FYI, this is a slightly updated version of this chapter. Just fixed a few typos, tho' I don't doubt there are more. And this little note up here used to say just one more chapter when what I meant was one more chapter after this one. Which is now posted. :)

01/16/2005 - Thanks janeta siri for pointing out the gobbledegook I forgot to cut out when I reloaded this chapter - I think it's all fixed now!!

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The dining area sounded like a school cafeteria, everyone talking over each other, listening to each other's conversations and interrupting frequently. Despite his threats Tyr was still with the group, standing in the corner watching with a look of disgust on his face. Trance and Rev Bem tried to get everyone to drink water or head to their own quarters, but this didn't appeal to the others for some reason. Their attempts were unexpectedly hampered by both the main AI and Holo-Andromeda. Somehow Harper's 'drunk virus' had spread from Rommie to the mainframe. The AI had isolated it, but Holo-Andromeda was slightly tipsy, and the main AI was taking advantage of the situation to collect incriminating evidence against her other selves, to be used the next time they argued with her.

"I didn't chase all the women away by drooling on them! Dylan was doin' all the driving. And anyway, I don't drool."

"Well I didn't so much drive them away as talk to them. I was just saying…"

It became obvious to the sober people in the room that Holo-Andromeda was affected by Rommie's virus when she talked right over her captain. "Actually you do drool in your sleep sometimes Harper."

"EEEEEwwwwwwww" Beka and Trance looked at each other, both grossed out.

Harper looked completely horrified for a moment, then considered the implications of that statement. Cozying up to Rommie, he put an arm around her and gave her a look of pure lechery. "So you watch me sleep? Like whatcha see?"

It was Rommie's turn to be horrified now. "Eww. No. Not me. She does" Rommie shoved Harper in the direction of the hologram.

Everyone laughed, and waited for Holo-Rommie to make some sort of cutting remark. Instead she just looked around the room, at anything but Harper. After 2 or 3 seconds, an eternity for an AI, she tried to cover up her awkward silence. "Well, I have to check on the crew, it's part of my programming. And you have such strange nutritional habits and sleeping patterns I like to keep a closer eye on you than the others. Some things you can only tell from a visual inspection you know, I mean that's what you say all the time. You're important an important part of the crew Harper and I want to take care of you."

Now everyone was staring at the hologram, trying to figure out if she was saying what they thought she was saying. No one was more shocked than Harper, who barely squeaked out, "Really Andromeda?"

A quick internal conversation with the completely sober main AI made Holo-Rommie think she may have said too much, or said it in the wrong away. She decided to use the time honored tactic of diverting the conversation to someone else to save herself. "Well I like taking care of all my crew, anyway, I don't watch you sleep as much as she talks about Dylan!" The hologram pointed at the ambushed Rommie.

Rev had joined Tyr in the corner long ago. The crew had gotten the munchies and assembled in the dining area to consume an old human favorite. A magog can only take so much popcorn being thrown at him. Even a Wayist monk magog. Especially with Dylan telling Beka, Harper, and Rommie Three points if you get it in his ear, one point if it sticks in his hair. and Harper adding Yeah and double points if he doesn't pull it out "It truly is amazing how a small amount of a simple fermented beverage can reduce such intelligent and capable people to a childlike state. But then it also seems to help them open the way to their hearts does it not? What do you think Tyr?"

"I think that people hide the things in their hearts for good reason. Sometimes there is nothing you can do about what is in your heart and the only way to survive that cold fact is to refuse to admit it into your reality." Tyr was staring straight at Beka. Rev Bem chose not to tell Tyr that he had seen this, but Tyr felt the magog's gaze and tried to cover. "In any case, no one could call the quantity of alcohol Harper consumed small, and it doesn't take much at all to reduce him to a child."

Rev was about to say more on the matter, but a frazzled looking Trance joined them. "All right, I think it's time for them to go to bed. Beka wants to try to pilot to Tarn Vedra again, Dylan won't stop playing with his force lance even though he's already destroyed two chairs, and I don't even want to say what Harper wants to do. I'm not even sure if it's physically possible, I mean it probably is for some species… Anyway, I can't convince anyone to go to their quarters, but I have an idea of where we can put them to keep them out of trouble but I need your help to get them there. So listen…."

Tyr smiled for the first time that evening. This plan suited him just fine. It seemed he was going to get something out of the evening after all. He threw his head back and laughed as Trance finished her explanation. Turning towards the others as they began a heated argument about whether Harper's favorite drink should be called soda, pop, or coke he boomed "Fellow crewmates! We are going to move this little party to a more appropriate location with better facilities. If you will come this way please?"

The others were so surprised to hear Tyr speak they stopped their argument. They had nearly forgotten he was even still in the room. Beka was particularly interested in seeing where Tyr wanted to take them, which could explain why she stumbled as they all stood to follow him. She bumped hard into Dylan, who bumped hard into Rommie. She would have bumped into Holo-Rommie if the hologram had any mass. Unfortunately for Rommie she ended up on the floor, which would never have happened if the virus hadn't shut down all her gyros and positional sensors. Nearly everyone looked embarrassed, including the hologram since she was not only the person how couldn't stop Rommie from falling, she was also in a some sense the person who fell. Harper thought it was the most hilarious thing he had seen in months, and couldn't stop laughing.

"Haha! Beka you're drunk!"

Beka was not so amused. "I'm not drunk Harper. It's these damn shoes!"

He burst into laughter again. "I can't believe you're trying to blame your shoes! You're soooo drunk. You can't even walk!"

Beka and Harper continued their bickering as they followed Dylan and Rommie behind Tyr. Rev and Trance smiled at each other as they brought up the rear. The evening would finally be over soon and they could get some sleep. Too bad the next duty shift started in only three hours.