Part 37

Hertzler's image was on the large screen and Beka glared at it from her spot on Command, knowing he could probably see them. Roseby motioned that the sound was mute as she turned to face them.

'Captain,' Roseby greeted.

Dylan smirked at the rank but returned her greeting with a nod. 'What's the story?'

'No idea, communication came through that he only wished to speak to you,' Roseby offered as she gestured to Dylan to take centre stage and he moved to the console. For a brief moment he realised this could be the last time he'd be able to do this, he fought the nostalgia and signalled for the sound to be activated. 'Hertzler,' Dylan simply said.

'Hunt,' Hertzler returned with a form of respect apparent between the two. 'I'm sure you're aware of the situation.'

'I have what you want, you have what we want?' Dylan suggested with a frown.

'Something like that,' Hertzler agreed and began to pace, Dylan noticed a slight hesitancy from the Nietzschean and a total lack of any show of power. 'I wish to end this conflict between us.'

'Between the Nietzscheans and the Commonwealth or are you thinking more personal than that?' Dylan asked with curiosity.

'You know as well as I that two men can't end the conflict between our people, I am speaking of my faction and yours,' Hertzler corrected with an almost friendly smile. 'I was mistaken, mislead by one of your own.'

'By the sister of one of my own,' Dylan now corrected.

'You would be forced to agree it's hard to tell the difference,' Hertzler quickly returned.

Dylan couldn't help the smirk. 'I'll give you that.'

'Seamus Harper has been a thorn in my peoples side for many years,' Hertzler continued. 'Pretty much all his life and I wish to broker a deal.'

'Keep talking,' Dylan encouraged as he crossed his arms.

'The people of Edenia are cut off from the Universe and I believe the full weight of the Commonwealth wasn't involved in this war, correct?'

Dylan considered the question. 'Those who were only knew the very basic of information to the background of this battle, too much information in wars with the Neitzscheans is not a good tactic.'

'Then we can reach a deal,' Hertzler stopped his pacing and looked directly at the screen. 'If you can agree to keeping certain information out of your report to the Commonwealth, certain details about those you were fighting, namely me, my Pride, then I will guarantee the safe return to Edenia of my prisoners.'

Dylan took a moment to take in the offer and frowned. 'You're asking me to belittle our historical data, to omit important fact, to forget a Commonwealth victory.'

'For the safe return and lives of the prisoners who I believe are very dear to one of your men,' Hertzler spoke with an edge.

Dylan glanced at Rommie who seemed to understand the unspoken question; she closed her eyes momentarily and then returned her gaze to Dylan. 'He's not speaking, only listening, I am unsure of his feelings.'

Dylan considered Rommie's words, he had hoped for some kind of reaction from Harper, something to guide him as to what to do. It seemed too easy, his instincts screamed that it was an elaborate trap but at the same time it felt like a timely solution to end this sorry mess.

'One condition,' Hertzler then spoke up and Dylan's heart sank slightly, it had been too good to be true it seemed. 'As the only man who can control the Edenia system, you give me your word that Seamus Harper never returns to Edenia.'

'But his family,' Dylan returned.

'That is our only condition,' Hertzler reiterated.

'That is unfair and technically you have requested two conditions,' Dylan pointed out. 'So let me add another one, that might even this deal up, your people, the Nietzsheans, you give me your word that for as long as Seamus Harper breathes that he is never troubled again by your kind.'

'That is asking the impossible!' Hertzler stressed.

'That is our only condition,' Dylan mocked. 'Along with that other one about forgetting we kicked your ass.'

Hertzler seemed to be considering the request. 'I can only promise that my pride will do what they can to object to any actions that might come up in the future that may include Seamus Harper, but if you try to abuse this agreement I can't guarantee his safety,' Hertzler offered.

Rommie attracted Dylan's attention and muted the communication. 'Dylan, Harper wants to speak.'

'Any idea of his mood?' Dylan asked cautiously.

'Unclear, but he's outwardly calm,' Rommie offered.

Dylan glanced back to Hertzler as the sound was activated once more. 'Let Harper speak, this after all concerns him more than us.'

'Very well,' Hertzler agreed and Harper's image on med deck appeared on the screens beside Hertzler.

'Let me stay on Edenia under the condition I never leave,' Harper asked.

'Impossible,' Hertzler dismissed immediately.

'If you force me to be separated from the people I love then my natural reactions will kick in, as they always have against your kind, I'll fight,' Harper explained with care. 'The whole reason I've been a thorn in your side is due to your kind killing all those I've ever loved, or threatening the only family I have now,' Harper gestured to the Andromeda crew who looked on. 'Take away that reason for me to hate the ubers and you'll never hear of me again, give me the life back that you stole from me when I was just a kid,' Harper pleaded with passion.

'Leaving you on Edenia is asking for trouble, you could be a god there,' Hertzler argued.

'Hertzler, why would Harper ever need to take that power on again if Edenia is left alone? Unless you plan to double cross us and try to take Edenia again once our backs are turned, are you actually asking us to look the other way so you can avenge your defeat?' Dylan asked wisely.

Hertzler looked uncertain for a moment, considering his response. 'Meet us on Edenia, just you and the kludge, in four hours. We will make our final decision face to face.'

The screen went blank and Dylan rubbed his eyes before looking around the command deck. Roseby stepped forwards and assume command. 'Plot a course to Edenia,' she simply ordered.

Harper carefully moved off the cot and took some uneasy steps before finding his balance, the colour had returned and he was growing stronger as he moved to the fresh pile of clothes waiting for him, but first he wanted a chance to freshen up.

'Seamus,' Beka's voice stopped him before he entered the bathroom. 'Before, when you left for Earth that time, and you didn't say goodbye?'

Harper slowly turned with the guilt clear on his features. 'I won't do that to you again, Beka, promise.' Beka looked back at him, her arms crossed as she leaned against the door frame, considering his response.

'You're doing it for the right reasons this time, the leaving I mean, the saying goodbye to us all,' Beka explained awkwardly, as she stepped closer. 'You deserve it.'

Harper half smirked. 'Still feels like an impossible dream, I'm speaking of family I haven't even met yet, and I'm talking of giving up all I know to spend the rest of my life with them.'

'Against all odds you've found something special on Edenia,' Beka smiled as she brushed his cheek. 'You're doing what you're doing because you know that too, you know Naomi loves you and you can be happy with her, you kid, and with Zal and Junia and their family.'

'All seems too perfect for me,' Harper frowned, doubt lacing his words.

'Hey,' Beka's voice was strong, as Harper looked at her. 'You might not have the years Dylan has behind him, but you've served your time and now it's your time to take it easy and just have the life you always dreamed of.'

'White picket fences?' Harper mocked. 'What if it all goes wrong, what if paradise turns into a nightmare, with no escape?'

'You mean a bit like Earth?' Beka questioned. 'You seemed to survive that ok, and still had fond memories of the place.'

'True,' Harper smiled. 'I'll miss you.'

'We'll see each other again,' Beka assured him.

'But the deal,' Harper began before Beka cut him off.

'Ah yes, I was forgetting, Seamus Harper who always follows rules, especially those laid down by Ubers,' Beka mocked. 'I'm sure you'll find a real smart way that we can still meet up with you behind the ubers backs.'

'Again true,' Harper conceded with a smile.

'Now go get ready, we're in orbit and I know I'm not the only one wanting to say goodbye,' Beka hurried him on, and Harper dashed into the bathroom.

Dylan carefully navigated the landing before he checked the switches and turned to Harper. 'Ready?'

'Just powering down,' Harper returned, and then took a deep breath as he gazed out of the cockpit window to the now familiar walls of Edenia in the distance.

'Have you got everything?' Dylan checked as he rose out of his seat.

'My bags, my worldly possessions oh and my guilt trip is right here,' Harper motioned as he gathered his things.

Dylan took one of the bags and half smiled. 'The girls will just miss you, and I wasn't expecting Rhade to be so emotional in his message,' Dylan joked.

'Real tear jerker,' Harper mocked. 'Beka is right, you can all find ways of reaching me if you really want to see me.'

'Are you sure you want us to, we tend to bring trouble wherever we go,' Dylan gestured for Harper to move through the Eureka Maru to the exit.

'It's why we got on so well, I have the same problem,' Harper smiled.

'If I have learned anything in my life,' Dylan began as the airlock opened. 'Its never pass on the chance of happiness, even if it seems remote.'

Harper frowned as he looked at Dylan. 'I wish I could have brought her to you.'

Dylan appeared distant as he smiled. 'Three hundred years was a big commute, you gave me the chance to say goodbye and I'll always be thankful to you for that.'

'Yeah, you should find someone now you have some more time on your hands,' Harper suggested.

'Maybe I will,' Dylan smiled.

'I mean if I can,' Harper offered.

'Ok, ok, it's not like I've been looking,' Dylan stressed as they started to walk towards Edenia.

There was silence for a while as they navigated the best path to Edenia's gates. Harper moved alongside Dylan, as he adjusted the pack on his back slightly. 'Can you look out for Beka for me?'

'I will,' Dylan confirmed without further comment.

'I mean, she finds men easily but always the wrong sort, you know?' Harper continued.

'I'll keep an eye on her,' Dylan confirmed.

'Good,' Harper seemed satisfied. 'And Trance, keep an eye on Trance.'

'I will, and Rommie too,' Dylan smiled.

'Yeah, although I've told Rommie to keep an eye on you because she's like a big warship, she can look after herself,' Harper explained.

'I'm touched,' Dylan mocked and then stopped. 'Harper, stop a minute,' he ordered and saw the confusion on the young man's face. 'We're just a few minutes from the meeting point, there's no guarantee that Hertzler will go along with the deal, he never agreed to you staying in Edenia with your family, just be prepared for a double cross.'

'Don't worry about me,' Harper stated.

'Harper,' Dylan spoke again, demanding his full attention. 'Just don't let Hertzler get to you, this could all be a trap.'

'You're working this out now?' Harper frowned.

'Not exactly, I just wanted to make sure you had also worked it out,' Dylan admitted.

'I'm the only guy who knows what makes this Edenia tick,' Harper gestured to the looming walls nearby. 'A city where less than 24 hours ago defeated the ubers we're now planning to meet just outside it's gates, and you think it will go smoothly? They still want me, they still want Edenia.'

'Then why did you agree to come?' Dylan asked.

'Because you agreed to come too, because there's a chance however small that my family and friends might actually be here too,' Harper shrugged. 'Because I'm tired of the fight, ever since I stepped through that gate to Edenia, that very first time, I've brought misery to Edenia and I can't walk away from that fact, I still have to fix this mess.'

Dylan smiled. 'I thought so, I didn't doubt for a moment that you'd forgotten you core objective.'

'Things have changed, but the facts remain, I started this mess,' Harper stated firmly.

'Let's go,' Dylan ordered and they began walking towards the gates of Edenia.

TBC