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"The Sum Of Its Parts" - Episode #116 (spoilers below!) (Click here for review)

While trying on various clothing for Beka and Trance, Rommie comments on how her appearance and everything about her was selected for the good of the crew. However, she admits to trying on thousands of appearances before settling on her current one. In the midst of this, the Andromeda encounters a massive field of debris dead ahead!

Pieces of debris penetrate their defenses and enters through the cargo hatch, soon met by Dylan, Tyr and Beka. These parts take a humanoid shape, that of Biosentient Contact Unit HG-966HXCN5 (Matt Smith). "HG" says he means no harm and was sent by the Consensus of Parts, a culture of machines that inhabits areas between different star systems. He tells the Andromeda crew that they are to meet with one of the Consensus' Directing Intelligence Units.

Tyr and Beka are very suspicious, but Dylan thinks this meeting would help his mission of uniting the Commonwealth. HG states that he needs to interface with Andromeda, in order to direct her to the Consensus of Parts. As a precaution, Rommie sets up a firewall preventing HG from getting too much data, apparently successfully.

To keep HG occupied Trance and Harper give him a tour of the ship as Andromeda heads into slipstream. While on the tour, HG is amazed and has many questions about the various objects onboard. Suddenly, Andromeda receives a transmission from Direct Intelligence Unit VX1583 (Kevin Durand), who quickly sends a 'drone' version of himself.

VX, a more sophisticated unit than HG, tells HG that his mission is complete and he must deconsensus (destroying itself). Later, HG says he must do this, otherwise it will put the Andromeda ship and crew in danger. As HG disassembles he gives a piece of himself to each crew member and tells them what he has learned from each of them.

After getting a tour of some of the ship, VX gives Dylan an ultimatum, either join the Consensus or be destroyed. He insists that Andromeda itself should make the decision (since Dylan had said she was not a slave). However, after putting VX off as long as possible Rommie says she wants nothing to do with this.

Soon, the parts of HG left onboard interface with Andromeda's systems and replicate into a quickly spreading 'cancer'. The crew assumes this is an attack by VX but can not forcibly remove it without destroying Rommie, whose voice began at one point to change and sound like HG's.

However, VX contacts the ship and rather than mention or take advantage of the infiltration, the Consensus begins to send missile salvos. They soon realize that HG was acting alone (to avoid 'death') and that they have no chance against the Consensus. Harper devises nanobots to function as an immune system and destroy 'HG', but Trance protests and asks Dylan to find another way.

When Dylan asks her to use her 'gift' to see the right course ("possibility") she says that she can not just make this happen anytime. She is sure he will come up with something, which he does soon. Discussing with Tyr how to deal with a stronger opponent (use his strength against him) he has Rommie 'give in' to HG.

Once HG is in control they reason with HG and persuade him to give them Slipstream control, assuming VX will not be able to follow. However, VX does follow them into Slipstream, apparently having some organic neural components to use for the 'intuitive' guidance needed for this.

Dylan has Beka steer them back to the debris field where this all started. Once there HG (via Rommie) speaks to the outcast parts and asks them to join to have a function and defeat VX.

The machines respond, and create a large structure around the Andromeda which opens fire on the Consensus ship. With key parts of the Consensus joining the "rebellion" the defense systems are down and VX's ship is destroyed. Out of new debris a new "Outcast" Consensus vessel is formed which pledges friendship with the Andromeda.

In the end, Trance regretfully buries her remaining piece of HG in her garden.

Synopsis 03/07/01 by Larry Kramer

© 2001 Larry Kramer (See Copyright Disclaimer)