Summery: Malcolm Reed vs. the Temporal Cold War

Disclaimer: No. I'm just playing around in their sandbox.

Etc: This bit is different from the last bit. As I said last time, this is just a bunch of AUs, mainly messing around with Malcolm. What can I say; he's an easy target.

Etc, Part Deux: Jen717 (he doesn't stay Mallory; but he'll show up as her again later (y'know, that's a sentence I'd never thought I'd say)), and Amy Rose, thanks for reviewing!

Feedback: Who am I to stop you?

Side Step

ii: a way with words

You're sitting on the bridge. Your consol (is it yours? it's different) is churning out messages and incoherent beeps. You know you should know what it is doing, what it is saying; but you don't. You know you should understand this; you don't.

"Malcolm." That's you, right? That's your name. At least, you think it is. It sounds familiar; it seems to fit—but yet.........it doesn't.

"Lieutenant." Now that's right. You look up. "Have you decoded it yet?"

You know him. That's Trip. But he's different, too. He has one too many pips on his shoulder. He's a captain and that isn't right. And yet, it is; because you understand what this is. This is a temporal time distortion; this is the Temporal Cold War. You've changed because of it, Trip has changed. He has become a captain, and you, you have gained a way with words.

Now Trip (the captain) is next to you, kneeling, hand on your shoulder and he's speaking. "Mal? You okay? Your lungs hurt?" Something else must have changed; you must have changed more. You're different. You're sick.

"Fine." You seem to have appeased him but he stays next to you and asks again if you have decoded the things in front of you. You nod because you've a way with words.

CONTINUED