It's been such a long time since I began a new story here that I almost forgot how it feels. This story isn't new at all. It has been written a long time ago, but published only on some german boards. However, because it is a sequel to my "Triade series" I guess it would be appropriate to post it here too - to complete my cycle. It's a CLASSIC ANDROMEDA story (you'll never get to read anything Nu-Drom from me) with original crew (less Rev Bem). If you like it, tell me, if you don't... tell me too :-)

LOST HEARTS

Title: Lost Hearts
Spoilers: Almost all episodes
Disclaimer: I don't own Andromeda
A/N: This story is a sequel to my "Triade Series"; if you want to understand it you might want to read the Triade first – "What If", "Every Time I Look Into Your Eyes" and "Perfect Bliss"

Prologue

Andromeda Ascendant glided apparently aimless through space. According to board time it was 3 in the night and majority of her crew was peacefully sleeping in their quarters. Yes, Andromeda had had a complete crew for quite a while; there were again more than 4000 women and men on board. But at this hour, only the absolutely necessary crew manned their stations. In command there were just three people, taking care that everything functioned perfectly. Even the AI herself could take a break, what she did quite often in the past few months. She spent more and more time alone in her matrix and no one knew what was going on in there. Even Harper had no idea, for Andromeda limited his access to herself to the absolute minimum, required for her normal functioning. It occurred more and more often that she threw him out of herself, gently, but very resolutely. Everyone was wondering why she changed so much, but she didn't allow anyone into her virtual world. She was always very polite, very exact, everything an AI should be, but that was it. Her friendliness, her humanity seemed to have vanished completely.

It all began on one miserable day, almost three years ago…..

On that day, Dylan came back from his shore leave, but he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by Molly Noguchi, Molly whom Rommie couldn't stand seeing at all. And she wasn't the only one with such feelings toward the blonde woman; no one, with exception of Dylan seemed to like her. And then, some time later, Trance disappeared. No note, no information, no anything, she just vanished over night. But it didn't seem to disturb Dylan at all. Against all persuasions he married Molly. And on the next morning also Rommie vanished. No one had heard of here since, no one had seen her. And that was the day on which the end began. Andromeda was getting more and more reserved in her communications with Dylan, even Beka was showing quite clearly, she didn't like the new Dylan Hunt. But even that wasn't enough to persuade him to think over his deeds. No; six months after Rommie's disappearance he retired himself and settled down together with Molly on Dalooan. He didn't care any more what would happen to Andromeda. Shortly after his departure, Commonwealth decided to give the Andromeda the complete crew and Beka Valentine has been asked to become her captain. She chose her own people to be her senior Officers and so became Tyr Anasazi her XO, Seamus Z. Harper was appointed Chief Engineer and Trance, who meanwhile returned, was appointed Health Officer. But three of the original crew were gone…… Rev Bem who was busy building schools and hospitals and who thankfully rejected her offer to return to Andromeda; Dylan Hunt, who obviously forgot that there had ever been a ship named Andromeda Ascendant and lived on Dalooan with Molly and…… Rommie, who seemed to have disappeared in the twilight of the universe.

Andromeda retreated once again into her matrix and thought about what happened. She missed the old times, as everyone of her rag tag crew was in and around her, as she protected them, sometimes cursed them, but always loved them so dearly. A holographic tear formed in her eye, poured slowly down her cheek and she sighed sadly. She spent so many lonely nights like this before and it looked like many more were to come. She remembered the look in Rommie's eyes the evening before she left. They shared her pain, her disappointment over Dylan's behavior. She could understand then what Rommie felt for Dylan. And in that very moment she hated him. She hated him like she haven't hated anyone before. How could he handle that way? And since that day, their relation seemed to deteriorate rapidly. She followed his orders, she didn't comment, she didn't think about them. And he didn't notice it at all. And then he almost pushed her over the edge as he didn't want to go searching for Rommie. If it wouldn't be for Beka's furious reaction, which made him go looking after the wayward avatar, he wouldn't even consider such a possibility. Yes, he did search for her: half-hearted, one month, no success.

He seemed to have lost his will to follow his destiny, to go on with his mission. He spent more and more time in his quarters, together with Molly. And gradually it didn't disturb anyone more, they just wanted to stay away from him. His farewell was bitter, but at that time it was the best possible solution. It was the only way the others could go on with their lives. Some managed it, some not. Andromeda didn't manage it that well.

Trance and Harper came together for a short time and it seemed they could have make it. But then everything changed and Trance disappeared, just to come back about one year later. Her relation to Harper was……. tense. Andromeda still had no idea why they parted and it interested her even less each day. She let the days go by and they went by: monotonous, boring, always the same, always without Dylan, always without Rommie. Slowly she lost her hope and let herself be carried by the stream of time and didn't even try to defend herself against this feeling.

Only Beka, her new captain and Tyr seemed to have escaped this curse and lived together happily. Andromeda was glad for them, but always as she saw them, she felt a tiny sting in her virtual heart. She always had to think of Rommie and Dylan. She has been a part of their never realized relationship, relationship that was never to come true.

Andromeda sank in such thoughts more and more frequently. Her reaction times grew longer and Beka began to worry about Andromeda, her ship, her friend. Yes, Andromeda was a friend to Beka; just like Rommie had once been. And she liked her a lot. Andromeda felt her friendship, her attention, wanted to return it, but couldn't free herself out of her nightmares. But one day, not so far from now, she would have to do it. In Commonwealth Headquarters her personal changes didn't go unnoticed and they began to think about the solution of this problem. And these thoughts weren't friendly at all. Slowly but sure Andromeda was running out of time and she knew that. But she also knew what was the only way to free herself out of this circle: she wanted her Dylan back, her Dylan without Molly. And she wanted her avatar back. She just didn't know how to get them back.

TBC