Apologies for the long delay - work and then vacations have distracted but I'm back, and so it's on with the story... thanks!

Part 26

Beka glanced back and she saw the determination in everyone's faces, they knew they were finally taking the fight to the Nietzsheans and the time was nearly upon them to spring their attack. They were in the tunnels under a part of the city currently occupied by the Nietzscheans, ready to strike.

'You ok?' Rhade asked Beka when she looked back.

'Yeah, just anxious,' she admitted.

'We've made it this far without being spotted,' Rhade offered. 'Seems they really didn't know about that entrance to the tunnel, the fools.'

'Or maybe they did and now they have an entire Commonwealth squadron trapped under the city,' Beka spoke under her breath.

'Hey, we need you to stay positive,' Dylan now added. 'We need to believe this can work if we're to have any chance of surviving it, first rule of attack!'

'I know, I know,' Beka frowned. 'Just been a while since I was this close to the front line, having so much fun,' she checked her weapon again and then looked at Dylan. 'Just say when.'

Dylan took his cue and then moved to the hatch above him, it would bring them out into the centre of Dragan operations, and they had no idea how much resistance they would immediately find but Dylan did a final check on his force lance, gestured for his team to do likewise then gave the order to prepare. With one final glance at his squadron, every one of them already a hero in his book, Dylan activated the hatch and with planned precision he was lifted up, and four other soldiers quickly followed.

The surprise of the arrival enabled Dylan and the four soldiers to quickly assemble a crudely put together shield as they tightly formed a barrier around the hatch that grew stronger as more soldiers were lifted up. They began firing shots and the ubers were not prepared as many fell in the initial rounds of fire. The surprise didn't last long and soon more Nietzschean soldiers arrived and began returning fire.

Dylan glanced back and saw the entire squadron had now surfaced and in good time, he looked at Rhade. 'Take your team, go!' Dylan ordered and then he looked at Beka. 'Go with Rhade, and stay safe.'

'That wasn't the plan,' Beka protested.

'Go, Rhade will need your cunning if he reaches the control room, you've been there before you're more useful to him,' Dylan ordered.

Beka seemed about to protest but seeing Rhade about to move out she decided to go, leaving Dylan and the rest of the squadron to create a smokescreen for them whilst protecting their only means of escape.

'There, the kludge is cured my work is done,' Uriah arrogantly declared and without another word his team began to pack up their equipment. 'Tell your boss he can inspect his kludge at any time. The pins have to stay in for at least two days to guarantee the dependency waning with the side effect unfortunately being a touch of madness.'

Tark glanced at the human, kneeling on the floor and only the chain attached to his wrists keeping him upright. The kludge was still conscious but he had seemed to check out very early, showing little or no reaction to the many pins that now covered his torso.

'I will tell him,' Tark finally answered, still frowning at the work.

'It works, it's quick and it's what the boss ordered,' Uriah further spoke as if reading the doubts in Tark's mind, and then with a simple gesture to his team they left the room.

'Do you think this is what the boss had in mind?' Lars finally spoke and edged closer to inspect the human.

'Do you think the boss will care? It if has removed the dependency through distraction then I think he'll be thrilled,' Tark responded, also stepping closer to inspect the damage. 'Man, that's one sick method though, wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy,' he remarked and then considered his own words. 'Actually, maybe my second wife's mother, but only in extreme circumstances.'

'Do you think he can even hear us, he looks pretty much out of it,' Lars then mentioned.

'He's not asleep again is he?' Tark moved around to see for himself.

'No, he's just not there, his eyes are open but he's not there,' Lars spoke with a hint of concern.

Tark moved to grab him but there was no available space to grab without making contact with the pins that neither uber were keen to disturb. 'How is it possible to get so much coverage with these things, I mean can pins really be inserted in the head?'

'Where there is skin,' Lars simply said now in awe of the handiwork.

'This just isn't right, something about this is just sick,' Tark offered with sigh. 'I mean I know he's just a kludge but look at him, a glorified pin cushion.'

'Don't joke,' But Lars couldn't hide the smirk. 'I'm just not sure this is what the boss had in mind.'

'We should call him down, let him see for himself,' Tark suggested and having had enough of looking at the mass of pins now covering Harper's body, they left the room to call up their boss.

Harper felt numb and had the second volume of basic engineering running around his head, oblivious to the outside world as he escaped to the stored files on his dataport memory.

'I thought they would never leave,' a familiar voice spoke up and Harper was aware of it's feminine tones that for a moment he paused in his reading, though didn't appear any different outwardly as he remained limp against his chain. 'Seamus?'

Harper didn't respond, but as the female moved into his line of sight, he knew who was there, and with his eyes blankly open what little hope he had immediately fell.

'Come on, talk to me my love, I know you can hear me,' Trance encouraged, but it was the other one, and Harper realised how much he missed the real one. 'We need to speak urgently and I need to assess just what trouble you've managed to get yourself into this time, I mean look at you!' she scolded and then took stock. 'But this is interesting, whilst you remain like this you are unable to raise the shields which is good,' she smiled. 'You suffer for me, you give me my energy, and I appreciate that dear Seamus.'

Harper still failed to respond, and his mind drifted back to reviewing the engineering manual but a sharp pain in his chest reverted him back to reality and he saw Trance toying with one of the pins inserted in the center of his chest.

'I need your full attention, you must stop taking the medicine, a part of me suspect you want to take it, Seamus, you know that's wrong,' she scolded.

'Sorry,' Harper murmured. 'I will try,' he offered weakly.

'Try harder, you know I don't like seeing you under the influence, it makes things difficult,' Trance spoke softly and she appeared a little distant with her thoughts, as Harper's eyes glanced at her, and he smiled briefly. 'I just need to remind you that you must not lower the shields under any circumstances, to do so would ensure you will feel more than this pain for the rest of your days, always remember that I would not give you the escape of death, do I make myself clear?' Harper tiredly blinked his eyes, blankly looking at Trance but offered the slightest of nods of understanding.

Trance sighed. 'Why have they done this to you?'

'Ubers get bored,' Harper murmured as a possible explanation, his throat dry.

The fake Trance frowned, and examined their work. 'I guess it's some sort of logical attempt to remove your addiction but it won't work, a commendable effort however, and at this time a necessary one,' she sighed. 'Well, I never did like seeing you at the will of others with that drug. It served only to keep Asa happy but that is not a priority anymore,' she considered and held her hand to Harper's face, ignoring the pain that now flashed through him as the pins under her hand stabbed deeper into his face as a result. A golden glow then erupted and Trance closed her eyes as Harper tried in vain to avoid her touch, but he felt the warmth around him and then a wave of calm wash over him.

'There,' Trance proclaimed finally. 'I may not be the nice Trance, but I don't like to see you suffer needlessly, I've removed your dependency, or rather used the heat of my powers to adjust your inner balance to be less dependant on the drug,' she explained with a sigh. 'Now, by return, don't lower the shields or I'll make the dependency so strong you'll become nothing more than a vegetable, alive but dead inside.'

Harper looked at her expectantly, as she stepped closer and got down on her knees to replicate the position he was in, kneeling opposite her. 'Seamus, I know you have done so much for me, and I will protect you so long as you stay by my side, and help me.'

'I know,' Harper spoke with sudden enthusiasm, his eyes now locked with Trance's.

'As an extra precaution, you must understand I need to do this, I can't afford to take any chances and your hands are as dangerous as your brain,' Trance then reached up and covered both his hands that were secured to the chain above him.

'Do it,' Harper agreed without question. 'Protect me, protect you,' he closed his eyes.

She then began to apply pressure and Harper began to squirm, and then moan as she squeezed his hands tightly until he screamed out with sudden pain, and slowly bones began to crack under the pressure.

Trance then soothed Harper, having broken enough bones in his hands and fingers to cause damage. She moved closer to him, waiting until he got his breathing back under control. 'You're in pain, and you feel like giving up,' Trance spoke softly, and she found he was trying to lean towards her as she attempted to hold him, despite the pins stabbing his skin. 'I know I'm not your Trance, but haven't I given you what you want, what you always desired when she held back from you?' Harper felt her lips on his, and he couldn't help the sudden desire he felt in a hopeless situation. 'Never forget me, Seamus, don't forget our dreams.'

Harper felt her pull away, and then she was gone and he was alone once again as he suddenly blinked his eyes and looked around the room breathlessly. All his pains seemed to flair up suddenly and he cried out, as the true extent of the hurt hit home, he felt every single pin and broken bones as if they were on fire. Controlling his breathing, Harper attempted to calm down, knowing the fake Trance had distracted him enough from the pain, as well as caused it; she was in many ways just like his Trance, just had different methods of leading him on and hurting him, but there was more, she didn't seem disgusted by him, she wanted to be close to him.

Slowly, Harper then began to laugh, it started as a smirk and then he found himself laughing out loud. 'Finally,' he sighed with great relief against the pain. 'Finally, thank you faker, thanks to you I can do it, finally!' he said to himself, as if a weight had been lifted, and the smile grew wider.

The doors suddenly opened and Tark, Lars and Hertzler strode in, as Harper quickly lost his grin. Hertzler immediately circled Harper and then carefully lifted his chin to look at the kludge.

'What exactly is this?' Hertzler let go of Harper and looked to his guards.

'The doc says it will work, a distraction of pain to beat the dependency,' Lars offered.

The door swung open again. 'Boss, there's trouble, the Commonwealth have sprung a surprise attack.'

'What?' Hertzler asked with genuine surprise. 'Quash it as soon as possible, we have enough men,' Hertzler then looked at the two soldiers. 'Guard him with your life, and don't let anyone enter this room.'

Lars and Tark saluted and then moved over to the door and locked it after Hertzler, remaining inside the room to keep an eye on Harper.

'Rommie?' Rhade spoke urgently into his communicator.

Beka looked on as Rommie responded. 'You are right by where the old building protecting the control room use to be,' Rommie returned, who was with another team across the square to where Rhade now stood. He glanced up and looked over to where she was, and then looked around.

'We need to get into this building,' Rhade issued the order to his team. 'It seems the Dragans have no idea, or they'd be protecting this place a little better.'

Beka listened to the gun shots and explosions in the distance. 'Do you think they can hold out over there?' she asked with concern.

'Once we have this building secured, they'll have a place to run,' Rhade said, and then gestured to Rommie and her team to head over.

Gunfire suddenly erupted and everyone dived for cover, as five Dragan soldiers appeared from the side with guns blazing. They fired all around where Rhade and Beka hid, and debris fell around and over them.

'Get inside!' Rhade ordered on seeing the main doors opened by his men, and the empty building began to be secured.

Beka waited for her turn to move and got to her feet to run the short distance to the door but as she did so she felt a sudden burning in her back, just below her rib cage and she found herself falling forward, as it slowly began to dawn on her that she'd been hit by the enemy gunfire.

'Beka!' Rhade called out with panic, but everything seemed to be in slow motion as Beka landed heavily on the steps trying to catch her breath. She felt herself being dragged hastily inside and then silence, as the doors closed and somehow everyone else had made it safely inside and now Rommie was looking at her, speaking but Beka felt tired suddenly, and then began to drift to sleep.

'Sir.'

'Questor, you do not have to address me as sir, Rev is good enough,' Rev answered, as he greeted a fellow Magog.

'Rev, they are getting restless, I fear hunger is starting to cloud their judgement,' Questor gestured loosely to the back of the ship where the Magog who had decided to follow Rev were gathered. 'We hear reports the Andromeda is now only crewed by fresh Academy recruits.'

'How did you hear this?' Rev asked.

'Transmission we caught between Andromeda and some other smaller Commonwealth vessel that decided to stick it out,' Questor offered. 'The captain of the Andromeda mentioned 'Trance' had temporarily departed but would return with further orders.'

'A good time therefore to maybe try to negotiate,' Rev realised, and without delay he opened communications. 'This is Rev Bem, wishing to contact the Andromeda Ascendant.'

'This is Captain Roseby, it's good to hear from you Rev, will you be returning to the ship?' she asked brightly.

'I wish to discuss the current situation, I am with the Magog task force you have previously engaged with, we want to negotiate,' Rev spoke calmly.

There was hesitation from Roseby but she quickly responded. 'Knowing you are with the Magog puts a different light on the situation, a meeting would be a good idea, please proceed to dock but understand we will take necessarily security procedures in light of your travelling companions,' Roseby warned.

'I would expect nothing less,' Rev agreed with a smile and closed transmissions.

'Just like that she let's you dock?' Questor offered with confusion.

Rev turned to Questor. 'I would suggest you and I reiterate the teachings of the Way to your men, I have worked tirelessly over the years to earn the level of trust you have just witnessed, do not ruin my life's work,' he lightly warned.

Lars looked at Tark, and frowned. 'Must have been more serious that I thought,' he remarked.

'What?' Tark asked tiredly.

'The coup by the Commonwealth, Hertzler would have been back by now if it had been a small thing,' Lars shrugged.

'Yeah,' Tark agreed with bored tones.

'Look,' Lars then hushed his voice. 'That kludge there is worth something to this city, and we're just stood here like idiots staring at him.'

Tark raised his eyebrows and looked at his colleague. 'What are you suggesting?'

'You want to be a stupid soldier all your life, or do you want to be someone who can command how many wives he desires?' Lars responded.

Tark glanced over to where Harper still knelt on the ground unmoving, his arms limp in the chains that held him up. 'Careless talk, Lars.'

'There are risks, I know,' Lars offered. 'But it's an opportunity in a city gone mad,' Lars stated. 'We just tell the people around here the kludge has spoken, has told us where the control room is and take him out of here.'

Tark offered a brief smirk. 'The old man said he would talk if we could guarantee the kludge's safety, Hertzler hasn't taken that option, maybe we can?'

'That freaky alien woman did ask us to take care of him,' Lars reasoned.

'She did,' Tark agreed nodding his head as he considered their plan.

'Now or never,' Lars prompted and saw Tark look at him with a flash of spirit in his eyes.

'Now,' Tark proposed and they both moved towards Harper. 'Let's get these damn stupid pins out of the kid.'

'He's still kludge, don't grow attached,' Lars warned as he rapidly pulled at the pins causing Harper to stir and then flinch as they cleared him of the needles.

Tark got hold of the chain and then noticed Harper's hands. 'What the hell happened to his hands?'

'Let me see,' Lars moved closer and frowned. 'They were not like that earlier, and he's not been anywhere we haven't.'

'His hands have been crushed, they're twice the size they should be,' Tark looked disgusted, and showing some rare compassion he assisted Harper, as he lowered the human's arms down. 'Kludge or not, this kid has suffered enough, he hasn't even done anything wrong.'

'Don't lose sight of our objectives, he still has the power to control this city,' Lars warned. 'We show no mercy, he needs to know we're the boss.'

'You gonna house train me too?' Harper murmured.

Tark and Lars showed surprise that Harper was awake and aware of their discussion, but quickly composed themselves. 'We're taking you out of this mad house, if you play nicely, we'll try to make it more comfortable for you to work with us.'

'Not like I'm in any position to argue,' Harper wearily spoke.

'Never stopped you before,' Lars offered.

'I'll cut you a deal, you get me out of here, protect me against all others who want me dead, and get me to the control room,' Harper took a needed breath. 'And I'll be a good little kludge, how's that?'

'You'll lower the shield?' Lars checked.

'If you uphold your end of the bargain,' Harper replied. 'I'll think about it.'

Tark and Lars exchanged glances and silently they reached an agreement. 'Deal,' Lars offered his hand before realising Harper's injuries. 'You'll just have to trust us.'

Harper responded with only a laugh, before he was dragged to his feet and then marched between the two ubers, as they took matters into their own hands. Behind them, emerging from the shadows Trance stepped forward, her features cold and her eyes narrowed as she watched the two Nietzscheans drag Harper away. 'I don't have time for your games, Seamus Harper, I warned you, so don't try to take me on,' she quietly seethed before she disappeared from sight.

Rev sat opposite Captain Roseby, his hands clasped together on the table as he listened to her talk. She was definitely Commonwealth, Rev considered as he heard her say phrases he would normally associate with Dylan Hunt, and he instinctively knew he could trust her.

'The Trance you have been dealing with is not the same Trance who used to serve on this ship, you need to inform the Commonwealth,' Rev offered.

'I will,' Roseby confirmed. 'It's the plan to stop her that concerns me.'

'If she returns,' Rev began and then paused as he was distracted by a disturbance in the far corner, and then a figure appeared.

'If she returns, what?' Trance asked arrogantly. 'Do continue Rev.'

'You need to leave,' Rev stood up. 'You are no longer welcome here.'

'And who is going to enforce that?' Trance asked and in a split second teleported from the corner where she had materialised to just a foot in front of Rev.

'Not I,' Rev calmly spoke, not flinching with her tricks.

'Your friends, they can try,' Trance mocked. 'They'd have to catch me first, I'm growing stronger as this universe gives in to me, my sister isn't fairing so well.'

'What have you done to her?' Rev demanded.

'I didn't have to do anything,' Trance smiled, with a sinister look in her eyes. 'Her attempt to teleport to Edenia just took a lot out of her and she may have got her co-ordinates a little confused, she's ended up in the prison camp and was too weak to stop them taking her as a prisoner.'

A security team turned up at the door fully armed and Captain Roseby stood up. 'Trance, don't make this difficult.'

'Make it easy? There's no fun in that,' Trance playfully smirked. 'None of you realise how ridiculous you are sounding, you can't defeat me!'

'I think we can,' Rev offered, and suddenly the ship lurched as it entered slipstream, travelling a rough stream that had Trance looking a little uneasy suddenly. 'Your kind are not as well equipped as others to travel in the slipstream for long periods of time, especially the more rougher routes,' he looked up. 'And this is a particularly rough route I believe.'

'Stop this, you can't travel the slip stream for ever!' Trance demanded, as she tried to remain steady but couldn't hide how green she was feeling.

'We can travel it long enough to secure you, security,' Roseby gestured to her team who successfully overpowered Trance, still fighting the nausea she felt.

'Seamus Harper will give me victory, and when he does you will all pay for this, he knows who has the true power, like the genius he is!' She stressed, still trying to fight the high powered restraints now securing her.

'You're right, young Harper is a genius,' Rev agreed. 'But his true genius is his ability to surprise you when you least expect, and his strength, I hope you have accounted for these qualities,' he warned knowingly.

Trance simply offered a crooked smile. 'I have accounted for all possibilities, Seamus Harper will not defy me, even if it appears that he has,' she stated confidently.

Rev didn't respond and only stared as Trance keeled over once again from the prolonged and rough travelling in slipstream, he glanced over to Roseby and he prayed that his friends would be safe, his fears growing for the situation Harper was in.

The two Nietzsheans cleared the main doors and were outside, practically dragging Harper between them. When he stumbled with a moan for nearly the sixth time they let him fall to the ground and watched as he instinctively moved into the foetal position.

'What's the problem?' Lars asked loudly, knowing they could still be being watched, not wanting to arouse suspicion he kicked Harper's lower back for effect and noted the lack of reaction from the kludge, and he assumed because he was use to it and played the part well.

'Knee,' Harper managed, his face clearly showing the pain he was in. 'Keeps giving way.'

Tark got down and roughly examined the offended joints, noting on the right leg that two pins remained and they were embedded deep into the knee joint. 'Crap, when he fell over in the room he must have pushed these pins in deep, we missed them.'

'Yeah, blame me,' Harper back chatted through gritted teeth, and Tark back handed him.

'Can you take them out?' Lars asked.

'Too deep, and we haven't got time, you gotta walk kludge, if you want to make a successful escape,' Tark stated firmly.

Harper didn't respond but took a deep breath as they both pulled him back to his feet, and they began to walk again, offering slightly more support either side to keep Harper moving. Once they were clear of the palace and the eyes of the other soldiers, Harper looked up and focused on the surrounding area, realising they were on the very outskirts of the main square.

'Over there,' he gestured only with his eyes. 'My house, last place anyone would look for us,' he shrugged.

'Kid has a point, it's so obvious they would dismiss it,' Lars agreed. 'I need to get to Asa and we need a place to lay low while I do this, Tark, sling him over your shoulder, it will be quicker and people will notice you less without a cripple,' he gestured to Harper. 'I'll see what I can get from Asa.'

'Be quick,' Tark offered. 'We might not have much time, if Hertzler gets back anytime soon.'

'I'll get what I need,' Lars stated and dashed off back across the square.

Tark took hold of Harper and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of goods, and proceeded to lightly jog, as Harper whispered directions to get to his house.

'Beka, talk to me,' Rhade asked, staying close to her so he could hear any sound she made.

Beka lay still, almost too still for Rhade's comfort as she stared back at him with tired eyes. 'Did you find the control room?' she managed.

'We've located the tunnel that leads to it from the basement,' Rhade answered, trying to hide his concern for her. 'The Dragans had not found it, we're one hundred percent sure on that, and we can only hope those who shot at us thought we ran in here for cover only, not for gain.'

'Let's hope,' Beka spoke weakly and tried to get a little more comfortable, but caused herself some pain doing so.

'Stay still, a medical officer isn't far away, just try to relax,' Rhade asked. 'Dylan reported in, there are more Dragan soldiers arriving but our men have secured the path to this location, if we can sit tight here we can ensure the Dragans never have full power on Edenia,' he smiled.

'A control room without a controller is worthless,' Beka offered.

'Well, Harper is like a bad penny, he'll show up at some point I'm sure, he's annoying like that,' Rhade smiled, but saw Beka didn't share his joke.

'If he's still alive,' Beka frowned and then sighed, her own pains causing her to grimace slightly.

'Harper is alive, I'm sure of that. There would be no purpose in killing him not when he's our only hope of getting that shield down. Nietzscheans might not value a kludge's life, but they value their own, they won't want to remain trapped in Edenia for longer than necessary,' Rhade stated, but already knew Beka had drifted to sleep again and he sighed heavily, unable to hide the concern he felt for his friend.

TBC