"On screen." Dylan ordered.
A beautiful young woman with blue eyes and blond hair appeared on the screen, dressed in a blue and silver uniform.
"Hello. My name is Eternity. Please state your intentions."
"I am Dylan Hunt, Captain of the Commonwealth ship Andromeda. We detected your ship on long grange sensors, and came to investigate. May we aid you in any way?"
"Thank you captain. As your ship's AI has probably already discovered, I am an Artificial Intelligence."
"What happened to your crew?" Rommie asked.
"You are the ship's Avatar?" Eternity asked.
"Yes."
"I never had a crew. I was constructed,… Let's see. Oh my! Has it been that long?" Eternity checks the readings again. "I was constructed over three thousand years ago, by a mysterious race. They left me with little information about themselves. After they built me, they brought me to this location, activated my shields, and powered down all other unnecessary systems."
"So when we got within range," Rommie suggested. "This reactivated your systems?"
"Correct. I was basically in sleep mode, until someone came within range of my sensors, waking me up."
"Were you given orders?" Dylan asked. "What is your purpose?"
"The only order I was given was to wait here for my new captain. I had no idea I would be waiting so long."
"Would you be willing to join our Commonwealth?" Dylan asked. "I'm sure we could find you a worthy captain."
"Your offer is appreciated Captain Hunt, but I cannot leave my current position without disregarding my one and only order."
"I understand." Dylan thought for a moment. "What if I appoint one of my current crew members as your captain?"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple Captain." Eternity said. "I have been equipped with a genetic key code. Only the person that matches that same genetic code can become my captain." Eternity's voice became sad. She knew that since she was built over three thousand years ago, that in all likelihood, the person that was meant to be her captain was long dead.
"I'm sorry." Dylan said, realizing Eternity's predicament. "We may not be able to offer you a captain Eternity, but is there anything else you need?"
"It appears to have been a very long time since I've had any proper maintenance."
"Rommie Is Harper available?" Dylan asked
"He is currently doing a routine check up of the slipstream drive."
"Eternity, if we remain in this asteroid field, could you enter one of our docking bays, so our engineering team could properly maintenance you?" Dylan asked.
"As long as you stay, that would be acceptable Captain."
"Rommie give her the docking procedures."
"Yes Captain." Rommie said.
"Docking procedures received." Eternity said. "Commencing docking procedures."
"Andromeda." Dylan said. The hologram immediately appeared on Command Deck.
"Inform Harper of our new guest, and tell him when he's finished with the slipstream, I'd like for him to take a crew and do any repairs necessary an Eternity."
"Yes Captain."
Meanwhile in Medical, Trance finished examining Rhade.
"Well?" Becka asked.
"Rhade will be fine." Trance said.
"I will be fine?" Rhade asked. "What's wrong with me?"
"You appear to have picked up a virus on Yura Drift."
"Trance, You already told Harper that the Hakinkof flu wasn't real." Becka said.
"I know Becka, but this is real. It's an illness that apparently only affects Nietchiens. It's called Sendori. It effects one's ability for rational thinking. Most of the time the individual is unaware that anything is wrong, until something happens to make him angry. Then he reacts without any thought of the consequences. There has been accounts of Nietchiens with this illness killing someone for pronouncing their name wrong."
"Hey Rhade." Becka said. "Remind me not to try to say your first name." Rhade growls at her.
"Touchy touchy." Becka said.
"Becka it might be smart not to upset him." Trance pleaded. "Remember, sick Nietchien."
"Yeah. Right. Sorry Trance."
"I've heard of this… Sendori." Rhade said. "It was originally created by the Dragans. They thought it would benefit some of the weaker Betas. They later discovered that it had mutated. No longer able to contain it, they wiped out the whole complex where it was created by firing on it from orbit. They thought they had destroyed it, but their ship was found later, with everyone dead. They killed each other."
"Well, that won't happen here." Trance said. "A cure was found, so now the only harm comes when people are unaware that they have Sendori."
"Like when I attacked Harper." Rhade said, looking down at his hands with a distressed look on his face. "I could have killed him."
"But you didn't Rhade." Trance said. "Harper's OK, and he knows that you wouldn't have done something like that under normal conditions."
"Thanks Trance." Rhade said. "So Becka, What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you alright with this now? Do you forgive me for my actions against Harper?"
"If what Trance said is true, and I got no reason to doubt her, then you weren't in your right mind when you encountered Harper. Yeah. I forgive you."
Trance gives Rhade a shot.
"Rhade you need to get one these for the next four days." Trance ordered. "By that time Sendori will be completely out of your system."
"Thanks Trance."
Rhade got up and started to leave medical.
"Rhade." Becka said.
"Yes."
"If you EVER hurt Harper again, I don't care if you are sick, I will throw you out an airlock. I don't care if I have to get Rommie to help me."
"Understood Becka." Rhade said. "I would expect no less of you."
In Engineering, after verifying that the slipstream drive was fully functional, Harper removed the jack from his data port. Andromeda had already informed him of the new ship that was now in docking bay two.
"Andromeda." Harper said. "Is Rhade still in Medical?"
"No Harper. Trance discovered that Rhade had contracted a virus that was engineered by the Dragans. He was given the fist of a series of injections, and should be back to normal in a couple days. He is now resting in his quarters."
"Thanks. Could you send a maintenance crew on ahead of me? I'll meet them there in a few minutes."
"Where are you going Harper?" Andromeda's screen persona asked.
"Trance wanted to talk to me about things."
"What sort of things?"
"You know." Harper said, swinging his tail so Andromeda could see and pointing at his ears. "These things."
"I understand Harper, but please, don't be long. Eternity said its been over three thousand years since she's had any kind of maintenance performed. I can't imagine going a week without routine maintenance Harper."
"You'll never have to go that long as long as I'm around." Harper said.
"I know." Andromeda said. "… Harper, I don't say it enough, but I do appreciate everything you do."
"Hey, I appreciate everything you do to Beautiful." Harper said, with an honest smile. "Andromeda, do you think there's any chance that Eternity isn't a psycho AI bent on killing us all and deleting your matrix?"
"I don't think she's like the Judgment or Pax, if that's what you mean. But just in case I've activated all firewalls including the new safety programs you created to prevent her from gaining access to my systems. She can only communicate with me in a limited manner, and only then when I allow it. I've also advised Rommie to assist you while you and your team are performing the maintenance she requires."
"Are you sure you don't think she's a Psycho AI?" Harper asked. "It sounds like you're being pretty defensive."
"It never hurts to be prepared Harper. I can't help but hope that she is a normal sane AI, but our past encounters with AIs have been less that pleasant."
"Gotcha." Harper said. "Better advise the maintenance team to wear force lances just in case."
"Already done."
"You're good." Harper complimented.
"I know." Andromeda said with a smile.
In Medical, Trance had a vision of the future. In that vision she saw something that she had almost forgotten existed. Considering her age, and all the things she had encountered during her life, it's easy to understand that she might not remember everything. "It is almost time." She thought to herself.
Harper entered Medical, walked over to Trance, and embraced the love of his life.
"Mmmmm. Harper." Trance sighed. "That feels so good. Don't let go."
"Wouldn't even think of it." Harper said, holding her even closer.
As they held each other, Trance's tail wrapped around Harper's waist and his tail did likewise to her's.
"Trance." Harper said, after several long minutes. "I hate to say this, but I really need to go to the Docking Bay. It seems we've encountered an old ship that needs some repairs and maintenance."
"I know Harper, but before you go, I need to tell you something."
"What's that Trance?"
"Harper. In the future you will have to make a difficult decision. You'll know what to do, but it may mean losing something very special to you."
"You're the most important thing to me Trance. If it means losing you then forget it."
"No, it' not me, but you'll soon find out."
That was enough for Harper. As long as he didn't lose his Purple Princess, nothing else mattered.
"You said earlier that you wanted to talk to me about being an Avatar."
"I'm sorry Harper. I almost forgot." Trance blushed. She was embarrassed that she let herself get so carried away with… other things, that she totally forgot her main reason for wanting to see Harper. Well, … not the main reason, but an important reason.
"Harper you know how I can see images, or visions of future events and possible timelines?"
"Yeah." Harper answered.
"Well, not all Avatars have this gift. Some possess gifts that are very different."
"Are you saying that I have some sort of… gift Trance?"
"Yes Harper, but I can't tell you what that gift is. Harper, I'm telling you this because you need to be careful. Some gifts are dangerous, and if you are unaware that you possess them you could inadvertently do something very…bad."
"Trance what kind of gifts are you talking about?"
"Well you already know that we are stars. You and I both can tap into that power and use it to…. cause bad things to happen to people."
"By bad things, you mean letting loose the power of our stars and frying people?"
"I don't like talking about this sort of thing Harper, but the answer is yes. You must be in total control in all circumstances Harper, no matter how angry you get. Otherwise you could be making a deal with a vendor at a shop on some drift and when he doesn't give you a good deal,… he could burst into flames."
"I wouldn't have minded that happening to old Gerentex."
"HARPER!"
"I'm sorry Trance, but he did kill you."
"That's still no excuse to give in to the temptation to do something that barbaric."
"I know Trance. Listen. I'm sorry. I know you're telling me this for my own good.."
"That's right Harper. This is very serious. Some Avatars have the gift of levitation, telepathy, invisibility, and molecular transmutation."
"Molecular transmutation?"
"Well this is very rare in Avatars, but basically one with this gift is able to walk through solid walls, and can also change his or her physical shape into anyone or anything."
"Sounds pretty cool."
"It's also very dangerous Harper." Trance said with a frown. "In the early stages, when one is first learning to control this particular gift, it is possible for the individual to become trapped in the new form he or she has taken."
"That doesn't sound too bad." Harper said.
"No, not if their new form is still a walking and talking sentient being. It's not as nice if… it happens to be something like… a tree."
A thought suddenly comes to Harper.
"Trance! Your Banzai Tree! Is that …
"Yes. He is my friend Harper. His name is Jarod. He and I have been together for a very long time. He Loved traveling to the many different star systems, and meeting new people. He was always so full of life. Then one day he discovered his gift. He was so amazed at his new ability Harper. He started changing into many wondrous things. At the time I didn't know the dangers of this new gift. It wasn't long that I began to realize that he was having problems changing back to his true form. I begged him to stop, but it was as if he got some sort of rush every time he changed. Then one day it happened. He changed into a Banzai tree and he was unable to change back."
"I'm so sorry Trance. I had no idea that he was… I mean I didn't know."
"That's OK Harper. I just wanted to make sure that you understand that it's imperative that you be careful."
"Don't worry Trance. I'll be careful. I don't want to accidentally hurt my friends, and I definitely don't want to end up rabbit food."
"Now that that's taken care of," Trance said. "Let's go meet our new friend."
"If she is a friend." Harper said.
"Don't worry Harper. She's an old friend."