Ears keened for the blast from the particle cannon, Jeffy cringed as an explosion erupted within the room. He knew he was dead, though he felt no pain, the cannon most likely severing
his spinal cord. He willed himself to open his eyes and noted that DANA had turned away, evidently too squeamish to witness the carnage he created. He also noticed that a sizeable hole had been created
where the door to the NCO Club used to be, the steel framing bent inward, and the door itself lodged deeply in the woodwork of the bar.
Looking down at himself, the engineering officer saw that aside from the bruises he'd taken from his crew mates in the tussle with DANA, he was relatively intact. Thoroughly confused, he let his his gaze
return to where his crew mates struggled for life in the clutches of the insane, robotic menace.
Marx still clutched the android's wrist as Broski reached back toward one of his boots, the veins at his temples pulsating rapidly. The corporal drew his leg up within his grasp
and reached past the cuff
of his pants, drawing out a six inch blade. Jeffy, expecting the impetuous non-comm to lash out at the android, was surprised to see him settle the tip of the blade against DANA's wrist and begin to turn
it counter-clockwise. He didn't have time to ponder Broski's intent, for at that moment another entity stepped through the remains of the doorway and stood silhouetted against the incoming light.
"This must end, DANA", the new voice stated forcefully.
The grotesque metallic skull lolled sideways on DANA's neck as the renegade android let out a maniacal squelch of laughter. "That is just what I plan to do", DANA commented darkly when his fit of laughter
had passed, "end it...end everything." He chuckled mirthlessly at his clever play on words.
The other stepped into the light, his confident strides bringing him within ten feet of DANA. "I won't let you do that", ANDA remarked casually, his hands folded politely before him.
DANA's eyes flickered with annoyance. "You can't stop me, hybrid", he spat, "not when I have two hostag..."
Just then, the screw Broski had been working on came loose, sending the corporal and DANA's mechanical thumb to the floor.
"Er...I mean, one hostage", the android amended.
The corporal staggered back, rubbing his throat, and moved behind ANDA.
"Release the other hostage", ANDA suggested reasonably, "there is no need for more violence."
The reddish glare of DANA's eyes seemed to soften, and Marx felt his swinging feet scrape the floor as the android's posture sagged.
"Gosh, ANDA", DANA's stricken voice issued forth from his metallic skull, "you're right. What am I doing?" His shoulders drooped even more as he shuffled forward, dragging Marx like a
doll behind him. "I just wanted everybody to like me", he continued, his steel jaw working into a wan frown, "is that so wrong?"
"No", Broski said from behind ANDA, stricken by the depth of anguish in the robot's voice, "that's not wrong at all. I know what it's like not to have any friends", he went on, his eyes growing
distant, "never getting to play with the other kids just because you lit your neighbor's dog on fire out of simple, innocent curiosity." He sniffed loudly, rubbing at his eyes. "Yeah, I know
all about that, man."
DANA nodded his iron cranium, still moving slowly forward. "And then when you started working on the bridge", he said to ANDA, "I just got so lonely." He shook his head sadly and sighed.
"Well I'm here, now", ANDA reminded his previously identical partner, "and I promise, if you release your hostage, I'll make sure I spend a lot more time with you."
"Really?", DANA's asked hopefully. He looked over to where Marx struggled pathetically in his grasp. "Okay", DANA agreed, "but I have one demand."
ANDA tensed at the word "demand", but didn't convey his concern to the other android. "What is it?"
"That you give me a hug", DANA replied, spreading his arms wide to receive the comradely affection of his counter part.
ANDA smiled warmly as he moved forward into DANA's embrace. "You got it, pal."
As their arms wrapped around one another, Mr. Jeffy wiped a tear from his eye and smiled. He was just about to move forward and make it a group hug when a flash of light erupted between the two androids,
followed by the thunder of a weapon's discharge. The concussive power of the explosion put the engineering officer on his back.
When he lifted his head, he saw DANA standing in the same place, laughing maniacally, a wisp of smoke drifting from his chest port. ANDA lay in a
smoldering heap outside in the hall.
