----- A government building somewhere in Washington, D.----- A government building somewhere in Washington, D.C. ----- "Your mission, gentlemen, is to go out and spread love to those unfortunate men and women who do not presently experience it." SNAP! The Director's pointer smacked the large map of the U.S. on the wall behind him. "Abrams!" The man seated at the desk directly to my right looked up smartly. "You will patrol the metro D.C. area," the Director said, indicating the territory by circling it on the map with the pointer. "Here is your PLED." Abrams got up and strode to the front of the room, where the Director handed him a manila folder and a device that looked something like the tricorder from "Star Trek". "Baker! You will cover New York City." Someone in the back of the room walked up and received his manila folder and PLED. More names were called; more agents received their materials. Bossaker, Brown, Campbell, Cannon, Cogswell... "Davis!" That's me! "You will cover Orange County in California." I could hear some chatter behind me. "Ooooh weee! That's where the BABES are!" somebody whispered. I got up and received my folder and PLED from the Director, and returned to my seat. As more names were called and assignments made, I examined my Portable Love Enhancement Device. It had one pushbutton on the side, a knob on the other, and a small video screen on the back. On its side was the Rockwell logo, and on the other side was a pink heart pierced by an arrow. This device was the end result of a fifteen-year research project spearheaded by the ultra-secret U.S. Department of Sex. I opened my folder and began to read the contents to pass the remaining time. Besides instructions on how to operate the PLED, the folder con- tained my plane ticket to LAX, a complete set of checks, credit cards, and an ATM card to cover my living expenses, the keys to the new apart- ment where I would be living, and the keys to the Lotus that would be awaiting me at the airport. |