There're some people that reviewed chap 6 that I didn't get back to, sorry for that!

Reviews:

Rommies voice: That's cool. Review later?

Mo Cat: Thanks! I'll continue ASAP!

the Lady Katherine: Thank you for letting me use "Please"!!! Sorry 'bout the sunburn... I like Mr. Tall, Dark, and Nietzschean as well! (I'm having a little debate with myself... who's sexier, Gaheris, or Telemachus... hmmm, the possibilities...) :P

prin69: I'm lost too. I think that's why I took so long with this chap. I even contemplated changing it to Dylan being taken... but then I changed my mind (again!). (I can't help it! I'm blonde teenage girl, I'm allowed to change my mind millions of times!) :P

fanofsmith: your wish is my command! :P

LittleRedHead: I don't know if Rhade will be ok yet! (Honestly!)

Callie-Cat: I love Harper too... but he's no match for the sexiness of Rhade! (jk, jk!) I dunno. What good is he to Pish if he dies? But since he's Nietzschean, he'll last longer... right?

DancingQueen: Thanks! Like I said w/ fanofsmith, the reviewer's wish is my command!

Iara: I hope Rhade will be ok too! Wait, I'm writing this... doesn't that mean I'm supposed to know if he'll be all right? I honestly don't know yet!

Oenone: Home Fires is a great episode! I LOVE IT!!!!!! looks around defensively and NOT because it's the only one I have on DVD with Telemachus!!! (ok, maybe a little...) LOL!

DaNcInG PrInCeSs: thanks! No! write nice long reviews! It makes me feel special!!! :P

Keep the reviews comin', y'all!!!!

A/N: I'm gonna be switching POV's a lot in this chapter, I'm just warning you!

Chapter 8

The silence stretched on, long after Pish had left. "We have to get back to the Andromeda," Dylan said finally. "We have to see if Trance can replicate enough of the antidote to save the rest of the crew."

"Boss, we can't just leave him!" Harper protested.

"Rhade will have to hold his own," Dylan said with a tone of finality. "Our main priority is to save the crew. It will take Rhade longer for the bio-weapon to affect him; he'll be able to survive until we can come and get him."

"Unless Pish executes him first," Beka said darkly.

Dylan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Pish won't execute him. Not yet. He'll take Rhade back to Terazad to make him stand a 'public' trial, find him guilty of whatever the current crime against us is, then execute him."

"Uh, in case you haven't noticed," Harper pointed out. "We'll be blown into little pieces if we go anywhere near Terazad, much less stage a rescue."

"He wont go strait to Terazad," Rommie announced suddenly. Questioning looks were turned the AI's way. "Pish will most likely take him to some backwater planet first."

Dylan nodded grimly and began walking back up the corridor.

"Why would he take Rhade to a backwater planet first?" Beka asked Rommie as they walked back toward the ship, feeling rather stupid that obviously everyone else knew why.

Rommie hesitated. "To break him."

Telemachus was sitting on a cold, unfinished metal bench. It matched the small room Pish had locked him in.

"Can't have you running all about my ship, you know," Pish had said an hour ago.

Telemachus growled and felt like punching something. Hard. Violently. He took a deep breath, trying to release his anger. He punched his hand instead, immediately regretting it as the pain sparked in his palm, which only served to anger him further. Then he noticed something was wrong, something that drained his anger as surely as if someone had flicked a switch. The pain didn't stop at his palm. Rather it seemed to be slowly spreading throughout his entire body. A chill ran through him. It's started," he thought numbly as a subtle burning commenced along his skin.

"I can turn the antidote into a mist form," Trance said thoughtfully, examining the green fluid in the vial. "Run it through the ventilation systems. That should cure anyone it comes in contact with, including any residual Omega Blue on shirts, bulkheads, etc."

"How's the kid?" Harper asked.

"Considering I didn't administer the antidote yet..." Trance reminded Harper, lifting one brown eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, you go do that," Harper said sheepishly as Trance hustled back into medical.

"You really care 'bout that girl, don't you?" Beka asked.

Harper shrugged. "Liara just reminds me of me," he replied. "Her family killed in front of her-"

Trance stepped out. "Liara's recovering." She said.

"Already?" Beka asked, surprised.

Trance shrugged. "The antidote works fast. Plus, she's a Nietzschean. Do you want to go see her?"

"Sure," Harper said. "Come on, Beka."

Liara was sitting cross-legged on the metal examination table, eyes closed. She opened them at the sound of the door hissing shut. "Oh. Hello."

"Hi, kid!" Harper said, walking to stand beside her. "Ya feelin' better?"

The Nietzschean shrugged. "I'm feeling better." Her eyes took on a wary look. "Why? Are you going to drop me off somewhere?"

Harper quickly shook his head. "No, no, no. We'll keep you on board the Andromeda until you're fully recovered."

"Oh. Okay." She looked up at Beka and Harper. "When I'm all better, could you drop me off on Pierpont Drift?"

Beka raised an eyebrow. "The thieves drift?"

Liara smiled somewhat shamefully. "My adopted family knows... knew some people there. And doing what I do best is legal there. What can I say, no one thinks a cute little girl would be a... salvager." She made her eyes wide and innocent. "Like I just borrowed your Gauss gun." She smiled and handed Harper his gun.

"Wha? How'd-"Harper looked in amazement at his empty holster.

Andromeda's hologram appeared. "Rommie!" Harper said quickly. "Were you able to trace the Collector's Slipstream route?"

The AI shook her head. "It has some sort of stealth capabilities reminiscent of Genite technology."

Liara frowned, as if trying to remember something. "That's it!" she exclaimed suddenly.

"What?" Harper asked.

"That's why they came after us!" Liara said, all the words tumbling out in a rush. "We found their base! The coordinates are in the databanks of the Rose!" She collapsed back against the pillow as if so much talking had exhausted her.

Beka and Harper exchanged a look, then ran for the Hanger Bay.