Thanks for the kind reviews. Now on to the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Andromeda or its characters and I am making no money from this story.

Chapter 3

Tyr set the engineer down on one of the tables in Medical. Trance started life saving procedures while a medical bot began to hook up Harper to a respirator due to the chest wound he received, as well as the machines that would monitor the engineer's vital signs and supply intravenous medicine. Trance stopped the flow of blood from Harper's chest wound.

Holo Rommie materialized in medical next to Dylan. "Two of the Sabra Jaguars managed to evade my security. They must have blinded my sensors since I have no indication as to their location."

Dylan pounded a fist on the Command Deck railing. "We're not letting them get away!"

"I'll go help look for the intruders," Beka volunteered. "Those slimeballs are not getting away with hurting Harper"

"Fine, and good luck," Dylan replied.

Mainframe Rommie appeared on the view screen announcing, "I'm receiving a transmission from the Sabra Jaguar leader."

Dylan rolled his eyes and sighed. "Put him through Andromeda."

"Now Captain Hunt perhaps you will realize that I am serious about getting our data file back."

"Come now. Are we going to go over this again Mister? You know I don't think I got your name," Dylan remarked, hoping to set the Nietzschean off guard.

The Nietzschean kept his face expressionless. "I am Siegfried out of Michaela by Cornelius."

Dylan stared blankly at the Nietzschean, bored by the pretentiousness. "Now that we know each other's names, why don't you level with me and tell me what you really want with my ship?"

"Very well. You have the bones of Drago Musevi on board your ship. I have come to claim the remains of our progenitor," Siegfried announced haughtily. "I have obtained reliable information that the remains of our progenitor are aboard your ship."

The information didn't surprise Dylan. The High Guard captain had suspected the Sabra Jaguar might be after the remains of Drago Musevi all along. "Thank you for the honesty, but your information about us having Drago Musevi's remains is faulty."

"That remains to be seen Captain Hunt," Siegfried replied threateningly.

"Yes it does," Dylan answered back before cutting off the transmission. "Andromeda, what is the status of the intruders?"

Mainframe Rommie appeared once more on the view screen. "Two of the Sabra Jaguar are heading for my hangar deck. Beka and a team of security bots are closing in on them."

"Good. Send Rommie to help Beka. I'll meet them at the hanger deck," Dylan ordered as he trotted off of Command to help catch the intruders.

"Now listen here Little Professor. I will not have you die and leave me to be both engineer and security officer. You will fight to live with all the fiber of your being. Do I make myself clear?" Tyr practically ordered as he leaned over Harper's unconscious body.

Rev said a brief prayer as he stood over the wounded engineer in a quiet, hushed voice. The Wayist made it a point to keep out of the way of the med bots and AI Rommie as they worked on the Earther. When finished the Magog monk backed away from table. "If everyone will excuse me I believe I can be of better service if I leave to mediate and say a prayer for Master Harper."

Tyr rolled his eyes at the Magog. "Didn't you just finish saying a prayer for the child?"

"Ah Yes I did. But I feel the need to remain in prayer for a longer period of time. At least until Master Harper's condition is stabilized."

"Then by all means leave Magog," Tyr suggested sternly.

Rev paused to consider the recommendation before clasping his furry hands together. "I shall do that Tyr. I have done all that I can here. My prayers will work just as effectively from my quarters."

Trance walked over and hugged the Magog. "I'll call you if I need any help Rev."

Beka and Rommie met up near the hanger deck. Rommie had her forcelance out and ready to give cover fire as Beka raised her gauss gun before moving around a corner. The corridor was vacant so they moved on to the door to the hanger bay.

Suddenly Rommie and Beka were met with laser fire from three of the Sabra Jaguars. Rommie moved with lightning speed towards the hanger bay. One of the shots hit Rommie in chest as the Nietzscheans fired their last shots before entering the hanger bay. Rommie was unharmed and motioned for Beka to follow.

Beka tried opening the hangar bay door but it was deactivated. The executive officer looked over at Rommie before stepping aside. Rommie moved in front of the door and placed her hands in the small space between the door and the wall. With her android strength AI Rommie was able to pry the door open. Beka readied her gauss gun and stepped through the doorway.

The Sabra Jaguars were hiding behind one of the slipfighters as they fired at Beka and Rommie. One of Beka's shots hit one of the Sabra Jaguars, killing the Nietzschean. The other two Sabra Jaguars tossed thermal grenades towards Beka and Rommie. Both women instinctively dived to the floor as soon as they saw the grenades. This gave the Nietzscheans enough time to climb into two of the slipfighters and start up the engine.

Rommie saw that Beka was unconscious and crawled over to Beka as she returned the Nietzcheans' fire. Rommie moved herself in front of Beka's body and began pulling the blonde pilot out of the hanger bay.

As Beka regained consciousness and shook the cobwebs out of her head as she sat on the deck outside of the hangar bay. "Thanks Rommie."

The avatar smiled over at the executive officer. "You're welcome. But the two Sabra Jaguars found a way to deactivate my defenses and are getting away."

"At least they didn't get what they came for," Beka replied, trying to put a positive spin on the events.

AI Rommie helped Beka to her feet. "The Sabra Jaguar fleet has pulled back and is retreating. Since we don't appear to be in any more immediate danger, I suggest you get to Med Deck and have Trance look you over."

Beka resisted putting up her usually argument when somebody suggested she get checked out. This time she didn't mind going to Med Deck since it would give her a chance to check up on Harper. "Okay let's go then."

Five hours later Harper's condition was still critical but stabilized. Trance had remained in Medical, monitoring the machines attached to Harper. The purple girl made vowed to herself that she wouldn't rest until Harper was out of the proverbial woods.

As she sat in a chair next to Harper's bed Trance held his hand. The purple girl's thoughts wandered back into the past when she first met the Earther some two years earlier.

Trance was on some highly unremarkable drift when she spied the Eureka Maru. She had never seen a space ship like that before. Curious, the purple pixie came closer to the Maru. The first person she met was Rev Bem as the Wayist walked down the hatch.

Her head told Trance to be wary of the Magog, but her curiosity and gut instinct got the better of her. "Excuse me. I'm looking for the owner of this ship. Would that be you?"

"Oh my no Miss. The Eureka Maru belongs to Beka Valentine. I am Reverend Behemial Far Traveler, But you can call me Rev for short," Rev said introducing himself.

Trance smiled at the Magog and shook his offered claw. "I'm Trance Gemini. I have a feeling Miss Valentine might need a botanist or medic or both. Would you happen to know if she is onboard?"

"Yes Captain Valentine is aboard. Why don't I take you to her?" Rev offered.

Trance followed Rev up into the Maru and back to the cockpit. Beka was sitting in the pilot's going over the list of supplies she and her crew still needed.

"Excuse me Rebecca but we have company," Rev announced.

Beka turned around and stared at the purple girl standing next to Rev. Beka had been to a lot of worlds and met a good number of alien species, so the blonde thought she had seen it all. That is until now.

"Hi there, my name is Trance," the purple girl greeted as she extended a lavender-colored hand.

Beka shook the girl's hand. "So, what brings you here to the Eureka Maru?"

"Well, I had a feeling that you could use another crew member," Trance answered quickly.

Beka gave a suspicious look to the visitor. "I am short a crewmember but what are your qualifications?"

"I am a biologist and Medic," Trance replied confidently.

Beka couldn't believe her luck. She had just lost Vex Pag who was the Maru's medic. Rev had been acting as the ship's medic until they Beka was able to find another person with enough medical knowledge to take over the position. Now this Trance girl had just dropped into her lap. Beka was still wary as she had been burned too many times to trust the first person that came along offering to help. "You seem rather young Ms. Gemini. What experience do you have and how long have you been practicing in your field?"

Trance paused before answering. She couldn't tell them the truth about how old she was and where she came from. "I'm no older than you are Captain Valentine but I can assure you that I know about medicine and botany and biology and will be an asset to your you and your crew."

"Well, that's specific," Beka retorted. "Tell you what; I'm desperate enough to give you a trial run. That is just what it sounds like. You will be on probation and if, for any reason at all; I determine that you are no longer an asset as a crewmember of the Eureka Maru you will be dropped off at the nearest drift. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes ma'm. You won't be disappointed. I promise," Trance replied.

Just then a small human male with blond spiky hair appeared next to Trance. The purple pixie turned and smiled at the stranger. He looked so frail that Trance immediately sensed she would be kept busy keeping this human alive.

"Harper this is Trance Gemini. She's going to be a member of the crew as ship's medic and biologist," Beka informed.

Harper smiled at the purple girl and waived. "Hiya purple babe, nice to meet you."

Trance caught a sparkle in Harper's blue eyes. Trance saw pain and frustration in those eyes, but also a passion for life. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Harper. I'm sure we'll be good friends." T

Trance drew her attention back to the present as she longed to hear Harper's chipper voice again

Dylan wandered up to the Observation Deck and found Beka looking off into the distance. "I see Trance released you from her care."

"Yeah, I just had some bruises," Beka informed. "Beka turned back to watching the stars outside. The blonde woman pointed to a spot in the distance outside observation window. "Earth is out that way."

Dylan stepped closer to the window even though he knew there was no way to see Earth with the naked eye. Earth was light years away. "Why are you thinking of Earth? You aren't planning on taking a trip are you?"

"No I'm not planning on heading towards that god forsaken planet," she answered. "I was just thinking about the irony. Harper survived roughly 20 years of hell on that planet. He became one of my crew so he could have a better life. He decided to become one of your crew to have a better life and what did it get him?"

Dylan stepped closer to the blonde and put his arms around her in a hug then released her. "Don't blame yourself Beka."

Beka looked up at the High Guard captain and frowned. "What makes you think I'm blaming myself?"

"Because I know you. You still consider Harper to be a member of your crew and you feel responsible for anything that happens to one of your crew. I learned something a long time ago Beka; we all make choices. Harper made his choice become a member of your crew. All we captains can do is look out for our crew and be there when they need us." Hunt answered. Beka started to protest but Dylan cut her off. "Now don't tell me you should have been there for Harper this time. You can't be everywhere on this ship. You had a duty to remain at your post and you did just that."

Beka didn't take much comfort in Dylan's pep talk. Still, she appreciated the effort. "Thanks for the talk Dylan, but I'll be okay. The one you should really be talking to is Trance."

Dylan knew what the blonde pilot meant. He knew how Trance felt about Harper. She cared about all of the crew but she shared a special bond with the engineer. Trance would no doubt stay in Medical until Harper regained consciousness, which could be quite some time in the future. "I'll make sure she gets some rest."