Part 32
"The kludge saved my life," Yussuf declared, as he looked down at the unconscious human. "He saw the knife where I didn't, and he saved me."
"Then we have a lot to thank this little man for," the doctor returned, and carefully began work on the damage to the human's left hand.
"Will his hand be ok?" Yussuf asked, seeing the concentration that the doctor was putting into the procedure.
"The knife cut cleanly through some of the tendons and muscle that enable movement in the fingers," the doctor explained with care. "I'll do what I can but he might get lucky, he might regain some use from it again."
Yussuf simply nodded his head and left the doctor to his work. The doctor then glared at the human, he stopped what he was doing, and walked away. With anger he threw his equipment in the cleansing solution, before returning to Harper's side.
"Stupid, stupid kludge," he sneered. "Do you realise what you have done, what you have condemned this universe to?" he snapped at the unconscious form before him. "Your heroics have kept Yussuf alive," he spoke close to Harper's face. "But you better watch your back, you have made many enemies today, so much so that you best stay on Yussuf's good side, it's all that's keeping you alive right now."
Having said his piece, regardless of the fact the human had not heard any of it; the doctor left the medical area, leaving Harper untreated on the cot.
The noise was unbelievable as Dani stepped into the arena and saw Yussuf already seated in his regular place. She had just got back from her own mission and had heard all about the attempt on Yussuf's life, and how it had been Johnson who had pulled the knife. She was stunned, but having heard what she learned on her mission, her surprise was lessened. What had surprised her was that it had been 'the kludge' Harper that had saved him, and she couldn't wait to hear Yussuf's take on things.
Dani was also relieved that Harper had inadvertently made life easier for her. Now that she remembered things, she had wondered how she would have kept that information quiet from Yussuf for the appropriate number of days. She was glad however that Johnson had been found out, after what he had told her himself about his plans, she was in a perfect position now to twist the knife for what he put Harper through after capture.
"Dani!" Yussuf proclaimed and gestured for her to take a seat next to his. It wasn't often that Dani joined him for the fight nights, but the mood called for it, those around Yussuf were celebrating the failed attempt on his life and she could feel the happiness around her for the first time in a long while.
"I heard you had fun today," Dani began with a knowing smile, having briefly embraced Yussuf.
"I owe you so much," Yussuf answered.
"Me?" Dani questioned.
"Your slave, you chose very wisely with that kludge," Yussuf simply confirmed. "And that kludge will now have a place for life as a slave for my people, he's earned it."
Dani tried to offer a genuine smile, but inside she was torn between amusement and terror. "I'm sure he feels that he was just doing his job," Dani explained.
"You saw the potential Dani, I will ensure that is noted," Yussuf continued, unaware of Dani's concerns.
"Yussuf, when I awoke after my mission I remembered something, something Johnson said to me some days ago," Dani now spoke with care. "He told me how he was planning to kill you, and that he wanted me to join him after the act, and not remain loyal to your people."
Yussuf clearly was affected by this news and he clenched his fist. "Then that seals his fate, Dani, no one tries to take you from me," he confirmed with passion, needing no further confirmation as to the truth of her words.
With a satisfied smile Dani sat back a little, as the pre fight banter began down below. "So where is my slave?"
"The medical deck," Yussuf answered casually.
"Is he hurt?" Dani asked with concern.
"He injured his hand in the scuffle with Johnson, it looks pretty bad but the doctor has it all under control," Yussuf dismissed, as his attention began to focus on the activities in the arena.
"I should go and see him," Dani spoke up.
"I suspected you might want to, but at least stay for one fight, you might recognise the fighter in this first bout, a surprise entry and I suspect not a coincidence," Yussuf gestured, handing Dani the schedule.
Dani took a moment for the name to sink in. "Rhade?" she spoke with confusion.
"I'm assuming you know him from the Andromeda?" Yussuf was interested by her reaction.
"Yeah," Dani confirmed, but her expression offered very little, inside she was jumping at the idea that the Andromeda crew were so close, even if it was just Rhade, the others couldn't be far away, she considered.
"I understand it must be hard for you," Yussuf offered a comforting hand on her arm. "So stay and watch my best fighter beat the crap out of him," Yussuf grinned. "It's just a shame the captain didn't fancy his chances too," he added as an after thought.
Dani attempted a grin for Yussuf's benefit, but she really just wanted to check on the doctor and Seamus, she had never been on the best of terms with the doctor and he had resented teaching her about medicine after Yussuf had seen her take an interest in the subject, but she was also intrigued by Rhade's appearance and she looked on as Rhade stepped into the arena below.
Harper awoke with a start and the pain hit him immediately as he cried out, and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut to try and alleviate the intensity. Taking control breaths, Harper just wanted to let the tears forming fall from his eyes, his hand felt as though it was being eaten alive, the pain was so intense.
After a few minutes, Harper was able to calm down enough to open his eyes, and he almost baulked when he caught sight of his hand, it was twice the size, and purple with bruising, it looked as though nothing had been done to it since the knife hit him.
"Doctor?" Harper called out with pained desperation, but there was no response. Harper let his head fall back, not knowing what to do, he couldn't feel or move his hand at all, but he couldn't see the point in sitting around when there was no doctor to be found.
With effort he sat up, wincing at every move and he stumble forward slightly, losing his balance and he fell forward, and down to the floor. Another cry of pain followed, and Harper curled up on the floor for a moment until the wave passed over, protectively holding his injured arm to his chest.
With shaking limbs, Harper managed to stagger to his feet as he leaned into the walls for support. Catching a glimpse of himself in a mirror, Harper quickly looked away, it was too much for him to see himself like this, in so much pain, with his hair so short, looking beaten, it took him back to a place he wanted to forget and he pushed himself forward towards the exit. On reaching the door he felt a pair of hands on his bare shoulders and he froze.
"Whoa, little guy, where are you going?"
"Kane," Harper managed between breaths, and he was shaking uncontrollably now.
"You better lie back down, I'm sure the doctor has only gone for a moment," Kane took Harper's weight and led him back to the cot.
"I haven't seen him since I woke up," Harper stressed his voice now shaking too, no longer caring that slaves were not supposed to talk to ubers, deep down he felt that Kane was on some level with him. "It hurts, everything hurts," he then spoke with desperation clear in his tone as he sought comfort on the cot, and found none.
Kane looked concerned. "Surely the painkillers are still effective," Kane questioned and then looked around, knowing they can't be looking at the pain the kludge was in. "Look, I'll get you something for the pain, just calm down, you're in good hands here, and Yussuf won't want to see you like this, not after what you did for him today," he offered a grin, and left Harper's side in search of some painkillers in the next room.
Harper worked on calming down, somehow Kane's voice had been enough to get through and trust him, but Harper became aware that someone else had just entered the room from the other door.
"So you're awake now," the doctor confirmed, and was by Harper's side in seconds. "Mr Hero, saving Yussuf's life, the brave little soldier?" he sneered with disgust. "You stupid idiot," he snapped pushing down on Harper's shoulders. "We've been planning his demise for weeks, finally we had a chance but what happens, stupid kludge saves his life!"
Harper stared wide eyed at the anger on display from the doctor, it was so unexpected that Harper couldn't speak or react, so he just stared blankly to the doctor's anger, if nothing else it took his mind off the pain that racked his body.
"And now I'm suppose to fix you?" the doctor continued with a tone of disgust. "You have condemned this whole sector to more years of suffering, pain and anguish at Yussuf's hands, and I'm expected to fix that hand that saved him, saved Yussuf?" The doctor grabbed hold of the injured hand and Harper screamed out in pure agony at the touch.
Seconds letter the hold was released and Harper was vaguely aware of a scuffle taking place near to him, but his consciousness was wavering from the pain. He tiredly opened his eyes in time to see Kane secure the doctor and then knock him out cold, and Harper offered the briefest of smiles.
"Hey," Kane now turned his attention to Harper, and he could see the concern in Kane's eyes as he administered some pain killers, but the uber looked panicked. "I'll get Dani, she'll know what to do, hang in there," Kane stressed and left the room with urgency.
Harper finally felt relaxed, mellow almost and he let his head roll around as the blurry image of the room floated around him. He felt tired, and had the overwhelming need to sleep, his hand still hurt like hell, but he was past that now, he just wanted to sleep, so he closed his eyes and allowed the desire to take him.
Dylan sent the hammer crashing down again, and beside him over hundred men did likewise, whilst nearly twenty others kept the guards busy. The fences were nearly down, already they had reached the exterior fence and they were within sight of freedom now.
"Dylan," Beka's voice sounded concerned, as he turned to her. "We have maybe three minutes before Rommie is damaged by the flow, we have to work faster."
"Come on!" Dylan yelled with authority. "We have to double our efforts!" he encouraged and Beka picked up a tool to do what she could to help.
They continued to attack the large fence and it began to give way, but Dylan was becoming concerned, they were cutting it fine and he glanced over to where Rommie was resisting the current, and he could see her body was now beginning to shake.
One final attack on the fence and finally it fell, breaking the circuit and beside him the men all rushed forward towards freedom, not caring what they were leaving behind.
"You know it's strange, before this morning none of these people had the desire to escape," Beka remarked.
"Strange what hope does to some people," Dylan responded. "We need to help Rommie now," he stressed and sprinted over to where she was still stood. "Rommie, it's done, you did well," Dylan stated and before he could do anything else he was catching the android before she hit the ground. "Rommie?"
"Rommie!" Beka now yelled as she quickly joined Dylan.
"Let's get her back to the Andromeda," Dylan simply said.
"Will she be ok?"
"Colin," Beka turned to her friend. "I thought you would have sprinted for the hills by now."
"I wanted to say thanks," Colin offered awkwardly. "We would never have been able to do anything like this without you, all of you," he gestured to Dylan and Rommie as well. "Now Yussuf has no hold on us, and we'll find out more about the horrors you mentioned," he shrugged.
Beka looked at Dylan and seemed hesitant before speaking. "We have a space in our slip fighter if you want a ride anyplace, maybe to find your kid brother, or your mother?"
Colin seemed taken aback by the offer and took a moment before responding. "I was planning on just making sure everything was ok here, a few people are going to stay, but they plan to destroy the fences now they are no longer live."
"I can appreciate that, there's a town here, a community," Beka agreed looking around, and the place didn't seem so bad now that there was a way in and a way out.
"But it's not my home," Colin confirmed.
"Go gather your things, we'll wait for you," Beka smiled.
"Beka, we really need to get going," Dylan encouraged once Colin had sprinted away.
"I know but he looked after me, gave me hope," Beka reasoned, appealing to Dylan's nature with the hope line.
"Ten minutes, then we leave," Dylan simply said.
"Make that two minutes, it seems that Colin is a light traveller," Beka noticed as she saw him already returning, carrying only a small bag.
"Let's go see if the revolution has started without us," Dylan offered, as Colin joined them and they left the camp.
The crowd were cheering wildly and Dani was now down by the side of ring where the fight was in progress. The doctor had made excuses to leave and had asked Dani to cover, she suspected he just wanted a drink or to do something he was not supposed to do but she agreed, knowing she might get the opportunity to speak to Rhade, or at least let him see she was there.
The fight was a tough battle, and Dani didn't recognise Rhade's opponent, but both men seemed to be giving as good as they got. With the med kit in her hand she waited, watching Rhade pummel the opponent now, looking close to a victory and when he extended his bone blades, she waited for the knock down and wasn't disappointed. Suppressing her cheer for Rhade as he sent his opponent to the ground unconscious, Dani sprang into action and waited for the victor to head her way.
After the short victory lap of the arena, Dani saw Rhade approach and it seemed that he had enjoyed his battle but he had also picked up some cuts and bruises along the way. With authority, Dani moved forward and stood before the Nietzschean.
"I need to check his injuries," Dani confirmed and was able to gesture to Rhade to follow her to a smaller infirmary at the arena.
She closed the door and finally they were alone, and she looked at Rhade with sudden uncertainty, as the Nietzschean glared at her.
"I'm here for Harper," Rhade finally spoke. "Where is he?"
"At the palace," Dani responded, and retrieved some bandages to clean the blood from Rhade's face.
"Is he well?" Rhade asked.
"No," Dani replied. "He was attacked today, I am unsure of the injuries, I've been away, but I understand that he saved Yussuf's life," she added.
"He did?" Rhade couldn't hide his surprise.
"I'm not sure if he meant to or not, but he did, an attempt was made and Shay intervened with injury to himself in the process," Dani stated quickly, not knowing how much time they had, as she continued to work. "I do know he's in the palace medical area."
"I need to see him, those were my orders, so can you help me, do you want to help me?" Rhade asked.
"Rhade," Dani spoke with fear as she avoided eye contact. "I think I've made a big mistake."
"Tell me," Rhade wasted no time in demanding an explanation.
"I thought it was the best way but now I see that I messed things up," Dani was close to breaking point, she hadn't been able to talk to anyone about this and now she realised how pent up her feelings had been.
"Just tell me what you have done," Rhade insisted.
"I asked Yussuf if I could have Seamus for my slave, I just wanted him out of that prison," Dani admitted and saw the shocked expression Rhade now wore. "I thought it was the best way, I thought we'd be left alone but Shay has this way of attracting attention, and I should have known it wouldn't work out and now Yussuf has him tagged, and I don't know how we'll get him away from here, at least not alive."
Rhade got to his feet. "Some might say you planned this all along," he remarked calmly, without surprise. "You now have the Commonwealths best engineer under your control, in a situation he can not get out of, and no one can rescue him from," he continued.
Dani was already shaking her head. "No, please, don't think that," she pleaded.
"Why not?" Rhade questioned. "You have made no secret of your allegiance to Yussuf, you seemed to work real hard on winning Harper's trust, more so than anyone else, and now you have him," Rhade stated. "This sob story," he gestured. "Could all be just for my benefit so that I return to the Andromeda claiming you're just as much the victim here, but you don't seem to be in any way restrained, or in distress, and I saw you sat by Yussuf's side very much enjoying the show."
Dani was lost for words now, but she conceded that Rhade was right, how could she defend herself against the truth that she was able to move freely, and sit by Yussuf's side.
"I did not plan this, I want nothing more than to be away from here, and with Seamus by my side," Dani finally said.
Rhade considered her words before speaking. "So prove it, I will return to defend my title at the next fight night and I want you to do whatever you can to ensure I take Harper with me when I next leave," he stressed.
"What about me?" Dani then asked.
"That's up to you, I have the room to take you on the Maru, and I might have the inclination if I get away from here with Harper, alive," Rhade suggested and then left the room.
Dani looked upwards with tears forming in her eyes, that she quickly wiped away as the other now unconscious fighter arrived for her to fix. She was about to start work when she heard her name being yelled, and soon Kane was at the door.
"Kane, what is it?" Dani questioned.
"Come with me, the kludge, we have to help him or Yussuf will have us both shot," he stressed with urgency.
Dani needed no further explanation and she hurried after Kane with haste, leaving the unconscious fighter to sleep his injuries off.
TBC