Part 7 by Sherry
Operations gave Walter a disparaging look. "What do you mean clothes? I have plenty of clothes."
Walter laughed out loud. "No offense, but you don't think you're gonna
ride that thing in your fancy suits, do ya"Operations frowned. "Why not?
Michael was disgusted with the whole conversation and walked to the
doorway. He wanted to check in with CLHQ and see what was happening. He couldn't do it with Operations looking over his shoulder.Walter was explaining the benefits of boots, gloves, helmets, jackets, etc.
Operations was still skeptical."Well, at least buy some jeans," Walter sighed. "But if you look at that
picture again, you'll see the man is wearing leather. Don't underestimate the impact of a man on a bike wearing leather. It drives women crazy."Operations sighed. "Michael!"
The young man turned and walked back to his superior. "Yes?" Operations
would have liked nothing better than the shake him and tell him to pay attention, but he knew better. If he even touched Michael, he would be in the floor before he could blink."What is your opinion of this leather business?" Michael shrugged. "Walter
is right." Then he walked back to the door and wandered outside."Well thanks for the input, Michael," Operations sarcastically mumbled as
he and Walter made his purchases.~~~~~~~
Back at CLHQ, Rita and Sherry were in Rita's office waiting for DL and
Brenna. They were monitoring Sherry's hologram in Operations' office. They noticed Madeline walking toward the Observation Deck."Oh no," Sherry grumbled. "This better work. If she figures out what you
did, I'm dead."Rita laughed. "Oh, let's not be melodramatic or anything, Sher. She's not going to figure it out. If she does, I'll just make you really disappear."
Sherry gave Rita a strange look. "Well, gee, thanks. I think."
Madeline walked into Operations' office and was surprised to find Sherry
there."Sherry. What are you doing? Why are you in Operations' office."
Rita nodded to Sherry who spoke for the hologram. "Ask him. I'm working
on a priority mission."Madeline wasn't to be put off. This was quite unusual for someone to be
working in his office. It just wasn't done. "What mission?"The hologram sighed. "Ask him."
~~~~~~~~~~
Rita's phone rang. "Hello."
It was Michael. "Is Sherry with you?"
"Yeah, Michael. She's right here."
Michael asked if they had heard anything more yet. Rita explained that
they were still waiting. They spoke for a few more moments and then Michael informed them that Operations was on his way back.~~~~~~~~~~
Sinjin made his way to Avillion's room. He knocked once and Jack opened the door.
"Hey Sinjin. What brings you up here?" he asked. Sinjin walked in and
looked around the room. "I'm here for Avillion. Rita and Sherry need her help."Jack shook his head. "Those two get into more trouble than anyone I've
ever seen. What have they done this time?" Once Sinjin explained it to them, Avi headed off to Rita's office. In no time at all, Avi, DL and Bren were in Rita office."Okay, Rita. What do you need?" DL asked.
Rita smiled. "Well, ladies. It's time we get started. Here's what we need you to do."
~~~~~~~~~~
Operations walked into his office and saw Sherry was still there.
"Well, it seems you've learned how to follow orders," he remarked. The hologram looked up and smiled at him. "Of course," it simply replied.
Operations watched her for a moment and then asked, "What have you
discovered?"The hologram did bother to look up. "When we have something you'll know."
Operations was getting angry. "Watch the attitude, missy. I'm not in the
mood. I want an update now!"The hologram looked at him. "Of course."
The man stood there waiting for a minute, but there was no information
forthcoming."Well? I'm waiting," he demanded.
"Get over yourself," the hologram answered.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Well, that's it, I'm done for," Sherry groaned as she heard the hologram's answer.
~~~~~~~~~~
Madeline walked into Operations' office again. "Why is she working here?"
she asked him."Because I told her to," he replied, not in the mood for Madeline either.
Why did she always turn up when he was concerned with Northstar? It was like she had some kind of radar. She didn't want anything to do with him, but let him give a little attention to another woman and there she was, demanding answers. Well, she could just forget it. She'd had her chance."It's highly unusual," Madeline answered. "What is the mission?"
Operations turned on her. "If I wanted you to know, Madeline, I would have
told you. Now, don't you have some work to do? Some young hunk to seduce?"Madeline turned to leave. Just as she started to walk away, she noticed
something strange about Sherry. She could have sworn that she saw wavy lines run through her. She blinked her eyes and looked again. Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her because everything was fine now. She must be more tired than she thought.Once she had left, Operations went back to hounding Sherry. "Okay, I want
all the Intel you have and I want it now!" He began walking toward Sherry."Oh no," Sherry murmured.
"What's wrong?" Rita asked.
Sherry was shaking her head and moving toward the door. "You better do
whatever you were gonna do now. Operations is about to walk over next to me. If he gets close, he's gonna know I'm not there. Get him out that office so I can get back in! And North, wherever you are, you're gonna pay for this!"Part 8/end by Northstar
North came striding into the Perch with a disgusted look on her face. "What the hell is this that you have half of CLHQ looking for me?" she shouted at Operations. "Good grief Paul, can I not even have one day for myself?"
"NO. Not without clearing it with me first." he shouted right back. Madeline, not wanting to get into the middle of this, quietly made her exit. Neither one of them would notice right now anyway. Sherry and Rita were watching this by-play on their monitor and both gave a huge sigh of relief. Once Madeline was clear they turned the holograph off knowing that neither North nor Operations would find anything unusual about being left alone.
"You don't own me Paul as much as you'd like to think you do. I had personal business I had to attend to today and like it or not it had nothing to do with you."
"Tell me who this is then?" he thrust the picture in front of her face.
"Where did you get that?" North shook her head. "Honestly Paul, you would think you don't trust me."
"Well..." he started. He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her along with him. "Come with me."
"Now what?" she sighed. He really was acting like a child lately.
"I have something else I want to show you."
"Like what?" she asked.
"You'll see shortly." They stopped at the van access doors. "Wait here and I'll be right back." He looked at her to make sure she was listening. "Please North?"
"Fine but don't take all day."
A few minutes later Walter walked up to North. "Hey Sugar. I hear you caused a bit of a commotion here today."
"Yeah well, what can I say." North shrugged. "Paul seems to think I should be kept on a leash."
Walter laughed. "Ah he's just being his normal jealous self. I can remember the same thing happening when he and Madeline were an item way back when."
"Oh? So how did she handle it?"
"Don't ask Sugar. Don't ask." he replied rolling his eyes. "Anyway, I was sent here on a mission. I need you to put this on sweetness." He held out a hood.
"Excuse me? I have to do what?"
"Don't worry. It's not anything bad. In fact," Walter continued, " I think you'll find it very interesting if not entertaining."
"Fine. Let's get this over with so I can get back to my desk and go through the mounds of paperwork I am sure are waiting for me."
Walter slid the hood over her head just as Operations came around the corner dressed completley in leather right down to his boots. "Not bad Amigo, not bad."
Operations just grinned. Coming from Walter he felt it was high praise even if he did feel silly in the outfit. A good thing not many operatives were around to see him making a spectacle of himself over a woman. "Are you ready North?" he asked.
"Yeah, now let's get this over with. I'm all yours." North responded.
"I wish." Paul mumbled as he led her through the doors with Walter following. "Where do you think you're going Walter?"
"You think I'm going to miss out on this?" he asked incredulously. "No way Man, you are not getting rid of me yet. I have got to see this."
*****
"Okay North you can take off the hood now." Paul told her as he sat astride his new motorcycle.
North slowly took the hood off and when she finally saw what was in front of her she burst out laughing. "You're kidding right?" she asked once she got her breath back.
Operations looked crestfallen. He was hoping for a different reaction than what she had given. "You don't like it?" he asked. "I thought that if I got one..."
"Oh I like the bike. I mean what's not to like about a Harley Davidson Road King Classic. It's sweet but it really isn't you."
"Not me?"
"Nope although I must say you can keep the outfit you're wearing." she wiggled her eyes as she looked him over. "There IS something about a man in leather that definitely does something for me."
"So no bike?"
"No bike Paul. Besides, I bet you don't even know how to ride it."
"Yes I do. Walter showed me."
"Uh huh. Well it is a shame you won't be showing me but I do know 'something' you can show me."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"Come with me and you'll find out." North helped him off the bike and took his hand. Thank goodness his mind was on something else right now and that he had forgotten about her time away.
Smiling he looked to Walter, "Hey Walter, you want a new bike?"
"Wha... You mean it?" Walter asked. "No joke?"
"Yeah she's yours and no joke. I've got what I want right here."
With that... North and Operations left Walter with his new toy.
The end