Title: The Biological Imperative
Author: Slayer, The
Rating: R
Timeline: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Gift & Andromeda, In Heaven Now Are Three
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Andromeda. Those honors belong to Joss Whedon, Gene Roddenbury, UPN, the WB, Mutant Enemy, and all the other various persons and affiliates involved in the productions thereof. I'm just gonna borrow them for this story.
Author's Notes: I've caught Andromeda now and again…saw Into the Labyrinth and thought James Marsters was fantastic…very last ep I saw was In Heaven Now Are Three…I like the new improved Trance and am starting the Andromeda timeline from there…hope to see the ep on why she changed soon…and Buffy looks like she did during the beginning of season 6
Summary: a BtVS crossover with Andromeda…what happens when a proud and conniving Neitzschean male meets a mystically enhanced human female…you know the Neitzscheans and there wacky strive for genetic perfection through selective breeding…I betcha that a whole lot of them would be after the Slayer with her superior strength, agility, and beauty…*grin*…especially the leader of a prestigious Pride…must remember, they believe in having many, many wives to propagate their….uh huh….hope you enjoy
Chapter 3In Hydroponics, the rest of the crew had gathered to discuss their "visitor." Beka sat on a bench next to the reclining form of Harper, who seemed transfixed by the patterns on the hull. While, Tyr leaned against one of Trance's shelves, his weight threatening to collapse the fragile metal. On the other side of the room, Rommie looked out blindly toward the basketball hoop, her attention on the sensors tracking Dylan and Trance's progress towards Hydroponics.
"So, how do you think the interrogation is going?" Asked Tyr, a touch of haughtiness in his slight accent.
"Tyr, try to contain yourself. There is no interrogation, and even if there was one, I really don't think an unconscious body makes for good conversation," Beka said sarcastically.
"Now really, I'm just…" Tyr began.
"…concerned for our welfare, our endeavor towards the restoration of the Commonwealth, the future battle worthiness of Andromeda, your continued health of body so that you can propagate your noble line of Neitzschean genetics through the begettin' of many mini-yous….yada, yada, yada. We know this. You explain it to us each and every time we don't immediately eject new comers from the Andromeda." Harper said, getting up from his back and spinning around to face Tyr. "But I hardly think that one little girl is destroy the world as you know it."
"Well put Harper. Exactly what I would have said, except for that whole propagation thing. Personally, I don't like to think about it." Dylan said jokingly upon his and Trance's entrance into Hydroponics.
Quickly turning to them, Beka gets up from her seat. "So…"
"Yes, how is the prisoner," asked Tyr as he straightened from his reclined position against the plant shelf.
"The girl isn't our prisoner Tyr. She's our welcome guest until she proves herself otherwise. Even then, she'll probably have as many chances to reconsider as you." Dylan announced exasperatedly.
"Huh," Tyr snorts derisively, "as long as the freak doesn't kill us all in our sleep she's welcome to do whatever she wants. Just make sure she doesn't interfere."
"Hey," Trance interrupts, "she's not a freak…she's as human as Dylan. She just happened to get here by some space anomaly, like that black hole Dylan was stuck in or the time thing that I came through. Just because it disturbed your routine, doesn't mean that you have to get nasty about it."
Harper and Beka hide their smiles at Trance's criticism of the Neitzschean.
Suddenly Trance turns serious. "If you make one wrong move toward her, I'll make you very, very, sorry," Trance says, reminding the rest that she isn't the sweet innocent Trance they all knew, but a fighter, a survivor from the future.
Tyr simply rolls his eyes at Trance's new maternal attitude and continues with his stoic warrior facade.
"Ahem," Dylan thankfully breaks the sudden tension, "the girl will be fine, and she's human, completely. There is no evidence of any special upgrades or hidden devices on her person. I don't think that she'll give us any real trouble. Hopefully, we'll find out what happened to her, and help her if we can."
"Human," Harper perks up. "As in a human girl. Things are starting to look up."
The crew looks to Harper, disbelieving his gall in the face of the situation.
"What, like you weren't all thinking the same thing?"
"Sadly, were not all as sick as you." Beka told Harper.
"Sure you are," he said smugly, "you're just all too prudish to admit…"
Rommie shifts her attention from her friends' discussion.
"I think you spoke too soon," she says, referring to Harper's claim to having a good day.
The group is alerted by Rommie's tone.
Hologram Rommie appears next to her physical construct.
"God," Beka starts, "what now."
"A slipstream just opened up and there is a fleet of ships fast approaching the starboard side," the hologram states. Rommie goes into immediate action, striding for the door and making her way to the Command Deck. Her crew exchange glances and rush off after her.
"I knew it was to good to be true." Harper huffs from the back of their procession.
A video image of Rommie is waiting for them as they enter the bridge.
"Rommie," calls Dylan, going to a control consul. The rest spread out, Beka to the slipstream controls, Rommie, Trance, and Tyr to opposite control panels, and Harper to the railing.
"Arming weapons and readying the slip drive…wait, I'm receiving a hail from the lead ship," a hologram Rommie states as her video image dissolves to show the fast approaching fleet.
"Do you think they're here for the girl," asks Harper.
"No," answers Tyr decisively, as he recognizes the ships, "I severely doubt that the best of the Sabra-Jaguar Pride would come all this way for one human girl."
"The Sabra-Jaguar? But I thought they signed a charter with us…you know, they don't attack us, and we help them destroy the Drago-Katsov Pride. Everyone's happy. Why are they gonna destroy us now?" Harper says, bracing against the railing, as if to prepare for the impact of canon fire.
"If they were going to destroy us, they would have done it a long time ago," Tyr says, walking away from his panel to stand next to Dylan in front of the screen.
The image dissolves again, this time revealing the face of the Sabra-Jaguar alpha, Charlemange Bolivar. His appearance surprises the Andromeda crew. Usually the very picture of composed and arrogant Neitzschean male, Bolivar is haggard, his jacket ripped and a cut bisecting his left eyebrow trickling bright red blood down his face.
"If you don't need me, I think I'll just go and see how my patient is doing," Trance interrupts quietly, right before leaving the bridge.
Rommie smiles slightly, acknowledging Trance's swift retreat.
"Hunt," Bolivar says wearily, "I am exceedingly sorry to say that I am in need of your particular services. Permission to board."
Walking past several corridors, Dylan and Rommie lead Bolivar and his small entourage toward the Observation Deck, where the rest of the crew had assembled to await the dignitary.
"Do you or some of your people want to visit the Medical Deck before our talk," asked Dylan.
"No, we'll be fine. I'd prefer to get this over with, before the oncoming hoard surprises and destroys us all," answered Bolivar right before he entered the room.
Dylan pauses, damn it.
Charlemange immediately goes to Tyr, who automatically raises his right arm, greeting Bolivar in the typical Neitzschean manner.
"Just because a situation is dire, does not give one the excuse to be so barbaric as to forego the proper etiquette," Bolivar addressed Dylan and Tyr, as he let down his own arm. "Now, moving on to why I am here. 15 days ago, my Pride was attacked by a hoard of Magog, and they have continued to barrage us at every venue. We have lost…" Bolivar pauses and clears his throat, a chip in his regal façade, subtlety disclosing the degree of his concern. "There have been many casualties, most important of all was a family ship, containing the mates and children of a select few. Including all of my 6 wives and all but one of my 5 children." His expression becomes blank; "We decided to come to you for help…" gives a weary sigh, "it has been rather a trial to find your ship. The Andromeda is quite the mover and shacker of the universe," Bolivar trails off with a faint grin.
Tyr goes on full alert at the first mention of the Magog threat; Harper lets out a quiet "Oh God."
"I'm sorry for your loss," said Dylan, "Of course the Andromeda and it's crew will do all we can to help you." Turning to Rommie, "Rommie, expand sensors to maximum proximity. Stay on full alert status. Beka, take the Command Deck, be prepared to slipstream us out of here at the first inclination of trouble." Shifting his attention back to Charlemange, totally serious. "I want you and all who are wounded," indicating the entourage, "here and on board your ships, to have a visit in our sick bay, we'll talk specifics on our way down. Rommie, tell Trance to be prepared. Tyr, Harper, go see what you can do to help arm and fortify those ships. Report back to Andromeda at the first sign of trouble. Let's go."