Here I go again! Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever owned Andromeda
or its characters. I am not making one thin dime off of this story. Sigh!
Bye the way Thir13en Ghosts- Elemental, how about a nice cold can of Sparky
Cola to go with the cookies? He, he.
PS: The sequel is now up. It is called Guilt & Consequences. Please read that too.
************************************************************************ Chapter 10
Trance took a shortcut from the command deck to deck 3 and found Harper climbing up the ladder to deck 3. The golden skinned woman followed her friend up the ladder. When he arrived at deck 3 Harper waited for Trance to climb onto the deck.
"So, what's up Trance babe?" the engineer asked casually.
Harper seemed to be back to his old self. For the meantime, Trance decided play it cool and act nonchalant as if the engineer had never been in a catatonic state. "I was just coming to see if you needed a Sparky or anything while you work on the repairs."
"Thanks, but I'm good for now, but if Dylan can spare you you're welcome to tag along," Harper replied as started walking towards section 31.
"You've got yourself an assistant," Trance smiled as she followed alongside the engineer.
Harper and Trace remained silent as made their way to the damaged area. Harper was listening for any unusual sounds that would tell him what type of damage had been done. Harper and Trance came to the end of the corridor and turned right. They stopped after rounding the corner which brought them right to the main area of damage.
"Not too bad. This should be a piece of cake," Harper announced as he briefly surveyed the damage.
The engineer walked over to an area of the wall where some of the wiring was exposed and studied the web of colored wires.
Trance watched the engineer as he began pulled out a pair of pliers from his tool belt and began repairing the damage. Harper seemed to be backed to normal and acting as if he had never seen the disc and never was in a catatonic state. Things felt right to Trance, but she had to be sure. The alien decided to subtly question her friend earthling friend.
Andromeda suddenly lurched, throwing Harper and Trance to the deck.
"Is everybody okay? Dylan asked over the com moments later.
"We're fine Boss," Harper answered as he picked himself up from the floor. "It looks like ya got back from Mantu just in time for the fun. You should have woken me up when you got back."
Back on the bridge Beka, Dylan, and Tyr all had identically quizzical looks on their faces.
"Did Harper just say he missed our return from Mantu because he was sleeping?" Beka asked as she fired a missile at the Eclad.
"That's what it sounded like to me," Dylan answered.
"As interesting as this conversation is, I would like to remind you that the Capernan ship is still out there waiting to fire on us again," Tyr reminded.
"Dylan, Harper has fixed my defense shields. They are now at 100% efficiency," Holo Rommie reported.
"Good job Mr. Harper," Dylan praised over the com.
"Hey, no problem Boss. I am the king!" Harper cracked over the com.
The missile Beka had fired was hit by the pulsar cannon setting of an explosion in aired on the view screen.
Captain Tokar's image replaced that of the explosion on Andromeda's view screen. "I believe this game has gone on long enough Captain Hunt," the Capernan announced.
"What, and spoil all the fun?" Beka joked.
"You and crew may laugh now Captain Hunt, but I shall have the last laugh," Tokar threatened.
As the Capernan captain spoke Andromeda's view screen a larger pulsar cannon appeared on the Eclad next to the first smaller cannon.
"It looks as if this Tokar is serious," Dylan commented.
"And more well-armed than we gave him credit for," Tyr chimed in."
Dylan's was about to answer the Nietzschean when Harper's voice came over the com.
"Hey Boss, I just jacked into that battleship out there and I'm overriding their program. Gimme a few seconds and that Pulsar Cannon will be toast," the young engineer vowed with bravado.
"A few seconds it is Mr. Harper," Dylan replied.
Then the High Guard captain turned his attention back to Tokar, hoping to keep the Capernan captain occupied until Harper could jack into the Eclad's computer system.
Dylan turned to the view screen and addressed Tokar. "Captain Tokar, why don't we end this ridiculous confrontation while we still have our ships and our crews?"
Tokar appeared on the screen with a smug smile on his face. "What's the matter Captain Hunt? Have you lost your nerve after seeing my Capernan Battle Cannon?"
"No, I haven't lost my nerve. I just feel it isn't too late to resolve this misunderstanding," Dylan retorted.
Tokar was about to speak when the Capernan Battle Cannon turned its aim away from Andromeda and was slowly being aimed at the Eclad.
"Captain Tokar, you will notice that your Capernan Battle Cannon is now aimed at your ship. If you want to keep the Eclad in tact then you will leave now," Dylan ordered his nemesis.
Defeat was written all over Tokar's face. He knew the game was over. "Very well Captain Hunt. You have the upper hand. I don't know how you managed to hack into the Eclad's computer systems but you have made your point. The Eclad will back off and allow you and your crew safe passage to Ekartia."
Dylan avoided the opportunity to gloat. The High Guard captain was happy to get out of this confrontation with no loss of life and very little damage to Andromeda. "Good. We'll be on our way then. "
Dylan pushed a button on the console in front of him and the view screen went blank. "Well done everyone. Drinks are on me."
"Hey Dylan, now are you gonna tell us all if you and Beka found the vase from Vantu?" Harper asked over the com.
"Andromeda, engage privacy mode for the command deck," Dylan ordered.
Rommie complied knowing her captain didn't want Harper to hear the conversation that followed.
"It appears that Harper has forgotten that he ever viewed the disk brought back from Mantu," Tyr observed.
"Then I suggest we forget about the disk as well and pretend that we never saw it," Dylan advised. "Agreed?"
Beka and Tyr all affirmed their agreement to not mention the Mantuan disk again.
"How could Harper forget what he saw on the disk? It sent him into a catatonic state," Beka asked as she sat down in the command chair.
""I believe it is the way Harper's mind has decided to deal with the pain. If Harper can't remember the disk then he won't remember what was on it," Tyr surmised.
Late that night Holo Rommie appeared in Beka's quarters and woke up the blond pilot saying, "Beka, Harper is having a nightmare. You should go check on him."
Beka sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Thanks Rommie, I'm on my way."
Beka quickly made her way down one level to Harper's quarters and waited outside the door. "Rommie, open the door to Harper's quarters."
The ship obeyed and the door slid open in front of Beka. The blonde quietly rushed inside the room and knelt by Harper's bunk. The engineer was sweating and shaking in his sleep.
Beka gently placed a hand on the engineer's right shoulder and began speaking. "Harper, wake up. You're having a bad nightmare," she said softly.
Harper opened his eyes and blinked several times. "Wha. What? Did something blow up?"
"No, everything is fine," Beka answered as she sat down on the engineer's bunk.
Harper sat up asking, "Why did you wake me then? Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
"I'm sorry to bother you Harper, but you were having a nightmare," Beka explained.
The engineered frowned as he looked down at his hands. "Oh yeah, guess Rommie found out and told you huh?"
The blonde nodded. "I thought you had stopped having nightmares?"
"So did I," Harper admitted.
"You want to talk about it Harper? What you say won't go outside this room," Beka promised.
Harper nodded his agreement. "Yeah, maybe it would help if I talked about it. It seemed to help to talk when I first came aboard the Eureka Maru."
"Okay, start whenever you're ready," Beka offered.
"What I had was more than a bad nightmare. What I just had was an A number 1 rotten nightmare," the engineer began. "I had a nightmare about the worst day of my life."
Beka bit her lip and forced herself to keep her composure. "Do you feel like telling me what it was about?"
Harper paused momentarily, considering the question. He really didn't feel like reliving terrible memories, but he thought that Beka was right and it may help if he were to express his feelings.
Harper swallowed and then looked up at Beka. "Well, there's not much to tell. I was just having a nightmare about the Nietzscheans killing my parents. . I keep seeing my parents fighting off the Uber and then the Uber just killed them. The Uber just laughed like it was a joke. He laughed like my parents were bugs that he just squashed under his jackboot."
Beka fought back the tears as she listened to her young Earth friend.
"I haven't had the nightmare in a long time but for some reason it came back," Harper admitted with fear in his voice.
Beka forced herself to put her emotions back in check. "I'm sorry Harper. I wish I could make the nightmare go away. I know it is hard to tell people what you are feeling, but perhaps if you tried writing it down. Keep a journal. I know I'm not much being much help. I'm sorry."
"No it's okay, really," Harper protested. "Keeping a journal isn't a bad idea. People have told me about that before, but I just thought it was silly and never bothered. Now I'm willing to try anything."
"Good. Now try to go back to sleep. And don't forget, if you have any more nightmares I'll come running. You can always count on me," Beka promised.
Harper forced himself to flash a crooked grin. "Thanks Beka. It has helped to talk."
"You're welcome Harper. I'll stay here for awhile just in case," Beka said as she gave the engineer a hug.
Beka took a seat in the chair near the door. As she sat and watched the Earthling try to sleep Beka finally allowed tears to form in her eyes. In the dark Harper couldn't see her cry. Beka Valentine cursed the fates. She was responsible for her friend's nightmares and she couldn't even tell him. Beka wished she could make it up and take back all of the pain that Harper had suffered in the past. It just wasn't fair that Harper had to suffer so much and then relive it all over again in nightmares. Beka didn't know which was a worse punishment for Seamus Harper; living in a catatonic state or suffering through nightmares. One day the nightmares would end Beka vowed.
PS: The sequel is now up. It is called Guilt & Consequences. Please read that too.
************************************************************************ Chapter 10
Trance took a shortcut from the command deck to deck 3 and found Harper climbing up the ladder to deck 3. The golden skinned woman followed her friend up the ladder. When he arrived at deck 3 Harper waited for Trance to climb onto the deck.
"So, what's up Trance babe?" the engineer asked casually.
Harper seemed to be back to his old self. For the meantime, Trance decided play it cool and act nonchalant as if the engineer had never been in a catatonic state. "I was just coming to see if you needed a Sparky or anything while you work on the repairs."
"Thanks, but I'm good for now, but if Dylan can spare you you're welcome to tag along," Harper replied as started walking towards section 31.
"You've got yourself an assistant," Trance smiled as she followed alongside the engineer.
Harper and Trace remained silent as made their way to the damaged area. Harper was listening for any unusual sounds that would tell him what type of damage had been done. Harper and Trance came to the end of the corridor and turned right. They stopped after rounding the corner which brought them right to the main area of damage.
"Not too bad. This should be a piece of cake," Harper announced as he briefly surveyed the damage.
The engineer walked over to an area of the wall where some of the wiring was exposed and studied the web of colored wires.
Trance watched the engineer as he began pulled out a pair of pliers from his tool belt and began repairing the damage. Harper seemed to be backed to normal and acting as if he had never seen the disc and never was in a catatonic state. Things felt right to Trance, but she had to be sure. The alien decided to subtly question her friend earthling friend.
Andromeda suddenly lurched, throwing Harper and Trance to the deck.
"Is everybody okay? Dylan asked over the com moments later.
"We're fine Boss," Harper answered as he picked himself up from the floor. "It looks like ya got back from Mantu just in time for the fun. You should have woken me up when you got back."
Back on the bridge Beka, Dylan, and Tyr all had identically quizzical looks on their faces.
"Did Harper just say he missed our return from Mantu because he was sleeping?" Beka asked as she fired a missile at the Eclad.
"That's what it sounded like to me," Dylan answered.
"As interesting as this conversation is, I would like to remind you that the Capernan ship is still out there waiting to fire on us again," Tyr reminded.
"Dylan, Harper has fixed my defense shields. They are now at 100% efficiency," Holo Rommie reported.
"Good job Mr. Harper," Dylan praised over the com.
"Hey, no problem Boss. I am the king!" Harper cracked over the com.
The missile Beka had fired was hit by the pulsar cannon setting of an explosion in aired on the view screen.
Captain Tokar's image replaced that of the explosion on Andromeda's view screen. "I believe this game has gone on long enough Captain Hunt," the Capernan announced.
"What, and spoil all the fun?" Beka joked.
"You and crew may laugh now Captain Hunt, but I shall have the last laugh," Tokar threatened.
As the Capernan captain spoke Andromeda's view screen a larger pulsar cannon appeared on the Eclad next to the first smaller cannon.
"It looks as if this Tokar is serious," Dylan commented.
"And more well-armed than we gave him credit for," Tyr chimed in."
Dylan's was about to answer the Nietzschean when Harper's voice came over the com.
"Hey Boss, I just jacked into that battleship out there and I'm overriding their program. Gimme a few seconds and that Pulsar Cannon will be toast," the young engineer vowed with bravado.
"A few seconds it is Mr. Harper," Dylan replied.
Then the High Guard captain turned his attention back to Tokar, hoping to keep the Capernan captain occupied until Harper could jack into the Eclad's computer system.
Dylan turned to the view screen and addressed Tokar. "Captain Tokar, why don't we end this ridiculous confrontation while we still have our ships and our crews?"
Tokar appeared on the screen with a smug smile on his face. "What's the matter Captain Hunt? Have you lost your nerve after seeing my Capernan Battle Cannon?"
"No, I haven't lost my nerve. I just feel it isn't too late to resolve this misunderstanding," Dylan retorted.
Tokar was about to speak when the Capernan Battle Cannon turned its aim away from Andromeda and was slowly being aimed at the Eclad.
"Captain Tokar, you will notice that your Capernan Battle Cannon is now aimed at your ship. If you want to keep the Eclad in tact then you will leave now," Dylan ordered his nemesis.
Defeat was written all over Tokar's face. He knew the game was over. "Very well Captain Hunt. You have the upper hand. I don't know how you managed to hack into the Eclad's computer systems but you have made your point. The Eclad will back off and allow you and your crew safe passage to Ekartia."
Dylan avoided the opportunity to gloat. The High Guard captain was happy to get out of this confrontation with no loss of life and very little damage to Andromeda. "Good. We'll be on our way then. "
Dylan pushed a button on the console in front of him and the view screen went blank. "Well done everyone. Drinks are on me."
"Hey Dylan, now are you gonna tell us all if you and Beka found the vase from Vantu?" Harper asked over the com.
"Andromeda, engage privacy mode for the command deck," Dylan ordered.
Rommie complied knowing her captain didn't want Harper to hear the conversation that followed.
"It appears that Harper has forgotten that he ever viewed the disk brought back from Mantu," Tyr observed.
"Then I suggest we forget about the disk as well and pretend that we never saw it," Dylan advised. "Agreed?"
Beka and Tyr all affirmed their agreement to not mention the Mantuan disk again.
"How could Harper forget what he saw on the disk? It sent him into a catatonic state," Beka asked as she sat down in the command chair.
""I believe it is the way Harper's mind has decided to deal with the pain. If Harper can't remember the disk then he won't remember what was on it," Tyr surmised.
Late that night Holo Rommie appeared in Beka's quarters and woke up the blond pilot saying, "Beka, Harper is having a nightmare. You should go check on him."
Beka sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Thanks Rommie, I'm on my way."
Beka quickly made her way down one level to Harper's quarters and waited outside the door. "Rommie, open the door to Harper's quarters."
The ship obeyed and the door slid open in front of Beka. The blonde quietly rushed inside the room and knelt by Harper's bunk. The engineer was sweating and shaking in his sleep.
Beka gently placed a hand on the engineer's right shoulder and began speaking. "Harper, wake up. You're having a bad nightmare," she said softly.
Harper opened his eyes and blinked several times. "Wha. What? Did something blow up?"
"No, everything is fine," Beka answered as she sat down on the engineer's bunk.
Harper sat up asking, "Why did you wake me then? Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
"I'm sorry to bother you Harper, but you were having a nightmare," Beka explained.
The engineered frowned as he looked down at his hands. "Oh yeah, guess Rommie found out and told you huh?"
The blonde nodded. "I thought you had stopped having nightmares?"
"So did I," Harper admitted.
"You want to talk about it Harper? What you say won't go outside this room," Beka promised.
Harper nodded his agreement. "Yeah, maybe it would help if I talked about it. It seemed to help to talk when I first came aboard the Eureka Maru."
"Okay, start whenever you're ready," Beka offered.
"What I had was more than a bad nightmare. What I just had was an A number 1 rotten nightmare," the engineer began. "I had a nightmare about the worst day of my life."
Beka bit her lip and forced herself to keep her composure. "Do you feel like telling me what it was about?"
Harper paused momentarily, considering the question. He really didn't feel like reliving terrible memories, but he thought that Beka was right and it may help if he were to express his feelings.
Harper swallowed and then looked up at Beka. "Well, there's not much to tell. I was just having a nightmare about the Nietzscheans killing my parents. . I keep seeing my parents fighting off the Uber and then the Uber just killed them. The Uber just laughed like it was a joke. He laughed like my parents were bugs that he just squashed under his jackboot."
Beka fought back the tears as she listened to her young Earth friend.
"I haven't had the nightmare in a long time but for some reason it came back," Harper admitted with fear in his voice.
Beka forced herself to put her emotions back in check. "I'm sorry Harper. I wish I could make the nightmare go away. I know it is hard to tell people what you are feeling, but perhaps if you tried writing it down. Keep a journal. I know I'm not much being much help. I'm sorry."
"No it's okay, really," Harper protested. "Keeping a journal isn't a bad idea. People have told me about that before, but I just thought it was silly and never bothered. Now I'm willing to try anything."
"Good. Now try to go back to sleep. And don't forget, if you have any more nightmares I'll come running. You can always count on me," Beka promised.
Harper forced himself to flash a crooked grin. "Thanks Beka. It has helped to talk."
"You're welcome Harper. I'll stay here for awhile just in case," Beka said as she gave the engineer a hug.
Beka took a seat in the chair near the door. As she sat and watched the Earthling try to sleep Beka finally allowed tears to form in her eyes. In the dark Harper couldn't see her cry. Beka Valentine cursed the fates. She was responsible for her friend's nightmares and she couldn't even tell him. Beka wished she could make it up and take back all of the pain that Harper had suffered in the past. It just wasn't fair that Harper had to suffer so much and then relive it all over again in nightmares. Beka didn't know which was a worse punishment for Seamus Harper; living in a catatonic state or suffering through nightmares. One day the nightmares would end Beka vowed.
