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Kangerlussuaq Airport, Kangerlussauq, Greenland
“Okay, what now?” Hitomi asked, her surprise evident in her voice.
“I know it sounds insane, Hitomi.” Buck sounded tired over the sattelite connection. Hitomi and Siege were in the “company jet”, waiting for approval for take off.
“We don’t hear a peep for months, then get a taunting letter by mail? ‘Omi’s right, Buck. Although, I wouldn’t call it crazy as much as an obvious trap.”
“I agree Cynthia. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t investigate. Low profile, though. Just because it’s a trap doesn’t mean it needs to be sprung.”
C.J. nodded slowly. “I suppose with just the two of us, we have a good chance of going in and getting out undetected.”
Hitomi nodded, “Trap or no... Where we going?”
“Don’t stow your cold weather gear yet. The coordinates the letter provided are in Antarctica. South of McMurdo Station, about five hundred miles. You’ll make a couple of hops down to Argentina, from there down to McMurdo. You’ll have inland transport waiting for you. Be careful, girls. Good luck.”
Hitomi looked over at Siege. “What?”
“I dunno C.J., I suddenly feel like one of Charlie’s angels.”
Siege just raised an eyebrow.
McMurdo Station, Antarctic Coast
“You’re the doctor’s we were told were coming?” The station official looked at them when undisguised skepticism.
“I’m Doctor McCormick, this is Doctor Onoe. I trust we have the supplies ready?”
“Sure,” he drew out the word. “Maybe we should have a couple of our science team accompany you out on your survey.”
Hitomi looked read to take a shot at the man, but Siege just looked at him stoically. “You did receive orders about us, correct?” He nodded reluctantly. “Good. Then I trust our supplies and transportation are ready.” This time it wasn’t a question, and she put enough disdain in her voice to cause onlookers to start whispering.
He looked at both of them sourly and glared at the other base crew. “This way, ‘Doctors’.” He made the word sound like an insult. They followed the little man through the base to the back hanger and their supplies and transport.
A small two man crawler, much like what they used up in Greenland, albeit much smaller. The man stood there while they started getting suited up and stowing their gear.
“Is there something else?”
“You could tell me what you’re really here for ‘Doctor’ McCormick. Not a geographic survey.”
Siege smiled and walked up to the man, she looked him dead in the eyes. “Are you suggesting we’re lying? Our credentials are the real thing. You know that. You must have checked them out. So I can only assume your rude and insulting attitude has to do with gender.” He had the grace to wince slightly. “Be aware that I can have you fired and replaced with a word.” She whirled around and went back to the crawler, stopping at the door to look back at the base leader. “And next time you say our names in that tone, you will regret it.”
She left the man staring after her as she climbed inside and belted in. Hitomi was looking at her a bit wide-eyed. “What? Too harsh?”
Hitomi shook her head, “No, not enough, really.” C.J. raised a questioning brow, “Well, I think that’s the most I’ve heard you talk all at once all year.”
Siege snorted. “You exaggerate.”
“Not by much...”
“Okay, what now?” Hitomi asked, her surprise evident in her voice.
“I know it sounds insane, Hitomi.” Buck sounded tired over the sattelite connection. Hitomi and Siege were in the “company jet”, waiting for approval for take off.
“We don’t hear a peep for months, then get a taunting letter by mail? ‘Omi’s right, Buck. Although, I wouldn’t call it crazy as much as an obvious trap.”
“I agree Cynthia. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t investigate. Low profile, though. Just because it’s a trap doesn’t mean it needs to be sprung.”
C.J. nodded slowly. “I suppose with just the two of us, we have a good chance of going in and getting out undetected.”
Hitomi nodded, “Trap or no... Where we going?”
“Don’t stow your cold weather gear yet. The coordinates the letter provided are in Antarctica. South of McMurdo Station, about five hundred miles. You’ll make a couple of hops down to Argentina, from there down to McMurdo. You’ll have inland transport waiting for you. Be careful, girls. Good luck.”
Hitomi looked over at Siege. “What?”
“I dunno C.J., I suddenly feel like one of Charlie’s angels.”
Siege just raised an eyebrow.
McMurdo Station, Antarctic Coast
“You’re the doctor’s we were told were coming?” The station official looked at them when undisguised skepticism.
“I’m Doctor McCormick, this is Doctor Onoe. I trust we have the supplies ready?”
“Sure,” he drew out the word. “Maybe we should have a couple of our science team accompany you out on your survey.”
Hitomi looked read to take a shot at the man, but Siege just looked at him stoically. “You did receive orders about us, correct?” He nodded reluctantly. “Good. Then I trust our supplies and transportation are ready.” This time it wasn’t a question, and she put enough disdain in her voice to cause onlookers to start whispering.
He looked at both of them sourly and glared at the other base crew. “This way, ‘Doctors’.” He made the word sound like an insult. They followed the little man through the base to the back hanger and their supplies and transport.
A small two man crawler, much like what they used up in Greenland, albeit much smaller. The man stood there while they started getting suited up and stowing their gear.
“Is there something else?”
“You could tell me what you’re really here for ‘Doctor’ McCormick. Not a geographic survey.”
Siege smiled and walked up to the man, she looked him dead in the eyes. “Are you suggesting we’re lying? Our credentials are the real thing. You know that. You must have checked them out. So I can only assume your rude and insulting attitude has to do with gender.” He had the grace to wince slightly. “Be aware that I can have you fired and replaced with a word.” She whirled around and went back to the crawler, stopping at the door to look back at the base leader. “And next time you say our names in that tone, you will regret it.”
She left the man staring after her as she climbed inside and belted in. Hitomi was looking at her a bit wide-eyed. “What? Too harsh?”
Hitomi shook her head, “No, not enough, really.” C.J. raised a questioning brow, “Well, I think that’s the most I’ve heard you talk all at once all year.”
Siege snorted. “You exaggerate.”
“Not by much...”
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