Thanks for the wonderful reviews...here's the next bit
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One week later Harper stood beside Captain hunt on the bridge. Harper had been eating his meals all week. Under some duress and Beka's supervision he was eating 6 small meals a day. He had only thrown up three times the whole week. Much to Beka's discuss though he had also consumed a whole case of Sparky-Cola
As a congratulatory treat Beka promised Harper flying lessons. But, at the last moment Beka had been called to another duty and Captain Hunt offered to substitute.
Harper fidgeted beside the captain as they watched the forward screen and Rommie ran flight simulations.
The ship's avatar appeared in front of them with a frown and interrupted the simulation. "Captain? Sorry to interrupt."
"It's okay, what is it?" replied the Captain.
"I'm detecting a leak in one of my AP valves. I am unable to seal the leak myself. If left it could quickly become dangerous."
Harper could help but pay closer attention. "An AP valves Really? I can help!" The flight simulations were boring. Dylan was a nice guy and everything but he had wished Beka had been here. Dylan was a stickler for doing everything by the book and Seamus was pretty sure he wouldn't get anywhere near the slipstream controllers anytime soon. Dylan insisted he go over all the different scenarios of basic piloting first when all he really wanted to do was fly. At least valves were something he knew.
Dylan raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Are you sure? AP Valves can be tricky? I can get Beka..."
"You said Beka was busy with the Magog doing some kind of research. Besides you've seen me fix things before, I'm good. I can't just let you guys feed me and stuff for free. I can be useful really I can!"
"I don't doubt you're useful Mr. Harper it's just that The Andromeda is a highly advanced warship."
"You don't think I'm as smart as the high guard engineers?" Harper had to admit if that was the case he was about to be pissed off.
"No," The Captain paused and seemed to collect his thoughts. "Mr. Harper, you are obviously skilled at repairs but have you ever had any official engineer training? How do you know the things you do?"
In a lot of ways the captain was asking Harper if he could be trusted. Harper looked up meeting the captains' eyes. "I never went to school but I learned a lot from my Mom and Dad. We lived near the ocean where the Uber's... I mean Neitzscheans, used to dump their garbage. There was all sorts of mechanical stuff there. Sometimes there were manuals and scripts too. I just sort of learned by playing. Sometimes, I made stuff we could sell or trade for food. I really do know what I'm talking about. I'm not a fancy High Guard engineer but I would never let anything bad happen to Rommie. You have to take my word on that." He felt his ear starting to turn read with embarrassment.
Captain Hunt studied him for a moment more. The Captain seemed almost distracted like his mind was somewhere else. "You don't have any credentials, but then again neither does the rest of my crew." The captain began to pass a little. "You say the right things though." Harper had the odd feeling the captain wasn't telling him something. Maybe the captain really didn't think he cold handle it.
The captain stopped pacing and stood in front of Harper meeting his eyes directly. "I'll give you a few small jobs, if everything goes alright then we'll talk."
Harper couldn't help but grin. "Yes, boss, I'll do a great job!" He ran towards the corridor. "Just wait and see!" He shouted over his shoulder.
He turned right at the door and ran down the corridor.
Rommie appeared in front of him stopping his forward momentum. "Harper, the leak is on level nine, conduit 234A starboard. You're going the wrong way."
He turned directions with out missing a beat and continuing his run. "Yeah, I knew that!" He was sure he saw the hologram roll her eyes but he didn't care. There was nothing he liked better then fixing things and there was great big beautiful ship to explore.
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Beka and Rev sat in the semi-darkened room that serves as Rev Bem's quarters. They both sat huddled around a monitor. The monitor's glow lightened their little corner of the room.
Beka's eyes were red but her chin seemed set in determination. "That's it then?"
Rev Bem, gave a slight nod that might have been missed in the darkness. "It's only about two days away and it's run by my friend, Brother Arrane. He has taken in many orphaned children over the years. I've contacted him and he is willing to meet with us."
Beka sighed loudly. "I just hope we are doing the right thing."
"Have you discussed this with Master Harper?"
Beka got turn her feet. She crossed her arms, each hand griping an elbow and started to pace. "No, not yet. I'm afraid of what he's going to say. He hasn't been with us very long... I shouldn't be this attached."
"But you are." Finished Rev Bem. "Are you only sending him away because you don't want any attachments? You're not your mother's daughter Beka."
"I know that!" She snapped. "Dylan's right a warship is no place for a growing boy. He's seen enough, I don't want to expose him to anymore."
Rev Bem chose his words carefully. "You grew up on a ship, running Cargo. I know..." He raised his clawed hand to stop her words. "Still, you saw many battles and you grew up to be one of the most upstanding people I have ever met. He's not an enfant. From what you tell me he is much older then his years. He really should be part of the decision."
Beka sighed. "You're right Rev." Then she gave a small smile. "You always are."
Rev couldn't help but snort. "If only it were so."
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Harper hummed happily to himself as he strolled down one of Andromeda's many corridors. He was off to find Trance and maybe play Yesshdunno.
He had spent the last hour fixing the AP Valve. Rommie had seemed impressed. He couldn't help but smile at the shocked look on her face. He had to admit he liked making her happy. She had even found him an old tool belt and some tools left from one of her old engineers. She had been so impressed with his work she said he could keep the tools as his own. He rubbed the tool belt fondly. He wished Fergus were here to see him now. Well at least he could show it to Trance she would probably think it was cool.
As he rounded a corner still smiling when a voice floated out from a near by room that nearly made his heart stop. It was the Magog! He froze instantly; fear stuck him to his spot. He couldn't blink; he could barley draw in breath.
He could hear Beka's voice. He wanted to shout for her to run...to get away. She had declared herself friends with the Magog but it was something that was so out side his scoop he had trouble even wrapping his mind around it.
"So Rev, this Brother Arrane is a good guy? You've known him for a long time?"
The growly, gravely voice replied. "He is a wonderful caretaker. He even took care of me for a time. I spent a few years with him when I was questioning my path. He took care of me as if I was one of his lost children. He's a very kind man. I owe him many blessings."
Beka's voice again. "Do you think Seamus would happy their? He's asked me more then once to take him home."
"You are finding him a home. I think there is no greater gift."
Beka laughed lightly. "You didn't answer my question."
Harper shuddered at what he heard next. The Magog laughed. "No, I didn't." there was silence for a moment then the evil voice continued. "I truly wish I could have gotten to know Master Harper like you have. He has obviously touched you deeply. I think he would be a very interesting person to converse with."
A thousand thoughts raced through Harper's brain. Beka and the Magog were trying to get ride of him. Why didn't the Magog just kill him? Why was Beka making deals with it? Why did Beka want to get ride of him? Why? Why? Why? He had trusted her! He had told her stuff. She had watched him cry. She had told him it was going to be okay! Now she wanted to drop him of on some backwater planet! No way!
His heart crumbled in his chest with grief. He really was alone. Well he had had enough. He wasn't about to let that spacer abduct his life again!
He was taking matters in to his own hands.... +++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC
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One week later Harper stood beside Captain hunt on the bridge. Harper had been eating his meals all week. Under some duress and Beka's supervision he was eating 6 small meals a day. He had only thrown up three times the whole week. Much to Beka's discuss though he had also consumed a whole case of Sparky-Cola
As a congratulatory treat Beka promised Harper flying lessons. But, at the last moment Beka had been called to another duty and Captain Hunt offered to substitute.
Harper fidgeted beside the captain as they watched the forward screen and Rommie ran flight simulations.
The ship's avatar appeared in front of them with a frown and interrupted the simulation. "Captain? Sorry to interrupt."
"It's okay, what is it?" replied the Captain.
"I'm detecting a leak in one of my AP valves. I am unable to seal the leak myself. If left it could quickly become dangerous."
Harper could help but pay closer attention. "An AP valves Really? I can help!" The flight simulations were boring. Dylan was a nice guy and everything but he had wished Beka had been here. Dylan was a stickler for doing everything by the book and Seamus was pretty sure he wouldn't get anywhere near the slipstream controllers anytime soon. Dylan insisted he go over all the different scenarios of basic piloting first when all he really wanted to do was fly. At least valves were something he knew.
Dylan raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Are you sure? AP Valves can be tricky? I can get Beka..."
"You said Beka was busy with the Magog doing some kind of research. Besides you've seen me fix things before, I'm good. I can't just let you guys feed me and stuff for free. I can be useful really I can!"
"I don't doubt you're useful Mr. Harper it's just that The Andromeda is a highly advanced warship."
"You don't think I'm as smart as the high guard engineers?" Harper had to admit if that was the case he was about to be pissed off.
"No," The Captain paused and seemed to collect his thoughts. "Mr. Harper, you are obviously skilled at repairs but have you ever had any official engineer training? How do you know the things you do?"
In a lot of ways the captain was asking Harper if he could be trusted. Harper looked up meeting the captains' eyes. "I never went to school but I learned a lot from my Mom and Dad. We lived near the ocean where the Uber's... I mean Neitzscheans, used to dump their garbage. There was all sorts of mechanical stuff there. Sometimes there were manuals and scripts too. I just sort of learned by playing. Sometimes, I made stuff we could sell or trade for food. I really do know what I'm talking about. I'm not a fancy High Guard engineer but I would never let anything bad happen to Rommie. You have to take my word on that." He felt his ear starting to turn read with embarrassment.
Captain Hunt studied him for a moment more. The Captain seemed almost distracted like his mind was somewhere else. "You don't have any credentials, but then again neither does the rest of my crew." The captain began to pass a little. "You say the right things though." Harper had the odd feeling the captain wasn't telling him something. Maybe the captain really didn't think he cold handle it.
The captain stopped pacing and stood in front of Harper meeting his eyes directly. "I'll give you a few small jobs, if everything goes alright then we'll talk."
Harper couldn't help but grin. "Yes, boss, I'll do a great job!" He ran towards the corridor. "Just wait and see!" He shouted over his shoulder.
He turned right at the door and ran down the corridor.
Rommie appeared in front of him stopping his forward momentum. "Harper, the leak is on level nine, conduit 234A starboard. You're going the wrong way."
He turned directions with out missing a beat and continuing his run. "Yeah, I knew that!" He was sure he saw the hologram roll her eyes but he didn't care. There was nothing he liked better then fixing things and there was great big beautiful ship to explore.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beka and Rev sat in the semi-darkened room that serves as Rev Bem's quarters. They both sat huddled around a monitor. The monitor's glow lightened their little corner of the room.
Beka's eyes were red but her chin seemed set in determination. "That's it then?"
Rev Bem, gave a slight nod that might have been missed in the darkness. "It's only about two days away and it's run by my friend, Brother Arrane. He has taken in many orphaned children over the years. I've contacted him and he is willing to meet with us."
Beka sighed loudly. "I just hope we are doing the right thing."
"Have you discussed this with Master Harper?"
Beka got turn her feet. She crossed her arms, each hand griping an elbow and started to pace. "No, not yet. I'm afraid of what he's going to say. He hasn't been with us very long... I shouldn't be this attached."
"But you are." Finished Rev Bem. "Are you only sending him away because you don't want any attachments? You're not your mother's daughter Beka."
"I know that!" She snapped. "Dylan's right a warship is no place for a growing boy. He's seen enough, I don't want to expose him to anymore."
Rev Bem chose his words carefully. "You grew up on a ship, running Cargo. I know..." He raised his clawed hand to stop her words. "Still, you saw many battles and you grew up to be one of the most upstanding people I have ever met. He's not an enfant. From what you tell me he is much older then his years. He really should be part of the decision."
Beka sighed. "You're right Rev." Then she gave a small smile. "You always are."
Rev couldn't help but snort. "If only it were so."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Harper hummed happily to himself as he strolled down one of Andromeda's many corridors. He was off to find Trance and maybe play Yesshdunno.
He had spent the last hour fixing the AP Valve. Rommie had seemed impressed. He couldn't help but smile at the shocked look on her face. He had to admit he liked making her happy. She had even found him an old tool belt and some tools left from one of her old engineers. She had been so impressed with his work she said he could keep the tools as his own. He rubbed the tool belt fondly. He wished Fergus were here to see him now. Well at least he could show it to Trance she would probably think it was cool.
As he rounded a corner still smiling when a voice floated out from a near by room that nearly made his heart stop. It was the Magog! He froze instantly; fear stuck him to his spot. He couldn't blink; he could barley draw in breath.
He could hear Beka's voice. He wanted to shout for her to run...to get away. She had declared herself friends with the Magog but it was something that was so out side his scoop he had trouble even wrapping his mind around it.
"So Rev, this Brother Arrane is a good guy? You've known him for a long time?"
The growly, gravely voice replied. "He is a wonderful caretaker. He even took care of me for a time. I spent a few years with him when I was questioning my path. He took care of me as if I was one of his lost children. He's a very kind man. I owe him many blessings."
Beka's voice again. "Do you think Seamus would happy their? He's asked me more then once to take him home."
"You are finding him a home. I think there is no greater gift."
Beka laughed lightly. "You didn't answer my question."
Harper shuddered at what he heard next. The Magog laughed. "No, I didn't." there was silence for a moment then the evil voice continued. "I truly wish I could have gotten to know Master Harper like you have. He has obviously touched you deeply. I think he would be a very interesting person to converse with."
A thousand thoughts raced through Harper's brain. Beka and the Magog were trying to get ride of him. Why didn't the Magog just kill him? Why was Beka making deals with it? Why did Beka want to get ride of him? Why? Why? Why? He had trusted her! He had told her stuff. She had watched him cry. She had told him it was going to be okay! Now she wanted to drop him of on some backwater planet! No way!
His heart crumbled in his chest with grief. He really was alone. Well he had had enough. He wasn't about to let that spacer abduct his life again!
He was taking matters in to his own hands.... +++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC