Chapter Thirty Six: Discovery

AN: Whoo! Finally! Yes, okay, I'm sorry, you guys, but I've been very busy lately, so it's been ages. But I have to tell you, after this update, I'm officially suspending work on all of my fanfic until mid December. Don't worry, this will get finished, but I have some pretty important exams in the coming weeks, and fanfiction is the last thing on my mind right now. More will get done over the winter break, and then I have more exams around May, lasting about another month. Just to let y'all know what's going on! Anyways...

pilotgurl: Thank you! I'm glad you decided to read this, and reveiw!

Ablia: Well, I'm updating now, so enjoy!

halhawkes: Welcome to the fandom, my friend!

SomeoneElsesDream: here's more...

LadyV77: I'm going to find time to read COTS at some point, I promise. I actually really wanna know how it ends... but, as I've said, I'm snowed under with work right now, so as soon I as get a few spare minutes, I'll get on it. Thanks for reviewing!

Meg: Thanks! (Simple, but also true).

Christieanne-Anna: Here are some more chapters for you!

CeredwenFlame: Thank you. Here's another update!

WarAdmiral: Don't worry. Beka and Rhade will spend a huge chunk of the latter part of this story together, so you'll see lots of action with those two a bit later on. ;)

Harper's Pixie: I thought a few people might like that line... it just sounds very Harper-second-generation-ish, I thought. Anyway, as for your request, you can read and find out...

Keltica: Thank you! It amazes me that so many people find my ratehr twisted sense of humour so amusing... but oh well! Keep reviewing, and enjoy!

NalanaSpinderOfSouls: I was a little high on sugar when I wrote Beka into that scene. It just kind of seemed to work... enjoy!

shastalily: I like Dylan with Trance too. It's kinda sweet. However, watch out for a few 'ship-twists over the next few chapters. All is not as it seems... -insert evil grin here-

ANS4Christ: But I have come to rescue you from hanging there! So, read on, my friend, and review in the wonderful way you always do! :D

Andy: I have to admit to being annoyed at the writers for screwing Dylan's character over like he currently is; mainly I just try to write him as he was in the first couple of seasons. However, I've always found golden Trance kinda fascinating. It just interests me, what happened to her. But I'm glad you think I write the pair so well. However, as I said to Shastilily, watch out for 'ship twists...

Oenone: Thanks! Enjoy!

prin69: I'm so glad you thought this was funny! A lot of people really don't get my sense of humour... and yeah, Hope and Hannah have always kinda been hangign out together. You'll get more on their 'past' (in a round about way) in the next couple of chapters. Enjoy!

Okay, that's everyone! And I will warn everyone now, I write to confuse... let me put it to you that there are certain things about their past that not even the kids know (apart from possibly Destiny, but you'll find out about later). Suspisious? So am I... -evil grin-

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Harper!" Harper looked round, to see Shailen bounding towards him down the hall, his eyes alight (quite literally) with happiness.

"Oh, uh, hey kid," Harper felt a little bemused, "aren't… aren't you guys supposed to be… on the Maru? Staying away from us?"

"Change of plan," Shailen said, happily grabbing his future father's hand and pulling him into the machine shop. "So can I see your machine shop? What does that do?"

"Oh… sure," Harper allowed himself to be towed in, "that's… that's just… something I've been working on…"

"Really? Cool! What does it do?" Shailen looked up at him hopefully.

Aw hell… Harper sighed. Well, why turn down a chance to show off? Not like people were cueing up round the block to appreciate his genius. With the funeral that morning, he needed a distraction; something to stop him thinking about that blank, cold face looking up at him through the casket lid as he shuffled past to pay his last respects. And for some reason, this kid apparently worshipped the ground he walked on. Might as well give him a show…

"Okay, well, this is a quantum resonator," Harper began, swinging promptly into super-genius mode, "and on it's own, it's not much use, but when you connect it this…"

Shailen drank in every word as if his life depended on it. He bounced around like a puppy on steroids, constantly asking question after question, his bright eyes flashing from brown to blue to silvery-grey as he talked. He knew a disturbing amount about quantum physics, Harper soon found out, and even more about the up-keep of Androids; but there were still one or two things Harper could show him that the kid didn't know yet.

"And if you just bypass the carbonator like that," Harper explained, some hours later, as they crouched in front of a panel on one of Harper's latest inventions, "your coffee comes out just as steaming, and stays that way for an average of fifteen minutes longer."

"Cool…" Shailen breathed, "can I try?"

"Sure, uh, there's a clean mug round here somewhere…"

"Oh, don't even think about it Shailen!" Rommie appeared, the future Rommie, her hair tugged back into an awkward pony tail, a few strands hanging loose. She fixed Shailen with a cold stare until the boy backed down, sighing.

"But I need caffeine…"

"You over dose on it daily!" Rommie cried, "have you got any idea what it does to your body?"

Shailen huffed unhappily but didn't argue, picking up another of Harper's 'toys' and fiddling with it experimentally.

Harper got up off the floor and quickly grabbed a nanowelder from where he'd dropped it, edging closer to the future Rommie as he did so. For a second, he found himself staring at Shailen, as the boy fiddled. His eyes were focused, his eyebrows drawn together in a thin line of concentration, tongue stuck out the corner of his mouth. He tugged at a wire, scrutinised it closely, reinserted it, examined the results. A glance at Rommie revealed a disturbingly proud look on her normally passive features.

Harper managed a nervous smile, "he's a bright kid."
The future Rommie looked a little smug, "well, he is the greatest scientific break through since the discovery of slipstream."

"Huh," Harper looked away. It felt as if someone had just dropped a burning stone into the space where his heart should have been. Shock froze him to the spot. He'd heard her say that before. Or rather… he would…

"Would you… excuse me… for a minute…" Slowly, Harper backed away.

The minute he was out in the corridor he broke into a run and bolted for Dylan's office, "Andromeda, where's Dylan?"

"His quarters, why?"

"I have to talk to him. It's very, very important." Harper shot round a corner, came to a ladder and jumped down it. "Tell him I have to see him now. Tell him I think I know who our guests are."