Missions of the Retrieval Team - Kiltmen Down

[James MacMillan]

The evil forces have crashed Dave's computer - - - we will never learn more.

[starbkjrus]

The evil forces have crashed Dave's computer - - - we will never learn more.

lololol Actually Dave mentioned earlier that he has guests this weekend and we most likely won't see any more until the middle of next week. All the more to build the anticipation.

[Une]

lololol Actually Dave mentioned earlier that he has guests this weekend and we most likely won't see any more until the middle of next week. All the more to build the anticipation.

Can't wait for the next one.

[davedove]

Okay everyone, I'm back. The houseguests are gone and I will now continue the story.


Scene 27


Private manor owned by Globo-Fashion


I changed into the outfit that had been provided for me. It consisted of a traditional kilt, a Prince Charlie jacket and vest, and all the traditional accessories. Ivana must have a good eye for size, as everything fit perfectly.

I knew that wearing the sporran I had come with would not match the outfit and Ivana would immediately notice it. So, I transferred the gadgets I had into the dress sporran provided.

When I was ready, I knocked on the door.

“What is it?” asked the guard from outside the door.

“I am ready for dinner,” I announced.

“Okay, step away from the door.”

I did as the guard asked and stepped back from the door. He pushed the door open and pointed his gun at me. The other guard outside had also drawn his sidearm.

I allowed the guards to direct me to the dining room. When I arrived, I saw that the room had been redecorated in a highland theme. Tartan tapestries had been placed around the room. The male guards were all wearing tartan trews and formal jackets. The serving girls were all dressed in short pleated skirts.

I noticed that only two places had been set. Apparently, Ivana and I were the only ones dining.

My guards directed me to one of the chairs. They stepped back, but I knew they were still keeping watch. One of the serving girls poured me a glass of wine.

In just a few minutes, Ivana entered the room. I rose from my chair to greet her.

“Ah, Mr. Dove, ever the gentleman, I see” she said when she saw me rise.

“Of course, Ms. Rulital. I do have manners.” I took the hand she offered and lightly kissed it.

“Oh my, how gallant,” she said, actually blushing a little.

“One must greet a lady properly,” I answered playfully.

I waited for her to take a seat before I sat myself. “How do the clothes suit you?” she asked.

“Quite well, actually. You have a good eye for sizing.”

“I began as a seamstress before I began designing clothes. I found I had a talent to accurately gauge someone’s measurements. It came in quite useful.”

“I would imagine. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Where are my associates?”

“Straight to business, I see. Very well, your associates are being held below.”

“What are you going to do with them?”

“Actually, the ladies are quite attractive. I believe I can use them. They will be sent to one of my associates to be conditioned to be proper servants.”

“Conditioned? Like the men downstairs?”

“After a fashion, many of the same techniques are used.”

“Have all your servants here gone through the conditioning?”

“No, not all of them, many will do the work just for the extra pay I give them. However, the guards and the troublemakers are all conditioned.”

So, not all of the servants had been conditioned. That would explain why Dirka still had her free will. It also gave me an idea.

I took a large drink of my wine, draining the glass. “It seems I need a refill.”

“Of course,” said Ivana. She motioned for one of the serving girls, who began to move in my direction.

“No,” I quickly said, causing the girl to stop. I noticed the type of wine that Dirka was holding. “I believe I’m in the mood for a glass of burgundy.”

“You,” Ivana spoke to Dirka. “Pour him some burgundy.”

Dirka came to my side of the table to pour the wine. Once the wine was poured, I reached for the glass.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to Dirka, so only she could hear. As I raised the glass, I intentionally bumped my arm against her and spilled the wine down the front of my shirt.

I jumped up from my chair. “You clumsy wench!” I yelled at Dirka, grabbing her arm. With my other hand, I quickly slipped the transmitter from my sporran into her clothing.

Ivana also rose from her chair. “Oh, Mr. Dove, I am so sorry. This one is new.”

“Well, maybe she needs to be conditioned,” I responded, my voice still angry.

“You may be right. Guards, take her below with the other ladies.”

Perfect, I thought, now I can find my associates.

“Very well,” I responded, “But this shirt is ruined.”

“Yes, of course.” She pointed to one of the servants. “You, get Mr. Dove a spare shirt. Mr. Dove, you can change your shirt in the powder room over there.”

“Thank you,” I responded. “And I apologize for my outburst.”

“Think nothing of it. I can’t stand spills on my clothes either.”

[davedove]

Commercial Break


A small tribal village set in a jungle


An attractive woman of Hispanic or possibly Native American ancestry is speaking in Swahili with a villager. In the course of the conversation, the tribesman hands her a jeweled dagger. They shake hands and she turns and starts walking towards the audience.

“I didn’t always speak Swahili, you know,” she says, “but I needed to learn it quickly for this mission. I’m Ms. Stork of the Retrieval Team, and I often have to travel to remote locations in the world and I need to know the local language.”

“So, when I need to learn a new language quickly, I turn to X-lingo. It’s an integrated system of computer software and audio discs that help you learn a new language in just a short time.”

“This system was developed by the folks of X Marks the Scot to facilitate communications among its members. As the membership grew, speakers of many different languages and cultures were included among its members. So, a special system was needed and X-lingo was the result.”

“The audio discs have conversations and speech drills that you can listen to anywhere. Actual native speakers were used so that you can hear how the words and phrases sound when spoken by those who use the language everyday.”

“The computer software utilizes a learning system that guides the user at his or her own pace. That way, you can learn the new language at the rate that’s right for you.”

“I’ve used the system to learn several languages, from French, to Albanian, and even Inuit.”

“Our next mission is to China, so I’m going to have to learn Cantonese. So, I hope you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some studying to do.”

“Just remember, if you need to learn a new language quickly, nothing is faster than X-lingo from X Marks.”

[davedove]

Scene 28


Private manor owned by Globo-Fashion


As I changed my shirt, I hoped that I had not overplayed my hand. My outburst had allowed me to get a transmitter to the prisoners’ area, but it did seem a bit out of character. Hopefully, Ivana would simply consider it a normal way to act towards the help. She did seem to have a superior attitude about her.

When I reentered the dining room, Ivana called to me. “Good, you’ve returned Mr. Dove. I do hope everything is okay.”

“Yes, it’s fine. And I’m sorry for my outburst. It’s just that I get so irritated with incompetence.”

“Yes, yes, do sit down. As I said, that one is new. She just needs some training.”

“Of course,” I said, taking my seat. “Now, I believe I need some more wine,” I said with a smile.

“Definitely,” she said, gesturing for the serving girl, who promptly filled my glass.

“Now,” I prompted, “Just why is it you are serving me dinner here in the dining room, instead of my cell?”

“Back to business, eh Mr. Dove? Very well, it’s just that we may be able to use someone of your talents in our endeavor. I will have to ask my associates, of course, but I feel you can be useful. And it would be preferable to have you join us willingly. We can always have you reeducated, but that process tends to strip away the initiative along with the free will, so you wouldn’t be as useful that way.”

“And why would I want to join you? What do you have to offer me?”

“Why money and power, of course. What else would you expect? When we’ve solidified our hold on the market, anything you could possibly want would be yours.”

“Such as?”

“Well, I have noticed that you seem to have a fondness for attractive ladies. Look around you. These young ladies are but a few of those that are available. You could have any of them as companions, hanging on your arms at events, traveling with you, and even as playthings in your bed. Wouldn’t you appreciate that?”

“Yes, that would certainly be nice,” I chuckled. “But I have ladies by my side now. What else can you offer?”

“What can’t we offer, Mr. Dove. Think about it; we travel the world now. If we gain the control we seek, you would have your own private transportation. You could travel anywhere you wanted and, as I said, you could do it with the world’s most beautiful women at your beck and call.”

“Okay, that all sounds very nice, but what would you want me to do?”

“Just what you are doing now, but you would be doing it for us and for so much more compensation. All you would have to do is find the people and items we need and bring them to us.”

“So, you want me to kidnap people, including people who have given me their trust, and people whose only offence is that they happened to not fit into your plans.”

“Don’t make it sound so evil, Mr. Dove. This is business and we’re simply doing what we have to do to succeed.”

One of the male servants walked up to Ivana and whispered in her ear. She said something back to him and he left the room.

“I do hope you’re hungry, Mr. Dove,” she continued. “I have arranged to have a well known caterer prepare our meal tonight and they are ready to begin.”

An attractive young woman with oriental features came through the door. She was carrying a tray of appetizers.

When I saw her face, I knew that the free members of my team had found me. The woman carrying the tray was Ms. Swan.

[ccga3359]

That's it, where do I sign up? Will Ivana contact me or should I call her? I want beautiful wonmen dripping off of my arm. Somebody please loosen my retraints!

[Coemgen]

That's it, where do I sign up? Will Ivana contact me or should I call her? I want beautiful wonmen dripping off of my arm. Somebody please loosen my retraints!

Somebody please tighten his restraints!

[davedove]

That's it, where do I sign up? Will Ivana contact me or should I call her? I want beautiful wonmen dripping off of my arm. Somebody please loosen my retraints!

Somebody please tighten his restraints!

Or at least get him some more pudding!

[davedove]

Scene 29


Private manor owned by Globo-Fashion


Ms. Swan first served Ivana, and then moved to me. As she placed the appetizer in front of me, she whispered discreetly, so that only I could hear. “Hawk’s strike.” She then moved away and went back into the other room.

What she had whispered was a signal that whatever plan they had would initiate on Ms. Hawk’s signal. That meant that Ms. Swan and Ms. Hawk were the two that had evaded capture.

As Ivana and I enjoyed the appetizer, my two associates moved in and out of the room, along with four gentlemen of different ages. I assumed that these men were with the catering company. They appeared to be setting up a cart for a flambé. All were dressed in kilts, appropriate to the theme of the dinner.

I kept Ivana’s attention by chatting idly. She kept bringing up the subject of my joining her endeavor, but I kept asking other questions.

As the caterers were setting up the cart I noticed some unusual things. One of the men seemed to have on some kind of tool belt, although it was well concealed by his apron. Another of the men was wearing a strange pair of tight-fitting gloves, bright green in color. Another of the men, obviously the chef, arranged several knives and other cooking tools near him.

I noticed that Ms. Swan and Ms. Hawk had placed themselves near the dining table, as if waiting to clear our dishes when we were finished.

Just as I was wondering what the plan might be, Ms. Hawk called out. “Now!”

She immediately reached under the hem of her kilted skirt, pulling out two handguns. She quickly shot the two armed guards posted behind me.

Ms. Swan, still holding her serving tray, quickly swung it right into the face of a servant standing behind her, knocking him unconscious.

The youngest of the caterers unexpectedly grabbed a chair and smashed it against the floor, completely destroying it.

Another of the men removed his apron, showing the tool belt he had concealed beneath it. It was filled with carpenter’s tools. He drew out a hammer and a mallet and charged.

The chef grabbed several knives from his table and began throwing them. With uncanny accuracy, the knives pinned several of the servants to the walls and floor.

The man with the green gloves quickly moved to the door. As guards came through the door, alerted by the noise, the man quickly dispatched them, his gloved hands a blur of green.

Within just a few moments, my associates and the caterers had managed to disable and subdue all of the guards and servants. As we all looked around to assure we were secure, we noticed something immediately.

Ivana Rulital was no longer in the room.