Innocence
By Sailor Pixie
Disclaimer: I don't own Andromeda, that's what the nice men in white say but I don't believe them. I do own Andromeda I do. (a man in a white lab coat walks in and bops Sailor Pixie on the head) This young woman is crazy, don't listen to anything she says or read anything she has written or you will go crazy as well. Thank you. (the man walks out dragging Sailor Pixie behind him)
A/N: Please review my humble story. I'm so horrible about up-dates that sometimes it takes me a while to get new chapters out. So please forgive me ahead of time if it takes me forever to get the next chapter out.
Chapter Four
Alexandria woke up slowly feeling relaxed and safe. She knew exactly where she was and couldn't have been happier. She stretched slowly and noticed that she hadn't changed into her pajamas the night before. She had been so tired after her dinner with Harper she had collapsed on her bed and snored the night away.
"Andromeda, what time is it?" Alex asked, her voice still groggy with sleep.
"It is now 10:00. If you are hungry might I suggest one of the enlisted men's mess since several of the Ambassadors men are in the officer's mess," said the disembodied voice of Andromeda.
"Sure let me get dressed and you can show me the way. Deactivate visual sensors please, Andromeda."
"Visual sensors deactivated." Alexandria walked to her closet undressed and hung up the outfit she had worn last night. Then she looked through her closet before picking out black slacks and a deep red long-sleeved shirt. She pulled her boots back on and picked up her running clothes.
"Andromeda, activate visual sensors."
"Visual sensors activated."
"Now if you could show me the way to an unoccupied mess I will just be on my way," Alex grabbed the flexi Harper had brought her while Rommie brought up a map for her to follow.
"If you want I could download the directions into the flexi you holding," offered Andromeda.
"Really it can hold that much information. That is simply amazing," Alex thought for a moment before responding. "Yes I think you should then I won't have to bother you when I get lost."
Andromeda shimmered into life before her, "You're not a bother. I enjoy having someone to show around it gives me something to do. They don't really need a hologram now that we have my avatar." Andromeda looked said for an instance before the emotion was banished from her face.
"I'm sure they do need you but if you enjoy playing babysitter to me than I would enjoy you're company, oh wise and beautiful one," Alex said with a flourish and a bow. Andromeda almost smiled at that but she kept her composer. "So lead this merry band of fools to breakfast if you would be so kind," Alex paused before whispering behind her hand. "Although I do not think that one person can be called a band of fools. But nonetheless lead me to where my stomach can be filled and I can enjoy the company of a most beautiful maiden."
"You are very silly this morning."
"You will learn that I am very silly every morning. I just can't seem to help it," Alex walked out of her quarters and followed Andromeda's voice instructions on how to get to the mess for breakfast. She had waffles with palem syrup, although she was a little nervous about trying the palem syrup. Luckily it tasted like a mix of apples and cherries. She sat in the mess for a while reading more of the flexi Andromeda had translated for her. She had gotten up to 400 years before the fall of the Commonwealth. It was very interesting and much more in-depth than anything she had found on the Internet. Soon though she grew tired of reading and didn't know what to do. So giving in to her boredom she walked the halls of Andromeda trying not to get lost and failing miserably. It took her half an hour to find her way to Medical and another half an hour to find her way to Hydroponics when it had only taken ten minutes yesterday with Andromeda leading her. She was trying to find her way to the Observation deck when Andromeda's face appeared on a screen.
"Alex, you have to get off this deck the ambassador is coming," she said.
"Sure just point me in the right direction."
"There is a ladder to your left go down it," ordered Andromeda. Alex quickly walked over to the ladder and slid down. She stood away from the opening and listened. She could hear footsteps echoing through the corridor. Alex couldn't resist her curiosity so she stood at the edge of the opening and peered through to catch a glimpse of the Ambassador. When he walked by she almost gasped. He looked like an elf, he had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and he was tall especially in the legs, but the most distinguishing feature was his pointed ears. His blonde hair had been pulled pack in a half ponytail and he had two braids braided behind his ears, and he was clad in long blue robes that seemed to dance around him. He was gorgeous; his thin face was etched with wisdom and ancient youth. Alex was afraid to breath for the second he appeared in her vision. She was afraid any movement would make this perfect illusion disappear. To quickly he was gone and she could breath again.
"Wow, he is the most gorgeous person I have ever seen, and I have seen some gorgeous people." Alex sighed again and leaned against the ladder.
"Are you all right, Alex? You seem a bit flushed," asked Andromeda. Alex sighed as the moment of intense feeling passed.
Alex frowned, "I don't know. When I saw the Ambassador I felt very strong emotions for him, and when he moved out of my sight the feelings left. It's very confusing." Alex held her head when a wave of pain washed over her.
"Alex, what's wrong. Your adrenalin and temperature just spiked. You need to get to Medical right away, and I'll send for Trance."
"Only one problem with your plan Rommie. I don't think I can make it to Medical," said Alex as she fell to her knees her face contorting with pain. "God my head hurts." Alex swayed before falling backwards against the ladder. She hissed in pain before closing her eyes in hopes of making the pain go away. She sat there for what felt like an eternity but was actually only a few minutes, when she heard the sound of running footsteps. She opened her eyes slowly to find Trance and Tyr running towards her. "Oh good, the Calvary's here," she whispered. She tried to sit up but the pain had moved from her head to the rest of her body. Trance and Tyr reached her in a manner of seconds.
Trance ran a scanner over her body and read the results from a pad in her hand, "Tyr, we have to get her to Medical. She's burning up and her adrenaline levels are too high." Tyr picked up Alex from the floor. Alex pressed her hot face against the cool fabric of Tyr's clothes and sighed at the brief moment of cool.
"Sorry I'm such a bother." Alex closed her eyes and her body went limp. Tyr and Trance increased their pace so that they were nearly running to Medical. Once they reached Medical Tyr placed Alex on a bed and Trance took over performing more scans and injecting medicine into her. Suddenly Alex started to shake and jerk.
"Hold her down, she's having a seizure." Trance grabbed her arms and Tyr grabbed her legs as Alex jerked and bucked. "Andromeda, I need another pair of hands down here."
Andromeda's voice said, "My avatar is on her way." Alex continued to jerk for several more minutes before stopping suddenly. Trance ran over to the consol and picked up a vial of red liquid before slipping it into an injector. Rommie came in at a run and Trance injected the liquid into Alex. "Hold down her arms, I don't know exactly how she'll react to this." Alex once again started bucking and jerking but it only lasted a few seconds before her body calmed down. Trance sighed and motioned for Tyr and Rommie to let go. Trance scanned Alex again, "Good it looks like the injection worked. Her adrenalin and other hormones have leveled out and her temperature is down ten degrees. Hopefully they'll stay down."
"What happened to her?" Asked Rommie.
"I don't know how it happened but her hormones suddenly started to jump erratically and in response her adrenalin and endorphin levels rose. This sudden increase started to overload her brain and her caused her body temperature to rise dramatically. If her levels don't stay down on their own I'm going to have to continue injecting her with the stabilizer. But I'm hoping that whatever caused this is done and I won't have to do that. It could have an adverse affect on her body," Trance explained. On the bed Alex stirred slightly and groaned before falling still and silent once again.
"And you don't know what triggered it?" Rommie asked.
"No, I don't know. Yet. But hopefully after some more in-depth scans I'll know." Trance moved gracefully from console to console starting this scan looking at the results for another scan. She had Tyr and Rommie move scanners over Alex while she analyzed the results. After three hours of non-stop scans Alex finally started to stir. Rommie was removing a large scanner and noticed first.
"Trance, Alex is awake."
"Great." Trance moved over to Alex passing a small scanner over her body. "Alex, how do you feel? Any pain?" Asked Trance in a soft voice.
Alex blinked and stared at Trance, "Who are you? Where am I?" Alex's eyes widened. "Who am I?" Alex started to panic. She jerked upright on the bed and tried to push past Trance but Rommie and Tyr had rushed to her side and were holding her on the bed by her arms.
"Alex, calm down it's ok. Just calm down and we'll answer your questions." Trance picked up a vial from the table next to the bed and quickly placed it onto the injector before injecting the liquid into Alex. Alex slowly stopped struggling and leaned against Tyr with a sigh. Tyr stiffened but didn't move away. Trance placed the injector pack on the table and said, "Are you alright now, Alex?"
Alex looked up with confusion in her eyes, "Is Alex my name? Is that who I am?"
Trance nodded, "Your full name is Alexandria Elizabeth Masters, but we call you Alex for short."
"Then are you my friends?" She asked.
Trance was silent for a moment before answering, "We've only just met you but yes we're your friends. I'm Trance. Alex, do you remember anything, anything at all?"
Alex thought for a moment, "Well I remember how to do things. I can remember how to recalibrate the slipstream and how to use the consoles. Things like that, but I can't remember anything about you or me." Trance starred at Alex in shock.
"But you didn't know how to do those things before, we had just met you and we were trying to figure out what to do with you," said Rommie in disbelief.
"But I remember how to do those things and many others," Alex said with certainty in her voice. Tyr moved away from her and she had to keep herself from falling because she had still been leaning on him.
"If we are done here then I'm leaving." Tyr walked briskly out of the room.
Trance glared at the door where Tyr had left, "Sorry he's so rude."
Alex smiled and shook her head, "No it's ok I feel safe around him, so he must be alright."
"Do you get certain feelings around us as well?" Asked Trance.
"Yes, from you I get a feeling of paradox. Like I never really understood you, but I also feel that you are stronger than you look. And from the lady by my side I get a feeling of friendship and acceptance but I also feel like you've sacrificed something and that makes you sad too." Alex blushed when she said this last part.
"Rommie, my name is Rommie," said Rommie with a slight smile on her face. "You don't need to feel embarrassed we did ask what you felt around us."
Alex smiled back at Rommie, "Thank you for that. I wasn't sure if you would understand I didn't mean anything rude or unkind by what I said." Alex smiled at both of them for a while. "So what do I do now? You say that I didn't do anything in this place to help you."
"Well the reason you didn't help before was because you didn't know how to do anything. Maybe, if Captain Hunt says it's ok, you can help with some little things to keep you busy. It might also help you regain your memory." Trance turned to Rommie, "Rommie could you go talk to Dylan while I show Alex the way back to her quarters." Rommie nodded and walked out. Trance turned back to Alex and held out a hand, "Here I'll help you." Alex took her hand and slid down from the bed. "Just follow me and you'll be all right." Trance led her out of Medical, when the stepped out into the corrider Alex stopped as a flash of pain shot through her head and she remembered something.
"We're on a ship aren't we? I just remembered how to get to places on the ship. I know where everything is." Alex frowned when she tried to remember more and couldn't. "There's something special about the ship, something that makes it unique."
"Well the Andromeda, that's the name of the ship, is sentient. She can think, feel, and do many things a normal ship can't," explained Trance as they continued to walk towards Alex's quarters. They had walked for a little in silence when a hologram suddenly popped in front of them.
Alex stopped with a yelp, "Who are you?"
"I'm the Andromeda hologram, one manifestation of the Andromeda AI. Captain Hunt wants to see both of you in Command." She disappeared with a smirk.
"Well we better get there quickly and that means using ladders. Are you up for it, Alex?" Asked Trance.
"Sure, why not." They both quickly moved to the right ladder and climbed there way to Command. They reached it quickly since both of them were agile on the ladders. They entered together and walked down the ramp to Dylan.
"You wanted to see us, Captain Hunt," said Trance giving a slight hint to Alex who they were talking to.
"Yes. Rommie informs me that you've received memories of how to work modern day technology during your episode in Medical. She also said that you'd like to help somehow. Well we can always use an extra hand so if you like I would like you to start out by helping Harper with some minor repairs. If you show that you have indeed gained sufficient memories than we'll slowly introduce you to harder jobs." Dylan smiled slightly. "Does that sound all right to you?"
Alex's smile split her face in half, "That sounds wonderful Captain. Thank you." Trance started to lead her out when the whole ship was suddenly rocked by an explosion. Trance and Alex were thrown backwards while everyone else grabbed hold of something to keep from being tossed.
"Andromeda, report," barked Dylan.
"We've been hit by five missiles. I am unable to determine where they came from. There is no ship in sensor range."
"Well find the ship, we can't destroy it if we can't see it," demanded Dylan. "Beka!"
"I know crazy Igor time," said Beka.
"Actually it's the Ivan. Tyr be prepared to fire defensive missiles." There was another explosion that knocked Alex back on her ass. As she flew back she saw the three panels in front of her blow up and throw Tyr, Beka, and Dylan back into the back wall. None of them got up.
Trance moved to Tyr's position and motioned for Alex to take Beka's, "Andromeda, are they still alive?"
"Yes, just unconscious. I've notified Harper and my avatar to come to Command. I've also found the hidden ships."
Alex looked up from the console she was manipulating, "Did you say ships, as in more than one?"
"Yes I'm detecting four Nietzschean battle cruisers and twenty fighters."
"Are we close enough to slipstream?" Asked Alex.
"No the planet we were dropping the Ambassador off at was in this system. We are to close to the sun."
"Right let's see if we can get out of this in one piece. Trance think you can hold them off while I try and get us out of here?"
"I'm not sure but I'll try. Think you can get us out of here?"
"Sure all I need is a planet to slip to. Andromeda, what's the closest friendly planet?"
"Urgroth."
"Put a picture of it on the screen." The picture appeared on the right screen. "Thanks, just leave it up. All right here they come. You ready, Trance?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." The doors to Command opened and in ran Harper and Rommie. "Harper, help me with fire control." Harper ran over to Trance and took the other console that wasn't burnt out.
Rommie ran to the console to Alex's right, "I've got sensors." The four of them worked seamlessly. As Alex dodged and twirled Rommie directed Harper and Trance to the best places to hit. They were working there way slowly to slipstream range. Unbeknownst to all of them except Rommie, the three in the back had woken up and were watching with a mixture of aw and amusement. It was amusing to them to see a sixteen year-old lead the other three, especially since the sixteen year-old came from their distant past.
"Slipstream range in one minute. We're almost there guys just hold them off a little longer." The Andromeda shook as the battle cruisers unleashed their weapons. Sparks came from all around them, they quartet braced their feet as another barrage of missiles hit the Andromeda. This time debris from the ceiling fell around and on the quartet, mostly on their extended arms. "Slipstream in 30 seconds." Alex pressed a button on the console and brought the slip port forward. Alex gripped the handles, "15 seconds to slipstream." Alex stared at the picture of the planet as the trio kept the fighters at bay. "5 seconds to slipstream. 3, 2, 1, slipstream." Alex threw them into slipstream. She navigated the twists and turns with relative ease. Finally they exited slipstream, Alex pushed a button on the slip port and it eased back into position. Then she maneuvered them into orbit around Urgroth. She gave Andromeda control and turned around to help the three in the back. Alex was surprised to see the three of them helping each other off the floor. Trance grabbed a med kit from the wall and rushed over to help them.
"Are you guys all right?" Asked Harper.
Dylan smiled as Trance injected a blue liquid into him, "Yes Harper were just fine. We just hit our heads." Trance quickly injected liquid into the other two. Alex smiled and leaned against the railing before she realized where she was.
"Oops, sorry about flying your ship without permission, Captain."
"Quite all right considering the circumstances." Alex steeped away from the console to allow Beka to take her place. The other two had taken their stations again too. "Harper, if you don't mind setting aside your other repair jobs to fix Command I'd like you to get started right away." Alex started for the ramp leading out of Command when Dylan's voice stopped her, "Alex if you wouldn't mind helping him, I'm sure he'd get done faster." Alex smiled as she went over to join Harper.
"Captain, the Ambassador is on his way to Command," said Rommie.
"Great just what we need," said Dylan.
Alex knelt down to help Harper with a fried conduit, "Who's the Ambassador?" She asked in a whisper.
Harper looked confused for a moment, "Oh I forgot that you don't remember. Ambassador Greenleaf is the best Ambassador the Commonwealth has. He has this personality that makes people want to resolve their issues. We were taking him to a really volatile area to hash out a treaty between the Nietzscheans and the humans on the planet Nandew." The two continued working until the Ambassador entered Command. Alex looked up and felt a wave of emotion sweep through her body. She kept starring at the Ambassador while Dylan explained what had happened. Harper poked her when she had been staring for a while, she turned away from the Ambassador and went back to helping Harper. Once she had turned away the intense feelings passed. She stood up and tried to access the burnt out console when a wave of pain washed over her. She stumbled and Harper stood up to catch her as she swayed.
"Trance her adrenalin and temperature have spiked again," said Rommie. Alex was holding her head as wave after wave of pain washed over her. Harper set her gently on the floor as Trance rushed over to her.
Captain Hunt, who is this young lady? I do not remember you introducing us," asked the Ambassador.
"She's the newest member of our crew, and she's also the youngest at only sixteen," explained Dylan.
The Ambassador looked shocked, "She has not reached adult hood yet?"
"Well no she hasn't, but why does it matter?"
"Because I emit a visual aura that, in adults, causes the strong hate emotion to diminish, but in children it causes their hormones to rise. Then when they are no longer looking at my aura their adrenalin and endorphin levels rise. If left unchecked it can kill the child. Usually when there are children around I lower my aura so all that happens is a strong feeling of happiness. Unfortunately I did not know about this child so she received the full force of my aura."
"This has happened once before, will it be any worse or better this time?" Asked Trance as she prepared the red injection.
The Ambassador sighed, "I am afraid it will be worse. Only I can save her from a second time." The Ambassador walked quickly over to Alex. He placed his hands on the side of her head and began to speak to her in a musicale language. Alex slowly opened her eyes and stared directly into the Ambassador's eyes. As he continued to speak he started to glow. Alex stared into his eyes and spoke back to him in the musicale language of his people. Then she to started to glow, and his glow melded with hers.
The rest of the people in Command had to shield their eyes because the light was so strong, even Andromeda could not see inside the light. Since no one could look at the light none of them noticed the strange blue man floating above the two in the light. The blue man reached down and touched Alex on the forehead. When the fingers touched her skin Alex gasped, the fingers were ice cold. She could feel them reach into her brain and take out all the memories of her past. She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. She was scared she wouldn't be the same person without her memories but she also hated her life at home and wanted to forget. The blue man slowly took out his fingers and smiled at Alex, and then he just disappeared.
The Ambassador had stopped talking and the two of them were no longer glowing. The Ambassador smiled down at Alex and slowly stood up, "She will be fine now. Unfortunately she will never recover the memories she lost the first time. It is a side affect of the cleansing." The Ambassador spoke to Alex in the tongue he had used before, she looked confused before answering him in the same language. "She will also always know the language of my people. You may also want to keep an eye on her; Ancalimë may become giddy for a few hours. I would like to apologize to you and your crew for the danger I put Ancalimë in. It is unforgivable." Ambassador Greenleaf bowed low to Dylan and Alex.
"You meant no harm and she will be fine so you are forgiven," said Dylan.
Alex stood up and bowed to the Ambassador, "There is nothing for me to forgive, Legolas Greenleaf. You meant me no harm for you didn't know that I was here to be harmed." Legolas smiled slightly before leaving Command on quiet feet. As soon as he left Alex sat down hard. "I am terribly dizzy right now." Trance rushed over and scanned her.
"Your should be fine in a few minutes. Your system is recovering from what you went through. Why did he call you Ancalimë?"
"Ancalimë is my new name in the language of his people. He said that whenever someone goes through what I did and survives they are given their true name. You see on his planet every child must go through what I went through to prove they are kind of heart. Legolas said not many people from off world survive the ordeal."
"So it's a kind of coming of age thing. It must be a scary thought that you almost died," said Trance
Alex nodded, "I'll just help Harper. That should keep my mind off things." Alex got up slowly and started fiddling with the burnt out console. Harper shook his head in disbelief but bent down and started working on the circuitry. The rest of the crew stared in disbelief for a moment before starting on their own repair jobs. They worked quietly for several hours, working swiftly to repair the damage in Command. Once they were done Harper and Alex left to work on other repairs.
Beka looked up from her console, "So Dylan, what do you think about Alex? Are you going to keep her onboard or are we going to find a nice planet to drop her off on?"
Dylan looked thoughtful, "I think we should keep her on board. It wouldn't be right to just drop her off somewhere. She isn't even from this time she'd never survive. And now that she has the technical knowledge to help us she could become an asset."
"She is only a child, we could not depend on her in a hand to hand battle," commented Tyr.
Dylan smirked, "Well than Tyr I appoint you to teach her how to fight."
Tyr smiled and Dylan's smirk disappeared, "It will be my pleasure."
A/N: I know I've shamelessly put in a character from Lord of the Rings, but I really love his name and he is so terribly cute I couldn't resist. Please don't hate me. .* Besides don't you feel terribly sorry for Alex.