A/N it has been soooo long since I last updated right? 8 whole hours. Well here we go.

Chapter 8

Beka stood at her post on command. "Damn, these guys did a lot of damage. We still don't know who they are?"

"No but I got a hunch."

"Really. And that is?" Beka asked Dylan.

"Well, you see their hull configuration was unlike anything we've ever seen. It had Nietzschean designs from many prides as well as Aricads and many others. Notice how we seemed to have stopped all of them from criminal activity? There were seven Nietzschean designs in the hull. All from prides that were operating slave trading. And all ones that we put out of business."

"So, are you saying, the Nietzscheans are rallying against us with a bunch of old enemies?"

"Yes. That is what they are doing." Trance said. Beka whirled around. She didn't even hear her come into command.

Just then a transmission came in from the Maru.

"Rhade has an Interplanetary stalker."

Beka looked mildly surprised at this. "So that's how they found us. The crazy psycho stalker chick put a tracing device on my Maru." Beka said sounding angry.

"Dylan...What if those ships...well they couldn't find us on their own and know exactly where we are..." Trance said.

"They had help...They are working with Caida." Dylan finished. "As soon as Rhade gets the Maru into the hanger I want you to go down and help Rhade find the tracking device. Rommie will help Harper make repairs til you are done."

"Dylan, what was the entire point of her having people come aboard."

"Probably to try and destroy us."

"But wouldn't that destroy Rhade in the process."

"Nah she probably told them she wanted him alive or something like that."

"There. Maru is in hanger 13." Andromeda reported.

"Thank you Andromeda. Beka..."

"I'm going I'm going."

"Beka, I believe I found it." Rhade said after a half hour of searching.

"Oh yeah. That definitely doesn't belong on my baby." A small circle the size of a CD was sticking out of the hull. Beka tried to pry it off. "No go. We need Harper."

"Harper, get your butt down here and anything you need to get a tracer off my ship!"

"Right Boss-Lady."

"Well Boss, it's been 1 hour and 31 minutes and I still cant get it off. Worse, I found that it has a self destruct-if-removed trigger. If we take it off the Maru, it will blow Andromeda to hell and back. There is only one thing we can do. Cut around it, eject it into space and shoot the damn thing down."

Rhade and Beka had been watching Harper for the last hour and a half try to remove it without luck. Rhade looked at Beka and saw her clench her jaw shut.

"Harper, is that the only thing you can do?" She asked very calmly as if trying to control her voice.

"Short of Dying, yep. And I really don't want to die so I should get started."

"and you cant disable it?" Rhade asked

"Nope it will toast us all into deep fried heaven."

"Is there anyway to interrupt the signal of the tracer?" Rhade asked.

"Not unless...yes!!! All I have to do is reroute..."

"No no no no wait! Don't tell us how. Just tell me will it throw her off course?" Beka asked.

"Better! I can trace the signal coming from her end. We will be able to know where she is and create the illusion that we are somewhere else!"

"You're a genius Harper."

"I know."

Beka and Rhade nodded and left the hanger for command. In the hall Beka and Rhade fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"So...umm...Rhade did Caida actually shoot at my ship?" Beka asked.

"Yes but I lost her once I went to slip stream. She is an extremely bad pilot."

"I hope Harper doesn't take to long. It just doesn't feel right if we don't have the Maru to run to in case we need to get off the Andromeda. Just in case." Beka smiled. "Stupid I know."

"No," Rhade said slowly, "It is your home. You were born there. It is completely understandable."

Beka nodded. "If she comes near my ship again I will kill her."

"DYLAN You better get down here!" Harper's voice rang ship wide. Rhade and Beka looked at each other and ran back the way they came.

"A message is being sent through the tracer." Harper said as soon as Dylan got to the Hanger. "Rhade, it's for you."

"Put it on."

Caida's image appeared on the screen. "Telemachus," She began in her breathy voice. "I know that you saw me today on the drift. I also know why you ran. You thought I would be mad at you for kissing Beka."

Dylan's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Harper dropped his Flexi. Rhade looked at Beka. She was looking like she was a child who has about to be punished. Rhade looked back to the recording.

"Don't worry. I am willing to forgive you. And don't worry about Beka, I know you had a moment of weakness. Beka you probably stole this message out of Telemachus' quarters just know this. I will kill you before you try to take him from me." Caida's face was lit up by anger. "I love you my Telemachus. I shall see you soon."

Harper Beka Dylan and Rhade just stood there in silence. Finally, Rhade turned around. Dylan was just standing there looking shocked. Harper's eyes were darting from Rhade to Beka to the blank screen where Caida's head had been seconds before. Beka was sitting with her back to the Maru, legs straight out in front of her and hands to her temples. Rhade walked over to her and leaned down taking her hands in his. She looked up at him. Rhade smiled grimly and pulled her up.

Beka was first to speak. "She's nuts."

"Beka, Rhade why didn't you tell me?" Dylan asked.

Beka shifted uncomfortably when Harper smiled and shouted "It's about damn time! I thought you two would tip toe around each other forever!"

Beka laughed.

"Well Captain we didn't tell you because we weren't sure how you would...react." Rhade said slowly putting his hands on Beka's shoulders. "And we didn't think you needed to know."

"What?! I do need to know!"

"Why?" Beka asked.

"Well, because...it might affect your work."

"Did it?"

"No..."

"Then the REAL reason you wanted to know is because you are gossip loving old man." Beka said smiling.

Dylan didn't looked amused. "Not funny."

"Oh yes it was." Beka said.

"Captain, a ship is coming out of slip stream." Andromeda said.

"Not again."

"Yes..."

"And let me guess..."

"They are firing." Andromeda and Dylan said at the same time as a barrage of missles shook the Andromeda.

A/N See see see? I said it I did it iam happy!!! Reviews make me happy (and make me update faster!!! .