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So live that your memories will be part of your happiness.
Author Unknown
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My eyes flew open. My heart pounded, its beats in quick succession. When I glanced down at my chest, I could see each individual heart beat and every jagged breath I took. I felt like hell. Where was I? I propped myself up on my elbows. Beads of cold sweat ran down my face. I gazed at all of the equipment and realized I was in Medical Bay. Oh yeah, the sedative. Now I remembered everything. My lack of lethargy and grogginess didn't make much sense, though.
I had a theory for the recent occurrences. It was more a fact than a theory, because I just knew I had to be right. I needed confirmation for the benefit of the others, though. I needed to escape from Medical Bay for just a few minutes. I strained to listen for Trance. I heard nothing and assumed she'd decided to take a nap or something. Leaving me alone wasn't like her, however. She knows me too well for that.
I heard two voices, then. They were both in Lise's recovery room. One of them was definitely Dylan. The other had to be Beka. Escaping with them here would be difficult. Silence was vital to my success. I dangled my feet over the edge of my bed and prepared to make my attempt. One foot and then the other made contact with the cool metal. Maybe this wouldn't be as difficult as I had anticipated. I bore all my weight on the balls of my feet. I took my first cautious step, then another. Feline in stride. One foot and then the other. Only a single step remaining.
My last step scraped against the deck below. I was out of there in a dash. I pushed myself to the limit, convinced Trance was chasing me down the corridor. I didn't stop running until I was in my quarters with the door locked behind me. I was out of breath and nauseous, but I made it. That was all that mattered right now. I stumbled to my cabinet and pulled the top drawer open. Sometimes I was thankful I thought to be prepared for such a situation. I grabbed the hypo hastily, nearly dropping it on the floor in the process, and pressed it into my neck. Within a few seconds, I was granted a sweet reprieve from my physical symptoms. Though even then, the familiar pain loomed over my heart.
I took a deep, cleansing breath and approached my bed. This wasn't going to be easy. I crouched down when I reached the bed's edge. One more breath of preparation, and I pulled the box out from underneath my bed. It was just an ordinary storage container, but it held a lot more than that inside. All of those repressed emotions began resurfacing. The pain was almost unbearable. Wounds I thought had healed years ago revealed they were all but healed. I involuntarily flashed back to that day I would never forget…
I was in my tiny quarters aboard the freighter Redevance. I had finished my work early and decided to fiddle with some of my projects I had begun with salvaged parts. I was too wrapped up in my work to notice the door sliding open behind me.
"Guess who!" A pair of warm hands wrapped around my eyes.
I smiled and decided to play her little game. "Carter?"
"No, silly!"
"Well, then, how about Xavier?"
"Nope."
"Then I know who it has to be!"
"Who?"
"The boogie man!" I turned around and swung the giggling Delaney off of her feet.
"You're funny, Shay." I wouldn't let anyone else call me Shay. I hated that nickname with a passion. I only loved it when she called me it. "I missed you all day. Working isn't as fun without you."
"I don't think we'll be working together for quite awhile after yesterday, baby." A grin spread across my face in memory of it all.
"Poor Carter." She blushed. "I feel bad about it."
"Good old Carter's seen a lot worse than that. I'm sure he really liked it before we saw him. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we found him watching the surveillance of that in his quarters."
She laughed. "You're horrible."
I kissed her, wrapping my arms around her small frame. I had never been so happy in my life. I trailed my kisses down her jaw line to her neck. She seemed to melt into me. I ran my fingers through her long, curly red hair. It was soft and smelled like jasmine. I brushed my hand down her back. Her body was lithe and her muscles toned. She had the body of a dancer. I was soon immersed in everything, her gentle strength, confidence, mystery, sweetness, essence, the unbelievable woman she was.
I lost all contact with the outside world until the claxons signaled the warning of an incoming ship. I didn't care. I continued expressing my love to her. The ship would go away soon enough. What would they need a couple of inexperienced young engineers for?
"We've got to go to engineering, Shay," she whispered.
"C'mon. They're not gonna need us. And I'm in no condition to work anyway." I grinned before I covered her mouth with an ardent kiss to prevent her from further debating this.
The Redevance shuddered violently, causing the both of us to crash into a wall. Whatever had attacked us was a force to be reckoned with. I felt guilty about ignoring the warning claxons, but all's fair in true love and war, right? Pain shot down my right arm, and I knew I had at least sprained if not dislocated my shoulder. It felt as if I had taken the bulk of the impact, but I was still worried about Delaney.
"Del? You okay?" I helped her to her feet.
"A little shaken." I took her with my good arm, and we began our journey to the engines.
"I like my martini shaken, not stirred." I laughed. "Harper. Seamus Harper. Double O seven at your service."
"You're hurt, Shay!" She touched my shoulder, and I winced in pain.
"No, I'm fine. Really. We've got to get to the engines."
Sparks were flying around us, and I was reminded of the few action movies I had seen with Carter in his quarters. They were exciting, but this was terrifying. With every step, I wished that I would make another. Four corridors felt like four miles.
"It's all on fire!" she screamed as we neared engineering. "We're too late!"
"All hands this is your Captain. Report to the nearest escape pod immediately." The voice held a promise of impending doom.
We met Carter at a junction between corridors, and he followed us. He had been burned, but his wounds weren't very severe. The escape pods were no more than twenty feet away when I heard a horrible sound, a creaking above me.
"Shay!" I felt Del push me into a wall and heard a loud clanging. When I looked up, I saw a beam had fallen on her.
"Del!" I screamed in agony. I disregarded my pain and carried her to the escape pods, which were made to hold three people each. Carter was right behind me.
"You all right, Harper?" Carter looked down at me holding Del in my arms.
"I love you, Del. Forever." My words were gentle and quiet.
"I love you, too, Shay. This isn't goodbye. We'll be together again. I promise…" Her last words were barely above a whisper.
I had always wanted to appear strong in front of Carter, but that didn't matter anymore. My love was gone, and nothing else in the universe mattered. Worst of all, it was my fault she was gone. If I had it to do again, I would have taken that beam to spare her. But I didn't have a second chance. She was gone because of me.
"Harper…I'm sorry." Carter laid a hand on my uninjured shoulder.
"Why was it her and not me? She deserved to live. She had a bright future in front of her. All I've got is my Earth heritage and a little bit of knowledge in engineering. She had so much more. And I loved her more than anything." I was sobbing, and thought nothing could provide me with comfort. "I'd do anything for a second chance, really I would."
"Maybe you'll get one someday, Harper. You're still young. Don't forget that." Somehow, Carter's words comforted me.
I glanced down at Delaney's form again. Other than the blood soaked white sweater, she looked as if she were serenely sleeping. I was surprised I didn't miss her already or didn't hurt as much as I thought I would. The pain and missing her didn't really sink in for several hours. Her funeral was the time I realized this was all real, and she wouldn't be back. I wouldn't have my second chance. That was when I knew my heart would always have a hole in it where she had been. Where she always would be.
The tears flowed freely again as I pulled the lid back on the box. Its contents were as I had left them all those years ago. Her sweater was on the top of the pile, and I clutched it to my chest. It still possessed her sweet scent. I wiped my tears away before running out into the corridor. I ran all the way back to Medical Deck, putting my emotions into my pounding footsteps. I had to avoid the pain. Tears were a sign of weakness, and I wasn't supposed vulnerable. I could conquer these emotions instead of allowing them to eat me from the inside out. By the time I reached Medical Bay, my eyes were dry again, and I had taken somewhat of a hold on myself.
I had one of the two required materials for what I had to do. I walked around, searching for the other material I needed. I found it and scanned both of them. My theories were confirmed, only the results were opposite of what I had thought they would be. Still, I was close to right and now knew. No one had to know that I was initially wrong. Harper's always supposed to be right and who am I to break that record?
I walked into Lise's recovery room. Beka and Dylan were still there, as I had hoped. "I have solved the mystery of Lise's origin!" I exclaimed triumphantly.
So live that your memories will be part of your happiness.
Author Unknown
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My eyes flew open. My heart pounded, its beats in quick succession. When I glanced down at my chest, I could see each individual heart beat and every jagged breath I took. I felt like hell. Where was I? I propped myself up on my elbows. Beads of cold sweat ran down my face. I gazed at all of the equipment and realized I was in Medical Bay. Oh yeah, the sedative. Now I remembered everything. My lack of lethargy and grogginess didn't make much sense, though.
I had a theory for the recent occurrences. It was more a fact than a theory, because I just knew I had to be right. I needed confirmation for the benefit of the others, though. I needed to escape from Medical Bay for just a few minutes. I strained to listen for Trance. I heard nothing and assumed she'd decided to take a nap or something. Leaving me alone wasn't like her, however. She knows me too well for that.
I heard two voices, then. They were both in Lise's recovery room. One of them was definitely Dylan. The other had to be Beka. Escaping with them here would be difficult. Silence was vital to my success. I dangled my feet over the edge of my bed and prepared to make my attempt. One foot and then the other made contact with the cool metal. Maybe this wouldn't be as difficult as I had anticipated. I bore all my weight on the balls of my feet. I took my first cautious step, then another. Feline in stride. One foot and then the other. Only a single step remaining.
My last step scraped against the deck below. I was out of there in a dash. I pushed myself to the limit, convinced Trance was chasing me down the corridor. I didn't stop running until I was in my quarters with the door locked behind me. I was out of breath and nauseous, but I made it. That was all that mattered right now. I stumbled to my cabinet and pulled the top drawer open. Sometimes I was thankful I thought to be prepared for such a situation. I grabbed the hypo hastily, nearly dropping it on the floor in the process, and pressed it into my neck. Within a few seconds, I was granted a sweet reprieve from my physical symptoms. Though even then, the familiar pain loomed over my heart.
I took a deep, cleansing breath and approached my bed. This wasn't going to be easy. I crouched down when I reached the bed's edge. One more breath of preparation, and I pulled the box out from underneath my bed. It was just an ordinary storage container, but it held a lot more than that inside. All of those repressed emotions began resurfacing. The pain was almost unbearable. Wounds I thought had healed years ago revealed they were all but healed. I involuntarily flashed back to that day I would never forget…
I was in my tiny quarters aboard the freighter Redevance. I had finished my work early and decided to fiddle with some of my projects I had begun with salvaged parts. I was too wrapped up in my work to notice the door sliding open behind me.
"Guess who!" A pair of warm hands wrapped around my eyes.
I smiled and decided to play her little game. "Carter?"
"No, silly!"
"Well, then, how about Xavier?"
"Nope."
"Then I know who it has to be!"
"Who?"
"The boogie man!" I turned around and swung the giggling Delaney off of her feet.
"You're funny, Shay." I wouldn't let anyone else call me Shay. I hated that nickname with a passion. I only loved it when she called me it. "I missed you all day. Working isn't as fun without you."
"I don't think we'll be working together for quite awhile after yesterday, baby." A grin spread across my face in memory of it all.
"Poor Carter." She blushed. "I feel bad about it."
"Good old Carter's seen a lot worse than that. I'm sure he really liked it before we saw him. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we found him watching the surveillance of that in his quarters."
She laughed. "You're horrible."
I kissed her, wrapping my arms around her small frame. I had never been so happy in my life. I trailed my kisses down her jaw line to her neck. She seemed to melt into me. I ran my fingers through her long, curly red hair. It was soft and smelled like jasmine. I brushed my hand down her back. Her body was lithe and her muscles toned. She had the body of a dancer. I was soon immersed in everything, her gentle strength, confidence, mystery, sweetness, essence, the unbelievable woman she was.
I lost all contact with the outside world until the claxons signaled the warning of an incoming ship. I didn't care. I continued expressing my love to her. The ship would go away soon enough. What would they need a couple of inexperienced young engineers for?
"We've got to go to engineering, Shay," she whispered.
"C'mon. They're not gonna need us. And I'm in no condition to work anyway." I grinned before I covered her mouth with an ardent kiss to prevent her from further debating this.
The Redevance shuddered violently, causing the both of us to crash into a wall. Whatever had attacked us was a force to be reckoned with. I felt guilty about ignoring the warning claxons, but all's fair in true love and war, right? Pain shot down my right arm, and I knew I had at least sprained if not dislocated my shoulder. It felt as if I had taken the bulk of the impact, but I was still worried about Delaney.
"Del? You okay?" I helped her to her feet.
"A little shaken." I took her with my good arm, and we began our journey to the engines.
"I like my martini shaken, not stirred." I laughed. "Harper. Seamus Harper. Double O seven at your service."
"You're hurt, Shay!" She touched my shoulder, and I winced in pain.
"No, I'm fine. Really. We've got to get to the engines."
Sparks were flying around us, and I was reminded of the few action movies I had seen with Carter in his quarters. They were exciting, but this was terrifying. With every step, I wished that I would make another. Four corridors felt like four miles.
"It's all on fire!" she screamed as we neared engineering. "We're too late!"
"All hands this is your Captain. Report to the nearest escape pod immediately." The voice held a promise of impending doom.
We met Carter at a junction between corridors, and he followed us. He had been burned, but his wounds weren't very severe. The escape pods were no more than twenty feet away when I heard a horrible sound, a creaking above me.
"Shay!" I felt Del push me into a wall and heard a loud clanging. When I looked up, I saw a beam had fallen on her.
"Del!" I screamed in agony. I disregarded my pain and carried her to the escape pods, which were made to hold three people each. Carter was right behind me.
"You all right, Harper?" Carter looked down at me holding Del in my arms.
"I love you, Del. Forever." My words were gentle and quiet.
"I love you, too, Shay. This isn't goodbye. We'll be together again. I promise…" Her last words were barely above a whisper.
I had always wanted to appear strong in front of Carter, but that didn't matter anymore. My love was gone, and nothing else in the universe mattered. Worst of all, it was my fault she was gone. If I had it to do again, I would have taken that beam to spare her. But I didn't have a second chance. She was gone because of me.
"Harper…I'm sorry." Carter laid a hand on my uninjured shoulder.
"Why was it her and not me? She deserved to live. She had a bright future in front of her. All I've got is my Earth heritage and a little bit of knowledge in engineering. She had so much more. And I loved her more than anything." I was sobbing, and thought nothing could provide me with comfort. "I'd do anything for a second chance, really I would."
"Maybe you'll get one someday, Harper. You're still young. Don't forget that." Somehow, Carter's words comforted me.
I glanced down at Delaney's form again. Other than the blood soaked white sweater, she looked as if she were serenely sleeping. I was surprised I didn't miss her already or didn't hurt as much as I thought I would. The pain and missing her didn't really sink in for several hours. Her funeral was the time I realized this was all real, and she wouldn't be back. I wouldn't have my second chance. That was when I knew my heart would always have a hole in it where she had been. Where she always would be.
The tears flowed freely again as I pulled the lid back on the box. Its contents were as I had left them all those years ago. Her sweater was on the top of the pile, and I clutched it to my chest. It still possessed her sweet scent. I wiped my tears away before running out into the corridor. I ran all the way back to Medical Deck, putting my emotions into my pounding footsteps. I had to avoid the pain. Tears were a sign of weakness, and I wasn't supposed vulnerable. I could conquer these emotions instead of allowing them to eat me from the inside out. By the time I reached Medical Bay, my eyes were dry again, and I had taken somewhat of a hold on myself.
I had one of the two required materials for what I had to do. I walked around, searching for the other material I needed. I found it and scanned both of them. My theories were confirmed, only the results were opposite of what I had thought they would be. Still, I was close to right and now knew. No one had to know that I was initially wrong. Harper's always supposed to be right and who am I to break that record?
I walked into Lise's recovery room. Beka and Dylan were still there, as I had hoped. "I have solved the mystery of Lise's origin!" I exclaimed triumphantly.
