Editing Reverse Technologies group (section)

====In the Past, Planet Pyylarn and the disappearance of Falthgood's Son====

(Planet Pyylarn - Ruins of Lyyran, Archaeology/Reverse Engineering Headquarters - Head of Reverse Technologies Integration, Captain Zachary Falthgood - Many Years Ago, 0940)

"The perimeter has been searched several times, no point of forced entry has been found and the sensor logs concur with that assessment. No other signs have been found, Sir."

Zach continued looking out at the primordial Rain Forest that was ringed the entire set of ruins, he had been watching the rain pour in buckets for the last couple hours, not moving an inch as his Security force roamed the area with Tricorder out and mandatory phasers at their sides. That same forest had to be cut from the edge of their perimeter every day by men with industrial phasers, its undergrowth grew at a phenomenal rate, it had presented the Archaeological groups no end to troubles. Time and time again he had laughed at the dismal faces of his colleges and friends who where there to study the history of the place, and to a lesser degree the technology as well, as their mapping and digging crawled at a horribly slow pace in all the mud and amongst all the plant life. This place was, as Grandpa had termed it, an Archaeologists Purgatory... Heavenly for the finds, and Hell in location. 

The ruins were not his business, though he had a certain fascination with the abundant history. His job was figuring out the gizmo's that people brought him after they had been recorded by the Scientists and Archaeologists. And in figuring them out, also figuring out how to apply their benefits to current Federation Technology, or at least theorizing how they could be useful when His own peoples technology progressed a few years. 

Today however, he wasn't laughing. Nor was he working. 

His son had gone missing, without a trace and without a cause. 

Funny how one of his most hated enemies had come back into the fold not a week ago, such a coincidence, really. 

"What you are telling me is that the one person I actually care about most in this world has up and disappeared like a fart in the wind, right past one of the most paranoid security forces ever assembled by This Mans Starfleet, and you have absolutely no way of knowing either what happened or why he disappeared." he said after several silent moments. "Am I correct?"

He turned on his heel, licking at the tip of his the moustache he had taken to wearing since being in this climate. The Security Chief didn't flinch, Zach had to give him credit for that. The guy knew exactly what Zach could have done to him, yet he stayed in place and said "That is exactly what I'm saying, Sir."

The Real world of Reverse Technologies, for all the science and engineering that it stood for, had been overshadowed in the last twenty years by secrecy, blacklists and paranoid admirals who buried everything that was advanced in years of cross referencing and trickle down release. Zach had joined the fleet with a lot of skills in ripping things apart and figuring out how they ticked, along with a solid base in Subspace Mechanics. His science degree had an engineering minor to it, and after reverse engineering a few other winning science projects to show the principle of what was considered 'theft' by many full Scientists and Engineers, he had been rushed into the program by some guy named Captain Doenitz, and had spent the rest of his working career thus far moving from one planet to another. Most of what he did would never make it into his file, but that didn't bug him much. He had managed to find a job he liked doing, people with the same interests (including a now deceased wife), and he had a way to continue his line by way of a Son from his wife. 

Except that now his wife was long dead and his Son missing. 

"Find him, Lieutenant." he said in a hard tone, "Or bring me the head of the person that caused it. I don't care what it takes, or who it is."

The Lieutenant came to attention, "Yes Sir!"

As the security chief turned away, a mocking laugh sounded from the other door. He didn't need to turn to see the face, he knew exactly who it was. "Loose something, Falthgood?"

"I'm not in the mood, Lockwood." he said as he turned to her anyway. "Don't push it."

"Me, push?" The Trill walked fully into the room and shook off her rain coat. "would I ever do such a thing?"

Zach put his hands behind his back, and watched the woman without saying a word. He had already busted her down once, he knew he could do it again if he wanted too. Right now though, he was thinking he would much rather kill her and be done with it. She smiled all the broader a few moments later, "Oh, I guessed wrong... Did you loose *someone*, Falthgood?"

The mask which had been his face thus far thought he morning started to crack, and her smile faltered when she saw what her words had caused. Without any warning, he crossed the distance that separated them with his large steps, and grabbed her throat with his huge hand. "Why?" he said sweetly as he squeezed and she let out a tortured breath. "Do you know something about it I don't?"

He squeezed a little harder, his anger and grief starting to come through. She beat at his arm uselessly, but couldn't break loose of his death grip on her. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and only turned his head enough to look over at the hand. It was huge, and hairy. "Grandpa," he said in a pleasant, yet entirely fake, tone. "Welcome to the party, I was just about to find out if Ms Lockwood here had any knowledge about my son's whereabouts."

"You know as well as I do that she couldn't tell you now, even if she knows." the very heavy bass voice from behind him said. "If you kill her, you will not only find out if she knows anything, but you will end up in prison as well."

Zach considered that for many moments, then let her go as her face was starting to turn purple. "Of course, Grandpa. You are right, but..." His grin was evil in the extreme. "I will only ask once, and if I don't get the answer I like, Melina... Well..." 

She was coughing, and the eyes that looked at him from the floor where she had crumpled were full of hate. "I..... Don't....... Know....... Anything..... B*stard!"

"Nope, I didn't like that answer." he replied a moment later. He was just reaching over to tap his badge when that same hairy paw covered his own fist. Grandpa was the only person that could do that, as large as Zach was. He took a breath, "I would let go, Gramps." he said quietly. 

"You wont have me killed or my memory erased, Zach." the Chameloid responded, "Don't even think about it. And to her, she could be right."

"I doubt it." he said, hissing slightly. 

"Well then, lets find out, shall we?" The Chameloid shifted slightly behind him, and he heard a channel being opened. "Security to headquarters." 

Moments later a couple security crewman walked in. The Chameloid nodded to the woman on the floor, "Take that woman in and question her on the disappearance of Ian," the beast said. Both looked over at Zach, who closed his eyes and nodded slowly. Melina screamed at both of them, curses and promises and many other things, but she was dragged out in either case. 

After a few moments, the Chameloid released Zach's hand, and took the form of the wizened old man. "Get a grip on yourself, Zach..." he said, "This will not help your son."