Ok, so I'm only semi-evil...*evil, but nice smile* Here's the next part...but first, review time:
ohtheclevernessofme: Well, the verdict you'll learn here, but the dream...that's yet to come. Yes, bad timing Azealia does have, but she helped to build the suspense, didn't she? How can the Elders suffer heart attacks...they don't have hearts. :-P Hope you like what's to come.
custardpringle: Yay, new person...and I love your name! But remember, you hurt the author...no more story. ;-)
Paris: Yep, but remember, I'm only semi-evil. :-)
Capt.Cow: Coolie! Another new person!!!! Begging and ego boosting, now that'll get the posting juices flowing.
Paradox9: WOW! I'm loving all these new people!!! And I have to say that your review made me laugh...very interesting. :-)
OK, here's the next part and the..dun, dun, dun...the VERDICT!
Hope you like this....can't wait to read your reactions to the ending. ;-)
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Chapter 17:
But now that you're here
I just feel like I'm constantly dreaming
Well something's gotta go wrong
cause I'm feelin' way too damn good.~~ Nickleback - Feelin' Way Too Damn Good
"....Guilty!" I don't even flinch, but Harper can't sit still.
He jumps up and screams, "But she did all of this to save the universe!" I place my hand on his arm and give him a look. He quickly jerks his arm away and screams, "No, Trance! This is wrong!" He has determination and anger in his eyes.
"Silence, Human!" The head elder yells in such a boasterous voice that it reverberates through the room. Harper flinches and stops speaking a little as the ringing in the room stops. He looks at me and I him.
Suddenly the head elder lays her eyes on me. I can feel her looking at me and Harper both and I turn as she continues, "Trance Gemini, you are guilty of all charges and are her by sentenced to death."
Harper looks back at me with frantic eyes and pleads, "No, no, no, no! Trance you can't let this happen! You can't let them kill you! Do something!!"
I look at him and sadly say, "I am Harper. If I die, then they leave you and the others alone."
Harper shakes his head, "No, Trance! No, you will not die, not now, not after everything you've went through, for the universe, the crew, not after everything you went through for me!"
Harper, listen to me. This is the way it has to be. I won't let you die...not again."
Harper's eyes are getting glassy as I finish. I raise my hand to his cheek. He clasps my hand and as a tear slides down his cheek, he pleads, "No...please, no, Trance. There has to be something you can do....something...I..can do." He stops suddenly. I can see that an idea is brewing in his head but I just can't see what.
My time is almost up and I have to say what I must. I take a shaky breath, trying ever so hard to to break down myself, "I'm sorry but this is the way it has to be. There is nothing either one of us can do. When all this is over, when you return to the Andromeda, tell Beka that this wasn't her fault, because we both know that she will think it is. Tell Dylan never to give up. There will be obstacles but past those obstacles there will be victory. Tell Rommie that no matter what she is made of, she is more human than she believes. Tell Tyr that the day will come when his destiny is revealed, tell him that no matter how much he doubts himself, he is prepared and his and his pride's destiny will be fulfilled."
Harper nods but I notice something more has changed in his expression, the same thought as before has come forward in his mind, if only I could see what. He says nothing, he only nods. "Your time is up!" I look away from Harper to see that a new person has entered the room. A new person with a blaster.
"Trance Gemini, step forward." I do and the head elder continues, "Because of your powers, it would be nearly impossible to excecute you, so we are stripping you of all your powers." The elder raises her hand and from it emerges a green mist which flows out and into me. I gasp as I feel my powers drain and finally cease to be. With my powers gone, I start to sway, being the weakest I have been in a long while. I shakingly regain my balace.
"Now that you have been stripped of your powers, it is time." I nod and ready myself for the final blow. "Ready..." I look straight ahead, seeing only the excecutioner.
Suddenly Harper is in front of me, he is all I see. "Harper! No-" I start but am stopped by Harper clasping my face and kissing me passionately.
I can feel his hands on the back of my head, pulling me deeper into the kiss. He is truly kissing me, kissing me like his other self had all those years ago. "Aim..." Now I start to kiss back, placing my hands on the back of his head.
This kiss is bringing back into me an emotion that I have so longed for...love. I lose myself in the kiss, only noticing the motion of his lips kissing mine. This kiss brings be to life, back to the fully living, a place that I had left years ago and yearned to return. I never want it to stop, but one lone word ends it all. "FIRE!!!" Suddenly I hear a deafening bang.
Our lips are still touching when I suddenly feel Harper push closer to me as he softly, yet painfully grunts. I'm suddenly brought back to the horrible reality. My eyes go wide as I gasp, "No!" Slowly our lips start to part as he slowly slides to the floor. I tighten my grip around him trying to keep him on his feet.
"No, Harper! NO!" I plead. Suddenly Harper's weight is too much for my already weakened body and we both fall to the ground. "Oh god. Harper, please, no!" I wail. Harper is now cradled in my arms, his head on my chest, his eyes looking into mine. I can already feel the sticky, warm, wetness of blood on the hand under him.
Tears are streaming down my face, my breathing getting frantic. I search my vast knowledge of medicine, desperately trying to think of a way to save him...but I can't....not without my powers. "Harper, why!?" I ask him.
He looks at me, the color already draining from his face, the life in his eyes slowly fading as he raises his hand, softly stroking my cheek as he simply replies, "Because I love you....forever, Trance, forever."
Harper violently coughs, his hand slipping from my cheek and a trickle of blood slowly glides down the corner of his mouth. I softly wipe it away with a shaking hand. The tears are coming even harder now, my chest heaving as I sob, "Harper, don't leave me." But I know that no matter what I say, I can't keep him with me.
He tries to give me one of his half smiles that always melt me, but he violently takes in a sharp breath as I scream, "NO! Harper, please don't leave me!!!"
He looks at me and with his dying breath he says, "Forever," and his body goes limp.
"NO!!!" I scream like a wailing banshee. I've lost him, I've lost him again and this time there's nothing I can do about it. There's nothing I can do but weep, so I pull Harper to my chest. I can feel all the warmth leaving his body. I let out another anguished wail and rock back and forth, my arms wrapped tighly around Harper's body as I sob, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."
TBC
I've just regained my evil title haven't I? Well, if you want more, review.
*Runs and hides from angry readers*
