AUTHOR'S NOTES: *********** indicates a change of scene, ########## indicates a flash-back and "Aleya" is pronounced al-eye-ah
DEDICATION: To Steve Bacic for making Rhade so cool that I wanted to find a way to bing him back and to all those who are working so hard to bring us what is shapeing up to be a fantastic series. Thanks guys!
FEEDBACK: YES PLEASE!!
The long night has come. The Systems Commonwealth, the greatest civilisation
in history, has fallen. But now one ship, one crew, have vowed to drive back
the night and rekindle the light of civilisation. On the starship Andromeda,
hope lives again
Dylan Hunt stood, frozen to the spot as he stared at the man he had once considered
his best friend. His initial reaction, after stunned surprise, was one of
unbelievable relief. Relief that he could finally make amends with the man
he had been forced to kill. A gamut of emotions ran through him, showing clearly
on his face, as he stared silently at the Nietzschean. Surprise, shock, relief,
happiness and finally satisfaction. His expression was slightly smug as he
realised that Rhade would now be able to see for himself just what had come
of his, and the other Nietzschean's, actions. Rhade could now experience
for himself just how bad things had become since the fateful fight that had
cost the Nietzschean his life. The last thought brought him to his senses
and looked at Aleya, eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion.
So, do you mind telling me how exactly you managed to bring him back
from the dead? his voice was dangerously quiet as he demanded answers,
causing Rhade to smile slightly as he recognised just how much trouble the
young woman was in.
I travelled back to the moment of Rhade's death, at your hands,
and captured his soul before it could depart to the next life. As soon as
you were pulled free of the black hole and placed his body in a stasis chamber
I made my move. Once you left the room, I snuck in, removed the body and went
to work on reviving him. That is why I was unable to avoid the Nietzschean
slaver. I was too weak from my work to be able to get my ship away from them
before they boarded her voice had grown weaker as she tried to explain
how she had accomplished this miracle' and, as she finished, the
last of her strength ebbed away. Her legs began to buckle as she fought to
remain standing, but her exhaustion was too great. Rhade stepped forward and
caught her as she began to fall, sweeping her up into his strong arms as she
lost consciousness. Without a word he turned and left the room, carrying Aleya's
still form towards Medical as the rest of the crew stared after him in amazement.
Is there anything we can do? the question was almost a plea, as Dylan looked at Rommie in the hopes she could do something.
I'm sorry Dylan but I can do nothing for her. I don't even know what species she is. She must have used some sort of biological manipulation device to trick my sensors into believing she was human, because she's not. I have no idea what she is but the damage is not psychical she seems to be suffering from a sort of extreme exhaustion but, without knowing what caused it, I can't help her sadness and defeat coloured the avatar's voice as she laid her hand on Dylan's arm in a gesture of comfort. They both turned back to look at the young woman laid on the bed, her breathing shallow and laboured, her skin deathly pale. Rhade stood by her side, his hand on her arm as he watched her face for any sign of her regaining consciousness. His face held an expression of discomfort, as if he was feeling pain but not wanting to admit it. His other hand was placed on his chest, directly over the spot where the blast from Dylan's f-lance had hit him during their fight.
the single word, murmured quietly, caught Dylan's attention and he looked more closely at his former friend. He remembered a conversation they'd had not long before Rhade's betrayal, a conversation about understanding Nietzschean's. He recalled clearly Rhade's words about losing... losing is to be proven inferior and he wondered briefly if this was the reason for the cryptic comment he had just whispered to the alien woman. Shaking his head, he started to turn back to Rommie with more questions but a noise from the door caught his attention and he turned to see Trance enter the room. She looked briefly at Dylan, holding his gaze for a moment as she made her way over to her friend. With a tenderness the others had never seen before, Trance ran her hand gently down Aleya's face, watching her friend's face closely as she began to hum. Rhade looked at her, eyes narrowed, as she closed her eyes and laid both hands against her friend's temples as she continued to hum, the sound barely audible but strangely haunting.
After a few minutes she fell silent, opening her eyes and looking up at Rhade. With a slight shake of her head she turned back to the waiting captain and his avatar, her expression deeply saddened.
She's too far gone. Unless she can repair the damage herself within the next 24 hours, she'll die her words hit Dylan like a hammer, each one a more painful blow than the last.
Why? Could she have known that her actions might cost her her own life? he didn't want to hear the answer but he needed to nonetheless.
Yes. She knew the risks before she entered into this. She was well aware of the fact that the effort it would take to accomplish her goal may well be at the cost of her own life. But Dylan, that's who she is. She is not a person who can stand by and watch another's soul being torn apart when she can do something to help. It's not your fault the answer was the one Dylan had been dreading, for now he knew that if this young woman died, it would be because of him. Regardless of what Trance said, he felt it was his fault that she was going to die, because she had known that in trying to help him, she would lose her own life. Unable to fight the guilt that he felt, he turned to the reason for the girl's impending death, knowing she had done what she had so the two could settle their differences.
Rhade, we need to talk. Aleya brought you here for a reason and the least we can do is try and settle our differences, as she wanted the captain's words held no anger or resentment towards his former friend, just overwhelming sadness at the cost of the chance they were both being given. Rhade looked at his former captain, knowing he was right but having to fight against the urge to remain by Aleya's side in case she did indeed manage to save herself.
You're right. She did this for a reason the Nietzschean confirmed, removing his hand from the young woman's arm. He turned to follow Dylan from the room, paused and turned back to Aleya's still form. In a gesture out of character for the Nietzschean, he gently pressed his lips against her forehead for a brief moment, before straightening and following Dylan from the room as the two went to lay the past to rest.
Dylan closed the door behind them, indicating to Rhade that he should take his
normal' seat. He took his seat across from the Nietzschean, the last
game of go still on the board where they had left it. He picked up one of the
pieces, his thumb idly stroking it as he studied the man before him. Rhade had
removed the robe he had been wearing when he boarded, the sleeveless black T-shirt
beneath it fitting snugly over the Nietzschean's muscular chest. It was
unusual for Dylan to see his friend out of his High-guard uniform, and stranger
still to see him dressed all in black. He wondered what else had changed about
his former friend, noticing the look of despair his eyes held.
Well, I guess now you know. I take it Aleya showed you just what has become
of the Universe since our time? he knew, without asking, that Rhade understood
what his actions had contributed towards, and how bad things had become in the
last 300 years.
I do. She showed me just what had come about as a result of my actions.
I believed I was doing the right thing to ensure the survival of my people,
but all I did was make things worse than they were before. I am sorry captain
the admission of guilt surprised Dylan, it was something out of character for
a member of Rhade's race to admit they were wrong. As he had said before,
to lose was to be proven inferior but the younger man had just admitted he was
wrong and that in itself was a partial admission that he had lost. Once again
Dylan could not help but wonder just how much the Nietzschean had changed since
they had last seen each other. Had the dying woman in Medical had something
to do with the change or had it come from Rhade's realisation of what he
had done?
Why didn't you go with the Nietzschean slaver when he boarded Aleya's
ship? I would have thought you'd have wanted to return to your own people
this was something that had been bothering the captain ever since Aleya had
told them of the encounter with the slaver.
I did not know we had been boarded until after the event. Aleya disposed
of the ship, and it's crew, before I ever regained consciousness. I awoke
to find her curled up on a small bunk near to my bed. It was obvious she had
been attacked. She was covered in bruises, her face and hands were covered in
blood and her clothes were torn. Though still weak, I cleaned her up as best
I could and left her to sleep while I explored her ship the younger man's
voice held an unusual amount of emotion but his reaction did not surprise Dylan.
Although he normally seemed very emotionless and hard to others, Dylan remembered
that Rhade did not like to see females hurt. Females of his own race were more
than able to take care of themselves but the captain remembered Rhade's
reaction during a similar encounter they'd had just after Dylan and Sara
had met. They'd landed on a human colony and had come across a human female
who had been badly attacked.....
##########
Is she alive? concern coloured Dylan's voice as the two
friends knelt beside the still form of a young woman. She bore signs of a severe
beating and possibly far worse treatment.
Just. Who did this to her? I thought there were only humans on this planet?
the first officer's voice was laced with anger, an emotion Dylan had never
seen in his friend before.
There are. Human's still have it in them to commit atrocities Rhade
Dylan shared his friend's anger, knowing too well that this poor child
had probably been subjected to an horrific ordeal.
She's been raped too the Nietzschean informed him, pointing
to the patches of blood on the inside of the girl's thighs. His hands clenched
in fury as he looked at the poor child laying before him, the urge to pay back
her attacker becoming stronger by the second.
Dear God, this poor child. She can't be more than sixteen his
murmured response was filled with disgust for the girl's attacker, his
eyes closed as he too fought for control. He knew there was nothing they could
do however, for it was not their place to hand out punishment, no matter how
sickening the crime. Dylan reached out and placed his hand on Rhade's shoulder,
surprised at the fury and disgust in the younger man's eyes as he turned
to look at his captain.
You've never seen this sort of thing before have you? amazement
filled his voice as he looked at Rhade, certain of the truth of his assumption.
No. The females of my race are more than capable of looking after themselves.
They would kill a male before allowing something like this to happen. If this
poor child does not die, she will have to live with this for the rest of her
life. The man who did this to her is a monster Rhade's reply was
filled with contempt, the last words snarled from between clenched teeth as
his mind went over just what he wanted to do to her attacker to make him pay.
Come on. Let's get her back to the town Dylan's calm reply
belied his own feelings, but he believed that justice would be served eventually......
##########
Looking back on that incident, Rhade's reaction to the Magog reproductive
methods now made more sense. He had forgotten that encounter but now, as the
memory re-surfaced, he saw his friend in a different light and a surge of hope
filled him. Hope that the two of them could put Rhade's betrayal behind
them, hope Dylan could learn to trust Rhade once more and that they might one
day become friends again.
I won't be staying Captain. If Aleya survives, I'll be going
with her until we can find a Nietzschean colony. If she dies, I will take her
body back to her people and then find my own kind, Rhade's statement
caught Dylan by surprise, crushing his hopes as he realised that the younger
man had only returned to try and heal the breach between them.
Why? I could use your knowledge Rhade, and your help, the quiet
statement made Rhade look at the older man curiously.
I do not belong here any longer. I am surprised you have not ordered the
Nietzschean you have onboard to kill me yet. It is your right. I betrayed you
and for that I do not deserve to be a part of your crew any longer, nor do I
deserve to live. Things would have been simpler if that interfering little minx
in Medical had left well alone, the guilt in his voice made Dylan want
to hit him, but he knew the man too well to think this was not part of Rhade's
nature.
I don't hate you Rhade. I understand that you were only doing what
you thought you had too. I don't blame you for what happened after. You
are only one man and, as you said, you opposed the revolt until the Magog came
and changed everything. Just think about my offer, that's all I ask,
Dylan was indeed telling him the truth Rhade realised, and it made him admire
his former friend all the more. Had the tables been turned, would Rhade have
been as forgiving of such a betrayal?
I will think about it Captain, the Nietzschean agreed, inclining
his head slightly in respect.
Good. I have to get back to my crew. You'll find your quarters are
still as you left them, if you wish to take some time to think while we wait
to see if Aleya can save herself, the invitation was thrown over his shoulder,
almost as an after-thought, as Dylan made his way to the door.
Thank you Captain, came Rhade's soft reply as he stepped out
of the room and made his way back to the command deck.
Rhade remained in the room for a few minutes after Dylan's departure, trying to gather his scattered thoughts. He could still not believe that Dylan bore no grudge, no hatred, towards him for his actions. He wondered for a moment whether Aleya had known how Dylan would react when the two re-united, whether she had known all along what the outcome of this meeting would be? The thought of the dying young woman made Rhade get to his feet, determined to stay by her side until he could find out just how much she had known when she travelled back in time to save him. He made his way to the still open door, stepped through and closed it behind him. He paused there for a moment as he tried to decide whether he should go to Medical or whether he should go to his former quarters as Dylan had suggested. Deciding he needed to check on Aleya's condition, he turned to his left and into the corridor that would lead him back to Medical. Engrossed in his thoughts, he at first did not notice someone else was also in the corridor. Suddenly sensing the presence of another, Rhade looked up to see Tyr barring his path, an expression of hatred clear on the other Nietzschean's face as he looked at the traitor.....