Thank you all for the kind reviews. Here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Andromeda or its character and am not making any money from this story.
Chapter 13
Rommie scanned her decks in search of Harper. She located the engineer in one of the machine shops and informed her avatar. AI Rommie arrived at Machine Shop 8 a short time later.
"Rommie what brings you to my humble workplace?" Harper asked.
The avatar sidled up on to a stool next to where Harper was seated. "I just wanted to talk. Do you have a couple minutes?"
Harper was smart enough to have figured out Rommie's plan. A frown crossed the engineer's boyish face. "Rommie if you've come here to talk me into making up with Beka then you're wasting your time."
"Harper Beka is your best bud as you call her. She wants to apologize and I think you should at least hear her out," Rommie encouraged.
Harper tossed a piece of pipe onto the workbench in front of him, making a loud noise. "I know that Rommie. I know it was the Flash that made Beka go all crazy on me. But my mudfoot instincts just won't let me get near her right now."
Rommie put a reassuring hand on the Earther. "Harper, would it change your mind if somebody was with you when you talked to Beka
"Are you volunteering for the job Rommie?" Harper asked as he slid down from the stool.
Rommie arched an eyebrow at engineer's interest. "Yes if that would make you feel comfortable enough to see Beka. Does this mean you have decided to give Beka a chance?"
Harper shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I need some time to sort things out in my head."
"Okay take some time to think about it. I know what you're going through must be difficult. I will inform Dylan and Beka," AI Rommie replied. "In the meantime, I'll ask Beka to give you some space, as you call it."
Harper smiled inwardly at the avatar's understanding of the current vernacular. "Thanks Rommie. I'd rather not run into Beka for awhile."
Rommie straightened her posture as she prepared to leave. "I'm sure you have projects to get back to so I won't keep you any longer. I'm glad you've healed up. I missed having you taking care of me."
"You sure no how to flatter a guy Rommie. How am I supposed to keep my ego in check?" Harper remarked.
"I thought your ego was already out of control Harper," Rommie teased.
Harper put on an expression of mock indignation. "Hey is that any way to treat your favorite engineer?"
The avatar merely rolled her dark eyes towards her ceiling and sighed. It was a good sign that the engineer was nearly back to his normal mood.
For the next few days Beka carefully avoided Harper as much as possible. When Beka's duties required her to be in the same room as the Earther, Beka made sure that one of the other crew was with them. Beka also tried keeping plenty of distance between her and Harper and to not make sudden moves.
Beka noticed that Harper seemed fairly comfortable being around Beka when on the Command Deck. The Earther almost seemed like his old self. It was when Beka would encounter Harper in the mess hall or the gym. Even when Dylan, Rhade, or Trance was also present, Harper seemed uneasy. The engineer would never take his eyes off of Beka, and had to make an effort to control his breathing.
Beka noticed Harper's demeanor when she was around and it tore her gut. A Valentine isn't supposed to care if somebody is afraid of them. In fact, it's supposed to be a good thing. Being persona non grata wore on Beka.
One day Beka was lying on her bunk in the Maru listening to a music CD. No matter how hard she tried Beka couldn't get her mind off of how she had failed Harper.
Beka was about to get up and take a shower when Andromeda was rocked suddenly, sending Beka tumbling to the deck. Dylan's voice came over the com, calling the senior crew to the Command Deck. Beka determined that she wasn't injured and headed for Command. was she surprised rattler? Annoyed by the interruption?
Beka made her way to the Command Deck when she spied Harper running down the corridor in front of her. The executive officer was about to call out to Harper when the Andromeda was rocked by an explosion. Beka felt herself flying through the air before everything went black and she lost consciousness.
At the same time Harper was thrown to the deck. He was momentarily dazed and lay on his stomach on the deck while he got his bearings. Once the fog lifted from his brain Harper stood up and looked around. did he ache? Did he shake his head to clear it?The Earther's heart jumped up into his throat as he saw Beka lying motionless on the deck.
Harper trotted the 25 yards to where Beka way lying and knelt down beside her. A large piece of the ceiling was on top of the executive officer. Harper put both hands on the large piece of metal and tried to pull it off of Beka. Harper only got the metal an inch off of Beka before he could no longer lift it. The Earther cursed his weakness as he reluctantly set the chunk of metal back down.
"Guys, I'm gonna need some help here," Harper called out over the com as he checked Beka's wrist for a pulse.
"What's the problem Mr. Harper?" Dylan questioned over the com.
Harper hated being the bearer of bad news. "Beka's pinned under a piece of ceiling. I can't get it off of her. She's got a pulse but it's pretty weak."
Dylan shot a concerned look to Rhade who had already made it to his station on the Command Deck. "Okay Harper don't worry help is on the way."
"Harper is Beka conscious?" Trance asked over the com from the Med Deck.
"No, she's out like a light. Look can you hurry up, I can't tell how bad she is with this chunk of metal on her," Harper pleaded.
Trance had grabbed a first aid kit and asked Rommie for Harper and Beka's location. "Don't worry Harper. I'm on my way. Rommie gave me your location."
"Dylan, I'll go assist Trance. She's liable to need help getting the metal off of Beka," AI Rommie announced.
"That's a good idea Rommie. We'll just stay here and try to keep the Kalderans from doing any more damage," Dylan replied.
Harper relaxed slightly at the information. He took off his jacket and put it underneath Beka's head and began waiting for Trance and AI Rommie to arrive.
Dylan reluctantly returned his attention to the battle. "Rhade, fire tubes one and two."
"Aye, aye Captain!" Rhade was already waiting for the command and immediately fired the missiles at the Kalderan fighters.
Core Andromeda appeared on the view screen. "One missile missed its target and the other hit its target. The Kalderan ships are regrouping."
Dylan turned to his crew on Command. "Good work people, but I don't think the Kalderans are giving up so easily."
Just then a swarm of Kalderan fighters came out of slipstream and headed right for Andromeda. Andromeda's fighters met the Kalderans. A few of the Kalderan fighters made it through and began firing on Andromeda.
"It's times like these when I wish I was wrong," Dylan muttered.
Trance and AI Rommie arrived at Beka and Harper's location but found the corridor blocked by pieces of metal and wiring along with beams that had fallen. AI Rommie immediately grabbed on of the beams and easily pushed it aside. The avatar could see that there still wasn't enough room to squeeze through and lifted up a 10 foot sheet of metal and set it aside.
Trance turned sideways and ducked through the opening. AI Rommie followed suit and pointed ahead and to the left. "Beka and Harper are just around that corner."
Moments later the two women were kneeling besides Beka. Harper stepped aside as Trance set down a stretcher next to Beka. AI Rommie quickly lifted the sheet of metal off of Beka and tossed it aside.
"How's Beka? Is she going to be okay?" Harper questioned Trance.
"From what I can tell Beka's pretty banged up but she'll recover," Trance informed as she helped AI Rommie lift Beka onto the stretcher.
Harper grabbed Beka's left hand and held it as Beka was carried to Medical. The engineer helped them get the stretcher up the ladders and was worn out by the time they arrived on Med Deck.
Harper collapsed in a chair near Beka's bedside as Trance worked on the executive officer. AI Rommie noticed Harper's haggard appearance and went over to him. "Harper my scans detect that you have acquired some bruises and lacerations but no serious injuries."
"That's good I suppose," Harper replied as he watched Beka.
"Mr. Harper we could use your help. The slipstream drive malfunctioning," Dylan announced over the com.
"Consider me already working on it Boss," Harper answered back before turning to Trance. "You'll let me know when Beka wakes up? I would like to be here when she wakes up."
"Of course I will Harper. Now get going," Trance assured.
Harper took a brief look behind him at Beka before leaving Medical. "Thanks both of you."
Harper hurried to engineering, grateful that there was no debris blocking his way. He crouched down began making repairs on the slipstream drive
"How's it coming Mr. Harper?" Dylan asked over the com seconds later.
The Earther rolled his eyes in displeasure at the interruption. "It doesn't look too bad. Just keep the bad guys from taking pot shots at us and I'll be able to get the drive on line in no time."
Dylan gave a concerned look over at Rhade. "Well considering we don't have Beka available to pilot we'll try our best."
"That's all I ask Boss," Harper replied. The engineer was now stretched out on his stomach in an attempt to reach the damaged area.
Back on Command Rhade maneuvered Andromeda in a position where the damaged section was on the opposite side from the attacking Kladeran fighters.
Rhade looked up from his console at watched the action on the view screen." We're in position Captain."
Dylan looked over at the Nietzschean. "Fire at will then."
The missiles fired and hit their targets, the main Kalderan formation. The Kalderans fired missiles but Andromeda's shields kept the impact to a minimum. Rhade and Dylan were still thrown to the deck from the impact.
"Mr. Harper we need that slipstream drive up and running now!" Dylan ordered over the com.
Harper sighed as he switched on the slipstream drive. "Your wish is my command Boss."
Rhade engaged slipstream and headed the Andromeda into a slipstream route with the Kalderan fleet close behind. Rhade had the advantage of Nietzschean reflexes and was able to lose the Kalderans after a few quick maneuvers.
Rhade had a smile on his face as Dylan looked over at him. "Nice bit of piloting Rhade."
"Thank you Captain. Where would like to head now?" Rhade asked.
"Saskatchewan Drift. It's time we paid Gerentex a visit," Dylan instructed.