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Sui Generis	By : Macx Category: M through R > Magnificent Seven Views: 1490 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Magnificent Seven, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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THREE

Four Corners
The last hours before docking at the Four Corners space port Ezra spent
alone in his quarters, staring at the wall, trying to shut out Larabee's
presence in the back of his mind. Chris was busy on the bridge of the Chimera
and Ezra was glad for it. It gave him the necessary peace and quiet to
try and figure out what the heck to do. Chris knew he was ready to make
a run for it and that meant the commander wouldn't let him out of his sight,
let alone wander around alone. He had no doubt that the moment they had
docked, the Agency would have people there, welcoming them - and throwing
him into jail. Ezra severely doubted that the head of Section 7 would welcome
him as a member of the Agency. He was a convict, he had broken the law
from the day on he could walk. How could he suddenly have a clean enough
slate to become, Ezra winced, a member of law enforcement?

The landing went smoothly and he barely felt the shudder of the ship
as it touched down within the cavernous hangar. Ezra rose from where he
had sat on his bed, feeling Chris's presence change. He was on his way.
Steeling himself, slipping his defenses into place, he stepped out of his
quarters.

"I take it we have arrived?" he greeted his partner.

Larabee, dressed in the dark blue and black representative Agency uniform,
nodded. "JD and Josiah will remain on the ship. To check her through. Buck's
taking care of the port authorities. The rest of us has an appointment
with Judge Travis."

The need to flee was suddenly overwhelming and Ezra bit down on it,
hard. Chris's face changed briefly, compassion and worry on his features.

<Ez, relax. Please. It'll be okay>

No, it wouldn't be okay. Whoever this Judge was, he would have his
files by now. He would know who he was. Chris's conviction that Standish
would remain free and become a member of the team would be proven wrong.
Still, he managed to conjure up a smile, trying to shield his emotions.
If he could just clamp down on his emotional reactions, Larabee would be
none the wiser.

A small voice whispered that Chris knew him well enough already. He
didn't need reactions to know how he felt. He had seen and felt it throughout
the deep Bonding days ago.

Four men walked through the maze of corridors. Ezra willed himself to
just stare ahead, keep his emotions to himself, but Chris's close presence
was making it harder and harder. He and Vin were flanking him, Nathan had
brought up the rear. He would only move forward and each step took him
closer to impending disaster.

<Why don't you believe me, Ezra?" Chris asked softly.

The blond was looking ahead as well, his face passive. Ezra lowered
his eyes, his jaw clenching tightly.

<Why don't you trust me?>

The simple question nearly made him stop dead where he was, but he
fought on, trying to maintain his neutral expression. He did trust his
partner, had opened up to him like to no one else before when he had held
him throughout that night aboard. He trusted Chris, but how much power
did one single Agent have against a Joined Government Judge?

The office of Judge Orrin Travis was large. A secretary smiled at them
and informed the four men that the Judge was already expecting them. Ezra
was close to digging his heels in. His stomach was a tight knot of fear,
his mind was screaming at him, and the bond didn't help matters at all.
He was trying to keep what he felt from Chris, but since they hadn't started
on shields yet, it was a lost cause.

Larabee briefly looked at Nathan and Vin, who wordlessly gave them
some room, then he turned to Ezra. The thief was evading his eyes, his
face a taut, pale mask, his eyes full of barely hidden panic. His
hands were clenched into fists and he was shaking ever so slightly. Minute
tremors raced through the link.

"Ezra," he said softly under his breath.

Standish refused to look up. It took all his willpower to just stay
here, Chris realized through the link. One wrong move and Ezra would bolt.

<Nothing will happen to you>

There was a faint hiccupping coming through the connection. <You
don't know that> Ezra whispered. <You are just an Agent, you have no
power to overrule a Judge>

<No, that I don't> he confessed.

Standish shivered. Images of court rooms and prison cells made it through
the barrier of control.

<But I won't let them harm you. You have my word, Ezra. If Travis
won't go with it, I'll resign>

The brown head snapped up and wide green eyes stared at him. Gotcha,
Chris thought with faint amusement.

"You can't be serious!" Ezra hissed.

"Whatever happens to you, Ezra, it will happen to me. We are interwoven
too deeply to go separate ways. I thought you had realized that."

The thief opened his mouth to say something, then clamped it shut.

"Let's go," Chris said quietly and gave Ezra a little push, feeling
the tension in the compact frame.

The four men entered the spacious office, Ezra trying to keep at the
back, but since Nathan was bringing up the rear again, that was difficult.
Judge Orrin Travis had his back to them, looking out of the window of the
office building that towered over the bustling space port's inner city.
He turned as the door closed.

"Welcome back, Chris."

Travis was a man in his early sixties, with a weathered face and gray,
short hair. He was wearing a suit with the insignia of the Agency on the
left chest. Sharp eyes looked over the small assembly, then came to rest
on Ezra, who was visibly fighting not to shrink back from the hard expression.

"So you are Ezra P. Standish, then. I heard and read quite a lot about
you, Mr. Standish. Con man, thief, gambler, cheat, and the list goes on.
I'm surprised you haven't served any time yet."

"Luck," Ezra muttered.

Travis picked up a medium sized folder. "I have it all here, black
on white. From petty theft to rather outrageous cons and industrial espionage.
Give me one reason why I shouldn't throw you in jail for the rest of your
life right away."

"Sir...." Chris started, feeling Ezra's rising anxiety and panic. "I
think Ezra would be a valuable addition to the team. Hand that he served
his sentence on the planet."

"Do you now?" Travis turned his sharp eyes on Chris. "From the reports
I've read so far, you aren't the one to impartially judge the situation,
Commander. Apparently, you and Mr. Standish have gone through some ...
bonding." A wry smile graced the thin lips.

"We share a connection, Sir," Chris agreed.

"So you think you know him? You trust him?"

"With my life, Sir."

Ezra stared at him. Chris smiled.

<With my soul>

The thief swallowed heavily and averted his gaze.

"You might want to rethink that statement, Commander. The man you want
to trust, the man you want on your team, is a criminal. Not just petty
crimes like shoplifting or stealing bags from old ladies. He is a pro."
Travis' eyes narrowed as he looked at his men.

"I need him on my team," Chris said quietly. "He paid for whatever
he did already."

Two pairs of steely eyes met.

<Chris, don't push it> Ezra begged.

�Otherwise, you'll find my resignation on your desk tomorrow morning."

Green eyes widened in shock. "No!" Ezra exclaimed. He turned to Travis.
"Don't listen to him!"

"Shut up, Ezra," Chris growled.

The Judge raised an eyebrow.

Nathan stepped forward. "If I may, Sir. It's not so easy to condemn
Ezra to a jail sentence without considering what it will do to his bonded
partner." He shot Chris a quick look.

"I read the reports," Travis repeated. "Dr. Jackson, while I know and
accept the scientific proof concerning empathic and even telepathic mind-links,
I find it hard to see something like a soul bond between Commander Larabee
and Mr. Standish."

"But it's true," Chris said quietly. "It's how I survived, how we both
survived. Ezra and I share something. If you throw him in jail, you can
as well kiss my ass good-bye because whatever happens to him will happen
to me."

Travis surveyed them all, eyes coming to rest on Vin, who had been
quiet so far. "May I ask your opinion, Mr. Tanner?"

"'s true," Vin only answered. "They are one. And Ezra'd make a nice
addition to the team."

"Either your crew is too loyal for their own good, or you really believe
you can change a character like Mr. Standish's." Travis's hard eyes held
Ezra's gaze. "I won't be blackmailed by your threat of resignation, Commander
Larabee," he continued.

Ezra flinched back and Chris felt a surge of protective anger.

<Chris, don't make it any worse> Ezra whispered.

<He has the proof on paper! He just won't listen!>

"Adding a known criminal to a team of Agents is against everything
I believe in." Travis still watched the two men, and it was hard to miss
Chris's barely hidden anger. Ezra kept his face carefully schooled. The
Judge crossed his arms in front of his chest. "We would make this team
a prime target for all kinds of accusations, in addition to having to watch
Mr. Standish 24/7 for... unauthorized activities."

"You overlooked such minor problems when it came to others on my team!"

Ezra blinked. He wasn't the only criminal?

"Mr. Standish is a bit more of a complex problem, Commander."

"You'll have complex problems soon enough when I start having nervous
breakdowns!" Chris snapped. <And you shut your trap, Standish! I'm not
backing down!>

It was hard for Travis not to notice the fury in Larabee's eyes as
he briefly glanced at Standish, who gave the Agent a half-smirk. He frowned.

"You better prepare a cell for two if you won't let Ezra stay."

Travis allowed himself a smile. He had known Larabee ever since a much
younger Chris had become an Agent and had later transferred to Section
7. He had gotten to know him as someone who commanded respect from those
he worked with by his sheer presence. He had risen to the position of team
leader because of that respect, his dogged approach to cases and investigations,
and his sharp mind. Chris was very observant to visual cues and clued in
to his intuition. Because of this observant behavior and his instincts,
Travis was inclined to trust him on the matter of Ezra Standish. The thief
had spent the best part of two years on the hell hole planet, part of it
as a Kiowata. The only problem was the claim of a bond between those two
rather opposite men, but watching them, Travis saw little signs of silent
communication. It was like witnessing an argument without any words being
spoken.

"I have no intention to remove one of my best men from the field,"
he finally said into the silence. "But I also don't want to see him getting
dragged down because of the likes of Mr. Standish."

Standish's facial control was remarkable. Except for a flicker in the
green eyes, he remained perfectly still. Like made out of wax.

"If I give in to your application for another man, for this man, it
will be under several conditions."

"Name them," Chris said immediately. And again he shot Standish a look
that would have silenced all and any protests, if Ezra had even looked
like he was protesting. Curious.

"One, Mr. Standish will officially join the Agency."

Ezra's mouth fell open.

"Agreed," Chris immediately said.

"I won't become law enforcement!" Ezra hissed.

"Shut up, Ez."

The smaller man clamped his mouth shut, but again, Travis had the impression
that the argument was going on.

"Second, I want his Borderline abilities tested. Same as yours. They
will be on record."

There was a heated expression in the thief's eyes, but he was keeping
his mouth shut. With difficulty, Travis mused. Intriguing.

"Agreed."

"He will use his skills only in the benefit of the Agency. Any... extracurricular
activities and I'll have all your asses in a sling."

Chris nodded. "Agreed. Shut up, Ezra."

Fury lit up the green eyes.

"Anything else, Sir?"

"I think that about covers it, gentlemen."

<Chris!> Ezra hissed. <What are you doing!>

<Trusting you not to mess up and get us all thrown out of the Agency>

<You aren't the one to decide that!>

<And you are?> Chris snapped back.

<Yes! Me and your friends. You are making decisions for them!>

<Because I'm their boss. Now shut up!>

Travis looked pleased and Ezra tried to keep his mounting anger under
control. It was increasingly hard to do so. How could Chris do that? He
should have stayed on the planet, he should have hidden in the wilderness....
he should have ended it. Chris was caught in this struggle with his boss
because of him, Ezra Standish. He would be responsible if Chris lost his
job, they all lost their jobs. Tremors raced through him. It was too much
to take and he couldn't even run. In the past he had fled from whatever
was threatening him; now.... he had no choice all of a sudden. He felt
trapped.

Someone elbowed him gently and Ezra looked up into the amused eyes
of Judge Travis.

"Welcome to the Agency, Mr. Standish," the older man was saying.

"Thanks," he mumbled.

As the men filed out, Travis held Chris back. "A word, please, Commander."

Chris gave Ezra an encouraging smile as alarmed green eyes met his.
<Go. I'll be out in a moment>

Travis looked at his Agent, noticing the relaxed stance, the half smile
on the sun-tanned features, and the sparkle that had taken permanent residence
in the hazel eyes. He and Chris went back such a long time in the Agency,
he had always thought he knew the other man. Now, within the last minutes,
he had revised that opinion. At least partially.

"Are you aware of what you're getting yourself into, Chris?" Travis
asked. �The trouble you are inviting?�

Larabee nodded. "Perfectly."

The Judge gave him a critical look, then tossed the file over to him.
Chris gazed at him, a frown crossing his features.

"Ezra Standish a criminal,� Travis went on, nodding at the folder once
more. �Not a big fish, but large enough to survive in a tank full of piranhas
- and conning them out of their possessions."

"Judge, you don't understand what happened on BP-379. No one can. Ezra
and I.... came to an understanding about our situation and whether you
believe in the existence of soul mate bonds or not, my offer of resignation
from service will always stand."

Travis smiled slightly as he met he cold hazel eyes. "I'm not asking
you to, and you know it. I just want you to consider the risks you're taking."

"I know them all and I think it's worth it."

The Judge looked curiously at him. "You trust him this much?"

"With my life, Sir."

Travis knew Chris didn't make these statements lightly. Whatever was
between the two very different men, it had to be something special. He
mused briefly if there was something he didn't see or refused to see, then
decided against it.

�There might come a day where this statement is put to a test,� he
remarked.

Chris nodded slowly. �There might, yes. I�m not fearing that day.�

�This is as much your call as mine, Chris. I accept your vote of confidence
in Standish, but until I see some prove, he will be under close scrutiny.�

�Accepted.�

Chris left the office and Travis went back to his work. Integrating
Ezra Standish into the Agency would require some tap-dancing, but he had
been part of the company for too long not to know how to do it.
* * *
When Ezra had stepped out of Travis' office, he had felt nothing at
all. Inside of him, there was no emotion, not even fear. He was becoming
part of the Agency; he, a criminal. And Chris was doing everything in his
power to make it so. Part of him tried to gauge his soul partner's emotional
state as he was alone in the Judge's office, but he was too confused too
concentrate.

Someone slapped his shoulder hard and Ezra was jolted back into reality.

"Congrats, Ezra!" Buck called jovially, beaming. "Welcome to our little
club!"

"I didn't ask to join, Mr. Wilmington."

"Aw, you'll like it with us." Buck still grinned widely. "Once you
can ignore JD's wet-behind-the-ears antics or evade Josiah's philosophical
discussions."

Josiah gave his colleague a mild glare while JD protested loudly.

"I'm not wet! I'm a professional pilot!"

"Which is about the only professional thing you are," Wilmington retorted.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Ezra asked.

"Oh, we wrapped up business with the port authority," Buck explained.
"The Chimera's getting serviced and we refueled. Thought we'd come and
see if you're still in one piece."

"How considerate," Ezra said dryly.

"So you're really becoming an Agent?" JD wanted to know eagerly. "That's
so cool!"

"I had no other choice. Mr. Larabee conned me into it," the thief answered.

Buck chuckled. "That's Chris."

The door to Travis's office opened and Chris came out, giving his men
a brief smile. "You're all here, good. The Judge has given us time off
for now. We are on stand-by, but I doubt we'll be going anywhere soon."
He gazed at Ezra. "We have to talk."

"I was afraid of that."

Buck gave him another jovial clap. "See ya, Ezra."

Standish gave Chris an apprehensive look as they walked down the corridor
in the opposite direction from the team.

"Nothing is wrong," Chris finally said as they reached an elevator
and he gave Ezra a calming smile.

"But....?" He could hear a 'but' coming.

"You can't join the Agency just like that."

Relief and dread mixed together and Ezra felt a mask slide into place.

<Ezra> Chris chastised softly.

He struggled with his instincts and lost. His defenses were up and
he couldn't take them down that easily.

"I meant that to become an Agent in this team, to work with us, you
have to go through training."

"Training? You want me to train?" Ezra stared at Chris in outrage,
defenses momentarily forgotten. "I'm not going to some school, Mr. Larabee!
Just put that thought out of your head."

Chris smirked. "Wasn't thinking of an academy anyway, Ezra. You'll
be taking a crash-course in Agency training. I know you know about the
law, but mostly the wrong side. You'll have to take a physical, pass a
psychological evaluation...."

"Psycholo..... forget it! I won't!"

"Now don't be difficult. You agreed."

"No, let me correct you in that statement: you agreed on my behalf,
Mr. Larabee. I didn't even get a word in because I was told to <shut
up!>"

He sent the last part through the link as well.

Chris shrugged. "It was either that or really making due on my threat
and resign. And spend the rest of my days locked up next to you in jail.
You see my reasoning?"

"No, I don't," Ezra sulked. "I won't go back to school!"

"Most of it will be on the job training. But you'll have to pass the
psych tests and prove that you know the law, not just how to break it."

Ezra muttered something. It sounded suspiciously like 'not wearing
a stupid jumpsuit'. Finally he looked up, his face a controlled mask.

"So when do we start and who has the pleasure of annoying the hell
out of me?"

Larabee smiled. "We'll start right now and start with a little physical
training."

"Oh joy."

"As for who will run you, well, let's see who volunteers....."
* * *
Ezra had six days of classes each week, each lasting from eight in the
morning to six in the evening, with lunch breaks and ten minutes between
individual lessons. Law he could handle. It was the easiest of them all.
Communication Skills was broken into Protocol, Diplomacy and Languages.
It presented little challenge most of the time. Finances was one of the
smaller subjects and consisted mostly of the professor droning on about
how to fill out blank forms and save Agency money by not chugging spent
guns at the enemy. Combat and Tech Basics were his worst subjects. Ezra
could defend himself fairly well, but he relied on his own methods. Shooting
was okay as long as he didn�t have to do long range. Flying was mediocre
and he wondered why he should learn how to maneuver a freighter through
an asteroid belt, but he clenched his teeth and went through with it.

Everything was slowly but surely getting on Ezra�s nerves. It wasn�t
the fact that he had been stuck into rookie classes. He could handle those.
He could handle rumors concerning his less than stellar past or how he
had come to be here. It wasn�t that his instructors held a low opinion
of him either. Ezra was supposed to pass through the three months of training
with good grades and that was what he was doing. It wasn�t that some of
them treated him like scum. It was what they said about the Chimera team.
Picking on him was one thing, picking on the men who weren�t there to defend
themselves, something else.

He reigned in his spiking emotions and put them under iron control
each time one of the bullies he had come to know from class tried to provoke
him into doing something stupid. Sadly, the link wasn�t part of that control.
Chris was the recipient of more than one dark and violent message, and
he wasn�t exactly happy about it.

�You need to train,� Vin remarked as he watched Chris struggle to counteract
his own body�s need to run his fist through the wall.

�I need to train?� Chris snapped. �Ezra has to learn some restraint!�

Vin raised an eyebrow and sipped at his coffee, leaning casually against
the counter. �Ezra is doing fine. He hasn�t killed one of his class yet.�

�Because he�s sending everything down the link!�

�True. He has no control over that, which is why both of you need to
train for that.�

Chris gave him a sour look. �You volunteering?�

Vin smiled more. �You asking?�

�Quit playing around, Tanner. You know you�re the only one with some
experience in this field, so you are our only choice.�

�Nice to know I�m the one and only last resort.�

�Funny guy.�

�Seriously, Chris. Ezra is under a lot of pressure and it will only
increase. I talked to Mary yesterday and she told me that while he has
a quick mind and a sharp eye, he�s under enough strain to break him. He
needs to know that he has back-up in you.�

�He has, Vin,� Chris said softly.

�Yes, I know that, but he doesn�t. All he knows is what comes back
through the link and that�s you being ready to strangle him because he
has no other outlet for his anger.�

Chris rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling slowly. He knew what Ezra
was going through and he had asked to see the mid-term results. Ezra was
among the top ten, but that was also the reason why he was a target. Throughout
the last six weeks, Standish had slowly removed himself from the team,
had spent more and more time alone, and not even Chris was really able
to reach him.

The arguments had turned into full-fledged confrontations where harsh
words had been exchanged, some of them scathing and rather personal insults.
Chris had been close to exploding, but he had reminded himself each and
every time that he only shared a frament Ezra was feeling tenfold.

�You want results? You want me to succeed? Then leave me alone!� Ezra
had once snapped into his face and then turned to leave.

Yes, he wanted Ezra to succeed, but he didn�t have to top everyone.
He wanted him to go through basic training and afterwards he�d be an official
member of the Chimera. Rumors and lies be damned.

�I have to talk to him,� Chris sighed, rubbing his forehead.

�Let me have a talk with him first. He doesn�t know he isn�t alone.
He thinks he�s an outsider.�

Chris understood. �Okay.�

�We�ll be at Nettie�s. Come in later. Give me about two hours, all
right?�

Larabee looked doubtfully at his second, then nodded. Vin smiled, then
left the small mess area. He had a certain rookie to find.
* * *
The bar was one of the smaller ones on the entertainment levels of the
station. Ezra wouldn't have sought it out because it looked so inconspicuous
and uninviting. No marks to be found here, the thief in him thought. No
one to con, no one to offer a game of chance to leave him a few hundred
bucks lighter. Vin led him through the thin afternoon crowd and Ezra looked
around. The establishment looked much better on the inside than the outside.
It was clean, well-kept, and had an almost homey atmosphere. There was
a long counter just opposite the main doors and booths lined most of the
walls. Tables cluttered the open space. Music played in the background.

Vin walked over to one of the booths and slid in. Ezra hesitated, then
followed his example. The waitress walked over to them, smiling.

"Hi Vin!"

�Hey, Casey.�

�The usual?�

Vin nodded, then gave Ezra a questioning look. The thief doubted it
would be a good idea to start the afternoon with alcohol, so he ordered
a soft drink. The young woman took their orders and left. When they had
their drinks, Vin looked at him.

"How are you doing, Ezra?"

Ezra sighed, studying his drink. If anyone else had asked him, he would
have smiled cheerfully and declared he was fine. This was Vin, though.
Vin, who knew a lot more about what was going on with him than the rest
of the Chimera team; Chris excepted. "Not good,� he confessed softly. �But
I think you know that. A lot is still going through and Chris isn�t happy
about it. It's not exactly easy...."

"Nothing ever is, though I think having a fully telepathic bond is
something really extraordinary."

"You and Chanu didn't....?"

Vin smiled and took a sip from his drink. "No. We shared a lot, but
never silent mind-to-mind communication. I could read him, yes. His moods,
his body language... I knew him like I knew myself, but for different reasons.
We were one because, as the shaman put it, we shared the same energies."

Ezra looked blankly at him.

"The Hija, the tribe Chanu belonged to, believe in gods and supernatural
beings like many civilizations," Vin expanded. "Their belief system has
four main houses of power. Chanu and I were born in opposite houses, in
the same cycle of their planetary year, and we shared the same vibrant
soul. A perfect match for potential soul partners. I didn't really know
that when I first met him. He was my guide when I explored the wilderness.
We understood each other from the beginning. Our friendship developed quickly
because we instinctively trusted each other. When I heard about the bond,
it scared me." Vin gave Ezra a quick grin. "I got a lot of help from the
tribe and from Chanu, who had grown up with bonded partners."

"Not like Chris and me."

"Nope, not like the two of you. You are unique. Never heard of telepathy
like that."

Ezra sighed softly and morosely looked into his half empty glass. "Great."

Vin was silent, keeping a discreet eye on his new friend. "You regret
it?"

"No!" The denial was almost automatic. "No... it feels right, Vin.
I just... it made life a lot more complicated."

"Life isn't ever easy, Ezra."

"Maybe, but now my decisions, my actions, influence someone else as
well. Chris and I.... we might be two halves of the same soul, but we are
so very different. It's not like we have a lot in common."

Vin played with a cracker, keeping silent. Ezra was in a rare, open
mood. He would listen as long as it lasted.

"If I mess up, I'm pulling Chris with me. I already do, Vin." Ezra
bit his lower lip, refusing to say more. He didn't want to spill his worries,
even if it was Vin who was listening.

"I heard the others, pard. I know what they are saying."

The brown head snapped up and green eyes stared at him in shock.

"Old story, actually. I know Leeroy Zardes is on your case, calling
you a stray or worse."

Ezra felt his defenses slide into place.

"But he calls us the same, Ez. Chris is known for picking up strays.
Almost all of us have a spotty past or reasons why none of the other teams
really wanted us."

The thief gave him a curious look, but he didn�t ask. Vin lifted one
corner of his mouth. Something told him Ezra wouldn�t inquire further if
he didn�t tell him anything. As far as the others were concerned, Vin had
no right to give away their personal problems or affairs. They all knew
Ezra�s past and if they chose to reveal theirs, so be it.

Buck�s ladies affairs were well-known anyway and no crime as such.
It just made him the target of a lot of rumors and sometimes accusations.
One of those rumors had nearly broken his back and while he had proven
his innocence in a politically delicate affair, every team commander was
now evading him.

JD had no real faults except his age. He was a genius when it came
to piloting, could fly the worst rust bucket and still win against a modern
one-man race fighter. The boy�s instincts were in the right place, but
he was too naïve when it came to some matters and he was too intelligent
for his own good. He had grown up in the wrong part of town anyway, had
no formal education except basics, but through Buck and Josiah he had caught
up to standard in no time. With no papers to prove his educational career
he had no hopes of any other position than the one he had, though.

Josiah�s main faults were his age and his drinking problem. He was
too old for active service many said, but the man knew places to get spares
or replacement parts no one had ever heard of. He understood the inner
workings of a ship by sheer instinct, which made him such a good engineer,
and most of the reconstruction on the Chimera were thanks to his knowledge
and JD�s imagination. Then there was the alcohol. Josiah wasn�t a drinker;
far from it. He was more allergic to the stuff than anything. One beer
and the man was dead drunk and lost all inhibition. Together with his size
and muscles, it made him a danger in any bar brawl.

Nathan had lost his medical license because he had practiced what the
Joined Governments called �experimental medicine�. Nathan had learned a
lot from healers and so-called alternative doctors. He believed in the
healing power of herbs and the body itself, and only used chemical medication
on the more severe wounds or to numb pain. A fellow doctor brought it in
front of a Justice Council after Nathan had healed a young man who had
been the doctor�s patient before. It had been simple jealousy. Without
his license, Nathan had been unable to uphold his clinic, so he had hired
on with the Agency. Chris had expressed his interest in him as a new man
and Travis had agreed. Nathan wasn�t allowed to practice outside his boundaries
as an Agent, but that was fine with him.

�I won�t ask for details,� Ezra said, startling Vin out of his thoughts.
He smiled almost shyly.

Tanner nodded. �I know.� He regarded their new team member thoughtfully,
then made a decision. �You�ll hear a lot of rumors. Most of them are just
that; rumors. Some have a bit of truth in them, but that�s usually hidden
and beneath all the exaggeration.�

�I�m used to that.� Ezra gave him a dimpled grin.

Vin chuckled. �Thing you�ll hear about me is that I let a bounty go
because he paid me enough money.�

Ezra�s face remained carefully schooled, his eyes giving nothing away.
But Vin could read the question easily.

�I worked as a bounty hunter before I joined the Agency two years ago.
Was quite good. One of my most difficult cases was a Eli Joe, a pirate
and smuggler. I caught him, but he had someone working for him on the inside.
Turned it so that it looked like I was the one who had let him escape again,
after he paid me enough money for it. I was after him again but found only
his body.� Vin gazed into his nearly empty glass. �No witnesses, only the
money in my apartment. Had a lawyer who argued my case and won me my freedom,
but I was out of a job. No one wanted me after that. Corrupted, y�know.�

Ezra nodded slowly. �How could you join the Agency?�

�Met Chris while he was on a case. He hired me as a tracker to find
an escaped convict. Must have impressed him.� Vin flashed him a grin. �We
worked on the case for two weeks, then he asked me to come along on the
next one. I kinda slid right in. Travis said my files looked good enough
to give me a job; said he�d ignore the past charges because they were,
in his eyes, unfounded and there was no real proof.�

�You were lucky,� the thief said in a quiet voice.

�Very.� Vin waited for Casey to replace their drinks, then leaned forward.
�And so were you, Ez.�

Ezra didn�t answer, just studied the pattern on the table.

�I have an offer to make.�

The thief gave him a wary look and Vin smiled openly.

�You need to train your abilities. Both you and Chris. Without training,
one day one of you will lose it, despite the stabilized bond. You�re letting
too much go through to the other side, even with the natural shields your
mind has erected. You have to control it.�

�I think I already lost it, Vin. Chris and I� had some rather unhappy
confrontations lately.�

�I know. It�s the result of you broadcasting and Chris battering the
incoming fragments back at you. It�s a vicious circle and you need to break
it.�

�How?� Ezra asked softly.

�It�s not easy and it requires concentration. Chanu and I never touched
each other�s minds, but we touched souls nevertheless. I went through some
training to help me counteract and then embrace what was so foreign to
me. I can�t guarantee that it�ll work like a charm, but it will help.�
Vin leaned forward, holding the dubious green gaze. �If you can�t take
control of your abilities, they will control you, and Chris.�

<What do you say, Ezra?>

Ezra�s head snapped up and he cursed himself for not noticing his soul
partner�s approach. Vin simply leaned back, watching them with a faint
smile in his eyes. Ezra shot the taller man a tentative look. The last
time they had met face to face had ended with snarled replies and Ezra�s
very clear wish never to see the man again. And the wish that the link
had never happened. At the time he hadn�t realized the expression of hurt
in Chris�s eyes but back in his quarters, the weight of his words had come
crashing down on him.

<It would help us> Chris went on, intensely holding Ezra�s gaze.
There was no malice, no hidden intent, just Chris.

<What if it won�t work?> Ezra asked, mind-voice uneven.

<We�ll burn that bridge when we get there>

<How very positive, Mr. Larabee> But there was a small smile playing
over Ezra�s lips.

�You think you can manage us?� Chris asked aloud as he slid into the
booth as well.

Vin chuckled. �Sure. We�ll work with Ezra�s schedule and cram in lessons
whenever we can.�

�Who needs sleep anymore?� Ezra sighed theatrically.
* * *
Finals week was the most trying and difficult of the three months. For
all of them. Chris would walk down the hall with a dark expression on his
face that gave everyone but his own team the willies. Despite Vin�s constant
training and the rudimentary shields both partner had managed, stress leaked
through. Ezra was under non-stop pressure by now, he was sleeping less
and less, and it reflected back on Chris, who was struggling to maintain
his usual façade. Their basic shields, by now a lot stronger than
before, were battered by such emotional force that Chris was unable to
maintain them at full strength and function normally as well.

The Bond sessions were taking part from eight to ten each evening and
most of the afternoon on Ezra�s only day off. How the thief managed to
cram studying into this already tight schedule was a little miracle, but
when Vin had proposed to cut back on lessons, he had immediately protested.
The meditation and relaxation exercises seemed to help him as much with
the link as they did with the whole basic training stress.

Even Judge Travis couldn�t ignore the signs any more and he wondered
how all of this would end. Few knew about the bond between Larabee and
Standish and it wasn�t a topic for open discussion. It would remain and
well-guarded secret. Despite earlier proclamations, Travis had started
to see the advantages of the soul bond. The training sessions with Vin
didn�t slip him by either.

Chris�s temper shifts grew almost unbearable inside the station, so
the Judge had decided to get the whole crew off and into space. One new
case and a bodyguard job had done the trick. The bond was limited by distance
at the moment, so Chris was becoming more like his old self whenever he
was far enough away from Ezra. It had it drawbacks, too. While he no longer
felt the rampaging emotions battering against his new shields, Chris also
lost contact with the familiar presence in his mind and fell from aggression
into depression. Not strong enough to influence his work, but he was quieter
all of a sudden, more introspective, and he removed himself from the team.

Three months, Travis thought and sighed. Three months. They would be
over by the end of next week, after the finals, and then some kind of normality
might be back. At least he hoped so, but something told him that with Ezra
Standish on the Chimera team, normality had just been blown out of the
window.

Ezra left the room from the last of his exams, Law, looking pale and
worn. He walked down the corridor, ignoring everyone, and finally leaned
against a wall. He had tried to ignore the unspoken expectations and the
blinding pressure of having to pass for three months. Well, tried was the
key word. It hadn�t really worked and while he had had good mid-term grades,
these grades had nearly broken his will. His class mates had wanted to
see him fail and the few who actually talked to him were too scared to
speak up. He had taken a lot of strength from Chris, his mere presence
in the back of his mind, though he was aware that he was putting his partner
under the same pressure he was feeling.

Chris had left for some kind of pick-up or other the last week. Ezra
suspected Travis was behind this, getting the two partners away from each
other. Sadly enough, Chris�s sudden non-presence had sent the thief into
a sudden decline as the emptiness in his head threatened to swallow what
was left of him. It was a shock, like being back on BP-379, in that bar,
drinking himself to oblivion to forget what he was going to lose. He didn�t
know how he had managed to go through the following ten days.

<Ez?>

Startled, Ezra opened his eyes and pushed away from the wall he had
been leaning against.

<Chris?>

Hope flared inside him and as he finally allowed himself to feel the
bond again, he heard it whisper in response. The older man walked up to
him smiling. Tired, hazel eyes ran over the pale, features, searching,
questioning. �You made it.�

�You don�t know that. I can still fail.� Ezra fell back against the
wall once more, tilting back his head to gaze at the ceiling. He just wanted
to collapse somewhere.

�I severely doubt that.�

�Thanks for the vote of confidence.�

Chris smiled and joined him, leaning his slender frame against the
wall. �Results will be available next week.�

Ezra closed his eyes, feeling exhaustion creep through him. After a
moment he gathered the last strands of his control.

<Chris, I�.. want to apologize>

<What for?> Chris asked suspiciously.

The thief smiled tiredly. <Everything. Especially he backlashes
over the link. It wasn�t my intention at the time. Then there is what I
said to you, called you�. I didn�t really mean it, Chris>

Larabee smiled. �Know that, Ez,� he said aloud. �You up for a beer?
The others are already at Nettie�s and wondered if you might want to unwind
a bit.�

That was that. Nothing more. No more explanations, no more shouting
matches, nothing at all. Simple acceptance.

Ezra drew a shuddering breath. �Don�t even know how to do that anymore.�

Chris chuckled. �After two of Nettie�s Specials you�ll know.�

�Are you in a generous mood, Commander?� Ezra teased.

�Buck is.�

He pushed away from the wall, followed by Chris, and they walked down
the corridor. �What�d the illustrious Mr. Wilmington do? Lose a bet?�

�No, he owes Josiah one.� Chris grinned as Ezra shot him an inquiring
look. �Long story, but it has to do with a blonde woman and her not so
happy husband.�

Ezra gave a snort of laughter. �I should have known.�
* * *
�Commander Larabee, Mr. Standish.� Orrin Travis regarded the two men
who now stood in front of his desk, marveling again how two so different
individuals had been brought together by a mind link.

Chris Larabee was completely at ease. Ezra Standish wasn�t. Oh, he
looked the part on the outside, but there was an expression in his eyes
that the Judge was familiar with. Stubbornness. The man had yet to accept
his new life, his new place, and he was fighting the Agency in his own
way. While Standish wanted to be part of the Chimera team, he was not willing
to give up his independence.

�I have Mr. Standish�s test results,� Travis went on, keeping a close
eye on the former thief.

No muscle twitched in the smooth features, but the tension rose. �Poker
face� some of his instructors called the expression and Travis had to agree.
The boy had it down to an art.

�I thought I�d deliver the news myself.�

Standish looked like he was about to say something, a scathing remark,
but like before, Chris kept him back. No words, only silence, not even
a direct look. Just an almost invisible twitch.

�You�ve passed with good marks, Mr. Standish. My congratulations.�

�Thank you, sir,� Standish replied neutrally.

�That means you are now partaking in the practicals.� Travis folded
his hands, resting them on the test results. The exams had been surprisingly
good, he had to confess. The thief excelled at Law and Finances, which
shouldn�t have come as a great surprise considering his past, but not every
criminal really knew much about the laws he was breaking or money. �Because
of your rather unique status, we had to make a few changes in the practicals
to accommodate you.�

Standish raised an eyebrow. �My unique status, sir?�

Travis smiled. �There are several factors playing into this that other
recruits can�t present us with. First of all, you are a Borderline.�

The man�s face froze up completely. Raw wound, Travis thought to himself,
and judging from Chris�s expression, one he shouldn�t have touched. There
was an almost protective spark in those hazel eyes, the posture tensing
up slightly, but the commander didn�t object.

�Your abilities supercede those of other trainees in that area. Since
these abilities are now at the disposal of the Agency, we want to see how
you handle yourself in the field.�

�I wasn�t aware the Agency had a mounted regiment,� was the dry comment.

Travis smiled more. �No, we don�t. What we have is a team of very good
Agents who will get you as an addition. Among them is a man who is linked
to you, Mr. Standish, through a mental bond. I have talked to Dr. Jackson
at length and he has assured me that while you aren�t a telepath, you and
Commander Larabee can communicate silently.�

Chris looked curious, even slightly cautious, but he still didn�t speak
up.

�I see this mental link as a weak spot and a formidable weapon. Gentlemen,
I want to know how you both handle yourself in the field. It would be wrong
just to put Mr. Standish�s abilities to a test since they are so tightly
interwoven with yours, Commander.�

Chris frowned. �Sir?�

�I have spoken to Major Olden. He has prepared the course for both
of you.�

Standish stared at him, slight shock visible in the green eyes. Chris
just blinked.

�You want me to run the obstacle course with Ezra?� he finally asked.

�Exactly. While I�m aware of the fact that you had your annual requalification
already, Chris, this is something no one could have foreseen. Agent Standish
isn�t only a new team member but also your partner.� Travis leaned forward,
regarding the younger man seriously. �I can�t sanction this team without
knowing that you are qualified to work together.�

�Sir, I think we proved that on BP-379,� Chris replied tightly.

�Under completely different circumstances.�

�Sir�.�

�I�m not going to change my mind, Commander Larabee. The two of you.
Be glad I didn�t ask for the whole team to run the obstacle course. I doubt
they would be happy about it.�

�And I am?� Standish muttered, disgust audible in his voice.

�Major Olden has orders to pick you up at 0800 hours sharp tomorrow
morning. I�d advice you to get some sleep. That would be all, gentlemen.�

Ezra was in shock as he left the Judge�s office. He wasn�t even aware
of Chris�s presence until the older man touched his shoulder. He jumped,
startled, and Larabee smiled slightly.

�Half as bad as it sounds,� he said.

�Says you.�

�Ezra, I�ve run the obstacle course before. It�s mostly endurance and
strategy.�

�I doubt the honorable Judge Travis want us to partake in the normal
field test,� the thief sighed. �Didn�t you listen between the lines? This
is a test for my Borderline abilities and the link. Running and jumping
over obstacles isn�t exactly a test for that.�

�For a Kiowata it is.�

Ezra only grimaced.
* * *
�The obstacle course is divided into sections. Each is different to
test different skills and to provoke different reactions. Sometimes you
have to combine knowledge with ability, sometimes only trust your instincts.�

Major Peter Olden looked at the only two participants of this game.
Olden was a senior member of the Agency. He had long since left the active
field duty and had turned his skills and knowledge to training recruits
as well as requalifying already active Agents. What Travis had asked of
him had surprised him a notch, but he was a man who asked few questions
when it came to orders from above.

�You operate within a time limit, gentlemen. Forty-eight hours, to
be precise. From start to finish. I don�t care how you reach your goals,
whether together or alone, but in the end, I want to see both of you standing
at the finish line with time to spare!�

Standish smirked. �Yes, sir,� he drawled.

Olden shot the shorter man a sharp look, but it didn�t seem to impress
him. Travis had given him an idea who Ezra Standish was, that he would
be the newest addition to the Chimera, but he hadn�t explained a lot about
the background the man had. Or just why Larabee was supposed to go through
the test run as well.

�You have the basic equipment of an Agent in the field,� the Major
went on. �Your food supply lasts for the first day. Everything else is
up to you. In case you run into trouble, send up flares. We�re monitoring
you and can be at your site in minutes. Now, gentlemen, suit up and get
ready to go.�

Chris shot Ezra a quick look and the thief gave him a cocky smile.
They checked their equipment and then walked over to the starting line.
The whole test was happening in the middle of nowhere down on a planet
Ezra had never been to. It wasn�t unlike Earth, but sparsely settled under
the Joined Government Act to protect natural resources. Finding a stretch
of wild and unsettled land wasn�t hard. The Agency had several boot camps
down here and this obstacle course was just one of three major ones in
the area. Chris himself had never partaken in this particular one, but
it didn�t look any worse than what he had to do in his requalification.

Before them was a stretch of empty plains all the way to where a forest
started to obscure the sight. And just after that rose a mountain.

�We have to make good on time in the beginning,� he told his partner
who was methodically checking their supplies once more.

They had a map and a compass which told them where to go. That was
about it. Now Ezra looked up and there was a glint in the green eyes that
told Chris that he understood just too well what his partner had planned.

�Speed is a major determining factor,� he agreed. �The question is,
are we ready to shock the good Major?� The thief grinned.

Chris chuckled. �We are to use our abilities and skill, Agent Standish,�
he admonished. �We should.�

Travis stood in front of the monitors that gave him a good idea of the
obstacle course. Currently he was watching the screen where the two men
in question were talking with each other. Major Olden had joined him, giving
the Judge a curt nod that said everything was prepared and ready.

�I hope you know what you are doing, sir,� Olden said, frowning at
the screens.

�I do, Major.�

�The time limit is rather tight for two men to reach the end of the
course on foot.�

�I�m aware of that.�

Travis felt the beginning of a smile as he watched Chris suddenly take
off his vest. Olden frowned.

�What is he doing?�

�Using his skills.�

Olden�s frown turned into raised eyebrows as Larabee neatly folded
his vest, shirt and t-shirt, then proceeded to further undress. Standish
was simply tugging the articles of clothing into the backpacks, which he
had knotted and roped together.

�Sir?�

�Major?�

�This is�.� The man looked flustered.

�An expected reactions, Major Olden. Commander Larabee is operating
within expected parameters.�

Olden was about to say something when he almost choked on his words.
One moment there was a naked man, the next a large, black equine with two
rather dangerous looking horns stood next to Standish, who didn�t even
look surprised. Travis had to say he was impressed, by both the transformation
and the result. He had never seen Chris as a Kiowata and looking at him
now, seeing the difference in size to a horse and to Standish, he started
to understand a few remarks in the reports he had from BP-379.

�Major, I don�t have to remind you that this test and everything you
see is classified,� the Judge remarked calmly.

�No, sir,� Olden managed, shock and disbelief on his features.

�Good.�

Travis watched as Standish swung the backpacks onto the broad back,
then hoisted himself up. The whole transformation and subsequent preparation
hadn�t taken any longer than ten minutes. The two Agents were off in a
cloud of dust from one moment to the other, the Kiowata�s long legs eating
up the distance. Not much later they had disappeared into the forest.
*
Progress was made swiftly and effortlessly. Ezra had fallen into his
role as Chris�s rider easily and Chris was proceeding at a light canter
that preserved his energy. Memories of BP-379 rose unbidden and both men
were lost in their thoughts as they passed through the forest. They stopped
near a stream around midday and Ezra filled their cantines. Chris grazed
nearby, having no problems finding food as a Kiowata. Ezra simply chose
to still his appetite with one of the dry bars from the survival packs.

<Penny for your thoughts>

Startled, Ezra looked up and found Chris watching him. �Just thinking,�
he replied softly.

<�bout what?>

With a sigh, the thief straightened out his legs and leaned back against
a tree trunk. �How it seems unfair of Travis to condemn you to this just
because of me,� he said openly.

Chris flicked one ear, slightly puzzled. <Condemn me? Ezra, this
isn�t punishment>

�Oh really? Our honorable Judge won�t say it out loud, but he doesn�t
trust me to participate in a normal obstacle course like the other rookies
because he thinks I�ll cheat.�

Anger crossed the young features and Chris felt a pang of shock. <He
doesn�t, Ezra> he tried.

�Of course not, commander.� The tone was suddenly biting. �Which is
why he ordered you on a case ten days before the finals. Which is why he
removed you physically as well as mentally out of my reach. He knows about
the bond. He interviewed Nathan down to the very last byte of information.
He knows distance will obscure the connection and plunge us into non-communication!�

Chris walked closer, hazel eyes full of concern. <Ezra, it�s not
true. Travis sent me off because I was becoming a danger to myself and
the others because of the stress I picked up from you. I was unable to
think rationally any more and not even Vin�s training helped to better
it. He did the only thing possible>

Ezra refused to look at him. �Just like now? Can�t find a new case,
can he?�

<Running both of us through the obstacle course makes sense. Ezra,
with you on the team, operations and missions will change. Not because
of who you are, not because of your past, but because of what you and I
can do. And by the way> Chris added as he saw Standish�s scowl, 

The thief huffed and glared at a hapless sapling near-by. �So why just
the two of us? Why not let the others in on the fun?�

Chris chuckled. <Count yourself lucky. Buck snores like a chainsaw,
JD can make you sick with exuberance, Josiah starts talking nature and
Nathan keeps popping up and asking medical stuff. Vin�s about the only
one you can safely say you won�t even know he�s there unless he is needed>

Ezra found himself smiling against his better judgment. He looked at
the folded map next to him and picked it up. He consulted the compass and
silently studied the landmarks.

�If we want to make it to the mountain, we should go,� he said after
a while.

Chris had to agree. <Your turn tomorrow> he sent.

Ezra gave him a look of disbelief. �What?�

<You heard me>

�It�s your blistered derrière, Commander.�

Chris had never ridden a Kiowata and the last time he had actually
sat on a horse had been a long time ago. Without a saddle, riding bare-back
would be quite a comeback into the world of equine transportation.

But the switch was necessary. Ezra understood Chris�s need to be human
for a while and their progress would be faster if that was accompanied
by Ezra turning into a Kiowata. It would also continue to preserve
food.

Travis kept an eye on the proceedings. He had been slightly surprised
that Chris had been the one to change into his alternate form. He would
have suspected that the commander would order his new Agent to do it. Looking
at the team, the ease with which Standish held himself on the large equine,
he understood more and more. This had been the pairing on BP-379. It was
easier to fall back into the old pattern.

The first obstacle was passed with relative little problems. The wide
river had a few tricky passages, but Standish had discovered a rather shallow
part. Very unexpected, he had dismounted and led Chris through. The canyon
had been tricky, but the bridge, while looking old and brittle, was far
from it. The only problem was that it didn�t have wooden planks. It was
a rope and knot construction. Chris had changed back into a human since
a Kiowata couldn�t possibly get across.

The two had then walked for another thirty minutes, both human, and
then sought a shelter for the night.
* * *
The next day began before sunrise. Chris had woken just as the sky was
turning a bluish gray and he had immediately woken Ezra. The thief wasn�t
a morning person and Larabee had to chuckle as he watched the man almost
sleep-walk around and clean up the camp. It was a sight he had grown used
to on BP-379, though back then Ezra had insisted to sleep till the sun
was actually out and not move until his system had kicked back in. Today
they didn�t have the luxury. They had a mountain to scale.

Both men trudged up the barely visible slop that had clearly been made
by the local wildlife. The underbrush and the trees were too dense to ride
through, and the slope was too steep and rocky to be safe for a Kiowata.
Suddenly Chris stopped and Ezra almost ran into him.

�Chris?� he inquired.

�Trouble,� the Agent said softly and nodded at the ground. He crouched
down and ran his fingers over a patch of smooth earth where splatters of
what looked like paint stained the leaves.

Ezra was confused, then looked around. With a frown he took in the
peaceful scenery. �Obstacle course, hm?� he remarked casually.

Chris straightened and nodded, rubbing the dry paint off his fingers.
�Lots and lots of traps.�

The two stood silently side by side.

�Triggers?� Ezra inquired.

�Could be everything. Infrared, motion sensors, weight�..�

Ezra frowned. �I doubt it�s a motion sensor alone. Or infrared. These
woods teem with life. Everything in here would be covered in paint otherwise.�

�Combined?�

�Possible, but still the same results.�

Chris nodded slowly, still not moving. �Size and weight?�

�Do you know what kind of animals live here?�

�No.�

�Then it might be possible. But if they have wildlife the size of deer,
it�s another risk factor.�

Chris frowned. �Species,� he then said softly.

Ezra raised one eyebrow. �One of the instructors mentioned that, but
it�s still experimental.�

Chris�s lips quirked into a wry smile. �The obstacle course is the
best way to test something experimental, don�t you think.�

�Quite. So, ideas?�

�One. You won�t like it.�

Ezra met the hazel eyes and suddenly shook his head. �I�m not changing.�

�You have to.�

�You change, I�ll hang on to you.�

�No go. Even if the paint balls don�t hit you and only me, we lose.
We both have to become something else.� 

Ezra sighed and shook his head. he muttered
and slid off the backpack.

Chris stilled the motion to unzip his vest. �Me first. I�ll carry
the packs. Just strap them on tightly.�

The thief nodded wordlessly.

Travis nodded to himself as he watched the two animals. When Standish
had changed, the Judge had been in for a new surprise. He wouldn�t have
thought the man would do it. The reddish brown Kiowata was smaller than
the black one, but still larger than a horse. The two proceeded through
the mine field without encountering a single paint pellet.

�This can�t be right.�

Ezra tilted his head and regarded the sight before them with a critical
expression. �It�s a landslide.�

�I know what it is, but it can�t be.�

�Physical proof tells us otherwise.�

Chris shot the smaller man a sharp look, then shook his head as he
saw the well-known obnoxious grin on the smooth features.

�I meant this can�t be our obstacle course.�

�Why not?�

Chris ran a hand through his blond hair. �Because,� he said slowly,
�landslides are group obstacles. I had one before, years ago, with the
whole team. It takes a lot more than just the two of us to get over this
or through.�

Ezra looked thoughtfully at the pile of rocks. �Maybe Judge Travis
thought we could scale it with our� unique abilities?� There was a lot
of sarcasm in the remark.

Larabee shook his head. �No, this must be wrong.� He took out the wrinkled
looking map and studied it.

�So we give up?�

Ezra almost regretted the question when he saw Chris�s expression.
He gave the man a cocky grin. �Thought not. Around it?�

�We have to.� Chris stabbed a finger at the map. �We�ll have to move
down the mountain and then pick up speed along the plains here.�

Ezra looked at the topographic map. �Long detour.�

�It�s the only way.�

It took them almost three hours to get down the mountainside without
breaking any bones, though Chris once slipped and twisted his ankle. It
was a light injury and didn�t swell, but it hampered them.

Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, Ezra shed his backpack.

�Ezra?�

�We have to move fast to get where we have to be,� the thief said matter-of-factly.
�You can�t race in your condition, in either form, so we switch.� He flashed
Chris a grin. �As I recall, it is my turn anyway.�

Chris chuckled and nodded. He started to tie the backpacks together
as Ezra changed, then stuffed the other man�s clothing into the packs.
Getting onto the broad back gave him a lot more appreciation for what Ezra
had done on a regular basis back on BP-379. Standish as a Kiowata was smaller
than Chris, and Chris was a human was taller than Ezra. Still, it was with
difficulty that he got on. It was awkward to sit without a saddle or reigns.

<Relax, Chris> Ezra whispered in his mind, then started to move.

�Whoa,� Chris muttered, adjusting his position.

<You�ll get used to it>

�Hope so.�

�They have left the grid?�

Olden nodded, frowning at the displays. None of the cameras inside
the set parameters picked up the two Agents. Travis matched the frown but
for different reasons.

�Find them!� he ordered.

�We are searching for them as we speak, sir.� Suddenly the major cursed
softly.

Travis walked over to the screen the other man was looking at and discovered
the reason. �Landslide?� he inquired.

�Yes. Pretty recent. I checked the course three days prior to the scheduled
date. Everything was fine.�

The Judge gave him a stern look. �It is no longer, Major Olden. Now,
where are my men?�

The instructor keyed in a few commands the computer widened the grid,
setting new parameters. �They have moved down the only way open to them,
without having to backtrack.� He pointed at the sloping mountainside. �That
puts them right about here�..�

They had plowed through the forest for what seemed like hours. Chris
was growing sick and tired of the lush green trees, bushes and vines. Ezra�s
sure-footed gait never faltered as he stepped gracefully over upturned
roots and evaded mossy patches that looked treacherously solid but were
far from it. Flies were buzzing around them and somewhere far up in the
trees the never-ending chatter of birds accompanied them.

<Whoa!>

Ezra stopped all of a sudden, ears pricked, nostrils widening slightly.

�What is it?� Chris asked quietly, his weapon ready.

<End of the road>

Sliding off the back, Chris landed silently next to his partner and
gave the stretch of land before him a narrow-eyed look. The forest had
grown lighter the past minutes and had finally cleared almost completely.
There were a few dead trees ahead of them, vines curling around the bleached
remnants. Bushes clung stubbornly to some patches of light brown ground,
but few of them looked like they were actually still alive.

<Quicksand> Ezra commented neutrally.

Chris picked up a rock and tossed it out into the deceptively smooth
clearing. It landed with a wet thud and, after ten seconds, started to
slowly sink.

�Backtrack and detour,� he decided, swinging himself back onto the
Kiowata.

Ezra followed their trail for a while, then walked to the left. For
another thirty minutes they rode parallel to the quicksand pits, but without
much change. Ezra had to go deeper and deeper back into the forest because
the quicksand kept stretching inward, taking over. They stopped again.

�There has to be a way across,� Chris muttered.

<Sure. Might take us days, though> Ezra muttered darkly.

�Which we don�t have.�

<Exactly. We�re already late>

Chris thoughtfully gazed at the quicksand, then at Ezra.

<What?>

�How did you know not to go any further,� the blond asked after a while.

Ezra stomped the ground once, a Kiowata�s expression of a frown. <I�.
just knew>

�Instinct?�

<Kiowata instinct> was the careful reply.

Larabee looked at the obstacle before them, then back at Ezra, a slow
smile spreading over his features. Ezra stared at him and realization set
in as the idea leaked over the Bond.

<Oh no!>

�Oh yes.�

<Oh no!> he objected, more violently, dancing away. <I�m not
going to give up my mind and entrust myself to those nether instincts!>

Chris grabbed the narrow head between his hands, fingers exuding light
pressure. He met the pale green eyes, feeling Ezra fight him through the
bond.

�I�m not asking you to entrust yourself to your animal instincts, Ezra.
I�m asking you to trust me.�

Conflicting emotions, fear, denial, survival instinct and trust, raced
through the younger man.

<You have no idea what it means�>

�Don�t I?�

 he whispered.

�No, you won�t. I�ll make sure of that. We share a Bond, Ezra. Trust
me to guide you. Trust your instincts to guide us.�



�Yes, you can, Ezra.� <Trust me>



 Chris whispered intensely, using the mental link
only. <But if we want to reach the finish line, if we want to prove
we can do this, you have to trust me not to let you fall. And I won�t>

Ezra snorted nervously, tail flicking wildly. He pawed the ground,
but Chris�s grip wouldn�t let him pull his head away without hurting himself
or his partner.

<What if� I can�t come back?>

<You will, partner>

<But�>

<You will!> Chris finally let him go, hands falling to his side.
�Your choice, Ezra. I won�t force you.�

Ezra turned to look at the treacherous ground before him. He knew it
was the only way; at least the only way to get across in time to finish
this test in the set limit. What Chris was asking was a lot. If he consciously
retreated out of his waking mind, if he turned the reign over to the Kiowata,
and it Chris lost control, Ezra Standish wouldn�t be able to come back.
He would be stuck as a backseat driver and eventually wither away. Shrivel
up and cease to exist.

If he didn�t do this, Travis would win.

Pride flared up inside him. Pride and determination. He wouldn�t let
the Agency win. He wouldn�t give up just now. He wouldn�t let the others
gloat.

<Get on> he said quietly.

Chris smiled, gently patting the sleek neck before he swung back onto
the Kiowata. Ezra�s nervousness was taking on a life of its own, flooding
the connection. He was valiantly fighting against his fear of losing against
the animal side, battling it with the stubbornness Chris had come to know
so well. He relaxed his mind, felt along the bond, and placed one hand
onto the warm skin beneath him.

<Trust me> he sent, letting each word seep into the consciousness.

�Quicksand?� Travis exclaimed. �Olden!�

The Major looked flustered and more than a little bit at a loss. �Sir,
they left the grid when the landslide forced them to go the other way.
The quicksand isn�t on the normal course. It�s for special training purposes
only.�

�I don�t care what it�s for, Major. Get my men out of there!�

Olden nodded, then stared at the screen. �Ah, Judge, Sir, I think it�s
already too late for that.�

Travis followed the eyes and started cursing at his obstinate and too-stubborn-for-their-own-good
Agents.

Ezra felt a tremor race through his mind, then he consciously let go
of control. He slid back and let the Kiowata take hold. It was like falling
into his own mind, no safety ropes, no net, no bottom. He could feel the
animal rising to the forefront, pawing and skittish, and the thief had
to hold back not to reign in control again, take over.
Chris was aware of the change almost immediately. For one second there
was Ezra, the warm presence he knew; then there was just a presence without
a human mind, human emotions, or the understanding Ezra P. Standish had.
The Kiowata felt different, was more skittish, distrustful, and more temperamental.

�Ho, boy,� he murmured, patting the neck.

He let his voice take on a gentle, soothing quality as he guided the
sorrel toward the quicksand. He had no reigns, no halter, only his legs
and his voice. One hand kept contact with the strong neck, the other rubbed
the dark mane.

The Kiowata�s steps were hesitant, careful. On a deep level it trusted
the voice and followed the commands, the leg pressure, the coaxing. But
there was also its survival instinct that told it that where it should
go was danger. Chris strengthened his hold on the bond, infusing it with
calmness, but the Kiowata shied more than once, prancing, almost turning
back.

�It�s okay, boy. It�s okay. Pick your way. Ho�.�

Nervous snorts were the only sounds Chris could hear; the blasts from
the wide open nostrils. The muscles beneath his fingers were tight as coils
and the pointed ears lay flat back against the skull. The Kiowata froze
twice and Chris urged it on, cajoling, talking, exuding calm and trust
in his partner�s abilities. He didn�t think of the danger they were in,
only the pride he felt, that Ezra could do this, that they would get through
this in one piece. Ears turned back and forth, listening to his voice,
and the Kiowata moved along the firm path between the sinkholes that would
drown them if they misstepped.

�That�s it, partner,� he murmured. �Steady. Yes, you can do it.�

Chris wasn�t even aware that they were on firm ground until he heard
the whinnying. He turned around and stared at the patch of quicksand, and
let out an explosive sigh.

�We made it,� he whispered. �By god, we made it!�

Travis released a breath he hadn�t been aware of holding onto. Olden
sank back into his chair, rubbing a shaky hand over his tired features.

�Damnit, Chris,� Travis whispered. �Damnit!�

He had only a faint idea what had happened just now. He might also
never get the whole truth out of the two men, but for a moment he had seen
the true depth of this connection and something told him that Standish
had put a lot of trust into his partner. Whatever had occurred, the two
were now on firm and very safe grounds.

�What�s their position in relation to the finish line, Major Olden?�

Olden consulted the grid map. �They are five grid points off the ideal
route.�

Travis nodded.

�Do you want me to call a rescue unit?�

�No, Major, I doubt that would be a good idea.� Travis allowed himself
a smile as he watched the screen. �If there aren�t any more surprises between
here and the finish line, we should prepare to greet our two participants
quite soon.�

�Sir, it�s five grid points!�

�Major?�

�Sir?�

Travis just shook his head, deciding not to say anything. He just rose
and left the room.

Larabee slid off the Kiowata and the animal nuzzled him as he patted
its side. Instinctively reaching along the Bond he sent a burst of pride
and joy as he gave in to his exulted feelings.

<Ezra? Ez? C�mon partner, let�s get back to the foreground here.
Ezra, you there?>

<C�hris> a weak, shaky voice answered.

Chris grabbed the head again and stared into the pale eyes. �That�s
the spirit. Come on, take control,� he coaxed, feeling the well-known consciousness
fight its way back.

<I�m �. back, I think>

�Course you are.� Chris couldn�t stop the grin from forming on his
lips. �Damn right you are!�

The thief sent a weak chuckle. <Language, commander>

�To hell with it!�

<Whatever happens next, Chris, I�m not doing that any time soon
ever again!>

The blond laughed. �Not asking you to, partner. Not asking you to.�
Then he grew serious. �Thanks for trusting me, Ezra.�

There was a moment of silence and Ezra awkwardly met the hazel eyes.


<Wasn�t your life I asked for this time> Chris replied silently.

He turned away and went to check the backpacks. Ezra just watched him,
unable to answer, unable to say anything.

�We lost a lot of time,� Larabee went on, trying to regain some normality,
which Ezra was thankful for. �Time to make up for it. We have three more
hours till we start losing points.�

<So what�s your plan?�

Chris�s lips drew into a mischievous smile. �Run?�

Thundering hoof beats announced the return of the two Agents and Travis
had to hold onto himself not to laugh out loud. He should have known. Kiowata
were fast. Very, very fast. They easily beat horses and they had stamina.
The only way the team could have made the five grid points in time was
on four feet, and by steadily increasing pace. Checking his watch, the
Judge nodded. Ten minutes past the appointed time, but still, considering
the detour and the circumstances, it was record time.

The reddish brown Kiowata stopped just outside the building that served
as the last checkpoint, covered in sweat, slightly out of breath. On its
back sat the disheveled looking form of Chris Larabee. His hazel eyes bore
into Travis and Olden as if daring the two men to say anything. Travis
simply smiled and gave a nod.

�Gentlemen, you are late,� he commented.

The sorrel snorted and there was a look of disgust in the pale green
eyes. There was a twitch around Larabee�s lips and a twinkle in his eyes.

�I�d advise you freshen up,� the older man went on, �so we can proceed
with the evaluation.� He turned, hiding his grin as he heard another snort,
again from the smaller sorrel.

�Late,� Ezra muttered as he pulled on his t-shirt, glaring at the wardrobe.
�Late! He should be glad we arrived at all!�

Chris finger-combed his wet hair and shot his partner an amused look.
Ezra had been grumbling about the Judge ever since the remark that they
were late. The thief was riled up and ready to go for blood if Travis so
much as criticized their time.

�Ezra, shut up,� he advised good-naturedly.

Green eyes glared at him full force and Larabee answered them with
an even broader smile.

�We have an evaluation waiting,� the older Agent reminded him.

�Evaluation? This isn�t an evaluation, it�s a crucification! I know
I failed and he doesn�t have to rub it in!� Ezra angrily pulled on his
jacket and slammed the wardrobe�s door shut.

�We didn�t fail. We arrived later than we should have, but we arrived.
I�ve seen teams do a lot worse.� <Relax, Ez, okay?>

Ezra screwed his eyes shut for a second and inhaled deeply. �Chris,
don�t you realize what it means if I didn�t pass? It�s over.�

Larabee shook his head. �It�s not and now move your ass, Standish,
or we�ll get bad marks because we are late.�

The thief marched past him, face a mask. Chris shook his head. He understood
Ezra�s fear only too well, but he didn�t believe that they had failed.
Got some points deducted from the overall performance, but not failure
on a broad range.

Travis sat at the conference table, watching the two men enter. �Gentlemen,
take a seat.�

Ezra slid into the seat left of Chris, a defiant mask on his features.
Chris was looking his usual, alert self.

�I have your performance records here,� the Judge started, tapping
two folders. �In your case, Mr. Standish, only your recent performance
in this course, additionally to your exams. Well, we evaluated your entire
time on the obstacle course and, gentlemen, I have to say you surprised
me. I had thought you had understood the rules of the game.�

There was a flash in the green eyes of the thief, but no muscle twitched.
Travis allowed a smile to surface, one that didn�t give much away.

�Your goal was to traverse the terrain within forty-eight hours, using
your individual skills and the equipment in your possession to reach your
goal. While you did reach the finish line, your conduct was, let me say,
quite outside the set rules. The obstacle course is supposed to be crossed
on foot.�

Chris frowned. �Sir, we were on foot.�

�I�m aware that the manual doesn�t mention equines as a non-acceptable
mode of transportation, but you were not on foot per se.�

Something in Standish�s eyes flared, but he fought it down. Travis
had to give him a few points concerning his emotional control.

�You also left the grid assigned to you and our observation angles.�

�There was a landslide.�

�I�m aware of that.�

�It was the only way around it, Sir,� Chris added, voice cool and controlled.

�Are you sure?�

�Yes.�

�You lost valuable time circumventing the landslide and got injured
in the process.�

�I still insist that it was the only way.� Chris met the Judge�s eyes
steadily.

�Commander Larabee, if I�m not mistaken you are the man in command
of the Chimera team.� Travis leaned forward, folding his hands over the
papers. �But you stepped back and let another agent, a rookie, too,
take over control and command.�

This time a muscle twitched in Standish�s face and the glare in his
eyes told Travis a lot of what had to be going on inside the connection
between his two men. For a brief moment, the same anger showed in Chris�s
eyes, but he fought it down.

�I made a decision based on circumstances, Sir. Agent Standish was
best suited for the task and I gave him free reign.�

�As I understand it, you also ordered him to release control of his
abilities.�

It was like a slap in the face and Ezra paled, his hands clenching
briefly.

�No, sir,� Chris replied, voice deceptively calm. �I didn�t order him.�

�Why not? You were the commander of the team.�

�Sir, I never assumed this was a test of leadership skills since there
was no team to lead. Agent Standish operated as my partner, not an inferior.�

Travis held the cool, hazel eyes. �As the senior Agent on the course,
wouldn�t it have been your responsibility to lead a younger recruit?�

�In any other situation maybe, but the circumstances demanded adaptation.
Agent Standish was best suited to lead us across the quicksand.�

�Even if he had to give up control on his abilities and turn the field
over to the animal inside?�

Ezra clenched his jaw so hard, Travis was afraid he�d hear teeth shatter
soon. The younger man was hard pressed not to just shoot out of his chair
and run from the harsh, accusing words.

�Yes, Sir,� Chris only answered, a slight challenge in his voice.

�So after you disregarded the basic rules of this test, left the assigned
grid, and could have made a fatal mistake, the two of you also arrived
ten minutes late,� Travis summed it all up, delivering his final blow.

�Considering the detour,� Standish spoke up for the very first time,
�we were early. Sir,� he added coldly.

Travis smiled. �That is your interpretation of things, Agent Standish.
Your assigned time was up, that is all that interests me.�

He let his eyes wander over the two different men in front of him,
taking in the tense posture, the disbelief in Larabee�s eyes, the barely
suppressed anger in Standish�s. Ezra finally looked at his clenched hands.

�Well, gentlemen, the results of this little exercise can�t be changed.�

The thief�s shoulders slumped in defeat. Chris�s head turned quickly,
wordlessly looking at his partner, but Standish refused to meet his eyes.

�Sir,� Larabee spoke up, but Travis raised a hand.

�Let me finish.�

�Why?� Ezra mumbled. �Not yet run out of scathing remarks?� Defiance
flared in his eyes, but he quickly looked away as Travis returned the gaze.

�As I said before, you have shown quite a disregard for rules. I didn�t
expect anything less from you. You have shown me that you have the loyalty
and trust in each other�s talents and person I had hoped to find. You went
up against impossible odds and mastered them in a brilliant adaptation
to changed situations, using the abilities, skills and knowledge at your
disposal.� Travis had to hide his smile as Standish�s head snapped up and
the thief stared at him in silent disbelief. �I wanted to know if you two
could operate under the pressure of a limited amount of time, I wanted
to know if you could trust in each other�s abilities. I know what happened
on BP-379 should have given me enough material, but circumstances were
different.�

Chris shook his head, hiding a smile, while Ezra still stared.

�Well, Commander, congratulations to your new operative. Agent Standish
is of now an official member of the Chimera team. Agent Standish, well
done.�

�Ezra, stop staring. It�s impolite,� Chris told his partner, not even
trying to keep his voice down.

Ezra blinked, then looked first at Chris, then Travis. �I� passed?�
he asked, voice strangely strangled.

�I think I just said that, Agent Standish.�

Chris clapped him on the shoulder. �Well, Agent, congratulations.�

�Thanks.� Ezra sounded stunned.

�You are aware that you aren�t to talk about this test to anyone,�
Travis remarked.

Chris nodded. �I am, sir. C�mon, Ezra, time to get back home and tell
the others. I think Buck�s bursting to throw a party in your honor.�

Outside, Ezra felt the tension suddenly drain away and a tremor raced
through his body. He had made it. He was in the Agency, on Chris�s team.
He was in law enforcement. The weight of it all crashed down on him and
he groaned.

Chris shot him an inquiring look.

�I think I need my faculties checked,� Ezra sighed. �How did I ever
allow myself to fall into a career in law enforcement?�

Chris could only laugh at the plaintive question. He clapped a hand
on his partner�s shoulder and gave him a slight push toward the waiting
shuttle. Chris had no doubt that from now on, things would definitely never
be the same again.

Due to the problems on AFFNet my stories got scrambled and erased
all the follow-ups to this fic. If you want to read them, go my website
(see link under the Authors Section). I'm not sure I want to reupload about
fifty stories in this universe and the Denuo one...
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