Rhiannon, The Force of Nature

The Begging Escort

One of her former work colleagues at the Tea Drinkers Club visited Rhiannon at her record store and begged her for help.

Escort: "I know you are no longer a Tea Drinker and you have left the Tea Drinking life, but I am begging you for help. The brutal Russian who smacks us around is back and he is getting worse. He put two girls in hospital. I have managed to avoid him, but that will not last much longer. I cannot afford to not work. I have not got much to give you.

I know you have a new life and this record shop is better than the Tea Drinkers Club. I also know you have another life. I am terrified of the Russian. I am begging you to take him out or at least seriously hurt him. I do not know what else to do. One day he is going to kill one of us. The humiliation of me begging you is nothing compared to the terror I feel because of that brutal Russian. I will give you all the information I can get my hands on about when he is next going to be at the Tea Drinkers Club. I am sure we have photographs of him."

Rhiannon: What you are asking is a lot more difficult than you realise. I left that tea drinking life because of what it did to me. It is very difficult for me to even go near the Tea Drinkers Club. I am not sure this is the best decision for me, but go and get all your information, including the photographs, and bring it here. You may be able to convince me to help you.

Escort: Thank you. I will be back as soon as I can.

When the escort returned inside two (2) hours, she had a long chat with Rhiannon. The photographs seemed to be the most persuasive information.

Rhiannon: I will help you. This will be very difficult for me, but I will help you. If there are any changes to the arrangements, let me know. Otherwise, tomorrow night is the night.

Escort: Thank you.

Rhiannon: Is the building across the road from the Tea Drinkers Club still vacant?

Escort: Yes.

Rhiannon: “For reasons that need not concern you, that is both good news and bad news. I will go and check it out. You can come with me. I suspect you will need to play a role in this.”

It was closing time for the record shop, so Rhiannon closed the shop and she and the escort then went to inspect the vacant building. Unknown to both of them, the best location for a sniper was the office M2 used to take out the guy who was a problem for Rhiannon. Rhiannon told the escort she would use that office to do her work.

Rhiannon: Here are the rules. You will not go to work until this is over. You are going to stay in this office and mind my equipment. I do not tolerate defiance. If you do not do as I ask, you will regret it and it will be much worse than your terror of the brutal Russian. You will mind my equipment. You will not touch it. This is part of the sacrifice you must make for me to help you. You will stay here while I do what I do, so you remind me why I am doing it.

Are we clear on the rules?

Escort: Yes.

Rhiannon: We will go to my home, get my equipment and bring it back here. I cannot stress this enough. You will be completely loyal to me or I will kill you. Are we clear?

Escort: Yes. We are clear.

Rhiannon packed up her sniper gear, including a sleeping bag for the escort, and put it in her motor vehicle. She then drove back to the vacant office and put her gear in the office.

Rhiannon: I will sleep here tonight with you, then go to work tomorrow. I will be back here after work is finished. The action is planned for 8:00 pm tomorrow.

Are you confidant you can recognise the brutal Russian from this distance?

Escort: Yes. I am pretty sure he will arrive in his car, not a taxi.

Rhiannon: Let us hope he leaves in an ambulance.

When Rhiannon arrived at the sniper site from her work she told the escort to pack everything up except the sniper equipment. It will make leaving the scene easier.

As 8:00 pm approached, Rhiannon was completely prepared and all eyes were on the Tea Drinkers Club.

Escort: That is his car approaching the Tea Drinkers Club.

Rhiannon: OK. Quiet, please.

As the brutal Russian alighted from his car, he walked to the footpath and lit a cigarette.

Rhiannon: “Time to exorcise some demons.”

The first shot from Rhiannon was in the left knee of the brutal Russian.

Shots 2 and 3 were in his thighs.

Shots 4, 5 and 6 were in his head, as he lay on the ground.

Rhiannon: “Pack it up.”

She then packed up her sniper kit. The escort had all of the other gear packed and ready to go. They were out of the vacant office within five (5) minutes.

Five (5) minutes later Rhiannon was driving them to her residence, in silence.

Upon arriving at her residence, Rhiannon packed away all her gear.

Rhiannon: Your brutal Russian problem has been resolved. Your terror can now leave you.

Escort: Thank you, Rhiannon.

Rhiannon: Of course, You realise there is no need for you to talk to anyone about this.

Escort: Yes.

Rhiannon: The intimate details need not concern you, but I exorcised some demons tonight.

Are you sure you want to keep working as a Tea Drinker?

Think seriously about looking for another job. I do not expect it to be easy for you.

But I think it is worth trying for a better life than being a Tea Drinker.

Escort: Thank you again, Rhiannon. I am a bit overwhelmed at what you have done for me.

Rhiannon: “My service does not magically appear for free. I bear the cost of acquiring and maintaining all my equipment and skills. Even the bullets do not just magically appear, I have to pay for them. So long as you are employed as a Tea Drinker, you will also work for me. If you manage to get a different job, we will discuss other possible arrangements.

“You do not have money, so your currency will be information. That information will primarily derive from the Tea Drinkers Club and the Tea Drinkers who frequent that club. This is not a threat to get you to find another job. This is giving you some insight how I am able to be in a position to help you. People owe me favours. I call them in. People owe me their lives. They learn where their loyalty needs to be.

“You may stay here this evening and make your way home in the morning. Your silence also includes silence about where I live and that you have been here. I get to be effective, if people stick to my rules.

“Are we clear about my rules?”

Escort: “Yes. We are clear about your rules.”

Rhiannon: I will make us a pot of tea.

As they drank their tea, Rhiannon spoke to the Escort:

“Before we part company tomorrow, there are some people in my network I think you should meet. It is not trouble for you, quite the opposite. It will be quick. I have to get to work.”

Escort: OK.

Before Rhiannon went to work the next day, she took the escort to Mr Loan Shark.

Rhiannon: Mr Loan Shark, This is a friendly business visit. Good to see your two colleagues are here. This involves them.

My lady friend here works as a Tea Drinker at The Tea Drinkers Club. A Club I know all too well, unfortunately.

None of you chaps are allowed to go to The Tea Drinkers Club or any Tea Drinkers Club. You are to stay away from that life. This is not a negotiable condition of our arrangement.

There is an exception to that rule and I will explain it to you now.

If my friend here needs a ride home from the Tea Drinkers Club, she will call you and not me. She will only do so on very rare occasions, when there is no alternative and when her safety is at risk.

Mr Goon and Mr Brunette Criminal, Do you understand these arrangements? You will be the drivers.”

Mr Goon and Mr Brunette Criminal: Yes.

Rhiannon: If my friend is stupid enough to abuse this privilege, the consequences for her will be severe, perhaps even extreme.

I need my network safe and available. It is the only way we can function effectively.

Is everyone in this room clear on the rules?

Mr Loan Shark: Yes.

Mr Goon: Yes.

Mr Brunette Criminal: Yes.

Miss Begging Escort: Yes. I now have their business card with the telephone number on it.

Rhiannon: Thank you for your cooperation, chaps. We will now leave you.

Outside the loan shark business Rhiannon spoke to Miss Begging Escort:

“That is a little extra protection for you. Please do not abuse this privilege.”

Escort: Thank you, Rhiannon. I will not abuse this privilege.

Rhiannon: I have to go to work. Good-bye and good luck.

Rhiannon, The Force of Nature

During a bit of a quiet period at MI6, The Famous Five found themselves gathered in the office of Nicky Parsons.

Nicky: This is not a team meeting. This is just a get-together for a friendly chat.

The conversation eventually turned to Rhiannon.

Harriet: What happened to Rhiannon?

M1: One thing that happened to Rhiannon was we threatened to kill her, a lot.

M2: What Rhiannon does is not much different to what M1 and I would do, but we are constrained by the rules of MI6.

M1: That is an accurate assessment.

The Stuffy Shirts all looked at M1 and M2 with surprise.

M2: I am surprised that you are surprised. It seems you do not know me as well as I thought.

M1: “The news for today is that you three Stuffy Shirts are not the only enigmas in this organisation.

Understanding Rhiannon is not complex at all.

She met M2. She accepted that she was in the scope of an MI6 sniper every moment of her life with M2. Letting him down was not an option. The threats to her became diluted and then meaningless. She had and has no intention of being disloyal or unfaithful to M2. I misjudged her.

“Rhiannon got a new job and a chance at a new life. She learned new skills to protect and defend herself in her new life, the life that involves M2, a very dangerous life.

Rhiannon is fiercely protecting her new life.”

Nicky: Rhiannon is now a force of nature.

M1: Rhiannon reacted to her circumstances, some of which we forced on her. I admire what she has become, including being fiercely protective of M2. 

Also, I have no idea what you are talking about. Rhiannon is an ordinary record shop girl now.

M2 laughed. “Rhiannon is my favourite ordinary record shop girl.”

Emily: I remember when she first approached Nicky and I at the Minor Key Café. She could not possibly have known at that time this would be her future. It was her persistence that got us involved. And now she is a force of nature.

Harriet: I am glad you did not shoot me at the record shop, M2.

Nicky: Rhiannon, the ordinary record shop girl and force of nature, is on our side. I intend to learn to live with her.

Bank Robbers Learn a Lesson

It was just before 10:00 am on a Tuesday morning and business at the record shop was quiet.

Rhiannon to the Store Owner: This looks like a good time for me to go to the bank with the takings from yesterday. I do not plan to be long.

Store Owner: OK.

As Rhiannon approached the bank, something appeared to be off. Then she realised a bank robbery was in progress. Rhiannon located her firearm.

The would-be robber at the door of the bank took a precision shot to his left knee and he dropped to the ground in agony.

Cautiously, Rhiannon then entered the bank. The would-be robber apparently trying to control the customers took two precision shots: one to each thigh. He quickly made his way to the ground, also in agony.

The would-be robber at the teller took two shots from Rhiannon: one in each calf. As he lay writhing on the ground, Rhiannon walked purposely to him. She grabbed him by the hair and made him face her. She put her firearm to his forehead and said:

“Never rob banks in this neighbourhood.”

Rhiannon then ended his life with a shot to his forehead.

She then approached another teller: Can I deposit this money? I have to get back to the shop.

Teller: Certainly.

Their banking business was conducted very swiftly.

Rhiannon: Thank you, Mr Bank Teller.

As she was about to leave, Rhiannon asked loudly: By the way, did anybody see anything?

A chorus of “No” greeted her question.

Rhiannon: “Enjoy your day, everyone.”

She then returned to the record shop.

By the time Rhiannon was back at her record shop, police had arrived at the bank.

The would-be bank robbers were obvious and so were their injuries.

Police: What happened here?

The Bank Accountant: Some very clumsy bank robbers tried to introduce themselves to us.

Police: All three of them have gunshot wounds. One of them is dead.

The Bank Accountant: Like I said, very clumsy bank robbers.

Police: So, you have no idea how they acquired these gunshot wounds?

The Bank Accountant: A bank robbery is a very traumatic experience. I certainly did not shoot them.

Police: Did you see who shot them?

The Bank Accountant: No.

Police: Did anyone here see who shot them?

A chorus of “No” greeted the police question.

Police: I see. All you know is these clumsy bank robbers ended up with gunshot wounds?

The Bank Accountant: Correct.

Police: OK. We will clean this up as soon as we can and your bank can get back to business.

The Bank Accountant: Thank you.