A RUMOR OF PEACE

          Roark Sr. smiled.  "After you and Harry gave your reports to the President and the Council of the Twelve, Dacian, Gabriel and I had a separate meeting with President Adar, Commander Thorin, and Commander Adama.  While none of them were exactly thrilled with our proposal, they did agree that it may just be our best chance, if not our ONLY chance to see Tom Riddle brought down once and for all.  They then signed the orders to see that it gets done."

          "Signed what orders to see WHAT done, exactly?"

          "We're giving you full command of the case against Tom Riddle, and as Harry was going with you, he will be your partner, your second."

          Silence.

          Then, after their words had sunk in and registered in his mind..."WHAT?!"

          Their smiles widened at his cry, the stunned shock in his silver eyes.  "You heard me, Roark."

          He shook his head.  "Of course I heard you, Admiral, but...what about Captain Ardyn?"

           "Captain Ardyn has command of the Colonial Garrison, NOT the case against Riddle.  That was solely Kale's, Logan's, Fili and Kili's jobs.  Ardyn has not even been told that you and Harry have been assigned to Aquaria," that raised a brow.  "Only Kale and the boys knew, and now, with Kale's death, they have been asked to not say anything about who his replacement is to be."

          "If they have been asked to remain silent on the replacement, then there is something else going on over there.  Something else is wrong," he looked from one to the other before his gaze went back to the Admiral.  "Oh hell, this isn't going to be a normal assignment, is it?"

          "No, it's not," came the expected response.  "The C.C.I.U. has officially taken over all aspects of this case, which, by the way, has ALSO not been announced."

          A nod of understanding.  "To hopefully give you an element of surprise.  The longer you can keep this from Riddle, the better chance you have of getting a head start against him."

          "Exactly.  Unfortunately, we haven't any teams free to send to Aquaria."  Dacian said.

          "Except you.  And Harry."

          "Me?  Harry?  But we're not Counter-Intelligence," he said with a shake of his head.

          "No, you aren't, but then, neither are Fili, Kili, and Logan.  You could be though, all of you could be.  There's no question the other three will except," he broke off at Roark's sudden snort of amusement.  It was a Durin family dream to be a part of the C.C.I.U., and they all knew it.  "Quite," Roark Sr. went on with a chuckle.  "So...that now leaves you...and Harry.  We have someone speaking to your brother right now, but what about you, Roark?  Will you join us?  Join the C.C.I.U.?"

          "Me?" he gasped.  "I...Admiral, I'm not...I mean I don't..." he finally just gave up, unable to fully voice what he felt about the offer just made to him.

          "Let me guess," Gabriel spoke up.  "You don't feel like you have the right to be given such an offer?  That others are older, wiser, better, and have been in the Colonial Service a hell of a lot longer than you, and therefore deserve it more."

          "Well, THAT was observant."

          "Actually, Rory, it wasn't.  It's written all over your face.  You AND your brother tend to wear your emotions on your faces.  We are going to have to work on that, as well.  You need to hide yourselves better than that when you're working a case."

          "I can hide my emotions when I have to, Dacian," he said.  "Raphael made sure of that."

          "I'm quite sure that he did.  Rory, you and Harry have been friends with this family for how long?"

          "As long as I can remember, Dac," he answered immediately.  "What has that to do with this?"

          "Everything."  Roark Sr. now said.  "You have been around us long enough to know exactly why I put this unit together."

          "It was because you felt there was too much corruption.  Not just within the Colonial Planetary Governments themselves, but within the Military Service as well."

          "That was, of course, two of the biggest reasons," Roark said, sitting forward in his chair again, "but as I'm sure you have realized, there are many other reasons involved with our decisions.  You are, I think, also aware that we do not ask just anyone to join us.  We look for certain...qualities in our Warriors.  Certain skill sets."

          "Magic?"

          "Not all of our Warriors can use magic and of those that can...well, let's just say it's a bonus we've all learned to utilize.  The point is, Roark, that we obviously feel that you and Harry have EXACTLY what we look for in our Officers.  You both have the qualities and the skill sets we need to get the jobs we set for you done."

          Silence as he sat thinking about those words.  "It's the team," he said suddenly in near disbelief.  "You don't believe that you can trust the team that you have in place there," he looked to Gabriel, then to Dacian, then to Roark Sr., who arched a brow as if waiting for him to continue.  "Oh KOBOL!" he gasped.  "Ardyn.  The Garrison.  You think they can't be trusted either."