Andromeda AU: Chapters 1 to 5 (work in progress)
With the help of friend (thanks a lot!) I figured out how to make the LJ cut so here is the fanfic:
Con la ayuda de un amigo (muchisimas gracias, de verdad) por fin ya se como manejar los LJ cut así que ahí va el fanfic:
Title: Andromeda AU
Author: b5delenn
Rating: NC17 het (sex and violence)
Spoilers: All the series (Read the author note)
Summary: What if Gaheris never betrayed Dylan? When the Maru rescue Andromeda 300 years after the fall of the Commonwealth; both Gaheris and Dylan are there and of course the other ones too including Tyr. GRhade/Beka pairing.
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc of Andromeda Ascendant are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended
Chapter 1: Introduction
A game is never just a game. And a fight is never just a fight, not even a simple training. It was not a fight to death but both males were resolved to win. Nietzscheans did everything to win something, in war, the victory; in the displaying, the female and in the mate, the offspring. After some training sessions together, both men knew the advantages and weaknesses of the other. Now they were standing on the mat, bodies tense on guard, trying to predict the next movement.
One of them sniffed, "She is coming." His voice was cultured but somehow it emphasized the dangerous brightness of his eyes.
"I know." The other man mumbled in a deep voice.
The fight began again but this time it was more aggressive. Both nietzschean males were fighting to win and the scent of an attractive woman was a good incentive.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Captain Rebecca Valentine stood in the shadows of the doorframe of the gym, watching the two nietzscheans fighting before her.
A month ago, they had joined Dylan Hunt in his insane crusade of restoring the non-existent Commonwealth. That had begun as something very different. She and her crew had taken on the recovery of the legendary Andromeda Ascendant, trapped in the event horizon of a black hole since the battle of Hephaestus, 300 years ago. It had been unexpected to find resistance in the form of the idealistic High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt and his stubborn nietzschean First Officer Gaheris Rhade. To complicate things, Gerentex, their employer, had a little surprise: a squad of mercenaries led by an arrogant nietzschean. More nietzscheans!
Finally she, her crew and the nietzschean mercenary had agreed to join Dylan and Rhade. A long time would pass till they would get used to working together but for a sexually needy woman, and Beka now was really needy, that was not the most important problem. There were five males on board but she could hardly consider Harper, who was like a little brother to her, or Rev Bem, who was a Wayist Magog, as 'males'. The logical choice would be Dylan. He was nice, attractive and she thought that she could easily seduce him. But there was no justice in the universe: she didn’t feel attracted to Dylan. Instead those two hot-as- hell nietzscheans drove her crazy. Damnit, even their bone blades were sexy! When she was just captain of the Eureka Maru she could easily handle her needs. There was always some orbital with lots of men flying around her. And after her last serious relationship had failed she didn't know if she could ever trust another man on those terms.
Maybe never, she thought.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After training, Gaheris walked around the corridors of Andromeda. He still couldn’t get accustomed to the heavy silence, that absence of the mixed smells of people that had became familiar to him over the years. His mind went back to the time, so long ago but so near to him, when he had wives and children. He missed them. He was still an Alpha but not a husband nor a father anymore. Rhade felt the betrayal of his people to the Commonwealth like a knife stuck in his back. His own race had stolen his life from him.
Rhade reflected on the present. Dylan was Dylan, as always. He was not surprised with the captain's intention of restoring the Commonwealth. Dylan always needed something higher to believe in. Gaheris believed in the old Commonwealth but he was sceptical about a new one in this crazy universe.
And the others, they were a strange mixture. A pacifist magog who every time he spoke suggested his wisdom was the proof of the universe, fate or whatever surprising itself. The unknown purple girl, Gaheris was sure she knew more about all, behind that mask of innocence and silliness. Harper was the weak who had survived in a hostile world against all odds, making use of his intelligence. Gaheris saw Tyr as his rival, it was in his blood. Both were Alphas, superior males competing…
'Competing for what?' he thought.
And finally there she was, strong, stubborn, contradictory and beautiful. It was surprising how fast he had become accustomed to her scents, how familiar and comfortable they were for him. Captain Valentine was an intriguing woman…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He couldn't ever forget her, he didn't want to. Sarah had been his future and now she was his past. It was painful but Dylan was again immersed in memories of her.
Sometimes he wondered 'Why do this, is it worth it to restore the Commonwealth?' There was always a voice inside his mind, Sarah's voice, telling him, 'Because it's the right thing to do'
Nietzscheans…he didn't want to hate them, his first officer and friend was nietzschean, a new member of his crew was too. But sometimes, Dylan couldn't avoid seeing them and feeling the rage.
Curious, at those moments, the voice of Sarah told him, 'An individual is not an entire race.'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His mother, dead in a pool of blood.
Tyr Anasazi, out of Victoria by Barbarrosa remembered that picture every day. One day they would pay for all. He thought of who could help him on the Andromeda, who could be manipulated. Watch and learn to one day make his destiny.
He didn't trust anyone but himself, 'that would be un-nietzschean' he thought. 'I am nietzschean' he repeated himself every day. It is hard to know how to be nietzschean when you have not lived in a pride since you are a child. That made him think about Rhade. He could be an ally…or a rival. 'Is he nietzschean or High Guard?'
And Captain Valentine. He had not still put a label on her. She was a mere human but he could not ignore the physical attraction he felt. 'Just a chemical reaction'…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Holographic Andromeda popped behind him, "Harper"
"Hey don't do that, you scared me!"
"I have some questions about your project", she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ask whatever you want, I'm all yours Drommie" Harper answered her as he continued with his work.
"What did you call me?"
"Come on, Andromeda is too long. Besides your avatar will need a name"
"My avatar is 'me' Harper. How do you intent to call it?"
He looked at her "She is not 'it', Andromeda. Trust in the Harper, I'm making a piece of art. Maybe Rommie…yes I like Rommie, it's very sexy" he smiled. "You wanted to ask something?"
"Yes, Harper. Don't you think you are making the avatar too realistic? I don't think it needs all those sensors. And it is not going to feed any children so it does not need nipples"
"Hey babe, believe me, some day 'she' will be grateful"
"Harper, just remember I am a warship, not sexual entertainment"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So many alternatives, so many possibilities. So many times Trance Gemini felt she was still too young to know all the possible futures. Sometimes she wanted to just stay in a moment, like now in Hydroponics, surrounded by growing life. Sometimes she envied her crewmates, her friends. They could not see all the perfect futures but neither could they see the dark ones. She felt so young and yet so old.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Divine, always unpredictable in His ways. Rev Bem knew He had some reason for him to join such a diverse group for that quest. Probably a powerful reason. A pain in his heart reminded him every day that the Divine also had a powerful reason to let him be born, ripping apart the life of the woman he called mother.
Chapter 2: Confusion and guilt
"You trust them, Dylan?"
"I'm trying." Dylan answered, watching the Go board carefully. Since the time he had caught Gaheris cheating, his eyes were glued to the table when they played.
"It's funny, Rev Bem is a magog and Trance is…I don't know what she is, but they both seem trustworthy. And Harper is brilliant, I mean, the work he did with Rommie was amazing" He saw Gaheris smirk "What?"
"I bet you think Rommie is more than amazing" Rhade laughed "When she came to Command your face was priceless!"
"She was naked!"
"She is a warship, Dylan"
Dylan arched his eyebrows "Of course your enhanced nietzschean eyes didn't notice that she has a beautiful body" Dylan blushed slightly as he said this.
"I agree that Harper has made Andromeda's avatar very realistic" Gaheris absentmindedly answered "but I need more to be aroused by a female."
"Oh, I forget the bone blades." Dylan grinned sarcastically.
"I didn't mean that. There are things more important for a nietzschean male to make a female appealing, the scent, the…"
"Hey hey, no more please" Dylan interrupted. Gaheris smiled. It was amusing how his friend felt embarrassed when the conversation turned to sex.
"What about Tyr? Do you trust him?" Rhade asked.
"And you, Gaheris? Do you trust him?"
Now Gaheris’ face was as cool as ice "Never trust in a nietzschean"
"You are nietzschean Rhade."
"I'm also High Guard, never forget that, Captain. And Captain Valentine?"
"What about her?" Dylan could swear his friend had more than a mere professional concern. "What do you think about her Gaheris?"
He arched an eyebrow suggestively "She is an interesting woman."
Dylan smiled "So you do see her as a woman."
"It's difficult not seeing her as a woman." Gaheris answered as a matter of fact.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka was in pilot's chair, wondering why she deserved her destiny. She had that shift with Tyr and Rhade and between those two men, her mind was everywhere but in her duties.
Actually she was watching the bronze living sculpture that was Tyr intently, her eyes scanning every inch of muscle through the chains of his shirt. How could she concentrate with a half naked man who screamed 'sex' throughout his skin?
Then her eyes and mind wandered towards Gaheris. It was as if Rhade had born with that uniform over him. Her daydream was running wilder as she thought that he wore too many clothes. If she had him at her mercy…a brief image of him, naked on her bed crossed her mind. She shook her head. She had seen Rhade in the Gym with a tight T-shirt branding his wonderful chest. She could do indescribable things on those pecs. Then there were those arms. Beka usually was the dominant in her sexual relationships but she easily imagined those strong powerful arms subduing her. And that perfect butt, muscled and hard when he would be burying himself in her willing body. Suddenly Beka was very aware of the warm wetness between her legs, damping her pants. Then Rhade turned his head and his eyes bore into her, a smile of satisfaction spread on his lips.
'Damn', she avoided his gaze. With the corner of her eye she saw he was working again at his console. Her eyes again ran over him. He had this strong dark hair, a girl could grab it in the edge of pleasure…
Rhade was smiling to himself. He had longed for the scent of an aroused female and now that scent had hit his senses with the force of a tidal wave. It was surprisingly pleasant and arousing to know that it was for him. It wasn’t hard to notice her glances towards him.
Tyr was checking the weapons when he was aware of a very well known smell. It could only come from her. He felt a wave of rage when he watched her devouring the other nietzschean with her gaze.
"Beka!" he roared.
Beka awaked abruptly of her daydream "What!?"
"I suggest you pay more attention to your job. I don't want you jeopardizing our survival because you are distracted." Then he looked at Rhade, furious "And as First Officer you should watch her."
"I don't think our survival is compromised but it's true you are…distracted" His eyes met hers playfully. "I agree with Tyr, I'll watch you…carefully" His swift was over so he got out leaving behind him a furious Tyr and a blushing Beka.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was the right thing to do, Gaheris knew it. In minutes they would destroy one hundred thousand nietzschean ships. They had to do it, for History, for the Future. However it didn't alleviate the guilt he felt. Somehow his heart didn't hear the logic of his mind. He thought he hated his own race but it was still his race.
Tyr’s voice broke his solitude. "My people have a legend about the Battle of Witchhead. They say that the nietzschean forces arrived here with overwhelming numbers. Their victory seemed assured but then, in the critical hour, the Angel of Death appeared summoning forth the fires of hell. The nietzschean fleet was struck down, crippled, their glorious victory turned to ashes."
From this moment Gaheris felt the time passing like a blurred nightmare. He heard Dylan giving the order and he closed his eyes. A brilliant flash of death crossed his lids and the voice of thousands nietzscheans screamed through his veins.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You are the last person on this ship I expected to be so calm." Tyr's voice was full of venom. Gaheris just stared out the window in Obs.
"How do you feel being the most despicable traitor to your blood?" That made Rhade snap.
"Traitor?" he turned to face Tyr "Allow me to inform you about a couple things about our people. We were a great race, our destiny was to reach perfection but WE screwed up everything when we betrayed the Commonwealth. And for what? Now we are a group of prides too busy destroying ourselves" Their faces were now inches apart "You have never known the true nietzschean race."
Tyr's eyes were burning with cold fury as he stormed out. Rhade turned again to watch the stars. He couldn't blame Tyr, he had not known the Commonwealth and the nietzscheans before the Great Darkness. His pride had been annihilated by the Drago-Kazov pride and he looked for revenge. Tyr was furiously nietzschean, at least what he thought it was to be nietzschean. However they came from different times and that concept was not the same for Gaheris.
Her scent broke his reflections. Then he heard her footsteps in the corridor towards him.
"Rebecca…"
She stood next to him, staring out into space "I just wanted to know how you were doing." He didn't answer, instead breathed deeply, allowing her presence to calm him like a balm on a wound. She misinterpreted his lack of communication, "I understand, you want to be alone." She turned to leave but his hand on her arm stopped her.
"Please stay" He took her hand in his "Your presence comforts me. There are so many things I need to say…"
"About?" she felt the warmth of his hand as he caressed her palm. She was aware of the strong reaction of her body to this mere brush, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath caught in her throat. His hands felt so good, so gentle and yet so strong.
"About my people, about me…" 'About you' he heard a tiny voice in his mind. He gazed at her intently, his eyes two pools of warmth. "Another day." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
Beka stayed stunned as he left the room, the feeling of his lips spreading over all her skin.
Chapter 3: Goodbye
Dylan had sent the message to Sarah through the black hole. It was supposed to be a goodbye, a kind of 'look to the future' attitude but he felt as if his heart had been ripped to pieces. He got to Command, trying to mask the emptiness that his feelings mirrored over his face.
Harper turned looking at him nervously "Uh Dylan. We got something freaky going on here."
"I'm afraid to ask" He had no patience at this moment for unreadable scientific trivialities.
"It's all very exciting. We seem to be receiving a signal from the black hole" Hohne spoke, his perseid blue features tensed with emotion.
Dylan's head jerked up "That's impossible. Nothing comes out of a singularity"
Harper smiled weakly "You want impossible? Listen to this"
Dylan looked in astonishment at the image of Sara, HIS Sara, on the screen. "Dylan, I'm receiving your message. What's your status? Can you hear me? Dylan I'm receiving your message. What's your status? Can you…" The image fuzzed out. Dylan stayed, his eyes glued to the screen. Then he reacted.
"Sara!" He faced Harper "You get that signal back! Get it back right now!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"It's good to see you again Khalid" Rhade watched his nietzschean friend. He was on command while Dylan was in his office talking to Sara. He would’ve liked to speak in private as well but he had to stay in command. Besides, the communication link between the Andromeda and the Starry Wisdom could break easily.
"It's good to see you too, Rhade. When we didn't find you among the survivors, we thought you would be dead…or worse" Ismael Khalid sighed.
"I suppose when you say worse, you mean 'traitor'" Gaheris answered, his jaw clenched. He didn't like that anyone made such an insinuation, especially in front of Tyr and Rebecca. "Well, I assure you I'm not a traitor"
"I know." Khalid sighed again "But there are so many people we both know that we never imagined were traitors"
"What about our pride?" Rhade asked
"It's loyal to the Commonwealth. One of few"
"Do you have some news about my family?" He felt a lump in his throat.
Khalid smiled "The last time I saw them they were fine. Your wives and children are with your fathers. Ana gave birth to a girl and Maria will do too soon. A boy."
Gaheris felt the pride flooding him and he smiled. "Ismael, watch over them please. I know I can trust you with my life"
A shadow of sadness crossed Khalid’s face. He knew it was impossible he’d see Rhade again but he would care for his family as if it was his. "I will, I promise. Goodbye Gaheris."
"Goodbye Ismael" Rhade stood there looking at the empty screen. He didn't tell Khalid that he missed his family, that the thing he wanted most at this moment was to hold his new daughter and see his new son when he would be born. But he had seen in the eyes of his friend that he’d understood it all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka’s mind repeated the conversation between Gaheris and the nietzschean officer of the Starry Wisdom. 'Wives' she thought 'wives and children…'
Some times she forgot that Gaheris was nietzschean.
If there was someone who she saw as the typical nietzschean it was Tyr. However Tyr didn't have any wives, at least that she knew of. On the other hand Gaheris, who was more talkative and approachable than Tyr, had wives and children! She couldn't say why suddenly the word "wives" irritated her so much.
She looked at him briefly. He was working on his console as if nothing concerned him but his body was tense and his jaw clenched. He gazed at her and she saw the sadness in his eyes before he turned to his work again. Beka felt the impulse to hold him and comfort him. She shook her head as she brought her attention back to her duty.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later Tyr was in his room watching the computer. After what he had heard on Command and seeing the archives about Rhade, he began to understand his attitude when he supported Dylan at Witchhead. If there was something Tyr understood, it was loyalty to the pride and the family.
Majorum pride, Gaheris’ pride, had been the most loyal nietzschean ally of the Commonwealth, one of the few that stayed with the Commonwealth when the war began. After the war it had seemed that the pride had disappeared.
The family of Rhade was powerful and esteemed in the pride. Gaheris had five wives and eight children, probably ten if the news was true. Somehow he and Gaheris had something in common: both had lost their pride and family. Maybe he could be an ally after all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gaheris lay on his bed thinking how cruel the universe could be. He had watched how the hopes of Dylan of being with Sara vanished. Finally Harper had brought his friend back to the Andromeda. The conversation with Khalid and Dylan’s face when he had said goodbye to Sara had made Gaheris understand better what Dylan had told him about love so many times.
Now he thought of his family and realized he missed his first wife, Maria, more than the others. He remembered how hard it had been to win her. She didn't want just a man with good DNA, she wanted a man who knew her, who proved himself worthy of the titles of husband and father. She was strong, confident and very stubborn. 'Like Rebecca.' he thought.
He must tell them goodbye too and face the future.
Chapter 4: So bigmouth…
Finally Dylan and Beka had come back from Miden with Tyr. Dylan had told Gaheris about the crate Tyr had brought with him and Rhade had his suspicions about its content.
He was in command with Beka. He watched her. She was very distracted and this time Gaheris could swear it was not because of him. He could almost hear her mind murmuring.
"Gaheris." She was looking at him now.
"Yes, Beka?"
"You know about the crate Tyr has had since Miden?" She arched her eyebrows.
"Yes." he smirked at her curiosity.
"Tyr told me that it has something that has belonged to him all along" She frowned "You’re nietzschean."
He couldn't help but laugh "Last time I checked I was"
"Ha ha very funny Rhade. I mean, if you are nietzschean you must know what Tyr means, shouldn't you?"
He fixed his eyes on hers. Those eyes were dangerous, he thought, a man could swim and drown in them. It would be interesting to explore them when she was happy, sad, aroused…
"Gaheris?" She was waving her hand in front his face.
'Caught' he thought "All I could make are mere assumptions, Rebecca."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After his shift Gaheris headed to Tyr's room. 'Something that belongs to him' Beka’s words echoed in his mind. So Tyr had taken the mummified remains of Drago Museveni from the Dragans. He pressed the door button and they opened. He heard Tyr inviting him to enter. He had never seen his room before. There were books on a shelf. He easily identified the authors: Museveni, Nietzsche, Machiavelli and Darwin. He had similar books. However Tyr’s room was much more spartan than his.
"I know you have the remains of the Progenitor" It would be stupid to beat about the bush with that.
"I see Beka went straight off and told you" Tyr smiled mocking.
"This is not about Beka" Rhade said.
"And what are you going to do with that information?" Tyr asked in his deepest dangerous voice.
"I understand it's rightfully yours" Gaheris continued as if he hadn't heard him.
"So you support me?" Tyr arched his eyebrows, surprised.
Gaheris approached him and gazed him directly in his eyes "Don't misunderstand me Tyr. I'm nietzschean and I'm not stupid. I prefer the remains stay with you instead the Dragans but listen carefully: if you put this ship or this crew in danger you'll regret it."
"Are you threatening me Rhade?" Tyr features were as hard as stone.
"Yes" With that Rhade left the room.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tyr was reading, enjoying the quiet of the Command. He was alone with Beka and Rhade on the ship. The others were looking for an AP solenoid valve. Apart from having to manually vent the ship it was pleasant. There were no comments from Dylan , Trance’s giggles or Harper’s laughs. Tyr knew Rhade enjoyed the silence too but there was an unbearable noise. He looked at Beka and she stopped her drumming on the armchair.
"It's too quiet here" she smirked.
"All right" Maybe Beka could learn something from Nietzsche. He began to read "We are born sworn, jealous friends of solitude. Of our own deepest, most midnight, most mid-day solitude"
Beka watched him thoughtfully "You know Tyr, some people think you are selfish because you're always reading, lifting and exercising. But I think you're just always trying to improve yourself. I never had that luxury"
Rhade moved uneasily at his console. He didn't like the admiring tone of her voice towards the other Alpha or Tyr’s patronizing.
"You've been too busy surviving. I respect that. Still there is a great deal Nietzsche could teach you"
"Such as?" she asked, her eyes fixed in Tyr. Gaheris watched her and clenched his fists.
"Survival." Tyr answered.
"Got it covered. What else?" She insisted. Rhade knew the answer and he was not going to like it.
"Reproduction" Tyr fixed his brown eyes on Beka. Then both heard the deep growl coming from Gaheris.
"What was that?" Beka asked boring him with his blue gaze.
Gaheris watched her with an unreadable expression. Then he looked at Tyr in challenge. Tyr held his gaze.
"Nothing" Rhade finally growled.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka walked towards the Gym, confusion and rage running through her veins. First that crap on command. What the hell was that growl from Rhade? She was talking to Tyr and suddenly the two nietzscheans were acting as if they wanted to cut the other's throat.
Then Tyr invites her to dinner. Obs was lighted with candles, he was cooking and it actually smelt wonderful. They were having a pleasant dinner. Even Beka had begun to think that Tyr was flirting with her. But then she recalled the last piece of conversation
"Are you saying that you could never be interested in a human woman?" She couldn't believe he was so narrow-minded.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying" He answered.
"Not in a million years?" she felt humiliated.
"Never" he simply said as a matter of fact.
She got up and leaned over him, her mouth inches apart from his. She saw him looking at her lips and swallowing hard and she smiled seductively.
"Tyr, on behalf of human women everywhere, I'm insulted" she stormed out.
Beka often had fantasized about screwing Tyr senseless but when she reached the Gym she just wanted to reduce his head and other parts of his anatomy to pulp. She was so furious that she didn't see Gaheris training with an extended force lance. She rushed to the sack and she began to workout bare-handed.
"Beka." She heard Gaheris’ voice, which usually calmed her, like an offensive buzzing. She didn't answer, mumbling between punches "Fucking ubbers, all the same, let's go all to hell…"
"Rebecca…" he insisted. She felt his warm hand on her shoulder and she turned abruptly.
"WHAT!?"
He stayed with his perfect calm façade, just an eyebrow slightly arched "I think you can vent whatever disturbs you with some less painful exercise."
She trained her eyes on him "Oh, now you care about what happens to a mere human?" she asked sarcastically.
He sighed deeply and took her hand. He nodded to it and she saw blood on her bruised knuckles "Maybe you’d find it more interesting to fight with an actual person. And you can learn something" He threw her another force lance.
So he wanted to fight. It was the opportunity to kick some nietzschean ass and for a pissed Beka it didn't matter if it was Rhade instead Tyr. She extended the force lance. Soon though she realized it wasn't so easy. Her fury didn't help to concentrate and she didn't have the years of training of Gaheris. Besides he was stronger and faster, even faster than Tyr. Finally she was on the floor, trying to recover her breath. Rhade had the force lances in both hands, aiming to her chest. He closed them and offered her a hand.
"I don't need help! Get out!" She struggled and finally stood up.
"Care to share why you are in such mood, Beka?" She heard the concern in his voice and at that moment it angered her more.
"Don't talk to me in that tone Rhade!"
He frowned. "What tone?"
"That tone that screams 'I'm superior to you, pitiful human'" She felt fear when his face mirrored the rage burning inside him, but her tongue seemed to work before her brain "I thought you were different than Tyr but all nietzschean are the same, fucking ubbers!"
He towered over her, suddenly he seemed larger than life "Rebecca, never put a label on me" His voice was menacing but his eyes expressed his hurt." I suggest you stay away from me." He stormed out.
Beka fell to the floor. Oh boy, why did she have to have such a big mouth? Why did she always think after she spoke? Gaheris hadn't deserved that. She had hurt him and now she felt like crying.
Chapter 5: On the beach
Gaheris sat straight up in bed struggling to breathe. His shorts and the sheet were soaked and his erection was still pulsating. He cursed in every language he knew. He got up and took a shower. He changed his sheets and lay on his back, prepared for another night without rest.
Since his fight with Beka, a week ago, he had had the same insane dream every night. It always began wonderfully and ended in disaster. Every time he was on his back, unable to move. Rebecca was straddling him, her head leaning back, her eyes closed and his eager maleness impaling her. Whereas her body was blurred, a mixture of the women he had laid with, her face was crystal clear. His world was reduced to the sensation of her, riding him. When he felt his shaft bursting into flames she always opened her eyes and her cold blue matched with her words "All nietzscheans are the same". She repeated this over and over, but her pace became frenzied and he exploded. Then he woke up.
After that he lay on the bed until the hour of his shift, wondering if he had done something to offend Beka in some way. However Gaheris knew that she was furious with Tyr and she had just vented to him instead of Tyr. At that point his mind went wild with images of Tyr and Beka together. He stayed there, night after night, trying to exorcise those images from his mind.
When he and Beka were in the same room he even didn't look at her. He didn't want her to notice how much she had hurt him. They barely knew each other, how could she hurt him so much? Gaheris missed not only speaking with her but also watching her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dylan was telling Rhade about the incident on Mobius. He thought Gaheris would find it interesting how a peaceful architect could become a psychotic dictator. Besides their first mission together had been on that planet. But it was obvious his friend’s mind was on another matter. Gaheris had dark circles under his eyes and his mouth was crooked in a grimace.
"So I realized I love the Great Compass and I asked him to marry me" Dylan said casually. "What do you think?"
"Hmm yes, I think it is fine" Rhade absently replied.
Dylan burst out laughing. "Have you heard a thing that I’ve said?"
Gaheris rubbed his eyes "To tell you the truth I lost you at Trance and a button"
Dylan watched him concerned "What happen to you? You look awful"
"I have had some trouble sleeping"
"Care to share or must I ask Andromeda?"
"That's not necessary" The last thing he needed was to discuss his erotic dreams about Beka.
"So…" Dylan waited for his answer.
"Just a misunderstanding with Beka" He replied.
"And that misunderstanding has nothing to do with the way you watch her?" Dylan asked arching his eyebrows.
Rhade looked at him intently "I don't watch her in any way"
"Of course, and I'm the First Triumvir" Dylan replied "Come on, Rhade, you are attracted to her"
Gaheris looked at him for a moment, then sighed "I…I'm…I…"
Dylan laughed "I've never heard you stammer. You have a thing for her!"
Gaheris rubbed the back of his neck and sighed again "I suppose you are right. When you were with Trance and the others on Mobius something happened between Beka and Tyr. She came to the gym, I was there training. She was furious with him, I don't know why. We trained for a while and then she yelled at me and told me I was like other nietzscheans. I lost my patience."
"So she was pissed with Tyr and took it out on you."
Dylan thought about what Gaheris had told him. He was surprised that Rhade admitted his attraction to Beka. Before the Long Night seeing a nietzschean with a human had not been so unusual, however Gaheris had been raised in a pride. He had to learn the human way if he wanted something with Beka, the usual macho alpha display didn't work on her. The other problem was Tyr. Dylan was also aware of the way Tyr looked at Beka. It could be dangerous to have two nietzschean alphas fighting for the same woman.
"You’ve got to talk to her to resolve this problem." Dylan finally spoke
"I'm not the one who has to apologize" Rhade replied defensively.
"I'm not talking about apologizing, I'm just saying you're not going to resolve anything staying here"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After some complicated negotiations on Sinti Four the Perseids finally joined the New Commonwealth. Trance and Harper had arrived to Andromeda bringing with them Hasturi's diary, even though that was not their mission. Dylan thought it was a good opportunity to give a break to the crew.
Of course Tyr said something about making the most of his time. He took a slipfighter and told Dylan he would be back in a few days. The others, except for Rev Bem who stayed on Andromeda meditating, went in the Maru to enjoy the sun and beach on Sinti Four. They landed near a calm beach with some restaurants around.
Dylan was walking with Rommie along the beach, Harper was teaching Trance to surf and Beka was changing her clothes in the Maru. Gaheris had chosen a quiet place on the beach. He wore just swimming shorts. He lay on the sand on his elbows with his back to the sea to face the sun. He closed his eyes as the sand caressed his skin. Then he caught her scent.
As Gaheris laid his eyes on her he knew he was lost. He swallowed hard, blessing whoever had made those little pieces of fabric which she called a bikini. Two blue triangles barely covering two rounded mounds, another one hiding the apex between her glorious long legs. Soft curved hips, flat stomach with a tempting hollow as navel, slender arms and a delicate column as neck. All covered in a soft creamy skin that every sane man would want to taste. The view of her body put all his fantasies to shame. Beka stood before him smiling.
"May I join you?"
Gaheris felt his mouth suddenly go dry, his loins stirring…and when the hell had he spread his bone blades? "Of course" he managed to answer.
She sat facing him.
"Gaheris, hmm…look, I'm sorry, you know, the gym. I was an ass. I'm really sorry, I'm…" she stammered.
"No need to apologize Rebecca."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka took a bottle of sun block from her bag and poured some in her hands. She spread it along her legs, her stomach, her arms and the exposed parts of her chest. She felt Gaheris’ eyes on her. He was watching her with lust. She smiled mischievously "Could you do my back please?"
"It would be a pleasure Rebecca." he answered as he emphasized the word 'pleasure'
She lay on her stomach over her towel and laid her head on her arms. He straddled her ass supporting his weight on his legs, not wanting to crush her. He untied her bikini top and poured some lotion in his hands, first massaging her lower back. Beka soon realized it was more a sensual display then a mere favour. His hands were soft yet strong and they sent shivers through her body. If he could do this just on her back what it would be to feel those hands all over her body, she thought between moans. 'Hey, you're moaning, get a grip Valentine'.
Gaheris' hands continued his erotic dance over her back. He took her words literally massaging every bit of creamy flesh he found. He got to her feet and kneaded her legs. Finally his hands ran down both sides of her slender body, slightly brushing the exposed sides of her breasts.
"Done" he said as he lay on his towel.
Beka stayed there for a moment, very aware of her arousal. She was about to tie the top of her bikini when she found that he had done it. On his side Gaheris had noticed his mistake too late. After touching her nearly naked body, his own was on fire and his manhood was throbbing dangerously.
"Now it's your turn" he heard her.
"What?"
"You need lotion too or you’ll burn. I'll do your back. It's only fair." She smiled seductively.
Rhade would kill himself before telling her that he didn't need sunblock, he wanted the feeling of those hands on him so he turned on his stomach, exposing his expansive back to her. Beka licked her lips watching all that muscled male flesh at her mercy. It was her turn to straddle his tight butt, however she had no remorse when she settled her weight over him. He barely noticed it but he could feel their bodies separated just with thin fabric. Her hands were sending electric jolts through his body as she rubbed him. He stretched his back at the stimuli, his muscles rippling under her soft magic hands. He didn't fight against the soft growls flowing from his throat.
Beka noticed the growls deepened as she spread more lotion along his strong legs.
"If you turn over I'll do your chest" she murmured in his ear, her breasts slightly splayed over his upper back. She stood up as he turned to lie on his back. She gave a brief gaze to the evident bulge of his shorts before she straddled his hips. He gasped as she pressed her lower body against him.
As Rebecca began to work over his chest, it became more difficult for Gaheris to think clearly. He tried unsuccessfully to take some control over his responses, he didn't want to give her all the fun so easily. However he felt the blood slowly abandoning his head and flooding to other parts. It didn't help the view of her tempting nipples outlined against her top or that intoxicating scent of hers.
Beka was having the time of her life outlining that chiselled pecs, splaying her hands over that broad abs, all hard muscles rippling under her ministrations. It was really a turn on and she was hot as hell. She was too well aware of what was quickly growing and hardening against her, pressing between the sensitive flesh of her legs. Her mind wandered around the things she had heard about the nietzschean male's measures. From what she was feeling it must be more than true, she thought. She looked at his face and found his heavy gaze trained on her. That typical smirk of him played on his lips but his eyes were dark from restrained desire.
She leaned over him to rub his shoulders. Then she continued with his left arm and she watched his forearm thoughtfully.
"You know, I've never seen a nietzschean without the armbands"
His eyes never left hers as he spread the bone blades. Somehow Beka suspected it was some kind of sexual display. She began to stroke the soft skin between the bone blades and he growled deeply.
"You shouldn't do that unless you want to arouse me." He smiled playfully looking where their bodies met "And you don't want that, do you Rebecca?"
She blushed slightly but she continued her strokes "Meaning?"
"That's an erogenous zone" he answered factually.
She laughed "You’re kidding, your bone blades an erogenous zone?"
"Not the bone blades, just the skin around them" he watched her intently.
Then both heard a cough. Dylan and Rommie were watching them with surprise painted over their faces.
"Enjoying the beach?" Dylan asked with arched eyebrows.
Beka felt her face turn red as she tried to stand up but Gaheris held her hips firmly against him "I was…I just…sunblock…" her voice trailed off. Dylan couldn't believe that he’d seen the day when Beka was at a loss for words. However Gaheris had the face of a child in a candy shop.
"Nietzscheans don't need…" Rommie began as Gaheris gave her a deadly glare.
"We have much to discuss Rommie." Dylan interrupted her as he pulled her away. "Let's go."
Gaheris lost his grip on her hips. Beka crossed her arms and glared at him. "What was that Rhade? Why didn't you let me up?"
He sat up with her still astride him, their faces inches apart. "You know why, Rebecca." His voice washed over her, his thumb caressed her bottom lip and her jaw. His eyes never left hers. She was mesmerized by his gaze and his gentle touch. He took her hand and kissed it.
"It would be a pleasure if you joined me for dinner." he murmured.
"Done." Beka heard herself answering. 'What a charming answer Valentine' she thought sarcastically.
"Now stand up please. I need a long cold bath" He smiled "I'll see you on the Maru at 08:00, agreed?" He didn't wait for her answer as he went towards the sea.
Con la ayuda de un amigo (muchisimas gracias, de verdad) por fin ya se como manejar los LJ cut así que ahí va el fanfic:
Title: Andromeda AU
Author: b5delenn
Rating: NC17 het (sex and violence)
Spoilers: All the series (Read the author note)
Summary: What if Gaheris never betrayed Dylan? When the Maru rescue Andromeda 300 years after the fall of the Commonwealth; both Gaheris and Dylan are there and of course the other ones too including Tyr. GRhade/Beka pairing.
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc of Andromeda Ascendant are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended
Chapter 1: Introduction
A game is never just a game. And a fight is never just a fight, not even a simple training. It was not a fight to death but both males were resolved to win. Nietzscheans did everything to win something, in war, the victory; in the displaying, the female and in the mate, the offspring. After some training sessions together, both men knew the advantages and weaknesses of the other. Now they were standing on the mat, bodies tense on guard, trying to predict the next movement.
One of them sniffed, "She is coming." His voice was cultured but somehow it emphasized the dangerous brightness of his eyes.
"I know." The other man mumbled in a deep voice.
The fight began again but this time it was more aggressive. Both nietzschean males were fighting to win and the scent of an attractive woman was a good incentive.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Captain Rebecca Valentine stood in the shadows of the doorframe of the gym, watching the two nietzscheans fighting before her.
A month ago, they had joined Dylan Hunt in his insane crusade of restoring the non-existent Commonwealth. That had begun as something very different. She and her crew had taken on the recovery of the legendary Andromeda Ascendant, trapped in the event horizon of a black hole since the battle of Hephaestus, 300 years ago. It had been unexpected to find resistance in the form of the idealistic High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt and his stubborn nietzschean First Officer Gaheris Rhade. To complicate things, Gerentex, their employer, had a little surprise: a squad of mercenaries led by an arrogant nietzschean. More nietzscheans!
Finally she, her crew and the nietzschean mercenary had agreed to join Dylan and Rhade. A long time would pass till they would get used to working together but for a sexually needy woman, and Beka now was really needy, that was not the most important problem. There were five males on board but she could hardly consider Harper, who was like a little brother to her, or Rev Bem, who was a Wayist Magog, as 'males'. The logical choice would be Dylan. He was nice, attractive and she thought that she could easily seduce him. But there was no justice in the universe: she didn’t feel attracted to Dylan. Instead those two hot-as- hell nietzscheans drove her crazy. Damnit, even their bone blades were sexy! When she was just captain of the Eureka Maru she could easily handle her needs. There was always some orbital with lots of men flying around her. And after her last serious relationship had failed she didn't know if she could ever trust another man on those terms.
Maybe never, she thought.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After training, Gaheris walked around the corridors of Andromeda. He still couldn’t get accustomed to the heavy silence, that absence of the mixed smells of people that had became familiar to him over the years. His mind went back to the time, so long ago but so near to him, when he had wives and children. He missed them. He was still an Alpha but not a husband nor a father anymore. Rhade felt the betrayal of his people to the Commonwealth like a knife stuck in his back. His own race had stolen his life from him.
Rhade reflected on the present. Dylan was Dylan, as always. He was not surprised with the captain's intention of restoring the Commonwealth. Dylan always needed something higher to believe in. Gaheris believed in the old Commonwealth but he was sceptical about a new one in this crazy universe.
And the others, they were a strange mixture. A pacifist magog who every time he spoke suggested his wisdom was the proof of the universe, fate or whatever surprising itself. The unknown purple girl, Gaheris was sure she knew more about all, behind that mask of innocence and silliness. Harper was the weak who had survived in a hostile world against all odds, making use of his intelligence. Gaheris saw Tyr as his rival, it was in his blood. Both were Alphas, superior males competing…
'Competing for what?' he thought.
And finally there she was, strong, stubborn, contradictory and beautiful. It was surprising how fast he had become accustomed to her scents, how familiar and comfortable they were for him. Captain Valentine was an intriguing woman…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He couldn't ever forget her, he didn't want to. Sarah had been his future and now she was his past. It was painful but Dylan was again immersed in memories of her.
Sometimes he wondered 'Why do this, is it worth it to restore the Commonwealth?' There was always a voice inside his mind, Sarah's voice, telling him, 'Because it's the right thing to do'
Nietzscheans…he didn't want to hate them, his first officer and friend was nietzschean, a new member of his crew was too. But sometimes, Dylan couldn't avoid seeing them and feeling the rage.
Curious, at those moments, the voice of Sarah told him, 'An individual is not an entire race.'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His mother, dead in a pool of blood.
Tyr Anasazi, out of Victoria by Barbarrosa remembered that picture every day. One day they would pay for all. He thought of who could help him on the Andromeda, who could be manipulated. Watch and learn to one day make his destiny.
He didn't trust anyone but himself, 'that would be un-nietzschean' he thought. 'I am nietzschean' he repeated himself every day. It is hard to know how to be nietzschean when you have not lived in a pride since you are a child. That made him think about Rhade. He could be an ally…or a rival. 'Is he nietzschean or High Guard?'
And Captain Valentine. He had not still put a label on her. She was a mere human but he could not ignore the physical attraction he felt. 'Just a chemical reaction'…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Holographic Andromeda popped behind him, "Harper"
"Hey don't do that, you scared me!"
"I have some questions about your project", she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ask whatever you want, I'm all yours Drommie" Harper answered her as he continued with his work.
"What did you call me?"
"Come on, Andromeda is too long. Besides your avatar will need a name"
"My avatar is 'me' Harper. How do you intent to call it?"
He looked at her "She is not 'it', Andromeda. Trust in the Harper, I'm making a piece of art. Maybe Rommie…yes I like Rommie, it's very sexy" he smiled. "You wanted to ask something?"
"Yes, Harper. Don't you think you are making the avatar too realistic? I don't think it needs all those sensors. And it is not going to feed any children so it does not need nipples"
"Hey babe, believe me, some day 'she' will be grateful"
"Harper, just remember I am a warship, not sexual entertainment"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So many alternatives, so many possibilities. So many times Trance Gemini felt she was still too young to know all the possible futures. Sometimes she wanted to just stay in a moment, like now in Hydroponics, surrounded by growing life. Sometimes she envied her crewmates, her friends. They could not see all the perfect futures but neither could they see the dark ones. She felt so young and yet so old.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Divine, always unpredictable in His ways. Rev Bem knew He had some reason for him to join such a diverse group for that quest. Probably a powerful reason. A pain in his heart reminded him every day that the Divine also had a powerful reason to let him be born, ripping apart the life of the woman he called mother.
Chapter 2: Confusion and guilt
"You trust them, Dylan?"
"I'm trying." Dylan answered, watching the Go board carefully. Since the time he had caught Gaheris cheating, his eyes were glued to the table when they played.
"It's funny, Rev Bem is a magog and Trance is…I don't know what she is, but they both seem trustworthy. And Harper is brilliant, I mean, the work he did with Rommie was amazing" He saw Gaheris smirk "What?"
"I bet you think Rommie is more than amazing" Rhade laughed "When she came to Command your face was priceless!"
"She was naked!"
"She is a warship, Dylan"
Dylan arched his eyebrows "Of course your enhanced nietzschean eyes didn't notice that she has a beautiful body" Dylan blushed slightly as he said this.
"I agree that Harper has made Andromeda's avatar very realistic" Gaheris absentmindedly answered "but I need more to be aroused by a female."
"Oh, I forget the bone blades." Dylan grinned sarcastically.
"I didn't mean that. There are things more important for a nietzschean male to make a female appealing, the scent, the…"
"Hey hey, no more please" Dylan interrupted. Gaheris smiled. It was amusing how his friend felt embarrassed when the conversation turned to sex.
"What about Tyr? Do you trust him?" Rhade asked.
"And you, Gaheris? Do you trust him?"
Now Gaheris’ face was as cool as ice "Never trust in a nietzschean"
"You are nietzschean Rhade."
"I'm also High Guard, never forget that, Captain. And Captain Valentine?"
"What about her?" Dylan could swear his friend had more than a mere professional concern. "What do you think about her Gaheris?"
He arched an eyebrow suggestively "She is an interesting woman."
Dylan smiled "So you do see her as a woman."
"It's difficult not seeing her as a woman." Gaheris answered as a matter of fact.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka was in pilot's chair, wondering why she deserved her destiny. She had that shift with Tyr and Rhade and between those two men, her mind was everywhere but in her duties.
Actually she was watching the bronze living sculpture that was Tyr intently, her eyes scanning every inch of muscle through the chains of his shirt. How could she concentrate with a half naked man who screamed 'sex' throughout his skin?
Then her eyes and mind wandered towards Gaheris. It was as if Rhade had born with that uniform over him. Her daydream was running wilder as she thought that he wore too many clothes. If she had him at her mercy…a brief image of him, naked on her bed crossed her mind. She shook her head. She had seen Rhade in the Gym with a tight T-shirt branding his wonderful chest. She could do indescribable things on those pecs. Then there were those arms. Beka usually was the dominant in her sexual relationships but she easily imagined those strong powerful arms subduing her. And that perfect butt, muscled and hard when he would be burying himself in her willing body. Suddenly Beka was very aware of the warm wetness between her legs, damping her pants. Then Rhade turned his head and his eyes bore into her, a smile of satisfaction spread on his lips.
'Damn', she avoided his gaze. With the corner of her eye she saw he was working again at his console. Her eyes again ran over him. He had this strong dark hair, a girl could grab it in the edge of pleasure…
Rhade was smiling to himself. He had longed for the scent of an aroused female and now that scent had hit his senses with the force of a tidal wave. It was surprisingly pleasant and arousing to know that it was for him. It wasn’t hard to notice her glances towards him.
Tyr was checking the weapons when he was aware of a very well known smell. It could only come from her. He felt a wave of rage when he watched her devouring the other nietzschean with her gaze.
"Beka!" he roared.
Beka awaked abruptly of her daydream "What!?"
"I suggest you pay more attention to your job. I don't want you jeopardizing our survival because you are distracted." Then he looked at Rhade, furious "And as First Officer you should watch her."
"I don't think our survival is compromised but it's true you are…distracted" His eyes met hers playfully. "I agree with Tyr, I'll watch you…carefully" His swift was over so he got out leaving behind him a furious Tyr and a blushing Beka.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was the right thing to do, Gaheris knew it. In minutes they would destroy one hundred thousand nietzschean ships. They had to do it, for History, for the Future. However it didn't alleviate the guilt he felt. Somehow his heart didn't hear the logic of his mind. He thought he hated his own race but it was still his race.
Tyr’s voice broke his solitude. "My people have a legend about the Battle of Witchhead. They say that the nietzschean forces arrived here with overwhelming numbers. Their victory seemed assured but then, in the critical hour, the Angel of Death appeared summoning forth the fires of hell. The nietzschean fleet was struck down, crippled, their glorious victory turned to ashes."
From this moment Gaheris felt the time passing like a blurred nightmare. He heard Dylan giving the order and he closed his eyes. A brilliant flash of death crossed his lids and the voice of thousands nietzscheans screamed through his veins.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You are the last person on this ship I expected to be so calm." Tyr's voice was full of venom. Gaheris just stared out the window in Obs.
"How do you feel being the most despicable traitor to your blood?" That made Rhade snap.
"Traitor?" he turned to face Tyr "Allow me to inform you about a couple things about our people. We were a great race, our destiny was to reach perfection but WE screwed up everything when we betrayed the Commonwealth. And for what? Now we are a group of prides too busy destroying ourselves" Their faces were now inches apart "You have never known the true nietzschean race."
Tyr's eyes were burning with cold fury as he stormed out. Rhade turned again to watch the stars. He couldn't blame Tyr, he had not known the Commonwealth and the nietzscheans before the Great Darkness. His pride had been annihilated by the Drago-Kazov pride and he looked for revenge. Tyr was furiously nietzschean, at least what he thought it was to be nietzschean. However they came from different times and that concept was not the same for Gaheris.
Her scent broke his reflections. Then he heard her footsteps in the corridor towards him.
"Rebecca…"
She stood next to him, staring out into space "I just wanted to know how you were doing." He didn't answer, instead breathed deeply, allowing her presence to calm him like a balm on a wound. She misinterpreted his lack of communication, "I understand, you want to be alone." She turned to leave but his hand on her arm stopped her.
"Please stay" He took her hand in his "Your presence comforts me. There are so many things I need to say…"
"About?" she felt the warmth of his hand as he caressed her palm. She was aware of the strong reaction of her body to this mere brush, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath caught in her throat. His hands felt so good, so gentle and yet so strong.
"About my people, about me…" 'About you' he heard a tiny voice in his mind. He gazed at her intently, his eyes two pools of warmth. "Another day." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
Beka stayed stunned as he left the room, the feeling of his lips spreading over all her skin.
Chapter 3: Goodbye
Dylan had sent the message to Sarah through the black hole. It was supposed to be a goodbye, a kind of 'look to the future' attitude but he felt as if his heart had been ripped to pieces. He got to Command, trying to mask the emptiness that his feelings mirrored over his face.
Harper turned looking at him nervously "Uh Dylan. We got something freaky going on here."
"I'm afraid to ask" He had no patience at this moment for unreadable scientific trivialities.
"It's all very exciting. We seem to be receiving a signal from the black hole" Hohne spoke, his perseid blue features tensed with emotion.
Dylan's head jerked up "That's impossible. Nothing comes out of a singularity"
Harper smiled weakly "You want impossible? Listen to this"
Dylan looked in astonishment at the image of Sara, HIS Sara, on the screen. "Dylan, I'm receiving your message. What's your status? Can you hear me? Dylan I'm receiving your message. What's your status? Can you…" The image fuzzed out. Dylan stayed, his eyes glued to the screen. Then he reacted.
"Sara!" He faced Harper "You get that signal back! Get it back right now!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"It's good to see you again Khalid" Rhade watched his nietzschean friend. He was on command while Dylan was in his office talking to Sara. He would’ve liked to speak in private as well but he had to stay in command. Besides, the communication link between the Andromeda and the Starry Wisdom could break easily.
"It's good to see you too, Rhade. When we didn't find you among the survivors, we thought you would be dead…or worse" Ismael Khalid sighed.
"I suppose when you say worse, you mean 'traitor'" Gaheris answered, his jaw clenched. He didn't like that anyone made such an insinuation, especially in front of Tyr and Rebecca. "Well, I assure you I'm not a traitor"
"I know." Khalid sighed again "But there are so many people we both know that we never imagined were traitors"
"What about our pride?" Rhade asked
"It's loyal to the Commonwealth. One of few"
"Do you have some news about my family?" He felt a lump in his throat.
Khalid smiled "The last time I saw them they were fine. Your wives and children are with your fathers. Ana gave birth to a girl and Maria will do too soon. A boy."
Gaheris felt the pride flooding him and he smiled. "Ismael, watch over them please. I know I can trust you with my life"
A shadow of sadness crossed Khalid’s face. He knew it was impossible he’d see Rhade again but he would care for his family as if it was his. "I will, I promise. Goodbye Gaheris."
"Goodbye Ismael" Rhade stood there looking at the empty screen. He didn't tell Khalid that he missed his family, that the thing he wanted most at this moment was to hold his new daughter and see his new son when he would be born. But he had seen in the eyes of his friend that he’d understood it all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka’s mind repeated the conversation between Gaheris and the nietzschean officer of the Starry Wisdom. 'Wives' she thought 'wives and children…'
Some times she forgot that Gaheris was nietzschean.
If there was someone who she saw as the typical nietzschean it was Tyr. However Tyr didn't have any wives, at least that she knew of. On the other hand Gaheris, who was more talkative and approachable than Tyr, had wives and children! She couldn't say why suddenly the word "wives" irritated her so much.
She looked at him briefly. He was working on his console as if nothing concerned him but his body was tense and his jaw clenched. He gazed at her and she saw the sadness in his eyes before he turned to his work again. Beka felt the impulse to hold him and comfort him. She shook her head as she brought her attention back to her duty.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later Tyr was in his room watching the computer. After what he had heard on Command and seeing the archives about Rhade, he began to understand his attitude when he supported Dylan at Witchhead. If there was something Tyr understood, it was loyalty to the pride and the family.
Majorum pride, Gaheris’ pride, had been the most loyal nietzschean ally of the Commonwealth, one of the few that stayed with the Commonwealth when the war began. After the war it had seemed that the pride had disappeared.
The family of Rhade was powerful and esteemed in the pride. Gaheris had five wives and eight children, probably ten if the news was true. Somehow he and Gaheris had something in common: both had lost their pride and family. Maybe he could be an ally after all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gaheris lay on his bed thinking how cruel the universe could be. He had watched how the hopes of Dylan of being with Sara vanished. Finally Harper had brought his friend back to the Andromeda. The conversation with Khalid and Dylan’s face when he had said goodbye to Sara had made Gaheris understand better what Dylan had told him about love so many times.
Now he thought of his family and realized he missed his first wife, Maria, more than the others. He remembered how hard it had been to win her. She didn't want just a man with good DNA, she wanted a man who knew her, who proved himself worthy of the titles of husband and father. She was strong, confident and very stubborn. 'Like Rebecca.' he thought.
He must tell them goodbye too and face the future.
Chapter 4: So bigmouth…
Finally Dylan and Beka had come back from Miden with Tyr. Dylan had told Gaheris about the crate Tyr had brought with him and Rhade had his suspicions about its content.
He was in command with Beka. He watched her. She was very distracted and this time Gaheris could swear it was not because of him. He could almost hear her mind murmuring.
"Gaheris." She was looking at him now.
"Yes, Beka?"
"You know about the crate Tyr has had since Miden?" She arched her eyebrows.
"Yes." he smirked at her curiosity.
"Tyr told me that it has something that has belonged to him all along" She frowned "You’re nietzschean."
He couldn't help but laugh "Last time I checked I was"
"Ha ha very funny Rhade. I mean, if you are nietzschean you must know what Tyr means, shouldn't you?"
He fixed his eyes on hers. Those eyes were dangerous, he thought, a man could swim and drown in them. It would be interesting to explore them when she was happy, sad, aroused…
"Gaheris?" She was waving her hand in front his face.
'Caught' he thought "All I could make are mere assumptions, Rebecca."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After his shift Gaheris headed to Tyr's room. 'Something that belongs to him' Beka’s words echoed in his mind. So Tyr had taken the mummified remains of Drago Museveni from the Dragans. He pressed the door button and they opened. He heard Tyr inviting him to enter. He had never seen his room before. There were books on a shelf. He easily identified the authors: Museveni, Nietzsche, Machiavelli and Darwin. He had similar books. However Tyr’s room was much more spartan than his.
"I know you have the remains of the Progenitor" It would be stupid to beat about the bush with that.
"I see Beka went straight off and told you" Tyr smiled mocking.
"This is not about Beka" Rhade said.
"And what are you going to do with that information?" Tyr asked in his deepest dangerous voice.
"I understand it's rightfully yours" Gaheris continued as if he hadn't heard him.
"So you support me?" Tyr arched his eyebrows, surprised.
Gaheris approached him and gazed him directly in his eyes "Don't misunderstand me Tyr. I'm nietzschean and I'm not stupid. I prefer the remains stay with you instead the Dragans but listen carefully: if you put this ship or this crew in danger you'll regret it."
"Are you threatening me Rhade?" Tyr features were as hard as stone.
"Yes" With that Rhade left the room.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tyr was reading, enjoying the quiet of the Command. He was alone with Beka and Rhade on the ship. The others were looking for an AP solenoid valve. Apart from having to manually vent the ship it was pleasant. There were no comments from Dylan , Trance’s giggles or Harper’s laughs. Tyr knew Rhade enjoyed the silence too but there was an unbearable noise. He looked at Beka and she stopped her drumming on the armchair.
"It's too quiet here" she smirked.
"All right" Maybe Beka could learn something from Nietzsche. He began to read "We are born sworn, jealous friends of solitude. Of our own deepest, most midnight, most mid-day solitude"
Beka watched him thoughtfully "You know Tyr, some people think you are selfish because you're always reading, lifting and exercising. But I think you're just always trying to improve yourself. I never had that luxury"
Rhade moved uneasily at his console. He didn't like the admiring tone of her voice towards the other Alpha or Tyr’s patronizing.
"You've been too busy surviving. I respect that. Still there is a great deal Nietzsche could teach you"
"Such as?" she asked, her eyes fixed in Tyr. Gaheris watched her and clenched his fists.
"Survival." Tyr answered.
"Got it covered. What else?" She insisted. Rhade knew the answer and he was not going to like it.
"Reproduction" Tyr fixed his brown eyes on Beka. Then both heard the deep growl coming from Gaheris.
"What was that?" Beka asked boring him with his blue gaze.
Gaheris watched her with an unreadable expression. Then he looked at Tyr in challenge. Tyr held his gaze.
"Nothing" Rhade finally growled.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka walked towards the Gym, confusion and rage running through her veins. First that crap on command. What the hell was that growl from Rhade? She was talking to Tyr and suddenly the two nietzscheans were acting as if they wanted to cut the other's throat.
Then Tyr invites her to dinner. Obs was lighted with candles, he was cooking and it actually smelt wonderful. They were having a pleasant dinner. Even Beka had begun to think that Tyr was flirting with her. But then she recalled the last piece of conversation
"Are you saying that you could never be interested in a human woman?" She couldn't believe he was so narrow-minded.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying" He answered.
"Not in a million years?" she felt humiliated.
"Never" he simply said as a matter of fact.
She got up and leaned over him, her mouth inches apart from his. She saw him looking at her lips and swallowing hard and she smiled seductively.
"Tyr, on behalf of human women everywhere, I'm insulted" she stormed out.
Beka often had fantasized about screwing Tyr senseless but when she reached the Gym she just wanted to reduce his head and other parts of his anatomy to pulp. She was so furious that she didn't see Gaheris training with an extended force lance. She rushed to the sack and she began to workout bare-handed.
"Beka." She heard Gaheris’ voice, which usually calmed her, like an offensive buzzing. She didn't answer, mumbling between punches "Fucking ubbers, all the same, let's go all to hell…"
"Rebecca…" he insisted. She felt his warm hand on her shoulder and she turned abruptly.
"WHAT!?"
He stayed with his perfect calm façade, just an eyebrow slightly arched "I think you can vent whatever disturbs you with some less painful exercise."
She trained her eyes on him "Oh, now you care about what happens to a mere human?" she asked sarcastically.
He sighed deeply and took her hand. He nodded to it and she saw blood on her bruised knuckles "Maybe you’d find it more interesting to fight with an actual person. And you can learn something" He threw her another force lance.
So he wanted to fight. It was the opportunity to kick some nietzschean ass and for a pissed Beka it didn't matter if it was Rhade instead Tyr. She extended the force lance. Soon though she realized it wasn't so easy. Her fury didn't help to concentrate and she didn't have the years of training of Gaheris. Besides he was stronger and faster, even faster than Tyr. Finally she was on the floor, trying to recover her breath. Rhade had the force lances in both hands, aiming to her chest. He closed them and offered her a hand.
"I don't need help! Get out!" She struggled and finally stood up.
"Care to share why you are in such mood, Beka?" She heard the concern in his voice and at that moment it angered her more.
"Don't talk to me in that tone Rhade!"
He frowned. "What tone?"
"That tone that screams 'I'm superior to you, pitiful human'" She felt fear when his face mirrored the rage burning inside him, but her tongue seemed to work before her brain "I thought you were different than Tyr but all nietzschean are the same, fucking ubbers!"
He towered over her, suddenly he seemed larger than life "Rebecca, never put a label on me" His voice was menacing but his eyes expressed his hurt." I suggest you stay away from me." He stormed out.
Beka fell to the floor. Oh boy, why did she have to have such a big mouth? Why did she always think after she spoke? Gaheris hadn't deserved that. She had hurt him and now she felt like crying.
Chapter 5: On the beach
Gaheris sat straight up in bed struggling to breathe. His shorts and the sheet were soaked and his erection was still pulsating. He cursed in every language he knew. He got up and took a shower. He changed his sheets and lay on his back, prepared for another night without rest.
Since his fight with Beka, a week ago, he had had the same insane dream every night. It always began wonderfully and ended in disaster. Every time he was on his back, unable to move. Rebecca was straddling him, her head leaning back, her eyes closed and his eager maleness impaling her. Whereas her body was blurred, a mixture of the women he had laid with, her face was crystal clear. His world was reduced to the sensation of her, riding him. When he felt his shaft bursting into flames she always opened her eyes and her cold blue matched with her words "All nietzscheans are the same". She repeated this over and over, but her pace became frenzied and he exploded. Then he woke up.
After that he lay on the bed until the hour of his shift, wondering if he had done something to offend Beka in some way. However Gaheris knew that she was furious with Tyr and she had just vented to him instead of Tyr. At that point his mind went wild with images of Tyr and Beka together. He stayed there, night after night, trying to exorcise those images from his mind.
When he and Beka were in the same room he even didn't look at her. He didn't want her to notice how much she had hurt him. They barely knew each other, how could she hurt him so much? Gaheris missed not only speaking with her but also watching her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dylan was telling Rhade about the incident on Mobius. He thought Gaheris would find it interesting how a peaceful architect could become a psychotic dictator. Besides their first mission together had been on that planet. But it was obvious his friend’s mind was on another matter. Gaheris had dark circles under his eyes and his mouth was crooked in a grimace.
"So I realized I love the Great Compass and I asked him to marry me" Dylan said casually. "What do you think?"
"Hmm yes, I think it is fine" Rhade absently replied.
Dylan burst out laughing. "Have you heard a thing that I’ve said?"
Gaheris rubbed his eyes "To tell you the truth I lost you at Trance and a button"
Dylan watched him concerned "What happen to you? You look awful"
"I have had some trouble sleeping"
"Care to share or must I ask Andromeda?"
"That's not necessary" The last thing he needed was to discuss his erotic dreams about Beka.
"So…" Dylan waited for his answer.
"Just a misunderstanding with Beka" He replied.
"And that misunderstanding has nothing to do with the way you watch her?" Dylan asked arching his eyebrows.
Rhade looked at him intently "I don't watch her in any way"
"Of course, and I'm the First Triumvir" Dylan replied "Come on, Rhade, you are attracted to her"
Gaheris looked at him for a moment, then sighed "I…I'm…I…"
Dylan laughed "I've never heard you stammer. You have a thing for her!"
Gaheris rubbed the back of his neck and sighed again "I suppose you are right. When you were with Trance and the others on Mobius something happened between Beka and Tyr. She came to the gym, I was there training. She was furious with him, I don't know why. We trained for a while and then she yelled at me and told me I was like other nietzscheans. I lost my patience."
"So she was pissed with Tyr and took it out on you."
Dylan thought about what Gaheris had told him. He was surprised that Rhade admitted his attraction to Beka. Before the Long Night seeing a nietzschean with a human had not been so unusual, however Gaheris had been raised in a pride. He had to learn the human way if he wanted something with Beka, the usual macho alpha display didn't work on her. The other problem was Tyr. Dylan was also aware of the way Tyr looked at Beka. It could be dangerous to have two nietzschean alphas fighting for the same woman.
"You’ve got to talk to her to resolve this problem." Dylan finally spoke
"I'm not the one who has to apologize" Rhade replied defensively.
"I'm not talking about apologizing, I'm just saying you're not going to resolve anything staying here"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After some complicated negotiations on Sinti Four the Perseids finally joined the New Commonwealth. Trance and Harper had arrived to Andromeda bringing with them Hasturi's diary, even though that was not their mission. Dylan thought it was a good opportunity to give a break to the crew.
Of course Tyr said something about making the most of his time. He took a slipfighter and told Dylan he would be back in a few days. The others, except for Rev Bem who stayed on Andromeda meditating, went in the Maru to enjoy the sun and beach on Sinti Four. They landed near a calm beach with some restaurants around.
Dylan was walking with Rommie along the beach, Harper was teaching Trance to surf and Beka was changing her clothes in the Maru. Gaheris had chosen a quiet place on the beach. He wore just swimming shorts. He lay on the sand on his elbows with his back to the sea to face the sun. He closed his eyes as the sand caressed his skin. Then he caught her scent.
As Gaheris laid his eyes on her he knew he was lost. He swallowed hard, blessing whoever had made those little pieces of fabric which she called a bikini. Two blue triangles barely covering two rounded mounds, another one hiding the apex between her glorious long legs. Soft curved hips, flat stomach with a tempting hollow as navel, slender arms and a delicate column as neck. All covered in a soft creamy skin that every sane man would want to taste. The view of her body put all his fantasies to shame. Beka stood before him smiling.
"May I join you?"
Gaheris felt his mouth suddenly go dry, his loins stirring…and when the hell had he spread his bone blades? "Of course" he managed to answer.
She sat facing him.
"Gaheris, hmm…look, I'm sorry, you know, the gym. I was an ass. I'm really sorry, I'm…" she stammered.
"No need to apologize Rebecca."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Beka took a bottle of sun block from her bag and poured some in her hands. She spread it along her legs, her stomach, her arms and the exposed parts of her chest. She felt Gaheris’ eyes on her. He was watching her with lust. She smiled mischievously "Could you do my back please?"
"It would be a pleasure Rebecca." he answered as he emphasized the word 'pleasure'
She lay on her stomach over her towel and laid her head on her arms. He straddled her ass supporting his weight on his legs, not wanting to crush her. He untied her bikini top and poured some lotion in his hands, first massaging her lower back. Beka soon realized it was more a sensual display then a mere favour. His hands were soft yet strong and they sent shivers through her body. If he could do this just on her back what it would be to feel those hands all over her body, she thought between moans. 'Hey, you're moaning, get a grip Valentine'.
Gaheris' hands continued his erotic dance over her back. He took her words literally massaging every bit of creamy flesh he found. He got to her feet and kneaded her legs. Finally his hands ran down both sides of her slender body, slightly brushing the exposed sides of her breasts.
"Done" he said as he lay on his towel.
Beka stayed there for a moment, very aware of her arousal. She was about to tie the top of her bikini when she found that he had done it. On his side Gaheris had noticed his mistake too late. After touching her nearly naked body, his own was on fire and his manhood was throbbing dangerously.
"Now it's your turn" he heard her.
"What?"
"You need lotion too or you’ll burn. I'll do your back. It's only fair." She smiled seductively.
Rhade would kill himself before telling her that he didn't need sunblock, he wanted the feeling of those hands on him so he turned on his stomach, exposing his expansive back to her. Beka licked her lips watching all that muscled male flesh at her mercy. It was her turn to straddle his tight butt, however she had no remorse when she settled her weight over him. He barely noticed it but he could feel their bodies separated just with thin fabric. Her hands were sending electric jolts through his body as she rubbed him. He stretched his back at the stimuli, his muscles rippling under her soft magic hands. He didn't fight against the soft growls flowing from his throat.
Beka noticed the growls deepened as she spread more lotion along his strong legs.
"If you turn over I'll do your chest" she murmured in his ear, her breasts slightly splayed over his upper back. She stood up as he turned to lie on his back. She gave a brief gaze to the evident bulge of his shorts before she straddled his hips. He gasped as she pressed her lower body against him.
As Rebecca began to work over his chest, it became more difficult for Gaheris to think clearly. He tried unsuccessfully to take some control over his responses, he didn't want to give her all the fun so easily. However he felt the blood slowly abandoning his head and flooding to other parts. It didn't help the view of her tempting nipples outlined against her top or that intoxicating scent of hers.
Beka was having the time of her life outlining that chiselled pecs, splaying her hands over that broad abs, all hard muscles rippling under her ministrations. It was really a turn on and she was hot as hell. She was too well aware of what was quickly growing and hardening against her, pressing between the sensitive flesh of her legs. Her mind wandered around the things she had heard about the nietzschean male's measures. From what she was feeling it must be more than true, she thought. She looked at his face and found his heavy gaze trained on her. That typical smirk of him played on his lips but his eyes were dark from restrained desire.
She leaned over him to rub his shoulders. Then she continued with his left arm and she watched his forearm thoughtfully.
"You know, I've never seen a nietzschean without the armbands"
His eyes never left hers as he spread the bone blades. Somehow Beka suspected it was some kind of sexual display. She began to stroke the soft skin between the bone blades and he growled deeply.
"You shouldn't do that unless you want to arouse me." He smiled playfully looking where their bodies met "And you don't want that, do you Rebecca?"
She blushed slightly but she continued her strokes "Meaning?"
"That's an erogenous zone" he answered factually.
She laughed "You’re kidding, your bone blades an erogenous zone?"
"Not the bone blades, just the skin around them" he watched her intently.
Then both heard a cough. Dylan and Rommie were watching them with surprise painted over their faces.
"Enjoying the beach?" Dylan asked with arched eyebrows.
Beka felt her face turn red as she tried to stand up but Gaheris held her hips firmly against him "I was…I just…sunblock…" her voice trailed off. Dylan couldn't believe that he’d seen the day when Beka was at a loss for words. However Gaheris had the face of a child in a candy shop.
"Nietzscheans don't need…" Rommie began as Gaheris gave her a deadly glare.
"We have much to discuss Rommie." Dylan interrupted her as he pulled her away. "Let's go."
Gaheris lost his grip on her hips. Beka crossed her arms and glared at him. "What was that Rhade? Why didn't you let me up?"
He sat up with her still astride him, their faces inches apart. "You know why, Rebecca." His voice washed over her, his thumb caressed her bottom lip and her jaw. His eyes never left hers. She was mesmerized by his gaze and his gentle touch. He took her hand and kissed it.
"It would be a pleasure if you joined me for dinner." he murmured.
"Done." Beka heard herself answering. 'What a charming answer Valentine' she thought sarcastically.
"Now stand up please. I need a long cold bath" He smiled "I'll see you on the Maru at 08:00, agreed?" He didn't wait for her answer as he went towards the sea.