Part 28

Asa landed heavily beside Harper and this time Harper failed to protect himself as Asa lashed out in fury connecting with the side of Harper's head sharply. When Harper focused he found the nozzle of Asa's gun pointed right at him.

Harper calmed his breathing. 'Asa,' he spoke slowly and looked Asa directly in the eyes. 'Please, you have to trust me.'

--

Asa didn't respond for a few agonising moments until finally he lowered the gun, and pushed himself up to a sitting position, discarding the weapon that Tark quickly kicked away to safety. Tark silently went to Harper's side and helped him up to his feet and back to one of the chairs.

'Asa, this has to stop, I can't deal with your controlling issues,' Harper finally spoke. 'I tried to play along but what good has that done? You still don't trust me.'

'Do you blame me?' Asa asked, as Tark reluctantly assisted the older man to his feet. 'You've done nothing but betray me Seamus Harper, and I have little doubt that you will continue to do so! I have to protect you from yourself because you don't seem to care who you hurt!'

'That's not true!' Harper snapped.

'What about Naomi?' Asa asked.

'She's the one who slept with another guy!' Harper returned with force.

'Didn't she find you in the arms of another?' Asa responded his voice rising.

'After she'd betrayed me, yeah, maybe,' Harper admitted a little awkwardly. 'But she didn't give me reason to think we had anything left.'

'You refused to even speak to her!' Asa defended.

'What the hell has this got to do with anything?' Harper then asked with annoyance, as he got to his feet again to stand opposite Asa. 'We're on the run from Dragan soldiers and you choose now to question my relationship with Naomi?' he stressed. 'Great timing old man, how about we now discuss the politics on Sinti to waste another ten minutes!'

'This has everything to do with the right now, Seamus!' Asa returned strongly, and Harper sensed Asa had been waiting a long time for this opportunity.

'If you've got an issue with how I treated your niece then fine, ok, we'll talk but not now, we have to get to the control room,' Harper attempted to calmly suggest, but his voice was still raised.

Asa took a firm hold of Harper's shirt, enough to ensure Harper realised he was in no mood to wait until later. Tark stepped forward with concern about the tensions. 'Look, Harper's right, this isn't the time and we should move.'

'Get off me, Asa,' Harper warned his voice cold, as he tried to shove Asa away but with his bandaged hands to no avail. 'I know you pushed me into the relationship with Naomi because you had some stupid idea of me and her producing an heir who might possibly have the same powers as me, right?' Harper suddenly accused. 'Think I'm too stupid to have worked that one out, so then you could make me surplus while not risking Edenia's future?' Harper sneered as Asa just blankly stared at him, then he calmed down a little bit. 'It was a stupid plan, I didn't become 'the one' by birth or blood line, I just got fitted with the tech needed to communicate, no kid of mine would inherit this,' Harper stated tapping his data port while Asa continued to keep a firm hold on him.

'Don't be so down on yourself, Shay,' Asa simply said, as he finally let Harper go. 'It's more than that device, and you know it! I've had technicians working around the clock to understand the things in that system that you just seem to know like the back of your hand, that's natural, Shay, and that would be passed on by birth,' he finished.

Harper took a deep breath, before putting some distance between them. 'You know I was still holding out hope that I was wide of the mark with that theory, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, everyone kept telling me you were a fake,' he frowned sadly.

'Shay, I'm not a fake, ok, I still care, I just made a misjudgement but you didn't seem to push my Naomi away when she approached you,' Asa suggested. 'In fact, I don't think I've ever seen you happier than when you were with her,' he added but Harper was in no mood for remembering past times.

'Stop trying to cover up the real facts,' Harper stated with frustration. 'That right now you can't afford to lose what little status you still have on this planet,' Harper taunted angrily. 'You know I could take up my so called destiny and take control of Edenia at any time, and then you would be left with nothing, your family would be reduced to a joke, and that's your biggest fear, right?' Harper questioned pointedly. 'Such a big fear that you were desperate that I became a part of your family, just so you wouldn't lose face with the people and you'd still have control over me, it's all about you at every fricking step of the way, never Edenia,' Harper stated with venom, and Asa's lack of a comeback told Harper he was pretty warm.

Harper sighed sadly, feeling run down more than ever before. 'I really did think we were friends, and I tried all I could to be your friend but I was only ever a means to an end, end of my life and end of the threat I caused you! Asa, I signed that contract, and I willingly committed myself to a lifetime being addicted to that damn drug, what more did you want from me?' Harper's voice had risen with pure fury and then he stared at Asa, composing himself again but his emotions were bubbling too close to the surface. 'You and Naomi, you can both go to hell because I'm not playing your twisted games anymore, Asa!' he yelled. 'I have my own games to play, and your sick family can become the joke they were always destined to become!'

Asa's reactions were instinct as he slapped Harper hard across the face, and Harper nearly stumbled before Tark got hold of him to get his balance back. There was an uncomfortable silence, and Harper wiped the blood away from his split lip.

'You will not talk about my family like that, like nothing you did mattered, like you have done nothing to hurt us by return,' Asa spoke with low menacing tones. 'I know you came here to destroy us, I know you purposely betrayed us, I have all the proof I need,' Asa stressed. 'You used Naomi for just a bit of fun till you got bored, and you didn't care what you did, or who you hurt the entire time I've opened my arms to welcome you to this city!' Asa's voice cut through Harper.

'That's not true,' Harper returned quietly. 'I tried to fix things, and I did like Naomi, I think I even loved her,' he admitted and avoided eye contact as he moved away, his knee giving him trouble as his guilt rose.

'You should be dead a hundred times over Seamus!' Asa returned, no longer even attempting to remain calm. 'But I foolishly protected you and for what? Take a look outside that window Harper, see the devastation you've caused because I gave you the opportunity to make Edenia your home, see what you have done to this city with your own eyes and then try and convince me again that I'm the bad guy around here!' Asa yelled. 'Who helped you when you were helpless against her? When no one else could help you? Who stuck by you when she was doing all that crap to you, who helped you Seamus?' Asa demanded his answer.

'You did,' Harper admitted quietly.

'And in doing so I kept you alive, and I protected you every step of the way and tried to help you become a part of Edenian society,' Asa stated, more calmly.

'I made mistakes, I know that, and I'm paying the price, don't you see?' Harper attempted to defend himself.

'You have no idea the true damage you have done, what your actions have created,' Asa spoke firmly and there was a moment's silence as thoughts were gathered before Harper spoke up.

'I know all too well the damage I have done, Asa, but I know I can fix it, so all I'm asking is to just tell me how to get to the control room,' Harper calmly asked, trying to reassert some control over proceedings.

'No,' Asa sat down. 'We wait here until first light, and then we'll talk further.'

'We go now and use the night as cover, quit being so pig headed and make the right decision for once,' Harper demanded, clearly finding it painful to be on his feet but refusing the help Tark offered.

Tark moved beside Harper adding a threat. 'We can't stay here, so either tell us where the control room is or we'll go without you and find it ourselves.'

'Impossible,' Asa decided, and his hand moved to his cloak. 'You will need some of this soon, Shay, take it or you'll be feeling the side effects again,' he then offered Harper a small bottle of the drug.

'I'm not addicted to your dumb drug anymore,' Harper announced with petulance and for the first time he could read the expression on Asa's face, he was surprised.

'That's not possible,' Asa stood up and closed the gap between him and Harper.

'Not so fast,' Tark intervened, standing in front of Harper who instinctively knew to back away before Asa could reach him, still holding the bottle.

'You also said it's impossible to find the control room, how do you rate my chances now?' Harper cockily announced with a half smile, and saw the flash of uncertainty in Asa's face. 'Haven't you worked it out yet, Asa? I beat the odds every time, call it a bad habit or a gift, I am 'the one' after all,' he further mocked.

'So,' Asa declared with a sudden change in mood. 'My people were right, you can't be trusted; they always tried to warn me you would ultimately betray us all in the end, so the jokes on me, stupid old man Asa trusting the alien who has done nothing but hurt and betray him, throwing everything I've done for him back in my stupid old face. Well congratulations on no longer needing your medicine but if you think I'll help you again, Seamus, think again,' Asa warned and his expression turned dark.

'I'm even starting to hope she finds you again, and maybe I will enjoy watching you succumb to her this time, it's all you deserve, Seamus!' Asa spoke with pure hatred in his voice.

Harper now hesitated, his gut feeling kicked and battered as he heard Asa speak, a man he still had a small affection for, not being able to completely let that go. 'It's not like that, you don't mean that, Asa,' Harper needed to know Asa's words were not spoken as truth. 'You're not so clean yourself, maybe we're both as bad as each other, maybe we need to cut each other one final break and just sort this mess out once and for all?' Harper shrugged.

'I'm not letting you near that control room, I see it in your eyes, Shay; you're going to do it, aren't you?' Asa asked. 'I know you better than you think.'

Harper sighed and closed his eyes before answering; he opened them and looked at Asa. 'Just trust me; that is all I've ever asked of you.'

Asa looked truly lost for a moment, unsure of what to do before he stepped past Tark, who stopped him before he could reach Harper.

'It's ok, Tark,' Harper spoke up seeing a change in Asa, a familiar look that had lost its edge and hardness, and he then watched as the old man approached and then embraced the human warmly.

'I love you like I'd love my own son if I had one, you know that Shay?' Asa stated. 'And you drive me mad and stupid as well as any son fighting for his place in this mixed up world would, why can't I just get you to do what I say?'

'I don't know, maybe because you're not my father and you keep asking the impossible of me, not to mention your parenting methods really could do with some work,' Harper could only offer, and he wondered when Asa would let go, Asa seemed to really need the hug.

'I thought you were all about making the impossible possible,' Asa attempted to joke, still holding him tightly. 'I can't help seeing you as I would my own son, and I can't help the things I do to protect myself, Edenia and my status, to protect you,' Asa continued. 'I've always warned you above all else that I would not tolerate your betrayal, I can not make anymore excuses for you, Shay, I'm sorry.'

'Tark! He's delaying us, he's purposely keeping us here,' Harper realised and then suddenly tensed and grimaced.

'What?' Tark responded unsure but soon realised Harper was struggling in Asa's hold.

'I'm sorry, son,' Asa spoke holding him tightly, tears forming in his eyes as he pressed his clenched hand deeper into Harper's back, gripping the knife's handle.

'No!' Harper quickened his breathing, trying to control his panic, feeling the sharp instrument against his back, cutting into his skin but he couldn't push himself away as his hands were useless. 'Not like this, I still have work to do!' he stressed with gritted determination. 'I'm going to save your fricking Edenia, I'm it's only hope you stupid old fool!' Harper yelled, trying to struggle but to no avail.

It took all of Harper's strength, and Tark's intervention to finally push Asa back to the ground and before Tark could react Harper grabbed the fallen knife in his broken hand, ignoring the pain it caused and pinned Asa to the ground using his body weight. With the best grip he could manage he held the knife to the old man's throat, before he took some deep breaths, and then hesitated slightly.

'You can't do it,' Asa teased, but his eyes showed fear.

'Never tell me I can't do anything, haven't you learnt that yet?' Harper questioned angrily with desperation, his emotions rising at what he felt he had to do. 'I respected you, I tried to be who you wanted me to be, I tried to get you to trust me but you never got it, did you?' Harper stressed, losing his control. 'I love Edenia, ok? It's all I've got left in this stupid universe, and I wouldn't do anything to destroy it but I made a mistake, a stupid big fricking mistake, and I've been paying for it ever since,' Harper's eyes burned into Asa. 'But I know I can fix it, and all I've been trying to do is fix it!' Harper exclaimed, his eyes watering as his emotions rose further. 'But everyone and especially you have done everything they can to stop me, why won't you just let me fix it!' he yelled with uncontrolled fury, completely losing his composure and then the grip he had on the knife that harmlessly fell to the side.

'We should go, Harper,' Tark offered and without waiting for a response he pulled Harper up and away from Asa. 'Before you do anything stupid, ok?'

'It's already too late, he's been keeping us here by saying all that crap because he doesn't want us to go to the control room,' Harper stressed as he slumped down in a chair that Tark directed him to, he roughly attempted to wipe his eyes as he tried to get a hold of his rising emotions holding his side. 'The Dragans are probably outside, just waiting for us to leave,' Harper glared at Asa who was trying to recover his composure on the floor. 'Hell, you know, why don't we just go out there, and let the damn Dragans capture us because I'm pretty sure they'll take me to the control room, even if they won't let me fix things at least I'll be where I can do something, but hey, you know that right?' Harper stated in defeat as he stared at Asa.

'If the Dragans capture me I'm dead already, and I'm not ready to die,' Tark offered, reminding them of Lars.

'Shay, the Dragans don't know where the control room is,' Asa offered, his voice noticeably quieter and his shock at how close Harper had come to killing him clear to see. 'Yes, I admit I was stalling, I was forced to trick that soldier friend of yours so he'd be ambushed and I was supposed to keep you in the one place until they caught up with us,' Asa admitted with some shame, revealing a tracker device he was hiding in his pocket. 'But they only want you to pass on the knowledge, albeit I suspect with more force than they may have led me to believe initially but I can trust they wouldn't let you gain control, and I'm sorry Shay, I still believe that's for the best for Edenia.'

'So you're happy for the Dragans to stamp all over you, to take over your world just so I can't? You trust them and their methods before me?' Harper questioned with hurt in his voice. 'You don't know what it's like to live under Dragan rule, Asa, well take a look a me, I'm a living example of someone who was forced to grow up in that environment for nearly twenty years, Asa, is this what you want for your people?' Harper asked with care. 'Or do you want freedom, because that's what I'm offering, whether you believe it or not, I would never wish this demented uber lifestyle you're seemingly accepting on my worst enemies, not even the Magog, but I'm offering freedom for your people and to give them back Edenia!' Harper stressed with passion.

'While you control pretty much everything,' Asa returned, unconvinced. 'I'm sorry Shay, I have seen absolutely no evidence that you are the man for the job, you do not have the abilities to be a god to my people and this world, I can't just stand here and give you that power and I refuse to believe you could ever be responsible enough to take it!'

'I never said I wanted that job,' Harper offered.

'But I see it in your eyes, I know what you are planning to do and I can't let you do it, I can't let this world return to the control it once had over it,' Asa spoke with conviction. 'The past three years we've assumed control for ourselves and we don't want to return to a time where strange forces dictated our seasons and our lives,' Asa sighed. 'I know you're a good man deep down, Shay, I like you like my own but you're dangerous, maybe you just don't realise this but take a look outside and try to tell me you're not.'

'This is too much,' Harper spoke with despair, and began to panic before Tark got a hold of his shoulders.

'Focus, we are going to get to the control room, ignore the old man he knows how to press your buttons, that's all, he's working on your weaknesses,' Tark instructed and they both looked at Asa. 'We will just have to force the information if we have to,' he stated.

Harper nodded his head slowly, and saw that Asa looked suddenly older and more tired than Harper could remember, and he gestured to Tark, a simple movement and Tark wasted no time in closing the space between him and Asa.

'Asa,' Harper spoke with hesitation. 'If it means anything, even if you were just speaking crap before about seeing me as a son, that is before you tried to kill me, I do see you as a sort of father figure, it's true,' Harper tried to lighten his mood but he struggled. 'Don't ask me why because you are nothing like my own father, it's almost an insult to his memory to say it; he never hurt me like you have, he never twisted my head like you do so often.'

Harper sighed before continuing. 'But I like you, and I can't deny that you've been there for me, and allowed me to make a home on Edenia, you have helped me and I've always appreciated it,' Harper shrugged. 'But just because of that doesn't mean you're always right and doesn't mean you can command my respect, or own me, and for the record that thing I signed no longer applies, you broke it the minute you tried to stick that knife in my back,' Harper announced with growing strength. 'You can trust me, Asa, and that's all I can say, even if I am planning to do the one thing you've feared I would all along, but please just trust me,' Harper asked seeing Asa simply close his eyes to the inevitable, as Tark took the tracker from the old man's hand and stamped on it to end the signal.

'You're going to tell us where the control room is whether you like it or not,' Tark threatened and secured Asa without much of a fight.

'Shay, please think about this, don't do it,' Asa suddenly panicked as he was pulled up to his feet, his whole stature suddenly melting as his true feelings came to the surface.

'You left me no choice,' Harper dismissed and hobbled towards the back door. 'You messed with my head one last time, no more, I haven't got time for your games, I got plenty of my own going on to be worried about yours anymore.'

'Shay, I beg you, don't do this, I need Edenia, you'll make me and my family a laughing stock, I won't survive the night if you do this,' Asa begged, as Tark dragged him after them.

Harper tried to ignore his pleas, but turned to the old man. 'Asa, just tell us where the control room is, and I promise I'll protect you,' Harper offered without emotion, focused now on what he had to do.

'No,' Asa returned with defiance, as he was dragged outside into the night's air. He immediately began to scream for help but Tark quickly covered his mouth.

They hurried through the streets for nearly ten minutes keeping to the shadows before they stopped near the border to the East side of the city. 'Asa, c'mon, this is serious, look around you Edenia is burning to the ground and I can save it, just tell me where the control room is, don't make this harder for us!' Harper stressed. 'I know it's in the East but just save me the time having to look.'

'No,' Asa spat when Tark uncovered his mouth. 'Shay I will only tell you if you promise me, promise on whoever's life you still give a damn about that you will destroy that damn system before it destroys us all!'

'I'm not destroying it, I can't make that promise,' Harper returned with conviction.

'Promise me, Shay, that you'll destroy that damn system, you know I have done nothing but protect you so just listen to me for once, don't be a fool!' Asa spoke sincerely.

'Fine, don't tell me but you know we will just find it ourselves!' Harper's patience was now frayed and he was tired, hungry and in need of a weeks worth of sleep, his body hurt, he was bleeding from the knife wound and he wasn't sure he could take much more when all he wanted was one thing, to be in the control room. 'JUST TELL ME WHERE IT IS!' he yelled, losing control and feeling tired, wishing he could just curl up and sleep.

Harper froze as he was suddenly secured from behind, someone covered his mouth and trapped his arms, he was caught and the shock left him unable to move as he feared the worst.

A radio was activated. 'This is Meloni to Commander Hertzler, we've got him sir, plus Asa and the traitor.'

--

tbc