Part 24
Beka was in a world of her own when she heard her name being called. Looking up the street, she saw four figures heading her way, and one of them was being held up by the others.
"Dylan," Beka said under her breath recognising the one being held up.
Reaching the others, Beka couldn't help the glare she threw at Zal who was hovering around, but not actually helping. Zal quickly backed away and avoided Beka, as she tried to help, seeing that Dylan was in a lot of pain.
"Let's get him into the house," Asa guided them, as they approached the door.
Working as a team, they all managed to get Dylan inside and then laid him down on the floor, finding spare blankets to make him more comfortable.
"Is he conscious?" Beka asked, having not heard a sound from him.
"Barely," Rhade answered grimly.
"What did they do to him?" Beka fussed, trying to determine his injuries. "Other than beat him senseless?" she asked, seeing the swollen features of the captain.
"His shoulders have been dislocated, and it seems pretty bad. I managed to push the joints back in but I think there's a lot more damage there than just dislocation," Rhade frowned. "He's in a lot of pain and we have nothing to ease it."
"We do," Asa announced, having retrieved another bottle.
"Guys?" Zal then hesitantly spoke up.
Beka spun around and saw Zal crouching over Harper's sleeping form, and she immediately allowed her instincts to take over. "Get the hell away from him!"
"But," Zal offered, as he quickly backed away but Beka scared him enough to stop protesting.
"You don't go near him, you understand?" Beka instructed firmly, when she saw Zal was complying with her wishes to move away from her friend.
"What's going on?" Rhade asked, feeling as though he was missing something.
Beka took some calming breaths, distracting herself by caring for Dylan. "I just don't want Zal hanging around Harper, ok?" she simply stated.
"What are you all of a sudden, his mother?" Rhade remarked casually, slightly amused.
"His friend, and if you ever want to claim the same you will also insist that Zal stay the hell away from us," Beka seethed.
"Why?" Rhade was genuinely confused, knowing the kid was a little annoying but he hadn't seen anything that would make the kid a threat to Harper. "Other than you just don't like him?"
"He lies and we can't trust him," Beka answered, focused on Dylan and attempting to get the captain to drink the alcohol to ease the pain.
"Lies?" Zal checked unsure from where he now stood by the wall.
"You told him you had your hand over his mouth," Beka snapped back, glaring at the Edenian.
"Oh," Zal responded and understanding her reason. "But I really think," he began again but Beka was quick to stop him.
"Just shut up, ok? If you had any sense you would just go, get the hell away from here and leave us alone," Beka stressed.
"I can't do that," Zal answered, as he slid down the wall to sit down, and he returned his attention to Harper.
"Then just shut up," Beka stressed, just wanting to help Dylan without the annoying distraction.
Dylan groaned, and Beka immediately attempted to get him to focus on her. "Dylan, its Beka."
"Beka," Dylan wearily repeated, and then recognition seemed to follow. "I'm back," he then realised.
"You're back," Beka smiled, and glanced at Rhade who seemed just as relieved to have the captain back.
"You need to rest," Asa remarked, and Dylan didn't seem to have the energy to argue.
"The collar," Dylan then stressed with renewed panic, attempting to move his arms and grimacing in pain on doing so. "I had a collar."
"He had this in his hands," Rhade gestured to the metal collar, and Beka took it from him.
"This?" Beka showed it to Dylan, who then nodded his head. "What is this?"
"Kenan," Dylan managed, and then forced himself to say more. "Kenan gave it to me for," he struggled.
"For Harper," Asa spoke knowingly.
Beka immediately turned to Asa. "What?"
"That collar is almost the exact same one to what we removed from Harper when we first found him," Asa explained.
"Kenan says he has to wear it," Dylan supported.
"No way, I'm not going to have any of you put this on Harper!" Beka stressed. "I can't believe you're even considering following that mad man's orders!"
"I have no choice, if Kenan catches Harper without it, he'll come for us again," Dylan offered, not wanting to reveal the full truth and being unable to as he suffered a coughing fit. Beka comforted Dylan, as the coughing fit died down, and Rhade took a closer look at the metal collar.
"Neat plan, don't punish the little guy for bad behaviour, just his friends," Rhade handed the collar to Asa, and then crossed his arms. "He doesn't frighten me."
"It won't be you he'll come after, Rhade," Dylan frowned, and looked at Beka.
"I'm next?" Beka checked and noticeably paled. "I see, so is this just wearing the collar or anything Harper does that Kenan doesn't agree with?"
"Anything," Dylan closed his eyes, unable to look Beka in the eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Beka slowly nodded her head. "Well I guess in public we could insist that maybe Harper wear this, you know, just to play ball?"
"Once this is on, it's on," Asa informed them, checking the collars workings.
"We can't put this on Harper," Beka got to her feet. "He's suffering enough already."
"Really?" Rhade questioned. "You can say that in front of a guy who nearly had his arms ripped off because of said man's actions, and I might add has lacked any remorse for those actions, and what Dylan has been through?"
Beka's expression was blank. "Harper's having problems of his own with his data port, serious problems."
Dylan opened his eyes and attempted to sit up. "How bad?" he managed, taking a sharp intake of breath to ease his pains.
"Dylan, you're not seriously concerned, after what just happened to you because of him?" Rhade scoffed.
"What happened to me will never kill me, but that data port is connected to Harper's brain, of course I'm concerned!" Dylan snapped, dismissing his own pains as he sat up.
"I'm not sure how bad, but he told me he's suffering fits," Beka offered.
"Is suffering a fit if you just listened to me once in a while," Zal butted in, having edged as close as he dared to Harper's side. Beka turned and glared at him again. "Oh just hit me already and get it over with so I can just help Harper!" Zal then snapped on seeing Beka's fuming face.
In an instant Beka's featured softened to those of concern as she hurried to Harper's side. She took in what appeared to be a sleeping form, but on closer inspection she saw the slight jerks and tense body, his face twitching frequently.
"No previous fit has lasted this long," Zal offered showing his concern now he had Beka's attention, and moving closer so he could be at Harper's side. "They've been quick, and he's usually recovered in a couple of minutes but this one, this one looks bad," he feared.
Harper's eyes then opened and Beka was about to speak to him when she noticed all too quickly that Harper wasn't focusing on anything. Staring blankly ahead, his eyes appeared glazed and unresponsive.
"Harper?" Beka spoke, as Rhade moved closer.
Still Harper's eyes just remained staring blankly ahead, and his face and body continued to jerk.
"He's been drinking," Rhade noted and lifted Harper's hand that still clung to the now empty bottle, and it took some effort to remove the vice like grip. "His whole body is tense."
"I thought he was asleep again," Beka spoke, clearly growing more distraught.
"He has slept a lot since he got back here," Rhade noted.
"I did try to tell you," Zal shrugged, and this time failed to react to Beka's glare, with his focus too consumed by Harper's condition.
"Please, just leave, Zal, I really don't want you near him," Beka asked quietly, without looking at Zal, her attention completely on Harper.
"Why?" Zal questioned.
"You know why," Beka stressed, and looked into the kids eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," Zal answered with seriousness. "And don't worry I'm not going to do anything, whatever you think my intentions are, you're wrong ok? I was just messing about, I have no grand plans to take Harper away from you, is that clear so can we now focus on the more important issue of your friend seemingly being in a comatosed state?" Zal returned angrily, and for once showing a more responsible attitude.
"The kid is right, Beka, let's focus," Rhade agreed.
Beka took a deep breath, and seeing Harper in the state he was in was scaring her to the core. She'd seen him through some pretty bad scrapes, but nothing like this. The unstaring eyes, usually so full of life were taunting her as she tried to think of something that would help, but she couldn't think of anything.
Zal then moved closer and for no obvious reason he put his hand to Harper's port, and the moment that contact was made, Zal sharply drew his hand away in pain. Harper's body violently jerked in reaction, and for a split second there was a deadly silence until Harper blinked his eyes and began to catch his breath, breathing quickly.
"Harper?" Beka checked, and this time Harper's eyes focused on her and his confusion followed.
"Beka, what just happened?" Harper managed between breaths.
"You had a major trip," Beka answered, holding Harper's upper body as he tried to compose himself. "You weren't responding to anything."
Harper closed his eyes, and took a needed deep breath. "I felt as though I was no where," he then spoke, opening his eyes. "It was like a dream but I knew it wasn't," he added and then held his head. "And ow, my head is killing me."
"You must have nearly drunk this whole bottle, we only opened it this afternoon," Rhade gestured to the bottle.
"I thought I only had a couple of gulps," Harper frowned. "Must have been big gulps," he sighed and then his hand reached for his port. "It's closed, how come?" he asked confused.
"I closed it," Zal spoke up, still clutching his arm to his chest.
"How?" Harper asked.
"Just with my hand," he gestured to his injured limb. "I remember you saying about it being open, so I figured I'd try closing it and you sent the mother of all shocks down my arm, it hurts like hell."
"You touched an active port, and one that's not working right?" Harper shrugged. "You're crazy, but thanks," he offered genuinely, rubbing his neck now. "I think you might have temporarily solved the problem, if it remains shut then it won't accidentally attempt to connect me now, in theory," Harper offered, brightly.
"Good work, Zal," Rhade offered.
"Yeah," Beka reluctantly joined in.
"Dylan?" Harper then noticed the high guard captain lying on the ground, and with Beka's help he managed to move to his side. "Aw crap, Dylan, I'm sorry," Harper quickly offered with some panic, seeing the damage and pain Dylan was in.
"Not what you were saying earlier," Rhade noted, and Harper just glared at him.
"Harper," Dylan then spoke. "Are you fit enough to move?"
"Sure, just give me a couple of hours for the room to stop spinning," Harper joked. "Don't worry about me, Dylan, you're the one looking like crap," he stressed.
"You were right," Dylan then spoke.
"What?" Harper checked unsure.
"We need to fight, and we need to do something."
Harper looked at Rhade and Beka in turn and then back to Dylan. "You're not mad at me for doing those things?"
"Not when I have Rhade to do that for me, I'm too tired to do mad," Dylan managed to smile, as Rhade growled in return. "Rommie needs our help, and you're the only one who can help her."
"I know," Harper exclaimed. "She obviously can't break the defences from up there, and I'm down here, already working on that one, boss," Harper was quick to assure the captain.
"Good, I was hoping you hadn't stopped just because of them taking me," Dylan sounded more alert now.
Harper looked at Beka and Rhade and just frowned. "You want me to go against your orders?" he asked, unsure that he had heard correctly.
"Scrap the old orders, we have new orders now," Dylan insisted and then looked at Rhade. "Help me to sit up," he requested, and with some effort Rhade eased Dylan up, and then moved him so he could lean against the stone wall. Now sitting up, Dylan became more like his usual self, only limited in his upper body movement as his arms hung limply by his side.
"Dylan, are you forgetting something?" Beka then asked. "If Harper continues with his plans then he risks being seen, and you told us what happens if Harper is caught again doing the bad again."
"I know," Dylan nodded his head to show his understanding.
"What happens?" Harper asked unsure.
"Harper I know this is a lot to ask, but we have a lot at stake here," Dylan began, and noticed Asa moving forward, holding the collar.
"What's going on?" Harper asked a little unsure, trying to find the answer from the faces around him.
"You have to wear this," Asa simply gestured to the collar.
"No freaking way," Harper backed away immediately, not understanding the full situation.
"Harper, if you don't and you're caught doing anything that upsets the mad one, then Kenan will come for me next," Beka then spoke with concern.
Harper looked at Beka knowing there was no way in hell he'd want anything bad to happen to Beka, and certainly not like what had happened to Dylan. He'd walk over hot coals to keep Beka safe, he'd do anything, but he looked at the collar and he found himself doubting if he truly would be prepared to do anything for his friend.
Everyone was looking at him now, and Harper felt intimidated and pressured all of a sudden. He knew what he had to do, and had to say but it wasn't forthcoming, and he couldn't do it. Without word he turned and left the room, needing some space and time to think. Walking into the back room, Harper paced the small area and hated that he hadn't been able to just accept the collar, if only to show Beka that he would do that for her.
"Seamus," Beka's voice spoke up, and he turned to see her stood in the doorway.
"Just give me a minute," Harper asked, as he moved to sit down cross legged in the middle of the floor, putting his head in his hands.
"You don't have to do this," Beka then assured him.
"I do," Harper disagreed but didn't look up, instead keeping his head down resting in his hands.
He felt Beka's presence beside him now, as she moved to sit down next to him. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have left you alone."
Harper looked at Beka, with confusion. "I'm a big boy now, so you can leave me on my own you know."
"Not when you had just told me about the fits, and then I just get up and leave you alone?" Beka stressed, questioning her own actions before.
"Forget about it," Harper looked away again.
"I didn't even notice, even when I returned," Beka explained. "It took Zal nearly three attempts just to point out that you were having problems."
Harper had nothing to say, so remained silent, before feeling Beka's arm around his shoulders. "Harper?" she prompted.
"What if we never leave this place?" Harper asked quietly, seemingly staring at the floor.
Beka raised her eyebrows, surprised by the question but hearing the slight fear in Harper's voice. "We will get out of here."
"But what if we don't?" Harper asked again.
"We will," Beka assured him.
Harper began to shake his head, clearly not so convinced. "I used to hear stories when I was on Earth," Harper began looking up briefly. "Stories about how Earth was so welcoming of ubers; in the beginning, and how they wanted to show good faith and hospitality. No one questioned anything when the ubers requested to build a few bases, just here and there. It was treated with joy that the ubers were making use of Earth, that Earth could be important," Harper scoffed, his face trying to mask the pain of his ancestry. "When they offered to give work to humans, make them useful, it wasn't questioned until the day that suddenly the humans realised that they were no longer in control, and then the questions began to get asked, when it was too late," Harper stressed.
"Why are you telling me this, Harper?" Beka asked quietly, and with care.
"I always used to hate those humans that made it so easy for the ubers to make us look like the biggest fools in the universe, that sentence me and many other generations to what we lived with," Harper sneered, focused on his hands that nervously untied and retied his boot laces before suddenly looking at Beka with a seriousness she rarely saw in his expression. "We walked into this city knowing it was fortified and we knew something wasn't right, don't you see?"
Beka sighed and looked down at the ground, knowing what Harper's point was now, and she then looked at him with a knowing glance.
"Kenan already has us where he wants us, he's got to Dylan and now he's figured that with me, he just has to threaten you," Harper stressed, looking away from Beka. "Putting on that collar just proves it, and by doing so we've already lost, but I have to, Beka, there's no way I'm going to risk your life for something as stupid as not wearing that thing."
Beka reached out and put a comforting hand on her friends back. "Harper, don't give up, this isn't over by a long way."
Harper ran a hand through his hair, before looking at Beka. "This was supposed to be Eden," he simply said.
"I know," Beka reached forward and embraced Harper for a moment, allowing him to hold on to her until he was ready to speak again. A few moments passed before he pulled away.
"I will wear that collar," Harper simply announced.
"You don't have to," Beka stressed.
"I want to."
"Why do they want you to wear it?" Beka then asked.
"They find this a problem," Harper gestured to his port. "Usual technophobe reaction, don't know what it is so be afraid and try and somehow pretend it's not there," Harper complained with a heavy sigh. "Like I could do any freaking damage with it, these people still live in the dark ages and have no idea what a damn port is! Wearing the collar won't change anything, it just shows us that we have to work extra hard now, that Kenan knows our weaknesses."
"Harper, don't put that thing on just to protect me," Beka stated.
Harper looked away, considering her words. "Beka, it seems we've jumped through enough hoops so far, so why not one more?" Harper offered flippantly. "If it takes the heat off all of us, I'll wear it, seeing as they obviously have me pegged now as a trouble maker," he sighed. "Just like on Earth, nothing really changes."
"Do you want me to go and get it now?" Beka asked, and Harper simply nodded his head, before Beka got to her feet and left him alone.
Moments later Harper felt someone hurry in and take the position next to him, and with a brief glance Harper saw Zal and quickly looked away.
"I didn't lie," Zal began.
"Yes you did," Harper returned with a sigh.
"Ok, I did, but I didn't mean to," Zal offered.
"Zal, I don't care, ok?" Harper frowned, not wanting an argument or to really be talking to Zal at that time. "I don't know what the story is with you, but I'm rapidly losing interest."
Zal's face showed his confusion. "I was just trying to help," he responded. "I knew you were freaked out, so I thought if I stretched the truth it would make it easier for you."
"Just forget about it, ok?" Harper stated, avoiding looking at Zal.
"I can't," Zal returned quickly.
"Why?"
"Because you're a friend," Zal answered as if it was obvious.
"Just leave him alone, Zal, can't you see he doesn't want to speak to you?" Beka's voice interrupted them, as she stood at the doorway holding the collar.
Zal spun around and immediately saw the collar. "You're not putting that on him are you?"
"It's none of your business," Beka answered.
"Harper, don't do this, only animals wear those things!" Zal stressed, trying to get Harper to look at him but each attempt had Harper shrugging him away.
"Just go," Beka requested once more, seeing that Harper was not responding to the Edenian anymore, and the more Zal tried to get his attention, the more it was upsetting Harper.
"If you put that on you might as well go and kiss Kenan's feet and worship the ground he walks on, Harper, you'll never leave this place if you accept that thing!" Zal stressed.
"I thought that would please you, that I'd never be leaving this place," Harper stated with bitterness. "We can be best friends for life then," he mocked angrily, shrugging Zal away with one forceful push.
Zal took some needed breaths and got to his feet. "You're just like all the others, take what you want from me and then treat me like crap when you no longer need me," Zal stressed, backing towards the door. "Fine, whatever, I'll just go and don't bother trying to find me again, I got the message and I'm out of here."
"Good," Beka responded, as Zal left the room in a hurry.
There was silence for a moment before Harper suddenly got to his feet and let out a frustrated cry. Clearly at odds, Harper was unfocused for a moment, leaving Beka to only wait until he'd composed himself again.
"I gotta go after him," Harper made to move towards the door.
"Harper, you owe him nothing," Beka returned sharply, trying to stop her friend.
"He didn't deserve that, Beka," Harper stated full of guilt now, clearly mixed with his emotions. "He has helped me, in his own way, and he's a friend," he explained. "And you don't know the full story," he then added and hurried out of the room.
"The collar, Harper, you're supposed to be wearing the damn collar if you go out!" Beka called after him with exasperation, but her anger emanating from Zal once again getting in the way.
TBC