Clockwork Paradise

by Zero & FreezAntix

Prologue

Madam DuBose Annual Show Off, Paris, France

            The night brought out the top names in the industry to the fashion capital of the world. Even though the show was to be a non-profit event it still featured the top runway models and a sneak peek from many designers’ upcoming fashion lines. The show off was being held in its usual setting, the grand hall of the Residence Internationale De Paris. The streets in front and the lobby within the popular hotel were filled with both casually dressed tourists and the classier dressed show attendees. Paris’s finest were in full attendance for the event in order to keep the large crowd in order. Officers were posted at every corner within a two to three block radius of the hotel. Uniformed officers made their presence known directly out front and within the hotel.

            Behind the hotel a nondescript black van blended in with the other vans that had brought equipment for the show. Alexis Sutherland looked at her watch and calculated the time in her head. The show was going to begin in five minutes. Putting a hand held radio to her lips she spoke in a sultry British accent, "All units check in."

            "Red unit checking in; street side front is covered," reported a thick German-accented female voice on the other end.

            "Blue unit checking in; roof top is covered and Type-7 is ready."

            All of her team members were ready and in position. The Brit checked her watch once more before pulling the radio back up to her lips, "Go," she calmly ordered and then turned to the driver of the van, a dark haired woman of Spanish descent. "I’ll see you in three minutes have the engine on and ready to move," Alexis added then nodded as the Brit hopped out of the van and began walking towards the back door of the hotel, pulling on a gas mask.

* * *

            Eva Hallowell checked her make up over on her dressing room mirror. Her three assistants worked quickly around her, dressing the supermodel and putting on the finishing touches on her hairdo. The loud techno music that pumped the inside of the hall did not phase her one bit. She could hear and feel the commotion of the other models just outside of the thin walls of her makeshift dressing room getting ready. Being the first model, and the last model, to walk she should have been a bit more nervous but she felt calm and collected. She was no stranger to fashion or the hectic life that came along with it, being perhaps one of the world’s richest and most popular runway models for the last couple of years.

            The dress that Eva’s tall tanned frame of a body was wrapped in was a gorgeous strapless evening gown that was cut low, revealing her magnificent cleavage with a high hem to show off her smooth, long, slender, legs. She stood in pair of lofty spiked strappy heels that would be a nightmare for any normal woman to walk in. However for her it was second nature and the heels made her calves look damn sexy as well. She turned her head side to side and frowned. Her long brunette hair was done up wrongly. Not enough of her profile was showing. She started to turn to her assistant Rene, who had been working on her hair, and was about to say something but everything faded to black and went silent around her.

* * *

            The Type-7 gas worked fast. Alexis did not exactly know what it contained, but she did know what it did: The gas rendered people immobile, frozen stiff, in whatever positions they were in. Depending on how much of the gas was used, the people would be in this frozen unconscious state for a set amount of time. In this case, for about five to ten minutes; enough for her to do what she needed to do. Blue unit, Ryoshi Tenzo, had pumped the immobilizing gas through the building’s ventilation system. Even though the whole hotel might not be affected the Grand Hall would be, since there were no windows to vent the gas there. At this point Red unit, Leslie Schulz, had caused enough of a commotion with opening the now spouting fire hydrants in the front of the vast building to divert attention.

Alexis pulled open the back door of the hotel. There were two armed Paris police officers posted there; one a male, the other female. The male officer stood with his eyes shut and smiling with one hand behind his head as the other rested on his pistol at his hip. The female officer was leaning against the wall with arms crossed over her chest and her face looking blankly and smiling at the male officer. Both were as still as statues or mannequins.  It was clearly obvious that the two were in conversation as they unknowingly breathed in the Type-7 gas. Alexis looked the couple up and down before going around them; the remaining occupants of the whole hotel looked similar to the two police officers, frozen in the moment.

            Being this was Alexis’s third operation in the last couple of weeks, the sight of frozen people caught in mid-stride and mid-conversation did not faze her. She moved easily through the still, wax-museum-like environment towards her target, which was located back stage within the Grand Hall. This was her third fashion show; Alexis had figured out they were all set up mostly the same. Long runway and stage facing rows of folding seats and techno music; there was always techno music present. Behind the runway and stage was the dressing area, an area that was crowed with designers, assistants and half-naked tall, lithe, models.

            The back stage of this particular show was no different from the other shows Alexis thought, looking around at the motionless tableaux of two dozen or so models surrounded by half a dozen assistants. Designers and their assistants busily working – in this case frozen as if in photo – next to racks of clothing, doing last minute alterations to their designs so they would look perfect on the models. Alexis casually walks past the hourglass-shaped bodies of tall models from all over the world who are either bent over, petrified, as they pulled on dresses or staring vacantly into mirrors.

            As in the other shows, the lead model had her personal dressing area, four dry walls with door cut off her area from the rest of the back stage area. Alexis entered the room and spotted her target right away. She did not have to look at her reference photo to spot Eva Hallowell; the woman was in and on the cover of every big name fashion magazine in the free world. The supermodel had one hand on the counter of her make up table and was slightly turned to one of her assistants. Eva’s mouth was open as if she was about to say something. Alexis looked the model’s slim body up and down, taking the every curve. Soon Alexis will get a glimpse of the multi-million dollar model au naturale. Pushing the assistants aside, who fell to the floor in their frozen positions, Alexis cradled the taller woman from around the waist and dragged her long-legged figure towards the door.

* * *

            Veronica Estes waited in the driver's seat of the van patiently. She could hear police sirens in the front of building and knew Leslie had done her job. Looking at her watch, she knew Ryoshi was destroying the pumps she had used and was on her way to the lobby. Ten minutes from now she and her team would be on a private bullet train heading out of France with world-class model Eva Hallowell, with another OP completed. The back door of the hotel opened as her team leader Alexis emerged dragging the rigidly stuck form of the super model. Veronica moved the van closer as her team leader slid open the back door and gently placed the frozen model in the back cargo area.

            "We’re clear; move out," Alexis ordered, pulling off her mask. She positioned the immobile Eva’s figure into a sitting position easily, having done this three times before, and then injected a higher dosage to the Type-7 into her to prolong the effects of the gas. The supermodel would now remain mannequin-still for almost a week.  Fishing out her cell phone, she hit the speed dial, "Mission Accomplished," She reported in the receiver, looking into Eva’s empty green eyes.

Chapter 1

Residence Internationale De Paris, Paris, France

            Jean-Baptiste Odilon, better known to his friends as JB or Odie, sighed to himself as his Interpol team surveyed the aftermath of the third international incident involving the year's special fashion tour. Eva Hallowell was the latest supermodel to go missing; previous disappearances being the Brazilian Calixta Teodoro in Lisbon, while the South Korean Yoon Suk and Greek Anastasia Stephanos both vanished in Monte Carlo. Up until now the international nature of the suspected kidnappings hadn't warranted an Interpol investigation, for reasons beyond Odie's understanding. The moderately experienced agent had only run two investigations in the past, both of which had involved international drug concerns, thus kidnapping was not his field of expertise. The team JB had been given for the most part was fairly inexperienced as well, but luckily there were a couple of good ones in the mix.

            "Have you got any leads yet?" demanded Amelia DuGalle, a French model who was making things hard in more ways than one for JB. The woman was stunning, being five foot eight in bare feet, with vibrant red hair set in waves, piercing blue eyes and peachy smooth skin.  The gorgeous woman was currently wearing a long blue robe as she'd been in the middle of changing when Eva had vanished. It wasn't four hours ago that the suspected kidnapping had occurred and the police hadn't allowed anyone to leave. Everything and everyone that had been in the dressing room was being examined or interviewed by the resident forensic expert, leaving Amelia and several other models understandably annoyed since their street clothes and belongings were in there.

            "It's too soon to say, none of my team has reported back within the last hour," JB told the irritated model, desperately wishing he could make her shut up without upsetting her and getting himself reprimanded. "We're trying to figure out how Eva vanished seemingly in mid-air as well as how the guards at the doors didn't see anything as they were on duty and present during the entire time. No one recalls blacking out, yet over ten minutes suddenly went by, so we're investigating how that is even possible."

            "She probably just felt like being on two magazine covers in last week wasn't enough and decided to cook up a scandal," fumed Amelia, storming off with her assistants, several lovely women and a few men of whom JB suspected none were heterosexual, following right behind her. JB made a mental note to stick to hunting murderers and drug dealers, as they were nowhere near as annoying.

            "Hey JB, comment ça va?" asked a familiar voice, making the Interpol agent grin even before turning around. Arriving not an hour after he'd made the call was his old friend from his training days, Lucienne Christophe. Odie had always felt Lucienne was slightly too attractive to be an Interpol agent, suspecting she'd do better on television if she could act at all, but not quite up to the level of beauty to be a model. The decently tall reddish-brunette strode towards her friend with open arms and the two hugged, Lucienne offering her the standard mimed kiss on both cheeks in greeting. With her was a shorter redhead JB didn't know but suspected was Lucienne's current partner.

            "Lucienne, good to see you mon coeur," laughed JB, calling her by the old nickname all the male trainees had decided she deserved. "You made good time, considering you were just called in for consulting purposes. Did you bring your partner?"

            "Yes, this is Tasia Spiro; she's originally from our office in Greece," Lucienne told JB, waving the Greek woman forward. Tasia casually shook JB's hand, clearly not comfortable with the kiss-hello Lucienne had done. While Lucienne was certainly good-looking, Tasia was out of the park, being completely sexy and dazzling to gaze at; JB swore she must have once been Miss Greece. The flaming redhead reminded him a bit of Amelia, only shorter and more tanned. JB was now glad to see Lucienne in more ways than one.

            "Pleased to meet you," offered Odie. "Are you briefed on the situation?"

            "Eva Hallowell vanished during the pre-show preparations, without a trace, and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.  Kidnapping is suspected but there has been no ransom note at this time," recited Lucienne, recalling reading the official file as she and Tasia had been driven to the scene. Tasia and Lucienne then exchanged a quick knowing glance, one that puzzled JB as he wasn't sure what was behind it.

            "Right, and in spite of all the security and several dozen ideal witnesses no one saw a thing, but we suspect they were knocked unconscious by something for several minutes, as more than ten minutes is unaccounted for in time," rattled off JB, explaining what the current investigation had turned up. This caused another glance between the two new arrivals, one that showed recognition. "Any thoughts?" asked JB, uneasy all of a sudden.

            "Do you have someone checking the air for chemical agents?" asked Lucienne, clearly knowing something.

            "Yes; our forensic expert Marika Heino is going over the dressing room now," answered JB, noting another glimmer of recognition in both women's eyes.

            "Good; she's the best," laughed Tasia, clearly pleased to hear that Agent Heino was present. "We should go see what she's found right away, as it may be a huge break in the case."

            "Fine then, I'll take you to her," offered Odie, walking away from the crowd of people being interrogated by his agents towards the closed off area that made up the dressing rooms.

            Marika Heino, a blond woman from Finland with an Amazon-like body and short blond hair, was examining the air with an electronic nose when JB led the two guest agents into the room. The blond saw her two old friends enter and instantly smiled. "Lucienne, Tasia; I didn't know you were assigned to the case!" she exclaimed, lowering the device to her side. It was unusual for JB, as he'd never seen her stop her investigation partway for anything.

            "We were called in for consultation purposes as most of the agents here don't have experience with… kidnapping," explained Lucienne, giving the blond agent the kiss-hello, the younger woman returning the greeting. JB wondered if he would be going for a record and without even using Viagra.

            "Oh, I think you'll be needed for more than that," Marika assured Lucienne, tapping the black box in her hands. "You'll never guess what the mechanical nose here picked up."

            "A trace combination of various exotic drugs, including a standard sedative and potent muscle stiffener?" suggested Tasia casually, causing JB to look at the beautiful woman in surprise.

            "That's correct," Marika confirmed, tapping her device again. "The room appears to have been flooded with Type-7 at some point, if this machine's expensive software is at all accurate."

            "Those things are never wrong," Lucienne assured her old friend, turning to face JB and anticipating questions.  “This fully explains the gap in time everyone experienced.”

            "Okay, you ladies want to fill me in on something that I'm missing?" asked the agent in charge of the investigation, clearly lost.  “What is this, this, Type-7 you are speaking of?”

            "Months ago a woman named Erika Stone went on an international crime spree; stealing priceless works of art and kidnapping several women along the way using a drug called Type-7, a new form of sedative that she controlled," explained Lucienne. "Marika just found traces of it here, which means either someone else is using the stuff, or our missing billionaire is finally out of hiding. Either way, you need to let agents Cassandra Flick and Aisha Reynolds know right away because they're going to need to be brought in on this case now."

            "Great, anything else?" sighed JB, suddenly craving a cigarette or a quickie, something to calm his skyrocketing nerves.

            "Contact the home office as I want to take over the investigation," Lucienne told him flatly. "No offense to you, Odie, but if Stone's resurfaced then I want my old team back together so we can finish what we've started. I need this."

            "Yeah, I sort of saw that coming when you appeared here," groaned Odie, scratching his chin. "Alright, I'll place a call, but this investigation is starting to really go overboard. I don't know how many agents they'll want on the case."

            "If Stone is back, we'll need an army," Tasia said flatly.

190 Km  south of Paris

            The shiny, black, four-car bullet train propelled quickly and silently into the night. Alexis Sutherland and her team occupied the third car of the train. The four ladies lounged comfortably in plush leather seats, surrounded by contemporary styling that would put a four-star hotel room to shame. Former Spanish secret service agent Veronica Estes, dressed in a dark wool turtleneck and a pair of tight jeans over knee high leather boots, sat behind a glass table eating a steak dinner while enjoying glass of red wine. Ryoshi Tenzo sat across from Veronica, reading a fashion magazine, snacking on some fresh fruit from a bowl. The former Japanese Intelligence agent was dressed in a black tube top over tight leather pants. Her silky jet-black hair was pulled back into a tight bun and held together by chopsticks. Leslie Schulz, the German bounty hunter, slept on a wide leather sofa in front of a large wall-mounted flat panel TV. She was the tallest woman in the room, with Aryan good looks, wavy blond hair, and an Amazon-like frame clad in dark casual attire that showed off her round full bust and shapely legs.

            The track curved slightly, causing the car to lean left and right before it was level again. The movement was enough to wake Alexis up. The sleeping quarters for her team were located in the front of their car, even through it was closer to the center it caused enough movement. The former Scotland Yard inspector was not used to sleeping on moving trains. Getting up, Alexis stretched out and yawned. She looked at her watch. Two more hours until they were at their next location; she then could get a hotel room to really get some sleep. The blond Brit was still fully dressed, sporting a ribbed sweater over black trousers and black high-heeled boots. She rolled out of the cot and moved groggily to the sliding door that led to the main cabin of the car. The bright light hit her like a shot of cold water. "Bloody Hell…" she cursed, closing the sliding door behind her. She noted her team sitting around as they were when she had decided to take a nap, Ryoshi and Veronica at the table while Leslie slept. "Where are we?" she then croaked more than asked.

            "We’re still in France, I believe," Veronica replied, looking back at her boss, "Christ Lex, you look like shit."

            "I hate trains… Ryoshi, call ahead and get us a hotel. We should be there in no time and I’m not spending the whole night on this amusement ride." Alexis ordered, walking towards the connecting door that led into the last car. Ryoshi still reading the magazine, pulled out her cell and made the arrangements.

            The last car in the train looked completely different from the rest of the cars. This car was a sterile room, with tiled walls and floors along with blacked-out windows. Lining the clean white walls were stainless steel cabinets and counters. Fluorescent lights illuminated the car, providing bright lighting and a constant buzz.  Posed at the center of car were four motionless dark-haired ladies standing naked at attention. Each was tall in height with hourglass-like bodies and each had long luscious hair falling to the middle of their sinuous backs. Their eyes stared vacantly ahead with blank expressions. Their bodies were works of art, with cutting board abs, slender smooth legs and perfect round breasts and asses. A bulky man with brown hair moved around the women, checking the condition of their frozen bodies. Another woman sat a computer terminal closest to where Alexis was standing. She was short, looked to be in her late 30’s with black hair and mysterious blue eyes. Her name was Dr. Ashley Tisdale; the creator of Type-7. "What’s going on here?" The Brit asked.

            The woman looks up from her terminal, "He’s checking them over once more before he inserts the chips." She simply answered, glancing at the row of naked women and then back at Alexis. "You look like hell; ever try sleeping?"

            "I cannot sleep well on trains." Alexis simply answered and walked towards the man and the four naked women who all seemed to have the same empty look on their faces. The women were all supermodels and had been abducted by Alexis and her team from fashion shows all over Europe.

            "They’re marvelous aren’t they? You do excellent work Ms. Sutherland," The man complimented, looking briefly at Alexis and then getting back to work examining Brazilian supermodel Calixta Teodoro. "We’re going to be very rich." He added, not looking at the Brit.

            Alexis crosses her arms and walks around the four women, eying their perfect bodies. Indeed they were going to rich. That is, if the law did not catch up with them first. She knew by now that Interpol was probably involved; it was only a matter of time before this whole thing was going to get rather challenging. She stopped in front of the latest addition of the group, Eva Hallowell, who was like the other women totally naked now. The brunette stared blankly at Alexis with her wide-set green eyes, completely unaware of her nakedness.

            "Excuse me, Ms. Sutherland," Ashley said from behind Alexis, snapping her from her thoughts. Alexis turned to face the chemist. "If you have trouble sleeping I have a little suggestion." Ashley said, holding a silver thermos in her hands.

Moscow, Russia

            The bust was a complete success. Russian police officers and detectives were all over the building, securing evidence with Interpol agents supervising. The operation had taken almost a month but it was finally over. The international prostitution ring that had plagued over twenty nations was finally broken, with the major players now heading off to prison and the hundreds of sex slaves from six nations freed. Rookie undercover specialist Miranda Ohala ripped off her blonde wig as she left the building. Miranda had been undercover as a secretary to one the major suspects of the ring. She for one was glad that everything ended the way it did. It was a great feeling that she had a something to do with bringing such a large operation down and helping those poor girls who were forced into prostitution.

            "Miranda, wait up!" A voice called from behind the Hawaiian special agent. She turned to see Special Agent Hui Lan coming out the building, dressed in black Kevlar tactical gear. "How does it feel? Your first big case," Hui asked, flashing her trademark smile. The small woman looked intimidating in her tactical gear but the smile quickly changed that image.

            Miranda returned the smile. "The feeling is indescribable."

"Were you scared at all?" Hui then asked. She had been Miranda’s backup the whole time and she had been worried for the undercover agent’s life, for the most part.

            "Nope," Miranda smiled. "I knew you were there and I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to me."

            The comment made the veteran agent blush. Hui was about to say something when Aisha Reynolds appeared at the door the building. Her tall dark frame, dressed like Hui in tactical gear as well, since she had led the assault on the building along with local police. "Don’t celebrate yet; our hackers just decrypted their client list. It looks like we’re going to busy for the next month or more with follow-up raids."

            Cassandra showed up. She was dressed casually, being that she had coordinated the whole sting from a building four blocks away. "We just got word from the home office. We’re needed in Paris ASAP."

            "Talk about a turn of events…" Miranda muttered. "I don’t know what to feel now." Hui nodded in agreement.

Chapter 2

Madrid, Spain Beach Fashion Showcase

            Once the team was all together, they all had set off to Spain, where another series of fashion shows were to take place all at the same day. Lucienne, who was the new head of investigator for the case, had wanted the whole team and a strike force in position for the Beach Fashion Showcase, a swimwear show set in a large three floor penthouse suite located in downtown Madrid. Aisha, who was the other lead agent and the agent whose team had been pulled off a major prostitution ring case, wanted the teams separated with smaller teams at each of the major shows. After a heated argument between the French and American agents it was decided through democratic vote that the teams be separated. Tasia and Marika headed south for a show, while Miranda, Cassandra and Hui headed north for a large model expo. This left both lead agents, Aisha and Lucienne, both in Madrid for the swimwear show. Cassandra thought this arrangement was best so both senior agents could work out their differences in style.

            "We should have had the whole team here," Lucienne said flatly, looking over the large group of models that were busily coating their bodies with oil or donning fancy, revealing, but impractical swimsuits. The French agent and her America counterpart were standing in the ready area, a space that was located at the front of the dressing room just before the runway entrance. They both wore sharp-looking pants suits and looked like a pair of fashion execs.

            Aisha was peeking out to audience and noted the large crowd of VIPs settling into their seats for the show. It was going to be a full house. She turned back to Lucienne, "You don’t even know if the hit is going to happen here or somewhere else. We can’t risk having all the eggs in one basket."

            "What the hell are you talking about eggs in one basket?" Lucienne shot back, her Gallic accent thick with irritation and a confused, frustrated, look on her face.

            Aisha smiled, realizing the French agent was unfamiliar with American sayings and explained. "We can’t have everyone one in place because we do not know where the kidnappers will strike next."

            "You could have just said that instead of… eggs one place…" Lucienne muttered, turning her attention back to the models. She wished Tasia was here to enjoy the sight of all the lightly clothed, lovely ladies with her but instead she was with Agent Reynolds. Her replacement, that her old team had loyalties to now; even her old friend and partner Cassandra was close with the American agent. Lucienne glanced back the American quickly; she was an attractive lady, tall, dark, and very smart. Of course Lucienne wasn’t going to admit that to her, but the thought of seeing the American naked had already crossed her mind several times.

            "Listen Lucienne, I don’t want to work on this assignment arguing with you all the time, especially in front of the junior agents. Cassandra and I work on equal ground when in comes to team decisions and tactical situations; I can’t see why we can’t do that here." Aisha said, standing next to the more senior French agent.

            "You have been a lead agent for two months. To be honest, I don’t really think you and Cassandra should even be on the same level. In fact my recommendation to Interpol was for Cassandra to take over my team. Damn bureaucrats."

            Aisha took a deep breath to cool her nerves. She didn’t want to blow up at that French woman; that, from what she knew from Cassandra, would be a bad idea. "Let me tell you something Agent Christophe: I am plenty capable of making tactical decisions regarding my team." 

Lucienne pulled a thin cigarette from her pocket and stuck it between her lips, "We’ll see how capable you are to make those types of decisions, after these kidnappers hit this show and we are unable to lift a finger to stop them." She said coldly, lighting her cigarette. In contrast to her voice, she was starting feel hot standing next to the elegant African American. "I’m going to go watch the lead models. I suggest you keep an eye on the VIPs or other big name supermodels, if there are any left," Lucienne added, stepping off the platform.

            Aisha sighed, then blurted out, "Hey Lucienne; you could be a cold bitch and Ms. Tough if you want to, but if this crap endangers my agents I’ll seriously kick your ass," The American called out, unable to contain her annoyance.

            Lucienne turned and forced a smile: "Leave the drama back in America, Agent Reynolds; we have a job to do. Rule Number One of being leader is don’t loose your cool," The French agent replied, disappearing in among the crowd of half-naked models.

* * *

            Sitting in the building's security booth, Ryoshi Tenzo casually ate a bag of chips while sitting in the vacant chair, fully dressed in a guard's uniform. The real guard, another Japanese woman who'd been hired for her electronics expertise and skill with martial arts, which Ryoshi thought afterward were rusty, was sedated and locked in the room's utility closet clad only in her underwear. Due to the complicated locations, Alexis had come up with a different plan of attack, one that required more subterfuge. Ryoshi had arrived an hour before the strike, giving her time to inject the guard with enough Type-7 to keep her out for a week and then disguise herself properly. Alexis and Leslie, meanwhile, had taken on the role of a pair of maintenance workers, which gave them access to the building's freight elevator. Veronica was waiting in the underground parking lot, also disguised as a maintenance worker.

            The night before, Alexis and Leslie had first donned their cover, sneaking in under false orders to inspect the ventilation. During that time the duo planted a new version of the gas injectors, larger ones than they'd used previously as the gas tanks contained enough Type-7 to last an hour rather than a mere ten minutes. The injectors also had a self-destruct, which resulted in the devices dissolving into what would seem like ordinary dust in moments, making it easier for Ryoshi to run clean up. Now all she had to do was watch the monitors and make sure it all went to plan, using her remote to take care of the heavy stuff.

            "This is Black unit; all units check in," Alexis's voice suddenly came over Ryoshi's radio.

            "Blue unit; everything is fine," replied Ryoshi, pausing from her snack. She was now focusing on one monitor where she could see their two targets, Israeli model Tal Reubenstein and Portuguese superstar model Adina Kapel.  The latter also hosted a talk show in her home country and had dated several big Hollywood actors; they were both talking with a third woman, an American model named Kitty Drake, who shared Tal's dark hair color and tan complexion. All three wore two-piece bikinis, all of the models carrying intricate images in the fabric depicting elements from their home countries. Tal's had the Star of David on her cleavage while Kitty had the Statue of Liberty while Adina had the flag of Portugal.

            "Green unit; we're doing good too, but I had to deal with one of the guards," called in Veronica. Ryoshi had seen what had happened on the monitor as a guard had approached the parked van after noticing the driver was smoking, and asked for a work order or something to that effect. Soon afterwards Veronica had nodded him closer and used an injector gun on his neck, promptly hiding his rigid body in a blind spot.

            "Go in three seconds, mark!" ordered Alexis, she and Leslie donning gas masks as their elevator began to rise to the desired floor.  Both were dressed in simple dark blue jumpsuits that said 'Maintenance' in Spanish on the back. Ryoshi counted off the three seconds and promptly hit the button on her remote, causing their pricey but effective gas sprayers to activate and begin spreading the Type-7 sedative evenly throughout the three-floor suite. The penthouse held over two hundred people, half of them being models, their assistants and the security. Ryoshi grinned as she watched the seemingly magical gas take effect. The three models she'd focused on, all talking at once in rapid succession with large hand gestures, instantly froze in mid-sentence; all three looking like unusual mannequins in a store that sold swimsuits. Kitty had her left finger on top of her right finger with her hands in front of her, her lips almost pursed while her shoulder-length spike-tipped hair pressed down slightly on her right shoulder, her blue eyes essentially glazed over. Adina had her hands gestured away from her body with palms up, her own wavy hair which reached the small of her back and was the darkest of the trio, making it almost look like she was wearing a wig, her own mouth wide open as if a doctor were about to examine it. Finally there was Tal, whose right hand was touching the base of her neck while her left hand was raised with her index finger extended as if to make a point, her own short black hair brushed aside by her hand, her teeth flashing almost as if she were smiling instead of being caught in mid-speech. Nearby was a handsome woman in a suit with an ID badge clipped to it, smoking a cigarette, the object still lit as the woman held it to her lips, her reddish-brown hair done in a low ponytail that made Ryoshi assume she was either security or a VIP businesswoman. Either way the Japanese woman thought she was also a fairly good-looking statue.

            The freight elevator reached the floor and the two kidnappers stepped out, quickly moving through the room, ignoring the sudden wax museum they'd created. Alexis was leading the way, not bothering to be careful, which resulted in one man's glass of water being spilled onto a dark-skinned woman's suit and blouse, soaking through the white top and exposing her yellow bra. Leslie grinned slightly at that while Alexis casually plucked a cigarette from one woman's hand and stamped it out, not wanting a fire to start or the woman to get injured while everyone was under the effects of the gas. They were kidnappers, not murderers.

            "There they are," noted Leslie, indicating the trio of models that stood together in their unusual bikinis, their sleek oiled bodies gleaming in the room's lights. Several people of less importance were swarmed around them, fixed in place as a crowd, like the unimportant background characters of a cartoon scene.

            "Yes, and our concerns about Interpol were dead on the money," declared Alexis, pointing at the frozen woman they were standing next to. Leslie looked at the stiffly posed woman's ID badge and saw it affirmed she was Agent Lucienne Christophe of the very organization they were wary of.

            "I guess Miss Tisdale's worries were nothing after all," laughed Leslie, poking the suspended woman in the cheek. "What good are they if we can just gas them too? Drugs don't distinguish one person from another."

            "Indeed; still, we should keep this in mind," replied Alexis, heading towards the trio and wrapping her arms around Adina's waist. The woman was barefoot, thus dragging her on her heels would be rough which was why Alexis had causally pushed her way over to the models. Lifting her up slightly, Alexis awkwardly carried her target back towards the elevator, with Leslie following close behind lifting her own charge. The two ducked inside and quickly headed back down. With the Black unit clear, Ryoshi was free to destroy the injectors, which she did with a push of a button, then rushed downstairs after cleaning up after herself. A tiny vacuum was used to ensure she didn't even leave a flake of skin, an eyelash, or a crumb from a chip behind. The latex gloves she wore also helped.

            By the time Ryoshi had arrived downstairs, Alexis and Leslie were already in the van and the models had been secured in the cargo area, thus the Japanese woman hopped into the front seat beside Veronica, nearly sitting on her injector gun in the process. Taking that as her cue, Veronica started the car and quickly drove away before Ryoshi had even buckled in.

            "Mission completed," declared Veronica with a smile as the nondescript van hit the streets of Madrid and quickly blended in with the traffic, leaving at least fifty minutes of head start before anyone in the suite could react to the kidnapping they'd just pulled off.

            "Unfortunately, that isn't the case," sighed Ryoshi, knowing that the team had just managed to make their first big error since they'd started working together.

Private Beach House, Alcobendas, Spain

            "I can't believe you made it all the way out before realizing your mistake," sighed Ashley as she stood in front of the team she and her associate had employed. The six, the strike team and the two executives, were sitting in the luxurious house's main living room. A classic Spanish mansion, it had cost Ashley's male counterpart four million American, roughly, but was worth every penny as it was an excellent location for their clients to visit and a good place to keep their acquisitions. Ashley was sitting in a white lounger while her other half stood, pacing the room while grinding his teeth and squeezing an orange stress ball.

            "By the time I'd noticed, they'd already gone down; I didn't think it mattered," confessed Ryoshi, being the first to have realized the team's mistake.

            "Alexis also yelled at me the entire way from Madrid," added Leslie, her face red with shame. "I don't know how it happened."

            "Whatever, I guess we'll treat this like an opportunity," grunted the only male present. "I still don't see how you couldn't tell an Israeli from an American, especially given what they were wearing, but it doesn't matter now. We'll keep Kitty too, but one of our clients specifically wanted Tal and was very clear. You'll have to find a way to extract her, tonight."

            "But the fashion show was shut down, how are we supposed to--" began Alexis.

            "We know the hotel name and Tal Reubenstein’s suite number," interrupted Ashley, holding up a piece of paper. "A simple midnight extraction when ideally everyone is sleeping shouldn't be hard. Just go in like you belong there, find the room, flood it, override the lock and drag her out. Simple.  You might want to check her passport photo too, so you don’t pick up the chamber maid by mistake!"

            "What about security?" asked Veronica, speaking up, ignoring the sarcastic comment.

            "You have your guns, the remaining Type-7 gas, and you have more than enough tools to disable a hotel's security system," pointed out Ashley. "By the way, this is being done off the books, which means no payment for this one. Your team made the mistake, you have to clean it up."

            "Alright, we'll get our gear together and head out," sighed Alexis, having hoped she would be done soon and be able to sleep in peace for the night for once. Her teammates rose as well.

            "Oh, Leslie, you'll be staying behind," ordered the male, calling back the German woman. She reluctantly nodded while Ashley followed the remaining three to the door. Ryoshi and Veronica went out the door in a hurry but Ashley held back Alexis.

            "I have one other request," declared the scientist, bearing a sinister smile. "If you happen to run into someone from Interpol, give them a full injection. That will keep them out of the picture from now on.  It'll be a little middle finger from me personally, but naturally don't tell them that."

            "Fine with me," grinned the Brit before she left. Walking back into the living room, Ashley saw that her male counterpart was placing a needle on the table while Leslie stood in front of him, frozen, her left arm extended with her hand in a fist, her face neutral as she stood like a mannequin in the Spanish jumpsuit.   She wouldn’t be moving on her own for a while.

            "You still holding a personal grudge against Interpol?" asked the man with a fixed scowl as shook his head.  “That can be dangerous…”

            "Sorry Scott, but they forced my old boss to go into hiding, and that just doesn't fly with me," replied Ashley, managing not to smile. The somewhat bulky man shook his head again.

            "You have to be careful around them, they are clearly smarter than we'd like to think," pointed out Scott as he lowered Leslie's arm and pushed her over, causing her to lay on top of the couch, her neck on the backrest and her thighs on the edge of the seat as if she were a cardboard cut-out leaning on it instead of a real person. "Well then, let’s go visit our guests."

            Together, Ashley and Scott left Leslie behind, who'd only been given enough of a dosage for two days as punishment for her error. Scott had acted understandably upset that she'd nabbed Kitty Drake by mistake, but in reality he felt any model they could obtain was more business in the long run.

The duo arrived in the mansion’s sub-kitchen where seven sedated women were currently being stored. All of the women were naked, naturally. Four of the captives were seated at a round marble table as if enjoying a meal, while one stood at the island in the middle of the room, another in front of the stove, while the last one held open an unplugged refrigerator. At the table were Eva, Calixta, Yoon and Anastasia; all four doing different things while sitting in their black leather chairs, the Type-7 preventing them from sticking to their seats. Eva held a fashion magazine in her hands and had it open while Yoon brought a forkful of plastic grapes to her open mouth, a plate of plastic fruit in front of her. Calixta had a teacup in her hand, which was raised to her lips but still a few inches away; there was nothing inside the cup. Anastasia held a mirror in front of her face, her left hand raising a brush to her hair. Over by the fridge was Kitty, her position there being Scott's joke about how Americans are typically fat, unlike what the Hollywood magazines would have you believe. In front of the stove was Adina; Ashley had heard she was a really good cook thus she held a frying pan over a cold stove element, fake eggs inside it. Finally a dazzling redhead stood in front of the island, the only one not posed in any particular way, who merely stood in place with her hands at her sides.

            "Ready for the test?" asked Ashley, holding up a small black remote. It was a custom one, featuring several buttons, but only a few she considered important. Each of the frozen women in the room now had a micro-chip attached to the base of their skulls, one created courtesy of Scott's own organization which Ashley was now technically a part of.

            "Let’s see what we can do," agreed Scott. Not one to hesitate, Ashley immediately pressed the button labeled 'UNFREEZE' and the redhead blinked but remained posed as she was. A light on the remote next to a label that said 'ACTIVE' turned green, initially red, indicating that the chip-equipped woman was now able to receive commands.

            "Come over here," ordered Ashley, and the redhead immediately obeyed, jerkily walking around the island and up to the scientist, moving stiffly and machine-like, her face glazed over with neutrality. She seemed more like an android than a human.

            "That looked a bit clunky," observed Scott, giving Ashley a warning look.

            "It's only the first generation chip, there's bound to be problems," retorted Ashley, defending her work. "The device itself works fine, we just aren't getting a clear signal to their brain. Some of the predictive logic could be improved, too.  This is still a new development. We'll use the data from this one to make the next batch better."

            "I should hope so," nodded Scott, looking the paused nude redhead up and down. Her breasts were fairly average compared to those of the world-class models in the room but were a nice C-cup all the same, and her rear end was something that was easily on par with the others that he could see. "Tell her to do something else."

            "Alright then, I want you to go over to the sink, turn on the tap and drink directly from it," commanded Ashley, speaking to her new puppet. Once again she moved somewhat awkwardly, with a single step taking twice as long as a woman normally moving slowly would, but eventually the redhead made it to the sink, not even having to look down as she turned the knobs and got the water flowing. Still not looking directly at the water, the redhead cupped her hands, filled them with water and took a sip.

            "That'll do," declared Scott, nodding with a decent level of satisfaction. “She can interpret complex instructions.”  Ashley nodded in turn and pressed the 'FREEZE' button, instantly stopping the redhead in mid-motion as she stood with her lips to the pool of water in her palms, the last of it trickling through her fingers and back into the sink where the water was still running. Scott casually walked over and turned off the water.

            "So what are you going to do with Leslie?" asked Ashley, putting the remote aside and walking over. "I know she couldn't tell an American from an Israeli, but the girls had several physical characteristics in common and Leslie was wearing a gas mask with poor lenses."

            "We still need four people on the team for the large jobs, so she'll only stay immobilized for the two days or so she's due," answered Scott, admiring the redhead he was standing next to, feeling the curves on her backside. "This one's nice. Another redhead, but we should probably start looking at blondes. What was her name again?"

            "Mary Hamilton, she was my old assistant," explained Ashley, placing her hands on the redhead's shoulders and kissing her neck. "I want to keep her for myself, since I brought her in as a test subject and she was...  acquired outside of our operation. She's been living in my apartment, so to speak, for quite some time now."

            "Fine, but don't expect any more bonuses," shrugged Scott, walking out of the kitchen while digging his cell phone out of his pocket.

Madrid, Spain Beach Fashion Showcase location

            They had brought in medical personnel to administered blood test on all those who were attending the show. The VIPs, especially the models, were not too happy. Hui was put in charge of crowd control, supervising Spanish officers who were tasked to keep everyone involved at ease and canvass for any leads. Miranda supervised the detectives who were questioning models and others who were close to the victims, in this case American model Kitty Drake and Portuguese model Adina Kapel. Both women were two of the three main leads of the show. The third lead was Israeli model Tal Reubenstein who had willfully given up her blood for examination and voluntarily offered any help she can give. The two missing models were close friends of hers. Being that she was the only lead model left, Lucienne saw it fit that Tal was escorted back to her hotel and put under guard just in case. Aisha had a drink spilled on her at one point and headed back to the hotel for a change of clothes after which she had given Marika a sample of her blood. This left Lucienne solely in charge of the investigation, without having any debate from her American counterpart.

            Her name was Kazu Shiitaki. She was as a Spanish citizen with a Japanese background. Kazu had been assigned at the main guarding post of the complex. She was later found only dressed in her underwear in the closet of her station, stiff as a board. Another guard was found in the garage in the same state as well, only he was still clothed. Marika had taken a sample of Kazu’s blood and moved on to examine the other guard. Tasia looked the rigidly posed guard dressed in her underwear, standing at attention with goofy smiling expression upon her frozen face. The Greek agent walked around the guard; she wasn’t that attractive and had very plain features, unlike her friend and colleague Hui Lan. Kazu was not that ugly, either, Tasia thought, looking at her firm breasts and womanhood that was masked by her plain Jane panty-bra set. As she stood face to face with the stiff guard a thought came to her head and she grinned. Before she could act, a voice from behind her made her jump.

            "Agent Spiro, is it?" Aisha asked, entering the small room that was used to isolate the half-naked guard from the general crowd of potential witnesses, police, and onlookers.

            "Yes, ma’am," Tasia answered obediently. Even though Lucienne had a problem with Aisha and clearly showed it, Tasia couldn’t act that way, being that she was only a junior agent and that she really didn’t have a problem with the American. In fact she thought agent Aisha was kind of hot. She grinned at the thought, stealthy checking out the tall dark skinned woman dressed in tight fitting navy pants suit with a tight white dress shirt underneath.

            The lead agent did not notice the Greek undressing her with her eyes, "Where is your partner?"

            "She’s with Cassandra, questioning security." Tasia answered, smiling innocently.

            Noticing the smile on the Greek’s face, Aisha asked, "What’s going on here?" She gestured towards the half-naked motionless woman standing behind Tasia at attention.

            "Oh, this is Kazu Shitaki. She’s one of the security guards that were injected with the Type-7 sedative and that hasn’t revived yet. Marika is examining the other guard in the other room."

            "Are you certain it is the Type-7?" Aisha then asked, walking around the frozen guard.

            "We’re quite certain, based on the observed effects, but we’ll be a hundred percent certain once Marika has a sample from the other guard’s blood."

            "What do you think happened to her, Agent Spiro?"

            "Well I think that Kazu was taken out early, as there was need for her uniform. She may have seen who did this to her.  So she is our best witness once she is out of this immobilized state to who our kidnappers are. The other guard walked in on the kidnappers; he too would be a decent witness as well. Marika is pulling some strings on getting some antidote here but it’s difficult since this seems to be a more advanced form of Type-7. I’ll be sure to report to you once they come to and I find out something," Tasia explained.

            Aisha thought for a second, "Very well; let me know once that antidote comes in and tell Agent Heino good job for me," she added, leaving the room.

            Tasia turned back around to Kazu’s goofy expression, "Let’s collect that underwear from you now, for trace evidence," she said, smiling at the stocky woman.

* * *

            It took Aisha a while, moving through the crowd of media, potential witnesses and police officers before she found her team. Cassandra, Miranda and Hui were gathered together sharing notes on their findings. The questioning and evidence collecting was nearly over it was time to start putting things together. "What do we have, ladies?" Aisha asked, approaching the group.

            "None of the VIPs who were sitting out front and the few that were in the back dressing area saw anything. In fact most of the guests did not even know what had happened to them until Ms. Reubenstein called for help," Hui reported, looking over her notes.  “Whatever it was, acted fast.”

            "The same goes for the models; the only model who noticed anything at all was wrong was Ms. Reubenstein when her the girls she was talking with appeared to vanish in the blink of an eye.  We haven’t questioned her yet; since she’s gone through enough stress for one day we had her sent back to her hotel. Chances are though she’ll be pretty much in the dark, as much as everyone else," Miranda reported.

            "At this point we’re pretty sure some variation of Type-7 was used. Marika still has some more testing, but we’re pretty confident. Marika also reported that the forensic teams found some substance that is unidentifiable at this point in the ventilation system." Cassandra concluded.

            Aisha quickly took in the information and then asked, "Where is Agent Christophe?"

            The three agents looked at each for a second before Cassandra spoke, "She went to interview Tal Reubenstein."

            "Damn… why wasn’t I notified?" Aisha cursed.

            "I called you on your cellular twice." Cassandra replied calmly.

            Aisha patted herself down and remembered that she had left her cell in the rental. Damn. "No biggie," she then said with a sigh. "Let’s head over there and see if Ms. Reubenstein has any good information for us." Aisha ordered, leading the other three towards the elevator.

Madrid, Spain Hotel Regina

            Israeli beauty Tal Reubenstein wanted nothing more than to know if her friends were ok. The supermodel had dressed down completely as usual in private when she wasn’t doing shows. Her brown hair was slicked back into a simple small ponytail and she wore nothing but an oversized baby blue t-shirt and a pair of fuzzy slippers. She had been pacing in her spacious hotel room for hours, unable to sit still with the thought of her friends being missing. Tal didn’t even want to watch the news in fear that images of her missing friends were going to be all over it. A knock at the door snapped her from her worried thoughts. "Come in," she spoke, barely keeping her voice from cracking.

            Chloe Vega, Tal’s newly assigned Spanish bodyguard, entered the room. She was a tall woman with short blond hair, dressed casually in jeans and a tight fitting t-shirt. A holstered Beretta sat on her right hip. "Ms. Reubenstein, there is an Interpol Agent Christophe here to see you," Chloe announced in her thick Spanish accent.

            "Oh, please send her in," Tal replied, eagerly hoping that there was any good news coming. Chloe nodded and left the room. Lucienne entered the room with a warm smile as Chloe closed the door behind her. "Agent Christophe; great to see you again," Tal greeted warmly, ushering the Interpol agent to a nearby table. "Is there is any news?" Tal then asked quickly after they were both seated.

            "Sorry, nothing yet, but I assure you my team and I are working around the clock to find your associates," Lucienne reassured her, seeing the look of worry on Tal’s face. Even dressed down, the woman was amazing looking, the French agent thought. She quickly shook the erotic thoughts from her head and re-focused herself back on the case. "Tal, if it is alright, I would like to ask you some more questions that may help with our investigation."

The Israeli smiled weakly, "Of course, Agent Christophe, anything at all; I just want to find my friends."

* * *

            The elevator doors slid open, causing a bell to sound. Chloe looked towards the elevator and noted a blonde maid pushing a laundry cart off the elevator. She looked down the other end of hall. It was empty. She yawned and looked at her watch; two more hours left before her shift was over. Looking back in the other direction, Chloe saw that the maid was heading in her direction. Seeing the maid up closer now she noticed that the maid did not look Spanish; in fact her facial features put her as being of English or American origin. From what Chloe knew from her briefing earlier, all of the employees in the hotel were locals. She reached for her Beretta. The maid was faster, pulling out a dart gun and firing it just as the Beretta left Chloe’s holster.

            Chloe stood facing Alexis in a stop-action pose with her Beretta half drawn and her face tensed up as if she was about to yell ‘stop’ or ‘halt’. Alexis looked over the blond bodyguard, poking her torso; she was frozen solid and out cold. Looking around the hallway for any more spying eyes, she saw nobody. She quickly reposed the stiffened bodyguard to lean with her back to the wall, her arms crossed, and her pistol securely holstered. With a quick molding of her face Chloe now held a serious grin with her brown eyes vacant. Pulling the cover off the laundry cart, Alexis removed the special Type-7 Injector system. She put the injector at the foot the door and quietly pushed the nozzle under the door. With some towels from the cart Alexis clogged up any openings under the door. She then pulled her hand-held radio from the apron pocket of her borrowed maid’s uniform, "Black unit to team; hallway is secured, preparing to release the Type-7. All units report your status."

            "This is Blue unit; security room is secured," Ryoshi replied, eating a candy bar. Her job was to make sure no security interfered. The three security guards that operated the hotel’s security center were suspended at their stations thanks to shots from Ryoshi’s dart gun. They stared blankly at the security monitors as Ryoshi paced calmly behind them, monitoring their comrades’ movements throughout the building and watching her team leader’s back.

            "This is Red unit. I’m in the alley behind the hotel. Escape route is clear and the engine is warm and ready." Veronica reported, scanning the mirrors of the rented Benz making sure no one noticed her presence.

            "Releasing the Type-7 now," Alexis calmly reported, pressing the button on top of the injector and then listening to the hiss that followed letting her know everything was functioning. "All units stand by." Alexis said, looking at her watch. She waited a full five minutes before removing her gas mask from the cart, moving the injector aside, and entering the suite.

            Alexis surveyed the motionless scene, spotting her target sitting at the table, with another woman seated across from her. From the frozen expression on Tal’s lovely face, Alexis knew the Type-7 gas had done its job. She quickly went back out into the hallway and pulled her maid’s cart in along with the empty injector. Chloe remained outside, ‘on guard’. Alexis quickly lifted up the stiffened Israeli model and placed her inside of the laundry cart. Tal remained in her seated position as if she was still sitting in the chair, talking. Once the supermodel was in the cart, Alexis injected her with higher dosage of the Type-7 from her dart gun before covering her up with a tablecloth. Looking back at the table in the suite, she recognized the other woman immediately as Interpol Agent Lucienne Christophe of Interpol France. "Doctor Tisdale sends her fond regards." Alexis mutters from under her gas mask as she turns up the dosage on the injection gun and injects the already suspended agent with a large dose of Type-7.  There was no reaction, nor would there be. "Black unit to team; I have the target. Give me ten."

* * *

            Alexis was feeling creative, so she decided before she left to arrange a little scene for the authorities that would surely be arriving. After leaving the room, she had Ryoshi meet her down in basement and together they got their target into the waiting Benz and Veronica got them out of the area quietly and quickly with Tal securely buckled in the back seat.

            Back in the hotel room the injector system had been destroyed; all that remained was a pile of ash and dust in the corner of the room. Inside of the room’s bedroom, Lucienne and Chloe had both been stripped naked and held each other closely in a lover’s cuddle. Their bodies were coated with lotion and their hair slicked back with water, giving them a hot, sexy, look. Both were given another injected dosage before Alexis departed.

Chapter 3

Madrid, Spain Interpol Spain HQ

            The collection of stiff guards was growing. Four male guards, one from the fashion show and three from the Hotel Regina sat together around a table with blank expressions upon their faces. They were in Interrogation Room Three of the headquarters building for Interpol Spain. Cassandra thought it was a good idea to keep all of the still-motionless victims together in order to get their statements whenever they came out of their current state but had no idea when that might be. Marika had been unsuccessful in obtaining an antidote so far, so waiting was the best bet for the time being. Marika sat in the corner of the room reviewing her notes, new evidence and results of the blood work while she monitored the guards’ unchanging condition.

            "Anything yet?" Cassandra asked, peeking into the room.

            Marika looked up from her notes and smiled, "This is worse than watching pain dry; no signs of movement yet, though."

            "Well, get someone to relieve you in five minutes; Aisha wants a briefing upstairs," Cassandra said before leaving the room. Marika nodded tiredly, looking over the four rigid guards once more before looking back down at her notes with a sigh.

            Inside Interrogation Room Four Tasia kept an eye on three equally frozen females, which now unfortunately included one of their own: Lucienne. By the time Cassandra and company had arrived at the Regina, Tal and whoever had abducted her were long gone and Lucienne and assigned bodyguard Chloe Vega had been left in a questionable pose with both apparently having been injected with Type-7 sedative. They had quickly secured the scene and had both women covered and moved out immediately before the local authorities arrived. Chloe Vega was now dressed in ill-fitting Spanish police coveralls as well as was security guard Kazu Shiitaki. Both Spanish women sat shoulder to shoulder at one side of the table, a wide-eyed expression and big smiles on their faces, thanks to Tasia. Their hands were on the table in front of them, posed with fingers interlocked. The Greek agent sat on the other side of the table, next to her now frozen superior and partner who was positioned the same way as the other motionless ladies. Tasia was resting her head on her arms, fast asleep, while Lucienne stared emptily at Kazu and Chloe who sat across from her. Tasia had gathered some of the French agent’s clothes from her baggage and dressed her stiffened form in them. The veteran agent was now dressed in a black tight fitting knee-length skirt with a matching ribbed sweater over a crisp white satin dress shirt. Her legs were covered in dark hosiery over a pair of shiny black heels. She was obviously the best looking stiff girl in the room; Tasia had spent the time in making sure Lucienne kept her sharp image even in her current helpless state.

            Cassandra entered the interrogation room, silently eying the three frozen women along with the sleeping Tasia. She went over to her long-time friend Lucienne and knelt down beside her, looking into her staring eyes. The immobilized agent’s reddish hair tied was back into a simple high ponytail. She was dressed more nicely than the other ladies, thanks to Tasia, and even had her gun on her right hip along with her Interpol ID looped around her neck. Her rigid friend looked like a well-dressed wax display at a museum. Before Cassandra could stop herself, she poked Lucienne on the cheek but quickly pulled her hand away after she copped a feel of the French woman’s breast. She quickly stood up quickly, stirring the sleeping Greek awake.

            "Hey Cassie," Tasia said sleepily, unaware of what had just happened. "What’s going on?" She asked with a yawn and looked around, hoping to see at least one of the women unfrozen and responsive.   None of them had moved so much as a millimeter.

            "Nothing," Cassandra answered, quickly hiding the nervousness in her voice. She looked down at her friend who was still sitting, still and unmoving like statue, and then back at the Greek. "Aisha wants a briefing in five minutes upstairs. Get a female agent to cover for you by then," Cassandra added before leaving the room quickly, feeling shocked of what she had just done. Tasia did not know anything the wiser as she stood up and stretched. She gave Lucienne’s wax like face a full kiss on the lips before leaving room herself to look for that female agent.

* * *

            "So we have eight high-fashion models missing from eight different countries, with no leads? The only good witnesses that we have are all stiff as statues under an unknown kind of Type-7 for an unknown duration. Does anyone here have any good news or ideas?" Aisha summarized testily from her spot at the head of the table after hearing a quick summery of events from her team. Her team was quiet, with no one really having anything to add. Special Agent Hui Lan smiled calmly as she always did during stressful or tense situations. Aisha was finding out that by just having Hui around her blood pressure was always better. She took a deep breath then asked, "Let’s start again with all the facts that we know one hundred percent and maybe something will pop out at us."

            "Four major fashion shows in four different countries have been hit. Each resulted in the top model or models there coming up missing." Hui started, gesturing towards the board at the head of the room where the team had graphically mapped up the series of events using pictures and colorful markers.  Small photos of the models were also tacked up along the timeline.

            "Each of the models was of different nationalities with the exception of the two Americans, Eva Hallowell and Kitty Drake. All the models share the same body characteristics, being tall, slender, with near-perfect features. Supermodels, in a word.  They are all ranked in the top twenty worldwide when in comes to modeling and fame." Miranda continued, looking over the notes that she had made so far through her research.

            "I have found a huge predominance of Type 7 sedative at each of our crime scenes. Blood samples taken from witnesses, guests, and models have all come up with traces of Type-7. So we know the drug was used. My best guess would be it was delivered as a gaseous agent; that is, air borne, through a special injection system. I have not yet determined what this system is as of yet, nor have we found any of the equipment. The witnesses and agents that still remain frozen under the Type-7 seem to have been injected via needle; I have found injection marks on their necks or arms. The injected version of Type-7 seems to be different, with unknown effects." Marika reported, shuffling the large amount of paperwork in front of her.

            "Different in which way?" Aisha asked as she watched Cassandra get up from her seat and walk over to the board. She could tell the Brit was up to something.

            Marika sat back in her chair, "The Type-7 that was used during the Erika Stone case was not as potent as this stuff. This variation looks to be a more advanced, controlled, form with dosages set for exact amounts of time and seemingly higher potency. In other words we’re dealing with almost an entirely new form of Type-7 sedative. Maybe it’s even Type-8?  I have the home office seeking the original chemist for an antidote. No luck yet, apparently Doctor Tisdale left the company shortly after the Stone case. We’re trying to track down her whereabouts down as we speak."

            Aisha nodded, taking in the info; a small part of her wished Lucienne were active. She was not ever going to admit it, but the French agent was much more experienced than she was and was a bit of a legend in her investigative abilities.  Now she was a statue.  Sighing, Aisha then asked, "Agent Spiro, your insights?"

            "You could call me Tasia, ma’am. You’re calling every one else by their first names; you could do the same for me. We’re all friends here."

            "Very well under one condition: you stop calling me ma’am," Aisha replied with a smile and then added, "What do you have for us, Tasia?"

            "There is more than one kidnapper involved here. I’m thinking there are at least three, working together. There have to be in order to pull off these hits effectively and quickly. The team make-up would be something like, driver, head operator, and clean up. We have found different set of unidentifiable fingerprints at each scene. There were some faint prints on Ms. Vega’s and Lucienne’s bodies and clothing as well but they’re too partial to scan so far."

            "They’ll be going for blonds next!" Cassandra exclaimed, turning around causing the team to look at her in surprise. As everyone was going over all of the bits of information that they already knew, Cassandra had really looked at the board. At first she couldn’t see any real pattern, besides the fact that the kidnappers moved from country to country after each hit, they only took the lead models and they widely used Type-7. Them she realized that there was not a single blonde-haired model within the missing bunch at that point; she also noticed that it looked like the kidnappers were making some sort of collection. In her last case, dealing the prostitution ring, the ring had abducted girls from various countries to offer their clients a ‘colorful’ selection. It was staring to look like this was some sort of abduction ring, only now the leaders were dealing with high-class supermodels.

            "There has been no ransom yet. That would only mean these girls are being kidnapped for another purpose. It is starting to look like they maybe selling these girls or just collecting them. If that is the case, and if they are staying in the European region, then they need blonds next." Cassandra concluded her explanation. The rest of team put everything together quickly, now seeing where all the clues were pointing.

            "Hot damn girl! I think you got something!" Aisha remarked, standing up with excitement. "Miranda, start looking for upcoming shows that would have blonde leads, starting off with Sweden and Germany. Tasia start contacting naturally light-haired models in the top twenty list and warn them about the situation as we see it. Hui, we’re going to be moving shortly so I want a plane and trucks arranged for transportation to wherever we’re gonna be going. Marika, get our silent witnesses ready to travel. They may still be of some value.  Cassandra, get in touch with Agent Odilon; he took over our previous case.  It’s a long shot but there maybe a link with these two cases. I’ll get in touch with home office and let them know what’s going on. Great job everyone. Let’s get this thing solved!" Aisha ordered as her agents quickly began working on their assigned tasks.

KTC (Krug Trading Center), Berlin, Germany

            Miranda’s best result of her search came up with the East European Show-Off; the trade show was a weeklong event that was actually coming to an end. So far the show had gone off without any problems or any models disappearing. The whole was event had been held at the newly opened KTC located in downtown Berlin. The KTC consisted of seven glass skyscrapers, two of which were twin towers connected by an underground tunnel. The closing show was to be held in the basement of KTC One.  Under the suggestion of Aisha, who was advised by Cassandra, the show’s promoters had moved the modeling prep area from behind the runway to the basement of KTC Two. At the start of the show, the models would then be escorted from one building to the other via the underground tunnel.

            Aisha and Cassandra’s whole plan depended on the kidnappers thinking that the models were in the same building as the runway. The general plan was to have Miranda and Tasia go undercover within the modeling group, thus providing security without scaring the kidnappers if they were to strike. Hui would be positioned around the runway area of building one with a tactical team for a security response if the kidnappers were to hit the runway. Aisha and Marika, along with another tactical team, would provide security for models passing  through the underground tunnel. Cassandra as usual would provide overall coordination from unmarked van located in the underground parking of tower one. All teams would have gas masks to prevent them from succumbing again to the effects of the Type-7. Under Cassandra’s protest, Aisha wanted none of the strike team members or agents wearing their gas masks pre-maturely. She wanted Lucienne to see she was capable, despite the fact that Lucienne was still frozen and unable to see, or do, anything.

KTC 2 7^th floor (Temporary Interpol HQ,) Berlin, Germany

            The team had taken over an accounting office that occupied the entire seventh floor as a command post. The motionless witnesses were stashed together in the boardroom, sitting in high leather chairs. Tactical German police officers, Bundeswehr, and other officials were all in different offices gearing up and prepping themselves for the upcoming operation. For the time being the normal accountant’s office looked like a military base.

            "What do you mean, she’s dropping out?" Aisha asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice. The stress of the case was starting get to her. "These people only go after the lead models if she’s not appearing here, they may get spooked and bail out.  And, she’s the world’s most famous blonde."

            "We can’t force her Aisha; Devon has a lot of money and she’s already out of the country with her lawyers putting up a screen so we can’t touch her," Cassandra replied. One of the models that was on Tasia’s list to warn, and the she in question, was none other than Devon Von Krieger; Germany’s top supermodel and this show’s single lead model. As soon as she heard of the dangers of being kidnapped and the fact that security was not able to prevent the earlier abduction of other models, she terminated her contract with the show and was on the next flight out to an unknown location. "I have an idea though," Cassandra then suggested, handing the lead investigator a press photograph of Devon Von Krieger.

            Aisha looked closely at the photograph and then looked back up at Cassandra, "This babe looks a lot like our Marika." Cassandra simply smiled.

* * *

            Miranda silently opened the boardroom door and peeked in. There were only three male guards now; the fourth one from the Madrid show had regained consciousness and was on his way back to Spain. He offered up very little information, only mentioning that the kidnapper was a Spanish female who was pretty and was driving a maintenance van, which was by now recovered. The three remaining guards sat side by side with staring faces as if they were looking up at security monitors. Sitting across them were Chloe and Kazu, still baring their smiles and vacant looks upon their faces. The sharply dressed Lucienne stood in front of the boardroom at attention with a neutral gaze and puckered lips. Miranda smiled at the look as she stepped into the silent boardroom, closing the door behind her.

            Hui had been assigned watch duty and to Miranda’s surprise, the Chinese weapons expert was fast asleep at the end of the boardroom table, a victim of working international cases and switching different time zones erratically. Miranda sat down silently next to the snoozing Chinese agent. Hui’s head was resting on her arms with her face turned towards the Hawaiian agent. Miranda smiled at Hui’s sleeping face, thinking the weapon specialist was adorable especially when sleeping. She had a thing for Hui, who did not swing her way, which she didn’t mind. Just being a friend and around the Chinese woman was enough for her. She rested her head down on her arms too and turned her face to face Hui.

            Feeling a presence beside her, Hui opened her eyes in time to see Miranda’s smiling face staring at her. She quickly jumped and sat up. Miranda slowly rose and stretched. Hui stood up and stepped away from the table, "Don’t do that! You know how I feel when you do that."

            "Do what?" Miranda asked, jokingly leaning back in the leather chair that matched the dark marble boardroom table.

"Watch me sleep." Hui replied, pacing the room. She was known for her calmness but Miranda always put her on edge. Working with the rookie agent for almost three months now made Hui really second guess her sex life; was she a hundred percent straight? She and her boyfriend Tommy were having issues now, with him working too much and not spending anytime with her. She had actually been with Miranda more than she was with Tommy in the last couple of months. The thought to experiment had more than once crossed her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to act on her urges.

            Miranda chuckled, "There’s no harm in it. Its not like I’m gonna freeze you and have my way with you." Hui shot her a serious look and that was when Miranda knew to back off. "Sorry Hui, but for real, though, I was just watching; no touching," she apologized.

            Hui smiled warmly and sat back down. "I know you wouldn’t do that. It’s just the whole freezing thing should not be joked about right now." Hui gestured at the group that had been turned into lifelike statues around them, including Lucienne standing in regally front of the room. Miranda looked at Lucienne’s mouth and then back at Hui with a smile. "No!" Hui said quickly but seriously.

            "I wasn’t even thinking like that," Miranda laughed, "You’ve a nasty imagination, agent Lan. It makes me wonder about you," she added, getting up from her seat.

            "Me too…" Hui muttered, barely audible, following the younger agent.

            "Her pose is so boring… I mean this is Agent Lucienne Christophe. She deserves a more heroic pose, don’t you think?" Miranda asked, walking around the stiffened French woman, checking her out freely.

            "Just leave her be. She’s not a doll for you to toy with; She’s an Interpol senior agent." Hui suggested, now looking at the French’s agent’s puckered lips. The thought of seeing her superior naked crept into her mind briefly before she dismissed it, "Let’s just leave her alone and get some coffee."

            "Come on, Hui there’s no harm. It’s a lot nicer than what you were probably thinking." Miranda replied with a smile.

            "What do you have in mind?"

* * *

            "Is there any more to this so-called dress?" Marika asked, looking in the mirror. The garment was an orange and black strapless evening frock that showed off generous cleavage and a lot of leg. This was going to be terrible, she thought, feeling like a fish out of water.  A half-naked fish, at that. She wished she could meet this Devon Von Krieger and sock her a good one for putting her through this crap.

            "Don’t worry about it. You look amazing. If I had legs like yours I’d be showing them off all the time," Tasia remarked, looking over Marika’s skimpy dress. The Greek was dressed similarly in a blue and black gown that seemed to Marika to cover the other agent much more.

            "I second that, plus I wish I was taller," Miranda added, looking at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a leather body-hugging dress. "Why do I have to be the one to wear this leather slutty looking thing…?"

            "Cause you’re American." Tasia replied. As her and Marika burst out laughing.

            "Ha, Ha, Ha, just because of a few slutty actresses doesn’t mean the whole country is slutty," defended Miranda, turning around in the dress, "Screw this I’m changing dresses; this thing is going to chafe me so bad," Miranda concluded, going next door to look for another dress.

            "Agent Heino, you have a call," A German officer said poking his head in and out quickly.

            "Crap…" Marika said as she started to reach for the zipper of the dress to change out of it.

            "Go get the phone; you’re not completely naked and don’t worry so much, you’re hot anyways," Tasia quickly said, pushing the taller woman out of the office and into the hallway.

            Before she knew it she was being stared at by a dozen tactical officers in full combat gear. "Damn you Tasia…" she muttered and smiled as she quickly went into one the offices that had a phone, feeling the eyes on her body every step of the way. Marika had sent the partial prints from Chloe and Lucienne’s clothes back to the home office to see if she could get anything. It was a real shot in the dark, but anything was worth it. To her surprise, the office was able to put together a decent print from the partials and came up with a match. The print belonged to a former Scotland Yard inspector, Alexis Sutherland. As soon as she hung up she quickly left the room. In her haste and her excitement she bumped into a German inspector hard, knocking the man down. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!" Marika said, kneeling to help the man up. The man was brown haired and blue eyed. He was very handsome with the build of a cruiser weight with an attractive jaw line. He was dressed in an expensive suit that increased his already good looks.

            "It’s no problem; I still have my health." He replied in his accented English, "It not everyday you get knocked down by a gorgeous supermodel." He said as Marika helped him to his feet. "My name is Dieter Bran, Inspector Dieter Bran."

            "I’m Marika Heino, Special Agent Marika Heino." Marika replied with a smile captivated by the encounter, the new information slipped the Finnish agent’s mind as the two begin to mingle.

* * *

            Lucienne stood with her fists on her hips with her legs apart, standing wide. Her head looked to the right and leaned back. A pair of sunglasses shaded her eyes and an unlit cigarette was placed between her lips to capture the real Lucienne image. With her Interpol ID looped around her neck and her USP sitting on her hip she looked like some kind of life-sized secret agent action figure.

            Aisha looked at her watch and then up at the motionless French agent as she walked around the mannequin-like sedated woman. "Well, it’s almost show time. I’ll show you now how capable I am," The American said almost harshly to the silently posed Lucienne. Aisha grinned and chuckled, "I really like you like this way much better, Agent Christophe."

Private Beach House, Alcobendas, Spain

            Scott casually wiped his hands with a towel as he led his guest, the gray-bearded millionaire Richard Stilton, through the mansion. "This is certainly a nice facility you have here," noted the man, who was nearing fifty and twice divorced. Since Scott and his company knew about Stilton's past experiences with high-profile escort services and the like, he was the ideal first client for their new operation.

            "With men like you as our customers, money is never an issue," replied Scott, leading him into one of the many bedrooms. The room was bare except for a bed with red silk sheets and a simple oak cabinet, but standing in front of the former was the luscious figure of Eva Hallowell. The American model was cupping her breasts from below, her face shaped to show pleasure in the action she was frozen while doing, her brown hair hanging loosely around her upper body.

            "I can't believe it," whistled Richard, walking into the room and waving a hand in front of the unmoving model's face. "Your scientists are geniuses, my friend. What are your rates?"

            "Ideally there would be four packages, but due to the current limitations as the chip is first-generation, we only have three," explained Scott, throwing his towel aside and having it land on the cabinet. "You can pay for an hour, a day, or just buy her for good. An hour is two thousand Euros, a day is a hundred grand and purchases range from five hundred thousand on up, based on availability. Our front is that of an investment group, so the money transfers will certainly appear legitimate. This isn't some simple dummy company either, as it has been in service for years so the standard credit checks make it look real."

            Richard circled Eva, looking her up and down. Being an older man who couldn't get a wife now unless she was a gold digger, thanks in part to his completely gray hair and beard, having a personal slave that could fulfill his sexual needs was perfect. Scott knew dozens of men like Richard who required such company, which was why he was taking the risks to get the women every man would want. "Your prices for purchase seem low, is there a reason?" asked Richard.

            "Shipping is extra, as are remotes and clothing," explained Scott, being perfectly honest. "Also, as I pointed out, she's the first generation, so while being under your command she moves more like a robot than a real woman. Once we have the new chips ready, I imagine the initial prices will double or triple. Eva herself is one million, five hundred thousand, by the way. Natural green eyes but not quite a Perfect-10 model, if you know what that means."

            "All the same, I consider it a bargain," laughed Richard, rubbing his hand along Eva's lower body. "I mean, a realistic sex doll costs several thousand, but here you guys are with real live fashion models that you can control through remote control. I'll take her, plus a remote and few dresses."

            "Excellent, that'll run you almost two million then, if you want her delivered," replied Scott, smiling and pulling out his PDA so he could make a note of the sale.  “Fuel surcharges, you know?”

            "How do you guys do that anyhow?" asked Richard, squeezing Eva's thighs. "I mean, wouldn't a large shipment containing a human woman raise suspicion?"

            "Only if the container hasn't been modified to hide human life-signs," revealed Scott, calculating the total cost of the sale. "X-rays can still scan it, but they won't see anything that looks human. We disguise her image to be something else, like a large collection of clothes or something."

            "Right then, I look forward to her arrival," said Richard, satisfied with the deal. The two men shook hands and Scott quickly led him out of the house, commenting that in the near future many more varied women would be available for purchase. Currently his group was only targeting models, but sooner or later they'd start doing a full sweep and nab whoever they felt they could sell.

            After his client was gone Scott wandered back inside the house and into the primary living room where Alexis was speaking with Ashley, the two were dressed in black robes and sitting quite close together. Scott was aware that Ashley was at least bisexual if not a full lesbian; the fact that she had claimed Mary as her own being a rather blatant sign, but wasn't sure about his British agent. Of the four women he employed he only knew that Leslie was fully straight and that Ryoshi was both bisexual and into the whole statue fetish, but surprisingly she'd kept herself under control during missions, at least so far. Scott also knew Veronica liked feet. It was in his best interest to know as much as he could about his employees, as even the slightest unknown could throw the entire operation into jeopardy.

            "Hello there, how went the sale?" asked Ashley, pausing from her conversation with Alexis.

            "He bought her pretty much on the spot, plus he's suggested a few other women we should work on acquiring," laughed Scott, holding up Stilton's business card and the small list written on the back of it. "None of them are models we're currently shooting for, however, and some aren't even in that profession. If a future target allows for it I'll add them to our list. Carry on now; I've got other stuff to do." Ashley smiled a knowing smile as Scott left, leaving her and the Brit alone.

            "So back to what you were saying, we're looking at a couple of blonde models this time?" asked Alexis, trying to return to the subject of the conversation.

            "Devon Von Krieger and Michelle Foster, to be exact," confirmed Ashley, holding up photos of the two models. "Devon's arguably the most attractive German around, and Michelle's an Aussie due to start a television career shortly for that one American network that frequently shows women in the all-and-all."

            "Ah, the joys of American cable," laughed Alexis, taking the photos and memorizing the faces. "You said something about a new tool that we can use, what is it?"

            "Well...  watch and see," declared Ashley, glancing at her watch. "Hey Veronica, come here please!" shouted the scientist, the other woman being in the adjacent room reading a book. Sure enough a few moments later she came walking over by the couches, her book held in her hands while she was dressed only in a dark blue housecoat. The woman was reading East of Eden, Ashley noted. Veronica opened her mouth as if to say something, her right hand on her hip and her left holding the book at her side. Then she paused, failing to speak, merely standing still as a statue like she'd just been injected with some of Ashley's famous Type-7 drug.

            "How did you... ?" began Alexis.

            "Tiny time-release Type-7 pills in the water she drank half an hour ago," explained Ashley. "Normally a drink of the formula causes someone to freeze within seconds, but this way they can go for a long period of time and thus not be able to know what’s hit them. It's a lot easier to clean up than gas sprayers too, even if they have a self-destruct mode. If the pills time-release and aren't consumed within a human body the chemical compound goes through a rapid breakdown, making the liquid safe to drink again within a few minutes. It's virtually tasteless too, unless your tongue is really sensitive to salt."

            "Wow, it works great," marveled Alexis, standing up and snatching away Veronica's book.  The woman remained motionless and stiff. "How long does it last?"

            "Only about ten hours maximum, as otherwise the pills are too large and can thus be seen," revealed Ashley, also standing. "Scott said he wanted to give you girls twenty-four hours to wind down, so you'll leave tomorrow morning. Leslie should have recovered from her own dose by then as well. You'll be taking our private jet to Berlin."

            "Hey wait, you said the pills were in the water she drank," Alexis suddenly realized. "That was the same water we all had with dinner, wasn't it?"

            "It shouldn't be, I made sure her glass was the--" began Ashley, suddenly stopping in mid-sentence, her lips parted with her left hand gesturing towards Veronica while her right remained at her side.  The seconds ticked on and she showed no signs of moving.

            "Ashley?" asked Alexis, reaching over and touching the stiffened scientist on the shoulder. A quick shake confirmed that Ashley was also under the sedation effects of Type-7. "Bugger; she must have goofed," groaned Alexis, quickly running into the side room where Ryoshi had been watching TV, Veronica having been in the room as well before stepping out to answer Ashley's call. The Japanese woman sat in a lounger, intently watching a Spanish game show that Alexis didn't understand, not being fluent in the language. Ryoshi, like the rest of the women, was dressed only in a robe; hers white with matching fluffy slippers, her arms resting behind her head as she stared vacantly at the screen. Fearing the worst, Alexis's suspicions were confirmed when she waved her hand in front of the Asian woman's face, getting no response.  She was immobilized.

            "Well--" began Alexis, only to succumb to Ashley's error as well, freezing in place as she was moving in mid-step, her right foot raised forward, her left arm gesturing in that direction as well while her right arm and left leg trailed, sudden frustration captured on her features.

            "Nice; I was wondering when that stuff would finally take effect on her," laughed Ryoshi, suddenly moving as she got up from the couch. During the dinner the four women had shared, Ryoshi had seen Ashley drop what had looked like a granular powder into one pitcher of water and promptly deduced it was drugged, thus she'd quickly filled the glasses of Alexis and the scientist with the same thing almost right afterwards with none of them being the wiser. Now with sixteen hours of free time, Ryoshi was free to have the fun she'd been itching to have since she'd joined the team and learned what their main weapon would be.

            "Sorry Lex, I'd go with you but you're not my number one," giggled Ryoshi as she quickly walked to the living room and wrapped her arms around the mannequin-like Veronica, dragging her on her heels. On her way to her own bedroom, which was a few doors down, Ryoshi passed Scott's and heard the familiar sound of a man having sex with a woman through the back door. With Ashley and Alexis accounted for as well as the models, all but Eva being in the secondary kitchen, Ryoshi had a pretty good idea whom Scott was with. Glancing through an open crack in the door, Ryoshi confirmed her suspicions as she watched her employer standing behind an unmoving Leslie while she lay naked on the bed, sprawled in a backside-down starfish position.

            "I guess I'm not the only statue lover around here," Ryoshi whispered to Veronica as they entered the Asian's room, the non-frozen woman disrobing the frozen one and pushing her onto the bed after a quick kiss. "My gay-dar hasn't decided on you, Ronnie, but you're definitely worth going after all the same," declared Ryoshi as she dove on top of her teammate, quickly working towards satisfying her built-up sexual tension. It was a good day for the Japanese woman.

KTC Three, Ground Floor "Coffee House", Berlin, Germany

            The flight from Spain to Germany had been a quick one given the company private jet that had been arranged for them. Once Alexis and her strike team, now was back up to full strength and refreshed, touched down in Berlin they picked up a nondescript white van as arranged, and less than an hour later they arrived at the KTC. Using fake documents obtained by Ryoshi, Veronica was able to park their van in the underground basement of KTC One. Alexis found a coffee shop located on the ground floor of the KTC Three that looked out across the plaza towards the tall twin glass towers of KTC One and Two. KTC One was the target building, which was where the fashion show was being held. The show was scheduled to start in an hour. Alexis, however, did not feel right and decided to send Leslie and Ryoshi out for some recon before they executed their plan. As she waited for her recon teams to report back Alexis and Veronica, dressed as upper class businesswomen, enjoyed their German-blend coffees.

            "Hey, Lex?" Veronica asked, looking down at her coffee in front of her.

            Alexis was scanning the plaza looking for anything that might tip her off to an ambush, "What is it?"

            "Do you feel weird..."

            Looking back at the former Spanish Secret Service agent, "What do you mean, weird?"

            "This Type-7 drug, does it have any kind of side effects? Because I feel like…" she lowered her voice and leaned in closer to her boss, "like I just had a lot of sex. The feeling’s been with me since we left Spain."

            "Don’t worry about it. I feel the same. As a minor side effect, it’s not too bad is it?" Alexis answered, taking a sip from her coffee. "I think everyone feels that way. Leslie commented on it before we left and Ryoshi, well just look at her, she was all smiles after we all woke up from our little interlude."

            "Oh okay," Veronica simply said, even though she was still unsure about what her body was telling her and what her boss was telling her about the effects the drug. She was getting good money for these jobs so she’ll just have to deal with her odd feelings.

            The two women sat in silence for the next ten minutes or so, just keeping an eye on their surroundings was something both were trained to do so and they knew the authorities were on to them by now. Alexis was changing her plan now in an attempt to throw off any pursuers. She had Veronica going in with her to pick up the targets, even though Veronica was more key for the role of driver due to her evasive driving skills she’d picked up in the Spanish Secret Service. Leslie would now drive since she was familiar with the Berlin area while Ryoshi would work support and make sure they didn’t run into any trouble while extracting their targets.

            "You’re right, Alexis," Ryoshi said, smiling at Veronica before turning her attention back to her boss. The Spanish woman looked down at her coffee uncomfortably. "Interpol has to be planning something. I found out that the models’ dressing rooms have been moved to KTC Two and the girls will be transported via underground tunnel before the start of the show. They now have a tactical unit in place of where the original dressing area was," the former Japanese intelligence agent reported, sitting down next to Veronica at the small table. Veronica felt a strange aura from the Japanese woman but couldn’t put her finger on it.

            Leslie sat down next to Alexis and reported, "They moved their surveillance center to the garage instead of keeping it in the main security room at KTC One."

            Alexis took in the information and looked at her watch and then back out the window. With Interpol and the tactical teams in place she would have to be extra careful. She quickly thought up of a practical plan and turned back to her team. Looking at Leslie first, she explained, "You take out that surveillance van in the garage and then give the all clear to Ryoshi, who will take care of the tactical team and secure the tunnel. Once that is done Ryoshi will give me and Veronica the all-clear and we’ll move." Turning back to Leslie and then eying each of the members around the table, "Once we have the targets, you have to be ready to move and we’ll all fall back to van. Clear?"

* * *

            Cassandra didn’t like the set up or the plan. She was starting to wish that Lucienne was around as something more than a still-life. The French agent was good at thinking out of the box and in situations like this. Aisha knew what she was doing, but she was thinking too much like a cop. Their team was spread out way too thin. They had three undercover agents embedded with the models. Hui had command of both tactical teams who were both placed in KTC One. Aisha was so sure the kidnappers were going to strike the show through KTC One that she had both of the tactical teams positioned there. Hui and Cassandra thought the idea was bad, especially because it left Aisha patrolling the tunnel by herself. Another problem with this plan was that Aisha had moved the main surveillance center out into the garage in fear that the original surveillance center inside of KTC One could be compromised. The precaution was sound and the van’s surveillance equipment was tapped into the building’s security cameras, which allowed Cassandra and her small team of four security guards monitored all the potential risk areas that included vents, entry ways, the models’ new and old dressing area and the underground tunnel. The only problem was that being in the garage made the radio communication difficult. Cassandra found herself having a hard time hearing the check-ins from the undercover and tactical units along with Aisha as well. She would have to strictly rely on visual contact to coordinate this thing.

            Hui’s static-filled masked voice sounded in Cassandra’s ear piece, "KTC One to base, radio check over."

            "I hear you KTC One," Cassandra replied wincing at the static in her ears as she moved to the back of van to pour herself some tea. Hui repeated her message. With her cup of tea in hand Cassandra moved back towards the monitors and was able to see the Chinese agent sitting among the dozen or so Berlin SWAT officers just behind the runway. "I hear you, KTC One, but not clearly," she repeated, speaking louder and moving the mouthpiece of her headset closer to her lips.

            "Roger that base; I hear you now," Hui replied sticking a thumb’s up at the camera.

            "Damn radios…" Cassandra muttered as she looked at the monitors and noted everything was clear. Tasia, who was wearing her hair down, was designated with an earpiece and a tiny watch microphone, reported in next for a radio check. She had to repeat her report twice in order for Cassandra to hear her.

            "Aisha, the signal is really bad; I may have to relocate. I’m having trouble picking up the teams through the net," Cassandra said loudly into her mouthpiece. She took her seat behind the four camera operators and looked up monitors.  Everything was clear.

            "We just have to deal, Cassie. We can’t risk moving the van now. How are we looking?" Aisha asked. Cassandra looked at the video feed showing her boss walking in the tunnel. She was dressed in a business dress suit with a white dress shirt underneath. The jacket had the KTC logo on the right breast showing that it was the security uniform for the complex.

            "We’re good, everything is clear," Cassandra simply, said sipping her tea. Looking down at the floor of the van she noticed a small tube. Before she could think, everything faded to black and silence.

* * *

            Leslie, dressed in a pair of dark coveralls, slinked out from under the Interpol security van. She looked around the empty parking garage and noted that no one had seen her. Walking to the back of the van she peeked through the tiny access windows. Inside she saw four uniformed security looking up at the monitors and a female dressed in a dark-colored pants suit seated behind them. The woman held a cup of tea in one hand had her other hand up to her ear piece while she was looking down towards the floor. Leslie knocked on the door loudly. No one inside the van moved. She stared at them for a couple of minutes to make sure the gas had taken effect. Satisfied, she removed her hand-held from her breast pocket and reported, "Security van is secured. You’re clear, Ryoshi."

            Everyone in the van, including Cassandra, was more or less out cold and thus could not do anything about the image that was shown on the monitors. The monitor showing ventilation system over fashion show in KTC One showed a black-clad figure appearing and dragging a pumping system behind them. Cassandra’s eyes stayed fixated on the floor of the van as the figure drills into the vent wall and inserts the injector tube.

* * *

            The crowed within the basement of KTC One were frozen in the moment as if they were all part of gigantic wax diorama. Behind the runway, the fully armed tactical team stood around as if they were action figures in a toy store. Hui sat on a folded chair dressed casually in black slacks and a sleeveless blouse covered by a tactical vest with an MP-5 suspended in front of her. She was frozen looking up at a SWAT officer, her lips her agape with eyes half shut. Ryoshi moved through the packed basement dressed in her black "ninja" outfit and gas mask as she surveyed the scene. There were some nice looking ladies in the crowd and she wondered if she would be able to double back and take a peek while Alexis and Veronica did their thing. She saw the lone Asian woman back stage and figured her to be Interpol. She was about to get closer to look when her earpiece came alive.

            "What is your status, Ryoshi?" Alexis’s sultry British accent asked. The former intelligence took a quick look around once more, controlled her urges, and then left quickly. She moved stealthily down the hall and made her way towards the underground tunnel. Once there she peeled off her gas mask, knowing that the gas was not able to reach that far thanks to the many vents under the buildings.

            "KTC One is secured. They’re all stiffed.  Moving to tunnel now." Ryoshi replied calmly, pulling out her dart gun.

* * *

            "Cassie, do you hear me?" Aisha asked again into her mouthpiece. She was starting to regret the position of the van. She had to get to higher ground and hopefully she could get the word out to Cassandra to relocate before the kidnappers knew what was up. Aisha briskly made her way towards the tunnel exit that lead to KTC One. She was the only one in the tunnel and the only thing that she heard was the sound of her heels against the concrete.

            As she reached the corner, a woman all in black popped out in front of her. Aisha jumped back in surprise and pulled her USP, only to feel a sharp pain on her neck as everything quickly faded. The lead Interpol agent turned stiff as a board as her body dropped to the concrete as if she was still standing upright. One of her nylon covered legs was slightly in front of the other while both and gripped the USP that was held in front of her. The expression on her face was one of shock with eyes wide and mouth open.

            Ryoshi stepped over the frozen woman and fired another dart into her for good measure before she spoke into her radio, "Tunnel is secured. You are clear," She simply said, looking down at Aisha. She looked at her watch and calculated how much time she had before extraction. It wasn’t enough to double back to KTC One but it was enough to have some fun with the dark-skinned Interpol agent. "Let’s get you around the corner and see what you’re hiding under that fancy suit." Ryoshi smiled evilly as she bent down and took hold of Aisha’s ankles.

* * *

            Marika, fully undercover as Devon Von Krieger, was having her attendant finish styling her short blonde hair so it had plenty of body. She, Tasia and Miranda were all in character, dressed in their assigned clothing, but had their trusty USP pistols tucked away inside the counter drawers. There were forty people in the room; fifteen models and twenty-five assistants and the like. To Marika's left was a tall woman with milky skin and a black bobcut. At the end of the row was Michelle Foster, the other very attractive blonde in the show's current line-up and considered to be a probable target. After learning what had happened with Devon, Interpol had chosen to make sure none of the models knew the show would most likely be the next one targeted.

            "I can't believe they didn't give us better listening equipment," whispered Tasia to Marika's right, the Greek free to talk for a moment while her assistant scurried about elsewhere. "What do we do if they blind the cameras and we see something is wrong?"

            "We have the equipment but if something like that happen we just have to deal with it ourselves," was Marika's serious reply, feeling her stomach churn. "I must admit however I do prefer it when Lucienne's in command. She would have not done something so foolish. I think Aisha's distracted by something."

            "She's probably flustered because she's never dealt with this kind of thing before," suggested Tasia, taking a sip of water before her assistant returned with the dark red lipstick she was going to apply. A travel agency sponsoring the event had provided all the models and assistants with free water, much to everyone's delight. Marika herself wasn't a fan of straight water and had managed to get some cranberry juice to help flavor it. "So what's up with you and the charming Inspector Bran?" asked Tasia, changing the subject and speaking in a normal tone of voice.

            "Tasia, that's personal, and too new for me to say," was Marika's quick reply, the blonde fighting the impulse to blush and managing to succeed. At this point the brunette working on Tasia began to apply the lipstick so Marika was granted some silence from her friend while her own assistant began sorting through the bottles on the counter, looking for the right fragrance. Right when she'd apparently found it the dirty blond picked it up and held it in front of her,