Title: Egg Whisk

Chapter 5

By: X

X0832001@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I own nothing and am getting no money

There had to be some explanation as to why Andromeda was chosen to carry two delegations that had recently been at war a war won- in part because of this ships engineer. The Elmarins wanted to join the Commonwealth, the Billisites wanted safe passage to Rhinus, a planet along Andromeda's path. They day could not get any worse. It was a statistical impossibility.

Andromeda's hologram appeared in front of Dylan's desk, interrupting his muddled thoughts.

"The Elmarin delegation is waiting at the rendezvous point. They're requesting permission to dock."

"Great, it's not like I was hoping that they wouldn't show."

"Well, they're waiting for us"

"Tell them fine, have Tyr meet me in the docking bay. Alert Beka so she and Harper can stay out of sight." He thought a moment. The Billisites were due to meet up with Andromeda in 2 hours. They hadn't even given him a day to straighten out this mess. He'd need Beka's help. "Tell Beka about the Billisites. Maybe she and Harper can think of way to work this so no one gets killed."

"Understood" then the hologram blinked away. This was such a bad day.

"A)Sneak the Billisites onboard, B)Hide the Billisites until we get to Rhinus, C) Sneak the Billisites back off the ship; just 3 easy steps." Beka and Harper were making a plan. Beka took extra care not to involve markers or shiny surfaces. He was doing much better now that he'd had a little time to adjust to the idea of a delegation of Elmarins.

"Should work boss, we kept it good and simple."

"Where do we hide the Billisites- and you for that matter? You've got that brave face on but there is no way I'm letting those bastards anywhere near you Shorty."

"Oh I have no intention of being anywhere near them."

"So you're not pretending everything is fine so you can have a surprise vengeance thing later?" Harper chuckled weakly at the suggestion and stared down at the bed he and Beka were sitting on.

"Not quite ready for the whole vengeance thing, still working on knowing they are here and not wetting my pants."

"Har-per" Beka crooned, pulling the engineer close. "You don't have to pretend you're not scared or upset. We're your friends."

He sighed loudly, "I don't wanna be scared or upset. It's too much. There are too many people who've hurt me in my life. I've just gotta keep going forward."

"That's a very healthy outlook, are you sure you're ready for that?"

"I've already got a bone deep fear of the Maggog, and a good strong hatred that will outlast the sun for the Drago-Katsov; I really can't muster more than a temporary detestation-panic -revulsion-horror mix."

"You're different Seamus Harper, very hard to figure out."

"And that's why you love me"

"Yep"

"We hide them in Dylan's quarters! Unless they are hot women, then we hide them in my quarters!"

"Dylan might not like that."

"He can't get the hot women on every mission; I deserve them once in a while."

"Can we stay focused on where to hide the Billisites?"

"I suppose, Party Pooper. We put the Elmarins in the conference room, give them lunch. While they are chowing down we bring the Billisites on, parade them down to the gym. It's got some good locks, big if we move the equipment against the wall, and there's no reason for the Elmarins to go down there."

"Good idea Harper. You don't think they'll figure out something is wrong?"

"Oooh got another idea. You don't bring them directly to the gym. You take the access ladder up to level 4; go down 1 level to 3, across 5 sections and down to the gym by way of ramp. That way when you take them to the dining by way of the access ladder they won't be suspicious because they'll think that's how we always move through the ship."

"Brilliant"

"I know"

"What's with the 'you' instead of 'we'?"

"I kinda want to stay backstage on this whole thing. I mean, I kinda killed a lot of Billisites. They probably aren't too eager to see the man that helped them lose a war and become enslaved."

"Harper! It's not your fault!"

"I know, more of that healthy outlook. But, I don't know…" he trailed off quietly.

"It's Ok Shorty, Dylan and I'll lead the Billisites around. Tyr can watch the Elmarins alone for a while."

The Elmarin delegation was made up of 5 sneering middle aged men. Tyr had met Dylan as requested in the cargo bay. The 2 Andromeda crew members sized up their unwanted guests.

"I'm Captain Hunt" Dylan said, extending his hand. They didn't reciprocate. "This is Tyr Anazazi" Still they didn't move.

"Pirel of Lobas, these are my associates, Allian of Kriminous, Heatel of Zo, Telle of Lobas, and Mont of Jorge." The tallest finally said.

"A pleasure to be working with you gentlemen" Dylan kept up the fake politeness. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever done, even worse than he expected. It was like being face to face with a child abuser. You wanted nothing more than to snap their necks, better yet make them suffer- know a fraction of the pain they'd brought to the universe.

"I suppose, but we really haven't started our task yet." This guy was so infuriating. He couldn't even go along with the small talk.

"I suppose you're right."

Tyr stepped in and kept the situation from getting bloody. Could things be more bizarre? Tyr, stopping violence? "If we have nothing else to discuss shall we all just call it a wash? Perhaps you'd like to go home?"

"Enough Neitzschien; we intend not to be rude guests. Shall we proceed to our accommodations?"

"I'll leave Tyr to do that. I'll meet up with you in the dining room in a couple of hours." The fake smile had returned in full force to cover Dylan's sneer.

"Do you have a problem with us Captain?"

"No. Why would I"

"We love having you here" came a tight voice from behind him. It was Beka, arriving at just the right time. "I just need Dylan's help with a situation on the command deck. He is that Captain after all."

Beka looked at the Elmarin delegation and couldn't keep the image of Harper from those gruesome pictures out of her head. These were the monsters that had done that to her friend. It took every ounce of her will power not to start firing. She'd overheard the introductions; two of them were from the place Harper had been kept.

"Of course, you'll excuse me gentlemen?

"Yes Captain, we'll have time to continue our discussion later."

"Fine, until later" Dylan strode out of the room followed closely by Beka.

When they were well out of earshot Dylan turned to Beka, "Thanks for the save, I owe you."

"You owe me plenty. The Billisites are arriving."

"Goody, we come up with a plan?"

"Access tunnels"

"Those tubes Harper is always running around is?" asked a skeptical Dylan.

"No, more like infrequently used hallways and ladders."

With a sigh Dylan and Beka headed for the docking port on the other side of the ship, where the Billisites were getting off.

The Billisites party was made up of 4 people. The leader was Mihir. Mihir was a tall, lean man with cold gray eyes. Beka couldn't stop a shiver, Mihir was a man that had experienced loss and was angry at the world. Accompanying Mihir was a curly haired woman, likely a wife or mate, or whatever the Billisites had. She was Tulla. Next to emerge from the ship was a very short man, Tamin. Tamin had a nervous smile plastered on his face that was a bit unnerving. Carrying bags that must have been the entire group's baggage was a boy, introduced as Serrin.

Beka stepped over and took a couple of the bags from the stumbling young man. Serrin she mentally reminded herself. She hated these delegations, all having weird names she could never remember.

"Let me be the first to welcome you on board the Andromeda Ascendant" Dylan said cheerfully. It was a lot easier to be nice to these people. They weren't the monsters the Elmarins were. They were just another set of their victims.

"We are so honored to meet you Captain Hunt" Mihir said with a small bow.

"Your quarters are all set up for you; I'll lead you down there right now."