Part 22
The feeling in his arms and shoulders had long gone numb, to the point where he could not longer feel them. Dylan Hunt groaned as he attempted to move onto his side, but decided to remain on his back looking up at the dirty ceiling. Remembering back to his day, and his thoughts taunted him as he recalled hanging forward by his wrists that were tied behind his back, meaning that his shoulders dislocated painfully. They had repeatedly lowered the rope sharply, and then just as quickly stopped the momentum of his fall; his shoulders didn't stand a chance of holding up to that treatment. At times it felt as though his arms would simply rip from his body, and Dylan had never known pain like it to the point he found that he had even thanked his tormenters when they had finally lowered him from the torture device.
Now he was alone, lying on his back unsure if he truly had any arms still attached to his body, with all feeling absent. His thoughts wandered to his friends, wondering how they were doing and hoping that they were doing better than he. Briefly he hoped that they had at least found Harper, or better still that the Andromeda had finally appeared, ready to kick some ass, as more and more Dylan regretted his do nothing plan, knowing that it really had backfired.
"Asleep again?" Rhade remarked.
"Give him a break, it's been a tough day," Beka responded, and glanced over to the sleeping human.
"This is the third time since we returned that he has slept," Rhade remarked. "Usually it's impossible to get him to sleep, and now it's hard to keep him awake."
"When he's ready he'll share what he found in the tower," Beka snapped, knowing the reason for Rhade's irritation.
Rhade took a deep breath, knowing he had pushed Beka too far with his comments. "Sorry, but I find it a little odd that he's sleeping so much, I never had him as a big sleeper."
"He's not usually," Beka conceded. "It's this stupid planet," she then frowned. "Usually we wouldn't expect Dylan's plans to involve doing nothing," she cited as another example of strange. "But I'm not surprised Harper is sleeping, just look at him and you'll see he's struggling. He's been sick, hurt and add starving to the list, is it really any surprise?"
"He seems fairly comfortable from where I'm standing," Rhade half grinned. "I half expect he's sleeping so much so he doesn't have to move," he added with a smile, seeing Harper sleeping next to Beka, who partially cradled the human in the hope of offering him some comfort whilst he slept, as opposed to the hard cold stone floor.
"I wouldn't put it past him," Beka attempted to join in, but her voice lacked the conviction of her usual teasing, and her concern was clear to see.
"If I said anything before that was out of line about you and Harper, I'm sorry," Rhade then thought to offer. "It's more than clear that you have something good there, completely plutonic and fully above board, don't get me wrong and I won't ever question it again, promise," Rhade offered softly, with his most genuine face. "I'm just the new one here, who knows nothing about how things are, so forgive me?"
"Forgiven," Beka smiled, appreciating the thought, as she found herself tightening her hold briefly around Harper. "And that stuff I said before, although the sentiment was true, I don't think I really said it as it should have sounded, so just don't go there again, ok?"
"Deal," Rhade grinned and left the room, leaving Beka to hold Harper as he slept, deep down unsure exactly what she was feeling anymore, just happy to have Harper close and in sight, where she could protect him. His earlier words, however, still troubled her. She'd seen the anger and the emotion before in Harper, only years before, and that's what concerned her.
"Don't do deal with ubers, Beka, you know better than that," Harper wearily spoke, as he became aware once more. Moving to sit up, Harper took a moment to adjust to a waking state once more. "But he's right I just can't seem to stay awake," he noted.
"Maybe the events of the past few days have caught up with you?" Beka suggested.
"Maybe," Harper agreed, though deep down he knew his port wasn't helping. At that moment it was co-operating, and he didn't feel as though he was in two different places which made a change. However, Harper had grown use to the situation suddenly changing in a blink of an eye, and having to compensate so as not to completely lose his senses.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Beka asked remaining sat next to Harper. "You seemed pretty messed up earlier."
"I'm good," Harper answered all too easily, and he glanced at Beka. "Ok, that old lady freaked me out for a bit," he admitted with a heavy heart. "I couldn't do anything to stop her," he stressed and Beka seemed to respond to his growing agitation.
"It's ok, Seamus," Beka assured him.
"She did fix my shoulder," he conceded.
"The bots have worked on your head too, the gash is just a mark now," Beka gestured to Harper's temple, where he had hit his head on the stone floor.
"Has Zal come back yet?" Harper idly asked, and immediately saw Beka's flash of anger. "Just wondering," he offered defensively.
"No," Beka sighed. "Tell me, Harper, why are you giving someone like Zal the time of day?"
Harper simply shrugged. "He's not a bad kid," he half smiled. "Once you get to know him, actually take the time to," he stated.
"Did he hurt you?" Beka asked.
"Beka," Harper whined, as he got to his feet and stretched. "Zal is ok, ok?" he stressed and his hand tentatively touched the skin that had previously been sore and burnt, finding new skin in its place. Without making it too obvious, Harper then touched his port, it was barely noticeable now but Harper knew it was still a little open, but not as much as before, only enough to tell him it was still going to play havoc with his senses.
"Check this out," Rhade then announced on walking into the room, and he noticed Harper was up. "Sleepy head, you should watch this especially."
"What is it?" Harper asked, seeing the old looking pad screen device in Rhade's hand.
"The guards happily gave this to me, you'll see why," Rhade answered and flicked a switch activating a small flickering screen.
For the next few minutes they were treated to highlights of Dylan's torture in the square. Both Rhade and Beka looked away on occasions, and the only person glued to the small screen was Harper, who didn't move as he watched the full presentation until it went to a black screen.
"Poor Dylan," Beka remarked softly, showing concern.
"He doesn't deserve this," Rhade spoke.
"And I do?" Harper chose to respond sharply picking up on Rhade's tone, moving away to the other side of the room. He sat down and grabbed a ration pack.
"I never said that," Rhade calmly answered.
"You didn't have to, meat head, I'm not stupid," Harper sneered, as he broke open the packet and began to eat the meagre offerings inside.
"Harper, don't do this," Beka then spoke.
Harper glared at her, eating the rations and not responding.
"Do what?" Rhade was interested to know what Beka meant.
"It's nothing," Beka easily dismissed. "Forget it, forget all of this, we need to just focus on helping Dylan, nothing else."
"The only way we can help Dylan is to help the Andromeda," Harper stated.
"We don't even know if the Andromeda is out there," Rhade noted. "And you haven't exactly been forthcoming with details of your earlier explore of that tower," he added curtly.
"I need some air," Harper stated, and got to his feet but Rhade blocked his exit.
"Enough of pampering Harper, I want to know what you saw," Rhade stressed.
Beka shook her head. "Let him go get some air, Rhade."
Rhade glanced at the blank expression in Harper, and then stepped aside to let the human walk past him. Once he had left the building, Rhade turned to Beka.
"What the hell is going on with him?" Rhade asked. "And with you?"
Beka sighed and walked closer to Rhade. "I'm not sure, but the signs are not good," she offered. "Whatever that old lady did, she sure shook him up and I don't know why but I do know one thing," Beka said with seriousness. "Right now, Harper is that kid I first knew on the Maru."
"What?" Rhade wanted to laugh but thought better of it.
"When he left that old lady's house, when he confronted you just then, didn't you see how he'd changed?" Beka questioned.
"He was being Harper," Rhade defended. "Beka, I don't want to offend you but I think you're over reacting here."
"Something is different," Beka returned.
"Maybe, but maybe its not just coming from Harper," Rhade stated. "And I think he's had enough air."
"Let me get him," Beka requested and pushed past Rhade, before the Nietzschean had the chance to leave.
"Zal!" Harper exclaimed with a smile. "Where the hell have you been?"
Zal casually strolled over to where Harper was standing, at the back of the house that they were currently calling home.
"I got caught up in stuff," Zal shrugged. "You look better," he observed.
"Yeah," Harper answered, and then caught sight of Zal's face. "What hit you?" he asked.
"Nothing," Zal dismissed distantly.
"Pallu nothing?" Harper guessed, and saw the flash of panic in Zal's expression before he quickly looked away.
"Doesn't matter," Zal frowned. "So why are you out here?"
"Needed to get away from a questioning uber," Harper answered, and then smirked. "It's not even as if I'm even hiding anything, but I'm finding it really difficult to talk to him right now," he tried to explain showing some agitation.
"Other people suck right now," Zal then observed brightly.
Harper smiled, and stayed with that thought for a moment until he closed his eyes suddenly. "Ah man, give me a break," he complained, although more to himself as he backed into the wall for support.
"You ok?" Zal asked.
"Stupid mind is starting to trip again, I'm feeling it. Must be due another spell soon," he added, widening his eyes, blinking briefly, as if to compensate.
"I'll stay with you then, just in case," Zal offered and Harper could only smile in response.
They were both silent now, and within their own thoughts. The shadows hiding them from the sun above, the area behind the house was secluded and away from the main street. Harper attempted to keep control but he could feel his mind drifting, and the conflict within. Within moments Harper felt the familiar sensation of the area around him seemingly spinning, and the nauseous sensation of sickness, as the disorientation of his port attempting to project his mind elsewhere threw him.
"Harper?"
Harper took a sharp breath, hearing Beka's voice through his fit was the last thing he needed, and he noticeably tensed. He felt Zal around him, knowing Zal had realised the situation too and expected to be moved at any moment. But they didn't move and Harper was too lost for the moment to fully comprehend what Zal was planning.
"Harper? You round here?" Beka called out, and walked around the corner to the back of the house. Almost immediately she stopped, and found she had forgotten how to breathe, or move, or even think straight. When sense returned, Beka quickly backed away. It took until she reached the front of the house to even consider what she had seen, or to make any sense of it. Resting her back against the stone wall, Beka took some needed breaths and calmed down, her shock finally subsiding as the reality returned.
Now she wondered if what she had seen was real. Zal was stood in front of Harper, and, Beka paused in her thinking to rub her face. It couldn't be true, Beka considered, but then her thoughts began to face facts, Harper had been strangely close to the alien, and seemingly became a friend overnight. Beka chastised herself for her choice of words but the images remained in her mind to taunt her. Harper and Zal? She had seen it, had seem them in an embrace and she was certain, without doubt that they had been kissing. Beka sunk to the ground, her own mind had now confirmed what she simply found hard to believe. It wasn't true, Beka told herself, she'd know if it was she'd of had some clue about Harper if that was true, she knew Harper better than anyone so how come she hadn't seen this? Deep down, Beka felt her whole understanding of Harper to be crumbling away, how had she not guessed this, or in anyway believed it was possible for Harper, of all people, Harper, but she couldn't say or think it and Beka simply sighed, and held her head in her hands.
Harper's senses had known Beka was there, but just as quickly she was gone, confusing him and then Harper's awareness picked up on a more disturbing realisation. His dizziness seemed to crash around him, and all too soon Harper's instincts returned and he pushed Zal away with force.
"What the hell!" Harper stammered, his balance still off as he nearly fell with the momentum of his return to reality.
"I couldn't think of anything else!" Zal offered defensively, knowing immediately that he had freaked Harper out.
"You were freaking kissing me!" Harper hissed, not wanting to speak too loudly.
"She was right there and you were convulsing, what was I suppose to do?" Zal argued, with his voice as low as Harper's as they attempted to have the quietest argument ever.
"Not kiss me!" Harper snapped, his face a void of confusion and panic. "She saw us, Zal, what the freaking hell am I supposed to do now?"
"You told me she couldn't find out about the fits," Zal reminded him.
"So you thought it would be better to make her think we're an item?" Harper argued, clearly distressed as he found his balance quickly and paced the small area. "I'll never be able to look at her again, this is bad, real bad, Zal."
"Relax, man," Zal protested. "It was just a kiss, wasn't as if, you know, we were getting down or anything!" he smiled now, hoping Harper would lighten up.
Harper took some needed deep breaths, and composed himself. "What is this?" Harper then asked with accusing tones. "You could only think of kissing me to make sure Beka didn't see?" he questioned. "You didn't even consider just bumping into her again and buying me some time till the fit passed?"
Zal shrugged. "It hurt last time I bumped into that chick," he offered.
"I'm not interested Zal, not one bit, ok?" Harper explained with venom. "Stuff your looking out for me if you're just gonna do stupid crap, ok?"
Zal now looked angry. "I did what I thought was best, Harper," he stressed now, moving forward. "What? You think because my brother likes a man that I must be like him too, you think I'm actually after you?" he asked with anger lacing his words. "Get over yourself, I did what I did cos I thought it would help, and I don't like what your suggesting," Zal warned.
"How will letting Beka see me kissing you help?" Harper asked.
"We weren't freaking kissing, you freak," Zal finally revealed. "We just looked like we were."
"We weren't?" Harper checked. "Sure felt like we were."
"You were tripping, so how the hell would you know what was going on out here?" Zal asked and stepped closer, broaching on Harper's personal space again but before Harper could stop him Zal placed his hand over Harper's mouth, and re-created what he had done, as he kissed his own hand.
Zal began to laugh, still holding his hand to Harper's face preventing him from talking, and pressing the human back against the wall. When Harper finally relaxed, Zal moved away and allowed Harper to respond.
"You shouldn't have let Beka see that, hell that's worse than her catching me having a damn fit!" Harper stated, and paced the small area once again.
"And you shouldn't make out that I have some stupid crush on you, and that I'd planned it," Zal responded.
"You really had your hand on my mouth?" Harper checked.
"Yes," Zal offered.
"I can't do this, this is ridiculous," Harper stressed. "I can't have Beka believe we're an item or anything like that, sorry, I'm just going to tell her the truth," he decided.
"Suits me, least now I don't have to keep looking at you like some lovelorn idiot, looking for those special signs," Zal teased.
"Not funny," Harper sighed. "Man, I don't even know if I can face her again," he frowned, turning back to pace some more.
"Is kissing me really so bad?" Zal asked, enjoying Harper's torment. "I thought I was rather good."
"Shut up," Harper lightly snapped, as he ran a hand through his hair and paced some more, whilst bringing his hands around to hug himself.
"Look, I'm sorry," Zal offered, seeing how worked up Harper was getting. "I was really only trying to help."
"Well you have helped," Harper offered. "Helped me to see that I really shouldn't have kept this from Beka, because we've just made it a hell of a lot worse," he shrugged.
"So, I shouldn't mention to Beka about wedding plans or anything?" Zal asked with seriousness.
"Will you cut it out?" Harper requested, and then finally smiled. "Just don't, or I'll personally kill you, ok?"
"Oh, you've changed," Zal teased, and walked with Harper as he began to head back to the house.
"Don't even think about it!" Harper snapped before Zal could put an arm around him, dreading facing Beka as he tried to keep focused.
TBC