Aww man I can't thank you guys enough for all the reviews. I have never had a story so well received... I can feel my ego inflating already Heeheehee. Thank you a thousand times.

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"Captain? Captain?"

"Technical director Hohne!?" Dylan answered with some surprise. "I see you've repaired communications. Have you made it to the central core?"

"Actually I've done neither. This transmission you are receiving is a localised event... first I..."

"That's fine technical director thank you. But, I'm kind of in a hurry here."

"Uh, yes, indeed. I have yet to find an unblocked route to the slipstream core. But I have located the Android avatar. She has not been effected by the technically error."

"Rommie's on our side?"

"Precisely."

"Thank the Divine. Look I've found Beka." Dylan had to shout to make him self heard over clamour the Magog were making. "The doors to the command Deck are sealed; we are working on getting them open. Have you heard from anyone else?

"No Captain I'm sorry."

Dylan swore under his breath. "Keep us informed of your progress if you can."

"Yes, Captain Hunt." Replied the Persied and there was an audible pop and hiss as communications were cut.

"Dylan? Listen." Beka asked the minute he was done talking to Hohne.

"I don't hear anything." He replied.

"I know they stopped."

"The calm before the storm." Dylan whispered.

+++++++++++++++++

Tyr dug through rubble to get through to the next passage. He glanced upward briefly. The noise and the clattering of claws from the level above had stopped. Tyr knew from long years of strife that sudden silence was never a good thing. He started to work faster.

The air exploded with a roar as hordes of Magog leapt down from the air ducts. Tyr backed up but the Magog continued to advance. They were smelly wretched creatures and Tyr had never before met them in battle. He didn't know where to begin.

Tyr's back hit the rubble that only moments before he had been trying to clear. There was nowhere to go.

"I am Tyr Anasazi!" He yelled. "And, I will not go peacefully!"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Andromeda!" Trance pleaded tearfully. "You know I'm not very good at this and I'm getting tired."

"Quiet, pilot us in to the slipstream vortex or you will force me to look for one of the other intruders and use them. Trust me, you do not want to become useless!"

"Andromeda how can you not recognize me. I am you're friend!"

The ship's AI practically growled with impatience. "If you were my friend I would know you and I don't even have your species on file. Next slipstream. NOW!"

A single tear dripped down Trance's cheek. She knew someone was working on the door. Someone was trying to save her. She had a prickly feeling though that they would be to late.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rev glanced over at the small teenager. He expected tear, terror, screams what he saw was explicitly more worrisome. The boy's face was blank but his eyes burned with a hatred so pure that Rev Bem had never seen the likes. No one should have a hatred that strong never mind that it radiated from a body so small.

"Master Harper?"

Harper looked up at him and scowled.

Rev Bem almost shrank from his glare but he tried again. "Master Harper, we should find the other's."

"They're all dead." Replied Harper, his flat reflection at odds with the passion of his eyes.

The boy stood as still as a statue his arms hanging stiffly at his sides. Rev approached him and lay a clawed hand of comfort on his shoulder. It was the wrong thing to do.

Seamus hissed and reared his back like an alley cat. He jumped two feet to the side and with a visible effort controlled him self from scratching Rev Bem's eyes out. "Don't touch me! Don't ever touch me!"

Rev bowed his head with regret. "I apologise, please forgive me. But, I must insist, we have to go."

"What's the point they're all dead."

"You don't know that. I've known this crew for a while they are like you. It's why you are such a good fit here."

This got Harper's attention. "How are they possibly like me?"

"They have been through many trials. Other's often misjudge them. They are much more resilient and surprising then anyone could surmise. In my hearts heart I do not believe they are dead. But, they do need our help."

Harper's eyes softened slightly. "You really think I 'fit' here?"

Rev Bem smiled showing his fangs. "I do."

Seamus gave a weak grin. "When we find Beka will you tell her?"

"I will."

"Then let's go.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Harper and Rev Bem made their way down the corridor. Harper tried to control his breathing but it was coming out in gasps.

The growling was getting closer. It seemed the louder the growling the faster his heartbeat. He kept his back to the wall and shuffled sideways. He wanted to keep track of the Magog at his side and the ones potentially ahead.

He stopped suddenly realizing something and pulled some goggles out of his pocket. Hohne gave them to him yesterday when they were doing some repairs. "I...I just want to be prepared."

"A very wise caution Master Harper" replied Rev.

The noise was getting louder. "They're close"

"There seems to be some debris up ahead. They must be on the other side of it."

Harper gave a quick nod. "Lets go the other way."

The ship shook again as if entering slipstream. The two paused to catch their balance when they heard a scream. Well, scream wasn't the best way to describe it. It was really more of a battle cry.

"Holy Freaking Cali Melons they have Tyr!" With out a second thought Harper ran for the debris wall and started tearing pieces off. He ignored the pain in his hands as some of the sharper pieces bit in to his already injured hand.

There was the sound of a gauss gun firing but the growling only seemed to get worse and worse.

Rev was at Harper's side in an instant pulling at the Debris. "Tyr?" The Wayist yelled with concern.

There was no answer only the sound of more fighting.

Harper pulled on a slightly larger piece until it finally gave way. It caused numerous other pieces to collapses and roll out of the way. The hole that was created was large enough for Tyr to escape through. Unfortunately it was also large enough for the Magog to follow.

As the Magog poured through Harper partially forgotten rage came back full force. They had killed his cousins. Forced him to live a life of fear. He had finally found something good. There was no way in hell that he was about to let them destroy this to. He leapt at them in a fury.

Tyr interrupted his attempts by wrapping an arm around his chest. "I admire your passion boy, but we will live to fight another day. For now we flee."

"No!" Harper yelled struggling against Tyr's arm but soon he realized it was useless. Yr had arms of steel. "Tyr please! We have to stop them." He nearly sobbed as Tyr practically dragged him down the hall.

Rev had been running a head checking their path but paused suddenly looking up at the ceiling.

"What is it now Magog? Queried Tyr impatiently. "We don't have time..."

"I ... I hear them calling me. I hear voices."

Tyr paused and listened as well. "I hear nothing."

Suddenly Rev clapped his clawed hands over his ears and fell to his knees screaming.

"Rev no! Don't listen to them" yelled Harper, nearly panicking.

Unanticipatedly, Rommie and Hohne ran around the corner.

Rommie raised two forcelances and opened fire on the quickly approaching Magog swarm. Rommie fired and fired till there was nothing left to shoot. She had bough them precious time.

"Are you okay?" She questioned the group now starring at her in awe.

Harper stepped up to her and threw his arms around her. Harper felt her place her hand on the top of his head. He so glad she was there. Rommie had been in lots of battles she would know what to do. Plus she was uber smart.

"What are you doing here?" questioned Tyr.

"All the corridors are either blocked with debris or Magog. I'm afraid to say getting control of the ship from the central core is impossible." Hohne's voice quavered in reply.

Rommie sighed. "I can't talk to myself. We got a hold of Dylan once but we have not been able to access communications since. I don't know what to do next."

"What!" Yelped Harper, stepping away from Rommie. . "What do you mean you don't know what to do!?"

"Harper, I'm a ship I need my captain."

"Bull!"

"What?"

"You heard me," continued Harper. "You are the persona of a war ship but not the actual ship. You are an android sentient being."

"Yes, I am but I am one that has been cut off from half of herself. We need to get control of the rest of me and fast."

"My question is where is all this debris coming from?" Asked Tyr interrupting the flow of the conversation. "We haven't been in battle. It's like the Magog are building barriers on purpose."

"On purpose? How could they possibly know what we are trying to do?" replied Rommie."

"It's my fault. I mean I'm the one that triggered the back up copy." Harper dropped his eyes to the floor ashamed.

"No, Tyr's right. There is something else going on here. It's like the Magog have an agenda." Confirmed Rommie. "This wasn't an accident this was planned."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Beka let out a grunt of pain. The sparks from the forcelance were burning her hands but she was finally starting to see some progress. "Almost through!"

Dylan was firing at stray Magogs that had found them in the open corridor and didn't reply. Out of nowhere three Magog dropped down from the ceiling landing directly in front of Dylan. He yelled but it was already to late they were on him.

Beka pulled her own gun out with a bellow of rage. She had no time for this. She shot the Magog in seconds and pulled the corpses off of Dylan. He was a bloody mess.

"Oh my gawd! Dylan are you okay?"

Dylan groaned. "Been better."

"Did they?"

"No, I'm not infested. I got lucky."

Beka almost laughed. "If this is good luck it certainly would explain a lot of what is going on around here lately."

"Dylan chuckled then winched with pain. "Don't make me laugh."

"Look, I'm almost through the door. Think you can hang on till we get inside?"

Dylan coughed and a few drops of blood dribbled down his chin. "Not going anywhere."

Beka set back to work on the door.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rommie's Ai image began to flicker on the screen in front of where Trance sat.

"Rommie?"

"Trance?"

"Rommie! Do remember me?!" asked Trance hopefully.

The AI hesitated before answering with a frown. "I think so. Why are my systems rebooting? What's going on?"

Trance started to pout. "I don't know. Usually I like riddles but this one hasn't been much fun. I don't think this is the way things are supposed to be."

Just then the command door were pulled and Beka pulled the injured Captain Hunt with her. "Trance?"

"Beka, Thank goodness... Oh Dylan!" Trance rushed to his side immediately checking his injuries. Beka took control instantly. "Rommie, are you back with us?"

The AI gave a nod. "Yes, but I'm confused. A lot of my systems aren't functioning correctly."

"Have you heard from anyone else?"

"No."

"Forward screen on I need to figure out where we are?"

It seemed to take an asserted effort but the forward screen finally came on. What came in to focus caused them all to gasp.

"What is it?" squeaked Trance.

Even with her brain scrambled Rommie was the first to collect her wits. "It's a series of interlocking planets. And, oh gawd Dylan..."

"Spit it out Rommie." Dylan sputtered weakly

"All those planets are filled with Magog."

Beka gasped, covering her mouth with horror.

"Rommie how are our shields?" He never did get his answer as he fainted in Trance's arms. Trance slowly slid him to the ground. She was frightened. This seemed all wrong. What had she missed? She looked up at Beka. "What are we going to do?"

"Captain Valentine. The planets have a weapon targeted on us."

By the time Rommie had reported to Beka it was already to late.

The massive weapon fired.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rev Bem fell to his knees again. "They call to me! They know my name!"

"Oh dear." Exclaimed Technical Director Hohne.

"Get control of yourself!" yelled Tyr with disgust pulling the Magog to his feet.

"Rommie," whispered Harper. "Why are the other Magog calling him? I thought he was a good guys?"

"Why indeed!?" Asked Tyr turning the question on Rev Bem. "He asks a valid question. Will you answer it?"

Rev Bem moaned as if in great pain. "Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see." With that he ripped off the Wayist talisman that hung from his neck. Before anyone had a chance to stop him Rev Bem ran for the nearest ladder and escaped upwards.

Rommie pulled Harper against her has he began to shake. "I thought he was a good guy," moaned Harper.

"He is Seamus, but right now we can't help him. No one can." She tried to comfort him but was unsure how so she simply patted his back lightly. It was something she had seen Beka do.

Suddenly she felt herself stiffen she couldn't move.

"Rommie?" Harper looked up at her but she could not reply.

An energy blast ripped through the corridor.

Layers and levels of herself were torn away and were simply no more.

Space whooshed in to fill the void. She could do nothing but listen to them scream.

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TBC muhahahahahaha