Sei said, "So, Jo, what do you make of our hosts?" She was sitting up in her bed in one of the *Andromeda's* sickbay wards. An IV was stuck in her arm and plugged into a wall panel. Jo was sitting by her on a stool; they were the only ones in the huge room.

"They've played straight with us so far," Jo said. "They patched you up. I'm inclined to give Dylan and his crew the benefit of the doubt."

"So, no doubts about their story?"

"Are you asking if they could fake it? Sure. Just hollow out a mountain range and spend a few quadrillion Yen on special effects. It's be easier to take us to a starship in another-" Jo broke off and sharply inhaled. "Oh, no, not that clown again."

The hatch slid open. Seamus Harper sauntered in. "Ladies? And how is our loveliest new patient doing?"

Sei smiled, absorbing the flattery but not letting it go to her head. "Quite well, Mr. Harper. Trance says I should be on my feet by the end of the day. I must say I am impressed by your medical technology."

"Which I have had a hand in maintaining. So you have me to thank for your recovery. And please, call me Seamus."

"Of course, Seamus. And I commend you for keeping the *Andromeda* - what I've seen of it—in such fine condition. A credit to your skill."

"Why thank you, Sei."

Jo took a half step forward. "She has to rest."

"Sure," Harper said. "And if either of you need anything—and I mean absolutely anything—feel free to call me." He sauntered past them and dove into a conduit hatch.

Jo rolled her eyes. "How come a self-professed genius doesn't seem to comprehend 'you're not my type'?"

Sei smiled slightly. "He's probably hoping you play for both teams. And you can't fault him for being eternally optimistic."

"That'll be the day."

"I don't know. You did seem to flirt a little with Kyohei from time to time."

"That was just banter. And speaking of Kyo, when we get home-"

Sei looked away from Jo, up at the ceiling. "We will have to find ourselves a new chef."

"Are you serious?"

"Very. By the way, how did you know Harper was outside the door just now?"

"I smelled his cologne. Don't change the subject."

"What cologne? I didn't smell any-"

The lights suddenly dimmed.

Sei looked around as if she couldn't see anything. "Jo!"

"I'm here, Sei. They just turned the lights down."

"Down? I can't see a thing!"

"Really? Are you feeling all-"

"Jo?" Beka's voice interrupted from outside the door. "Come here! Now!"

"What now?" Jo headed for the hatch.

Sei called, "Jo? Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back after I see what Beka wants."

"Beka? What about her?"

"Didn't you hear her just now?"

"No, I-" But the hatch closed behind Jo and she couldn't hear what Sei said.

"Jo!" Beka's voice echoed. "Come here now!"

"Coming!" Jo shouted. "What, are you deaf?"

Beka didn't stop shouting. The lighting was dim in all the corridors, but Jo could still see where she was going as she slid down ladder wells and navigated corridors in the direction of Beka's voice. Beka's cologne also got stronger, so Jo figured she was going the right way and kept going…

…until she stopped at a corridor. Maria was nearby. She could feel it "Maria?"

Beka's voice: "JO!"

"All right!" Whatever was up with Maria, that could wait. Jo continued on her way.

Jo finally came down a ladder within ten yards of Beka. Beka was standing with Dylan and Rhade near a short corridor.

"Jo!"

"I'm here!" Jo shouted as she came over to Beka. "Now what's up?"

Rhade looked at her, but Beka and Dylan turned towards here without looking at her. Beka said, "Ah, good, you're here."

"Yeah, I'm here! There a reason you can't look me in the eye?"

Rhade said calmly, "They're not looking at you because they can't see you. The light is too low for their eyes. Andromeda, raise lighting to normal level."

The lights came up. Beka turned to jo and smiled. "Ah, there you are. I was getting horse yelling for you."

Rhade went on: "Even a human could not have heard her from as far away as you were. Your hearing is more sensitive. And you also followed Beka's scent-"

"What scent? You mean her cologne?"

Beka frowned. "I'm not wearing cologne."

"Yes you are!" Jo snapped. "You all are. Everyone has their own cologne. I tried to tell Meg that once and she looked at me like I was crazy."

Rhade said, "That's not cologne. That's them. Their body scent."

"You saying I have a nose like a bloodhound?"

"Yes, for the same reason I do: You're a Nietzschean."

"Excuse me?"

Dylan went to the end of the short corridor and tabbed a keypad. A hatch opened and a sarcophagus rolled out. Dylan opened it and stepped back.

Jo peered at the skeleton in the coffin. "I guess you guys take the skeletons in the closet thing literally?"

Beka said, "That's Drago Musevini. Two thousand years ago, in our history, he had the crazy idea to upgrade the human race. He created Nietzscheans. He started with his DNA. He made himself the genetic Adam….and he needed an Eve. He literally scoured time and space until he came here. To Seefra. To me. He made a digital copy of my DNA and took it back in time to make Rhade's ancestors."

Jo smirked at Rhade. "So she's your great-something-grandma? I can see the resemblance."

Rhade squirmed a little. "Yes, well, Drago had a jealous brother, Falco. He stole the DNA and used it to pursue his radical theories. One of them involved breeding female 'genocide angels' to lead a war to conquer the world he'd settled on…"

"Wha…" Jo started.

"…We've compared your DNA to Beka's and Drago's," Rhade went on. "It's a match."

Beka said, "In other words, Jo, genetically at least, that pile of bones there is your father, and I am your mother."

"Wh-what?" Jo stammered. "Now, wait a minute-"

Rhade stepped forward. "That's why you can see and hear and smell better than anyone you know. You never knew why. That's why you're so good in a fight…and so quick to anger."

Beka soothed, "I know it's a lot, Jo, but everyone on this ship…with the possible exception of Harper…has had their lives turned upside-down at least once. We can help you get through this."

"I…I don't…" Seemingly confused, Jo wandered closer to Rhade. But once she was close enough, she slammed a fist into his stomach. As the big Nietzscehan staggered, Jo snatched his gauss pistol out of its holster and backed up, training it on the others. Dylan reached for his force lance and Rahde's hand went towards the backup behind his back, but Beka gestured to them to ease down. Dylan moved his hand from his lance. Rhade lowered his hands to his side as he straightened.

Jo's tattoo started glowing. "All right! Time you guys gave me some straight answers. For starters: what do you have to do with Maria?"

Beka frowned. "Who?"

"Don't lie to me, Beka. I know she's here. I can feel it."

"I'm not lying to you, Jo. You are the last person I would ever lie to. You're blood of my blood-"

"SHUT UP!" Jo shouted. "I'm sick of being lied to. Sick of not knowing which end is up, being twisted and turned until I have no idea where I'm going. I hate this! I—I—ahhh…." Jo started screaming as her body started to glow. Rhade darted in and grabbed the gun, then skidded back as Jo howled in pain. Her scream reached a crescendo and they had shield their eyes and look away as her body blazed.

The glow faded, but not Jo's shouting. "What…what…what have you done to me!?"

The turned back to see fully developed bone blades had burst out of her forearms. Her arms were a bloody mess.

Beka crept forward, and did her best to sound soothing: "Jo, it'll be ok. Weird stuff like this happens all the time with us. We'll help you. We'll get through this. I promise."

"Meg." Jo wobbled on her feet, a dreamy look on her face. "I want to go home. I want Meg. Mehhh…" She collapsed. Beka caught her.

Dyland said, "Andromeda, prep med deck. Medical emergency."

8

8

Jo came to and realized she was in *Andromda's* medical bay. And that she was restrained. "What…?"

Rhade was standing next to the bed. "She's awake."

Dylan, Trance, Beka and Sei came into Jo's field of vision. Jo saw Sei was wearing a new blue dress with white trim and a plunging neckline. Jo said, "New duds?"

"Doyle made them for me," Sei said. "The old outfit looked pretty ratty….and I had been thinking of trying a new look anyway."

"Kyo'll like it." She looked at Dylan. "There's a reason I'm tied down?"

"Precaution," Dylan said. "You're actually stronger than you were when you got here. Given your temper I thought it wise not to take any chances. Sei has vouched for you, and I and my crew will do everything to help you…but you have to work with us, Jo. No more outbursts like earlier. Clear?"

Jo nodded. Dylan glanced at Trance, and Trance undid the restraints.

Jo sat up on the edge of the bed. She held up her arms and inspected her bone blades. "So, would anyone care to explain what happened to me?"

Trance said, "Well, physiologically, you are now at Nietzscehan standard, and that includes fully developed bone blades. But obviously, Nietzscehan growth usually doesn't involve energy bursts. I have no idea where it came from or how it made your body develop; the laws of physics are twitchy around here, and your universe probably has different rules, too. But I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this Maria you mentioned went through the same thing. All I can say for sure is there were no ill effect and your condition is stable."

"Jeez," Jo groused. "You weren't kidding when you said my life would be turned upside-down, Dylan. Only thing is, I didn't know who I was. I blanked out my whole life from before I met Meg. And when I learned the truth, and started to think I know who I am, the rug gets pulled out from under me again. So who am I?"

Beka sat next to Jo. "I'll tell you who you are. You're my kid. You're a Valentine. And we Valentines take whatever's thrown at us and send it back with interest. You're blood of my blood, and you will get through this—WE will get through this, together." She extended a hand. "Deal?"

Jo took Beka's hand. "Deal…but I'm not calling you 'Mom.'"

"'Beka' will be fine."

Dylan didn't stop laughing for twenty minutes.