The Cassandra Syndrome
TITLE: The Cassandra Syndrome
AUTHOR: BR48
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Trance has a decision to make
ARCHIVE: Please ask first
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Andromeda or its characters. You can probably figure out who does.
NOTE: Posted as a response to the "Make ZS Cry" challenge on Slipstream
Suddenly, there was a flash. Trance's breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. Before she had recovered, the Maru was shaken by some unknown force.
"What the hell was that?" Beka began to check the Maru's sensor logs.
Rev read his display, "I'm not sure, but it is sticking to the hull, and producing massive amounts of radiation."
Rommie looked over at Dylan, "Pyrian rad mines."
"What are Pyrian rad mines?" Tyr asked, as everyone turned to look at Captain Hunt.
"Radiation mines," Dylan responded, "The Pyrians used to deploy mines along supply and trade routes. They'd lay dormant until a ship of the right size came along, then they'd use AG fields to latch onto the hull. After that, they start irradiating the ship. The radiation kills the crew, leaving the ship and cargo, and even the mine itself, intact for the Pyrians to salvage. It wasn't much use against a High Guard ship, but with freighters, it worked like a charm."
"Great, so how do we get it off?" Beka asked.
"If the High Guard knew that," Dylan stated grimly, "The war against the Pyrians probably would have gone a lot better."
"Couldn't we just go back to Andromeda?" Harper tried to remain hopeful.
"We're already ten light minutes from the nearest slipstream portal. We'd all be dead by the time we finished the first transit. The Pyrians were always careful with mine placement, and just to be sure they include AG mass packets to slow down their targets."
"Radiation levels are increasing steadily," Rommie added, "I'll be fine, but you'll probably begin to experience radiation poisoning in the next few minutes."
"Alright," Dylan attempted to sound authoritative, "Beka, turn us around and try to get back to the Andromeda. Rommie, tell Tyr and Harper everything you know about rad mines and try to come up with some countermeasures. Buy us as much time as possible. Trance, I want you to go down to the equipment lockers and get the radiation suits. Rev... pray."
"I always do," Rev nodded.
****
Trance walked back towards the equipment storage area. She wasn't in any rush, since she knew the suits wouldn't make any difference.
'Just look on the bright side, Trance,' She thought, 'At least only one of them has to die. Hey, you even get to choose which one... lucky you.'
She continued to mull over the decision as she inspected the suits one at a time, 'Maybe Rommie should do it. Harper can build another one, right? But it wouldn't be the same, any more than he could build another Trance Gemini. Besides, Dylan needs her more than anyone except maybe Beka, and the universe really needs Dylan right now.'
Trance took her own suit down from the hook, 'What about Tyr? The Commonwealth doesn't need him... but the Neitzchians do. They don't deserve the kind of future they'd have, even if they aren't very nice.'
As she finished with the suits, she turned and slowly shuffled back to the cockpit, knowing she'd have to announce her plan as soon as she saw Dylan, 'Maybe Rev? How could I even consider it? I'd be sending the whole galaxy into a never-ending dark age just so I can be selfish. I know who it has to be. All I have to do is send Harper back to detonate the reserve AP tank, and the rest of us can get out of this. It's not a perfect future, but I lost our chances of having one when I panicked. Now Harper is going to die, and it's all my fault.'
****
"Trance, what took you so long? Are you ok?" Dylan asked as he took his radiation suit from her.
"I was thinking, there might be a way to get rid of the mine..."
"What is it?" Dylan asked urgently.
Trance paused, looking at Harper. After a moment, she took a deep breath and responded, fighting back tears, "I have to go down into the engine room and blow up the reserve AP tank. It'll explode with enough force to destroy the mine."
"Trance, that could start a chain reaction that would blow up the ship."
"I know this will work," Trance answered firmly.
"I believe you," Dylan watched her intently, "But the engine room is too close to the radiation source. You'll be dead in under a minute. Not even Rommie could survive down there."
"I've been dead before. I'll be ok," Trance hoped her act was convincing.
"We can detonate the AP tank from here."
Trance looked up at him, "No, you can't."
"How do you know?" Dylan demanded.
"You just have to trust me... please."
Dylan sighed, "Alright, you can try it. Just, promise you'll survive."
Trance half-smiled at him, "Trust me. Everything'll be ok."
She looked at her friends one more time, then headed down to the engine room.
The End
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