When Rommie had finished talking with Rick, he felt ashamed of himself. Rommie was right. He was too young when his organic parents died to have any memories of them. The only parents he ever really knew were here on Earth, and he decided he didn't care if they were organics, androids, clones, or Nietzchean. They were his parents and he still loved them.
Rick and Rommie entered the conference room, much to his mother's relief. Rick went to his mom and gave her a big hug.
"I'm sorry mom." Rick said. "I acted like a jerk earlier. I realize that you probably wanted to wait till I was older to explain about my organic parents. I also want to say that you two were the best parents a kid could've ever had. Please forgive me for the things I said earlier. I love you mom."
Shauna held her son in her arms. Many years she hoped that he had somehow survived, and that she would get the opportunity to hold him again.
"You're forgiven Rick." Shauna said. "I know it came as quite a shock to you. I understand your reaction."
"Thank you."
Rick looked around and realized that everyone was waiting for him to take his place so they could begin discussing the battle.
"I'm sorry Harper." Rick said, embarrassed that he had delayed the meeting.
"It's ok Rick." Harper said. "I think Brendan will agree with me when I say that family comes first. We may not have much family left, but one thing the Harper family believes in is strong family ties. You and your mom have been reunited after a long period of being apart. Now I think it's time we discuss how we're going to reunite you with your father."
"Agreed." Rick said.
Eternity and Gloria joined the others at the table, and the plans were made to free Boston of Nietzchean reign, and to free Rick's father.
Brendan let Harper take charge of the situation. If Harper lacked any current information about the Ubers in the city, Brendan informed him of the changes. other than that, Brendan was willing to go with Harper's plan.
Rick and Rommie would pair up, accompanied by ten of Brendan's men. Their task would be to rescue John Styvers.
Brendan and Gloria would take another team and set explosives in the Uber's sleeping compound.
That left Harper and Rick's mom, Shauna, to attack the Nietzchean's headquarters, Faneuil Hall.
"Brendan?" Harper asked. "Do you know where the Ubers are holding Mr. Styvers?"
"According to the last intelligence report we received, he was being held in a detention cell, on the lowest level of the prison compound."
"Eternity could you show us a layout of the prison compound?"
Immediately a three dimensional representation of the prison appeared in the middle of the conference table.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Harper said, impressed. "Thanks Eternity."
"You're welcome Harper." Eternity felt pleased with herself for being able to help. She also liked the way Harper reacted to the 3D model of the prison appearing. She looked up and saw Rommie looking at her with a knowing smile.
Everyone's attention was on the prison model.
Brendan was the first to speak.
"Harper, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's no way they're getting in this place. The moment someone attempts to enter without proper authorization, these doors here fall down into place," He points to the specified doors. "Closing you off from the interior of the prison. These doors are five feet thick, and made of some of the strongest metal in existence."
"How strong?" Rick asked.
"An entire platoon of lancers could fire at it for days," Shauna said, "and not even dent it."
"How can you be so sure?" Harper asked.
"Because John and I designed it."
"What if we used something bigger than force lances?" Rommie asked.
"I see what you're getting at!" Brendan said. "You could use Eternity's weapons."
"That would work too," Rommie said. "But I was thinking more along the lines of using one of the PWBs."
"PWBs?" Brendan asked.
"Planetary Warfare Bots." Harper explained. "Great idea Rommie."
"Eternity." Harper said. "Looks like you're going to get to have some fun."
On the Andromeda, Marcus regained consciousness. Dylan was immediately alerted and went to Medical.
"Hello." Dylan said, as he neared the bed on which Marcus was laying.
"Hello captain." Marcus replied.
"I regret what happened to you in the brig. You shouldn't have been placed with those two."
"I appear to be unharmed." Marcus said. "It could have been worse if you hadn't showed up when you did."
"Marcus, I understand that you were fleeing for your life." Dylan acknowledged. "I am willing to provide you with a place to stay as well as protection, if you will answer a few questions for me."
"You're attempting to free Boston, aren't you?"
"Yes, we are." Dylan admitted.
"And the communication blackout?" Marcus asked. "You caused that?"
"I'm supposed to be asking the questions here." Dylan said.
"Right . Sorry captain. What do you want to know?"
"Do know of a man being held by the name of John Styvers?"
"Man is not a term I would use to describe him, but yes , I know of him."
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked, confused, having not been informed about Rick's parents yet.
"He's not a man." Marcus explained. "He's an android."
"I see." Dylan said. "Do you know where he's being held?"
"He was being held in a cell with other prisoners, but when we lost communications, he was supposed to be brought to the science lab to help me, but I left before he arrived."
"Would he still be there?"
"If Mephist has a bit of sense left in his head, he would have kept him there to work on the communications problem, but to tell the truth, I believe Mephist has lost his mind."
Marcus went on to explain to Dylan how that Mephist fancies himself as a godlike dictator, punishing his subjects severely for trivial faults.
"He cares little for his fellow Nietzcheans, and as for the Earth Kludges, he sees them as animals to be used and slaughtered as he sees fit. I tried to warn him once that the Kludges were becoming too numerous, and if he didn't change his actions toward them, we would have a full scale revolt to deal with. He nearly killed me for my insolence."
"I'm confused." Dylan said. "I thought that most Earth people were sickly and that few children survived at birth. How is it possible that their numbers have grown so greatly?"
"It's true that the sick die, but the Kludges rate of reproduction and survival rate at birth has greatly increased during the last few years."
"Do you have an explanation for this?" Dylan asked.
"I have a theory that the two android doctors have something to do with it, but it is only a theory."
"Thank you Marcus." Dylan said.
"Andromeda, notify Harper that they may have moved Rick's father to the science lab."
Andromeda acknowledged the order and contacted Eternity.
"Harper." Eternity's hologram said. "We have an incoming message from Andromeda."
"Onscreen." Harper said.
Andromeda's image appeared on one of the display screens.
"It's good to see you Andromeda." Harper said. "What can I do for you?"
"We have some new information about Rick's father." Andromeda said.
Andromeda told them what Dylan had found out about John Styvers, as well as the mental instability of the Nietzchean leader Mephist.
"If they moved John to the lab," Shauna said, "Then we'll need to split a team up, one to free everybody in the prison, and the other to rescue John at the lab."
"If he's at the lab." Harper said. "They might have sent him back to the prison, or he might not have even been brought to the lab since Marcus left. We could really use some more help."
"It appears help is on it's way Harper." Andromeda said.
"What do you mean?" Harper asked.
"Becka and Rhade have just left in the Maru. Dylan decided with this new bit of information that you may need some assistance. They should be landing any moment now at your location."
"In other words," Harper said. "Becka was driving Dylan nuts, about being kept out of the fighting."
"That too." Andromeda said with a smile. "Let me know when you need me Harper. Glory and I can take out anything these thugs have."
"I know you can Beautiful."