Thanks for the kind comments folks. I apologize for any errors in the last chapter. I have fixed them, I hope. I'd like to thank my super beta Parisindy who is not to blame for any errors I post.
Chapter 5
"What's happened to Harper?" Trance questioned as she rushed into Medical.
Dr. Mung wrung his hands nervously. "Well it seems our patient has relapsed. I've put him back on a respirator but I fear he's acquired an infection."
Trance brushed past the Perseid and examined Harper. "I was afraid of that. We tried to keep the environment as sterile as possible but Harper still picked up an infection."
The Perseid doctor began helping Trance give Harper an injection of an antibiotic, on of the few that wouldn't cause a reaction in the Earther. "I'm just not used to working on a patient with such a poor immune system.
"It does present a challenge but we're going to bring Harper through this. We're not losing him," Trance vowed, knowing that she would be devastated if she lost Harper.
This Mr. Harper is a fragile human and a most interesting case study. I think it would be best to bring him to Sinti. Mr. Harper needs more care then your ship can offer I'm afraid," Dr. Mung suggested, trying his best not to sound too alarmed.
Trance resigned herself to the fact that Harper needed more medical care than she could provide alone. "You're right Doctor Mung. I heard from Dylan that we are expecting a confrontation from the Sabra Jaguar pride again. If that happens I'd rather not have Harper onboard in his condition"
"We must make our way to Sinti as soon as possible," Dr. Mung suggested, feeling relieved that the purple alien had agreed with his plans.
"I'll go tell Dylan. I'm sure he'll immediately begin setting a course for Sinti," Trance said solemnly. "Thank you for all of your help Doctor."
The Perseid took a glance over at a sleeping Harper. "It has been my pleasure Miss Gemini. I am pleased to be of service and most grateful for the chance to work on such an intriguing patient."
Trance contacted Dylan over the com and requested that Andromeda head for Sinti as quickly as possible. Dylan readily agreed to the plan.
Tyr glanced up from his console after assessing the situation. "The Sabra Jaguars are likely to try to follow us to Sinti. Is it wise to lead them there?"
Dylan turned to the tall Nietzschean and raised an eyebrow. "You have a point Tyr. Which is why Beka is going to take Harper, Trance and Dr. Mung to Sinti on the Maru."
Tyr kept the stern expression on his face. "That is a small comfort. You are now intending to send our best pilot away to act as a medical ship pilot."
"Tyr, give up the argument. Harper needs medical help on Sinti so we are taking him there one way or another," Beka insisted.
The dark-skinned Nietzschean shrugged his broad shoulders slightly, abandoning the argument. Beka smirked at Tyr in victory before exiting Command.
Thanks to Beka the Maru arrived at Sinti in near record time. Beka had wanted to go check in on Harper but she was busy piloting. As soon as the Maru docked Beka rushed to Harper's side and helped Trance wheel the engineer into medical transport vehicle. Beka accompanied Trance and Dr. Mung to the medical clinic where he would be treated.
Since the antibiotics were having little effect Dr. Mung recommended putting Harper on a new antibiotic. Beka looked over at Trance for reassurance. The purple alien nodded her head in approval.
"I've always had trouble finding the proper antibiotics for Harper but the one you recommended has no ingredients that Harper is allergic to," Trance informed.
"I can see how you would have trouble Miss Gemini," Dr. Mung replied as he injected the new antibiotic into Harper's IV.
Trance shooed Beka from the room while Dr. Mung kept an eye on Harper's vital signs. Beka reluctantly went back to the Maru and waited for word from Trance.
Hours later Dr. Mung returned from making rounds to check in on other patients in the clinic. The Perseid walked into Harper's room and spotted Trance sitting in the chair next to Harper's bed. The Perseid quietly approached the purple girl. "How is our patient Miss Gemini?"
Trance looked up at Dr. Mung with tiredness in her brown eyes. "Harper's condition seems to be stabilizing."
Dr. Mung smiled down at the purple girl. "Excellent Miss Gemini. I'm sorry I was gone so long but there was another patient that needed my immediate attention. You look tired. Why don't you go to your quarters and get some sleep?" he said whispered as he helped Trance to a standing position.
Trance reluctantly left Harper's room and went back to the Maru. She tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb Beka. The purple girl hadn't needed to bother as Beka was awake and waiting for Trance in the kitchen. As soon as the blonde pilot heard the Maru's hatch open she left the kitchen and met Trance.
"Beka, I'm sorry if I woke you," Trance apologized as she closed the hatch.
"Don't worry Trance. I was awake. I can't sleep," Beka confessed in a tired voice.
Trance put an arm around Beka as they walked to Beka's quarters. "You're worried about Harper. You're not going to do Harper any good if you run yourself into the ground. You need to get some rest. The new antibiotic seems to be working so try to get some sleep."
Beka really was too tired to argue and allowed Trance to help her change for bed. It didn't' take long for Beka to fall asleep. Trance changed for bed and climbed up onto her own bunk where her mind continued to replay the events of Harper being shot.
Trance tried to shake the thoughts out of her mind as she sat up on her bunk. The purple alien quietly climbed down from her bunk.
Trance decided to make herself a cup of tea, even though she knew it most likely wouldn't help. Trance grabbed a canister of loose leaf green tea from the overhead cupboard and set sat it down on the counter. Then she poured some water in a teapot and started heating up the water.
While the water was boiling Trance grabbed a mug from the cupboard. She looked at the mug and noticed it was one that Harper had always used. Tears started welling up in Trances eyes. Trance knew this couldn't have been an accidental occurrence.
Trance put the tea in the pot sat down at the table and waited for the tea to finish brewing. It was going to be another long night for the purple girl.
Harper had a fitful sleep that night. The Engineer was involved in a dream that had him back on Earth. In his all too vivid nightmare Harper was being chased by what seemed like an endless swarm of magog. Harper was running through a forest of trees with dense fog surrounding him.
The Earther's chest heaved as he tried to suck air into his empty lungs. The trees that were all around him looked like none he had ever seen on Earth or anywhere else. Yet Harper had a strong feeling that he was on Earth. The sound of magog gaining on him brought to Harper a new sense of urgency. Harper summoned up all of the reserve energy he could muster and picked up the pace.
Harper ran blindly through the fog and trees, getting whipped by branches for his trouble. The branches scratched the exposed skin on Harper's arms and face leaving them streaked with lines of red blood.
The next series of events were a blur. Harper could only tell that the magog had caught up to him and were holding him on the ground. Next thing Harper knew was the magog were gone and he was on his feet and staggering aimlessly through the forest again.
Harper was exhausted by now and barely able to continue on. The engineer didn't know where he was going; just that he had to keep moving.
Up ahead of him Harper saw a shadowing figure in the misty fog. The Earther wasn't sure he should approach the figure, but something in the back of his mind told him to catch up the figure.
The shadowing figure stood motionless as Harper approached, as if unaware that the Earther was around, As Harper got closer he could make out a tale on the mysterious figure. "Trance?" Harper said out loud in a breathless voice. He held onto the trunk of a tree for support. Harper could feel his energy fading fast. He knew the magog attack had been too much for him. "You're too late Trance." At that moment Harper's world went black as the nightmare ended.
Harper felt the consciousness tugging at him and he strained to open his eyes. After what seemed like hours the engineer finally opened his eyes and focused on Dr. Mung staring down at him. A wave of relief swept over the engineer as he realized he was still alive.