Chapter 9

AN: The lyrics used in this chapter are from the Evanescence album 'Origin', the song is called 'Anywhere'.

==== Alnas Drift – Present Time ====

The little ship gracefully touched down on the docking platform of Alnas Drift. Slowly the gangplank lowered from mid-ship, the door opening once it touched the decking.

Quickly, yet in no hurry, a couple stepped down the ramp and onto the deck. As the ramp retracted into the ship, the male was heard to quip 'everybody remember where we parked,' which drew a smile from his female companion.

"So, where you wanna start Harper?" Trance asked as they looked around the bustling street.

"Well, Beka and Dylan gave me lists; Tyr told me to get some new weapons and in no way was I to forget them. I think we should get the weapons last, just to spite that overbearing oaf," he answered with a grin.

"You know that he'd tear your head off and spit down your throat if he heard that," she replied with a smile as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Where did you hear that expression, Trance?" he asked with a laugh as they walked to their first destination.

"From Tyr, he was talking about those Persieds that were working on Andromeda several months ago, you remember them Harper?" She asked as they browsed the shop, looking to fill Beka's list.

"Yup, they were even driving me nuts. I can't believe they wanted to dissect Rommie," he broke off mumbling as he examined a part that he could use on the Maru. Trance only grinned bigger as he waded through the parts, discarding the ones that were junk.

While he was 'parts diving,' Trance wandered around the small shop, humming happily. She paused as she came upon a small statue of a surfer holding a surfboard. She smiled as she picked up the wooden figure. She carefully turned it in her hands, examining its details; the way the artist caught the wind in the surfer's hair, to the textured base of 'sand'. Deciding quickly she moved to the register and paid for it, slipping the figure into the supplies they had already bought.

A few minutes later Harper approached her as she continued to wander.

"Hey babe," he said as he greeted her, his arms filled with the parts he could carry. Those he couldn't were being delivered to the ship.

"Hey yourself," she replied with a giggle as they fell into step, walking back to the Maru.

"What do you say to calling it a day and packing in the stuff we got? I'll take you to dinner, my treat."

"Your treat?" she asked with an evil little grin on her face.

"Yes, my treat. But we aren't going to the most expensive restaurant on the Drift; I only have so much money. However, we will go to the best one we can find, that I can afford. You're worth it after all Trance."

She giggled and blushed, drawing a smile from Harper as they approached the ship.

"Well, it's nice to know no one tagged her while we were gone, Beka would kill me if that happened," he said as he keyed in the access code. The hatch opened before them, allowing them to enter.

"Be it ever so humble…" Harper said as they moved apart to store their packages. The ones that he'd had delivered were already stored in the cargo bay, the Maru's AI made sure of that. Harper was truly glad that he'd upgraded her recently.

As Trance sorted her supplies, she came across the figure she had bought earlier. She smiled as she held it up, her mind placing Harper's face on the figure. She placed him on the table next to her bed as she continued to sort the supplies.

A few minutes later she entered the shower, getting ready for her unofficial 'date' with Harper.

She let out a soft sigh as the water washed over her body, the run-off following the curve of her tail as it hung behind her.

Harper was flipping through his closet, trying to find the perfect Hawaiian shirt. This evening had to be perfect; tonight he was going to find out what kind of life he could have with Trance.

Humming to himself, he grabbed at one shirt then another. Finally he found the perfect one; it was a soft olive green shirt with black, tan, and white flowers on it, and was made of a soft silk; it was also the first shirt he'd ever bought.

Pulling the shirt on, he grabbed his nicest pair of cargo pants and put them on as well. Smiling to himself he made his way to the cockpit to make reservations. As he made his way past the bathroom he heard Trance singing the lyrics to a song he had played for her once. She gushed over it so he had gotten her a copy, it was called 'Anywhere' by a group called Evanescence, she was currently making her way through the chorus.

"We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the morning light
We'll be half way to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name."

Harper just smiled as he passed by, stopping to yell into the bathroom.

"Trance, I'm gonna make the reservations now, I don't want to get there and not be able to get a seat."

"Ok," she called back before returning to the song.

Harper quickly set about making the reservations at the best restaurant he could afford.

Arriving at the restaurant, Harper announced them to the Maitre'd. He smiled and showed them directly to their table. Trance was wearing a light purple evening dress that hugged all the right lines, yet left much to the imagination. Harper noticed that her tail was wrapped around her waist, out of the way.

"Harper this is a beautiful restaurant," Trance said as they were seated, she was of course careful not to sit on her tail.

"Not as beautiful as you are," he replied with a grin, causing her to blush a deep purple.

"Thank you Harper," she replied as she looked at the menu to hide her blush. Harper's grin only got bigger.

Harper opened his mouth to say something but was cut off when the waiter arrived to take their order.

After they finished their entrée, they sat relaxing over a dish of ice cream and coffee.

"Trance?" Harper asked as he idly stirred his coffee.

"Yes Harper," she said as she looked up from her bowl.

"Trance, I was wondering what kind of life we could have together." He answered as he pushed the ice cream around the bowl with his spoon.

"Harper, we could have a good life together, if only you would get your act together and ask me out on a real date." She chided him playfully.

Harper only smiled as he paid the bill, it left him with just enough personal money to buy a crate of Sparky cola.

"Well then my purple goddess, shall we go?" Harper asked as he offered her his arm.

"Yes, let's." she replies with a grin as she took his arm.

Arm-in-arm they walked out of the restaurant and back to the dock housing the Maru, totally unaware of the eyes following Trance's every move.

The next day they went their separate ways, Harper to get Tyr's weapons and Trance to get some new plants for Hydroponics.

After a few hours Harper had returned with the weapons on the list. Stowing them in the hold he looked around for Trance, he'd found a nice little park he wanted to take her to.

"Trance?" he called into the empty looking ship.

"Trance?" he repeated as he began looking for her. Not finding her on board, he set a course for the 'farmers market,' the place where all things for Hydroponics could be found.

Harper looked around finding nothing. He was about to turn back to the Maru when he noticed a small metal object on the ground by an alleyway. Quickly picking it up he realized it was the charm bracelet he'd given her on her last birthday.

Horror at what this means struck him, calming himself he looked down the alley and saw broken and smashed plants. The exact kind of plant Trance said she needed.

Cold Rage replaced the fear as his suspicions were confirmed. Racing back to the Maru he quickly opened a channel to the Andromeda.

"Dylan, this is Harper. Trance has been kidnapped. I know what you'll be thinking when you get this message, but stay where you are, keep up the diplomacy. I'll get her back myself, this time it's personal. Maru out."

Harper quickly hit the command to send the message. Once the computer confirmed it was sent he went to his bunk and pulled out a dusty, locked trunk. Keying in the code, the DNA reader allowed the lock to be disengaged.

Opening the trunk he removed a few tools he need to get Trance back. Closing the lid and returning it where it was before, he made his way to the main computer. Activating a security program he left the Maru. As the ramp retracted behind him, he heard the AI mutter, 'lockdown level Alpha initiated. Command Crew Access Only. All Others Will Be Dealt With Accordingly.'

"Hang on Trance," he whispered as he slung the bag over his shoulder, "I'm on my way."

|

TBC in chapter 10.