| Lost in a Space that Isn't There | |
|---|---|
| |
| Production | |
| Episode |
4.16 |
| Production # |
416 |
| Original air date |
April 5, 2004 |
| Written by | |
| Directed by | |
| Developed by | |
| Producer | |
| Executive Producer |
Allan Eastman |
| Production Designer | |
| Cast | |
| Guest stars | |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | |
| Followed by | |
Then look for the origin of change.
Perhaps it is in the Eye."
Luna, "Catalog of Companions"
CY 302
"Lost in a Space that Isn't There" is episode 16 of Season 4.
Synopsis
For 2 days, the Andromeda Ascendant has been running from bounty hunters sent by Pish Tryan, who have been locating her within 1 hour of each exit from slipstream. After the latest jump, 2 hours pass, and no bounty hunters arrive, so the crew stands down from alert. However, as Beka Valentine and Telemachus Rhade start to leave the Command Center, a flight of Restorian Fighters emerge from slipstream and attack. Andromeda destroys them, but Dylan Hunt is convinced that someone onboard is leaking information.
The Andromeda Ascendant Artificial Intelligence insists that she has no records of outgoing transmissions, and scans of all crew members indicate nothing out of the ordinary. Dylan asks her who would have the authority to override her systems, which narrows the suspect list to Trance Gemini, Rhade, Beka, and Seamus Harper. Dylan immediately rules out Trance. Andromeda notes that Rhade, a Nietzschean, is genetically engineered to be able to hide his emotions. They both agree that Harper has the skills required, and Beka has been acting strange lately. Dylan asks Andromeda to review the reactions of these three to each appearance of bounty hunters, but this yields no further insight. Dylan asks her to check the records immediately before the arrival of each wave of bounty hunters, and this gives him the clue he was looking for.
Meanwhile, Rhade finds Harper preparing a surprise party for Beka. He has noticed that she seems to be in need of some cheering up lately, so he is celebrating the 10 year, 3 month, and 9 day anniversary of her father turning the Maru over to her (the best excuse he can come up with). Trance bursts in, telling him that Beka is on her way, earlier than expected. The three of them hide, and "surprise" Beka as she arrives. She seems pleased by the gesture.
Dylan and Rommie arrive at the party looking a little more somber. Dylan tells Beka that he needs her to undergo some exams and answer some questions. Beka resists, pulling two guns, and protests that she does not know what he is talking about. Dylan explains that he believes Beka is the mole, but Beka insists that she has been set up. She believes, however, that Dylan has already "convicted" her in his mind. Rhade moves on her while she is looking at Dylan, and in the struggle, Rommie knocks her out with a tranquilizing device.
Beka is taken to med deck and prepared for an exam. They suspect that she may be under the influence of drugs (such as Flash), and Dylan reluctantly agrees that this would preferable to her betraying them deliberately. However, they find no evidence of drug use. Trance has a hunch, and increases magnification to the molecular level, where they find components made of the Radical Isotopes, evidence of the Spirit of the Abyss.
Rhade suggests tossing Beka out an airlock, but Dylan insists on trying to save her. They theorize that if they create a VR simulacrum, they may be able to trick Beka's consciousness and lure the Abyss out. Trance says that to do this, and keep the Abyss from re-entering her, they will need to make her "unappealing", which means lowering her body temperature until she is technically dead, and, hopefully, reviving her afterwards.
Dylan and Beka are hooked into the Virtual Reality matrix, which is a simulated version of the Andromeda. Rommie tells Dylan to lure the Abyss to a particular area of the "ship", where they can trap it.
Dylan finds himself in a representation of the Andromeda, while Beka (in Med Deck) "flatlines" as the cryogenic process completes. In the simulacrum, Dylan finds Beka, who says she feels cold. He encourages her to fight it, and tries to lead her out. Suddenly, Beka's eyes go black, and she pulls and extends her Force lance. In a changed voice, she tells Dylan, "You cannot defeat me!" Dylan draws and extends his own forcelance, and a fight ensues. Rommie warns Dylan that he must exit immediately, so they can revive Beka. Dylan decapitates Beka, and a red glowing entity leaves her body and runs through the ship. Dylan exits the Virtual Reality matrix, and Beka is revived, with the Abyss cleared from her mind, although she is still unconscious. The crew take turns sitting by her bedside while she is recovering.
Rhade finds Rommie feeling "sick", and Rommie notes the presence of Radical Isotopes in her system: The Abyss has infected her, and is venting oxygen from the ship. Dylan orders the entire crew onto supplemental oxygen, and tries to determine how to fight the Abyss. Rhade suggests that Trance may be the key, in fact, he believes she may have defeated it before.
Trance enters the VR matrix, and finds herself in a corridor on the ship. Everything goes dark, and then the Abyss appears, in humanoid form. It attacks and envelops Trance, but she manifests as a sun and burns it to destruction.
Trance revives, and Andromeda's systems are restored to normal. Beka revives, but does not remember anything since the party.
Memorable Quotes
Beka: Have I ever lied to you? Harper: Well… Beka: Don't answer that.
Beka: Aye-aye, Captain Hunt… Yeah, I said it.
Trivia
- At 13:10-15 right after Beka says "Oh spare me Rommie, you only know what you are programed to." Lexia Doig (Rommie) almost cracks up.