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

**davedove** · 4th January 08, 12:06 PM

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** · 5th January 08, 01:57 PM

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

Mender

**Wompet** · 5th January 08, 05:19 PM

[delete]

**Wompet** · 5th January 08, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by davedove

“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 ...

**Panache** · 5th January 08, 05:35 PM

Everyone is always so mean to Grant!

Though I'm strangely comfortable with it.

Cheers

Jamie

**Coemgen** · 6th January 08, 01:08 AM

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** · 6th January 08, 04:41 AM

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** · 6th January 08, 08:20 AM

GMan, I'm thinking you'd better take care if the next fashion show is in Denver.

Things could get a little dicey.

**davedove** · 7th January 08, 01:57 PM

Scene 15

Executive Officer’s Office, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

I was sitting in Mike’s office after he had summoned me there. He had been very specific that I was to come alone. He was standing near the window.

“What’s this all about, Mike?” I asked him.

“I have some very special instructions to give you.”

“About our mission?”

“Yes, since it appears that Ivana Rulital may be involved again, I want you to keep an eye out for her.”

“I had figured that out for myself, Mike. Surely that’s not why you called me in here.”

“No, you’re right.” He hesitated a moment, staring out his window. Turning back to me, he sat down in his chair.

He continued. “This is the second time that Globo-Fashion has been stirring up trouble for us. Granted, this time it’s not specifically targeted at any of our members, but we have become involved anyway.”

“Yes, but we’ll stop her again this time.”

“And what about the next time? Or the time after that? Maybe it’s time we did something a little more permanent.”

“What are you saying, Mike?”

“I’m saying that maybe we should eliminate her.”

This comment rocked me back in the chair. “Mike, you can’t mean that. Sure, my team has had to kill in some of our operations, but we’re not assassins. We’re glad to help the League, but if you’re asking us to specifically target someone and murder them, we can no longer work for you.”

“No, of course not,” he sighed. “And I’m glad you said that. You should know, however, that the Moderators just had an emergency meeting where we discussed this very subject. Okay, we won’t ask you to target Ivana. However, there is another alternative. If you should come across her, I want you to capture her. With the technology at her disposal, she could quickly become very dangerous.”

“That we can do. In fact, it would probably be a wise move. Okay, if we encounter Ivana, we will do our best to bring her in. Anything else?”

“Just this, be very careful. With this new technology, her forces can be very dangerous. She no longer has to imprison someone to alter their thoughts. You could be subjected to suggestions and not even know it.”

“My team is always careful, Mike. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of this for you.”