Part 20
Harper moved across the circular room within the stone tower, and checked another console. The technology was certainly within his understanding, but something else puzzled him and he was lost in his own thoughts when Zal spoke up.
"Can we go now?"
Harper frowned, before looking over and seeing Zal sat on a box looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"This isn't what I'm looking for," Harper finally spoke, as he moved towards Zal. "These towers only contain fixed programs, I can't do anything here to shut these babies down," he added, talking as though Zal would understand.
"Can we go then?" Zal asked, brightening up a little.
"Same way we came in, or look for another exit?" Harper asked, whilst looking around at their options.
"I can climb real good but I can fall like a pro, so I'd rather not use the window again," Zal offered, and gestured to Harper to follow him to the door.
"We should go and find Beka and Rhade before we try and find the place that houses the main operating systems," Harper idly remarked as they walked towards the door.
They were three levels below their original entrance into the tower, and Harper estimated they were now at least a level below the ground. The door was certainly not an exterior door and when Zal opened it, he was proven right as it led to a darkened walkway, clearly underground.
"Finding an exit from these tunnels will mean we won't have to climb through a window next time," Harper whispered, unsure of whether they were alone or not and not wanting to take a chance of being heard.
"Over here, there's some light from above," Zal spotted, and they quickly moved, discovering a dusty old ladder connected to a stone wall and above it the slightest hint of stone cover above them.
"Think we can move that thing?" Harper asked, unsure.
"We can but try," Zal spoke optimistically, and stepped up onto the ladder before pressing his back against the roof, and attempting to shift the cover above them.
Dust fell and Harper covered his eyes, but could still hear that Zal was making good progress. Soon they were both covered in dust, but also in sunlight as Zal pushed the stone one final time and dislodged it from its perch.
"Excellent!" Harper exclaimed and before long was being helped up to the surface by Zal, and they both took a moment to get their bearings.
"The tower is there," Harper stated, and saw the tower to the right of their position, the cover having been a part of the cobbled stone ground. "But where are Rhade and Beka?" he questioned.
Zal got to his feet, and moved quickly to check the other side of the tower, and was soon shaking his head when it was determined that neither Beka nor Rhade were around.
Harper replaced the stone cover, and then took another smaller loose stone to mark the cover, if they ever needed to use it again. "Maybe they heard news about Dylan? You think we should head to the square?"
"I don't know," Zal offered, having returned to Harper's side. "It all seems a bit quiet around here."
"It's been quiet around here since I got here," Harper countered.
"No, this is a different kind of quiet," Zal objected. "The kind of quiet that suggests something is going on and I don't like that kind of quiet; especially knowing that the Gilads are in the area."
"You don't think they passed by here do you?" Harper checked, becoming concerned.
A sudden chorus of cheers seemed to answer their question, and both Zal and Harper looked at each other before they turned to see a set of figures heading their way.
"Gilads," Zal stressed and grabbing Harper to ensure he moved, they both began to run.
Rhade stepped forward, seeing that they were surrounded but he wasn't going to go down without a fight, he had pampered to these people enough already, and this time he would do something.
"We've done nothing to upset you, so let us pass," Rhade requested firmly.
"You being here upsets us," one of the men spoke.
"Well that's not my problem, now is it?" Rhade stressed.
"If you haven't noticed, we can't exactly leave so don't think we want to be here," Beka stated, standing firm with Rhade.
The man that had spoken considered their words. "Where are the others, you were four when you arrived."
"Kenan has one of us, the other is around here somewhere," Rhade returned, arms crossed and remaining defiant.
A sudden flurry of shouts and noises drew attention away from Rhade and Beka, and they didn't waste the opportunity as the group of people were momentarily distracted. Rhade pushed past the section of people that he had pre-determined to be the weakest, and he grabbed Beka to follow as they made their escape. Looking back, Beka saw Harper and Zal running away from another group of Edenians and she forced Rhade to stop.
"It's Harper," Beka stressed, ignoring that their own escape had now been noticed and their pursuers were advancing on them once more.
Rhade groaned. "I'm growing tired of saying this, Beka but Harper can look after himself, he has to, because if we don't move we won't be in any position to help him, so move!" he barked the last bit and Beka responded rapidly by turning and running.
Harper could feel his energy waning as they continued to run, his breath was short and his lungs were beginning to burn, as were his leg muscles as Zal led him down another narrow street.
Just when Harper felt he was going to fall down, he felt his arm pull sharply to the left and before he knew what was going on he was smothered with a blanket and told to keep quiet. Not wanting to question the order, Harper did as he was told and froze under the blanket, not daring to move as he heard voices around him. Outside he could hear footsteps running against the stone, echoing around the narrow stone streets. After a few moments the noises died down until finally the blanket was moved from on top of him, and he was able to breathe again, collapsing to the floor to help his recovery.
"Harper, are you ok?" Zal asked with adrenaline induced energy.
"Give me a second," Harper requested, lying flat on his back with his eyes closed and arms outstretched either side of him.
"Hey, come on, it wasn't that bad," Zal teased.
Harper opened his eyes wearily. "I'm going to have to quit wasting my energy," he offered between heavy breaths. "I can't move, Zal. That was too much."
"Getting old buddy," Zal mocked, as he was given a bottle of the green liquid. "Come on, sit up and take some of this."
"No, no more of that stuff, is there any water?" Harper asked, and saw for the first time the old lady stood with Zal, but she was shaking her head.
"Take it, Harper, it's all she's got," Zal spoke with a tone that suggested Harper should take the drink.
"Thanks," Harper briefly smiled to the lady, guessing she had somehow offered Zal the opportunity to hide in her home. He took a couple of gulps and it hit the right spot, as he slowly recovered his breath.
The old lady knelt down beside Harper and busily wiped his brow, and Harper soon realised how much he was perspiring. His eyes felt heavy, and he knew that he needed to sleep but Harper also knew that he couldn't afford to rest, Rhade and Beka were still out there somewhere.
Pushing himself up to his feet, Harper stumbled and felt Zal grab hold of his arms as the room spun, and another dizzy spell hit him hard. Gripping to Zal like a man possessed, Harper tensed until the spell passed and he was able to focus again.
"Your friend should rest," the old lady offered to Zal.
"He's always like this," Zal dismissed.
"No, let him rest, if you have things to do well you do them, but I'm not letting you drag that poor boy around after you in his condition," the old lady fussed. "Go, I can look after him, I used to work in the hospital before things got bad around here," she added.
"I'm fine, I just over exerted myself, that's all," Harper stressed, staying close to Zal. "Besides, there's not much you can do, really," he added.
The old lady shook her head and then turned to an old box, lifting the lid she removed a smaller box and opened it for Harper to look inside.
"A medical kit?" Harper checked.
"Let me help you, I can see your shoulder is injured and I can at least make you feel more comfortable," the old lady smiled. "I have some nanobots," she added, and Harper suddenly felt more compelled to stay.
"Zal, go find the others, I think it might be wise for me to stay here for a little while," Harper ordered.
"Sure," Zal agreed, backing towards the door. "I'll bring them here, as soon as I find them."
Harper was ushered into the back room, offering a brief wave to Zal before he turned to leave. Feeling an air of relief that his pain might finally be eased, Harper eagerly lowered himself to the floor and sat on the blanket that acted as the bed.
"So what is your name?" Harper asked, as the old lady took care to arrange her supplies.
"My name is Zillah, and yours?" she asked, her back to him as she continued to fuss around her supplies.
"Seamus," Harper offered, getting comfortable on the blanket that covered the dusty stone floor.
"A name I have never heard before," Zillah spoke with a smile, as she turned to face him.
"It's from Earth, where I come from," Harper returned, and saw Zillah now had an injector in her hand.
"I will inject this, it should help with the pain," Zillah smiled. "Could you remove your shirt so I can take a closer look at that damage to your shoulder and neck?" she requested and without word Harper quickly removed the garment and watched as Zillah injected him.
"Those are the nanobots I assume," Harper spoke, offering idle conversation.
Zillah smiled once more. "Not exactly," she spoke with consideration. "That will simply numb the pain, and lesson your ability to move for a little while."
"I don't understand," Harper stated, a little concerned and not understanding why she would need to limit his movement to treat him.
"Well it's not everyday an alien species tumbles through my door, in fact you're the first and I'm sorry, but I'm of a medical background and I can not waste this opportunity."
"Excuse me?" Harper stressed, as he felt all feeling leaving his body rapidly.
"I will fix and help you," Zillah stated. "But I will also take some time to study your kind, and I can only do that with your co-operation."
"You don't have my co-operation!" Harper sneered, attempting to move but his limbs failed to respond adequately.
"Relax, I'm guessing for the first time in days you are pain free, so enjoy it," Zillah encouraged, and Harper had to concede that she was right. "It'll be a lot quicker and easier if you simply relax."
"What are you planning to do?" Harper questioned uneasily, knowing there was little he could do to stop her now, why had he trusted a little old lady, he wondered with frustration.
"Your body is similar to our own male bodies," Zillah appeared to be beginning her examination, and then Harper saw that she had another device that she soon pressed into his skin. Slowly he saw the empty container attached to it fill with his own blood. "Red blood, fascinating," Zillah smiled broadly as she filled the container and took it to her desk for safe keeping.
"What the hell can you do with this stuff?" Harper questioned. "You have no lab, and no equipment to study this stuff."
"Oh silly boy," Zillah smiled sweetly. "Don't you see all the equipment around you?"
Harper looked around the bare room, the empty space and let his head fall back against the floor, as he closed his eyes. "Great, just great, thanks again Zal for all your help and leaving me in the company of Madam Nutzo!" he exclaimed with anger, although knowing he should have known better.
The old lady approached again, and knelt beside Harper and he saw the flash of the blade immediately. "Please, no," Harper instantly panicked, wishing he could move but instead he was prone on the floor, as Zillah continued to smile down at him.
"This will make it better," Zillah announced calmly.
Rhade stood with Beka; they were pressed against a stone wall and listening intently. "I think we lost them," he ventured.
"It's been a few minutes and they haven't doubled backed, I think you're right," Beka agreed, catching her breath. "We need to find Zal and Harper."
Rhade nodded his head and then caught sight of the sun above. "By my reckoning, judging by the sun's position, Dylan will be center stage very soon."
"I'm not sure I want to catch that performance," Beka admitted.
Rhade shrugged. "We should show support, and I really want Harper to see what Dylan is going through for him."
Beka looked around, almost distractedly. "You can't blame Harper for being on the side of self preservation," she offered. "He's never been one to just walk into the arms of someone who wants to hurt him," she added.
"Back," Rhade suddenly stated, and he pushed Beka back against the wall where they froze side by side, hearing someone approaching.
It took a moment for them to recognise the young man, but they soon did. "Zal!" Beka called out, and the young kid immediately turned on his heals.
"The Gilads have gone, probably got bored," he offered with a sigh, seeing Rhade and Beka still on edge, hiding against the wall. "But they'll be back, when you least want them to be."
"Where's Harper?" Beka asked, as she moved away from the wall.
"Some old lady took pity on him, she's got some medical supplies, and offered to fix him up," Zal shrugged, without too much interest.
"And you just left him there?" Rhade checked.
"He wanted to find you, but the lady was right, he needed some additional help so I told him to stay and said I'd find you, and I have," Zal beamed.
"Take us to him," Beka ordered and Zal didn't object as he began to walk with Beka and Rhade following him.
"Did you find anything in the tower?" Rhade then asked, as they continued to navigate the narrow streets.
"Stuff," Zal answered.
"What kind of stuff," Beka asked impatiently.
"The wrong stuff, Harper said he needed the control center, those systems were just you know, wrong or something," he attempted to explain.
"Maybe it would be better to ask Harper himself," Beka suggested, and sighed. "So why did this old lady offer Harper medical help, was he ok?"
"She saw his shoulder, we'd been running like mad men, and his shirt was a little off from that, and then the hiding," Zal shrugged. "He was struggling to recover so she offered to help."
"Who are these Gilads?" Rhade asked, before Beka could get another question in.
"Bad people, to be avoided at all costs, they get their kicks from the suffering of others," Zal explained, looking around as if suddenly nervous that they could return, but soon relaxing again. He looked at Beka and saw her concern. "Harper is fine, I think she just wanted to fix that burnt skin on his shoulder and neck," he offered.
"Harper isn't a normal patient, I just hope she knows what she is doing," Beka simply responded.
"Said she used to work in the hospital," Zal returned.
"Well that's something I guess, so she lives around here?" Beka asked looking around at the intimidating buildings surrounding them.
"Yeah," Zal stopped at a cross roads, five narrow streets went off in various and very different directions. "I'm not too familiar with this part of town, but I think it was down here."
"You think?" Beka checked.
"Don't know if you noticed, or how things are your side of the universe, but these streets look very alike to the untrained eye," Zal protested, as he chose the street to walk down.
"What are we looking for?" Rhade offered before Beka could bite the kids head off.
"I know she had some sort of ornament on her door, like a beast, big teeth," Zal offered helpfully.
Beka and Rhade looked up and down the street seeing similar ornaments on most of the doors, Zal didn't even have to wait for them to say something. "Ok, she also had a green door, ok, that narrows it down a bit!" he protested with annoyance for his own mistake.
"Only a bit," Beka remarked, seeing a few green doors ahead of them. "Let's start looking."
"We are definitely going to get Harper a leash before we leave this place," Rhade complained, as he headed for the green door nearest to him.
TBC