Title: That Was Then, This Is Now

By: Katherine(dramkat2)(dragon)

Sum: My take on what happen to Trance in her future.

Spoilers: Yes lots to come too, mostly Season Two

Rating: PG-13 (To Be Safe)

Dylan sat at his desk going over the latest repair report as Trance walked in looking upset. "Hey, Trance. What's wrong?"

"I need a slipfighter, and I need an extended leave. No, I can't tell you why, but it has to do with my family."

Dylan looked surprised. "Trance, I can't just give you a slipfighter. The leave I can do, but..."

A small tear slid down Trance's cheek. "Dylan, please..."

"Fine." Dylan sighed. "But I need a full report when you get back."

Trance smiled in relief. "Thank you! I'll leave as soon as I get something from Harper."

With that, she was gone, leaving Dylan very confused...

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Trance walked into Harper's workshop. "Harper, I need you to build something

me - fast."

Harper looked up from his work. "How fast?"

Trance handed Harper a flexi. "Fast. I'm leaving soon."

Harper got a dumbfounded look. "What?! Why? Where?"

"Harper..." Trance smiled indulgently, despite the warning in her voice.

"I know, I know - don't ask. So what is it my golden goddess needs this time?" Harper looked at

the flexi for the first time and blinked in confusion. "Um... Trance? This is a coordinates scrambler - why do you need this?"

Trance frowned. "I'm going somewhere you can't know about, and I need it for my slipfighter. I'll be in my quarters - cal me as soon as it's ready."

She quickly turned and walked out, preventing any more questions.

Harper frowned. "That was odd..."

He started on the scrambler with an irritated sigh. He had most of everything he needed in the machine shop already, so he finished quickly.

*********************************************************

Trance wasn't even done packing yet when Harper showed up with the scrambler. As Harper sat down at her table, he started to question her again, faking nonchalance. "So, Trance, how long will you be gone?"

Trance walked over to a plant and watered it. "I'm not sure... Not too long, I hope."

"So there's no way to contact you?"

Trance smiled. " Nice try, Harper, but I'm not telling you where I'm going."

Harper frowned in concern. "You sure you'll be ok?"

Trance came and sat across from him. "I've been though a lot - I can take care of myself, I promise."

Harper knew he wasn't going to win. "Fine. I've got a lot to do, so I'll see you around."

He quickly got up and left as if nothing had happened, but his hurt was obvious. Trance shook her head sadly and went back to packing.

*********************************************************

Trance had a feeling something was off as she installed the scrambler on the slipfighter and got ready to go, but she brushed it off. Then she gave Dylan the word she was leaving and shot out of the ship, headed to the nearest slip portal.

She was preparing for the seventh and final jump when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned and grabbed the hand, pulling its owner to the front of the fighter.

"No, Trance, don't! I'm sorry, but I had to!"

"HARPER?!"

Trance was going to kill him, if *they* didn't first. "What are you doing?!"

A very scared Harper half smiled as she pushed him to the back seat. "I thought you might be doing something you needed me for..."

Trance suddenly got very serious. "I especially didn't want you, of all people, here..."

"Why not?"

She glared at Harper. "Because there are some people here I don't want you to meet. But it's too far to take you back now, so I guess you'll have to come with me..."

Trance frowned thoughtfully. "But you can't see what I'm going to do."

Then she placed a hand on Harper's head and watched as he went limp, suddenly out cold.

End of Chapter One