Author's Note: Does anybody read these? Oh well, if you are this is a sequel to 'Omega Blue' because I finally got off my lazy ass and typed it. READ OMEGA BLUE FIRST OR YOU WILL BE CONFUSED AS HELL!!! (Aka, my general state of life!) :P Ok, ummm... I ran out of things to put in my Author's Note, so I guess I'll do a short recap of 'Omega Blue.' Basically the crew meets this Nietzschean girl named Liara who is infected by a terrible bio-weapon called 'Omega Blue.' They go to the Hashae Nebula (that's important, remember it!), which is where the research base for the bio-weapon is located, the entire crew is infected and Rhade is captured by Pish. After putting up a fight, Telemachus succumbs to the indoctrination. When he's back on board Andromeda we learn that Liara is actually Terla (read my first fic, 'Illusions'). Make a long story short: Terla sets Rhade free to go 'complete his mission,' he goes to the Slipstream Core and starts piloting back toward the Hashae Nebula. Terla casts a spell enabling her to teleport to the Slipstream Core after confessing to Dylan and promising to 'make things right.' We see Telemachus approached by a ghostly figure: Gaheris Rhade, who cures Telemachus of the indoctrination. Everyone assumes that it is Terla, but it turns out that it is the ghost of Gaheris Rhade on board Andromeda. We leave off with Gaheris sitting across from Dylan at the Go board. Ok, I'm finally done. That was longer than I expected! I will give one brief teaser for this story: Beka and Telemachus will begin to grow closer. YAY!

Characters: Beka, T. Rhade, Dylan, Harper, Trance, Andromeda, Rommie. Not planning on having any original characters w/ big parts, but I don't really know at this point!

Rating: Beats me! Probably PG-13 for adult situations, swearing uhhhh... probably violence, too.

Disclaimer: Andromeda doesn't belong to me, blah, blah, blah. Despite all my efforts I have NOT been able to purchase Telemachus on E-bay, so technically he doesn't belong to me either! (yet!) I'd share, don't worry! (maybe!)

Now, finally on to the story!

Meg Jordan

'Echoes of the Past' If you are the type of person

Who believes in ghosts like I do,

and ever meet one,

Remember:

They were people once, too.

Man-Sha-Wan, Wayist

Chapter 1

"You seem somewhat surprised, Dylan," Gaheris said, crossing his legs and leaning back in the chair.

Dylan stuttered over a few words, then settled for: "How?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Gaheris responded. "You shot me, I died. Normally that's the end of the story. However, when I died I saw Trance. The gold one, not the purple one. She smiled, and I felt myself floating in a void. Then Trance silently exploded into yellow-gold light, engulfing me. I found myself floating above my own body on the Command Deck. It took some getting used to," Gaheris smiled wryly. "But I soon found that Trance had given me a blessing in disguise. I watched everything you did different from I. It was... educating.

"You've been aboard this ship for four years now," Dylan accused. "Why didn't you show yourself before?"

"I couldn't," Gaheris countered. "I have only been visible for about a week now." He made a teepee out of his fingers and touched his lips thoughtfully. "It was like... I was locked in a cage until a pulse of energy set me free."

"Terla's magic," Dylan reasoned. "Somehow whatever she did made you audible and visible."

"It would appear that way," Gaheris agreed. "You seem to be taking this rather well," he noted.

Dylan shook his head ruefully. "After all I've been through on this ship, I'm hardly surprised."

Gaheris looked at him, brown eyes thoughtful. "SO what do you plan to do with me?"

"That's a good question," Dylan said, leaning forward. "What are you planning to do, Mr. Rhade?"

"Stick around," Gaheris said immediately.

"One more question," Dylan said. "How did you cure Telemachus?"

"I... don't know," Gaheris said. "I had a feeling and acted upon it. It worked, then?"

"Apparently," Dylan said. "Let's go down to the Med Bay and check."

-----

"You want some coffee?" Beka asked. She was sitting in a chair next to Telemachus, who was lying on one of the beds in the Med Deck.

"Hm?" Telemachus looked up. "Sorry, I wasn't listening."

"Do you want some coffee?" Beka asked again. "I'm gonna get something to eat. Want anything?"

"Coffee will be fine." The Nietzschean male frowned as Beka left to go to the auto-chef. His ancestor, Gaheris Rhade, on board the Andromeda? He smiled, trying to picture the crew's reactions. Harper would probably say something on the order of: "That sucks." Rommie and Andromeda both would probably hate Gaheris. Dylan would take it all in stride, Trance... well, Trance just mystified him on a daily basis.

Beka came back with a cup of steaming coffee and munching something.

Telemachus gratefully took the coffee. After taking a sip, just for the sake of conversation he asked; "What are you eating?"

"Chocolate, Old-Earth style," Beka responded.

Beka and Telemachus turned toward the door as it hissed open, announcing the arrival of Dylan... and Gaheris. Beka jumped and drew her force lance, pointing it at the ghost.

Gaheris looked at it. "If I were here to attack you, I doubt that would do any good," he said dryly, eyebrows raised. "It's good to see you too, Beka."

Beka reluctantly lowered her force lance, looking from Telemachus to Gaheris. "This is just plain weird," she said finally.

Author going for a soda break, I'll be back soon! Nope, no soda in the house. Have to settle for water. :(

"Rhade, do you think you're ready for active duty?" Dylan asked.

"Yes," said Telemachus.

"Ok, Telemachus, Beka: dismissed. Gaheris... stay here. Andromeda?" Dylan asked.

"Aye?" the hologram asked, appearing before Dylan and giving Gaheris the evil eye.

"Go get Trance," Dylan finished.

Beka and Telemachus exchanged glances and left.

"On second thought, Andromeda, send Trance to my quarters."

-------

"What's it like having your ancestor floating around?" Beka asked as she and Telemachus walked down a corridor.

Telemachus shook his head. "It isn't in my top five most expected events," he replied. "Even considering all the odd thing I've gone through on this ship."

Andromeda's hologram appeared in the middle of the hall. "Dylan wants you to report to Command," she said.

"Now?" Beka asked.

"No, tomorrow," Andromeda replied sarcastically, disappearing.

"Whoever decided that sarcasm was an admirable trait in a warship was sadly mistaken," Telemachus observed.

"I heard that," came Andromeda's voice.

Beka laughed and turned toward Command.

------

"So, what do I do with you, Gaheris?" Dylan asked. He Trance, and Gaheris were in his quarters. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"I already told you everything that happened," Trance interjected. "What more do you need?"

Dylan gave Trance the look that said, 'bullshit.'

"I'll leave if you want me too," Gaheris said calmly, hands behind his back.

"Where would you go?" Trance countered. She turned toward Dylan. "Dylan, he is not the Nietzschean you remember."

"Will this make a perfect possible future?" Dylan asked bitterly.

"I don't know," Trance said evenly. "But I think it's a small step toward one. As always, however, the final decision is up to you. Choose wisely." (A/N: I HAD to put the Indiana Jones line in!)

Dylan exhaled heavily. "Stay," he told Gaheris. "You've been here almost four years, you might as well stay."

Trance smiled. Everything was turning out the way it was supposed to...

A/N: Whew, LONG chapter! Send me reviews!!! PLEASE!!!