I felt as though I'd never be clean again, I spent hours under the shower, trying to scrub the memory of it's touch from my skin. When they'd told me that the magog had been caring for me the thought of it coming into contact with my body made me vomit. Although there was very little in my stomach I heaved and retched, it was painful to say the least. The purple babe, Trance, was a real doll; she held my head, patted my back and cleaned me up. Even in the state I was in I could feel my body react to her nearness. Under other circumstances I would have made a play for her, as it was I couldn't summon up the energy to flirt with her let alone engage in any activity of a more intimate kind. I smiled mentally, oh boy Harper you are in a bad way.

I wasn't sure what type of being Trance was, she was certainly gorgeous, and that tail, I've already said this but WOW. She sat and talked to me, it seemed that every time I woke up she was there. I don't know if you are planet born but have you ever seen a rock that's been worn away by constantly dripping water? Well that's what my brain felt like after Trance had finished with me.

She told me that Captain Valentine wanted me to stay on the Maru. I shrugged, "get rid of the 'gog and I will." I said it calmly but even the mention of its name made me shudder. She gave me the look that I'd grown to know well. Her dark eyes deepened and it felt as though she was looking right into my soul. She had a very sweet sad expression on her face as if she carried the worries of the Universe on her back.

"Rev Bem follows the Divine, he is a Wayist monk, he even regrets that he has to kill in order to eat." She was so convinced that she was right, her tail swished from side to side as if to emphasise her words.

I grimaced, "OK babe that is way more than Seamus Z Harper wants to know," I grinned weakly, "magog eating habits aren't something I ever want to think about." I carried on before she could start on me again. "So, if the boss lady will pay me what she owes me, she can drop me off at the next Drift and all will be good with Harper, a genius like me will have no problems finding a job." I didn't mention how few and far between the jobs had been before, didn't want to give her any more ammunition in her fight to make me stay.

She shrugged at my words and without replying turned and left the room. I must have fallen asleep again because when I woke up Beka was sitting by my bed. She was pretty gorgeous too in that slightly older woman way that is every red blooded young males fantasy, and let me tell you my blood is as red as anyone else's.

"How you doing kid?" She looked worried and tired. "I'm good." I replied. This was the truth; I was feeling better than I had for a long while.

She smiled at me, "look kid, I'm gonna put a proposition to you." I started to say something but she shook her head, "just listen to me Harper, Trance told me that it's very important that both you and Rev stay on the Maru, she can't tell me why but I know Trance well enough to act on her hunches. I will make sure that Rev stays away from you, he hasn't harmed you has he and you have my word that he will never harm you. I need a good engineer, you are more than good, you are bloody good. I'm exhausted, I've been flying the stream for 15 straight hours, I am not in the mood for arguing with you and I am not about to beg you to stay. Just think about it."

She looked me right in the eyes, I could see for myself how tired she was, I could see something else in her eyes too, naked fear. What the hell was she mixed up in? I made my mind up in that split second.

"OK boss," I said, "I'll stay, you just got yourself a new engineer, hell, you just got yourself the best freakin engineer in this or any other sector, did I ever tell you that I'm a genius?"

I really hoped that I wouldn't live to regret my decision.