"She'll be O.K." Trance told them all. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. "It looked bad but I gave her some nanobots and there won't be any scarring."

"And now what?" Harper asked.

"It's past time for us to go. We've probably overstayed our welcome." Alan declared.

Dylan shook his head. "No, not at all. I don't blame all of you because one of you is less than perfect." He glanced at Alexandra who was still sulking and didn't look as if she felt guilty at all. Dylan turned to Harper and Valerie. "Is the ship fixed?" They both nodded. "Then we'll go back to the area of space where we found them. It's a start. We have to get you home."

"That's true" was all Alan said.

Then the door to Medical opened and Melody stepped out with Bleep perched on her shoulder. Melody was smiling. She was bandaged up but looked fine. 'I feel great. Trance, Rommie and Rev took real good care of me. They were so nice."

Dylan nodded. "They are. But now we're going back where we found you.

Rommie, we'll have a nice farewell dinner for them but for now, let's go." The plan would still be carried out. In light of recent events, it was more important then ever to get the kids where they belonged.

The knot of sentients began to break up. Melody went off with Josie and Valerie. Beka hung back a little. Harper noticed and hung back with her. "What's up, Beka?"

"It's Melody. She's amazing. She bounces back fast. She's already back to her old self. I'm really glad. She really does have the Valentine spirit you know."

"Careful Boss. One would think you were proud to be her descendant or something."

She opened her mouth to protest, then stopped. "You know something, Seamus, I think I am. Who would have thought it, hunh?"

Harper grinned at Beka then. "Actually, Boss, I would have. You're a quality person, Beka. Don't ever forget it."

She smiled at him. "You are too, cousin or whatever the hell you are to me."

"That's easy. I'm your genius brother who you love and worship as the god that I am."

Beka rolled her eyes. "Yes, that's it. My God, what was I thinking? I should never have forgotten that. It'll always be in the forefront of my mind and I'll never forget it again, I promise."

"See that you don't." He took off running in time to avoid her fist in his face.