LOL! You guys are great! Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews, hope you like this chapter just as much!
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Harper trotted backwards and waved to Beka through the closing doors. He chuckled at the depth of his own genius. He knew he would catch hell for his little stunt later but it was worth it in his opinion. Besides, he now had the perfect excuse for getting out of combat training, thanks to Beka and her cold germs. He knew he was being childish about the lessons with Tyr but he *hated* being told what to do. He would rebel against authority with every ounce of energy he had. Not to mention, the challenge of finding new and interesting ways to avoid any work that didn't involve engineering or Andromeda.
Harper turned to face forward again and barely missed smacking headlong into Rev. Harper hit the brakes a little too quickly and Rev had to reach out a clawed hand to keep him from falling. "Master Harper!" Rev exclaimed with what Harper had learned a long time ago was a smile, "You must be very excited about your next lesson to be heading to the gymnasium in such a rush." He paused and narrowed his eyes, peering closely at Harper, "That is where you are going, isn't it?"
Harper looked at Rev, dumbfounded, "What is this?" He exclaimed. "Some kind of conspiracy?" He sidled past Rev as he continued, "No, wait, I know, it's a nightmare and any second now I'll probably find myself naked in front of a hundred dignitaries, right?"
"I am sure I don't know what you mean, Master Harper. Perhaps if you would like, I could accompany you to the gym and you could explain it to me on the way?" Rev said, turning to follow Harper as he inched down the corridor.
Harper held up his hands defensively, "No, no, that's ok Rev, I ah, have something to take care of before I meet Tyr, um, yeah. Thanks for the offer though. Bye!" Harper turned on his heel and sprinted down the corridor.
Rev stared after him, a look of amusement on his bat-like face. He couldn't help but smile at Harper's enthusiasm. He just wished that Harper would find more productive venues in which to channel his energy. Rev turned, about to continue on to Command when he was nearly run over again, this time by an irate Captain Valentine.
"Sorry Rev," She clipped, standing on her tiptoes to peer over his head at the corridor beyond.
"That is quite all right, Beka, it seems..."
"Did Harper come through here?" Beka interrupted, as she placed her hands on her hips, steam practically rolling out of her ears.
"Why yes, as a matter of fact he did. Beka, is something wrong?" Rev placed a hand on her arm.
"You bet your ass something's wrong! When I find that little pip-squeak, I'm gonna pound him into the deck plates! He's gonna wish he had paid attention to Tyr's lessons by the time I'm though with him. I'll..."
"Beka, violence is never the answer, no matter what Master Harper has done. Perhaps you would like to join me and meditate on your problem?" Rev said, trying to calm her down but Beka wasn't listening. She saw movement down one of the adjacent corridors.
"Yeah, maybe next time Rev, later!" Beka raced off, leaving Rev wishing he had never left the monastery.
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Harper skipped into medical and upon seeing Trance, he hopped up onto the exam table. "Trance-baby, get the yeshee dono board out, I'm gonna be keepin' ya company for a while!"
Trance assumed an exasperated stance. "Harper, what are you talking about. I gave you a check-up yesterday, you're completely healthy, well, as healthy as you ever are. You know, you *really* need to cut back on the Sparky."
Harper rolled his eyes, "Not the Sparky lecture again, babe, that's gettin' *really* old. But no, that's not why I am here." He lay back on the table, his fingers laced behind his head. "I'm sick! Put me on bed rest and heat up the chicken noodle soup!" Harper grinned smugly at his friend.
"Harper, what makes you think you're sick? You sure don't look sick to me."
"I have it on good authority that I have just contracted Beka's cold, and you know me and my weak immune system," Harper made exaggerated coughing noises, "I could be here for *weeks*!"
"You're still not making sense, Beka doesn't *have* a cold." Trance was tiring of this game, as much as she loved spending time with Harper, she *did* have work to do.
"She is too sick." Harper insisted.
"She is not."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Harper!" Trance shouted, "I am her doctor, I would know if she were sick."
"No you wouldn't." Harper grinned, he was having a grand old time.
"Yes, I would."
"No you wouldn't."
Trance gritted her teeth, clenched her eyes shut and stomped her tiny foot on the floor.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're cute when you're angry?" Harper teased.
Trance exhaled loudly and shook her head at Harper, "You're impossible, you know that?" She smiled at his proud grin. "Seriously, though, what makes you think you caught a cold from Beka?"
"Well, I saw her sneeze a buncha times and her nose was all stuffy." Harper explained.
Trance looked thoughtful, "Andromeda? Where is Beka right now?"
Andromeda's hologram flickered to life in front of them. "First Officer Beka Valentine is currently 10 meters from med bay." She looked at Harper, trying to keep the smirk off her face. "I believe she's looking for you."
"Oh, crap!" Harper exclaimed as he jumped off the exam table. "Trance! You gotta hide me! She's gonna kill me!"
"What? Trance couldn't help but get caught up in Harper's panic but then things started clicking into place. She folded her arms and gave Harper a hard stare. "What did you this time?"
When it was apparent that Trance wasn't gonna budge until she got an answer, Harper began searching the room himself as he said, "It has to do with how I got her cold, I'll tell ya everything later. Just help me find a place to hide!"
"This had better be worth it, Harper." Trance led him to a metal cooler where biological samples were kept chilled while they awaited diagnostic testing. After Harper entered the cooler he caught Trance's eye placed his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Trance nodded and closed the door.
No sooner had the door closed than Beka entered med bay. "Harper!" She yelled, "I know you're in here!"
Trance appeared from around a corner, a flexi in her hands. "Beka! What's up?" She said sweetly.
Beka glanced around the room angrily, "Have you seen Harper?"
"Harper?" Trance asked innocently, "I haven't seen him, why?"
Beka's shoulders slumped, she took out her tissue and blew her nose wetly. "Oh, I just need to teach him a lesson in personal space."
Trance nodded sympathetically as she took a closer look at Beka. "Are you feeling all right?"
Beka nodded and wiped her nose one last time before returning the tissue to her pocket. "I'm fine, just my allergies acting up." Beka waved a dismissing hand.
"But Beka, you don't have allergies." Trance frowned. "Come sit down and let me take a quick look at you."
"No, Trance, really I'm all right, I'll be even better after I get my hands around Harper's neck."
"Now, Beka," Trance said as she steered Beka to an exam table, "we both know you'd never *really* hurt Harper."
Not even realizing she'd been led, Beka sat down. "Yeah, true, but couldn't I at least *bend* him a little?" Trance giggled and pulled out an instrument from a nearby drawer as Beka continued. "He's just gotta know he can't go running around doing whatever he wants anymore. This isn't the Maru and it certainly *isn't* Earth. There are new rules to follow."
"I realize that Beka. He has made amazing progress though. We can't expect him to change overnight." While Beka was distracted, Trance used the instrument to draw some of her blood.
"Ouch! Trance, what the hell was that for?" Beka squealed, rubbing her now sore arm.
"Just checking on something, don't worry, you'll be fine."
Just then the two women heard a loud crash followed by a muffled *Ooops*.
"I *knew* he was in here!" Beka said as she hopped nimbly from the table. "Harper! You're dead meat!"
"Beka, wait..." Trance began but Beka was already headed toward the cooler. Trance reluctantly followed.
Beka stood before the door and called, "All right shorty, come out and take it like a man." She mentally counted to three, giving him a chance to give himself up then she grabbed the handle and yanked open the door.
Harper was nowhere to be seen. On the floor were several broken glass tubes and a shelf that had overturned. A whispered *ouch!* followed by a quiet curse got Beka's attention. She glanced toward the ceiling just in time to see Harper's scrawny butt squeezing through a ventilation shaft.
"Come down here you little coward!" Beka hissed as she jumped up to grab his foot before it could follow his butt into the shaft. She caught it and pulled with all her might, she heard Harper yelp and grinned. She had him now!
Suddenly Beka found herself on the floor of the cooler, Harper's empty boot in her hand. She looked up in time to see the socked foot it belonged to disappear through the opening.
Trance helped Beka up; they looked at each other, looked at the boot in Beka's hand. Both women promptly dissolved into a fit of giggles.
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TBC
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Harper trotted backwards and waved to Beka through the closing doors. He chuckled at the depth of his own genius. He knew he would catch hell for his little stunt later but it was worth it in his opinion. Besides, he now had the perfect excuse for getting out of combat training, thanks to Beka and her cold germs. He knew he was being childish about the lessons with Tyr but he *hated* being told what to do. He would rebel against authority with every ounce of energy he had. Not to mention, the challenge of finding new and interesting ways to avoid any work that didn't involve engineering or Andromeda.
Harper turned to face forward again and barely missed smacking headlong into Rev. Harper hit the brakes a little too quickly and Rev had to reach out a clawed hand to keep him from falling. "Master Harper!" Rev exclaimed with what Harper had learned a long time ago was a smile, "You must be very excited about your next lesson to be heading to the gymnasium in such a rush." He paused and narrowed his eyes, peering closely at Harper, "That is where you are going, isn't it?"
Harper looked at Rev, dumbfounded, "What is this?" He exclaimed. "Some kind of conspiracy?" He sidled past Rev as he continued, "No, wait, I know, it's a nightmare and any second now I'll probably find myself naked in front of a hundred dignitaries, right?"
"I am sure I don't know what you mean, Master Harper. Perhaps if you would like, I could accompany you to the gym and you could explain it to me on the way?" Rev said, turning to follow Harper as he inched down the corridor.
Harper held up his hands defensively, "No, no, that's ok Rev, I ah, have something to take care of before I meet Tyr, um, yeah. Thanks for the offer though. Bye!" Harper turned on his heel and sprinted down the corridor.
Rev stared after him, a look of amusement on his bat-like face. He couldn't help but smile at Harper's enthusiasm. He just wished that Harper would find more productive venues in which to channel his energy. Rev turned, about to continue on to Command when he was nearly run over again, this time by an irate Captain Valentine.
"Sorry Rev," She clipped, standing on her tiptoes to peer over his head at the corridor beyond.
"That is quite all right, Beka, it seems..."
"Did Harper come through here?" Beka interrupted, as she placed her hands on her hips, steam practically rolling out of her ears.
"Why yes, as a matter of fact he did. Beka, is something wrong?" Rev placed a hand on her arm.
"You bet your ass something's wrong! When I find that little pip-squeak, I'm gonna pound him into the deck plates! He's gonna wish he had paid attention to Tyr's lessons by the time I'm though with him. I'll..."
"Beka, violence is never the answer, no matter what Master Harper has done. Perhaps you would like to join me and meditate on your problem?" Rev said, trying to calm her down but Beka wasn't listening. She saw movement down one of the adjacent corridors.
"Yeah, maybe next time Rev, later!" Beka raced off, leaving Rev wishing he had never left the monastery.
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Harper skipped into medical and upon seeing Trance, he hopped up onto the exam table. "Trance-baby, get the yeshee dono board out, I'm gonna be keepin' ya company for a while!"
Trance assumed an exasperated stance. "Harper, what are you talking about. I gave you a check-up yesterday, you're completely healthy, well, as healthy as you ever are. You know, you *really* need to cut back on the Sparky."
Harper rolled his eyes, "Not the Sparky lecture again, babe, that's gettin' *really* old. But no, that's not why I am here." He lay back on the table, his fingers laced behind his head. "I'm sick! Put me on bed rest and heat up the chicken noodle soup!" Harper grinned smugly at his friend.
"Harper, what makes you think you're sick? You sure don't look sick to me."
"I have it on good authority that I have just contracted Beka's cold, and you know me and my weak immune system," Harper made exaggerated coughing noises, "I could be here for *weeks*!"
"You're still not making sense, Beka doesn't *have* a cold." Trance was tiring of this game, as much as she loved spending time with Harper, she *did* have work to do.
"She is too sick." Harper insisted.
"She is not."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Harper!" Trance shouted, "I am her doctor, I would know if she were sick."
"No you wouldn't." Harper grinned, he was having a grand old time.
"Yes, I would."
"No you wouldn't."
Trance gritted her teeth, clenched her eyes shut and stomped her tiny foot on the floor.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're cute when you're angry?" Harper teased.
Trance exhaled loudly and shook her head at Harper, "You're impossible, you know that?" She smiled at his proud grin. "Seriously, though, what makes you think you caught a cold from Beka?"
"Well, I saw her sneeze a buncha times and her nose was all stuffy." Harper explained.
Trance looked thoughtful, "Andromeda? Where is Beka right now?"
Andromeda's hologram flickered to life in front of them. "First Officer Beka Valentine is currently 10 meters from med bay." She looked at Harper, trying to keep the smirk off her face. "I believe she's looking for you."
"Oh, crap!" Harper exclaimed as he jumped off the exam table. "Trance! You gotta hide me! She's gonna kill me!"
"What? Trance couldn't help but get caught up in Harper's panic but then things started clicking into place. She folded her arms and gave Harper a hard stare. "What did you this time?"
When it was apparent that Trance wasn't gonna budge until she got an answer, Harper began searching the room himself as he said, "It has to do with how I got her cold, I'll tell ya everything later. Just help me find a place to hide!"
"This had better be worth it, Harper." Trance led him to a metal cooler where biological samples were kept chilled while they awaited diagnostic testing. After Harper entered the cooler he caught Trance's eye placed his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Trance nodded and closed the door.
No sooner had the door closed than Beka entered med bay. "Harper!" She yelled, "I know you're in here!"
Trance appeared from around a corner, a flexi in her hands. "Beka! What's up?" She said sweetly.
Beka glanced around the room angrily, "Have you seen Harper?"
"Harper?" Trance asked innocently, "I haven't seen him, why?"
Beka's shoulders slumped, she took out her tissue and blew her nose wetly. "Oh, I just need to teach him a lesson in personal space."
Trance nodded sympathetically as she took a closer look at Beka. "Are you feeling all right?"
Beka nodded and wiped her nose one last time before returning the tissue to her pocket. "I'm fine, just my allergies acting up." Beka waved a dismissing hand.
"But Beka, you don't have allergies." Trance frowned. "Come sit down and let me take a quick look at you."
"No, Trance, really I'm all right, I'll be even better after I get my hands around Harper's neck."
"Now, Beka," Trance said as she steered Beka to an exam table, "we both know you'd never *really* hurt Harper."
Not even realizing she'd been led, Beka sat down. "Yeah, true, but couldn't I at least *bend* him a little?" Trance giggled and pulled out an instrument from a nearby drawer as Beka continued. "He's just gotta know he can't go running around doing whatever he wants anymore. This isn't the Maru and it certainly *isn't* Earth. There are new rules to follow."
"I realize that Beka. He has made amazing progress though. We can't expect him to change overnight." While Beka was distracted, Trance used the instrument to draw some of her blood.
"Ouch! Trance, what the hell was that for?" Beka squealed, rubbing her now sore arm.
"Just checking on something, don't worry, you'll be fine."
Just then the two women heard a loud crash followed by a muffled *Ooops*.
"I *knew* he was in here!" Beka said as she hopped nimbly from the table. "Harper! You're dead meat!"
"Beka, wait..." Trance began but Beka was already headed toward the cooler. Trance reluctantly followed.
Beka stood before the door and called, "All right shorty, come out and take it like a man." She mentally counted to three, giving him a chance to give himself up then she grabbed the handle and yanked open the door.
Harper was nowhere to be seen. On the floor were several broken glass tubes and a shelf that had overturned. A whispered *ouch!* followed by a quiet curse got Beka's attention. She glanced toward the ceiling just in time to see Harper's scrawny butt squeezing through a ventilation shaft.
"Come down here you little coward!" Beka hissed as she jumped up to grab his foot before it could follow his butt into the shaft. She caught it and pulled with all her might, she heard Harper yelp and grinned. She had him now!
Suddenly Beka found herself on the floor of the cooler, Harper's empty boot in her hand. She looked up in time to see the socked foot it belonged to disappear through the opening.
Trance helped Beka up; they looked at each other, looked at the boot in Beka's hand. Both women promptly dissolved into a fit of giggles.
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TBC