So, this is the last "real" chapter. On Monday, the epilogue will be postet and the story will be finished. I hope few of you liked it.

Chapter 25

Rev sat at Rommie's body and prayed for her tortured soul to find her peace when Harper furiously entered the workshop. Upon noticing Rev's astonished look, Harper explained heatedly: „Can you imagine! Dylan stroke a deal with these Commonwealth worms! They should bring Rommie back and he will remain faithful servant of the Commonwealth until his death! I can't understand it! After all what they've done to us and after they're guilty of Rommies death … And even I'm unable to bring her back. That's idiotic!" He went over to the work desk, grabbed a can of Sparky and drank it out at once.

Rev smiled a bit and answered softly: "Harper, have you ever loved someone that much that you'd be ready to make a deal with the devil if it would be necessary?"

Harper thought for a second and answered: "If you'd asked me the same question a week ago, I'd probably say no. But now … I think I'd do anything for Trance."

Rev nodded appraisingly: "So, you see Harper, you should understand him then. Do you think he forgave them? You're wrong! He didn't forget anything, he didn't forgive anyone. But he loves this woman," he showed towards Rommie, "so much that he is prepared to forget his own principles if it could bring her back. Have you ever asked yourself how it might look like in his heart now? He lost Sarah, he fell in love with a traitor … and now, as he finally believed to have a chance to love someone, to be able to find his happiness with Rommie, now she'd been taken away from him too. Believe me; he'd sign a pact with the devil himself, just to get her back."

Harper looked at Rev thoughtfully and anger slowly disappeared from his face. Rev managed to open his eyes and after he finally thought about it reasonably, he had no problems to identify himself with Dylan's pain. He only had to imagine it were Trance who'd be lying there dead. He sighed: "I understand it perfectly, it's just … if I cannot do anything for her, how can Dylan believe that the Perseids can?"

Rev shook his head slightly and answered: "Do you remember who removed the Magog larvae from you? Or, better, WHAT removed them? I wasn't there, true, but I've talked about it with the others. If it weren't for Hohne, you wouldn't be able to start the tesseract machine at all. Besides, I don't think that Dylan counts only on them. I'm almost sure that he's hoping for your help to make a miracle come true."

That was definitely something Harper liked a lot better. He knew that Rev never spoke nonsense. Perhaps Dylan really was counting on his help?

Just in that moment the door opened and Dylan entered the workshop. He looked at Harper: "Harper, I know that you don't believe that Rommie could be brought back. And yet here I am, asking you to help the Perseids and try bringing her back. Believe me I would never forget what you did for me. I'd be in eternal debt."

Harper grinned slightly, thinking how fast Rev's premonition came to realization and answered: "I'm sorry for flipping out Dylan. Rev helped me to understand everything and I'll do my best not to disappoint you."

Dylan put his hand on Harper's shoulder and gave him a pained smile: "You'll most definitely not disappoint me Mr. Harper. Most definitely not." He then turned to Rev: "If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone with Rommie."

Rev nodded and also Harper understood immediately that he was meant too so he followed Rev. As he remained alone, Dylan said: "Andromeda, lock the door. I don't want to be disturbed."

"Confirmed. Dylan, may a have a word with you?"

Dylan didn't answer immediately. "You are excluded from that order Andromeda. You can stay here if you want. I would even like you to remain here."

A hologram formed in front of Dylan and looked at him with sad, wounded eyes. Then Andromeda turned to Rommie and sobbed. Dylan couldn't believe his ears and looked at the hologram questioningly. After she turned back to him, he could see tears in her eyes. "Andromeda? I didn't know …" he stuttered and stopped.

"What didn't you know?" Answered Andromeda softly while first tears began to flow down her cheeks. "That I can cry? That I loved my avatar? Or that I love you? Every single thing is true. Yes, I can cry, yes, I loved her and yes … I do love you. That's why it's even harder for me. I just lost someone who was like a twin sister to me and I have to look how someone I love suffers and there's not a thing I could do to ease his pain. Do you understand now? Do you know it now?" Her voice was quivering as she finished.

Dylan looked at her as if he'd seen her for the first time. Sure, he loved Andromeda too, but he had never seen her so emotional and it surprised him deeply: "Andromeda, I wish I could hug you now, but I can't. Believe me, I'll do anything, I'll try every possible solution to get Rommie back."

"I know and I'm thankful for your efforts. Yes, I love you and I don't want to hide it anymore. I can only hope that you'll succeed. I believe that only through her I'll really know what love is. If you'll excuse me now," the hologram vanished slowly.

Dylan sighed heavily, sat at Rommie's side, held her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. He stared in her face and forgot about his surroundings, about time, about everything. Only Rommie mattered.

Next morning, three Perseids, as it was announced the best there were, came to the Andromeda. They were just like all Perseids – unbearable, irritating, but genial. Together with Harper they occupied the workshop and put it off limits for everyone. Dylan didn't show himself, he remained in his quarters. He was afraid of hoping but hoped nevertheless. Life without Rommie appeared to him as impossible solution and he didn't even try to think what he would do, should they fail to bring Rommie back. While they worked on bringing Rommie back, he had a long and not pleasant talk with his friend Drew about the ships that Andromeda with the help from Trance's people destroyed at their first attack. They finally managed to reach an agreement that it was a terrible mistake but he himself, his crew and Andromeda were not to blame. After he settled everything with the Commonwealth, he began pacing in his room like a lion in a cage, upset, fearing, hoping … After about ten hours he was called by Harper: "Dylan, we're almost there. Please, come to the workshop immediately."

Dylan managed to cover the distance between his quarters and the workshop in time, unseen in his time on Andromeda. After arriving there, he saw that the three Perseids stood at the wall, obviously satisfied, while Harper still worked on Rommie. He stepped to him and looked at him questioningly. Harper raised his head and said a bit embarrassed. "Dylan, I was wrong. These Perseids are really unbelievable. She's going to live. But, I have to ask you something before I reactivate her. We have a chance to erase her memories of any time span – if you want it."

Dylan thought about it. Long. Very long.

"Dylan, do you remember that you once told me that love never dies? Does this apply to AIs too?"

He was still thinking.

„You love me? But I thought …"

Harper looked at him completely confused.

"Dylan, I love you so much! I tried to protect you, but I failed."

Suddenly Dylan trembled violently and shook his head resolutely: "No, don't do it!"

Harper looked into Dylan's face for few more seconds and saw, that he wouldn't change his mind. He inserted Rommie's personality chip and took few steps backwards. He laid his hand on Dylan's forearm and whispered: "She's going to wake up in about 30 seconds. I'll leave you alone now." Dylan looked at him thankfully and stepped to the bed.

Meanwhile Harper grabbed the closest Perseids' arm and commanded: "So, my friends, time to go away." They looked at him confused, but he showed them the door and confirmed: "Now and I'll tolerate no excuses!" They still couldn't comprehend why they must leave the room but followed him reluctantly.

Dylan looked at Rommie's face like in dreams. In few seconds he'll know if his life will still be worth living or not. The seconds ticked off, each one seemed to him like eternity. Suddenly one of Rommie's fingers quivered slightly and a second later her eyelids fluttered open. Her eyes tried to find focus and as they turned to Dylan, he saw total confusion in them: "Dylan? But …"

Dylan felt like a Half Dome would fell from his heart and without thinking he bowed to her and kissed her tenderly on her mouth. Rommie was so shocked that she remained unmoving like a stone statue, her eyes wide open and she needed few seconds to comprehend what was happening and answer to Dylan's kiss. After their lips parted, Rommie was still completely exasperated, but also embarrassed because she reacted to Dylan's kiss the way she did. She blushed fiercely and tried to turn her head away from Dylan. But Dylan laid his hand on her cheek and turned her face back to him, back to his happily smiling eyes. He looked deeply into her eyes and whispered: "Rommie, don't ask why and how, but believe me … I love you."

"But Dylan … what happened? I know that I've been deadly hit, you came to me and after that everything went dark. I don't understand!" She looked in his eyes and finally saw in them what she wanted to see for so long – love. She dropped her eyes and whispered: "Dylan, I tried to kill you. I … I'm so sorry."

Dylan lifted her face and answered softly: "Rommie, that wasn't you! Please, don't torture yourself with these thoughts. It wasn't your fault. If there's anyone to blame than it's me. I literally pushed you into insanity. Will you ever be able to forgive me?"

Rommie smiled slightly embarrassed with still flushed face: "I can't say that I forgave you long ago, because it would be a lie. I needed some time to be able to forgive you. A very long time. But, now, now I can forgive you, yes, I can. But, Dylan, please, tell me, how is it possible that I'm alive? I remember perfectly that I was dying. And now I'm here, alive."

Dylan caressed her cheek tenderly with his thumb: "I made a deal with the Commonwealth. They brought the Perseids to revive you and I didn't destroy their ships. I was on the verge of starting a war, but Drew managed to stop me with his proposal to save you."

Rommie couldn't believe her ears: "What have you done? You wanted to start a war? But … why? I don't understand!"

"Because you died and I was convinced that it was Commonwealth's fault. While we were searching for you, they attacked us and we have lost too much time. That's why I wanted to revenge your death."

"You wanted to do it because of me?" Rommie's face was deep red again. Dylan wanted to start a war because of HER!

Dylan nodded and hugged her close. Their noses touched and he whispered: "Yes, Rommie, because of you! Because I love you and because I thought that I lost you. And because I realized that there's no life for me without you."

Rommie wanted to say something, but Dylan stopped her with a kiss. Finally he was able to let his emotions free, he finally found a safe haven. He's been looking for it for so long, not knowing that he had it so close. For the first time in years he finally felt completely happy, fulfilled. And this woman, slightly trembling in his arms, answering to his kisses so hesitantly, this woman was responsible for his happiness. True, she was no biological woman, but he didn't care. He forgot that she was actually a machine. Only her personality was important, this unique personality with which he fell in love.

After they ended their kiss, Dylan looked into Rommie's beautiful eyes and said in a trembling voice: "I almost forgot how beautiful you are. I think you're even more beautiful now as you've been before." Rommie's eyes sparkled like stars. She had so many questions, but she didn't want to ask them now. She knew she'd get her answers, but now was not the right time. Now she only wanted to enjoy that she finally reached her dreams. She looked deep into Dylan's eyes and whispered: "I love you Dylan. I love you so much!"

They forgot about time and got lost in their love. They talked, kissed and laughed for hours. Dylan wasn't tired any more and didn't let Rommie out of his arms even for a second. And she enjoyed every second of it. She wanted to feel him so close to her, she wanted to feel loved. In this night their dreams, dreams of love, were fulfilled.

TBC