Missions of the Retrieval Team - Kiltmen Down

[davedove]

Scene 21


Private airfield near Boston


“You’ve captured my team?” I asked Robert. The worry in my voice was not a complete act.

“Yes, we’ve captured them. I will admit it was a bit of a struggle, and a couple of our operatives may never walk the catwalk again, but we got them all when we went after Mr. Breecher.”

“Catwalk?” I asked.

“Yes, you see we use some of the models as our operatives. None of the most visible ones of course, as they would be too easily recognized. However, there are legions of other models that are nearly starving between jobs. It was a simple matter to recruit some of them to do other jobs for us.”

“Where are Andrew and my team?” I demanded.

“Not to worry, they are being taken care of. They have been sent to our headquarters where Andrew will join the other three we took for re-education. The four members of your team will be quite comfortable, but confined none the less.”

I suddenly realized that he had only said four members of my team. That meant that two of my associates were still free.

“And where is this headquarters of yours?” I asked.

Robert began to laugh. “Do you really expect me to reveal everything like one of those movie villains? This is the real world, Mr. Dove. I am not going to tell you anything I don’t want to tell you.”

“Well, I was hoping,” I said, smiling. “So what are you going to do with us?”

“We certainly can’t have you interfering with our plans. We are going to take you to the headquarters as well. Ms. Thrush will be placed with your other associates. As for you, I believe my other associates would like to speak with you.”

“Other associates?” I asked.

“Yes, I am not working alone. I have partners. And don’t worry, you will get to meet them soon enough.”

“Boys, secure them in the back of the plane,” he ordered the men who had brought us here. “We will be leaving within the hour.”

[Wompet]

Canuck, the villain? That explains why he wasn't on the Maple Leaf with the rest of the SOKs ... and with that easy smile and those half-closed eyes, he does sort of have that "Well, shucks, I'm just taking over the world to help you out" look to him ... makes you think, don't it?

[ccga3359]

You know I never trusted that robert the moment I laid eyes on him. What with those beady little vacant coal like eyes of his and his Betty Boop expression every time he gets a bleeding kilt check. And another thing, when am I going to get my bloody kilt check? I'm really not liking this fiction crap as it's too much like real life .

[Freelander Sporrano]

The Moon-base Idea of mine has been kicking around for a while now...You could say it is a Lunatic idea.... as is my Gore-tex kilt idea for hikers........Oh blast.. Back to that interrupter weapon down in the real lab........Great fun Dave

[davedove]

Scene 22


Private manor owned by Globo-Fashion


We were in the plane for only about two hours, but the plane made many turns, so we could not have gone too far.

Upon landing, we were immediately moved to a van with no windows, so again we could not tell where we were going. Again, the van made many turns so I could not get a reliable estimate of the distance we traveled, but I could tell that we drove for about thirty minutes.

When the van stopped, the same two men directed us out, again at gunpoint. Glancing about, I could see that we were at the back of a large, brick manor building. We were directed through a back door into the basement area.

At this point Ms. Thrush and I were separated. One of the men directed me to a small room that could only be described as a cell. He pushed me inside and I heard the heavy door lock behind me.

Looking about, I quickly determined that the only exit to the cell was the locked door through which I had entered. The room contained only a single bed.

Sitting on the bed, I began to take inventory. For whatever reason, they had not taken any of my belongings, probably because I didn’t have any obvious weapons. I still had my sporran and all its contents, including the devices that I had taken from David’s lab. They had even left me the sgian dubh. I guess they didn’t think it was enough of a knife to be dangerous. There was some truth to that, since they had guns. However, they didn’t know about the explosive charge within.

I checked to be sure that the transmitter was still working and it was. Whoever was still free from the team would be able to track me here.

Thinking of the mission, I decided not to do anything yet, as I still did not know the location of the kidnap victims, and now part of my team. I did decide to move some of the devices out of my sporran and place them in hidden pockets in my clothing, just in case they decided to take some of my items. The sgian dubh I slid down farther into my stocking; it was more uncomfortable there, but it was better hidden.

I lay back on the bed to get some sleep. All I could do at this point was wait.

[davedove]

Scene 23


Private manor owned by Globo-Fashion


A few hours later, the door to my cell opened. Outside were the same two men who had captured me, along with Robert.

“What’s going on now?” I asked.

“You’re to come with me,” Robert answered. “The president wants to see you.”

“President?”

“Yes, the president of Globo-Fashion, one of my associates.”

He led me through the hallways and up the stairs. When we got to the living room of the manor. Seated there was a dark-haired woman wearing an expensive dress. Surrounding her were about a dozen men and women with sidearms. Based on their looks, I surmised that they were probably more of the models that had been given different jobs.

“Welcome, Mr. Dove. We are so pleased to see you here,” she said as I entered. “Please have a seat here,” she said, pointing to the chair across from here.

“Hello,” I answered. “Since Robert said that I was being taken to meet the president of Globo-Fashion, I am assuming that is you. Are you indeed Ivana Rulital?”

“Ah, so you have heard of me?”

“Well, I have read about your company.”

“Of course, so you could investigate my connection to the kidnappings.”

“That’s right, did you do it?”

“Not personally, no. I wouldn’t dirty my hands with such things. But I will admit that I am responsible.”

“But why?” I asked. “You are the president of the fastest growing firm in the fashion industry. What could you possibly get out of their kidnappings?”

“It is quite simple. These gentlemen do not follow the trends in fashion. I simply cannot have that.”

“Why not? They are only three men. What do you care?”

“Because, Mr. Dove, these men are not influenced by fashion. They in turn inspire others to follow their own style. Again, I can’t have that.”

“But the fashion industry takes in billions. A few men won’t have any more than a miniscule effect on that.”

“But you don’t understand. I don’t just want billions. I want to control it all. I want the entire fashion industry under my control. I can’t have people dressing the way they want. Everyone must dress the way I tell them to. That’s why I took these men, and why I will have others abducted. They must be trained to see it my way. They must learn that I should control how they dress.”

I turned to Robert. “How do you fit into all this?” I asked.

He smiled at me. “Because with Ivana’s influence, I can expand my market share. When she tells everyone to wear my kilts, the demand for my product will go through the roof.”

“So, you betrayed your fellow kilt wearers for money?”

“Not just money. Think about it; I could make millions. Isn’t that right Ivana?”

Ivana’s expression quickly changed to a sneer. “Yes, that is what I told you. But that was never the plan.”

Two of the model/guards quickly grabbed Robert. “I don’t understand,” he said. “What do you mean it wasn’t the plan?” His face reflected his shock and disbelief.

“Don’t you get it?” I said. “She used you. She took your connections and used them to find the men she needed. She probably isn’t even interested in kilts.”

“Not quite,” said Ivana. “I do plan to work kilts into my fashion plans, but only when I want them, and only on a sporadic basis. The object is to have a different fashion every season. That way, there will constantly be new clothes being bought. Think of the money we will make. Think of the control we will have over people’s lives.”

“But our agreement?” asked Robert, still not completely understanding.

“It’s broken, Robert,” said Ivana. “Guards, take him to be reeducated!”

[Panache]

And to think that Robert scoffed at poor Grant's blimp idea...

Cheers

Jamie

[ccga3359]

The Moon-base Idea of mine has been kicking around for a while now...You could say it is a Lunatic idea.... as is my Gore-tex kilt idea for hikers........Oh blast.. Back to that interrupter weapon down in the real lab........Great fun Dave

Right now I'm waiting for David to trip over his own feet so that he can 'invent' gravity! I'm sure Big Mikey has all these items in the SOKS arsenal already!

[Arlen]

This just gets better and better!

[Dirka Skene]

This is very, very interesting so far. I can't wait to see where it goes.