"Who was it?" Captain's Hunt's voice demanded, resonating through the hallway of Administrator Elva's Guest Hall. Pale pink and lavender-colored geometric patterns were etched in the stone of the walls.
Dylan was trying to comprehend the fact that his queston could not have been answered sooner. The aide had insisted upon carrying out her assignment to lead the crew to their planetside accomodations. The whole of the landing party, except Harper, stood in the spacious hall. It seemed the services of repair supply shops were the only places that didn't become unavailable before a music festival and the engineer had been dispatched at once to obtain what was needed. However, the Administrators were too busy to be contacted on the day before the Festival of Music began, even with the amazing revelation of an imposter. There was a certain order to things and a meeting with the Administrators to discuss the issue could simply not be fit into the schedule until tomorrow.
Now, outside the quarters where the crew would be staying, Dylan's temper was still raging. It was one thing to openly oppose the Commonwealth. But to come to a planet and impersonate an officer of the Commonwealth and, under the guise of orders from Dylan Hunt, do who knew what! It was the worst possible type of deceit imaginable at the given moment.
"Who was it?" Dylan repeated his question in exasperation.
Neeki tried to explain. "He was human. Like you."
"That certainly narrows the field," Tyr remarked.
Dylan sighed. "What was his name?"
Neeki looked at a loss for words.
Dylan glared. "You mean to tell me that some guy waltzed in here claiming to represent me and you never bothered to get his name? What about lie detectors? What about background checks?"
Neeki looked so abashed that Beka felt sorry for her. "Neeki, we're not upset with the Monarcheans for believing this guy. We just want to get to the bottom of this. So, it'd help if you could tell us. What's his name?"
"That is what I've been trying to tell you," Neeki explained. "He didn't go by his name. We addressed him the Ambassador of Peace."
Tyr laughed with derision. "A man you did not know came to you claiming to be sent by Captain Hunt and you weren't concerned with finding out his name?"
Neeki shook her head. "It was kept private. Only the Administrators knew it."
Dylan frowned. Whoever this imposter had been, he'd certainly been thorough about covering up his identity. "Well, at least give us a description. What did he look like?"
"He kept his face hooded," Neeki responded. "He said it was important to his mission to protect his identity. The public didn't see his face."
"And neither did you, I take it. That didn't make you suspicious?"
A weariness had crept into the Monarchean official's voice over the course of this conversation. "The man carried the proper credentials. He spoke as if he knew Captain Hunt and his crew well. His actions did not raise suspicions."
"Actions?" Dylan tapped his chin thoughtfully. "That's another thing that's been bothering me. What did this Ambassador do while he was enjoying your misplaced hospitality?"
The tones of irritation in Dylan's voice had not been disguised and Neeki's long patience wore thin. She became obdurate. "I apologize for the mistake, Captain Hunt, but that is all that is in my power to do. If you want to know more details you'll have to take it up with one of the Administrators." With these words, Neeki turned and walked away.
Dylan was about to call out after the departing aide when Beka cleared her throat pointedly. The noise brought him up short and he turned to look at his first officer. Beka folded her hands behind her back, mimicking one of Dylan's High Guard stances. "They are our allies," she said.
Dylan blinked, put his hands on his belt, and nodded his head with puzzlement. He didn't catch her point. "Yes? So I've told you."
Tyr watched Neeki disappear from view around a corner and stepped away from the wall he'd been leaning on, looking far calmer than the concerned captain. "Has it always been your strategy to throw insults at your supposed allies or is this just a bad habit you've recently developed?"
Beka sighed, relaxed her stance, and folded her arms in front of her. "I'm not saying you didn't handle that well, Dylan. But maybe you could have handled it better. Since we encountered the Magog Worldship, we've all been on edge. So, maybe you should give it a rest. Or better yet get some rest. And let me have a try at finding out more about this imposter."
Dylan rubbed his forehead with his hands as if a headache had made its way into his temples. He nodded his head relunctantly and waved a hand, deciding to take her advice. "Fine, Beka. Be my guest." He turned to the Nietzschean. "Tyr, coordinate with Harper. See how's he's progressing with getting repair supplies. I'll check in with Andromeda and then see what I can do about contacting the Administrators. I'll expect us all back here in time to have dinner with Administrator Lzar." With these words, Dylan turned and headed to his room.
Beka and Tyr stood for a moment watching him go.
Beka sighed, gustily and shook her head. "It is much worse than I thought."
"The trip planetside?" asked Tyr.
"No. With Dylan. He really isn't acting like himself." Beka grinned back a laugh. "He's actually letting me try one of my plans!"
"Indeed," said Tyr. "Beka, after we fulfill our given assignments, I wonder if we might speak on a subject that has been long overlooked."
"Sure. Yeah. Maybe," said Beka. The first officer was peering down the corridor and her mind didn't seem to be particularly focused on the words Tyr had been speaking. "Gotta get going on my plan now." She hurried off in the direction Elva's aide had taken.
"Try it now, Rommie," said Trance, finishing her lastest scan of the adjustments she'd completed.
There was an encouraging hum and fresh air began to circulate throughout the deck. "Environmental control is back online," Andromeda said.
"Environmentals restored to set safety parameters." Rommie nodded from her position on Command Deck. "Thanks for your help, Trance."
Trance nodded. "Glad to. Soon as Harper gets back, he'll get you all fixed up. You'll be better than new, Rommie." Trance looked around casually as she put some tools away in a pouch and then headed to a machine shop to stow them away. It seemed unnaturally quiet with most of the crew gone. "Where's Rev?" Trance inquired.
"His quarters," Andromeda replied. "He's engaged privacy mode. Did you wish to speak with him?"
"Oh," Trance shrugged. A frown crossed her purple face as she considered the question. "No, that's alright." The encounter with the Magog Worldship had affected all of the crew, but none as much as the Magog crewmate. He seemed to spend much of his time alone lately. Even Trance's best efforts had failed to cheer him.
Trance walked into Machine Shop Seven and lay the tool pouch down on a table. Then, as she started to head back out into the corridor, Holo-Rommie appeared in her path.
"Trance, we're receiving a message from the surface. It's addressed to you. Shall I display it?"
A/N: Coming soon! Next chapter: Guess Who's NOT Coming to Dinner