Here's the third chapter of our little story. Hope you've liked it so far.
The Hope Diamond Scandal chapter three: Rough Start
The Four Minds
6:03 p.m. Arrived in San Francisco, 7:15 retrieved luggage. I hate long flights, unfortunately my trips are always delayed. At least in London we are usually on time, and it's not so bright outside. I'm in a very cranky mood, they don't serve tea on these bloody American airlines. Things were doing better 'til I walked outside and was smoked by a dark haired pixie on a bike. What can I say, America's full of small wonders. I hopped into a taxi. Lucky me, he had no clue what I was saying.
"Take me to the Museum of Historical Arts." What I got back was gibberish sounding something like, "Eloopseepoo." I then tried saying "Take me to the Hope Diamond." Finally he answered screaming... "Oh! Hopesy Diamond, hopesy diamond. Me know, me know."
He burst into the traffic at 40 miles an hour. When my life stopped flashing before my eyes, the cab slowed to a stop. I finally started breathing again. Picking up my suitcases I walked through the door of, luckily it was, the right museum. Noticing a dark haired woman standing too close to the diamond, I yelled, "Aargh, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Please step away from the diamond."
"I mean to cause it no harm." she said, her green eyes gleaming.
Trying to stay calm, I replied, "I know, I know. But there's some riffraff who'd love to get their dirty paws on it." I'm really starting to lose it now. I can feel a migraine coming on.
She, nonchalantly looking at her hands, said, "I know, I'm after the same kind of character."
"Does this character have a name?" I asked.
"Yes. Short Circuit."
"How in the bloody...oh, never mind." I couldn't believe she was after the same person I'm after. "Okay, just stay out of official business."
"He's cracked every security system known. What makes you think you can catch him?"
"We have the newest and best security system surrounding this sucker." I proudly stated.
"You severely underestimate him, sir." she told me mockingly.
"So you think you can catch him." "Yes, I do."
I knew she wouldn't be allowed after hours, so I tried to get her to leave off. "Any way I can get you to not pursue this guy and leave it to us?"
"One way or the other, I'm going to be in this museum with or without your permission."
I knew this was going to be a losing battle, "Fine, let me see what I can do." We strolled down to the security office. I mutter to myself 'this is going to be a long night.'
Thursday 15 minutes before closing time.
Dum. Dum. Dum.
Saber and Hunter walked into the museum, hiding in a prehistorical ice age exhibit. Saber scaring kids as they passed, thinking she was a manikin.
"You should really stop doing that." Hunter warned.
"Why?"
"You're going to get us kicked out."
"So?"
"Don't you want to catch Shadow?"
"No one will believe those kids anyhow." She moved back to her position behind a rock.
"No, but the last thing we need is a suspicious guard checking it out."
"Chill out.'
"Easy to do." he commented looking around at the fake ice and snow.
The lights turned out in the museum. They were left alone in the darkened hallway.
"Well, time to go." Saber said, hopping down from her perch.
"Wait up!" She heard then a loud crash, and a muffled moan. "I can't see in the dark."
"Take my hand." she offered. "That's not my hand!" she screamed.
"Ugh, what is that?" he cried.
"My tail." she slapped him with it.
"Sorry. Thought it was you hand."
"Well, watch where you're grabbing."
"Okay."
They walked on, her leading him. They turned another corner. "Low bridge." she mumbled softly. Smack.
"Ouch!" he cried grabbing his head.
"Sorry." she tried holding in the laughter. "Forgot you were taller. We're almost there, anyway."
"We need to find a place that she won't see us."
"Over here." she lead them over in the darkness.
Nature and Dodger had just moved into position. "What's with the buckskin get up?" Dodger asked noticing she had changed some time earlier.
"What's with yours?" She questioned overlooking the comment on her native clothes.
"Long story." he retorted back, looking at his own outfit consisting of black, skin-tight, leather jumpsuit. "Better than the other option."
"Really?" she said raising her eyebrows. "I don't want to know."
"Hey, at least I'm covered up."
"It helps me move. And I'm used to it." Her head turning slightly. THUMP. "Did you hear that?"
"What?"
"A soft thump." she turned back to the diamond. "Must have been a cat."
"We don't have cats in the museum." he mumbled, going on to explain further, but dropping the conversation when they noticed the rope fall in trough the ceiling.
Short Circuit dropped in followed by Shadow. The two headed towards the diamond, unaware of their awaiting capture.
"There it is, sweet." he said staring at the diamond.
"Do not call me sweet." she stormed, noticing that there were no weight panels or lasers. She ignored this, respecting him even more for his ingenuity.
"Ever been caught before?" he asked making small talk while working on the display case.
"Once in New Orleans. A guy with the freakiest eyes chased me all over the rooftops because I stole a deck of cards. Weren't even all there. The aces were missing. Strange man. Still have them. I think they bring me luck considering I lifted them from the Prince of Thieves." She smiled secretly. "And you?"
"Once..." he laughed. "Sweet little Native American girl. Tied me up with limbs."
About that time, he felt something wrap around his ankles. The next thing he knew he was hanging in mid air staring into a familiar face.
"Good evening, Morgana, my sweet. And how did you know I would be here?"
Before she could answer, Hunter and Saber stormed in, Dodger following. Shadow and Short Circuit both screamed, "They're after me, they're after you?" They looked at each other. Nature dropped him when she saw the two strangers come forth. The six just stood there.
"Quinn." Nature screamed.
"Shadow." Hunter and Saber yelled.
"Who is she?" Nature asked.
"Is she with you?" Saber asked Quinn. Nature gleared at him.
"Now that we all know each other." he responded uneasily, starring at Morgana.
"Okay, someone want to share with the slow kid?" Dodger asked finally speaking up since the clash of mutants began. "Obviously several of us know each other."
"Just who are you?" Hunter asked, Shadow using his strength against him.
"Darian Wells. I'm an agent with Scotland Yard. Who are you?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Hunter and White Saber." she answered. "We're here to catch Shadow. Who's she?" Saber asked shooting a glance at Nature.
"Morgan Greywolf. Nature. I'm here to capture Quinn." His hands and feet were bound with limbs ever tightening from where she had recaptured him..
"Your name's Quinn?" Shadow asked. "I guess she's the 'sweet, little Native American" who caught you."
Quinn nodded his head. "What they want you for?" he asked motioning to Hunter and Saber.
"Something I stole. I don't know." she shrugged. "Maybe they were hired by some rich pansy to get something back." she looked at Dodger. "And why are you here? To introduce us?"
"I'm after Short Circuit."
"Now that we all know each other, let's do what we came here to do." Nature suggested tightening her grip.
"Steal the diamond." Quinn and Shadow both exclaimed.
"Freeze! Halt! Don't make a move!"
End chapter three. Four coming. This is the last chapter written in any part first person.
The Hope Diamond Scandal chapter three: Rough Start
The Four Minds
6:03 p.m. Arrived in San Francisco, 7:15 retrieved luggage. I hate long flights, unfortunately my trips are always delayed. At least in London we are usually on time, and it's not so bright outside. I'm in a very cranky mood, they don't serve tea on these bloody American airlines. Things were doing better 'til I walked outside and was smoked by a dark haired pixie on a bike. What can I say, America's full of small wonders. I hopped into a taxi. Lucky me, he had no clue what I was saying.
"Take me to the Museum of Historical Arts." What I got back was gibberish sounding something like, "Eloopseepoo." I then tried saying "Take me to the Hope Diamond." Finally he answered screaming... "Oh! Hopesy Diamond, hopesy diamond. Me know, me know."
He burst into the traffic at 40 miles an hour. When my life stopped flashing before my eyes, the cab slowed to a stop. I finally started breathing again. Picking up my suitcases I walked through the door of, luckily it was, the right museum. Noticing a dark haired woman standing too close to the diamond, I yelled, "Aargh, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Please step away from the diamond."
"I mean to cause it no harm." she said, her green eyes gleaming.
Trying to stay calm, I replied, "I know, I know. But there's some riffraff who'd love to get their dirty paws on it." I'm really starting to lose it now. I can feel a migraine coming on.
She, nonchalantly looking at her hands, said, "I know, I'm after the same kind of character."
"Does this character have a name?" I asked.
"Yes. Short Circuit."
"How in the bloody...oh, never mind." I couldn't believe she was after the same person I'm after. "Okay, just stay out of official business."
"He's cracked every security system known. What makes you think you can catch him?"
"We have the newest and best security system surrounding this sucker." I proudly stated.
"You severely underestimate him, sir." she told me mockingly.
"So you think you can catch him." "Yes, I do."
I knew she wouldn't be allowed after hours, so I tried to get her to leave off. "Any way I can get you to not pursue this guy and leave it to us?"
"One way or the other, I'm going to be in this museum with or without your permission."
I knew this was going to be a losing battle, "Fine, let me see what I can do." We strolled down to the security office. I mutter to myself 'this is going to be a long night.'
Thursday 15 minutes before closing time.
Dum. Dum. Dum.
Saber and Hunter walked into the museum, hiding in a prehistorical ice age exhibit. Saber scaring kids as they passed, thinking she was a manikin.
"You should really stop doing that." Hunter warned.
"Why?"
"You're going to get us kicked out."
"So?"
"Don't you want to catch Shadow?"
"No one will believe those kids anyhow." She moved back to her position behind a rock.
"No, but the last thing we need is a suspicious guard checking it out."
"Chill out.'
"Easy to do." he commented looking around at the fake ice and snow.
The lights turned out in the museum. They were left alone in the darkened hallway.
"Well, time to go." Saber said, hopping down from her perch.
"Wait up!" She heard then a loud crash, and a muffled moan. "I can't see in the dark."
"Take my hand." she offered. "That's not my hand!" she screamed.
"Ugh, what is that?" he cried.
"My tail." she slapped him with it.
"Sorry. Thought it was you hand."
"Well, watch where you're grabbing."
"Okay."
They walked on, her leading him. They turned another corner. "Low bridge." she mumbled softly. Smack.
"Ouch!" he cried grabbing his head.
"Sorry." she tried holding in the laughter. "Forgot you were taller. We're almost there, anyway."
"We need to find a place that she won't see us."
"Over here." she lead them over in the darkness.
Nature and Dodger had just moved into position. "What's with the buckskin get up?" Dodger asked noticing she had changed some time earlier.
"What's with yours?" She questioned overlooking the comment on her native clothes.
"Long story." he retorted back, looking at his own outfit consisting of black, skin-tight, leather jumpsuit. "Better than the other option."
"Really?" she said raising her eyebrows. "I don't want to know."
"Hey, at least I'm covered up."
"It helps me move. And I'm used to it." Her head turning slightly. THUMP. "Did you hear that?"
"What?"
"A soft thump." she turned back to the diamond. "Must have been a cat."
"We don't have cats in the museum." he mumbled, going on to explain further, but dropping the conversation when they noticed the rope fall in trough the ceiling.
Short Circuit dropped in followed by Shadow. The two headed towards the diamond, unaware of their awaiting capture.
"There it is, sweet." he said staring at the diamond.
"Do not call me sweet." she stormed, noticing that there were no weight panels or lasers. She ignored this, respecting him even more for his ingenuity.
"Ever been caught before?" he asked making small talk while working on the display case.
"Once in New Orleans. A guy with the freakiest eyes chased me all over the rooftops because I stole a deck of cards. Weren't even all there. The aces were missing. Strange man. Still have them. I think they bring me luck considering I lifted them from the Prince of Thieves." She smiled secretly. "And you?"
"Once..." he laughed. "Sweet little Native American girl. Tied me up with limbs."
About that time, he felt something wrap around his ankles. The next thing he knew he was hanging in mid air staring into a familiar face.
"Good evening, Morgana, my sweet. And how did you know I would be here?"
Before she could answer, Hunter and Saber stormed in, Dodger following. Shadow and Short Circuit both screamed, "They're after me, they're after you?" They looked at each other. Nature dropped him when she saw the two strangers come forth. The six just stood there.
"Quinn." Nature screamed.
"Shadow." Hunter and Saber yelled.
"Who is she?" Nature asked.
"Is she with you?" Saber asked Quinn. Nature gleared at him.
"Now that we all know each other." he responded uneasily, starring at Morgana.
"Okay, someone want to share with the slow kid?" Dodger asked finally speaking up since the clash of mutants began. "Obviously several of us know each other."
"Just who are you?" Hunter asked, Shadow using his strength against him.
"Darian Wells. I'm an agent with Scotland Yard. Who are you?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Hunter and White Saber." she answered. "We're here to catch Shadow. Who's she?" Saber asked shooting a glance at Nature.
"Morgan Greywolf. Nature. I'm here to capture Quinn." His hands and feet were bound with limbs ever tightening from where she had recaptured him..
"Your name's Quinn?" Shadow asked. "I guess she's the 'sweet, little Native American" who caught you."
Quinn nodded his head. "What they want you for?" he asked motioning to Hunter and Saber.
"Something I stole. I don't know." she shrugged. "Maybe they were hired by some rich pansy to get something back." she looked at Dodger. "And why are you here? To introduce us?"
"I'm after Short Circuit."
"Now that we all know each other, let's do what we came here to do." Nature suggested tightening her grip.
"Steal the diamond." Quinn and Shadow both exclaimed.
"Freeze! Halt! Don't make a move!"
End chapter three. Four coming. This is the last chapter written in any part first person.
