Missions of the Retrieval Team - Kilts in a Cage

[davedove]

Scene 31

Roadway on the Mayan Riviera

After loading the rest of our group onto the busses, we drove out of the wilderness until we got to the main road to Cancun. We had just pulled onto the highway when the helicopter appeared in the sky, flying south towards us.

A familiar voice came over the bus radio. “Dove, Stork, this is Starling. Is that you we see coming up the road?”

I picked up the microphone. “This is Dove. Yes it is. We’ll pull of to the side. Set down near us. We’ve got some wounded aboard.”

“Roger,” she answered. “Setting down near you. I’ll see you on the ground. Starling, out.”

We pulled the busses to the side of the road. The helicopter approached and landed as safely as it could. When it touched down, Ms. Starling opened the door and jumped out, followed by Ms. Hawk and Ms. Raven.

We in the busses helped our wounded out so they could be loaded onto the helicopter. I saw that Dee had finally regained his senses.

“What happened?” he asked.

“According to the others, you took a pretty good blow to the head,” I answered.

“The children?”

“They’re fine. Grant and his men got them out.”

Ms. Starling came up to me as the wounded were being loaded. “Sorry we couldn’t get here sooner,” she said.

“You’re here now. The other two are in the back of the last van.”

I got Jaime’s attention and he grabbed Coemgen. The two men joined us behind the last van. Ms. Stork opened the door from inside. Lying on the floor were two bodies, covered in sheets.

“Who were they?” asked Ms. Starling.

“Two new members,” answered Jaime. “Michael Newface and Peter Recruit. They had just joined on the cruise.”

The four of us loaded the two men as discretely as we could onto the back of the helicopter.

“Okay,” I told Ms. Starling, “Get them to care. We will take the busses with the others to Cancun and arrange transportation.”

“No need,” she said. “I contacted the other Moderators. Todd is bringing the Saltire down to transport you all to the Great Hall.”

“Good work, I’ll see you there.”

[starbkjrus]

Commercial Break

snip...

We hear a voice from down a hallway. “Arlen, do you have the figures for the budget yet?”

...snip

The narrator speaks. “The Intelli-Quest from Freelander Electronics, all your information at your fingertips, always.”

Well since David is well over budget due to the extension of his Monorail system it's a good thing the budget figures are coming from a Freelander Device. Gotta get me one of those things.

[starbkjrus]

snip...

I saw that Dee had finally regained his senses.

...snip...

“No need,” she said. “I contacted the other Moderators. Todd is bringing the Saltire down to transport you all to the Great Hall.”

“Good work, I’ll see you there.”

I regained my senses? That's new and different.

I hope Todd wears the hat.

[davedove]

Scene 32

Cancun International Airport

As we drove onto the airport we easily spotted the Saltire. A small crowd had gathered around where it was tied down.

As we brought the busses in near the Saltire, I saw red shirted men directing the crowd back. Ensigns Splash, BEEDEE, and Mender caused the crowd to part, forming a path so we could approach the airship.

Todd came walking down the path, along with Ms. Thrush.

Jaime greeted him. “Glad you could get here, Todd.”

“Of course, when Ms. Starling received the emergency code from Ms. Stork, she immediately contacted us. Then, she took her team’s jet to Cancun while I readied the Saltire and her crew. Ms. Thrush came along with me so we could better coordinate our operation. When Ms. Starling got back here with the wounded, we helped her load them onto the jet. They have left for the Great Hall.”

“Before you board the Saltire,” said Ms. Thrush, “there’s something you need to know. Some archaeologists were working when they heard gunfire. When they approached, they found what seemed to be the site of an execution. Six men had been shot down just off a dirt road.”

“Our drivers and guides?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Any survivors?”

“By the time they arrived, all of the victims had died, except for one. A man who has been identified as one of the drivers, a man named Manuel, is alive but in critical condition in the hospital here in Cancun.”

“Okay,” I said, “make all the normal arrangements for Manuel and his family. And find out what you can about the families of the others and make arrangements for them as well.”

“I’ve already contacted Ms. Swan back at the Great Hall and she has activated the Foundation.”

“Great work,” I said.

“Wait a minute,” interrupted Jaime. “What arrangements? What foundation?”

“The Dove Foundation, set up to provide for the families of unfortunate incidents.”

“But the Dove Foundation is international in scope, are you saying that’s you.”

I smiled at him. “You didn’t think that all the fees for my work went to yachts and villas, did you? Twenty-five percent of all the fees I take in go straight into the Foundation. It’s an unfortunate fact that sometimes what we do impacts the lives of innocents, like poor Manuel. I started the Dove Foundation to help them.”

Jaime still wasn’t convinced. “The Dove Foundation gives out hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Do you make that much on your fees?”

“Not even close, but I’m not the only contributor. And, although I founded the organization, I don’t run it. I am on the board and have a say in its operation, but the whole board has the final say. Fortunately, there are enough funds that anyone can submit nominations for beneficiaries of the charity.”

Jaime looked a little ashamed. “I’ll have to admit that I did think you spent all your income on leisure. You’ve impressed me.”

“Yeah, well keep it under your hat. Most of my clients think I’m just an adventuring playboy.” I winked and smiled. “It’s part of my charm.”

[davedove]

Scene 33

Aboard the Saltire

The flight to South Carolina was relatively uneventful. The only irritation was Grant’s sulking. No one had thought to stock any Ontario wine in the larder.

Upon crossing the South Carolina border, Jaime announced that anyone not part of the crew would have to pass the remainder of the flight within the dining room, so as to safeguard the secret location of the Great Hall.

I had gone through this drill before, so I started towards the dining room.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Jaime asked.

“To the dining room, like everyone else,” I answered. “You don’t want me to see the location of the Hall, do you?”

“Drop the innocent act,” he told me. “We all know that your team discovered our location. While we don’t like it, I suppose we’ll have to live with it. By the way, that Ms. Swan is quite the investigator.”

I chuckled a bit, knowing that my secret was out. “Well, she just can’t stand to leave a mystery unsolved.”

As the Saltire approached the mountain upon which the Great Hall stood, I watched closely. I had seen the hangar from the inside, but had never watched the airship dock. We seemed to be flying straight towards the side of the mountain.

Then, the side of the mountain opened with two great doors swinging out. Within I could see the hangar where several people were waiting to secure the craft.

“Impressive,” I said to Jaime. “With the doors closed it looks just like any other mountainside.”

“It’s a combination of modeling and holographic imagery,” Jaime told me. “David worked up the idea one afternoon.”

As the airship slipped into the hangar, mooring lines were thrown to the men waiting inside. These men helped guide the craft to the hooks mounted on the floor.

As I looked around, I saw a small control booth set up off the floor, near the doors. As the airship passed completely within the doors, the man in the booth activated some controls and the doors started to swing closed.

The instant the doors closed completely, I noticed the lights come up. Apparently, they remained at a minimal illumination when the doors were open to reduce the chances of detection.

As soon as the Saltire was secured, Jaime ordered everyone to disembark.

[davedove]

Scene 34

Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

All the members were directed to the underground monorail. When it stopped, Jaime and Todd guided them upstairs to the main floor of the Great Hall.

As we entered the library we were greeted with an unusual apparition. Spasm, the manservant was waiting there for us. However, in addition to his normal attire, he was wearing a WWI era Doughboy helmet and what had to be a coast guard personal flotation vest. Around his waist he had strapped a Civil War cavalry saber and he had tucked a flintlock dueling pistol in the belt.

“Spasm, why are you dressed like that?” Panache asked.

Spasm snapped off a sharp salute. “I’m ready to help defend the Great Hall, Master Jaime. I overheard Master Todd telling the others that enemy forces had attacked the members so I wanted to be ready. All the necessary arrangements have been made.”

“Uh, what arrangements?” Panache asked.

“The Great Hall is secure, Master Jaime. All the windows have been boarded and the doors blocked. No one will get in here without a fight. The provisions have been moved to the emergency cellar. I also gathered up all the valuables and buried them behind the stables.”

“Buried?”

“Yes, to keep them from being plundered.”

I was almost in pain from trying to hold in the laughter. Jaime shot me a dirty look, and then turned back to Spasm.

“Spasm, the emergency is over. Please, put everything back in its place. We have guests to entertain.”

“Guests, Master Jaime? These aren’t reinforcements?”

“No, Spasm, they are our guests. And I am sure they are tired and hungry. Please see to their needs.”

“Yes, Master Jaime.”

As Spasm introduced himself to the others, I walked away with the Moderators.

Todd spoke quietly to Jaime, “Uh, Jaime, about the valuables.”

“I know, Todd,” he answered. “We don’t have any stables.”

[davedove]

Scene 35

Chapel, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

I was walking down the hallway when Prestor John stopped me. “Mr. Dove,” he said, “there is someone in the chapel that I believe you should talk to. I have a feeling your experiences may help you relate to her problem.”

“Who is it?”

“A woman who is carrying a lot of guilt right now.”

I made my way to the chapel, curious as to how my experiences would make me better counsel than the chaplain. When I arrived, I saw a single woman sitting there, Julie. I walked in and sat down beside her.

“How you doing?” I asked her.

She didn’t respond right away. After a few moments, she spoke in a low voice, “Not Good.”

“What’s wrong?”

Again, she paused before speaking. “I could have killed that man. I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”

“You did what you had to do. If you hadn’t, Livingston and I would be dead.”

“And that makes it right?” Although quiet, there was a touch of desperation in her voice. I noticed tears running down her cheeks.

I quickly took her in my arms. “No, it doesn’t make it right. It’s not right that anyone should ever have to do what you did. But sometimes it is necessary.”

“How do you do it? Why is it so easy for you?”

I paused a moment before answering. “Don’t ever think it’s easy. Pray it never becomes easy. With training and experience a person can learn to do it when necessary, but it’s never easy. You’re in the right place though. I have spent more than a few nights in chapels. So have the rest of my team.”

“Even Ms. Hawk?” she asked in disbelief.

I chuckled a little at that. “Especially her. I believe it’s because we take the time to reflect on our actions that we are such an effective team.”

We sat in silence for several moments as we each reflected on recent events.

“You know what?” she said. “There is one thing I hope.”

“What’s that?”

She smiled when she looked at me. “I hope I gave him splinters.”

[davedove]

Scene 36

Chapel, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

The Moderators had arranged a memorial service for the two fallen members, Michael Newface and Peter Recruit. As part of the service, their names were added to the list of names displayed on the wall of the chapel of those who had given their lives in service to our organization.

When the service concluded, I sought out Julie.

“Julie,” I said, “there’s someone you should talk to.”

I had previously spoken to Livingston about her, and I led her over to him.

“This is her,” I told him.

He looked up at her from the wheelchair he was using until his leg healed. “Julie,” he said, taking her hand. “I just wanted to thank you. I owe you my life.”

I walked away from them as they were talking. Jaime spotted me and waved me over.

“About Newface and Recruit,” he started when I neared.

“I’ve already contacted the Foundation,” I interrupted him. “Their families will be receiving assistance.”

He nodded. “I suspected as much. The other Moderators and I have talked it over and we want to contribute to that assistance.”

“Certainly, it’s relatively easy to make a contribution to the Foundation. When you do, just specify the recipients.”

“Good. There’s something else I need to discuss with you. Will you come see me in my office later this evening?”

“Of course, when would you like me to come?”

“Make it about an hour before the banquet.”

I spotted Mikey and made my way over to him.

“When are you all planning to leave?” I asked.

“Grant has decided that we will stay through the banquet and leave immediately afterwards. I suspect he just wants to get your Moderators to pay for his meal. Of course, he will complain about it the whole time.”

I considered Mikey’s comments for a few moments. “Why do you do it Mikey? Why do you stay with him?”

He thought about that for a while before answering. “He wasn’t always like he is now. He was a good man and I believe he could be again. I swore my loyalty to him a long time ago and it wouldn’t be right to leave him now, just when he needs me the most.”

“You’re a good man, Mikey, and it was good working with you for a change. It’s a shame we have to be on the opposite side of things so often.”

“Yeah, but can you imagine how bad Grant would be if I weren’t there to temper his outbursts?”