"No. She's not dead," Rommie replied, looking with a frown towards the engineer who was inclined to jump to hasty conclusions.
Harper let out a sigh of relief. "He knew our communicators wouldn't reach inside Monarchean buildings so Tyr used the Maru's comm to contact my mainframe. As soon as I stepped outside, I received his message," Rommie explained. "He and Beka are secure. Locked inside the Maru. At least for the moment."
"What do you mean for the moment?" asked Harper, anxiously.
Rommie quirked an eyebrow. "Apparently, some of the natives are pounding on the Maru's hull. It is an unpleasant state of affairs at best and should not be allowed to continue."
"Man, I wished she let me know when she was gonna make her move," said Harper.
"Poor Beka," sighed Trance. "That's not the way it was supposed to work."
"Alright, wait a minute," Dylan said, feeling a headache coming on. "Let me get this straight. You knew she was going to do something like this?"
"Well," Harper said, slowly. "I didn't know she was gonna do something like this. Only that she was thinking about doing something like this. If I'd known she was really gonna do it, Dylan, I would have told you."
"Would you?" Dylan raised his eyebrows.
"Okay. Maybe not. But believe you, me," Harper nodded. "I would have thought about it. Ah, c'mon, Dylan. You had a heads up. We'd mapped out the plan for you on that flexi."
"Oh yes, Mister Harper, I remember. A plan I rejected."
"Yeah, because you already had a plan. But, face it."
"Face what?"
"You know, Dylan. The plan wasn't really working. So there was Plan B."
Dylan bridled back his irritation. "Generally, Mister Harper, you don't try Plan B until you're finished with Plan A."
"Oh," said Harper, upon hearing the disappointment in Dylan's voice all cockiness was washed away. He looked down at his feet. "Sorry, Boss."
"Now, I'm going to have to try to explain this to Administrator Elva and the rest of the court. Harper, having problems with Yil Yimur I could explain. My first officer blowing up a piece of Monarchean plaza is an entirely different matter."
Beka sat up with a start and a splitting headache pounded so ruthlessly in her ears that she let her head drop back to her pillow. "Where am I?" was her first thought. Quickly, followed by, "I'm on the Maru." Yes, she was laying in her own bed, for although she had been assigned her own quarters aboard the Andromeda more often than not she chose to bunk in the Eureka Maru. Truth be told, her quarters on the Andromeda were only used for sleep when the Maru wasn't in the hangar deck.
"I wouldn't exert myself too quickly if I were you," said a somber voice. Then, it added, "There's water if you want it."
It was Tyr's voice. Beka turned her head to follow it and for the first time noted the figure that was sitting in the far corner of the room. He held an open book. Apparently, he'd been engaged in reading it while waiting for her to revive.
Noting her inquiring glance at the book, Tyr said, "It's a myth of Ancient Earth adapted by a man named Hawthorne called, "The Paradise of Children". A child's tale but its managed to hold my interest."
Memories of the last few moments before she had lost consciousness spurted through Beka's mind. "I was trying to save my ship," she said and was shocked how scratchy and dry her throat felt. She sat up slowly, propping herself up with pillows, coughed, and reached for the glass that rested on the shelf next to the bed.
It was just out of reach.
Tyr noted this, rose, got the glass and placed it in her hands, saying, "It wasn't worth the risk. You were nearly trampled to death."
Beka raised the glass of water to her lips and drank it down. She watched him as he returned to his seat, book still in hand. He was disheveled; dust clung to his clothes, not characteristic of the Nietzschean who was meticulous about his looks. "You too, from the looks of it."
"I followed you," Tyr replied. "It was a good thing for you I was there when you fell under the crowd."
So that's why Tyr hadn't been seen much since Andromeda's return from Platea. He had hoped to discover more about the situation by following her actions from afar. And she had been so distraught by the danger to her ship that the fact she was being observed had gone totally undetected. There was a pause, then Beka said, "You followed me, but you didn't try to stop me."
"I am not a mind reader. I had no idea of the details of what you were planning."
After another moment, Beka asked, "Why'd you risk it? Saving me?"
Tyr stared into the pages of his book. "Your survival was worth the risk."
"Of your life. I'm touched. But there really had to be more to it than that? Was it some kind of mistake. You know, a knee-jerk reaction?" she joked.
"No," said Tyr.
"Oh." Beka looked over at him curiously. "Then, what?"
Tyr said solemnly, "You're a fundamental member of the crew. They're dependent on you and the damage control if you were lost would be a time consuming task. Our chances of survival on the whole are increased if you remain alive." Tyr looked back down at his book and turned to the next page.
Beka thought this over for moment and a frown appeared on her face.
She was startled from her thoughts when Tyr unexpectedly spoke again. "I still do not altogether comprehend this sentimental attachment to your ship. Though granted, Captain Valentine, it does happen to be a remarkable ship, tougher than appearance would at first make it seem. Technology tends to resemble those who apply it."
Beka smiled to herself. In a roundabout way, Tyr had just admitted he thought she was tough. Perhaps it was just her recent brush with death, but suddenly she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She sniffed and grinned to keep them back. "Maybe you would call it sentimental. But this ship was one of the last things my father ever gave me. As long as I have it, its like having a part of him. It's home." At the end of this speech, Beka was surprised to find Tyr listening to her with a look on his face of complete understanding.
"It belongs to you," Tyr commented. She then remembered how Tyr had risked himself to recover the remains of what the Nietszcheans called "The Progenitor." When asked later about it, he had replied it was something that belonged to him. It had taken her weeks of probing and pestering to find out exactly what that belonging he had risked his own survival to obtain could possibly be and she still wasn't certain if he had told her the whole story.
"Yes." Beka took a deep breath as if inhaling the ship itself. This was where she had been born, where she had grown up, what had earned her a living before she had met Dylan and Rommie. It had been willed to her when her father died and it was something she intended to hang on to with all her might.
"Yet," Tyr said. "Even if you lost it, you wouldn't lose everything. For as long as you remain alive, a part of him still lives in your genes and in your memories." His book closed with a snap and he rose from his seat. "If it came down to a choice between your life on Dylan's ship and this, and these are your words, 'bucket of bolts,' which one would you choose?"
For a long time Beka's survival had been coupled with the Eureka Maru. She realized that was no longer the case. She was no longer simply Captain Valentine of the Eureka Maru. She was Acting First Officer of the Andromeda Ascendant yet that ship would always belong to Dylan. It wasn't the same. "But if I let it go, what else is there left for me to hold onto?"
For a moment, as Tyr knelt by the bedside, she thought he said, "Me." But her ears must have deceived her or caught just the first syllable for then, she heard, "Many things." She was feeling a little light-headed. That's what a head injury will do to ya.
"What kinds of things?" Beka inquired.
Tyr didn't answer. He raised his head, listening.
Beka listened too. From far off her ears seemed to catch it. Rat-tat-tat. Rat-tat-tat. A look of puzzlement filled her eyes. "What is that?"
"A minor inconvenience. A small portion of the natives are attempting to dismantle your ship."
"What!" That news made Beka sit up all the way. Her headache was forgotten. She swung her feet out over the edge of her bed.
Tyr held up his hand and shook his head. "I have no desire to scrape you off the floor. The attack isn't very well coordinated. Its mostly just sticks and stones. The airlock is sealed. I doubt anyone will find a way in." Tyr stood, laying his book on the shelf near the bed.
"Easy for you to say," Beka scooted herself forward, preparing to stand. Her equilibrium was off. She wished the world would stop plunging up and down. Noticing the look Tyr gave her, Beka snapped, "Why don't you help me?" And then, immediately regretted snapping because that was certainly an odd question to ask someone who was responsible for saving your life.
Tyr didn't move. "There's one other thing I think you should know."
"Yes?"
Tyr crossed his arms. "I sent a message to Dylan. I expect the good Captain Hunt will be responding to it any time now."
The soles of her shoes touched the floor and Beka frowned. "If we're inside the Maru why are we still on the surface, Tyr? Why didn't we fly up to the Andromeda?"
"Your unconscious state made it difficult to get flight controls transferred to me."
"Couldn't figure out my launch authorization codes as easily as my door codes, huh? All the more reason for me to get to the cockpit." As Beka moved once more to stand, Tyr scooped her up, carried her rapidly out onto the cockpit area and deposited her in the pilot's seat before Beka could utter one word of surprise.
"Ow!" Beka let out a cry as she landed on the seat. She shot him an infuriated look and when she managed to recover her power of speech said, "What did you do that for?"
"You said you wanted to get to the cockpit. Now you are here," Tyr replied with a shrug.
Beka could have sworn she saw him hiding a smile and she fought down one of her own. Stationary again, she noted that the world seemed steadier than it had a few moments ago. Her attention turned to her ship's console and a blinking light. "An incoming transmission," she observed. She pressed a button and Dylan appeared on screen.
The captain's face on the screen looked stern. "Thank you for contacting me, Tyr. I need to have a word with Beka."
Tyr nodded his head and left for other regions of the ship, welcoming the opportunity to explore its spaces.
"How are you doing?" Dylan asked.
"I'll live."
Dylan looked stern. "You told me once you weren't big on trust, but I wish you had trusted me this time. All this could have been avoided."
"I made a mistake," Beka admitted. "I don't know if you noticed this but I get a little crazy when it comes to my ship."
"Oh, I've noticed," Dylan nodded. "All of us have. But I still expect more from my first officer. Perhaps this is partly my fault."
"What?" Beka's eyebrows flew up. "Your fault?"
"I should have told you more about what would happen if the Monarcheans agreed to sign the charter. Especially since it looked as if the trial wasn't going so well."
"I don't understand what you mean. What are you talking about, Dylan?"
"It's customary," Dylan replied. "When the Monarcheans enter into an agreement to grant a favor of some sort. Entering the Commonwealth, I, of course, would offer them all the benefits due to members and they, in turn, would have granted me one favor."
Beka snapped to attention and comprehension flashed through her face. "You mean? My ship--"
"Yes, Beka. Even if it had been decided that the Maru was to be destroyed, I planned on respecting their decision. Then, if they agreed to sign the Commonwealth Charter, my request was going to be a pardon for your ship."
"And the Butter--the Monarcheans would do that?"
"Yes," Dylan replied with conviction. "As Rommie has pointed out to me, the saying, 'one good turn deserves another' is like the Monarchean's golden rule."
"Dylan," Beka demanded. "Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?"
"At first, because I wasn't sure what you're reaction would be. Later, when I did try to explain it to you, you were too upset and wanted to be left alone."
"My reaction?" asked Beka.
"If I had told you it might not matter and might even be better if your ship was condemned to be destroyed? It certainly would have helped me greatly. The Monarcheans would see I meant what I said about respecting their laws even if it meant an unfavorable outcome for myself. I'm sure it would have influenced them enough to join."
"Sounds like a pretty big 'if' to me, Dylan," said Beka. "I don't care for the stakes. And don't tell me, for the good of the Commonwealth gave you the right to gamble with my ship without asking me first."
She heard clanging footsteps and glanced over her shoulder to see that Tyr had returned.
Dylan frowned. "You weren't altogether truthful with me either, Beka. What is this box Harper's babbling about? Why does he seem to think its so important?"
"Because it is," Beka replied, looking up at Tyr. "It is very important. More important than even I thought it would be. Yes," Beka thought aloud. Her eyes took on a far off look. "It is. It is! IT IS!"
Dylan was worried by this behavior. "Tyr, how long did she go without oxygen to her brain?"
"It is! It is!" Beka continued to repeat with thrilled excitement, bouncing in the chair.
Dylan looked alarmed. "Tyr, it isn't--"
Tyr took a close look at Beka and shook his head. "No," he replied. Beka's heart was racing and her face was flushed with excitement, but this was not due to the effects of any drug. Her eyes were contact free and clear. It wasn't flash. Tyr stayed near to Beka's chair with concern. "Give her time."
Beka grinned widely to herself.
"Time is something we don't happen to have. I've tried but there doesn't seem to be a way I could ever hope to get them to join the Commonwealth now," Dylan replied in a strangely defeated tone unlike himself.
"You don't understand," Beka nearly choked with exultant laughter. "It is the solution!"
"It looks like you're getting your wish, Beka," Dylan said, still not understanding her behavior nor her words. "Fly the Maru to Andromeda. The Monarcheans have asked us to leave their planet."
"But I'm just beginning to like them," said Beka.
Tyr touched her shoulder. "Are you daft? Did you hear what he just said? There is no hope of them joining the Commonwealth now. If you value your survival, get this ship off the ground and back to the Andromeda!"
Beka turned to him. "Yeah, I feel a little crazy and no, I'm not leaving yet," she replied, staunchly. "It isn't going to end like this! Not because of me." Beka gripped the arms of her chair and stood up.
"Beka?" Dylan questioned from the screen.
"Dylan, you have to talk to Elva for me. Negotiate, do whatever you do! And you tell them, I want a meeting. A meeting in the Hall of Music. With all the Administrators present. I want them to hear me out."
"Have you lost your mind?" asked Tyr, unable to keep silent any longer listening to this madness. "How do you expect to get out the door of your ship let alone to the Hall of Music?"
The crowd outside of the ship must have wearied of their stone throwing and had returned to chanting.
"Good point," Beka nodded to Tyr. "Dylan, add to that list a protective escort to the museum hall and send Harper with them."
"Beka, you're really not in a position to be making demands," Dylan began.
"No! I'm not in a position to cause the most hopeful captain in the universe to feel hopeless. I've never seen you give up this easily. So do what you do best, Dylan. Against all odds, win! Arrange the meeting." And with these parting words, she reached out and pressed a button, cutting communications.
