". . . no battle is ever won . . . they are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and Victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools." –William Faulkner
Despairing Illusion
There was an awkward silence as everyone looked at each other. Suddenly the holographic image of Andromeda appeared causing Anwen to let out a little gasp.
"Captain, I am sensing a slipstream event," she said.
"Beka, let's go check it out," said Dylan.
Beka glanced over at Anwen and Dylan shook his head no.She pursed her lips and followed Dylan out of the med bay. Rev gave Harper the disks before exisiting the med bay.
Harper looked at the disks in his hand before handing them over to Anwen.
"Rember when we got them from Spiffy?" asked Anwen as she looked at the disks as they glistened in the light.
Harper nodded his head in agreement.
There was an uncomfortable silence as neither sibling knew what to say.
"You're an uncle now," she said softly as she traced the writing on the disks "Her name is Cora, and she's part Nietzschean."
Harper was taken aback and stumbled away from Anwen.
"Stay away, just stay away from me," he said before bolting out of the med bay. Anwen struggled to get off the bed and follow her brother. She made it past the med bay door before searing pain stopped her. She slid down the wall pulling knees underneath her chin. She could feel the disks imprinting themselves into her skin. She could feel the hot, searing tears come down her face as she thought of what happened. She rested her head on her knees and let the tears flow. It wasn't long before she dirfted off to sleep.
Harper worked abestmindedly at something in an effort to ease his pain and anger.
"How could she let this happen? She could've done something!" he thought as he threw a tool down. It bounced off the table and skidded across the floor.
"Some anger issues, Harper?" asked Beka.
"Um, no,' replied Harper as he looked up.
Beka picked up the tool and handed it to him.
"That's not what it looks like, Harper. You only work haphazardly when somethings bugging you. So what is it?" asked Beka.
"I'd prefer not to say," he replied.
"So there's something wrong but you're not going to tell?"
"Hey, we all like to keep some secrets hidden," he said sharply.
Beka nodded her head and walked out of the machine shop shaking her head.
"What exactly is going on with Harper? And what does Anwen have to do with it?" thought Beka as she walked to the galley.
"Push, come on push. I can see the head," ordered Lia.
Anwen took a deep breath and pushed, again. She griped Via and Sara's hands as she pushed. She heard a pitiful cry and asked "Is…….."
"Congratulations, you've got a beautiful daughter, Anwen," said Lia with a smile. She cut the umbilical cord and handed the newborn to Anwen. Anwen counted the fingers and toes, and let out a little laugh.
"She's….she's prefect," said Anwen in awe.
Lia chuckled but said nothing.
Anwen opened her eyes quickly and looked around trying to orient herself. She remembered fighting with Seamus but nothing afterward. She opened up her hand holding the disks, and saw deep impression in her skin from the writing. She placed them in her pocket, and slowly got up. She looked around trying to figure out which way to go. She closed her eyes and walked right. She followed the maze of corridors and ladders while stopping ever so often to look around. She felt like she was in a neverending maze. Her stomach growled loudly remeind her that she hadn't eaten in what felt like several days. She continued down the corridor until she came across a door. She walked toward it and the door opened. She saw sitting at a table was a young, purple woman with a tail. She was a loose, short flowerly shirt and tan pants. Her hair was short and blonde with all sorts of clips holding it back from her face. She appeared to be in a conversation with someone. Anwen curiosity got the best of her, and she walked cloer to peer in.
Sitting across from the purple alien was a woman with short, blonde hair.
"Trance, I don't………" the woman started to say but she saw Anwen peeking into the room.
"Well, you're awake. Come on in," the woman said while getting up. Anwen glanced at the purple alien who let out a laugh.
"I wouldn't harm you because you seem nice," she said pulling Anwen in. She forced Anwen to sit next to her with a smile on her face.
"I'm Trance by the way," the purple alien said.
"I'm Anwen, Seamus's older sister," Anwen said tentatively.
"Oh, you're Harper's sister! That must've been fun," Trace said.
"Uh, yeah fun. I don't mean to inturpt but is there anything to eat around here?"
Trance got up to get Anwen some food. Beka took this opportunity to ask Anwen something.
"What did you say to Harper?"
"I'm sorry………." Anwen trailed off to indicate that she didn't know the woman's name.
"The name's Beka, Beka Valentine. I was the one who took your brother off that hellhole, by the way. So I want to know what did you say to him?"
"Beka, be nice to our guest," said Trance as she set a plate in front of Anwen.
Anwen dove into the plate and didn't notice Beka leaving with hate filled eyes.