Dylan Hunt stood on the bridge of the Andromeda Ascendant, his white diplomatic corp outfit shone in the strong light from above. Hair neatly in place, he turned just enough to illuminate his eyes, "I greet the Valu people, in the mane and spirit of the Commonwealth. I am pleased with your decision to join the Commonwealth reborn. I have to admit it will take time, it will be hard but together, we can see the beginning of the new Commonwealth. A Commonwealth where all the races in the galaxies have a voice. A Commonwealth that unites us all for one common goal. It is with great joy, I greet you cousins."

The light raised it’s brilliance briefly then slowly faded out. Then the light flared up once more burning an ../images/Image of Captain Hunt with is crew, dressed in cream leather, fanned out behind him and Andromeda’s face superimposed over the entire scene. As one, each member of the crew raised their force lance. Tips glowed as the scene faded to dark.

* * *

"Yes, very good Captain Hunt." The Valu Captain, Rant’, replied as he watched the preview of the missive they were taking to their people. "Thank you, Captain for including Ma’ctor as part of your crew for this presentation. Though his family and line, in fact, all of our people, will have to learn of this. Doing as you did showed your forgiveness and mercy. He will not be listed on the List of the Shamed but only because of you and your crew. Here he has a chance to redeem his honor and a place in our society. If he should die with you all the better. Now I must order the Brkisom to depart. My hope to see you and this crew once again." Ran’t gestured for Dylan to go first, into the docking bay.

"Well I’m pleased to have you if we ever meet again. I enjoyed our meetings despite the incident," Dylan turned to the vulpine Captain, "Perhaps we could tell your people that we have had a snag in communications and you can stay a bit longer?"

"Captain, I’m shocked at your duplicity." Ran’t opened his eyes wide, shock causing his jaw to drop. "Besides which I already thought of that, won’t work." Ran’t grinned at Dylan laugh. "May Shaktiri guide your river among the stars." Turning, Ran’t entered his ship.

* * *

Dylan walked up behind Ma’ctor on the bridge. "One day, I’m sure you can rejoin your people and the Brkisom."

"Captain, they are no longer my people. The Andromeda is my people. You are my people. Trance is my people. Even if I’m not sure what people she is. Tyr is my people. Even Rev Bem. Now as your security personnel don’t you think you should tell me where we are going?"

"Yeah. Scavenger Space Station, Caligula."

Ma’ctor sighed, "Great, right next to the largest Nietzschean stronghold in this sector. Captain." Ma’ctor nodded and left the bridge.

Dylan watched him leave with a shake of the head. Striding down the ramp, Dylan slipped into the pilot’s chair. Checking the plot he grabbed hold of the handles, "Everyone prepare for Slipstream, let’s see if we can get there in two streams."

* * *

Raa watched the exchange silently, it was so obvious he couldn’t believe he missed it. Even though Ma’ctor was new to the crew, Dylan thought he saw sadness and tried to help him. The way to get to Dylan is to become not only one of the crew but to become friends with my ‘crewmates’. Very well let’s see... Harper has been down lately.

* * *

Tyr paced his room, soon they would be at Caligula Station, the one station where everything is for sale. The place to find anything rare. Something to find for Harper. "Rolf."

Rolf’s hologramatic face flickered into view on the room screen. "Yes, Tyr?"

"You know about Hunt and Rhade, yes?"

"Of course."

"Good. As much as it galls me to ask this, I must know." Tyr took a deep breath, "How did Rhade get Hunt into his bed?"

"Well, I’m not sure I should tell you this. Why do you want to know?"

"Cause Hunt is a human and so is Harper. I want Harper. While in my coma I dreamed of him."

"Well Dylan is different from Harper. Whereas Dylan often did not require ‘proofs’ of love. It would seem to me, that to show Seamus that you care for him, he would need these. Despite his arrogant and carefree outer shell he is very fragile inside. A wiry fragility that bends but does not break, that helped him survive the camps. If you would pursue a relationship with him, I would suggest you court him." Rolf answered

"Court him?"

"Yes, it is an archaic term but the principle is simple. You must show him why it is better to be with you than anyone else. Show him you can provide for him. That you will take care of him when he is sick. That you will support him in what he chooses to do. That you do not put others before him. If you can do all these, I do believe that Seamus will fall in love with you as Dylan did Gaheris. Would you like some suggestions of what to do?"

"Why are you willing to help me so much, Rolf?" Tyr questioned the AI.

"Easy, I simply believe out of all of the people on board, you would fit Seamus best. You could help him. After all I am programmed to do what I believe is best for my crew. Now first thing, a small gift, perhaps some chocolate?"

Ah, so in his own way, Rolf is just as practical as I am. Perhaps he can help me win my Har... Seamus. With that thought Tyr settled down to discuss the future seduction of Seamus Harper.

* * *

In orbit around Caligula Station

Tyr stepped forward. "This station is safer than most scavenger stations, especially since they are on the main trade route of four large prides. Personal defense weapons are permitted. The levels of the station are color-coded. There are ten levels in each color. Do not go into areas Red, Yellow, Gray, or White. I doubt you will much want to go into Orange or Violet, as they are for non-oxygen breathers. Also just in case you get lost, look for people wearing black uniforms with communicators on the backs of their hands. The communicators should have a diamond pattern. If they don’t, then run. They are most likely a slaver gang. That’s it." Nodding once, Tyr stepped back.

Dylan stepped up and looked at his crew. "This time Beka and Rev Bem will be staying up here. Everyone else here," Dylan held out a small strip of plastic. "I’ve already traded some things with the station itself. These will allow you to buy things in the restaurants and shops. I have already divided what we got and everyone has the same. Use it. Enjoy it. Don’t lose them. Let’s go.

Raa turned to Harper who was standing next to him. "Ready?"

Harper nodded.

"Are you ok?" Raa turned worried eyes to Harper.

Harper looked up into concerned eyes, "Yeah, come on let’s go before Dylan thinks to take this money back."

* * *

On Caligula Station

Three hours. It took us only three hours to get everything. Am I good or what?! Naturally. Harper laughed as the crew strolled down the mall. Trance had gone somewhere else again. Waving to Dylan , Harper headed over to small store crammed into a corner. Riffling through the bins outside, Harper felt a tingle as he brushed past something. Reaching back for it, he pulled out a Sergiensky Manifold.

Oh... wow. A Sergiensky Manifold. I have to have this. Lowering his eyes and slackening his face, "Hey, how much is this?"

An insectoid came over, "Ahh that piece is 225 credits."

Harper looked at the credit slip, ‘185 credits’, "It’s not worth that much." Harper laid it back down and walked away.

* * *

Tyr watched as Harper ran through the mall, finding new things, his face all aglow. He grinned as Harper pulled out some piece of junk out of a bin. He saw Harper’s face fall as he realized that he couldn’t afford it. As he watched Harper go back down towards the rest of the crew. Striding over, he shifted the large box under his arm and picked it up. "225 credits?"

The insectoid turned to Tyr, "For that? Well..."

"It is what you told the young man before me."

"Yes, 225."

Tyr handed the insectoid clerk his credit slip, "After you process the sale, that credit slip should read 1432 credits."

"Sir, after taxes."

"No, you will adjust the price so that the taxes are included in the 225." Tyr turned slightly and his spikes glimmered in the light.

"Yes, of course. Right now."

Tyr stood still, the flow of people parted around him. Hearing a familiar rumble behind him, Tyr glanced at a glass pane. It was Drakem, someone he had tried to avoid on this trip. Turning to face Drakem, "Drakem."

"Well Tyr Anasazi. Last I heard you worked for kludge on a garbage scow." Drakem attacked.

"I see your manners haven’t improved."

The clerk came up with the part in his hand. "Well you seem to have gotten the better deal, enjoy your part."

"This is what the kludge was looking at earlier. Was that kludge your Captain? Tell me Tyr does he make you serve him all the time?" Drakem laughed and poked his companions. "Tell me what was the name of your rustbusket again?"

Tyr smiled at them. A smile most people would tremble to see and Drakem, like the fool he was, ignored it. "The Andromeda Ascendant. Perhaps you have heard of it, it defeated Orca Pride.

A flash of pale blue brushed by Tyr’s arm, Drakem grunted as he was forced up against the station wall. His feet dangled in the air. Ma’ctor held him against the wall, his knife gleaming a dull oily blackness in the light. The edge was pressed against the carotid. "What... did... you... say? Dare you to dishonor my ship, my crew?"

Drakem struggled. Tyr laughed, "I suggest you apologize to Ma’ctor. He hates it when people insult his ship."

"Tyr, Dylan asked me to tell you that he wants to lift ship in an hour and I was wondering if you had any packages that need to go back to the Maru right now?"

"Yes."

Ma’ctor looked at the Nietzschean, a swift knee into his groin and a quick movement of his fist and Drakem had bruised testicles and a broken nose. As Drakem gasped in pain, Ma’ctor hit him in the cheek with the handle of his knife, a broken cheek. "Very well, Tyr sir. I’ll deliver this to Trance and then be right back." Feeling the engine part in the bag, "Tyr?"

"Yes?"

"Is this part a gift for Harper?"

"And if it is?"

"Well, if you intend to surprise him, wouldn’t it be a good idea to put it in a box? Something so he doesn’t know what it is until he opens it?"

Tyr glanced at the gasping Nietzschean, with satisfaction he noticed the other two with Drakem stood back. "Yes."

A young man standing next to the insectoid clerk smiled at the injured Nietzschean. "Hell since you beat the hell out of Drakem, I’ll make this gift so pretty, your friend won’t want to unwrap it. Figure of speech. Human?"

"What?" Tyr asked quizzically.

"Is your friend human? It matter as to the paper, I mean some are more pleasing to certain species." The young man replied.

"Human."

"Good."

Tyr looked around. A Nietzschean lay on the floor gasping, two more stood watching the power flow. The Valu was fascinated in watching the young human wrap a box in shining paper, and the insectoid clerk stood trying to sell his wares to the people surrounding him. A laugh bubbled out of him, loud and long. Ma’ctor turned and looked at him. Suddenly Ma’ctor’s jaw dropped.

"Tyr, light bends which causes us to see different colors, and when you stand in front of a light, it bends about you almost give you a halo of color."

"Yes..." Tyr replied puzzled.

"I think I need to talk with Dylan." Ma’ctor stood up on his toes to see Dylan standing in the middle of the crowd, grinning.

Noticing Ma’ctor, Dylan headed over to him. Trance, Harper, and Andromeda followed.

"Andromeda, a while ago I entered a machine shop on board to discover an ancient human flight module, when I asked Harper where the idea to reconstruct such came from, he told me the story about the Perseid who transferred part of their great library to him, including proof." Ma’ctor stopped, his eyes bright, the rest of his body was slack.

"Ma’ctor, yes?" Waiting for a second, "Ma’ctor."

An old Valu with a white muzzle moved up next to Andromeda. "Please Miss don’t disturb him. He’s a thinker, when he’s finished he’ll come out of it."

"A thinker, sir?" Andromeda asked.

"Yes, a late bloomer. I would say. Our Thinkers freeze and when they come out of it, they almost always have new ideas."

"I see, Mr..."

"No Mr., just Sh’wm."

"Andromeda?" Ma’ctor asked.

The old Valu stepped up, "Ma’ctor, you said that what the Perseid transferred to Harper was proof. Proof of what?"

"That the Magog were not to blame for Brandenburg Tor or anywhere else, they were led by something else. Also it’s partial proof that the Magog of then, were not normal, someone engineered them.

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