Everyone thinks that I have it all
But it's so empty living behind these castle walls
These castle walls
If I should tumble if I should fall
Would any one hear me screaming behind these castle walls
There's no-one here at all, behind these castle walls
Neal finally felt like roaming around for a moment. He didn't jump among people and their small talks like back in old days. He rarely felt the pull for interactions like he used to, basically since the arrival. But if he was truly honest he's been like that for years now. Something in him felt really off. It's been crawling slowly, seeping into his bones until all he felt was cold. That deep emptiness in his heart that some days lightened but other darkened. So far he'd pushed through that with a dash of his Caffrey charm and elusiveness only Neal Caffrey could.
But he never tried to analyze what his emotions were and why. He just let the life carry him. Basically he let himself be carried by events. Even just for a second. And he did have a loads of experience with improvisation and stuff. After all con man had to improvise a lot and often jump at moments to either save his life or their con.
At least he used to do that. However his life before Mozzie was still covered with that dark blanket.
But there were scars that told him he'd gone through some tough moments. Although he always claimed scars are marks that no con can afford because they make one distinguishable which was dangerous.
Well, his face seemed okay enough. And that was good. However his body carried some scares he couldn't recall getting no matter how hard he tried.
His pondering was cut short when he turned a corner and almost fell on his face because there was an obstacle he couldn't even see. That was really strange because while it was dark and the ambient glowing objects didn't help he could tell there was nothing visible. He patted the carpet around his body but he couldn't find a source of his unfortunate fall. It was like there was something one second and the next it was gone. His gut sent some alarm bells twinkling and hairs on his body stood up. A chill run over his back and Neal involuntarily shuddered.
Whatever it was it seemed gone now. But his heart still was trying to beat itself out of his chest.
However when he got up dusted himself off he walked all over the short part of the hallway where he turned the corner the CI didn't find anything.
But before he could make his way deeper into the place the beeper in his pocket vibrated notifying that Peter was most likely looking for him. Not that it wasn't allowed to walk away from the agent but it was best advised to stay close since Neal had this past baggage that wasn't doing any favors. He was partly considered a flight risk but realistically there weren't a place he could run. Technically he always could but logically it made little sense.
He was on a planet he never knew even existed before his arrival and then he was dropped into a tiny windowless box until further notice and eventually allowed back to work at some extent a job he couldn't even be a big help anymore since this was a whole new world to him.
Yes, makes no sense.
It turned out Peter really needed to get him back by his side as their small crowd squeezed themselves into the patch of tiny tables at the far end of the room. It was a cute corner because the lights were very dim making the glow of the décor pull Neal into some magical trance. He couldn't take his eyes from the beauty that was these things.
But there was now a time for speeches and still a possibility he'd need to say a word as well as other agents. After all their department was directly involved with the integration process and he was an exceptional case among many. And this was a place to make it work until next chance arises because so far the bureau still needed the privileges from government and many more things that they must present to public. And how they do that made the biggest difference in how their further success will be acknowledged.
Red tape all over again and even more. He wondered how their government even worked with all this seven times measure before cut policy. On Earth it was easier to deal with because most times time was of essence and if they had to go to all the heads to get one approval before doing their thing. It made absolutely no sense to Neal who was used to do things at moment notice often improvising all over the place and only later having to deal with all the fallout.
Hence why Peter kept yelling at Neal for all his harebrained ideas even if they worked out splendidly.
Neal wasn't part of bureaucratic side of the office but he was aware of all the endless paperwork even if he hated his reports.
As the young man zoned back in on the event happenings he noticed a group of Starfleet officers in their uniforms and while some were dressed in their own attire they carried the small pins and other tiny notices. Obviously this wasn't a strict official dress code and everyone dressed up as they seemed fit. Females in their stunning gowns and males in their own elegant outfits. Multiracial as they came. Some even put on national costumes.
And the atmosphere wasn't that bad either. People were sort of more reserved than Neal was used to but they were polite and kind nonetheless.
He watched the fleet corner until he noticed a table where only one man was seated. But the table looked slightly different and then Neal realized it was because the man was in a wheelchair. He was also dressed up in the most indescribable suit his eyes could ever have seen. There were many words that made descriptions of colors and stuff in his time as an art thief and forger, allegedly of course, but this was beyond his brain's ability to find any description whatsoever.
It was like blue but in more shades than just one he used to wear and this was even looking quite alive. Weirdly though, but still the only thing Neal could find as a proper comparison or even decent description to what his eyes were seeing.
He kept observing in a more discreet way. The guy was looking slightly gaunt but still beautiful. He had handsome features and what seemed to look like a tamed fluff of ashy blond hair. It seemed he'd used to wear them quite long but some time ago cut to something less shaggy. Still the length was something he noticed was an exception as the fleet wore their hair rather neat all the time.
There was visible sadness in his eyes that were either grey-ish dull blue or some combination of blue-green. The man's skin was somewhat pale, something he noted was characteristic for fleet officers. And there was a stance that made Neal think he most likely was a pilot for some big ass starship on year-long missions or he was the skipper- pilot usually that arrived to a base or station, even planet by one ship but then traveled on by different ship to do his duties. At least that was what he gathered from many sources at the office and from his web roaming. The guy definitely needed some sunlight before he turned into a vampire. And some hearty meals for a while. Neal himself looked rather gaunt but he was fine.
The man was kinda staring at some point in the ballroom with a sort of blank stare. Until his right hand made a jerky movement. That sort of made him shake out of his stupor and man's eyes begun roaming about the whole place. Suddenly Neal felt uneasy and leaned back into the shadows of his palm tree protection. For possibly same strange reason Neal could feel his heart jumping in his chest like a trapped butterfly.
The man's eyes roamed about the place some making breath in Neal's throat to hitch.
Something about this guy was sending tingles down Neal's back and he tried really hard to remember if he'd ever seen or met this guy. It probably was something else since he highly doubted he'd ever done a con that involved a disabled military man, which he deduced was who the guy was if he was one of the Starfleet. Also it wouldn't make any sense whatsoever because they didn't con people that were between a rock and a hard place, one of Neal's rule that also was Mozzie's.
Observation continued and so far nobody paid much attention to his subtle antics nor noted his quietness. Which gave more time for watching the man.
Once agin stranger's eyes roamed around the perimeter of the room and stopped at the glowing huge tree. He stared at it for good couple minutes and Neal noticed slight glistening in the man's eyes. Then he suddenly dropped his gaze and wiped his eyes and rubbed his temple. There was something strangely captivating about the guy but Beal couldn't put a finger on it.
Suddenly Neal himself realized that some action was beginning on the small post that was in the center of the stage that was not there fifteen minutes ago. He couldn't figure out where that time went but noticed that he was alone at the table and almost had a freak out. But the glasses and napkins were still there and waiting staff was starting to do rounds with refreshments and likes.
He sat for few moments in slight shock but didn't react otherwise.
Then he turned his attention back to the stage, just in time for the first person to start speaking.
Everyone thinks that I have it all
But it's so empty living behind these castle walls
These castle walls
If I should tumble if I should fall
Would any one hear me screaming behind these castle walls
There's no-one here at all, behind these castle walls
Ten minutes in the speech his table filled up with the shortly missing agents and Neal breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Peter equally subtly informed Neal that the security from their side was in place and so far it's been calm aside few already tipsy guests they relocated to some of the empty rooms.
Neal just nodded his understanding while trying to recall when the agent had warned him of their check up. Obviously it was all cool with them so Neal returned to listening the speaker who obviously was one of the main event holders.
Casually the ex conman let his own eyes over the rows of now seated public and ones that also had taken seats on few rows of balconies that reached all over walls. While crowded the room had the expanse feel to it. It was grandiose building that usually held large scale events and was one of the oldest ones in the city. It was deemed to be made by first Earth colonists about two decades ago and as inspiration taken some of old buildings in New York City and some of the European architecture. The whole part of the city was called Old Days District but officially it had another name that Neal couldn't fish out of his brain that moment.
The block was covered mostly by this building and adjoining smaller wings. Once upon a time it was the main city hall for colonists and a gathering spot for them for occasions. Most of it was used as administrative space and main HQ in many departments that organized logistics between the planet and Earth.
It still amazed the man of how they managed all that without anyone else knowing. As it had turned out there'd been an incident with some lost space research tech and some node passing by the planet and noting active life. It'd taken the thing sweet long time to travel back to the hands of NASA but when it did they received the biggest shock in the whole existence of Earth. From then on science made its way to find out what the heck was going on and how to explain it. All that time they kept it secret. However some super high level technology folks had gotten the waft of that air and immediately offered their incognito help with tech and money. Mostly the project was disguised as a research and seemed nobody else aside several dozens of secret agencies that covertly worked alongside CIA, FBI, Homeland Security etc had some deeper insights from their own projects so all together in quiet underground labs and facilities they came to work on this mystery and sent the first ship out there. Somebody that had invented and already tested a whole new way of traveling space offered their input and a very capable research spacecraft was sent out to the approximate location. From there it was going rather smoothly. Two decades that took the node to finalize its mission was giving results the whole Earth had been anticipating for way longer. And it finally could happen. People had always wanted to travel space. They itched for understanding and knowledge about it and after millions of science fiction movies and tv shows that portrayed the longing for seeing new planets and ability to live on them it was finally too real.
And to even bigger surprise some had actually managed to travel as far and discover that not only was it one planet but many galaxies with many locals that were sentient creatures and some even human like. Humanoids and whatnot that looked close to a human being and could actually pick up languages and had already seen Earth itself. There also was some union that tied them all together so they could easier share the knowledge and resources among themselves.
It'd been mindblowing discovery that took another two decades to halfway wrap their minds around it.
Meanwhile so many private investors heard about this and offered funding and genuine help. Some even going as far as building their own ships and communication base for such a far distance. And their even managed to truly deeply cover that base and even return from their years long missions of exploring.
So that's when so much happened and led to their current predicament. Earth was now partly colonized among many galaxies and so many had even gotten to build their families with those they once called aliens. Most diplomatic title still was extraterrestrial so it was now used to avoid accusations of rasism. So weird but so logic it almost made Neal's brain sizzle.
He could never imagine that. But only mere year ago first squeaks came out of wraps about some dangerous things in the future and somewhere someone had made this crazy idea of getting one of the planets to take them in. It took about a decade for them to even gather intel about it while some had already built ready ships to fly out masses. Turned out that secretly some large amounts of people got shipped off to remote places and while the heads of science got twisted about their calculations new homes got built on planets further away than was previously even imagined and where loads of life happened. So basically humanity was partly moved to those planets and systems long before anyone even heard of it and way before the general public even caught a wind of something.
That explained the already existing travel options and communication between this so called Federation Of Planets United. Whatever the hell that meant. Even organized logistics for this arrival. And several in the five years before that. The amount of ships and space on them was shocking. They even named them Noah's class transportation spacecrafts. Each having a name with USS prefix. And by the time Neal even heard of the sudden evacuation there were millions of various sized ships with names of all kinds.
So now they were all here, as if old friends coming together for a reunion. And Neal felt out of place like a green slime among silverware. Never in his life he'd felt like that. Well, he's had felt out of place at the office but he had Peter's presence to ground him, here he still had it but the feeling was so different he had hard time processing all he felt. That led to many problems he had before and now they'd returned with a vengeance. Sure he'd suffered mental issues before and while he kept it to himself some days it was so hard to keep them secret so much. And he'd slipped few times which obviously made Peter more cautious and mother hen he was. But besides that he had some physical issues coming out recently he had no explanation nor understanding and it was frightening. He felt like there was nothing tethering him and partly it was true. His anklet while in a way was present wasn't the same as it used to be.
His eyes kept scouting the place out as he used to do in old days. He noted more security in disguise roaming the hall and spotted some agents from their office among guests. Not that they were unprofessional or badly disguised, he just was so used to seeing agents in his time that he rarely had any doubt seeing them these days. But if he could recognize them what if the criminals could too? That made this whole thing pretty much lost. Maybe that's why he was here, for real, to notice the things they would miss or to see the criminals when they spot the agents in disguise. After all it used to be his job back in the day. To see things FBI would miss because of him being one of them and could see those things.
That would make absolute sense. Not that he complained. He'd never, not once had complained since coming here, this planet. He was, in fact, very grateful for their kindness and understanding. And he hoped it wasn't some kind of a scheme to lure him into something to make him a prisoner again, forever.
While he mused the official part was coming to interesting parts. An Admiral of the Starfleet stepped up and talked about their great missions that some just begun and some finished. He praised someone for a great work and showing example of how a well trained professional should be able to work- a hint to the cadets that next year they will have to prove their hard work, those who were close to done with studies, and others to keep working hard, because if they wanted to go with the flagships and carry the Federation's name across the universe and make it proud they'll just have to work really hard. Something occurred to Neal- it was the end of the semester before the holidays. Something like summer break was on Earth. It was supposed to be a longer time to rest up and soak some adventure and meet the families and loved ones.
The man praised the long-term mission crews that had finished their five year mission of explore and research and so far seemed most of the main ship that was their precious star of of the show.
Neal could understand that, contrary to popular belief. Name was important, especially if this was your only home, but not really home. Here a good name meant you'll get successful and get a job. Also career in general.
He just knew until he kept to what he was doing and behave he'll eventually be okay. But tell that to his messed up mind that liked to send very dark imaginery when he tried to achieve said goal. And then the doubts set in and all looked bad once more.
Key was not to let the bad thoughts in and think positive. It was doable but not in his current mental state.
So that point he did get. Learning stuff to perfection was his kind of thing and he was one of the best for that reason. Mozzie could agree. He'd seen Neal working very hard to achieve his status.
Next the Admiral whatever-was-his-name praised the new program that they are working on for those crew members that suffered injuries that were beyond their high-tech one. And maybe not so surprising injuries happened a lot, same as deaths. Space was incredibly dangerous on its own, but add hostile races and endangered planets and volatile planets and you get the ratio. So it was important to up the health care directly on the ship and update all the equipment regularly also getting more tests in new tech. He stated that Fleet is very open and accommodating for all people with disabilities and they are welcomed to join and have their lives improved.
During that speech Neal's eyes dropped to the man in his wheelchair looking annoyed. He was now looking at the stage and shaking his head and laughing by himself as if the speech was absolutely ridiculous. It piqued Neal's interest immediately. Obviously the man disagreed and just found it lies at some point or it was his sarcasm showing. But he did indeed unlocked the wheels and rolled a bit away from the table and locked again. He was now serious and obviously something wasn't entirely right. Neal's eyes were glued to the guy for some weird reason.
Next the man pulled his legs off of the leg holder and positioning those very muscles arms grabbed the chair on the lower part where the small wheels where and rolled over with his weight. For whole two seconds the CI's heart stopped. The move looked dangerous and scary and Neal was simply frightened. But then the guy seemingly could hold his weight on his legs as he landed softly on his knees and plopped down flat. Then he grabbed the chair and unlocked brakes and turned the thing with back rest towards him and reached into the bag hooked to the back.
Soon enough the digging ended and man pulled out some flat looking thing that reminded empty old school rubber warmer bags. But this just looked actually pretty fancy. All black and he rolled it out and it became even larger. It had a small wire with a remote. So that must be heating pad like one Neal had in the plane after the island. He remembered being so cold so somebody pulled out a bunch of those. They were plugged version while this looked self powered. Man just laid back down put the thing over his legs and turned some switch to n and pushed few buttons.
Immediately disabled man relaxed and laid down completely but soon enough two kids, literal kids, boy and girl came up to him and after few short words began some massaging and whatnot.
Neal realized he was getting overwhelmed by all he just witnessed so he took a sip from his water glass. Something resonated within so deeply he started to feel his body reacting negatively. So before he made a scene Neal quickly recalled all the exits and excused himself to restroom. His old friend panic attack was creeping closer and he needed to get away as fast as possible. Something really was wrong, very badly wrong and his body had picked it up and was calling for help.
And this was just the beginning of something Neal sensed was going to hit the fan.
Shit, he thought slipping into a corner before touching the door handle.
Everyone thinks that I have it all
But it's so empty living behind these castle walls
These castle walls
If I should tumble if I should fall
Would any one hear me screaming behind these castle walls
There's no-one here at all, behind these castle walls