this is my apology post...

also i realize this story has been a little boring lately but i do have a plan i just need to get there...so if you guys can hang through this chapter... i promise it will get more exciting in the next update

thanks

ps i haven't done much proof reading as of late so sorry for that to.

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Harper woke bright and early the next morning. Saying good- bye the day before hadn't made him any less sad. Nor, did it make him miss Fergus or Raven any less but he did feel better. He felt like he had come around full circle. He had heard his parents say it before and it always sounded stupid but now it made a little bit of sense. He had closure, and for a boy from Earth with so many unknowns a little bit of closure was a comforting thing. He had had the best sleep he had in a very long time. His stomach was feeling a little better to. Trance mentioned she might be able to take the annoying little blue gel packs off soon. She had said that as long as he ate better his stomach wouldn't bother him as much. The thought of eating still made him nauseous but he was keeping some small things down.

Whatever the reason, he was feeling better and practically bounded out of bed.

"Rommie?" He called.

The hologram appeared before him. She smiled at him as she stood in front of him. Once again her beauty blew him away but he tried not to think about that. He could feel his ears turning red. "Um, Yeah. Can I leave sick bay please."

"Have you checked with Trance?"

"She's not here."

"I'll ask her for you." The pretty hologram closed her eyes for a few moments. Harper did his best not to bounce on the spot impatiently.

Rommie opened her eyes. "Trance is in hydroponics water her plants. She can meet you there or she can meet you in the mess hall."

Harper didn't think he could face the mess hall. "I'll meet her in hydroponics."

"Did you need me to show you the way?"

"Nope, I'm good! I remember!" He shouted over his shoulder as he dashed for the door.

He ran down three corridors and slide down two ladders. As he landed with a light plop on to the correct level, he turned quickly. He didn't see Tyr till it was to late. His nose quickly met chain mail and he was on the ground.

"Omphff." Harper exclaimed mostly in surprise.

The larger Neitzschean didn't even seem fazed and only raised his eyebrow in apparent curiosity. Harper felt his heart beat even faster. He had to admit the site of Tyr still sent shivers down his spine. Tyr seemed nice but it felt like at anytime he might turn around and become the evil Uber's he was used to. "Sorry," he apologised a little to quickly. "I didn't see you."

"I gathered." Tyr replied dryly. "Is there a fire you are running off to?"

"Nope," Harper looked at him confused. Why would he run to a fire? "I was going to see Trance."

Tyr reached down and hoisted Harper up by the collar placing him back on his feet. Harper flinched expecting a blow but none came.

Tyr watched him for a moment. "I won't hit you."

Seamus took a step backwards. "I know."

"Do you?"

Harper was confused; Tyr was acting very strangely for a Neitzschean. Seamus met Tyr's eyes hesitantly. "I'm going to see Trance now." He took another large step backwards then ran around Tyr.

He arrived at hydroponics more tired then he was willing to admit. He gasped out of breath as he slide in to hydroponics. He braced his hands on his knees willing him himself to take deep calming breaths.

A light hand touched his shoulder and he jumped in surprise. "Oh! Hi, Trance."

"Are you okay?" She asked with concern.

"I'm fine."

"Why is it when you say that I don't believe you?" She folded her arms across he chest and her tail flickered rapidly.

"I'm fine. What are you doing?" He wanted her to quit staring at him.

"I was just watering the plants. Want to help?"

Harper shrugged. "I guess."

They spent the next part of an hour watering and pruning. Trance prattled on about all their different names and how all the different plants served different purposes, even if their only purpose was to look nice.

Seamus was getting bored. He tried to pay attention. He tried to help out. Harper turned with a small watering can in his hand and accidentally knocked two smaller plants off their shelves. "Gads, I'm sorry Trance!" He took a hurried step backwards.

"It's okay, George and Herman are all okay. Really they just need some more soil."

What if they were dead! He didn't mean to! He wasn't really good with growing things. His mom always did that stuff. What if Trance hated him now? She loved her plants and he just went and knocked them over. What a stupid thing to do. How could he have been so clumsy? "I didn't mean to wreck them. I'm sorry"

Trance looked at him quizzically. "I know, It's okay. Really."

He backed up some more. He didn't want to make her mad at him. He wanted Trance to like him. He backed up right in to a shelf of Garden supplies causing a bag of peat moss to tip over. The light fluffy moss floated down covering them both. Seamus sneezed and his eyes watered with irritation.

Trance reached forward. She was going to slap him. He jumped to the side and sneezed again. "I'm sorry."

"Shh," She said quietly in an apparent attempt to calm him down. "I know you said that. I was just going to brush the moss from you're face. I think you're allergic to it."

He sneezed four times in rapid succession. "Do you hate me?"

"No," Trance smiled. "But, I don't think plants are your 'thing.'"

He sneezed in reply.

"How about we get you cleaned up and meet Beka for lunch?"

"Okay," he nodded and sneezed again.

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Beka glared at the teenager who sat across the table from her. "You have to eat!"

Harper returned her angry glare. "I did!"

Trance had brought Seamus in about half an hour ago and now both her and Beka were trying to convince Harper that he needed to eat.

"What is your problem. All living things eat! A half a mouth full of soup does not constitute as eating." She shouted. The boy visibly tried to make him self disappear as he slide down in to his chair. He kept making fervent glances towards the door. It was almost like he was making sure he had an escape route.

"It's gross and I'm bored. Can I go?"

"No!" Replied Trance and Beka in unison.

Beka sighed loudly and rubbed her hand across her face in frustration. Beka forced out her words. "You came from earth where there is no food. How could you possible be a picky eater!?"

Harper glare got sharper and angrier. "What do you care!"

"Oh, we are so not even going there shorty!" Beka fumed.

Trance attempted to be a calming influence on the pair. "Why don't we just try something else then?"

"Trance we've tried 5 different things. He's just being difficult." Harper crossed his arms and continued to glare. He had told her he wasn't a child. He was right he really wasn't anymore but sometimes he acted like a two- year-old. "Fine!" Beka waved her hand dismissively.

"Well let's start with something easier then." Trance seemed to think out loud. "Harper what do you like to drink?"

"I don't know all I've ever had was bottled water and beer."

"Beer?" Questioned Beka but Harper just looked away.

"Well, I had a friend once who loved this stuff called Sparky Cola." Trance rattled on unfazed. "It just so happens on the last drift were on had some for sale and I bought some. I don't really like it. It's too fizzy but not nearly as nice and bubbly as champagne. Maybe you would like it?"

"Whatever." Grunted Harper. "Then can I go?"

"Maybe." Beka watched as Trance wandered to a back cupboard. Why would she buy a drink she knew she didn't like? Beka had worked with Trance for a few years now and knew not to bother to ask the question out loud. She would never get a straight answer. Trance had always be hyper secretive. Harper seemed little better. Why she kept finding herself caring for people like this she probably would never know.

Trance sat back down and popped the lid on the small tin can. It made a loud fizzing noise that actually seemed to get Seamus' attention. Beka and Trance stared at Harper expectantly. He leaned forward and took the can in his hand and sniffed at the opening. His nose wrinkled and he slowly allowed a smile to spread across his face.

"Cool!" he declared as he finally took a sip. He then proceeded to gulp the sticky drink.

Beka stood up quickly grabbing for the can before he could drink it al. "Whoa whoa! Not so fast! You'll be sick again."

Harper whined as she took it. "But, I like this one!"

"Yeah, well, this isn't actually food." Beka squinted as she read the tiny label. "There's a warning on this. Crap! Look at the caffeine content! Trance we really shouldn't have given him this."

Harper leapt to his feet in a vain attempt to try to grab the can back from Beka. Beka simply held it over her head. "No way! No more of this stuff! Trance he needs something healthy."

Trance had sat there quietly through out it all with a sly smile on her face. "I purpose a deal."

Beka and Harper both sat down and looked at her with curiosity. Beka kept a tight grip on the pop can.

"Seamus Harper," Trance started. "You will eat at least two bites of what ever is put in front of you before you are allowed not to like it. At that point you make take one large sip of Cola."

Harper made a face but was largely ignored as Trance then turned to Beka. "Beka you can choose the food he eats. But, you must choose at least some things he might like and he can drink the Sparky Cola."

Beka couldn't help but scowl.

"Okay, fine." Came a small voice from across the table. Harper leaned quietly forward and lifted his spoon.

Beka raised her eyebrow and glanced across the table at Harper. Slowly a small smile crept across her face. As her undernourished friend took a tentative sip of his tomato soup. TBC