"Listen to me, Ma’ctor. I am Scientist Sh’wm. Explain your reasoning now."

"Well, sir. The Perseid was a member of the Great Library. He was senior researcher for the Special Collections Division of the All-Systems University. He downloaded some information through Harper’s, our engineer, cerebral port. This was a massive download of wars; one of those clips was footage from Brandenburg Tor. It showed a vaguely upright figure. Four extremities and a head. It seemed to be more of darkness outlined by a bluish-violet light. It was directing the Magog. Sometimes the Magog would bring items to it and it would look at it then wave it away. It was calm, you get that impression.

"Next, the Magog make no sense. Every race says the same about them... they are ravenous beasts that kill and devour, violate and mutilate. We have a Magog on board the Andromeda Ascendant. He is a member of the People of the Way. After talking about this episode with Harper I went to talk with him. He told me that being on board the Andromeda was like placing a person in a banquet of their favorite food and then that person must deny himself the very thing they need to live even if it means starving to death. That piqued me. Nature doesn’t create anything that can’t be satisfied. If they were always like this... how did they evolve enough to get off their home planet? This hunger cannot be natural. Maybe it would be a trait among non-sentient races, but no matter what, the Magog are sentient.

"Now take in account that the very behavior that makes us say that they are brutal, psychopathic, who only kill and devour would mean something else. They shouldn’t be alive. We hunt to eat, maybe not us specifically, perhaps you even breed your own food. But you breed them. The way the Magog killed and ravaged Bradenburg left no one alive. No breeding stock. What sentient would kill off all their food? Even if they incubate their eggs in other Magog. The more Magog you hatch the more have to feed the quicker the die off. So this trait does not fit with a space faring race.

"Also, because I am so curious about my new crew, I decided to watch the records starting from now and working back. I came upon your encounter with the Consensus of Parts, the lead interface, VX, mentioned the directing intelligences. VX said that when the time came they too would dismantle. HG says they never have. VX mentions that there are only a few of them. VX calls one by name, it calls the intelligence ‘Yellow’.

"I remember when reading an account of one of our warriors, that we rescued from a Magog attack, as a school assignment. He said that he wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not but he swore that he saw a dark figure standing, edged in violet light. It lead the Magog on a search. As with Brandenburg Tor, the Magog kept bringing things back to the being and it looked at them. Soon after he was picked up.

"I saw the light bend around Tyr and realized. These being are probably very similar in whatever organic parts it does have but it probably uses mental abilities to form and move. In the clip, Purple threw off what looked like lightening. Mental energy is to some degree electric. Perhaps, since no two beings are ever exactly alike mentally, when they form their different mentalities bend the light and makes them appear different colors. This could also mean, since VX implied they would eventually split up, that they maybe compound beings. Entities with similar colors joined forces and so we may be looking at the max about 10 beings. We know of 7 colors in our spectrum but some see above and below. Also we didn’t even notice their shape unless it was outlined by the light... so maybe we can’t see some of them.

"This could mean we have hated the wrong people for a very long time. The Magog hunger is not natural. The Violet Being was seen controlling them. Someone once remarked that the Magog were the supreme bioweapon, what if that Being gene-engineered them for that express purpose. The Consensus preys on ships passing through its space, yet we have tentative proof that a being, perhaps the Yellow Being is controlling them. So that means if my theory is right then we have at least five other being: Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Indigo. Who knows who they control. Or what they will do to hide it."

Shaking his head, he pushed the last of his thoughts away.

* * *

Sh’wm turned to Andromeda, "Take him back to your ship and keep him warm, his system will go into shock within a half hour. Ma’ctor, I will report your findings to the Council. Thank you. It is disturbing but valuable."

"Umm... what finding’s sir?"

"Ahh... I see. Ma’ctor, you are a Thinker, a very good one. Right now, you need to rest," with that the old Valu sent him on his way.

Concerned over Ma’ctor, the crew didn’t see Tyr kneel down and pick up Harper’s bag where he had dropped it, unnoticed.

* * *

Promising to rest, Ma’ctor watched Harper as he left Ma’ctor’s quarters and headed to the machine shop. Waiting five minutes, Ma’ctor headed out. Slipping through the halls carefully, he knelt before Harper’s door. Andromeda diverted part of her attention as she noticed Ma’ctor entering and placing the candy and gift on Harper’s bed.

"I hope Harper likes them, if he doesn’t poor Tyr will be so disappointed."

Moving quickly, he walked out the door and locked it yet again.

* * *

Walking back, he stopped by Tyr’s room, pressing the call for entrance he waited. The door slid open and he entered. Tyr was sitting on his bed, shirt off and braids hanging over his shoulders. Their tips brushed his chocolate nipples.

"Did you place them in his quarters?"

"Yes, sir. As you wished."

"Good. Lay down, you need your rest." Tyr stood up and started stretching. He had to prepare for the hunt.

* * *

Harper came back in, whistling and bouncing. Throwing his overly loud shirt on the bed, he asked the computer for messages.

"Play."

"Harper, I noticed you were a bit down lately, so how about going to the rec room, I studied up on old earth games, found one you might like, it’s a Flight Simulator? Come. Be there at 1600. Raa."

Cool. Maybe... it’ll help me forget about Tyr for a while. Flight Simulator, might be fun. Pulling his shirt off the bed, he noticed two boxes on his bed. One was wrapped in a red clear wrap; the other was wrapped in rather gaudy but bright paper. Sitting down he opened the red one first. Lifting the lid a fragrant, heady, and sweet smell floated out. He tore the top off. All various colors of chocolate, a guide in the top stated that there were twelve types of chocolate. Each type came in 10 varieties such as covering cherries, or nougat center, or even as a truffle. Harper sat back astonished. Picking up Maldavrian light chocolate with a peanut butter interior. He bit into the soft chocolate; the creme filling flowed down his throat. Ahhhh almost better than sex.

Mouth full of chocolate, he pulled the other box in his lap, fingers slippery with chocolate, he ripped it open. A Sergiensky Manifold. "Who..."

A chime beeped. Damn, it’s 1545 now. Raa is expecting me. Picking up the boxes, he noticed a small card.

With a small smile on his face he got ready to play ‘Flight Simulator’.

* * *

"Are you sure he will be there?"

"No, I can’t predict the future Tyr, but I did notice that he had plans to be there from 1715 to 1800. Tyr. He cares for you. I can tell when he looks at you but his eyes show you hurt him."

"NEVER."

"Tyr." Rolf popped up on Tyr’s view screen. "Some days ago when you were ill, Harper watched you for a while. You called out Dylan’s name, and ‘No’, in a terrified voice. He left thereafter."

"He thought Tyr was scared for Dylan?" Ma’ctor asked.

"I believe so. I also monitored his expression. I think he believes you to desire Dylan. After all, both you and Raa did at one time pursue Dylan."

"But it is Harper who I wish."

"Convince him of that. As an archaic poet of Earth once said, ‘Court him with fair grace and let him not think you fickle.’ Make sure this is what you want. Don’t change your mind."

"Ma’ctor, rest here if you wish. It is almost time for me to meet Harper."

* * *

Raa watched in amazement as Harper managed to kill all of the enemy fighters. "Played this before?"

"Nah, something similar. What time is it?" Harper asked.

"Ahh, 1725. Why? Got a date?"

"Yeah! By the way, did I remember to thank you for the presents?"

"You mean the simulator, not a problem."

"I meant the chocolate, Raa."

"Are you kidding, I would never give you chocolate. Dylan, Rommie, and Beka would kill me.Beka personally threatened me." He said, shuddering. "Yes, I am afraid. Then who is it?

* * *

Harper entered the garden. The smell was rich and earthy. Walking down the path, trailing fingers against the silky plants, he smiled. Coming to a clearing, a small white card lay,

Brushing a tear from his eyes, he heard a voice behind him. Reading the next lines.

Chocolate hands caressed his shoulders, fingers pulled his shirt off his body as silken lips attached themselves to his neck, little nips went up his throat to his ear, warm syllables tickled his ear, "Let me prove, that I can be the best lover you can ever have. Let me prove to you that my heart beats for your pleasure. Let me show the joy I can bring. Let me protect you. Let me fight for you. Be mine. Let me hunt you. Let me earn your love."

Shuddering he swallowed, "Yes, Tyr."

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