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Chapter 8: Double Dealings

            "So, Didi. How…how're you doing?"

            The doe turned to face Bill with a smile. "Oh, I'm just fine. How are you?"

            Bill shrugged. "Oh, I'm great, you know. The world is just great. Sunshine and daisies."

            She peered at him severely through her half-moon glasses. "Do I detect a touch of sarcasm in your tone?"

            "Um…yeah. A bit, maybe."

            She leaned over and patted his arm. "Well, don't worry. Whatever it is, it will work itself out."

            "Thanks, Didi."

            She frowned at him slightly and cocked her head. "You know, if you don't mind my asking, is there something you wanted? It's not that I'm not happy to talk to you, but you seem a little down and out."

            The husky shifted, faintly uncomfortable. "Well, not really, but… I guess I just wanted to check and see if you were all right. I don't know if you've noticed, but lately…"

            "…lately everyone and their uncle has been in a really bad mood. Yes. I've noticed."

            Bill smiled. "Can't get anything past you."

            "Of course not. It's part of my charm. But what's going on?"

            The commander bit his lip. "Well…"

            Just at that moment the elevator across the hall pinged open and Kayote stormed out. Bill looked up in surprise. The Brigadier Commander spent one afternoon a week supervising marching drills, he knew, and had been gone all day doing just that. Normally the coyote came back fresh and energized, encouraged by efforts of the cadets. Today, he was fuming.

            "I don't believe them!" he burst out the minute the elevator opened enough to let him. He strode over to Didi's desk, recognizing the two figures as an audience he could rant to. "What Incompetent, Imbecilic MORONS do we have working here?!"

            Bill closed his eyes. "Oh, not Kayote," he murmured under his breath. "I need Kayote."

            "I mean, come on!" the other raged on, oblivious. "How are we ever supposed to win against the Androssians when our soldiers can't even do an About Face properly?!"

            The husky opened his eyes. "Kayote," he said.

            "And Nicky! I'm sorry. He may be Effy's brother, but I have never seen such a sorry excuse for a cadet before in my life. He and Cody spent the entire period snickering to each other and not paying attention…"

            Bill raised his voice. "Kayote!"

            "…and then they ruined the marching drill because they couldn't be bothered to listen long enough to learn what they were supposed to do. And it's not anything new! They never listen. Not one stinking one of those pathetic, weakling…"

            "Ian!"

            Kayote stopped in mid-tirade. He looked up in astonishment at the sudden sound of his barely-used first name. He seemed to notice who his 'audience' was for the first time.

            "Yeah, Bill?" the coyote responded. Didi was staring at him in amazement, surprised to hear such a spiel from a usually amiable person.

            The husky beckoned. "Could I speak to you in my office? Now?" He turned and headed there himself. The other blinked in confusion and followed.

            "Yeah? What is it?" the coyote asked again the minute they were alone. His face bore a puzzled look that showed clearly that he had no idea why he had been summoned. Bill noted this and heaved a deep sigh.

            "Sit down," he said, gesturing. He settled himself into his own chair.

            Kayote sank down into the offered seat and quirked an eyebrow. "Am I in detention?" he quipped.

            The husky scanned his face intently. "You have no idea why you're here, do you?"

            The coyote blinked in confusion. "No."

            "Kay, what were you just doing outside in the hall?"

            "Is this a trick question? I'd come up from Drill Session." The canine scanned his commander's face and the smile slipped. "Look. I was a little frustrated. It happens. I'm sorry if I made a scene, if it's an apology you want." He blinked and frowned in dissatisfaction. "I don't see why you're making such a big deal about it, though."

            Bill started to speak, stopped himself, and considered. "You asked me a little while ago why I'd shoved Effy's job down your throat," he said, changing the subject. Kayote sat up straight.

            "That's right," he replied. "As I recall, you refused to explain."

            The husky nodded and looked at him with somber eyes. "Well, here's your answer. I had to relieve Effy of command, Kayote."

            "I figured as much. But, I don't understand… what did she do?" The coyote frowned, flat disbelief on his face. "I can't imagine Effy guilty of anything…" he groped for a word. "…subversive."

            "Me neither. Are you kidding me?" Bill shook his head at the idea before going on.  "It wasn't anything like that."

            "Then what?"

            "Do you remember how she was acting?"

            "What, you mean how she was bitching everyone out all the time, and…oh." Kayote fell silent as the point of the conversation sunk in. Bill sat politely without speaking as the coyote worked it out.

            "I was doing the exact same thing out there, wasn't I?" he said at last in a far more sober tone. Bill nodded slowly.

            "Yes. You were."

            "Damn. Sorry about that. I didn't realize I…no, wait." Kayote looked up, eyes bright with speculation. "That means… it's not just something wrong with Effy, is it? There's something wrong, period."

            "Right. I've noticed the same short-temperedness showing up in people all over the base. Delia practically accused me of spying on her…as if I'd want to. And Jake says his people are losing it too. Whatever's going on, it's serious."

            The coyote was still considering. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked.

            The dog shrugged uncomfortably. "Well, I…didn't really know what was going on. What was I supposed to say, 'Think happy thoughts?' I wasn't sure what to tell you. Besides… Would you have believed me?"

            Kayote bit his lip, and then nodded slowly. "Probably not. Not until now anyway," he said and Bill felt a wash of relief. He'd been more nervous at the prospect of telling his friend then he'd thought. "Are you going to inform the rest of the base?" The other went on.

            "To think happy thoughts?! Yeah, that'd go over real well. What with the mindset on this base right now, from the…whatever it is, they'd probably think I'd gone nuts. But if you and I can keep cool heads then maybe we can stop…the whatever." Bill stopped talking and glanced out the window. The afternoon sun beat down upon a nearby airstrip in sizzling waves, but the husky could see heavy clouds moving quickly in. They'd have rain before the day was out. He found his eyes resting on a pair of ships sitting on the asphalt away from the base, awaiting repairs, and a thought occurred to him. "Hey, Kay, can you do a favor for me?"

Kayote cocked his head. "What?"

"Lock up the hangar, would you? I don't want anyone who may be, um, loopy getting at the planes."

"Makes sense." The Brigadier Commander got to his feet, and then paused. "Do you have any leads as to what's causing this?" he asked almost plaintively.

Bill shrugged. "Uh…well, sort of. I've spoken to Jacob about it, and he promised to keep an eye on things Titania-side. Maybe he'll be able to turn something up." He frowned as a thought occurred to him. "Although, come to think of it, I haven't heard from Jacob in a while. Maybe I should give him another call?"

            Kayote shrugged. "That's your decision. What about Effy?"

            Bill blinked. "What about Effy?"

            "Have you talked to her since you took her off duty?"

            A wave of guilt rushed through Bill. Truly told he'd been trying not to think of Effy, and what she must think of him, ever since he had reprimanded her. And done too good a job. With everything else going on, and the stubbornly enshrouded mystery he was trying to solve, he'd put the sassy lioness right out of his head. Now everything poured back. The baffling tumult of emotions he'd been feeling for her ever since the dance, her unwarranted anger at him, his own guilt; everything combined together in one ball of confusion and angst. One he had no idea how to deal with. "No," he admitted and hung his head slightly. "I haven't"

            "I would," Kayote advised. "It's not fair to her not to. And you never know. Maybe if you tell her what you told me she'll be able to deal with it." He shrugged and headed for the door. At the threshold he paused again, however, and glanced over his shoulder. "I'll try to keep my temper under control," he promised, and then smiled wryly. "No matter how much it wants to get loose."

            "Yeah. Thanks, Kay. And try to keep other people…sane… if you can too, okay?"

            "Will do." The coyote gave a cheerful mock salute as he put a hand on the doorknob. He sobered for a moment. "I don't suppose I can tell Roman and Gabby about this, can I?"

            "Gabby was in here the other day yelling to me about how Phil dropped a pen."

            "That's a no, then?"

            "Yeah. That's a no."

            Kayote nodded and left the office. Bill sat and thought about the coyote's words for a moment. He put a hand to his temples as a headache started pounding through them like dull rolling thunder. Talk to Effy? He knew he should, but his guts twisted themselves into knots at the very thought. "I hate stress," he muttered under his breath and shoved himself to his feet.

            ***

            Effy was lying on the bed in her rooms when he found her, on her back, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression. She was still in her uniform, though it was, by now, very wrinkled. She craned her neck up when she heard him come in and her face settled into a cold expression. She didn't say anything, but just looked at him.

            Bill shifted where he stood. "Um, you didn't answer when I knocked," he said, jerking a thumb in the direction of the door. "So I just…came in."

            She continued to stare at him. If anything the air cooled a few more degrees.

            "I mean, it's not like your sound-proofers were on, or anything. But I figured you might have had music playing, or were just…ignoring me." He trailed off. Effy hadn't moved from her position on the bed. He found himself incongruously thinking of the last time he'd seen Delia, in much the same pose. Effy broke him out of his reverie.

            "Why are you here?"

            The husky took a deep breath. "I wanted to talk."

            "About what?"

            "About…well, about things. First off…"

            "Wait, you know what? I don't care. I don't want to talk to you."

            Bill smiled slightly in confusion. "Effy, you can't just not talk to me."

            "I don't see why not." A biting touch tinged her words. "It's not like I take orders from you anymore."

            "Yeah, but it's a temporary suspension. I'm still your commander." He paused. "And I'm your friend."

            She barked a laugh, surprisingly harsh. "Friend! Right. You sure act like it." She turned on her side and propped herself up on one elbow so she could look him in the face. "Tell me, what is it about me that you hate so much?"

            He blinked. "What?"

            "Well, that is why you relieved me, isn't it? You have something against me?" She pursed her lips and looked at him speculatively. "Are you sexist?"

            "What?! No! Effy, that's not what this is about."

            "Really," she said, flatly disbelieving. "So you fired me because…what? You were having a bad hair day?"

            "Effy, you've gotta know how you were acting." He groped to make her see. "You were spazzing out at everyone like a complete psycho. You weren't in your right mind. That's why I relieved you." He frowned down at her. "Okay, this is gonna be hard to explain. Ef, it's not your fault. There's some sort of…weird influence at work." He paused, waiting for her reaction, but she simply stared at him with her tilted cat's eyes.

            "What I mean is, it's not just you," he tried again. "People all over the base are starting to lose control. Delia and…and Tyler have been relieved too." Her eyes flashed slightly in dislike at Delia's name, but she didn't otherwise react. "We think the Androssians might be behind it," he said. "I mean, we don't know for sure, but we think they might be trying to dull our edge, or something. Um, we think that…" he trailed off. That was just the problem; they DIDN'T know anything for sure, so how could he tell her anything for a fact?

            Effy finally spoke. "You expect me to believe that?" she said quietly.

            "Um, I was kinda hoping you would, yeah."

            The lioness stood up in one easy motion. She turned, now able to face him on more even ground, and shook her head sharply. "God!" she burst out, breaking the false feeling of calm her earlier stillness had engendered. "I really don't believe you." Bill opened his mouth to speak, but she spoke right over him. "I mean, of all the crocks I've ever heard, this one takes the cake! Now the Androssians are tampering with mind control? How?" She laughed again, the same raucous sound. "What's next? Willpower subverting toothpaste? I know. Maybe they can hire a magician to turn us all into patio furniture."

            Bill took a beseeching step forward. "Ef…"

            "But this," she chortled. "I'll say one thing for you, Bill. You are imaginative."

            "Effy, I…"

            "No!" She whirled to face him, all traces of humor fleeing. "Do you really expect me to believe that CRAP?! You could have at least made an attempt at making it believable."

            Bill felt his temper flare in indignant defense. "Hey, I'm not making this up!"

            " Bullshit," she said distinctly. "You hate me for some reason. You wanted to get me out of the chain of command, so you fire me and think up the STUPIDEST of reasons to explain why…"

            "Effy, you've gone nuts!" Bill yelled, defensiveness turning to antagonism. "By the very definition of the word, you are IN-SANE! Got it?! That's why you're here." He cut himself off. His breath was coming fast in anger and he straightened his back to calm himself. Stiffly he looked down at the top of her head. "This was a mistake. You can't be talked to."

            Effy glared at him, eyes narrowed as he walked away. "Right," she snarled. "It's all on me, because I'm the insane one. Never mind that you're the one who's acting weird." He didn't respond but simply stomped out. The door crashed shut behind him. "Asshole," Effy muttered and flopped back onto the bed, rolling onto her back to resume her ceiling study.

             ***

            Wolf O'Donnell adjusted his altitude to match those of his wing mates with absent-minded ease, checked the progress on his radar of the Androssian task force following behind them, while simultaneously trying to ignore the mind-numbing dribble of a conversation passing through his communications system.

            "I'm telling you," Andrew's nasal voice reiterated. "You ought to read it. You're just not giving Apes of Wrath a chance."

            Pigma snorted derisively. "Yeah right. Like I'm gonna spend any time on that load of horse crap."

            "Hey, it's not crap! It's…"

            "Crap. Like monkeys are really gonna inherit the earth. Yeah right! You guys can barely bathe yourselves!

"You're one to talk. You smell like a sty!" Andrew shot back peevishly. "And I'm gonna tell Uncle Andross what you said. You're disrespecting his race, and when he finds out…"

Pigma groaned audibly. "Damn it! Will you shut up about Uncle Andross already? I swear, the way you're always bringing him up you'd think you two was married or somethin'."

"I'll tell him you said that too!" Andrew practically shrieked. "You can't talk to me that way!"

"Listen. If you don't shut your trap then I may be tempted to shove a missile up your tailpipe. What d'you think about that?"

            Leon's voice joined the conversation. "I think we're all tempted to do that at this point, pig."

            Wolf couldn't agree more.

            "You guys are mean to me," Andrew sulked.

            "Damn straight," Pigma said. "Maybe if you wasn't such a pansy-assed uncle's boy we wouldn't be."

            "You never take me seriously."

            "I hate to interrupt," Leon interrupted. "But, as we're nearly to Macbeth, do you two think it at all possible that we might actually…I don't know, concentrate on the mission at hand?"

            "Oh yeah!" Andrew perked up. "Hey, Wolf. How long until we get there?"

            "Yeah, 'Are we there yet, daddy'?" Pigma mocked, imitating Andrew's voice.

            "Hey, shut up!"

            "Make me."

            Wolf got a sudden almost-irresistible urge to turn his Wolfen around and gun them both down. With difficulty he strangled it into submission. Once again he glanced at his radar. "Five minutes," he said shortly into the comm. "If you live that long."

            "And may I remind you, morons" Leon drawled disdainfully. "That this mission is at least of nominal importance to the Venomian Cause. It may just win the war for us, after all. So try not to screw anything up."

            "You hear that, Andrew?"

            "Bite me, Pigma."

            Just then Wolf heard a muffled swear over the comm., but it wasn't coming from the bickering twosome. A beep sounded as his sensors showed Leon's jet fall out of formation, veering to the left wildly. It slowed and stabilized its flight a moment later, but shivered in its path as if fighting its controller's hands. A moment later the chameleon spoke over the comm. again.

            "Wolf, I have a problem."

            "I can see that," the lupine replied, checking his readings. "What is it?"

            "I don't know. My jet…there's something wrong with it. I'm losing maneuvering control."

 "What?!" Pigma burst out, "Oh, what the hell! A malfunction now? Of all the rotten…can't the tech people do anything right?!"

"Can you fix the problem?" Wolf said, raising his voice to speak over the pig's continued swearing. His brow furrowed. They didn't need trouble like this right now.

"Wolf, I don't even know what the problem is. And if it is something caused by incompetent mechanics, which seems likely, then I doubt very much that it will be something that is fixable while in space." The lizard made an irritated sound. "I'm going to have to turn around."

"What, now?" Andrew protested. "But we're so close!"

Leon replied in his frostiest tone. "It will hardly do me any good to get involved in the battle, you ignoramus, if I cannot control my plane. Now will it?" There was a pause, and then an expectant, "Wolf?"

O'Donnell growled aloud in frustration. "You're my best wingman. Oh, very well! We'll do without you. But, Leon?" Wolf paused and gave a vicious grin the chameleon couldn't see. "Do me a favor. Find the mechanic responsible and kill him."

"I'll do you one better than that." Leon sounded amused. "I've been looking for a new person to introduce to the Stocks." His plane made another abortive jerk and the lizard reined it in with difficulty. "I've got to go, if I'm to get back with this piece of junk in one piece, that is. Good luck with the attack. And do I mean that." With those words he turned his plane around and headed back the way they'd come.

Wolf watched him go and then dismissed the other from his mind. There was a battle approaching, after all, and they didn't seem to be getting there fast enough. Desperate to begin the carnage, the lupine urged his plane to a faster speed while Pigma and Andrew moved near to close the gap Leon's absence created.

"It's a bad omen," Andrew muttered over the comm. "Leon's plane messing up right now? Right before a battle? We're screwed."

"Oh, will you shut up!" Pigma snarled at him. "I don't buy none of that superstitious crap. It don't mean nothin'!"

His voice, Wolf thought, was just a little too pinched to make that statement plausible. He obviously believed more than he was willing to admit. The lupine had to grin again at their cowardice. It would be no bad thing, actually, if the other two managed to get themselves killed. Then he wouldn't have to put up with them anymore. That thought was very appealing. As the bluish orb of Macbeth loomed close in front of them, Wolf found his eagerness for bloodshed growing.

***

The phone was on it's fifth ring before it was picked up with a click.

"What?!"

Bill jerked the phone away from his ear and blinked at it for a second before carefully putting it back again. "Uh…Jacob?"

"Bill?" The kit fox's voice was ripe with frustration. "What do you want?"

"Well, I hadn't heard from you in, like, forever, and we said we were going to stay in touch in case either of us found anything out…so…"

"I don't have time for that now." Jacob's voice interrupted him, sounding hurried. And annoyed. "I have more important things to worry about."

"Well…it kinda is important, Jake. I mean, if the Androssians…"

"The Androssians are attacking," the other cut him off again.

Bill was surprised. "What?"

"You heard me. The Androssians are attacking. Right now. They sent a fleet to Macbeth. I was just about to leave with a squadron of my own to help Corrin with the defense." His tone turned frosty. "So, you see, I really don't have time to worry about your friends' social problems."

"But…wow. I mean…why didn't anyone tell me about this?" Normally, in the case of an attack, all the bases would be informed. That way, if the enemy broke through any and every commander would be prepared to step in with reinforcements.

"Yet another thing I don't have time for. Look, Bill. Not that it's not nice chatting and everything, but I have a war to fight. Why don't you go play detective by yourself."

The line clicked dead. Bill hung up and stared at the wall for a second. "Well, it's got Jacob," he said aloud. And the Androssians were attacking Macbeth. Abruptly he got to his feet and strode to the door of his office, opening it. As he'd expected, Kayote was standing at the end of the hall, eating a sandwich and talking to Didi.

"Kayote," he called.

The other looked up and swallowed a mouthful of BLT. "Yeah, Bill?"

"We've got a bit of a problem here."

"Why? What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing much. The Venomians are attacking Macbeth."

"What?!"

"Yeah."

"But…why didn't anyone tell us?"

Bill shrugged. "Don't know. I couldn't get a straight answer out of Jacob. But do me a favor? See if you can get in touch with anyone over there. See if they need any backup. I'm gonna call the general."

The coyote nodded. "Right." He took what was left of his sandwich and hurried into his office. Bill went back into his own and sat down. Things had gone far enough. He had to call General Pepper and tell him what he knew. Something very bizarre was going on, and, whatever it was, he didn't think it an accident that the enemy would choose to launch an assault right in the middle of it. Maybe the general would know more than he did about what was happening. Enough to fix things, even? It was a slim hope, but it was better than nothing. 

***

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