Re: Training Exercises
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:59 am
Al walked up to the door of the motel unit, after clearing the MIB drone on guard. His palms were a bit sweaty, and his thoughts were recoiling a bit from what he expected to find when he walked through the door.
He rapped on the shabby steel door, and after a second or two it opened, to the smiling face of Emerauld.
“May I come in?” he asked, not completely sure he wanted to. Emerauld’s answer was a hug when he stepped through the portal. They separated slightly, arms on each other’s shoulders and still close.
Emerauld felt relief – she had someone other than MIB on the case – someone whose interest wasn’t entwined with someone else’s desires.
“Thank you for coming, Al – I did not know who to ask for this favour – and I know only you of Club Alexander here.”
Al spoke quietly. “You know you can always call on me, Tory'll Drathmir. I am just a human, but I will come. My powers are nowhere near yours, but I will do what I can.”
Emerauld, rather shocked that Al would speak as he did, merely nodded. There were layers to this old human that would bear thinking about at another time. Right now, however, getting out of here needed to be their focus.
They separated, and Al turned toward the other occupant of the room.
Master Prroul had watched this scene with interest. Several things were obvious – first, this human was someone that Emerauld held in high esteem. Secondly, she trusted him completely.
Third, this was an old soldier, of very long service, though he walked with the step and poise of a younger man. He also had a certain bearing around him that felt familiar, and Prroul decided to have a little entertainment when they were introduced.
Prroul decided he liked what he saw.
Al examined the other occupant – and mumbled to himself "Oh, bugger, he's a big one, inn’e?” However, good manners took back over, and he asked, “Emerauld, would you make the introductions, please?”
“Al, I would like you to meet Master Prroul – he is one of my teachers and a being I greatly respect. Master Prroul, this is the S’agt I fought with at the battle where Nodaki was defeated – he is Sergeant -Major Allan Richer…”
“Of Her Majesty’s regiments, I expect?” Prroul rumbled, an amused tone in his voice.
Al was shocked almost to the point of speechlessness. “How…where…who…?”
“My apologies, Sergeant-Major – I did not mean to presume, but I could not resist a bit of amusement at your expense. I am quite familiar with Her Majesty's forces - and you were with?”
“1 Para – until I retired.”
“An honorable group – and you are an honorable member of it. I am pleased to make your acquaintance – and I am comfortable putting myself in your hands.”
Al was to put it politely stunned, but he recovered quickly. “Master Prroul, please call me Al. I am long retired, and I do not use my rank any more. Al will do nicely, and is less tiring.”
“Al, please call me Prroul.”
Al walked forward and offered his hand , and Prroul took it. A brief shake, and then Al was all business.
“I have a vehicle outside that should be able to transport you to my home. The vehicle is more than capable of supporting your weight, though please be careful getting in and out as items not covered by the timbers may not deal with your weight properly. I sincerely apologize, but this was the best I could do on short notice.
I also apologize for the accommodations in the back of the vehicle – again I prepared on very short notice – I considered getting here more important than comfort.”
“Understood – I am more than capable of dealing with it. Please do not concern yourself with the weight – I will ensure that it does not become a problem.”
“Eme mentioned that you have issues with machines – the transport I have is not particularly sensitive being an old military machine but we will have to see what happens.”
“Understood – if I am not defending myself that is a short range problem – if I am in the back the machine should be fine.”
“Good, then. Pack up – I will back up to the door and we’re out of here.”
Emerauld and Prroul gathered what few items they wished to take, and waited. Al slipped back outdoors again startling the watcher (who really should have been more alert) and started to head toward the old ambulance when a POIT! sound popped behind him. A second later he heard hurrying footsteps to see Brandi coming toward him.
“Ms. Oduya, I presume…” Al quipped.
“Hi, Al. You going to be able to handle dealing with this?” Her concern was genuine, as was Al’s response.
“I’ve driven this truck with this much of a load before – and the last time it was weapons and ammunition. As long as he doesn’t get restless back there or I get into a traffic accident we should be just fine. If you want to put a unit a few blocks behind me just in case I get into a scrap with traffic it would be good – but once I get out of the city I should be fine. Relax, meduck – Richer, Al Richer…at your service.” Al mimed taking her hand and bending over it, and Brandi laughed delightedly.
“I will leave them in your hands then, Agent Geezer. “ She laughed again and walked around the corner to poit away as Al sputtered good-naturedly.
Starting the truck, Al backed it to the door, and then set the brake, hopped out and swung the back doors open to cover the remaining distance between the door and the truck body. Emerauld then hurried through, accompanied by Prroul.
When they got to the vehicle, Prroul's amused chuckle rumbled "I am... impressed. Yes, this will do. I've ridden in one much like this... before." Careful to remain on the planks set out to assist in distributing his weight across the axles, he leans forward to enter the back on all fours, tail swishing gently behind him. The truck's end settled with an audible complaint.
Al swung one of the doors closed and though the other called in “Move as far foraward as you can – we need to distribute your weight.” The truck then settled forward more onto a level keel, the weight being easily taken by the suspension and the heavy-duty military-grade tires as the passenger settles into a lotus position across the planks.
Satisfied, Al hurried around to the front, climbed in, set his seatbelt and opened the slider between the front and back.
“Everyone set? We’re out of here.” Revving the engine and releasing the clutch, the protesting Diesel moved them away and toward the road. Discreetly, the black SUV waited a few minutes, then followed should there be some mishap.
He rapped on the shabby steel door, and after a second or two it opened, to the smiling face of Emerauld.
“May I come in?” he asked, not completely sure he wanted to. Emerauld’s answer was a hug when he stepped through the portal. They separated slightly, arms on each other’s shoulders and still close.
Emerauld felt relief – she had someone other than MIB on the case – someone whose interest wasn’t entwined with someone else’s desires.
“Thank you for coming, Al – I did not know who to ask for this favour – and I know only you of Club Alexander here.”
Al spoke quietly. “You know you can always call on me, Tory'll Drathmir. I am just a human, but I will come. My powers are nowhere near yours, but I will do what I can.”
Emerauld, rather shocked that Al would speak as he did, merely nodded. There were layers to this old human that would bear thinking about at another time. Right now, however, getting out of here needed to be their focus.
They separated, and Al turned toward the other occupant of the room.
Master Prroul had watched this scene with interest. Several things were obvious – first, this human was someone that Emerauld held in high esteem. Secondly, she trusted him completely.
Third, this was an old soldier, of very long service, though he walked with the step and poise of a younger man. He also had a certain bearing around him that felt familiar, and Prroul decided to have a little entertainment when they were introduced.
Prroul decided he liked what he saw.
Al examined the other occupant – and mumbled to himself "Oh, bugger, he's a big one, inn’e?” However, good manners took back over, and he asked, “Emerauld, would you make the introductions, please?”
“Al, I would like you to meet Master Prroul – he is one of my teachers and a being I greatly respect. Master Prroul, this is the S’agt I fought with at the battle where Nodaki was defeated – he is Sergeant -Major Allan Richer…”
“Of Her Majesty’s regiments, I expect?” Prroul rumbled, an amused tone in his voice.
Al was shocked almost to the point of speechlessness. “How…where…who…?”
“My apologies, Sergeant-Major – I did not mean to presume, but I could not resist a bit of amusement at your expense. I am quite familiar with Her Majesty's forces - and you were with?”
“1 Para – until I retired.”
“An honorable group – and you are an honorable member of it. I am pleased to make your acquaintance – and I am comfortable putting myself in your hands.”
Al was to put it politely stunned, but he recovered quickly. “Master Prroul, please call me Al. I am long retired, and I do not use my rank any more. Al will do nicely, and is less tiring.”
“Al, please call me Prroul.”
Al walked forward and offered his hand , and Prroul took it. A brief shake, and then Al was all business.
“I have a vehicle outside that should be able to transport you to my home. The vehicle is more than capable of supporting your weight, though please be careful getting in and out as items not covered by the timbers may not deal with your weight properly. I sincerely apologize, but this was the best I could do on short notice.
I also apologize for the accommodations in the back of the vehicle – again I prepared on very short notice – I considered getting here more important than comfort.”
“Understood – I am more than capable of dealing with it. Please do not concern yourself with the weight – I will ensure that it does not become a problem.”
“Eme mentioned that you have issues with machines – the transport I have is not particularly sensitive being an old military machine but we will have to see what happens.”
“Understood – if I am not defending myself that is a short range problem – if I am in the back the machine should be fine.”
“Good, then. Pack up – I will back up to the door and we’re out of here.”
Emerauld and Prroul gathered what few items they wished to take, and waited. Al slipped back outdoors again startling the watcher (who really should have been more alert) and started to head toward the old ambulance when a POIT! sound popped behind him. A second later he heard hurrying footsteps to see Brandi coming toward him.
“Ms. Oduya, I presume…” Al quipped.
“Hi, Al. You going to be able to handle dealing with this?” Her concern was genuine, as was Al’s response.
“I’ve driven this truck with this much of a load before – and the last time it was weapons and ammunition. As long as he doesn’t get restless back there or I get into a traffic accident we should be just fine. If you want to put a unit a few blocks behind me just in case I get into a scrap with traffic it would be good – but once I get out of the city I should be fine. Relax, meduck – Richer, Al Richer…at your service.” Al mimed taking her hand and bending over it, and Brandi laughed delightedly.
“I will leave them in your hands then, Agent Geezer. “ She laughed again and walked around the corner to poit away as Al sputtered good-naturedly.
Starting the truck, Al backed it to the door, and then set the brake, hopped out and swung the back doors open to cover the remaining distance between the door and the truck body. Emerauld then hurried through, accompanied by Prroul.
When they got to the vehicle, Prroul's amused chuckle rumbled "I am... impressed. Yes, this will do. I've ridden in one much like this... before." Careful to remain on the planks set out to assist in distributing his weight across the axles, he leans forward to enter the back on all fours, tail swishing gently behind him. The truck's end settled with an audible complaint.
Al swung one of the doors closed and though the other called in “Move as far foraward as you can – we need to distribute your weight.” The truck then settled forward more onto a level keel, the weight being easily taken by the suspension and the heavy-duty military-grade tires as the passenger settles into a lotus position across the planks.
Satisfied, Al hurried around to the front, climbed in, set his seatbelt and opened the slider between the front and back.
“Everyone set? We’re out of here.” Revving the engine and releasing the clutch, the protesting Diesel moved them away and toward the road. Discreetly, the black SUV waited a few minutes, then followed should there be some mishap.