0 comments/ 9630 views/ 0 favorites Keep Them Burning Ch. 3-5 By: tigerprawn Summary: Season 2 episode Home Fires rewritten from the point of view of the TUM universe. Gaheris Rhade gets to meet his descendant Telemachus, and then must chose between letting Telemachus take the blame for a crime he didnt commit or rebuilding the Commonwealth he helped to destory 300 years ago! Pairing: G.Rhade/Beka Valentine HET Spoilers: Only if you havent seen Home Fires (season 2) or The Unconquerable Man (season 3) *** 3) Isolation The ship seemed full of people from the planet making repairs, some over due, to many of the ships systems. Rakel had been very helpful Gaheris thought as they walked through the corridor with her trying to convince him to make a speech on Terazed backing the referendum, but he still wasn't too sure. "I don't think your people would really care what I have to say? I'm nothing more than a stranger here." It sounded strange saying it with his descendants running around on the planet below, but it was still the truth in many ways. "You're much more than that, captain. You're a legend. And, uh, if I may be so bold, an extremely charismatic and attractive individual. Who better to champion this referendum?" Gaheris considered her words for a moment, she was trying to persuade him with flattery, a political manoeuvre, despite that it still made him grin. "Why do we even need to do this? I thought the outcome was assured." He was curious as to what her answer might be, hoping to get to the part where she would admit there were deeper issues here. "The truth is, there's a strong isolationist movement on Terazed. We have a good life here and some people don't want to send their sons and daughters away to die in your war." Gaheris huffed and raised an eyebrow at the stupidity of her statement and more so of the isolationists, they would achieve nothing but death. "Well, then the war will come to them." "Then you have to tell them that, Gaheris. Because right now the election is too close to call and I could use your help." Gaheris still wasn't convinced. He wanted to rebuild the Commonwealth but every step seemed to hold new challenges that were starting to bother him, the stupidity of so many people resisting... these isolationists were just the same as so many others... he was almost getting sick of trying to help people now, when there were so many that refused to be helped, to learn from the mistakes of the past. But he wasn't sick enough of it yet. *** Gaheris made his speech with no small amount of passion. It felt like his last chance on Terazed, the planet would be an important asset to the Commonwealth, if the outcome was good. If not it was just another planet waiting for the Magog, there seemed so many of them now. After his speech was over he headed from the room, the applause behind him didn't make the situation feel any less desperate. He was getting tired of failing, his personal quest was becoming just that; personal. "Nicely done, Captain. Your speech was very impressive." Gaheris looked over at Admiral Rhade, still a little put off by his mirror image he tried a formally pleasant smile. "Thank you. But I am a soldier not a politician." Gaheris stated. Seeing his smile returned was unsettling, a man with his face, his body, his genes... his smile. They continued to make their way to the lounge. "Don't underestimate your powers as a leader." Telemachus smiled, pausing slightly to add "Do you have a moment?" Gaheris was still side-tracked by the situation, his genetic reincarnation. The memory of his friendship and betrayal of Captain Hunt flashed into his mind. He was a leader because he betrayed and killed his best friend. His Nietzschean mentality allowed for it, but seeing the devastation his actions caused, the future he helped create, the regret went far beyond Dylan Hunt. And now here was a man just like him... would he betray as inconsiderately of consequence? "Captain. I asked if you wanted a drink." "I suspect you wanted to ask more than that." There was definitely something hidden about this man, information he wanted but for some reason was hesitant in asking. Telemachus looked at Gaheris for a moment, there were things he wanted to know about the past, about the events that had lead to the founding of the Terazed civilisations and Gaheris' role in them. He cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow a little as he began. "Here on Terazed, you are something of a hero - a loyal Commonwealth officer, only survivor of that first terrible battle... But the Nietzscheans tell a different story. That you betrayed the Commonwealth. That you were a spy who served a key role in the Nietzschean rebellion." Gaheris gritted his teeth. His own judgment was bad enough, without the judgement of others as well, entitled to it as they might be. Gaheris looked coldly into the Admiral's eyes. "I acted as any Nietzschean would have. I tried to warn him, Hunt I mean. No matter what you may think of me, I tried to warn him about the rebellion, and by the time he listened, it was too late." Gaheris spat the words angrily, angry at himself for not seeing the consequences before acting, angry at Dylan for not understanding until there was no turning back. He looked back to Telemachus who was nodding slightly. "Yes, as any Nietzschean would." He considered the words, a little too long for Gaheris' comfort, then smiled a little. "So you were a hero after all." For a moment Gaheris couldn't tell whether or not Telemachus was being sarcastic but then the man bowed his head a little in reverence. "As part of your lineage... that means a lot to me. Thank you. I just wish we weren't on opposite sides." Though he had not expected such a reaction, Gaheris found little comfort in his words, being considered a hero by his people was something that no longer held so much honour for him. His actions so seemingly right at the time were marred by the aftermath – that stopped him from being a hero. As Telemachus finished speaking Gaheris frowned, not sure he quite understood the man's meaning, or perhaps a little afraid that he did. "Opposite sides of what?" He asked, though not sure he wanted the clarification, he could feel the sense of foreboding in the air. "I thought you knew. I'm opposed to the Commonwealth referendum." Gaheris drew in a deep breath at the Admiral's words. Maybe it wasn't quite what he had expected, but surely this was the betrayal by Rhade that came with the repeating of history. The rest of the conversation passed in a blur. Gaheris using his same old arguments, the Magog threat that he was leaving his people open to, something he was getting a little tired of having to explain to people. "We're still here after three hundred years. Because we haven't let the chaos out there touch us. Because no one knows we exist. You have powerful enemies, Captain." "So do you, Admiral. The Magog are coming. You can't deny them out of existence." Gaheris raised his voice, unable to keep back the anger behind his usual calm, to accept the stupidity he saw before him and call it Rhade. He had been worried about being betrayed, but really he should have worried that his lineage was corrupt. Betraying him would have been Nietzschean, unfortunate but almost acceptable... this stupidity left him cold. "No, but I can keep us out of their crosshairs. I'm sorry. It's my duty to protect Terazed and I'm not going to let anyone compromise that." Telemachus kept his voice calm, adding those few words before he left the room. Gaheris stood, taking a moment to consider. Rhade was a fool, he could not see that the best way to protect Terazed, his family, his Pride, was to join the Commonwealth and fight the Magog threat before it even reached the planet. Gaheris placed a hand to his head, a pain had begun behind his eyes. This whole encounter at Terazed was taking its toll. A moment of reckoning he felt. A very long drawn out moment with as much indescribable pain and anger that could possibly be fit in. *** Gaheris sat in his quarters, his head in his hands as the music played softly. He tried to find some answers in his mind, but clouds of questioning were thrown up instead. "Gaheris open the door." He heard Beka's voice over the speakers, unaware she had been knocking at his door, he silenced the music and let the doors open. She came in and greeted him with a smile, handing him a flexi. "I've been talking to Rommie... they have huge armament stockpiles, dozens of shrike fighters just sitting in hangars. Janus light attack drones, Oracles, Centaurs... Rommie is hoping for a new crew." Beka took a seat opposite Gaheris and frowned. "Please... tell me what it is... Rhade again?" Gaheris looked at her sharply and then away again, giving a slight nod before getting to his feet and walking to the window. "He is the leader of the isolationists." "What!" Beka didn't get to her feet but she turned to look at the man, his back to her. "But..." She shrugged and sighed a little in confusion. "I thought the Nietzscheans would be all for getting at the Magog... I mean, isn't that what it was all about..." Beka stopped herself, thumping her hand on to her knee silently, now was not the best time to point out that the reason the Nietzscheans wanted to bring down the Commonwealth was because of the treaty with the Magog. "uh... I just guessed they would want to be part of the fight." They hadn't had much luck with any Nietzscheans yet, but then that was mostly down to Gaheris truth be told... but Terazed was different it was Commonwealth in many respects... not just some random Pride picking off the bones of its neighbours. These were Nietzscheans living alongside Human and Than... and whoever else... they really were Commonwealth. And they didn't want to take the fight to the Magog, they wanted to hide as best they could. She shook her head. "I'm sorry Gaheris, this must be hard for you." She had hesitated to say it even knowing it was the truth. They weren't just Commonwealth, they weren't just Nietzschean, they were his people. His lineage. He turned back to her, covering the distance between them in a few easy strides and crouching down beside her. "You make it easier." He told her quietly. Beka smiled, moving over and pulling him onto the couch beside her. He sat back in the seat, exhausted and let the woman slip into his arms. "I want you here... always." He hadn't meant to say it out loud. She didn't answer, but ran a hand under his tunic, holding it against his warm chest. He sighed and closed his eyes. Beka frowned at his words, seeking to reassure him without having to speak. This trip was becoming hard on him, she wanted to be there for him. In fact she didn't realise quite how much until she had talked to Rev, and he had mentioned how the Nietzscheans here were the closest they would get to those that Gaheris missed. Not this new generation of fools like Tyr, as Gaheris had once said himself. Part of her was scared of losing him to them, that he might find a more suitable woman and she would no longer be necessary, it was only just occurring to her that that was something she didn't want to happen. In some ways she was thankful for Telemachus Rhade, as long as he continued to disappoint Gaheris' expectations he would not want to seek out the Nietzscheans of Terazed and recover his old Pride. She moved her hand further up his chest, pressing into him, wanting him close. "I'm here now... that counts right?" She smiled. He ran a hand through her hair. After a moments peace, his fingers still threaded in her hair, Gaheris started to pull his other hand up her thigh when Rommie's holo-image flickered into life in front of them, reminding Gaheris of the need to make privacy mode automatic anytime Beka entered his quarters. "What is it?" He asked, sitting forward, forcing Beka to sit also. "The election results just came in.... Rhade, they voted against your restored Commonwealth. We lost." Gaheris felt suddenly aware that the two women were looking at him. Waiting for his reaction. He shook his head and sneered a little. "That's just great." He got out, the anger evident in his voice. 4) Rhade's betrayal "Gaheris please, just..." She had wanted to say calm down, but in many ways he actually was calm, maybe it was just that she knew him so well she could see it all bubbling below the surface. It had been ten minutes since the results were announced and he had just spent the last eight barking orders at Rommie to get the ship prepped to leave. Now that the ship's holo-image had disappeared Beka placed a hand on Gaheris' shoulder. "I know it's a set back... Terazed would have been..." She could tell he was only half listening to her and she couldn't blame him, there was nothing she could say that would change what happened. The one planet that already had what it was they were all striving to achieve would not be part of their efforts, though she suspected that what hurt most of all was that the person who held a lot of the responsibility for that in his eyes was Telemachus Rhade. Gaheris wheeled on her, looking her sharply in the eyes. "He betrayed me Beka." He let his shoulders drop a little as he sighed and walked into Beka, resting his forehead down onto her shoulder. "I'm just starting to get sick of trying... And now Nietzscheans... always Nietzscheans." He spoke the words in a low, whispered growl. He knew it was only a matter of time before things came to blows between him and Tyr, who was obviously moving his plans on a pace now that the casket was aboard, though Gaheris was sure the man had no idea that he knew what was in there. Tyr wasn't a match for him, none of these *new* Nietzscheans were... but then he had hoped.... If in this whole universe Nietzscheans would live up to his expectations they would be on Terazed, a place still holding true to the Commonwealth ideals. But he knew better as soon as he saw a Rhade amongst them, and now it would seem he was playing true to new Nietzschean form. Beka ran a hand up Gaheris' back, finishing up massaging the hair at the back of his neck, pulling her other arm around him. She didn't have anything to say that could possibly make the situation better. "So we're just going to leave?" She asked, not as a criticism but to make sure it was really what he wanted to do. Gaheris straightened up and stepped back, setting his jaw and recovering his composure, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on Beka's forehead, he took her hands in his as they dropped away from his shoulders. "If they will not join us there is no point in staying, they are doomed, we are best not to go down with them." He stated it calmly, little energy left to show emotion. Beka frowned at him, such a Nietzschean statement, and even if she didn't totally agree, he was right. They would do no good in staying, they were better off seeking out new worlds to join the Commonwealth, build up something substantial against the Magog threat that Terazed was choosing to ignore. She gave a slight reassuring smile and nodded. "Whatever you think best Captain." *** Rakel exasperated him. She was a powerful woman but that didn't mean she could keep control. Right now all he wanted was her off the ship and the Andromeda under way. She was still trying to convince him to stay, even to talk to Rhade, but the situation was beyond saving – even so the pointlessly circular conversations had continued, her political colours shining through as she tried to persuade him that she could call for another election. But he had already decided, as soon as they were ready and all the Terazed technicians were off-ship, they would be underway. Gaheris bounced the ball, slamming it as hard as he could into the deck each time. He had never really understood Dylan's love of the game, it wasn't as mentally challenging as Go, and he would rather spar than exert physical energy in such a game as basketball. Even so he found himself increasingly coming to the basketball court, such as it was, to work off his frustrations, many of which were tied to his past, his betrayal of his best friend. Maybe this was something he needed to work through, this and the hours he spent sitting at his Go table, thinking. Remembering during those quiet times what he had done. He bounced the ball a couple more times, gritting his teeth as he remembered the times he had watched Dylan in here, the time he had come to talk about being his best-man.... With a grunt Gaheris jumped up with the ball as he had seen Dylan do many a time, but he misjudged the jump and the ball struck the rim, sending a flash of pain down into his wrist. Yelling angrily he found his feet again as the ball dropped to the floor and rolled away. "I didn't realise this "basketball" was so violent. Perhaps there is a more productive way to express your disappointment." Rev said as he entered almost unnoticed. Gaheris turned and looked at the Magog before retrieving the ball and rolling it over in his hands. "You think I should talk to Admiral Rhade." It wasn't a question, and Gaheris found it almost too difficult to acknowledge. He looked back to Rev again. "I came here to think, not to be counselled.... I'm not going to talk to him!" He added the last as he caught Rev's look, wanting to cut him off before he began to reason with him, though he was sure that no matter what he said he would hear Rev's opinion anyway. Rev nodded thoughtfully, steepling his fingers as he considered Gaheris with an unwavering look. "Why? ... Because you betrayed your captain?" Rev looked candidly at Gaheris. He wanted to draw a reaction from the man instead of allowing him to internalise things as he always seemed to. He wasn't stupid, in fact it seemed obvious to the entire crew that much of Gaheris' reaction to the Terazed situation was tied up in his encounter with his descendant. Perhaps, Rev reasoned, it was a reaction to the Terazed Nietzscheans as well, given Gaheris' past behaviour. Gaheris seemed to have convinced himself that these *new* Nietzscheans like Tyr had squandered the opportunity given them. On Terazed the Nietzscheans weren't part of this, they were remnants of the old Commonwealth in many ways and Rev thought Gaheris might even be intimidated by it. By being judged by them perhaps, and if there was anyway past this, not just Gaheris' personal issues but the issue of Terazed and the Commonwealth, it was through talking to Telemachus Rhade. Gaheris starred coldly at Rev, his words biting at him. He had betrayed Dylan, and he knew, had even told Beka, that he didn't trust Telemachus because of their similarities, because of what he might do in the man's place. He frowned, the muscle in his jaw flexing. "No Rev... I won't talk to him because he betrayed me. He's campaigning against the restored Commonwealth...." He knew Rev already had command of that fact, but he had to give his reasons, maybe Rev would see that he was taking it personally whether it was meant that way or not. The Magog nodded thoughtfully again, patiently looking at Gaheris. "Perhaps... but maybe you should try to see things through his eyes." Rev ventured. Gaheris stifled a growl as his jaw clenched again, shooting Rev an angry look, sometimes the man's persistence annoyed him. That and his righteousness... his incessant babbling about The Way, he knew he meant well but sometimes it was too much for Gaheris to bear. Rev ignored Gaheris' reaction and continued. "Telemachus Rhade was wounded twice defending Terazed against Kalderan raiders... one of those raids resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. The isolationists are not evil Gaheris, they are merely afraid." Gaheris slammed the ball once more into the floor, allowing it to ricochet violently away from them and further across the room as he let the growl to surface this time, the skin around his boneblades tightened as his anger rose. Keep Them Burning Ch. 3-5 "They should be afraid, they don't stand a chance against the Magog..." Gaheris was interrupted by the blaring of sirens, as the warning alarms sounded. Andromeda's voice cut clearly through the tense air. "Code blue, all hands report to Command. Magog swarm ships have been sighted in the outer system." "Fuck!" Gaheris spat the word out, almost wishing the ball was still in his hands so he could hurl it into the wall or smash it into a window. Instead he settled for pounding down the decks to Command. *** Things moved fast in Command, with Beka, Harper and Tyr already prepping the ship, anticipating the Magog's next move based on previous encounters. The data was already old so they were expecting incoming any moment. "Trance, get the Home Guard commander on-screen!" Gaheris ordered gruffly. Telemachus Rhade appeared, his angry expression mirroring Gaheris's. "There are four Magog swarm ships in the outer system." Gaheris told the Admiral, his tone flat and emotionless as he tried to stay business like. "I know! You lead them right to us." Telemachus ground his teeth as he tried to stay professional, his anger was close to brimming... this *hero* having lead the threat right to them. Gaheris roughly rubbed his cheek before looking sternly back at the screen. "Not that it matters right now but that is not the case!" Telemachus narrowed his eyes on the Captain before looking away and punching commands into his consoles. "I'm launching everything we've got, and it's not going to be enough..." He looked back at Gaheris, forcing the words out. "I need your help." It was the last thing Telemachus had wanted to admit but there was more at stake than his pride, he had to protect Terazed, no matter what. Now wasn't the time for gloating, the Magog were out there, but part of him was satisfied by the defencelessness of his descendant, the vulnerability he now had to save him from nicely proving his point about the Magog threat. "Lucky we're still here then!" Gaheris commented, keeping the smugness back as much but letting his anger through. Telemachus could see the slight glee in the man's eyes. Exhaling angrily he narrowed his eyes, knowing if their roles were reversed, his reaction would be much the same. "I'm transferring Triumvir's Honour Guard to your command – ships and lancers..." He said grudgingly as he released the guard with commands to his console. He considered wishing them luck... he wanted them to succeed for the sake of Terazed, but there was something that stopped him and he ended the transmission instead, surprised at how tense the conversation had made him. As the screen went blank Gaheris resumed giving orders now with the honour guard under his command, the Magog would not succeed this day. *** Beka stood in the corridor outside Gaheris' quarters, she wasn't sure whether to bother going in or not, there was nothing she could do. If anything she was more concerned by the increasing amount of time Gaheris spent avoiding the rest of the crew since they got to Terazed. He had never been the great joiner with them, friendly towards them, even Tyr in some ways on occasion, but never really close except with her, and now she felt it was falling to her to make sure that he wasn't losing it all together. She had great faith in his strength but she had never seen him like this before, he seemed almost insecure. Part of her desperately wanted to make him feel secure again, but she knew it would be wrong to do anything that might mislead him, she cared for him a lot, but she was very aware that at some point his lust for her, their mutual convenience, had turned into love or at least the Nietzschean version thereof. She sighed and went to turn away, thinking that maybe it was best to leave him for now, but the door opened. He stood and looked at her with a small smile. "How long have you known I was standing there?" She asked, returning his smile and stepping forward to press a gently kiss to the corner of his lips. "Only a few moments... you weren't going to come in." It wasn't a question, he knew, and in many ways understood her choice. It had always been fun between them, a sharing of desires, and he had no doubt that he was more attached to her than she was to him, and now it was maybe more than she wanted, but he needed her... now more than ever. He couldn't let her walk away, it wasn't fair on either of them. Forcing a smile he pulled her into his arms in the doorway. "Let's go somewhere Beka, like we used to... take the Maru and have an adventure." The smile became more genuine as he remembered the good times they had shared, when they had first started sleeping together. Taking the Maru off for days, sometimes not even telling the others, they would go to planets that took their fancy, to bars, even to restaurants when the mood took them, but sometimes just drifting in space making the most of the peace and quiet on Beka's ship. Beka grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Like that time we ran into the Dragans..." Ran into was an exaggeration, they had spotted a few ships, probably a raiding party on the sensors and proceeded to let the Maru go dead behind a moon to avoid detection... of course that had been little more than an excuse to spend the next day and a half in a bunk, and a shower, and the floor, and pretty much anywhere else they felt like. Gaheris' smile really was genuine now as he recalled it as the time Beka tied him up, her lithe body working against his own, her thighs squeezing him. Just the memory was making him hard. He pulled Beka even tighter to him and smoothed a hand down her back and over the curve of her buttocks. Beka frowned a little and stepped back, loosening his grasp on her. Now wasn't the time for them to run away from the situation, no matter how tempting it seemed. "We should talk about what happened earlier." Beka dropped her smile and gave him a serious look, within seconds Gaheris' look was even darker as he recalled the day. The death of Jamahl had affected everyone, not just that but the not so Magog threat and Rhade's further betrayal, his conversation with Rakel... the day just seemed never ending and the more he thought about it the angrier he got. Gaheris didn't resist as Beka gently pushed him through the door and into his quarters for some more privacy. "Please Gaheris... you really can't ignore this, not even for a few hours... someone has to do..." She was exasperated but not at all annoyed when he interrupted her. "Troops in the street, the triumvirate held incommunicado. I destroyed the Commonwealth once. I'm not going to stand by and watch another Rhade destroy it all over again." The anger was barely concealed and it was obvious to Beka that he may not have been talking about it but this was obviously something he had been thinking all day. With a small sigh Beka reached over and took one of his hands in hers, entwining their fingers and pulling it to her lips, resting the back of his hand against her cheek, she hated to see him in pain. Suddenly taking off with him in the Maru and forgetting all about it didn't seem like such a bad idea to her. "What can we do about it?" Beka asked. Gaheris smiled gently, and moved his other hand up to the woman's face running it down her other cheek. "At the moment nothing... this situation can go either way and we...,I, need to make sure it goes our way... the right way for the Commonwealth." "You need to talk to Telemachus..." It wasn't even a suggestion anymore, it was the realisation of the inevitable, and he knew it too. Gaheris nodded before leaning into press a soft kiss to Beka's lips. "I know..." He told her as he pulled back. "Thank you Beka... for being here..." He wasn't quite sure if that was even the end of his statement but before he could find more words Rommie's holo fizzled into the room. "Captain, incoming message from Admiral Rhade." Gaheris nodded at the hologram, and turned back to Beka. "Too late to get on the Maru..." He gave a small smile not even sure himself whether it was a statement or a question. *** Standing in Command Gaheris took a moment to mentally prepare himself for what was to come. "Andromeda, on-screen." He ordered and took a deep breath, ready to respond anyway he had to, to ensure that this went his way from now on. Terazed, the remnants of the Commonwealth and Telemachus Rhade had thrown him off balance, but now he had to regain his composure and guarantee the upper hand would be his. As soon as his image appeared on the screen the Admiral was straight to the point. "We have to talk!" His expression was firm and reflected the determination in Gaheris' features. "That much is obvious!" Gaheris almost scoffed before frowning, almost like a disapproving parent. "What the hell's going on down there? You've got troops in the conclave..." "I can explain everything. Let me come on board." He spoke firmly, determined to resolve this matter any way possible, and maybe in part to prove that he wasn't the same sort of man as Gaheris. As Nietzscheans their drives were similar but as far as he was concerned the similarities ended at the name Rhade – he would not let this man destroy what they had on Terazed by involving them with the Magog and any other adversary they led to them. Tyr raised an eyebrow and sneered at the Admiral's words. "You and the Third Lancer Regiment? Not likely." Gaheris found himself clenching his teeth together as Tyr spoke, that smug arrogant tone always present in his voice. Even if he hated to admit it the Kodiak was right. "I have to agree with Mr. Anasazi." Gaheris cocked his head a little waiting for the Admiral's response. "No lancers, just the two of us." Telemachus assured him. Gaheris raised an eyebrow and ordered Andromeda to hold the transmission before turning to the others. "If we can manage to bring him up..." Tyr began but Gaheris cut him off. "Get off Command... now." He told them all, trying to ignore the concern in Beka's face, knowing the concern wasn't for him but what she perceived as his lack of sound judgement. "Gaheris..." "Now!" Gaheris repeated with a firmer tone. "I know what I'm doing." With another sneer Tyr couldn't help a comment. "I strongly doubt that." Gaheris ignored the comment and continued to glare at them – Beka, Tyr, Rakel, the guards. Hesitantly they all began to move as they realised there was no arguing, after all this was what everyone had wanted, him to meet with the Admiral, they couldn't start laying down conditions now. As she got to the door Beka turned to give Gaheris one last look. She wasn't sure what he might interpret from it, she wasn't even sure herself. She wanted him to be careful, not to let things get out of hand, but there was more to it than that, she found herself not quite sure what his next move was going to be. He wanted to restore the Commonwealth, but how badly? What was he prepared to do to ensure Terazed's participation, with Telemachus Rhade the main obstacle standing solidly in his way. *** "He's outside the door, Captain. And he's alone." Gaheris nodded, pulling his arms behind his back and standing ready to receive the man. "Armed?" He asked Andromeda. When she confirmed he was carrying a force lance Gaheris nodded again, he had expected nothing less, he may not be coming with a lancer guard but the man was far from stupid no matter what his feelings over Terazed joining the Commonwealth. Gaheris finally looked up at the hologram and nodded to her to let Rhade in. "Initiate privacy mode." He ordered, shooting her a stern look before she could start to argue. The hologram fizzled out as the doors opened and Telemachus Rhade entered. Telemachus spoke as he walked in before Gaheris was able to say anything. "I understand why you did it. Believe me, I do." He said, a hint of appreciative annoyance in his tone. "You have no idea what you are talking about." Gaheris returned calmly. He had no expectations over how easy or difficult this might be. "I don't?... I know how important that election was to you." Telemachus refused to believe for one minute that was the only issue here, but he had to concentrate on what was happening right now and how it would be resolved, but Gaheris interrupted his thoughts before he could say anything more. "They aren't my troops in the streets." Gaheris almost spat the words. He was sure that the anger beneath his calm raised eyebrow could not be hidden from the young Rhade, but Gaheris was beyond caring. "Is that how you want to play this?" Telemachus asked, preparing himself for what was to come, it was only a matter of time before Gaheris made his move and in all likelihood that move would be to take Telemachus out of the equation. "It's the way it has to be!" Gaheris confirmed. At Gaheris' words Telemachus quickly drew his force lance and fired, hoping his first shot would be lucky and end his problem, but it wasn't to be. Gaheris moved quickly as soon as he saw the weapon raised and ducked behind a console before pulling his own weapon and returning fire. He had been stupid and slow, he should have known that the Admiral would fire as soon as the opportunity presented itself, he should have got in first, shot before they even opened this pointless dialogue – the end would still have to be the same. Gaheris raised his weapon again, firing just as Telemachus was about to make a move, he missed the man but the shot impacted on a console causing an overload explosion that blasted Telemachus across command. As his body landed heavily on the ground Gaheris lost no time in moving across to the man – if he was injured this was a chance he couldn't miss, but he doubted for one moment he was as prone as he seemed. And Gaheris was right, but he was already on top of Telemachus before he had the chance to react and jump into action. Instead Gaheris pinned Telemachus' rising body back to the ground and pressed his boneblades against his doppelganger's throat. "I will end this!" Gaheris spoke menacingly as he pushed his blades further to the man's throat to the point of marking the skin. With a growl from the back of his throat Telemachus pushed upwards, shoving Gaheris off. As they both regained their balance they took hold once more of their force lances, turning quickly, finishing eye to eye, weapons poised and ready to end the other's efforts. Gaheris stared hard into the other mans eyes. He had been ignoring for so long what was blatant to the both of them, that the situation had really been orchestrated that they had been manipulated by Rakel... but his feelings towards Telemachus had made him deny those thoughts, and now as he stood ready to kill this man he knew that he couldn't. Not now like this, the situation was wrong and in his heart he couldn't justify it no matter how much passion he had to fight down that was driving him on. Gaheris lowered his lance. Telemachus stared coldly at him, his heart was still racing and he knew at this moment it would be so easy to fire his weapon. Gaheris was increasingly trying his patience, not the least with how personally he was taking Telemachus' whole existence but also his belief in the importance of the Commonwealth – his Commonwealth, the one he brought with him along with the Magog. "You could have killed me. You didn't... Why not?" Telemachus genuinely wondered. Gaheris gritted his teeth, he was still asking that question himself. He hesitated before finally giving an answer, the truth even if it wasn't his real motivation, he struggled to get the words out. "Because we both know who the real criminal is." In response Telemachus lowered his force lance giving a slight appreciative grin and a nod. *** As Gaheris and Telemachus walked the corridor the Andromeda's captain began to relay how it was that Rakel had managed to manipulate this situation, just waiting for the day she could put her plans into action. "... she's been planning this for months." Telemachus acknowledged. As Gaheris continued to explain her intentions Telemachus nodded approvingly. "She's a bright woman, I admire her." Gaheris couldn't help but nod a little himself, she really had thought this through, and she would have likely succeeded if she hadn't underestimated the both of them. "Can your people verify this evidence independently?" Gaheris asked. Telemachus nodded, remarking about the quality of Terazed's free press and how hard it was to hide things or fake them. As they continued to walk, Telemachus' words resounded within Gaheris. He stopped short, taking a tight grip on Telemachus' arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Andromeda could easily falsify this data... If I wanted to, I could make it look like you were behind the whole thing, give Rakel what she wants." Gaheris raised an eyebrow at his descendent, a small smile tweaking at his lips. Telemachus returned the look, both the smile and the raised eyebrow as he considered Gaheris' position appreciatively. "And then you'd get everything you wanted, wouldn't you? The isolationists would be disgraced. There'd be a new election. Terazed would join the new Commonwealth." "You would go to prison." Gaheris commented, his smile not growing but becoming less hidden at the prospect as he began walking again with Telemachus falling into step beside him. Telemachus' smile widened as he nodded. "As cost-benefit ratios go, it's got a lot to recommend it." It was an interesting idea and inside, Telemachus realised, were their roles reversed it was not only likely what he would do, but he almost regretted that he still wasn't exactly on the same side as this man – someone who would be a great ally if they actually believed in the same things. With his smile finally growing, Gaheris cocked his head. "Betray an innocent man, gain the world, and lose... lose what, Admiral?" Telemachus nodded. "It's what I would do." "Perhaps we are alike then." Gaheris noted, his smile fading considerably as the bitter note crept into his voice. Telemachus' smile faded as well as he nodded. "Which I think is why you don't like me." He knew as he said it that, though the truth, it was a little stupid – goading perhaps, opening wounds that Gaheris for some reason bore. Gaheris stopped once more and looked at the man, his face full of emotion and the muscles in his jaw visibly flexing. "I... believe you are right." It seemed pointless to disagree with the obvious. He began walking again, looking ahead of them down the corridor rather than at Telemachus. "You do not trust me because you do not trust yourself!" Telemachus noted, continuing when Gaheris remained silent. "Well, Gaheris Rhade, I am not you." Gaheris sneered. "No you are a fool... you still don't see the threat that the Magog poses... If those swarm ships had been real, if we hadn't been here... what do you think would have been left of Terazed!" It was statement rather than a question, possibly even the main issue if it hadn't been lost beneath all of Gaheris' anger, misplaced or not. "Are the Magog the real issue here?" Telemachus pulled up short and turned to face Gaheris, his own anger beginning to rise to the surface as this encounter continued to become more personal. "Your actions here have nothing to do with you wanting to rebuild the Commonwealth for your own ends? To the Nietzscheans you acted acceptably, a hero... but scratch beneath the surface... we both know you are just trying to right the wrong you did. You destroyed the Commonwealth, stole it from all of us, and now you come here to do the same to Terazed by giving us the Magog and I cant allow you to do that!" This wasn't how Telemachus had intended to play it, but the choice seemed upon him now, if he killed Gaheris there would be no new Commonwealth to argue with, no-one to lead the Magog to them. He reached once more for his force lance. Keep Them Burning Ch. 3-5 Gaheris could see it coming, hear it in the tone of the man's voice, before he had time to reach for his weapon Gaheris slammed him against the wall, his rage apparent and boneblades pressed once more to Telemachus' throat. "My motives are to protect the known worlds against the Magog threat." He found himself almost shouting it. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" Telemachus spat back with no small amount of anger in his voice as Gaheris' boneblades dug deeper, marking his skin once more nearly to the point of drawing blood. Gaheris stepped back half a pace, lowering his blades from Telemachus before moving his arm around, swinging a fist quickly to Telemachus' jaw before the other man had the chance to move. Turning, Gaheris started away, his head hung a little as he tried to reign in his anger – now wasn't the time and place, not now that the opportunity had so nicely prevented itself to end all this to his benefit, thanks to Rakel's hard work. Telemachus rubbed his jaw, smiling appreciatively once more at the man who seemed to have become his greatest enemy on so many levels in such a short measure of time. "You are going to set me up then. Get back what it was you destroyed." Telemachus taunted, it wouldn't just give Gaheris the world he wanted but he anticipated that somewhere deep inside it would help vanquish some of those personal demons – going some way to rectify the mistakes of his past by imprinting them onto someone else. In some ways Telemachus was actually flattered. Gaheris turned back to Telemachus as the Admiral straightened himself up. He knew he would get a great sense of satisfaction in seeing Telemachus Rhade incarcerated. He set his jaw and looked the man in those eyes that were almost the mirror reflection of his own. "We shall see." He growled as he left Telemachus standing, stalking off through the corridors in the direction of the Eureka Maru, he would deal with Telemachus in the morning. 5) Beka's decision Even through the grease and grime Gaheris easily picked up Beka's scent through the corridors and onto the Maru. As decisions waited to be made and nothing was being done the rest of the crew seemed to have entered some sort of limbo, waiting on his next move – Beka's response had been to retire to her ship. "Beka..." Gaheris said softly as he approached her bunk. "I'm not asleep." She said, continuing to lay still, her eyes closed. "Are we leaving?" She presumed it was only a matter of time before Gaheris sorted the situation, if he hadn't already. She raised an eyebrow, still not opening her eyes when no answer was forthcoming. "Where's the Admiral?" Deep down part of her was expecting him to say the man was dead – at least that would be a resolution, though not the one she would hope for. Gaheris actually smiled; there was something about her that was so predictably sweet. "We're not leaving just yet... and Admiral Rhade is alive and well and being made comfortable by Andromeda until I decide what to do." Beka finally opened her eyes, rolling onto her side to look at Gaheris. "What to do? What are the choices... what's going on Gaheris?" She was a little unsure about what decisions were left. "He was behind the fake Magog, his troops are in the streets, what else is there to think about? Surely someone should arrest him at some point before this becomes civil war... if that happens we all lose." Everything she said was completely valid even if she didn't have the newer facts. Instead of replying he climbed onto the bunk, holding his weight above her. "We can talk about it later." He told her quietly. For a moment he lay there, balancing his weight as he rested his head onto her shoulder. Beka instinctively pulled her arms around him with a slight frown, wanting to help in any way she could. She wanted to say something of comfort but couldn't find any words that wouldn't sound like her telling him that something had to be done, he was the captain and though he didn't always do things the way she would, she had agreed to be part of the crew. Before she could think anymore she smiled, feeling his lips softly pressing to her neck. "I just want to take my mind off things for a while..." He really did, he was trying to solve this, and in his mind it kept coming back to the same thing, Rhade was being set up and if he let Rakel get away with it he would get everything he wanted and more. He rolled off her onto his side and looked at her, her head turned slightly towards the light making her features glow. He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek, feeling her smile widen as he ran a hand softly down her stomach snaking it across her waist and pulling her to him. He pressed his lips closer into her neck – nuzzling into her. He lay there, nestled into Beka, wanting the distraction, needing her – as always. "Gaheris..." She started but still had nothing really to say, she lay against him with her head on his chest. She looked upwards a little to see that his eyes had closed, though his breathing remained the same. She stroked her fingers back and forth across his chest. "Remember the first time..." she smiled. "I came to find you, to shout at you – as always..." She chuckled again. "And when I opened the door, there you were all wet fresh from a shower... A sticky towel on the floor..." Her grin was unstoppable now as she remembered with no small amount of humour. "Mmm..." Rhade murmured, growing a smile of his own at the memory. "Your voice at the door pushed me over the edge." At the memory he let out a soft groan and ran his hand down Beka's back, over the curve of her buttocks, pulling her tight to him. He still hadn't quite worked out how she had this hold over him, but there was something about her that before meeting her he would never have believed he could want a human woman. He took a deep breath in through his nose, taking in her scent as he moved his other hand around and pulled her up onto him, holding her close into his chest. "Anywhere you go I will find you." He spoke the words softly aloud that he had been thinking when he breathed in the aroma of Beka Valentine, his Beka Valentine. Beka's breathing was becoming slowly deeper, his hands on her, pulling her to him, his words. Even if she was unsure, even intimidated by the sentiment on occasion, he had a way of saying things that made her want him, to know that he wanted her so much. She slid her hand down the small space between them, running her fingers over the fastenings of his trousers, feeling the swelling bulge below. Gaheris moaned softly, picturing in his head what Beka was doing, but lacking the energy to do anything. He lay there, a strange mix between relaxed with all the tension beginning to flood away, and tense as Beka's attentions caused involuntary muscle flinches. Beka moved off Gaheris, sliding beside him, her lips finding his neck as she continued to massage his hardening cock. The trousers of his uniform were now becoming impossibly tight as he ached for Beka to touch him. Almost as if she were reading his mind Beka finally began to undo the fastenings, slipping her hand beneath the material and wrapping her fingers around his now swollen length. Gaheris moaned, throwing his head back and almost involuntarily Gaheris moved a hand down to tug at his trousers, trying to give her more room. Beka smiled, running her thumb over the head of his cock as his hand reached for hers and rested over her grip on him. Beka's slow strokes gradually increased as she pushed herself up against Gaheris, watching his face as his features contorted with ecstasy as she brought him near the edge. Pumping him faster she moved her lips back to his neck once more, finding the few sweet spots there and imagining that continued look on his face as gargled moans issued from the back of his throat. His hand moved back off hers to the bunk, gripping it hard as he felt the heat burning through him and the imminent release. Letting out a long growl as he climaxed, shooting his load hard and fast into his trousers. Beka smiled, pulling her hand back up onto his chest as she moved over him a little, looking down at him. Still panting he smiled back as her hair fell around him like a curtain, framing her perfect face. Again it felt like she was reading his mind as she leaned in to kiss him, softly at first as he pulled his arms back up around her, but then harder and much more passionate. "Feeling any better?" she asked, pulling back and smiling down at Gaheris. She had never seen him like this before, he had never been too exhausted for fooling around. She was only just beginning to realise quite how deeply this was all effecting him, that he didn't even try to stop her, to please her first as he normally did, not that she minded at all – the look on his face had been enough for her. Gaheris smiled, he couldn't help admit to himself that her actions had been satisfying, stress-relieving even and that was exactly what he needed right now. Looking up into her smile just made him realise more how much he wanted her, needed her really, and though he knew she cared he sometimes wondered if it was enough. "Will you always be around..." as usual it wasn't a question but again something he didn't realise he had said out loud and as soon as he did he smiled, trying to grin it off as not serious, though his tone had been obviously sober. "I don't think I could stand to lose that sort of stress relief." His grin spread as he pulled her closer to him again, trapping her on his chest. Beka's smile faltered slightly at his words but she covered it by leaning in for another kiss. She wasn't stupid, she knew how he felt, it was increasingly obvious that he was becoming reliant on her being around as a lover just as much as a first officer. She wasn't totally sure how she felt about it, part of her cared about him deeply, but what they were doing – the Commonwealth, it wasn't going how she had thought and it was increasingly becoming something she felt she hadn't signed up for. In fact she wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to avoid thinking about that, especially as part of her knew that if she really did think about it too long she might not be able to stop herself leaving. Rev seemed to be the only other person that understood what she felt, the little she had dared tell him, and as for Gaheris... she wanted to enjoy the now and put off the future for another day. Gaheris was happy enough to respond to Beka's kisses, moving his hands up into her hair breathing her in as hungrily as he kissed her back, his tongue seeking hers, almost frantically in contrast with the slow fingers he was playing along the back of her neck. Beka moaned into the kiss, the moan turning into a giggle as Gaheris rolled them on the small bunk, ending up squashed slightly against the wall. Gaheris let out a low laugh as well, before sliding his hands down to her breasts, squeezing them together as he ran his thumbs over her nipples. He wanted to tell her how he felt, that as every day passed he was less able to live without her, but he knew she wasn't ready to hear it. He didn't know whether she would ever want to hear it, but he knew that the closer they had become over the last few months strangely the more distant she seemed. Pushing the thoughts away he moved his lips down to her neck, nipping his way down to her collarbone, moving his hands up from her breasts to rip at her vest, splitting the material to reveal the soft rounded flesh below waiting for his touch. Beka drew a small breath as the cold air hit her already erect nipples and Gaheris began to head down to unfasten her trousers and pulling them roughly down along with her underwear. Beka grabbed his shoulders, pulling him back up towards her, claiming his lips once more as she began to unbutton his tunic, pushing it back over his shoulders as she returned the nipping kisses. As Gaheris continued to shrug out of the tunic, Beka pushed his already unfastened trousers further down, his cock already hard once more. Frantic and passionate, like it had been the first few times, when they had needed each other, wanted each other – when it was still sex rather than making love. Beka gasped a little as he pushed inside her, her fingers tightening on his arms as she shifted beneath him, struggling the last little way out of her trousers and lifting her legs up around him. Gaheris groaned, remembering the numerous times he had spent before and after they had gotten together imagining those perfect legs wrapped around him, him nestled sweetly between her thighs. Despite their frantic pawing the moment upon them was there to be savoured, he knew just looking down into her eyes. He breathlessly kissed her, slowly – mirroring his motions as he gradually drew himself into her, deeper with every gentle but firm thrust. As their tongues slowly caressed each other's their hands roamed across each others bodies, exploring as if they were feeling each other for the first time. As he began to pick up the pace a little, Beka moved her legs further up, wanting him, all of him, deep within her as her own hands found a purchase on his muscular back, pulling him closer. As he continued to thrust deeper and harder, no longer able to keep his lips to Beka's, Gaheris groaned. The feeling of the friction, almost as if he were being pulled deeper into her was becoming almost unbearable as his breath was drew out in deep pants and moans. Beka's own breathing was also laborious as Gaheris' movements, back and forth brought her nearer to her own climax, her mouth barely able to make the occasionally attempts at this throat, licking and nipping lightly. As their hoarse breaths became more erratic Gaheris extended his arms, his bone blades standing totally erect. If she could have spoken at that moment Beka would have cried out his name or praised the gods, only vaguely recalling now that time when she called his name through the door. Everything else began to recede and there was nothing else in the room, object or sensation, only the friction between them as their bodies moved together, pulsing and tingling. With a last few laboured thrusts they climaxed together, their glistening bodies collapsing into each other. Gaheris used his last ounce of strength to roll his weight off Beka and collapse on the bunk next to her, the skin around his boneblades still tingling as he tried to get his breath back. With some effort Beka propped herself up, taking a moment to look down into Gaheris face, before she nestled her head into his broad chest. "Feeling better now?" She asked with no hint of humour as she trailed her fingers across his torso before letting her arm rest there, holding him. Gaheris replied with a soft groan. "I should get back to work..." He told her. Beka squeezed him a little tighter. "So... before you do, will you tell me what's going on." Gaheris cleared his throat and rolled onto his side a little. "It's Rakel, it was her all along, she set him up." No matter what his feelings had been earlier, he now found himself lacking even the energy to sound annoyed about the situation, much less be annoyed. "What? Rakel?..." Beka shook her head slightly, not really disbelieve but exasperation, as if their trip to Terazed could get even more ridiculous. "So... where is she now? Under guard?" "Not yet..." Gaheris' tone was heavy and he reached a hand up to rub his face. "It isn't that easy Beka... maybe she has done us a favour..." Beka shot upright and looked down at Gaheris. "You can't be serious... you can't be suggesting that we let Rhade take the blame!" Gaheris no longer had the energy to try and protest, instead his tone was calm. "If he does then we get what we came here for." Beka frowned, but his eyes were still closed. She wished he were shouting, that they could have an argument and she could tell him what an asshole he was being, but he just lay there. "You're going to aren't you?" She wouldn't pretend to totally understand his problem with Telemachus Rhade, but this seemed like a step too far. How very Nietzschean. She had never imagined he was anything else, but some how somewhere along the line she had forgotten quite how selfish they could be, even with Tyr around reminder her well enough, she had somehow lost sight of that truth. Gaheris opened his eyes and looked up at her, they said it all. He had thought he would spend a long time thinking about it, wrestling with himself over what would be the right thing to do and whether it was outweighed by the long term benefits, but then he realised, he had made up his mind before his conversation with Rhade had ended. Part of him even believed that he would have come to the same decision even if it had been some other man than Rhade, the Commonwealth and Terazed's contribution to it were too great to be thrown away. He looked away from Beka and closed his eyes again, he didn't expect her to accept or like what he was going to do but they were there for the Commonwealth and that was all that mattered at this point. He was surprised when she lay her head back on his chest and nestled back into him. He smiled sleepily and brought a hand up to lace his fingers through her hair, happy to lay there just a little longer and enjoy being with Beka. *** It took Beka ten minutes to find Admiral Rhade, and was surprised to find herself still slightly freaked by his similarity to Gaheris, wondering briefly exactly how much more freaked by it Gaheris was. "Admiral, Captain Rhade has asked me to accompany you to see the Triumvir and place her under arrest." She informed him. As Telemachus raised an eyebrow Beka faltered for a second, the gesture was so like Gaheris that she had to remind herself that he was still on the Maru, and wouldn't be leaving there for some time. Cocking his head a little Telemachus smiled. "I have to say, I am surprised – I didn't expect the captain to take this course of action." "Yeah, well, it's amazing what a good think can do." She smiled back, trying to look confident but sure it was coming across as anxious as she felt. Telemachus nodded a little. "Gaheris didn't send you did he?" He asked but didn't look as though he expected an answer. Beka pursed her lips a little and sighed. "Gaheris wants you to take the fall." "And you don't?" Telemachus was a little confused, he hadn't even met this woman and she was willing to help him out. "Why would you do that for me?" "Not just for you... I mean, no one should take someone else's blame. Besides, I'm doing it for Gaheris..." She added the last bit quietly. She knew he wouldn't realise it now but he would regret framing Telemachus Rhade she was damn sure of that. Telemachus gave a curt nod, he understood. He drew his forcelance and gestured for Beka to lead the way to the Triumvir. *** As they approached the hangar bay Beka nervously played with her holster strap, getting ready to pull out her weapon, but still feeling weird about the way she left Gaheris. They had lain there a little longer until finally he had fallen asleep and she snuck off, securing the Maru's doors before heading to find the Admiral, it would all be over before he even knew what was going on. She gritted her teeth a little at the betrayal she was enacting, but even if Gaheris could live with himself if he handed over Telemachus, she couldn't live with him. Telemachus could sense Beka's anxiety with or without the distracting fidgeting. "You are nervous." He commented, looking over at her as they walked to see her nod. He knew she wasn't nervous about the Triumvir, it was obvious Beka Valentine had been in her fair share of scrapes, instead the scent of Gaheris Rhade rising off her like perfume was enough to let him know why. He was still looking at her when they turned the corner and she jumped a little. He looked ahead of them and frowned. Gaheris stood blocking the way through to the hangars, shaking his head. Keep Them Burning Ch. 3-5 "Beka." He continued to shake his head. He couldn't find the words to describe how he had felt to wake, alone, find the doors secured, and then finally get back on his ship in time to ask Andromeda to trace Beka. He hadn't wanted Andromeda to confirm what he suspected when he couldn't find her on the Maru. "You're choosing him and the Isolationists." He finally managed. "No Gaheris, I'm choosing what's right and when you look back on this you will realise that." She stood her ground, a small part of her wanting to crumble under his look, but she knew she had to see this through now, she had made her decision. "This isn't about Rhade or Terazed, its about doing what's right and the fact that a month from now you wont be able to live with yourself because the foundations of your new Commonwealth are built on the betrayal of an innocent man... what kind of Commonwealth will that be?!" Gaheris shook his head, he didn't want to hear it, because she was wrong, what mattered now was setting things right and if a Rhade had to take the fall then so be it. Before he had a chance to make any comment Rakel's guards emerged from the hangar, weapons drawn, followed quickly by Rakel herself. "Captain, I see you are yet to apprehend Rhade... is there a problem." Gaheris looked at her, he could smell her fear beneath that air of confidence and knew that she was waiting to find out which of them was going to be taken down. He looked to Beka fleetingly before settling his gaze on Telemachus. "Admiral Rhade you're under arrest." Telemachus shook his head slightly with a smile, having already resigned himself to this outcome. Quickly he raised his lance and shot down one of Rakel's guards, using the distraction to move across to Beka and grab her in front of him. Gaheris' reaction was so predictable, quickly moving in front of the triumvir so that no stray shots would get her as Telemachus backed away from them down the corridor with Beka held close. At the nearest turn off Telemachus pulled Beka out of the line of fire and let her go, he was just about to make a run for it when she placed a hand on his arm and shook her head, indicating the other direction. "Follow me, I'll get you to an escape pod." With another raised eyebrow but no questions Telemachus nodded and followed her lead. *** Gaheris stood watching, his anger visible, as Telemachus dragged Beka out of sight. "Captain what do you propose we..." Rakel stopped short as he turned his gaze to her before marching over and stopping into front of her. "I propose Triumvir at this point you remain silent... we wouldn't want the truth getting out would we." The muscles in his jaw flexed as turned back to look down the corridor. "Andromeda, track Beka." Andromeda's hologram appeared almost instantly next to Gaheris. "Beka and the Admiral are heading to the escape pods on this level, Tyr is the closest to intercept, would you like me to alert him?" Gaheris thought for a moment, he begrudged ever having to involve Tyr in anything. "Yes, do it." He grumbled. Rommie nodded and vanished once again before Gaheris turned back to look at a very pale Rakel. He had no words, instead he did the only thing he could, signalling for her guards to follow him he broke into a trot down the corridor. *** Beka was relieved when they got to the escape pods, and a little surprised that no one had caught up with them yet. She opened the hatch and Telemachus quickly got in before turning back to her. "Are you coming?" He asked, holding out a hand. Beka gave a half smile and shook her head. "I belong here... for now. Don't worry he'll get over it." She was pretty sure that Gaheris wouldn't be able to hold this against her for long. Telemachus nodded. "I won't forget this Captain Valentine...and, if it means anything, I would have made the same choice as Gaheris, it was the sensible choice to make" He smiled and gave one last curt nod and she began to close the hatch. As the hatch came down a hand grasped Beka's arm firmly, turning Beka looked straight into the grinning face of Tyr Anasazi. "What an interesting situation." He commented, the grin not changing in anyway. "And what would your lover say?" "Fuck off Tyr." Beka spat the words at him as she shoved the hatch down as hard as she could. She saw Telemachus reaching to get back out as Tyr tightened his grip on her arm but she shook her head quickly and pushed the emergency release, within seconds the escape pod and Telemachus Rhade were gone. "Now would you look at that!" She grinned. "What do you think my lover would say if he could see you had the chance to stop Telemachus Rhade, the man that tried to seize control from the Triumvir, and used me as a hostage to escape? But you were too busy roughing me up!" Tyr's lip twitched as he let out a low growl, squeezing his fingers into the flesh of Beka's arm before throwing her across to the other wall. As he took a step towards her the sound of a shot rang out down the corridor and a small explosion near his head made him turn to look and see Gaheris at the other end of the corridor with his forcelance pointed at him, Rakel's guards jogging up behind him. "Will it be today Tyr?" Gaheris asked menacingly. Tyr clenched his teeth together, almost biting back words, knowing it would be stupid to throw away everything he was working towards. He looked back down at Beka before reaching a hand out to her and helping her up off the floor. As Gaheris approached, lance still raised, Tyr turned and walked back up the other way. *** Gaheris sat silently watching in the med-deck as Trance treated the welting bruises on Beka's arm. Beka would steal a glance at him every now and then and Trance remained totally silent. When Trance finally left Gaheris moved over to the side of the bed. Part of him wanted to ask why she had done it, but he didn't need to, he already knew. In the end it was she who spoke first. "So what happens now... with Terazed I mean." She didn't look at him, turning her attentions instead to studying her arm. Gaheris took a breath and sat on the edge of the bed. "The coup died out, Rakel is back in control... thanks to Rhade's actions.." he found those words difficult to say to her, with her knowing as well as he did that 'Rhade's actions' were a mixture of manipulation and fabrication. "Thanks to that the Isolationists have been discredited Rakel has called for another referendum in light of the 'emergency' situation and in all likelihood the votes will be heavily in favour of the new Commonwealth." Beka nodded. "Win-win then. And what about Admiral Rhade?" Beka finally looked at Gaheris, wondering if the mixture of anger, hurt and disappointment was visible to him. Gaheris cleared his throat a little. "A warrant has been issued but he is still at large, in all probability he will shortly be captured by the reformed Commonwealth authorities and brought back for a treason trial on Terazed." Beka nodded at his words and slid silently to the edge of the bed before slipping off the end and heading for the door. *** Gaheris stood alone in Command watching Terazed rotate below them. Rommie's holo fizzled into being next to him, standing silently by. "Andromeda... did I do the right thing?" In his head he had meant to say 'make the right decision' but knew that ultimately it would boil down to what was right not what was best. "You mean by letting Rakel Ben-Tzion get away with her crime and assisting in the framing of Telemachus Rhade..." She looked over at him and then back out once more at the stars. "I try not to dwell on what's right and what's wrong. It slows my processors. Still, one innocent man convicted, one guilty woman set free - in exchange for a fleet, a crew, the ability to protect Terazed and a thousand other worlds from a genuine horror." Her tone betrayed nothing of feeling and Gaheris still wasn't sure where her opinion lay. "One act of betrayal to save the universe." He mused soberly. "The price could have been higher." He muttered aloud. Rommie turned back to him for a moment. "What makes you think it wasn't?" She asked before fizzling out once more. Gaheris drew in a deep breath, knowing she was right, the price was still being calculated, all he could do for now was watch and wait. *