My favourite mission? That would have to be our recent recapture of
Brande, the only multiple escapee in the Institute's history. There was
something so very satisfying about bringing her back and wiping out that
particular stain on the Institute's reputation.
I guess I do feel protective towards the Institute but it's not just me.
We all do and I'd say for all of us who came here via Delmo have long since
given up on one day rebuilding the Hagens' company and renewing their ideals.
There was a lot of talk like that when we were first hired and figuring on
this as a temporary gig until we had recovered and regrouped. Now? I'd
say it's been months since anyone mentioned them or spared them more than a
passing thought. Our allegiance long since transferred to the Institute and
everyone on the Board of Directors. There's more job satisfaction and we're
having a lot more fun working here than we ever did in the old days.
Anyway my point was that by escaping twice and remaining at large Brande
embarrassed the Institute so when word came down that the Whites had found her
we were all eager to correct that. While Brande might be slippery to hold
onto she wasn't thought to be particularly dangerous so two or three of us
would have been enough to handle her. We all volunteered which put Gold
Leader in a very good mood. He said he was impressed by our dedication to
the Institute.
Anyway while everyone wanted to be in on the operation there were some
complications. Brande had been located living in an apartment complex but
the evidence suggested she often departed for varying periods so we had to
move quickly before she departed again as there would be no guarantee of her
return. So we had to target her inside the apartment building and that
presented some problems. The place was full of civilians and the authorities
tend to get nasty if innocent bystanders get disturbed. We didn't want them
getting upset and taking it out on the Institute so quick and quiet was the
order of the day. The question was how?
While I'd like to take the credit it was Mai who came up with the idea.
Maybe because she's the only one of us who can use a "magical girl" style
technique to put her uniform on. She remembered that while the originals were
sealed in the Vault the Senshi Wand copies that Doc. Sebastian had cooked up
were still available. She also reminded us that they could be remotely
activated. Thanks to Mai's brainstorm we had the core of our plan and it just
seemed to fall into place after that.
We moved early the next day. Before Brande came down to check her mail
Cammy gimmicked her box and slipped the package inside without anyone
noticing then headed off to rendezvous with Bianca. Since she hadn't been at
the Institute last time Brande was a resident Mai drew lookout duty and saw
Brande collect the free sample package. She looked curious and not at all
suspicious, even smiling a bit at getting a surprise. She had no idea how big
a surprise it was going to be.
She headed back to her apartment with her mail and Mai radioed Cammy that
she was on the way. Cammy was already on her floor playing the part of
cleaning staff along with Bianca. She was undisguised as Brande had never
seen her before while Bianca wore a wig and stayed bent over the cleaning cart
just in case. But Brande never even glanced their way as she headed into her
apartment. She also had no idea that Suniya was watching her though a
telescopic sight from the roof of the building opposite. She was disguised as
a technician from an air conditioner company in case anyone saw her but nobody
noticed her either. She saw Brande open the "sample" package and take out
the wand. While she was trying to puzzle out what the heck it was Suniya
buzzed Bianca which was the signal that Brande was holding the wand. Bianca
activated Doc Sebastian's amulet. The wand triggered and ran its modified
transformation program. Before she had a chance to drop the wand it was too
late.
Suniya reported success and Cammy and Bianca wheeled the cleaning cart
over to Brande's door. Cammy popped the lock in seconds, she's very good at
that. She's said that in her old career it helped to be able to get into all
sorts of places quickly and quietly.
Brande wasn't happy to see them, they think she was saying something
along the lines of, "What the Hell is this!?" but they didn't waste any time
puzzling it out. They just popped the false panel on the cart, stuffed her
into the soundproofed interior and locked both the cart and her front door
then headed for the freight elevator. Down at the carport I was waiting with
the van and Mai had just joined me. They wheeled the cart up the ramp, closed
up and we headed out to the street We drove around the block and parked in a
quiet alley long enough for me to replace the cleaning service logo on the
van's side with an air conditioner repair sign. Then we stopped by the
neighbouring building and picked up Suniya and Toniya (who was a little
disgruntled at only getting to be Suniya's lookout and not even having to stop
anyone from going to the roof) and I started driving back to the Institute.
Everyone else changed back to their uniforms then they got Brande out of the
cart to be sure she wasn't getting loose. She wasn't and I'm told that from
the way her eyes bugged out she recognised their outfits. Apparently she was
still holding out hope that it was a practical joke of some sort.
Anyway she struggled a lot but had no luck getting loose during the trip
back. Probably lucky for her with five Golds ready to jump on her if she had.
I pulled over long enough to change before we reached the Institute so we were
all in our colours when Gold Leader greeted us on our return.
He said again he was sorry he couldn't have joined us but had been
justified in his faith that we could handle Brande's recapture without him. We
all thanked him for the vote of confidence and I asked him to take a picture
to commemorate a job well done. He did and asked for copies as he thought
the Chairman would want to frame one and hang it in his office.
I've got my photo album handy if you'd like a look. Aha! Here
you go!
I don't know if you can tell from the picture but Toniya decided to show
Cammy that she could do a good sleeper hold too. So Brande was out cold when
we carried her into the Receiving Bay.
That should have been the end of it but there was one last little thing
that surprised us all. We took Brande in expecting the same routine as the
Sailors. Doc. Sebastian is waiting along with a pack of Blues and dissolves
the ribbons bit by bit so the Blues can jacket her before taking her to her
room in Grimbor Ward. Instead we also find both Doctor ARNie and the Big Guy
waiting and they look like they've been arguing. There's a couple of Joys
waiting too and like the Blues they're watching the Bosses and looking a bit
wary. Instead of a straitjacket what's waiting is one of the full body
sheaths reserved for the ultradangerous martial artists. Dr. ARNie's saying
it's overkill and the Chairman's saying that since they don't know how she
got out of Grimbor Ward the other two times it would be silly to put her back
so that for now it's the Isolation Ward for Brande until they've sorted out
what they're doing with her. Dr. ARNie's looking a bit disgruntled and I
wondered if he thought maybe the Boss's ego was bruised by Brande escaping
from his namesake twice. But he's been overruled and not going to make any
more of an issue of it for now. Me? Like the other Golds I figure that since
we just brought her in we're all for ensuring she sticks around and nobody's
ever escaped the Isolation Ward.
There's not much more to tell. Brande woke up just as the Blues were
getting started. Despite being outnumbered and having no chance she resisted
but what with their numbers and the ribbons only being dissolved bit by bit as
they got her outfitted it just slowed them down a bit. Soon as they were done
they laid her on a Cocoon Gurney (the edge is lined with little nozzles that
spray Spyder Webbing over the patient when activated) instead of strapped to a
handtruck pallet. They really weren't taking chances. We all accompanied
her to the Isolation Ward which is the first time I've been there since we
brought in Morrigan. I'm happy to see she's still looking like she's there to
stay.
Anyway we arrive at an empty suspension room. The Blues dissolve the
webbing and hang her up on the restraints. One Joy plugs the feeding tube
into the mask and secures it while the other attaches the sanitary tubes to
the sheath. We doublecheck the restraints and then they're triple checked
by the Bosses. Everyone agrees she's secure so we close up the room and it's
congratulations from the Bosses on a job well done and time to unwind. But
before we left I took another picture for my photo album.
Looking at that again gives me a real sense of job satisfaction in spite
of what happened later thanks to that idiot Toniya! If you ask me that whole
fiasco was her responsibility and Mai shouldn't have been disciplined at all!
But I don't set the policy and I can see their point about reminding us about
the importance of vigilance.
Anyway while Brande did subsequently escape again Mai more than redeemed
herself by working with the new girl to bring her in again. Since they'd
already taken care of Brande themselves before they called us in for a pickup
the rest of us didn't have to do anything except keep an eye on Brande on the
way back to the Institute. Which is why despite Brande's recent re-capture
and it looking like she's here to stay this time our earlier capture remains
my favourite mission.
I'd much rather be there for the risk and the hands-on experience than
just witness the capture no matter how great the prize!
That's just the way I am. Same as the rest of Gold Team.