Disclaimer: I do not own Andromeda. I'm just playing with their toys. I'll put them back when I'm finished.
Rated PG-13 for some minor naughty words.
Identity Crisis: Part 2
by Arianwen P.F. Everett
"You stole my microtransmitters!" Rommie shouted in outrage, knowing it would have zero effect on the Nietzschean
"You stole Rommie's micros, that is really low Tyr, even for you! What kind of friend are you?!" Harper interjected reproachfully, coming to his favorite avatar's defense. He realized a bit too late that that had been a foolish thing to say, when Tyr's hang sprung forward, raising him three feet into the air by his throat.
"I am NOT this ship's 'friend'! I am however Captain Valentine's friend, whose safety is in jeopardy at the moment. If you are her friend or are even just interested in your own survival, you will get out of my way and SHUT UP!" Tyr growled.
"Tyr, put Harper down! We are all worried about Beka, but whoever took her isn't going to be found if we turn on each other!" Dylan insisted. He knew Tyr was in a very complicated place right now, but he still wanted to keep his engineer alive. He would speak with Tyr about his theft from the machine shop at another time, once Beka was home safe and sound.
"We know who took Captain Valentine," Tyr responded curtly before dropping Harper unceremoniously.
"The Drago-Kasov. I know," Dylan conceded. Sometimes, Tyr's intelligence wasn't a good thing. A captain needed to be able to keep some things from his crew for their own good. This crew never made that easy.
"Wait! Wait! You two are saying the Dragons are behind this? Why? How is it in their interests?" Harper asked, feeling completely out of the loop. The way he had seen it, Beka was taken by her Mom with the help of some private interest who employed Nietzscheans as muscle, like Gerentex had employed Tyr at the start of this crazy adventure. Why would the biggest, baddest Pride in known space waste time kidnapping an ordinary human like Beka Valentine?
"That is the essential question, Mr. Harper. Any ideas Tyr?" Dylan asked, himself in the dark on that one. Tyr was a Nietzschean after all. Perhaps he had some insight.
"None," Tyr admitted.
"Bek…Harper, plot a course for Enga's Redoubt. Give us a safe enough distance from the Drago-Kasov's homeworld that we remain undetected but close enough that we can be in and out in a few hours if the need arises," Dylan instructed. It felt odd having to give so detailed an order. With Beka in the pilot's chair, he would have just needed to tell her where to go and she would have instinctively known the rest.
"Yes Sir," Harper replied, feeling very out of place. They all knew this was Beka's post. He belonged in Engineering or the Machine Shop.
Rommie saw Harper's discomfort and gave him a slight smile of reassurance just as the Andromeda Ascendant entered the slipstream.
* * *
Beka looked around the quarters she had been given and whistled appreciatively. Whatever these Nietzscheans wanted from her, they were willing to go all out to get it.
This place was nicer than Uncle Sid's guest rooms, which only made her wearier. Could Uncle Sid be behind this? Was this some intricate plot to keep her quiet, having her abducted, so that without proof of her death the couriers would never deliver that damning recording to the FTA? It didn't seem to be Uncle Sid's style, but then again, she barely even knew him anymore and that fact had nearly gotten herself and Trance killed once already. A chill ran through her at the memory.
"If you're chilly in here, I am sure we can adjust the temperature," an unfamiliar, masculine voice stated. Startled, Beka spun around fast coming face to face with a gorgeous brown haired man in his late 40's. Her eyes traveled down to his forearms. Correct that, a Nietzschean.
"Who the hell are you?" Beka asked, irritation in her voice. She hated when people snuck up on her.
"My name is Cortez Alexander Garr, First Alpha of the Drago-Kasov Pride, and your humble servant," the man stated, bowing conciliatorily to Beka and taking her hand for a kiss.
"The Drago-Kasov Pride? You mean, the WHOLE Drago-Kasov Pride?" Beka asked stunned and begrudgingly impressed.
"Yes, the WHOLE pride," Cortez chuckled, revealing a perfect set of gleaming white teeth.
"Then I am sure you can spare a ship to return me to the Andromeda!" Beka responded curtly. Nietzscheans enjoyed intimidation and she wasn't giving this one the pleasure.
"I am sure you realize that will not happen. You are very beautiful, you know? " Cortez answered enigmatically while looking Beka up and down appreciatively.
"For a Kludge, right?" Beka replied flippantly, using the offensive term.
"You are more than just a Kludge, Rebecca, else you would not be here," Cortez stated, coming closer to the rigid human woman. Beka stepped back.
"Cut the crap. Just what do you want with me?" Beka sighed. She was not in the mood for games.
Cortez looked at her confused. "Didn't your Mother tell you? You are here to become my 62nd wife."