Summary: Dylan wasn't the only one to survive the event horizon. Story is set three years after the event horizon. Rated for future language. AU.
Authors: Awohali, Terran
Rating: PG-13
Authors note: Gaheris not Telemachus. He will show up, eventually.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Andromeda or it's characters.
Rhade: What do you want?
Harper just stares right above Rhade's shoulder. Rhade looks behind him, then back at Harper. Harper's gone. Rhade shakes his head and mumbles something about concussions. Then he goes back to command. Harper goes back to medical, to see if Rhone has woken up.
Trance: Sorry not yet. Where'd you go?
Harper walks numbly to Rhone's side.
Harper: To check on something.
Trance: On what?
Harper: Something.
Harper just looks at Rhone, he holds her hand. Dylan comes over the coms in medical.
Dylan: Harper, tell Terran the parts you need, and when she comes back, would you put the parts in?
Harper: Yes, boss.
Dylan: How's Rhone?
Harper: Unknown, boss.
Dylan: Okay, Hunt out.
Terran and Torum are done checking for Nietzscheans. They take off for the planet when they are in hailing range the planet askes why they're there, Torum takes care of everything. Terran and Torum have landed on the planet. Terran uses her com unit to call Harper.
Terran: Parts, Harper.
He tells her a long list of parts.
Harper: Hold on a sec.
Terran: Fine.
Terran looks up at one of the captains from the planet. She stops and stares at him.
Harper: I'm back. Terran... Terran... Terran!
Terran: What?
Harper: I'm back.
Terran: Okay, now you hold on.
She walks over to the captain.
Terran: What's your name
Captain: Name's Zelazny.
Terran: Very well. Did you get all the supplies?
Zelazny: Did I get all the supplies. What do you think I've been doing this whole time.
Torum breaks in. Terran mumbles something about that's where he gets it.
Torum: Do you know who you're talking to? You're talking to lady Terran.
Zelazny: Sorry. M'lady.
Terran: Right.
She turns back to the com unit.
Terran: Harper, what's the last part?
Harper: Copper wire. Why was someone saying my middle name?
Terran: What's your middle name?
Harper: Zelazny.
Terran: I have to go, thanks Harper.
The screen goes dead.
Harper: That was odd, she said thanks.
Trance: I wonder why?
Harper goes back to holding Rhone's hand. Rhone squeezes his hand.
Harper: Trance she squeezed my hand!
Rhone: Of course I did, you held my hand.
Harper looks extremly happy. He hugs Rhone and lifts her off the bed.
Rhone: Harper... put... me... down.
Harper: Oh, Sorry.
Trance: She needs to rest.
Rhone and Harper: For how long?
Trance: A couple of hours at least.
Rhone: Where's Terran?
Harper: On a planet getting parts probably take a few hours.
Rhone: Okay I'm going to sleep.
Harper suddenly realized he was exhausted.
Harper: Rhone, I think I'll go lie down and sleep.
Rhone: Okay.
Harper: I'll be back in a hour.
Harper left and Rhone fell asleep. Trance told Dylan, Rhone was awake.
Dylan: Thanks Trance. I think I'll check on her later.
Trance: Okay she's having a hard time sleeping.
Dylan: Hunt out.
Rhone was tossing and turning. She was having another dream about her parents "training" sessions.
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Rhone had a blindfold on and was told to use only her hearing as a guide. She was doing horrible. Her lip was split and she suspected a few broken ribs. Suddenly her feet went out from under her and she fell. She woke up.
Dylan: Rhone are you okay?
Rhone: I... I'm sorry.
Dylan: Rhone. Rhone you're awake.
Rhone: Captain?
Dylan: Yes, it's me. What's wrong?
Rhone: N... nothing.
Dylan doesn't want to pry.
Rhone: I... I'm gonna go back to sleep.
Dylan: Okay.
Rhone curls up as if she's asleep. Dylan leaves.
Trance: I know you're not asleep.
Rhone doesn't move.
Trance: What was your dream about?
Rhone: Nothing. Just the past.
Trance: I'll give you something so that you can sleep.
Rhone doesn't disagree, so Trance gives her something for sleep. Rhone falls asleep and dreams about the past.
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She's in the middle of room her parents of either side. They charge at her to attack. She looks for an exit, she finds none. They're right infront of her, her father tries punch her. He doesn't make it, as she grabs his arm and twists. She uses him as a shield against her mother, then throws him against her mother. They are both unconscious. Terran walks into the room.
Terran: Good job.
Rhone snarls.
Rhone: No it wasn't. Leave me alone.
Terran: We have to go before they wake up.
Rhone sounds somewhat curious.
Rhone: Where?
Terran: Away.
Rhone: Where away?
Terran turns to walk away. She looks over her shoulder.
Terran: You coming?
Terran starts to walk away.
Rhone: How do I know this isn't a trick... or trap?
Terran shrugs. Rhone follows her. Out in the corridor.
Terran: We have to run.
Rhone: Why?
Terran: It's the only way to get to the port in time.
Rhone: Port? As in space port?
Terran: Yes. I'm getting you off this rock.
Rhone: Why?
Terran: I just am.
Rhone: Ok.
They get to the space port. There is a ship waiting.
Captain: Lady Terran, we can go at anytime.
Terran: Fine. Rhone it's time for you to go.
Rhone: Aren't you...
Terran: No. I have to stay. To take care of something.
Rhone: But...
Terran: Go!
Terran shoves her on the ship. Rhone wakes up.
Trance: Are you okay?
Rhone: Yes... I'm fine.
Trance: Your heart rate is up and your sweating.
Rhone: I'm fine. Where's Harper?
Trance: Not here yet.
Rhone: Okay.
In Harper's room, Harper is asleep when Andromeda wakes him.
Andromeda: Harper! Harper wake up.
Harper groans and sits up.
Harper: What?
Andromeda: Rhone is asking where you're at.
Harper: I'm coming.
Harper heads to medical. He arrives in a couple of minutes and sees Rhone sitting on the bed. Andromeda announces that Terran is on the way back.
Harper: Great.
Rhone: What?
Harper: She's coming back.
Rhone: And that's bad?
Harper: Yes. She acts completly different then you.
Rhone: She's not all that bad.
Harper: When has she ever done anything for anyone?
Rhone: When she got me away from my parents.
The comlink comes on, but Harper doesn't notice.
Harper: Well she's not all bad, but she's still a hot, tempered Nietzschean.
Terran: We'll be there in a minute. Harper get to cargobay two.
Harper: Aww crap.
He heads to cargobay two. Rhone tries to follow him.
Trance: Not yet.
Harper meets Rhade on the way.
Harper: Where are you going?
Rhade: Dylan told me to help. Stupid human.
Harper: What did you say?
Rhade: I said you stupid, pathetic, weak, little human.
Harper punches at Rhade and barely misses. Rhade hits him in the chest, Harper comes back with a side kick. Rhade takes it and comes back with a sweep kick. Harper goes down on his knees. Rhade goes to finish Harper with his bone blades when Terran catches his arm right before it goes down.
Terran: Rhade that's enough.
Rhade: This isn't your fight.
Terran: Yes it is he's under my rule.
Rhade: What? He's human.
Terran: Only half. He's half human, half Drago-Katsov.
Rhade: What?
Zelazny: He is.
Rhade: Who the hell are you?
Zelazny: His father.
Rhade: What?
Harper: What?
Harper falls backward unconscious.
Terran: Zelazny take him to medical. Andromeda tell him where it's at. Rhade you're coming with me to Captain Hunt. Torum could you unload the cargo?
Torum: Yes my la... Terran.
Harper is taken to medical and Rhade is taken to Captain Hunt. Harper is still unconscious in medical. Rhone tries to stand up, but Trance stops her.
Rhone: But Trance it's Harper. I...
Trance: He's fine.
Rhone: Fine?
Trance: He's just unconscious.
Zelazny: I think he fainted.
Rhone looks up and finally notices him.
Rhone: Who are you?
Zelazny: His father.
Rhone: You're... he looks like you. Sorta.
Zelazny looks at Harper.
Zelazny: I guess he does. Sorta. Who are you?
Rhone: Rhone.
Zelazny: Lady Rhone?
Rhone: Yes, but don't call me lady, it's just Rhone.
Harper suddenly sits up yelling.
Harper: Don't let Terran tell Dylan I'm a Nietzschean.
Rhone: Okay, now calm down. Andromeda is Terran with Captain Hunt.
Andromeda: Yes.
Rhone: Oh boy. Andromeda access Terran's com unit and send this message.
Andromeda: Accessed.
Rhone: Terran don't tell, don't let Rhade tell either.
Andromeda: Sent.
In Dylan's office Terran's com unit beeps.
Terran: What...
Terran accesses it and hears Rhone's message. Rhade is about to tell Dylan Harper's a Nietzschean. Terran punches him.
Rhade: What the hell was that for?
Terran: Harper's hurt.
Dylan: Terran stop punching Rhade.
Rhade: As I was saying Har...
Terran kicked Rhade.
Rhade: What the hell?
Terran: You had better not tell Rhade.
Dylan: I feel left out. Tell what?
Terran hadn't meant for Dylan to hear.
Rhade: Harper's a...
Terran: Shut up Rhade.
Rhade growls at her.
Rhade: You.
Terran: I said you shut up.
Dylan: Both of you calm down. Terran what do you not want me to hear about Harper?
Terran: If he doesn't wish me to tell, I won't. He doesn't want anyone to know.
Dylan: Why? It's not like he's a Nietzschean?
Terran looks at Dylan and Rhade nods.
Dylan: What? He's a Nietzschean?
Rhade: Yes.
Terran: Shut up, Rhade. Or I will have to kick your ass.
Rhade: You can try.
Terran and Rhade are staring at each other.
Dylan: Take it outside, I have to think.
Terran and Rhade leave. Andromeda's holoself appears beside Dylan.
Dylan: Maybe it should be Nietzschean instead of unique.
Andromeda: I always knew. He asked me not tell anyone else.
Dylan: Does Beka know?
Andromeda: No.
Dylan: Let's make sure she doesn't find out, unless he wants her to.
Back in Medical.
Harper: I think they already told.
Rhone: Maybe.
Zelazny: Perhaps they haven't.
Terran storms in and looks at Harper.
Terran: Sorry.
Harper: I can't beleive this. Everyone knows now.
Rhone: Did you tell Beka?
Haper: No.
Terran: Then she doesn't know.
Harper: One person. Whoopdeefreakin'doo.
Terran looks at Rhone. She notices bags under her eyes.
Terran: Rhone what's the matter?
Rhone: Nothing.
Terran: Bullshit.
Rhone: I'm fine.
Terran: Rhone.
Rhone: I'm fine.
Terran: You having nightmares again?
Rhone: Maybe... probably. Yes.
Terran: Everyone out!!
Harper: But...
Terran: Out!
Rhone: He stays.
Terran: Fine.
Everyone, except Rhone, Harper and Terran, leave.
Terran: Privacy mode.
Andromeda: Privacy mode engaged.
Terran: What are they about?
rRhone: Doesn't matter.
Terran: Harper tell her they do matter.
Harper: Rhone, I can't believe I'm saying this, listen to her.
Rhone: What? Listen to her. Just because of a stupid dream about training and her getting me away from my parents. I... I just told you what happened.
Terran: Training and your parents. Bad combo. Give anyone nightmares.
Harper: Training? What's training?
Terran: We were taught how to fight, by them fighting us.
Harper: Who?
Terran: Our parents.
Harper: Your parents fought you?
Terran: Yes.
Rhone: They said we needed to learn to fight. I wasn't very good at first, but I started beating them. They hired people then. They didn't win.
Harper: Oh.
Rhone: But it doesn't matter it's past.
Harper: Yep.
Terran: Unless it starts terrorizing the present. Why is it bothering you now?
Rhone: Being in here reminds me of losing and ending up in medical there.
Terran: It's nicer.
Rhone: It is.
Harper looks at Rhone and hugs her. Rhone looks slightly supprised, but clearly enjoying it. He let's her go.
Rhone: Why'd you hug me?
Harper: Looks like you needed it and I needed a hug.
Rhone smiles at Harper. She gives him a hug and a kiss.
Rhone: Thanks.
Terran: Eww. Sick, sick, sick.
Rhone: Shut up.
Harper: Can everyone come back in?
Terran: Yes. Andromeda allow them to come back.
Everyone comes in. Dylan and Beka look confused, Rhade looks pissed, Trance, Torum, and Rommie look indifferent, and Zelazny looks at everyone in turn.
Harper: I have something to tell Beka, since everyone else knows.
Beka: What?
Harper: Beka, I'm a...
Rhone holds Harper's hand.
Harper: Beka, I'm a Nietzschean.
Beka: What? How come you haven't told me?
Harper: I didn't want anyone to know. Then they found out.
Beka: How'd they find out?
Harper looks at Rhade.
Harper: Him.
He says it with obvious disgust.
Rhone: Actually he helped.
She points at Zelazny.
Beka: Who's he?
Harper shrugs.
Harper: I don't know. Ask him.
Beka: Later, right now Rhone looks a little pale.
Rhone: I do not.
Harper: Umm. Rhone, yeah you do.
Terran: I'll stay with her all of you out.
Rhone: But, Harper...
Terran: Can come back later.
Rhone: Fine. Harper could you get a box out from under my bed, Andromeda will tell you which one.
Harper: Sure, babe.
They all leave.
Terran: Why the hell are you dreaming?
Rhone: Because it's a normal thing and REM sleep helps you organize memories and stuff.
Terran: Not what I meant. Why are you having nightmares?
Rhone: I don't know.
Terran: You should.
Rhone: No I shouldn't. Anyway I thought I told you, it was this room.
Terran: How long have I known you? I know it's not this damn room.
Rhone: Yes it is.
Terran: You have been in here before and not had nightmares Rhone.
Rhone: How do you know?
Terran: I had Andromeda watch you. I told you I'd keep an eye on you.
Rhone: What?
Terran: Watch your anger.
Rhone holds up her bone blades.
Rhone: Too late.
Terran: Look I'm just saying... Oh never mind.
Harper comes back.
Rhone: Terran, can you go I need to talk to Seamus.
Terran walks out. Harper hands Rhone the box. She takes it and opens it. She takes out a long, thin, black wire, she twists the wire into a beautiful design. Harper watches her. When the design is complete she puts three clear crystals on it and when they hit each other they make beautiful sounds.
Harper: What is it?
TBC