Thanks for the reviews people. Here is the next bit.
Chapter 17
Beka returned to the office of the security company to check on the repair of the relay tower. When she was told the tower was finally fixed Beka rushed outside. She didn't have time to give to berate the clerk again for poor service, but she didn't care right now. The blonde pilot jogged back to the Maru.
Once she was onboard the Maru Beka checked the map to see if the tracking beam was showing again. Fortunately for the security company Beka located Trance's rental ship or it would not have been a pretty sight. Beka sat in her pilot chair and requested clearance for takeoff. She buckled herself into her seat and anxiously waited for a reply from the control tower.
Beka debated whether she was making the right decision by leaving without waiting for Harper. The blonde knew how much Harper wanted to join her in the search for Trance, but there was still no sign of Harper. Beka reasoned that the engineer could find a way to get the tracking information on Trance's rental ship form one of the company offices. There were offices on planets scattered throughout the galaxies Harper would pass through.
Beka was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of one of the air traffic controllers over the Maru's video screen. The image of a petite young woman appeared on the screen and addressed Beka. The woman gave the Maru clearance to take off now.
Beka took a deep breath and tried to relax as she guided the Maru off the ground. "Seamus you better not get into any trouble while you're traveling all by yourself," Beka warned out loud.
Harper rarely went anywhere off of the Andromeda by himself. The last time was when Harper snuck off and entered a surfing contest on Infinity Atoll. Harper did well in his first contest but came back with cuts and bruises after being beat up right after finishing the competition. It took awhile for Beka to get Harper to admit his injuries weren't a result of surfing. She knew Infinity Atoll's clientele well enough to know Harper was beat up because he was from Earth. How they found out even Harper didn't know, but Beka became even more protective of the Earther ever since.
Harper woke up to a pounding headache. He wasn't sure he even wanted to attempt to open his eyes. The Earther settled on merely keeping his eyes closed and remaining still. Harper heard two male voices talking about a reward. Harper was going to try to listen further to the conversation when he realized he had a searing pain in his left side. Now the Earther realized that practically his whole body ached.
Harper let out an involuntary murmur of pain. Before he knew it, Harper's head was being shaken none too gently as hands grabbed him. Harper opened his eyes and immediately regretted it his eyes were bombarded with the light from a lamp across the room. Harper blinked twice before bringing his right arm up to shield his eyes. That sudden movement sent a wave of pain coursing through his right shoulder. Harper groaned in pain and immediately set his arm back down at his side.
"Are you uncomfortable Kludge?" Locutius questioned in a mocking tone.
A lump formed in Harper's throat upon hearing the word Kludge. Only Nietzschean would call him that. Harper knew from past experience what a Nietzschean would do to a Kludge. "Yeah, not that you care one way or another," Harper choked out.
"But I do care Kludge. I know you are from Earth and wish to keep you alive for the moment," Locutius replied.
Harper didn't like the implied threat in the Nietzschean's tone of voice. The Earther tried again to open his eyes to get a look at his captor. "So what makes you think I'm a Kludge and I'm from Earth? And what do you want with me Uber?"
Locutius allowed a low growl to escape his lips. "You're sense of humor is most annoying. A Kludge who can fly a slipfighter is not just an ordinary Kludge. And I also take an interest in Kludges from Earth, especially those from the area called Boston.'
Harper's eyes finally were able to make out Locutius kneeling over him. The light was still hurting his eyes and giving him a headache but the light seemed dimmer than before. Harper guessed that the Nietzschean had adjusted the light. "Listen Uber, I don't know where you get you're information that I'm from Boston. Even if I was I wouldn't tell you anything," Harper vowed with conviction.
"Beware of making promises you can't keep Kludge," Locutius reproached as he cuffed Harper on the side of the head.
Harper winced as a sudden pain shot through his head. "Why do you have such interest in Boston? It's just a refugee camp?"
Locutius took a handful of Harper of Harper's blond hair, pulling the spikes tightly, lifting the Earther's head up off of the table. "I have a brother who died in the Boston Rebellion at the hands of a Kludge named Brendan Lahey."
Harper didn't bother to struggle out of the Nietzschean's grasp since he was too busy trying his best to control his heart rate so Locutius' keen hearing wouldn't detect it. Harper knew if the Nietzschean's hearing detected an increased heart rate Locutius would know the Earther recognized Brendan's name. "So you think I might have known this Brendan Lahey?"
"I must compliment your training Kludge. You kept your heart rate from spiking sky high at the mention of Brendan Lahey's name. It is no matter. I already know you are his cousin."
Trance waited for Siegfried to look her in the eyes. As soon as he did the purple alien turned her eyes in hypnotic whirlpools of galaxies. Siegfried opened his mouth as if to speak but remained silent. He had suddenly become fascinated by what he saw in Trance's eyes. Her eyes were somehow truly hypnotic. The Nietzschean tried to pull his gaze away from Trance's eyes but their pull was too strong.
Trance now had Siegfried in a vulnerable position and began to take advantage of it. "Siegfried you will free me from these shackles. Then you will escort me outside."
Siegfried obediently complied with the purple alien's suggestion and quickly began to undo her bonds. When he had finished releasing Trance from the chair Siegfried stood still, waiting for further instructions.
Trance moved towards the door which was locked. "Unlock this door and we'll leave."
The Nietzschean quietly approached the door and pulled out a think plastic card, the size of a credit card. Siegfried waved the card in front of the lock before keying in the combination. After that the Nietzschean turned the doorknob and opened the door.
Trance smiled mischievously at the success of her handiwork. "Good work. Now we will leave this building and find some transportation. Do you have a vehicle Siegfried?
"Yes," Siegfried replied succinctly. Trance's hypnotic power rendered the Nietzschean incapable of string together more than a couple words at a time.
"Is the vehicle a ship and can it get us off this planet?" Trance asked patiently. She tried to ask simple questions of the Nietzschean.
Siegfried continued to gaze into Trance's spirally brown eyes "Yes it is space worthy,"
Trance put a hand on the Nietzschean's arm and gently led him out of the room. "Take me to your spaceship."
Siegfried led Trance out of the cell and down the corridor. Trance guessed they were in the dungeon of the castle. The musty smell dissipated as they climbed the narrow stone stairs.
As they climbed the stairs Trance whispered suggestions to Siegfried. "If anybody asks you where we are going tell them you are taking me to help you get onboard the Andromeda. Do you understand?"
Siegfried nodded his head slightly as he answered the purple pixie. "Yes I understand."
Trance and Siegfried were paused briefly at the top of the stairs as a guard opened the huge sturdy metal door for them. As soon as they stepped through the doorway Trance and Siegfried were in one of the castle's huge hallways. This is great stuff!
Trance couldn't help but admire the blue and gold marble tiles that made up the floor. The purple alien thought it a shame that a cruel man like Siegfried occupied such a beautiful palace. Great visual! Each guard or palace employee they passed bowed their heads slightly as Siegfried passed by. None dared question why the alpha Nietzschean was dong with Trance at his side.
Trance and Siegfried turned left around the corner as the Nietzschean led Trance through a long narrow corridor, which had dark red tile on the floor. They reached a large wooden door at the end of the corridor when Siegfried stopped. The Nietzschean used his access card again and opened the door that led to a space dock.
Trance followed Siegfried into the space dock where two small shuttlecraft were sitting. The purple alien instructed Siegfried to tell the crew to prepare one of the shuttlecraft for take off.
Trance tried to keep her composure as a feeling came over her. She was getting another one of her hunches. Trance had a feeling that she would find Harper on a frozen planet. It was a definite feeling like a vision, but more like a hunch. She decided to check out a map on one of the computer terminals in one of the offices in space dock.
The purple woman had no problem getting Siegfried to let her use one of the computer terminals. "Let's see if I can locate a nice planet or drift on a map," Trance enthused. Her childlike tone made it seem as if she thought they were going on a vacation.
Siegfried gestured with his right arm for one of the flight crew to pull up a map. "Where shall we go?"
The purple pixie became still as she attempted to focus on Harper in order to get a read on his location. After half a minute of meditation Trance got a more detailed fix on Harper's location. "Let's see what's in the Pegasus Galaxy," she piped up with her usual exuberance.
The tall, think crewman keyed punched a few buttons and the Pegasus Galaxy appeared on the monitor. Trance and Siegfried intently studied the medium sized galaxy. Trance's eyes rested upon a small planet at the outer end of the galaxy.
"Oh that's the planet where we'll find what we're looking for Siegfried!" Trance exclaimed as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. She was able to take her eyes off of Siegfried, knowing the effects of her hypnotic spell would last for awhile.
"That's not much of a planet. Klondike is cold and covered in snow all year round," the crewman remarked with disdain.
Soon the shuttle was ready to take off and Trance and Siegfried boarded. Trance allowed Siegfried to pilot the shuttle. The trip would take several slip jumps so Trance would have time to prepare a plan for what she would do when she got to Klondike.
The shuttle took off as Trance was putting together a medical kit from supplies on the ship. After completing the medical kit, Trance sat down in the seat behind Siegfried and watched the view from the window. The purple pixie could only wait and hope she would get to Harper in time.