Well, I said it was gonna be about a week or so between uploads, but it's the long weekend and I've had some time (although I was supposed to be working on an English essay today….). However, back to school tomorrow…and TKD, so probably not gonna upload again before end of the week, at least. Here's the next part.

See Prologue for disclaimer and related info.

Chapter 1

Walking down the corridors of the Taelon Mothership, Liam Kincaid was just about to pass the entrance to the bridge when he heard a familiar voice.

"Yes Zo'or," Renee Palmer was saying. "It's only a minor setback."

Well, Liam thought to himself, this is a pleasant surprise. Leaning against the wall separating the bridge from the corridor, he listened to the conversation between Renee and the Synod leader. From his position, he could not been seen by either.

"Indeed," Zo'or replied. "See to it that this setback does not interfere with the release date."

"Don't worry, my engineers have assured me that we'll be back on schedule by next week." By the tone in her voice, Liam could tell she was trying desperately to hold onto her patience.

"Very well. That will be all, Ms. Palmer."

At Zo'or's dismissal, he heard Renee walking, footsteps getting louder. Once out in the corridor, she headed in the direction that would lead her to the nearest portal station.

"I didn't know you were going to be here today," Liam called, walking up behind her.

Turning around, Renee's surprised expression turned into a smile. "I could say the same for you." When he caught up to her, they resumed walking down the corridor. "I had a meeting with Zo'or. So, why are you here?"

"Lar'ai wanted to speak with Da'an. They're supposed to have an interview in Singapore a week Monday, and since Lar'ai can't make it, he wanted Da'an to be fully briefed."

"Yeah, I know about that. Lar'ai was working with Doors on a prototype for a new portal, it's able to transport 25-30% more people at one time than the current model. We're hoping it will solve some of the portal congestion at the major terminals. It's being unveiled next week in Singapore for a trial run. I'm going as well."

Liam frowned for a moment. "Seems strange that Da'an would be asked to go, you wouldn't think they'd need a diplomat."

Renee shrugged. "Da'an was the one who suggested the idea, maybe he thought he'd do a good job at explaining the justification of the expense to the world. These portals require more energy and are much more expensive than the current model."

"Maybe," Liam said thoughtfully. "He is good at persuasion. Well, Sandoval took the opportunity to go over security today."

Changing the subject as a thought occurred to her, Renee said, "So if Da'an's attending, I suppose you'll have to go as well…."

Shaking his head and smiling, he looked at her. "I suppose."

"Good," she said smiling. "Because I did not want to have to spend time alone with Da'an, Zo'or, and—"

"Wait, wait, wait. Zo'or?" he said, cutting her off, his smile falling from his face.

Laughing slightly at his expression, she continued. "And Sandoval."

Liam rolled his eyes, muttering, "Great…."

As they came up to the portal, Liam asked, "So, we still on for tonight?"

She smiled at him. "You bet!" Putting on a mock-stern face and poking him in the chest she said, "My place, seven. And don't be late!"

Grinning, feeling slightly impulsive, he grabbed the hand that was on his chest, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it. "Wouldn't dream of it."

He watched as Renee input the destination co-ordinates and stepped into the portal. A few moments later she was gone. Liam grinned slightly, retracing his steps, and went to find Da'an.

o0o

FBI Agent Ronald Sandoval stared down the corridor where Liam and Renee had just been, not sure what to make of what he saw. He knew that they had become good friends within the last year as Doors International had become more involved with the Taelons, but the scene he had just witnessed suggested there was something more than just friendship in the works.

Sandoval didn't like Major Kincaid. In fact, he detested the man. While Kincaid did have some personality characteristics that in any other situation he would have respected, he found the Major to be rather impulsive and naïve at times. It was strange how Major Kincaid had the hardness of a man who'd seen battle, yet for some reason Sandoval couldn't decipher, he often thought and expressed ideas with the innocence of a child.

Another thing that bothered him, and quite possibly the most, was the fact that Liam Kincaid seemed so damned familiar; every single time he was near the Major, Sandoval felt as if he should know this man. But no matter how hard he tried, Sandoval could not think of any time whatsoever where he had met, or even seen, Kincaid prior to Commander Boone's funeral. And he could not stand to be in the dark about anything, especially his own feelings.

Sandoval had also noticed the strange way in which the Major tended to express emotion. He knew that in comparison to himself it wasn't too surprising, Sandoval's CVI allowed his emotions to be kept behind the veil much more easily. Kincaid did not have a CVI. But some of the emotional outbursts Major Kincaid had exhibited were uncharacteristic for a man his age, just north of 30. It was almost as if he had experienced some of his feelings for the first time and didn't know how to deal with them, except to explode. For instance, Sandoval was reminded of the time he had first met Kincaid and asked him about the men on his team who died during the S.I. war. Of course, it now seemed the Major had learned to control his outbursts to the point where it happened on rare occasions, but it still happened. And to Sandoval, it also appeared strange that Kincaid had only learned to control these outbursts recently. His question was simple: how could Kincaid have made it through the S.I. war without this ability?

This new…development…with Renee Palmer was something strange indeed. He knew of their good friendship, there was no doubt of that, but something was off. Most, if not all, Companion Protectors had at one time or another come to Sandoval with requests of added security to protect those close to them, usually significant others or close family members. Kincaid had been the exception, never mentioning anyone close to him. In fact, Sandoval was fairly certain that there had never been a woman in the Major's life in the time he had been working for the Taelons; since Kincaid worked nearly as much as himself, he would never have enough time to see anyone. But now it almost seemed as if Major Kincaid and Ms. Palmer had begun a relationship. He wasn't sure quite why this seemed odd to him, they were both fairly young and, as far as he knew, they got along well enough…but for some reason, it seemed strange.

Shaking his head, trying to dispel his uncharacteristically intuition-based thoughts, he turned and headed for the bridge.