"This one is a little too small," Beka showed the younger woman standing beside her the fish against the measuring stick.

Beka placed the fish back into the cold water and watched as it swam back into the current. Beka pulled the trap to the surface of the water and reached in and pulled out the next fish. Beka showed the younger woman how to measure the fish to determine if it was a keeper or one to release. They only kept fish of a certain length as to not overfish the population that appeared to migrate up and down the stream twice a year. So far nearly all of the fish had been too small for keeping. Beka knew toward the later end of the season, the likelihood of finding many keepers was slim to none. She knew they had enough food to survive the winter. She just knew from past winters that having more than enough made it easily to get through the winter without discontent.

"Katy!"

The younger woman dropped the little fish back into the stream when she heard her name.

"Thank you for showing me this," Katy Millhaus waved to Galon Fitzpatrick. Katy had been assigned to environmental services of the Andromeda. She assisted in the maintenance of the flora in the gardens. Since being on the planet, she had been assisting Trance. Galon Fitzpatrick had been a Lancer assigned to the Andromeda. His survival skills were handy in the slaughter of the food sources. "Galon has offered to teach me how to prepare the fish for preservation."

"It is great that you are learning more skills. We can use all the help we can get in all areas," Beka gestured to the basket with two good sized fish inside. "Here are a couple that are ready for the prep area."

"Maybe Galon will let me prepare these two," Katy smiled before taking the basket and nearly skipping toward Galon. Beka watched as Galon checked out the fish in the basket. Beka knew he was more interested in Katy than the fish but if it meant she would learn a new survival skill, Beka was all for them spending time together.

Anyone who could work, worked in some fashion around the camp. There were no freeloaders, although there were those who tried to do as little as possible during the rest of the year and were usually the most vocal about getting their share during the winter.

Beka eyes moved over the camp for just a moment, watching all of the members of the crew working well into the evening. There were a million things to do before winter set in and time was beginning to run short. Beka looked up at the clear evening sky as she took in a deep breath of the cool evening air.

She thought back to her life three years ago. Back then, never in a million years, did she think she would one day be living on a planet and liking it. She never thought she would fish from cold rivers, warm water in containers to water the gardens, grow crops and raise livestock and forage for food. Her life now was nothing like it had ever been before. It was a hard life but it was a good, simple life. At least she was alive and not devoured by the Magog or blown to smithereens in the Andromeda's self destruct three years ago.

Beka sighed deeply to herself as she turned back to the fish traps. She still had about a dozen to check all along the length of the river before she was done with this chore for the night.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aaahhhhhhoooooooooo Aaahhhhhhoooooooo Aaahhhhhhoooooooooooo

Beka looked up from the last trap she had to check that evening when she heard the low sound of the alert horn from one of the spotters at the end of the valley. Beka stared in that direction and thought she could make out the hunting party making their way back toward the settlement site. From this distance, it looked like they had a pretty good haul on the rough wagon Harper had rebuilt earlier in the spring.

She knelt down and pulled the fish trap up to the surface again. She quickly released all the fish in the trap because they were all too small and she didn't have to measure any. She looked in the basket and only had four more good sized fish from the traps she had checked. She picked up the basket and headed in the direction of an ex-weapon battery operator named Mitch Roberts.

"This is all we got from the lower traps," Beka gestured in the downriver direction after placing the basket on the receiving end of the processing boards. The meat processors were adamant about keeping everything clean and not contaminated when they worked. There was a place for everything and everything had a place.

"Better than we expected," Roberts looked into the basket and made a couple of scratch marks of a piece of wood at his station. He and three others were the main fish processors for the camp. Others specialized in other meats while others concerned themselves with preserving a variety of fruits, nuts, and various edible plants. Roberts looked at Beka for a long moment before smiling. "When are you going to let me teach you how to gut one of these fish and properly preserve it for storage?"

"You know," Beka made a face as she looked at the odd appearing fish. Beka found it odd how all of the single men always wanted to teach her how to butcher and preserve meat. She knew it was the best form of flirting they had these days. Although Beka had been 'taught' be several different men over the last two years, Tyr had actually taken it upon himself the first few months they were stranded to make certain Beka could do everything necessary for her survival. Instead of causing hurt feelings, Beka played ignorant and allowed another to reteach her when necessary. She still thought it was gross and avoided it if able. "McGeorge showed me all that last season. I … I am kind of embarrassed to admit … I find it … well … yuck."

Beka shook her head before looking up at Roberts.

"I've seen you helping Rapp prep the grennier meat," Roberts challenged Beka's assertion lightly while referring to Scott Rapp.

"Yeah, after all the gutting and butchering is done," Beka reminded him. "By the time I was helping, it was just a slab of meat that needed to be prepped and put in the smoker."

"How about if I gut them and you just hang them in the smoker for me?" Roberts smiled another wide smile.

Beka took in the tan skin, the bright blue eyes, the shaggy blonde hair and the pearly white teeth when he smiled at her. His eyes always seemed to sparkle when they talked. Beka knew he had a thing for her but she was very careful not to lead him on in any way romantically. He tried but so far, despite his beautiful physical self, Beka had refrain from allowing herself to give in.

"Make you a deal, you take care of this year's catch and I'll let you teach me the ropes during the spring run?" Beka offered as she smiled back at the man.

"I'll keep you to that," Roberts nodded as he pulled the first fish from the basket and pulled out his knife.

"On that note," Beka gestured toward the end of the valley where the hunting party nearly reached camp. "I think I'll go see what's up with them."

"Hey Beka," Roberts called after her when she headed away from him at a quicker pace than necessary. She knew if she stuck around much longer, he was going to make another pass at her.

"Yeah?" Beka took a deep breath as she turned and looked back at him.

"Wanna take a walk tonight?" Roberts gestured toward the mountain in the distance. It was a nice place to look out over their valley and take in the stars at night. It was also a bit of a secluded place where many couples snuck away to spend a little alone time together. Harper always called it 'lovers' lane' from some kind of make out spot back on Earth. Their home system of linked caverns, alcoves and niches hardly lent itself to any sort of privacy. They all learned that during the second long winter when everyone in the camp knew when someone was getting lucky.

"I've got a ton to do," Beka gestured toward the hunting party and then toward the cavern. She made sure not to say thanks for the offer or give him any sign of encouragement. It was hard but she really needed to maintain a proper distance between herself and the men of the group.

"Have a nice night," Beka finished with a little wave before turning and hurrying toward the arriving group.

"Hey!" Beka greeted the hunting party as she walked up to the wagon. The meat processors were already in the process of checking out the game on the cart and started to divvy up the work based on species.

"Hey Beka," Dylan looked over the shoulder of the woman hugging him at the moment.

The woman leaned up and kissed Dylan firmly on the lips. Dylan put his hand up to Beka for a moment as he returned the enthusiastic greeting. As the kiss went on, Beka thought about suggesting a little walk for the couple. The woman in his arms was Dylan's wife in a way. No one in the community was actually licensed to perform marriages. Technically Dylan and Beka were no longer Captains who could perform marriages.

Instead, all arrangements were made known to the entire community … unions, separations, agreements of many types were worked out between consenting adults. Over the last three years, many of the unions had stood the test of time. 'Dating' and other less permanent relationships were difficult for the small community. Jealousy and hurt feelings, betrayal and revenge were all a part of Human societies throughout time. It was no different in their little band of people. What made if difficult was the close proximity they had to share in order to survive.

Beka took a moment to look around at the group of men and women who had been a part of the hunting party. There were similar greetings taking place all around her. In a way, it made her feel like an outcast of sorts because in all these years, the difficulties of such a relationship, kept her from attempting such a relationship. She couldn't even get laid on this Divine forsaken rock because someone might read too much into it.

Three years and no sex … even Harper was beginning to look like an option. Except he had an official partner.

"Where is Tyr?" Beka asked when Dylan's lips were finally free.

"He should be …" Dylan looked back in the direction they had come from. In the distance, Beka could see something that might be Tyr headed their way. "That's probably him. He thought he heard something so he went to check it out. Looks like he bagged a Zellergel."

As Tyr neared the camp it was more and more obvious that he was carrying one of the deer like creatures across his shoulders.

"Where is Rommie?" Dylan asked as he looked around the camp.

"Harper has her hooked up to one of the windmills," Beka gestured in the distance. They were finding it easier to keep themselves fed all these years than to keep Rommie fully charged and functioning. Thus far, Harper had kept her alive but as time wore on, he was becoming less and less certain how much longer he could. "She should be at capacity by the time the moon is straight over head."

Beka pointed at the moon that was barely visible on the horizon as the day began to move into night.

"Community stew is ready," Dylan's wife, Cassiopeia informed him as she wrapped her arm around his waist and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Cassiopeia had been the assistant to some bureaucrat who had been aboard Andromeda when they went into battle. There were some still hoping to reach a peace accord with the Abyss and the Magog until the bitter end. The last Beka had heard of the man, he had been begging for someone to rescue him before his screams mingled with the screeched of Magog. Andromeda had disconnected the communication when all that could be heard was the sounds of Magog eating him. "We can eat anytime."

"I'm going to get washed up," Dylan informed his wife as he sniffed at himself. "After two weeks without a proper shower, I'm getting more than a little gamy."

"I'm sure you all are," Beka nodded as she cautiously sniffed the air. They all smelled. "You're in luck, the water in tanks two, five and seven should have filtered and been boiled by now. If you hurry, you just might get to be first and get some clean water for a change."

"Let's go," Dylan hurried toward the cavern opening pulling his wife along behind him.

Beka shook her head thinking about how far they had all fallen when the highlight of one's existence had become getting to bathe in the fresh water of a community bath tank. After every so many baths, it was filtered, boiled and filtered again before being placed back into a dispensing tank.

"Hey," Beka looked around when she heard a grunt and the sound of another animal being placed on the top of the pile. The pile was quickly disappearing with the skill and efficiency of their meat processing people.

"Hello," Tyr replied as he walked around the wagon towards Beka.

Beka felt the same little thrill run through her that always had when Tyr entered her space. There was something about the way he always looked her over quickly that had always seemed promising of a deeper relationship. If Tyr had been any other man, Beka might think it actually meant something. With Tyr, she knew it didn't but it made her feel good inside. With Tyr, the interactions, at times a bit flirtatious, were safe from being misinterpreted.

"Looks like it went well," Beka gestured toward the wagon.

"The hunt went well," Tyr nodded as he glanced over at the animals.

"Were there problems?" Beka's brow furrowed slightly.

"We had to venture a little further than I would have liked," Tyr replied as he leaned back against the side of the wagon.

"Have the herds moved?" Beka asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and studied Tyr for a long moment.

"The herds were still in their usual grazing lands," Tyr informed her as he hitched his thumbs over his belt buckle. "Dylan wanted to bypass the closer herds and see what else we might find."

"Looks like you found something," Beka gestured toward the animals. "They look larger than last year's."

"They are larger," Tyr agreed. "However, they are not significantly larger. At least not enough to have taken the risk of going further out into unknown territory this late in the season. If you, Dylan and the council would like to investigate further out, it would be best to make such trips in the late spring or early summer. You know how I feel about taking such risks late in the season. You can see the early snowfall beginning to accumulate on the higher mountains."

"I have noticed. I would guess we have two or three weeks before the weather changes here and we head into winter. I know you have your concerns. I do as well," Beka bit her bottom lip as she considered his words. "We will discuss it amongst ourselves and come to a consensus."

"There is something else," Tyr raised his eyebrows questioning to Beka. After all these years, he could nearly sense it when she had something on her mind. Chewing her bottom lip was a dead giveaway.

"There are several things," Beka nodded as her attention focused on Tyr once more. "However, you have been out for two weeks. I am certain you would like to spend a quiet evening …"

"You know there is no such thing as a quiet evening around here," Tyr shook his head. No matter where he went in the cavern system, he was never alone. No matter where he went in the valley near the cavern could he hear someone somewhere.

"Cassiopeia told Dylan community stew is ready for dinner," Beka informed him. "Tank 10 should be filtered and heated if you want to take advantage of a little insider knowledge."

"Tank 10?" Tyr tilted his head before Beka nodded. Rarely was one lucky enough to get a freshly filtered and heated shower water. Tank 10 was in one of the deeper alcoves of the cavern system. It was as close to private and quiet as Tyr could get. Normally he just bathed in the river downstream during months when the water was merely cool and did not instantly chill him to the bone.

"Why don't you get cleaned up and get some dinner. If you feel up to it, we can talk later," Beka offered as she stepped back when Tyr pushed his back away from the wagon.

"I will find you when I am finished," Tyr offered as he picked up his travel pack and hoisted it onto his shoulder. He started through the people before turning to look back at her. "Did you ever get that 'door' fixed?"

Tyr was referring to the partition Beka had crafted to shield her little bedroom alcove from the tunnel. Over a couple of years of opening and closing it, something had gotten worn and it no longer opened easily.

"Nah," Beka shook her head then shrugged. "Too much to do. I have all winter to tinker with it."

"Watch where you're going Anasazi."

Beka's eyes widened when Roberts walked around the end of his station with the fish basket. In doing so, he put himself right in the path of Tyr's retreat toward the cavern. Walking backwards, Tyr had failed to notice the man moving behind him. From Beka's perspective, she had to wonder if Roberts had put himself in Tyr's path on purpose.

Beka started to hurry over to the two men as Robert's outburst had drawn the gazes of others nearby. Tyr had turned and was looking down at the blonde haired man who was about six inches shorter than Tyr. Instead of a confrontation, Beka was surprised when she heard two simple words come out of Tyr's mouth.

"Excuse me," Tyr gave Roberts a slight nod before he started to move passed the man.

"Just … watch out … next time," Roberts seemed surprised at the softly delivered words.

Over the years, Beka had noticed that Tyr had made more effort to diffuse possibly tense confrontations between himself and other men in the camp. It was no secret that many of the women in the camp fancied Tyr. It was no secret that many men were jealous of the attention the Nietzschean males received from the female contingent. It was also no secret that Tyr Anasazi had no interest in any of the Human or humanoid females in the camp. It made him all the more appealing to the female demographic and all the more annoying to the male demographic.

Beka breathed a sigh of relief that a confrontation had been averted before vectoring off in the other direction to check on a few more things before she called it a night and headed in for dinner.

xxxxxx

Should I continue?