"Councilwoman? I was wondering if I could speak to you a moment."
"I suppose. Make it quick."
"I know you feel that many of us-namely myself, Commander Root, and Leiutenent Kelp-are too leanient when things concern Captain Short."
"Yes. What about Captain Short?"
"I was just thinking, if you knew the special circumstances that Holly had to face everyday, you might think otherwise."
"Then why don't you tell me and then I can be on my merry little way."
"It's not that simple. The only way you could really understand is if you lived a day as Holly."
"Well, that's just not possible."
"Actually it is."
"What?" Vinyaya seemed startled. "How?"
"Well the masks I've been developing for undercover work. I could fashion one to look like Captain Short. And I've just about got the last bugs worked out of some voice modifiers I've been constructing. You could spend a day as Holly Short and see just what it is she has to go through."
"But what about my duties as Councilwoman? And what about Short?"
"I think I could get Short to agree to let you take her place for a day. And I'm sure I could find someone to fill in for you. Or you could just call in sick."
"That sounds good. But are you sure you can convince Short?"
"Piece of cake."
"Okay, I must be going. When are you planning for this to take place?"
"Day after Holly's reinstalled on Recon."
Vinyaya nodded and walked away.
Foaly gave a sigh of relief. That was almost too easy. Now he just had to work on Trouble. He got his chance that afternoon.
"Hey, Kelp, got a minute?"
"Yeah, sure. You saved Holly and Root's jobs. I've got a minute for you."
"How would you like an inside look on what the Council is up to?"
"I'd love it. But how are you going to manage that?"
"Well, you'd have to wear a dress."
"WHAT?"
"You go in pretending to be Vinyaya."
"How?"
"Well, I should be finished with a mask of Vinyaya by next week or so. I'll get her out of the way and you go in pretending to be her."
"I don't sound like her, Foaly."
"Thought of that too. My voice modifiers ought to be finished by then."
"How will you get rid of Vinyaya?"
"Just trust me, I've got my ways."
"Are you sure you can pull this stunt off Foaly?"
"Positive."
"If anything goes wrong. " He didn't finish this sentence. If something went wrong he'd have no one to blame but himself because he probably shouldn't be involved in it anyway. "I'm in."
"Okay. Next Monday you'll be walking out of the Ops room with Vinyaya's face and voice."
"I'll see you, Foaly."
"See you around, Trouble." So far, so good. Now time to tell Holly the good news. Nope, couldn't tell her yet. She was still up on the surface at Disneyland Paris.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Okay, read and review. When I've got reviews I'll post the next chapter.
"I suppose. Make it quick."
"I know you feel that many of us-namely myself, Commander Root, and Leiutenent Kelp-are too leanient when things concern Captain Short."
"Yes. What about Captain Short?"
"I was just thinking, if you knew the special circumstances that Holly had to face everyday, you might think otherwise."
"Then why don't you tell me and then I can be on my merry little way."
"It's not that simple. The only way you could really understand is if you lived a day as Holly."
"Well, that's just not possible."
"Actually it is."
"What?" Vinyaya seemed startled. "How?"
"Well the masks I've been developing for undercover work. I could fashion one to look like Captain Short. And I've just about got the last bugs worked out of some voice modifiers I've been constructing. You could spend a day as Holly Short and see just what it is she has to go through."
"But what about my duties as Councilwoman? And what about Short?"
"I think I could get Short to agree to let you take her place for a day. And I'm sure I could find someone to fill in for you. Or you could just call in sick."
"That sounds good. But are you sure you can convince Short?"
"Piece of cake."
"Okay, I must be going. When are you planning for this to take place?"
"Day after Holly's reinstalled on Recon."
Vinyaya nodded and walked away.
Foaly gave a sigh of relief. That was almost too easy. Now he just had to work on Trouble. He got his chance that afternoon.
"Hey, Kelp, got a minute?"
"Yeah, sure. You saved Holly and Root's jobs. I've got a minute for you."
"How would you like an inside look on what the Council is up to?"
"I'd love it. But how are you going to manage that?"
"Well, you'd have to wear a dress."
"WHAT?"
"You go in pretending to be Vinyaya."
"How?"
"Well, I should be finished with a mask of Vinyaya by next week or so. I'll get her out of the way and you go in pretending to be her."
"I don't sound like her, Foaly."
"Thought of that too. My voice modifiers ought to be finished by then."
"How will you get rid of Vinyaya?"
"Just trust me, I've got my ways."
"Are you sure you can pull this stunt off Foaly?"
"Positive."
"If anything goes wrong. " He didn't finish this sentence. If something went wrong he'd have no one to blame but himself because he probably shouldn't be involved in it anyway. "I'm in."
"Okay. Next Monday you'll be walking out of the Ops room with Vinyaya's face and voice."
"I'll see you, Foaly."
"See you around, Trouble." So far, so good. Now time to tell Holly the good news. Nope, couldn't tell her yet. She was still up on the surface at Disneyland Paris.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Okay, read and review. When I've got reviews I'll post the next chapter.