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

[Schipperke]

Surveillance Assignment

Tomba & chetanhaobijam:

Tomba Singh reporting Sir,

As asked I am reporting what I did for the assignment.
First a little about me, I am promoted to Medical Intern of the hospital and have increased some skills. Sunset Valley is now full of people. Many families have  moved in the town.

So, when I go to the central park, I see lots of new faces, families picnicking and children playing. I see no fishy or bad people in the park. I got hungry and so went to the bistro.
There I found some people.

An adult woman was picking on a young adult. She was insulting her.



So, here the Surveillance starts to trail this lady. The time was 1:45pm.

I was spying on her when her husband also come. I know that he is her husband because I had met him. His name is Nick Alto.



That women insulted her husband and so her husband returned the insult.



Then they quickly settled down their anger as if nothing had happened.



When talking with him, I found out that he is workaholic like me, ambitious. Even with his good traits, he can't be my ally because he is mean spirited. I also found out that his wife's name is Vita Alto and is a politician.



When gossiping with the young adult women, I found out that she is an evil snob and has a dispute with the Landgraabs. I feel sad about my boss Geoffery. The Altos want their riches.
So, I keep spying on her(by dancing to a great guitarist tune).



The surveillance ended at 9 pm when she and her husband returned home.



I also returned home.
And that wraps up my report of the assignment. And I promise that I will continue spying on this lady.

Tomba Singh,
Over and out.

[RaiaDraconis]

Vita is worth spying on for sure. Poor Blair!

Excellent work!

[chetanhaobijam]

Vita is worth spying on for sure. Poor Blair!

Excellent work!

Thanks, Raia. Yes, Vita was worth spying. She is very mean to other people.

[Sherry]

They(Altos) are fun to play though. Especially after they had three more children.
Two are good and one is evil, mean spirited.
They keep on arguing or trying to scare the hell out of each other.

[Schipperke]

Surveillance Assignment:

Keira & Swirl-Girl:

I arrived at the Alvi household in late morning, and decided to ring the bell.
Little Miraj was sniffling and coughing, he must have a cold. Poor kid.



When I asked he told me that his father was at work and his older brother had left to hang out at a friend's house. Suspicious.



I told him that I'd stay here until VJ or his father come home, in the meantime I asked him if he'd done his homework.
"No."
"Well, then, how about you get to it." I decided to catch up on Spongebob. "I'll tail Iqbal tomorrow," I reasoned.



When Iqbal came home, he started scratching away at the table. Right next to Miraj. I'm no statist, and I respect his choice, but what if he accidentally infects his son?



That was when I received the call from my fire alarm. "A fire has started on your home lot"



I rushed home, and while trying to put out the fire I was singed, (It was a whole 30 minutes before the Fire Fighters arrived!) and the fire fighters were of little use to me other than a lecture.



When the fire was finally put to rest, it was 8 o'clock. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.



I woke up to the noise of my creaky staircase. I snuck to the office and found a missing stereo. I call the cops, but they couldn't catch the robber.



I walked downstairs to brood over some soup. "Dear Watcher, what have I done?"




The next day I bounced back, and tailed Iqbal as I said I would. VJ welcomed me warmly into their home.



I heard Iqbal screaming at the toilet. I crouched down to eavesdrop.



But I came out empty-handed. I decided to instead check out their digs. I was unimpressed by the fully stocked bar in his bedroom.



I walked out to see the boys getting along well enough.



But when he noticed me, VJ just up and left. Which is strange considering that I like to think I have befriended him. But Miraj invited me to join him, soon enough I was swinging along too.



I took a peek inside a window and I'm not going to jump to conclusions.



Iqbal then walked out to tell me just what he thought of knives.



Nervous at what he was insinuating, I fled across the road but kept but camera trained on the house.

[RaiaDraconis]

Ooh, that was interesting. Poor Miraj...and I actually sort of felt sorry for VJ. Good job, Keira!

[chetanhaobijam]

Great job of trailing VJ Alvi, Keira. And good thinking of putting camera in the Alvi house.

[Schipperke]

Surveillance Assignment:

Hazel & ombradellarosa:

I wrestled with myself. On the one hand, a large part of me does not like failure and when I meet it, I want to run away. On the other hand, a larger part of me doesn't want to run away from anything, and if I make a mistake I have to try harder to fix it. Not to mention--the stakes are high. I mean, look who I'm trying to impress!

So though I initially walked away, I really had to try again. The extra credit was my last chance to show that I really could do this.

I got the instructions: the assignment was to follow someone and try to catch as much as we could of their conversations. Try to follow them as long as we could, and use our disguises. I was excited. I haven't had a chance to use my Chinese tourist outfit yet. You might think it was inspired by the enemy spy 'Chinese tourist' I ran into at the elixir shop, but I actually had one planned before that. Odd coincidence--at least, I would think so if I believed in coincidence. As it is, I think that disguising myself as a Chinese tourist, if that is the enemy's disguise of choice, can only be helpful to my cause. They may mistake me for an ally. Although with my green skin and wings, I'm a little more distinctive and hard to disguise than the average individual. I believe in general that I would be most useful in situations where I can either use my identity to my advantage, or when I can use elixirs or potions to disguise myself more effectively.

I woke up the morning of Leisure Day with the notice that a SimFest was to take place at nearby Performance Park. A perfect opportunity! Surely this would give me a chance to show up, seemingly innocently, and plenty of choices of people to practice surveiling. Is that a word?

I showed up in my 'me disguise'. This is my signature outfit--it's what I wear when I want to be recognised. I saw several people I'd seen around town. I was waiting for just the right one to pay attention to.



I noticed my young friend, Bella Bachelor. I'd befriended her on a previous assignment, when I'd discovered I have a much easier time befriending adults than children. She was a teenager now, with an unfortunate Story-Progression makeover (or perhaps she'd grown into an odd style). I noticed a young man paying her a bit more attention than I was strictly comfortable with. I felt protective of her, and while I try not judge by appearances, this did not look like the kind of young man I'd want my friends to spend time with.



Then I recognised him. He is VJ Alvi, isn't he? I remembered that Keira met him during the making friends assignment. I don't much about him except that he likes red. Although I did pass over him for making friends because he has the Evil trait. I knew we'd clash since I'm Good. Yes, I decided he was just the subject to keep an eye on.

He didn't do anything bad, though--in fact, he sat down and got out his homework! Working on homework on a holiday? Maybe I'd misjudged him.

Simis Bachelor, Bella's father seems similarly unsure of what to make of the boy. He seemed to want to tell him him for talking to his daughter, but his Coward trait appeared to be getting in the way. Eventually he lost the internal argument and walked away.



Jocasta was not nearly so retiring. "You watch yourself round my daughter, you hear? I know your father, boy--"
VJ didn't even look up. He seemed not at all intimidated. "You got it, Mrs B."
"Yes--well--" Flustered, she walked away to join her husband.



VJ's interest in Bella was clearly not exclusive. He struck up a conversation with Kaylynn Langerak, who had recently aged up as well. She complimented him for doing his homework, but when he started complaining about Beau Andrews' smell, she got irritated with him and walked away, calling him "so immature".



After a while, VJ drifted over to watch the show. After it ended, I saw him whispering to a woman called Dorothy DeMayo. I couldn't imagine what she could possibly have to tell him. I tried to pass subtly closer, and managed to pick up on a snippet--something about an airplane. Was VJ going to travel somewhere? Possibly with Ms DeMayo? How intriguing--and odd!



Susan Wainwright sat on a picnic blanket with a man I recognised as Jack Bunch. VJ came up to them, said in a passingly polite manner, "Mind if I join you?" and joined them without awaiting a response. Ah well. Lisa Bunch joined them shortly after VJ. After staring at the two of them as though trying to use infrared vision to sense some connection between the two teens, Jack attempted to strike up conversation. Possibly taking inspiration from his son Ethan, sitting behind them and doing his homework, he asked, "So, er, what are you kids studying in school these days? Geography?" VJ surprised me by responding politely enough, and they carried on a dull, perfunctory conversation about geography for a bit. None of them really seemed invested in it at all.



It seemed the moment to make a conspicuous exit. I flew to my car--the aqua Bwan Speedster that matched my signature outfit. At least, in that it was the car I used when trying to attract attention. I wanted to make it clear I was leaving.



I returned, walking, in my Chinese tourist disguise, and tried to hide unobtrusively in the bushes near the picnic gathering. However, VJ chose that moment to leave. He called a cab. I followed him at a safe distance in the beat up old Sloppy Jalopy I'd brought to blend in.



It turned out he was merely going home for curfew.



Summary: I kept tabs on VJ Alvi from 10:00 AM to 10:25 PM. I didn't learn much of value, and he didn't go much of anywhere. I apologise that this report is not more interesting. However, it is possible that the airplane  comment and association with Dorothy DeMayo may mean something. I recommend further investigation.

[Sherry]

Hmm?? Could it be VJ really is planning to do something with the plane, or is he planning on to going somewhere?
Because I saw VJ mentioning plane in both Keira and Hazel observations...

[Nandarelle]

Schipperke, in the last week or two, I've been reading all of your stories, and they're great! I just love Mr Payne.
I'm thrilled to see that this one is still active. Yay for new adventures for Ben! I'm sure ESCARGOT will be up to something.

[Schipperke]

Schipperke, in the last week or two, I've been reading all of your stories, and they're great! I just love Mr Payne.
I'm thrilled to see that this one is still active. Yay for new adventures for Ben! I'm sure ESCARGOT will be up to something.

Welcome to the forum, Nandarelle, and thanks very much for the comment.  I have to say, I've become quite fond of Mr Payne myself.  I have to shake my head when I remember that he was originally intended as a minor character that I never intended to use again.  The old boy has certainly carved out a niche for himself in my stories.  Almost as if he planned it that way.  Nah, that couldn't be true ... could it? 

[RaiaDraconis]

Almost as if he planned it that way.  Nah, that couldn't be true ... could it? 

We all know by now that sims have minds of their own.

[Schipperke]

Graduation:

It's finally here!  Graduation day, the day they've all been working toward.  What are the students thinking as they file into the classroom one last time?  Are they glad the hard work and assignments are finally over?  Are they looking forward to returning home or taking up a new job?  And how do they feel about saying goodbye to their fellow students?

Ben is too focused on the presentation to worry about what the students may be feeling.  He waits at the podium as the students in their robes file into the room and take their accustomed seats.



Ben's expression is stern as he looks down at the six students.  He begins to speak:  “Being a teacher is a hard job.  And one of the hardest for me has been grading each of you.  Who should pass, and who should fail?  You could have made it easier on me, you know!”



Fail?  Everyone's heart sinks a bit, hoping Ben isn't talking about them, wondering if they should have redone a particular assignment, maybe worked harder.  Ben goes on:  “What made my job so hard is that you all carried out the assignments in such a dedicated and competent way.  Your reports were all excellent.  Your classroom participation has really kept me on my toes.  In the face of such superlative performance all round, what's a poor instructor to do?  The only thing I can do – pass you all with top marks!”  The room erupts in relieved applause and cheers.



Ben singles out each of the teams in turn for special comments.  “Team Sapphire, you were always the first ones to turn in your assignments.  Your documentation and reporting were second to none.  For dedication and effort, the Sapphire team of Tomba and Jasper can't be beat!”



Next he looks at Hazel and Keira.  “Team Rubeus, you had a challenge none of the other teams faced, when one of the team members left unexpectedly and Hazel stepped in to take his place.  It's not easy to deal with having to work with a new team member partway into the term, but you not only managed it, you excelled at your work together.  For your ability to pull together and the consistent high quality of your work, Team Rubeus is tops!”



“Last, but certainly not least,  Coline and Ezagutza.  When the teams were sent out into the community to make friends, Team Albus had the hardest job.  There are far fewer Sims whose favourite colour is white than for either red or blue, and so I gave you the option of including Sims with seafoam as a favourite.  That option would have made your assignment much easier, but neither of you took me up on it.  You both chose to befriend only the white-favourite Sims, and you both succeeded beautifully.  For willingness to take on the hardest challenges and for your determination in seeing the challenge through to a successful completion, Team Albus excels!”



“Now, when I call your name, please come up and receive your graduation certificate.  First, Coline.”  As her classmates cheer and applaud, Coline walks to the front of the room and receives her certificate and a handshake from her instructor.



One by one the names are called and the students make their way to the podium. 

“Now, Ezagutza!”



“Tomba!”



“Jasper!”



“Hazel!”  Trembling with excitement, Hazel steps to the front of the room.  She receives her certificate.  As Ben congratulates her and shakes her hand, -



Hazel is so overwhelmed, so filled with happiness, she just can't restrain herself.  She has to express her joy in her favourite way:



Ben:  “Hazel, is that you?”



“Hey, that tickles!”

Finally it's Keira's turn. 



She's excited!  She's swept up in the moment!  Keira the Loner is about to do something she would never have planned to do, not in a million years.  It's now or never.  Ben is smiling at her.  Without giving herself time for second guesses, Keira plunges in.  “Ben, you've been a super teacher and friend to all of us,” she says.  “And now I have a special surprise for you!” 

“What can it be?” he asks.

Keira – bold, daring Keira – grabs her teacher and -



Ben stares at Keira in astonishment for a few seconds -



And then, without further ado, he sweeps her into his arms for a passionate kiss right there in front of the whole class.



And now, the students have a bit of free time before their goodbye party.

[Magz from Oz]

Keira, you go girl!   

[RaiaDraconis]

Whoa, way to go Keira!