Sorry I thought I would update this chapter to make it longer…so if you've read it please read it again …especially the end part… thank you

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The night never seemed to end and when Beka walked on to the bridge that morning she found Harper leaning against one of the railings fast asleep. She smiled looking down at him. He was just a kid, yet probably the most capable individual she ever met. She pushed at him a little with her foot.

"Rise and shine handsome."

Harper blinked a couple of time then yawned loudly. "Hey boss, morning."

"I hope you didn't sleep here."

He shrugged his shoulders, "I couldn't sleep."

"Well, you seemed to be doing a fine job of it. I need you alert, these next three jumps will be murder, if they are the right ones at all."

"Don't worry Beka," smiled Harper with his most winning smile. "With us on their trail the Vedrans won't stand a chance… I bet they have a lot of stuff. I wonder if there will be anyone alive on the planet. I bet they have the best…"

"Harper enough!" Beka laughed, "Lets get going…why don't you navigate."

Harper ran over to the navigation station just as VexPax and Rev Bem entered the bridge.

"I see we are not even going to wait for a decent breakfast." VexPax complained but the mood was light aboard the Eureka Maru. Everyone took a station and was ready when Beka said the words Harper had waited all night to hear.

"Transiting to slipstream."

The Maru bucked and weaved like a horse Harper had once saw in a flexi- book. But Beka's slightest touch tempered the beast and the Maru flipped and slid with ease. Harper was impressed but started to get worried when the slipstream didn't end.

"Beka what's wrong should it be this long?"

A grunt was her only reply as her focus was completely on the slipstream in front of her. The slipstream must have lasted fifteen minutes and when they emerged on the other side Beka was covered in a light sheen of sweat and was exhausted. "Wow." She whispered.

"What the hell was that?" questioned Vex

"The hand of the divine." Whispered Rev.

The tense and reverent silence was broken by a sudden and very loud whoop. "That was freakin' amazing! We did it!!"

Everyone's faces reflected Harper's excitement.

"Harper grab me a drink and we'll tackle the next one, we'll show the Vedrans not to mess a Valentine and her crew."

With in minutes Beka had finished her drink and was ready to tackle the next slipstream. Beka turned up the power to the engines when a warning light flashed on her counsel.

"Harper?"

"I'm on it!" And he dashed from the room towards engineering. After a few moments a voice sounded from the intercom. "We're good to go Boss gun it!"

Beka aimed the Maru at the slipstream entrance and headed in.

This one was much like the other with very sharp and sudden turns but Beka navigated it as if she was a part of the ship. The really strange and added unexpected component was that there seemed to be pieces of ships in the slipstream and she was forced to dodge them while staying on course.

Vex let out a low whistle. "I hope you are a better pilot then these poor souls."

No one answered but Rev Bem could be heard whispering a prayer.

The Maru burst through the end of the slipstream just as Harper returned to the command centre.

Beka Gasped as if she had been holding her breath for quite some time and turned in her chair to grin back at Harper.

Harper didn't meet her gaze though as he glanced over her shoulder at out towards space…"Is that it? Is that Tarn Vedra?" His mouth hung slack with awe.

A small blue and green planet floated before then. Earth may have been as beautiful at one time.

"This isn't right." Commented Beka with a concerned face. "There is supposed to be another jump."

"Maybe the maps wrong" commented VexPax

"But it hasn't been so far," replied Rev Bem. "Only our interpretation has been wrong and we were able to correct it, there should be one more jump."

"Maybe that's the trick?" whispered Harper.

"I don't like this at all, Harper where's the next slipstream?" Beka commanded.

He was about to answer when he saw something move out the front viewer. "Oh, oh this isn't good."

Alarms started flashed on the Maru everywhere.

"Vedran fighters on our port and aft." Shouted VexPax. "Look out Incoming!"

The Maru rocked and groaned as she was bombarded with missile fire.

"Harper!" screamed Beka "find us the next portal"

"It's right behind that planet!" He shouted over the noise and had to duck as sparks flew from the panel next to him.

"Beka, we need to move or the hull is going to Breech!" Vex commented worriedly.

"I know, I know." Grunted Beka angrily and then she swore. She wasn't mad at VexPax only the situation. Beka pulled back on the Maru's piloting yoke. The ship groaned and moaned but bid her heading and flipped over before swerving to the right.

Suddenly there was a loud explosion from the engineering bay.

"Hull breech." Confirmed Rev Bem looking at the panel in front of him. "It's small though"

"We need to fix it!" Harper's voice was getting panicky

VexPax grabbed him by the shoulder and pointed him towards engineering. "Let's go, I'll help."

Another crash pushed Harper and VexPax against the wall as they made their way towards the back of the ship.

Once they arrived Harper swore as he braced himself against the sucking wind.

"It's bad Vex we'll need to fix it from out side, If we go any closer we'll get sucked out or stuck." Harper had to shout over the howling noise to be heard.

"Have you ever space walked before?" shouted VexPax

Harper shook his head sheepishly. "Not much call for it on earth."

"Right then I'll go."

"No, it's okay Vex I'll go…how hard can it be." They sealed the door to the engineering bay.

Vex turned to Harper. "One wrong move out there and you'll float off into space then no one will be able to repair the engine once the breech is fixed."

Harper started to protest but Vex raised a long thin hand cutting Harper off. "While we are under attack some one with experience needs to be out there. You can stay here and talk me through it okay."

Harper nodded wishing Vex wasn't right. "Vex it needs to be done right and quickly or the engine bay is going to blow out the side of the Maru, then there will be nothing to save."

"Then help me get my suit on we need to move!"

Harper helped Vex with his EVA suit and closed the air lock behind him as VexPax stepped out into the war zone.

"Vex can you hear me?"

"Loud and Clear, I'm almost there tell me what I need to do?"

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TBC soon!