THE QUEST

Chapter 2

Destiny Angelwas still inhad another twenty minutes stand-by duty in the Amber Roomfor another twenty minutes, before she wouldwas due to take Harmony's place in Angel One. For the last hour, she had been reading the last chapter of her book, hoping that she'llshe'd have time to finish it. She roseraised her eyes from it when the door slid open to let Rhapsody Angel enter, in full uniform and with her crash helmet in hand. By the looks of her, Destiny could see she was somehowrather upset, although she was doing her best not to show it. Melody, who was in the Amber Room with Destiny, didn't notice herself, and when Rhapsody offered her to relieve her right away, the American pilot was quick to accept. After devoting herdividing the last eight hours between Angel One and the Amber Room, Melody had only one thing in mind - a very important date with a hot tub and plenty of bubbles. Destiny had groaned loudly, looking atwatching her go with envy, at the same time addressing a salute to Rhapsody. It was answered only by a faint mumble, as Rhapsody went straight to the coffee maker. Destiny waited until Melody had disappeared behind the sliding door, and turned toward her English colleague.

With curiosity, Destiny watched as Rhapsody, after putting her helmet rather roughly on the counter,down on the counter with more force than was necessary, was making herself a big mug of coffee. Her gestures were brusque enough, and she was apparently treating mug, spoon and sugar bowl as if they were her worst enemies in the world. When Rhapsody threw the spoon onto the counter, as if she would have wanted to literally spearrather have speared someone with it, Destiny creased her brows in quiet perplexity.

“I couldcan see you are preoccupied.”

Rhapsody turned around; her blue eyes wereliterally blazing with anger. “That man!” she suddenly lashed. “I’ve yet to meetlashed out. “I’ve never met a more infuriating man in all my life!”

Calmly, Destiny put down her book. She wouldn’t have the time to finish it after all. “And what did Paul do, this time?”

“How do you know I was talking about him?” Rhapsody asked with furrowed brows.

“Simple. He’s the only person I know – man or woman – who would put you in such an agitated state.”

“That’s not true,” Rhapsody defended herself abruptly, her face keeping her harsh expression. “Have you ever encounteredmet my father?”

Destiny chuckled. “Now, what is it this time?”

“You know, I could kill him. I could positively COULD kill him.”KILL him!”

“Good thing he’s indestructible then.”

“Okay, that settles it. I WILL kill him!” Rhapsody let out an infuriatinginfuriated growl. “Oh, I can’t believe he could do a thing like that! He made me look like a perfect fool in front of the Colonel!colonel! I was there, arguing with him, insulting him…”

“Again…” Destiny said matter-of-factly.

“… And the Colonelcolonel was behind me, without me knowing about it,which, of course, I didn’t realise, hearing all of it, and he didn’t tell me!”

“The Colonel?”colonel?”

“No! Captain Scarlet!”

“And he knew Colonel White was there?”

“Of course, he knew! What do you think, he was RIGHT in front of him! And he let me rambling endlessly,just let me ramble on and on, and didn’t even warn me of the Colonel’scolonel’s presence!”

“Er… Well, did he really hadhave time to warn you if you were actually rambling like you say you were?”

Rhapsody gave her more than apparently amused-lookingobviously-amused colleague an old-fashioned look. “Nevertheless,” she replied harshly, “I could see he was enjoying every second of it! He was just standing there,just looking at me, with that… that sly smirk on his face that made me want to… to…”

“Kill him?” Destiny offered, remembering her friend’s earlier statement.

“Punch him in the face!” Rhapsody retorted, coming down to a more applicablepractical reality.

Destiny chuckled again. “Oh now! That’s something I would like to see!”

“Be careful what you wish for, Juliette!” Rhapsody warned with a promising tone.warned, an ominous note of promise in her voice. “Because you know that MIGHT just happen!”

Destiny had trouble concealing her amused smile, upon hearing the threat. She knew Rhapsody didn’t really mean it. No matter how ticked off she seemed at the moment against Scarlet. ThatThis wasn’t the first time these two had clashed, and that herself, being friend with the two of them, had been taken as witness ofor the first time that she, as a friend of them both, had been called to witness either one of the opponents’ ‘rightful anger.’anger’. But any argument they might have had between them never lasted long. Generally, before the day was through, all had been forgiven, and forgotten, as if nothing had happened at all, and they were again ‘the best buddies in the world’. In Destiny’s eyes, ifit was as if the two of them were playing some sort of a game. A game of cat and mouse, thatwhere neither one of them seemed to be really aware of what was the real stake. But Destiny knew, all right. She had long suspected it - and the passing of time only served to confirm she was suspecting right.that her suspicions were correct. She sighed heavily, shaking her head with a look toward her fuming friend that seemed to mean that she was hopeless.

“Really, Dianne, when will you admit it?”

“Admit WHAT?” Rhapsody snapped, looking dangerously at her.

“That you…” Destiny carefully weighted how she would phrase it. She tamedtoned it down, carefully: “…like him?”

Rhapsody hesitated. “Of course, I like him!” she replied roughly,brusquely, throwing up her hands. “What do you think? We’re friends… Sort of.”

“Sort of.” Destiny raised a brow. “Nothing more?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Vraiment! You’re despairing me,I despair of you, Dianne! Do I have to spell it out for you?”

The look Rhapsody then gave her explicitly told Destiny that she understood quite well what she was meaning.meant. As well as the loud, derisive scoff that followed. “Hey! Oh! Get down your high horses, my friend!Oh, are YOU barking up the wrong tree! Whatever you think, it’s not that at all!”

“Oh, really?” Destiny smiled. “You are sure?”

“Oh, yes, I’m QUITE sure!” Rhapsody replied. She eyed her friend suspiciously. By her look, it was far too obvious that Destiny didn’t believe her. “Juliette, really! What are you thinking exactly?”Exactly what are you thinking?”

“I don’t know, Dianne. You tell me.” The perfect air of innocence, displayed by Destiny was positively exasperating toexasperating, in Rhapsody’s point of view. The French pilot definitely had her mind fixed on that idea of hers, and Rhapsody wasn’t sure it was pleasing her one bit.she was happy with it in the slightest.

“I have nothing to tell you,” the British Angel replied, very slowly. “WE are simply friends, nothing more.”

“Riiiight.” Destiny took her book back,picked up her book again, shrugging her shoulders. “You can continue denying it, then.”

“I DON’T deny“I’m NOT denying anything!” Rhapsody almost shouted.

“Look.” Destiny sighed and put down her book. “I think I know you fairly well, Rhapsody Angel. And I think I’m the one who knows HIM best…”

“Considering that you were once involved with him…” Rhapsody mumbled. A thought came to her. “Say, isn’t that why you’re making thosethese preposterous suppositions on the two of us? Isn’t it because it’s YOU who really wishedsuggestions about us? Is it because YOU want to rekindle your relationship with him?”

“Oh, now, THAT’S preposterous!” Destiny scoffed loudly. “He’s not interested with me at all…”

“He didn’t take ME to London two weeks ago…”

“Is that what’s bothering you?” Destiny asked innocently. “You would have wanted to go in my place?”

“I certainly didn’t!” Rhapsody protested vehemently. “Are you suggesting that I was… jealous of you, because of that? You’re wrong!”

“And he didn’t take me either. He took Melody,” Destiny corrected. “I was just there for the ride, with Adam.”

“So he’s a philanderer, then,” Rhapsody said, shrugging her shoulders, as if the matter didn’t concern her at all. “So why should he interest me?”

“He certainly is not,” Destiny scoffed. She narrowed her eyes at her friends. “I’ll let you know that Melody and I shared the samea room at the hotel…”

“Why would I needfor you to tell me that?”

“Because I can tell that question is bothering you.”

“Well, you’re wrong again! It is NOT bothering me. That you should make that assumption is...”

“…Not as revolting as YOUR suggestion that Paul could be a philanderer,” Destiny cut in suddenly. “Really, it surprises me that you should think such a thing fromof him!”

“Okay!” Rhapsody replied, throwing her hands up. “Okay, you’re right. I went overboard… I didn’t really mean it…”

“Mind you, some years ago, you might have been right,” Destiny then replied, much to Rhapsody’s dismay. The English pilot felt likeas if her friend waspresently throwing oil on the fire. And on purpose, probably to see how she would react. Destiny feigned not to see Rhapsody’s furrowed brow, as she took on some kind of a dreamy look, and let out a sigh, letting her mind wander. “I remember, when we were both stationed on that base in the Açores…Azores. All the female staff there had only eyes for him. And it was so obvious he wasn’t indifferent to that kind of attention… He was himself very… attentive to the fairer sex.”

“Juliette…”

“…Such a dashing, young captain! So tall and handsome, and smart… He was so courteous, always knew the right words to say to a woman to seduce her completely… I tell you he was quite a lady killer…”

Rhapsody’s brow furrowed even deeper, her blue eyes, flashing with irritation, almost disappearing completely. Destiny didn’t seem to notice and continued her trip down memory lane. “But then, I came inarrived, and that changed. I tell you, I’m sure we broke quite a few hearts when we started going out steadily…”steady…”

“All right!” Rhapsody protested loudly. “I have heard enough!”

“What?” Destiny asked with affected surprise. “Am I bothering you?”

“You knowoh so bloody wellthat you’re bothering me!” Rhapsody snapped, much to Destiny’s amusement, as she knew she was only using thatRhapsody only used that kind of language when she was exceptionally inflamed. “You want me to say it? Right! He is witty and handsome, and charming… With that exasperating… roguish… smile of his… And his fascinating blue eyes…” her voice trailed,Her voice trailed off, as her eyes took on a pensive look. She looked down, with a faintly distressed expression, at her smirking friend.

“You do find him attractive, chérie,” Destiny remarked with a knowing nod.

“I do not!” Rhapsody protested loudly, trying to muster in her voice as much assurance as she could. She was still denying it, but Destiny couldn’t be fooled. She lookedwatched with amusement whenas the British Angel sat down with a huff next to her. “That would be terrible!” she declared, her voice already less assured.

Destiny was wondering with perplexity at what could be so terrible inabout falling for Captain Scarlet, and was about to ask her friend the question when the door slide open, to let Symphony Angel enter. The American pilot was coming for her time of stand-by duty with Rhapsody in the Amber Room. Destiny put aside her questions for Rhapsody, with the veryevery intention of coming back to them later on. It was so obvious that the English pilot was pleased by the distraction provided by Symphony’s arrival.

Just you wait, mon amie, Destiny thought mischievously. I’m not done with you yet.

For the time being, however, all of hers and Rhapsody’s concern wereher concern, and Rhapsody’s, was turned toward Symphony.

“Hi, Symphony,” Rhapsody said wait a tentative tone.tentatively.

The American girl only answered bywith a very faint mumble and a nod in their direction, before going to seat insit on the other sofa, as far away as possible from them. Both Rhapsody and Destiny exchanged a look. They could see she didn’t want to talk to them at all. And both knew why. Destiny cleared her throat.

“Symphony, can we…”

“No.”

Destiny frowned, hearing the more than obvious annoyance – and almost animosity – in Symphony’s voice. She looked toward Rhapsody, who was staring at the American pilot, with the same concern as before. Rhapsody glanced at Destiny, and, deciding to wait, said nothing right away, and let the French pilot continue her inquiry.

“How can you say ‘no’ before I actually finish asking my question?” Destiny asked.

“Because I know you want to talk about what happened and I don’t feel like it,” Symphony replied with a sigh. “I’ve heard enough ofabout it as it is.”

“Yes, but…”

“Listen, I know I’ve been stupid, than I acted too brashly, that I put the mission in jeopardy – not to mention my life. I heard all of itthat today, and I’ve been lectured more than my share for this century. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to be left alone, thank you very much!”

“But…” Destiny closed her mouth when she saw Symphony take a magazine onfrom the table next to her and open it with a brusque gesture, putting it up in front of her face more as a shield asthan to express her intention of reading it. That irritated Destiny, and she herself took backpicked up the novel she had been reading for the last hour. “Fine!” she snapped. “Have it your way, then! I’ll talk to you when you’ll beyou’re in a better mood!”

“If it’s for the same thing, don’t bother!” Symphony growled behind her magazine.

Rhapsody, with a mystified look, was staring from one Angel to the other, unsure if she should intervene.

“What an awful temper you have!” Destiny replied, opening her book with such energy that she practically tore it in two. “I just wanted to make sure you were all right, that’s all!”

She put her nose into her book, fuming, and didn’t see as Symphony, hesitantly,Symphony hesitantly looked over the pages of her magazines to glance with regret in her direction. The American pilot was about to say something, but just at thisthat moment, noticed the queryquestioning expression on Rhapsody’s face, who was staring right at her.and her direct gaze. She plunged her head back in the magazine, with a brusque gesture.

For a moment, there was only a heavy silence in the Amber Room, with neithernone of the Angels speaking. Rhapsody, who was starting to havehad had about enough of seeing her two friends pouting like schoolgirls was about to reprimand them when the sound of the elevator behind the Amber Doors made itself heard. She turned around, as did Destiny, in time to see the doors open and Harmony stepping down from the elevatingelevator seat. Destiny was up in the second, takinga second, collecting her helmet.

“Well,” she said with a sigh, “my turn now.”

“You’ll go now, just after…”“You’re going NOW, with her…” Rhapsody gestured toward Symphony, who only got a peek over her magazine in their direction. Destiny only glanced at the American, before shrugging.

“I think I’ll give her the time to cool down a little. Maybe she’ll be more sociable when I’ll come back. And we’ll be able to have a civilized conversation?”

“Depends on the subject,” Symphony grumbled behind her magazine.

Destiny glared at her before turning to the elevator seat. “See you later,” she said quietly to Rhapsody.

The latter nodded, and Destiny went to take her place on the seat, while Harmony, who didn’t seem to have noticed anything wrong, was removing her helmet, advancing into the middle of the room. The amber doors closed on Destiny, and the seat was taken up to Angel One, waiting for her new pilot to take the helm.

“You look like you had a rough time,” Symphony said to Harmony, putting down her magazine, now that she had escaped Destiny’s too indiscreet inquiries.

The Japanese-Chinese Angel answered with a faint smile, ruffling her now free hair. She had beenShe’d had a good twelve hours of ongoing duty, sharingsplitting her time between Angel One and the Amber Room. Now it was obvious she was in desperate need of rest. She declined Symphony’s offer to give her some coffee. “No, thank you,” she said with a sigh. “If you don’t mind, I am going to take my leave. I have a very important date – first with a very HOT shower, than with my bed.”then with my bed.”

“Then I guess you shouldn’t letmake them wait,” Rhapsody smiled with a sympathetic expression. “You look likeas if you’re aboutready to drop.”

“Let’s just“I hope we won’t have any alert for the hours to come,”next few hours,” Harmony grumbled. “It would be just like you-know-who to suddenly turn up and“I do not want THEM to spoil my off-duty time…” She nodded tiredly, and directed her pace toward the exit. “See you later, girls. Have fun.”

The door slid open in front of her and she left, under the watchful eyes of both Symphony and Rhapsody. When the door closed on the departing Angel, Rhapsody turned around to face Symphony. Her expression was quiet enough, and she didn’t give the impression of wanting to say something.anything. The American pilot reached for her magazine again, andbut hesitated to open it. Rhapsody’s silence was getting to her. She sighed.

“You won’t start with me again, won’twill you?” she asked with an imploring voice.implored.

“You’ve heard enough about it,” Rhapsody replied with a nod. “You were right about that. But I think you were a little rashharsh on Destiny just then.”

“Maybe I was,” Symphony conceded. “But… Dianne, you know how she is, sometimes. She can act so motherly towards us – I mean, I knew what she was going to say. I couldn’t take it…”

“Karen, she has beenwas afraid for you. We all were afraid for you. You can’t blame us for showing our concern.” Rhapsody came to sit down next to her, reached for her friend’s hand, and squeezed it. “It has been some long, dreadful hours.was awful for US – I can’t imagine what it must have been like for YOU. We are so relieved to see you are all right! All of us.”

“All, you’re sure?” Symphony murmured, looking down.

“Whatever do you mean?”

Symphony shook her head. “That’s nothing.“Nothing. Just me being silly, I guess…”

“Is there something bothering you, Karen?” Symphony raised her head; her golden eyes were trembling. Rhapsody nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, there is something bothering you. Or maybe someone…? Because of that incident that happened, or…”

Symphony shrugged, trying to show some indifference. “I admit thatthe ‘incident’ in question is getting to me, but… It’sthat’s not the real problem… ”

“Karen, it’s quite normal, you know. You’ve beenYou were taken hostage by Captain Black and you didn’t know what he would do to you. Why, it’s no wonder that you would want to…”

“…Break down?” Symphony looked down again. “It’s not what you think, it… I can deal with that failed mission, I…” Symphony’s voice broke; concerned, Rhapsody came closer next to her, and took her by the shoulder,moved closer to her, putting an arm round her shoulders, in a comforting way. Tears were bordering Symphony’s eyes; she was reluctant to look up and was keepingkept her eyes down, staring at her hands, that were now quivering nervously. Rhapsody’s concern turned into deep alarm.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the English pilot said with a murmur. “It’s waymurmured. “It’s far too soon after that mission. You…”

“It’s not that,” Symphony cut in, shaking her head. “I shouldn’t have donegone on that mission, in the first place.”

“What, there’s“Is there something beside that?” Rhapsody asked. Seeing that Symphony wasn’t about to open up, she continued, gently, “Don’t keep it bottled up, Karen. I’m here. You can talk to me about it…”

“I thought I would be able to deal with it…” Symphony suddenly broke down in tears, much to Rhapsody’s dismay. She drew the blonde girl closer to her and permitted her to cry overon her shoulder, gently patting her back soothingly. The English pilot couldn’t understand what could be going on exactly with Symphony. She was such a strong person, not so easily prone to tears, but now, she was crying like a lost little girl, seemingly unable to stop herself.

Maybe Captain Blue would know what’s going on… Rhapsody thought, the concern growing in her. She knew about the special bond between her two colleagues. She was one of the rare personsfew people Symphony hashad actually confided in about it.

“Would you want for me to“Shall I call Adam?”

Symphony’s answer on the subject was an energetic shake of the head, as she continued to sob on Rhapsody’s shoulders. Adam’s presence would surely do her lots of good,be good for her, Rhapsody reflected.

“No. He’s… he’s busy hadat the moment. I can’t bother him with that…”

“I’m sure he won’t feel likethat you’re bothering him,” Rhapsody replied. “You obviously need herhim by your side at the moment. Karen, you can performcan’t do Amber Room duty in thatthis state. I’ll call Melody to take your place, and Adam will take you back to your room. You need to rest and…”

“No.” Symphony straightened up, and annoyingly brushed her tears with her fingers.up and brushed away her tears, with an annoyed gesture. “No, I’ll be all right. I… I want to stay here, with you. I need to talk to you…” She presented an faint, very uncomfortable smile. “Adam’s a great guy, and he’s very supportive, but you are a better listener…”

“All right, then,” Rhapsody murmured. “You can stay. But I’ll be calling Adam, no matter what.”

Symphony nodded briefly, and Rhapsody reached for the comm. link set on the table in front of them. The call to Captain Blue was brief; as soon as hehad heard that Symphony maymight need him, the American Captaincaptain had confirmed that he would be income to the Amber Room right away. Cutting the link, Rhapsody turned to Symphony. The blonde pilot had considerably calmed down. But she was still, obviously,calmed down considerably. But she was still obviously very upset.

“Now, while we’re waiting for Adam to arrive,” Rhapsody said gently, “tell me. What’s eating at you?”the matter?”

“Dianne…” Symphony lowered her eyes again. The tears were still there, but she had control over them. Just. Rhapsody could see it wouldn’t takeher much for her to break down again. “I feel so terrible… I… I didn’t havehaven’t had time to assimilate this…” She raised her eyes to Rhapsody, who was staring at her with an mixture expression of curiosity and concern. “I should have been there,” Symphony continued. “But I wasn’t… I didn’t have the chance to see him one last time… To be near him when…”

Her voice broke again, and she looked away. Rhapsody, who was still wondering what could bethat was upsetting her friend, lifted her chin gently, to look into her moist eyes.

“What is it, Karen?” she asked in a near whisper. “What is wrong?”

Symphony closed her eyes and let the tears roll down her cheeks for a short instant. ThanThen she looked at Rhapsody again, with an expression of sadness and lostloss so deep that the English pilot felt her heart instantly sink at the sight. She barely heard Symphony’s next reply, when she finally answered, with a voice so little, sheRhapsody was barelywas able to hear it:

“My dad died…”

* * *

How can this be happening?

Captain Scarlet was seatedsitting in front of his computer, in his quarters, grimly consulting the files to which Colonel White had earlier given him the key to have access to.access. The uneasiness he had been feeling since the Colonelcolonel had talked to him earlier in the day had done nothing but increase, as he was goingwent further into his reading.

When Colonel White had told him all about this terrible secret he was holding – all about that murder heScarlet had been victim of some months earlier, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Of course, he knew that this…the… car accident had been orchestrated by the Mysterons. He knew they wanted to use him – and Captain Brown – for their own evil plans, and that they needed him and his partner dead for that purpose… But he never knew all there was about it.the details. He never knew the hand that Captain Black himself had had in this. Conrad, who has been his oncehis one-time rival, his trainer, his partner – his friend. Conrad had been the one who had killed him. Without any mercy.

He felt sick. Distressed. Lost. Almost betrayed.

“Why not telling me allhaven’t you told me about this before?” he had asked with grief after the Colonelcolonel had finished his long, obviously gruelling speak.speech. “Why wait until today, all these months after the facts to actually reveal all this tolater, before telling me? I don’t understand…”

“It was a group decision, Captain,” White had answered, keeping his eyes levelled at the young man who was looking at him almost in an accusing way. “Me. Doctor Fawn. Doctor Weiss. It was so early after you had… returned to us. There werewas so much we didn’t understand about the experience you had been through. Let’s face it, A LOT had happened to you. We didn’t know how you would react to all of this coming toat you all at once…”

“You did tell me alltold me the rest, why not that last thing?”

“It would have been difficult to hide you the rest,it from you, don’t you think? Already, telling you about the dead body – your first body,body – was a decision I wasn’t very sure was a wise one. But considering the events, we thoughtdidn’t think we had notmuch of a choice. You would have learned about the Mysterons’ capacity to recreate life – you would have easily put two and two together.”

Right,OK, maybe he was right about that one, Scarlet thought grimly. He would have found out that. But still, that last revelation, carefully kept from him, was pretty hard to swallow. But he had no reason not to believe it was true. After all, he was the one who had brought that upit to light, months ago. During that session with Doctor Weiss, with the truth serum. He had been thesole and only witness to report the incident, and the secret was locked up in his head, only to be unlocked once, before going back into the recess of his memories. Out of his personal reach.

He didn’t remember any of what had happened during that experience. He was only recallingonly recalled how he had slept for long hours after that – and wakeafterwards – waking up with the grandfather of all headaches. He had ascribed that to the fact that he had been injected with a hefty dose of one of the most powerfulpenthotal drug known by men,Pentothal drugs known to man, and that its effects were pretty capricious. After being told that the only conclusive answer that session had given had been to confirm that he was indeed Paul Metcalfe – the Paul Metcalfe who had died in that ‘car accident’ – he had given little afterthought to thisfurther thought to the experiment. He had been too preoccupied afterwards, what with learning about what the Mysterons had done to him, and what he was capable of, and being far too busy to counter their followingcountering their continuing attacks… He had enough on his plate already. He didn’t think for a minute that something had been kept from him.

That Spectrum Intelligence would prefer to not tell him, he could admit,accept, for reasons quite unlike those of Doctor Fawn and Doctor Weiss… TheyThe two doctors probably had only his well-being in mind. That Adam knew was a surprising discovery. But White had truthfully revealed how he had protested vehemently against the decision that had been taken – and that he had only accepted very reluctantly to keep this terrible secret and never to reveal it to the one most concerned.

“I can understand if you feel angry about us keeping this from you,” White had said. “I wouldn’t like it either. But if there is someone you should hold responsible, it’s me. As Supreme Commander of Spectrum, I was the one to make the final decision, after carefully weighting all the facts that had been presented to me. Don’t hold a grudge against Doctor Weiss or Doctor Fawn. And Leastleast of all, against your partner, Captain Blue.”

It had been Blue, White revealed, who had camecome to the Spectrum commander to tell him about his concern that Scarlet seemed obsessed with Black, and how he was fearingfeared that it could hinder his work, and how heScarlet would react should heever encounter Captain Black next time.again. It was Blue who had finally convinced the Colonelcolonel that it was now time to reveal the truth to Scarlet, about his first ‘death’, and Mysteronisation. White had concurred that it was indeed the time for themoment of truth.

And still, Scarlet was unsure. Upset and angry forat having been lied to, and to finally hear the truth. Believing, but not really wanting to. White had seen in his eyes that he needed more proof than just the words of his commander to be convinced. He had took a paper andTaking out a small notebook, White had written down anthe access code to a set of top secret computer file, thatfiles, which he then handed to the dubious Captain.captain. “These files contain all the information there is on the subject. You’ll also find the recording of that session with Doctor Weiss – in which you remembered everything. I’m warning you, you may find thisif hard to look upon.watch. But if you still have doubts…” Still shaken by what he had already learned, Scarlet had accepted the paper, and simply nodded his thanks. And as soon as White had left him, he had gone to take a shower – and went directly to his quarters to access the files through his computer.

He went through the files and the differentvarious attached documents for hours. Everything was there, as the Colonelcolonel had told him. Reports from Intelligence, medical entries from both Doctors Fawn and Weiss, security notes, photos – some of all thatwhich he was familiar with, as it was concerning allthey concerned what he already knew about his own conditions – and then more. Much more than he had expected.

As Colonel White had said, viewing the recordinghe had mentioned about was rough enough. For a man toTo a man for whom it wasn’t customary to show his feelings,to keep them in check, seeing and hearing himself yelling and agitating himself as, under the effect of the drug, he was relating the events hidden in his subconscious, was a very disturbing sight. He let the recording run in one shot, two times,without stopping, twice, from beginning to end, seated straight,sitting up straight and watching the screen with widened eyes, and a set face, like an hypnotized man.as if hypnotized. It was very fortunate that he didn’t have Special Agent Martin Conners in front of him at the moment – he was feelingfelt for certain that he would have toldgiven the Intelligence Agent a piece of his mind, and even given him a well-feltheart-felt punch in the face for the disgusting way he had treated him during that experience. He always had considered the man as a jerk, and a weasel. Now he hashad moved down the ladder toa being a definite bastard.

Scarlet stopped the tape, and leaned down onback in his chair, with a thoughtful expression on his face, his eyes not leavingface. He kept his eyes on the screen, which was now showing the general menu of the folder containing the files he had been consulting these last few hours. Then, tiredly, he rubbed his eyes, shaking himself out of his reverie, and sighing deeply. No more lies, now. No more hidden truth. He knew all he could possibly know about whathad exactly had happened when he had died that first time. No car accident – butthat, he had already suspected as much. How did Ochre had called it exactlyhad Ochre described it some weeks ago, when he had talked about it? Plain murder. A conspiracy to kill two Spectrum officers. Tampering with the car had not been enough. Scarlet had survived that attempt, ifalthough only just. And only to be finished off by Captain Black himself. Pushing him down a steep slope, right into the blazing flames of the burning car. An horrible way to die. Scarlet was almost glad not to remember it.

“Oh, Conrad,” he groaned irritably, running his hands up and down andover his face and then through his dark hair. “How cancould you do it? Wasn’t it no way for you tothere any way you could resist the Mysterons’ orders?”

Now I understand Blue’s concern, Scarlet thought dourly. For all he knew, I might have tried to approach Conrad, and attempted to convince him to surrender willingly, so Spectrum would be able to help him. Not knowing what he was capable off, I wouldof, I wouldn’t have been unsuspicious ofsuspecting any traitorous attack. But he didn’t need to worry, really. That wasn’t exactly the way Scarlet had planned to accost Captain Black.

Wasn’t it?

Uncertain, and still very dazed by what he had learned that day, Scarlet was still brewing all that inside his head, desperately trying to sort out his thoughts and feelings, when he heard someone buzzing at his door. He lifted his head, heavily. “Enter,” he called.

The door slid open and Scarlet saw the powerful silhouette of Captain Blue framed into the doorstep.in the doorway. The British captain straightened up a little, as his friend and colleague stepped into his quarters. Blue looked down asat Scarlet, who was giving him all the appearanceshad all the appearance of a very drained man.

“You’re“Are you all right?” the American Captaincaptain asked with concern.

Scarlet shook his head to the affirmative. He gave a sigh.nodded slowly, and sighed. “I will be, Adam,” he said with a murmur.quietly.

Blue nodded his understanding. He sat down in front of his friend, on an available chairset next to the working table.desk. “Colonel White told me he talked to you.”

“That he did.”

“I’m… really sorry, Paul.” Blue cleared his throat. “I couldn’t tell you anything about this.it. I hope that one day you’ll forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” Scarlet raised his head to look levelly at his friend. “There is nothing to forgive you about,for, Adam. You weren’t in agreement with that decision, I know. The Colonel told me so.colonel told me. I admit it’s still hard, thought. But I know you couldn’t tell me anything. That you didn’t have any choice. I don’t hold any badit against feelings toward you.”

“And the others?” Blue insisted. “Doctor Fawn? Colonel White?” Scarlet kept silent. “You know they had only your best interests at heart, Paul.”

“Only my best interests, Adam?” Scarlet replied a little dryly. “Fawn maybe… But the Colonel?colonel? I find it hard to believe he wasn’t seeingin this some kind of strategic move in this too.”

“Don’t be too hard on the old man, Paul.”

“Mind you,” Scarlet added with a low tone, shaking his head, “I can understand the reason behind his decision. I don’t have to fully accept it, but I understand.”

“It’s hard to swallow, isn’t it?”

“To the fact that Conrad didn’t hesitate onefor a second to kill me? And that he’ll probably do it again, without a second thought?” Scarlet grunted irritably. “Oh yeah. It’s hard to swallow. Just as hard as thinking that he’s still a prisoner toof those monsters who pushed him to do that.”it.”

“Scarlet…”

“Don’t worry, Blue. I’m not as ‘obsessed’ as you might think about Captain Black.” There was an arid tone to Scarlet’s voice and Blue understood instantly thatinstantly. Even if his friend didn’t heldhold any grudge against him for thisthe secret that he and the others had kept from him with the others, he was nonetheless hurt that he had went to the ColonelBlue had gone to the colonel behind his back to tell him about the worries he was harbouring towardabout his colleague.

“Paul, you hadhave to understand that I couldn’t seat backsit back idly and watchidly as you seemed ready to follow a fantasy, that