Disclaimer: I don't own Andromeda, the crew or Harper but Zaim, Madra, Mallory and Adon Eblis are mine

Archive: Go ahead, that be great, just tell me

Email: reneestamour@yahoo.ca

Pairing: Harper/Trance still might happen

Author's Note: I know it's been so long I haven't updated this story, but here you go. I'll try not to make you wait so long next time. Just a couple of thing I've got to add about the significance of the names.

Zaim: leader, chief

Madra: mother

Mallory: war counselor

Adon: this means the Lord, but I use it as a title to show respect and power Eblis: devil

There's only going to be one more person that's going to have a name that has meaning, well maybe the others too but they wont be all that important. Oh and thanx for the reviews! I can't believe there's no slipstream anymore though. I wish it would come back, I liked that board. Hey if anyone wants to be my beta reader I'd appreciate it **looks around hopefully** Oh well on with the story.

Chapter 2

"What do you mean he's not onboard?" Dylan was annoyed. He couldn't believe that Harper had once again, somehow, gotten himself into trouble. After Beka had found out that her best friend was missing she had contacted Dylan and they had all gathered on the Maru. Dylan, Beka, Rommie and Tyr were all standing on the command deck while Trance had gone searching by herself, muttering incomprehensibly.

"Well, obviously, it means that he's no longer onboard.sir" Tyr said aggravated by Dylan's question. Although the annoyance was more brought on by his worry for Harper

Dylan's angry gaze shot up. He was so irritated that he was about to hit Tyr in the face, an act he realized later that he would have regretted. Luckily Beka intervened.

"Will you guys just quite it! For the love of God, Harper's more important right now, settle your dispute about who's more manly afterward." Beka walked away with Rommie, shaking her head, disgusted from their quarrel and trying not to hit both men herself just to knock some sense into them. Dylan and Tyr, both ashamed of their action, joined the women.

" Look we we're wrong and we're sorry, isn't that right Tyr?" Tyr sighed and gave a reluctant nod.

Everybody was silent when Rommie finally decided to speak up "Umm.is it just me or does anyone realize how everything just doesn't seem to make sense? I don't think it was the aliens from the portal; I don't detect any of their signatures so Harper couldn't just disappear without a trace. And second, the ship couldn't just find Andromeda in slipstream, let alone go into slipstream without a pilot."

"Your right, but." Dylan was cut off by a noise coming from one of the corridors. He was about to go investigate when Trance appeared still muttering to herself. While she was exploring she had discovered that whatever had happened to Harper had something to do with his past, not concerning Earth but another past. However, what confused her even more was the fact that it also related to herself and her people, although she didn't know how.

"Trance did you find something?" Beka asked hopefully.

Trance opened her mouth to say something but then frowned and stopped herself. She didn't know how much they could handle; let alone how much she could reveal. She was still fuzzy on the whole thing herself.

"His past caught up with him."

*****

The other man had shaken Harper pretty badly. He was glad that he had finally left but the image of his glowing red eyes wouldn't leave Harper's mind. He knew he had seen those eyes before and he also knew, for his best interest, that he had to get away from them and their owner. Something was very wrong here but Harper couldn't remember what. The only flicker of remembrance was the same as before: needles, pain and fire. He shuddered involuntarily.

"Such things are better avoided" Harper whispered to himself. He realized that his feet were bare and remembered the clothing in the closet.

"Well I guess it wouldn't be that bad if I borrowed some socks.and uh maybe some shoes. Its not like I'm giving in to them, whatever giving in to them would be." He was approaching the closet when he had a strange feeling. His vision started to blur and he felt faint; he put a hand on the wall to steady himself but it didn't help him.

**Flashback**

Harper had been quite startled by the change of scenery. Not that the place was that different, actually it was the same except it seemed bigger. What shocked him the most was the fact that he was now shorter and that there were also children in the room, and some didn't look human. He then realized that he himself was a child.

He could feel warm arms holding him tight. He felt safe in this embrace. He knew that whoever held him loved him very much and the feeling was returned, although he had no idea who this girl was. It was obvious that she was older then him in this odd memory. When he looked up the details of her face were hazy. The only clear thing he could tell was her beautiful red hair. There was also the distinct scent of vanilla, which was kind of odd in such a place but it somehow made sense. She had always had that sweet aroma around her and he was sure of that. Vanilla had forever been Harper's favorite scent. Thinking about this now he wondered if his preference had originated from this. Everything else was a blur, like his vanilla scented protector, he couldn't make out anyone else's faces either.

Just then he heard a door opening. The girl holding him tensed and held him even tighter. Another boy got up and stood in front of all the children. His stance was that of a leader protecting his charge. Harper knew he should recognize him more then anybody else but he still couldn't place him. He looked at the door that had just been opened and saw a new kid being thrown into the room. The man that had 'greeted' him after he had woken up that day, walked into the room. His appearance hadn't changed; although he did seem bigger. He was just as scary and menacing as before, even more so. As he looked at all the children his gaze fell upon Harper and a wicked smile crossed his face. The boy/leader tensed.

"Adon Eblis, sir." the child said trying to catch the cloaked figure's attention.

"Well Zaim it looks like you have a new 'brother' for your pathetic family here" the man said with a snarl.

"Protect them while you can," He said mockingly " because your sixteenth birthdays' coming up. After that we're taking you away from here." His eyes began to glow red. In a fluent movement he struck the boy's face. Zaim stumbled to his knees. The creature's nails dug into his flesh as he grabbed his throat and lifted him up. Harper wanted to go help him but the girl held him back. It wasn't really hard; Harper had only been a small child at the time.

Still holding the boy named Zaim, Eblis shrugged.

"Well it's not like it really matters, you're just as weak as the others. Your protection is worth nothing." Finally letting go of him he glanced at Harper for one last time and left the scared children. Zaim picked himself up and touched his soar throat. Pure raw anger filled Harper. He couldn't stand the way the Adon had treated the other boy. He felt the girl rocking him and he realized that she was whispering in his ears soothingly.

"Edan you need to calm yourself. You know what happens when you can't control your emotions" He knew she was right. Though the exact reason was still vague to him at the moment, he somehow felt that when this had actually happened he had known what she was talking about.

Then a small childish voice was heard " Zaim are you going to be alright". Harper realized he had been the one that had spoken. The older boy cleared his throat and smiled.

"Yes I'm fine Edan"

Drawing his attention to the new boy, Zaim approached him. He had huddled into a corner the second he had been released in the room. The only thing that Harper could make out of the stranger was that he appeared human.

"Hey there, my name's Zaim. I'm the oldest here" He stuck out his hand. The boy looked at his outstretched hand and then at his face. At last making a conclusion, he accepted the offered hand and got up.

"The name's Mallory." Zaim nodded. Mallory curiously peaked over Zaim's shoulder and looked at the other children.

"What 'bout them?" he took a couple of steps in their direction. Zaim turned to the girl that was holding Harper and smiled affectionately at her. Harper finally had a better look at him. He couldn't make out the exact details of his face but as he looked closer at him he realized that he wasn't human. From what he could tell the other boy had glowing silver eyes, pointed ears, and blue hair. Like the red haired girl, Harper felt close to him. He also knew that Zaim and the girl were somewhat of a couple.

"That's Madra and the little one she's holding is Edan. They're the only other humans right now. Edan's the youngest one here. We all pitch in in raising him, well the best that we can in this place anyways, especially Madra."

"Hi there"

Again Harper heard himself speak "I start fires. What's your gift?" But he didn't get the chance to hear Mallory's answer as the room faded away.

***End Flashback***

Lightheaded and ears buzzing, Harper staggered to his bed to lie down. The flashes had only lasted a minute but it had taken its toll on him. Finally recovered, Harper contemplated what had just happened and what it meant. To him none of this made sense. He clearly remembered his childhood on Earth. Not to mention the torture inflicted by the Neitzschean and the terror caused by the Magogs. However the memory had seemed so real. He reached out to touch the walls to see if they were actually there. To his surprise even the feel of them seemed familiar. Furthermore he didn't understand what had he meant when he had said he started fires. All he knew was that he hated them and he would never intentionally start one. Zaim, Madra and Mallory.who where this people Harper thought. He let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"I have to get out of here. This place is slowly driving me insane and I'm sure that the Adon what's his face isn't a psychiatrist." Weakened by the flashback, Harper drifted off to sleep.

Author's note: Yes its me again. I want to know if anyone can figure out who Zaim and Mallory really are.you don't know Madra or Eblis..think of this as a lil' quiz, lol