As Eternity rapidly traveled toward the planet Earth, her crew was busy planning what they would do when they reached their destination.
"I've been giving this some thought." Harper said. "And I think the first thing we need to do is disable all Nietchean communications. Block out all communications going to and from Earth, as well as disrupt all transmissions on the planet's surface."
"That would prevent them from calling for reinforcements." Rommie said. "We could take the planet one city at a time, and the rest of the planet wouldn't know what was happening."
"I have a question." Trance stated. "If the Nietchiens attempt to contact Earth and are unable, wouldn't they send someone to investigate?"
"She's got a point Harper." Rommie said.
"I hadn't thought of that." Harper scratched his head and thought.
"I've got it!" Harper exclaimed. "I can program Eternity's communication systems to intercept all incoming communications to Earth. She can then broadcast that Earth is under quarantine."
"What manner of disease or virus would be considered extreme enough for the Nietchiens to order a planet wide quarantine?" Rommie asked.
"What about that virus that Rhade caught Trance?" Harper asked.
"Sendori." Trance said. "That wouldn't work Harper. They know that a cure exists for it."
"Yes, but what if the Sendori virus mutated," Rommie suggested. "causing the cure to be ineffective?"
"I like that." Harper said. "A mutated version of the Sendori virus running rampant world wide. Not only do the victims lose their ability of rational thought, they become severely paranoid, and if they don't end up being killed by others that have contracted the virus, they are severely deformed by the genetic altering properties of the virus."
"The risk of having their perfect genes altered alone should be enough to keep most Nietchiens away." Trance said.
"Alright." Harper said. "I'll have to work on a way of disabling their communications in a way that would allow our communicators to still function. Should take me about a day."
"After disabling communications, we should destroy any Nietchien ships that may be in orbit Harper." Rommie suggested.
"Then we need to try to contact Earth's Resistance, to let them know what's up. Then we'll land, arm as many as we can, and take back Boston. If all goes well within a week of our arrival Boston will be free and Ubers in other cities will have no idea what's going on. Then we'll move to the next city. With each new victory our army will grow."
"Harper we'll need a lot more weapons than the force lances that Dylan gave us." Rommie said. "We'll also need some heavy artillery, and a lot of luck"
"Looks like we'll have to make a slight detour and go shopping." Harper said.
---------------------------------------------
Andromeda's hologram appeared on Command.
"Dylan," Andromeda said. "Cain and Morak are attempting to access an external communications system."
"Can they do that?" Dylan asked.
"Harper could." Andromeda said. "But I highly doubt that these two could tie their own shoes without help."
"I'm curious who they're trying to send a message to." Dylan said. "Let them think that they've succeeded and record their message, but don't make it look too easy."
"Very well captain." Andromeda said.
A few minutes later Andromeda reappeared.
"Dylan, their message was encrypted, so it will take some time before I can decipher it's content, but I can tell you where the transmission was directed to go, if it had been sent."
"Where?"
"Earth."
--------------------------------------------
Back on board Eternity.
"Harper we'll need a lot more weapons than the force lances that Dylan gave us." Rommie said. "We'll also need some heavy artillery, and a lot of luck"
"What's wrong Harper?" Trance asked. "You have a strange look on your face."
"I'm sorry Trance." Harper said, as he shook off the odd feeling that came over him. "Nothing's wrong, just a little Deja vu."
"What's Déjà vu?" Trance asked.
"It's when a person has an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar at all." Rommie stated. "The term Déjà vu is from ancient Earth. Literally it means already seen."
"And you just experienced this Harper?" Trance asked. "Maybe I should run some tests on you to make sure you're OK."
"I'm fine Trance." Harper told her. "It's not like it's the first time."
"Oops. I shouldn't have said that." Harper thought to himself.
"What?" Trance shouted. "How many times has this occurred, and for how long?"
"Listen Trance, I'm sure it's nothing to get upset about." Harper said, in hopes that Trance would change her mind about running Divine knows how many tests on him. "It hasn't been happening long. It started after everybody found out that you were alive and that I had a tail. It's only happened a few other times, and it doesn't hurt or anything. It's just as if, time rewinds a few seconds and I'm the only one that notices. Déjà vu."
Harper believed that what he was experiencing was Déjà vu, but Trance knew it was something much more.
"Alright Harper," Trance said. "I won't force you, but if you do start experiencing any other symptoms, let me know."
"Don't I always?"
"No." Trance and Rommie both stated.
"You usually keep working without a word to anyone that you're sick, until you finally collapse and have to be carried to medical." Rommie said.
"Well, I promise , this time if I start having any weird symptoms, I'll let you know."
"It's not that I don't trust you Harper," Trance said. "I really do, but if you don't mind, I'd like for Eternity to monitor your vitals and let us know if anything strange is occurring to your body when this happens again. We may be able to determine what's causing it."
"That's OK Trance. I would sort of like to know what's triggering these loops."
"Loops?" Trance asked. " I thought you said it was Déjà vu?"
"Well the experience is about the same thing. At least what I'm experiencing is. It's just like a tiny time loop."
Trance didn't expect Harper's new gift to begin manifesting so soon. If he wasn't very careful,it could be more dangerous than what happened to Jarod.
"Enough talk about Déjà vu and time loops." Harper said. "It's time we visited an old friend to discuss purchasing some weapons for the cause."
"An old friend?" Rommie asked.
"Are you talking about Mister Styvers Harper?" Trance asked.
"Yes Trance." Harper said. "And for once, this old friend is actually a friend."
"Who is Mister Styvers?" Rommie asked.
"He used to be a crew member on the Maru." Trance said. "He's human, but he grew up on a planet called Doran. He helped rescue Harper from some less than friendly pirates."
"Pirates?"
"Long story Rommie." Harper said. "The main thing you need to know is that he's a friend, and he's an arms dealer."
"Why didn't you mention your friend before Harper?" Rommie asked. "We could have been purchasing replacement missiles and torpedoes for Andromeda from him instead of buying from less than reputable individuals on crime infested drifts."
"Because Andromeda is a Commonwealth war ship Rommie." Harper explained. "Rick Styvers is my friend, but some of his activities are less than ethical. I was afraid that if Dylan found out about Rick's other business dealings that he would shut Rick down and possibly bring charges against him. Rommie on the Maru, we all did what we had to do in order to survive, and it wasn't always in accordance to the law."
"I see." Rommie sighed. "I hate to say it, but you were probably right in doing what you did."
"So, Eternity." Harper said. "Alter course. Set new heading for the planet Doran, in the Delgerian system."
"New heading accepted." Eternity announced. "We will enter the Delgerian system in seven hours."
As they entered the Delgerian system, the planet Doran appeared on Eternity's main screen.
It was a desert planet, with no visible signs of water. The only indication of the planet being populated was a few small buildings in the northern hemisphere. There appeared to be no structures large enough to house an operation like Harper had described.
"It appears as if your friend left town." Rommie said. "Perhaps business was bad."
"Business is never bad for arms dealers." Harper said. "There's always someone who wants to blow someone else up. Trust me. He's down there."
"Eternity." Harper said. "Establish communication link to the planet."
"Attempting communication link…… Link established. Incoming message."
"On screen Eternity."
On the screen appeared the image of a man in his mid thirties. He had dark shoulder length hair, blue eyes, and a small scar across his forehead.
"Unknown vessel, this is a restricted area. You are ordered to leave immediately. Failure to do so will result in your immediate destruction."
"With your aim," Harper said, "you'd probably miss."
The man's expression turned to one of shock and joy.
"Seamus Harper." Rick said. "Is that you?"
"The one and only." Harper said. "Me and my friends are needing to do a little shopping. Do you know of any good shops in the area?"
"You've come to the right place." Rick said. "I'm transmitting the coordinates and codes that will allow you to land safely."
"Thanks Rick."
After Eternity landed, Harper, Trance , and Rommie exited the ship. They were met by Rick Styvers and a young woman with dark hair.
Harper and Rick shook hands, but it turned into a quick manly hug.
"It's great to see you again Harper!" Rick said.
"It's good to see you too Rick." Harper said.
Trance then rushed toward Rick and she too gave him a hug.
"You look as beautiful as ever Trance." Rick said.
"You look good too." Trance said, as she looked him over. "You've lost weight, a lot of weight."
"Thanks for noticing, but I can't really take any credit for it. By the way, who is this lovely lady with you?"
Trance realized very easily that Rick had changed the subject. She wondered why he didn't want to talk about his weight.
"My name is Rommie. I'm a friend of Trance and Harper."
"If you're their friend, then you are welcome to my home. Come. Let's get out of this dreadful heat."
As they neared an old shack Harper asked Rick who his new friend was.
"I'm terribly embarrassed. Rommie, Trance, Harper, this is my friend and partner in crime Gloria."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all." She said.
Rick continued leading them to the small shack approximately one hundred feet from where they landed. Inside was an elevator. They all stepped inside and the door closed. They immediately felt the floor on which they were standing begin to descend. Two minutes later, they stopped and the door opened.
As they exited the elevator, the door shut on Harper's tail.
"Owww!" Harper cried.
"Harper?" Trance asked, but she soon realized what had happened and reopened the door, freeing Harper's tail.
"I'll never get used to that." Harper said, as Trance examined the damage to his tail.
"It'll be OK Harper, but it needs a bandage."
"Right this way." Rick said. "I have a small medical facility a few more doors down. AH! Here it is."
It wasn't as large as Medical on Andromeda, but it was very well equipped. Trance applied a bandage to Harper's injured tail and they continued to follow their host.
"I meant to ask you about that." Rick said, indicating Harper's tail. "But I didn't want to appear rude."
"It's OK." Harper said. "But it's a long story."
"You can tell me during dinner then. That is if you will agree to have dinner with Gloria and me."
"We accept on one condition." Harper said. "Afterwards we discuss business and possibly some trading."
Rommie had been observing Gloria and their host since she first saw them. She noticed something peculiar about their movements. They moved so fluidly. She thought at first that they were trained assassins, but not even the best assassin alive could move with such grace as they possessed. Perhaps she would find her answer during dinner.
Dinner was held in a huge banquet hall. The table was full of various types of food and desserts.
While they ate, Harper told Rick and Gloria how the crew of the Maru had rescued Andromeda and her captain from a black hole. He then told them of some of the many adventures they had together. Finally he told of how they had defeated the Abyss by destroying the black hole.
"…and that's how I became an Avatar like Trance."
"That's amazing!" Gloria said.
"Remarkable Harper." Rick said. "However, I'm really not shocked about the two of you. I knew that You and Trance were meant to be together the first time I saw you. I'm happy that you finally got your own ship."
"Rick." Harper said. "I answered your question. Now how about you answer mine?"
"Anything you want to know Harper." Rick said.
"How long have you had an android body?"
"That's it!" Rommie thought to herself. "How could I have missed something like that. They both move like androids,… like me."