(past)
Abel stared at the roof of the room he was given. Lilith and Tabitha had convinced him, it would be best if he wasn't seen near his old office, or his room. People would get suspicious and rumors would start about him having a kid. So instead of getting the larger rooms that he really didn't need, he was given a smaller room that was part of Tabitha's family suite. When Tabitha finally had a child of her own this room would be given to it, or her to be more exact.
During his stay here, he would be seen as Tabitha's nephew. Tabitha kept joking about saying he was her son, but he refused and she finally gave up. Abel shook his head, Tabitha was just as he remembered her. Full of spirit and always joking about the little things, but when it came to work she was dead serious and would wake up the whole colony if need be, just to get one answer. In fact, she had already woken him up countless times asking him what he would do in certain situations. Thank God he didn't live with her when he was still a Nightlord, there would have been countless sleepless nights, instead of just a few every week. Abel rolled on his side and looked at the plain door. She didn't always make fun of him like she had the last few days, it must have been because there was still a part of her that didn't believe he was who he said he was. But that was just fine with him.
Jumping off the bed, Abel decided it was high time he got out for a while. His whole stay here only consisted of staying in this small room, with frequent visits from Tabitha, Lilith and Seth. It was a miracle that Cain hadn't come to see him yet. Abel slipped out the of the room and entered the living room. A couple couches lined the wall with a coffee table in the middle. On the opposite wall was a small holographic device that was their version of a TV.
Kayson was seated in one of the couches reading a book. He didn't seem to notice Abel had come out of his room. He was supposed to be Abel's watch dog, or guard as Lilith had put it, but Abel saw no difference. On silent feet Abel quickly made his way to the and turned the knob. He glanced back at Kayson who still didn't notice. Sucking in air he opened the door wide and bolted through it and shut it as quickly and silently as he could. The door clicked and Abel bolted down the hall, down the stairs, and out of the building.
"Sorry Kayson," Abel said to himself, as he looked back at the building.
"Sorry for what?" pain exploded through Abel's ear. He had forgotten about the radio. "You need to get back here right now!" it was Tabitha. "By the way," Abel's hand stopped right as he was about to pull the radio from his ear. "even if you do throw the radio away, I'll still know where you are. Did you really think you could try running away without me noticing? We have two tracking devices on you."
"But I don't have any paper work to do, so I don't see why I need to stay in that room," Abel stated. He rolled his eyes and slipped into one of the ally ways.
"Did you want paper work? I'm sure your younger self would appreciate the help," Tabitha said, she sounded like she was testing him.
"No thanks, I think I would prefer looking around the colony instead." Abel took off his coat and began inspecting it for any bugs. "Besides he needs to learn to stop procrastinating."
"He?" The voice came through his radio as well as to his left. "You are him, and I agree. You do need to learn to stop procrastinating," Tabitha grinned down at him, and took his hand.
"But he's not even here right now," Abel pointed out. "We can't teach him anything if he's not here." Nobody had any clue where Abel Nightlord went. Lilith had guessed that the two had switched places but Abel wasn't sure, since he didn't remember anything about going to the future when he was younger. The colony was under the impression that he was excavating another part of mars, and wouldn't be back for a while.
"That's right so instead you'll be the one learning," Tabitha said. "It's been hard doing all his paper work, and the major is of no help at all. So you'll be doing his part of the paper work."
"I'm sorry, but wouldn't it be strange for a kid to be doing work? Besides my handwriting is different then his," Abel played dumb.
"Stop making excuses. You are him, even if you're from the future. Unless you have a split personality your handwriting should be the same," a grin grew on Tabitha's face. "I also remember that you made a stamp with your signature on it, and a few with different responses. All of them look exactly like your handwriting so you could use that, Mr. Laziness.
"How did you know that?" Abel yelped, Tabitha shrugged. Abel shook his head, "what if I joined your task force?" he asked feebly, already knowing the answer.
"Nope, to dangerous, besides you look like a kid right now. People would think I was crazy if I let you on."
"Aren't I supposed to be the Lieutenant Colonel, and you my second? So shouldn't you be listening to me, and not the other way around? Besides I'm older then you."
"But you were just talking as if you weren't the Lieutenant Colonel," Tabitha shot back.
"Fine," Abel resisted the urge to frown and sighed instead. "But, first you need to tell me how you knew about those stamps," Abel had already guessed it was Seth, she had a knack for going through his belongings.
"You told me," Tabitha chuckled. "I gave you some wine to try since you said you never had any before, and you got drunk," she said, as she tried to restrain herself from laughing, it was a loosing battle.
"I don't remember that," Abel said, as he pondered this.
"Of course not. You were drunk, you wouldn't remember anything, and if you did it would probably be foggy," Tabitha shook her head. "You sure are strange sir. Even now, when you're a hundred." Abel snorted and rolled his eyes.
XXX
"What the hell is all this?" Abel complained, as he flipped through the stack of papers Tabitha had brought in. "I don't remember there being this much."
"Well nobody has been going through it in the last couple of days," Tabitha said as she placed another stack of paper on the coffee table. "By the way this isn't even a quarter of what
"I could bet my life that more then fifty percent of this is because of complaints from the representatives. Hasn't there been an announcement that the UN abandoned us?"
"Nope we haven't announced anything yet, but a few of the people are already guessing that, that's what happened, and have told their friends," Tabitha answered. "By word of mouth everyone knows but some of them don't want to believe it. Namely the representatives, they're afraid of loosing their high ranking."
Abel sighed and ran his hand through his long hair, his fingers caught in his ribbon and he pulled it out. He looked over the first few papers, and signed them.
"Can you get my book from the shelf?" Abel asked. "It's in my office, it's the only book on the shelf," he didn't look up, but he could tell Tabitha didn't want to leave him, for fear that he might try getting out of his work. "Don't worry I'll stay right here."
The door opened and closed with a snap, but Abel didn't look up. He spread the documents on the large coffee and began reading through them. By the time he was half way done, Tabitha came with his book. Opening it, he jotted down a few notes off the top of his head, before signing one of the papers.
"Have someone deliver those," Abel pointed to a small stack of documents at the corner of the coffee table. His finger glided across the table and landed on another stack, "file these." He flipped through another document, signed it then wrote a few notes in his book. "Once you come back, we can discuses your plans," he waved a folder in the air before putting it down next to him.
"Ye-yes, of course," Tabitha picked up the two stacks of paper and made her way to the door.
"Oh, and bring me the other documents that I'm supposed to go over. All of it, not just those due tomorrow," Abel ordered. Tabitha nodded and rushed out the door.
A stack of papers were placed on the coffee table, and Abel looked up. It was Tabitha. He hadn't been paying to the time.
"I delivered all the papers and filed the documents," Tabitha reported. "These are all of the other documents that will be due this month."
Abel nodded and passed Tabitha the folder. Sorting through the documents she just brought in Abel spoke, "I think your proposal is a good idea. I took a few notes on it, just make some changes to it, and I'll have it passed." Abel leaned against the couch and stretched his legs under the table. "Oh, just one thing," Tabitha's smile dropped. "You'll need to tell the Nightlord, about this, when he gets back."
"So it is a good idea then?"
"Of course it is. I wouldn't have said anything about signing it if I didn't. I think passing a few laws to ensure the peoples safety would be a good idea, it'll also help the calm the people once we announce that the UN has abandoned us," Abel said.
"What? But how are we going to do that?" Tabitha asked. "You're a kid people won't take you seriously, and unless it's you or Cain the people won't believe us."
"I'm leaving a note for the Nightlord," Abel said cooly. "Your laws won't be passed fully installed until after he comes back. I'll be leaving him a few notes about what to announce and about your laws, as well as a few other things he should be aware of."
"Why do you call your younger self Nightlord, when you are a Nightlord?" Tabitha asked as she sat down on the couch and began reading the notes Abel had given her.
"Because I changed my last name, to Nightroad. Besides it feels strange calling him, me, or my younger self," Abel shrugged.
"Thats not much of a difference," Tabitha pointed out, making small talk.
"But there still is. It would take an idiot not to notice it," Abel shot back, he flipped his pen between his fingers, something he used to only do in his younger years.
"It would also take an idiot to not see the similarities," Tabitha teased.
Abel began looking over the documents again and signed a few. He guessed that he'd be done with all of it by the end of the day. It felt strange, usually he would do everything in his power to avoid doing work, but today he found it oddly easy and... fun. Abel summed it up to boredom.
"Like I didn't notice," Abel smirked.
A/N:
Please review, it really helps.
