Chapter 3
Shal-lania and Dyro met Jared as he came out of the ship. Shal-lania directed
Jared to the Infirmary. After placing Melian on a bed both he and Dyro were sent out of
the room. Kali and Shal-lania stripped Melian and were in awe at the number of scars,
fresh wounds and bruises all over Melian’s body. She was dreadfully thin, Kali could
actually count the girl's ribs through her skin. Shal-lania was in a healing trance for almost
an hour. She stayed conscious enough to give Kali directions before she passed out due to the length of the trance.
(AN: Please note that Yrokian’s, if not careful can easily kill themselves if they push they
healing powers to far. And Shal-lania, being so strong has to be extra careful.)
Kali covered both girls with blankets before exiting the room.
Jared and Dryo were on the main deck. Jared, for once was showing emotion. He looked
worried and scared. When Kali entered he turned to look at her a question in his eyes.
Kali answered his unspoken question, “Shal-lania did all she could. Both of them are out.
Melian is weak and emaciated but with plenty of sleep and food she will recover.” Jared
looked relieved before his calm mask slipped back into place. Without a word he got up
and left. Kali had a hunch that he was going to sit with his sister until she woke up.
Three days passed before Melian opened her eyes. Jared talked to her for almost an hour
before he left her with a warning to eat all the food that was on the tray in front of her.
Kali, Shal-lania, and Dyro assembled on deck so Jared could explain.
“Let me give you a bit of background first; The only clear memory I have of her was
when Melian and I were very young, I was seven and she was 5. We were in this strange
place, lots of men in white coats and guards with guns. To say the least we were both
scared. They separated us after telling me that we would see each other again soon.
“They stared to train me to kill. How to shut out my emotions and everything else but my
mission. One such session, months later, brought back memories of Melian. I asked my
instructor when I was going to see her again. He backhanded me and told me that my
sister had died, and not to dwell on such trivial matters.
“After that I threw myself into my lessons, without my sister I had no need to hold on to
my emotions.” Jared paused.
“So what happened to her?” Shal-lania prompted.
Jared gave her a puzzled glance, “She doesn’t know. Somehow her memories are being
repressed. She can remember me and that day I told you about but after that nothing until the ship that we found her on. She woke up alone, no food, no power, and no idea as to how she got there. She doesn’t even remember getting all those injuries. She was on that ship five days before we found her.”
Kali looked surprise, “At least that explains the food deprivation.” Shal-lania nodded
thoughtfully. Dyro looked horrified, and more than a little curious at to how one could
survive five whole days without food.
Shal-lania sighed and looked up, “Well, since she does have those memories it’s unlikely
that she has amnesia. We need to find out what is being kept from us in that head of
hers.”
(AN: Oh just to clear some things up they are all in there 20’s. Melian is in her late
teens. And yes, I know that people with Amnesia can remember some things but not
others, just go with me here.)
It was Melian’s fourth, conscious day on board. And she was recovering at an amazing
rate. Kali had brought her something to eat and Melian watched the quiet woman as she
enhaled the food that was set before her. Shal-lania had told her a little bit about everyone on board and she had even been able to get some opinions from her brother. Melian, an empath by birth could sense the attraction her brother felt towards Kali, but she had no idea how Kali felt. Every time the girl went to ‘scan’ Kali she was blocked off by something she couldn’t identify. Not wanting to reveal her brother’s feeling’s she went
for a different approach, “Do you like my brother?”
Startled at the out-of-the-blue question she answered, “Yes, he is a good friend.”
Melian rolled her eyes, “That isn’t what I meant and you know it.”
Kali raised an eyebrow, “Not very subtle are you?”
Melian grinned, “Never have been before. It’s not in my nature.”
Kali smiled and left, warning Melian that Shal-lania would be in soon to check on her. It
wasn’t lost on Melian that Kali didn’t answer her question.
After Melian recovered she and Shal-lania would take walks around the ship so Melian
could get used to the place. They learned that Melian was an electrical engineer and she
was quite curious about MIA’s sphere and the metal ‘disk’ that connected Kali to the ship.
Again the group (now of five) found themselves facing nothing but empty space.
Shal-lania tried every trick of her practice to get Melian’s memories to surface but nothing
worked.
It was about mid-day and everyone but Dyro was on the deck. “Probably raiding the food
stocks.” Melian commented with a laugh. Once she recovered the group soon found that
she had a quick wit and a sharp tongue that was always going. Dyro’s appetite was a
great source of amusement to the young woman. She used every opportunity to joke
about it.
About the same time Dyro came in MIA’s sphere came to life and hovered around Kali.
“It seems that we are being hailed by a ship about 43 meters from us." Kali nodded slowly, “Go ahead and put it through.”
The screen was filled with a very large man. He was least 6’ 10” and seemed to love
showing off, his voice rang with arrogance.
“I am a Hunter. Do you have the one called Melian among you?” Kali glance at Melian
and saw that she was just as clue-less as the rest.
Hunter's were known all over space. They were bounty hunters and only went after
expensive game. No one who they went looking for ever escaped. Most of them were
men, and very BIG men at that. Cruel and ruthless, they would rather die than give up the
hunt.
“What do you want with this, Melian?” Kali asked in all innocence.
The Hunter barked a laugh, if it could have been considered such, “There is a bounty on
her head. She is to be killed on sight. Hand her over to us and we will not kill you.”
Kali, deciding to play for time, snorted. “We have no quarrel with you. We wish to collect
the bounty. We captured her, it is our right. They’re is nothing to gain in giving her up.”
The Hunter growled at this. A loud booming sound came from the Hunter ship as it came
closer. MIA rocked as the shot came within inches of the hull.
The Hunter smirked, “That was a warning shot. Give us the Melian bitch and we won’t
destroy you.”
During this Kali had been in silent communication with MIA. Kali spoke one word before
having MIA cut the connection, “No.” Kali turned and ran for her seat. “Strap in
everyone. MIA is going to Jump.”
Dyro squeaked as he ran for his seat, Jumping was NOT his favorite thing.
Shal-lania looked up curiously as the ship began to hum, “I didn’t even know MIA could
Space Jump.” Kali answered with a smile, “Neither did I until I asked.” A shot from the
Hunter ship hit MIA and she was knocked around a little. It was the only hit they
sustained as MIA Jumped. A tense twenty seconds later found them several thousands of
light-years away from the Hunter ship.
“Will they come after us?” Dyro asked in a worried voice.
Jared nodded, “More than likely, but I don’t believe there ship was equipped with Jump
technology. We are safe for the time being.”
Melian was scared, “Why would they want me? Who put a price on my head?”
Kali looked grim, “My guess is that whoever put you on that ship to die somehow knows
that your alive. And I don’t think he is to pleased with it. That Hunter must have believed
the price on your head to high to give up easily.” Kali winced as she got out of her seat.
Shal-lania noticed and, gasping pointed to Kali’s side. She was bleeding from what looked
like a burn wound. Kali looked at it incredulously and managed to get out, “It seems that
my connection with MIA has a cruel twist to it.” before she blacked out and fell to the
floor.
AN: Evil, aren't I?
In the next chapter,
What can Kali do to give Melian her memories back?
Uh oh, The Hunter's have found them again, now what?
Return to the Index
Return to the Madness
