<USS Avalon> The Shadow?s Promise

The Shadow?s Promise

by Senior Lieutenant Anthony Manson and The Shadow

Anthony got back to duty, but it wasn't an easy shift. He saw Skyler walk in to 
the ready room, and his heart jumped a bit as he felt his fingers grip upon the 
console. He felt his palms clammy as he saw Doctor Idrys also walk into the 
Ready Room, and a cold sweat radiated from his worried state.

His console flashed brightly, a message scrawled across it in the typical 
Federation block-typed lettering: Hydroponics Lab, Fifteen Minutes. The short 
message, and the fact there had been no author, sent a message that only 
Anthony would understand. It flashed a couple of more times before 
disappearing. Shortly thereafter his screen began to reset back to the original 
settings.

He looked around and found Phillipa to cover him. It was his relief that Alder 
wasn't here, like he promised him. He got onto the turbolift and made way to 
the Hydroponics Lab. Fifteen minutes, he had time as he began thinking on what 
he was going to say, react, or possibly hear from the man. But he got there a 
few minutes early as he entered into the Lab, dark as usual.

There was enough darkness he didn't have to move around from place to place. 
His voice echoed menacingly through the lab. "Good work, Lieutenant. Did you 
find the mission difficult and did you give anymore thought to joining us? 
Given your success, I may have seriously underestimated your abilities."

He didn't bother looking this time as he still felt that sore on his jaw he got 
from the man at the cargo bay. "Oh, everything went smoothly," but then he 
hesitated, "but I didn't kill him..."

The man took a step. He appeared, face still enshrouded directly behind 
Anthony. "You didn't kill him? Do you remember what I said I'd do if you didn't 
complete this little mission? Do you want me to reduce Alder to nothing more 
than a bloody pile?" The Shadow was beginning to become visibly upset with the 
situation. His breathing became labored and his voice dropped in tone.

"Everything you gave me was enough for me to complete the job. In fact, I was 
ready by the time I beamed into his ready room," he sighed as he felt the anger 
seething out of the man from behind him, "he was already dead when I got in. As 
far as implicating the Rydyns, I did what was necessary."

"He's dead, then, and the evidence placed?"

Anthony nodded as he felt the man disappear back into the darkness, "yes. It 
is. Alder won't be harmed right? Flubb is dead."

"I haven't decided whether or not I will kill the man." The Shadow laughed as 
he receded into oblivion. His laughter echoed through the small room, but his 
presence was still there. "Don't you like feeling completely helpless and like 
my puppet? It's an intriguing position to be in, I tell you, holding everyone's 
strings."

"You haven't decided? You made it clear. Flubb dead, or Alder. Flubb's dead. 
Leave Alder out of this." The lieutenant turned around as he looked over the 
dark area from which the voice originated. "I did what you asked."

"Technically it was 'you' kill Flubb or 'I' kill Alder. See the loophole to the 
promise?"

"Fuck that. Flubb is dead. Dead is dead. I don't give a shit who killed him. If 
you want to know who did it, get off your ass and do it. I don't have time for 
this, or for you. You kill Alder, I will come after you. That much, I promise." 
Feeling that this was over, he turned heading for the exit.

"You'll come after me? Chasing a shadow, which we've discussed in great detail, 
is frivolous. Don't you agree? And, I could kill you right now if I chose to. I 
agree that Flubb is dead, that much is true, but I must wait until the Rydyn 
people are fully implicated. In addition, I have to determine who killed him." 
The Shadow moved away, Anthony was very close, and positioned himself on the 
opposite side of the lab. "If it doesn't work, well, you'll know what happens. 
And, to top it off, he'll suffer before he dies. That much, I promise you."

"Good, you're making yourself useful. As for my threat, it stands. You harm 
Alder in anyway, and I will go after you." He turned again, even if I have to 
join Section 31, he finished off the sentence in his head. It was to his hope 
that the man didn't pick anything up with his telepathic abilities. "Now then, 
go find the criminal." He half expected the doors to open and when they didn't 
he just waited there as he felt his fingernails dig into his hands, "open the 
damn door."

"Squirm. Understand that I am in control here. If I wanted Alder dead I could 
do it in mere moments."

"You don't get it, do you?" Anthony turned, "I don't care if you're in control 
or not anymore. The fact remains. Kill Alder, you die. Leave him be, and 
nothing happens. Now open the doors."

"You have a heart of pure gold, I can tell. Don't make me take it from you - 
literally." A charging sound emanated from his isolated position along the far 
wall. It was obviously notable as a Federation, standard-issue, phaser. "I will 
if you make me. You're becoming, how shall I put it nicely, difficult."

He shook his head, "I'm not being difficult. Besides, I did what you asked. 
It's completed. You finding the real assassin is not my concern. And I hate 
repeating myself over again just so it gets through you thick skull. You harm 
Alder, you die. Now, I got to get back to the bridge, so open the damn doors."

"Very well. I will be watching. For your sake, and Alder's, you better hope 
that all goes according to plans." As if he waved his hands magically, the 
doors to the Hydroponics Lab slid open revealing illumination from the 
corridor. However, it wasn't enough to make out anything more than a vague 
silhouette in the corner.

"Lieutenant Manson, please report to the ready room immediately," Manson sighed 
as he heard Commander Skyler. 

He tapped his badge, "yes, Commander. On my way." 


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