Harper was working. Alone because Valerie was with the Pussycats rehearsing. He'd listened to them a couple of times. They weren't bad. Actually, if you liked that kind of music, they were really good. Harper just wasn't sure he did. Happy, optimistic love songs. From an era when Earth was actually not a bad place to be. "Well, that's the way it goes."
"The way what goes?"
Harper spun around. "Geez, Beka, you scared me. Why you gottta sneak up on me like that?"
"Oh, gee, Harper, I don't know. Maybe a little payback."
Harper gulped. "Yeah, umh, gee, Boss, I'm sorry." He was too. The jokes had kind of lost their luster when he'd found out it was true."
Beka came closer to him. "Are you or is it only because she's your ancestor too?"
"That's weird. I don't know how that's possible."
"Gee, Seamus, do you need a little lecture on the birds and the bees?"
"No! I mean you guys have the same last name. I don't. So..."
"Well, she's probably got siblings or cousins or something. One of them could have hooked up with a Harper."
"I guess. So, how are you? You O.K."
Beka laughed. "Well, it's not fun finding out you're descended from a ditz. But Tyr kind of put it in perspective for me."
"Excuse me--TYR! Mr. Genes are everything and I'm superior and you're not Anasazi!"
"I know. It blew me away too." She related their conversation.
"Wow!", was all Harper could say.
"Yeah and that's not the only thing." She related Josie and Valerie's confrontation with her. "So she's a ditz but she inspires loyalty in her friends. That's something."
Harper nodded. "Loyalty. It's something you two have in common."
Beka shuddered. "Please, I may be able to accept that we're related but I don't want to be compared to her."
"O.K. I get it. On the bright side, I guess you and I really are family."
"True. Just what I need, another troublesome relative."
"Hey, I can manage quite well, thank you."
"Sure you can. Oh well, I should go. I've got things to do."
"O.K. See you."
Beka left and headed for the Obs Deck. She watched the Pussycats play.
She actually thought it kind of odd that they always insisted on putting on their pussycat costumes whenever they played. In a fit of curiosity, she'd asked. Valerie said it helped them keep focus and united as a band. From Beka's point of view, she felt that Josie and Valerie confronting her over Melody were proof that they were united enough. They didn't need the costumes. But everybody was entitled to his or her own quirks. Besides, it was a harmless one. As for the music--well, it wasn't the kind Beka usually favored but it wasn't horrible either.
She watched them. At the end she tried to slip away but Melody spotted her. "Beka, did you like our music?" She came running up all aglow.
"It's different from my usual fare but it's not bad at all."
"Good. I'm glad you liked it."
Beka was amazed, yet again. This girl was just so--She was a different sort of Valentine. And maybe, just maybe, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.