"WHAT!" cried Harper wild, fighting back the tears. Beka's face looked like
a stone mask and her legs felt like glued to the ground. Trance started to
cry like a little child. Rev looked at the sky and started to pray, while
Tyr squeezed his teeth and his face got a furious expression. He looked
like he could kill someone in this moment.
Dylan looked astonished at their reaction and realized, what his statement caused, so he hastily added: "No, no, no! She's not dead! For God's sake! Nothing like that!"
They all looked relieved for a moment, but trouble immediately returned to their faces
"So, what do you mean by she's not longer with us!" practically screamed Harper, dragging hard on Dylan's arm. "You just said it! What do you mean!"
Dylan sighed and looked at the sky to avoid their questioning eyes. "I said, Rommie as we knew her is no longer with us! It's so complicated! Ah, what the hell! It's best to say it directly! These Elyans somehow managed to turn her into a human being. She's still here; she still is Rommie, but no more an android! She's human now!"
Harper's eyes flew wide and his mouth stayed open, trying to get some comprehensive sound out, but all he could produce were some unarticulated cries. All other also looked like under heavy shock, being unable to respond to this news. They just stood there, looking completely confused at Dylan, who, on his part, seemed to be extremely unhappy with all this mess.
Beka was the first to regain her senses and asked in deep disbelief: "You are just kidding us, right! Say it is so! Dylan!"
"No, unfortunately not. I'm telling you the truth! She IS a human being now!" answered Dylan.
Rev peered at the skies and grumbled quietly. Tyr looked at Dylan like he'd gone completely mad and Trance stood there with her mouth wide open, arms clinging down her side like two dead sticks. Everyone felt like being paralyzed.
Finally Harper managed to bring his body under control and demanded: "Dylan, this is impossible! There is no possibility to make an android human! NO WAY!"
"You'd better believe it, Harper. It is possible. Before today, I wouldn't believe it either. Not in my wildest dream. But it happened! It simply happened! They gave her a human body and transferred her personality into it. Believe me, she's still our Rommie, although extremely confused and in pain. But she is it. And I think that she will need all of us to help her in this situation. You see, I demanded from Andaar to reverse what they've done. But he told me her android body has been destroyed. So, we are now depending on you, Mr. Harper. You'll have to construct a new body for her."
"I can't believe it. It just may not be true!" repeated Harper, still not believing what he's just been told. "They couldn't possibly destroy my Rommie! I must go and see her now! Immediately!"
Dylan gently said to Harper: "No, Seamus, I don't believe it would be wise to storm into her room now. She is resting and trying to gather herself together at the moment. She needs some time alone, to get clear with the first shock. I think we should leave her in peace for a short time. And after that, you'll all have to do your best to help her. You haven't seen her as she realized what had happened. But I did! And, believe me, it almost broke my heart to see her pain. I've never seen anyone so hurt before. So, please, listen to me and just let it go for a moment. It'll be soon enough when she needs us all and wants us by her side."
Beka's expression softened a bit at Dylan's words and she noticed, how his voice subtly changed as he was talking about Rommie. She felt a small sting in her heart at this. But she instantly chased it away. It was Rommie, who was in trouble now, not her. This really wasn't time to discuss with herself upon her attraction to Dylan. On the other hand, she couldn't help but notice, that Dylan's relation to Rommie might be changing into more intimate one. More than she'd wanted it to see. So she just compassionate laid her hand on Dylan's shoulder: "We'll manage it Dylan, you'll see! We have been through so much together and we'll survive this crisis too. And be sure; we'll all stand by her side; and by your side!"
Dylan gratefully looked at her without saying a word. But his look caused another sting in Beka's heart. It was a look of a man, who is seeking help for someone he very much cares for. For a moment Beka almost hated Rommie, but she shivered at this thought and said to herself: "My God, Valentine, do you really want to blame her for this? Damn, she's the victim and not someone to be punished! It's in no way her fault that things turned this way. SHE is the one who needs help now!"
*********************
Rommie was still in her room, trying to pull herself together. She managed to overwhelm the first shock, but was still confused. Gradually, she began to think of all things she'd have to learn how to do in reality, now that she was human. She knew everything theoretically, but in praxis ....... She realized she'd need help from someone: perhaps Beka and Trance. But it was obvious, that it must be Beka to help her the most. After all, she was human and knew all the way what Rommie will yet have to manage. While sitting on the bed, she felt a strange feeling in her belly. "What could this mean?" asked she herself, not knowing where to arrange this strange sensation she'd never felt it before. Suddenly she frowned: "Did they hurt me anyway physically? I've never felt so strange before!" She stood up and began to walk around her room nervously. It was obvious, that something is wrong! She couldn't feel so strange otherwise! Suddenly she wished Dylan were with her now. Impatiently she stepped to the window to see, if she could see him anywhere. No one was to be seen, so she decided to go out and try to find him.
Determined she went to the door and as she opened it, she froze. All her friends were standing outside, looking at her with compassion in their eyes. Astonished she looked at each one of them. Suddenly Harper came to her and tried to hug her: "Rommie, Dylan told us what happened. How are you feeling? Is everything OK? I'm so mad at these people, I could kill everyone on this planet!"
Rommie struggled to get out of his hug and realized how limited her body strength was now. So she annoyed looked at Harper: "Harper, would you please let me go! I really don't feel like hugging you right now!"
Harper let her go in surprise not really knowing how to react. Rommie gave him another dirty look and went to Dylan. She stepped on the tips of her toes and whispered in his ear: "Dylan, there is something wrong with me. I think they might have hurt me physically. I've got such a strange feeling in my stomach, like ........ like, some butterflies were flying around in there."
Dylan looked amazed at first, but gradually his lips curved upwards and he began to smile. This smile eventually turned into giggle and then laughter. Rommie just stood there with hurt in her eyes, not knowing what drove into Dylan. After all, she was telling him that they probably hurt her and he is LAUGHING at her! This was outrageous! How dare he laugh at her! She could really slap him in this moment. Others looked puzzled at them and didn't know how to react.
Finally Dylan managed to stop laughing and bowed to Rommie, who still looked at him with wounded eyes. She was so shocked with his reaction that tears began to well in her eyes again. As Dylan saw her expression, he instantly became serious again. He laid his arm around Rommie's shoulders, pulled her closer and whispered in her ear: "Rommie, I'm sure they didn't hurt you that way. And I apologize for my outburst. I really didn't mean to mock on you, believe me. It's only; you'll have to learn so much about being human. I am almost sure, that what you feel is nothing wrong. It is the first sensation you experience as a human. You know, this strange feeling is called hunger."
Rommie just stood there with her eyes and mouth wide open. After a second, she managed to speak: "You mean .......?"
Dylan smiled at her and silently nodded. Gradually Rommie's astonishment gave way to more comfortable expression. A small spark of amusement lighted in her eyes and her lips began to smile shyly. "Well, I guess, I really have to learn a lot. Would you be so kind to help me with this first one experience? I believe that this ........ thing ....... is more familiar to you than it is to me." She innocently looked in his eyes.
"Sure!" answered Dylan and added: "It's really nice to see you smile again, Rommie!" He turned to the others: "So, it seems we'll have to find something to eat. Rommie just made her first human experience. She's hungry!"
Relief was written on every face and for the moment they simply forgot the perplexion of the whole situation and all smiled. Even Tyr smiled with unseen warmth. He never thought of Rommie as a female, but in this moment he realized, she is one and very beautiful one too. And she was human now. This changed his attitude to her. Well, she still wasn't Nietzschean, but she at least was organic. And that changed everything a lot. He'll perhaps even have to remember her name! After all, he could not possibly call her "ship" further!
Dylan looked astonished at their reaction and realized, what his statement caused, so he hastily added: "No, no, no! She's not dead! For God's sake! Nothing like that!"
They all looked relieved for a moment, but trouble immediately returned to their faces
"So, what do you mean by she's not longer with us!" practically screamed Harper, dragging hard on Dylan's arm. "You just said it! What do you mean!"
Dylan sighed and looked at the sky to avoid their questioning eyes. "I said, Rommie as we knew her is no longer with us! It's so complicated! Ah, what the hell! It's best to say it directly! These Elyans somehow managed to turn her into a human being. She's still here; she still is Rommie, but no more an android! She's human now!"
Harper's eyes flew wide and his mouth stayed open, trying to get some comprehensive sound out, but all he could produce were some unarticulated cries. All other also looked like under heavy shock, being unable to respond to this news. They just stood there, looking completely confused at Dylan, who, on his part, seemed to be extremely unhappy with all this mess.
Beka was the first to regain her senses and asked in deep disbelief: "You are just kidding us, right! Say it is so! Dylan!"
"No, unfortunately not. I'm telling you the truth! She IS a human being now!" answered Dylan.
Rev peered at the skies and grumbled quietly. Tyr looked at Dylan like he'd gone completely mad and Trance stood there with her mouth wide open, arms clinging down her side like two dead sticks. Everyone felt like being paralyzed.
Finally Harper managed to bring his body under control and demanded: "Dylan, this is impossible! There is no possibility to make an android human! NO WAY!"
"You'd better believe it, Harper. It is possible. Before today, I wouldn't believe it either. Not in my wildest dream. But it happened! It simply happened! They gave her a human body and transferred her personality into it. Believe me, she's still our Rommie, although extremely confused and in pain. But she is it. And I think that she will need all of us to help her in this situation. You see, I demanded from Andaar to reverse what they've done. But he told me her android body has been destroyed. So, we are now depending on you, Mr. Harper. You'll have to construct a new body for her."
"I can't believe it. It just may not be true!" repeated Harper, still not believing what he's just been told. "They couldn't possibly destroy my Rommie! I must go and see her now! Immediately!"
Dylan gently said to Harper: "No, Seamus, I don't believe it would be wise to storm into her room now. She is resting and trying to gather herself together at the moment. She needs some time alone, to get clear with the first shock. I think we should leave her in peace for a short time. And after that, you'll all have to do your best to help her. You haven't seen her as she realized what had happened. But I did! And, believe me, it almost broke my heart to see her pain. I've never seen anyone so hurt before. So, please, listen to me and just let it go for a moment. It'll be soon enough when she needs us all and wants us by her side."
Beka's expression softened a bit at Dylan's words and she noticed, how his voice subtly changed as he was talking about Rommie. She felt a small sting in her heart at this. But she instantly chased it away. It was Rommie, who was in trouble now, not her. This really wasn't time to discuss with herself upon her attraction to Dylan. On the other hand, she couldn't help but notice, that Dylan's relation to Rommie might be changing into more intimate one. More than she'd wanted it to see. So she just compassionate laid her hand on Dylan's shoulder: "We'll manage it Dylan, you'll see! We have been through so much together and we'll survive this crisis too. And be sure; we'll all stand by her side; and by your side!"
Dylan gratefully looked at her without saying a word. But his look caused another sting in Beka's heart. It was a look of a man, who is seeking help for someone he very much cares for. For a moment Beka almost hated Rommie, but she shivered at this thought and said to herself: "My God, Valentine, do you really want to blame her for this? Damn, she's the victim and not someone to be punished! It's in no way her fault that things turned this way. SHE is the one who needs help now!"
*********************
Rommie was still in her room, trying to pull herself together. She managed to overwhelm the first shock, but was still confused. Gradually, she began to think of all things she'd have to learn how to do in reality, now that she was human. She knew everything theoretically, but in praxis ....... She realized she'd need help from someone: perhaps Beka and Trance. But it was obvious, that it must be Beka to help her the most. After all, she was human and knew all the way what Rommie will yet have to manage. While sitting on the bed, she felt a strange feeling in her belly. "What could this mean?" asked she herself, not knowing where to arrange this strange sensation she'd never felt it before. Suddenly she frowned: "Did they hurt me anyway physically? I've never felt so strange before!" She stood up and began to walk around her room nervously. It was obvious, that something is wrong! She couldn't feel so strange otherwise! Suddenly she wished Dylan were with her now. Impatiently she stepped to the window to see, if she could see him anywhere. No one was to be seen, so she decided to go out and try to find him.
Determined she went to the door and as she opened it, she froze. All her friends were standing outside, looking at her with compassion in their eyes. Astonished she looked at each one of them. Suddenly Harper came to her and tried to hug her: "Rommie, Dylan told us what happened. How are you feeling? Is everything OK? I'm so mad at these people, I could kill everyone on this planet!"
Rommie struggled to get out of his hug and realized how limited her body strength was now. So she annoyed looked at Harper: "Harper, would you please let me go! I really don't feel like hugging you right now!"
Harper let her go in surprise not really knowing how to react. Rommie gave him another dirty look and went to Dylan. She stepped on the tips of her toes and whispered in his ear: "Dylan, there is something wrong with me. I think they might have hurt me physically. I've got such a strange feeling in my stomach, like ........ like, some butterflies were flying around in there."
Dylan looked amazed at first, but gradually his lips curved upwards and he began to smile. This smile eventually turned into giggle and then laughter. Rommie just stood there with hurt in her eyes, not knowing what drove into Dylan. After all, she was telling him that they probably hurt her and he is LAUGHING at her! This was outrageous! How dare he laugh at her! She could really slap him in this moment. Others looked puzzled at them and didn't know how to react.
Finally Dylan managed to stop laughing and bowed to Rommie, who still looked at him with wounded eyes. She was so shocked with his reaction that tears began to well in her eyes again. As Dylan saw her expression, he instantly became serious again. He laid his arm around Rommie's shoulders, pulled her closer and whispered in her ear: "Rommie, I'm sure they didn't hurt you that way. And I apologize for my outburst. I really didn't mean to mock on you, believe me. It's only; you'll have to learn so much about being human. I am almost sure, that what you feel is nothing wrong. It is the first sensation you experience as a human. You know, this strange feeling is called hunger."
Rommie just stood there with her eyes and mouth wide open. After a second, she managed to speak: "You mean .......?"
Dylan smiled at her and silently nodded. Gradually Rommie's astonishment gave way to more comfortable expression. A small spark of amusement lighted in her eyes and her lips began to smile shyly. "Well, I guess, I really have to learn a lot. Would you be so kind to help me with this first one experience? I believe that this ........ thing ....... is more familiar to you than it is to me." She innocently looked in his eyes.
"Sure!" answered Dylan and added: "It's really nice to see you smile again, Rommie!" He turned to the others: "So, it seems we'll have to find something to eat. Rommie just made her first human experience. She's hungry!"
Relief was written on every face and for the moment they simply forgot the perplexion of the whole situation and all smiled. Even Tyr smiled with unseen warmth. He never thought of Rommie as a female, but in this moment he realized, she is one and very beautiful one too. And she was human now. This changed his attitude to her. Well, she still wasn't Nietzschean, but she at least was organic. And that changed everything a lot. He'll perhaps even have to remember her name! After all, he could not possibly call her "ship" further!
