Part 32

The firing continued, as Dylan and Rhade pressed their bodies into the wall taking cover and waiting for the next break where they could return fire.

"There's too many of them," Rhade stressed frantically, finding a moment to return fire before quickly returning to the safety.

Dylan fired off some shots before responding. "I estimate there's seven left, I have one stun grenade, how much charge do you have left?"

"Enough," Rhade confirmed. "You could have told me you had a grenade a little earlier."

"I get my fun where I can find it these days, Rhade," Dylan remarked, before quickly activating the grenade and throwing it with precision amongst the remaining soldiers, before they could react it threw them all to the ground and the two high guard officers wasted no time in securing the area.

Once they were satisfied that the situation was diffused, Rhade and Dylan moved towards the first of the cells and saw they were empty, moving on they found another corridor and this time they found their targets.

"Yussuf," Rhade confirmed, and the occupant immediately hurried forward.

"What's going on?" Yussuf instantly demanded. "Dylan Hunt, Telemachus Rhade," he recognised. "Are you rescuing me?"

"Yes, we'll explain later and everyone else still loyal to Yussuf, you are welcome to join us," Dylan declared loudly, seeing others were now focused on them from their cells and there were low rumbles of support.

Dylan nodded towards Rhade, and together they began firing at the locks to free the prisoners. They were just freeing the last of the wives when the sound of weapons being armed was heard, and the area fell silent. Slowly Dylan turned fearing the worse, but Yussuf was first to react.

"Kane," Yussuf spoke.

"Sir," Kane responded, lowering his weapon, seeing the uncertainty. "I'm still loyal to you," he confirmed.

"But your brother," Yussuf sounded confused, and a little suspicious.

"Needs to be told once and for all that this universe does not operate on his whim," Kane declared. "They think I'm on my way to join them, but I killed my guards and I returned here."

"Welcome to our rebellion," Dylan stepped forward, making it clear that he was in charge of this mission, and Kane responded by lowering his weapon and offering his hand out of respect.

"Is this everyone?" Kane asked.

"There's one more," Rhade spoke up, and Dylan looked at him unsure. "Dani, she's here somewhere."

"Dani, yes, we must find Dani," Yussuf agreed. "She was with the human, Harper."

"Harper is no longer here," Dylan stated. "Rico has taken him, he is planning on taking the Andromeda, Yussuf, we need transport if we're to get you to safety," he added.

Dylan didn't miss the glances that were exchanged between Yussuf and a couple of his officers, knowing that it was probable that somewhere along the line Yussuf had had similar plans for his ship, but he ignored it for the moment.

"There is a vessel prepped to go, we were planning on escaping when we were overwhelmed," Yussuf explained.

"My brother would know the security detail for an emergency evacuation, but it's a risk we need to take to escape this place," Kane offered with a frown. "Follow me, Captain Hunt," Kane gestured. "I know where they are keeping Dani, and then I will lead you to the ship."


Slowly his eyes opened, and he took a deep breath as awareness returned to him. With a pained grunt, Harper quickly moved the Nietzschean who had draped herself over him, feeling as though his skin was suddenly on fire.

"Seamus?" Beka's voice sounded from across the room.

Harper blinked his eyes and in a moment of clarity and clear thought he saw his friend for what seemed the first time. "Boss," he simply answered with a hint of confusion.

"Thank god you recognise me, you were really scaring me," Beka said with relief, as she moved forward as far as her chain allowed.

"Sorry," Harper offered meekly, and pushed Darla the rest of the way off him, before rubbing his head. Rolling his shoulders, Harper attempted to stretch his tired limbs, as much as the restraints allowed.

"Seamus, talk to me," Beka asked. "What's going on?"

Harper appeared confused, and simply shrugged his shoulders, before giving it some more thought. "You tell me," he offered finally, and then he got to his feet.

Beka was quickly to her feet, now Harper had moved away from his cot she was about to embrace Harper and she wasted no time in doing so.

"Ow!" Harper screamed out as Beka held him, and she quickly backed off as he struggled out of her hold and stumbled back only just managing to stay on his feet, looking flustered.

"What is it?" Beka asked with concern. "Harper, what did I do?"

Harper took some calming breaths, and then looked at Beka. "You can't touch me, they did something to my head," he panted, and rolled his shoulders again. "Man, that hurt," he complained with a grimace.

"Sorry, I've just wanted to do that since I got here," Beka attempted to explain.

"Hurt me?" Harper questioned bitterly, and moved to the other side of the cell.

"No!" Beka protested, and her tone was enough to make Harper back down as he looked back at her.

"You weren't to know," He offered in a mumble, though his expression still showed a glimmer of distrust.

As a distraction, Harper tested the metal cuffs around his wrists, ignoring the pain it caused him; his actions became more frantic as the cuffs refused to move.

"Harper, stop that," Beka requested. "You'll just make it worse," she offered, seeing the bruised skin around the cuffs, and was about to touch Harper's forearms, before remembering his words seeing him instinctively shirk away.

"Dani is doing my head in," Harper remarked, glancing at Darla.

"Dani?" Beka checked.

"She won't leave me alone, stupid uber thinks she can play games with me," Harper continued, glaring at Darla.

"That's Darla, Harper, not Dani," Beka corrected him.

Harper looked at her with agitation, which then turned to confusion. "Whatever, still doing my head in," he spoke quickly, moving around the cell as much as his chained leg allowed.

"Harper, sit down," Beka suggested.

"Been sat down for too long, need to move," he stressed, and continued pacing the small area, with his chains dragging around him. "Cold," he then commented and tried to hunch his shoulders as he walked for warmth.

"You're not exactly wearing much," Beka frowned, seeing him in just shorts. "Ideal for the beach, but here, can't be good," she added.

"The beach," Harper stopped suddenly, and seemed lost for the moment. "I used to like the beach."

"You still do, nothing has changed, Seamus," Beka stated. "Please, will you just sit down?" she asked, he was making her nervous with his pacing, he didn't appear focused as all.

To her surprise Harper did as she asked, and sat on the edge of his bed, glancing at the still sleeping Darla before he looked at Beka once more. "She said she was you," Harper finally spoke, in a calmer voice.

"Darla said she was me?" Beka checked unsure.

"Tried to trick me," Harper continued, his eyes searching Beka now, and she saw his uncertainty.

"You've really had a number done on you, haven't you," Beka sighed now, sensing her friend's distrust and confusion.

"You're Beka Valentine," Harper determined.

"Correct, your friend," Beka smiled fondly.

"I knew that," Harper smirked now, relaxing slightly. "And this is Dani."

"Darla," Beka quickly corrected.

"Darla," Harper seemed mad at himself for the mix up. "She's Rico's sister, she wants my help."

"Help for what?"

"Same thing everyone wants, you, her, Dani, you all want the same thing," Harper got to his feet again, and started pacing once more.

"And what's that?" Beka asked intrigued by his comparison.

"The Andromeda," Harper stated. "That's why you're here isn't it? You want me to take you there too."

"There's a difference, Harper," Beka now got to her feet. "I already have a claim on the Andromeda, Darla and Dani don't and would use you to bully their way onto the ship, I don't have to, I'm allowed on board."

Harper checked her expression, and then seemed to consider her response. "I used to work on the Andromeda, right?"

"You still do," Beka responded. "We need to return home, Harper."

"How?" Harper asked, just as Darla began to stir and wake up.

"We'll talk later," Beka gestured to the waking female, and she returned to her cot, leaving Harper slightly confused as he turned to Darla.

"Hey," Darla smiled as she pushed herself up. "Talking about me?"

"Yeah," Harper answered with a sneer, still pacing around his cot. "Got nothing better to do than bad mouth ubers, it's my favourite past time."

Beka looked at Harper with wide eyes, knowing that wasn't the best tactic, as Darla got to her feet and stood opposite the shorter human stopping him for a moment. Darla's hand came up and she brushed it through his hair, before she brought her hand down making sure her bone blades came close to his face.

"There's a reason our kinds don't usually get on, Harper," Darla warned, and Harper froze momentarily. "Good job we do," she added, grabbing the back of his head by the hair and then kissing him, her manner more taunting than loving.

Looking away, knowing that if she didn't she would do something she would later regret, Beka quietly seethed until she heard Darla move away and leave the cell.

"Don't say it," Harper pre-empted as he kicked the ground, watching as the chain attached to his ankle scooted across the floor.

"I don't have to, Harper," Beka stated and got to her feet. "But we have to get you out of this crazy mixed up situation, and soon, we don't want her getting bored of her new toy," she added.

"Go to hell," Harper snapped, returning to his cot.

"Hey, I was joking," Beka quickly stressed. "I know you have little say in what's going on, and I would kill that woman with my bare hands right now if I could, Harper, for you."

"Don't do me any favours," Harper stated, as he curled up on his cot.

"You just don't know who to trust, do you?" Beka said sadly, as she moved from her cot to the floor and closer to Harper. "I'll keep saying it, because it's true, you can trust me."

Harper glanced at Beka, and offered the smallest of smiles, all that Beka needed to see that she was breaking through finally.

"I wish I could hold you, without hurting you," Beka offered softly.

"When Dani was being you," Harper began before Beka quietly interrupted.

"Darla, Harper, the uber is Darla," She half smiled, his confusion and forgetfulness was beginning to concern her more.

"Darla, she said me and you," Harper paused before continuing. "That we were close."

"We are," Beka confirmed.

"In what way?" Harper asked.

"The best way," Beka returned brightly. "We're not lovers, I'm sure Darla tried to tell you otherwise, we friends, good trusting friends that goes way beyond romance."

Harper looked away, then after a moment he moved closer to the edge of his cot and to Beka. "I believe you," he quietly said, his voice slightly shaking and Beka had never seen her friend looking so lost and vulnerable. "I was all for just trusting myself, no one else, no help from no one and I think that's made things worse, my head hurts, I just need help," Harper admitted with a heavy sigh laced with fear, bringing his tied hands up to his face to try and hold back the emotions he felt.

"Come here," Beka gestured for him to move to the floor with her. "Maybe I can't hold you, but no stopping you holding me."

Harper looked uncertain for a moment, but he gradually moved forward and with Beka's smile looking more inviting, he slowly put his arms around the blonde captain, until he finally embraced her and found himself holding her tight.

"It's doesn't hurt," Harper whispered, not having realised how much he had needed to do something genuine like this.

"You're touching me, I guess it doesn't work in reverse," Beka said, wanting to desperately return the hug but not wanting to cause her friend more distress. "Anytime, Harper, anytime you need this."

"You sure we're not something more," Harper quipped, sounding more like the human she knew.

"Just friends," Beka reiterated. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

After a while, when Harper hadn't moved away Beka realised his breathing had slowed to a steady even pace, and he had fallen asleep. She shifted only slightly to make it a more comfortable position, and she simply watched Harper sleeping against her.

TBC