Part 21
"Sir!"
Yussuf spun around from his makeshift desk and looked at the eager young man that had entered his office.
"Speak, boy," Yussuf gestured when the man stood before him expectedly.
"Our observations of the Andromeda Ascendant has revealed that a ship has just departed from a hanger bay, the Eureka Maru, registered to one Beka Valentine, but we are unable to determine how many life signs are aboard at this time," he stated assuredly. "But the Andromeda Ascendant is about to make the final slip to Ipcres, should we follow this other ship, and possibly Beka Valentine?" the boy asked.
"Follow it, I want a full report on who is on that vessel, and its purpose for leaving, my sources say all crew are expected at this conference," Yussuf decided with suspicion clear. "I trust that they have no suspicions of our surveillance?"
"None sir, our masking technology has worked perfectly," the boy returned.
Yussuf considered the new development with some thought, as the boy remained stood before him. "When the Andromeda arrives at Ipcres I want to know immediately who is present from the main crew, and I want a man specifically ordered to sight Dani, even if he has to fake going on board the shuttle ship from the Andromeda, I want a confirmed sighting," Yussuf declared. "We do nothing until that sighting has been made, whether it's on the Andromeda or this Eureka Maru, no action until this has been done, understood?" Yussuf ordered, ensuring his orders were clear.
"Understood, sir, I will relay your orders to the fleet and ensure men are assigned to that role," the boy confirmed, and promptly left the room.
Yussuf sat down again, whilst longing for the moment he could leave the hellish ship he found himself on, all for security and an attempt to remain undetected.
Dylan Hunt surveyed the area as he stepped off the shuttle, seeing a large Commonwealth High Guard presence around them and it felt good to set foot on Ipcres. It had been years since Dylan had seen anything on this scale, for the first time he truly felt as though the Commonwealth was back, but he knew it was only in response to his concerns about Yussuf gate crashing the party. The High Guard had drafted in hundreds of additional guards to safeguard the conference, this was not the normal presence.
Beside him, Trance Gemini and Rhade walked towards the awaiting transport, but Dylan was on full alert, scanning the area for anything unusual. With all the personnel running about the port it was nearly impossible to determine if there were any unauthorised people in the area, so he kept one hand close to his force lance.
The shuttle powered up behind him, ready to return to the Andromeda to pick up the next members of his crew who would be attending the conference. Dylan found that his thoughts drifted to the Maru, and he hoped that it was safe, he wouldn't know until the rendezvous, as they were maintaining communications silence to ensure that there would be no chance of Yussuf discovering the Maru was not in attendance.
"Keep your wits about you, be on the lookout for any sightings of Yussuf," Dylan quietly ordered, he was not going to let a tyrant like Yussuf destroy his vision.
Rhade and Trance simply nodded their heads, as they boarded the transport, but Dylan stopped, something was wrong, and he nodded toward Rhade to follow him.
"Trance, make apologies, and tell them I will follow," Dylan quickly said, and it was clear he had spotted something so Trance did not question him as he let the transport go.
"What is it?" Rhade asked as they casually walked back to the shuttle.
"Just follow my lead," Dylan ordered and cautiously approached the shuttle, before he boarded.
They walked through the smaller ship and Dylan drew his force lance on spotting a lone man sitting in a corner.
"Tell me your business," Dylan ordered.
The man looked shocked by Dylan's return, and his approach, as his eyes stared at the force lance with fear. "I'm over seeing the transfers," he stammered.
"I have crew quite capable of doing that, now tell me why you look as though you are awaiting transport to my ship," Dylan demanded.
"I," the man hesitated, taking hurried breaths.
"He's hiding something," Rhade noted. "And his uniform is ill fitting, it seems as though it was made for a smaller man," he added.
"Care to explain who the hell you are, and what the hell you are doing?" Dylan offered in a manner that was demanding. "Rhade, maybe he needs a bit more encouragement?" Dylan gestured.
Rhade moved forward, his bone blades on show, as he grabbed the man holding him securely; making sure the man got an even closer look at his blades.
"I was ordered to," the man began but hesitated, he seemed in two minds.
"Go on, we haven't got all day, a little conference is waiting for me," Dylan stressed.
"Yussuf, wanted me to confirm sighting of his girl, of Dani," the man finally spoke, his eyes fixed on the bone blades.
"Why?" Dylan asked, knowing that Yussuf had no reason to suspect she wasn't on the ship, no reason at least that he was aware of.
"Another vessel, Yussuf wants confirmation of which vessel Dani is on," the man continued, feeling the blades digging into his chest now.
"Dylan," Rhade simply said, giving very little away but at the same time confirming Dylan's fears, Yussuf knew about the Maru's detour.
"What else do you know?" Dylan asked.
"Nothing I promise, we are told the minimum of information, I've been sat here for days awaiting instruction, and this is all I've been given," the man pleaded now with them to believe him.
"Take him back to the Andromeda, put him in the brig for now," Dylan ordered to Rhade. "Order the crew to act as though Dani is on board, if any more spies turn up they are to believe Dani is here."
"Understood sir," Rhade confirmed. "But," he added cautiously.
"We have to warn Beka, but I can't be seen to be distracted, or to be leaving too soon, it'll put too much attention on the Maru," Dylan simply stated, and then he looked at Rhade. "Rhade, I trust you can be discreet, and maybe your new friend could be of some help to you in remaining undetected?" Dylan suggested, and with a quick pat on the arm, the captain hurried from the shuttle to rejoin Trance at the conference.
Rhade looked at his new friend, seemingly already gaining respect from the terrified man. "We are going on a little trip, and you better hope you are helpful to me," Rhade warned, pushing the man forward, and only hope that he'd be able to track the Maru's path.
Wherever he was, he didn't want to leave, it was beautiful and calm, and unlike any place he'd ever been to in life. All of his worries, his thoughts and emotions were absent, and he allowed the calm to totally embrace him, free from the turmoil that had always been his life. Relaxed, happy and without a care in the world, Harper had finally found paradise.
"Hey," a voice threatened to disturb his peace. "Seamus, come on," the voice persisted.
"No," Harper complained, although it sounded muffled, and then his eyes snapped open and he realised he had been dreaming, and now it was time to wake up.
"Time for your meds," Beka stated, her arm resting on his shoulder now.
Wearily Harper rolled onto his back, and finally opened his yes. "Where are we?"
"Heading towards some drift I've never heard off, Lanios?" Beka attempted to remember. "How are you feeling?"
Harper just shrugged in response, then reached over for the inhaler and injector that Trance had supplied to him before they had left. As Beka looked on, Harper took a deep breath with the inhaler, and then injected himself with his daily does of drugs that Trance determined that he needed.
"Are you breathing better now?" Beka asked, concerned in part by Harper's silence.
"Yeah, it's getting there," Harper offered, but still grimaced as he made to move from the bunk.
"Want me to check your hands?" Beka suggested.
"Bandages are holding ok," Harper simply said, with a quick glance at the damage he had inflicted on his own hands.
"You scared me back there," Beka admitted, and she was looking at her hands, as they nervously fidgeted.
Harper just sniffed, still clearing his head from sleep, and getting his bearings. Something was missing, and it had been since he came on board, but he felt it more now, now that he was getting back to feeling like himself again after his latest episode.
"You're missing her, aren't you?" Beka then said in answer to Harper's thoughts, and Harper only looked at her for a second but it was enough to answer her question. "You've only known her for a day or so, Harper," she softly protested.
"Long enough, Beka, and I don't care if she isn't the one," Harper turned to face Beka now, his face full on conviction towards his friend. "I like her ok? As a friend, as with anyone, I want to know her, so yeah, I'm sorry but I do miss her Beka, because I was enjoying her company," then Harper looked conflicted. "No offence, Beka, and you know I respect you, hell I've never respected anyone like I do you, but that doesn't give you the right to dictate who I am friends with."
Beka took a moment before responding, it was rare that Harper talked like this, his voice even and serious, without it's usual attitude. "I'm not trying to dictate anything, Harper," Beka protested.
"No?" Harper questioned, sounding older than usual.
"Harper, surely you can see the situation here, don't you see the danger you are in?" Beka asked, with a sign of desperation. "Would you prefer that I just turn a blind eye, what kind of friend would I be then?" Beka asked and searched Harper's expression for any sign that he did realise the full picture, but she saw no indication that he did. "Harper, don't you care that you are playing a very dangerous game with a tyrant like Yussuf?"
"This has nothing to do with Yussuf," Harper argued lightly. "It's just about me and Dani," Harper sighed.
"You know that's not true, Harper," Beka returned. "This is all about Yussuf, you can't keep ignoring this fact, in the hope that he never finds out, or finds you," Beka responded. "Right now he's ready to disrupt a whole Commonwealth Conference to get Dani back," she reminded him.
"What he's doing on Ipcres is not about Dani, it's about power, that's all it ever is with Yussuf," Harper stressed. "He wants to bring the Commonwealth down because he feels threatened by it, not because of what happened to Dani, maybe it's you who doesn't understand," he argued.
"He still cares about Dani, and he obviously wants her back, what part of the attack on the Andromeda, Harper, made you think that Dani is just an afterthought?" Beka stressed. "Has Dani told you anything about her association with him?" she asked with curiosity.
Harper looked uncomfortable for a moment, and then sad. "She said they'd been together a few times, but she wasn't proud of this, and to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced she had a say in the matter," he said, now with some anger.
Beka looked away for a moment, in part surprised that Harper and Dani had actually spoken about Yussuf in that way.
Harper took the opportunity with Beka's silence to continue speaking. "I just want to see Dani, and be with Dani, can't you see that?" Harper simply said, looking away from Beka. "She is not Yussuf, she has not tormented that system, she is not to blame for what Yussuf has done," Harper said with frustration. "The universe is a big place, and Yussuf does not own it all, we don't have to live in fear of that man," he then stated.
"So that's it?" Beka asked, with a touch of surprise and hurt in her voice. "After a day or so of knowing Dani, you're just going to leave with her, spend the rest of your life on the run with her?" Beka looked away. "Great, well, it's been great knowing you, if this is it," she proclaimed with arrogance.
"No!" Harper protested loudly, and then composed himself as he then looked at Beka with frustration. "I don't know what to say to you anymore, Beka," he finally admitted with some despair. "I freaked out earlier because you're driving me crazy, twisting my words, and all this talk," he stressed, and it showed in both his expression and his actions. "What do you want?" he then asked with desperation. "For me to say 'I'll never see her again', for me to just lock myself away until she goes away?" he asked with confusion.
Beka looked upwards. "I just want you to open your eyes and see the full picture, Harper, that's all."
"And then what?" Harper asked, gesturing with his arms.
"And then," Beka began to answer but fell short of words, not really knowing what else he could do. "Just," she attempted to continue.
"To forget about Dani," Harper concluded for her. "To just forget she exists and return to being your Harper, right?"
"Is that such a bad option?" Beka questioned.
"I love her, Beka, and I'll keep saying it until you listen and understand," Harper calmly said, as he moved towards Beka. "I think we do have a future, if we want it, and I do not see anything stopping us, not even you Beka, and I mean that," he added with angered conviction towards his friend.
"Is that what you think?" Beka argued. "You really don't care, do you?" Beka realised with some degree of horror. "You actually hate me, and you think I have split you and Dani up unfairly, and for reasons I'm not even sure I want to know."
Harper now faced away from Beka, but he noticeably relaxed and then turned to her. "I don't hate you, Beka, I just don't understand why you've done what you have, Dani hasn't hurt me and I'm not some stupid kid that needs looking after, I ran away from living in a controlled environment, and I thought I was free now," he added, still with a hint of anger.
"Trance told me about the shock Dani hit you with," Beka countered, remember what she had been told and knowing it could have so easily killed him.
"Done in confusion before her head was fixed," Harper defended quickly.
Beka moved closer to Harper, she wanted to hold him but she knew that right now that wouldn't be a good idea, he was angry, upset and feeling down, and it was partly her fault. "Look, I'm sorry ok?" Beka offered. "But I'm just doing what I've always done, and I have I failed you before?" she asked. "Harper, you are free to do what you want, to make all the decisions you want, good or bad, but you can not stop me caring, or doing what I feel is necessary to ensure that you stay safe, don't hate me for caring!" she stressed before leaving the area.
Harper let his head drop, it was always hard confronting Beka, especially when he thought the world of her but right now he felt nothing but conflict. He wasn't being lovesick, he'd been lovesick enough in his time to know this wasn't it, he was just missing a friend, like he always misses his friends, he was feeling the same for Trance and Rommie right now, and he was just noticing her absence and missing their presence, why couldn't Beka understand that?
Only Harper knew it was different, he was missing Dani in a different way to Rommie and Trance, he had hardly had a chance to get to know Dani and now he wanted that chance. They had shared something he had never felt before, he'd never wanted to be so close to someone like he wanted to be close to Dani, and he wasn't prepared to just give that up because of Dani's past. He knew all about having a past and he was not going to judge Dani on her associations, it came with the territory, and it was not a part of the equation to him.
Harper grabbed a clean shirt and put it on, before moving through the Maru to the service area where Beka was preparing breakfast. He sat down without word, and just watched as Beka crashed and banged her way through making breakfast, taking out her anger and frustration on the kitchen utensils.
"Beka," Harper finally spoke up. "Could you keep it down, still got a slight headache," Harper offered, hoping to break the tension.
Beka stopped, and took a deep breath. "Do you want anything to eat?"
"I'm good," Harper responded. "Just a sparky, if we have one."
Beka grabbed her own breakfast and then a sparky, before she returned to the table. Harper took the can and took little time to open it and down most of its contents.
"So where is she?" Harper asked, focused on the sparky can. "Where is Dani being kept so she can't hurt me?"
Beka looked at Harper, and it was clear she was in two minds about revealing the details. "You want the truth?"
Harper seemed confused by her response, he just wanted to know. "Well, yeah, if it's not too much trouble," he mocked. "I've gone nearly half a day without asking haven't I? So, just tell me, unless you don't trust me enough not to run after her."
"Harper," Beka sighed, but she was rapidly losing the energy to try and get Harper to understand her position, so she composed herself before continuing, and with a resigned expression she spoke. "She's in the cargo bay."
Harper almost dropped his sparky can, and he couldn't speak as he just stared at Beka to check she wasn't joking. "What?" he finally managed, and got to his feet. "The freaking cargo bay, she's been onboard the Maru all this time?" he checked with disbelief, he had just assumed when he hadn't seen any other bunks occupied that Dani had been left behind, or taken elsewhere.
Beka attempted to speak, but nothing came out, she didn't know how to explain what had seemed a perfectly rational move back on the Andromeda, one that Dani had agreed to, in truth it had been the only way they had managed to get Dani to go with them.
"I don't believe this, Beka," Harper spoke with clear shock, unable to even attempt to understand as he moved back through the ship.
"Harper," Beka finally recovered her senses, as she got up to follow him. "Take it easy, it's not how it seems."
"You treat my friend like cargo and you're telling me I've misjudged the situation?" Harper stressed.
Beka was growing concerned now by Harper's activity, he was worked up and she didn't want him to have another fit that could harm his progress. "Please, Harper, just remember for a second what Trance told you about your condition, and calm down, take it slowly," Beka called after him with concern.
"Don't treat me like a freaking kid, Beka! I'm sick of this!" Harper snapped and quickly moved away, towards the cargo bay.
Beka didn't hesitate in following, and watched as Harper climbed up the ladder and towards the bay. By the time Beka had caught him up, she saw him already embracing Dani fondly, and she took a moment to take in the scene. Harper and Dani together, her instincts wanted to pull them apart and she wanted to continue protecting Harper, but as she looked at them both, she realised that they were both embracing each other, it wasn't all Harper, or all Dani, it was genuine and the shock of her realisation made her just continue to stare.
"What are you going to do now, Beka?" Harper now asked, Beka had not noticed them pull away, so caught up in her own thoughts. "Find the nearest airlock?"
Beka needed time to think, and she couldn't look at either of them. Knowing she couldn't deal with this, she turned and simply left them, returning to the main section of the Maru, her sanctuary.
Harper was telling the truth, as was Dani, they genuinely had feelings for each other and if she hadn't seen it herself, she would never have believed it but in that one embrace she had seen so much. It was like being kicked in the gut, she was losing Harper to this woman who she didn't trust, but who obviously cared, and Beka's confusion was eating at her. Was she happy? For Harper it was nice, she considered, to see him in the arms of someone who seemed to be returning his feelings, it was almost rare, and Beka had doubted for some time that she'd ever see that.
"Beka?" Harper's voice broke through her thoughts and she turned to him with distraction. "Are you ok?"
Beka focused and noticed now that Harper was alone, Dani had remained in the cargo bay. "Yeah, I'm good," she said unconvincingly, and with more emotion than she realised.
"I'm sorry," Harper then offered and Beka didn't understand why he was apologising.
"For what?" Beka had to ask.
Harper shrugged slightly. "I don't like fighting you, but I'm not going to walk away from Dani just because you want me too."
Beka just nodded her head to show she understood, she did now, she fully understood, she had seen it with her own eyes but how could she explain that to Harper.
"Isn't there any way you can just tolerate Dani? At least so she can join us down here?" Harper asked quietly, and a little nervously. "Where it's warm, where there's food, and me?" he added lightly trying to improve the atmosphere.
"Bring her down," Beka simply said and turned away. "I won't get in your way," she then added, but she sensed that Harper was still stood behind her. "I should be apologising, I've been a real cow lately and maybe I need to just get out of your hair, and just stay out of your way."
"Thanks," Harper simply said, but Beka heard his footsteps stop once more on the deck. "But don't you dare stop watching my back, ok? I still need you to look out for me, and I'll keep looking out for you, as it's always been," his voice simply said before he continued back to the cargo bay.
Beka could only smile, glad in part that Harper had accepted her apology and hadn't caused another scene, she was still worried about his health. Returning to the serving area, Beka sat down and finished her breakfast, whilst hearing the sounds of Dani and Harper moving around the ship, as he helped her to move into the crew quarters.
TBC