CHAPTER NINE: LOOKING BACK

"She's right you know," said Rommie.

"About what?" Dylan questioned. He was sitting down at a communication's console and the comm signal from the Maru had just faded from the screen.

Rommie gave her captain a concerned frown. "I've never seen you give up so easily either, Dylan."

"I'm not giving up," Dylan objected. He was wearing his black uniform and it somewhat reflected his frame of mind. He looked off into space and sighed. "But maybe I'm waking up to reality."

"Reality?" inquired Rommie. She didn't think she liked the sound of that word.

"Of this whole mission, Rommie. To restore the Commonwealth. To bring order back to the entire universe. I can't seem to keep my own crew in order from one moment to the next. How can I expect to do this? It almost seems impossible."

Rommie's frown deepened. "But Dylan, we knew that from the beginning."

"Knew it, maybe. But didn't believe it."

"Do you believe it?" asked Rommie. Her tone was the questing one of a pupil to teacher. "Do you believe it now? Dylan?"

"The Commonwealth has always been a dream," Dylan said.

"Dreams don't die," Rommie echoed Dylan's own words from the past.

Dylan broke from his reverie and looked at Rommie. "Do you always remember everything I say? It's true. Dreams don't die," Dylan repeated, firmly. He rose from his seat, slapping his hand on the console and shaking off his morose mood in the same motion. "No, they don't. Not unless we let them. Not unless we forget. So, no Rommie, I can't believe it's an impossible dream. We won't allow setbacks to prevent us from trying. Call the Office of the Administrator."

"Administrator Elva doesn't appear to be answering our hails," frowned Rommie.

"I hate to invade privacy, but this is urgent. Rommie, you have access to all the public records. Patch a communication through on her personal comm frequency. Tell her everything we need her to know."

"Including Beka's demands?" wondered Rommie.

"Especially Beka's demands," Dylan ordered.


Like the Greek myth of Pandora's box, Beka's box had become the start of many troubles. Beka had never thought so much would be set in motion by what had started out as a simple business transaction. Beni had obviously had no idea what he had in his possession, she'd heard of his acquistion through her own private channels, and contacted him with an offer to buy it. She'd topped the offer Beni claimed to have received from another prospective buyer and the box became hers. When she'd asked Harper to pick it up for her, she'd never imagined her crew would be arrested, her ship seized and put on trial, nor had she ever intended to thwart Dylan's plans for Monarchea to join the Commonwealth.

And as little as she had thought of the Monarcheans in the beginning, during the past days of staying upon the planet and interacting with its people, the culture had begun to grow upon her. To a certain extent, Beka now understood why Trance was so delighted staying planetside, why the Purple Girl would snatch a moment to speak with Administrator Elva when there was a break in the official's schedule to exchange gardening secrets, why she would spend every free moment she had exploring the planetary sites. Beka now understood Dylan's interest in this place and its people as well. Monarchea was a pretty place and the people, saving their animosity towards the Maru, were peaceful. It would be a pity indeed if the Yil Yimurs overran this planet, infecting it with their ugly business practices. If nothing else, joining the Commonwealth would help protect this unique culture from being destroyed.

Beka stood at the bottom rung of a ladder watching as Tyr scaled it. Much of her earlier dizziness had diminished, but she didn't quite trust herself to the heights. "You know what's funny? If Dylan had told me to forget these people and take the Maru half an hour ago, I would have done it. But not now," Beka grinned and shook her head. "I had it all along and I didn't know it. Now that, Tyr, is irony!"

Tyr looked down at her. His voice echoed off the walls as he spoke. "Ironically, I have no inkling in the least as to what you mean. You haven't told me your plan. How much farther do I climb?"

"Not far. Alright, stop right there. Look for a knob that's sticking out. It'll be to your right. Of course, I have a plan! Harper should be getting here soon and then I'll tell you about it."

"Harper will be getting here if the Monarcheans agree to your demands," Tyr corrected.

There was a moment's silence, then Beka said, "Tyr, there's something I'm wondering."

Tyr located the knob. "What?"

"I watched the recording Harper made. Of your trip on Platea to Beni's shop."

"And?"

"Why didn't you tell him someone was following you?"

"What do you mean?" asked Tyr.

"Don't give me that innocent look, Tyr. I know you have a great sense of direction, but--that recording." She snapped her fingers. "Several times you took sudden turns or made detours, in spite of Harper's directions to the contrary. Then," Beka grinned at her discovery. "I got to thinking. Why would you take such a twisted route to Beni's shop? You wouldn't. Unless you thought someone was following you."

"An accurate observation," Tyr admitted. "But the Little Professor has a tendency to panic and I didn't wish to disturb him when there was obviously nothing he could do. I've found the knob, I assume I should turn it?"

"Yes. Three times. But counterclockwise. Otherwise, it won't work. So, who was it?" Beka prodded. "Who was following you?"

Tyr turned his attention to the knob. It was shaped like a metal ring, not unlike the ring of Dylan's basketball hoop, but three times smaller. It was attached benignly to the wall and Tyr wouldn't have given it a second glance in passing had Beka not pointed it out. "You hid it in the Engine Room, this close to a reactor?" he commented, not answering the question and placing his right hand on the knob.

Beka replied, "Better to hide things places people don't want to go. Don't change the subject."

Tyr turned the knob. "He remained too far away to identify and I managed to shake the surveillance before I reached the shop."

Beka nodded. "You're right. I did catch a glimpse of someone on the recording, but I couldn't quite make it out. It was a he?"

"I believe so, yes." Tyr gave it a second turn.

"Could you recognize him if you saw him again?"

"If I saw him, I'm not certain. His face was partially hidden by a red hood. But his stench would be unmistakable." Tyr realized that Beka's questions must be leading somewhere. "Why do you ask?"

"Its a theory of mine," Beka replied, enigmatically. "Call it a hunch."

"Would you care to enlighten me?"

"Yes. There's been something strange about this whole thing. Ever since the night of the ball."

"I couldn't agree more," Tyr replied. "But how do you intend to discover what it is?" The final turn of the knob was completed and a panel in the wall opened, revealing the compartment where Beka had hidden the box.

A thought leapt into Beka's eyes. "Where there's a will, there's a way. And I think I might just have our way."


"Thank you for meeting with me in person, Administrator," said Dylan.

"You were very persistent. Am I given to understand, Captain Hunt, that after your first officer set off an explosive in the plaza and defied the off-limits order for the ship, that she now wishes to have an audience with all of the administrators in the Hall of Music?" questioned Administrator Elva.

"Yes." Dylan nodded. "That is pretty much the case."

A curious frown appeared on Elva's face. "What an outlandish request! Did she say why it has to be in the Hall of Music?"

"No, but knowing my first officer, I'm sure she has a good reason."

"What does she expect to gain by this?" asked Administrator Elva.

"All she asks is that you hear her out. If you do decide to agree, a protective escort would be appreciated."

Administrator Elva sat in silent contemplation for a moment and then replied, "As irregular a request as this is, I admit I am intrigued by it. And while we do not condone her actions, we are reasonable people. I shall consult with the other members, Captain Hunt and we shall see."


Andromeda was running a routine diagnostic, monitoring data streams for relevant updates, and a dozen other daily chores when she became aware of an incoming uplink.

"Beka? Tyr? What are you doing in here?" asked Andromeda's AI recognizing them as their images appeared next to her own manifestation in the virtual landscape of her mind via the Eureka Maru's virtual net.

Beka answered, "Rommie, someone mentioned to me that you'd been given all the security records from the night of the ball?"

Motions and sounds were distorted by VR and when people spoke their voices sounded as if they were underwater.

"Yes, they are still stored in my memory," replied Andromeda.

"We need to get a picture of whatever happened the night of the ball. I thought we'd get a better view of it in here than if you'd just sent the info to the Maru," Beka explained.

Andromeda nodded, "I'll do whatever I can to help."

Tyr asked, "Can you also call up the security measure schematics and the blueprints you showed me before?"

"And add to that any data your sensors picked up," suggested Beka. " We want to get as complete a picture as possible."

"I understand. Accessing requested records and related files. Creating a visual extrapolation. Displaying."

The undulating patterns of computer codes, images, and colors of the mindscape swirled around them and then were replaced by a surreal replica of Administrator's Elva's ballroom. In the air in front of Beka and Tyr appeared a schematic overview of Elva's residence with green dots once again representing the locations of the security guards. That evening's events could now be viewed simultaneously in both of these ways.

Beka, Tyr and Andromeda watched as the ball unfolded in fast motion. Once more Administrator Elva greeted her honored guests and led them to her table to dine. Once more dancers reeled on the dance floor and the band played their lilting music. Once more Beka left the table to discuss diplomacy with Administrator Reha.

"What exactly are you looking for?" questioned Andromeda.

"Anything out of the ordinary," Beka replied.

"Unusual. Suspicious," said Tyr.

"Something that we've missed," said Beka and even as she spoke something red flashed in the corner of her eye. "Hold it. What was that? Back up."

"The guards moved," Tyr noted with disapprobation. "They've left a gap in their defenses."

Interested in this information, Beka eyed the schematics and realized some of the green dots had moved from their original posts. "No," she said, "that's not what I meant. Andromeda, can you center us on Reha? Play that last bit again."

"Adjusting visual," said Andromeda. "Zooming in. Displaying." The view of the ballroom shifted and they could now see Administrator Reha directly in front of them.

The last scene began to play over again. Sure enough, Beka caught the red flash once again, only this time she could see it clearly. It was a red hood disappearing behind a curtain directly behind Reha. "Back it up a little more," said Beka with surpressed excitement. "To just before I went to speak with Reha."

Once again, the crew dined at the table. The dancers reeled on the dance floor. But Andromeda focused on Administrator Reha.

The three viewers watched as a small, portly figure approached Reha. The main features of his face were obscured by a red hood. The small figure tugged at Reha's robe to get his attention, spoke briefly in his ear, and then subtly pointed out someone on the dance floor.

With one accord, the trio turned to see for themselves to see exactly who the red-hooded figure was pointing out. It took them a moment to distinguish the single face from the group of dancers on the floor and when they did, a collective gasp issued from their throats.

It was Harper!

There was the familiar rush and jolt as Beka disengaged from VR. She pulled her VR glasses off and set them down. A hundred questions danced in her mind. She looked at Tyr. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I believe so." Tyr set his glasses aside. "It would appear Administrator Reha is up to more than would first meet the eye."