Part 5
The Arkology was a genius like Harper's worse nightmare, the engineer decided, as he fumbled around the ancient controls. With no place to jack in and no working sensors to pick up a signal from, Harper had to rely on touch and sound to work, and he was regretting all those boasts he used to make about being able to fix anything even with his eyes closed, being proved wrong was not his favourite past time. Rommie stayed close to him as much as she could, but at times she had to leave his side to walk around the new environment, being his eyes whilst they tried to figure out the problem.
"How is the power distributed?" Harper asked almost hidden from view inside one of the ancient conduits, his one good hand feeling right into the mechanics of the power grid.
"From there it's fed into some standard coils, directly linked to the environmental system," Rommie informed him.
"This feels rusted," Harper complained.
"It seems that that particular power generator has not worked in some time," Rommie agreed, having moved closer and taking a detailed look at what Harper was working on.
"Take me to a working console," Harper requested, and Rommie helped him to his feet and walked him to a console that was live. "Voice activation," Harper ordered and heard a beep. "Reroute twenty percent power to the engines."
There were two beeps to indicate the order was not processed. "What's the problem?" Harper asked.
The computer beeped, and Harper felt Rommie by his side once more. "There's been a circuit failure, it's been unable to comply," she informed him.
"Does it show me where, Rom doll?" Harper asked, trying to remain optimistic.
"It does," Rommie answered and she led him to another section of the room. "And there's our problem."
"What?" Harper asked, and felt Rommie take his hand and pressed it against the rough surface. "Burn out, they had some sort of fire or explosion," he figured, feeling the melted and distorted surface against his hand. "Without those circuits we're not going to get any power to the engines, and we don't have time to completely refit this whole section, especially considering I can't see!" Harper stressed, his voice losing the required enthusiasm for the mission, the more he realised the bigger problem.
"We need to speak to Dylan," Rommie confirmed.
"I don't want to fail him, again," Harper's voice sounded disappointed.
"There is little we can do," Rommie answered assuredly. "Even if you were working with sight and with both hands, I doubt we could do much for this place."
"Stuff like this has never beaten me before," Harper stated with obvious anger and frustration.
"Harper, this ship has not moved in centuries, and we've discovered with good reason," Rommie considered. "I'm confident that with your abilities, if we had the time, there is no reason you couldn't get this heap of ancient metal moving, but time isn't on our side, time has defeated us, that is all," Rommie insisted. "This is not about you, or your abilities, this is about realistic goals and knowing what we can achieve in the time being afforded to us," she added.
With resignation, Harper frowned and when Rommie offered to lead him away, back to the Andromeda, he went silently and with little complaint.
"I say we leave," Beka stood up with determination. "They don't want our help and there's plenty in this sector that do."
"They need our help," Dylan stressed.
"I agree," Rhade spoke up.
Harper was lost in his own thoughts as discussions continued, he wanted to help but he knew his help was worth little as things stood, but even with sight or function, he'd face an impossible challenge on the Arkology. He used to live for those challenges, he considered with sadness. With nothing to add to the discussion, Harper simply let them continue, as he remained silent, losing himself to his own mind, and being reminded of his own situation that couldn't have come at a worse time.
He remembered back to how he had found himself in this position, the moment he lost his sight in a moment of weakness, being overpowered by pigheaded Nietzscheans, and wondered if being weak and useless was something he would just have to get use to.
"Harper?"
Hearing Beka speak his name Harper sat up abruptly, and listened attentively not knowing where to look or how to respond, but there was silence now and he didn't know why.
"Harper, I'm leaving, are you coming with me?" Beka's voice asked.
"Leaving?" Harper questioned with surprise, realising he had missed a major part of the discussion.
"This is a worthless and pointless fight, and one I am not sticking around for, so are you coming?" Beka asked again, almost ordering him.
"But," Harper hesitated. "The Arkology, I said I'd help, I want to help."
"Fine," Beka snapped and Harper heard her walk away.
"Where did she go?" Harper panicked suddenly, not knowing if Beka was leaving for good, right that minute, and he shifted in his seat wishing he could see, or had at least paid attention.
"It's ok, Harper, she won't be leaving immediately," Trance offered, sensing his concern.
"It's clear that some of us will be staying, some of us going," Dylan announced as he got to his feet. "Those of us staying, we have work to do."
Harper felt torn, and being sightless was not helping, as he felt lost for the moment. Trance's hand rested on his own and Harper briefly smiled, but knew his fear was clear to see.
"This is serious, right?" Harper spoke up in hushed concern. "Beka leaving, the World Ship not far away, this is it, right?" he realised. "What we've been preparing for all this time, today's the day," he added, and had to get a grip on his emotions.
"The situation is bleak," Trance agreed.
"I can't help thinking that I'm not helping, if I could see I'd have a better chance at fixing that thing," Harper stressed. "I know I can, I just need another go."
"Rommie supported you when you told us it is nearly impossible to fix in the time we have," Trance encouraged. "There is nothing you can do, even if you had sight."
"I don't believe that," Harper dismissed. "If I had sight I'd fix that thing, I know it, I'm missing something!" he added angrily, getting to his feet.
"Harper," Trance attempted to calm him down. "The Arkology has not moved under its own momentum for a very long time."
"And right now it needs to or the Magog will have it and all of those on it, for lunch, literally!" Harper stressed, and his muscles tensed. "Take me to the Arkology," Harper demanded.
"Harper, if it can not be fixed maybe you should consider Beka's offer," Trance began, but was soon cut off.
"Take me!" Harper snapped, and shakily got to his feet, and without word Trance assisted Harper towards the exit.
TBC
