[Pixiedust]

Kinda-parody on Phantom of the Opera, starring the characters of Andromeda. Probably better if you've watched the Phantom of the Opera, but you might like it anyway. When the "lines" are in italics it means they're singing.

Summary: A ghost is hiding in the depths of the slipstream, and he's taken an interest in a young aspiring pilot. But are his intentions pure?

Cast:

Dylan Hunt as The Phantom

Beka Valentine as Christine

Seamus Harper as Raoul

Rommie as Madame Giry

Trance Gemini as Meg

Tyr Anazasi as André

Elsbett Bolivar as Carlotta

G. Rhade as Joseph Bouquet

An old dusty command deck with the sign “Auction today” An old man enters the auction.

Auctioneer: Lot 665 then, ladies and gentlemen. A useless, but rather pretty force lance. May I commence at 20 thrones? 20, thank you Mr Harper. And 25 from you, Rommie. 30? Yes Mr Harper, thank you. And 35?

Rommie shakes her head and smiles at Harper.

Auctioneer: Selling at 30 thrones then. Once, twice, gone. Sold for 30 thrones to Mr Seamus Zelazny Harper.

Harper gets the force lance and starts to sing in his head.

Harper: A collector’s piece indeed, every detail exactly as she said. Will you still shoot when all the rest of us are dead?

Auctioneer: Lot 666 then. A slipstream station in pieces. Some of you may recall a strange affair of the Phantom of Andromeda, a mystery never fully explained. We’re told that this is the very slipstream station which figures in the famous disaster. It has been repaired. Perhaps we can frighten away the ghost of so many years with a little flying. Gentlemen.

The slipstream station is unravelled in all it’s glory and with dramatic music, Andromeda enters slipstream, back in the time of the Phantom of Andromeda. The command deck is shiny and new, and at the slipstream station stands Elsbett Bolivar, pilot of the Andromeda, very full of herself. She’s flying through slipstream, practicing for that night’s salvage job.

Elsbett: You haven’t polished the slipstream station properly!

Suddenly, the owner of Andromeda, Monsieur Lefevre enters along with Tyr Anasazi.

Lefevre: As you can see, we’re all practicing for the job we are doing tonight. Miss Bolivar, Madame Rommie, ladies and gentlemen, please. For a few weeks there have been rumours that I’m selling the Andromeda. I can now tell you that these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to the new owner of the Andromeda, Tyr Anasazi.

Tyr: And I want to introduce our new engineer, Seamus Harper.

Beka and Trance walk onto command as they see Harper being introduced.

Beka: It’s Seamus. Before my father died, on the Maru…I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts. He called me Little Rocket.

Trance: Oh Beka, he’s so handsome.

Harper makes a speech on how honoured he is to be onboard such a great ship.

Lefevre: Mr Harper, this is Princess Elsbett, our pilot for five seasons.

Harper: An honour, but I believe I’m keeping you from practicing. I will be here this evening to share your great triumph.

Elsbett: He loves me. Love me, love me, love me.

Harper walks past Beka without a second look.

Beka: He wouldn’t recognise me.

Trance: He didn’t see you!

The soldiers, including Beka and Trance, start shooting at their mock targets.

Rommie: We take particular pride in our the excellence of our soldiers.

Tyr: I can see why. Especially that little purple angel.

Rommie: Trance Gemini. We don’t know much about her.

Tyr: And that exceptional beauty.

Rommie: Beka Valentine. Promising talent, Mr Anasazi, very promising.

Tyr: Valentine? As in Ignatius Valentine, the famous flash runner?

Rommie: His only daughter. Orphaned at 17, she took over the Maru and eventually came to us here, onboard me.

Tyr: An orphan you say?

Rommie: If you would kindly stand to one side.

As the practicing goes on, Elsbett pilots and the soldiers shoot, Tyr is mostly interested in the shooting. Elsbett looks ticked off.

Elsbett: All they want is the shooting!

Tyr: Harper is very interested in tonight’s gala.

Elsbett: I hope he’s as interested in shooting soldiers as your new owner, because I will not be flying!

She quickly turns to leave the command deck.

Tyr: What do we do?

Lefevre: Grovel. Grovel, grovel, grovel.

Tyr: Princess! Goddess of piloting! Maybe you could…show me how brilliant you are, as a private show for me.

Elsbett: Oh…if my owner commands.

She sits down in the pilots chair and starts flying. Suddenly, sparks fly out of the console and Elsbett is thrown backwards. The view changes to a dark figure in slipstream control. He sees on a screen what’s happening and smirks.

Trance: He’s here, the Phantom of Andromeda.

Tyr: Princess, princess! What’s going on in slipstream control?

Rhade: Please Sir, I wasn’t at my post! There’s no one there, and if there is, well it must be a ghost.

Rommie goes out in the corridor and finds a flexi on the floor. She picks it up.

Tyr: Princess, these things do happen.

Elsbett: For the past three years, these things do happen. And do you stop them from happening? NO! And you, Mr Anasazi, you’re as bad as him. Until you stop these things from happening, this thing, she points to herself, does not happen. I’m leaving! Bye bye!

She leaves the command deck.

Tyr: She is coming back, isn’t she?

Andromeda’s AI pops up on the screen, shrugging. Rommie walks back in with the flexi.

Rommie: I have a message sir, from the starship ghost.

Tyr: Oh by the bones of Drago Musevini, you’re all obsessed!

Rommie: He welcomes you to his ship, and reminds you that his salary is due. Monsieur Lefevre used to give him 20.000 thrones a month.

Tyr: 20.000 thrones? Well, we can’t afford that, we’ve lost our pilot! Is there an understudy?

Andromeda AI: There is no understudy for Princess Bolivar!

Rommie: Beka Valentine can pilot, sir.

Tyr: What, a soldier girl? Don’t be silly.

Rommie: She’s been taking lessons from a great teacher.

Tyr: Who?

Beka: I don’t know his name, sir.

Rommie: Let her fly for you. She has been well taught.

Tyr: This is doing nothing for my nerves. But she is very pretty.

Beka stands at the pilots seat and starts flying. Everyone is in awe when they see how great she can fly. View switches to the same night, when she flies the Andromeda through their job. Harper watches her, and far away, the Phantom is watching on a view screen.

Harper: Can it be? Can it be Beka? Long ago, it seems so long ago, how young and innocent we were, she may not remember me, but I remember her.

Everyone applauds as Beka flies them into safety, job finished.

[Mary Rose]

It's cute. I never saw Phantom of the Opera but oh, well. It was enjoyable anyway.

[aldomar]

That's cute. Very creative.

[Pixiedust]

Time for more!

Elsbett is watching from another ship as Beka flies. She is very angry. Trance is looking for Beka. She goes down to the hangar bay. Beka is in the Maru, lighting a candle.

Phantom/Dylan (VO): Brava, brava, bravissima

Trance: Beka, Beka

Phantom/Dylan (VO): Beka

Trance: Where in the world have you been hiding?
Really you were perfect.
I only wish I knew your secret,
Who is your great tutor?

Beka: Trance, when I first came to the Andromeda, whenever I’d come to the Maru alone to light a candle for my father, a voice from above, and in my dreams, he was always there. You see, when my father laid dying from a flash overdose, well he did say a lot of strange things, but he told me I’d be protected by an angel. An angel of slipstream.

Trance: Beka, do you believe? Do you believe the spirit of your father is coaching you?

Beka: Who else Trance? Who else?
Father once spoke of an angel,
I used to dream he’d appear.
Now as I fly I can sense him.
And I know he’s here.
Here in this room he calls me softly,
Somewhere inside hiding.
Somehow I know he’s always with me,
He the unseen high guard.

Trance: Beka you must have been dreaming,
Stories like this can’t come true.
Beka, you’re talking in riddles,
And it’s not like you.

Beka: Angel of slipstream, guide and guardian,
Grant to me your glory.

Trance: Who is this angel?

Both: This angel of slipstream,
Hide no longer.
Secret and strange angel

Beka: He’s with me even now,

Trance Your hands are cold,

Beka: All around me,

Trance: Your face Beka, it’s white,

Beka: It frightens me,

Trance: Don’t be frightened.

Rhade is watching them from slipstream control. Romme is trying to get Beka through admirers and eventually gets her into the obs deck.

Rommie: No! Ah! You did very well, my dear. He’s pleased with you.

Rommie hands Beka a little “yay another world for the commonwealth” button. She then leaves the room, leaving Beka looking out of the view screen. Outside, Tyr is talking to Harper.

Tyr: Mr Harper! I think we’ve made quite a discovery with Miss Valentine. Perhaps we could present her to you.

Harper: If you don’t mind gentlemen, this is one visit I’d rather make unaccompanied.

Harper enters the obs deck.

Harper: Little Rocket let her mind wander. Little Rocket thought, am I fonder of nanobots, or of fluffy dices or pilot chairs?

Beka: Seamus!

Harper: Or of knuckle rings, or chokers?

Beka: Those picnics in the engine room.

Harper: Or of coffee?

Beka: Father piloting the Maru…

Harper: …as we read to each other dark stories of Earth.

Beka: No, what I love best, Rocket said, is when I’m asleep in my bed.
And the angel of slipstream flies through my head,

Both: The angel of slipstream flies through my head.

Harper: You flew like an angel tonight!

Beka: Father said, “when I’m in heaven child, I will send the angel of slipstream to you.” Well, father is dead Seamus, and I have been visited by the angel of slipstream.

Harper: Oh, no doubt of it. And now, we go to supper. There’s a nice little drift nearby ran by the fish people…

Beka: No Seamus, the angel of slipstream is very strict.

Harper: You must change. I’ll prep the Maru. Two minutes, little Rocket.

Beka: No, Seamus! Wait!

Someone orders Andromeda to lock the doors after Harper’s left and she complies. Beka changes and prepares to walk out when the lights go out.

Phantom/Dylan (VO): Insolent boy, this slave of toolboxes!
Basking in your glory!
Ignorant fool, this brave young engineer,
Sharing in my triumph!

Beka: Angel, I hear you,
Speak, I listen.
Stay by my side,
Guide me.
Angel, my soul was weak,
Forgive me.
Enter at last, master.

Phantom/Dylan (VO): Flattering child,
You shall know me.
See why in brightness I hide.
Look at the stars in the view screen,
I am there inside!

She looks in the view screen and a man in a mask and a cape stands there. As if in a trance, she moves towards the view screen.

Beka: Angel of slipstream,
Guide and guardian,
Grant to me your glory.
Angel of slipstream,
Hide no longer,
Come to me, strange angel.

Phantom/Dylan: I am your angel of slipstream.
Come to me, angel of slipstream.

Harper stands outside, unable to get in.

Harper: Andromeda! Whose is that voice? Who is that in there?

Phantom/Dylan: I am your angel of slipstream.

She goes through the view screen, and as she takes his hand, dramatic music starts. He takes her flying through the stars while the music plays.

Beka: In sleep he flew with me,
In dreams he came.
That voice that calls to me,
And speaks my name.
And do I dream again?
For now I find,
The Phantom of Andromeda is here,
Inside my mind.

Phantom/Dylan: Fly once again with me,
Our strange duet.
My power over you,
Grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me,
To glance behind,
The Phantom of Andromeda is here,
Inside your mind.

Beka: Those who have seen your face,
Draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear,

Phantom/Dylan: It’s me they hear.
My spirit and your flight,

Beka: Your spirit and my flight,

Both: In one combine,
The Phantom of the opera is there, [I]

Beka: [I] Inside my mind.

Phantom/Dylan: Inside your mind.

Beka looks around her. She’s in the middle of space, inside a blue light with thick strings going in an organised chaos around her. She’s inside slipstream.

This post has been edited by Bekas Playgirl: 25 July 2006 - 05:45 PM

[aldomar]

Okay. I'm trying to visualize Dylan singing "The Music of the Night."

"Angel of Slipstream" was quite amusing.

This is strange, but strangely amusing too.

This post has been edited by aldomar: 25 July 2006 - 07:26 PM

[Mary Rose]

Alternate universes are always fun. This one is.

[charli]

A unique idea! Not one I could've pulled off and you've done it well!

[Pixiedust]

aldomar: Slipstream of the night, actually

Mary Rose: Not sure if it even qualifies as that!

Charli: Thanks!

Chapter 3

Dylan throws his cape off. There’s like a room inside the slipstream, full of covered mirrors and candles. Beka stares at him in awe.

Dylan: I have brought you,
To the seat of sweet slipstream’s throne,
To this kingdom where all must pay homage
To slipstream,
Slipstream…

You have come here,
For one purpose and one alone,
Since the moment I first saw you fly,
I have needed you with me to serve me, to fly,
For my slipstream,
Slipstream…

He pauses, and she walks up to him as he leads her through the light of the slipstream.

Dylan: Night time sharpens,
Heightens each sensation.
Brightness stirs,
And wakes imagination.
Silently the senses,
Abandon their defences,
Helpless to resist the routes I write,
For I compose the slipstream of the night.

Slowly, gently,
Night unfurls it’s splendour.
Grasp it,
Sense it,
Tremulous and tender.
Turn your face away,
From the garish light of day,
Turn your thoughts away from
Cold, unfeeling light.
And fly through
The slipstream of the night.

Close your eyes,
And surrender to your brightest dreams,
Purge your thoughts
Of the life you knew before.
Close your eyes,
Let your spirit start to soar.
And you’ll live
As you’ve never lived before.

He waves to her and she comes to him as if possessed.

Dylan: Softly, deftly,
Slipstream shall caress you.
See it, feel it,
Secretly possess you.
Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind,
In this brightness
That you know you cannot fight
The brightness of
The slipstream of the night

Let your mind start a journey
To a strange new world.
Leave all thoughts
Of the life you knew before.
Let your soul take you
Where you long to be,
Only then can you belong to me.

He encircles her from behind and sensually starts feeling her body. She offers no resistance but leans into his touch.

Dylan: Floating, falling,
Sweet intoxication,
Touch me,
Trust me,
Savour each sensation.
Let the dream begin,
Let your brighter side give in,
To the power of the slipstream of your flight,
The power of the slipstream of the night

He takes her around to a bed, in there she sees a perfect model of herself, in a bridal gown. She faints, and Dylan carries her to the bed, letting the curtain fall around her.

Dylan: You alone can make my ship take flight,
Help me make the slipstream of the night.

Trance enters the obs deck, finding it dark and empty. She sees the view screen, and that it has been opened. She sticks her head through, and finds she can breathe and walk through the space there. Suddenly, a hand on her shoulder grabs her and pulls her back. It’s Rommie. Without a word, they return to the obs deck.

Rhade is scaring the soldier girls.

Rhade: Like yellow parchment is his skin,
A great black hole serves as the nose that rot away,
You must be always on your guard,
Or he’ll catch you with his magical force lance.

Rommie walks up to him, shooing the girls away.

Rommie: Those who speak of what they know,
Find too late that prudent silence is wise.
Gaheris Rhade, hold your tongue!
Keep your gun at the level of your eyes.

She slaps him and walks off.

Beka wakes, next to a force lance, which isn’t really a force lance, but makes beautiful patterns onto the slipstream. She gets up and finds Dylan, caressing the slipstream threads.

Beka: I remember there were stars,
Swirling stars upon a black void of space.
There were candles all around,
And in the space there was a cape.
And in the cape there was a man…

She walks up to Dylan, caressing his face.

Beka: Who was that shape in the view screen?
Whose is the man in the mask?

She pulls of Dylan’s mask, and he rushes up, covering his face, then running up to a mirror, ripping the cover off it.

Dylan: Damn you!
You little prying Nietzchean!
You little Abyss,
Is this what you wanted to see?
Curse you!
You little lying Magog!
You little viper,
Now you cannot ever be free!
Damn you!
Curse you!

He walks over and hides his face in his arms. Beka looks at him, teary-eyed.

Dylan: Stranger than you dreamt it,
Can you even dare to look,
Or bear to think of me?
This loathsome gargoyle who
Burns in hell,
But secretly,
Yearns for heaven,
Secretely, secretly
Beka…

Fear can turn to love,
You’ll learn to see,
To find the man behind the monster,
This repulsing carcass who seems a beast,
But secretly
Dreams of beauty,
Secretely, secretly,
Oh, Beka.

She hands him the mask, and he puts it back on, careful that she won’t see his face.

Dylan: Come, we must return. That fool who runs my ship will be missing you.

We’re back in the future, with the auction on Andromeda. Harper is getting back into his ship with the force lance in grasp. He lifts his hat off to Rommie as he sees her standing in the hangar bay, and his ship leaves. Rommie stands for a while, looking after him as he leaves.

[Mr Dust]

this is funny, i like it, especially if you have actually seen POTO & andromeda of course lol

[Mary Rose]

Yeah, it would probably work better if I had actually seen POTO, but that's O.K. It's still good.

[aldomar]

Quote

aldomar: Slipstream of the night, actually

Hehe. OK, i stand corrected.

I can see this. Now i have to dig out the soundtrack and give it a listen.

[charli]

LOL!

Lovely parody! Funny thing is that having seen the Drom epi where B is possessed by the Abyss (The World Turns All Around Her?), I can picture the expression on Beka's face as the Phantom/Dylan pulls her into his spell...

AND! Knowing the movie version almost as well as the Drom epis, I can picture Beka in the white dressing gown...

In short, I LOVE THIS! Very creative! Love how you reworded the music!

[Fragsta]

Awesome! I'm a huge fan of the Phantom (the original stage musical first, the movie second...it's still heresy with it's changed lyrics!) and I love this. It's hard to imagine Harper singing, Beka I can imagine, and Dylan and Rhade. Trance, easy, but Rommie is a little more difficult to imagine singing. Y'see I try to read with their voices in my head but it's weird when they're doing it to music.

Great though! My favourite line so far was "He the unseen high guard." very nice.

[Pixiedust]

Murphy: Prob better if you have. Not sure if you haven't.

Mary Rose: I so cannot believe I'll be writing Beka/Dylan again.

Aldomar: I love the music, listen to it all the time.

Charli: There's just some bits which are SO funny to reword...other bits I get stuck on. But it's all good fun.

Fragsta: Did you see the stage version? I went to see it last christmas, loved it.

Tyr walks onto command deck, looking pleased.

Tyr: Mystery after last night
It says mystery of pilot’s first flight
Mystified all the galaxies say
We are mystified, we suspect foul play

Bad news on the command deck,
Now Beka but first Elsbett.
Still, at least, to jobs we dash,
Gossip's worth its weight in flash!

What a way to run a starship
Spare me these unending trials
Half your crew disappears but the employer still cheers:
Andromeda!
To hell with skill and handle
Have a scandal and you're sure to get the dosh!

Andromeda pops up on the view screen, exasperated.

Andromeda: Damnable!
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!

Tyr: Andromeda, please don't shout!
It's publicity!
And the take is new
Free publicity!

Andromeda: But we have no crew!

Tyr: Andromeda, we cannot fail!

Andromeada: By the way, you’ve got some mail.

Dear Tyr what a job well done,
Beka was, in a word, sublime
We were hardly bereft when Elsbett left
On that note, the pilot’s a disaster, can’t fly faster,
Cause she’s seasons past her prime!

She scans and finds another message.

Romme: Dear Anazasi
Just a brief reminder
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the ghost by return of post
P.T.O.
No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!

Both: Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain

Tyr: These are both signed S.G.

Andromeda: Who the hell is he?

Both: Starship Ghost!

Tyr: It's nothing short of shocking

Andromeda: He is mocking your position!

Tyr: In addition he wants money!

Andromeda: What a funny apparition!

Both: To expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane!

Harper enters, looking stressed.

Harper: Where is she?

Tyr: You mean Elsbett?

Harper: I mean Miss Valentine
Where is she?

Andromeda: Well how should we know?

Harper: I want an answer!
I take it that you sent me this flexi!

Tyr: What's all this nonsense?

Andromeda: Of course not!

Tyr: Don't look at me!

Harper: She's not with you then?

Andromeda: Of course not!

Tyr: We're in the dark!

Harper: Monsieur dont argue!
Isn't this the message you wrote?

Tyr: And what is it that I’m meant to have wrote? Written!

Andromeda: Do not fear for Miss Valentine.
The angel of slipstream has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again.

Harper: If you didn't write it, then who did?

Elsbett enters, waving a flexi in the air

Elsbett: Where is he?

Tyr: Ah, welcome back!

Elsbett: Your precious engineer,
Where is he?

Harper: What is it now?

Elsbett: I have your message,
A message which I rather resent!

Tyr: And did you send it?

Harper: Of course not!

Andromeda: As if he would!

Elsbett: You didn't send it?

Harper: Of course not!

Tyr: What's going on?

Elsbett: You dare to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?

Harper: And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?

Elsbett hands over the flexi to Harper.

Harper: Your days aboard the Andromeda are numbered
Beka Valentine…

Elsbett: Beka Valentine!

Harper:…will be flying on your behalf tonight
Be prepared for a great misfortune
Should you attempt to take her place.

Tyr: Far too many flexis for my taste
And most of them about Beka!
All I've heard since I came is that kludge’s name!

Rommie and Trance suddenly enter.

Rommie: Miss Valentine has returned.

Tyr: I hope no worse for wear as far as I’m concerned!

Andromeda: Where precisely is she now?

Rommie: I thought it best she was alone,

Trance: She needed rest.

Harper: May I see her?

Rommie: No, Monsieur
She will see no one.

Elsbett: Will she sing, will she sing?

Rommie: Here, I have a flexi
Tyr, Elsbett and Harper: Let me see it!

Rommie hands it to Tyr.

Tyr: Friends,
I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature
Detailing how my ship is to be run
You have not...

(fading to Dylan‘s voice)

followed my instructions
I shall give you one last chance.

[I]Dylan is sitting in the slipstream with a perfect little model of the Andromeda command deck. At the pilot’s station stands Elsbett, and Beka’s in the background.

Dylan: Beka Valentine has returned to you,
And I am anxious her career should progress
In the new job for Gerentex,

He grabs the Elsbett doll and throws it off roughly.

Dylan: You will therefore make Elsbett scrub the decks.
And Beka pilots for your success.

He carefully places the Beka doll at the slipstream station.

Dylan: [I]The slipstream Miss Valentine pilots calls for skill and appeal
The job of scrubbing is simple, which makes my delegation, in a word, ideal!

He finishes typing the flexi.

Dylan: I shall watch the performance from the captain’s quarters,
Which will be kept empty for me.
Should these commands be ignored
A disaster beyond your imagination will occur.
I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant
S.G.

Switching back to the command deck, the listeners are appalled.

Elsbett: Beka!

Andromeda: Whatever next?

Elsbett: It's all a plot to help Beka!

Tyr: This is insane…

Elsbett: I know who sent this:
The engineer -- her lover!

Harper: Can you believe this?

Tyr: Princess!

Elsbett: O traditori!

Tyr: This is a joke! This changes nothing!

Elsbett: O menititori!

Tyr: Princess, you are our star,
And always will be!
Princess…
This man is mad!
I don’t take orders!
Miss Valentine will be scrubbing the decks…the simple job.
Elsbett will be flying the ship!

Elsbett: It’s useless trying to appease me!
You're only saying this to please me!
Signori, e vero?
Non, non, non voglio udire!
Lasciatemi morire!
O padre mio!
Dio!

Rommie: Who scorn his word, beware to those…

Elsbett: You have reviled me!

Rommie: The angel sees, the angel knows…

Elsbett: You have rebuked me!

Tyr: Princess, pardon me…

Elsbett: You have replaced me!

Tyr: Please, Princess,
I beseech you…

Rommie: This hour shall see your darkest fears

Harper and Trance: I must see her…

Elsbett: Abbandonata!
Deseredata!
O, sventurata!

Rommie: The angel sees, the angel hears…

Harper: Where did she go...?

Elsbett: Abbandonata!
Disgraziata!

Tyr: Princess, fly for me!
Dont be a martyr…

Harper, Rommie and Trance: What new surprises lie in store...?

Tyr: Our star!
Elsbett: Non vo' cantar!

After roaming the corridor they come to the obs deck where people are waiting.

Crowd: Miss Valentine! Miss Valentine!

A man walks up to Elsbett with a rose.

Man: Would you please give this to Miss Valentine?

They quickly back out of the obs deck, Elsbett looking thoroughly pissed off.

Tyr: The employers need you! We need you too!

Elsbett: Would you not rather have your precious little kludge?

Tyr shakes his head.

Tyr: Princess no! The universe wants you!

[aldomar]

This is great. Still loving it.

[Mary Rose]

Very funny.

[Pixiedust]

I couldn't add the "Il Muto" song, which was sad. Just couldn't find a way to work it into the story.


Tyr is fussing over Elsbett in her quarters, giving her lots of things.

Tyr: Alpha woman,
First lady of the pride,
Your devotees are on their knees
To implore you.
Can you bow out when they’re shouting your name?
Just think of how they all adore you.

Alpha woman,
Enchant us once again,
Think of the thrones!
And of the bones of Drago!
Can you deny me the triumph in store?
Fly, Alpha woman, once more.

View switches to Harper in the machine shop.

Harper: Beka spoke of an angel…

Back to Elsbett’s quarters, where she’s having diamond-adorned pilot’s gear put on.

Elsbett: Alpha woman,
Your flight shall live again,
You took a flip,
But there’s a ship that needs you!

Tyr: Those who see you fly
Liken you to an angel!

Elsbett: Think of their cry
Of undying support!

Tyr: I get my money,
She gets her limelight!

Elsbett: Follow where the limelight leads you!

Tyr: Alpha women are a trial!

Elsbett: Alpha woman,
Your song shall never die!

Harper is walking in the Maru while Elsbett gets carried through the decks.

Harper: Orders, warnings…

Tyr: Lunatic demands are regular occurrences,

Elsbett: Think how you’ll shine in that final jump,

Tyr: Surely there’ll be further scenes, worse than this,

Elsbett: Fly, Alpha woman, once more!

Harper: I must see these demands are rejected,

Tyr: Who’d believe a pilot,
Happy to relieve a soldier girl,
Who’s gone and slept with the engineer?
Harper and the soubrette,
Entwined in love’s duet,
Although he may demur,
He must have been with her.
You could never cram all this in a scam,
But if it’s greatly flied and we can quickly hide,
It’s just the sort of con where we won’t get caught,
In fact the perfect job…

Rommie, Beka and Trance are walking through the decks.

Rommie and Trance: For if his curse is on this starship…

All the crew are gathering around Elsbett.

Crew: Alpha woman,
The galaxy is at your feet,
Employers wait,
And how they hate
To be cheated.
Light up the slipstream
With that age old rapport,
Fly, Alpha woman once more.

That same night. Elsbett is in the pilot’s seat and everyone’s ready. Beka’s scrubbing the floor in the back of command. Elsbett begins to fly. View changes to Rhade in slipstream control. He knows something’s wrong. Suddenly, Dylan’s head shows up, but Rhade doesn’t see him. Dylan’s watching his little screen and sees that Elsbett is flying. He also sees that the captain’s quarters has been occupied. Everything goes quiet as Dylan’s voice echoes throughout the ship.

Dylan: [I]Did I not instruct that the captain’s quarters were to be kept empty?

Trance: He’s here. The phantom of Andromeda.

Beka: It’s him.

Elsbett: You be quiet, you little twitchy perseid!

Dylan: (mumbles) A perseid, princess? Perhaps it is you who are the perseid.

Elsbett re-enters slipstream, but can’t stop twitching and has to stop flying. She tries again, but the same thing happens, and she rushes up and leaves command. Tyr rushes up to the view screen where Gerentex is waiting for an explanation.

Tyr: I’m terribly sorry. We will continue in ten minutes time, and Miss Valentine will fly.

In her quarters, Beka finds a little “yay another world for the commonwealth button.” Dylan has spotted Rhade in slipstream control. Rhade is running, but all the doors have been locked. Dylan chases after him. Back on command, everyone’s waiting. Suddenly the picture on the view screen changes. Rhade’s falling down from the bridge, into the core. Everyone screams. View changes to Dylan as he stands on the bridge, looking down on the falling Rhade. Harper finds Beka.

Harper: Are you all right?

Beka: Harper, we’re not safe here!

Tyr: Everyone, please! Do not panic, it’s simply an accident! An accident!

[Mary Rose]

Nice update.

[aldomar]

Beka's Playgirl, on Aug 6 2006, 06:53 PM, said:

I couldn't add the "Il Muto" song, which was sad. Just couldn't find a way to work it into the story.

Heh, it's quite Ok. You're doing great. This is very amusing.