Thanks for the reviews people. Keep 'em coming.
Chapter 6
Harper had finally been released from Medical. Trance gave the engineer a physical therapy regimen which Telemechus Rhade agreed to enforce. Rhade now had Harper finishing up the physical therapy session.
"Come on Rhade, can't you give a guy a break?" Harper pleaded as he pushed his feet against the Nietzschean's hands.
"You have five for repetitions left Harper. It's not going to do any good if you don't do the physical therapy in the prescribed manner," Rhade reminded.
Harper sighed and began the final five repetitions. After the last repetition the engineer laid back on the mat beneath him. "I can't believe I agreed to go through this torture."
Rhade stood up and eased the engineer into a wheel chair. "It's for your own good Harper."
"Yeah I know. No pain, no gain," Harper groused.
"It's time for you to have some nourishment," Rhade announced as he began wheeling Harper out of the gym. Harper suddenly grew quiet, causing Rhade to stop the wheelchair and come around to the front to get a good look at the engineer. "Harper, is something wrong?"
Harper blinked several times before looking the Nietzschean in the eye. "Oh sorry Rhade, I was just wondering how Beka's doing. I wish she hadn't gone off to look for a present for me."
Rhade was relieved that Harper wasn't in pain from the workout. The tall Nietzschean had privately wondered if he hadn't pushed the frail Earther too hard in the workout, despite Trance's assurancesthat the workout was carefully planned."I'm sure she's fine Harper. I didn't realize you were such a mother hen."
"I'm not. I just have a weird feeling like something's going to happen to her," Harper protested. "I know it's crazy, but the feeling is there."
Rhade studied Harper and decided that the Earther was being sincere. "Try not to get worked up over it Harper. I'm sure Beka is doing well and will soon be back with a birthday present for you."
Harper pasted a grin on his face. "Since she went behind my back and is getting me a present anyways, I hope it's something good."
When Beka regained consciousness she found herself sitting in a chair bound at her wrists and ankles. Beka tried to clear the fogginess from her mind as she sat in the chair in silence. Beka opened her eyes and saw only darkness. She thought at first she was in a dark room with no light. Moments later Beka felt something soft pressing against her face and realized she must be blindfolded in some manner. The pilot assumed by the silence that she was alone in the room so she struggled against the shackles on her hands and ankles.
"It's no use struggling, you are tightly secured," A male voice informed.
Beka cocked her head trying to pinpoint the location of the voice. The voice came from about 20 feet in front of her. "I don't know who you are but you might as well quit your pathetic game."
"I assure you this is no game. I'm quite serious," the man replied.
"What do you want from me then?" Beka asked as calmly as she could under the circumstances.
Her captor chuckled before approaching the blonde pilot. "I want you to assist me."
Beka wasn't sure if her captor was joking or not. "You can't be serious. You force Flash on me and then you want me to help you? It looks like I'm not the only one whose been dipping into the Flash."
"My request is not a joke," the captor replied with an arrogant tone.
"I'm assuming I won't like what you want me to do or you won't have gone to all this trouble," Beka reasoned.
The captor chuckled softly. "Yes, I want you to help me get revenge, which is not something I imagine you would easily understand."
"You're right, I don't understand," Beka snorted.
"Then let me explain the plan. You will be kept in here and high on Flash until your mind is fried," the captor explained.
Beka was now even more confused. "I still don't understand. How is getting me junked up on Flash getting revenge?"
The Elteran drug dealer then entered the room and pulled the blindfold from Beka's eyes. Beka wasn't surprised to see on of the two drug dealers who forced the Flash on her the night before.
"What's up loser?" Beka asked sarcastically. The blonde blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light produced by a single dim bulb hanging from the ceiling.
The Elteran ignored the insult. "You could make this easier and just take the Flash on your own."
"Yeah, right!" Beka retorted stubbornly.
The Elteran offered the blonde some bread and water. Beka started to lean her mouth towards the water bottle to take a sip when the Elteran quickly pulled the bottle away. ". You're not getting any food or water either; it makes the Flash work faster."
Beka looked at the Flash then the water. Her throat was dry and she wanted a sip of water but not at the Elteran's price. "Then I'll go without food and water. I don't imagine your revenge plan will work if I die here."
"You're stubborn lady," the Elteran admitted.
"You're not the first one to tell me that Mister. What is your name anyway?"
The Elteran put the blindfold back on Beka as he answered, "My name's Calum. And don't think you can sweet talk me Blondie because you're just wasting your time."
Beka wasn't surprised the Elteran didn't fall for the trick. Still, it was worth a try. "So why does he want the Andromeda, not that it isn't a cool thing to have?"
"My boss has his reasons," Calum replied curtly. Beka now noticed a metal halo in The Elteran's left hand. Beka struggled as Calum restrained Beka and put her head in a metal halo. The Elteran then closed the latches on the silver halo so that it fit snugly around Beka's forehead. The metal bar that ran from the back of the halo and down Beka's neck was fastened to headrest of the medical style chair that held the blonde woman.
Once Beka was fully restrained Calum, poured five drops of Flash into each of Beka's eyes. Calum removed the metal halo and held it in his left hand. I'll leave the food here in case you change your mind. But don't wait too long; you don't want the food to spoil." Calum informed before leaving.
A few minutes later Beka could feel the buzz from the Flash. Her heart was beating rapidly. A half hour more and Beka was feeling like Wonder Woman. She pulled against the metal restraints around her wrists, breaking her left wrist in the process. The blonde heard something snap and briefly paused as she tried to figure out what maid the sound as she felt no pain. Beka couldn't figure out the source of the odd sound and went back to trying to break free of her restraints. When she failed to break free of the restraints Beka became angry. She let out a primal scream as she gave one last pull against the metal around her wrists.
Beka's captors had witnessed the whole scene play out on a video monitor in another room. "Beka Valentine is most persistent. She almost broke free of her restraints," Calum remarked.
"Then we need to proceed to the next phase as quickly as possible," another man instructed.
"You're the boss. I'll get Marcus to assist me," Calum informed.
The Boss raised a hand to stop the Elteran. "See that you follow my instructions to the letter."
Calum stopped and gave a mock salute. "Sure thing Boss."
The Elteran returned to the room where Beka was held captive. Calum slowly walked up to Beka and stood in front of the blonde. The Elteran noticed Beka's swollen wrist began examining it. "You shouldn't try to get out of your restraints. It looks like you broke your wrist."
"I thought I heard something snap, but I don't feel anything," Beka said, slurring her words.
"My boss has a favor to ask of you. He wants you to bring him the little engineer from Andromeda." the Elteran informed.
"Harper?" Beka questioned with surprise. Then the blonde recovered from the shock. "Um let me think. No," the blonde pilot retorted snidely.
Calum produced a hypodermic needle which he held out for Beka to see. Then the Elteran attached some electrodes to each of Beka's temples. "You'll change your tune soon."
Beka could feel the Flash high wearing off now. Her body began to shake and Beka knew it wasn't a good sign. "You're going to an awful lot of trouble to get my help Calum."
"The trouble is worth it Ms. Valentine," Calum replied tersely. The Elteran sat down in a small chair and waited for the withdrawal symptoms to increase in intensity.
Beka sat in silence, glaring at the Elteran. The blonde was feeling jittery as she waited for Calum to make his next move.
Calum slowly pulled out a small remote device from a jacket pocket and pressed a button. Beka now felt as if every nerve in her body was on fire. Seconds later Calum pressed the button again and the pain stopped.
"Have you changed your mind yet?" Calum asked.
Beka merely glared at the Elteran in response. She was determined to hold out. Calum sighed as he pressed the remote button again. Another current of electricity shot through Beka, causing her to jerk her body away from her chair. Calum allowed the current to continue longer now than he had the previous time. Beka was relieved when she finally passed out in her chair and didn't have to deal with the pain.