Part 39
The raised voices and argumentative atmosphere filled the space, as Dani sat quietly keeping her self to herself. She was worried, no one telling her anything about Seamus Harper, and she hadn't seen him amongst the evacuees that had escaped from the palace. Glancing around, Dani was aware that she was now on the ship that Harper called home, when he remembered where home was. Her memories of the ship were vague at best, but being there was hitting her hard as her concern for Harper consumed her.
"Dani, I brought you a drink," a voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked up with a brief smile, as she took the carton from Kane.
"What's going on?" Dani asked, taking a sip of the drink.
"We've been told to stay here by the ship," Kane said as he sat next to Dani. "I think there is a problem on board, we seem to be in a red alert lock down situation."
"I bet Yussuf is loving this," Dani remarked calmly.
"He's only got a few blood vessels left that haven't burst," Kane returned with a smirk.
"Are we still loyal to Yussuf?" Dani then asked in a hushed voice. "I mean, does he actually still have any power over us, isn't he in the same position as us?"
"I'm not sure," Kane frowned. "Technically he's nothing now, he's lost his power and has been defeated, but look at us; we are here with him."
"I'm here because I didn't want to remain with those other people, I wanted to escape those psychos," Dani corrected. "Who knows what they've done to Seamus."
Kane appeared to respond to her concern by putting an arm around her shoulders. "I'm sure the human is ok and causing his new prison guards plenty of problems."
"So he was a prisoner of Yussuf?" Dani caught, looking at Kane for a clue in his reaction, but only saw Kane shrug as he glanced over to Yussuf.
"We were all prisoners of Yussuf, Dani," He spoke calmly.
"What are we now then, idiots for still being with Yussuf?" Dani asked. "I still respect the guy, and I can't help it, it's like I can't hate him," she admitted glumly.
"I'm remaining loyal to Yussuf because I care little for the alternative," Kane answered tiredly.
"We don't have to just have two choices, Kane," Dani sat forward, her voice hushed. "It's not a case of Yussuf or these mad man who stormed the palace, what about the Commonwealth, or the rest of the universe? There's so much more than this stupid sector," Dani insisted, remembering something of what Harper had told her.
"I'm Yussuf pride," Kane reminded her. "I've chosen Yussuf over my own brother and sister."
"Rico and Darla?" Dani checked. "What do you mean?"
"You didn't know my brother and sister were behind the palace takeover?" Kane checked.
Dani showed her surprise before frowning as it sunk in. "So you mean Rico and Darla have Seamus," she said, remembering another moment from her past with hollow fear. "They hate kludges, he blinded Seamus for fun," she stressed with sudden panic.
"I know," Kane nodded his head. "They stupidly blamed your friend for my capture, but I never regretted my part in helping you help him."
Looking at Kane with confusion, Dani paused for a moment before speaking. "Why? I mean why do you help me, and look out for me?"
"You know why, Dani, I've told you so many times," Kane answered with a sigh, as he tiredly rubbed his face with his hand. "But because of what he did to you, you can never remember," he frowned, gesturing to Yussuf. "I was there the day Yussuf captured you, and brainwashed you the first time."
Dani simply looked at the ground. "If you disagreed so much, why did you continue to serve him?"
"To help those who couldn't help themselves," Kane answered, and then glanced over towards Yussuf who was still ranting and raving to his gathered flunkies. "Nietzsheans have a bad rep as ogres and animals, and tyrants," Kane spoke turning his attention back to Dani. "If you can't beat them, join them."
"Your brother and sister think differently," Dani pointed out. "And they have beaten Yussuf."
"And now they are going to die, because they are fools and didn't stop with Yussuf," Kane answered without emotion. "They have learnt nothing from their time serving Yussuf, but I have, anyone at anytime could have done what they did but it takes someone who is strong to truly bring balance to this sector, my brother and sister do not possess that strength, they only possess hunger and greed, and they will both suffer the consequences."
"Will the Commonwealth bring balance?" Dani idly asked, her head now resting on her drawn up knees.
"No," Kane now smirked. "But the Commonwealth will help us find that balance, it won't happen unless we make it happen."
Dani looked up. "I only want to find Seamus," she offered distantly. "This isn't my home, this sector means nothing to me, my home was Earth and now it's been destroyed, I don't belong here anymore with Yussuf or what's left of his pride."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but I do understand and I'm sure you're in the right place if you wish to find Seamus Harper, you are not alone," Kane assured her.
"Why do you follow, Kane?" Dani asked with seriousness. "You sound to me like you know what's best for this sector, so why not do something about it, take a stand?"
"I fear where it would take me, and fear in a Nietzschean does not make good leadership potential," Kane returned with a smile. "I'm not an alpha male, Dani, I simple serve."
"Who told you that?" Dani countered and she saw the hesitation in Kane's expression suddenly. "Yussuf?" she guessed, and by Kane's sudden silence she got her answer.
Harper leaned against the bulkhead, suddenly short of breath and he felt his control wavering as he tried to compose himself.
"Hey, come on, we have to keep moving," Beka encouraged him. "Command is just up ahead."
Harper's composure was rapidly starting to resemble shock, and Beka took a hold of his arms to stop the engineer from losing his balance. "What are we doing, Beka? This is Rico's ship, I've just killed his sister," Harper stressed, his eyes wide now with fear.
"Snap of it, Seamus," Beka warned, glancing up and down the corridor to check they were still alone. "We can do this, we've been in worse situations, Rico doesn't appear to fill his ships with Nietzscheans, and we have to do this to save the Andromeda."
"If this ship is so empty, what threat is it to the Andromeda?" Harper half laughed, but the fear was still evident in his voice, almost hysterical sounding.
"I don't know, I'm not even sure Rico knows," Beka admitted. "But I don't think this is over so you have to keep going, we'll deal with everything else later."
"Later, yeah, we'll talk," Harper remembered distantly, his composure appearing to return for the moment, as he pushed himself up and away from the bulkhead. "Maybe Rico's men aren't on this ship," he suddenly figured, as slowly Beka guided him towards command.
"What do you mean?" Beka asked confused.
"What if his men are already on the Andromeda, what if the attack has already started without us? We might be the punch line," Harper figured casually. "It makes no sense that Rico is heading towards the Andromeda without an army but with clear intentions of taking it, so what if they are already there?" Harper now began to stress, with his panic rising.
"Colin's men, we weren't sure how many were loyal to Rico," Beka then realised.
"Colin?" Harper checked with a wry grin. "That puppy dog that followed you everywhere until you kicked him off the ship?"
"I did not kick him off!" Beka protested, but Harper's expression reminded her that now was not the time. "Yes, Colin the Nietzschean, Harper, a lot happened ok but I left the Andromeda with Colin, and some of his friends onboard but we were unsure how many of those 'friends' were actually genuine," Beka frowned now, as they approached command and heard the voices of the command crew.
"You left a bunch of Nietzschean's on the Andromeda with question marks over their heads as to their loyalty?" Harper checked with surprise.
Beka shrugged and seemed to cringe at Harper's observation. "It was a difficult situation, it was Dylan's idea, and I had to come looking for you," she hurriedly explained. "Dylan had to save Yussuf, and reclaim the palace so we could-" Beka attempted to explain before she was cut off.
"Save Yussuf?" Harper asked then quickly raised his hand, and a shake of the head. "Later, again with the later," he gestured towards command. "We still have to somehow disable this ship but at the same time be able to help the Andromeda."
"If Rico's men are already on board the Andromeda," Beka then looked at Harper. "This ship is just too big for the two of us," she grinned.
"The Maru?" Harper smiled, understanding his friend's unspoken words. "But first, let me leave these guys a parting shot, or five," Harper requested.
"What will it involve?" Beka checked.
"Five minutes, a port to jack into and a healthy dose of revenge the Harper way," Harper offered with narrowed eyes.
"Five minutes, that's all I'm giving you, we shouldn't hang around whilst things are so quiet," Beka ordered sternly. "Do you know where the Maru is?"
Harper simply tapped his temple, signifying that he did and they both turned to head back down the corridor, but before Harper knew what was happening he was suddenly pulled back by Beka to one side and he found himself pressed against the bulkhead. Voices were heard up ahead, and then the whole corridor changed colour as the ship went into red alert, they glanced back towards command and now sense fresh activity, as the whole ship appeared to take on a more threatening atmosphere.
"So much for the quiet," Beka remarked under her breath.
"You think Rico's finally figured out that his ship hasn't blown up, he must be one of those smart ubers," Harper mocked, but alert to the sudden activity that seemed to be developing around them.
"There are in this corridor, sir!"
"Good, find them!"
Beka glanced at the panic stricken Harper, he had heard Rico's voice and it had sent his emotions hurtling back towards his fear. From command two Nietzscheans appeared and instantly spotted them, drawing their weapons and yelling at them both to hit the deck in surrender.
Beka encouraged Harper to join her on the deck; she could see they were surrounded with a number of guns trained on them. Without a word Harper laid face down, and Beka glanced down the corridor to see Rico approaching, clearly angered.
"You!" Rico yelled towards Harper, ignoring Beka as he headed directly for the prone human, and with a swift kick Harper was suddenly doubled up and gasping for air. "Get to your feet!" Rico shouted loudly and before Harper had a chance to respond, Rico grabbed his shirt and hurled him to his feet pushing him roughly into the bulkhead. "What did you do to my ship!" he yelled, and Harper simply smirked, before Rico immediately backhanded him.
"Hey!" Beka yelled seeing fresh blood from Harper's nose, making to move but the sound of guns being charged caused her to freeze and remain where she was.
Rico looked at Harper with intensity, and then noticed the human's clothes. "You insult my friend by wearing the clothes you murdered him in?" Rico sneered, half ripping the blood stained top to make his point. Harper glared at Rico, showing little emotion to the irate uber.
"You will fix this ship, and you will remove the changes you have made," Rico stressed, but Harper remained silent.
"Rico," a new voice shouted, before approaching the Nietzschean. "I need to speak to you."
"It can wait, I'm have other business right now," Rico stated, his attention not moving from the human he still held against the bulkhead.
"Boss," The Nietzschean soldier insisted as he approached. "You really need to follow me."
"You do not order me around, Jericos!" Rico snapped, and Harper was shoved to the ground as Rico turned to the soldier with fury.
"It's your sister," the soldier continued.
"She's dead, I know, a shot to the stomach by these kludges," Rico fumed with uncontrolled anger.
"She died only a minute ago, gunshot to the side of the head and one to the chest, she was a fighter till the end," the soldier informed him. "We did all we could to try and save her."
"She was alive," Rico then checked, and seemed uncertain for a moment. "She wasn't shot in the head or chest when I left her," he spun around to Harper and made the obvious connection. "You killed my already wounded sister?"
"Put her out of her misery," Harper offered glibly.
"Harper!" Beka snapped knowing Harper had just framed himself.
Rico moved away for a moment before turning back to the human, still on the deck where Rico had thrown him.
"You have killed my best friend, and my sister, you destroyed my brother's life and you saved Yussuf's life," Rico recounted with disbelief, and then he pulled his weapon from its holster. "I should kill you right now, kludge."
"And kill us all, this ship is still programmed to our life signs," Harper reminded him tiredly, gesturing to himself and Beka.
With frustration Rico slammed his weapon back into its holster and dragged Harper to his feet, pulling him along harshly. Harper could barely keep his balance, stumbling all the way as he was forced to follow Rico and he figured they were heading for engineering. With little fear, Harper kept picking himself up, seemingly causing the Nietzschean little trouble as the uber kept the pace up without missing a step.
Finally they arrived and Harper felt the full force of the main console as Rico smashed his head directly into it. A little dazed, Harper lifted his head tasting blood, and focused on the herd of ubers around him.
"Here's your jack, kludge, I see it's worthy of you," Rico forced Harper to hold the crude cable he had earlier welded. "Now fix my ship."
"No," Harper returned with strength.
"Right now I have a date with your lovely Andromeda, but I'm going no where fast," Rico stressed.
"Your sister killed your engineer's not me, not my problem if the ship no longer moves," Harper explained, and then yelped as Rico grabbed his hair tightly.
"You claim to be an engineer, kludge, prove it and you might live once I claim the Andromeda," Rico sneered directly into Harper's ear.
"The Andromeda will never ever be yours, you hear me, my Rommie has class and would never lower herself to serve the likes of you," Harper responded firmly, and then screamed as Rico slammed one end of the cable into Harper's data port without any warning. "You should warn a guy before you violate them!" Harper snapped angrily still recovering with a grimace.
Harper felt the air rushing past him as Rico slammed him into the wall and then his mind melted with confusion and electronic waves as the matrix invaded his consciousness without consent. It hurt like it had never hurt before, and Harper could only tense up as the forced link continued to cause him pain. It was like a different world, nothing made sense here and a place where he normally found solace was suddenly dark and intimidating, he couldn't understand any of the information that rushed past him.
With all his strength, Harper tried to regain some control and brought his hand to his neck and pulled the jack from his port. The intensity of the disconnection caused him to scream with pain and collapse to his knees, and for a moment he was unable to focus and lost awareness until he was shaken from his personal hell.
"Did you fix it?" Rico demanded, pulling a dazed Harper to his feet.
Taking some deep breaths, Harper took time to answer. "No."
The right hook sent him crashing to the ground, before he felt someone else picking him up as Rico descended on him, with the cable in hand.
"No, no, no," Harper stammered, able to figure out what Rico had in mind but there was no way he was going back into the mainframe after his last visit. He pushed back against the attempts to lead him forward towards the connection, and panicked as the uber's strength easily defeated his own.
"This time, fix the ship or we'll force you to watch as we kill you friend," Rico sneered, tentatively placing the jack to Harper's port.
"We'll all die anyway if you kill her, remember?" Harper responded arrogantly.
"We have escape pods," Rico simply said. "I know you can live with the death of my people on your hands, but what about your kludge friend?"
Harper stared at Rico, quickly calculating the probability of an escape pod getting enough distance before the ship blew. This was a fairly modern ship, it's pods were be sufficient to cover the distance needed to find safety, of that he was sure and he realised Rico had once again undermined him, and his resolved weakened.
"Fix the ship, or your friend dies," Rico ordered. "You're now my chief engineer, you will assist me in taking the Andromeda, and you have no choice, slave."
Harper closed his eyes, all fight leaving him rapidly, as he tried to compose his thoughts but the sudden influx of information consumed him fiercely once more, as his body fell unconscious surrounded by code and data, and his mind numbly began to work against his own free will.
TBC
