Title: Effervescent Essence
Author: Harper's aka Weird_Peace
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Sequel to And You Thought Larvae Were Bad. I highly suggest you read the first fiction.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, but I love 'em anyways.
Spoilers: Season Two spoilers.

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Trance slowly came to; blinking as bright light invaded her sight. Something was wrong, she could tell. Her mind felt sluggish, her body felt heavy, and the baby...

The baby!

Despite everything, Trance bolted straight up, immediately regretting it as all of her limbs protested at once. Wildly she looked around. She wasn't in Harper's quarters. She wasn't even on the Andromeda anymore. And she couldn't feel her son.

"Trance, calm down." Harper was suddenly at her side, gently rubbing her shoulders and lowering her back onto the bed.

"The baby…" Trance's tongue felt very thick. She swallowed and tried again. "The baby's missing."

"Shhhh...." He began to gently stroke her hair. "They just had to take him for a few tests to make sure he was fine."

"Who took him?" she asked, beginning to panic. Harper tilted his head, confused.

"The nurses," he replied softly. "Don't you remember?"

"The last thing I remember was going to sleep in your quarters, fourteen weeks into the pregnancy." Harper didn't even try to hide his worry Trance noted. "Harper what happened?"

"The crew decided to take a shore leave to Infinity Atoll since you were getting close to giving birth, and we were all under a little stress. We were all on the beach, and then you began to go into labor. We rushed you to the nearest hospital." Harper's concern grew with every word that didn't seem to ring a bell with Trance. "You just delivered our son about thirty minutes ago."

"It must be a side affect," she finally concluded, trying to ease both Harper's and her worry. "My strength's starting to return, and the rest should come back with it." Trance patted his hand. Harper nodded, and Trance began to giggle softly as the realization of the fact her son had been delievered beganto seep in. "So what does he look like?" she asked, knowing she should be more concerned with facts like blood and tissue samples and so on. But right now it didn't matter.

Harper beamed, and started to reply, but two human nurses rushed in, each one pushing a cart. By the looks on their faces, the news wasn't good.

"We swear it wasn't our fault," one almost sobbed out. "Somebody's idea of a joke..."

"Calm down," the other, more experience, scolded. She turned to the couple. "A problem has risen."

"What?" Trance felt Harper's grip tighten considerably, and she knew she was digging her fingers into him as well.

"It was quite a surprise to get a species like you in here giving birth," the calmer nurse explained. "But three of you was just, well, you can imagine."

"Two others like her? Giving birth?" Harper looked over at Trance, but she was baffled.

"Yes. And of course the babies were all very interesting enough." The nurse grimaced. "But we've been having problems with a group called H.A.N.H., or Humans Against Non-Humans. They were a little upset when finding three of your kind appear here, and we're afraid something terrible has happened."

A million possibilities ran through Trance's mind. Not the kind her species had, but the kind a panicked mother has nightmares about happening. Her child could be kidnapped, hurt, or even...

"Where is our son?!" Harper growled, stalking towards the nurse. She signaled her companion and the two wheeled the carts the rest of the way into the room and next to the bed. Trance looked down and saw two identical children. They were more or less humanoid, except both had soft blue down covering their bodies, long tails poking out from under the yellow blanket that covered them, and pointed ears.

"Their identification chips are no longer in them," the nurse said hesitantly. "We can't tell which one is yours."

Trance's heart literally stopped for several beats before returning, frantically pounding. She swallowed back the lump that threatened to clog her throat, and turned to Harper.

"I can't remember," she whispered. Harper looked just as horrified.

"They made me stay out during the birth." His words were heavy with regret. "I never got a chance to see him."

"One of the other couples had a girl, so we could automatically tell that one. But the other had a son, and unfortunately, we cannot seem to get DNA readings with our equipment. The other mother said she's given birth before, and that the memories don't return. She can't tell them apart," the nurse said. "She knows you somehow, Miss Gemini, and she said since you're older than her, you should have better perceptions on these things. Now I don't know how you do it, but she trusts you. So it's up to your decision."

"I can't believe it. You would think there'd be some defining human trait," Harper said as he looked down at both children.

Trance didn't bother responding. She had a decision here, and it would end up making a complete difference in four people's lives. Using everything and every bit of strength she had, she peered into both children.

The first one had a wonderful future laid out for him. In every possible future but one, Trance could see happiness. The child was successful; he made right choices, and never screwed up like she had so many times. Harper and her continued to grow closer, and her species loved the toddler and accepted him. And through this child, Trance also saw a way to make amends with those she had wronged.

The second was tainted, the exact opposite of the first. Only one happy future showed through the dark for him. He was picked on, often getting into fights. She could see Harper and her arguing over him, growing distant and cold. Problems arose, and she found herself having to fix both her and her son's mistakes. Her family eventually rejected them.

Trance bit her lip, feeling all eyes, including the babies', on her. Her mind raced between the two. Was there a perfect possible future awaiting her, or one with barely any hope? She finally pointed to the first.

"He is ours."

The nurse nodded gravely, and placed the baby softly into Harper's arms.

"Congratulations, and thank you so much. We will certainly bring this up with our government." She nodded to the other nurse, and the two began to leave. Harper sat down near Trance, holding the beautiful child out to her.

"Would you like to hold our son?" he asked. Trance reached out for him, and then stopped.

"No." Nearly sobbing, she told the two nurses to wait. "I've made a mistake. That's not the right baby."

"Are you sure?" Harper asked her. Trance nodded, her head seeming to move on it's own accord. Harper handed the first child back to the nurses, and claimed their real son. He gently placed him in Trance's arms. The nurses rolled the other away as Trance looked down at her son...her tainted child.

"I don't care," she whispered to him, trying to convince herself more. "You're mine, and I guess we'll just have to do our best to change that future."

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Loki knelt in front of an elderly, silver female. At least his mental projection did. In truth, the older alien was billions of light-years from his location. It was a great advantage of his species.

"She almost failed," came the soft, solemn voice.

"But she did pass in the end," he replied, somewhat defiantly. The other noticed this.

"You care too much for her, especially one so rebellious." She sighed. "But you are right. Still, the rest of the order agrees this feels wrong." She seemed to consider the man in front of her, evaluating his worth. "We have decided she needs an extra test."

"Yes milady," Loki said. The woman waited, and then waved him away.

"Well get on with it child," she said, her eyes twinkling. Loki smiled, nodding before fading from her sight.

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Over two months had passed since Harper and Trance had swapped the soul, and now it was noticeable. Harper jumped down from his spot near the X-1 and landed gracefully next to Trance.

"Don't you dare sing today," she warned him.

"What's wrong with my singing?" he asked. She gave him one of those looks, and he grinned back. "Even if I promise no dirty lyrics this time?" Seeing he wasn't going to win, Harper helped Trance sit down. He knelt next to her, placing a hand on her swelling stomach.

"Hey buddy! It's your daddy again." The moment Trance had informed Harper the baby could hear them, he had insisted they do these "family conversations" everyday. It was Harper mostly talking, but Trance added her own voice when correcting something he usually was misinformed about. Otherwise her voice wasn't needed. She was still communicating with the spirit in her sleep. The baby knew her well enough by now to easily identify her, although he kept what he had chosen to look like a secrete from her. The little guy was a tease, something Trance was sure he had picked up from Harper.

After today's session, Harper offered to walk Trance down to medical, but she was feeling full of energy today. She knew he was still worried, considering that Trance had told him about the last test, but she reminded him it would be his turn next.

This is why she was taken by surprise when Loki walked up to her.

"Loki?"

"You got lucky," he said, his tone even. "You almost lost your son to him." Obviously the thought of Harper being the sole guardian of his nephew had not pleased Loki.

"We've been over this before," she hissed back. "Now what are you bugging me for."

"They've decided you need an extra test. Follow me," he said. Trance stiffened a little a Loki's cold demeanor towards her, but did as he commanded. They stopped outside a doorway.

"What is it?" Trance asked as her brother just stood there.

"Your final test," he replied. "It corresponds with Harper's." Trance spun around as footsteps came up behind her. Her eyes went wide. Staring back at her was her exact duplicate.

"Harper's test, like the others, will require him to make a choice. His choice could kill you. I ask you, sister, do you trust your friend," Loki sneered upon saying the word, "to make the right choice?"

Something had gotten to Loki, but Trance couldn't figure out what. He was being awfully cruel, especially about Harper. Narrowing her eyes, and standing a little straighter, Trance nodded.

"I trust Harper with my life," she answered.

"But what about the life of your unborn child?" Loki asked. Trance hesitated. "Harper's decision will not only mean the difference between you living or dying, but also the child you carry within you. This duplicate," he gestured to the other Trance behind her, "will take your place if you want her to. It all depends. Do you trust him?"

Trance looked at the door, then Loki, her growing stomach, her duplicate, then back to her belly. Did she trust Harper? He was only human, but he had done so much in his short exisistance. Still, a lot of those things included making mistakes. This mistake would be serious. Swallowing, she looked up at her brother.

"My choice is..."

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"Hello Blondie." Harper tilted his head back, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"You obviously don't understand the meaning of go away," he said.

"Guess not," Loki replied, dropping down beside Harper. Harper frowned at Loki's stiff manner. Maybe he was still pissed about Harper beating the crap out of him.

"Can we just get this over with?" Harper asked, setting a piece of his project down. Loki nodded curtly, and suddenly the room was completely bare except for two long tubes, each about the size of a Nietzschean, standing roughly five meters apart from each other. In front of each tube was a separate consul, each with a red button in the middle.

"So do I have to guess what's behind door number one?" Harper quipped, earning an icy look from Loki. The purple male stepped up in front of Harper, a smile finally settling on his lips.

"The grand finale," he said, walking over to the first tube. He pressed a button and the silver lining inside the tube dropped to reveal Trance. She was bound and gagged. Harper yelled out in anger and tried running forward, but fell back on his rear, holding his nose.

"Sorry. Energy field. I must have forgotten." Loki shrugged and skipped over to the other tube. The lining fell away from this one to show a ball of bluish light. Harper's stomach lurched when he recognized it. His son's soul. Loki waltzed to the center of the two cylinders and stood facing Harper.

"I can tell you recognize both occupants, so I will just skip to the rules," the other man said. "You have thirty seconds to decide."

"Decide what?" Harper growled, standing up and pounding against the field.

"If you would let me finish." Loki rolled his eyes. "After I say start, thirty-five seconds will pass. The first thirty seconds you have to choose. You see, one of these two have to die, and you get to pick which one." Harper knew Loki was internally jumping with glee upon seeing him go white. "After thirty seconds is up, I will tell you to go. You then have five seconds to run forward and press a button. Whoever's button you press, their life will be spared. You don't have enough time to get to both, and if you chose to press neither button, and they both will die. Any questions?" Harper just glared. "Start then."

Harper's heart was pounding in his head, blocking out all thoughts. God, he couldn't make this decision, he couldn't choose this! How much time had passed? Oh god, only thirty seconds to choose. Someone would die, and it would be his fault again. He was cursed; everyone he ever loved ended up dead because of him, and this time would be no different. Would it be Trance? His best friend? His golden goddess?

His love.

Or their child? Their son? Their light?

His hope.

He heard a muffled yell and looked up at Trance. She caught his gaze, and as their eyes locked, he knew. Nodding, and nearly crying, he made his choice.

"Go!" The field collapsed, and Harper ran forward, his hand slamming down on a button. He then watched as one of the most important people in his life vanished before his eyes.