EPIC! By Tyval Chapter 3: Of the 100 freedom fighters that had stormed the Bailey factory only 3 still lived. Ironiclly enough the 3 survivors were not only the best, but had led this doomed attack on the killing machines that ruled the surface world. After years of small raids the mysterious Voice had directed her best agents Hel, Sarge, and Cleopatra to lead what it hoped would be a severe blow to the Bailies. If it had succeeded Voice was hoping to rally the Underground into hopefully retaking the planet back from the murderos robots. Instead the mission had gone bust. Despite the success of destroying the factory the assault force had been cut to pieces by Betrayer robots. Cut off from their escape route Hel had led the remaining survivors to a defensible position in the ruins of an old city. The building they took refuge in caused Cleopatra to let out one of her famous screams when she saw the name of the building on an old plaque. It ment nothing to Hel and Sarge, but to Cleopatra this building was the living embodiment of courage in the face of death. The Alamo!! Now the 3 women huddled behind large pieces of crumbling adobe wall as 1000 Betrayer's backed by a full 100 Bailies slowly closed in. They were in no hurry. Hel and Sarge checked their wrist lasers. If they were lucky they might get 3 or 4 Betrayers. Cleo only had enough for 2 shots. " Looks like this is it partner," Hel said," No escape for us this time." " How can you be so calm?," Cleo wailed," They're going to kill us! I don't want to die!" " Snap out of it Cleo," Sarge snapped," Don't go to pieces." " Hel, Sarge, I never got the chance to tell you I love you," Cleo sobbed," And now it's too late." Hel and Sarge hugged the sobbiing girl. They knew all too well that they were in love with each other and with the time lost Cleopatra. Just then explosions ripped the air. Looking at the source the eyes of the 3 women went wide as Betrayer's and Bailies alike exploded or disentegrated as something cut them down from above. The answer came as the massive silver spaceship descended through the clouds bringing destruction to the Bailies. " What is that?," Sarge asked. " I don't know, but I'm glad it's on our side," Hel answered," I've never seen firepower like that!" " It's a spaceship!," Cleo said excited," Like the Enterprise. or the Battlestar Galactia!" " The Enter-who? Battle-what?," Hel asked confused. But Cleopatra had ran outside and was franticlly waving as Hel and Sarge hurried to catch her. " What are you doing?," Sarge asked," How do we know they really are on our side." " Please be assured that we mean you no harm," came the voce of a holographic Rommie that appeared beside them," Do not be alarmed, I am Andromeda, ship of the line of the Commonwealth. I am from what you could call the future of an alternate reality. My avatar Rommie and Captain Valentine can tell you much more. Please accept my invatation and I will teleport you inside." " Guys, if she wanted us dead, we wold be dead already," Cleo beamed. " She is rather beautiful isn't she," Hel asked looking at the ship, but thinking of the woman whose image she had seen. " Maybe we can get them to help us fight the Bailies," Cleo smiled. " Okay, I'm in, but if they try anything," Sarge said seriously as she stripped a fresh laser power pack from one of their comrades who had fallen earlier. Hel and Cleo did the same as the Holo-Andromeda waited. Re-armed they faced her. " Okay, we'll come with you, for the moment, but if we don't like what we see, then you let us go," Hel ordered. " Very well, stand by," the Holo-Andromeda said as it flickered away. Seconds later Hel, Sarge, and Cleo found themselves on a platform face to face with 3 smiling women. In the center was the now flesh and blood (albeit superhuman) woman who looked like the image they had seen earlier. On the right was an athletic blonde haired beauty. And to the left was an unusual purple cat-like woman. Being around all kinds of weird mutants the Underground women didn't think she was that unusual looking, rather attractive even. All 3 were armed, but wore their arms not only holstered, but snapped as a sign of trust. Hel had started to raise her arm, but stopped. Sarge looked around nervously. Beka stepped forward and extended her hand. " Beka Valentine acting captain of the Andromeda," Beka smiled. " Helen, not much else," Hel smiled as she took her hand. Introductions were quickly made. Beka and Rommie told them of their mission, how they were designated to help in the war against the Magog. Hel and Sarge asked them in turn about their own war against the Bailies. That was no problem they were assured. Over the next 24 hours the Andromeda hunted down and destroyed every last Bailey and Betrayer on Earth. With nothing left to accomplish they bid a silent farewell to Voice and the world they knew. None of them had any real ties, even Sarge whose sister Lilly was happily married. The 6 women were now gathered on the Andromeda's bridge as they began their approach to the sun for the next time jump. " Cleopatra will be especially useful on our next mission," Rommie said. " How's that?," Hel asked curious. " According to our data the next 3 women we need to recruit are from her original time, only in our reality," Trance smiled. " Home? You mean I'm going home?," Cleo happily said. " I'm sorry Cleopatra," the Hologaphic Andromeda said," This is just a visit. You are one of the chosen and will have to come with us when we leave. I'm sorry, but the fate of Trillions depends on all of us." Cleopatra was extremely depressed. To be so close to home and have it yanked away from her. Even though they loved her, she knew that Hel and Sarge would back the Andromeda. They were soldiers and would do their duty to protect tthe galaxy. Cleopatra's eyes grew wide when she saw the faces on the viewscreen. " These are the next women we have to recruit," Romme said," Cleo, do you recognize any of them." " Well, I don't know who Buffy Summers is, but that woman is Lara Croft! She's the most famous archeologist on Earth," Cleo said," She's one woman I can definately say is qualified for any adventure. But there must be mistake in your databanks. That girl! She's just a pop star! That's Britney Spears!" " Hang on," Beka said as the ship started to vibrate," It gets bumpy from here!" end of chapter 3. ................................ Things heat up a little next chapter as Buffy saves Lara from vampires, and both end up backstage at Britney's concert.