"I think that would be somewhat of an unfair fight, with the superior strength of my android body."
"It doesn't have to come to a physical fight." Gloria said. "Be romantic. Woo her. If Rhade compliments her, you give her a better compliment. But the first thing you have to do is tell her how you feel Rick."
"You know I'm not very good at that sort of thing." Rick said. "But I will tell her how I feel. I just need to wait for the perfect moment."
"Rick there's something else I was wanting to talk to you about." Gloria said. "It actually concerns Rhade."
"What about him?"
"Other than the fact that he may be interested in Becca, what do you think of him?"
"He seems to be an honorable man." Rick answered. "He's a good soldier and loyal to his crewmates. Why?"
"As you know, Glory and I will need a captain, and I know that you have plans of staying with Becca."
"You want to ask Rhade to be your captain?"
"Well like you said he is a good and loyal soldier. I also spent much time fighting by his side and got to know him fairly well. It would also make it easier for you to rekindle the love that you and Becca Valentine shared with him no longer aboard Andromeda. I actually considered Brendanas captain, but I know that he will too busy with Earth."
"Gloria?" Rick asked. "Are you in love with Rhade?"
"Maybe." Gloria said as they entered the command deck.
Harper interfaced with Eternity and soon they were leaving Earth's atmosphere. Rick saw Becca at one of the consoles. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but now wasn't the time.
As they neared the Commonwealth fleet, Eternity hailed Andromeda.
"Dylan, Eternity is hailing us." Andromeda said. "She's requesting permission to dock."
"Permission granted." Dylan replied.
Eternity then informed Andromeda of the recent events concerning Harper.
"Dylan," Andromeda said. "Eternity just informed me of some rather strange events."
"What is it?" Dylan asked.
"I think you better sit down."
One half hour later Dylan is still sitting in his quarters repeating a single question that Andromeda has long quit answering. "Two Harpers?… Two?…. Two Harpers?"
After boarding Andromeda, Trance and Gloria took Blue Harper and Brendan to Medical to rest, while the others headed for the briefing room.
"Trance." Andromeda's hologram said after appearing in Medical. "The main topic to be discussed at the meeting is Earth's future. Captain Stark and Dylan request that Brendan attend."
"Andromeda!" Trance said rather loudly. "In case you haven't noticed, Brendan was shot! And it hasn't been that long since his surgery! He needs rest for the nanos to have time to do their job. He can't be running up and down the halls between Medical and the briefing room."
Andromeda looked… hurt? "I have noticed Brendan's condition Trance, but isn't there some way he could attend this meeting? It isn't required that he run anywhere."
Trance realized that she overreacted, and felt bad about shouting at Andromeda. "I guess I could go with him and make sure he doesn't do anything that would aggravate his injury."
"Thank you Trance."
"Andromeda, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I know that you're aware of everybody's condition onboard. I'm just a bit concerned about everything that has happened lately. I didn't mean to take it out on you."
"That's alright Trance. I can understand that you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Two Harpers is enough to concern anyone." Andromeda added jokingly before she disappeared.
"Yes it is." Trance said to herself.
"I'll stay here with Harper," Gloria said, "while you take Brendan to the meeting."
"Thank you Gloria." Trance said.
A few moments later one of Andromeda's droids entered Medical pushing a wheelchair. In the chair was a change of clothes.
Andromeda's image appeared on a nearby screen. "I thought that Brendan may like to change before going to the meeting."
"Thank you Andromeda." Brendan said.
"You're welcome." Andromeda said and the screen once again went black.
It took several minutes of arguing before Brendan convinced Trance that he was able to dress himself. It then took several more to actually do it. Several times he felt a stabbing pain that made him want to cry out, but he held it in, not wanting Trance to know. When he finished dressing, he looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a High Guard officer's uniform, and he couldn't help but think that it looked good on him.
Blue Harper was still lying on one of the med beds, but saw Brendan. "You'll never see me in a getup like that." Harper said.
"Come on Seamus." Brendan said. "I bet you'd look better in one of these than me."
"I'm not arguing about that." Harper said. "I'd look better than you wearing a paper bag."
"Ha Ha! Very funny."
"Come on you two." Trance said. "Settle down. Harper you still need rest, and Brendan if you don't behave yourself, you're not going to the meeting."
"YES MOM!" Both Brendan and Harper replied.
----------------------
The shock of two Harpers finally wore off and Andromeda informed Dylan that everyone including Captain Stark was in the briefing room waiting.
"Tell them I'll be there shortly." Dylan said, embarrassed that he had lost track of time and was going to be late for the meeting. "Andromeda, will both Harper's be in attendance?" Dylan asked as they walked down the corridor.
"No." Andromeda replied. "The second Harper was taken to Medical until he has fully regained his strength. Trance wanted to stay with him but decided that since Brendan was needed at the briefing, she should go and make sure he didn't over do things. Brendan is still recovering from being shot."
"Understood." Dylan said. "Andromeda, how is Harper coping with there being two of him?"
"They haven't actually spent much time together yet, so it's hard to say."
"I still find it hard to believe that there's two Harpers." Dylan said. "Two Harpers?"
"Don't start that again!" Andromeda warned.