Chapter 19
AI Rommie stood in one of Harper's favorite of the machine shops looking around at the various unfinished projects strewn about. The avatar nearly cried at the thought that those projects would never be finished.
AI Rommie's sensors detected Rev Bem approaching the door from outside. The AI wasn't ashamed of being emotional about the loss of her creator and engineer but right now she didn't wish to discuss the issue. She wanted time to contemplate the loss of her engineer alone. Since they got the news earlier in the day AI Rommie had been cool and distant, more like the avatar of a ship then the friend she had become to the rest of the her crew. The AI had even received an "I told you so" talk from her mainframe persona.
Rev entered the machine shop and stopped when she saw the avatar standing at the workbench. "I wasn't expecting anybody to be here Rommie. Your ship self didn't tell me where you were."
"I asked my ship self to keep my location private while I was in here unless there was an emergency," the avatar replied calmly, keeping in control of her emotion program.
"I can understand that Rommie," Rev sympathized. "I'm sorry if I interrupted but I was just coming here to spend some time alone and remember Harper in my own way. I thought this would be a good place do some meditation."
An involuntary smile crossed the avatar's lips. "I would have to agree with your assessment Rev. If I were to believe in the Way I would have to say that Harper's spirit filled this machine shop."
Rev rubbed his furry chin thoughtfully as he watched the avatar's face. "You are troubled about something Rommie. Might I be so forward as to suggest that you confide in me and allow me to attempt to counsel you?"
"Thank you Rev that is very kind of you, but as an avatar of a High Guard ship I am hardly in need of counseling," replied, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. "I was just getting ready to assist in repairing several of the mariabots so I will leave you alone to meditate."
The Magog bowed his head slightly. "Thank Rommie. Meditating should help me come up with a proper eulogy for Master Harper."
"Let me know if you need any assistance in planning the ceremony Rev," AI Rommie offered before she walked out of the room.
Rev noticed that the avatar walked at a pace a fraction slower than normal. The Magog sighed as he rolled out a mat onto the deck and sat down on it in the lotus position. "Master Harper is fortunate to be mourned by so many people, even an avatar."
Beka had just taken off of Crimea when the signal for an incoming transmission sounded on the console in front of her. The blonde reached over with her left hand and pushed the button to receive the transmission. A female Than appeared on the monitor and began identifying herself as an employee of the courier company.
Beka waited impatiently, tapping her fingers on the armrest of her chair while the Than went through the usual protocol of verifying the blonde's identification. As soon as the Than was satisfied that the identification was authentic the message was put through.
Beka's heart jumped as Dylan's face appeared on the monitor, replacing the Than's. Dylan recounted the report he received from Apollo and assured Beka that a full investigation into the death of Harper would be forthcoming.
Beka sat back, slumped in her chair as the shock of the news set in. She sat still for a few moments, letting her memories of Harper play in her mind. As soon as she had recovered enough Beka looked back up at the monitor.
"I don't buy the Dragans' story. Harper wasn't stupid enough to start a dogfight with a Dragan patrol. He wouldn't pick a fight he knew he couldn't win," Beka argued back.
High Guard captain straightened his postured and looked intently into the camera. "Beka I want you to continue to look for Trance. We can handle things on this end. In the meantime we'll be attempting to compile evidence about what really happened to Harper. As much as I would like blow Apollo and his men out of the sky, I have to follow protocol." Dylan reasoned, trying to sooth the desire for revenge he knew the executive officer would feel.
Beka wasn't calming down. She was in no mood to follow protocol. "And in the meantime the Dragans go merrily along their way and live as they please." the blonde pilot argued to the monitor as a lump formed in her throat.
"I know how you feel Beka, but trust me that this is the right way to handle things," Dylan defended sternly.
"Fine we'll do it your way, but you better be right Dylan," Beka warned before ending the transmission.
"Seamus why did you have to take the slipfighter alone?" Beka berated, angry at the engineer for being so foolish. She was now even more determined to find Trance. Beka wasn't going to lose another member of her crew.
Trance periodically made eye contact with Siegfried throughout their flight, occasionally working her spell on the Nietzschean to make sure he remained under her control.
The purple pixie hummed nervously and tapped her foot to the beat in her mind. Trance increased the tempo of her tune as the came closer to the planet Klondike. Trance wasn't worried about her safety as much as she was worried that she wouldn't reach Harper in time, just as in the vision. The purple girl was determined to change this future but as time went on the stronger the vision of the future with Harper's death became.
Siegfried looked over at the purple one with an intrigued expression. "What is that tune you are humming? It's quite hypnotic."
Trance smiled knowingly, pretending to be flattered by the compliment. "It's an old song from where I come from." The purple had unknowingly found a way to keep Siegfried under her control without having to maintain eye contact.
"What is the song called?" Siegfried questioned as he engaged the autopilot.
"You wouldn't be able to pronounce it in my native tongue. I'm glad you like it. I'll just keep humming it." Trance offered casually.
Siegfried smiled warmly as he leaned back in the pilot's chair and closed his eyes. Trance sighed as she coughed loud enough to get the Nietzschean's attention. Siegfried opened his eyes quickly.
"I was just getting comfortable. I find the tune you were humming very relaxing," Siegfried stated with disappointment.
"Aren't we near a slipstream portal Siegfried? I don't want you to be asleep and miss it," Trance said as she pointed to the monitor in front of the Nietzschean.
A flicker of embarrassment flashed across the Nietzschean's face. "Yes you're quite right. The slipstream portal should be coming up." Siegfried turned to face the monitor and shut off the autopilot before beginning a search for the slipstream portal.
A minute later a slipstream portal opened and Siegfried engaged the slipstream drive. As soon as they finished the jump Trance and Siegfried would be at Klondike. A half hour later Siegfried guided the shuttle out of slipstream and closed the portal behind them.
Trance could feel Harper's presence growing stronger the nearer they got to Klondike.
After landing on the planet Trance twitched her tail as they waited for security clearance. Trance had no worries about getting the clearance but she was still that any delay would prove disastrous for Harper in time. She was sure her vision of Harper injured on a table was accurate since her visions came true unless she was able to change them.
Once they got security clearance Trance instructed Siegfried to rent a large snow vehicle that would take them to where she knew they would find Harper. It was in a city on the other side of the inhabited part of the planet. The populous part of the planet was only 100 miles in diameter.
The rest of the planet was too cold, even for Nietzscheans to stay in for long periods of time. The uninhabited part of the planet also was lined with sheer rock cliffs and mountains filled with omnivorous creatures that thrived in the extreme cold. The creatures kept away from the warmer areas of the planet where the people lived.
Siegfried and Trance rode for two hours with the Purple alien giving directions based on how strongly she felt Harper's presence. Finally they ended up in the small nearly abandoned city of Magellan.
"We should stop in this town Siegfried. Find a place to park this vehicle," Trance instructed. The purple pixie had a strong hunch that this was the place where she would find Harper.