Raa walked onto the bridge, head down, mind whirling furiously. Eyes flicker up quickly to locate Dylan. There in the pilot’s chair as usual. Forcing his lips into a tight smile, he approached Dylan.

He looks good, as usual. That leather leaves very little to my imagination. But I could do with some visuals indeed. "Captain, may I talk to you in private?"

"We can talk here, Raa," Dylan looked up at him, "Only Rev’s here and I doubt he’ll listen in."

"I don’t doubt Rev’s integrity but it is a personal matter that I have to discuss with you." Damn his arrogance! What’s the matter with him?

"It can’t be a personal matter, Raa. Because as far as the law goes in this day, clones aren’t persons. They can’t have personal matters." Dylan looked at Raa, his eyes glinting like ice chips.

Raa blanched, nostrils flaring, lips stretched into a thin smile. Pulling his lips back from his teeth, he spoke through gritted teeth, "That’s part of what I have to speak to you about. Now stop acting like a spoiled brat and get over it! Listen to me cause if you don’t, the Andromeda will be destroyed." Raa leaned back and stared at Dylan.

Unnoticed by either of them, Rev left the bridge.

* * *

"Andromeda?"

"Yes, Rev?"

"I believe Raa is finally going to tell Dylan what he is, who he is."

"Oh dear. I have to talk to Rolf... I wonder if Harper can make Rolf flesh so that we can have him in two places at once."

"Yes, it would help."

* * *

"Trance something is up with Dylan, Raa, Harper, and Tyr." Beka complained as she walked into the garden

"Yes, I know. I hope Tyr convinced Harper to mate with him though. That would take care of one problem." Trance replied as she looked at a flowering plant, turning it around she snipped off a small stem.

"What? Tyr and Harper?" Beka shook her head.

"Yes."

"Really? Our Nietzschean friend is in love with Harper?"

"Well he seems so."

"Hmmm."

"Beka. Don’t do anything to them."

"Would I do that?" Beka asked artfully as she walked around. "What else do you know?"

"Many things." Trance chirped, her purple tail swinging around. "Humans and most life are made of carbon though some life is made of silicon. Also..."

"No, Trance. I mean about what’s happening in the ship."

"Oh... well," Trance looked up at Beka. "Ummm, Raa’s a clone sent to disrupt Dylan from reestablishing the Commonwealth, I think. But he’s definitely a clone."

"Oh." Rommie said.

* * *

Rommie entered the garden in time to hear the last exchange between Trance and Beka. "Oh."

"Rommie! Wonderful. We have to go talk to Dylan." Beka said.

"About Raa, he knows Raa is a clone of Gaheris Rhade. Right now, both of them are closeted on the bridge. Dylan has just activated privacy. I would guess they are talking about Raa and why he was sent here."

"Great. Wasn’t he and Rhade in a relationship before?"

"Yes."

"So he’s not going to be clear on this exactly is he?"

"He will do his best, Beka."

"Well his best isn’t always good enough."

"Don’t worry, Beka. Raa’s just going to tell him something he needs to know." Trance said, smiling at the two. "It will be all right."

"A feeling?" Beka arched one eyebrow.

"I just know it."

* * *

"Dylan, just let me talk ok?" Raa strode over to the curved ramp that led to the upper level of the bridge. Sitting on the edge, "Ok, this... me... started a long time ago? I did come from Darwin’s Howe but at the behest of the current leader of our pride. You would be proud of her in a way. She is strong. Very strong. A fitting Daughter to you.

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