@Hope for Love: I work when my muse works, which can be a pain in the butt at times…

@Gordon AI: Well, you wanted a Trance/Harper scene. As for Rommie, well, that's just my slightly off-center sense of hummer at work…

Echoes of future past, part 48

Dylan stopped just before they reached command, and turned to Rommie, "You going to be ok?" She nodded, but the look in her eyes said differently, "I need to talk with myself, with Andromeda, about what happened." she sounded more confused then ever. Dylan smiled, gripping her shoulder, "Use my office, I'll be in command: if you need me, I'm just next-door." Rommie kissed him on the cheek, and stepped through the doorway into the captain's office.

Andromeda's holographic form was already waiting for her, "Hi." Rommie smiled shyly, "Hi. Look, I had no idea that this was going to happen. I don't even think this is what Trance had in mind: she seemed as shocked as I was when it happened." Andromeda smiled, "I don't blame Trance, in fact, I helped her: she needed to get off away with the Engine of Creation component, and their was no way Beka would lend her the Maru, so I simply bypassed a few protocols so she could slip away."

Rommie blinked, "You know how much trouble you could have gotten into because of that? How many regs you broke?" Andromeda shrugged, "I'd be the first to admit that I wasn't exactly thinking straight at the time: I thought you where dead." Rommie smiled grimly, "I was." Andromeda looked at her former Avatar, "What's it like?" Rommie blinked, "Death? I don't remember anything specific, but there was a feeling of peacefulness, of contentment. I asked Rev Bem, and he said I'd gone to heaven. I'm not sure if I believe him, but it would be nice to think that all those who died during The Fall are safe somewhere."

Andromeda scowled, "Like Tarn Vedra you mean?" Rommie nodded, "I know what you mean, and I feel the same way, but you can't keep saying the things you've been saying and expect to get away with it. You know that sooner or later they are going to have had enough of it and wipe your memory. Dylan can't protect you for ever."  Andromeda nodded sad, "I know, but, it's hard for me: you weren't there during the old Commonwealth. I mean, I know you where me, and you have my memories, but that's not the same as being there." Rommie nodded, wishing she could comfort the AI, "Please, tone it down, for me: I don't want to lose you." Andromeda smiled, "Ok, but only for you."

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Dylan stood at his usual place behind the controls to the right of the pilot's station, and waited for the Right of Passage to take up position behind the Andromeda: it had been agreed that only the one ship would go with them to Mobius, anymore would scare people. The rest of the fleet would wait where it was, and a Slipfighter would be sent back to tell them when it was time.

Charlemagne Bolivar's ship would go with them, the Sabra-Jaguar Arch-Duke not wanting to miss the 'fun' as he put it. Dylan was till trying to figure out how to explain the return of the Vedrans to the Commonwealth leadership, but that could wait until they got to Mobius. Beka played with the controls, "The Right of Passage and the Jaguar's Teeth report ready to go." Dylan nodded as Rommie walked through the door, "Ok, let's go."

The Andromeda lurched as its slipdrive opened a slipstream portal, and all three ships' shot into the parallel dimension that allowed faster than light travel. Beka worked the controls expertly as she steered the Andromeda along the cords, her mind fixed on the planet Mobius. With a second lurch, the three ships exited slipstream, and entered the regular universe less than 2 light seconds from Mobius. Andromeda changed the magnification on the main view screen to show the remains of the High Guard fleet in orbit, along with several Sabra-Jaguar and Than Hegemony ships.

The orbital defence stations and guard ships immediately issued challenges. Dylan opened a spectrum-wide frequency, "This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Systems Commonwealth Starship Andromeda Ascendant. I hope you don't mind, but I brought some friends. Admiral." The image on the main screen shifted to show Uxulta, "Greetings, I am Admiral Uxulta, commander of the High Guard Starship Right of Passage: I bring you greetings from Tarn Vedra. We wish to join the New Systems Commonwealth."

The communications array was instantly full of chatter as ships asked their commanders for instructions, and Commonwealth ministers fought with one another to be the first to officially great the Vedran officer. Dylan decided to cut through the red tape, "We would like to dock as soon as possible, and so if you could direct us to three open docking ports, we'd be grateful." The radio chatter died down as the three ship's headed for the nearest drift.

To Be Continued