING!"

The instant that Milani had called out, the ground shook and trembled, causing Kilbane to stagger and fall to one knee. Now that Shon had brought the scene back to the serenity that they'd first witnessed coming out of the cave, the trembling and shaking stopped. He looked at Shon as he stood up again, "You said the Lorii's Gods grew weary and brought about a plague that culled them and it is they that dance in the storms. I'm trying to figure out the meaning behind that and how it affected our chariot, bringing it down. I can only assume that there's no physical form to the Lorii any longer, yet I feel they are trying to communicate with us somehow, but how?"

Shon was slightly different as though she was not really speaking herself, "The legend tells that the Lorii's physical form is not gone, and they like your legends of King Arthur is not gone but can be woken and they will return if someone brave enough undertakes a quest. We chose your captain but have decided it is you that will complete the quest. Sir Milani has been taken to where the Lorii spirit rests. Make no bones about it she is now in mortal danger. You must show bravery of character, the courage of your sword arm and the connection you now have with her." Shon seemed to return continuing seamlessly. "We must collect the Captain and move on to where you alone will go," She turned to Finchley, "Sire how are you feeling, do you feel ready to move on?"

Finchley looked at Shon and said, "I am rested, and feel my strength returning now I've had sustenance, I can come with you."

Kilbane was confused, Milani was over ther....but as he looked, she was gone!

"I don't know by which trickery Sir Milani has been taken, but if any harm should befall her, I will avenge her with everything I have" he said to Shon, "Lead on to wherever it it is I must undertake this quest, but YOU will accompany me, no questions, you WILL!"

Shon nodded, “ of course Lord Kilbane you will have my mental help but I am unable to aid you in your physical quest. I will take you to the mountains where you will find the caves.” Shon, Morgaine turned to Finchley. “Sire are you ready to go now?”

"I have my strength back as I said, so yes, I can go now" Finchley replied.

Milani came to consciousness with the feeling she had been hit on the head by a rock as she reached for her sword. Her body ached and she shivered. “Hello?” She whispered as the echo resounded around the cave. At least that was where she thought she was. Her left foot felt so cold and she tugged off her boot to massage her toes. Gasping she regarded her toes, solid, rock. She let out a giggle, “really?” was all she could think of saying. She tried to move her toes in case it was an illusion and in an instant the stone travelled to her ankle. “Shit” she said very professionally. “HELLO, LORD KILBANE?” She wondered why she has asked for him instead of the king. Please come for me,” she said in her mind and sat back. Then she saw something flickering in a far distant point of the caves. “HELLO!” She called. Then the flame began to grow and show stronger and came with a sound between a cry and a roar. Milani tried to move away but her stone foot remained. The sound and fire gradually grew nearer until she could hardly see, a large figure covered in flame that seemed to surround yet shoot through the figure. .

Al least I’m warm, she thought as the flame began to touch the edges of the cave she was in. A horned figure emerged from the flame, more beast than man he was at least ten feel tall covered in hair and completely naked. Milani could feel the dark evil that roiled off the creature. Then, it spoke. “I am the Morgoth the keeper of these mines, once the rock takes you you are mine. You will join the others in the fire to please me. She attempted again to move her foot and the rock clambered to her knee.

“The more you move the quicker you will be consumed.” The figure said sounding amused. “You are beautiful,” it breathed, looking at her golden hair cascading down her back. “Pity” it said as it turned away and walked back down the passage. It stopped and turned round looking at her, “Just a few hours and you will be mine, …..pity” it said as it echoed around the cave. The darkness returned and Milani shivered. “I hope the King gets home safely, Lord Kilbane maybe we could have…stupid.” She said annoyed with herself. The rock had now covered the toes on her right foot. “She felt her head another wave of dizziness. “Oh shit” she said again as she passed into blessed unconsciousness.

Back at the cave, Kilbane clambered up onto his dragon, then looked at Shon, "I don't know what sorcery has caused this, but be assured of this, 'if' I return from this quest with Sir Milani, you and I are going to have words and none of your magic will help you. Now get the King onto your dragon and make sure he's secured in safely, lead the way to where I begin in earnest."

Shon/Morgaine nodded, she felt Morgaine's personality and magic overwhelm her, a situation she did not like but was going along with it as, actually she had no choice. Finchley mounted the dragon and Shon climbed up behind him. A breeze began to whisper and, as they rose into the air began a sharp keening sound. "Hold tight and head towards the mountains, look for a plateau about two kilometres above the ground. Land there. Do not stop now for anything, Everything depends on you.

Milani came back to consciousness and, her first thought was for Kilbane, her mind and body ached for him and she wondered if she would die, alone there in that cave. The stone was now up to her waist as something was watching her from the distance. "You couldn't get me a cup of coffee?" she called and waited. "No, thought not," she said then in her head a vision of a large castle surrounded by forest and the smell of heather touched her mind. A figure sat, on a horse in the distance and she realised it was Kilbane. She closed her eyes as the stone began to engulf her right leg.

On his dragon, Kilbane nodded to Shon as she gave him the instructions on where to go and land. As they soared into the air, he had a momentary connection to Milani, she was cold...no, parts of her were cold, not her whole body. Then suddenly he was back at his castle, sat on a horse looking out over the fields to where he could see her in the distance. He shook his head, why would that suddenly come into his thoughts?

The flight took around an hour and as his dragon descended he could see the plateau. It was a relief when they touched down and he was once again on firm ground and not thousands of feet up in the air. He watched as Shon and Finchley's dragon touched down some thirty feet away, and he made his way over to them. Helping get the King down, he made sure he was seated comfortably before he turned to speak to Shon.

"Right, what happens now?" he asked.

Shon's eyes had turned opaque once again as she helped the King down from the dragon. Both dragons beat their wings and lifted off rising into the air and disappearing into the clouds. She turned to Kilbane. "Now it is up to you Lord Kilbane, you must find your way to sir Milani by linking your mind with hers. She is already thinking of your home, find her there and you will find he physical form. however once you find her you must defeat the demon that holds her in the rock. to do this you must use fire and guile. It will try to trick you but this...." Shon held out her staff and touched the tip of his sword which began to flame..."will help you." The floor of the plateau rumbled and an opening appeared in the rock. "Beware Lord Kilbane, once Sir Milani is covered with rock she will be lost. Now go, there is not much time."

"Thinking of my home?" Kilbane asked rhetorically. He had to think of what Shon meant by that, and then the mind link to Milani came into his forethoughts, "Yes...yes, my home, she knows all about that because you will have told her all about it."

When the tip of his sword turned to fire, his first thought was that his hand would get burned, but the sword handle remained cool in his touch. Another piece of sorcery to go with all the others, but he didn't have time to think about that, he had to find Milani and rescue her and bring her back. He looked at the opening in the rock, and his heart began to race. Taking a few deep breaths, he began walking towards it and as he did, in his mind, he began to talk, "Milani...Milani...I'm coming for you, try to 'speak' to me, tell me where you are."

Milani was alone in the heather when she saw a man on a horse. Turning towards him she whispered "come find me in the depths, let fire guide you. I want to go home Kilbane, back to the wind on the hill and the see the bloom of the heather against the tartan." the rock moved up her leg and she cried out.

Kilbane heard Milani speak out in his thoughts, then cried out. "MILANI!" he said out loud as he entered the cave, and darkness engulfed him temporarily, but was cast aside as his sword tip lit up with fire. Ahead of him, the cave seemed to filter into a tunnel, so carefully began to move forward, all the while his eyes darting back and forth, his body coiled like a spring ready to meet anyone or anything that might attack him. The further forward he moved, the stronger his mind link to Milani seemed to grow, he could feel her reach out to him and he reached back. After a time, the tunnel opened up into a cave, it's darkness making him feel it's soullessness and the dank smell of still pooled water brought memories of cells from a long time before. Though it was tempting to call out Milani's name, he reached out with his thoughts instead, "Milani, are you here, it's Kilbane?"

Instantly Milani heard him, "keep your path true and your sword in your hand, I am you, and you are me, our thoughts are one Kilbane, " A roar pressed through the paths in the cave causing an explosion of air pushing through the small space. "Hide now, do it now!" Milani shouted in his mind.

Kilbane was caught out by the sudden rush of air and he fell to his knees, his sword falling and the flame at the tip extinguishing, instantly bringing a thick darkness. He felt around him for his sword, but to no avail, so he sat there, his heart pounding double time, his breath coming in short gasps, the hairs on his neck now standing up. A slow clawing fear began to take hold of him, as if evil had come calling and he found himself backing up till he bumped against a rock and sat still.

"Milani, what hell is this?" he called out in his thoughts.

Milani struggled with the visions inside her head however now he was near she no longer felt fear for herself, only him. She attempted to clear her head as the stone migrated to her waist. "Be calm my love, I will guide you. It is the demon's breath that encircles you. He is trying to trick you. Clear your mind and look for your sword through the darkness. the flame will come when you are certain and the evil flows away." She began to feel short of breath now the rock was around her waist but she did not exhort him to hurry. He needed to push away the fear. She lay back against the wall of the cave as the demon's eyes pierced her brain.

Outside the cave Shon/Morgaine turned towards the entrance her stone eyes following what was going on. Concentrating her mind she attempted to help sending out a breeze in an attempt to blow the evil away.

Inside the cave, Kilbane heard Milani's thoughts, and also felt that the rush of air had passed. He closed his eyes and focused on his beathing, and when calmness came, he reached out his hand and let it go where it would. Opening his eyes again he said, "It's my sword, it's my sword, it belongs to me and will be with me again."

As he finished the sentence, and there was a sudden flame in the darkness and it illuminated the blade on his sword. He reached down and grabbed the hilt, bringing the sword up and close to his body. "I have it Milani, I have it!"

He stood up and faced towards where he believed the roar and sudden pressing of air had come from. He strode forward, a confidence now inside him and he saw a figure leaning against the cave wall. He rushed over and knelt down, seeing Milani's face and he was suddenly filled with relief he'd found her. "Milani, I'm here..." he began, then the flame of his sword tip showed that all was not well, the bottom half of Milani's body was turned to stone.

"How did this happen?" he asked her.

Milani gave a small half laugh. "I'm not sure, I sat down and began to turn to stone," she gestured along her body. "It is gathering speed." She looked up and pointed, "It's something to with that." The cave shook as red eyes glowed in The dark.

"SO YOU HAVE COME!" it roared, each step nearer caused rocks to fall from above. "SHE IS MY SACRIFICE, MY WAY OUT INTO THE WORLD," it wailed as though expecting sympathy. "I HAVE BEEN SO LONG OUT OF THE WORLD I MISS ALL THE DEATH AND TORTURE." it's body shimmered with fire and suddenly Milani found the stone up to her neck. "Kilbane," she whispered, "I cannot breathe you have to find a way to kill it."

"Not on his own he won't" said Shon as she entered the cavern. "Back beast!" she called as she touched the ground with her staff.

Kilbane looked in horror at the creature that ventured forward, fire covering it's body. He quickly overcame his initial reaction and as Shon spoke, he to boldly called out, "You coward, you sacrifice others to gain your freedom rather than fight for it yourself!"

The ground had shook when Shon touched it with her staff, the walls of the cave also began to split asunder, fissures large and small being created, and from them Kilbane noted rivulets of water. A idea was forming in his mind, but he needed the creature to advance further towards them.

"You pick on those you see as lesser than yourself, perceived weaker by a...nothing like yourself" he began taunting, "why don't you pit yourself against a warrior such as myself and we'll see just how much of a fighter you really are. Or are you to cowardly for such a challenge?"

Morgoth looked down at him, "mere mortal of soft bones and an even softer brain I need not challenge you, just offer yourself instead, a bargain, her freedom for yours!"

Shon/Morgaine stepped forward, "Evil one you will not pass. She raised her staff and plunged it into the ground which trembled. Then she looked at Kilbane, "would you exchange yourself for Milani, give up your life so she can live?"

Kilbane looked over at Milani, "It's a strange thing, before this quest, I would have hesitated at that question, but now, I would give my life a thousand times over if it meant Milani could live and be free from this."

The monster roared as if in pain and stepped back. "Then give yourself to him!" Shon/Morgine exclaimed, give your life for her, take your place in the stone."

"No, Kilbane you must not!" Milani said, "life will go on without me, you don't need this connec......." Then with a swift hiss the stone covered her mouth. She looked at him and knew she loved him more than her life was worth. She screamed at him to run underneath the stone and closed her eyes.


Kilbane looked at Milani, "I must..." he said, "life without you now would seem unbearable, but to know you'd be safe and alive would fill my heart with joy, even if it means I'd no longer be with you."

He looked at Shon/Morgaine, "Be sure that Sir Milani goes free and you get them to safety, along with the King."

He stepped towards the Morgoth, "Tell me what I must do to take Sir Milani's place and I shall do it."

Shon looked at Kilbane, "I will do everything you want me to do."

The Morgoth looked at him as if surprised by his words then breathed fire. "Cast your sword into the abyss and come to me." the stone now covered Milani completely and Morgoth laughed a cruel laugh. "You will suffer a life of torture and fire so come to me slave?"

Shon/Morgaine looked on impassively her stone eyes reflecting the fire and held her breath.

Kilbane slowly withdrew his sword from it's scabbard and threw it away into the nearby pit. Stepping forward towards the Morgoth, he held his hands out openly, "I've done as you asked, I'm yours now, let Sir Milani go!"

The Morgoth moved forward it's flames beginning to encompass him, the evil around him growing stronger flowing out towards Kilbane drawing him in, it began to show him memories of dark times and it laughed.

Kilbane felt the heat on his body, and he began to writhe in pain, though he held back yelling out in pain, he wouldn't give the Morgoth the satisfaction of hearing his agony. He forced himself to look round at Milani and he saw that the stone which had encompassed her whole body now had receded back, leaving her free to escape. He turned back to the Morgoth, saying "I'll take that picture to my death, my true love free from your shackles!"

It was almost unbearable to him now as his skin began to blister and the hair on his arms, legs and head singed. His face screwed up in agonising pain but he still held back from crying out in his pain. "I...won't...give...you...the...satisfaction..."

For a moment the Morgoth laughed and then Milani, who had leapt up once the stone had receded took up her sword and ran towards him. Shon cried out as her staff became ice and she aimed and threw it at the Morgoth piercing his heart. He let out a dreadful cry as he began to turn to ice his fire diminishing and, finally going out. "Kilbane," Milani cried out, "use your sword, destroy him."

"I don't have my sword, that...'thing' made me cast it into the abyss!" Kilbane yelled, then a thought came to him. He picked up a hefty medium sized rock that was next to him, looked at the Morgoth then hurled it at him. It struck the monster in the middle of it's chest, shattering the body into hundreds of small pieces which slid around the cave floor before coming to rest. The residual heat from the surrounding rocks began to melt the pieces and Kilbane saw with satisfaction that they immediately rotted into dust.

He looked back at Milani and then ran to her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight, "I'm so glad you're alive and free from that awful stone trap he had you in. Mind you, when the stone covered your mouth it did mean it shut you up for a few seconds..." he laughed. "Honestly though, I am glad we got you out, the thought of you no longer being with us was to much to bare."

Milani moved in closer to him until there was no space between them only the air they breathed into each other. Milani stroked his face. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered then kissed him.

It felt like the most natural thing in the world to kiss her back, and Kilbane did so, willingly and passionately. When their lips finally parted, he looked at her lovingly, "I think we should leave this place and return to find out how the King is, get him back home again to his castle, what do you say?"

"Milani smiled. "I think you are right but all I want to do is be with you." she turned and walked back to Shon/Morgaine who looked satisfied. Her eyes slowly turned back to normal. "The king!" she gasped, turned and followed the path from the cave and stopped..."What!" she said looking out over a grassy plain where hundreds of people seemed to be walking about looking lost. Shon ran to the King. "Sire, how are you feeling? do you know where we are?"

Finchley was on his feet, looking at all the people who had suddenly appeared, as if out of thin air. He looked back at Shon and said, "I'm fine thank you, my strength is returning, I feel renewed. I am however somewhat confused, who are all these people, and where did they come from, they weren't there before?"

Shon said, "look" as a man climbed the rocks and approached. he was dressed in white with white hair and a seemingly white complexion, however his eyes were startlingly blue. He stopped in front of Finchley. "We the people of this place thank you for restoring our world and people to us. Aeons ago this place was the paradise you see now, then the Morgoth visited us and made many promises to us. Promises of other worlds to visit and colonise if we would only worship him. We were greedy and did so. He took us to an alternate dimension, one not like our home." He looked at Kilbane, "you slew him so we will worship you."

"Oh no" Kilbane answered, "this wasn't my doing, this was all her idea" he carried on, pointing at Shon/Morgaine. "Besides, you don't need to 'worship' us, what you need is to get your people together and start rebuilding your lives, you'll have your own Gods to 'worship'. Learn from your past that 'worshipping' other beings isn't what's needed, believing in yourselves and your own deities is what's needed."

With that he spoke to Shon/Morgaine, "Can you please call those dragons back so we can leave this place and get back home."

Shon looked confused, "What?" she asked. "Captain Kilbane what the hell are you on, dragons!" she exclaimed. "Last thing I remember we were foraging for food after the Thall crash landed. Captain, what do you know of dragons?"

"Where on earth are we?" Finchley asked, "and where's the Thall?" he added to his first question.

Shon began to get agitated partially to cover her embarrassment. She walked up to the man in white and stuck her finger in his chest. "Listen bud," she poked. "I am a very pissed off Lieutenant Commander and you do not want to mess with me. What the hell is going on, our ship crashed and suddenly we are here." She looked at Milani questioningly.

Milani shook her head and sank to her knees..."I think I was a knight, no I am a First Officer and I need my sword." she shook her head the dizziness swirling round her. "Kilbane, can you explain, where is our ship?" she looked at him getting a sudden picture of a large house, a castle really and the smell of heather on the wind.

Kilbane felt like he was coming out of a dream, something he couldn't have imagined if he'd tried. He looked at Shon, "Dragons, what was I thinking of" he smiled, embarrassed at what he'd said, "It still leaves the questions, how did we get here, where's our ship and how do we get back there?"

He moved forward to the man who had spoken, "You need to give the answers to the questions we need answering. Let's start with who are you all and where on the planet are we?"

The obvious leader of the group moved forward. "I am Alt the leader of my people." He looked at Finchley. "When we reached out into the universe for help we found your ship. We did not think you would help us so we looked into your past. A time when kings, knights, maidens and dragons roamed the land. A time when the quest was true. So, through our neural energy we entered those of you we could. Something, however went wrong with our possession of you sir."

Shon moved forward, "How dare you, you could have done untold damage to us, and ME!...." she explained. "You gave me the ability to change matter, to cast spells, to order my crew, my friends into danger we did not agree to." she looked at Finchley concerned. "What do you think Commodore?"

Finchley was considering all that had just been said by Alt, and all that he could remember of the situation of them being on the planet and on the quest. He looked at Alt, "So, you reached out with your minds and found us, you took over only a few of us" he began, pacing back and forth, "would I be right then in saying you somehow 'transported' those of us you took over and brought us down here, and our ship is still up there in space" he said, pointing skyward, "and you gave those of us here a false memory of crash landing on this planet?"

Alt bowed slightly, “exactly, your ship is up there, safe. We have even given your ship an extra shall we say a gift.”

Milani took Kilbane’s hand, “and what about us, this,” she struggled to find the word….”this bond Morgaine gave us?”

“Ah yes,” Alt said “that will remain, in fact it will get stronger, there is nothing I can do about that.” Milani looked at Kilbane and could feel the rhythm of his pulse running through her. She quickly removed her hand.

“So” Shon said you gave me all this power, did I really summon dragons?”

Alt nodded, “Yes you did and fell into the role very ably, there is a small streak of magic inside you.”

Shon harrumphed.

By rights, Finchley felt he ought to be angry at what had happened, but he couldn't be. Alt had done something to protect his people, albeit without asking permission, but Finchley himself could think of a number of situations where he'd done that himself to protect his own crew. "I can't say I'm happy at what you've done, but I understand it."

Kilbane had kept quiet all this time, unusual for him, normally he'd have spoken out but something inside him had changed. He looked at Milani, and he couldn't help but smile at her, there was a new purpose in his life, her wellbeing, and he was grateful for that. He looked back at Alt, "Do you firmly believe that you and your people have learned your lesson about greed from how the Morgoth tricked you, I mean, really learned?"

Milani interrupted, "We hope you will never call on us again. I intend to place a buoy in space to make sure it warns other races that may be called upon. you may find other species not as ..." she paused, "not as understanding as we have been."

Alt nodded and then bowed to Finchley and turned to Kilbane. "I think we have learned our lesson, we had to wait eons to find you and now we just need to get our society moving once again. Now, if there is nothing else I will return you to your ship. Your crew will not remember your disappearance."

"Pardon me Alt" Shon said, "can you assure me that there will be no untoward affects for Captain Kilbane and Commander Milani?"

Alt smiled, "They will have to find their own way, as I said there is no way to disentangle them."

Milani looked at Kilbane, she knew so much of him now especially his pain and anger at loosing Shon and she was sure she could change that. She silently took his hand in hers and held it.

Kilbane looked round at Milani as she took his hand in hers, and he smiled a genuine smile of love and affection. After what had seemed a long dark tunnel he finally felt he was emerging back out into the light of life and he had Milani to thank for that. He gently squeezed her hand back and looked back towards Finchley.

He in turn was looking at Alt, "Whilst I have no doubt that have learned your lesson on greed and avarice, I'm going along with Command Milani's plan to place a warning buoy in orbit to stop other ships coming here. Furthermore I'll recommend to SFIHQ that one of our ships passes by here every three months to ensure that buoy is still in place and transmitting correctly. Scans of surrounding space will also be taken to see what, if any, ships have passed by and what course they took. If we so much as 'suspect' you've lured anyone else here, we'll be back and I can assure you there will be action taken. That said, I'm not completely heartless, I wish you and your people well on rebuilding your society, and should you ever need to contact me, I have no objections, I'd be interested to see how that rebuild goes. Now, I think we've spent enough time down here, if you would be so kind as to return us to our ship we can begin our reports and drop the buoy in space and be on our way."

" Hold on a minute sir?" Milani asked as she walked a few yards pulling Kilbane with her. "It all looks so beautiful now, the trees, the wind, the breeze that might carry the smell of newly formed heather on it. We have so much to talk about, so much to do but I want to see our home, very much."

"All I want is a hot shower and some sleep" Kilbane mumbled, "and perhaps a cuddle" he added, looking sideways at Milani.

Shon also took Finchley's hand. "I'm sorry about all this but I'll make it up to you once we are home."

"There's nothing for you to be sorry about Shon, but if you feel like making it up to me, I have no objections" Finchley replied to Shon, gently squeezing her hand.

Milani looked at Alt, "Live long and prosper," she said as...suddenly the familiar walls of the Thall appeared before them.

"Home" said Shon and sighed.

They all found themselves back in the cargo bay of the ship. Pretty soon afterwards, having left the bay and entered the nearby turbolift, they exited it and entered onto the Thall's bridge.

"Commodore on deck!" Karadis called out mockingly.

"Alright...alright Karadis, enough of that nonsense" Finchley said, "ships status?"

"It's very strange" Karadis began her reply, "we picked up odd readings from a nearby planet, but almost as soon as they were there...they disappeared."

"What readings do you have from the planet itself, anything out the ordinary?" Finchley asked.

"No, nothing exceptional, just...ordinary. Nitrogen, oxygen atmosphere, some vegetation, basic societal dwellings which suggest a pre warp civilisation. There are some anomalous weather readings, but nothing to write home about" Karadis answered.

"Ok, but let's be on the safe side" Finchley replied, "I think we ought to drop a warning buoy here just to let other ships know about the potential danger of the unknown readings, you never know what they could be."

He turned round and looked at Milani, "Commander Milani, could you take care of that please" he winked, Karadis unable to see he'd done so.

"Yes Sir," Milani clipped dropping smoothly back into her post. "I just miss my sword," she whispered to herself. "Con drop a buoy in the outer atmosphere of the planet, standard greeting in all languages, advise of danger on the planet and to leave well alone." With that she walked to the view screen and looked out as the buoy was deployed.

Mission end.