A/N: Sorry this took so long, but real life sure can suck. Hopefully I'm back to writing on a regular basis, keep your fingers crossed. As always I love all of your feedback. They make my day! Thank you! Now, back to our regular programming...
Chapter 30
Andromeda's shimmering metallic hull rose into Tyr's view as the returning crew member expertly maneuvered the small slipfighter towards the docking bays. He finally caught up with the warship near the nebula where the whole recent waking nightmare had begun. To him, this whole area of space felt cursed.
Tyr watched as one of the hanger bay doors opened and gave birth to a large glowing, blinking sphere...it was one of the warning beacons. Seconds later, the communications light on the slipfighter's console began to blink furiously. When Tyr activated the comms, Dylan's voice boomed out over the comms channel. "By the order of the Commonwealth, this area of space is deemed deadly and off limits. Ignoring this warning will result in the loss of your ship and crew by the hostile aliens which inhabit this nebula. You have been warned." There was a pause and then the message began again.
Tyr quickly switched off the comms as he did not wish to hear Dylan's pompous voice any longer. A sneer grew on the Nietzschean's face as he rubbed his jaw which was still aching from one of their earlier bouts. He hoped Rommie had been able to talk some sense into that man in the week he was gone...or he hoped she had at least punched him a few times. The sneer transformed into a wicked smile as he pictured Dylan getting his ass kicked by the petite android.
The slipfighter glided towards the larger warship as Tyr requested permission to dock. Within minutes, the small ship rested comfortably in the womb of Andromeda's docking bay and Tyr's boots hit the metal plating of the deck below.
"Hello Tyr."
That same pompous voice Tyr shut off earlier filled his ear drums. "Dylan," Tyr growled fiercely as he glanced up at the approaching human. The Nietzschean shuddered as he suddenly felt Stolic's presence in his anger. Quickly he calmed himself down to a mild rage.
Not taking note of Tyr's aggressive stance and voice, Dylan came closer.
Tyr's fists tighten as he spoke once more. "May I suggest you leave before I loose my control and do to you what you did to Harper."
Dylan raised his hands in a submissive poise. "Tyr, please listen." Dylan's voice as soft and gentle.
Tyr's right eyebrow rose in questioning. Did Rommie work a miracle while he was gone or was this a trick? He crossed his arms across his broad chest. "Go on."
"Tyr, first I wanted to say...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I acted towards you and Harper and the rest of the crew. I was an idiot. I understand now what I didn't then. Second..." he paused as he fought to find the strength to continue on, to ask the question that had been plaguing his mind for the past six days. "Second, how is...h-he...how is Harper?"
Tyr stood there, arms still crossed as he examined the man before him. Regret, true regret laced over Dylan's eyes as concern filled every syllable. It was looking more and more like Rommie had indeed pulled off a miracle, but he had to make sure. As Tyr stayed silent, the captain began to fidget nervously. As it looked like Dylan was ready to explode with nervous energy, Tyr took a large step towards the other man. Then another large step, then another until he was inches from Dylan's worried face.
"You mean to tell me that in a mere seven days you, Dylan Hunt, have completely changed your viewpoint? That instead of wishing death or banishment of our Mr. Harper you are now concerned with his well being? Why do I not believe any of this?" Tyr's eyes burned into Dylan.
Quickly Dylan backed up and raised his hands once more in a gesture of submission. "Please Tyr, I really am sorry. Rommie set me straight, pointed out my error in judgment. I was interpreting the situation all wrong, but I understand now. I can see where Harper was coming from, understand his thinking. You need to know how truly sorry I am for what I did to him and to you. I'm deeply ashamed of the way I acted and can only hope that you will forgive me."
Tyr was still silent when help finally appeared at Dylan's side in the form on the ship's hologram. "Tyr, he's telling the truth, we can trust him again. This is not a trick."
After a few more tense seconds of sizing up Dylan, Tyr finally voiced his opinion. "Very impressive, Ship. I did not expect this much change this fast."
"I do my best," Holo-Rommie said with pride as she fizzled out to let the two men talk in private.
"Good sir, do you care to bring me up to date on the on goings of the good ship Andromeda?" Tyr asked with humor and forgiveness in his voice. Being able to admit wrongdoings and better one's self through the truth were actions he deeply valued. Dylan had once more showed his worth.
"Yes of course, but only if you first finally tell me how Harper was when you left him?" Dylan begged with a deep rooted sense of urgency as if knowing Harper's condition would help the situation.
"He was in bad shape physically but, like always, he will survive. That's what he does. I'm more concerned about his mental well being. He was unconscious when I handed him over to the magog. I suspect the monk has a hard job ahead of him." 'No thanks to you,' Tyr added with a small amount of bitter anger that still surprisingly hung in his mind.
Dylan looked down as his own thoughts echoed Tyr's. It took him every ounce of control not to race into the slipfighter and rush to Harper's side. To apologize, to beg for the forgiveness which he didn't deserve. But he knew that would only make matters worse. Harper had worlds of demons to fight through before he could even face Dylan. He shook the painful thoughts out of his mind as he returned his attention to Tyr. "So, you wanted updates on the excitement you missed in the past week?"
Tyr nodded.
"Well then, let's walk and talk," Dylan offered as he nodded his head towards the door.
"How are the other?" Tyr asked bluntly as they strolled down the endless maze of hallways.
"Trance is doing better. She's almost back to normal, well as normal as a previous purple turned golden warrior mystery alien can be."
Tyr smirked in reply.
"And well, you can see how I'm doing." Dylan paused as he looked down to watched his feet move over the floor. "I still can't believe what I did to him."
The corridor stood silent for a second as the two men let guilt overcome them momentarily. Tyr finally broke through the cloud of silence. "Hopefully the professor has it in him to forgive you, to forgive us all...we all hurt him." Images of a begging, bleeding, beaten Harper flashed into Tyr's mind.
Dylan swallowed down the lump in his throat and continued on. "And Beka...well Beka is still a work in progress. She's now out of her room at least and is back on duty, but there is something missing...her spark, her attitude. I think she has just repressed everything and is not dealing with it. It's not good." Dylan stopped walking and looked over at Tyr. "I was actually hoping you could talk to her, get her to vent some of her feelings before she explodes."
Tyr stood in silence as he contemplated Dylan's proposition. "I will...but not just yet. I know Beka, she's stubborn to a fault and will not be forced into healing. She will have to come to it on her own. Right now I suggest we just give her some space to work it out on her own."
"Hmmm...maybe you're right, but I'm still going to keep a close eye on her."
"As will I."
They continued their random path down the empty corridors. Tyr's booming voice surrounded them in the void space. "Have you had any encounters with revenging Pythos yet?"
"Luckily no, but to quote Mr. Harper, I think we just get to add them to our people who hate us list."
"Wonderful, just what we need."
The two men kept walking down the corridor in silence until minutes later they split up and went their separate ways.
*****
It had been six days since Tyr's return and since then all of the warning beacons had been dropped off and activated, all of the Commonwealth's members had been notified of the Pytho/Calastors alliance and currently Andromeda and crew were heading off to Infinity Atoll for a much needed vacation.
Andromeda was proud of her crew for the way they were recovering. Tyr, Dylan and Trance were all basically back to their normal selves, minus the few time in tense moments where the ghost of their Calastor invader had reared it's ugly head. Fortunately, those moments were growing fewer and farther between as her crew were taking back their emotions.
Unfortunately the other two crew members were not bearing as well. The spark plug of the ship was still missing, still getting help from Rev Bem from whom they hadn't heard from as of yet. The A.I.'s thoughts went out to the monk as she could only imagine what he was going through with her troubled engineer.
The second problem was the other blonde of the crew, Beka. She was still not herself. The sarcastic comments were down 84.78%, she was barely sleeping, and when she did talk with the others there was as if something was missing, as if her words were hollow and void of life. Even Andromeda had to admit she was starting to get worried. Every time Beka was close to a breakdown, she seemed to just pause and swallow down her feelings. The A.I. knew that Beka's psyche could only take so much more before she would breakdown completely. The question was could she be put back together when it finally happened.
Suddenly Andromeda's pondering was brought to a halt as she received a message...a message from Rev. Immediately she contacted Dylan to inform him. Was it good news, bad news or something else? Worry and hope crisscrossed themselves all over her miles of circuitry.
Five minutes later the entire crew congregated on command. Nervous fidgeting of all kinds showed themselves. Dylan paced the deck, Beka leaned against one of the consoles with her madly fidgeting hands in front of her, Trance seemed to be almost bouncing up and down, while Rommie tapped her fingers on a console and Tyr, with crossed arms, tapped his on his upper arm.
"Can we get on with this all ready?" Beka asked with a mixture of annoyance and concern.
"Um, yah, sure....Is everyone ready?" Dylan asked as he paused his pacing.
Heads everywhere nodded in agreement.
"Ok...play message."
The room fell silent as Rev's bowed furry face appeared on the large view screen. Slowly his head lifted to reveal the wound Harper had inflicted. Gasps filled command as all saw the large fresh gash on his forehead and the pained look on his face. This message could in no way be good news.
Slowly he began to speak in a low sad voice. "My dear friends, I'm sorry I have to send this message." He paused to try to clear his rough, crackly voice and to try to stop the progress of the tears fighting to flee his eyes. "Two days ago, Harper attacked me when I was trying to stop him from leaving....I f-failed." Another pause. "H-Harper is no longer in my care. I was able to track his scent to the nearby village. Apparently a few villagers saw him boarding a transport ship. I'm transmitting all the data I could access on that ship along with the message. I hope it helps you locate our lost friend. I am deeply ashamed and sorry that I failed you and Mr. Harper....again." A lone tear slid down his ridged face. "Please find it in your hearts to forgive me." He paused again to compose himself. "I must warn you of Mr. Harper's state of mind. He is still haunted by his many demons and I fear that if he is not found soon those demons might just take over." Rev bowed to the screen. "May the Devine be with you. Rev Bem out."
The view screen was now as blank as the expressions of the crew staring at it. Only seconds later did emotions began to break through the numbness of the shock. Tears rolled down a few faces while others only looked on in deep concern. How much trouble was Harper's mind in if he actually attacked Rev without provocation?
"A-A-Andromeda." Dylan struggled to talk through the silence. "H-How long ago was that message sent?"
"Five days," the saddened ship's voice replied from nowhere.
Again, more silence took over command as the images of all the trouble Harper could get into in seven days filled their minds. Dead or alive? Sane or insane? Shivers raced up all of their spines a horrible image after horrible image came into their thoughts.
Tyr's voice boomed into existence. "So, are we just going to stand here or are we going after the boy?"
Dylan shook his head as he tried to free his thoughts from the myriad of dead Harper images. "We are going after him. I don't want his trail getting any colder. Andromeda bring up all the data on that transport ship."
Coordinates for the ship's destinations filled the view screen while Dylan look on in dismay at the overwhelming number of planets and spaceports. "It's never easy....Ok guys, Harper needs us. Let's go find him and bring him home where he belongs."
TBC.........