"Captain, either way you are not staying on the Andromeda, so why throw
away you're career?" Dylan didn't answer and judging from the satisfied
look on his face, Freemont had apparently been ready for everything Dylan
had said. Andromeda took two steppes toward Freemont's desk, brushing
Dylan's hand with hers for a brief second as she paced past him. Clasping
her hands behind her back Rommie said "Respectfully Sir, then I would like
to resign my commission." Freemont nearly chocked on hearing her words
"You're a High Guard AI, you can't simply resign your commission." "Last
time I checked, in the Commonwealth, AI's have all the rights and
privileges of any other organic citizen." The man shook his head, not quite
believing what was happening: a warship was supposed to fight the enemy,
not fall in love with her captain and definitely not leave the High Guard,
but he couldn't argue her point. "I expect that you have your crew recalled
from myself within twenty-four hours." Rommie continued, leaving Freemont
completely speechless for a long moment before he muttered "You can't do
that." Rommie sauntered forward until she was only inches away from
Freemont's desk glowering down at him. Freemont shifted in his chair
definitely uncomfortable under her glare. "Either way we are staying
together. The question is: can the fleet do without the Andromeda? The
choice is yours." Freemont's disdainful glance darted between Rommie and
Dylan. Trying very hard to sound polite and friendly Freemont finally said
"Thinking about it, I would prefer we never had this. unpleasant
conversation." "So do I." Rommie answered quickly, still glaring down at
him. "I could live with that." Dylan said, who too, picked up what Freemont
was on to as his gaze shifted again. Freemont let out a heavy breath and
forced a smile "Why don't the two of you enjoy a tour of Sinti?" "I'd like
that." Dylan said curtly and turned to Rommie who nodded smiling. "I'll
arrange everything, Captain, Andromeda." Freemont said as he stood up,
dismissing Rommie and Dylan. "And I wish you both. all the best." Freemont
managed under clenched teeth.
The second the door to Freemont's office closed shut behind them Dylan leaned down to Rommie and caught her lips with his, much to the surprise of passing officers. The two were greeted by a Lieutenant as they stepped out of the building "Sir, Ma'am, I'm here to take you on a tour of Sinti." Dylan nodded and they set off, the Lieutenant always a few steps ahead leaving Dylan and Rommie in relative privacy.
Several hours later Dylan and Rommie were back on the Maru and Rommie took the salvage ship into orbit and soon they were back aboard Andromeda. They stepped from the ship and into the enormous hangar bay were Beka and Tyr were already waiting. "Well?" At Beka's usual short but to the point question Dylan said "Freemont." then he noticed several new crew members at work on the deck and quickly changed his answer "invited us for a sightseeing tour." He could see that Beka and Tyr definitely were not satisfied with his response so he added "Beka, arrange a meeting of the senior staff in an hour. We'll get everything sorted out then." Beka nodded and left the hangar with Tyr close behind.
Dylan and Rommie entered the briefing room each with an arm around the other. Beka, Tyr and Trance were already waiting, the only one missing was as usual Harper. Dylan and Rommie, strode over to the far side of the room and he leaned against the wall with Rommie snuggling close. Five minutes later Harper hustled in muttering something about the repairs. "I take it that Freemont did not appoint you to his office simply to invite you for sightseeing." Tyr said as the hatch shut after Harper. Dylan shook his head "As you all know, Rommie and I have - um." "Yeah, yeah, we can all fill in the dirty details for ourselves." Harper interrupted with a grin. "Well anyway, we kind of got the Commonwealths unofficial blessing." Dylan continued. "That simple? You got the Commonwealths blessing." Beka repeated not fully believing. "It might have helped that we we're both willing to retire in any other case." Rommie added smiling. Silence settled for a long moment before Beka spoke "So that's it? We're all continuing as normal?" She looked at Dylan who was nuzzling Rommie's hair, Beka quickly added "Well, almost normal." The group all looked at Dylan awaiting his answer "Yes." He said simply. Then they all left and tended to their duties.
The End.
The second the door to Freemont's office closed shut behind them Dylan leaned down to Rommie and caught her lips with his, much to the surprise of passing officers. The two were greeted by a Lieutenant as they stepped out of the building "Sir, Ma'am, I'm here to take you on a tour of Sinti." Dylan nodded and they set off, the Lieutenant always a few steps ahead leaving Dylan and Rommie in relative privacy.
Several hours later Dylan and Rommie were back on the Maru and Rommie took the salvage ship into orbit and soon they were back aboard Andromeda. They stepped from the ship and into the enormous hangar bay were Beka and Tyr were already waiting. "Well?" At Beka's usual short but to the point question Dylan said "Freemont." then he noticed several new crew members at work on the deck and quickly changed his answer "invited us for a sightseeing tour." He could see that Beka and Tyr definitely were not satisfied with his response so he added "Beka, arrange a meeting of the senior staff in an hour. We'll get everything sorted out then." Beka nodded and left the hangar with Tyr close behind.
Dylan and Rommie entered the briefing room each with an arm around the other. Beka, Tyr and Trance were already waiting, the only one missing was as usual Harper. Dylan and Rommie, strode over to the far side of the room and he leaned against the wall with Rommie snuggling close. Five minutes later Harper hustled in muttering something about the repairs. "I take it that Freemont did not appoint you to his office simply to invite you for sightseeing." Tyr said as the hatch shut after Harper. Dylan shook his head "As you all know, Rommie and I have - um." "Yeah, yeah, we can all fill in the dirty details for ourselves." Harper interrupted with a grin. "Well anyway, we kind of got the Commonwealths unofficial blessing." Dylan continued. "That simple? You got the Commonwealths blessing." Beka repeated not fully believing. "It might have helped that we we're both willing to retire in any other case." Rommie added smiling. Silence settled for a long moment before Beka spoke "So that's it? We're all continuing as normal?" She looked at Dylan who was nuzzling Rommie's hair, Beka quickly added "Well, almost normal." The group all looked at Dylan awaiting his answer "Yes." He said simply. Then they all left and tended to their duties.
The End.