Rommie entered Machine Shop 17 warily. She knew that a sleep-deprived Harper hopped up on Sparky Cola with a nano-welder in his hands should not be taken by surprise. Harper was bent over his work bench, goggles down, intently focused on something only he could see, amidst a cloud of smoke. Rommie stepped forward and opened her mouth to announce her presence when Harper started talking…to himself.

"Almost ready now! I can't believe I didn't think of this before! I am a freaking genius!" Rommie rolled her eyes and took another step towards him when he broke into a long, manic laugh. Rommie froze, then slowly began backing away. Andromeda's holographic avatar appeared beside her once she was safely out in the corridor.

"What are you doing? You're supposed to be finding out what Harper is working on so obsessively!" she demanded.

"I don't think so," Rommie answered. "Whatever he's up to this time…I don't think I want to know about it!"

"Coward," sniffed the hologram. But after another glance at Harper, she blinked out just as quickly.

oOoOoOo

The next morning, Harper was sporting his rarely worn, sleeveless shirt and red-rimmed eyes as he made a bee-line for Trance in the officer's mess. "Mornin' Trance!" he chittered as he slid into the seat next to her, making sure that his arm bearing the yin-yang tattoo, was facing her. "How ya doin' today? Whatcha havin' this morning? I thought the eggs looked a little funny this morning. Little off color. Like, you remember those purple eggs we had once? Of course you had to try them 'cause they were purple, haha! Then we found out people only bought them to feed to their pets! Where was that? Was that on Hastings Drift?" Here he paused to butter his toast and glanced at Trance.

If Trance was startled by Harper's unusual outburst she didn't show it. She took him in calmly and asked, "Harper, just how much Sparky have you been drinking? And no, it was Seneschal Drift." She smiled at him.

"Really? Wow, you have a good memory! You know, I…" As Harper began gesticulating, the butter knife still in hand, he accidentally smeared butter on Trance's dreads.

"Oh gosh, I am so sorry, Trance, here let me get that for you!" As Harper quickly wiped the butter away, he surreptitiously drew out a tiny syringe and injected its contents into her hair.

"There, all better! Well, nice chattin' with ya Trance! Gotta get to work!" Harper grinned as he beat a hasty retreat.

"Harper!" Trance called after him.

"Yeees?" Harper turned around slowly, wearing an expression of exaggerated innocence. Which should have been enough to make anyone nervous.

"Maybe you should cut back on the Sparky, okay?" Trance advised with some concern.

"Maybe you're right! Well…see ya!" Harper responded with evident relief. He had to slap a hand over his mouth to suppress a punch drunk giggle as he made his way along the corridor.