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KS HOTLINE MEETING#6
LARGE AND IN CHARGE
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Context: That meeting introduces the covert operation center. Celebrated Apollena’s return to the list. Delivered a very special birthday gift to my dear friend Star. The title comes from watching way to many times the Hind trilogy. Strife in heavy rotation does strange things to your mind. LOL
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PART ONE
LEAVING
<Thursday late afternoon>
Suffering from sleep depravation and in need of an Ares detox cure, Chantal decides to take a long week-end away from KS Hotline HQ and check in Kendaa's Detox center for hopeless Arestocrat.
<in the manager's office: Chantal, Star and Nannyboo>
<Chantal with a cautious smile> "So I thought I could trust you two with the daily activities and supervision of the staff. Star, you have the grape meeting coming up Saturday in the Game room. How are the preparations coming along?"
<Star> "Well, I expect the objects to arrive late Friday morning. I'll close the game room and install everything Friday night. I'll have to test it first. I'll need some help. You were supposed to join me but obviously you can't. How about it, Nannyboo?"
"Sure, what do I need to bring?" asks Nannyboo
<Star with a sly grin> "Your pool stick and very very light clothing..."
<Nannyboo bending her head slightly> "Really? Can I bring a friend?<eg>"
<Star> "As long as it's not my friend" she laughs <wg> "We'll coordinate. Don't worry." giggles Nannyboo. "Or share." replies Star.
<Chantal with a fearful look in her eyes thinks : What have i done?> "Okay, down ladies, I can see, Star, that you have everything under control with the grape meeting. Nannyboo, as administrative exec, you're in charge of the staff. The overseas link up is on trial bases starting Friday, you're ready?"
"No problem, I’ve had all possible topic covered. Michelle will handle the Aussie, Tedras the European callers and Zuell the Canuk connection. Although, the Canadian gang also uses the North American link" promptly muses Nannyboo.
"Fine, you are now large and in charge as Strife would say, girls (metaphorically speaking of course. LOL)" replies Chantal.
"Boy, she really needs that Ares detox cure" giggle Star and Nannyboo after leaving the office. "She's quoting Strife..." rolling their eyes.
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PART TWO
WHAT GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT
<Late Friday morning>
The delivery dock at KS HOTLINE HQ.
Star is waiting eagerly. "Good I see everything is there. BE careful not to drop anything. It fragile." she tells the two delivery man. "If you follow me this way... Oh, you forgot one package..." pointing to a very large box (at least 6 foot tall)...
"No, that package is for me, Star. And boys, I can take care of it by myself." declares Becky standing at the edge of the dock.
"A package! For you? I was not informed. You are sure? Now as CO-acting manager, I have to inspect everything that comes into the HQ." And Star begins to advance towards the back of the delivery truck.
"I have Chantal's authorization. See, she signed it before leaving yesterday." pipes Becky stopping Star in her tracks.
"Show me that!" Star reads: The package labeled HGS1-1 is to be handled only by Becky. This is a special delivery for KS Hotline THUD files. No one can open it without proper authorization. I do mean you, Star. Chantal, KS Hotline manager.
Star lets Becky leave with the mysterious package but mumbles: "We'll see..."
<In the administrative area>
The international link up is off and running under Nannyboo expert supervision.
<Michelle on the phone with a delirious Aussie Amazon> "Yes, you're suffering form KS Withdrawal syndrome due to an extended exposure to reruns. What you need is to find yourself a partner in the Adopt a KS Withdrawal patient program. Your partner will support you during your time of need..."
Tedras was totally in control. She had designed her work station. She sat in front of her portable PC, headphones on. She was typing away and answering questions at the same time. "The German serie is starting the 4th season episodes. So don't worry, the grape ep you heard so much about will be along real soon... hold please." "Oui, la nouvelle saison de Hercule a débuté en janvier. Ce sont des épisodes de la fin de la deuxième saison vous aurez l'épisode de la pomme bientôt... Patientez SVP.." "Oh, hold on, please" Tedras takes her headphones off and asks : "HELP, anyone speaks Russian?!!!"
<In Becky's office>
The 6 foot tall box is in the center of the room. Having finally found the color coded files (with some very helpful tracking by Angelika) her files of pics and printout were organized. Now she was attacking the video library. Tapes were everywhere, in piles of 2, 5 even 10 items high. "All those tapes need to be viewed, categorized and filed" looking around Becky sighs. "I'm never going to be able to do all that alone... I need help. Where's my clerk?" Stepping out in search of Angelika, Becky leaves her office door open.
<In the Game room>
Star was instructing the delivery men where to put every boxes. She started to unwrap all the equipment. It would take all afternoon. Angelika strolls by and takes a peak inside. "Star, need any help?" "No, I can do this myself. It's sensitive stuff, you know" replies Star. "Okay, thought I’d make myself useful, you know.. " and she begins to walk away. "Oh wait, Angelika, there might be something you can do for me. You're Becky's assistant right. She got a very yum... euh, I mean strange package... you think you could maybe... " whispers Star. "Enough said, I’ll look into it" answers Angelika with a very wide smile.
<Early evening in Becky's office>
A shadow walks into the room and goes directly for the box. Tears it open, and lets out a sigh... There stood the most seek about item: The Herk Grape Standee.
<Later>
Becky had found Angelika after much searching and a detour in the art room where she walked in on a very private and personal art and chain session between Apollena (Hail to the Queen, she's back) and the Sov who really really was enjoying the artist technique. LOL.
"Okay, now I need you to help me with those tapes, and... ARGHHH! Where is it?" screams Becky. "Where's what? Calm down Becky!" asks Angelika. "My exclusive Herk Grape Standee. It was delivered today. Oh, Angelika, I need to find it. It's the prize for the Grape addiction meeting tomorrow. It's been stolen..." "Or misplaced," quips Angelika. "I'm sure it will turn up again. Let's look for it" "Okay, you go and start in the massage therapy room. I have a call to make." replies Becky "And I’ll join you in the search."
<Becky on the phone> "Hello, KSHQ covert operation, I’ll like to report a missing prize..." Hanging up the phone, the covert operation agent walks to her closet and stands there deciding on the perfect outfit for this mission. "Short white jumpsuit... no good. Jeans and Herk black tee... better but not even close. Ah!, I have it. Tight leather cat suit. Perfect. Now, let's do some probing and searching for that missing Herk standee."
<In front of the massage room Angelika soon joined by Becky>
"Angelika, did you find it?" asks Becky. "No, and that door is locked. Noise is coming out but nobody is answering. Look at the notice." replies Angelika.
<Becky reading> KS HOTLINE MASSAGE AND THERAPY ROOM will be opened for business very soon. You can make an appointment with Deeva at her desk starting next week. The staff will be : Simple Herk (still in training) Deeva, KS Hotline massage room exec.
<Much later in the dimmed lit art room>
"Now, Sov are those chains to tight. A little lemonade to go with that?" murmurs Apollena. A dark purple leather woman slips in and gives a quick look around. Catching Sov's eyes, she gives him a wink and a big smile and slips back out. "I found something, but not what I was looking for" she thinks with a chuckle.
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PART THREE
THE GAME IS ON OR SURPRISE LOOK WHO SHOWS UP
<Very late Friday night>
In the game room. A very special game of pool was on. Nannyboo, Star and Herk (they finally decided to share and how they got him there is everybody’s guess. lol) had been playing for an hour now. Star was to her last piece of clothing, a very long lacy white shirt. She was usually better at this game but Herk, shirtless and shyly wearing some cute boxer shorts kinda messed up her concentration. Nannyboo, on the other hand, was shamelessly winning. Her incredible will power and sense of concentration were very handy. She still had her long shirt and socks on. And only one more ball to sink. She was one ball away from the prize : leaving with Herk.
<In Star’s office>
The covert agent would have put money on it being in this office. She would have lost, it was not there. Nor was it in MMMuffin’s office. She would have put money on that one two. She had almost gotten caught there. She had no idea MMMuffin sometimes spent the night on her office floor with a life size Herk body pillow. She was also holding it pretty tight. She’ll have to investigate how MMMuffin got her hands on that. «Well only two possibilities left: the game room and Chantal’s loft. Since the game room is off limits for the entire night per Chantal’s directives something about a special gift for somebody’s birthday, whatever!» It was off to the boss’s loft.
<In the game room>
As Nannyboo sank the last remaining ball, the eighth ball, she let out a victorious cry. She had won. With a very wide and slightly wicked grin, she took Herk by the hand. «You’re with me big boy! I won fair and square.» Herk seeing Star’s eyes well up asks: «Are you going to be all right? I can stay and help you clean up. Right Nannyboo?» Star gave a brave smile, declined and sent him with her friend. She’ll have other chances.. Even if tonight was a special night…
The door of Chantal’s loft was unlocked and a ray of light was visible. Someone was there and waiting. She opened the door very slowly. Peaked inside and of course the Herk Grape standee was there. «Gee, she thought, how original!» Out loud she said with a firm voice: «Okay, who ever you are show yourself?» From the kitchen came some noise and foot steps.. The covert agent could not believe her eyes… Salmoneus. «I should have known. Rats, the boss made sure no one got their hands on the standee before the meeting. Boy, she’s good.» she thought. «Salmoneus, how are you?» she said. With a big smile, Sal replied: «Nyxx? Nice suit! Want some food?»
<At the detox center at the same time>
Chantal was being forced to watch some Hercules episodes : Ares, the vanishing death and the Dionysos festival. She was slowly getting better.
<Note of the author: this part is for Star, my long lost cousin. It’s totally OT but it’s her birthday today 3rd of February so there>
<In the game room>
Star was cleaning up. She had put away the empty glasses and pool sticks. She was definitely feeling down and on her birthday. She did not notice the door coming ajar and someone slipping in. She did notice two strong arms around her shoulders, turning her around. A very stunned Star was looking into very dark eyes. «So you like the Highlands, I was told» asked the man. Star finally found her voice and answered «Yes, I especially like the MacLeod clan…»
<Fade out>
<In Chantal’s room at the detox center>
Chantal was stumbling around in the dark. She was sleepy and a bit confused from the tape therapy. As she got to her bed she heard: «It’s about time you got here. Let’s make some noise with a very wicked laugh.Her last coherent thought was «I’m not getting out…»
Chantal
KS HOTLINE, I know the patients are running the asylum….In Ares’ detox cure…. doesn’t seem to work. LOL