Note: If you've read chapters 1-6 previous to 28-08-2002 you may find some continuity issues in the upcoming chapters since chapters 1-6 have been updated and changed to incorporate details needed in upcoming chapters.

Scission: Hopeless?

"It seems to be working Dylan." Harper's face appeared on screen. "I can get an interior readout at two kilometres off the haul." A readout appeared showing a typical ships schematic but of an alien design.  The interior had static red dots.  "I can't wait to find out what these babies are made of."

"Harper stop drooling. You'll short out your com." Trance threw a loop-sided grin at the vid.  Dylan still felt a ping at that particular expression. It was a remnant of the old Trance.

Harper features momentarily lightened before slipping back to the drawn set of the last day.

Rommie's brows drew together.  "The readout shows the power levels in this ship are barely perceivable.  Either they have incredibly efficient power technology or the ships are not at full backup power or my are not getting a true reading because of the partial shifting."  She continued to scowl at her station. "Harper come about and scan the ship at two by three by six on your grid."

"Yes, Ma'am."  The view changed, the readout updating as Harper neared the other vessel.  "The data's the same.  I'll scan more and stream the data. Harper out."

Harper's face disappeared from the screen the readout sliding over to take its place. Andromeda appeared beside it. "Captain, the Panthera Rampant is hailing you."

Dylan sighed, "I'll take it in my office." He did an abrupt about face. "Contact me when Harper gets back from his shift." He left command.

Harper ignored the Andromeda's hail.  He was bleary eyed but couldn't risk a Sparky because she'd pick up the sudden spike in his heart rate.  Just a few more ships they've gotta be here.  He ignored the empty forward window and concentrated on sensor readings.

He shook his head it was hopeless.  Even with the hopped up sensors he needed to get within a kilometre or two.  And with the travel time between ships it could take him a year to scan even the undamaged ships.  If only I could think of a better way.

Suddenly Andromeda forced the communication. It was Rommie. "Harper if you don't get back here right now I will remote fly that fighter back and you won't like the ride!"

"Oh Rommie. Just another hour I know I can find them."

"No your bio readings are erratic and I was ordered to bring you in at the end of your shift."  The avatar gave him a firm look.  "Engaging remote control in five, four, three-"

"Alright, alright.  I'm coming in," he growled swinging the ship about.

"I'll meet you in Engineering." Trance called before he switched off the com.

"Sure. Sure," he muttered unhappily as he hurtled toward the voluptuous ship in the distance.

He wasn't any happier when he reached his favourite base of operations.

"Trance, please tell Dylan I can go back out.  I'm perfectly fine. Look at me lots of energy I could do fifty more ships."  He was wired, but he wasn't going to tell her that he'd downed the two Sparkys he'd stashed in the cockpit.

"No. You're not supposed to handle equipment or fly under the influence of a Sparky cola.  It says so right on the can.  Besides I agree with Dylan.  It's his shift and you need your rest."

He should have known she'd see through his ploy. "Like he's in any better shape.  It's not like he's slept either."

"No. I'm sure he hasn't. But he's modified and able to handle this kind of stress better than you."

"Yah, pick on the pure human, the Kludge. I'm not modified so I'm useless."

"No you're not useless you're a genius remember."

"Damn right. I'm a fricking genius.  I've saved our asses millions of times."

"Yes, you have and, if you want to again, you are going to go to your room and get a few hours of sleep."

Harper giggled and tried to slip past her only to feel the sting of a hypo in his neck.

"Hey, why did you do that?" He pouted rubbing away the sting, "That's not playing fair."

Trance smiled at him putting her arm around him and helping him out of Engineering.  "Well you were being unreasonable.  Come on lets get you to bed.  They need you to go over and work with the Jaguar tactical team."

"Why can't I do it from Engineering?  I have a perfectly good set up there." He gave her his best puppy eyes that usually made her cave.

"No, Seamus it is very important that you go.  It shows them we can all work together." Trance opened his door.

"Great. One big happy uber family," he said as he clumsily stripped and slid under the covers Trance held open for him.  He struggled to keep his eyes open but the last thing he saw was her pixie smile.

He is awash in a soft purple sea of calm, his mother who isn't his mother strokes his hair and he feels so warm. She is singing to him of a time of balance where chaos no longer out weighed order. It was in a harmony so perfect, so beautiful the stars in her eyes sang its praise. 

The stars in her eyes became Earth as it once was and how it could be again.  He saw himself bouncing huge beautiful blonde child on his knee both locked in a fit of giggles.  He saw Beka happily enfolded in Tyr's embrace and two tall boys standing at their father's back.  Dylan grey but happily talking to a tall blue Vedran walking across a blooming meadow.  Rommie in a captain's uniform proudly stationed on her own deck. And above it all was Trance's reassuring pixie grin.