Disclaimer: I don't own the program or the characters, and anyway they'd be a lot of trouble.
Spoilers: Nothing past the beginning of season two, I think.
Summary: Beka decides they need to employ an assistant engineer to help Harper.
Bear with me from the beginning I'm trying to introduce a new character and it takes time.
"Why put off till tomorrow what you can avoid altogether"
. . .
Well that was the day that it all began. The day when all I'd ever known to be true was torn up and thrown away. The day I realised the monsters were real and they were out to kill.
I'd lived all my life in a fairytale world of safety and happiness. The 'one upon a time' and 'happy ever after' of my life.
And then the war broke out, and no longer was I safe or happy. More than that, I was no longer normal. Being different had never bothered me before but now it could mean the difference between life and death.
Mostly, it was just a knack for things like language and understanding people and helping Mark fix stuff in the garage. Sometimes I thought I could fell the electricity running through the house. My parents always said I was special.
Once the war broke out, the army began hunting out the non-norms, the people who were different. They wanted to be free of the monsters, they said. I'd never been called a monster before.
Then the soldiers came one night, broke into our house. I had been afraid to sleep. The stories with the happy endings seemed so far away.
And when they broke the door down I was already dressed and ready. I had known this time would come and I knew what I had to do.
As I climbed out the window I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, thundering through the stillness of the night.
I still have dreams about that night. I never found out what happened to my family. It was only me they had wanted, me they were afraid of.
I was twelve at the time, five years have passed since then. Since I stowed away on an outgoing transport and began my life as a runaway. Someone forgotten.
. . .
I live on a station in the Kedrallas system, far away from my old home. My knack for things is what has kept me alive, knowing when to approach someone, what to say.
I have learned quickly and now I have a fairly good job as an engineer. I work for Xarn, like lots of other young engineers on the station. When ships come in needing repair. he sends a few of us out.
Sometimes we go with ships who are going on short term trips and need an engineer. Usually for three to six months.
I learnt better survival skills as well. The best one I've learnt is that you get hassled a lot less if you're a boy than a girl. I was taught that by another station-wise kid a while back.
I chose the name Zac, it's actually my middle name, Rora Zac Kyleson. And ever since then I've been thought of as a boy.
It's not too hard, I speak low and quiet. My hair is short and light brown. Not too short above my shoulder. I tie it back mostly. I wear loose clothing, neutral colours.
No-one has figured it out yet and they probably never will because I never stay anywhere for long. I'm leaving soon.
Another key to survival- don't stay in one place too long, keep moving constantly and never let your guard down, even for a second. I'm just looking for the right opportunity and when it comes, I'll leave.
You can run from the monsters that chase you, but you can't run from the demons inside.
. . .
Beka and Dylan were in command arguing. Beka was yelling at Dylan and it looked like she was winning.
"He can't do it all by himself, Dylan! He needs someone to help him out, an assistant or something. You're working him too hard and he can't handle all this, especially now with his stomach full of Magog larvae! We need to find someone else to take on part of the work or..... "
Beka looked like she was going to keep on yelling until end of the universe so Dylan held up one hand to silence her.
She stopped and just glared at him, waiting, almost daring him to speak. His voice was quiet and calm.
"Beka I know Harper is having a hard time dealing with everything and I understand your concern, but how do you suggest we find another engineer?"
Beka looked at him as if he had two heads, or rather half a head, because she couldn't see how exactly he had ever become a Commonwealth Captain.
"Andromeda, where are the nearest space stations to our current position?"
"There are three stations within one slipstream of our current position. Arkus Station, Transfortual Orbit and Kedrallas space station."
Beka smiled on hearing the last name. Dylan looked at her questioningly.
"Andromeda, plot a course to the Kedrallas system" She turned to Dylan.
"Kedrallas station is known for it's good engineers and fast repairs. I suggest that we look for our engineer there, unless you have a better idea."
Dylan sighed and relented. "Alright we'll go visit the station and have a look for an engineer."
"But we better clear this with Harper so he doesn't think he's being replaced. He should probably be the one to pick out his assistant."
Beka smiled to herself, she'd won the argument. She jumped into the pilots seat and readied the ship for slipstream.
She glanced at Dylan. "You should probably go let Harper know of our idea and check he's okay with it."
Dylan glared at her. "And if he's not?"
"You'll have to try and convince him somehow."
Dylan walked out the door mumbling about how this wouldn't happen in his commonwealth days. He was off to find Harper.
. . .
Little did the crew of Andromeda know, that fate was about to give them a chance to find a person who could either be a very powerful ally or an equally as powerful enemy. And it was all in fate's hands.
Spoilers: Nothing past the beginning of season two, I think.
Summary: Beka decides they need to employ an assistant engineer to help Harper.
Bear with me from the beginning I'm trying to introduce a new character and it takes time.
"Why put off till tomorrow what you can avoid altogether"
. . .
Well that was the day that it all began. The day when all I'd ever known to be true was torn up and thrown away. The day I realised the monsters were real and they were out to kill.
I'd lived all my life in a fairytale world of safety and happiness. The 'one upon a time' and 'happy ever after' of my life.
And then the war broke out, and no longer was I safe or happy. More than that, I was no longer normal. Being different had never bothered me before but now it could mean the difference between life and death.
Mostly, it was just a knack for things like language and understanding people and helping Mark fix stuff in the garage. Sometimes I thought I could fell the electricity running through the house. My parents always said I was special.
Once the war broke out, the army began hunting out the non-norms, the people who were different. They wanted to be free of the monsters, they said. I'd never been called a monster before.
Then the soldiers came one night, broke into our house. I had been afraid to sleep. The stories with the happy endings seemed so far away.
And when they broke the door down I was already dressed and ready. I had known this time would come and I knew what I had to do.
As I climbed out the window I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, thundering through the stillness of the night.
I still have dreams about that night. I never found out what happened to my family. It was only me they had wanted, me they were afraid of.
I was twelve at the time, five years have passed since then. Since I stowed away on an outgoing transport and began my life as a runaway. Someone forgotten.
. . .
I live on a station in the Kedrallas system, far away from my old home. My knack for things is what has kept me alive, knowing when to approach someone, what to say.
I have learned quickly and now I have a fairly good job as an engineer. I work for Xarn, like lots of other young engineers on the station. When ships come in needing repair. he sends a few of us out.
Sometimes we go with ships who are going on short term trips and need an engineer. Usually for three to six months.
I learnt better survival skills as well. The best one I've learnt is that you get hassled a lot less if you're a boy than a girl. I was taught that by another station-wise kid a while back.
I chose the name Zac, it's actually my middle name, Rora Zac Kyleson. And ever since then I've been thought of as a boy.
It's not too hard, I speak low and quiet. My hair is short and light brown. Not too short above my shoulder. I tie it back mostly. I wear loose clothing, neutral colours.
No-one has figured it out yet and they probably never will because I never stay anywhere for long. I'm leaving soon.
Another key to survival- don't stay in one place too long, keep moving constantly and never let your guard down, even for a second. I'm just looking for the right opportunity and when it comes, I'll leave.
You can run from the monsters that chase you, but you can't run from the demons inside.
. . .
Beka and Dylan were in command arguing. Beka was yelling at Dylan and it looked like she was winning.
"He can't do it all by himself, Dylan! He needs someone to help him out, an assistant or something. You're working him too hard and he can't handle all this, especially now with his stomach full of Magog larvae! We need to find someone else to take on part of the work or..... "
Beka looked like she was going to keep on yelling until end of the universe so Dylan held up one hand to silence her.
She stopped and just glared at him, waiting, almost daring him to speak. His voice was quiet and calm.
"Beka I know Harper is having a hard time dealing with everything and I understand your concern, but how do you suggest we find another engineer?"
Beka looked at him as if he had two heads, or rather half a head, because she couldn't see how exactly he had ever become a Commonwealth Captain.
"Andromeda, where are the nearest space stations to our current position?"
"There are three stations within one slipstream of our current position. Arkus Station, Transfortual Orbit and Kedrallas space station."
Beka smiled on hearing the last name. Dylan looked at her questioningly.
"Andromeda, plot a course to the Kedrallas system" She turned to Dylan.
"Kedrallas station is known for it's good engineers and fast repairs. I suggest that we look for our engineer there, unless you have a better idea."
Dylan sighed and relented. "Alright we'll go visit the station and have a look for an engineer."
"But we better clear this with Harper so he doesn't think he's being replaced. He should probably be the one to pick out his assistant."
Beka smiled to herself, she'd won the argument. She jumped into the pilots seat and readied the ship for slipstream.
She glanced at Dylan. "You should probably go let Harper know of our idea and check he's okay with it."
Dylan glared at her. "And if he's not?"
"You'll have to try and convince him somehow."
Dylan walked out the door mumbling about how this wouldn't happen in his commonwealth days. He was off to find Harper.
. . .
Little did the crew of Andromeda know, that fate was about to give them a chance to find a person who could either be a very powerful ally or an equally as powerful enemy. And it was all in fate's hands.
