26 - How Could She Do It?
Rommie looked thoughtfully at Dylan. He was sitting right next to her on the sofa and kept quiet, simply enjoying her presence, her closeness. Somehow he felt her look and turned his head to gaze at her. He smiled, but, seeing her expression, asked: "Is something bothering you, Rommie? You seem so thoughtful!"
Rommie nodded, sighed and answered: "Sure, there is something I should tell you. I didn't want to do it before, but I believe, it is time for me to tell you."
Dylan suddenly looked concerned: "I hope it's not something bad. You seem very worried."
Rommie raised her eyes and looked at him, trying to find a right way to begin. "Well, Dylan, you see, as I was still in Medical, I had a conversation with Trance and something very scary came out. I couldn't believe it at first, but gradually, I realized it must have been true. But, before I tell you, you must promise me, not to do anything stupid and to remain calm. Can you promise me that?"
Dylan sighed: "You are really scaring me, Rommie! How can I promise, if I don't know what is on your heart. What could be so important to make you look like you do?"
Rommie smiled faintly: "I know, but you have to promise it to me. At least, promise me, you won't react immediately, OK?"
Dylan nodded not exactly convinced and waited for her to start.
Rommie lowered her eyes again and began in a low voice: "Dylan, I know why Elyans did what they did to me. And I also know who stands behind it."
Dylan's eyes widened in shock and he grabbed her hand: "Rommie, don't play fool on me, please! How could you find it out? Here, on Andromeda! That's impossible!"
"No, it's not impossible. It is true. Do you remember, as Elyans told us they have had an informant aboard, we were all wondering who could have it been. Now I know. It was Trance." She stopped and looked at Dylan again, just to see his complete confusion and disbelief.
He stuttered: "But...... but...... as I asked, if anyone of us had been involved in this, she denied it! Are you trying to say that she lied to me? Face to face? Lied?"
Rommie nodded and continued: "Yes, Dylan, that's what I'm trying to say. But, before you explode and do something you might later regret, listen to me. I must tell you the whole story. Although, I think, Trance would have to be the one to explain it to you thoroughly. See, she says, she had been sent to be some sort of a guardian angel for us. And she said, that the things were going very badly, so she had to do what she did."
Anger began to appear in Dylan's face. How could Trance lie to him like that! How could she? He trusted her and what did she do? She lied to him; she deceived him and organized this terrible thing. He sighed angrily: "God, how could I have been such a fool to believe and trust her! I will have to discuss it with her! Damn, she betrayed us all!"
Rommie tried to calm him down: "Dylan, I know you're upset now. And you have all rights to be. But, just think of this: am not I the one, who was affected the most by her deed? Am I not? You all remained the same as you were before, while me......... while me, I became some other being, my entire existence has been destroyed and I had to build a new one from scrap. Don't you think I would have the right to be furious too? And I forgave her. Even more, I understand her and am, to be honest, not so unhappy with it. Finally...... I've got you because of what she did."
Dylan's temper changed while listening to Rommie and he calmed down a bit: "Still, Rommie, she lied to me! She lied to her captain and to her fellow crewmembers. She must be made responsible for what she did!"
"Try to look at it from my point of view. Hadn't she done it, would you ever do what you have done? Would you ever admit your feelings for me? Would you ever even consider a life with me?"
Dylan understood her point and looked down: "I know you're right Rommie, but I can't simply let it be. It's unbelievable what she did. But, you are right. I would probably never admit my feelings, hadn't you turned human. Perhaps.......... perhaps she did something good though."
Rommie smiled at him: "You see, you are already beginning to understand her. Well, it would probably be too much to say that we understand her, but you see, she in fact did something good. Although it still hurts me, that I haven't even been asked if I wanted it or no. And it will hurt for a long time. Still, I did find my happiness and therefore I am grateful."
Dylan smiled at her, lifted his hand and gently touched her cheek: "Sure, Rommie, we both did gain a lot because of it. But I will have to talk to her! As soon as possible!"
Rommie nodded: "She knows that. And she is waiting for you to call her. So, if you want to, we can call her immediately."
"Let's do it," nodded Dylan simply and ordered Andromeda to send Trance to his quarters. It didn't take long and Trance arrived. Her face revealed her tension, her inner battle and expectation, how would Dylan react to the news. Her eyes looked questioningly and a bit feared into Dylan's face. He showed her to sit in a chair in front of him and as she seated herself, he started: "Trance, Rommie just told me that it was you, who started all this mess. Would you care to explain me why? I'm listening!"
Trance looked questioningly at Rommie and as she saw, that she didn't look all too concerned, sighed a bit relieved. She turned her look to Dylan and started: "Dylan, I've already told Rommie something about it. You see, as I told her, I was sent to take care of you, your mission and your crew. We were interested in you succeeding in your quest. But, the things started to turn out bad; you were too distracted by Rommie's presence. Your concentration was not strong enough any more and you began to look after Rommie rather than after your goals. The same could be said about her. She too spent too much time looking after you, guarding you in every possible way she could imagine. And, knowing you, this situation could only get worse, for you'd never admit what you felt for her. So I decided to do what I did. We already knew of this program and I decided to use it. I simply choose one planet that was far enough not to be too obvious. And Elyans were my decision. They had nothing to do with it; they were merely the executive force. I organized the take-over of the program and they received all necessary instructions how to use it, together with all data I had concerning you two."
Dylan listened perplexed to her and didn't say a word. But at this point, a question rose in him: "Trance, I have one question about this all thing. How could have Elyans made this body for Rommie? I mean, she is physically still the same as she was as avatar! How could they make it?"
Trance sighed, relieved that he seemingly calmly accepted her explanation. "Well, it was this way: I got a copy of Rommie's personality, her programming and then, with the subroutine incorporated in this program, this data had been translated into DNA pattern. On this basis, we were able to make a clone of Rommie. And you are looking at her now. We have very much improved the cloning technology, so this body could be raised in few months. We changed a DNA though, erasing the personality genes and leaving their place open for the transfer of her personality. We could have not done it, but then we wouldn't have the guarantee that she would still be the same Rommie you fell in love with. So, to avoid this risk, we just raised a body and then transferred her personality into it. No, don't be afraid, she might have some side effects, as clones did have before. She is in every aspect the same Rommie, physically and mentally."
Dylan looked completely astonished and managed only to ask: "You are constantly talking about "us". Who is this "we"?"
Trance sighed: "I can tell you only, it's my race. Sorry, but I can't tell you any more about it."
"But...... why has the android body been destroyed?"
"It wasn't destroyed by the procedure itself. The procedure doesn't simply transfer the personality; as a matter of fact it duplicates it. But, we had to be sure, you wouldn't request an immediate retransfer, so they destroyed her android body. Believe me, Dylan, it wasn't the lightest decision for me to order it, for it has still been my friend, my Rommie, but....... it had to be done. Believe me, she didn't feel anything. And, besides, her personality has already been in this body so we didn't loose her. You can believe me, I felt miserable as the android body has been destroyed and I had nightmares........ I still have them. I had to kill my friend, in order to make her possible to live with you, to be happy. You might think that I will forget it some day. But I will not. It will haunt me for years. But I had to do it and I think I made the right decision."
Rommie looked like she'd just seen a ghost: "Trance, what are you saying......... you in fact killed me? Well, not this me, but the other, android, me? How could you?" Her eyes began to tear and she leaned on Dylan, hiding her face against his shoulder. Only light trembling of her shoulders revealed what she was going through at the moment. She had to face the fact, that her best friend in a way killed her. She didn't know it, she didn't feel it, but it was there, the fact that she had been erased, thrown into darkness. She tried to calm down, but failed and began to sob into Dylan's shoulder. Tears came uninvited and sorrow about her loss, which she didn't even know to have experienced overwhelmed her.
Dylan wasn't less astonished and he simply sat there, stared at Trance and caressed Rommie's shoulder. He could feel her sadness and it came upon him too. He felt a loss, although it wasn't a real loss. But, yes, it was a loss. He, at least imaginary, lost his love. Once again, but without knowing it. He finally managed to speak: "Trance, I believe, we all will have to cope with it. I can't say that I'm not extremely angry at it, because I am. We two will have to sort out things eventually. But not now. I will have to ask you to leave now. Please, I have to comfort Rommie first. Then, when we all calm down a bit, we'll have to discuss this again."
Trance just nodded, knowing that it wouldn't bring anything if she'd try to talk further, if she'd try to explain. She knew, that as well Rommie as Dylan too, first have to cope with what she just told them. And it made her really sad to see, how it affected Rommie. She felt like a knife would cut into her heart, seeing her best friend so depressed, so sad. As if she would have given the order to destroy her again. She knew, she'd have to cope with this guilt for a long time and hoped, that Rommie would be able to forgive her eventually. Sure, Dylan too, but she really considered Rommie as her friend and it was very important to her not to loose this friendship. She slowly stood up and without saying another word, she left the room, leaving crying Rommie and shocked Dylan behind.
After Trance left, Dylan hugged Rommie close, stroke gently her hair and whispered comforting words into her ear. He felt like on the day she found out that her existence changed thoroughly. Again he was holding her in his arms, crying, sobbing and again, he was trying his best to comfort her. Only, that this time he wasn't just her captain, he was so much more. And she wasn't just an avatar, she was his companion, she was his beloved one, she was the one whom he would never ever let go.
Gradually Rommie's sobbing stopped and she looked at him with red eyes, tears streaking down her cheeks: "How could she do it? How could she? I can't understand!" Her voice was shaking and she spoke barely audible.
Dylan wiped her tears away with his hand and gently placed a kiss on her trembling lips. He could feel a salty taste of her spilled tears. Then he spoke: "Rommie, sometimes we must sacrifice something or someone for the better good. And in this case, she obviously thought she had to do it. I can't understand either, but, we'll have to look at it this way. She did in a way order your death, but, she also gave you another life, life as a human woman. I know, it isn't really comforting, but that's the way it is."
Rommie looked at him sadly: "If she did it once, do you believe, she would be able to do it again? Would she kill me again, if she found it necessary? Or you? Or anyone else? Can we still trust her?"
Dylan thought for a moment about her words and had to admit, that he considered the same question. If Trance did it once, what would it make to her to do it again? But, on the second thought, he threw this consideration away. He believed her, that she had really good intentions; just the means to reach her goal were very drastic. No, he really wouldn't believe her doing a kill again. "I think, that we still can trust her Rommie. She did it, because it was the only way to make us happy. I don't think she would do it again. And believe me, she has her own nightmares, her own ghosts because of what she did. I could saw in her eyes, that she likes you very much. You will have to try to trust her again, not to seek for a lurking danger in her every word."
Rommie slowly nodded: "Perhaps you're right. I hope you're right. She means a lot to me too and I don't want to loose her as a friend. It will just take time for me to get over it."
"And I will always be there to help you," gently whispered Dylan and kissed her again.
TBC
Rommie looked thoughtfully at Dylan. He was sitting right next to her on the sofa and kept quiet, simply enjoying her presence, her closeness. Somehow he felt her look and turned his head to gaze at her. He smiled, but, seeing her expression, asked: "Is something bothering you, Rommie? You seem so thoughtful!"
Rommie nodded, sighed and answered: "Sure, there is something I should tell you. I didn't want to do it before, but I believe, it is time for me to tell you."
Dylan suddenly looked concerned: "I hope it's not something bad. You seem very worried."
Rommie raised her eyes and looked at him, trying to find a right way to begin. "Well, Dylan, you see, as I was still in Medical, I had a conversation with Trance and something very scary came out. I couldn't believe it at first, but gradually, I realized it must have been true. But, before I tell you, you must promise me, not to do anything stupid and to remain calm. Can you promise me that?"
Dylan sighed: "You are really scaring me, Rommie! How can I promise, if I don't know what is on your heart. What could be so important to make you look like you do?"
Rommie smiled faintly: "I know, but you have to promise it to me. At least, promise me, you won't react immediately, OK?"
Dylan nodded not exactly convinced and waited for her to start.
Rommie lowered her eyes again and began in a low voice: "Dylan, I know why Elyans did what they did to me. And I also know who stands behind it."
Dylan's eyes widened in shock and he grabbed her hand: "Rommie, don't play fool on me, please! How could you find it out? Here, on Andromeda! That's impossible!"
"No, it's not impossible. It is true. Do you remember, as Elyans told us they have had an informant aboard, we were all wondering who could have it been. Now I know. It was Trance." She stopped and looked at Dylan again, just to see his complete confusion and disbelief.
He stuttered: "But...... but...... as I asked, if anyone of us had been involved in this, she denied it! Are you trying to say that she lied to me? Face to face? Lied?"
Rommie nodded and continued: "Yes, Dylan, that's what I'm trying to say. But, before you explode and do something you might later regret, listen to me. I must tell you the whole story. Although, I think, Trance would have to be the one to explain it to you thoroughly. See, she says, she had been sent to be some sort of a guardian angel for us. And she said, that the things were going very badly, so she had to do what she did."
Anger began to appear in Dylan's face. How could Trance lie to him like that! How could she? He trusted her and what did she do? She lied to him; she deceived him and organized this terrible thing. He sighed angrily: "God, how could I have been such a fool to believe and trust her! I will have to discuss it with her! Damn, she betrayed us all!"
Rommie tried to calm him down: "Dylan, I know you're upset now. And you have all rights to be. But, just think of this: am not I the one, who was affected the most by her deed? Am I not? You all remained the same as you were before, while me......... while me, I became some other being, my entire existence has been destroyed and I had to build a new one from scrap. Don't you think I would have the right to be furious too? And I forgave her. Even more, I understand her and am, to be honest, not so unhappy with it. Finally...... I've got you because of what she did."
Dylan's temper changed while listening to Rommie and he calmed down a bit: "Still, Rommie, she lied to me! She lied to her captain and to her fellow crewmembers. She must be made responsible for what she did!"
"Try to look at it from my point of view. Hadn't she done it, would you ever do what you have done? Would you ever admit your feelings for me? Would you ever even consider a life with me?"
Dylan understood her point and looked down: "I know you're right Rommie, but I can't simply let it be. It's unbelievable what she did. But, you are right. I would probably never admit my feelings, hadn't you turned human. Perhaps.......... perhaps she did something good though."
Rommie smiled at him: "You see, you are already beginning to understand her. Well, it would probably be too much to say that we understand her, but you see, she in fact did something good. Although it still hurts me, that I haven't even been asked if I wanted it or no. And it will hurt for a long time. Still, I did find my happiness and therefore I am grateful."
Dylan smiled at her, lifted his hand and gently touched her cheek: "Sure, Rommie, we both did gain a lot because of it. But I will have to talk to her! As soon as possible!"
Rommie nodded: "She knows that. And she is waiting for you to call her. So, if you want to, we can call her immediately."
"Let's do it," nodded Dylan simply and ordered Andromeda to send Trance to his quarters. It didn't take long and Trance arrived. Her face revealed her tension, her inner battle and expectation, how would Dylan react to the news. Her eyes looked questioningly and a bit feared into Dylan's face. He showed her to sit in a chair in front of him and as she seated herself, he started: "Trance, Rommie just told me that it was you, who started all this mess. Would you care to explain me why? I'm listening!"
Trance looked questioningly at Rommie and as she saw, that she didn't look all too concerned, sighed a bit relieved. She turned her look to Dylan and started: "Dylan, I've already told Rommie something about it. You see, as I told her, I was sent to take care of you, your mission and your crew. We were interested in you succeeding in your quest. But, the things started to turn out bad; you were too distracted by Rommie's presence. Your concentration was not strong enough any more and you began to look after Rommie rather than after your goals. The same could be said about her. She too spent too much time looking after you, guarding you in every possible way she could imagine. And, knowing you, this situation could only get worse, for you'd never admit what you felt for her. So I decided to do what I did. We already knew of this program and I decided to use it. I simply choose one planet that was far enough not to be too obvious. And Elyans were my decision. They had nothing to do with it; they were merely the executive force. I organized the take-over of the program and they received all necessary instructions how to use it, together with all data I had concerning you two."
Dylan listened perplexed to her and didn't say a word. But at this point, a question rose in him: "Trance, I have one question about this all thing. How could have Elyans made this body for Rommie? I mean, she is physically still the same as she was as avatar! How could they make it?"
Trance sighed, relieved that he seemingly calmly accepted her explanation. "Well, it was this way: I got a copy of Rommie's personality, her programming and then, with the subroutine incorporated in this program, this data had been translated into DNA pattern. On this basis, we were able to make a clone of Rommie. And you are looking at her now. We have very much improved the cloning technology, so this body could be raised in few months. We changed a DNA though, erasing the personality genes and leaving their place open for the transfer of her personality. We could have not done it, but then we wouldn't have the guarantee that she would still be the same Rommie you fell in love with. So, to avoid this risk, we just raised a body and then transferred her personality into it. No, don't be afraid, she might have some side effects, as clones did have before. She is in every aspect the same Rommie, physically and mentally."
Dylan looked completely astonished and managed only to ask: "You are constantly talking about "us". Who is this "we"?"
Trance sighed: "I can tell you only, it's my race. Sorry, but I can't tell you any more about it."
"But...... why has the android body been destroyed?"
"It wasn't destroyed by the procedure itself. The procedure doesn't simply transfer the personality; as a matter of fact it duplicates it. But, we had to be sure, you wouldn't request an immediate retransfer, so they destroyed her android body. Believe me, Dylan, it wasn't the lightest decision for me to order it, for it has still been my friend, my Rommie, but....... it had to be done. Believe me, she didn't feel anything. And, besides, her personality has already been in this body so we didn't loose her. You can believe me, I felt miserable as the android body has been destroyed and I had nightmares........ I still have them. I had to kill my friend, in order to make her possible to live with you, to be happy. You might think that I will forget it some day. But I will not. It will haunt me for years. But I had to do it and I think I made the right decision."
Rommie looked like she'd just seen a ghost: "Trance, what are you saying......... you in fact killed me? Well, not this me, but the other, android, me? How could you?" Her eyes began to tear and she leaned on Dylan, hiding her face against his shoulder. Only light trembling of her shoulders revealed what she was going through at the moment. She had to face the fact, that her best friend in a way killed her. She didn't know it, she didn't feel it, but it was there, the fact that she had been erased, thrown into darkness. She tried to calm down, but failed and began to sob into Dylan's shoulder. Tears came uninvited and sorrow about her loss, which she didn't even know to have experienced overwhelmed her.
Dylan wasn't less astonished and he simply sat there, stared at Trance and caressed Rommie's shoulder. He could feel her sadness and it came upon him too. He felt a loss, although it wasn't a real loss. But, yes, it was a loss. He, at least imaginary, lost his love. Once again, but without knowing it. He finally managed to speak: "Trance, I believe, we all will have to cope with it. I can't say that I'm not extremely angry at it, because I am. We two will have to sort out things eventually. But not now. I will have to ask you to leave now. Please, I have to comfort Rommie first. Then, when we all calm down a bit, we'll have to discuss this again."
Trance just nodded, knowing that it wouldn't bring anything if she'd try to talk further, if she'd try to explain. She knew, that as well Rommie as Dylan too, first have to cope with what she just told them. And it made her really sad to see, how it affected Rommie. She felt like a knife would cut into her heart, seeing her best friend so depressed, so sad. As if she would have given the order to destroy her again. She knew, she'd have to cope with this guilt for a long time and hoped, that Rommie would be able to forgive her eventually. Sure, Dylan too, but she really considered Rommie as her friend and it was very important to her not to loose this friendship. She slowly stood up and without saying another word, she left the room, leaving crying Rommie and shocked Dylan behind.
After Trance left, Dylan hugged Rommie close, stroke gently her hair and whispered comforting words into her ear. He felt like on the day she found out that her existence changed thoroughly. Again he was holding her in his arms, crying, sobbing and again, he was trying his best to comfort her. Only, that this time he wasn't just her captain, he was so much more. And she wasn't just an avatar, she was his companion, she was his beloved one, she was the one whom he would never ever let go.
Gradually Rommie's sobbing stopped and she looked at him with red eyes, tears streaking down her cheeks: "How could she do it? How could she? I can't understand!" Her voice was shaking and she spoke barely audible.
Dylan wiped her tears away with his hand and gently placed a kiss on her trembling lips. He could feel a salty taste of her spilled tears. Then he spoke: "Rommie, sometimes we must sacrifice something or someone for the better good. And in this case, she obviously thought she had to do it. I can't understand either, but, we'll have to look at it this way. She did in a way order your death, but, she also gave you another life, life as a human woman. I know, it isn't really comforting, but that's the way it is."
Rommie looked at him sadly: "If she did it once, do you believe, she would be able to do it again? Would she kill me again, if she found it necessary? Or you? Or anyone else? Can we still trust her?"
Dylan thought for a moment about her words and had to admit, that he considered the same question. If Trance did it once, what would it make to her to do it again? But, on the second thought, he threw this consideration away. He believed her, that she had really good intentions; just the means to reach her goal were very drastic. No, he really wouldn't believe her doing a kill again. "I think, that we still can trust her Rommie. She did it, because it was the only way to make us happy. I don't think she would do it again. And believe me, she has her own nightmares, her own ghosts because of what she did. I could saw in her eyes, that she likes you very much. You will have to try to trust her again, not to seek for a lurking danger in her every word."
Rommie slowly nodded: "Perhaps you're right. I hope you're right. She means a lot to me too and I don't want to loose her as a friend. It will just take time for me to get over it."
"And I will always be there to help you," gently whispered Dylan and kissed her again.
TBC