Past Reflections 11/?

Disclaimer: Andromeda, Harper, Tyr etc. don't belong to me, unfortunately. No infringement intended.

Authors Notes: Rated R due to possible slash content and violence. I have been having some formatting problems, so if this comes out crazy bear with me.

The Distraction

Twenty-two minutes later their hosts were serving food, waiting for the last Nietzschean bidder to arrive. It was during this time that Justaice walked into the room, noticing Harper straight away. Harper unfortunately did not see Justaice approach until Tyr pointed him out to Harper, right before he reached them. It took a supreme force of will for Harper to keep any overt reaction from his face as he saw the man that had been haunting his nightmares for the last three years of his life. As he had since he entered the compound, Harper kept his eyes averted and stayed behind Tyr, in a position of extreme submission.

"I never thought I would see you on this planet again, boy." Justaice sneered once he came within speaking distance. Harper kept his face carefully neutral and his body docile.

"You know this man?" Tyr asked contemptuously, eying the other Nietzschean from head to toe. Harper, having Tyr's position to look, glanced at Justaice before quickly returning his gaze to the floor.

"Yes Master." Harper responded in a monotonous voice, while inwardly screaming obscenities at Justaice and all his Nietzscean ancestors.

"Master?" Justaice questioned incredulously. "The reckless kludge I knew would have rather died that call any Nietzschean master."

"We have an understanding." Tyr grinned sadistically. "He follows my directions without comment, and I do not slaughter his cousin."

Although his cousin was more than likely already dead, Harper stiffened noticeably at hearing his name mentioned. Justaice saw this and laughed at Harper's discomfort.

"I will give you 300 throngs for him." Justaice offered, smirking at Harper lewdly.

"It would be difficult to find another slave who would be as," Here Tyr paused to grab Harper's ass and squeeze it heartily. "Entertaining."

"The kludge and I have some unfinished business." Justaice exclaimed. "Name your price."

"How exactly do you know the mud foot?" Tyr questioned.

"He was responsible for the destruction of half my pride." Justaice growled in remembrance. "How much do you want for him?"

"Frankly I wouldn't do business with such an inferior genetic specimen even for a slave. How pathetic to let this tiny human get the better of a Nietzschean." Tyr sneered looking disgustedly at Justaice. Before Tyr could continue to deride Justaice further however, an elaborately dressed Nietzschean entered through a hidden side entrance and made his way to the front of the room. Soon everyone had quieted down waiting for the man, whom Harper could only assume to be their esteemed host, to speak.

"Welcome. As most of you know, I am Sadack Nafrel of the Drago Katsov." He said gesturing grandly. "Tonight's festivities will prove to be entertaining for all I am sure. I have come into possession of three high-quality slaves, who just so happen to be the former crew of the Andromeda Ascendant."

Nafrel waited for the surprised murmers to die down before he continued. "These three have a thorn in our collective side for over a year, and I believe it is time that we disabuse them of their perceived place in the Nietzschean universe."

Amid roars of approval Dylan, Beka and Trance were unceremoniously led into the room in restraints. Harper sucked in a distraught breath after seeing Dylan's face. He was by far in the worst condition. The two women seemed frightened but relatively unharmed, whereas Dylan Hunt's whole face was black and blue and his left arm was hanging by his side at an awkward angle. Even Dylan's injuries were a lot less severe than they could have been, possibly due to the auction going on around them. After all what Nietzschean would buy a defective slave.

As soon as the slaves were brought onto the platform, the Archduke started arguing loudly with Nafrel.

"You've already beat Hunt!" Bolivar growled. "Why would we pay any money for an already broken-in slave? That's just boring."

"Now calm down." Nafrel encouraged. "He misbehaved and I disciplined him, that is all."

"I have had the displeasure of meeting Captain Hunt before, and if he isn't trying to diplomatically talk his way out of his captivity or fight his way out, then he was more than merely disciplined. He was broken!"

During the Archduke's tirade, the crew realized the Harper and Tyr were in the room, having caught their attention while Bolivar continued speaking.

"Let's do this." Harper whispered under his breath so that only Tyr could hear him. With a quick nod in Dylan's direction, Tyr armed the Shrillers and threw them in four different directions throughout the room.

Soon thereafter Nietzscheans began dropping left and right, holding their heads in excruciating pain. Unfortunately, Tyr did not get his ear plugs in place in time, so he was among those groaning on the floor. Taking the ear plugs from Tyr's clenched hand, Harper gently placed them in Tyr's ears so that he could once again function. By the time Tyr was on his feet, and they were both armed, a few of the less sensitive Nietzscheans were shakily getting to their feet and moving to attack.