Part 25

Dylan's part

I looked intently at Beka to see what her responce would be, I knew that no matter what she would say I would be able to see the real answer in her eyes. I needed her to be alright, otherwise the tenuious control I had on my anger would snap like a thin thread.

"Good to be back." Beka said, her voice unsteady. I silently let out the breath of air I had been holding.

I did a quick scan on the rest of her, making sure that there was no obvious signs of injury. I wouldn't be able to find out anything else until we got her to Med Deck. Med Deck makes me think of Trance and suddenly the anger comes bubbling to the surface again. For one shocking second I realize Beka probably doesn't know what happened to Trance. My heart sinks with the realization that I have to tell her what happened to her good luck charm.

"Beka," I start, unsure how to voice my statement, "Trance, is..." I stumble and then force the rest of the words out of my mouth. "Trance blew up the fleet. She's gone Beka."

I watch Beka's face pale and suddenly wonder if it was too soon. My heart clenches at the thought and I hold my breath, once again, waiting and hoping to see her face pink up again. Slowly it does, but with the return of colour comes a sudden rush of tears. I feel the need to bend down and brush them from my face, but I ball my hands into fists and keep them at my sides. There will be time for sharing and sympathy once all this is over.

Through her tears, Beka looks at me with the fiercest expression I have ever seen on her face. "And I bet Trance told you not to hurt them." She says firmly.

I can only nod and wonder what is going through her mind.

"Trance," She almost whispers causing me to wonder if anyone else heard her. She tries to get up, but I push her back down. She is in no condition to do what I think she wants done. Instead to looks me square in the eyes and says, "Kill the bastards."

Thats two now that want me to kill the aliens and personally I'm inclined to agree with them. The need to obliterate their kind has been waring with the need for diplomacy for the last little while, and I find myself hard pressed not to do exactly what she says.

"I'll do something for sure-" I start to say, only to have Beka cut me off.

"They killed her, Dylan. I wont let that go unpunished. If you don't want to do something I will." The steel in her voice assures me that she is perfectly capable of doing what she says and for a moment I'm transported back three years to when we first met. It's hard to believe that my first officer was once someone I would have had to 'retrieve' in the old Commonwealth system.

I lay a hand on her shoulder and let it sit there for a moment to long. I think I need the contact, the physical proof that she is here, before I go off and do what must be done. I slowly retract my hand and step back. Turning around I look at Rommie.

"I need you to bring Beka to Med Deck with Harper and try to figure out if Beka has substained any serious damage." For a second it sounds as if I'm talking about a machine. Maybe it's just my way of coping. I watch as Rommie nods before I continue. "Then I need you to track down Tyr and tell him to meet me in V-Deck. We're going to pay our alien a little visit."

*****