Missions of the Retrieval Team - The Girl with the Silvery Smile

[Wompet]

[delete]

[Wompet]

“And in Toronto,” she continued, “We find the most unusual fashion trend. It seems that in that city, we find a large number of men wearing kilts with a very unusual accessory. These men are all wearing sporrans that seem to be made in the form of a rubber chicken.”

Why didn't Ms. Stork mention the follow-up article in the Sun about the pack of wild dogs running through Toronto, savaging every chicken sporran in sight (and some beaver sporrans as well)? Witnesses said it was led by a large shaggy dog wearing a green and brown tartan collar ...

[Kilted_John]

Probably after they got Granted... ;-)

-J

[Livingston]

Granted, that chicken seems to be hanging around a lot.

[davedove]

Scene 13


Media Room, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot


“Excuse me,” Panache interrupted, “But did you say rubber chicken?”

“I thought that would get your attention,” I answered him. “Doesn’t it remind you of someone?”

“Indeed it does, my rival in the Greater Acryli-Beast expedition, Grant, Head of the Sinister and Obscene Kilt Syndicate. He was always waving around a rubber chicken. Of course, that was because he was quite insane. We had him put away in the Saskatchewan Institute for the Criminally Kilted.”

“Yes you did. I remembered your mention of him from the Saltire’s log and decided to check on him. Ms. Wren checked and according to the Institute’s records, Grant was considered fully rehabilitated and was released.”

“So he could be involved.”

“I wondered myself, so we did some further research. Ms. Swan pulled up all the photos she could find from the Toronto benefit. We found one that you might find interesting.”

On the main screen a picture appeared from the benefit. The main figure in the photo was an attractive blond woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. She was shown speaking to a man wearing a black kilt. The man had long golden hair and around his waist was a sporran, fashioned out of a rubber chicken.

“That’s Grant,” said Panache. “I would recognize him anywhere, even without his insane rants.” He paused and examined the photo more intently. “Could you zoom in on the man standing behind Grant?”

Ms. Swan worked the mouse on her computer and the screen zoomed in to focus on the head of a very large man standing behind Grant. This man appeared to have a sporran stretched over the top of his head.

“That’s what I thought,” said Panache.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Big Mikey, Grant’s associate from the syndicate. It appears that Grant is not as rehabilitated as they thought.”

[davedove]

Scene 14


Media Room, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot


Mike broke into the conversation. “Wait a minute, you’re telling me that we have a socialite, spreading mind altering drugs and technology designed by Ivana Rulital and her company, in cahoots with Grant and his people from SOKS.”

“I don’t know if they’re all working together,” I answered, “But there is certainly a connection.”

“And what might that connection be?”

Ms. Starling answered, “We have found that Ritchgarl Industries, a small corporation owned entirely by Emma Ritchgarl, is in business to produce a jewelry line and beauty products. We have found that Emma made a deal with a Mr. Evan Moore Naste to produce and market her products. Mr. Naste is the Vice President of Operations for Globo-Fashion, Inc. However, other than the photo you’ve seen and the rubber chicken sporrans, we haven’t been able to find any other involvement from Grant or his people.”

“Well what are we going to do about it?”

Ms. Starling continued, “There are other benefits scheduled. I propose we go to the next one, which is scheduled for Denver in a few days. David tells me that there is an antidote for the hynotin. We will have to get access to the perfume supply and use the antidote to neutralize the hypnotin in the perfume. This will have no affect on the perfume itself; we’ve already tested that. Once we have done that, we should attempt to apprehend and question Miss Ritchgarl. Just in case, we keep an eye out for Grant and his syndicate.”

“What about the devices and the drugs that are already out there? People are going to be affected for some time yet.”

“True,” I answered, “But there is only a limited supply of the perfume and the devices only work in conjunction with the drug, so its affects will be short term. There are just too many to attempt to track them all down. The perfume isn’t scheduled for general release until next month. I propose a subsequent mission to break into the production facilities to neutralize the drugs there. We will also have to access the company files to remove the drug from the formula. Unfortunately, that still leaves the devices. But again, they are useless without the drug, so we can delay action on that until we take care of these other things first.”

“Well,” said Mike, “It sounds like you have a plan of action. I’ll leave it to you and your team to handle this. As always, if there is anything you need, just let us know.”

[Weasel Mender]

I knew I should have sharpened his heels and driven him into the ice like a tent stake

Mender

[Coemgen]

Gentlemen, gentlemen, allow not hatred to rule the day! I implore you, grant Grant clemency! He is, after all, a fellow human being, and deserves to be treated with respect!

I say, is that a large object heading towards me at great velocity?



Oh well, I tried.

You're on your own, Grant.

[davedove]

You will have to stay tuned to find out just how much, or how little, Grant has to do with this story. It could all be mere coincidence.

[Livingston]

GMan, I'm thinking you'd better take care if the next fashion show is in Denver. Things could get a little dicey.