Trance walked down the corridor humming to herself. The papers in her small pack. It was time to show up for a small class in botany. She rather liked the new plants and hoped that Dylan would let her bring some of her class on board. So many of them wanted to see Andromeda’s garden. Perhaps she’ll ask Dylan at the meeting.

* * *

Ok, so maybe Nietzscheans aren’t all that bad. I could almost get to like this group. Once I got rid of the troublemakers. Didn’t think they would listen to me but it pays to be the Nietzschean’s Angel of Death. Bouncing up, Harper turned to the seventeen young men and women who made up his special class.

"You know all of you are here because you proved to me that you can think outside the petty lines and laws that everyone says is true. Well, Dylan was thinking of letting me and the others choose a limited group to tour our specific areas of interest on the Andromeda. He wants the list by the end of the week. The cap is twenty per crewperson. So lucky you, you all get to go! If all goes well, we can have the rest of our lessons on the Andromeda in a week. Now don’t all thank me at once. I will remain here to bask in your adoration and to receive your well thought out and offered thanks!" Harper grinned.

The seventeen young people looked around and laughed.

"Yes, oh wise and wonderful Harper of Anasazi and should we offer on your altar cases of shock cola?" A young woman asked.

"What else?"

And Tyr thought it was a bad idea to get them hooked on Shock Cola. HA! That’ll show him.

* * *

Beka let go of the bar and dropped down. Pushing her hair from her eyes, she looked up at the chrono on the wall.

"So what else do you do on the Andromeda?" Shakul asked.

"Huh? Well, what all first officers do, make sure the ship isn’t going to blow up. No, really I work with Rommie to make sure whatever needs fixing gets fixed. Most times Harper can do it but if he needs extra hands all of us will help. Often Trance is in the hydroponics section or med bay keeping up supplies. Tyr is most often exercising or plotting courses that won’t take us through battlefields, finding out who wants what so we can trade to get across sectors. Harper is making sure the Andromeda’s fine and he’s always finding some little improvements to do, or he works to find new way of blowing up stuff. He and Tyr love working weapons. I make sure we have enough of whatever we need or I find a way to get it." Beka stretched. "I do what is needed. Dylan spends most of his time trying to figure out how to restore the Commonwealth. We leave him to it."

"So you do all the work and he does nothing?" Shakul sneered.

"No, he’s finding ways to restore the Commonwealth. One thing we found out when we went to M-86 and saw the Magog worldship; they won’t be destroyed. We..." Beka leaned back, her voice failing, "I sent in a nova bomb. The most vicious, violent, and destructive weapon of the Commonwealth. It should have destroyed the worldship. It didn’t. It only weakened them. They are coming and without the Commonwealth, this galaxy will be destroyed. And they are going... to destroy us all. The Spirit of the Abyss wants to destroy us. The Harbingers only want to e..." Beka shook her head, "Sorry. Oh... I have to go see Ma’ctor. I need to ask him something. Later."

Beka walked off to the showers. Ten minutes later, refreshed, she headed off to the med bay. Shakul watched her.

* * *

At last, everything is in place. Anytime between now and when we leave, I will have 30 people at my back. Onnika is a fool. Does she think that no one else can see her plans or that those plans will bring destruction and death to this Clan? Is she so foolish to think any of us would sacrifice our chances to survive? Tyr walked down the hall. He needed to see his husband. It has been hours since I last heard his chatter. I think I should worry. To be so dependent... ahhh. Ahead of Tyr Harper stood, with his customary slouch. He was walking backwards, talking to his crop of engineers. No trouble with Nietzscheans there apparently. Tyr could hear Harper’s joyous voice. The group behind him looked like they were vibrating. Shock Cola. He’s given them even more of that garbage. With a good-natured growl, Tyr headed over to talk to his mate

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