I don't own Andromeda... sad, but true...
Ten years have passe since the Abyss had been sent away from the Known Worlds… destroyed once again for an unlimited period of time. The enemies of life were now gone, destroyed by the great force of the new Commonwealth, that had soon rejoined nearly all the worlds it once numbered.
"I'm getting old." Dylan mumbled as he settled his suit in front of a full-size mirror, in the privacy of his cozy villa, somewhere near the capital of his beloved planet… Tarn Vedra…
"So?" a sarcastic female voice was heard behind, forcing him to turn and half glare, half stare at the blonde woman in front of him.
"Aren't we in a mood today…" he mumbled, as the woman's skilled hands took hold of his insignias and started arranging them on the dark material which covered his broad and still muscular chest.
"Speak for yourself." She chuckled lightly and made him turn around, so that he could admire her work. "Ever since you were told a month ago that they were supporting you for a place in the Triumvirate, you've been fusing like a mad man. Calm down!" she advised him even a bit exhausted and turned away, ready to leave.
"Where are you going?" he inquired, watching how the long blonde plait swung at her back with each of her movements.
"Ahem I see that you are ready, while I still have to settle some things." She glared back with light green eyes.
"You know, ten years ago I would've never thought you'd accept your heritage and become one of the most important Ladies in the Known Worlds." He smiled a bit evily.
"You know, ten years ago I would've never thought you'd accept a position as a Triumvir… but if you ask me, it was about bloody time." She mocked him in her usual style.
"Geez, thanks for the incredible consideration over my work, Beka."
"Well, it's not like I wasn't there to save your ass everytime you got in trouble." She grinned.
"Acting all lady-like until your old self makes itself noticed once again."
"If this consideration goes on, not only I'll be late… but you'll be late too…" she pointed out with a deep sigh.
"Aww, I didn't know you cared…"
"I always care." She frowned for a moment, but then sent him a charming smile. "I'll meet you downstairs in ten minutes." She turned around, allowing him to admire the way her black dress molded on her body. And why not? She had remained as beautiful as ever. Beka had turned from the rebel pilot into one of the most powerful senators at the time. No one had considered her capable of taking over her heritage… not even herself… but surprisingly enough, she ended up doing a hell of a job. And still, every once in a while, she would prove that inside her laid the same restless soul that would always love flying over negociating.
"What are you doing?" a careful Rommie silently entered the slipstream core and gazed over at her dearest engineer ever… Seamus Zelazny Harper. He looked up at her with his ususal blue eyes filled with innocence. His hair was spikey as usual and he still preferred casual clothes over suits and stuff. Still, today he was wearing one of his best formal outfits, specially picked for Dylan's ceremony.
"I know it's boss' biggest day ever… but I can't help feeling bad…"
"And why is that?" she walked over to him and sat by his side.
"Because… you know… this means that we really won't be a team anymore… not the crew of Andromeda… and not even Maru's." he spoke softly, staring at the floor beneath his feet.
"Don't say that… just because Beka is now a Senator, Dylan a Triumvir and Rhade an Admiral, it doesn't mean that you won't remain the closest friends and your lives will be completely torn appart." She explained with a light smile. "And it's not like you're not Chief Engineer over the entire Commonwealth's fleet!" she nudged him playfully.
"Well… that does feel kinda' good…" he admitted and smiled as well.
"You see? Than, you don't have to be afraid that you're losing your friends… because you're not."
"I guess… Man , I know I'm getting old." He whined and got up, surprisingly with the same agillity as he used to, many years before. Hiding a chuckle, the ship's gorgeous avatar got up as well and followed him through the decks, to one of the awaiting ships that was going to get them to the planet's surface.
"Finally making Dylan a Triumvir will bring even more prosperity and success to the Commonwealth." Trance Gemini walked next to Admiral Telemachus Rhade. Her golden skin seemed to be brighter than usual and the Nietzscheean could sweare that he felt waves of warmth coming from her direction.
"I agree… It was about time he took a place in the leadership." He nodded his head and kept on walking as stiff as always.
"Although I doubt that giving up Andromeda's command will please him."
"I am sure that the new High Guard can take care of its fleet's pride." Rhade smiled. "And plus, there are no more battles and wars to be taken care of."
"Except for the pyrians and few prides that still refuse Beka's command." Trance glanced at him, watching the emotions' game on his features.
"The Matriarh's existence and power are more than proved… although I must admit that if I had not met the Progenitor in the flesh, I do not know how much of the story I would have believed."
"But you trust her."
"How could I not? She remains my Matriarh… a former shipmate… and a friend…" he confessed with a low growl, which made Trance smile.
"The truth is that few people would've managed to do what she did." She spoke with confidence.
"If you are talking about raising the Progenitor's reincarnation, then yes, I agree."
"I care for Tamerlan and I think that he will be a great ruler when his time will come." Trance glanced at him again, while crossing the hallways to the largest council hall, where the gathering and the party were about to take place.
"And curiously enough he cares deeply for his caretaker, considering who his father was." The Admiral couldn't help himself.
"You know, there were times when everyone considered Beka and Tyr to be one step away from becoming a couple." The golden avatar sent him a look, watching his self-control take over his immediate reactions.
"And still, he betrayed her and the entire Commonwealth!" the Admiral gritted his teeth.
"The truth is that no on expected Beka herself to be the original Matriarh… the mother of all nietzcheeans."
"Not even you?" he sent her a curious stare. In response, Trance lowered her head and her skin simply flashed pure gold for a heartbeat.
"The perfect future was back then nearly impossible to be seen, but reached. There were many I had not seen before… and Beka's identity was the most important I had missed." She spoke while keeping her head lowered.
"Speaking of the devil." Rhade mumbled and the two looked up, watching Andromeda's former pilot walking towards them with a perhaps eleven or twelve year-old, stepping proudly right by her side.
"Hey guys." The blonde's voice welcomed them.
"Beka… Tamerlan…" Trance smiled sweetly.
"Hey Trance… Hello Admiral…" the boy returned the avatar's grin, but his face became impossibly serious at the sight of the imposing nietzcheean. Although the child was aware of his place and heritage among his people, he couldn't help but feel a huge respect for the Admiral… no matter how stiff he seemed to be in his presence. Yes, he cared deeply for Dylan and Harper, Rommie and Trance. But he respected Rhade almost as much as Beka… who he nearly loved as a mother.
"Milord… Matriarh…" the nietzcheean bowed to both of them.
"Rhade…" Beka started on a nearly enraged tone, but, fortunately, Dylan's voice forced her to stop abruptly. They all turned too see the new Triumvir, already dressed in the new uniform, with even moe insignias sparkling brightly on his chest. He was smiling, although they all knew that he was feeling like hell. He always preferred actions over words… but he was now left with only one choice.
"Hey, what's up?" Harper showed up as if he had simply teleported himself there. Not even paying the quartet a single look or allowing them to actually answer his question, he stared away at Dylan, who was still walking to them. With a big grin and a fast pulse, the short engineer left the surprised group and went straight to the former captain, shaking his hand thoughly and congradulating him on the new function. While both Rhade and Tamerlan gazed completely lost and the two men a few steps away, Beka turned to Trance and sawconcern displayed all over her face…concern and sadness…
'And so a new chapter in my life begins…'
Dylan thought as he walked through the empty hallways of his warship one last time. The empty and silent space remembered him of what it used to be like right before he escaped the event horizon from the Hephaestos black hole. Before he found Harper digging through the slipstream core for a map… before he warned Beka about destroying their entire amo supply… before learning that Rev Bem was probably the first and only civilized magog… before he first got used to Trance's childish, yet charming behaviour… before he first confronted Tyr… before he knew that his entire Universe was gone and that he had lived 300 year in a simple heartbeat.
Special thanks go to Ice Girl, MistyQue (especially for a name - you'll see it in the future chappies - ), The One (for waiting patiently every update and reminding me every once in a while that I have to keep writing) and the rest of the Romanian Andromeda Fanclub (this one's for you guys and gals ;) ).