Thanks for all the reviews kind readers. Here's another chapter for you all.
Chapter 8
Telemachus Rhade touched down on Saskatchewan Drift and impatiently waited for his security clearance. The Nietzschean was informed that Saskatchewan Drift had its fair share of crime, which necessitated the heightened security.
While waiting to be cleared by security Rhade inquired whether the Maru had been docked on the drift. The security guard took some convincing before he believed Rhade was only concerned for Beka's welfare. The guard shuffled some flexis around on top of his desk and looked up the Maru on the docket.
The burly security guard, who was nearly as large as Rhade, pointed behind the Nietzschean. "Just go straight back about five rows and you'll see your lady friend's ship. If you find her tell her the ship will be impounded if she doesn't come and pay the docking fees soon."
"It sounds as if Beka hasn't been back to her ship for some time." Rhade commented casually, trying not to appear overly concerned.
The security guard nodded his head slightly. "According to my information your friend disembarked a few days ago and hasn't been back since."
Rhade quickly thanked the security guard before heading in the direction of the Maru. As he keyed in the security codes on the Maru's hatch, Rhade was expecting to hear Beka's voice calling out.
"Beka are you onboard?" Rhade yelled up to the cockpit. The Nietzschean was greeted with silence. Rhade finished keying in the security code and waited for the hatch to open. The Nietzschean boarded the Maru and looked around. The tall dark haired commander sniffed the air and scanned the room. His enhanced Nietzschean senses told him Beka was nowhere on board.
Rhade searched the Maru for clues of Beka's whereabouts. There was no sign of struggle for which the Nietzschean was grateful. Rhade tried to convince himself that there was a reason for Beka's disappearance that didn't involve foul play.
Rhade disembarked from the Maru and asked one of the security officers for directions to the vintage music store. From the looks of the drift, the Nietzschean guessed that there was only one music store around. Rhade's hunch was right as the security officer informed him that there was only one music store before giving the Nietzschean directions.
Rhade easily found Kool Kat Music and stepped inside. The Nietzschean immediately began asking the male clerk if had seen anybody answering Beka's description had been in the store. The clerk didn't recognize Beka from the picture that Rhade showed him.
Rhade was about to leave the store when the clerk suggested that the Nietzschean talk to the other clerk who was off duty at the present.
"Would you contact the other clerk and ask about Beka Valentine? It's extremely urgent." Rhade requested.
The skinny teenaged clerk sighed "Yeah I guess. She's not going to be happy though."
"It is important so I'll take that chance," Rhade countered.
The clerk was able to contact the female clerk through a communicator. Rhade was able to transmit the file containing Beka's picture to the female clerk who recognized Beka. The female clerk had no more real information on Beka other than the fact that the blonde executive officer made a purchase at the music store.
"Do you know where she went when she left your store?" Rhade questioned.
The clerk typed in Rhade's question and waited for the female clerk to reply. "I doubt if she knows mister. We don't make it a habit to pry into other people's business."
Rhade kept silent as he read the female clerk's reply. The female clerk had no idea where Beka had gone but promised to let Rhade know if she remembered anything that could lead the Nietzschean to Beka.
Rhade left Kool Kat Music and went back to the Maru on the off chance that Beka had returned to her ship. On his way back to the Maru Rhade stopped people he had passed and showed them the picture of Beka. None of the people recalled seeing Beka but Rhade continued asking and before long was at the Maru.
Rhade called up to the cockpit again, hoping this time that Beka would answer. After a few moments of silence the Nietzschean climbed aboard the Maru and quickly determined that Beka still had not returned.
Reluctantly, the Nietzschean decided to file a missing person report with the local police. At the police station Rhade reluctantly sent a message to Andromeda via courier. He message simply stated that he had found the Maru but no sign of Beka.
Trance was overseeing Harper's physical therapy sessions, much to the delight of the engineer. Harper was continuing to improve and each day the engineer was getting stronger.
"Trance you are as evil as Rhade when it comes to physical therapy. But at least you're a lot better to look at while I'm being tortured like this," Harper mildly protested.
Trance frowned at Harper as she increased the gravity in the room. "Harper, but you really need to concentrate on your exercises. Let's see how you do with the same gravity as last session." The golden alien had kept the gravity low during the first few sessions to ease the stress on Harper's body as he worked out. In their last session Trance had increased the gravity, causing Harper to struggle. Trance hoped that the last workout had made the Harper stronger and that this time the engineer would hardly notice the gravity.
Trance watched intently as Harper began walking from one end of the gym to
the other with the help of a cane. The golden alien smiled and nodded her
approval at the engineer's progress. "Very good Harper. You'll have all of
your strength back soon."
"Thanks Trance, but how much longer do you think before I'm back to normal?"
Harper asked as he slowly made his way across the gym.
The golden alien glanced down at the flexi in her left hand then back up at
Harper. "I would think another week and you'll be back to your full strength
in your limbs. But that's only as long as you keep up with the physical
therapy."
Harper frowned at the thought of another week of Trance's torture sessions.
"Another week? You really must be enjoying my company."
The physical therapy session was interrupted by Dylan Hunt who was standing patiently just inside the doorway. "I'm sorry to interrupt the therapy session but I thought you'd want to know a courier just arrived with a message from Rhade."
Both Harper and Trance turned and looked intently at the High Guard captain. Dylan approached Trance as the two waited for Harper to finish walking back to them.
"I hope Rhade found Beka," Harper piped up as he waddled up beside Trance.
"I don't believe the news will be good," Trance remarked, which garnered the golden alien interested looks from her two friends.
Dylan tried to brush off the golden alien's prediction. "Well, I haven't seen the message yet so I don't know the answer and there's only one way to find out for sure.
Dylan tapped the flexi and the three waited for the message to play out. Rhade's message was brief. The Nietzschean merely informed that he had found the Maru but not Beka. Rhade finished off by mentioning that there was no blood or any sign of struggle onboard the Maru and that there was a good chance that Beka was alive. Rhade promised to continue looking until he found Beka.
"I'm going to go help Rhade look for Beka," Harper boldly announced. Trance
put a hand on Harper's shoulder, partly to reassure the engineer, but mostly
to keep him in place.
Dylan understood shared the engineer's concern for Beka, but the captain
wasn't going to let Harper leave the ship. "You are going to remain here on
Andromeda and I can make that an order if necessary Mr. Harper."
Harper held back the retort that formed in his mind. "Okay, I'll stay here." The Earther hoped Dylan bought his act. Harper had already begun to form a plan to sneak off the Andromeda.
"I'm glad to here that. I know we're all concerned about Beka's welfare but
Rhade is doing his best to bring her back. Now we've got to make sure the people of Alannis are taken care of so at least we'll have something to occupy our time."
"Oh that reminds me Boss, I was checking the list of supplies we're going to need to help Alannis and we'll need to pick up a few things on the way," Harper informed.
"I see," Dylan simply replied, ignoring the information for the moment. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to bring better news."
Harper put on a fake smile and looked up at the captain. "Hey it's not your fault. Thanks for the update."
Dylan saw through the Earther's sunny disposition and appreciated the effort. "I guess interrupted this physical therapy session long enough. Mr. Harper put the list of supplies we'll need on flexi and have one of the bots bring it up to my quarters."
"Will do Boss," Harper replied cheerfully.
Dylan walked several steps towards the door before turning around and taking long look at the Earther. "Mr. Harper, don't try sneaking off to help Rhade rescue Beka."
The engineer had a confused look on his face as he wondered how Dylan figured out his plan. Harper figured the High Guard captain was just making sure the engineer understood. "Is that an order Boss?"
"I'd rather not make it an order Mr. Harper. Just consider it a strong recommendation from your captain," Dylan suggested before leaving the gym.
Beka woke up to find herself in the same chair in the same room as been in for the past two days. Calum continued to alternate dropping Flash in her eyes with shocking Beka with electricity. The blonde was now in the middle of a major Flash withdrawal and her broken wrist was throbbing.
Beka continued to sit alone in the stark, little room for what seemed like hours. The Flash craving was now driving Beka to the brink of insanity. She was jittery and needed to get up burn off some of the energy the Flash had built up in her. Beka struggled against her restraints, causing the pain from her wrist to shoot up through her arm. Beka let out a scream, one of both pain and frustration.
Calum, the Elteran, made a quick entrance and examined Beka's wrist again. "I told you to be careful of your wrist."
"I know you did, but I gotta get out of here." Beka tried to explain.
Calum unzipped a pocket on his jacket and pulled out a vial of Flash. "The last dose of Flash is wearing off I see. I'll take care of that." Calum put the metal halo over Beka's head and began pouring the drops into the blonde's eyes.
"No, please don't give me any more Flash," Beka pleaded. She hated begging like this and being so vulnerable, but there was no choice.
"My boss may stop giving you Flash and give you a chance to dry out if you get your engineer friend for him." Calum offered.
Beka didn't have to think for long about the offer. It was going to take a lot more than pumping her full of Flash to get Beka Valentine to betray a member of her crew.