Missions of the Retrieval Team - A Kilt By Any Other Name

[davedove]

Commercial Break

In a living room

We see two women curled up on a couch watching a movie. The are dressed in flannel pajamas.

“Oh, poor Greg,” says the first woman. “It’s such a shame.”

“I know,” says the second. “But Di, isn’t the actor playing Mr. Dove just so sexy.”

“Oh, I know, Julie. I was so hoping we’d get to see a little more of him in that bedroom scene,” Di says suggestively.

Julie picks up a bowl. “Oh, poo, we’re out of popcorn.”

“Make some more.”

“I can’t. If I get up I might miss some of the movie.”

“No you won’t. Here, use this.” She hands a package to Julie.

Julie takes the package and examines it. “X Pop? I never heard of it.”

“It’s the greatest thing. All you have to do is pull out the strip on the bottom. That will activate the FK heating unit in the bottom. The unit quickly heats the popcorn inside so that it pops right here on the table. And the heating unit is all internal, so you can set it right on your furniture without damaging anything. Why, it’s so safe you can even hold it in your hand while it’s working.”

Julie pulls the tab from the bottom of the package and sets it on the table. After a few moments we hear corn starting to pop. As the pops continue, the package begins to swell upwards. When the popping stops, the package has swollen to about the size of a volleyball.

“Now,” says Di, “Just tear open the top and pour it into the bowl.”

“What about the heating unit; isn’t it still hot?”

“No, the unit operates through a chemical reaction and there is just enough to pop the corn. It’s perfectly safe now.”

“Amazing!” Julie tears open the package and dumps the popped corn into the bowl. She takes a few kernels and pops them into her mouth. “It tastes great.”

“Yeah, and you didn’t even have to leave the couch.” She looks back to the television. “Oh, the movie’s coming back on.”

They both settle back with the popcorn between them to continue watching the movie.

The scene changes to show a package of X Pop while it is popping.

The narrator speaks, “X Pop Insta-Cook Popcorn from X Marks the Scot and FK Industries.”

[Livingston]

I wonder how many of those I'd go through waiting to see how this ends up.

[davedove]

Scene 41

Inside the Van

“Who’s Anna?” Mike asked.

“One of my associates on my world, she’s my second in command,” I answered. “The woman is brilliant; that’s why I got her for my team. On this world she apparently works for the FBI.”

“How do you think she might be different on this world?” Ms. Hawk asked.

“I have no idea,” I said, “But she’s bound to be just as intelligent. And she also has the information from the sheriff that captured us. She’s knows that Ms. Raven has a duplicate in prison and that I shouldn’t be alive. She probably also knows about you, Ms. Hawk.”

“Can you outwit her?” Mike asked.

“I honestly don’t know,” I told him. “On my world she is definitely more intelligent and insightful than I am. However, I am a bit trickier. I have no idea how she may react on this world. On the plus side, she doesn’t know that I am from another world. She doesn’t know for certain who I am, but she probably assumes I am much like my double from this world.”

“How does that help us?” Mike again asked.

“I need to figure out how my double would have handled this and then do something different.” I turned to Diane. “You knew him as well as anyone. I need you to tell me what he would do in this situation.”

“That’s not too difficult,” she answered. “He would have gone back to headquarters for reinforcements. He wouldn’t have gone to face the FBI alone.”

“Then we’ll do this with a small team,” I said, as a plan was already developing in my head.

“Are you crazy?” Mike asked. “They’ll have agents all over the area.”

“That’s what I’m counting on,” I told him. “Don’t worry, I have a plan.”

As the Michael drove the van to the rendezvous site, I told them my idea.

[davedove]

Scene 42

Park in Rural North Carolina

The rendezvous site was in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in western North Carolina, a small park outside of a small town. I had Michael pull the van over to the side of the road. Ms. Hawk and Julie jumped out.

“It’s about one mile that way,” Mike told them.

As they slipped into the trees, Michael continued down the road to the park.

When we reached the park, a car was pulled off to the side and two men were standing there. Both of the men were wearing suits of a deep burgundy color and dark glasses. They flagged us down as we approached.

When Michael stopped the van, one of the men came to the driver’s window. “Whoever is going into the park should get out now. The others will wait here.”

As I stepped out of the van, the other man saw the tarp on the floor where we had covered Greg’s body. “What’s that?” he asked.

“Our casualty,” I answered. “We couldn’t just leave him beside the road now, could we?”

“Okay, you can proceed.”

I turned to Diane. “Take care of him,” I said, indicating David.

I walked down the road. As part of the arrangement, only minimal people from each side were to attend the meeting. I really didn’t expect either side to follow that agreement though, which is why I had sent the two ladies through the woods. They would be our backup.

I had walked about half a mile when I spotted three people ahead of us, two women and a man. Ms. Raven was one of the women. She was seated on a bench just off the road with her hands behind her, probably handcuffed.

The woman beside her was definitely Anna’s double, although she wore her hair in a much more business-like style. Both she and the man were wearing burgundy suits as well, although Anna’s had a skirt instead of slacks.

The man held his hand up to stop me. He looked to be in his early twenties, probably new to the Bureau. He slowly opened his jacket to show me the handgun he had holstered there.

I smiled and shook my head. I pulled on the strap over my shoulder, which caused the assault rifle behind my back to swing forward.

“Mine’s bigger than yours,” I said to him.

I saw his eyes widen a bit behind the glasses.

I heard the woman laugh behind him. “If you two boys are through comparing your toys, maybe we can get started. John, bring him here.”

I looked at the young man again. He was more clean-cut, but it was definitely the man I knew as Clockwork John on my world.

As John led me forward, I nodded to Ms. Raven. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“A little embarrassed at being caught,” she replied, “but I’m fine.”

“I told you she would be okay,” Anna said to me. “I assume you are Mr. Dove?”

“That’s right, Anna,” I replied. I had intentionally used her name to gauge her reaction.

Her eyes did widen a bit in surprise, but her voice betrayed little. “Well,” she said, “You obviously know who I am.”

“I did a little research,” I lied.

“That makes no difference.” She examined me intently. “You really do look so much like the man we executed a year ago. Yet, you are very much alive. How do you explain that?”

“It’s nothing you need to be concerned about.”

“Oh, but I do so hate to leave a mystery unsolved. Just as mysterious is how your friend here,” she gestured to Ms. Raven, “can be in two places at once. I checked; she is definitely still in her cell in New York, yet here she is as well.”

“And I guess you’ll just have to be frustrated, because I’m not going to explain it to you.”

“Mr. Dove, I had hoped you would cooperate and answer my questions. I suppose I will have to take you in and interrogate you. That’s not very pleasant you know.”

“So I have heard, but I’m not going anywhere with you. I plan to take my friend here and walk away.” I glanced at Ms. Raven and quickly winked.

“Really, Mr. Dove, you do realize that I have people all through these woods? I know how you operate, so I have vehicles positioned at all the entrances to this park to intercept the reinforcements you called. You’ll be quite alone here.”

Good, I thought, that means that most of her forces would be tied up looking for reinforcements that weren’t coming. “Of course,” I said, “I expected that. Still, we are going to walk away.”

“Oh no, I need only signal and you will be shot where you stand. I suggest you put down your weapon and surrender now.”

I again glanced over to Ms. Raven. She nodded slightly. Good, she was ready.

I smiled and looked back to Anna. “Tell me,” I said to her. “Do you know what slip-knot means?”

She looked at me in confusion. “What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything?”

“That’s what I thought. I guess you’re about to find out.”

She continued to look at me in confusion.

My gaze shifted to Ms. Raven.

“Go,” I said.

[Freedomlover]

I live near a small town in western North Carolina, and am near several parks. Too bad I didn't know they might need a little help.

[davedove]

Scene 43

Park in Rural North Carolina

Ms. Raven had been ready for my command. When I had signaled here earlier, she had quickly slipped out of the cuffs. Anyone who knows her would know that this was not a great feat. I have never known any bonds to hold her for long. She jumped up behind Anna and pulled her to the ground.

At the same time I spun around quickly, raising my rifle as I did. The butt of the rifle caught John directly on the temple, knocking him senseless. Even before he hit, I was already taking his pistol from the holster.

“Sorry, John,” I said as I moved away from him.

I quickly moved to help Ms. Raven get Anna to her feet and I placed the pistol against Anna’s neck to show anyone watching that Anna was our captive.

We began to move back towards the van. As we stepped back, a shot rang out and a burgundy clad man fell from the tree line.

Ms. Hawk was doing her job.

“Where are you taking me?” Anna asked.

“Nowhere,” I answered. “You’re just going to get us out of this park.”

“You’ll never make it,” she said. “I have people all around us.”

Another shot rang out and another burgundy-clad man fell from cover. Anna saw him fall.

“I think you may be mistaken,” I said with a smile.

As we made out way back to the van, none of Anna’s people took any shots at us, afraid they would hit her. Meanwhile, Ms. Hawk continued to selectively take out those who dared to expose themselves from cover.

When we got back to the van, I saw our companions had disabled the two agency men and had the van ready to go.

“Are you going to kill me?” Anna asked.

“No,” I answered.

“What? Why not?” she asked, obviously confused.

“Because we are not terrorists, we’re fighting an oppressive government. You are on the wrong side Anna. I know someone very much like you and she would realize that. I’m giving you the opportunity to learn the truth.”

My companions were in the van and waiting for me. I pushed Anna away and she stumbled to the ground.

“Think about what I said,” I yelled to her as I jumped into the van and closed the door.

Michael stepped on the gas and the van sped away. We saw Julie and Ms. Hawk running to the road ahead of us, so Michael slowed the van to a crawl and I threw open the door.

The two ladies jumped inside and Michael again guided the van down the road.

When we got to the highway, Michael turned the van north.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“The Bureau knows we operate from somewhere in South Carolina. They’ll have all the roads south covered, watching for us,” Mike answered.

“Where will we go then?”

“I know a place,” he said. “We’re going to Franklin.”

[Livingston]

Watch out Matt. Things could get interesting for you.

[LadyGriffin]

ROAD TRIP!

I have not posted for a while, but I just wanted to say I check 3 times a day for postings to this storyline. It has been very enjoyable! First thing I do when I get to work before I punch in is check. Then on break, then when I get home. <G>

Dave, you are a wonderful storyteller.

Thank you!

(And thank you for letting me be in the story!)

Julie


Now where is that X Pop popcorn. Di, did you eat it all again?

[Jock Scot]

Phew! They are not heading this way.

[Birddog]

Phew! They are not heading this way.

Careful, Jock. We all know that Dave loves plot twists! Just look at poor Greg!