Part 50
Beka hadn't stopped pacing the room since they'd arrived in their supposedly new home, and Dylan frowned as he watched her.
"Beka, sit down before you collapse," Dylan advised, and rolled his aching shoulders, that refused to let up.
"Not until I figured out a way to help, Harper," Beka stressed, slowly working herself up.
"You know, you guys should leave forwarding addresses," Zal then announced on entering the room, with his arm draped around Junia. "And what the hell's got into Asa, guy nearly lynched us, we barely got away in one piece!"
"Zal!" Beka exclaimed and for no reason she embraced him fondly, surprising not only the Edenian, but everyone else in the room.
Junia had tentatively moved aside, and now looked around. "Where's Harper?"
"With Buz," Rhade answered flatly.
"Oh no," Junia instantly frowned, fearing the worse.
"By choice," Beka stated, glaring at Junia, still not completely trusting her but her concern for Harper out weighed any lingering hatred towards the girl.
"By choice?" Junia repeated unsure.
"What's the nut head think he's doing?" Zal asked.
"Ask Dylan," Beka gestured, and attention all turned to the high guard captain.
"Ok, so it's a stupid plan, but we have no choice," Dylan sighed.
"Not another stupid plan, boss," Harper's voice then spoke up, as he stopped by the door and quickly found everyone turning to look at him. "Can't we just stick to this one? It might just work," he stated cockily.
"Harper!" Junia exclaimed and before Beka could reach Harper, she embraced him eagerly.
Harper returned the embrace uneasily at first, before finally accepting it and he took the opportunity to hold onto Junia fondly. She was the first to pull back, and she took the chance to look at Harper.
"Are you ok?" Junia asked, checking the fading marks on his face.
"Fine," Harper insisted, and saw Beka waiting nearby and he instinctively knew she needed a piece of him, so he moved from Junia and embraced his friend. "Beka, you look exhausted, you should rest," Harper insisted with concern, as she held him tight.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Beka returned, still holding him close.
"That I want to leave this place," Harper offered innocently, as Beka finally pulled away.
Harper glanced around to Junia, seeing her clutching her medical supplies. "Junia, could you do me a favour, could you check Beka, and then," Harper turned to Dylan. "Check Mr Invisible over there, he might look all manly and superior but right now even I could beat him in an arm wrestle," Harper offered, and moved away to find a place to settle down, so Junia could work.
"Issuing orders now?" Beka questioned Harper.
"Someone has to," Harper simply said under his breath, as he settled down.
"Harper, I will check on you too," Junia advised, as she gestured to Beka to sit down.
"I feel fine," Beka was protesting, as Junia checked her reactions.
"You should try to sleep," Junia advised. "The nanobots and Killah's handy work have made you like new again, but your reactions suggest that you need to just relax, and rest," she ordered and Beka needed little convincing now, with exhaustion finally claiming her now she saw that Harper was safe, and she found herself settling down with the idea pretty quickly.
Harper watched Junia as she moved to Dylan and with care began to assist the captain with his pains. Hardly believing his luck, he began to realise the feelings he was starting to have for the girl, albeit only slight feelings but he knew they were there, and knowing she was interested in him made it all a new sensation for him.
"Stop gawping," Zal then hissed.
"What?" Harper snapped himself out of it, not realising Zal had settled down beside him.
"You'll scare her, keep gawping at her like that," Zal explained with amusement.
"Jealous?" Harper smirked.
"No," Zal returned abruptly and then looked at Harper. "You do know I'm only joking when I say those things about you and me, right?"
"I meant jealous that I'm interested in your ex," Harper grinned, noting the misunderstanding. "But it's hard to tell anything with you, Zal," Harper smirked.
"Well I do like you, as a friend," Zal offered. "You won't forget me when you finally get your alien butt out of here, will you?"
"Depends," Harper frowned.
"I don't believe for a minute that you guys won't leave, I've never met more determined people in my life," Zal encouraged.
"What I meant was," Harper hesitated with another misunderstanding. "Zal, you have nothing here, you spend your life just toying between factions, getting into trouble," Harper shrugged. "Have you ever considered life outside these walls?"
"You mean leave Edenia?" Zal stated, clearly a little taken aback.
"Zal, you remind me so much of me," Harper then admitted. "The 'me' just before I left Earth when I too feared the prospect of leaving all that I knew," Harper explained with care. "But I also knew I was bored and if I didn't stop trying to get kicks from annoying people, pressing their buttons, that I'd be dead before my next birthday," he stressed. "Just think about it, because when I did, it became easier to accept, and I know I'd be dead right now if I hadn't of left Earth when I did."
"Is that why you give me the time of day?" Zal asked with interest.
"Of course, you'd need to give up the Bantra, Dylan wouldn't encourage addicts aboard the Andromeda," Harper then spoke with an innocent air, until he turned to see Zal's worried expression.
"What?" Zal quickly returned.
"For your own sake consider it," Harper then sat up, as Junia finally made her way over.
"How'd you know?" Zal hissed under his breath.
"You remind me of me, remember?" Harper offered. "That first night I met you, and you picked a fight for fights sake, I knew then that you were on something, I did think you were just drunk but I didn't know about Bantra then, but I thought about it, and it makes sense now, your weird hyper moods and behaviour sometimes," Harper frowned, and shrugged with his explanation.
"Junia is helping me," Zal then offered quietly, without saying more.
With a knowing look, as Junia joined the now quiet conversation, she smiled at Zal before turning her attention to Harper. "How are you feeling?"
"I said I was fine," Harper reminded her softly, as Junia tenderly took his hands and examined the healing injuries, and she slowly began to manipulate his right arm, testing its manoeuvrability now that the wounds Rhade had accidentally inflicted had been given time to heal. The slight grimace, as Harper felt resistance in his arm as she moved it up, didn't go unnoticed.
"You appear to have minor muscle damage from the slashes in your shoulder," Junia noted. "Can you clench your fist ok?" she then checked and seemed pleased that Harper appeared to have all his strength in his injured arm. "Seems the nanobots have done their work on you too," she smiled sweetly, and Harper was unable to look away. "Let me check your back, Zal told me you were given manual stitches by Ezra?"
"Yeah, hurt like hell, that woman knows little about bedside manner!" Harper sneered, as he moved around so Junia could check for herself.
"Little surprise, she used to be one of Buz's top torturers, before she fell in love with Asa and betrayed the Gilads," Junia explained casually.
"What?" Both Zal and Harper exclaimed.
"Didn't you know?" Junia sounded surprised, especially towards Zal.
"I stopped listening to the rumours and crap that flies around this place, that one passed me by," Zal offered. "Like a lot of stuff, you know," Zal added knowingly towards Junia.
Harper felt Junia lift his shirt up and peel back the dressing that covered the wound that Rhade had inflicted on him when removing the tracer. Her touch was soft, and caring, in stark contrast to the touch of Ezra.
"It's still healing," Junia noted, looking at it carefully. "There's far more stitches than needed in this," she then added.
"Told you!" Harper exclaimed loudly, so that Dylan would hear.
"Do they hurt or bother you?" Junia then asked.
"No, not anymore," Harper dismissed, and felt a soothing gel being applied that instantly brought some relief to the area, he hadn't realised needed relief. Closing his eyes to the manipulations, Harper felt relaxed for the first time in days, until they stopped and he was being encouraged to move around again.
"So tell us what happened with Buz," Rhade requested, as Junia settled down on the other side of Harper, taking his hand into her own, and Harper then noticed that Beka was asleep finally.
"He's defeated, and already bitter and twisted," Harper shrugged. "A broken man who blames me, but we made a deal," he stated.
"You've made a deal with Buz?" Junia checked unconvinced.
"Buz is a nobody now Harper, suffered the quickest downfall in history," Zal stated flippantly. "What kind of deal could you have possibly made?"
"He's going to help me get this collar off," Harper then glanced at Junia. "You should warn Tarah that Buz has his sights set on getting revenge," he advised with care.
"My sister?" Junia checked.
"Yeah, he's pretty cut up about her part in his downfall," Harper answered a little wearily.
"Please, please, let that be true, if helping Buz means Tarah gets what is coming, that you have my support in making that happen!" Junia then beamed enthusiastically, grabbing Harper's hand tighter. "That bitch deserves anything that's coming to her!"
Harper raised his eyebrows, seeing a sudden feisty side to the girl he was rapidly growing more attracted to, as she fondly continued to hold his hand, sat beside him.
"I'm not sure Buz is going to be nice to her, if he does get his revenge," Harper attempted to warn her.
"Seamus, my sister has continuingly used her relationship with Buz to undermine and humiliate me, the final straw for me ever giving a damn was when she tried it on with you," Junia stressed with seriousness. "I haven't spoken to her since, and I never intend to again, she only did that because I foolishly told her how I felt about you."
The silence in the room was suddenly more noticeable, as Harper could only stare back at Junia with awkwardness at her fresh declaration, wanting to respond but was too scared to try.
"So, this deal what does it involve exactly?" Dylan then asked quickly to break the silence.
Harper forced himself to look away from Junia, and he concentrated on Dylan as he considered his response. "I have told Buz that I'll give him the power that I supposedly have," Harper shrugged.
"The power?" Rhade inquired.
"Apparently I have the power in this city," Harper shrugged casually, enjoying seeing the uber squirm. "Oh and rank," he added with a smirk.
"Harper, you actually have no idea what you have, or what you are to some people in this city, do you?" Junia then realised.
"Look, all I need to know is that Buz is determined to seek revenge and I can use that to get what I want," Harper stressed. "This damn collar off, and access to those controls in that building that is controlled by Gilads."
"Buz can't get you access to those controls," Junia returned firmly. "And you have no power if you can't access them, so you have just entered a deal with Buz that you can't possibly repay."
"I'll find a way," Harper stressed. "Once this collar is off, I'll find a way in."
"Harper, I already said I'd help you if you trust me," Junia reminded him, and her expression was now easily read by Harper.
"You can get me access to that building?" Harper checked.
"I know the tunnels and have access to them via my work with the safe house," Junia revealed with a secret smile. "I told you to trust me, and that's all you had to do, I couldn't risk taking you there if I couldn't trust you," she stated.
"So once Buz gets this collar off me," Harper then began.
"You can't let Buz have the power," Junia returned sharply.
"I never intended to, besides, to have the power he'd need one of these, remember?" Harper gestured to his port.
"To have the power all he would need is to threaten or force you to do what he asked," Junia stressed.
"No one can control me," Harper dismissed.
Dylan cleared his throat before speaking. "Harper, it appears that Buz has weakened you to the Bantra plant, he would only need to expose you to that and you have little control over what you are doing, maybe that was his plan all along."
Harper considered this and looked away, as he tried to think. "I'd still need to be aware to follow any instruction, he wouldn't be able to control me if I'm out of my skull on drugs," he stressed. "And anyway, this port is damaged, in truth all I want is this collar off because it's really started to annoy me," he stressed with agitation.
"You have no plans to even try to disable the shields?" Rhade picked up.
"I will try," Harper stressed, growing more frustrated. "But you know, this port being damaged is real not some drug induced fantasy," he snapped, remembering the earlier accusations from Dylan and Rhade. "The thing doesn't work, it's making me fit, are you really asking me to risk jacking in?"
"Buz won't ask," Junia then reasoned, and her voice seemed to cut through Harper as the reality hit him.
"I'll deal with Buz," Harper could only state, but his voice now lacked the conviction it had earlier had.
"Dangerous game," Zal could now only comment.
"Harper, we know Rommie is just outside now," Dylan spoke clearly. "We're close, and we need you to try, that's all we ask but getting Buz involved like this, making a deal to give him your power, that was not a part of our plan."
"You only had to trust me," Junia then added, holding Harper's hand tighter for a moment.
"I hardly knew you, and after what happened with Tarah do you blame me?" Harper looked away, feeling the pressure now of his actions.
Rhade then cleared his throat. "I'll deal with Buz, Harper, once he has removed that collar," Rhade spoke confidently. "If you promise me that you will trust Junia, gain access to those controls and do all you can to deactivate those controls, by whatever means you can."
Harper considered Rhade's offer, and then sighed. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed, his voice low, and he avoided looking at Rhade.
Rhade then continued. "I can only hope that the more time Junia spends with you, the more she'll realise you are not her chosen one," Rhade then smirked.
"Ha, ha," Harper mocked. "You're just jealous that I'm sat in the company of a beautiful and intelligent person, and you're next to Dylan," Harper offered smiling again, feeling Junia squeezing his hand tighter in response to his compliment.
"Aw, Harper I never knew you felt that way about me," Zal piped up, sitting the other side of Harper.
The room was suddenly filled with laughter, as Harper swiped his hand at Zal in retaliation. "You really need to get over me, Zal," Harper simply responded.
"Yeah, Zal, hands off, he's taken," Junia joked.
"Hey I saw him first!" Zal continued to tease.
Harper found himself in the middle of a play fight between Junia and Zal, and looked to Dylan. "Boss, some help?" Harper requested, protecting himself from their playing.
"Sorry, Mr Harper, you're on your own, let them fight for you amongst themselves," Dylan grinned. "But my money's on Zal, I think you'll make a lovely couple."
"And after I helped you with those shoulders!" Junia complained brightly, before continuing to play fight with Zal.
Harper successfully managed to wriggle out of the fight between the two Edenians and settled next to Rhade. "If they come any closer you have my permission, with my superior rank to yours, to chuck them both out," Harper mocked towards the Nietzschean.
"There is no way in this universe I am ever going to get involved in your twisted love life," Rhade simply responded, and Harper could only shake his head, still hearing Junia claiming he was hers in his mind, as he watched her play fight with Zal over him.
"So did Buz give you any indication of when he'll remove that thing?" Rhade then asked gesturing to the collar.
"Not exactly," Harper returned unconcerned, still idly watching Junia before he turned back to Rhade and Dylan. "Do you know what this power and myth thing is all about?" he asked.
"No," Dylan answered.
"Beka does, but I don't think she wants me to know," Harper frowned. "So I guess we were right."
"Right?" Dylan questioned.
"About that building," Harper prompted.
"Junia did more or less confirm that that is where the controls are," Rhade agreed.
Harper simply smirked. "All this time, and all we had to do was ask a carer," Harper realised. "Just goes to show, leaders know nothing, its those who run about behind the scenes fixing things that have the true knowledge, and power," he figured.
"Harper if you're implying that you are the true captain of the Andromeda," Dylan began, seeing Harper's head snap back to face him with horror.
"No," Harper instantly confirmed. "I was just saying, about this place, not in general," he stressed. "I'm just talking crazy crap, hey maybe I'm on drugs, yeah, I wouldn't make a suggestion like that sober would I?" he offered mockingly.
"You're not going to let me forget that accusation are you, Mr Harper?" Dylan then realised with a knowing smile.
"No, I have a good five years worth of comebacks ready and waiting every time you plan to question me, boss, it wasn't exactly one of your finer moments," Harper agreed with a fond smile.
Dylan could only smile, and he saw Rhade smiling as well. "Well I guess I deserve it, and if it means you're still on my crew despite what I said, well then I'm more than willing to take the occasional swipe, just don't make a habit of it," he warned.
"Noted," Harper agreed. "How are the shoulders?"
"Actually, pretty good, thanks for getting Junia to look at them," Dylan then tested them, and felt movement that had been missing for so long.
"You should be fine in a few days," Junia then spoke up, taking her place next to Harper again, her play fighting with Zal having run it course and they both sat down again and silence descended once again.
Without warning there was suddenly a loud explosion that rocked the buildings foundations, and sounding only a few streets away, it caught all their attentions as Harper looked out of the window to see the skies were growing darker again.
"I guess Kenan is still fighting his war," Harper offered to break the stunned silence that was heavy in the room now, hearing raised voices and sounds of gun fire in the distance.
"We shouldn't stay here, it's not safe, Kenan's army could arrive at any time," Junia stressed.
"Does this house have a basement?" Harper asked, and saw Junia shake her head, as they all got to their feet ready to move.
"So where do we go?" Dylan asked, as he watched Rhade gently wake Beka.
"The tunnels, you're all recognised as Gilads, we shouldn't have a problem gaining access," Junia stressed, and encouraged them to move but on reaching the exit two Gilad guards blocked their way. "Let us pass, we have to hide."
"It's too dangerous, our orders were to keep you here and protect you," one of the guards stated.
"But it's not safe here!" Zal now spoke up.
"We're just following orders," the guard stated firmly.
"You're orders are crap," Zal dismissed and turned back to the small group.
"What's going on?" Beka asked wearily.
Harper looked around, wondering where the answer lay. "We're being protected but in an unsafe place," Harper finally offered, and turned back to the guard.
"What were your orders in the event of that little detail of a war being only streets away?" Dylan then stepped forward assuming command.
"We were only given orders to protect you," the guard answered unsure.
"Well, protect us as Junia here, leads us to a safer place," Dylan ordered. "I'm sure your orders were not to make us sitting ducks and watch as we get overthrown by Kenan's army," Dylan stressed, and finally the penny began to drop as the two guards looked at each other and shrugged.
"Well, let's go," the guard finally used his initiative.
Junia hurried along with Dylan, leading the way, as Harper and Rhade both flanked a still weary Beka, with Zal following close behind. The Edenian night was now filled with sounds of war, and flashes of light, indicating to the group to move quickly to avoid finding themselves in the centre of the trouble.
TBC