Part Twenty

'Just try and sleep, Seamus,' Beka asked softly, as she watched over Harper who was lying down, but staring blankly up.

'I'm trying,' Harper responded with his arms wrapped tightly around himself, and his body tense with perspiration caking him.

'Drink some more water then,' Beka sighed, she didn't feel Harper was purposely being difficult but she was at her wits end as to how to help him, she was exhausted, just as he was and they both just wanted to sleep.

Harper propped himself up on his elbows and took the water from Beka, taking some gulps he sighed as he handed the cup back, only to find Beka had rested her head for a moment on the side of the bunk, and had drifted asleep. Harper's eyes darted to the open cell door, with Beka there no one felt it was necessary to keep it locked, and he wasn't a prisoner after all; at least that's what they kept telling him. The need grew stronger and the opportunity was suddenly present as Harper slowly lifted himself off the bunk, cautious of not making a sound as he slowly crept across the floor.

His eyes fixed on Beka, watching for any sign that she was going to wake up. His heart beat quickly as he reached the cell door, and then stepped outside. Harper was convinced he wouldn't get away with it as he crept up the stairs expecting to be caught, and he heard voices as he got nearer the top, making out three different tones of the soldiers who were there to protect him. They seemed engrossed in a game of cards as Harper peered over the edge of the floor, none of them were looking in his direction and he was thankful that stone didn't creak as he reached the top and stayed low against the wall, seeing the exit in sight and the door was open to allow the late afternoon breeze to flow in.

Squinting in the sunshine, Harper stepped outside unnoticed and quickly darted around the corner of the building before the soldier on guard outside could notice him. The guard was too busy watching the people going by to see what was going on behind him. Harper took some deep breaths to calm his breathing, unable to believe he had made it this far before he dashed off down the side of the building, unsure of where he was heading but then failed to see the strong hands reach out and grab him, covering his mouth as the other arm secured his upper body.

'Mr Harper,' Dylan's voice spoke up. 'It's ok, don't panic, it's me, it's Dylan, remember me?' Dylan spoke quickly and calmly, as Harper began to frantically fight against his capture and once Dylan was sure Harper wouldn't hurt himself, he slowly let him go but not enough so Harper would panic and run.

'Dylan,' Harper finally spoke. 'I just need,' Harper began to then explain with panic, taking deep breaths as he worked himself up.

'Calm down, I know, I know what you need,' Dylan frowned. 'You also know you're better off without it.'

'I know,' Harper conceded, struggling to control his breathing. 'But I still need it.'

'Is that why you escaped?'

'Yeah, the temptation, Dylan,' Harper paused and his look was desperate. 'I'm not strong enough,' he offered and then frowned. 'What are you doing back here in the side streets?'

Dylan had to smirk, realising that even with all his problems Harper was still sharp and aware enough of his surroundings. 'It's a short cut from the Palace; I've been there all day.'

'Oh,' Harper wiped his brow and slid down the wall to crouch, putting his head in his hands. 'I hate this. I just need to sleep, I need, I just need.'

'It's pretty painful to watch someone you care about like this,' Dylan offered sincerely, as he crouched down with him. 'Harper, I only know some of the serious mess you're in here, and I want to help. Do you remember anything of your time here before?'

'I barely remember what I had for breakfast, hell I can't remember the last time I slept,' he spoke with desperation and tiredness.

'You can fight this, Harper, I know you can,' Dylan assured him. 'Come with me, I want you to have a check up, I need to know what shape you're in, how bad it is.'

'I've already been checked out, on your ship?' Harper stressed, as Dylan helped him back up to his feet.

'By Trance, who if I'm understanding correctly was already fully aware of the abuse you were getting down here with drugs, I think she overlooked that in her report instead only telling us you were sick with a fever,' Dylan stated.

'She cured me of that illness,' Harper then offered distantly.

'I don't think it was an illness,' Dylan stated on giving it some thought, and suddenly he had a theory. 'I think what we actually saw was you suffering the effects of a cure to your addiction, whatever that virus was, it nullified the effect the drug had on you, and that's why we didn't notice you had a drug problem till now,' Dylan shook his head. 'So when you say Trance cured you, she took away the thing that was fighting your addiction, she must have known, if she is what we suspect she is, she planned that,' he theorised.

'Dylan, I'm scared,' Harper admitted with frantic tones. 'I don't understand what I've done or why,' he stressed.

Dylan stopped Harper and put his hand on his shoulder, getting his attention. 'I need you to trust that I can help you, I know your memories are shot and its likely you have no idea who I am but all I ask is that you let me help you,' Dylan spoke with care.

'I don't get any of this,' Harper complained as he started to walk with Dylan again through the back streets of Edenia.

'Whatever was going on, you were stuck right in the middle,' Dylan frowned. 'I just wish you could remember what part you were playing in it all.'

'Dylan,' Harper began with some hesitation. 'I don't think I was doing the right thing,' he began but suddenly felt Dylan's arm pulling him closer to him, and then he saw they had company as a gang of five men surrounded them both, guns aimed.

'We just want Harper.'

'We're on the same side,' Dylan stated loudly, his force lance drawn. 'Your boss, Asa, he signed an alliance with us, don't screw that up over one guy!'

'We don't work for Asa,' the leader spoke up, his eyes fixed on Harper.

'Who do you work for?' Dylan asked with confusion, they looked like Edenians and he hadn't been aware of another faction.

'The Drago-Kasov pride,' the Edenian smiled.

'What?' Dylan checked and then heard gun fire coming from another direction and they all took cover, Dylan made sure he kept Harper close as chaos suddenly erupted in the back allies with Commonwealth soldiers arriving, and the other faction dispersing quickly. 'Are you ok, Harper?'

'Yeah,' Harper offered unsure, his eyes wide as he looked around.

'Let's get out of here,' Dylan stressed and pulled Harper to his feet, thankful for the intervention by the Commonwealth soldiers.

'Beka.'

'Not now, Jashen,' Beka stressed, as she walked with urgency through the streets.

'I told you Harper was in danger,' Jashen spoke as he got into step. 'You were lucky I noticed him escape from the building, and that I saw that old man was leading him towards a gang of traitors, I warned your soldier guys there was trouble about to kick off.'

'Thank you, now go.'

'Why so much hostility, Beka, I'm trying to help,' Jashen spoke with sadness.

'I really don't have time for this,' Beka dismissed.

'Would you have preferred me not to interfere? To have let the old man and Harper try and fight their way out when they were outnumbered?' Jashen persisted.

Beka stopped and faced Jashen. 'Thank you, ok?' She abruptly spoke.

'Listen, I heard news that you might want to know,' Jashen then looked serious. 'The Dragans have got Zal, Junia and their little one,' he stated.

'What?' Beka questioned, a little thrown by the announcement.

'I have my contacts and I thought you should know, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, they got caught up in one of the sweeps and now they are prisoners, they are in one of the camps on the East side,' Jashen spoke with compassion.

Beka closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Thanks,' she spoke with a more genuine tone. 'I still don't know your motives though.'

'I've been used by Asa, used by the Dragans, hell even Seamus Harper used me, I guess out of the three I was less upset when I was doubled crossed by him,' Jashen offered a half smile. 'I want to help win back Edenia for Edenia and I'm smart enough to realise the Commonwealth, and Seamus Harper are a pretty good bet.'

'Just like that?' Beka questioned. 'I can't trust you.'

'There's been one constant, Beka, I've done what I've done to help Harper, nothing has changed there,' Jashen assured her.

'You're working for the Dragans,' Beka stated and began to walk again.

'I worked for them, as did Harper, its how we met and teamed up,' Jashen stressed.

Beka stopped and showed her disbelief. 'Harper would never work with the Dragans, you should do some research, it just would never happen.'

'I know, and I agree, that's if he had the choice,' Jashen chose his words with care.

Beka stopped walking again and faced Jashen. 'Do you seriously know what's going on around here, with Harper, the Dragans and Asa?'

'Pretty much,' Jashen agreed casually. 'I want in, that's all I want.'

'Why?' Beka narrowed her eyes.

'Because I think you're hot, or do I need more than pure attraction to a very beautiful and spirited lady?' Jashen asked with an innocent frown.

Beka rolled her eyes. 'What price have the Dragans got on your head?'

'Two months salary,' Jashen admitted.

Beka had to smirk, as much as she wanted to resist the guy's charms it was pretty hard to ignore that she found something about him interesting. 'Ok, because you have thrown me a little with your forwardness I'll give you one chance, but just the one and you don't want to try your luck, ok?' Beka warned. 'One chance, one chance only, follow me.'

Jashen grinned broadly and followed Beka through the streets heading back to base.

'His heart rate, blood pressure, stress levels are all dangerously high, he needs to rest, definitely needs to sleep or he's heading for a pretty damaging heart attack, his body can't cope at current levels,' the doctor spoke gravely.

Dylan glanced over to Harper who appeared restless and tense on the cot, and frowned. 'Is there anything you can give him?'

'I could but I'm not sure anything we have will help,' the doctor offered. 'He's past exhaustion and rapidly into meltdown.'

'I don't want to give up on him, and I definitely can't resort to giving him that drug,' Dylan dismissed and turned away to try and think of another plan. 'He was given something, it appeared to be like a virus but it acted like a cure,' Dylan then offered to the doctor.

The doctor considered the new information and tried to think on his feet. 'I'm sure it's possible but I'm not sure I have time to search all known illnesses to find the right strand, we don't have that time,' he stressed.

'How long do we have?' Dylan asked.

'I'm sorry, but we could be talking hours, and not many at the rate he's going,' the doctor spoke quietly. 'I could knock him out, put him in a coma state but it won't stop his body responding to the need his body desperately craves, it would probably just speed up the inevitable. In all my time practicing I have never seen this level of dependency; it's an extreme reaction to something that is not natural for the body to need'

Dylan rubbed his face, feeling the weight of responsibility suddenly; could he really deny Harper what he needed, could he make his friend suffer because he'd developed a dependency to a toxin that he didn't agree with morally?

Moving to Harper's side, Dylan saw how much Harper was deteriorating before his eyes, in the short time they had been at the make shift medical center Harper had developed breathing difficulties, as his heart rate increased and it looked like he'd just run a marathon.

'Hang in there, Harper, I'm trying to find a solution,' Dylan assured him fondly.

Harper weakly smiled, his dark rimmed eyes dulled, he was almost in a daze as his breaths came short and quick, and perspiration caked him.

'We need oxygen,' the doctor ordered calmly, glancing at Dylan for some form of instruction.

'Keep him alive,' Dylan simply said before moving past the doctor and leaving the room, needing to decide the best course of action.

Asa wanted the door to open but it was becoming more obvious that it wasn't going to happen. The deadline had passed, and Dylan had not returned with Harper. He got to his feet and gestured to his guard.

'Gather our best men, we might not have the strength to win this war but I will not simply give up all hope, our hope is the one man who understands this city. Seamus Harper signed his loyalty to me and Edenia, I own him and we will not give him up without a fight,' Asa declared.

'Sir!' the guard stated in understanding, and left the room, leaving Asa to plan how he was going to take Harper back, and by force.

'Dylan? Are you ok?' Beka asked as she arrived at the medical facility with Jashen.

'Not really,' Dylan sighed and then looked at Jashen. 'Who's this?'

'Someone who will help us,' Beka simply said. 'Now what's wrong, where's Harper?'

'Lets go and sit down, there's a spare office back here,' Dylan gestured and Beka showed her concern but without complaint she followed Dylan into the small quiet office, with Jashen in tow. Dylan gestured to the seats and then looked at Jashen before glancing at Beka.

'He's cool, he knows Harper,' Beka pre-empted Dylan's question. 'Just tell me what's wrong.'

'This is usually when I tell you everything is ok, and not to panic, especially when Harper's involved but Beka,' Dylan paused before speaking again. 'It's serious, he's deteriorating fast.'

'What?' Beka questioned unsure.

'The dependency he has, it's taken a hold and it's getting to dangerous levels, its killing him,' Dylan explained with care. 'Last couple of hours what seemed to be the worst of his problems, got a lot worse, he can hardly breathe unaided at the moment.'

Beka digested the news and Jashen offered her a comforting hand. 'Maybe its been unfair to completely deny him the drug, I mean when Zal was coming off the drug he still needed boosts to just get him through,' she remembered.

'It's not the same strand that Zal was addicted to, Asa it seems has exposed Harper to a more programmed drug, designed never to be beaten,' Dylan revealed.

'So we're effectively killing Harper by denying him the drug?' Beka checked.

'Pretty much,' Dylan frowned.

'There has to be a way for Harper to become less dependant,' Beka stressed.

Jashen cleared his throat. 'If there is, no one has discovered it yet.'

'You knew Harper was on this unbeatable drug?' Beka asked.

'Didn't I try to warn you in the first instance, back in prison, that he was a lost cause?' Jashen defended. 'Now don't get me wrong,' he quickly added seeing the flash of anger in Beka's features that he wanted to avoid. 'Harper to be fair functions pretty well with the drug, it's only a problem if he forgets to take it.'

'And if he takes it then he's under the influence, meaning he's not himself, how is that not a problem?' Beka snapped. 'There has to be a way to get him off the drug!'

'Remember when he came to the reunion, none of us suspected he was on anything, and he was with us for almost a week with none of these withdrawal problems,' Dylan reminded her.

'He was sick, but not due to the drug,' Beka remembered brightening slightly.

'That would explain it,' Jashen suddenly perked up. 'Why Asa panicked when Harper got ill, pretty much locked him up, if it turned off Harper's dependency no wonder Asa panicked, probably thought Harper had planned it, would explain why the poor guy got treated like he did,' Jashen continued in his own thoughts.

'The illness was a cure, how did Harper get ill?' Dylan asked.

'Oh,' Jashen then let his face fall as he glanced between Beka and Dylan, seeing their expectation. 'I exposed him to the illness.'

'You did what?' Beka checked.

'I didn't realise it had that affect, I didn't join the dots, I was just following orders and suddenly Harper was out of action with illness, which is what they wanted,' Jashen explained.

'Who?' Beka asked.

'My bosses at that time,' Jashen answered. 'The Drago-Kasov.'

'You're kidding me, the Dragans have the cure?' Dylan sat back in his chair.

'They wanted Harper stopped, they feared he would jeopardise their attack plans for Edenia by strengthening the same weak spots he had told them about a couple of months earlier,' Jashen shrugged. 'So they gave me this vial to expose Harper too, it was to make him sick so he couldn't work, buying them some time, the original plan was that I kept exposing him to it so he stayed sick, they knew about his weak immune system,' Jashen finished.

'And you didn't realise it was also a cure against the drug the Edenians were controlling Harper with?' Beka checked.

'No, after a few doses, and once Harper got sicker, the guards captured him and moved him to the Palace, all I heard after that were rumours,' Jashen explained. 'I thought it was because they wanted to cure him, not because they realised the sickness removed their control.'

'We should never have let Harper out of our sights, trouble just can't leave the kid alone, why didn't he contact us or ask for our help? If he was up to something he knows better than to do go it alone,' Dylan spoke tiredly and rubbed his face again, before he realised the time. 'Damn, I really need to catch up with Rhade, see how we're doing on the front line.'

'Seems to be pretty much a stale mate at the moment, both sides waiting for the other to act,' Beka considered.

'We're hearing disturbing reports of their camps on the East side, they're abusing their prisoners by all accounts, so we're going to have to act soon,' Dylan warned, as he got to his feet.

'Harper needs me,' Beka simply said and Dylan nodded his head with no further comment, before heading to the door but as he reached it there was a sudden commotion of noise outside, the sound of shouts and raised voices, men issuing orders and quickly Dylan, Beka and Jashen rushed outside.

'They're here for your friend!' a nurse spoke hurriedly, on spotting Dylan.

'Who?' Dylan asked.

'Asa, and his guards,' she panicked.

TBC