A/N: did I go too fast? Don't hurt me! I'm home sick today with an ear infection, but someone sent the flying plot attack-monkeys after me, and they wouldn't leave me alone. So instead of sitting on the couch watching episodes of Andromeda that I taped and drooling over Rhade, (which is what I really want to do) I'm sitting at the computer typing all the chapters I have in my notebook so far. Enjoy!

Prin69: oh, is this when we get to 'squish Pish' as you put it in one of your reviews for Omega Blue? no, really. I might have one of my original characters say that! This chapter goes out for you for having to put up with me when I was doing Ghaeris/ Trance chapters

Iara: You're welcome!

Miikka: I already gave you more Rhade, but I decided since I'm a nice person I'll give you this chapter.

Jamieson Z: Well, I got more days off that I wasn't planning on having, so you're welcome!

vampiregirl081: I always love Rhade, even when he is drunk! Wow, thanks! you don't know how good that made me fell when you said I was your favorite! thank you! so, because you're so nice, you don't just get a kissing scene for this chapter...

Dancing Queen: well... I guess you could have Veghn, since the other Rhades are taken. :P

Oenone: I still sorry for no Beka/Gaheris/Telemachus!

Chapter 10

"What are you doing?" Telemachus asked.

Beka was readying the Maru for takeoff. "We're going back to the Andromeda. Terla will bring our Slip drive to us there."

Telemachus nodded, looking silently at Beka. Then he walked back to the bunk he had been assigned, preparing himself for another long, boring Slipstream trip.

"I'm sorry," Beka muttered.

"Excuse me?" Telemachus turned around. "What for?"

"Leaving you last night," Beka said. She bit her lip. "Ahhh..."

Telemachus waved a hand. "It's alright. I'm used to it," he announced, turning back and walking to his bunk.

Beka turned back to the controls but couldn't concentrate because she kept looking back at Telemachus. He was lying on his back staring at the bottom of the one above it.

Take some initiative! Beka ordered herself. She bit down harder on her lower lip. "Dammit, Rhade," she snapped, walking back toward him.

Telemachus's eyes were closed. "What?"

Beka hesitated. "I think I love you."

Telemachus's eyes flew open. Whoa! He sat up quickly, mouth open.

Beka sat next to him, closing his mouth for him. She read into the look of dumb wonder on his face. "Yes, I know, you're a Nietzschean and I'm a human, and there's some kind of weird Nietzschean taboo against that, and-"

Telemachus placed a finger over her lips. "Not where I'm from," he whispered. "Majoram Pride has several half-Nietzschean and quarter-Nietzschean children." Telemachus could hear her heart beating faster than normal.

Beka looked confused. "But Tyr said-"

"Ah." Telemachus's lips formed a thin line. "Tyr said many things. Beka, on Terazed, humans, Nietzscheans, even Than had to work together to keep the dream of the Commonwealth alive. The coming together of different Nietzschean Prides and other lifeforms all working for a common goal, making it through the Long Night intact, led to the mingling of customs and ideas. Some of those ideas were not in accordance with Nietzsche's philosophy, but most of us adopted this new way of thinking. Our isolation from the rest of the Tri-Galaxies also led to the difference between, say... Sabra-Jaguar Nietzscheans and Majoram Nietzscheans."

"Different, huh?" Beka leaned in closer, her lips nearly touching his. "Prove it," she whispered harshly before their lips met. Beka forced her tongue into his mouth, running it along his teeth as Telemachus pulled her in closer. When they finally had to break for air, Beka could hardly catch her breath.

"Did I pass the test?" Telemachus whispered fiercely.

Beka noted just how different he seemed, less sissy-boy Academy jock and more... Nietzschean. "Test ain't over yet," she breathed, pulling off her shirt and unlatching her bra.

Telemachus's breathing quickened. He'd never felt this way about any female, human or Nietzschean, before. He followed Beka's example, starting to pull off his own shirt. Then poor Telemachus discovered a drawback to skintight shirts. He had it halfway over his head when, "Beka, I'm stuck," he complained pathetically.

Beka burst out laughing and laid her head on his chest. She reached for her bra and shirt, and she whispered tow words to Telemachus. "Hotel room."

-------------

In the morning, Telemachus woke with two things, Beka and a hangover. His count had gotten kind of fuzzy, but he thought he remembered him and Beka going through at least two bottles of whatever that stuff had been. Telemachus had been watching her for so long, and finally he felt like he had a steady relationship. Hopefully. His past record wasn't stellar. All the females he had ever been with had either left him for some reason he to this day was not sure of, or they had been complete bitches. But now he felt different, like Beka and he could actually be together.

Telemachus didn't want to eave her there, but he had to do what he had to do. He kissed her bare shoulder and slowly got out of their bed. Putting on a black bathrobe, he walked to the door. He cast one last look at Beka, then twisted the knob and stepped out of the bedroom.

I WANT YOU TO START REVIEWING NOW!!!! DON'T READ ANY FURTHER UNTIL YOU START YOUR REVIEW!!! PLEASE! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EVERYONE THINKS UP TO THIS POINT BEFORE YOU READ ANY MORE! OK, YOU BETTER HAVE STARTED REVIEWING!

-------

Beka woke maybe ten seconds after Telemachus left. She rolled over, and with a flash of fear and betrayal she realized she was alone. "No," she moaned. "No, not again." He had left her.

Suddenly she heard a sound in the adjacent room that calmed all her fears. It was the hiss of water turning on in the shower.

Beka laughed at her own fears and stretched, feeling better then she had in weeks. She got out of bed and walked over to the fancy looking coffeepot on a nearby desk of artificial wood. Beka planned on having coffee ready for Telemachus, but she couldn't even turn the damn thing on.

When Telemachus got out of the shower, the first thing he saw was Beka waging a miniature war with the coffeepot. She hit her hand off the top and cursed. Telemachus laughed and walked over. "Here, Beka. I'll make it."

"I thought you left," Beka said reproachfully as Telemachus reached past her and fiddled with the coffeepot.

Telemachus looked at her oddly. "Why would I do that, Rebeka?"

"Don't call me that," she slapped his arm playfully. "Telemachus."

"But what are we going to do about the problem?" Telemachus asked seriously. "You know about the problem, don't you?"

Beka felt a chill run through her. "What?" she asked warily.

"What will my wives say?"

Beka laughed. "You don't have any wives, Rhade. Everyone knows that." She paused. "You're not gonna make me share you with other women, are you?"

Telemachus laughed easily and handed her a cup of coffee. "We'll take off for Andromeda today?"

Beka nodded as she sipped the steaming, rich black liquid. "What are we going to tell the rest of the crew?"

"Uhhhh," Telemachus made a face. "How 'bout you tell them we're together."

"The words 'hell, no' come to mind," Beka told him. "Harper would never let me hear the end of it."

Telemachus laughed again. "Me either."

"You're a big strong Nietzschean. You can handle it," Beka said, to which Telemachus snorted. "We could keep it a secret..." she trailed off when she saw the look on Telemachus's face.

"I don't think we should lie to them," Telemachus said. "And besides, it'd be impossible to hide it from Rommie. We'll just tell them the truth and deal with it," he decided.

"Then you can tell them," Beka said smugly.

A/N: please review every chapter! please!