Sorry that it took so long in writing this chapter. Iv'e been really busy, but now that schools over I'll have more time. I will be continuing this story with another chapter and so forth. Hope you like it.
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That Itchy Scratchy Feeling
"Another day goes by without any change
the feeling we live with still remains"
- Escape by Hoobastank
Harper had of course heard Dylan's yelling as he looked behind him seeing him running towards him. Harper literaly freaked out and ran for the sake of it holding on to his pants for dear life. Harper flew by Beka as she spun one way as Dylan came the other way and she spun another way. Not really knowing what was happening she just shook her head, and rolled her eyes at them as she yelled out to them, "I guess I'll just meet you guys in the Maru!"
While in the Maru, Dylan had pinned Harper down, forcing him to tell him how to get rid of the itching sensation. But Harper just wouldn't budge. "Harper you better tell me right now, or so help me when all of this is over your a dead man!" Dylan forcfully exagerated Harper's death wish. Harper gulped and gave Dylan a weary look as he explained somewhat sarcastically, "Wew, you see Dywan, I fowrgot to tew you dat dere is no cure fowr it."
Dylan had his hands hovering around Harper's throat literally going crazy from being so itchy. "You tell me right now!" Harper finally gave in sounding exasperated and said, "ok, ya got me. I'll tewl you whatyahave to do." Dylan nodded and let go of Harper as they both got up. In the next nanosecond Harper took off yelling, "But you'll have to catch me first!"
Beka had been right on time. Just as Harper yelled and ran, Beka caught a hold of his arm and swung him back around. As Dylan came closer she pushed him away making sure no one got injured. Harper and Dylan had both gave eachother evil looks. Beka getting angry over this nonsense screamed at both of them, "You know you two are acting like little kids!" Harper and Dylan both gave eachother another look, but this look was of pure amusement.
Come to think of it they really were acting like kids, and actually they really were kids. They all began to laugh histerically as Beka didn't exactly get it at first, but then realized what she had just said. She too, began to laugh with them. Finally they stopped and decided to forget about the whole incident. Harper decided to tell him the truth and said, "Ya know Dywan da answar to your pwobwem is wealwy simple, you dust take a shower." Dylan had got that angry look again, as harper got freaked out getting ready to run. Dylan's expression just turned in an instant and he began to smile. "You know I was only kidding, right." "Sure," Harper said not quite exactly sure. Dylan then lightheartedly punched him in the arm. "OW!" Harper exclaimed. "Oh, come on that didn't hurt." Dylan simply stated.
"Wew, sowwy for bein' a little fwaggle, yet cute, adorwable, genious extwodinaire, who needs attention, and wove, and care and..." Beka bopped him upside the head getting him to shutup. "Please, Harper just don't go there again. As cute as you are, your really annoying. So, please bare with me, because for some reason I can't get the nerve to yell at you."
Harper just smiled and got that gleam in his eye. While Beka stood there, she was thinking that maybe it wasn't such a good idea that she had just said that. Knowing Harper he'll probally respond with some witty comment. Being Harper, he just couldn't resist being put on the spot and answered to Beka's conclusion, "Soooooo... you tink I'm irwesistable." Beka knew that was coming and gave a loud groan of frustration.
She gave him a look that said stop while your ahead, and he stopped right between his tracks. Someone always told me... who was it again...Dylan, Beka, Dad, Brendon, Mom... No Wait! It was dad, ya dad, that told me tooooo...wait, what was that again. Ahhhh! Mental breakdown! I can't remember what I was thinking about. Oh no what am I going to ...OH! I remember now. He said, "Shut up when you have the chance." He instantly grew quiet.
Beka knew the little gears in harper's head were acitve and working. You could see him taking the information in looking confused, then satisfied, then freaked out, and once again satisfied. Beka thought he looked about to have a mental breakdown. So, she decided to stop him before he goes any further.
She then announced, "Harper please stop thinking so hard, you might hurt yourself." She then continued, "Come on let's get you guys some clothes." Harper gave her a smug look and stuck out his tongue at her, as they walked on towards the cabinents. I suppose these kid ways are rubbing off on them.
Rommie still hadn't a clue of what has happened to her crew. She only read lifesigns and wasn't fully back online yet. Harper just had to make a few adjustments on her avatar and the andromeda would soon be fully functional. But, when Rommie fully recovers she's not going to be too happy to find out what has happened to her crew.
The crew had all got a change of clothes, ecspecially Tyr regarding that he ever went into Harper's closet. Dylan and Tyr arrived on the command deck making sure nothing was damaged during the explosion. While Beka was in Hydroponics with Trance. Harper of course was in a different machine shop taking care of Rommie. So here we are now, Harper's whistling to one of his tunes of those old earth cd's while repairing the damage sustained.
Harper being quite short had used a chair to reach the table. He then hit something in the back of Rommie and she turned back on. Rommie jumped up in an instant detecting that something was wrong, while in the process knocking Harper off the chair. Harper slipped and flew backwards hitting the ground with a loud thump. Rommie scanned the area, realizing what she had done she jumped off the table and helped him up.
She then blurted out, "Who are you and, what are you doing on my ship?" Harper looked at her questionly, and responded with those sad little eyes, "Wommie, it's me Harwper. " She gave him a funny look that said, Ya and i'm Elvis Presley, with one eyebrow raised in confusion. "No, weally, it's me. Wew, you see we had a wittle bity pwobwem." Rommie answered back shaking her head as in what have you done now kind of way responding with, "So, what kind of little bity problem do we have here."
He gave her a shamless look almost being able to tell her the entire story with one look through his eyes. Harper gulped, "ummmmm... wew... you see..." He stopped for a second feeling really nervous and continued on with telling her the story.
In the Hydroponics Bay the flowers were blooming, life evolving, and well, it was just another beautiful place to be. In the far back of the garden in a little corner lie a small purple tree. A dark shadow strung under the tree wrapping two little children in a light shade. There lie Beka and Trance sitting there in deep conversation. "So Trance do you suppose were ever going to get back to normal," Beka asked.
"Ummm, I don't really know. I mean if Harper can get up to fixing it, but I don't really know how long it would take," Trance responded."Yeah, well it's kinda nice being a kid again. It makes me feel a little more..." She paused thinking for the word "...stress free." Beka said. "Yeah I know what you mean," Trance said lost in thought "You know, Trance you do seem kind of quiet. Is something wrong"
Trance wasn't quite sure of what to say. She figured she could trust Beka, she wouldn't tell anyone...right. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Beka waited hesitantly for her to respond. Trance didn't know what to do and just let her feelings out. "Well,...ummmmm...I...I,you see, well, I think I like Harper." Beka stared at Trance wide eyed and yelled out, "What!"
"What!" Rommie screamed out at Harper. "What do you mean everyone has turned into kids." Harper tried to shush Rommie, so her mainframe wouldn't have to get into it. "Wew duh! I mean is it me or do I dust look shorwter and younga." he said sarcastically. "Well, I would never have saw the difference."
Harper gave her a look of mock horror, "I'm not dat sort!" he exclaimed a little too loudly. "Harper, I was only kidding, calm down." Rommie smiled and explained to Harper. "So youwr not mad at me?" He asked quite afraid of her response. Rommie looked at him, and he gave her those sad eyes again. "Well, Harper, you see I can't really be mad at you."
Harper looked at her ready to pull his hair out. "Ahhhhh! Ok now dis is beginning to get wealwy annoying. I can't even wook at someone or dey tink I'm cute and innocent." He screamed out in frustration. "And youwr dust da same as Beka and Dywan! Yea , I know dat he didn't show it, but he didn't even scweam at me forw scwewing up dis time."
He began to whine desperately pleading, "Wommie, pwease yelw at me!" He was almost on his hands and knees. Rommie looked at Harper in uncertainty, not quite knowing what to say or do. She had ran possible things to say through her thought process and she finally realized what Harper was asking her to do. Which is what he almost never wants her to do. She looked down at him surprised and confused at the same time and said, "So you actually want me to yell at you?"
Dylan then appeared on the view screen looking quite confused, while Harper had been on his hands and knees. Dylan cleared his throat and both Rommie and Harper turned around. Harper looked pretty much shocked and Rommie just wasn't sure. Dylan gave a blank stare, "I, don't, want to, know," he said seperating his words in between the sentence.
Harper stood up and wiped the dust off his clothes. Dylan then receded, "I see your done here, Harper." Harper just nodded and gave a lopsided grin. "Well, I need you two to come to the meeting room. We need to get a few things straight," Dylan said looking straight into Harper's eyes as he says the last sentence.
Dylan blinked out as Rommie began to leave, "well, I'll see you in the meeting room," and she walked out leaving Harper alone. As Rommie left he just stood there for a few moments feeling awkward and sorry for what he's done.
"Beka shhh! not so loud," Trance sputtered out. "Don't worry Trance, no one heard me, but I mean why Harper." Beka asked really wanting to know the answer. "Well...," Trance began, but decided on not telling her. She scrunched up her face trying to figure out what to do so, she just came up with a simple explanation, "I don't know."
Beka looked at her with one eyebrow raised knowing somewhere, somehow in that little head of her's is a reason. Hey it's trance, there's always a reason, and Beka knew she would get it out of her, "Trance I know you know why, just tell me. Please! I'm your friend, you could tell me anything." Trance took a deep breath and spit it out, "I don't know, It's just everytime I look at him and into his eyes, he's just...well...he's just so innocent."
Dylan had then inturrupted them, "Ummmmm... I'll just forget I ever heard that." Trance turned around embaressed. "Oh Dylan, please don't tell him." Dylan would never tell a secret to anybody, ecspecially Trance's secrets.
"Don't worry trance your secrets safe with me." "Thanks Dylan," Trance said. Beka had been curious to how long he was there. "Dylan can I ask you a question." Dylan nodded. "How long have you been listening." He answered with, "As long as I would have liked."
He figured there was enough said and began to tell why he was really there. "But, I need you two to come to the meeting room. We need to talk about the unfortunate of events that have been coming up." They noddedas Dylan blinked out. They jumped out from under the little tree and headed to the meeting room.
After Dylan had blinked out he sat there for a moment thinking how strange his crew had been acting lately. "I swear something has been really wrong with this crew or I'm just going crazy," he said to noone in particular. "Then again, it could be both ways around." He just shook his head and got back to work.
Trance and Beka had walked into the meeting room, while Dylan, Tyr, Rommie and Harper had already been seated. Beka realized how short Harper really was and noticed that he had been sitting on Three phone books. Two were stacked and the other was half open so he could reach the full extent of the table, but still wasn't too high above it.
As they went to sit down Beka made a comment to him. "Oh by the way Harper, you better make sure those phone books don't close on your... (Trance nudged her and pulled on her sleeve)... What! I was going to say legs."
Harper just rolled his eyes at her, and decided on not making a comment. "Where did you get those phone books anyway," Dylan asked interested in his response. "I found dem in storwage, dey used to be used in ancient earth to get a holwd of odher people. Vewy Important things."
Everyone just nodded not really interested in what was being said, so Harper decided to bring something up to make it more lively in there. "You know Tyr, I heard dhey were also used to beat neitzscheans ovar da head wit." Tyr just growled at him and everyone just laughed.
He then added "If you keep actin' like dat I might have to take certain meazures and use my phowne book on you." Tyr just growled again and his lip twiched as he stared Harper down. Harper was a little nervous by his look. He was thinking if worse came to worse he might really have to use the phone book.
Actually just thinking about it was kind of funny. He let out a little smirk." Ya know I was only kiddin Tyr, wright." Tyr just smiled, "of course I did boy." Harper still wasn't quite sure if he was lying and so he just played it through. "Boy! HA! Speak fow youwrself." Tyr just rolled his eyes and let it pass. Everyone had been acting like fools lately, ecspecially there kid-selves kicking in. They all just really needed a break.
Dylan then interupted everyones conversations, "Ok, people, we need to get to work. Let's start talking about the real problem we have at stake here. Well, we all already know what has happened just by the looks of things, and we really need to have everything back to normal as soon as possible." Dylan paused to look at everyones expressions.
He then turned looking straight at Harper and continued his little speech. "We also need to find out what caused this mess, and what we need to do to fix it. What you did here was...well... it was something I would never expect to happen! Harper, why didn't you stop it, and if I can't trust you to stop a simple machine, then what are you going to do when something more important comes in the way! How are you going to react to it! How is everything going to turn out! I'll tell you, badly! Everything will turn out badly, you'll react to it badly, and nothing will ever be right again! " Dylan stopped at the end for a breather, while everyone just looked at him a little scared to make a sound or interupt after Dylan's outburst at Harper.
As for Harper he started to fidget in his seat wishing something would come up so all the blame wasn't put towards him. Beka then jumped in seeing Harper's confusion, "Yeah, I kind of agree with Dylan here, but aren't you being a little to tough on him, I mean come on Dylan you get my point."
Trance had also decided to jump into the conversation knowing Beka had already bravely gone first, "Yes she's right you are a little to harsh on him, he's only a child, I mean half of your mind is of what you were at that age."
"And I don't think Harper's all there right now considering everything that's happened at his age back on earth, and what's going on now," Tyr had then added, "but, I do say Dylan is right, I mean about what he did, which he shouldn't have."
Everyone had just started up a whole converation about Harper while he sat there wide-eyed watching them. He finally blinked a couple of times, with his mouth open about to say something, but nothing came out.
Anger then built up inside of him as he just let it all out, "STOP TAWLKIN ABOUT ME WIKE I'M NOT HERE!" he just screamed out in a rage, and everyone soon grew quiet. Wook, I know what I did was wong, but awl of you don't have to put it on me awl at once. So, If you have anyting to say den say it to me now," Harper said forcefully.
No one said anything and they all moved on. Dylan then interupted everyones thoughts, "I suppose this whole incident is just getting to everyone. We should all just calm down, and I apologize for anything I have said that offended anyone."
"We have to get started on this now, if we want everything back to normal. I need Trance, Beka, and Tyr to search through out the ship and the Maru for any scrap metal, so Harper can get started on rebuilding his machine.
Harper and Rommie you're with me. We'll go to the machine shop to see if we could find any important pieces needed for his machine or figure out what exactly happened, and we'll start on rebuilding it." Harper then interupted, "Don't you tink dat's a wittle too much work for wight now." "Well, Harper we'll do what we can, but there's no slacking on this assignment."
In the machine shop it was still very much a mess. Dylan scuffled around through the parts and Sparky Cola cans all over the floor. Harper being quite small hopped over items that were way too big to step over.
It looked as if he were playing leap frog by himself. Rommie following behind, just smiled. She thought it was kind of funny, but didn't say anything about it. Knowing Harper he put all his anger aside and replaced it with humor. So, the next comment anyone would make, his reply wouldn't come out as forceful.
Tyr stood in the middle of a storage room with his hands held out holding three pieces of scrap metal. Beka just then came out of nowhere carrying three more sheets of metal. "Phew! these things are heavy! Would you mind holding these for me, Tyr."
She then stacked what she had in her hands and added it to Tyr's collection. "Thanks, I could use the extra help," she said glumly and walked away in search of more supplies. Tyr just gave a low growl and didn't say a word. As Beka walked out the door, Trance had somewhat stumbled in and out of breath.
Her knees were bent carrying a load of scrap metal. She breathed heavy as she spoke to Tyr in a child like voice, "Gosh, these things are soooo... heavy! OH! I wish I could use some help." She panted some more and looked up at Tyr as he gave her a questioning look,"It would make it so much easier if you could hold these for me!" She then threw the metal onto Tyr's stack.
"Thanks Tyr, you are so nice for helping me," Trance said thankfully also taking a quick glance at his afro. Tyr just grunted and she headed for the door, but not before stealing one more glance at his afro as she skipped out giggling.
Tyr sighed and shook his head not believing what they had just done to him. He opened his mouth and spoke to an empty room, "Does the divine have it in for me or is it just me!" After his outburst he looked up at the door and walked out headed toward the machine shop.
Tyr had stopped at the machine shop door. It opened up and Beka came speeding through as Tyr was going the opposite way. As they say opposites attract, I guess it had the same thing in mind for Beka and Tyr. Beka saw him coming and jumped to the side getting out of his way, but in the process of doing this he tripped over her foot.
The metal flew forward and he rolled to the side making sure of not to get cut. "Hey!" Harper yelled out, "watch what youwr doin! I need dat, ya know!" Tyr stood up frustrated as Trance once again glanced at his afro. She began to giggle, and then she started to laugh histerically. Beka glanced at her and said, "What's wrong Trance? what's so funny?"
She still kept laughing and pointed to Tyr's hair and then...Beka too began to laugh. Soon everyone was laughing but Harper. Tyr was getting angry from not knowing what they were laughing about and in the next second he saw something or someone flying across the room, and had landed flat on his chest and was trying to pull his hair out. The funny thing about it was that he still stood up and they had their feet on his chest as if he a wall.
It turned out to be Harper, trying to pull a pipe out his hair. His left foot was up by Tyr's shoulder and his right foot was a little lower in his abdomen. He wrapped his hands tight around the pipe trying to pull it out. Basically, the only thing holding him up was the force of his feet pushing against Tyr.
By this point most of everyone were literaly rolling on the floor cracking up. The thing everone had been laughing about was the pipe stuck in Tyr's fro, but it had turned into an entirely different thing when Harper had jumped in. Harper just kept on pulling and tugging and wouldn't let go. "I need dis too, so don't mess dis up!" he exclaimed.
Tyr had been trying to push Harper off of him, but he held on really tight. Dylan and Beka realized it wasn't funny any more and began to pull Harper off. "Harper! just let go! Don't worry you'll get your stupid pipe back," Dylan said through clenched teeth while him and Beka tried to pull him off.
There was only one problem...Harper just wouldn't budge until he got his pipe. While Harper was pulling on the pipe, Beka and Dylan had pulled Harper and all at once everyone flew back. In the process the pipe came loose and hit Harper full force right in the face.
Harper sat up as he started to whine and rub his head, and Tyr was no happier then he looked. He saw something on the floor and then felt his head. He realized that he had been missing a piece of his afro. Tyr stood up in such rage.
Harper gulped and through cowardness he said, "Wook at it dis way, you don't have to wowwy about people stawing at you any more," and gave a light hearted laugh. Tyr gave a low growl and ran for Harper as he jumped up out of Tyr's way and stumbled on his feet, but Dylan and Beka had both grabbed Tyr forcing him to stay down.
Dylan realized they had been wasting time and had to get back on track. "Here Beka, Harper made a list of what we need. I need your help in finding them. Just call it a ummmm... a treasure hunt!" He exclaimed trying to convince Beka to help him out.
"Now please come back with as many items you could find. Oh, and I advise you to keep Tyr away from Harper for as long as possible." Beka nodded in agreement as she got to work ,while Tyr followed behind, a long with Trance. Before walking out he gave Harper a warning growl as Harper jumped up scared out of his mind.
Dylan sighed and glanced at Harper, which, he looked like he was about to cry. Dylan didn't know what to say as he opened his mouth, but couldn't find the right words."Harper why don't you have Rommie look at that, then later we'll have Trance see it. We really need to get back to work as soon as possible." Harper rubbed his head as he said,"ok," very quietly and in a child like voice.
After the problem had been resolved everything had been going as planned. Back in the machine shop Harper had quieted down and they were well at work. Harper was standing on Rommies shoulders trying to reach for the nanowelder on the top shelf as Rommie began a conversation. "Just like old times, huh Harper." "Ha Ha Ha," Harper stated dryly.
"I wouldn't be talwking Womdoll. I could pwogram you to be 3 1/2 foot tawl" Dylan then interupted, "Still not gettin' any taller are we Harper. Oh by the way did I mention how boring it is just sitting here, and you must be having so much fun Rommie," he said with a smirk. Harper just smiled and straightened his face at Dylan's comment as Rommie had a better come back.
"Yes you've mentioned that about 22.999 times and I'm very much having fun." She said in a dull tone. Dylan smiled then sighed as he mentioned it again."You know this is really boring." Rommie continued on, "That would be exactly 23 times and oh, don't worry Dylan it's your turn next."
Dylan opened his mouth to say something, but Rommie interupted, "See that saudering wand in that corner over there I think Harper will be needing alot of help reaching it." Harper just giggled and continued to try and reach for the nanowelder.
Just then Dylan was knocked off his feet and Harper and Rommie swayed forward as he grabbed the tool and then they were sent backwards as Harper had the funniest shocked faced you had ever seen. His hands swayed through the air as if he were trying to fly, but in the end they went down as he sealed his eyes shut and waited for the impact.
Harper landed pretty rough, but for his sake he landed in the same pile of cloth he had before during the explosion, and fell to the floor with a soft thud. Harper opened his eyes glad to know nothing was broken."Phew! I thought I was a goner. I swear deres somethin about dese Wucky cwoth's. dis is da second time and I'm still not dead."
Dylan got on his feet and anounced," Andromeda what was that." "It was a missle hit. I detect a nearby ship approaching. It seems to be...Nietzchiens." Dylan grew frustrated and yelled out, "Arggg! Not now!"
Harper then interupted, "Hey boss, I don't suppose ya have a phone book or two on you. I mean dey could come in handy with dose nietzchiens awound." They got up and headed to command. Before Harper got up he saw the can of itching powder rolling on he floor. He picked it up, slipped it into his pocket and headed out the door.
More to come...
PLEASE SEND REVIEWS! It helps to encourage me write more.