This used to be normal, too, Dylan stepping forward with Gaheris at his back, walking just behind him where Rommie could often be seen, the two of them working together in an agreement that had once been nearly unspoken. Now, Gaheris had to explain why he'd fallen back, and Dylan had to honestly consider whether he wanted the Nietzschean at his back, especially armed.

Their fight on the bridge of the Andromeda Ascendant had been hard fought, and Dylan might have been an optimist, but he was not enough of one to assume he'd win a second time. Gaheris was not only a Nietzschean, but one with High Guard training and a hell of a lot of skill.

He hadn't been wrong about what he could offer the Enterprise if Captain Picard wanted it.

It only took a moment for Dylan to decide, the pause so brief that most wouldn't have noticed it. Then he nodded and stepped forward to the door. Gaheris, Gaheris at whichever moment he'd come from, however far along he was in his plans for treachery, was in many ways an unknown, but in many others, Dylan still knew him. Though if he'd ever known him as well as he thought he did, Dawn would not have died.

He nodded and led the way through the door.

"This ship is smaller than the Andromeda and has a smaller crew complement. But it has the capacity to treat its guests with hospitality and relative comfort."

For the first time, a hint of the wryness that used to be so common in banter between the two of them slipped back into Dylan's voice. He was nowhere near as comfortable with being on this ship as his apparent calm made him seem.