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This is Dylan Hunt. My first officer, Gaheris Rhade, left to explore the Wasteland three days ago and I haven't had a communication from him since. I'm going after him. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, from spare water cans to take with me to advice on your personal favorite desert survival techniques.

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[Dylan looks at Gaheris in return and give him an expression of disgust at the idea of eating the insects. He will if he has to, but he'd really rather not.]

I was worried that something might have happened to your supplies, so I brought enough for both of us for seven days. [Three and a half days to find Rhade and three and a half to bring him back, plus a little bit extra. Dylan believes in being prepared. And as a heavy gravity worlder, he can carry quite a lot without feeling burdened. He had to sacrifice a few other things he would have liked to have brought--extra blankets, some tools--but food and water were more important.]

It's all pretty dry and dense stuff, but better than insects.

[Dylan briefly receives a muted look which suggests Rhade might have quietly considered eating him and everything in his pack.]

Good. I had only expected to be gone for two days.

I thought you were just going to explore the edge of the Wasteland, not try to cross it.

[Dylan recognizes that look and swings his pack around to dig out a packet of food--dried meat, dried fruit, dried bread, and nuts--and passes it to Gaheris.]

Bon appetite.

Like I said, [He takes the packet.] I had a lot on my mind. I went until half my rations were gone. And then I turned around. [He's already eating between sentences.]

Did you come to any conclusions?

[For his part, Dylan isn't sure what to make of Gaheris and his motives. But he has realized with great certainty that whatever Gaheris might have done in the past (planned to do), he absolutely doesn't want him to die.]

[He slows his chewing, and thinks as he takes a drink of water.]

Yes.

[He can't think of a way to put it that won't have Dylan trying to talk him out of that conclusion. Or make however long this walk will be highly uncomfortable.

There's probably a better way to put it. He'll say a very small part of it.]

You're the only family I have on this planet.

[Gaheris' choice of words is striking. "Family" not "friend" but "family." Dylan knows quite well how important family is to a Nietzschean. He puts his hand on Gaheris' shoulder.]

I'm honored to be considered part of your family.

[He smiles, part teasing, part serious.]

And I plan to ensure the survival of your genes as if they were my very own.

[He rolled his eyes at Dylan. But smirks fondly immediately afterwards, gaze cast slightly downwards.

According to you, my genes have already survived.

They do indeed. The universe liked your genetic configuration so much that it decided to go for it twice.

[He pats Gaheris' shoulder and removes his hand.]

[There's an awkward moment where he'd almost lifted his own hand to pat Dylan's, but suddenly Dylan's hand is gone so he has to let his drop.]

It sounds like, from what you told me, that I wanted you to win. So I- he may have forced you to kill your friend, but your friend also saved you from him.

[Dylan's smile turned a little sad, but he nodded. He liked that second interpretation. It meant that his friend Gaheris was as strong or stronger than his betrayer Rhade.]

[At the sad smile, he puts his hand on Dylan's back.]

I want to leave the Andromeda when I go back and expose the truth to make sure that I don't cause you more harm. I'm not that interested in eventually becoming the captain of a flagship for something that has betrayed me.

...But I also think my life would be considerably- [Emptier?] -less stimul- [No no no no don't use that word...] -interesting without you in it.

That's a worthy goal. I can't complain about that.

[Although he's a little disappointed at the idea of Gaheris leaving him to go off to some other timeline. It's selfish of him. That other timeline could use Gaheris. If he succeeds, billions of lives could be saved and that other Dylan wouldn't have to go through what he did. But he wishes he could take Gaheris with him instead. That other Dylan has friends aplenty, a fiancee, family, a home. Whereas he has so little. Just Andromeda and his tiny, often unreliable crew.]

I'll miss you when we leave here and go to our separate universes. [It'll be a lot like loosing Sara was, knowing that somewhere somewhen Gaheris is alive...but not for him.]

And if we're duplicates [he adds somewhat hesitantly], I'll make certain to drag you out in a timely fashion whenever you get shot again. [With that he pats Dylan and smirks at him again, as if he knows that he would.]

[The sadness goes away for now.]

I don't doubt it. And I'll save your Nietzschean backside whenever you pick fights in bars.

I'll start picking more fights in bars so you'll feel useful.

[He might be joking. He might not be. Probably both.]

Hey, I'm a captain, I always feel useful. [Less so without a ship, but that's just a technicality.]

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