Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Andromeda or the characters of Andromeda. This is purely a work of Fan Fiction. I get paid NOTHING for my writing.

Change is Golden

A Sequel To When All Else Fails

Harper and Trance exited the Docking Bay, and saw their friends awaiting them.
"Trance!" Becka shouted joyfully. "You're all right!"

"Yes Becka. Harper and my future self were able to save me."

"That's great Trance, but where is the other you?" Dylan asked.
Trance began explaining to her friends how her golden double sacrificed her individuality in order to save her, but half way through her story, she noticed that their attention had been diverted to Harper.
"Uhm, guys." Trance said. "I thought you wanted to know what happened"
They didn't answer. Instead they all just stood there with their mouths hanging open.

"What's wrong with them Trance?" Harper asked.

That did it. Becka snapped out of her daze.
"What's wrong with us?" Becka asked. "What about you Golden Boy?"

"Golden Boy?" Harper asked. "Becka, what are you talking about?"

"I believe what Becka is referring to," Rhade said, "is the fact that your skin has a golden glow to it Harper."

"That's ridiculous. I'd know if my skin were a different color." Harper said, as he lifted his hand to look at it.
"See, normal skin col…AH!"

"Harper." Trance said. "Calm down. Everything's alright."

"But Trance, I'm gold. I mean, I guess it's better than being burned, but this is some tan."

"It's not a tan Harper." Trance said. "The only way that you could help Trance save me was to become like me. She joined with you Harper. As you took on characteristics of her and me, we also received some of your traits.

"Like what?" Harper asked.

"Well, right now I could really use a Sparky Cola."

"Really? Well, I guess I can live with being gold."

"It actually looks good on you Harper." Becka said.

"Thanks Boss."

"Well Rhade." Trance said. "What do you think?"

"I don't see how being one color or another would benefit or endanger the ship, so I guess it's good."

"Gee, thanks Rhade." Harper said sarcastically. "You sure know how make a guy feel good about himself."

"I do what I can." Rhade said, with a smug smile.

"Harper?" Rommie said.

"Yeah Rom Doll"
"Nothing. Never mind."

"Tell me Rommie. What were you going to say?"

"Your, uh… ears look nice." Rommie finally said.

"My ears?" Harper grabbed his ears with his hands and discovered what Rommie was implying. He now had pointed ears.

"Not my ears. No." Harper moaned.

"Harper." Becka said. "What are you moaning about? They look nice."

"You don't understand Becka. I may not be the most handsome man in the universe, but one-thing ladies always commented on were my ears. They were nearly the only part of my body that wasn't horribly scarred."

"You cannot be serious." Becka said. "But even if you are, it doesn't matter, because if you thought women found your old ears sexy, they'll love your new ones."

"I think they're very sexy." Trance said, blushing.

"Then everything's OK." Harper said. "After all, Trance here is the only woman I want to impress. So I look like a golden elf. I can deal with that. Heck, come Christmas I can dress up in a green costume and help pass out the presents."

All this time Dylan continued to stand totally dumbfounded with his mouth wide open. From his position he could see what the others could not, Harper's tail.
"I'm glad you're not upset Harper." Trance said. "My double didn't have time to tell what you would be giving up or what would happen to you."

"Trance, how could I be upset. You're alive, the Abyss and the Magog World Ship is destroyed, all my friends are safe, and we're the first people to ever destroy a black hole."

Harper and Trace embraced, and Harper swung Trance around. As he spun, the others saw something that they weren't expecting to see.

"You have a tail?" Becka, Rhade, and Rommie shouted.

"WHAT?" Harper asked, as his spinning legs got tangled up in said tail and he came crashing to the deck.

Harper woke up in Medical. The only other person there was Trance.
"Trance?" Harper said. "What happened?"

"You bumped your head when you fell. You must have hit it pretty hard, cause you were knocked unconscious."

"Do I really have a tail Trance, or did I just dream that?"

"You didn't dream it Harper."

Harper started laughing, which made Trance worry that he may have suffered more damage to his head than she originally thought.

"Harper. Are you OK?"

"Yeah, Princess. Remember when I said I couldn't take anymore weirdness, and asked you to tell the others what happened?"

"Yes."

"Well… I was wrong. This is pretty weird Trance, but I think I can handle it."

"Harper, I know when you saved me you weren't expecting anything like this to happen to you, but I'll help you adjust to your new existence."

"Trance am I… am I an Avatar, or do I just look like one?"

"You are just like me Harper, an Avatar of a star."

"That's kinda cool. What star am I an Avatar of?"

"At this time Harper, we are one. We share the same star, but later you will have to choose another Celestial body."

Andromeda's hologram appeared in Medical.
"Trance, Becka and my Avatar would like to see Harper. May they come in?"

"Harper?" Trance asked.

"Yeah. Might as well get this over with."

"What do you mean Harper?"

"Trance, I know Becka. She'll have a field day making fun of me now."

"Becka's your friend Harper. She wouldn't intentionally say something that would hurt you."

"I know Trance." Harper said. "But sometimes even when it's meant for fun, it still hurts. I've grown accustomed to her calling me Shorty, cause I know she doesn't mean it as a put down., but sometimes it reminds me how physically weak and inadequate I am."

"But you're not weak anymore Harper. You never really were weak. You just had a weak immune system. That's not the same thing as being physically weak"
"Maybe you're right Trance, but even if she does tease me, I can handle it"
"She won't tease you Harper. I won't let her. There's nothing to tease you about. You're absolutely the most handsome man I've ever seen."

"So, you like the new me?"

"Um Hmm." Trance said as she ran her fingers along Harper's ears. Harper wrapped his arms around Trance, and they kissed.

"Uh Umm." Becka cleared her throat. Harper and Trance quickly let go of each other.

"Hello Becka." Trance said.

"Hey Boss. Hi Rommie." Said Harper.

"I'm sorry, but Andromeda led us to believe that it was alright to come in." Becka said.

"It's OK Boss. We were just uh…"

"Harper, we know how the two of you feel about each other." Becka said. "We were just wondering how you're coping with what's happened."

"Trance and I had a talk, and I think I'll be OK. It's going to take some time for me to get used to having a tail though."

"The worst part is making sure it doesn't get caught in a closing door." Trance said. "That really hurts."

"What about balance?" Rommie asked. "When you lost your tail, you had problems learning to walk without it. Will Harper have any problems with the addition of a tail?"

"It's a possibility." Trance answered. "Harper would you walk across the room please?"

"Sure, but it shouldn't be any problem. I walked out of the Docking Bay didn't I?"

"Yes, but you weren't aware of the tail then. It was instinctively balancing you. However, now that you are aware of its existence, you may have some problems trying to control it"
Harper got up off the Med bed.

"I don't seem to have any problem standing." Harper said.

"Good." Replied Trance. "Now, walk to the other side of the room"
Harper begins walking, but before he takes his second step, he begins to fall. Rommie quickly catches him.

"How am I supposed to keep Andromeda repaired and maintenanced, if I can't even walk?"

"This is only temporary Harper." Trance said. "I'll help you. You'll see. In a few weeks you'll wonder how you ever got along without a tail."

"A few weeks?"