Part 24

"Another beacon, Dylan," Rommie spoke up, as she scanned the space surrounding them.

"Take us to it," Dylan ordered, back on the command deck of the Andromeda where he belonged.

"It's from Rhade," Rommie confirmed. "Playing short message."

The message was poor quality and Andromeda did what she could to make it clearer, it had obviously been sent discreetly. The noise faded slightly and Rhade's voice could finally be heard, so Rommie replayed the message as best she could.

"Intercepted transmission," Rhade's voice cut in. "Have followed two ships to these co-ordinates, they are loyal to Yussuf, I believe they can lead us to the Maru, or at least our crew mates," he finished.

Dylan frowned, as ever the Nietzschean philosophy kicked in for Rhade, who talked realistically, and accepting that too much time had passed for their crew not to have at least crossed paths with Yussuf's men. "Take us to these co-ordinates," Dylan simply ordered and Rommie complied.

The water was warm and the scent that rose in vapour was relaxing, and it certainly helped to wash away her troubles, and Dani relaxed in the comfort of her master's quarters on board one of his many ships in his fleet. No matter how much she enjoyed the luxury, Dani knew that in the lower depths of that same vessel, Seamus was suffering along with Beka, and she felt the pangs of guilt.

The door to the quarters then opened and Johnson, flanked by two of his flunkies strode in. Dani raised her hand to gesture her own assistant, who duly rushed to her side with a towel, expertly covering her as she left the comfort of the sunken bath she had enjoyed.

"Am I to assume you are Johnson, my assistant has mentioned you," Dani simply said, with an air of irritability.

"Dani," Johnson confirmed.

"We haven't met before have we?" Dani checked, as she wrapped the towel around herself.

"Not directly, but we have spoken briefly on occasion, but not enough for you to have probably taken note of me," Johnson explained.

"I see," Dani simply answered.

"I trust you enjoyed your bath," Johnson offered. "The past few days must have been very confusing for you, my dear."

Dani simply nodded her head, she had worked out early on that everyone had simply assumed she still suffered with her short term memory loss, and she had done nothing to tell them otherwise, knowing it could buy her time and give her an advantage should she want it.

"We rescued you earlier, do you remember that?" Johnson asked.

Dani feigned confusion, as she paced a small area of the room. "I remember being on a ship, we were at a drift, a hotel room?" she questioned.

"That's right," Johnson confirmed, as if testing to see what she remembered. "Your captors, traitors from the so called Commonwealth, thought they could outsmart us, and so we rescued you from some dirty kludge and his simple friend, we are returning you to Yussuf, so you are safe now," Johnson explained.

"OK," Dani simply said. "How long till Yussuf arrives?"

"We will be rendezvousing with him in a few hours," Johnson now stepped forward. "You know, you shouldn't hate Yussuf for his error in judgement."

"Error?" Dani questioned with intrigue, it was very rare that any associate of Yussuf had the guts to accuse Yussuf of making an error, especially to her.

"Your capture, I on the other hand had seen it coming for a long while, I tried to warn him, but, you know Yussuf," Johnson explained with fake amusement, as he tentatively put an arm around Dani's bare shoulders.

"Is there something else?" Dani was forced to ask, feeling uncomfortable.

"Dani, you are a valuable asset to our pride, your work over the years has been, in part, the secret of our success," Johnson stressed. "Your ability to store and deliver information, and your skill at remaining unnoticed, it's second to none, you know this right?"

"Stop boring me, and get to the point," Dani now asked, and moved Johnson's hand away from her shoulders.

"Dani, Yussuf allowed you to get caught," Johnson stressed.

"And?" Dani simply said.

"And he risked your life for some pointless reasons, he could have prevented the Commonwealth taking you, but instead he was over confident," Johnson exclaimed with passion. "Dani, the future of this pride is at risk, Yussuf is losing control but you could help us."

"Help who?" Dani asked with confusion.

"There's an underground movement, and we need you on side, Dani," Johnson stated. "We value your contribution, and we wouldn't risk this prides name in the manner Yussuf has recently displayed."

"Explain," Dani asked.

"He has not only risked your life, but all of our lives in his methods in trying to right his wrong, to try and bring you home," Johnson stressed. "You are important, but you deserve more than an obsessed half wit as your master."

Dani was amused now, never had she heard any of the pride refer to Yussuf in such ways, and she wondered briefly if this was a new thing, or if it had been around for some time underground.

"You know I am loyal to Yussuf, I owe him my life," Dani calmly spoke.

"We appreciate that, truly we do, but you're a smart kid, Dani, you must know his obsession with you is unhealthy, and risks all of our lives," Johnson spoke with concern.

"I am aware that Yussuf has certain ways to ensure I remain by his side," Dani struggled to explain.

"Dani," Johnson stepped closer now, his hand brushed her cheek, and then found her hand, as he clasped it tightly. "Yussuf is going to be overthrown, I just don't want you to go down with him, do you understand?"

Dani stared at the commitment in Johnson's expression, he was serious and his tone reflected this. "Why are you telling me this, now?"

"Because by the time you remember what I have said," Johnson simply shrugged. "Yussuf will be dead, and I want you to know where you stand with us, before you do anything stupid," He smiled, and then Dani felt a sharp pain on the back of her neck. "Now sleep child, forget for now, and then we will talk in about a week," he grinned, as Dani fell unconscious in his arms.

"Rough her up, I don't want Yussuf finding her looking like the Commonwealth treated her well," Johnson snapped, before leaving the room.

Beka looked up straight away, the door to their cell had been activated and moments later Harper stumbled back inside.

"Harper!" Beka exclaimed but could do very little, like Harper, she had her wrists and ankles bound together. Harper stumbled quickly to the floor and remained still for the moment. "Harper, speak to me, come on," Beka encouraged with concern.

"I'm good," was all Harper offered in returned.

"Come on, try to sit up at least," Beka requested, and to her relief she saw Harper attempt what she asked, and soon he was sitting with his legs crossed, facing her. "Nice change of image, it suits you," Beka said on seeing Harper's cropped hair.

"I haven't had it like this since," Harper began but quickly stopped, his head remaining down.

"Seamus, it's going to be ok, we can fight this, and we can beat this, right?" Beka encouraged strongly.

"Yeah," Harper responded, and flexed his arms as much as he could, and his shoulders already ached from having his hands tied behind his back. "Did you fall over too?" Harper then asked, finally looking up, allowing Beka to take in his beaten features, and guessed that what she was seeing probably matched her own beat up look.

"Three times," Beka simply said.

"Five for me," Harper returned.

"It's going to be tough, but we are strong, we can survive this, yeah?" Beka brightened slightly.

Harper found a smirk from somewhere, but it carried a mocking tone. "With respect, Beka, I appreciate what you're trying to do but you have no idea what we're facing here do you?"

"I have enough of an idea," Beka lightly argued. "And we will not give up, understand?"

"Who said anything about giving up?" Harper returned, finding some strength in his voice finally. "On this occasion, feeding me those lines about being strong and surviving is pointless, there's no way on hell I'd let these freaking ubers beat me," he stressed with age old passion. "I know you're just doing what comes natural, Beka, but it's me who should be saying these things to you, and you know that I've been in this situation before."

"I always suspected, but I never knew for sure," Beka admitted.

"Well it's not exactly good conversation matter," Harper sighed, and he edged closer to Beka. "Let me see."

"There's nothing to see," Beka knew Harper wanted to see the damage to her back.

"I need to see it," Harper stressed and after a few more moments of hesitation, Beka shuffled around.

"You won't see much with my top covering it," Beka pointed out.

"I can see enough," Harper said as he stared at the blood stained top that covered her back, clearly marking the three slashes. "This should never have happened, you should never have had to deal with this," Harper now seethed, as he moved away. "This is not happening," he then added with anger.

"Now let me see," Beka responded, knowing it was only fair, and to her surprise Harper offered no resistance, and he began to turn around. His top was bare having only been supplied with pants, so she saw the damage clearly, the five fresh cuts across his back. Beka also saw previous scars, reminding her even more that this was not a first time experience for Harper.

"It doesn't hurt, so don't think it does," Harper spoke up to Beka's silence. "Yours will because you're not use to it, you were unmarked, it's always the first couple of times that are the most painful, then, I guess your skin builds up a resistance, becomes numbed."

"Don't speak like that," Beka finally found her voice.

"Like what?" Harper asked.

"Like you're speaking from experience," Beka admitted, but she knew that's all he was doing.

"I should have listened, why didn't I listen to you?" Harper now complained bitterly.

"What?" Beka caught his tone, and questioned it. "Harper, this is not your fault."

"Isn't it?" Harper questioned. "My association, you told me it would end up like this but I didn't listen and now look at us, being treated like," Harper hesitated. "Like kludges and you don't deserve this, none of this," he stressed.

"Either do you, Harper," Beka countered. "And we're not here because of you, or your association with Dani," she argued. "We're here because Yussuf wanted Dani back, and he pulled out all the stops to ensure she was returned, and he wanted her back because the Commonwealth took her from him, not you, Rhade and I took her, so if anyone is to blame for this, then it was my mission, my fault."

Harper looked up at Beka, his face softened by her words. "It's not your fault," he offered.

"Then let's just stop assigning blame, and accept that the Commonwealth put us in this situation, ok?" Beka said with a grin.

"I can do that," Harper admitted.

"No one on this ship, bar me, Dani and you know the truth about you and Dani," Beka explained. "I guess we'll learn soon enough who was right about Dani," Beka offered, and caught the sideways glance Harper threw her. "If you must know, I was beginning to come around to your way of thinking," she admitted with a heavy sigh. "I am starting to believe that Dani is onside," she shrugged.

"Really?" Harper checked.

"Really," Beka nodded her head.

Harper took a deep breath. "I hope she's ok."

"You kidding, she's being treated like a princess I bet," Beka stated. "Don't worry about her, worry about us; this is not going to be an easy ride."

"Ain't that the truth," Harper remarked, he then caught a sound they both recognised, and they looked at each other. "We've docked with another ship," Harper acknowledged.

"Yussuf?" Beka asked with concern.

"Well, they've gone to all this effort to make us presentable, it has to be," Harper agreed, and then noticeably tensed.

"It'll be ok, Harper," Beka simply said.

"Just the thought of that," Harper took some short breaths to try and calm his anger. "If he touches Dani," he tried to continue.

"Try not to think about it," Beka advised with care. "I'm sure Dani can look after herself, and by all accounts he'll probably just be pleased to see her, she'll be ok."

Harper shifted uncomfortably on the floor, listening intently to the sounds the ship offered him, hating the situation he found himself in.

Rhade checked the slip fighter panels; he had roughly two hours before he'd have to start worrying about his situation, and his thoughts soon disappeared as he noticed a slip point event and two ships entered the space they were in. Rhade didn't need confirmation, he recognised the Eureka Maru immediately, and he began to scan the vessels as best he could.

What he had expected had happened, Beka, Harper and Dani had been found by Yussuf's men, the only thing Rhade didn't know was whether they were on either of those ships, and he didn't even want to contemplate the alternative, he focused on believing Yussuf wanted Beka and Harper alive.

With care, Rhade pushed the slip fighter forward, trying to get as close as he dared, so as not to be spotted by any of the ships scanners. The Andromeda had to get here soon, if these ships promptly decided to leave this system, he would only be able to follow so far, and Rhade was not one to enjoy failing.

Yussuf stepped on board his vessel, and he savoured the moment. Having had to deal with surroundings he didn't believe were good enough for him, coming back on board a more suitable ship, from his own fleet, was very pleasing.

A line of guards greeted his return, and Yussuf made sure they were all worthy men of his command; he checked their uniform and their attention to protocol as he past them.

"Commander," Johnson appeared from the doorway and stepped forward.

"Johnson I presume?" Yussuf identified.

"Sir, I trust you are happy with our efforts in taking care of your fine ship," Johnson acknowledged, and Yussuf simply nodded his head, moving quickly now into the inner depths of the ship.

"Where is she?" Yussuf demanded.

"She is sleeping, I fear she had quite the ordeal, sir," Johnson spoke urgently.

"I must see her," Yussuf dismissed, and he headed straight for his quarters, knowing his orders had been to place her there.

Within minutes Yussuf had arrived and he moved quickly to the large bed, and he indeed found Dani sound asleep amongst the luxurious sheets. For a moment he was silent, as he quietly stared at her sleeping form, before he gently turned her over onto her back and to his horror he saw she had beaten features.

Catching his breath at the sight, Yussuf struggled to keep calm, and he looked at Johnson, as if for answers.

"Its how we found her, sir," Johnson hesitantly explained. "I can't begin to imagine the horrors she face, thankfully we were able to bathe her, she had that kludge's scent all over her, I think he and his friend, Valentine, I think they did this to her," Johnson stressed.

"Take me to them, now!" Yussuf demanded.

The Andromeda exited into normal space with ease, and Dylan let the slip stream controls glide back, as he adjusted to normal space again.

"I have Rhade on sensors, I also see four ships, including the Eureka Maru roughly three light years from this location," Rommie informed her captain.

"Quite the little party going on," Dylan observed. "Ok, bring Rhade in, stay out of sensor range and we'll see about maybe gate crashing the little get together," he hinted.

"I have an incoming message from Rhade," Rommie announced and she put it through to the main view screen.

"Rhade, how you holding up?" Dylan greeted.

"Better than I imagine Beka or Harper are," Rhade said, as ever keeping it real.

"Are you sure they are on one of those ships?" Dylan asked, as he used Rommie's sensors to try and get a better picture of the situation.

"The ship closest to the Maru, if they are anywhere I imagine at this time they are on there, it arrived back with the Maru roughly an hour ago," Rhade informed him.

Dylan took the information in. "No real way of knowing though, unless we get closer, but I think remaining out of range for the moment is our best plan," Dylan considered. "Get yourself back on board, and we'll discuss this further, Dylan out."

The guards had already retrieved Beka and Harper from their cell, and now forced them to their feet, before Yussuf strode into the large room in the lower depths of his ship. Yussuf scanned the prisoners with obvious disgust, wearing a cloak that dramatically followed his exaggerated movements.

Harper avoided looking at Yussuf, knowing to do so would just remind him of Dani, and he'd probably do something he'd regret. Beside him, Beka was taking the opportunity to glare at the tyrant, the man she had been obsessively trying to figure out ever since Dylan gave her the mission.

"Beka Valentine, we meet at last," Yussuf finally declared, and he moved to stand in front of her. "You took something of mine, something precious to me."

"Really?" Beka mocked surprise.

Yussuf immediately reacted by backhanding Beka sharply, beside her Harper showed agitation that got Yussuf's attention.

"You don't like that, kludge?" Yussuf asked pointedly. "You don't like me striking your friend?"

Harper showed confusion, it sounded like a trick question. "No," he finally said, and kept a keen eye on Yussuf, to try and determine his next move.

"I can appreciate that," Yussuf agreed. "Which is why seeing the sight of my Dani has disturbed me so much, you didn't mind striking her did you!" he said with sudden fury towards Harper.

"I didn't touch her!" Harper protested before he considered the situation and as soon as he saw Yussuf's reaction to his protest, Harper backed down.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Yussuf sneered. "Are you suggesting that my eyes deceive me somehow?" Yussuf now jabbed a finger into Harper's chest. "Is a kludge judging me?" he questioned with arrogance.

"We didn't lay a finger on her," Harper attempted to explain.

"She was our guest, not our prisoner," Beka supported.

"I know what I saw, and I saw my beautiful Dani," Yussuf stopped for a moment to compose himself and he glared at Harper as he did so, then without warning he grabbed hold of Harper's shoulders. "I saw my princess, and I saw your handy work written all over her face, her beautiful face," he accused with venom, pushing Harper back now.

"He didn't touch her!" Beka now argued, concerned now for her friend's situation. With his hands tied behind his back, his ankles still restricted in their movement, Harper couldn't defend himself if Yussuf carried out the threat he now displayed.

"The Commonwealth that you represent, it thinks it can just take what's mine, and thinks it can tell us, innocent people who are just doing what's right, it thinks it can tell us how to do things?" Yussuf complained with anger, still staring intently at Harper. "Well enough, I will not stand for this new commonwealth and I will not stand for kludges harming my girl!"

"Dani was treated the same as a guest!" Beka yelled, desperately trying to delay whatever Yussuf had planned, at least enough for his mood to improve, because right now he looked ready to kill.

"Take her out of here," Yussuf dismissed, and he moved away from Harper, as he watched his guards taking Beka away.

"Harper," Beka called out, she needed to see him, to look into his eyes before she would leave.

"I'll be home for tea," Harper quipped, a brief smile across his face, showing defiance still in his pose.

"I'll make your favourite," Beka grinned back, knowing it was probably the most ridiculous exchange they had shared, considering the situation, but they needed something to hold onto, before she was removed from the area by force.

Harper waited now, carefully observing Yussuf who seemed to take great interest in just staring back at him. The larger Nietzschean stepped closer, and put his hand on Harper's closely cut hair, roughly jerking his head to one side.

"A kludge with a use," Yussuf sounded surprise, as he observed the metallic data port in Harper's neck. His uber hands reached out and tapped the exposed disk, causing Harper to involuntarily flinched, he always hated people touching his port. "Does it work?"

"Yeah," Harper answered with attitude.

"Interesting," Yussuf simply said, his hand still examining the disk. Yussuf then took hold of Harper's head, and looked closely at his face. "Face relatively unmarked," he stated. "What is your age?"

"I don't know," Harper answered, he had a good idea but he wasn't in a cooperative mood, as Yussuf seemed to be examining him like a piece of meat.

Harper now felt himself being turned around, and he could feel Yussuf stares on his back. "You are obviously from Earth, those look like the marks of Dragans," he simply said, before placing a hand roughly on the recent cuts that covered Harper's back that his own people had inflicted on the human.

Harper cried out, and attempted to move away from Yussuf's touch but the Nietzschean grabbed his shoulder, and his hand dug in deeper irritating the cuts, and Harper could only squirm with the pain radiating from the ubers actions.

"Now, you know you have to pay for hurting Dani, for being part of the collective that took Dani from me, understand?" Yussuf hissed.

"I didn't hurt her, I wouldn't hurt her," Harper repeated once again, his voice laced with the pain he was feeling from Yussuf's continued touch.

Yussuf spun Harper around, and he looked closely at the human, checking his expression. "You have feelings for my Dani?" Yussuf asked incredulously, obviously sensing something in Harper's manner.

"I wouldn't hurt her," Harper simply repeated without commitment.

"Interesting," Yussuf simply observed, and finally moved away from Harper, and as he did so the ship suddenly rocked from an explosion elsewhere. Yussuf immediately looked to his guards, as they received an update.

"Sir, The Andromeda Ascendant is demanding your attention," a guard relayed.

"Demanding?" Yussuf seemed almost amused, and he turned to Harper. "Give this kid a meal, and a bath, then return him to his cell," Yussuf simply said, and Harper couldn't help but show his confusion, he'd almost been looking forward to the beating he expected.

Yussuf caught Harper's confusion and smiled. "I don't want to sink the Commonwealths levels, I know how to treat my prisoners," he simply explained, as a guard dragged Harper away. "And make sure he poses no health risks to any of us," he added, with a sly smile and Harper suddenly began to struggle, knowing he was going to experience another cleansing session.

"No!" Harper protested, he didn't have the cuts before and that stuff burned like hell the first time.

"Now, now, you do not want to become diseased with those open cuts do you?" Yussuf mocked Harper. "I know what you kludges are like for inviting disease, you are all so despicable and unclean," Yussuf sneered, before Harper was finally led away.

The Nietzschean then turned on his heals, heading back to command to discuss matters with the Andromeda Ascendant.

TBC