white
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Post by white on Mar 5, 2005 10:36:29 GMT
Sophia, who had taken a seat opposite Dellarosa, noted how well Maria had done.
She watched as Dellarosa poured himself some coffee, and agreed enthusiastically with his first question “It’s certainly beautiful, Manfredi. If it was a painting, you wouldn’t think it was real.”
Sophia had drunk affair amount herself, so had a coffee herself, although she agreed to a touch of bandy, and a Biscotti – all the dancing had left her peckish.
“So how is it, then, that you magically appear here, now, when before I could not even get… how you say… the time of day?”
*This is it* thought Sophia. “Well, there’s a few reasons really, Manfredi.”<br> “I had heard something of your, shall we say, experiences? In China, and was intrigued to see if the rumours were true.”
Dellarosa looked taken aback for a moment, “Which rumours are they?” he asked Sophia continued “That you’d changed from the person I knew at University. I must say Manfredi; you have changed, in many ways. Your right, I would never have been found in this situation with the ‘old you’. As it is, I’m more intrigued now than when I decided to come here.” She smiled hoping Dellarosa took that as it was intended, a compliment.
For now, He avoided the issue. “You said several reasons?”
Sophia gently took another Biscotti, and paused before replying. “I don’t wish to spoil such an enjoyable evening by talking about business, so I’ll be brief and direct. My father has heard of a string of art thefts, focusing on items such as yours down stairs. He is appalled by such crimes, and he wishes to ensure that the world is free of them.”
She paused again, taking a drink of her coffee. “My father wants me to deliver you some passive tracking devices that he’s had designed. That way, if your artefacts go missing – which would be a great tragedy Manfredi - especially for those people in China, we would be able to recover them. Please consider it Manfredi – my father is becoming obsessed with protecting art from thieves, and will be upset if more pieces go missing and he’s failed to prevent it”
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Post by Tomahawk on Mar 6, 2005 22:00:32 GMT
Several long minutes passed without any words being spoken in response. A slight wind picked up, creating a touch of a chill in the evening air- just a touch, however- in many ways, a refreshing change from the warmth inside. Manfredi stood and looked out over the sea, his demeanor somewhat changed from just a few moments prior. At first, there seemed to be an expression of genuine sadness, however that quickly gave way to a stoic mask that Sophia knew all too well as a classic “defense mechanism”.
“So…” he said slowly, pausing to take a sip from his coffee. “This is it, then. ‘Business’. And for a moment there I had thought…”<br> Sophia could tell that he had quickly changed his mind mid-sentence, most likely rethinking what he was about to say, and he restarted, saying,
“For insurance reasons, I would have to place any of these- how did you say? ‘tracking devices’ myself. No one but myself and Mr. Liung handles the objects- I do hope you understand. I would also then need for my people the signal frequency so that we, too could track them should something happen. Two eyes are better than one, no?”<br> He took another long sip of coffee. Shaking his head in disbelief, he continued,
“ Non posso credere questa merda! So many people having so much interest and curiosity in simple art from the country-folk. First D’Gauix, and so your father too, and you. Never would I have believed so many people interested in things of so little money worth.”<br> He cleared his throat and smiled, much more of a polite, ‘business man’s’ smile, and continued, saying,
“Very well then. I am willing to consider your father’s offer for more security with these ‘passive tracking’ things. I assume he has sent you to ‘close the deal’, then- no? You already know what I am needing; I will have to discuss this of course with my people, and then we can negotiate for a price of this… security. You are here a few days longer yes? Then there should be no problems being able to at least begin negotiations before you must depart. But for tonight, I believe this is enough. I have grown suddenly tired- perhaps I have had too much drinking before. We can continue these talks tomorrow over breakfast. Buona notte, dorme bene, Sophia..”<br> And with that, he turned and began to head back inside…<br>
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white
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Post by white on Mar 9, 2005 10:31:02 GMT
“Goodnight Manfredi”<br> *Damn* Sophia cursed to herself as Dellarosa walked away. Usually she was happy to vamp her way in and out of any social situation for the agency, but this seemed different to her.
*Best get some sleep if I’m going to function tomorrow* Suddenly weary, she made her way in from the balcony to the room Maria had prepared for her.
The room was simply but elegantly (and expensively) furnished, and the bed almost beckoned a tired Sophia into it.
She suddenly decided that she didn’t want to face Dellarosa in the morning, and decided to write him a letter instead.
Finding a piece of paper and a pen, Sophia quickly wrote a note;
‘Dear Manfredi, I wish to apologise for last night – while the original purpose of my visit was business, I really didn’t want to ruin such a splendid evening.
Please accept the tracers as a gift from my father and I, and I urge you to place them asap – I’ll find out the frequencies and let you know them.
I have things to take care of in the next few days that I can’t postpone, but, if you would like, we could arrange dinner, a strictly none-business one?
Apologies, and thanks for a wonderful evening, Sophia.’
She folded the tracers up in the note, undressed, hid her secret camera under the pillow, and climbed under the double beds Egyptian cotton sheets.
Sophia took a few moments to evaluate her situation – *Less than ideal – Jameson wont like me getting friendly with Dellarosa, and I might not be successful with the tracers. I’ve got the pictures he wanted, and some general intel from the party though. Need to deal with tomorrow and get back to America quickly.*
She set the alarm on her cell ‘phone for early the next morning – hopefully before Dellarosa was up, and went to sleep.
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Post by Tomahawk on Mar 14, 2005 10:55:12 GMT
Sophia was awakened the next morning by her alarm going off precisely at the exact time she’d programmed it for. She made a quick call to Smith to inform him that she would be in need of transportation from the Villa, waking him up in the process. After a quick shower she dressed again and made her way downstairs, where the servants were already hard at work in a flurry of activity, cleaning up after the previous night’s affairs. Amongst the servants, Sophia spotted Maria, and gave her the note, along with the instructions that she should give it to Manfredi Dellarosa as soon as he awoke. Satisfied that her work here was, for the moment at least, done, Sophia stepped out into the morning sunshine, where Smith was already waiting.
“Good morning, Miss White,” Smith said, somewhat groggily. “Where would you like me to drive you?”<br>
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white
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Post by white on Mar 18, 2005 16:53:37 GMT
“Aah, Smith, good morning.” Sophia spoke, more cheerfully than she felt. She walked over to the car, where Smith opened the door for her.
Sliding into the rear seat, Sophia told her driver that she needed to return to the hotel.
As the car departed the Dellarosa estate, Sophia looked back at the house, thinking about yesterdays events. Smith noticed a brief, sad look on her face, but knew better than to say any thing to his employers daughter.
Instead he drove her to the hotel by the fastest route he’d been able to find.
Sophia next spoke as they arrived back at the Palmero Imperial hotel. “Could you wait here Smith? Ill be a few minutes, then I need to make my way to another appointment.” The driver nodded a simple reply “Yes, Marm”
Sophia walked quickly through the hotel lobby, striding into the lift and pressing for her floor.
Making her way to her room, she showered and changed quickly, picking a more practical outfit than last nights dress. She packed all her belongings, pulled on her long coat, and recovered from its pocket the piece of paper that the man in the bar yesterday evening had slipped there.
She checked the time. 11.30. She called a hotel porter, and had her luggage taken down to the car, tipped the young man, then went to settle the hotel bill.
While waiting for the cashier, she checked the time again. 11.44.
Sophia dialled the number on the piece of paper, and waited for an answer.
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Post by Tomahawk on Mar 21, 2005 16:37:03 GMT
The telephone only rang twice before being answered by an unidentifiable male voice.
“Agent White. 11:45 on the dot, very nice of you to be punctual. Ask at the desk for any post you may have received; You will be given a large manila envelope whose contents you may peruse at your leisure.
If you are still intrigued and desire a meeting, you will then proceed to instruct your driver to deliver you to the Café on the church’s square near the fountain called ‘La Bella Luna’. There you will seek out your contact person who will already be waiting for your arrival. You will know this person by the fact that they will have a small pyramid built of sugar-cubes on a napkin near the edge of the table. You will say, ‘That reminds me of Giza’; your contact will respond, ‘I have only ever seen it by night’. Only then will the meeting take place.
If these protocols are not followed to the letter, then there shall be no meeting. If you are followed or have back-up in any form, there shall be no meeting. If you are wired or bugged, there shall be no meeting. Do you understand these instructions?”<br> “Yes…” Sophia started, before being abruptly cut off before she could even get in another word.
“Very good. You have until 12:30 to be at the meeting point. Do not be late, or there shall be no meeting.” >Click.<
Not in the least bit offset by this turn of events, Sophia quickly planned her next move…<br>
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white
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Post by white on Mar 27, 2005 10:47:20 GMT
Sophia suddenly wished that she’d been able to smuggle her pistol into Italy with her. *If this is a trap, it’d be useful to have it*
Believing there to be ‘no time like the present’ Sophia left the hotel and got back in her car. “Smith, can u take me to the Church Square please? I have a meeting there” The driver simply nodded, pulling out of the hotel in to the traffic.
Sophia felt a twinge of adrenalin run through her. This mission was really becoming interesting. *Focus,* she thought.*Best to send Smith away once we arrive, and I’ll have to be careful – Don’t know who these people are or what they want*
As they drove the rest of the distance to the square, Sophia took a few moments to calm and prepare herself, so, as the La Belle Luna fountain, and the Café slid into view, she was ready.
“Smith, go back to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours, until I call.” “Thank you, Miss White. Have a good day” replied the driver as he opened the door.
Sophia was already scanning the surrounding area, looking for people she recognised, checking the rooftops and other potential hiding places for possible dangers. Her outward appearance was as cool and collected as normal, and she appeared to be nothing more than some rich tourist.
She saw the fountain *can’t stop to admire it now*, and located the Cafe.
Taking a quick breath, Sophia began to walk, slowly, towards the Café.<br>About halfway across the square, she spotted the contact. Hidden by a parasol, she couldn’t make much out, but she could see the pyramid of sugar cubes. Walking over, Sophia looked at the individual, and said “That reminds me of Giza”
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Post by Tomahawk on Mar 31, 2005 15:55:49 GMT
“I have only ever seen it by night,” came the reply from behind the parasol. “Ms. White- right on schedule. Please, have a seat.”<br> Sophia sat down and quickly appraised the situation. The café and table were right out in the open, albeit situated near enough to the fountain to make all but the most sophisticated of listening devices utterly useless. The parasol shielding them from the midday sun likewise prevented anyone from the nearby buildings from seeing who was sitting below, or what they were doing. From her seat, she had a clear view of the rooftops surrounding the square, and aside from the usual flurry of pigeons, all was clear. Whomever this contact person was, they had made their choice for a meeting place very professionally.
The woman, practically unidentifiable due to her silk scarf holding her hair back and her classic euro-style sunglasses, tilted her hat back slightly and continued.
“I am sure you must have many questions, so I will be brief and direct. I see you have not brought the folder which we’d left for you along- it is just as well, we needn’t draw any unnecessary attention to ourselves. As it is now, it would appear to onlookers as though were are merely two young women enjoying a drink on a pleasant afternoon.
The photographs inside the envelope are all of persons whom we- my colleagues and myself- know to be among those born with certain genetic… differences… which have caused them to be capable of many different- and wonderful- things. What distinguishes them from mutants such as yourself is that these persons have all gone inexplicably missing within the past six months. The photographs having the small red ‘x’s’ in the corners are of those who have resurfaced- in all cases, dead.”<br> The woman paused for a moment as the waiter came asking for Sophia’s order. In this brief pause, she said not a word, but calmly and casually sipped on her glass of lemonade. Sophia gave the waiter her order and he was off once again. Seeing that they were once again in private, the mysterious woman continued.
“My colleagues and I are not in any sort of position to feasibly do any sort of investigation into what is happening to the mutants out there. In every case, these persons were simply trying to lead a normal life, but they were targeted, kidnapped, and killed for no other apparent reason than for their being mutants. In each case, the investigations were ordered to be dropped by someone within the NSA, FBI or CIA- and in most of these cases the ‘official’ cause of death is suicide. We don’t buy it. We believe that someone in the US government has an anti-mutant agenda and is carrying out targeted attacks on mutants. That, of course, would mean that it is also someone who is aware that mutancy even exists.
It gets worse. The last four photographs are of persons missing not within the US, but overseas. One in Japan, one in France, and two from Great Britain. This may well be coincidence, but we are not convinced. Presently, there are over one hundred and fifty missing persons- mutants- unaccounted for.
What we are asking of you is very simple- to investigate what is going on. We do not have the access to data, resources, or contacts which you have working for the Agency. We only know about the Agency through rumors and a few things… overheard… by an ESPer friend of ours. What we do know is that the Agency exists, and yet, does not exist. And it is exactly for that reason that we feel they may be the only ones who are able to help us.”<br> The woman sat back in her seat and took another long sip of lemonade as the waiter arrived with Sophia's order, evidently awaiting Sophia’s response.
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white
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Post by white on Apr 3, 2005 20:00:48 GMT
Sophia was now in a less than pleasant mood. “You have the resources to compromise my employers, and stage this meeting, but not to investigate these deaths? Clearly, you have your priorities wrong.” She didn’t snap, Sophia never snapped, it was bad etiquette, but there was a cold edge to her response.
Noting with satisfaction the other women’s taken-aback expression, Sophia continued, intentionally not giving her time to respond.
“How do I know I can trust you? I don’t know who you are or why you came to me, and I want to know where you got your information on me. Don’t play hard to get with me. You know the kind of resources I can have thrown at something I think is a problem.”
Sophia wanted to know where these people were coming from – did she need to worry about blackmail, or if they were just asking for her help.
“So, four questions. Who are you? Where does your information, both on me and this alleged conspiracy, come from? Why bring it to me? Why do you think I’ll help you?
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 4, 2005 14:34:54 GMT
“Ms. White, please calm yourself down. No one is trying to blackmail you or anything of the sort- we are indeed simply asking for your assistance.
To answer your questions, our human resources, or should I say, ‘Mutant resources’ are quite formidable. We are, after all, The Mutant Underground. Finances are another thing entirely. There is no way we could ever hope to contact the Agency- except through the individuals, such as yourself. Detecting mutants is a simple matter- there are enough persons among our organization who have this gift. And scanning thoughts to see who are enemies and who our potential allies are is likewise child’s play. Your mind is an open book, Ms. White.
In our attempts to investigate the missing persons and the deaths, we have encountered a brick wall- in fact, the persons whom we sent to investigate also turned up missing. We are not espionage agents, Ms. White- we are simply persons born with genetic differences attempting to survive in a world that either doesn’t know we exist, or is intent on our extermination. That is our purpose, and our goal- to survive.”<br> Finished with her lemonade, the woman paused long enough to take out a cigarette and light it.
“We came to you because first off, we detected that you were a mutant. Secondly, we discovered in your thoughts that you work for the Agency- something which we’d heard rumors of, but never had a chance to investigate. And thirdly, we discovered that you have a certain disregard for authority and the rules which led us to believe you might be willing to help us find out who’s targeting and killing off our kind. I say ‘Our kind’, Ms. White, because if our assumptions are correct, it will only be a matter of time before they come after you, as well.
It may very well be that we were mistaken. If so, I apologize for wasting your time. But at the very least, I can assure you that you will not be burdened by any recollection of this encounter, nor will you ever hear from the Underground again…”<br>
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white
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Post by white on Apr 6, 2005 10:10:29 GMT
Sophia sat back in her chair, thinking for a moment, checking her surroundings again.
After a moment or two, she fixed the woman opposite with a steady gaze, “Ill see what I can do. On one condition – you treat me as a member of the underground. I’m risking a lot by doing this, so I’ demonstrating my trustworthy-ness. Any relevant information you obtain, I need you to pass on, and anything about an ‘Ancient order of the celestial dragon’.
Sophia felt for her purse, removed enough money to cover the bill, and made to stand to leave.
“Now, unless we have anything else to discuss, Ill let you contact me with your answer. Good day, Miss?”
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 7, 2005 7:29:54 GMT
The woman sitting opposite Sophia made no move to stand, remaining in her seat. She nodded in agreement with Sophia’s terms, and replied,
“Dane. Very well, Agreed. I cannot foresee one such as yourself ever requiring the assistance of the Underground considering the resources which you already have, but ‘membership’ is something easily attained. I will ask around about this ‘dragon order’ issue as well- fair is, after all, only fair. When you return to your hotel, ask the clerk about any messages you may have received. He will give you a small plain envelope- inside you will find a very typical postcard with a SIM card attached with cellophane tape. Insert the chip into any standard GSM mobile phone, and you will see it already contains several numbers saved into the phone directory. There are two numbers which should be of particular interest- the one titled ‘Johnny’s Pizza’ is a call-back number should you need to contact us. The other is ‘Northside Laundry’- this is an emergency number should you require assistance or evacuation. Depending on where you are located, help should arrive within minutes.
Enjoy the rest of your day Ms. White- it was indeed a pleasure to meet you.”<br> And with that, the meeting was adjourned.
Walking away from the café, Sophia quickly contacted Smith to fetch her from the square, and was pleasantly surprised to see him pull up relatively shortly after she made the car. The towering Smith swiftly got out of the vehicle and opened her door for her, asking as she got in,
“Where would you like me to drive you, Ms. White?”<br>
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white
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Post by white on Apr 11, 2005 15:26:38 GMT
"Punctual as ever, Smith. Back to the hotel please." As the towering Smith closed the car door behind her, Sophia began to relax. The meeting had gone far better than she expected, but the results were troubeling.
*No point jumping at shadows until theres some proof of this conspiracy. Best get back to the states - I'm almost overdue* she thought.
The car pulled into the hotel car park, and Sophia, instructing Smith to wait there for her, quickly strode into the grandeose building.
Returning to her room, she recovered the manila envelope, checking it contained what she thought - the pictures of the missing mutants.
Instructing a porter to take the last of her lugage to the car, Sophia collected her messages and checked out of the hotel.
Once again in the back of the car she smiled a Smiths reflection in the mirror, and stated a simple instruction. "Home, please"
The short trip through the airport again reminded Sophia of the advantages of wealth.
Unfortunatly no amount of money could shake the jetlag the next morning.
Allowing Smith to drop her at home, Sophia had showered and changed, and looking immaculate, if not feeling it, had made her way back to the Agencys headquarters.
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Post by Tomahawk on Apr 13, 2005 8:45:43 GMT
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white
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Posts: 53
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Post by white on Apr 17, 2005 18:31:28 GMT
Theres no such thing as 'a making a scene bonus' is there?
I cant think of anything - happy with whats there. What happens now?
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