AN: At long last, here is the last part of the Harper/Trance plotline. I really appreciate everyone's patience on this. However, this is not the last chapter of the story. There will be at least one more, and in it, we will see some of the insights and reflections of the various characters involved. After all, we want to see if Harper's learned any lessons, right?

Chapter Sixteen: Going Out With a Bang

"Man, I don't know which nightmare she's going through this time," Harper muttered to the Assistant Professor who stood next to him, "but it must be one of my worst ones. And she's not waking up, either."

He tried hard to concentrate on the last few stages of rebuilding the photonic resonator, but it was growing increasingly difficult. Behind him, Trance was tossing and turning in her chair, crying out in her sleep as she fought off imaginary attackers. Harper was beginning to figure out which dream it was, and it brought back very unpleasant memories. But at least those memories were still his own. That was his second problem. As time went on, he quickly realized that he could remember less and less of his own life, while more and more information about Trance tried to push itself into his consciousness. Only sheer force of will was allowing him to ignore them and retain just enough of his own knowledge to finish his work on the resonator.

"Just hold on a little bit longer, Trance," he whispered. He glanced up just long enough to accept another component from the Assistant Professor, then bent to his work again. "How are those lab rats coming with the generator?" he asked.

The female Perseid regarded him in confusion for a moment, then nodded. "Ah, you mean Professor Deedran and the other scientists. I would imagine that they are slightly further along in the process than when you asked two minutes ago. I could go check again, if you wish."

Harper didn't look up. "Please do," he replied. As she exited the lab through the door behind him, he breathed a little sigh of relief. He was nearly done, but this last part was the most delicate, and having her staring over his shoulder was starting to get on his nerves. Especially since she was constantly muttering to herself, repeatedly going over the various steps he was using to rebuild the resonator. It was like she was trying to memorize the process – all while breathing down his neck. A Human probably wouldn't have noticed it, but Trance's body was able to pick up even the slightest air movements, which could get annoying fast.

He realized that he had stopped working and was staring off into space. He shook himself, and glanced back down at the component in his hand. He had to keep his concentration, just a bit longer. Placing the tip of his miniature arc welder at the appropriate spot, he turned the power back on.


Some time later – he wasn't sure if it was minutes or hours – he realized that the Assistant Professor was standing next to him again.

"Professor Deedran says that he has finished rebuilding the generator," she said, making him stir as if coming out of a trance. "Are you done? You've been staring at it for the past five minutes."

He shrugged. "Uh, yeah, I think so." Even as he said it, he wondered if he really was or not. Suddenly, he couldn't remember which step of the process he had been on. "Well, I mean, it looks pretty good, don't you think?"

She nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes, indeed! If you are finished then, I believe it's about time to get this procedure started. I'll help you get Trance Gemini."

Making sure that the photonic resonator was secure in a padded case he took from one of the lab's many shelves, Harper tucked it under one arm, then knelt next to Trance. "Trance," he whispered. "Trance, it's time to wake up. Come on, just for a couple minutes. I promise you can go back to sleep just as soon as we're done."

To his surprise, she opened her eyes slowly. He helped her sit up. "I need a Sparky Cola," she muttered groggily.

"You can have my entire stash once we get back to the Andromeda," he replied. "Just do your best to stay awake for a bit longer." He helped her stand up, then brought her over to lean on the Assistant Professor's shoulder. "Help her back to the lab," he told the Perseid. "I'm going to get the resonator installed."

She nodded, staggering a bit as Trance all but fell into her. "I'm right behind you," she replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Leaving the two of them behind, Harper exited the analysis lab and hurried toward the room where Deedran and the other scientists were waiting. It only took him a few minutes to get there, but they were some of the longest minutes of his life. The entire way, he had to struggle to keep his focus. He continually ran over the process of installing the resonator in his mind, because he knew that if he stopped, he would forget it for good. Memories that had to be from Trance's childhood – or whatever she could call the first few years of her life – were doing their best to take over, and not all of them were exactly pleasant.

Finally, he reached the lab where this entire fiasco had started. "I've got the resonator," he said quickly as he picked his way over the debris from the first explosion. "Deedran, give me a hand with installing it. The rest of you, make sure everything's connected properly, then get as far away from this room as you can."

For once, the Perseids didn't argue or gawk. Within seconds, they were scrambling around like a miniature horde of blue ants.

The Assistant Professor arrived with Trance just as the rest of the scientists hurried out of the room. Deedran moved to help her.

"I believe we're ready," he told Harper as he went. "Everything is in precisely the same configuration as it was the first time. Provided that you've rebuilt the photonic resonator correctly, I estimate a... twenty-two percent chance of success. I'm afraid they're not very good odds, considering that you could be blown apart in the process."

"Don't think so negatively," Harper admonished, realizing even as he did that he sounded far too much like Trance for his liking. He made the last connection between the photonic resonator and the teseract generator. "I'm well aware that we've only got one shot at this. If we make a mistake, Trance and I are both dead, or if not, we might as well be." With a sigh of exasperation, he stepped over to help the two Perseids with Trance. She was being entirely uncooperative, which was likely due to the fact that she seemed to be mostly asleep again. "Come on, Trance," he coaxed. "We're almost there."

With Deedran's help, he finally got her seated on the floor next to the table that supported the teseract generator. He had to prop her against one of the legs so that she wouldn't fall over. He straightened to see the other two looking at him.

"Well, Prof," he said, "it hasn't been real fun, but it certainly has been real. Thanks for all your help."

The Professor gave a single nod. "It has been most exciting, Mr. Harper. It is a real honor to have worked with you."

"Who knows?" Harper added, giving a small smile at the Assistant Professor. "If you keep it up, you just might attain super genius level sooner than you think."

"It has been a pleasure," she replied with a toothy grin.

"Right, well, I'd get out of here if I were you too," he said. "It's gonna get really nasty in here really quick."

They turned and started to leave, but at the doorway, Deedran turned back. "Oh, Mr. Harper!" he piped.

"What?" Harper asked in exasperation.

"Good luck!"


"Harper, hurry."

Harper looked down in surprise from where he was making one last check on the teseract generator's networking converters. "Trance, you're awake."

"Barely," she replied softly. "I'm sorry I haven't been of more help to you. Your memories are so strong... so terrible. If I stay conscious for too long, they start to take over."

"You mean you deliberately went to sleep?" he asked as he crouched beside her.

She shook her head. "It wasn't sleep. I put myself into a sort of trance, where I was aware of my surroundings, but detached from my mind, so that your memories couldn't start dictating my actions. But I can't hold it much longer."

"Well, don't worry about it," he assured her. "Everything is set. I'm ready if you are."

She nodded weakly.

"We're only going to get once chance at this, you know," he added. "We're just as likely to be killed as we are to be returned to our own bodies."

"I know. We don't have a choice. Do it."

He nodded. "All right. Here goes something... I hope." He reached up and started the power up sequence. The teseract generator began to hum as energy started to flow through it. Once he was sure that he wouldn't need to do anything more, Harper sat down on the floor next to Trance, and wrapped his arms around her. "It'll be over any second now, one way or another."

Above him, the teseract generator started to whine, then rattle.

Trance didn't respond, but instead stared out the shattered windows at the sky beyond. "The night is almost gone," she whispered. "The sun is rising."

In the next room, the new power generator started making rhythmic thumps. Just like last time.

Harper felt himself gripping Trance tighter. "So far so good," he said, trying to sound reassuring. He wasn't sure who he was trying to comfort, her or himself.

She didn't say anything, but she did put her arms around him.

Sparks flew from the teseract generator above them. He felt a few land on his neck, but he ignored the slight burning sensation. A low boom echoed from the next room. A brilliant white light started to fill the room, and the teseract generator's whine rose to a howl. The light grew until Harper had to squeeze his eyes shut.

"Here we go!" he shouted over the crescendo.

The power generator exploded, filling the room with smoke and fire. The teseract machine tore itself to shreds, sending out a spherical bubble of blue and white energy that enveloped them in its wake.

Harper heard his shout turn into a scream of agony, and next to him, he knew Trance was screaming just as loud. He felt his skin start to burn, and he suddenly realized that he was flying through the air like a discarded piece of flexi. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Trance – in his body – sailing past him, moving as if time had slowed to a near standstill. Her mouth was open in a cry that echoed in his mind.

The entire room was filled with flame and blossoming explosions. It felt like he was disintegrating.

Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, he saw his body slam into the far wall, and blackness took him.


Smoke. Smoke filled the room with a thick curtain of black, and pieces of burning hot debris were still falling like raindrops of fire. It was the first thing that Trance noticed as she felt her consciousness rushing back with a rapidity that was painful. She opened her eyes slowly, and realized that she couldn't see more than a few feet in any direction for all the smoke. She sat up with a groan...

And realized that it was her voice that made the sound. She brought a hand up; it was hers. She grinned. Harper had done it! They were back in their own bodies! But her jubilation died quickly. Harper.

Where was he?

She stood, ignoring the pain that shot through her legs as she did so, trying to catch sight of her friend amidst the destruction around her. She couldn't see anything except smoke and the jagged edges of metal and concrete. This explosion had been bigger than the last.

"Harper!" she called. "Harper! Where are you?"

There was no answer.

At that moment, she felt a breeze rush through the room; the clouds of smoke parted slightly, and golden rays from the rising sun slashed through with a brilliance that made her shield her eyes. They fell on the still form of Harper, against the far wall.

"Harper!" she cried, rushing toward him. She tripped on a piece of debris and fell to her knees. She crawled. "Harper!"

She finally reached him, and hesitated, wondering if she should touch him. Fighting back tears of concern, she reached out and cradled him in her arms, wiping streaks of soot from his face with one hand. "Harper?" she asked pleadingly.

He coughed, then groaned. "What the –" he started weakly. He blinked, then focused on her. "Trance?" His eyes widened when he saw her. "Trance! It worked?"

Trance didn't bother holding back her tears now. She let them slide down her cheeks as she held her friend, breathing a sigh of relief. "Yes, it worked, Harper. We're back in our own bodies. Our memories are our own." She smiled. "You did it."

Harper grinned up at her. "Hey what did I tell you? Trust the Harper..."

She returned his grin. "The Harper is good," she finished.