Hoshi gave up a small laugh and settled into her armchair.

"Who is Hayes? Do I even know him?" She asked.

"Doubtful." Answered Malcolm. He remained standing in the middle of the room, his hand behind his back.

"Why him?"

"Because out of my two old Sergeants, one tried to kill me just an hour ago. The other one will undoubtedly try it again if he has the chance. Promoting him would give him a golden opportunity. Travis Mayweather is experienced, yes, but he would get stars in his eyes as soon as he is Major. I would be dead before morning. So you see, I choose Hayes because he won't try to kill me for at least a week or two." Malcolm had a small grin on his face. Hoshi stood up and closed in on him.

"Why are you grinning like that, Commander?" She asked.

"Well, Hayes is new, that means I get to push him around a little more than usual… I look forward to that." He grinned and looked at her. She gave him a kiss before walking over to the computer again.

"I'll notify the personnel that this Hayes will be the new MACO Major." She said. "Just promise you won't go easy on him!" She said smiling. "Fresh fish like him need to know who's in charge!"

"You know I would never do that…" Commented Malcolm. He took out the assassin's knife from his belt. "Here, a little gift from the late Sergeant… whatever his name was." Hoshi took it from him, studying it.

"MACO issue." She said. "Very nice!" She replaced her old one in her belt. She gave him the old one. "Go scrap it somewhere."

"Yes Captain." He said. "Good Night."

"You won't join me for a workout?" She grinned.

"Workout? I can barely move with this bandage! And you need to save your energy for tomorrow, Captain." He cocked his head. "And I need to speak to Hayes, he'll be surprised."

"Very well, you are right. Tomorrow is a big day..! I'll have to organize the entire fleet, talk to the ship captains… You may go, Commander, until tomorrow." She gave him a glance. He returned it before nodding and exiting the Captain's quarters. When he came around to the turbolift he entered it and said:

"The bridge." As the doors closed he gave up a sigh. He sure hoped Hayes was there.

The bridge was quiet, only lower ranking officers attended the stations. Malcolm quickly waved them down and sat down into the captain's chair. The stars were flying past in front of him, as they always were.

"Communications." He said, without raising his voice too much. He did not wish to break the quiet atmosphere for some reason. It was something that everyone understood, and complied to. Perhaps the human mind needed solitude once in a while.

"Yes Commander?"

"Locate Sergeant Hayes for me." The communicator fibbled with the relays for some time before finally turning a round.

"In the sparring room sir. Deck E."

"Deck E." Echoed Malcolm and rose. He silently moved off the bridge.

The sparring rooms were, as before, close to the armoury. Malcolm entered through the door, finding, as promised by the communication officer, Sergeant Hayes. Malcolm watched him for a while from the shadows before announcing his arrival. Hayes almost jumped at the sight of him, then turned and saluted.

"Commander!" He said. "I did not hear you arrive!"

"Of course you didn't." Said Malcolm dryly. "What are you doing here so late?"

"Training, sir."

"You don't believe in sleep?"

"I sleep three hours per night, sir. I can't cope with more, so I train, or read. Sometimes I'm on the bridge. But you did not come here to ask that, did you, sir?" Malcolm shook his head.

"I am promoting you to my new second in command, thus giving you the rank of major." Hayes looked at him for a second, and then saluted again.

"I accept." He said. Malcolm nodded, fingering on his belt.

"But first I'll need a little sparring. One on one."

"You want to fight? Now? Are you sure sir?" Hayes looked slightly awkward, standing in the middle of the sparring room, in the night, in soaked training gear, sweating. Malcolm pulled off his belt.

"Oh don't worry!" He said and flinched his head. "You won't win!" Hayes looked slightly baffled, but took up his guard anyhow. Malcolm did the same. Although he was not in shape, he had no doubts he could beat Hayes. His little spying session just recently had allowed him to judge Hayes' abilities. Now he could get a feel of his strength as well, just in case he would jump Malcolm after his promotion.

Hayes jabbed at him. Malcolm dodged. It was easier for him, as he was smaller than Hayes. After a minute or two of warming-up Malcolm began berating Hayes with all possible strange and alien combinations of punches, blows, kicks and throws. Hayes kept up in a most reasonable fashion, meaning he tried not to get hit all the time. He too of course managed to get a lucky blow or two, giving Malcolm a soar jaw and an even more hurting abdomen. But that was just luck, Malcolm played on experience instead and finally Hayes fell flat, spreading out on the floor as if he wished to swim. It took him a minute to come to his senses. When he did, he found Malcolm sitting on the floor.

"That'll be five hours of sleep for me sir." Commented Hayes, rising to a sitting position.

"Good, be on the bridge early. We have an important rendezvous tomorrow." Malcolm said and rose to his feet. He picked up his belt on the way out.

"Yes sir." Answered Hayes behind his back.

"Until tomorrow, Major." Said Malcolm and exited the room. He walked back to his quarters at a slow pace, as he had no hurry to get into bed.