Part 40

Zal looked between Dylan and Rhade and sighed. "I don't like this plan."

"He catches on fast to what it means to be a member of your crew, captain," Rhade mocked, and Dylan just glared at the Nietzschean.

"We need to see what's inside that building," Dylan countered.

"And simply walking in, that's the plan?" Zal checked with a mocking tone.

"I see no other way," Dylan stated. "We're been sat here for four hours, and haven't thought of a better way."

Zal considered the argument. "It's a place no one is supposed to get into, that's why its nigh on impossible to do so," he stated.

"But we have to," Dylan stressed.

"The Gilads will catch us, we won't have time to lift those stones and get inside, and who knows how many are inside, we just don't know," Zal argued.

"Hate to say it, but I'm with freak boy," Rhade motioned.

"So we just give up?" Dylan questioned.

"No," Zal was quick to answer. "But we don't just get ourselves killed when we know next to nothing about the building."

Dylan brought his aching arms up, and brushed his face with his hands, showing a frustration and tiredness about him. "OK, so we watch the place, get more information about who accesses the building, what times, and see if we can't find a pattern for the best time to strike."

"That's a plan," Rhade agreed. "And one I suggested roughly two hours ago, I just thought I'd mention that," he added.

"I know," Dylan agreed, and then saw Zal get to his feet as if to leave. "Going somewhere?" he asked confused at the sudden urgency in Zal's actions.

"The festival is tonight," Zal answered as if it was obvious and then he remembered. "Aliens, of course," he shook his head. "You don't know about the festival," he stated.

"So why don't you tell us?" Dylan suggested.

"It's just something we do each year, we have four festivals a year, one for a new year, one for the sun, one for the moon and this one, which is to celebrate life," Zal explained quickly.

"So what happens at these things?" Rhade asked.

"Well, mostly drinking," Zal admitted. "Apparently there was a time when the whole city would be decorated with colour and statues, but I don't remember too much about that, we sometimes have music if the Gilads are in a party mood, and dancing, but mainly its about the drinking," he smiled.

"Sounds like fun," Rhade remarked dryly.

"You have to come, you won't be allowed to mope around in here, the whole city comes out for festas," Zal encouraged.

"I'm not sure any of us are in the party mood, considering our situation here," Dylan frowned.

"Even more reason why you should come," Zal enthused. "Listen, you remember the response we got when we were getting extra supplies for Harper? We got all those blankets and rations, they helped you," he reminded them. "The people around here they'll want you there, to show your thanks, to show them that you are on their side," Zal started shaking his head. "Not turning up, that would be seen as just rude," he frowned. "And you've made enough enemies in this town, without adding the entire population to the list," he warned.

"Ok, maybe we'll show our faces and stay for an hour or so," Dylan conceded.

"Go to the main square, that's where I'll be and where most of the locals around here will probably congregate, you know it, it's where that Zodd game took place," Zal offered with an awkward smile. "We start things usually as the sun goes down."

"Ok, we'll be there," Dylan agreed and he watched as Zal left the building.

"You sure it's a good idea to go?" Rhade checked, once the Edenian had left. "We're prisoners here, not civilians."

"You heard the kid, he was telling us in his own special way that we're expected," Dylan responded. "And maybe we should be seen to mix a bit more with local life and culture," he added.

"Because this is our new home, and could be home for a while yet?" Rhade questioned.

"We can't deny the possibilities, or make unnecessary enemies," Dylan warned.

Voices caught both of their attentions, as Beka and Harper returned and they both smiled seeing Beka's arm draped around Harper's shoulders, as they seemed to share a joke, all smiles.

"Good walk?" Dylan asked, and was pleased to see they were both happy for the moment after all they had been through.

"Yeah," Beka answered, still with Harper by her side.

"We've been invited to a party tonight, or rather a festival in the main square," Dylan informed them.

"Ah, the festa," Harper answered, and they all turned to him. "What?" Harper questioned. "Surely you've heard it being mentioned?"

"When?" Beka asked. "It's the first I've heard of it."

Harper shrugged now, unsure. "Maybe Zal mentioned it to me, or someone else, I don't know but I was told, I'm sure of it," he stressed.

"Well, doesn't matter how you found out, but we are expected to show our faces so we'll go for an hour and we all stick together, especially you Harper, no wandering, make sure you're with one of us at all times," Dylan ordered.

"Boss, that's so unfair to single me out like that," Harper mocked. "But you're lucky I agree with you on this occasion, I'll be like glue," he added, and saw Beka looking at him with care.

"You should get some rest, and you too Dylan," Beka turned from Harper to Dylan. "You're both a long way off from better, so go and rest, especially if we're partying tonight."

To Beka's surprise both men moved to their respective blankets without complaint, and settled down, leaving Beka to just frown at Rhade, before they settled down to eat some of the rations, and wait until the party started.

They had been unsure, as they walked the quiet Edenia streets, right up until they reached the edges of the town square, and then suddenly the noise and occasion caught up with them. There were literally hundreds of people, smiling faces and a mixture of young and old, and all of them were celebrating as the day turned to night.

Harper stayed close to Beka, with Rhade flanking his other side. Dylan walked a little ahead of them, as they scanned the area and tried to determine the best place for them to stand, and enjoy the festival.

Pretty soon they were receiving all manner of invites into circles of people, to join their conversations, and share their drink, but Dylan was polite and informed them that he was looking for Zal. After another ten minutes they found him, sat on the steps of the main building with some other Edenians that they didn't recognise.

"Zal," Dylan spoke up to get the young man's attention.

"Dylan!" Zal exclaimed, immediately alerting them to his drunken state, and the night was still young. "Glad you could make it, drinks are on me," he proclaimed and reached into a crate, before handing out the bottles to Dylan, Rhade, Harper and Beka.

Beka immediately took Harper's bottle. "I don't think so, not tonight," she warned towards the engineer remembering the little episode with the girls.

"Aw come on, it's a party," Harper whined, and his pitiful face was enough to make Beka hand the bottle back.

"OK, just the one, ok?" Beka reasoned.

"Just the one," Harper agreed, and they found some space on the steps to sit down.

Harper glanced around, feeling a little claustrophobic but choosing to ignore it as he downed some of his drink. Zal was behind him in some heated debate with some others, and Dylan and Rhade sat the other side having quickly begun to discuss their plans for their stakeout on the building they had found. Harper turned to Beka, who sat on his other side, and she seemed lost in the moment as she stared out at the people before her.

It had been a long time, Harper realised, since he had properly looked at Beka. She was older than he remembered, or had noticed, but she still looked as hot as she did the first day he laid eyes on her. He always liked her face, and her style, she wasn't like any woman he had known on Earth, she was like a goddess to him when he had been use to just tiny scraps in Boston that could never look like Beka.

Harper then took a deep breath, and quickly drank from the bottle he held. It had suddenly occurred to him the thoughts he was having, and it made him uncomfortable.

"What's up?" Beka's voice then asked, and Harper turned to her sharply, before looking away.

"Nothing," Harper offered.

"There's so many people here, I don't blame you for being a bit edgy," Beka then misread his reactions.

"Yeah, it's a little unsettling," Harper agreed, deciding to go along with her observation to explain his sudden unease. He had to get a grip, knowing his thoughts were starting to betray him, and he had no plans on ever re-visiting the land of the 'crush on Beka' that he had had so many years before, when he'd first boarded the Maru.

"Don't worry, I'm here, I'll stay with you," Beka assured him, but it only made Harper fell more unsettled, as he tried to compose his thoughts.

He closed his eyes momentarily, and took a deep breath before answering, and was thankful that he felt a little calmer. "Cool, thanks," he simply said, and took some more of his drink to settle his nerves.

"You don't look too good, you look a little flush are you sure you're ok?" Beka checked and put an arm around his shoulders for comfort, but it made Harper tense a little.

"I'm fine," Harper managed a smile, and tried once more to shut his brain off, there was no way he was thinking those thoughts about Beka, that was all in the past when he didn't know any better.

"Well maybe we'll only stay a little while longer, if this is too much," Beka suggested and this time Harper just nodded his head, not really paying attention as he focused on regaining his senses.

"Seamus," a voice was heard and Harper looked over to where it had come from, and he tensed all over again when he saw Junia.

"Hey," Harper managed to squeak and glanced at Beka, seeing her look of thunder aimed at the girl, and then she got to her feet with intent.

"Get the hell away from here," Beka warned, as Harper hurriedly got to his feet to intervene.

"Beka," Harper simply said to encourage the feisty captain to back off, as he glanced at Dylan and Zal whose attentions had been caught by the exchange, as Rhade just looked on.

Junia moved a little closer with some caution, her eyes fixed on Harper. "Can we talk?"

"No, you can't talk to him," Beka answered for Harper, then caught Harper's glance at her, and she realised that her tone and actions were confusing the others, who didn't know any better about Junia's actions the previous day.

Harper looked a little caught, not wanting to contradict Beka but also not wishing to have to explain Beka's actions to the others. He turned to Beka, and frowned. "Just a minute, that's all," Harper offered quietly towards Beka.

Beka glared at Junia, who remained unmoved by Beka's words. "OK, just a minute and stay in sight."

"Ok," Harper reluctantly agreed, and felt the stares of Dylan, Rhade and Zal who appeared to still be trying to figure out why Beka had snapped at Junia. He moved with Junia, a short way away and stopped. "So what do you want to say?" Harper asked.

Junia was staring at Beka, who was glaring at her in return just a short distance away, and she shrugged. "Just wanted to say hi," she offered.

"Really?" Harper wasn't going to make this easy for her. "You more or less attack me yesterday, humiliate me to the point I had to calm down a very grouchy Beka, and let me tell you that that's never top of my list of favourite things to do, and you 'just' want to say hi?" he questioned. "I feel I deserve a little more," he stated, and crossed his arms.

"Yes you do, I know that," Junia defended, avoiding eye contact for the moment. "And to say that, you know what happened, I really wasn't all that comfortable doing it, but my sister is Buz's girl, and we had to do it," she shrugged. "Well, my sister didn't mind what she did, she said it was fun, but that's her."

Harper took a deep breath, and looked at Junia who was struggling to even look back at him, clearly in her own way upset. "Why would Buz make his girl do that? And why would she agree to do that?" Harper needed to ask. "And why did you agree to help?" he asked confused. "I thought we were friends," he added.

"You didn't seem to be complaining yesterday," Junia noted on the defensive.

"I was being held down and I was sick, ill, recovering from however many near death experiences I've been having lately, or had you forgotten?" Harper mocked. "And I wasn't totally aware I had a choice, you failed to make that bit clear and to be honest if I had a girl like Tarah I wouldn't offer her as apologies to strange albeit genius men," Harper stressed, but he saw Junia look away and he couldn't quite read her reaction. "All I'm saying is you're both nice girls, so why didn't you just tell Buz where to go?"

"Tarah was curious," Junia quietly explained, partially embarrassed. "You're an alien, and she just wanted to, you know, and," Junia paused, and didn't look like she would continue.

"And what?" Harper pushed slightly.

"She knew that," Junia paused again, clearly uncomfortable. "She knew that I sort of liked you and she knew that I'd be put out by having to help her do that to you," she said quietly and almost with shame. "She threatened to harm you, she had a pocket knife, and if she had to do it alone," she paused clearly troubled. "She said she'd slit your throat and do us all a favour," she added quietly. "So I had to help her, because I couldn't bear for that to happen to you, because I really do like you."

Harper was a little taken aback by the confession, but quickly recovered. "I really want to say the right thing here, but I know I wont," Harper simply said, unable to move past Junia's words claiming she liked him, and her tone had been totally suggestive as old familiar instincts kicked in. "Strange that I'm almost getting use to people wanting to kill me, but someone telling me they like me has completely thrown me, I'm not sure what to say," he admitted with a hint of a smile.

"If we hurt you, I'm sorry, and I didn't want to leave you like that but Beka arrived so quickly, we had no choice," Junia then fussed with Harper's silence, misreading his actions slightly as she stepped back and her emotions wavered. "I don't blame you if you hate me, I hate me too for being a part of that, it was wrong I know that," she stressed. "Buz has this hold on us, all of us, you know that," she continued.

Harper stood awkwardly for a moment just looking at Junia as she struggled to contain her emotions, whilst all around them people were celebrating the joys of life. Aware that Beka was watching them both, Harper moved a little forward, towards Junia. "You didn't hurt me, and I don't hate you," he simply said.

Junia seemed to relax slightly, and then she tried to smile but it was more a frown. "I don't blame you if you don't want to talk to me again, or see me," she offered with a shrug, and Harper noticed that her stare returned to Beka.

Harper took a deep breath, and couldn't help what his instincts were telling him to do and before he could stop himself he reached out, and put his arms around Junia bringing her into an embrace. After a moment of shock, Junia returned the embrace and held Harper tightly, and Harper could feel the relief as the tension left her body as she seemed to melt into his arms. After a few moments, Harper pulled away and just smiled at her, as Junia tried to read his actions.

"Don't be a stranger," Harper simply offered.

"Ok," Junia smiled now, and then seemed in two minds before she leaned forward and lightly brushed a kiss on Harper's lips.

Harper now looked a little stunned but soon recovered enough to smile in return, before backing away and returning to Beka's side.

"You let her kiss you?" Beka questioned immediately. "Hugging her was bad enough," she added with disgust, as they returned to sit on the steps.

"Don't start," Harper sighed, grabbing his bottle and taking another gulp.

"Harper, you had the chance to push her away, and dispose of the trash" Beka stated.

"Well I didn't want to, ok? And she isn't trash!" Harper returned with conviction in his voice, enough to silence Beka momentarily, and he took another gulp from the bottle.

"We should leave," Beka suggested.

"I don't want to, not yet," Harper returned sharply, without looking at Beka.

"Fine," Beka simply answered and they sat in silence for a moment, both staring out into the crowds.

Dylan had moved and now joined the two of them. "What's going on?" he idly asked, sensing something between the two friends.

"Nothing," Harper immediately answered.

"You seem to be suddenly friendly with one of the natives," Rhade had now moved closer to Harper. "Didn't she come by the other day, paid you a house call with her sister?" he added.

Harper closed his eyes, attempting to keep a hold on his growing annoyance. It was bad enough that Beka was on his case, he didn't need Rhade and Dylan joining her. He was still trying to come to terms with what Junia had said, and how he had reacted, just moments earlier he'd been fretting about the possible re-emergence of his past crush on Beka, and then he was being kissed by a girl who had said she was interested in him, and who just the day before had held him down whilst her own sister had tried to, Harper paused his thoughts not wanting to admit what he was truly thinking. He really didn't know what was going on and really wasn't in the mood to try and figure it out with anyone at that moment.

"I need some space," Harper then spoke without further comment and got to his feet, moving quickly away but after a few moments he was aware that he was not alone, and he stopped just short of leaving the square.

"Like glue, you said, so don't run away," Beka warned.

"I just needed some space," Harper defended, and slowly turned, seeing that Beka was just standing there, any trace of anger she had was no longer visible and she looked concerned. "Don't ask me to explain, because I can't."

"You shouldn't encourage her, if you don't know what you're doing," Beka advised calmly.

"I know," Harper agreed and took a deep breath, before finding himself looking at Beka again for no reason, and he quickly looked away.

"Are you sure you're ok, you've been so tetchy since we got here," Beka stated with some concern, moving closer.

"Maybe you're right, maybe I shouldn't be drinking," Harper shrugged with some confusion in his expression, looking almost helpless for a moment. Harper then looked back at the crowd gathered in the square. "Could this really be it now?"

"What do you mean?" Beka asked, trying to see what Harper was seeing, as she too looked back at the crowd.

"This," Harper gestured. "This place, our home here, I mean the Andromeda seems so far away, that whole existence, everything right now, right here, it just feels normal, when it shouldn't," he attempted to explain.

Beka put her arm around Harper, and felt him tense slightly at her touch, mistaking it for nerves about their situation. "We will leave, this will not become our home," she assured him, as she brought her other arm around him and brought Harper close to her.

"So another reason not to encourage Junia," Harper offered, simply accepting the friendly hold Beka had around him.

"Exactly," Beka agreed, finally letting her friend go.

"Hey, Harper, come on," Zal suddenly appeared and immediately moved towards Harper. "It's a party, let's go, there's rumours that music is being played a short distance from here, come on," Zal encouraged Harper to move.

"I don't think," Harper attempted to decline, but Zal was persistent.

"Come on," Zal insisted. "It'll be fun and you need a big dose of fun," he stressed.

"Zal, Harper said no," Beka stated firmly.

"He did not," Zal objected, and in part it was clear that the drink was talking for Zal who grabbed Harper's arm, and they began to move. "Come on!"

"I'll be ok, promise," Harper offered with resignation and a brief insufferable smile to Beka, as he let Zal drag him along.

"I'll be right behind you," Beka decided, and began to follow, but with the crowds and Zal's skill at navigating between the people being better than Beka, he soon got ahead of her.

When Beka reached the area playing the music, she had lost sight of Harper and Zal, and frantically began to look, as she weaved her way between the people that were listening to the acoustic music desperately trying to catch sight of Harper.

TBC