Chapter 3

"What the hell was that!?" Beka demanded. "What are you!?"

"I'm a doppelganger, Beka." Terla held up a hand to stem questions. "A shapeshifter, not of your own galaxy... hell, not from your universe."

Beka was intrigued. "Then where are you from?"

"You would not be able to pronounce my home plane, but the place where I most frequently make my home is the plane of Faerun."

"Fair-oon," Beka repeated. "What's a plane?" She wanted to keep the... thing occupied until she could wriggle her hands free of the pathetic rope bonds.

"It's complicated to explain," Terla told her. It rested its chin on its fist. "Picture... one of your galaxies... no, maybe one of those things you call 'planets' encased in... in a bubble, along with stars and maybe a moon, governed by gods. There are multiple planes, each different. Compared to where you are technologically, Faerun is in the Iron Age of ancient Earth, but with one difference. We have magic, spells we can cast to harm, heal, hell, even bring people back to life."

Beka's eyes widened in mock disbelief. "Really? Could you show me one of your 'magic spells'?" she asked sarcastically.

The doppelganger smirked. "Certainly." Terla closed her eyes and waved her hands, murmuring strange words, then pointed at Beka- more specifically, at Beka's hands.

Beka cried out in surprise and fear as the rope encircling her hands became living snakes, which hissed and curled tightly around her hands, binding them securely. "That's a nice trick," Beka admitted, trying to stop her racing heart. Why, why, why didn't I listen to Dylan and bring Rhade or Harper with me?

"Satisfied?" Terla asked sweetly. "Or would you like to see another?" Not waiting for a reply, she began casting another spell, again pointing at Beka.

There was no visible result, and as Beka opened her mouth to point this out... no sound came out.

"Small zone of silence," Terla explained, smiling innocently. "Only encompassing your mouth." The doppelganger grinned. "Would you like to know what I plan to do with you?"

Beka nodded her head fervently, seriously worried.

"I was practicing magic when I accidentally opened a portal to your world. Mind you, a small portal, only large enough to see through. And what I saw..." Terla shook her head in disbelief. "Starships, flying about in space. And then... I saw your Andromeda. I cast several spells to ensure the portal would not close, and studied you for several months. And then I decided that your Andromeda would be a very useful tool in subjecting Faerun to my rule. I found a way to enlarge the portal, and when the time was right... I teleported onto your ship." The doppelganger smiled, and waved its hands. "I've dispelled the sphere of silence."

"Dylan will never give up his ship to you!" Beka announced. "More people than you have tried. He'd die first."

"Yes, I'm sure." Terla smiled wickedly. "Then die he must..." it said in mock sadness, morphing into Beka. "... by your hand."

"Uh, wait!" Beka said, thinking fast as the Maru exited Slipstream. "To make sure you don't get found out, make sure you call Dylan 'Captain' and always salute, or else he'll know its not me," she lied.

"Nice try," Terla said, smirking. She has my voice down perfectly now, Beka noted. "I already extracted the information I need to know from your brain. Your 'Dylan' won't be able to tell the difference," it said confidently.

Beka heard Terla talk to Dylan over the com speaker. Terla's right, she thought with a sinking feeling. Dylan won't be able to tell the difference.

"Oh, one more thing," Terla said, coming out of the pilot's chair and walking back to Beka. "Just a precaution." The doppelganger cast another spell, smiled, and walked back to the cockpit.

Beka was frozen in place, unable to do anything but blink. Halfway to the cockpit, Terla stopped and turned back to Beka. "You know," she said thoughtfully. "I'd hate for you to be bored while I'm ruining your life." It cast a spell and a little blob of goo appeared on the wall in front of Beka. It grew until it was about as large as a viewscreen. "Once I get off the Maru," Terla explained, "you'll be able to see everything I'll be doing as if you were standing right behind me." The doppelganger's brow furrowed in thought. "You know," she said thoughtfully again. "After having some fun with him, I think I'll kill your Nietzschean friend first." Terla smiled cruelly.

"Enjoy the show."