TITLE: A Past to Outdo

NOTES: Another quote from Splashdown, this one from 'Games You Play'.

CHAPTER NINETEEN Overdue

"If your past approaches you

Preaching comfort

Don't be fooled into a war you'll lose"

'Everlost' by Sen

CY 3452

The trip down to the planet was short. Harper had taken the ship down, and asked for permission to land, because Lane's face was known by every security officer and civilian on the planet. Lane told Harper how to get to the station, and of course, added the compulsory 'if you try anything, I'll rip yourlimbs off' talk.

Rain fell heavily from the night sky as he walked. Though his body ached and his mind was weary, there was strange calm about him. This had been a long time coming.

Every day the pain of knowing what he had done weighed upon his shoulders and the thought of that pain ever leaving never crossed his mind. After all those years the solution seemed so simple now. It wasn't drugs, it wasn't suicide, it wasn't pretending it didn't happen in the first place; it was simply walking into that building. Maybe the circumstances of his arrival weren't perfect, but at least he was finally doing it. He reached his destination. Walking into that building would make everything right again.

After taking his last tainted breath, he began to walk to his long-sought redemption.

It was time to confess.

"Harper!"

He turned to see Beka, soaked to the bone. She ran towards him and embraced him in a hug. Harper hugged her back.

"You don't have to do this," she begged. "Just come back to the Maru, and we can go home."

"I'm sorry for everything I've put you through. You know I would never do anything to hurt you. Will you tell the others?" Harper replied, pulling away from her.

"No. No I won't, because you can't go," Beka said sternly, but it was clear Harper had already made his mind up.

"I have to Beka. This is the only way I'm ever gonna be okay again."

Beka knew it was the truth, but still didn't want to accept it. "I don't want you to go. I only just found you again."

Harper smiled at her. "I'm already gone."

Andromeda was en route to Calliope at full speed, but they were still an hour away. Trance still couldn't shake the feeling that they were already too late. When Dylan had told them Lane Farrow was the one who had Harper, Trance's world seemed to collapse around her. She was the one who kept telling him that Lane was dead, and she couldn't hurt him anymore. Harper had told her that Lane was the one haunting him, the one that gave him his scar, but Trance had just insisted he was wrong. Why hadn't she listened, trusted him? How could she ever forgive herself?

"It's not your fault," Rommie told her. She could tell when one of her crew was hurting. It was just a matter of reading their faces, and their body language. Of course, it was also down to the fact that she felt the same way. "Harper was delusional, and it was hard for him and us to define what was real and what wasn't."

"I know," Trance replied. "I just want him back, and to say I'm sorry. But if we don't get there in time, I might not even be able to do that."

Beka wandered in the rain, alone. She had failed and Harper was gone. What was she supposed to do without him? She reached the Maru, but stopped when she noticed the other ship docked in the bay. They were the only two ships there. Which meant in all likelihood, that the other one belonged to Lane Farrow. Suddenly the fog that was clouding Beka's mind lifted, and was replaced with anger. Lane Farrow was the one responsible for this. She was the one who had started this all.

The ship wasn't secured properly, and Beka simply had to walk inside. She drew her sidearm and followed her one-track desire to get revenge. She listened to the sounds of the ship, and for any signs of its inhabitant.

Unfortunately, she heard the footsteps too late. It happened in a blur, the rushing, the shoving, and her head being smacked against the floor.

"Well, well. You must be the infamous Beka Valentine."

Lane kicked her hard in the chest and stomach. When she tried to get up, Lane hit her again, with all her strength. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing on my ship! Huh!" she screamed. "Come to collect your pet! Well you're too late, he's gone. I won!"

Beka felt one of her ribs break. She spat out some blood and tried to get up. Lane found a long metal pipe on the floor and gleefully swung it through the air. It connected with Beka's head, and she went down again. Beka almost lost consciousness from the overwhelming blow.

"It was so easy. I think I'm a little unfulfilled, to tell you the truth," Lane said madly. "Perhaps killing you will fill the void. And it'll really piss Seamus off." She grinned, and swung the pipe again. It was about to deal the finishing blow to her head, when Beka grabbed and pulled it, forcing Lane to lose her balance and fall to the floor. Beka tried to find the gun she had dropped, but she was still dizzy, and couldn't get to it in time. Lane launched herself at Beka and with the pipe still in her hand, pinned her down, and held it across her neck. Beka fought for all her life was worth, but Lane wouldn't let up.

"Why do you people keep thinking you can fight me? What is it, some kind of ridiculous hero complex?" she asked. "You have to save everyone, even if it happens to be a worthless waste of oxygen like Seamus Zelazny Harper?"

Beka didn't think she actually wanted an answer, because she couldn't talk anyway. Instead she let out a guttural scream, trying to summon up what was left of her strength. Lane laughed deliriously when she failed.

"Since you're soon to departing this world, I'll let you in on a secret," she said manically. "Harper didn't kill that Prince. I did."

End of chapter nineteen

Next chapter: Turnaround