Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1
Lyrics for "Play that Funky Music" written by White Cherry, Lyrics for "In your eyes" written by Peter Gabriel
Harper stood at his closet door in a towel and surveyed the line of Hawaiian shirts in front of him, shaking his head. "This sucks. I've got to have something better than this." He thought about it for a second and closed his closet door. Moving over to a recessed drawer he opened it and pulled out a navy silk shirt and some black slacks. This wasn't what he would have liked to wear, but they will have to do. He put them on and ran his fingers through his hair. "I hope you're not overdressing for this, Seamus."
"Well for dinner it's a bit much, but you've already missed it."
Harper turned to the door. Beka. Shit. "Dinner...oh, man, I forgot about dinner. I'm sorry Beka, I had something else I had to do."
"We was getting a bit worried about you when you didn't show up. So, what's with the get up?" Beka tilted her head to one side.
"I uh... was just wondering if this still fit. You know how often we get planetside for fun nowadays and I wanna look good for the ladies next time we do." Harper flushed a bit. He didn't want to have tell Beka he had to go see Rommie in a few minutes for a bit of dancing.
"Oh, I see. Well, I have this for you." Beka handed him one of her ancient music disks. "It's the disco archive disk you wanted to borrow from me last week."
"Thanks. I appreciate it." He smiled at her. "Well, I got a project down in engineering, so..."
"You're not wearing that to engineering, are you?"
Harper looked down and saw he was still wearing the silk shirt. "Well, no, I'm going to change out of this first but if you want to stay for the show you can." He leered at his other captain.
Beka rolled her eyes. "I'll pass. Later, Harper." She left.
Harper sighed and looked at the archive disk. He put it in the player and turned it on. The music started, and Harper sat down to listen.
Once I was a boogie singer
Playin' in a Rock 'n Roll band
I never had no problems
Runnin' down the one nightstands
And everything around me
Got to start to feelin' so low
And I decided quickly
To disco down and check out the show
Yea they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Chorus Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down and the boogie and play that funky music 'til you die
"So this is what disco sounded like," Harper shrugged. "I don't see what the deal is." He shut if off before it finished. It was time to go anyway. He put on his shoes and left his quarters, heading over to Rommie's. He took a slightly longer, and quieter route through the corridors. Not that he didn't want to be seen, exactly, but he didn't want to be questioned about why he was wearing this particular outfit again. He reached Rommie's door without anyone seeing him.
This is it, he thought, and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Rommie said from inside, and the door to her quarters opened. Harper leaned against the doorframe and looked inside.
First thing he noticed was that Rommie spent time moving the furniture around in her quarters so that they had a space to dance.
Second thing he noticed was Rommie. She was wearing a dark red halter-top dress that flared out a bit at the waist and black satin shoes. Some, but not all of her hair was pinned up and out of her face. Good thing he wasn't underdressed. She was beautiful.
Damn, he thought. "Wow, you clean up good!" is what he actually said.
Rommie looked around her room, then back at Harper. "But I always keep my quarters clean."
Harper smirked. "It's an old Earth expression. It means you look," Don't piss her off, Seamus, not now. "really nice."
"Why thank you. Can I get you something to drink, or are you going to hold up the wall for the rest of the night?"
Harper blinked and moved into her quarters. The door closed behind him. "Uh... a cup of coffee, black."
Rommie nodded and made him the coffee. Harper just stared out the viewport from her quarters. This is it, I'm going to dance with her, he thought with a grin. He felt something he hadn't since he first had to beat someone to steal food from them on Earth as a kid. Butterflies in his stomach. Rommie gave him the cup and he drank.
"It's too bad that you didn't program me with tastebuds. I've always wondered what coffee tastes like."
"It wasn't in the avatar specs. It was the only thing I found lacking. The specs focused more on bone and tissue like structures than the senses for my taste. At least you have an advanced sense of touch, sight, hearing, and smell."
"True. So what does coffee taste like?"
Harper looked at the cup. "Like it smells. Earthy and intense. Hmm, maybe I should design some taste buds for you if I ever get a moment. It must suck not being able to taste anything." He put down the cup and turned to Rommie. "So, shall we?"
Rommie smiled and played what she called Archive File No. 93884503. Harper slipped an arm around her, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back. He took her other hand in hers. "I'll lead," he said.
love I get so lost, sometimes
days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
when I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes
Harper twirled Rommie around the room. "So... Rommie, why did you want to dance with me? Not that I can't think of better ways of paying off a bribe for keeping a secret, mind you."
Rommie leaned back a bit and looked at him. "I wanted the experience. And I wanted to thank you."
"Thank me?"
"For keeping all of me in working order. And for making this avatar for me." Rommie's head come to rest on his shoulder. He patted her head with his hand.
love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
and all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
the heat I see in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
Harper moved his hand down her spine a little bit. He knew what she was made out of: microtubes stringed together to simulate muscle and some organs, a synthetic liquid in order for her to carry data impulses throughout her body, a computer for a brain, and a metal alloy skeleton. All held together by synthetic skin and hair. After all he did create the avatar. A little too stiff to feel human to the touch, but close to it. Close enough to fool anyone other than an engineer, he thought.
"Rommie, you don't have to thank me. I wanted to do it." Harper took a deep breath. "Think of it this way. An engineer, or an artist of any kind, wants to create. Well, that's my reason for becoming one. Anyway, when I saw the specs for the avatar, I wanted to create it. If for nothing else, than to know I can make something this complicated. I like to think of you as my opus, at least until the next big thing."
Rommie gave him a look.
"Rommie, I'm not bullshitting you." He grinned at her.
"I know. I still owe you my thanks." She planted a tap on his lips and smiled at him.
Harper blushed. Ok, Seamus, this is getting weird Break time. "You know what, I skipped dinner. Wanna join me on mess deck for a sandwich? We could work on giving you taste buds afterwards."
"I'd like that." They parted and he took her hand. The door to her quarters opened and they walked through.
From Harper's perspective, straight into Dylan's fist.
--END-
(Questions, comments? Wanna tell me to shut up?? :-D)
Lyrics for "Play that Funky Music" written by White Cherry, Lyrics for "In your eyes" written by Peter Gabriel
Harper stood at his closet door in a towel and surveyed the line of Hawaiian shirts in front of him, shaking his head. "This sucks. I've got to have something better than this." He thought about it for a second and closed his closet door. Moving over to a recessed drawer he opened it and pulled out a navy silk shirt and some black slacks. This wasn't what he would have liked to wear, but they will have to do. He put them on and ran his fingers through his hair. "I hope you're not overdressing for this, Seamus."
"Well for dinner it's a bit much, but you've already missed it."
Harper turned to the door. Beka. Shit. "Dinner...oh, man, I forgot about dinner. I'm sorry Beka, I had something else I had to do."
"We was getting a bit worried about you when you didn't show up. So, what's with the get up?" Beka tilted her head to one side.
"I uh... was just wondering if this still fit. You know how often we get planetside for fun nowadays and I wanna look good for the ladies next time we do." Harper flushed a bit. He didn't want to have tell Beka he had to go see Rommie in a few minutes for a bit of dancing.
"Oh, I see. Well, I have this for you." Beka handed him one of her ancient music disks. "It's the disco archive disk you wanted to borrow from me last week."
"Thanks. I appreciate it." He smiled at her. "Well, I got a project down in engineering, so..."
"You're not wearing that to engineering, are you?"
Harper looked down and saw he was still wearing the silk shirt. "Well, no, I'm going to change out of this first but if you want to stay for the show you can." He leered at his other captain.
Beka rolled her eyes. "I'll pass. Later, Harper." She left.
Harper sighed and looked at the archive disk. He put it in the player and turned it on. The music started, and Harper sat down to listen.
Once I was a boogie singer
Playin' in a Rock 'n Roll band
I never had no problems
Runnin' down the one nightstands
And everything around me
Got to start to feelin' so low
And I decided quickly
To disco down and check out the show
Yea they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Chorus Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down and the boogie and play that funky music 'til you die
"So this is what disco sounded like," Harper shrugged. "I don't see what the deal is." He shut if off before it finished. It was time to go anyway. He put on his shoes and left his quarters, heading over to Rommie's. He took a slightly longer, and quieter route through the corridors. Not that he didn't want to be seen, exactly, but he didn't want to be questioned about why he was wearing this particular outfit again. He reached Rommie's door without anyone seeing him.
This is it, he thought, and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Rommie said from inside, and the door to her quarters opened. Harper leaned against the doorframe and looked inside.
First thing he noticed was that Rommie spent time moving the furniture around in her quarters so that they had a space to dance.
Second thing he noticed was Rommie. She was wearing a dark red halter-top dress that flared out a bit at the waist and black satin shoes. Some, but not all of her hair was pinned up and out of her face. Good thing he wasn't underdressed. She was beautiful.
Damn, he thought. "Wow, you clean up good!" is what he actually said.
Rommie looked around her room, then back at Harper. "But I always keep my quarters clean."
Harper smirked. "It's an old Earth expression. It means you look," Don't piss her off, Seamus, not now. "really nice."
"Why thank you. Can I get you something to drink, or are you going to hold up the wall for the rest of the night?"
Harper blinked and moved into her quarters. The door closed behind him. "Uh... a cup of coffee, black."
Rommie nodded and made him the coffee. Harper just stared out the viewport from her quarters. This is it, I'm going to dance with her, he thought with a grin. He felt something he hadn't since he first had to beat someone to steal food from them on Earth as a kid. Butterflies in his stomach. Rommie gave him the cup and he drank.
"It's too bad that you didn't program me with tastebuds. I've always wondered what coffee tastes like."
"It wasn't in the avatar specs. It was the only thing I found lacking. The specs focused more on bone and tissue like structures than the senses for my taste. At least you have an advanced sense of touch, sight, hearing, and smell."
"True. So what does coffee taste like?"
Harper looked at the cup. "Like it smells. Earthy and intense. Hmm, maybe I should design some taste buds for you if I ever get a moment. It must suck not being able to taste anything." He put down the cup and turned to Rommie. "So, shall we?"
Rommie smiled and played what she called Archive File No. 93884503. Harper slipped an arm around her, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back. He took her other hand in hers. "I'll lead," he said.
love I get so lost, sometimes
days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
when I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes
Harper twirled Rommie around the room. "So... Rommie, why did you want to dance with me? Not that I can't think of better ways of paying off a bribe for keeping a secret, mind you."
Rommie leaned back a bit and looked at him. "I wanted the experience. And I wanted to thank you."
"Thank me?"
"For keeping all of me in working order. And for making this avatar for me." Rommie's head come to rest on his shoulder. He patted her head with his hand.
love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
and all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
the heat I see in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
Harper moved his hand down her spine a little bit. He knew what she was made out of: microtubes stringed together to simulate muscle and some organs, a synthetic liquid in order for her to carry data impulses throughout her body, a computer for a brain, and a metal alloy skeleton. All held together by synthetic skin and hair. After all he did create the avatar. A little too stiff to feel human to the touch, but close to it. Close enough to fool anyone other than an engineer, he thought.
"Rommie, you don't have to thank me. I wanted to do it." Harper took a deep breath. "Think of it this way. An engineer, or an artist of any kind, wants to create. Well, that's my reason for becoming one. Anyway, when I saw the specs for the avatar, I wanted to create it. If for nothing else, than to know I can make something this complicated. I like to think of you as my opus, at least until the next big thing."
Rommie gave him a look.
"Rommie, I'm not bullshitting you." He grinned at her.
"I know. I still owe you my thanks." She planted a tap on his lips and smiled at him.
Harper blushed. Ok, Seamus, this is getting weird Break time. "You know what, I skipped dinner. Wanna join me on mess deck for a sandwich? We could work on giving you taste buds afterwards."
"I'd like that." They parted and he took her hand. The door to her quarters opened and they walked through.
From Harper's perspective, straight into Dylan's fist.
--END-
(Questions, comments? Wanna tell me to shut up?? :-D)