Disclaimer Alert! I do not own Andromeda or its characters. I am not
making any money off of this story. I wrote it for fun.
Whew! Now the boring part is out of the way.
As always, a big thank you to those of you who posted
reviews. Hugs to you all.
Now on to chapter 3. Wahoo!
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"That ought to keep my crew guessing for a few minutes," Dylan stated as a smile crossed his face.
Beka gave Dylan a punch in his right arm. "Dylan Hunt, you are bad. I didn't know you had it in you."
"After the bugs and slime on Mantu, I figure a little levity is just what we need. Captain's orders." Dylan replied with a smirk on his face. "
"Don't forget the flying fur balls," the blonde woman reminded.
Dylan forced back a smile saying, "How could I ever forget them?"
Beka slowed the Eureka Maru's speed as they approached the Andromeda. "The disk is pretty beat up. Do you think it will ever work?"
Dylan leaned back in his seat next to Beka's and rubbed his still sore shoulder saying, "I would be willing to bet Harper will have working, given a little time."
Beka could just picture the short earther engineer working on the damaged disk. She knew he would enjoy the challenge. He always enjoyed the challenge taking something that was thought to be damaged beyond any hope of repair and have it back up and running like new.
"Harper is good at fixing things, I'll give him that," Beka said. "But that still doesn't mean we can't get along without him once in awhile. He could use the change of pace and he's not that fragile you know."
The High Guard Captain rolled his eyes and looked at the Maru's ceiling. "Couldn't you at least have waited until we get back on the Andromeda?"
"No," the pilot replied. "I am tired and covered in slime so I figure I better ask you right now while I have the gall. What would it hurt to let Harper go on away missions occasionally?"
"Yes it just might if Harper got killed in the process," Dylan responded, his voice getting softer. "Look, he barely survived being infested with Magog larvae and his immune system leaves something to be desired. Besides, from what I know of Harper, he had to fight most of his time on earth. Harper didn't deserve that, nobody does. I figure the boy has had enough fighting to last a lifetime. I don't want him getting catching some deadly virus or getting shot and killed just because he wants to have some adventure."
Beka flipped a switch above her head and then turned a dial on the console in front of her, using the time to contemplate Dylan's explanation. "You think that's the only reason he wants to go down to the god-forsaken planets we land on?"
Dylan was taken aback. He had expected Beka, of all people, to understand his concern for Harper. Harper had been a member of Beka's crew on the Eureka Maru before they joined up with Dylan on the Andromeda Ascendant. "Isn't it?"
"Adventure is only part of the reason," Beka informed the surprised captain. "Harper has had enough adventure growing up on earth to last him a lifetime."
Dylan became intrigued and patiently waited for Beka to continue.
The blonde pilot finally formed her thoughts and began explaining. "Dylan, how much do you know of Harper's life on earth?"
Dylan had to think hard. How much had the short spiky-haired engineer actually mentioned about his own past? Not too much except to say it wasn't pleasant growing up on earth.
"Not too much in the way of specifics. I just know that the Nietszeans turned earth into a slave planet the Magog staged their invasions. I can only imagine what it must have been like surviving all of that."
Beka continued on, "Harper hasn't confided in either. I only know that what he went through was bad enough to give Harper nightmares every night a long time. He still gets them sometimes when he's stressed out. Harper talks in his sleep when he has nightmares and used to rush into his quarters on the Maru to calm him down."
It didn't surprise Dylan that Beka would rush to comfort Harper, or anybody else for that matter. The High Guard captain knew that beneath her tough persona Beka Valentine had a caring and sensitive side. He had seen that side of Beka since she had joined up him to serve on the Andromeda Ascendant. "You're a good friend Beka,"
Beka tried to keep her emotions in control. "During one of his nightmares Harper mentioned that some of his family members had been killed by Neitszcheans and Magog. He blames himself for not being able to prevent their deaths. Now you, I, Tyr, Trance, and even Rommie are Harper's family. And every time one of us goes on an away mission Harper worries that something bad is going to happen to us and he won't be there to prevent it."
Dylan paused a moment to reflect on the blonde pilot's words. He immediately realized where Beka was going with her story. "And he wants to go along thinking he can prevent us from being hurt, unlike when his family was killed."
"Exactly," Beka stated, confirming the captain's deduction. "Harper wouldn't come out and tell why he wanted to go along because it would be too hard on him to tell you his reason."
"Thank you for this information Beka; it does help shed some light on why Harper behaves the way he does. However, that still doesn't change the fact that most of the time it's still too dangerous for our favorite engineer to go on away missions,"
Beka merely sighed in response. She knew when it was futile arguing with Dylan Hunt when he had made up his mind. However, she had at least opened the good captain's eyes to Harper's modus operandi. She would settle for that right now.
Beka smoothly landed the Eureka Maru and pushed the button to open the hatch.
Dylan smiled as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "It's good to be home. I'm looking forward to getting cleaned up."
"Amen to that," Beka concurred.
Tyr, Trance and Rommie stared at Andromeda's hanger door, waiting for it too open. As usual, Rommie was the personification of cool as she patiently waited for Dylan and Beka to make their way to the bridge.
"Oh good, I'm not too late," Harper exclaimed as he trotted over to the bridge's railing and took up a position next to Trance.
As soon as Dylan and Beka arrived on the bridge they immediately notice the expected 4 pairs of eyes staring at them. There was silence as everybody waited for someone to speak. Finally, Dylan spoke up. "Well, isn't anybody going to ask what surprise Beka and I have brought back from Mantu?"
Rommie being an AI merely studied her two returning crewmember attempting to determine whether they sustained any injuries. She immediately detected Dylan's bruised shoulder and determined that Beka had a twisted left ankle. Nothing serious so far, at least. Relieved, Rommie decided to let the ship's sensors make a more thorough scan of Dylan and Beka. Harper was about to speak up when Rommie poked him in the ribs with her left elbow.
Dylan got the hint that his crew wasn't going to speak first and reached into his pocket and pulled out the damaged CD ROM ROM. Everyone immediately moved closer to Dylan to get a closer look at the disk.
Dylan handed offered the disk to a stunned, but happy Harper stating "Mr. Harper, you now have a new project. See if you can get this disk into some sort of playable shape."
"Aw, for me Boss? You shouldn't have. But since you did, I'll take it," Harper enthused as he eagerly took the disk. He immediately began cleaning the disk off on his maroon t- shirt.
"Ew. Beka, you've been slimed!" Harper exclaimed as he suddenly noticed that Beka was covered with blue slime.
Beka had held out slight hope that nobody on Andromeda would mention that she had slime covering her from head to toe. Leave it to Seamus Harper to point out the slime, as if anybody could have missed it. "Thanks for noticing Harper."
Harper merely flashed his standard cocky grin as he replied, "Any time Beka."
"If anybody wants me I'm going to my quarters taking a shower before anybody else decides to comment on the fact that I am covered with blue slime," Beka announced before heading for the doorway. The blonde limped slightly as she walked something the other crew members noticed.
"You're in luck Beka," Harper announced, "I just finished getting rid of the drain clog so the water is back up and running. But it may take awhile to warm up."
Beka barely paused at the engineer's announcement. "Thanks for the update Harper. Right now I don't care if the water is cold or purple with pink polka dots. I just want to take a shower."
Harper ignored the blonde's mild outburst. He admitted to himself he would feel the same way if he looked as bad as Beka did right now.
Harper noticed Trace eyeing his CD ROM and quickly put it in the pocket of his cargo pants saying, "Nah, ah Trance. Dylan gave this CD ROM to me to fix. But I'll let you watch if you want."
"That sounds like fun," Trance admitted as she followed the engineer off the bridge.
"That ought to keep my crew guessing for a few minutes," Dylan stated as a smile crossed his face.
Beka gave Dylan a punch in his right arm. "Dylan Hunt, you are bad. I didn't know you had it in you."
"After the bugs and slime on Mantu, I figure a little levity is just what we need. Captain's orders." Dylan replied with a smirk on his face. "
"Don't forget the flying fur balls," the blonde woman reminded.
Dylan forced back a smile saying, "How could I ever forget them?"
Beka slowed the Eureka Maru's speed as they approached the Andromeda. "The disk is pretty beat up. Do you think it will ever work?"
Dylan leaned back in his seat next to Beka's and rubbed his still sore shoulder saying, "I would be willing to bet Harper will have working, given a little time."
Beka could just picture the short earther engineer working on the damaged disk. She knew he would enjoy the challenge. He always enjoyed the challenge taking something that was thought to be damaged beyond any hope of repair and have it back up and running like new.
"Harper is good at fixing things, I'll give him that," Beka said. "But that still doesn't mean we can't get along without him once in awhile. He could use the change of pace and he's not that fragile you know."
The High Guard Captain rolled his eyes and looked at the Maru's ceiling. "Couldn't you at least have waited until we get back on the Andromeda?"
"No," the pilot replied. "I am tired and covered in slime so I figure I better ask you right now while I have the gall. What would it hurt to let Harper go on away missions occasionally?"
"Yes it just might if Harper got killed in the process," Dylan responded, his voice getting softer. "Look, he barely survived being infested with Magog larvae and his immune system leaves something to be desired. Besides, from what I know of Harper, he had to fight most of his time on earth. Harper didn't deserve that, nobody does. I figure the boy has had enough fighting to last a lifetime. I don't want him getting catching some deadly virus or getting shot and killed just because he wants to have some adventure."
Beka flipped a switch above her head and then turned a dial on the console in front of her, using the time to contemplate Dylan's explanation. "You think that's the only reason he wants to go down to the god-forsaken planets we land on?"
Dylan was taken aback. He had expected Beka, of all people, to understand his concern for Harper. Harper had been a member of Beka's crew on the Eureka Maru before they joined up with Dylan on the Andromeda Ascendant. "Isn't it?"
"Adventure is only part of the reason," Beka informed the surprised captain. "Harper has had enough adventure growing up on earth to last him a lifetime."
Dylan became intrigued and patiently waited for Beka to continue.
The blonde pilot finally formed her thoughts and began explaining. "Dylan, how much do you know of Harper's life on earth?"
Dylan had to think hard. How much had the short spiky-haired engineer actually mentioned about his own past? Not too much except to say it wasn't pleasant growing up on earth.
"Not too much in the way of specifics. I just know that the Nietszeans turned earth into a slave planet the Magog staged their invasions. I can only imagine what it must have been like surviving all of that."
Beka continued on, "Harper hasn't confided in either. I only know that what he went through was bad enough to give Harper nightmares every night a long time. He still gets them sometimes when he's stressed out. Harper talks in his sleep when he has nightmares and used to rush into his quarters on the Maru to calm him down."
It didn't surprise Dylan that Beka would rush to comfort Harper, or anybody else for that matter. The High Guard captain knew that beneath her tough persona Beka Valentine had a caring and sensitive side. He had seen that side of Beka since she had joined up him to serve on the Andromeda Ascendant. "You're a good friend Beka,"
Beka tried to keep her emotions in control. "During one of his nightmares Harper mentioned that some of his family members had been killed by Neitszcheans and Magog. He blames himself for not being able to prevent their deaths. Now you, I, Tyr, Trance, and even Rommie are Harper's family. And every time one of us goes on an away mission Harper worries that something bad is going to happen to us and he won't be there to prevent it."
Dylan paused a moment to reflect on the blonde pilot's words. He immediately realized where Beka was going with her story. "And he wants to go along thinking he can prevent us from being hurt, unlike when his family was killed."
"Exactly," Beka stated, confirming the captain's deduction. "Harper wouldn't come out and tell why he wanted to go along because it would be too hard on him to tell you his reason."
"Thank you for this information Beka; it does help shed some light on why Harper behaves the way he does. However, that still doesn't change the fact that most of the time it's still too dangerous for our favorite engineer to go on away missions,"
Beka merely sighed in response. She knew when it was futile arguing with Dylan Hunt when he had made up his mind. However, she had at least opened the good captain's eyes to Harper's modus operandi. She would settle for that right now.
Beka smoothly landed the Eureka Maru and pushed the button to open the hatch.
Dylan smiled as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "It's good to be home. I'm looking forward to getting cleaned up."
"Amen to that," Beka concurred.
Tyr, Trance and Rommie stared at Andromeda's hanger door, waiting for it too open. As usual, Rommie was the personification of cool as she patiently waited for Dylan and Beka to make their way to the bridge.
"Oh good, I'm not too late," Harper exclaimed as he trotted over to the bridge's railing and took up a position next to Trance.
As soon as Dylan and Beka arrived on the bridge they immediately notice the expected 4 pairs of eyes staring at them. There was silence as everybody waited for someone to speak. Finally, Dylan spoke up. "Well, isn't anybody going to ask what surprise Beka and I have brought back from Mantu?"
Rommie being an AI merely studied her two returning crewmember attempting to determine whether they sustained any injuries. She immediately detected Dylan's bruised shoulder and determined that Beka had a twisted left ankle. Nothing serious so far, at least. Relieved, Rommie decided to let the ship's sensors make a more thorough scan of Dylan and Beka. Harper was about to speak up when Rommie poked him in the ribs with her left elbow.
Dylan got the hint that his crew wasn't going to speak first and reached into his pocket and pulled out the damaged CD ROM ROM. Everyone immediately moved closer to Dylan to get a closer look at the disk.
Dylan handed offered the disk to a stunned, but happy Harper stating "Mr. Harper, you now have a new project. See if you can get this disk into some sort of playable shape."
"Aw, for me Boss? You shouldn't have. But since you did, I'll take it," Harper enthused as he eagerly took the disk. He immediately began cleaning the disk off on his maroon t- shirt.
"Ew. Beka, you've been slimed!" Harper exclaimed as he suddenly noticed that Beka was covered with blue slime.
Beka had held out slight hope that nobody on Andromeda would mention that she had slime covering her from head to toe. Leave it to Seamus Harper to point out the slime, as if anybody could have missed it. "Thanks for noticing Harper."
Harper merely flashed his standard cocky grin as he replied, "Any time Beka."
"If anybody wants me I'm going to my quarters taking a shower before anybody else decides to comment on the fact that I am covered with blue slime," Beka announced before heading for the doorway. The blonde limped slightly as she walked something the other crew members noticed.
"You're in luck Beka," Harper announced, "I just finished getting rid of the drain clog so the water is back up and running. But it may take awhile to warm up."
Beka barely paused at the engineer's announcement. "Thanks for the update Harper. Right now I don't care if the water is cold or purple with pink polka dots. I just want to take a shower."
Harper ignored the blonde's mild outburst. He admitted to himself he would feel the same way if he looked as bad as Beka did right now.
Harper noticed Trace eyeing his CD ROM and quickly put it in the pocket of his cargo pants saying, "Nah, ah Trance. Dylan gave this CD ROM to me to fix. But I'll let you watch if you want."
"That sounds like fun," Trance admitted as she followed the engineer off the bridge.
