THREE
Four Corners


The last hours before docking at the Four Corners space port Ezra spent alone in his quarters, staring at the wall, trying to shut out Larabee's presence in the back of his mind. Chris was busy on the bridge of the Chimera and Ezra was glad for it. It gave him the necessary peace and quiet to try and figure out what the heck to do. Chris knew he was ready to make a run for it and that meant the commander wouldn't let him out of his sight, let alone wander around alone. He had no doubt that the moment they had docked, the Agency would have people there, welcoming them - and throwing him into jail. Ezra severely doubted that the head of Section 7 would welcome him as a member of the Agency. He was a convict, he had broken the law from the day on he could walk. How could he suddenly have a clean enough slate to become, Ezra winced, a member of law enforcement?
The landing went smoothly and he barely felt the shudder of the ship as it touched down within the cavernous hangar. Ezra rose from where he had sat on his bed, feeling Chris's presence change. He was on his way. Steeling himself, slipping his defenses into place, he stepped out of his quarters.
"I take it we have arrived?" he greeted his partner.
Larabee, dressed in the dark blue and black representative Agency uniform, nodded. "JD and Josiah will remain on the ship. To check her through. Buck's taking care of the port authorities. The rest of us has an appointment with Judge Travis."
The need to flee was suddenly overwhelming and Ezra bit down on it, hard. Chris's face changed briefly, compassion and worry on his features.
Ez, relax. Please. It'll be okay>
No, it wouldn't be okay. Whoever this Judge was, he would have his files by now. He would know who he was. Chris's conviction that Standish would remain free and become a member of the team would be proven wrong. Still, he managed to conjure up a smile, trying to shield his emotions. If he could just clamp down on his emotional reactions, Larabee would be none the wiser.
A small voice whispered that Chris knew him well enough already. He didn't need reactions to know how he felt. He had seen and felt it throughout the deep Bonding days ago.

Four men walked through the maze of corridors. Ezra willed himself to just stare ahead, keep his emotions to himself, but Chris's close presence was making it harder and harder. He and Vin were flanking him, Nathan had brought up the rear. He would only move forward and each step took him closer to impending disaster.
Why don't you believe me, Ezra?" Chris asked softly.
The blond was looking ahead as well, his face passive. Ezra lowered his eyes, his jaw clenching tightly.
Why don't you trust me?>
The simple question nearly made him stop dead where he was, but he fought on, trying to maintain his neutral expression. He did trust his partner, had opened up to him like to no one else before when he had held him throughout that night aboard. He trusted Chris, but how much power did one single Agent have against a Joined Government Judge?

The office of Judge Orrin Travis was large. A secretary smiled at them and informed the four men that the Judge was already expecting them. Ezra was close to digging his heels in. His stomach was a tight knot of fear, his mind was screaming at him, and the bond didn't help matters at all. He was trying to keep what he felt from Chris, but since they hadn't started on shields yet, it was a lost cause.
Larabee briefly looked at Nathan and Vin, who wordlessly gave them some room, then he turned to Ezra. The thief was evading his eyes, his face a taut, pale mask, his eyes full of barely hidden panic. His hands were clenched into fists and he was shaking ever so slightly. Minute tremors raced through the link.
"Ezra," he said softly under his breath.
Standish refused to look up. It took all his willpower to just stay here, Chris realized through the link. One wrong move and Ezra would bolt.
Nothing will happen to you>
There was a faint hiccupping coming through the connection. You don't know that> Ezra whispered. You are just an Agent, you have no power to overrule a Judge>
No, that I don't> he confessed.
Standish shivered. Images of court rooms and prison cells made it through the barrier of control.
But I won't let them harm you. You have my word, Ezra. If Travis won't go with it, I'll resign>
The brown head snapped up and wide green eyes stared at him. Gotcha, Chris thought with faint amusement.
"You can't be serious!" Ezra hissed.
"Whatever happens to you, Ezra, it will happen to me. We are interwoven too deeply to go separate ways. I thought you had realized that."
The thief opened his mouth to say something, then clamped it shut.
"Let's go," Chris said quietly and gave Ezra a little push, feeling the tension in the compact frame.
The four men entered the spacious office, Ezra trying to keep at the back, but since Nathan was bringing up the rear again, that was difficult. Judge Orrin Travis had his back to them, looking out of the window of the office building that towered over the bustling space port's inner city. He turned as the door closed.
"Welcome back, Chris."
Travis was a man in his early sixties, with a weathered face and gray, short hair. He was wearing a suit with the insignia of the Agency on the left chest. Sharp eyes looked over the small assembly, then came to rest on Ezra, who was visibly fighting not to shrink back from the hard expression.
"So you are Ezra P. Standish, then. I heard and read quite a lot about you, Mr. Standish. Con man, thief, gambler, cheat, and the list goes on. I'm surprised you haven't served any time yet."
"Luck," Ezra muttered.
Travis picked up a medium sized folder. "I have it all here, black on white. From petty theft to rather outrageous cons and industrial espionage. Give me one reason why I shouldn't throw you in jail for the rest of your life right away."
"Sir...." Chris started, feeling Ezra's rising anxiety and panic. "I think Ezra would be a valuable addition to the team. Hand that he served his sentence on the planet."
"Do you now?" Travis turned his sharp eyes on Chris. "From the reports I've read so far, you aren't the one to impartially judge the situation, Commander. Apparently, you and Mr. Standish have gone through some ... bonding." A wry smile graced the thin lips.
"We share a connection, Sir," Chris agreed.
"So you think you know him? You trust him?"
"With my life, Sir."
Ezra stared at him. Chris smiled.
With my soul>
The thief swallowed heavily and averted his gaze.
"You might want to rethink that statement, Commander. The man you want to trust, the man you want on your team, is a criminal. Not just petty crimes like shoplifting or stealing bags from old ladies. He is a pro." Travis' eyes narrowed as he looked at his men.
"I need him on my team," Chris said quietly. "He paid for whatever he did already."
Two pairs of steely eyes met.
Chris, don't push it> Ezra begged.
"Otherwise, you'll find my resignation on your desk tomorrow morning."
Green eyes widened in shock. "No!" Ezra exclaimed. He turned to Travis. "Don't listen to him!"
"Shut up, Ezra," Chris growled.
The Judge raised an eyebrow.
Nathan stepped forward. "If I may, Sir. It's not so easy to condemn Ezra to a jail sentence without considering what it will do to his bonded partner." He shot Chris a quick look.
"I read the reports," Travis repeated. "Dr. Jackson, while I know and accept the scientific proof concerning empathic and even telepathic mind-links, I find it hard to see something like a soul bond between Commander Larabee and Mr. Standish."
"But it's true," Chris said quietly. "It's how I survived, how we both survived. Ezra and I share something. If you throw him in jail, you can as well kiss my ass good-bye because whatever happens to him will happen to me."
Travis surveyed them all, eyes coming to rest on Vin, who had been quiet so far. "May I ask your opinion, Mr. Tanner?"
"'s true," Vin only answered. "They are one. And Ezra'd make a nice addition to the team."
"Either your crew is too loyal for their own good, or you really believe you can change a character like Mr. Standish's." Travis's hard eyes held Ezra's gaze. "I won't be blackmailed by your threat of resignation, Commander Larabee," he continued.
Ezra flinched back and Chris felt a surge of protective anger.
Chris, don't make it any worse> Ezra whispered.
He has the proof on paper! He just won't listen!>
"Adding a known criminal to a team of Agents is against everything I believe in." Travis still watched the two men, and it was hard to miss Chris's barely hidden anger. Ezra kept his face carefully schooled. The Judge crossed his arms in front of his chest. "We would make this team a prime target for all kinds of accusations, in addition to having to watch Mr. Standish 24/7 for... unauthorized activities."
"You overlooked such minor problems when it came to others on my team!"
Ezra blinked. He wasn't the only criminal?
"Mr. Standish is a bit more of a complex problem, Commander."
"You'll have complex problems soon enough when I start having nervous breakdowns!" Chris snapped. And you shut your trap, Standish! I'm not backing down!>
It was hard for Travis not to notice the fury in Larabee's eyes as he briefly glanced at Standish, who gave the Agent a half-smirk. He frowned.
"You better prepare a cell for two if you won't let Ezra stay."

Travis allowed himself a smile. He had known Larabee ever since a much younger Chris had become an Agent and had later transferred to Section 7. He had gotten to know him as someone who commanded respect from those he worked with by his sheer presence. He had risen to the position of team leader because of that respect, his dogged approach to cases and investigations, and his sharp mind. Chris was very observant to visual cues and clued in to his intuition. Because of this observant behavior and his instincts, Travis was inclined to trust him on the matter of Ezra Standish. The thief had spent the best part of two years on the hell hole planet, part of it as a Kiowata. The only problem was the claim of a bond between those two rather opposite men, but watching them, Travis saw little signs of silent communication. It was like witnessing an argument without any words being spoken.
"I have no intention to remove one of my best men from the field," he finally said into the silence. "But I also don't want to see him getting dragged down because of the likes of Mr. Standish."
Standish's facial control was remarkable. Except for a flicker in the green eyes, he remained perfectly still. Like made out of wax.
"If I give in to your application for another man, for this man, it will be under several conditions."
"Name them," Chris said immediately. And again he shot Standish a look that would have silenced all and any protests, if Ezra had even looked like he was protesting. Curious.
"One, Mr. Standish will officially join the Agency."
Ezra's mouth fell open.
"Agreed," Chris immediately said.
"I won't become law enforcement!" Ezra hissed.
"Shut up, Ez."
The smaller man clamped his mouth shut, but again, Travis had the impression that the argument was going on.
"Second, I want his Borderline abilities tested. Same as yours. They will be on record."
There was a heated expression in the thief's eyes, but he was keeping his mouth shut. With difficulty, Travis mused. Intriguing.
"Agreed."
"He will use his skills only in the benefit of the Agency. Any... extracurricular activities and I'll have all your asses in a sling."
Chris nodded. "Agreed. Shut up, Ezra."
Fury lit up the green eyes.
"Anything else, Sir?"
"I think that about covers it, gentlemen."

Chris!> Ezra hissed. What are you doing!>
Trusting you not to mess up and get us all thrown out of the Agency>
You aren't the one to decide that!>
And you are?> Chris snapped back.
Yes! Me and your friends. You are making decisions for them!>
Because I'm their boss. Now shut up!>
Travis looked pleased and Ezra tried to keep his mounting anger under control. It was increasingly hard to do so. How could Chris do that? He should have stayed on the planet, he should have hidden in the wilderness.... he should have ended it. Chris was caught in this struggle with his boss because of him, Ezra Standish. He would be responsible if Chris lost his job, they all lost their jobs. Tremors raced through him. It was too much to take and he couldn't even run. In the past he had fled from whatever was threatening him; now.... he had no choice all of a sudden. He felt trapped.
Someone elbowed him gently and Ezra looked up into the amused eyes of Judge Travis.
"Welcome to the Agency, Mr. Standish," the older man was saying.
"Thanks," he mumbled.
As the men filed out, Travis held Chris back. "A word, please, Commander."
Chris gave Ezra an encouraging smile as alarmed green eyes met his. Go. I'll be out in a moment>

Travis looked at his Agent, noticing the relaxed stance, the half smile on the sun-tanned features, and the sparkle that had taken permanent residence in the hazel eyes. He and Chris went back such a long time in the Agency, he had always thought he knew the other man. Now, within the last minutes, he had revised that opinion. At least partially.
"Are you aware of what you're getting yourself into, Chris?" Travis asked. "The trouble you are inviting?"
Larabee nodded. "Perfectly."
The Judge gave him a critical look, then tossed the file over to him. Chris gazed at him, a frown crossing his features.
"Ezra Standish a criminal," Travis went on, nodding at the folder once more. "Not a big fish, but large enough to survive in a tank full of piranhas - and conning them out of their possessions."
"Judge, you don't understand what happened on BP-379. No one can. Ezra and I.... came to an understanding about our situation and whether you believe in the existence of soul mate bonds or not, my offer of resignation from service will always stand."
Travis smiled slightly as he met he cold hazel eyes. "I'm not asking you to, and you know it. I just want you to consider the risks you're taking."
"I know them all and I think it's worth it."
The Judge looked curiously at him. "You trust him this much?"
"With my life, Sir."
Travis knew Chris didn't make these statements lightly. Whatever was between the two very different men, it had to be something special. He mused briefly if there was something he didn't see or refused to see, then decided against it.
"There might come a day where this statement is put to a test," he remarked.
Chris nodded slowly. "There might, yes. I'm not fearing that day."
"This is as much your call as mine, Chris. I accept your vote of confidence in Standish, but until I see some prove, he will be under close scrutiny."
"Accepted."
Chris left the office and Travis went back to his work. Integrating Ezra Standish into the Agency would require some tap-dancing, but he had been part of the company for too long not to know how to do it.

* * *

When Ezra had stepped out of Travis' office, he had felt nothing at all. Inside of him, there was no emotion, not even fear. He was becoming part of the Agency; he, a criminal. And Chris was doing everything in his power to make it so. Part of him tried to gauge his soul partner's emotional state as he was alone in the Judge's office, but he was too confused too concentrate.
Someone slapped his shoulder hard and Ezra was jolted back into reality.
"Congrats, Ezra!" Buck called jovially, beaming. "Welcome to our little club!"
"I didn't ask to join, Mr. Wilmington."
"Aw, you'll like it with us." Buck still grinned widely. "Once you can ignore JD's wet-behind-the-ears antics or evade Josiah's philosophical discussions."
Josiah gave his colleague a mild glare while JD protested loudly.
"I'm not wet! I'm a professional pilot!"
"Which is about the only professional thing you are," Wilmington retorted.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Ezra asked.
"Oh, we wrapped up business with the port authority," Buck explained. "The Chimera's getting serviced and we refueled. Thought we'd come and see if you're still in one piece."
"How considerate," Ezra said dryly.
"So you're really becoming an Agent?" JD wanted to know eagerly. "That's so cool!"
"I had no other choice. Mr. Larabee conned me into it," the thief answered.
Buck chuckled. "That's Chris."
The door to Travis's office opened and Chris came out, giving his men a brief smile. "You're all here, good. The Judge has given us time off for now. We are on stand-by, but I doubt we'll be going anywhere soon." He gazed at Ezra. "We have to talk."
"I was afraid of that."
Buck gave him another jovial clap. "See ya, Ezra."
Standish gave Chris an apprehensive look as they walked down the corridor in the opposite direction from the team.
"Nothing is wrong," Chris finally said as they reached an elevator and he gave Ezra a calming smile.
"But....?" He could hear a 'but' coming.
"You can't join the Agency just like that."
Relief and dread mixed together and Ezra felt a mask slide into place.
Ezra> Chris chastised softly.
He struggled with his instincts and lost. His defenses were up and he couldn't take them down that easily.
"I meant that to become an Agent in this team, to work with us, you have to go through training."
"Training? You want me to train?" Ezra stared at Chris in outrage, defenses momentarily forgotten. "I'm not going to some school, Mr. Larabee! Just put that thought out of your head."
Chris smirked. "Wasn't thinking of an academy anyway, Ezra. You'll be taking a crash-course in Agency training. I know you know about the law, but mostly the wrong side. You'll have to take a physical, pass a psychological evaluation...."
"Psycholo..... forget it! I won't!"
"Now don't be difficult. You agreed."
"No, let me correct you in that statement: you agreed on my behalf, Mr. Larabee. I didn't even get a word in because I was told to shut up!>"
He sent the last part through the link as well.
Chris shrugged. "It was either that or really making due on my threat and resign. And spend the rest of my days locked up next to you in jail. You see my reasoning?"
"No, I don't," Ezra sulked. "I won't go back to school!"
"Most of it will be on the job training. But you'll have to pass the psych tests and prove that you know the law, not just how to break it."
Ezra muttered something. It sounded suspiciously like 'not wearing a stupid jumpsuit'. Finally he looked up, his face a controlled mask.
"So when do we start and who has the pleasure of annoying the hell out of me?"
Larabee smiled. "We'll start right now and start with a little physical training."
"Oh joy."
"As for who will run you, well, let's see who volunteers....."

* * *

Ezra had six days of classes each week, each lasting from eight in the morning to six in the evening, with lunch breaks and ten minutes between individual lessons. Law he could handle. It was the easiest of them all. Communication Skills was broken into Protocol, Diplomacy and Languages. It presented little challenge most of the time. Finances was one of the smaller subjects and consisted mostly of the professor droning on about how to fill out blank forms and save Agency money by not chugging spent guns at the enemy. Combat and Tech Basics were his worst subjects. Ezra could defend himself fairly well, but he relied on his own methods. Shooting was okay as long as he didn't have to do long range. Flying was mediocre and he wondered why he should learn how to maneuver a freighter through an asteroid belt, but he clenched his teeth and went through with it.
Everything was slowly but surely getting on Ezra's nerves. It wasn't the fact that he had been stuck into rookie classes. He could handle those. He could handle rumors concerning his less than stellar past or how he had come to be here. It wasn't that his instructors held a low opinion of him either. Ezra was supposed to pass through the three months of training with good grades and that was what he was doing. It wasn't that some of them treated him like scum. It was what they said about the Chimera team. Picking on him was one thing, picking on the men who weren't there to defend themselves, something else.
He reigned in his spiking emotions and put them under iron control each time one of the bullies he had come to know from class tried to provoke him into doing something stupid. Sadly, the link wasn't part of that control. Chris was the recipient of more than one dark and violent message, and he wasn't exactly happy about it.

"You need to train," Vin remarked as he watched Chris struggle to counteract his own body's need to run his fist through the wall.
"I need to train?" Chris snapped. "Ezra has to learn some restraint!"
Vin raised an eyebrow and sipped at his coffee, leaning casually against the counter. "Ezra is doing fine. He hasn't killed one of his class yet."
"Because he's sending everything down the link!"
"True. He has no control over that, which is why both of you need to train for that."
Chris gave him a sour look. "You volunteering?"
Vin smiled more. "You asking?"
"Quit playing around, Tanner. You know you're the only one with some experience in this field, so you are our only choice."
"Nice to know I'm the one and only last resort."
"Funny guy."
"Seriously, Chris. Ezra is under a lot of pressure and it will only increase. I talked to Mary yesterday and she told me that while he has a quick mind and a sharp eye, he's under enough strain to break him. He needs to know that he has back-up in you."
"He has, Vin," Chris said softly.
"Yes, I know that, but he doesn't. All he knows is what comes back through the link and that's you being ready to strangle him because he has no other outlet for his anger."
Chris rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling slowly. He knew what Ezra was going through and he had asked to see the mid-term results. Ezra was among the top ten, but that was also the reason why he was a target. Throughout the last six weeks, Standish had slowly removed himself from the team, had spent more and more time alone, and not even Chris was really able to reach him.
The arguments had turned into full-fledged confrontations where harsh words had been exchanged, some of them scathing and rather personal insults. Chris had been close to exploding, but he had reminded himself each and every time that he only shared a frament Ezra was feeling tenfold.
'You want results? You want me to succeed? Then leave me alone!' Ezra had once snapped into his face and then turned to leave.
Yes, he wanted Ezra to succeed, but he didn't have to top everyone. He wanted him to go through basic training and afterwards he'd be an official member of the Chimera. Rumors and lies be damned.
"I have to talk to him," Chris sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Let me have a talk with him first. He doesn't know he isn't alone. He thinks he's an outsider."
Chris understood. "Okay."
"We'll be at Nettie's. Come in later. Give me about two hours, all right?"
Larabee looked doubtfully at his second, then nodded. Vin smiled, then left the small mess area. He had a certain rookie to find.

* * *

The bar was one of the smaller ones on the entertainment levels of the station. Ezra wouldn't have sought it out because it looked so inconspicuous and uninviting. No marks to be found here, the thief in him thought. No one to con, no one to offer a game of chance to leave him a few hundred bucks lighter. Vin led him through the thin afternoon crowd and Ezra looked around. The establishment looked much better on the inside than the outside. It was clean, well-kept, and had an almost homey atmosphere. There was a long counter just opposite the main doors and booths lined most of the walls. Tables cluttered the open space. Music played in the background.
Vin walked over to one of the booths and slid in. Ezra hesitated, then followed his example. The waitress walked over to them, smiling.
"Hi Vin!"
"Hey, Casey."
"The usual?"
Vin nodded, then gave Ezra a questioning look. The thief doubted it would be a good idea to start the afternoon with alcohol, so he ordered a soft drink. The young woman took their orders and left. When they had their drinks, Vin looked at him.
"How are you doing, Ezra?"
Ezra sighed, studying his drink. If anyone else had asked him, he would have smiled cheerfully and declared he was fine. This was Vin, though. Vin, who knew a lot more about what was going on with him than the rest of the Chimera team; Chris excepted. "Not good," he confessed softly. "But I think you know that. A lot is still going through and Chris isn't happy about it. It's not exactly easy...."
"Nothing ever is, though I think having a fully telepathic bond is something really extraordinary."
"You and Chanu didn't....?"
Vin smiled and took a sip from his drink. "No. We shared a lot, but never silent mind-to-mind communication. I could read him, yes. His moods, his body language... I knew him like I knew myself, but for different reasons. We were one because, as the shaman put it, we shared the same energies."
Ezra looked blankly at him.
"The Hija, the tribe Chanu belonged to, believe in gods and supernatural beings like many civilizations," Vin expanded. "Their belief system has four main houses of power. Chanu and I were born in opposite houses, in the same cycle of their planetary year, and we shared the same vibrant soul. A perfect match for potential soul partners. I didn't really know that when I first met him. He was my guide when I explored the wilderness. We understood each other from the beginning. Our friendship developed quickly because we instinctively trusted each other. When I heard about the bond, it scared me." Vin gave Ezra a quick grin. "I got a lot of help from the tribe and from Chanu, who had grown up with bonded partners."
"Not like Chris and me."
"Nope, not like the two of you. You are unique. Never heard of telepathy like that."
Ezra sighed softly and morosely looked into his half empty glass. "Great."
Vin was silent, keeping a discreet eye on his new friend. "You regret it?"
"No!" The denial was almost automatic. "No... it feels right, Vin. I just... it made life a lot more complicated."
"Life isn't ever easy, Ezra."
"Maybe, but now my decisions, my actions, influence someone else as well. Chris and I.... we might be two halves of the same soul, but we are so very different. It's not like we have a lot in common."
Vin played with a cracker, keeping silent. Ezra was in a rare, open mood. He would listen as long as it lasted.
"If I mess up, I'm pulling Chris with me. I already do, Vin." Ezra bit his lower lip, refusing to say more. He didn't want to spill his worries, even if it was Vin who was listening.
"I heard the others, pard. I know what they are saying."
The brown head snapped up and green eyes stared at him in shock.
"Old story, actually. I know Leeroy Zardes is on your case, calling you a stray or worse."
Ezra felt his defenses slide into place.
"But he calls us the same, Ez. Chris is known for picking up strays. Almost all of us have a spotty past or reasons why none of the other teams really wanted us."
The thief gave him a curious look, but he didn't ask. Vin lifted one corner of his mouth. Something told him Ezra wouldn't inquire further if he didn't tell him anything. As far as the others were concerned, Vin had no right to give away their personal problems or affairs. They all knew Ezra's past and if they chose to reveal theirs, so be it.
Buck's ladies affairs were well-known anyway and no crime as such. It just made him the target of a lot of rumors and sometimes accusations. One of those rumors had nearly broken his back and while he had proven his innocence in a politically delicate affair, every team commander was now evading him.
JD had no real faults except his age. He was a genius when it came to piloting, could fly the worst rust bucket and still win against a modern one-man race fighter. The boy's instincts were in the right place, but he was too naïve when it came to some matters and he was too intelligent for his own good. He had grown up in the wrong part of town anyway, had no formal education except basics, but through Buck and Josiah he had caught up to standard in no time. With no papers to prove his educational career he had no hopes of any other position than the one he had, though.
Josiah's main faults were his age and his drinking problem. He was too old for active service many said, but the man knew places to get spares or replacement parts no one had ever heard of. He understood the inner workings of a ship by sheer instinct, which made him such a good engineer, and most of the reconstruction on the Chimera were thanks to his knowledge and JD's imagination. Then there was the alcohol. Josiah wasn't a drinker; far from it. He was more allergic to the stuff than anything. One beer and the man was dead drunk and lost all inhibition. Together with his size and muscles, it made him a danger in any bar brawl.
Nathan had lost his medical license because he had practiced what the Joined Governments called 'experimental medicine'. Nathan had learned a lot from healers and so-called alternative doctors. He believed in the healing power of herbs and the body itself, and only used chemical medication on the more severe wounds or to numb pain. A fellow doctor brought it in front of a Justice Council after Nathan had healed a young man who had been the doctor's patient before. It had been simple jealousy. Without his license, Nathan had been unable to uphold his clinic, so he had hired on with the Agency. Chris had expressed his interest in him as a new man and Travis had agreed. Nathan wasn't allowed to practice outside his boundaries as an Agent, but that was fine with him.
"I won't ask for details," Ezra said, startling Vin out of his thoughts. He smiled almost shyly.
Tanner nodded. "I know." He regarded their new team member thoughtfully, then made a decision. "You'll hear a lot of rumors. Most of them are just that; rumors. Some have a bit of truth in them, but that's usually hidden and beneath all the exaggeration."
"I'm used to that." Ezra gave him a dimpled grin.
Vin chuckled. "Thing you'll hear about me is that I let a bounty go because he paid me enough money."
Ezra's face remained carefully schooled, his eyes giving nothing away. But Vin could read the question easily.
"I worked as a bounty hunter before I joined the Agency two years ago. Was quite good. One of my most difficult cases was a Eli Joe, a pirate and smuggler. I caught him, but he had someone working for him on the inside. Turned it so that it looked like I was the one who had let him escape again, after he paid me enough money for it. I was after him again but found only his body." Vin gazed into his nearly empty glass. "No witnesses, only the money in my apartment. Had a lawyer who argued my case and won me my freedom, but I was out of a job. No one wanted me after that. Corrupted, y'know."
Ezra nodded slowly. "How could you join the Agency?"
"Met Chris while he was on a case. He hired me as a tracker to find an escaped convict. Must have impressed him." Vin flashed him a grin. "We worked on the case for two weeks, then he asked me to come along on the next one. I kinda slid right in. Travis said my files looked good enough to give me a job; said he'd ignore the past charges because they were, in his eyes, unfounded and there was no real proof."
"You were lucky," the thief said in a quiet voice.
"Very." Vin waited for Casey to replace their drinks, then leaned forward. "And so were you, Ez."
Ezra didn't answer, just studied the pattern on the table.
"I have an offer to make."
The thief gave him a wary look and Vin smiled openly.
"You need to train your abilities. Both you and Chris. Without training, one day one of you will lose it, despite the stabilized bond. You're letting too much go through to the other side, even with the natural shields your mind has erected. You have to control it."
"I think I already lost it, Vin. Chris and I… had some rather unhappy confrontations lately."
"I know. It's the result of you broadcasting and Chris battering the incoming fragments back at you. It's a vicious circle and you need to break it."
"How?" Ezra asked softly.
"It's not easy and it requires concentration. Chanu and I never touched each other's minds, but we touched souls nevertheless. I went through some training to help me counteract and then embrace what was so foreign to me. I can't guarantee that it'll work like a charm, but it will help." Vin leaned forward, holding the dubious green gaze. "If you can't take control of your abilities, they will control you, and Chris."
What do you say, Ezra?>
Ezra's head snapped up and he cursed himself for not noticing his soul partner's approach. Vin simply leaned back, watching them with a faint smile in his eyes. Ezra shot the taller man a tentative look. The last time they had met face to face had ended with snarled replies and Ezra's very clear wish never to see the man again. And the wish that the link had never happened. At the time he hadn't realized the expression of hurt in Chris's eyes but back in his quarters, the weight of his words had come crashing down on him.
It would help us> Chris went on, intensely holding Ezra's gaze. There was no malice, no hidden intent, just Chris.
What if it won't work?> Ezra asked, mind-voice uneven.
We'll burn that bridge when we get there>
How very positive, Mr. Larabee> But there was a small smile playing over Ezra's lips.
"You think you can manage us?" Chris asked aloud as he slid into the booth as well.
Vin chuckled. "Sure. We'll work with Ezra's schedule and cram in lessons whenever we can."
"Who needs sleep anymore?" Ezra sighed theatrically.

* * *

Finals week was the most trying and difficult of the three months. For all of them. Chris would walk down the hall with a dark expression on his face that gave everyone but his own team the willies. Despite Vin's constant training and the rudimentary shields both partner had managed, stress leaked through. Ezra was under non-stop pressure by now, he was sleeping less and less, and it reflected back on Chris, who was struggling to maintain his usual façade. Their basic shields, by now a lot stronger than before, were battered by such emotional force that Chris was unable to maintain them at full strength and function normally as well.
The Bond sessions were taking part from eight to ten each evening and most of the afternoon on Ezra's only day off. How the thief managed to cram studying into this already tight schedule was a little miracle, but when Vin had proposed to cut back on lessons, he had immediately protested. The meditation and relaxation exercises seemed to help him as much with the link as they did with the whole basic training stress.
Even Judge Travis couldn't ignore the signs any more and he wondered how all of this would end. Few knew about the bond between Larabee and Standish and it wasn't a topic for open discussion. It would remain and well-guarded secret. Despite earlier proclamations, Travis had started to see the advantages of the soul bond. The training sessions with Vin didn't slip him by either.
Chris's temper shifts grew almost unbearable inside the station, so the Judge had decided to get the whole crew off and into space. One new case and a bodyguard job had done the trick. The bond was limited by distance at the moment, so Chris was becoming more like his old self whenever he was far enough away from Ezra. It had it drawbacks, too. While he no longer felt the rampaging emotions battering against his new shields, Chris also lost contact with the familiar presence in his mind and fell from aggression into depression. Not strong enough to influence his work, but he was quieter all of a sudden, more introspective, and he removed himself from the team.
Three months, Travis thought and sighed. Three months. They would be over by the end of next week, after the finals, and then some kind of normality might be back. At least he hoped so, but something told him that with Ezra Standish on the Chimera team, normality had just been blown out of the window.

Ezra left the room from the last of his exams, Law, looking pale and worn. He walked down the corridor, ignoring everyone, and finally leaned against a wall. He had tried to ignore the unspoken expectations and the blinding pressure of having to pass for three months. Well, tried was the key word. It hadn't really worked and while he had had good mid-term grades, these grades had nearly broken his will. His class mates had wanted to see him fail and the few who actually talked to him were too scared to speak up. He had taken a lot of strength from Chris, his mere presence in the back of his mind, though he was aware that he was putting his partner under the same pressure he was feeling.
Chris had left for some kind of pick-up or other the last week. Ezra suspected Travis was behind this, getting the two partners away from each other. Sadly enough, Chris's sudden non-presence had sent the thief into a sudden decline as the emptiness in his head threatened to swallow what was left of him. It was a shock, like being back on BP-379, in that bar, drinking himself to oblivion to forget what he was going to lose. He didn't know how he had managed to go through the following ten days.
Ez?>
Startled, Ezra opened his eyes and pushed away from the wall he had been leaning against.
Chris?>
Hope flared inside him and as he finally allowed himself to feel the bond again, he heard it whisper in response. The older man walked up to him smiling. Tired, hazel eyes ran over the pale, features, searching, questioning. "You made it."
"You don't know that. I can still fail." Ezra fell back against the wall once more, tilting back his head to gaze at the ceiling. He just wanted to collapse somewhere.
"I severely doubt that."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Chris smiled and joined him, leaning his slender frame against the wall. "Results will be available next week."
Ezra closed his eyes, feeling exhaustion creep through him. After a moment he gathered the last strands of his control.
Chris, I….. want to apologize>
What for?> Chris asked suspiciously.
The thief smiled tiredly. Everything. Especially he backlashes over the link. It wasn't my intention at the time. Then there is what I said to you, called you…. I didn't really mean it, Chris>
Larabee smiled. "Know that, Ez," he said aloud. "You up for a beer? The others are already at Nettie's and wondered if you might want to unwind a bit."
That was that. Nothing more. No more explanations, no more shouting matches, nothing at all. Simple acceptance.
Ezra drew a shuddering breath. "Don't even know how to do that anymore."
Chris chuckled. "After two of Nettie's Specials you'll know."
"Are you in a generous mood, Commander?" Ezra teased.
"Buck is."
He pushed away from the wall, followed by Chris, and they walked down the corridor. "What'd the illustrious Mr. Wilmington do? Lose a bet?"
"No, he owes Josiah one." Chris grinned as Ezra shot him an inquiring look. "Long story, but it has to do with a blonde woman and her not so happy husband."
Ezra gave a snort of laughter. "I should have known."

* * *

"Commander Larabee, Mr. Standish." Orrin Travis regarded the two men who now stood in front of his desk, marveling again how two so different individuals had been brought together by a mind link.
Chris Larabee was completely at ease. Ezra Standish wasn't. Oh, he looked the part on the outside, but there was an expression in his eyes that the Judge was familiar with. Stubbornness. The man had yet to accept his new life, his new place, and he was fighting the Agency in his own way. While Standish wanted to be part of the Chimera team, he was not willing to give up his independence.
"I have Mr. Standish's test results," Travis went on, keeping a close eye on the former thief.
No muscle twitched in the smooth features, but the tension rose. 'Poker face' some of his instructors called the expression and Travis had to agree. The boy had it down to an art.
"I thought I'd deliver the news myself."
Standish looked like he was about to say something, a scathing remark, but like before, Chris kept him back. No words, only silence, not even a direct look. Just an almost invisible twitch.
"You've passed with good marks, Mr. Standish. My congratulations."
"Thank you, sir," Standish replied neutrally.
"That means you are now partaking in the practicals." Travis folded his hands, resting them on the test results. The exams had been surprisingly good, he had to confess. The thief excelled at Law and Finances, which shouldn't have come as a great surprise considering his past, but not every criminal really knew much about the laws he was breaking or money. "Because of your rather unique status, we had to make a few changes in the practicals to accommodate you."
Standish raised an eyebrow. "My unique status, sir?"
Travis smiled. "There are several factors playing into this that other recruits can't present us with. First of all, you are a Borderline."
The man's face froze up completely. Raw wound, Travis thought to himself, and judging from Chris's expression, one he shouldn't have touched. There was an almost protective spark in those hazel eyes, the posture tensing up slightly, but the commander didn't object.
"Your abilities supercede those of other trainees in that area. Since these abilities are now at the disposal of the Agency, we want to see how you handle yourself in the field."
"I wasn't aware the Agency had a mounted regiment," was the dry comment.
Travis smiled more. "No, we don't. What we have is a team of very good Agents who will get you as an addition. Among them is a man who is linked to you, Mr. Standish, through a mental bond. I have talked to Dr. Jackson at length and he has assured me that while you aren't a telepath, you and Commander Larabee can communicate silently."
Chris looked curious, even slightly cautious, but he still didn't speak up.
"I see this mental link as a weak spot and a formidable weapon. Gentlemen, I want to know how you both handle yourself in the field. It would be wrong just to put Mr. Standish's abilities to a test since they are so tightly interwoven with yours, Commander."
Chris frowned. "Sir?"
"I have spoken to Major Olden. He has prepared the course for both of you."
Standish stared at him, slight shock visible in the green eyes. Chris just blinked.
"You want me to run the obstacle course with Ezra?" he finally asked.
"Exactly. While I'm aware of the fact that you had your annual requalification already, Chris, this is something no one could have foreseen. Agent Standish isn't only a new team member but also your partner." Travis leaned forward, regarding the younger man seriously. "I can't sanction this team without knowing that you are qualified to work together."
"Sir, I think we proved that on BP-379," Chris replied tightly.
"Under completely different circumstances."
"Sir…."
"I'm not going to change my mind, Commander Larabee. The two of you. Be glad I didn't ask for the whole team to run the obstacle course. I doubt they would be happy about it."
"And I am?" Standish muttered, disgust audible in his voice.
"Major Olden has orders to pick you up at 0800 hours sharp tomorrow morning. I'd advice you to get some sleep. That would be all, gentlemen."

Ezra was in shock as he left the Judge's office. He wasn't even aware of Chris's presence until the older man touched his shoulder. He jumped, startled, and Larabee smiled slightly.
"Half as bad as it sounds," he said.
"Says you."
"Ezra, I've run the obstacle course before. It's mostly endurance and strategy."
"I doubt the honorable Judge Travis want us to partake in the normal field test," the thief sighed. "Didn't you listen between the lines? This is a test for my Borderline abilities and the link. Running and jumping over obstacles isn't exactly a test for that."
"For a Kiowata it is."
Ezra only grimaced.

* * *

"The obstacle course is divided into sections. Each is different to test different skills and to provoke different reactions. Sometimes you have to combine knowledge with ability, sometimes only trust your instincts."
Major Peter Olden looked at the only two participants of this game. Olden was a senior member of the Agency. He had long since left the active field duty and had turned his skills and knowledge to training recruits as well as requalifying already active Agents. What Travis had asked of him had surprised him a notch, but he was a man who asked few questions when it came to orders from above.
"You operate within a time limit, gentlemen. Forty-eight hours, to be precise. From start to finish. I don't care how you reach your goals, whether together or alone, but in the end, I want to see both of you standing at the finish line with time to spare!"
Standish smirked. "Yes, sir," he drawled.
Olden shot the shorter man a sharp look, but it didn't seem to impress him. Travis had given him an idea who Ezra Standish was, that he would be the newest addition to the Chimera, but he hadn't explained a lot about the background the man had. Or just why Larabee was supposed to go through the test run as well.
"You have the basic equipment of an Agent in the field," the Major went on. "Your food supply lasts for the first day. Everything else is up to you. In case you run into trouble, send up flares. We're monitoring you and can be at your site in minutes. Now, gentlemen, suit up and get ready to go."
Chris shot Ezra a quick look and the thief gave him a cocky smile. They checked their equipment and then walked over to the starting line. The whole test was happening in the middle of nowhere down on a planet Ezra had never been to. It wasn't unlike Earth, but sparsely settled under the Joined Government Act to protect natural resources. Finding a stretch of wild and unsettled land wasn't hard. The Agency had several boot camps down here and this obstacle course was just one of three major ones in the area. Chris himself had never partaken in this particular one, but it didn't look any worse than what he had to do in his requalification.
Before them was a stretch of empty plains all the way to where a forest started to obscure the sight. And just after that rose a mountain.
"We have to make good on time in the beginning," he told his partner who was methodically checking their supplies once more.
They had a map and a compass which told them where to go. That was about it. Now Ezra looked up and there was a glint in the green eyes that told Chris that he understood just too well what his partner had planned.
"Speed is a major determining factor," he agreed. "The question is, are we ready to shock the good Major?" The thief grinned.
Chris chuckled. "We are to use our abilities and skill, Agent Standish," he admonished. "We should."

Travis stood in front of the monitors that gave him a good idea of the obstacle course. Currently he was watching the screen where the two men in question were talking with each other. Major Olden had joined him, giving the Judge a curt nod that said everything was prepared and ready.
"I hope you know what you are doing, sir," Olden said, frowning at the screens.
"I do, Major."
"The time limit is rather tight for two men to reach the end of the course on foot."
"I'm aware of that."
Travis felt the beginning of a smile as he watched Chris suddenly take off his vest. Olden frowned.
"What is he doing?"
"Using his skills."
Olden's frown turned into raised eyebrows as Larabee neatly folded his vest, shirt and t-shirt, then proceeded to further undress. Standish was simply tugging the articles of clothing into the backpacks, which he had knotted and roped together.
"Sir?"
"Major?"
"This is…." The man looked flustered.
"An expected reactions, Major Olden. Commander Larabee is operating within expected parameters."
Olden was about to say something when he almost choked on his words. One moment there was a naked man, the next a large, black equine with two rather dangerous looking horns stood next to Standish, who didn't even look surprised. Travis had to say he was impressed, by both the transformation and the result. He had never seen Chris as a Kiowata and looking at him now, seeing the difference in size to a horse and to Standish, he started to understand a few remarks in the reports he had from BP-379.
"Major, I don't have to remind you that this test and everything you see is classified," the Judge remarked calmly.
"No, sir," Olden managed, shock and disbelief on his features.
"Good."
Travis watched as Standish swung the backpacks onto the broad back, then hoisted himself up. The whole transformation and subsequent preparation hadn't taken any longer than ten minutes. The two Agents were off in a cloud of dust from one moment to the other, the Kiowata's long legs eating up the distance. Not much later they had disappeared into the forest.

*

Progress was made swiftly and effortlessly. Ezra had fallen into his role as Chris's rider easily and Chris was proceeding at a light canter that preserved his energy. Memories of BP-379 rose unbidden and both men were lost in their thoughts as they passed through the forest. They stopped near a stream around midday and Ezra filled their cantines. Chris grazed nearby, having no problems finding food as a Kiowata. Ezra simply chose to still his appetite with one of the dry bars from the survival packs.
Penny for your thoughts>
Startled, Ezra looked up and found Chris watching him. "Just thinking," he replied softly.
'bout what?>
With a sigh, the thief straightened out his legs and leaned back against a tree trunk. "How it seems unfair of Travis to condemn you to this just because of me," he said openly.
Chris flicked one ear, slightly puzzled. Condemn me? Ezra, this isn't punishment>
"Oh really? Our honorable Judge won't say it out loud, but he doesn't trust me to participate in a normal obstacle course like the other rookies because he thinks I'll cheat."
Anger crossed the young features and Chris felt a pang of shock. He doesn't, Ezra> he tried.
"Of course not, commander." The tone was suddenly biting. "Which is why he ordered you on a case ten days before the finals. Which is why he removed you physically as well as mentally out of my reach. He knows about the bond. He interviewed Nathan down to the very last byte of information. He knows distance will obscure the connection and plunge us into non-communication!"
Chris walked closer, hazel eyes full of concern. Ezra, it's not true. Travis sent me off because I was becoming a danger to myself and the others because of the stress I picked up from you. I was unable to think rationally any more and not even Vin's training helped to better it. He did the only thing possible>
Ezra refused to look at him. "Just like now? Can't find a new case, can he?"
Running both of us through the obstacle course makes sense. Ezra, with you on the team, operations and missions will change. Not because of who you are, not because of your past, but because of what you and I can do. And by the way> Chris added as he saw Standish's scowl, I wouldn't be able to help you through an endurance and skill test anyway>
The thief huffed and glared at a hapless sapling near-by. "So why just the two of us? Why not let the others in on the fun?"
Chris chuckled. Count yourself lucky. Buck snores like a chainsaw, JD can make you sick with exuberance, Josiah starts talking nature and Nathan keeps popping up and asking medical stuff. Vin's about the only one you can safely say you won't even know he's there unless he is needed>
Ezra found himself smiling against his better judgment. He looked at the folded map next to him and picked it up. He consulted the compass and silently studied the landmarks.
"If we want to make it to the mountain, we should go," he said after a while.
Chris had to agree. Your turn tomorrow> he sent.
Ezra gave him a look of disbelief. "What?"
You heard me>
"It's your blistered derrière, Commander."
Chris had never ridden a Kiowata and the last time he had actually sat on a horse had been a long time ago. Without a saddle, riding bare-back would be quite a comeback into the world of equine transportation.
But the switch was necessary. Ezra understood Chris's need to be human for a while and their progress would be faster if that was accompanied by Ezra turning into a Kiowata. It would also continue to preserve food.

Travis kept an eye on the proceedings. He had been slightly surprised that Chris had been the one to change into his alternate form. He would have suspected that the commander would order his new Agent to do it. Looking at the team, the ease with which Standish held himself on the large equine, he understood more and more. This had been the pairing on BP-379. It was easier to fall back into the old pattern.
The first obstacle was passed with relative little problems. The wide river had a few tricky passages, but Standish had discovered a rather shallow part. Very unexpected, he had dismounted and led Chris through. The canyon had been tricky, but the bridge, while looking old and brittle, was far from it. The only problem was that it didn't have wooden planks. It was a rope and knot construction. Chris had changed back into a human since a Kiowata couldn't possibly get across.
The two had then walked for another thirty minutes, both human, and then sought a shelter for the night.

* * *

The next day began before sunrise. Chris had woken just as the sky was turning a bluish gray and he had immediately woken Ezra. The thief wasn't a morning person and Larabee had to chuckle as he watched the man almost sleep-walk around and clean up the camp. It was a sight he had grown used to on BP-379, though back then Ezra had insisted to sleep till the sun was actually out and not move until his system had kicked back in. Today they didn't have the luxury. They had a mountain to scale.
Both men trudged up the barely visible slop that had clearly been made by the local wildlife. The underbrush and the trees were too dense to ride through, and the slope was too steep and rocky to be safe for a Kiowata. Suddenly Chris stopped and Ezra almost ran into him.
"Chris?" he inquired.
"Trouble," the Agent said softly and nodded at the ground. He crouched down and ran his fingers over a patch of smooth earth where splatters of what looked like paint stained the leaves.
Ezra was confused, then looked around. With a frown he took in the peaceful scenery. "Obstacle course, hm?" he remarked casually.
Chris straightened and nodded, rubbing the dry paint off his fingers. "Lots and lots of traps."
The two stood silently side by side.
"Triggers?" Ezra inquired.
"Could be everything. Infrared, motion sensors, weight….."
Ezra frowned. "I doubt it's a motion sensor alone. Or infrared. These woods teem with life. Everything in here would be covered in paint otherwise."
"Combined?"
"Possible, but still the same results."
Chris nodded slowly, still not moving. "Size and weight?"
"Do you know what kind of animals live here?"
"No."
"Then it might be possible. But if they have wildlife the size of deer, it's another risk factor."
Chris frowned. "Species," he then said softly.
Ezra raised one eyebrow. "One of the instructors mentioned that, but it's still experimental."
Chris's lips quirked into a wry smile. "The obstacle course is the best way to test something experimental, don't you think."
"Quite. So, ideas?"
"One. You won't like it."
Ezra met the hazel eyes and suddenly shook his head. "I'm not changing."
"You have to."
"You change, I'll hang on to you."
"No go. Even if the paint balls don't hit you and only me, we lose. We both have to become something else." I know how you feel about being Borderline, about the Kiowata, but we have to move on, or turn around. We can't walk around the mountains….>
Ezra sighed and shook his head. I hate these choice> he muttered and slid off the backpack.
Chris stilled the motion to unzip his vest. "Me first. I'll carry the packs. Just strap them on tightly."
The thief nodded wordlessly.

Travis nodded to himself as he watched the two animals. When Standish had changed, the Judge had been in for a new surprise. He wouldn't have thought the man would do it. The reddish brown Kiowata was smaller than the black one, but still larger than a horse. The two proceeded through the mine field without encountering a single paint pellet.

"This can't be right."
Ezra tilted his head and regarded the sight before them with a critical expression. "It's a landslide."
"I know what it is, but it can't be."
"Physical proof tells us otherwise."
Chris shot the smaller man a sharp look, then shook his head as he saw the well-known obnoxious grin on the smooth features.
"I meant this can't be our obstacle course."
"Why not?"
Chris ran a hand through his blond hair. "Because," he said slowly, "landslides are group obstacles. I had one before, years ago, with the whole team. It takes a lot more than just the two of us to get over this or through."
Ezra looked thoughtfully at the pile of rocks. "Maybe Judge Travis thought we could scale it with our… unique abilities?" There was a lot of sarcasm in the remark.
Larabee shook his head. "No, this must be wrong." He took out the wrinkled looking map and studied it.
"So we give up?"
Ezra almost regretted the question when he saw Chris's expression. He gave the man a cocky grin. "Thought not. Around it?"
"We have to." Chris stabbed a finger at the map. "We'll have to move down the mountain and then pick up speed along the plains here."
Ezra looked at the topographic map. "Long detour."
"It's the only way."
It took them almost three hours to get down the mountainside without breaking any bones, though Chris once slipped and twisted his ankle. It was a light injury and didn't swell, but it hampered them.
Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, Ezra shed his backpack.
"Ezra?"
"We have to move fast to get where we have to be," the thief said matter-of-factly. "You can't race in your condition, in either form, so we switch." He flashed Chris a grin. "As I recall, it is my turn anyway."
Chris chuckled and nodded. He started to tie the backpacks together as Ezra changed, then stuffed the other man's clothing into the packs. Getting onto the broad back gave him a lot more appreciation for what Ezra had done on a regular basis back on BP-379. Standish as a Kiowata was smaller than Chris, and Chris was a human was taller than Ezra. Still, it was with difficulty that he got on. It was awkward to sit without a saddle or reigns.
Relax, Chris> Ezra whispered in his mind, then started to move.
"Whoa," Chris muttered, adjusting his position.
You'll get used to it>
"Hope so."

"They have left the grid?"
Olden nodded, frowning at the displays. None of the cameras inside the set parameters picked up the two Agents. Travis matched the frown but for different reasons.
"Find them!" he ordered.
"We are searching for them as we speak, sir." Suddenly the major cursed softly.
Travis walked over to the screen the other man was looking at and discovered the reason. "Landslide?" he inquired.
"Yes. Pretty recent. I checked the course three days prior to the scheduled date. Everything was fine."
The Judge gave him a stern look. "It is no longer, Major Olden. Now, where are my men?"
The instructor keyed in a few commands the computer widened the grid, setting new parameters. "They have moved down the only way open to them, without having to backtrack." He pointed at the sloping mountainside. "That puts them right about here….."

They had plowed through the forest for what seemed like hours. Chris was growing sick and tired of the lush green trees, bushes and vines. Ezra's sure-footed gait never faltered as he stepped gracefully over upturned roots and evaded mossy patches that looked treacherously solid but were far from it. Flies were buzzing around them and somewhere far up in the trees the never-ending chatter of birds accompanied them.
Whoa!>
Ezra stopped all of a sudden, ears pricked, nostrils widening slightly.
"What is it?" Chris asked quietly, his weapon ready.
End of the road>
Sliding off the back, Chris landed silently next to his partner and gave the stretch of land before him a narrow-eyed look. The forest had grown lighter the past minutes and had finally cleared almost completely. There were a few dead trees ahead of them, vines curling around the bleached remnants. Bushes clung stubbornly to some patches of light brown ground, but few of them looked like they were actually still alive.
Quicksand> Ezra commented neutrally.
Chris picked up a rock and tossed it out into the deceptively smooth clearing. It landed with a wet thud and, after ten seconds, started to slowly sink.
"Backtrack and detour," he decided, swinging himself back onto the Kiowata.
Ezra followed their trail for a while, then walked to the left. For another thirty minutes they rode parallel to the quicksand pits, but without much change. Ezra had to go deeper and deeper back into the forest because the quicksand kept stretching inward, taking over. They stopped again.
"There has to be a way across," Chris muttered.
Sure. Might take us days, though> Ezra muttered darkly.
"Which we don't have."
Exactly. We're already late>
Chris thoughtfully gazed at the quicksand, then at Ezra.
What?>
"How did you know not to go any further," the blond asked after a while.
Ezra stomped the ground once, a Kiowata's expression of a frown. I…. just knew>
"Instinct?"
Kiowata instinct> was the careful reply.
Larabee looked at the obstacle before them, then back at Ezra, a slow smile spreading over his features. Ezra stared at him and realization set in as the idea leaked over the Bond.
Oh no!>
"Oh yes."
Oh no!> he objected, more violently, dancing away. I'm not going to give up my mind and entrust myself to those nether instincts!>
Chris grabbed the narrow head between his hands, fingers exuding light pressure. He met the pale green eyes, feeling Ezra fight him through the bond.
"I'm not asking you to entrust yourself to your animal instincts, Ezra. I'm asking you to trust me."
Conflicting emotions, fear, denial, survival instinct and trust, raced through the younger man.
You have no idea what it means…>
"Don't I?"
I could lose myself, Chris> he whispered.
"No, you won't. I'll make sure of that. We share a Bond, Ezra. Trust me to guide you. Trust your instincts to guide us."
I … I can't….>
"Yes, you can, Ezra." Trust me>
I do, but…. This is… a lot, Chris>
I know it is> Chris whispered intensely, using the mental link only. But if we want to reach the finish line, if we want to prove we can do this, you have to trust me not to let you fall. And I won't>
Ezra snorted nervously, tail flicking wildly. He pawed the ground, but Chris's grip wouldn't let him pull his head away without hurting himself or his partner.
What if… I can't come back?>
You will, partner>
But…>
You will!> Chris finally let him go, hands falling to his side. "Your choice, Ezra. I won't force you."
Ezra turned to look at the treacherous ground before him. He knew it was the only way; at least the only way to get across in time to finish this test in the set limit. What Chris was asking was a lot. If he consciously retreated out of his waking mind, if he turned the reign over to the Kiowata, and it Chris lost control, Ezra Standish wouldn't be able to come back. He would be stuck as a backseat driver and eventually wither away. Shrivel up and cease to exist.
If he didn't do this, Travis would win.
Pride flared up inside him. Pride and determination. He wouldn't let the Agency win. He wouldn't give up just now. He wouldn't let the others gloat.
Get on> he said quietly.
Chris smiled, gently patting the sleek neck before he swung back onto the Kiowata. Ezra's nervousness was taking on a life of its own, flooding the connection. He was valiantly fighting against his fear of losing against the animal side, battling it with the stubbornness Chris had come to know so well. He relaxed his mind, felt along the bond, and placed one hand onto the warm skin beneath him.
Trust me> he sent, letting each word seep into the consciousness.

"Quicksand?" Travis exclaimed. "Olden!"
The Major looked flustered and more than a little bit at a loss. "Sir, they left the grid when the landslide forced them to go the other way. The quicksand isn't on the normal course. It's for special training purposes only."
"I don't care what it's for, Major. Get my men out of there!"
Olden nodded, then stared at the screen. "Ah, Judge, Sir, I think it's already too late for that."
Travis followed the eyes and started cursing at his obstinate and too-stubborn-for-their-own-good Agents.

Ezra felt a tremor race through his mind, then he consciously let go of control. He slid back and let the Kiowata take hold. It was like falling into his own mind, no safety ropes, no net, no bottom. He could feel the animal rising to the forefront, pawing and skittish, and the thief had to hold back not to reign in control again, take over.

Chris was aware of the change almost immediately. For one second there was Ezra, the warm presence he knew; then there was just a presence without a human mind, human emotions, or the understanding Ezra P. Standish had. The Kiowata felt different, was more skittish, distrustful, and more temperamental.
"Ho, boy," he murmured, patting the neck.
He let his voice take on a gentle, soothing quality as he guided the sorrel toward the quicksand. He had no reigns, no halter, only his legs and his voice. One hand kept contact with the strong neck, the other rubbed the dark mane.
The Kiowata's steps were hesitant, careful. On a deep level it trusted the voice and followed the commands, the leg pressure, the coaxing. But there was also its survival instinct that told it that where it should go was danger. Chris strengthened his hold on the bond, infusing it with calmness, but the Kiowata shied more than once, prancing, almost turning back.
"It's okay, boy. It's okay. Pick your way. Ho…."
Nervous snorts were the only sounds Chris could hear; the blasts from the wide open nostrils. The muscles beneath his fingers were tight as coils and the pointed ears lay flat back against the skull. The Kiowata froze twice and Chris urged it on, cajoling, talking, exuding calm and trust in his partner's abilities. He didn't think of the danger they were in, only the pride he felt, that Ezra could do this, that they would get through this in one piece. Ears turned back and forth, listening to his voice, and the Kiowata moved along the firm path between the sinkholes that would drown them if they misstepped.
"That's it, partner," he murmured. "Steady. Yes, you can do it."
Chris wasn't even aware that they were on firm ground until he heard the whinnying. He turned around and stared at the patch of quicksand, and let out an explosive sigh.
"We made it," he whispered. "By god, we made it!"

Travis released a breath he hadn't been aware of holding onto. Olden sank back into his chair, rubbing a shaky hand over his tired features.
"Damnit, Chris," Travis whispered. "Damnit!"
He had only a faint idea what had happened just now. He might also never get the whole truth out of the two men, but for a moment he had seen the true depth of this connection and something told him that Standish had put a lot of trust into his partner. Whatever had occurred, the two were now on firm and very safe grounds.
"What's their position in relation to the finish line, Major Olden?"
Olden consulted the grid map. "They are five grid points off the ideal route."
Travis nodded.
"Do you want me to call a rescue unit?"
"No, Major, I doubt that would be a good idea." Travis allowed himself a smile as he watched the screen. "If there aren't any more surprises between here and the finish line, we should prepare to greet our two participants quite soon."
"Sir, it's five grid points!"
"Major?"
"Sir?"
Travis just shook his head, deciding not to say anything. He just rose and left the room.

Larabee slid off the Kiowata and the animal nuzzled him as he patted its side. Instinctively reaching along the Bond he sent a burst of pride and joy as he gave in to his exulted feelings.
Ezra? Ez? C'mon partner, let's get back to the foreground here. Ezra, you there?>
C…hris> a weak, shaky voice answered.
Chris grabbed the head again and stared into the pale eyes. "That's the spirit. Come on, take control," he coaxed, feeling the well-known consciousness fight its way back.
I'm …. back, I think>
"Course you are." Chris couldn't stop the grin from forming on his lips. "Damn right you are!"
The thief sent a weak chuckle. Language, commander>
"To hell with it!"
Whatever happens next, Chris, I'm not doing that any time soon ever again!>
The blond laughed. "Not asking you to, partner. Not asking you to." Then he grew serious. "Thanks for trusting me, Ezra."
There was a moment of silence and Ezra awkwardly met the hazel eyes. I trust you with my life, Chris. You know that>
Wasn't your life I asked for this time> Chris replied silently.
He turned away and went to check the backpacks. Ezra just watched him, unable to answer, unable to say anything.
"We lost a lot of time," Larabee went on, trying to regain some normality, which Ezra was thankful for. "Time to make up for it. We have three more hours till we start losing points."
So what's your plan?"
Chris's lips drew into a mischievous smile. "Run?"

Thundering hoof beats announced the return of the two Agents and Travis had to hold onto himself not to laugh out loud. He should have known. Kiowata were fast. Very, very fast. They easily beat horses and they had stamina. The only way the team could have made the five grid points in time was on four feet, and by steadily increasing pace. Checking his watch, the Judge nodded. Ten minutes past the appointed time, but still, considering the detour and the circumstances, it was record time.
The reddish brown Kiowata stopped just outside the building that served as the last checkpoint, covered in sweat, slightly out of breath. On its back sat the disheveled looking form of Chris Larabee. His hazel eyes bore into Travis and Olden as if daring the two men to say anything. Travis simply smiled and gave a nod.
"Gentlemen, you are late," he commented.
The sorrel snorted and there was a look of disgust in the pale green eyes. There was a twitch around Larabee's lips and a twinkle in his eyes.
"I'd advise you freshen up," the older man went on, "so we can proceed with the evaluation." He turned, hiding his grin as he heard another snort, again from the smaller sorrel.

"Late," Ezra muttered as he pulled on his t-shirt, glaring at the wardrobe. "Late! He should be glad we arrived at all!"
Chris finger-combed his wet hair and shot his partner an amused look. Ezra had been grumbling about the Judge ever since the remark that they were late. The thief was riled up and ready to go for blood if Travis so much as criticized their time.
"Ezra, shut up," he advised good-naturedly.
Green eyes glared at him full force and Larabee answered them with an even broader smile.
"We have an evaluation waiting," the older Agent reminded him.
"Evaluation? This isn't an evaluation, it's a crucification! I know I failed and he doesn't have to rub it in!" Ezra angrily pulled on his jacket and slammed the wardrobe's door shut.
"We didn't fail. We arrived later than we should have, but we arrived. I've seen teams do a lot worse." Relax, Ez, okay?>
Ezra screwed his eyes shut for a second and inhaled deeply. "Chris, don't you realize what it means if I didn't pass? It's over."
Larabee shook his head. "It's not and now move your ass, Standish, or we'll get bad marks because we are late."
The thief marched past him, face a mask. Chris shook his head. He understood Ezra's fear only too well, but he didn't believe that they had failed. Got some points deducted from the overall performance, but not failure on a broad range.

Travis sat at the conference table, watching the two men enter. "Gentlemen, take a seat."
Ezra slid into the seat left of Chris, a defiant mask on his features. Chris was looking his usual, alert self.
"I have your performance records here," the Judge started, tapping two folders. "In your case, Mr. Standish, only your recent performance in this course, additionally to your exams. Well, we evaluated your entire time on the obstacle course and, gentlemen, I have to say you surprised me. I had thought you had understood the rules of the game."
There was a flash in the green eyes of the thief, but no muscle twitched. Travis allowed a smile to surface, one that didn't give much away.
"Your goal was to traverse the terrain within forty-eight hours, using your individual skills and the equipment in your possession to reach your goal. While you did reach the finish line, your conduct was, let me say, quite outside the set rules. The obstacle course is supposed to be crossed on foot."
Chris frowned. "Sir, we were on foot."
"I'm aware that the manual doesn't mention equines as a non-acceptable mode of transportation, but you were not on foot per se."
Something in Standish's eyes flared, but he fought it down. Travis had to give him a few points concerning his emotional control.
"You also left the grid assigned to you and our observation angles."
"There was a landslide."
"I'm aware of that."
"It was the only way around it, Sir," Chris added, voice cool and controlled.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You lost valuable time circumventing the landslide and got injured in the process."
"I still insist that it was the only way." Chris met the Judge's eyes steadily.
"Commander Larabee, if I'm not mistaken you are the man in command of the Chimera team." Travis leaned forward, folding his hands over the papers. "But you stepped back and let another agent, a rookie, too, take over control and command."
This time a muscle twitched in Standish's face and the glare in his eyes told Travis a lot of what had to be going on inside the connection between his two men. For a brief moment, the same anger showed in Chris's eyes, but he fought it down.
"I made a decision based on circumstances, Sir. Agent Standish was best suited for the task and I gave him free reign."
"As I understand it, you also ordered him to release control of his abilities."
It was like a slap in the face and Ezra paled, his hands clenching briefly.
"No, sir," Chris replied, voice deceptively calm. "I didn't order him."
"Why not? You were the commander of the team."
"Sir, I never assumed this was a test of leadership skills since there was no team to lead. Agent Standish operated as my partner, not an inferior."
Travis held the cool, hazel eyes. "As the senior Agent on the course, wouldn't it have been your responsibility to lead a younger recruit?"
"In any other situation maybe, but the circumstances demanded adaptation. Agent Standish was best suited to lead us across the quicksand."
"Even if he had to give up control on his abilities and turn the field over to the animal inside?"
Ezra clenched his jaw so hard, Travis was afraid he'd hear teeth shatter soon. The younger man was hard pressed not to just shoot out of his chair and run from the harsh, accusing words.
"Yes, Sir," Chris only answered, a slight challenge in his voice.
"So after you disregarded the basic rules of this test, left the assigned grid, and could have made a fatal mistake, the two of you also arrived ten minutes late," Travis summed it all up, delivering his final blow.
"Considering the detour," Standish spoke up for the very first time, "we were early. Sir," he added coldly.
Travis smiled. "That is your interpretation of things, Agent Standish. Your assigned time was up, that is all that interests me."
He let his eyes wander over the two different men in front of him, taking in the tense posture, the disbelief in Larabee's eyes, the barely suppressed anger in Standish's. Ezra finally looked at his clenched hands.
"Well, gentlemen, the results of this little exercise can't be changed."
The thief's shoulders slumped in defeat. Chris's head turned quickly, wordlessly looking at his partner, but Standish refused to meet his eyes.
"Sir," Larabee spoke up, but Travis raised a hand.
"Let me finish."
"Why?" Ezra mumbled. "Not yet run out of scathing remarks?" Defiance flared in his eyes, but he quickly looked away as Travis returned the gaze.
"As I said before, you have shown quite a disregard for rules. I didn't expect anything less from you. You have shown me that you have the loyalty and trust in each other's talents and person I had hoped to find. You went up against impossible odds and mastered them in a brilliant adaptation to changed situations, using the abilities, skills and knowledge at your disposal." Travis had to hide his smile as Standish's head snapped up and the thief stared at him in silent disbelief. "I wanted to know if you two could operate under the pressure of a limited amount of time, I wanted to know if you could trust in each other's abilities. I know what happened on BP-379 should have given me enough material, but circumstances were different."
Chris shook his head, hiding a smile, while Ezra still stared.
"Well, Commander, congratulations to your new operative. Agent Standish is of now an official member of the Chimera team. Agent Standish, well done."
"Ezra, stop staring. It's impolite," Chris told his partner, not even trying to keep his voice down.
Ezra blinked, then looked first at Chris, then Travis. "I… passed?" he asked, voice strangely strangled.
"I think I just said that, Agent Standish."
Chris clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, Agent, congratulations."
"Thanks." Ezra sounded stunned.
"You are aware that you aren't to talk about this test to anyone," Travis remarked.
Chris nodded. "I am, sir. C'mon, Ezra, time to get back home and tell the others. I think Buck's bursting to throw a party in your honor."

Outside, Ezra felt the tension suddenly drain away and a tremor raced through his body. He had made it. He was in the Agency, on Chris's team. He was in law enforcement. The weight of it all crashed down on him and he groaned.
Chris shot him an inquiring look.
"I think I need my faculties checked," Ezra sighed. "How did I ever allow myself to fall into a career in law enforcement?"
Chris could only laugh at the plaintive question. He clapped a hand on his partner's shoulder and gave him a slight push toward the waiting shuttle. Chris had no doubt that from now on, things would definitely never be the same again.

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