Little writer's block on Echoes of future past (how the hell am I going to end that story?), so I decided to have a go at finishing this chapter, as Chrysalis is next on my 'to-do' list.
Chrysalis, part 7
Robert Masters sat on a chair in Tyr's office, as calm as could be. The Nietzschean looked at him from behind the desk, "I take it you understand the seriousness of what has happened: a member of this ship's crew has been attacked. At this time, we don't know if she's going to survive or not. Given who she is, it is a good guess that Captain Hunt will be more than a little angry if she doesn't." Masters shrugged, "Well, I don't see what it has to do with me: I was with the Ambassador, engaged in a privet meeting to discus security for our arrival at San-Ska-Re."
Tyr's eyes narrowed, "At the moment you are the prime suspect of what could become a murder investigation, so if I where you, I'd be a bit more serious about these proceedings." Masters smiled, "May I remind you that I am only here out of curtsey: I have diplomatic immunity, and as such, had I committed any crime on this ship, the most you could do is put me off at the first available Planet or Drift. As that happens to be San-Ska-Re, and we are due there in a little over 24-hours, I shall take my leave of you." With that, he stood and walked out.
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Dylan looked at the report into Tyr's interview of Masters, "He's good, I'll give him that: he didn't answer any of the questions straight enough for Andromeda to get a clear reading as to whether he was ling or not. I'd say he's been trained to withstand normal interrogation techniques, witch implies he's more than just a simple security guard." Beka nodded, "Tyr thinks he did it, and I have to agree, but he knows how to play that diplomatic immunity card, and I doubt that the Admiralty would be willing to go to bat over this if we threw him in the brig."
Nodding, Dylan turned back to Rommie's still form, "It would be a pity if we developed engine trouble that delayed our arrive by a day or two. Have Harper give the Slipstream drive the once over." Beka nodded, knowing when to read between the lines, "I'll get him on it a once. When was the last time you slept?" Dylan looked at his watch, "Night before last." Beka looked at him, then over to Rommie "You'll not help her if you ware yourself out like this: Trance is looking after Paul, so go back to your quarters and…" She stopped mid sentence, realising what she had said, "Shit! Dylan, I didn't mean for it to come out like that!" Dylan nodded, "It's ok Beka, I understand, but I'm not leaving her: the doctors are going to move her to one of the privet rooms, and I'll be able to get some sleep in a chair."
Andrew walked in and nodded, "Captain, Commander." The Avatar stood against one wall, his eyes on Rommie. Beka turned to Dylan, "Is he here often?" Dylan nodded, "When he's not needed elsewhere. He's very close to Rommie: they're almost like brother and sister, and in a way, they are. He often asks her for advice about dealing with us organics, stuff like that." Beka shrugged, "Understand really: apart from Andromeda, they're the closet thing either of them has to family."
TBC