Thanks for the kind reviews all. I have more now. I apologize for the delay.
Chapter 18
Harper hadn't realized he had passed out while Locutius was talking to him. The engineer felt some relief that his headache had quieted down to a mere constant throbbing. That he could live with for now. The Earther shivered as a draft of cold air hit him. Harper suddenly realized that his shirt and coat had been removed while he had been unconscious.
Harper looked towards his feet and saw Locutius staring at him again. Harper groaned as a surge of pain shot through his right shoulder and his entire right side. The Earther looked up above his head and saw both of his arms stretched out and bound at the wrists. Harper turned his neck to get a look and saw leather straps wrapped tightly around his wrists.
"You are awake just in time Kludge. I was becoming bored. Now you will provide some entertainment," Locutius informed with a malicious grin.
Harper trembled at the implication. He had been tortured by Nietzscheans enough to know what they meant by entertainment. Harper tensed with trepidation as Locutius waved an electric prod in view. "Is that really necessary?"
Locutius brought the electric prod closer to Harper's injured ribs. "It is necessary since I know you are related to Brendan Lahey. I've been able to find out you are his cousin. Since I haven't been able to get my hands on Brendan Lahey you will have to do."
Locutius moved approached closer to the Earther and waved the electric prod over Harper face. Another rush of cold air hit Harper's bare chest causing him to shiver uncontrollably. Right now though, the cold air was the least of the engineer's worries.
Harper grimaced as the electric prod touched the bare flesh near his ribs. A groan escaped the Earther's mouth as hot wave of pain coursed through his entire right side. Harper could only relax when the electric prod was removed from his skin. "Who says I'm cousin to this Lahey guy?"
"I do," Locutius growled. The Nietzschean turned around and grabbed a small, sharp knife from a small wooden box in his left hand. Locutius put turned back to face Harper and pressed the knife against the Earther's chest. The small knife was sharp enough that jus the slightest tough drew a tiny bit of blood.
Harper could see from Locutius' face that the Nietzschean was enjoying torturing him. Locutius slowly increased the pressure of the blade against Harper's chest, making a thin clean cut.
Harper gritted his teeth and fought back tears as the knife made several long slices into his chest. Harper's vision began to fade as his strength ebbed. The Earther focused on Brendan and the rest of his family on Earth. His anger at being kept from going after Trance that kept the Earther conscious.
"You are lasting longer than I expected for a Kludge," Locutius commended. The Nietzschean was now holding the bloody knife near Harper's left arm. "I appreciate that you are making this exercise worthwhile."
"You realize that when I get out of here I'm going to see to it you're gonna get as good as you're giving to me," Harper threatened in a raspy voice. The Earther fought back tears, not from the pain he felt but from the thought of Trance injured or worse because he hadn't gotten to her in time.
"Then let me give you another favor to return Kludge," the Nietzschean threatened. Locutius then brought the knife's blade against Harper's left shoulder and cut a thin line down the Earther's arm, ending just above the elbow.
Harper writhed in pain at this slow torture, pulling at the leather straps binding his arms and legs. No matter how many times he had been through this kind of torture, Harper never got used to it.
"You think all of us Kludges are weak and pathetic. We're not weak and pathetic and Bunker Hill will rise again," Harper choked out.
"Do you really think your bragging will have any affect on me? Your pathetic Boston campmates will continue to suffer for attempting to dare overthrow their benefactors," Locutius lectured.
The Nietzschean proceeded to make a neat slit in Harper's right upper arm to mirror the one on the Earther's left arm. Locutius smiled with pleasure as the Earther squirmed on the table in pain.
There was a knock on the door before Balan entered the room. The shorter Nietzschean approached Harper and let out a low guttural chuckle. "Our Kludge is still conscious. I'm surprised."
"You mean my Kludge don't you Balan," Locutius corrected.
"I apologize Locutius, I meant your Kludge," Balan retreated. "It would appear that this Kludge will provide you with more entertainment than previous Kludges have."
Locutius nodded his head in agreement. "I am being careful to keep this Kludge alive until I feel he has been sufficiently reprimanded for what his cousin did to my brother."
Harper opened his mouth to offer a sharp reply but no words came from his now parched throat. The engineer was now overcome with a fit of coughing. Harper felt liquid trickle down his mouth as he coughed. Harper shook with fear when he suddenly saw a stream of crimson red liquid trickling down his bare chest.
Balan shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the next. "I hate to interrupt your entertainment Locutius, but we just received a message from Alonzo. He wants to know when we will be able to return to our unit."
"Very well. Our little Kludge could use a break already. I'm afraid that any more of my treatment right now might kill him prematurely," Locutius replied with disappointment in his voice. He had been pleased to see his Kludge prisoner tremble with fear at the sight of his own blood.
The two Nietzscheans left Harper alone on the table in the room. Harper should have been relieved at getting a reprieve from Locutius' torture but he wasn't. Harper felt the anguish of failing to find Trance and bring her back to the Andromeda. In his mind the Earther had reasoned that he deserved the torture. It would serve him right for getting too cocky, allowing himself to be caught by a couple of Dragans.
"Captain I have received an incoming transmission from a Drago-Kazov ship. A Nietzschean by the name of Apollo wishes to speak with you," Andromeda's voice announced over the Com.
Dylan and Tyr exchanged inquisitive looks as they paused from their sparring session. Dylan grabbed a towel and began wiping his forehead. "Put it through to my quarters Andromeda."
Dylan threw the towel down on a bench on his way out of the gym. Tyr's gaze followed the High Guard captain before fixing on a punching bag. Tyr walked over to the punching bag and began his assault on the inanimate object.
"Andromeda put Apollo on screen," Dylan ordered as he entered Command.
The face of a tall, olive skinned Nietzschean appeared on the screen. "Captain Hunt, I am Apollo out of Fatima by Hieronymus."
"I understand you have a message for me Apollo," Dylan replied, hoping to get quickly to the point.
Apollo kept his features clear of emotion as he began speaking. "A squad of Drago-Kazov fighters encountered a slipfighter. The squadron leader reported back that he was able to determine from the ship's markings that the slipfighter came from the Andromeda Ascendant. Your crewman managed to kill two of my men before he was dispatched."
Dylan leaned against a railing, stunned at the news. The High Guard captain couldn't believe that Seamus Harper was dead, let alone had died in a dogfight. It just wasn't Harper's style. Dylan had a gut feeling that there was more to the story than what Apollo reported.
"Are you saying that one of my crewmen got in a dogfight with one of your squads? The only reason that would happen is if my crewman was attacked first and had no option but to fight," Dylan reasoned.
Apollo remained unfazed. He had been expecting Hunt to accuse his men of attacking first without cause. "I said no such thing Captain Hunt. My men are professional and trained not to merely shoot at enemy ships that pose no immediate threat."
Dylan could here the snide tone in the Nietzschean's voice but controlled the impulse to end the transmission. "I'm glad that your men are such professionals Apollo. I assure you that my crew have been instructed to follow High Guard protocol and would not start a fight, especially when outnumbered."
"We are still attempting to piece together all of the details of the battle," Apollo replied in a calm voice, attempting to sooth the High Guard captain. However, the squadron leader has filed a preliminary report which states that they were fired on by your crewman. Apparently your crewman had no High Guard training and must have panicked when he saw a Drago-Kazov fighters approaching."
Dylan had to admit that with Harper's lack of High Guard training the scenario was plausible at least. "I don't wish for the event to cause tensions to escalate into further hostilities. I suggest that we withhold any judgment until a final report is written up. I would like to go to interview the remaining squad members and get debrief them."
Apollo was hesitant to allow Dylan Hunt to speak to his men. The Nietzschean had no love for Kludges or the High Guard. "It won't be necessary for you to get involved in any investigation Captain Hunt. My men filed a preliminary report and your crewman is dead so he can't give his side of the events. I am content to take my men at their word."
"With all do respect Apollo; I'm not content to take your men at their word. I expect to be allowed to be involved in any investigation," Dylan insisted firmly.
"Be warned that if you or anyone else who interferes nears Drago-Kazov territory or men will be shot on site," Apollo warned with determination.
Dylan sighed to himself. The conversation had definitely turned sour. "I can see we're not getting anywhere. I plan to find out exactly what happened to my crewman."
"I will not repeat myself again Captain Hunt. You will stay away and I will send you the final report on the incident with your crewman," Apollo stressed before cutting off the transmission.
Dylan couldn't hide the red tinge to his face when AI Rommie entered Command. The two looked at each other for a few moments, unable to find the words to express their anguish. Dylan took AI Rommie in his arms and hugged the avatar.