25 - Revealing Future Plans
"So, should we tell them right now, or do you think we should wait for another opportunity?" Rommie's voice sounded a bit concerned and her eyes looked confused in Dylan's face.
Dylan smiled at her and hugged her close: "I think that they have the right to know. But, before we make our final decision, tell me one more thing: are you definitely and completely sure, you don't want to be an android again. I mean, this terrible experience, your near-death, it all could be avoided if you'd be an android again."
Rommie laid her head on Dylan's chest and looked thoughtful. She didn't answer immediately but then spoke in a soft voice: "It might occur strange, but exactly this experience confirmed me in my decision to remain human. Yes, I know, it would be perhaps easier for me if I'd be almost indestructible again, but on the other hand...... I think that I don't want to be like before again. I don't want to have to live for centuries after you'd vanish from my life. It would be too hard to cope with and I'm not sure if I'd be able to survive. Now I understand Pax why she did what she did. It must have been a living hell for her, to be cursed to live for centuries with the truth, she'd killed the one she loved and that her love would never again be requited. Now I know why she didn't want to live on, why she chose death rather than to fight on in this cold, ruthless universe alone, knowing that her loved one was gone forever. And therefore I don't want to share her destiny and choose to be what I am now, although it means that I'll die someday, very soon in terms of an AI. But I know I will be loved and I will not have to vegetate, should I be left alone. And, besides, only this way I can do what I want to...... give you children. You know, I've done a lot of thinking lately and I must say that I'm really looking forward to having kids with you."
Dylan listened to her explanation without interfering and gently caressed her hair. After she finished, he slightly pushed her away, to look her into her eyes and smiled: "Rommie, there is only one thing I can tell you: thank you! Thank you for loving me so much. Well, if this is it, then we should really tell them, that we'll get married someday very soon and maybe become a family too in the time."
Rommie nodded happily and gave him a shiny smile, smile that made him see only her. But before they would lose themselves again in the vortex of feelings, he shook his head: "We should tell them right now! Andromeda, could you call a meeting on observation deck in 15 minutes?"
"Sure, Dylan," answered Andromeda. She could listen to their conversation, because they didn't require a private mode. And she was happy with this decision, seeing, that the things are going to turn to better finally. Since Rommie woke up, Dylan was almost unrecognizable; he acted very cheerful, his mood almost never changed into darker one as it did often before. Dylan noticed a kind of satisfaction in Andromeda's voice and blinked to Rommie with one eye. He smiled at her and Rommie returned it, knowing what he meant. She also noticed, that Andromeda behaved quite differently in the last days. Remembering their former debates, which often ended in anger, she couldn't miss Andromeda's changed attitude towards her. She really tried to be kind to her and Rommie knew exactly why.
As Rommie and Dylan entered the observation deck exactly 15 minutes later, everyone was already there, waiting for them. Beka looked a bit annoyed at Dylan: "So, Dylan, what do you want to exclaim this time? This is starting to be boring. A meeting every other day. Huh, I am really curious."
Dylan didn't take any offence and smiled at Beka: "Beka, I can assure you, that this is the last meeting that I am summoning for a long time. But, believe me, it's important! Very!"
Beka looked a bit puzzled, arched one eyebrow and waited for Dylan to continue. He looked at each one separately, noticing, that Trance smiled somehow knowingly, and Rev also looked like he would expect to be told something nice. But Harper, Tyr and Beka just looked expectantly and didn't show any emotions.
Dylan sighed, looked at Rommie, who snuggled close to him and smiled happily and started: "Well, I, that is, we, Rommie and I, would like to tell you, that we decided to start a new life together. We will get married as soon as possible and we are also planning to have some children. Yeah, it might occur as a head over heels decision, but, believe me, it is not so. We know each other long enough to be sure that we are doing a right thing. I am sure we will be happy together, especially with such good friends as you all. Additionally, Rommie definitely decided, she doesn't want to be an android again. She will remain human." He expectantly looked at the others.
They all looked a bit taken aback with this sudden revelation and no one managed to speak at first. Then Trance pulled herself from the others and came to them with a wide smile. She went to Rommie, hugged her close and whispered in her ear: "Rommie, I'm so happy for you! I've been hoping to hear this for such a long time."
Rommie hugged her back, smiling happily: "I know Trance. Me too."
Then Trance looked questioningly at Rommie. She understood her look and just slightly shook her head, giving her the answer to the unspoken question. No, she hadn't told Dylan yet, that she found out, who was responsible for the whole mess. She was still waiting for the right moment to confront him with the truth. She somehow knew that his reaction wouldn't be exactly a pleased one and she wanted to make sure, he wouldn't do anything foolish upon hearing the news.
Tyr also slowly walked to Dylan, offered him his hand and said: "Well, Captain, I will have to get used to the fact that you will in a very short time be a married man. Nevertheless, I believe, that it's high time also you take care of giving your genes to some offspring. You may not be a Nietzschean, but you sure are not very far away from us."
Dylan accepted his hand with a smile and answered: "Thank you, Tyr. I'm glad that you approve our decision. Don't worry, we'll take care of our descendants."
Then Tyr turned to Rommie and gave her his hand: "I guess, I will have to call you Mrs. Hunt, or? It would really be impropriate to call you ship now. Congratulations. I have told you once, that you are getting emotionally attached to your captain, but you wouldn't give me an answer. Well, here I have now the answer."
Rommie blushed a little, remembering her discussion with Tyr as they were looking for Dylan and answered: "Tyr, if there is one thing I never did about you is to underestimate you. I just didn't want you to have an ace in your hand to play it out on me. But, thank you."
Rev came across room and saw at Rommie with a huge smile in his face: "Child, I think that you are at the moment the happiest person on Board. I am so glad for you. I'm sure the Divine will take care of you two and your possible children. You really deserve to be so happy, after all you've been through."
Rommie looked thankfully at the Magog and smiled faintly: "You are right Rev, I am probably the happiest person in the whole universe right now. And I must thank you for everything you did for me. I may have not admitted, but sometimes your advice really helped me to get out of some crisis. And gain hope again."
Beka was in the meantime at Dylan and she looked at him with mixed emotions: "Dylan, I believe you know, that it wasn't really easy for me to accept this. But now I am happy for you two. You really made a long way to get together. I wish you both all the luck."
Dylan smiled at her, tugged her closer and hugged her: "I know Beka. And I am very grateful to you that you did what you did. Believe me, everything will turn out good."
Beka just nodded and didn't answer. Then she turned to Rommie: "To be honest..... I envy you a bit. You've got a fine man with Dylan. Treat him right, do you hear!"
Rommie nodded, knowing that it must have been very hard for Beka to congratulate her. So she didn't answer, she just hugged her and whispered in her ear: "Thank you. I know what you are going through right now."
Harper was the last one to come to Rommie. He stopped in front of her, his eyes very big and he looked at her for a moment before saying: "Rom-Doll, I am speechless. What have I done to deserve this? I really hoped you would some day recognize my virtues. But nooooo! You had to fall in love with this High guard fossil!" He smiled and hugged her. "No offence, Rommie. I am glad for you. Will we remain friends as before?"
Rommie smiled satisfied: "Sure, Mr. Harper, we will remain friend forever. Just don't call me Rom-Doll anymore, understood? I am not what I used to be any more and I think that you should also accept it."
Harper looked at her with fake surprise in his face: "Well, I'll try to remember this. But, I'm not sure if it will work. You know me! My tongue is faster than my brain. And I apologize in advance for everything I might be saying to you in the future. Huh, does this mean, I may not make you any seductive overtures any more? At least a bit? Please?"
Rommie laughed: "Harper, I'm sure you can't let your fingers away from such behavior, so I won't take it as an offence. Just remember, I will be married soon!"
"Harper, I know you too well to believe you could change over night," interfered Dylan smiling. "But, as Rommie already said, she will be Mrs. Hunt soon and as a married woman, she will be in a slightly different position as before."
"I know that, Dylan, believe me. I know that all too well!" grinned Harper and shook Dylan's hand.
Soon everyone except Rommie and Dylan left the deck and they looked at each other smiling. Rommie laid her hand on Dylan's chest and said in a low voice: "Dylan, I think I should have a discussion with Andromeda. Would you mind leaving us alone, please? I think, that this talk is something we have to do in privacy. Just we two. OK?"
Dylan smiled and nodded: "Sure, darling. You really should sort out things definitely. I will leave you two alone." And he grinned at the hologram, which appeared next to him and Rommie and looked at him with big eyes.
After also Dylan left, Andromeda and Rommie stared at each other in silence for the moment. Then Rommie started: "I have a strange feeling about this conversation. I'm not used to have to talk to you like this. But, we really have to talk. I know that you were against my relationship with Dylan, and know also, that you don't disapprove it anymore. Could you tell me, what made you change your mind?"
Andromeda answered: "To be honest, I still have my slight doubts about it. But I can see, that Dylan is happier than ever. And I can also see, that you look very satisfied. And, after all, if you two are happy, I don't see a reason it wouldn't work out. Especially, taking into consideration, that you are now a human, a separate personality and that you are not hindered by the protocol any more. Therefore I accepted the fact, you two getting together. After all," her eyes suddenly looked very soft, "you were the one who told me once, I still had feelings for him. Well, I really hate to admit it, but you were right. And I'm glad that he's finally happy. And if it is somehow me, that made him happy, I'm even happier. You will just have to promise me something!"
Rommie rose on eyebrow: "Which would be?"
Andromeda looked at her thoughtfully, but gradually, her lips curved in a smile: "Don't ever do anything to make him sorry for making this decision. And........ will you sometimes allow me to know how it is to be loved by him?"
Rommie was a bit surprised: "I was really right! You still have feelings for him! And not just professional. Admit it, you still love him at least a bit!"
Andromeda looked down and nodded slightly: "Yes, I think I do."
Rommie smiled: "I can promise you, I will do my best never to disappoint him. And I will tell you, how it is to be loved, believe me."
Andromeda looked gratefully at Rommie and smiled. Then she saw, that Rommie's face suddenly grew a bit concerned and looked at her questioningly.
Rommie caught this look and sighed: "I still don't know how Trance managed to keep me alive after I was lethally wounded. I simply don't understand. Do you really have no recordings of the medical deck at that time?"
Andromeda slowly shook her head, closed her eyes, looked like she would be processing some data and then opened her eyes again: "I have something. It's very strange and I can't explain it. In the time, as Trance was alone with you in the room, I registered some energy disorder in the room. Something, very weak, but it was there."
Rommie looked at her with absent eyes: "No similarity to any known phenomena whatsoever?"
Andromeda kept still for a moment and then answered: "Well, if I try to find a matching pattern, there is something similar: Tesseract. But, the tesseract should have much stronger energetic signature."
Rommie looked thoughtfully: "Don't forget, that obvious the room has been somehow shielded from your sensors. That means, should there really be some tesseract events in the room, you wouldn't be able to recognize it."
Andromeda nodded: "This could be the explanation. What shall we do about it? Should we inform Dylan?"
Rommie slowly shook her head and then answered: "I'll take care of Dylan. I believe it is time, he finds out about Trance and we should observe her. I believe you should watch her very closely at all times. She doesn't have to know it. Yeah, she might be sensing it somehow. But I believe you should especially take care of the medical deck. I think that the answer to our questions lies there, in front of our eyes, but we can't see it. So, I'll go and talk to Dylan and you keep an eye on Trance, agreed? Even if she asks for a private mode, confirm it, but remain on-line."
Andromeda looked a bit skeptical: "Wouldn't it be against the rules if I'd control her even under privacy mode? What will Dylan say to this?"
"Don't worry about Dylan," grinned Rommie happily. "I believe, I can persuade him."
TBC
"So, should we tell them right now, or do you think we should wait for another opportunity?" Rommie's voice sounded a bit concerned and her eyes looked confused in Dylan's face.
Dylan smiled at her and hugged her close: "I think that they have the right to know. But, before we make our final decision, tell me one more thing: are you definitely and completely sure, you don't want to be an android again. I mean, this terrible experience, your near-death, it all could be avoided if you'd be an android again."
Rommie laid her head on Dylan's chest and looked thoughtful. She didn't answer immediately but then spoke in a soft voice: "It might occur strange, but exactly this experience confirmed me in my decision to remain human. Yes, I know, it would be perhaps easier for me if I'd be almost indestructible again, but on the other hand...... I think that I don't want to be like before again. I don't want to have to live for centuries after you'd vanish from my life. It would be too hard to cope with and I'm not sure if I'd be able to survive. Now I understand Pax why she did what she did. It must have been a living hell for her, to be cursed to live for centuries with the truth, she'd killed the one she loved and that her love would never again be requited. Now I know why she didn't want to live on, why she chose death rather than to fight on in this cold, ruthless universe alone, knowing that her loved one was gone forever. And therefore I don't want to share her destiny and choose to be what I am now, although it means that I'll die someday, very soon in terms of an AI. But I know I will be loved and I will not have to vegetate, should I be left alone. And, besides, only this way I can do what I want to...... give you children. You know, I've done a lot of thinking lately and I must say that I'm really looking forward to having kids with you."
Dylan listened to her explanation without interfering and gently caressed her hair. After she finished, he slightly pushed her away, to look her into her eyes and smiled: "Rommie, there is only one thing I can tell you: thank you! Thank you for loving me so much. Well, if this is it, then we should really tell them, that we'll get married someday very soon and maybe become a family too in the time."
Rommie nodded happily and gave him a shiny smile, smile that made him see only her. But before they would lose themselves again in the vortex of feelings, he shook his head: "We should tell them right now! Andromeda, could you call a meeting on observation deck in 15 minutes?"
"Sure, Dylan," answered Andromeda. She could listen to their conversation, because they didn't require a private mode. And she was happy with this decision, seeing, that the things are going to turn to better finally. Since Rommie woke up, Dylan was almost unrecognizable; he acted very cheerful, his mood almost never changed into darker one as it did often before. Dylan noticed a kind of satisfaction in Andromeda's voice and blinked to Rommie with one eye. He smiled at her and Rommie returned it, knowing what he meant. She also noticed, that Andromeda behaved quite differently in the last days. Remembering their former debates, which often ended in anger, she couldn't miss Andromeda's changed attitude towards her. She really tried to be kind to her and Rommie knew exactly why.
As Rommie and Dylan entered the observation deck exactly 15 minutes later, everyone was already there, waiting for them. Beka looked a bit annoyed at Dylan: "So, Dylan, what do you want to exclaim this time? This is starting to be boring. A meeting every other day. Huh, I am really curious."
Dylan didn't take any offence and smiled at Beka: "Beka, I can assure you, that this is the last meeting that I am summoning for a long time. But, believe me, it's important! Very!"
Beka looked a bit puzzled, arched one eyebrow and waited for Dylan to continue. He looked at each one separately, noticing, that Trance smiled somehow knowingly, and Rev also looked like he would expect to be told something nice. But Harper, Tyr and Beka just looked expectantly and didn't show any emotions.
Dylan sighed, looked at Rommie, who snuggled close to him and smiled happily and started: "Well, I, that is, we, Rommie and I, would like to tell you, that we decided to start a new life together. We will get married as soon as possible and we are also planning to have some children. Yeah, it might occur as a head over heels decision, but, believe me, it is not so. We know each other long enough to be sure that we are doing a right thing. I am sure we will be happy together, especially with such good friends as you all. Additionally, Rommie definitely decided, she doesn't want to be an android again. She will remain human." He expectantly looked at the others.
They all looked a bit taken aback with this sudden revelation and no one managed to speak at first. Then Trance pulled herself from the others and came to them with a wide smile. She went to Rommie, hugged her close and whispered in her ear: "Rommie, I'm so happy for you! I've been hoping to hear this for such a long time."
Rommie hugged her back, smiling happily: "I know Trance. Me too."
Then Trance looked questioningly at Rommie. She understood her look and just slightly shook her head, giving her the answer to the unspoken question. No, she hadn't told Dylan yet, that she found out, who was responsible for the whole mess. She was still waiting for the right moment to confront him with the truth. She somehow knew that his reaction wouldn't be exactly a pleased one and she wanted to make sure, he wouldn't do anything foolish upon hearing the news.
Tyr also slowly walked to Dylan, offered him his hand and said: "Well, Captain, I will have to get used to the fact that you will in a very short time be a married man. Nevertheless, I believe, that it's high time also you take care of giving your genes to some offspring. You may not be a Nietzschean, but you sure are not very far away from us."
Dylan accepted his hand with a smile and answered: "Thank you, Tyr. I'm glad that you approve our decision. Don't worry, we'll take care of our descendants."
Then Tyr turned to Rommie and gave her his hand: "I guess, I will have to call you Mrs. Hunt, or? It would really be impropriate to call you ship now. Congratulations. I have told you once, that you are getting emotionally attached to your captain, but you wouldn't give me an answer. Well, here I have now the answer."
Rommie blushed a little, remembering her discussion with Tyr as they were looking for Dylan and answered: "Tyr, if there is one thing I never did about you is to underestimate you. I just didn't want you to have an ace in your hand to play it out on me. But, thank you."
Rev came across room and saw at Rommie with a huge smile in his face: "Child, I think that you are at the moment the happiest person on Board. I am so glad for you. I'm sure the Divine will take care of you two and your possible children. You really deserve to be so happy, after all you've been through."
Rommie looked thankfully at the Magog and smiled faintly: "You are right Rev, I am probably the happiest person in the whole universe right now. And I must thank you for everything you did for me. I may have not admitted, but sometimes your advice really helped me to get out of some crisis. And gain hope again."
Beka was in the meantime at Dylan and she looked at him with mixed emotions: "Dylan, I believe you know, that it wasn't really easy for me to accept this. But now I am happy for you two. You really made a long way to get together. I wish you both all the luck."
Dylan smiled at her, tugged her closer and hugged her: "I know Beka. And I am very grateful to you that you did what you did. Believe me, everything will turn out good."
Beka just nodded and didn't answer. Then she turned to Rommie: "To be honest..... I envy you a bit. You've got a fine man with Dylan. Treat him right, do you hear!"
Rommie nodded, knowing that it must have been very hard for Beka to congratulate her. So she didn't answer, she just hugged her and whispered in her ear: "Thank you. I know what you are going through right now."
Harper was the last one to come to Rommie. He stopped in front of her, his eyes very big and he looked at her for a moment before saying: "Rom-Doll, I am speechless. What have I done to deserve this? I really hoped you would some day recognize my virtues. But nooooo! You had to fall in love with this High guard fossil!" He smiled and hugged her. "No offence, Rommie. I am glad for you. Will we remain friends as before?"
Rommie smiled satisfied: "Sure, Mr. Harper, we will remain friend forever. Just don't call me Rom-Doll anymore, understood? I am not what I used to be any more and I think that you should also accept it."
Harper looked at her with fake surprise in his face: "Well, I'll try to remember this. But, I'm not sure if it will work. You know me! My tongue is faster than my brain. And I apologize in advance for everything I might be saying to you in the future. Huh, does this mean, I may not make you any seductive overtures any more? At least a bit? Please?"
Rommie laughed: "Harper, I'm sure you can't let your fingers away from such behavior, so I won't take it as an offence. Just remember, I will be married soon!"
"Harper, I know you too well to believe you could change over night," interfered Dylan smiling. "But, as Rommie already said, she will be Mrs. Hunt soon and as a married woman, she will be in a slightly different position as before."
"I know that, Dylan, believe me. I know that all too well!" grinned Harper and shook Dylan's hand.
Soon everyone except Rommie and Dylan left the deck and they looked at each other smiling. Rommie laid her hand on Dylan's chest and said in a low voice: "Dylan, I think I should have a discussion with Andromeda. Would you mind leaving us alone, please? I think, that this talk is something we have to do in privacy. Just we two. OK?"
Dylan smiled and nodded: "Sure, darling. You really should sort out things definitely. I will leave you two alone." And he grinned at the hologram, which appeared next to him and Rommie and looked at him with big eyes.
After also Dylan left, Andromeda and Rommie stared at each other in silence for the moment. Then Rommie started: "I have a strange feeling about this conversation. I'm not used to have to talk to you like this. But, we really have to talk. I know that you were against my relationship with Dylan, and know also, that you don't disapprove it anymore. Could you tell me, what made you change your mind?"
Andromeda answered: "To be honest, I still have my slight doubts about it. But I can see, that Dylan is happier than ever. And I can also see, that you look very satisfied. And, after all, if you two are happy, I don't see a reason it wouldn't work out. Especially, taking into consideration, that you are now a human, a separate personality and that you are not hindered by the protocol any more. Therefore I accepted the fact, you two getting together. After all," her eyes suddenly looked very soft, "you were the one who told me once, I still had feelings for him. Well, I really hate to admit it, but you were right. And I'm glad that he's finally happy. And if it is somehow me, that made him happy, I'm even happier. You will just have to promise me something!"
Rommie rose on eyebrow: "Which would be?"
Andromeda looked at her thoughtfully, but gradually, her lips curved in a smile: "Don't ever do anything to make him sorry for making this decision. And........ will you sometimes allow me to know how it is to be loved by him?"
Rommie was a bit surprised: "I was really right! You still have feelings for him! And not just professional. Admit it, you still love him at least a bit!"
Andromeda looked down and nodded slightly: "Yes, I think I do."
Rommie smiled: "I can promise you, I will do my best never to disappoint him. And I will tell you, how it is to be loved, believe me."
Andromeda looked gratefully at Rommie and smiled. Then she saw, that Rommie's face suddenly grew a bit concerned and looked at her questioningly.
Rommie caught this look and sighed: "I still don't know how Trance managed to keep me alive after I was lethally wounded. I simply don't understand. Do you really have no recordings of the medical deck at that time?"
Andromeda slowly shook her head, closed her eyes, looked like she would be processing some data and then opened her eyes again: "I have something. It's very strange and I can't explain it. In the time, as Trance was alone with you in the room, I registered some energy disorder in the room. Something, very weak, but it was there."
Rommie looked at her with absent eyes: "No similarity to any known phenomena whatsoever?"
Andromeda kept still for a moment and then answered: "Well, if I try to find a matching pattern, there is something similar: Tesseract. But, the tesseract should have much stronger energetic signature."
Rommie looked thoughtfully: "Don't forget, that obvious the room has been somehow shielded from your sensors. That means, should there really be some tesseract events in the room, you wouldn't be able to recognize it."
Andromeda nodded: "This could be the explanation. What shall we do about it? Should we inform Dylan?"
Rommie slowly shook her head and then answered: "I'll take care of Dylan. I believe it is time, he finds out about Trance and we should observe her. I believe you should watch her very closely at all times. She doesn't have to know it. Yeah, she might be sensing it somehow. But I believe you should especially take care of the medical deck. I think that the answer to our questions lies there, in front of our eyes, but we can't see it. So, I'll go and talk to Dylan and you keep an eye on Trance, agreed? Even if she asks for a private mode, confirm it, but remain on-line."
Andromeda looked a bit skeptical: "Wouldn't it be against the rules if I'd control her even under privacy mode? What will Dylan say to this?"
"Don't worry about Dylan," grinned Rommie happily. "I believe, I can persuade him."
TBC