Author's Note: Persephone is personified to be a typical grandmother. My own grandma acts exactly like this. It might be a little stereotypical, but it works for her character. She's very wise and very caring, which should overshadow the stereotype a little.

Chapter 6

Persephone's home was one of the most beautiful places in Tarazed. It was designed by the best architects on the planet and built suspended over a waterfal on the edge of the capital city. Because the Rhades were a very important family, both politicly and milateraly, they chose to stay close to the city. When Telemachus, Beka, and Tristan arrived, they were first greated by Telemachus' older sister, Brisies, and three of her children.

"We didn't know that you were coming until a few hours ago," she said, giving her younger brother a hug. "Had she known, I'm sure Mother would have cooked a lot more."

"She didn't have to do anything," Telemachus sighed, shaking his head.

His sister laughed at that. "Little brother, I'm surprised at you. You know our mother and how typical it is of her to fuss over her children and grandchildren."

"And I'm sure in given time, you'll be exactly like her," Telemachus teased back.

She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, but turned a smiling face to Beka, who had been observing the whole scene with great amusment. "Honestly, Rebecca, how do you put up with him?"

"Oh he has his uses," the first officer mused, running an appreciative glance over her lover, and both women laughed.

"Is Mother inside?" Telemachus asked, ignoring their behavior.

"Yes," Brisies replied, "and she's waiting for you."

Beka and Rhade made their way up the stone steps twords the house, while Tristan remained outside, happy to be in the fresh air and finally get a chance to play with his cousins. He promised to come up soon because Telemachus had reminded him that his grandmother would probably want to see him. Sure enough, as soon as she opened the door, Persephone's aged eyes immediately searched for the boy. Before any sort of greeting passed between them, she asked her son.

"When are you bringing my grandson to see me?"

Telemachus smiled and huged her, warmly. "He's here, Mother, just outside."

Persephone nodded, satisfied, and smiled at Beka. "Rebecca, you look lovely. Come in."

They passed through the hall way, whose walls were lined with portrits of family members dating back three hundred years to Gaheris Rhade. Beka had noticed them when she first set foot in the house. In particular, a portret of a beautiful proud-looking woman had caught her attention. The woman in the portrait had flowing chestnut hair and hazel eyes, which seemed to sparkle as if she was holding some sort of secret. Persephone had explained to Beka that it was a tribute to Maya, Gaheris' first wife, who had been there with Sara Riely when Tarazed was first colonized. It was from her and her children that the modern-day Rhade line was born.

The dinning room was set up with a table full of food, everything from fruits to pastry. If Persephone really only learned about their arrival a few hours ago, she must have spent the whole time preparing, which was not at all unusual for her. Beka and Telemachus sat down as Persephone brought out clean plates. Beka took a glace of water, but hesitated when it came to the food.

"Please eat," the Nietzschean woman sat down at the head of the table, a trace of an almost forgoten tradition of matriarchs in prides.

Beka didn't want to offened her since Persephone clearly worked very hard for her guests. "It looks delicious, but I'm sorry, Persephone. My stomch has been... tempermental lately."

Telemachus paused, an apple half way to his mouth while his mother raised an eyebrow. Both Nietzscheans looked concerned. "Are you ill, my dear?" asked the matriarch.

"No, just really stressed," she admited. For some reason, it was always so easy to talk to the good-natured yet strong-minded elder woman.

Persephone smiled understandingly. "After seven children and twenty-five grandchildren, I know a thing or two about stress," she glanced at her son. "I do hope that this particular child of mine isn't the cause of yours."

Telemachus sighed, remembering his sister's coment from outside. The women in his family certanly had a strange way of showing they cared, but despite that, he knew they ment well. Beka looked at him sympatheticly.

"No, he's been wonderful," she assured Persephone.

"I'm glad to hear it. By the way, the Triumvirs had notified us that there was a woman coming with you who was to make some sort of announcment this morning. A senetar of some sort, I think. Do either of you know something about it?"

"Only that she's the source of most of my stres," Beka replied. Persephone frowned and turned to her son for an explanation.

"Beka and this senator crossed paths years ago," Telemachus explained without giving away the true circumstances. "It did not go well."

"I see," she got up, without pressing either of them for more information. "Well I hope you don't mind, but I planed to watch this announcment. If whatever information this woman brings concernes this world, I would like to know."

She walked over to the wall and activated a screan with the latest news. Instantly a video of Talia standing up on a platform at a microphone in the center of Tarazed's capital. She wore ceremonial roabes, and there was a large crowed gathered around her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Commonwealth, it is my greatest pleasure and honor to be with you on this day which I'm sure will prove to be a turning point in history. I did not come here to discus the discovery of new worlds, but rather of opening the door to an old one.

"I'm sure that every one of us has wondered about Tarn-Vedra, the long lost, but not forgotten, world of te Verdant, establishers of the Old Commonwealth and one of the great mysteries of the universe. So much time has passed that some have begun to think that Tarn-Vedra was no more real than OZ or Atlantis, however I am here to tell you that this planet is very real, just waiting to be rediscovered.

"With the copy of the starmap that my planet received from the Triumvirs and captain Hunt, the scientists of Oedekirk have worked tirelessly for over a year and at last, we were reworded with this. Ladies and gentlemen, the new route to Tarn-Vedra!"

She pressed a button on the podium that activated a hologram of several slipstream routes behind her. A rore of applause erupted from the gathered crowed, and Talia waited for it to die down before she proceeded.

"The only other known attempt to reach this lost world was made by Hasturi, a Perseid who recorded his findings in a journal. Now unlike his route, which was composed of forty six jumps, this course is complete within thirty five and most of them are not nearly as dangerous as those illustrated in Hasturi's journal. However, it would be unfair to say that a mission to Tarn-Vedra is not without peril. This is why it will be undertaken by the most experienced ship and crew the Commonwealth has to offer. The Triumvirs have decreed that the Andromeda Ascendant will be given the honor of being the first ship to enter the Vedran system. Further more, I take personal pride in announcing that the ship will be piloted by my own daughter, Rebecca Valentine."

The screen went blank. Persephone was quiet, while Telemachus glanced between his mother and Beka, not really knowing how to help. The first officer's head was down, her hands clenched around the glass of water she'd been holding. She only looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Rebecca," Persephone's voice was calm but warm, "would you like some tea?"

Normally Beka would have scoffed at such a proposal, but her nerves were too fried. "Tea sounds great."