Warning for Harper owies and cliffhanger ;)
*******************
Gold Trance moaned and rolled onto her back, bringing her hands up to the lump forming on the back of her head. She glanced around, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She saw Beka and Rommie racing toward her and Harper. Harper! Feeling the first fingers of panic, she turned her head, frantically searching. Her gaze fell upon Harper's still form, his face deadly white but for the specks of blood dotting his right cheek. She got to her hands and knees and scrambled to his side. She heard herself muttering in defiance, "Nononononono." There was blood everywhere. Too much blood. Beka knelt on Harper's other side, tearing off her jacket, using it to try and stop the flow from the wound in Harper's stomach.
Trance felt Rommie's hands on her, hauling her viscously to her feet. Rommie secured Trance's arms behind her back, painfully. Trance realized she was still uttering a constant string of no's and that each one was louder and more furious than the last. She struggled against Rommie's iron clad grasp, her voice rising to a scream. She glared at Purple Trance and shrieked, "YOU KILLED HIM!"
Purple Trance staggered from the accusation, her expression pained. She frowned and gathered her resolve. She stared at the enraged gold woman. "Then I have succeeded." She said softly. Despite her attempt to appear uncaring, her face was pinched and her brow furrowed.
Dylan advanced on her, his forcelance aimed menacingly at her throat while Gold Trance continued her tirade, struggling to free herself and pull Purple Trance apart piece by piece.
"He's not dead." Beka said, one hand still applying pressure to the wound, the other against Harper's pale throat, feeling the weak pulse. "but he will be unless we do something NOW!"
"Rommie, have Tyr get here on the double, I'll need help taking these two to the brig. Beka, do what you can until he gets here. Rommie will be able to help you then. I'm not taking my eyes off the Purple one."
Dylan's words cut into Gold Trance's anger. She looked at Harper one more time and said, "The brig? Dylan no! I have to help Harper, I'm the only one who can save him!"
"Rommie is a perfectly qualified medic and Beka knows enough to be able to assist her. I'm not about to let *either* of you near him."
A small groan issued from the floor. Harper's eyes fluttered and he tried to speak. "Shhhh...it's ok, we're gonna take care of you." Beka soothed as she caressed his cheek with the back of her free hand. He made a feeble attempted to push her hand away from his wound.
"Hurts." He breathed.
"I know, Shorty, but it's the only thing keeping you with us right now. Just hang in there." She looked at Rommie, "What do I do? I have to do *something*!"
Before Rommie could answer, the med bay doors slid open and Tyr entered. He headed straight for Gold Trance, having been briefed by Andromeda en-route. He chanced a sideways glance at Harper. It looked as if the boy had lost every drop of blood in his system. Tyr could hear Harper's heart, it was still beating so there was hope. He took over control of Gold Trance allowing Rommie to grab some medical supplies and try to help Harper.
"Scans reveal his condition is worsening." Rommie said. As if to prove Rommie right, Harper gasped, his eyes widening with pain. His body began to tremble and then convulse.
"Harper!" Beka yelled.
"Dylan," Gold Trance said desperately, "Please, let me help him. He *is* the reason I came here. You know that. You saw me save him from the larva. I won't hurt him! Please!"
Dylan glanced at Harper, still shaking uncontrollably, then at Beka and Rommie. From their faces, he could tell it wasn't looking good for the engineer. "Tyr, release her. She may be his only chance."
Tyr gave Dylan a look of surprise but offered no remark or resistance. He let go of Trance's arms and she bolted for a medicine cabinet and grabbed a hypo-spray. She raced back to Harper and injected it into his neck. His seizure ceased almost immediately but he remained unconscious. She then began barking orders. "Beka, more pressure, it's still bleeding too much. Tyr, get Harper on a bed. Rommie, get some blood ready to transfuse." Tyr didn't hesitate, he carefully cradled Harper and placed him gently on the nearest bed. Beka was right beside Harper the whole way, trying to keep pressure on the wound while matching Tyr's graceful moves. Tyr stepped back to give the women room to work.
Dylan turned to Purple Trance. "Time to go." He said and motioned her out the doors. She nodded slowly and they left med bay.
"Ok Beka," Gold Trance said as she snapped on a pair of sterile gloves, "on three, take the jacket off, Rommie, be ready with suction and sponges. Judging by all the blood loss, he has a nicked or severed artery. I'll have to go in and clamp it before he bleeds to death. Ready?" Beka and Rommie nodded. "Ok, 1...2...3!"
Beka jerked the makeshift bandage back and Rommie applied suction as the wound quickly filled with blood.
Trance plunged her hand into Harper's abdomen. "Rommie, are your scans able to pinpoint the source of the bleeding?"
"Inconclusive. It appears to be emanating from the right renal artery but the blast did a lot of damage, things are pretty messed up in there."
Rommie was right. Trance observed that if she were able to stabilize him for surgery, she was going to have a *lot* of work to do. She concentrated on the task at hand. Harper *had* to make it.
"Found it!" Trance exclaimed, "Clamp!" Beka handed her a clamp then stepped back with a sigh of relief as Harper's vitals improved slightly.
"All right, lets get him prepped for surgery." Trance said as she flicked off her gloves. "Rommie, we're going to need more blood, a *lot* more."
"It's a good thing we keep an extra supply of Harper's type." Rommie remarked dryly.
"He was always such a klutz..." Trance began but she was stopped cold by Beka's hand on her upper arm.
"Remember, *Trance*, Tyr will be right out here. Rommie and I will be in there with you, watching you. If you try anything even remotely fishy, we'll make sure you *never* come back, from the dead or anywhere else. Understood?"
Trance gave a brief nod, her jaw set and eyes firm.
The three women set to work.
********************
Purple Trance didn't say a word on the long walk to the brig. Dylan was too worried to grill her just yet. He was frustrated and confused. He had always prided himself on being able to figure out who the enemy was, what they wanted and how far they were willing to go to achieve their goals. This was too much like Rhade. Dylan had thought of Trance as a close friend and ally, now here he was, betrayed again.
When they reached the brig Trance walked right into the nearest cell and sat down on the bed. She put her elbows on her knees and placed her face in her hands.
Dylan stood there wondering what to do next. He still knew nothing of her powers. He didn't even know if the brig could hold her. After a moment's hesitation, he grabbed a chair and moved it to the center of the room where he could keep constant watch. He sighed heavily and sat down. "Andromeda," he called. Andromeda's hologram flickered to life next to him. She threw Trance a disdainful look before turning her attention to Dylan.
"Yes Captain?" She said sweetly.
"What's Harper's status?"
"The *other* Trance found and clamped a torn blood vessel and they are now preparing to move him to the operating room."
"Okay, keep me updated."
"Yes Captain." Andromeda said. She shot Trance another look before fizzing out.
Dylan sighed again and ran his hand wearily down his face.
"Dylan?" Trance still had her hands over her face and her voice was slightly muffled.
"Yes?" He mumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He had the beginnings of a killer headache.
"Did Beka tell you about what happened when I left to go to the future?" She asked from behind her hands.
"Yes." He said, suddenly interested.
"Did she tell you what that gold liar said to me?"
"Well, not word for word, she told me that the future Trance told you that you had made mistakes and she was here to correct them. She also said that you needed to switch places to do that."
Trance slid her hands down her face and rested her chin on them. She looked terrible. Her eyes were red-rimmed, the lines under them darker, her skin pale. Dylan could have sworn her hair had more red in it. "I feel like such a fool, Dylan. She didn't only lie to me, she tricked me. When I saw her, I asked her if she was me, from the future. Do you know what she said?"
"No, I don't." Dylan stated.
"She said 'More or less'." Trance sighed heavily again. "It was *less*."
*************************
*******************
Gold Trance moaned and rolled onto her back, bringing her hands up to the lump forming on the back of her head. She glanced around, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She saw Beka and Rommie racing toward her and Harper. Harper! Feeling the first fingers of panic, she turned her head, frantically searching. Her gaze fell upon Harper's still form, his face deadly white but for the specks of blood dotting his right cheek. She got to her hands and knees and scrambled to his side. She heard herself muttering in defiance, "Nononononono." There was blood everywhere. Too much blood. Beka knelt on Harper's other side, tearing off her jacket, using it to try and stop the flow from the wound in Harper's stomach.
Trance felt Rommie's hands on her, hauling her viscously to her feet. Rommie secured Trance's arms behind her back, painfully. Trance realized she was still uttering a constant string of no's and that each one was louder and more furious than the last. She struggled against Rommie's iron clad grasp, her voice rising to a scream. She glared at Purple Trance and shrieked, "YOU KILLED HIM!"
Purple Trance staggered from the accusation, her expression pained. She frowned and gathered her resolve. She stared at the enraged gold woman. "Then I have succeeded." She said softly. Despite her attempt to appear uncaring, her face was pinched and her brow furrowed.
Dylan advanced on her, his forcelance aimed menacingly at her throat while Gold Trance continued her tirade, struggling to free herself and pull Purple Trance apart piece by piece.
"He's not dead." Beka said, one hand still applying pressure to the wound, the other against Harper's pale throat, feeling the weak pulse. "but he will be unless we do something NOW!"
"Rommie, have Tyr get here on the double, I'll need help taking these two to the brig. Beka, do what you can until he gets here. Rommie will be able to help you then. I'm not taking my eyes off the Purple one."
Dylan's words cut into Gold Trance's anger. She looked at Harper one more time and said, "The brig? Dylan no! I have to help Harper, I'm the only one who can save him!"
"Rommie is a perfectly qualified medic and Beka knows enough to be able to assist her. I'm not about to let *either* of you near him."
A small groan issued from the floor. Harper's eyes fluttered and he tried to speak. "Shhhh...it's ok, we're gonna take care of you." Beka soothed as she caressed his cheek with the back of her free hand. He made a feeble attempted to push her hand away from his wound.
"Hurts." He breathed.
"I know, Shorty, but it's the only thing keeping you with us right now. Just hang in there." She looked at Rommie, "What do I do? I have to do *something*!"
Before Rommie could answer, the med bay doors slid open and Tyr entered. He headed straight for Gold Trance, having been briefed by Andromeda en-route. He chanced a sideways glance at Harper. It looked as if the boy had lost every drop of blood in his system. Tyr could hear Harper's heart, it was still beating so there was hope. He took over control of Gold Trance allowing Rommie to grab some medical supplies and try to help Harper.
"Scans reveal his condition is worsening." Rommie said. As if to prove Rommie right, Harper gasped, his eyes widening with pain. His body began to tremble and then convulse.
"Harper!" Beka yelled.
"Dylan," Gold Trance said desperately, "Please, let me help him. He *is* the reason I came here. You know that. You saw me save him from the larva. I won't hurt him! Please!"
Dylan glanced at Harper, still shaking uncontrollably, then at Beka and Rommie. From their faces, he could tell it wasn't looking good for the engineer. "Tyr, release her. She may be his only chance."
Tyr gave Dylan a look of surprise but offered no remark or resistance. He let go of Trance's arms and she bolted for a medicine cabinet and grabbed a hypo-spray. She raced back to Harper and injected it into his neck. His seizure ceased almost immediately but he remained unconscious. She then began barking orders. "Beka, more pressure, it's still bleeding too much. Tyr, get Harper on a bed. Rommie, get some blood ready to transfuse." Tyr didn't hesitate, he carefully cradled Harper and placed him gently on the nearest bed. Beka was right beside Harper the whole way, trying to keep pressure on the wound while matching Tyr's graceful moves. Tyr stepped back to give the women room to work.
Dylan turned to Purple Trance. "Time to go." He said and motioned her out the doors. She nodded slowly and they left med bay.
"Ok Beka," Gold Trance said as she snapped on a pair of sterile gloves, "on three, take the jacket off, Rommie, be ready with suction and sponges. Judging by all the blood loss, he has a nicked or severed artery. I'll have to go in and clamp it before he bleeds to death. Ready?" Beka and Rommie nodded. "Ok, 1...2...3!"
Beka jerked the makeshift bandage back and Rommie applied suction as the wound quickly filled with blood.
Trance plunged her hand into Harper's abdomen. "Rommie, are your scans able to pinpoint the source of the bleeding?"
"Inconclusive. It appears to be emanating from the right renal artery but the blast did a lot of damage, things are pretty messed up in there."
Rommie was right. Trance observed that if she were able to stabilize him for surgery, she was going to have a *lot* of work to do. She concentrated on the task at hand. Harper *had* to make it.
"Found it!" Trance exclaimed, "Clamp!" Beka handed her a clamp then stepped back with a sigh of relief as Harper's vitals improved slightly.
"All right, lets get him prepped for surgery." Trance said as she flicked off her gloves. "Rommie, we're going to need more blood, a *lot* more."
"It's a good thing we keep an extra supply of Harper's type." Rommie remarked dryly.
"He was always such a klutz..." Trance began but she was stopped cold by Beka's hand on her upper arm.
"Remember, *Trance*, Tyr will be right out here. Rommie and I will be in there with you, watching you. If you try anything even remotely fishy, we'll make sure you *never* come back, from the dead or anywhere else. Understood?"
Trance gave a brief nod, her jaw set and eyes firm.
The three women set to work.
********************
Purple Trance didn't say a word on the long walk to the brig. Dylan was too worried to grill her just yet. He was frustrated and confused. He had always prided himself on being able to figure out who the enemy was, what they wanted and how far they were willing to go to achieve their goals. This was too much like Rhade. Dylan had thought of Trance as a close friend and ally, now here he was, betrayed again.
When they reached the brig Trance walked right into the nearest cell and sat down on the bed. She put her elbows on her knees and placed her face in her hands.
Dylan stood there wondering what to do next. He still knew nothing of her powers. He didn't even know if the brig could hold her. After a moment's hesitation, he grabbed a chair and moved it to the center of the room where he could keep constant watch. He sighed heavily and sat down. "Andromeda," he called. Andromeda's hologram flickered to life next to him. She threw Trance a disdainful look before turning her attention to Dylan.
"Yes Captain?" She said sweetly.
"What's Harper's status?"
"The *other* Trance found and clamped a torn blood vessel and they are now preparing to move him to the operating room."
"Okay, keep me updated."
"Yes Captain." Andromeda said. She shot Trance another look before fizzing out.
Dylan sighed again and ran his hand wearily down his face.
"Dylan?" Trance still had her hands over her face and her voice was slightly muffled.
"Yes?" He mumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He had the beginnings of a killer headache.
"Did Beka tell you about what happened when I left to go to the future?" She asked from behind her hands.
"Yes." He said, suddenly interested.
"Did she tell you what that gold liar said to me?"
"Well, not word for word, she told me that the future Trance told you that you had made mistakes and she was here to correct them. She also said that you needed to switch places to do that."
Trance slid her hands down her face and rested her chin on them. She looked terrible. Her eyes were red-rimmed, the lines under them darker, her skin pale. Dylan could have sworn her hair had more red in it. "I feel like such a fool, Dylan. She didn't only lie to me, she tricked me. When I saw her, I asked her if she was me, from the future. Do you know what she said?"
"No, I don't." Dylan stated.
"She said 'More or less'." Trance sighed heavily again. "It was *less*."
*************************