Warning:the story has finally turned 'that' corner, where heading towards the end... finally hehe'can hear the cheers' though there's still a few more parts to go for those stillenjoying the ride :)
Part 45
There was noise everywhere, and confusion as Beka and Killah navigated the narrow stone streets. Lights that were normally illuminated were switched off, making the streets even more claustrophobic with darkness, and they both knew that the sounds they could hear were not good.
"What is going on, another festival?" Beka asked, knowing the sounds couldn't really be one of celebrations. "This doesn't sound like any war I've witnessed," she added.
"No, I'm suspecting this war is more about riots," Killah answered. "We have no armed forces on Edenia, never been a need with the shield above us, weapons are scarce and old fashioned at that, and there's no formal training. These guys work on instinct rather than good discipline."
"I feared that, just what we need a war crafted from untrained hooligans," Beka frowned. They were only two streets away from the house they had made a home whilst on Edenia and a terrible dread was beginning to rise in Beka, as she also noted their were nearing what sounded like a riot taking place.
Killah was the first to stop when they finally turned into the now familiar street, and Beka could only let her mouth drop open as the flames engulfed the building she recognised as home. A group of twenty or so people she didn't recognise were holding aloft great pieces of wood, that were set alight, and all cheered the destruction, even though the house had contained nothing of worth.
"We should go before you are spotted, this looks like an attack against your kind," Killah advised with haste and they quickly retreated.
"You don't think?" Beka began, but already Killah was shaking her head.
"The Gilads would be here if Harper was in danger," Killah answered.
"So what was that?"
"Those people, I think I recognise them, they are Kenan's army," Killah responded as she hurried through the streets, keeping a hold on Beka. "We need to get you out of sight they clearly have targeted you and your kind in this war."
"Nice to feel wanted," Beka mocked.
"This is serious," Killah stated firmly. "Kenan has declared war against the Gilads, and it's been said that he's been citing the arrival of the aliens as the reason," Killah answered.
"I know, you already said," Beka returned. "But why blame us? Why target us? It's not like we've done anything whilst we've been here, in fact we're been pretty tame by our usual standards," Beka frowned.
"Kenan must have finally worked it out, probably due to the collar being put back on," Killah offered, as if trying to work it out for herself.
"Ok, for once in your life, make sense, what are you telling me?" Beka demanded and saw Killah hesitate. "And don't give me any of that 'we haven't got the time' crap, make time and tell me!"
Killah pulled Beka into an alcove. "I'll tell you what I can, but we shouldn't stay out here for long, not whilst things are so unsettled," she stressed, staying aware to any dangers around them. "No one in Edenia has the power, and the power will never be ours."
"Didn't I mention about the whole making sense part?" Beka questioned.
"Many centuries ago the shields that protect this city were built, and by people we do not know, they left this city soon after for reasons that no one knows," Killah rapidly explained. "Over the years it's been said that the controls were destroyed, but a 'spirit' remained that kept the shields operational in a way that we'd never be able to remove or disable them," Killah continued. "And only access to this city was granted to those that 'Edenia' wished to accept."
"Sounds like fairy tales," Beka easily mocked.
"No one leaves," Killah pointed out. "OK, I admit, I struggled to believe in this spirit, but there are many who do believe in it," she stated, still looking around to ensure they remained safe. "I do believe that the controls exist 'somewhere'," she continued. "But the fact remains, no one has accessed the actual controls for a long while, and we don't know where they are, yet the shield remains in place and has never failed, so in part I do believe in the spirit and that is why sometimes people can enter Edenia, and sometimes things get through to the outside, like the message you picked up that brought you here," Killah offered.
"Then why did Edenia 'accept' us into the city, if we're seen as such a threat?" Beka asked. "And why did we get that message? Are you saying it was the will of the city that we came here and then were let in?" Beka teased now, not believing a word.
"It didn't surprise the believers that you were granted entry, not when they believe you have the power among you," Killah partly smiled.
"We have the power?" Beka couldn't hide her amusement now, and that seemed so out of place as the riots could still be heard in the distance.
"The power is used to describe those who constructed the shields of Edenia, and the only text we have on those people describe them as great minds whose necks were adorned with a silver disk that granted them the power," Killah now raised her eyebrows on seeing Beka's reaction.
"The data port?" Beka checked with amazement. "That gives Harper the power?"
"In the believer's eyes," Killah offered. "Unfortunately for Harper, Kenan, the Gilads and countless others have successfully quashed the hold that the believers once had on Edenia in just a few short years, no one dare now admit to following the preaching's of the old city," Killah stated sadly. "But there are some who will say this war is Edenia's will, to rid itself of those why dared to betray it."
"You know, talking of a city as a living thing, it's kind of weird," Beka noted.
"We all need beliefs, you can't mock these people for having theirs," Killah stated.
"So this is why there is so much hostility towards Harper, why he was singled out?" Beka figured. "But if he has the power shouldn't he be worshipped or at least given a break, and some respect?" Beka asked.
"Everyone, including myself, wants to know if he truly has the power, but it is also feared that he does," Killah admitted. "Up until he arrived you have to understand that the existence of people with disks in their necks were nothing but myths and stories to tell the children, and there's a great fear associated with these people, their return has always been told with fear and destruction to our city, our teachings made us worship these people so as not to upset them, so they wouldn't return to destroy us," Killah stated. "When you first arrived, didn't you sense that people hid from you, or feared you?"
"We felt people were keeping themselves to themselves, it was a lot quieter around here," Beka conceded.
"Because they didn't know what to make of your friend, all our lives we've read and heard stories of these great minds and none of us ever believed that someone fitting that description would one day walk our streets among us," Killah added.
"So when Kenan took Harper away, and fitted that collar the first time it was almost like denying Harper had the power, that's why his people cheered and celebrated our misfortune?" Beka realised. "Why he tortured Dylan, to show we were mortals?"
"Yes, Kenan needed to show his supporters that you were weak and could be destroyed, that only Harper had the mythical disk on his neck, that you, Rhade and Dylan were not a threat," Killah agreed. "Only then Harper eluded Kenan, and once he escaped from Kenan's hold his supporters grew weary again."
"But Asa took Harper in, and no one has mentioned any of this to us, people have helped us without fear," Beka argued trying not to get caught up in Killah's explanation that still felt far fetched.
"Non believers found it easier," Killah admitted. "And when it became known that Harper could be hurt to the brink of death, and when he displayed no power to stop it, and the shields remained," Killah shrugged and then sighed heavily. "It's why your friend is suffering, they've been testing him, disproving the myths, destroying his power before he's had the chance to even use it, if indeed he had that power they fear," she sighed. "The tracer was put inside him on the off chance that he might lead us to the controls, and the ultimate power, and the plan was to kill him before he had the chance to touch them."
Beka thanked the Divine above that they had failed so far to locate the controls, knowing that none of them had considered the tracer was inserted for that reason, and that Harper would have been the one they'd have pushed forward to use any controls they might have found.
With a frown Beka began to understand the situation a little better. "Harper can only prove he has the power if he gets near to the controls for the defence systems," Beka pointed out. "But so far people here have been far too consumed with trying to kill or break him, before he has even had the opportunity to find out, he might not even have this power they are already assuming he has."
"Only those who claim to have power in this city themselves are harming Harper, and his friends, when clearly going by the scriptures these same people do not have any power of which the scriptures teach, and you just have to look at Harper to believe that he does," Killah smiled fondly, gesturing to her neck in the place where Harper's port was located.
"Can you promise me one thing?" Beka then asked. "Please, I beg you, do not tell Harper he is a man of myth and legend in this city, one who people believe has the power," she stressed with odd amusement. "We would never hear the end of it."
Killah looked at Beka oddly, but then glanced around the empty street. "We should hurry, we have already wasted a lot of time and your friend, the potential power, could be in need of our help," Killah reminded Beka. "Whilst it may seem many want your friend dead, there are many more preying that he is what they believe, and is here not to destroy us, but to destroy our enemies within, if he dies I truly believe this city will die with him," Killah stated seriously, and before Beka could respond Killah began to move once more with haste.
Harper put his arms around himself, already feeling the fever taking hold but he hoped the others hadn't notice how much, as they all looked out and listened to the mayhem happening a short distance from them.
"They are sounding closer, they are definitely heading this way," Ezra noted.
"I fear she is right," Rhade noted with concern.
"I will be asking you to go to the safe place soon," Ezra warned.
"And where exactly is this safe place?" Harper spoke up, and the others turned to him, sensing the hostility in his voice. "What? It's a valid question," Harper defended when Ezra didn't answer, and Rhade and Dylan just stared at him.
"Asa and Ezra have been very good in helping us," Dylan reminded the younger man.
Harper just shook his head, before moving away. "Fine, I don't want to know anyway," he stressed and sat down by the far wall, bringing his knees up to his chest, fighting the chill inside him.
"It's not far," Ezra finally answered.
"How safe is it?" Rhade asked.
"It's not been discovered yet," Ezra smiled and then headed towards a box and pulled out a medical kit. "Take this," Ezra gave the kit to Rhade. "Harper will need the dressing on his back changed, and I'm not sure how long you will be in the safe place, you will also find some rations, water and a couple of bottles of the good stuff down there, though I would advise you do not touch the good stuff, for obvious reasons," she then glanced at Harper. "Especially not Harper, considering that he is coming down with a fever."
"Am not," Harper protested.
"You are flushed, and I have heard you sniffing for the past hour," Ezra argued. "Let me get you something to clear your head, it will hopefully help," she offered and she retrieved a small bottle from the box.
Ezra moved in front of Harper, who immediately shirked away until Dylan moved into sight and the engineer reluctantly played nice. Harper was growing frustrated, sensing Dylan's unhappiness so far at the way he was dealing with Ezra, but Harper knew what Dylan didn't know the truth, and decided that the first chance he got, he would tell the captain the real reason for his behaviour around Ezra, he needed to tell someone.
"Here," Ezra broke his thoughts and immediately Harper was caught with a strong smelling substance that seemed familiar, and the impact was immediate as Harper clenched his eyes shut. Suddenly the world was spinning, and Harper found himself gripping the floor to try and remain steady as his head spun.
"What's wrong?" Harper heard Dylan ask the question but he could only see, he couldn't even admit to himself what he was seeing, but it looked strangely like talking fish where Ezra and Dylan had just been standing.
"I didn't realise," Ezra's voice now broke through and finally the fish were replaced by the more familiar faces of Ezra and Dylan.
Harper felt a tissue being held to his nose, they were talking but he couldn't make out the words. It all felt so sudden that now Harper was unsure about what exactly just happened, but he feared it as well, deep down.
"What?" Rhade's voice now sounded with surprise as words became clear again, and Harper's head rolled slightly with fever, before Ezra got a firmer grip on him.
"You have to go to the safe place now," Ezra suddenly fussed and no one argued.
"Rhade, help Harper," Dylan ordered and Harper felt himself being lifted but he couldn't react, everything sounded like he was inside a bubble, but he was aware of being moved.
They didn't move far before Harper had the sensation of falling, and panicked, firm hands gripped him tighter, more than one pair now seemed to be holding him as he continued to fall, but he no longer panicked, vaguely aware of his legs now supporting him during the decent.
Finally after what seemed an eternity, the place stopped spinning and there was silence now. Harper felt his throat going dry, something was in the air and he was soon coughing. The actions cleared his head slightly, and once he had stopped, Harper was able to focus enough to talk again and he looked at Dylan.
"Where are we?"
"Drink first," Dylan ordered, and then he looked to Rhade. "We need another tissue; his nose has started up again."
Harper was now drinking but he felt the warm substance and realised his nose was bleeding, and stopped drinking so Rhade could press the tissue in place. Harper grimace, his head was hurting now and the fever was rapidly weakening him, as he felt the first of the shivers whilst also burning up.
"The fever is taking hold," Dylan observed.
"Great so we're stuck here with a sick kludge," Rhade sighed.
Harper instinctively grabbed the uber, but his strength was already waning and the effect wasn't so great, as Rhade easily swiped the human's hand away.
"Don't call me that," Harper stated angrily, in barely a whisper. "And I'm not sick," he stressed between laboured breaths.
"Harper, you're sick," Dylan confirmed.
Harper felt his eyelids grow heavier, and conceded that maybe he was a little off colour, as he took in more of his surroundings now with his focus returning. The room was dusty, which explained his coughing fit at least, and it seemed to be similar to the basements on Earth, the structure strongly suggested that they were underground.
"Did we go down?" Harper then questioned wearily.
"Well, you tried to fall down here when you suddenly panicked going down the ladder," Rhade stated. "I barely managed to keep hold of you, and Dylan had to help."
"So we're in Asa's basement?" Harper checked.
"Yeah," Rhade answered knowing the reference. "Apparently due to the tunnel system under Edenia, it's rare that they exist, and also it's been forgotten that Asa's house has one."
"And this is the safe place?" Harper questioned. "How do we get out?"
"Ezra will lower the ladder when the coast is clear," Dylan stated calmly, knowing Harper had been suffering a fit of some kind, mixed with the growing fever, and had missed Ezra explaining the details.
"Great, so now we're her prisoners," Harper sighed. "She won't let us out, you know that right?"
"Harper, what is your problem with Ezra?" Rhade asked. "She's done nothing but help us since we arrived."
"My problem?" Harper checked, and felt this was as good a time as any to explain now his head was a little clearer. "Is her problem, I caught her in bed with another man, now tell me again about how good she is."
"Ezra?" Dylan stated with disbelief.
"She clearly loves Asa," Rhade responded.
"Not enough," Harper sighed. "Why'd you think I left this place, I didn't want to, but she forced me to or her boyfriend would have beaten me up some more."
"It explains some of the reasons why you've been like you have," Dylan accepted.
"Only some?" Harper now questioned, not missing the tone. "How about all?"
"Harper, you accused her of purposely hurting you earlier, when she was stitching your wound, helping you," Dylan reminded him. "Would a woman with a secret like that do anything to jeopardise that secret, by annoying the one person who knew the truth?"
Harper was silent for a moment as he considered his response; he sensed something different in the way Dylan and Rhade were looking at him, almost as if they were angry with him.
"You don't believe me," Harper then realised with a shallow voice. "You think I'd make that up?" he asked, his voice stronger now.
"She told us the truth," Dylan stated in a tone that Harper recognised, the tone that you never questioned but he was beyond caring, he knew the truth.
"That she's a two timing bitch?" Harper asked harshly, and Dylan's expression only confirmed that Harper was way off the mark.
"She didn't have time to explain the details, due to the quick transfer to this place, but she told us enough," Dylan then revealed.
"What did she tell you?" Harper asked, sensing bad and the fever chose that moment to remind him it was still making itself at home in his body, as his arms wrapped themselves around himself.
"That you're addicted to this stuff," Dylan waved a small bottle in front of Harper, who in turn just looked bemused, and a little caught out.
"I am?" Harper questioned unsure.
"Don't play me for a fool," Dylan stressed.
"It's kind of hard not too when you're so incredibly wrong," Harper returned. "I'm not addicted to anything like that, and what?" Harper turned the tables. "You now believe her over me, a two timing bitch you've known for less than an hour?"
Dylan paused for a moment, as if disregarding Harper's tone as something he expected. "This is simple smelling salts, that when abused can cause irritation in your nasal passages, the bleeding only occurs when extensive abuse has occurred."
"The nosebleed," Harper deducted and absently brought a hand up to his nose. "Dylan I'm not addicted, I'd know if I was and I'm not," Harper protested. "I've never even seen one of those bottles or anything like it."
"Did Zal get you hooked?" Rhade now asked.
"What?" Harper couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I'm not taking any drugs!" he stressed. "You've been with me for most of the time I've been here, you'd know if I was doing this crap!" Harper protested looking between the men hoping something of what he was saying would get through to them, but he saw nothing.
"Not all of the time, there were a number of days after Kenan took you, when you became pals with Zal for instance, and you did keep disappearing with him for short times, when you did eventually find us," Rhade reminded him calmly, and both men it seemed has given this a lot of thought, putting Harper at a disadvantage.
"I was suffering fits due to my port being damaged! Kenan did something to it, you know that!" Harper snapped. "And I didn't want Beka to worry."
"So you say," Rhade simply said.
"I don't believe this," Harper simply responded, partly in shock at what he was hearing. "My port is damaged, causing the fits, these fits are not drug induced what more can I say?" he stressed desperately wanting them to believe him.
"Then why did your nose bleed?" Dylan questioned.
"I don't know!" Harper snapped, and gingerly got to his feet, needing some space to think, and thankful that the room only wobbled instead of spun.
"Harper, we need to know," Dylan continued regardless. "If Zal has got you hooked on this stuff, better we know now so we can help you, already you have managed to keep it quiet this long, we want to help you but you have to want to help yourself first."
"I don't have a problem," Harper repeated, pacing the room. "I do have a faulty data port, causing fits and I have a fever that's come from nowhere, I admit I don't know where but hey, I've never been the healthiest of kludges, remember? But you have to believe me when I say it's not related to this drug!" Harper pleaded.
Rhade frowned before speaking, taking the bottle from Dylan. "This substance is made from the plants that surround this city, the ones we had to wear the masks for when we arrived, it's highly dangerous toxins," Rhade explained. "Only to be used as smelling salts and nothing more, so if you think this is a casual drug you are very wrong and you need help, even if you think you can handle it."
"Why are you telling me this?" Harper now questioned with frustration, not helped by the fever that was beating him down. "Why are you saying I need help?" he snapped with confusion.
"Because," Dylan began than paused. "Because we're worried that you're losing the fight, that Edenia is beating you, and we can't afford to let that happened, Harper we need you fully functioning if we're to have a chance of leaving and drugs is not the answer," Dylan stressed. "You of all people should know that, you saw what happened to Beka."
Harper wished his head would clear of the fever that gripped him now, as his mood and focus wasn't ready for this conflict, suddenly he felt the intensity of his situation, he was missing Beka, he was missing Rommie, Trance and his home and he felt himself finally snapping after days of crap finally took its toll. He really didn't need this on top of everything else, and he knew he wasn't addicted to that stuff, bringing Beka's problems into the mess was the final straw.
With sudden venom, Harper turned on Dylan. "You're just concerned because I'm the only chance you have to get out of this damn place! Captain fantastic and his hapless sidekick uber head is relying on a lowly kludge for escape, and his pride can't take it!" Harper offered with intense anger losing any control he had, with an anger never seen by the two men who could only stare blankly at him. "You don't give a damn about me, or my health, and this whole fricking mess is your fault, you and your stupid big ideas! So now you need the Harper to get you out of this mess, so you turn on him, great plan, but you've not exactly been great at the old plans lately have you?" Harper snapped and then took a breath, before continuing. "The whole reason I'm falling apart is because of you and this stupid place you led me to! Every mark, every damn bad thing that's happened has been your fault, captain not mine, and if anyone has lost control it's you!" Harper yelled directly at Dylan. "You wouldn't have lasted even one of the twenty years I survived on Earth, and to think I fricking looked up to you, that I ever took orders from you!" Harper then finished abruptly knowing he had said too much, but he was still seething.
Dylan just stared at Harper, clearly hurt and Harper saw this clearly now, forcing himself to look away, suddenly wishing he hadn't said a thing, as he brought his arms tighter around his body and moved away from the other two. He just wanted to disappear, for the ground to swallow him up, even just to leave the room, but that wasn't possible, and Harper suddenly began to shake, partly due to the fever and partly due to his mixed up emotions.
"What do you think Beka's reaction will be when we tell her you're addicted to this stuff? Do you want her to see you like this?" Dylan then spoke up, with Harper still facing away from him, trying to hide his emotions.
"You can't tell her," Harper stated with concern, turning back to the captain with panic. "Because it's not true, so if you tell her you'd be lying and I promise I will never forgive you, and I'll never work for you again if you do," Harper stressed, his voice lower now, more desperate as tears threatened, he felt lost and alone and is no one was listening to him.
"Then admit that you have a problem and we'll help you," Rhade stated, unawares of what his words were truly doing to Harper.
"These fits you've been having, we see it now and I really wish we could have seen it sooner, before it got this bad, but looking at you it's clear to us now, Harper we just want to help, let us help you," Dylan stressed getting to his feet, as if to show concern when all he was doing was pushing Harper further away. "This fever is a sign that you're losing the fight, and we want to help."
"I won't admit jack, because I don't have a freaking problem!" Harper snapped and backed away again, needing distance, and before he said something else he'd regret, and he took some deep breaths. "They've finally done it, they finally figured out the best way to get me, to break me," Harper spoke more to himself, and with disbelief clear in his voice. "Make those around me lose confidence in me and hey presto, they'll have me right where they want me, my insecurities work against me again," he declared with tense emotion and then he looked back to his crewmates. "Well done, both of you," Harper now gestured to Dylan and Rhade. "Well done for playing the game and ensuring defeat for the good guys," he now angrily mocked, tears still threatening to form in his eyes.
"Harper," Dylan warned.
"No, don't," Harper returned swiftly. "You think I have a problem, when I don't, so naturally I won't do anything about it but you will, and it'll mean you'll turn Beka against me too by using her insecurities about the big scary drugs, and how I've let her down, that always a winner with her, and then none of you will trust me," Harper explained rapidly with frustration. "Then you won't trust me to fix those shields, and we won't ever leave, is that how it's going to go? Because I think it is right about now."
The silence hit Harper and he could see that both Dylan and Rhade needed something, anything to assure them that Harper was speaking the truth, because the cold hard facts tactic had clearly failed, as neither appeared particularly moved by Harper forecast of events and all because they'd seen his reaction to the smelling salts Ezra had used on him, they'd seen it with their own eyes and couldn't consider anything but their own conclusions.
For the first time Harper could see the doubt in their faces, that they were dismissing his words as those of a mad man, nothing more than drug fuelled rants and it hurt more than anything that had been done to him since he had arrived on Edenia.
TBC