Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 2 - Maveen Offer Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    Steve slowly climbed up the ladder onto the rear deck of the Aurora Discovery and was met by an anxious Samantha, who gave him a hug and enquired if he was okay.
    ‘I am a bit tired and damp but fine, you should see what I caught in my second fishing trip today.’ He quipped as his wife gave him another hug.
    The crew were studiously avoiding Steve and Samantha as they lowered the cable from a small jib crane onto the runabout alongside. Within moments three slings were passed under the backboard holding the alien in his space suit, and two of the engineers carefully used the jib crane until the load was above the deck rails, then neatly swung the alien inboard.
    Dan appeared with Rebecca to one side and asked if everyone was okay, before Rebecca rejoined Samantha. Dan walked over briefly and spoke to Steve.
    ‘I will inform the authorities about our sick friend, and then get the ship over to that strange rig. But I will not go alongside the object at this stage.’
    Steve agreed and Dan hurried off to the bridge.
    Steve was careful to instruct his crew, who for their part, prudently hung back as the stretchered alien was lowered to the deck.
    ‘Now no sudden movements or loud noises, we don’t want to alarm this fellow.’
    Samantha took a startled breadth as she realised just how large the alien truly was in his space suit.
    ‘Steve, He must be over three metres tall and weigh well over three hundred kilograms without the suit. The arm is obviously broken, and I don’t know what we can do for pain relief.’
    Steve replied as Rick and his offsiders came onboard from the moored runabout.
    ‘Samantha, I was worried he would sink the runabout at one stage. Only Rick and I will go to him at the moment.’
    Steve then turned to Rick, who was studying the alien closely.
    ‘Rick, walk with me in front of him and we will help him sit up if we can, just watch his broken arm.’
    Garendestat still felt light headed and he watched calmly as the two of the male humans from the smaller boat walked in front of him. The humans then slowly knelt beside him to help him to sit up. One of the males was the one that had rescued him from drowning, and he appeared to be the captain of the bigger surface ship that Garendestat was now onboard. Within moments Steve and Rick had the alien sitting up as both men steadied him in his space suit. Steve turned and looked around the deck and pointed to a heavy tool chest near the front of the rear deck.
    ‘Brian and Joseph slowly wheel that tool chest in front of us so our friend can see it. Then wheel it behind us so he can rest against it please.’
    With the tool chest behind the alien, Steve turned to three other crew members.
    ‘Can you three get a tarp over the deck to keep the sun off? Rick, can you help me with the fixtures on the space suit by slowly following my lead?’
    Steve looked Garendestat in the eye and calmly tapped the side of his helmet were it joined the rest of the suit. Rick then tapped the glove over the collar join and Garendestat got their meaning as their strange language flowed softly into his helmet microphones. He was sure that he was now ill more than anything as his tattoos were starting to smell.
    Garendestat slowly lifted a cover on the front of his chest and pressed a button sequence on the keypad with his one good hand. The helmet collar and right glove collars on the space suit then gave an audible click and lifted.
    Steve looked Garendestat in the eye again and grabbed the helmet, then he slowly lifted the large but surprisingly light helmet up high and the head of the Trader came into view. A soft gasp escaped from all the humans present as they took in the broad features of the alien. The features they noticed immediately were the single nostril in a broad nose, the heavy continuous brow, the squared off ears and flat,