See part one for warnings and acknowledgements.

Rationalising - Part 4

Beka hadn't slept. She'd tried to sneak into medical for the EC's in the early hours only to find Tyr waiting for her. It hadn't gone well, she'd lost her temper and shouted at him, then wound up crying. Guess she'd caved in too quickly to be convincing earlier. She should have known the paranoid Anasazi would take no chances where his precious DNA was concerned. Considering what she'd been trying to do he'd been surprisingly reasonable, no telling her how stupid she was to waste an opportunity like this, no reproaches, nothing. Just begging her to think about the future. It was getting scary.

Almost as scary as the medical scan he was going to give her in a little while. Her stomach was doing somersaults. What if she was pregnant? What the hell was she going to do? There was no way Tyr was going to stand by and let her take those pills, whatever he said about 'just wanting her to think about it'. And if she did manage to get them from him, she knew she'd be making an enemy of him, he'd made that real clear when he used the word 'murdering' earlier. He'd never look at her the same way again. No way he'd ever touch her again. Not that he'd even implied anything like that. All she'd got from him was that kicked puppy look.

He might actually expect her to go through with it. Now that was the really scary thing. He couldn't seriously expect her to... Beka's mind shied away the the hugeness of it. Children. Always having to be there, always terrified that something bad will happen, no life, no fun. And from the way he was behaving, Tyr was offering the package deal- a lifetime of babies and a brooding Nietzschean checking up on her every move. That just wasn't the Valentine style. And it wasn't even like she'd get to keep him to herself, he'd probably collect a dozen Nietzschean wives, maybe more. Beka checked the time again. It was too early, but she couldn't wait any longer. She had to know now.

Tyr was waiting for her, sitting cross legged on one of the beds, eyes closed. Had he been like that all night?

"Beka." He opened his eyes and smiled slightly. He stretched sinuously, muscles flexing, no shirt again. It occurred to Beka that he might be trying to impress her with his muscles, some kind of animal display for the female of the species. It was working. Dammit.

"Hey Tyr. Let's get this over with." Beka lay down on one of the couches, avoiding his eye. "Do we have privacy?"

"Yes." Tyr picked up a scanner. "Trance would be better at this, but I assume you don't want anyone to know about us. It will take me a few minutes." He ran the scanner over her belly a few times, then turned his back on her to study the readings.

"So, am I pregnant or what?" She sat up and looked over his shoulder. "Tell me!"

Tyr didn't reply for a few moments, then Beka noticed that his shoulders had slumped. "No."

Beka let out a long breath, and lay back down. She felt even more relieved than when the Andromeda had rescued them. Her life was her own and was going to stay so. She looked at Tyr's back, he hadn't turned to face her. Maybe shouting 'yippee' wasn't a good idea.

Tyr studied the information on the screen. Beka's hormone levels hadn't been quite right, it would probably take a month or so for them to normalise, a residual effect of the implant. No biological problem, just bad luck. No second child. He took a few moments to compose himself, now would come the battle for the heart and mind of the reluctant captain. He straightened his back, put on his most charming smile, and turned to face her.

"It seems that there won't be any small Valentines just yet. I'm sorry if I seemed threatening before, Beka. Nietzscheans can overreact if they perceive something as a threat to their children, even potential children. It's bred into us, and not something we can easily control." He touched her hair. "Perhaps it's better this way." He lied smoothly. "It would have made life difficult for both of us".

He stepped away as she sat up. "Damn right it would have. I can't see me bouncing a baby on my lap while I dodge missiles. I was raised like that, and I won't do it to someone else. And where would Dylan find another pilot as good as me?" She swung her legs onto the floor. "Well, if you don't mind, I have a ship to fix. Oh, and if you bump into Harper send him my way." Then she left, not quite at a run.

Tyr smiled to himself as the panicked cargo captain fled. He was beginning to understand her a little better now. Beka wasn't just scared of commitment, she was terrified. And she would run just as fast if he were the perfect human mate, any kind of direct proposal would scare her away. His approach would have to be very different to any he might use with a Nietzschean female, or even another human female. Something physical and uncomplicated, perhaps. Get her accustomed to his physical presence and let nature take its course, with his help. It would take some time, but then life had taught Tyr Anasazi the value of patience.

*

Beka settled into the pilot's chair on the 'Maru, and finally relaxed, it was all over. No little Anasazis taking over her life. No big Anasazi taking over her life. Everything the same as before. Except that she'd had screwed a crewmate- a Nietzschean crewmate. There it was, the old Valentine 'screw up first and think later' again. Guess it wasn't just the 'Maru and the debts that she'd inherited from her father. Maybe she should have it tattooed on her ass, the family motto. No one like her should be a parent, she couldn't even be trusted with her own life, her flash habit had proved that to her and everyone else. Tyr must be getting desperate, going for the dregs of the gene pool like that.

She'd fucked Tyr. How dumb was that? She should never have done it the second time. If it had just been the once she could have passed it of as all his fault, but no, she had to get all hot and sweaty with him all over again. Her pulse picked up as she thought about it. No Valentine! No way are you going to do that again, no matter how mind destroyingly great the sex was. Tyr. What was she thinking. Take away the muscles and those beautiful dark eyes and what did you have?

"Beka?"

She snapped out of her thoughts to find Dylan standing behind her. "Hmm? Oh, hey, Dylan."

Beka smiled at him, but couldn't stop the stress of the past day showing on her face. She looked haggard, dark circles under her eyes. "Are you alright Beka?" Maybe now wasn't the time to tell her about her ship.

"It was a rough two weeks. What kept you?"

"We got into a fight with a couple of warships, the slipstream drive was damaged, Harper was in a coma for a week... it's a long story. So, anything happen to you two that your Captain should know about?"

"No, nothing."

Something in her voice made him look at her. She wasn't telling him something, that was clear. He raised an eyebrow in a silent question, but she just looked away. Ah well, it was her private business. "Beka..." No, he could tell her about her ship later. "Go and get some rest. That's an order from your Captain."

"I would, but I've a hundred things to do. The 'Maru..."

"Can wait. For once we aren't in a hurry to be somewhere, and we have to make some repairs to Andromeda before we do anything. This is a Captain's order to his first officer. Bed, now."

"Yes sir!" She mock saluted him.

"I'll see you in eight hours, and if you're out of bed any earlier I shall have Rommie pump a sedative gas into your room." He straightened up, and gestured for her to leave.

"Gee mom, I promise I'll be good." Beka stood up."What Dylan, not going to walk me home?"

Dylan surprised her by offering her his arm. Never one to back down, Beka accepted it and let him lead her off the 'Maru. And then to her room. Guess he meant it about her getting some sleep. He finally let go of her, and opened the door .

"No good night kiss? My charm must be wearing off." Teasing Dylan always improved her mood. And it was so easy.

Dylan shocked her. He grabbed her round the waist and swung her into his arms so that she was off balance, looking up at him. She squeaked involuntarily, then realised he was laughing. And she'd thought he had no sense of humor.

"Real cute, Dylan."

He set her back on her feet, grinning like a boy. "I've been waiting months to get even for that time you slapped my behind in front of Elsbett."

"Very funny." Then the devil in her took over. "So, are you going to tuck me in too?"

"If it will get you to sleep." This was more like Beka, he had been a little concerned before. "Would you like me to sing you a lullaby as well?"

"Dylan! At last! I was beginning to think you didn't care." She smiled at him coquettishly.

If she was flirting with him like this there couldn't be too much wrong with her. Dylan smiled back, then put his hand on her rear and shoved her briskly into her quarters. "Andromeda, don't open first officer Valentine's door for eight hours. Goodnight Beka." Then he shut the door, looking smug.

She was fine, just tired. Dylan knew he was being a coward, not telling her about her ship, or even about Trance, but he figured she'd sleep better if she didn't know. When she found out it was going to get ugly. Maybe she was right, they ought to raise some capital. That mining idea of hers might be a way of buying a new ship, and clearing some debts. Maybe there would be enough left over for some armaments and other necessities... Dylan started composing his shopping list as he walked away.

*

Tyr grunted with effort as he lifted a huge weight, the sweat beading on honey dark skin. He hadn't trained properly for a couple of weeks, and he could feel that his muscle tone was starting to suffer. It was proving difficult to keep his attention focused on the task, his mind kept returning to the Valentine problem. Don't think about her. The scent of her skin and the feel of her warm body. He lowered the weight, the vivid memory of thier bodies locked together wrecking his concentration. He shook his head, trying to banish the image, and began lifting the weight again. It was foolish of him to dwell on the event.

It occured to him as he flexed, that if he impregnated Beka she would no longer be able to continue as first officer on the Andromeda, and it was obvious that he was the only real choice as her replacement. A fringe benefit, his status on the ship would be improved by removing her. Or alternatively, he would gain more influence and control by being her lover. A no-lose situation, the best kind. Assuming that she would allow him into her bed again. What if she rejected him? Ridiculous. He dismissed his self doubt. The way she had reacted to him before showed that she was powerfully attracted to him. If he approached her correctly she was unlikely to refuse. He lifted the weight one last time, but it seemed heavier then before. The lack of sleep perhaps, or he was a little less than his best after the past two weeks. He dropped the weight and sat up, shaking his head to clear the fog. Perhaps, unlikely though it was, he was ill. Tyr stood, and his head swam, then he collapsed onto his knees, the gym turning into a gray haze...

"Tyr!" Someone was shouting at him. The hard floor was unusually comfortable. He decided to stay there.

"Tyr!" Why was he on the floor? His eyes opened. He was lying on his side, the ship's avatar kneeling beside him. He tried to raise his head, but found he was too weak to move.

"Don't try to move just yet. You are suffering from hypoxia, the effects should pass quickly."

He took in a few deep breaths, and he felt sensation returning to his limbs. "What happened?"

Rommie looked embarrased. "A life support malfunction. My internal sensors were damaged recently and failed to detect the oxygen levels falling in this section. Fortunately my avatar was passing and saw you on the floor. A few minutes later and you would have been dead. Please accept my apologies."

Tyr sat up."Apologies are pointless, just make sure that it doesn't happen again. Andromeda, you may not need to breathe but the rest of the crew find it vital. It would be considerate of you to make life support a priority from now on."

Rommie stood up, clasping her hands behind her back."Of course. I shall run a full diagnostic on my life support systems immediately. Do you need to go to medical? Again."

He stood, carefully."No." It seemed the ship was paying far too much attention to his movements. "You should spend more time maintaining your critical systems, and less time prying. Tell me ship, have you been violating the privacy mode too?"

"Of course not, Tyr. I simply noticed that both you and Beka have spent a lot of time in medical since your return."

"We were on that world for two weeks, we had a few minor injuries to repair. None of which is your concern, ship. Perhaps you should consider letting Harper alter your programming to make you less concerned with the crew's movements, and more concerned with the life support."

"The fault that caused the oxygen level to fall in this room was unique, and undetectable due to the systems damage in this area. Reprogramming would make no difference in my ability to detect it. Now, if you will excuse me Tyr, I have a ship wide diagnostic program to implement."

Rommie allowed her face to smile as she walked away. Tyr's heartbeat had elevated slightly at the mention of the time he had spent in medical, and again when she had said Beka's name. Her internal records showed that Captain Valentine had not slept recently, and that she had run out of medical in tears after meeting Tyr there. The AI estimated a sixty five percent probability of a physical relationship between the two. Interesting, but probably irrelevant. However, her primary concern was the failure of the oxygen regulator and both it's back up systems, together with the sensors that should have told her of their malfunction. It was possible but highly unlikely that all four systems could fail simultaneously, but then she had taken a lot of damage from that last battle. She would have Harper look over her affected systems when he woke up, and inform Dylan of the malfunction in the next ship's status report. A minor matter for the Captains's attention.

<<Part 3 -- Part 5>>