Chapter 3 – Gadgets and Gismos

Smithers set his case on Alan Blunt's desk and opened it so the lid was facing the two teenagers.

'Right, well I was able to take into consideration what we're going to be doing to change your appearances slightly so I was able to make a few extra little gadgets for you two' Smithers said rummaging around in the case.

'Start with Alex then, as I'm presuming you already had some ready before we told you Nikita would be joining him' Mrs Jones said, looking at the two teenagers whose eyes were fixed on the man and case in front of them.

'Well I managed to make you another ear ring like last time old chap; I hope the hole hasn't closed up otherwise we'll have to re-pierce it; works exactly the same as the other one and does exactly the same sort of thing. In fact I think it looks exactly the same, quite outstanding to make it exactly the same if you ask me… anyway I've also got you an iPod, it's slightly heavier than the ones you can get commercially and everyone caries around with them nowadays' Smithers said taking out a small stud, which Alex noted was exactly the same as the last one Smithers had given him, and a silver iPod.

'What does it do?' Alex asked.

'Ah, now there's the brilliance of it: it does quite a few things. Like the Nintendo DS we gave you, you can hear conversations up to 100 metres away just go into the Menu and select 'surround' from the sound options, it's also a bug detector just select 'black and white' from the screen option menu. You can also record conversations by holding the fast forward button down for five seconds whilst in the' surround sound' option. Press down the play button three times in a row and it'll send out a distress signal saying you want to pull out of there. There's also a slight mapping device on there in case you go for a wander around the site and need to map anything, just select the '16 bit' option from the screen options menu. The best thing about it is you can put music on it as well and use it as a normal iPod, just in case you get bored on the journey. I managed to make one for each of you. Now the next thing I have for you is this.'

Smithers pulled out a can of deodorant spray; it looked exactly like the Lynx ones you could buy in the shops.

'This is a slight form of pepper spray and can provide a smoke screen; two separate compartments you see. Turn the nozzle clockwise for the pepper spray and anticlockwise for the smoke screen; press the nozzle down and your away. Now you probably recognise these.'

Smithers pulled out a pair of ski goggles and placed them with the other gadgets on the desk in front of Alex.

'Night vision goggles, same as last time except these can also show heat sources through up to 6 inches of most materials, press the green button for the night vision and red for the heat seeking, press both and they return to normal vision goggles; handy things for seeing if anyone's in a room you want to go into undetected. And finally…'

Smithers looked in his case and took out an ear hoop.

'They told me you're getting another piercing. Now listen very carefully, you see all these small stones in the ring? Each of them holds a tiny stunning dart; after your last trip to the Alps I think you should have some type of defence. To activate them press one of the stones and keep your finger there for three seconds, take your finger away and face the person you want to hit. There are heat seeking devices attached to each of them so they should hit someone each time. Now this ring is similar to one I'm going to give Nikita so both of you listen up' Smithers pulled out an ear ring almost identical to the other one he'd given Alex, 'Press the stone for five seconds and it sends out a distress signal to the other ear ring of the set, in other words to each other, press it for ten seconds and it sends out a distress signal to here in case you can't send a distress signal any other way.'

'Thanks Smithers' Alex said, looking at the many gadgets Smithers had provided him with and feeling a rush of gratitude towards the large man.

'Not at all old chap. Now, let's get your ones sorted out' Smithers said, turning to Nikita who had been sitting silently next to Alex the whole time.

'This should be useful' Smithers said pulling out a small compact mirror that he opened, inside was some blush.

'The powder can be used to see fingerprints that have been placed within the last hour, mirrors are just handy things to have with you, and you can look behind you without most people noticing. If you press the back of it in you'll find a dip and 2 strands of nylon wire that can hold up to 200 pounds of weight each. Now these similar to the set Alex has,' he said taking a pair of ski glasses out of his case, 'except I couldn't get them to see heat through material in time but I have managed to put on a bug detector so any bugs show up as red dots. The buttons are the same as Alex's; your red button will activate the bug detector.'

Next he pulled out a piece of cardboard with many ear rings attacked to it. He indicated to one set that were very similar to the ones he'd given Alex.

'Press the left one down for five seconds and you'll send a distress signal to Alex, press the right one down for five seconds and you'll send a distress signal to us; the left ear ring has a gold back and the right one a silver one, just so you know which one is which. Now these two' Smithers indicated another two studs that had blue stones instead of green like the first pair, 'Turn the clasp clockwise and place anywhere and the iPods can pick up their signals and you'll be able to listen to conversations where you placed the ear rings. This ring is to go in the top of your ear, again turn the clasp clockwise and drop it anywhere, this time it'll produce a smoke screen for about ten seconds. Now this is handy if you can pick locks.'

Smithers indicated to the belly bar with a dark blue stone at the bottom and on top of the clasp.

'The bar's a lock pick; take the clasp off and use it and replace,' Smithers said placing al of Nikita's gadgets on the desk the opposite side of his case to Alex's.

'Err… what happens if the piercing gets infected from using the lock pick?' Nikita asked; Smithers waved a hand.

'Anti- bacteria gel on it. You won't. If you do I'll have to alter my anti-bacteria gel.'

Nikita smiled slightly and Smithers closed his case and handed them a ski jacket each.

'Bullet proof, just in case' Smithers said with a smile at the two teenagers.

'Thank you, Smithers' Blunt said and Smithers left the office.

'Now I understand you were given a letter to give to the school today?' Alan Blunt asked Nikita; she nodded silently.

'Good. We'll send a message to your school saying you've been in a car crash and are in hospital recovering' Blunt said to Alex; Alex just nodded then he and Nikita collected the gadgets Smithers had given them and turned to walk out.

'We need you both back here tomorrow by 10 so we can make you look more like the people who you are going to be playing' Alan Blunt said.

'Right' Alex said.

'Goodbye, Alex. Goodbye Nikita' Mrs Jones said, there was a pause and then Nikita responded.

'Bye' she muttered and then followed Alex out of Alan Blunt's office and out of the Royal and General Bank.

A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update. Here's two chapters for you to enjoy and thanks to all my wonderful reviewers. Gotta run!

Ciao for now

Starsword