Thanks for the reviews folks. I really appreciate them. Now for the next chapter.
Oh and I still don't own Andromeda or its characters and I am still not making any money from this story.
Chapter 11
Early in the morning Dylan called his senior staff to the Command Deck. Harper put up his usual fuss at being interrupted while working when he walked onto Command. Rhade and Trance had already arrived so Dylan began his meeting.
"I called you all here because we just received a transmission from the police authority on Saskatchewan Drift. They picked up the three men that Rhade knocked out while rescuing Beka."
"You took out three guys huh Rhade? Not bad, but I woulda expected you to take out at least half a dozen bad guys," Harper interrupted.
"I'm not finished Mr. Harper," Dylan admonished. "The Nightsider that you took out is an old acquaintance of ours Rhade."
Harper's eyes opened wide as he realized the identity of the Nightsider. "You mean Gerentex was responsible for what happened to Beka? I just hope the rat face gets what he deserves, a slow painful death."
"Excuse but who is Gerentex, other than a Nightsider who kidnapped Beka?" Rhade questioned.
Harper was about to answer when Dylan spoke up. "Gerentex is the Nightsider who hired Beka, Harper, Trance, and Rev to use the Maru to pull Andromeda out of the event horizon."
Rhade nodded his head in understanding. "I'm assuming that he blames Beka for not turning the Andromeda over to him."
"It looks like the flowers Trance gave him have lost their effect on Gerentex," Dylan surmised.
As three sets of eyes looked on her Trance merely shrugged. "I'm sorry; I should have mentioned the effects of the flowers I gave Gerentex weren't permanent. I knew the flowers were strong enough that their effects on Gerentex would last for some time, I just didn't know how long that would be."
"At least Beka is going to be okay. I guess she should know it was Gerentex who kidnapped her," Harper suggested.
"I'll tell Beka, I just hope she stays put and doesn't let her anger get the best of her," Dylan announced. "I've said what I had to say so you are all dismissed.
Later that morning Beka was waiting for the final word from Trance before being released from Medical. Trance returned from assisting another of her patients and stood next to Beka's bed.
Trance agreed to release Beka but would not allow the executive officer to go back on duty. Trance was concerned about the amount of Flash in Beka's system. Trance had offered to give Beka some medicine to ease the withdrawal symptoms, but as usual, the executive officer was fighting the recommendation.
"Trance, I know you think I'll shake my addiction quicker and easier with a prescribed drug, but you know how I feel about drugs of any kind." Beka protested.
The golden alien continued to press the issue, as she knew how tough a road Beka would have ahead of her trying to kick Flash on her own. "Beka I understand you reluctance but I need to remind you weren't hooked on ordinary Flash. It's much stronger than the Flash you've taken in the past."
Beka raised a hand, stopping Trance's warning. "Trance I know this isn't my father's Flash, but I'm going to handle this on my own. So please spare me any more lectures."
Trance frowned at the blonde. "I just hate to see you go through what I know will be a very unpleasant experience when I can help you avoid it. And I really wish you would let Dylan and the rest of the crew know about the nature of the Flash that you're hooked on."
"I'll be fine Trance. I appreciate you letting me out of Medical. I don't' think I can stay here another night." Beka replied. She was really feeling jittering but tried her best not to let on.
"Alright Beka, I'm allowing you to go back on modified duty; that means no piloting and no away missions for now. I'll still have to monitor your progress so you'll need to come in to Medical for a check up once a day. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to come to me if you need help," Trance instructed.
Beka hopped off of the bed in Medical grabbed a jacket that one of the mariabots had brought by earlier. "Sure thing Trance."
Trance watched as Beka walked out of Medical. Trance hoped that getting back to a closer to normal routine would help Beka. Right now the executive officer seemed a bit out of sorts which Trance attributed to the Flash withdrawal.
Beka decided that her first order of business would be a shower. She hadn't had one since being kidnapped. Beka suddenly realized that she hadn't even seen the leader of the jerks that had kidnapped her; the one Calum had called Boss.
Beka jumped backwards as she was drenched in cold water. "Shower off!" The blonde immediately fumbled for a towel which was hanging just outside the shower. "Harper, get to my quarters, now!"
"Coming Boss!" Harper called back over the com. The engineer rushed to Beka's quarters minutes later and found her in a robe, looking like she could spit nails.
"Harper, explain why my shower has no hot water and it better be good," Beka demanded.
Harper took a step backwards, away from Beka. "Uh sorry Boss, I meant to get your shower fixed but other things came up. I'll get on it right now."
Beka advanced on the shorter engineer until she was standing directly in front of him. "You bet you will get it done. And no more lame excuses."
Harper turned to leave the room when Beka grabbed the collar of the engineer's shirts and whirled the smaller man around. "My shower is the other way Harper."
Harper now realized that Beka was not the normal Beka Valentine angry that he was used to seeing. Harper saw a burning rage on Beka's face and tried to squirm out of her grasp. "I was uh just going to the machine shop to get some tools."
"Oh no you don't Shorty, if I let you out of here you won't come back," Beka replied as she squeezed hard on the engineer's left arm.
"Okay, so get one of the mariabots to get a wrench and nanowelder and bring them here," Harper suggested.
That calmed Beka momentarily and she called out for one of the mariabots to bring a toolbox to her quarters. Harper waited nervously for the next few moments. The Earther had never been afraid of Beka, except when she was on Flash. Harper looked into Beka's eyes and saw the telltale signs of being high on Flash. "Hey Beka, I know you're upset and I'm sorry but I promise I'll fix your shower."
Beka pushed Harper towards her bunk and gave the engineer a shove, sending him flying onto the bunk. "You did this on purpose didn't you Harper? You thought it would be funny if I took a cold shower, didn't you?"
"No, honest Boss, I had a list of other projects that took priority over the plumbing in your shower," Harper stammered.
Beka grabbed Harper's right arm and jerked the Earther forward. Harper winced as his right shoulder slammed against the deck. Harper tried to get up onto his feet but Beka grabbed Harper and threw the engineer against the wall.
Beka rushed over to Harper stood over the motionless Earther. "Get up!" Beka yelled as she kicked Harper in the side.
Harper rolled himself into a ball in an effort to make himself smaller. "I'm sorry Boss, please stop," the Earther whimpered.
"Not until I'm sure you've learned a lesson mudfoot!" Beka replied as she kicked Harper again.
Beka was about to give Harper another kick when Dylan and Rhade burst into the room. Dylan grabbed Beka as Rhade moved between the executive officer and the engineer. Dylan glanced down at Harper lying on the deck and back at Beka. "Beka, what just happened?"
A shocked looked washed over Beka's face. "I don't know what happened Dylan. I just remember being upset with Harper and then you two came rushing in here."
"Unless you have a better explanation than that Beka I'm afraid I'm going to have to confine you to the brig for assaulting Harper," Dylan reluctantly informed.
Beka moved over to Harper and kneeled down beside the engineer. The executive officer helped the now conscious engineer to his feet. As Dylan and Rhade came up beside her, Beka quickly grabbed Dylan's force lance as she stood up. Beka pointed the force lance at Harper as she backed away towards the door. "Don't come any closer or I swear I'll shoot!"
Dylan and Rhade kept still, making no effort to move towards Beka. With Beka on Flash they couldn't be sure she wouldn't use the force lance on them. "Relax Beka, nobody wants to hurt you," Dylan assured. "And you don't' really want to hurt Harper or anybody else do you?"
"I can't trust any of you. I thought you were my friends but you're all against me!" Beka shouted before backing out through the doorway, using Harper as a shield.
"She'll head for the Maru and try to leave," Rhade reasoned.
Dylan nodded his head in agreement. "Andromeda, don't let the Maru leave."