"Andromeda," Rolf called, "we may already have some of the answers we seek. From these we can extrapolate the most likely answers to the questions without answers."

"Oh."

"Yes, Rommie. There are only three true ways to lie. One, you tell a lie that is so believable that it is believed. Two, tell the truth in such an unbelievable way that the questioner automatically assumes it’s a lie and acts as you want them to. Three, and this is the method I believe is in use now, tell several statements but make only one in maybe five a lie. If I tell you five statements, you most likely won’t check all five, you will check statement 1, 3, and 4. But it is the second statement that is a lie. So those five are given to you and you check that three are true, therefore most would extend truth to the other two statements."

"Human fallacy."

"Yes, it is. We know that there is a Darwin’s Planet, that they do specialize in genetics, that the planet is mostly desert. These can be verified using others resources than Raa. We know that there is a transport ship of Nietzschean origin called Rakshava. This was reported in the interstellar news. We know that they were supposed to go to a place called Haven."

"OK, so this is what we do know. What we don’t know is... what sort of genetic work does Darwin’s Planet do, not just some of it, but all of it. We have no idea if we queried the planet for information on Gavain Raa, would they give us the truth or are they part of the cover."

"Indeed, but ask yourself this, Andromeda, what purpose would they have to send a clone to Dylan?" Rolf flashed the screen next to him. "Let’s list the most probable scenarios," Rolf started printing on the screen.

1. Raa does know his purpose and escaped to seek refuge on board.
2. Raa does know his purpose and is seeking to fulfill it.
3. Raa doesn’t know his purpose and is being used as a pawn.
4. Raa doesn’t know his purpose and it is actually a coincidence.

"Well number four, doesn’t seem likely. Yet, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Rolf, perhaps we need a different perspective on this. I don’t know what to do, or even if we should tell Dylan."

"I understand Andromeda, and I suggest asking Rev Bem, as a priest he will be able to keep a secret."

"OK, Rolf." Andromeda said as she sent a message to Rev.

* * *

Raa stared out at the stars and the stars stared back at him with thousands of bright eyes shining. Striving to find the stillness inside himself, Raa listened to the quiet humming of Andromeda working quietly. Behind him, the rustling of Rev Bem’s robes came closer, the wet muffled sounds of his breathing came closer.

"I see that the Captain has left you in charge of the bridge while he greets the Valu." Rev said peaceably.

"What do you want, Bem?" Raa asked quietly.

"Merely to talk. I have noticed that you have been spending a lot of time with Dylan."

Raa turned from the icy stare of the stars to face the Magog, "And if I have?"

"I would ask you to be careful. Dylan... Captain Hunt has lost a lot. More than we notice at times, for even though in these times, we may lose our families, our ships, our homes. Dylan has lost his time. He is in a universe that is so very foreign, with people and cultures that have evolved, changed out of necessity and he has not. He is having a hard time adjusting to the fact that all he knew of people and cultures have changed."

"And the point?" Raa asked coldly.

"Merely that I know that he and Radhe were lovers. I see it in his face... the same glow that he has when talking about Sarah. I see it in the old files that show pictures of them together. He knew how to handle a relationship with a Nietzschean but that was three hundred years ago. In that time Nietzschean both as a society and as a people have changed. Accept that he is out of time, if you would pursue a relationship with him." Rev slipped his hands in his sleeves and turned away.

"Rev, could you come to the BioSci lab?" Andromeda’s voice floated down from above.

"On my way." Rev turned back to Raa, "Well it was a pleasant talk. I will see you later, Raa." Rev Bem walked out of the room as Raa turned back to stare at the cold eyes of the stars.

* * *

"Damn Nietzscheans!" Harper said as he plotted yet another attack on that infernal and most likely possessed relay that he had been working on for the past three hours.

"Hey, Harper, problems with our resident supermen or Rommie’s relays?" Beka asked as she curled up into the access way.

"Both. Hey Beka." Harper smiled at her as he went back to working on the hellish relay.

"What’s wrong, Harper?"

"Nothing much... it’s just that... Beka? Have you ever had trouble getting someone out of your head?" Harper asked, pushing his head into the opening.

"You mean, like you can’t sit down to eat without wondering what it would be like if this person was to eat with you? Wondering what sort of conversation you would have? Would they tease you, would you play? What about going planetside, would they want to come with you? Where would you go? That’s it?

Harper pulled his head out of the access hatch and looked up at her, "Yeah, that’s exactly it, Beka. I want him, and not just in bed, I want to just go to my, our quarters and to talk and just be with him."

"So what’s the problem?"

"Beka, I’ve never..."

"Never what?"

"I never wanted a... man. I never felt like this."

"Harper, you are in love."

"Don’t say that. Please," Harper whimpered and banged his head into the wall behind him. "Be-ka. How did I fall in love with him? I can’t be. I can’t." Harper looked down and reached for a tool. Realizing he didn’t have it, he waved Beka out of the access way. Once outside he turned to her, "I’m not in love. People like me don’t fall in love."

Turning, Harper walked down the hall. Beka watched him go. "Now Harper, are you in love with Dylan and angry at Raa and Tyr for getting in your way or are you in love with Raa or Tyr and angry at Dylan getting in your way?" Beka bit her lips as her eyes lit up with a plan.

* * *

Trance hummed as she walked around the garden. That Acathla tree is really wonderful. I wonder if we can get another. Smiling she walked about the garden ruthlessly snipping off stems and pruning the plants. Her smile fit her barbed tail perfectly.

* * *

Dylan walked up to the ramp of the Valu ship, Brkisom. "Welcome aboard the Andromeda Ascendant. I hope for the time that you are here, you will enjoy your stay."

The lavender haired, Valu from the previous communication, smiled, "I am sure we shall, Captain. In honor of our races joining together to form the Second Commonwealth, we present to you this sapling. It is of the Acathla tree and is sacred to us."

"Thank you, this will be planted along with its older sister in a place of honor. In the very center of our hydroponics garden so that all who visit this ship and all who live aboard her may rejoice in this holy tree’s beauty."

"Thank you, Captain. I am Ran’t." The lavender haired Valu grinned. "My Science Officers, Tomoko and Shinya." He pointed to two Valu whose head fur were colored a gentle green. "And Navigator, Youme’x." A light pink Valu stepped up.

"Well, would you like a tour before we eat?" Dylan asked, smiling, "I can show you where we will put the holy tree."

* * *

Rev entered the BioSci labs to see Andromeda talking to Rolf. A worried expression was on both their faces.

"Andromeda ,did you wish to see me?"

"Rev, we have a problem."

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