Part 36

"So beautiful," Harper spoke with awe, as he stared out towards the stars and saw the looming beauty of the Andromeda Ascendant approaching.

"Thank you," Rommie returned, standing by Harper's side behind the railing on the Eureka Maru bridge.

"That's one thing I haven't forgotten," Harper smiled. "Though till now, I wasn't sure if it was a dream or real."

"Oh it's real all right," Beka spoke up from the pilot's chair. "Have you eaten today?"

"Yeah," Harper answered.

"He had a cereal bar twenty minutes ago," Rommie further answered.

Beka glanced back at Harper. "Make sure you get a meal inside you when we get on board."

Harper just nodded his head as he continued to stare at the Andromeda, and only barely acknowledged Dylan as walked through the entrance, and stood by Rommie. "We're clear to head to Sinti, they are waiting for our arrival with Mister Harper," Dylan announced.

"Excellent," Beka smiled. "I never thought I'd say this but I prefer Harper when he's a genius, I need to be able to throw broken stuff at him and be confident he'll fix them," she added with a grin.

"So you can justify throwing stuff at me?" Harper looked confused.

"You know what I mean," Beka returned.

"And I thought you loved me for my looks," Harper smirked.

"As far as your looks go, just grow your hair back, that's all I ask," Beka offered, as she glanced around.

"And here I was thinking I might keep the 'close shave being tortured by ubers look', worked so well for me on Earth," Harper responded mockingly.

"How'd you know that?" Dylan caught.

"What?" Harper offered.

"Earth, the shaved head look on Earth, how'd you know that if your memories of that time are gone?" Dylan questioned.

"I don't know, I just said it without thinking," Harper answered a little unsure.

"He was just joking, Dylan, what's with the third degree?" Beka asked.

"I get he was joking but he made a reference about himself from what must have been some kind of memory, possibly the last time he had a shaved head, we can't ignore that reference," Dylan insisted.

"I was just saying," Harper looked troubled. "I don't even know if I've ever had a shaved head before, I associated it with ubers because they were the ones that did this to me now," Harper attempted to explain.

"But you mentioned Earth," Dylan persisted.

"Dylan, I'm not sure where you are going with this questioning, are you doubting Harper's memory loss?" Rommie now asked.

Dylan took a moment to collect his thoughts. "No, of course not," he finally concluded. "I'm sorry, Harper, I understand that you were just joking."

"Yeah, no harm done," Harper shrugged. "I think I'm going to go and lie down, I have a headache," he offered and left the Maru's bridge.

"Care to explain what that was all about?" Beka soon asked, once Harper was out of hearing distance.

"Didn't that strike you as funny?" Dylan asked.

"Mentioning Earth and a past experience at any other time would not have been strange from Harper, but now, considering what he has told us and from what little I have been able to scan him, it is odd that he should have the ability to recall such things," Rommie supported.

"So I'm not alone," Dylan sounded relieved.

"You both think Harper is lying?" Beka turned to look at them.

"Not lying, just maybe he's using the situation a little more to his advantage than maybe he's letting on," Dylan offered. "The Commonwealth may have been onto something by continuing his detainment."

"Don't you think the guy has been through enough without losing the trust of his friends as well?" Beka stated, clearly not impressed.

"You're right, we should focus on fixing his implants," Rommie agreed. "I'll go check on him, make sure his headache is not bothering him."

---

The dull thud was the first thing Rommie picked up on, and the gasped cry was what made her quicken her pace finding Harper moments later by the airlock, writhing on the deck. Quickly Rommie checked Harper was in no danger to himself as his fit continued to render him immobile, she remained close to him observing his life signs to ensure he was ok.

"It's ok, Harper, I'm here," Rommie comforted him as the fit continued to attack his every sense. The fits were different now, providing no danger compared to the previous ones. These fits were less severe, and they seemed more an agitation to Harper than painful, and part of him was fully aware of what was happening even though he was powerless to control them. After a few moments the movements slowed down, and Harper regained his mobility but remained on the deck as he recovered his composure.

"Are you ok?" Rommie asked.

"Tired," Harper spoke quietly, breathing heavily and he rolled onto his back. Rommie spotted the blood seeping from his nose and immediately motioned for Harper to remain still whilst she found a first aid kit. "Nose bleed?" Harper enquired with some confusion.

"You must have hit your head when you fell," Rommie concluded.

"These fits, the pressure inside me is intense," Harper explained.

"Maybe it's that," Rommie made small talk while she cleaned him up. "You have blood on your shirt, you should go change," Rommie suggested and helped Harper slowly to his feet.

"Thanks," Harper offered once they began walking.

"Dylan wasn't suggesting anything back there," Rommie then mentioned.

"I know," Harper shrugged. "I don't understand what's happening so I can't expect you guys too."

"Do you remember anything, I mean are you sure there's nothing?" Rommie enquired as they reached the crew quarters.

"That guy, Zanis?" Harper checked he'd remembered right. "He kept asking about Tabatha?"

"Tyr's wife?" Rommie prompted and saw Harper briefly nod his head.

"I mean I remember her, but nothing of note, least I can't think of anything to say about her but they didn't believe me," Harper looked baffled. "I don't know why they kept asking," he added as he found a clean shirt.

"She was Commonwealth," Rommie stated.

"Tabatha?" Harper turned to Rommie, as he removed his shirt and paused half way through. "Commonwealth? I don't understand, you mean like a spy?"

"She was originally assigned to infiltrate Tyr's pride, and report back to the Commonwealth," Rommie informed him.

Harper finished removing his shirt and reached for the new one. "So she was a spy?" he checked again.

"Harper," Rommie voice caused Harper to turn.

"What?"

"What did the Nietzscheans do to you?" Rommie asked, and Harper realised she was seeing the marks they had left on his body for the first time. Most had healed but the damage was still clear to see and Harper felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, and more so when she reached out and traced a scar, he shirked away and quickly put on his shirt.

"Leave me alone," Harper requested sharply and backed away.

"Harper, I'm sorry," Rommie quickly returned but it was clear that Harper was a little shaken by her actions. "I don't know why I did that, it was stupid and I'm very sorry."

Harper still appeared troubled and remained silent to her words, he seemed uncomfortable in her presence now. "I don't remember ok? I don't even know for sure if you're a friend," he spoke shakily and then moved to his bunk.

"Harper I am a friend, always," Rommie insisted. "You built me, I would never be anything but your friend, and I am always there for you."

"Built you?" Harper checked back and his expression caused Rommie to freeze.

"You don't remember?"

"How many times do I have to say it?" Harper asked with frustration.

"Harper, you do know I am an android?" Rommie checked and the surprise on Harper's face was answer enough. "Do you remember anything about engineering or science at all?"

"I don't know," Harper shrugged. "I'm sure I've said I don't remember anything enough times but no one seems to hear me," he griped.

"Follow me," Rommie demanded and Harper didn't argue as she took his hand and led him directly to engineering. Harper stopped and looked around the expanse of space inside the engine room. He seemed in awe but also confused as to why he had been brought there. "We need a diagnostic run on the warp core relays."

"You do?" Harper questioned.

"I do," Rommie answered and stared at Harper.

"You want me to do that?" Harper checked.

"It's what you do."

"I do?"

"You do."

"Here?" Harper looked around. "I don't know how, maybe I did once but now, it's all gone, when I said I've forgotten everything I wasn't kidding, why doesn't anyone believe me?"

"You can't have forgotten," Rommie dismissed and she moved closer to Harper.

Harper was lost for words. "Well then I don't know what to say because babe, that thing you wanted doing, I can't do it."

"You can, that's the point," Rommie stressed, as Harper slowly backed away.

Harper scratched his head and looked around once again, as if looking for inspiration from somewhere. "I can't remember how, ok?"

Rommie slowly started shaking her head, her eyes fixed with his and inside she couldn't compute that the man who had built her, could no longer run the most simplest of engineering tasks. "Don't tell me you can't, when I know you can," Rommie stressed, needing to hear Harper say he could fix the ship, something inside desperately needed to hear him say those words.

"Look, Rommie, that's your name right?" Harper checked, suddenly unsure of himself but he continued when she didn't correct him. "I'm running on empty, I barely remember to keep breathing, I have to be told to eat and you're expecting me to know how to fix this heap of junk, can't be done, not by me."

"I don't believe you," Rommie finally spoke. "You don't just forget things like that, you don't."

"Well I have," Harper stressed with frustration and then realised Rommie had backed him up against the bulkhead.

"Why are you doing this?" Rommie asked and grabbed his hand. "Tell me again that you don't know how to fix this ship."

"Rommie," Harper tried to release his hand but she kept a firm grip, and he grimaced slightly with the pain.

"I helped you escape this crew, I've done nothing but stick by you and there is no way I'm going to let you play these games," Rommie insisted. "Tell me the truth!"

"Games, what games?" Harper asked the perspiration now visible on his face. "Rommie, I don't understand."

"Tell me the truth," Rommie insisted.

"Let go of me, you're hurting me," Harper again tried to remove his hand from her grasp.

"Guys, we've docked on the Andromeda," Beka announced brightly but stopped mid-speech seeing Harper struggling in Rommie's hold. "And you really don't care about that right now, what the hell is going on?"

"Harper, tell me again that you do not remember how to fix this ship," Rommie insisted. Harper continued to try and release his hand, getting more frustrated by his situation. Rommie stared at Harper. "You seem to remember I have a built in lie detector, don't you? That's why you won't tell me, because I'll know the truth," Rommie accused.

"What?" Harper offered with surprise.

"Rommie, back the hell off, what is this?" Beka demanded but the android was focused on Harper, not willing to let go.

"You wouldn't be struggling, or so afraid to speak if you didn't remember that fact," Rommie offered.

"Harper, what's going on?" Beka moved forward. "Rommie, speak to me."

"I don't know how to fix this ship!" Harper yelled and there was a moment where no one moved or spoke, before Rommie hastily let go of Harper's hand and he immediate saw his cue to leave as he pushed past Beka leaving her alone with Rommie.

"Rommie?" Beka moved in front of Rommie. "Talk to me."

"He's telling the truth," Rommie spoke with shock in her voice. "It's gone, all that we identify with Harper is no more, he's lost everything," her voice was weak and shallow, and she looked as though she was about to collapse.

Beka brought Rommie in for a hug, and she held the android close. "He'll be ok, once we get his implants fixed."

"You don't understand," Rommie pulled back. "When I scanned Harper before, my urgency stemmed from the fact his implants had failed, that they no longer worked, but I delved deeper this time and discovered it's worse than that, the implants have not malfunctioned they have been purposely disconnected, and there's no longer any information on them."

It was Beka's turn to appear shocked, and Rommie moved away. "I was hoping that Dylan had been onto something, that maybe Harper was hiding what he truly did remember to protect himself or something while he was in doubt about who he could trust, but there's nothing, he's telling the truth."

Beka stood staring at Rommie for a moment, simply stood against the railing as she considered Rommie's words. "Then we just have to ensure that we can hook those implants back up, get them working and just do what we can to get Harper his identity back."

"We can do that," Rommie agreed, still reeling from her discovery. "I have archives he can view for his time on the Andromeda, and no doubt you have some from the Maru."

"Yeah," Beka absently agreed. "It'll be fine, we can help him."

"We can and we must, it's our fault he's ended up like this," Rommie added.

"But you know what," Beka changed her tone. "As bad as this whole situation is there's a part of me, a sick selfish part of me that is celebrating the fact that Harper no longer remembers what happened to him on the Andromeda."

"There is no silver lining," Rommie dismissed, as she walked past Beka. "And I still remember what you did to him," she added, as she moved to leave.

"Rommie, get back here," Beka demanded. "I was not implying we pretend or forget it happened, I was just thinking about Harper."

Rommie took a moment to calm her self down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that to sound like it did, I'm just having some problems dealing with the fact my creator can no longer do the simplest of engineering tasks, and has had his mind wiped like he's a machine."

"Right now things seem bad, but we know better than anyone how quickly situations can change, let's just focus on getting Harper to Sinti," Beka suggested.

"Agreed, we should focus," Rommie nodded her head, as if convincing herself to follow those orders.

TBC