Frank makes a scene

"Please, listen to me one last time!" screamed Frank, sounding ****.

Shannon just looked at him questioningly. Unbeknownst to her, it was all an act.

"I do not deserve this!" he suddenly stood up, letting the chair tip behind him with a thud. "You cannot be so cruel to me!"

"Don't think you can talk your way out of this." she said with a smug look. Apparently, the great Frank is not such a tough guy, she thought.

"Don't leave me," yelled Frank, looking her deep in the eyes "my love!"

Shannon's eyes widened in surprise. That was not what she had expected to hear that day. Especially not from a criminal. What did he just say? What the hell is going on? she thought. Is he trying to seduce me?

"Do you want me to beg?" Frank glanced around. "I'll beg." and he pathetically fell to his knees in front of Shannon. "I'll beg, in front of all these people! Because my dignity is worth nothing if I lose you!"

Shannon glanced around nervously. Whatever Frank was trying to do, it clearly caught the attention of every passersby in the vicinity. Attention, she desperately tried to avoid in her current attire.

"Stop it!" she looked at him angrily, hoping her embarrassement didn't show behind her stern gaze.

"No! You have to hear me out!" he looked her deep in the eyes. "I won't survive if you refuse to at least listen. Even if you beat me again."

"No! This has gone on long enough. It's..."

"Let him speak!" came the voice of a woman from the crowd.

"Yeah, whatever he did, he deserves one last chance to speak." came another voice.

As she looked around, Shannon realized that quite a few people have gathered around them. All looking at her and Frank. But rather her. Her, in that slutty outfit that shamelessly flaunted what she didn't have. Curves.

"Oh, ... I've only ever had eyes for you, baby!" he looked her up, a malicious smirk growing on his face. "I love how even now your excited little nipples poke through your top. Oh, what I'd give to suckle those barely a mouthfuls one last time."

Shannon's eyes shot down to her chest, and despite the situation, it was correct. She did notice having pokies. As did everyone else around her. With burning cheeks, she crossed her arms nervously in front of her modest bust to avoid the many gazes of strangers. This, however, only encouraged Frank further.

"And your swaying badonkadonk has given me quite a few pleasant memories. None of the babes of Urma 7 could ever rival your natural charms."

There were whispers all around them from the crowd. Clearly, this was a welcome distraction from the boring everyday life. And apparently, every single person on Urma 7 wanted to be a part of it and let their opinions be known.

"Go back to him, child." said an older woman. "It's not like you could get any better than him."

Shannon shuddered at her remark. But that was only one of the many comments she endured with ever-flushing face. She noticed that everyone was eyeing her body. If her distinct look hadn't been enough to attract attention before - not the kind she would have liked on that planet anyway - Frank was describing every little (no pun intended) details in front of all these people. And watch and listen they did. It was beyond humiliating.

"Stop it!" she yelled.

"Let him speak!" said the crowd unanimously.

"I'm a federate agent!" she held up her badge, trying to assert some form of authority.

"And I'm a soldier, what does it matter?" said a man.

"Yeah! This is love. You can't hide behind your badge, girlie." said a woman.

"What? No! He," she pointed at Frank, "is a cheat!"

"Yes." said Frank, averting his gaze to look at the ground. "I have sinned. And not a moment has passed without regretting it, my love. But," he looked around at the crowd. "let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

A short silence fell on the crowd. A silence that unsettled Shannon. Then,

"Yes. I also cheated on my wife once. But she gave me a second chance, and I've become a better person because of it." said a man.

"Yes. Me too." came another. And another. And another.

What? Shannon looked around questioningly. She immediately cursed herself for her earlier use of words. And Frank for his sharp wit to turn it against her. And the crowd for being so nonchalant about it. This can't be happening. "No, I mean he is a criminal!" she screamed frantically.

"Yes. Cheating is a crime against the sanctity of a relationship." said Frank shuffling on his knees toward Shannon. "But if you let me," he looked up at her, "I'll gladly spend the rest of my life in your custody." And he hugged Shannon around her waist, skillfully swiping the gun off her belt in the process. He had deliberately made his comments about her bust size, so that her arms would leaved her side. He knew she would be too shy to let the crowd ogle her. And now his plan was taking shape.

"Get off me, you pig!" Shannon kicked free of Frank's embrace.

"Booo!" echoed the crowd.

"You don't understand! He is just doing this to humiliate me!" Shannon tried to reason with them.

"Honey, you are humiliating yourself." said a raven-haired woman stepping out of the crowd. One look of her perfect body was enough to asses her being from Urma 7 as well. "Especially in that outfit." she pointed at Shannon with a smirk.

The crowd erupted in laughter. Shannon turned another shade of red. Both from embarrassment and anger.

The raven-haired woman turned to Frank, "You should forget about this ungrateful kid." she gestured at Shannon. "After all, you can find only better."

Shannon fumed at this bitch so nonchalantly insulting her in front of the crowd and Frank. She was damn near losing her professionalism.

"If you let me," started the raven-haired woman circling the kneeling Frank with a seductive look in her eyes, "I'll show you things this shapless twig could never, ever do. And I would never hurt you, honey."

"That's enough of you!" screamed Shannon. "Step away from him, you bitch! He is mine." That last part came out pretty badly. She only hoped those gathered around understood what she had meant by it.

"Make me." smiled the raven-haired woman.

"I'll shoot you if you stand in my way, so help me God!" said Shannon while reaching for her gun. Nothing. It wasn't there. What the...? She knew she had it on after leaving the spaceport. Where had it gone?

A satisfied sneer appeared on Frank's face. Took longer than he had expected, but eventually it did happen. The curiosity and pride of Urma 7 women were not something to be taken lightly. And Shannon had been unwittingly playing the 'antagonist' immaculately. Now all he needed to do was sit back and watch events unfold.