A/N-thanks for the reviews… sorry it was so slow…test are really evil and
then ff.net was down…the story not funny but it's a cute (I think). Good
or bad tell me what you think.
"Harper be careful." Hologram Rommie warned as Harper proceeded to hang his legs over the edge and leaned over the guard rail working on the com systems. Wires live wires in one hand, welder in the other Harper stretched out to finish the final connection.
"Rommie it will be fine, I'm a professional." Of course as Harper said he made a grand "Harper jester" and managed to hit is other hand with the live wires. His eyes bulged as he saw and felt his error and he felt his body start to convulse before he passed out into oblivion.
"Harper!" Rommie called out. Scanning the ship she saw Tyr was the closest to Harpers position and well she monitored Harper weak vial signs opened a com to Tyr. "Tyr there has been an accident in machine shop three I need to come here right away."
"I'm on my way." Tyr stopped his workout right away and head quickly towards the machine shop. What had that boy gotten himself into now; Harper was always blowing himself up in his attempts to keep the ship running. It was more than a one man job but somehow Harper managed it all. Sure everyone helped but it was Harper who did most of the repairs. It was just faster that way. He got to the shop and opened the doors.
He was shocked to see Harper's still form and looked to Rommie for an explanation. "He was working with some live wires and managed to cross them. I already alerted Trance she is waiting for him in medical. You can touch him just be careful of those wires."
Wasting no time Tyr stepped over the wires and picked up Harper into a fireman's carry. "Come on little man let's go get you patched up." Harper was an always a lightweight but he was lighter than normal. He had lost weight when the Magog larva infested him and it seemed he hadn't gained it back yet. Medical was a fifteen minute walk. Big ships had their advantages and disadvantages, long walks to medical was up there on the list of big disadvantages. Halfway there Harper started to stir. "You're awake" Tyr said trying to stay emotionless but relieved to see him awake.
"Yeah" Harper quietly replied
"How are you feeling little man?" Tyr was surprised at Harpers lack of words. He must have still been getting over the shock.
"Fin" Harper said too quietly for Tyr liking again.
"Do you think you can walk?" Harper wasn't that heavy but Tyr wanted to keep Harper awake. He still was acting weird.
"I tink so" Harper said in a whisper. "tif you wan me too"
Now warning signal was going off in Tyr head. Why was Harper talking like a little child? How badly hurt had Harper been by the blast. He placed Harper on the ground. Harper looked up at him and he was shaking. Tyr couldn't help thinking how small Harper looked standing there with his eyes wide with fear. "Come on we still have a ways to go till medical." Tyr placed a hand on Harpers shoulder only to feel him tense up; reminding Tyr of when they first met.
"Why are we goin to meditcal?" Harper said slowing working over some of the words and still mispronouncing half of them. It was a strange change from his normal ramblings that often left Tyr wondering if he ever stopped for air.
"To get you checked out" Tyr was slowly losing patience with the situation. Part of him was mad at Harper for getting hurt but he mainly wanted to get to medical so they could end this strange conversation and have Trance check him out. Something was defiantly wrong Harper didn't seem to be himself his behavior and speech were that of a child.
"Wha did I do tat I need to get checked ou for? I'm sur I didn' mean to do it." Harper said starting to wiggle around under Tyr's hand. Harper hated going to medical but he never had started physical resisted before. Tyr tightened his grip on Harper only to hear him cry out.
"Owe, stop tat! It hur!" Tyr was sure he hadn't grabbed Harper's shoulder hard enough to hurt him but they were at medical anyways. The doors open and Trance stood by one of the biobeds ready to treat Harper. A smile formed on her face when she saw Harper standing. She taught he would still be unconscious from the shock.
"Alright Harper up on the bed."
"How due you know me?"
"Very funny mister now on the bed"
"Are you an Neitzchien too? I've never see a gold human."
"Harper? Why don't you get on the bed and I'll take a look at you, ok" Trance was getting scared. It was her friend standing in front of her but he was acting so strange. His head was cocked to the side and a confused look covered his face. The other thing was that she and Harper had always been around the same height but right now Harper was looking up at her. Electrical shocks didn't affect people's height. Harper hopped up on the biobed and Trance began running scans.
"Trance I'm getting some strange reading" Hologram Rommie said as she popped into view. Harper jumped in the air and stared at Rommie.
"Who, wwhat are you?" Harper said with a shaking voice drawing his knees up to his chest and moving so he now sat in the center of the bed curled up in to a tight ball.
Holo Rommie stared off into space for a moment as she accessed the com in the different areas of the ship "Beka, Dylan please come to medical right away." Rommie then focused her attention back to the scene in front of her. Trance could I speak with you for a minute. Tyr will you watch Seamus." Rommie directed Seamus at Harper who looked up at the calling of his name. "Seamus you're alright here. Do you understand? We are all your friends"
Harper nodded his head but stayed wrapped up in a ball on the biobed.
***
"What do you mean he thinks he is a child?" Dylan yelled. Everyone was there except Rommie and Harper; she had taken him to the observation deck to look at the stars.
"It's more complicated than that Dylan. These are normal brain activities of Harper, Harper right now and a five year old. As you can see now his brain patterns match that of the 5 year old. It's not that he thinks he is 5 his brain thinks he is 5." Rommie explained pointing to the scans she had done earlier. "That's not all though, Harper body is started to revert back to his five year old body."
"How is that happening" Tyr asked.
"Well you noticed his speak patterns that could be because of the changes in the brain but he is also getting smaller. There are also other signs that he is getting younger."
"What kind of signs?" Dylan said running his hands through his hair.
"In the past hours his body has started to go through reverse puberty. Right now I would say he is at the body build of an early teenager."
"What's causing this and more importantly how do we get our Harper back?" Beka who had been quiet up until this point shouted out.
"I'm not sure. Trance and I are working on it Beka"
"Well I would hurry if I were you. What's going to stop this reverse aging or is Harper just going to become a mass of cells." Beka waved her hands around to indicate her point.
"I don't think he is going to go back that far. I think he will stop at the age of 5"
"Why 5, why not 10 or 1 or why is this even happening at all Rommie."
"I'm working on it Beka. I'll get Harper back for you. For all of us."
"You better, I'm going to go look after him so you can start working." Beka stormed out of the room and headed straight for the observation deck. Harper was the closest thing to family she had left. Everyone on the Andromia was like family but they had been together for only a year. She had met Harper around 6 or 7 years ago when he was still a pimple faced teenager looking for some quick cash and a way off of earth.
The observation deck doors swished open and she was greeted by a round flying object coming right at her head. She dogged out of the way and was almost knocked over by a ten year old Harper running after the object.
"Rommie what is that" Beka said as she stepped out into the hallway watching Harper. The object was bouncing down the hallway and Harper seemed to be enjoying running after it.
"It's damaged piece of the coolant system. Harper found it in his pocket and has been playing with it for over an hour now" Rommie replied
Beka glanced over at Harper he was still in the same clothes as earlier. His shirt was more of a dress on his small frame and Beka was wondering how his pants where staying up. She got her questioned answered when Harper picked up the part he was using as a ball while pulling up his pants. It was an unconscious action like he had always wore clothes that were way too big.
"Has anyone emptied his pockets yet?"
"No, it would be a good idea Harper has large tools and parts in his pockets." Rommie turned back towards Harper, "Seamus can you come here for a minute"
"Otay Rommie," Harper picked up his toy and came running back to Rommie one hand holding up his pants. She couldn't help think he was a cute kid but unbearably thin. Rommie knelt down in front of Harper putting her hands on his shoulders she started talking really slowly to her. "Seamus this is my friend Beka. She is going to look after you for a while. She is a nice lady you don't need to be afraid of her. And before I go I need you to empty your pockets for me Seamus."
"Why, I didn't tate anyting. I promis. Don't tate my tings." Harper was shaking and fear was filling his eyes. Beka heart broke. Even though Harper was back to being a child he still had the memories of the camps. And he still feared having his small amount of possessions being taken away from him.
"It's ok Shay. I'm not going to get mad at you for anything and when you are done you me can go play some more and then grab something to eat." Slowly Harper reached into his pockets and emptied out a welder, multi- tool, pocket knife, his port jack, some spare parts, leftover food, a can of sparky cola and (duct) tape. Beka was impressed by the shear amount. She picked out the tape and some parts that looked safe enough to leave with Harper and handed the rest to Rommie, who nodded and left. "Here Shay you can keep this stuff and we'll find you some other toys to play with later."
"Otay," Harper looked down at his shoes clearly upset to part with his belongings. Beka felt like a bully taking away a kindergartener's lunch money but Harper tended to have a talent for hurting himself by being too curious. A five year old with a pocket knife was just asking for trouble. If only there was something she could give him for taking away his tools. Beka picked out the roll of tape and placing it in the far corner.
"Hey want see if you can get your ball to go through the hole in the roll of tape?" Beka said trying to coach Harper out of his shell. Harper pulled out his ball and started throwing it at the small target. Soon he was throwing it at the tape and running all over the observation deck after the ball. After Harper seemed to be getting tired of that game they played catch for a while. Soon they both were tired and had stopped playing with the coolant part that had now become Harper's beloved ball.
"Hey are you hungry?" Beka said trying to be upbeat.
"A little" Harper said finally looking back up a Beka.
"Alright why don't we go grab something to eat?" Beka started walking towards the mess and Harper began running beside her. Beka slowed her pace till Harper was able to keep up with out running beside. He was tripping over his pants and boots and his hands were barely visible under his t-shirt. New clothes were definitely a necessity after lunch.
When they walked into the mess Dylan was sitting at the table head in his hands reading a flexi.
"Hi Dylan, have you met my friend Seamus." Beka didn't feel like having Harper freeze up on her again because there was another person who knew him but he didn't know.
"Hi Har…Seamus, how are you doing?" Dylan said playing along with Beka's little game but almost slipping with the name. He was taken back by how small Harper had become. Harper always said he had boyish good looks but it was weird to actually see him as a child, he looked about 8. Beka and little Harper walked to the table and Beka pulled out a chair motioning for Harper to sit down.
"What do you want to eat Shay? We have some noodles, sandwiches, maybe some eggs..." she stopped when she saw the blank sares from Harper. The confused look on his face showing food choices where defiantly a new concept to the boy. "How about some sandwiches. I'll be right back."
Beka made the sandwiches and put them down on the table waiting for Harper's old eating habits of shoveling the whole thing in his mouth and jug his drink. It had be two years before Harper had begun eating at normal speeds aboard the Maru. He leaned over his food so far that no one would be able to take it from him. He ate half of the sandwich and Beka saw him sneak the other half into one of his pockets. His hands never left his drink or sandwich. His whole body was pulled in like his was trying to have him and his food not be notice. He was done before Beka had even finished sitting down. He started to squirm a little. Dylan had been watching Harper the whole time.
"Hey Har-Seamus why don't we go play and let Beka finish her meal."
"Tay" Harper said looking not trilled at being passed to another person again. Dylan had a feeling he didn't want to make anyone mad so would agree to anything they said. For a five year old thrown into strange place with nothing he knew he was doing amazingly well.
"We'll be on the basket ball court when you're done." Dylan said as they started towards the door. He tried to take Harpers hand but he pulled away before Dylan could get a hold of it. He let it go and head out of the mess hall.
When Beka met up with them in an half an hour later one the basketball court Dylan looked completely worn out and Harper was now the size of a small five year old. Hopefully Rommie was right because by the end of the day Harper wouldn't be with them anymore if he kept going at this rate.
"You guys want to take a break. I have something for you Shay."
"Ou do? Why?" Obviously he wasn't just to strangers bearing gifts not in the form of hits and kicks.
"Some new clothes." She said pointing the duffel bag to her side. "Thought they would fit you better." Dylan gave her a questioning look. "They were my brothers when we were younger. Dad never threw anything away." Answering the unanswered question in between her and Dylan. "Found some toys for you too Shay." Harper looked confused like he was unsure what to do with Beka's generosity.
"Come on let's try on your new clothes." Beka said offering Harper her hand. She was surprise when he actually took it. "Umm Dylan…"
"Rommie said she setup VIP room 5 for Harper why don't I meet you there." The VIP rooms were the safest in the ship so it made some sense to put him there. Harper's room was defiantly not child proof. He wouldn't remember his room anyway. His slow pace quickly showed Beka that Dylan was not the only one worn out from their basketball game. Beka stopped for a moment and scoped Harper up into her arms. He was incredibly light. He wrapped his legs around her waist and his arms around her neck. His head found its way to her shoulder and soon was drifting off to sleep. Walking into the room Beka was surprise to see that Rommie had transferred Harpers blue sheets and Cartoon character pillow case. She just hoped she had cleaned them first. She wasn't sure the last time Harper had washed them. She laid the now sleeping Harper down on the bed.
"Beaka?"
"Yeah Shay."
"Where am I? I don't remember what happen. Is my family all dead?" Harper's eyes were so big and fearful that Beka wished she could take everything he had seen away. It was one thing to see a teenager who had seen his whole family murdered it was another thing to see a small child who seems to so quick except the death of his whole family.
"No Shay. Their all ok. They just sent you here to be safe for the time."
"Why is Kari not here?"
"I don't know Shay. But I'm sure she is ok."
"awlright" Harper started to drift off to sleep. Still fully dress with his now clown size boots on. Trance wandered in holding a small, very beaten up white teddy bear. Harper looked up clearly recognizing the bear and reaching out for it.
"I thought you would like to have your bear." Trance said handing Harper the bear that he quickly grabbed and held protectively close to his body. He lay back down and in and few minutes he was fast asleep.
"We found it in the Maru when… after…"
"I think he was glad to have something familiar. Thanks for bringing it to him." Beka interrupted seeing Trance having trouble discussing the death of Harper in her future. She moved to the bed and started removing Harper's boots trying not to wake the sleeping boy. "How is your searching for a cure going?"
"Slow. I need to run another quick scan. I won't have to wake him." Beka had removed Harpers pants leaving him in his oversized boxers and shirt. Rafes clothes would have to wait till morning. Trance ran her scan and started to leave.
"You'll figure it out."
"Thanks," with that Trance left and Beka pulled out one of the cushion chairs and sat beside Harper's bed. She picked up the covers tucking him in. She looked down at her sleeping friend and moved a blonde hair off of his face. He rolled over and griped his bear tighter.
"Night Harper."
"Harper be careful." Hologram Rommie warned as Harper proceeded to hang his legs over the edge and leaned over the guard rail working on the com systems. Wires live wires in one hand, welder in the other Harper stretched out to finish the final connection.
"Rommie it will be fine, I'm a professional." Of course as Harper said he made a grand "Harper jester" and managed to hit is other hand with the live wires. His eyes bulged as he saw and felt his error and he felt his body start to convulse before he passed out into oblivion.
"Harper!" Rommie called out. Scanning the ship she saw Tyr was the closest to Harpers position and well she monitored Harper weak vial signs opened a com to Tyr. "Tyr there has been an accident in machine shop three I need to come here right away."
"I'm on my way." Tyr stopped his workout right away and head quickly towards the machine shop. What had that boy gotten himself into now; Harper was always blowing himself up in his attempts to keep the ship running. It was more than a one man job but somehow Harper managed it all. Sure everyone helped but it was Harper who did most of the repairs. It was just faster that way. He got to the shop and opened the doors.
He was shocked to see Harper's still form and looked to Rommie for an explanation. "He was working with some live wires and managed to cross them. I already alerted Trance she is waiting for him in medical. You can touch him just be careful of those wires."
Wasting no time Tyr stepped over the wires and picked up Harper into a fireman's carry. "Come on little man let's go get you patched up." Harper was an always a lightweight but he was lighter than normal. He had lost weight when the Magog larva infested him and it seemed he hadn't gained it back yet. Medical was a fifteen minute walk. Big ships had their advantages and disadvantages, long walks to medical was up there on the list of big disadvantages. Halfway there Harper started to stir. "You're awake" Tyr said trying to stay emotionless but relieved to see him awake.
"Yeah" Harper quietly replied
"How are you feeling little man?" Tyr was surprised at Harpers lack of words. He must have still been getting over the shock.
"Fin" Harper said too quietly for Tyr liking again.
"Do you think you can walk?" Harper wasn't that heavy but Tyr wanted to keep Harper awake. He still was acting weird.
"I tink so" Harper said in a whisper. "tif you wan me too"
Now warning signal was going off in Tyr head. Why was Harper talking like a little child? How badly hurt had Harper been by the blast. He placed Harper on the ground. Harper looked up at him and he was shaking. Tyr couldn't help thinking how small Harper looked standing there with his eyes wide with fear. "Come on we still have a ways to go till medical." Tyr placed a hand on Harpers shoulder only to feel him tense up; reminding Tyr of when they first met.
"Why are we goin to meditcal?" Harper said slowing working over some of the words and still mispronouncing half of them. It was a strange change from his normal ramblings that often left Tyr wondering if he ever stopped for air.
"To get you checked out" Tyr was slowly losing patience with the situation. Part of him was mad at Harper for getting hurt but he mainly wanted to get to medical so they could end this strange conversation and have Trance check him out. Something was defiantly wrong Harper didn't seem to be himself his behavior and speech were that of a child.
"Wha did I do tat I need to get checked ou for? I'm sur I didn' mean to do it." Harper said starting to wiggle around under Tyr's hand. Harper hated going to medical but he never had started physical resisted before. Tyr tightened his grip on Harper only to hear him cry out.
"Owe, stop tat! It hur!" Tyr was sure he hadn't grabbed Harper's shoulder hard enough to hurt him but they were at medical anyways. The doors open and Trance stood by one of the biobeds ready to treat Harper. A smile formed on her face when she saw Harper standing. She taught he would still be unconscious from the shock.
"Alright Harper up on the bed."
"How due you know me?"
"Very funny mister now on the bed"
"Are you an Neitzchien too? I've never see a gold human."
"Harper? Why don't you get on the bed and I'll take a look at you, ok" Trance was getting scared. It was her friend standing in front of her but he was acting so strange. His head was cocked to the side and a confused look covered his face. The other thing was that she and Harper had always been around the same height but right now Harper was looking up at her. Electrical shocks didn't affect people's height. Harper hopped up on the biobed and Trance began running scans.
"Trance I'm getting some strange reading" Hologram Rommie said as she popped into view. Harper jumped in the air and stared at Rommie.
"Who, wwhat are you?" Harper said with a shaking voice drawing his knees up to his chest and moving so he now sat in the center of the bed curled up in to a tight ball.
Holo Rommie stared off into space for a moment as she accessed the com in the different areas of the ship "Beka, Dylan please come to medical right away." Rommie then focused her attention back to the scene in front of her. Trance could I speak with you for a minute. Tyr will you watch Seamus." Rommie directed Seamus at Harper who looked up at the calling of his name. "Seamus you're alright here. Do you understand? We are all your friends"
Harper nodded his head but stayed wrapped up in a ball on the biobed.
***
"What do you mean he thinks he is a child?" Dylan yelled. Everyone was there except Rommie and Harper; she had taken him to the observation deck to look at the stars.
"It's more complicated than that Dylan. These are normal brain activities of Harper, Harper right now and a five year old. As you can see now his brain patterns match that of the 5 year old. It's not that he thinks he is 5 his brain thinks he is 5." Rommie explained pointing to the scans she had done earlier. "That's not all though, Harper body is started to revert back to his five year old body."
"How is that happening" Tyr asked.
"Well you noticed his speak patterns that could be because of the changes in the brain but he is also getting smaller. There are also other signs that he is getting younger."
"What kind of signs?" Dylan said running his hands through his hair.
"In the past hours his body has started to go through reverse puberty. Right now I would say he is at the body build of an early teenager."
"What's causing this and more importantly how do we get our Harper back?" Beka who had been quiet up until this point shouted out.
"I'm not sure. Trance and I are working on it Beka"
"Well I would hurry if I were you. What's going to stop this reverse aging or is Harper just going to become a mass of cells." Beka waved her hands around to indicate her point.
"I don't think he is going to go back that far. I think he will stop at the age of 5"
"Why 5, why not 10 or 1 or why is this even happening at all Rommie."
"I'm working on it Beka. I'll get Harper back for you. For all of us."
"You better, I'm going to go look after him so you can start working." Beka stormed out of the room and headed straight for the observation deck. Harper was the closest thing to family she had left. Everyone on the Andromia was like family but they had been together for only a year. She had met Harper around 6 or 7 years ago when he was still a pimple faced teenager looking for some quick cash and a way off of earth.
The observation deck doors swished open and she was greeted by a round flying object coming right at her head. She dogged out of the way and was almost knocked over by a ten year old Harper running after the object.
"Rommie what is that" Beka said as she stepped out into the hallway watching Harper. The object was bouncing down the hallway and Harper seemed to be enjoying running after it.
"It's damaged piece of the coolant system. Harper found it in his pocket and has been playing with it for over an hour now" Rommie replied
Beka glanced over at Harper he was still in the same clothes as earlier. His shirt was more of a dress on his small frame and Beka was wondering how his pants where staying up. She got her questioned answered when Harper picked up the part he was using as a ball while pulling up his pants. It was an unconscious action like he had always wore clothes that were way too big.
"Has anyone emptied his pockets yet?"
"No, it would be a good idea Harper has large tools and parts in his pockets." Rommie turned back towards Harper, "Seamus can you come here for a minute"
"Otay Rommie," Harper picked up his toy and came running back to Rommie one hand holding up his pants. She couldn't help think he was a cute kid but unbearably thin. Rommie knelt down in front of Harper putting her hands on his shoulders she started talking really slowly to her. "Seamus this is my friend Beka. She is going to look after you for a while. She is a nice lady you don't need to be afraid of her. And before I go I need you to empty your pockets for me Seamus."
"Why, I didn't tate anyting. I promis. Don't tate my tings." Harper was shaking and fear was filling his eyes. Beka heart broke. Even though Harper was back to being a child he still had the memories of the camps. And he still feared having his small amount of possessions being taken away from him.
"It's ok Shay. I'm not going to get mad at you for anything and when you are done you me can go play some more and then grab something to eat." Slowly Harper reached into his pockets and emptied out a welder, multi- tool, pocket knife, his port jack, some spare parts, leftover food, a can of sparky cola and (duct) tape. Beka was impressed by the shear amount. She picked out the tape and some parts that looked safe enough to leave with Harper and handed the rest to Rommie, who nodded and left. "Here Shay you can keep this stuff and we'll find you some other toys to play with later."
"Otay," Harper looked down at his shoes clearly upset to part with his belongings. Beka felt like a bully taking away a kindergartener's lunch money but Harper tended to have a talent for hurting himself by being too curious. A five year old with a pocket knife was just asking for trouble. If only there was something she could give him for taking away his tools. Beka picked out the roll of tape and placing it in the far corner.
"Hey want see if you can get your ball to go through the hole in the roll of tape?" Beka said trying to coach Harper out of his shell. Harper pulled out his ball and started throwing it at the small target. Soon he was throwing it at the tape and running all over the observation deck after the ball. After Harper seemed to be getting tired of that game they played catch for a while. Soon they both were tired and had stopped playing with the coolant part that had now become Harper's beloved ball.
"Hey are you hungry?" Beka said trying to be upbeat.
"A little" Harper said finally looking back up a Beka.
"Alright why don't we go grab something to eat?" Beka started walking towards the mess and Harper began running beside her. Beka slowed her pace till Harper was able to keep up with out running beside. He was tripping over his pants and boots and his hands were barely visible under his t-shirt. New clothes were definitely a necessity after lunch.
When they walked into the mess Dylan was sitting at the table head in his hands reading a flexi.
"Hi Dylan, have you met my friend Seamus." Beka didn't feel like having Harper freeze up on her again because there was another person who knew him but he didn't know.
"Hi Har…Seamus, how are you doing?" Dylan said playing along with Beka's little game but almost slipping with the name. He was taken back by how small Harper had become. Harper always said he had boyish good looks but it was weird to actually see him as a child, he looked about 8. Beka and little Harper walked to the table and Beka pulled out a chair motioning for Harper to sit down.
"What do you want to eat Shay? We have some noodles, sandwiches, maybe some eggs..." she stopped when she saw the blank sares from Harper. The confused look on his face showing food choices where defiantly a new concept to the boy. "How about some sandwiches. I'll be right back."
Beka made the sandwiches and put them down on the table waiting for Harper's old eating habits of shoveling the whole thing in his mouth and jug his drink. It had be two years before Harper had begun eating at normal speeds aboard the Maru. He leaned over his food so far that no one would be able to take it from him. He ate half of the sandwich and Beka saw him sneak the other half into one of his pockets. His hands never left his drink or sandwich. His whole body was pulled in like his was trying to have him and his food not be notice. He was done before Beka had even finished sitting down. He started to squirm a little. Dylan had been watching Harper the whole time.
"Hey Har-Seamus why don't we go play and let Beka finish her meal."
"Tay" Harper said looking not trilled at being passed to another person again. Dylan had a feeling he didn't want to make anyone mad so would agree to anything they said. For a five year old thrown into strange place with nothing he knew he was doing amazingly well.
"We'll be on the basket ball court when you're done." Dylan said as they started towards the door. He tried to take Harpers hand but he pulled away before Dylan could get a hold of it. He let it go and head out of the mess hall.
When Beka met up with them in an half an hour later one the basketball court Dylan looked completely worn out and Harper was now the size of a small five year old. Hopefully Rommie was right because by the end of the day Harper wouldn't be with them anymore if he kept going at this rate.
"You guys want to take a break. I have something for you Shay."
"Ou do? Why?" Obviously he wasn't just to strangers bearing gifts not in the form of hits and kicks.
"Some new clothes." She said pointing the duffel bag to her side. "Thought they would fit you better." Dylan gave her a questioning look. "They were my brothers when we were younger. Dad never threw anything away." Answering the unanswered question in between her and Dylan. "Found some toys for you too Shay." Harper looked confused like he was unsure what to do with Beka's generosity.
"Come on let's try on your new clothes." Beka said offering Harper her hand. She was surprise when he actually took it. "Umm Dylan…"
"Rommie said she setup VIP room 5 for Harper why don't I meet you there." The VIP rooms were the safest in the ship so it made some sense to put him there. Harper's room was defiantly not child proof. He wouldn't remember his room anyway. His slow pace quickly showed Beka that Dylan was not the only one worn out from their basketball game. Beka stopped for a moment and scoped Harper up into her arms. He was incredibly light. He wrapped his legs around her waist and his arms around her neck. His head found its way to her shoulder and soon was drifting off to sleep. Walking into the room Beka was surprise to see that Rommie had transferred Harpers blue sheets and Cartoon character pillow case. She just hoped she had cleaned them first. She wasn't sure the last time Harper had washed them. She laid the now sleeping Harper down on the bed.
"Beaka?"
"Yeah Shay."
"Where am I? I don't remember what happen. Is my family all dead?" Harper's eyes were so big and fearful that Beka wished she could take everything he had seen away. It was one thing to see a teenager who had seen his whole family murdered it was another thing to see a small child who seems to so quick except the death of his whole family.
"No Shay. Their all ok. They just sent you here to be safe for the time."
"Why is Kari not here?"
"I don't know Shay. But I'm sure she is ok."
"awlright" Harper started to drift off to sleep. Still fully dress with his now clown size boots on. Trance wandered in holding a small, very beaten up white teddy bear. Harper looked up clearly recognizing the bear and reaching out for it.
"I thought you would like to have your bear." Trance said handing Harper the bear that he quickly grabbed and held protectively close to his body. He lay back down and in and few minutes he was fast asleep.
"We found it in the Maru when… after…"
"I think he was glad to have something familiar. Thanks for bringing it to him." Beka interrupted seeing Trance having trouble discussing the death of Harper in her future. She moved to the bed and started removing Harper's boots trying not to wake the sleeping boy. "How is your searching for a cure going?"
"Slow. I need to run another quick scan. I won't have to wake him." Beka had removed Harpers pants leaving him in his oversized boxers and shirt. Rafes clothes would have to wait till morning. Trance ran her scan and started to leave.
"You'll figure it out."
"Thanks," with that Trance left and Beka pulled out one of the cushion chairs and sat beside Harper's bed. She picked up the covers tucking him in. She looked down at her sleeping friend and moved a blonde hair off of his face. He rolled over and griped his bear tighter.
"Night Harper."