Rommie and Dylan were sitting at the table, Dylan at the head, Rommie to his left. The crew was late. 3.439 minutes late by Rommie's calculations. And "too damn long" by Dylan's. It was obvious to the avatar that Dylan was in a bad mood. Probably because of his newest 'chick' and how she left his room without his knowing. And why do men call women chicks? Do men think they somehow resemble poultry? It was not logical.

"Why are females called 'chicks' by males?"

Dylan sent Rommie a death glare, fortunately for her, Trance walked into the room at that precise moment. She always did have wonderful timing.

"Hello Dylan, Rommie. Sorry I'm late. My bonsai needed me."

Rommie quirked an eyebrow at a tree needing anyone, but Dylan just nodded. A little of his frustration leaving him.

Trance sat down at the table, opposite end from Dylan.

Just then Harper and Rhade came in, Rhade growling at Harper.

"Geese Rhade, chill, would ya? All I said was 'hello'. And mentioned Beka. You don't have to bite my head off because she's being bitchy to you again. But hey! At least now you know it's not the abyss, but you're charming personality!"

During this Harper sat down next to Rommie, and Rhade sat down one space down from Dylan. There was an empty seat on either side of trance.

Rhade was about to lean across the table and give a Harper a few choice 'words' when Beka ran in. Already figuring Beka was mad at him, he didn't want her furious by making her Harper bleed-or worse.

Rhade was a VERY irritable neitzschean at the moment. And the fact that Beka sat down next to him was not helping. She had not showered since she left his room, so she still smelled of him and sex, though he doubted she knew. And he highly doubted she knew what that was doing to him. Unless she wanted him to suffer. Which was exactly what he was doing- suffering. By having her that close and not being able to touch her. It was one thing before, but now that he'd her, he didn't think he'd ever be sane again if she was never his again.

Beka, on the other hand, didn't even notice Rhade when she ran into the room. She was running late from talking to Nadine. Beka didn't even know that Nadine was on the Andromeda until that morning when they ran in to each other in the coffee nook of the kitchen. She had been sitting with a cocky guy she remembered as being one of Nadine's friends from when they were little. It was nice to have her back in her life again. But when she found out whoever the guy was that was giving her baby cousin drama, Beka was going to give him serious issues to worry about.

"Sorry I'm late Dylan. I got lost in a conversation in the mess hall."

Dylan, seeing a way to vent his frustrations at Nadine for leaving, Andromeda for seeing him and Nadine last night, and the upcoming battle with the magog, took it. And lashed out at Beka.

"Oh really Beka. Well who could be so damn important that you had to be late for a meeting in which I have to tell everyone that we have to go to some paranoid planet that Rommie's databanks have never heard of so we can make treaties before the magog come swarming in at them. And after the magog devoir them, head off and destroy the rest of the universe. Well? I'm waiting. Who was so freaking important?"

The entire table stared shocked at Dylan's outburst. Though Trance did not seemed as surprised as the rest.

Rhade, who had been growling lowly at Dylan for yelling at Beka during the whole speech, took the silence as an opportunity to speak. He half growled for treating Beka poorly. If he was irritated before, he was way beyond frustration now.

"Dylan. Beka was not the only one late. Harper and I were as well. And at least Beka apologized, that's more then Harper and I did."

Harper said quietly, and slightly confused), " Sorry boss."

Rhade glanced in his direction with a look of death at Harper's apology, and Harper sank back in his chair as Rommie put her hand on his knee to comfort him.

"If you are upset do Not take it out on Rebecca. I will not allow you to treat her in that way, in ANY way. Or wee WILL have a problem." Rhade growled form how crappy the day was going, and how Beka would probably yell at him for saying that later. He got up and stormed out of the room."

Dylan quickly got over his shock at his favorite kiss-ass yelling at him and called out, "and just where do you think you're going! We do have a meeting you know!"

Rhade said over his shoulder, as he walked out of the room, and the doors closed behind him, "you said everything you needed to say, and I don't want to sit in there anymore."

"You know what, Captain, I think I'll leave too." Said Beka as she got up to leave. "You're being a jerk, I'm having a bad day anyway. Rommie, Harper, Trance, excuse me."

And with that Beka walked out of the room.

Followed by Harper as he said " See you guys later, I, ah, have a lot of, ah, work to, ah, do."

And Rommie, "I'll assist Harper."

So Dylan was left alone with Trance. Trance stared at Dylan wondering how he could have screwed up the meeting so much by letting his personal life issues seep into his work life.

She internally sighed as she wondered how the crew would survive the upcoming battle, now that they were split in so many ways. Although, things were looking up. Rommie and Harper were together. And Beka was on asking Andromeda where Rhade was. Yes, things were definitely looking up. Especially since she was going to be seeing an old friend again soon.

At the thought of him it took all of Trance's self control not to smile.

It was then that Dylan looked up at Trance looking bewildered. After a moment he spoke.

"What just happened?"

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I don't think I have to ask by now 'please review'.

But I will anyway.

Please review. It will really make my day.