It was Jalicia; she had some books and other stuff with her. Once she was
let on board, Rommie went to meet her.
"Hey!"
"Hello!" I was wondering if I could come and stay for a visit, then you could drop me off on a planet, where I'd find my own way home."
"Certainly! I don't think the captain will mind" Rommie replied although she wasn't sure about the last part of her last statement.
"Hello" Dylan interjected as he came to see the new guest. "And your…."
"My new friend, Jalicia" Rommie answered. "Jalicia, this is Captain Hunt."
"Rommie didn't mention that you would be coming here."
"I came for surprise visit"
"Oh?" Dylan was suspicious. "That was fast"
"Well, I'll show you to your quarters" Rommie piped in and so they went to her quarters.
"Well these quarters are quite nice" Jalicia said. They were quite spacious; there was a nice black couch, and a gray love seat. Also there were Vedran abstract paintings and tactful light fixtures.
"I'm glad you are comfortable." Rommie was glad that Jalicia had come; she was fun to be with.
Later on, Dylan again called Rommie to her office. He did not like having a surprise guest.
"Why did you let her stay without consulting me?" Dylan asked.
"I didn't think you'd mind"
"Well, I do. There's something odd about her"
Rommie just stayed there and sighed under her breath.
"However, I will not make her leave, but see to it that she is kept an eye on."
"Aye. Well, I'll go attend to my guest"
"You do that," Dylan said simply.
Later on, in Jalicia's room, they were chatting amicably, when she said,
"I have something for you"
"What?" Rommie was not expecting any gifts.
" Some books." Jalicia answered as she gave them to her.
"Oh?"
"Yes, but promise me you'll read this one, with the mode you call 'privacy' "?
"Okay" Rommie's curiosity was peaked.
Then, they chatted some more until it was time for Rommie to go on duty.
That night, while everyone else was asleep, Rommie engaged privacy mode, which was not unusual for her. When she opened the book, a piece of paper fell out and it was a letter from John.
"Lucretia,
Jalicia told me that somehow she was able to have access to where you are being held prisoner. I just wanted to let you know that I haven't given up on you and that you should try to get to me, information as to the place where you are, so I, and some of my friends can rescue you. I love you and we will be together again.
Love always,
John.
Rommie was shocked to say the least. So, John assumed that she had been kidnapped and had not given up hope on her. To know the latter piece of information meant happiness and guilt for Rommie, as she had had to lie to him too. However, she planned to tell him the truth, somehow, somewhere. How was she to give her response to Jalicia? The next day, she had a plan.
Under the auspice of privacy mode, she wrote this to John.
John,
Unfortunately, it is unsafe for me to try to escape; just writing you this note invoke some risk. Please don't try to rescue or find me until I give the go ahead. I love you and I hope to see you soon.
Rommie.
After writing this note, she put it in a book, and told Jalicia to look at it hard, and she understood.
For the rest of Jalicia's visit, they just sat and chatted about various things.
Back on Yabor, John was impatiently waiting for Jalicia to come. As he was reading a novel, he stopped to think about how he ran into Jalicia. He had been walking down the park where he and Rommie used to go, and just as he was starting to get lost in his memories, a young woman came up to him.
"You're missing your love, aren't you?
"Yes."
"What if I were to tell you that I know of way to find her"
"I'd be happy and would ask how" She seemed trustworthy to John.
"Well I do. I know where she's been imprisoned"
"Imprisoned?" the thought of it troubled him, though he was not really surprised at her mention of it.
"Just give me a letter that says what you want to say, and I will find a way to get it to her."
" Okay, but I'll have to check out your background first. Meet me next week"
After, checking out her background, using local files, he found out that she was clean and meet her the next week. He gave her the note, and she promised to come back as soon as possible.
That had been two weeks ago. However, she came back the next day. She gave John his note and then told him.
"I know for a fact that her captors let her roam around with a guard at times. I can arrange for you to meet her there. She won't be expecting you though."
"Great!" John could not believe it.
Meanwhile, on the Andromeda, Rommie was reading some romantic stories that Jalicia had given her. However, she stopped reading and starting to daydream about her and John. They were alone, near a beautiful beach, white sand, light blue-sky, and turquoise water, they were making out. Then starting to…
"Rommie!" Dylan interrupted her thoughts, as he coughed slightly, feeling a bit light headed.
"Are you done with those preparations I asked for?"
"Almost"
"I'm getting just a little tired of that word. All you seem to do lately is daydream"
"That's not true."
"Just get to work." He was feeling tired and cranky.
"Aye."
"Remember, we have that visit to planet Ipenema in about a two days."
"Aye"
Two days later, Rommie was at another diplomatic party in planet Ipenema. As usual, Rev and Tyr did not go, and Dylan looked a bit better only because he had Trance give him a mild stimulant. He had started to look a bit worse each day since he started to come down with something.
She was about to go talk with some ambassador, when she saw Jalicia come up to her discreetly.
"Jalicia?" she was as surprised as can be.
"I'll explain later. Just come with me."
"Okay"
So, she let Jalicia lead her to some nearby alley.
Meanwhile, Dylan had seen her leave, and decided to follow.
In the alley was someone she had not expected: John.
"John?"
"Lucretia?"
"How did you?"
"Jalicia told me about your imprisonment"
"I can't believe it!"
They hugged and were giving each other a deep kiss, when Rommie heard a familiar voice.
"Let her go or I'll shoot you!" Dylan was very angry, and if he thought he could not feel more betrayed by Rommie, he had been wrong. He had lost Rommie in his line of vision, but had asked a couple of young kids if they had seen a dark haired human female and where did she go. They gave her directions.
Rommie, not really thinking, found that John had a gun, and so she shot Dylan in his right arm and in the abdomen to disable him, but they she called the others on the comm.
"This is Rommie, Dylan's been shot he's at a nearby alley" With that, she guiltily left with John and Jalicia, but she knew that Dylan would get the treatment he needed.
Hours later, Beka, Trance and Harper were at the local hospital waiting room. It was bleak, with white walls, and wooden chairs. Just as they were getting stir crazy, the doctor, came out.
"How is he?"
"Well, I was able to treat his wounds, most of his pain if from being shot by a good friend. Also, his cold seems to have quickly gotten worse. He has a bit of a fever now."
"Can we see him?" Beka was relieved to hear that Dylan's injuries weren't really that bad.
"Well, he is quite upset, but I think that some company will do him good, but please do you mention the android's name, and if he brings it up, try to change the subject. It makes him worse to talk about her."
"Will do." Beka felt the same way. They were lead in by the doctor to Dylan's room. He was sitting up in bed, with his blank face, staring out into space. He had the usual treatments for wounds, plus some ivys.
"Dylan?" Beka was concerned.
"Hey." Dylan was not in the mood for talking.
"Doc says you'll be fine"
"No thanks to Rommie" Harper said
Beka hit him on the back of the head and gave him one of her angry stares.
"He's right, you know" Dylan said. " Loyalty means nothing to her, neither does friendship. Never mind what we've been through together, never mind the vows she made as a High Guard officer…OW!" He stopped as he started to feel pain and started to cough.
"Well, at least we have two possible new signatories for the charter" Beka commented, wanting to change the subject.
But Dylan did not want to change the subject.
"Did any of you know of this?"
"No" Beka replied puzzled.
" I shouldn't have let that damn friend of hers into the ship. I should have kicked her out, but I just had to be naïve enough…" he stopped to cough again.
"She was there?" this was news to Beka.
"Yeah." He was starting to get madder and madder. "But how could they have figured out how to meet. Oh yeah, I'm the one who allowed her to have total privacy mode."
"Dylan, what's done is done. It's not your fault. Rommie made her decision."
"Yes she did…." He continued to cough. "I should have left her in V-deck to rot"
"You don't mean that." Beka started…
"Yes I do!"
Two days later, the doctor told the crew that Dylan had developed full blown Etreuf pneumonia.
"What?" Beka thought that Dylan would be fit for duty by tomorrow.
"The stress of what happened to him caused his cold to worsen."
"Gee I wonder why?" Harper asked sarcastically.
Beka gave him another look.
After they had gone to safety, Rommie decided to confess all to John.
"John, I have a confession to make."
"Yes?"
"My name is not really Lucretia"
"What?"
" It's Rommie. I'm a High Guard Ship's avatar"
"You've got to be kidding!" John had read about them and it always jarred him how Ship Ais were made to be more dependant on others for a purpose than organics or how there was a protocol to erase their memories, when deemed necessary, but none for the organic officers.
"No I'm not. Please listen. I was, along with my captain, stuck in an event Horizon for three hundred years, and then rescued by some salvagers. My captain decided to reestablish the Commonwealth. I was sent to spy on the organization, but then I fell for you and started to sympathize with the organization."
"Most of what you have told me has been a lie!" he exclaimed angrily.
"I'm sorry if I lied to you, but I had to, I love you John" Rommie was getting desperate. "Think about it. I could have turned you in but I didn't. Also I didn't turn in any information." She tried to apply to his logic, but to no avail.
"How do I not know you are still not a spy?"
"There is a way" Jalicia cut in, as she came in the Room.
TBC
"Hey!"
"Hello!" I was wondering if I could come and stay for a visit, then you could drop me off on a planet, where I'd find my own way home."
"Certainly! I don't think the captain will mind" Rommie replied although she wasn't sure about the last part of her last statement.
"Hello" Dylan interjected as he came to see the new guest. "And your…."
"My new friend, Jalicia" Rommie answered. "Jalicia, this is Captain Hunt."
"Rommie didn't mention that you would be coming here."
"I came for surprise visit"
"Oh?" Dylan was suspicious. "That was fast"
"Well, I'll show you to your quarters" Rommie piped in and so they went to her quarters.
"Well these quarters are quite nice" Jalicia said. They were quite spacious; there was a nice black couch, and a gray love seat. Also there were Vedran abstract paintings and tactful light fixtures.
"I'm glad you are comfortable." Rommie was glad that Jalicia had come; she was fun to be with.
Later on, Dylan again called Rommie to her office. He did not like having a surprise guest.
"Why did you let her stay without consulting me?" Dylan asked.
"I didn't think you'd mind"
"Well, I do. There's something odd about her"
Rommie just stayed there and sighed under her breath.
"However, I will not make her leave, but see to it that she is kept an eye on."
"Aye. Well, I'll go attend to my guest"
"You do that," Dylan said simply.
Later on, in Jalicia's room, they were chatting amicably, when she said,
"I have something for you"
"What?" Rommie was not expecting any gifts.
" Some books." Jalicia answered as she gave them to her.
"Oh?"
"Yes, but promise me you'll read this one, with the mode you call 'privacy' "?
"Okay" Rommie's curiosity was peaked.
Then, they chatted some more until it was time for Rommie to go on duty.
That night, while everyone else was asleep, Rommie engaged privacy mode, which was not unusual for her. When she opened the book, a piece of paper fell out and it was a letter from John.
"Lucretia,
Jalicia told me that somehow she was able to have access to where you are being held prisoner. I just wanted to let you know that I haven't given up on you and that you should try to get to me, information as to the place where you are, so I, and some of my friends can rescue you. I love you and we will be together again.
Love always,
John.
Rommie was shocked to say the least. So, John assumed that she had been kidnapped and had not given up hope on her. To know the latter piece of information meant happiness and guilt for Rommie, as she had had to lie to him too. However, she planned to tell him the truth, somehow, somewhere. How was she to give her response to Jalicia? The next day, she had a plan.
Under the auspice of privacy mode, she wrote this to John.
John,
Unfortunately, it is unsafe for me to try to escape; just writing you this note invoke some risk. Please don't try to rescue or find me until I give the go ahead. I love you and I hope to see you soon.
Rommie.
After writing this note, she put it in a book, and told Jalicia to look at it hard, and she understood.
For the rest of Jalicia's visit, they just sat and chatted about various things.
Back on Yabor, John was impatiently waiting for Jalicia to come. As he was reading a novel, he stopped to think about how he ran into Jalicia. He had been walking down the park where he and Rommie used to go, and just as he was starting to get lost in his memories, a young woman came up to him.
"You're missing your love, aren't you?
"Yes."
"What if I were to tell you that I know of way to find her"
"I'd be happy and would ask how" She seemed trustworthy to John.
"Well I do. I know where she's been imprisoned"
"Imprisoned?" the thought of it troubled him, though he was not really surprised at her mention of it.
"Just give me a letter that says what you want to say, and I will find a way to get it to her."
" Okay, but I'll have to check out your background first. Meet me next week"
After, checking out her background, using local files, he found out that she was clean and meet her the next week. He gave her the note, and she promised to come back as soon as possible.
That had been two weeks ago. However, she came back the next day. She gave John his note and then told him.
"I know for a fact that her captors let her roam around with a guard at times. I can arrange for you to meet her there. She won't be expecting you though."
"Great!" John could not believe it.
Meanwhile, on the Andromeda, Rommie was reading some romantic stories that Jalicia had given her. However, she stopped reading and starting to daydream about her and John. They were alone, near a beautiful beach, white sand, light blue-sky, and turquoise water, they were making out. Then starting to…
"Rommie!" Dylan interrupted her thoughts, as he coughed slightly, feeling a bit light headed.
"Are you done with those preparations I asked for?"
"Almost"
"I'm getting just a little tired of that word. All you seem to do lately is daydream"
"That's not true."
"Just get to work." He was feeling tired and cranky.
"Aye."
"Remember, we have that visit to planet Ipenema in about a two days."
"Aye"
Two days later, Rommie was at another diplomatic party in planet Ipenema. As usual, Rev and Tyr did not go, and Dylan looked a bit better only because he had Trance give him a mild stimulant. He had started to look a bit worse each day since he started to come down with something.
She was about to go talk with some ambassador, when she saw Jalicia come up to her discreetly.
"Jalicia?" she was as surprised as can be.
"I'll explain later. Just come with me."
"Okay"
So, she let Jalicia lead her to some nearby alley.
Meanwhile, Dylan had seen her leave, and decided to follow.
In the alley was someone she had not expected: John.
"John?"
"Lucretia?"
"How did you?"
"Jalicia told me about your imprisonment"
"I can't believe it!"
They hugged and were giving each other a deep kiss, when Rommie heard a familiar voice.
"Let her go or I'll shoot you!" Dylan was very angry, and if he thought he could not feel more betrayed by Rommie, he had been wrong. He had lost Rommie in his line of vision, but had asked a couple of young kids if they had seen a dark haired human female and where did she go. They gave her directions.
Rommie, not really thinking, found that John had a gun, and so she shot Dylan in his right arm and in the abdomen to disable him, but they she called the others on the comm.
"This is Rommie, Dylan's been shot he's at a nearby alley" With that, she guiltily left with John and Jalicia, but she knew that Dylan would get the treatment he needed.
Hours later, Beka, Trance and Harper were at the local hospital waiting room. It was bleak, with white walls, and wooden chairs. Just as they were getting stir crazy, the doctor, came out.
"How is he?"
"Well, I was able to treat his wounds, most of his pain if from being shot by a good friend. Also, his cold seems to have quickly gotten worse. He has a bit of a fever now."
"Can we see him?" Beka was relieved to hear that Dylan's injuries weren't really that bad.
"Well, he is quite upset, but I think that some company will do him good, but please do you mention the android's name, and if he brings it up, try to change the subject. It makes him worse to talk about her."
"Will do." Beka felt the same way. They were lead in by the doctor to Dylan's room. He was sitting up in bed, with his blank face, staring out into space. He had the usual treatments for wounds, plus some ivys.
"Dylan?" Beka was concerned.
"Hey." Dylan was not in the mood for talking.
"Doc says you'll be fine"
"No thanks to Rommie" Harper said
Beka hit him on the back of the head and gave him one of her angry stares.
"He's right, you know" Dylan said. " Loyalty means nothing to her, neither does friendship. Never mind what we've been through together, never mind the vows she made as a High Guard officer…OW!" He stopped as he started to feel pain and started to cough.
"Well, at least we have two possible new signatories for the charter" Beka commented, wanting to change the subject.
But Dylan did not want to change the subject.
"Did any of you know of this?"
"No" Beka replied puzzled.
" I shouldn't have let that damn friend of hers into the ship. I should have kicked her out, but I just had to be naïve enough…" he stopped to cough again.
"She was there?" this was news to Beka.
"Yeah." He was starting to get madder and madder. "But how could they have figured out how to meet. Oh yeah, I'm the one who allowed her to have total privacy mode."
"Dylan, what's done is done. It's not your fault. Rommie made her decision."
"Yes she did…." He continued to cough. "I should have left her in V-deck to rot"
"You don't mean that." Beka started…
"Yes I do!"
Two days later, the doctor told the crew that Dylan had developed full blown Etreuf pneumonia.
"What?" Beka thought that Dylan would be fit for duty by tomorrow.
"The stress of what happened to him caused his cold to worsen."
"Gee I wonder why?" Harper asked sarcastically.
Beka gave him another look.
After they had gone to safety, Rommie decided to confess all to John.
"John, I have a confession to make."
"Yes?"
"My name is not really Lucretia"
"What?"
" It's Rommie. I'm a High Guard Ship's avatar"
"You've got to be kidding!" John had read about them and it always jarred him how Ship Ais were made to be more dependant on others for a purpose than organics or how there was a protocol to erase their memories, when deemed necessary, but none for the organic officers.
"No I'm not. Please listen. I was, along with my captain, stuck in an event Horizon for three hundred years, and then rescued by some salvagers. My captain decided to reestablish the Commonwealth. I was sent to spy on the organization, but then I fell for you and started to sympathize with the organization."
"Most of what you have told me has been a lie!" he exclaimed angrily.
"I'm sorry if I lied to you, but I had to, I love you John" Rommie was getting desperate. "Think about it. I could have turned you in but I didn't. Also I didn't turn in any information." She tried to apply to his logic, but to no avail.
"How do I not know you are still not a spy?"
"There is a way" Jalicia cut in, as she came in the Room.
TBC