Track Six: Up, Up and Away

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

As Tony is given first aid by one of the men in the helicopter, the aircraft rises into the sky and heads west, out over the ocean. It crosses open water and approaches one of the supposedly uninhabited Channel Islands, where camouflage hides a landing pad from casual observers. Upon landing, the investigators are escorted, sometimes with gestures involving pistols, down a narrow opening in the ground, disguised by bushes. This soon widens into a cylindrical corridor, lit with bare bulbs in the ceiling. The soft sound of air conditioning fills the place, along with the clatter of feet as they make their way to a maze of similar corridors. Reaching a large central area, full of computers with whirling reels of tape and other advanced electronic equipment, the pilot -- who is, of course, Natasha Bolowski, as suspected -- barks orders to the men assembled there. In response, the investigators are escorted to separate rooms, small but not uncomfortable, with adequate plumbing and other necessities for an extended stay. The rooms are more like basic motel rooms rather than prison cells; they are not locked, but armed guards patrol the corridors frequently. Tony is taken to a small medical facility, where his illness is given close attention by an older man, obviously a physician.

After a few days spent in this manner, with the investigators treated more like unexpected guests than prisoners, although they are under constant observation to make sure they don't cause any problems, Tony is sufficiently recovered to be taken to a room of his own. The investigators are allowed to visit each other as they please, under the watchful eyes of the guards. Whether they grow tired of frequent meals of cabbage soup and black bread is a matter of taste.

One day the investigators are invited to join Bolowski in her command center, which turns out to be a modest room from which she can observe the activity in the central area. From a small refrigerator, she offers vodka and champagne to those who wish it.

"Let us -- how do you say? -- talk the turkey. Our interests are not often the same, yes? But for the moment, ve haf a common problem.

"You vish to use your Apollo to put man on Moon. Of course, our Soyuz will beat you there, and, I hope, with a voman aboard. But that is no matter. The fact is that both our nations may lose the race. This vould be most unfortunate.

"Tell me; vhat do you know about Takara Electronics?"

[Mr. Handy]

Liz politely declines the drink, preferring to keep her wits about her. "Not a whole bloody lot," she replies. "They play their cards rather close to their chest."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I feared as much. Ve haf reason to believe that the elder Takara, a brilliant scientist but a rather eccentric fellow, intends to reach the Moon in some strange new vay, involving a bizarre mixture of Zen philosophy and advanced electronic devices, none of which ve haf been able to uncover. However, one of our agents, after extraordinary efforts that required years of undercover vork, vas able to obtain this."

Bolowski presses her hand on a previously undetected panel on the wall of her office. In response, a small storage chamber opens. From inside it she takes out a pale gray pebble, not notable in any obvious way.

"This is one of many such samples kept secure vithin Takara's private vaults. Procuring it required extraordinary effort, and nearly cost the life of a very valuable agent. It is a piece of the Moon."

[SunlessNick]

[Rolled 17] Zara's craving gets the better of her, and she accepts a vodka. "Far out," she says in response to the pebble. "But wait, doesn't that mean they're already been? How else would they get it?"

[jp1885]

Restored back to his normal self, Tony accepts a small measure of vodka with a wry grin.

"Thank you for saving my life 'tasha; after that time in Marrakesh I suppose this makes us even eh? Takara does seem to have an eclectic range of interests; sending up a rocket by 1970 being perhaps the least unusual. My friend Zara makes a good point though, and what does the space race (which he has apparently already won) have to do with our quest to find the remains of- well, I suspect you already know what we've been doing, don't you?"

[Mr. Handy]

"How do you know the stone truly comes from the Moon?" asks Liz, examining it closely. "What tests have been conducted on it?" The idea of traveling to the Moon fascinates Liz, who has dreamed of being an astronaut. The idea of actually being able to walk on its crater-pocked surface is irresistible. If there is some way to get there and back without a rocket, she would like to try it herself and be the first woman on the Moon. She is also well aware of the strategic value of establishing a presence on the Moon, for with its reduced gravity, it would be possible to fling large rocks at targeted locations on the Earth, or to threaten to do so. Heinlein had hypothesized this in his science fiction, but she doesn't give voice to the notion herself. If the Soviets haven't thought of it, there's no sense in giving them the idea.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Zara's craving gets the better of her, and she accepts a vodka. "Far out," she says in response to the pebble. "But wait, doesn't that mean they're already been? How else would they get it?"

The vodka is of excellent quality. With a condescending smile, Bolowski replies, "Ve haf reason to believe it was retrieved from the Moon by an unmanned robot probe, my dear."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Restored back to his normal self, Tony accepts a small measure of vodka with a wry grin.

"Thank you for saving my life 'tasha; after that time in Marrakesh I suppose this makes us even eh? Takara does seem to have an eclectic range of interests; sending up a rocket by 1970 being perhaps the least unusual. My friend Zara makes a good point though, and what does the space race (which he has apparently already won) have to do with our quest to find the remains of- well, I suspect you already know what we've been doing, don't you?"

The vodka is of excellent quality; enough so that, while savoring its flavor, Tony failed to pay much attention to Zara's question.

"As I haf said, it was most likely brought back by a robot probe, controlled by remote telemetry. Wery remote, indeed. Perhaps you spend more time listening and less vatching the pretty girls, yes? As for the business with the old bones and such, this is of no concern. Decadent superstition, from vhich the science of Dialectical Materialism has freed us."

It is evident that the investigators will receive little help from their hosts concerning the quest to free Captain Palliser from his otherworldly bondage.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"How do you know the stone truly comes from the Moon?" asks Liz, examining it closely. "What tests have been conducted on it?" The idea of traveling to the Moon fascinates Liz, who has dreamed of being an astronaut. The idea of actually being able to walk on its crater-pocked surface is irresistible. If there is some way to get there and back without a rocket, she would like to try it herself and be the first woman on the Moon. She is also well aware of the strategic value of establishing a presence on the Moon, for with its reduced gravity, it would be possible to fling large rocks at targeted locations on the Earth, or to threaten to do so. Heinlein had hypothesized this in his science fiction, but she doesn't give voice to the notion herself. If the Soviets haven't thought of it, there's no sense in giving them the idea.

"As I understand the vork of our finest Soviet geologists, the sample, a variety of basalt believed to make up much of the so-called lunar "seas," are much richer in iron than similar basalts found on Earth."

Drawing closet to Liz, and speaking in a lower voice, she adds "Ve haf also observed, through our most powerful telescopes, the appearance of bright lights for brief periods of time on the surface of the Moon. Ve believe this is evidence of the landing of an automated craft."

"The question remains," she goes on, speaking now to all, "vether you vish to aid us in our infiltration of Takara Electronics new American facility. My own people are already wery busy, and it vould be easier for you to gain entry, as natif speakers of English. If not, you may haf to remain here as my guest for some time; if so, it is important that you report to me on a regular basis. It vould be unfortunate if I had to deal with you in a less friendly manner."

[Mr. Handy]

Liz nods, knowing that agreeing to this is the only way they will get out of here. "With my scientific expertise and knowledge of Japanese, I would be ideally suited to infiltrate Takara Electronics," she says.

[jp1885]

"Nothing wrong with admiring the female form..." Tony mutters churlishy to himself, before tuning in on the conversation.

"I see no point in us hanging around your secret lair for ages, trying to escape only to be recaptured and threatened with a horrible death ad-infinitum. I too reckon the best option is to help you out, although if you're agreeable I'd like to complete our current search first - shouldn't take long with a few extra of your comrades to help out."

"Tell me one thing though - that 'UFO' you picked up: is it yours or Takaras?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Wery vell." Bolowski takes a sip of vodka and clear her throat. "I mean, very well," she continues, gaining control over her erratic accent. "I am not unreasonable. I can spare Vladimir and Pyotr for a few days while you play out your little game. Good training and experience for them. Besides, it will be a fine way to keep an eye on you.

"As far as the so-called You Eff Oh goes, that is merely an example of the ingenuity of Soviet aeronautics. A convenient way to make observations, move small objects from one location to another, and so forth."

After more discussions, and meeting Vladimir and Pyotr, two young men in fine physical condition, the investigators are taken to a storeroom containing an array of all sorts of outdoor, survival, and surveillance equipment, noticeably lacking anything lethal, from which they are able to outfit themselves for a return to the mainland. Once rested and ready to go, they will be taken by helicopter back to their original location, along with the two Russian agents. Provided for the group is basic camping equipment, as if at least one overnight stay is anticipated. A transmitter will signal the helicopter to return when needed.

[jp1885]

Rather than risk another encounter with the local fauna, Tony stands back and directs the Russian chaps to search for an antique pistol, using the one they have already discovered as an example.

[Mr. Handy]

While they are doing that, Liz tries once more to consult with the skull.

OOC,I thought we already found both pistols and the carrying case.

[jp1885]

OOC,Ah. Well if that's the case, maybe Tony was too busy being attacked by critters to notice (or maybe he's hoping the Russians will get attacked too).

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Vladimir and Pyotr search the area, as instructed. To the surprise of no one, no further discoveries are made. However, the activity keeps the two fellows busy, allowing the others to confer among themselves.

Tony's sly bluff, since he was well aware that both pistols had already been located, gives Liz a chance to attempt to communicate with the skull without the Soviet agents overhearing. As before, it speaks in an oddly hollow voice, but this time much more quietly, as if aware that there are others present who should not be listening.

"Tsar's boys, eh? Never did trust the beggars, although North's jack-of-all-work, what-you-may-call-him, was a decent chap, if a bit weak in the brains. But that's all water under the bridge. Now that you've found that triply-damned Juan's pistols, there's proof that the one he gave me was jiggered with so it would not catch fire. Blasted fellow threw the rest of me into a lake named after Hamlet's castle, up the trail a way. Kept my head as a bloody souvenir, then dug a place for it in the dirt when the flesh rotted away. Thoroughly nasty piece of work he was, not at all like his sister.'

After much more such talk, the skull in an unusually loquacious mood, it becomes clear that the way to let the late Captain Palliser find eternal rest is to toss the skull and the pistols into the middle of Lake Elsinore. A glance at the map previously used during the first hike up San Juan Creek reveals that this will require a more difficult journey in the same general direction, so the party and their Soviet guests should expect to camp out for a night before reaching Lake Elsinore. Fortunately, the well-equipped Russians have sufficient food and simple tents to allow for an acceptable, if uncomfortable, night's sleep for all. Night watches, if desired, can be arranged at leisure. Meanwhile, there's enough daylight remaining to begin hiking. When night falls, they're at a reasonably flat place somewhere between Hot Spring Canyon and Lion Canyon.

[jp1885]

Tony pitches in (pun intended) with the setting up of camp. When all is ready he suggests a campfire and a bite to eat (plus, if their stolid Russian companions are amenable, a song or two).

[SunlessNick]

Zara is more than happy to throw the Captain's skull into a lake - though she is curious as to whether any of the posse can tell if it's true that one of the pistols was tampered with. "Thankyou all for helping me with this," she adds before the Russians get back - "this wasn't your problem, any of you."

She'll help set up the camp, and enthusiastically take part in singing. (Suspecting that Tony and Liz will want to share a tent, she'll ask to bunk with Lew rather than risk ending up with one of the Russians).

[Mr. Handy]

They're anything but Tsar's boys, thinks Liz when William mentions that. Fifty years ago their lot murdered the Tsar and his entire family. But of course he didn't know about that. He did know of the French Revolution, though, which was remarkably similar. I'm just as glad I'm not advertising the fact that I'm an aristocrat to the Russians.

"I'm quite pleased to help, Zara," says Liz. "Captain Palliser was a friend of my ancestor's, so I'm pleased to help him too. Besides, I can't resist a mystery." When Zara mentions the sleeping arrangements, she adds. "I'd thought the two of us would share a tent. Are you and Lew...? I had no idea."

[jp1885]

“Indeed- happy to help Zara,” Tony concurs.

As for the sleeping arrangements, the idea of sharing with Liz is a very attractive one. However, even in this age of the permissive society, sometimes blushes must be spared, so he defers to the girls to agree among themselves.