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Chapter 16
Harper's muscles began to ache as he tried to regain control of the slipfighter. The engineer was still fighting to keep from passing out and becoming less successful as time went on.
The two Nietzscheans were content to follow the damaged slipfighter as it continued spiraling towards Klondike. They weren't sure who was piloting the slipfighter and wanted to capture the pilot alive. They and their compatriots were careful to merely disable Harper's slipfighter rather than destroy it for the kill.
Harper was slightly relieved to see that Klondike was covered in snow. The snow would make for a softer crash landing, if there was such a thing. The Earther tried to relax his body as his ship began to impact with the snow. Harper could hear the snow crunch as he felt the slipfighter skid along the surface of the planet, causing the seatbelt to dig into his shoulders. A split second later the engineer banged his head against the side of the cockpit and lost his fight to keep conscious and slumped against his seat.
There wasn't anything Harper could have done to steer the slipfighter if he had been awake to act as pilot. Harper had managed to pick out a landing area that was wide open and free of trees and buildings. The ship came to a stop after half burying itself in the snow.
The two Nietzscheans landed their fighters near where Harper had crash-landed. The larger Nietzschean was the first to exit his ship. He stood on the wing and grabbed a small duffel bag stuffed under the seat of his fighter. Then the Nietzschean turned around and jumped down onto the packed snow, sinking to his knees.
The shorter brunette Nietzschean trudged thorough the snow, approaching the Nietzschean with the pack. "I've located a small city nearby.
"We had better hurry before people from the town get here and start nosing around," the taller Nietzschean encouraged.
The two Nietzscheans trudged a quarter mile through the snow, letting their enhanced senses guide them to the Earther's slipfighter. The Nietzscheans managed to work their way through the snow to the cockpit of the slipfighter and pried open the cockpit.
One of the Nietzscheans checked a still unconscious Harper for signs of life. The shorter Nietzschean nodded to his brunette companion before pulling the Earther from the disabled ship.
The shorter Nietzschean set Harper on the snow and checked Harper for signs of life. "The Kludge likely has a couple of cracked or broken ribs and a nice bump on the forehead, but he should live."
"Pathetic Kludge!" the taller Nietzschean cursed as he kicked Harper in the side. "It's amazing he's still alive."
"He won't be for much longer if you keep kicking him Locutius," the shorter Nietzschean cautioned. "This Kludge may have some useful information."
Locutius frowned as he studied Harper. "You are probably right Balan. A Kludge who has access to a slipfighter and can fly it is no ordinary Kludge."
Locutius roughly lifted Harper up and carried the engineer over his shoulder. The Nietzscheans carried Harper back over the snow to an abandoned town they had spotted on a map. The city which was several miles away from the crash site was habited by Nietzscheans. After the two Nietzscheans dropped Harper down on a rug made of fur from a native animal they stood up and studied the Earther.
"It is peculiar that a Kludge would be piloting a slipfighter. Perhaps he
has escaped and we can collect reward," The taller Nietzschean speculated.
The smaller Nietzschean smiled at the thought of collecting a reward. "The
money would come in handy Locutius. This Kludge appears well fed so any
reward should be sizeable. I'll get our computer and try to see if I can
access any of the local systems and get some information on this Kludge
Locutius nodded his head slightly as he knelt down next to Harper. The Nietzschean's eyes widened when he noticed the dataport on the side of the Earther's neck. "This
Kludge even has a dataport. I would assume that he is a valuable commodity.
We may be able to exploit that."
The shorter Nietzschean went to the jacket he had discarded on a chair near the door and pulled out a five by seven inch computer from one of the pockets. The shorter Nietzschean set the coat on the arm of the chair before sitting in his chair. After the man studied the information on the computer he looked over at Locutius.
"Our Kludge does have a price on his head Locutius. He's from Earth and the authorities there have put a price on his head," Shorty informed with enthusiasm.
Locutius was now extremely interested. "He's from Earth is he? What part of Earth? There was a Kludge rebellion in Boston that killed my brother. Good work Balan."
Balan raised an eyebrow now that his curiosity had been piqued. "I don't recall you ever mentioning a brother."
"I haven't. I had a brother that was assigned to the Boston refugee camp on Earth. One day I received a report that as my brother Romanov had been killed while on patrol. He and another man from his unit were interrogating a Kludge when they were both attacked and killed by another Kludge. Romanov's squad mate was still alive when another patrol found him where he had been gunned down. The squad mate was able to provide some useful information before he died. They were dealing with a Kludge named Brendan Lahey in an attempt to get information on the latest uprising around the Boston refugee camp. It turns out that this Kludge Brendan Lahey was a leader of the Boston rebellion. Our Kludge may be part of that rebellion. If that's the case then I plan on keeping him."
Balan noticed the look of anticipation on his compatriot's face. "Yes I'm sure the Kludge will provide some entertainment either way Locutius."
"Yes but if he is associated with the rebellion then he'll be mine to deal with. Is that clear Balan?" Locutius pressed with a dangerous look in his hazel eyes.
Balan shrugged his sturdy shoulders. "Fine, this Kludge means nothing to me other than a chance to pick up some reward money. I'll have enough entertainment just watching how you would treat him."
Locutius walked over to Balan and took the computer from his companion. The lean Nietzschean pressed a few keys on the keypad as he stood next to his companion. "Let's see if this Kludge is from around the Boston Refugee area."
Balan watched eagerly while Locutius searched for information on Harper. A few minutes later the Nietzschean found what he needed; the family history for one Seamus Harper. Locutius's eyes narrowed when he saw the family name of Lahey in among Harper's family tree.
"This Seamus Harper is has a Lahey branch in his family tree," Locutius announced calmly, not betraying his inner emotion. "I'm trying to see if he's related to the Boston rebellion leader Brendan Lahey. Even if our little Kludge isn't related this flexi says he's a crew member on the old High Guard relic, the Andromeda Ascendant."
"This is getting interesting. I was hoping our Seamus Harper would be connected," Balan said with keen interest as he shifted in his chair.
The two Nietzscheans remained silent for a few moments with just Harper's soft breathing to break the monotony. Balan started to get up and get something to eat when Locutius stopped him with a hand on the shorter Nietzschean's shoulder.
"It appears that Brendan Lahey was the cousin of our little Kludge," Locutius informed with an evil glint in his eyes.
Locutius turned off the pocket computer and handed it back to Balan before walking over to where Harper lay. The Nietzschean gave Harper a quick, hard kick to the ribs, giving the Earther a hint of what the near future would hold.
Trance woke up with her mind in a haze. She was confused and had no idea where she was and could barely remember her name. She opened her eyes and tried to focus them but couldn't. The purple girl closed her eyes again and focused her energies on clearing the fog from her mind.
After a few minutes Trance heard a male voice coax her to a more conscious state. Trance was now aware she was sitting in a chair with her arms and legs bound tightly. She opened her eyes and now could see Siegfried standing over her.
"What happened? I feel funny," Trance with a mouth that felt full of soft cotton. She wasn't sure Siegfried even understood her.
"You are merely suffering from the effects of the mild drug I gave you. I can't have you running off without permission," Siegfried answered with a smirk on his face.
Trance's mind was still confused but she was now beginning to remember what had happened to her before blacked out. "You are a mean man Siegfried."
Siegfried tilted his head back and laughed. "Oh my you are most amusing. Are all of your species like you?"
Trance knew better than to give any information about her people to somebody she didn't trust like Siegfried. "I'm flattered you find me interesting company, but I really must leave."
"I think not purple one. I am not finished with you just yet," Siegfried said with a hint of menace in his voice.
Trance hadn't expected to be let go but she had to continue to play the innocent, naïve pixie. "My friends won't like it if you keep me hear against my will."
Siegfried bristled at the mention of the crew of the Andromeda Ascendant. "Dylan Hunt and his pathetic crew will be able to do anything."