Summary: Andromeda runs into and old friend, resulting in tension between Harper and Tyr
Note: Authors note: this story takes place during series one, after Star-Crossed, but before Its Hour Come Round At Last. With thanks to szhismine for the beta reading. Will post more later.
Old Friends, Part 1: A chance encounter.
Rommie looked out across the busy concourse of the Drift
and sighed: Trance had done one of her disappearing acts, and Dylan had
sent Rommie to find her. Trying to find one purple alien in a busy Drift
is far from easy.
She was just about to check in with the Maru when a voice
called out from behind her, "Andromeda?" Rommie span round and gasped,
"Orion?" before her stood a tall, dark-haired man dressed in a worn High
Guard uniform. He smiled, "The one and only!" Rommie ran up to the man
and hugged him, "What are you doing here?" Orion pushed her away slightly,
"Well, I'm out on the rim, delivering cargo, that's what I do nowadays,
and my captain hears this crazy story about a Glorious Heritage Class Heavy
Cruiser that has been pulled from a black-hole and is setting out to re-build
the Commonwealth. I managed to persuade him to take a trip this way to
see who it is. We dock here today, only to find that said Cruiser is my
old friend, the Andromeda Ascendant." Rommie punched him on the shoulder,
"Less of the old: Your fifty years older than me!"
"You're meant to be looking for Trance." Rommie turned round and found herself looking at Tyr's chest. She looked up to his face, "Tyr, this is The Shoulder of Orion, and old friend of mine. Orion, this is Tyr Anasazi, my new tactical officer." Orion extended a hand, "Glad to meet you, Mr Anasazi." Try shook his head, "Another Avatar." He muttered something under his breath as he walked off. Orion was confused, "Is it something I said?" Rommie shook her head, "No: We had a run-in with the Balance of Judgment a few months ago." Orion nodded, "Yes, I heard: I knew him from before the fall. I was saddened to hear about his insanity. You did the right thing you know: Gabriel would not blame you."
Rommie nodded sadly, "Come, I want you to meet the rest of my crew."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 2: Introductions
Rommie lead Orion back to the Maru. Dylan was sitting
in the pilots seat reading a flexi, "Any luck finding Trance?" he called
over his shoulder. Rommie smiled, "No, but I did find someone else." Dylan
span the pilots seat round, and Orion came sharply to attention. Dylan
reached for his forcelance, but Rommie stopped him, "Dylan, this is my
old friend, the Shoulder of Orion. Orion, this is my Captain, Dylan Hunt."
Orion smiled and extended his hand, "I'm glad I've finally had a chance
to meet you, Captain Hunt." Dylan shook the offered hand, "You're an Avatar?"
Orion nodded, "Yes. My ship-self is docked at the far
side of the Drift. We only arrived today, and I was lucky enough to run
into Andromeda here." Dylan was still weary, "You're a Warship?" Orion
laughed, "Heavens no! I'm just a Victory's Crucible Class Drop Ship Carrier,
although I've been converted to carry cargo." Dylan relaxed, "I'm sorry,
but we had a run in with the Balance of Judgment a few months back." Orion
nodded, "I heard about that. He was a good ship who fought bravely during
the Fall. It saddened us all when he started to go mad."
Rommie blinked, "Us?" Orion laughed, "There are still
a few of us left out there. No Glorious Heritage Class Battle Cruisers,
but a few To Seek, To Find Class HRC's and a couple of Righteous Fist of
Heaven Class DSA's are still out there, mainly in the Than fleet, but a
few with planetary defence fleets." Rommie smiled, "It's nice to know that
some of my friends are still around. How did you end up hulling cargo?"
Orion sighed, "To explain that, I must tell you of The
Fall."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 3: Orion’s Story, part 1
Orion sat down on a chair in the Maru's mess, and began
to tell Dylan and Rommie off the fall, "After the Battle of the Witchhead
Nebula, all remaining High Guard ship's where ordered to scatter. I was
with the Northwest Passage and the Emissary of the Commonwealth, both Glorious
Heritage class Cruisers like Andromeda. We were trying to get to Tarn-Vedra,
but we were ambushed by a Nietzschean battle group. I was carrying refugees,
so North and Emma held off the Nietzscheans while I made it to Slipstream.
They where both destroyed."
Dylan interrupted, "North and Emma?" Rommie nodded, tears
beginning to form in her eyes "The AI's of the Northwest Passage and the
Emissary of the Commonwealth: they where my brother and sister." Orion
nodded, "They fought well, but they where badly damaged and out-numbered.
I wanted to stay and help them, but the Admiral ordered me to run. I tried
to make Tarn-Vedra, but by then it was already cut-off from slipstream."
Orion stood and began to pace the room, "My captain at the time, Reflections
on Infinity, decided to take the refugees to a Perseid colony in the Triangulum
Galaxy."
Orion stoped pacing and stood in the bridge hatchway,
"Things where bad back then: Nietzschean and Magog raids ravaged what was
left of the Commonwealth. Opportunists and Pirates started attacking worlds
that had known only peace in thousands of years. It was at that time that
the Balance of Judgment started to go mad: His original crew where all
dead, killed by the Magog, but he was able to convince crewmembers from
other ship's to join him. When he started attacking innocent ship's, the
Seat of Power, last of the Glories Heritage class Cruisers tried to stop
him. But she was in no condition to fight, and he killed her without mercy."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 4: Orion’s Story, part 2
Orion sat back down, "After he destroyed Seat of Power,
Balance of Judgment stopped talking to the rest of us. He disappeared off
into deep space. Only a few of us where left by that point: most of my
crew left, went back to their home worlds. The same happened to the rest
of the fleet. Some of the others gave up, stopped caring. What remained
of my crew did its best to help the out-lying colonies to survive. We started
to ship cargo, medical supplies, people, what ever was needed. Over the
years, it became peaceful. The Nietzscheans started to leave us alone,
the Magog were on the other side of know space."
"I started to like being a cargo ship. I'd spent a lot
of time doing humanitarian missions for the Commonwealth, so it didn't
seem that strange. Over time, my crew started to have families, and as
their kids grew, we taught them ways of the High Guard. Some stayed, most
left. About 20 years ago, I only had a crew of ten. My Captain, Trent McCoy,
a descendant of my First Lieutenant, took a job delivering supplies to
a world in the Milky Way. We where overrun by Nietzscheans, Kodiak pride.
They killed most of the crew, and disabled me. Helen McCoy, the captain's
wife, and my chief engineer, refused to give the Nietzscheans her access
code. The Nietzscheans commander tortured her: he raped her, and she fell
pregnant. She tried to kill herself, but he stopped her. Nine months later,
she gave birth to a daughter."
Orion resumed his pacing, "The captains son, Mark, was
able to re-activate me, and I killed the Nietzscheans. By that point, only
five of the crew remained, and three of them left. Helen continued as captain,
but her spirit was broken: she died two years later. I was left to bring
up her two children. Mark was ten, and Mary, she was barely two. If it
wasn't for Whisper of the Wind, my pilot, I'd never have been able to do
it. Mark's my captain now, and Mary's my engineer. You better hope she
doesn't run into your friend Tyr: she really doesn't like Nietzscheans."
Trance bounded through the hatch, "Hey, who's your friend? Anyway, Tyr's gotten into a fight on the Drift." Orion walked past Trance, "That will be Mary."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 5: Mary and Mark
Rommie, Orion and Dylan followed Trance through the drift
till they reached a Bar. From the sounds coming from the centre of the
room, it was safe to say a fight was going on. Rommie, Orion and Dylan
forced their way across the room while Trance held back at the fringe.
When they reached the centre of the bar, Rommie and Dylan
where shocked by what they saw: Tyr was being pummelled by a young woman
half his size. She looked Nietzschean, except that her wrist-bones where
less-pronounce. She delivered a devastating roundhouse kick that sent Tyr
backwards into the cheering crowed. He stood shakily on his feet, and tried
to counter-attack.
The young woman was faster, and ducked below his attack,
and delivered a series of rabbit punches to his kidneys. The big Nietzschean
fell to the ground. His opponent was about to deliver a killer blow, when
Orion grabbed her hand, and said in a stern voice, "That's enough Mary!"
The young woman looked at him with murder in his eyes, but relaxed, "Ok."
Orion pulled Mary before a startled Rommie and Dylan,
"Captain Hunt, Andromeda, this is my chief engineer, Mary McCoy. Mary,
this is my old friend, the Andromeda Ascendant, and her Captain, Dylan
Hunt. The man you where just about to kill was Tyr Anasazi, their Tactical
officer." Mary came to what could be called attention, but only if you
stretched the word to braking point, "Captain, Andromeda. You may need
a new Tactical officer: your currant one is not that good in a fight."
Trance stepped forwards, "Hi, I'm Trance, Trance Gemini."
Mary gave Trance a look over, "You're also purple." Orion clipped her round
the back of the head, "I apologise Miss Gemini: my goddaughter has a lot
to learn about manners." Trance smiled, "It's ok. It's kind of hard to
miss, the tail and all."
"What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time?" called a voice from the doorway. Orion smiled, "And may I also introduce my godson and captain, Mark McCoy. Mark, this is my old friend, the Andromeda Ascendant, and her Captain, Dylan Hunt, Miss Trance Gemini, and the Nietzschean on the floor over there is Tyr Anasazi, Andromeda's Tactical officer." A tall, blond haired man of Dylan's age came sharply to attention, "Sir!" Dylan looked Mark over: he wore a High Guard Commanders uniform that looked almost new, a forcelance hung from his belt. His eyes where fixed firmly on Mary, "I hope sister has not caused to much trouble: she has a tendency to get banned from Drift's."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 6: Back to Andromeda
Dylan looked down at Tyr, "I think he'll be more upset
about being beaten than anything." Rommie blinked, "Dylan, my ship-self
has just docked next to the Maru." Dylan nodded, "We better get Tyr to
medical. Alert Rev Bem that where on our way." He turned to Orion; "The
three of you are welcome to join us if you want." Mark looked at his sister
for a second, the nodded, "Thank you captain Hunt, we would be honoured.
Orion, will you please inform Whisper that we will be on the Andromeda
if she needs us." Orion nodded, and sent the message.
Orion helped Dylan to carry the unconscious Tyr to the
Andromeda's airlock. No sooner where they through when Andromeda's hologram
appeared before them, "Orion! It's good to see you!" Orion smiled, "It's
good to see you to my friend." Mark grabbed his forcelance when Rev Ben
walked through the hatch, but quickly put it away, "My apologies, I did
not know that you where a Wayist." Rev Bem nodded, "It happens quite often.
I am only glad that you did not shoot, regardless." The Magog looked at
Tyr, "What happened to him?" Mary smirked, "He made a pass at me." Mark
winced, "Not a good survival trait that: My sister is very peculiar about
the company she keeps."
Beka walked down the corridor, Harper in-tow, "What happened
to Tyr?" Rommie lifted the unconscious Nietzschean onto an anti-grav stretcher,
"He made an error of judgement." Dylan introduced the newcomers, "Beka,
Harper, this is the Shoulder of Orion, an old Friend of Rommie's, and Mark
and Mary McCoy, his captain and chief engineer respectively. Orion, Mark,
Mary, this is Beka Valentine, my first officer and pilot, and Seamus Harper,
my chief engineer." The two groups exchanged greetings.
Harper gave Orion the once over, "So, you're an Avatar
too, huh? What class of ship?" Orion laughed, "You have no need to worrier
Mr Harper, I am but a transport ship. I'm not going to attack you like
the Balance of Judgment did." Harper relaxed, "Thank god for small mercy's:
I'm still repairing the damage from that last scrap."
Mary stepped forwards, "Want some help?" Harper grinned, "From you? Anytime!"
TBC
Old Friends, Part 7: Harper and Mary
Tyr awoke in medical. He looked up to see Rev Bem, Rommie
and Orion looking down at him. Rommie smiled, "Back with us I see." Tyr
raised a hand to his throbbing head, "What happened to me?" Orion chuckled,
"You made a pass at a young woman who didn't like your advances." Tyr sat
up, "The last thing I remember is I was in a bar on the drift. I saw a
Nietzschean woman sitting alone at a table, and I asked her what pride
she was." Orion's eyebrows narrowed, "Did you tell her what pride you where?"
Tyr nodded, "Of course I did: Kodiak."
Orion winced, "There's your problem: Mary hates Kodiak
pride." Tyr pulled his shirt on, "Why?" Rommie drummed her fingers on the
bed, "Her mother was human: a Kodiak pride Alpha raped her, and Mary was
the result." Tyr was confused, "Why should she hate Kodiak pride for that?
It improved her genes." Orion's face fell, "She dose not see it that way,
and I don't recommend you put it to her like that."
Deep in one of Andromeda's service conduits, Harper and
Mary where busy fixing some of the damage done by the Balance of Judgment.
Harper was knee deep in an access-port, "Can you hand me the nano-welder
please?" Mary handed him the tool, "What's it like, living on a warship?"
Harper thought for a second, "Long periods of pleasant quietness interrupted
by the occasional life-or-death situation." Mary laughed, "Well, it sounds
more fun than my life: shipping cargo from one deep-range colony to another,
week's spent sub-light, months between ports. I swear, if not for the modifications
I've made to our ship, I'd go mad!"
Harper pulled himself out of the access-port, "What sort
of modifications?" Mary shrugged, "Well, I talked my brother into allowing
me to turn one of the cargo-bays into a swimming pool. I then got Orion
to adjust the AG field under the diving board to increase the free-fall
time. Things like that." Harper whistled, "Man! There is no-way that Dylan
would ever let me do something like that to Andromeda!" Mary laughed, "Mark
can be like that, but I can normally talk him round."
Harper suddenly found the conduit uncomfortably hot, mainly
because of Mary's smile, and the closeness of her body. He backed away
slightly, "Maybe we should split up, get twice as much work done?" Mary
moved forwards, a mischievous look in her eyes. "What's the matter Seamus,
don't you like me?" Harper found himself flush against the conduit wall,
"It's not that, its just, well, you scare me, the way you beat-up Tyr and
all." Mary leaned forward further, "I can do soft too you know."
With that, she kissed him.
TBC
Old Friends, Part 8: Otherwise Engaged
Dylan was showing Mark the command deck when Tyr walked
in, "And do you show the bridge of your ship to anyone with an old High
Guard uniform?" Dylan laughed, "Well Tyr, if you had managed to remain
conscious, you would have learned that our guests are Mark and Mary McCoy,
Captain and chief engineer of the Shoulder of Orion. I believe you met
the ship's Avatar back on the drift." Tyr blinked, inserting this new information
into his mind, "You let that maniac who attacked me onboard?"
Mark took a step back, "If our being here courses any
trouble, we will gladly leave." Dylan shook his head, "It's no trouble:
Tyr is just upset that he had his head handed to him in a bar-fight." Tyr
grunted, "Where is the woman anyway?" Mark shrugged, "If by `the woman'
you mean my sister, I believe she is helping your chief engineer repair
the Andromeda." Tyr rolled his eyes, and then looked at Dylan, "Have you
learned nothing these last few months?" he turned to the main view screen,
"Ship, where is that weasel of a engineer and the woman who attacked me?"
Andromeda holographic form appeared before him, "They
are in service conduit J7. They have engaged privacy mode." Mark groaned,
"Not this again!" Dylan was perplexed, "What do you mean?" Mark rubbed
his forehead, "Captain Hunt, I wish to apologise in advance for my sisters
actions, and any damage or disruption she courses while on your ship."
Dylan turned round, "Andromeda, privacy mode overridden, my authority.
Find out what is going on, now!" Andromeda nodded, and the hologram blinked
out.
Only a few seconded passed before it returned, blushing
profusely, "They're, err, otherwise engaged."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 9: “We can’t change the past”
Rommie and Orion where on the observation-deck when Andromeda
was ordered to find out what Harper and Mary where up to. Rommie blinked
a few times, and then blushed, "Oh!" Orion was confused, "What's happened?"
Rommie smiled, embarrassed, "Dylan just had my main AI to find out why
Harper and Mary had ordered privacy-mode in a scurvies conduit." Orion
nodded, "Yes, my goddaughter can be very forward when she wants to be."
Rommie blushed again, "You could say that. Is she like this all the time?"
Orion leaned back against the wall, "She always has been
difficult: I think it's her Nietzschean half acting-out, but it could be
that she's always blamed herself for her mothers death. She can be very
self-destructive: Picking fights with every Nietzschean she sees, rock-climbing
without an AG harness, that sort of thing." Rommie placed her hand on Orion's
shoulder, "You've done your best to bring her up. Don't blame yourself."
Orion shook his head, "I told Trent, Marks father, that a cargo-run through
Nietzschean-space was dangerous, but he was my captain, I had to agree.
Then when the raiders hit, I was incapacitated, and had to watch him died."
Rommie gently placed a hand on Orion's cheek, "Your not
a warship like I am, you're not built or programmed to fight. There was
nothing you could do." Orion smiled weekly, "You would have thought that
after the Fall, I would have learned to distinguish between what I can
and can't do, but it's not that easy."
Rommie sat down on a bench, "A few months back, Tyr and
Beka where giving Trance piloting lessons, and something happened in slipstream:
I was shot back in time to the Battle of the Witchhead Nebula. I knew how
the battle was going to work out. I knew that staying was suicide, and
would not change the outcome, but I wanted to stay and fight. We arrived
before the Nietzschean fleet, and we discovered that there was fifteen
hundred ships, when there should have been five hundred. Harper had rigged
a fusion catalyst in an attempt to destroy the entire Nietzschean fleet,
but we had stopped him. Dylan had to deploy the catalyst to take out a
two-third's of the Nietzschean ships. He didn't want to, but Tyr told us
of a Nietzschean legend of the battle: the Angle of Death appeared, and
bringing forth the fires of hell, destroyed a thousand ships. Over a hundred-thousand
Nietzschean where killed when we used the ca! talyst, and I had to run
away when the rest of the High Guard fleet arrived."
Orion put an arm round Rommie, "We all have things we blame ourselves for, but we can't change the past."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 10: Green-eyed Tyr
Rommie and Orion walked into command, and Rommie turned
to Dylan, "Don't make me do that again. EVER!" Dylan looked sheepish, "I'm
sorry. I didn't know." Rommie glared at him, making Orion laugh. Rommie
turned at him, her eyes narrowing, "What's so funny?" Orion struggled to
control himself, "You: you haven't changed one bit." Tyr shook his head,
muttering.
Mark's wrist-com bleeped. He looked at it, then turned
to Dylan, "I'm sorry, but I have to go: we have a cargo to load. You are
all welcome to come have a look round my ship if you like." Dylan nodded,
smiling, "That would be nice. Andromeda, tell Beka and Trance that we've
been invited over to the Shoulder of Orion, and if they want to come they
should meet us at the airlock." The hologram nodded and blinked out. Tyr
crossed his arms; "I'll stay here and keep an eye on our `guest'." Dylan
shrugged, "That's up to you." He led the others out of command.
Back in the conduit, Harper and Mary lay on the deck,
smiling. Mary propped herself up on one arm, "Well Seamus, you really are
good with your hands." Harper blushed, "You're not that bad yourself."
He turned to look her in the eye, "Why me?" Mary looked down at him, "As
is: why not someone else?" Harper nodded. Mary brushed a strand of hair
from across her face, "Well, you make me laugh, you're smart, very good
with your hands, and you're not that bad looking." She kissed him, "I'm
willing to bet that your quarters are more comfortable than this. Let's
go"
Tyr sat in the pilots chair, brooding, "Of all the people
to choose from: Harper?" Andromeda's hologram appeared before him, "I take
it you are referring to Miss McCoy by that statement?" Tyr nodded, "She
has Kodiak DNA in her. Do you have any idea what the chances of two carriers
of my prides DNA meeting like this is?" Andromeda's image appeared on the
main screen, "10-trillion, 47-billion..." Tyr raised a hand to stop her,
"I was speaking figuratively. Has she no-idea how important it is to keep
that DNA alive?" Andromeda smirked, "Well, well, well Mr Anasazi, I do
believe you are jealous of Harper." Andromeda's hologram smiled, "Oh he's
jealous all right." Tyr seat bolt upright, "Engage privacy mode!"
Andromeda giggled as she disappeared.
TBC
Old Friends, Part 11: Spare parts
Mark opened the airlock to the Shoulder of Orion, and
the ship's hologram stood before them, "Welcome to my humble abode." Rommie
laughed, "What are you like?" The hologram blinked out, and Orion led the
way to command. A Than sat in the pilots chair, but came sharply to attention
when the others entered. Mark made the introductions, "This is Whisper
of the Wind, our pilot. Whisper, this is Rommie, Avatar of the Andromeda
Ascendant. Her Captain, Dylan Hunt, her first officer Beka Valentine, and
Trance Gemini, her environmental officer."
Whisper bowed, "It is an honour to meet you Captain Hunt:
Refractions of Dawn was one of my ancestors." Dylan smiled sadly, "She
was a good officer and pilot. I miss her." Whisper nodded, and went back
to the controls. Mark turned to Orion, "Will you please show our guests
around while I see to loading the cargo." Orion nodded, and Mark walked
off. Orion turned to Andromeda's crew, "Well, what would you like to see
first?" Dylan shrugged, "Do you have any spare parts you could spare?"
Orion smiled, "Walk this way."
Orion led them down several corridors, finally stopping
outside a door marked `Drop Ship Maintenance'. The hatchet opened, revealing
a darkened room. Orion snapped his fingers, and the lights came on: the
room was the size of a hanger deck, and was stacked floor to sealing with
crates. Beka was taken aback, "Wow!" Orion handed Rommie a flexi sheet,
"This is the manifest. We where carrying spears for North and Emma when
they where killed. No one else needed them, and as they only fit High Guard
ships, we couldn't sell them." Rommie scanned the flexi, "You could almost
build a Group Defence Frigate with all of this!"
Orion nodded, "I've only used a fraction of it to keep
myself running over the years. Technically it belongs to Mark and Mary,
but I'm sure that they will let you take what you need." Orion turned to
Dylan, "Mark has always dreamed of the Systems Commonwealth being re-built.
He knew he'd never be able to do it himself: that's why he agreed to come
all this way to meet you."
All of a sudden, Rommie collapsed.
TBC
Old Friends, Part 12: Hijacked
Moving with speed no human could match, Orion grabbed
Rommie and stopped her from hitting the ground. She seemed to be convulsing.
Dylan's eyes went wide with fear, "What happening to her?" Orion was doing
his best to stop Rommie from thrashing out and hurting someone, "The link
to her main AI has been jammed! It'll take her a moment to adjust." As
if on cue, Rommie stopped shaking. She looked straight at Dylan, her eyes
wide, "Ship. Nietzscheans. Drago-Kazov pride." She seemed to pass-out.
Dylan and Beka ran for the airlock as Trance and Orion carried the unconscious
Rommie between them.
Tyr had been in command, brooding when he heard the hatch
open. Thinking it was Harper and Mary, he called out over his shoulder,
"Have you two quite finished?" An un-familiar answered, "No, we've only
just begun." Tyr span the pilots seat round, and found himself facing a
group of heavily armed Nietzscheans. He tried to jump behind the weapons
counsel, but the lead Nietzschean fired at the same time.
Tyr felt something strike him dead centre in the chest.
He looked down, expecting to see blood, but instead a pair of metal prongs,
attached to a length of wire, protruded from his stomach. His attacker
smiled, "Lights out!" Tyr felt as though his entire body was being consumed
by fire, and he blacked-out.
Dylan and Beka reached the airlock just in time to see
the Andromeda pull-away. Dylan punched the airlock control panel so hard
it mashed, cutting his fingers, "God damn it!" Beka grabbed his arm, "The
Maru!" they sprinted along the corridor to the next hatch, and quickly
got the battered transport underway. Dylan tapped commands into the Maru's
sensor-control panel as fast as he could, "Her slipstream drive is off-line,
but she can still out-run us at sub-light." All of a sudden, a shadow fell-over
the Maru's cockpit: Beka leaned forward to see what it was.
The Shoulder of Orion hung directly above the Maru, and
fired grapples at the smaller ship. Dylan was thrown off his feet as the
Shoulder of Orion started to pull the Maru in. Beka released her safety
harness, and ran for the airlock. Trance was weighting on the other side,
"Come-on! Hurry!" Beka sprinted off towards command, closely followed by
Dylan and Trance.
Rommie sat on the floor of command, her head between her knees. Dylan knelt down beside her, "Are you ok?" She nodded weekly, "I will be." Smiling, Dylan squeezed her shoulder. He stood as Mark entered command. The young captain turned to Dylan, "Orion told me what's happening. Is there anyway to regain control of your ship from here?" Dylan shook his head, "None: they cut Rommie's connection to the main AI. We have to assume that they have complete control of the Andromeda."
TBC
Old Friends, Part 13: That old Harper magic
Rev Bem was in his quarters praying when Andromeda's holographic
form appeared before him, "Rev, listen very carefully, I don't have much
time: Drago-Kazov pride have taken over the ship. They've cut my link to
Rommie, and have incapacitated Tyr. You have to warn Harper and Mary. I
can feel them accessing my controls, trying to shut..." The hologram suddenly
disappeared.
Rev sighed: it was times like this that being a monk could
be very taxing.
He carefully made his way through the corridors to Harper's
room. He tried the access panel, but it was locked from the inside. He
pressed the caller. Harpers tired voice came from the speaker, "What?"
Rev quickly checked the corridor, "Harper, we have a problem. You have
to let me in." Harper sighed, and pulling his dressing gown on, opened
the hatch. Rev jumped through and closed it again. Harper rubbed his head
sleepily, "What's gotten you so worked up?" Rev handed Harper his shirt,
"I just received a warning from Andromeda: Drago-Kazov pride have taken
over the ship. Tyr has been captured, and Andromeda can't reach Rommie.
The others have gone to visit the Shoulder of Orion."
Mary sat up in bed, "You're telling me that a bunch of
Nietzscheans have taken over your ship and it's up to us to take it back?"
Rev nodded, "That's about it I'm afraid." Mary smiled as she started to
pull her clothes on, "Excellent! Nothing like a good workout to wake you
up." She winked at Harper, "That said, I did get plenty of exercise earlier."
Harper blushed as he pulled his own clothes on.
The three of them made their way through the service conduit's
to the sensor control nexus. Harper was able to cut power to the internal
sensors, blinding the Nietzscheans to their location. He turned to Rev
and Mary, "Well, if we're lucky, their just think it's a glitch coursed
by their work on Andromeda." No sooner had he stoped talking than the intruder-alert
sirens started to go off. Harper shrugged, "Or they may twig on straight
away. What do we do?"
Mary looked at Harper and Rev, "I say we try and pick them off in one's and two's. If we can separate them from each other, we stand a better chance taking back your ship. Seamus, is there anyway we can talk to the Shoulder of Orion without the Drago's noticing?" Harper nodded, "There might be a way."
TBC.
Old Friends, Part 14: A desperate plan
Rommie was still sitting on the deck of the Shoulder of
Orion's bridge when she suddenly stood up, "Dylan, I'm receiving a transmission
from Harper!" The others looked at her, shocked. Beka found her voice first,
"How?" Rommie blinked, "I don't quite know. Hold on a second." She walked
over to one of Orion's control panels and activated her VR-link.
She found herself in Orion's mind: His holographic Avatar
appeared before her, "Patch through the transmission, and I'll put it up
on the main viewer." Rommie nodded, and held out her hand to Orion. The
moment he took her hand, there was a flash of light.
Back in command, Harper face suddenly appeared on the
main screen, "Dylan! Thank god it worked! Look, I don't know how long we
can mask this transmission, so don't say anything till I'm done: Drago-Kazov
pride has taken over the ship. They've knocked Tyr out, but Andromeda was
able to warn Rev Bem before they shut her down. It's just him, Mary and
me at the moment. We think there might be a way to rescue Tyr, but it depends
where they are keeping him." Dylan nodded, "Understood. Is the slipstream
back on line yet?" Harper shook his head, "No, I'm still calibrating it.
They shouldn't be able to get it online for at least a day."
Dylan nodded, "I understand: we're in a sensor blind spot
behind you. Is there anyway we can help?" Harper looked worried, "There
is a way, but your not going to like it." Dylan nodded, "I understand.
What is it?" Harper sighed, "The point defence lasers are still of-line:
if you fire at Andromeda, you should be able to disable her sub-light drive."
Trance was shocked, "Isn't that a bit extreme?" Dylan shock his head, "It
may be the only way."
Rommie's holographic image appeared on the bridge, "I
hope you don't mind, but this is the only way I can join this conversation.
Harper, the Shoulder of Orion only has two ELS missile tubes. Will they
be enough?" Harper nodded, "They should be: with the damage you took from
the Balance of Judgment, they should take out be able to knock the flow-regulators
off-line."
Dylan drummed his finger on the control panel, "Ok, we'll
do it. But first, rescue Tyr: your need his help to keep the Drago's busy
while we board. Contact us again when he's with you. Good luck." Harper
laughed, "No problem." He cut the transmission.
Back on Andromeda, Harper climbed from the Slipfighter, "Ok, we have to rescue Tyr. Once we've done that, the Shoulder of Orion is going to fire a missile barrage to disable the Andromeda's sub-light drive, then launch a boarding action." Mary pulled out her forcelance and extended it, "Sweet. Let's go kick some Drago-Kazov butt!"
TBC.
Old Friends, Part 15: Setting the record straight
Four Drago-Kazov pride warriors where leading the shackled
Tyr to the brig when a voice called out, "Hello boys!" They turned to see
Mary leaning provocatively against the bulkhead. Before they could decide
what to do, Harper caught them from behind, hitting two of them with his
Gauss-gun at close range. The last two span round, drawing their weapons.
Mary was faster: she drew her forcelance and caught them in the back. She
smiled as they hit the deck, "Now THAT was fun."
Tyr was in shock, "That was very well executed. How did
you learn to set up an ambush like that?" Mary shrugged, "Try hauling cargo
for a living. You get plenty of time to read." Rev Bem un-cuffed Tyr as
Harper and Mary dragged the dead Nietzscheans into a nearby room. Tyr relived
the bodies of their weapons, "Right, do we have a plan, or are you playing
it by ear?"
Harper closed the door on the dead bodies, "We managed
to get trough to Dylan: if we can keep the Drago's busy, the Shoulder of
Orion is going to knock-out Andromeda's sib-light drive, then board." Tyr
nodded, "I suggest we take them out one at a time. Keep them isolated and
on edge." Mary laughed, "Way ahead of you on that. We've taken two more
down so far." Tyr grinned, "Excellent."
Mary tilted her head to one side, "You don't seem to like
them very much?" Tyr shot her a glance, "Drago-Kazov pride all but wiped
out Kodiak pride. MY pride. Your pride." Mary had her forcelance under
Tyr's chin before his eyes even registered the movement, "Let's get one
thing straight: I never have been, and never will be, Kodiak pride. Or
any other Nietzschean pride for that matter. I'm human, and I've spent
my entire life with people like you looking at me as breeding stock. You
want to start a pedigree, get a dog!"
Harper gently placed his hand on Mary's arm, "As much
as Tyr annoys me a lot of the time, we need him right now. I suggest we
put this anger to a useful purpose, like taking back the ship." Mary swallowed,
and slowly lowered her forcelance, "Ok. Let's go." Harper looked at Tyr,
"For someone who is always going on about survival instincts, riling someone
who's already wiped the floor with you seam's very stupid." Tyr nodded,
"If that's the way you feel, I won't mention it again." Only Rev Bem noticed
the fear in the Nietzscheans voice.
Tyr span round, "I can hear people approaching: too many of them for us to deal with. We should withdraw." Harper nodded, and pulled an inspection hatch away from the wall, "After you."
Old Friends, Part 16: “Hay Ubers! Come out and play!”
Tyr, Harper, Rev Bem and Mary made there way back to
the hanger. Harper patched through to link to Rommie's transceiver, "Rommie,
can you hear me?" the Slipfighter's small screen changed to show the Shoulder
of Orion's command deck. Dylan stepped forward, "We read you Harper. Did
you manage to rescue Tyr?" Harper nodded, "We have him. When do you want
us to start on the Drago's?" Dylan looked at his watch, "Five minutes.
We'll fire the missiles in ten." Harper nodded, "Understood. Harper out."
He cut the link and pulled himself from the cockpit. He turned to the others,
"Ok, Dylan wants us to hit the Drago's in five. Another five minutes after
that, they'll launch the missiles." Tyr nodded, "Let's go."
They made their way to the corridor outside command, and
set themselves out to get the hatch in a deadly crossfire. Harper looked
at the others, then cupped his hands around his mouth, "Hay Ubers! Come
out and play!" Only a matter of seconds passed before two Nietzscheans
ran through the hatch, weapons drawn: they quickly died under a hail of
gunfire. More Nietzscheans dived out of command, forcing the crew to pullback
to a secondary position.
Harper activated an explosive device he had rigged, blasting
three more raiders through the air. Still the Drago's advanced, slowly
herding the crew into a dead end.
On the Shoulder of Orion, Dylan counted down the seconds,
"Now!" Orion turned to Rommie, "Sorry to have to do this to you old girl."
He thumbed the button that sent a pair on missile towards the bigger ship.
A pair of explosions rocked the Andromeda as the missiles
hit home, disabling the sub-light drive. Not expecting the impact, the
Drago-Kazov soldiers where thrown off of their feet. Tyr surveyed the scene,
"Attack!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. Mary and Harper followed him
as he charged the disorientated raiders, forcelances ready.
Harper had been in a lot of fights in his life, and knew
how to handle himself, but he found himself awestruck by Mary: she moved
like a dancer, never wasting an attack or dodge. She became a whirlwind
of activity at the centre of a group of five Nietzscheans. Her forcelance
was a blur as she struck out at her targets, seemingly unfazed of their
own attacks. He watched as she back-flipped, catching one of the Nietzscheans
under the jaw with her foot.
Gunfire echoed along the corridor as the boarding party
from the Shoulder of Orion blasted their way through the remaining Drago-Kazov
soldiers. Rommie screamed as Orion took a round from a Gauss Rifle full
in the chest. Her next shot effectively decapitated the Nietzschean who
had fired the shot.
Outnumbered and surrounded, the surviving Nietzscheans surrendered.
TBC
Old Friends, Part 17: Stay
Rommie ran to where Orion lay on the deck, and was shocked
when he suddenly sat up, "Man, I hate it when that happens! Ruined my favourite
uniform too." Rommie was shocked, "How? That shot should have killed you!"
Orion laughed and tapped his chest, resulting in a hollow metallic sound,
"Titanium trauma-plate: had it installed during The Fall. Guarantied to
stop all known hand-held weapons." He got to his feet, "The universe is
a dangerous place Andromeda: Take no chances."
Harper walked over to Mary: she was standing with her
hands on her knees, breathing heavily. He gently rested a hand on her shoulder,
"Hay babe, you ok?" She suddenly span-round, her elbow catching Harper
on the side of the head: knocking him to the ground. She screamed when
she saw what she had done, and gently lifted him up, "Seamus! Are you ok?"
Harper rolled his eyes, "What was that for?"
Orion sighed, "Mary has trouble dealing with aggression
after a fight. She can be very touchy for a while." Harper blinked, rubbing
his jaw, "I'd never have guessed." Tyr looked on from across the corridor,
"It's her Nietzschean side: my people build up a battle-rage that can take
hours to dissipate." Mary had started to cry, "I could have killed you!"
Harper held her in his arms, "It's ok. I'm fine: No harm, no foul."
Dylan turned to the others, "Let's get these prisoners
to the brig. We'll drop them off back at the Drift." The others helped
him to shepherd the remaining Drago-Kazov soldiers away, leaving Mary and
Harper alone.
Rommie was able, with help from Orion, to re-connect the
main AI to the rest of the ship. Andromeda's holographic form appeared
in command, "Thank you for that, I was getting cramped in there." Dylan
smiled, "It's good to have you back. Can you make it to the Drift under
your own power?" Andromeda shook her head, "No, the missile strike didn't
do much damage, but my engines are still off-line. I'll need a tow." Mark
nodded, "I'll get Whisper right on it."
The Shoulder of Orion slowly pulled the Andromeda back
to the drift. Harper and Mary spent most of this time working to repair
the sub-light drive, but eventually called it quits for the day.
Two hours later, Harper lay in bed, Mary in his arms. He looked down at her, "Stay." Mary blinked and looked at him, "You mean here on Andromeda, with you?" Harper nodded, "Yes. Given the crew he's already got, I doubt Dylan will mind." Mary kissed him, "I wish I could Seamus, but I have some things I needed to work out for my self. I need to find out who and what I really am. Then I'll come back, I promise." Harper smiled, "You better." He kissed her again, and soon he had no questions.
TBC
Old Friends, Part 18: Epilogue: The meaning of love
The two crews assembled in the airlock so say goodbye:
the Shoulder of Orion had an urgent cargo of medical supplies to deliver,
and had to leave immediately.
Dylan shook Mark's hand, "Good luck captain." Mark smiled,
"Thank you sir. When you've gotten the Commonwealth back together, let
us know: I'll be happy to help." Dylan nodded, "I will. You're a good officer,
just what the High Guard will need." Mark's smiled broadened to a grin,
"I look forward to that day Captain."
Orion took Rommie to one side, their backs to the others,
"Now, three-hundred years ago you once told me you had feelings for Captain
Hunt over there. Do you still?" Rommie blushed, "Is it that obvious?" Orion
smiled and put an arm round his friend protectively, "If it was that obvious,
he would have recognised his own feelings for you, and this discussion
would be moot." Rommie was about to say something, but Orion stopped her,
"I've had five-hundred years of watching people develop feelings for one
another, and I'd like to think that I'm pretty good at knowing when they
will. Hang in there: he'll come round one day." Rommie hugged her friend,
"Thank you."
Harper and Mary stood in each other's arm, unwilling to
part. Harper looked at Mary, "You can still stay: I've asked Dylan, and
he says it's ok." Mary shook her head, "I wish I could, I really do, but
I need time to think things over. I can't go on like I have: picking fights
with every Nietzschean I meet. I've got to come to terms with that part
of my personality, of who and what I am. I'll come back to you Seamus,
I promise. I'll probably complicate your life incredibly, but I do love
you." Harper kissed her, "And I love you to." Mary broke away from him,
tears filling her eyes.
The airlock closed, cutting of the crew's view of their
friends. Harper and Rommie stayed while the others walked off. Rommie put
an arm around her chief engineer, "She'll be back. Orion told me that she's
never been like this about anyone before. She loves you." Harper nodded,
"I know, that's why it hurts so much."
Harper stood alone on the observation deck, looking out
the window. In the distance, the Shoulder of Orion entered slipstream.
He looked down at the photo in his hand, his only record of Mary: she was
stood against the wall of his quarters, her light brown hair just reaching
her shoulders, a few strands hanging over her face, and she was smiling.
God he loved that smile! Just thinking about it made his stomach ache with
the want of her. He knew she'd be back, but still the parting hurt.
The hatched opened, and Harper smiled through the tears,
"I was wondering when you'd turn up." Rev Bem nodded, "It seems that my
station on this ship is as much to mend peoples hearts as their body's."
Harper nodded, "We all have our places in the universe, and mine is with
her. But she had to leave. I know she did, and I know she'll be back, but
it still hurts." Rev Bem smiled, "Maybe that's what love is: that felling
for another. Goodnight, Mr Harper." Rev left Harper with his thoughts.
The End