Okay, new chapter. Yes! Not real long again, but I think it's a goodie.
Merry Christmas all, this will be over shortly. And thanks for the reviews,
but once more, I don't live for them. I don't! Really!
Bonds Made, Bonds Broken
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper crawled through the vents as quickly as possible. He had to get back to his hiding place and couldn't chance using the corridors.
Well, at least I threw a monkey wrench in their plans. Harper continued crawling along but was breathing heavily now, the exertion and unknown virus in his system were stealing his energy. Actually, cutting the communications was going to make this harder for him as well. He had been able to cut them all along, but had been reluctant to do so because he was listening to their conversations so he knew where they were at all times. But now he would be as blind as them. But he'd be okay, no one knew about his hiding place, and it was doubtful they would find it in the dark. He finally reached his crawlspace. He pulled himself in and closed the panel, sealing the little space off.
"Oh man, oh man, oh man." Harper repeated over and over as he rocked back and forth, hugging his knees to his chest. "Oh man, Dylan's not gonna help me, no way. I can't believe I didn't see it before. God, how could I have been so blind? Of course he's working with them. Well you're on your own Seamus, but no problem. That's the way it's always been right? That's the way it'll always be. No problem. Just gotta get into Andromeda's system and you'll take care of everything and you can go on with your life." Harper was breathing heavily, and thought he may hyperventilate shortly, "Focus Harper, focus. You're not gonna let them get the best of you just cause you got all emotional and couldn't handle it. Time to get serious." Harper forced down the flurry of emotions building in him, he pushed them way down, the way he had learned years ago. He knew they would come back, but they were suppressed for now. He had work to do. He plugged the wire into his cerebral port, and connected to Andromeda's systems.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Tyr and Dylan walked through Andromeda's corridors, trying to find Harper, but somehow knowing he wouldn't be found just by walking around the ship. He was too smart for that, but they had little other choice.
"Dylan, have you had the common sense to order the Andromeda to refuse all commands coming from our engineer?" Tyr asked.
"Don't worry, what he's done already he must have done manually through rewirings. Rommie says she's set up a safeguard system that'll trap Harper if he tries to hack into her." Dylan announced, "She's also working on repairing all the damage Harper did, hopefully she can get all systems operational soon or Harper may figure out a way into the system anyway. He's annoying that way."
"Yes, he is." Tyr agreed, but with a slight smirk. "Look, this is ridiculous us both together. We shall cover twice as much ground apart."
"You're right. Okay, I'll go left and take the lower levels after I'm done. You go right then take the upper." Tyr nodded and they split up to go their seperate ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper entered Andromeda's system, ready to disrupt most major systems in an attempt to buy himself more time. What he did find was something he never expected.
"What the hell?" Harper found himself unable to do anything at all. His mind was trapped in the system in such a way that he couldn't touch any systems, but also couldn't return his consciousness back to his physical body. "Oh crap." He moaned, as he realized what had happened. He tried to get out but found himself virtually trapped within Andromeda's systems.
"I was wondering when you'd show up." An image of Rommie suddenly appeared in front of Harper. She knew how the virus was effecting him so projected herself as the same physical size as Harper, instead of the usual overwhelming presence she usually had while in her mind.
"Let me outta here, right now." Harper demanded, but even to him his voice sounded shaky.
"I can't do that. We're your friends Harper, we just want to help. Please tell me where you are." Rommie pleaded, "I still can't detect your physical presence on ship's sensors."
"Not a chance. You know, this was a big mistake babe. Now I'm just plain pissed. When I get outta here I am gonna fry your systems so bad the Magog will look like kittens." Harper said vehemently as he tried to break through the program holding him.
Rommie sighed and knew she couldn't convince him, but at least she could hold him here. He couldn't hurt himself of anyone else if his consciousness was unable to connect with his body.
Harper's mind raced with programs and algyrithms he might be able to use to get out of Rommie's little virtual prison. So far there was nothing plausible. But he knew it would take them time to find his him, so he had some time to try and out a plan of escape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper had been thorough with his communications shut down. Rommie's holographic form couldn't even be called up to relay messages to one another. Andromeda had Harper trapped but had no way of telling the crew except through use of her avatar. She walked through the ship, looking for any crew members to inform them of Harper's capture. Tyr happened to be the first one she found.
"Tyr, I've trapped Harper." Rommie told him when they met in the hall.
"Excellent. Where was he?" Tyr asked immediately.
"Well, physically I still don't know. He tried to enter my systems and I trapped his consciousness there, I still haven't been able to find him on sensors though and he won't tell me where he is." She explained.
"Wonderful. So we found him and at the same time we haven't?" Tyr asked, disbelief coating his voice.
"Essentially, yes. But he can't cause anymore damage." Rommie told him.
"That's something. Go and find the others and tell them this, but don't let them slow their search." Tyr pretty much ordered her, then stormed past her purposefully. Rommie made no comment and went in search of the rest of her crew.
Now, if I were Harper, where would I be? Most likely somewhere I feel safe, and don't think anyone would find me. But I've checked his quarters, laboratory and the Machine Shops. Tyr thought to himself. Well, the little man enjoys roaming around in the innermost workings of this ship, and is small enough to do so. If I were him I believe I would take refuge there. Tyr reasoned. With that he opened up an access port in the corridor and prepared himself for a long journey. He began to crawl through the access tunnels, it wasn't exactly a tight squeeze but it was tedious having to pull himself along like he did. Definitely where Harper is. Only he would make his life this difficult for no reason.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper, meanwhile, was still trapped in Andromeda's mind.
"You may as well tell me where you are. The others are going to find you eventually." Rommie tried to reason with him.
"Bite me." He retorted as he sat on the floor with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked much like a child who's been put on a time out. Rommie sighed in frustration.
Harper suddenly let out a low groan of pain and clutched his head tightly in his hands. His breath began coming out in short, quick gasps and he was sweating badly.
{Author's note - I don't know if this really happens, but in my world whatever happens to Harper's physical body, happens to his virtual body. It's my fic, I can do whatever I want!}
"Rommie, let me out please. Please, I gotta get outta here." Harper pleaded desperately with the AI to release him from his captivity.
"What's wrong?" She asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I ... I don't know." He let out another moan of pain, "Something's wrong. I think I've been in the system too long or something. Rommie you gotta let me out!" Harper looked up now and there was a desperate and pleading look in his eyes. Rommie couldn't actually ascertain his condition while she had him trapped like that. She had no choice; she dropped the walls and walked over to him. He was on the floor now, shaking badly.
"Harper? Are you alright?" Rommie knelt down beside him. He didn't look good.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tyr continued crawling. Every now and then he would reach an area he was able to walk partially upright in, but most of the time he was stuck pulling himself along. Every few metres he would pull out his portable scanner and check for life signs. The entire crew carried the small piece of equipment to help in their search, but since the scanner only worked when you were less than two hundred metres away, it didn't help all that much. Still, he checked it anyway. Nothing.
"Damn you little man. You are very close to making your delusions of me killing you, a reality." He muttered to himself as he continued. He needed to find Harper quickly, there were many things still left unsaid between the two and Tyr wanted to clear the air as soon as possible. He also wanted to cure Harper of the virus in his system as soon as possible. If the virus had already mutated once Tyr reasoned that it may mutate again, into something more dangerous than before. Tyr wasn't willing to let that happen.
But he *really hated* crawling through these crawlspaces.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Harper? What's wrong?" Rommie asked. She couldn't scan his physical body so she had no idea what was happening to him. Harper had his arms up as if to shield himself from an unseen enemy, and he was shivering badly. Andromeda thought she heard him say something, but it was so quiet she had to lean in to hear him.
He whispered very quietly, but with an underlying fierceness and determination, "You won't get me." Harper suddenly jumped up and grabbed her by the shoulders, and threw her away from him. He raced toward a floating console and quickly hit a series of buttons before she could stop him.
"Activate program - Harper emergency alpha 2 beta 6, Andromeda lockout!" Harper ordered as Rommie closed in to stop him. Just as she reached him she was entrapped in a virtual cell, almost identical to the one she had kept Harper in.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Harper smirked. "I can't believe you fell for the old possum routine."
"Harper, let me out right now. You must realize that you're sick." It was clear to Rommie it hadn't completely been a routine. Harper was sweating badly, his breathing was heavy and he was trembling. He wasn't as bad as Rommie had thought when she released him, but he was still obviously sick.
"You're ill. You must let us help you." Rommie pleaded with him.
"Sure, help me right out an airlock. Tell you what, I'll beat you to it." He said, a twisted look came across his face, the look you could only see as he recalled upon his years of inhuman punishment on Earth. It was the look of the dark side of Seamus Harper.
Harper reactivated the communications systems and opened them for a ship- wide announcement, deciding that he should at least give the crew a warning.
~~~~~~~~~~
Just as Tyr began to believe that this had been a pointless endevour and only good as a workout, his scanner beeped, indicating he was close to another warm blooded creature; hopefully Harper. He got an approximate location and headed in that direction. Tyr had to give it to Harper, it was a great hiding place. It had taken him half an hour of crawling through vents to even get close enough to detect him.
I've got you now. Tyr thought with a smirk, it was only a matter of time before he got to Harper, and with Andromeda holding his mind hostage, this should all be over quickly.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the communications system coming back online. Finally the ship has found a way to repair her own systems. He thought, but quickly found out he was very wrong. A voice rang out over the com line.
"Hello, former friends and crew members. This is your new captain, Seamus Harper. Seeing as you're all trying to kill me I am at this moment, ordering you from my ship. In case you don't feel like evacuating I have provided a little, shall I say, motivation. In two minutes the ship's life support is going to be deactivated, I suggest getting out while you can. Have a nice life. Captain Harper out."
"Damn you little man!" Tyr growled in frustration as he desperately tried to get to Harper faster.
~~~~~~~~~~
Muhahahaha, I'm evil!!!!!!!! I really am. Well school's over and I got nothing to do tomorrow so I may even have a new chapter for you. I can't leave you hanging like this for too long. :-) Diana
Bonds Made, Bonds Broken
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper crawled through the vents as quickly as possible. He had to get back to his hiding place and couldn't chance using the corridors.
Well, at least I threw a monkey wrench in their plans. Harper continued crawling along but was breathing heavily now, the exertion and unknown virus in his system were stealing his energy. Actually, cutting the communications was going to make this harder for him as well. He had been able to cut them all along, but had been reluctant to do so because he was listening to their conversations so he knew where they were at all times. But now he would be as blind as them. But he'd be okay, no one knew about his hiding place, and it was doubtful they would find it in the dark. He finally reached his crawlspace. He pulled himself in and closed the panel, sealing the little space off.
"Oh man, oh man, oh man." Harper repeated over and over as he rocked back and forth, hugging his knees to his chest. "Oh man, Dylan's not gonna help me, no way. I can't believe I didn't see it before. God, how could I have been so blind? Of course he's working with them. Well you're on your own Seamus, but no problem. That's the way it's always been right? That's the way it'll always be. No problem. Just gotta get into Andromeda's system and you'll take care of everything and you can go on with your life." Harper was breathing heavily, and thought he may hyperventilate shortly, "Focus Harper, focus. You're not gonna let them get the best of you just cause you got all emotional and couldn't handle it. Time to get serious." Harper forced down the flurry of emotions building in him, he pushed them way down, the way he had learned years ago. He knew they would come back, but they were suppressed for now. He had work to do. He plugged the wire into his cerebral port, and connected to Andromeda's systems.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Tyr and Dylan walked through Andromeda's corridors, trying to find Harper, but somehow knowing he wouldn't be found just by walking around the ship. He was too smart for that, but they had little other choice.
"Dylan, have you had the common sense to order the Andromeda to refuse all commands coming from our engineer?" Tyr asked.
"Don't worry, what he's done already he must have done manually through rewirings. Rommie says she's set up a safeguard system that'll trap Harper if he tries to hack into her." Dylan announced, "She's also working on repairing all the damage Harper did, hopefully she can get all systems operational soon or Harper may figure out a way into the system anyway. He's annoying that way."
"Yes, he is." Tyr agreed, but with a slight smirk. "Look, this is ridiculous us both together. We shall cover twice as much ground apart."
"You're right. Okay, I'll go left and take the lower levels after I'm done. You go right then take the upper." Tyr nodded and they split up to go their seperate ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper entered Andromeda's system, ready to disrupt most major systems in an attempt to buy himself more time. What he did find was something he never expected.
"What the hell?" Harper found himself unable to do anything at all. His mind was trapped in the system in such a way that he couldn't touch any systems, but also couldn't return his consciousness back to his physical body. "Oh crap." He moaned, as he realized what had happened. He tried to get out but found himself virtually trapped within Andromeda's systems.
"I was wondering when you'd show up." An image of Rommie suddenly appeared in front of Harper. She knew how the virus was effecting him so projected herself as the same physical size as Harper, instead of the usual overwhelming presence she usually had while in her mind.
"Let me outta here, right now." Harper demanded, but even to him his voice sounded shaky.
"I can't do that. We're your friends Harper, we just want to help. Please tell me where you are." Rommie pleaded, "I still can't detect your physical presence on ship's sensors."
"Not a chance. You know, this was a big mistake babe. Now I'm just plain pissed. When I get outta here I am gonna fry your systems so bad the Magog will look like kittens." Harper said vehemently as he tried to break through the program holding him.
Rommie sighed and knew she couldn't convince him, but at least she could hold him here. He couldn't hurt himself of anyone else if his consciousness was unable to connect with his body.
Harper's mind raced with programs and algyrithms he might be able to use to get out of Rommie's little virtual prison. So far there was nothing plausible. But he knew it would take them time to find his him, so he had some time to try and out a plan of escape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper had been thorough with his communications shut down. Rommie's holographic form couldn't even be called up to relay messages to one another. Andromeda had Harper trapped but had no way of telling the crew except through use of her avatar. She walked through the ship, looking for any crew members to inform them of Harper's capture. Tyr happened to be the first one she found.
"Tyr, I've trapped Harper." Rommie told him when they met in the hall.
"Excellent. Where was he?" Tyr asked immediately.
"Well, physically I still don't know. He tried to enter my systems and I trapped his consciousness there, I still haven't been able to find him on sensors though and he won't tell me where he is." She explained.
"Wonderful. So we found him and at the same time we haven't?" Tyr asked, disbelief coating his voice.
"Essentially, yes. But he can't cause anymore damage." Rommie told him.
"That's something. Go and find the others and tell them this, but don't let them slow their search." Tyr pretty much ordered her, then stormed past her purposefully. Rommie made no comment and went in search of the rest of her crew.
Now, if I were Harper, where would I be? Most likely somewhere I feel safe, and don't think anyone would find me. But I've checked his quarters, laboratory and the Machine Shops. Tyr thought to himself. Well, the little man enjoys roaming around in the innermost workings of this ship, and is small enough to do so. If I were him I believe I would take refuge there. Tyr reasoned. With that he opened up an access port in the corridor and prepared himself for a long journey. He began to crawl through the access tunnels, it wasn't exactly a tight squeeze but it was tedious having to pull himself along like he did. Definitely where Harper is. Only he would make his life this difficult for no reason.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper, meanwhile, was still trapped in Andromeda's mind.
"You may as well tell me where you are. The others are going to find you eventually." Rommie tried to reason with him.
"Bite me." He retorted as he sat on the floor with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked much like a child who's been put on a time out. Rommie sighed in frustration.
Harper suddenly let out a low groan of pain and clutched his head tightly in his hands. His breath began coming out in short, quick gasps and he was sweating badly.
{Author's note - I don't know if this really happens, but in my world whatever happens to Harper's physical body, happens to his virtual body. It's my fic, I can do whatever I want!}
"Rommie, let me out please. Please, I gotta get outta here." Harper pleaded desperately with the AI to release him from his captivity.
"What's wrong?" She asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I ... I don't know." He let out another moan of pain, "Something's wrong. I think I've been in the system too long or something. Rommie you gotta let me out!" Harper looked up now and there was a desperate and pleading look in his eyes. Rommie couldn't actually ascertain his condition while she had him trapped like that. She had no choice; she dropped the walls and walked over to him. He was on the floor now, shaking badly.
"Harper? Are you alright?" Rommie knelt down beside him. He didn't look good.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tyr continued crawling. Every now and then he would reach an area he was able to walk partially upright in, but most of the time he was stuck pulling himself along. Every few metres he would pull out his portable scanner and check for life signs. The entire crew carried the small piece of equipment to help in their search, but since the scanner only worked when you were less than two hundred metres away, it didn't help all that much. Still, he checked it anyway. Nothing.
"Damn you little man. You are very close to making your delusions of me killing you, a reality." He muttered to himself as he continued. He needed to find Harper quickly, there were many things still left unsaid between the two and Tyr wanted to clear the air as soon as possible. He also wanted to cure Harper of the virus in his system as soon as possible. If the virus had already mutated once Tyr reasoned that it may mutate again, into something more dangerous than before. Tyr wasn't willing to let that happen.
But he *really hated* crawling through these crawlspaces.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Harper? What's wrong?" Rommie asked. She couldn't scan his physical body so she had no idea what was happening to him. Harper had his arms up as if to shield himself from an unseen enemy, and he was shivering badly. Andromeda thought she heard him say something, but it was so quiet she had to lean in to hear him.
He whispered very quietly, but with an underlying fierceness and determination, "You won't get me." Harper suddenly jumped up and grabbed her by the shoulders, and threw her away from him. He raced toward a floating console and quickly hit a series of buttons before she could stop him.
"Activate program - Harper emergency alpha 2 beta 6, Andromeda lockout!" Harper ordered as Rommie closed in to stop him. Just as she reached him she was entrapped in a virtual cell, almost identical to the one she had kept Harper in.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Harper smirked. "I can't believe you fell for the old possum routine."
"Harper, let me out right now. You must realize that you're sick." It was clear to Rommie it hadn't completely been a routine. Harper was sweating badly, his breathing was heavy and he was trembling. He wasn't as bad as Rommie had thought when she released him, but he was still obviously sick.
"You're ill. You must let us help you." Rommie pleaded with him.
"Sure, help me right out an airlock. Tell you what, I'll beat you to it." He said, a twisted look came across his face, the look you could only see as he recalled upon his years of inhuman punishment on Earth. It was the look of the dark side of Seamus Harper.
Harper reactivated the communications systems and opened them for a ship- wide announcement, deciding that he should at least give the crew a warning.
~~~~~~~~~~
Just as Tyr began to believe that this had been a pointless endevour and only good as a workout, his scanner beeped, indicating he was close to another warm blooded creature; hopefully Harper. He got an approximate location and headed in that direction. Tyr had to give it to Harper, it was a great hiding place. It had taken him half an hour of crawling through vents to even get close enough to detect him.
I've got you now. Tyr thought with a smirk, it was only a matter of time before he got to Harper, and with Andromeda holding his mind hostage, this should all be over quickly.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the communications system coming back online. Finally the ship has found a way to repair her own systems. He thought, but quickly found out he was very wrong. A voice rang out over the com line.
"Hello, former friends and crew members. This is your new captain, Seamus Harper. Seeing as you're all trying to kill me I am at this moment, ordering you from my ship. In case you don't feel like evacuating I have provided a little, shall I say, motivation. In two minutes the ship's life support is going to be deactivated, I suggest getting out while you can. Have a nice life. Captain Harper out."
"Damn you little man!" Tyr growled in frustration as he desperately tried to get to Harper faster.
~~~~~~~~~~
Muhahahaha, I'm evil!!!!!!!! I really am. Well school's over and I got nothing to do tomorrow so I may even have a new chapter for you. I can't leave you hanging like this for too long. :-) Diana
