A/N: I've updated this slightly... please enjoy, I know it's a crazy idea!
Chapter One
By command of the Order... Malcolm Reed did not want to be reading this, not now, not ever.
It has been reported, from reliable sources... Why did they have to contact him, didn't they realise he wanted nothing more to do with his roots?
There will be a meeting on the evening of the 4th of December... Christ. Did that mean there were others?
You are required to ascertain that the following people are present... Why did he have be the one to do that? Why not one of the others?
The ministry is trying to deny the truth, yet again... Malcolm snorted. Like that was a surprise.
Yours, Avery. Avery? Hadn't he been killed by... him a year or so back? Malcolm sighed - this was the last thing he needed. He glanced at the list of people, and was surprised to see at least a few friendly names on the list.
Sato, Hoshi (Ensign)... That was hardly unexpected - Malcolm had always suspected there was more to the pretty young linguist than met the eye.
Lungbarrow, Elanor (Crewman 1st class)... She'd been a year below him at school, and one of the best keeper's he'd ever seen play.
Yates, Mark (Crewman, 2nd class)... Malcolm didn't know much about him, but he had a feeling that he was one of the crewmen who worked in the Quartermaster's store.
Tucker, Charles the III (Commander)... Trip? Malcolm could hardly believe it possible. He'd always seemed so... normal, somehow. Too normal to be... well, like him. Sighing, Malcolm stood up. It was the 3rd of December today. He had a lot of issues he needed to deal with before the next evening.
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"What are you doing here, Malcolm?" Trip's voice was dripping with disbelief.
"Same reason you are, hopefully." Malcolm replied tartly, gently closing the heavy, titanium - reinforced door to cargo bay three.
"What? You aren't - I mean - "
"Yes." Malcolm cut him off. "I am. Like you, I mean."
"And how'd' you know I am what you think I am?" Trip was ruthlessly glaring at his friend, still unable to see the truth. "Because I read the list, Commander." Malcolm was getting slightly exasperated - why couldn't the Commander just believe him, he didn't want to talk about it! If he'd had his way, he wouldn't have come to the damn meeting in the first place. It was just, he agonised to himself, he was needed, to report on whether everyone asked to attend actually did. It was his duty, he told himself, and he always to his duties very seriously.
"You - you're the one the ministry appointed?" Trip, once again, sounded disbelieving, but this time there was a hint of awe as well.
"Yes." Malcolm replied tersely. Tucker knew better than to press him any further. There was only one other person in the cargo bay with them - a young woman Malcolm recognised as Crewman Elanor Lungbarrow, from Stellar Cartography.
"You were Seeker for your house weren't you?" She unceremoniously broke the uneasy silence which had descended upon their small group of three. Malcolm hesitated, before answering her with a curt nod.
"Yes. I mean, I was." He mumbled, slightly tongue-tied.
"I watched you play."
"I
know." Malcolm allowed a small smile to grace his normally
sombre face. At this, Elanor's face went through a number of
expressions - surprised, flattered, and eventually downright
embarrassed.
"You
were good."
"Thanks."
Their awkward conversation trailed away. Malcolm sighed with relief
when the silence was broken by the sound of the door
opening.
"Evening
Hoshi." He said, enjoying for a moment the look of absolute
disbelief on the pretty Comm officer's face. But only for a moment-
the situation was far too serious for that. Next came Crewman Yates,
and, gradually everyone who had been on Malcolm's list trickled in.
There
were twelve people in all - and each and every single one was greeted
with surprised and disbelief from their colleagues. Though, who could
blame them? Some, just like Malcolm, had kept their secret so well
one would never even suspect there was something out of the ordinary
about them. Others, like Hoshi, were so obviously unnaturally
talented it was more than obvious as to exactly what they
were.
"Hey,
Malcolm?" Trip spoke up as the low buzz of talking quietened
down. "Don't ya think..." He indicated with his head
towards the door, and Malcolm nodded, realising instantly what his
friend was suggesting. Couldn't have anyone walking in on them, could
they?
"The
honour is yours." Malcolm said, not meeting Trip's eyes. Trip
squirmed for a moment, his cheeks turning ruddy.
"I
can't. I kinda. left my..." He trailed off. It seemed Malcolm
wasn't the only one who was reluctant to say or do anything that
might bring them back into the world they had so desperately tried to
ignore.
"This
is going to be along, long night." Malcolm muttered to himself,
as he reluctantly got to his feet, his hand going almost
automatically to his pocket.
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TBC...
