*~/A.N./~* Hello again! I loved the few (hint: hint) reviews I got. They were great. I'm trying to move the plot along a little further, but I'm a stickler for detail. I hope I get more reviews this time. Well anyway, I'm not going to ramble on and on so, here's chapter seventeen.
*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(
They walked over to where Dylan, Rommie, and Tyr were (Beka, Trance, and Rev were standing nearer to the door). "Uh, Dylan, this is um....Oh crap!" Harper began (the 'oh crap' was because he forgot the girls' names). Isa smiled and let out a small giggle.

"This is Sarah Ulrich, Sammiejo Stubb, and, my sister, Kristen Julson." Isa introduced the girls, gesturing to each one as she said their name.

"Uh, well, nice to meet you. I'm Captain Dylan Hunt, this is my weapons officer Tyr Anasazi, this is the ships avatar Rommie, and I believe you've already me my chief engineer, Seamus Harper." Dylan gestured to each person as he introduced them. Isa hit Harper playfully on the arm.

"You didn't tell me he was the captain." She said.

"I didn't?"

"No."

"Sorry babe. Must have slipped my mind." Isa just smiled at him.

"It's okay."

"Uh, boss, Isa wanted to know if they could go to Obs Deck to talk for a while." Harper turned his attention back to Dylan.

"That would be fine, but perhaps the briefing room would be more appropriate." Dylan replied.

"Just where ever you can spare, Captain." Sarah said.

"You can use the briefing room. Just follow me, please." Dylan said, then turned and began walking toward the door. "Tyr, you have command." Tyr left, "Ladies, Rommie will take you to the briefing room and when you're finished she will show you to the V.I.P. guest quarters."

"Thank you Captain." Sammie said.

"You're welcome and please, call me Dylan." He left, headed for his office (paperwork). Beka, Trance, and Rev walked over to them.

"Hi." Trance greeted them cheerfully. They all smiled at her.

"Ladies this is Trance Gemini our medical and environmental officer. That is Beka Valentine our first officer, and that is Rev Bem our theoretical Physicist and ship psychologist." Rommie introduced.

"Where you guys goin'?" Beka inquired.

"Briefing room." Harper said plainly.

"Cool. Hey, Isa?" Beka asked.

"Yeah?" Isa replied still holding Harper's arm.

"When you're done, come find me, would yah?" Beka's grin returned.

"Uh, sure." Isa replied.

"Shall we?" Rommie walked out the door. Sammiejo, Sarah, and Kristen followed her. Harper held Isa back for a moment. He held both of her hands in both of his.

"Hey, I'll see you later, okay?" He said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Okay." She replied in a voice barley audible. He smiled, kissed her, and sent her to catch up with the others. Then her turned to face beka.

"Why do you want to see her later?" He asked her sharply, and folded his arms across his chest (A.N. his perfect, spectacular, awesome, gorgeous, wonderful chest **sighs and smiles happily at the thought**). Beka's grin widened just a bit.

"Oh nothing. Just a little...girl talk." She commented. Harper narrowed his eyes at her.

"If you think you can use her to find out what's bothering me you're wrong." He said already know what she wanted from Isa.

"You admitted that there is something bothering you. You won't even tell her?" Trance interjected.

"If Harper wishes to tell her, she should care enough about him to keep it a secret if he wishes it to be so." Rev commented.

"Thank you Rev. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have some work to do." Harper said, then turned on his heel and waked out the door.

"I'm sorry Beka, but I have to go water my plants. Tell me anything you find out." Trance said the skipped off to hydroponics. Rev walked over and stood next to Beka.

"You were a big help back there Rev." Beka turned to him and stated obviously.

"Yes I was. Maybe not to you, but I was to someone at least." Rev smiled at her.

*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(
"Here is the Briefing room. I've engaged privacy mode already. Just call me when you're finished." Rommie said as she and the rest of the girls stood outside the doors of the briefing room.

"Thank you Rommie." Isa said as the doors opened and the others walked in.

"Your welcome Isa." She replied and left. Isa walked in the room; the others had sat down. Kristen sat at one end of the table and Sarah and Sammiejo sat on the sides. Isa sat down at the end of the table, directly across from Kristen and glared at her.

"So what's this bullshit your saying about you were **air quotes** worried about me?" Isa spat at her sister.

"We had to say something. I mean what were we supposed to tell them?" Kristen shot back.

"The truth." Was Isa's simple reply.

"Oh sure. We could just say 'Hi. We're here because our princess, who by- the-way is to inherit the throne in about a week, ran away with information and technology that, if it falls into the wrong hands, could very well destroy our civilization as we know it.' Sure, that would go over well." Sarah said sarcastically **sounding like a total bitch**.

"I'm not going to inherit the throne." Isa said Matter-of-factly.

"Yes you are!" Kristen replied forcefully.

"If she doesn't want to, why does she have to?" Sammie finally stepped in, defending her friend.

"Because she's a princess!" Sarah retorted.

"What if I don't wanna be a princess anymore?" Isa asked frustrated. Sarah let out a long sigh and Kristen rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, Kristen why don't' you do it?" Sammie asked innocently.

"Shut up!" Kristen told her.

"I was just suggesting. I mean, you ARE older." Sammie said absentmindedly.

"Because, I'm not Daddy's little girl, and I'm not the inventor, and I'm not the scientist, and I'm not the engineer. She gets it because my father thinks she's perfect. Oh, if he only knew what kinds of ideas she harbors in that pretty little head of hers." Kristen stated viciously.

"Hey! I've tried to tell him. You didn't get it because you're a cold heartless bitch! And could we just leave the **family issues** for later." Isa fought back just as vicious.

"Fine." Kristen said coolly.

"Isa, just bring us the Tech. And it will all be okay. We'll leave as soon as we get it." Sarah informed her.

"Good. Now, I don't know about you, but I could really go for a bath. So, Isa call your little friend down here to take us to our quarters." Kristen ordered. Isa didn't reply, she just got up, walked to the door, and then pushed the button to disengage privacy mode.

"Andromeda?" Isa called.

"Yes?" He hologram shimmered into view.

"Would you ask Rommie to come down here, please? We're finished."

"She's on her way." And she disappeared. Sarah got up, walked over to Isa, and stood next to her.

"Yah know. Before now, I actually thought of you as a friend." Isa told her semi-calm.

"You don't anymore?" Sarah asked her.

"No. Now your just a conniving little......" The doors slid open cutting Isa off before she could finish.

"Follow me please." Rommie said and began to lead the girls. Sarah followed fight after glaring at Isa. Kristen got up and walked to her.

"Don't get too attached to the boy." She informed, then walked out the door. Isa stuck her tongue out at her back, causing Sammiejo to giggle.

"Well, at least I know there's one person who still cares about me." She smiled at Sammie, "Come on Worm." Sammie got up, walked over, and stood next to Isa. Isa wrapped and arm around Sammie's shoulders and walked out the door.

*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(
"Beka?" Rommie's voice echoed through the blonde woman's quarters.

"Yeah?" She asked walking out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a large white towel.

"The girls are finished in the briefing room. Would you like me to send Isa down here?"

"Is you would, please."

"I'll have me avatar bring her down here after she shows her to her quarters."

"Thanks Rommie."
*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*( *(*(*(*(*(
"And Isa, you can stay here." Rommie and Isa stopped in front of one of the many VIP quarters on the Andromeda.

"Thank you Rommie." Isa replied, "Uh, I'm supposed to go see Beka. Do you know where she is?"

"Yes. She's in her quarters. I'll take you down there."

"Oh, no Rommie. I'd hate to bother."

"It's no bother." She began to walk down the corridor, "It's just down this way." They walked in silence, "Isa, are you alright?"

"Huh? Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

"Just wondering. You haven't said anything for a while."

"Oh. Sorry. I was just thinking about some things."

"Would you like to talk about them?"

"I'd rather not. No offense."

"None taken. These are Beka's quarters."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Your welcome." Rommie walked away and disappeared around a corner. Isa rang the door chime.

"Come in!" Beka's voice was faintly heard through the steel. The door slid open and Isa stepped in.

"Beka?" she called into the room.

"Hey!" Beka said coming in form the kitchen area.

"Hey." Isa returned.

"You want something to drink or eat or anything?"

"No, I'm fine. You wanted to see me?"

"Uh, yeah. Sit down." Beka motioned to the couch in the room. Isa shrugged and sat down. Beka plopped down beside her.

"So, what did you want to see me about?"

"Harper."

"What?"

"I wanted to talk to you about Harper."

"Well, why?"

"Because there's something bothering him, and he won't tell me what it is. I guess, I just kind or think of Harper as a little brother and it just kills me that I don't know what's wrong. So, if you find out could you possible just let me know what's wrong?"

"I could probably, but..."

"Oh, thank you." Beka cut her off, "Oh, now Harper wanted to see you."

"He did?"

"You. He's working in the Slipstream core. You want me to take you?"

"No, I remember where it is."

"From here?"

"Well no, but I'll find it..bye Beka!" She hopped off of the couch and left the room practically running. She got to the end of the corridor and stopped.

"Left." Rommie's voice came through the speakers.

"Thanks." Isa called as she ran down the corridor to the left.

"Third door on the right." Her voice came again.

"Okay." Isa darted through the third door she came to on her tight. Harper was sitting on the bed he kept there reading a flexi. Isa saw him there and (literally) jumped onto his arms.

"Oomph!" Harper exclaimed as he was toppled by his girlfriend.

"Sorry." She said innocently as she rolled off of him.

"It's okay." He said as he threw the flexi to the floor. Then her wrapped his arms around Isa and pulled her close.