Chapter 6: The Diffusion

            Bill bent over his desk and scribbled his signature onto the latest form. Great. Only a hundred and twenty seven to go. He sighed. Sometimes it just didn't pay to get out of the sickbed. Faint murmurs of conversation wafted in through his open door, proof positive of an existence outside the endless wall of paperwork. He hadn't shut it entirely when he'd entered the office, and didn't feel like getting up to do so now. In fact, he sort of liked it. The noise served as an impetus to get the work done, a sort of 'light at the end of the tunnel' thing. And he needed all the encouragement he could get today.

            Now he became aware of one voice in particular wafting in. Effy had a very distinctive note to her words, not quite an accent but rather a dry tone that was utterly unique to the lioness, and he recognized it now though her voice was raised in anger. He strained to hear, but the soundproofing of the mostly shut door muffled all but the hum of the conversation. She was most definitely bitching out SOMEONE, however, and Bill squashed a brief moment of relief that it wasn't him. I really should go out there and stop her. Whoever it is, the way she's been acting, they can't have deserved it. He listened again, trying to discern the identity of the victim. Then he frowned.

            "That's odd. 'Can't hear anyone else. Is she yelling at the wall now?! Not that I'd put it past her." Bill looked blankly at the paperwork for a moment. Then he got up. A little break wouldn't be too bad, and his interest was piqued now. He just had to see what was going on.

            The husky poked his head around the corner. There she was all right, but it was the person standing opposite her that really caught Bill's attention. His mouth fell open.  Scott Roman cringed against the hallway wall as if wishing he could disappear. His pale brown eyes were as large as saucers and he seemed to collapse a little more into himself with every vituperative word hurled his way. He didn't say a word, of course.

            "…And another thing. Why are you always lurking about like this?! You're like a freaking ghost! Always popping up when you're least expected, or wanted. And I, for one, am sick and tired of tripping over you! Honestly, have a little respect and try to stay out of people's way! It's the least you could do if you have to burden us with your presence." She straightened and tapped her fingers against her arm with unconcealed irritation. "Well? Don't you have anything to say for yourself?!"

            If anything, Roman's eyes widened. If there was one thing the dog feared more than anything else, it was being forced to speak. He gulped, took a deep, drowning breath, and then stuttered. "I…I…uh…I was just getting a cup of tea…"

            "Tea?!" Effy practically shrieked. "Who in this God given universe drinks tea nowadays?! For the love of life, Roman, grow up!"

            Bill couldn't believe his ears. If there was one non-written, utterly unbreakable code in Katina Base it was that no one, bar NO ONE, yelled at Roman. The mute-by-choice had been through enough abuse, and dealt with enough hardship already in his short life. The universe seemed to have a grudge against him personally and the canine dealt with it by going silent and going scared. So why make the problem worse by yelling at him? This had to stop.

            "Effy," Bill said, stepping out of his office. Unconsciously he slipped into 'commander mode', his voice turning serious and his visage grim. As much as the husky joked around normally, no one disobeyed him when his face looked like that. Some things just aren't wise.

            Effy sighed and muttered something that sounded like, "God save me from idiots everywhere," before turning to face him. She noted his expression and her own grew a little less terse. But only a little. "What do you want?"

            "Leave Roman alone, okay?"

            "Oh, so you're his wet nurse now? How cute for you."

            He ignored her and turned to his still cringing subordinate. "You okay there, Roman?"

            The dog shook for a moment, and then nodded once, hastily.

            "Then why don't you go on back to your office. I'll have Didi bring you in your tea. You know she knows exactly how you like it." Bill smiled kindly at him for a moment before turning cold hazel eyes to Effy once more. "I have to speak to the Lieutenant Commander in private for a moment."

            Roman glanced between the two of them, nodded, and backed away. He kept a chary gaze on the lioness the entire time, as if he expected her to leap at him, disappearing at last around a corner. Effy watched him go with a sour expression.

            The Commander turned around and started walking. "In my office. Now."

            Once inside Bill settled down into his chair and folded his hands in front of him on the desk. He raised his eyebrows and looked at the other grimly. "Now. You wanna tell me what that was all about?"

            She sneered at him. "What what was all about?"

            "What…?" Bill stopped in surprise for a moment. "Yelling at Roman. What was that all about?"

            "He deserved it."

            "Roman?! What'd he do, look at you funny?"

            "Among other things." She crossed her arms. "Look, it would really help me out if you told me why I'm here."

            "Effy…" He stopped again and sighed. "This has to stop, Effy. You've been mouthing off to me for two days now, you're not getting your work done, everyone on the floor is avoiding you, and now you're yelling at ROMAN! You're not acting like yourself, Ef, and frankly, you're starting to scare me. I…"

            "Are you charging me with anything?"

            He blinked. "What?"

            "It's a simple question, Bill. Try to pay attention. Are. You. Charging. Me. With. Anything?"

            "Uh…well, no. Not as such, but…"

            "Good. Then I don't see any reason to stick around and listen to this garbage." She turned on her heel and started to stalk out.

            "Effy!" Bill stood up. "You haven't been dismissed yet, Commander."

            She stopped dead and very slowly turned to face him. Her expression was granite. "Fine then, Commander. I cordially ask to be dismissed."

            He stared her down, hazel eyes beating into emerald. "Yeah, you're dismissed," he said. "In fact, consider yourself under suspension until further notice." Her eyes flashed and she opened her mouth. He cut her off. "You are not to involve yourself in or otherwise affect any command decision on this base until you have gotten your head screwed on straight. This is on pain of disciplinary action up to and including possible court-martial depending on circumstances.  Is that understood, Lieutenant?"

            Silence. Then, "Perfectly, sir."

            "Good." He nodded. "You're dismissed."

            Without a word she turned and left. The door swished shut behind her. Once she was gone all the bravado left Bill's form. He plopped down into his chair once more, and then slumped down into it, staring at nothing. How had things gone so wrong so fast? His eyes slid across his paper-strewn desk aimlessly, searching for meaning through the notes and forms. They stopped on the small pad of notebook paper he used to jot phone messages down on. Scrawled there, as clear as anything in Effy's handwriting were the words General Pepper. Special Mission. Scout in good ship required. One not barfing his brains out, preferably. Oh right. She'd answered the phone for him when he was sick. Bill had to smile at the last words. That was so Effy…or at least the way Effy used to be. The smirk slid off his face again. Special Mission. Something about that bothered him. True, Effy had reported finding nothing, but then she'd started acting weird right about that time. A part of the general's conversation floated through his head just then, as clear as if he'd just heard it.

            "Why don't you send Delia to check it out, sir? he'd said. She's a competent pilot, and…she's got nothing better to do than torture people anyway."

             "Commander Larnez is…otherwise occupied. I'm afraid I cannot use her for this mission."

            Bill's eyes narrowed in thought. He straightened and picked up the phone receiver, dialing the memorized number easily. One ring. Two. A click and then the familiar British voice of General Pepper emerged. "Yes? Pepper speaking."

            "General? Hi. It's Bi…uh, Commander Grey."

            The voice on the other end warmed. "Ah, Bill. Yes. What can I do for you?" Then. "Is something the matter?"

            Bill squirmed for a second. He didn't want to tell the general that he'd just had to suspend his second in command. He still didn't know what was going on with Effy, and didn't want anything on her permanent record if it wasn't necessary.

            "Uh…not exactly, sir. I just sort of had a question. And if you could answer it, it would really help me out."

            "Very well. What is it?" There was a rustling of plastic on the other end. That would be Pepper getting out his 'ready to listen to someone' lollipop. Strange person, the general.

            "Well, I was wondering. When you said Delia was occupied and couldn't be used for the scouting mission the other day, just what exactly did you mean by that? How was she occupied?"

            "I'm afraid that information is classified, commander. It's on a need to know basis." The general's tone was stiff.

            Great. It's gone from 'Bill' to 'Commander'. Walking on dangerous ground, here.

            "Please, sir. I think I really need to know. There's been some…pretty strange stuff going on around here, and I think things just might be related."

            "Strange? Strange how?"

            And there was the problem again. "Um…well, I'd really…rather not say, if that's alright, general. It's not anything serious," I hope, he added to himself. "But I'd really like to clean it up, and to do that I need some information. Is it at all possible that you could bend the rule this once?" The husky crossed his fingers. General Pepper was fond of him, he knew, and he was hoping that fondness would allow for the liberty he was taking. Pushing for classified information was against military policy, after all, and could get him in big trouble if the hound dog wasn't willing to put up with it. Basically, either this would work, or he had just stepped out of line big time.

            There was a long pause on the other end of the telephone. Then the general's voice came again. "Very well, commander." Bill started breathing again, but Pepper's next words caused his throat to catch. "Commander Larnez began acting very strangely not long ago. Quite unlike herself. I was forced to relieve her of command, temporarily of course, until the source of her…indisposition could be discovered and remedied."

            He groaned inwardly. Oh no. One thing seemed off, though. Bill cocked his head. "Sir? You said De…Commander Larnez was acting strangely. What, was she actually being nice to people for a change?"

            "Oh no. Just the opposite in fact. Normally she's so sunny and polite, but last Tuesday she was…well…a complete and utter monster."

            Sunny and polite? Complete and utter monster seemed more like the Delia Bill knew. But if she'd been acting that way around the General, when normally he was the object of her complete brownnosing delight, then something surely was up. And he didn't like the parallels of their situations at all. Still, a bitchy Delia wasn't much of a stretch to the imagination. "Sir, is it all right if I visit her? I mean, she's not under house arrest or anything, is she? I'd like to talk to her, see if I can find out what's up."

            The sound of another lollipop being unwrapped came across. "That sounds like a delightful idea, Bill. And no, she's not in any sort of official trouble. Truly told, I would be greatly appreciative if you could talk to her. Get her back to the old Delia we all know and love!"

            Bill didn't trust himself to reply to that. "Yes, sir," he managed to say instead of all the things he wanted to. "I'll be sure to do that. Well, I'll just sign off now." He started to put down the receiver, and then paused. "Oh. Just for curiosity's sake, general. Why was THAT classified? It's odd, sure, but hardly a government secret."

            Another silence ensued, and the husky wondered if the other had already hung up. He hadn't, though. "I'm afraid that I can't tell you, Bill. I'm sorry, but it's important that certain things do remain classified."

            "I understand, sir." Bill hung up thoughtfully. He hit the intercom button from the command nodule on his desk and keyed the identification number for Kayote's office. A second later the coyote answered.

            "Yeah, Bill. What is it?"

            "Kayote, I'm going to Corneria for a while. I need to talk to Delia."

            The charismatic furry whistled. "Unfeely Deely? Huh. Good luck, sir."

            "Yeah. Thanks for that. Oh, and by the way. Until further notice you're the acting Lieutenant Commander of Katina base. Good luck with that." Bill hung up on his friend's surprised sputtering before he could ask any questions.  He then pointedly ignored the little red light that immediately started flashing, indicating that Kayote was trying to get in contact with him. It wasn't that the husky meant to leave him in the lurch, but he simply didn't feel like explaining the whole situation, and his reasons for suspending Effy. Especially since he wasn't sure of them himself.

            Shoving that rather gloomy thought out of his mind, Bill stood up and gathered together his courage. He'd need every advantage he could get when he went to go see Delia.

            ***

            Bill was ushered into the elevator of the Corneria One command center, which ground to a start with a quiet hum of machinery and headed for the top floor. In no time at all the doors swished open onto a corridor that looked very like the one he had left not long ago. Here the leaders of Corneria's first defense lived and worked, guarding against the day when Andross's forces would attack. Bill stepped out and glanced around, searching for a certain polar bear he knew would be lurking around.

            "BILL!!!" Two hundred and twenty pounds of white fur and muscle barreled into him and the husky felt himself lifted off the floor in a gigantic bear hug. Bill gasped for air. He could swear he felt his ribs separating. A second later he was put down, however.

            "How are you," the polar bear said energetically. "It's great to see you! What brings you here?"

            "Um…hi, Mackie." Bill straightened his spine as best he could and smiled at the Lieutenant Commander of the base. "Getting my bi-monthly chiropractor session."

            Mackie Dougin frowned in friendly confusion. "What?"

            "Never mind. No, actually I'm here to see Delia. Heard she got suspended. Wanted to see what was going on. Uh…is she around?"

            The smile dropped off the other's face. "She's here," he said soberly. "But if I were you I'd think twice about going in to see her."

            "Oh, believe me, I've thought twice about it. I've even thought thrice about it. The problem is that I still have to go."

            Mackie shook his head. "I'm serious, Bill. You know how…um…Delia is normally?"

            "Strangely terrifying?"

            "Exactly. Well, she's been even worse lately, if you can believe it."

            Bill considered. "I can't believe it." He raised a hand. "Not that I'm doubting you. I just can't imagine a Delia any worse than…what I've seen of her." He glanced around the corridor and squared his shoulders. "At any rate, I really don't have a choice here. I'm trying to puzzle something out, and I'm starting to think Delia just may be one of the key pieces. I'll see you later, Mackie." He turned and started to walk away.

            "Yeah," the bear called after him. "Maybe you will."

            Bill turned around, still walking. "Well, in case not, any last words for me?"

            "Don't die."

            The husky snorted. "I'll try my hardest. And thanks so much for the vote of confidence, by the way." With that he turned and headed in the direction of Delia Larnez's office and rooms.

            No one answered the door when he knocked. Bill checked to make sure her soundproofing was off and then knocked again. There was a dull thump and then silence. The husky hesitated for a moment before gently pushing the door open.

            "Delia?" He paused halfway in the door and looked around, surprised. Her office lights were dimmed, and he could see the first part of her private rooms through the connecting entrance. "Hello," he called again and raised his eyebrows as another thump echoed through the corridor. Bill frowned and walked across the shadows.

            He stopped in shock as his gaze fell on the dusky bedchamber. The light here was diffuse as well, spreading from one shaded table lamp to scatter throughout the room in a vain attempt at illumination. And what it fell on was chaos. Curtains were ripped down, tables overturned, and one impressive chair had been smashed to pieces. It was a tornado-strewn space, weathered by fury and rage, victim to a vicarious frustration. And in the middle of it all, on a blanket strewn bed, was a huddled figure. It lay still with head down, not moving.

            "Delia," Bill said and the form twitched. Concerned, he crossed over to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

            She started away from his hand like a stepped on snake, scooting across the bed in the space of a heartbeat. Wide eyes stared at him past straggling blonde bangs. "Don't touch me!"

            "Whoa! Hey. Take it easy." Bill raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "Nobody's touching anyone. I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

            The badger stared at him for a second longer and then visibly pulled herself together. She straightened her back and stared coldly at him, a sneer touching her lips. "What are you doing here, Bill?" Delia Larnez got off the bed and brushed aside her bangs; pushing them into place next to her ears in an attempt at making herself look presentable. Her uniform was rumpled, dark blue creases marring the navy fabric.

            Bill shrugged uncomfortably and glanced around her room again. "Well, I was hoping I could talk to you," he said.

            The sneer grew more pronounced. "So this is a social visit? I don't think so. What do you want?" She stared at him as if trying to burn a hole with her eyes. They were just a trifle too wide, a trifle too fixed.

            "Not exactly," he allowed. "I…uh…well actually, I'd heard about…" He paused, unsure of how to go on. Somehow he didn't want to come right out and mention her suspension. Something about Delia's manner was unnerving him more than she ever had before. The woman was practically trembling with suppressed energy and seemed on the verge of striking at him. Or collapsing. He found himself speaking in a low, soothing tone. "Delia, I was wondering if anything…unusual had happened to you lately. Anything that might have, say, pissed you off?"

            "Everything pisses me off," she snapped immediately, tapping her foot in frenetic dissatisfaction. "Having to listen to you pisses me off. Dealing with the morons around this base pisses me off. Mackie's pigging out pisses me off." Her tone was as sharp as a knife. "Was there anything in particular you had in mind?"

            "Well, yeah. I don't suppose you've been by the X nebula recently, have you?"

            Her foot stopped tapping. The badger was no longer glaring; she was staring. Then her eyes narrowed. "Who sent you here, Grey?" she asked, suspicion tingeing the question.

            "No one sent me here…"

            "Was it the general? He has it out for me. I always knew he did…"

            "Delia, no one sent me. I was just asking because Effy…"

            "Effy?!" Delia seemed to bristle all over. "What has that little tramp have to do with anything?"

            Bill straightened. "Nothing," he said. "And Effy's not a tramp. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on around here, and why everyone seems to be going crazy."

            "Oh, so now I'm crazy? Is that what you're saying?!" She certainly looked it. She stalked towards him, eyes burning. "Do you know what that pathetic old fool, Pepper, did to me? I've been suspended from my job, from my LIFE, just because once I spoke my mind around him. Once I didn't simper and pretend to be as feeble as the rest of you useless clods. Once I acted like myself!"

            "Whoa, Delia. Take it easy…"

            "No I won't take it easy!" She shoved a finger at his chest, still advancing, forcing him back a couple of paces. "And now you, the general's favorite little stooge, you're poking around about my last mission. What, does he think I lied to him about it? He does, doesn't he? He told you to harass me because he thinks I'm a turncoat. That I can't be trusted. Well, IT'S NOT TRUE, DAMMIT!!" Delia shoved him hard and then whirled away, furious tears streaming down her face. "I've devoted my soul to this job and now everybody's turning on me. You're all against me!"

            Bill tried again. "No, we're no…"

            "Oh, get out!" She flung an arm out, pointing towards the door. Her tail switched violently. He didn't move. "GET OUT!!!"

            Bill studied Delia for a moment, taking in her wild fixated eyes, thrashing tail, iron stiff spine, and lastly the tears still streaming down her face. He turned and left without a word. The sound of her table smashing to bits followed him out, along with a frustrated screech.

            Once outside her office he leaned against the corridor wall, emotionally drained. He'd barely gotten a word in edgewise that entire conversation, but had found what he needed to know. Delia was out of it, all right, and she had been to the nebula.

            "Crap," he muttered. It was the only word that seemed to fit.

            "Bill?" Mackie's concerned face loomed large in his vision. "Are you alright?"

            Bill stared at him blankly for a moment, and then slowly shook his head. "No," he said quietly. "I'm not."

            ***

            All was silent in the hallways when he returned to Katina. Kayote popped his head out of his office and, seeing who it was, came out.

            "Bill," he greeted. "Everything's been quiet since you left. Really quiet, in fact. Oh, and Commander Bedelle called; seemed to want to speak with you quite urgently." His report done, the coyote stood almost at attention, aware that something serious was going on.

            "Which one?"

            "Jacob."

            Bill nodded. "Oh, okay. I'll get in touch with him. Wow. This day's turning into the meeting of the commanders, isn't it."

            Kayote caught up with him as he started to stride down the hall. "Hey. Out of curiosity, you wouldn't happen to want to tell me what's going on, would you?"

            "Not particularly, no."

            The other sighed. "I was afraid of that. No hope that if I bug you enough you'll tell me anyway?"

            The commander rolled his eyes. "Kayote, if I told you the story'd be all around the base in under ten minutes."

            "Yeah. So?"

            "Go back to your office, Kay'"

            "Fine, but I expect to be consulted at some point." His friend pointed a finger at him in emphasis. "I mean, you don't just promote someone to Lieutenant Commander, temporarily or not, and then not give them any information on why. You just don't do that."

            "Duly noted." Bill opened the door to his office, stepped in, and turned around. "Well, bye." He closed the door. Terrific. He'd have to tell Kayote something fairly soon, which meant he had to figure out what was going on himself. Because right now he barely had more of a clue than the coyote did. Bill shook himself out of his thoughts. First things first. He went over to his phone and dialed the twelve-digit number required to send a signal to the far off planet of Titania. There was a click as the phone picked up.

            "Jacob."

            "Jake? Hi. It's Bill. I…"

            "Bill? Thank God. You aren't crazy, are you?"

            Bill paused, and then smiled. "Well…we don't need to go into that right now." Then he sobered. "Why? Did you expect me to be?"

            "Well, you sound like Bill. Sorry, it's just that everyone I've tried to talk to lately has…pretty much bitten my head off."

            "You too? Man, I was starting to think I was just ticking people off."

            "You're telling me. Richard spazzed out at me a few hours ago. Richard! My own brother threatened to fly all the way to Titania just for the pleasure of shooting me. I hate to say it, Bill, but he didn't sound quite right in the head. I'm worried about him."

            "Believe me, I know the feeling." Jacob and Richard Bedelle were twin kit foxes that commanded, respectively, Titania and one of the main Cornerian bases. They were both upbeat gregarious people, and were generally considered to be indissoluble. Bill felt that sinking feeling in his gut again. "You're telling me Richard's lost it? Let me guess. He's acting like a complete bastard, and no one knows why. He's lost his sense of humor and maybe has developed a slight twitch around his right eye. Am I getting the picture here?"

            "Getting it? You could have painted it. You know, I would have said he was just having a bad day, but Tyler's been acting the same way. I had to have Phen take over for him as Lieutenant Commander because he pulled his gun on one of the new recruits." There was a pause. "I take it you've been having similar problems?"

            "With Effy, yeah. And Delia's taken a turn for the loopy too."

            "How can you tell with Delia?"

            "Oh believe me. You could tell."

            Silence fell for a moment. When Jacob spoke again his voice was subdued. "At least four people have been stricken with this…whatever it is. That can't be an accident. Something sinister's going on."

            "Yeah? Like what? Is the magical jerk fairy visiting people's bedsides?" Jacob didn't reply and the joke fell flat. Bill felt a prickle run up his spine. "Wait a minute," he said. "You don't think the Androssians are behind this, do you?"

            "I think it's a possibility."

            "But why? And…and how? How could they possibly be doing it?

            "I don't know." The fox sighed. "I just don't know. It's just a theory, anyway. I'm glad you're not nuts, Bill."

            Bill frowned. The other sounded suddenly weary, as if he didn't care to think about it anymore. "We have to figure this out, Jacob. Don't fade on me there, bud. Maybe between you and me we'll be able to figure out what's happening and fix up our friends, eh?"

            "I suppose." Jacob sounded doubtful. His voice firmed. "All right. If the Androssians are behind this, then there's got to be some concrete way they're affecting people. But how?"

            "Hmm. That I think I do know. Both Effy and Delia went on a mission to the X nebula shortly before they went mental. Now that, to me, is saying pattern. Were Ty and Richard anywhere around there?"

            The other commander thought for a moment. "Tyler was on a supervising check of the outposts near our space. That would have brought him right by the nebula. I don't know about Rich, though."

            "He probably was. Okay, so it's definitely a pattern."

            "I could go check out that area," Jacob offered. "And see if I can find anything suspicious."

            "No, don't!" Bill straightened unconsciously. "Whatever you do, stay as far away from the X as possible. If there is something there, then the last thing we need is for you to freak too.

            "But how are we supposed to figure anything out if we can't investigate?"

            "We're just going to have to find another way to put the pieces together. I'll keep in touch if I find out anything else."

            "Right. Same here. I'll let you know. Well, see you, Bill."

            "Bye Jacob." Bill hung up. Before he had time to think, however, his door flew open.

            "Bill, I, like, really need to talk to you, and stuff, because I'm, like, really tweaked off right now and I think you can do something about it because…it's just not fair."

            He blinked up at the pink clad bundle of energy in front of him. "Gabby," he greeted. "Um…what's going on?"

             "Phil, like, dropped a pen on the floor and I stepped on it and it exploded, and there's, like, ink everywhere. It stained into the carpet, and stuff, and, like, got everywhere, and that's just, like, really annoying."

            Bill stared for a moment. "Okay, so why don't you just call the janitor and, I don't know, ask him to clean it up?"

            "Yeah, but that's, like, the part that's not fair. 'Cause you see, I'll get blamed for it! He'll think that I did it, and stuff, if I call him and then, like, all the janitors will think I'm a slob, or something. And I'm not, because it was Phil who dropped the pen, not me. I mean, yeah, I was the one who stepped on it, but I couldn't have stepped on it if he, like, hadn't dropped it in the first place, and from a height of, like, seven feet too, so the pen couldn't be in good shape anyway, and was probably, like, half destroyed already. So you see it really wasn't my fault at all."

            He couldn't believe his ears. "So now you're mad at Phil for being ungodly tall?"

            "Well…yeah. And you are too! I hate you."

            "Gabby, why are you getting so upset about this. It was just a pen."

            The rabbit fidgeted. "Yeah, but…the ink went everywhere, and…oh, never mind! You're never any help!"  And with that she turned and raced out the door.

            Bill looked after her in astonishment. His ears were perked in confusion. "Well, that was…really odd."

            ***

Note: So, how 'yas like it? You'll just hafta review then I suppose… WON'T YOU?!!! *thinks* I like bagels.