Chapter 3:

Before he could relive the horror of hearing his questions answered, Dylan was brought back to the present by the sound of Harper clearing his throat. Looking up, Dylan was not surprised to find Harper's eyes on the floor before him instead of looking at his Captain. Harper refused to look at any of them. He was a mere shell of his former hyper self. Dylan knew he blamed himself for not being able to help Beka and while no one else thought less of him, Harper still refused to accept that it wasn't his fault.

"Can I help you, Mister Harper?" Dylan asked quietly.

"Umm, yeah, I was just, umm, wondering if maybe, you had, you know." He trailed off, shuffling his toes against the carpet.

Dylan sighed. It was the same everyday. Harper would come to him and ask if there was any news on Beka. Dylan would then have to tell him there wasn't, causing them both immense grief. Harper would go back to his workroom and they wouldn't see or hear from him again until the next morning when the cycle repeated itself.

Just as Dylan was opening his mouth to answer Harper, Rommie came barging into his office. She was practically out of breath, which was, of and in itself, a shocking achievement for an android.

Without any formalities, she announced, "I think we found her!" She then turned smartly on her heel and left the room as abruptly as she had arrived.

The two men stared at her retreating back for a split second before turning and meeting each other's eyes for the first time in three weeks. Without another moment's hesitation, they were both running out the door, heading for command.

Harper's thoughts were racing as quickly as his body. Rommie's words kept echoing in his mind. Five simple words but they meant the world to Harper. They meant there was still hope.