Dylan forced his attention back to Administrator Lzar. He had to hand it to Trance. She certainly knew how to manipulate a situation. He'd have to wait until later to find out what Trance and others could possibly be doing now. Besides, Trance had assured him that Beka had a plan.
Whatever it was, it couldn't possibly land them in as much trouble as last time.
Could it?
What was that?
Her eyes scanned the darkness and she listened intently but didn't hear anything. Beka prided herself on having above average hearing. With the life she had led before Andromeda, the advantage had helped her avoid an ambush more than once.
Just my imagination. Beka clenched her teeth to steady jumpy nerves and moved forward again through the deserted streets. You'd think the Monarcheans would think to install street lamps in more than just the market areas.
Just to be on the safe side, she soon left the road in favor of walking along the shadowy side of a convenient building. She strode purposefully along it, until the wall ran out and then sprinted quickly to the next building's wall, paused, and watched. A chill ran up and down Beka's spine. She had caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. This wasn't her imagination. Someone was definitely here and following her, closely too, or else she would have already lost the culprit in the dark. She switched on the targeting light of her force lance. "Come out!" Beka spoke boldly to the shadows. "Or I'll make you."
A hulking but familiar shadow seemed to materialize out of the dark.
Beka dropped her arm immediately and shook her head. "Tyr! What are you doing here?"
Even in the dark, she could imagine his trademark somber expression as he answered. "I could very well ask you the same question." He made a motion towards the direction Beka had been headed, indicating he had surmised her destination. "When you missed our appointment without explanation, I came looking for you."
Beka looked towards the museum building where she'd been heading. She debated on whether or not to let Tyr in on her plans. "So you found me," she replied. Her short sentence came out more brusquely than she'd intended it, but she was running on a time frame. There wasn't time for long explanations. Yet, she resented what Tyr might think if she didn't tell him what was going on.
She tried to think and asked a question to fill time. "Remember the place?"
Tyr gave a nod towards the referenced museum. There was a question in was in his gesture. "Indelibly. In truth, our return here has called to mind a question you never answered to my satisfaction."
Beka's mind raced. She recalled faintly that Tyr had wanted to talk earlier. She regretted that she hadn't had time then, and still didn't have time now. Things had been tense between them lately. He was right. They needed to talk. Just not now.
Even though he hadn't asked, Tyr must be wondering why she had come here. Beka chose the short explanation. "You don't have to worry."
Tyr took a step closer. "Dylan knows what you are doing?"
Well. No. "You don't have to worry about Dylan either. This is totally legit."
Tyr wasn't convinced. "Ah yes, that was the first thought I had when I saw you heading here under the cloak of darkness."
Beka was through with explanations. "Believe what you will, Tyr," she said, deprecatingly. "Run and tattle to daddy!" She paused and a challenging tone entered her voice. "Or, since you're already here, you might as well join me."
He didn't answer her as she covered the last few feet of the yard and arrived at a side door of the museum. She raised her hand to knock and was startled by his voice close to her ear. "I will!"
Tyr stood beside her at the door, arms folded across his chest, and waited for her next move.
Beka glanced at him. Was it just the way the shadows fell or was there an engaging warmth in his eyes? She dared to look again, but her further scrutiny found only an aloof expression. She dismissed the errant thought quickly, balled a fist, and tapped at the door.
She couldn't help grinning at the flicker of surprise that darted across the Nietzschean's face as the door was pulled open and a cheery voice greeted them. "Come in, Captain Valentine. I've been expecting you."
"See, Tyr," Beka whispered, nudging him with her elbow. "Perfectly legit."
Neeki looked upon Tyr's presence with puzzlement. She closed the door behind them, but did not lock it, then spoke to Beka. "We did agree to keep this a limited viewing. I thought you said you were bringing your purple friend."
Beka shrugged, still enjoying remembering the look on Tyr's face. "Plans change, Neeki. But there's always room for one more."
Neeki seemed to accept this slight shift in the plan. "Alright. Shall we begin?"
Beka checked the hour. "We'll wait for Trance. She had an errand she insisted on running but she'll be here."
Poor Dylan. Trance sighed regretfully as she hurried away from Administrator Lzar's residence. Of all the crew, with the exception of Rommie, Trance was the one who usually stuck by his decisions and backed him up. Her behavior must be very puzzling to him. She thought briefly over the events of the past several hours.
"Trance, we're receiving a message from the surface. It's addressed to you. Shall I display it?"
A message? Trance had thought. She nodded to the hologram. "Yes, put it through."
Beka's face appeared on the display screen located on one wall of the corridor. "Trance. Here's the scoop: Some imposter was here claiming to represent Dylan. Knew a lot about Andromeda and us too. Our Monarchean officials are too busy getting ready for their music festival to investigate. So I am. Could use your guesswork. Call me at these coordinates I've sent. I should be at them by the time you get this message."
Oh dear, thought Trance. An imposter? "Rommie, would you please--" Trance began.
"Already on it," Holo-Rommie replied. "Communications link established. Audio only."
"Beka?" asked Trance.
Beka's voice came over the air. "Trance? Got my message? Right on time. How are things going, Rommie?"
"Repairs would go more quickly if only my chief engineer were here. Know when we'll be seeing him again?" the android replied from the Command Deck.
"Check your sensors. Harper's headed your way. Once he docks, Trance can head down."
"But Beka," replied Trance. "I don't think I should leave Andromeda. I mean, she's not feeling her best."
"Trance, please. I could really use your help with something I've got in mind. It's important."
Trance looked questioningly at Holo-Rommie. The hologram shrugged. "Thanks for your concern, Trance. It's true, ship's systems aren't fully functional at the moment, but we've seen worst. If Beka needs you, you can go."
"Harper's up there," Beka chimed in. "It'll be fine. Come on. Don't you want to ask Elva how the plants you gave her are faring?"
That was a tempting offer. Trance faltered. "Yes."
To Beka, that settled it. "Then, what are you waiting for?"
Trance wasn't sure. "Harper might need help with the repairs."
"Harper's docked in Hangar Deck," Andromeda informed helpfully. In another moment, the efficient ship had contacted him and established a video comlink. Harper's smiling face appeared on a wall screen from the aforesaid location.
"Hey, Beka. Nice to hear from you. Hey, Trance. Don't mind seeing you again. And I know Rommie was counting the minutes while I was away. You rang?"
"Harper?" Beka directed her question to the engineer. "Think you can spare a certain environmental systems officer for a few hours?"
"Can you?" Trance looked at him, wide-eyed.
"Hey, the Harper will handle it. And Rommie will help me, woncha darlin?"
Rommie's voice rolled through the air. "As always, Harper."
Harper lifted a case. "You best get while the gettin's good, Trance. I have a feelin' Dylan's gonna keep us awfully busy tomorrow."
Sweet boy, Trance thought. She suspected Harper could have used the help, but seeing how much she wanted to go, he didn't have the heart to ask. She'd remember his act of kindness and work extra hard when she got back. Feeling reassured, Trance started towards Hangar Deck. "Wait for me, Beka. I'll be right down."
Once Trance was planetside, Beka had lost no time in recounting what had happened since the intial crew's arrival and asking Trance's take on things.
"I don't know, Beka." Trance shrugged. "We've met so many different people last year. There are still too many possiblities. I'd need more information."
"I thought you might stay that," said Beka, knowingly. "And I think I know where to get it."
The plan had sounded good to Trance, but Dylan didn't know about it, and Beka had sworn her to secrecy.
Now, Trance arrived at the museum after her visit to Administrator's Lzar dinner, glad in the knowledge that even if Dylan was worrying about his crew's absence, at least he knew what little she had been able to tell him. He wouldn't be totally in the dark when--well, it was only a possibility of what might happen. Why think about it now?
"How long do we have?" Beka asked, anxiously.
"Thirty minutes at most. The guards will pass by again then and I cannot be sure they'd be agreeable as I to this private tour," Neeki replied.
"Got it," Beka nodded. "We'll just have to do our look-see in thirty minutes or less." The Hall of Music was as huge and as impressive as Beka remembered it. The stadium-style seats were empty but the slightest whisper was still amplified about the hall.
Tyr looked at Beka. "And what purpose does this little after hours tour serve?"
"I don't know what to tell you, Tyr. Call it a hunch." She looked again at the aide. "Tell me, what else have you found out?"
"What I told you before," Neeki replied. "The colleague who took my place doing the tours for the museum, said that the ambassador spent several hours in the Hall of Music. He found it fascinating."
Beka shook her head. "Once again getting into the Monarchean's good graces. Gotta love a fellow who loves music. So, what did he do in here?"
"No one knows for certain. He asked for his solitude while he remained here."
"Uh oh," said Trance.
Tyr growled. "You left him alone with the most valuable of your possessions?"
Beka frowned. "Neeki, did you notice anything missing? Unlock the cases."
Neeki shook her head. "Our security guards or systems would have found something amiss."
"I beg to differ milady, but your security leaves much to be desired," Tyr replied with authority. "Do as she says, unlock them now!"
"The codes are rotated. I am not certain I still remember--" Neeki's voice trailed off as she noted the glare Tyr gave her. She opened a panel in the wall, punched in the codes, and waited to see just how sharp her memory would prove to be.
A low hum in the air ceased and deeper silence descended as the force fields surrounding the items in the display cases deactivated.
The Andromeda crewmates scattered in all directions to check each one.
"You were still working here when we left, Neeki." Beka said. "Just where is my donation to this monument of music located?"
Before Neeki could answer, Trance interrupted, waving her hand from another section of the hall. Trance had just finished searching through a display case. "This imposter guy must have been pretty smart. I mean he knew enough about us to fool an entire planet and so far get away with it. And I think I know exactly what he was after."
"How do you know?" Beka asked.
"Well, the probality of a culture who reveres music having the identical CD collection of Beka Valentine is--"
"Wait," Beka groaned, realizing it. "Don't tell me. Let's review what we know: Guy who loves music, knows entirely too much about Andromeda, and has the smarts to con an entire planet. Do we know anyone like that?"
Realization dawned in Tyr's dark eyes now too, and he looked from Beka to Trance and back again.
A mixture of disgust, anger, and pure shock value resonated as the three shipmates uttered a single name.
"RAFE!"