The Long Road
By Dawn Nyberg
Disclaimer: Tribune owns the characters of Andromeda. There is no profit being made.
Read and review :)
************************************************************************
Tyr put his finger on the power button, but stopped - he thought he had seen something in his peripheral vision . movement. He stared at Harper. He walked over to the boy. He appeared as he had for days. unmoving. "Little man?" Tyr reached down and picked up a limp hand. "Harper?" Tyr's voice almost sounded pleading. It was breaking through the shadows. Tyr watched in amazement as Harper's fingers curled around his own. The grip was weak, but the Nietzschean was elated.
**Two Days Later**
Dylan, Beka, Trance and Tyr sat around a large conference table with the doctor and other medical personnel. They had gone over quite a lot with Dylan and the others since Harper had regained consciousness.
"He must relearn a great deal, Captain Hunt. His speech was affected and he will need to practice."
"But, he'll recover?"
"Yes, but it will take time. His speech is what we medically call aphasic. I mean when he tries to speak - in his head he knows full well what he wants to say, but it comes out often backwards or disjointed."
"For example?" Dylan questioned.
"Well, the boy could mean to say something as simple as, 'I want some water.' But, it may come out sounding like, 'I some water want' or a variation on the theme."
"Does he realize it?" Beka questioned. Her face was drawn with fatigue.
"Yes, he knows that when he speaks it sounds weird to him and that something is not right. That has been a problem for us - because he does not wish to really speak except in one-word answers or not at all. Aside from the speech problem - Mr. Harper has as I stated incurred some motor dexterity problems."
"Dexterity problems?" Dylan wanted and needed to know the extent of Harper's problems.
"We've noted that he is having a great deal of difficulty in fine movements. I mean holding a writing instrument or some of his engineering equipment will be difficult for a while. But, physical therapy will help fine tune those weak areas for him."
"The oxygen loss he suffered from the blood loss - aside from the problems you've noted. His brain is intact . correct?"
"If you're asking if he has suffered a permanent brain injury from the oxygen loss. no, but he has a possibly lengthy recovery." The doctor paused, "It just depends."
"Depends?" Both Dylan and Beka asked in unison.
"He will have to have speech and physical therapy, but he will recover."
"Is he stable enough to return to the Andromeda where he can be cared for?" Trance finally spoke.
The doctor shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"What's wrong?" Dylan questioned with concern.
"Nothing with Mr. Harper, Captain Hunt. It's just that I do agree he is stable enough to depart our medical facility. Aside from suggesting some therapies to aide in his recovery . we have done what we can."
"Then what is it?"
"I don't think returning to the Andromeda would be the best option for young Mr. Harper right now. I've consulted with the other doctors and we have agreed that returning to the Andromeda right now may be too detrimental to his recovery. It will simply remind him of what he can't do right now . like his duties as engineer to the Andromeda."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"I'll stay and look after him." Beka answered quickly.
"No." Finally, Tyr spoke up.
"No?" Beka straightened in her chair. "What do you mean no?"
"Captain Valentine," Tyr began. "Your intentions mean well, but I seriously doubt that the boy will be comfortable with you. Not only is he incapacitated in a sense, but he remembers full well the current tension between yourself and him before his injury."
"I can put that aside. He needs help."
"He has a good point Beka. Maybe." But, before Dylan could offer himself as a suggestion the Nietzschean stopped him.
"No, Captain Hunt. You will only remind him that he currently has limitations."
"Then what do you suggest," Dylan questioned.
Tyr sat for a long moment and said nothing.
"What?" Beka chuckled quietly. "Let me guess you'll do it."
"And, this amuses you," Tyr said straight-faced.
"Oh, come on, Tyr. You! He's a Kludge to you.just a Human. Why would you?"
Tyr bristled in his seat. "The boy is not a Kludge. I have never called him that! You ask why. because I'm probably the only one that can make this all work. Harper has always strived to be worthy in my eyes. But, I've never thought him unworthy. I can help him and I believe he will let me."
"I'm sorry." Beka offered. Tyr nodded an acceptance to her apology.
"Well, Tyr. what do you suggest," Dylan inquired.
"I would like to use the Maru. I thought I would take the boy to Arabus. It is a quiet planet and we should not have any problems there." Beka, Dylan and Trance were all familiar with Arabus. It was a beautiful planet with a large mountain range and known for its lush wilderness.
"Where would you stay?" Dylan questioned.
"I have stayed on Arabus before. They often have vacant cabins that can be rented for a nominal fee."
The crew talked things over for a while longer. Dylan and Beka had finally given in to the fact that Harper would in fact probably do much better with Tyr than he would do with either of them or even Trance. The doctor had given Tyr information of how to approach the physical and speech therapy Harper needed. Now, they only had t talk to the young man. "I guess we should tell him." Dylan said as he started to stand.
"I think I should do it," Tyr offered. "In fact, I think we should say our goodbye's now and you can see the boy when we return to the Andromeda."
"What!?" Beka could not believe what she was hearing.
"Beka," Dylan stopped her. "I think I understand what Tyr is trying to convey. Maybe, Harper doesn't need to see us right now. He knows he has some explaining to do . especially to you. He's still weak."
"I know you're right," Beka interrupted him She turned her attention to Tyr - her eyes intense. "You take care of him."
"I will."
Tyr walked toward the medical facility after seeing Beka, Dylan and Trance off in a slip fighter and leaving the Maru for him. He had told Dylan he would send a communication to him once he and the boy reached Arabus to let them know they were there. He walked into Harper's room at the facility.
"Hello Little Man." He tried to keep his voice light. Harper looked at him, but said nothing. "Cat got your tongue?"
"Hey," Harper said quietly. The doctor had informed Tyr that Harper didn't have trouble with one-word answers, but it was actual speech that was posing the problem and Tyr didn't want to let Harper off the hook. If he were going to help him he would have to be tough.
"Just hey?" He heard Harper's heart rate increase. "Look Harper . I know you don't want to speak, but you have to. It's the only way . unless you prefer it this way."
"No! Want I to speak." he said in frustration. "But .stupid." He had paused between words. He had so much to say.
"Don't call yourself stupid Harper. Do you hear me?" Tyr raised his tone.
"Can't."
"Can't is no longer a part of your vocabulary. Am I understood? I'm getting you out of here."
Harper looked up at him with expectant eyes. ".I can't Andromeda return .not.yet."
"We're not going back to the Andromeda Little Man . at least not yet."
"Where?"
"You'll see."
Tyr knew the road may be long, but the sooner he got the boy out of here and to Arabus - the recovery process could begin.
By Dawn Nyberg
Disclaimer: Tribune owns the characters of Andromeda. There is no profit being made.
Read and review :)
************************************************************************
Tyr put his finger on the power button, but stopped - he thought he had seen something in his peripheral vision . movement. He stared at Harper. He walked over to the boy. He appeared as he had for days. unmoving. "Little man?" Tyr reached down and picked up a limp hand. "Harper?" Tyr's voice almost sounded pleading. It was breaking through the shadows. Tyr watched in amazement as Harper's fingers curled around his own. The grip was weak, but the Nietzschean was elated.
**Two Days Later**
Dylan, Beka, Trance and Tyr sat around a large conference table with the doctor and other medical personnel. They had gone over quite a lot with Dylan and the others since Harper had regained consciousness.
"He must relearn a great deal, Captain Hunt. His speech was affected and he will need to practice."
"But, he'll recover?"
"Yes, but it will take time. His speech is what we medically call aphasic. I mean when he tries to speak - in his head he knows full well what he wants to say, but it comes out often backwards or disjointed."
"For example?" Dylan questioned.
"Well, the boy could mean to say something as simple as, 'I want some water.' But, it may come out sounding like, 'I some water want' or a variation on the theme."
"Does he realize it?" Beka questioned. Her face was drawn with fatigue.
"Yes, he knows that when he speaks it sounds weird to him and that something is not right. That has been a problem for us - because he does not wish to really speak except in one-word answers or not at all. Aside from the speech problem - Mr. Harper has as I stated incurred some motor dexterity problems."
"Dexterity problems?" Dylan wanted and needed to know the extent of Harper's problems.
"We've noted that he is having a great deal of difficulty in fine movements. I mean holding a writing instrument or some of his engineering equipment will be difficult for a while. But, physical therapy will help fine tune those weak areas for him."
"The oxygen loss he suffered from the blood loss - aside from the problems you've noted. His brain is intact . correct?"
"If you're asking if he has suffered a permanent brain injury from the oxygen loss. no, but he has a possibly lengthy recovery." The doctor paused, "It just depends."
"Depends?" Both Dylan and Beka asked in unison.
"He will have to have speech and physical therapy, but he will recover."
"Is he stable enough to return to the Andromeda where he can be cared for?" Trance finally spoke.
The doctor shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"What's wrong?" Dylan questioned with concern.
"Nothing with Mr. Harper, Captain Hunt. It's just that I do agree he is stable enough to depart our medical facility. Aside from suggesting some therapies to aide in his recovery . we have done what we can."
"Then what is it?"
"I don't think returning to the Andromeda would be the best option for young Mr. Harper right now. I've consulted with the other doctors and we have agreed that returning to the Andromeda right now may be too detrimental to his recovery. It will simply remind him of what he can't do right now . like his duties as engineer to the Andromeda."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"I'll stay and look after him." Beka answered quickly.
"No." Finally, Tyr spoke up.
"No?" Beka straightened in her chair. "What do you mean no?"
"Captain Valentine," Tyr began. "Your intentions mean well, but I seriously doubt that the boy will be comfortable with you. Not only is he incapacitated in a sense, but he remembers full well the current tension between yourself and him before his injury."
"I can put that aside. He needs help."
"He has a good point Beka. Maybe." But, before Dylan could offer himself as a suggestion the Nietzschean stopped him.
"No, Captain Hunt. You will only remind him that he currently has limitations."
"Then what do you suggest," Dylan questioned.
Tyr sat for a long moment and said nothing.
"What?" Beka chuckled quietly. "Let me guess you'll do it."
"And, this amuses you," Tyr said straight-faced.
"Oh, come on, Tyr. You! He's a Kludge to you.just a Human. Why would you?"
Tyr bristled in his seat. "The boy is not a Kludge. I have never called him that! You ask why. because I'm probably the only one that can make this all work. Harper has always strived to be worthy in my eyes. But, I've never thought him unworthy. I can help him and I believe he will let me."
"I'm sorry." Beka offered. Tyr nodded an acceptance to her apology.
"Well, Tyr. what do you suggest," Dylan inquired.
"I would like to use the Maru. I thought I would take the boy to Arabus. It is a quiet planet and we should not have any problems there." Beka, Dylan and Trance were all familiar with Arabus. It was a beautiful planet with a large mountain range and known for its lush wilderness.
"Where would you stay?" Dylan questioned.
"I have stayed on Arabus before. They often have vacant cabins that can be rented for a nominal fee."
The crew talked things over for a while longer. Dylan and Beka had finally given in to the fact that Harper would in fact probably do much better with Tyr than he would do with either of them or even Trance. The doctor had given Tyr information of how to approach the physical and speech therapy Harper needed. Now, they only had t talk to the young man. "I guess we should tell him." Dylan said as he started to stand.
"I think I should do it," Tyr offered. "In fact, I think we should say our goodbye's now and you can see the boy when we return to the Andromeda."
"What!?" Beka could not believe what she was hearing.
"Beka," Dylan stopped her. "I think I understand what Tyr is trying to convey. Maybe, Harper doesn't need to see us right now. He knows he has some explaining to do . especially to you. He's still weak."
"I know you're right," Beka interrupted him She turned her attention to Tyr - her eyes intense. "You take care of him."
"I will."
Tyr walked toward the medical facility after seeing Beka, Dylan and Trance off in a slip fighter and leaving the Maru for him. He had told Dylan he would send a communication to him once he and the boy reached Arabus to let them know they were there. He walked into Harper's room at the facility.
"Hello Little Man." He tried to keep his voice light. Harper looked at him, but said nothing. "Cat got your tongue?"
"Hey," Harper said quietly. The doctor had informed Tyr that Harper didn't have trouble with one-word answers, but it was actual speech that was posing the problem and Tyr didn't want to let Harper off the hook. If he were going to help him he would have to be tough.
"Just hey?" He heard Harper's heart rate increase. "Look Harper . I know you don't want to speak, but you have to. It's the only way . unless you prefer it this way."
"No! Want I to speak." he said in frustration. "But .stupid." He had paused between words. He had so much to say.
"Don't call yourself stupid Harper. Do you hear me?" Tyr raised his tone.
"Can't."
"Can't is no longer a part of your vocabulary. Am I understood? I'm getting you out of here."
Harper looked up at him with expectant eyes. ".I can't Andromeda return .not.yet."
"We're not going back to the Andromeda Little Man . at least not yet."
"Where?"
"You'll see."
Tyr knew the road may be long, but the sooner he got the boy out of here and to Arabus - the recovery process could begin.