Chapter 5

'I think I know,' Beka spoke up. 'I thought someone had got to Doyle, few weeks back,' she added sadly. 'Your old friends the Drago-Kazov pride.'

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'What the hell do they want with me?' Harper partially snapped.

'They've reprogrammed Doyle, had her nearly kill you, must be something big,' Rhade remarked not helping tensions.

'We should have kept it more of a secret that Doyle was your creation,' Dylan realised.

'Surprised a big deal was made of it, when so many more worthy acts of mine have been kept quiet recently,' Harper remarked and then paused, sensing he'd said the wrong thing by the looks he received. 'Sorry, Dylan, that was low, I didn't mean that to sound like it did.'

'No, you're right,' Dylan agreed. 'I wish circumstances had been that I could have revealed more about your achievements,' he frowned before Harper took a sharp intake of breath as more shooting pains went up his injured arm. 'You really should get that arm looked at, it's swelling quite a bit.'

Harper gingerly cradled his arm and was about to agree when he saw Rommie emerge from the forest carrying the prone figure of Doyle in her arms. Harper rushed forward and immediately went to Doyle's side in Rommie's arms.

'Is she ok?'

'I had to fire repeatedly eight times before it overloaded her systems, why isn't she fitted with an off switch?' Rommie frowned with annoyance.

'Because of the flak I got for putting one on you!' Harper reacted, his eyes locked on Doyle. 'Lay her down; let me take a look at her.'

Rommie did as Harper requested, as the others gathered around and watched Harper retrieve his data cable, he plugged it in and then found the discreet connection behind Doyle's neck. 'Hold her, I'm going in,' Harper showed some apprehension.

There was a flash and a rush of light as Harper connected, he had got use to the Edenia systems, slightly older tech and had missed the rush of newer technology. Once his senses adjusted he focused on the image of Doyle looking directly at him from within her mind.

'You should return to Edenia where it's safe,' Doyle stated firmly. 'No one can hurt you there.'

'Is that a threat?'

'Yes,' Doyle agreed.

'Come on Doyle, do you know who's done this to you?' Harper asked with concern. 'Please don't tell me the Dragans,' he then added but looked as though he already knew it was true.

'Leave!' Doyle insisted. 'Quickly, I can feel it,' she shuddered but Harper immediately began to access her system, he wasn't going to let this continue to his friend as he frantically located the files and command codes he needed, which would effectively reboot Doyle and give her control back. He became aware of a rogue piece of code and he ignored it, it was trying to infiltrate his work but he was too smart, too quick for it to concern him too much.

'Almost there, Doyle, hold on,' Harper stressed and then felt a jab of electricity that momentarily stunned him. Doyle was no longer calling his name, but he regained his senses and remained focused on his job in hand. Another jab tried to stop him and then he felt a creeping sensation as the rogue code tried to surround him, and Harper knew he didn't have much time, the code was powerful and pretty smart but he was smarter and he was so close.

'Seamus Harper, you have a message,' an unfamiliar voice sounded around the engineer who only paused for a fraction before resuming work. 'We know about Edenia, we know your secret.'

'Yeah, yeah, whatever,' Harper dismissed, as he remained focused on his task.

'Never underestimate the Drago-Kasov pride, kludge, we've never forgotten you.'

'Well I've never forgotten you, Jerk offs, and you better remember that,' Harper growled, while continuing to fight the code.

'Your lovely creation has been the perfect vessel to deliver this message, and you're already too slow, too late, we know where you are kludge, your help is now demanded in taking Edenia.'

'I've said it once, I'll say it again, go to hell,' Harper stressed, more determined than ever, unable to completely process all that he was being told, so focused on trying to help Doyle.

'You should never have trusted the Commonwealth, especially not with confidential information like your god-like status in a world we covert. We may have lost Earth, but we know there's a substitute and how to get it, you will help us or you will die. End of message.'

'End of your life,' Harper declared and finally activated the file that immediately purged the rogue file from Doyle's mainframe. 'Damn, why couldn't the Abyss have destroyed the Dragans as well as Earth, would have made it almost worthwhile,' he stressed to himself and took a deep breath before rebooting the core system. 'They won't win, they can't win again, I won't let it happen.'

'Harper!' Doyle called out, her mind now free of the rogue code. 'Are you ok?'

'I'm fine,' Harper declared wearily. 'But we have problems; I'll meet you on the flip side.'

Harper disconnected and found that he was lying on his back on the ground with his former crew mates looking at him with concern. 'I'm fine,' Harper stated and sat up, wincing only slightly as he remembered his injured hand. 'But we have to get out of here, off this planet and as far away as possible!'

'Problems?' Rhade picked up.

'Drago-Kazov, Beka was right,' Harper simply said as he was helped to his feet.

'Harper, I'm sorry, I didn't know,' Doyle tried to explain.

'They tricked you,' Harper simply guessed and began to walk.

'They told me they had found some of your relatives, who had escaped Earth before it had exploded,' Doyle offered with regret. 'They were going to download the images into my mainframe for when I next saw you, but,' she paused.

'It's ok, forget it,' Harper put a hand on Doyle's arm. 'They are heartless bastards, if they want something they don't care who they hurt to get it,' he frowned. 'Now let's go, they'll be here soon, if not already, Doyle's actions have already alerted them to my presence.'

'Why are the Dragans after you?' Rhade asked with confusion.

'They found out about Edenia, so much for confidentiality,' Harper glanced at Dylan. 'They know I'm the key, they want a replacement Earth,' he added with some concern and anger.

'That's not possible, none of the reports I sent to the Council contained any information about you, Harper, especially not relating to Edenia,' Dylan objected.

Rommie stepped forward. 'Those files remained on the Andromeda, which is now under the Commonwealth's direct command as a delegate's ship.'

'A few months ago there were reports of a breach in security, random files had been accessed but nothing was proven and no details were released,' Rhade remembered.

'I should have purged all the documents that contained references to Harper's involvement with Edenia, this is my fault,' Rommie offered.

'Beka and Rhade's original reports,' Dylan sighed. 'I just didn't think, what with everything that happened I just never gave that order.'

'Why wasn't I told of this breach?' Beka demanded. 'We should have been made aware.'

'You had other concerns,' Rhade looked at Harper. 'We thought you had enough to deal with keeping tabs on your little problem,' he hinted.

'We could stand here and point fingers but you know, I'm the guy who is in the Dragans sight and I don't want to be an easy catch, can someone please get me out of here before they find me?' Harper asked frantically. 'Sorry to cut the reunion short, but I really don't want to make this easy for them.'

'We'll take the Maru,' Beka stressed.

'I'm coming with you,' Doyle spoke up.

Harper turned to his creation and frowned. 'I'd love that, truly I would but Doyle, I can't be sure the Dragans didn't do more.'

'You don't trust me?'

'Don't say it like that,' Harper returned quickly, and then sighed. 'Get yourself to Sinti, ask them to check for any Dragan technology and clean you out.'

'I need to know you're safe first,' Doyle pointed out.

'I've already summoned a task force to escort Mr Harper back to Edenia,' Rhade spoke up with authority and just nodded to Harper, who partly smiled a thanks back.

'I'm not sure its safe for me to return to Edenia, lets not make any rash decisions here,' Harper suggested nervously. 'Maybe I should just lay low someplace else.'

'Rommie, inform the Commonwealth that I'm taking command back for the Andromeda, one more time, to assist?' Dylan asked.

Harper found a smile. 'You don't want to protect me, you just wanna ride your spaceship again and play captain,' Harper teased, and everyone seemed to agree.

'I'm sure that would be fine,' Rommie agreed.

'Trance, Rev, wanna ride on the Maru, old times sake?' Beka offered.

'I would like to fix young Harper's arm, but the Maru should suffice in this effort although not as advanced as the Andromeda med deck,' Rev agreed.

'It'll be just like old times!' Trance smiled broadly.

They were just about to start moving when a weapons discharge was heard close by rapidly followed by Harper crying out suddenly and falling forward, to the surprise and shock of his friends as he landed heavily on the ground, his body convulsing from an electric charged hit.

'Everyone stand still!' the order came out, and slowly from the forest a Dragan task force emerged with their weapons raised.

'We're out of practice,' Dylan said under his breath, seeing no way out, as he saw Harper lying on the ground, completely immobilised.

Rhade glanced around, seeing his former crew mates surrounded and just nodded his head. Suddenly a flurry of weapons fire was heard as the Dragan soldiers dove for cover and a task force from Rhade's own fleet worked to clear the threat. 'Some of us are out of practice,' Rhade then remarked and dragged Harper up, who groaned but was still conscious. 'Let's go,' Rhade ordered taking most of Harper's weight, and Dylan grabbed a force lance that Rhade threw to him.

They hurried as a group towards the Maru, Dylan and Rhade sending covering fire as Beka covered the rear to prevent any followers. They had almost reached the Maru when ten Drago-Kasov soldiers blocked their path, stepping out from the shadows of the ship all armed and waiting. Their leader stepped forward as Rhade and Dylan called a halt, Harper still struggling to stand without assistance.

'Make this easy, hand over the kludge,' the Dragan commander ordered.

'You know we won't do that,' Dylan stated.

'Then it leaves me to chose which of these lovely ladies I will shoot first, but I've done my home work, the two pretty androids won't fall to my fire and that gold alien will not die so that leaves Beka Valentine,' the commander aimed his weapon at her and the rest of the soldiers did likewise.

'No!' Harper called out and shrugged Rhade's hold off him, and he saw Beka look uneasy for a moment becoming the target, before she glanced at Harper who could only frown before he turned back to the Dragan officer. 'You've made your point, I'm right here walking,' Harper declared.

'Don't do it, Seamus,' Beka warned.

'I'm not going to just stand here and let them kill you,' Harper dismissed, his eyes locked on the threat, and slowly he moved forward and no one attempted to stop him.

The commander strode forward and roughly grabbed Harper, twisting him around and holding his weapon to Harper's temple. The others could only watch now, fearing for their friend but seeing no other way to stop what was happening. For a moment nothing happened, as the commander sized up the situation, before he gestured to his men to disarm Rhade and Dylan. With reluctance Rhade and Dylan surrendered their weapons, knowing the commander had Harper under control and they could only look on as slowly the commander began to back away with Harper in tow and the weapon still aimed.

Just when it seemed the Dragans were clear the sound of weapons being charged and the call for them to halt and drop weapons was clearly heard and Rhade turned to Dylan. 'Always prepared, I knew my men would show up,' he half smiled, and they moved forward.

Rhade's men had the Dragan's surrounded, and the foot soldiers were dropping their weapons easily outnumbered.

'Give it up,' Rhade took command. 'Let Harper go.'

'Never!' the commander spun around with Harper still firmly in his grasp, still holding the weapon to his head.

'You're defeated, we've taken out all of your men, don't embarrass your pride over a kludge,' Rhade stated and ignored the glare he received from Beka.

The commander holding Harper seemed to hesitate for a moment before he spoke again. 'We're not stupid enough to consider this kludge to be worthless, he's the key to us reaffirming our dominance,' the commander declared.

'In the slave trade? Some dominance, it's a dying business and if you don't let him go you'll be the next to die, along with your stupid plan,' Rhade declared and gestured to his men to take aim.

Clearly panicked now, the commander spun around seeing all weapons trained on him and his men all secured. He held tightly to Harper and showed no signs of letting go.

'Last warning,' Rhade stated. 'Let him go, and call off this worthless witch hunt, it's not worthy of our people,' Rhade added with conviction.

'You insult me and you insult my pride,' the Dragan Commander declared. 'If its so worthless then I assume destroying the key is of no consequence or matter, if the Drago-Kazov can't make use of him, no one will,' he declared and before the first shot could be fired to prevent it, the Commander activated his weapon straight at Harper's head.

The others could only watch in complete horror as Harper made no sound, and his head violently snapped to one side with the force of the discharge before he was thrown by the sheer force to the ground in a heap. Chaos followed as Rhade's task force opened fire and the Nietzschean commander fell in a hail of fire, when order was restored Trance and Beka hurried to Harper's side fearing the worse.

'Oh my god,' Beka breathlessly spoke on seeing the blood covering the side of Harper's head, and she turned away.

Trance hesitantly touched Harper, and her surprise was clear when he jerked slightly and groaned. 'He's alive,' Trance exclaimed, and immediately checked his pulse.

'This weapon isn't a firearm,' Rhade announced, having snatched it from the grasp of the dying commander. 'It's something similar to a stun gun, still hurts and can cause some surface damage but it doesn't penetrate, it hits the target with a forceful electrical charge,' he added.

The slight jerking motions of Harper's body supported Rhade's words, and both Rhade and Dylan moved in to quickly pulled Harper to his feet. 'Let's get him back to the Andromeda,' Dylan simply ordered and they both carried him between them onto the Maru.

'Drink this,' Doyle offered a hot drink to Beka who was quietly sat in the pilot's chair of the Maru, they were now docked on the Andromeda and it had been a number of hours since Harper had been nearly executed in front of them.

'They'll come back,' Beka spoke with a hollow voice.

'Dylan agrees, Rhade is forming a strategy to protect Harper, and Edenia,' Doyle confirmed. 'It's become a Commonwealth problem, and Dylan has temporarily brought himself out of retirement.'

Beka took a sip of the drink and sighed. 'Harper should have stayed where he was, where he was safe.'

'Neither of us realised he was safe,' Doyle reasoned. 'And I didn't realise I was such a threat to his safety.'

'He doesn't blame you,' Beka was quick to speak.

'I shouldn't have been so trusting, he's told me about the Drago-Kasov,' Doyle frowned. 'You can dress it up as much as you like but this is my fault, and you suspected this, didn't you?'

'What?' Beka offered.

'This is why you didn't want me at the reunion, you didn't trust my meeting with the Dragans, that's why you found that drop off for me to do instead,' Doyle guessed.

'Ok, I suspected but only because I could see no reason why the Dragans would want to reunite Harper with family I knew didn't exist,' Beka shrugged.

'Then why didn't you tell me?' Doyle asked abruptly. 'Harper's nearly died because of me; you should have told me why you wanted me to stay away! I led them straight to him!'

Beka closed her eyes for a moment, tears forming. 'I didn't really believe he'd show up, I didn't think we were a part of his life anymore, he usually moves on without a second thought for those he leaves behind and I thought this was no different.'

'You under-estimated how much we all mean to him,' Doyle considered.

'And now he's suffering again because of me, because of this crew,' Beka sniffed loudly. 'Why the hell did he come back? If he was having such a great time and life on Edenia what made him leave that to see us?'

'You can't make this Harper's fault,' Doyle warned.

'I know,' Beka sighed and finished her drink, before getting to her feet. 'How is he?'

'Trance and Rev are still waiting for results, he's been unconscious for nearly five hours,' Doyle answered. 'But his vitals are strong, and he's no longer in any danger.'

Beka frowned. 'It's bad though, isn't it?'

'He received a disruptive electrical discharge straight to the head,' Doyle simply said. 'Though, Trance believes his data port might have attracted and cushioned a lot of the charge, and that's why he was still semi conscious immediately after, but it was still a major blow to the head by any margin.'

'Today was supposed to be a good day,' Beka frowned and left the cockpit, leaving Doyle to wonder how things could have been if she hadn't been so gullible.

TBC