Missions of the Retrieval Team - Kilts in a Cage

[davedove]

Scene 6


Aboard the Cruise Ship Ceilidh


When the time came, Ms. Stork and I made our way to the main dining room of the ship. Like many cruises, we had been assigned a table and I was curious who would be seated with us. The organizers of the Kilted Kruise had arranged for the entire group to sit together, but we didn’t know who would be at our table.

When we arrived, the headwaiter quickly showed us to our table. Apparently, we were the first to arrive at our table, although I saw that people were seated at some of the other tables.

As other diners arrived and were seated at nearby tables, I did recognize some of them, but others were complete strangers.

Soon, the Panache clan arrived and sat at the table right next to mine. Shortly after that, David and his wife also approached and sat at the same table. I noticed that his table seemed to be centrally located among those tables with kilted gentlemen. Apparently, this was the Moderators table, although it appeared to seat only eight. So, the table was already over half full, not nearly enough for all the Moderators and their families.

Just then the first of our table companions arrived. Coemgen quickly approached, still in his casual kilt, but at least he had removed his pith helmet before dinner.

“Mon ami,” he said in a heavy French accent. “How good it is to be seated with you for dinner.”

“Coemgen,” I said, “I just have to ask you. What is it with the accents?”

“But what do you mean, monsieur? My speech, she is the same as it always is.”

I decided to let the matter drop, as another person was approaching our table. This time is was an attractive dark-haired woman, perhaps around forty years of age. She carried herself well, like a dancer or model would, and her clothes, while not necessarily trendy, were very stylish and fit her well.

“Hello,” she said to us as she was seated. “My name is Di.”

She looked familiar, so after we had all introduced ourselves, I asked her, “Are you a member of our organization?”

“You mean X Marks? Yes, I am. You would know me as SexyButler.”

“Of course, now I know where I’ve seen you. Welcome to the cruise. Have you met anyone else yet?”

“No, I really only made it on board about an hour ago and only had time to check out my cabin before coming to dinner.”

I looked over at the Moderators table and saw that the last seats had been taken by Bradley and his lovely wife. Bradley had recently been elevated to the ranks of Moderator. I wondered if he had to go through the same trials as I had when I lost the position to Panache.

Two more people sat at our table that we had already met on the trip, Livingston and macdoc. After introductions were made, we chatted until the final members of our table approached.

“My friends,” the large voice called out as he approached. “I am so glad to see you again.” Ancienne Alliance grabbed my hand and pulled me into an embrace. He released me and introduced the woman her had approached with him. “Allow me to introduce my beautiful wife.”

The woman extended her hand to me. “Please excuse my husband,” she said. “He can be a bit, exuberant.”

“Quite all right,” I replied. “Please sit down and join us.”

I introduced the couple to those sitting at the table and he greeted each of them just as he had me.

Just then I noticed the people being led to the table on the other side of the Moderators. Still wearing their black leather kilts, Grant, Big Mikey, and another man were following the headwaiter when Grant noticed Panache.

“What?” he exclaimed loudly. “You expect us to sit near him?” Glancing past Panache, he saw me sitting at my table. “And him as well? This is unacceptable!”

The headwaiter seemed unsure what to do, but Mikey quickly pulled Grant aside and spoke quietly to him.

“Very well,” said Grant. “We will sit here. Let the ruffians see how royalty behaves. Perhaps we will rub off on them.”

Again, Mikey looked relieved. This would probably be a long trip for him. Whatever pay he received from Grant would be fully earned on this voyage.