Title: Core of all Lies
Author: Shakia
Spoilers: None yet O.o
Disclaimer: I don't get money from this, I'm just doing this for fun and I don't own any of the Andromeda characters! :D
Summary: Trish, a captian of a small ship named Ceteri, saves Harper from slave traders who tell him they have proof the Andromeda crew sold him to them. Harper convinces Trish to help him find Andromeda. After four long years of searching they finally find her, but it's anything but the reunion they expected when they find out what Andromeda's dealt with through out those four years.
Authors Notes: This isn't a very long chapter, so sorry about that X.x I still hope you all enjoy it though! :3
Memories lingered within his mind as Harper sat in his room. Though, technacally this wasn't his room. It made no differance. It was the same as the rest of the ship and just like the rest of it pulled memories from his mind that he hadn't thought about in a long time. He frowned. The pictures and events from them were a lot more vivid now that he was abourd the ship. Of course it didn't make much of a difference considering they thought he was a clone out to kill them. Why the heck the Abyss would want to clone him anyways? And when had they gotten the chance? Well...aside from that one time when he had been captured instead of Trish by those pysco scientists. But that had been just a year ago and from what Trance had said, it seemed like a lot more earlier that he, himself, and I had attacked. He sighed and lay back on the bed. Maybe Trish was getting more than he was.
'Probably listening to everyone.' He thought, suddenly wishing he had her enhanced powers. As he thought about just what his former crew mates were saying his thoughts turned to Beka and his frown deepend somewhat. He couldn't explain why her mistrusting him so badly seemed to hurt so badly. At the moment it was the only thing he could feel. Well, aside from the constant fear that had been traveling with him for the last four years. Fear that his crew had sold him away. Fear that Beka really did hate him. Really was sick of him. He would've never thought so before the inncident. Before Beka had hit him. That had been the day before he had been sent to the slavers. They had had an argument and she had hit him. He shuddered at the memory, trying desperatley to surpress it. She promised him he'd be safe on Andromeda, that no one would hurt him there. It shook the trust he had with her that day and after he saw the proof they had that Andromeda had sold him he found himself wondering if Beka truley had wanted him gone. Now as he sat here he still felt that fear, strong as ever, but with it was the cold, strong hurt that peirced through him. He gave a sigh before opening his eyes. They spotted the computer on the desk across the room and he wondered if he should try and look on it. He new there weren't many things he could do on it since most files were restricted, but he also knew he might be able to get a bit on what's been happening. He could see some of the stuff Andromeda has gone through while he was gone. Deciding it was definatly better than laying there with only his thoughts and memories for company he hopped off the bed and headed to the computer. He collapsed into the chair and ran his fingers down the screen, trying to find something intresting enough to look at. As he did he again realized how much he had missed Andromeda. Everything about her. The feel of her walls and computers, the smell, everything. Even if there wasn't much on it that wasn't restricted it still felt good. Suddenly his thoughts were inturupted as something caught his eye. He tensed.
"Seamus Zalanzey Harper's Funeral"
He stared at the screen for a moment, and though knowing he probably wouldn't be able to, tried to access it. He silently cursed as it denied him access.
"You really shouldn't be going on that." Harper jumped and spun around to see Andromeda's hologram looking at him. He hadn't seen it in so long he actually found it refreshing. She gave him a quire look and that's when he realized he was beaming at her.
"Sorry, Rommie. It's just been a long time." He explained softly and grinned at her wearily. She looked him over suspiciously before disapeering. He slowly turned back to the screen and looked at the file again and frowned. He found himself, though wishing to see it, slightly afraid of doing so. Of course he could have easily by passed the codes, but he was trying to build trust with his former crew...and again he was afraid. What if they were happy he was gone? What if they had sold him away? He shook off the feeling and scolded himself for returning to those thoughts. He also didn't exactly want to shatter what little trust they gave him. He sighed and raked his hand through his hair nervously before the temptation became to strong. He had to know. He worked away on it, making sure Andromeda wouldn't be able to pick up on what he was doing. After a while he finally had full access to all files that had earlier been restricted. Though, he wasn't out of the deep end yet. If someone came in and realized what he was doing, well, he'd be in deep, deep trouble. He knew he shouldn't be doing this. He was risking everything. He then flashed a look over his shoulder before opening the file.
Immediatly an image flashed onto the screen. It was the crew of Andromeda. He could make out a coffin. He winced inwardly at the site, finding it eerie and unnerving to be staring at his own coffin. His eyes travled over his crew and he frowned when realizing how hurt they looked. He felt slightly at ease knowing they cared enough to cry about him. Heck, he had cried about them more times than he could remember over the past four years. Suddenly as he looked over them he realized something. Beka wasn't there. The realization peirced through him like a sword and panic began to stir within his chest. Why wasn't she there? Suddenly Dylan got up to the front, looking over his crew mates wearily.
"Mr. Harper was a hero. One of the bravest and best there was. He was the finest Engineer and he was one of the bravest and trustworthy people that I've ever had the honor to know." As Harper listen he found himself becoming more and more disbelieving to what he was hearing. He hadn't expected any of his crew to say anything like this. All he had wanted to hear fromt hem was that they really did care about him, but what he got was unbelievable. The rest of Dylan's speach was, for him, dumbfounding. How could Dylan have said those things? He just couldn't believe Dylan had actually said that stuff about him. Heck, he thought he was just a tupid mud foot from the backwater slave planet Earth, not some hero as Dylan had described him. Dylan left the front of the room and Trance took his place. As she spoke her voice shook. "Harper always tried to do what was right. He-he was my friend. One of my best. Harper, I promise you'll always have a place in my heart." She said, her voice cracking slightly as tears slid down her cheeks. "And I'll miss you. And remember you. Forever."
Although her speech was short, it touched him. He was in disbelief that his crew was even saying this.
He hadn't expected Tyr to be the one to step up next, but he did. For the very first time Harper had ever seen, Tyr was crying. He was actually crying. He gaped at the screen.
"The little profesor survived through what most would have never come close. He was a true warrior, a true hero... He may has faced all his fears and come through alive. He is a true survivor and he died for what is right. He died a warrior, a hero, and a true friend." Harper continued to stare at the screen, feeling his eyes glaze over slightly with tears. No way Tyr had just said that. There's no way. Ubers just don't say that stuff about Kludges like him. Ever.
'Alright, enough's enough.' He thought and exited out of the file mostly to keep himself from braking down then anything. He quickly whipped his eyes, feeling oddly relieved. It had always been a constant fear locked within him that his crew had truley sold him away. The fear grew as they faced different challenges and confronted different things. Of course it would visit him in his dreams too and when Dylan had refused to let him abourd he had confermed the fear. He had felt so lost and so broken after that and even still when they let them abourd. Especially by Beka. But after seeing this...wow. He would've never imagined his crew being so...sad. He sat back in his chair and studied the ceiling absently. He frowned suddenly when remembering something. But...Beka wasn't there. Why hadn't she been there? He shut his eyes and scrubbed his hands over his face. There would've had to have been a good reason for it...right? But what if there wasn't? What if she had honestly wanted him gone. With a sudden swoop the fear returned and he stared down at his hands absently, trying desperatly to come up with some explanation to why she hadn't been there. Though he tried he could only find one answer. She really wanted him gone.
His thoughts were abruptly interupted as the door swished open. He sat up and to his surprise Beka and Dylan walked in. It was more that Beka was here that surprised him, though.
"Dylan, can I do this first?" She asked him stonily, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down.
"Beka, don't do anything you'll regret." Dylan warned, concern clear in his voice. She gave him an absent nod, but still kept her eyes fixed on Harper.
"I'll meet you on the bridge. Go with Tyr to see the other girl." She told him flatly, nodding to the door. He nodded, eyeing her with concern before heading out the door. As the door slid close Beka ordered Andromeda to activate privacy mode and then looked toward him coldly.
"Alright clone boy I'm here to find out why you're here." She said bitterly. The words speared him like daggers and he winced, still not sure why they hurt so much. She pulled out her gun and aimed it toward him, making his eyes widen slightly. "So start talking." She growled. He stared at the gun absently, suddenly wishing she would shoot him. "I said talk!" She snarled, her gun still trained on him. He sighed and averted his eyes to the floor "I was seperated from Andromeda and have been trying to find you guys again." He murmered quitley, although already knowing she wouldn't believe him. She let out a harsh laugh.
"Oh, real nice. I won't hesitate in shooting you, you know. You might look like Seamus, but you aren't. He died a long time ago." She told him bitterly. A pained expresion came across Harper's face as she said this.
"Maybe I can prove it, Bek." He said softly, taking a chance and looking up at her.
"Don't call me that!" She roared, loading the gun. Hate and furry burned in her eyes as she spoke. He winced and nodded.
"Alright." He agreed quitley, turning his eyes back to the floor.
"Now tell me why you're here!" She snarled loudly, taking a few steps closer to him with her gun still trained on him threateningly. He shut his eyes for a moment, not sure of what to say. "You think I'm kidding?" She laughed bitterly before aiming to his leg.
"No." He replied honestly. "But I was telling the truth." He tried, wincing again as he dared a look up to her. Suddenly she fired. It seemed like slow motion as the bullet tour into his leg, eating away the flesh and even part of the bone. He let out a cry, mostly out of shock then anything and tumbled out of the chair, gasping for air as the pain screamed from his leg furiously. "Maybe that'll get you talking." She said bitterly. "Now why are you here? What did you do to Andromeda?!" She growled. Spots appeared over Harper's vission as he struggled to stay conscoius. He couldn't reply to Beka either, for fear he would either throw up or cry out. "Tell me why you keep doing this!" She yelled again, this time a sob acompanying her words. Harper struggled in turning over onto his back and let out a grunt of pain as he did so. Warm, sticky blood was starting to pool downward, creating a puddle beneath him.
Then without warning the ship jolted and explosions sounded. Harper gasped as pain shuddered through his leg along with the ship. Beka continued to tower over him, somehow managing to keep her balance and the aim of her gun. No pitty shown in her eyes as she looked down on him. He screwed his eyes shut and continued to gasp for air, trying hard not to think about the siering pain in his leg. Tears stung in his eyes, but they weren't ones of pain. It took all the effort he had to not let them fall as the realization of just what Beka had done struck him.
"I was seperated from Andromeda four years ago-" He started between breaths and grunts of pain.
"DON'T EVEN TRY GOING THERE!" She yelled. Harper opened his eyes suddenly, the tears shone clearly from them.
"You hit me." He said suddenly, only slightly aware that he sounded much like a lost child. Beka stopped and stared at him, not seeming sure of what to say. Finally she managed to find words, though they were slightly strangled.
"What?" She asked.
"You hit me." He repeated, feeling a tear escape him and fall down his cheek. "We were in Engineering. You-you came in. We argued. And...you hit me." He whispered, his eyes falling once more. More tears escaped. Beka gaped at him, seeming to struggled to find words that never came. Finally she spoke.
"No one else knew about that." She said blankly, still seeming to be in shock. "No one." Harper didn't reply, didn't even look up at her as she stared at him. The ship shook again, more voilently this time. Beka had to grab onto the desk beside her so not to fall. Harper had nothing to cling onto and so was thrown to the side. He let out a cry of pain, which was strangled as another explosion errupted around the ship. Sparks flew and the lights flashed off, replaced with a red glow that bathed the room. Somehow Harper managed to sit up, though the world spun around him. He blinked a few times so as to try and get it to stop, to stand still for a moment. Finally it did and seemingly just in time. Just as another explosion rattled the ship Harper saw something. His eyes grew wide in terror as the realization hit him. The cieling above Beka was rapidly begining to crumbled, small peices of it already falling downward. Somehow, but by what force Harper didn't know he managed to jump to his feet and lunge at Beka, screaming her name as loud as he could. He slammed into her, sending her to the wall a ways behind her and fell to the ground just as the ceiling above him gave away. He stared at it, his eyes widening just before it crashed down upon him, sending him spiralling into darkness.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TBC. Yes, I'm evil :K Sorry for the short chapter, by the way O.o;;
Author: Shakia
Spoilers: None yet O.o
Disclaimer: I don't get money from this, I'm just doing this for fun and I don't own any of the Andromeda characters! :D
Summary: Trish, a captian of a small ship named Ceteri, saves Harper from slave traders who tell him they have proof the Andromeda crew sold him to them. Harper convinces Trish to help him find Andromeda. After four long years of searching they finally find her, but it's anything but the reunion they expected when they find out what Andromeda's dealt with through out those four years.
Authors Notes: This isn't a very long chapter, so sorry about that X.x I still hope you all enjoy it though! :3
Memories lingered within his mind as Harper sat in his room. Though, technacally this wasn't his room. It made no differance. It was the same as the rest of the ship and just like the rest of it pulled memories from his mind that he hadn't thought about in a long time. He frowned. The pictures and events from them were a lot more vivid now that he was abourd the ship. Of course it didn't make much of a difference considering they thought he was a clone out to kill them. Why the heck the Abyss would want to clone him anyways? And when had they gotten the chance? Well...aside from that one time when he had been captured instead of Trish by those pysco scientists. But that had been just a year ago and from what Trance had said, it seemed like a lot more earlier that he, himself, and I had attacked. He sighed and lay back on the bed. Maybe Trish was getting more than he was.
'Probably listening to everyone.' He thought, suddenly wishing he had her enhanced powers. As he thought about just what his former crew mates were saying his thoughts turned to Beka and his frown deepend somewhat. He couldn't explain why her mistrusting him so badly seemed to hurt so badly. At the moment it was the only thing he could feel. Well, aside from the constant fear that had been traveling with him for the last four years. Fear that his crew had sold him away. Fear that Beka really did hate him. Really was sick of him. He would've never thought so before the inncident. Before Beka had hit him. That had been the day before he had been sent to the slavers. They had had an argument and she had hit him. He shuddered at the memory, trying desperatley to surpress it. She promised him he'd be safe on Andromeda, that no one would hurt him there. It shook the trust he had with her that day and after he saw the proof they had that Andromeda had sold him he found himself wondering if Beka truley had wanted him gone. Now as he sat here he still felt that fear, strong as ever, but with it was the cold, strong hurt that peirced through him. He gave a sigh before opening his eyes. They spotted the computer on the desk across the room and he wondered if he should try and look on it. He new there weren't many things he could do on it since most files were restricted, but he also knew he might be able to get a bit on what's been happening. He could see some of the stuff Andromeda has gone through while he was gone. Deciding it was definatly better than laying there with only his thoughts and memories for company he hopped off the bed and headed to the computer. He collapsed into the chair and ran his fingers down the screen, trying to find something intresting enough to look at. As he did he again realized how much he had missed Andromeda. Everything about her. The feel of her walls and computers, the smell, everything. Even if there wasn't much on it that wasn't restricted it still felt good. Suddenly his thoughts were inturupted as something caught his eye. He tensed.
"Seamus Zalanzey Harper's Funeral"
He stared at the screen for a moment, and though knowing he probably wouldn't be able to, tried to access it. He silently cursed as it denied him access.
"You really shouldn't be going on that." Harper jumped and spun around to see Andromeda's hologram looking at him. He hadn't seen it in so long he actually found it refreshing. She gave him a quire look and that's when he realized he was beaming at her.
"Sorry, Rommie. It's just been a long time." He explained softly and grinned at her wearily. She looked him over suspiciously before disapeering. He slowly turned back to the screen and looked at the file again and frowned. He found himself, though wishing to see it, slightly afraid of doing so. Of course he could have easily by passed the codes, but he was trying to build trust with his former crew...and again he was afraid. What if they were happy he was gone? What if they had sold him away? He shook off the feeling and scolded himself for returning to those thoughts. He also didn't exactly want to shatter what little trust they gave him. He sighed and raked his hand through his hair nervously before the temptation became to strong. He had to know. He worked away on it, making sure Andromeda wouldn't be able to pick up on what he was doing. After a while he finally had full access to all files that had earlier been restricted. Though, he wasn't out of the deep end yet. If someone came in and realized what he was doing, well, he'd be in deep, deep trouble. He knew he shouldn't be doing this. He was risking everything. He then flashed a look over his shoulder before opening the file.
Immediatly an image flashed onto the screen. It was the crew of Andromeda. He could make out a coffin. He winced inwardly at the site, finding it eerie and unnerving to be staring at his own coffin. His eyes travled over his crew and he frowned when realizing how hurt they looked. He felt slightly at ease knowing they cared enough to cry about him. Heck, he had cried about them more times than he could remember over the past four years. Suddenly as he looked over them he realized something. Beka wasn't there. The realization peirced through him like a sword and panic began to stir within his chest. Why wasn't she there? Suddenly Dylan got up to the front, looking over his crew mates wearily.
"Mr. Harper was a hero. One of the bravest and best there was. He was the finest Engineer and he was one of the bravest and trustworthy people that I've ever had the honor to know." As Harper listen he found himself becoming more and more disbelieving to what he was hearing. He hadn't expected any of his crew to say anything like this. All he had wanted to hear fromt hem was that they really did care about him, but what he got was unbelievable. The rest of Dylan's speach was, for him, dumbfounding. How could Dylan have said those things? He just couldn't believe Dylan had actually said that stuff about him. Heck, he thought he was just a tupid mud foot from the backwater slave planet Earth, not some hero as Dylan had described him. Dylan left the front of the room and Trance took his place. As she spoke her voice shook. "Harper always tried to do what was right. He-he was my friend. One of my best. Harper, I promise you'll always have a place in my heart." She said, her voice cracking slightly as tears slid down her cheeks. "And I'll miss you. And remember you. Forever."
Although her speech was short, it touched him. He was in disbelief that his crew was even saying this.
He hadn't expected Tyr to be the one to step up next, but he did. For the very first time Harper had ever seen, Tyr was crying. He was actually crying. He gaped at the screen.
"The little profesor survived through what most would have never come close. He was a true warrior, a true hero... He may has faced all his fears and come through alive. He is a true survivor and he died for what is right. He died a warrior, a hero, and a true friend." Harper continued to stare at the screen, feeling his eyes glaze over slightly with tears. No way Tyr had just said that. There's no way. Ubers just don't say that stuff about Kludges like him. Ever.
'Alright, enough's enough.' He thought and exited out of the file mostly to keep himself from braking down then anything. He quickly whipped his eyes, feeling oddly relieved. It had always been a constant fear locked within him that his crew had truley sold him away. The fear grew as they faced different challenges and confronted different things. Of course it would visit him in his dreams too and when Dylan had refused to let him abourd he had confermed the fear. He had felt so lost and so broken after that and even still when they let them abourd. Especially by Beka. But after seeing this...wow. He would've never imagined his crew being so...sad. He sat back in his chair and studied the ceiling absently. He frowned suddenly when remembering something. But...Beka wasn't there. Why hadn't she been there? He shut his eyes and scrubbed his hands over his face. There would've had to have been a good reason for it...right? But what if there wasn't? What if she had honestly wanted him gone. With a sudden swoop the fear returned and he stared down at his hands absently, trying desperatly to come up with some explanation to why she hadn't been there. Though he tried he could only find one answer. She really wanted him gone.
His thoughts were abruptly interupted as the door swished open. He sat up and to his surprise Beka and Dylan walked in. It was more that Beka was here that surprised him, though.
"Dylan, can I do this first?" She asked him stonily, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down.
"Beka, don't do anything you'll regret." Dylan warned, concern clear in his voice. She gave him an absent nod, but still kept her eyes fixed on Harper.
"I'll meet you on the bridge. Go with Tyr to see the other girl." She told him flatly, nodding to the door. He nodded, eyeing her with concern before heading out the door. As the door slid close Beka ordered Andromeda to activate privacy mode and then looked toward him coldly.
"Alright clone boy I'm here to find out why you're here." She said bitterly. The words speared him like daggers and he winced, still not sure why they hurt so much. She pulled out her gun and aimed it toward him, making his eyes widen slightly. "So start talking." She growled. He stared at the gun absently, suddenly wishing she would shoot him. "I said talk!" She snarled, her gun still trained on him. He sighed and averted his eyes to the floor "I was seperated from Andromeda and have been trying to find you guys again." He murmered quitley, although already knowing she wouldn't believe him. She let out a harsh laugh.
"Oh, real nice. I won't hesitate in shooting you, you know. You might look like Seamus, but you aren't. He died a long time ago." She told him bitterly. A pained expresion came across Harper's face as she said this.
"Maybe I can prove it, Bek." He said softly, taking a chance and looking up at her.
"Don't call me that!" She roared, loading the gun. Hate and furry burned in her eyes as she spoke. He winced and nodded.
"Alright." He agreed quitley, turning his eyes back to the floor.
"Now tell me why you're here!" She snarled loudly, taking a few steps closer to him with her gun still trained on him threateningly. He shut his eyes for a moment, not sure of what to say. "You think I'm kidding?" She laughed bitterly before aiming to his leg.
"No." He replied honestly. "But I was telling the truth." He tried, wincing again as he dared a look up to her. Suddenly she fired. It seemed like slow motion as the bullet tour into his leg, eating away the flesh and even part of the bone. He let out a cry, mostly out of shock then anything and tumbled out of the chair, gasping for air as the pain screamed from his leg furiously. "Maybe that'll get you talking." She said bitterly. "Now why are you here? What did you do to Andromeda?!" She growled. Spots appeared over Harper's vission as he struggled to stay conscoius. He couldn't reply to Beka either, for fear he would either throw up or cry out. "Tell me why you keep doing this!" She yelled again, this time a sob acompanying her words. Harper struggled in turning over onto his back and let out a grunt of pain as he did so. Warm, sticky blood was starting to pool downward, creating a puddle beneath him.
Then without warning the ship jolted and explosions sounded. Harper gasped as pain shuddered through his leg along with the ship. Beka continued to tower over him, somehow managing to keep her balance and the aim of her gun. No pitty shown in her eyes as she looked down on him. He screwed his eyes shut and continued to gasp for air, trying hard not to think about the siering pain in his leg. Tears stung in his eyes, but they weren't ones of pain. It took all the effort he had to not let them fall as the realization of just what Beka had done struck him.
"I was seperated from Andromeda four years ago-" He started between breaths and grunts of pain.
"DON'T EVEN TRY GOING THERE!" She yelled. Harper opened his eyes suddenly, the tears shone clearly from them.
"You hit me." He said suddenly, only slightly aware that he sounded much like a lost child. Beka stopped and stared at him, not seeming sure of what to say. Finally she managed to find words, though they were slightly strangled.
"What?" She asked.
"You hit me." He repeated, feeling a tear escape him and fall down his cheek. "We were in Engineering. You-you came in. We argued. And...you hit me." He whispered, his eyes falling once more. More tears escaped. Beka gaped at him, seeming to struggled to find words that never came. Finally she spoke.
"No one else knew about that." She said blankly, still seeming to be in shock. "No one." Harper didn't reply, didn't even look up at her as she stared at him. The ship shook again, more voilently this time. Beka had to grab onto the desk beside her so not to fall. Harper had nothing to cling onto and so was thrown to the side. He let out a cry of pain, which was strangled as another explosion errupted around the ship. Sparks flew and the lights flashed off, replaced with a red glow that bathed the room. Somehow Harper managed to sit up, though the world spun around him. He blinked a few times so as to try and get it to stop, to stand still for a moment. Finally it did and seemingly just in time. Just as another explosion rattled the ship Harper saw something. His eyes grew wide in terror as the realization hit him. The cieling above Beka was rapidly begining to crumbled, small peices of it already falling downward. Somehow, but by what force Harper didn't know he managed to jump to his feet and lunge at Beka, screaming her name as loud as he could. He slammed into her, sending her to the wall a ways behind her and fell to the ground just as the ceiling above him gave away. He stared at it, his eyes widening just before it crashed down upon him, sending him spiralling into darkness.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TBC. Yes, I'm evil :K Sorry for the short chapter, by the way O.o;;