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CHAPTER 10

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Andrea swooped low along the floor as a small disc flew at her from above. Increasing her speed slightly it narrowly missed her booted foot, smashing harmlessly against the concrete. Then there was another, arcing in at her body, and she twisted round so that one shot past her combat trousers, grazing the material on its course into the nearest wall. She only just caught the last one aimed directly at her head, having to resort to swatting that one away with her hand at the last minute. She used a bit more force than she intended and it spun right across the room, shattering into tiny pieces of the far wall.

Realising the projectile was indeed the final one, Andrea glided down to land on the floor of the underground training room. Now her run was finished, Dr Todd entered the room, his eyes focussed on a small computer terminal in his hand, still assessing the latest results he’d gathered. Andrea took a moment to brush a few loose strands of hair back behind her ears while she waited for him, also checking that the regulator on her left arm was still properly attached. Though it was secured tightly as always, she still got a bit nervous about it getting damaged, knowing it was the only thing between her and a seizure. She did wonder why they hadn’t given her something a bit less conspicuous, since the armband was rather exposed around her bicep, especially when she was wearing a t-shirt as now. She guessed it was because it needed to be able to be easily detached for periodic refilling.

“Good, good,” noted Dr Todd, eventually glancing up from his screen, “Your flying is coming on in leaps and bounds, much more considered and controlled than your initial attempts.”

“Thanks,” said Andrea, looking behind him to see if there was anyone else coming into the room. “No Major today?” she asked as nonchalantly as she could manage.

His eyes flicked to her, maybe surprised at the question, though it was hard to tell with Dr Todd since his expression varied little. “No,” he replied, “She’s still quite busy with the aftermath of the fire last week, so she hasn’t had as much time to devote to training as normal.”

“Right,” noted Andrea, keeping her answer short to avoid displaying any disappointment in her tone.

Dr Todd looked down at his watch. “I think we can take a break,” he said, “I have a fair bit of analysis to do, I’ll see you back here at two.”

Andrea left the scientist to it, heading for the lift to take her to the upper sections of the base. While she was waiting a brief thought crossed her mind that she should ride it to the second floor and go and see the Major, to see how the fire investigation was going. She told herself that it was just curiosity that had prompted the thought. Before she could consider any other reasons for her desire to visit the Major’s office, she heard some other booted feet walking down the corridor and turned to see Tom and Harry heading her way. They were dressed for training like her, in their military gear, and she presumed they had similarly been let out early.

“Hey, Sherlock,” greeted Tom amiably as usual, “What’re you up to?”

“Hello Tom,” she replied, emphasising the use of his real name, “I was just going upstairs for something to eat.” She offered Harry a smile of greeting too.

He smiled back before speaking. “We were thinking of going to the rec room for a quick game of pool, since it’ll probably be quiet. Do you fancy joining us?”

“Why not,” said Andrea as the lift arrived, thinking she could always get something to eat afterwards.

As the three of them got in, Tom turned to Andrea. “So have you heard anything more about the fire last Wednesday?”

“Nothing you don’t know already I’m sure,” she replied, before something struck her, “Why would you think I would know anything extra?”

Tom raised his eyebrows suggestively. “I thought the Major might have told you something privately.”

Andrea looked at him with a perplexed expression. “Why on earth would you think that?”

She glanced between the two men who were exchanging a knowing look, both of them smiling and winking at one another.

“What?” demanded Andrea, snapping them out of it.

“Nothing,” said Harry putting up his hands, though he was still smiling.

“It’s obviously something,” noted Andrea pinning them in place with her eyes, “For you two to be grinning at each other like a pair of idiots.”

“Well,” said Tom slowly, “It’s just you two seem to be quite…friendly all of a sudden.”

“Yeah,” chipped in Harry, “And don’t think we haven’t seen how you’re always showing off whenever she’s observing training.”

“I do not show off!” stated Andrea indignantly, “I just like to do a good job.”

“Ah, of course,” said Tom sarcastically, “That must be what it is, how could we have thought anything else.”

Andrea couldn’t fail to notice him winking at Harry again. She knew she should probably let it drop, but found herself pressing them anyway. “What else could it be?”

Tom shrugged. “You tell us.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” insisted Andrea. “Yes, we might be friendlier than when I first got here, but that wouldn’t be hard would it? And as for all that other stuff…well, I think the pair of you have far too much time on your hands to think about things.”

“If you say so,” said Harry, though his tone implied he didn’t believe her at all.

“I do,” said Andrea, crossing her arms across her chest and facing the doors to indicate this particular topic was closed.

When they reached the ground floor, the two men continued talking amongst themselves as they walked down the corridor with Andrea striding on ahead.

“What have you heard about the fire then?” Harry asked Tom.

“Nothing much, though it’s the main topic of conversation round the base. Speculation’s rife that it wasn’t an accident, that it was some sort of sabotage.”

Harry sucked in a breath. “Why sabotage the kitchen though? And who would do such a thing?”

“Good questions,” agreed Tom. “But one thing’s for sure, it doesn’t exactly reflect well on the Major. I even heard that the Colonel’s paying an impromptu visit some time this week.”

“You think she’s really in trouble, the Major? That she might even get sacked or transferred?”

Andrea swung round to them again. “She wouldn’t be would she?” she asked, trying to keep her tone even, despite the fact that a strange anxiety was filling her. “That’s hardly fair, it’s not as if it was the Major’s fault.”

“But she is in overall command, the base is her responsibility,” Tom offered by means of explanation, “And ultimately she carries the can for any cock ups.”

Andrea creased her brow at that worrying prospect.

“Why, not concerned are you?” queried Tom, having noted the look.

Andrea schooled her features into a more neutral expression. “Only because she’s a good commander, and we could end up with Chadwick if she left.”

“Urgh,” said Harry, “Now that doesn’t bear thinking about.”

They had reached the rec room now and Andrea pushed open the doors, seeing that it was indeed as quiet as Harry had supposed it would be. Apart from the soldier behind the bar cleaning glasses there was no one else in the room. They went over to the nearest pool table, Harry proceeding to rack the balls on the green baize.

“Where’s Bel, by the way?” Andrea asked Tom, leaning on a cue while they waited for the other man to finish.

“She’s got a session with Dr Thomas,” Tom replied.

“Ah, right,” nodded Andrea. “So…um…how have you two been getting along?”

Tom actually blushed at the question. “Good, thanks.”

“Just good?” Andrea asked, glad to have Tom on the spot for once.

“Ok, great, fantastic,” he admitted, “She’s…amazing.”

Andrea laughed to hear Tom speak so fondly of her. It would ruin his reputation as a jack-the-lad if anyone else heard it. Harry had finally finished assembling the balls to his satisfaction and Tom duly broke off. They had already played a few games, sharing general chit-chat as they did, when the doors to the rec room opened and Doc and Corporal Lister walked in conversing with one another.

“Hey, Lister!” said Tom pulling up from his shot to greet the cook, “How are you feeling?”

“Fine, thanks,” replied Lister, walking over to the table, “Doc says I have a clean bill of health. It could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for Andrea here, though.”

Andrea felt all eyes turning to her and just about resisted the urge to blush. “It was nothing, really,” she said dismissively, “Anyone would have done the same.”

Lister made a small chuckle. “I doubt that! I can’t see anyone else here smashing a hole in my kitchen wall to rescue me.” The squat man came over to Andrea, patting her gently on the arm, “I just wanted to say thanks again,” he said with genuine warmth in his tone.

“If we’ve all had enough of this mutual appreciation,” interjected Tom, “How about we play some pool? Fancy a game Lister, Doc?”

“Yeah, I’m up for it,” said Lister with a grin, “Though we could make it more interesting.”

Tom smiled, knowing exactly what he meant. “You want to play for money?”

Andrea saw that Doc was rolling his eyes. “You two are as bad as each other,” remarked the bald man, “I think I’ll just watch.”

“That’s because you’re crap anyway,” said Tom, laughing at the indignant look that garnered. “So what do you say, tenner per game, winner stays on?”

“Or we could play doubles?” suggested Lister, “You and Harry against me and Andrea, since Doc doesn’t seem so keen.”

“Oh, I see,” said Tom, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “Pick the best player for yourself.”

Lister held up his hands. “Hey, I’ve never seen Andrea play before.”

“Like you couldn’t have guessed she could play anyway,” said Tom suspiciously, “They have to pass their pool playing test you know, to get into the club.”

“What club?” asked Lister, confused.

“The lesbian club of course!”

Andrea jabbed the butt end of her cue into Tom’s foot. “Ignore him,” she said to Lister, as Tom hopped up and down, “I’d love to play with you.”

They soon found out that the match was actually fairly even, since Andrea’s much-lauded prowess at the game was matched by Lister’s less than impressive talents. Still no one was too bothered about the outcome, having fun just playing. They had completed three games by the time more people started to filter into the room on their lunch break. One of those people was Lieutenant Chadwick and Andrea let out a small internal groan as he started up a game with one of his cronies on the adjacent table. In between shots she could see him glancing at her, sneering nastily each time.

Andrea tried to ignore him and concentrate on her own game. Finding herself at the end of the table, she bent over to line up her shot when she felt something poke into her back.

“Hey, watch it,” she said, swinging round to find it was Chadwick who had nudged her with his cue.

“Oops, sorry,” he said, “I didn’t see you there, I was just trying to take my shot.”

“Yeah, right,” said Andrea confrontationally, “You did it on purpose.”

“I assure you I did not,” he replied, “The tables are just a bit close here,” he said indicating the small distance, “Go on, take your shot first.”

Andrea eyed him suspiciously before turning back to her table and bending down once more, sticking her hand out on the green baize and resting the cue between her fingers. She was easing her cue back when she heard a comment from behind her. It was whispered, but intentionally not quietly enough so that she would miss it.

“You’d think with all that counselling she might learn to control her temper better.”

Andrea was up again immediately. “What did you say?” she demanded of Chadwick.

“Me?” he replied innocently, putting his hand to his chest and glancing at his companion as if it were ridiculous he could have said anything.

“What do you know about my counselling?” pressed Andrea, stepping aggressively towards him.

She was close enough now that his next remark was only audible to the pair of them. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Andrea was balling her fist when suddenly Tom was between them, pushing her back towards their table.

“Come on, Andrea, he’s not worth it.”

“That’s right, let the mummy’s boy rescue you,” called Chadwick, as Tom still attempted to hold Andrea back.

Tom froze before swinging slowly round to Chadwick, an icy expression on his face. “What did you call me?”

“You heard me, mummy’s boy,” repeated Chadwick, “It’s true though isn’t it? I can’t say as I can blame the Colonel for not wanting to be associated with someone like you, I think I’d disown you too if you were my son.”

Suddenly Tom flew at Chadwick, surprising Andrea with how quickly he had gone from being the one trying to stop any potential fight to the one instigating it. The two men tumbled to the ground as they wrestled with one another, reigning in blows on each other where they could. Andrea attempted to reach down and grab Tom, though it was difficult to get hold of just one of them with all the flailing limbs. In the end she yanked them both to their feet and shoved Chadwick from Tom. As the man staggered backwards, Tom was all for going for him again and Andrea had to wrap her arms around Tom to stop him.

“I’ll have you!” shouted Tom pointing at Chadwick as he struggled in Andrea’s grasp.

“Any time!” replied Chadwick, dabbing at his lip where it had got cut.

“Tom!” cried Andrea, trying to get his attention, “Just leave it. Remember, ‘he’s not worth it’”

Tom looked to her, before relaxing his attempts to get free. “All right, all right, you can let go.”

Andrea released him, for the first time seeing that they had gathered a small crowd with the fracas. “Let’s just get on with our game,” she suggested.

“I don’t really feel like playing now,” said Tom, immediately walking off for the door.

Andrea glanced at Harry and Lister in bemusement before giving chase. She managed to catch Tom before he’d gotten too far down the corridor outside the rec room.

“What was that all about?” she asked, keeping pace with him as he continued to stride along.

“Nothing,” he stated firmly.

“It didn’t seem like nothing. It seemed more like he hit a nerve. He appears to have an uncanny knack for doing that I’ve noticed”

Tom stopped, turning towards her and sighing. “Damn, I can’t believe I let him rile me like that,” he said, shaking his head.

This sounded all too familiar to Andrea. “Don’t beat yourself up,” she said, placing a consoling hand on his shoulder, “He’s an arsehole. I know how he can get to you with that annoying look and his snide comments.”

“Still I should be able to resist the temptation to whack him,” Tom said ruefully, “I guess it still pisses me off, about my dad.”

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“Oh, it’s all a big fat mess, hardly worth talking about. The thing is, Chadwick was right, my dad doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

Andrea was reminded of the situation with her own parents, though she didn’t think the cause of Tom’s obvious estrangement could be the same.

“Is that because of…” Andrea searched for a diplomatic way to express it, “…what you did before you came here?”

“You mean is it because I was a crook?” asked Tom with a sardonic laugh, “It’s all right, you don’t have to sugar-coat it. That is partly the reason, yes, but our relationship was pretty much non-existent before that anyway.”

Tom waited for a soldier to walk past them before he continued on. “To tell you the truth I’ve not seen much of him since I was ten years old. He and my mum split up then and I went to live with her. She thought I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t too young to know what an affair was, and that my dad was having one.”

“I’m sorry,” said Andrea, “It must have been hard, finding that out.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t exactly hold much respect for him after that, so I didn’t really care if I saw him or not. He was pretty busy with his military career anyway, so it was basically just me and mum. She did her best, but I guess it was tough for her bringing up a teenage son without a strong male role model. I just sort of slipped into crime – I’m sure you’ve heard the tale a thousand times yourself. It starts of with a bit of shoplifting, onto some more serious nicking, maybe a bit of car theft and then you’re on the slippery slope.”

Andrea nodded. She had heard similar tales a fair few times in her police career. “You eventually got arrested though?”

“Yeah, so any faint chance of a reconciliation was pretty much blown out of the water by that, the embarrassment of the great Colonel having a son in prison.”

“But you’re here now,” noted Andrea, “Are you sure he didn’t have some hand in that, considering he’s the one ultimately in charge?”

“I didn’t think so, but now you mention it…” pondered Tom.

“Maybe you could find out who arranged for you to come here?”

“I guess so,” Tom allowed, still unsure.

“What have you got to lose, unless you don’t want to make up with him?”

Tom rubbed wearily at his face. “I’m not sure what I want.”

“I can understand that,” said Andrea sympathetically, “My own relationship with my parents is pretty strained and I’m not sure what I would do if they suddenly extended an olive branch. Your father’s coming this week isn’t he? Maybe you could speak to him then?”

“I think that might be a bit soon,” said Tom hesitantly, “I’ll think about it. You won’t tell anyone else about this will you?”

“Of course not,” said Andrea sincerely.

“Thanks, you’re a good friend,” he said warmly, offering up a small smile. “Now how about some lunch? That is if you can resist dismantling any more of the messhall?”

Andrea smiled too, relieved that he was joking again. “I’m sure I can control myself,” she agreed as they headed into the canteen.

………….

The Major walked down the corridor, annoyed that there was yet another troublesome incident to contend with. As if dealing with the fire and the subsequent investigation wasn’t bad enough, now it was fistfights in the rec room. She realised that none of this would be helping her tenuous hold on her job. She’d already spoken to Lieutenant Chadwick and Tom about it, but they’d been evasive as to the cause, both men refusing to place any blame on the other. She suspected that was down to misplaced male pride or honour, though the latter seemed doubtful in the Lieutenant’s case.

In the hope of some enlightenment, she’d found herself heading to the section of the second floor dedicated to the superhuman’s quarters. One thing she had been able to garner was that amongst those present during the fight was Andrea. In fact by all accounts she had been the one to break it up. The Major hoped her desire to calm the situation might extend to filling the Major in on the details.

It was now evening so she knew the young woman would most likely be in, having finished for the day. As the Major entered the secure area she heard the familiar sound of rock music drifting along from Tom’s room. She really wished he would use some headphones from time to time. As if somehow sensing that desire, the music suddenly cut off. Only now she could hear music of a completely different kind.

It was classical music, the faint strings of a violin to be exact. The Major didn’t know enough about that sort of music to be able to recognise the tune, though it was certainly hauntingly beautiful. Subconsciously she stopped to listen for a moment to the lilting melody. Only after she’d been standing in the corridor for a minute did she realise it was coming from Andrea’s quarters. She would never have had Andrea down as a classical music lover, and she didn’t recall seeing many cds of that type in the collection she’d got a brief glimpse of last time she was in the other woman’s room.

As the Major rang the chime on the quarters the music abruptly ceased before Andrea opened the door. She was out of her daytime training gear, in some of her own clothes, and the Major noted that for once she wore her hair down, the blonde strands falling just below her shoulders.

“Major, what can I do for you?” Andrea had looked surprised briefly before a smile flickered across her face.

“I was hoping I could have a word.”

“Of course, come in,” said Andrea, gesturing her inside.

The Major entered the room, deciding it was probably best to remain standing since it was a fairly official visit. As Andrea closed the door, the Major was just opening her mouth to speak when something caught her eye, completely making her lose track of what she was going to say. Sitting on the coffee table was a violin.

“Are you all right?” Andrea asked, having noted how the Major had gone quiet.

“What?” said the Major, her eyes swinging back to the young woman. “Oh yes,” she added, trying to get her mind back in gear again. She couldn’t help glancing back over at the table. “That was you playing?” she asked, still not quite able to grasp the fact.

Andrea laughed, crossing over to pick up the delicate instrument. “I know it was a bit off, but I haven’t practiced for a while.”

“Off?” said the Major incredulously, “It sounded pretty damn good to me; I thought it was a cd when I heard it outside.”

Andrea smiled sheepishly at the compliment. “It could have been better,” she insisted, “I guess I like to strive for perfection.”

The Major didn’t quite know how Andrea could improve on the wonderful playing she’d heard, but decided to defer to the young woman’s obviously greater knowledge on the subject.

“It seems like I’ve managed to find something else about me you didn’t know, though,” added Andrea in amusement, studying the Major’s still somewhat bemused expression.

“Indeed,” agreed the Major, watching Andrea place the violin carefully away in its case. Just before she closed the lid Andrea ran her fingers softly along the polished wood, as if she was giving the instrument a farewell caress.

The Major only realised she was staring when Andrea swung back round and she was forced to look up at the young woman. “Well, why did you think Tom called me Sherlock?” asked Andrea, having seemingly missed the study.

“Sorry?” said the Major, her confusion deepening, “I just assumed that was the detective connection.”

“That’s part of it, but the other thing Sherlock Holmes was famous for, besides the pipe and the hat, which I don’t own by the way, was his violin playing.”

“Of course,” said the Major, “I never thought Tom would give quite so much thought to a nickname.”

Andrea shrugged. “Anyway, what was it you wanted?”

The Major had almost forgotten she’d come there with a specific purpose. “Right, yes,” she said, trying to get her mindset right after the distraction. “I wanted to ask you about the incident in the rec room earlier today.”

“By ‘incident’ I presume you mean the fight between Chadwick and Tom?”

“Yes, I’ve spoken to both of them about it, but they weren’t very forthcoming.”

Andrea was eyeing the Major suspiciously now. “So why are you asking me about it?”

“You were there weren’t you?” the Major stated evenly.

“So were lots of other people,” noted Andrea, still seeming rather wary, “Have you been round to see all of them too?”

“No,” admitted the Major, thinking to herself that perhaps it could seem a bit strange that she had picked Andrea of all the potential witnesses. She wasn’t entirely sure of her reasoning herself. “So do you know what it was about?” she asked, getting back to the point.

“It was…personal.”

“Well, I didn’t think it was over the weather,” said the Major, somewhat exasperated. “What sort of personal?”

“I don’t think it’s up to me to say, maybe you should ask your Lieutenant again?”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” asked the Major, not sure she liked the implication.

“Nothing.” Andrea’s eyes had flicked away as she said it.

“If you have some sort of problem with Lieutenant Chadwick I want to know.”

“Besides him being a wanker, you mean?”

The Major exhaled slowly. Though she personally didn’t care for the man, she couldn’t allow her subordinates to be slandered so. “Unless you have a specific grievance I would thank you not to refer to the Lieutenant in that manner.”

“These are my quarters aren’t they?” said Andrea obstinately, “I’ll call him whatever the hell I like. Arsehole. Dickhead. Twat. I can’t quite decide which is most appropriate.”

“Andrea,” said the Major warningly, “This is not helping matters.”

“Oh sorry, should I be helpful like the Lieutenant? Winding people up and watching them explode.”

The hostility evident in Andrea’s tone made the Major think they weren’t necessarily discussing Tom any more. “Has he done something similar to you?”

“No,” replied Andrea quickly. Maybe a bit too quickly, considered the Major.

“Are you sure?” The Major found herself more than disturbed by the thought that Chadwick was antagonising Andrea in some way.

“Of course I’m sure,” stated Andrea defensively.

The Major recognised that they weren’t getting anywhere fast with the current direction of the conversation. In an attempt to ease the tension she sat down on one of the sofa chairs, putting her below Andrea’s eye-line and encouraging the young woman to follow suit, which she duly did.

“Look, I know Lieutenant Chadwick can be a bit…abrasive in his approach,” allowed the Major, deliberately lowering the tone of her voice to a more gentle one, “But he’s still a good and loyal officer. If, however, he were abusing his position in some way, I would want to know about it. So I’ll ask you one more time, is there anything I should know?”

Andrea regarded her silently, her eyes holding the Major’s gaze. As the blue eyes observed her the Major got the sense that Andrea was weighing up what she could say, making the Major think there definitely was something going on.

“No, there’s nothing you should know,” Andrea said finally.

The Major sighed disappointedly – she could only ask so many times. She hoped that eventually Andrea would tell her the truth. “Fine,” she said, “But if you do think of anything, you know where I am.”

………….

The Major closed the door to her office, finally glad to be free of Colonel Parsons and able to look forward to a much more pleasant evening. The Colonel had been as suspicious as she was as to the cause of the fire the previous Wednesday, agreeing with her that the disabling of the alarm and sprinkler system was too coincidental for it to be an accident. Unfortunately the investigation had not yielded anything telling and they were pretty much at a dead end, no nearer finding out why the fire had been set and who had done it. Though her superior hadn’t directly said anything, she could feel the pressure was on her to ensure there weren’t any more ‘accidents’.

She resolved not to think about that for a few hours at least, as she walked down to the ground floor, looking forward to seeing her friend Sophie McAllister. Somehow Sophie had manage to swing being part of the Colonel’s party, though quite how the Major didn’t know – she wasn’t even in the same corps. No doubt Sophie would fill her in on her powers of persuasion when she saw her. The Major was nearly at the lobby when she found herself waylaid by a call.

“Major!”

The Major swung round to see Andrea hurrying after her. There was a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead and around the neckline of her dark green t-shirt, making the Major think she had come straight from a training session. “Andrea? Is there something wrong?”

“What? Oh, no, I just wanted to speak to you,” explained the other woman.

The Major’s brow creased slightly, wondering at Andrea’s urgency if all she wanted was a word. Now Andrea had stopped before her she could see the individual beads of sweat on her skin, watching one slowly slip down Andrea’s cheek and on down her neck, finally sliding down beneath the edge of her shirt. The Major’s eyes continued tracking its imaginary course, though she only got as far as Andrea’s chest before she realised it was her turn to say something. She quickly swung her eyes back up again. “Fire away then.” She wondered why her voice had come out quite so huskily, she certainly hadn’t intended to speak like that.

The Major looked on in surprise as Andrea shifted anxiously before speaking herself. She found it hard to believe that there was anything Andrea was nervous about saying, normally she had no trouble speaking her mind.

“I just wanted to say sorry,” said the young woman, “About last night in my quarters. I shouldn’t have got annoyed like that, you only wanted to know what happened. I’m only sorry I couldn’t tell you. Tom did confide in me as to the reasons behind the fight, but I hope you understand that I can’t break that confidence.”

The Major was taken aback by the apology, not having expected it at all. “I guess I can understand that,” she agreed, “You wouldn’t be much of a friend if you discussed his private business with just anyone.”

“I don’t think of you as just anyone, though,” said Andrea quietly.

The Major wasn’t sure she was even supposed to have heard the comment, and she looked at Andrea quizically, wondering exactly what it meant. Before she could ask, though, she was summoned for the second time, only this time it was much less formally.

“Kate Jarvis! There you are!”

The Major glanced over her shoulder to see Sophie approaching with a huge smile on her face. Without any regard for proprietry she wrapped the Major up in a hug when she reached her. The Major eventually managed to extricate herself, acutely aware that Andrea was still standing right next to them. Glancing over at the young woman she caught a brief flash of something she didn’t quite recognise on Andrea’s face. It appeared to be a mixture of suspicion and quite possibly dislike, though why Andrea would have such a reaction to Sophie, the Major didn’t know.

“I better be going,” said Andrea, uncharacteristically not meeting the Major’s eye and then hurrying back the way she had come before the Major could say anything further.

“Oops, I certainly seem to have stood on someone’s toes,” said Sophie, watching the departing Andrea.

“I’m sorry?” queried the Major, staring at her friend uncertainly.

“Tall, blond and gorgeous,” Sophie remarked, tilting her head in the direction Andrea had gone.

The Major realised Sophie was referring to Andrea, though didn’t know what else it was she was trying to say.

“Oh come on, Kat,” said Sophie, rolling her eyes at the Major’s persistent confused look, “She fancies you!”

“What, Andrea?” cried the Major incredulously, “Don’t be ridiculous!”

Sophie lifted her eyebrows. “Ridiculous is it? Is that why she was giving me the evils and sizing me up as the competition?”

“She was not,” stated the Major as if it were the most preposterous thing in the world, “You’re letting your imagination run wild. She was probably just a little wary because you’re a stranger round here.”

“Sure,” said Sophie disbelievingly, “I’m telling you I know jealousy when I see it and that was a first class case of the green eyed monster.”

The Major shook her head, realising Sophie just didn’t know Andrea well enough to be able to assess her behaviour. “Don’t be silly,” she said, “Andrea is not interested in me as anything other than her commanding officer and maybe a friend, that’s it.”

Sophie was nodding her head in a doubtful way. “Uh-huh.”

“Stop it,” the Major warned her.

As was her way, Sophie disregarded the friendly caution and continued on anyway. “You just don’t realise the affect you have on us poor gay girls do you? I’m right that she’s gay aren’t I?”

“I don’t pry into the sexual orientation of my operatives,” said the Major evasively.

Sophie fixed her with her dark eyes, waiting for the real answer.

The Major sighed, knowing that the other woman wouldn’t let it go until she had one. “Oh all right. Yes, she is gay.”

“Ah-ha, I knew it!” cried Sophie in triumph, “Another direct hit for the old gaydar.”

“But that doesn’t mean she ‘fancies’ me,” added the Major quickly, “Just because she’s gay and I’m a woman!”

“If you say so,” said Sophie, stroking her chin lightly, “Well, if you’re not interested maybe I’ll give it a go?”

The Major couldn’t help the brief choking noise that erupted from her mouth. She had to clear her throat before she could speak. “Seriously?”

Sophie had a look of intense amusement on her face now. “Now who’s jealous?” she remarked pointedly.

“You think I’m jealous?” asked the Major, her face a mask of bewilderment.

“You aren’t?” asked Sophie, her eyes scanning the Major the whole time, “I would say that slight blush on your face along with the way your voice crept up ever so slightly despite your best attempt to cover it up would indicate that you are.”

The Major made sure her tone was completely even before she answered. She was sure it hadn’t done any of the things Sophie said, but it was best to be careful. “Now you really are being fanciful,” she stated calmly, “I’m just concerned for one of my operatives left to your tender mercies.”

Sophie laughed. “You make me sound like some sort of wanton hussy, I’m sure she’s a big girl and can take care of herself. Just a shame she’s not really my type. Plus she seems to have her eyes set on someone else anyway.”

“Will you stop saying that?” exclaimed the Major, getting annoyed by the teasing now.

“Oh, of course, silly me,” said Sophie, ignoring the Major’s discomfort, “I forgot you’re the regular straight girl aren’t you. And you don’t find her the least bit attractive…are you sure you’re even alive?”

The Major evaded the question, not even wanting to consider it. “What is this, are you recruiting for the gay cause again or something? Haven’t got enough members already so you need to start trying to convert the straight people?”

Sophie smiled wickedly. “You can’t blame a girl for trying, I’m hoping I might wear you down eventually.”

“Sorry, I’m still straight and even if I weren’t, there would be nothing going on with Andrea – she’s under my command for a start.”

“Like that’s stopped you in the past!” scoffed Sophie.

“And look where that got me,” the Major reminded her.

The comment finally managed to stymie the other woman, both of them knowing how disastrous the Major’s brief relationship with Adam had been. She didn’t want to even think about him anymore and decided to close off the subject there and then.

“Believe me, I’ve learnt the hard way that command and love life do not mix.”

“Ok, sorry for raking up old wounds,” said Sophie with honest apology.

“Forget about it,” the Major said dismissively, “Now let’s go have a drink and you can fill me in on the sordid details of your life instead.”

…………….

Andrea stood out on the windswept grass of the island, waiting with the other superhumans for their training session to start. It was a reasonably warm May morning, but not yet warm enough for them to discard their jackets as they stood on the exposed ground. As the breeze whipped at her face and flicked a few strands of hair across it, Andrea couldn’t help her mind drifting back to the brief conversation with the Major the evening before. Of course, she knew it wasn’t the content of the conversation that bothered her, it was the other woman who had turned up and interupted them. Andrea wondered who the dark-haired woman was. She certainly seemed to know the Major pretty well if the hug they had shared had been anything to go by. As she pondered that, Andrea was surprised by the hosility she felt towards someone she didn’t even know.

Luckily, the other three were chatting amongst themselves as normal, providing her with at least some distraction from her troubling thoughts.

“I’m telling you, they’re getting us ready for something,” said Harry animatedly.

“Harry, Harry, Harry,” said Tom with a sigh, “Have you been reading those comic books again? We’re not the X-men you know.”

Harry wasn’t being put off easily though. “You may laugh, but just you wait – we’ll have matching uniforms before you know it!”

A cheeky smile curved Tom’s lips now. “Hmm, now you’re talking,” he remarked, casting his eyes over Tardelli who stood next to him, “I could just see you in a skin-tight leather cat-suit.”

Tardelli laughed at him. “Only if you agree to wear one too,” she replied.

“Hey, I’m willing to give anything a go,” insisted Tom.

Their laughter was interupted by a jeep pulling up and disgorging the ever-surly Lieutenant Chadwick from the back of it.

“If you freaks have had quite enough fun playing around, it’s time for some work.”

“Nice too see you too, Chaddy,” said Tom sarcastically, using the nickname he knew the other man hated.

Chadwick glowered at him but didn’t rise to the bait. “Right, Hallstrom, get up in the air,” he ordered Andrea, “It’s time for a bit of save the puck.”

“Would it hurt you to ask nicely for once?” Andrea asked.

“Yes it would, now just do it before I kick your arse up there.”

Andrea thought the Lieutenant’s methods of motivation could use a little work, but didn’t bother arguing the point. Instead she sprang into the air, soaring up to a position about a hundred feet off the ground. Once up there she stilled into a hover. As a result of the weeks practice she could now maintain a stable position while up in the air without much direct thought.

However, as she waited for the launch of the projectile that new-found control allowed Andrea’s mind to start wandering again. Images of the Major hugging the dark-haired woman swimming through her brain once more. Too late she realised the object had already been fired and flown straight past her. She could only watch as it thudded into the turf below while she remained where she was, high up in the air.

You’re meant to catch the bloody thing, Hallstrom, not float around like an idiot.

Andrea ignored Chadwick’s voice on the radio and tried to set her mind onto the task at hand. A small pop indicated the launch of a second projectile. She flew after it, attempting to judge its tracjectory so she could catch it before it hit the ground. She was reaching out her hand when out of nowhere another image flashed through her mind. In this one the dark-haired woman’s hand was stroking the Major’s back as they hugged. She mentally shook herself, grasping for the object but the telling puff of earth as it thumped down showed she was too late again. Cursing to herself she landed on the ground, snatching up the sturdy projectile and flinging it off across the island in annoyance. It flew over the nearby copse of trees and disappeared from view.

“Oi, what do you think you’re doing?” Chadwick was pacing across the ground towards her now, a thunderous look on his face.

“Nothing,” replied Andrea turning to meet him.

“Well that was a pile of crap, Hallstrom,” he said disdainfully, “But before we go again you can go and get that bloody thing back.” He jabbed his finger in the direction she had dispatched the projectile.

“Oh, fuck you.”

Chadwick’s eyes narrowed, his hands now on his hips. “What did you say?”

“You heard,” repeated Andrea with deliberate slowness, “I said…fuck…you!”

“You better watch your mouth,” he snapped back before his tone lowered to a more menacing one, “We don’t want any other nasty accidents do we?” Chadwick reached for Andrea’s left arm and she relexively drew it back, protecting the power regulator that lay under her jacket.

“Bastard!”

Chadwick’s lips curved into a nasty smile, now he sensed he had got to her. “Aw, what’s the matter, had a little tiff with your girlfriend?”

The colour drained from Andrea’s face and all she could manage was a startled “What?” in response. Andrea wasn’t entirely sure if Chadwick meant anyone in particular, or if he was just generally teasing her about being gay. She realised that it was her that had jumped to the conclusion that he meant the Major.

“What’s up, she been sharing her affections has she?”

“Shut up!”

Chadwick then left it under no doubt as to who he was referring. “She’s quite an affectionate woman isn’t she, the Major, always stroking and patting people” he said sleazily.

“Wanker!”

Andrea leapt at him, just about restraining herself from using the full force she could as she punched him in the face. Then she was on top of him pummeling him in the chest. She was dimly aware of some hands grabbing at her trying to haul her off him but she shook them off in her fury. Finally she allowed herself to be pulled up, only then seeing that someone else had joined the group. A horrible plunging sensation swept through Andrea’s stomach as she saw the Major regarding her fiercely with her blue-grey eyes.

“In my office, now!”

Chadwick opened his mouth to speak.

“Both of you!” shouted the Major, swiftly turning on her heel and stalking off.

…………….

Andrea stood before the desk in the Major’s office, gripping her hands firmly behind her back in an attempt to appear cool and calm, despite the fact that inside her heart was hammering wildly. Next to her was Lieutenant Chadwick, similarly standing ramrod straight his dark eyes betraying little. The Major meanwhile sat behind the large mahogany desk her eyes flicking between each one of them in turn like a lion deciding which one to pounce upon and tear to bits first.

Andrea felt about two inches tall under the withering gaze, and rather than attempting to meet it she found a point on the wall behind the Major’s head and fixed her eyes on that instead. The silence stretched on, the Major letting the pair of them stew under the intense perusal. Andrea hoped that at least Chadwick felt as uncomfortable as she did.

“So, would one of you mind telling me what that was about?”

The Major’s tone was deathly, matching the expression on her face. Despite the demand neither Andrea nor Chadwick spoke. The Major slowly rose from her chair, breaking Andrea’s resolute staring at the wall. Andrea caught a brief glimpse of the murderous look on the Major’s face before she found a new spot to look at, down on the red-carpeted floor.

“I see, suddenly everyone’s gone dumb have they?” said the Major sarcastically. Andrea sensed her coming round the table towards them, but didn’t look up. “I would expect this sort of behaviour from a couple of children, not two grown adults.”

The Major’s black-booted feet passed Andrea’s gaze and continued on to stop in front of Chadwick. Andrea risked a sideways glance to see the Major jutting her chin out as she stared up at him. Though he was a good few inches taller than her, there was no doubt who held the power.

“Lieutenant, what happened?” she asked, her tone deceptively even. Andrea got the feeling that at any minute she was going to explode at one of them.

“It was a misunderstanding, ma’am,” replied the Lieutenant. Despite her dislike for him, Andrea was impressed he could answer so calmly.

“Ah, a ‘misunderstanding’?” repeated the Major, her voice tinged with obvious doubt.

She turned from him and walked towards Andrea. Andrea thought it would be too obvious to look down again so forced herself to meet the Major’s eyes, though it took most of her willpower to hold the penetrating stare she received.

“Andrea?”

Andrea never realised quite so much could be made of just her name, but the way the Major said it demanded an answer. “The Lieutenant’s right,” Andrea replied, following the soldier’s lead, “We just got our wires crossed. It was nothing.” She was equally impressed she’d managed to keep her own voice so composed.

The Major merely pursed her lips and nodded at the answer, pacing away from both of them. Andrea allowed herself a small sigh of relief now she was out from the piercing stare. Then suddenly the Major swung round.

“What an utter load of crap!” she exclaimed loudly. Andrea actually flinched at the venom in the words, noting Chadwick had done the same next to her. “A misunderstanding? Nothing? How stupid do you think I am?” She was before them again now, and if Andrea thought the other woman’s stare had been piercing before she considered that this one could well peel paint off walls with its ferocity. “Well?”

Both Andrea and Chadwick mumbled out some sort of response in unison, along the lines of them not thinking she was stupid at all.

“Really?” barked the Major, “Because I can only assume you must think I am, if you expect me to believe this bollocks you’re spinning me.” Andrea was again taken aback by the fact that the Major chose to swear, knowing the other woman must be furious.

That was evidenced futher by the way she stood with her hands on her hips, not blinking as her eyes remained on the two people in front of her. Andrea squirmed under the harsh inspection, but managed to keep her jaw firmly shut despite the urge to try and justify her actions.

Finally the Major sighed and made her way back round the desk to lower herself into her chair. “Fine, if you’re not going to tell me what’s going on, then all I will say is that you better sort this out on your own time, and quickly.” She leant forward, placing her hands deliberately together on the desk before glaring up. “If I don’t see some sort of improvement in both of your attitudes then I will be forced to take disciplanry action. Either way I do not ever want to see that kind of behaviour on my base again, is that understood?”

Andrea mumbled her affirmative response, as did Chadwick next to her.

“Now get out!”

Neither of them dared say anything further, turning immediately for the door, grateful to be dismissed at last. Chadwick’s hand was just on the handle, when suddenly the Major’s voice rang out again.

“Hang on, Andrea.”

Andrea froze where she was, her back to the other woman. Chadwick shot her a sneering look as he continued out, closing the door behind him. Andrea could feel a small prickle down her spine, sensing the presence of the Major behind her. It had been hard withstanding the Major’s ire and disappointment while Chadwick was present, but to now be left alone with the other woman filled her with an irrational dread. Andrea slowly swung back round with no small amount of trepidation. However, as she turned she saw that the Major was perched on the edge of her desk, her features considerably softened from the cold expression they had been displaying moments before. Andrea was too stunned by the shift in mood to say anything, just about managing to take a couple of steps back across the room so she wasn’t quite so far away.

The Major’s silent study went on for a couple of moments before the other woman gracefully lowered herself off the desk and crossed the carpet in Andrea’s direction. As she neared, Andrea’s heart rate increased further, while her breathing was growing ever shallower. In the end she had to take a small gulp of air, hoping it wasn’t as audible as it sounded to her own ears.

“I was hoping that maybe you might feel like saying something without the Lieutenant present,” offered the Major.

Andrea wondered if the heating in the Major’s room had been switched to high that day, because she was feeling decidedly warm under her training gear. Seeing the Major waiting expectantly for an answer, Andrea sincerely wished she could give her the truth. Yet at the same time she knew she could hardly tell the other woman that it was Chadwick’s suggestive comments that had led to Andrea losing her cool. Not when those comments were about the Major herself. However, the Major’s continued soft look really wasn’t helping matters. Andrea considered that it was far more persuasive than any of her stern ones.

In the end Andrea was forced into saying something, though it started out as an incoherent mumble, before she steeled her voice. “I…er…we…do have some differences…I’d rather not say what they were.”

The Major’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly. “Andrea?” The single word was an invite to elaborate further.

Andrea didn’t think she had ever known her name used as quite such an effective weapon, but there it was again for the second time that morning. It was short yet deadly in its potency when dealt in that manner by the other woman. It was agony trying to resist. “I promise, we’ll sort it out,” Andrea said, “It won’t disturb training again.”

The Major’s eyes now bored into her from barely a foot away and Andrea’s heart was hammering so loudly she wasn’t sure she would hear if the other woman did in fact answer. Luckily she managed to catch the words over the roaring blood in her ears. “All right, if you think you have it under control then I’ll trust you for now,” the Major conceded, “But I meant what I said to you both - I do not want a repeat of this. I’ve come to expect better of you.”

Andrea was infinitely sorry to have disappointed the Major and certainly didn’t want to repeat the experience. “I understand.”

The Major nodded before finally stepping away, turning for the large window on the right-hand wall. As soon as her back was turned Andrea heaved a huge inaudible sigh, relaxing the shoulders she had been holding stiffly the whole time the Major had been in close proximity. The Major was heading over towards the drinks cabinet while Andrea stood uncertainly where she was – she wasn’t sure if she had been dismissed or whether the Major was going to add something further. The Major busied herself getting a drink, and Andrea began to think that maybe she’d completely forgotten Andrea was still in the room.

“Would you like something?”

Obviously she hadn’t.

“Er…yes…water, thank you,” replied Andrea. She was certainly hot enough to require the cooling liquid.

Having poured it the Major lowered herself onto the expansive couch, placing both drinks on the table in front of her. Andrea presumed that was an invitation for her to join the other woman, so she crossed the room and sat down warily a couple of feet to the Major’s left. Rather than saying anything, though, the Major merely leant back on the cushions, regarding Andrea keenly. Andrea could feel the eyes on her the whole time she reached for her glass and took a sip of the cool water.

In the end the pressure was too much and Andrea had to say something to fill the silence. “I am sorry about earlier,” she said, “It was stupid.”

The Major pursed her lips for a moment, and Andrea wondered how much longer the other woman was going to make her squirm. At this rate Andrea thought she could well be flinging herself on the floor at the Major’s feet, begging forgiveness such was the desire to receive it.

Finally the Major nodded, her hair bobbing slightly at the ends as she did. “Yes it was,” she agreed, “But it’s over and done with now. It is over and done with isn’t it?”

“Yes it is,” stated Andrea emphatically. She only prayed that was true, supposing she would just have to ensure she didn’t rise to Chadwick’s bait anymore, whatever the provocation.

“Good, because this is the last thing I need right now.”

Andrea was so busy being relieved that she almost missed the signs of frustration in the Major’s tone and demeanour, but not quite. “Did the Colonel give you grief over the fire?” she asked, knowing the question could be a bit presumptuous but keen to change the subject any way she could.

The Major exhaled slowly, but didn’t answer the question directly. The way she turned to look out at the clouds drifting by outside was answer enough.

“Have you found anything out yet, about what caused it?” asked Andrea.

“No,” said the Major, her eyes still on the overcast skies, “Superficially it seems like an accident.”

“But you’re not convinced?” With the Major’s face turned side-on, Andrea had the opportunity to watch the other woman’s reaction for once, without feeling like she was being examined herself.

The Major’s eyes tightened ever-so-slightly, her lips becoming a thin line. “No,” she said finally, “And this isn’t the first occurrence of something like this either.”

“Really?” This was news to Andrea. It seemed that there were still some things around the base that could be kept a secret.

The Major’s face swung back to Andrea. “There have been a few other innocuous incidents, but put them all together…”

“And you can’t help feeling it’s deliberate,” finished Andrea.

“Exactly.”

Andrea was surprised the Major was confiding in her so, especially so soon after the other woman had been tearing a strip off her. She considered that maybe the Major felt that she couldn’t confide in anyone under her command for fear of appearing weak, or maybe she just didn’t trust them. To that end, Andrea wanted to clarify precisely what it was they were talking about. “So you think you have a sabouteur on the base?”

“I don’t want to think that,” the Major said ruefully, “And maybe I’m being paranoid, but that’s what my instincts are telling me. The Colonel tends to agree too.”

Andrea digested the information, her mind coming up with a few prime suspects, one of whom had recently left the room. She wasn’t sure if that was her emotions overriding rational thought, though, it wasn’t as if she had evidence that the Lieutenant was involved in any way. “When did these incidents start?” she asked.

“About two months ago, though the recent fire was by far the most serious.”

“So just after I got here then?”

The Major’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have a point?”

“It never crossed your mind that I could be the saboteur?”

The Major’s mouth actually dropped open slightly at Andrea’s comment, a look of horror mixed with surprise crossing her face. Andrea realised she must have stunned the other woman considerably to render her speechless.

“I’m not!” Andrea quickly said, “I was just drawing attention to the strange timing. Maybe it’s even more reason to find out the truth behind my accident, there could be some sort of link.”

The Major looked doubtful. “Now you really are fishing! I told you I was looking into it, you’re just going to have to be patient.”

“I’m not very good at patient.”

“Tell me something I don’t know!” remarked the Major, making a small laugh.

Andrea laughed lightly too, glad it appeared the earlier altercation was forgotten. “All right, I’ll be patient…for now.”

It was true that the concept of waiting for someone else to act was pretty foreign to Andrea, but considering it was the Major she thought she could afford to wait a bit longer. Sooner ot later, though, she knew she would be forced to do something herself if there were no results.

Chapter 11

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