<USS Avalon> Divided

Divided

by Anthony Manson and Alder Shimbrodus

Alder picked around at the codes embedded in the small chip. They were lengthy, 
and covered more than just surveillance. After spending several hours trying to 
decode the various commands, he found himself in control of more than half the 
ship. For obvious reasons, he rescinded his commands and inspected the chip's 
content further. The chip was like an ?all purpose? device that had the 
capability to do almost anything to a ship. 

And with that, he felt as if Anthony was up to something more than just being 
?busy,? or his other half a dozen excuses to avoid him. He knew of Flubb?s 
death, and while he knew Anthony wasn?t capable of cold blooded murder he 
couldn?t help but feel that maybe Anthony had a part in it. Or maybe he was 
dealing with something else entirely. Why else would he have a chip that could 
literally take over a ship with just a few words? Why the secrecy? Why the 
mixed explanations that amounted to nothing except for more questions? Anthony 
was never good at lying, and Alder had been patient enough.

The doors wisped open as Anthony walked in. He turned to look at Alder and a 
warm smile broke through his gloomy appearance. For him, seeing Alder was like 
seeing a safer haven. Home to come to. But his smile faded at the edges as he 
looked at Alder more closely. His eyes narrowed as Alder?s face had changed 
expressions, and his eyes had withdrawn. He didn't understand it; he got the 
feeling that Alder was hiding something, closing away very slowly.

"What?s wrong?"

He leaned back against his seat as he deactivated the terminal and slid the 
small chip into his hand. He thought about his questions for a second and then 
replied, "I think we need to talk. Have a seat."

Anthony felt as if he was fourteen again and being told what to do. But he took 
the seat as he looked at Alder, "Alright. What?s the matter?"

"Be honest with me, Anthony. Have you been doing anything that would be 
considered... treason? A crime? Anything that has put you in harm's way?"

Anthony smirked, "I thought we went over this. I?m alright Alder," he almost 
sighed after it, "I don?t know why you keep questioning me."

"I?m only trying to find out what?s happening with you. Because... explain this 
to me, Anthony," he flicked the chip across the table.

Anthony looked at the chip, and cursed under his breath for not getting rid of 
it sooner. He was studying it, trying to find anything he could use to turn it 
against Section 31. One encounter was enough, he had no intentions of having a 
second. "It?s a chip, so?"

Alder shook his head, the frustration already building up quicker than he 
realized, "Don?t play stupid, Anthony. Don?t lie to me. Don?t deny it?s yours." 
He hesitated for a moment, "Did you have anything to do with Flubb?s death? Are 
you doing something that would jeopardize this ship and its crew?"

"No- to both questions," he frowned, "Why would you think I?d do anything of 
the sort?"

"Maybe because you have access to almost half this ship. That you were the last 
to use those command codes. I don?t know what you were doing, but having that 
much access equivalent to a captain or higher; you just don?t get that 
anywhere, Anthony. What were you doing with these codes?"

"I can?t say."

"The hell you can?t," he looked around quickly, "Look, I?ve been patient. I?ve 
let you go with the excuses..."

"Excuses," Anthony interrupted, frowns deepening. 

Alder nodded and continued, "Excuses you?ve given me. It?s like I don?t know 
you anymore. You?ve been acting really.. different. It?s confusing me. You 
won?t tell me anything, you won?t open up to me, hell, you don?t even look at 
me unless you are sure I'm not going to say anything that might have you 
running back to work."

"That?s not true, Alder..."

"It is. And look, this is exactly what I mean." Alder gestured, "I?m asking a 
question you could just answer easily, no strings attached. And you can?t even 
do that."

Anthony got up, "You think I want to keep things from you on purpose? Like I 
have nothing better to do than to think up shit just so you could question me 
on a daily basis?"

"It?s not a daily basis." He frowned, "So you admit, you?re hiding something?"

"No, I?m not," he felt cornered again. The last time he was cornered, he 
gritted his teeth so hard it felt like they were slowly being sanded away. "As 
for your questions, it sure as hell seems like it. Or, rather, I can literally 
feel that you have questions you?re ready to ask."

"So then why are you avoiding it?"

"I?m not," Anthony snapped but then collected himself, "I?m not avoiding it. 
I?ve been busy."

"With what?"

"The delegates."

"Bullshit, there two teams taking care of this right now, not to mention one or 
two other lead people. What were you up to aside from handling the delegates?" 
Alder crossed his arms.

"Nothing."

"Wrong answer, Anthony."

"Take it for what it is, Alder. I don?t owe an explanation to you." The second 
he finished, he knew the lines were being drawn.

Alder looked at him, "How 'bout those bruises? You were never clear on that."

"Still with that, I see. I?m not saying anything to that other than it was 
repairs that went a little sour."

"Yeah, right. And the codes? What were you doing with them?"

"I thought I made it clear. Nothing. I didn?t do anything."

"No, you said you ?can?t say?. Come on, Anthony, just tell me."

He grew silent. It would be so much easier if he just told. But he didn?t want 
to risk it. "There?s nothing to tell."

"So you could be either involved in the Captain?s murder- however small. Or 
you?re doing something that is going to cost you a career and a life you have."

"I never said that."

"You?re not denying it either."

"Damn it, what do you want me to say?!" Anthony turned around, "What do you 
want? You want to know if I used the codes? I did. Was that bruise on my face 
from a fight? It was. Am I up to something aside from dealing with the damn 
Rydyns? I am. There, does that satisfy you now? Does it make you feel a whole 
damn more important?"

Anthony shook his head. He didn?t want a fight. Especially now. He knew Alder 
was right about everything, and no matter how much he wanted to let Alder in on 
his activities, he couldn?t. Not if he wanted Alder safe. The silence had 
thickened within a few seconds.

"No," Alder said quietly, "It means I can?t trust you anymore."

"What?" Anthony eyes narrowed a little more, "What are you saying? Precisely."

Alder shook his head, shrugged even. His whole attitude looked as if he gave up 
trying to make a point, "You?re hiding. Hiding from something I don?t 
understand. Something you won?t let me help you with. You admit to using the 
codes doesn?t tell me anything. I only have more questions, but it seems like 
you?re not going to answer them anyway. It?s hell thinking your partner might 
be dangerous doing god knows what."

"What are you saying?" Anthony?s voiced softened.

If Alder could be a more solitary person than Anthony, it was now, "I... I 
guess I?m saying it?s over. Maybe a little time apart will give us the 
breathing space we need. Time to think. Time for me to figure out what I?m 
going to do. Time for you as well. For you to figure out what you?re going to 
do."

"Alder, we don?t..."

"Yeah, I think we do. I don?t know you anymore, Anthony. Or.. at least I don?t 
know this person I?m staring at," he placed the chip down. Looking at Anthony 
was an increasing strain, "Please leave."

He stared at Alder who looked elsewhere, and for the first time in a long time, 
he felt himself withdraw again. Faster, tighter, and more than he ever thought 
possible. "I?m... I?m sorry," was all he managed.

There was no reply.


                
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.

Other related posts: