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being made.
Read and Review! All comments are welcome good or bad - just be constructive.
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Shadows and Lies
By Dawn Nyberg
The morning sun had all ready broken over the trees near the cabin. Tyr rolled onto his back and stretched. He had sent the message to the Andromeda two days ago and didn't expect it to reach them for another four to five days. His acute hearing picked something up through his slightly opened window - voices. He knew one of the voices was Harper, but the other was a man's and he didn't recognize it. He got up from the bed. It was early still and the fact the boy seldom left his bed or room before lunch was causing Tyr to wonder who had him up this early.
He walked to the front window by the porch keeping out of view. He could hear voices, but they were too far away to discern what was being said. He watched Harpers body language - tense and angry. Tyr kept his eye on the other man - it was apparent that the boy did not like or trust this man, but did know him. They seemed to being having a heated discussion about something and Tyr could tell Harper wasn't liking the topic, but finally he saw the kid's shoulders drop in some kind of resolution or acceptance - he only wished he knew what it concerned. He saw Harper look toward the cabin and motion the man to lower his voice - there was a nod exchanged between the two men. The mystery man extended his hand to Harper and the boy only looked at it and the man withdrew his hand with a sneer. Before they parted the man said something to Harper. The young man grabbed the man by his collar and raised his voice enough that Tyr could hear the reply, "Don't tell me how to do my business! I said . I'd do it. Now, I warn you, if I see you again, I won't be seeing you again, understand?" Tyr watched Harper shove the man from his grasp and watched the man mount a horse and leave.
Harper turned toward the lake and stood there. Tyr waited ten minutes before going outside. Harper heard the screen door to the cabin open, but he remained looking out over the water. "You're up early." Tyr replied casually to the kid.
"Yeah."
"Something on your mind?"
"No. I'm cool." Harper turned to head back toward the cabin and Tyr extended and arm. "What?"
"What is it Little Man?"
"I said that I'm cool. I'm hungry, Big Guy - you know me . I get moody when I need some grub."
Tyr watched Harper walk back toward the cabin. It was obvious he had no intention in telling him about the mystery visitor to the cabin. But, something felt wrong in his gut - very wrong.
** Later that afternoon **
"I'm going to town," Harper said as he walked into the kitchen. Tyr turned toward him.
"Town? Why?"
"I'm bored."
"It'll be dark soon and it's an hour by horseback."
"Okay, Dad," Harper replied in an irritated voice. "I am a big boy."
"Go out to the wood barn and busy your hands. You're always building things on the Andromeda - go build something."
"You know I don't need your permission." Harper groused.
"No, you don't." Harper flung his arms up in frustration and walked out of the cabin toward the wood barn. Tyr watched the kid walk there - his gut was telling him to keep him away from town until they were leaving on the Maru to meet the Andromeda and its crew.
** Later that Night **
Dinner had been a silent affair and Harper had excused himself early to his room. Tyr finally decided to go to bed. He got up from his chair near the fire and put his book down. He heard Harper open his bedroom door.
"Tyr?"
"Yes?"
"Sorry about earlier," Harper offered.
"It's fine. Is something wrong, Little Man?" Tyr hoped the kid would open up now.
"Nah, I'm good. Hey, how about some of that hot chocolate?" "That sugary concoction you made last week? I'll pass."
"Oh come on, Big Guy. Consider it a peace offering." Tyr decided to give in.
"Fine."
"Great . you sit back down and I'll bring it to you." Harper offered. "After all, you made dinner."
Harper came back with the hot chocolate a few minutes later. Tyr opted to take it in one swig. He couldn't stand the taste of the stuff. Harper was counting on that .
** Ten Minutes Later **
The room seemed to come in and out of focus - Tyr tried to shake it off. "I'm sorry, Big Guy." Harper said with sad eyes. Suddenly, it became clear to the Nietzschean.
"It was drugged? You drugged me?"
"Sorry. Look, you'll wake up in five or six hours - you'll be okay." Tyr could hardly focus on the boy's words. Finally, his world shifted and went black.
Harper made sure Tyr was all right before he left. He had business to do and he needed Tyr out of the way. He walked out of the cabin and to the barn. Before he mounted the horse he retrieved some items he had requested be left and hidden for him to complete his business in town. He examined the two tactical knives and strapped them on under his coat. He looked back at the cabin wishing he could stay, but a deal was a deal and he never backed out on an owed marker and this one was long over due. Tonight, Harper couldn't be Harper - tonight Ronin had business to tend to.
** Town **
Harper moved silently alongside the lodge on the outskirts of town. He had been given the information that Lars Devlin was staying in the lodge as he prepared for a summit meeting between fellow slave owners. Devlin wasn't a Nietzschean slaver, but something worse - a human that supplied human slaves to Nietzscheans. Harper's contract was to kill Devlin it was a marker he had accepted years ago, but he had left to take care of Louden and Devlin had gone underground by then and Harper decided he could wait. The young engineer never thought that Beka Valentine would offer him a job and get him off of Earth permanently.
This was the moment . the moment that was going to change everything and he knew it.
Harper spotted a guard and he was alone. He could see the guard was well armed and decided that there may have to be some collateral damage on this job. He threw a stone into the brush near the guard - the man turned abruptly to investigate the noise and Harper slipped in behind him without making a noise. He reached around quickly covering the man's mouth with his hand as his other hand drove a tactical knife into the guard's back - puncturing a lung and preventing him from making a noise. It was an old trick, but worked and kept his presence a secret. He worked his way into the lodge. He noted that there weren't that many guards with Devlin. Harper assumed it was because Arabus was a peaceful planet that was often used by those needing to drop out of site or in Lars Devlin's case to have a summit meeting to expand his slave trade business. Harper saw two more guards in the kitchen area of the lodge it was late and the regular staff for the lodge were in the staff quarters asleep - and that is where Harper wanted them to stay because he didn't want to have any harm come to them. He hoped he could be in and out without so much as a single one being alerted to him.
Harper analyzed the quickest way to take both guards out. They were both facing away from him and appeared to be cleaning their weapons. Harper saw the door to the kitchen was closed and was going to use that to his advantage in the event there was any noise. He didn't expect much. He silently pulled both knives and quickly slid in behind them.
It was done quickly . surgically.
Both guards looked at Harper - their eyes wide as they both clutched their cut throats with only quiet gurgles escaping before they collapsed to their knees and to the floor. Harper closed his eyes a moment, but he hadn't reached his goal yet. It was late and the lodge was quiet. Harper idly noticed many of the rooms upstairs seemed occupied and he quickly surmised the summit members had arrived early. He knew faces and names - after all you never forget the one's that sell out their own people. He went room to room. He looked at their faces and knew everyone of them. He killed them quickly after confirming he knew their faces. They got better than they deserved - killed in their sleep. They never knew what hit them, but Lars Devlin would.
Seamus made his way to Devlin's quarters he entered without a problem. He sat down in a chair in the dark and watched the man. He noticed the empty wine bottle beside the bed. "Still a lousy drunken bastard after all these years," Harper said under his breath. He walked over to the prone sleeping figure of Lars. He kicked the bed jarring the man awake.
"What the hell," the man raged sitting up in the bed. His eyes fell on Harper and as quickly as his eyes had filled with anger they were now filled with fear -absolute.
"It's time Old Man," Harper hissed.
"Ronin? It's been a long time," the man tried to placate the young man.
"Not long enough. I came to finish something that should have been done years ago."
"We can make a deal."
"Shut up! All I want from you is . your death. To make you pay!"
"Are you a fool, Ronin? The lodge is filled with my partners. You'll die right after me."
Harper smirked and laughed, "They're all dead. Yell as much as you want."
"My guards.they will come."
"Have you become hard of hearing Old Man? They are all dead . all of them. And, now it's your turn."
"Ronin." the man tried to get up from the bed, but Seamus back handed him hard and knocked him back.
Harper beat and kicked the man. Lars managed to get to the floor. He tried to pull himself across the floor. Harper kicked him in the ribs hearing them crack. "I want you to suffer for all the pain you've caused others . for the pain you caused me!"
Lars forced himself up. "You're just a hired gun. Don't presume to judge me," he hissed. Harper kicked him again and Lars dropped to his knees.
"Get up!" Harper yelled.
** Two Hours Later **
Harper had turned on a light and was watching Lars labored breathing. He had tied the man to the heavy bed frame. He had stabbed him only once, but he made sure his strike would be lethal, that it would take a while for him to die. He wanted it to be slow. "Just kill me," Lars finally said his voice weak and lifted his head up to look at Seamus.
"I have, but you just haven't died yet. So, get to it. I'm bored." The blood was pooling on the floor and Harper just sat and watched. Finally, thirty minutes later he heard Lars shallow breathing stop - it was over. Seamus began to leave the room and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror . he stopped. He stared at his face and saw the blood spatter on his cheek and forehead. He reached out a bloody hand and touched his reflection in the mirror leaving behind a blood smudge on the mirror. Who was he? He wasn't sure he knew anymore. He realized that Seamus Harper was dead . maybe he died years ago. He was Ronin. A tear cascaded down his cheek as he turned from his own reflection and began to leave. The tear wasn't for what he had done. He had killed murderers and human slavers. they deserved it. He mourned the loss of his innocence he realized he had lost years ago and that the life he had made for himself on the Andromeda could never be the same.
** Daybreak **
Tyr was pulled from his hazy drug induced sleep and sat up. His head cleared quickly and he got up. "Harper!" His tone was both angry and concerned he went to the boy's room. It was empty. He glanced outside and saw Harper sitting on the porch steps.
"You're lucky I don't kill you for drugging me!" Tyr bellowed as he stalked out onto the porch. He stopped short when Harper turned and looked at him. He saw it in the boy's eyes . a light had gone out. Tyr then noticed a single bag sat next to Harper.
"I don't blame you for being mad. I'm sorry I drugged you. But, look I have."
"You're leaving," Tyr inserted.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you just go? Why wait to tell me?"
"After all you've done for me . I owed you that. I thank you for what you did. I won't forget."
"Harper, you don't have to go."
"Yes, I do."
"How many?" the question was sudden and without preamble it took Harper by surprise. He stood up and grabbed his bag.
"Look, I brought back an extra horse so that you'll have something to get you to the town when the Andromeda arrives. I gotta go."
"What about the others, Harper? Beka, Dylan ."
Seamus cut him off, "I left Vid messages for them in the kitchen. Give them the flexi's. I made for everyone. Look you don't owe me anything, but don't tell them about . well, you know."
"I won't. Where will you go?"
"I'm catching a shuttle to Cedaris and then from there . wherever."
"We've all done things Harper. I'm not judging you."
"You asked how many? Last night wasn't anything," Harper said in anger. "I haven't killed one, I haven't killed forty . I've killed hundreds, Tyr! I didn't do it because I had to, I did it because I wanted to and you wanna know something? I'm good at it!"
"Who are you, Harper?"
"Don't call me that! Harper is dead and buried. My name is Ronin. I have to go."
"Har. Ronin?" Tyr's tone was tentative. The boy turned and looked at him. "Take care of yourself," it wasn't what he had wanted to say, but nothing he said was going to make the boy stay and return to the Andromeda. He needed to find his way again and right now he was very lost. The kid nodded his head at the tall Nietzschean.
"You too, Big Guy." And, for a brief second he saw Seamus Harper in those eyes once again . if only for a second. He turned his back and walked to his horse. Tyr wanted to stop him, but couldn't allow himself to. He would let the boy have his time, but as sure as he was about giving him his time to find himself - he also knew he would never stop looking for the kid. He would find Harper again one day.
Read and Review! All comments are welcome good or bad - just be constructive.
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Shadows and Lies
By Dawn Nyberg
The morning sun had all ready broken over the trees near the cabin. Tyr rolled onto his back and stretched. He had sent the message to the Andromeda two days ago and didn't expect it to reach them for another four to five days. His acute hearing picked something up through his slightly opened window - voices. He knew one of the voices was Harper, but the other was a man's and he didn't recognize it. He got up from the bed. It was early still and the fact the boy seldom left his bed or room before lunch was causing Tyr to wonder who had him up this early.
He walked to the front window by the porch keeping out of view. He could hear voices, but they were too far away to discern what was being said. He watched Harpers body language - tense and angry. Tyr kept his eye on the other man - it was apparent that the boy did not like or trust this man, but did know him. They seemed to being having a heated discussion about something and Tyr could tell Harper wasn't liking the topic, but finally he saw the kid's shoulders drop in some kind of resolution or acceptance - he only wished he knew what it concerned. He saw Harper look toward the cabin and motion the man to lower his voice - there was a nod exchanged between the two men. The mystery man extended his hand to Harper and the boy only looked at it and the man withdrew his hand with a sneer. Before they parted the man said something to Harper. The young man grabbed the man by his collar and raised his voice enough that Tyr could hear the reply, "Don't tell me how to do my business! I said . I'd do it. Now, I warn you, if I see you again, I won't be seeing you again, understand?" Tyr watched Harper shove the man from his grasp and watched the man mount a horse and leave.
Harper turned toward the lake and stood there. Tyr waited ten minutes before going outside. Harper heard the screen door to the cabin open, but he remained looking out over the water. "You're up early." Tyr replied casually to the kid.
"Yeah."
"Something on your mind?"
"No. I'm cool." Harper turned to head back toward the cabin and Tyr extended and arm. "What?"
"What is it Little Man?"
"I said that I'm cool. I'm hungry, Big Guy - you know me . I get moody when I need some grub."
Tyr watched Harper walk back toward the cabin. It was obvious he had no intention in telling him about the mystery visitor to the cabin. But, something felt wrong in his gut - very wrong.
** Later that afternoon **
"I'm going to town," Harper said as he walked into the kitchen. Tyr turned toward him.
"Town? Why?"
"I'm bored."
"It'll be dark soon and it's an hour by horseback."
"Okay, Dad," Harper replied in an irritated voice. "I am a big boy."
"Go out to the wood barn and busy your hands. You're always building things on the Andromeda - go build something."
"You know I don't need your permission." Harper groused.
"No, you don't." Harper flung his arms up in frustration and walked out of the cabin toward the wood barn. Tyr watched the kid walk there - his gut was telling him to keep him away from town until they were leaving on the Maru to meet the Andromeda and its crew.
** Later that Night **
Dinner had been a silent affair and Harper had excused himself early to his room. Tyr finally decided to go to bed. He got up from his chair near the fire and put his book down. He heard Harper open his bedroom door.
"Tyr?"
"Yes?"
"Sorry about earlier," Harper offered.
"It's fine. Is something wrong, Little Man?" Tyr hoped the kid would open up now.
"Nah, I'm good. Hey, how about some of that hot chocolate?" "That sugary concoction you made last week? I'll pass."
"Oh come on, Big Guy. Consider it a peace offering." Tyr decided to give in.
"Fine."
"Great . you sit back down and I'll bring it to you." Harper offered. "After all, you made dinner."
Harper came back with the hot chocolate a few minutes later. Tyr opted to take it in one swig. He couldn't stand the taste of the stuff. Harper was counting on that .
** Ten Minutes Later **
The room seemed to come in and out of focus - Tyr tried to shake it off. "I'm sorry, Big Guy." Harper said with sad eyes. Suddenly, it became clear to the Nietzschean.
"It was drugged? You drugged me?"
"Sorry. Look, you'll wake up in five or six hours - you'll be okay." Tyr could hardly focus on the boy's words. Finally, his world shifted and went black.
Harper made sure Tyr was all right before he left. He had business to do and he needed Tyr out of the way. He walked out of the cabin and to the barn. Before he mounted the horse he retrieved some items he had requested be left and hidden for him to complete his business in town. He examined the two tactical knives and strapped them on under his coat. He looked back at the cabin wishing he could stay, but a deal was a deal and he never backed out on an owed marker and this one was long over due. Tonight, Harper couldn't be Harper - tonight Ronin had business to tend to.
** Town **
Harper moved silently alongside the lodge on the outskirts of town. He had been given the information that Lars Devlin was staying in the lodge as he prepared for a summit meeting between fellow slave owners. Devlin wasn't a Nietzschean slaver, but something worse - a human that supplied human slaves to Nietzscheans. Harper's contract was to kill Devlin it was a marker he had accepted years ago, but he had left to take care of Louden and Devlin had gone underground by then and Harper decided he could wait. The young engineer never thought that Beka Valentine would offer him a job and get him off of Earth permanently.
This was the moment . the moment that was going to change everything and he knew it.
Harper spotted a guard and he was alone. He could see the guard was well armed and decided that there may have to be some collateral damage on this job. He threw a stone into the brush near the guard - the man turned abruptly to investigate the noise and Harper slipped in behind him without making a noise. He reached around quickly covering the man's mouth with his hand as his other hand drove a tactical knife into the guard's back - puncturing a lung and preventing him from making a noise. It was an old trick, but worked and kept his presence a secret. He worked his way into the lodge. He noted that there weren't that many guards with Devlin. Harper assumed it was because Arabus was a peaceful planet that was often used by those needing to drop out of site or in Lars Devlin's case to have a summit meeting to expand his slave trade business. Harper saw two more guards in the kitchen area of the lodge it was late and the regular staff for the lodge were in the staff quarters asleep - and that is where Harper wanted them to stay because he didn't want to have any harm come to them. He hoped he could be in and out without so much as a single one being alerted to him.
Harper analyzed the quickest way to take both guards out. They were both facing away from him and appeared to be cleaning their weapons. Harper saw the door to the kitchen was closed and was going to use that to his advantage in the event there was any noise. He didn't expect much. He silently pulled both knives and quickly slid in behind them.
It was done quickly . surgically.
Both guards looked at Harper - their eyes wide as they both clutched their cut throats with only quiet gurgles escaping before they collapsed to their knees and to the floor. Harper closed his eyes a moment, but he hadn't reached his goal yet. It was late and the lodge was quiet. Harper idly noticed many of the rooms upstairs seemed occupied and he quickly surmised the summit members had arrived early. He knew faces and names - after all you never forget the one's that sell out their own people. He went room to room. He looked at their faces and knew everyone of them. He killed them quickly after confirming he knew their faces. They got better than they deserved - killed in their sleep. They never knew what hit them, but Lars Devlin would.
Seamus made his way to Devlin's quarters he entered without a problem. He sat down in a chair in the dark and watched the man. He noticed the empty wine bottle beside the bed. "Still a lousy drunken bastard after all these years," Harper said under his breath. He walked over to the prone sleeping figure of Lars. He kicked the bed jarring the man awake.
"What the hell," the man raged sitting up in the bed. His eyes fell on Harper and as quickly as his eyes had filled with anger they were now filled with fear -absolute.
"It's time Old Man," Harper hissed.
"Ronin? It's been a long time," the man tried to placate the young man.
"Not long enough. I came to finish something that should have been done years ago."
"We can make a deal."
"Shut up! All I want from you is . your death. To make you pay!"
"Are you a fool, Ronin? The lodge is filled with my partners. You'll die right after me."
Harper smirked and laughed, "They're all dead. Yell as much as you want."
"My guards.they will come."
"Have you become hard of hearing Old Man? They are all dead . all of them. And, now it's your turn."
"Ronin." the man tried to get up from the bed, but Seamus back handed him hard and knocked him back.
Harper beat and kicked the man. Lars managed to get to the floor. He tried to pull himself across the floor. Harper kicked him in the ribs hearing them crack. "I want you to suffer for all the pain you've caused others . for the pain you caused me!"
Lars forced himself up. "You're just a hired gun. Don't presume to judge me," he hissed. Harper kicked him again and Lars dropped to his knees.
"Get up!" Harper yelled.
** Two Hours Later **
Harper had turned on a light and was watching Lars labored breathing. He had tied the man to the heavy bed frame. He had stabbed him only once, but he made sure his strike would be lethal, that it would take a while for him to die. He wanted it to be slow. "Just kill me," Lars finally said his voice weak and lifted his head up to look at Seamus.
"I have, but you just haven't died yet. So, get to it. I'm bored." The blood was pooling on the floor and Harper just sat and watched. Finally, thirty minutes later he heard Lars shallow breathing stop - it was over. Seamus began to leave the room and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror . he stopped. He stared at his face and saw the blood spatter on his cheek and forehead. He reached out a bloody hand and touched his reflection in the mirror leaving behind a blood smudge on the mirror. Who was he? He wasn't sure he knew anymore. He realized that Seamus Harper was dead . maybe he died years ago. He was Ronin. A tear cascaded down his cheek as he turned from his own reflection and began to leave. The tear wasn't for what he had done. He had killed murderers and human slavers. they deserved it. He mourned the loss of his innocence he realized he had lost years ago and that the life he had made for himself on the Andromeda could never be the same.
** Daybreak **
Tyr was pulled from his hazy drug induced sleep and sat up. His head cleared quickly and he got up. "Harper!" His tone was both angry and concerned he went to the boy's room. It was empty. He glanced outside and saw Harper sitting on the porch steps.
"You're lucky I don't kill you for drugging me!" Tyr bellowed as he stalked out onto the porch. He stopped short when Harper turned and looked at him. He saw it in the boy's eyes . a light had gone out. Tyr then noticed a single bag sat next to Harper.
"I don't blame you for being mad. I'm sorry I drugged you. But, look I have."
"You're leaving," Tyr inserted.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you just go? Why wait to tell me?"
"After all you've done for me . I owed you that. I thank you for what you did. I won't forget."
"Harper, you don't have to go."
"Yes, I do."
"How many?" the question was sudden and without preamble it took Harper by surprise. He stood up and grabbed his bag.
"Look, I brought back an extra horse so that you'll have something to get you to the town when the Andromeda arrives. I gotta go."
"What about the others, Harper? Beka, Dylan ."
Seamus cut him off, "I left Vid messages for them in the kitchen. Give them the flexi's. I made for everyone. Look you don't owe me anything, but don't tell them about . well, you know."
"I won't. Where will you go?"
"I'm catching a shuttle to Cedaris and then from there . wherever."
"We've all done things Harper. I'm not judging you."
"You asked how many? Last night wasn't anything," Harper said in anger. "I haven't killed one, I haven't killed forty . I've killed hundreds, Tyr! I didn't do it because I had to, I did it because I wanted to and you wanna know something? I'm good at it!"
"Who are you, Harper?"
"Don't call me that! Harper is dead and buried. My name is Ronin. I have to go."
"Har. Ronin?" Tyr's tone was tentative. The boy turned and looked at him. "Take care of yourself," it wasn't what he had wanted to say, but nothing he said was going to make the boy stay and return to the Andromeda. He needed to find his way again and right now he was very lost. The kid nodded his head at the tall Nietzschean.
"You too, Big Guy." And, for a brief second he saw Seamus Harper in those eyes once again . if only for a second. He turned his back and walked to his horse. Tyr wanted to stop him, but couldn't allow himself to. He would let the boy have his time, but as sure as he was about giving him his time to find himself - he also knew he would never stop looking for the kid. He would find Harper again one day.