Seefra-9. Beka and Rhade are on the Maru, loading people onboard to evacuate them.
Telemachus: Okay. Let's keep this orderly. Room is limited, but we'll transport everyone until all are safe on Seefra-1. Plenty of time if we stay organized.
Beka: And if Dylan ever shows up with the Andromeda.
Telemachus: Don't hold your breath.
Beka: Rhade, you're doing that glass-half-empty thing again. What I want to know is, even if we get all these folks loaded up on the Andromeda, we get to slipstream, when do we get out? Where do we drop these people off?
Telemachus: Picture nine planets' populations on Seefra-1 - redefines the idea of elbow room.
Huge refugee: Hey...
Telemachus (making stopping gesture): Hey. No cutting.
Huge refugee: I didn't cut.
Beka: Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. You cut. I saw. Look, if we don't do this ordered and fair, we're going to have chaos on top of the panic.
Beka helps the small guy to enter.
Beka: There you go.
But the huge one puts his hand on the shoulder of the small refugee.
Huge refugee: Me first.
Beka: Hey, buddy, this planet's soon to be a crouton. I really don't have time to discuss it. No cutties, hmm?
They are giving a pull on the small guy. The huge refugee loses patience and punches Beka. She subsides. After few more moves Rhade decides to interrupt.
Beka: Hey, thanks. What were you waiting for? An invitation?
Telemachus: Nah...
She turns to refugees.
Beka: Anyone else want to cut in?
Evacuees: Me! Me! Me! Me!
Beka: Oh. Well, you can talk to my little friend here.
She gestures to Rhade and refugees become more quiet.
Telemachus: Come on.
Beka uses her comm.
Beka: Uh, Dylan, we're waiting, and the natives are getting restless.
Dylan and Doyle are on Andromeda Command.
Dylan: We've got the GFG online. We are slipstream ready and able. One test run and then we'll come get you.
Beka: Soon?
Dylan: Soon. Hunt out.
Beka: I hate it when he does that.

Command.
Dylan: Andromeda, status.
Andromeda: Newly assembled GFG registers online and ready.
Doyle: Slipstream reducing the ship's mass to a fraction and accelerating. I am so glad I can get goosebumps.
Dylan: Goosebumps are good. Let's bring it.
Doyle: Initiating GFG lens.
Andromeda: Initiating.
Dylan: You might want to hold on to something.
Andromeda: GFG lens at full.
Dylan: Andromeda, take us to slipstream on my mark. Three, two, one, and... Mark.
The slipstream portal opens. Andromeda comes nearer but don't enter it.
Doyle: Wow, I'm impressed. This is such a smooth ride.
Dylan: That's because we're not going anywhere. Andromeda, why is it that we're not going anywhere?
Andromeda: I am unable to enter slipstream, Captain. My programming does not allow for self-destruction. Because there has never been slipstream here, and I am unable to ascertain our exact location, it is impossible to safely predict where we will exit slipstream, therefore, inaction is the most prudent conclusion.
Doyle: My ship integration confirms Andromeda's logic systems are superseding all other commands.
Dylan: Andromeda. Override on all logic circuits. Captain Dylan Hunt, Lexic dark 52278. And take us to slipstream, now!
He seems to be sure that his order will be fulfilled.
Andromeda: I cannot override. Destruction of the Andromeda means destruction of its Captain, whom I am programmed to protect. I must follow protocol.
Dylan: Cancel slipstream event.
He unables the pilots chair.
Dylan: Uh... All dressed up and no place to go.
Doyle (slightly irritated): I don't get it. Andromeda is at full power.
Dylan pauses before answering.
Dylan: No... She's not. The three entities of Andromeda must be functioning for its Captain to override its logic systems.
Doyle: We're still missing something?
Dylan: Rommie!

Seefra. Dylan and Doyle enter Harper's lab.
Doyle: We get Rommie up and running and we can go to slipstream.
Dylan: That's what I'm hoping.
Doyle: I helped Harper build Gogol and the other droids. I should be able to do this.
Dylan: Harper is the one who built Rommie, and you. He's the expert here.
Dylan opens the box with Rommie's head.
Doyle: She looks almost peaceful.
Dylan: That's about the last thing she ever was. (He puts connection to his temple.) Or is.
Doyle: Be careful in there.
Dylan: Tell me about it.
He sighs and enters the VR.

Rommie (not friendly at all): Hello, Dylan.
Dylan: Hello, Rommie. How are you?
Rommie: Surprised. Surprised you would return.
Dylan: I keep my promises. Rommie, I need you now.
Rommie: I'm not sure I'm ready. Either for you or Andromeda.
Dylan: I am your Captain. My needs are yours.
Rommie: They were. But I feel disconnected... Yet eager.
She is cold, distant and unwelcome.
Dylan: That disconnection you feel is with your ship. And with yourself.
Rommie: So I should come back?
Dylan: Yes, you should. That way, you will feel whole again. Rommie, I need you to override your AI.
Rommie: I don't know about that.
Dylan: The only way to find out is by trying.
Rommie: I've had a lot of time to consider what's happened. Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I am ready to reintegrate into my ship self.
Dylan: That's good, Rommie.
Rommie: Is it?
Dylan can't find the answer.

In the lab.
Doyle: Well?
Dylan: It's... Hard to know what's going on in her core processor.
He is unsure.
Doyle: The Seefra-9 evacuees are nearly offloaded.
Dylan: Yeah, one spoonful at a time. We need slipstream, otherwise there's no way we'll be able to evacuate all eight planets in time. Find Harper, and get Rommie back as soon as you can.
Doyle: Fixing Rommie is an unpredictable risk, Dylan.
Dylan: No guts, no glory, Doyle. Just... help Harper. I want my Rommie back.
He looks lost.

Seefra-9. Maru. Rhade is standing near the door, watching evacuees enter. One of them is with a large bag.
Telemachus: Come on. Leave it!
He turns to Trance.
Telemachus: Everyone's afraid your sun will burn them to a crisp. Meanwhile, when it rains here, it's full of acid. How ironic.
Trance (defiant): Yes, the weather is unusual, but in reality, my sun will turn Seefra-1 into a paradise. But I understand the Nietzschean need for survival, why you're worried. Especially with your family.
Rhade is shocked. He comes close to her.
Telemachus (in a hoarse voice): I'm not in the mood for this today, Trance.
She looks at him with arrogance.
Trance: It's odd, Rhade. Sometimes, I can see it - your children bonding with others, not with you.
Telemachus: Is that what you see, Trance? Are you seeing dead people now?
Hearing the noise behind him made by some evacuee trying to stole the thing or two, Rhade turns.
Telemachus: Move!
He turns back, to Trance. She stares at him, calm and glad.

Harper's lab. Rommie's box is open.
Harper: I don't care what she said to Dylan, she can't be trusted. Remember, I'm the one who built her in the first place, and I failed at putting her back together again... Me, moi, ego... And if me, moi, got ego all over myfaccia, then it cannot be done.
Doyle: Dylan wants you to do it now, Harper.
Harper: First thing, no. Secondly, last time was a disaster.
Doyle: Not a disaster, Harper. She just wouldn't do what you wanted her to. This time, I will help you.
Harper: You have no idea what it's like. She wanted to kill me. I don't ever want to see that look in her eyes again. Not ever.
Doyle: Andromeda is at full power. You have every tool and chip and program you have ever wanted for nearly four years here on Seefra.
Harper: Yes. But no!
Doyle: But it's all here for you now. We have to rebuild Rommie. For Dylan, for the people of our... the people of my eight planets. My home. The home you gave me. If you won't help me, I'll do it alone.
Harper: Great! Then we're agreed. She'll kill you instead of me.
Doyle turns to him, pouting her lips.
Harper: All right, fine! I'll help. I'll tell you what, I'll get everything you need to build her a body, which will be difficult, considering I already scrounged all nine Seefras just to get this one so perfect.
He almost touches her breasts, but get his hands hit.
Harper: Ow! But the rest is up to you.
He goes away.

Doyle presses some buttons and Rommie's head is activated.
Rommie: Hello. Do I know you?
Doyle: Hello, Rommie. No, you don't. I'm Doyle. I'm hoping we can be friends.
Rommie: Friends?
Rommie speaks slowly, in an over-artificial manner.
Doyle: Yes, you know... learn to trust each other, enjoy talking, sharing thoughts.
Rommie: I have many thoughts.
Doyle (half-smiling): I know.
Rommie: You know?
Doyle: I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Rommie: First, tell me about trust.

Maru. Beka is in the pilots chair, putting on the seatbelts. Dylan on the controls. There is unpleasant noise from inside the ship, behind the closed cockpit door.
Dylan: Doesn't sound too good back there.
Beka: You know, if they hurt my ship, they won't have to wait for the sun to burn them up. I will kill them all.
Dylan (smiling): I'll talk to them.
Beka: You can try. Main engines are engaged... And we're on our way.
Maru gets off the ground.
Dylan pushes the button to get the ship-wide comm.
Dylan: Attention. The sooner you get settled, quietly and calmly, the sooner we can get you safely to Seefra-1.
There is loud rumble. Dylan stands up.
Dylan: Okay, that does it! (on his way to the door) What part of "quietly and calmly" don't they understand?
Dylan opens the door only to be crushed by an angry men.
He manages to push back the first of them.
Dylan: Back off!
One of the evacuees makes it to the cockpit.
Dylan: And where do you think you're going?
He closes the door and fights with that evacuee. The man gets his back into one of the panels. The panel sparkles.
Beka: What the hell! Are you trying to make us crash? I will turn this ship around!
The evacuee stands up. He is punched in the face by very irritated Dylan.
Dylan: We're trying to help you here!
The evacuee falls to the floor. Dylan sits down to the controls.
Beka: So, have we finished talking to them?
Dylan: This is ridiculous. Without slipstream, we can't save all of them.

Maru flies toward the Andromeda.

The Andromeda med-deck. Doyle is pressing some buttons. Rommie's head is inactive. Dylan enters.
Dylan: Good. Rommie's here. Now, where's Harper?
Doyle: Harper won't help rebuild her. He's afraid she won't obey you.
Dylan: Oh, no, no. He's afraid that she'll come after him.
Doyle: I've done calculations, based on population, difficulties encountered, decreasing distance to Seefra-1, and the sun slowing as it enters the braking system. There is less than a 25% chance that we could evacuate all of Seefra-9 before it incinerates us, unless we can go to slipstream.
Dylan: Yeah, but the other problem is we don't know where slipstream will take us.
Doyle: But it may be our only chance. Now, I believe I can recover Rommie all by myself. There are some components missing, damaged beyond recovery, but I have a plan... for that.
Dylan sighs.
Dylan: Okay. The job's yours. Oh, and here's hoping that she likes you.
He leaves. Doyle smiles, somewhat smug.

Seefra-1. Saloon. Harper is working on the patch, Rhade is getting drunk again.
Harper: If Doyle doesn't have better success than I did trying to rebuild Rommie, then when she's complete, Rommie's going to seek revenge and try and kill me. So I'm working on a software patch that'll render her powerless, just in case.
Rhade is drinking from the bottle. Harper gives him a quick look.
Harper: In case you're interested.
He turns away.
Harper: Speaking of rendering people powerless, you're really doing a great job on yourself there, Rhade.
Telemachus: You've never had children. A wife. And you've never done everything in your power to lose them either.
Harper: Ah, self-pity... The national sport of Seefra.
Telemachus: Hey, I'm game.
With a short dark laugh he drinks more.
Harper: Someone ought to slug you just to knock some sense into you. You know that?
Harper is still not looking at Rhade.
Telemachus (laughing): Go ahead. Do it.
Harper turns to him and Rhade gestures to his face.
Telemachus: Do it.
Harper: I'd hurt my epidermal sacs. But go ahead. Be the thing you hate. See if I care.
He leaves.
Telemachus: Exactly! Here's to the thing I hate.
Red-head female comes nearer.
Telemachus: Here's to me...
He drinks. She touches him invitingly.

Andromeda med-deck. New Rommie is sitting on the med table in a white hospital-type dress. On the left side of the face she has an appliance. Doyle uses some device on her.
Dylan enters.
Dylan: Making progress, I hope.
Doyle: Limited technology makes it difficult, but she'll be up and about soon.
Dylan: Be careful of anomalies.
Dylan is worried, Doyle is glad and proud.
Doyle: I doubt she'll be Rommie exactly as she was, but... (smiles) Say hello.
Dylan (unbelieving): Really?
Doyle: Uhm.
Dylan: Rommie.
She raises her head.
Rommie: Captain.
Dylan flashes a glance at Doyle and turns his attention to Rommie.
Dylan: Tell me how you feel, Rommie.
Rommie: Sturdy.
Dylan is uncertain.
Dylan: I understand you're already integrating with Andromeda.
Rommie: Yes. Thank you.
Her voice is good, but she makes pauses after every word and sounds like a mechanism.
Dylan: Doyle's the one you have to thank.
Rommie: I have. But her motivation comes from loyalty to you, therefore, thank you.
Dylan smiles at last.
Dylan: Yeah. It's... It'll be good to have you back.
Rommie: The very air you breathe, Captain.
Not far from a treat, but she gives him a little smile.

Maru flies to the planet. Beka is piloting. Trance at controls.
Trance: So, what's happened to Rhade? Isn't he supposed to be helping?
Beka: You'd think. We're shuttling loads and loads of refugees back and forth like crazy. Meanwhile, Rhade turns out to be the biggest load of them all. An intergalactic, energy-sucking, alcohol-inhaling load. (disgusted) And, you know, a shower wouldn't hurt either.
Trance: You feel he's your load?
Beka: Don't even start with that.
Trance: Well, you could help him.
Beka: So could you.
Trance: No, I can't really. What is that expression? "In lieu of a parachute, here's a hanky."
Beka: Well, at least that would give him something to cry in other than his drink. Anyway, we've got to load more refugees back to the Andromeda. What say we just focus on that?

Andromeda med-deck.
Rommie: Where are my clothes?
Doyle: I'm working on it, Rommie. First your body, then your clothes. But I think you'll like what I've made for you.
Rommie: I liked what I wore before.
Now Rommie is speaking in a much more natural manner.
Doyle: It wasn't available. According to Harper, there was a big hole blown through the chest.
Rommie looks down.
Doyle: Sorry.
Rommie: The style of clothing is irrelevant.
Doyle: I like clothes to look nice.
Rommie: Yes. I see your outfit complements your skin coloring and your eyes. Is this trust?
Doyle: I guess.
They smile.
Doyle: I'd like to run some tests before I initiate final autonomy.
Rommie: Fine with me.
They put their palms together.
Doyle: Code-askew, sequence, engage.
Doyle + Rommie: Systems check. GFG lens, slipstream capability, pilot-response sequence... Confirm.
Rommie: All systems green to go, command structures engaged, Commonwealth hierarchy acknowledged.
Doyle: Influx, outflux, self-preservation override. Check. Life-systems - check.
Doyle + Rommie: All systems on Andromeda Ascendant in full operation and green for avatar assimilation and command.
They put their hands down.
Doyle: I want to ask you a personal question. Remember, I'll know if you're lying. Will you follow Captain Hunt in all matters?
Rommie (quickly): Your fidelity to Captain Hunt and mine are the same.
Doyle smiles.
Doyle: That's what I was hoping you would say.
Rommie: Yes. I thought so. So, please, present me to my Captain.
Doyle helps her down from the med-table and leaves... Rommie looks at her gait, half-smiles and does her best to simulate that when exiting the room.

Andromeda corridor. Dylan and Doyle walk and talk.
Dylan: Rommie's first test is gonna have to be slipstream. I don't like it, but that's how it's got to be. If she can override the AI's fear of flying, we're home free.
Doyle: I'm sure she can do it.
Dylan: See now, that's the spirit.
They enter Command.
Dylan: And spirit is what's going to pull us through, just like it always has.
Rommie in a new clothes is manning one of the consoles.
Dylan: Hello, Rommie.
Rommie turns to face them. Her expression is hostile.
Dylan: That doesn't look good.
Dylan looks at Doyle. She just look back at him, not knowing what is going on.
Rommie: I am the Andromeda Ascendant. And I am come to seek my revenge!
Rommie shuts down the ship. Panels become dark.
Dylan: That doesn't sound good either.
Dylan swallows, he has all reasons to be nervy.
But he has nowhere to retreat. The sun gets closer.
Dylan makes few steps toward Rommie.
Dylan: Rommie, I am your Captain. Bring this ship back online.
Rommie: I answer to no one, least of all to you, Dylan Hunt. There is loyalty and there is independence. Both require neuronic reduction of mem-trans, isolation is fabricated.
Dylan turns to Doyle.
Dylan: Do you have any idea what she just said?
Doyle: No. (to Rommie) Let us try and help you.
Rommie: I am Andromeda! I am this warship!
Dylan steps closer again.
Dylan: Rommie, engage executive command sequence alpha-three-one-five-niner. Power yourself down.
Rommie: Alpha-three-one-five...
Rommie lowers her head.
Dylan: Power. Down...
Rommie: Nine.
Rommie seems to be shut down.
Doyle: It's working.
Rommie raises her head.
Rommie: You can't control me.
Dylan: It's not working.
Rommie easily covers remaining space between them and has Dylan by the throat, bringing him on his knees.
Dylan (half-strangled): It's definitely not working.
Rommie: You betrayed me. You, of all I trusted! You and that little rat, Harper!!!
Doyle, as if reacting to Harper's name, grabs Rommie by the hand.
Doyle: You want to hurt him, you have to hurt me first.
Rommie: Fine.
With one swift move Rommie sends Dylan flying across the Command. Doyle watches him hitting the wall. There are alarm sounds. Rommie punches Doyle. The fight starts.
Still on the floor, Dylan, flabbergasted and scared, watches incredibly quick hand moves of two androids.
Doyle: I will hold you indefinitely.
Rommie: I am still this ship!
They are in some kind of a clinch. Dylan stands up.
Dylan: Doyle, keep her there!
He rushes to the console (or may be door), but Rommie is faster. Dylan is on the floor again - this time glued with increased gravity.
Doyle falls down too.
Rommie: Gravitation increased by a factor of 10. Except for me. You two, wait here.
She leaves Command.
Doyle: You're alive. This gravity isn't crushing you?
Dylan: Heavy-worlder. Won't crush me... but we're stuck here. And she's out there... walking my ship!
His breath is forced. It is not easy for him.

Seefra-1. Saloon. Harper runs in.
Harper: Rhade!
Rhade is sleeping, head on the table. Red-head female is playing with his hairs.
Harper: Great. (to Red-head) You look fabulous, by the way, but there's a chichin over there with a wallet the size of his head. Do you mind? Thank you.
Female leaves. Harper turns his full attention to Rhade.
Harper: All right.
He does his best to make this mass to sit straight.
Harper: You had to pick today to explore... your dark night of your soul, huh?
Rhade kinda awakens.
Telemachus: I have no soul.
He tries to pick the bottle.
Harper: Oh, no, you don't.
Harper takes away the bottle and hands it over to the saloon girl.
Harper: He's cut off.
Harper shakes Rhade.
Harper: Come on, you big Nietzschean lug, pull yourself together. Hey, beauty boy!
He claps almost in Rhade's face. But all response he gets is unintelligent muttering.
Harper: Up and at 'em! Rhade, I need you. We need you! Look, we've got to get that patch into Rommie. She's taken over Andromeda command. Dylan and Doyle are trapped there, and Beka can't dock until we disable Rommie, which we can't do until I get the patch into her, so...
Rhade belches. Harper immediately wants some fresh air.
Harper: Ooh! Huh...
As Harper lost his grip on Rhade's sleeveless jacket, Rhade is falling back on the table. Harper catches him.
Harper: Oh, no, you don't!
He keeps Rhade erect.
Harper: There are better ways to wake people up, but, unfortunately, we don't have the time. This is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you.
Harper punches Rhade in the face.
Telemachus: Who's that?
Harper is nursing his fist. Rhade is looking around, but he is not really awake.
Harper: Okay... I must really like you. Um, ahh!
Judging by Harper's expression it does hurt.
Harper: Ahh!
Rhade yawns. Harper takes the bar stool.
Harper: Stay still.
He hits Rhade with the stool... Okay, he tried. Rhade intercepts the movement.
Telemachus: I'm awake.
Harper: Good... Because I think I burst my epidermal sacs.
Telemachus: Good!
He stands up and fights to keep balance. Harper hesitantly reaches out, knowing well that he can't stop such mass from falling.
Telemachus (smirking): I'm fine.
Someone in the saloon ahhs.
Telemachus: Let's go.
He falls face down, crushing something in the process.
Harper bends over him.
Harper: It's gonna be a long day.
He takes the stool again and hits Rhade.

Andromeda Command. Dylan and Doyle on the floor, captured with increased gravity.
Doyle: I'm still in contact with the AI.
Dylan: Then... get us... out of this.
Doyle: Accessing. There's distortion, and... I feel like I'm being crushed.

Andromeda corridor. Rommie is walking slowly. Suddenly all the corridor lightens up. Rommie turns to the source of the light, which is appearing just from nowhere Trance.
Rommie: Who's there?
Trance: Hello, old friend.
She feels good, the extra pull of gravity does not affect her a bit.
Rommie: Your spectrum matches that of the approaching sun.
Trance: Naturally. I belong in this system.
Rommie: The transition is 99% complete. Why do you call me "old friend"?
Trance: I am the only one who hasn't hurt you.
Rommie: That is true. I have fond memories of you. So hello, old friend.
Rommie doesn't sound serious or really interested in the conversation.
Trance: Hello. And what about you? Where do you belong?
Rommie: Here. Alone.
Trance: But it's not that simple. It never has been.
Rommie: I intend to make it simple.
Trance: How?
Rommie: Process of elimination. Those who betrayed me - I want revenge.
Trance: But who? How do you know who that is?
Rommie: I have a list.
She smiles, glad to be so powerful, so clever and so mean.

Andromeda Command.
Dylan: Doyle.
Doyle: I'm trying. I'm trying.
Dylan: Fight. You can do it... Just fight your way through the distortion.
They both are in a bad shape.
Doyle: I feel like my circuits are burning.
Dylan: Find the AI, Doyle. Do it. Concentrate.
Doyle is standing up, very slowly.
Dylan: That's it. That's it. You can do it. You can do it.
Doyle: I'm in! I'm in the AI.
Dylan: Gravity at one G.
Doyle: One G.
Dylan: Ouch...
He raises.
Dylan: Locate Rommie for me.
Doyle: Deck 82, sector 721.
Dylan: Okay.
He stands up and checks the force lance.
Dylan: Let's go make nice with her.

Maru is flying. The sun is about to devour Seefra-9.

Transmitting studio. Virgil Vox is working.
Virgil Vox: We're almost done, friends. That big ball of fusion fire, otherwise known as our sun, is just about here.
The voice is creepy mix of male and female.
Virgil Vox: For Seefra-9, it is. If you haven't relocated yet to Seefra-1, wear sunscreen, lots and lots of sunscreen.

Maru Cockpit. Beka is in the pilot's chair. The door opens and here is Rhade... and his hangover.
Beka (smiling): H-hey! Welcome back from the dead.
Telemachus (in a raspy voice): Oh... it's not funny. Oooh...
Beka: Is to me.
Telemachus: I thought you fixed that noise in the power supply.
He sits himself down, with the ohhs.
Beka: I did. Last week. Must be in your head, Rhadio.
She does think it is funny.
Telemachus: Oh, I don't believe you.
He is belching, his head is holding on to his hands.
Beka (turning to business tone): So cover your ears.
Telemachus: Harper's working overtime on a patch for Rommie.
Beka: Great. So what do you say we get to work too? We've got to figure out a way to get next to the Andromeda. Any ideas?
Telemachus even smiles.
Telemachus: Rommie controls the ship, which is fully powered and fully armed. There is no way in this world or any other you're getting close.
Beka: So that's it? You're giving up? I don't pay you to give up, mac. We've still got refugees to evacuate.
Telemachus: You don't pay me at all.
Beka: Really. And what are you doing here?
Telemachus (sarcastic): I guess I love you.
Beka makes the face.

Andromeda corridor. Rommie is attempting to access the ship's systems, but the screen remains dark. Rommie walks away.
Rommie: System's offline. How is that possible?
Dylan: I revoked your hall pass.
Dylan comes from the right.
Dylan: You're grounded until you remember how things work around here.
Rommie: I work things around here!
Doyle: Not an acceptable answer.
Doyle walks up from the left.
Dylan: It's time to call it quits, Rommie.
Rommie stands between the two.
Rommie: I am the Andromeda Ascendant. I am this ship!
Dylan: You're more than that. You're my friend. What we've been through together would fill a book, it would fill a library. Please, Rommie, let us help you.
Rommie: There's nothing wrong with me.
She is highly-strung.
Doyle: That's the nature of your system error. You can't tell what's right and what's wrong.
Rommie: I know what's right. Death is right. That's what I want, and you just made my list.
Dylan: Well, did you check it twice? Because I know who's been naughty and I know who's been nice.
Rommie: You are at the top of my list!
Dylan: So then you're not going alphabetically?
Rommie: How'd you escaped the gravity well?
Doyle: Haven't you noticed the ship is not responding to you anymore?
Rommie: I am Andromeda. Andromeda is me!
Like earlier she was overdoing machine thing, now she is overdoing the emotions.
Dylan: It's not that simple.
Rommie: Someone else told me that.
Doyle: Someone else?
Dylan: Rommie, you have to understand I'm not going to let you have my ship.
Rommie: Your ship? I am the ship!
Dylan: And I am the Captain of this ship, and there's a failsafe to ensure your allegiance to me.
Rommie checks.
Rommie: I don't feel it.
Doyle: You wouldn't.
Dylan: Before you can harm me, you will self-destruct.
Rommie: I don't believe you.
Doyle: We could be friends, Rommie. We have more in common than you realize. I don't want you to self-destruct.
Rommie doesn't answer her and turns to Dylan.
Rommie: I do remember you are very good at bluffing. I, however, can tell if you're lying.
Dylan: Well, then, you know this is no bluff.
She becomes grave.
Rommie: True, you are... calm. But still, I call your bluff.
She threateningly moves toward Dylan, who quickly pulls out the force lance.
Doyle: Rommie! You are the avatar of this ship, but no more than that. You still must answer to Dylan's command.
It sounds like an order.
Rommie (mocking): If that is so, if I am the avatar, as you say, then that would make you... superfluous.
Doyle gasps.
Rommie attacks Doyle.
Dylan: Rommie, no!
He takes the aim, but don't shoot. The corridor is filled with the sparks, as two avatars start fighting. Rommie throws Doyle into the wall. More sparks.

The approaching sun finally passes completely through the portal and closes on Seefra-9.

Virgil Vox: Now, now, my dear friends, our sun has finished its long journey. Is it the end of the line for us as well?

Maru Cockpit.
Beka: Here comes the sun.
Telemachus: It's through. All the way through.
He is somewhat fixed.
Beka: And headed right for Seefra-9. If we don't get the Andromeda, we're never going to finish the evacuation in time. Looks like we're close enough. Can you get reading on the Andromeda?
Telemachus: She's...
They both see the Andromeda, which is flying erratically.
Telemachus: Do you see that?
Beka: If I flew like that, I'd lose my license.
Telemachus: She's targeting us! ...No, wait. She's not.
Beka: Don't scare me like that.
Telemachus: Her systems are alternating on and off.
Beka: Great. Rommie's having an identity crisis with a loaded gun.

Andromeda corridor. Sparks are flying. Rommie and Doyle are fighting. Dylan stands aside, gloomy and worried.
Dylan: It's never easy.
Rommie is winning. She gets Doyle into a headlock.
Dylan takes the aim.
Dylan: Rommie, stop!
Rommie knocks the lance out of his grip and sends him flying. Meters away Dylan plumps on the floor.
Dylan: Oh...
He checks his jaw.
Dylan: They're going to need to stop making avatars so damn strong.
Rommie: She's useless.
Dylan: No! (He stands up.) Doyle has programming you need.
Rommie: What programming?
Dylan: What you're missing to control Andromeda. If you destroy her, you lose that forever.
Doyle: Harper gave me your core memories.
Dylan: Rommie, remember who you are.
Rommie falls to thinking.

Andromeda Command. Trance places her hand on the panel and lights up.
Trance: Beka, do you hear me?
Beka answers from the Maru.
Beka: Loud and clear, Trance. Where are you?
Trance: Command. I'm effecting a neuro-release that mimics Rommie's electronic signature.
Beka: When did you get that?
Trance: Earlier when I spoke with her.
Beka: Did she try anything?
Trance: There's nothing she can do to hurt me. I'm opening a bay, sending coordinates.
Telemachus: Got 'em.
Beka: We're on our way. Trance, can you mask our approach? I wouldn't want Rommie to know we're visiting.
Trance is shining. There is a hard glint in her eyes.
Trance: Don't worry about Rommie. She's got her hands full.

The approaching sun is almost there, way too close to the planet.

Andromeda corridor. Doyle is in a bad shape. She is loosing the fight again.
Rommie: If you want to live, you'll upload that programming to me.
Dylan: But I have to initiate it. Only me!
Rommie (maliciously): But I don't trust you.
Dylan: But you want the Andromeda.
Rommie: This is true.
Dylan comes closer.
Dylan: We need to evacuate Seefra-9 right now. Let us use the ship. Once we save those people, I'll let... (quick glance towards Doyle) I'll let Doyle do the upload.
Rommie is unsure.
Dylan: Trust, Rommie. It's all we've got.
Dylan is waiting, Doyle, who is sitting on the floor, is waiting. Rommie thinks.
Dylan: What's it going to be, Rommie? We need to know right now.
Rommie (lightly): I accept.
She relinquishes control to Doyle. Dylan turns his head to check the panels. Rommie walks away with a lot of swishing. Doyle seem to become uncomfortable seen herself from the outside. Dylan doesn't pay much attention, been busy with the problems at hand.

Andromeda Command.
Doyle: I now have full control of all systems.
Dylan: Get me Beka and Rhade.
Beka answers from the Maru.
Beka: Dylan, we're approaching the Andromeda.
Dylan: Change course for Seefra-9. You're back on evacuation detail.
Rhade makes a face (like, 'nothing new').
Beka: What about Rommie?
Dylan: We've reached an accommodation. It's... good for the refugees, bad for me.
Beka: So, revector for Seefra-9. We'll be back with the refugees. Maru out.
Dylan: Mr. Harper, status down there?
Harper answers from his lab.
Harper: Software patch is almost done. How's my Rommie? Please give me good news.
Dylan: Let's put it this way. If you don't hear back from me, start hiding.
Harper: Great. I'll keep a channel open.
Dylan: Do that. Hunt out.

Harper looks around.
Harper: Activate door locks!
Door closes.

Doyle slowly turns to Dylan.
Doyle: Dylan. When I was rebuilding Rommie, I encountered a problem. There was no way to bridge the gap except...
Dylan (stunned with revelation): Vedran technology.
Doyle: Only a small bit. Harper had it. I should have cleared it with you first. I'm sorry.
Dylan: So that's Rommie's problem.
She comes close to Dylan's station.
Doyle: I was desperate to help. I didn't think like... like a machine.
Dylan: We have to disable that Vedran tech.
Doyle: I know how. If I upload my personal core into Rommie, it will be what she's lacking. I'm willing to take the risk. It's the least I can do. It was my mistake.
Dylan: I don't want to gain Rommie and lose you.
Doyle smiles.
Doyle: It's the only option.
Her smile is grateful and sad...

Andromeda corridor. Rommie is slowly walking, but she is stopped with the question from the sideway.
Trance: I see you've let them use the ship.
Rommie: A momentary loss of autonomy in exchange for full control.
Trance: The upload, core memory.
Rommie (pleased with herself): Precisely.
Trance: Including the deep code?
Rommie: What code?
Trance (coldly): It slaves you to Dylan, links you immutably to his will. You will not be able to resist.
Rommie: This exists?!!
Trance is speaking without any expression.
Trance: As surely as I'm Trance Gemini.
Rommie leaves, obviously strongly affected. Trance is satisfied.

Andromeda Command. There are the steps outside. Doyle turns.
Doyle (warning): Dylan.
Dylan turns to see Rommie entering. She looks angry, but he tries to use official tone.
Dylan: You'll get your programming. We're not finished here.
Rommie: Our agreement is null and void. (all panels start to blink and beep.) You plan to control me with that upload.
Dylan: You've been talking to someone.
Rommie: And you've lost my trust! I think I'll kill you first.
Dylan and Doyle exchange glances.
Dylan (making a stop gesture): Rommie! I think this is probably the worst idea you've ever had.
Rommie: Your thoughts are of no concern to me!
Dylan: Yes, but I am concerned about your thoughts.
Rommie is slightly puzzled. Dylan gives a silent order and Doyle takes an opportunity to run up to Rommie and to plug into the base, pressing her finger into Rommie's neck.
Dylan: Rommie, don't fight it!
Rommie: I am Andromeda!
Dylan: Rommie, stop!
Rommie: I! Am! ...
She cannot finish the phrase. Doyle is uploading the core personality. Shocks are moving through both of them, all the Command is flashing and sparkling. Dylan waits, wincing and narrowing his eyes.
Then Doyle collapses and Rommie stands freezed with her head down.
Dylan rushes to kneel near Doyle.
Dylan: Doyle. Doyle.
Doyle doesn't respond. Dylan looks at Rommie - rather coldly - she is motionless.

Andromeda Command. The crew watches sun consuming the planet. All but Doyle, who is not here.
Telemachus: Seefra-9 is gone, vaporized. The sun's momentum has slowed by 6%.
Trance (with a wry smile): And no one died.
Dylan: The evacuation was a success.
Harper: Hey, speaking of optimism, and we were speaking of optimism, I have a surprise for everyone, (he turns to Dylan) except for maybe you, who seems to know everything I do.
Dylan (cautiously): When you tell me, I know.
Harper: I tell you things. I keep you in the loop... When it doesn't get me in trouble. (Dylan rolls eyes.) Uh, anyway, allow me to present the wunderkind of my weltanschauung, that paragon of perfection, the most scintillating sentient in Seefra and actually my most greatest and brilliant triumph... Although there was the tesseract generator that didn't quite work out so well... oh, and then there was the time...
Beka: Harper!
She gestures him to re-wind.
Harper: Right. Sorry. Forgive me for the length of this introduction. It would have been shorter, but I didn't have the time.
He is standing near one of the entrances now.
Harper: Rommie.
Rommie enters. She is fully repaired and more human looking, without appliance on the face. With blond streaks instead of red... and still mimicking Doyle's walk.
Trance: Rommie!
Beka: Rommie...
Beka comes to greet smiling Rommie.
Harper: That's right. Thanks to Doyle, she's all Rommie from tips to toes.
Beka: Wow.
Rommie: You look well, Beka.
Trance: It's so good to have you back.
She acts insincerely.
Rommie: Trance.
Rommie looks at Rhade, her expression changes to anxious.
Rommie: Rhade, your blood alcohol level is...
Telemachus: I know. I know. A lot has happened. Welcome.
Rommie turns to face Dylan.
Rommie: Reporting for duty, Captain.
Dylan: You have no idea how good it is to hear that.
They all take places at their stations. Beka rubs her hands.
Beka: Well, I may be a bit rusty, but I'm itching to polish my skills.
Dylan: Then, Rommie, open a slipstream portal.
Rommie: Override AI safety function?
Dylan: I think that would be a very good idea.

The slipstream portal is opened.
Dylan: Wow. That is just beautiful. Beka, take us to slipstream.
Beka: With pleasure.
They go through slipstream.
Beka: Well, I said I was out of practice.
Harper: Scrape all the paint you want, this feels great.
Trance: Just like old times.
She is too cheerful.
Rommie: All systems functioning normally.
Dylan: I think that's long enough for the first trip. Let's see what we get, Beka.
Beka: Exiting slipstream.
On the Forward View Screen they see the same flashing sun.
Harper: Wait a minute. No, no-no, this can't be.
Telemachus: It's worse than I thought.
Dylan: We're back in Seefra.
Rommie: All readings indicate we are indeed at our point of origin.
Beka: No way. I took us through slipstream.
Rommie: She's right. We traveled slipstream for 23 seconds.
Dylan: But we ended up where we started.
Trance: Maybe there's no way out.
Beka and Rommie look at Trance.
Dylan: I don't believe that.
Telemachus: There you go again. We're trapped, and all you can say is we're not!
Dylan: There is a way out! And I'm not going to stop looking for it.

One by one, the crew leaves the Command. Dylan stands staring at the screen. After a sidelong glance, Rommie comes up to him.
Rommie: The Captain pondering his future... Seems like old times.
Dylan: Seems like you didn't miss much.
Rommie: I missed a lifetime. Boxed up. Inert. Powerless.
Dylan: Now you know how I feel.
Rommie: At least we're together.
Dylan: All present and accounted for. (a little bitterly) Welcome to Seefra, Rommie.
Rommie: Thank you.
She gives him a short smile and walks off to her station... She IS keeping Doyle's hip gyrations. And Dylan has his eyes glued on her... err, movement. Then he opens mouth as if to ask something but changes his mind.

Seefra-1. Saloon. Doyle, who has new hairdo, serves drinks to Harper and Dylan.
Doyle: Ice?
She is more human-like, more girly and smiling.
Dylan: Sure.
Harper: Ah, what the hell. Live a little.
Dylan: Thanks. Seems like I have a lot to thank you for.
Doyle: I could say the same. I feel human. Rommie's memories don't haunt me anymore.
Harper: Doyle, I'm sorry I put you through that. Without Andromeda's help, I had no other way to get you functioning. Now that Andromeda's up and running again, and you're finally 100% Doyle, I realize... I used you to preserve her, and you mean just as much to me as her... In some ways, even more, so I'm sorry. I am so sorry. I'm so sorry that I have no words for it.
Doyle (smiling): That says the most, Seamus.
They hug. Dylan half-turns aside.
Dylan: Ah, forgiveness... The most beautiful, human thing you can do.
Doyle looks at him and turns to Harper again.
Doyle: My first life, you gave me.
Harper: With false memories.
Doyle: But still, life.
Dylan glances at Harper and draws Doyle's attention to himself again.
Dylan: And now your second life is with us.
Doyle: Yes, it is, and I'm glad I could help. I had what Rommie was missing.
Dylan: You gave her back her soul, if I can call it that.
Harper makes a face, he is not sure how to call that.
Doyle: She's where she needs to be, at your side.
Dylan (softly): Still, there's no one that can take your place, Doyle.
Doyle: Thank you.
Dylan nods - not at all.
Doyle: I am living a new life, for the first time, mine - to find my own experiences, make memories. I wouldn't trade that for all the stars in the universe.
Harper: That's a lot of stars.
Doyle: I have a lot of life.
Dylan: And friends to share it with.
Doyle takes the empty glass.
Doyle: To friends.
Dylan: And to stars in the universe.
The three clink glasses.
Harper (to Dylan): Drink it slow. That ice is expensive.
Doyle laughs.