Chapter 11

Trance put some medicine she had been mixing back onto the shelf of the med lab. 'There, that's done,' she thought. She turned around and saw Hannah stirring on the bed.

"I see you're awake. How are you feeling?" she asked.

Hannah looked at her with squinting eyes. "Less tired," she answered simply.

"That's good. Your health is relatively normal, so I guess you're free to go," said Trance.

"Thanks," said Hannah, sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the table and jumping down.

She walked out of the Med lab and came upon yet another crossroads identical to all others she had so far encountered. She shrugged and decided she'd try going toward the right this time. Last time going left did not turn out so well.

She found herself eventually at a dead end with doors in front of her. The doors were big and official looking, and Hannah thought that maybe they were the doors to the command deck. She entered and found that she was right. There were many stations with consoles and a huge screen at the front. She had never seen such an elegant and clean command in her life before. She walked in awe towards the front of the empty room and jumped when suddenly an image appeared on the screen. She saw in disgust that it was a Nightsider. She thought she recognised him as one of her old ship's customers. He seemed surprised to see her, but recovered quickly and said

"Ah, just the girl I wanted to see. You must be Hannah," he said with a forced smile on his face.

Hannah didn't say anything

"You know, the last time I saw you, you were about yea high," he said indicating, "you haven't grown much I'm afraid my dear,"

"Don't call me that!" said Hannah. If there was one thing she couldn't stand it was being called 'dear' by a stranger. Especially a Nightsider!

"Now, now, dear, no need to get all upset over nothing. I'm just calling in to ask you something," he said sickeningly sweetly. Hannah knew he was just buttering her up, but decided to hear what he had to say.

"If you're going to ask me then ask," she said firmly. She knew how to handle this kind of person, thing, she corrected herself, because of years of seeing her father and the crew bartering and dealing with many characters similar in nature to this one.

"I knew I could count on you..." he started, but Hannah cut him off, "I didn't say I would do whatever you are asking for, I just said I'd listen," she gave him a cold glare that seemed to put him off for a moment.

"Very well then," he continued, "I have just one thing to say. I know who killed your father,"

Hannah gasped and swallowed. "Who??" she asked.

"All in good time, I just have one tiny favor to ask of you, dear,"

She began to hate this beast royally. There was always a catch with his kind of people.

"What is it?" she relented. This was a creature who may know what happened to her friends, and she was not willing to give up this chance, even if he was lying.

"First things first. You know how to override the system, do you?" he asked

She didn't like the way this conversation was going, but she nodded. It was one of the first things she had learned.

"Good," he looked pleased, "then override the systems of the Andromeda and allow me to come onto the ship with out being noticed. That's all I need you to do, and as a reward I'll give you a hefty cash profit as well as the info you so dearly need," he smiled at her leeringly.

This was a tough decision. How could she go back on the people who had saved her life?

"Just as long as you promise not to hurt any of them," she said finally.

"Oh, heavens forbid! Of course not my dear, the thought never even crossed my mind! So it's a deal?" he said, turning on 'charm' to full power.

Reluctantly, Hannah nodded. She just couldn't bare to let this chance go to waste, no matter what the cost.

"Alrighty! Then it's settled! Thank you very much my dear, just go and do it and you'll get your reward soon enough," the glee in his voice was impossible for him to conceal.

"Don't call me dear!!" Hannah yelled at him just as the image of him clicked off. She scowled and felt terrible about what she was about to do, but her resolve hardened.

'It's the only way,' she thought to herself, and exited Command.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~