an: I had intended this to be humorous like the rest of the chapters, but in making it about Tyr's old home it got all angsty. So I cut it to bits and tried to get rid of most of the angst. Oops. Sorry! You can just skip this chapter if it's humor you want; it won't disrupt the plot (such as it is) in any way. On the up side this may lead to a spin-off story with Tyr angst and Tyr/Beka 'friendship'. Whadya think?
An eternal optimist, Dylan tried talking to Tyr again. "Tyr, how did you find out about this dealer anyway, you've never mentioned this system before. Have you ever conducted business here?"
"I have never mentioned this system before because there is nothing left of value here. I would not be here at all except for our desperate need for weaponry. Now if you please, leave me in peace until my business is concluded." Dylan was confused, he couldn't help feeling that he was crossing some sort of line with Tyr but he couldn't imagine how. Tyr had never been defensive about or, the Divine forbid, ashamed of his mercenary past. Secretive yes, but never defensive.
Beka had first noticed a change in Tyr's behavior as they approached the system. She immediately suspected the problem and a quick query of the Maru's database had confirmed it. Rather than let Dylan make matters worse by continuing she decided to tell him what she had learned. Leaning over to whisper in his ear and pointing into the crowd as though talking about the bar patrons she told him "Dylan let it go. One of the planets in this system was a major Kodiak colony and site of the final Kodiak-Dragan battle. Not where Tyr's parents were killed, but it was where the very last of the resistance died. He wasn't even here, and guilt like that drives Nietzscheans crazy." Dylan looked as though he wanted to protest, and Beka could just imagine what he wanted to say. 'Beka he has to talk about it. If he doesn't confront his feeling he'll never realize how baseless his guilt is. It's our duty as friends and crewmates….blah, blah, blah' Beka put a finger up to Dylan's lips, "Trust me, just leave it be. This is a Nietzschean thing you do not want to mess with uninvited."
Just then a tall and slightly portly older Nietzschean with a round face approached the table. With a sudden laugh he punched Tyr on the shoulder, "Tyr! It really is you; I thought you were dead for sure by now. So how have you been little general? Is your tin soldier army still loyal to you? HaHaHa Well now boy, introduce me to your friends."
Beka stared at Ty in fascination. He looked almost like a child who had seen the boogie man. She watched his mouth open and close for several moments before he regained the ability to speak. I haven't seen you in 20 years, I never guessed you were…" Seeing the strange expression on his crewmates faces he struggled to regain his normal impermeable attitude. "This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant and Beka Valentine, pilot. But your business here tonight is with me, I was under the impression you are the largest weapons dealer in this area and I am interested in your inventory."
"Tyr, you've lost some of that smooth charm and courtesy you had as a child. You only gave half the introduction so I'll have to complete it for you. I am Ferdinand Lafayette, of Tokugawa pride, former emissary to the shrine of Drago Museveni and very probably the only being left in the universe who ever saw Tyr Anasazi play with toy soldiers. I used to call him little general because he would spend an entire day setting up a battle and strategizing. He always tried to get the other children to reenact the battle for him, but they had no interest in being human chess pieces for his amusement. Except, for that one little girl, but then she was your youngest sister wasn't she? I remember how she idolized you… but we shouldn't talk of the dead any longer. As you said we have business to attend to."
Beka watched this exchange and tried to figure out if she should duck for cover, restrain Tyr, or shoot Lafayette herself. Using psychological manipulation during negotiations was one thing, but for a Nietzschean, and a former ally at that, to use dead family against another Nietzschean was the equivalent to declaring war. And it was just cruel. Layfayette seemed to have some sort of strange influence over Tyr though. Instead of attacking the older Nietzschean, verbally or otherwise, Tyr just looked away.
A few moments later Tyr apparently regained control of himself and began negotiations with the weapons dealer. They went quickly and without most of the usual veiled threats, head games, and other negotiating tricks. Within 10 minutes Tyr had arranged for a wide variety of weaponry and munitions to be delivered to the Andromeda, credit transfer to be completed when the cargo was on board. Lafayette smiled at Dylan and Beka and looked as though he wanted to say more but left without another word.
Tyr sat for a moment and watched him sit down in a corner of the room and conduct business with his next client. Dylan knew something important had just happened, but had few hopes that Tyr would actually explain. He had to try though. "So, Tyr, about that, who exac…"
Tyr stood immediately. "My business is done here for the night. I will return to the Maru now and wait for you all to finish wasting your time here. If you need to talk to me about something I suggest you wait until tomorrow when your brain won't be so addled by all the alcohol you have consumed. Good Night." He left without waiting for a response.
Just then the waitress appeared bringing yet another round of drinks that they hadn't ordered. Dylan tried to protest, but the woman just winked at him and sashayed away with the empty glasses. He absentmindedly took a sip of the new drink.
Beka thought about questioning the free drinks, but she really was having a good night, even with Tyr's strangeness. She made it a rule to never get drunk, but it was like birthday cake and calories; calories from birthday cake didn't count and alcohol in free drinks didn't count. By the time she was halfway through her second free drink that made perfect sense. And that man by the door was looking more attractive by the minute.