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Part 58
The voices were distant, but slowly became one as Harper focused on the one voice that called him. He wearily opened his eyes, and blinked at the sharpness of the light above him, before his sight adjusted and he made out the figure of Trance looking back at him.
"You're on board the Andromeda, Seamus, you've been asleep for a while so you may feel disorientation," Trance spoke, her tone soft.
Harper's mind was a mess as he tried to remember, but nothing was coming forward. Blinking his eyes some more, he felt a sudden fear and brought his hand up to his neck, taking a sharp intake of breath.
"It's ok, you have a bandage, it's perfectly ok," Trance assured him. "Try and relax, everything is ok."
"If everything is ok why is my neck in a bandage?" Harper couldn't help remark, as he tried to take in his surroundings.
"Everything is ok because your neck is bandaged, Harper," Beka's voice now sounded, and Harper glanced over to where she stood close to the cot he lay on, seeing her smiling face.
Suddenly remembering something, Harper brought his hand up to where he could see it and flexed it; a brief smile appeared on his face. "I can move my hand, no shaking," he stated, to ensure the others saw it too.
"That's right, Harper, the operation to fix your port was a success," Trance beamed.
"I've had the operation already?" Harper checked, once again feeling the bandage around his neck.
"You took to the treatment really well, considering your immune system, and you were strong enough in just a couple of days," Trance answered.
"Stronger than you look, right, shorty?" Beka piped up.
"Don't exactly remember much from the past few days," Harper frowned.
"Not surprising, you've been unconscious for the best part of the past five days," Trance responded calmly.
Harper didn't appear happy by that statement. "I still feel tired, are you sure everything's alright, it doesn't seem right if I can't stay awake," he stressed.
"Just relax," Trance assured him, and then sighed. "You may not remember but whilst you were connected to the Edenian system, you were exposed to the bantra plant again, and Beka told me that the toxins of this plant caused a past addiction to reawaken in you."
"You mean I'm addicted again?" Harper feared.
"No, but you did suffer an overdose of sorts, your body has a weakness that we now need to try and fix, and make it more tolerant to," Trance offered.
"Don't worry, Harper, we'll help you," Beka simply confirmed, and took a hold of his hand to confirm her words.
"I'm not an addict, I'll be fine," Harper stressed.
"We're not saying you are but you only suffered a similar overdose a couple of years ago, we have to be careful," Trance warned. "The human body is a strange thing sometimes."
"I'm not strange either," Harper returned, as a distraction to mask his fear.
"I have to say I beg to differ on that one," Beka smiled.
"Edenia," Harper suddenly appeared more alert as his memories returned.
"We're still in orbit," Beka stated. "But don't worry, things are in hand."
"You did well," Trance then spoke with care.
"I want to stay involved with their progress," Harper stressed, as if suddenly afraid that he wouldn't see the planet again. "I feel it's my right, my responsibility to ensure their system remains in tact," he added.
"All in good time," Beka assured her friend. "We'll discuss this once you're stronger and more able."
"I did do the right thing, right?" Harper then checked.
"Harper, you made us all proud," Trance smiled fondly.
Harper considered the vote of confidence, before sighing. "So what now, back to fighting agents of the Abyss, preparing for the world ship?"
"Back to the old routine," Beka sadly agreed.
"Once you have rested," Trance was sure to remind the engineer.
"Well, you know it's going to take me years to get over the past three weeks, it was very tough and not to mention traumatic," Harper spoke in jest.
"You have two days before I sign you back onto light duties," Trance smiled back.
"Will I get some private counselling sessions with my favourite unknown being?" Harper suggested playfully.
"Seamus Harper, you're beyond any help I could offer you," Trance returned, before she began to move away, with Beka joining her.
"Hey, on Edenia I had the power you know," Harper continued, albeit tiredly now as he succumbed once more to sleep.
"This is why I would have preferred him never to have found that small detail out," Beka sighed heavily, as she walked with Trance away from the recovering human. "I'm telling you, we'll never hear the end of it."
"Andromeda?"
"Yes, Beka," Andromeda appeared on the three view screens that dominated the command deck.
Beka continued to work at her station on command, confusion etched across her face. "Did Dylan review my report for the Edenia mission?"
"He did," Andromeda answered.
"It's been modified, tampered with," Beka stated.
"I know," Andromeda returned evenly.
"Where is Dylan Hunt?"
"He travelled down to Edenia to oversee the election that is taking place today," Andromeda revealed.
"You know he has completely omitted any part Harper played in the mission," Beka was attempting to keep her anger in check.
"I am aware of this," Andromeda stated.
"Do you know why?"
"Dylan Hunt gave no explanation for the record, however he did mention that it was for Seamus Harper's own good," Andromeda spoke as fact.
"Really?" Beka wasn't convinced. "Harper nearly died three times over on that damn planet in the name of that mission, and now Dylan Hunt wants that fact to be ignored?"
"Not ignored, just not mentioned to the Commonwealth," Andromeda corrected.
"Because he didn't get to play hero for once?" Beka snapped.
"Beka, our relationship with the Commonwealth is not at present friendly, I believe Dylan Hunt has good reason to show caution when presenting facts about his own crew to the council," Andromeda stated.
"Andromeda, you're a war ship not a diplomat," Beka reminded her.
"And Seamus Harper is my engineer, and if my captain fears information on my engineer falling into the wrong hands, then I follow my captain's orders," Andromeda stated firmly.
"The wrong hands?" Beka checked. "Those hands belong to the thing we've been helping your captain build for the past four years!" she stressed.
"You should discuss this with Captain Hunt, on his return later today," Andromeda suggested.
"Don't worry, I will," Beka seethed.
"Problem?" Rhade spoke up as he walked onto command.
"You ever get the feeling that you've woken up one day and everything has changed, things that you thought you knew and understood?" Beka asked.
Rhade wore a complex expression as he considered her question. "My life has been turned upside down by recent events, so yes, quite often I feel that way."
"Wrong person to ask, forget I did," Beka huffed and left command, leaving Rhade to assume control.
"Have you ever thought of leaving?" Beka asked casually.
"Leaving? I've only just got back here, and I'm going nowhere for the next century and a half, trust me," Harper returned glibly. "Seamus Harper will be an exhibit on this ship when it's in a museum, because I'm not going anywhere, ever again," he ranted flippantly.
Beka smirked, and looked over at her friend. He was now strong enough to sit up, so much so he dangled his legs over the side of the cot and looked as though he was going to make a break for the door any minute, to escape the med deck.
"Seriously," Beka asked again.
"Seriously?" Harper checked, and saw his friend wasn't kidding. "No, I've never really thought about it, I mean not for more than a few seconds. There are times when captain perfect pisses me off and I may instinctively for like five seconds consider it, but this is my home. I'm safe here, I have all I need here," he shrugged. "Why, what's brought this on?"
"I'm growing more concerned by what's happening to the Commonwealth," Beka answered distantly.
"You too, huh," Harper sighed.
"You're also troubled by it?" Beka checked, turning to face her friend now to check his reactions.
"Not so much the bigger picture, but you know, Dylan isn't that guy we first knew anymore, is he?" Harper tried to explain. "That guy we saw on Edenia, masquerading as Dylan Hunt, it just made me realise that he's losing faith and that's a dangerous thing, especially consider what we're facing," he offered. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to run but I'm going to be watching my back, and yours, trust me."
"First sign of it all going to hell?" Beka questioned with a warm smile.
"I'll trust my gut and act on it," Harper smirked.
"Just like that?"
"No, I'll probably check to see what you guys are doing first, and then act on whatever you do," Harper answered with a knowing grin.
"You would leave at the first sign of trouble?"
"Probably not," Harper admitted with a heavy sigh, considering it as a reality. "I don't know, Beka, it's weird times and my heads still trying to get around what the past month has just put us through."
Harper suddenly tensed and clutched his arms around his sides, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I'll get you some water," Beka offered quickly, and Harper took some controlled breaths until she returned. Then shakily he took the glass and sipped the water, until he gave the glass back to Beka. "Better?" Beka asked with concern, seeing the light sheen of perspiration on his face now.
"I hate this," Harper spoke with fear, his eyes still tightly shut.
"It won't be for ever, it will pass," Beka encouraged fondly, holding his arm for comfort.
"It wasn't like this the first time," Harper offered distantly, as he opened his eyes. "The first time was easier, not like this and Brendan was there, making sure I didn't get any urges to do that stuff, there wasn't pain like this," Harper grimaced.
"You technically overdosed on those toxins," Beka spoke, knowing the pain her friend was feeling. "You didn't become addicted, your suppressed addiction was reawakened by the exposure to that stuff, Harper, you never beat your addiction before, you just controlled it but the overdose pushed you over the edge to this, trust me I know what I'm talking about," Beka stressed with sadness.
"It didn't feel this bad when I overdosed on the serum that I was taking for the larvae," Harper reasoned, with some doubt in his voice.
"That was not as toxic as the bantra plant, that plant can knock a perfectly clean person out just with a few breaths if they get too close," Beka answered softly. "You also didn't experience nose bleeds with the serum, did you?" she countered, and then raised her hand to brush the strands of hair that were now plastered to Harper's forehead back. "Least that black dye is starting to grow out," she commented by way of distraction.
"It is?" Harper frowned, unconcerned but welcoming the distraction, as he recovered his composure now and the pain receded.
"Harper, don't worry, ok?" Beka encouraged. "You're still weak after the surgery and the cramps you're feeling probably feel a lot worse because of that, it will get better."
"I hope so," Harper frowned weakly, still holding himself as he looked away, before he turned back to Beka. "You won't leave me, you know if you decide to go?" Harper asked with a voice so scared, Beka had to stop herself from hitting him for being so silly, in her opinion.
"Of course I won't, Seamus," Beka quickly assured him. "How about we just promise each other that we stick together?" Beka suggested brightly.
"That I can do," Harper agreed with a growing smile, as his strength returned. "No matter what, Harper and Valentine will always ride together," he declared defiantly now.
"Harper!"
"Zal," Harper sighed, seeing Zal and Junia enter the med deck.
"You're up, it's about time!" Zal exclaimed. "Man, you've looked better and that's saying something seeing as I still haven't seen you well," he then commented without a thought.
"I'll leave you three to it," Beka hastily retreated towards the door, leaving Harper to throw her a glare that could kill.
"What happened to sticking together, huh, and never leaving me?" Harper called after her in mock jest, as she made her escape.
"Aw, we'll go if you need to sleep for another twenty thousand hours," Zal mocked, as he jumped up on the cot to sit beside Harper.
"Don't know if you've noticed Zal, but I nearly died a few days ago and I've just had a major operation," Harper stressed with amusement.
Zal dismissed Harper's words. "Drama queen," he teased.
"Well I'm glad you're up," Junia smiled and moved beside Harper. "I've missed you."
Harper avoided looking at Junia, and instead concentrated on the floor of med deck. He wasn't sure why it was so difficult to look at her, but suddenly he felt uncomfortable with her being there, and without good reason.
"I think she's avoiding me," Zal then remarked.
"Who?" Harper was confused.
"Beka, she hasn't said a word to me beyond pleasantries since I've been on board," Zal sighed.
"Trust me, pleasantries is more than most people get with Beka," Harper teased. "Why does it bother you?" he then asked, and saw the hints of a look in Zal's glance towards the doors where Beka had moments before been. "No way!"
"What?" Zal offered defensively.
"Give it up, man, she'll never go for it," Harper confidently stated.
"You're just jealous that it's not you I'm fawning over," Zal mocked.
Harper grinned. "Like I said, Zal, give it up, fishing around these parts will just bring you pain, from all sectors," Harper warned with a fond smile.
"Fishing?" Zal frowned, unsure of the reference.
"Must be an Earth thing, we'll need to brush up on Earth and find out more about the beings that made our city," Junia enthused, staying close to Harper's side.
"They are deciding where to dump us, for our own good," Zal spoke up, rapidly changing the subject.
"They won't dump you," Harper argued lightly. "The Commonwealth are the good guys, most of the time."
"They won't let us stay here," Junia answered.
Harper shrugged. "This is a warship and there's a war approaching, it makes sense not to carry civilians at this time," he offered.
"You're a civilian," Zal protested.
"I'm a lieutenant actually," Harper argued back.
"Honourary," Zal returned. "I've done my homework."
"I'm a god, actually, to your people at least," Harper mocked.
"Seamus Harper!" Junia snapped. "Do not mock our faith and your part in it, that's not fair."
Harper caught his breath as he turned to Junia, shocked by her objection but realising his insensitivity. "I was just joking, Junia, I didn't," Harper tried to explain but saw that Junia was now just as embarrassed by her outburst. "I'm sorry, Junia."
"Ok," Junia quietly accepted. "I'm sorry too, I know it's all a big joke to you, and I understand why," she offered.
"No, I don't see it as a joke," he assured her softly. "Maybe I find it amusing, because I was brought up to believe gods and promised people were of a higher plane, and well basically people not like me," Harper explained with amusement.
"And I over reacted, sorry, I'm still a little fazed by the facts, the past week has been a whirlwind of emotions for me, I just don't know where to turn," Junia explained, and seemed to be waiting for Harper to speak.
"Hey pal, that's you cue to offer some good old comfort," Zal hissed towards Harper, who remained unmoving by Junia's side.
"Oh," Harper suddenly realised and hesitantly brought his arms around Junia, but it lacked any kind of feeling or emotion, and Junia quickly stepped back and towards Zal.
"We should let Harper rest, I'm sure he doesn't need us bothering him," Junia spoke quickly.
"Yeah," Zal agreed, though he was staring at Harper now, unnerving the human slightly. "I can check out the mess deck again, I love that part of the ship."
"Cool," Harper awkwardly enthused, and watched as the two Edenian's left the med deck, and he tried to figure out his own feelings and why he was suddenly unsure of how he felt.
TBC