Family quarrels are bitter things. They don't go according to any rules. They're not like aches or wounds; they're more like splits in the skin that won't heal because there's not enough material. -F. Scott Fitzgerald

Bitter Cracks

Everyone stood there staring at the hand imprint on Dylan face.

"I'm sorry, Boss, I had no clue she would do that. Listen, I'll find her and get her tell me why she slapped you," offered Harper.

"Mr. Harper, I think its best we leave her alone, but if you do come across tell me immediately," Dylan said.

Everyone nodded their head in agreement and walked out of the docking bay.

Thomas looked out the window and onto the street below.

"I had everything until that damn Captain Dylan Hunt showed up and ruined everything. I can't wait to get revenge on him and his friends," he thought as he looked at the bustling crowd below. He heard a knock on the door and shouted "Come in!"

A woman of medium height with dark brown pulled back in a bun.

"Lexine, what can I help you with, my dear?" asked Thomas.

"Thomas, I fear your brother has lost his mind. He has been raving about Hunt and his friends for most of the morning. I feel that he will take drastic action against Hunt and his friends. I was wondering if you could talk him, please."

"I shall what I can do, Lexine. But I can't make any guarantees that he will stop his madness."

"Thank you, Thomas. You are such a voice of reason in this wasteland of ignorance," Lexine said as she left the room.

Thomas waited until he no longer heard Lexine footsteps before storming over to Elam study. He burst through the door and walked right up to his brother.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you want Hunt and his friends to come here? Are you trying to ruing a perfectly well laid plan with your ego, brother?" yelled Thomas as he looked his brother in the eye. Elam shifted his gaze and said nothing which prompted Thomas to continue.

"Do you have a death wish, Elam? If you do I can arrange for you to be killed. And if I find out you have been dealing behind my back I will personally kill you. Do you understand?"

Elam nodded his head yes.

Thomas smiled and left Elam to his thoughts.

"One of these days, dear brother, I'm going to wipe that gloating smile off your face!" fumed Elam silently.

"So she just slapped Dylan and called him a bastard for killing Harper. Wow, that kid has a lot of spunk," said Rhade into the comm unit.

"You might say that, but Dylan looked really peeved that it happened. He does want us to call him if we spot her," replied Beka and then the screen went blank.

Rhade paused as he reached the machine shop when he heard someone crying. He silently walked toward the machine shop and poked his head in. He saw huddled in a corner Finola crying. He quietly inched toward her while holding his breath. Finola looked up and saw Rhade walking toward her. She jumped up and ran toward him. She threw her arm around him stopping him dead in his tracks. She buried her face in his shirt and started to cry, again. He stood there with his arms by his sides not knowing what to do. After a few minutes Rhade pulled Finola away from him and looked at her.

"I really messed up, didn't I?" she asked looking up at her surrogate father of sorts, Uncle Rhade. Rhade looked at the woman and noticed that she really did resemble Harper, especially in the nose and eyes.

"We all do stuff we come to regret later on, Nola," he replied thinking of some of his own actions in the Seefra system.

"You were always the wise one, Uncle Rhade," Nola replied with a faint smile.

"Lexine, do you understand your mission?" asked Thomas.

"I understand completely, Thomas. I shall contact you whenever I can." Lexine replied as she pulled on her cloak. Thomas watched her slip into the crowd and smiled contently.

"Finally, I'll be able to rid this place of Hunt and his friends once and for all. It will be a glorious day when they are finally destroyed."

There was a crashing sound and Rhade and Finola looked in the direction of sound, and standing there was Beka with a sheepish smile on her face.

"Oops, sorry 'bout that" she said.

"How long…" started Rhade.

"Oh, Aunt Beka," interrupted Nola "I'm so glad to see you. Is Uncle Dylan mad?"

"Just a tiny bit, Nola. What I'd like to know is what prompted you to slap him?" asked Beka.

"I just have a lot of anger toward him for all the stuff he did, that's all," said Finola as she shrugged her shoulders.

Beka and Rhade looked at Finola questioningly.

"I guess it's time I tell you guys about me, but I'd prefer to do it someplace more comfortable, and where we won't be heard."

Lexine hurried through the crowd toward the bar. She felt her stomach twist itself in knots from the stress of her assignment.

"Just make contact with the daughter, and no one else. Don't let Rhade see you or your cover will be blown," she repeated to herself as she walked into the bar. She scanned the crowd and saw that the daughter and Rhade weren't present.

"Crap, well this was a waste of time."

She looked at the bartender and a plan started to form in her mind. She smiled to herself as she walked toward the bar counter.

"This will be very easy," she thought.

Beka, Rhade and Finola settled themselves on the Maru mess hall. Finola took a deep breath before starting.

"My biological mother died giving birth to me. Everyone, except Uncle Dylan, pitched in to help my Dad and Mom. When I was about five years old I snuck down to the machine shop to see my dad, and when I got there he and Uncle Dylan were having a fight, about what I don't know. I heard a shot and then I saw my dad fall to the floor. I saw Uncle Dylan run off. I ran over to my dad…" Finola stopped and took a deep breath before continuing "I ran over to my dad and tried to wake him up. I kept shaking his shoulder, but got no response. After a while I stopped, and laid my head on his chest and cried. You found me, Uncle Rhade, I guess a few hours later still in that position. You didn't say a thing, but picked me and carried me to the med bay." Nola finished before tears crept down her face. She wiped them away and continued on.

"You where my father after my biological father died," Finola said looking at Rhade "You taught me how to fight when I turned ten, and you gave me my forcelances when I turned fifteen. I always felt safe around you and Aunt Beka."

"Me?" Beka squeaked "Why not Doyle?"

"Mom fell apart after Dads' death. She still took care of me but just didn't seem interested in me, anymore. You on the other hand, took me under your wing. You taught me how to fly when I turned fourteen. Aunt Rommie taught me all the school stuff, everyday. She claimed my mom didn't have the capabilities to teach me," Finola cracked a small smile at thought of her mother's and Aunt Rommie fights.

"Well, what about Dylan?" asked Beka.

"I don't want to talk about it," said Finola as her face fell. She looked down at the table trying to avoid the gazes of Rhade and Beka.

"We would like to know but if you don't to talk about, we won't press, Nola," said Beka.

Finola looked at the two people who helped raised her and knew she couldn't hide the truth from them.

She stared straight ahead and spoke "After Dad's death Uncle Dylan changed. He no longer came around to see me and acted distant whenever I was around. When I was about ten, he just yelled at me for no apparent reason. He said I ruined everything and if it weren't for me my father would've still been alive. I gave him a kick in the shin and took off running. I ran into you," said Finola as she looked at Rhade "and I told you what happened. We found Uncle Dylan and you forced an apology from Uncle Dylan. It was after that incident you started to teach me how to fight."

"Was I that awful to you, Finola?" asked a voice behind them. They all turned around and saw Dylan standing in the doorway.

Finola face darkened and she said, "I want you to stay the hell away from, Uncle Dylan. You were a bastard towards my mom and me, and if you ever come close to me I will not hesitate to hurt you. Understand?"

Rhade, Beka sat there stunned at the threat that came from Finola. Dylan raised his eyebrows in surprise. Finola headed toward the door but Dylan wouldn't let her through.

"Listen, Finola, I might have been ass in the future, but that is no excuse to threaten me."

"It isn't? The example I gave is one of many where I felt threatened by you. Now, don't tell me that a warship isn't a place for kid 'cause sure as hell worked with me. If you don't mind, I have someplace to go."

Dylan stilled didn't move.

"Will you please move or do I have to fight you?" asked Finola angrily.