Chapter 3
After checking Medical, Rhade found Trance on Observation Deck. She was sitting on a bench with her knees drawn up to her chest, and her arms wrapped around her knees. She seemed oblivious to her surroundings, and Rhade was about to leave her to her solitude, when suddenly Trance turned to him and asked, "May I speak to you, Rhade?"
"Of course, Trance," he replied, concerned at the expression on her face.
"You know that we were going to study the implant that we removed from you, right?"
"Yes... did you find out something?"
"I found out that... that one of my people did this to you. The implant is something that my people created."
"Where do you come from?"
Trance looked down, and quietly said, "We, my people that is, are not allowed to tell outsiders where we come from...Not without our leader's permission. I can tell you that we are sent out to all parts of the galaxy in order to help people." Tears stood in her eyes as she looked back at Rhade. The person who has done this is the only one in our people's history that has deliberately harmed someone... I'm so sorry, Rhade... I won't blame you for hating me." Trance finally broke down in tears, and started to run from the Nietzchean, who had been silent throughout her story.
Rhade caught the distraught girl, and held her gently but securely in his strong arms. "Look at me, Trance," he said very quietly. Trance looked up into his dark eyes as he continued, "I could never hate you, little one and I don't blame you for anything. I am very sorry that one of your own people betrayed you like this, but what this person did, is in no way your fault. They made their own choice in this matter. Don't feel guilt for something that was done 300 years ago. Just think about it, Trance... If it hadn't happened, I wouldn't be still alive and we would never have met. I, for one, am not willing to be sorry for that." As he said this, he used his right hand to gently wipe her tears away.
"Thank you, Rhade... for making me feel better," Trance said shyly, embarrassed at her tears in front of this strong man. "I'm glad we met, too."
"If you need to talk some more, you know where to find me. Don't be sad all alone, purple girl," he said with a tender smile.
"Okay," said Trance. "I'd better go back to Medical, now."
"May I escort you, my lady?" asked Rhade, holding out his arm. "Yes, my lord." Rhade raised one eyebrow and smiled at her. "My lord?"
"Well, what else should I call you? Big Bad Nietzchean isn't right. You are big," she said, eying him with a blush, "but you aren't bad. You're the kindest man I've ever met."
As they walked, Rhade bent his head close to Trance's ear, and whispered, "Thank you, Trance. I'm glad you feel that way about me, but you, and only you, can call me the Big Bad Nietzchean anytime you feel like it. From your lips, it's a compliment. By the way, I think you're quite wonderful yourself." Trance's eyes grew wide, and she turned a brighter purple, the sight of which Rhade greatly enjoyed. They stopped at Medical and said good-bye. Trance needed to work, and it was nearly time for Rhade to play basketball with Dylan.
Weeks passed, and Dylan and the crew seemed to grow more and more comfortable with Rhade's presence aboard the Andromeda. A month after finding Rhade, Dylan called his senior staff together and announced his intention of offering Gaheris Rhade the position of Strategy and Weapons training officer. His staff agreed wholeheartedly with his decision, and Dylan approached Rhade with the proposal. Rhade agreed to stay, and gladly undertook his new position. Rhade also took advantage of the opportunity to deepen his relationship with a certain young woman.
-TBC-
