The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[Schipperke]

The Boys in the Barracks

Diary Entry

This travel portal between my father's glade and the Sim world was fast, but tended to leave a guy a bit disoriented.  I arrived at my new home in the barracks a little after 9 am on Monday morning.



My fellow recruits were all at work, so I had a shower* to refresh me after the trip and then set out to explore my new town.



Monte Vista was a beautiful place.  The oldest part of the town sat atop a hill.  It was surrounded by a tall wall, fortifications built during a bygone era when the Sim world was primitive and warlike.  Many of the town's businesses were "inside the wall," along with several highly-desirable residences.  Other homes and businesses had grown up along the side of the hill and across the river.

The building that served as military barracks had previously been a stately residence of a minor member of the nobility.  It was just outside the wall, and because no roads ran to the house it was necessary to drive to the town centre and then walk the rest of the way to the barracks.  I arrived home from exploring my new town just as evening was falling. 



The boys would be finishing their supper, and I couldn't wait to meet my fellow recruits.  Rough-and-tumble military lads, strong and brave.  We would go wall-climbing together and shoot baskets.  All those fun, male-bonding type activities.  I hoped I would measure up.

I walked through the door into the barracks and saw - a girl?



She was wearing tight shorts, she was dancing, and she was hot!  They allowed us to bring girls to the barracks?  I remembered Doreen, and wondered if by any chance the barracks had a hot tub.

I strutted over to introduce myself to the blonde goddess and found to my astonishment that she was one of the recruits! 



Her name was Polly Pickle, and she told me that all the recruits were girls.  "All except you, Ben Oliver," she said, grinning at my expression of surprise.



I knew there were girls in the military, but an all-girl barracks?  Could I really be so lucky?  I wondered if some mistake had been made, if maybe there was a male barracks I should have gone to, but until that was sorted out, I was here, and I wasn't going to waste time.  I immediately set about chatting up one of my new roommates.



Her name was Foxy Ford.  I thought she was cute in her little camouflage outfit with her name on it.  Unfortunately, she seemed to be camouflage through and through - all she wanted to talk about was the military.



I thought I'd better introduce myself to the Scientist who was also living in the barracks.  I asked Foxy where I could find him.  She gave me a strange look and said I could find him in the lab at the top of the house.

Up, up, up multiple flights of stairs, just to meet some crusty old science wallah.  Oh well, it was all in the line of duty.  Of course, I was extremely fit so I was hardly out of breath when I finally dragged myself to the top of the stairs.  It couldn't have taken me more than 10 minutes to catch my breath.  I stepped out the door to the balcony and met - the Scientist.



Another female!  She introduced herself as Dr. May Bea.  There in her outdoor lab with its breathtaking view of the sea, she told me of her research and pointed out the floating torch lamp she had recently created.



She whispered, "I know of your undercover identity.  Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.  When you're ready to start a mission, talk to me first.  I have many scientific innovations that can help you."



She continued, "You'd better phone your boss right away.  Veronica DeLuca.  The recruits were all chattering at supper about how DeLuca was on the warpath because you weren't at work today.  I think you have some serious sucking-up to do, my friend."

Diary Entry Ends

*Oliver's superman robe pattern is by Ausette, and can be found in the Swap Shop, here:  http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,3652.msg104560.html#msg104560

Can't wait to meet some Oliver(Bond) girls.

Wait no longer! 

[Dextra2]

That' a lot of girls. And I know that pattern, I've used it for a wedding dress!

[Louise56]

I love his robe, it is awesome! He must be in heaven with all the girls.
All the girls are gorgeous.

[Schipperke]

Sensitivity Training?

Diary Entry

Oh, joy - I had barely arrived, and already my boss was mad at me.  Well, I had never had any trouble getting along with the ladies in Moonlight Falls, so I was sure I could manage this new boss of mine.  I picked up the telephone.



"Hello!  My name is Ben Oliver.  You were expecting me -"

She didn't give me a chance to finish.  "Ben Oliver!  How thoughtful of you to finally get around to checking in!  We were expecting you at work today.  Where in blazes have you been?"

I explained about my transport not arriving until after work started, and that I had been informed I didn't need to report until next week.

"Next week!"  she expostulated.  "Did you join the Military to work, Oliver, or to swan around like some useless playboy?  Oh yes, I know all about you astronauts.  You work just one day a week - just one!  And now you're telling me that you can't even be bothered to show up on that one day?!"

"But -" I said, trying to get a word in edgewise.



"Oliver!" she roared in my ear.  "Don't you know enough to say 'Sir' when addressing a superior officer?  And don't you dare pick your nose when you're talking to me!  Stand up straight, recruit!"

How did she know I had been picking my nose?  I gulped.  "Sorry, Sir," I managed.  "I thought I should use the time to get to know the town -"

Cutting me off yet again, she said sharply, "I'd better not find out you were lazing around at the Spa, Mr High-and-Mighty secret agent Astronaut!"

Uh-oh.  I had spent the day at the spa.  I prayed that she wouldn't find out, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she had spies among the spa staff and everywhere in the Simverse, for that matter. 

There was one thing I thought I'd better clear up immediately, before she decided to blame me for this too.  "Permission to ask a question, Sir?"

"Well?" she demanded.

I needed to be sure they hadn't sent me to the wrong barracks by mistake.  "Sir, all the other recruits here are women -"

Again, she cut me off.  Up till now, she had been yelling so loudly we hardly needed a telephone.  But now her voice got quiet.  Steely, deadly quiet.



"Oliver," she said in that quiet, menacing voice, "Here's a newsflash for you - the military accepts women.  Or perhaps you're one of those male chauvinists who thinks women aren't as good as men?  Women should stay home and make the beds and have your dinner on the table when you deign to come home?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but no use.  Not giving me a chance to speak, she continued, "Those women have just as much right to be there as you have!  And I'd better not hear any complaints about you harassing them, either.  Oliver, you've just been assigned to kp duty indefinitely.  That means YOU do all the cooking, recruit.  I will not tolerate gender discrimination in my detachment!  You understand me, Oliver?  Maybe we should sign you up for sensitivity training."

There was more, but I just stood and let her words wash over me.  What a crappy, crappy start to my new job.  When she finally hung up I was dejected, depressed, deflated.  I needed human companionship, but the recruits and May had all gone to bed.  I'd never get to sleep in my wound-up state.  I thought a stroll around the town square might help to calm me down.

I wasn't the only one taking a late-night stroll.



She said she was a magician.  Like me, she was lonely and looking for company.



And she had just the right kind of magic to lift my battered spirits.



Then she ran off, and I wondered if I would ever see her again.  Ships that pass in the night.  But at least she proved one thing:  I definitely knew how to get along with women.  I didn't need sensitivity training! 

[Anna33]

Uh Oh- Oliver is in trouble.   
On the first post the puppy is too cute.

[JudesSims]

Poor Ben! His boss must have been having a bad day. He'd better get to work tomorrow. LOL

[sdhoey]

I hope poor manages to get on his bosses good side soon.

[Rhapsody2312]

Ha! He can get along fine with them outside of work. But he can't spend his work hours smooching his colleagues. Or can he?

What about G7AD3? Combines Glade and 73.

Can't wait to see what happens next. 

[Louise56]

That is one mean boss lady lol! I wonder if his charms will work on her.
Can't wait for more!

[Beezy]

Poor Ben, his boss is so strict. 

I thought of another name, since all of the recruits are female, it would be cool for him to have a girl's name. How about Olivia?

[Schipperke]

I thought of another name, since all of the recruits are female, it would be cool for him to have a girl's name. How about Olivia?

All right, Corey, what's going on here?  You been reading my notes?

Just kidding, of course.  But remember that name, Olivia.  It may appear again in the story at some future date. 

[Magz from Oz]

Just tune in.  I'm hooked all ready.  Oh Schipp, you tell such marvelous stories.  They're not Bond Girls they're Ben girls!

[Beezy]

All right, Corey, what's going on here?  You been reading my notes?

Just kidding, of course.  But remember that name, Olivia.  It may appear again in the story at some future date. 

Lol. I was like  as I read the first paragraph. I'll remember the name.

[Schipperke]

Day Two

Diary Entry

One of the nice things about living in the barracks was its closeness to the Military base.  The recruits enjoyed jogging to work, and I enjoyed watching them go.



May had given me a list of items she required for her experiments.  So I set out to explore the town's markets and meet some of the residents.  Monte Vista was never really designed for cars, and it could be tricky getting from one place to another.  Fortunately most lots were equipped with Llama stations, making it quick to travel around town.



I picked up May's supplies from the elixir shop, which was staffed by a charming young clerk.  Did I mention she was single?



I visited the market to pick up fresh ingredients for supper.  I wasn't excited to be assigned to kp duty, but if I had to do the cooking, I wanted to make sure my boss didn't have anything to complain about there.  I found a good selection of fresh produce.



It seemed that word had gotten out about the new astronaut in town.  People kept coming up and introducing themselves to me.  They seemed to consider me a sort of celebrity.  I didn't care about that, but I was overjoyed to find that Monte Vista had so many beautiful residents.



Of course, May and the recruits had to be up before dawn for work, so they needed to have supper early.  I rushed home to prepare their evening meal.  I wanted to impress them with my cooking, so for the first meal I decided to make a curry dish I had just learned.  I was sure they'd like it.



But some of them found it a bit hot for their taste.



My boss came over after dinner.  I think she was there to check up on me, looking for something to find fault with.  I decided to try to disarm her by telling her of my spicy curry and asking if she had any cooking advice.



Success!  Lucky for me, DeLuca was a natural cook.  She was happy to share kitchen secrets with me, although I wasn't sure that her firecracker tofu recipe was quite the right thing for the recruits who didn't like spicy food.



Nevertheless, talking about cooking helped me to patch up my relationship with my boss, at least to some degree. 



She pulled out a manila folder and read, "Ben Oliver.  Astronaut.  Agent #BO73, code name Glade."  Closing the folder, she snapped, "So, Mr Agent, you think you're ready for an assignment?"

This was more like it!  I assured her I was more than ready.

"Report to the French Ambassador in the morning," she said.  "He needs someone for a courier job.  Should be a piece of cake, even for someone with your complete lack of experience.  Do you think you're up to it?"



A courier job?  This didn't sound very exciting.  I was disappointed, but knew better than to let DeLuca see it.  "Yes, sir!" I said in my most brisk military tones, saluting smartly.



"We'll see," DeLuca said.  "If you can handle a simple assignment like this, maybe - just maybe - you'll be up to something more challenging.  But don't make the mistake of thinking this assignment isn't important.  The French Ambassador is a most influential and powerful man.  Keeping him happy is important to my career.  Understand me, Ben Oliver?  So you will be respectful to the Ambassador, and you will do everything he asks.  If you mess this up for me, you'll be looking for another job."

And with that, DeLuca left.  I was tired, but before I could go to bed I had to make breakfast for the recuits and May.  I hoped they might enjoy my key lime pie with extra honey.



And I went to sleep, dreaming of great exploits and exciting adventures.

[Magz from Oz]

Great update Schipp.  Keep the boss sweet with extra honey