++++++++++++++++++++++
The next day Harper sat on the bed in medical shivering as Trance took his temperature. He was running a fever and she was concerned about him. She had heard the story from Rommie how Tyr had dunked him in the fountain. She thought it was mean and now he was sick. But as Harper squirmed in front of her she remembered Harper was not always the easiest individual to work with. Plus, Tyr was used to Neitzschean children, with Neitzschean immune systems.
She sighed out loud. "Hold still please."
He snarled at her. "I'm not sick! I'm leaving. Tyr said I was suppose to meet him and I'm late."
Trance put her hand gently on his shoulder and willed her self to have patience. "Harper you're not alright and Tyr wouldn't want you to get pneumonia. You can blame me for being late. Beside the Persieds are coming tomorrow do you really want to be sick when they come?"
"I don't care." He crossed his arms stubbornly.
He had been in a sour mood since he found out that Beka and Dylan were planning on sending him away. Tyr had taken control of the situation and Harper followed his directions. Trance was sure that the fact that Harper obeyed Tyr's was more out of habit then actual respect. On Earth the Neitzscheans controlled you, it's just the way it was. That's Beka had told her anyway. Yet, just because Harper followed Tyr's order's that didn't mean his attitude had changed any or that he liked doing it. It was just a something he understood Neitzscheans were the boss's that was just a fact in Seamus' world.
So now here he was they had taken him off a world. A place that was horrible and where he was slowly dying from starvation. You would have thought he would be overjoyed. But, that was his life and he didn't know any other way. Being in spaced must have frightened him to death but he never showed it. Trance had expected him to be overwhelmed with grief for his cousins. He was at first but now he acted like it never happened. It was strange. In many ways Harper was overly expressive and in other ways he was positively clandestine. People always said she was secretive but Seamus Harper could give her a run for her money.
Trance tried a different tactic. "I think you would want to meet the Persieds."
"No." Snorted Harper dismissively.
Trance didn't reply but injected Harper with Nano-bots. He winced but didn't pull away. That was some progress at least. He always shied away from her when she got too close to him with her medical gear... another mystery.
"Trance?"
"Yes?"
"What's a Persied?"
Trance couldn't help but giggle. "Well, the ones that are coming are very very smart scientists. One of them even built Rommie's avatar."
"Really?" Harper's eyes grew large. "Why are they coming? Is something wrong with Rommie?"
"No, But as you know Andromeda is in need of some repairs and Dylan thought she should get a thorough check up. You've been fixing the smaller stuff but Dylan want's to make sure they're not any bigger problems...I'm done now."
"Cool! Huh? What you're done?"
Trance nodded. Harper jumped of the bed to leave when Trance stopped him. "Have you eaten today?"
Once again Harper scowled at her. "Yeah, yeah."
Trance met his glare. "What did you eat?"
Harper didn't answer her fast enough. "Fruit?" He tried but Trance didn't believe him for one moment.
"First breakfast, then you can go see Tyr. I'll be checking to see that you went."
"Fine." Seamus hung his head in defeat and shuffled out the door.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tyr found the boy sitting at a round table in the mess hall frowning at a bran muffin.
"It's not poison just eat it." Harper started in surprise at Tyr's voice. The boy was still jumpy around him.
"I'm not hungry and I don't like it." Sounded very much like an insolent child.
"Do you even know what it is?"
Harper seemed to think it over for a moment. "A cupcake?"
Tyr shook his head. "How can you say you don't like it if don't even know what it is?"
"Beka makes me eat gross stuff all the time and I usually don't know what that stuff is."
"The Captain put me as your caretaker. Part of my responsibility is to make sure you are nourished. So, pick something you want to eat and let's go."
Harper smiled and ran for the storage closet where the pop was held and pulled three out. He brought them back and plopped two of them on the table happily. He gripped the other pop in his hand like a prized possession. "One for now and two for later." He grinned at Tyr.
"That is nothing but sugar and adjectives. There is nothing there that will nourish you."
Harper's face fell. "Beka, said I could have one anytime I want and ..."
Tyr voice dropped low with disgust. "Don't lie to me, boy."
Seamus stepped back quickly dropping the drink in his hand. It hit the ground with a splat and pop fizzed loudly, spraying out of the can. He hugged his arms around himself protectively. Tyr could hear Harper's heart racing and smell his fear. Seamus' eyes even glazed over. "M'sorry, M'sorry..."
Tyr sighed exasperated. Tyr knew the Drago Katsov's controlled earth. He had been enslaved to them himself at one point. He knew their predilection for cruelty. He, himself had endured two years of their games, when he was their slave on a mining planet. Yet, this boy, this precursor of a man, had endured it his whole life. He seemed so small, so fragile, yet he survived like a Neitzschean. To say the least this intrigued him. This insignificant child had potential in him somewhere. Tyr and the other members of his now nonexistent tribe had always believed children could be molded. When the boy discovers his potential Tyr wanted to be able to tap it. This child might be the opportunity he had been waiting for. But, first Harper would have to over come more then a few ...quirks. This obviously was going to be more difficult then he first imagined.
Tyr stood up and walked over to the cowering boy. "Stand up straight." He ordered.
Th boy straightened up but would not meet his eyes. Tyr took careful note that that Harper's was shaking. This boy had to overcome whatever issues he had with food.
Tyr grabbed the material of the boy's shirt and dragged him back to the table. He forced him to sit down. "Now, eat."
"No, thank you." Harper whispered. Tyr arched his eyebrow in surprise. Until now Harper had obeyed his orders with out question. Why did he refuse now?
"Why?"
The boy blinked but did not reply. It was like he was in a trance or a daze. Out of the corner of his eye Tyr saw Beka enter the mess hall, he motioned at her to stop.
Beka froze instantly, picking up the situation she stood silently watching.
Tyr crouched down beside Harper. "How can a simple muffin be your enemy?"
"I'm sorry," was all he said.
"Sorry for what boy!? What did you do?"
"I took the food, from the spacers. I wanted to surprise my family, but I was hungry to. Please don't hurt me anymore. I won't don't it I again."
"Did you get caught? Were you punished?" questioned Tyr.
Beka raised her hand to her face. Tyr looked at her for a brief moment. There were tears in her eyes.
Tyr turned his focus back to the child beside him. "Who punished you Harper?"
"You did," was the croaked answer. "You had a machine and you made me eat a lot and every time I took a bite you shocked me. I won't take the food again, I won't eat it I promise, please just don't do it again."
Tyr took Harper chin. "Look at me." Harper's eyes were still glazed and Tyr shook him lightly. "I said look at me." Harper made an obvious effort to focus on Tyr. The boy seemed confused. Tyr was determined to stop this nonsense once and for all.
Tyr continued. "It wasn't me, I didn't do that to you. That was another Neitzschean. Like all things in this universe we are all infinitely different. I am not the one that hurt you. Do you understand this?
Harper nodded slightly but Tyr was unconvinced. Tyr stood so he was towering over the boy who still sat hunched in the chair.
"What's my name boy?"
"Sir?" Harper started hesitantly.
"Wrong! You know my name, now say it! Do you dare to compare me to those sadist, mediocre bastard's on Earth!?"
"Tyr, your name is Tyr." Harper whispered.
"And, you will remember it. I am not of the Drago Katsov's. I am Tyr Anasazi by Barbarossa out of Victoria. I am Kodiak and the Kodiak never have and never will lower themselves to the tactics of the lesser tribes. Now you eat, nothing will harm you. You will not get sick. I will watch your back to ensure your safety."
The boy looked up at him with water eyes. The pools of blue were disarming. "Promise?"
"I have given you my word."
Harper's arm reached out hesitantly for the muffin. He slowly pulled off the wrapper and took a bite. He chewed slowly and swallowed. It was then he started to look around. "It's okay Beka you can come in."
Captain Valentine grabbed a muffin of her own from the kitchen then sat at the table and smiled at Seamus. "Mind if I join you."
Harper took another bite of his muffin. He took such a big bite he couldn't reply to her question so he just shrugged his shoulders in reply. Beka looked up at Tyr with a grateful smile. Tyr hadn't done it for her but he took her thanks graciously and nodded his head towards her.
Yet, it was nice to have someone to share the small victory with. He's next task was convincing the other's the boy must stay aboard the ship. He had a feeling that was going to be the biggest challenge.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next morning the Persieds had arrived. Harper was slightly worried about them. He knew Beka and the others were planning on sending him away. Beka and him had talked about it a bit at breakfast before she was interrupted by the Persied's arrival. He was worried that maybe they were going to send him off to live with the aliens. He hadn't had much exposure to other types of alien creatures. There were the Nietzscheans, the Magog's and well Trance. Plus all the aliens, other then Trance, that he knew weren't the nicest in the whole world.
Trance had tried to convince him that the Persied's weren't here to take him away. Still, Harper voted for caution.
Still, Trance had also said they were really smart and they had built Rommie.
Caution and curiosity are not always compatible bedfellows.
Harper decided maybe he should check these so-called scientists out.
Harper peered around the corner a safe distance away. The group of them stood in one of the machine shops. Beka was there but she looked bored out of her mind. There were four Persieds and Rommie as well. Rommie stood absolutely still as one of the Persieds ran a scanner up and down her android body.
The Persieds were really strange looking. They were humanoid like he was but they were a grayish blue colour. They also hand long pointy chins than made them look like they had permanent goatees. He wondered what the women looked like? Then it occurred to him that maybe they were girls. You never could be too sure he supposed with aliens.
"Hmmm." He heard the one Persied say. He seemed to be the one in charge as the three other Persieds stood in a group and acted engrossed with his every word.
"What is it Technical Director Hohne?" asked Rommie curiously.
"It seems one of your tactile sensor's in your right arm could use some adjusting." The Persieds voice was sort of nasally but seemed kind.
"Yes, yes," muttered the other Persieds that looked on.
Harper couldn't help himself. He could have told them that. He snorted out loud with mild disgust. Maybe he snorted a little too loud.
Everyone turned and looked in his direction.
"Who's there?" Called Hohne.
"It's okay Seamus, you can come in," called Rommie with a smile.
Harper stepped reluctantly in to the room.
Rommie introduced him. "Technical Director Hohne, I would like you to meet Seamus Harper. He is currently staying aboard with us. He's from Earth"
Hohne bobbed his head happily. "Very nice to meet you, very nice indeed. From Earth you say. I have always been very curious from about Earth. I'm sure you would have some very interesting data to share."
"Yes, yes," muttered the other Persieds
"Hello," He replied blushing. He wasn't sure of what to make of all the attention. "Um, you said there was something with Rommie's arm?"
"Are you interested in advanced robotics Mr. Harper?"
"Sort of," he replied. He was always interested in all things mechanical ... especially Rommie. "Are you sure it's her tactile sensors? At room temperature a small force easily stretches Muscle Wires. When conducting an electric current, the wire heats and changes to a much harder form that returns to the "unstretched" shape - the wire shortens in length with a usable amount of force. Maybe there is just something wrong with her internal temperature controls."
Everyone was staring at him again.
"It's just a theory." He shrugged.
Beka looked positively stunned.
Hohne did another scan of Rommie with his scanner. "I think it's more then a theory. I do believe you are correct."
After getting permission from Tyr, Harper spent the next three days happily following the Persieds around. They crawled through the conduits together, he got to see and take apart the slipstream drive, and he even got introduced to inner space... Andromeda's very own matrix. He learned a lot Everyone seemed amazed that he knew as much as he did. Hohne even said he was a genius. His mom had always said that, but he always just took it as a mother's kind words. He couldn't help but smile. It was nice to feel special.
Then he frowned again. Pretty soon they would want to send him away. Beka had talked to him again that morning. Dylan and Beka had met with one of the Magog's friends a couple of days ago. Beka said it seemed like a nice place. There were five other boys there the same age as he was. Once the Persieds were done with their maintenance and upgrades she wanted to take him there to meet someone one named Brother Arrane. Harper felt sick at the very thought of it. He didn't want to be dumped on another planet. If he had to be on a planet he wanted to be on his own.
Actually he was really starting to like it here on the Andromeda. If it weren't for his parents he would probably want to stay here. But, maybe they had come back to the house... maybe they were looking for Raven, Fergus and him. He needed to know if there were okay... if they were worried. He needed to tell them about Raven and Fergus and about how he had failed.
"Mr. Harper?" Hohne broke his thoughts.
"Um, yeah!"
"Are you paying attention? I wanted to show you something."
Harper smiled and slid on his VR glasses. He took a deep breath as he suddenly founded him self blasted in to Rommie's Matrix.
He was still getting used to it and his virtual legs wobbled as he got his bearings. "This is always going to be cool." He whispered to himself as he watched a data stream float by.
"Over here Mr. Harper!" called Technical Director Hohne.
Harper hurried over and joined Hohne in starring in to a small access port. "What is it?" Harper asked.
"I was hopping you might recognize it. I do not have the specks on this specific port. Some of this technology is very archaic."
"Hey!" Complained Rommie.
"Oh, I mean no disrespect." Chortled Hohne.
Harper continued to study the access port. "I wonder if it's a backup of Rommie's program?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful then would could do a full comparative analysis of her programs."
"Sort of like a before and after picture." Agreed Harper, reaching in to access the program. All he did was touch it and the program came a live. It burst out of the portal and started integrating itself with all the current data streams. Harper was blasted off his feet by its forward momentum. "Ah crap!" He swore.
"Oh, this is not good," agreed Hohne frightenedly.
Suddenly Rommie's image appeared in front of them in giant proportions. "Who are you!? What are you doing in my systems!?"
"Rommie, it's me Harper? Don't you recognize me?"
Her voice became booming and Hohne and him both had to cover their ears. "Intruder alert! Intruder Alert!"
Hohne and Harper were thrown violently out of the matrix.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC
The next day Harper sat on the bed in medical shivering as Trance took his temperature. He was running a fever and she was concerned about him. She had heard the story from Rommie how Tyr had dunked him in the fountain. She thought it was mean and now he was sick. But as Harper squirmed in front of her she remembered Harper was not always the easiest individual to work with. Plus, Tyr was used to Neitzschean children, with Neitzschean immune systems.
She sighed out loud. "Hold still please."
He snarled at her. "I'm not sick! I'm leaving. Tyr said I was suppose to meet him and I'm late."
Trance put her hand gently on his shoulder and willed her self to have patience. "Harper you're not alright and Tyr wouldn't want you to get pneumonia. You can blame me for being late. Beside the Persieds are coming tomorrow do you really want to be sick when they come?"
"I don't care." He crossed his arms stubbornly.
He had been in a sour mood since he found out that Beka and Dylan were planning on sending him away. Tyr had taken control of the situation and Harper followed his directions. Trance was sure that the fact that Harper obeyed Tyr's was more out of habit then actual respect. On Earth the Neitzscheans controlled you, it's just the way it was. That's Beka had told her anyway. Yet, just because Harper followed Tyr's order's that didn't mean his attitude had changed any or that he liked doing it. It was just a something he understood Neitzscheans were the boss's that was just a fact in Seamus' world.
So now here he was they had taken him off a world. A place that was horrible and where he was slowly dying from starvation. You would have thought he would be overjoyed. But, that was his life and he didn't know any other way. Being in spaced must have frightened him to death but he never showed it. Trance had expected him to be overwhelmed with grief for his cousins. He was at first but now he acted like it never happened. It was strange. In many ways Harper was overly expressive and in other ways he was positively clandestine. People always said she was secretive but Seamus Harper could give her a run for her money.
Trance tried a different tactic. "I think you would want to meet the Persieds."
"No." Snorted Harper dismissively.
Trance didn't reply but injected Harper with Nano-bots. He winced but didn't pull away. That was some progress at least. He always shied away from her when she got too close to him with her medical gear... another mystery.
"Trance?"
"Yes?"
"What's a Persied?"
Trance couldn't help but giggle. "Well, the ones that are coming are very very smart scientists. One of them even built Rommie's avatar."
"Really?" Harper's eyes grew large. "Why are they coming? Is something wrong with Rommie?"
"No, But as you know Andromeda is in need of some repairs and Dylan thought she should get a thorough check up. You've been fixing the smaller stuff but Dylan want's to make sure they're not any bigger problems...I'm done now."
"Cool! Huh? What you're done?"
Trance nodded. Harper jumped of the bed to leave when Trance stopped him. "Have you eaten today?"
Once again Harper scowled at her. "Yeah, yeah."
Trance met his glare. "What did you eat?"
Harper didn't answer her fast enough. "Fruit?" He tried but Trance didn't believe him for one moment.
"First breakfast, then you can go see Tyr. I'll be checking to see that you went."
"Fine." Seamus hung his head in defeat and shuffled out the door.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tyr found the boy sitting at a round table in the mess hall frowning at a bran muffin.
"It's not poison just eat it." Harper started in surprise at Tyr's voice. The boy was still jumpy around him.
"I'm not hungry and I don't like it." Sounded very much like an insolent child.
"Do you even know what it is?"
Harper seemed to think it over for a moment. "A cupcake?"
Tyr shook his head. "How can you say you don't like it if don't even know what it is?"
"Beka makes me eat gross stuff all the time and I usually don't know what that stuff is."
"The Captain put me as your caretaker. Part of my responsibility is to make sure you are nourished. So, pick something you want to eat and let's go."
Harper smiled and ran for the storage closet where the pop was held and pulled three out. He brought them back and plopped two of them on the table happily. He gripped the other pop in his hand like a prized possession. "One for now and two for later." He grinned at Tyr.
"That is nothing but sugar and adjectives. There is nothing there that will nourish you."
Harper's face fell. "Beka, said I could have one anytime I want and ..."
Tyr voice dropped low with disgust. "Don't lie to me, boy."
Seamus stepped back quickly dropping the drink in his hand. It hit the ground with a splat and pop fizzed loudly, spraying out of the can. He hugged his arms around himself protectively. Tyr could hear Harper's heart racing and smell his fear. Seamus' eyes even glazed over. "M'sorry, M'sorry..."
Tyr sighed exasperated. Tyr knew the Drago Katsov's controlled earth. He had been enslaved to them himself at one point. He knew their predilection for cruelty. He, himself had endured two years of their games, when he was their slave on a mining planet. Yet, this boy, this precursor of a man, had endured it his whole life. He seemed so small, so fragile, yet he survived like a Neitzschean. To say the least this intrigued him. This insignificant child had potential in him somewhere. Tyr and the other members of his now nonexistent tribe had always believed children could be molded. When the boy discovers his potential Tyr wanted to be able to tap it. This child might be the opportunity he had been waiting for. But, first Harper would have to over come more then a few ...quirks. This obviously was going to be more difficult then he first imagined.
Tyr stood up and walked over to the cowering boy. "Stand up straight." He ordered.
Th boy straightened up but would not meet his eyes. Tyr took careful note that that Harper's was shaking. This boy had to overcome whatever issues he had with food.
Tyr grabbed the material of the boy's shirt and dragged him back to the table. He forced him to sit down. "Now, eat."
"No, thank you." Harper whispered. Tyr arched his eyebrow in surprise. Until now Harper had obeyed his orders with out question. Why did he refuse now?
"Why?"
The boy blinked but did not reply. It was like he was in a trance or a daze. Out of the corner of his eye Tyr saw Beka enter the mess hall, he motioned at her to stop.
Beka froze instantly, picking up the situation she stood silently watching.
Tyr crouched down beside Harper. "How can a simple muffin be your enemy?"
"I'm sorry," was all he said.
"Sorry for what boy!? What did you do?"
"I took the food, from the spacers. I wanted to surprise my family, but I was hungry to. Please don't hurt me anymore. I won't don't it I again."
"Did you get caught? Were you punished?" questioned Tyr.
Beka raised her hand to her face. Tyr looked at her for a brief moment. There were tears in her eyes.
Tyr turned his focus back to the child beside him. "Who punished you Harper?"
"You did," was the croaked answer. "You had a machine and you made me eat a lot and every time I took a bite you shocked me. I won't take the food again, I won't eat it I promise, please just don't do it again."
Tyr took Harper chin. "Look at me." Harper's eyes were still glazed and Tyr shook him lightly. "I said look at me." Harper made an obvious effort to focus on Tyr. The boy seemed confused. Tyr was determined to stop this nonsense once and for all.
Tyr continued. "It wasn't me, I didn't do that to you. That was another Neitzschean. Like all things in this universe we are all infinitely different. I am not the one that hurt you. Do you understand this?
Harper nodded slightly but Tyr was unconvinced. Tyr stood so he was towering over the boy who still sat hunched in the chair.
"What's my name boy?"
"Sir?" Harper started hesitantly.
"Wrong! You know my name, now say it! Do you dare to compare me to those sadist, mediocre bastard's on Earth!?"
"Tyr, your name is Tyr." Harper whispered.
"And, you will remember it. I am not of the Drago Katsov's. I am Tyr Anasazi by Barbarossa out of Victoria. I am Kodiak and the Kodiak never have and never will lower themselves to the tactics of the lesser tribes. Now you eat, nothing will harm you. You will not get sick. I will watch your back to ensure your safety."
The boy looked up at him with water eyes. The pools of blue were disarming. "Promise?"
"I have given you my word."
Harper's arm reached out hesitantly for the muffin. He slowly pulled off the wrapper and took a bite. He chewed slowly and swallowed. It was then he started to look around. "It's okay Beka you can come in."
Captain Valentine grabbed a muffin of her own from the kitchen then sat at the table and smiled at Seamus. "Mind if I join you."
Harper took another bite of his muffin. He took such a big bite he couldn't reply to her question so he just shrugged his shoulders in reply. Beka looked up at Tyr with a grateful smile. Tyr hadn't done it for her but he took her thanks graciously and nodded his head towards her.
Yet, it was nice to have someone to share the small victory with. He's next task was convincing the other's the boy must stay aboard the ship. He had a feeling that was going to be the biggest challenge.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next morning the Persieds had arrived. Harper was slightly worried about them. He knew Beka and the others were planning on sending him away. Beka and him had talked about it a bit at breakfast before she was interrupted by the Persied's arrival. He was worried that maybe they were going to send him off to live with the aliens. He hadn't had much exposure to other types of alien creatures. There were the Nietzscheans, the Magog's and well Trance. Plus all the aliens, other then Trance, that he knew weren't the nicest in the whole world.
Trance had tried to convince him that the Persied's weren't here to take him away. Still, Harper voted for caution.
Still, Trance had also said they were really smart and they had built Rommie.
Caution and curiosity are not always compatible bedfellows.
Harper decided maybe he should check these so-called scientists out.
Harper peered around the corner a safe distance away. The group of them stood in one of the machine shops. Beka was there but she looked bored out of her mind. There were four Persieds and Rommie as well. Rommie stood absolutely still as one of the Persieds ran a scanner up and down her android body.
The Persieds were really strange looking. They were humanoid like he was but they were a grayish blue colour. They also hand long pointy chins than made them look like they had permanent goatees. He wondered what the women looked like? Then it occurred to him that maybe they were girls. You never could be too sure he supposed with aliens.
"Hmmm." He heard the one Persied say. He seemed to be the one in charge as the three other Persieds stood in a group and acted engrossed with his every word.
"What is it Technical Director Hohne?" asked Rommie curiously.
"It seems one of your tactile sensor's in your right arm could use some adjusting." The Persieds voice was sort of nasally but seemed kind.
"Yes, yes," muttered the other Persieds that looked on.
Harper couldn't help himself. He could have told them that. He snorted out loud with mild disgust. Maybe he snorted a little too loud.
Everyone turned and looked in his direction.
"Who's there?" Called Hohne.
"It's okay Seamus, you can come in," called Rommie with a smile.
Harper stepped reluctantly in to the room.
Rommie introduced him. "Technical Director Hohne, I would like you to meet Seamus Harper. He is currently staying aboard with us. He's from Earth"
Hohne bobbed his head happily. "Very nice to meet you, very nice indeed. From Earth you say. I have always been very curious from about Earth. I'm sure you would have some very interesting data to share."
"Yes, yes," muttered the other Persieds
"Hello," He replied blushing. He wasn't sure of what to make of all the attention. "Um, you said there was something with Rommie's arm?"
"Are you interested in advanced robotics Mr. Harper?"
"Sort of," he replied. He was always interested in all things mechanical ... especially Rommie. "Are you sure it's her tactile sensors? At room temperature a small force easily stretches Muscle Wires. When conducting an electric current, the wire heats and changes to a much harder form that returns to the "unstretched" shape - the wire shortens in length with a usable amount of force. Maybe there is just something wrong with her internal temperature controls."
Everyone was staring at him again.
"It's just a theory." He shrugged.
Beka looked positively stunned.
Hohne did another scan of Rommie with his scanner. "I think it's more then a theory. I do believe you are correct."
After getting permission from Tyr, Harper spent the next three days happily following the Persieds around. They crawled through the conduits together, he got to see and take apart the slipstream drive, and he even got introduced to inner space... Andromeda's very own matrix. He learned a lot Everyone seemed amazed that he knew as much as he did. Hohne even said he was a genius. His mom had always said that, but he always just took it as a mother's kind words. He couldn't help but smile. It was nice to feel special.
Then he frowned again. Pretty soon they would want to send him away. Beka had talked to him again that morning. Dylan and Beka had met with one of the Magog's friends a couple of days ago. Beka said it seemed like a nice place. There were five other boys there the same age as he was. Once the Persieds were done with their maintenance and upgrades she wanted to take him there to meet someone one named Brother Arrane. Harper felt sick at the very thought of it. He didn't want to be dumped on another planet. If he had to be on a planet he wanted to be on his own.
Actually he was really starting to like it here on the Andromeda. If it weren't for his parents he would probably want to stay here. But, maybe they had come back to the house... maybe they were looking for Raven, Fergus and him. He needed to know if there were okay... if they were worried. He needed to tell them about Raven and Fergus and about how he had failed.
"Mr. Harper?" Hohne broke his thoughts.
"Um, yeah!"
"Are you paying attention? I wanted to show you something."
Harper smiled and slid on his VR glasses. He took a deep breath as he suddenly founded him self blasted in to Rommie's Matrix.
He was still getting used to it and his virtual legs wobbled as he got his bearings. "This is always going to be cool." He whispered to himself as he watched a data stream float by.
"Over here Mr. Harper!" called Technical Director Hohne.
Harper hurried over and joined Hohne in starring in to a small access port. "What is it?" Harper asked.
"I was hopping you might recognize it. I do not have the specks on this specific port. Some of this technology is very archaic."
"Hey!" Complained Rommie.
"Oh, I mean no disrespect." Chortled Hohne.
Harper continued to study the access port. "I wonder if it's a backup of Rommie's program?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful then would could do a full comparative analysis of her programs."
"Sort of like a before and after picture." Agreed Harper, reaching in to access the program. All he did was touch it and the program came a live. It burst out of the portal and started integrating itself with all the current data streams. Harper was blasted off his feet by its forward momentum. "Ah crap!" He swore.
"Oh, this is not good," agreed Hohne frightenedly.
Suddenly Rommie's image appeared in front of them in giant proportions. "Who are you!? What are you doing in my systems!?"
"Rommie, it's me Harper? Don't you recognize me?"
Her voice became booming and Hohne and him both had to cover their ears. "Intruder alert! Intruder Alert!"
Hohne and Harper were thrown violently out of the matrix.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC