<USS Avalon> Cut To Pieces

Cut To Pieces

by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Manson and Lieutenant Second Class Alder 
Shimbrodus

"Thanks for meeting me."

"Don?t mention it," he replied looking out to the city. Signal Hill Park was 
exactly what it was. A park on hill that over looked two cities. If one got to 
the very edge of the park, you?d even see the traffic. Signal Hill wasn?t as 
high as the modern day skyscrapers, but it did show the city to good advantage.

Alder sat staring out to the city, waiting for Anthony to start. He noticed 
that most of the buildings were the same stark white color. Even at this 
distance, they still shared the same hue. 

"So... you wanted to talk. I," Alder took a deep breath, "I really have nothing 
to say to you..."

"Then maybe you could hear what I have to say."

"How do I know you?re not just lying to me?"

Anthony fell silent, "I don?t know, but I wouldn?t have searched for you if I 
was just going to lie to you some more. It?ll be stupid, don?t you think?" He 
wanted to get to the whole story. But he let Alder?s suspicions of him go, he 
felt he deserved it.

Alder nodded, agreeing to Anthony?s answer, "alright. Start however you like." 
He sat back, looking intensely at Anthony as he folded his arms.

"I," Anthony began, trying to formulate his thoughts together but sighed. He 
looked at Alder, and found his beginning, "Section Thirty-One doesn?t like it 
when people say ?no? to them. Instead, they prefer you go along with their 
plans. No questions ask. You do as they say, and everything- as far as they 
see- will be alright.

"So, I was picked. Out of an entire ship filled with probably better qualified 
people, I was their choice. They wanted me to do an assignment for them. 
Simple, really, if you think about it," Anthony smirked, "the guy that tried 
recruiting me ended up threatening me. But it wasn?t just me. They threatened 
to kill you if I didn?t cooperate with them."

"What was it you were suppose to do?"

Anthony saw Alder staring at him. He didn?t realize it until now, "they had me 
assigned to kill Captain Flubb."

"What?!"

Anthony raised his hands, "no, I didn?t kill him... he was dead by the time I 
was suppose to transport there and finish the job myself."

"I don?t see how..."

Anthony knew Alder would question it, but carried on, "Funny thing is, 
Thirty-One wanted me to do a job that was multi-purpose. I kill Flubb- getting 
rid of the worst Starfleet Captain; or so they thought- and do it in such a way 
that the Rydyns were implicated."

Alder glared at him, "and you implicated the Rydyns."

He nodded, "yeah. I did."

"I can?t believe..."

"It?s not like I wanted to, Alder. But I had to do something," he looked at 
Alder. Knowing he never loved anyone so much, "I couldn?t- wouldn?t- lose you. 
So I did what I had to do. It?s the price to pay for your safety."

"You just framed an entire government..."

Anthony shook his head frustratingly, "what government? The Rydyns aren?t all 
unified. Some of them are suspected to having connections in the Orion 
Syndicate. Other governments have biogenic weapons, and it wasn?t until the 
Federation made first contact with them that they ?unified? under one flag to 
prove to us that they are advanced and therefore ready to make a stand in the 
known universe." Anthony got up from the metal chair, "Half of them squabble, 
and two other governments are near a state of war."

Alder looked at him hotly, wondering who Anthony was trying to convince, "You 
still had no right, Anthony," Alder said quietly. He did appreciate it, but he 
felt as if it costed everyone a valuable ally.

"No, I didn?t. I did Thirty-One a favor; you could say. But more importantly I 
kept you safe. That?s all that?s mattered to me." He moved his eyes around, 
they felt suddenly itchy and painful, "I couldn?t let Thirty-One kill you. 
Which explains the bruises I got that night. Got kicked in face pretty damn 
hard by the recruiter- he didn?t like the fact I was refusing to help him. And 
it explains those codes I had, and my avoiding you most of the time."

"You still with them?" Alder narrowed his eyes and leaned forward a little.

"No, I?m not. I completed my task. Time will only tell what happens next," 
Anthony looked at Alder. He felt maybe it was a bad idea to tell Alder the 
truth. The guy certainly seemed ungrateful. Part of Anthony couldn?t blame him. 
"Look, I told you so you?d know I never meant to lie, no matter how stupid and 
obvious they were. The less you knew, the better. I just wanted you safe, 
that?s all. I wanted you alive more than I wanted my career and to do the right 
thing. I?ve always managed to keep my personal life apart from my professional 
life, this time around, I wasn?t so fortunate."

Anthony shrugged, "I placed you before my work. Did it because I love you. I 
don?t expect you to get back with me; or to accept what I did may cause hell 
with the Federation Council. As I?ve said, I couldn?t lose you."

A long moment passed by and when Alder made no response, it felt like Anthony 
had his heart cut up and handed to him. Anthony nodded, he had to leave. 
Feeling hurt more. He gave a grim smile, Alder didn?t look at him. "Take care 
of yourself Alder."

Anthony left, leaving Alder alone as he stayed seated, looking over the city.

"I love you too," Alder said softly.




                        
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