New Arrival

Prologue

Disclaimer:  Well, here it is, the tedious bit of disclaimer before the story!  You've probably read thousands of these by now, but y'know, I have to cover my back end.  Ahem.  +Takes on a business-like voice+  I do not own Andromeda, or any of it's characters/locations/etc.  I DO own any original characters I use for the story, as well as any locations/etc. that I create.  If you want to ask me about using them, drop me a line via e-mail (CARNAGE533@aol.com) or if you post a review, add that in at the bottom if you'd prefer.  As long as you're polite I don't think I'll say no.  Just a hint.  And now. . .ON WITH THE SHOW!

Summary:  Ok, so I lied.  Sue me.  +Glances at his wallet+  Wait, I take that back, I'm too broke for a lawsuit.  Lol.  Anyway, this story picks up sometime after Ouroboros.  No real spoilers, as this is a semi-AU fic, except of course for the Ouroboros spoilers.  Harper's cured, Trance is no longer purple, yada yada.  Basically, the crew went through accepting the new Trance, and now something happens to make them doubt her again, and openly treat her badly.  This time, though, she has someone to turn to.  A mysterious new arrival on the Andromeda may change more than any of them guess. . .even him.  Also, I just want to state here that this is not by any means a SI fic.  I am not Hex, though he does have one or two similar characteristics.

Hex Mason, a human male that looked to be about seventeen years of age, sat around in his prison cell, waiting to be released.  He had been called in on some bogus charge, probably by one of the rival contestants who he had beaten in the tournament.  'I can't blame them' he thought to himself.  'If I was beaten down by someone who looked to be at least ten years my younger, I'd be pretty pissed off too.  Still, they could've framed me with a lighter charge.  I mean, murder is no joke, especially to these people.'  He laughed to himself softly, but cut it off as one of the local authorities entered the cell.  Hex began to get up, but the man, apparently human as well, waved him down.  "Hex Mason, I presume."

"Yep, that's me."

"I thought it was.  You did pretty good in the tournament, kid."

"Thanks.  So, what's up?  Who framed me?"

"Sorry son, nobody did."  Hex laughed.

"Seriously man, I've got things to do.  Who did it?  Oh, I bet it was Nova.  That punk seemed to have it in for me even before the tournament started.  Fake WWE wannabe."  The man shook his head, partially to say no, partially to wonder what the WWE was.

"Son, we have photographic evidence to prove the contrary."  Hex's jaw dropped halfway to the floor.

"Excuse me," he replied, when his jaw had decided to come back up and begin functioning again.

"Mr. Mason, we have photographic evidence that you killed a Mr. Simon Landers in cold blood.  And I plan to bring you down for it."

....................................

A few days later, aboard the Andromeda Ascendant. . .

"Captain Hunt, I'm picking up a distress call from a nearby planet, named. . .Sarenal, or something like that."

"Weird name," Dylan replied.  "Any video?"

"Yes Sir.  Shall I play it?"  Dylan gestured to the video screen.

"By all means."  The video screen immediately lit up, to reveal a boy that looked to be about seventeen years of age, flames and debris littering the background.  He was about 5'7" tall, and wore a light tan t-shirt, a pair of baggy black pants, and sturdy work boots in the old Earth style.  He looked muscular, and a sword was sheathed on his back, also reminding those who had studied that period of Earth's history of an older age.  He had a handsome face that Dylan guessed must normally look cheerful, but one that was drawn and serious now.  His eyes. . .there was something about them that made Dylan think the boy was older, older by far, than the rest of him implied.  It wasn't the color.  They were a dark brown, which was far from uncommon for human males.  It was something else, something. . .strange about it.  For a moment he stood in silence, as if considering something, and then he spoke.

"'Calling any ships in the area.  We have an emergency situation on Sarenal!'"  He paused, and this time looked somewhat. . .sheepish.  "'I'm afraid that it's actually my fault, or sort of.  There was a tournament, a fighting tournament, and I won.  Some people didn't like that, so they killed one of the other contestants and framed me for the murder.  My fans, however, didn't agree, and. . .well, you get the idea!'"  There was a loud explosion, and the boy was thrown to the floor.  "'We need some serious assistance down here, either an evacuation or some help quelling the mobs!  Innocent people are dieing, and. . .!'"  Another large explosion, this one creating a hole in the back wall, visible in the video.  The boy spun and saw a figure coming through the hole.  He called back over his shoulder, "'And hurry!  We've now got a bigger problem as well!'"  The video cut off abruptly.

"Andromeda, is that the entire thing?"

"Yes Sir."  He sighed.

"Please call the crew to the bridge."  He shook his head.  "Why do these things always happen to us?"

"I really don't know, Captain," Andromeda replied, before calling the crew.  "I really don't know."

....................................

"What've we got this time," Beka Valentine asked as she strode swiftly onto the bridge.

"A distress call from-"

"Sir," Andromeda interrupted loudly.  "I've just detected a massive force of ships heading towards Sarenal!  Smaller ones have already reached the planet!  I think we've found the source of the 'bigger problem'!"

"What are they," Dylan blurted, as Harper began heading towards him.

"They resemble Magog-"

"Oh nooo, we are NOT goin' down there!  Nuh-uh," Harper interrupted, shaking his head vigorously.

"For once," Tyr replied, striding powerfully onto the bridge and immediately to his normal position.  "I agree with the boy."

"I said they RESEMBLE Magog, Harper, not ARE Magog."

"Oh.  Then, um. . .what are they," the engineer replied.

"I. . .I don't know."  Harper blinked in surprise.

"Ya. . .don't know?"

"Yes, that's what I said," the android AI replied, stepping onto the bridge, Trance Gemini close at her heels.  The crew didn't give Trance any notice, and a pained look crossed her face briefly.

"But. . .well, aren't you supposed to be able to. . .," Beka asked, trailing off.

"Unless," the hologram representation of the ship replied, "that ship was constructed by an unknown race."  Dylan sighed.

"Well then, I suppose we'll have to go down there."

"Yeah," Beka agreed, "those people sure do need an evac."

"What about the boy," the hologram asked.

"What boy," Tyr replied instantly.

"Andromeda, play the video again," Dylan commanded.

....................................

"So you're telling me, CAPTAIN Hunt," Tyr was asking, putting emphasis on the word Captain like he did whenever he was angry, "that we're going to believe a boy, a BOY, that is a stranger to us?"

"Tyr, we've got confirmation that there's already an attack going on down there, and that there's an even larger one headed for it.  Are you really going to abandon the whole of them just because there's a POSSIBLE murderer?"  Dylan didn't give Tyr room to speak.  "Of course you are.  You're Tyr Anasazi."  Beka leapt to Tyr's defense.

"Hey, just because you're angry at the surprises doesn't mean you can go around insulting people like-"

"I think maybe you all need to remember there are INNOCENT PEOPLE down there," Trance cut in loudly, "and we're wasting time arguing UP HERE."  All conversation immediately stopped.  Finally, after long, tense moments, Tyr spoke up.

"The Gold One is right, we need to make haste if we want to have even a CHANCE of saving those people."

Trance grimaced at the way Tyr had said "Gold One" and silently vowed to try and make it up to them.

....................................

Hex was sweating, trying to keep the strange aliens from killing the jailers.  They were amazed that he was trying to help them, but to their credit, they were watching his back.  Of course, the only weapon Hex had was his sword, so he doubted he'd be able to do much.  'At least. . .if I want to get out of this unscathed' he thought to himself.

....................................

It had been a half hour since Dylan and the others had decided to help the people on that planet.  Trance and Harper were to stay there, while Dylan, Tyr, Beka, and Rommie went down to see what they could do about assisting.  If an evacuation was necessary, Trance and Harper would land the ship and start helping people get aboard.  They were going to land in what had been reported to be a fairly safe space, about a mile from where the fighting was taking place.  "I hope they appreciate this gesture," Dylan mumbled.  "And what to do about the boy. . .?"

....................................

About three hours later. . .

"That was some of the most INTENSE fighting I have ever seen," Hex said wearily.  He was talking to a man who had identified himself as Dylan Hunt, Captain of the starship (or had he said warship?  Hex couldn't remember) Andromeda Ascendant.  "You guys were awesome."  Dylan inclined his head.

"Thank you.  And thank you for alerting us to the problem down here."  Hex nodded.

"Not a problem.  One do-gooder to another, y'know, I didn't really think anybody was gonna get it.  Figured we'd all die down here."

"Do-gooder," Beka asked.  "We don't even know whether you're a murderer or not."

"Look, I give you my word I'm not."

"Which is exactly what a murderer trying to convince the unwitting getaway drivers to take him in would say."

"And if I could offer you proof?  What then," Hex asked.

"That depends on the proof," Dylan cut in quickly, before Beka lost her temper.  Hex gestured to a pretty girl standing nearby.

"At the time they said this guy was murdered, I was in a bar called 'Hope's End' flirting with her."  He flashed her a smile, which she returned warmly, albeit a bit shyly.  "I've got ten people that can say the same thing."  He gestured with his head in the general direction of east.  "C'mon, I'll show you."

....................................

An hour later. . .

"You are hereby cleared of all charges, and given the honorable send off a noble warrior deserves.  Along with the reward money from the tournament."  Hex laughed and shook his head.

"Don't worry about the reward.  Keep it, and use it to rebuild, compensate families, that sort of thing," he replied nonchalantly.  "As for the honorable send off, your people are needed elsewhere.  I appreciate the good-bye you've given me already, and there are definitely some people that need your attention more."  Tyr's jaw was hanging open.

"Boy, the reward for that tournament is 200,000 thrones," he nearly shouted.  Hex simply nodded his head.

"Exactly.  And 200,000 thrones would certainly help rebuild and compensate, don't you think?"

"But. . .we have to give you something for what you've done for us, Mr. Mason," the representative cut in.

"First of all, call me Hex.  Second of all. . .well, I'd do with a bit of information.  I came here looking for a man named Dr. Ravonas Kincaid.  He's a humanoid male."  The representative waited for the rest of the information to be relayed, but none was forthcoming.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to be more specific."  Hex almost seemed to sigh and spoke again.

"His skin, it's a rather odd color-"

"THAT man!  Yes, he was here.  I had the displeasure of meeting him, in fact."

"Displeasure," Hex asked, an amused look on his face and an amused tone in his voice.

"Yes.  I suppose there wasn't anything in his behavior that necessarily put me off about him, it was just that some of the things he did-"

"Do you know where he went," Hex asked, cutting the representative off abruptly.

"He said he was going to continue his work, that's all.  And the way he said it, well. . .none of us wanted to ask where that meant, if you take my meaning."  Hex nodded.

"Understandable, and believe it or not, you've helped me immensely.  Moreso than any amount of money ever would.  I'll be sure to repay the favor someday, you have my word."  He flashed the representative a charming smile, waved goodbye, and then walked to catch up with his new friends.  "Captain Hunt, I'm glad I caught you.  Does that offer about hitching a ride with you still stand?"

....................................

About an hour and a half later. . .

Harper and Trance were at the landing ramp to meet their three friends and a guest.  Hex looked up to see whom else he would be making friends with and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Trance.

The first thing he noted was that she was immensely beautiful.  The second and third were the same.  There was something else about her, as well, and he nodded satisfactorily at whatever it was.  And the fourth was that she was obviously in a fair amount of emotional pain.  She looked out of breath, as well, like she had been taken by surprise instead of being informed they were coming.

The other man seemed to be a friendly sort, skinny and jovial.  He had curly blonde hair and was somewhat short, though considering his own height; Hex didn't have room to talk in that area.  However, none of this is what made him decide to avoid this man.  It was the disgusted glance he gave the golden beauty before he began to run down to meet them.  Hex wasn't sure why, exactly, but he was pretty certain that she didn't deserve that kind of glance.

That was why Hex walked right past Seamus Zelazny Harper, self-proclaimed super-genius and first-rate comic, and straight to Trance Gemini.  He gave her a slight bow and spoke softly.

"Milady, could I escort you to a more comfortable area of the ship?"

....................................

Everyone stood in shock at Hex Mason's behavior.  Harper was shocked he'd been completely ignored.  Tyr was shocked for the same reason, though his logic was that no one could ignore Seamus "Loudmouth" Harper.  Beka shook her head and chuckled and Dylan gave a sad tsk sound.

Trance, however, was shocked because she was not used to this behavior.  Especially after recent events, that someone, anyone, would behave this way towards her shocked her.  He reminded her of an olden time Knight, like in the plays she used to read, before the change.  She replied to him, in a hissing whisper, "What are you doing?"

"You look like you need to sit down, and I figured I'd be a gentlemen and help you out," Hex whispered back.  She smiled at him.  He had said something she'd needed to hear for quite a few weeks now.

"I'd appreciate your help, thanks," she replied, and leaning gently against this young boy's left side, they moved into the ship.

....................................

About five hours later, Hex sat alone in the guest quarters, relaxing.  He hadn't had much sleep since about two days earlier, and was hoping to get some now.

His hopes were dashed, however, when the jovial man from before, introduced to him as Chief Engineer Seamus Zelazny Harper, strode into the guest quarters.  "Listen, Hex, I'm gonna give ya some advice."  Hex, however, didn't let him get to his next sentence.

"No, YOU listen, little guy," Hex said, his voice considerably more commanding than it had been before.  It seemed. . .older than it should have, and carried more weight.  "I don't care WHAT you're advice is.  Considering the look you gave Trance, I can imagine what this is about, but if I'm wrong, stop me now."  He paused just long enough to give Harper a chance to speak.  His mouth hung open dumbly.  "I figured.  Now, SUPER-GENIUS," Hex sneered that, "get something straight right now.  I don't want to HEAR your advice concerning Trance Gemini.  You're head is most CERTAINLY not level right now, but I'll tell you what, the way you are all treating her is causing her a great deal of pain.  That's right little guy you're HURTING her.  Do you care?"  He was genuinely curious about that.  Harper answered his question immediately.

"Not in the slightest," he replied, and then intended to go on.  Hex didn't give him the chance.  He thrust out his hand, pushed the young man out the door, and slammed a fist into the wall scant inches from Harper's head as he went passed.  Harper was looking into his eyes at that moment, and for a moment, Harper could've sworn he saw silver flames in his eyes.

....................................

Trance was in Hydroponics, a place she frequented more and more in these recent weeks.  Her plants were beginning to be the only things she had to turn to any longer, now that her friends had abandoned her.  She didn't expect any visitors for quite some time.

Which is why, when she heard the footsteps coming from behind her, she tensed, ready to give a short reply and leave.  However, she noticed that whomever those footsteps belonged to, they were trying to walk as quietly as possible so as not to disturb her.  None of her former friends would be doing that, and she guessed that it was that guest, Hex Mason.  She turned around, and low and behold, she was right.  Hex smiled sheepishly at her.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."  She smiled, the tension leaving her body immediately.  She supposed he was handsome, and there was a look about him that made her think he was much older than he appeared.  It was as if someone had taken a human teenager, piled on burdens, responsibilities, and tragic incidents in his past, and then aged his eyes, his soul.  She realized, rather suddenly, that she was staring, and blushed.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to stare," she began.

"Don't worry about it, it's alright."  He glanced around.  "So, this place is for plants and nature?"  Trance nodded, and then explained.

"Part of it.  There's a recreational area here too.  I'll show you, come on."  She noted he carried his sword, and the knuckles of his right hand were slightly red.  "Did you get that in the fighting," she asked, gesturing to his knuckles.  Hex laughed and shook his head, but didn't say anything else.  She decided not to pester him, especially since he was being so nice to her.  She had no idea how long that would last, doubted it would be for longer than a day or two.  He'd find out what she'd done by then, and it would be over.

"I'm sorry," he said abruptly, and she nearly tripped.  It was as if he'd read her mind!  And he actually caught her when she almost tripped!  "And I'm sorry for that, too."  And with that, he quickly changed the subject.  "So, is this were people go to train?"

"For basketball, yeah," she said, a laugh in her voice.

"Oh.  Heh, I thought this was where people trained for fighting."  She looked at him then, into his eyes, and she decided that he didn't seem to be a man that would like fighting.

"Why do you want to fight?"

"Just to let off some steam," Hex replied.  "I guess. . .I just don't like being angry, that's all.  It doesn't suit me."  He shook his head.  "Not at all."  He looked around at the plants they were passing, gesturing with his hands to various plants on the wall.  "This, this suits me."

"You like plants?"

"I like nature in general, yeah.  It's peaceful."  He stopped walking, seemed to consider something.  "I think, while I'm here, I'll visit this place a lot.  What's it called?"

"Hydroponics," Trance replied.  He chuckled.

"A scientific name.  I think I'll give it one of my own, if you don't mind."  She smiled.  She really did like this man.

"Sure, go ahead.  Hey, maybe it'll stick!  I never did think such a big, fancy word suited this place anyway."  He closed his eyes for a moment, as if remembering something, and then spoke, in a rich, lush voice.

"Sylvanus."  He stopped, opened his eyes, and gave her a sheepish smile and self-consciously scratched the back of his head.  "I heard it meant 'Sacred Garden' in some old language.  I figured it suited this place, with all the plants, and the soothing effect it has."  Yes, Trance decided, she DID like this man.  "Say, I'm feeling a lot better."  He smiled.  "And it's only partly because of the plants."

"What do you mean?"

"I think the good company had something to do with it."  He smiled slightly at her blush.  "Hey, you think you want to show me where to get something to eat?  I'm starving."  There was a hopeful smile on his face.  "My treat?"  She smiled and nodded.

'Yes' she repeated to herself, 'I really, REALLY like this guy.'

....................................

Harper was still standing in the hallway outside of the guest quarters, staring, openmouthed, at the wall.  "Um. . .Rommie," he called uneasily.

"Yes," the hologram answered, appearing a few feet to his left.

"A human, especially a seventeen year old one, shouldn't be able to punch a dent in ya, right?  Like, nearly a hole."  The hologram nodded.  "Then, um. . .how do you explain this?"  The hologram looked at it.

"Harper, I think maybe you've got to be more careful where you're unleashing your temper."

"No, it wasn't me, it was Hex," Harper mumbled.

"What?"

"That guy, Hex.  We had a little. . .talk, and he got mad and hit. . .wait, how do you not know about this?  Privacy mode wasn't engaged in the guest quarters, and you really should be able to sense a dent like this."

"I did sense the dent, I just thought something was wrong with my sensors and was going to ask you to fix me later."  She grimaced, an expression she picked up from her crew.  "As for the other thing. . .that I don't know, Harper."  Harper nodded.

"Great.  I think I'm going to go tell Dylan about this."

"No, I'll tell Dylan.  Hex is. . .," she paused for a moment, and then shook her head.  "I don't know where he is.  It's like he isn't here."  As if on cue, she suddenly detected him.  "With Trance, in the Mess Hall!"  Harper nodded and walked off, taking the shortest route to the Mess Hall.  Just as Andromeda was about to report to Dylan the oddness of their new guest, she detected something more important.  She disappeared, and reappeared on the bridge.  "Dylan, Drago-Katsov, coming in fast!  A lot of them!"

....................................

"Harper, Beka, Tyr," Dylan's voice sounded on the ship-wide intercom.  "Command, now!"  Trance looked glumly down at her plate.

"He didn't call my name," she said, in a pained whisper.  She looked up to see Hex drawing his sword and suddenly he was grabbing her arm, dragging her with him.  "Hey, where are we going," she asked, shocked.

"To Command," Hex replied.

"But Dylan-"

"Dylan's holding a grudge that'll get us all killed!  Forget about him!"  Trance tried to argue with him, but Hex made it very clear that he was ignoring her.  And that's the way the two of them ended up on the bridge, Trance being dragged in behind Hex, to the shocked faces of all the crew, except, of course, for Tyr.

....................................

"What's SHE doing here," Harper asked, in a disgusted tone.

"Remember our chat, little guy," Hex commanded, and Harper actually backed off.  "Now, Captain Hunt, what's going on?"  No one said anything, and Hex knew why.  He knew what was about to happen, felt his blood burning in his veins.  He knew he had to make this quick.  "Alright, look.  I'll make this plain and simple.  You people, all of you, save for Trance here, are stupid."  Shock registered on all faces, even slightly on Tyr's.  "You hold grudges, which is only human, TRUST me, I know.  But in certain times, you've got to get past those grudges.  Like, for instance, when suddenly the rest of the crew is needed on command, and there's the feel of an attack in the air, and-"  He cut off abruptly, realizing the last part of what he'd said, but deciding, in his anger, to continue anyway.  "And when you know DAMN WELL you're hurting a GOOD PERSON!  YOU ALL, ALL OF YOU, NEED TO GROW. . .THE HELL. . .UP!!!"  His voice was so loud and full of rage at the end that even Tyr backed up slightly.  He growled, and it sounded feral.  "Now. . .what is. . .going. . .on?"  Everyone in the room could tell he was straining to control his temper.  Dylan made his decision.  The boy had fought well on Sarenal, after all.

"Drago-Katsov," was all he got out.

"Good, when's the fighting start," he asked.  He didn't sound anxious.  Actually, he sounded desperate, and slightly panicked.  Trance reached out to take his hand.

"I think I should take you down to Med Bay.  You don't sound so good."  Her skin connected with his, and she recoiled, her fingers burning where they touched his skin.  She looked at him questioningly.  His grip on his sword hilt was suddenly so tight that his knuckles cracked.  The ship rocked with laser fire.  The look on Hex's face scared everyone as he violently sheathed his sword.

"Come. . .on. . .Trance.  Let's. . .go. . .to. . .Sylvanus."  He didn't attempt to take her hand, just turned and waited for her to nod.  He glanced back over her shoulder as they walked out.  "Remember. . .what. . .I. . .said."  And then he was headed to someplace called Sylvanus, with Trance.

"Hydroponics," Rommie said.  "That's what he calls it.  Apparently, it means 'Sacred Garden.'"  A day ago, Harper would've commented that no place Trance went was sacred.  Now, his eyes following the retreating back of Hex Mason, with muscles so tense he was surprised they didn't rip through his skin, he just kept his mouth shut.

....................................

Hex was trying his best to control himself.  He kept half reaching for his sword and stopping himself.  Trance had tried to reach for his hand at one point, but he noticed and shook his head, gesturing at the fingers that had been hurt the last time she had tried to take his hand.  She paused, her hand in mid-air.  She saw the brief flash of pain that came across his face when he shook his head, and she reached her hand out further, took his in hers.  It hurt, but she wasn't going to pull her hand away again.  He looked at her and smiled slightly.  A bit of the heat left his skin.  More laser fire rocked the ship, and the heat returned.  They walked on in silence for a few more moments, and then he said, "You have to be in pain."  From the sound of his voice, he was too.

"It's ok," she replied cheerfully.  It really did sound cheerful.  All the same, though, Hex removed his hand from hers.

"I'm sorry.  It's a. . .condition I have."  And they walked the rest of the way to Hydroponics in a companionable, if gloomy, silence.

....................................

It was then that things began going to hell.

Trance and Hex had been in Hydroponics for about two minutes before the real chaos started, but once it had, they knew it.  The holographic Rommie appeared before them.  "Trance, Hex.  The Drago-Katsov have managed to forcefully board."  Hex nodded.

"Are the doors locked?"

"Yes."

"Good.  Trance and I have weapons, we're big kids, don't worry."  He smiled at Trance as he spoke.  "If they DO manage to get in here, I won't let them hurt the plants."  His face grew serious.  "Or you."  Rommie quickly disappeared, deciding that this was private.  She, apparently, didn't hold any grudges.

Trance and Hex just stared into each other's eyes for the last few moments of peace they had left.

....................................

Those precious few moments went by, and the door burst open.  Hex was thrown backward, but stopped himself before he could do any damage to the plants, taking a small dart to the leg in the process.  Apparently, the entire objective on this little raid was Trance, because they grabbed her, knocked her unconscious, and immediately began hightailing it out of there.  And Hex would've been right behind them.

If, that is, he didn't suddenly feel so. . .very. . .sleepy.

....................................

Hex was in a familiar landscape.  He knew he was in his mind, knew what was going to happen next.  And, low and behold, when he looked down, he stood on a large rectangle of semi-reflective glass.  There was another slightly above his rectangle, to the right.  There was another, slightly below his rectangle, to the left.  It looked like a stairway.  He looked down at his rectangle, not wanting to look at either of the landscapes on the other rectangles.  "Ok, so get this over with already.  I want to wake up sometime soon."

What he saw washed away the indifference.  He saw Trance, and he saw Nietzscheans, and he saw Trance again, tied up on a ship, and then he saw what he'd been afraid to see since this little vision started.

He saw Dr. Ravonas Kincaid, standing over Trance, laughing.

....................................

"Y'know, I really wish we had Trance here to tell us what was goin' on with this guy," Harper said, looking down at the unconscious Hex Mason, lying on a bed in Med Bay.  Tyr grunted an agreement from his position in the corner.  Dylan nodded his head.  Beka, however, slammed her fist against a wall, and all talk was silenced.  For a few moments, that is, until Hex was up and made it halfway to the door before any of them realized he was moving.

"Easy Hex, easy," Dylan began.  Hex ignored him.  Tyr moved to intercept him and found himself on his back.  Rommie locking the door didn't seem like it was going to stop him for a moment.  He raised his right hand, and no one was sure what he was going to do with it, but whatever it was, he thought better of it and turned around.

"How long have I been out," he asked, barely suppressed rage tearing through it.

"About two hours," Dylan replied.

"Two hours, fifteen minutes, and forty-three seconds, to be exact," Rommie told him.

"Unlock the door," he growled.  Rommie shook her head.  He hunkered down, looking quite beastial and wild, crouching down on the balls of his feet, arms on his legs.  "Unlock the door or I will dismantle you piece by piece, and feed them to several different garbage dumps."

"Why is it so important for me to open these doors," she asked.

"Because-I can't tell you, you just have to trust me!"  Rommie laughed.  "Please!"  She didn't laugh at that.  He sounded desperate, panicked, and afraid.  But not afraid for himself.

"Trance," Rommie stated.  He merely turned and lowered his shoulder.

"I swear to you I will break down this door if you don't unlock it.  I'd rather not, but if you leave me no other choice, I will."

"Where is she," Dylan asked.

"With Ravonas.  Against her will.  Tied up.  Laughing.  No, not her.  Bastard Doctor.  Laughing.  Have to stop him."  He sounded half-crazed.

"Rommie, open the door," Dylan said.

"I don't think-"  Hex had removed his sword and started to cut into his arms.

"Andromeda, open the damn door!"  The door swooshed open, and Hex charged out, much faster than anyone had ever seen a person move.  The others looked at each other worriedly before following.

....................................

"Hex knows the Drago-Katsov are still boarded," Tyr called.  "How?"  Dylan simply shrugged.

"I'm taking this fight to more open ground," Hex roared back.  "We're above an uninhabited ice giant!  I'm going to board that ship and crash it into the ground!  Don't worry about Trance or myself.  We'll be fine."  He spat the next sentence.  "So will Ravonas.  But he won't be for long after that, I assure you."

"There are several thousand Nietzscheans down there," Rommie yelled back.

"They'll be fine unless they get in my way!"  Tyr laughed.

"And just what do you plan to do if they do?  My people aren't famous for being beaten by mere children."  The entrance to the enemy ship could clearly be seen from this distance, and Hex was less than feet from it.

"Kill them," he called back, and then he was on the ship.  Three Nietzscheans fell dead from sword slashes before they could get their weapons completely level with his chest.  "Trance," he nearly shrieked.  He sounded like a banshee made manifest, come to wreak revenge on those who had wronged him.  "Ravonas, if you've hurt her, I swear, you will wish you'd never been CREATED!!!"  Two more Nietzscheans fell, and blood splattered on him.  He didn't even seem to notice.

....................................

Hex saw Trance, tied to a metal pole, Ravonas standing over her laughing.  "Joke's on you, OH MIGHTY ONE," Hex roared sarcastically.  The man spun, and all of the crew behind Hex gasped.

Dr. Ravonas Kincaid was a thin man who looked to be in his mid thirties, though it was hard to tell for a few reasons.  First of all, his eyes were reptilian.  Second of all, his skin was made of black scales.  Third of all, he looked like some odd human-reptile hybrid.  Two legs, two arms, a body, a head, even white hair, but all of his skin was covered in black scales.  His face most definitely looked reptilian, complete with a snout and razor sharp teeth.

And then, suddenly, he was a pale-skinned human, with black hair, black robes, and yellow eyes.  He laughed again.  "Ah, so I was right," he said, his voice powerful and dark.  "This woman is your annan," he said, the last word said with an odd intonation, similar to the intonation that Hex had used when naming Hydroponics.  Hex let out a roar and charged into the nearby controls, forcing them to plummet straight down.  The crew of the Andromeda Ascendant thought about screaming, taking last breaths, praying, but then they looked at Hex, deep in concentration, eyes closed, arms outstretched.  And somehow, they knew they would not die here.  They didn't know how, they just KNEW.

And then there was impact.

....................................

The ship was torn apart, and the Nietzscheans were scattered all over the place.  They were alive, just scattered.  Ravonas stood in front of a tied up Trance, still sitting in the snow.  He now held a sword, a huge sword, one that even Tyr knew was beyond his limits of handling.  And yet, this thin man held it easily, even casually.  They all looked to Hex, hoping to see him pull a large gun out of thin air.  Instead, they got something better.

Hex was hovering in the air, back arched, arms outstretched, head looking up to the sky, legs spread apart.  His eyes and mouth were wide open, and his palms were upturned, fingers curling up slightly.  A pure white glow surrounded him, and when it cleared, there was a different person.

He no longer had long brown hair.  It was short, slightly spiky, and silver.  His body had matured a great deal, and he had enormous muscles, that made Tyr give an envious tsk sound.  A black leather biker's jacket adorned his upper body.  His skin was a nice tan.  Black leather pants adorned his lower body, complemented by heavy, black, gothic looking boots.  Dark black sunglasses covered his eyes, eyes that had seemed much older than his body mere moments before.  And in his hands, he held a sword exactly like the one Ravonas held.  Ravonas laughed.

"Going for the stylized look, I see," the Doctor commented, amused.

"At least I'm not clichéd," Hex-was it Hex?-replied.  "I mean, billowy black robes?  Come on, how stereotypical is that?  Really."  What drew all of the attention was the way the two men held their swords.

The blade had to be at least fifteen feet long by five feet six inches wide.  The handle was as long as Tyr's leg.  Those swords must have had an IMMENSE weight.  And yet, both these men were holding them casually, with ONE HAND.  Tyr's jaw dropped to the ground in astonishment, while Harper and Beka had to lean on Dylan to stay up.  Dylan himself wasn't looking all that healthy.  Rommie simply shook her head at the impossibility of it.  "Let the girl go and I may let you live for a bit longer, Ravonas."

"No chance, Hex."  Hex nodded and charged at the man, moving faster than any normal human should, especially holding a sword that large.  Ravonas slid to the right easily.

"Good.  Now, I can take Trance, and go."  He hefted Trance with his free hand and slung her over his shoulder.  She was awake, her eyes as wide as anyone else's.  He smiled sarcastically and gestured to the Nietzscheans with his head.  "This your army?"  Ravonas laughed.

"Perhaps, perhaps."

"You know I was lying about letting you live."

"Not this day, Holy Knight.  Not this day."  And Ravonas and the Nietzscheans simply disappeared.  Hex turned and headed back to the group.

"So, shall we go?"  And they suddenly disappeared, reappearing on the Andromeda Med Bay.

"Andromeda, privacy mode, Med Bay," Trance called.

"Acknowledged."

"Ok, so I bet you guys are all wondering what's going on," Hex said, and suddenly they realized Trance was seated, untied, on one of the Med Bay beds, and Hex no longer had his sword.  And, for that matter, he was the Hex they'd picked up from Sarenal again.  He waved his hand, and all their faces went blank.  Except for Trance's.  "Well, you see, it was like this.  The Nietzscheans tried to kidnap Trance.  I tried to fight them off, and managed to free her, but she had to go and hide, and I got hit with a dart that put me to sleep.  Trance came, I woke up, and all was well.  And because of this, whatever Trance did to make you so angry at her was made up for, and you're all friends again."  He paused.  "Oh, and Harper, that dent is from the Nietzschean attack, not me."  He glanced at Trance, smiled, and waved his hand again.

"So, like I was saying, you did a good job back there Hex," Dylan said.  "Guess there really WERE some jealous losers in that tournament."

"Indeed you did, boy," Tyr added.  "To free the Gold One you must have defeated, and probably killed, several of the Drago-Katsov.  I could have handled them all myself, but for a human, what you did is a miraculous feet."  He smiled and held up his hand.

"Guys?  I think maybe I'm gonna take a walk down to Syl. . .Hydroponics."  He turned to Trance and smiled.  "Care to join me?"  She smiled and took his hand, and noted a different kind of warmth when she did.  An affectionate warmth.  And, knowing now what he was, she sent the emotion back, knowing he could feel it.  He smiled at her and they walked out of Med Bay hand in hand, smiling at each other the entire time.