Chapter 2

"Transitioning back to normal space."

Telemachus Rhade braced himself against the console for the jolt that always accompanied the exit from slipstream. For the moment, he was the only one on the command deck and he liked it. It gave him a chance to think. He had been on the Andromeda for a little over a year now and he was amazed at how much he had learned about human emotions in that short amount of time, but he knew that there was still much he had to learn.

"Andromeda, have you heard from Dylan or Beka?" he asked bringing up the holographic image of the ships AI.

"No. Dylan said that they might be awhile." He sighed. With the price on their heads getting higher all the time, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find planets that were willing to help them. Luckily, the Perseids living on Sinti still had the utmost respect for Dylan and were willing to help the Andromeda repair the damaged stasis generators on the med deck.

Just then, the doors to command slid open and Rommie and Harper entered. They were arguing, again.

"Look, all I am saying is you can't just enter my memory any time you feel like it. Would you like it if I started looking around in your brain without permission?"

"Rommie, I said I was sorry. How many times do you want me to apologize?" Rhade raised an eyebrow and looked quizzically at the avatar.

"Never mind." Rommie said shaking her head. Suddenly, Andromeda appeared on the screen in front of Harper.

"Rhade, I am detecting a small ship exiting slipstream. It appears to be a slip fighter from the Old Systems Commonwealth." Harper punched a few buttons on the console in front of him and the image appeared on the screen. Rhade could see that the fighter was badly damaged and was barley holding together. As they watched, an explosion sent a trail of smoke billowing out into space. Rhade knew that this meant the fighter was now with out engines.

"There is an incoming transmission," Rommie said taking her position next to Harper.

"Onscreen" The image was of a young woman and she appeared to be badly injured.

"Please, please help me," she begged as the transmission began to break up.

"I am detecting multiple ships exiting slipstream. They appear to be of Nietzschean origin and they are targeting the slip fighter."

"Rommie, move to intercept. Harper, find Trance and tell her to prep Med Deck." Rhade ordered, punching buttons on the console.

"Receiving a transmission from the Nietzschean squad leader."

"Onscreen." The Nietzschean captain was an unpleasant looking individual with a long, jagged running diagonally across his face.

"Do not interfere," he snarled. "She is an enemy of the Republic of Diasha. She will be taken back to Diasha and executed."

Harper snorted derisively. "Classic Nietzschean." Rhade just scowled.

"How close are we to retrieving the slip fighter?"

"We are still ten minutes away."

"Stay on course."

"Uh, Rhade, the Nietzscheans are targeting us," Harper said.

"Rommie, load missile tubes 1 thru 25. Battle stations."

"Battle stations. All hands to battle stations." The alarm rang out through the ship. Rhade braced himself as the first round missiles hit the Andromeda.

"Rommie, damage report."

"No hull breaches yet, but the hulls on decks 34 and 35 are severely damaged." She reported. "Launching combat drones."

"How close are we to retrieving the fighter?" Rhade asked, wincing slightly as more explosions rocked the ship. Dylan is not going to be happy he thought.

"One minute."

As the Andromeda approached the fighter, four bucking cables snaked out coiling around the fighter like a snake captures its prey. As soon as the cables were secure, Harper entered the command to bring the fighter to safety.

"The slip fighter is safely in hanger 17 echo." Andromeda told Rhade.

"Good, let's get out of here," he said taking his place in the pilots seat.

"Opening slipstream portal. Transitioning to slipstream." Five minutes later, the Andromeda dropped out of slipstream.

"Any signs of the Nietzscheans?" Rhade asked.

"None." Andromeda replied. Suddenly Trance's image flickered on the screen.

"Rhade, could you come down to Med Deck?" she asked and then the screen went dark.

Ten minutes later, the door to the exam room slid open Rhade entered.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked, with a puzzled expression on his face. Trance looked up from the flexi she was reading.

"Yes." She took a step to the side and Rhade inhaled sharply. Lying on the table was the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen. She had light brown hair and light skin. He noticed that her eyes were slightly almond shaped and her ears were pointed somewhat. Could she be...? He thought, frowning. As his eyes traveled over the rest of her body, he saw that she was dressed in some sort of makeshift military uniform. Her face had been covered in cuts and he observed the large hole in the side of her shirt where she had been wounded. As he looked at her, he felt himself strangely attracted to her. Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to what Trance was saying.

".........and when I tried to inject the Nanobots, she didn't respond. I don't understand, I had geared them towards the genetic structure of humans."

"She's not human," Rhade replied walking over to the bed. Reaching down, he removed the fraying leather strip on her left arm. The four bone blades stood up for a moment and then collapsed back. "She's a Nietzschagen. It means that she is half human, half Nietzschean." Trance looked slightly puzzled. Rhade sighed.

"Nietzschagens are usually the result of relations between Nietzscheans and their human slaves or a product of conquest. They are considered by Nietzscheans to be genetically inferior and unfit to live. Most do not survive into adulthood." He shrugged.

"And humans?"

"Most humans despise them simply because they are considered to be Nietzschean." Trance muttered something intelligible, but Rhade had a feeling that it wasn't polite. Just then, the screen on the wall flickered to life.

"Rhade, I am receiving a transmission from Dylan." Andromeda said.

"I'm on my way." Taking one last look at the girl, he left the room. Trance watched as the doors slid shut behind him. She was slightly surprised by the flicker of emotion that had crossed Rhade's face. For as long as she had known him, not once had she seen him display any sort of emotions, at least not in front of anyone else. Shrugging, she turned back to the girl.

Kiana struggled back to consciousness. Every part of her body felt like it was on fire and her head pounded. Groaning, she sat up and looked around. There was a strange woman standing next to the bed. She had flaming red hair and gold skin.

"How are you feeling?" she asked with a concerned expression. In her hand, she held an object that looked somewhat like a needle, with a series of buttons on it.

"Who the hell are you? And what the hell are you doing to me?" Kiana demanded jerking away from her. The sudden movement caused Kiana to fall off the bed. She scrambled to her feet and backed away.

"My name is Trance Gemini and you are on the Andromeda Ascendant. There is nothing to be afraid of. I am not going to hurt you." Trance walked towards her.

"Like hell." The kick caught Trance by suprise. She doubled over in pain, allowing Kiana to vault over the bed and race out the door.