FreezeFrame Part 6 JULY 15, 2261 Evening "I do hear what you're saying, Evan, but I just can't believe it." The incredulous senator pushed himself from his chair and started to pace yet again. "Josh has been with me since he was at University. Hell, he's like a son to me. I can't believe he would sell us out." "Senator, I know how hard this is for you. I had trouble believing it myself," Lomeda lied. "But there is substantial evidence to implicate Andrews." He paused, staring hard at the older man. "Look," he continued, softening his tone, "if he's innocent, then there's no reason for him to be afraid. He'll submit to a scan and we'll have the truth. One way or another." Hidaki shook his head. "I suppose you're right. It just...I don't know...it just doesn't feel right somehow." The dark figure moved away from the wall, a black gloved hand smoothing the black leather band of the uniform. "Betrayal is hard for any of us to accept, Senator," Cameron crooned, "but the sooner I can take Mr. Andrews in for questioning, the sooner we'll have this whole matter put to rest." Hidaki met the hazel eyes for a long questioning look. Finally, he nodded. "I have to confess, Mr. Cameron, I'm not altogether comfortable with having PsiCorps involved in this, but you are within your authority. I won't stand in your way. You can talk to Josh first thing in the morning." "I'd prefer not to wait that long, sir," the PsiCop answered. "He may be aware of our suspicions and may try to flee. I'd like to call at his home tonight." "Very well," Hidaki sighed as he dropped into his chair. "Evan can show you the way." Outside the office the man in black turned south and lengthened his stride. A voice inside his head called to him. /He probably won't be there. / Cameron turned to face Lomeda. "He's got another place he holes up sometimes. I haven't been able to find out what's going on in there, but I know where it is. I'm willing to bet that's where we'll find him." Cameron considered for a moment. "Go there then. I'll check his flat. I see no reason why you shouldn't confront him at this point. He won't be talking to anyone after tonight." The two men parted company and went in search of Andrews. JULY 16, 2261 Midday Edwin Hidaki had stayed late in bed, although he had slept almost not at all. "Morning, Sylvie," he muttered as he passed his secretary's desk. "Tell Evan I want to see him." "Mr. Lomeda hasn't come in yet, Senator," she answer with a trace of embarrassment. Hidaki stopped and turned to look back at her. "Hasn't come in?" He stepped closer to the woman. "Any messages for me this morning?" "No, sir. No messages. Just the mail. It's on your desk." He thanked the young woman and made his way to the inner office, wondering about Josh Andrews as he went. He poured a cup of coffee from the pot Sylvie had left on his desk, shook off his musings, and turned his attention to the mail. Much of the routine material he set aside, as was his habit, for Josh to handle. His stomach felt sour and he suspected the coffee was not to blame. A large envelope caught his attention. It bore no return address, but its postmark was here in the city, a station not far from the office. The address was hand printed, in large undistinguished block letters. He carefully slit the envelope and extracted a sheaf of documents. JULY 17, 2261 into JULY 18, 2261 Wee Hours Sweat glistened on Michael Garibaldi's skin and his breathing came just a little labored when the link bleated in the darkened room. He sighed and fumbled for it, muttering as he upset objects still unfamiliar. "Garibaldi," he groaned into the device finally, "go." "Michael, I thought you'd both want to know," Zack Allan began, "Daniel Shannon just came through Customs." Michael could see Carly start to grin. The voice continued. "He says he'll be in brown sector if you need him." "Understood," Garibaldi replied with a smile. Zack interrupted before he could sign off. "Oh! And he said to tell you to watch ISN." "Watch ISN?" Michael repeated in obvious puzzlement. "That's what he said, and that's all he would say. Night, Michael." JULY 18, 2261 Evening The ISN logo flashed just before Morgan Clark moved to the podium. His facial features seemed appropriately somber for the sad news he announced he had to share. He paused to let the words sink in and the cameras finish their clicking and whirring. "Earlier today Senator Edwin Hidaki, one of the most esteemed of my colleagues in EarthGov, called together the press corps to announce what he called a major conspiracy. I will not distress you further by repeating the details of those charges, nor will I dignify them by denials. It is my sad duty to tell you that the Senator collapsed under the stresses of his office and the personal tragedy of the disappearance of two of his closest aides. Distraught as he was, the Senator began to see enemies in every corner. It is a terrible and terrifying affliction. "I can only ease the sadness we all share at this news by telling you that we were able to intervene and arrange for Senator Hidaki to receive the help he needs to learn to cope again with the stresses he is facing. I know that you all join me in praying for his speedy recovery." "Off!" Sullivan squeezed her eyes shut, her head shaking in disgust at Clark's perversion of the truth. Michael's hands skimmed over her shoulders. "I feel for Hidaki. He finally comes round to the truth and look where it gets him." "There are a lot of people in one kind of prison or another because they stood up for the truth," she replied. "I feel for all of them, for all of us." Michael wrapped his arms around her and she nuzzled against his chest. "Let's go to bed," she suggested. "Let's try to squeeze out a little sleep before Clark comes after us again." Personal Log: Michael Garibaldi July 18, 2261 It's only a matter of time now. Clark is mad -- mad as in crazy, and mad as in pissed off at us. He'll be back. They'll be back. The troops loyal to Clark, or innocently obedient. And the PsiCorps, pulling everyone's strings, including Clark's. We've made a stand, won a battle, survived to fight again. But the longer it goes on, the more I wonder if Zack was right: how will we know when we win?