13. The Warmth of an Invisible Light

Complete story — includes the ending

While trying to escape pursuing ships and low on fuel, Andromeda ends up in a dead galaxy and tries a new device of Harper's, which accidentally transfers Dylan to an alternate universe where he died a hero after stopping the Nietzschean rebellion 300 years earlier and Andromeda has been turned into a museum. In the new reality, the Commonwealth never fell, but Harper, now part cybernetic and manipulated by the Abyss, has taken it over with Rhade as his second in command and Beka the general of the rebellion. Dylan teams up with the alternate Rommie and a part of Trance that enters that reality looking for him to stop Harper. With the help of Beka, Dylan leads a counter-rebellion on board Andromeda and tries to reach out to Harper, believing he still has good in him. Alternate Rommie and Beka defeat Harper's forces, but Rhade activates Andromeda ' s self-destruct. Harper, whom Dylan did reach, decides to surrender, but Rhade kills him as the self-destruct reaches zero. However, Andromeda reveals she tricked him and orders Rhade to surrender as Harper's rule has now been overthrown. Beka and Rommie plan to work together to restore the Commonwealth to its former glory with the help of the Andromeda and Dylan has Trance return him to his world with Harper's device. Before she does, Trance gives him a "gift," the word "Amalthea" and upon his return, Dylan finds out he has only been gone thirty seconds. There, he learns that by rigging up the Eureka Maru to the Andromeda, the ship can now reach a nearby star, but unless one goes supernova, they won't be able to refuel. Dylan learns that one of the stars is Amalthea and orders Andromeda to it. Amalthea goes supernova and Andromeda is able to refuel. Trance mourns the loss of Amalthea as the star sacrificed itself for Andromeda.