After a long period of silence, interrupted only by Rommie's crying, she eventually calmed down a bit and trembled in Dylan's arms like a small child, sobbing quietly. She felt tired, exhausted from all that crying and this feeling was completely new to her. For the first time in her existence, she felt this all too human sensation. She was still too confused, too hurt to sort her thoughts. The reality hit her with all its hardness. How will she be able to adapt to this fact? What differences will it bring, what is her future life going to be? Does that mean she'll have to die sometime? All this and a myriad of other questions were wildly dancing through her now human brain.

Dylan, on his side, sat completely absent, just holding his former ship in the arms. Thousands of thoughts were playing a wild game of soccer in his mind. He finally managed to concentrate on one issue: WHY? Why, for God's sake have they done this?

He turned to Andaar with fury in his eyes and asked a simple short question, which would make everything more clearly: "Why? Why did you do this to her?"

Andaar looked down and hesitated to answer. After a while, he raised his head and said: "Actually, it's a question, I have been expected from Rommie in the first hand. Oh, well, it makes no difference. It is not so simple as it might seem. A while ago we developed a technology, which enables us to transfer the programming of AI into biological body. It transfers all its routines, in front row routines, which determine AI's emotional reactions to its surroundings, situations in which such reaction is expected. It is in fact a further development of a technology, you already know. Just like your engineer is capable of projecting himself into AI's matrix, it projects AI into human brain. As a matter of fact, it reverses the process, your engineer deploys when he enters Andromeda's core. I believe details are at the moment not necessary. The key issue would be, in my opinion, to explain why we did it. Your question was, after all, very clearly stated." He stopped for a moment and looked at Rommie and Dylan. Rommie was still sobbing and hiding her face in Dylan's embracement. It seemed she wasn't capable of really knowing what was going on around her. Dylan was looking at Andaar with angry expression on his face, urging him to answer the question.

Andaar sighed slightly, stepped a bit backwards and began: "Captain Hunt, first of all, I must apologize for what we did. You must believe me; we did it with best intentions. We hadn't thought about the side effects. Or, at least, we hadn't expected them to be so drastic. The fact is, as I stated some times before, that Andromeda is almost a legend. We've heard much of her and of her attachment to you. You must admit, such a bond between a Captain and his ship is almost mythical. We've had experience with sentient ships before, but not one of them showed such devotion to the Captain as Andromeda did. It may occur odd to you, but according to the stories, told about you, your ship and crew, it was obvious, that your ship was in love with you. And we knew very well, that you would never admit that you feel more for your ship than the Commonwealth Protocol allowed. And especially, concerning that physical incarnation of your ship showed such deep devotion to you, we were sure that it could be different if she had biological body. Our technology allowed us to make it possible for you two to belong to the same species. This way, one of biggest inhibitions would be removed."

"Wait a minute," interrupted Dylan. "How is it possible that you know so much about us? I don't believe that such information is as widespread as you claim it to be. Furthermore, it is based solely on gossip, not on facts. How could you think, we'd like to have human Rommie? My God, she's a ship! Yes, we do have a very close relation, we do share much more than normal married couple does. But speaking of love? I believe it's perverted?"

Andaar blinked slowly and continued: "Well, all our information weren't based on gossip. Neither were they just stories, told by the ones who met you and worked with you. I must confess we had our source of information on Andromeda, a source that was very close to you both. I'm sorry; I can't reveal its identity yet. You'll have to accept the reality first and then you'll perhaps be ready to hear about it."

Meanwhile Rommie seemed to gather herself together, so she raised her head, looking at Andaar with such infinite sadness in her eyes that he shivered a little. "Why? Yes, I confess that I feel more for my Captain than I am supposed to. But we still are officers of the High Guard and this won't be changed simply by the fact that I'm organic now. Yes, there were times when I thought, it would be nice to have organic body, but these wishes were more or less result of the situation. When I felt extremely depressed I often thought it would be perhaps easier if I could just cry out my anger, sorrow and pain. And perhaps to forget unpleasant moments. But none of these justifies what you did. What about my free will? Yes, I am, or, now, was, a machine, but I always had my free will. I chose to follow Dylan out of it because I believed in his mission. And I still do believe. And you didn't even think about it? You should have respected me as a sentient being. But you simply took away my android body and replaced it with this one. It's a crime and I assure you, you'll have to pay for it!" She wanted to speak further, but was cut by sudden flow of tears and she just buried her head in Dylan's shoulder again and started shaking.

Dylan held her close, feeling all her despair and sorrow. It was the most intimate moment they have ever had. And in this specific moment, he realized that Andaar was in one thing right: he too felt much more for Rommie than he was prepared to admit. Holding her in his arms trembling and crying was something he did just once up till now – when she begged him to disassemble her after Gabriel's death. But it was different now.

Suddenly, he straightened himself, almost overthrowing Rommie and hissed: "You said, you had an informant aboard Andromeda. Well, I demand, you tell me the name!"

"I already told you, you'll get this information when both of you get acquainted with present situation."

"Never! We will never accept this situation! We demand, that you immediately return Rommie in her android body! If you were able to transmit her personality into this body, you are sure capable of reversing the process," almost yelled Dylan

"Unfortunately it is not possible. The android body has been destroyed during the process," explained Andaar. "And we have no possibility to build another one."

"Well, if you don't have this possibility, we do. We are perfectly capable of constructing new android body. So, we shall make a new body and you will then do the reversed procedure."

Andaar looked very unhappy with Dylan's request, but didn't want to argue with him. "I'm not sure that this will make the situation better, but if it's your decision, we will not oppose. Meanwhile, I suggest, you try to comfort her the best you can." He stepped out and left Rommie and Dylan alone.

After a brief moment of silence, Dylan asked: "How do you feel, Rommie?"

She looked at him and cocked her head to one side: "I am not really sure. It makes me mad, but also extremely sad. They didn't even bother to ask me, if I wanted it! And that's what hurts the most! I was always proud of my self awareness and this action ... well, I feel like they robbed me of myself. And, you know, it feels strange to be human, with all weakness I never experienced before." She stopped a little and then continued: "How long will it take for Harper to make a new body? Do you have any idea?"

Dylan looked at her and sighed: "When he was working on your first body, it took him some months, so I don't believe, he can make it any faster this time. I'm afraid, you'll have to cope with this ... human body for quite a period!"

Rommie looked at her hands in her lap and sighed: "You know, Dylan, sometimes I really wondered how it would be, to be able experiencing things just as humans do. Well, now I'll have this opportunity, although I'm so miserable with it! I don't know how to start! I don't know anything about being human, vulnerable and driven by emotions. I'm afraid. I'm so damn afraid of being human. All my experiences, all my attitudes, everything is now more or less worthless. How will I manage it?"

Dylan laid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer: "I will always be there for you Rommie, you know that. I have always been your heart and I surely won't desert you now. You can count on me, always!"

Rommie gratefully looked at him and said: "I know, Dylan. And I'd like to thank you for your support. It really means much to me. I'm so insecure of everything. How do you, well, we, humans react, how it is to feel hunger, pain, emotion? How will I process all sensations? Everything is so horrifying now. Perhaps I'll adjust a bit to it, but at the moment I'm so devastated I can't think clearly."

They sat in silence, each coping with thoughts of his/hers own. Rommie suddenly thought of something, Andaar said before. About her, being human and therefore perhaps more acceptable to Dylan. Perhaps it is true? Is it possible, he'd look at her differently now? And how would he react to it? She suddenly felt a wave of emotion overwhelming her. Emotions, she hoped never to be revealed. Yes, Andaar was right. She really felt more for Dylan as she was supposed to. Much more. But, is this love? She wasn't sure. In fact, she wasn't sure of anything any more. She just felt her heart beat a little faster as she snuggled closer to Dylan. Her breathing fastened a bit. She got a strange feeling in her stomach, like there were some butterflies flapping with their tender wing inside of her. What does this mean?

Dylan felt her moving closer to him, but thought it was just her need for protection, seeking solace from him. So he wrapped his arms around her, trying to give her all the comfort she might need. He felt her warm body, still trembling a bit and his heartbeat increased too. It felt very strange to hold her in his arms, knowing she's human. Not a machine, a human being. And he realized it made him feel good. To feel her proximity, her helplessness in this weird situation. He felt extremely attracted to her. Not as his closest friend, but as a woman. And he admitted to himself, she had everything he could ever wish to find in a woman. For a moment he really forgot who she was. The magic of the moment made him feel more human than he felt in years before. "Jesus, Hunt, what are you thinking! Are you really falling for her? Can it be your attitudes change so quickly? Damn it, she is your ship after all! But ... human ship?" The perplexity of the whole situation hit him hard and he stiffened a bit.

Rommie felt a sudden change in him and raised her head: "Is something wrong, Dylan?" Her worriedly eyes were staring at him and he looked away not to be tempted into a situation he might regret later.

"No, it's just that I still don't know how to act on this. Look, you have always been something special. But not this way! You were someone I could always depend on. You were my best friend, my support whenever I needed it; you stood by my side in all fights, never trying to back off. And now? I'm not sure what kind of relation do we have now. Are you still my ship? Or are you perhaps just one of my crew? I'm so confused! How do I treat you? As a ship or as a woman? Damn!"

She smiled softly: "You are asking many questions to which we both have no answers. We will have to work on our relation and base it on the fact, that I'm no longer an android. At least, while we are waiting for Harper to construct me a new body. Meanwhile we'll have to accept me as I am. And I am a woman. Yes, I am still your ship in a way. I do have all memories of the android, but we'll have to recognize, that I am no more almost indestructible. And my strength is definitely not one of an android, but of a woman. I think I'll have the hardest time to adjust to that. I'll have to take care not to get involved in some fights that might dead deadly for me. You'll have to remind me of it over and over again, I suppose."

Dylan smiled dryly and nodded: "I sure will do, have no doubt about it. It doesn't really matter if you're android or human, I don't want to loose you. You're too valuable to me and to the crew. Believe me, I'll do my best to protect you."

Rommie managed a warm smile: "You see, perhaps it would be the best way to treat me as a woman."

Dylan looked a bit surprised: "Haven't I always treated you that way?"

Rommie shook her head: "No, you haven't. I'm not complaining about it. After all, I have been a machine, a physical manifestation of your ship. And it was never supposed I'd be treated otherwise. Although, I admit, sometimes it hurt to be treated like someone who cannot experience emotions, like some kind of equipment. Please, don't feel any guilt or shame. It was just the way it was. I understood you couldn't treat me differently, not really knowing my desires or my feelings."

Dylan blinked slowly in recognition of his past behavior. Pictures of him, telling her she could be objective because she'd been a machine, taking her for granted, shot through his mind and he suddenly felt guilt and shame for not accepting her as a feeling being. He never really paid attention to her emotions. She was simply there, whenever he needed her help. She never complained. Just sometimes, when he was overstressing her physical state, he saw that strange look in her eyes, as if she'd been hurt. Now it was clear to him, he'd hurt her many times, without really knowing.

"Right, Rommie, I didn't treat you as you deserved. Is it too late to apologize for all those rough words? I mean I really didn't know just how much I was hurting you. Will you ever be able to forgive me?" His eyes pleaded for forgiveness in his sudden recognition of past mistakes.

"Dylan, I already said, you shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed. I understand completely and I have forgiven you long time ago. Although it did hurt at the time. You see all I want is to be treated fair. And you did it. Those small incidents don't change the fact that I know, you accept me as a fellow officer. Perhaps is now the time to correct all the mistakes, we both made in the past? I too made some mistakes, mostly out of my concern for your welfare."

Dylan smiled in relief and pulled her into embrace again: "I promise, I'll never hurt you again, Rommie. Should I do it, just hit me and I'll know."