Chapter 1
Dylan sat at his desk staring into space. He had no idea what to do next and he hated the feeling of helplessness that encompassed him. It had been three weeks since his first officer had disappeared from a routine supply run to a small nameless drift. She and Harper had gone there to pick up a few parts for the Maru. The local law enforcement had contacted Dylan several hours after they had arrived. The "Enforcer" as he was known had been unwilling to give any details, just asking Dylan to come to the drift because his "people" needed him. Dylan arrived, expecting to find that Harper had somehow caused his usual trouble but he was unprepared for the news that awaited him.
Flashback:
Dylan and Tyr walked slowly into the dingy building where they had been told they could find Harper. Both were frustrated that they had been unable to get any information from the locals about what had happened to their friends. Dylan was shocked when he saw his Chief Engineer lying on a filthy cot. His clothing was torn and his hair was matted with dried blood. But it was the young man's face that truly scared Dylan. Harper's face appeared bloodless and his eyes, while open, did not blink or appear to be seeing anything. Dylan knelt in front of him and gently reached out a hand touching his shoulder. For a moment he was afraid that Harper was dead, he was so still and lifeless. But after what seemed an eternity, Harper looked up at him. As if waking from a dream, Harper slowly looked from Dylan to Tyr and then back again. He slowly sat up. Reaching up with a trembling hand, he hesitantly touched Dylan's arm as if afraid that what he was seeing wasn't real. When he encountered flesh and bone, he quickly collapsed against his Captain, sobs racking his body. Dylan awkwardly patted the young man he had come to think of as family wondering what had happened to render him into such a state. Looking up at Tyr, Dylan was dismayed to see actual fear in the large man's eyes.
'And where is Beka?' Dylan wondered, fear beginning to creep it's way into his heart.
Dylan sat at his desk staring into space. He had no idea what to do next and he hated the feeling of helplessness that encompassed him. It had been three weeks since his first officer had disappeared from a routine supply run to a small nameless drift. She and Harper had gone there to pick up a few parts for the Maru. The local law enforcement had contacted Dylan several hours after they had arrived. The "Enforcer" as he was known had been unwilling to give any details, just asking Dylan to come to the drift because his "people" needed him. Dylan arrived, expecting to find that Harper had somehow caused his usual trouble but he was unprepared for the news that awaited him.
Flashback:
Dylan and Tyr walked slowly into the dingy building where they had been told they could find Harper. Both were frustrated that they had been unable to get any information from the locals about what had happened to their friends. Dylan was shocked when he saw his Chief Engineer lying on a filthy cot. His clothing was torn and his hair was matted with dried blood. But it was the young man's face that truly scared Dylan. Harper's face appeared bloodless and his eyes, while open, did not blink or appear to be seeing anything. Dylan knelt in front of him and gently reached out a hand touching his shoulder. For a moment he was afraid that Harper was dead, he was so still and lifeless. But after what seemed an eternity, Harper looked up at him. As if waking from a dream, Harper slowly looked from Dylan to Tyr and then back again. He slowly sat up. Reaching up with a trembling hand, he hesitantly touched Dylan's arm as if afraid that what he was seeing wasn't real. When he encountered flesh and bone, he quickly collapsed against his Captain, sobs racking his body. Dylan awkwardly patted the young man he had come to think of as family wondering what had happened to render him into such a state. Looking up at Tyr, Dylan was dismayed to see actual fear in the large man's eyes.
'And where is Beka?' Dylan wondered, fear beginning to creep it's way into his heart.
