Harper looked around but saw no sign of his friends. He expected to see scorched earth where he had blasted Mephist, but there was no evidence of fire where Mephist had been standing.
Harper was still a bit disoriented from what he had done but decided that perhaps everyone went to investigate the explosion. Maybe Somebody survived. Maybe Trance was among the survivors.
Harper ran, but as he neared Eternity's location, he was both shocked and overjoyed to see her in one piece. He also noticed something else. A small group of Ubers were standing around a covered cart. Harper quickly hid and listened to their conversation. He soon discovered that one of them was Mephist?
"That's impossible!" Harper thought. "I killed him. I know I did. Unless,…."
It finally dawned on Harper what had happened. Somehow after he killed Mephist, he traveled to the past. He now had the opportunity to save Eternity and everyone aboard her. He would be able to save Trance.
He had to have a plan. A blast like he used to destroy Mephist would easily kill this small group, but he was still too weak to repeat that type of action. So knowing that Mephist would be dealt with later, he decided to let him leave. He would then take care of the small band of Ubers left behind.
All he had to do was watch and wait.
Soon Mephist gave his men their instructions and he left.
Harper watched as the cart was uncovered to reveal a large warhead. "This must be a twin to the one that the Prowler shot at Eternity." Harper thought.
Harper continued to watch as one of the Ubers began making adjustments and punching in codes.
"That can't be good." Harper thought.
Harper raised his gauss gun and shot the one working on the warhead. He instantly fell over dead. That left three for him to deal with.
The three Ubers were slightly confused. They saw their companion get shot but they were unsure where the attacker was. This confused them even more, for with their keen sense of smell they should be able to detect their attacker easily.
Harper took advantage of the situation and began firing rapidly at the remaining Ubers. Two more fell to the ground leaving one. He was larger than the ones lying on the ground. Harper decided that he must have been the one left in charge upon Mephist's absence.
"You're dead Kludge!" The Uber shouted as he raised his weapon to fire at Harper.
Harper, with his gauss gun already raised pulled the trigger.
"CLICK."
"Inferior Kludge." Hercule said. "You should count your shots so you'll know when to reload."
Hercule aimed at Harper's chest. Harper knew that this was the end. He hoped that this surviving Uber didn't have the proper knowledge to finish activating the warhead,… but what if he did? This can't be happening.
"CLICK."
Harper let out a sigh of relief.
"Apparently somebody else forgot to reload." Harper mocked "You really need to count those shots.
"Aurgh!" The Uber growled as he threw his weapon to the ground and charged at Harper.
Harper drew his knife and expertly threw it. The knife sank deep into the Nietzchean's left shoulder but he kept advancing toward Harper.
Harper was not unskilled when it came to hand to hand combat, but he knew that he had a very small chance of being victorious against an Uber so massive. He had only one chance. He hoped that he could do it.
The Nietzchean reached Harper and was about to launch a massive fist at Harper's head, when a ball of fire hit the Uber square in the chest. The look of astonishment on the Uber's face was something Harper knew he would remember for the rest of his life. In fact Harper himself was a bit surprised and relieved that he had recovered enough from his earlier encounter with Mephist to take care of this latest threat.
Harper examined the Nietzchean lying on the ground. The four inch hole through his chest was enough to assure Harper that he was indeed dead.
Harper then walked over to the warhead and made sure it was totally deactivated. He also took a vital component from it to ensure that it would never be a threat again.
As he finished with the warhead, he saw his reflection in the polished metal. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was no longer gold. Instead he was light blue with snow white hair. "How did this happen?"
He decided Trance would know. She could probably even change him back. He ran as quickly as he could to Eternity.
When he entered he quickly asked Eternity the location of Trance.
Eternity's solid holographic image appeared with a puzzled look on her face.
"Harper?" Eternity asked. "What happened to you?"
"I'm not sure Eternity. That's why I need to see Trance."
"She's currently in Medical."
"Thanks." Harper said, right before he collapsed and was caught in Eternity's arms.
"Trance." Eternity called. "Medical emergency! It's Harper!"
Trance heard Eternity's call and quickly ran out of Medical down the hall.
Eternity was running with Harper in her arms. Half way to Medical she met Trance.
Trance looked at Harper and noticing his change in appearance shook her head.
"Harper my love, what have you done?"
Harper opened his eyes for a brief moment. "I saved you." He said. Then once again he was unconscious.