Thanks you guys for all the wonderful reviews you are all soooooo sweet!
It's late so please forgive any typos and the lot in the next bit. :D
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Beka leaned against a bulkhead as Trance wrapped gauze around her forehead. She let out a hiss as pressure was applied to staunch the bleeding. Actually she felt a lot better now that the dizziness had passed. Her fingers drummed impatiently on the wall. "Hurry Trance!" She was anxious to help Tyr and Dylan.
"You're in no condition to fight who ever has boarded us. I think you may have a concussion."
"Do you think that will matter if we are all dead!"
Trance relented. "Fine, but be careful okay?" How could she stop her she was right.
Beka gave a quick nod and drew her gauss gun. "Let's go."
It didn't take them long to find the action. Dylan and Tyr hid behind various items on the loading dock and were trading fire with a group of Caldarians. Slowly they were being forced into a retreat. With Rommie in dire need of repair the internal defenses were down. The small crew was outnumbered. Beka quickly assessed the situation. Tyr and Dylan were pinned down by the rapid fire but the Maru had not been seen as a threat as it sat empty near by.
"Cover me!" She shouted as even Trance drew her weapon.
She dived and rolled looking very much like one of the super hero's from one of Harper's flexi novels. A round from one of the Caldarians came so close to her head that it singed her hair. She gasped for air as she dove in to the Maru's air lock. It sounded easier in the flexi novels.
She flew towards the cockpit of her beloved ship and leaped onto the pilot's chair. The Caldarians were like sitting ducks. Could she do it? She wouldn't would she? Open fire inside a hanger bay?
The Eureka Maru erupted. The ship didn't have much firepower but within the confines of the Andromeda's belly it was multiplied ten fold. The Caldarians dove for cover. Few attempted to make it back to their ship but as they tried to take off the Maru turned them into nothing more then a nasty memory.
It's seemed like forever but in less then three minutes the Maru returned to it's silence. At first no one moved. Slowly, Beka removed her hand from the fire controls. Her hands ached from gripping the joysticks so hard. She didn't notice though as left over adrenaline coursed through her veins leaving her shaking and numb.
Bodies littered the deck. Thank fully none of them belonged to any one she knew. She quickly went to check on the other just to make sure. Dylan slowly extracted himself from the Tarmac and met her halfway. Beka tensed slightly but she was ready to face the backlash.
"That may have been the most idiotic, absolutely insane thing I have ever seen you do! The ricochets alone could have killed us or blown a hole in Rommie that would have left us all floating in space. If it hadn't been done with exact precision."
"But it was." Stated Beka finding her voice.
Dylan let a small smile sneak through. "I know that's why I'm glad you're on our side." He patted her on the shoulder jovially.
Beka let out a deep breath. Tyr strolled over surveying damage as he went. "Captain Valentine, I must say I'm impressed."
"Let's just hold off the congratulations till we find out what the damage is okay." Replied Dylan as called out for Rommie. The hologram fizzled into existence. "Rommie what's the damage?"
"Wide spread malfunctions through out the ship. Structural damage on decks 12 through 19."
"Has Mr. Harper given any estimates on what is needed for repairs?"
"My environmental sensors are off line so I have been unable to detect life signs. I have been unable to reach him via comms."
Beka felt what little blood she had left drain from her face. "Oh gawd, Harper." She moaned.
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Harper sung quietly to himself. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. you make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. So please." Damn how did the rest of that go? A wave of pain rippled through him. He held his breath and let it ride over his body. It wasn't getting any better. He was also suddenly regretting the two days of not eating or sleeping. He couldn't remember the words to the song and he was starting to get a headache. He gave up and tried another song. "Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer wiener."
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Beka wiped the sweat from her eyes. They had been searching for three hours while Dylan attempted to make repairs on the sensors. On all aspects it had been slow going. She decided to attempt to make her way to machine shop five. One of Harper's more favorite haunts. She paused to inspect some damage when she heard a noise amid the sparking consoles and groaning bulkheads. Was it? It sounded awful. She could here very softly a voice singing.
"Cause if I were an Oscar Meyer wiener. everyone would be in love with me."
"Harper. Harper where are you?"
"Boss? Help!" he yelled.
"I can't see you."
"I-I'm in a conduit. well, actually I'm in several conduits.there should be a hatch."
Beka's eyes darted around but could not find an opening amongst the debris. "Rommie." She called. "Tell Dylan Harper's trapped in one of the conduits on deck thirteen and tell him well need anti gravs and blow torches." Then she turned back to the long dimly lit hallway. Harper wasn't afraid of the dark, she knew. He was however afraid of being alone. "Harper, I'm right here okay. are you hurt?"
"I'd be better if you could just... GET ME OUT!"
Beka heard the panic in his voice. They would need to hurry.
The Andromeda's walls gave a loud creak and some piping from the roof crashed to the floor. Beka sprung out of the way. Live wires sparked viciously across the walkway. It looked like a battle zone and she had no clue where to even start looking. For now Harper was just a ghost in the machine.
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TBC
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Beka leaned against a bulkhead as Trance wrapped gauze around her forehead. She let out a hiss as pressure was applied to staunch the bleeding. Actually she felt a lot better now that the dizziness had passed. Her fingers drummed impatiently on the wall. "Hurry Trance!" She was anxious to help Tyr and Dylan.
"You're in no condition to fight who ever has boarded us. I think you may have a concussion."
"Do you think that will matter if we are all dead!"
Trance relented. "Fine, but be careful okay?" How could she stop her she was right.
Beka gave a quick nod and drew her gauss gun. "Let's go."
It didn't take them long to find the action. Dylan and Tyr hid behind various items on the loading dock and were trading fire with a group of Caldarians. Slowly they were being forced into a retreat. With Rommie in dire need of repair the internal defenses were down. The small crew was outnumbered. Beka quickly assessed the situation. Tyr and Dylan were pinned down by the rapid fire but the Maru had not been seen as a threat as it sat empty near by.
"Cover me!" She shouted as even Trance drew her weapon.
She dived and rolled looking very much like one of the super hero's from one of Harper's flexi novels. A round from one of the Caldarians came so close to her head that it singed her hair. She gasped for air as she dove in to the Maru's air lock. It sounded easier in the flexi novels.
She flew towards the cockpit of her beloved ship and leaped onto the pilot's chair. The Caldarians were like sitting ducks. Could she do it? She wouldn't would she? Open fire inside a hanger bay?
The Eureka Maru erupted. The ship didn't have much firepower but within the confines of the Andromeda's belly it was multiplied ten fold. The Caldarians dove for cover. Few attempted to make it back to their ship but as they tried to take off the Maru turned them into nothing more then a nasty memory.
It's seemed like forever but in less then three minutes the Maru returned to it's silence. At first no one moved. Slowly, Beka removed her hand from the fire controls. Her hands ached from gripping the joysticks so hard. She didn't notice though as left over adrenaline coursed through her veins leaving her shaking and numb.
Bodies littered the deck. Thank fully none of them belonged to any one she knew. She quickly went to check on the other just to make sure. Dylan slowly extracted himself from the Tarmac and met her halfway. Beka tensed slightly but she was ready to face the backlash.
"That may have been the most idiotic, absolutely insane thing I have ever seen you do! The ricochets alone could have killed us or blown a hole in Rommie that would have left us all floating in space. If it hadn't been done with exact precision."
"But it was." Stated Beka finding her voice.
Dylan let a small smile sneak through. "I know that's why I'm glad you're on our side." He patted her on the shoulder jovially.
Beka let out a deep breath. Tyr strolled over surveying damage as he went. "Captain Valentine, I must say I'm impressed."
"Let's just hold off the congratulations till we find out what the damage is okay." Replied Dylan as called out for Rommie. The hologram fizzled into existence. "Rommie what's the damage?"
"Wide spread malfunctions through out the ship. Structural damage on decks 12 through 19."
"Has Mr. Harper given any estimates on what is needed for repairs?"
"My environmental sensors are off line so I have been unable to detect life signs. I have been unable to reach him via comms."
Beka felt what little blood she had left drain from her face. "Oh gawd, Harper." She moaned.
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Harper sung quietly to himself. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. you make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. So please." Damn how did the rest of that go? A wave of pain rippled through him. He held his breath and let it ride over his body. It wasn't getting any better. He was also suddenly regretting the two days of not eating or sleeping. He couldn't remember the words to the song and he was starting to get a headache. He gave up and tried another song. "Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer wiener."
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Beka wiped the sweat from her eyes. They had been searching for three hours while Dylan attempted to make repairs on the sensors. On all aspects it had been slow going. She decided to attempt to make her way to machine shop five. One of Harper's more favorite haunts. She paused to inspect some damage when she heard a noise amid the sparking consoles and groaning bulkheads. Was it? It sounded awful. She could here very softly a voice singing.
"Cause if I were an Oscar Meyer wiener. everyone would be in love with me."
"Harper. Harper where are you?"
"Boss? Help!" he yelled.
"I can't see you."
"I-I'm in a conduit. well, actually I'm in several conduits.there should be a hatch."
Beka's eyes darted around but could not find an opening amongst the debris. "Rommie." She called. "Tell Dylan Harper's trapped in one of the conduits on deck thirteen and tell him well need anti gravs and blow torches." Then she turned back to the long dimly lit hallway. Harper wasn't afraid of the dark, she knew. He was however afraid of being alone. "Harper, I'm right here okay. are you hurt?"
"I'd be better if you could just... GET ME OUT!"
Beka heard the panic in his voice. They would need to hurry.
The Andromeda's walls gave a loud creak and some piping from the roof crashed to the floor. Beka sprung out of the way. Live wires sparked viciously across the walkway. It looked like a battle zone and she had no clue where to even start looking. For now Harper was just a ghost in the machine.
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TBC