As he stepped into the room, Dylan knocked on the door to announce his presence. At the sound, the room's two occupants looked in his direction. While Rhade was resting on the bed, propped up by pillows, Jillian sat at his bedside, one of her husband's hands clasped in both of hers. As the couple spotted Dylan, Rhade moved to sit up in the bed.

"As you were," Dylan replied, not wanting his friend to waste energy on ceremony. That wasn't what was important.

"I told you that you didn't need to be here," Telemachus said, even as he relaxed back against the pillows once again.

"Yeah, I remember. However, you also led me to believe that the situation wasn't serious. That there were only protests and a few threats," Dylan countered, walking to the foot of the bed. He was trying to maintain an air of anger at the situation knowing that it was what Telemachus would respond to better rather than concern.

"I guess someone decided it was time to follow through on their threat," Telemachus replied trying to sound casual. Dylan knew him well enough to be able to hear the worry in his friend's voice.

"Again," Jillian added quietly from her spot at the bedside.

Dylan didn't miss the warning look that Telemachus shot his wife. Even if Tri-Lorn hadn't already admitted that this wasn't the first incident, that look would have told Dylan everything he needed to know. He also didn't need Telemachus annoyed with both Jillian and himself.

"Look, I get it," Dylan said, hoping to diffuse the tension between husband and wife. "It's that Nietszchean stubborn streak. Gaheris was my best friend long enough for me to get plenty of experience with it."

Placing both hands on the foot of the bed, Dylan leaned forward holding Telemachus' gaze as he continued. "I also got plenty of experience in being a friend despite it. You might not have asked me here, Rhade, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere any time soon. So, you can accept my help graciously, as a friend would, or we can have arguments about every little thing. With Bekka as my first officer, I have plenty of experience with that as well."

"I remember well, and right now I don't think I have the energy for that kind of relationship," Rhade replied, the resignation clear in his voice.

Dylan allowed himself to smile as he moved from the foot of the bed to the side opposite of Jillian, feeling as though he had cleared the first hurdle. "Then that means you're going to accept help from a friend?"

"Yes," Telemachus conceded. "Not that I'm exactly in much a position to protest. I can't move my right leg at all. Except for my toes, I don't have any feeling left in my left leg, though Dr. Randall doesn't expect that to last much longer as the poison continues to move through my body."

Resting his head back against the pillows, Rhade closed his eyes. As the only two people he would ever even consider admitting his current feelings to were the only two people in the room, Rhade made the admission in a low voice. "This kind of death scares me more than going into battle. There's nothing I can do to fight it."

Jillian looked over at her husband with love and sympathy in her voice as she applied pressure to the hand she held between hers. "Maybe not on your own," Jillian conceded. "However, none of us are going to just sit back and do nothing. You're not alone."

"She's right, you're not," Dylan said, reaching down for his friend's other hand. "Your men are going to find out who was behind this and Harper just went to meet with Dr. Neff. You know how good he is at solving problems. In the meanwhile, my main concern is the safety of you and your family."

"I'm not running," Rhade said, opening his eyes again. The determination that Dylan saw in them told Andromeda's captain that his former Weapon's Officer hadn't totally accepted defeat just yet.

"As you haven't dropped out of the race yet, I didn't think you would," Dylan told him. "You're not going to either because letting the bad guys dictate the terms of a democracy are not the values you have fought to protect all these years."

Though he didn't look at Jillian, he did squeeze the hand that was beneath his. "I have no problem fighting those guys myself and taking risks. When it puts my family in danger, that's a whole different matter."

"I agree," Dylan said. "Which is why we'll make sure your family is safe, along with making sure you are safe while your recovering."

"I may not recover."

"While you recover," Dylan said again, putting emphasis on the first word. "Which is why, you and your family are going to come aboard Andromeda. Given that we were no where near Tarazed when all this happened, I can pretty much guarantee that none of my crew was involved. It naturally has restricted access, and, as you well know, Andromeda will protect you and your family with her life. Plus, I have a feeling the medical staff here will be happier with a little less security around."

"And if Andromeda is asked to undergo a mission. Am I supposed to just go along for the ride?"

"I can safely say that Andromeda will be allowed to stay in orbit of Andromeda for the foreseeable future."

"You've been talking to Tri-Lorn," Rhade commented.

"Who do you think recalled Andromeda to Tarazed?" Dylan replied, not in the habit of lying to people unless there were lives at stake that would be save by said lie. This wasn't one of those situations. At least not yet.

Rhade nodded, comprehension dawning. "Of course."

"Tri-Lorn clearly has a lot of faith in your abilities. He wouldn't have asked you to run for triumvir if he didn't believe you could do the job and he isn't the only one who thinks you can make a difference as a triumvir. The Commonwealth could use a man with your integrity and values helping to lead the way, especially given recent events."

"I agree with Admiral Hunt," Jillian seconded, drawing Telemachus' attention in her direction and allowing Dylan to continue without fielding an argument from his former Weapon's Officer.

"Whoever is behind this is clearly trying to destabilize the Commonwealth again. Not to mention, if you drop out, then it sets a dangerous precedent that the Commonwealth will give in to threats. Disagreements are one thing, and should be heard through the proper channel but threats and attempted murder are not the proper channels."

"And if I told you I was dropping out because I didn't think I could do a job."

"If that was the case, you never would have let anyone talk you into running no matter what obligations you felt you owed them," Dylan countered. "I got to know you pretty well while you served under me."

There was a short silence before Dylan spoke again.

"Any more half-hearted protests, you would like to make."

Telemachus simply shook his head as he closed his eyes. Part of him still believed that the only way to keep his family safe was to drop out but Dylan was right. That was the coward's way. He would be betraying the values that made him who he was by giving into a relatively small group of people. That one action could have continuing, perhaps even long lasting, affects on the Commonwealth down the line. Even if the poison didn't kill him, the person who had fired the dart at him would have still won.

"Can someone contact Racquel Khalid for me?" Telemachus said, opening his eyes. "Before you sequester me away on Andromeda I want to make another statement to the press and she's the only reporter I trust not to twist my words."

"I'll take care of it," Dylan assured him. "I'll also talk with the guards on hand here about making sure everyone gets safely onboard Andromeda. Is there anything else you need from the house?" he asked, directing the question toward Jillian.

Jillian shook her head. "I need to pack up the things we have here but I don't need to go back to the house."

"Okay, then," Dylan replied. "Let me make some arrangements and we'll talk again," he said to get a nod of agreement from both Jillian and Rhade. Giving the hand he still held a squeeze, Dylan looked down at Rhade. "You're not alone in this, my friend."

"Thanks," Rhade replied, squeezing Dylan's hand before letting go.

"Bekka's over with the kids," Dylan informed him. "I'll send her over. I'm sure Harper will drop in to see you at some point, though he does tend to get immersed in problems."

Rhade nodded, wondering if Harper would rather concentrate on the problem then coming to see him. Though their relationship had come quite a distance from the beginning, he could tell that Harper still struggled with the idea of being his friend. Still, if anyone could find a way to counter the poison that was moving through his body, it would be Harper.

Dylan started to walk toward the door. Halfway there, he paused and looked back at Rhade. "Remember, you're not facing this alone, my friend," Dylan assured him, before finally leaving the room.

As the door shut behind Dylan, Telemachus looked over at Jillian.

"Don't say it," Telemachus told her.

"I don't have to," Jillian replied with a smile. "You already know I was right," she told him getting to her feet and leaning in for a kiss.

"I'm going to go let the kids know what is going on and start getting things together," Jillian said as she broke away from the kiss.

"Sorry I can't really be of any help."

"Nonsense. You've been doing a wonderful job of making being here easier for the kids. You're the glue that is keeping us together."

"I don't feel like it."

"You always have been, and you always will, my love," Jillian told him before leaving the room.

As the door closed behind her, Telemachus looked up at the ceiling trying to sort through the emotions he was feelings. He wanted to do the right thing for everybody but if he was honest with himself, he wasn't sure what that was right now. He wasn't sure of much of anything right now.

The ceiling began to blur as tears found their way into his eyes just as there was a knock on the door. Telemachus quickly reached up and wiped the tears away.

"Hey there, Tough Guy. Mind if I come in?" Bekka asked as she stuck her head through the door she had opened part way.

"Of course not," Telemachus replied quickly, pushing himself up into a sitting position and hoping Bekka hadn't noticed anything.

However, as she stepped into the room, Bekka noticed the remnants of the tears glistening in her friends' eyes. Knowing that Rhade would not want a big deal made of the situation, she didn't say anything else as she crossed the room. Reaching the bed, Bekka reached out and put her arms around Rhade. Around her friend.

Ever since stepping foot on Tarazed, Bekka had been trying to figure out what she would say. As she hugged her friend, she realized that nothing needed to be said. All she needed to do was let him know that she was here for him, no matter what happened.


An hour after being introduced to Dr. Neff, Harper chose to take a break. He had been brought up to speed on the situation - what they knew, what they didn't know, and what they had tried so far. Now, Dr. Neff and her team were packing their notes, samples, and what equipment that could be moved so that they could transfer everything to Andromeda. Once the medical team was onboard, Dylan planned on transferring Rhade and his family to the ship.

Figuring he would just be in the way right then, Harper told Dr. Neff he would catch up with her onboard Andromeda and stepped out of the lab they were working in. Without any definite destination in mind, the engineer started walking the corridors of the medical facility. As he walked, he mulled over everything he had learned in the last hour.

As he reviewed everything though, Harper wondered what he would be able to add to the process. It wasn't like he could research the poison. Most of that talk had gone right over his head, much like he figured an explanation about Andromeda's engines would for Dr. Neff. It just wasn't his expertise. He wasn't exactly sure how he could add a fresh set of eyes on something that he didn't understand.

It was a distinct possibility that just staying out of the medical personnel's way would be the best way he could help.

Spotting some guard's from the triumvir's detail, Harper realized that he had retraced his steps back to Rhade's room. Though he had told Bekka he would see Rhade later, he hadn't consciously intended to come see him when he had left the lab. The truth was, he was hesitant to face him because after all of the times Rhade had risked his life for him, Harper felt guilty that though Rhade needed help this time, he wasn't sure what he could do to help.

The thought of walking past the room without stopping crossed his mind. However, as he approached Harper saw Rhade's wife step out of the one room. As she pulled the door shut behind her, Jillian spotted Harper and smiled.

"Seamus Harper, right," Jillian said, pausing after taking only a few steps.

"Uh, yeah," Harper said nervously, surprised that she had remembered his name as they had only met briefly on Andromeda when they had first arrived back from Seefra.

"Telemachus has spoken of you often," Jillian told him. The admission surprised Harper even further.

"Good things, I hope," Harper responded nervously.

Jillian smiled. "A mixture," she admitted with Nietszchean honesty. "However, my husband has a great respect for you, Mr. Harper. Even if he doesn't express it, he is grateful to you all for coming during this time."

There was a short pause before Jillian moved toward the door opposite of the one she came out of. "I was just going to collect Artemis, whose with her father. Bekka and a lancer squad from Andromeda are about ready to escort us to Argosy station."

Moving quickly, Harper reached for the door knob of the room before the guard could react.

"Thank-you," Jillian murmured as she walked into the room.

Still feeling a bit nervous, Harper followed her.

"Papa, I'm scared," they heard a young voice admit as they entered the room.

Hovering near the door way as Jillian walked further into the room, the engineer spotted a little girl sitting on the side of the bed next to Rhade.

"I don't want to go to An . . . Andr. . .Anmeda," Artemis continued, stumbling over the ship's name. "I want to stay here."

"You'll be okay on Andromeda, sweetie," Telemachus assured her, reaching out to tuck a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "You'll be with your mother, brother, sister, and me and everyone onboard will look out for us. Even the ship. You'll be safe."

"The ship?"

"The ship has its own personality."

"Really?" Artemis asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, and you'll like her," Harper said, speaking up from his place by the door, drawing both Artemis and Telemachus' attention.

"Sweetie, this is my friend Mr. Harper. He's Andromeda's engineer."

"Hi," Harper said, giving the little girl a wave.

Artemis gave Harper a return wave and a shy smile as Jillian spoke up.

"Bekka says they're about ready to escort us to Andromeda," Jillian told her husband.

"Okay," Telemachus acknowledged before looking back at his little girl. "It's time to go with your, mom. I'll be following you shortly," he told her. On the outside chance that there was someone out there that might take another shot at him, it had been decided to take his family to the space port at Argosy station first.

"Can't I stay with you?"

"Not this time," Telemachus told her, kissing the top of her head as he drew her into a hug. He held her for a few minutes before Jillian stepped forward to get their youngest.

"Let's go, Artemis," Jillian said, even as she reached out to pick her daughter up.

Telemachus had to pry Artemis' hands from around his neck as she wouldn't let go. He kissed the back of one of her hands before letting it go.

"We'll see your father again soon," Jillian assured her daughter as she placed her in the small wheelchair beside the bed.

As Jillian pushed the chair toward the door, Artemis turned and blew a final kiss in her father's direction. Pretending to catch the kiss in his right hand, Telemachus then placed the closed fist over his heart as his wife and child left the room.

Standing to the side, Harper had watched the exchange in silence, Tyr's words from years ago running through head.

"Blind and crippled. If Andromeda was my child, I'd drown it."

"Trying to catch flies, Tiny?"

Telemachus' light hearted question brought Harper out of his thoughts. Realizing he was still staring at the door, he forced himself to look toward Rhade.

"Ah, no," Harper replied, sticking his hands into his pocket, hoping he was hiding his embarrassment more than he had his surprise.

"But something surprised you," Rhade said, letting the statement hang open and hoping Harper would enlighten him.

Looking and sounding embarrassed Harper replied, "it's just something Tyr said back when we first met. Andromeda had been damaged in a fight and Tyr had made the comment about if the ship were his child he'd drown it."

"And because I'm a Nietszchean, you naturally assume that I have those same standards. Sorry, to disappoint you but I don't. Artemis was paralyzed in an accident not long after Andromeda came to Tarazed the first time, however, she is my sunshine. She's a bright girl, who always tries to see the bright side of things. I love her no less because she can't walk."

"I'm sorry," Harper said. "I guess, I really shouldn't be surprised after everything that's happened between us. Guess sometimes I still forget the person I've come to know and just see a Nietszchean."

"As I've said before, a childhood of injustices aren't easily overcome. I've always understood your mistrust of me, even if it did hurt. You've come a long way since we first met."

"Apparently not far enough."

"Nobody's perfect," Telemachus countered. "You were there when it mattered, that's what counts."

Harper heard Rhade's words and recalled his earlier thoughts about not being able to contribute to Neff's research. He knew now that he had to at least try. He needed to do it for that little girl. She needed her father to be their while she grew up.

"And I'm here this time too," Harper said, feeling a sudden confidence. Though he had yet to meet Rhade's other two children, he realized that it was just a friend and a former crewmate's life that he was fighting for, but the life of those three children's father. He had lost his own parents at a young age and that wasn't something that he wished on any child. "There is a cure to this poison and Dr. Neff and I are going to find it," he told Rhade, despite the discouragement he had felt when leaving Dr. Neff's lab. "Granted, I know I'm no medical professional but I am a problem solver. With Dr. Neff to make my theories into reality we'll have a cure in no time."

Rhade smiled. While he wasn't quite convinced that there was a cure to be found he knew that if anyone could figure it out, it was Harper. He had seen the engineer pull off the seemingly impossible on more than one occasion.

"Now you're starting to sound like Dylan," Rhade told him.

"I've been called worse."

"That you have," Rhade conceded, some of their past exchanges coming to mind. "But I know you'll do your best, no matter what the outcome," he added, motioning Harper closer.

Harper walked slowly toward the bed. When he was close enough, Rhade reached out and pulled the human engineer into a hug. Quickly getting over his surprise, Harper returned the gesture.

"No matter what happens, I know you'll have done your best. Don't forget that," Telemachus told him before finally releasing the engineer.

Taking a step back, Harper nodded. The words made him realize that Rhade was clearly losing hope that he was going to get through this and right then, Harper didn't know what else he could say to convince him otherwise.

The pressure of trying to figure something out was alleviated by a knock on the door.

"Come," Rhade called out.

The door opened and Dylan walked in. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked.

"No," Harper said quickly. Possibly a little too quickly judging by the look Dylan gave him.

"Anyway," Dylan said, looking in Rhade's direction. "Bekka is escorting your family to Argosy Station. Once she sends word that they are safely onboard the Maru, we'll follow. I'm keeping your escort small - Rommie, myself, and the two guards currently outside your door. The smaller the group, the less attention we'll attract. Besides, Rommie's probably about all the protection you'll really need anyway," Dylan informed him. He glanced back at Harper. "Are you coming up with us or are you going to come up with Dr. Neff and her team?"

"I figured I would be more in the way with them packing things up and moving it. I told Dr. Neff I'd see her onboard Andromeda, so I guess I'll hang out with you guys if its okay."

"You might become target practice," Rhade warned.

"It'll be like things were when I was growing up," Harper countered with a shrug.