Tyr and Dylan exited Hanger 10. After taking everything they could from the
Nietzschean ship, they decontaminated ever inch of the hanger, getting rid
of any trace of the flower's pollen. It was menial, time consuming work,
but it was all they had to keep their minds off of Harper's condition.
"Andromeda, de-pressurize Hanger 10 and dispel the ship," Dylan
ordered.
"Aye," Andromeda responded. The outside door opened and the
Nietzschean vessel was slowly sucked out of the hanger, floating away into
space.
"As soon as it's within range, destroy it," Dylan ordered.
"Aye, Captain," Andromeda said. Tyr stared at Dylan in confusion.
"That ship brought nothing but trouble. I shouldn't have ordered a
rescue," Dylan said, leaning against the wall. He sighed. "Now, Harper may
die.and it's my fault."
"Your shift to pessimism may have amused me three years ago.but now I
find it disturbing," Tyr said.
"I'm sorry if I'm not living up to your expectations," Dylan said.
"You're not. You're living up to your own expectations and failing
them miserably," Tyr said. The Nietzschean sat next to Dylan. "I will miss
Harper if he dies. If he dies. The little professor is a survivor and I
know he will fight. But his fight will be worthless if we don't believe in
him."
"Dylan," called Andromeda.
"Yes, Andromeda?"
"Trance and my avatar have synthesized a cure for Harper's condition.
They are heading to medical," Andromeda said.
"Let's go!" Dylan said. He and Tyr bounded from the wall and rushed
down the nearest corridor to medical.
* * *
Beka entered medical again after hearing Andromeda's message about the cure. She was shocked when she saw how Harper's condition had deteriorated. Possibly paler than the last time, he was attached to a respirator. His chest rose and fell on a regulated schedule. Andromeda's hologram stood by his side, watching closely while Maria droids monitored the consoles. "He was having trouble breathing," Andromeda said. Beka stood on the other side of the bed, unable to stop her tears from flowing. Trance and Rommie entered the med deck, Trance holding a hypo-spray. "Is that it?" Beka asked Trance. Trance nodded and quickly went to work. Lifting the sleeve of the medical gown, she injected Harper with the antidote. Dylan and Tyr came in seconds later. "Is he all right?" Dylan asked. "We don't know," Beka said. She gently stroked Harper's cheek, willing him to open his eyes. "Open your eyes, Seamus." Harper's eyes opened weakly. He didn't seem to notice the respirator. His eyes smiled when he saw Beka. "Hey, Harper, you're gonna be okay," Beka said. She looked over her shoulder at Dylan and Tyr. "Everybody's here and we're all rooting for you." Harper searched the room, making eye contact with everyone. His smile never wavered. He looked back to Beka. She felt something brush her hand. Looking down, Harper's hand was open, inviting her to grab hold. She took his hand without a second thought. In those moments of joy she felt, thinking Harper would pull through, Beka didn't hear the sound of his heart rate speeding. She didn't even hear the sound of his heart going flat line. But she felt his grip on her hand relax to the point of it being nonexistent and she watched as his eyes rolled back, fluttering until they closed. "Harper! Seamus!" Beka shouted. "Beka, move!" Trance shouted. She had the defibrillator and clamped it over Harper's heart. "Clear!" Harper's body jumped but his heart didn't start. "Clear!" Trance shouted. Harper jumped again but still no heart beat shown. Trance looked at Dylan, the same look she'd had after the Nietzschean died. "No, Trance, that can't be it," Dylan said. "Do it again, Trance!" Beka shouted. "Beka." Trance started. "Again!" Beka ordered. Trance nodded. "Clear!" Trance shouted. For that brief moment, everyone held their breath. Harper jumped again. Instead of the droning tone of flat line, they heard the low, steady rhythm of Harper's heart beating. Trance sighed contentedly. "He's alive." They all needed to hear those words even if they heard his heart beating. Beka flew to Harper's side, gently stroking his hair and cheek, trying to stimulate his eyes to open. "You hear that, Harper? You made it. You've won," Beka whispered into his ear. She grabbed his hand and squeezed as hard as she could. When she loosened her grip, she felt the slightest pressure on her hand. She smiled, still stroking his hair. "You rest, Harper. I'll be here when you wake up." "We all will," Dylan said.
* * *
Trance walked into Hydroponics two weeks later, intending to do some much needed gardening. She stopped herself just as soon as she entered. Harper was standing by a group of new flowers she'd received form Singapore Drift via courier ship. She smiled warmly. Harper had been officially released from the med deck two days ago. He'd woken up two days after his near death experience, Beka by his side. He was weak and slept a great deal but he grew stronger with each passing day. It wasn't until the second week that Beka and Dylan started sneaking him little projects to work on. Harper even went as far as to direct repairs on the Maru using the com link since he wasn't strong enough to do the repairs himself. Trance finally let him go, telling him to take things slow while having Rommie update her on his condition every hour. Trance approached Harper, making sure her footsteps were loud so he knew she was there. "How're you feeling?" Trance asked. Harper smiled. Since waking up, he'd been smiling more often, but his smiles were different. There was more appreciation shining through than ever before. "Pretty good," he said. "You're not pushing yourself too hard?" Trance pressed. "I wouldn't be able to. I have you, Rommie, and Beka checking up on me every five seconds," he said, laughing good naturedly. "We're just concerned," she said. "I know," he said. He pointed at the new batch of flowers. "What're these called?" "I wouldn't think you'd want to be around flower for a while after." she cut herself off. "It's okay, Trance. I'm just curious," Harper said. "It's called the Sunset Blossom. Every ten years, the blossoms glow for an entire day," Trance said. "You like it? I could have one placed in your room." "That'd be great," Harper said. He paused, fidgeting on his feet. "Wanna know why I like it?" "Sure," Trance said. "Okay. Well, I'd have to say it's mostly the colors that I like. You see the outside petals? They're gold," Harper said. "Uh-huh," Trance said. Harper grinned. "But the inside of the flower, kinda blending with the gold, it's all purple," Harper said. Trance's smile grew, understanding the euphemism completely. "Harper, you're needed on command," Andromeda said. "On my way, Rommie," Harper said. He looked at Trance. "You'll make sure one of these gets to my room?" "Most definitely," Trance said. "See ya later," Harper said. She watched him walk away. She felt the tears forming in her eyes. One tear, fell down her cheek, landing on one of the petals of the Sunset Blossom. The flower glowed.
The End
* * *
Beka entered medical again after hearing Andromeda's message about the cure. She was shocked when she saw how Harper's condition had deteriorated. Possibly paler than the last time, he was attached to a respirator. His chest rose and fell on a regulated schedule. Andromeda's hologram stood by his side, watching closely while Maria droids monitored the consoles. "He was having trouble breathing," Andromeda said. Beka stood on the other side of the bed, unable to stop her tears from flowing. Trance and Rommie entered the med deck, Trance holding a hypo-spray. "Is that it?" Beka asked Trance. Trance nodded and quickly went to work. Lifting the sleeve of the medical gown, she injected Harper with the antidote. Dylan and Tyr came in seconds later. "Is he all right?" Dylan asked. "We don't know," Beka said. She gently stroked Harper's cheek, willing him to open his eyes. "Open your eyes, Seamus." Harper's eyes opened weakly. He didn't seem to notice the respirator. His eyes smiled when he saw Beka. "Hey, Harper, you're gonna be okay," Beka said. She looked over her shoulder at Dylan and Tyr. "Everybody's here and we're all rooting for you." Harper searched the room, making eye contact with everyone. His smile never wavered. He looked back to Beka. She felt something brush her hand. Looking down, Harper's hand was open, inviting her to grab hold. She took his hand without a second thought. In those moments of joy she felt, thinking Harper would pull through, Beka didn't hear the sound of his heart rate speeding. She didn't even hear the sound of his heart going flat line. But she felt his grip on her hand relax to the point of it being nonexistent and she watched as his eyes rolled back, fluttering until they closed. "Harper! Seamus!" Beka shouted. "Beka, move!" Trance shouted. She had the defibrillator and clamped it over Harper's heart. "Clear!" Harper's body jumped but his heart didn't start. "Clear!" Trance shouted. Harper jumped again but still no heart beat shown. Trance looked at Dylan, the same look she'd had after the Nietzschean died. "No, Trance, that can't be it," Dylan said. "Do it again, Trance!" Beka shouted. "Beka." Trance started. "Again!" Beka ordered. Trance nodded. "Clear!" Trance shouted. For that brief moment, everyone held their breath. Harper jumped again. Instead of the droning tone of flat line, they heard the low, steady rhythm of Harper's heart beating. Trance sighed contentedly. "He's alive." They all needed to hear those words even if they heard his heart beating. Beka flew to Harper's side, gently stroking his hair and cheek, trying to stimulate his eyes to open. "You hear that, Harper? You made it. You've won," Beka whispered into his ear. She grabbed his hand and squeezed as hard as she could. When she loosened her grip, she felt the slightest pressure on her hand. She smiled, still stroking his hair. "You rest, Harper. I'll be here when you wake up." "We all will," Dylan said.
* * *
Trance walked into Hydroponics two weeks later, intending to do some much needed gardening. She stopped herself just as soon as she entered. Harper was standing by a group of new flowers she'd received form Singapore Drift via courier ship. She smiled warmly. Harper had been officially released from the med deck two days ago. He'd woken up two days after his near death experience, Beka by his side. He was weak and slept a great deal but he grew stronger with each passing day. It wasn't until the second week that Beka and Dylan started sneaking him little projects to work on. Harper even went as far as to direct repairs on the Maru using the com link since he wasn't strong enough to do the repairs himself. Trance finally let him go, telling him to take things slow while having Rommie update her on his condition every hour. Trance approached Harper, making sure her footsteps were loud so he knew she was there. "How're you feeling?" Trance asked. Harper smiled. Since waking up, he'd been smiling more often, but his smiles were different. There was more appreciation shining through than ever before. "Pretty good," he said. "You're not pushing yourself too hard?" Trance pressed. "I wouldn't be able to. I have you, Rommie, and Beka checking up on me every five seconds," he said, laughing good naturedly. "We're just concerned," she said. "I know," he said. He pointed at the new batch of flowers. "What're these called?" "I wouldn't think you'd want to be around flower for a while after." she cut herself off. "It's okay, Trance. I'm just curious," Harper said. "It's called the Sunset Blossom. Every ten years, the blossoms glow for an entire day," Trance said. "You like it? I could have one placed in your room." "That'd be great," Harper said. He paused, fidgeting on his feet. "Wanna know why I like it?" "Sure," Trance said. "Okay. Well, I'd have to say it's mostly the colors that I like. You see the outside petals? They're gold," Harper said. "Uh-huh," Trance said. Harper grinned. "But the inside of the flower, kinda blending with the gold, it's all purple," Harper said. Trance's smile grew, understanding the euphemism completely. "Harper, you're needed on command," Andromeda said. "On my way, Rommie," Harper said. He looked at Trance. "You'll make sure one of these gets to my room?" "Most definitely," Trance said. "See ya later," Harper said. She watched him walk away. She felt the tears forming in her eyes. One tear, fell down her cheek, landing on one of the petals of the Sunset Blossom. The flower glowed.
The End