WOW!! Thanks for all the wonderful comments. I hope you enjoy the next bit
(((HUGS)))
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trance was the one who had been the kindest to him. She was purple and cool
and took care of Fergus and Raven at the end. But, when it came to flat out protection it was the blond Captain Valentine whom Seamus Harper respected. After all, she had killed Nietzscheans! So, when his best efforts to stay brave failed Seamus grabbed on to the back of Beka Valentine's jacket. The small group stepped out on to the Andromeda's hanger deck. .
Beka gave a soft smile and took his hand. "It's okay. This is our second home."
"Home? You live in space all the time?"
"Yup."
Harper took a deep breath and took a few steps away from Beka. He felt his eyes go wide. It was like the stories of the cathedrals his mother used to tell him about. The light and shadows chased each other around the room's elegant curves. "But, it's so big." He whispered the awe evident in his voice.
"You should see Hydroponics it's beautiful." Piped up Trance.
"You mean there's more?"
Trance giggled. "Of course silly."
Beka smiled at him again. He was really beginning to like her smile. "This is only the beginning Seamus."
Just the two doors at the far end of the room swept open with a hiss. Seamus jumped for the safety of Beka's back once again.
A tall man with short-cropped hair stepped briskly towards them. "Beka, Trance good to have you back!" he greeted. He looked very official. He looked like he was important. Important people didn't like kludges.especially mudfoots.
Moments later a petite dark haired women also entered the room. She was beautiful. Possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She spotted him right away peering around Beka's back. With a twinkle in her eyes she gave a small smirk.
He quickly ducked tucked his head in to Beka's back wishing he could disappear.
Beka took his hand and pulled him forward with a grunt when he resisted. "Dylan, this shy brut is the boy I told you about from earth. Seamus, say hello."
Suddenly all eyes were focused on him. The day's events and the sheer overdose of new experiences took their toll. He simply could not react and froze on the spot.
The tall man seemed undaunted. And reached out his hand. "I'm Captain Hunt, welcome aboard the Andromeda Ascendant."
Trance pushed at his elbow. Seamus hand thrust forward. The captain shook his hand.
Then the dark haired goddess stepped forward. "I'm Andromeda, I'm the ship's avatar. What's your name?"
Seamus let his eyes hit the floor as he backed away from her back towards Beka and Trance.
He didn't want her to look at him. He was small and dirty and she was perfect. He didn't want to soil her with his presence. He didn't want to see the sadness in her eyes. The sadness everyone else had when they looked at him. He shouldn't exist in the same air she did.
Seamus heard Trance sigh. "His name is Seamus, he hasn't told us if he has anymore names."
"And, it's been a hell of a couple of days." Confirmed Beka, "we're all exhausted."
Captain Hunt gave a nod. "We've set up quarters for young Mister Seamus while he stays with us. But, I'll assume you want to take him to medical first, Trance?"
"I think we probably should." As she laid a soft hand on Seamus's shoulder. "Let's go."
She directed him towards the door that the tall captain had entered, leaving the rest of the crew behind. Seamus could here them talk in hushed voices as the walked away. He knew they were talking about him but was far too tired to care.
+++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++
Trance led the exhausted boy down the long corridors. He looked like walking corpse. He took a step sideways for every four forward. Trance had seen how excited he was to see the ship but once again the trauma of the last couple of days was taking it's toll. Seamus looked numb. Trance studied him out of the corner of her eye. He was thin, way too thin. His cheeks were sunken and his eyes were dull. The bones in his arms looked as if they were about to cut through his skins at his joints.
"Come on." She encouraged, "We're almost there."
"Where's Fergus and Raven?"
"Shhh, your much too tired right now. We'll talk about that in a bit just keep following me."
Seamus' feet thudded dully on the metal grated floor. He was too tired to even pick up his feet properly. They turned the final corridor towards Med Dec when Tyr appeared unexpectantly from the other direction.
Trance stopped to great him when she realized Seamus had frozen a few feet behind her.
Tyr paused as well to study the person quavering before him. "Is this the boy you and Beka scrounged from earth."
Trance gave a polite nod. "His name is Seamus." Trance felt invisible as the two stared at each other. Trance waved her hand in the air. "Hello? Cute purple girl here!"
"Not much of a boy is he. He looks more like a walking twig. What are you going to do with him?" Tyr questioned unblinking as he took a step forward.
That small step was enough to break Seamus out of his stupor. "No!! Get away!" he shrieked. And, before Trance and Tyr could get anywhere near him he dove in to a near by conduit.
Tyr glanced down the small tube and raised an eyebrow in admiration. "He's quick."
"Oh no." Trance twitched her tail nervously.
Tyr glanced at a near by monitor. "Ship locate the boy."
"Access tunnel 42b," echoed Rommie's voice in the corridor.
"Well I'm not going after him." Sniffed Tyr.
"I think he's afraid of you. I should have thought of that. The poor kid. He's been through so much. Rommie keep an eye on him I'll get Beka and see if we can get to him." Trance jogged off down the hallway.
As she ran she could still see Tyr staring down the conduit in wonder.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He didn't know how long he had crawled. He didn't have a clue where he was. He had traveled too fast and made to many turns. The tunnels reminded him vaguely of the slimy maggot filled sewer tunnels on earth. These ones were pristine, another keen reminder that he was far from his element. The tunnels seemed endless and he felt hopelessly lost. The lights were too bright and they hurt his eyes. He had thrown up a few hundred meters back. He felt bad that the food had been wasted and the mess that he had made but he kept going. Fear drove him on. His arms started to shake with fatigue and his knees ached. Tears began to blur his eyes. He stopped pulling his knees to his chest.
Why, why were there Nietzscheans here to? Was there no place in the universe safe from those baby-murdering tyrants? He sobbed against he knees. He missed Fergus even though he was a pain in the ass. Little Raven's giggles had always made things better. Now he was alone thousands of light years from his parent's home. He had failed them in every way possible. He had even got himself lost. Thoughts swirled around his head like the ocean around the rocks near his home.
His head began to hurt and he rubbed at his eyes. He felt pathetic. He gasped as the now dry sobs racked his body. He lay down on the nice clean cool floor.
Minutes later he feel in to an exhausted sleep.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Trance was good at finding things. A she had a very good idea where their lost companion was. Beka had called her her good luck charm on more then one occasion. But, right now Trance didn't feel very lucky. She couldn't help but feel bad about causing the power outage that resulted in Eureka Maru's premature landing on earth. For good or bad things some things needed to happen for the greater good.
"Beka?" she called over the COMS.
Beka's voice crackled and squeaked in reply. The COMS systems were in desperate need of repair. "Trance? Can you here me? Did you find him?"
Sometimes Trance just knew things. Sometimes she knew where to find things sometimes she knew what things needed to happen. "Beka I think your close. I'm going to start heading your way."
"Okay!" Shouted the Captain obviously trying to make her self her over the static.
Right now it was Beka that needed to find Seamus not her. She wasn't sure why that was important. But, she new it was.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beka turned the corner. Sweat dripped from her brow making her hair shiny and limp. She swore under her breath. What was she doing in this godforsaken conduit? She blew a loose piece of hair away from her face as she crawled. It was just some stupid kid. Why was she bothering?
She rounded her umpteenth corner and then see remembered.
Seamus lay before her curled in a tight ball sound a sleep. Dark circles surrounded his sunken eyes. He stunk. He was filthy. He was too skinny and he was funny looking. But, despite it all, Seamus, was like every other in the universe. He was transformed by some miracle in his sleep. He was no longer the scrounged, pathetic boy from earth. He was a beautiful, young innocent child. A boy, who's only true need was to have a friend.
She reached tentatively foreword and shook his arm. "Hey, kid?"
He didn't blink or move. She shook him a little harder. "Seamus, wake up."
His eyes blinked open and he yawned helplessly like a newborn pup. His dazzling blue eyes looked up at her.
Then it seems he remembered where he was. He jerked himself up right but the sudden movement caused him to sway.
She threw her arms across his shoulders to steady him. "It's okay, it's just me."
Whether conscious or not he leaned in to her. "There was a Nietzschean."
"I know it's okay. I'm sorry we should have told you. His name is Tyr. He's a member of our crew. A good guy for the most part."
He stared at her with a blank face like she had told a bold face lie. "There are no good Nietzscheans."
"This one is. I promise he won't hurt you. You would have a lot of people to answer to if he did. I for one would kick his ass!"
This drew a small smile from the boy's lips. The tiny smirk caused his eyes to sparkle. The smile faded quickly and he looked down at his feet and picked at his shoe. The word shoe really was a term that should be used loosely in this case.
The boy really was a mess.
He yawned again and put his head on her shoulder his eyes fluttering close. She shook him again. "No, you don't. You have an appointment with Trance in Med Dec. I'm sure she'll let you sleep there.
"Can't I stay here? The Nietzschean can't find me here."
"Would you feel better if I stayed with you?"
He didn't answer for a moment and Beka had thought he had gone back to sleep. "Why?"
It wasn't the answer she had been expecting. "Why? What?"
"Why would you stay with me? I'm nobody."
"You're wrong. You are somebody. You're my friend."
She could feel him shifting next to her. He pulled away slightly so he could meet her eyes. "Trust me?" she asked softly.
He seemed to think it over. "For now."
Beka took his hand and began to lead him towards access port 32.
She wasn't too surprised when Trance met them there with a smile. "Lets find you a bunk."
And, the unlikely trio headed down the corridor together.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC
(((HUGS)))
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trance was the one who had been the kindest to him. She was purple and cool
and took care of Fergus and Raven at the end. But, when it came to flat out protection it was the blond Captain Valentine whom Seamus Harper respected. After all, she had killed Nietzscheans! So, when his best efforts to stay brave failed Seamus grabbed on to the back of Beka Valentine's jacket. The small group stepped out on to the Andromeda's hanger deck. .
Beka gave a soft smile and took his hand. "It's okay. This is our second home."
"Home? You live in space all the time?"
"Yup."
Harper took a deep breath and took a few steps away from Beka. He felt his eyes go wide. It was like the stories of the cathedrals his mother used to tell him about. The light and shadows chased each other around the room's elegant curves. "But, it's so big." He whispered the awe evident in his voice.
"You should see Hydroponics it's beautiful." Piped up Trance.
"You mean there's more?"
Trance giggled. "Of course silly."
Beka smiled at him again. He was really beginning to like her smile. "This is only the beginning Seamus."
Just the two doors at the far end of the room swept open with a hiss. Seamus jumped for the safety of Beka's back once again.
A tall man with short-cropped hair stepped briskly towards them. "Beka, Trance good to have you back!" he greeted. He looked very official. He looked like he was important. Important people didn't like kludges.especially mudfoots.
Moments later a petite dark haired women also entered the room. She was beautiful. Possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She spotted him right away peering around Beka's back. With a twinkle in her eyes she gave a small smirk.
He quickly ducked tucked his head in to Beka's back wishing he could disappear.
Beka took his hand and pulled him forward with a grunt when he resisted. "Dylan, this shy brut is the boy I told you about from earth. Seamus, say hello."
Suddenly all eyes were focused on him. The day's events and the sheer overdose of new experiences took their toll. He simply could not react and froze on the spot.
The tall man seemed undaunted. And reached out his hand. "I'm Captain Hunt, welcome aboard the Andromeda Ascendant."
Trance pushed at his elbow. Seamus hand thrust forward. The captain shook his hand.
Then the dark haired goddess stepped forward. "I'm Andromeda, I'm the ship's avatar. What's your name?"
Seamus let his eyes hit the floor as he backed away from her back towards Beka and Trance.
He didn't want her to look at him. He was small and dirty and she was perfect. He didn't want to soil her with his presence. He didn't want to see the sadness in her eyes. The sadness everyone else had when they looked at him. He shouldn't exist in the same air she did.
Seamus heard Trance sigh. "His name is Seamus, he hasn't told us if he has anymore names."
"And, it's been a hell of a couple of days." Confirmed Beka, "we're all exhausted."
Captain Hunt gave a nod. "We've set up quarters for young Mister Seamus while he stays with us. But, I'll assume you want to take him to medical first, Trance?"
"I think we probably should." As she laid a soft hand on Seamus's shoulder. "Let's go."
She directed him towards the door that the tall captain had entered, leaving the rest of the crew behind. Seamus could here them talk in hushed voices as the walked away. He knew they were talking about him but was far too tired to care.
+++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++
Trance led the exhausted boy down the long corridors. He looked like walking corpse. He took a step sideways for every four forward. Trance had seen how excited he was to see the ship but once again the trauma of the last couple of days was taking it's toll. Seamus looked numb. Trance studied him out of the corner of her eye. He was thin, way too thin. His cheeks were sunken and his eyes were dull. The bones in his arms looked as if they were about to cut through his skins at his joints.
"Come on." She encouraged, "We're almost there."
"Where's Fergus and Raven?"
"Shhh, your much too tired right now. We'll talk about that in a bit just keep following me."
Seamus' feet thudded dully on the metal grated floor. He was too tired to even pick up his feet properly. They turned the final corridor towards Med Dec when Tyr appeared unexpectantly from the other direction.
Trance stopped to great him when she realized Seamus had frozen a few feet behind her.
Tyr paused as well to study the person quavering before him. "Is this the boy you and Beka scrounged from earth."
Trance gave a polite nod. "His name is Seamus." Trance felt invisible as the two stared at each other. Trance waved her hand in the air. "Hello? Cute purple girl here!"
"Not much of a boy is he. He looks more like a walking twig. What are you going to do with him?" Tyr questioned unblinking as he took a step forward.
That small step was enough to break Seamus out of his stupor. "No!! Get away!" he shrieked. And, before Trance and Tyr could get anywhere near him he dove in to a near by conduit.
Tyr glanced down the small tube and raised an eyebrow in admiration. "He's quick."
"Oh no." Trance twitched her tail nervously.
Tyr glanced at a near by monitor. "Ship locate the boy."
"Access tunnel 42b," echoed Rommie's voice in the corridor.
"Well I'm not going after him." Sniffed Tyr.
"I think he's afraid of you. I should have thought of that. The poor kid. He's been through so much. Rommie keep an eye on him I'll get Beka and see if we can get to him." Trance jogged off down the hallway.
As she ran she could still see Tyr staring down the conduit in wonder.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He didn't know how long he had crawled. He didn't have a clue where he was. He had traveled too fast and made to many turns. The tunnels reminded him vaguely of the slimy maggot filled sewer tunnels on earth. These ones were pristine, another keen reminder that he was far from his element. The tunnels seemed endless and he felt hopelessly lost. The lights were too bright and they hurt his eyes. He had thrown up a few hundred meters back. He felt bad that the food had been wasted and the mess that he had made but he kept going. Fear drove him on. His arms started to shake with fatigue and his knees ached. Tears began to blur his eyes. He stopped pulling his knees to his chest.
Why, why were there Nietzscheans here to? Was there no place in the universe safe from those baby-murdering tyrants? He sobbed against he knees. He missed Fergus even though he was a pain in the ass. Little Raven's giggles had always made things better. Now he was alone thousands of light years from his parent's home. He had failed them in every way possible. He had even got himself lost. Thoughts swirled around his head like the ocean around the rocks near his home.
His head began to hurt and he rubbed at his eyes. He felt pathetic. He gasped as the now dry sobs racked his body. He lay down on the nice clean cool floor.
Minutes later he feel in to an exhausted sleep.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Trance was good at finding things. A she had a very good idea where their lost companion was. Beka had called her her good luck charm on more then one occasion. But, right now Trance didn't feel very lucky. She couldn't help but feel bad about causing the power outage that resulted in Eureka Maru's premature landing on earth. For good or bad things some things needed to happen for the greater good.
"Beka?" she called over the COMS.
Beka's voice crackled and squeaked in reply. The COMS systems were in desperate need of repair. "Trance? Can you here me? Did you find him?"
Sometimes Trance just knew things. Sometimes she knew where to find things sometimes she knew what things needed to happen. "Beka I think your close. I'm going to start heading your way."
"Okay!" Shouted the Captain obviously trying to make her self her over the static.
Right now it was Beka that needed to find Seamus not her. She wasn't sure why that was important. But, she new it was.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beka turned the corner. Sweat dripped from her brow making her hair shiny and limp. She swore under her breath. What was she doing in this godforsaken conduit? She blew a loose piece of hair away from her face as she crawled. It was just some stupid kid. Why was she bothering?
She rounded her umpteenth corner and then see remembered.
Seamus lay before her curled in a tight ball sound a sleep. Dark circles surrounded his sunken eyes. He stunk. He was filthy. He was too skinny and he was funny looking. But, despite it all, Seamus, was like every other in the universe. He was transformed by some miracle in his sleep. He was no longer the scrounged, pathetic boy from earth. He was a beautiful, young innocent child. A boy, who's only true need was to have a friend.
She reached tentatively foreword and shook his arm. "Hey, kid?"
He didn't blink or move. She shook him a little harder. "Seamus, wake up."
His eyes blinked open and he yawned helplessly like a newborn pup. His dazzling blue eyes looked up at her.
Then it seems he remembered where he was. He jerked himself up right but the sudden movement caused him to sway.
She threw her arms across his shoulders to steady him. "It's okay, it's just me."
Whether conscious or not he leaned in to her. "There was a Nietzschean."
"I know it's okay. I'm sorry we should have told you. His name is Tyr. He's a member of our crew. A good guy for the most part."
He stared at her with a blank face like she had told a bold face lie. "There are no good Nietzscheans."
"This one is. I promise he won't hurt you. You would have a lot of people to answer to if he did. I for one would kick his ass!"
This drew a small smile from the boy's lips. The tiny smirk caused his eyes to sparkle. The smile faded quickly and he looked down at his feet and picked at his shoe. The word shoe really was a term that should be used loosely in this case.
The boy really was a mess.
He yawned again and put his head on her shoulder his eyes fluttering close. She shook him again. "No, you don't. You have an appointment with Trance in Med Dec. I'm sure she'll let you sleep there.
"Can't I stay here? The Nietzschean can't find me here."
"Would you feel better if I stayed with you?"
He didn't answer for a moment and Beka had thought he had gone back to sleep. "Why?"
It wasn't the answer she had been expecting. "Why? What?"
"Why would you stay with me? I'm nobody."
"You're wrong. You are somebody. You're my friend."
She could feel him shifting next to her. He pulled away slightly so he could meet her eyes. "Trust me?" she asked softly.
He seemed to think it over. "For now."
Beka took his hand and began to lead him towards access port 32.
She wasn't too surprised when Trance met them there with a smile. "Lets find you a bunk."
And, the unlikely trio headed down the corridor together.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC