The Poly Pub Thread

[jsorense]

Dressed in a "Sherlock Holmes" git up, complete with a pipe and deerstalker cap, jsorense hurries into the pub looking at an oversized pocket watch.
"Oh crap, I'm late. The 3 hour time difference between the East and Left Coasts can really mess one's schedule." he said to MikeH who automatically pulled a dusty bottle down from a shelf in back of the bar.
"Someone's been waiting for ya, mate." offered MikeH as he poured 4 fingers of rye into a Manhattan glass and nodded toward the corner booth. There she sat behind a pile of books, scrolls, and legal pads. Mrs. Civ's brow was furrowed with concentration. jsorense approached her with a glass in one hand and The Map in the other.
"We've got some talking to do." he said as he slipped in beside her.
"But first lets have a dance. " he suggested hopefully. "How does a waltz sound? This time I'll lead."

[jsorense]

As jsorense and Mrs. Civ floated around the dancefloor to the full strains of the "Blue Danube" a well dressed man at the bar was taking copious notes off of his smartphone. From his ornate business card MikeH had learned he was one Ezekiel Sidmeier: Dealer in Fine Arts & Antiquities. That may have been his current monicker but on the street he was imfamously known as The Mad Monk. The music from the jukebox ended leaving a hush in the room, like a calm before a storm.

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

It was very late and I was dreamily sleepy. Too sleepy to think straight. I could tell Jsorense had enough energy for one more waltz. I punched in my request into the jukebox and joined him on the floor. JSorense seemed surprised at my song choice. I assurred him, "My dear Jsorense, this has been my favorite Waltz since I was a child. Don't look so concerned about the words, just enjoy the slower temp and melody." I noted he actually seemed disappointed. 'Way too much to think about.' I just closed my eyes and released myself to his expert control and direction.

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

Something seem to be jabbing me in my back, so I adjusted slightly in my drowsy state. Realizing that my wrists seemed bound, I was startled fully awake! I was immersed in darkness, the exception of a trace lighted outline of a door before me. My gasp for air to cry out was curtailed by some clothlike material across my mouth. I wiggled and determined my legs were bound too. My mind raced...'How in the hell did I end up here?' Straining against my bindings turned out to be useless. I could not clearly make out anything! Vaguely, I could hear voices and possibly music. 'Was I still at the pub?'

[jsorense]

Curled up in a fetal ball jsorense slowly swam up to the surface of consciousness. He broke surface in the grubby alley behind the Poly Pub. That in of itself wasn't so unusual. But what was different was that his headache could be attributed to a large lump on the back of his head not a hangover. Where was his hat? His pipe? Mrs. Civ? And the map?

[jsorense]

One hand on his bleeding head jsorense reached for his phone with the other. Every muscle in his body ached but whether from a beating or just another evening of dancing jsorense didn't know or care. Stabbing at his phone with a practiced thumb the cell activated.
"I.I.I.S.* Headquarters? This is Agent jsorense. Yes! Just as we feared. They've got her!"







*Institute for Irreplicatable or Irreductable Sciences

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

I kept drifting in and out of consciousness. I was still in the same spot and had no idea how much time is elapsing. Several attempts at freeing myself, had only left me exhausted and feeling frustrated at my gullibility. ' How could I have let my guard down? ' it was depressing to think that Jsorense had something to do with all of this. I really misread him and I just couldn't believe I could be deceived so easily!

I paused when I heard some voices raised louder than the monotonous clamour that had been keeping me somewhat sane in my darkened cell.
"........ing idiots! I was working on getting the information and would have................"
I tried to adjust my position so I could hear more clearly. The voice was familiar.
"...I don't give a **** if Hawass and his contacts at G.I.D. Thought they could resolve this whole issue in a more satisfactory manner! ........No, you listen to me! You tell Hawass to back off. I have some German friends who would be able to ensure he never becomes Minister of Antiquities again! .......ck that! He is definitely no Indiana Jones! He is just a wannabe!....."

My mind raced in its attempts to retrieve data. Ming! That's who I heard....G.I.D. And Hawass? Minister of Antiquities of course! I haven't heard anything about him since that whole spectacle with Germans stealing artifacts and the finger was pointed at him as being an accomplice! Of course then, G.I.D. Had to be the General Intelligence Directorate in Egypt! 'Holy Cow, this has gotten more evolved than I ever imagined.' I realized I could only hear the normal monotonous hum of voices and music, and berated myself, for not focusing longer on the conversation. My mind was racing with wondering, who would really miss me?

[jsorense]

The Red Alert had sounded in the vast secret underground headquarters of IIIS. Agent jsorense's urgent request for assistance on Operation Civilization got immediate results. The team in the Investigations Secretariat was tracking the GIS chip in Mrs. Civ's phone and was preparing to launch a drone to surveil the area. Meanwhile, on a hunch, one of the analysts tried to patch though a call to the missing 'person of interest'.
Perhaps it was time to find out what The Mad Monk knew about the whole affair. Staunching the flow of blood from his head wound with a dirty towel that was lying in the street jsorense set out to find the slippery Mr. E. Sidmeier.

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

Awakening again, my mouth was extremely dry and hunger pains began to cramp my stomach. My clothing was soaked through, from laying in a puddle of my own urine. I wrinkle my nose in disgust as the ammonia odor wafted upwards with the slightest movement. I can't believe these bastards have not checked on me. I couldn't hear any voices nor music. 'Where the hell was everyone?'

[jsorense]

Openning the locked door of the Poly Pub storeroom jsorense looked anxiously into the dark before turning on the lights. Among the cases of wine, beer barrels and liquor bottles lay Mrs. Civ, bound in plastic restraints and lying in a dark stain of her own urine. jsorense quickly went over to her and removed her gag. Before she could utter a moan jsorense took out a hip flask and said, " Take a hit off this!". Mrs. Civ happily did as she was requested and was rewarded with a splash of the most delicious iced water she had ever tasted.

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

I had so many questions for Jsorense, but my mind was complete chaos. He did rescue me and call for a taxi. I had to get home to shower, change clothes, and get something to eat. We had planned to meet up tonight, I had hoped he would explain to me how he knew how to find me and why he suggested that I best not call the authorities? He was a very strange man indeed!

I entered the pub, feeling quite anxious. Anyone in here could have been part of kidnapping me! MikeH, at the bar, grinned a friendly hello. I hurried over and handed him an envelope. "Please, give this to your friend, Jsorense, when he arrives!"

He took and placed the envelope beneath the bar, as if this was a common occurrence. "No problem, Mrs. Civ, I 'spect him to be real happy to hear from you! He been missin' you, I know!" I realize that MikeH obviously had no idea of what has been really happening around here.

I nodded my thanks and turned to leave. I scanned the room once again anxiously and then, hurried to the door. I really had to hurry, my husband's guests would be arriving and he needed me to be there to be his hostess to his hosting this function. Egad! This party tonight could not have come at a worse time! I should have told my husband about what occurred, but I did not want to worry him. He would immediately call the authorities! Looking back at the bar, MikeH was just grinning to himself, as I exited the pub.

[jsorense]

After seeing Mrs. Civ safely off in the taxi jsorense, with anger in his eyes, decided it was time for a showdown. He ran over to his car, a 1971 Ford Ponto, jumped in and roared off in a cloud of blue oily smoke. It was time for a heart to heart, and maybe knuckle to knuckle, with The Mad Monk!

[jsorense]

Dressed in his white dinner jacket, tuxedo trousers, bolo tie and cowboy boots jsorense tried to re enter the Poly Pub. But standing in the door, behind a satin rope was the massive bulk of Aeson.
"What's your ID and password?" he demanded. "No ID, no fun."
Flustered at the new, extreme level of security jsorense let his jaw drop, uttering not a sound. Then, after a flash of inspiration he whispered, " Ming and rah sent me." Aeson immediately let him through into the dark, smokey, mysterious interior of the club. Upon entering the bartender waved jsorense over and gave him a thick envelope. "It's from Mrs. C." he intimated. "What are you suppose to be? A bleeding penguin?" he sneered in typical fashion.
Brian Ferry's cover of "The 'In' Crowd" purred from the jukebox.

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

I collapsed into the corner booth, exhausted from the past few days. I hate having to entertain the wives at these functions. The men all separate and discuss their work projects, leaving most of the women discussing more silly subjects. One good thing came out of the evening, I had overheard an interesting robotics project underway to return to the Pyramid of Giza. Their only problem was getting approval to return.

[My Hubby Loves Civ]

I sipped my drink, deep in thought. I was startled by the appearance of a familiar man, sliding into the booth with me!

"Mrs. Civ, I really need to speak with you, now." He must have noticed my anxious expression, for he stretched out his hand in introduction. "My name is Ed...Ed Sidmeier, I want to warn you that you have caught the interests of some very dangerous individuals." He attempted to smile, but it seemed more like a sneering grin.

" Mr. Sidmeier, does that pick up line actually work?" I asked light-heartedly to attempt to persuade him that he was off the mark.

His expression stayed serious. "I don't have time for silly games. I know about your research and believe you can assist in answering an ancient question."