Play@YSDC

Finally, after a delayed flight from London to Berlin, Arnold Crawford finally enters the Berlin-Tegel airport. His flight was scheduled for the evening before but the plane only just got off the ground during the early part of Friday morning. He could have taken a train into France and taken either a bus or a train into Berlin but it would have taken longer and Ophidian had gotten him a first class flight. He steps out off of the plane amongst a throng of people. He needs to collect his baggage and find the Ophidian representative that had come to collect him.

Arnold stood in the isle waiting for the air hostess to open the plane door, the privilege of a first class ticket meant he was one of the first people to debark. Straightening his tie and clutching his laptop case he made his way down the tunnel and towards immigration. After a brief exchange with the official about the purpose of Arnolds visit he quickly found himself stood next to the baggage carousel waiting impatiently. Arnold hated airports and he always found himself nervous of his bags not of having made the trip with him, 'Just my luck.', he thought. After a few minutes his case did appear through the plastic curtain and he quickly snatched it up, trundling his way through customs, then duty free and finally into the arrivals area, where his scanned the crowd for a sign with his name, or possible one saying 'Orphidian'.

The man carrying the sign was flanked by a man and a woman who stood in a way that somehow duplicated both a soldier being at attention and a casual stance, both simultaneously. The woman had eyes the color of loam behind glasses that gave her a scholarly look, black hair cut in a wedge, firm cupcake breasts on a slender body. The man on the other side was wearing a black homburg, a black suit, a white shirt and a black tie. His hands were in his jacket pockets, thumbs showing. The man in the middle wore blue slacks and a reindeer-patterned sweater over a sports shirt open at the throat - despite the fact this was after Christmas. Brown penny loafers. No hat. Curly black hair, brown eyes. He resembled a somewhat stupid poodle.

Arnold spotted the group stood across the forecourt and made his way towards them, setting his case down he put out his hand. "Good morning, I'm Dr. Crawford." he said. Arnold wore a dark suit which obviously well tailored and fitted his stocky frame well, it was actually Arnolds one and only 'good' suit and he would have presented a handsome image if not for the fact that the right side of his face was quite badly scarred and bore the obvious signs of numerous skin grafts.

"Dr. Crawford? I am Polizeimeister Müller and this is Polizeimeister Schultz of the Kriminalpolizei," says the woman, showing her I.D. "We're here to accompany your greeter, Herr Kasiliev, and escort you to a safe location. Please don't be alarmed."

"What’s going on? Why would I need to go to a safe location?" fumed Arnold, in English. He took a slight step back from the group and carefully looked them up and down, trying to gauge their intentions.

"Some of the other expedition members have not returned safely to their rooms, we're here to make sure that you do. We've been informed that there is a meeting between the expedition members scheduled at 6:30 p.m. We're going to take you to a secure location in the mean time," says Polizeimeister Müller.

"Hhhmm...." sighed Arnold as he reluctantly started to follow the officers. As he did so he took out his mobile phone, intending to call the Orphidian offices to confirm the group’s story.

The other three wait patiently for Arnold to make his phone call.

"Hallo, Büro von Herr Carter, das Sprechen von Fräulein Chiang," says a female voice on the other end.

"Oh... ermmmm..., hello, my name is Dr. Arnold Crawford, I've just arrived at the airport. I believe you were expecting me?" Said Arnold. Presuming the receptionist responded in English, as Arnold hoped a large company’s receptionist would, he continued. "Well you see, I been met by two police officers and a Mr Kasiliev. They want to take me somewhere... safe, so they say. I just wondered if you could shed some light on the matter?"

"Of course," says Miss Chiang in heavily German-accented English. "There is a lot of concern over some recent person-takings. I no know if you go with them is good. I will call Herr Carter and get his thought. Stay and eat at airport." She hangs up.

Closing his mobile phone and picking up his suitcase Arnold went over to join the group who had come to meet him. "Lead the way" he said in English, now wishing that he knew at least a little German. "And I would at least like to know where we are going, if you don't mind."

Miss Chiang calls back. "They maybe are who they say they are, but to check get their names and numbers, then call police to get the yes. This is police number." She gives him the phone number and repeats it in case he needs to write it down.

Arnold is quite perturbed by the phone call from Miss Chiang, something certainly doesn't seem right. He waves to the group, signalling them to wait just a minute longer, then calls the number the receptionist gave him. "Err... Hello. My name is Doctor Arnold Crawford." Said Arnold, once again praying the voice on the other end of the phone speaks English. "I would like to confirm the identity of a Polizeimeister Müller and Polizeimeister Schultz. They have met me at the airport and wish to take me to a 'safe location'?


OOC: Really sorry I've not posted for nearly 2 weeks. I've changed my service provider and there was a cock-up which left me without the internet! Things are fine now (fingers crossed) and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in.

"Ein moment," says the person on the other end. He is briefly put on hold.

"Hello? This is the German police," says a man with an Australian accent. "Uh huh, okay, yeah. Those two are with the police. The man has curly black hair and brown eyes, yeah? That's right, that's them."