Author's Note: Many thanks to the spherites who participated in the "Fanfic Celebration" and "Moon Bounce Room" threads, their 'uniqueness' inspired this story. The moon shoes were created by them! Special thanks to Fear for the Gummi Bears comment (see, now it's not just the spherites who know who to blame veg ) and to sand and her brother for the 'duck joke'. Also special thanks to Xarnie, for helping with the costumes later in the story.

ETA: A long while ago, I divided this story up into chapters on my own website. I don't have any intention of rewriting this fic, but I did want to replace the old format with the new chaptered one. The chapters might be a bit short. Still, I think they make for easier reading than one long entry.

Disclaimer: Earth: Final Conflict is owned by Tribune Entertainment. Gummi Bears are trademarked and owned by some candy company, I don't know which one. No infringement is intended.

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Chapter 1: Bring in the Bears

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"What do you mean 'I've never eaten Gummi Bears'?" Augur said disbelievingly. He looked his friend up and down, his eyebrow cocked.

"Just what I said," Liam replied. He held in his hand a plastic bag full of squishy, colorful little shapes that only somewhat, in his opinion, resembled bears. He gave the bag a disdainful glance.

"Come one," chided Augur. He leaned forward on the desk between them. "I bet even Renee has eaten Gummi Bears."

"Yeah. Renee wasn't born two years ago either," Liam muttered. He tossed the bag of sweets on the desk. "Look, Augur I don't have time for this. I'm meeting Da'an in an hour. Unless you have some new information on the theft from the Mothership, I'm leaving."

When the hacker didn't respond, Liam turned and started for the door. Augur quickly snatched up the bag and followed him. He caught Liam's arm before he could head out.

"I said I'd get the info," snapped Augur. His frustration from the unfruitful search the last few days showed on his face. He sighed. "Hey, I've got the best contacts on the streets. And a few other places as well. You'll have the thief when I'm done."

"I hope so," was all Liam said.

"Hey," Augur brightened. "Take these, huh?" He shoved the bag of candy bears into Liam's hand. "This stuff is very retro. The candy company that's manufacturing them, and which I just happen to have a few shares in, is already up 20 pts. And that's just from the promos! They haven't even distributed any to retailers yet"

Augur smiled his 'I love making money' smile.

Liam looked doubtfully at the colorful confections. "If these aren't even available to retailers, how did you...?"

"I told you I have the best contacts," Augur said, his face wore an expression of mock hurt and wounded pride.

"Never mind," Liam sighed. He passed a hand over his face. "I don't want to know. Just let me know if you find any new information?"

Augur just grinned and escorted him to the elevator. As the doors were closing, he leaned forward and said in a rush, "Forgot to tell you! Let them get warm before you eat them. Put them in your pocket!"

Liam gave Augur a long-suffering look as his friend's face was shut out by the doors. He shook his head. He turned the bag of Gummi Bears over and over. He still failed to see what was so special about them. He shrugged and decided to follow Augur's advice. He shoved them in his jacket pocket and promptly forgot about them.

---

Liam sat at his desk, the monitor in front of him flashed pictures taken from the Mothership surveillance cameras. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing he could see right away, anyway. He placed his hand flat on his desk and leaned forward to study one of the images again.

"Have you been able to obtain any new information, Major Kincaid?" a no-nonsense voice questioned.

Liam started in surprise and looked up. Agent Sandoval stood just to his left, where he was sure to get a good view of whatever was on the monitor. Liam cursed himself silently for not noticing Sandoval's entrance. He tried a nonchalant shrug.

"Just going over the security footage," he said. "Not that you'd have missed anything." You just might have forgotten to tell us about it, he added to himself. He gave a kind of wolfish grin.

Sandoval flicked his gaze to the wall, then quickly back again. He held his hands folded behind his back. He said without expression, "You're confidence in my abilities is deeply touching. But remember that all activities pertaining to the Mothership are under my direction. You report to me in this matter."

"Of course," Liam said with a slight sneer. He leaned back in his chair, trying for an almost-but-not-quite insolent pose. The effect was ruined when a loud pop sounded into the room.

Sandoval raised an eyebrow, staring curiously at Liam. Liam sat puzzled for a second, then put his hand inside his jacket pocket from whence the sound had come. He scowled as he brought forth the now open bag of Gummi Bears. The rainbow colored treats stuck to his hand, having been warmed sufficiently by the hot summer weather.

"I suggest you finish your...report before meeting with Da'an," Sandoval said dryly.

Liam scowled again as the Implant turned and left. He shook the offending 'bears' off his hands, stuffed them back into the bag and deposited the whole mess back into his pocket. No sense getting that sticky stuff all over my desk, he thought, I'll get rid of them in the recycle chute.

He carefully picked up the stack of data chips for the meeting. He figured he had enough time to make a quick stop to wash his hands.

---

"Were you successful in identifying the thief from the Mothership?" Da'an asked in careful tones. He faced the large observation window, looking out over the city of Washington.

Liam silently cursed Augur and his infernal Gummi Bears for the thousandth time. The 'quick' wash had stretched into a five-minute scrubbing ordeal. The stubborn coloring which had transferred itself so easily from the candy to him, refused to be budged by something so common place as soap.

Only after using some Taelon bio-cleanser had he managed to restore some normalcy of color to his hands.

As a result, he was late to the meeting. Da'an wasn't in the best of moods to begin with, because of the theft, and this only served to worsen that mood.

Liam had declined to explain himself, wanting to get through the meeting as quickly as possible.

"Major?" Da'an voiced the question, his tone was a trifle strident. He gave Liam a disapproving glance.

Liam shook himself, realizing he had gone a full minute without answering Da'an. His face was apologetic. "I'm sorry Da'an. I wasn't able to find anyone in the security footage that appeared out of place. There was no one in the laboratory at the time of the theft."

Da'an bowed his head, his expression seemed to plead for patience with humans who stated the obvious. "I do not want excuses, Liam. It is vital we recover what was taken."

"Yes, Da'an," said Liam. He shifted uncomfortably. He could sense Da'an's agitation over the whole situation. Heck, he'd be nervous too. If he was a Taelon. He returned his attention to the Companion. "I've got my best people digging into it. If anyone tries to sell that stuff on the street, we'll be the first to know."

Da'an turned from the window and looked at Liam with his 'this will affect humanity too so don't get flippant' expression. "I certainly hope so."

Liam's global beeped into the ensuing silence. He snatched it from his other pocket, the Gummi Bear free one, and snapped it open. Sandoval's face filled the screen.

"What is it?" Liam asked, not sure if he wanted to know.

"All Synod members are being called to the Mothership," replied Sandoval. "By request of Zo'or."

Liam glanced at Da'an, who nodded. "Da'an is on his way," he told the agent. He shut the global when Sandoval's face disappeared from the screen.

Da'an swept past Liam without word or glance. It was obvious he was still displeased by his Protector's earlier behavior. Liam could only hope the Taelon's mood would improve soon. In a gesture of spontaneous and utter frustration over his lousy day, Liam flapped his arms. He quickly followed Da'an out of the chamber.

Liam never noticed the bag of Gummi Bears which had fallen to the floor.