<USS Avalon> "Surprise Meeting"

Surprise  Meeting
 
 
 
        "Hello Frank."
        Frank Scott turned sharply. He looked left,  then right, and then 
spun in a circle, and could not find the person who had  spoken to him.
        "Who's there?" he asked.
        There was amusement in the voice when next he  heard it. "Don't 
bother looking for me. Just listen." 
        Frank cursed himself for walking down this  alley. He stood with his 
hands on his hips, ready to defend himself in case he  was attacked. "I'm 
listening."
        "We understand that you've been cashiered  from Starfleet."
        We? Frank wondered. "I retired," he  said.
        The speaker chuckled aloud. "No one retires  at fifty if they can 
help it, Frank. Not in Starfleet. You were forced into  retirement, which is in 
the same category as getting chucked out."
        He would neither confirm nor deny. "Get to  the point."
        "Very well. We've a proposition for you,  Frank. Perhaps you'd like 
to work for us."
        "Work for you?" Frank retorted, scoffing. "I  don't even know who the 
hell you are!"
        "I'm quite certain if you think about it,  Frank, you'll realize you 
do know."
        Several seconds ticked by, and Frank suddenly  knew who the owner of 
the voice worked for. 
        "Tricks like this are children's games," he  said. "I thought Section 
31 was supposed to be more sophisticated than that.  Then again, I can't 
expect much from a bunch of rogues on a power trip with  delusions of grandeur."
        The speaker chuckled again. "Our operations  may be of...questionable 
legality, but at least we get the job done. The same  cannot always be said 
of Starfleet, who've been known to back down when they  should stand and fight.
        "But I'm not here to debate that issue. I'm  here to give you a 
chance to get back in the game, as it were. If you agree to  work for us, we 
can 
even put you back on the bridge of a starship.  Might require a little cosmetic 
surgery, but it can be done."
        Frank's heart leapt, though he quickly  reigned it in. Yes, he missed 
commanding his own starship. Yes, he'd give just  about anything to be back 
in that chair again. But was it worth the price he  knew that Section was 
likely to ask?
        Shaking his head, he said, "I'm afraid I will  have to respectfully 
decline."
        "Are you certain?"
        "I am. I might hate like hell being forced  into retirement, but I 
knew what I was doing. A real man accepts the  consequences of his 
actions---unlike some I could mention."
        "Now Frank, there's no need for tossing  insults about," the voice 
admonished. "We came to you because we truly  believe you would be an asset to 
our ranks. But if you're not interested, if you  are truly content to live a 
quiet life at home while Marsha gets to run off to  work every day..."
        Frank's spine stiffened. "You leave my wife  the hell alone! I swear, 
if one hair is harmed on her head, at any  time, I will---"
        "Don't have a coronary, Frank. We don't care  about Marsha. Although, 
she did conduct an experiment some years ago  that's of interest to us. 
Fascinating, really." 
        It wasn't hard to figure out what---or more  precisely, who---the 
voice meant. It occurred to Frank at that moment that it  just might be Delaney 
they were more interested in.
        "You leave my daughter alone," he said. 
        "Daughter? Come now, Frank. You and I both  know she's no daughter of 
yours."
        "Laney is my daughter---I raised  her. She's my child in every way 
that matters," Frank said  forcefully.
        "Semantics, Frank. Although I do admire your  loyalty, even in the 
face of her hatred of you. Such a spirited young woman,  isn't she? I can't 
wait 
to meet her."
        Frank looked around again. "You had better  stay the hell away from 
my daughter. You leave my family alone."
        "Does that include your  son?"
        That threw him. "I don't have a son," he  replied automatically.
        "Oh dear. I've gone and spoiled the surprise,  now haven't I?"
        "What the hell are you talking about? Show  yourself, if you're so 
bloody brave, and stop playing games with me!" Frank  shouted.
        "So sorry, Frank. I hate to chat and run, but  I really must dash. 
Your children are waiting for me."
        "Hey!" 
        There was no response. Frank waited for  several minutes before he 
began looking around the alley for wherever the person  who'd spoken might have 
hidden. It was no use, though, as there just wasn't  enough light. He'd come 
back tomorrow, he decided. He knew the chances of  finding a clue then were 
even less, but he had to do something. Laney  was at risk, of that he was 
certain. He had to do what he could to protect her. 
        And that line about him having a son? What  was that all about? Had 
to be a trick, something to throw him off his  game. Laney was his and Marsha's 
only child, and though he'd have loved having  more children, it just hadn't 
happened. 
        Shaking his head, his senses now even more  alert for any disturbance 
around him, Frank headed home. He had some calls to  make.

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