6487/The Framework: Double Agents

The Framework: Double Agents
Date of Scene:	07 June 2021
Location:	Rock Creek Park, Washington D.C.
Synopsis:	May and Dottie meet by a rock in the woods to figure out how to evacuate the Carter-Sousa family to the Playground.
Cast of Characters:	Melinda May, Dottie Underwood
Tinyplot:	The Framework

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Melinda May has posed:
Rock Creek Park is one of those conservation areas within the city. It has foot paths and bike paths, old millstone bridges and the occasional log cabin nestles back within the trees -- though what purpose they serve is anyone's guess.

May has found her way to an old rock that has a brass plaque screwed into it. Someone has left a small American Flag stuck into it, too. The rock marks the site of Fort DeRussy, one of the defenses erected around Washington during the Civil War. It's a fairly clear landmark, insofar as it's easy to find. But it's still sheltered within the trees.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
Dottie has been waiting in the trees, sitting on a small blanket and reading a book, for the last hour. May isn't late. In fact, she's a little early. But Dottie is earlier. She doesn't raise her head as the other woman passes her on the way to the spot Dottie had arranged for them to meet. Instead she waits a few minutes before marking her spot in her book and leaving it on her blanket. She gets up, stretches, wanders down to a water fountain to take an ostentatious sip of water. Then she circles around in the other direction to the back of the rock where May is waiting.

Melinda May has posed:
May looks up as Dottie approaches. She lets out a silent sigh and squares her shoulders. "For the record," she says, dispensing with any pleasantries, "I didn't burn you. Morse and Fitz have tripled surveilance on anyone and everyone assigned anywhere near the Carter-Sousa home. They picked up you'd been omitting things from your reports."

There's something about May's demeanor, however, that's different than it's ever been. A sort of... determination supported by subtle ense of fatalism. Less the fires of a fantatic, and more the resolve of an old solider preparing for a final ride.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"It was only a matter of time, with all of that remarkable activity," Dottie says. There is only the merest hint of rebuke and frustration. "You'll have to tell her to be more careful now. The Doctor must be trying to figure out what exactly was left out."

Melinda May has posed:
"The Doctor," May says darkly, "has threatened not only Melly's life, but Lily's and Micahel's as well." She doesn't much care about Dottie's rebuke, and only mildly recognizes her frustration. Indeed, that much she shares. "He told Peggy outright that if she doesn't fall in line he will take all of them and raise them to be HYDRA soldiers -- and make sure that they know their parents abandoned them for SHIELD." She shakes her head at that. "Peggy's beside herself. And we've run out of time. If your people in SHIELD can help... I can get Peggy and the kids to you. But, once I have, I'm going after Melly."

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"We've got a place to keep them," Dottie acknowledges, "Daniel should know where it is." And that's all she says about that miraculous resurrection. She doesn't expect sort of revelations from May. And certainly not from Peg or Daniel either. Even though they should trust her. It's obvious that they don't. It doesn't matter that she's on their side. It doesn't matter that she's covered their tracks. It doesn't matter that it's gotten her burned, time and again. She knows where her loyalties lie.

"I can't help you trace Melly. Not now. But I can keep the rest of them safe."

Melinda May has posed:
"That's all I ask," Melinda replies. If Dottie can keep Peggy and the kids safe, then Melinda can concentrate on what she needs to do -- setting things right.

She grimaces, however. "I... wouldn't be too sure Daniel knows where anything is," she admits slowly. "He's not really in his right mind." She gives Dottie a hard look, trying to decide if she can really trust her or not. But, at the end of the day, she knows Dottie is SHIELD and May... can't continue to be HYDRA. So... it's time to lay it on the line. "You know I killed Daniel. I *know* I killed him. But he's up and he's walking around. Worse, he talking like he's from another world. He thinks this world is fake and there's another one outside of it where SHIELD is still fighting and HYDRA hasn't yet won."

The frustration in her eyes is clear. She really doesn't know what to make of him. "He's nuts, Dottie. And Peggy thinks I saved him somehow. Morse told her outright I killed him, but because he's up and walking around, and lying back beside her in her bed... she didn't believe it. Doesn't believe it."

She tosses up her hands. "Hell. She's nearly got me not believing it." Okay, that's a lie. But still.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"I've never seen someone that dead come back to life, not even with all of Hydra's advancements. Doesn't mean it's impossible, but maybe it scrambled his brains," Dottie says. "This is the only world I know."

That Daniel doesn't know about the Playground is troubling, but perhaps for the best if he really is as out of it as May says. "I'll see you get coordinates for the location."

Melinda May has posed:
May nods in response to Dottie. "You know how to reach me," she says, only a slight hint of irony in her voice. She's already figured out Dottie is more likely to find her than she is to find Dottie. And, really, that's just as well. Safer for all of them. There's less Melinda can say to betray anyone.

"Let me know the date and time. I'll get them there... Even if I have to do it at gun point." The worst part? It's true.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Dottie says. "We'll get them out before the Doctor comes for them. She was planning to run anyway. It shouldn't take too much to convince her. I'll get you the information when I can." There aren't many details to this plan, but it means that there isn't much that can be discovered. And with HYDRA's eyes on them, that's for the best.

Melinda May has posed:
"The moment we run, they'll be on us," May warns. It's likely needless. Dottie knows the score as well as she. "So, we'll need to be quick." And once they start running... they can't stop. Not until they've completely disappeared.

She gives a final nod. "I'll wait on you. We'll be ready."

They have to be.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"If anyone can get them all to the Playground, it's you," Dottie says. Though she could do it as well. And they both know it. "You'll hear from me once everything is arranged."

And since there really is nothing more to say, Dottie just gives the other woman a nod, and disappears into the trees.