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Chapter 14

"I'm warning you," Malcolm said the next morning, his voice was cold and threatening. "Stay away from Ensign Sato."

Michael had been sleeping soundly, his bed-warmer having left his cabin two hours before, and hadn't been prepared when his twin had stormed into his quarters. He had been even less prepared to face Malcolm's raw rage.

"Nothing happened last night!" Michael exclaimed as he scrambled away from his brother, pushing himself up towards the wall behind the bed.

"It's only because I know nothing occurred that you're pain-free!"

"Y-you k-know?" Michael stammered. "H-how?"

"It doesn't matter how I know, I just know." Malcolm wasn't about to tell his brother that not only had he peeked in on Hoshi after his shift, but that afterwards had spotted Crewman Menendez enter Michael's cabin.

"You like her!"

"Of course I like Ensign Sato. I work with her!"

Michael slipped out of the bed, wove his way around his brother, and put on his blue terry cloth robe. "Are you in a relationship with her?"

"Of c-course n-not." It was Malcolm's turn to stutter.

"Ah, this one must be very special for you to take time away from your beloved Armoury! Tell me, brother, have you slept with her yet?"

"She's a fellow officer! Of course I haven't!"

"Oh, she really must be extraordinary! Have you already put her on a pedestal?"

"I have the greatest respect for her."

"Admit it, Malcolm. You love her. Bet you can't wait to get in her pants!"

Suddenly Malcolm grabbed the lapels of his brother's robe and body slammed his twin against the wall of the cabin.

"Get this straight, dear brother," he ground out through clenched teeth. "Ensign Sato is a very special person. I remember how you hurt Caitlin, Debora, and above all Lyn. I won't have you hurt her. For remember this -- if you do, I will not be responsible for my actions."

"Debora? Caitlin?" Michael sneered. His initial shock of being thrown against the wall was quickly replaced with the trademark Reed smirk. "They didn't love you, Malcolm. As soon as they got to know you, they were more than happy to let me console them. I'm sure even Lyn would have soon come to her senses if you had decided to take her to your bed."

As if releasing something revolting, Malcolm removed his hands from his twin's robe and took a step back. "I'm going to ignore that last comment, brother." He said the last word with disdain. "Actually I've come to the conclusion that you're just jealous."

"Jealous? Of you? You can't be serious!"

"What else would explain your actions over the years?" Malcolm asked. "You've taken almost everything I've ever had. Not only did you take my girlfriends away, you even diverted any attention mother and particular father may have given me by joining the Royal Navy -- though I don't think they know about the true reason behind your 'Honourable Discharge.'"

Michael started to speak, but Malcolm held up a hand and forged ahead. "And now you've come on board Enterprise..."

This time Michael would not be quiet. "And you think I've come on the ship just to steal all your friends away from you? Well, let me tell you, Malcolm, it's not a hard task. After they see me, they can't understand what they've ever saw in you."

"Just when will you leave me alone, brother?"

Michael ignored the question and asked one of his own. "Maybe, Malcolm, it's you who's jealous?"

With a snort of utmost disgust, Malcolm stormed out of his brother's cabin.

Couldn't avoid him forever, Malcolm mused as he worked side by side Trip Tucker in Engineering. A half hour ago, Trip had called him down to help him with a problem but had forgotten to tell him that Michael was also in Engineering. It also seemed that ever since he arrived in Engineering, every time he and Trip fixed something and he thought he could escape from Michael's presence, Trip would find something else that required his assistance. He was about ready to tell his friend that he had work of his own to attend to in the Armoury, when the intercom activated.

:Senior staff report to the Situation Room.:

Trip and Malcolm wiped the dirt and grime which had accumulated on their sweat-streaked faces with the back of their hands and immediately headed for the door in Engineering.

"Hey, can I come with you?" Michael asked, holding up his ever-present recording device he used to conduct his interviews.

"It's for senior staff only--." Malcolm said.

"Come along," Trip interrupted with a broad smile. "We can ask the captain when we get there if he'll let you sit in on the meeting."

Casting an "I-got-the-better-of-you grin" over his shoulder at Malcolm, Michael accompanied the other two to the Situation Room.

End Chapter 14