"Looks like you'll soon be going home", Harper said to Valerie. They were sharing a meal together.
"Yeah. I'm hopeful now that we know that Melody's going to be a grandmother" She grinned at him. "It's so weird. I'm talking to a descendant of one of my best friends and we're not even out of high school yet."
Harper laughed. "It is funny. It means that Beka and I are related. I don't know the exact way, though. Oh, well."
Valerie shrugged. "Not that important."
Just then Alexander came to their table. "Can I sit down?" They nodded. "It sure is a relief to know that we will get home and that my sister won't be able to spoil it."
"How do you know, Alex?" Valerie was curious.
Uh-oh. The plan wasn't to be broadcast so Alexandra wouldn't get wind of it. "Fate. Because of the whole Melody's descendants thing. That's all I'm saying. They were satisfied.
Meanwhile, in another part of the ship, Melody was continuing her make friends campaign. This time it was with Dylan. "Oohh, it must be exciting and fun to be the leader. That's so cool."
"Sometimes. It's also a responsibility with a lot of headaches", Dylan told her.
"Gee, don't you have any aspirin?"
The main A.I. and Holo-Rommie popped up at the same time. They were both muffling laughter. Melody screamed in excitement. "Two Rommies at the same time! Like twins."
"Not exactly Melody. We are in fact separate distinct personalities, as is Rommie, our avatar. We may look alike."
Holo-Rommie shook her head at the A.I. "Don't bother. No matter how many times we try to explain it, she never gets it. She sees things the way she sees things."
Dylan nodded as he watched Melody explore Command with wide eyes. "That is true. And it's a nice thing"
"You mean she hasn't annoyed you in all the time she's been here?" the main A.I. inquired.
"I didn't say that. But I genuinely like having her on board I'll miss her when she's gone. I'll miss all of them, in fact. Except for Alexandra Cabot."
Holo-Rommie rolled her eyes. "That goes without saying."