Part 29

Dylan walked onto the Obs deck and found Beka alone with her thoughts in the corner, oblivious to the various groups of people who were casually sitting around in their free time. As Dylan moved through the deck his crew acknowledged him, and showed respect to their captain. Dylan for the most part attempted to ignore the attention as he reached Beka.

"Mind if I join you?" Dylan asked.

Beka sighed and waved a hand to gesture to the spot beside her, and Dylan moved to sit next to her. "So, we're officially on standby to go to the aid of the Drago Kazov?"

"Yes," Dylan answered as he settled down.

"Why?"

"They have agreed to consider our proposal, and join us if we help them now," Dylan answered.

"Bull shit," Beka spat back. "They are running scared."

"And rightly so, in less than two months they have seen their strong hold in the Nietzschean hierarchy dramatically fall," Dylan explained.

"And I want to personally shake Tyr's hand for being a part of that notion," Beka returned. "Instead, we could be fighting him."

"Beka, we can't ignore the progress Tyr has made," Dylan spoke with care. "He is a threat to us, as well as to them."

"I know," Beka admitted. "And that's what's killing me. Did any of us really believe Tyr would make this much of an impact when he left this ship two months ago? Why didn't he tell us he had a son, and that son would unite the prides, why the hell did we let him leave when he could have stayed and worked with us!"

"I knew about his son," Dylan shrugged.

"What?" Beka snapped her head around.

"Commonwealth Intelligence," Dylan frowned and then looked around. "So much has changed," he remarked distantly.

"Tell me about it," Beka agreed. "Dylan, I can't stand beside the Dragens and defend them, not for anything."

"It's not our decision to make," Dylan replied.

"So is it official?" Beka then asked but didn't wait for an answer. "Are Tyr and Harper now officially the enemy?"

"The Kodiak pride are not a part of the Commonwealth and have made no attempt to open negotiations."

"Why would they?" Beka snapped. "Already they have all of the stronger Nietzschean prides on their side, it's only the Dragens left to defeat," Beka frowned. "Two months, that's all its taken and you know in that time Tyr has found a wife as well?"

"I had heard," Dylan nodded his head tiredly.

"Has there been any intelligence, anything at all?" Beka then softly asked.

"Nothing," Dylan already knew to what she was referring. "This ship just hasn't felt the same since they left."

"I miss him," Beka admitted, her emotions breaking. "Not a day has passed where something hasn't reminded me of him. Everything we see before us now is because of that day."

"You can't know that," Dylan objected lightly.

"That day changed our lives, led us down this path and now because of what we did Harper has become the enemy for real, and taken Tyr with him," Beka stated.

"Technically it's the other way around," Dylan pointed out.

"Don't be so sure," Beka offered with a heavy sigh. "Tyr saw something in Harper that day whilst he was under the influence and it was whatever he saw that led him to leave, and take Harper with him."

"Interesting theory," Dylan was forced to admit. "But we can't turn back time."

"We can claim a conflict of interest and just disappear until the ubers have sorted themselves out," Beka suggested.

Dylan took the time to look at Beka, seeing her troubled features. "We can't pretend this isn't happening, if we do then next time we turn around the Kodiaks will be gunning for us, any loyalties Tyr may have had with us have sadly passed."

"I can't fight knowing Harper is among them," Beka finally admitted.

"Then maybe that was what Tyr saw as the true value in Harper," Dylan sighed.

Beka seemed to jolt out of her distressed state as she stared at Dylan, realising his words bore some grain of truth. "How do you think he's getting on?" she asked.

"Hard to say," Dylan returned. "We've had no communication from him, when he told us he would stay in touch and no evidence to even suggest he is still with the Kodiaks, it's as if he's disappeared."

"Those implants were slowly turning him insane, Dylan," Beka stressed. "What if," she began but Dylan stopped her.

"Harper is strong, and he doesn't go down without a fight, of that much I'm certain," he assured her.

Beka took a deep breath. "I'll do whatever the Commonwealth orders, you don't have to worry about that, and you're right about the Kodiaks but I swear, don't make me do anything that might put me directly against Harper because then they have won already."

"I know, I will take care to inform the Commonwealth of our situation," Dylan assured her, before leaving her to her thoughts once again.


Tabatha slowly approached the kludge, a poor excuse for a life from she considered but she heard her husband's voice in her head and it reminded her of the human's value to their pride. The human was looking at her now, crystal blue eyes staring at her but giving nothing away.

"Seamus Harper," Tabatha stated, using the name her husband preferred she use for the kludge. The human slightly relaxed, and her use of his name seemed to have a positive response, it was almost amusing. "My husband holds a great respect for you, and by default as his first wife I can assure you that the same respect has been transferred to me."

The human seemed to be growing bored already, as his attention returned to the tools he was using on a beaten piece of machinery. Tabatha couldn't help herself as she became a little curious about the kid, at least he looked like a kid but there were signs of wisdom and age about him, in certain expressions and the way he carried out his work fixing the part he held.

"Would you like some water?" Tabatha asked, making an effort and wanting to see some results of her work. Harper nodded his head, and Tabatha acknowledged his acceptance as she walked to the other side of the work shop to where some supplies were stored to get some water for them both.

She heard two loud men enter the workshop, recognising them as Captains in her husband's pride. Gerd and Vandes, she knew of them and their reputation, they were good warriors and they knew how to command their men. Tyr had chosen wisely in these two she considered as she finished pouring the drinks. What she hadn't expected was to hear the sudden yelp from the human and remaining out of sight she turned to see Gerd now holding the human by his hair.

"Did you do as I asked, kludge?"

Tabatha watched as Harper nodded his head frantically, and then pointed to a box just to his right. Vandes moved to the box, as Gerd continued to painfully hold Harper by his hair. The box cover was removed and Vandes pulled out the weapons, he smiled coldly and held the gun nuzzle to the now panic stricken Harper's temple.

"Should we test they work?" Vandes stated sinisterly towards Gerd.

"You know that he's Anasazi's pet, we can't touch him," Gerd sounded disgusted as he pushed Harper to the floor.

"Yeah, we best not ask what favours the kludge did to become so liked by Anasazi," Vandes mocked, and moved in to picked Harper up again but a sound stopped him.

"He saved my husband's life, next question?" Tabatha announced, as she retuned with two glasses of water. "And I do hope you're simply helping Harper to his feet."

Vandes rapidly pulled Harper to his feet and ensured he was balanced before letting the human go and backing away. "He was repairing some of our guns."

"Then you business with him is done, now leave," Tabatha ordered, and she waited until both men, and their guns, had left the workshop before approaching Harper with his water. "Are you ok?"

Harper nodded his head and took the water, his expression once again giving nothing away as he took some calming sips of the drink.

"Thanks."

Tabatha looked at Harper, almost disbelieving that she had heard him speak. "It's ok," she offered, and found a box to sit on leaving Harper to stand unsure close by. "Take a seat, you're allowed breaks," she suggested with amusement.

Harper seemed more anxious to return to work but after some consideration he did as Tabatha asked and found a place to sit.

"Tyr told me you used to talk a lot more, that it was a pain to keep you quiet," Tabatha stated, hoping to coax some words out of him.

The human seemed to be sizing her up, as he looked to talk a couple of times but stopped himself. Finally he sighed, and relaxed some more. "Not got much to say," he offered quietly.

"You have plenty to scream about, at night," Tabatha returned, wondering if he would explain some more about his nightmares but instead she only saw confusion.

"I do?"

"Keeps us up most nights, just screams, like you're being eaten alive," Tabatha recounted. "Tyr told me you were infested with Magog eggs once, so I just assume you are reliving that time?"

Harper seemed genuinely taken aback by the news. "I don't know," he shrugged, before finishing his drink. "Sorry," Harper awkwardly offered.

Tabatha couldn't help the smirk with Harper apologising to her, for what she could only imagine was something that was out of his control, and she knew it was such a human reaction. She looked at Harper and saw him looking back at her, his expression cold. "I'm not laughing at you, just that you feel you've done something wrong that grants the need to apologize," Tabatha explained.

Harper frowned and then continued with his work, as Tabatha looked on in silence. She became fascinated by his motivation, and his ability to almost forget she was there just watching him. Somewhere inside she began to realise that maybe her husband had been right, that Harper was different and she saw him as less of a kludge, a disgrace, and a more interesting subject.

She had been watching him for nearly twenty minutes when she noticed him beginning to pack up. "Let me help," Tabatha offered.

"It's ok," Harper returned and swiftly tidied away his tools and put the fixed units on the collections shelf.

"Do you want to get some food?"

"What?"

"Food, you have to eat and they should be serving dinner now," Tabatha gestured to the exit.

"I eat alone," Harper stated as he moved to the back of the workshop to collect his jacket.

"Can I eat with you?" Tabatha asked.

"Why?"

Tabatha shrugged. "I want to get to know the human that has my husband is making a part of our pride."

"I don't want to be a part of any pride," Harper dismissed, as Tabatha began to walk with him.

"Is it a human thing not to want to mix with the others?" Tabatha asked.

"With ubers," Harper took a deep breath, as if realising who he was with as he backtracked slightly. "I prefer to be alone."

"That's not what Tyr has told me," Tabatha argued. "He says it's only been since you got here that you've been so quiet and withdrawn."

"Don't take offence, but ubers are not my favourite people to hang out with, and you can blame my upbringing," Harper responded.

"You don't want to hang out with me?"

"Tyr's first wife?" Harper questioned. "Why don't I just shoot myself in the head now and save Tyr the ammo later, thanks, but no thanks."

"I don't want you for that, disgusting little man," Tabatha faked her anger, and then smirked as Harper tried to determine how serious she was being. "I just want to get to know you a bit better, so I can help you because helping you pleases my husband."

"I don't need your help," Harper sighed, growing tired of the company as they continued to walk towards the living area of the complex. "Did Tyr put you up for this? Because honestly I know you find me a repulsive mud foot kludge so drop the pretence and do us both a favour by walking away and leaving me alone."

"You're right, that's exactly what I think and it's the reason that up to now I've not given you the time of day," Tabatha admitted and then stared into Harper's eyes. "But I think differently right now, let me call the cook and order the best meal I can scam for you and lets just talk."

"I've done all the talking I want to do," Harper shook his head and began to head towards his quarters.

"We're going to war against the Commonwealth," Tabatha called after him, and Harper froze and turned round slowly.

"We're what?" he asked with confusion.

"The Commonwealth have joined with the Drago Kazov," Tabatha frowned, and saw the spirit fall immediately from the human. "I know your history with them and with the Commonwealth, so right now I think you need someone to talk to, so let me in."

"The Andromeda?"

"Leading the fleet," Tabatha revealed.

"I want to see," Harper returned quickly.

"I'll use my password to show you the confidential files," Tabatha smiled.

Harper half heartedly gestured to Tabatha to catch up with him, and they continued to his quarters.

TBC