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Following Big Brother

Chapter Two: History

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Andromeda

            "So what were you thinking about that was so interesting this morning?" Beka asked, the moment Dylan stepped into command.

            "It was nothing." He replied, heading straight for the pilot's chair.

            "Didn't seem like nothing."

            He turned around, not extremely happy that she was being this persistent, "I was thinking about my sister, alright?" He snapped, then recomposed himself, "Sorry.  I didn't mean to be rude.  Manna was just someone that I loved probably more then Sara and the last words we ever said to each other weren't very nice."

            "Oh." She stared forward at him, a look of surprise on her face, "You never mentioned having a sister."

            "When I talk about her, it reminds me of what broke us apart.  It was the words that were said, they were the truth anyway, but it was more the event of why she said it."

            Beka knew now was not the time to ask what catastrophic event had destroyed the bond of two siblings.  She could tell that it was hard enough for Dylan to say as much as he had, and decided to wait until later to ask more.

-*-*-

Kem-mari Rue-el

            Kym looked up at Danka as the avatar walked into Manna's room, "Did you get a hold of her?"

            "Not yet.  I'll try again in a few minutes." She replied, "How is she?"

            "Her temperature's the same, but she keeps waking up and babbling to me as though I'm Dylan or Devin or Daniel.  I'm really starting to get worried.  I wish we had some colder water so I could at least cool her off."

            "Well, Kem-mari is searching the ship to see where the cooling problem is.  That's the best we can do for now."

            "It's not enough."

            Danka frowned, "Outside of openly hailing Andromeda, we're doing all we can.  We just have to give it some more time and be a little patient."

            "Danka-Marie, we have waited a week more then we should've.  She is too sick to wait any longer.  Go try Rommie again, and if you don't get a hold of her, hail Andromeda."

            The brown haired avatar nodded, solemnly, and walked out.

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            "What are you doing?" Holo-Andromeda asked, appearing beside the acting first officer.

            Beka was spooked momentarily and then returned her gaze to the console screen, "I'm looking up information on the Hunt's."
            "I know what you're looking up.  What I want to know is why are you looking up information on Dylan's family?"

            "Because I don't want to ask him."

            She sighed, "Which child are you looking up?"
            "I thought he only had a sister?"

            "Dymanna." She murmured, thinking about the sweet red-haired teen, "She is Dylan's only sister.  However, they had twin brothers – Devin Ryhan and Daniel Rychard.  Devin died when he was about six months old.  Daniel died on his first birthday."

            "What about Dymanna?"

            "She and Dylan apparently had a…disagreement just after Daniel's funeral.  He never told anyone any more then that.  Even Sara didn't know what happened.  After that, they didn't talk or write each other as they had.  No crewmen could even mention the name Dymanna without Dylan becoming quieter and upset."

            "Really?" Beka was a bit surprised.  She really couldn't imagine anyone, except Sara, having that kind of effect on the man.

            "Really."

            "How did their brothers die?"

            "Devin was a very sick child from the start.  While it appeared he might have been getting better, he had actually gotten worse.  One day while Dylan was visiting, Devin went into cardiac arrest.  No one in the house could do anything for him.  The hospital pronounced him DOA."

            "That must've been wonderful." She murmured, sarcastically.

            "Actually, it was quite painful." Dylan's angered voice cut through the room, "Now care to explain what you are doing?" He looked at the hologram and at Beka, "Both of you."

            "Well, I was just wondering about your family." Beka started, "You usually only mention Sara."

            "And it would have taken her a while to find out about them and it really is time you stop reacting to any mention of them." Holo-Andromeda added, staring up at him, before furrowing her brow, "I'm being hailed."

            "By who?"

            She looked up at him, "The Kem-mari Rue-el."

            Dylan took off, running out of the room and down the corridor, thoughts of his baby sister pounding in his mind.  The hologram disappeared, while Beka ran behind Dylan.  Her own thoughts dragged through her mind.

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Andromeda Command Deck

            Tyr, Trance, Rev, and Harper had arrived at their stations just before Beka, Dylan, and Rommie.  On the screen before them all, were two women.  One appeared to be tall, about Rommie's height, with blonde-hair and red-tips.  She had gray eyes and a peaches-and-cream complexion.  The other was about Harper's height, with brown-hair, brown eyes, and a tanned complexion.

            "Kymberlie." Dylan whispered, looking at the blonde.

            "Hi, Dylan." Kym smiled weakly, then sighed, "I know we owe you an explanation, but we sort of need some help."            "With what?"

            "Your sister." She replied, moving out of the way, revealing Dymanna's semi-conscious form, "Her fever's up to one-oh-five-point-two.  She's been like this for almost a week and a half.  Our cooling system is broken so we have nothing to try and bring her temperature down with." She sighed again, and fell into the pilot's chair.

            Danka spoke up, "You never met me.  My name's Danka-Marie.  Manna made me before this whole suspended animation thing happened.  I know this must be hard, but please help her."

            He nodded, "Of course I will.  We'll meet you in hanger three."

            "Thank you."

-*-*-

            The crew had kept their amazement to themselves, while Dylan greeted Kym and Danka, "I can't believe you're here." He hugged the blonde-haired avatar, "Where's my baby sister?"

            "Inside." She led him onboard the Kem-mari Rue-el and to Manna's room, where she was shivering in her bed.  Her forehead was beaded in sweat, even though she was wearing nothing more then her underpants and a tank top.

            Dylan was beside her instantaneously, "Manna.  I'm here and I'm not leaving you ever again." He whispered, before picking her up as gently as he could.  He walked out of the ship and to Trance, "Come on." He immediately started out of the hanger and into the corridor, followed by Trance, Kym, and Danka, leaving the others alone.

            "Dylan has a sister?" Harper asked no one imparticular, "Now that's a weird thought."

            Rommie looked at him oddly, "Why is that a weird thought?  Was it weird that Beka had a brother?"

            "Well, umm…It's just that she's here.  Shouldn't she be…you know…dead?"

            "No.  She got here the same way Dylan did.  Manna was always close to Dylan, up until the six months before Rhade's betrayal." Rommie replied, "She was unfrozen the same time Dylan was.  I knew she was here, but she gave me reasons to not let Dylan know."

            "What reasons could she possibly have?" Tyr asked.

            "When Manna was thirteen, she had a very controlling boyfriend.  When he starting hitting her, she ran away from home to Dylan while he was still onboard.  He left for two days.  Didn't tell anyone where he was going.  When he got back, Manna wedged out of him where he'd gone and what'd he done."

            "And?" Beka asked.

            "He'd paid a visit to the boy's house.  Not only did Dylan threaten him, Dylan pressed charges, and got permission of Manna to stay onboard for a few days." She looked at the people, "He is extremely protective.  Anyone who poses any sort of threat to her, he goes after."

            "Sounds like he's more of her father then her brother."

            "He used to be like her father." Kym interrupted, "I've known Dylan and Manna since I was made when she was five.  Until she was like eight years old, Dylan treated her like she was his daughter.  It was probably because he was twenty-seven when she was born."

            "Twenty-seven?  How old where their parents when he was born?" Harper asked.

            "Eighteen when he was born, forty-five when she was born, and fifty-nine when the twins were born."

            "That's a big age gap between them all." Tyr stated.

            Kym nodded, "Their parents had a hard time getting pregnant.  It was a miracle Dylan was born, and even more so to have Manna.  And the twins too."

            Silence filled the room suddenly, and then Beka spoke up, "So what's she like?"

            "She's a walking oxymoron.  Dylan used to say that her red hair was for her fiery spirit and her green eyes were for her sereneness.  Usually she's sweet and kind, but she can be very…different."

            More questions and answers followed, as the group slowly migrated toward their different destinations.

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Cassie Jamie

noahXfiles@aol.com

I know, not the greatest.  But the way, the reason I've made Dylan and Manna so far apart in age is because it is like my friend and her older brother.  She just turned sixteen and her brother is forty-three.