Title: Taking Over Me
Author: Harper's Pixie
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Trance's past comes back to haunt her, she could lose everything.....including Harper.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from GRA or the lyrics that I use...but the I do own two major original characters that will be introduced later on and others that aren't of the Andromeda verse.
AN: Well, this is my second attampt at Drom Fiction and this time I'm not writing all Harper....I'm attempting a new route...Trance....so I hope I get her right!!! OK, if I forgot anything above....well, sorry. Oh and all mistakes are my own...tell me if they are way too bad and I'll fix them.
******************************
Chapter one:
You don't remember me
But I remember you
I lay awake and try so hard not to think of you
But who can decide what they dream
And dream I do~~Evanescence: Taking Over Me
************************************************
I look at him from across Command. He's standing there excitedly telling Dylan about his latest project. I'm here "working" on a near by console,
but how can I work when he's so close. He's so enthralled in his new project that he can't see me looking at him, but these aren't my usual bubbly looks, these are the looks I was never supposed to give one of my subjects. A look of love. He never looks up when I look at him like this.
Why would he? Ever since my change' his once loving glances at his purple pixie quickly changed to fearful unknowing stares to the new golden warrior. Out of all my years in this existence, his are the only looks of fear that hurt. He was the first and only person in my three thousand years of being that had made me feel like I had more to fight for than my perfect possible future, I had to fight for the now gone love of Seamus Harper.
When I had first come onto the Maru, I'd only meant to be there long enough for Beka to find the Andromeda and fulfill that part of her destiny. I knew that Gerentex was trouble and that I'd be killed' during the rescue. That's when I was supposed to make my escape and let their destiny come of their own free will, but once aboard my plans soon changed. Getting the job on the Maru had been easy enough.
Beka just couldn't turn me down because I hit that "mother hen" portion in her that once struck was not so easily broken. The first part of my mission was finished, now all I had to do was get them to the Andromeda and then I was gone, but then I met Harper. I still remember his shock when Beka had introduced me to him.
*******************
"Are you sure everyone will like me, Miss Valentine?" I asked as we headed towards my first crew meeting. She looked at me and said, "Call me Beka, Miss Valentine makes me feel old, and don't worry you'll fit right in around here."
We turned a corner and entered a dirty looking room. The smell of oil and something sweet, which I would later learn was called Sparky Cola, was in the air. My nose crinkled as I fought back a sneeze. In the room, stood one lone figure working steadily on something, darting from one part of his work table to another. He had his back turned when Beka and I came in.
"Hey, shorty, I want you to meet the newest member of our crew." Harper didn't turn around and I could sense his hesitation to welcome me and grief over the death of the last member of their crew. I thought that getting his trust would be quite difficult because I was the person replacing his deceased friend, but when he turned around and I saw his glistening blue eyes, I realized that getting his trust wouldn't be the hard part, leaving would be.
When he got his first glimpse of me his mouth dropped, his eyes went wide and he was dumbstruck. Beka smiled as I asked, with a nervous giggle "Umm, Ms. Valentine...I mean Beka....why is he looking at me like that?"
Beka walked over to Harper said, "Wow, this is new. I usually can't get shorty here to shut up." She snapped her fingers in front of Harper's face, snapping him back to reality and causing me to giggle even harder.
I stood there nervously awaiting his judgment as he looked me over from head to toe. I gave him an innocent wave and said, a little too excited and bubbly, "Hi! I'm Trance, what's your name!?"
He smiled, wiped his grease covered hand on his already grease covered shirt and gently grabbed my hand, kissed it, and said, "Hello, I'm Seamus Zelazny Harper, super genius extraordinaire and exalted love god of the planet earth."
I giggled once more and Beka said, "Love god my foot, in the last year you've had less luck in love than I've had finding us a job."
Harper smiled and said, "Ha ha, Beka, real funny." At that point my tail accidentally brushed up against his leg. He jumped back and screamed, a little more girlish than I would have expected, "What the hell! She has a tail! Beka, she has a tail!"
My smile wavered and I securely hugged my tail to my chest, but Beka quickly came to my rescue, "Now Harper, yes she has a tail, but there's no need to be afraid of that. I mean for Divine's Sake, Rev has fur."
"Yes, Beka, but Rev is a Magog," he looked at me and said, "but her, I'm not so sure about. What...what are you exactly?"
I smiled and said, mysteriously, "Something new and something old and something you've never seen or may ever see again."
He looked at me puzzled and said, "Umm, so that's a negatory of your species,"
I nodded and said, "You couldn't pronounce it anyway."
He smiled and continued, "Well, I guess it will just be Trance then....what's your last name...you do have a last name?"
"Yes, Seamus I have a last name. My name is Trance Gemini."
He grinned larger and said, "Well, Trance Gemini, call me Harper, all my friends do and I'm sure we'll be friends."
*****************
Getting his trust didn't stop there. He may have been intrigued by me, but he still wasn't totally comfortable around me or about telling me about
himself, mainly the latter part. Every time I asked him about Earth and what it was like, he'd be more mysterious than I. After many failed attempts, I asked Beka to tell me only to be told of the horror stories she'd heard about Earth and what she thought he had to have went through.
"Once the Common Wealth fell, the Neits, the Dragons mainly, took over Earth and made humans their slaves or if needed their examples of what would happen if disobeyed. Then came the Magog raids. They were the worse because hundreds of thousands of humans were infested and killed, children lost parents as parents lost their young ones to these vile creatures. I think that was one of the things that hit Harper worst, I don't know what happened to him because he'll never fully tell me, it's too traumatic, but I do know that when I brought Rev on board he went into a state of panic that I hadn't seen in him since he was first brought here. Back then, it took me over a year to calm him and get him to realize that nothing would happen to him here because I wouldn't allow it. He is one of my closest crew members, almost like my little brother, and I promised him that as long as I was around that he'd be safe," she paused and took a breath.
"When Rev arrived, I just hoped it wouldn't take another year for this and luckily it didn't. Harper caught Rev praying once and slowly came to realize that Rev wasn't your normal murderous Magog. Soon there after he and Rev began to talk and slowly became friends. I truly feel for Harper. Imagining what he must have went through all those years just breaks my heart." Beka stopped there not wanting to show that she was tearing up, although I knew she was. I could tell from this conversation and reading her as she spoke that if something ever happened to Harper, it would truly kill her emotionally and mentally.
The one thing Beka failed to mention to me in our conversation, was Harper's nightmares. The third night I was there, I was up late so I deiced to take a walk. As I did, I walked past Harper's room only to hear what sounded like him whimpering. I wasn't sure if I should but I went in to check on him. He was lying in a ragged mess beneath the nearly thrown sheets. As I got closer, I could see the fine sheen of sweat that was plastering his once wild blonde spikes to his forehead.
As he tossed and turned I could hear a little of what he was mumbling. All I could make out were the words, "No," and "Run." His face had an expression of fear and despair, I had to know what was going on. I slowly made my way to his bed and wiped the hair off his forehead but left a finger or two lingering. I was going to see what he was seeing. When I did, it took all I had not to shout myself.
His dreams, no nightmares were filled with horrible images of Magog raids and death. I saw what looked to be a younger version of Harper running with two other children who looked to be twins. I could sense from his memories that these children were his cousins. They were running from Magog. I silently watched as his two cousins were taken down by the Magog one by one and infested right in front of Harper's young eyes.
I could watch no more. When I opened my eyes I saw him still tossing. I bit my lower lip, holding back a wanted cry for him and helped him the only way I could, I laid down beside him, softly stroked his hair and slowly started to hum a song my people sang to calm the soul. Within seconds, Harper's sloshing was subdued and he was peaceful as were his dreams. As I looked on his angelic features I noticed that when asleep and not all bouncing with energy, he looked so young, so helpless.
It was then that I decided that I would stay, not just because I would be needed but because, whether he realized it or not, Harper needed me and in truth...I needed him. I laid there for what felt like hours before finally falling asleep.
The next morning, I awoke before Harper did and went back to my room, giving his still peaceful form one final glance and a smile. It was later that day that Harper talked about his dreams to Beka. "I'm telling you boss! It was the weirdest dream. It was so full of color and I swear I could smell lilacs...I haven't smelled that scent since I left Earth. I always loved that smell....to tell you the truth," he looked at me and smiled, "Trance, you smell like lilacs...must be from all your plants."
I just smiled because I knew that I'd do whatever it took to keep him safe, whether it be from his nightmares or real life. But no matter how hard I tried, I failed, in my reality, he died.
*****************
In my reality, the one where everything went so wrong, I allowed Harper and Tyr to be captured by the Magog and infested, thinking it would further the perfect future and that I'd be able to cure Harper, but Harper was never cured of the larvae because of my stupid adolescent mistake. I had to watch him suffer, knowing that I couldn't save him.
If I tried, using my true powers, my people would punish me, they'd take away all that I fought to keep safe, including Harper. I was left with only one final option, I had to find a way on my own, but sadly that never happened. I was with him the moment the larvae became active.
If the Divine believed in cruelty then that was when it showed. The day the larvae became active was the day I finally decided to tell him how I felt. We were in Hydroponics, he was helping me move a new plant of mine. I was planting it when I began to confess.
"Umm, Harper."
"Yeah, babe?"
"I, uh..I really don't know how to....how to say this."
This got Harper worried and he closed in on me. "Trance, what is it? You can tell me."
I looked at him and said, "We've known each other for a while now, right. I mean I think five years is a long time and everything. Well, maybe not for you but for me-"
"Trance you're babbling." I was and at that moment I wanted so badly to hug my tail, but my poor tail was no more, a casualty of war, so I just giggled.
"Ok, you've been there with me through everything, right and I...I, uh...Harper I love you!" I shut my mouth quickly not believing that I'd blurted that so quickly.
I looked away in embarrassment, my already violet cheeks taking on a deeper shade, but soon I felt his hand on my cheek and he pulled my face back toward his and said, "Trance, do you? Do you really love me?"
I looked at him and for the first time told him the complete truth, "From that first day on the Maru when you looked at me with those eyes of yours and kissed my hand, but if you don't love me, that's ok, I mean how could I just assume yo-"
I was broken by his gentle lips on mine. The moment his lips were on mine, my head got all float-y. This was really happening. All the times I'd watched him flirt with others and wished it were me, all the innocent glances, all the times he had been too overprotective to just be my friend had finally came to this. My hand wondered up to the back of his head and I lost myself in the passion of the kiss.
Finally we broke, stood, and I said sweetly, "So, I'm gonna take that as a yes."
He smiled and said, "Trance, you've always been my special purple pixie. I think after that dream I had on the Maru that first week you were there, that was when I knew. I knew that no matter how mysterious you were, or whether or not you felt the same way, I'd always lo-AH!" Harper clutched his stomach and went to his knees.
I became frantic, "Harper! Harper, what is it?" He didn't need to answer, I could see the pain in his eyes. "Harper take your inhaler!"
He quickly did but the look in his eyes told me the results, as he pleaded "Trance, it's not working...help me." The larvae were active and our time together was over.
"Andromeda, medical emergency! Harper's larvae are active!" I helped him to his feet and half drug him to medical, barely getting him there as he got heavier with each new spasm of pain. By the time I got him onto the bed, he was already unconscious. I had run out of time, I was supposed to have more time! He was my perfect possible future and I was slowly watching it fade. I scanned him to discover that we only had less than a day before Harper would be gone.
***********
I ran so many possibilities through my head each having the same outcome, Harper's death. In my reality, we also brought in Hhone and Rekeeb and they did make the Tesseract machine, only when I discovered that Hhone would die because of this, I made my fatal mistake. I was so naive and stupid, I thought it was through Hhone and the Persieds that the perfect future would originate. Once again I put that perfect possible future before what really mattered, my friends, my family.
It was I who talked Harper out of using the machine after Hhone's death. I wanted so badly to just say, "Screw the perfect possible future," and turn that machine on, but I couldn't, my mission got the better of me. I told Harper I'd save him but we couldn't let Hhone die. He trusted me, he knew that I wouldn't let him die.
I saw the pain and defeat in his face as the tesseract machine was destroyed and Hhone returned. No matter what I said, he knew the truth. He was going to die. I tried so hard to find a way to save Harper, but I knew I couldn't...my time was up and it was time to say goodbye.
**********
I'd given him enough painkilling nano bots to take down a small army, but it still wasn't stopping all the pain. I stayed behind watching everyone's
emotional good-byes...never thought I'd see the day Tyr would cry over the death of a human. He'd left before anyone else could see, but I see all he couldn't hide it from me. Oh god why couldn't I have saved him, why did I have to be so stupid. The last one to say their farewells besides me was Beka.
I watched as she had to say farewell to her little brother, the person she'd promised so long ago to protect. I watched a part of Beka fade that day, never to return. Beka ran out in uncontrollable tears as Harper slipped into his final bout of unconsciousness. I was crying as well. Crying so hard that my entire body was shaking. "Andromeda, privacy mode, now." I said.
The crew didn't need to see what I was about to do. She started to protest but upon seeing my pain she agreed. I had to end this because it was my fault he was here. I walked up to his unmoving form. I cringed as I saw his stomach move. It was almost over. I stood beside him and stroked his forehead much like I had that third night with Harper.
I tried to stop the tears long enough to tell him good-bye. "H-harper, you aren't supposed to leave me. Not now. Remember you promised Rommie you'd stay and fix her, you never break your promises. We're supposed to be happy like in those old earth fairy tales you told me of, you know live happily ever after," I could see the movement getting more frantic, my time was running out.
I then went into a grief filled anger as I screamed, "No! Harper....you can't do this to me...not your purple pixie! I love you and you love me and that means you're supposed to stay. You're supposed to wake up and show me those blue eyes of yours and live, you've survived so much, why not this!"
All anger left me as I realized he was beyond saving now, "Oh Harper, I'm s-so, sorry. I could have saved you.....I failed you, but I won't fail you this time, I'll end your pain." I kissed him lightly on his forehead, then on his dry lips, I lingered a moment, my tears falling on his paled face.
My time was up. I slowly leaned over beside his ear and started humming, hoping with all I had it would calm him like before, make his transition an easy one. I stood there beside him for a second more, taking in that scent of Sparky and oil I'd come to love and never wanted to forget.
I finally rose and started to back up, still humming as the tears came on harder. When I was far enough I got one final look at his innocent, young face, raised my blaster, said, "I will always love you Seamus Harper," then shot and killed the one and only man I have ever loved. Once the shot was taken I dropped the blaster and collapsed to my knees, emotion flowing.
I cried harder than I ever had in my three thousand years of being. I could faintly hear the drumming of fists on the door, but my eyes were fixated on the lifeless form on my love, in the air was the smell of burnt flesh and Magog.
Five minutes later the crew made their way in to discover what I had done. I faintly remember Tyr's arms around me, rocking me as I cried. As he rocked me, Tyr whispered in my ear, "Shh, little one. Harper is at peace now...Shhh."
"But I loved him," I whisper for his ears only.
"As did he of you."
"But I killed him," I silently wailed.
"No, little one, you saved him. He lived as long as he did because of you. You gave him hope and love. You helped him to pass without regrets, he would have wanted nothing else."
I stayed silent thinking of Tyr's words. Tyr never would admit it but he had become accustomed to us...in a sense, we were his tribe. He loved us in his own Tyr way and knew what to do when one was lost. As my senses returned, I could hear Beka's pain filled cries as she too fell to her knees. Rommie stood there, silent, hot tears running down her olive colored cheeks.
Dylan looked on sternly taking in the scene. He had lost yet another member of his crew.
Seamus Harper, beloved friend, creator, love, brother, and engineer was gone. That was my last experience as the bubbly purple pixie I once was. How could I remain like that when I had just murdered my best friend, the one and only love of my eternal life?
We buried Harper on Infinity Atoll, near his second home, the sea. Rev returned to us to perform the ceremony and it was a beautiful one at that. It wasn't a year later that I heard news that would forever make me regret my decision of letting Harper die. Hhone, having fallen into a severe depression because he felt it was his fault Harper died, had killed himself. I knew at that moment I had been horribly wrong, it had been Harper not Hhone who should have lived.
tbc in next chapter 1b.......
