| Glass
Shards |
Chapter 1: The Fallen
"Million to one chances happen nine times out of
ten."
-Terry Pratchett, Ancient Earth
Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant sat mentally exhausted in his office. The ship's halls were silent, there were no crew members scurrying about their duties, no one saluting him or calling him sir. There was nothing. He was alone. All four thousand members of his old crew had been dead for over three hundred years.
They were gone.
His friends, family, his parents. Sara.
He had nothing.
The universe around him had fallen apart during his time in the black hole. It had decayed into a heartless and cold echo of the glory it once was. There was no central government. The planets moved about their business alone, and their people were left to carve out a life any way they could.
There was no order. Only chaos. The Long Night.
The only thing he had left of his past were his memories and his ship. The Andromeda's AI was the only "living" reminder of all he had had. She was all that was left of a more civilized and peaceful time. The height of the Commonwealth.
How could so much have fallen?
Dylan buried his face in his hands.
"Dylan?"
Looking up at the holo-image of the ship's avatar, he motioned for her to continue.
"History databanks on the Eureka Maru state that the Commonwealth and the Nietzscheans fought each other into a standstill. Both sides suffered heavy casulties and by the time that they were finished neither was in any shape to take over what was left. The civil war created a power vacuum which they could stop nor fill. The Magog were then free to scatter throughout the known worlds and terrorize their way across the tri-galaxies without anyone to stop them. The Nietzschean Alliance crumbled and they separated into squabbling prides. Tarn Vedra cut itself off from slipstream and hasn't been heard from since. The Commonwealth and the Nietzscheans fell from inside as well as out."
"Andromeda, please tell me this is all just a bad dream."
"I'm sorry Captain. I wish I could."
Dylan sighed.
"Did you really mean what you said to the Maru crew?" asked Andromeda. "About restoring the Commonwealth?"
"I'm the last survivor of an old age. A better age. We had peace Andromeda, more than these people do now so isn't our duty to try? This is something I have to do. I have to try and rebuild what was lost."
"With these...people?" ash asked a bit disdainfully. "Are you sure we can trust them?"
"Right now they're all we've got."
"Two humans, a child, whatever species Trance is, a Magog, and two Nietzscheans?"
"I'm not comfortable with it either but...most of them I think we can trust."
"And the Nietzscheans?" she asked. "Tyr is one thing but..."
"Rhade."
Dylan closed his eyes.
Rhade. Or at least a man that looked exactly like him. He had been in complete shock as he had stared at the scruffier version of his former First Officer as Gaheris's body had still lain cooling not twenty feet from him. Looking between the two had been surreal.
To have the face of the man who had just tried to murder him alive and walking around his ship was not something he had expected. His gut had twisted as he had looked between them. The fresh wounds that Gaheris's betrayal had caused him deepened even further and the guilt and confusion in having killed his best friend echoed through his mind.
To lose one Rhade only to gain another.
What were the odds that he would be pulled out of the event horizon by a descendant of Gaheris Rhade. What were the odds that that descendant would be a genetic reincarnation of the man. They were in the trillions. There had never been a documented case of Nietzschean genetic reincarnation in the history of the Nietschean peoples. They had their legends about Drago Museveni, but that's all they were. Legends. Right?
But situated now with the proof that it was indeed possible, felt like being marched over by a complete Lancer Regiment.
And the legacy of Gaheris Rhade still wouldn't let him get away with anything simple. Rhade had betrayed him, and this new Rhade somehow managed to end up in Drago-Kazov Pride. Dylan's mind reeled and his thought processes became completely blocked. He couldn't think.
Telemachus Rhade.
No. What had he called himself? Ah yes.
*Nez Pierce.*
Gaheris would turn in his grave right about now. He might even consider Dylan's killing of him a favour so as to not have to witness this.
Dylan couldn't even begin to fathom what had happened to Rhade's family to associate them with the Drago-Kazov. The Majorum were fiercely independent, many of their factions sided with the Commonwealth, loyalists to the end. The Treaty of Antares, had changed the minds of others.
He sighed again. The Commonwealth had only wanted peace among its worlds. And signing a treaty with the Magog had been a peaceful resolution, no more bloodshed like the massacre of Brandenburg Tor. But the Nietzscheans wanted blood. They wanted to eradicate the Magog and drive them out of Commonwealth space. Vengeance for their fallen brothers.
And it had cost them everything.
>>>
A reverent hand trailed slowly down the cool glass. For the lone occupant of the room it was like staring into some morbid mirror of sorts.
Telemachus let out a hitched breath as he stared down at the body of a man he never thought he'd meet.
Gaheris Rhade. The man whose genes were identical to his own.
Though truth be told, the Nietzschean he now looked down upon wasn't anything like he thought he'd be.
Clean shaven, military crew cut, a Commonwealth Officer. A highly decorated officer if the pins on his chest were any indication.
He had betrayed this ship. Typical Nietzschean in that capacity, it was no wonder that the AI gave him wary and cold looks.
His ancestor.
And for some reason, just staring at him gave Telemachus an uneasy feel about something. Something in his mind felt like it wanted to click but couldn't. There was something missing and he didn't like it. His jaw clenched. He hated it when this happened. It was always there but just out of reach, mocking him.
Gaheris Rhade.
Rhade.
Telemachus turned on his heel to leave. Maybe it was the cryofumes getting to him. Taking one last look at the progenitor of his line, as eerie as it was to see almost *himself* lying there, he exited the room.
He'd feel better once he reached the Maru.
Chapter 2: Nietzschean
What is reality?
I am a plaster doll; I pose
with eyes that cut open without landfall or nightfall
upon some shellacked and grinning person,
eyes that open, blue, steel, and close.
Am I approximately an I. Magnin transplant?
-Anne Sexton, Ancient Earth Poet
Dylan Hunt was a suicidal anacronysm. That much Tyr Anasazi was sure of. The man had taken then directly into the corona of a sun to escape some, as of yet, unknown threat.
Tyr was now starting to reconsider the pros and cons of why he had stayed aboard the ship in the first place. The presence of that idiot Dragan should have been enough to convince him not to, and in the beginning it had been.
If the Drago-Kazov stayed, he didn't.
And yet he did.
The Andromeda Ascendant was a glorious ship. The quarters he was given were, as well as the food, better than anything he had experienced before.
As a survivor he really shouldn't care, but it was nice for
a change.
Andromeda's weapons and defenses werenice as well. Impressive. If she were
his ship, he would be one of the most feared and well paid mercenaries in
the Known Worlds. Maybe one day, after biding his time, he would take her
from Dylan Hunt.
He had seriously considered making his move sooner after the sun incident.
A mutiny is what he had wanted.
Mutiny again Hunt, take his ship, and then kick the Maru crew off of his newly commandeered vessel.
And yet the problem with this plan was the other Nietzschean
aboard.
Whatever Tyr did he would do the opposite of, and whatever he did Tyr himself
would do the opposite of that.
He could never forget what he was.
The Drago-Kazov Pride massacred Kodiak Pride.
And they were never to be forgiven.
The survivors were butchered or sold into slavery, he remembered that all too well. Betrayal, pain, hardship, revenge.
The Dragans were abominations to everything Nietzschean.
And this Dragan, here with him now, was a Nez Pierce.
The name of a very decorated house within the Pride. A house
of Alphas.
So that made Tyr very curious about the girl.
Imagine his surprise upon finding out that Telemachus Nez Pierce, honoured warrior of privledge and Drago-Kazov Alpha, genetic reincarnation of Gaheris Rhade had interbreeded with a kludge.
He had a child with Valentine.
The Captain of that hideous little ship in the docking bay.
It confused Tyr.
And despite the fact that she was a loud, commanding, take charge woman who could have been Nietzschean in a past life, no Drago-Kazov, no Nietzschean for that matter, would ever lower themself to mate a kludge and raise resulting child.
It was a mystery in a house of oddities.
The fact alone that he had claimed the child.
>>>
***"You want to rebuild the Commonwealth?" asked Beka incredulously staring at Hunt.
"I think it's my duty to try. But in order to that I'm going to need a crew."
"Wait, you want us to help you?"
"You mean we get to stay?" asked Harper looking
around the Obs. Deck with glee before schooling his features and smiling
sheepishly at Beka.
"Why would we want to help you?"
"Well think of it this way. It's a chance to do something
meaningful."
Telemachus snorted.
"It'll also be an adventure," continued Dylan,"maybe one of the greatest ones you've ever been on. And if we succeed, you'll be heroes."
"Or we'll be dead," quipped Telemachus. "You're talking about reuniting planets and peoples that have hated and feared each other since you've been frozen. What makes you think you can compromise between them? It's ludicris."
"I didn't say it would be easy, but didn't Nietzsche once say, 'The secret of reaping the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously'?"
"Might've."
"And we all die in the end when our time comes,"
said Rev.
"Do you guys want to do this?" asked Beka turning to everyone.
"Have you seen the crew quarters? The things I could do with this ship
Beka, and the hottest little AI I know."
"Whatever you decide Beka, we're with you," said Trance.
Beka turned to Telemachus. "What about you?"
He grunted and shrugged.
"Can't we stay? The ship's really pretty."
"I don't think we've properly met yet," said Dylan looking at the child.
"Hi!" Emily gave Dylan a little wave and her boneblades were finally fully noticed by two members.
Tyr raised an eyebrow.
"She's my daughter."
Telemachus cleared his throat.
Rolling her eyes Beka indicated to herself and Telemachus. "Our daughter."
"She's--your--"
Dylan and Tyr both stared at her in shock.***
>>>
Despite Tyr's hatred for everything Nez Pierce was, he found himself agreeing to stay on as part of Andromeda's crew. Half in part to annoy the Dragan and possibly kill him at a later date, but to also satisfy his own curiosity.
It was not typical Nietzschean behaviour and Tyr wanted to know why. Maybe Valentine had some sort of power over him. She could be telepathic. Why else would he seem to listen and even possibly respect her? There were mysteries aboard this ship and sooner or later they would all be unveiled. And Tyr would be there to see it.
>>>
"Why are we doing this? Why, just tell me why."
"Aw come on Beka it'll be fun."
"You're only saying that because you have a new toy toplay
with."
"Oh if only if I could convince the holo babe to be my toy. But then
I'd be happy to be hers too."
"Harper, it's a ship."
"*She* is a beautiful woman. And I get my own quarters."
Beka shook her head as she finished watching Harper pack what
minimal possessions he had. He had taken Hunt up on the offer to give them
rooms. And why wouldn't he? She just hoped she wasn't losing her crew to
an idealistic maniac.
Harper vanished off the Maru with promises to be back, Trance was already
down in the Andromeda's Hydroponics bay, Rev and Emily had gone on a tour
of the Heavy Cruiser, and Telemachus...he'd gone down to see his ancestor.
Genetic Reincarnation. What were the odds that Hunt would have a man in
a cryolocker that looked exactly like the father of her child? It was creepy.
Speaking of creepy, said father of child just appeared through the Maru's hatch looking a bit odd. Beka couldn't even to begin what it would be like to stare down at someone who could be a mirror reflection of yourself, and a dead one at that.
"You okay?"
He nodded. "Fine."
Beka got up from the stool she had been sitting on and walked over to him.
"It was weird wasn't it?"
Beka had been fully expecting it when Telemachus pulled her against him and breathed into her hair. It was just that thing he did and she was used to it, kinda liked it actually.
"Want you."
"No one's here."
As clothes were stripped and movements made towards their quarters, the shock that was Gaheris Rhade was finally starting to wear off and Telemachus was definitely starting to feel better.
Chapter 3: Inner Workings
"People who claim they don't let little things bother them have never
slept in a room with a single mosquito."
-Unknown, Ancient Earth
"What'cha working on?"
"Ahhh!" Harper jumped and screamed as a voice startled him out of his work. Turning around quickly, he tried to block out what he was doing.
Hadn't he locked the Maru tighter than a Tyklep Priestess' legs? "Uh, nothing I'm not doing nothing, why do you think I am? There's nothing here. How'd you get in here anyway?"
"Then what are you hiding?"
Emily crept closer into the room and tried to peer around the small human.
"It's nothing your little Nietzschean self needs to worry about. Just a uh, project."
"If it's dangerous mom's going to kill you."
"There's nothing dangerous about what I'm doing." Harper reached behind him and pulled the tarp higher over his creation.
"You've been in here since you came back from that drift. 'Hail the High guard' or whatever." Emily shuddered. "Whoever goes around ripping off boneblades can't be completely all there if you know what I mean. And of course Trance gets to go and make friends." She rubbed her blades unconsciously.
"Good ol' Trance, now hows'about you go and meet her when she gets back huh? Nothing to see here."
"Oh I think there is."
Emily smirked and made a dash to round the table Harper was working on. Making a squawking sound he tried his best to block her at every turn. Eventually part of the tarp got pulled. Emily stopped and stared.
"Is that a foot?"
"Um...no?" Harper pulled the blue plastic down again and stood protectively in front of it.
"Is it one of those kids?"
"What? No! No, of course not. Why would you think that? It-it's synthetic. I-I created it." Harper looked around and quickly pulled the tarp around the half finished arm that was peaking out and had caught Emily's interest.
"Is it a robot?"
"It's a secret. A surprise. I want it to be a surprise. If you're here now you keep your mouth shut okay? If I show you, not a word."
"I've already seen body parts so now you have to show me. And besides I'm faster than you anyway I could have seen it before now if I wanted to."
Harper groaned inwardly and conceded. It was sad that a nine-year-old was quicker than he was, not to mention stronger than he was too but then again, he knew her father. And well, Beka alone was pretty strong too. The kid had it on both sides. Divine help them when she turns eighteen.
Waking over to the end of the table, Emily pulled the tarp down and her eyes widened. "Woah."
"Well? She's not finished yet, but when she is..."
"Wow."
"She is pretty wow huh?"
>>>
"Dylan may not be a god, but on this ship - I *am*."
Emily watched Harper's face in amusement ever since Andromeda's new avatar showed up to save them from the insane children of GS92196. He was completely reveling in his short lived glory of creating her human form, before Dylan stripped his shirt off to wrap around Andromeda and praising the android.
"...who's the god now?"
"Harper you will never be a god."
"The god of mechanics and engineering I am and always will be for your information Teleschmuckus. I gave her form! I should be her god, I should be worshipped..."
Telemachus pinched the bridge of his nose. Harper had gone off into his own little world again, further 'conversation' with him would only provide him with a few huh's, yeah's, and mmmhmmm's. He was more Andromeda's puppet and willing pleasure slave, if she'd let him be, then her god.
Apart from that though, Dylan Hunt had led them into yet another death defying mission. How was one supposed to survive with this maniac? If he exposed his crew to radiation and xenocidal children straight out of the gate, what was next, open war in Magog infested space to save the universe?
Telemachus growled. This was not how he had expected his life to go. It wasn't how his mother had expected his life to go. Dylan Hunt was a madman in possession of one of the most powerful ships in the galaxy, and what was he doing with it? Nearly getting them all killed on some insane mission to reunite the Known Worlds, bring back his precious Commonwealth so everyone could live in 'peace'.
Snort.
Right.
The Drago-Kazov would get in the way of that undoubtedly. The slave planets, the luxury, instilling fear into kludges and ordering them to obey, having all their needs met at the cost of others. It wasn't something his Pride would give up so easily. And if Dylan had his way, the Drago-Kazov would either become his enemies or made to bend to the New Commonwealth's will.
It was entirely optimistic. And highly stupid.
The Drago-Kazov fleet was the second largest military force in the galaxy. The Than being the first.
Hunt was going to have one hell of a fight before him. And in order to do what he wanted to accomplish he'd need to get over his mistrust of Nietzscheans.
He regarded Tyr and himself with controlled suspicion. To some it may not seem like it, but Telemachus saw it. Dylan hid it well. A little more suspicion towards him but Hunt had issues to work through. It wasn't his fault that he looked exactly like Gaheris Rhade.
And speaking of Nietzscheans.
He watched Tyr glare at Dylan. The Captain had just self destructed the nova bombs in the slipstream. Saving Magog. Billions would have been destroyed but because some humans and other species may have inhabited the systems, they were stopped.
But even so, Anasazi's last comments to that boy leader just rubbed him the wrong way. Nova bombs would have been nice to have, the deaths of more than hundreds of thousands of hungry Magog would have been excellent, but even if some part of him agreed with Tyr, Telemachus just didn't like him. And he would be damned before they ever agreed on anything.
Besides, this gave him an opportunity to antagonise the Kodiak.
>>>
"You are such a kiss ass. 'Let me join you. I can train your holy warriors to command a galaxy.'" Telemachus mocked coming up behind Tyr as they both left Command.
"No wonder Kodiak fell, you're so pathetic you'd join with children."
"Children with nova bombs," said Tyr stopping lazily.
"So then you'd slaughter them all and rule the galaxy?" He scoffed. "You and what army?"
"You're one to talk Dragan."
"Your Pride couldn't even train themselves to defend their world, how would you train anyone? And what kind of Nietzschean lowers himself to humble inferiors?"
"As I said, you're one to talk. For all your claims of superiority I find it odd how you keep a human in your bed. Her child by your side." Tyr turned around and stared at Telemachus. "Tell me Dragan, does Captain Valentine have you on a leash so tight that you can't rememebr the definition of 'Nietzschean' as you preach to me? You've left your Pride for this life. I would ask if you are sterile but there's a girl who unfortunately bears you a strong resemblance. Another defect perhaps then? For you to leave your so-called 'Pride'?"
The two glared at each other, each unmoving.
....to be continued!