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Text styling: Italic text represents a thought. Bold text is used as headers, and has no effect otherwise in the story.
Rating: PG-13 for killing, and occasional swearing.
Author's Note: Well...it's been a while since I finished writing Harper's
Day Out and promised a sequel. I know, I know, it's a lot later than it should
have been - but numerous R/L issues have taken their toll on me and I honestly
haven't had the time to write. (And even if I had - I've been without a computer
for the past month!) But enough ranting...on with the story!
Important Note and Recap
If you're reading this story for the first time, please be aware that it is a sequel to Harper's Day Out. This story will make much more sense if you read that one first, but if you don't have the time or are too lazy, I'll do a recap.
For the first time in his life, Seamus Harper's day off fell on the same day as the Intergalaxial Science Convention on Alteka-7. After a small argument with Beka about borrowing the Maru, Harper arrives at the convention and meets with a mysterious fish-headed scientist called Ajax.
Ajax offered (tricked) Harper into testing his new invention - a memory enhancer called the Dream Catcher. The Dream Catcher takes one's thoughts, memories, desires, etc, and uses them to build a VR fantasy customized to the user. Harper liked the idea of a fantasy just for him and tried it out.
But the Dream Catcher ran into problems. It was not properly designed to interface with Harper's neural implant and not only trapped him in his fantasy... but erased his memories of reality, leading Harper to believe that his fantasy was reality!
Harper's emotions were mixed up during his time in the Dream Catcher. Aside from the shock and confusion, not exactly knowing where he was or what was going on, he really liked his fantasy, or what he believed to be reality. He learned that he was married to Trance, and that they had a green child. They lived on Earth, many years in the future. Rev had set up a Wayist monestary and the Magog were no longer interested in taking over Earth and killing humans. And on top of all that, Dylan, Beka, and Tyr had restored the Systems Commonwealth (to some effect anyways).
But after being trapped in the Dream Catcher for a day, Dylan, Trance, and Rommie along with help from Ajax come to Harper's rescue and manage to set things straight. Harper is relieved to be back, but a part of him wonders...could that really happen? Could I make my fantasy become reality?
After Ajax gives Harper the Dream Catcher in the hopes that he can use it to help other people's dreams come true, Harper and the others return home to the Andromeda. Harper talks with Trance about the future, and makes the decision to return Earth to it's former glory. Trance offers to help him.
But how will they take back Earth from the Magog. Even if Rev helps and sets up a monestary, how many Magog would join willingly? And what will happen to the Dream Catcher? Will someone else make their lifelong dream come true?
Now do you see why I needed to write a sequel? =)
End of Important Note and Recap
Intro (Chapter One on FFN)
Damn.
Seamus Zelanzy Harper woke up earlier than usual this morning. He looked at the clock, which read 5:00 AM. He rubbed his eyes, then rolled over and tried to return to sleep. It didn't work very well.
Harper was grumpier than usual this morning. Ever since the Dream Catcher incident, he had been keeping notes of his dreams and trying to figure out what they mean. Today, however, he couldn't remember what he had dreamed about during the night. Probably the same thing he had been dreaming about most other nights: how he was going to free Earth.
He had no doubt in his mind that he would do it someday, but how was another matter. He hadn't told anyone, with the exception of Trance, about what he wanted to do. It wasn't like he could just go and tell Dylan that he was going to take a leave of absense. A very long leave of absense. And even if he could, how would he get back to Earth? He wouldn't dare take the Maru again, in fear that Tyr would be inside - waiting to jump at him. He could take one of the shuttles, but they wouldn't get him very far. Even though he wasn't that bad of a slipstream pilot, it would take him an awfully long time to get to Earth.
It looked like Harper's only option was to beg Dylan and/or Beka to let him go. Well, Harper, he thought to himself, tommorrow's going to be a long day...
End of Intro (Chapter One on FFN)
Author's note: So do you like it? Want more? Please review!
- ~Thissa~