Sorry for the delay. I've been stuck in writer's block and couldn't write further. But, as it seems, my muse returned and I'm continuing the story. Hope you'll enjoy it further!
36 - Friends And Allies
Rommie ran as wild through the corridors of Andromeda with Trance's voice still in her ears. She wanted to get to Dylan as soon as possible to tell him what Trance just revealed her. She didn't take any notice of Andromeda's hologram, which formed in front of her and just as it opened mouth to speak, Rommie ran directly through it as if it wasn't even there. Andromeda stood there with open mouth and confusion in her eyes. She really wasn't used that Rommie would simply ignore her. Well, she did have a habit of running through her even before as Avatar, but it was different. This time Andromeda could see, that she had something very important. She tried again and formed her hologram in front of still running Rommie and again, Rommie ran directly through it. Now Andromeda decided to use her voice. "Rommie? What's wrong?" No reply, just sound of Rommie's stomping feet. "Rommie! I'm talking to you!" Rommie just waved her hand to show her that she heard her, but ran uninterrupted further.
Andromeda tried some more times, but with no success, so she just sighed and let it be. She supposed that Rommie was running to the command, so she formed there at Dylan's side and as he looked at her, she said: "Dylan, I believe that Rommie is on her way here. And she's running like hell. She didn't even want to answer me as I asked her what was wrong. I think that she's very upset."
Dylan's face smirked: "Is something wrong with the baby?"
Andromeda shook her head: "No, I've checked it and it's fine. There must be something else. Just few minutes ago she called me and told me that she's hearing voices. But I couldn't detect anything unusual in your quarters." Andromeda looked worriedly at Dylan. She was really concerned for Rommie. Her acting has indeed been a bit strange.
"Well, which means, we'll have to wait until she comes here. I wonder why she didn't simply call me?" sighed Dylan and shook his head. It was really strange that Rommie didn't use the comm link to tell him what was wrong. But he didn't manage to think further as the hatch opened and Rommie stormed in and ran directly to him. She stopped in front of him, her eyes wide open and confused and she panted heavily. No wonder, she had been running for quite a while and she was no android any more.
Dylan looked at her expectantly and saw, that she tried to say something but gasped for air in stead. He reached for her and embraced her: "Come on, Rommie, calm down first! Don't rush! There is always enough time!" But Rommie shook her head and managed to speak: "Dylan, I've just talked to Trance!"
"WHAT!" Dylan shrieked. He had been anticipating thousands of possible reasons for her race through Andromeda but not this one. "That's........ impossible! How....?"
"You better believe it!" Now Rommie could talk again and she looked at him worriedly. "I DID talk to her! Andromeda couldn't detect any transmission or hear any voice, but I did. Trance told me, only I could hear her." Then she explained everything Trance had told her and as she finished, she looked at Dylan, awaiting his reaction. Dylan, on his side, stood there like frozen and tried to understand the meaning of her words. Slowly life returned to his eyes and he looked at Rommie astonished: "Are you really sure it was Trance you were talking to? Couldn't you be mistaken?"
"Most definitely! It was Trance and she was very upset. I think that she's heading into lot of troubles, maybe even into her death. We must find her and help her, no matter what!"
"Wait a minute now, Rommie! Wasn't it you, who reminded me that it's not exactly wise to take it up with the world ship alone? Have you changed your mind?" Dylan has regained his self-control and was grinning at Rommie.
She just shook her head impatiently and answered: "Yes, but then I didn't know that she would be going there alone and try to stop the Spirit of Abyss. Now the things have changed and I really think we should go after her."
"We might be facing a bit of a problem there. We have no idea where she, or the Spirit of Abyss might be. It could take us some more days to catch up with the world ship. Supposedly, Spirit of Abyss and Trance are on the ship. And even then...... what could we do to help her?" Dylan reasoned calmly.
"Dylan, I think that you are making a valid point there", interfered Tyr and looked annoyed at Rommie, who, on the other side returned him the same look. "We MUST find allies first if we want to fight this monster."
Beka nodded at Tyr's words, although she could understand Rommie, urging to go after Trance: "Rommie, I think that Tyr is right. We cannot simply run headless after Trance and risk all our lives, having nothing but guarantee we would fail. We can help her, but only after we have a lot of support in this fight. Look: I miss her too; remember? But how could we help her if we all die?"
Rommie looked astonished from Beka to Tyr and then to Dylan. She could understand their reservations, but her heart kept saying her, that they might loose Trance if they don't act fast. She turned to Dylan and looked at him with big eyes: "Dylan, please, we have to help her! Don't forget that it was her work that we are now together."
Putting his arm around her shoulders again, Dylan sighed and answered: "We will, Rommie! We will try to find and help her. But we should really find some possible allies first. Only with strong task force can we have a chance of succeeding. But we will do it!" He paused a bit and asked then: "Andromeda, are we in the reach of any inhabited area?"
"Yes, we could be able to contact one in les than 2 hours. But..... Dylan..... it's Drago-Kazov!"
Captain sighed heavily: "Of all possible species, do it have to be them? The only Nietzschean pride, which has a bounty on my head should be our best possibility to defeat the Magog? Very nice! How very nice!"
Tyr looked at him darkly and said: "We all share our love for the Drago-Kazov. But they are indeed the only possibility we have. Only they have a fleet strong enough to support us. If we decide to trust them."
"Trust the Drago-Kazov? Then I'd better put the rope around my neck and strangle myself with my own hand!" commented Dylan sour and looked helplessly as never before. He could really not imagine allying up with them. But, on the other hand, he had to admit, that Tyr was right. They were really the only possible allies strong enough to help them. "I'll have to think about it. Andromeda! Set the course to their territory and notify me before we reach it. Rommie an I will retreat into our quarters."
Tyr and Beka wanted to say something, but as they saw Dylan's expression, they decided rather not to do it. They just looked after Dylan and Rommie, who left the command and disappeared.
Once in their quarters, Dylan sat Rommie on the bed, took a place beside her and pulled her into hug: "Rommie, I'm sorry that you have to make such terrible experience. Did Trance tell you anything else?"
"No, just what I've told you. She didn't want to say anything more and then she vanished." Rommie sighed and leaned on Dylan. "I'm so worried about her intentions. She is really risking her life to save ours. But why would she do it? Do we really mean so much to her? Or does she see the threat to the universe and tries her best to stop it? I'm so confused!"
Dylan nodded silently and for some minutes they just sat there in silence. Then he suddenly broke the silence and asked: "Rommie, I always wanted to ask you one thing. How could it happen that you became pregnant? Didn't you use any protection?"
Rommie blushed and hanged her eyes. He was asking a question she had been asking herself before. Then she looked up into his eyes and started insecure and slowly: "I did use it. But I wasn't quite sure how to do it. You know that I have been human just shortly and some things were still unclear to me. So I guess, I didn't use it properly and it came to...... the baby. I might have ...... perhaps....... forgotten to take it. But why are you asking it? Don't you want this baby?" She looked worried and her big eyes asked Dylan to wipe away her sudden fear.
"Sure I want it! Don't even think that I wouldn't be glad about it! I was just wandering how it could happen so soon! But, on the other hand, do you remember the faces of the crew as we told them?" He smiled at this thought and Rommie giggled happily too. This thought caused her to forget Trance for a second.
"Sure I do! They were so........ priceless!" And she was right! They were so taken aback by this news that no one could speak for few seconds. Well, Beka and Harper didn't seem to be as astonished as the others. Rommie couldn't know, that they heard her talk to Dylan as he mentioned it, so she was wondering, why they didn't react so taken aback as Tyr and Rev Bem. Well, Andy was also acting somehow unimpressed, but she could hide her feelings quite good. After all, she was made to do it that way! Sure, everyone did have problems facing the fact, they would soon have to welcome a baby on board, but they couldn't choose any other possibility as to accept the fact. The first to regain his self-control was Rev Bem and he looked satisfied with this fact. Tyr acted stoic as always, but by the way he spoke, Rommie could see, that he was content with it. Harper, well, he had his problems, but considering the fact, that he in the last time developed some feelings towards Andy, he wasn't that shocked. Beka did her best to hide her emotions and she even succeeded in doing it. After they all accepted this news, they threw a big party and everyone enjoyed for the next few hours. In the following days Rommie noticed that they changed their attitude to her. They all somehow tended to be protective of her, trying to take the heaviest work from her. She was really happy to see that they all did their best to help her, although at the beginning she really didn't have any problems. And as they arose, everyone was even more taking care of her. They all began to look forward being uncles and aunts to the little being who was growing inside of Rommie.
She looked warmly into Dylan's eyes and planted a kiss on his lips: "I believe, they are all glad for our baby. Now! But, how will we be able to make it safe for it, if we have to fight the Magog and find Trance?"
"We will manage it, Rommie! I'm sure of that! We have always managed to succeed and I see no reasons why we should fail now, as more is on stake than ever before!" Dylan was sounding very confident, but Rommie knew him better. She knew that he was worried about the future; he just tried to help her in the only way he knew how. She smiled thankfully and answered: "Dylan, I know that you are just trying to comfort me. And I am very grateful for this. What would I do without you?"
"Maybe still be an Avatar? Who knows? I really don't want to think about it right now." Dylan smiled and ran his hand along Rommie's belly. "Isn't it swollen yet? Are you sure you're pregnant?"
Rommie playfully hit him: "Sure I'm sure! It isn't time yet! You......... I'll have to teach you something about pregnancy as I see!"
"You would like to teach me about pregnancy?" Dylan accepted the game and grinned. "You couldn't even use the protection properly and now you want to teach me?"
"Yes, that's right! I will teach you! After all...... who's the woman her? You or I?" Rommie didn't take his remark for bad and grinned back.
They sat there and talked for a while as Andromeda suddenly called them to command: "Dylan, we are being hailed by the Drago-Kazov. I think you should both come to the command immediately."
"On our way", answered Dylan dryly and they made their way to the command. While walking, Dylan remembered the fact, that Rommie didn't use the internal communications to call him before and asked: "Say, Rommie, why didn't you use the communication before instead of running all along the ship to tell me you've been talking to Trance?"
Rommie blushed and answered: "To tell you the truth: I don't know! I suppose, I simply forgot and wanted to tell you in person. After all, it was very intriguing and I just...... simply....."
"It's OK, Rommie, don't bother yourself about it any more!" smiled Dylan as they approached the command.
As they entered it, they could see a face on the screen, face of some Drago-Kazov general, who was waiting impatiently. Dylan positioned himself in front of the screen and started: "This is Dylan Hunt, Captain of the Commonwealth starship Andromeda. And who are you?"
"My name is Ambrose DelMonte and I'm the commanding officer of this sector. What gives you the right to violate our sector's borders uninvited?"
"We have a very urgent request to you", answered Dylan unimpressed by Nietzschean's words. "We have an information that the Magog world ship is closing in on your territory, preparing the ultimate attack to the inhabited universe. We are here to warn you and to ask your assistance to fight them off, once for all." He spoke very concentrated, not revealing his doubts and fears.
The Nietzschean's face began to grin, smile and he finally burst into loud laughter. "What is so funny about this? Are you glad you'll be Magog food in a short time?" Dylan couldn't help but make this stingy remark at Nietzschean's reaction.
Finally DelMonte managed to control his laughter and he turned to Dylan in amusement: "So, Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda, why would we believe you or trust you? You do know that there is a high bounty on your head, don't you? I think we should simply blast you out of the space and collect the reward. It would make us very rich!"
"I am fully aware of that fact and I'm sure my death would make you a very rich man. But you wouldn't be able to enjoy your money, because in a very short time the Magog will come and you will have to say good-bye not only to your money but also to your life and to lives of your family, friends and colleagues." Dylan tried to look completely unimpressed and he managed it very well. Rommie looked at him from side and admired his ability to hide his feelings and act so cold and concentrated. No one in the command wanted to interfere with this discussion; even Tyr decided to keep his remarks for himself in order not to endanger what Dylan was obviously up to.
"Suppose we do believe you, Captain", answered DelMonte still amused. "What could stop us from killing you first and defeating the Magog next? After all, we did it before....... why shouldn't we be able to do it now?"
"Because you never had to deal with Magog world ship before. And not to forget, with the Spirit of Abyss. Dear general: you will have to take it up with trillions of Magog who will raid your sector and wipe out every living being or use them to hatch their own species. That's why you will loose!"
DelMonte didn't look impressed at all, but suddenly someone from behind approached him and whispered something into his ear. DelMonte's face suddenly darkened and his expression stiffened. He turned back to the screen and spoke: "Captain, I think that something has changed now. We just received information, that a ship of unseen dimensions is approaching our sector. I guess, it could be your Magog world ship, but there are no positive identifications yet."
"See? Do you believe me now?" Dylan grinned evilly at DelMonte's reaction.
"But there is still no immediate threat from the ship. We can still stop it before it reaches the inhabited parts of this sector. After all, we do have the largest fleet in the known universe and I'm definitely sure we can defeat it." DelMonte sounded not so self-assured as he wanted to. But he wasn't willing to admit that Dylan was right. Not yet!
"Do you have nova bombs?" asked Dylan dryly and as he saw DelMonte's astonished look, he continued: "Well, we did fight with it in the past. We used nova bomb to extinguish their sun, but achieved only temporarily slow down! So as you can see, not even nova bombs, which are, undoubtedly, the most powerful known weapon, could stop them for a longer time. Therefore I suggest we combine our forces in this fight. Only if we are working together, we might have a chance to win this battle. Neither you, nor us alone can do anything serious to that monster."
DelMonte looked thoughtfully at the screen, obviously trying to get to the decision. He seemed to forget that he initially wanted to blast Andromeda and get the bounty for Dylan's head. The seconds ticked off and Dylan left him thinking. He somehow sensed, that now it wouldn't be appropriate to push forward and he just kept waiting. Then he saw, that the man from behind stepped to DelMonte again and whispered something in his ear again. He could saw DelMonte's face become even darker and extremely worried. As he turned to the screen again, Dylan knew that something had happened, something that could change DelMonte's attitude completely.
"One of our outpost planets has just been attacked", started DelMonte with colorless voice. He paused a bit and continued: "They have all been wiped out! Two hundred millions of Nietzscheans wiped out in less than two hours! No weapon could stop the invasion! Captain Hunt, I think that we should reconsider our attitudes and think about the possibility to work together."
TBC
36 - Friends And Allies
Rommie ran as wild through the corridors of Andromeda with Trance's voice still in her ears. She wanted to get to Dylan as soon as possible to tell him what Trance just revealed her. She didn't take any notice of Andromeda's hologram, which formed in front of her and just as it opened mouth to speak, Rommie ran directly through it as if it wasn't even there. Andromeda stood there with open mouth and confusion in her eyes. She really wasn't used that Rommie would simply ignore her. Well, she did have a habit of running through her even before as Avatar, but it was different. This time Andromeda could see, that she had something very important. She tried again and formed her hologram in front of still running Rommie and again, Rommie ran directly through it. Now Andromeda decided to use her voice. "Rommie? What's wrong?" No reply, just sound of Rommie's stomping feet. "Rommie! I'm talking to you!" Rommie just waved her hand to show her that she heard her, but ran uninterrupted further.
Andromeda tried some more times, but with no success, so she just sighed and let it be. She supposed that Rommie was running to the command, so she formed there at Dylan's side and as he looked at her, she said: "Dylan, I believe that Rommie is on her way here. And she's running like hell. She didn't even want to answer me as I asked her what was wrong. I think that she's very upset."
Dylan's face smirked: "Is something wrong with the baby?"
Andromeda shook her head: "No, I've checked it and it's fine. There must be something else. Just few minutes ago she called me and told me that she's hearing voices. But I couldn't detect anything unusual in your quarters." Andromeda looked worriedly at Dylan. She was really concerned for Rommie. Her acting has indeed been a bit strange.
"Well, which means, we'll have to wait until she comes here. I wonder why she didn't simply call me?" sighed Dylan and shook his head. It was really strange that Rommie didn't use the comm link to tell him what was wrong. But he didn't manage to think further as the hatch opened and Rommie stormed in and ran directly to him. She stopped in front of him, her eyes wide open and confused and she panted heavily. No wonder, she had been running for quite a while and she was no android any more.
Dylan looked at her expectantly and saw, that she tried to say something but gasped for air in stead. He reached for her and embraced her: "Come on, Rommie, calm down first! Don't rush! There is always enough time!" But Rommie shook her head and managed to speak: "Dylan, I've just talked to Trance!"
"WHAT!" Dylan shrieked. He had been anticipating thousands of possible reasons for her race through Andromeda but not this one. "That's........ impossible! How....?"
"You better believe it!" Now Rommie could talk again and she looked at him worriedly. "I DID talk to her! Andromeda couldn't detect any transmission or hear any voice, but I did. Trance told me, only I could hear her." Then she explained everything Trance had told her and as she finished, she looked at Dylan, awaiting his reaction. Dylan, on his side, stood there like frozen and tried to understand the meaning of her words. Slowly life returned to his eyes and he looked at Rommie astonished: "Are you really sure it was Trance you were talking to? Couldn't you be mistaken?"
"Most definitely! It was Trance and she was very upset. I think that she's heading into lot of troubles, maybe even into her death. We must find her and help her, no matter what!"
"Wait a minute now, Rommie! Wasn't it you, who reminded me that it's not exactly wise to take it up with the world ship alone? Have you changed your mind?" Dylan has regained his self-control and was grinning at Rommie.
She just shook her head impatiently and answered: "Yes, but then I didn't know that she would be going there alone and try to stop the Spirit of Abyss. Now the things have changed and I really think we should go after her."
"We might be facing a bit of a problem there. We have no idea where she, or the Spirit of Abyss might be. It could take us some more days to catch up with the world ship. Supposedly, Spirit of Abyss and Trance are on the ship. And even then...... what could we do to help her?" Dylan reasoned calmly.
"Dylan, I think that you are making a valid point there", interfered Tyr and looked annoyed at Rommie, who, on the other side returned him the same look. "We MUST find allies first if we want to fight this monster."
Beka nodded at Tyr's words, although she could understand Rommie, urging to go after Trance: "Rommie, I think that Tyr is right. We cannot simply run headless after Trance and risk all our lives, having nothing but guarantee we would fail. We can help her, but only after we have a lot of support in this fight. Look: I miss her too; remember? But how could we help her if we all die?"
Rommie looked astonished from Beka to Tyr and then to Dylan. She could understand their reservations, but her heart kept saying her, that they might loose Trance if they don't act fast. She turned to Dylan and looked at him with big eyes: "Dylan, please, we have to help her! Don't forget that it was her work that we are now together."
Putting his arm around her shoulders again, Dylan sighed and answered: "We will, Rommie! We will try to find and help her. But we should really find some possible allies first. Only with strong task force can we have a chance of succeeding. But we will do it!" He paused a bit and asked then: "Andromeda, are we in the reach of any inhabited area?"
"Yes, we could be able to contact one in les than 2 hours. But..... Dylan..... it's Drago-Kazov!"
Captain sighed heavily: "Of all possible species, do it have to be them? The only Nietzschean pride, which has a bounty on my head should be our best possibility to defeat the Magog? Very nice! How very nice!"
Tyr looked at him darkly and said: "We all share our love for the Drago-Kazov. But they are indeed the only possibility we have. Only they have a fleet strong enough to support us. If we decide to trust them."
"Trust the Drago-Kazov? Then I'd better put the rope around my neck and strangle myself with my own hand!" commented Dylan sour and looked helplessly as never before. He could really not imagine allying up with them. But, on the other hand, he had to admit, that Tyr was right. They were really the only possible allies strong enough to help them. "I'll have to think about it. Andromeda! Set the course to their territory and notify me before we reach it. Rommie an I will retreat into our quarters."
Tyr and Beka wanted to say something, but as they saw Dylan's expression, they decided rather not to do it. They just looked after Dylan and Rommie, who left the command and disappeared.
Once in their quarters, Dylan sat Rommie on the bed, took a place beside her and pulled her into hug: "Rommie, I'm sorry that you have to make such terrible experience. Did Trance tell you anything else?"
"No, just what I've told you. She didn't want to say anything more and then she vanished." Rommie sighed and leaned on Dylan. "I'm so worried about her intentions. She is really risking her life to save ours. But why would she do it? Do we really mean so much to her? Or does she see the threat to the universe and tries her best to stop it? I'm so confused!"
Dylan nodded silently and for some minutes they just sat there in silence. Then he suddenly broke the silence and asked: "Rommie, I always wanted to ask you one thing. How could it happen that you became pregnant? Didn't you use any protection?"
Rommie blushed and hanged her eyes. He was asking a question she had been asking herself before. Then she looked up into his eyes and started insecure and slowly: "I did use it. But I wasn't quite sure how to do it. You know that I have been human just shortly and some things were still unclear to me. So I guess, I didn't use it properly and it came to...... the baby. I might have ...... perhaps....... forgotten to take it. But why are you asking it? Don't you want this baby?" She looked worried and her big eyes asked Dylan to wipe away her sudden fear.
"Sure I want it! Don't even think that I wouldn't be glad about it! I was just wandering how it could happen so soon! But, on the other hand, do you remember the faces of the crew as we told them?" He smiled at this thought and Rommie giggled happily too. This thought caused her to forget Trance for a second.
"Sure I do! They were so........ priceless!" And she was right! They were so taken aback by this news that no one could speak for few seconds. Well, Beka and Harper didn't seem to be as astonished as the others. Rommie couldn't know, that they heard her talk to Dylan as he mentioned it, so she was wondering, why they didn't react so taken aback as Tyr and Rev Bem. Well, Andy was also acting somehow unimpressed, but she could hide her feelings quite good. After all, she was made to do it that way! Sure, everyone did have problems facing the fact, they would soon have to welcome a baby on board, but they couldn't choose any other possibility as to accept the fact. The first to regain his self-control was Rev Bem and he looked satisfied with this fact. Tyr acted stoic as always, but by the way he spoke, Rommie could see, that he was content with it. Harper, well, he had his problems, but considering the fact, that he in the last time developed some feelings towards Andy, he wasn't that shocked. Beka did her best to hide her emotions and she even succeeded in doing it. After they all accepted this news, they threw a big party and everyone enjoyed for the next few hours. In the following days Rommie noticed that they changed their attitude to her. They all somehow tended to be protective of her, trying to take the heaviest work from her. She was really happy to see that they all did their best to help her, although at the beginning she really didn't have any problems. And as they arose, everyone was even more taking care of her. They all began to look forward being uncles and aunts to the little being who was growing inside of Rommie.
She looked warmly into Dylan's eyes and planted a kiss on his lips: "I believe, they are all glad for our baby. Now! But, how will we be able to make it safe for it, if we have to fight the Magog and find Trance?"
"We will manage it, Rommie! I'm sure of that! We have always managed to succeed and I see no reasons why we should fail now, as more is on stake than ever before!" Dylan was sounding very confident, but Rommie knew him better. She knew that he was worried about the future; he just tried to help her in the only way he knew how. She smiled thankfully and answered: "Dylan, I know that you are just trying to comfort me. And I am very grateful for this. What would I do without you?"
"Maybe still be an Avatar? Who knows? I really don't want to think about it right now." Dylan smiled and ran his hand along Rommie's belly. "Isn't it swollen yet? Are you sure you're pregnant?"
Rommie playfully hit him: "Sure I'm sure! It isn't time yet! You......... I'll have to teach you something about pregnancy as I see!"
"You would like to teach me about pregnancy?" Dylan accepted the game and grinned. "You couldn't even use the protection properly and now you want to teach me?"
"Yes, that's right! I will teach you! After all...... who's the woman her? You or I?" Rommie didn't take his remark for bad and grinned back.
They sat there and talked for a while as Andromeda suddenly called them to command: "Dylan, we are being hailed by the Drago-Kazov. I think you should both come to the command immediately."
"On our way", answered Dylan dryly and they made their way to the command. While walking, Dylan remembered the fact, that Rommie didn't use the internal communications to call him before and asked: "Say, Rommie, why didn't you use the communication before instead of running all along the ship to tell me you've been talking to Trance?"
Rommie blushed and answered: "To tell you the truth: I don't know! I suppose, I simply forgot and wanted to tell you in person. After all, it was very intriguing and I just...... simply....."
"It's OK, Rommie, don't bother yourself about it any more!" smiled Dylan as they approached the command.
As they entered it, they could see a face on the screen, face of some Drago-Kazov general, who was waiting impatiently. Dylan positioned himself in front of the screen and started: "This is Dylan Hunt, Captain of the Commonwealth starship Andromeda. And who are you?"
"My name is Ambrose DelMonte and I'm the commanding officer of this sector. What gives you the right to violate our sector's borders uninvited?"
"We have a very urgent request to you", answered Dylan unimpressed by Nietzschean's words. "We have an information that the Magog world ship is closing in on your territory, preparing the ultimate attack to the inhabited universe. We are here to warn you and to ask your assistance to fight them off, once for all." He spoke very concentrated, not revealing his doubts and fears.
The Nietzschean's face began to grin, smile and he finally burst into loud laughter. "What is so funny about this? Are you glad you'll be Magog food in a short time?" Dylan couldn't help but make this stingy remark at Nietzschean's reaction.
Finally DelMonte managed to control his laughter and he turned to Dylan in amusement: "So, Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda, why would we believe you or trust you? You do know that there is a high bounty on your head, don't you? I think we should simply blast you out of the space and collect the reward. It would make us very rich!"
"I am fully aware of that fact and I'm sure my death would make you a very rich man. But you wouldn't be able to enjoy your money, because in a very short time the Magog will come and you will have to say good-bye not only to your money but also to your life and to lives of your family, friends and colleagues." Dylan tried to look completely unimpressed and he managed it very well. Rommie looked at him from side and admired his ability to hide his feelings and act so cold and concentrated. No one in the command wanted to interfere with this discussion; even Tyr decided to keep his remarks for himself in order not to endanger what Dylan was obviously up to.
"Suppose we do believe you, Captain", answered DelMonte still amused. "What could stop us from killing you first and defeating the Magog next? After all, we did it before....... why shouldn't we be able to do it now?"
"Because you never had to deal with Magog world ship before. And not to forget, with the Spirit of Abyss. Dear general: you will have to take it up with trillions of Magog who will raid your sector and wipe out every living being or use them to hatch their own species. That's why you will loose!"
DelMonte didn't look impressed at all, but suddenly someone from behind approached him and whispered something into his ear. DelMonte's face suddenly darkened and his expression stiffened. He turned back to the screen and spoke: "Captain, I think that something has changed now. We just received information, that a ship of unseen dimensions is approaching our sector. I guess, it could be your Magog world ship, but there are no positive identifications yet."
"See? Do you believe me now?" Dylan grinned evilly at DelMonte's reaction.
"But there is still no immediate threat from the ship. We can still stop it before it reaches the inhabited parts of this sector. After all, we do have the largest fleet in the known universe and I'm definitely sure we can defeat it." DelMonte sounded not so self-assured as he wanted to. But he wasn't willing to admit that Dylan was right. Not yet!
"Do you have nova bombs?" asked Dylan dryly and as he saw DelMonte's astonished look, he continued: "Well, we did fight with it in the past. We used nova bomb to extinguish their sun, but achieved only temporarily slow down! So as you can see, not even nova bombs, which are, undoubtedly, the most powerful known weapon, could stop them for a longer time. Therefore I suggest we combine our forces in this fight. Only if we are working together, we might have a chance to win this battle. Neither you, nor us alone can do anything serious to that monster."
DelMonte looked thoughtfully at the screen, obviously trying to get to the decision. He seemed to forget that he initially wanted to blast Andromeda and get the bounty for Dylan's head. The seconds ticked off and Dylan left him thinking. He somehow sensed, that now it wouldn't be appropriate to push forward and he just kept waiting. Then he saw, that the man from behind stepped to DelMonte again and whispered something in his ear again. He could saw DelMonte's face become even darker and extremely worried. As he turned to the screen again, Dylan knew that something had happened, something that could change DelMonte's attitude completely.
"One of our outpost planets has just been attacked", started DelMonte with colorless voice. He paused a bit and continued: "They have all been wiped out! Two hundred millions of Nietzscheans wiped out in less than two hours! No weapon could stop the invasion! Captain Hunt, I think that we should reconsider our attitudes and think about the possibility to work together."
TBC