Part 39

Harper's POV

It was a dizzing affect. One that spiraled forth from the very base of my emotions, the very base of my love for Trance. It overwhelmed all my senses. I had approached her angry and resentful but the second I looked in her eyes I couldn't be angry. I felt I needed her…I felt a yearning for to be pleased with me.

"I thought I'd have you out longer." She said but her words sounded like sweet music. I felt drugged and strange as everything seemed to swirl and dance.

"What are you up to now?" I whispered. I wanted to know and be apart of her loop. I wanted to follow no matter what and her lips curled in approval but her uncharacteristic smile caused an internal argument. Yes I loved Trance, yes I wanted her with everything I had…but that smile wasn't my Trance…Her clothes were different. Her skin was different. Even her smell was different…she didn't smell golden and fresh anymore. She smelled like blood and scorched flesh.

"I'm gonna beat the shit out of Tyr." She said sadistically her hands gripping her sheathed blades tightly as if she couldn't wait to exact pain on her former friend and shipmate. My mind waged a battle, my eyes snapping in and out of focus. At one moment I would see the love of my life…at the next I'd still see the love of my life but she was smoldered and weighed down with hate and resentment. The fight continued but soon the only image that was left was the sad one…the euphoric fuzz lifted from my eyes and brain I could see her for what she really was.

"I can't let you do that." I said looking directly in her eyes. Her smirk shifted to a frown. Her disappointment apparent on her hot red face. Her trick didn't work. I could see through her no matter what spell she tried to put on me because I loved her to much to see a lie.

"Yes you will, and while I'm away you're going to get a slip fighter ready I'm gonna leave soon." She spat watching me intently. Obviously trying to see if she could rekindle the spell she had placed on me like some love sick witch.

"And why should I do that?" I said and she looked exasperated. She stepped up to me whispering in my ear. Trying desperately to use my love for her against me, as if my love for her was my weakness. In reality it was my strength, it made me keep going…forced me not to give up on her. I had never been so determined in all my life. I couldn't watch her destroy herself…watch her kill everything she stood for. She looked at me after she whispered. Her eyes pleading for me to just consent…she didn't want to kill me and right now her love for me had become her weakness. Now the tables had turned. I gazed at her. The silence lying thick between us. She wanted a slip fighter…but what was her plan? I decided to play along to find out.

"How long will you be?" I said and she radiated with happiness. And I could see her chest heave with relief and for that split second she looked like purple trance. Her satisfied smile quickly turned to a wicked smirk and my hope was dashed.

"That's my Harper, not long." She said. I nodded and padded down the hall toward the docking bay. I had a lot of work to do. As I briskly walked the halls I thought of my plan. An ultimatum of sorts. I entered the docking bay, brushed my hair back and got to work, determined to bring an end to this one way or another.



Trance hadn't taken long to enter the docking bay and just as I had assumed the gorgonyte was in tow. I greeted her playing into my love sick boy routine that she ate up greedily. We all hopped into the slipfighter when suddenly andromeda tried to lock the docking bay down. I swore in my head. This wasn't part of my plan.

"Harper this is why I brought you..." Trance said but I was already on it. My fingers worked across the console and sure enough the doors opened and Trance immediately sent us whirling into space. I braced myself wondering if my plan was a good one. This was a last resort…their was no turning back. We rode in silence. Only the gorgonyte's breathing could be heard in the cramped space. I watched the stars go by letting my mind wonder over my favorite moments with trance. I realized that most of those moments included the purple pixie…I wanted her back so bad. I had to get her back…

"Trance…Where are we going?" I said secretly switching on a communication device I had installed on the ship.

"We're going to meet the folks" she said almost playfully.

"We are going to meet your family?" I said trying to pry more information out…hoping she would give away something for the andromeda to use to find us. I could see her smile through the cockpit glass, enjoying our little talk.

"Yep, I guess our relationship has hit that next level…I'm bringing you home to mama" she laughed and the slipfighter surged forward picking up even more speed, she looked excited to go home. The sudden speed made the communication device crackle and whistle. Trances eyes narrowed. She turned toward me slowly letting the slip fighter gradually slow down. Her eyes already seething with anger.

"What was that Harper?" She said, her teeth bared for me to see, the red of her skin blazing as she looked at me from under her lashes. I looked over to the gorgonyte but he could offer no help, he seemed just as afraid.

"She reached around and tore away the little pad I had attached to the underbelly of my console. Sparks erupted from the torn circuits as she analyzed it. The ship has come to a full stop by this point and her eyes slowly moved from the pad to me. She looked utterly disappointed.

"and here I thought you really wanted to be with me…" She said smiling.

"But you are constantly letting me down…" she gritted her teeth and when I opened my mouth to speak she back handed me sharply. I froze and so did she. My cheek burned and she looked somewhat sorry for what she did…her eyes softened a bit.

"If you want to stay with me you have to stop undermining me! I know what I'm doing!" she screamed at me but it didn't have much force. She seemed weak and out of it. She crushed the pad in her hands and let it drop to the floor. Then she grabbed my collar.

"Any other gadgets I should know about…" she said. Her hot angry breath on my face. Her lips tight and her jaw ridged.

"I knew you wouldn't listen to reason. So I installed one other device… " I said. This would be it…the last resort...the insanity had to stop.

"What is it?" she growled.

"I call it the ultimatum. I've rigged this slip fighter to blow in exactly 10 minuets and only I can stop it." I said and her eyes widened. She pulled her fist back but her eyes wavered when she gazed into mine.

"If you kill me I won't be able to stop it and we will all die…even you precious gorgonyte. I only ask one thing of you Trance…one thing and I'll stop the countdown."

"What is it?" she spat gripping on to my collar even tighter.

"I want you to be innocent again. I want you to be loving and rational. I want you to be purple again. " I said reaching out to stroke her red angry face.

"I'm sorry I can't do that." She snarled but she didn't flinch when I touched her face.

"Then I'm sorry I can't stop the countdown either." I said pulling my hand back. We continued to stare as the time dwindled down…neither one willing to give an inch…