"You just couldn't stand it that she didn't want you, huh?" Trip sneered.
"What are you talking about?" Malcolm whispered.
"Hoshi said no, so you got mad," Trip continued. His grip on Malcolm tightened and he pulled the lieutenant closer against the bars. The cold metal bit into his face, and he had no choice but to look straight into Trip's hate-filled eyes. "Malcolm Reed, the great ladies' man had a woman say no so he got upset and decided to hurt her."
With every bit of strength in his weakened body, Malcolm tore himself out of Trip's grasp. He teetered and lost his balance. His knees buckled and he collapsed on the cell floor. "I did not attack Hoshi!" he yelled out. His hands went to his head as the pain increased. "I didn't," he whimpered.
"You can deny it all you want, Reed," Trip shot back. "But we got the proof and ain't no one is going to believe your lame story about not remembering anything." He crouched down so he was level with the other man. His voice took on a low, more menacing tone. He sounded more dangerous, darker than Malcolm had ever heard him.
"I warned Hoshi about you. Ever since I found out about you and all those women and how you never gave a damn about any of them, I knew you would be trouble for someone like Hoshi. She was too young, too sweet and pretty. Too vulnerable."
"You warned her?" Malcolm looked at Trip in disbelief. "Trip, we're friends, how could you-"
"My friends aren't murderers!" Trip roared. The hand he ran through his hair shook slightly. "Dammit, she was so young!" Trip allowed him self the luxury of an angry, anguish sobbed before he glared at Reed. "Why didn't you pick on someone else? Someone who wanted the attention? No, you had to go for someone you couldn't have."
Malcolm shook his head, but remained silent.
"Always wanting to belong, to be a part of somethin' bigger," Trip drawled out. His head tilted to one side as he peered intently between the bars. "Hoshi deserved better."
Malcolm looked up, fighting with the nausea that seemed to grow worse with every passing second. "I never, never forced a woman in my life, or even considered such a thing."
"You know, do you think if you keep repeating that that it'll become the truth?" Trip shook his head. "I knew it was a mistake for Jon to pick you." Trip stood and looked down at Reed. "You're worthless Malcolm and you're a cold-blooded, murderin' son of a bitch."
Trip turned on his heel and quickly left.
Malcolm closed his eyes, Trip's words reverberating in his head. Worthless. His friend, a man he thought he had built a bond with after their experience in the shuttlepod, called him worthless. His father's voice replaced that of Trip's.
My God boy! I can't believe I fathered such a worthless pup!
Slowly, Malcolm dragged himself towards the bunk. With his last ounce of strength, he pulled himself up into it. He curled up into a fetal position and dropped off into an uneasy sleep.