white
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Post by white on Jan 6, 2005 12:28:43 GMT
Agency X HQ, Gymnasium, Mid morning. [/i]
Sophia White sat in the pitch black practice room, legs crossed under her, thinking.
*That last mission was... Diverting at least. Too easy to recover the Directorate's courier, though. I wonder what the boys down in the Psy department picked out of his brains. I really need more of a challenge than these run-of-the-mill thugs...*
Despite her reminiscings over her latest intelligence gathering mission, Sophia was alert, waiting for the slightest sound.
She continued listening - there, one behind her, at least one to the left.
Pause *Concentrate, breath in... Now*
Sophia lept straight into the air, avoiding her first assailants sword thrust, and pushing him to the ground.
Landing to the left of where she started, in between the other two, she hammered an elbow into the first ones face, using the momentum of her blow to soin kick at the other.
He ducked under her high leg, and swept the other one out from under her.
Hitting the floor, Sophia rolled to her left, back towards her opponent, avoiding his swinging nuncuka, coming to her feet and launching a vicous upper cut.
The opponent hadnt been expecting a standard boxing punch, and caught the blow full on the jaw, and recoiled backwards.
Into perfect kicking range. Sophia pulled the kick, but still floored the opponent.
Seconds later, the practice rooms lights slowly came on.
Around Sophia lay three 2nd year students, one bleeding from the nose and their wooden practice weapons.
In the corner stood a middle aged, steel grey haired Japanese man, Sensi Horokomi, the Agency's Assistant Martial Arts instructor.
"You did well Miss White, but your reliance on Thai boxing and Judo weakens you - while they are flexable styles, the Katas of the traditional Japanese and Chinese styles would have allowed you to finish that fight in half the time, without the mistakes you made in the darkness."
Sophia glared at the Sensi *Your never satisfied are you?* she thought to herself.
As though sensing her anger, Horokomi began speaking again, staring down his student "Were you fighting me, it would be you bleeding. Were you fighting an enemy as good as me, you could be dead"
"My power.." Sophia began to interupt "Is your crutch, and is not relevant here" finished Horokomi. " The problem with your styles is they are all martial, no art" continued the Sensi, trying to lighten the mood. "Book an appointment to see me when your are interested in learning how to fight properly." He turned to leave followed by his junior students.
The last one through the door turned to Sophia, "Next time, slag" he sneered through the blood streeming down his face. Sophia met his gaze "really?" she retorted, "How simply terrifying" her cultured accent making the retort sting all the more.
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Post by Tomahawk on Jan 6, 2005 16:50:33 GMT
A short while later, Sophia was enjoying her warm shower in the Ladie's Locker Room when she felt the all-too-uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Trusting her instincts, she whirled around to see who it was that would dare to intrude on this private moment.
"Hmpf. I was here a whole 45 seconds before you even realized I'd come in. So much for the so-called 'enhanced abilities' of the 'Special Agents'. Whenever you're done making love to that shower there, Director Jameson would like to see you upstairs." The un-named female agent stood for a moment longer before adding, "Although, can't see what much there is to see."
She turned and was gone, back through the locker room.
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white
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Post by white on Jan 6, 2005 18:05:37 GMT
*Some people have no manners* thought Sophia as she finished her shower. *Shame, I was enjoying that* She quickly towelled herself dry, being careful with her hair, and dressed as quickly as her custom tailored clothes and pride would allow.
Pulling on her long white leather coat, and arranging her hair, Sophia in front of the locker rooms mirror. * “Can't see what much there is to see.” Awful English my dear,* she smirked to herself, *And jealousy is terribly last season* With a slight chuckle to herself, Sophia bent to pick up her kit bag. Rising, immaculate as ever, she stepped through the door out of the humid locker room into the cool corridor.
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white
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Post by white on Jan 8, 2005 17:29:33 GMT
Turning to her left, Sophia began to walk along the corridor, towards the stairs that would lead to Director Jamesons office. * A challenge*she tought to herself. *Perhaps Sensi Horokomi will have something to interesting to teach me. Ill book that appointment next time im free*.
Coming to the stairs, she began ascending them effortlessly. *I wonder what the Director has for me today? I would like to get out of the city for a while.* Sophia had always disliked the disorganised, rude bustle of all but the most exclusive parts of most citys.
Reaching the top of the stairs, she turned to go through the door, to find it being held for her by a junior agent.
Stepping through, she rewarded the young man with a dazzling smile. "My thanks", she said to him with a slight incline of her head "You are a gentleman" The young agent stammered out a reply as Sophia smiled again and continued along the passage.
Reaching the door to Director Jamesons office, Sophia knocked, and entered. "Good day, I believe the Director wishes to see me?" she said to Jamesons secertary.
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Post by Tomahawk on Jan 9, 2005 22:32:11 GMT
"Yes, he's been expecting you. By all means, go right on in, I'll buzz you through." The secretary answered in her very practiced, polite manner.
"Ah, Agent White." Director Jameson said, standing as she entered his office.
"Took ya long enough to get here- Go ahead and take a seat. Anyhow, I'll try and make this as brief as possible.
As I am sure you are well aware, there's alot of folks out there in the so-called 'Illicit Art' trade. Dealers, collectors, the whole works. Don't try and play innocent, I know good and well your father is one of 'em- heck, we even helped 'acquire' a few things for the private collection you got back at your country club. Better there under good security than in one of these museums- besides, we have some of the best repro guys in the business. Oh yes, by the way, when you see your father, by all means give him my best regards and thanks for his continued financial support of our operations.
Getting back to the point, for most folks alot of these paintings, sculptures and so on are just pretty, expensive things to look at. But it seems there's some of these doo-dads that may just be more than they seem. Over the last 5 months over a dozen obscure pieces of artwork have turned up missing- all of which are loosely tied to a 13th century chinese cult- some kind of 'Ancient order of the celestial dragon' or some such nonsense. What makes no sense is that all these things that were stolen have very little relative value- heck, they even passed by a Monet and Dali painting that could have gotten these thieves a fortune. We suspect that there must be some sort of other motive at work. Here's where you come in."
Jameson tosses a picture across his desk, attached to a manila envelope. The face is one Sophia recognizes at once as someone from her days at the University, one of the many foreign-born rich boys who had tried to woo her.
"You probably recognize this fella. His name is Manfredi Dellarosa. Family connections are pretty well established, lots of old money and ties to dang near every noble family in central europe. We suspect that there may even be some Mafia ties there as well, but there's nothing concrete to confirm this. What makes this guy of importance to us at this moment is that he's sitting on a collection of no less than 7 pieces of wierd trinkets and art also associated with the previously stolen items.
Mr. Dellarosa is hosting a dinner party in 48 hours- something I'm pretty sure you're already well familiar with. We've already managed to get you onto the guest list- not any sort of a problem at all. Your primary mission is simple- try and get as close to Dellarosa as possible, and get him to show you around his private art gallery. This shouldn't be too much trouble, as our sources say he's already fond of showing it off anyhow. You'll be outfitted with a hidden camera- try and get as many shots of things there as possible, so we can get a more exact inventory of what he has, so maybe we can get more of an idea what these thieves may be after.
Your secondary mission is a bit more complicated, and may not even be possible at all. But if you get the chance to actually physically touch the items listed in the envelope- we've only got sketches from some pretty old books- plant some of these small passive tracking devices on 'em, so that if they get stolen, we can follow them right back to the thieve's hideout.
That about covers it. Any questions?"
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white
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Post by white on Jan 10, 2005 14:10:31 GMT
Sophia paused or a moment, to be sure that the Director had finished speaking. "Always a pleasure to see you, too, Director Jameson" she said, carefully removing all traces of sarcasm from the sentence. *At least his manners are better than his agents'* she chided herself.
"Keep to the point, White" he responded.
Very well. (pause) As it happens, I went to University with Mr. Dellarosa. It should be quite simple to gain access to the paintings, and Ill try to put the tracers on them" Sophia appeared to be thinking outloud "Do you have any idea what Mr Dellarosa's security is like? or if hes married yet? - If I can't place the tracers, I can certainly distract him long enough for someone else to."
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Post by Tomahawk on Jan 10, 2005 15:29:03 GMT
"For starters White, it'd be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the sketches in that envelope. The art objects we're talking about here are mostly sculptures and other wierdness, not paintings."
He paused for a moment, then continued,
"Our sources inform us that his security consists mainly of hired muscle. Exact number are hard to say- there's usually about 20 on hand, but it may be beefed up because of the party. As far as we know he's unmarried, but I'm sure you have other channels that can confirm that. Grind the rumor-mill and see what you can turn up."
Jameson took a long drag on his cigar before continuing,
"White, you're going in naked on this one- your best cover and alias in this case is simply 'Sophia White'- a role I'm sure you can play quite well. I had other options for this mission, but considering your connections in this case, you came to the top of the list. Under no circumstances should you use your... gifts... or do anything which could reveal your connection to the Agency. Are we clear on that? If that's all, then..."
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white
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Post by white on Jan 10, 2005 17:38:06 GMT
"Of course Director. I'll begin immediatly. I'll report as soon as Ive got something to tell you" Sophia stood, picked up the envelope, and looked back to Director Jameson "Thank you for your time Sir,".
She had been going to tell him about the incidents earlier in the day, but she knew that J. Johna Jameson wouldn't think much of them.
Picking up her kit bag, Sophia slid the envilope into a her coats large internal pocket.
She made her way out of Jamesons office, she noded a quick farewell to his secretary, and headed for the motor pool.
As she strode down the stirs away from the Directors office, Sophias mind was buzzing with plans and details. *I must call Anna, have arrange for a driver and pick up my new evening dress, and I'll speak to Daddy and Celeste from University - they should be able to answer some questions* Sophia was often at her happiest begining something new - it brought her out of the bordem of her life outside the agency.
Walking past the security booth at the entrence to the underground car park, Sophia flashed her I.D at the guards stationed there, who examined it briefly, and nodded her through.
She liked most of the security detail - they were quietly competant at there jobs, and rarely hastled her the way certain agents did. A couple of them, Marco and Thomoson, would engae her in brief conversation if they saw her, but they werent working today.
Walking over to her car, a jet black, less than a month old Aston Martin Vanquish, Sophia opened the rear door and put her kit bag on the back seat, alnong with her coat, now minus the envelope.
Opening the drivers door, she sat down on the custom leather seats, and pulled out her cell 'phone.
After a couple of rings, an answering machine clicked in. After listening to the calm polite recorded voice of her P.A, Sophia began to speak "Anna darling, could you cancel anything scheduled for tomorrow night, and the following morning? I have a party to attend. Once you've done that, could you pick up that new dress from the tailors? and contact one of Daddys drivers, I'm going to need one tomorrow night. Thank you"
Hanging up the 'phone Sophia placed it on the dashboard in front of her, and picked up the manilla envelope. Tipping it up, she emptied the contents into her hand, and began to examine them.
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Post by Tomahawk on Jan 12, 2005 10:59:36 GMT
After a relatively long and uneventful flight, the jetliner finally began it’s approach descent. “Attention Passengers, the captain has illuminated the ‘fasten seatbelts’ sign, as we are preparing for our landing…” The flight attendant’s very formal and practiced voice came over the intercom.
Sophia simply shrugged her shoulders slightly and made herself more comfortable in her first-class plus seat, adjusted her lap-belt ever so slightly, and turned up the volume on her portable mp3 player.
After what seemed like an eternity, the plane had finally landed and she was on her way through customs and passport control. Status definitely has it’s privileges, as she quickly maneuvered her way to the quickest, and most painless VIP lines.
She frowned ever-so-slightly upon recovering her single piece of checked luggage, and seeing that it had- of all things- been scuffed up on the outside. Emerging through the gates to outside waiting area, it took less than 30 seconds to find her driver, a hulking brute of a man, no doubt hand-picked as much for his intimidation factor as for his driving skills.
After having gotten into the limousine, they made their way to her hotel.
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white
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Post by white on Jan 14, 2005 0:15:17 GMT
Sophia stepped into the lobby of the Palmero Imperial hotel, heels clicking on the marbel floor. She checked in and made her way up to her room, letting the driver and the hotel staff deal with her bags.
*Right* she thought.I've got a few hours to kill before the party. I'm going to have a swim in the hotel pool, then I'll order some food from room service, and get ready*
On her mobile, she dialled the number for the driver downstairs "Smith, were going to leave about 7.45, theres no point in getting there early. Ill need you to wait outside for me while I'm there"
The huge driver didn't need to think about his reply - those that did, didnt work for the White's for long "Of course, Miss White, If you wont be needing anything else, Ill see you then"
Sophia pulled out her bikini and towel, and headed for the pool.
When she arrived, Sophia discovered the pool was empty, the gently moving water lending the room a serene, but slightly sinister atmosphere.
Walking to the deep end, Sophia dived in. Her practiced grace caused only the slightest ripple in the water as she went under, and began to swim lengths. Keeping her pace easy and relaxed, Sophia thought about her mission, going over the objectives and information she had gathered in her head.
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Post by Tomahawk on Jan 15, 2005 11:00:57 GMT
The mission itself seemed easy enough- almost too easy, downright silly, and more than anything, that's what began to trouble Sophia the most. Photos of things in this creep's private art gallery? And he was a creep, she could remember him all too well from her days at the university. Loud-mouthed, arrogant, obnoxious. True, his family had wealth and all, but they way they went about doing things, business and otherwise was simply... Unrefined, undignified. To think, this element from the past, gleefully pushed back into the nether recesses of her mind, could ever return- and now she was expected to get close to him? She had spent at least two and a half years just trying to stay as far away from him as possible, and now... Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to gather much intel through her social channels. It seems that Dellarosa had finally managed to graduate from the university, and then more-or-less vanished off the face of the earth for almost a year. When he finally did reappear, he moved into their family's residence outside of Palmero, and hadn't been active much socially since. Odd, that- he had been such a party animal back at the university. What was it someone had said? "He'd wandered off somewhere on some sort of quest to 'find himself'"? What could that possibly be about, and what would that have to do with him suddenly throwing a party after having been out of the scene for so long? More questions than answers, it would seem. *Focus on the mission* Sophia reminded herself, *You can do this; it's the job, nothing personal. Besides, perhaps he's changed from the cretin he once was...*The mission. From the sketches she had been given, it seemed unfathomable that the Agency- or anyone, for that matter- could even remotely be interested in such junk. A bald, fat, chinese buddha statuette with only three fingers on each hand? A porcellain bird sitting on a peach? There must be something else, something hidden, something she was unable to see from these sketches. What would any self-respecting art thieves possibly want with such trivial junk? Unless... The very thought itself troubled her moreso than the "silliness" of her mission had troubled her before. Her thoughts quickly snapped back to something that didn't quite seem to fit with all the other bits of nonsense in the sketch collection she had been given. A pendant of some sort- perhaps even an amulet or talisman. As she even thought of it, the image again appeared in her mind's eye.
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white
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Post by white on Jan 15, 2005 19:52:05 GMT
At least the amulet seemed to have some artistic value.
To much thinking was ruining Sophias swim. *Enough* she thought. *Ive worked out what I can. The rest will have to wait*
She finished a few more laps, just enjoying the feeling of the water, then looked at the time. *Better go and get ready*
Sophia pulled herself out of the pool, and shivered in the cold. Just for a moment she was aware now isolated she was. *To many questions, not enough answers, making me nervous* she realised. *Oh well, I wanted a challenge.*
Shivering in the poolside cold, she headed for the changing room.
An hour and three quarters later, Sophia stood in the hotel lobby, waiting for the driver, Smith, to bring the limousine around.
She was wearing a custom tailored white cocktail dress, with a daring split in the skirt, and was drawing appreciative glances from all the men in the lobby, most of which she ignored as she slipped her long coat on.
"Come on Smith, or I'll be walking out through pools of drool" Sophia muttered to herself under her breath.
At that moment, one of the middle aged buisiness men in the bar detached himself and began to walk towards her.
*Oh god no* an alarmed voice in Sophias head screamed, but her face betrayed no reaction.
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white
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Post by white on Jan 17, 2005 16:54:09 GMT
The business man continued to walk towards her, swaying slightly as he walked. He got within a few feet of Sophia, paused while his eyes focused, and slurred out"Bella Bella, surely you must join me for a drink- Agent White"
Sophia stared at the man who had just approached her, lost for words for a moment. It was only a split second before she realized that his whole semi-drunken gait was actually a ruse, no doubt used to somehow get as close to her as inconspicuously as possible.
In more hushed tones, he continued, "No questions now- I'm going to slip you my card. Call the number tomorrow at 11:45, and you will be given instructions where to go for the meeting. If you are interested. Now, make this look good- do what you do best, and make a bit of a scene..."
He stood in front of her, swaying slightly, a slight twinkle in his eye, as the whole lobby was watching, waiting for Sophia’s reaction.
She crossed over to the bar, beckoning him over. As he arrived, Sophia washed the idiot smile off his face with the contents of the bars ice bucket.
“Manners” she snapped, just loud enough for the bar to hear. “cost nothing. Like ice and your suit.”
Sophia angrily stalked out of the hotel doors, just in time for Smith to arrive with the Limo.
She slipped quickly into the car and gave Smith the instructions as th where to drive, and she quickly found herself lost in her thoughts.
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white
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Post by white on Jan 19, 2005 20:36:15 GMT
As Smith steered the Limosine through Palmero’s early evening traffic, Sophia set in the rear off the car and pondered what had just happened.
*I didn’t recognise him, and the agency would have found an easier way to contact me* she thought. *So this is someone else. Someone else who knows I work for the Agency. Normally I’d have to tell Director Jameson about this, but that could compromise opsec.*
In his rear view mirror, Smith noticed Miss White’s chilly, angry demenor thaw into a genuine smile. *This really is starting to get interesting…*
An uneventful drive from the hotel to Dellarosa’s party later.
The Limosine pulled of the main road, down the private road that led to the Dellarosa mansion.
Immediately Sophia began to detect the subtle signs of money and influence – this private roads surface was smoother and better maintained than the highway theyd just left.
Passing through the large black iron gates at the end of the drive way, past security guards built only slightly smaller than Smith, Sophia took the opportunity to look around, checking and memorising faces as she’d been trained, comfortable in the knowledge that the Limo’s blacked out windows meant no one could see her yet.
As the Limo came to a halt, just in front of the house, which Sophia had yet to get a good view of, she took a moment to compose herself. *Be yourself, Jameson said. Easy. Relax, pretend to smile, pretend to enjoy the company of the boors.*
Sophia waited for the car door to open…<br>
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Post by Tomahawk on Jan 24, 2005 11:02:31 GMT
Smith came around to the side of the car and opened the door for Sophia to get out. As she stepped out into the warm Mediterranean night air, she was greeted by the fragrant scent of a myriad of flowers growing in the nearby gardens of the estate. Softly glowing globes of light on spindly pedestals cast a warm and inviting glamour about the pathway, by and large useless for illumination so early in the evening, but nonetheless stunning in their effect. The faint glimmer of the moon starting to make it’s climb into the heavens created a serene backdrop, upon which the manor was super-imposed.
Although Sophia had never been to this estate before, she was not surprised in the least by it’s soft white walls and red tiled rooftops- Very typical of the wealthy estates in this region, who preferred a much more classical approach to their architecture. She was similarly unsurprised and unmoved by the presence of guards walking about on some of the upper walkways and along the roof, their sharp white suits augmented with their most essential accessory, automatic weapons. Very common in times such as these, the affluent took no chances when it came to the safety and security of their guests, particularly with guests of the caliber as would be there this evening.
Sophia had already prepped herself by looking over the guest lists before; Many of the names were familiar enough to her, others a complete mystery. No doubt, there would be a fair mixture of the landed gentry, those with “old money”, as well as some up-and-coming Nouveau Riche, those whose fortunes had more to do with good luck and hard work than with refined and cultured breeding. She hadn’t been surprised in the least to see the family names of several prominent Mafia figures on the list, which, to a small extent, was a Who’s Who of the next generation’s possible movers and shakers.
Approaching the grand entrance to the main hall, she could already hear the heavy bass of the pop-techno music playing from inside, all the rage these days with the decadent youth. *It prove to be an interesting evening after all*, she mused to herself. She approached a monolith of a man standing at the doorway, his white suit with red carnation accent a tell-tale giveaway that he was here to work and not play. The obviousness of his radio communications link draped carelessly over his ear and the bulge of some large sidearm under his suit coat led Sophia to think that he was rather unaccustomed to such affairs. Sophia quickly assessed that this man was not particularly comfortable with his suit, and it seemed to her trained eye that the choice for the worker’s evening wear had had more to do with fashionable sense than practicality in… extenuating circumstances. In a thick Italian accent, he addressed Sophia, saying,
“Good evening, and welcome to Casa Dellarosa, Miss…?” His greeting tapered off into more of a question, and Sophia quickly noted that he was holding some sort of data assistant in his hand, no doubt the guest list
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