Disclaimer: I don't own Andromeda or its characters. I am making no money
from this story.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews people. Here's the next chapter.
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Chapter 7
"Aw come on Father, I need to have some fun," Q2 pleaded. "I've just been so bored
lately. I won't hurt anybody, I promise."
It was difficult, but Q had to resist his son's pleadings. Q knew too well what would happen if he gave in. "I'm sorry but I must insist. We'll find some other way for you to amuse yourself."
Q was beside himself. His son was being unreasonably stubborn and Q was at a loss for how to handle the situation. Q thought quickly. Fortunately Q2 had his Aunt Kathy to help him out. Captain Kathryn Janeway would know how to get through to Q2. "If you won't listen to me then I'm going to take you to one person you will listen to."
Q2 frowned at the news. He wasn't in the mood for another lecture. "Please, Father. I'm not a child anymore. Just let me have some fun."
"I will, but not until you stop this foolishness of sending Tommy Paris to the post Commonwealth Earth and sending Seamus Harper to Voyager," Q replied, not giving in. Q surprised himself with his own stubbornness. The Continuum member had seemed to always end up giving in to his son's demands. He loved his son and had trouble saying no to the boy.
"What else is there for me to do?" Q2 asked with frustration in his voice. "I've done just about everything. Mother is busy with her new boyfriend and you don't seem to have any time for me either."
Q flinched at the honesty from his son. "I'm sorry son; I didn't mean to ignore you. Now why don't you forget about Paris and Harper and we'll go do something together. We'll have a little father/son bonding."
Q2 shook his head and backed away from his father. "No Father, it's too late for that. You ignored me and if I go back now you spend time with me but after awhile you and mother will both go back to ignoring me."
"I can't speak for your mother but, I will not go back to ignoring you," Q announced, hoping his son would believe him.
"I wish I could believe you father," Q2 replied before disappearing from his father's presence.
Q sighed, not sure whether it would do any good to go after his son. "That boy is going to be the proverbial death of me yet."
****
Harper and Paris climbed out of the sewer tunnel a mile from where they had rested. Paris was growing weary of constantly being on the move, despite knowing it was necessary. "Where are we going Harper? I thought it was safe down there."
Harper paused momentarily, giving Paris and himself a chance to catch their breaths. "Those explosions were courtesy of the Ubers. They're coming for kludge slaves."
"So why are we coming above ground where the Ubers are looking?" Paris continued questioning. He was not giving up until he had an answer.
"Because the Ubers flood the sewers to flush out the kludges," Harper explained.
Paris shuddered at the thought. "I should have learned to trust you by now."
Harper shrugged his shoulders before continuing on down an alley. Two armed Nietzschean Ubers rushed from a doorway in front of Harper and Paris. Harper pushed Paris into the closest doorway and inside the small shop it belonged to. Laser fire from the Ubers struck the doorway as Harper closed the door. Harper wasted little time opening a window at the opposite side of the room. The engineer motioned for Paris to climb through the window. The Nietzscheans stormed into the room and began firing at Harper. The engineer dived through the window head first, narrowly escaping being hit by gunfire.
Paris helped Harper stand up and the two men ran down the alley. They came to a wall at the other end of the alley they stopped and looked up at the wall. The brick wall was over six feet high, too high to climb over without help. Harper leaned his back against the wall and gave Paris a leg up onto the wall. When Paris was on top he reached down and grabbed Harper's outstretched arms, helping the engineer to the top. A shot by one of the Ubers hit Paris in the left leg, knocking the helmsman off of the wall. Paris fell with a thud on the side of the wall opposite the Ubers. Harper quickly jumped down to the ground next to Paris and knelt down next to the unconscious lieutenant.
"Don't move kludge," one of the Ubers ordered.
Harper looked up to see the two Ubers pointing their gauss guns at him and Paris. "He's hurt. I just want to check him out. I won't try to get away."
The Ubers jumped down from the wall, keeping their guns aimed at their new prisoners. One of the Ubers shoved Harper away from Paris while the other stood over the lieutenant.
"Get up kludge!" the Uber guarding Paris shouted as he kicked the helmsman in the ribs.
Paris responded with a groan. Harper fought the urge to jump the Uber that kicked Paris. Harper knew that the best chance of survival for him and Paris was for both of them to bide their time until they could come up with an escape plan.
Paris was now awake enough to get up to his feet. The two humans were pushed forward towards a waiting hovercraft. Three more mudfoot slaves were in the hovercraft as Harper and Paris climbed inside. Two more Nietzschean guards were guarding the three mudfoot slaves.
Their two captors put electronic bracelets on Paris and Harper's wrists. Paris rubbed the bracelet as he stared at the silver piece of jewelry. "Harper, what are these bracelets? Tracking devices?"
"Yup, that and more. Don't try to take it off. I'm sorry Paris," Harper whispered.
"It's not your fault," Paris replied groggily.
Harper clenched his jaw, holding back his anger. "We'll get out of here Tom. I promise."
"Mm hmm," Paris answered before sleep overtook him. Harper caught the helmsman and gently pushed the young man upright. Harper let Paris lean against him the rest of the way to the slave processing center.
One of the guards grabbed Paris's shirt and jerked the helmsman off of his seat. "I said get out kludge!" the guard growled.
"Wha.? Paris mumbled as tried climbing out of the slave shuttle.
"If you want to last more than five minutes kludge you had better learn to pay attention and follow orders," the guard advised. The guard pulled Paris out of the shuttle and threw pushed him into Harper and the other two slaves. Harper grabbed Paris, keeping the lieutenant from falling.
Paris tried to focus his eyes on his surroundings. The loss of blood, combined with the knock to his head made it nearly impossible. Harper put one of Paris's arms around his shoulder and helped Paris inside a converted warehouse.
Inside the processing Harper and Paris stood in one of three lines that stretched from one end of the room to the other. It took an hour for Paris and Harper to get to the front of the line.
"My friend here has a hole in his leg. He needs medical attention," Harper said to the Nietzschean sitting at the table in front of him.
"He'll get medical attention once he's been processed," the guard replied coldly. "Now what's your name kludge?"
"Seamus Zelazny Harper," the engineer answered.
A broad grin appeared across the Nietzschean's face. "Well the wayward kludge comes back to the fold, eh Harper?"
Harper bit back a smart retort. He just wanted to get through this as quickly as possible and get medical help for Paris. "Yeah, I'm back."
"There is a substantial reward for your capture. You would have had a better chance of evading capture had you not associated with such a pathetic kludge as this," the guard remarked as he gestured towards Paris.
"He doesn't belong here Uber," Harper said between gritted teeth.
The guard ignored Harper's comment while finishing his part in processing Harper. The Uber handed the engineer a flexi. "Now move along kludge."
Harper continued propping up Tom Paris and refused to move. "I'm not leaving him."
One of the armed Nietzschean guards rushed up to Harper and shoved the butt of the gun into Harper's stomach. Harper doubled over and gritted his teeth. The whole time keeping his grip on Paris.
Paris was still barely conscious and fast drifting off. The loss of blood from his wound was already taking a heavy toll on the young helmsman. "S'kay Harper. Do like he says."
"Well, it appears that the little kludge is less pathetic than I had first assumed. Rest assured, I won't make the same mistake again," the guard warned.
"I'm staying with him Uber," Harper announced. He had no sooner got the words out of his mouth Harper felt an explosion inside his head. After that everything faded to black for the engineer.
Without Harper's help Paris slumped to the ground. He tried to crawl over Harper but was too weak. The next thing Paris knew his head felt like it was spinning and he blacked out.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews people. Here's the next chapter.
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Chapter 7
"Aw come on Father, I need to have some fun," Q2 pleaded. "I've just been so bored
lately. I won't hurt anybody, I promise."
It was difficult, but Q had to resist his son's pleadings. Q knew too well what would happen if he gave in. "I'm sorry but I must insist. We'll find some other way for you to amuse yourself."
Q was beside himself. His son was being unreasonably stubborn and Q was at a loss for how to handle the situation. Q thought quickly. Fortunately Q2 had his Aunt Kathy to help him out. Captain Kathryn Janeway would know how to get through to Q2. "If you won't listen to me then I'm going to take you to one person you will listen to."
Q2 frowned at the news. He wasn't in the mood for another lecture. "Please, Father. I'm not a child anymore. Just let me have some fun."
"I will, but not until you stop this foolishness of sending Tommy Paris to the post Commonwealth Earth and sending Seamus Harper to Voyager," Q replied, not giving in. Q surprised himself with his own stubbornness. The Continuum member had seemed to always end up giving in to his son's demands. He loved his son and had trouble saying no to the boy.
"What else is there for me to do?" Q2 asked with frustration in his voice. "I've done just about everything. Mother is busy with her new boyfriend and you don't seem to have any time for me either."
Q flinched at the honesty from his son. "I'm sorry son; I didn't mean to ignore you. Now why don't you forget about Paris and Harper and we'll go do something together. We'll have a little father/son bonding."
Q2 shook his head and backed away from his father. "No Father, it's too late for that. You ignored me and if I go back now you spend time with me but after awhile you and mother will both go back to ignoring me."
"I can't speak for your mother but, I will not go back to ignoring you," Q announced, hoping his son would believe him.
"I wish I could believe you father," Q2 replied before disappearing from his father's presence.
Q sighed, not sure whether it would do any good to go after his son. "That boy is going to be the proverbial death of me yet."
****
Harper and Paris climbed out of the sewer tunnel a mile from where they had rested. Paris was growing weary of constantly being on the move, despite knowing it was necessary. "Where are we going Harper? I thought it was safe down there."
Harper paused momentarily, giving Paris and himself a chance to catch their breaths. "Those explosions were courtesy of the Ubers. They're coming for kludge slaves."
"So why are we coming above ground where the Ubers are looking?" Paris continued questioning. He was not giving up until he had an answer.
"Because the Ubers flood the sewers to flush out the kludges," Harper explained.
Paris shuddered at the thought. "I should have learned to trust you by now."
Harper shrugged his shoulders before continuing on down an alley. Two armed Nietzschean Ubers rushed from a doorway in front of Harper and Paris. Harper pushed Paris into the closest doorway and inside the small shop it belonged to. Laser fire from the Ubers struck the doorway as Harper closed the door. Harper wasted little time opening a window at the opposite side of the room. The engineer motioned for Paris to climb through the window. The Nietzscheans stormed into the room and began firing at Harper. The engineer dived through the window head first, narrowly escaping being hit by gunfire.
Paris helped Harper stand up and the two men ran down the alley. They came to a wall at the other end of the alley they stopped and looked up at the wall. The brick wall was over six feet high, too high to climb over without help. Harper leaned his back against the wall and gave Paris a leg up onto the wall. When Paris was on top he reached down and grabbed Harper's outstretched arms, helping the engineer to the top. A shot by one of the Ubers hit Paris in the left leg, knocking the helmsman off of the wall. Paris fell with a thud on the side of the wall opposite the Ubers. Harper quickly jumped down to the ground next to Paris and knelt down next to the unconscious lieutenant.
"Don't move kludge," one of the Ubers ordered.
Harper looked up to see the two Ubers pointing their gauss guns at him and Paris. "He's hurt. I just want to check him out. I won't try to get away."
The Ubers jumped down from the wall, keeping their guns aimed at their new prisoners. One of the Ubers shoved Harper away from Paris while the other stood over the lieutenant.
"Get up kludge!" the Uber guarding Paris shouted as he kicked the helmsman in the ribs.
Paris responded with a groan. Harper fought the urge to jump the Uber that kicked Paris. Harper knew that the best chance of survival for him and Paris was for both of them to bide their time until they could come up with an escape plan.
Paris was now awake enough to get up to his feet. The two humans were pushed forward towards a waiting hovercraft. Three more mudfoot slaves were in the hovercraft as Harper and Paris climbed inside. Two more Nietzschean guards were guarding the three mudfoot slaves.
Their two captors put electronic bracelets on Paris and Harper's wrists. Paris rubbed the bracelet as he stared at the silver piece of jewelry. "Harper, what are these bracelets? Tracking devices?"
"Yup, that and more. Don't try to take it off. I'm sorry Paris," Harper whispered.
"It's not your fault," Paris replied groggily.
Harper clenched his jaw, holding back his anger. "We'll get out of here Tom. I promise."
"Mm hmm," Paris answered before sleep overtook him. Harper caught the helmsman and gently pushed the young man upright. Harper let Paris lean against him the rest of the way to the slave processing center.
One of the guards grabbed Paris's shirt and jerked the helmsman off of his seat. "I said get out kludge!" the guard growled.
"Wha.? Paris mumbled as tried climbing out of the slave shuttle.
"If you want to last more than five minutes kludge you had better learn to pay attention and follow orders," the guard advised. The guard pulled Paris out of the shuttle and threw pushed him into Harper and the other two slaves. Harper grabbed Paris, keeping the lieutenant from falling.
Paris tried to focus his eyes on his surroundings. The loss of blood, combined with the knock to his head made it nearly impossible. Harper put one of Paris's arms around his shoulder and helped Paris inside a converted warehouse.
Inside the processing Harper and Paris stood in one of three lines that stretched from one end of the room to the other. It took an hour for Paris and Harper to get to the front of the line.
"My friend here has a hole in his leg. He needs medical attention," Harper said to the Nietzschean sitting at the table in front of him.
"He'll get medical attention once he's been processed," the guard replied coldly. "Now what's your name kludge?"
"Seamus Zelazny Harper," the engineer answered.
A broad grin appeared across the Nietzschean's face. "Well the wayward kludge comes back to the fold, eh Harper?"
Harper bit back a smart retort. He just wanted to get through this as quickly as possible and get medical help for Paris. "Yeah, I'm back."
"There is a substantial reward for your capture. You would have had a better chance of evading capture had you not associated with such a pathetic kludge as this," the guard remarked as he gestured towards Paris.
"He doesn't belong here Uber," Harper said between gritted teeth.
The guard ignored Harper's comment while finishing his part in processing Harper. The Uber handed the engineer a flexi. "Now move along kludge."
Harper continued propping up Tom Paris and refused to move. "I'm not leaving him."
One of the armed Nietzschean guards rushed up to Harper and shoved the butt of the gun into Harper's stomach. Harper doubled over and gritted his teeth. The whole time keeping his grip on Paris.
Paris was still barely conscious and fast drifting off. The loss of blood from his wound was already taking a heavy toll on the young helmsman. "S'kay Harper. Do like he says."
"Well, it appears that the little kludge is less pathetic than I had first assumed. Rest assured, I won't make the same mistake again," the guard warned.
"I'm staying with him Uber," Harper announced. He had no sooner got the words out of his mouth Harper felt an explosion inside his head. After that everything faded to black for the engineer.
Without Harper's help Paris slumped to the ground. He tried to crawl over Harper but was too weak. The next thing Paris knew his head felt like it was spinning and he blacked out.