Repercussions

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

05/26/1999

"Good afternoon, Fox," Rachel said, pulling out a chair from
the table.

"Good afternoon, and to you as well, Jadith. I hope I didn't
pull you two away from anything important," I responded,
relaxing in my chair, wincing a bit. My left arm was still
in the sling, and a bit tender.

Jadith took her own chair out, sitting down across the
conference table from me, next to the Vixen. "Nothing too
important on my part. Just a few issues that need to be
attended to some time today."

"I have a few things that need my immediate attention. But
you said it was important, so I worked a little time free to
come here." Rachel paused for a moment, "What happened to
your arm?"

I smiled, setting down a folder I had been holding in my
good hand. "I got shot when dealing with Cain. You should
stay around the house more often, you'll find these things
out sooner."

Jadith frowned slightly. "I just wish you would allow me to
heal that for you. I feel frustrated that I can't use my
powers to help my friends."

"I did ask the doctor about it," I responded. "He said that
magical healing would interfere with the natural healing. So
I'm going to have to take the long way around this time. But
thank you again for offering."

"Why did you call us here?" Rachel asked, setting down her
own folder on the table. "This is obviously not a social
visit, otherwise you would have met us at home."

I let out a soft chuckle. "That is kind of hard with you
Rachel. Your work keeps you so busy that you practically
live in the office, and just happen to sleep at home. But
you are correct, this isn't a social visit."

"Then what is it about?" the elf asked.

"Well it's about the IMF," I answered.

"I've been reading your reports," Rachel said as she tapped
the folder in front of her. "So this is convenient for us,
as we do need to talk in an official capacity."

I smiled. "This is also in an official capacity," I waved my
hand across the table, "but I'm in a gracious mood, so I'll
let you go first."

She nodded, taking the folder and sliding it in my direction
on the tabletop. I snapped my fingers down on it as it came
near. "And what might this be?" I asked her with a smile.

"Your first assignment for the IMF. We want your best-
counter surveillance team on it."

I hummed, tapping my fingers on top of the folder. "I see,
very interesting."

"Aren't you going to look at it?" Jadith asked.

I shook my head, pulling my hand back and sliding the folder
back over the table towards them. "Nope."

"And why not?" Rachel asked in reply. "It is your job."

I chuckled. "Well you see, that's kind of a problem at this
point," I answered, leaning back slightly in my chair.

She frowned, folding her paws onto of the table, the ring of
her finger flicking in the soft light of the room. "What
kind of problem?"

"A very large problem," I replied. "After what happened the
last few weeks between Cain and myself; I've been able to
think about a lot of things. My family for one, my business
for another. The problem is, I simple can't run the IMF
anymore, not if I want to spend any real time at home with
my family. The reason I called you both here is to tell you
I'm stepping down as the Director of the IMF, effective as
of this morning at 7 am."

Both Rachel and Jadith had looks of shock on there faces.
The vixen more so then the Elf. "You can't be serious!"
Rachel asked, rising to her feet.

I nodded. "Completely serious," I replied, motioning with my
good arm for her to sit back down. "I handed in my
resignation this morning when I came into the office. And
these," I said, tapping the folder on the table in front of
me, "These are the official documents, all signed and
dated."

She still stood, leaning over the table to look at me. There
was surprise, and a bit of anger in her eyes. I could see
her tail flicking behind her skirt. "You can't just leave
like that."

"Yes, I can," I answered. "It's in the IMF charter, which
the Consortium approved of, and as this is not an official
government body, you can't exactly order me to not leave."

"No," Jadith answered, "But I can. The IMF is under my
direct control as Managing Director of the OZG, that same
charter gives me the power to assign and remove directors of
the IMF." She paused for a moment, lacing her fingers
together, and resting her hands on the table top. "But I
have no intention of forcing you to stay in the position. I
think I understand why you are doing this, I've noticed
you've been dissatisfied with the position for a few months
now."

I smiled. "Funny, I only worked it out three days ago. I
just finally realized that it was a mistake on my part.
After Naomi died, I put all my energy into it. Now with the
shipyards and my family, I feel like I'm starting to let
important things slip."

She nodded, "Sit down Rachel. If you feel this way, Fox,
then I have to allow you to step down. Do you have any
suggestions as to who should take over as Director?"

"Well, my only suggestion is my second-in-command, who
currently has control. Wraith Flint, he's very competent,
knows his job very well, and also knows each of the teams
better than I do. He can tell you, more accurately then I
can, which of the four teams is better for which job. Also
he is well aware what each team member's strength and
weaknesses are. In short, he knows what I should know, and
always has. There's full documentation on him in the folder,
and a memo outlining these reasons and more for why he
should officially replace me."

Rachel picked up the folder, opening it, and flipping
through the documents it contained inside, still standing
across the table from me. Her tail had settled down a bit,
and less anger showed in her eyes. "So I see. And what about
the CSC? Are you going to leave that as well?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm going to stay with the CSC. Being
able to deal with things involving any Earth is a great
benefit for me. I don't want to lose that advantage."

She nodded, flicking her ears. "You also understand, you are
a Special Agent for the CSC, and not just in matters
involving Earth. You can, and will be called on to take
assignments that falls under your skills and expertise.
That's part of the deal."

"Fine, I can accept that," I replied.

She nodded again, finally returning to her seat. "Also, this
isn't going to go over well with the Council of Member
Worlds. Most of them want you to have some sort of official
position in the government; even if it's not something we
can admit to. They're still going to want you in some high
level position."

I sighed, leaning forward, resting my good arm on the table.
"I had expected as much. My suggestion is this; create a
cabinet of official advisors, who can wield executive power,
if you give said orders. They are appointed by you, and
confirmed by the Member Worlds. They will be the highest non
elected offices in the Consortium."

"We haven't even decided if we're doing elections just yet,"
she replied, a slight smile crossing her muzzle. "You of
course will be the first person appointed to this Cabinet?"

I smiled, spreading my arms out, and winced as I pulled my
injured one. "Of course, who else?"

Rachel tapped her fingers on the table top, "Of course. I'll
get the basic documents drawn up and put to a vote, but if
it passes, I doubt there will be any objection to your
appointment."

"Good, good. At least that responsibility I can handle as
time dictates," I paused, taking my glasses off and rubbing
my eyes. The glasses were an older pair I had, temporarily
replacing the broken set, until I could get a new
prescription made up. I returned the glasses to their perch
on my nose. "That covers what I had to say, anything you two
have left?"

"I have nothing further," Jadith said, standing from her
chair.

"Nothing for now," Rachel said, also rising to her feet.
"Though we should go visit Mr. Flint, as we have an
assignment for him," she was looking at the elf as she said
this.

She nodded in response. "Very well."

"Actually, if I could waylay Jadith for a few minutes?" I
asked, "I would like to talk to her in private."

They looked at each other for a moment, and Jadith nodded.

"All right," Rachel answered, gathering the folders from the
table. "We'll meet at my office in an hour."

"I'll see you in an hour then," she replied.

Rachel nodded, then quickly walked out of the room, her tail
swishing behind her slowly as she closed the door.

"Fox," Jadith said, walking around the table to me, "I
really wish you had consulted with us before doing this, or
with myself at the least. It would have given us some time
to prepare."

I shrugged, "Sorry, it really couldn't be helped. I wanted
to get out before anything started to happen. I kind of felt
there was a mission coming soon."

She nodded, sitting down on the table next to me, "You were
right about that. We've been arguing about giving you this
mission for the last five days. Your calling us here kind of
decided it."

Letting out a slight chuckle, I leaning back in my chair,
looking up at my friend. "I should have known."

"So, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?"

I sighed a bit, "Not to put too fine a point on it, you
actually."

She blinked in surprise, pushing back a strand of hair that
had fallen against her face. "Me? What about me?"

"Well," I started, then paused for a moment, resting my chin
in my hand. "The thing is, my position with the IMF got me
thinking about you, and your position with the OZG. Rachel,
Dwight and I kind of forced it down on you. So I was
wondering... are you happy with it?"

She froze for a moment, a neutral look on her face, but she
was still looking at me though half open eyes, before she
closed them.

"I enjoy what I do," She eventually answered. "It's not
exactly what I would call 'perfect'. I would still rather be
a Huntress full time, and in all honesty, the office
building I'm doing wears on me. I don't get home enough
either, or to the house, and to see my family. I have to
fight to keep from ending up like Rachel, living in my
office."

"Anything I can do to make it better?" I asked, leaning a
bit closer to her.

She opened her eyes, and smiled down at me. "Nothing really.
All the conditions I gave were filled pretty quickly. I have
a good staff set up, just lots of day-to-day work I have to
deal with. We're prepping to become an official part of the
government in a few months, so there's lots to do." She
paused, and brushing the same stray hair back, "After that
I'm planning to take a month's sabbatical to see my family."

I nodded, pulling myself out of the chair. It was a bit
difficult with the injured arm, but I managed. "I'm glad you
have things working out then, but if you do need anything,
just give me a call. You are a friend."

Jadith smiled, slipping down from the table. "Thanks."

I smiled back, then took my glasses of, rubbing my eyes
again.

"Are you all right?"

I nodded, "I'm fine, it's just an old prescription. They
hurt my eyes a bit. I'm planning to get a new pair soon,
once I check out a few things first."

"You know, I should be able to fix your eyes," she said,
offering out a hand.

"Thanks," I replied as I put them back on, "but I rather
like them, and I really don't want to explain about not
needing them when I go back to Earth."

She nodded, "I understand. So what things are you checking
out first? I didn't think it was that hard to get a simple
prescription."

"I'm seeing if I can get them made out of a bicarbonate
polymer. Both frames and lenses. They will be pretty much
indestructible that way."

"Do you break them often?" she asked, a playful smile on her
face.

I shook my head. "Not very much anymore, but back before my
exile I seemed to break them almost on a weekly basis. The
running joke was they broke whenever the scrip called for
it. Ken actually learned his matter manipulation magic by
fixing them over and over," I laughed softly as I said the
last part. It brought back some good memories.

She nodded, smiling wide. "Sounds like you had some good
adventures."

"Maybe I'll starting writing them down someday," I mused,
checking my watch. "I hate to cut and run, but I have to do
just that. I have an appointment I need to get to."

She nodded again, checking her own watch. "I should go as
well, I want to pull the file up on your replacement before
I go talk to him. I want to know what I can expect."

I nodded, walking over to the door, opening it, and holding
it for her. "I'll catch you at home later on then?" I asked
as she walked past.

"Sure, I'll try and be back in time for dinner."

"Thanks, see you then." I answered, and watched her as she
walked down the hallway.

Smiling to myself, I got my bearings, and headed off to my
appointment.

* * *

"Welcome, Fox," Dr. Holdermand said, waving his hand out
towards me as he sat behind his desk. "Please take a seat. I
have a few things I wish to discuss with you."

I nodded, relaxing myself down into one of the soft chairs
he keep around his office. He fidgeted a bit, pulling up his
terminal. I watched with minor interest, hoping that he had
the nutritional information I had requested a few months
ago.

Apparently satisfied with what was on his screen, he turned
his full attention to me. "First off, Samantha. Her arm is
regenerating quite well, and is growing back at the expected
rate. The new arm will regain all its functionality, though
it will need physical therapy before she can use it fully."

"That's good," I commented. "I was worried she might have
the same reaction I do."

He nodded. "Yes, and how is your arm doing?"

"The pain is fading," I answered. "I'm suppose to come in to
have the dura-skin removed in three days."

"That's good, sounds like it's healing as expected," he
responded, turning his attention back to the terminal for a
few more moments. He looked back at me, then resting his
hands on the desk, he spoke. "Fox, there is no simple way to
say this, but I feel that I can no longer treat you
anymore."

"What?" I asked after a few moments of surprise. "But you've
been doctor since I first got to Prid. What has changed?"

"To be honest," he answered, "You have-- extensively. My
specialty is the human body type. I've studied it, in its
various forms, for my whole medical life. When you first
came to me, I could treat you easily. You are a Natural, and
your physiology wasn't too different from my own. Now, you
are no longer human, you're more like a hybrid, and the more
exotic you get, the harder it becomes for me to treat you
safely."

He paused, looking down at this hands. "You have changed
quite a deal; your basic physiology is very different. Then
you come to me with your second form, a lion type. A type I
have a mixed understanding of at best. If I continue to be
your doctor, there is a risk, a growing risk, that I will
harm you while I'm trying to help you."

"I understand," I answered, resting my good hand on my lap,
flexing my fingers a bit, I could feel my claws as they
slipped in and out of the tips. "It's something I've been
slowly starting to deal with on my own. You are correct, I
am not human, not anymore."

He nodded, then picked up a business card from his desk and
handed it to me. "I'm not going to throw you out into the
cold. This is the card of another doctor. His offices are in
Corban, and he specializes in hybrids, crossbreeds and the
like. He has... other patients with multiple forms, so he
should be able to treat you immediately."

I took that card, looking at it for a moment. It was for a
Doctor Kevin Stall. I blinked, finding it slightly strange
finding an Earth type name here.

"Thank you," I said, putting the card away. "I'll call him
as soon as I get home."

"If you agree, I would like your permission to send him your
files, along with the nutritional information you requested.
He should be able to complete it where I was unable to."

"Sure," I answered, "I don't think that will be a problem."

He nodded. "Good. Then, if you don't have anything else you
think we should discuss, you are free to go."

I smiled, rising to my feet. "Just keep a good eye on
Samantha, make sure she gets the best treatment that she
can."

He nodded. "Of course I will."

"Thank you," I told him as I turned, and left his office,
heading for home.

-----

This story is copyright 2001 by Fox Cutter, hardcopy
reprints limited to one per person, all other rights
reserved. This story may not be distributed for a fee except
by permission of the author, and this copyright notice may
not be removed.