35 - The Search
"Well, this last jump and we're there! And only hell knows what awaits us! I have a very, very bad feeling!" commented Beka as she took Andromeda into slipstream. She had been guiding the ship through it for the last three days and she felt a bit tired. Sure, she did take some breaks, but nevertheless it was a hell of a job that she did in these days. No one on board was in a good mood; everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Dylan and Rommie spent most of the time in their quarters, consuming their love. But also they felt a bit uncomfortable with the circumstances.
"I assume, we'll find a Magog world ship, get ourselves involved into battle and be destroyed!" answered Tyr cynically at Beka's words.
"Ha, ha, ha! Very funny!" responded Beka in the same voice. But in fact, she also thought about the possible outcome of this adventure. She didn't get the chance to discuss further as the hatch opened and all crewmembers marched in as if someone had summoned them.
Beka looked a bit surprised: "What, did we made an announcement that we're almost there? How on earth, did you all come here at the same time?"
"Because I informed them!" answered Andromeda's AI from the screen and grinned at Beka. "I thought that it would be interesting for them to be present at this moment. It's perhaps the last view we'll get to admire!"
"Not you too!" moaned Beka and rolled her eyes. "What is this with you? Is there some kind of apathetic virus that attacks humans and AI's? Why are you suddenly all so defeatist huh? Can anyone explain it to me?"
"I just wanted to tease you a bit and break the tension!" answered Andromeda and grinned again.
"Hey, I'm not tense! I'm just a bit concerned and a bit tired, that's all!" protested Beka.
"Nevertheless!" jumped Rev in and smiled. "We all need a bit of relaxation right now. How do you think I am feeling coming here back again? I have almost lost my mind in that ship, so it would be a bit too much required from me if you'd expect me to be quite calm."
"No one is feeling better, believe me", said Dylan serious and looked at Beka. "We do not know what awaits us there. Perhaps death, perhaps life? But we have to try! We have no other possibility! You just get us there and we'll see further."
"Transiting into normal space in 3...... 2....... 1. Normal space!" announced Andromeda's voice and everyone felt how tension grew rapidly as they exited the slipstream and found themselves in the normal space again.
"Andromeda, do you read any ships here?" asked Dylan a bit oppressed.
"Scanning........" after few seconds Andromeda turned to Dylan with clear surprise in her face. "Dylan, there are no other ships here!"
"Are you sure that we are in the right place? Didn't we miss our target?" Dylan looked equally surprised.
"Positive! I am definitely sure that we are in the right place. There should be Magog world ship here, but it isn't! It must have moved away!"
"Can you possibly find any traces of it? Try all specters and everything you can to solve this riddle!"
Andromeda nodded and after few seconds, her face brightened. "I am reading the vague rests of ion particles, indicating, that some ship must have been here some time ago, but it left. It must have been some weeks since then and the trace is very vague, but I can detect it to slipstream portal."
Dylan's face suddenly fell. "That can mean only one thing! The World ship is operational again and moved away. I'm afraid, that we are perhaps too late!"
Awesome silence hung over them as they realized that the world ship was repaired much sooner as they anticipated. No one wanted to speak for few minutes, they just kept watching at each other and their eyes revealed fear.
Finally Rommie managed to pull herself together and asked with light trembling voice: "Can you tell us in which direction this slipstream that the ship obviously took goes?"
Andromeda nodded: "Yes, I can. It leads in the direction of Milky way galaxy!"
"Then we can do only one thing!" Dylan's voice sounded completely calm as he spoke. "We must follow it now! We have no time to loose! It seems that the invasion already began!"
"So, you are planning to take it up with the world ship alone? I am definitely sure that we should search for allies first and only after that we can try to fight it. But, if you are tired of life, then just do it on your own!" commented Tyr sarcastically but not without the note of concern and anger in his voice.
"First: we do not know if the world ship is fully functional. We just know that it can use the slipstream, but we don't have any information whatsoever about its weapons. Second: we should first find out where it moved and try to find it. Third: If it is really fully functional we will look for allies when we know for certain. Or do you think that someone would believe us this?" answered Dylan a bit angry with Tyr's attitude.
Rommie looked concerned at Dylan and grabbed his hand to calm him down. "Dylan, please don't overreact! We all know that this ship presents an ultimate challenge to the universe, and it isn't important if it's fully functional or not. But I do agree, that we first have to find it before we do the next step. On the other hand, what do we have to put in the defense? Castalians? Elyans? Some minor drifts? Please, consider our possibilities! They are really bad! What do we have besides Andromeda? Nothing important, nothing really powerful!"
Dylan withdrew his hand angrily and looked annoyed at Rommie: "Of all persons, does it have to be you, to oppose me?"
Rommie looked quite astonished and taken aback by this remark and managed to answer barely audible: "I don't oppose you! You should know me better than that by now! I'm just stating the facts! And they are not really rosy!"
But Dylan still looked angry: "No matter what, we are following the ship! Set the course and enter the slipstream! And anyone who opposes this decision is free to leave the command!" He demonstratively took few steps away from Rommie who was left standing there with clearly hurt eyes and couldn't say anything. In her mind, she asked herself, how could Dylan react so to her remark. Wasn't she allowed to say her opinion? Did Dylan really think she opposed him?
Beka didn't want to interfere with this marriage quarrel and nodded to Andromeda. She, on her turn, understood perfectly and confirmed: "Course set to the slipstream portal!"
After Andromeda entered the slipstream, Rommie came to Dylan and looked hurt in his eyes, but got only angry look as his answer. She slowly hanged her head and turned away to leave the command. Harper and Andy looked at her and Harper tried to go after her, as Andy grabbed his hand and shook her head. He understood her gesture and after Rommie left, he went to Rev and whispered in his ear: "Rev, I think you should talk to Dylan. I believe that he made a huge mistake by talking so harsh to Rommie."
Rev nodded and went to Dylan. Carefully he stepped to him and spoke quietly: "Dylan, I believe you should go after your wife. She really didn't want to oppose you. She just stated her considerations. Is that so bad? Isn't she entitled to it? I think that you hurt her."
Dylan looked at Rev, suddenly recognizing that he really overreacted and nodded:" Sure, I'll take care of that! Beka, follow the trail of the world ship! I'll be........ somewhere!" He turned and left the command. As he walked down the corridors, he asked himself, why he reacted the way he did. It was really inexcusable to be so harsh to Rommie. After all: she just said some facts that he also knew and she didn't in any way put his authority under question. How will he make it up to her? Was she really offended? He had no idea where to seek for her, so he decided to check their quarters first.
After entering their quarters, he saw Rommie, lying on the bed, turning her back to him. She seemed not to take any notice of his presence so he tried: "Hi!" He got no answer so he walked up to the bed and sat beside her. She still didn't move, so he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Surprised, he noticed, that she didn't react to it, so he reached over and tried to turn her over to face him. She didn't oppose and as he turned her, he saw that her eyes were closed and tears ran down her cheeks. This look shocked him and recognition of his mistake hit him hard. Carefully he touched her cheek and whispered: "Rommie, please, forgive me! I really didn't want to hurt you. I was so upset by Tyr's remark that I couldn't think clearly."
Rommie opened her eyes, full of tears and sobbed. After a while she finally managed to speak. "I really didn't expect something like that from you! I was just trying to point out the problems and you reacted so......... ignorant! Do I have no right to express my opinion? I was really just trying to be constructive."
Her hurt look caused Dylan to feel extremely bad and he hanged his eyes. What could he possibly say to excuse himself? He knew that he didn't react right but........ were there any words to make it up to her? He swore to himself after the wedding that he'd never hurt her and just few days after that oath he already did it! What an idiot has he been! He slowly ran his hand along her smooth cheek and said: " I don't know what came upon me! I can only apologize and ask you to forgive me. I was really such an asshole to say that to you! Can you ever forgive me?"
Rommie looked up to him, her eyes still glistening with tears and answered: "Yes, I can. I can, because I love you. But....... please....... don't hurt me again like you did!" Her eyes stared pleadingly at him and he put his arms around her, embraced her tight and kissed her. His heart was breaking, seeing her so sad but, on the other hand, he was also glad that she didn't take it for bad and forgave him. Her answer to his kiss was the greatest reward he could wish for.
After they parted their lips he whispered: "Just few days ago, on our wedding day I swore to myself I'd never allow myself to hurt you. And I, idiot, did it! Believe me, I'll do my best to never do it again."
Her smile revealed that she really forgave him and she answered: "And I would never do anything to hurt you!"
"So, shall we return to command? I believe that we are needed there. I guess we'll be leaving the slipstream very soon and I really want to see what we'll find there."
Rommie just nodded and stood up to follow him.
As they reentered the command, Harper and Rev threw questioning looks to them. As they saw that they came in hand in hand, they smiled, realizing that the first quarrel had been put aside successfully. And all were relieved that it finished that way.
"How long before we leave the slipstream?" asked Dylan and Andromeda informed him from the screen: "About two minutes!"
"So, we should prepare ourselves!" stated Dylan simply and laid his hands on the console in front of him.
After they entered normal space again, it was again the same picture as before. No ships, just a vague trail that indicated the movement of the world ship.
"So, what are we supposed to do now?" asked Tyr annoyed and looked dark in Dylan's eyes.
Dylan sighed and thought for the moment. Then he turned to Andromeda: "Can you specify how old this trail is?"
Andromeda nodded and answered: "It's still few weeks old, but probably a bit younger than the one where we started."
"Then we have absolutely no other chance as to follow it!"
"Ay, Captain!"
Few weeks and many slipstream jumps later they still haven't caught up with the world ship, although the last jump indicated trail, just two days old. At least they managed to be faster than the world ship and Dylan was confident they would catch up with it very soon. But something else bothered him; the trail was leading directly to the most densely populated area, to the Drago-Kazov territory.
Rommie on her side suffered first signs of her pregnancy, she felt bad in the morning and had to vomit from time to time. She was growing more and more angry about it. It was really not exactly perfect that she felt so strange right now, as she should do her best to help the others. She sat in the room and argued with herself as Dylan came in and smiled as he saw her in such miserable mood. He walked over to her and pulled her into embrace. He could feel her bad mood and asked softly: "Is there anything you would like to tell me, my dear wife?"
Rommie looked at him annoyed and sighed: "I feel so useless! I should be doing my duties and help the others and not sitting here, feeling bad and pitying myself! I'm so upset, I could scream!"
Dylan laughed aloud at her words and ran his hand through her hair: "You will just have to come clear with the fact, that this is normal for a woman in your position. Some do escape this, but not all. And as it seems, you're one of the latter group. Besides, believe me, you do just fine! You are fulfilling your duties very good and no one has any remarks whatsoever."
"Nevertheless! They are just trying to be nice to me! But I don't want them to be nice to me and do also my jobs, which I can't manage! I want to be of help! Damn!" argued Rommie aloud and looked angry in Dylan's smiling eyes.
Dylan continued smiling and said gently: "You do not fail in any job you do! Remember that and stop quarreling with yourself! You are no more an AI and multiple personalities disorder would mean that you really have a problem. Believe me, I don't care if you do your duties or not. Your first duty now is to take care of our baby. We'll come up for you when you won't be able to assist us any more, be sure! But now....... have we thought about the names for the baby?"
Suddenly Rommie smiled, relieved that Dylan was so concerned about her and shook her head. "I believe we should wait with that. It's still so early that I don't want to act too fast!"
A kiss sealed this discussion and afterwards Dylan smiled: "I have to go to the command. And you....... you stay here, stop pitying yourself, don't think that you're neglecting your duties and rest a bit. OK?"
Happily Rommie nodded and looked after Dylan as he left the room. It really felt good to see that he was so concerned and smile didn't disappear from her face for a long time. She sat back and began to think about possible names for the baby as suddenly a disembodied voice penetrated her mind. She jumped to her feet and looked around. But she couldn't see anyone. She sighed, shook her head and sat back, as the voice cam back. And it clearly called out her name! And it sounded like Trance! She jumped up again, with same result as before. There was absolutely no one in the room. A bit concerned she asked: "Andromeda? Have you heard anything?"
Andromeda's hologram formed in front of her and looked at her surprised: "No, nothing!"
"But there was a voice, I swear! It was Trance's voice! HERE! Do you hear it?" she jumped a bit as the voice called her again. But Andromeda just looked annoyed at her and shook her head: "You're definitely imagining things, Rommie! There is no one in this room besides you and I couldn't detect any voice! Is everything OK with you? Perhaps you should consider the possibility of psychiatric help!"
Rommie threw Andromeda poisonous look and hissed: "I'm perfectly OK! And now get lost and switch the private mode on!"
"As you wish! But I'd still recommend you talk at least to Rev. You know, there were cases where women got mad during pregnancy", grinned Andromeda at her.
Rommie grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it into hologram's direction. "I told you to GET LOST!"
Hologram grinned diabolically as the pillow flew through it and disappeared.
Rommie sighed and sat back. As she sat on the chair, suddenly the voice reappeared: "Rommie, I have to talk to you! No one can hear me besides you!"
Now, this was definitely Trance's voice and Rommie answered without thinking: "Trance, is it you? But where are you? And why can only I hear you?"
"Because I want it so. Now listen to me and don't interrupt me! I have found the Spirit of Abyss and in few days I will fight with him. It will be my most dangerous battle and I don't know if I'm going to win, neither do I know if I'll survive. But I have to do it. I have to do it for the universe, for you. Only this way can I excuse myself to me for what I have done. Don't ask me where I am, because I don't want you to come after me. If I survive, I'll come back to you, I promise. But if not........ please know, that I tried everything I could to stop it and remember me as your best friend!" With those words the voice disappeared and left completely confused Rommie behind, staring into nothing with wide opened mouth. As she finally gathered her thoughts she screamed: "TRANCE! Please, talk to me! TRAAAAANCE!"
TBC
"Well, this last jump and we're there! And only hell knows what awaits us! I have a very, very bad feeling!" commented Beka as she took Andromeda into slipstream. She had been guiding the ship through it for the last three days and she felt a bit tired. Sure, she did take some breaks, but nevertheless it was a hell of a job that she did in these days. No one on board was in a good mood; everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Dylan and Rommie spent most of the time in their quarters, consuming their love. But also they felt a bit uncomfortable with the circumstances.
"I assume, we'll find a Magog world ship, get ourselves involved into battle and be destroyed!" answered Tyr cynically at Beka's words.
"Ha, ha, ha! Very funny!" responded Beka in the same voice. But in fact, she also thought about the possible outcome of this adventure. She didn't get the chance to discuss further as the hatch opened and all crewmembers marched in as if someone had summoned them.
Beka looked a bit surprised: "What, did we made an announcement that we're almost there? How on earth, did you all come here at the same time?"
"Because I informed them!" answered Andromeda's AI from the screen and grinned at Beka. "I thought that it would be interesting for them to be present at this moment. It's perhaps the last view we'll get to admire!"
"Not you too!" moaned Beka and rolled her eyes. "What is this with you? Is there some kind of apathetic virus that attacks humans and AI's? Why are you suddenly all so defeatist huh? Can anyone explain it to me?"
"I just wanted to tease you a bit and break the tension!" answered Andromeda and grinned again.
"Hey, I'm not tense! I'm just a bit concerned and a bit tired, that's all!" protested Beka.
"Nevertheless!" jumped Rev in and smiled. "We all need a bit of relaxation right now. How do you think I am feeling coming here back again? I have almost lost my mind in that ship, so it would be a bit too much required from me if you'd expect me to be quite calm."
"No one is feeling better, believe me", said Dylan serious and looked at Beka. "We do not know what awaits us there. Perhaps death, perhaps life? But we have to try! We have no other possibility! You just get us there and we'll see further."
"Transiting into normal space in 3...... 2....... 1. Normal space!" announced Andromeda's voice and everyone felt how tension grew rapidly as they exited the slipstream and found themselves in the normal space again.
"Andromeda, do you read any ships here?" asked Dylan a bit oppressed.
"Scanning........" after few seconds Andromeda turned to Dylan with clear surprise in her face. "Dylan, there are no other ships here!"
"Are you sure that we are in the right place? Didn't we miss our target?" Dylan looked equally surprised.
"Positive! I am definitely sure that we are in the right place. There should be Magog world ship here, but it isn't! It must have moved away!"
"Can you possibly find any traces of it? Try all specters and everything you can to solve this riddle!"
Andromeda nodded and after few seconds, her face brightened. "I am reading the vague rests of ion particles, indicating, that some ship must have been here some time ago, but it left. It must have been some weeks since then and the trace is very vague, but I can detect it to slipstream portal."
Dylan's face suddenly fell. "That can mean only one thing! The World ship is operational again and moved away. I'm afraid, that we are perhaps too late!"
Awesome silence hung over them as they realized that the world ship was repaired much sooner as they anticipated. No one wanted to speak for few minutes, they just kept watching at each other and their eyes revealed fear.
Finally Rommie managed to pull herself together and asked with light trembling voice: "Can you tell us in which direction this slipstream that the ship obviously took goes?"
Andromeda nodded: "Yes, I can. It leads in the direction of Milky way galaxy!"
"Then we can do only one thing!" Dylan's voice sounded completely calm as he spoke. "We must follow it now! We have no time to loose! It seems that the invasion already began!"
"So, you are planning to take it up with the world ship alone? I am definitely sure that we should search for allies first and only after that we can try to fight it. But, if you are tired of life, then just do it on your own!" commented Tyr sarcastically but not without the note of concern and anger in his voice.
"First: we do not know if the world ship is fully functional. We just know that it can use the slipstream, but we don't have any information whatsoever about its weapons. Second: we should first find out where it moved and try to find it. Third: If it is really fully functional we will look for allies when we know for certain. Or do you think that someone would believe us this?" answered Dylan a bit angry with Tyr's attitude.
Rommie looked concerned at Dylan and grabbed his hand to calm him down. "Dylan, please don't overreact! We all know that this ship presents an ultimate challenge to the universe, and it isn't important if it's fully functional or not. But I do agree, that we first have to find it before we do the next step. On the other hand, what do we have to put in the defense? Castalians? Elyans? Some minor drifts? Please, consider our possibilities! They are really bad! What do we have besides Andromeda? Nothing important, nothing really powerful!"
Dylan withdrew his hand angrily and looked annoyed at Rommie: "Of all persons, does it have to be you, to oppose me?"
Rommie looked quite astonished and taken aback by this remark and managed to answer barely audible: "I don't oppose you! You should know me better than that by now! I'm just stating the facts! And they are not really rosy!"
But Dylan still looked angry: "No matter what, we are following the ship! Set the course and enter the slipstream! And anyone who opposes this decision is free to leave the command!" He demonstratively took few steps away from Rommie who was left standing there with clearly hurt eyes and couldn't say anything. In her mind, she asked herself, how could Dylan react so to her remark. Wasn't she allowed to say her opinion? Did Dylan really think she opposed him?
Beka didn't want to interfere with this marriage quarrel and nodded to Andromeda. She, on her turn, understood perfectly and confirmed: "Course set to the slipstream portal!"
After Andromeda entered the slipstream, Rommie came to Dylan and looked hurt in his eyes, but got only angry look as his answer. She slowly hanged her head and turned away to leave the command. Harper and Andy looked at her and Harper tried to go after her, as Andy grabbed his hand and shook her head. He understood her gesture and after Rommie left, he went to Rev and whispered in his ear: "Rev, I think you should talk to Dylan. I believe that he made a huge mistake by talking so harsh to Rommie."
Rev nodded and went to Dylan. Carefully he stepped to him and spoke quietly: "Dylan, I believe you should go after your wife. She really didn't want to oppose you. She just stated her considerations. Is that so bad? Isn't she entitled to it? I think that you hurt her."
Dylan looked at Rev, suddenly recognizing that he really overreacted and nodded:" Sure, I'll take care of that! Beka, follow the trail of the world ship! I'll be........ somewhere!" He turned and left the command. As he walked down the corridors, he asked himself, why he reacted the way he did. It was really inexcusable to be so harsh to Rommie. After all: she just said some facts that he also knew and she didn't in any way put his authority under question. How will he make it up to her? Was she really offended? He had no idea where to seek for her, so he decided to check their quarters first.
After entering their quarters, he saw Rommie, lying on the bed, turning her back to him. She seemed not to take any notice of his presence so he tried: "Hi!" He got no answer so he walked up to the bed and sat beside her. She still didn't move, so he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Surprised, he noticed, that she didn't react to it, so he reached over and tried to turn her over to face him. She didn't oppose and as he turned her, he saw that her eyes were closed and tears ran down her cheeks. This look shocked him and recognition of his mistake hit him hard. Carefully he touched her cheek and whispered: "Rommie, please, forgive me! I really didn't want to hurt you. I was so upset by Tyr's remark that I couldn't think clearly."
Rommie opened her eyes, full of tears and sobbed. After a while she finally managed to speak. "I really didn't expect something like that from you! I was just trying to point out the problems and you reacted so......... ignorant! Do I have no right to express my opinion? I was really just trying to be constructive."
Her hurt look caused Dylan to feel extremely bad and he hanged his eyes. What could he possibly say to excuse himself? He knew that he didn't react right but........ were there any words to make it up to her? He swore to himself after the wedding that he'd never hurt her and just few days after that oath he already did it! What an idiot has he been! He slowly ran his hand along her smooth cheek and said: " I don't know what came upon me! I can only apologize and ask you to forgive me. I was really such an asshole to say that to you! Can you ever forgive me?"
Rommie looked up to him, her eyes still glistening with tears and answered: "Yes, I can. I can, because I love you. But....... please....... don't hurt me again like you did!" Her eyes stared pleadingly at him and he put his arms around her, embraced her tight and kissed her. His heart was breaking, seeing her so sad but, on the other hand, he was also glad that she didn't take it for bad and forgave him. Her answer to his kiss was the greatest reward he could wish for.
After they parted their lips he whispered: "Just few days ago, on our wedding day I swore to myself I'd never allow myself to hurt you. And I, idiot, did it! Believe me, I'll do my best to never do it again."
Her smile revealed that she really forgave him and she answered: "And I would never do anything to hurt you!"
"So, shall we return to command? I believe that we are needed there. I guess we'll be leaving the slipstream very soon and I really want to see what we'll find there."
Rommie just nodded and stood up to follow him.
As they reentered the command, Harper and Rev threw questioning looks to them. As they saw that they came in hand in hand, they smiled, realizing that the first quarrel had been put aside successfully. And all were relieved that it finished that way.
"How long before we leave the slipstream?" asked Dylan and Andromeda informed him from the screen: "About two minutes!"
"So, we should prepare ourselves!" stated Dylan simply and laid his hands on the console in front of him.
After they entered normal space again, it was again the same picture as before. No ships, just a vague trail that indicated the movement of the world ship.
"So, what are we supposed to do now?" asked Tyr annoyed and looked dark in Dylan's eyes.
Dylan sighed and thought for the moment. Then he turned to Andromeda: "Can you specify how old this trail is?"
Andromeda nodded and answered: "It's still few weeks old, but probably a bit younger than the one where we started."
"Then we have absolutely no other chance as to follow it!"
"Ay, Captain!"
Few weeks and many slipstream jumps later they still haven't caught up with the world ship, although the last jump indicated trail, just two days old. At least they managed to be faster than the world ship and Dylan was confident they would catch up with it very soon. But something else bothered him; the trail was leading directly to the most densely populated area, to the Drago-Kazov territory.
Rommie on her side suffered first signs of her pregnancy, she felt bad in the morning and had to vomit from time to time. She was growing more and more angry about it. It was really not exactly perfect that she felt so strange right now, as she should do her best to help the others. She sat in the room and argued with herself as Dylan came in and smiled as he saw her in such miserable mood. He walked over to her and pulled her into embrace. He could feel her bad mood and asked softly: "Is there anything you would like to tell me, my dear wife?"
Rommie looked at him annoyed and sighed: "I feel so useless! I should be doing my duties and help the others and not sitting here, feeling bad and pitying myself! I'm so upset, I could scream!"
Dylan laughed aloud at her words and ran his hand through her hair: "You will just have to come clear with the fact, that this is normal for a woman in your position. Some do escape this, but not all. And as it seems, you're one of the latter group. Besides, believe me, you do just fine! You are fulfilling your duties very good and no one has any remarks whatsoever."
"Nevertheless! They are just trying to be nice to me! But I don't want them to be nice to me and do also my jobs, which I can't manage! I want to be of help! Damn!" argued Rommie aloud and looked angry in Dylan's smiling eyes.
Dylan continued smiling and said gently: "You do not fail in any job you do! Remember that and stop quarreling with yourself! You are no more an AI and multiple personalities disorder would mean that you really have a problem. Believe me, I don't care if you do your duties or not. Your first duty now is to take care of our baby. We'll come up for you when you won't be able to assist us any more, be sure! But now....... have we thought about the names for the baby?"
Suddenly Rommie smiled, relieved that Dylan was so concerned about her and shook her head. "I believe we should wait with that. It's still so early that I don't want to act too fast!"
A kiss sealed this discussion and afterwards Dylan smiled: "I have to go to the command. And you....... you stay here, stop pitying yourself, don't think that you're neglecting your duties and rest a bit. OK?"
Happily Rommie nodded and looked after Dylan as he left the room. It really felt good to see that he was so concerned and smile didn't disappear from her face for a long time. She sat back and began to think about possible names for the baby as suddenly a disembodied voice penetrated her mind. She jumped to her feet and looked around. But she couldn't see anyone. She sighed, shook her head and sat back, as the voice cam back. And it clearly called out her name! And it sounded like Trance! She jumped up again, with same result as before. There was absolutely no one in the room. A bit concerned she asked: "Andromeda? Have you heard anything?"
Andromeda's hologram formed in front of her and looked at her surprised: "No, nothing!"
"But there was a voice, I swear! It was Trance's voice! HERE! Do you hear it?" she jumped a bit as the voice called her again. But Andromeda just looked annoyed at her and shook her head: "You're definitely imagining things, Rommie! There is no one in this room besides you and I couldn't detect any voice! Is everything OK with you? Perhaps you should consider the possibility of psychiatric help!"
Rommie threw Andromeda poisonous look and hissed: "I'm perfectly OK! And now get lost and switch the private mode on!"
"As you wish! But I'd still recommend you talk at least to Rev. You know, there were cases where women got mad during pregnancy", grinned Andromeda at her.
Rommie grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it into hologram's direction. "I told you to GET LOST!"
Hologram grinned diabolically as the pillow flew through it and disappeared.
Rommie sighed and sat back. As she sat on the chair, suddenly the voice reappeared: "Rommie, I have to talk to you! No one can hear me besides you!"
Now, this was definitely Trance's voice and Rommie answered without thinking: "Trance, is it you? But where are you? And why can only I hear you?"
"Because I want it so. Now listen to me and don't interrupt me! I have found the Spirit of Abyss and in few days I will fight with him. It will be my most dangerous battle and I don't know if I'm going to win, neither do I know if I'll survive. But I have to do it. I have to do it for the universe, for you. Only this way can I excuse myself to me for what I have done. Don't ask me where I am, because I don't want you to come after me. If I survive, I'll come back to you, I promise. But if not........ please know, that I tried everything I could to stop it and remember me as your best friend!" With those words the voice disappeared and left completely confused Rommie behind, staring into nothing with wide opened mouth. As she finally gathered her thoughts she screamed: "TRANCE! Please, talk to me! TRAAAAANCE!"
TBC