Was Rasmus trying to kill her? When he'd taken her out onto that bridge, she'd been too numb with terror to think of anything other than escape. But now, safely in her bed, it seemed like just another attempt on her life. It had been four days since she'd been poisoned, and Tierney had done a pretty good job convincing herself that it and the frozen room were both accidents. After Rasmus nearly threw her over the edge of an eighty-foot drop, however, she was forced to admit that he could very well be the source of her near death experiences, especially after what the Scrub had said about him wanting to deliver her meal.

But why?

Even though he obviously despised Tausson, he had seemed more intent on owning Tierney than killing her. Perhaps he'd changed tactics somewhere along the line? Or maybe he was just totally nuts and not operating with any logical motive? Neither explanation felt quite right, but either way, Rasmus winning the blood walk was not an option. Tausson being exiled was bad enough, but in the long run that really only affected her and Tausson. If Rasmus continued as commander of the Irral, someone else could get hurt, or worse -- he was just too unstable. Tausson may have been convinced that deep down Rasmus was a good guy, but that regard clearly did not go both ways, and Tierney saw nothing admirable about the man.

But what could she do about all this?

I solve problems, she thought. Rasmus is the problem right now. I can solve this.

And just as her mind was drifting off to sleep, the solution came to her.

* * *

Tierney had often seen Rasmus heading into the training room in the mornings on her way out. This morning, she purposely stayed longer to make sure he arrived, and then dashed back to her room to hastily get cleaned up. Walking briskly, but slowly enough to avoid being noticed by passing Relicans, she headed for the command center.

The overnight command crew started their shift at six in the evening and stayed until nine in the morning. Because Tierney had often stayed late working with Hoff or Carterra, her being in the command center wasn't an unusual sight.

Unless it was 7:30 in the morning.

"Fair sparking," said Viknaja, a female Communications Officer who was manning the command chair. "Is there something we can help you with, Celebrated One?"

Tierney's insides always flipped a little when someone called her that. Not only did she feel a bit guilty, since she certainly wasn't an Asteroid Mate for the reasons they thought, but it was also just weird being put up on a pedestal. She wondered if that was why Nelle had always balked when Tierney called her Madame President in private.

"Fair sparking, Stratum Viknaja," said Tierney, walking confidently towards Rasmus's room. "I'm here to meet with the commander."

"He's currently in the training room," said Viknaja, "and not scheduled to return until shortly before rakya."

Rakya. Sapphire. Nine.

Tierney continued ahead. "Yes, I saw him there. He said he was heading back early and to wait for him in his lodge."

The Stratum Communications Officer looked uncertain, but apparently even Relicans were susceptible to the old act like you're supposed to be there ruse. Tierney smiled brightly at her as she opened the door of Rasmus's room, and Viknaja simply nodded.

Even though she technically had over an hour until he would be back, Tierney wanted to find the weapon and get out of there as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, while Carterra had kept the commander's lodge fairly spare -- or maybe she'd just packed most of it up in anticipation of leaving -- Rasmus appeared to be more akin to Tausson in his decorating style. Though the room wasn't much bigger than her own, the walls were covered with tattered outfits that could have been primitive ancestors of the mechasuit, and large maps of both individual planets and star systems.

But most notably -- and most disheartening -- were the myriad of weapons hanging on his walls. The majority were rusted or in protective cases, clearly in no condition to be used for the blood walk. However the back wall, over the bed, had about half a dozen bright, shining weapons that could easily be contenders.

Two looked like guns that attached to your wrist, so Tierney ruled those out. If guns were a possibility, the weapon selection wouldn't be that big of a deal because everyone would choose them. Plus, observers would be in danger from stray bullets -- or energy beams, or whatever shot out of the those funky looking guns. Endangering spectators also excluded the harness with crossbow-looking things on each side.

Three weapons remained. One was the set of deadly mittens that Tausson's holographic partner had been using in the training room. The next looked like a long padded shield, but had a hinge running across the middle, and spikes of various lengths sticking out of the pads. The last choice was a set of thick metal clubs with wide hooks at the end, their handles connected to each other by a thin metal cord. All three of these seemed like a good defense against a sword. Or was there another weapon somewhere that she wasn't seeing?

Tierney went around the room again, studying the other weapons on the walls to make sure she hadn't missed one that could be used, but those on the back wall were definitely the only choices. She peered under the bed but found nothing except an extra pair of boots, and the bathroom held no clues either.

Keeping an eye on the clock -- it was already almost eight -- Tierney tried the drawers in the back corner, beside the bed. The top one held a tablet and a small metal box. Popping the cap off, she found a dozen or so red gel capsules that looked like bath oil beads, although they smelled unpleasantly sour.

The middle drawer had three neatly folded mechasuits inside, and at first glance the bottom drawer appeared to hold only clothes also. They were made of the same copper material as the patient scrubs, but thicker, and of a finer quality. As Tierney lifted them to see if there was anything below, her fingers grazed against something wooden. In this world of unending steel and iron, the unexpected sight of pale brown wood was like a balm for an open wound Tierney hadn't known she'd been suffering. Lifting it out, she relished the feel of the thick, warm wood, running her fingers over the grain and unable to stop the rush of memories of home, of Earth. At first she thought it was just a block of wood, which in itself seemed like treasure enough, but when she flipped it over, her breath caught.

Smiling up at her was Tausson's handsome face. He was much younger -- perhaps fifteen or sixteen, his body already muscular but nowhere near as bulky as it was now, and with just a trace of a child's softness in his silver cheeks. He was outside in what looked like a rocky desert, posing for the camera with two other Relicans, one charcoal black, so female, and a bronze male. The picture had been imprinted onto the wood, so the dark grains ran through it, making it difficult to recognize the girl in the middle. But eventually Carterra's features became clear, despite the longer hair -- down to her ears -- and the smaller build. The bronze was easy to place, with his square head, thin brown lips, and flat nose.

Rasmus.

Unlike the other two, who were facing the camera, Rasmus was turned enough to the side to be looking at Carterra. The smile on his lips was soft and gentle, and there was a tenderness in them that Tierney hadn't thought possible for the crude, beastly bronze.

He loved Carterra. Or at least he had, fifteen years ago.

Did he still? The time that Tierney had spent in the command center had allowed her to see the two of them interact, and she couldn't remember him ever being insulting or mutinous to the former commander. In fact, he'd always been on his best behavior with Tierney during those times too -- almost professional.

Was this why he had it in for Tausson so badly? Because he had been mated with Carterra, and Rasmus hadn't?

The distant thud of a door slamming shut reached her ears, and even though the walls were thick in here, designed to keep the sounds of the command center out, she could still hear Rasmus bellowing angrily at the crew outside.

Frantically Tierney shoved the picture back into the drawer, trying unsuccessfully to keep the clothes folded as neatly as they had been. Just as the drawer closed, the door to the room opened, and she leapt to her feet.

Rasmus was still facing the crew, shouting in Relican, so he didn't see her until he closed the door and turned around. His eyes widened furiously at the sight of her.

"Malha ih kas fale nahu?" he demanded.

What are you...

"I'm guessing that means why am I here?" Tierney asked.

Rasmus groaned in frustration and turned his translator on. "What are you doing here?"

Tierney had come up with a plan in case this happened, but seeing his heaving chest and bulging veins, she worried he may not be in the mood to believe it.

"I wanted to see when we're going to meet?" Nerves made it sound like a question. A new idea flashed in her mind, an idea to save both her and Tausson.

Walking boldly towards him -- despite her trembling knees -- she said, "We need to meet, and you've been ignoring me, except for last night. The President --"

"Fine," he barked, pushing past her and heading towards the bed. "Get out."

Surprised that he was going along with it so easily, she asked, "Is five okay?"

"Yes, fine. Out!" He was standing on the side of the bed where the drawers were, and Tierney prayed that he wouldn't look in the bottom one. Did he suspect something? Was that why he was over there?

"Okay. See you tonight," she said, heading towards the door. He watched her impatiently, and as she closed the door behind her, she saw him reaching down towards the drawer.