=/\= Starbase Unity =/\=
Harper looked at the newscast with a sense of horror and predicted dread. He knew, just knew, something would happen. Oh sure, it promised to be a very dull conference on Earth.. What could possibly happen Patrick? Its Earth, one of the safest places in the Federation. That'd been what Richard had said when he had told Harper he wasn't coming.
Now look at it, the transit station next to Starfleet Command had been blown up, and since Harper knew Richard was going to be there – as he'd called and told him he was going to leave a few minutes before – only the worst went through his mind. Richard, ever the practical one, had prepared a contingency plan for if something happened where he was, and he hadn't made contact straight after.
The 'procedure', recently revised, would be that Harper would inform Chloe, and stay with her until news was given, one way or another. So, with this procedure now in effect, Harper made his way to the Sharpe residence, and tapped the chime.
Chloe was sitting on the couch, a novel on a PADD in her hand, a bowl of rice on the coffee table in front of her. She had been tring to calm her stomach from the morning sickness. Hearing the chime, she was currious who was there. She was hoping it wasn't some comming to look for Sarah.
When the door opened, Harper put on a weak smile when Chloe appeared. "Hi Chloe." He said, weakly.
"What is it Patrick?" Chloe said as he came in, waving him to come sit on the couch. "Rough day?" She hadn't heard any of the newsreels, and didn't know that Harper's long face was because something could of happened to Richard.
Patrick didn't take the offered couch, but remained standing. "Chloe, I'm here because of an arrangement between Richard and myself. Call it a contingency, if you will."
"A contingency? What's going on Patrick. I've never seen you act like this." The way he was acting started to make her nervous, a knot growing in her already upset stomach. Setting the PADD aside she gave him her full attention.
"Roughly two hours ago, Starfleet Headquarters was attacked and a massive explosion tore through the transit station. At the same time, there were systematic attacks on the other core worlds." Harper said. "As of right now, we have had no confirmation from Richard that he's alive and alright, and in keeping with his standing orders, if he didn't contact me within two hours, I am to inform you, and stay with you until we know, one way or another."
Chloe was at a loss of words. "Are you sure?" She finally mamaged to say after moments of being silent.
"Don't jump to conclusions." Patrick said, moving closer to Chloe. "Just because we haven't heard, doesn't mean anything. Its chaos down there, and you and I both know that if there's trouble, Richard is invariably in it."
"He's always in some sort of trouble." She was tring to sound like she was sure he was alright. But she was scared, she wanted him to come home to her and their child. "Why aren't you there with him? YOur always with him."
"It was just a conference, he said." Harper said, glumly. "Besides, he's had me teamed up with Max Stirling, whilst he conducts reviews of the MEF, since the man's new and all."
Chloe quickly stood up rushing off to the bathroom, a bout of morning sickness being set off. She had been tring to keep food in her stomach, but what Patrick had told her didn't help her at all.
Patrick stood outside the bathroom, and kept his ears open. "Morning sickness started already?" He asked.
Taking a moment more, she finally empied her stomach then rinsed her mouth out. "Started yesterday." She said calmly. "Im sure Richard told you that there was almost no chance that I wasn't already pregnant. I hadn't told him yet of course, because I wasn't sure before he left. But I am now."
"I'd be surprised if you weren't." Harper said, smiling slyly. "He knew how much you wanted a child. Knowing him as I do, he wouldn't be happy unless you were."
"He has to come back, Patrick. I don't want to raise our child with out him." Her face showed how much she hoped that he was alive.
"You and I both know that he'll come back." He said, with an emotional waiver behind his voice. This was one of the very few times Richard was in a dangerous situation without Harper there, and sometimes, Harper knew but perhaps Chloe didn't, it'd been Harper's being there that had kept Richard alive.
Feeling that her stomach was calm enough for her not to have to rush to the bathroom again, she walked with Patrick back to the living room. "Do you know who was behind the attack?"
"No one knows anything yet." Harper said. "Richard just felt that it was important that you weren't on your own at a time like this."
"Thank you." She said as she sat down. "But surely there's there a lot you have to do." She didn't want to feel like she was holding up his day.
"I'm sure they can cope without me for a few hours." He said, smiling. It was at that moment that Harper received a chirp from his comm. Badge. He tapped it. "Harper here."
An unknown voice at the other end spoke. "Sergeant Major Harper? I have some news regarding General Sharpe."
"Go ahead." Harper said.
"Sergeant, I regret to inform you that we've received information that General Sharpe perished in the explosion on Earth." Said the voice.
Chloe started to hyperventilate. Tears started to flow down her cheeks,, a sob coming out of her chest. "no... No...." Her small body started to shake. "He promised he would come home to me."
Harper grabbed Chloe and held her. "Can you confirm that information and get back to me." He said into the comm.
"Yes Sergeant." The voice said, and the channel closed.
Harper just held the sobbing Chloe, at this moment, very concerned for her wellbeing. This sort emotional shock could put her in a serious medical condition. "We don't know that this is true… just keep the faith…"
She clutched her arms around her as Patrick held her. Her face against his chest tears damping his uniform. "You should of been with him..." She wispered. "Why didn't he take you?"
"What am I? The family pooch?" He asked, trying to cheer her up a bit. He wouldn't count Richard out until he knew for certain, as the annoying bastard had a knack for survival.
"What.... what else are you good for." She said, not having much luck with the joke. "God..." She started to sob again.
"Chloe… Chloe…" Patrick said, soothingly. "I've known Richard longer than you have. If there's one thing I know, he's one stubborn son of a bitch. If he made you a promise, I doubt even death will keep him from keeping it."
"I thought he would be safe. All he was doing was going to a conferance." She said between sobs. Pulling away from Patrick, she took a deep breath trying to calm herself, with out much luck. "Tell me that you will find out what happened to him."
"Of course I will." Harper said. "He means a great deal to me as well ya know. I might not sleep with him, but we're still pretty darn close." He cracked a smile.
"I should slap you a good one for that Patrick." She said tring to wipe away the tears from her face.
"You should tell Sarah, I don't think I can. She should be returning soon I suppose."
"I don't think we should tell Sarah anything, until we have confirmation." Harper said, firmly. "Its bad enough dealing with one emotional woman, than trying to handle two." He smiled, weakly.
"Perhaps she'll just pass off my mood because of being pregnant." She didn't want to lie to Sarah, but she knew that Patrick knew the girl, the woman, best.
"MEF Command will want confirmation before acting." Harper said. "This is their commanding officer they're talking about – they can't just go declaring him dead willy-nilly."
Chloe gave a nod. "I hope he's still out there." Chloe said tring to hold a sob in.
"Well, he took his sword." Patrick said, indicating the empty space on the wall where it usually hung. "That means he's alive."
"Why did he take it to a simple conferance?" She asked a little confused.
"I think he had one of his many moments of intuition and gut feelings." He said. "Besides, it might have a lot to do with what that Tellarite Sleuth Slayer said to him 20 years ago."
"he's never told me about that." She asked, wanting to know what he was talking about.
"Twenty years ago, we were on Terris 4, and just before the biggest battle in Starfleet Marine history, a Tellarite Sleuth Slayer came to our camp, and was giving out fortunes to our men." Harper said. "Richard decided he was going to do it, because he wanted to inspire his men. The Tellarite told him that he carried the sword of great love, and as long as he carried it, no harm would befall him." He hesitated, deciding not to reveal the remainder of the prophecy.
"You can't honestly bealive that do you?" She said, rasing an eyebrow. "Im not sure if I could."
"Richard and I didn't at first." Harper said. "But at the battle of Terris 4, Richard stood in the middle of the field, fire coming from the enemy in front of them. He held the marine line steady, got them to march in a line formation at the enemy, firing as they walked, with Richard in front, carrying nothing but that sword. Not a scratch."
She shook her head, "If you say so Patrick. I've never believed in all of that, but you do know him best. If you think he's still alive, I will keep hope too." She said taking anthor deep breath to try to calm down.
"I've seen him survive where no other person could've possibly." Harper said. "Believe me, as a Starfleet marine, to survive from the Enlisted ranks up to being a General, is something that is rarely done, especially when he's been at the front each and every time. You don't have to believe the prophecy, but you do have to believe in Richard."
"I've always bealived in Richard." She had managed to stop crying and dry her tears, but her eyes were still red and puffy. "I want to bealive that he's going to come back to me."
"Then believe he will." Patrick said. "He made you a promise, and he's never broken a promise before."
Chloe nodded again. "I sure hope so." She shook her head again. "He'd better, or your going to be stuck with both me and sarah."
"You make that sound like a bad thing." Harper said, smiling. "I'll give Richard credit, he knows how to pick his women."
"Im his only woman now, besides Sarah." She hoped he didn't mean any other type of women.
"I meant past and present." Harper said.
"If you say so Patrick." Giving a sigh, "I think I need to get something in my stomach." Chloe started to get up, one hand on her unsettled stomach.
"I thought Richard already took care of that." Patrick smirked. "If you want, I'll take you out for some food in the cantina, unless you want some alone time."
"Some alone time would be nice, Patrick." She said softly. "Perhaps anthor time."
"Alright, I'm a comm. Badge away if you need me." He said, and patted her on the shoulder gently.
"Thanks again, Patrick." She said with a sigh. She deffently needed some time alone, she didn't want to breakdown cring again.
=/\= End Log =/\=
2nd Lieutenant Chloe Sharpe
Pilot
1st MEF (Sarasi)
Command Sergeant Major Patrick Harper
Sergeant Major of the MEF
1st MEF (Frankie)
