Chapter 18

Rev Bem walked the corridors of the Andromeda, and he knew things were bad. Trance was by Captain Roseby's side for much of the time, and he now more than suspected her motives. She was no longer acting like the Trance he knew, she seemed calculating and not the least bit interested in helping Edenia, especially since the shields were raised again and most of the Commonwealth army trapped inside.

He continued his urgent pace, knowing Roseby was suggesting to the council that they were making futile gestures to try and break a shield that has remained intact all this time. There was something much more concerning however, a suggestion that had come to his attention. Rumours were now flying between Commonwealth and Dragan forces, that Seamus Harper had orchestrated all of this, that he had somehow betrayed the Commonwealth and Edenia, and purposely helped the Dragans to break into Edenia.

'Rev,' Trance's voice stopped him in his tracks. 'I hear you are leaving us.'

'Trance, I must return to my retreat, now my services are no longer required here and you seem to have things in hand,' Rev bowed slightly.

'But Dylan, Rhade, Beka and Harper are still trapped on Edenia,' Trance offered with surprise.

'I will be praying for them,' Rev returned. 'But I can't help them up here, I can however help a great many others who need me elsewhere, and I can only hope the Divine grants them a path to safety soon.'

'Have you heard about the evidence against Harper?' Trance asked.

'I'm aware of the rumours, the accusations, and would be interested to know from whom they were started,' Rev stared at Trance, tension growing as he tried to appear calm in Trance's presence but increasingly becoming aware of her intimidating stance. 'I believe they are false.'

'I do too, but the evidence is quite substantial,' Trance responded innocently.

'Is there any word on Doyle?' Rev Bem then asked, and noted the flash of anger across Trance's features before she answered.

'Nothing new,' she spoke with no care.

'I will be leaving soon, I just need to gather my few possessions and pray for early resolution to the dilemmas we face,' Rev offered, bowing his head again.

'You don't have to leave,' Trance spoke up.

'I think I do,' Rev responded with conviction.

'Very well,' Trance simply said, and turned on her heels, leaving Rev alone.

'And I'll miss you too, Miss Gemini,' Rev frowned, and took a deep breath, more convinced than before that she was up to something and that he had to do something. With a determined air, Rev Bem moved quickly back to his quarters to ensure he left the ship, he suddenly didn't feel quite so at home on board the Andromeda.

'Harper,' Beka called out as the soldier unlocked the cell door and let her into the cell. Harper was sleeping on his cot, a light sheen of perspiration covered him but he seemed to be sleeping soundly, as she ran a hand through his hair and tried to stir him. 'Harper?'

There was a groan and Harper shifted slightly, more into Beka's hold as she knelt down, keeping her hand in his hair, concern etched across her face. 'Harper, please wake up, come on,' she encouraged.

'Let him be,' Rhade's voice gently spoke up, as he joined her in the cell.

'He looks weak,' Beka remained by Harper's side.

'He needs to sleep it off, he's had a tough few days,' Rhade stated. 'And you're not exactly out of the woods, Beka, you shouldn't be up, you're still hurt.'

'I'm fine, I've been patched up so quit the mother hen act,' she said knowingly, giving Rhade a half smile. 'Seriously, I'm ok.'

'Ok, but we need to be careful,' Rhade looked at Harper, making it obvious who he was referring to.

'Careful?' he had Beka's full attention.

'I don't think we can trust Asa with Harper,' Rhade offered, moving closer and then gave some consideration to his next words. 'Harper had a fit earlier, a pretty bad one.'

'I thought he had one the other night too, but it was just a bad dream,' Beka remembered.

Rhade was shaking his head. 'No, this was a proper fit, scared the crap out of me,' he frowned. 'Harper's been exposed more than once to the Bantra drug recently.'

'What?' Beka frowned, and glanced at her friend.

'I think he's dependant on it, but not quite lost to it yet, not like an addict but it's become a weakness again, like the last time,' Rhade surmised. 'His nose bled when I gave him a small dose of smelling salts.'

'I knew Asa was being too nice, too perfect,' Beka got to her feet and paced the cell. 'On one hand he seemed to have Harper completely convinced he was his friend, almost a father figure, and with the other hand he seemed quite prepared to knock Harper into touch,' she stressed. 'Its just weird, one minute Harper seemed completely at ease with Asa, the next he'd be terrified.'

'Sounds like Asa has been abusing him with this drug, and probably confused him, especially with his memory loss, the confusion is most likely ten fold,' Rhade considered. 'Doesn't know who to trust or why, his instinct is shot when it comes to Asa.'

'But why would Asa do that to him? When he speaks of Harper I can sense a genuine like for Harper, so why do this to him?' Beka asked with confusion.

'I think Harper is right, Asa fears him, he was the promised one, he knows more about the systems than Asa,' Rhade shrugged. 'I think the drug was used to make Harper forget how to get to the control room, although I suspect it might have got out of hand,' Rhade shrugged. 'It was a dangerous tactic to purposely expose Harper to a drug he has a known weakness for, maybe it backfired on him.'

'I just keep thinking back, replaying in my mind the moment Harper turned up at the reunion all smiles, all about how good Edenia had been and I fell for it, Rhade,' Beka seethed with anger. 'How could he have played us like that? He convinced me, convinced all of us that everything was fine!'

'We might never know the truth behind that,' Rhade glumly predicted. 'He never fooled Rommie, she knew something wasn't right about him, said so at the time.'

'We should assign Rommie to keep an eye on Harper,' Beka realised. 'She wouldn't let anyone near him, she could help him.'

'I can make sure Rommie is freed from her current duties, I would feel happier about things if she was here,' Rhade agreed. 'This alliance Dylan is finalising with the Edenians isn't sitting right with me,' Rhade then threw his arms up. 'And once again we find ourselves in a situation on Edenia and it's all about Harper,' he frowned and moved to the door.

'Rhade,' Beka stopped him. 'Thanks,' she half smiled.

'For what?' Rhade enquired.

'Looking out for Harper, bringing me here, rescuing us both, not giving up on him, among other things,' she smiled.

'Stop it,' Rhade complained. 'You'll be claiming I like him next,' he smirked before leaving the cell.

Beka moved back to Harper's side, and tried to encourage him to wake up, fearing for him as she watched him sleep.

Dylan walked into the room and stopped, before sighing loudly and rubbing his face.

'Hard day in the office?' Rhade asked, he looked out towards the window and saw that night had rapidly descended over the city.

'We're now allies with the Edenians,' Dylan simply said before sitting down.

'Easy deal,' Rhade commented.

'Yeah,' Dylan agreed and grabbed himself a drink. 'Maybe too easy.'

'They do seem to have rolled over,' Rhade agreed. 'But Asa was right, they have no army they can speak of, no means to defend themselves and we are the more attractive of the parties to side with.'

'Something isn't right and I kept trying to find out what it was, kept looking between the lines, but everything checks out,' Dylan stated. 'I even wonder if it's not just a lingering distrust for this city that is clouding our judgement, we were tricked so many times before.'

'I might have agreed, had I not seen what they've done to Harper,' Rhade stood up.

Dylan looked at Rhade with confusion. 'Explain.'

'Memory loss or not, Harper's messed up in more ways than one,' Rhade began with an anger lacing his words. 'They've exposed him more than once to the Bantra plant as a means of ensuring he didn't remember certain things, like the new route to the control room.'

'Purposely exposed him to it?' Dylan checked and saw Rhade agreed.

'And Harper didn't say much but he mentioned Asa had him sign an agreement, and when he's strayed from that he's been punished, the guy now thinks he's as good as dead for raising the shields,' Rhade stressed.

'So all that talk about a great life, it was lies?' Dylan considered.

'I don't think it was, I think Harper genuinely did think he had something good going on here but on reflection maybe he was too drugged up to know for sure, that or he was just too ashamed to admit Asa was using him like a puppet,' Rhade sat down again.

Dylan shook his head. 'I didn't get the impression he was in any way under the influence, or wasn't happy, something isn't right, that's all I know,' he frowned.

'We have another problem.'

'Go on,' Dylan stated sounding tired.

'I think Trance has master minded this whole thing to ensure the best of the Commonwealth and the Drago-Kasov Pride are trapped inside this shield,' Rhade informed him. 'Apparently Harper was attacked by her, she's not our Trance and she was strongly encouraging him to raise the shields.'

'Is that why Harper raised them?'

'He said he had little choice, and I believe him,' Rhade shrugged. 'Either he destroyed the controls as Asa ordered, or he raised the shields as Trance requested.'

'Or see the city burn to the ground if he left the shields down,' Dylan shook his head. 'Tough decisions to face, it sounds like Harper's had it coming from all sides and chose the option he felt more comfortable with, saving the tech and giving Edenia some hope of a future.'

'I've assigned Rommie to Harper for the time being, I'm not sure what else to do with him, he needs medical help and he needs protection, from probably just about everyone,' Rhade stated. 'Dylan, as a priority we have to make him lower the shields, who knows what Trance and her people are doing up there, and not to mention we need the extra man and fire power to defeat the Dragans, as things stand.'

'No, we're not going to make Harper do anything and add to his problems,' Dylan countered. 'There are more than enough forces to protect the universe outside, lets just focus on the job at hand and that is to give Edenia back to its people.'

'But,' Rhade glanced around. 'We can't destroy an entire army of Dragans and I'm pretty sure they are not the negotiating type,' he added angrily. 'We need to just count our losses and focus on the bigger picture to ensure we have a universe to return to! The shield has to come back down and Harper is the only one who can do that!'

'Maybe so,' Dylan offered. 'But lowering the shield will destroy all hope for Edenia and I'm not prepared to give that order.'

'It's just a city like any other,' Rhade dismissed. 'Though a little bit freakier.'

'It's stuff of legend, Rhade, it has history and we only know a small fraction of it, we can't just let it burn and allow this location to be put under constant power struggles as each new super power attempts to secure this outpost for nothing more than strategic gain,' Dylan explained firmly, and with passion. 'I will not be able to live with myself if Edenia lost all that makes it special, and makes it unique in this universe, we have to fight to protect places like this, especially now with Earth having been destroyed!'

'But you want it for the Commonwealth,' Rhade pointed out.

'I want it because I will ensure the Commonwealth extends respect to the Edenian people, to the culture and allows the two to exist in harmony, no other force out there would give them that,' Dylan stressed as he got to his feet.

'Are we doing this for Earth, for Harper?' Rhade then asked calmly.

Dylan glanced down and then sighed loudly. 'Earth was obliterated, Rhade, nothing exists there anymore but Edenia has a unique connection to what Earth used to represent and what so many of us have forgotten or have never known, before the dark times and I think it's worth preserving at least a small part of that while we still can,' he answered.

'So you are doing this for Harper,' Rhade prompted.

'Yes, ok, I'm doing this for Harper, Rhade, is that such a bad thing?' Dylan asked loudly, and with frustration and then took a deep breath as Rhade simply looked on. 'I just can't help thinking that Harper is mixed up in something big, I feel it in my gut and I don't know the facts or if its true but one thing is clear; he needs our help, and I think we're the only friends he's got mad enough to want to try to give him that help,' Dylan offered a small smile.

'You know you're fighting a losing battle right?' Rhade frowned.

'When has it ever been anything else?' Dylan offered casually and left Rhade to consider how the captain was right.

Harper groaned and Beka hurried to his side, taking a nearby cup of water as she saw him slowly come around. It took Harper a moment to focus before he looked at her with narrowed eyes.

'Beka?'

'Drink this,' Beka encouraged him to slowly sit up, and Harper did so, albeit a little shakily.

'What happened? Where are we?' Harper asked, before taking some more water. 'My head is killing,' he stressed and then looked around. 'I'm in prison?' he finally asked.

Beka brushed her hand through his hair in no hurry to answer the questions, a slight smile of amusement on her face. 'Just take it easy, you might feel a bit rough for a few hours or so.'

'Why don't I remember anything?' Harper asked.

'Long story.'

'Looks like I have time,' Harper offered.

Beka was about to speak when she heard a soldier cough behind her, and on turning he spoke. 'Mam, there's a man outside asking after you, says he needs to speak to you,' the soldier offered.

'Tell him to wait, I'm busy,' Beka stated.

'I have done for the past couple of hours, he's getting impatient,' the soldier shrugged.

Beka showed a flash of frustration before turning back to Harper. 'Will you be ok for a couple of minutes?' She saw Harper nod his head. 'Finish your drink, then we'll talk,' Beka offered with a quick smile and left with the guard.

On reaching the top of the stairs Beka rolled her eyes, recognising the man from the holding cell at the palace. 'Jashen, what the hell do you want?' Beka asked.

'To thank you, I'm a free man thanks to your Commonwealth comrades,' Jashen announced happily.

'Fine, now go, I'm busy,' Beka started to move back down the stairs but Jashen grabbed her arm.

'Is Harper down there?' Jashen asked.

'I said go away,' Beka shook free of Jashen, suddenly concerned for her friend.

'Is there a problem, Beka?' Rommie spoke up as she moved forward, having quietly observed the man for the past two hours to allow Beka time with Harper, and she wasn't about to let him attack Beka.

'We were in holding cells together at the palace and now thinks we're best buddies, and he was just leaving,' Beka returned sharply, glaring at Jashen.

'Look, I wanted to warn you, Harper's not safe,' Jashen offered quickly and saw he had some of Beka's attention, and it was enough. 'Those allegations against him, that he was conspiring against Edenia,' he lowered his voice. 'They were true.'

'Just get out of here, Jashen, and take your lies with you,' Beka stated.

'Harper is perfectly safe,' Rommie then added. 'I will personally make sure of that, regardless of these allegations you speak of.'

'If I know its true, then Asa and his men almost certainly do as well, fact,' Jashen stated. 'Harper would have been safer being captured by the Dragans,' he added.

'I don't think so somehow,' Beka stated but paused before moving back down the stairs. 'Anyway, why are you here, why even warn us? Just a couple of days ago you tried to attack Harper, so why should I trust you or anything you say?'

'I worked for the Dragans too, with Harper, I was his contact and the Zodd team was our cover and well, things haven't exactly gone to plan, stuff happened, bad stuff,' Jashen frowned and paused for a moment in reflection. 'I'm not the only one from the team who is on this side of the fence, but I'm the only one who wants to help Harper not kill him, so think about it,' Jashen hinted. 'I don't work for the Dragans anymore, so I have to watch my back as well, but I want to help,' Jashen showed some compassion in his expression and lowered his voice further. 'The Dragans infiltrated Edenia with people like me long before they arrived.'

Beka showed her surprise and looked at Rommie before turning back to Jashen. 'Why are Edenian's working with the Dragans? They are monsters, you chose the wrong side,' Beka stated.

'Harper,' Jashen simply said, and offered a confident smirk with no further explanation.

'Get out, before I call the soldiers on you,' Beka warned but saw Rommie step forward. 'Or better still before I set Rommie on you, and trust me, you don't want to upset Rommie.'

Jashen gave a weary glance towards Rommie. 'I'll be around if you want any questions answered, I won't go far, and always remember I want to help,' Jashen stated.

'Help how exactly?' Beka scoffed. 'By giving him to the Dragans, it's never going to happen; I saw what they did to him when I rescued him the first time!'

Jashen looked at Beka without any emotion. 'Not all Edenian's support Asa and his controlling nature, not all Edenian's appreciate how your magic gave Asa status in this city, not all Edenians like seeing Asa controlling Harper as a means to stay in power, not all Edenians like Harper, and worst of all, not all Edenians are against this war the Dragans have started.'

'You're crazy,' Beka could only respond.

'I know,' Jashen flashed her a smile. 'Find me, when you have had time to think about my words.'

Beka watched as Jashen then turned and left, and she stared at the door as it closed unsure of what to think, knowing she couldn't trust the man who had already threatened Harper in his own home.

'If you stay here to look after Harper I will keep an eye on Jashen for now, I don't trust him or what he's telling us, I think he's exaggerating some possible half truths at best, maybe, and I think he's probably a threat,' Rommie offered. 'I will make sure he is closely monitored so he can't get to Harper.'

'Thanks,' Beka agreed and watched Rommie leave. She closed her eyes and took a moment to think, while still stood on the stairs. Jashen had been the one to tell her Harper was being controlled with drugs, he seemed to know Asa's motives and more importantly, he knew what Harper was up to before he lost his memories, so he had answers they still sought. With a sigh she began to descend the stairs, wondering what she should do.

'Who was that, I recognised the voice I think,' Harper spoke up as Beka slowly walked over to the cell.

'Then you tell me,' Beka responded.

'Minds a blank, literally,' Harper frowned and in that moment he looked so lost but at the same time in complete control unnerving Beka for a moment before she dismissed it, and opened the cell door moving to his side and putting her arms around him in a fond embrace.

'What were you mixed up in, Harper?' Beka asked, as she rested her head against his, and he didn't answer as he stayed silent in her arms.

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TBC