As Rommie was leaving, she passed Trance entering.
Rommie began to say something to her, but was interrupted when Trance wrapped her arms around her. Trance finally let go, and Rommie noticed that Trance's eyes were teary.
"Trance, what's wrong?" Rommie asked. "I didn't do anything. Harper and I were just talking." If she had done something wrong, it didn't make sense that Trance would hug her. But she definitely saw tears in her friend's eyes.
"Rommie." Trance said. "It's been a long, long time since I had friends like you and Becka. A very long time. I want to thank you for not only being my friend, but Harper's too."
"You overheard our conversation?"
"Yes Rommie." Trance said, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am slightly surprised however, at the decision you and Harper came to. There was a 96.789 chance that you and Harper would become a couple as well."
"Excuse me Trance, but what do you mean? As well? Are you saying it would have been alright with you, for Harper and I to be more than friends? What about the two of you?"
"I'm sorry Rommie." Trance said. "I should have explained. When it comes to marriage, my people are more like the Nietzcheans. Unlike some cultures, we have no laws against having more than one mate. The only stipulation is that the first chosen mate approves of the second.
In the majority of possible futures, you became Harper's second chosen mate. In a few it was Lena or Becka."
"I don't know what to say Trance. Perhaps things would have happened differently if Harper and I would have known these things. Is the lack of Harper and I becoming a couple going to be bad for the future?"
"No." Trance replied. "The three of us will always be close Rommie. Had you and Harper chosen differently, you and I would have become even closer friends, but that will happen anyhow."
"So the only difference is Harper and I don't become any more than just friends?"
"You're already more than friends Rommie. The emotions I sense that he has for you are similar to what he feels for me. You two just might not become,… intimate."
"What do you mean, might not?"
"It's still the choice of you and Harper's. You now know that I approve, and that it's not against the laws of my people, but Harper being human, he may not be ready to accept the fact that it's alright to have two wives."
"We are talking about the same Seamus Harper aren't we?" Rommie asked. "I need time to think about this Trance. I must admit that I was curious as to why you encouraged me to tell Harper how I felt. I guess I know now."
"You go think about it Rommie, and I'll go talk to Harper."
Rommie went back to the command deck, and the more she thought about things, the stronger she felt that, despite Trance's new information, it would be best if she and Harper kept their relationship as it was. She had noticed that Rick and Gloria had a very close relationship without being intimate. They were more like Brother and sister, and Rommie made up her mind that was what she wanted with Harper.
At the same time Trance had a talk with Harper.
"Trance." Harper said. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but, it wouldn't be right. You deserve all my love Trance, and Rommie deserves someone to love her and her alone. Rommie and I had a talk, and I think everything's worked out. I love you as a man would love his wife. You are my soul mate, and soon to be my wife. I really hope that Rommie finds someone some day that will treat her with the love and affection that she deserves. I do love her Trance, but it's not the same as I feel for you. It's close, but not the same. I guess the best way to describe my feelings for Rommie is,… she's like family,… like Becka."
"I'm sorry Harper."
"What for Trance?"
"For trying to push the two of you together. I made a bad mistake. I looked at the majority of possible futures and assumed that was what would happen."
"Don't worry about it Trance . No harm done. All we need to be concerned with right now is Earth."
"You're right Harper. Thanks."
Eternity's solid holographic form appeared next to Harper and Trance.
"I wanted to inform you that we'll be landing in 5.73 minutes." Eternity said.
"Thanks Eternity." Replied Harper.
Eternity vanished, and Harper and Trance headed for Command.
When They got to Command the others were already there.
Rick was now wearing full battle armor and various weapons, including two gauss pistols and a very large laser rifle. Harper noticed that he also had two old Earth projectile weapons known as shotguns strapped to his back.
"You think you got enough Rick?" Harper asked being sarcastic.
"You're right Harper. I better get a few more force lances and sonic grenades."
"I was joking Rick." Harper said. "Isn't all that stuff a little heavy?"
"That's one of the benefits of having an android body Harper. I could carry ten times this much equipment, and it wouldn't even slow me down."
"Must be nice." Harper said.
"Yeah, but it took a long time for me to adjust . You can ask Gloria. The first few weeks after the transplant, I was breaking everything. I couldn't even pick up a glass of water without shattering it in my hand."
"I hadn't thought of that." Harper replied.
Harper turned his face toward the main view screen, and watched as they neared the landing site.
"Eternity." Harper said.
"Yes Harper."
"Can you control the Glory's Planetary Warbot?"
"I have ran a full scan of the bot's systems, and see no reason why I shouldn't be able to initiate a full link with it. It will essentially become another part of me."
"That's great. As soon as we land initiate the link, but don't exit the ship until I give the word."
"What word?" Eternity asked.
"The signal." Harper said.
"What signal?"
"Just don't come out of the ship, until I tell you to."
"Why didn't you just say that in the first place?"
Rommie stood at her station and couldn't help but smile.
"Harper you really should know by now, that when addressing a computer or AI, you should say what you mean."
Harper looked at Rommie. Was she talking about the conversation he just had with Eternity or their conversation earlier. He decided to play it safe.
"You're right Rommie." Harper said. "Eternity. I'm sorry."
"No apology necessary Harper, but thank you."
"Eternity soared as gracefully as an eagle through the clouds, as she neared the landing site.
Meanwhile Brendan and a dozen of his men waited at the site for Harper and his friends. There was also a woman standing at Brendan's side, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the ship.
"Are you sure he will be onboard?"
"That's what I was told Mrs. Styvers." Brendan said.
"Please Brendan." She said. "Call me Sarah. Mrs. Styvers makes me sound old, and if there's one thing an old woman doesn't like, it's being constantly reminded of her age."
Meanwhile at Faneuil Hall, a very large, muscular Nietzchean entered the main communication center, clearly upset.
"Marcus!" He shouted. "Why aren't communications back online yet? You said you could handle this."
"I'm sorry sir." Marcus replied. "There seems to be an outer force scrambling our communications General Mephist."
"Then locate the disturbance and deal with it!" Mephist ordered. "Do I have to tell you everything?"
Realizing what the inferior Nietzchean called him, General Mephist reached out and grabbed the smaller Nietzchean engineer by his throat and lifted him up off the floor.
"What did you call me?" He growled, but the engineer was unable to speak. All that came out was a slight gurgle and moan.
Mephist let go and Marcus fell to the floor gasping for air and rubbing the pain from his neck.
"I'm sorry LORD Mephist." He said. "It won't happen again. I promise."
"And I promise, that if you don't get our communicators working by nightfall, you won't have to worry about communicating, … ……… ever."
"Yes Lord. Everything will be working properly by nightfall. I guarantee it. Don't you worry."
"Oh, I'M not the one who needs to be worrying." Lord Mephist said. "Have a good day."
Mephist left the room, and Marcus glared at the door.
"Lord Mephist!" Marcus thought to himself. "Whoever heard of a Nietzchean taking that title? He's so full of himself. What an inflated ego!"
Marcus stopped his line of thinking. "Thinking like this could get me killed. In fact, I'll more than likely be dead in less than twelve hours anyhow, because there is no way I can detect where the interference is coming from. I've tried. Even if I could, how would I stop it?"
Marcus considered his options. He could continue working on the problem, fail to fix their communications, and die.
Or he could pack his belongings, head down to the spaceport, find a ship going to,… well it didn't really matter as long as it was far away from Earth and "LORD" Mephist, and never look back.
The more he thought about it, the more he liked the second choice.
Marcus grabbed a few flexies that had some schematics and blueprints of some very important technological devices that were sure to make him a fortune. He also grabbed his favorite M959 laser pistol, one of his own design.
Marcus checked his satchel and made certain that all of his credit chips were still inside.
"Good." Marcus said to himself. "Time to go."
Marcus checked to make sure the corridor was empty. Seeing nobody around, he walked quickly to the exit, out into the main street. It was still early morning, and few people were up and about.
The spaceport was only a short walk from General Mephist's headquarters. He wanted to run, but that would only draw attention to himself. He knew that even if Mephist did find out he had left, that the lack of a working communications system would make it difficult for him to alert his guards. The very thing that caused Marcus to have to run for his life, was going to aid his getaway.
Marcus reached the spaceport in less than fifteen minutes. He was beginning to think that he actually had a chance to escape. He realized that somewhere along the line, he had somehow become almost as much a prisoner as the Earth Kludges were. Things were better before Mephist came. Not for the Kludges, but in the Nietzchean community it was better.
His hopes came crashing down the moment he saw the sign hanging over the main boarding terminal. With communication failures, all ships had been grounded. Nobody was allowed to launch until the failed systems were restored.
"That's just great!" Marcus shouted. "Now how am I supposed to get off this miserable planet?"
"Excuse me." Said a man in a long black coat. "Did I hear you say, you'd like to leave the planet?"
Marcus looked at the man and wondered whether or not to respond. He could be working for Mephist. His clothing and unshaved appearance, however didn't look like anything that Mephist's soldiers would wear.
"What's it to you?" Marcus asked.
"It just so happens that I currently have a ship for sale."
"How does that help me?" Marcus asked. "All ships have been grounded, and I don't think their making any exceptions."
"Ah, but they can't ground the Silver Shadow." the man said. "You see, she is equipped with all pass codes necessary to land and launch from Earth under any circumstance. In my former line of work she came in quite useful."
"And what type of work was that?" Marcus asked.
"That is unimportant. What is important is that you want off this planet and I have the only ship that's capable of leaving."
"Show it to me." Marcus said.
"Walk this way."
Marcus followed the man to a very sleek and fancy ship. It was larger than a slipfighter, but not as large as the Maru.
The man gave Marcus a quick tour of the ship and told him that although it was designed to have a crew of three, one person could easily pilot it under normal circumstances.
"Is it fast?" Marcus asked. "And what about weapons?"
"It's one of the fastest ships in the tri-galaxies" The man assured him. "And it comes fully loaded with defensive lasers and torpedoes."
"How much?" Marcus asked. He had already spent more time here than he wanted to. He was sure that Mephist had discovered that he had left by now. He just needed to close the deal with this man and leave.
"Five hundred thousand." The man replied. "And not a credit chip less."
The man could see in Marcus' eyes that he was desperate to leave the planet. He knew that he'd get what he was asking for the ship. He actually hated to lose her, but the authorities on twelve planets were after him and they knew his ship. He'd be able to buy another one and have enough money left to live on for the next year. Not to mention that Marcus would be leaving a false trail for the authorities to follow.
Marcus knew that even though the ship appeared to be an excellent vessel that he was being taken advantage of, but unfortunately he didn't have time to quarrel over the price. Sirens began sounding throughout the spaceport. He knew that they had come for him. He quickly reached into his satchel and paid what the man was asking.
"Thank you very much good sir." The man said, as he stuffed the money inside his coat. "you won't regret doing business with Jack Black."
Jack walked away slowly, as Marcus quickly entered the ship and set down behind the piloting controls.
In the next few moments, the Silver Shadow launched into the sky. Jack was telling the truth when he said she was fast. Within seconds he was leaving Earth's atmosphere.
A red light began to flash. Marcus looked at the screen and saw three ships in pursuit. They immediately began firing at him. Marcus tried to fire back, but discovered that he was out of torpedoes, and the Lasers were offline.
"Jack Black! If I live through this, you're a dead man."
The Silver Shadow took another hit, causing the main engines to go offline.
The Silver Shadow drifted dead in space, and Marcus waited for the other Nietzchean ships to finish him off.
Just as they were about to fire, all three ships exploded in a blinding flash.
Another light began flashing, signifying an incoming transmission.
Marcus flipped a switch to receive the transmission.
"Unknown vessel. This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant. If you don't wish to end up like your friends, I would ask that you to bring your ship in to dock."
"They weren't friends of mine Captain Hunt." Marcus said. "My name is Marcus Chellani out of Helena by Tran. I will comply to your request."