Author's Note: This and the following chapter do not occur consecutively. They are two alternatives of the way things could have gone based on Rruyshah's choice at the end of Chapter 18 (whether to go after Na or to the Kelbrid homeworld). Please do not think that the next chapter comes "after" this one-it doesn't.

As would have been expected if either had been hopeful enough to consider it, Na had plenty of food outside the area where the Kelbrid had been imprisoned. Indefinitely sufficient, they drifted on the trajectory Rruyshah had input.

"I still can't believe you're trying to rescue him."

"That would be because you're mentally incapable."

Matrex did not reply for some time, staring out into space instead, before abruptly speaking. "What do you see in him?"

"I don't see him at all. That's why we're finding him. So I can see him."

"Why would you want to see him?"

"Because then he'd be rescued from this One."

"Why do you want to rescue him?"

"Because I think he-what is this, are you interrogating me?"

"Yes, I'm interrogating you. Wait, you just asked the question, which means…" Rruyshah ignored Matrex as she meddled with the computer. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to accelerate."

"Trying?"

"Well, I'm already going at a relative speed of about 8c, so it's difficult."

"Good."

"I'd think you'd want to accelerate."

"Why?"

"You seem to dislike this operation, and the sooner we're there the sooner we'll finish."

"And then what? You elope with Na?"

"Elope" was not a word Rruyshah had learned. "Would that please you?"

"If it would get you out of my life…oh yeah, I forgot. I don't have a life."

"You certainly do."

"You Kelbrid are-wait…"

"You're going to have to think of a new tactic for arguing with me."

"You sound like I should continue."

"Go ahead."

"I thought you hated me."

"Oh, I do."

"Do you hate Na, too?"

"Not in the same way."

"But you hate him."

"He abducted me."

"So why are you rescuing him?"

"Have we been through this?"

"Yes."

"Let's rule it a tie."

"What? We're not playing chess."

"Okay…if we were, and we wind up in the same situation it's a draw."

"Same as what?"

"As it was earlier."

"In the game?"

"Yes."

"But why would we be playing chess again?"

"Because I like chess."

"You like chess."

"Indeed."

"And you hate me. And Na."

"Partially."

"How much of a part?"

"Enough to ponder the contents of-am I having a civil conversation with you?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Rruyshah thought she was talking to herself, but Matrex heard.

"Maybe you don't hate me as much as you think you do."

"Well, I certainly couldn't hate you any more than I think I do…yes I could. Never mind."

"Oh, I will. But Na?"

"Him too."

"So why are-"

"That's your new rule. If the same position comes up three times, it's a draw."

"Like this."

Neither of them counted how long it was until the spacecraft came into view like a menacing battle-ax. They had eaten, but not conversed. There it loomed, ignorant of the Skrit Na craft within a good weapon's range.

"So your boyfriend's on that thing? Knows what attracts the ladies."

"If you have my DNA, you're female."

This fact seemed to disturb Matrex more than he'd been disturbed for the entire duration of the trip, but he attempted to suppress it. "So how do we rescue him?"

"We?"

Too late. "I mean, you don't trust me alone with this ship while you go in there, do you?"

"No, I don't. But I don't want you with me, either."

"Good to know you're still you-no, not really."

Rruyshah tapped her limbs against the artificially-gravitized floor in circular order. "I wouldn't mind some allies, though."

Matrex looked out into space. "Like whoever's ramming the Blade ship?"