Part 33
The ship finally came into view, as Dylan and Rhade led the group of escaped prisoners through the tunnels to Yussuf's secret hanger bay.
"Get everyone on board," Dylan ordered as he stopped to let the others go first.
"Dylan, there are smaller one man ships over there," Rhade gestured. "Let me take one, I can do a scouting mission on Rico's ship."
"He'll shoot you out of the skies on first sight," Dylan dismissed. "I can't take that risk, I need you here."
"But Beka is a prisoner," Rhade stressed.
"As is Harper," Dylan reminded him. "And we will attempt to rescue them, just when we're more prepared."
"We could be too late by then," Rhade returned with frustration.
"We wait for Kane to get here with Dani, and then we will return to the Andromeda and plan our attack, Rhade," Dylan stated firmly.
"Can we trust the brother of Rico?" Rhade then sneered under his breath, careful not to be overheard by any of Yussuf's men.
"I think we can for exactly that reason," Dylan answered brightly.
"If Rico was my brother, I would have him hung, drawn and quartered for this shambles of a rebellion; it lacked the back bone of a true Nietzschean take over, allowing us to so easily liberate the palace in a matter of days, freeing their prisoners."
"Rico is young, his attention was elsewhere, and that's my concern now," Dylan sighed.
"The Andromeda," Rhade figured.
"He has my chief engineer and my first officer, as easily as we now have his prisoners," Dylan looked back towards the tunnel and saw two figures emerge, Kane and Dani. "Let's get ready to depart," Dylan simply said and left Rhade to check the last two passengers on.
Beka smiled as Harper began to stir, still in her arms albeit now resting against her, as she leant against the cot. She had always known Harper was a restless sleeper, but she was thankful, as it meant she had been able to adjust her sitting position a few times as he slept without disturbing him, and now he was curled up beside her, his head leaning back against her shoulder.
"Hey, sleepy, we need to talk," Beka spoke softly, encouraging him to wake.
Harper groggily groaned, coming to his senses, and shifted around looking as though he was about to make himself more comfortable, until the chains and accessories securing his arms and legs made it impossible.
"Come on, Seamus, wake up now," Beka stressed, trying to move his arm but he grimaced with her touch. "Harper," she spoke again, louder.
"Boss," Harper spoke through his sleepy haze, and suddenly he sat up and just stared at Beka with slight horror.
"It's ok, you were comfortable, a little too comfortable," Beka smirked. "I don't like waking up either, especially to this," she gestured and noticed Harper was just staring at her. "What?" she then asked, with panic. "You do remember me, right?"
"I never forgot you," Harper simply said, still carrying a strange expression, as he shifted around so he was sat facing her.
"Then quit staring," Beka requested.
"I was blind, Beka, and it felt like I couldn't see for ages," Harper simply said, before continuing, his eyes not leaving her. "Waking up and seeing you, it makes me glad I can see again." Beka didn't quite know how to react, and ended of smiling awkwardly. Harper then brought his bound hands up to her face, and he gently traced the outline of her cheek. "I haven't had a chance yet to realise what Yussuf has returned to me," he stated quietly. "I mean, just being able to see you again, how did I think I could live without this?" he stressed.
"Don't be grateful to that man, Harper, he was part of the reason you were blind in the first place," Beka warned, as she moved his hands away from her face. "And quit staring," she added again, sitting up forcing Harper to move back slightly to give her more room.
Harper moved to her side now, and settled down against the bunk. "So how do we get off this dump, boss?" he asked, sounding much more like himself to Beka's relief.
"First, we need to get out of these chains," Beka gestured, and glanced at Harper. "The only thing I can think of is Darla."
Harper paled slightly on that suggestion, but then shrugged. "She only has the key to these," he gestured by moving his arms. "She told me Rico has the keys to the ankle chains that we are both modelling."
Beka sighed. "I hate to say this, Seamus, but we do need to rid ourselves of these chains."
Harper slowly nodded his head, understanding what Beka was asking. "You're the one I trust, right?" he spoke with a smirk.
"If there was any other way," Beka began.
"I know, I know," Harper interrupted her lightly. "It's ok, I can do this, I'll get those keys."
"How?"
Harper smirked. "With the Harper wit and charm," he offered, but avoided her concerned stare.
"Just be careful, she still has bone blades, and you," Beka looked at him up and down, still only wearing shorts. "Have very little protection."
"I want out of these chains, Beka, I want out of this place," Harper said with a degree of seriousness. "I'm going to do what I have to do, I want things to make sense again and that won't happen here."
Beka reached her hand up and she lightly brushed his hair, trying to avoid causing him discomfort. "We'll get Trance to remove this whole hypnosis nonsense as well, I hate seeing you like this."
"It's not so bad now," Harper dismissed, looking away. "I might not fully remember, but I have you here now, that helps."
Beka smiled at Harper's words, knowing it was taking a certain degree of blind faith to trust her like he was. "I think you're right, we'll get you out of this place and everything will be better," she agreed.
"Where the hell is our brother?" Darla demanded angrily. "He should have been here by now."
Rico sighed and didn't look up as he spoke. "He's not coming."
"What?" Darla demanded.
"Whilst you were playing with your new kludge toy," Rico then slowly turned to face her. "I heard news that Abasi and Jafari were murdered."
"They were escorting Kane," Darla spoke with fear.
"Kane wasn't with them," Rico looked away.
"He's been taken? The commonwealth have him!" Darla assumed loudly.
"No, Darla," Rico stressed angrily. "Abasi and Jafari were killed by our brother's own hand, he's remaining loyal to Yussuf," Rico held out a flexi. "He sent us this; it confirms what I've said."
"I don't believe it," Darla spoke stubbornly.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Rico then turned back to his sister.
"We should not have been side tracked by the Andromeda!" Darla then changed topic rapidly. "It's all falling apart, brother."
"I never wanted that stupid palace, I just wanted to see Yussuf humiliated, and I got that," Rico objected.
"You let him live," Darla then spoke, almost in a growl.
"Killing him would have given Yussuf what he wanted, Darla, I want him to live with the shame of defeat," Rico countered arrogantly.
"Maybe you should call him up and find out what it feels like, you'll be feeling it yourself very soon," Darla snapped.
Darla's head snapped to the side as Rico lashed out at her. "You will not question me, sister."
"The kludge will not work for you, brother," Darla then spoke, in a sneer. "You have already lost, and the Andromeda will not be yours."
"Then whose ship will it be?" Rico challenged.
"The kludge will work for me, I will show you how a true leader gains victory," Darla stared at her brother with determination, then turned and left the room.
TBC
