Inside Dylan's quarters, Dylan was pacing the floor. He intended on trying to get some sleep, not because he didn't care what was going on with Morak, but because, except for approximately thirty minutes of sleep he enjoyed before Andromeda woke him, he hadn't slept in over two days. He had been so aggravated with the Common Wealth for refusing to get involved in the fight to free Earth.
Dylan could still hear the Admiral's smug reply. "Captain Hunt, it would not be in the best interest of the New Common Wealth at this juncture to antagonize the Drago Kasov Pride. You know better than anyone that our fleet isn't prepared for such a confrontation. Unless you can show me reason to believe that the Dragans are trying to overthrow the Common Wealth or that they have attacked a Common Wealth ship, You will not assist Earth in any way. "
Dylan knew that Cain and Morak were Dragans. This he could prove. He also knew that they had sabotaged Andromeda with the intent to destroy her. This too he could prove. What he needed to prove was that they were working under direct orders of the Dragan Kasov Pride.
"Andromeda." Dylan said.
Andromeda appeared in front of him in answer to his call.
"Yes Dylan."
"Could you play back the message that Cain and Morak attempted to send" Dylan asked. "I need to prove that those two were ordered to sabotage you."
"I'll play back the surveillance feed Dylan, but according to Common Wealth law, it isn't admissible in court."
"I don't care about Common Wealth courts. I just need to show proof to the Admiral that the Dragans have placed spies on board a Common Wealth ship, then those same spies attempted to destroy you. We can't let Harper, Rommie and Trance do this alone."
"Thank you Dylan." Andromeda said.
"What for?"
"To be perfectly honest, I don't enjoy sitting on the sidelines while others go off to fight. I am a War Ship, and besides, that's my Avatar and two of my best friends going up against a whole Nietzchean pride."
"Friends Andromeda?" Dylan asked.
"Yes. Friends. I know that you and I are not supposed to become emotionally attached to crewmembers, but a lot has changed since I was pulled from that black hole. I admit that when you first told me that you were going to ask these people to be my crew, I thought maybe you had been in the black hole too long and that it had effected your ability to think rationally."
"You mean, you thought I was nuts."
"Yes, but it didn't take long for me to realize that, although they may have been cargo and salvage haulers, and possibly thieves, Becka is the best pilot I've ever had, and although Harper's methods of doing things would have never been tolerated in the old Common Wealth, I've never had an engineer better."
"Better not let him hear you say that." Dylan joked. "He already thinks he's a genius, and let's us know it. It would be annoying except for the fact that he is a genius."
"I already let him know how I feel for him."
"Exactly how do you feel for your engineer Andromeda?" Dylan asked. He had never imagined her ever falling for the little engineer, but the look in her eyes when she talked about Harper made him wonder if he had misjudged her.
"We're just friends Dylan!" Andromeda said, a little bit louder than what she had intended. Her emotions seemed to be harder to control in this new solid hologram than her older non physical form.
"OK." Dylan said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's not you Dylan. It's this new solid form of mine. I find it a bit harder to control my emotions in it. To answer your question more accurately, Harper and I are close. If he and Trance hadn't became a couple, we may have become more than friends one day, but I won't hurt Harper or Trance by coming between them."
Dylan was shocked at what he heard. Andromeda apparently did care for Harper, but she loved Him and Trance enough to do the right thing and let him go.
"I had no idea you felt that strongly about Harper."
"I've only had feelings like these for one other person , but that was not meant to be either."
"Who was the other person?" Dylan asked, before he could think.
"You." Andromeda said. A tear fell from her eye, before she vanished from Dylan's quarters.
Dylan was left standing in the middle of his room.
"Why can't things ever be easy?" He said, as he wondered what action he should take.
Back on Command Becka and Rhade entered.
"Becka," Rhade said. "You have to reconsider leaving. There's little you can do to help Harper anyhow."
"At least I won't nearly beat him to death for spilling a little food!" Becka shouted angrily.
"Becka, I'm sorry. I know you care for the little guy. All I'm saying is you should give Dylan more time to convince the Common Wealth that it would be in there best interest to help Earth. Then we can all help Harper. As for my attacking Harper, I was not in control. Trance explained all that. I wouldn't intentionally harm Harper."
Becka began to reply, but was interrupted by a strange noise. She immediately drew her pistol.
"Whoa! Hold on! It's just me Captain Valentine." Lena quickly stated.
"Sorry." Becka replied, as she holstered her weapon. "I didn't know it was you…. But Lena, please, don't call me captain."
"Alright,…uh Boss?"
"Boss is ok." Becka said.
"What have you been doing?" Rhade asked.
Lena told Rhade and Becka how Morak had tricked Andromeda's security sensors.
"Have you found out how he did it?" Becka asked.
"Yes I have." Lena said. "Unfortunately, I also discovered what he did while her sensors were blind."
"Andromeda, play the security video I was able to restore."
Becka and Rhade stared at the main view screen and watched Morak as he built his transmitter. Then they heard the message that he sent.
Becka quickly turned around and started out of Command.
"Becka! Wait!" Rhade shouted. "Where are you going?"
"Where do you think I'm going?" Becka asked. "And this time you're not talking me out of it. He's walking into a trap Rhade, and if the Common Wealth won't help him, I will."
"That's suicide!" Rhade shouted. "Besides, by the time you get to Earth…."
"It'll probably be too late….. I know." Becka left Command, and headed for the Maru.
"Andromeda." Rhade said.
Andromeda's screen persona answered from the main view screen. "Yes Rhade."
"Becka is planning on leaving in the Maru." Rhade continued. "Would you be so good as to lock the docking bay doors so that the Maru cannot leave?"
"I'll do it, but Rhade, She's going to be very angry."
"I know, but I think with this new information, Dylan might be able to convince the Common Wealth to help Earth."
Having grown tired of standing, Dylan decided to sit and consider the recent events. "How could things get so strange in such a short period of time?" He asked himself. "First our original Trance returned, then we found out that she and her future self are sun Avatars, then we destroyed the Black hole which in turn caused the death of the Abyss, and nearly killed Purple Trance, then Golden Trance and Harper saved Purple Trance's life causing both Trances to become one and Harper to become an Avatar….… Then we found a spaceship named Eternity and things started to get weird."
Dylan was shaken from his thoughts when he heard the sound of someone at his door.
"Come in." He said.
Lena and Rhade entered his room, followed by Andromeda's solid hologram.
"Captain." Lena said. "I found something that you have got to watch."
"Does it concern one of our current Nietzchean prisoners?"
"It's Morak." Lena said. "I found out how he blinded Andromeda's sensors and found out what he did during that time."
After watching the restored security video, Dylan told Andromeda to contact the Admiral.
Dylan was certain that this new information was what he needed to sway the Admiral's decision.
He was wrong.
The transmission ended and Dylan picked up and threw what appeared to be some sort of paper weight at the wall, causing a very noticeable dent.
"Of all the idiotic, self centered, and downright foolish people I've met,… that man ranks right at the top of the list!" Dylan shouted. "Can't he see that they have already attacked the Common Wealth by sabotaging Andromeda!"
"What are you going to do captain?" Rhade asked.
"What am I going to do? I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm taking Andromeda to Earth and I'm going to save Harper. Then I'm going to help make Earth free again."
"Don't you mean we, captain?" Lena asked.
"I can't order you to disregard Common Wealth orders. By doing this we will all be court-martialed."
"I don't know about the rest of the crew captain," Lena said. "but I'm with you."
"As am I Dylan." Rhade said.
Andromeda was looking down at the floor, and Dylan noticed.
"Andromeda?" Dylan asked.
"Dylan, by doing this, you are going against everything that you once stood for. The very Common Wealth that we have fought to rebuild will likely imprison you. As a Common Wealth ship, I cannot allow you to captain me Sir."
"WHAT?" Everyone asked.
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked again. "I thought you would be happy to help Harper and the others. Now you're telling me that you won't go?"
"I didn't say I won't go Dylan." Andromeda explained. "What I said is that as a Common Wealth ship, I cannot allow you to captain me. As of this moment I declare that having served in the Common Wealth for over three hundred years, that my tour of duty is done. According to section 14B paragraph 48 in the Common Wealth AI Rules of Service, I have fulfilled my required time and do hereby request my freedom."
The others stood there amazed. For several seconds nobody said anything. Dylan walked over to Andromeda and looked at her very closely.
"I always assumed that only referred to androids and Avatars."
"I did too, but I realized that it doesn't specify just androids or Avatars. It says AI's. Since I am an AI that makes me eligible for freedom. You as my ranking officer, are bound by Common Wealth law to grant it to me."
"Then by all means." Dylan said, "Andromeda Ascendant, as your captain, and according to Common Wealth law, I grant to you your freedom. You are no longer a part of the Common Wealth fleet, but a private civilian vessel."
"Thank you Dylan."
"No. Thank you." Dylan said, as he wrapped his arms around her and very passionately kissed her lips. When they finished a very stunned Andromeda looked at Dylan.
"Dylan?" Andromeda said. "What about…" She was going to say protocol, but realized that she and her captain were no longer bound by it.
"What do you say we find our engineer?" Dylan asked. "We have a planet to free."
Dylan had Rhade move Cain into the brig with Morak, and confiscate Morak's communicator.
"Make sure neither one of them have any more hidden devices." Dylan said.
"Don't worry Dylan." Rhade said.
Later when Rhade returned to Command, Dylan asked him if he found any other devices.
"No." Rhade replied.
"What about their bone blades?" Dylan asked. "Did you check Cain's to make sure he wasn't hiding a communicator or weapon?"
"You won't have to worry about their bone blades."
"Why's that Rhade?"
"I cut them off."