Episode Three

Fashion Mission

05:47 PM- RIA Headquarters, London

Sam, Clover, and Alex spent most of their few days in London enjoying the perks of working at the RIA: the gym, pool, spa, cafeteria, and the lounge area. While exploring the RIA headquarters, they also spent most of their time trying to avoid Daniel Raddick. Whenever he entered the room they were in, they instantly picked up their things and left without a word. Today, they relaxed in the spacious lounge area with a plethora of large, comfortable couches.

Occupying her own couch, Clover stretched out her legs, yawned, and closed her eyes. She set her empty cappuccino cup on the floor. "What time is it?"

Sam opened her left eye and raised her arm. She glanced at her watch. "5:47." She closed her eyes again and tried to rest.

Alex lazily flipped through the channels of the television. "300 channels, and there's nothing on...imagine that." She flipped the television off and tried to sit up. She moaned a little when pain surged through her chest.

"Alex!" Sam and Clover popped up.

Alex held her hand over her left side. "Bruised ribs. I forgot," She gasped in pain as she tried to finish sitting up.

"Let me help you!" Sam jumped up off the couch and aided Alex.

Alex faintly smiled. "Thanks."

"I'm still furious about last week," Clover growled.

"Like, who in their right mind wouldn't be?" Alex said.

Clover folded her arms across her stomach. "Well, that guy just plain gives me the creeps. There's just something major wrong with him, and I'm not just talking about his fashion sense! Ragged and sweaty karate uniforms...yuck!"

"Then how about a tuxedo?"

The three girls looked over to see Cromwell standing behind the group of couches. In his arms, he held four outfits wrapped up in dry-cleaner bags.

"What are those for?" Alex asked.

"They're for tonight. You're assisting Agent Raddick at a midnight garden party." Cromwell passed off the outfits. "You'll need to be dressed properly."

"Midnight garden party?" Sam asked.

"Yes, a party in the Royal Gardens during a moonlit night, a favorite of the Queen might I add."

"Sounds really romantic," Alex uttered, dreamily.

"Yes, I do believe that the King and Queen met during one of the parties."

Clover pulled off the plastic cover of her outfit. "It's beautiful! This is going to be such a cool mission!"

"Wait a second!" Sam said. "What exactly is our mission?"

"You are to protect the Queen, the Prime Ministry, and also the Prince."

"Hmmm...Prince?" Clover said, smirking.

"Don't get any ideas, Clover. He's only twelve," Sam said.

Clover frowned.

"Anyway, prepare yourselves. You'll be leaving with Agent Raddick in a hour."

"Oh, joy!" Clover sarcastically said.

"Well, come on," Sam sighed while heading towards the elevator.

7:00PM- Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom

A black limousine pulled up to the tall, metal gates that enclosed the lush, beautiful gardens of the Royal family. A servant pulled the back door open, and Agent Raddick stepped out in a black tuxedo. He took a hold of Clover's hand and helped her out of the limousine.

"Just stay out of my way. Got it?" Daniel said, as he pulled Clover's arm.

Clover placed her feet on the ground and stood up. "I got it, jerk."

Daniel then took Alex's hand and helped her out. She immediately turned her head and snubbed him, completely refusing to even look at him.

Daniel released Alex's hand. "Please, I actually enjoy the silent treatment from annoying girls." He then grabbed Sam's hand and pulled her out. As he pulled Sam out, he locked with her green eyes for a moment. He broke a few seconds later and turned his head. "What no smart comments from the leader?"

Sam stood up and looked Daniel straight in the face. "Thank you."

Daniel rolled his eyes and turned away from Sam. He slammed the limousine door shut and followed behind the girls. The four of them walked up to the iron gate where two large men stood acting as bouncers.

"Name?" One of the large, muscle-bound men asked.

Daniel stepped forward. "We're under Berg," He said faking a Scandinavian accent, but nevertheless sounding very real.

"Berg, who?" The other bouncer asked looking through his list.

"Henning Berg, the artist!" Daniel pointed to the girls. "These are my assistants: Ingrid, Katarina, and Sigrid."

"Ja!" The girls exclaimed together.

The first bouncer used a thumbs-up to point towards the gate. "Go on in. You're on the list."

Daniel marched forward while the girls followed behind him.

"That was an impressive accent," Sam said. "You really did sound Norwegian."

"Well, you're dealing with a professional, much unlike yourselves," Daniel said.

"Geeze!" Clover said. "She was just trying to give you a compliment! Despite the fact that you don't deserve one!"

"Your compliments mean nothing." Daniel walked away.

"What is his problem?" Clover spat angrily.

Alex shook her head. "C'mon. Let's go get something to drink. We might as well not ruin the night because of him."

"Yeah, you're right," Clover said. "You coming, Sammy?"

Sam gazed around. "No, I'm going to check out the surrounding area first."

"Well, okay." Clover guided Alex off towards the buffet indoors.

Sam looked off into the distance and saw the garden that was lit up with beautiful white lights. She glanced up towards the full moon in the sky as she walked towards the garden. Not even noticing, she treaded upon the dance floor just as the musicians started to play. She looked around, feeling rather embarrassed from getting caught in the middle of the dancing couples.

"May I have this dance?"

Sam turned around. A blonde-haired gentleman stood there smiling with his right hand extended.

"I'd love to." Sam took the strangers hand and joined with him in the waltz.

The gentleman smiled. "My name is Lord Andrew of Kent."

Sam smiled, dumbfounded. "Uh, I'm S...uh..." Sam faked a cough. "I'm Lady Ingrid Erikson from Norway, Ja!"

"Norway?" Lord Andrew questioned. "What would bring you to the United Kingdom then?"

"Traveling exhibition with Henning Berg." Sam faked an accent. "Ja! Much traveling!"

"Henning Berg?" Lord Andrew spun Sam.

"The artist!" Sam snapped, just as Daniel did.

"Oh, yes..." Lord Andrew glanced away. "You are a wonderful dancer."

"Thank you."

Lord Andrew smiled, taking an interest in the Norwegian girl. "Are you acquainted with the Queen and the royal family?"

"No, no, not me personally. Of course, Master Berg is certainly one of the Queen's favorite artists."

"Really?" Lord Andrew questioned. "Then I suppose I shall look into purchasing one of Sir Berg's pieces for the Queen's birthday." He looked towards the Queen.

"Oh, yes, that'll be nice." Sam cringed when Lord Andrew looked away.

"Tell me, how old are you, Lady Ingrid." Lord Andrew smiled again.

"Uh..." Sam looked nervous. Then she giggled in her accent. "You tell me first." She smiled, trying to flirt.

Lord Andrew smirked. "Twenty-seven."

Sam looked petrified. She felt extremely awkward being in the arms of a man ten years older than she was. He certainly didn't look it.

"And you?"

"Uh, twenty-three." Sam gulped.

"Good." Lord Andrew spun her around again.

"Excuse me. I would like to cut in."

Lord Andrew and Sam stopped dancing. They both looked over to see Daniel Raddick standing there.

"Excuse me, but I was trying to dance with this lovely young woman," Lord Andrew said, rather annoyed.

"Yes, you were trying..." Daniel jeered.

Lord Andrew shot a dirty look at Daniel and walked away.

Sam looked at Daniel. "What's going on?"

Daniel took a hold of Sam. "I thought I saw something upstairs. I sent Clover and Alex to check it out. However, we need to divert the attention of the crowd without getting ourselves kicked out."

"How are we going to that?" Sam questioned.

Daniel suddenly dipped Sam downwards while the musicians fired up a new song. Her head almost touched the ground.

"I can't dance like that!" Sam hissed under her breath.

"I already figured that you couldn't." Daniel picked Sam back up and spun her into his arm. He then took her in the usual dancing position and started a fast-paced waltz.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She charged toward him.

Daniel grabbed her around the waist and spun her in a circle. "Such unprofessional agents, such as yourself, wouldn't know the skills concerning ballroom dancing."

"And what makes you think that I wouldn't? I've been a WHOOP agent for two years now!" She hissed as she jerked her head.

"And I've been with the RIA since I was a child!" Daniel glanced up towards the balcony window where Clover and Alex looked clueless. "Idiots!"

Sam glanced up. "Those are my friends you're taking about!"

"Nevertheless, they're still incompetent fools."

"Do you think that I don't know what incompetent means?" Sam hissed. She stopped dancing.

Daniel released his hold on Sam. "Do you?"

"Of course I know!"

The crowd erupted in applause when the music stopped. Slightly mortified, Sam looked over and blushed.

"Well, I say it only because they failed my orders."

"Maybe you should stop ordering us around!" Sam walked off to find Alex and Clover. She headed indoors and met her two friends on the stairway.

"I didn't know you could dance like that, Sammy!" Alex giggled.

Sam frowned.

"Well, anyway..." Clover tried to change the subject. "There was someone up there. They took off but left this behind." Clover handed a napkin to Sam.

Sam looked over the napkin. "Looks like German, I think. "

"Give it here." Daniel snatched the napkin from behind Sam.

"I was examining that!" Sam hissed.

Daniel looked over the napkin. "Well, I'm going to read it."

"You speak German?" Alex questioned.

"Of course I do." He rubbed his chin. "The Hamburg Hotel."

"Where's that at?" Clover asked.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Hamburg, Germany."

"Oh," Cover said. "Okay, Danny."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Don't call me Danny."

"Sorry!"

Daniel stuffed the napkin in his pocket. "Let's get out of here. We'll leave the other agents behind." He charged off.

The three girls followed behind, not happy with the way the night went.