See Prologue for Ratings and Disclaimers.

Like I said, I'm attempting to get these new parts out faster. And lo and behold, this one is long as well. From this point on, I believe, the majority of them are a bit longer, for the most part, so that's (hopefully) a plus. As always, I would like to thank my reviewers for their kind words of support and their insightful observations - all will be explained in good time.

Any and all mistakes are mine alone.

PART THIRTEEN - Shall We Play?

Nothing changed over the next few days, save for Rhade's improving condition. His injuries were healing well, scars and bruises fading fast, and he was able to get out and about the ship for progressively longer periods of time. If he had his way, he could be back and ready to assume his duties inside a week, instead of Captain Hunt's current decision to keep him away for another two to three. But he was working on that.

The situation with Trance, however, had remained at a standstill. She continuously refused to tell him whatever it was that had her acting so strange, and so he tried to avoid her. His examinations were as short and silent - and uncomfortable - as he could make them. Rhade suspected other crewmembers, including the Captain, were beginning to notice, but he didn't really care. Maybe it would be incentive for her to simply get over the issue and either tell him, or drop the behaviour. He wasn't even sure he wanted to know anymore, but they couldn't keep this up.

At the moment he sat in his quarters in front of a Go board, Dylan's Go board. Beka, sitting across from him, had borrowed it for a few hours. Rhade had never played before, and Beka could barely remember a few lessons from several years ago, but they were managing with the earlier help from Andromeda. According to the First Officer, he had been complaining too much of boredom.

"Are you gonna go anytime soon, or should I take a nap for a bit?"

Rhade looked up without raising his head, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. She certainly wasn't the most patient human. He looked back at the board.

After several more long seconds, he finally reached his arm out to place his piece, not quite reaching the intended spot before he heard her voice again.

"So explain to me this 'difference of opinion' you Tarazed-ians have on love."

He hesitated for only a millisecond before dropping the small black piece onto its intended place. He grinned inwardly. She had not so subtly been trying to distract him every so often for the last couple games.

He leaned back in his chair. "What, exactly, do you want to know?"

She shrugged nonchalantly and stared at the board, trying to figure out where her own game piece should be placed. "I dunno…what's your take on it?"

He decided to play the game by her rules. He put on his most pensive face, as if pondering the question deeply, and waited for her to make her move.

"Like most Nietzscheans, I suppose," he began as he saw her focus on a particular grid, noticing the small smirk she wore at his words, as if it didn't surprise her. As she moved to place the white piece down, he clarified, "I hope it will one day find me."

That caught Beka off-guard. She dropped her piece high above the board, causing it to bump into two others. Rhade hid his smile as she quickly arranged the pieces back into their initial configuration.

Then she looked up at him. He was staring at the board as if nothing had happened, planning his next move. She frowned.

"Uh, that's not like most Nietzscheans."

He raised an eyebrow. "And you know this because…?"

She fumbled a few times before responding, lamely, "Well it's…uh, I have it on good authority that Nie--"

"Who's authority?"

She sighed audibly at both the act and obviousness of the interruption - he knew exactly who she was talking about. She choose not to answer. Instead, she finished her thought. "That Nietzscheans believe love is just some weird bio-trick thing."

He placed his piece and looked up. "That is one view, but not all share it, especially among those of my homeworld."

"Nietzschean love on Tarazed?" She placed her piece quickly, barely taking time to look at the board.

His gaze moved back down to the game. "It's more complicated than that. I have mentioned before that my culture has evolved closely alongside that of the other species on the planet, namely humans?" He saw her nod in his peripheral vision. "From that exposure we have gained a better understanding of our own beliefs.

"Many of my Pride hold that, yes, love is indeed a biologically-induced emotion," he saw her smirk once again, "However, we accept that it is not found in every relationship. This gives love a special meaning. We have come to understand and even desire this situation. Yes, our goals of reproduction can be met, and even a contented life can be achieved, without love. But I have come to believe that a life with love could be much more fulfilling." He reached out and placed the little black circle next to its companion.

Beka was staring at him. "Wow," she stated, surprise evident in her voice. "And everyone, the Nietzscheans, on Tarazed…they all believe that?" She leaned over and played her turn.

"Certainly not everyone," he said, after a brief hesitation. "But many believe in this concept to varying degrees, some more and some less. I have known of some who will not even consider a marriage proposal unless a lengthy courtship has taken place." He looked up and grinned, "Strange for a Nietzschean, indeed."

She thought for a moment, but couldn't resist the question as it formed on her lips. "So where are you on the love spectrum? The waiting end? Or the 'whatever' end?"

He rested his chin on his knuckles and focussed on the board, not looking up as he answered, "Regretfully, I did not wait."

"Ah, so you're…" she trailed off, only now catching the meaning behind his words. Her eyes went wide. "You're married!"

He raised his eyes to hers, still not moving. "It's your turn."

It took her a second to process his words, then she looked down. She had completely missed him placing his last piece. Shaking her head a little to clear her thoughts, she located the latest addition and attempted to focus on the game.

"Was."

Beka looked up. "What?"

"I was married."

"So how come I didn't know about this?" Her tone was almost accusatory. Almost.

He shrugged, as if it were not big deal. "You never asked."

She sighed and shook her head. "So…what happened? With your wife, I mean." Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. "There is only one, right?"

Rhade gave a small, amused smile. "Was one, yes." He turned a little more serious. "I had heard she died in childbirth not long before I joined the crew. The child survived; a girl, as I recall."

Beka's eyes shot up, disbelief at his wording and his near-carefree demeanour. He clarified, "We had not been married for several years before. She remarried."

Beka looked away, feeling, oddly, a little relieved. "Oh." Absentmindedly, she placed a game piece on the board. "So…can that happen? With Nietzscheans, I mean."

"What?"

"Divorce."

"Ah." He leaned back, keeping his eyes on the game, looking for an opening. "It does happen, but it is rare. I have the feeling it's less of a taboo on my planet, but we still tend to keep it quiet, or as quiet as it can be, for obvious reasons."

"So why did you…" she left the thought hanging.

"We both decided it would be for the best. She wished to persue…other interests."

"The new husband?"

"I suppose it could be seen that way."

Beka frowned. "I'm sorry."

Rhade shook his head. "Don't be. We wed when we were both young, at the insistence of our parents. The match was a glorified political union, not what either of us truly wanted."

"But you went through with it?"

He sighed. "It's more complicated than that. It was at a time when Tarazed's government was in decline. Emana's pride was considering leaving the planet, possibly even attempting to return to the Mako."

Beka's face must have been full of confusion, because he attempted an explanation. "Her family originated from Mako Pride. One of her ancestors had been among the wives of Gaheris Rhade, and those loyal to her reluctantly agreed to come to Tarazed at its inception. However, they have always maintained a more isolated view, attempting to hold on to what they called the 'traditional' Nietzschean way."

"No marrying for love?" Beka asked, unable to conceal the amusement from her voice.

He grinned. "Not especially, no. However I must admit Emana was different from most of her family, more willing to see the universe as we did."

"So…why you?"

Rhade raised an eyebrow, and she shook her head. "Oh please. It's just a question, not an insult."

He gave her a small grin. "As I said, it was a political marriage. My father, as one of the more established diplomats and a leader among my people, felt that the connection would sway Emana's family to remain on Tarazed. If they had left, it could have created a great instability among the population, as well as posing the obvious security risk. The decision was for the good of the planet. And while I wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea, I didn't doubt my family's decision.

"Besides," he reached down, finally choosing his next target, "It worked."

"Girl's family stayed?"

He nodded. "And in the last few years they have increased the productivity of the planet's economy, benefiting everyone. A small price to pay."

Beka whistled and stared at the board. "Still…you're braver than I am."

"It was not as if we were complete strangers. I grew up with Emana, we had been friends for a long time. I suppose it wasn't the best marriage, but it could have been worse."

"But it was okay when she up and left you for a better life?" He detected a hint of repressed anger in her voice but decided not to comment, having a good idea of its intended recipient and knowing that recipient was neither himself nor his former wife.

"It was my idea."

That got her attention. Beka quickly played her piece and turned her gaze to him. "Your idea," she repeated.

He nodded. "While we did grow to care for one another, we always remained friends, nothing truly more. I wanted more with my life, and I knew she deserved better. I knew even before our marriage she had been in love with someone else, even if she never would have admitted that emotion. After nearly nine years, when the political atmosphere died down, we both agreed it would be for the best."

"And I'm guessing you never found anyone else."

"At the time, I had other, more important factors in my life. It was at that time, also, when the attacks by the Kalderans began, and my duty was to my planet. And now…" his voice trailed off, and Beka thought she understood. Now, he wasn't in the best position to look for a potential new wife, especially not another Nietzschean who shared his views.

Both were silent for a few moments, but Beka couldn't keep from asking that one question. "So, nine years, huh? Any kids?" She grinned, figuring there had to be a whole bunch of little Rhades running around Tarazed.

But just then she saw his expression change momentarily, and she wasn't able to decipher it. When he answered, his voice had sobered. "No, I have no children." He reached out and placed a black marker on the grid.

Beka figured the sudden change in attitude had something to do with being Nietzschean. After all, no matter what he said about the differences among his people, one of the fundamental goals of his species was children. Maybe it was some sort of bruise to his ego that in nine years he hadn't had any. She supposed it could have had something to do with this Emana, he did say she had died in childbirth. She knew from experience that all female Nietzscheans weren't fated to have children. Considering the direction of her thoughts and his sudden change in demeanour, however, she thought it best not to ask. Instead, she took her turn.

There was an uncomfortable silence as Rhade stared at the board. He heard his friend squirm, and decided it was his turn for questions. "What about you, Beka?" he began with a new smile, reaching down and dropping a piece to the board, "What's your opinion on love?"

She was caught off-guard momentarily. She regained her composure and reached out to the board. "Well, I'm no the best person to ask. Does it exist? I'd say yes. Is that necessarily a good thing? That's another question."

Her eyes had been wandering the room as she spoke, finally coming to rest on her companion. She was a little surprised to see him staring back at her, and even more surprised by the large grin he wore. "What?"

Rhade's grin grew slightly and his eyes darted down quickly, then back up at her. Beka looked at the board. She'd left an obvious hole with her last move, and he could easily win on this turn.

She sighed loudly in defeat. "Go ahead, do it."

He had a self-satisfied look to him as he placed his black piece, making his victory complete.

Beka shook her head. "That's not fair."

"How's that?"

"You distracted me."

"As I recall, you started this conversation."

"What are we, four?"

"You tell me."

Beka rolled her eyes and stood up to stretch. "Winner cleans up." Rhade nodded in amusement and began gathering the pieces.

She began wandering about the room, coming to rest in front of the bookshelf. Rhade had managed to collect several works in actual, printed form, obviously produced solely for the purpose of collecting. As she scanned the titles, she called out, "So which of those is next on the agenda?"

Rhade glanced over to see what she was talking about, then turned back to his task. "I suppose Tiberius Scipio's The Immorality of Morality would be appropriate. He was a later philosopher, a Nietzschean. It could provide a good insight of a more modern Nietzschean's view on both Nietzsche's and Drago's philosophy."

"Hmm…" Beka found the volume and pulled it from the spot on the shelf. The cover showed a Nietzschean male with striking features. She leafed idly through the book as Rhade finished putting away the game. She doubted they'd start on it today, she was too tired for anything heady right now, but the title at least sounded interesting.

Out of the corner of her eye, Beka saw Rhade slowly push to his feet. Despite his claims, she could see the large amount of effort required for him to do such a simple task, and as he turned around, she noted he was still favouring his right side.

She went to close the book when it fell open to a specific page, somewhere in the latter half. A thin, metal bookmark held its place. As she looked closer, she could see an inscription, a poem.

"What's this?" she asked as she turned in his direction, picking the maker up to get a closer look. Aloud, she recited, "From the Depths, I Challenge --"

Suddenly he was beside her, and she gave a slight gasp of surprise as the marker was rather forcibly taken from her hand. He might have been injured, but he could still be fast as lightning if he wanted to.

"It's nothing," he insisted through gritted teeth, his expression intense. If she hadn't known him better, she might have been a little afraid. Despite their friendship, in the back of her mind she might even have been. His attitude was a far cry from what it had been only moments before.

"Sorry," Beka said, a little apprehensively. She extended the open book toward him. "Do you want me to put it --"

"Just drop it," he interrupted.

She doubted he was referring to the forgotten book, but still she said, "Alright," and turned the tome over on the shelf so that the spot wouldn't be lost. Then she turned to him. "You okay?"

He didn't look her in the eyes. "Fine."

Her eyebrows met her hairline. "O-kay…." He didn't say anything more, so she started walking toward the table where the Go board sat. "Dylan probably wants this back." Although in truth she doubted the Captain even knew it was gone. She picked it up and started for the door.

"Bye," she called back, sarcasm evident.

"Beka."

She stopped and turned to him. She noted the calmer expression that had washed over his features, the slightly guilty look.

"I'm sorry."

It was a lame-assed apology, and she suspected he knew that. Still, against her better judgement, she considered accepting it. In a slightly warmer, but not too warm, voice, she asked, "What's wrong?"

He locked eyes with her for a moment from the other side of the room, then cast his gaze downward to the floor and shook his head slightly. Sighing, he answered, "I don't know."

He looked tired. Not just from the exertion, or from a long day, but he appeared mentally exhausted. Her features softened a little more. "Are you going to be alright?" she asked, a little more deeply.

He brought a hand to massage the back of his neck and looked back at her. The apologetic look was still there. Giving her an unconvincing upturn of his lips, he affirmed, "I'll be fine." As an afterthought, he added, "Thank you."

Taking in his appearance once more, Beka almost forgot the incident of a few minutes ago. Almost. She felt somewhat obligated to help him, but she realized that the best thing for both of them right now would probably be for her to leave him be. And she suspected it was what he wanted, anyway. Maybe he'd be more inclined to tell her what exactly happened tomorrow, when they were both more rested.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said softly. "Get some sleep." Seeing him nod at her suggestion, she turned and left.

Rhade watched her go and sighed, cursing himself for his rather explosive reaction. Something in him had snapped upon hearing that damned opening verse. He looked down at the metal object in his hand, and, without thought, tossed it unceremoniously into a far corner of the bookshelf, out of sight.

He sighed again and moved toward the washroom adjacent to his sleeping area. Upon entering, he turned to look at himself in the mirror.

He wasn't sure just who was staring back.

To Be Continued...