CHAPTER 2
Beka Valentine has always prided herself on being able to handle any situation thrown at her. These last few days have only served to strengthen that but at this very moment she is completely and utterly unable to process what she is seeing. Rommie's quarters are completely destoyed. There isn't an inch of floor not covered in what looks like the shreds of every single thing that was once a pristine room. That's bad enough but what has completely unraveled Beka's usual composure is the blood. There is blood everywhere! She simply cannot process the amount of blood inside the avatar's decimated quarters.
Harper is equally unsettled but manages a quivering "Rommie?"
They both snap out of their shock when there is an unmistakable whimper from the direction of the bedroom the avatar keeps for appearance's sake. In complete sinc they frantically make their way across to the other doorway.
The devastation in here isn't any less than the outer room but if anything there is even more blood. Another quiet whimper draws their attention to a huddled mass of blankets in the corner.
"R-rommie?" Beka manages to get out. She almost jumps out of her skin when Hologram materializes beside them.
"Beka, Harper. I-i don't know how but I am reading new life signs. They're weak but definately...human. There's absolutely no sign of my avatar."
Beka stares at the visibly upset Hologram as Harper makes his way over to the whimpering bundle on the floor. He reaches a shaking hand out to pull the material back with a barely audible, "Rommie?"
As the material falls away he feels his heart shatter into oblivion at what he reveals. Curled up into a nearly fetal position is the naked, battered, and bloody body of an unmistakenly human Rommie.
"Oh God!"Beka gasps when she sees her friend. Gathering what wits she can she tells the hologram, "Get Trance!"
Harper is now the one unable to process and looks pleadingly at Beka as she joins him on the floor. She grabs his arm to give them both strength as she cautiously reaches out and brushes the tangled hair from Rommie's face. They both jump when her touch draws a hoarse scream from the broken woman.
Beka doesn't notice the tears streaming down her face as Rommie begins to weakly beg, "No..no more. Please..no more...please..no, no. Please..no more..."
It is to this scene that Trance rushes in on. She almost collapses as a soul-crushing wave of guilt hits her. How could she have missed this!? How did she to let the Abyss fool her so completely?! How could she have failed her friend so horribly?!
It is only the knowledge that Rommie needs her now more than ever that keeps her upright. Still, Beka isn't the only one with tears falling down her face as Trance gently pushes a devastated Harper out of her way to scan Rommie's condition.
"We need to get her to medlab immediately! Harper! I need to you carry her! Gently!" she tells him urgently.
With more care than Beka has ever seen him exhibit Harper eases Rommie into his arms. It is still not carefully enough as the delirious woman cries out before mercifully loosing conciousness completely.
Harper runs out of the quarters just as Dylan comes up. The engineer doesn't even pause as he rushes his precious cargo to medlab. Trance follows right behind him unable to meet Dylan's eyes. He stands just as frozen as everyone else has been as they disappear around the corner. A loud sob finally breaks him from his stupor. Feeling as if he's in a nightmare he can't escape he turns toward the room as a very pale and upset Beka steps out.
"Beka? What?" he manages.
She only shakes her head before collapsing against him in strangled sobs.