Trance examined Harper's tail, and discovered a very bad bruise near it's base.
"Has your tail been hurting any?" Trance asked.
"Yes." Harper said. "Quite a bit in fact."
"Have you been sitting in any chairs with solid backs?"
"Yes. Practically all the chairs on Eternity have solid backs Trance." Harper said. "What's your point?"
"My point is that sitting in a chair with a solid back doesn't give any place for your tail to go. It causes it to get scrunched and bruised. I'll doctor the bruise, but you'll have to start avoiding sitting in these types of chairs."
"Thanks Trance." Harper said. "You're the best."
"You're welcome Harper."
"Trance, we'll be arriving at Earth in approximately three days."
"Um Hum."
"I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tonight, in my quarters."
"I'd love to Harper." Trance said.
"See you tonight then."
"See you Harper. Remember. No sitting on Eternity's chairs."
"I'll remember."
Harper was walking down Eternity's corridor, on his way to Engineering, trying to figure a way that he could sit without his tail getting all sore again. If only Eternity's chairs had tail holes.
"That's it!" Harper shouted. "I'll make tail holes in all of Eternity's chairs." Harper couldn't help but wonder why people with tails, would design a ship with seats in it, that did not accommodate tails.
The rest of that day Harper was busy modifying the chairs on board Eternity. He didn't modify all the chairs, only two per room, including the command chair.
It was now almost time for his dinner with Trance, so he hurried back to his quarters. He washed off and changed, then he programmed the food replicator for two steak dinners. He dimmed the lights, lit two candles, and placed them on the table. Knowing how much Trance liked plants, he positioned several plants and flowers around the room.
"Eternity could you play some soft romantic music please?"
"What would you like Harper." Eternity asked.
"I think something with violins would be nice."
A stringed quartet began to play adding just the right touch.
"Perfect Eternity. Thanks."
"You're welcome Harper."
"One more favor." Harper added. "Could you give Trance and I some privacy tonight?"
"I had already planned on that Harper." Eternity said. "Good luck."
As Eternity's hologram vanished, Harper heard his door chime.
"Harper, it's me, Trance." Harper opened the door and his eyes bugged out. Trance was wearing a dark purple gown trimmed in pink. It fit her form perfectly. Harper noticed that the dress was made so that her tail wasn't hidden underneath, but protruded beautifully out the back.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Uh… Yeah." Harper said, as he realized that he had been staring with his mouth hanging open. He quickly closed his mouth and invited her in.
"Harper this is beautiful!" Trance said when she saw what Harper had done to the room. "Did you do this for me?"
"I wanted tonight to be perfect Trance." Harper said. "Come sit down."
Trance began to sit, but when she saw Harper, she stopped.
"Harper, Your tail!"
"Already got that covered." Harper said, showing her the chairs. "I made a little modification."
"That's great Harper." Trance smiled. "I wonder why they weren't made like that to begin with."
"I was wondering the same thing. I guess it takes a genius to figure out the simple things."
"You're probably right Harper." Trance giggled. "Seamus Harper, Super Genius."
"Hey, I like the sound of that." They both laughed, then they sat and enjoyed their dinner together.
After they had finished eating, Harper looked into Trance's eyes. They were the most perfect and beautiful eyes he had ever seen. He wondered what he ever did in his life to deserve someone as perfect as Trance. Usually the universe dealt him a bad hand, but this time he ended up with the queen of hearts. Harper reached into his pocket and grabbed a tiny box.
"Trance." Harper said. "There's something I want to ask you."
"What is it Harper?"
"I realize that there's a chance that we might not return from Earth Trance, so….
He held the box out toward her and opened it. Inside was a golden ring with a large diamond set in it.
"…Trance, will you marry me?"
"Yes Harper. I'll marry you."
Harper's world couldn't be any more perfect.
They both rose up out of their chairs and hugged each other.
"I was starting to get tired of waiting for you to ask Harper."
"You knew I was going to ask you to marry me?"
"Uh Huh."
"You could've helped me out." Harper said. "You know I'm not that good with words."
"You did wonderful Harper." Trance said. "Absolutely wonderful."
They kissed and held each other so tight. Neither one wanted to let go. Their two tails became intertwined.
--------------------------------------------------
On Eternity's Command Deck Rommie was monitoring Eternity'sprogress, and keeping a look out for Dragan ships. Rick had just finished making adjustments to some of the weapons, ensuring that they would be compatible with Eternity's systems.
"Excuse me Rommie." Rick said. "Do you know where Harper is?"
"I believe he is having dinner with Trance."
"I wanted to talk to him about his ideas about disrupting the Ubers communications."
"If it's nothing urgent," Eternity said. "I think you should wait till morning before disturbing the captain."
"Morning?" Rick asked.
"I think Eternity's right Rick." Rommie said. "Harper told me that tonight he planned on asking Trance to marry him. If things go well, I don't think he's going to want to be disturbed."
"I understand." Rick said. "I'm sure she'll say yes."
"You and Harper were close when you served on the Maru, weren't you?"
"Yes, but it wasn't exactly by choice, but rather necessity that I came to be a member of the Maru's crew." Rick explained. "On Harricon Drift I had some business acquaintances that claimed I sold them faulty weapons. They wanted their money back, but refused to give me back the weapons. They claimed all the weapons blew up when they malfunctioned.
I knew for a fact that those weapons were top of the line. When I refused to give them their refund, they attacked me. I was out numbered four to one, and they were about to kill me when all of the sudden a tall red headed woman, a young boy, and a purple girl come to my rescue. I followed them to their ship and we took off. For the next year I helped them with maintenance and weaponry. Soon I came to think of Harper as a little brother. I knew he had a crush onTrance way back then. I finally returned back home where I reestablished my business.
"How did you and Becka get along?" Rommie asked.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not talk about that."
"Sorry." Rommie said.
---------------------------------------------
Rick was having breakfast the next morning in Eternity's Mess Hall.
Rommie was with him discussing their plan of action for when they reached Earth.
Trance and Harper entered the Mess looking happier than Rommie had ever seen them, especially Harper.
"Something you'd like to tell us Harper?" Rommie asked.
"We're getting married Rommie!" Harper exclaimed, as he gave Rommie a big hug. "She said yes!"
"I'm so happy for you both." Rommie said, as she released Harper and embraced Trance.
"Congratulations Harper." Rick said. "I'm sure you two will be very happy together."
"Thanks Rick." Harper replied.
Trance gave Rick a quick hug, then returned to Harper's side.
Eternity's solid holographic image appeared.
"Harper, Trance, I am very happy for you."
"Thanks Eternity." Harper and Trance both replied.
Harper pulled one of the chairs that he had modified the previous day out for Trance, then he went to get their breakfast.
Harper returned and sit down in a similar chair next to Trance.
Rommie noticed their tails protruding through the holes.
"I was just about to ask you about the altered chairs Harper," Rommie said, "but I see the reason for the holes now."
"Harper did a great job." Trance said. "They're very comfy."
Harper was really catching on how to control his tail. As he and Trance ate breakfast, his tail easily glided over to Trance and wrapped gently around her waist. Trance gave no reaction, except to give Harper a content smile.
As they ate, they all discussed their plans.
"Tomorrow we'll be entering Dragan territory." Harper said. "I think that would be a good time for Eternity to activate her cloaking device."
"Good idea." Rick said. "We don't want to be attacked before we reach our target. I've no doubt that Eternity could handle them, but we don't want to give ourselves away."
"Agreed." Rommie said. "We should keep a low profile. Our main strategy is to keep the Dragans totally unaware of our actions. Communications blackout would prove inefficient if their ships discover us before we arrive."
"Guys," Harper said. "Do you realize that, including Eternity, we are five people, about to attack one of the fiercest Nietzchean prides in the galaxy?"
"What's your point Harper?" Rommie asked.
"The point is, I should be scared of what might happen, but I'm not. I can't explain it, but it's like a great calm has come over me. It's as if a part of me knows, that what ever happens, what we're doing is right and nothing the Ubers can do to us can change that."
"You're right Harper." Trance said. "We are doing the right thing. Finally the people of Earth will be free." Trance couldn't help but wonder, that if she had destroyed the Abyss years ago, this would not be necessary. Earth would never have become a slave planet, and Harper's parents would not have been killed. Would Harper still want to marry her, if he found out how much pain and destruction her mistake has caused? She had to tell him, but she was afraid of losing him.
The next day they passed directly past several Nietzchean ships, but with Eternity's cloaking device engaged they weren't detected.
Rick and Rommie loaded Eternity's torpedo tubes and made certain that her weapons were all online. Everything seemed to be in order.
When they were finished they helped Harper work on the device that would disable the Nietzchean's communications.
Harper was having a hard time with the communications scrambler.
"What seems to be the problem Harper?" Rick asked.
"This!" Harper said, holding up a small electronic device. "I can't get this to work properly. The way it is right now, not only will it disable communications, it will shut down all of Eternity's systems for at least two hours."
"Harper." Rommie said. "After the two hours are up, and Eternity comes back online, will the Nietzchean's communications still be down?"
"Yeah Rommie." Harper replied. "Once activated, the scrambler will continue to disrupt their communications until shut off."
"We'll help you work on it Harper." Rick said. "But if we don't get it working right, we'll have to use it as is."
"You realize that when Eternity's systems go, we'll become uncloaked?" Harper asked. "Without shields or weapons, we'd be sitting ducks. We have to get this to work."