Robin on the other hand had spent every moment at Ehren's bedside and had not spoken to Feliu in any sort of prolonged conversation until that day.

"I have to go," Feliu said. "I'm a free man now. Sort of. Just have to check in every month. I guess I'll see you later."

"Yeah, later...Just tell me one thing," Robin said as Feliu began to walk away. He didn't turn around to face him. His vigilant eyes remained trained on Ehren's inert form.

"Yeah?" Feliu said.

"How did you steal it?" Robin said. He pulled the ring from where it lay on his neck and held it out, dangling from the chain on his finger. "Nobody's ever reported it missing from Q4. Their records are immaculate there."

Feliu ran his hands through his hair and smiled sheepishly at Robin through the reflection in the glass.

"Sometimes," he said, "The most obvious answer is the best answer."

Robin arched an eyebrow.

"You bought it?"

"I bought it." Feliu nodded. "With real money that I didn't even steal."

Robin remained silent for minute then he gently lay the jewelry on the window ledge.

"I can't keep it anymore," he said. "You understand?"

"Yep." Feliu said. He returned to the window and grasped it in his own hand then slid it into his pocket. He glanced momentarily at Ehren and sighed.

"You," he said, "are a lucky man."

Robin snorted laughter and shook his head in protest.

"That one? He's more trouble than he's worth. Look at him, getting shot with an actual projectile? Who does that? He's useless."

"He saved my life," Feliu murmured. "On more than one occasion. I'd say that's a pretty handy skill to have."

"Yeah, for you," Robin muttered. "It's kind of hazardous to his health..."

Feliu lay a hand on Robin's arm, and finally Robin was able to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Me too."

"It's okay," Feliu replied. "It's about time we both moved on, huh?"

"Yeah," Robin said. "I guess. It's just... What are you going to do?"

"I dunno." Feliu yawned and stretched his arms above his head. "There are lots of galaxies out there to explore. Maybe I'll settle down somewhere and have a family or maybe I'll go on another grand adventure. Maybe I'll try and take over the world? Who knows. We'll see!"

"Please don't try to take over the world," Robin said, not quite able to hide the hint of a smile that threatened his lips. "I don't think Ehrenfried can take it."

"I'll try," Feliu replied solemnly then broke into a wide grin. "I'll see around, Robin. Okay? Invite me to the wedding." He nodded towards Ehren.

"That's up to him," Robin replied without thinking.

"Wow." Feliu laughed. "You didn't even try to deny that one. You got it bad."

Robin shrugged sheepishly. "I guess I do."

"The medic is waking him up this afternoon, right?"

Robin nodded.

"Good, tell him... If he ever needs a favor. I owe him two of my lives, or maybe just one. I think he might have used one up already when he stole you away."

"I'll tell him," Robin replied.

Feliu nodded and gave his former lover one long last look.

"Take care, Robin Grey," he said.

"You too, Feliu Viernes."

Feliu then removed a time travel device from his pocket and waved it in the air.

"You're not supposed to have one of those!" Robin said. "I thought you were going straight!"

"Baby steps," Feliu said. "Baby steps."

He grinned and depressed the solitary button on the device then he was gone leaving only the dizzying after effects that momentarily clouded Robin's memory of his existence in that time stream. Once he regained his senses, he shook his head and smiled at the thought of Feliu's parting words then he entered Ehren's room and resumed a post at his bedside.

****

Ehren's eyelids felt heavy on his face. He wanted to groan, but he couldn't seem to move his lips, and there was a dull ache in the back of his head. His vision was blurred to the point of near nonexistence, and he slowly became conscious of a sharp and persistent pain in his side. He began to panic as he remembered the flash of the gun barrel and the sudden and intense agony that had burned through what seemed to be his entire body. He began to struggle and grunt unintelligibly. He felt arms on him, holding him down. He whimpered and closed his eyes, wishing it would all go away. He didn't want to die. He was too young to die.

"Nonononono," he murmured as he tossed his head.

"Shhhhh. Calm down, Ehrenfried. You're at the hospital."

Ehren took a deep breath and concentrated on the familiar voice of Commander Grey. He turned his head in the direction of the sound and could make out the dim outline of Robin's form hovering above him.

"I can't see." He finally managed to speak. "I'm scared."

"You're going to be fine," the medic said. "Your vision will return."

He sat down on the bedside opposite and explained the life threatening injury that Ehren had sustained and the treatment that had followed. Ehren wasn't paying much attention beyond the first sentence of life affirming reassurance. He was going to be fine. He was much more interested in the way Robin was clinging to his hand and rubbing his thumb over the top of it.

They were interrupted by the sound of Robin's ICD. He cringed at the warning glare that the medic shot at him and glanced at the display.

"I have to take this." He frowned. "It's the Admiral. I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Oh-Kaaay," Ehren drawled in an exaggeratedly confused manner.

Robin smiled, patted his hand one last time, and carefully lay it on the bed before departing.

"What's with him?" Ehren frowned in the direction of the medic's voice.

"Him? I suppose he doesn't want to let you out of his sight," the medic said.

"Why? Am I being court-martialed for extreme stupidity or something?" Ehren muttered.

"Not as far as I know," the medic said. "I'm not too high up on the food chain though. I just assumed..."

"Assumed what?" Ehren narrowed his eyes.

"N-Nothing," the medic stammered.

"Assumed what!" Ehren repeated himself more insistently.

"You know," the medic said. "You and the Commander?"

"Me and the commander what?" Ehren muttered.

"You're not..." He gave Ehren a knowing look even though Ehren could barely see him. "You're not with him?"

"I don't know what we are," Ehren said. He tried to cross his arms, but they still felt heavy.

"This sucks," he said. "When will I be back to normal?"

"Well, if you're hoping for a couple of days, I'm afraid to say that it's not going to happen like that. It's going to take a while and a little physical therapy. Those kind of projectiles do a lot of damage, and we put you in a coma for a few days to heal."

"No!" Ehren said. "This is going to set me back. I..."

"You are a complete idiot," Robin interrupted. He had returned and was standing in the doorway with a smirk on his face.

"Why the fuck did you take a bullet for Feliu, huh?" Robin entered the room and sat back at his seat near the bedside giving the medic a warning glare that sent him scurrying from the room.

"Because," Ehren muttered. "Because he's an innocent man, and we are here to protect the innocent from galaxies full of the worst criminals..."

"Don't repeat the manual to me," Robin said. "What's the reason? You and I... We're far past protocol at this point, Lieutenant."

"Ensign. Fuck you, Robin. You know what my rank is. You know what my name is..."

"Shut-Up, Ehrenfried," Robin said. "The order hasn't come down yet officially, but you're being promoted."

"Why am I being promoted?" Ehren moaned. "Seriously? What do I have to do to make captain, go AWOL?"

Robin chuckled. "Excellence in the field is certainly promotion worthy. You're the one who just quoted the manual at me. You stepped in front of a bullet to protect an innocent man as you see it apparently."

"As I see it?"

"Yeah, you're like that, I suppose. I-GAS sees him only as an asset; an asset with invaluable information about his father's operations. Are you going to answer my question then?"

"Why did I do it?" Ehren glared ponderously in Robin's direction for a moment, before sighing and staring down at his hands.

"I did it because you obviously care a great deal about him. You have a history. We had a...I don't even know. I get why you dropped me, but basically... I care about you even though I know I mean nothing more to you than some way to pass the time, and you care about him, so..."

"I care about you, Ehrenfried," Robin said. He reached out and held Ehren's hand once again. "I told you once that I'd really hate it if you died out there."

"You did," Ehren admitted. "But this is... You're using my name."

"That's what you wanted isn't it?"

"Yes, but..."

Ehren sighed again. His words failed him. Instead of speaking, he pursed his lips and turned his hand palm-side up so that he could grasp Robin's.

"I'm glad you're here at least," he said. "You can call me whatever you want, Sir."

They sat there for a while enjoying eachother's company without worrying about what the future might hold. Eventually Rasa appeared at the doorway laden with flowers and Seth reluctantly trailing along behind her holding a small potted plant. She ran up to Ehren and gave him an awkward hug then gestured at her twin to hand over the twig-like flora in his hand.

"Commander Grey asked us to come," Seth said. "He says flowers are a custom for the ill where you are from. He sent us on a mission to find this."

He deposited the plant in Ehren's lap and retreated to a far corner of the room to wait out the visit.

"And we got you this one." Rasa lay a bouquet of Amarantian roses on his bedside table. "How are you doing, kid?"

"He'll be fine," Robin interrupted before Ehren could even open his mouth.

"Thank you," Ehren said. He nodded towards the general direction of where he had heard Rasa set the flowers then felt the potted plant in his lap.

"Sorry, I'm kinda blind right now. Is this a plear tree?" He smiled.

"It'll save your parents a ton of money exporting those things," Robin said. "You eat them like..."

"Lizards!" Axel hopped into the room, his voice booming through the room with Berilo close behind making clucking noises of mock-offense at him.

Ehren laughed, which quickly turned into a rattling cough and a groan which sent Rasa and Axel crowding around his bedside, cooing over him. He tried to swat them away, but only ended up laughing more despite the pain and soreness that permeated his body.

When they finally stepped away, Ehren asked for Berilo.

"You're still here. You saved my life they tell me."

"Maybe," he said. "Good thing you were unconscious, it would have really grossed you out."

He wandered sheepishly over to the bed and held out his hand, which held a necklace with a salamander pendant on it.

"This is for you," he said as he carefully dropped the charm in Ehren's free hand. "She is a Biron talisman. Wear it and she will bring you good health. Also, don't jump in front of any more bullets. That helps too."

"I'm gonna miss you around here, you big weirdo," Ehren said. He took the gift and thrust it in Robin's general direction. He got the hint and carefully placed it around Ehren's neck.

"You won't get to miss me for too long," Berilo said. "I joined I-GAS. That Grand Admiral of yours is very convincing, and they gave me a medal too. You know, Birons really like shiny things! If I can get more of them..."

He shrugged and retreated to stand beside Rasa with his arm around her shoulder. She didn't flinch, and he grinned happily while Seth glowered at them from his corner. They continued to chat well into the afternoon until the medic returned with Ehren's daily dose of sleep inducing medicines. When he woke up later in the evening, much to his relief, his vision had returned. Though a bit blurry, he was able to see that Robin was still there, sitting in the dark, reading by the light of a solitary lamp.

"I see you," Ehren said.

Robin jumped, and the book clattered to the ground.

"What is that? I thought you were too awesome to read," Ehren said.

"Those words never crossed my lips," Robin replied. He got up from his seat, picked the text up and dumped it on Ehren's lap. It was a beginner's guide to Earthian.

"Why?" Ehren murmured.

"Well, when your parents get here, I want to be able to impress them as much as you impressed my mom. I don't think that will be possible though. She already adores you. Probably more than me."

"First of all, your mom loves you," Ehren said. "Second of all...when my parents get here?"

"Yeah." Robin shrugged. "They're not that far away. We're at an I-GAS facility on the Nature actually. I called in a favor. They should be inbound tomorrow morning."

"And you invited my friends from the squad..."

"Invite, ordered...same thing." Robin laughed. "They wanted to be here. I gave them an official excuse. They'll be back tomorrow. For now it's just you and me."

"Well then. You should come here." Ehren scooted over, wincing as he did so and patted the bed beside the newly empty spot. Robin just eyed him curiously.

"C'mon," Ehren said. "There's plenty of room."

Robin reluctantly crawled into bed, and Ehren curled up against him.

"Now, page one?" Ehren propped the textbook up opened to the first page of the first chapter.

"I already read that," Robin said.

"And if I know you, none if has sunk in at all. That's what I'm here for," he said. "Why try to teach yourself from a book when you've got the master at your disposal?"

"So you're the master now?"

"Are you really going to belabor the point?" Ehren said.

Robin chuckled at him and shook his head. "Teach away master."

***
The next morning proved a challenge as Ehren was beginning to get antsy being awake and feeling pain whenever he tried to walk. It was after an afternoon of much complaining that Robin finally got him to agree to a wheelchair and a walk in the hospital garden.

"So this is the Nature?" Robin looked up at the small clearing of sky above them that was surrounded by the impossibly tall trees of the forest planet.

"Yep," Ehren said. "Interesting fact about the Nature..."

"Aside from the fact that it's the future?" Robin replied.

"Or is it?" Ehren said.

Robin laughed at him, and Ehren never finished his thoughts on Naturian history as they continued on their quiet stroll with only the sounds of the forest in their ears.

"When I get better," Ehren said after they passed by a bed of roses. "When they let me walk again..."

"Yeah?"

"I'm taking you to Amarantos," he said. "We can take leave and it's not far from here."

"Oh, yeah?" Robin said.

"Uh-huh."

He clasped a hand around Ehren's shoulder as they walked.

"I'll look forward to the day," he said.

"I can't believe you let your boss kidnap Feliu for a bounty," Berilo replied in an Intergalactic Standard so that they would all understand what he was saying.

She clucked disapprovingly at her brother, and he shrugged.

"So, where is he?" Robin said.

"Hell if I know," she said. "I'm just the port-keeper who, for the record, if anybody asks, definitely didn't let you on this ship."

"We'll find him," Rasa said. She held up the portable tracking computer that had pinpointed Feliu's exact location on the ship.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Robin said as he turned back to Yaretzi. "You've been an invaluable help."

"Feliu is a friend," she murmured in reply. "I don't want to see him hurt. Especially not by his father."

Something clicked in his brain as she spoke. It reminded him of the odd accent that Feliu spoke with.

"You taught him how to speak Utopian didn't you?" he said.

She nodded and shrugged. "He wanted to learn about his heritage. What can I say?"

"If you're..." He turned to Berilo who was glowing an increasingly brighter green as he stared at Rasa.

"Hey, you're that guy!" Robin pointed accusingly at him.

Berilo grinned facetiously at him.

"Now's not the time to get all territorial, big guy!" He fluidly scampered up to Robin and slapped him on the shoulder with a laugh. Robin just glared angrily at him.

"Check this out!" Berilo said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. He took a deep breath, and they watched the green of his colour swirling around beneath his skin until it was a dull bluish grey to match the interior of the ship.

"How did you do that?" Rasa gasped at him.

"Like that?" He winked at her. "I can do whatever colour you want. Except that gross white colour." He tossed his head at Robin and laughed.

"Not the time," Robin grumbled and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, dragging him away from Rasa.

They made their way towards the door, Rasa leading the way with one eye on her computer and one on the corridor with her hand on her laser. Beatriu covered her, and Berilo followed close behind them. Ehren stood near the doorway looking ill. Robin approached him and lay a hand on his shoulder. Ehren momentarily considered shrugging away his concern. They were there for the man he had been dumped for after all.

He missed the contact though, and he felt like he needed the concern. It seemed to him as if there was a weight pressing down on him. The unease was heavy in the air. He glanced around Robin and caught Yaretzi's eye. She looked as nervous as he felt, and she nodded brief acknowledgment at him before turning away from them and pretending to be busy at her console.

"Hey," Robin said softly. He reached up with his free hand and touched Ehren's cheek. "You can be mad at me later."

Ehren leaned into the touch against his better judgment. He'd missed the way Robin's cool hands felt on him. It had only been a few days since they had been together, but it seemed like a lifetime.

"This isn't right," Ehren said.

"You're right," Robin said. "Let's complete the mission then..."

"No." Ehren shook his head. "Not us. We've been effed up since the start. There's no need to discuss that any further. I just have a really bad feeling about this mission."

"It's fine," Robin said. "We have the element of surprise. I mean, unless you're going to insist on standing here the whole time. Then I'm sure they'll figure it out before we get anything accomplished."

"Stop joking!" Ehren pleaded. He looked up at Robin with fear aparent in his eyes. "This is serious, okay?"

"Look," Robin said. "It'll be fine. You haven't done this long enough. It's just nerves you're feeling. This is an in and out mission. Let's just do it. All right?"

Ehren frowned at him and sighed.

"Okay," he said. "Let's do it. I'm ready."

****

The ship was suspiciously quiet as they traversed the hallways directly to where Feliu was being held captive in the room he used to call his own. He was surprised and thankful that Robin had arrived there before the Naturian had come to claim his prize.

He'd come barging into the room with his laser weapon held aloft, looking every inch the hero that he was attempting to be.

"You came to rescue me!" Feliu said from his vantage point where he had been waiting on his bed reading an old schoolbook.

He jumped up and threw his arms around Robin and kissed him.

The only thing that drew them apart was the sound of Ehren clearing his throat behind them.

Feliu glanced at the source of the sound to spy the Earthian glaring resentfully at them then he looked back at Robin whose expression of guilt was strong enough to power a small city. Feliu chuckled nervously and didn't say anything. He only shrugged sheepishly.

The bubble of tension was finally burst by Berilo pushing his way into the room and latching on to Feliu after pushing Robin to the side.

"Where's mine?" He let the rhetorical question hang in the air for a moment before planting his own kiss on Feliu, who found himself laughing as Berilo jumped away and made a sweeping gesture towards him while asking the rest of the group who was next.

"Let's just get the fuck out of here," Ehren said. "I don't like this. Where the fuck is the crew?"

"On a mission," Feliu said. "My father thought it would be best not to... Well, not to have me murdered in front of them. The Naturian will be here soon though. The kid is right. We should definitely get out of here."

"I'm not a kid," Ehren muttered. His words went unheard as they exited the room and headed back towards Yaretzi.

The way back was not quite as easy as the way forward had been. The Naturian was standing in the hall near the entryway to the portroom looking bored yet somehow annoyed at the same time as he leaned against the wall inspecting his fingernails.

"Well, this rescue officially sucks," Feliu said as they skidded to a stop.

"Now five people know my face," The Naturian said. "I have to say, I wasn't planning on killing that many people today."

He wasted no time with words as he pulled a familiar shaped weapon from his belt. It wasn't an electronic weapon like the ones they carried, but a mechanical pistol, the likes of which were usually only found on old world planets like the Nature.

"Bye, bye," was the only warning that crossed his lips as his finger squeezed the trigger.

Ehren gave no thought to his actions, nor did he hesitate as the others had when the Naturian had pulled his gun. Instead, he jumped straight into action pushing Feliu out of the way and stepping into the path of the bullet himself. He crumpled to the ground as the projectile entered his torso, and he vaguely heard the sound of laser fire above him then the sound of Robin's voice telling him to hold on.

"What do we do!" Rasa yelled out.

Berilo contemplated the situation for a moment before he got down on his knees and instructed Robin to keep putting pressure on the wound.

"We need to get him to the hospital," Robin said.

"Wait..." Berilo held up a finger and frowned in concentration.

"What are you doing?" Robin growled. He pulled a TTD from his pocket but was too distressed to push the buttons properly, and it tumbled to the ground. He cursed at it and moved to grab it again, but Berlio slapped his hand away.

"Pressure!" Berilo yelled at him. Robin took up his post again, ripping the sleeves from his uniform and pressing them against the wound with his hands. Ehren was groaning incoherently, but still conscious.

"He's still losing blood," Rasa said. "We have to..."

"Stop the bleeding," Berilo muttered. "I really hate to do this but here it goes."

He closed his eyes in concentration and only a few seconds passed before he began to glisten in dull light of the ship. Then he began to rub beneath his arms and shoulder blades and around his gills. His hands came away from his damp skin looking very wet.

"Let's get this on him then we can maybe make it to the hospital without him bleeding to death." He glanced up at Rasa, Beatriu and Feliu.

"What are you waiting for? Grab some."

"What is it?" Rasa reached out timidly.

"Mucous," he said. "It's going to slow the bleeding down and actually start the healing process."

"How..."

"I'm a Biron," he snapped impatiently at her. "If you cut off my arm does it not grow back?"

"Uh..."

"I'll give you a hint. It does grow back," he said. "Now help us!"

They fell to their knees then and helped Berilo make a poultice. By the time they'd finished, only moments later, Robin had calmed down enough to enter the proper coordinates to the Naturian space port into his TTD.

They were gone; Feliu with them, leaving Berlio to face Rasa's wondrous stare. Beatriu seemed uninterested and had wandered down the hallway to check on the Naturian that Robin had shot and to report back to HQ.

"So..." Rasa said. "Your, uh, mucous has healing powers?"

He frowned at her. "Yeah. Let's not get too excited. Our people would prefer to avoid genocide if at all possible."

"What do you mean?" she said.

"Honestly, Rasa," he said. "I can grow a fully functioning new arm in a month. That kind of healing is certainly sought after. You think if there weren't laws that people wouldn't be out there trying to harvest us for their own purposes? They still do it anyway. Our people have been poached in the name of science before, and it isn't right. We Birons always have to be discreet. I couldn't just sit here and watch him bleed though."

"Do you think he'll be okay?" she said.

"I don't know," Berilo said. "I hope so, though. He's a good kid.

Feliu was missing.

*****
"God damn it," Feliu hissed into the deep and penetrating darkness of the time ship that he had called home for so many years. He'd known what his fate was to be as soon as he saw the crew that had teleported in to his temporary lodgings in the safe-house on Utopia.

He had long since lost any sunspecs he had ever owned during his stay in prison, and he was practically blind as he was led in binders through the corridors by a crew that had once called him "Sir". When they reached their destination they shoved him into a chair, and he felt someone place a pair of spectacles on his face.

He was soon greeted by the image of his father seated at his chair on the bridge. They were alone.

"Hello, Feliu," he said.

"What do you want?" Feliu muttered at him. "Just kill me and get it over with."

"Nah," Ganix said. "I think I'll leave that up to the Naturian. I mean, we can't have you alive and telling I-GAS all our secrets can we?"

"So kill me," Feliu growled.

"And miss out on the money?" Ganix' laugh bounced off the walls making Feliu cringe.

"What money?" He said once the laughter had subsided.

"Oh, just the price on your head, kiddo," Ganix replied. "See, the Naturian isn't particularly fond of atlases. He's not really a man you want to double-cross, son. He wants you alive so he can kill you himself, and I want the money. Two birds, one stone, you see. I mean, I'll have to do something to make ends meet now that my contacts on Utopia and in I-GAS seem to have been compromised. I wonder how that happened?"

"They're going to find you," Feliu murmured.

"Do you think they even care?" Ganix laughed. "I'm sure most of the planet would still rather spit on your grave than waste valuable resources trying to track down a time ship!"

"You'll see," Feliu muttered in defeat.

"See," Ganix said. "Not even you believe it! This is a time ship!"

"Yeah, I know," Feliu said. He wondered vaguely how his father could have made such a big mistake, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. It was common knowledge that all prisoners of the Utopian government were fitted with tracking software in their infoplants in the case of an escape. Ganix seemed to be under the impression that the Darkness would be unfindable in space-time as it had been in all the years it had served him.

The Darkness may not have been traceable, but the same certainly could no longer be said for Feliu. He would only have to manage to stay alive long enough for Robin to find him.

****

"That was fast," Axel commented as he stood by Ehren's desk and watched the Commander storm into the squad room followed by the Grand Admiral of I-GAS himself , the new Vice-Admiral (formerly the High-Commander), and Beatriu.

"What's happening?"

Axel paused for a moment, then retreated to the opposite end of the room and returned with a printout full of numbers: an action report.

"What's it say?" Ehren stood up and tried to glance over Axel's shoulder, but reading Action Reports had never been his strong suit.

"There's been a kidnapping," Axel replied solemnly.

Ehren took one look over at Robin's office and sighed. "Let me guess..."

***
"I want him found!" The Grand Admiral yelled, punctuating his statement with a fist in the air. "He is a valuable asset. He knows the ins and outs of Ganix Viernes operations. I can't believe we lost him. We're going to find him before the Detectives do. We are not going to be bested by that organization again. This is our jurisdiction!"

"I'm going to find him," Robin said. "I assure you. Let me assemble my own team..."

"Is that a good idea?" The Grand Admiral glanced at the former High-Commander. "Grey hasn't exactly shown the best judgment in the past when it comes to this man."

"I'm not going to let him go," Robin interrupted. "I want to bring him in. If we don't it's going to kill him."

"You have a galactic day to get him back," the Grand Admiral said. "No matter what. All of our resources are at your disposal. This is a valuable asset, Grey. I won't have you fucking up."

"No, Sir." Robin snapped off a salute and watched as the Grand Admiral and the Vice-Admiral left his office.

As soon as they were gone he turned to Beatriu.

"Get Rasa, track him," Robin said.

"Track him?"

"He has an infoplant now," Robin said. "The Utopian squad has got you pretty far already, but he's still on the move."

He handed over a small chip and Beatriu stared at it in her hand.

"Those are the codes!" He barked at her. "Go to it."

"Yes, Sir," she saluted and fled the room.

***
He knew it would only be a matter of time before Feliu's track came to a stationary spot. He left his office and found himself in front of Ehren's desk. The Ensign was trying very hard to look interested in his database work.

"I'm sure you've heard by now," Robin said.

"I'm sure you know that I don't care," Ehren replied.

"Look, I don't have time for your childish games right now," Robin said. "A life hangs in the balance, and you may not like him, or me, but..."

"Why me?" Ehren finally looked up. "Don't try to guilt me. Tell me why."

"I dont' have time for this," Robin growled. "Don't make me quote the manual. I know you know the rule about going into the field alone."

"So? Take Axel or something," Ehren muttered.

"Axel doesn't have experience in the field!" Robin shouted loud enough to gain the attention of the entire squad. "Axel has never been in the field with me. You have. I know you'll have my back. That is the why! Now get your lazy Earthian ass up, Recruit, and follow me!"

"You don't have to yell," Ehren said calmly as he stood up. "And it's..."

"Ensign Behrent," Robin growled. "I fucking know. Let's get a move on."

Ehren was immobile with the shock of his proper name coming out of Robin's mouth and was only startled into progressing when Robin grabbed the front of his uniform and began dragging him out of the room. Ehren quickly righted himself and followed Robin through the hallways, practically having to run to keep up with him. When they arrived in the communications room, Beatriu was waiting for them.

"They've stopped in the Milky Way...Naturian time," she said.

"Good," Robin said.

"Not good," she replied. "He's on the Darkness. You'll never be able to teleport into that thing. It will bounce you right back into space-time if she doesn't recognize your sig."

"So, we'll port on to the Nature and take a physical transport," Robin said.

"I have a better idea," Ehren spoke up. He excused himself much to Robin's dismay, but returned a minute later holding an ICD triumphantly aloft.

"So..." Robin looked at him curiously. "You're just going to call them up nicely and ask for them to open up a port?"

"Well, yeah," Ehren said. "Kind of."

"You can't be serious." Robin rolled his eyes. "Maybe I should have left you at your desk."

Ehren glared at him.

"I really appreciate your faith in my abilities, Robin," he said. "But as it just so happens, I know the port keeper's brother."

"Where's Ehrenfried?" She asked when she had him alone.

"Ehrenfried?" Robin perked up in surprise at hearing the name then smiled bitterly at her. "He's no longer my babysitter, mom. Sorry to disappoint, but he's back on Tarain where he belongs."

"Oh, you don't mean that," she said in a disapproving manner.

"Sorry to dash your hopes, Mom," he grumbled. "I'm afraid you won't be getting the son-in-law that your heart desires. It didn't work out. I think you know why I'm here."

"Feliu?" She murmured. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I could have sworn..."

"The whole room did swear that he was the one who pulled the trigger," Robin said. "Izar turned on his cohorts though."

"We were stupid to fall for a masking device," she said. "I thought they were all destroyed in the great technology purge, but..."

"Things survive," Robin said. "You can't destroy knowledge anyway. It's not your fault. Everybody thought he pulled the trigger." He hugged her close to him then and kissed her forehead.

"He's getting released tomorrow," Robin said.

"Feliu?"

"Yeah," he replied. "We're going to meet."

"I assumed as much," she said. "This should be a happy occasion then."

"Yeah," he muttered.

"So, why aren't you happy?" she said.

"I'm happy," he replied as he unconsciously rubbed his hand over his chest where the ring lay.

"I know we don't get to spend as much time together as we'd like, but I seem to remember you smiling a lot more often when you're happy," she said.

"Oh, I'm happy," he said. "Or maybe it's more like relief. I really don't want to think I'm the kind of person who would date a murderer. On the other hand..."

"What's on the other hand?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"I'm confused." He groaned as he leaned back in the seat. "I never thought I'd be the kind of jerk that stomps all over a guys heart. I hate this."

"There, there." Galiana patted her son's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll figure out the right thing to do."

"Me?" Robin snorted laughter and shrugged. "I think you're really overestimating me, Mom."

She patted him kindly on the back and smiled. "Maybe, darling," she said. "But I'm your mother, and I really don't think so."

***

"You look older," Robin said the next day when he met Feliu at a nearby city park after a long moment where they didn't know how to greet each other.

They had ended up settling for an awkward handshake/hug/kiss on the cheek that ended in nervous chuckles. They sat down on a bench and didn't speak for a long time.

"So, they let you go?" Robin said.

"Yeah," Feliu murmured. "But I have a guy."

"A guy?"

"Yeah," Feliu said. "I have a handler around here somewhere watching me right now. I don't blame them for not trusting me. I may not have killed anybody but..."

"I see," Robin said.

"I feel older." Feliu sank back in his seat and sighed. "I should have stayed with you and joined I-GAS. I just wanted to say that you were right."

"Somehow that doesn't make me feel better," Robin said.

"Yeah, me either, but...hey! You'll never believe this!" Feliu sat up and smiled brightly as he changed the subject.

He pulled the neck of his shirt down slightly to show Robin a red and swollen puncture wound on his shoulder. The hallmark of a freshly implanted microchip.

"They got an infoplant in you?" Robin stared at him in amazement.

"I got arrested," He said. "I'm in the bloody system now aren't I?"

"It doesn't bother you?"

"Of course it does," Feliu said. "Invasion of privacy and all that. However..."

He made a sweeping gesture across the sky and took a deep breath.

"It's a small price for freedom. They need a way to keep track of me, at least for a while."

"For a while?" Robin arched an eyebrow at him.

"You think I don't know people who can turn this off?" Feliu shrugged. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep it for a while. It's a gesture of good faith, y'know?"

"I see," Robin said.

"Yeah," Feliu replied. "I'm going to be working with I-GAS to get evidence and help put my father away for a really long time. He's the real culprit here. You know he framed me? Izar gave him up..."

"Izar gave a lot of people up," Robin said. "You knew who his inside contact was in I-GAS, didn't you?"

Feliu looked down at his hands. That was all the answer Robin needed.

"Why didn't you tell me? There were delicate operations that he knew all the details about. People were in real danger."

"People like me?" Feliu's head snapped up, and he glared at Robin angrily.

"Shit, you see the kind of trouble my father went to to make sure I took the fall for the worst thing imaginable. You wouldn't even believe me when I told you. What makes you think he wouldn't hesitate to kill me? What makes you think he still won't?"

"I..." Robin frowned. He was tired of apologizing to everybody, but he couldn't see any way to avoid it in that moment.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

"And..." Feliu waited expectantly and hoped that his frown was masking his inner amusement at Robin's discomfort.

"and...?"

"I'm sorry I tried to choke the life out of you?" Feliu prompted and laughed.

"That's not funny," Robin said. "I was angry. Give me a break, okay?"

"I forgive you," Feliu said. He put his arm around Robin on the bench, and when he received no resistance he lay his head on Robin's shoulder. From his vantage point he spied the chain around Robin's neck.

"What's that?" He said as he tugged lightly on it.

Robin pulled it out from beneath his shirt and over his head then handed it to Feliu.

"Do you want it back?" he asked earnestly.

"No, no..." Feliu stared at the ring. "I can't believe you still have that. The kid actually gave it to you?"

"Yeah." Robin shook his head. "Ehren kept it a secret."

"Good," Feliu said. He removed the ring from the chain and grabbed Robin's hand. He hesitated for a moment before attempting to place it on his finger, but Robin yanked his hand away and jumped up at the last minute.

Ehren's words were ringing in his ears then. The ring was a token, and it meant something. It meant something that he was no longer sure he was ready for.

"I can't," he muttered. "Put it back, please."

Feliu stared wide eyed up at him then sighed to himself.

"I see," he said as he reattached the chain, handed it back to Robin, and watched as he stuffed it away in the pocket of his trousers before he sat back down.

"So, where is your shadow these days anyway?" Feliu said.

"My shadow?"

"The kid, the Earthian...what do you call him? Ehren?"

"Ensign Behrent," Robin muttered. "Fuck him."

"Oh," Feliu chuckled. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Don't start," Robin warned him. "I'm not here about him, and he's none of your business either. I'm here for you, Feliu. I'm here for us..."

"Robin, I don't think..."

Feliu was interrupted by a woman who had gone previously unnoticed as she stood aside a balloon cart that was station next to a nearby pond.

"It's time to go, Feliu," she said.

Feliu sighed. "Look at that. It seems that I have my own shadow these days."

Robin ignored him and turned to the custody agent.

"Can we have more time, please," he asked. "I've only just arrived."

"Manager your time better," she snapped. "Your rendezvous are not my concern. My concern is when the safe-house closes."

"My father." Feliu stood up reluctantly. "That's why I'm at a safe-house. It's very nearly just like prison but with couches and holovision."

The agent frowned deeply at him and shook her head, an indication that she'd been getting a hard time from the moment Feliu had been entrusted to her care.

"Does it have a bed?" Robin asked.

Feliu laughed. "We'll meet earlier tomorrow, okay?"

"Fine," Robin grumbled.

They kissed goodbye, and it was almost as awkward as their greeting. Robin sighed as he watched Feliu walk away, and he knew that no matter how he tired nothing was ever going to be the same.

He grumbled over his paperwork until Axel broke off from a group and joined him.

"Did you hear?" he said.

"Yeah, I don't need to hear, Axel," Ehren said. "I already know where Robin's been putting his dick."

"What are you talking about?" Axel frowned.

"I...Uh..." He glanced up at Axel who was looking at him curiously. "What are you talking about?"

"The Vice-Admiral!" Axel said. "He's been placed under arrest!"

"What?"

"Yes," Axel said. "Apparently he has been selling secrets to the highest bidder. That's why he order a blackout on the assassination on Utopia. He would have never been caught if it wasn't for you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you!" Axel chuckled. "Aren't you modest, Ehrenfried. Uncovering conspiracies is not a bad thing."

"I..." He glanced down at his desk and felt ashamed for trying to shut down Rasa's efforts at uncovering the truth just because he'd been angry with Robin. "Look, Axel. I don't want the credit. I didn't do anything. It was Rasa and Beatriu who found the time signature. You should be thanking them."

He sighed and stood up from his desk. "I don't want to talk about this right now, Axel. If you want to congratulate somebody, then go find Rasa."

He walked away from his friend and approached Robin's office where he found Beatriu. She was sitting at her makeshift desk that was across from Robin's, tapping away at her virtual keyboard. He knocked softly on the door to gain her attention.

"I'm sorry to bother you," he said. "I'm not feeling well. May I retire to quarters?"

"You're not going to make it a habit are you?" She said as she looked up from what she was doing.

"No, Ma'am," he said. "It's just been a rough couple of days. Where's Robin?"

"He's going on leave," she said. "Didn't he tell you?"

"No." Ehren frowned.

Beatriu frowned in returned.

"Is that so?"

Ehren nodded. "I don't think it's likely that he wants to talk to me right now anyway. May I?" He gestured towards the door.

"Yes, by all means," she said. "I expect you to report for your shift tomorrow."

"Yes, ma'am, of course," he replied.

As soon as Ehren disappeared, Beatriu made her way out of the squad room to Robin's quarters where she found him packing for his trip to Utopia.

"So, you weren't even going to tell him that you're leaving," she said as she leaned against the doorway.

"Aren't you supposed to be working a shift?" he muttered without looking up from his small suitcase.

"Ahh, yes, my shift watching your recruits," she said. "I just think..."

"I don't care what you think," he said.

"But Ehren..."

"Is absolutely none of your business," he said.

"I know you don't want to think about it, but I think you should at least talk to him."

"I have nothing to say to him," Robin said.

She clucked at him in a disapproving manner and muttered something about boys being stupid under her breath.

"He's in quarters," she said before she left to return to her shift.

Robin waited until she was gone before he carefully traversed the hallways to Ehren's room.

****

"It's you," Ehren muttered as soon he answered the knock on his door later that morning and saw the Commander standing there.

"I uh...I brought you this." Robin awkwardly held out a cup of coffee.

Ehren accepted it reluctantly and placed it on his desk where he slumped down in a chair.

"Come in." He gestured weakly at the bed which was the only other place to sit.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to Utopia for a while," he said. "So..."

"You're going back to him aren't you?" Ehren said. "You're going back to him because I asked Rasa... Oh, this is all my fault. All my misery is all my fault all the time. I'm just... I was better off at university."

"I'm sorry." Robin bowed his head. "It's not that I don't like you. You know that, but..."

"I get it. I told you," Ehren muttered. "You and I were nothing compared to the history you have with him. I still think it's fucked up though."

"I just want to talk to him," Robin said. "We have a lot of things to discuss. I'm not necessarily..."

"Please." Ehren shook his head. "Don't insult my intelligence. I know you still love him."

"I'm sorry," Robin said. "You understand?"

"Sure," Ehren said. "I know where I stand, okay? So, will you please stop apologizing to me?"

"I'm sorry...Uh. Beatriu told me what happened yesterday morning."

"Really?" Ehren gave him a wry smile. "Great, I feel like shit already with everybody congratulating me for uncovering a conspiracy when I was just going to let it go, because I was angry at you. I don't need your apologies. Will you just go and reunite with your one true love or whatever the fuck? You don't owe me anything, okay, Robin? It was fun while it lasted but you can go away now. I'll probably be gone when you get back anyway."

"What do you mean?" Robin said, a hint of distress tinged his voice.

"I mean I put in for a transfer this morning," Ehren said. "Hopefully they'll station me on a more pleasant planet."

"Ehren..."

"It's Ehrenfried!" Ehren corrected him through clenched jaws with his hands curled in fists, and Robin involuntarily flinched in remembrance of the last time Ehren had gotten angry enough to hit him when he'd been called by his shortened name. There was still a black ring-shaped bruise over his heart.

"I'm sorry," Robin uttered one last time. He stood from the bed and couldn't bring himself to look at Ehren's accusing stare as he departed.

Rasa felt groggy that morning since she had been staring at a holograph full of numbers for most of the evening with only short coffee breaks in between to keep her going. Beatriu had taught her how to set up and run the multi-filter program. That had taken most of the night, but by the time morning came the Naturian string had resolved itself neatly into a clear and readable time signature.

"I don't believe it," Beatriu said to Rasa as they stood staring at the screen, surveying their work.

"I have to admit that I wasn't sure the anomaly was a time signature. I just assumed it was a Naturian ship that accidentally dropped out of hyperspace or something explainable, but this..." She shook her head. "Somebody should have caught this before now."

"I'm sorry," Rasa said. "I still have a lot to learn."

"No, no," Beatriu said. "I meant you shouldn't have been alone in here doing this. There was an anomaly..."

Rasa yawned.

"They shut the case before anybody had a chance to look at it. I did my best," she said.

"It's a good job." Beatriu patted her shoulder. "Look, I just meant the case shouldn't have been shut."

"Yes, I know," she said. "I'm sorry. Thank you, Lieutenant-Commander. Thanks for helping me instead of arresting me or something."

"Now, it's not enough to exonerate Feliu, but we can get the case reopened," Beatriu said. "I have to say, I'm kind of relieved. Feliu never did seem like the type."

"Yeah, I didn't know him, but Ehren..."

She was interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open and Ehren himself stomping into the room.

"I hate these fucking doors!" He declared as he strode forward with his head down. "They're all over the place, and I fucking want to slam something so bad right now. Isn't there a pantry with a hinge somewhe..."

He trailed off as he finally glanced up and caught sight of Beatriu standing there next to Rasa. They wore dual expressions of shock on their faces at his cursing.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I didn't know you were here, Lieutenant-Commander."

He glared at Rasa who shrugged at him sheepishly.

"I had to tell her, Ehrenfried," she said. "But I..."

He waved his hand at her in a gesture of dismissal and began to plead his case to Beatriu.

"Look, it's not her fault," he said. "I convinced her to do it, and it was a stupid idea. Just forget about it, okay? Forget about Feliu. He can rot in prison forever for all I care, and Robin can go with him!"

"Uh..." Rasa glanced sideways at Beatriu. "He's really not going to like what we have to tell him is he?"

"What?" He grumbled. "What now?"

"We found the time signatures," Beatriu said. "There were other people there. We can get the case reopened."

"Fuck the case," Ehren said. "Just forget about it. It doesn't mean he isn't lying because someone else was there! Men lie, okay?"

"Look," Beatriu said. "This isn't something that we can just sit on, Ehrenfried. You have heard by now that the Utopian military is mobilizing against Dysprosia. If there is any chance at all that this assassination wasn't perpetrated by the Dysprosians..."

"Who cares?" he muttered.

"I care." Rasa took a step forward and touched him on the arm in hopes of getting him to calm down, but Ehren only shrugged her off.

"Fuck Utopia, Fuck Dysprosia, Fuck..."

He was interrupted by the sound of Rasa smacking him as hard as she could with her open hand. He was in shock as he righted himself and stared at her with his hand against his reddened cheek.

"What..."

"Look, Earthian, I don't know what it's like out there on that lonely rock you call home in that empty ass galaxy of yours, but out here there are people and I don't think you understand how devastating a galactic war is."

"We've had wars," he murmured.

"Yeah, well multipy that horror by about a billion, Ehrenfried. If Utopia declares war then people are going to die. Innocent people are going to die. My people, Lieutenant-Commander David's people; so many people, and I don't want that to happen if it's at all possible to stop it. I'm not going to sit on my hands because you got in a fight with your boyfriend, and neither is Beatriu, I should think!"

"How..."

"Oh, please." Rasa rolled her eyes at him. "Everybody in the squadron knows you've been sleeping together. The only point of contention is when exactly you started doing it. There's a pool."

"He's not my boyfriend," Ehren muttered. "Never was, never will be. Ever. I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. I'm being selfish."

"Okay!" Beatriu clapped her hands together and stepped into the middle of the room in an authoritative stance.

"Now that's settled, let's get started. Rasa, you make multiple copies of what we just found so that we can send it to all the proper authorities. I'll liaise with the Utopian government and get the paperwork started to reopen the investigation, and Ehrenfried..."

"Yes ma'am," he said with his head bowed, feeling guilty for his outburst.

"Ehrenfried," she said as she placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "You have my permission to take the remainder of the day to rest and calm the hell down, okay?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he said.

*****

Feliu sat in an interrogation room at the Utopian detention center where he had been imprisoned. He was happy to have gotten out of his cell for once since it seemed that he had been left there in solitary confinement to atrophy while the powers that be dawdled over his ultimate fate. Even though he wasn't sure exactly what was going on, he was glad to have some respite from the unrelenting boredom. For a man who had spent most of his life traveling throughout time and space, being locked in a cell with nobody to talk to was only slightly more bearable then getting the death penalty.

He had spent his day in that room telling his story to representatives of every law enforcement agency that he knew of in that sector of space and some he had never even heard of, until he was met at the very end of the day by a time detective.

"So, are you going to be the one who tells me what exactly is going on here, or are you going to dodge my questions too? " he asked as soon as the detective took his seat across the interrogation table.

"What do you mean?" the detctive replied as he pushed his spectacles up on his nose. "We are conducting an investigation."

"That has been closed for weeks now," Feliu replied. "I have to admit that I don't really get why you're believing me now."

"There has been some new evidence brought to light that corroborates your story," he said. "We're interested in what you have to say."

"I see," Feliu replied. "So does that mean you think I'm not guilty now, because I said that too if I recall?"

"Don't get me wrong," the detective said. "This doesn't mean that you're exonerated. Absolutely not. Understand that, and even if it comes to light that you were not behind this, that does not absolve you of your past crimes. You are a wanted man still, so I would just make yourself comfortable, Viernes."

"Okay," Feliu said. "How many people know about this proof that you have?"

"It is on a need to know basis as of right now," the detective replied.

"Right, good, good," Feliu said. "Well, I think it might be a good idea to search Izar Llaqué's home, his office, his person...at least before word gets around that you're actually in the business of believing what I have to say now."

"And please tell me why in the galaxies we would want to do that to a trusted council member?" The detective said. "You'd better have a very compelling reason."

"Compelling like he's been dealing arms in conjunction with my father for years?" Feliu said.

"Proof?"

"Search him and I'm sure you'll find it," Feliu said. "Or lean on him just a little bit. He doesn't stand up to the pressure. The man will fold like a deck of cards if he thinks you've got his number."

"Feliu, I'm sure you are aware that is a very serious accusation," the detective said. "If nothing turns up you are in for a..."

"Oh, please!" Feliu snorted laughter. "Honestly? What have I got to lose? I can't possibly get the population of this planet to hate me more than they already do even if I go to all their houses personally and spit on their mothers or fathers! I'm already stuck in jail for infinity. I can't be any more in jail than I already am, and I'm not scared of the death penalty either. Because I'm not wrong."

"I see," the detective said. "Even if you're right. There are still your other crimes..."

Feliu laughed at him then and leaned back in his chair.

"Oh, the things I know about my father's operation," he said. "I'm am just a small inconsequential little nothing in the scheme of intergalactic and intertemporal crime. My father on the other hand..."

The detective narrowed his eyes at Feliu and regarded him suspiciously.

"What do you want?" He said.

Feliu leaned forward and rapped on the table. "I want a deal."

"Why now, Feliu?" the detective replied. "Why turn on your family now after all these years?"

"You mean the family that framed me for murder? I don't see why I would protect them when they sold me up the river for a war," Feliu said.

"You could have told us this weeks ago," the detective said.

"Hah!" Feliu jumped up and began pacing. "You mean weeks ago when nobody gave a crap what words came out of my mouth? Not even the man I most trusted in the world believed me, so why would I waste my breath? Now you seem to be interested in the truth instead of scapegoating, so I'm going to give it to you! The truth comes at a price though. Why don't you get someone of authority in here so we can make a binding deal?"

"That all depends on what you have to say," the detective said. "And what Izar has to say about all this."

"Trust me." Feliu flopped back into his chair and grinned at the detective. "You are going to love what Izar has to say. He's like a medium sized fish in a big pond. He'll make his deals behind closed doors and think he's safe, but just you watch. Put him out in the open, he'll go belly up, and they'll all fall like dominoes."

He made a flicking motion to demonstrate and watched as the detective clucked to himself and pushed away from the table.

"We'll see, Viernes," he said.

Feliu's grin did not waver. He licked his lips and laughed.

"Do you taste that, Detective?" he said.

The detective grunted and shook his head with a frown.

Feliu laughed again.

"I taste freedom, sir," he said. "And it is delicious."

She found Rasa staring at a holographic output display looking tired and frazzled.

"What's happening in here?" Beatriu said as she pulled up a seat.

"Uhh..." Rasa stared at the screen for a moment, trying to process whether or not she should even bother to try and hide what she was doing, or if she should just spill everything to Beatriu.

She was too tired to come up with any conclusion, so she just waved her hand at the display and said "Time Signatures".

Beatriu took a closer look at the screen. It looked very familiar to her as she inspected it.

"That's the GU sector isn't it?" she said.

"Uh-huh," Rasa said. She brushed her white hair away from her face and sighed. "I know I'm not supposed to have it. The Vice-Admiral, Ehrenfried..."

"Well, now," Beatriu said with a goodhearted smile. "He hasn't advanced that far in rank yet."

"There's supposed to be a rogue time signature in there somewhere," Rasa said, completely ignoring Beatriu's joke. "Ehrenfried said. Clearly he's insane. I'm about to give up. I've ran it through all the filters we got several times, and it's always the same ones that show up. This is all we got. Time signatures. The rest of the footage in this spot has all been destroyed. No body scans, no thermal imaging, no shit, no nothing."

"You're investigating the assassination." Beatriu realized with some surprised. "I thought that case was shut."

Rasa looked sheepishly down at her hands and shrugged.

"Rasa," Beatriu said, her voice filled with warning. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Look," she said. "Something's not right. There were eyewitnesses to another party in that room. Another party might have been the one to pull the trigger. That's what I hear. I'm just trying to prove one way or another, and there's something there. I can feel it. I just can't find it. It's so frustrating. I'm not good enough."

"Who did you hear this from?" Beatriu said. "What eyewitnesses?"

"The accused," Rasa muttered. "Ehrenfried talked to Feliu, and some guy. I talked to that guy too on the ICD. He sounded like he was telling the truth, and I want to help them, but I can't."

Beatriu took a moment to process the information.

"You're doing this as a favor for Behrendt? He's going against the Vice-Admiral's direct orders and investigating this when the culprit is already behind bars? I don't believe this. I'm going to have to arrest that boy."

"No," Rasa said. "Look, look..." She pointed at the floating display of numbers before her. "There is an anomaly there. I just don't know if it's natural, or what it means."

Beatriu sighed, and was ready to dismiss Rasa out of hand when she glanced at the string of numbers. It triggered something in the back of her mind.

"Did you try multi-filters?" She said as she sat up in her chair and poked at the display, rearranging the numbers.

"No, not yet," Rasa said. "I mean, that's the last resort. Nobody uses that anymore. I've been working on this for over a week, and I haven't gotten far enough to try it. It's all been a lot of trial and error so far."

"Well, your pool of options just got smaller," Beatriu said. "This is a Naturian string."

"A Naturian string?" Rasa peeked at the numbers curiously.

"A primitive cipher for a primitive race," Beatriu said. "Pay attention, this is going to take a while."

***

Ehren couldn't be in love with Robin Grey. It wasn't love. He knew it and tried to convince himself that wasn't how he felt. He knew Robin didn't feel the same. He wasn't even sure it was really the sex that he wanted. Ehren had his doubts, even as he was sprawled out over his desk with his face pressed against the cold metal

He realized his mistake as soon as he felt something colder than Robin's hands brush against his skin as he bent over him in concentration, his teeth biting into Ehren's shoulder to keep his groans in check.

Ehren should have known when Robin had disrobed and the short, barren, gold chain had been returned to his neck. It had only been turned it around so that the ring was hanging behind him.

Ehren thought he might have cared. There might have been a slight chance. He felt like he was wrong about everything in that moment. Robin had taken him out on missions, . He'd been trusted even after screwing up. He'd been treated as a respected colleague instead of the green recruit that he was. Robin still smiled at him as they passed in the hallway. He knew how Ehren took his coffee and had it waiting in the mess hall on every one of their off days. Robin had cared about his opinion when nobody else had, and he'd loved him for it. Ehren loved him despite his best intentions.

No, Ehren could waste all the time he wanted loving everything about him, but he knew in that moment that Robin could never love him back. He was reminded of it, a small, burning discomfort, pressed between his shoulder blades, with every thrust; a stolen ring, and the promise of love from the thief that had taken Robin's heart long before he had ever entered the picture.

Ehren had to get away from him then. He pushed himself up from his prone position on the desk despite how tired he was as soon as the Robin had spent himself. He glanced at his station; a mess of ruined and rumpled paperwork, spattered with sweat and come. How humiliating would it be if anybody found it in such a disarray once morning rolled around? He couldn't be with Robin in that moment though. The Commander sat upon his chair, looking satisfied while watching him as he struggled to pull his uniform back on. Ehren didn't think about morning then. He just had to get away.

"Thank you, Sir," he muttered as he carefully concentrated on the final buttons of his shirt. He refused to meet Robin's eyes, because he wasn't going to let Robin know how angry he felt for being used. He turned to head back towards his room when Robin finally called his name. The final straw crumbled into dust as soon as the word was out of his mouth.

"Ehren?"

"It's Ehrenfried for the last fucking time!" He whirled around to face Robin. "If you're going to fuck me, you should, at the very fucking least, have the courtesy to use the name I go by!"

"You're upset?" Robin said.

"Of course I am!" He vaguely wondered what had happened to his brilliant plan for keeping his feelings a secret. There was something about Robin that pushed every one of his buttons though. He just couldn't help but push back.

"I thought you wanted this too. This week has been..." he murmured. He stood up and approached Ehren, having the audacity to look hurt. "I thought we worked this out the other night. Why are you angry?"

"Why?" Ehren closed the gap between them.

He was exhausted and irate and running on pure adrenaline. When he reached Robin and grabbed the thin chain around his neck, he yanked it so hard that the clasp broke and the ring came free, clenched in his hand. He slammed it against Robin's chest with all the strength his Earthian body possessed.

"I am absolutely not your replacement fuck, especially not when it comes to this asshole," Ehren growled at him.

Ehren left then, and ignored Robin as he called after him. It only enraged him further as he still insisted on calling him by the diminutive of his name as if the words he had just spoken had gone straight through one ear and out the other. As he strode angrily down the hallway, he made the decision once and for all. He would be putting in a transfer request by the time morning arrived.

"If she's going to kill you, imagine what she's going to do to me," Ehren said from his vantage point on the bed. He was closely examining his boots for the proper amount of sheen having already gotten dressed.

"No, you don't understand." Robin chuckled as he inspected himself in his mirror. "She's just about my only friend in the world. She'll be harder on me."

Robin watched Ehren approach him from the reflective surface. He stood next to Robin at his right hand and frowned at the mirror.

"Is that so?" He said.

Robin looked away to his left and sighed. "You and I?"

"That's fine," Ehren muttered. "I don't expect for you to call me a friend. We hardly know each other after all. I shouldn't expect it."

"Ehren..."

"I said that's fine," he grumbled a reply. "We aren't in a relationship. We're a string of unfortunate circumstances. I know that."

"I'm an unfortunate circumstance?" Robin arched an eyebrow at him, but Ehren was looking down at his own boots.

"You know what I mean," he said. "And it is what it is."

"I don't have time for your strange Earthian idioms right now," Robin said. "I didn't mean it."

"Didn't mean what?"

"Nevermind," Robin muttered. "Just...I...don't know. I think I'd like to get to know you."

"Okay," Ehren said.

"So what now?"

"Well..." Ehren proceeded with caution as he spoke. "First of all, let's stop sucking on my ear in public."

"But you get off on it!" Robin grinned mischievously and laughed as Ehren tried to cuff him but missed.

"C'mon," Ehren whined. "Where will that leave us if we both get fired?"

"Free to date?" Robin guessed.

"No." Ehren shut down that argument quickly. "I will be a detective. Even if it kills me."

The teasing smile abruptly fled Robin's face, and he glanced quickly at the photograph that Ehren had given him in the mess hall. He had hastily taped it to the mirror when they'd arrived at the room, and his glance didn't go without notice.

"That's your father isn't it?" Ehren said softly.

"Uh-huh," Robin replied. "It might kill you. It has a history of happening to my family."

"Well, I'm not your family, am I?" Ehren said.

"I suppose not," Robin said.

"So don't worry about it, old man. I'll be outliving you!" Ehren replied with a smile. He gave Robin a pat on the back and stood on his tip-toes to kiss him on the cheek before departing.

****

Beatriu stood in the middle of the room eying Robin's squadron. At least it was Robin's squadron in theory. As far as she could tell the Commander was nowhere to be seen, and when he finally did appear more than forty minutes late for his shift, he was followed suspiciously closely by his fellow truant, Ensign Ehrenfried Beherendt.

Something had happened between them on Utopia, and it hadn't escaped her notice. She hadn't acquired her position in the organization for being unobservant. Though, she was sure it wouldn't have escaped her either way. In the short time she had been with the squadron she had noticed that Ehren was more or less Robin's right hand man. Robin had even put him up for a promotion. Once they had returned, Robin actively had gone out of his way to completely ignore him to the point where Beatriu was no longer a mere observer, but rather, a go between to relay instructions back and forth.

She wouldn't have abided by such a thing had Robin not been one of her oldest and closest friends. Still, it was suspicious, and his being late gave her a reason to call him on it.

He was sitting in his office the next afternoon, shuffling through paperwork and humming to himself when she entered and sat across from him.

"Are you having sex with him?" She said without hesitation or pause.

"That would be a trick," Robin said without bothering to look up from what he was doing. "With Feliu under heavy guard on another planet, and the fact that I fucking hate him more than you could ever know right now..."

He frowned at the papers on his desk then clenched them in his fists as he tried to control the rage that welled up inside him just by mentioning Feliu's name. Things had been going well. Being with Ehren had certainly dulled the pain into an numb spot in the back of his brain, but saying it out loud seemed to open the wounds fresh like a knife to the gut. He bit the inside of his lip to stop the scream that was trying to claw its way suddenly out of his throat.

"Well, I hadn't thought of that. Funny that he's the first thing your brain jumped to," Beatriu said with a shrug. "You know I mean Behrendt. What the hell are you thinking Robin? He's just a kid!"

Robin's scowl deepened.

"Trust me. He is a fully formed adult," Robin said.

"So you are sleeping with him?" She settled back in her seat with her hands folded in front of her and a smirk on her face.

"The burden of proof is yours," Robin replied.

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "All I'd have to do is camp out in front your bunk for five minutes and I'd catch one of you coming or going."

"Official I-GAS business," Robin replied. "Please, Beatriu. Let it go."

"Do you know how much trouble we both could get in if I do that?" She said.

"Of course," Robin replied. "But like I said...prove it. There's nothing going on between Behrendt and I."

"Oh, come on!" She rolled her eyes. "You are aware that I'm not stupid, and I know when you're lying, right?"

He shrugged.

Beatriu let out a frustrated and strangled yell as she jumped up, the chair kicking out behind her and startling Robin into finally looking up at her with his mouth slightly ajar.

"Are you actively trying to torpedo your career?" she asked. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"My career?" Robin laughed. "That's been over for a while now... That's not an admission of guilt by the way."

Beatriu rolled her eyes then threw herself back down in the chair.

"What am I supposed to do here, Robin? You put me in a terrible position. If nothing's going on, and frankly that's a big 'if', then please explain to me how you can ignore him one week then the next he's your right hand. What is that about?"

"Look, Behrendt and I have had our differences," Robin said. "He's curious and eager to prove himself though, and he's smart. He offers valuable assets, and I will consult him if I see the need. He is the second highest ranking person in this squadron. You don't count. Why are you still here anyway? Shouldn't this probationary period have expired by now?"

Beatriu frowned at him.

"Sorry, Grey. Unfortunately you're stuck with me indefinitely. Especially after that report Behrendt turned in," she said.

Robin's sour frown remained even though he couldn't really bring himself to be angry with Ehren for reporting on his meeting with Feliu. It was an inevitability, and Ehren couldn't be blamed for doing his job.

"How bad was it?" He muttered.

"Oh, you should probably send him a basket of plears. He sneaked in a small mention of you having a little visit with a murderous criminal couched in the most complimentary terms humanly possible," she said. "It wasn't enough to keep IDS from breathing down your neck, but his big glowing words dazzled them enough to keep you from getting fired outright. He really escorted you on this trip to the detention facility?"

"Oh..." Robin scratched at the back of his neck and chuckled to himself. "Yes, he was definitely there. Feel free to investigate."

"You are such a liar," she muttered.

"He was there," Robin said. "He was annoyingly clingy almost the entire time. Thank you for that, by the way."

"Ok," she said cautiously.

"Is that all?" He said.

"For now." She stood up from her seat and made her way to the door. "I'm keeping an eye on you, Robin."

***

Ehren didn't relish the thought of Beatriu knowing what was going on. Despite Robin's reassurances that they were safe from the prying eyes of IDS in their downtime, he couldn't help but be nervous.

Even though he'd told Robin that he wouldn't have minded going back to Earth should he be dismissed, he preferred to keep his post at I-GAS. He knew he hadn't been the model of good behavior, and they had every reason to dismiss him should they find out that he was having an affair with Commander Grey, but when he was lying in a tired, sweaty heap on Robin's bunk watching him breath as he slept, he couldn't bring himself to break it off. He didn't want to. In those quiet moments not even the threat of impending dismissal could ruin his good mood. There was only one thing that could put a damper on it, and it stared him in the face every time they were together.

"Robin?" He timidly asked one night as he sprawled out atop the commander.

"Are we going to keep doing this?" he asked quietly. He rested his head upon Robin's chest. It wasn't the possibility of dismissal that cast doubt in his mind about his actions. No; it was the shining piece of diamond and metal that rested on a chain around Robin's neck at all times.

"I hope so," Robin said. He was completely unaware of the root of Ehren's discomfit and kissed him softly on the forehead in an attempt at a gesture of reassurance.

"Can you do me a favor then?" Ehren asked.

Robin grunted a reply.

"Will you please not wear this?" He reached out and tugged lightly at the ring.

"It's just a ring," Robin muttered.

"Yeah, that your murdering fucking ex stole for you," Ehren grumbled in return. "Why do you even still have that?"

"None of your damn business," Robin said. He unceremoniously shoved Ehren off him and stood from the bed.

"I get it," Ehren said. "I guess I don't have a right to know."

"Ehren..." Robin glanced back at him where he was sitting on the bed with a sad look on his face.

"This is fun for you isn't it?" He said. "I'm just a distraction aren't I?"

"What else do you want?" Robin muttered. "You don't love me. I don't love you. Who cares?"

Ehren smiled ruefully up at him.

"I see. I guess I'll be going then," he said.

"No! Wait!" Robin held out a hand to stop the impending departure. He reached behind him and unclasped the chain from his neck.

"There. Happy now?" He muttered.

"Kind of."

"Kind of?"

"I don't think you mean it," Ehren said with a sigh. "I'm going to my room now, Sir."

"Suit yourself, Ehren," he said. "It's too late and I'm too tired to deal with you and your incessant talking about expectations."

"It's Ehrenfried, Sir. I don't have any expectations," Ehren said as he began to put his clothes back on. "It just kind of throws me. That thing." He gestured towards the ring that was still clenched in Robin's hand.

"It's just a ring," Robin repeated.

"Well," Ehren said carefully. "On Earth, those kind of tokens carry weight. You know?"

Robin shook his head even though he knew very well what Ehren was driving at.

"What do you mean?" He said instead.

"Look," Ehren said shortly. "I'm absolutely not going to ask you, because I already know the answer, and I don't want to hear it. Let's just be men and not talk about it right now."

"No, no. I want to hear this. What is it that you supposedly know?" Robin said as he rolled his eyes.

Ehren frowned to himself and placed his hand near the door sensor so that he could make a quick exit once he said his piece.

"You still love him," he said. "You stand there believing this man killed your mother, and you still love him. Seriously, Sir. Get some help, because that is really fucked up."

He waved his hand quickly over the motion sensor and darted out of the door before Robin could reply. This time there was no goodbye kiss.

****
It was another dismal day on Tarain. Robin sat in his office with the door locked. Beatriu hadn't been pleased with him and had threatened to beat the door down but was eventually spirited away by Seth and Axel. Robin knew they were only a temporary distraction, and she would be back at any moment.

He took the time to stare at the ring that he had taken to keeping in the pocket of his trousers instead of around his neck. It had been a few days since Ehren had walked out on him, but they were more or less back to where they had started. It couldn't be said that they had made up completely, though. Practically no words regarding the ring had passed between them after Robin had showed up at Ehren's door a few hours later on the same night that they had argued.

That night had seen the ring remain behind on Robin's dresser, and Ehren had seemed to take it at face value even though Robin could tell by looking in his eyes that he didn't believe it. He was tentative and suspicious, but he'd let Robin enter and they had fallen into bed as easily as ever.

Still, Robin could tell that there was a lingering doubt in Ehren's eyes whenever he looked upon him. It made him feel guilty, for it was not without reason. What Ehren had said that night about the ring was true. It was a token that meant something, and Robin just couldn't let it go.

Letting it go meant that Feliu was not the man he thought he knew. He wasn't the flawed but kind soul that he had met on the streets of the Golden Utopia as a child. He wasn't the person who saved up every scrap of spare time that he had to spend with Robin. He wasn't the man that Robin had fallen in love with.

No, despite the fact that he had proclaimed his own belief in Feliu's guilt, he still couldn't believe it, nor did he want to. The greatest love of his life just couldn't be a lie. He'd never had anybody else until Ehren had showed up in squad room, and Ehren seemed to do nothing more than further cloud his feelings. It had been simple before. He'd had Feliu, and he'd loved him. It was black and white and easy to process without words. Ehren's entire life revolved around words, and he was complicated.

"It's just a stupid ring," he said to himself even though he knew it was more than that. He picked it up and placed it back around his neck for what he thought was the final time.

"I guess this is goodbye," he murmured. He placed his hand over the ring momentarily then moved to unclasp the chain but was interrupted by Beatriu banging on his door.

"You better open up this door, Grey. So help me!" She yelled through the barrier.

He grumbled to himself and hastily stuffed the ring under his shirt before he jumped from his desk and unlocked the door to reveal an irate looking Beatriu.

"Why is this door locked?" She asked.

"What does it matter?" He grinned at her. "What despicable things could I possibly be getting up to in the past five minutes?"

"You?" She snorted laughter at him. "My clipboard is in there. If we're going to be sharing an office you need to not be locking me out of it."

"Fine, fine," he said. "You have a point. Be my guest." He stepped aside and gestured towards the opening.

"Thank you, Sir," she said as she marched past him leaving him chuckling in her wake.

When he looked up he found that his eyes wandered involuntarily towards Ehren. He was distracted from his previous thoughts as he watched him work. He couldn't help but wonder what he would look like bent over that desk he sat at every day.

He left his post by the door and wandered up to Ehren's desk. Ehren looked up from his paperwork as he sensed Robin there and the look of distrust was still present in his eyes. Robin felt guilty for a moment then shoved his feelings aside.

"I'm going to need you to stay late and work on the Yarzfeld database tonight," he said as he sat on the corner of the desk and surveyed the area.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Ehren yelped out his dismay.

Robin frowned at him.

"Do I have to remind you that these are working hours, Recruit?" He said.

"Sorry," Ehren muttered. "Are you fucking kidding me...Sir?"

"Stop it," Robin hissed. "Someone is going to hear you. I promise it will be worth it."

"I don't know if I really like the sound of that, Sir," he said as he glanced around the room hoping that nobody else had noticed them.

"You will," Robin said as he rapped on the desk and stood up. "Trust me."

Robin had said nothing over the ICD when Ehren had called for directions, and he said nothing upon his return. He was sitting in the living area with his mother quietly nestled in his arms as they chatted. She jumped up to greet Ehren and practically pushed him into the kitchen to feed him another plateful of Utopian vegetables.

Robin entered the room once she'd gone with a bitter smile contorting his features.

"I think my mother likes you more than she likes me," he said.

"Don't be stupid," Ehren said. He held up a red vegetable on his fork. "What is this?"

"It's a carmine," Robin said. "It's a root."

"It's good," Ehren replied as he shoved it in his mouth, followed quickly by another forkful. He thought maybe if he kept his mouth full it might keep Robin from asking about the Biron.

"So you didn't catch him, I see," Robin said despite Ehren's hope that he wouldn't.

Ehren shook his head.

"He was really fast, and there was this gate..."

"Fine," Robin muttered. "I'm going to bed."

He stood up and slowly made his way to the kitchen doorway before turning back.

"You coming?"

Ehren nearly choked on a mouthful of carmine. He turned around slowly and glared at Robin who was predictably smirking at him from the doorway.

"I told you I wasn't giving up."

"Robin..."

"C'mon. I'll even go easy on you," he said; a comment that piqued Ehren's ire.

He narrowed his gaze and stood up from his chair, slowly approaching Robin.

"Is taunting me some kind of weird foreplay, Sir? Because it's not doing it for me. At all," he said.

"I'm not taunting you," Robin said as Ehren paused a few inches from where he was standing. "I'm just trying to be sensitive to your probable inexperience."

"My probable..." Ehren burst out laughing. "Are you kidding?"

"When was the last time you got laid?" Robin asked.

"Regardless," Ehren grumbled then poked Robin defiantly in the chest. "I have it on good authority that I'm very excellent at sex. It's one of my finer skills actually."

"Oh, really?" Robin's eyebrows shot up and he grinned. "Care to demonstrate?"

"Didn't we just have this conversation this afternoon or whatever the hell time it was?" Ehren said.

"That was then," Robin replied. "This isn't a reaction, Ehren. I told you; I like you. I'm not going to stop."

"I'll have you for sexual harassment," Ehren said.

"No. You won't," Robin replied. He took a step closer and gestured at the corner of his own mouth. "You've got a little...carmine right there. It's really unattractive and distracting when I'm trying to seduce you. Don't you Earthians chew with your mouths closed?"

"Your seduction techniques must be extremely rusty." Ehren frowned in dismay and wiped at the side of his mouth with his sleeve.

"You don't say?" Robin chuckled and stepped into Ehren, forcing him backwards and off balance. Robin grabbed him to keep him from falling over and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth where the carmine supposedly was even though it had never been there in the first place.

Ehren hesitated as Robin waited for him to make the next move. He sighed and tucked his head beneath Robin's chin as he leaned against him.

"This is like every stupid idea I ever had rolled into one," he said.

"Yeah, I know...and you've had some extremely stupid ideas," Robin replied.

"It must be true," Ehren said, "since you're the expert."

"So...are we going to just stand here? Because, I'll tell you right now, I don't have the patience or the stamina for another one of your damned conversations right now, Ehren."

"Fuck no," Ehren agreed. He pulled away, grabbed Robin's wrist and marched him out of the kitchen and into the bedroom.

***

Ehren woke some time later feeling hot and cold at the same time and with his face firmly planted in Robin's chest hair. He didn't really feel like moving at that moment, but he didn't especially want to be there when Robin woke up either.

As quietly as he could, he extricated himself from Robin's grasp and stumbled out of bed. His foot landed awkwardly in a pile of the rubble that still littered the floor. He pushed the pile out of the way and found that when he was finished, he was standing on a photograph that was torn nearly in half. His big toe was pointing directly to a man who looked a lot like Robin. He was holding a baby and beaming at the camera.

He was just bending over to grab the photo for a closer look when, much to his chagrin, Robin's voice was ringing in his ears.

"Nice view," he said. He sounded content, and his voice was heavy with sleep.

Ehren straightened up, and whirled around, self consciously moving to cover himself up despite what he and Robin had been getting up to earlier in the evening. He realized that he was still holding the photograph and moved his hands behind him to hide it. He didn't know for sure, but he had a feeling that Robin wouldn't like him snooping around in his personal belongings.

"Even better," Robin said once Ehren was exposed again.

"Shut-up," Ehren muttered.

Robin smiled at him and yawned.

"Come back to bed," he said.

"No!" Ehren shouted a little too loudly, causing Robin to frown.

"But..."

"I just gotta go right now," Ehren said. He glanced away from Robin who was looking increasingly cross with every passing second.

"I see. Well... later then." He rolled back over in the bed and pulled the blanket from where it was pooled around his ankles, back over his head.

"Uh...I..." Ehren sighed and mouthed an inaudible Earthian curse under his breath. "I'll see you later."

He stumbled his way out of the room, pulling on his trousers on as he went. He found his shirt and jacket in a pile in the hallway outside and cursed under his breath yet again. There was no way it would have escaped Galiana's attention. Aside from his clothing being strewn about the public areas of the flat, he was pretty sure that the walls there weren't soundproof either. Despite his best efforts, neither was he.

He pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead and shook his head as if to clear it, which wasn't effective at all. There was only one topic that remained entrenched in his mind and that was Robin; the way he looked, the way he smelled, the way he tasted, the way he seemed to get cooler as Ehren heated up in a strangely titillating mixture of opposing temperatures.

"Tornado weather," Eheren muttered to himself.

He shook his head again and scrambled away to the guest room where he spent the rest of the evening trying to concentrate on studying a textbook he had brought with him.

***

Robin spent the sleeping hours in a sleepless state. There really was no going back at that point, and he wasn't quite sure how to feel. Despite his insistence that his attraction to Ehren wasn't some sort of a reaction to the massive upheaval in his life, he wasn't convinced that was the case. Nonetheless, he had taken his flirtation to another level entirely there on Golden Utopia. He didn't regret it at all. Ehren was as enthusiastic and as eager to prove himself in bed as he was in the field. They'd had a good time, but when Robin had wakened from that restful sleep afterward (roused from a sudden lack of warmth at his side), Ehren's defenses had gone up.

No, Robin had no regrets, but it was blatantly obvious that Ehren was filled with them. He had a feeling that there weren't going to be any repeat performances of that afternoon's acrobatics, and his idea was only reinforced by the words out of Ehren's mouth the next rising cycle after Robin had broached the subject.

They were sitting at the kitchen table with Galiana humming behind them and fiddling with a pan of yet another kind of vegetable that Ehren had never heard of.

"About yesterday..." Robin said. He left the question hanging in the air, and Ehren ignored him in favor of staring at a spot on a far away wall.

Robin frowned and shrugged off the non-response as a lack of caffeine. Since Ehren's coffee remained untouched in front him, Robin reached over and dumped a sizable spoonful of sweetener in it. He stirred it in and pushed the cup back at Ehren, who was glaring at it as if he were trying to cause it to explode with the power of his mind.

Robin looked away, unable to deal with a perceived rejection. He wasn't expecting things to be perfect, but Ehren's cold demeanor and unresponsiveness was answer enough for him. He didn't like it, but he could take a hint.

"...It didn't happen," he said brusquely and turned his attention to his own beverage.

"That's for the best, Sir," Ehren said.

Robin swallowed his disappointment and stood from the table.

"Where are you going?" Ehren said.

"To Pack," he muttered, and disappeared from the room.

***

He wasn't there very long before Galiana appeared in his room with a small frown on her face. She went straight to the point without stopping for small talk.

"What's going on with you and that boy?" She said. "He is a little bit young for you, don't you think?"

Robin snorted a laugh and shook his head.

"I am so old, I might as well retire right now, right?" He said. "Look, Mom, just because you like him doesn't mean I do."

"Robin." She sat down on his bed and watched as he pushed the mess in his room around into more manageable piles.

"What? I don't even want him here," he said. "I told you."

"Robin." She said his name louder and in an even more disapproving motherly tone.

"What!" He whirled around to glare at her.

"Look, I know what you were doing in here yesterday," she said. "You weren't exactly the picture of discretion."

"Mom," he grumbled. He glanced down at the floor, feeling like an embarrassed teenager. "You were supposed to be at the store."

"I wasn't gone for that long," she said. "Look, You don't even care about silly little things like...the law when it comes to your love life, so I know you obviously aren't going to listen to me. Just be careful, okay?"

"There's nothing to be careful about," he muttered. "It's a one off thing, okay? He's made that much clear, and I don't really give a shit anyway."

She stood up slowly and patted her son sympathetically on the back as she passed him on her way out of his room.

"Sure you don't," she said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You always were a sensitive one, Robin," she replied and gave him a short hug then disappeared from the room, leaving Robin to mull over her comments in private.

He wasn't interested in spending time alone with his thoughts, however. If he was thinking, there was a very real danger that he would think about Ehren. That recruit had been under his skin since the very first day he had been assigned to Robin's squadron.

Robin remembered that day very clearly. He was standing at attention in a formal line with the other fresh recruits as Robin did his best to appear intimidating in front of them all. Ehren was inches shorter than everybody else, and Robin couldn't help but wonder how he had even passed his pre-recruit test. Robin had learned since then that he was very determined, and it seemed to him that Ehren was determined to forget what had happened between them, so he decided to try and forget about it too.

He spent their last morning on the GU not speaking in anything but occasional grunts to anybody. He kept catching Ehren looking at him with terrified and remorseful glances that somehow filled him with guilt. He had never wanted Ehren to be afraid of him, so he decided the best thing to do would be to stay as far away from him as he possibly could while they had to work together.

***
Ehren felt miserable and confused on the way back to the spaceport. He was embarking on an illegal investigation of his own, that was true, but that wasn't what weighed most on his mind. In his heart he knew it wasn't right to close an investigation with so many loose ends still dangling. The Utopian government and the Inter-Galactic Action Squad, as well as the Temporal Detective Agency seemed perfectly content to let the matter lie. If there was a further truth to be found then Ehren wanted to find it.

None of that was more worrying then what had happened between him and Commander Grey. They had shared some kind of moment there on the GU, but he still had no idea where he stood with the man.

Robin had gone from being resentful, to proposing an affair, to having an affair, to complete disregard in an unfathomably short period of time. Ehren felt it best to take a step back while he worked on his undercover project and let Robin figure things out for himself.

This made their travel back to Tarain a somewhat awkward affair once they returned to the spaceport and said their goodbyes to Galiana. Robin stood in their designated area of the room with his bag slung over his shoulder, and Ehren stood a few feet away, looking as nervous as he felt.

He was feeling no greater regret than having lost the privileged of his own TTD in that moment, knowing that he would have to make physical contact with Robin in order for them to jump with the same device.

"Come on," Robin growled at him. "They're waiting for us."

Galiana gave him a reassuring push in Robin's direction and told him it would be okay. Soon enough he found himself standing side by side with the commander as the tech gave them the go ahead to jump back to Tarain.

"Well, come on," Robin grumbled and thrust out his elbow awkwardly.

Ehren sighed and tentatively reached out. He held on to Robin's arm and as soon as he made contact he was gone. They were back in Tarain and Robin was walking away from him before he even knew what had happened.

He frowned at the Robin's retreating back then sighed.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time, Behrendt," he muttered under his breath.

He decided to sleep on it and hope for the best come morning. It was a restless sleep as his mind was heavily occupied with many things. He finally woke with a start as he felt he had been perched on the edge of a steep precipice ready to fall over at any moment. He sighed with relief that he was safe in his own bed...alone.

He scrambled nervously through his morning routine, and brought his dress uniform to the laundry station then made his way to the mess hall.

Ehren found himself sitting at the usual table waiting for his coffee and staring at the icebox where his plears were stored. Robin never appeared and Ehren spent all day hungry, decaffeinated, and in a terrible mood.

He remained in that state for a day or two until he was sure that he was indeed being avoided. Robin referred him to Beatriu for all of his squadron training assignments and stayed away from the communications room where he had always dropped in before.

Ehren decided that two could play at that game and subsequently ignored Robin in turn. He threw himself into improving his field abilities and continued working out on his own as well as working on his clandestine project looking into Aina Grey's assassination.

Ehren wouldn't lie to himself though. Despite his best intentions, he missed the coffee and the company that the Commander had provided. Robin spent his time when they returned storming through the hallways and shouting at everybody who crossed his path, except for Ehren. When it came to Ehren, one look in his direction and Robin would huff loudly, turn around, and walk in the opposite direction.

The offer to transfer out of HQ was looking more and more inviting every day.

***

"You really need to stop hovering," Rasa said to him one day as he flitted around her desk, offering up his amateur suggestions since decoding ciphers was far from his specialty.

"Haven't you found anything yet?" He said.

"It's only been a week. Do you know what I'm dealing with? The code of the entire Universe is flying through my brain in my sleep already. I haven't found anything but wild geese!"

"Keep trying," he said as he settled himself in behind her with one hand on her chair, leaning slightly forward, staring at a screen full of incomprehensible numbers.

"Go away!" She pushed back from the desk causing him to lose his balance and his grip on the chair so he almost plunged to the floor.

"What you do that for?" He grumbled once he had righted himself.

"You're annoying the crap out of me, Ehrenfried," she said. "I'm not going to get anything accomplished at all with you breathing down my neck, okay? I don't know what you're expecting, but unscrambling coded time signatures is absolutely not going to yield instant gratification. Especially when I don't know what I'm looking for. I may be good at this, but I'm far from the best."

"Sorry, I get it," he admitted and held his hands up in defeat. "I just want this over and done with either way."

"Yeah, me too. I'm still on the record as thinking this is crazy, by the way," she said.

"Thank you again," he said. He gave her a short pat on the back and marched out of the computer room she had holed up in as her base of operations.

He pulled his timepiece from his pocket once he had wandered aimlessly around the hallways for a while. There was still time left until he was to report to the squadron room, so he headed towards the mess hall. The place was nearly empty except for Robin Grey, who was seated alone at a table staring out at nothing.

Ehren gritted his teeth and strode deliberately past the Commander. He found a table directly in Robin's eye line and slumped down in his chair with his arms crossed. He felt Robin's presence beside him almost immediately.

"You're avoiding me, Ehren," he said.

Ehren didn't reply. He instead pretended to meticulously inspect his fingernails.

"Silent treatment? Really?" Robin said. He reached out a hand and placed it on Ehren's shoulder. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were up to something."

Ehren cringed and hoped that Robin wouldn't notice.

"I've been busy. I have a lot of work to catch up on from last week. I don't want to get behind."

Robin sat down beside him. He didn't say anything and they were silent for a long time before either one of them spoke.

"Besides, you're the one who's avoiding me," Ehren finally said.

"I thought you wanted things to go back the way the were before," Robin said.

"Things can't go back the way they we're before. I was stupid to think that could happen, and now... After what happened on the GU?"

Ehren held his hands out in front of him in a gesture of helplessness.

"What exactly is it that you want from me, Sir? I need you to tell me because I'm tired of dancing around you."

"I want you to stop talking. Fucking shit, you talk so damn much!"

"That's fine," Ehren said. "My life would probably be better off if we didn't speak so candidly."

"Why do you say shit like that?" Robin pitched forward suddenly in his chair, inching close enough to Ehren so that he could feel his cool breath on his face.

"Because it's true," Ehren said.

"You'd be living in a shack in a desert!" Robin spit out the words without mind for the hurt they might cause.

Ehren sat bolt upright in his seat, biting back a hot rush of anger.

"If you're trying to bait me, it's not going to work," Ehren said. His voice was calm. "There is nothing wrong with where I lived on Earth. There is no shame in it. I like being in I-GAS, but it's not so bad in the desert should I ever be dismissed and have to return home. I owe you nothing, and clearly you know fuck all about Earthian culture if you think I'm going to take that as some kind of an insult."

"I'm sorry," Robin muttered.

They were silent once again; Robin's simple apology sitting so heavily in the air that Ehren could barely stand it. He wasn't even quite sure he knew the exact reason for the cold shoulders they were giving each other, so he reached into his pocket and timidly placed the photograph he had taken from Robin's room the week before on the table and pushed it forward. It had been there for the entire week, waiting on his person making him feel guilty like a telltale heart.

"What's that?" Robin looked up from where he had been staring down the tabletop.

"I'm sorry. I found it in your room," Ehren said. "I should have left it there."

Robin glared at the photo for a moment then snapped it up. Ehren was afraid he was going to fly into a rage like the time he had smashed an ICD against a wall. The thought conjured up the image of Robin trying with all his might to fling a piece of paper at a solid object only to have it sail straight into the air and come to a fluttering rest only a few inches away.

He tried to stifle the giggle that welled up inside him, but he failed at it completely.

"What are you laughing at?" Robin growled, his attention jumped from the image to Ehren who had his head bent over the table with his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Nothing!" He glanced up, caught one look at the expression of impotent rage on Robin's face and burst out even louder than he had before.

Robin's expression melted as he sat there and watched Ehren. He smiled as he realized that no matter the situation, Ehren had a tendency to render him completely useless.

"I don't know why you think I'm so damn funny, Recruit," Robin said as he joined in. Finding the mirth to be infectious rather than rage inducing was a far more pleasant experience. Besides, If history was any indicator, attempts to discipline Ehren without thinking carefully about his words would only result in more laughter at his expense.

Their laughter came to a slow stop after a minute, and Ehren found that he had attached himself to Robin with his hand clutching the sleeve of his uniform as he was doubled over.

He quickly righted himself and mumbled a hurried apology, but couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"It's Ensign by the way, Sir," he said quietly.

Robin turned his attention away from catching his own breath so that he could regard his companion. Ehren's face was streaked with happy tears, his complexion had visibly reddened despite the deep tan he had developed while on the GU, and his dimple was clearly apparent.

Robin reached out, seemingly involuntarily, and touched Ehren's cheek, wiping away an errant tear. His sharp intake of breath was clearly audible and Robin quickly dropped his hand away.

"What are we doing?"

"I'm afraid I don't know, Sir," Ehren said. He glanced away and sighed. "I'm not quite sure I'm really comfortable with this. You are my commanding officer."

"Yeah, well. That's easy enough to fix," Robin said. "I have a plan."

"Oh, is that so?" Ehren arched an eyebrow skeptically. "I'll bite. What's the plan?"

"Well," Robin said. "Considering my rate of demotion and your current rate of promotion then we should meet somewhere around lieutenant pretty soon and we won't have to worry about it."

Ehren made a big show of pondering the idea as he nodded sagely and stroked his chin.

"You know, that could work," he said eventually. "Except for one thing..."

"What's that?" Robin leaned forward in mock anticipation. "It's foolproof."

"Right," Ehren said. His grin widened and he leaned forward himself to look Robin in the eye. "It will work until I'm inevitably promoted to outrank you."

The harsh stubble that covered Robin's jawline scratched against Ehren's cheek as he closed the gap between him to whisper in his ear.

"Then I'll have to call you 'Sir'."

Ehren closed his eyes.

"That'll be kind of hot," Robin said then nipped at Ehren's ear.

Ehren couldn't contain the 'Oh-My God' or the small breathless sighs that escaped him as Robin made no efforts to remove himself despite the fact that they were in a very open and very public space. Eventually he regained the presence of mind to suggest a change of venue; a prospect that Robin wholeheartedly agreed with. A while later they found themselves in Robin's room fully satisfied and extremely late for their shift.

Robin remained lying halfway across Ehren's stomach; an uncomfortable position for the smaller Earthian. Robin's low Utopian body temperature was a nice surprise though. There was a soft coolness radiating from him. It was an unexpected pleasure, much like the cool side of a pillow. Ehren didn't particularly want to move from the spot, but he was hungry, so he wriggled out from under Robin and stumbled down to Galiana's kitchen.

He found her there, but was surprised that she was surrounded by a few well dressed mourners from the funeral. The light of never-ending day had once again played tricks on his mind, and it couldn't have been more than an hour or two that he had been asleep.

They were typical Utopian nobility; willowy, dark haired, and looking down on him with disdain. Ehren was sure he didn't look his best. His entire dress uniform was rumpled, the tail of his shirt was hanging out, his jacket unbuttoned and askew, his short hair sticking up in impossible directions, and his eyes were bleary with sleep.

"There you are, Ehrenfried!" Galiana greeted him enthusiastically.

She introduced him around as Robin's friend from I-GAS. It wasn't quite the truth, but after that afternoon he couldn't help but wonder if it might be in the cards for the future. He gave them a short rundown of his I-GAS career as a recruit and his commission as a communications officer. They were duly impressed with his firm grasp on the Utopian language. When they'd departed to the parlor, he was left with Galiana and she gave him a knowing smile.

"I was going to fetch you two before anybody showed up with their condolences," She said. "I didn't want to disturb you though."

Ehren blanched at the idea of Robin's mother catching them curled up together like a couple of kittens. He could tell by the look in her eye that she was already getting the wrong impression.

"Don't read anything into it," Ehren muttered. "Nothing happened. You saw how upset he was, and you probably saw the state of that room too. I was just trying to make him feel better."

"That's more than most," she replied. "You are a good friend to him. He needs one right now."

"I don't know about that," Ehren said. "I'm just here, trying to do the right thing. Sometimes, I..." He paused, thinking about Feliu locked in the detention center, possibly innocent, or possibly taking advantage of him once again.

"Sometimes I'm not sure what that is," he said.

****

He took a moment to freshen up in the bathroom before returning to the gathering. When he did, he found Robin milling around accepting condolences from various aristocrats. Ehren took up a position in a nearby doorway so that he could observe the entire area. He folded his hands behind his back and stood at attention, trying to do his best to remain professional. He didn't even flinch when, after ten minutes of observation, Robin broke from the older couple he had been entertaining and stalked up to him stopping only inches away. Eheren remained unmoved with his eyes staring straight ahead. He could only pray that Robin wouldn't lean in and kiss him right there in front of everybody, which was what had happened the last time they had been in such a close proximity.

"Hey," Robin said. He did move forward, and Ehren cringed inwardly, but Robin didn't kiss him. He only whispered in his ear.

"Why don't you do your job?"

"Huh?" Ehren gulped down his nervousness and tried desperately to ignore Robin's smooth cheek pressed against his.

"Why don't you please go apprehend that that Biron that's been tailing me for the entire day?"

Ehren glanced around the room and then shoved Robin away.

"I don't see anybody. Besides, my job is to watch you to make sure you behave."

"Well, since you're here and I can't exactly go shooting up the city on a hunch right now... They'll probably extend my probation when you report my little visit to the detention facility this morning. Besides the entire aristocracy is here practically, and I don't want to have another political assassination on my conscience, because Utopian security is asleep on the job again. Do you?"

"No," Ehren muttered. "You're right."

"Of course I am. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't reach commander by political affiliation."

"I get it," Ehren said. "Where is he?"

"Be discreet," Robin said, and nodded slightly towards the buffet table.

"He's the orange bald guy over there."

"How can you tell?" Ehren squinted. The bald man looked hardly different than any human he'd seen.

"Think about it," Robin said. "How many glowing orange people have you met here?"

"Okay. You have a point," Ehren admitted. "What should I do?"

"Just go over there and ask him what he's doing here. A Biron doesn't visit a dry planet like this unless he's up to something. When he runs, run after him. You still have that gun?"

"Of course." Ehren nodded. "Don't leave home without it."

"Set it to stun. Find out what he wants."

"Yes, Sir," Ehren replied.

He moved from Robin's side then and approached the bald man, who was standing there nervously twitching, his eyes casting around the room. As soon as he noticed Ehren approaching him with a purposeful stride, he bolted for the door. Ehren could hear Robin shout an "I told you so" at him as he passed by in pursuit of the suspect.

The chase seemed to last forever to Ehren, and he suddenly regretted his minimal time spent at the gym as he began to run out of breath before he could even get close enough to discharge his weapon. Luckily they came to an alleyway that was blocked off by a large titanium gate. Ehren pulled out his gun as he ran up on the man, who looked wildly around for an escape route before shrugging his shoulders and jumping onto the gated entryway. He scampered up the bars with an unnaturally fluid agility. Ehren cursed to himself, took aim and fired off one shot that hit the escapee in the shoulder and knocked him from high atop the gateway.

He landed on the paving stones in front of Ehren with a loud thud and groaned as he pulled himself up onto one elbow with a dismayed frown on his face.

"What gave me away?" He muttered in an Intergalactic-Standard with an accent that Ehren had never encountered before.

"I don't know," Ehren admitted. He peered deeper into the man's face, trying to discern what it was about his features that gave away his planet of origin. He had an average, thin nose that pointed slightly upward at the tip, high cheekbones, and, like Robin had pointed out, his skin was a strange shade of pale orange. He had no hair to speak of anywhere upon the visible areas of his face or head. Not only that, but the way he was dressed seemed oddly out of place on a planet with unrelenting light and heat.

"You're orange," he said. "And you're wearing a high-neck shirt."

"Fuck." His frown deepened and he tugged at the neck of the shirt before he pulled it off entirely. It wasn't his torso that attracted Ehren's immediate attention, but the feathery gills that were suddenly clearly visible on his neck where they had been obscured by the shirt only moments before.

"I guess I can't control my chromataphores as well as I thought," he grumbled. "Do you realize how difficult it is to get that kind of a pallor? Stupid reflective humans on this planet."

Ehren kept his gun carefully trained on the babbling Biron.

"It's not that hard. Stay on that sunless wasteland called Tarain for a while, and you'll be white too," Ehren said.

The Biron laughed at him.

"Didn't you hear me? You foreigners and your melanocytes," he said. With that he closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Ehren watched the Biron's look of concentration as the orange color of his skin slowly was replaced by a bright green around his arms and legs that faded into a light turquoise color around his eyes and abdomen, with deeper turquoise spots around his head and neck.

"That's better," he said. "Since you know, I might as well be my actual color."

"You're...green," Ehren said.

"And blue," he replied. "Don't forget blue. I suppose you've never met a Biron before." He offered his hand, which Ehren only regarded with a dull confusion, his own hand never leaving his gun.

"My name's Berilo," he said. "My sister sent me to find out what happened to Feliu."

"Uhh...he's in jail for murder," Ehren said.

Berilo threw his head back and laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?" Ehren said.

"No he isn't," Berilo replied.

"Yes he is," Ehren said. "I saw him there."

"Well, damn." The Biron scratched behind his ear and looked thoughtful. "You know he didn't do it, right? There is no way in all the rain forests of Birosphere that he could ever do something like that. Yaretzi thought something like this might have happened. Who did he supposedly murder?"

"Uhh...Aina Grey," Ehren said. He wondered if maybe he shouldn't be sharing so much information with the strange human before him.

"Fuck," he replied.

"This is nice and everything, but I'm going to have to take you in now." Ehren waved his gun in a motion indicating that he would like Berilo to turn around so that he might apply binders to him.

"Oh, really?" He smiled widely at Ehren showing rows of small pointed teeth.

"What is it exactly that I have done today, Ensign...correct?"

Ehren nodded and opened his mouth, but realized quickly thereafter that he had no legally binding reason for even detaining the Biron.

"You're wanted for questioning." He said the first thing that popped into his brain, but once again Berilo only laughed loudly at him.

"All I have done is attended a funeral," he said after his laughter had subsided. "I have an info-plant if you would like to scan me. I am a citizen of Birosphere with proper travel documentation and absolutely no criminal record."

"I think I will," Ehren said. He removed a small device from one of the small pockets on his utility belt and waved it quickly over the info-plant in his captive's shoulder. What the Biron had said held true. He had no documented criminal record.

"I guess... You're right." Ehren leaned against a nearby wall, and Berilo shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Well, this chase has been fun, but I'm afraid it's left me a little too dry. This air is terribly lacking in moisture. I'm going to have to go back to my room."

"Wait just a minute," Ehren moved to block Berilo from leaving the alleyway. "You're not leaving until you tell me what you know. Nothing about this is adding up."

"You think so too? Good," Berilo said. "I was hoping I might be able to talk to a rational human on this planet. It seems everywhere I turn a Utopian is calling for Feliu's blood. I'd be more than happy to share intel. Like I said... I'm not on anybody but my sister's side. You're going to have to come back to my room though, or you will be talking to a dried out husk of a human."

Ehren nodded dubious consent and followed the Biron out onto the street with his weapon carefully concealed and pointed at his back. When they reached the hotel where Berilo was staying, he immediately stripped off all his clothes and ran to the bathroom where he immersed himself under a running faucet. He called for Ehren to join him, and Ehren entered the room with some trepidation.

"Sorry to be so forward," Berilo said, barely glancing in Ehren's direction before closing his eyes in relief. "Drying out is a terrible, terrible way to die. Yaretzi told me to wear a wetsuit, but I didn't want to stand out. The mucous glands are definitely out of the question for blending in too. Most humans get really freaked out by slime for some reason."

"It's okay," Ehren said. "Never met an amphibious human before."

"Today's your lucky day then," Berilo stretched his arms out high above his head then sat up and leaned forward with his head resting on his arms upon the ledge of the tub. "Now, what do you want to know?"

"Who sent you?"

"Yaretzi, my sister. She's a port-keeper on the Darkness...Feliu's ship?"

"Okay."

"Anyway, she felt something bad was going to happen, then the wrong crew jumped and Feliu never came back, and some strange dude showed up all enraged and shit." Berilo yawned. "I'm glad I didn't get involved in all that shady pirate business after all, but Feliu is a nice guy. When Yaretzi says he wouldn't do something like this, I believe her."

Ehren nodded thoughtfully. "Tell me about the stranger?"

"Oh, he was somebody she'd never seen before," he said. "She said he looked like one of those guns for hire. Mean, kinda with a desperate air of death all around them."

"An assassin," Ehren murmured to himself.

"Probably," Berilo agreed. "Anyway, he was screaming around the whole entire ship, because he didn't want gold for whatever they had him do. They promised him a black-hole generator."

"A what?" Ehren said. "There's no such thing!"

"Yeah, there is," Berilo said. "They don't like that kind of intel to get out, but there is. It's a temporal compactor they call it. It creates singularities that make black holes. Basically whoever has it can destroy whole worlds. The Utopians keep it here."

"But Feliu didn't steal anything from the vault," Ehren said, slowly piecing the puzzle together. "I mean, he broke in, obviously. We had footage of that. He broke in and fiddled around with a thing and put it back and left. He tried to bypass all the digi-cams, but he pretty much sucked at it until he reached the council chamber. That's when everything went dark."

"Yeah, that was the thing." Berilo nodded. "The Black hole maker. I told you he couldn't kill a fly, let alone hand over a thing that could kill trillions of peoples. He gave that guy a holo-book. Assassins aren't known for their wits I guess, so the he was ultra mad when he found out. Feliu has a price on his head."

"So, did you come here to cash in?" Ehren said.

"No," he replied with a frown. "I really like Feliu. I came here to find out what happened to him and to warn him. That detention center is locked up tight, no visitors. I thought I might warn Robin."

He spit out Robin's name with a contemptuous force that caught Ehren off guard. There was history there, but he wasn't going to ask about it.

"Yeah, well, Robin's not going to hear it right now," Ehren said instead.

"Figures," Berilo muttered with bitter inflection. "He loves him, he loves him, he loves him, blah, blah, blah, but when it comes down to it; when it really matters, he doesn't even believe him."

"Give him a break," Ehren said before he could even think about it. "He's dealing with a lot right now. I don't even know if I believe you."

"You do." Berilo grinned at him. "I can sense it."

"If I believe you, that means this government here is covering it..."

Berilo huffed an interruption and ducked back under the water. He emerged a moment later and shook his head spraying water all around.

"They're not covering anything up. They're just taking everything at face value," he said. "It's easy that way. They have a scapegoat that's a wanted man anyway, and the truth doesn't fucking matter."

"Why don't the witnesses remember this mythical assassin then?"

"Please," Berilo scoffed. "Probably a time warp or wave or something. You should be well aware of the havoc a little black box can wreak on a tiny human brain. Add to that a pressure situation, and their memories are probably toast."

"I'll need proof," Ehren mused.

Berilo looked blankly up at him. "I wish I could help. I wish I could do something."

"You've done enough," Ehren said. "Have you got an ICD? I need to make a call."

****

Rasa woke to the sound of her ICD bleating loudly near her ear. She groaned and grabbed the device from her nightstand, glancing quickly at her roommate to see if the noise had wakened her. She was relieved that it hadn't then answered the call and was surprised to hear Ehren's voice on the other end.

"Do you have any idea what time it is here?" She hissed. "I know you do, because you used an ICD. You dialed in to this time."

"Yeah, I wanted to catch you alone," he said. "I have a favor to ask. You can say no if you want. I really don't blame you if you do."

"Fine. No. Goodnight."

"Wait!" He shouted into the device. "Hear me out first?"

"Fine, do it," she said.

He explained everything Berilo had told him.

"You are crazy." Rasa groaned and ran her hand through her long white hair as soon as he'd finished . "Is there crazy juice on that planet?"

"You can get Seth to help."

"Seth is already on an Anti-GU tear," she said. "He won't have anything to do with it."

"I'd think he'd want this to be cleared up. They're trying to blame the Dysprosians."

"What!?" That bit of news had piqued her interest, and she suddenly felt more awake.

"Oh, I...uh...you didn't know?"

"The Vice-Admiral ordered a blackout. There's no news coming in," she said. "I don't even know how you're calling me."

"It's an encrypted and untraceable line!" Berilo cut in with a proud smile. "And it's waterproof!"

"Who the fuck is that?" Rasa growled.

"That's Berilo," Ehren said without skipping a beat. "But nevermind. You're the best at this. I know you can dig something out."

"Don't try to convince me with flattery. You know we'll be dishonorably discharged if we're caught?"

"Not if we're right," Ehren said. "Do you really want your galaxy at war?"

"No," she admitted.

"Then help me clear his name," he said. "It's in everybody's best interests."

"What if he did it?" she said.

"Well, then prove that he actually did it. I don't care either way. As it stands, it's really shady. Is there any reason for an information blackout?"

"No but..."

"Please, Rasa," he said. "Do it for me?"

"You're really overestimating how much I like you," she replied.

"Please?" He held out the word in a prolonged whine until she broke up with a laugh.
"That hurts my ear," she said. "Maybe I can look into it. I think it's a little weird too, to be honest. No Seth though. Seth can suck it."

"Yeah," Ehren agreed. "He can definitely suck it."

"Who is this guy?" Berlio said. "I wanna meet him."

Ehren shushed him as Rasa broke out into a loud laughter before quickly stifling it before she woke her roommate.

"I gotta go," Ehren said. "I'll talk to you when I get back."

Ehren signed off and handed the ICD back to Berilo, who refused it.

"You might need to get in touch with me," he said. "Keep it."

"Why would I want to do that?" Ehren muttered. "Robin's already going to be angry that I'm not bringing you back with me."

"We don't need to tell Robin anything," Berilo huffed. "He doesn't like me anyway."

"Wait...he knows you?"

"He knows of me," Berilo said. "I doubt he knows what I look like or that I can change my colour. Nevermind. Tell him I climbed up a wall or scampered under a river rock or something. You hardly have the stamina to keep up with a Biron in the first place. Let's just keep this meeting between you and me all right?"

He offered his hand and Ehren shook it, trying very hard to maintain his composure and not yank his own hand back as soon as he felt how cold and clamy Berilo's was. Berilo noted his discomfort and laughed. He took a step back and ran his hand over his hairless head.

"I know," he said. "It's soft at least, right?"

Ehren muttered hurried apologies beneath his breath and fled the room with Berilo's laughter ringing in his ears. Once he had exited the hotel, he found that he had no idea where he was and reluctantly called Robin to get directions.

Ehren shrunk away and held his hands up to ward off the impending attack.

"What are you doing here?" Robin shouted.

"I came to see if you were okay," Ehren murmured.

"Oh, yeah," Robin sneered at him. "Put it in your report, Ensign. Obviously I'm not fit for duty. I can't even handle a fucking funeral without having a fucking nervous break-down."

"I didn't come here because of I-GAS. Fuck the report. This entire assignment is shit. I know it, and you know it. You're a good officer, Robin. I'm proud to serve with you, okay? I'm not here because of any of that though."

"Why?" Robin sobbed out, unable to keep his emotions in check. "Why the fuck are you here? Why can't you let me destroy my career in peace?"

"Because." Ehren approached him, cautiously wary of the book that Robin still held in his hand.

"You brought me coffee," he said.

"What?" Robin sniffed. "That makes no sense."

"It doesn't have to," Ehren replied. He smiled and reached out a hand to place on Robin's arm in an effort to settle him. "I'm an Earthian," he said. "We're impetuous, and nothing we ever do or say makes any sense at all. My people have a long history of doing really crazy shit. It's a wonder I was able to find my way to a recruitment center without falling through a rip in time along the way."

Despite wanting to remain enraged Robin couldn't help but let the sputter of a laugh escape from him.

"See, that's good." Ehren stroked his arm. "This whole situation is a tragedy, but if we can smile just a little... Come on. Let's sit down."

He held on to Robin's elbow and led him through the rubble on the floor to a spot on the bed.

"Now," he said once they were settled. "Tell me."

"I don't fucking want to talk about it. There's nothing to say. It's my fault. I should have taken that thief to the police the first time I met him. None of this would have happened. I put a target right on my family's backs."

"It would have happened regardless," Ehren said. "I know you've been out of it since this, but... There's evidence that this whole thing was orchestrated by the Dysprosians. It was an act of war, Robin. They would have found some other way to do it without the help of Feliu."

"Maybe." Robin shrugged. "It doesn't make me feel better though. My mother is gone, my people are on the verge of war. My boyfriend, who I should have dumped forever as soon as I joined I-GAS, is a murderer. I'm clearly a complete idiot and I'm on the verge of getting decommissioned..."

"You won't," Ehren said. "I'm not going to let that happen."

Robin snorted indignant laughter and straightened up, shrugging Ehren's hand from where it had come to rest on his shoulder.

"You?" He said. "What exactly are you, of all people, going to do about it?"

"I don't know," Ehren admitted. "Maybe what I have to say in this report they're making me file will mean something."

"It'll be binned," Robin huffed. "Don't kid yourself, Ensign."

"Maybe," Ehren said. "But I can try."

He scooted a fraction of an inch closer and pulled Robin into a sideways hug so he could whisper in his ear.

"Don't worry. It's gonna be okay."

Robin resisted the urge to burst out into hysterical laughter. Ehren was closer to him than he'd ever been before. When he turned his head to face him, he found that they were mere centimeters apart.

"How can you say that?" Robin said.

"Earthian," Ehren replied as he leaned in ever so slightly. "Boundless optimism in the blood, I can't help it."

"I could use some of that," Robin replied softly

He reached up and stroked Ehren's cheek. Ehren shivered at the touch.

"Your hands are cold," he said.

"Then warm me up." Robin smiled. He closed the shrinking gap between them and kissed Ehren.

He gave in to the pressure of Robin's lips and sank back into the bed. Ehren was warm and comforting, his lips were soft and compliant, and he was a perfectly willing participant in that moment. He tasted sweet like the plear fruit he was always eating, and for the first time in a week Robin felt something other than utter despair. The pleasure wasn't meant to last, though.

"Wait!" Ehren pushed back against Robin who grunted and reluctantly moved away a fraction of an inch.

"What's wrong?" He said as Ehren jumped up and began pacing through the mess, eyes wide. He ran one hand compulsively through his short cropped hair and the other he touched to his lips as if he wasn't sure that they had really been pressed against Robin's only moments before.

"What's wrong?" Ehren's pacing came to a sudden halt, and he echoed the question as if the answer should have been obvious. He stopped and looked at Robin with his brow furrowed in worry.

"Shit," Robin muttered. "I'm sorry. I didn't even think about it. You're not Utopian. This isn't.... On Earth?"

"Well, no," Ehren said. "But that's... Out of all the myriad of problems with this, that is the one you pluck out? That I'd want a female mate?"

"It's not?"

Ehren sighed in exasperation then explained. "First of all, you still outrank me, second I'm supposed to be making sure you're following all the rules of your probation. I'm pretty sure hooking up with an officer under your command is really high up on the list of things that I-GAS frowns upon. Trust me, what I want in a mate is the last thing you'd have to worry about. This isn't the 21st century anymore. I don't know what books you've been studying, but Earth and its galaxy aren't as ass backwards as the rest of the universe seem to think it is. I did kiss you back."

"Okay," Robin said. He stood up and approached Ehren, his curiosity having also been aroused. "What's the problem, then? Nobody has to know."

He reached Ehren and snatched his hands away from where he was hugging his arms.

"No." Ehren said firmly. He pulled back, but Robin held him in place.

"What ever happened to 'impetuous?' Please?" Robin said. His voice had taken on a desperate tone. He needed something to ease the pain. Ehren was there, he was alive, and he seemed to care.

"No." He repeated himself. "You're upset."

"Exactly," Robin said.

Ehren tried to tug himself away again, and Robin let him go. He stumbled backwards, almost tripping on the broken chair, but Robin quickly grabbed hold of him again and pulled him firmly against his chest.

"I got you," he said.

"Please, Robin," Ehren murmured. He was tremblin as was his voice, and he was clinging to the front of Robin's shirt trying desperately to resist giving in to the embrace. "You're upset," he said. "This...this isn't going to happen like this. I won't be used like that. Okay?"

He glanced up at Robin, who nodded and hugged him tighter.

"Maybe." Ehren conceded, feeling his resolve slowly melt away. "Maybe, when we get back and this isn't just some sort of reaction?"

"Okay," Robin said, but made no move to let him go. "I see. You're a psychologist now? I think you just like defying me. Maybe I should push your boundaries and see how you like it?"

He made an attempt to move his hands lower, but stalled when Ehren spoke.

"I have a gun." Ehren reminded him. "Keep trying that."

Robin let him go with a short chuckle, and he trudged the few short steps back to the bed speaking over his shoulder as he did so.

"I would if I didn't think you would actually shoot me. Why did you come back here anyway?" Robin asked as he sat down. He glared at Ehren, suddenly accusatory. "Is this all for your little report? Is this some kind of bait to get me..."

"No!" Ehren's eyes flashed anger as he stalked up to the bed. "Will you stop bringing that up? It wasn't my idea! Your friend didn't even give me a choice in the matter. If you have a problem with it, take it up with her! My opinion means fuck all, but I don't think this is even a matter for I-GAS! It's not like...it's not like a volunteered because I can't stand the thought of being away from you or something! Do you know how much easier my life would be if you'd just never brought me on that stupid fucking mission in the first place... You're always getting in trouble and getting me in trouble. Why we even still have jobs is..."

"Fine." Robin said. "I'll have you transferred."

"What, no!" Ehren protested.

Robin waited expectantly for some further explanation to come, but Ehren was left wordless with only grunts and hand gestures to indicate his dismay at the thought of being transferred to another squadron.

Robin reached up and grabbed Ehren's wildly flailing hands to pull him down to sit on the bed.

"Will you shut-up," he said. "You've got it good. You think anybody else would put up with you? You would have been failed out months ago before I took you out to the Diamond Sector. Aside from that, you'd have racked up quite a list of reprimands for insubordination since then. If you were under any other commander..."

"Is it because you want to fuck me?" Ehren muttered.

"Wait. What?" Robin glared at him.

"Really? Is that why I keep getting promoted?" Ehren said, a feeling of dread curling around in the pit of his stomach. "I certainly don't deserve it."

"You are too hard on yourself," Robin growled. "Is that really how little you think of me?"

"I don't know what to think of you," Ehren admitted. "You have this demented little affair with one of the galaxies most wanted criminals. You seem to think I'm some kind of honey-trap sent down from the high command to seduce you as if I could ever succeed in seducing anybody! I'm so far fucking over my head, Robin, and it's like I don't know how to swim. You don't make it easier. You're like bricks on my legs."

"I'm just trying to help you," Robin muttered. He glanced down at his hands, feeling self conscious about the things he had unthinkingly given the recruit just because it had been easier. He wasn't sure that he had even deserved his own promotions. He didn't think he was fit to be a commander if he couldn't just order one nosy Earthian away from him without feeling the need to explain his actions.

"I didn't ask for your help," Ehren said. "I just wanted to prove myself."

He crawled up onto the bed behind him and lay down on his back with his head on Robin's pillow so that he could stare up at the vacant ceiling with one arm folded over his forehead.

Robin glanced back at him and he knew that it wasn't commanding in general that was his problem. It had never been a problem before Ehrenfried Beherent had walked into his squad room. He cursed himself silently over his propensity to be attracted to the most inappropriate people possible.

Robin lay down and curled up against him with a long sigh.

"What are you doing?" Ehren said in a slightly alarmed voice. Robin held on to him as he tried to squirm away.

"This is my bed," Robin mumbled. "I broke the chair, where else do you want me to sit?"

"You're not sitting. You're all up on me," Ehren pointed out.

"Relax. I'm tired," Robin said. "I'm not going to violate your Earthian innocence...today, but I'm not going to lie to you either, Ehren. I like you."

"This is wrong," Ehren said. "I shouldn't... I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be with you, in this room, on this planet...I...I...I..."

Robin released him and rolled onto his own back.

"You're free to go if you want," Robin said. "The offer for a transfer still stands as well. It's in your hands, Ehren."

"That was nice," Ehren murmured after a long moment of silence.

"What?" Robin turned to face him.

"I said that was nice," Ehren replied in a more audible tone. "You feel cool."

"And you're so warm," Robin said. He resumed his position and lay his head down on Ehren's stomach, trying to somewhat ease the awkwardness of his brawny frame sprawled out on top of Ehren's slim body.

Ehren played absently with Robin's blond hair.

"What do you mean?" He spoke up in hopes that if he kept a conversation going, he wouldn't give in to his raging hormones right then and there despite his earlier decree.

"You're from Earth? That's a desert, right?" He said and Ehren nodded awkwardly from his reclined position. "So why the hell are you so hot, if you live in a hot place?"

"It's very cold at night," Ehren replied. "We're all different. I mean, your people can't see in the dark and mine are little 98.6 degree furnaces that live in scorching deserts and eat mostly fake food. It's kind of amazing, really, that any of us can get along and work together. I mean, you grew up on a planet several galaxies away from mine..."

"My father," Robin said, abruptly breaking in to Ehren's thoughts about inter-galactic diversity with some urgency.

"He was Amarantian. Maybe we aren't so different."

Eheren couldn't stop his intake of breath at the revelation.

"You're from The Milky Way?"

"My father was." Robin corrected him. "He was stationed here in the Zahran Galaxy on one of the detective outposts before he got stuck back in time. My mothers were very good friends with him back then. He's been gone for a long time though. I was born and raised here. I never really knew him. I've never even been to The Milky Way, let alone Amarantos."

"It's beautiful," Ehren said.

"You've been there? You are full of surprises," Robin murmured against Ehren's stomach.

Ehren chuckled in return. "We're not a galactically crippled planet. We've been able to travel beyond our solar system in our own galaxy since forever. We even traveled in time before anybody else."

"Yeah," Robin laughed. "But you didn't realize it until recently. It really does take a special kind of human to repeatedly fall back and forth through a giant temporal rift often enough to populate the same planet in two different times without knowing it's the same planet. You still even insist on calling future Earth by 'the Nature' as if it's an entirely different place."

"But it is," Ehren said. "They both exist simultaneously. I don't know. We're like the Schrodinger's cat of the know Galaxies or something. Instead of the ridicule we should get an award for the most practical use of a temporal paradox. Anyway. Amarantos. It's quite the vacation spot. Lots of gardens. Old ladies love the flowers."

Ehren regaled Robin with stories of his university funded travels across the Milky Way Galaxy in an effort to forestall any further come ons, and Robin listened intently. It was enough to take his mind off the happenings of the day including his ill fated attempt at getting Ehren into bed. For once he was grateful for Ehren's tendency to keep talking well beyond the advisable length of time for average conversation. He had never met anybody from his second planet origin, so it was enticing to him to hear about it firsthand from somebody who had been there.

Eventually Robin fell asleep where he lay. Ehren continued stroking his hair, and thought about the events of the day and just how close he had come to having an affair with his superior officer; an affair that was still on the table for all intents and purposes. He knew it was a terrible idea, but getting to know Robin had been something of a surprise. He wasn't the cold law enforcement robot that he thought he had met on that first day of training. If anything, Robin tried too hard to be good at his job when he was all too human.

Which was why it was a great surprise when the day of the funeral dawned and Ehren emerged from his room to find Galiana sitting alone on the balcony with a cup of Carveer Tea.

"Robin still asleep?" Ehren asked as he slumped down on the empty chair beside her. He yawed, and his head lolled back against the headrest.

"You look tired," she said.

"I'm not having much luck sleeping. I'm not complaining. I really appreciate the hospitality, ma'am, but the room doesn't go all the way dark. May I..."

He gestured towards the pitcher of tea between them on a small table. She nodded and they made small talk until Ehren felt that the passage of time had progressed far too long for Robin to have not made at least one appearance.

"He's not here is he?" Ehren interrupted the conversation they had been having with his thought.

"Oh. It's nothing," Galiana said. "He said he had to run some errands. That's all. He didn't want to disturb you."

"I don't think Robin really cares whether or not I'm disturbed." Ehren groaned with his head in his hand and then jumped up from his seat.

"Did he say where he was going?"

Galiana shrugged.

"Do you know where he is?" Ehren asked. "Please, Ma'am. I know you don't want him to get in any more trouble."

She sighed.

"I don't know. If I had to guess, knowing Robin... He's probably at the detention facility."

"Shit!" Ehren's eyes opened wide and he yanked on his hair in a frustrated and panicked gesture.

"Why didn't you stop him!"

"I should have probably." She glanced down at her cup of tea.

Ehren didn't press the issue further. He ran from the balcony, threw on his uniform haphazardly, and ran from the apartment, dreading what he would find when he reached the detention facility if by some miracle he managed to catch up to Robin at all.

It seemed as if a miracles were in the cards. Once he arrived at his destination, he found that Robin was sitting quietly upon a bench, staring at the entrance to the building. Ehren sat next to him.

"What are you doing here?" Ehren huffed at him; out of breath as he had run all the way from the nearest skywalk.

"Fuck off," Robin muttered.

"Well!" Eheren sat up and narrowed his gaze. He could think of no other words to counter Robin's cursing at him, so he crossed his arms and sank back onto the bench in a petulant slump.

Robin stood up and took a deep breath then stood up.

"Where are you going?" Ehren scrambled up to the edge of his seat once again.

"I'm going to find out why this happened. Stay here. Don't come after me."

Ehren waited approximately half a minute before he followed after Robin, planning carefully what he was going to say. He wasn't going to catch up as quickly as he thought he might. He came face to face with an angry looking Utopian guard as soon as he tried to make his way to the basement cells where he had seen Robin disappear.

"Excuse me," Ehren said as he gestured past the man.

He only shook his head.

No, Ehren thought. This wasn't going to be easy at all.

********

Feliu was stricken as Robin entered the cell, grabbed him, and shoved him hard against the cold metal wall. He braced one arm against Feliu's chest, effectively pinning him to the spot. There was nowhere to hide from what had happened, or Robin's fury. Feliu knew there was no way to ever make up for it. He knew he deserved to be hated for even being a party to it.

"Robin?" He said with barely a whisper of a breath.

Robin leaned in; a menacing scowl upon his face. Feliu shuddered and turned away. He couldn't face the guilt or the grief behind Robin's eyes. He would have given anything to go back in time and refuse the mission. He would have been the one to hold Robin and tell him it was going to be okay. His father had made sure that was never going to happen again, though. Robin was the only spot of good in his lonely life, and his father hated that so much that he had taken it away in the most damaging and devastating way possible.

He could feel Robin's cold fingers pressed against his throat and his frozen breath on his cheek.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right where you stand," he growled.

"You should," Feliu replied. All the tension he had been holding his body leaked out as he let the feeling of defeat wash over him. He had lost everything. There was no use in resisting any longer. He faced Robin, who's look of rage was suddenly tinged with confusion.

"What?"

"You should," he murmured. "Aina welcomed me into her home when she had every right to refuse me. Your mothers didn't like me, but they gave me respect because I was your friend...because you loved me."

"And this is how you repay them, you murdering son of a bitch?"

Feliu winced as Robin screamed in his face.

"I should have stopped it, yes. That much is my fault, but know this, Robin... I have never, and could never harm another human being! It wasn't me who opened fire in that room. I swear it wasn't me!"

"Liar!" Robin yelled. "The evidence..."

"You've got to believe me, Robin! How could I do this? I love you. I would never..."

He didn't finish his sentence as he felt Robin's hands close around his throat.

"Please," he pleaded. "Please, Robin, you gotta believe me."

"Fuck you," Robin sneered. "This is the end of you."

Feliu closed his eyes as Robin's grip on him tightened. He had never expected it to end in such a way.

"Robin!" A voice rang out, echoing through the cells.

Feliu opened one eye and peeked in the direction of the sound.

"I thought I told you to wait outside. Why the fuck don't you ever fucking listen to me? You're the worst recruit I've ever trained. Fuck." Robin spoke without removing his raging glare from Feliu.

"I'm not a recruit anymore, and I'm not under your orders right now," Ehren replied in Utopian. "Let him go."

"Why the fuck should I?" Robin said. "Give me a reason. Go ahead."

"Because," Ehren said. He reached out to the cell door and tried tug it opened but Robin had locked it. "Come on. Give me the key."

"No."

"Seriously, I'll go get the guard. I'm surprised they aren't down here right now with the cameras..."

"Do you think they give a shit if I kill this piece of scum!" Robin replied.

"This isn't you," Ehren replied evenly. "You're not a murderer. Don't stoop to his level."

Robin finally turned his head to direct his fury at Ehren. The Earthian stood his ground, his hands curled around the titanium bars of the cell and an expression of deep concern firmly etched on his face.

"Please, don't do this, Robin," he murmured. "You'll never forgive yourself. Galiana needs you right now, what's she going to do with you in prison?"

"Are you kidding? They won't arrest me!" Robin laughed wildly.

"I will," Ehren replied stolidly. "Do not think for one minute that I won't."

"But he..." His voice broke as he glanced back at Feliu, who had remained silent during the entire exchange.

"I know," Ehren said; his voice soft. "I know. Please, let's just go home. Your mother needs you right now. You must be strong for her. It's going to be a rough day for all of you, and hurting him isn't ever going to fix it. You know that. Please, Robin."

"I could snap you in half, Earthian," Robin said, though the rage that had inhabited his voice moments before had all but disappeared.

"I'd like to see you try," Ehren said.

Robin released his grip on Feliu then, his attention fully focused on Ehrenfried Behrendt.

"You're right," he murmured. "Why are you always right?"

"I enjoy kicking down stereotypes," Ehren replied. He smiled a bit as Robin moved forward and exited the cage. He dropped the key in Ehren's hand to lock up and trudged away in the direction of the exit.

Ehren watched him go and when he turned back, Feliu was next to the bars, staring at him. Ehren quickly inserted the small electronic key into the locking mechanism and jumped away from the cell.

"I...I don't have a TTD this time," Ehren spoke up shakily, reverting back to the most common inter-galactic standard language.

"What?" Feliu smiled half-heartedly at him. "You aren't going to speak to me in my native tongue? That's only reserved for Robin?"

"Robin deserves a little respect right now," Ehren bristled. "I mean, his boyfriend or whatever just murdered his mother. That's going to do a number on a guy no matter how tough he acts."

Feliu laughed bitterly at him. "And there you are to pick up the pieces. Well played, Earthian. Well played. I didn't think you were that savvy."

"It's not like that," Ehren muttered. "I'm here on orders. He's still on probation because of you. If he'd never let you escape all those times... I know love is blind, but I didn't think it made people stupid too."

Feliu laughed at him. "You've never been in love, have you, kid?"

"Not a kid." Ehren frowned. "Why am I even talking to you? I should...Robin needs me."

"Heh. Maybe I was wrong. Somehow I don't think comforting Robin in his time of need falls under any kind of order I-GAS would ever issue." Feliu commented with a sigh. "That should be my job anyway."

"What?" Ehren stood his full height and puffed out his chest indignantly. He still did not cut an imposing figure, and Feliu had to fight not to laugh out loud at his display.

"You have no right." Ehren continued to speak. "I think you lost any hold you had left on him when you put a bullet in his mother's chest."

"I didn't do it," Feliu snapped.

"Your prints were all over the gun," Ehren replied. "Her blood was on your hands."

Feliu pressed his forehead to the bars. He didn't reply, but after a moment Ehren could hear the soft sound of his sobbing.

"Are you crying?" Ehren stepped forward curiously. "Seriously?"

"I'm not a murderer." He glanced up. "I could never do that. Nobody will listen to me. Robin hates me. I don't even have a family any more. I think I'm allowed to cry if I want to. Maybe it's completely dysfunctional, but I loved my family. I tried so hard to do what they wanted; to be the man they wanted me to be, but I couldn't do it. I'm not that ruthless. I may be a thief but I could never hurt anybody. I should have chosen Robin from the start. That much is obvious. Now everything is fucked up. My father is the one that set me up, Earthian. My own father. Why did you stop him?"

"Your father? I didn't..." Ehren was almost instantly interrupted by Feliu as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Not my father!" He screamed. "Robin! Why did you stop him? I wanted to die!"

Ehren stared wide eyed as Feliu threw himself against the bars until he had no strength left then slid down to the floor; a weeping mess. His face was streaked with tears and his face bruised and bloodied.

"I didn't do it for you," Ehren said once Feliu had finished his tantrum. "I did it for Robin."

He sighed to himself and approached the cell against his better judgment. For some reason he felt compelled by the thief's story.

"I think I believe you," he said.

Feliu looked up at him from his vantage point on the floor.

"Really?" He said as he hugged his knees to his chest.

"I think maybe it's easier not to ask questions when an entire planet is demanding justice," Ehren replied. He glanced nervously around, trying to spy the security cameras. He wondered if they had sound.

"What happened?" He whispered.

"There was an assassin." Feliu followed his example and spoke in a hushed voice as well. He looked up at Ehren; a half smile decorated his mouth. "He's a Naturian. You know how barbaric that planet is."

Ehren rolled his eyes at the mention of his nation's sister planet, the Nature. It was no surprise that it would be a breeding ground for an assassin. It seemed like every native Naturian was born with a weapon in hand. A good defense was a necessity in the wild and dangerous forests of the planet.

"Look, he ported in while I was in the vault," Feliu said. "By the time I got back, he was there with his crew and my crew was gone...I tried to help her. I tried. I swear. They were good to me. I never..."

"You're making it hard, Feliu," Ehren said. "Your crew's were the only time signatures. All of them have been accounted for. The detectives in this sector had their best men on it. You were the only other unauthorized one there at the time."

"That's impossible," Feliu murmured. "Just...check again. He was there. He used a cipher! There were witnesses!"

"Fine," Ehren said. "No promises."

"None expected," Feliu said. "That somebody believes me is enough. Thank you, Ehren."

"It's Ehrenfried," he said.

"But Robin..."

Ehren shook his head and smiled in a resigned manner.

"He does it because he knows I don't like it. My full name for you, please."

Feliu nodded. "As you wish. You're a good man, Ehrenfried. I thank you."

Ehren returned his nod and then motioned towards the exit.

"I have to go now. I have a funeral to attend."

****

"I'm sorry," Robin said gruffly a few hours later when they had returned to the apartment to prepare for the day's event.

" 'Bout what?" Ehren replied. He glanced into the bathroom mirror and spied Robin in the doorway behind him. He didn't bother to turn around.

"This morning," Robin said. "I was way out of line. I shouldn't have put you in that kind of position."

"It's all right." Eheren adjusted the collar of his jacket and patted his hair down one last time.

"That's why Beatriu sent you, huh?" He said.

"I suppose," Ehren murmured.

"Well, thank you. Again," Robin said.

Ehren nodded acknowledgment and reached for his white gloves, the final piece of the dress uniform that he had rare occasion to wear.

"You know, you look ten years younger without that beard." Ehren chuckled in an attempt to move the conversation away from more serious topics.

"Thanks," Robin said. He rubbed his bare chin thoughtfully and gave Ehren a sheepish smile. "My mom always said that. You look good too."

Ehren froze on the spot with his hand halfway in his glove.

"I what?" he said.

"You heard me," Robin replied flippantly. He smiled to himself, a gesture that did not go unnoticed, then he retreated from the doorway.

Ehren tried his best to ignore Robin and concentrated instead on the task at hand. He finished with his gloves and placed the official I-GAS hat upon his head. He gave himself one last look in the mirror, and nodded appreciatively at the result.

"Not bad for the squadron runt," he said to himself as he fiddled with the solitary gold bar on his collar.

It wouldn't be long before he would be back on Tarain and back to his training. He couldn't wait for his mission to be over.

It was a somber affair inside and outside the chapel. As a council member, Aina was a well loved figure. It seemed to Ehren, as the procession passed through the chapel gates, that nearly the entire population of the capital city was camped out there. They stood with their heads bowed in deference as the transport passed by. Ehren returned his attention to the family that sat on the opposite bench. Galiana was sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap staring straight ahead, an unreadable expression on her face. He had been on Utopia for nearly a week and still he was not used to their facial qualities. Galiana had cried many times over his stay and despite the tears her complexion remained unblemished, the pupils in her eyes remained small. Experiencing it first hand made Ehren realize why people always said that Utopians came off as cold and ineffectual, but he knew it wasn't true.

She had finished her crying though, and she remained stolid with Robin's arm around her. He had no such problems with showing emotion. Robin was all fire and ice and he was still flushed from his short encounter with Feliu. Robin should have been spending time alone with his mother, and Ehren felt like an unnecessary attachment. He hadn't wanted the assignment, yet there he was; a glorified babysitter in an untenable situation. That he would have to write a report about what he had done while there made him feel like he was somehow betraying Robin. Ehren thought a man should be allowed to grieve without an outsider breathing down his neck at every turn.

They entered the chapel slowly and found their designated seats in the front row. Robin slumped in the aisle seat with his mother beside him, leaving Ehren at somewhat of a loss.

"You don't have to be adhered to my side at all times," Robin muttered. "Or do you? Is that part of your orders? Do you want to sit on my lap?"

He sat up and gestured in front of him, inviting Ehren to do just that.

"I...uh..." Ehren stammered.

"Come, dear." Galiana patted the empty seat beside her. "Behave yourself, Robin. Ehrenfried is our guest."

"He's not a guest," Robin grumbled.

Ehren mumbled a quick thank you at Galiana and took his seat.

The small chapel was packed with mourners; the who's who of Utopian society. Aina had been a well loved and admired council member, and the turnout reflected that. The chapel mentor gave a blessing and spoke about the fleeting nature of life then invited the son to approach the podium to say a few words.

Robin remained seated. He gulped down the fear he was feeling at having to stand up in front of the crowd and speak about his mother. He stared at the mentor then wildly around the room for anything that might calm him down. His eyes settled, not on his mother, but on a spot not far behind her.

There was a calm encouragement in Ehren's eyes, and he nodded slightly towards the podium. Robin took a deep breath and finally stood. He marched up to where the mentor was waiting and took his place. He found himself staring at the sea of mourners. It was terrifying.

He pulled the rumpled paper he had written his speech down on and glanced at his mother and Ehren. She looked even paler than normal and was clutching desperately to Ehren's hand in both of hers. It seemed neither awkward or out of place. Ehren was perched on the edge of the seat, seeming to need her comforting touch as much as she needed something to hold on to. Robin vaguely wondered if all Earthians were that empathetic. After all, Ehren wasn't there as a friend of the family. He had no reason to be emotionally involved. Ehren had always been that way, though; sensitive to the plight of others which left him easy to take advantage of. That was how Feliu had stolen a TTD right out from under his nose, but it was also why he hadn't turned Robin in when he'd kept the stolen ring.

It was still there on a chain around his neck; a bitter reminder of the loved one who had betrayed him. He touched it briefly where it lie beneath his uniform shirt and instantly noticed a change in Ehren's posture. Every inch of him was suddenly telegraphing disappointment. Robin sighed and set his attention on the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming today," he said. "It means a lot that my mother has touched so many people. It's what she always wanted to do. Uh..."

He cleared his throat and took a moment before trying to continue. He found that he couldn't though. The words would not leave his lips. There was a certain finality in it that he didn't want to face.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this now...I...." He said as he directed his gaze towards his mother. "I'm sorry, Mom." He turned and approached the casket.

He lay one hand on it and frowned sadly.

"This is my fault." He uttered the phrase he had been dreading to admit. Facing Feliu had only brought it sharply to his attention, and it wasn't something that he could shove to the back of his mind any longer. He bowed his head.

"I'm so, so sorry, Mom."

He walked towards the side exit of the chapel and let his fingertips drag slowly across the polished finish of the coffin as he went. He shuddered when they reached the edge and slipped away. It was then that he truly felt she was gone forever. He let out a choked sob, covered his face quickly so that no one would see him, and fled the scene.

Next to Galiana, Ehren muttered a curse in Earthian and half stood up in his spot as if to chase after Robin, but she was still firmly grasping his hand.

"I'm sorry," he said as he sat back down.

She regarded him as he shifted nervously on the edge of his seat; his head darting back and forth as he tried to see where Robin had disappeared to while the Mentor took his place at the altar and began another blessing.

"Tell me one thing, Ehrenfried," she said.

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied.

"Are you wanting to go after him because it's your job?"

He paused in his fidgeting and glanced at her thoughtfully. He knew in his mind that he hadn't jumped up out of any obligation to the Inter-Glactic Action Squad. He hadn't really taken the assignment because of them in the first place.

"No, Ma'am," he said.

"Good," she replied with a smile and finally relinquished her grip. "I must stay here. Help him if you can."

Ehren nodded. He jumped up and walked quickly to the exit that Robin had chosen.

They were greeted by a tall woman with ginger hair and sad eyes. She fell immediately into Robin's arms and he held her for a long moment. Ehren felt like nothing more than an intrusion. He wanted to run and hide in some far corner of the building and leave Robin to his family.

The mother and son parted after a moment and Galiana waited expectantly for Ehren to be introduced. Robin only frowned and stubbornly crossed his arms in front of him, making no attempts to even acknowledge Ehren's presence. Ehren did not want to be the root of any familial disagreements at that moment, so he stepped forward and offered his hand.

"Ensign Ehrenfried Behrendt, Ma'am," he said briskly.

"Such a polite young man," she said as she shook his hand and gave Robin a pointed glance before turning her attention back to Ehren.

"Tell me where they teach such manners. My son could use them."

"I was born on Earth, Ma'am," he replied in her own language.

Her face lit up with delight, and she dropped the intergalactic standard she had been using to address him.

"Where did you find this one?" She asked her son.

"It wasn't hard," Robin muttered. "He's been a thorn sticking in my side for the past ten months or so."

"Robin!"

"Please, Mom. Please. He's nothing more than an I-GAS spy here. Don't treat him like he's some kind of welcome guest, or my friend. He is absolutely nothing of the sort!" Robin stormed past his mother then, leaving her slack jawed in surprise at his outburst.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Behrendt," she apologized to Eheren.

"It's alright, Ma'am," he replied. "Please call me Ehrenfried."

"Yes, of course." She nodded. "I really do apologize. He usually isn't like this. We raised him better than that."

"This isn't a usual situation," Ehren said. "To be honest, I have to admit that he is more or less correct. I'm here on assignment to monitor him because of...well... You know."

"Feliu?" Her demeanor turned instantly sour at the mention of the thief's name.

"Yes," Ehren admitted. "I really don't even know what I'm supposed to do. My orders were not precise. I don't know if I'm qualified for this, and I think it's an entirely unnecessary intrusion into a personal affair. I have to follow orders, though. I think Commander Grey understands that despite all outward appearances."

"Honest," she said. "I like that. It's not often that an officer of the law questions his superiors in front of a high ranking government official."

"Thank you, Ma'am," he said. "Now if I may... I must find Robin...Err...the Commander."

"Yes," She agreed. They made their way through the spaceport and found Robin waiting by the curb aside the large, expensive looking transport that was parked there.

It was a silent ride through the city. Ehren spent it staring out the window at the towers rising up all around him. The metal was a sparkling gold in the sun and he thought it was no wonder the planet had earned the nickname it had. It wasn't as perfect as the name might imply, but it was a beautiful place.

When they arrived at Galiana's residence Robin immediately excused himself from their presence and disappeared into his room leaving his mother alone with Ehren. She invited him into her kitchen to help her cook a meal. Before long they found themselves seated at the dining room table.

"Shall I get Robin?" Ehren asked.

She shook her head. He glanced around the room, wondering if he was being negligent in his ill-defined duties by leaving Robin on his own. Galiana noted his nervousness and set about making conversation.

"It's nice to have company," she said. "I'm not used to being alone."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am." Ehren bowed his head.

"No need to apologize, dear," she said. "Why don't you tell me about yourself? I have to say, Aina would have loved to meet you. She always has had a certain fondness for people from The Milky Way Galaxy."

"Gosh," Ehren said, unsure of how he should respond. "I...uh...I think I would have liked to have met her too."

"So," she said, in hopes to keep the conversation from stalling right there with Ehren's obvious discomfort. What's more, she didn't want to break down in front of someone she considered a guest despite what her son had said.

"You speak Utopian?"

"Yes," he said, visibly relieved. "I studied ancient languages, and this one really... It sounds nice, so I decided to concentrate on it and this planet. I was beginning to think I would never get to see it."

"Lovely!" She smiled at him.

"I only wish the circumstances were different."

"Yes, I as well," she replied.

They drifted off into contemplative silence until Robin reappeared and joined them.

"Where have you been?" He directed the statement at Ehren.

"Cooking dinner," he glanced down at his plate. He was quite unsure of what it was that he had prepared, only that it was edible. He had prepared the foreign fruits and vegetables that he had only ever seen in textbooks before according to Galiana's direction.

"Or breakfast," he continued. "Or lunch. I'm not sure what time it is." He glanced out one of the many brightly lit windows with a shrug.

"Alpha Circada has just risen," Robin muttered as if it was something Ehren should have known. "It's midday. Where is your timepiece? What kind of wannabe detective is without a timepiece?"

"Leave me alone," Ehren grumbled and turned his attention back towards Galiana.

"I've only read about this!" He said to her. "I hope to see a sun-change while I'm here! I didn't even notice."

She was about to answer, but Robin cut in before she could.

"It's because you're thick," he muttered.

Ehren glared at him, feeling his own temperature rising. He didn't know if it was due to rage, or embarrassment, or both.

"I am not thick, Sir," Ehren said, putting contemptuous emphasis on the word 'sir'.

"Robin," Galiana warned, but he ignored them both.

He leaned back in his chair with his arms behind his head.

"Go make me a plate, Recruit," he said.

Ehren didn't bother to hide his indignant expression.

"Please?" He said.

"I'm your boss. I order you to do it." Robin grinned at him.

"That's enough children," Galina interrupted. "Robin, I'm your boss, and you can get your own food."

Robin's teasing smile abruptly fled his face, and he nodded obediently at the admonishment.

"Yes, Mom," he said.

Ehren excused himself then and wandered around the apartment until he found a balcony and stepped out on it, closing the door behind him. Orders be damned, he wasn't going to hover over Robin. He knew if it were his family, he would want to spend time with them without a military escort.

He sat on a nearby chair and admired the spectacular view of the city. Alpha Circadia was burning brightly; low in the sky, and Ehren noted the faint glow of what must have been the previous star upon the horizon. He turned his attention away from the cityscape and pulled out his ICD. He smiled faintly, remembering the first day he had gotten up enough courage to stand up to Robin, who had taken a call on Ehren's device and then thrown it directly into a nearby wall, smashing it into pieces when he hadn't liked what the person on the other end had to say.

Ehren had directly disobeyed Robin's orders that day by refusing to fill out the mountain of paperwork that was the requisition form for a new ICD. It had all started a chain reaction that had led up to that day.

"It's your own damn fault you're stuck with him," Ehren muttered to himself in Earthian. His own language almost felt foreign to him at that point. It had been a long time since he'd spoken to anyone from his galaxy, let alone his star system, or his planet. It had been too long.

He dialed in his ICD to an appropriate time on Earth to reach his parents and nearly burst into homesick tears when he heard his mother's voice.

"It's Ehren!" He said, when she answered with a quick hello.

There was an excited flurry of activity on the other end of the line, billions of light years away, and suddenly his father was speaking into the communication device as well.

"So, what brings about this call?" His father asked. "Haven't heard from you in an age, kid."

Ehren chuckled softly.

"You will never guess where I am, you guys. I'm on the GU."

His mother cooed excitedly and congratulated him. He left out the story of why he was there. That wasn't the point of his call. He didn't even respond in any great detail when asked what it was like there by his father.

"It's just sunny a lot," he said. "Tell me about home. How's work?"

"Why do you want to hear about that?" His father chuckled. "I don't remember carpentry being one of your great interests."

"It's not," Ehren said. "I just want to hear about what you guys are doing. I want to hear about home."

"I told you, Henrich." He heard his mother address his father. "He misses us after all."

"He just misses pie," Henrich said.

"I do miss your pie," Ehren said softly. "And I miss you. I just wanted to call and tell you guys how much I love you. I don't talk to you often enough."

"You don't," his mother agreed. "We miss you too."

"So that settles that," his father said. "You're coming back to Earth."

Ehren laughed.

"I'm on assignment right now. I'll visit as soon as I get some leave. It's a really busy time. You should turn on the inter- news," he said.

"You're safe, aren't you?" His mother's voice suddenly took on a worried pitch. "You're only supposed to be a recruit in training."

"Oh!" Ehren laughed. "I forgot to tell you. I got a commission. I'm an officer now!"

His father let out a whoop. Ehren waited patiently for the tumble of of proud congratulations that emerged from the ICD and then told his parents he loved them. They laughed happily for a while, and Ehren indulged his mother by letting her tell him all about her holobook club. Shortly thereafter he said goodbye with a small contented sigh. He stood to return to the flat and came face to face with Robin, who was standing in the balcony doorway.

He didn't look angry or annoyed for once. He only looked upon Ehren with a sad resignation.

"You heard that?" Ehren cringed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"Don't be sorry," Robin said. "Be grateful. Let me show you to your room."

"My Room?"

"The Guestroom," Robin said. He lifted a brow and regarded Ehren curiously. "Do you really think I'm going to sneak out in the middle of the night, or do you just want to sleep with me?"

Ehren blushed to the roots of his hair with that comment and brushed quickly by him in hopes that Robin wouldn't see how flustered he had become.

"Where's this fabled guestroom," he said once his back was to Robin and his face had cooled down.

Robin led him to the room in question and left him to his own devices.

"I don't like this," Yaretzi said softly to Feliu so as not to arouse the suspicions of the rest of the team.

"What?" Feliu said. "Looks like business as usual to me."

"Yeah," she murmured. "It's just a sense."

"Your amphibi-sense?" Feliu chuckled at her. "C'mon, Yaretzi. It's par for the course. We steal from the Dysprosians for the Utopians, and vice-versa all the time."

"Don't make fun." She frowned at him. "This is serious. I can taste the unease in the air. Will you please be careful? Keep your guard up?"

Feliu nodded sagely. "Always do; Always am," he said.

Ganix arrived in their midst then, garnering their attention as he rehashed the plan. When he was finished they were to depress the button on their issued TTDs but when Yaretzi pressed hers nothing happened. There was no blinding light, and no sense of nothingness. She was as solid and present as she had been a moment before. She glanced worriedly around at the other equally confused crew.

"What's going on?" One of them reluctantly spoke up to Ganix Viernes.

"Sorry. Change of plans." He chuckled, softly at first, but his mirth gradually took on a more sinister tone.

"There is a diamond supply ship headed to quadrant four two years ago that we are going to hit instead. Everybody to your stations."

He marched from the room, followed one by one by the still confused yet obedient crew until only Yaretzi was left in the port-room: her own station.

She scratched her head and frowned. There was something tugging away at the corner of her mind, begging for her attention. She didn't realize exactly what it was until she sat down at her console. Her stomach lurched and her gills flared as soon as she realized what had happened.

She spied a small handful of blinking signals on her console, marking the departure of the outgoing time signals. Those few crew members had faded from her perception as if they had never been there in her time stream to begin with. While the majority of the crew's TTDs had been jammed a few had not, and among them was Feliu Viernes.

****

Feliu found himself inside the Golden Utopia Council Tower with far less crew than had been in the Darkness' port room. None of the men he'd count as his allies were anywhere to be seen, including Yaretzi. Her words of warning rang in his ears, and he knew he was going to have to be on high alert with the highly untrustable crew that he had been left with.

The crew leader, a craggly old man with one eye, approached him and informed him in no uncertain terms that they would be splitting up.

Feliu was left on his own to find the vault and remove the temporal compaction device that was the goal. He vaguely wondered why he needed an entire crew for the mission and why they needed to split up further, but he shrugged off the notion quickly enough. His father often had more than one iron in the fire and most of them were too classified for Feliu to know about. He liked it that way. He figured the less he knew about his father's more sinister operations, the better off he would be.

He sighed to himself and took a glance at his time piece. It flashed zeros at him. He shook it and held it up to his ear even though he knew it was useless. It had been broken in the jump.

"Piece of shit," he murmured to himself.

He put his malfunctioning equipment out of his mind and concentrated on the task at hand. He glanced around the deserted building as he walked.

He had walked those very halls what seemed like a thousand times before as Robin's friend and guest. This was a mission he hadn't wanted to accept when his father had first come to him with the proposal. Feliu knew it was one betrayal too many. He had hoped to keep his professional and personal lives separated from the point of his most recent capture going forward.

As the conversation with his father progressed, however, it became clear that his father was going to make his participation mandatory.

He traveled silently through the golden hallways, carefully avoiding the guards until he reached the vault. It was easy enough for him to bypass the outer security. It was a simple matter of hacking into the security system and setting the video on a loop, then teleporting into the outer vault.

The inner vault was another matter entirely. The Golden Utopia Treasure Vault was temporally locked. He couldn't just use a TTD or a port-key to transfer his matter into the inner vault. The lock was designed to bounce any incoming signals away. It was a very real possibility that even trying it would get him killed. He wasn't well versed enough in the mechanics and theory of time travel to figure out how to bypass such a lock. He was going to have to tackle the job the old fashioned way.

"This is why a temporal engineer would come in handy," he complained to himself as he eyed the physical locking mechanism in front of him.

He set his bag of tools down in front of him as he concentrated fully on his task. Yaretzi's warnings had slowly leaked out of his mind, and he had stop wondering what the rest of the team was up to. He knew he had to make up for his most recent indiscretion, and for that to happen he was going to have to give it his full attention.

It took him two hours work to break through the security protocols to open the door and retrieve the device; a temporal compactor, one of the most devastating weapons in the known galaxies.

He held the innocuous looking item in his hand and gave it a cursory inspection. Like the time travel device and many other devices, it looked like nothing more than a small flat metalic box with a few buttons and outputs.

Feliu shook his head and wondered if winning his father's approval was worth the risking of the lives of billions by liberating the device from its Utopian prison.

"Why don't they just destroy the fucking thing?" He muttered to himself, knowing that there was only one in existence and the inventor had long since ceased to exist, taking his research with him.

Feliu briefly contemplated dropping it on the marble floor in hopes of causing it irreparable damage, thereby alleviating the responsibility of choice. He quickly decided that it wasn't worth the risk. For all he knew, jarring the device might cause it to spit out a singularity which would be the end of him, the GU Council building and possibly the entire Zharan Galaxy if not the universe itself.

He sighed again, glanced back at the door he had spent so many hours working on, and carefully placed the device back on its shelf.

His father would have to remain disappointed in him. He wasn't going to destroy the world.

He slowly made his way out of the vault and past the security. He trudged down aimlessly down the familiar hallways, wondering what he was gong to say to his father about his failure, until his ICD began bleating at him.

He pulled the communication device from his pocket and depressed the button on it. An unfamiliar voice directed him to a set of coordinates inside the building. Feliu was immediately suspicious. He slowly made his way to the instructed point with his hand poised over his laser gun in its holster. There was nobody there when he arrived at what he found was the council meeting chamber. He frowned and sat down at the vacant assistant's desk that was positioned outside of the room.

Feliu was just about to return to the rendezvous spot with the Darkness when a presence made itself known. From behind the desk, the door to the council chamber swung open and a man he had never seen before emerged.

"Who are you?" Feliu said as he grabbed for his weapon and stood from the seat.

He remained frozen in a halfway position with his laser gun still holstered as the man already had a gun pointed at his head. It was an old fashioned mechanical pistol; a sure sign that the man was from an old world planet. Judging by the accent, which had a similar ring as a certain Earthian Feliu had the misfortune of meeting on his last ill-fated trip to see Robin, Feliu was guessing that the man before him was either an Earthian himself or, more likely, a Naturian.

"That is none of your concern," the man said. A demented smile adorned his smooth face. He was dressed in a suit and tie with his hair slicked back; sunglasses perched upon his nose to keep out the offending Utopian light that shown down from the multitude of skylights and windows that adorned the building.

"Like hell it's not," Feliu growled. "Who sent you?"

His maniacal laughter echoed through the hallway.

"Oh, well." He shrugged. "Your father gave me no instructions to keep you in the dark about who hired me. It might even be better this way. 'till twist the knife a bit more, should think. Please follow me, and bring that compactor you were kind enough to steal for me."

Feliu's eyes widened at the mention of the device that he had thought was the main objective. He grabbed the first thing on the desk that most closely resembled it, glancing down on it only long enough to discern that it was a holo-book with the word 'Atlas' etched upon it in Utopian. He knew his father would be enraged to find that his only son had done nothing more than to steal a glorified map, but he had a feeling that his father was the last thing he was going to have to worry about. He could only hope that the Naturian stranger hadn't bothered to study beyond the intergalactic standard he was attempting to speak.

"Give it here," he said, and Feliu handed the device over.

The man turned over the Atlas in his hand then pressed the on button. Feliu cringed.

"What is this map?" He said as the three dimensional image of Utopia spewed forth from the information output and materialized holographically before them.

"It has maps," Feliu said, doing his best to think on his feet, "So you, like, know where to send the black hole, right?" He laughed nervously, hoping that the man would believe that the holo-book was indeed a doomsday device. "You don't want one to open up right on top of yourself. Y'know?"

"I see," he replied dubiously. "We'll be sure to test that theory. Now. Follow me."

"I don't think I want to do that," Feliu said.

The Naturian sighed impatiently. "Do you want to die right now?"

"Uh...No?" Feliu said.

"That's what I thought." He motioned with his gun towards the council room door, and Feliu was left with no choice but to follow instructions.

He was in shock when he found the Utopian council in chambers, backs to the door as they were held at gun point by another man that Feliu didn't know. His own crew was nowhere to be seen. He hastily turned around, only to be greeted with the barrel of the Naturian's pistol directly in his face.

"There wasn't supposed to be anybody here," Feliu mumbled as he turned back around. "It's late."

"Is it?" The Naturian laughed again.

Feliu knew in that moment that his time-piece had probably been broken before he had even woken up that morning. The teleportation from the Darkness to the Council tower had not been the cause after all. There was no judging the time of day on Utopia either, and Feliu had not spent enough time there to distinguish the subtle differences between the four suns.

"Nobody's supposed to get hurt," Feliu said. "What is the point of this? What do you want. What does my father want?"

The Naturian ignored his question.

"Hands on your head," he said.

Feliu did as commanded and the man ordered one of his minions to keep an gun on him. The hostages remained silently facing the far wall as the Naturian set the real plan into motion by pulling out a pair of gloves and applying them to his hands.

"You know what these are, right?" The Naturian grinned at him as he approached Feliu and stood, pressed fully against him. One gloved hand feeling its way roughly up and down Feliu's torso.

"G-g-gloves?" He ventured a guess as he tried not to succumb to the nattily dressed man's touches.

"Yes." He said as his wandering hand snaked around Feliu's hip and slapped him on the ass. Feliu's surprised gasp caught in his throat and then the bottom of his stomach fell out as he realized that the Naturian had pulled his own weapon from its holster with his free hand.

"And what is this?" He asked as he stepped away; a insidious smirk upon his face.

"My gun," Feliu said. "No."

"Yes!" The Naturian crowed happily and leveled the weapon at the nearest Council member and pulled the trigger. The old man crumpled to the floor as soon as the stun beam hit him.

"Shit!" Feliu gasped. "What..."

"Stun?" The Naturian giggled. "Your father is right. You are a fucking useless mound of sentimental mush."

"I'm not sentimental. I don't see the point in ending a life for no reason," Feliu growled. "I don't kill people."

"You do now," The Naturian whispered. "As far as the electronic paper trail is concerned, you are under contract as an assassin for the Dysprosian government."

Out loud he made a show of yelling out Feliu's name as if he he were trying to wrest the laser weapon from his hands. Feliu could do nothing but stand there and watch as any attempt to protest was met with the reminder of one of the Naturian's associates guns poking him in the back. The Naturian gave him one final grin of malicious glee and made a show of silently miming "Eenie-Meenie-Miney-Moe" at two particular captives.

If he had any colour to speak of in his complexion to begin with it would have drained from Feliu's face the instant he realized the target of the Naturian...and his father's game. Aina and Galiana Grey stood with their hands clasped together; the barrel of Feliu's gun in the Naturian's hand bobbing from one to the other.

The Naturian flicked the sensor on the laser from stun to kill and as soon as the quiet blirp that signified the switch sounded in the near silent room, one of the male captives who had been standing in a far off corner turned around in an obvious set up and called out.

"Don't do it, Viernes!"

In that split second Feliu made up his mind that he had to do something aside from standing there impotently even if it meant his own death. He lurched towards the Naturian and knocked him to the ground, but it was a split second too late. The weapon had been fired, and all chaos broke loose as Aina Grey collapsed. The hostages no longer cared for their own safety as they immediately dove for cover; their screams resounding in Feliu's ears. He jumped up from the ground and found that the Naturian was nowhere to be seen and neither was his crew. It was almost as if they had never existed there at all.

Feliu cursed the Time Travel Device and the confusion that resulted in the wake of somebody using one. He took a moment to gather his wits about him then bounded over to where Galiana was crouched over the inert body of her wife.

"She's okay, right? Please tell me she's okay." Feliu looked on worriedly and crouched beside them. He reached out in a panic when Galiana did not reply and tried to apply pressure to the wound even though he could tell just by looking that it was a useless gesture.

"We can go back," he babbled. "We can go back. We can change time. We have to go back. This didn't happen. It never happened. I..."

Galiana didn't give him a chance to finish his stream of incoherence. She looked up, her eyes wet with tears and reached back. Her hand curled in an angry fist, she swung her arm forward and connected directly with Feliu's jaw. He fell backwards in a daze. She lay Aina gently down and closed her eyes with gentle care then she stood and glared down at Feliu. He cowered before her.

"You cannot change time. Not that way," she said. Her voice was low and strained as if she could barely hold her words together.

Feliu hardly noticed the two council members that had emerged from their hiding places to restrain him. He had no intentions of running anyway, and his full attention was focus on Galiana.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't...my father..."

"You did this!" Her voice broke then as she was unable to hold back her scream. "How could you do this?"

"I didn't," Feliu whimpered. "I..."

Galiana dismissed him with a wave of her hand and turned her back. Her shoulders shook as she knelt before her fallen lover once again.

Feliu was given no more chance to explain as he was forcibly dragged from the room and passed off to a freshly arrived squad of Utopian law enforcement officers. He remained silent, for he knew that any protest he made at that point would be summarily dismissed. It had been orchestrated so that an entire cache of unimpeachable Utopian witnesses had been made to believe that he had fired the two shots.

He had no idea that his father hated him so much that he would go to such great lengths to destroy everything he ever thought he knew about life in one fell swoop.

****

Lieutenant-Commander David looked tired and strained when she called Ehren into Robin's office the next morning. He made himself at home in the visitor's chair, a look of worry etched on his face.

"Where's Robin," he asked quietly. "He was in the communications room yesterday... When Utopia was attacked. He looked upset."

"Yes," Beatriu replied solemnly. "That is why I called you in here today. Robin is going to be taking some time off."

"Time off?" Ehren slid forward and perched on the edge of his chair with his hands gripping the desk in front of him. "Why? I thought he was cleared of all wrongdoing? I thought he was just waiting out his probationary period now. What did he do?"

"Relax." She smiled fondly at him. "He is taking personal time off. That is why you are here. You are aware of the assassination perpetrated against the Utopian government yesterday, correct?"

Ehren blanched. She was well aware that he knew most of the details. He had been training in the communications room when the distress call had gone out across the galaxies. They had been unable to scramble together much video or audio from the security systems in the Utopian council building, and what they had was corrupted and in need of rebuilding, which took time. The assassin had been thorough in deleting most electronic footprints.

"Yes."

Her smile turned back into a sad frown and she sighed. "It is a tragedy for our planet, Ehren. Moreso for Robin. The Minister of Alien affairs is his mother."

Ehren paused for a moment, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"How is that possible?" He said.

"It is, I assure you," she replied. "I have been appointed as temporary leader of this squadron while he is away. I have been instructed to find an officer to accompany Grey back home. You are aware of the suspect we have in custody?"

"No." Ehren frowned. "The Vice-Admiral came down and told the High-Commander to dismiss the unnecessary crew. We were sent to quarters and I haven't heard anything since."

"I see." Beatriu narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "I suppose that leaves it up to me to inform you that the man we have in custody is Feliu Viernes."

Ehren's eyes widened in shock and he was speechless.

"So you see why this is tricky," she said. "I've known Robin since he was a child, and this is destroying him. I and the powers that be are afraid he is going to do something...drastic. Your assignment is to accompany him and report back to us any violations of probation that Robin may engage in."

"Wait." Ehren frowned. "You want me to babysit him? You want me to babysit him while he goes home to deal with his mother dying? Then you want me to spy on him and write it up in a little report for you? You've got to be kidding. I'm not doing it."

She glared at him, and he returned the glare defiantly.

"Ma'am."

He slammed his palms down on the table and stood up.

"If you'll excuse me."

Beatriu only chuckled at him in an amused fashion from behind the desk.

"I can see why he likes you," she said.

"Please?" He paused in his dramatic departure and turned back to face her, expecting her to repeat herself and provide further explanation.

She stared uncomprehendingly at him for a moment then laughed again.

"Sorry, I'm not used to your Earthian turn of phrase," she said. "You are one of Robin's most trusted...well, officers now, Ensign. Robin told me himself. That is why I'm giving this assignment to you. I trust you enough to be able to deal with him and talk him down from the ledge if he needs it. I have no doubt you will do the right thing. What that is, I do not know. I'll leave it up to you what to include in your report."

Ehren shifted uncomfortably then settled back in his seat with a resigned sigh.

"This isn't a request is it?"

"No," she replied. "I'm sorry it has to be this way, Ensign, but with Feliu Viernes involved... I'm afraid it is unavoidable considering Robin's past with him. You understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Ehren replied. "I'm still having trouble understanding why I am the most qualified person for this task."

"You'll understand soon enough," she said. "You are dismissed, Ensign. Be sure to pack for the week. You will be leaving within the hour."

"Yes, Ma'am." He stood, saluted and marched away.

***

His next encounter with Robin came outside the teleportation room. Robin was stone-faced as he stood in the hallway, staring at the entrance door and fumbling a TTD in his hand. Ehren observed him for a moment and noticed instantly that he had shaved off his entire beard. No longer was the well-trimmed facial hair obscuring his jawline, and Ehren had to fight back the urge to stare or reach up and touch the commander's smooth cheek. He knew that would be out of hand entirely. It wasn't the right time to admire Robin's appearance, if it ever was. He knew he should just march up to him, salute, and assume a rigid stance beside him as they waited for the port-keeper, but his Earthian nature was pulling him in another direction.

He walked to Robin, set his duffel bag down and touched his commander's arm.

"How are you doing?" He said.

Robin turned slightly and lofted a curious eyebrow at Ehren.

"You are the most inappropriate creature in the known galaxies. You do know that, don't you?" Robin replied.

Ehren removed his hand from Robin's arm, self-consciously folded hid arms behind his back, and assumed a more formal posture.

"I apologize, sir," he said.

They stood side by side in silence then, awaiting the teleportation technician's arrival.

"You know..." Ehren ventured to speak after several long minutes. "...If you ever need a sympathetic ear..."

He trailed off as soon as Robin turned to glare at him. The flush of hot anger was rising in his cheeks and Ehren shrunk away from him involuntarily.

"I do not want to talk about it. Get it through your stupid Earthian head, Recruit. I especially don't want to talk about it with a fucking I-GAS appointed SPY."

Ehren's eyes widened at Robin's epithet, and he momentarily considered standing up and snapping back. He took a deep breath to calm the indignation that was rising in his chest, and addressed Robin.

"I see. If you change your mind..."

"I won't," Robin grumbled and turned back to door. "Let's just make one thing clear, Ehren; I don't want you here."

Ehren sighed in frustration and leaned against the wall. "It's Ensign, Sir. Ensign Behrendt. I don't particularly want to be here either."

"Fine," Robin said. "Don't speak to me then. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Ehren nodded.

They waited for the technician who arrived shortly thereafter. Ehren was feeling a little bit rejected. Where others had marked him down, Robin had recognized his potential and pushed him forward. Having the Commander call him stupid was a hurt that he hadn't expected. He shoved it to the back of his mind and trudged along behind Robin who strode purposefully into the middle of the room. He flicked on his TTD, which already had the proper coordinates entered, and Ehren obediently placed his hand on Robin's shoulder without having to be told. He figured it was the most neutral place possible, and contact was required to transport them both with one device. Ehren was a long way away from earning back the right to carry his own TTD.

"Hold your bag," Robin muttered at him; his finger wavering over the single physical button on the device.

"Yeah," Ehren said. "Oops. Don't want to forget that. Don't think your clothes will fit me!"

His attempt at lightening the mood failed miserably as Robin's glare of annoyance and resentment was unrelenting. Ehren chuckled nervously and reached down to sling his duffel over his shoulder.

"Ready," he said.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth they were gone. It was like they had never been there at all.

"We should know!" Izar replied with a chuckle.

Ganix narrowed his gaze and leaned forward across the table. "You're going to have to put something on the table if I'm going to risk helping you out here."

"Helping me out is helping yourself." Izar leaned back in his chair with a flippant shrug.

It was Ganix's turn to chuckle as he stood from his chair and began to pace around the room. Izar kept one suspicious eye on him while trying his best to maintain a cool exterior. Being on the pirate ship, Darkness, was not without it's dangers, the biggest of which being Ganix Viernes himself.

"In case it has escaped your notice, Izar..." He stopped pacing and stood facing the arms dealer and opened his arms wide. "I do own a time ship. There are galaxies beyond this one that could use some plundering."

" 'Own' is a bit of a strong term." Izar arched an eyebrow. "Besides, you will be paid handsomely should we enter into an agreement."

Ganix grinned at him. "I do have other means of making a living when the supply routes run dry."

"Look." Izar scowled at him. "It's a big pay-day for you and we need each other. Peace isn't a lasting prospect. It never is. This is the most opulent, the most spectacular, the most lucrative galaxy to plunder out of all the galaxies, and still you barely scrape by!"

"And how do you know that?" Ganix frowned.

"I have my ways," Izar said. "You're out here on this piece of space junk for one. War is money, Ganix. Just imagine the possibilities of a Zharan Galaxy at war!"

Ganix paused to consider it for a moment. It was delicious to think of his home planet at war. Aside from the riches he could accumulate by dealing in illegal armament, the Utopian capital in rubble was almost too good of an opportunity to pass up.

"I assume you have some sort of plan?" Ganix finally spoke. "The peace talks have been fruitful..."

"Oh, Utopian's can be swayed," Izar said.

"How?" Ganix said.

"You'll find a way," Izar replied. "I have faith. For now I have to get back to the city."

"Fine," Ganix grumbled.

"One more thing before I go," Izar said as he made his way to the door.

"What's that?"

"If we are to enter into agreement, your son must be out of the picture."

"Why?" Ganix glanced curiously at him. "This is no concern of his."

"Really?" Izar's mouth parted in a malicious grin. "It is a concern of mine and my brethren. That boy has a streak of good in him a mile wide, you know. It's a wonder he came from your stock at all."

Ganix rolled his eyes, well aware of Feliu and his weaknesses.

"Fine. This mission shall not involve him."

"No it won't," Izar agreed. "Because you'll be getting rid of him, or we'll find someone else. He'll be your downfall, but he's not going to be mine."

"Are you suggesting I murder my own son?" Ganix stood up, rage filling his features as he stalked up to Izar and faced him down. "He is no threat to this operation. How dare you suggest other..."

Izar laughed in his face, hot breath curling around in the air making Ganix flinch away.

"He was caught again, you know," Izar said. "I have it on good authority from my contact inside I-GAS. He was brought into headquarters recently and barely managed to escape. I will not have a liability hanging around, and as long as he's fucking that commander then that is what he is. You know damn well, he'll move heaven and hell before he gives up on that halfbreed freak. Look...you don't have to kill him, Ganix, but I want your assurance that he'll be gone. He is a liability to me and your own operation and has been for years. It's about time you did a little housecleaning."

Ganix reluctantly backed down. He considered the arms dealer's words and knew that he was right. Feliu had been an irresponsible thorn in his side for far too long, and it was high time that something was done about it.

"If only he'd never met that council member's son," Ganix said out loud, earning nods of approval from Izar.

"That's more like it!" He said. "He could be working for I-GAS right now for all we know. If that's the case then I may just have to end the child myself. He has more knowledge of our...ehm...alliance than anybody on this ship. If it were to be known..."

"It can't be known," Ganix agreed. His indignation at the thought of doing away with his own son was melting away. The emotion was gone from his voice and his cold, hardened stare landed on Izar. The corner of his lip twitched upward in a smile.

"Such a disappointment, that boy," Ganix said. "He's been nothing but trouble since he decided he wanted to be a Utopian instead of a real pirate. I won't kill him though."

"No," Izar agreed. "No need for that. Dump him off on some remote planet. Mmmm, Maybe the Royal Chromian outpost. Losing their civil war has made them quite bloodthirsty..."

"No, no," Ganix replied. "He isn't stupid. He has resources. I have a better idea. It won't kill him, but it will make him wish he were dead and get that bumbling fool of a commander out of the picture..."

He slung his arm around Izar and led him back to the seat he had vacated at the table.

"What are you doing," Izar said. "I truly must get back to the city. I have a meeting."

"The meeting can wait," Ganix replied. "I think I can kill three birds with one stone. You say you want to start a war?"

*******

Ehren was startled by a steaming cup of coffee was that was thumped down in front of him. He hadn't been aware he had been sleeping there at the table in the officer's mess hall until the unexpected beverage made its unwelcome appearance. He nearly fell out of his chair and looked up to see his commander standing above him.

"So, I see training isn't agreeing with you," Robin spoke with amusement as he grabbed a chair, flipped it around and straddled it facing Ehren.

"Sleep isn't agreeing with me." Ehren yawned and poked at the coffee cup. "What's this?"

"It's a coffee." Robin eyed him then laughed. "I thought you could use one."

"You do know the restorative properties of caffeine are greatly exaggerated. Don't you have any of that tea left that you gave me that one time?" Ehren said. "It's made out of the tears of baby space whales, right?"

"No, it's made out of tea," Robin replied. "That's why it's called tea."

"There are lots of things called tea that aren't made out of tea." Ehren pointed out, but Robin just shook his head and shrugged then pulled two small packets out of his front uniform pocket and threw them on the table next to the coffee.

"Stop trying to argue with me for the sake of it, Recruit. You know very well that you drink coffee," he said. "There's some sweetener."

"I'm an ensign now," Ehren said as he scooped up one of the packets. He knew it was practically no use trying to correct Robin, but it had become second nature.

"Yes, yes." Robin nodded in agreement. "Ensign, recruit...you still have to do what I say."

Ehren ignored his comment in favor of thrusting the sweetener out in front of him suddenly and demanding to know what it was.

"Plear nectar," Robin replied. "I thought you would like it. That's practically the only thing you eat. I'm surprised that you aren't the size of a baby space whale yourself. Those things are loaded with sweet."

"Hey!" Ehren shook the packet to recapture Robin's attention."I know what it is, but where did you get it, and why are you giving it to me?"

Ehren was well aware of that the commissary stocked no such exotic sweeteners. They imported only the bare essentials, of which native Earthian fruits were certainly not included.

"They're mine," Robin said. "I thought you would like it. That is how you take your coffee? No creams? Two sweets?"

Ehren frowned. He didn't answer. Instead he deposited one of the packets into the beverage.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" He said after he had sipped the coffee down to bottom of the cup with Robin seated across from him in silence with seemingly no intentions of leaving.

"You were nice to me." He shrugged and glanced down at his hands. "I thought I might repay the favor."

Ehren thought it was strange that Robin was continually trying to make up for what had happened. He would have preferred to forget the events that had led up to his eventual promotion. It seemed like ages had passed since the fateful day of his first mission when it had been only weeks. Not much had changed. Robin and his troops were still under the watchful eye of the Internal Disciplinary Squadron, and Ehren had yet to adjust to his new schedule and his new life.

He had been promoted and was on a faster track than he had ever imagined, but there was something disconcerting in the way it had happened that didn't sit well with Ehren. He thought hard work would be the best way to reach his goals, but instead it had been fucking up in the worst way possible that had set him on the path to career advancement.

Aside from all that, Ehren found that his new training regime was much more difficult in ways he hadn't anticipated. He had risen in ranks, but he was still at the bottom of the barrel. He had just been shifted from the enlisted barrel to the officer's barrel, and it was almost like starting over. Even having a room to himself in the officer's quarters wasn't all it was cracked up to be. He missed sharing space with Axel despite still seeing him on a daily basis.

"I really don't need any more favors," Ehren said. "Let's call us even, okay?"

Robin bowed his head for a moment then looked up at Ehren and nodded.

"Okay."

Robin made no move to leave, which prompted Ehren to yawn in an exaggerated manner and stretch his arms out above him.

"I really think I should just go back to sleep now," he said. "I don't get much down time."

"So..." Robin said, completely ignoring Ehren's attempts to extricate himself from the encounter. "I'm gong to hit the gym. Care to join me?"

Eheren laughed out loud as he eyed Robin's broad chest. "Of course you spend your free time at the gym."

"Yes, Yes." Robin rolled his eyes. "I lift things and you spend your time learning how to annoy me."

"I don't learn it. It's a natural talent. Besides. You came to me!" Ehren reminded him with a short tap against the coffee cup.

Robin chuckled at him. "Come on. It'll be good for you."

"But I thought..."

"That concentrating on communications would get you out of conditioning?" Robin arched an eyebrow at him. "We can't have an entire squadron waiting to for you because you can't keep up in the field."

"But..."

"I know you'd rather stick your nose in a book, but in all honesty..." He glanced quickly away so that Ehren couldn't see his eyes.

"I would really hate it if you died out there."

"Oh, geez," Ehren said, letting out a soft but audible breath. "If you put it that way, Commander Doom..." Ehren consented with the corner of his mouth quirked slightly upwards. He found it impossible to resist Robin in one of his unguarded moments.

***

So Ehren found himself in the last place he'd ever imagined he would be when he woke up that morning with a rare and precious day off. Working out certainly wasn't the most exciting think he could think of to do with his spare time. He found running around a virtual track to be a thousand times more boring than reading a good book or learning a new language.

He also knew that Robin was correct when he said that Ehren was at a disadvantage out in the field. He certainly wasn't the biggest or strongest of the examples of perfect physical specimens that walked the hallways of I-GAS headquarters.

He departed the mess hall with an excuse to gather his work-out clothes from his room; an excuse which only garnered an eyebrow raise from his commander but went without further questioning. When he returned to the locker room, he found Robin there waiting for him beside his locker wearing only his sweatpants, holding his t-shirt in his hand.

There was only one thing that that managed to distract Ehren from staring at Robin's bare chest in that moment, and it was the sparkling gold ring that he was wearing on a chain around his neck.

It also gave him the perfect excuse.

"You're wearing it?" Ehren sauntered up to him and stuck his pinky finger through the band and lifted it from where it lay.

"It was a gift," Robin muttered as he snatched it away and quickly pulled on his shirt. "As far as I can tell it's none of your business."

"Of course not." Ehren rolled his eyes. "I only just risked my career to keep the stupid thing a secret for you. I thought you'd hide it for a while at least."

"Give it a rest, Ehren," Robin said. "I get it it. I am forever indebted to you. No need to rub it in. Now, put on your pants and quit stalling."

"Forever? Does this mean free coffee for life?"

"If you don't hurry up, that might not be for very much longer," Robin muttered. "Let's go, recruit!"

"Ensign." Ehren corrected him even though he was smiling through his annoyance.

Later, after following several meters behind Robin on the track, being unable to keep up the pace and Robin being unwilling to slow it down, Ehren found himself sitting inertly upon a rowing machine not even pretending to be exercising any further. He watched as Robin met with his trainer and across the room. They conversed for a moment before getting started, and Ehren noticed Robin pointing him out.

He scowled and Robin waved, prompting the trainer to wave as well. Ehren made a dismissive gesture and turned his attention to the holographic output display on the machine he was working with. He sat there exerting the least amount of energy as possible so as not to arouse the ire of the fellow officers milling about in hopes of taking over the machine as soon as he was finished with it. They were like muscular vultures circling him, so he tried to put their anticipatory glances out of his mind. He met back up with Robin as soon as his weight lifting was over.

"So what now?" Ehren asked.

"I have to go back to the squad room this afternoon after the crew is back from their specialized exercises. You in this afternoon?"

"You should know. You have the schedule," Ehren said.

Robin shrugged. "You think I actually look at that thing?"

"You probably should. Y'know, since you're the commander and everything."

Robin sighed. "Of course you're right."

"Of course, I'm right. I'm always right," Ehren said.

Robin chuckled.

"So, I'll see you later then," he said. "The Yarzfeld database needs cleaning up."

Ehren stopped in his tracks.

"You've got to be kidding me. Are you punishing me or something?" He tried his best to sound annoyed, but he was more amused than anything.

"Yes, well." Robin shrugged. "It's about time I taught you most important lesson in being an officer."

"Oh, yeah, what's that?"

"Delegation," Robin replied.

"Yes, a valuable lesson," Ehren agreed. "Too bad it's my day off. Are you really going to order me in to work on that?"

"Nah." Robin clapped him on the back. "Go on back to your room and read about the mating habits of Umerian Flies or something."

"Hey, I'm a etymologist, not an entomologist," Ehren said.

"Fine," Robin conceded, "learn about how they talk to each other. Just get out of here before I change my mind."

Ehren snapped off a quick and sloppy salute before springing away as fast as his legs could carry him.

They settled into a routine after that. Ehren attended to his officer training and then reported to Robin later in the day. On his days off Robin always had his coffee and one of the plears he kept in the icebox waiting for him in the mess hall. Every time Ehren would complain, Robin would remind him that he had earned free coffee for life then would drag him off to the gym amid mild protestation.

It didn't matter that the coffee was already free.

That routine was shattered one day as Ehren sat idly at his station in the communications room. He wasn't on duty so much as he was taking his time there to study a new phoneme and expand his vocabulary. He was pretty much stumped at how to create the sounds that were coming out of the instructional video with his Earthian vocal chords, when an inter-galactic distress call rang out, disrupting the regimented hum of the communication team's daily chores. There was a mad dash as the on-duty staff scrambled to attention, intercepting signals left and right. Ehren had not been trained enough to even know what the screaming siren really meant.

He latched on to the first passing starman and asked what was going on.

"The Golden Utopia's been attacked, Sir," he said. "We're gathering intelligence from the intergalactic common database. An action squad has already been deployed."

"Okay, thanks," Ehren murmured and turned back towards his lesson momentarily. He glanced back up at the main display in the center of the room and watched his superior officers milling around observing the steady stream of data that had been culled from the Common Database; the real time storage center for all government security systems in the Alliance of Multiple Galaxies. He was about to ask if he could help any way, though he had no experience with decoding time signatures or corrupted security images, nor did he have any experience with the helper software. He didn't want to sit idly by while a planet was under attack.

The image of Robin Grey standing in the doorway to the communications office stopped him in his tracks though. He took a glance around and spotted Ehren. His usually warm eyes were filled with an expression of cold terror as he marched up to his subordinate.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Apparently there's been an attack on the GU, Sir," Ehren replied.

"What else?" Robin prompted.

"I don't actually know. Y'see, I was just studying the Wonev phoneme and the sirens went off."

"Didn't you read the action report?"

"No," Ehren growled and stood up. "I'm not exactly the highest ranking person in this room."

Robin grabbed his shoulder and shoved him back down into his chair.

"What good are you?" He muttered and stalked off towards the officers in the middle of the room.

Before Ehren could gather his wits and go after Robin, he was accosted by the captain in charge, sat in front of a computer display, and told to scan for rogue time signals with a program he was barely qualified to use. He took one last glance back at Robin and his ire was replaced with worry as he spied the look on the Commander's face while he talked with others. Something was definitely very wrong.