Gunslinger Bink
Chapter 34: I Spy, Aint it Obvious?
Standing on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise, Captain Ranger Ready stares out across the waters at the sparkling, electrically lit city beyond. Beneath the brim of this hat, an ear-bud buzzes gently, indicating an incoming message.
"This is the captain. Go ahead.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
"Proceeding as ordered, sir. None of the locals seem to suspect that we're not exactly what we appear to be... Tourists showing off our prized antique aircraft.", Montego says.
"Good. That means that your cover's intact, so far.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
"So far...", Montego says.
The captain's eyes narrow.
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "Is there a problem, Lieutenant?"
"Not as of yet, Captain. We have seen a few... Suspicious looking characters, scoping us out. They haven't made any moves, and I don't think they suspect us. But I sure suspect them.", Montego says.
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "Hmm. Opinions?"
"I'd recommend observation within the city, sir. If we're going to keep tabs on this mission, we can't afford to be without accurate intel.", Montego says.
"Agreed...", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Captain Ranger Ready ponders for a moment, thinking over his options.
"Keep to your cover. Don't make a move until you hear from me.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Montego asks, "Aye, sir. But what'll you be doing?"
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "What d'you think? Gathering intel!"
Closing the connection, Captain Ranger Ready hurries below-decks, passing crew members left and right at a run. His steps take him invariably to the VIP cabin, where he raps sharply on the door. After a few moments, an irate female voice answers from within.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "All right, all right! For pity's sake, can't a girl wash her hair in peace?"
The cabin door flies open, and W. I. Rose steps out, a towel wound around her head. Turning slightly crimson, she peeks down the corridor.
"Sorry. I thought it was that steward guy, seeing if I 'needed anything' again.", Wild Irish Rose says.
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "What's the problem? I told them to dote on you, remember?"
"Weeellll... All right. As long as they stop popping in here every five minutes!", Wild Irish Rose says.
Readjusting the towel, she looks up curiously.
"What was it, anyway? Some news?", Wild Irish Rose asks.
"No... But we might just make some. Go and raid your wardrobe, and dig out an evening dress... Maybe that blue one, that looks so good on you. We're going on a bit of a stealthy observation.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "Oh! Does that mean we'll be seeing the dashing captain in a suit and tie?"
Captain Ranger Ready grumbles slightly, pulling his hat down over his eyes.
"We'll see.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
The Steward heard most of the conversation as he past the door to Wild Irish Rose's room. He headed down the corridor to a place where he could make a private call to relay some information.
Hondo had been expecting trouble so, as was his custom, he kept an ace up his sleeve. That ace consisted of around 25 ruffians from local bars that would fight for a nickel. He had borrowed some money from the mission budget and dropped in on a few of the ruffian leaders to make them a deal.
Even though everyone had decided to try a local Italian restaurant, Hondo had told them he would be late. Hondo had decided, when in Rome do as the Romans. He 'borrowed a suit from the wait staff at the hotel and forged a new scheduled to make sure he would be stationed at the door to take hats and coats. He had heard of Captain Ranger Charles Ready and Intelligence Officer Wild Irish Rose's recon idea, through an informant on Captain Ready's ship who only informed Hondo, and he decided to help out. Hondo dyed his hair black and put in some eye color changing contacts and darkened his skin with some make-up.
"I hate using this stuff, but it is for a good cause", Hondo mumbled to himself.
Later in the evening, a well dressed couple strides over the docks, leaving behind a well disguised motor launch at a discreet pier. Looking resplendent in a pale blue gown, Rose pulls a white shawl closer around her shoulders, as she leans on Ranger Ready's arm. The tuxedoed captain nods in greeting to passers by, while keeping his eyes well focused on the shadows.
The walk to the snazzy hotel that Fernando arranged for the team is uneventful, but Ranger Ready knew that the passages to and from the establishment will be well watched, so he hides his usual demeanor behind that of a suitor and his lady, playing the tourists. At the entrance, Rose whistles softly.
"Wow. Nice digs.", Wild Irish Rose says.
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "No kidding. When Fernando does something, he does it with class. Have you got that... Insurance, that I gave you?"
Slipping a hand into her clasp purse, Rose runs her fingers gently over the curves of the small, nickel-plated Derringer that lies within.
"Right where I need it.", Wild Irish Rose says.
Approaching the entrance to the hotel's downstairs restaurant, Captain Ranger Ready reaches into his inside pocket, subconsciously checking the old Colt .45 that rests at his vest, as he draws out a reservation slip. He hopes that the armory officer remembered to load the rubber bullets he asked for.
As Captain Ranger Ready and Rose entered they did not recognize Hondo. Of course he did not say much but just nodded. He knew if he said too many Italian words or English words his fake accent would break down. As he took Captain Ready's hat he managed to drop a small mic onto W. I. Rose's shawl and it discreetly stuck there.
Presenting the slip to the maitre'd's inquiring glance, he inquires after their table.
"Captain and Mrs. R. Huntley, Glasgow Cruise-lines.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
"Ah yes, senor! Right this way, your table is waiting.", Maitre'd says.
On the way, Rose nudges him, chuckling.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "Captain and Mrs?"
"Don't look at me. It'd appear a trifle strange any other way!", Captain Ranger Ready says.
The pair are seated at a corner table, as Ranger Ready had requested, and are left alone with their menus... And with the crowd.
Hondo watched as they sat down. After they had been seated Hondo moved closer to get a view of their faces. From the ear-bud he had in he could hear all they said.
Peering over the parchment folder, Captain Ranger Ready makes a knowing sound.
"I thought so.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "What?"
"Look over there.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "Who am I supposed to be looking at?"
"The vole by the door. That's Enrico Carreras... Assassin, spy, and all around destruction for hire. He and I have crossed swords before... And if he's here, then there's others of his ilk lurking about, too. Which tells me only one thing about our friends' mission.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "What's that?"
"It's not a secret. At least, not to someone. And knowing Carreras' kind... I don't think it's somebody Fernando planned on.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
"That still doesn't tell us why every agency on the face of the planet seems interested in this mission!", Wild Irish Rose says.
"No... But it gets us closer.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Hondo saw who he was talking about and made a move to get behind him.
When Hondo got in place behind this vole he pressed a button in his pocket. The vole showed no notice of his presence. All of a sudden a rabble, that appeared drunken, came through the front door, Hondo's ace.
They were loud and itching for a fight. They pushed past the replacement door greeter, past the host and entered the main dining area. A few good men in the Hotel Restaurant tried to stop them, and that was what Hondo had planned. A fight broke out. Chaos reigned. The fight drew the patrons attention, and the wait staff tried to call the police, but the phones were out.
Later a unconscious guard would claim a masked stranger, wearing gloves, installed a device that remotely cut the phone connection.
Everyone was shocked when the ruffians came into the dining room of the hotel, none were more shocked than W. I. Rose and Ranger Ready.
Both stand, Wild Irish Rose exclaimed asks, "What the... ?"
Captain Ranger Ready pushes her behind him and stays out of the conflict.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "Charlie, shouldn't we do something?"
"No, more we act like startled tourists, the better. We need to attract as little attention as possible", Captain Ranger Ready says.
While everyone was watching this deplorable display of violence, Hondo came up behind the vole and stabbed him with a Thorazine pen, which promptly knocked him out. He then removed him through the now empty, because of the fight, employee area and up an elevator to his room.
Something catches W. I. Rose's eye and she nudges Ranger Ready on the shoulder
"Charlie! Look!", Wild Irish Rose says.
They both look just in time to see Carreras being dragged through the door to the employees area by the man at the door.
Captain Ranger Ready watches the scene play out impassively, his hand resting unobtrusively near his vest. Something about this entire encounter smells. And it's not the bleu cheese dressing on the salads.
Hondo, who was dragging the vole, looked for the clearest escape route. He ended up removing the vole through the now empty, because of the fight, employee area and up an elevator to his room.
"Rosie... That fellow at the door...", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "Which one?"
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "The one that took down Carreras. Did you recognize him?"
The blond mouse-maid looks doubtful.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "He was familiar, sure... But recognize?"
Understanding begins to dawn on Ranger Ready slowly, and he buttons his tuxedo's jacket, picking up a fork and digging back into his salad.
"I'm not sure I recognized the guy implementing this hullabaloo... But I sure recognize the methodology. Hondo's around here, somewhere.", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "D'you think he knows we're here?"
"Oh, I'd say it's a pretty good guess. I wouldn't doubt that Fernando knows too, at this point. But for the time being, I'd rather keep as many other people in the dark as possible!", Captain Ranger Ready says.
A thoughtful expression passes over Rose's features.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "What about Gadget?"
Captain Ranger Ready asks, "What about her?"
"If you dropped her a line, maybe she'd be able to help, in a pinch. She knows what's going on, on Fernando's end. We might be able to respond quicker if she knew where we were, and how to get to us.", Wild Irish Rose says.
Captain Ranger Ready mulls over the suggestion, nodding in approval.
"Basic strategy 101. Nicely done, cute stuff!", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Chuckling at her apparent blush, the captain begins running possibilities in his head. If Gadget were to be contacted, in order to bring the two forces into coordination... How could it be done? Without tipping everyone's hand, of course.
"The chip!", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Wild Irish Rose asks, "What about him?"
"No, no, not Chip, Rosie. The chip! The one in Gadget's head!", Captain Ranger Ready says.
"I thought they deactivated it.", Wild Irish Rose says.
"They did, and as far as I know, it's been deprogrammed. But it's still a link into her brain. If I can dig the auto response frequency out of her file at the Cafe, I might be able to send her a message via it's on board transponder!", Captain Ranger Ready says.
Tossing down several large denomination bills onto the table, to cover the check and a generous tip, he offers her his arm, and the two depart the ground level restaurant quietly, on a course back to the ship. Captain Ranger Ready has seen much this night and knows that preparation is in order.
Meanwhile, Hondo tied the vole up securely and stuck him in the closet. He pushed another button, on his remote, that signaled the ruffians retreat, and the end of their paid job, for now. They scattered before the police arrived. Hondo and his captive were not seen by eye or camera as the fight held all eyes and Hondo had set a camera shut down on his laptop to mask their movement.
Hondo left over the roof tops and made it to the Italian restaurant in time to eat his food that he had asked Gadget to pre-order for him. He did not tell the group what was done, as spies were still a threat.
He did leave Fernando a note in a space only he would notice one. He had sent him a warning note earlier in the day as to his plans, but the messenger was shot and the note unread. He told Fernando, in the new note, to meet him in his room. He had a gift. He also said in the note,"If possible, come by way of the balcony. I'll be on the roof watchin' for your arrival."
"Well, I hope he doesn't blow up about having a prisoner. I hope either Captain Ready or Captain S. W. Eddie can keep him in their brig until we have to release him, until then maybe he will spill his guts.", Hondo thought as he ate his jalapeno extra cheese spaghetti.
"I'll probably be wrong no matter what, but at lease I did wrong in style!", Hondo thinks.