Title: How Rommie Got Her Chutzpah Back
Author: D. Lerious
Rating: G
Summary: Rommie, with the help of a new friends, learns how to have more Chutzpah in order to stand up for herself as an individual.
Disclaimer: Andromeda is property of Tribune.
One day, Rommie was alone on the command deck crew doing various searches that Dylan had asked for, when suddenly, a litte blue guy, who was 50 centimeters tall showed up.
"Hi! I'm Jack! Your new guardian angel!"
She pulled her forcelance on him.
"Don't bother, only you can see me."
"Why did you pull your forcelance?" HoloAndromeda asked.
"No reason... just practising."
"I see. She disapeared."
"We'll talk later, when you can engage privacy mode."
Rommie agreed tacitly and figured that she would not tell the others, for now.
Later she engaged privacy mode at a the one of the weapons lockers. Then 'Jack' appeared.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"I want to help you get your chutzpah."
"What's that?"
"It's the ability to be gutsy."
"I am a brave person!"
"You are in some areas, but not in others, such as standing up for yourself as an individual."
"I see. Why should I listen to you, and not report you to my captain?"
"He's not going to believe you as nether you or your sister can't detect me. Did I mention that only you can see me?"
"Good point." Rommie decided to just play along and not tell anyone anything, for now until she had more proof.
"The first thing you should do is make Dylan apologize for saying that you could not feel things the same way just because you were not an organic."
"He was upset." Rommie was trying to make excuses for Dylan. "How did you know about that?"
"I have my ways. Anyway, he had no excuse. Does he respect you?"
"Yes!"
"Then ask him to apologize. He hurt your feelings."
"I don't have to prove anything."
"Don't you want an apology?"
"Yes." She hated to admit it, but it was the truth.
"So just do it!"
The next day, she and Dylan were working alone on the command deck, when Jack showed up. Dylan was wearing his dark pink turtle neck, with the black vest.
"Now's your chance!" he exclaimed.
Rommie, with a sligh shake of her head, told him no.
"Come on! He doesn't bite! Besides if he tried, you could kick his ass!"
So, she tried.
"Dylan, you owe me an apology."
"Excuse me?" Dylan was surprised.
"During the time Harper teleported you to Sarah's ship, you accused me of not having feelings, just because I was an android, and that hurt."
"I was upset. I didn't realize what I said bothered you."
"It did."
"Tell him that a person is a person, whether they are an organic, an android or a big green blob thing."
"Dylan," she could not believe she was saying this, but it felt like the right thing to say. "A person is a person, whether they are an organic, an android or a big green blob thing."
Dylan just looked at her with a serious expression, though part of him wanted to smile at the last part of what she said.
"I'm sorry, Rommie. I did not mean to hurt your feelings. My sincerest apologies."
"Thank you, Dylan," she replied.
A few days later, he appeared again, and Rommie quickly put on privacy mode.
"Why don't you take some shore leave?" Jack asked.
"I just did."
"But with Harper, doing HIS agenda, not yours."
"Come on, what can it hurt?"
"Dylan needs me."
"He can manage for a few days, you deserve it, as you contribute more to this mission than anyone."
"I know I do."
"Great! Now claim your reward! or do not not feel that Dylan will be thankful for what you do?"
"Fine! I'll go ask him." Rommie figured that she might as well do this to get him off her back.
So, she went to Dylan's office.
"Yes Rommie?"
"I would like to take some shore leave," she replied.
"Shore leave?" It was not like Rommie to ask for shoreleave.
"I feel that given my enormous contribution to this mission, I need a shore leave."
Dylan just looked at her, thinking.
"What brought this on?"
"Thinking" was all she could answer.
"Fine. You can go." Dylan knew that she rarely asked for anything, and that they could manage the next few days without her.