------------------------------------------------------------------------
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right.
Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


I was humming while I did secondary checks on the equipment in Medical Bay. I passed Lise's recovery room and heard Harper to to her. I would have had to spend a lot of time with her, because to speed her recovery I was forced to paralyze her body from the neck down, but Harper was spending every free moment with her. He fed her, made sure she wasn't lonely, and with a little training, learned to administer her medication. The place he hated the most before was now the place he was practically living. I had even caught him sleeping by her bed once.

I hadn't made a habit of eavesdropping and realized how rude it was, but I heard my name mentioned in their conversation and couldn't help listening.

"...Trance do the procedure?" Lise asked.

"No, I had the procedure done before I came on board Andromeda," Harper replied.

I grew curious as to what they were talking about and stood beside the door where I could hear them more clearly.

"What does it do?" Lise asked.

"I can interface with computers or download encyclopedias of data using a jack," Harper said.

They were talking about Harper's cerebral port. Why would Lise be so interested in it, though?

"Wow...how do you go about getting the procedure done?"

"I had it done...well, illegally. Six years ago. I pulled a few favors and bought the port on the black market. Only large medical facilities can legally obtain them. But don't tell anyone about that."

I learned new things about Harper everyday. I thought he had the port installed shortly after leaving Earth in a clinic on Beta Allius. At least that's what he said to me when I met him. I understood why he lied, though. It was a very risky business, and he could find himself in a lot of trouble if certain people knew.

"Why did you do it?" Lise asked.

"I wanted to be a better engineer. You and I are from Earth, Lise. We aren't genetically enhanced. We're considered the scum of the galaxy. But you and I both know we're nothing like that. So I had to be exceptional to show everyone else, ya know? Not that I wasn't a freakin' genius before. It just made everything a little easier and faster to do."

"Theoretically, could one learn everything the average person knows and then some in...oh, let's say a week or two?"

"Theoretically, yeah."

"Where is this port black market?"

"Oh no you don't, Lise!" His voice was surprisingly angry, but in a protective way. I could tell how much he cared about Lise and her well-being.

"Why not?" She sounded a little intimidated, maybe even frightened, by Harper's tone.

"It's dangerous! You could get an infection and die! Or you could be rendered a human vegetable if the surgery isn't done right! It's just not worth it, Lise!"

"Maybe those risks don't matter to me, Harper. I'm young, and I have a lot of years ahead of me. It would take me an entire lifetime just to catch up with what you know now. If I had the port, I might be able to lead a normal life here. I didn't choose to be here eight thousand years behind everyone. I don't really even belong here, but I'm trying to make the best of it, and I can't do that unless I get this thing."

A few moments of silence passed, and I heard Harper sigh. "I'm sorry for getting mad. I just don't want to see you hurt, baby. And it's very likely you won't even come out of this with your life."

"I know. But making a contribution to society or at least doing something other than slaving over books to try to learn everything I've missed...that's what I want. The rewards would be worth the risks. I want a real life."

"Well, we're gonna be at Utrecht in a few hours. I know where we could get a port, if it means this much to you. You've got a couple of discs that I know this guy would trade a port for."

"If we do get it, how am I going to get it..installed?"

My eyes had been opened to the harsh reality Lise was facing. She made a good point about eight thousand years taking such a long time to catch up on, too. I knew it was illegal, and probably morally inacceptable, but she needed this. I knew what I had to do. I gathered up my confidence and courage.

"I will," I said as I walked into the recovery room.

"Trance, you were eavesdropping!" Harper was pretending to be indignant, but the grin he always wore in Lise's presence soon returned.

"We need to talk to Dylan before we do anything, though." I didn't want to upset Dylan. He had been like a father to me since I joined the crew, and I had no desire to ruin our relationship.

Harper's expression quickly changed to solemn, and he grew pensive and silent.

"But he won't let me do this, will he?" she asked.

"I don't know, but we have to try. I'll talk to him," I replied.

"Would you do that now, Trance? We're getting close to Utrecht." Harper ended his silence.

"Yeah, I'll do that." I walked out of the recovery room.

Why did I always get caught up in Harper's schemes? Although this one was for a just cause, and I believed that it would only benefit Lise if the surgery was successful. And if it wasn't, she was right that she didn't belong here in her current state. She could be an assistant of some sort filing papers or an intergalatic trash collector, but what she would really be capable of if she had the common man's knowledge was so much more than that. Harper and she were really both the same breed of lost soul. He had been through what she was going through.

I left Medical Deck and eventually found that Dylan was in his quarters. I rang the door buzzer and waited patiently for him to respond. He told me to come in, and I did. The words weren't going to come easily, but when did they really? I collected my thoughts and approached him.

"Captain Hunt," I began.

"Trance, we're on a first name basis."

"Sorry, Dylan. There's something that I have to ask you, and it's not a simple matter of right or wrong. There are so many exceptions involved, but I do feel that it's the right thing to do."

"What is it?"

"Lise wants to get a cerebral port, but as you know there's a lot involved in getting one through a facility. And her circumstances would probably immediately eliminate her from qualifying."

"Are you suggesting we illegally acquire one?"

"Yes. Harper said he knows a place on Utrecht where he can get one. And Lise has what would be required to purchase it. I know how to do the procedure once we have it."

He was silent for a few minutes, deep in contemplation. "The Commonwealth doesn't support this kind of activity."

"Lise isn't the average person. She's eight thousand years behind and doesn't really belong here. She has so much potential, but she can't utilize it without the common knowledge that we all have. She wants to do something with her life and try to make the best of being here. Are you saying that we're going to take that chance away from her?"

"No, I was saying...but I understand how exceptional this case is."

"Oh."

"I had a lot of trouble catching up on 300 years. I can't imagine what it's like being her."

"She's taking it very well considering everything."

"Does she understand the risks involved with cerebral ports?"

"Harper explained them to her. And she's more than willing to take the risks. I'm sure that Harper will make sure we take all the necessary safety precautions."

"He will?"

"He's taken quite a liking to Lise. He spends every second off duty with her."

Dylan smiled. "I wondered why he's been twice as productive in repairing everything since he was released."

"Is it the medication I gave him?" I asked, somewhat confused.

"No, he's fallen to a different disease."

"I didn't see anything on his scans."

Dylan chuckled. "There is no cure, Trance. It's the love bug."

"Ah. I'm releasing Lise in about an hour. Do she and Harper have your permission to travel to the surface of Utrecht?"

"I think I'll send Beka down with them, too. She's spent a lot of time of the planet in the past when she was commanding the Maru. I'm sure she would like the time away from Andromeda, too."

"I'll tell Harper and Lise. Thank you, sir." I smiled and leaned down to hug him. "You're doing the right thing."

"I hope so, Trance." He returned to reading, and I exited his quarters.

I hurried down to Medical Bay to give Harper and Lise the good news.

"What did the boss say?" Harper asked.

"Beka's going down to the planet with you and Lise. And Lise, your wounds have healed and I'm releasing you from Medical Bay. I don't recommend running around quite yet, though. Take it easy."

"I will." I released her from the bed, and she stood up. "I'm good as new!"

Harper hugged her, and they left Medical Bay together, talking about their plans for Utrecht. I hoped all would go well for both of their sakes.