Part 43

Voices started to become clearer and wearily, Beka opened her eyes to see three Edenian faces staring down at her, their appearance momentarily startling her, as she took a sharp intake of breath. In the couple of weeks they had been in Edenia she had got use to the sight of the pale skinned aliens, with their jet black hair, but on this occasion she couldn't help her reaction and it was only the pain that suddenly hit her that distracted her enough not to make a scene.

"Beka, can you hear me?"

"Yeah," Beka grimaced, closing her eyes for a moment. "What the hell happened to me?"

"Some radical Kenan supporters had a bit too much to drink and rampaged onto our side during the festival to deal with the problem that they saw, unfortunately for you they felt you and your alien friends were that problem," the calm voice relayed.

"Harper," Beka then moved to sit up but was stopped, as hands encouraged her to remain lying down. "Is he ok, where is he?"

"He's not here, and I don't know where he is," the voice answered.

Beka then focused on the being that was talking to her and she suddenly froze. "Killah," she noted. "Where the hell am I?" she asked with a low voice, glancing around at the large room.

"In the Gilads sanctuary, a medical facility of sorts, well the closest thing we have, you were hurt pretty bad," Killah informed her. "I managed to synthesise some of your blood type, and it saved your life. I just hope young Harper got the care he needed, he didn't look too good when he ran from this place."

"What did you do to him!" Beka demanded, sitting up this time and not letting any of the assistants keep her down.

"Me?" Killah asked quizzically. "Nothing, your young man was distraught, he couldn't deal with how bad you were, so we had to make him leave this room for his own good but instead he escaped, and we've not seen him since."

Beka took a moment to compose her thoughts, and try to remember what had happened. She remembered the men hitting and kicking her, and then she remembered Harper, and how he had taken on the three men with nothing but a stick, but then her memory faded. "He survived right? Those men didn't hurt him?"

"Depends what you mean by hurt him," Killah offered as she fussed over some medicine. "He was covered in his own blood, and appeared delusional but he was conscious and in some part aware," she answered truthfully. "He stopped all three from attacking you, and I've heard whispers that he killed one of them," Killah raised her eyebrows.

"I have to find him," Beka decided and made to move from the wooden cot she was sitting on, but this time the assistants blocked her path. "Please," she stated. "I feel fine, all better, let me find my friend," Beka pleaded then paused seeing two armed Gilads stood by the door, Killah touched her arm bringing her attention back.

"You need to rest, your ankle is still healing, and you received a number of blows to your head and ribs, I can't let you go just yet," Killah informed her.

"Am I a prisoner?" Beka stressed, returning her gaze to the armed guards.

Killah took her time to look at Beka. "No, but you are my patient and I will insist that you receive the best care I can give you. Those men are here to protect us, things are unstable outside, and we have to take every precaution that we can to ensure your safety."

"I saw what you did to Harper previously," Beka stated unconvinced. "I know you're not all there and that our safety is not top of your agenda."

"I was under orders, and working in a building that was not equipped for the work being asked of me, I did what I could," Killah stated. "Buz wanted me to give the kid a fright, but I also saw an opportunity to get the information I needed that in such a situation as him needing my help, knowing that Buz would eventually torture him, I took that opportunity," Killah explained with care. "I took blood so I could prepare some more for him, and I'm sorry he is now too scared of me to accept it, but the way Buz works, he'll need to start accepting that I can help him, or he will die here at Buz's hands."

"Buz doesn't want him dead," Beka countered, taking in the old lady's words.

"Buz doesn't know what he wants, he barely knows what he's got," Killah dismissed with distraction, and then turned to Beka. "And when he finds out that the kid had his way with his girl, Harper's life won't be worth much and he'll need all the help he can get."

"What?" Beka caught.

"Rumours are flying that your friend and Tarah got together," Killah began.

"Buz sanctioned that, it was his form of 'apology' to Harper," Beka interrupted. "And I can assure you that nothing happened, and if it had that it would have been all Tarah's work!"

Killah now smiled, amused by Beka's words. "Tarah is not a nice girl, why do you think she's Buz's lady?" Killah offered. "And if she is telling tales to fellow Gilads, do you think any of them are stupid enough to question Buz's girl, and believe the alien?"

"I really have to see Seamus," Beka fussed now, concerned by this latest development.

"When you are fit and well," Killah insisted. "I'll see if I can determine where he is, bring him here so you can talk to him," she offered and reluctantly Beka nodded her head, already feeling tired again but her concern prevented her from sleeping as she worried about her friend. "If tensions continue to rise, it will be in the Gilads best interest to protect Harper, you don't have to worry," she then added.

Beka looked at Killah. "When it comes to Harper its exactly what I have to do," she frowned, as she lay back, with her tiredness now controlling her as her eyes became heavy and she slipped quickly into sleep.

He flexed his fingers with a grimace a few times, focused on the movement as Dylan walked over to him. The captain handed Harper a bottle of water and some rations, and watched as Harper took the water but put the rations to one side.

"You need to eat," Dylan stated, as he sat down.

Harper drunk some of the water, and put it down next to the untouched rations, then idly looked out to the window. "I need to see Beka," he finally spoke.

"You're in no condition to go anywhere," Dylan countered.

"I'm not sick!" Harper snapped, and got to his feet, albeit cagily as his muscles protested.

"When did you last eat?" Dylan asked, watching the younger man pace the room.

Harper just briefly shook his head without answer, clearly distracted to even consider a response. "She must be with the Gilads, next time Junia is here I'm going to ask her to take me to her."

"Sounds like a plan, but in the mean time eat something, and get your strength up," Dylan suggested. "I don't like the noises of this city right now, we must stay alert," he admitted, hearing distant shouts and exchanges.

Harper clenched his eyes shut momentarily, and stood uneasy for a minute as his body seemed to tense up. Dylan was quickly to his feet and offered Harper some support, as he held his arms.

"Harper?" Dylan checked for a response.

"I'm ok," Harper returned, still tense. "Just this stupid port, have I mentioned that I really hate this collar?" he added, just as his legs gave way slightly and Dylan was forced to take more of Harper's weight.

"Harper," Dylan then spoke with concern, through gritted teeth as his own struggle became clear but Harper was unresponsive. "Try and lower yourself down to the ground, I don't think I can hold you," he then added, his voice strained.

Before Harper could respond both men collapsed onto the stone ground and said nothing for a moment.

"Boss," Harper's voice then spoke up, as he was able to focus again. "Dylan," he stressed when Dylan didn't respond, and Harper pushed himself up having recovered enough from his small fit.

"It's ok, just give me a moment," Dylan answered with a pained voice, lying still with his arms by his side.

"Sorry," Harper offered, and he tried to see if there was anything he could do. "Your shoulders are pretty badly damaged, more than I thought," he added as conclusion. "Why didn't you say, and why aren't you all about letting us know?" Harper fussed slightly.

"I'm trying not to think about it," Dylan answered, his eyes still shut.

"Junia could help you, so ask her next time she's here, she has nanobots," Harper then suggested. "You can't just grin and bear an injury like this, I know you're invincible but sometimes even you need to accept that when you break, you need fixing," Harper offered. "I mean, come on, the Andromeda is a freaking warship but she breaks, and she needs little old me to fix her, right?" he smiled and was happy to see Dylan finding a smile too.

"Ok, point taken," Dylan agreed and then he opened his eyes and looked upwards. "Do you think of Andromeda?"

"All the time, mostly in the nude but," Harper stopped on seeing Dylan's expression. "Oh, you meant since we've been here, right?" he checked and Dylan slowly nodded his head. "Yeah, course I have, I mean she's my babe, my ship, and yours of course, I mean your ship, or babe even, I'm going to shut up and let you talk for a bit," Harper grinned sheepishly, moving away slightly.

Dylan was smiling with amusement and sat up, finally recovered from the pain his actions had caused him. "We need to get into that building, and determine if it is the defence controls," he finally said. "I'm not sure any of us has the time now to stake it out, like Rhade and Zal seem to want to do."

"You want to go in the front door, quick and easy, right?" Harper guessed, cottoning on quickly. "That's a stupid plan."

"Normally I'd agree, but we both know that what happened last night was not a one off incident," Dylan spoke with concern now. "You killed one of their own. Do you seriously think that this will end there? And do you hear those noises outside? Edenia is an unsettled city right now."

"I was trying not to really think about that whole killing thing, but I do hear it, and sense it, things are going to hell," Harper frowned looking out of the window, then with a troubled frowned he turned back to Dylan. "They were killing her, boss, I had to do something," he tried to justify his own actions unable to look at the captain. "I didn't mean to, you know, kill," he struggled to admit it. "But something I thought had long gone came back deep inside, and I lost control," he stated with some fear.

Dylan showed no reaction. "Those men came to this side looking for a fight," Dylan then calmly stated. "Obviously tensions are rising, and our presence here is a part of that growing tension. We know that we're not wanted here by Kenan, his followers and I'm still not sure what the Gilads intentions are, and now there's this new faction that put that collar on you, we're running out of options, and the good people."

"So what do we do?" Harper asked unsure, trying to take it all in.

"I don't trust Zal," Dylan announced, and saw that Harper was about to protest. "I know he's a good kid, but he's also too close to the Gilads, and you know that at your own cost," he stressed and Harper backed down without comment. "As far as Zal is concerned the plan is for us to stake out that building, and that plan will remain, but Harper, I need your help."

"My help?" Harper checked, and then frowned. "Does this involving backs and going behind?" he asked reluctantly.

"I need you to somehow get inside that building, out of all of us you're the one most likely to get close without getting shot," Dylan stressed. "As much as Buz appears to dislike you, he also appears to want you on side, I think its time we abused that."

"Seems only fair to abuse him," Harper shrugged. "But I don't know, I mean there's still that whole Buz doesn't really like me thing," Harper seemed confused. "And I'm not good at stuff like this."

"Harper," Dylan spoke with conviction. "You're trying to convince me that breaking in and entering is not a skill you have?"

"I didn't say that," Harper returned defensively, knowing Dylan knew him too well. "I'm just not good at keeping a low profile, and to be honest I'm not looking to piss off Buz anymore than I've already done and the way things are around here I'm not even sure I want to leave this house, you know?" Harper gestured with concern, still hearing the shouts outside.

"I know it's a lot to ask," Dylan agreed, with a sigh. "If there was anyone else I'd ask, but Harper, we need to get off this rock even more so with the growing tensions, and also with that port acting up like it is, you need to get off this rock."

Harper took a deep breath. "So will you tell Beka or Rhade about this new plan?" Harper enquired, already knowing the answer.

"They don't need to know," Dylan answered and saw Harper troubled by this.

"You already know that I'll do this, just like File D all over again," Harper sighed. "Only this time I haven't volunteered, so how long have you been waiting?" Harper then asked bluntly.

"Since I first discovered the building," Dylan admitted with a brief smile.

"Sorry, I've been kind of distracted," Harper offered with a knowing smirk.

"I know," Dylan answered simply. "But you can't resist the challenge, can you? You want to find the tech that runs this place, right?"

"Right now, give me a watch to fix and I'll be jumping with joy you know how long it's been since I've fixed something?" Harper grinned, shaking his head slightly.

"Should help you take you're mind off other things," Dylan hinted.

"You know if I do this, I'm going to have to get all chummy with the Buz man, and I'm pretty sure that will send me straight into the bad books of Beka and Rhade if they find out," Harper feared. "And I really don't want to be friends with that guy, he's twisted."

"I know," Dylan conceded.

"But we have no choice," Harper sighed.

"If either me or Rhade go near Buz again we're liable to get shot before any questions are asked," Dylan informed Harper. "I'm pretty sure that goes for being seen around the Gilad's property too."

Harper seemed to be considering the dilemma. "I'll do it," he finally said. "But first, we get this stupid collar off."

"How would we do that?"

"Asa, he got the first one off," Harper stated, but suddenly their attention was drawn to the door as both Rhade and Zal ran inside.

"Harper, hide, now!" Rhade ordered with conviction and Harper heard the shouts growing closer from outside. "Angry idiots, Gilads, and Buz, they are coming this way and they don't seem happy, they have weapons."

"So much for the best pals plan," Harper hissed under his breath so only Dylan would hear, and the captain showed his annoyance at the rapid change in situation.

Suddenly there was an eruption of intense heat as a burning bottle landed in the room, on the far side, and all men dived for cover, before quickly getting to their feet hearing more sounds of breaking glass as fire bombs hit the side of the building.

"Harper, hide!" Zal now stressed with fear, encouraging Harper to get up.

"Hide, where?" Harper got to his feet and looked around the sparse room. "What is going on?" he panicked, as another fire bomb landed in the room, a little closer to their location.

"It's war, Kenan verses the Gilads, and whoever else gets in the way and by being an alien whose shown alliance to the Gilads, definitely count yourself in that last group," Zal explained with concern, as he glanced over to the door where more shouts from the angry mob could be heard approaching.

"Harper, still want to stay here?" Dylan asked referencing their last discussion, and the human rapidly shook his head. "Then let's go," Dylan took control, and with the others they led Harper through the house and into the back streets, where they started to run.

They were already being followed, the shouts were constantly behind them as they continued to run, but no matter which way they turned the mass of people still pursued them. They kept going, trying to lose their pursuers down the many narrow stone streets, but the sounds of their shouts still echoed all around them from the buildings.

"Stop!" Harper then demanded and they hid in an alcove. "This is pointless, they can track me with this stupid chip!" he stressed, catching his breath and tugging on his collar to try and find some give.

"There's too many for us to take them on," Rhade stated. "And only the Gilads can track you, and we're not even sure it is the Gilads chasing us."

"Whoever it is, more than likely they just want Harper, they won't even look at us," Zal feared.

"So what are you saying, we dump Harper?" Rhade questioned angrily.

"No, but if they want Harper any idiot can tune a tracer to his signal and he's all lit up for them to find, he's right, we can't lose them!" Zal stressed matching Rhade's anger.

Dylan checked the street seeing it was still clear, but hearing the gang of men were close, and they sounded angry with the jeers that followed them. "We need to keep moving," Dylan decided.

"What, until we collapse?" Harper puffed. "Sorry, I can't keep going," he added, gasping for more air. "Rhade, get it out," he then spat.

"Huh?" Zal offered with confusion, and looked at Rhade who seemed equally bemused.

"The tracer," Harper managed, as he let his head fall back against the wall, desperate for air. "Get the tracer out," he stated.

"It's inside you, I can't," Rhade offered.

"I think he wants you to try," Dylan stated calmly, picking up quickly on what Harper was asking.

"But," Rhade seemed in two minds, but the noises of the pursuing pack grew louder and Dylan decided they had to move, and quickly the four of them started running again when a fiery bottle exploded not far from them.

They ran until they had given themselves more time and they came to a stop again. Harper turned to Rhade with determination. "You used those things on me before, I remember now, the old memory came back, and they cut me up real nice," Harper sneered. "So get that uber fat head into gear and use them to get this damn tracer chip thing out!" Harper stressed with determination, gesturing to Rhade's bone blades.

"It was an accident before," Rhade offered in reply to the icy stare Harper was aiming at him now.

"Whatever, just get this thing out or we're going to be making nice with exploding bottles and maniacs real soon," Harper stated with steely determination, and he turned his back to Rhade, and placed his hands flat against the stone wall before taking a deep breath. "Do it."

Rhade showed hesitation but soon got a grip, as he placed his hand flat on Harper's back, whilst flexing his bone blades. Zal and Dylan could only watch as the Nietzschean pushed Harper's shirt up to reveal the feint scar that the incision had made, that directed him to the tracer.

"Are you sure, Harper?" Rhade checked before proceeding.

"Just do it, uber," Harper sneered and his body tensed as the chosen bone blade began to dig in, and then broke the skin.

Harper clenched his eyes shut and his breathing quickened as Rhade made the cut as quickly and deep as he could. The cry of pain was unavoidable as Rhade attempted to locate the small tracer chip inside the cut, and Dylan noticed Harper's body begin to shake with pain.

"Zal, hold Harper, he's going to fall otherwise," Dylan ordered softly.

Zal wasted no time in reaching Harper's side and he moved between Harper and the wall to let the human fall onto him, as Zal took his weight to support him.

"Got it," Rhade declared with success and Harper let out a final cry as the chip was pulled from inside him, and thrown to the floor. Rhade wasted no time in destroyed the chip with his boot, and then they turned to Harper, who was trying to recover, with Zal still holding him.

"Want me to kiss it better?" Zal asked with a cheeky smile.

Harper pushed himself away from Zal, choosing not to reply as he concentrated on breathing and remaining focused.

"Harper, we have to move, come on," Dylan encouraged and saw the engineer gather some strength to move, but it was clear he was struggling.

They began to move, and finally the shouts of the angry pack grew less as they finally escaped the pursuing pack, but found themselves a long way from home. Somewhere along the way Harper had taken the support of Zal, who helped Harper by taking his weight as they run.

"We need to stop, Harper needs to rest," Zal announced, struggling now himself to keep going with the additional weight he had to carry.

"We can't go back to the house, I got a feeling it's nothing but a giant bonfire right now," Rhade stated catching his breath, as Zal helped Harper down to the ground to rest, and he joined him.

Dylan looked up and down the street and saw no options other than to keep moving, but he didn't know where to.

"It's not safe for us to remain out here, not whilst the place is going to hell, all manner of people could still be looking for us," Dylan frowned, and then looked at Harper as he took a sharp intake of breath, looking weaker by the minute. "I'll look around, see if there's anyone willing to take us in for the night," Dylan then suggested.

"Help me up," Harper requested of Zal, as everyone was about to protest he shook his head. "I'm ok, but Asa's house in nearby, I think I recognise this street," Harper gestured towards the right of where they stood.

"You sure?" Dylan checked, seeing the human was perspiring heavily.

"Yeah, I'm good, just follow me," Harper managed to walk unaided, as he moved forward and the others simply followed.

TBC