Vikingland:

Chapter two:

The streets were getting filled with people going to work. The customary Military Police patrols were moving around, keeping an eye out for the would-be terrorist or petty thief. The tourist traffic was starting up again, and two luxury cruise ships were parked in Stockholm harbour. Working as a licensed city guide from the ministry of information, Saga Wennquist was hurrying to get to her information booth in time. The subway had been delayed this morning due to an incident with a Female tourist, and a lost object. The security police had gone through the passengers very thoroughly, and they did catch a couple of villains but obviously not the one they were looking for. After they apprehended the SINless, and distributed them to the Military Police, the train had been allowed to continue.

Saga shuddered at the thought of having spent the ride with the rebels and dangerous criminals. Who knows if they had sabotaged the train, left a bomb onboard, or had planned a robbery or worse. She had a nice job, adequately paid, a crisp clean uniform with the coveted Ministry of Information logo on her lapels, below the rank insignia showing her to be a Second Class Licensed Guide. She had worked hard to get this position, and wanted to get enough points to get into the VIP class, to become one of the few well educated and trusted enough to actually get a security clearance! Then the world would open up to her. She would be able to shop in those special stores that only accepted Kredit, the only currency that could be transferred between foreign banks without conversion, the 'hard cash'. She would also be able to use the VIP line when going to Café Opera or similar high class establishment.

But to earn those last needed points, she had to get to work before the time limit was out. If she only had got that Note of Delay from the police officers that she needed to get her extension, she wouldn't have to hurry so much, but whoever slotted the police off, knew when to strike, during the morning rush. Saga was happy not to have been the guide that followed the robbed Aztlan Businesswoman to the subway, that poor sod was now under suspicion, and lost her security status, and would probably be fined for her negligence. She rushed across the street to her station outside the Opera House. Just in time, she thought, avoiding the last blaring car as she slipped through the jammed traffic and reached the Information station. She righted her uniform, her knee long skirt, the white blouse, the jacket with her insignias in the same navy blue colour as the skirt and the smart beret with the large insignia of the Ministry of Information. She also brushed over the number of speciality patches on her left breast pocket, and applying her Identity Card in its position just above.

Saga's supervisor stood in her office and waited for the hammer to drop on the alarm clock as the last guide entered the door. No report today, it seemed, but the day had only begun.

"Saga, in my office, now!"

The loudspeaker boomed inside the small information booth, and the four female and two male guides jumped. Saga had expected that she would be the last to work today, and knew she would be the one picked out for the trickiest job of the day. Catching her breath, she walked to her supervisor's office.

"Saga, I got some great news for you, and a nice job to go with it. I have decided that you would be getting the last 20 points for your promotion. I sent your score card to the Ministry, and you now got cleared, congratulations! You are now a First Class Guide for the Ministry of Information, and you can pick up your new uniform with the Quartermaster at the Army museum. There you will get your new ID card as well, with your new Security Clearance. The job will be laid out for you as you sign in, you will be getting a transfer to the VIP section as of now. Major Stensson will be your new supervisor. You may go now, Saga."

Saga could only stammer out a tiny croaking "t.. thank y..you Lieutenant Bergman"

She almost bounced up and down as she left the office of her former supervisor. She got her promotion, and ahead of time at that. It normally took a month of diligently performed duty to cash in 5 points, so Lieutenant Bergman had to cut a few corners to get her that point raise. That was strange, as Lieutenant Bergman was not known for her kind heart. Saga was beginning to wonder what her new Job would be. Transferring to the VIP section, she would technically leave the Military Police jurisdiction, and fall under the dictates of the Secret Police, SePo. The others were wondering what had happened to her, but Saga only smiled, and waved the transfer papers as she left for the door. Outside, she decided to spend some money on a taxi, and hailed one.

"Take me to the Army museum, quickly please."

The cab driver turned to look at her.
"Is this an official business, Ma'am?"

The uniform made her someone, even if it was not a high rank she had attained. She showed him the transfer papers.
"Yes, Im getting a promotion, and a new department."

"Then it is my pleasure to let the Government pay the fare. Can I have your IDC please?"

Saga gave him her ID card, and saw him slot it into his TaxiComp. A ping and a text message gave him confirmation.

"So, the SePo is paying, I will take the fastest route then, not the shortest. Buckle in and lets go, Ma'am."

The taxi swerved into the dense traffic, and switched over to the military lane, and quickly shot past the packed cars. Turning north, they went along the military parade street, the Strandvägen, and Saga enjoyed the splendid view of the finest apartments in the city, and the many strolling couples in their fineries walking on either side of the street, being careful to look after some friends and celebrities to se and be seen by. Too quickly, they turned left up on the street leading to the Army museum. As a guide, she new that the Museum was one of the oldest in the world, and that it actually was functioning as a museum, and that the office of the Secret Police was just an operation on the side. Soon enough, they were at their destination, and Saga got out after confirming the taxi ride with an electronic signature.

She walked in through the main doors, just after a tourist group with a couple of guides. She immediately turned right, and located the stairs up to the third floor. A burly Ork in Military Police Uniform and a nasty looking Assault rifle barred her way. She showed her IDC, and her transfer order, which the Ork took and told her to wait. A few minutes later, the Ork returned, and ushered her inside, into an antechamber with a beautiful secretary. Saga recognised the Executive Protection Service logo on her utterly expensive business dress jacket. There were no chairs, so she could not sit and wait. And the secretary had a glazed over look in her eyes, and had a plug inserted at her temple. She did not care about the visitor, entranced in her paperwork.

Suddenly, she looked up, and said.
"Miss Saga Wennquist, you are requested to step into that room on my left."
She went back to her other duties, and seemed to forget about the visitor. Only as she stepped up to the door and it suddenly swung open did she wonder if the secretary was hooked into some kind of security rigger network or something. Saga stepped inside.

The large office was decorated in the pompous MilStyle that was so fashionable in Scandinavia these days. A large oak desk dominated the end of the room, the walls were Royal Blue, with golden pillars, and the five crowned crest of its military displayed on the flags decorating the walls. Above the man behind the desk there hang three portraits. One of the Royal family in the middle, one of the Military High Council on the right, and finally one of the Head of the Secret Police, General Henrik Tordön.

Saga closed the distance to the man in the terrifyingly black uniform of the Secret Police. Her regulation 3-inch high heels did not make a sound as she sank down in the enormous, soft carpet. She made her way to the visitor's chair, a rather rickety wooden chair with straight back and uncomfortable seat. The colonel in charge of this office was looking at a screen, but motioned her to sit as she came closer. Saga sat down on the edge of the chair, waiting. Then he looked up at her, and she quickly stood up, and gave a brisk salute.

"First Class Guide Saga Wennquist reporting for duty!"

He actually let a smile play in his lips as he looked up at her.

"I know who you are, miss Wennquist, I also know who your parents and siblings are, and where they are at this precise moment. Sit down, we have something to discuss."

She did as instructed. A side door, invisible at the first glance, opened, and an assistant in the SePo uniform walked in with a package. She gave it to the startled girl, and vanished through the same door. The colonel spoke with a low, distinct voice.

"You have been transferred here from the Military Police section, and will start working with our VIP visitors. As a part of the working conditions, we have been preparing a profile on you, and your close friends and family. We are very pleased to have you work for us, and look forward to much co-operation in the future. From now on, you are no longer merely a guide that show tourists around the city, and occasionally supply us with any reports on discovered illegalities. From now on, you are one in the team, one of us. Your primary mission is not to show the visiting VIP's the sights, they probably have not time for it. Your mission is to keep us informed of their every movement, every action, every thought, if possible. You will be our eyes, and all the reports will be noted in your records, for further promotions. I am your Chief here at SePo, but your immediate supervisor will be Major Stensson, who will be working for the Ministry of Information as head of the VIP section. We have great hopes with you, and I will personally look into your files to give a helping hand from time to time. Welcome to the Firm! Now follow Lieutenant Einarsson to your department, but before that, change into your new uniform in the dressing room. Your new IDC and security rating is inside that package as well. You may go."

He went back to his paperwork, and the side door opened so she knew the audience was over. She took her package under one arm, saluted and followed the assistant she saw earlier. The air was much warmer outside the room, and the sound of the white noise generators was less noticeable outside the room. a short corridor without any doors or windows led to a staircase going down. They both clicked their high heels in the marble stair and pushed open a door, and exited in another corridor, with windows and doors in. The door that they came down through had closed and was indistinguishable from this side. Saga was sure that the door could only be opened from the other side. They walked to a small dressing room with a figure of a woman, and entered.

She quickly undressed the old uniform, and picked out the new uniform from the package. This new uniform was the same colour as the last, with a few different additions. First, it fit her even better than the last, and was of a much finer quality than before, must be tailor-made and of SynthSilk®. The biggest change was the insignias. She had now the rank of a First Rank Guide, and the Ministry of Information Logo was in gold instead of silver. But another thing was added to the uniform, a black patch was placed under her rank, something she had not anticipated. She almost shuddered at the thought of what it meant. Then she was handed her new IDC and left the dressing room. A few more doors further on was her goal.

The Lieutenant left her there, and knocked on the door, befor departing.
"Come in!"
Saga walked in, closing the door behind her. A pleasant looking man in his early thirties greeted her as she stepped inside.

"Major, First Guide Saga Wenn...." She was interrupted before she went through her announcement. "I know, Miss Wennquist. sit down, I have a new, but tough assignment for you. I guessed you heard about lady Miguela De Corazon, a visiting Exec from Aztechnology? She will be yours from now on..."

Saga listened on with dread in her heart. She had pitied the poor sod that was responsible for her safety this morning, and now she got that hot potato..

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