Mission: Guard Duty

Buddy reads the message several times.

He emits a series of short barks. "Hmm... it sounds as though there are possibly some Czechlonian hardline monarchist elements behind this. We should do some research into Czechlon - it’s customs and people."

The pug approaches the gun rack. He turns his head to the side to grab a bolt-action rifle with his mouth. The rack, like most other things in the workshop, is placed at ground level for Buddy’s easy access.

He places the Remington Model 700 on the floor and plants a paw down on the barrel. He uses the other paw to deftly work the bolt and check the breech - doing so in a way no dog has any business of doing. Then, as an afterthought, Buddy barks, "There’s a file in the tool box over there."

The Pugnisher begins rummaging through his ammunition, but then stops and looks at Riptide, thoughtfully. "We may want to bring in a third person for this op. UN Peacekeeeping PDT Standards recommend at least three bodyguards per international official. Know anyone we could call?"

I will say you have some time before actually needing to get to the ambassador meeting, though you will need to meet at least an hour before (6PM) with head of security so as to get more distinct details of the nature of this mission.

Resonance listens to the voice message a second time. She listens a third time. As usual, zero details, just a disjointed rambling message abut this NOT being a booty call and Riptide NOT being high... the gist is that she's needed. She tucks the phone away inside her purse and looks out through the glass wall of her office.

Everything here is glass. There is zero privacy in the accounting office where Kate works. She saves and closes her files and gets herself worked up to appear sick yet again. Her coworkers had started calling her "Contamin-Kate" because she was sick so often. Luckily, it didn't impact her work, or her boss would have been much less lenient.

After making her excuses and ducking out toward the train station, Kate headed into her usual alley and performed her sonic quick change as she lifted herself up to the roof. From there, it was a short flight to headquarters. She arrived to find Riptide and the Pugnisher getting ready, she assumed for the mission.

"Hey thee, big boy," she said in a flirty tone, as she approached Riptide. Hoping he'd assume she was talking to him, she waggled her eyebrows, then passed right by him and gave the Pugnisher a scratch behind the ears.

She grinned as she turned back to look at Riptide. "Oh, hey, Riptide. I didn't see you there. Got your message. What's up?"

Buddy kicks his hind leg several times as he gets scratched behind the ear. He then clears his throat and barks several times. As usual, everyone in the chamber instinctively understands the meaning of the barking.

"Greetings Resonance." Buddy goes back to inspecting his guns. "Long story short: there are rumors of a possible assassination attempt. The target is a Czechlonian ambassador. We’ll be performing guard duty for the ambassador, though I’d rather not sit idly by and wait for something to happen. It’s preferable, I think, to be proactive and find the assassin first, if possible."

The pug makes an effortless leap onto the top of a work bench and begins inspecting pieces of what appear to be miniature SWAT-style body armor tailored for a canine. It’s almost too adorable.

"Any experience working in personal security?"

"Zero experience," Resonance says, answering Pugnisher. "I bet my force field would come in handy for something like this, though."

She listens to Riptide's nearly breathless verbal word dump and sighs. "Riptide. I don't think you have to worry about talking politics at dinner. But perhaps while we're guarding an ambassador we should all keep our political views to ourselves."

Turning back to Pugnisher, she says, "How do you propose we go about finding an assassin? Investigation certainly isn't my strong suit."

"That would the reactive way to find..." Resonance looks at Riptide, then slowly shakes her head from side to side. "Nevermind."

"Well, can we search the computer and look for people who hate the ambassador? Do Czechlonis have any distinguishing marks? Monarchs tend to be patriotic and paranoid but won't do anything themselves. They could even be current house servants or staff of a noble house... Does our computer do that stuff? Batman's does...

Buddy looks at Resonance. "To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure how to find the assassin. We need more information. If there’s time, I’d like to read up on current Czechlonian... Czechloni... the country’s current politics. I’d hate to take a reactive position if it’s not necessary, which means we have to understand who might wish the ambassador harm."

The pug looks to Riptide and smiles. It’s an odd expression to see on a dog; halfway between a wince and a snarl. "You’re experience battling the rats of the air could prove useful. But instead of hot dog, it’s an ambassador we need to keep safe." Buddy glances at the nearby computer terminal. "Unfortunately, can’t say I know much about Czechlon, but we can definitely find some preliminary info on the internet.

"We are supposed to meet up with the Czechlon delegation’s head of security about an hour before the assignment starts. Hopefully, we’ll get more details."

Buddy looks toward the kitchen. "We might as well eat before we go. Riptide, can you rustle up some grub?"

"While Riptide gets us some food, I might know someone in the government who could give us more information. Let me see if I can get the inside scoop on what we're up against."

Resonance heads to her suite in the headquarters building and dials the number of a low level member of the State Department (or whatever version of that we have here) and uses her charm and (if necessary) promises of dinner together somewhere fabulous to see if her contact knows anything about who's gunning for the Chzechlonian delegation.

Buddy sighs and performs a close approximation to a face-palm, but with paws.

"Your mention of a decoy isn’t a bad idea. Might be something worth looking into. Lure the assassin out to kill the wrong person. First let’s see what Resonance can shake loose."

"If they have like, ritual masks or something, we could set up a decoy real easy. These rumours... of the assassination attempt, who heard them first? Where are they coming from?" His voice fades as walks into the kitchen area. Riptide eats like a tween, so when Buddy says the words "rustle up", there's some crashing and banging in the kitchen area and he emerges with armfuls of junk food: Beef Jerky (Pug's favourite), Pop and Chips, Doritos, Tostitos, half a can of Guacamole, Salsa, etc. A block of cheese, half a bag of Microwave popcorn, a package of raw hot dogs (All Beef), and a cookie hanging out of his mouth. He dumps it all down onto the workshop table amongst the guns, spilling some guacamole on the Remington's barrel in the process. He wipes it off with his finger and slops it into his mouth. He cracks open a Mountain Dew and passes it to the Pugnisher, then opens one for himself. With a look of remembrance, he produces a straw from his back pocket and puts it in Pug's can as well.