Part 24
Harper's POV
A rusty screech like no other rang through every hallway and every corridor of the Andromeda. I
didn't realize that that awful sound came from me until I felt the burn in my throat and chest.
"Trance!!!" I screamed like I had never screamed before. Over and over I repeated her
name…screamed her name hoping that maybe she'd hear me and decided not to die…maybe
she'd work some magic, some of her pixie magic and come back but every second that went by
only confirmed the fact that she was gone. The bridge was silent…all but for my now silent sobs
and wails. I had never cried this hard…I had never felt lose this strongly. All this time I was
worried for Beka sure in the knowledge that no matter what happened Trance would always find
away to come back to us unharmed. Just as she always did. She was resilient and everyone knew
it but again the seconds crept by and there was no sign of the golden resilient warrior. My
emotions ranged from sheer sorrow to overpowering and irrational rage. It was the last straw…I
couldn't imagine life without any member of this crew…but especially Trance and Beka.
Beka…Beka was on her way home…but how could I be happy after seeing something so
morbidly tragic? I couldn't help but think…if I had the power to stop this…to put it all in rewind
and to choose who to put on that escape freighter, who would I choose? It was disgusting
thinking. Wrong thinking at it's best but my mind was weak and vulnerable and all I could think
about was how much of a bastard I was for being able to choose between the two women I loved
the most. In space Beka was my everything. She was my surrogate mother, but Trance was my
love. I had never loved anyone before, sure I loved Beka but as a mother, I was loyal and
respectful But Trance,…she inspired more then just respect and loyalty, she inspired deep
emotion unlike any emotion I thought I could feel…untouched emotions.
I never got a chance to tell her this…I never got a chance to tell her how much she meant to
me...how everyday I'd chant in my head that today was the day I'd pull her aside and tell her how
much I cared but I never did. Something always seemed to break…or some tragedy always
seemed to occur to stop me from sharing my heart with her and this was the ultimate tragedy…
"Maybe I can just tell her tomorrow." I whispered to myself and giggled a sick sad laugh.
Irrationally hoping that tomorrow I'd wake up and over our usual morning coffee I'd dredge up
the strength to finally tell her I loved her and she'd gasp fanning back the approaching tears. Then
with a spurt of spontaneity we'd dance a little dance on top of the tables kicking away the trays
and salt shakers and celebrating the release of emotions and love that we had kept inside for so
many years. The years would pass behind us in a blur we wouldn't notice and the only thing that
would change would be the ever growing size of our smiles. It would be a care free dance where
the constant pull and grind of everyday life meant nothing and the only thing that mattered was
keeping this dance going and watching time have no power over us. It was a surreal vision of
love, I smiled hungrily…I wanted that vision to be reality.
"Captain…" Andromeda said quietly breaking the silence on the bridge.
"The freighter from the enemy vessel has docked in docking bay 9." Andromeda finished and
even her virtual eyes glistened slightly with the sheen of sadness. Dylan nodded slowly and Tyr
slammed his fist forcefully into his console before storming out but I could see his shoulders
heave…and the bow of his head made it known that her death was weighing heavily on him as
well. Dylan stood quietly on the bridge with me and rommie…the warning lights still blazing on
the bridge from our battle and the crackling ambers of the enemy ship still burning in front of us
like a dying fire. The hot looking yellows and reds projected on to dylans face. His features
looked like they had been carved out of stone. His sorrow manifested in anger and I could feel
the need for revenge just under his dignified surface. He'd of course make some point later
…some heroic do gooder point about how revenge was not the way but for right now Dylan
wasn't so sure whether declaring all out war on that race was the best thing to do for his aching
heart. Right now Dylan was second-guessing everything and he clinched tight to keep his
struggle within but I could see it. I didn't have his morals…I didn't have his do-gooder attitude…I
knew exactly what I wanted to do…exactly.
I turned to leave starting at a slow trot and erupting into a full out run where every muscle in my
legs burned and my heart felt like it was gonna beat out of my chest by the time I made it to the
docking bay but I couldn't care less. I entered the docking bay to see Maria bots setting a beaten
and bruised looking beka valentine on gurney. Andromeda must have taken it uppon herself to
order beka to be brought to med deck for care... Our minds were to flooded with greif to think
clearly. My eyes softened and my gaze wondered to the silent and still surrogate mother. She
layed motionless on the gurney…quiet and small. The shock of seeing her pale face and the
vision of the burning ambers that was the late Trance Gemini cause an explosion in my brain. I
ran full force toward the timid alien that stuttered his greetings to me only to be shocked by my
speed and the darkness around my eyes…I didn't need a weapon…I wanted to beat him to death
with my bare hands. I wanted to tear away his flesh and squeeze his heart and hear his
scream…to plead for his life only for me to take it anyway.
"IT'S YOUR FAULT SHE'S GONE!" I jumped on his chest bringing him down to the ground
quickly and without the least bit of hesitation I hit him. Over and over I hit him until he no longer
protested and his once reaching and begging hands laid limp beside him. Each hit was harder and
more brutal then that last…Until each punch sounded sick and wet and red paint would color my
face and shirt. But I kept hitting, I kept hitting. I just…kept hitting.
"Harper don't!!" Dylan said running in and tearing me away from the green monstrosity…
"NO!! IT'S HIS FAULT!" I screamed and Dylan continued to pull me away kicking and
screaming from the gurgling green smear I had created.
"Harper…Trance said don't hurt him remember…it was her last words…" Dylan said and I
calmed a little…the tears surged forward and my face crinkled into a tight ball of sorrow.
"Right now Beka needs us…We'll worry about the alien bastards once beka's better." Dylan said
tight lipped. I could see in his eyes that the battle he was raging in his mind had come to some
sort of conclusion and the need for revenge had won. The thought of eradicating there
species…the thought of getting revenge made me feel better, made me feel like I was avenging
Trances untimely death…giving something for my body a way to grieve without leaving these
rivers of tears on my face that I was so ashamed of. I stood quietly and nodded at dylan who
nodded back firmly. I walked over to beka and grabbed her hand walking in time with the maria
bots. Dylan marched along side me.
"Rommie…take our visitor down to V deck. I'll be paying him a visit soon." Dylan said as he
passed Rommie in the hall and she looked worried by the intensity in dylans face.
"Do it!" He said and rommie snapped to. I looked down at beka who was now fluttering her eyes.
"Hey Beka…nice to have you back." I smiled but for some reason it felt so empty.