"So let me get this straight." Beka said, her hand leaving the cup of warm liquid to raise a finger. "The doctor of the ship cryogenically froze you because he thought the Captain would abandon the ship?"
I can't believe this girl. Beka shook her head and her eyes widened.
Kait nodded. "The captain was a bit insane and glory-hungry, if you hadn't found out by now. Doc thought that the only way he could keep the ship safe was to have someone to keep it safe."
"And the web?" Harper asked, with peaked interest.
"The web was a Niet prototype, to be used later on in the war. It was being tested on the Pixanthi. And when the ship was lost, or rather abandoned, it kept on running."
Tyr growled from his corner.
Kait turned around and shrugged in exasperation. "What's the problem?"
The rest of the crew seemed to be genuinely surprised that she spoke to Tyr in the way she did. While they often felt reserved around Tyr, she talked to him like he was an annoying child, or god forbid, a brother.
"My problem." He said lowly. "Is that you seem to have forgotten about your heritage."
"My heritage began on Rania. That's where I was raised and that's where I spent my life. It's my home." She said, frowning. "You were right, by the way. I am Orca pride."
"So your parents left their pride when the others started to turn on each other?" Beka asked, knowing Tyr was burning a hole in the back of her head with his glare.
Kait nodded. "They started hearing the prides talk about each other. The war was still warming up and they didn't want to be a part of it. So we left."
"And you went to Rania?" Dylan asked.
Kait nodded again. "It's a planet deep in the universe. We thought we'd be safe there. And then they came."
"Who?" Harper asked.
"The Nietzcheans. Mainly the Kodiak pride. They had heard about our 'disgrace' and started on a retrieval mission." She said. "They killed my parents but I was lucky enough to escape. Doc really helped me."
"He sneaked you on board the Pixanthi." Andromeda said in conclusion.
"And he made me a part of the crew. Soma didn't care about anyone but his own hide and his command crew. He wouldn't have known I wasn't a part of the original crew."
Kait took a sip of her tea. "Soma was completely insane. He wouldn't let any of his crew leave the ship or transfer. His official report back to the Nietzcheans was that his crew was too loyal to each other."
"That was a whole load of bull." Harper said. "He didn't want anyone telling about his problems."
"Exactly." Kait said.
"So the doctor stashed you away in case the ship ever reactivated. You would be able to stop the self destruct sequence." Dylan said, shaking his head. "This is getting more complicated by the minute."
They all nodded in agreement.
Kait downed the last of her tea. She turned to Harper. "Come on, I'll help you fix the temperature variants." She smiled.
As they walked out of the mess hall, Tyr stood up.
"I don't trust her." He said.
"You're just mad because she isn't quiet around you like you're used to." Beka said.
"I have heard if her family. The story was made into an example for all those who wanted to leave." He said grimly. "After the raid on Rania, they brought her parents back to the base. They were the example."
"So what, you think she's out to get revenge on Nietzcheans?" Beka asked.
"She knows far too much for being in a cryogenic unit for so long."
With that last bitter growl, he walked out.
***
"Sorry about the Popsicle thing, by the way." Harper said as he connected a few wires. A few yards away, Kait was working on the conduit.
"No problem." She said. "At least someone on this ship can joke."
"They are pretty stony, aren't they?" Harper said. "Eh, well. They're good people."
"Yeah. I don't think Tyr likes me. Or at least, he doesn't trust me."
"You're not by the book Nietzchean. Hell, you aren't like any Nietzcheans I know. But then again, I only know one, so maybe that doesn't count too much."
Kait laughed. "I wasn't raised one. Rania was a planet for Niets who didn't want to be a part of the betrayal process. We saw the corruption in the prides and we didn't want any part in it."
"I wouldn't worry about Tyr. You're family." Harper said. "I think this is almost-"
The lights flickered and they plunged into darkness.
"Harper?" Dylan said over the comm.
"Sorry, boss." Harper said, shrugging in the darkness. He did something else and a few of the lights sputtered back to life.
Sheathed in partial darkness, Beka crossed the bridge and analyzed the ship's scanners.
She frowned.
"Dylan." She said, looking up. Hunt took his attention away from the comm. and looked at his commander.
"We have an approaching ship." Beka said.
