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It hurt. A lot. The light was too bright. I still couldn't move which was okay because I didn't want to.
"All done, a bit difficult but all done!" The doctor chirped happily.
I opened my eyes they felt crusted and dry. I had to swallow a couple of times. There was no moisture in my throat or mouth. "I.." I started but the room spun crazily. The doctor ignored me as he punched something in to a flexi he held.
One side of my neck was stiff and sore from getting hit and the other sight felt like it had a led weight sitting on it. Ever so often I would get a flash of pain and the room would spin faster.
"You're awake now good."
I did my best to look up at the doctor but I couldn't move my head enough to look at his face. Even the effort of moving made me want to hurl.
"How do you feel?"
"Thirsty...sick." I whispered.
"Tsk.Tsk. You had a bit of a hard time. You have a very bad immune system."
Tell me something I don't know
"Lost some blood... I think you might get implant sickness to. You must eat better..."
He rattled on, but I couldn't concentrate. Plus, I didn't think where I'm going will need to be all that health conscious.
I must have fallen asleep or passed out for a moment because I blinked and when I opened my eyes again the doctor was gone and the friendly neighborhood wardens were back. They undid all my straps again and hauled me to my feet.
Suddenly the floor became the ceiling and my stomach reacted violently.
Two of the guards laughed as another one groaned. I must have good aim. It was a good thing someone kept a grip on my arm, as I couldn't seem to stand up straight either.
"Doc said he was Port sick." Said one of them still chuckling at the other's misfortune.
They hauled me out of the medical room but after that I couldn't tell you which way we went. The dizziness wasn't as bad if I kept my eyes closed.
After a few minutes I was given a shoe and the grips on my arms were gone. I fell on my knees and slid a little across the floor.
"Well punk, growled the same guard that had hit me before. "You got a bit of a reprieve. Because, you're of such a weak consitution the doc says you might get infection. You'll be here a couple more days here before they send you to the pits.
I should be relieved and I should say something rude to the guard about my 'weak constitution.' But, I just laid down on the nice cool floor and passed out.
++++++++++++++++++++
Time passed quickly but in slow increments. Everything seemed not quite right. I lay on the floor for a long time. They there were voices. Someone confirmed what I already knew. I was sick. Then I was on the small cot in the cell. That was a bit disconcerting as I don't remember moving.
I felt like I had an extra pulse and it was focused around the hunk of metal in my neck. I had always wanted a Dataport. Yet, this isn't quite what I had in mind. I expected to be zooming around matrixes, hacking ...being rich. I hadn't counted puking on a prison cell floor till I could barley breath.
This was that purple girls fault. She set the co-ordinates she was the one who said this is the place we wanted to go. I just wanted to sell the ship get a bit of money. If I ever saw her again I would kill her.
"Psssst."
I let my eyes blink open. I quickly closed them again. It was bright and I wanted to sleep.
"Psssst. Harper!"
Great now I was dreaming about that damn purple girl. A light hand touched my face and I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Shit! Trance!"
"You shouldn't swear."
"Well quit scaring me half to death then!"
"If I'm going to help you you're going to have to be nicer to me."
I wasn't going to do this again. "Are you real?"
The purple girl nodded happily. "And, I have a surprise for you!" She was bouncing on the spot with excitement.
Good she was real. Then I could kill her. I reached forward with my left hand and then my right. I was trying to grab her throat. I wanted to strangle the life out of her.
"Really Harper this is not the time to get fresh!" she batted my weakened hands away.
"Go AWAY!" I growled with frustration. "This is all your fault!"
Trance actually took a moment to look hurt and least I thought so ...she was a very hard person to figure out. The she looked at me again and placed her hand on my forehead. "You're sick, that's why you're grumpy, once you see your surprise you'll feel much better."
Then it occurred to me. "How the hell did you get in here?"
"Oh, I tried to get in through the door but some of the guards looked kinda angry. So, I didn't want to bother then so I climbed through air duct, then I crawled under some security sensors... which was kind of scary because I thought I might burn my tail and then..."
I wanted to kill her so bad. "I wish I had a gun."
"It's okay I'll protect you."
Really, really badly.
Suddenly, I was on my feet. The room spun and I nearly feel on my face.
"Oh, that won't do." She placed her hand on my forehead again and a purple haze covered my eyes for a moment. I blinked a couple of times then sneezed.
"Hey!" I felt better. The room wasn't moving, my neck hurt but it seemed more like a toothache. Actually, I felt a bit strange. A little like I was floating on a cloud.
"Better?" she smiled.
"Umm... yeah. What did you do?"
"Well, I'm afraid it's only temporary." She hedged." We should probably leave now."
"We're leaving?"
Now she seemed annoyed. "Well I couldn't very well bring the surprise here."
This time I wasn't going to argue. "Lead on, Mademoiselle."
"My name's Trance."
"Let's just go okay!"
+++++++++++++++++++
We had crawled through the conduits. The rest of the building had been so neat and sterile, they must use these ducts to suck up the grim. I was caked with the stuff. It reminded me a bit of crawling through the sewers on earth. Except, here everything was dry.... It stuck to you just the same though. The worst though was that they had these motion defectors turned on. They were they old beam type though and we could crawl under them but it meant dragging our belly's in the muck.
Even more annoying the dirt didn't seem to stick to Trance.
It took us nearly an hour to get out. I had the feeling that she would have done it a lot faster with out me. I was still feeling weird though. And, everything I looked at seemed to have this odd purple tinge to it.
You know though... as much as she pissed me off, she did come back for me. And, for me that was an unprecedented event. No, one ever came back until now.
Yet, I just wasn't so sure I wanted know what the surprise was.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We made it out with out setting any alarms off at all. The guards didn't check on me much so it might be hours before they even knew I was gone.
Trance seemed lucky to have around. I just hadn't decided if it was good luck or bad. In the end it didn't matter. I didn't really believe in luck.
Trance led me down every back alley and street. I had to admit what ever she gave me was starting to wear off. I was starting to feel sick again and that pretty purple haze was disappearing from my eyes.
"We're almost there," she encouraged.
We came to a stop on the north side of a very fancy looking building.
"Umm Trance, where are we?"
"A Friends." She looked at me for a moment. "You need a disguise."
I looked at her blankly. I was dead exhausted and the pain was getting really bad.
"Oh I know!" She chirped and reached into a strange grey fuzzy purse that she carried at her hip. She pulled out the most ridiculous hat. It matched her purse perfectly.only it was pink. It reminded me of a soft, floppy sombrero. Before I could protest she plunked it on my head. The hat promptly sunk down covering my nose.
"Trance, I can't wear this!"
"Why not?" She had a sad pouty look.
"Well.it's a girls hat first of all and it's to big and I feel silly."
"Wouldn't you feel sillier if you got caught?"
"You have a point."
"Besides it's my favorite hat I think it really brings out the blue in your eyes."
I felt my checks getting hot and it didn't even occur to me until about five minutes later that she couldn't even see my eyes under the hat.
She led me to the front of the building and inside the doors. It seemed like the front entrance to a very fancy casino and hotel. She led me to the lift and then to a private room. I kept my head low and prayed that no one looked at me.for more then one reason.
"Well this is our room."
I took off my hat. "Holy." it was even fancier then that prince's ship. "This is great Trance this is a fantastic surprise! How'd you score the cash!"
"This isn't the surprise silly. A friend of mine owns the casino and well I'm very good at gambling. I think you should lie down.you look pale."
I flopped down on an over sized, over stuffed couch. I couldn't help but groan with contentment.
Trance was there once again beside me her hand on my brow. She was very close I could feel her breathe as whispered in my ear.
"Sleeeep.tomorrow things will be as they should and you need to rest."
The purple mist came back full force and I slept a dreamless sleep.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I woke up late the next morning. There was a slight popping sound almost if an air bubble burst. I rubbed my eyes sleepily, stretched and yawned. That was the best sleep I had had in a long time and I felt better for it. I sat up slowly and looked around.
The sun was streaming in and felt warm on my face. Everything seemed a little better today a little more hopeful.
Trance stood on the balcony watching the traffic zoom buy and I joined her. She smiled at me brightly.
"Feel better?"
"Much."
"I found someone interested in the ship."
"Really! That's fantastic! That's my surprise then!?"
"In away. The guy that is interested said he'd met us there in an hour."
She seemed hesitant.
"Do you think it's a trap?"
"No, it's not a trap." She gave a lovely soft smile. "I'm just worried about you." The sun sparkled in her eyes making them look like prisms.
I looked away quickly. Queasiness filled the pit of my stomach. "You know, I didn't think you would come back.I though . I thought you were just like everyone else. people leave and they don't come back." I embarrassed I couldn't believe I had said that out loud. Yet suddenly I felt it was important she knew. Now, I just wanted to crawl back on that couch and die yet I couldn't make my mouth stop. "Beka was nice to me, I thought she was different. I thought she cared and then she left. She said she would comeback and she didn't. So, I didn't even allow myself to think that you would. Ah, hell.I don't know."
I suddenly became very interested in my boots.
She didn't laugh, I thought she would. She reached over and tipped my chin up so I was lost in the rainbows that were her eyes.
"People will come back. There is always a way to make things right. Harper do you believe in luck?"
I shook my head. "No, I believe in fate but not luck."
"Well I believe in luck . and magic." She closed her eyes for a moment turning her face towards the sun. "I have heard a story once.and actually it's even about earth. "
Really?"
"Hmm hmm, It was a long time ago before things there went bad. People used to do fun things, like tell stories and act out plays. Well, anyway there was this superstition that if you said the word "Macbeth" the play would go badly and all sorts of things would happen."
"A superstition?"
"Yes, but if you didn't say this one word.there would be a way that things would go well. So I believe that if we can just find the right way.and never say Macbeth things will work out."
I had to smile. "A perfect possible future? Do you really think such a thing can happen?"
"I have to. I met you."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I stood outside the ship and fidgeted. I was surprised as hell the ship was still there. I thought when they arrested me they had found the ship but apparently not. Still I felt like there were eyes everywhere and any moment someone would jump out a grab me.
On our way to the ship Trance and I had seen no less then three bulletins announcing my escape and that I was some sort of criminal mastermind.
If I weren't so jumpy it would have been kind of cool.
"Trance where are they?" I hissed from the shadows of the ship.
Trance sat out front waiting. "They'll come. I promised them a deal that the guy couldn't refuse."
I didn't even want to know. I had learned it was better not to question her. Yesterday, I had wanted to kill her today and today well. things had changed. I wasn't sure exactly what I was feeling. All my instincts were all out of whack.
It was then I heard voices.
"The people are here for the ship!" Trance called to me.
I turned the corner and all the good thoughts I had had that day left. I didn't know whether to cry for joy and scream with rage.
It was Bobby and a few feet behind him stood Beka.
I felt all the blood rush from my face and I willed my knees to remain strong.
"Oh Harper is it really you!?" They joy and relief was evident on her face and in her voice. She took a few steps towards me as if to embrace me but I took a few back and crossed my arms in defense. I let my eyes drop to the ground. It was the only way I could protect myself. She had left me. Now, she was here. But, it wasn't because she had come looking for me. She was after the ship. I had trusted her. She had saved me from earth, she feed me, gave me a job. She gave me hope that I hadn't made for myself and then she took it away. Hell, I had idolized her.
Bobby let out a laugh. "We just can't seem to get rid of you kid. But, now I understand the deal."
Beka turned on him. "What deal?"
"The pink girl said I could have the ship if I brought you along."
"What?!" burst Beka.
"I'm purple not pink!" shouted Trance.
I however stood in stoney silence studding my shoes. What was going on, what was happening? Why was she here now?
Trance walked over to me and took my hand from beneath my folded arms. "Remember Harper, I believe in luck and magic."
"Trance, but."
"Please just give it a try?"
With Trance leading I took a few steps closer.
Beka looked like she was about to cry and it wasn't something I had ever seen her do.but then again she did a lot of things I hadn't expected.
To be Concluded ASAP
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It hurt. A lot. The light was too bright. I still couldn't move which was okay because I didn't want to.
"All done, a bit difficult but all done!" The doctor chirped happily.
I opened my eyes they felt crusted and dry. I had to swallow a couple of times. There was no moisture in my throat or mouth. "I.." I started but the room spun crazily. The doctor ignored me as he punched something in to a flexi he held.
One side of my neck was stiff and sore from getting hit and the other sight felt like it had a led weight sitting on it. Ever so often I would get a flash of pain and the room would spin faster.
"You're awake now good."
I did my best to look up at the doctor but I couldn't move my head enough to look at his face. Even the effort of moving made me want to hurl.
"How do you feel?"
"Thirsty...sick." I whispered.
"Tsk.Tsk. You had a bit of a hard time. You have a very bad immune system."
Tell me something I don't know
"Lost some blood... I think you might get implant sickness to. You must eat better..."
He rattled on, but I couldn't concentrate. Plus, I didn't think where I'm going will need to be all that health conscious.
I must have fallen asleep or passed out for a moment because I blinked and when I opened my eyes again the doctor was gone and the friendly neighborhood wardens were back. They undid all my straps again and hauled me to my feet.
Suddenly the floor became the ceiling and my stomach reacted violently.
Two of the guards laughed as another one groaned. I must have good aim. It was a good thing someone kept a grip on my arm, as I couldn't seem to stand up straight either.
"Doc said he was Port sick." Said one of them still chuckling at the other's misfortune.
They hauled me out of the medical room but after that I couldn't tell you which way we went. The dizziness wasn't as bad if I kept my eyes closed.
After a few minutes I was given a shoe and the grips on my arms were gone. I fell on my knees and slid a little across the floor.
"Well punk, growled the same guard that had hit me before. "You got a bit of a reprieve. Because, you're of such a weak consitution the doc says you might get infection. You'll be here a couple more days here before they send you to the pits.
I should be relieved and I should say something rude to the guard about my 'weak constitution.' But, I just laid down on the nice cool floor and passed out.
++++++++++++++++++++
Time passed quickly but in slow increments. Everything seemed not quite right. I lay on the floor for a long time. They there were voices. Someone confirmed what I already knew. I was sick. Then I was on the small cot in the cell. That was a bit disconcerting as I don't remember moving.
I felt like I had an extra pulse and it was focused around the hunk of metal in my neck. I had always wanted a Dataport. Yet, this isn't quite what I had in mind. I expected to be zooming around matrixes, hacking ...being rich. I hadn't counted puking on a prison cell floor till I could barley breath.
This was that purple girls fault. She set the co-ordinates she was the one who said this is the place we wanted to go. I just wanted to sell the ship get a bit of money. If I ever saw her again I would kill her.
"Psssst."
I let my eyes blink open. I quickly closed them again. It was bright and I wanted to sleep.
"Psssst. Harper!"
Great now I was dreaming about that damn purple girl. A light hand touched my face and I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Shit! Trance!"
"You shouldn't swear."
"Well quit scaring me half to death then!"
"If I'm going to help you you're going to have to be nicer to me."
I wasn't going to do this again. "Are you real?"
The purple girl nodded happily. "And, I have a surprise for you!" She was bouncing on the spot with excitement.
Good she was real. Then I could kill her. I reached forward with my left hand and then my right. I was trying to grab her throat. I wanted to strangle the life out of her.
"Really Harper this is not the time to get fresh!" she batted my weakened hands away.
"Go AWAY!" I growled with frustration. "This is all your fault!"
Trance actually took a moment to look hurt and least I thought so ...she was a very hard person to figure out. The she looked at me again and placed her hand on my forehead. "You're sick, that's why you're grumpy, once you see your surprise you'll feel much better."
Then it occurred to me. "How the hell did you get in here?"
"Oh, I tried to get in through the door but some of the guards looked kinda angry. So, I didn't want to bother then so I climbed through air duct, then I crawled under some security sensors... which was kind of scary because I thought I might burn my tail and then..."
I wanted to kill her so bad. "I wish I had a gun."
"It's okay I'll protect you."
Really, really badly.
Suddenly, I was on my feet. The room spun and I nearly feel on my face.
"Oh, that won't do." She placed her hand on my forehead again and a purple haze covered my eyes for a moment. I blinked a couple of times then sneezed.
"Hey!" I felt better. The room wasn't moving, my neck hurt but it seemed more like a toothache. Actually, I felt a bit strange. A little like I was floating on a cloud.
"Better?" she smiled.
"Umm... yeah. What did you do?"
"Well, I'm afraid it's only temporary." She hedged." We should probably leave now."
"We're leaving?"
Now she seemed annoyed. "Well I couldn't very well bring the surprise here."
This time I wasn't going to argue. "Lead on, Mademoiselle."
"My name's Trance."
"Let's just go okay!"
+++++++++++++++++++
We had crawled through the conduits. The rest of the building had been so neat and sterile, they must use these ducts to suck up the grim. I was caked with the stuff. It reminded me a bit of crawling through the sewers on earth. Except, here everything was dry.... It stuck to you just the same though. The worst though was that they had these motion defectors turned on. They were they old beam type though and we could crawl under them but it meant dragging our belly's in the muck.
Even more annoying the dirt didn't seem to stick to Trance.
It took us nearly an hour to get out. I had the feeling that she would have done it a lot faster with out me. I was still feeling weird though. And, everything I looked at seemed to have this odd purple tinge to it.
You know though... as much as she pissed me off, she did come back for me. And, for me that was an unprecedented event. No, one ever came back until now.
Yet, I just wasn't so sure I wanted know what the surprise was.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We made it out with out setting any alarms off at all. The guards didn't check on me much so it might be hours before they even knew I was gone.
Trance seemed lucky to have around. I just hadn't decided if it was good luck or bad. In the end it didn't matter. I didn't really believe in luck.
Trance led me down every back alley and street. I had to admit what ever she gave me was starting to wear off. I was starting to feel sick again and that pretty purple haze was disappearing from my eyes.
"We're almost there," she encouraged.
We came to a stop on the north side of a very fancy looking building.
"Umm Trance, where are we?"
"A Friends." She looked at me for a moment. "You need a disguise."
I looked at her blankly. I was dead exhausted and the pain was getting really bad.
"Oh I know!" She chirped and reached into a strange grey fuzzy purse that she carried at her hip. She pulled out the most ridiculous hat. It matched her purse perfectly.only it was pink. It reminded me of a soft, floppy sombrero. Before I could protest she plunked it on my head. The hat promptly sunk down covering my nose.
"Trance, I can't wear this!"
"Why not?" She had a sad pouty look.
"Well.it's a girls hat first of all and it's to big and I feel silly."
"Wouldn't you feel sillier if you got caught?"
"You have a point."
"Besides it's my favorite hat I think it really brings out the blue in your eyes."
I felt my checks getting hot and it didn't even occur to me until about five minutes later that she couldn't even see my eyes under the hat.
She led me to the front of the building and inside the doors. It seemed like the front entrance to a very fancy casino and hotel. She led me to the lift and then to a private room. I kept my head low and prayed that no one looked at me.for more then one reason.
"Well this is our room."
I took off my hat. "Holy." it was even fancier then that prince's ship. "This is great Trance this is a fantastic surprise! How'd you score the cash!"
"This isn't the surprise silly. A friend of mine owns the casino and well I'm very good at gambling. I think you should lie down.you look pale."
I flopped down on an over sized, over stuffed couch. I couldn't help but groan with contentment.
Trance was there once again beside me her hand on my brow. She was very close I could feel her breathe as whispered in my ear.
"Sleeeep.tomorrow things will be as they should and you need to rest."
The purple mist came back full force and I slept a dreamless sleep.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I woke up late the next morning. There was a slight popping sound almost if an air bubble burst. I rubbed my eyes sleepily, stretched and yawned. That was the best sleep I had had in a long time and I felt better for it. I sat up slowly and looked around.
The sun was streaming in and felt warm on my face. Everything seemed a little better today a little more hopeful.
Trance stood on the balcony watching the traffic zoom buy and I joined her. She smiled at me brightly.
"Feel better?"
"Much."
"I found someone interested in the ship."
"Really! That's fantastic! That's my surprise then!?"
"In away. The guy that is interested said he'd met us there in an hour."
She seemed hesitant.
"Do you think it's a trap?"
"No, it's not a trap." She gave a lovely soft smile. "I'm just worried about you." The sun sparkled in her eyes making them look like prisms.
I looked away quickly. Queasiness filled the pit of my stomach. "You know, I didn't think you would come back.I though . I thought you were just like everyone else. people leave and they don't come back." I embarrassed I couldn't believe I had said that out loud. Yet suddenly I felt it was important she knew. Now, I just wanted to crawl back on that couch and die yet I couldn't make my mouth stop. "Beka was nice to me, I thought she was different. I thought she cared and then she left. She said she would comeback and she didn't. So, I didn't even allow myself to think that you would. Ah, hell.I don't know."
I suddenly became very interested in my boots.
She didn't laugh, I thought she would. She reached over and tipped my chin up so I was lost in the rainbows that were her eyes.
"People will come back. There is always a way to make things right. Harper do you believe in luck?"
I shook my head. "No, I believe in fate but not luck."
"Well I believe in luck . and magic." She closed her eyes for a moment turning her face towards the sun. "I have heard a story once.and actually it's even about earth. "
Really?"
"Hmm hmm, It was a long time ago before things there went bad. People used to do fun things, like tell stories and act out plays. Well, anyway there was this superstition that if you said the word "Macbeth" the play would go badly and all sorts of things would happen."
"A superstition?"
"Yes, but if you didn't say this one word.there would be a way that things would go well. So I believe that if we can just find the right way.and never say Macbeth things will work out."
I had to smile. "A perfect possible future? Do you really think such a thing can happen?"
"I have to. I met you."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I stood outside the ship and fidgeted. I was surprised as hell the ship was still there. I thought when they arrested me they had found the ship but apparently not. Still I felt like there were eyes everywhere and any moment someone would jump out a grab me.
On our way to the ship Trance and I had seen no less then three bulletins announcing my escape and that I was some sort of criminal mastermind.
If I weren't so jumpy it would have been kind of cool.
"Trance where are they?" I hissed from the shadows of the ship.
Trance sat out front waiting. "They'll come. I promised them a deal that the guy couldn't refuse."
I didn't even want to know. I had learned it was better not to question her. Yesterday, I had wanted to kill her today and today well. things had changed. I wasn't sure exactly what I was feeling. All my instincts were all out of whack.
It was then I heard voices.
"The people are here for the ship!" Trance called to me.
I turned the corner and all the good thoughts I had had that day left. I didn't know whether to cry for joy and scream with rage.
It was Bobby and a few feet behind him stood Beka.
I felt all the blood rush from my face and I willed my knees to remain strong.
"Oh Harper is it really you!?" They joy and relief was evident on her face and in her voice. She took a few steps towards me as if to embrace me but I took a few back and crossed my arms in defense. I let my eyes drop to the ground. It was the only way I could protect myself. She had left me. Now, she was here. But, it wasn't because she had come looking for me. She was after the ship. I had trusted her. She had saved me from earth, she feed me, gave me a job. She gave me hope that I hadn't made for myself and then she took it away. Hell, I had idolized her.
Bobby let out a laugh. "We just can't seem to get rid of you kid. But, now I understand the deal."
Beka turned on him. "What deal?"
"The pink girl said I could have the ship if I brought you along."
"What?!" burst Beka.
"I'm purple not pink!" shouted Trance.
I however stood in stoney silence studding my shoes. What was going on, what was happening? Why was she here now?
Trance walked over to me and took my hand from beneath my folded arms. "Remember Harper, I believe in luck and magic."
"Trance, but."
"Please just give it a try?"
With Trance leading I took a few steps closer.
Beka looked like she was about to cry and it wasn't something I had ever seen her do.but then again she did a lot of things I hadn't expected.
To be Concluded ASAP