Part 33

Rev Bem glanced around, all his troops were waiting for further instruction and so far they were remaining in control of their more natural instincts but Rev couldn't hide his growing concern.

'What is it?' Roseby asked.

'Probably nothing,' Rev quickly answered.

'Rev, if you sense anything, now would be a good time to tell us, rather than when it's too late,' Roseby hinted.

'I should speak with that group over there,' Rev gestured, and indicated that Roseby should accompany him. 'They seem restless,' he added and Roseby simply followed.

'Rev, we need to speak.' Rev approached the group, and stopped with surprise on seeing the Magog named Wasim speaking to him. 'We can smell him, it's proving distracting.'

'I thought I ordered you to stay aboard the Andromeda,' Rev stated.

Wasim looked confused. 'I had orders to come down; I was surprised to receive them after our discussion.'

'Who ordered that?' Rev asked.

'You, some Commonwealth soldier told me to join you all,' Wasim offered and glanced around.

'It's true, just before we headed to the hanger bay Wasim was ordered to join us, was told you expected all of us to help,' another of the trainee priests ordered.

'Rev, can't you smell it?' Wasim then pushed. 'It's in my senses, I feel it, my bloodline makes me more attuned to it, I can help,' Wasim encouraged.

Rev sniffed the air and closed his eyes before opening them to look at Wasim.

'What is it Rev?' Roseby asked.

'Blood,' Rev simply answered.

'What?' Roseby checked.

'They can smell blood,' Rev showed concern.

'Not just any blood,' Wasim stressed. 'We must go, its feint but it's still driving me crazy, he's bleeding, and he may need our help,' Wasim spoke.

'No!' Rev stressed.

'I can lead you to him, it's who you want to find, yes?' Wasim spoke with passion. 'Please, once I have led you to him, then I will go, and I can return to my prayers up above.' The other three Magog seemed to be in agreement with Wasim. 'Let me be tested,' he pleaded.

'I will lead, and you will go back to the ship, Wasim,' Rev decided, his concern over the groups behaviour clear to see.

'I can handle this, Rev, this is my test don't deny me the chance to prove myself to you, to rise above my more natural instincts,' Wasim pleaded once again.

'This is no ordinary person, the blood you smell is blood of your history, a strong connection to all our sordid pasts,' Rev warned. 'You may not be ready for such a test; I can not put any lives at risk, including your own, if I were to grant you this test.'

'Rev, with all respect, your senses are dampened, we would find him quicker, this fight could be resolved sooner,' Wasim persisted. 'He is the one, the key to this war, and his recovery would put us in a strong position, correct?'

'His blood is connected to your line, Wasim, that is why you sense him so strongly,' Rev offered. 'I can not risk his life above your need to be tested.'

'My ancestor,' Wasim agreed solemnly. 'He has tasted his blood, he chose this human to be a host to sons that were never born, but that makes me more determined to rise above the actions of my weaker ancestor.'

'What is going on?' Roseby finally demanded not completely following the discussions.

'They smell Harper,' Rev answered cagily.

'His blood?' Roseby asked, slightly taken aback.

'He is hurt, bleeding, fresh bleeding, I can pick up the scent faintly,' Rev lowered his head, controlling his hunger after years of practice. 'My senses have lessened as my body has developed and evolved but my bond with Harper makes me able to find him.'

'Let us lead the way, it'll be quicker and you know this is true,' Wasim insisted.

'Why would Wasim find him quicker?' Roseby asked.

'Wasim's ancestor was one of the Magog who attacked Harper years ago, infested him,' Rev informed her. 'After the attack on the Andromeda, Wasim was part of a future generation to be born, and he was born with the taste of his ancestor's prey, it is an unfortunate skill that flows in the bloodlines of all magog, it is why they returned so often to the same hunting grounds.'

'Keeping it in the family,' Roseby figured.

'Wasim's family line is very familiar with Harper's family from Earth, it was their hunting ground and it was why Wasim's ancestor chose to join the attack on the Andromeda,' Rev frowned. 'It's why I would never have ordered Wasim down here, I know his family history all too well, and at every step I have tried to stop Wasim joining us and I thought I had his co-operation, but I now suspect his intentions by him showing up planet side,' Rev stated glaring at Wasim.

Wasim slowly began to smile, and his true colours began to show. 'I knew you would lead me to him, in time, you taught me patience and it's served me well,' Wasim spoke. 'I act only for my murdered brothers, for my family,' Wasim began. 'I am here because I have a job to do, a debt to repay and maybe I'm 

not the only one here who carries the bloodline you fear so much in our kind. My ancestor never recovered from the humiliation of a host not only surviving but also killing its eggs, I owe Seamus Harper death by return.'

Rev ventured forward but the Magog around Wasim stood firm. 'I will not hesitate to stop you.'

'And I now introduce to you my brothers,' Wasim gestured to the three Magog around him. 'Don't feel so bad for us using you, and your teachings have been interesting but now I and my brothers must fulfil a promise we made to our family.'

Roseby sensed the desire from Rev and armed her weapon. 'Not so fast,' Roseby warned.

'You think that's a good idea?' Wasim asked. 'There are a great many Magog here who do not know what we discuss, would only see the injustice of a human panicking and killing their own in cold blood.'

'They would know that we act in good faith,' Rev opposed.

'Your faith blinds you old man, you may be a hero of sorts, you are the Magog who brought sanity to the insanity of our culture, but your work is already done and I'm the evidence of that, I can continue your work now with you being dead,' Wasim smiled.

'Don't do this, not now, not when you have learnt so much,' Rev tried to reason.

'You brought us here to create a distraction, and that's exactly what I'm going to do,' Wasim smiled with sudden bloodlust and immediately moved away, Roseby went to fire but Rev stopped her.

'No, we can't resort to violence,' Rev stated. 'We need to follow them and hope we can stop them before they reach their intended goal.'

Roseby gestured to a troop of ten men to follow, and they quickly picked up the pace keeping Wasim and his brothers in their sights.

'Magog?'

'Sir, all reports are true,' the Neitzschean soldier spoke. 'Latest report tells us Magog are close to our prisoners.'

Hertzler showed a flash of uncertainty and then annoyance. 'Get men over to the cell blocks, we still need the kludge but if the Magog get too close throw the other two to the monsters, but make sure you bring the kludge here.'

'Sir,' the soldier saluted and left the room. Hertzler sighed and moved slowly towards the window.

'The Commonwealth have reinforcements on the ground already, reports suggest the Magog are on side with them,' a commander officer spoke slowly. 'Our reinforcements are non-existent, we don't know what has gone on up there, the enemy potentially outnumber us now and they are already in the control room building.'

'What are you suggesting?' Hertzler asked with anger lacing his words.

'That we need a plan,' the officer spoke.

'The commonwealth might not want Edenia, like we do, but they want Seamus Harper,' Hertzler stressed.

'And how exactly does that help us? The Commonwealth won't let us near the control room without a fight, they have more firepower now, that makes Seamus Harper worthless to us,' the officer remarked. 'We might as well throw him to the Magog and let them take the blame for the kludges death and our pride will remain intact.'

Hertzler turned to his officer. 'There's a reason I'm the leader of this pride, you would do well to maybe remind yourself of who you are talking to,' he sneered.

'I was just remarking that our situation isn't the best,' the officer stepped back.

'We are leaving, with Seamus Harper,' Hertzler announced. 'And once things have settled down, we'll return, with Seamus Harper who would have had the chance to teach our men everything he knows about the system.'

'Your plan is a good one, sir,' the officer smiled but then looked at a nearby console. 'Sir, the prison block where we currently hold the human, a group of Magog, closely followed by a Commonwealth team are heading in that direction, I don't think we have the time to get the kludge out before they arrive, the closest unit can try to stop them but they are outnumbered.'

Hertzler flashed his annoyance and then relaxed. 'Those friends of his, the locals?'

'They are still in our territory, both the women I understand have recently given birth and have remained in their blocks,' the officer informed them.

'Let's take the chance that these people mean something to the kludge, take them all and their offspring to one of our ships,' Hertzler ordered.

'The best available ship with holding cells will be in orbit in roughly two hours,' the officer pointed out.

'Then hold them until then, do I have to think of everything?' Hertzler spat with annoyance. 'Give the order to move out making sure we don't forget our additional Edenian cargo, if this plan doesn't work there's always slavery, the babies could bring a good price, so a win win,' he hinted with a smile.

Naomi sung lightly to her baby, holding the small bundle of joy close as the baby slept. She didn't notice she had company, but on sight she froze.

'Why is she here?'

'Naomi, this is the real Trance,' Zal explained. 'I rescued her, she's not the Trance you think she is, I promise.'

'I'm sorry for my sister's actions,' Trance offered, and slowly she moved forward and smiled on seeing the child in Naomi's arm. 'Your baby is beautiful.'

'Thanks,' Naomi simply said with distrust.

'He's just like his daddy, look at that face,' Zal enthused with a smile, putting his arm around Naomi with affection. 'Proud of you Naomi,' he offered genuinely and lightly kissed her head.

'So we can be friends again, no more pretending?' Naomi checked.

'I was just protecting Shay, remember? How you wanted?' Zal defended. 'Man, he's going to be so happy when he finds out.'

'Finds out what?' Trance asked then found herself drawn to the child, suddenly realising. 'The child is Harpers?'

'Yeah,' Naomi couldn't help the smile.

'Can I look?' Trance offered. 'I have medical training, human medical training, I'm assuming these camps haven't offered too much in the way of care?'

'He's a fighter,' Naomi offered and then with only a slight hesitation she laid the baby down on the bed, and allowed Trance to check him.

'So there have been problems?' Trance checked.

'He's weak, Junia told me human birth cycles are longer so we're guessing that is a reason,' Naomi offered unsure.

'Human's have a long birth cycle,' Trance agreed. 'I'm concerned by his lack of movement, his silence, is he normally this placid?'

'Yeah, but Edenian children are rarely active in their first month,' Naomi answered. 'But he worries me, I don't think he's well but I don't know, he's my first and there's very little help here,' Naomi began to show signs of emotions before Zal comforted her. 'You should go find Junia, you need to meet your own new arrival!' Naomi insisted. 'She's down the hall to the right, third door,' Naomi enthused.

'Thanks, I'll be there if you need me,' Zal backed away quickly and then dashed off.

'I'm sorry, Naomi, this child is ill and needs medical care, care I can't administer here,' Trance looked at the baby. 'We need to get him to the Andromeda,' she frowned.

'Please help him, he's all I've got,' Naomi begged.

Trance picked up the baby, feeling how light the child was in her arms. 'I'll do what I can,' she offered, but deep down she knew at that moment it was very little; she couldn't risk another transport especially with the baby and mother, it could kill her. She put the baby back down and looked upwards, she needed a sign that everything would be fixed soon; she missed not knowing the future.

'What's going on?' Harper demanded as a security force of Nietzscheans took up position around the cage, looking outwards as if expecting company. 'Tell me!' Harper yelled but they continued to ignore him.

When none of the soldiers spoke, Harper glanced at Asa and Tark with confusion, and they offered no answer. Harper then froze, and instinctively edged back till he was pressing himself against the back of the cage.

'What is it?' Asa asked, seeing Harper's reaction.

'You don't hear that?' Harper spoke with fear.

'Hear what?' Asa asked.

Tark focused and then seemed to realise. 'Animals, sounds like animals, growling, scraping nails, they are heading this way.'

'Animals?' Asa demanded. 'We don't have any animals to be afraid of on this planet.'

'Magog,' Harper was breathing quicker now.

'But how, where from?' Tark asked showing the first signs of panic. 'Magog have never been here before.'

'They knew,' Harper gestured to the soldiers. 'I was so stupid, actually thinking it couldn't get any worse!' he raged and then stopped, frozen in fear as he saw the shadow he feared the most. 'Crap, we're so dead,' Harpers voice was hollow as his eyes grew wider with fear.

'Magog,' Asa then realised. 'The monsters you spoke of,' he added. 'The ones who attacked you before, the ones you fear most.'

'Yeah, thanks for the commentary to the life of Seamus Harper,' Harper snapped, his fear all too obvious as he tried to push himself further back against the bars.

In seconds the security force came under attack and the soldiers fought as best they could. Harper closed his eyes to the screams, both Nietzschean and Magog, and tried to ignore the splatters of blood that flew their way as the attack became more savage. Then there was silence, but Harper kept his head down, his eyes shut.

'Human, Seamus Harper.'

Harper visibly paled, and gulped down some air as his heart raced with natural fear. He sensed the monster moving towards the cage and guessed all the Nietzschean soldiers were down, and probably dead.

'What do you want?' Asa spoke up but the monster failed to respond, instead he shook the bars and Harper instinctively shuddered.

'Look at me Seamus Harper when I speak to you!'

Harper calmed his breathing as best he could as he glanced at the Magog demanding his attention. 'What.. what do you want?'

'You. You brought me here from the future, I call it fate that I, unlike my ancestors who you so callously destroyed, can speak to you and show you how we've evolved but still in so many ways we haven't,' the Magog offered something close to a smile and then forced the cage door open.

Harper flinched, knowing nothing could stand in the way of his certain death. He heard Tark once more trying to free himself from the chains, and he sensed Asa's uncertainty on seeing these monsters for the first time. The chains felt heavier than before as Harper tried to ignore the pending doom, it had never been in his thinking that this would end at a Magog's hand, he'd always imagined that somehow he'd just find a way to the control room and things would be fixed but fate was having an off day, and he had no one but himself to blame.

The clawed hand of the Magog grabbed him by the neck and Harper cried out, unable to avoid staring at the Magog as it roughly pulled him forward, and then yanked at the chains making them snap with ease, before throwing Harper into the centre of the cage like a rag doll.

'Seamus!' Asa cried out but Harper didn't respond, too frozen by fear and too prepared for what was coming.

The Magog landed heavily on top of Harper. 'You won't survive this time, for my ancestors, my family, I will make sure you continue my family line, and that you do so with a gruesome death!'

'Wasim!' Rev Bem shouted, he looked tired and out of breath, before Roseby moved alongside him with a firearm, she was dishevelled and blood covered her uniform. The look of confusion on Wasim's face was clear on seeing the Reverend. 'Your brothers succumbed, and you will too.'

'You?' Wasim almost mocked.

'Me actually, I don't like Magog who act against orders,' Roseby stated with attitude and prepared her weapon as a show of her force. 'Oh, and the team I called up as back up, out of earshot from your fellow Magog,' she gestured to the ten strong unit that appeared behind her, all heavily armed.

'Move away from Harper,' Rev warned.

Instead, Wasim covered Harper in the paralysing spray. 'I don't think so,' Wasim declared and before a shot could be fired he struck Harper's upper body and attacked.

Within seconds five rounds of fire entered Wasim's body and he collapsed, being killed instantly.

'Seamus,' Rev moved forward immediately and then with Roseby's help they lifted the Magog body away from Harper.

'Shay?' Asa spoke up with shock and concern.

'Get these chains off us,' Tark barked, anxious to be free and able to defend himself and the backup team located the keys from a fallen Neitzchean and hurried into the cage.

'Seamus?' Rev spoke with care, but he could smell the fresh blood and had to fight his inner instincts. Harper didn't move or react, and he was bleeding heavily from the wounds inflicted on him.

'Let me, Rev,' Roseby offered and checked for a pulse. 'He's still alive, but we need to move fast,' she quickly took an offered emergency medical pack from the backup team and began to apply pressure bandages to Harper's chest and neck.

'Is he?' Tark left the question open as he looked at the fallen Magog and then at Rev with a knowing stare.

'Too soon to say but I would doubt that Wasim had enough time, mere seconds before Roseby took action,' Rev offered.

'But there's a chance?' Asa asked, as he rubbed his wrists having recently been freed.

'Let's focus on the now and getting Harper to safety,' Roseby stressed and Rev simply looked on.

--

TBC