By Erin_Cale
Disclaimer: See first part.
�No!� Trance screamed in frustration. �This can�t be happening! I�ve tried everything and nothing is working!�
�I�ll continue work on the nanoprobes. They are almost complete,� Seven said, seemingly unaffected by the situation.
Trance was delayed in replying by the entrance of the rest of the crew. Dylan and Beka came first, followed closely by Rev and Rommie.
�What good will the nanos do if Harper isn�t alive to receive them?� Trance exclaimed.
Seven looked at her as an adult would look at a small child who just wouldn�t understand. �The nanoprobes,� she explained in a voice that was slightly slower than normal, �also have the ability to revive the person they inhabit even after a period of 72 hours.� She noticed the apprehension on the faces surrounding her. �We have not lost him yet.�
As if the universe existed only for the contradiction of statements like the one Seven had just made, all the monitors stopped their action.
�He�s dead,� Andromeda announced solemnly.
The crew stood around Harper�s body in shock. None could believe that after all he been through, that he had actually been killed. Seven meanwhile continued her work. A few minutes later, she held out a vial to Trance. When she didn�t take it but continued to stare at Harper, Seven frowned and did it herself, injecting Harper with the altered nanoprobes. It took no more than a few seconds for one of the monitors to start beeping regularly again. One by one, the others joined in, until all the monitors showed Harper�s lifesigns.
Rommie glanced at Seven with a rare look on her face- complete and utter confusion. �How did you do that?�
The others hadn�t noticed what was going on, so this statement took them all by surprise. �Do what?� Dylan asked.
�Harper�s alive,� Trance explained.
The various eyes in the room all shot to the monitors, which showed Harper�s lifesigns as weak but getting stronger. The responses varied from Tyr�s approving smile to Beka�s huge grin to Rev�s �Thank the Divine.�
And in the corner of the room, the elder Q whispered, �Well, by a stroke of luck, she has passed her first test.�
�Now what, father?�
�She must find out what caused EngineBoy�s brush with death.�
�And if she doesn�t?�
�Then she is no longer intelligent enough to have her sentence of exile revoked.�
�What part am I playing in this?�
Q took a moment to think over his answer before replying. �You are first to decide whether the Borg woman�s being here affected Trance�s ability to cope with the situation. Then, if she figures out what caused the incident, you are to decide whether she figured the mystery out in a timely fashion, or as timely as one can expect from a Q who has lost her powers. Good luck, son.� With that, the elder Q disappeared, leaving his son to ponder his words.
Trance didn�t look up, but she listened carefully, her pointed ears catching every whispered syllable. She had never forgotten that the two Q were observing her but it could only benefit her to pretend like she couldn�t hear them. She filed the information away for later and returned her attention to Harper, who was now beginning to come around.
�Harper? How do you feel?� she asked.
�Too crappy for words. What happened?�
�We don�t know quite yet, but we�re working on it.� Trance had to force herself to resist the urge to look at the younger Q who was still standing in the shadows, watching her. �I promise, we�re going to find out what happened to you, and we�re going to find it soon.�
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