Author's Note: When this was originally posted over at Gatchfanfic, this section was split into two chapters.

The Chief was as close to anger without losing control as Mark had ever seen. The veins in his forehead were bulging in his bright red face.

"Jason, Keyop, follow me. Now!"

The Chief turned on his heel and stalked out of the gymnasium without a further word to the assembled Galaxy Security brass. Keyop followed meekly at the Chief's heels. Jason tailed after, head bowed. Mark could read a mixture of both pride and shame in his second's posture. It was an interesting combination.

"Mark." Princess was standing at his elbow. "Do you think we should follow?"

He nodded. "We need to hear this from Jason." Why didn't Jason just talk to me? I know we could have avoided this mess.

Tiny turned to him and said, "Mark, I feel so bad. I had no idea that he was still hurt."

Mark shook his head. "I don't think he's hurt, exactly, Tiny. Just recovering." Mark sighed. "It's going to take a lot longer than any of us realized." He looked down the hall and found that Keyop and Jason were no longer in sight. "Come on, we'd better go find them."

It wasn't hard to find the Chief. They could hear him yelling halfway down the corridor from his office.

"…in the hell were you trying to prove out there? If aerial maneuvers are that difficult for you… " There was a pause, then, in a louder voice, "… so hard that you can't perform them without Keyop counting your timing for you …" The Chief's voice was nearly a shout now. "…did it ever occur to you that attempting them in front of your direct superiors when you weren't ready just might be …" Mark could almost see the veins bulging on the Chief's forehead, "…a VERY BAD IDEA!"

He didn't hear Jason's reply. But Mark could definitely hear the Chief's.

"You most certainly did have a choice, Jason! You could have talked to me first. You could have talked to Mark. You should have told someone that you weren't ready. We would have worked something out."

Jason mumbled something back and the Chief's voice dropped slightly.

"You're right, you did pass the exam. But just barely. The Rigans are still contesting your score for aerials. Having Keyop talk you through the jumps could be a violation of procedure. And you were flying with your eyes closed! That certainly makes it look like you're ready for combat. You're damn lucky you didn't land on President Kane's head!"

Mark stifled a grin. More murmuring from Jason.

"I understand that you passed the exam, Jason, but I'm damn near ready to pull you from the team anyway. If you ever pull a stunt like this again …"

And on and on, thought Mark. It was as good a time as any to enter.

He rapped lightly at the door. "Chief?"

Mark could hear the Chief's desk chair scrape against the floor before he opened the door. The Chief cleared his throat and admitted Tiny, Princess, and Mark.

"Come." His voice was barely audible.

He sounds as tense as Jason, thought Mark. This should be fun.

The Chief indicated the wooden desk chairs. Keyop was curled in a fetal position on one. Jason sat sideways in another, staring at his hands. The remaining three chairs were empty.

"I was just explaining to Jason," the Chief said as he sat down, pausing briefly to give Jason another stern look, "that he is not in charge of Galaxy Security." The Chief folded his hands on his desk and stared at Jason. "You are on suspension."

The five members of G-Force gaped openly at the Chief.

"What?!" cried Jason, standing up. His face burned bright with anger, but Mark could see the deeper fury boiling just beneath the surface. "You're crazy. I just went out there and damn near broke my neck …"

The Chief held up a hand. "You are on suspension until you give me and your teammates the courtesy," he gestured to the others with a sweep of his hand, "of an accurate and complete account of your current physical condition. That means everything. Not just the things you feel like telling us."

The Chief paused for effect. "In addition," he continued, "you will endure the most complete and arduous physical that I have ever created."

Another dramatic pause, thought Mark. The Chief's milking this for all it's worth. But I don't think Jason can take much more. His second was growing visibly angrier and was now gripping the edge of the Chief's desk so hard that his knuckles were white. His scowl spoke volumes.

"And, not that I should have to remind you," the Chief went on, "but this is your commanding officer." The Chief thrust a finger at Mark. "You are to report to him if you so much as have a painful thought." Chief Anderson glared at Jason. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir." Jason's voice was barely under control. He sat down, arms crossed, legs crossed, fury written in every line of his posture.

"Good. I suggest that you begin talking now." The Chief reached into his desk and pulled out a notepad and a pen. "You can start with your obvious balance problem and we'll go on from there."

Jason stiffened so rigidly in his chair that he didn't appear to be breathing.

I can't remember the last time I saw that look on his face, Mark thought. Maybe the night at the cliffs. Damn. He closed his eyes. Please don't let it be anything awful.

Mark could hear Jason swallow before he spoke.

"Do I have to do this now?" Jason's voice had risen an octave.

"Suit yourself," said the Chief. Mark opened his eyes to find the Chief with his hand on the phone. "I'll just let Darien know that we need him …"

"All right! Fine!" Jason's normal voice had returned with a vengeance and it sounded both angry and hostile. "I'll do it. But not now. Give me some time to think and …" Jason swallowed again. "I'll write you up something. Okay?"

He can't say it out loud, Mark realized. This is like watching a slow-moving train wreck. Why can't the Chief see that? Jason can't admit his problems out loud. He never could and he never will.

"No, Jason." The Chief's voice was deadly calm. "That's not how this is going to work. If you want to stay on this team, you will abide by my rules. And my first rule is honesty. It has to start now. No more games."

Mark found that he couldn't fault the Chief's logic. None of this would have happened if Jason had just been honest.

But the Chief's tactics? thought Mark. This is never going to work.

"Okay." Jason said. His voice sounded so small.

I have died and gone to hell.

Jason shut his eyes. He knew what he would see if he looked around the room. Tiny was embarrassed. Good old Tiny. Princess would be wearing her concerned expression. Keyop, he knew, was absolutely miserable.

And Mark? He's so smug, Jason thought angrily. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it. He's right. I brought this on myself.

"Jason?" The Chief looked over the top of his glasses at him. Now that he had Jason's compliance, his voice was irritatingly calm. Jason noticed that he spoke with a trace of trepidation. "Would it be easier if I asked you some questions?"

"Sure." Jason tried to keep his voice level. He couldn't look at the Chief's face.

"Chief," Mark interrupted. "Can I speak with you? Now? Privately?" Jason noticed his tone held the edge of command, but the Chief didn't seem to take offense.

"All right," Chief Anderson said. To the others, he added, "Excuse us a moment." The Chief followed Mark out the door. The resulting silence was deafening.

"Jason?" Keyop ventured. "I'm … uh … um … sorry."

I can't take this. Not now. "Let it go, Keyop."

"But …"

Jason threw up a hand. "Not now!" He could barely control his anger and frustration. Keyop is sorry? I should be apologizing to him.

The Chief returned, with Mark following close behind. The Chief looked at Jason and cleared his throat. "Mark has suggested that he take the preliminary report on your physical condition, Jason. I concur with his decision. He will provide a briefing on your current status to your teammates and me. After I review his notes, I will work with Zark to design your physical."

Great, Jason thought, sarcastically. This day just keeps getting better and better.

"And Jason," the Chief gave him a hard look, "it is up to Mark to decide where to place you on this team. His decision will be based, in part, on whether or not you comply honestly with this request."

Again, the Chief paused for effect. "Any continued deception about your physical condition is categorically unacceptable. As your commander, Mark has to know exactly what your physical limitations are."

Chief Anderson cleared his throat before continuing. "After reviewing your physical status, Mark alone will decide whether to leave you in reserve status as the G-6 or allow you to retain your position as the G-2."

Princess gasped along with Tiny and Keyop. Mark looked away from Jason. Jason closed his eyes and tried not to show any emotion, but it was hard. Very hard.

Leave me in reserve status? He swallowed, painfully.

"You are dismissed."

This story continues in Revelations (Fall and Rise of the Condor 4).