There was a buzz at the door jolting Trance out of her thoughts. She wondered how long she had been lying on her bed. "Come in." she said trying to make her voice sound as calm as possible.

Beka entered. "Hi Trance."

"Hi."

"Are you OK?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're late for dinner. You're never late for dinner."

"I am?"

Beka nodded. "What's the matter Trance? Come on you can tell me."

Trance got up saying "I'm fine. I just lost track of the time that's all."

Beka didn't look convinced. "OK Trance. We're still eating are you going to join us?"

"Of course I am." Trance said, trying to make her voice sound eager. She didn't want to go and see everyone. Looking at their faces, seeing them smile and interact would just make it harder to go. 'If I go', she thought.

They entered the Mess where everyone sat, eating. Harper looked up. "Trance babe! What happened to ya?"

"I lost track of the time." she said and sat down beside him. She glanced around the table looking at the faces of her friends. They were all smiling at her except for Tyr who nodded at her and then went back to eating his meal. Three years hadn't changed him much, except he was certainly more trustworthy. Trance picked up a fork and dug it into the salad Rommie had given her, hoping everyone would forget about her tardiness. They soon did and the conversation began again. Trance sat eating her salad not paying attention to anything being said until she heard Isis say "Home." Trance's head shot up and she looked at the sixteen year old. Isis was looking at Dylan obviously waiting for a reply. "Tarn Vedra?" he replied.

Isis nodded. "It was your home right? What was it like?"

"It was beautiful. There were large mountains and forests. The cities where huge and bustling with activity and there were statues honoring great historical figures standing in the middle of great market squares."

Isis smiled. "It sounds nice. I wish I could've seen it."

Trance smiled at her. Isis was so young and curious about everything. She was the newest addition to the crew aswell. Isis saw her smile and said, "So Trance what's your home like?"

Trance dropped her fork. "Oops! Sorry!"

"It's OK Trance.", Rommie said and gave her another. Trance took the fork with a smile and went back to her salad.

"Hello, Trance? Are you going to answer my question?"

"What question?"

"Oh come on Trance!"

By now everyone was staring at her. "You wouldn't be able to pronounce my homes name.", Trance said.

"Yeah, so? I'd like to hear it."

"No, you don't."

Isis nodded. "Oh, I do."

"No believe me you don't." Trance's voice was starting to shake. She got up. "I'm sorry. I'm not feeling too well." She half-walked, half-ran out the door. Isis got up to follow her but Dylan pulled her back down. "I'd give her some time before talking to her."

Isis nodded looking very ashamed of herself. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault Isis. Trance normally doesn't act like that when you ask her about herself. She usually just laughs it off or twists your words around. Believe me, I should know. I've been trying to get the truth outta that girl for three-and-a-half years now." Harper said trying to comfort the girl.

Isis nodded. "I didn't mean to hurt her."
*********************
Trance returned to her quarters. Images of the war and her family on her home planet flashed through her mind, followed by images of the Andromeda and her crew. She didn't want to leave but her conscience told her she had to. Her family needed her. Tears came into her eyes. She knew if she left the Andromeda she could never return. When the last tear was shed she got up, fixed her hair and smoothed the creases in her clothes. She had made her decision and she would have to tell Dylan about it now or else she might change her mind.

She exited her quarters and moved through the familiar hallways towards Dylan's quarters. She was about to ring the bell but stopped. Dylan wouldn't let her go without knowing why she had to leave and she couldn't offer an explanation without giving away anything about her people. She moved away from the door and went to the Maru. There she recorded a message for all 13 crewmembers on the Andromeda and then one to Andromeda herself. She told them she had to leave and that she was taking a slipfighter which they could pick up at a nearby station. She was going to buy a small one person ship with money she had been saving for years. When the message was recorded Trance sent it to everyone's quarters, except for the one to Andromeda. She left the Maru and entered another hangar, boarded a slipfighter and opened the hangar doors. Andromeda appeared on one of the screens. "Trance what are you doing?"

"I have to go now." Trance replied and quickly launched the fighter before Andromeda could shut the doors. She then took the message she had recorded and sent it to Andromeda. It wasn't until she entered slipstream that the tears came. They streamed down her face and made it impossible for her to see where she was going. She exited slipstream, leant back in her chair and let the tears fall.

TBC :-)