SITN7

Disclaimer: Yeah right, and Tyr will stage a production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show

Author's notes: Reviews please! It only takes a few minutes for you, but it makes my whole day. It maintains my enthusiasm level for the story to know it is being read.

Diane waited until the sickbay doors closed before responding to Regina's teasing. "I come from a very long line of tyrants, it's genetic. Now that we're alone would you mind telling me who that excellent physical specimen was? The intraship gossip did not contain that particular tidbit."

"Really? How odd. You seemed to know everything else. In fact, I got the distinct impression that you were making very sure Tyr Anasazi knew my linage, and paraded a lot of personal information around as well." Regina looked at her curiously. Thinking back on the conversation without the slight fuzziness the concussion had given her, it seemed out of character. Both Callisto and Diane were very private, and never would have discussed her sex life (which they really didn't agree with) in the presence of a strange male. They had either been trying to test him or warn him off, she couldn't decide which.

"The Kodiak?" Diane's eyebrows completely disappeared in her bangs.

"I guess. We didn't get into the extended lineage discussion." Regina fidgeted a little under the doctor's shocked gaze. She really had no idea, it hadn't been important to her at the time. She had been too caught up in the disappointment she had felt upon realizing he was Nietzchean to inquire further.

"You guess? Damn it girl, if you're going to bring home strays, bring home another kitten!" Diane exploded.

"What do you mean stray? He was at the bar with several crewmates." Regina pointed out.

"I know you have an excellent memory, use it! The Kodiak were the guardians of Drago's remains until they were wiped out. There are a few Kodiak still living I suspect, but none that have come to light except this one. Tyr Anasazi is the weapons officer for the Andromeda. Am I starting to ring any bells yet?" Diane asked.

"Drago in a purple muumuu! He's the one Uncle Charlie told us about. Diane, do hormones suppress higher cerebral functions, or was it the knock to the head that made me miss that?" Regina touched the back of her head where the lump was receding.

"He is a well built male, I can see where you might have had some trouble in that area. He's very much your type isn't he?" Diane chuckled.

"Oh yeah! He's strong, handsome, has a warped sense of humor, is good in a fight, and has long hair. I guess I should be pleased about the whole breeding philosophy you guys have, or my single status could become endangered." Regina said jokingly.

"You could do worse. He has excellent genes. The fact that he has no clan may mean he would be open to taking a mate who was not born Nietzchean, as long as she was not inferior." Diane pointed out.

"No, I don't think so. He didn't argue with me when I backed off at the bar." Regina mused.

"Backed off? Please tell me you didn't approach him for some of that human 'casual sex' stuff." Diane cringed.

"As a matter of fact, I did. I didn't see the bone blades until I had initiated contact. Once I observed the blades I apologized for hitting on him. We had a brief discussion on mating, some of which I actually agree with, and then I moved on to less complicated pastures. Believe me, if he were not Nietzchean, we would not be having this conversation. I would have dragged him out of that bar and into the closest hotel instead of engaging in a barroom brawl." Regina sighed, remembering the thrill she had felt when she had first spied him in the crowded dive.

"Well, remember that you are not entirely human, little Chimera. Callisto had to adopt you formally to keep you beside her and maintain your freedom. You are her daughter in the eyes of Jaguar Pride, which makes you a Jaguar, hence Nietzchean." Diane gently reminded her.

"Not Nietzchean enough where it counts though, am I." Regina laughed bitterly. "Machi made that clear enough when he told me he was holding out for a female worthy of his DNA."

"Is that why you suddenly became adamant about getting the implant and began sleeping with any non-Nietzchean male who displayed for you?" Diane asked softly. She had wondered about Regina's sudden change in behavior, but had assumed it was natural curiosity. Regina had been born to human parents, after all. She and Callisto had discussed it, and decided it was a phase that would pass. Apparently they had been wrong.

"Oh yeah. I was a mess after Machi and I had our little talk. I held it together until I was safely behind Boadicca's bulkhead. I went straight to the gym and proceeded to beat the hell out of the training dummy. The only other person in the room was Alyxandra. I guess she felt it safer to wait until I had worn myself out before approaching. Not that I blame her for that, I must have been a sight." Regina's voice was full of self-mockery

Diane reached out and laid a compassionate hand on her shoulder. "I would have been in a towering rage too, Chimera-child."

"Anyway, as soon as I dropped, she came over and held me. I could not bring myself to tell her what the problem was. I was too ashamed. The woman indicates her interest, the male displays, and then the female decides whether or not to mate with him. I followed the rules Diane, really I did. But when I told him my decision he laughed at me. He said he was displaying for Niena, I just happened to be there while he was doing it. He wanted to know how I could possibly think that a real Nietzchean would be interested in a freak like me." Regina sat very stiffly, ignoring the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"You are not a freak. Listen to me Regina, I know. I am your friend, but I am also your doctor. There is nothing aberrant about your DNA. In fact, you have qualities far superior to a great many born Nietzcheans." Diane paused. She looked like she was debating whether or not to say something, then she shook her head slightly and finished with, "I know you thought highly of Machi, but he is not the only male in Jaguar Pride. In fact, there are a great many unattached Nietzchean males in other Prides. Do not believe they will all think as Machi does."

Regina missed the pause; she was too wrapped up in her misery to notice. "I grew up around Machi, even kicked his ass when he needed it. If a male that close to me cannot see my 'superior qualities' what makes you think a stranger will?"

"Machi is obviously too stupid to be allowed to breed, that's what I think. You need to stop placing such weight on his idiotic opinion, quit sleeping with inferior males to bolster your sense of self worth, and start really looking for a mate." Diane ordered.

"There's that tyrant voice again." Regina said, trying for levity.

"The tyrant has one more set of instructions for you. Take a shower and put on some clean clothes. You look like Hell." Diane replied, willing to let it go for now. She knew that Regina could only be pushed so far in a direction at a time. She would be telling Callisto an edited version of the conversation though. Caal would remove Machi's testicles with a dull knife if she knew he had called Regina a freak.