Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Andromeda characters and all the rest of
the standard disclaimer that you could find written better on other
stories. Haven't made it for profit so please don't sue.
Ghosts, nightmares and love.
'If you can't get it here it doesn't exist.' Throck, operator of a black market.
The Eureka Maru pulled out of the slipstream and headed to the Drift.
"This is your Acting Captain Seamus Zelazny Harper speaking. We'll shortly be arriving at Horse Head drift, home of the 2-liter beer stein, Nebular Burgers and the best hot tubs in 20 systems." Harper said from the pilot's seat. He was dressed in his usual attire of Hawaiian shirt, white T-shirt that was slightly dirty, and well warn cargo pants.
Rommie looked over at him unimpressed and crossed her arms over her chest, she had on the matching blue top and pants that Beka and Trance had giving her and she liked. "Harper we're going there to get needed supplies and that's it! And may I ask why did I have to accompany you anyway." Preferring to stay on broad Andromeda unless it meant going somewhere with Dylan or important missions.
Harper mocked a seductive tone and grin. " My beautiful Rommie, I thought we could enjoy the hot tubs."
Rommie just gave him a look of contempt, like she had so many times before. Truthfully she did like his flirting on occasions.
He saw her expression and gave an unarming grin and gesture. "It was a joke." He let out a sigh. "Look, the best person to talk to about some of the parts we need on Horse Head drift is a Cranite named Throck, unfortunately he only speaks Cranian and Than. And since Rev left that leaves you as the only crew-member who could communicate with him without us being ripped off by the translator."
Her look of contempt changed to understanding and accepting, he'd obviously thought it out and made a wise decision, which she couldn't always say about him. "Very well Harper, you made your point. Do you mind if I ask, how do you know so much about this drift?"
A big smile appeared and a far away look crossed his eyes before he came back. "Horse Head drift is one of the drifts I spent some of the three years between leaving Earth and joining up with Beka. I might have only been there for only three months of that time but I did have a few good times there, while I went broke and got kicked off back too Earth, where weeks later I joined up with Beka."
"From what you have said I'm guessing they involved large amounts of alcohol and gorging yourself on ground up meat." She said giving a knowing smile and crossing her arms. Even if she couldn't understand his eating habits, she knew that's some of what he'd class a 'good time'.
"Hey you forgot the hot tubs, mustn't forget about the hot tubs." Harper said in his usual chirpy tone, and child like expression. He knew she didn't understand why they made him happy but he hoped with the up-grade that he'd given her she soon might.
Rommie lowered her head, shook it and tried not to laugh. Seeing Harper hyped up like a big kid always made her smile and use some of the other emotions that he'd installed into the humanoid body when he built it. She'd been amazed that he was so talented with all the extras he'd given her even if she hadn't fully used or utilized them yet.
If Rommie thought about it, it was always Harper cracking the jokes or trying to keep things light, unless it had something to do with his personal demons.
A flashing light on her screen caught Rommie's attention. Checking it she said. "Harper it seems that you have some mail and also a package waiting for you on the drift."
"Whoa, I hope it's not anything urgent because I haven't been here and checked it in three years." He said just glancing over at the dates on the mail. One of them was almost 3 years old, but the others were just from a few weeks ago.
Harper flicked on the oldest one when he saw whom it was from.
A brunette in her early thirties that looked rather respectable and intelligent and also from what Trance and Beka had taught Rommie, she'd say very attractive appeared on the video screen.
"Hello Seamus, its Erica. I just sent this to say hi and see how you were going. I don't know if you're still there, but I just thought I'd remind you that my door's always open if you want to see me. Look after yourself OK. Bye"
Rommie was a little surprised, she didn't know what to make of the woman. Whoever Erica was she seemed to be a better class of woman than the type Harper usually, on those rare occasions, managed to get with. Which usually meant trouble!
Before Rommie could wonder anymore about the message Harper flicked on one of the newer ones.
Erica appeared on the screen again. "Hello Seamus, I guess your not there anymore. Knowing you you're probably left and are seeing the universe, meeting women, and finding the best bars the known worlds have to offer." Erica smiled to herself. "Anyway if you ever get this remember my door's always open to you or I could come to you if you want. Please at least drop me a line and tell me how things are going. See you Harper."
Rommie got even more surprised that this woman seemed to actually know him that well. After all most women she'd seen Harper interact with had wanted to inflict a good amount of pain on him or never lay eyes on him again.
Harper smiled to himself, he knew Erica wouldn't mention their true relationship in the message because she hardly treated it in the proper manner over the 2 & ¾ years they'd know each other.
"Harper do you mind if I ask, how do you know that women?" She asked curiously.
"My sweet Rom-doll why do you wish to know?" He asked flirtingly.
Rommie felt a little guilty as she remembered the reason she asked, after all Beka, Trance and herself had all seen that other part of him which women liked. "Well Harper it's just she seems to be different from the women you usually . date." Even with her massive intellect it was difficult for her to find a tactful way to mention his flings, one nightstands and most of the women he hit on.
He smiled at Rommie's attempt at being polite about the women he'd been with. His face did fall a bit when he started to run down the list of women that he'd been intimate with lately, it was a very, very short list, and then compared them with Erica. It then clicked what Rommie meant by it, 'Erica was a lot better class so why would she have anything to do with him'.
"What are you saying she's to good for me?" He asked a feeling insulted and turning to her.
Quickly she back peddled. "Look I didn't mean anything by it, its just most better class women wouldn't take the time to get to know you that well or to see the other sides of you." She'd walked over as she'd said it and put her hand on the back of his seat. He'd turned his attention back to piloting when she'd started talking.
This gave Harper something to ponder. He knew he had a good side that was always bought out by the goodness of his shipmates, except when standing with Tyr. And also the darker, less forgiving, meaner side (e.g. interaction with Gerentex) that he'd had for a large amount of his life on earth but rarely showed now. Yet he couldn't workout what she'd meant. "What do you mean other side?" He asked looking a little confused at her.
Rommie could see that he truly didn't know what she was talking about. "Harper I'm talking about your kinder side, where you try to help your friends even when you know your not good at it or when you'll risk your life to protect others. Also there are times when you'll let us see that there's a serous or emotional side to you."
Harper raised his eyebrows, he'd never really thought about that stuff before even though a long time ago someone else had told him some thing the same. "Sorry Rommie for taking it the wrong way. I'm glade you seen you've seen that side of me even if I haven't." He said apologetically.
"It's OK Harper, I shouldn't have pried into your personal relationship with that woman." Rommie replied realizing that she never did get a straight answer from him.
"No, it's OK Rommie, I guess I'm a little standoffish about my past. Heck your one of few women who've seen those traits, I've never noticed them and probably the only person apart form my psychologist whose told me I've got them." Harper said in a more serous than usual tone. He turned back around to check their flight path and gave a little evil grin, now all he had to do was wait and see if she would take the bait.
As he spoke she listened and thought. He was right he was quite about his past, except for in the occasional outburst, yet who from this time wasn't. Maybe Rev Bem and she had managed to amass a great deal of information about Beka.
'WAIT' suddenly it hit her. It had taken her a second, which was very slow for an android of her disposition. She even looked up Her internal dictionary to recheck the meaning of the word. The shock and disbelief were quite clear on her face.
He's said that he'd seen a Psychologist. She looked down at the back of his head and just had to do it. "When on earth did you see a psychologist?" Harper turned and when she saw his evil grin she knew she'd been baited, but then added. "And most importantly why did you stop?"
Still smiling Harper said. "Look I'm going to be honest about some personal stuff here so this has to stay between us OK?"
Rommie realized this meant that none of the rest of the crew must of knew about it and he wanted it kept quite. "OK I promise not to say anything." She didn't know if it was one of the emotions he'd given her or something else but the fact that Harper was opening up to her made her feel happy and privileged, the fact that few if anybody else knew even more so.
"OK. When I was 19 I got offered a job by a car go company. They used people from Earth because we're cheap and it turns out that in some places you get tax deductions for hiring refugees, heck sometimes the government even paid half the tiny wages." He smile had turned a little cynical as he thought about it.
"Ah, that's interesting Harper but what has that got to do with you seeing a psychologist?" She asked gentle, curiously but seeing some anger rising.
"My Beautiful Battleship Babe I'm getting to it." He said seductively. Rommie just shook her head, this was pure Harper.
"The company I worked for was more generous and smart than other out there. Generous because if they liked how you performed on exams, runs and psych tests after three months they gave you a chance to get a data port, if you were willing to sign a 2 year contract. Fortunately they weren't idiots and made you see a social worker / shrink before you got it and every week after. You know to make sure you were of sound mind."
"Then how did you get your data port or keep your job?" She replied to his last sentence. She'd learnt from Beka and Trance if you joked around with Harper it made situations lighter and easier.
"Ha, ha. Anyway it was O.K because 'She' was easy to talk to." He looked up and grinned at her.
"She?" Rommie looked at him shocked. 'Who the hell would be idiotic enough to put a woman in close contact with Harper for him to constantly hit on.'
"Yeah, Erica was great and managed like you, Beka and Trance to put up with me."
It took a moment for it to click. Rommie thought later that she was going to have to run a full systems check to find out why it was taking her so long to things together. "You mean 'Erica' was your shrink?" It did explain a lot.
"Yep and yet after all that she still wants to see me."
"I think she's the one that needs to see a shrink if that's true." Rommie stated with a smile before they both laughed.
The other message and package were forgotten about, for now.
~*~ I've got more to come and it won't just have Harper and Rommie in it. Please review it.
Ghosts, nightmares and love.
'If you can't get it here it doesn't exist.' Throck, operator of a black market.
The Eureka Maru pulled out of the slipstream and headed to the Drift.
"This is your Acting Captain Seamus Zelazny Harper speaking. We'll shortly be arriving at Horse Head drift, home of the 2-liter beer stein, Nebular Burgers and the best hot tubs in 20 systems." Harper said from the pilot's seat. He was dressed in his usual attire of Hawaiian shirt, white T-shirt that was slightly dirty, and well warn cargo pants.
Rommie looked over at him unimpressed and crossed her arms over her chest, she had on the matching blue top and pants that Beka and Trance had giving her and she liked. "Harper we're going there to get needed supplies and that's it! And may I ask why did I have to accompany you anyway." Preferring to stay on broad Andromeda unless it meant going somewhere with Dylan or important missions.
Harper mocked a seductive tone and grin. " My beautiful Rommie, I thought we could enjoy the hot tubs."
Rommie just gave him a look of contempt, like she had so many times before. Truthfully she did like his flirting on occasions.
He saw her expression and gave an unarming grin and gesture. "It was a joke." He let out a sigh. "Look, the best person to talk to about some of the parts we need on Horse Head drift is a Cranite named Throck, unfortunately he only speaks Cranian and Than. And since Rev left that leaves you as the only crew-member who could communicate with him without us being ripped off by the translator."
Her look of contempt changed to understanding and accepting, he'd obviously thought it out and made a wise decision, which she couldn't always say about him. "Very well Harper, you made your point. Do you mind if I ask, how do you know so much about this drift?"
A big smile appeared and a far away look crossed his eyes before he came back. "Horse Head drift is one of the drifts I spent some of the three years between leaving Earth and joining up with Beka. I might have only been there for only three months of that time but I did have a few good times there, while I went broke and got kicked off back too Earth, where weeks later I joined up with Beka."
"From what you have said I'm guessing they involved large amounts of alcohol and gorging yourself on ground up meat." She said giving a knowing smile and crossing her arms. Even if she couldn't understand his eating habits, she knew that's some of what he'd class a 'good time'.
"Hey you forgot the hot tubs, mustn't forget about the hot tubs." Harper said in his usual chirpy tone, and child like expression. He knew she didn't understand why they made him happy but he hoped with the up-grade that he'd given her she soon might.
Rommie lowered her head, shook it and tried not to laugh. Seeing Harper hyped up like a big kid always made her smile and use some of the other emotions that he'd installed into the humanoid body when he built it. She'd been amazed that he was so talented with all the extras he'd given her even if she hadn't fully used or utilized them yet.
If Rommie thought about it, it was always Harper cracking the jokes or trying to keep things light, unless it had something to do with his personal demons.
A flashing light on her screen caught Rommie's attention. Checking it she said. "Harper it seems that you have some mail and also a package waiting for you on the drift."
"Whoa, I hope it's not anything urgent because I haven't been here and checked it in three years." He said just glancing over at the dates on the mail. One of them was almost 3 years old, but the others were just from a few weeks ago.
Harper flicked on the oldest one when he saw whom it was from.
A brunette in her early thirties that looked rather respectable and intelligent and also from what Trance and Beka had taught Rommie, she'd say very attractive appeared on the video screen.
"Hello Seamus, its Erica. I just sent this to say hi and see how you were going. I don't know if you're still there, but I just thought I'd remind you that my door's always open if you want to see me. Look after yourself OK. Bye"
Rommie was a little surprised, she didn't know what to make of the woman. Whoever Erica was she seemed to be a better class of woman than the type Harper usually, on those rare occasions, managed to get with. Which usually meant trouble!
Before Rommie could wonder anymore about the message Harper flicked on one of the newer ones.
Erica appeared on the screen again. "Hello Seamus, I guess your not there anymore. Knowing you you're probably left and are seeing the universe, meeting women, and finding the best bars the known worlds have to offer." Erica smiled to herself. "Anyway if you ever get this remember my door's always open to you or I could come to you if you want. Please at least drop me a line and tell me how things are going. See you Harper."
Rommie got even more surprised that this woman seemed to actually know him that well. After all most women she'd seen Harper interact with had wanted to inflict a good amount of pain on him or never lay eyes on him again.
Harper smiled to himself, he knew Erica wouldn't mention their true relationship in the message because she hardly treated it in the proper manner over the 2 & ¾ years they'd know each other.
"Harper do you mind if I ask, how do you know that women?" She asked curiously.
"My sweet Rom-doll why do you wish to know?" He asked flirtingly.
Rommie felt a little guilty as she remembered the reason she asked, after all Beka, Trance and herself had all seen that other part of him which women liked. "Well Harper it's just she seems to be different from the women you usually . date." Even with her massive intellect it was difficult for her to find a tactful way to mention his flings, one nightstands and most of the women he hit on.
He smiled at Rommie's attempt at being polite about the women he'd been with. His face did fall a bit when he started to run down the list of women that he'd been intimate with lately, it was a very, very short list, and then compared them with Erica. It then clicked what Rommie meant by it, 'Erica was a lot better class so why would she have anything to do with him'.
"What are you saying she's to good for me?" He asked a feeling insulted and turning to her.
Quickly she back peddled. "Look I didn't mean anything by it, its just most better class women wouldn't take the time to get to know you that well or to see the other sides of you." She'd walked over as she'd said it and put her hand on the back of his seat. He'd turned his attention back to piloting when she'd started talking.
This gave Harper something to ponder. He knew he had a good side that was always bought out by the goodness of his shipmates, except when standing with Tyr. And also the darker, less forgiving, meaner side (e.g. interaction with Gerentex) that he'd had for a large amount of his life on earth but rarely showed now. Yet he couldn't workout what she'd meant. "What do you mean other side?" He asked looking a little confused at her.
Rommie could see that he truly didn't know what she was talking about. "Harper I'm talking about your kinder side, where you try to help your friends even when you know your not good at it or when you'll risk your life to protect others. Also there are times when you'll let us see that there's a serous or emotional side to you."
Harper raised his eyebrows, he'd never really thought about that stuff before even though a long time ago someone else had told him some thing the same. "Sorry Rommie for taking it the wrong way. I'm glade you seen you've seen that side of me even if I haven't." He said apologetically.
"It's OK Harper, I shouldn't have pried into your personal relationship with that woman." Rommie replied realizing that she never did get a straight answer from him.
"No, it's OK Rommie, I guess I'm a little standoffish about my past. Heck your one of few women who've seen those traits, I've never noticed them and probably the only person apart form my psychologist whose told me I've got them." Harper said in a more serous than usual tone. He turned back around to check their flight path and gave a little evil grin, now all he had to do was wait and see if she would take the bait.
As he spoke she listened and thought. He was right he was quite about his past, except for in the occasional outburst, yet who from this time wasn't. Maybe Rev Bem and she had managed to amass a great deal of information about Beka.
'WAIT' suddenly it hit her. It had taken her a second, which was very slow for an android of her disposition. She even looked up Her internal dictionary to recheck the meaning of the word. The shock and disbelief were quite clear on her face.
He's said that he'd seen a Psychologist. She looked down at the back of his head and just had to do it. "When on earth did you see a psychologist?" Harper turned and when she saw his evil grin she knew she'd been baited, but then added. "And most importantly why did you stop?"
Still smiling Harper said. "Look I'm going to be honest about some personal stuff here so this has to stay between us OK?"
Rommie realized this meant that none of the rest of the crew must of knew about it and he wanted it kept quite. "OK I promise not to say anything." She didn't know if it was one of the emotions he'd given her or something else but the fact that Harper was opening up to her made her feel happy and privileged, the fact that few if anybody else knew even more so.
"OK. When I was 19 I got offered a job by a car go company. They used people from Earth because we're cheap and it turns out that in some places you get tax deductions for hiring refugees, heck sometimes the government even paid half the tiny wages." He smile had turned a little cynical as he thought about it.
"Ah, that's interesting Harper but what has that got to do with you seeing a psychologist?" She asked gentle, curiously but seeing some anger rising.
"My Beautiful Battleship Babe I'm getting to it." He said seductively. Rommie just shook her head, this was pure Harper.
"The company I worked for was more generous and smart than other out there. Generous because if they liked how you performed on exams, runs and psych tests after three months they gave you a chance to get a data port, if you were willing to sign a 2 year contract. Fortunately they weren't idiots and made you see a social worker / shrink before you got it and every week after. You know to make sure you were of sound mind."
"Then how did you get your data port or keep your job?" She replied to his last sentence. She'd learnt from Beka and Trance if you joked around with Harper it made situations lighter and easier.
"Ha, ha. Anyway it was O.K because 'She' was easy to talk to." He looked up and grinned at her.
"She?" Rommie looked at him shocked. 'Who the hell would be idiotic enough to put a woman in close contact with Harper for him to constantly hit on.'
"Yeah, Erica was great and managed like you, Beka and Trance to put up with me."
It took a moment for it to click. Rommie thought later that she was going to have to run a full systems check to find out why it was taking her so long to things together. "You mean 'Erica' was your shrink?" It did explain a lot.
"Yep and yet after all that she still wants to see me."
"I think she's the one that needs to see a shrink if that's true." Rommie stated with a smile before they both laughed.
The other message and package were forgotten about, for now.
~*~ I've got more to come and it won't just have Harper and Rommie in it. Please review it.
