Author's Note: I had to skip Eternity Code because there just wasn't anything to work with in that one. So here's Opal Deception!

Holly stretched her shoulder as she left Foaly's shuttle, feeling how the material of her new suit stretched to match her every movement. The centaur was waiting patiently - or his best approximation of patience, anyway - outside. He had kindly vacated the shuttle to allow her privacy to change into the high-tech uniform, but she could see by the numerous hoofprints beneath him and the nervous way that his tail flipped back and forth that he was anxious to get back inside with his beloved gear.

"I'll be with you every step of the way," he said with a reassuring pat on her shoulder as he wedged his way past her and into the shuttle. He paused halfway through the door. "From here, of course," he added quickly. "Field work is more your territory."

Holly frowned playfully. "You mean to say you won't be braving the chute with me?"

Foaly shook his head and laughed. "Me backing you up? Julius's heart would explode on the spot. Besides," he added with a meaningful glance over her shoulder, "if anyone is following you in I believe Major Kelp has first dibs." Then he disappeared within the depths of his shuttle and let the door swish shut behind him.

Holly turned toward the chute and found herself face-to-face with the very major in question. "Trouble," she greeted, then spread her hands slightly from her sides. "What do you think of my new outfit?"

Trouble answered with a smirk and made a circling motion with one finger. Holly obligingly spun around for him to take in the full sight of Foaly's newest tactical gear.

"That's quite something," he remarked when she completed her turn. "Looks a little flimsy for my taste, though."

Holly scowled. "That's only because you haven't worn anything but that ridiculous Retrieval getup that doubles your body weight since you were Grub's age," she said defensively, waving at the matte-black tactical gear the other officer sported.

Trouble shrugged nonchalantly. "I get invited out, I dress accordingly," he said simply. "It isn't my fault that the only calls I ever get come from Dispatch."

Holly laughed. She was about to inform him that yes, it was his fault that no one called him for a night out, but the words died in her throat when she heard Commander Root call from the chute opening,

"Captain Short! Let's move!"

As they turned in unison and began walking toward the entrance, Trouble visibly stiffened. The smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was replaced by a grim line. "I don't like this," he said quietly. "You're walking into a trap."

"We are," Holly agreed. "But the risk to the public is too great - there's nothing else we can do."

"Yes there is," Trouble said resolutely. "Give me a team and five minutes, and I'll have that Goblin out here singing more than birthday jingles."

Holly chuckled again, bumping Trouble with her shoulder as they walked. "I'm pretty sure that Majors aren't supposed to be out leading field engagements," she chided. "Besides, the Commander's made up his mind - nobody's going to talk him out of it now."

"You stand the best chance," Trouble countered. He took hold of Holly's elbow and stopped, looking her hard in the eyes. "Give it a shot. Try one more time to convince him to let me handle this and not put you - the two of you at risk."

Holly noticed his eyes glance around almost guiltily - as if he were embarrassed, worried that someone might have heard him stumble over his words. She was tempted to ask him why, but knew that time didn't permit it. Instead, she put a reassuring hand on his arm.

"We'll be fine, Trouble," she said brightly. "One old goblin would never be enough to take me down."

Trouble stared at the floor, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Alright," he finally relented. "Just . . . be careful. I don't want to have to go scrape your remains off the floor in a few minutes."

Captain Short gave him a quick two-fingered salute. "Yessir, Major," she said sharply, but couldn't keep the smirk from her face. She turned sharply on her heel, but only made it a few steps before she turned back once more.

"Tell you what," she called out, walking backwards away from Trouble and toward the chute, "after we're done, I'll give you a call and we'll get dinner at Spud's. Haven can finally find out what the great Major Trouble Kelp looks like in civilian clothes."

Trouble nodded, a bit of the seriousness finally bleeding away from his face. "I'll be holding you to that," he called back to her. "So you'd better come out of there in one piece."

Holly batted a hand dismissively in his direction before turning away from him and finishing her journey to Commander Root's side. Holly smiled to herself as they made their way into Chute E37.

Trouble Kelp didn't sleep that night. He lay awake, staring at his personal communicator. In spite of everything; the Commander's death, the explosion, Captain Holly Short being branded a traitor and terminated . . . he waited for his communicator to ring. He waited for the call he was promised.

It never came.