Part 27

"Go ahead, Rommie, put him through," Dylan ordered, now settled into his office and on a secure channel. "Rico, I presume," Dylan spoke as the transmission appeared before him in holographic form.

"Captain Dylan Hunt," Rico proclaimed, and Dylan could see how young the kid was, barely in his early twenties, he guessed. "I believe we can be of use to each other."

"That depends," Dylan remained calm and casual.

"On what?"

"On whether you still have the bounty on my Engineer's head," Dylan poured himself some water as he spoke.

Rico didn't appear too deterred by Dylan's words, offering a small smile. "My business with Harper had now passed, I'll withdraw the bounty, I have bigger concerns now," he gestured on screen.

"Is that so?" Dylan wanted to laugh but managed to resist the temptation.

"Captain Hunt, I can appreciate your lack of respect towards me, my past actions again your crew is not something I'm proud of," Rico offered.

"Really?" Dylan sounded disbelieving. "You blinded my Engineer, and then you put a bounty on his head, and you truly expect me to listen to you?"

"I can help you retrieve your engineer, Seamus Harper," Rico cut to the chase.

"So you can kill him properly?" Dylan questioned.

"Right now, we have bigger problems than Seamus Harper, Dylan Hunt," Rico's voice grew stronger. "The Resistors are the new threat to this system and if you truly are a guardian of peace then you will hear my concerns out."

"You got me there," Dylan conceded, though his scepticism remained.

"I have been contacted by their leader, he has offered me Seamus Harper in return for the bounty," Rico announced.

"We suspected as much," Dylan admitted.

"Listen to me Captain Hunt, you want that kludge back, I want my brother back, and both are trapped inside that Palace with no hope of escape whilst those Resistors run amok like they own the place."

"True, go on," Dylan gestured.

"We should join forces," Rico stated.

"You have got to be kidding me," Dylan couldn't help his reaction.

"You need my forces, Dylan Hunt, your own is weakened, and you can not trust those Resistors you have teamed up with, if you really want to get Seamus Harper back," Rico paused for a moment. "Then you have to accept my help."

"What do you propose?"

"I am transmitting co-ordinates, you will meet me in one hour to agree my plan, in three hours we will join the fight in taking control of the palace," Rico stated.

"You appear to have everything in hand, so why do you need my help?" Dylan asked.

"Because it's the last thing the Resistors will expect, the two of us, supposed enemies working to stop the takeover of the Yussuf pride's main stronghold," Rico stated.

"What are your plans for Yussuf?" Dylan was intrigued.

"I plan to take command of his pride, rename them and give this system the authority it deserves," Rico announced. "And Captain Hunt, I want you to guide me, I accept that my age and experience work against me but with your guidance I know I could do good things for this system and its people."

Dylan took a moment to check Rico's reactions, looking for any sign of a lie or bluff. This was the same guy who blinded Harper, and tortured him, simply because Harper saved Yussuf's life. How could he trust him, when he has already displayed power hungry tendencies by placing a bounty on Harper's head? The kid however was showing signs of accepting that he was still young, with a lot to learn and Dylan couldn't help feeling the temptation to try and mould the kid into a leader, but it seemed too risky to start now.

"Give me full command of the mission, including making all the final decisions, with full co-operation and I will consider your request," Dylan finally decided.

Rico now took some time to think, he seemed initially to react negatively to Dylan's words but soon relaxed again. "I would be willing to hand over command, so long as you give me some credit and respect."

"You earn respect," Dylan pointed out, and then checked his console. "We have received coordinates, so we'll talk more in an hour, Dylan out."

Dylan sighed, as holo Rommie appeared in front of his console. "You're not considering his request are you?"

"Rommie, I have to consider it," Dylan stated. "Like Colin, he has asked to learn from me, my command techniques, maybe this is an opportunity to pass on my beliefs and idealisms."

"You just like the attention," Rommie smiled.

"It's nice that these people acknowledge my skills," Dylan defended.

"It's strange, that two people from two different walks of life have made the same request in the space of a few hours," Rommie observed.

"It could be coincidence, but the way my life has been lately I'm beginning to think that coincidence is a myth," Dylan frowned. "We'll hear Rico out; he could hold the best chance we have of getting Harper back, if nothing else."

"That is true, if the Resistors do plan on claiming the bounty on Harper," Rommie agreed.

"Rico is right on one thing, the last thing the new Resistors will consider is us joining forces with Rico's faction," Dylan partly smiled.

"Dylan, up until a few minutes ago it was the last thing I considered we'd do," Rommie noted, crossing her arms.

"Which makes it a very tempting plan, don't you think?" Dylan had a boyish bounce in his step now, as he moved towards the exit to inform the others of the developments, as Rommie flashed out of sight.


Harper clenched his eyes shut as another wave of electricity flowed through him, originating in his temples. His body tensed painfully against the chains that held his upper body in position, and he held his breath after the current stopped, before semi collapsing into the chains to recover.

Vaguely aware of the cell door opening, Harper tried to focus and made out more defined shapes as they entered the cell, three people had arrived. Too exhausted to pay them any more attention, he let his head drop, hoping that the distraction the visitors made was enough to give him time to recover.

"Dr Richter, I'm glad you could make it," John stood up and greeted the doctor, who had been led into the cell by a guard, he then saw the woman. "And you must be Darla, come to check the cargo?"

Darla ignored John, and walked around Harper, seeing that he was semi-conscious and probably unawares of her, or anyone's presence in the cell, trapped in his own hell of torture.

"How has the shock treatment worked?" Richter then asked, moving towards Harper now.

"Not sure, haven't asked," John shrugged.

"Why is he strung up like this?" Richter then seemed to notice Harper's stance for the first time, and instantly realised the situation. "You were only supposed to be encouraging his sight with small pulses of electricity to stimulate the lens!"

"Listen, Doc, this little guy is still our prisoner," John defended and pulled Harper's head up by his hair. "We treat him like one, ok?"

Richter glared at the Resistor before looking at Harper, who looked numbed to the pain as he simply closed his eyes, even though John had a fistful of his hair in a tight grip.

"Sleep," John then declared with a brief touch on his forehead, and Harper immediately slumped. "You," John gestured to Richter. "Check him."

Richter was clearly not happy, but unable to protest he moved and kneeled down in front of Harper. "Has he experienced any fits since he arrived here?"

"I don't know," John spat almost. "I just got here myself."

"Maybe if you hadn't fried my patient I could have asked him myself!" Richter sneered, as he took care to lift Harper's chin up. "Can I at least release him from these chains?"

"No!" John yelled. "Now quit your whining, check his stupid eyes and get the hell out of here!"

Richter took a deep breath, and continued his examination. Gently the doctor adjusted his position until he was able to open Harper's eyes, taking a cautionary look he seemed unconcerned, almost pleased with the progress. "Where is the bandage that was supposed to still be covering his eyes?"

"He lost it," John mocked.

"Well considering his loss, it appears his eyes have not been too affected by the light," Richter observed. "Can you at least wake him up so I can observe how he is seeing things?"

"If we must," John complained and placed his hand briefly on Harper's forehead, simply saying the words 'wake', and Harper was suddenly aware again, if still a little groggy.

"Seamus?" Richter spoke.

"Who is it?" Harper slurred, seeming to recognise the voice.

"Open your eyes, tell me," Richter instructed and Harper slowly lifted his head and wearily opened his eyes. "What do you see?"

Harper squinted a little and took his time to answer. "I see," he began and paused. "A dead man."

John couldn't help but laugh, as Richter looked on unsure. "Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"You betrayed me, bastard," Harper snapped. "But I don't recall how or why," Harper tiredly added, losing his anger quickly.

"He's fighting his programming," Darla now observed with concern. "Remembering things, you told me he was cleaned out."

"It's bound to happen, this kid is a bright one," Richter seemed to be joyous with his statement.

"Don't panic, confusion only makes him more vulnerable to your plans," John assured her.

"Seamus," Richter spoke to get Harper's focus back on him. "Follow my finger," Richter instructed, and moved his finger in various directions in front of Harper and appeared pleased when the human's eyes tracked his movements. "Very good," he enthused. "Are you seeing any sharpness in your sight or is it completely blurred?"

"Flashes," Harper wearily answered. "Sometimes everything is in focus again for split seconds, freaks me out a bit but I'm getting use to it, it's happening more often now," he stated, leaning heavily into his chains no longer feeling the pain.

"I'm going to administer some eye drops," Richter spoke as he retrieved the drops from the guard. "It'll clear up some of the mess and fuzziness, and help your eyes to naturally focus after your surgery, hopefully some of the shocks you received have done their job, sorry about the obvious misunderstanding," Richter glared at John now with contempt.

"Just get on with it," John complained, pacing impatiently.

Richter carefully administered the drops and Harper blinked several times, keeping his eyes shut finally, as the stinging sensation remained.

"Give it a few minutes to settle," Richter was then dragged away.

"So?" John asked.

"In an hour or so we should see an improvement, enough that he'll be able to see enough to no longer be classed as blind," Richter determined.

"Good," John stressed. "Now get the hell out of here, you're work is done for the moment."

"What are you going to do?" Richter asked, whilst glancing at Harper who remained with his eyes clenched shut still trapped in his restraints.

"Going to have a little play with the kludge," John suggested and gestured to the guards to remove Richter. "Don't worry; he'll still be here in a couple of hours for you to do a final check on."

"Just make sure he is," Richter sneered.

"Or what?" John mocked. "Besides, we wouldn't have dragged your sorry ass down here if we were just planning on killing him, we need this kludge and it just makes life easier for him to see by himself."

Richter was secured and then dragged out of the cell by the guard, before John turned his attention back to Harper. He placed his hand on Harper's forehead and ordered him to sleep once more. "Seamus, from now on every touch you feel on your skin," John decided and ran his finger along the back of Harper's shoulders, tracing the outline of the blades. "Will feel like your skin is being sliced open, every hit will feel like you've been shot," he stated and brought his now clench fist down hard against Harper's back. "And when a touch lasts more than a couple of seconds it will feel like you're being burnt," he finished, placing the flat of his hand against Harper's skin.

John then placed his hand on Harper's forehead, ordering him to wake and the human immediately woke up.

"This is too much fun," Darla spoke with joy. "Wait until I tell Rico about this," she beamed sadistically.

"Let's test it out," John said with glee and without a second thought he ran his finger quickly across Harper's back, and the human's scream was more than enough evidence that the suggestion had worked. "Less mess to clean up this way," John then remarked. "For the same result," he smiled.

"No damage, oh this could go on for months," Darla beamed and to test the response, Darla then placed her hand under Harper's hunched over body, flat against his chest, then feeling the vibrations on her hand, as Harper screamed out in agony as if being burned alive.


The room was silent, on one side of the table Dylan glanced at Beka and saw her staring intently at Rico, who sat opposite them. They had been talking for a little over an hour, and now it was time to decide how they would proceed. They were on a small moon base, an abandoned settlement that had been scanned and confirmed as a safe location for a first meeting to take place with Rico.

Dylan cleared his throat before speaking. "I will help you," Dylan finally spoke, but quickly continued. "But our first priority will be Harper, we safely retrieve our crewman and then we will concentrate on your brother and reclaiming the palace from the Resistors."

Rico only smirked in response. "Then we have no deal."

"That's the best I can do," Dylan stood his ground.

"Basically we do not trust you," Beka supported. "You have given us no reason to trust you, I still see you as the man who blinded Harper and nothing else," she got to her feet and stood by Dylan's chair.

"You will not get Harper back without my help, I can assure you," Rico now stood up, and there was something in the tone of his voice that caught Dylan's attention.

"You sound as though you know that to be a fact," Dylan observed calmly.

"I know the meeting point of the exchange," Rico simply answered, and if you do not help me I will send thirteen decoy ships and not even the Andromeda would be able to track all thirteen to the correct meeting point."

"Only one ship will leave the palace with Harper," Dylan noted.

"Actually five will leave, four will be decoys," Rico half smiled.

"But you don't have Trance, we do, she's good at guessing games," Beka now smirked in defiance.

Rico was silent now, unsure of Beka's claims. "Then I guess this concludes our possible alliance, I truly thought you were intelligent Dylan Hunt, a man worthy of my respect and to learn from, but you are nothing but a coward," he stated.

Dylan got to his feet. "You take Harper then, if you desire him that much but with Yussuf's tyranny at an end in this system he is worthless to you, so whilst you occupy your time in trying to evade us in your pointless plans, we'll be down on the planet, capturing your brother to ensure Harper's safe return."

Dylan gestured to Beka to move, and they headed towards the door.

"You would let me simply disappear with your crew member?" Rico tested.

"In the same way you leave your brother vulnerable to our taking," Dylan stated. "You really do have a lot to learn, kid," Dylan added.

Rico now smiled and he turned to one of his associates. "Has Darla checked in?"

The associate glanced at Dylan before answering. "She is with the kludge; it sounds like she's having too much fun, sir."

Beka and Dylan turned around, knowing that Rico was revealing something important.

"Really?" Rico smiled. "And what about my brother?"

"She tells us that on receipt of the bounty, the Resistors will give us both the kludge and your brother," the associate informed them. "In fact, I took the opportunity to copy the transmission to flexi, should you want to share or prove the claim."

"Good, good, maybe the good Captain Hunt would be interested in that," Rico was grinning now, unable to contain himself.

"Why the hell did you call us here, you never had any intention of joining us," Dylan now realised, as he snatched the flexi.

"I needed to see who I was up against, you will never see Harper again, we already have him," Rico declared. "And the palace, that's already under my control."

Dylan looked at Beka before returning his attention to Rico. "How is that so?"

"Who do you think formed the Resistors?" Rico stated arrogantly. "Who do you think gave them the information on the palace, on Yussuf and on how to defeat the tyrant, I worked with that man since I was a boy and have planned this for a long while," Rico stressed. "And when Yussuf betrayed my brother over some stupid kludge, I knew I had to bring the Resistors into the public eye and the only way to disguise my involvement with them was to encourage them to join those lame uprisers from the prison breaks you evoked, and other disgruntled groups from this sector," he claimed with joy.

"This system is completely messed up," Beka remarked.

"It was my luck that one part of the uprisers were pro-Seamus Harper, and from them I was able to learn all I needed to know about him, and his importance to your ship," Rico's expression changed to one of determination. "Captain Hunt, now I know my enemy, I would suggest you keep a very close eye on your lovely ship, it's my next target."

"Over my dead body," Dylan sneered.

"Exactly how I plan it," Rico responded with calm.

"Let's get back to the Andromeda, and away from this dump, before I throw up from listening to too much crap," Beka turned to leave, and Dylan wasted no time in following her.

Rico simply smiled with amusement before turning to his associates. "We need to act fast, I want Harper brought to my ship now, no more games and send more troops down to the palace to assist," Rico then added. "I have a feeling that Captain Hunt might be a little pissed off right now," he grinned, enjoying his moment for all it was worth. "I can not wait until we have the Andromeda Ascendant as our flagship of the new pride."

"Have you decided on a name for your pride yet?" the associate asked.

"The Ricosta Pride," Rico announced, and then grinned. "Until I think of something better, if such a thing exists."

TBC