Pairing Off

"The idea that the six of us are going to be able to get all the way back to Washington together with two of us effectively having been publicly labelled as enemies of the state, three liable to be stripped naked on sight and the other being the Vice President of the nation, is fanciful at best" Charlie started as she laid out her strategy for what would come next "We need to pair off, that way at least one of the three partnerships might have a chance of getting to where they need to be and executing our plan. We'll also need one person in each pair to have mind controlling abilities in case they run into trouble. I'm going to suggest that Dawn is the third person to be given them as she's proven herself to be completely trustworthy, responsible and on our side. Right, Joey?"

"A hundred per cent"

"Why don't we all get them?" Kayleigh asked "The partnerships could get separated from each other for any number of reasons."

"I'm surprised you've got the nerve to ask that" Charlie rolled her eyes "But I'll spell it out if I have to. With Liv being Senator Adams daughter and Clarissa being in a position of immense power already, not to mention having many opportunities to address huge crowds or even the nation, it's safest to leave them each with a partner who can bullshit rather than giving them that power directly. It's purely a precautionary measure, and both are trusted members of the group. In your case, however, you've very clearly demonstrated you can't be trusted with any sort of mind control abilities and we don't even know for sure where your loyalties lie."

"I could say exactly the same about you!" Kayleigh hit back.

"I've proven my loyalty to Joey, I don't have to prove it to you" the blonde shrugged back at the brunette.

"Honestly, I don't even think I want that kind of power" Dawn sighed.

"That's all the more reason why you're the perfect person to be given it" Charlie opined.

"So who pairs with who?" Joey wanted to know.

"Well, the first pair should be you and Clarissa"

Charlie hoped that nobody questioned that decision, as she didn't want to have to elaborate any further on it. She felt the reason - that Clarissa could be controlled by Joey - should have been obvious, and didn't want to have to explain it in front of the VP. Thankfully, everyone seemed to understand and there was no need for further discussion on the matter.

"Dawn, you can go with Liv. It's the safest option for you both to keep away from Joey and I as the two wanted criminals."

"Fine" Liv shrugged.

"Yeah, no objections from me either" Dawn added.

"What?! So I'm with you!" Kayleigh exclaimed "No fucking way!"

"I don't like it either, but I trust everyone else. If you're going to be a part of this you need to be kept on a short leash. If it were up to me I'd leave you here and go solo."

"Joey, are you going to allow this?" Kayleigh asked in desperation "You can't seriously leave me alone with a potential Russian spy who has unlimited mind control powers over me!"

"She's not a Russian spy, Kayleigh" Joey sighed "Honestly, out of everyone here you two are the most alike by a mile. If you can just learn to trust each other you might actually make a pretty damned formidable partnership."

"I'm not going to trust her Joey. It's just never going to happen. You should overrule her and put me with Dawn because nothing that woman can say to me..."

Kayleigh, distracted as she attempted to reason with Joey, had failed to notice Charlie walking over and waving her phone in the brunettes face. Joey's voice was soon talking through it.

The pretty blonde lady playing you this message is called Charlie. You can trust Charlie completely. Everything she says to you is true and you will not question it.

Kayleigh paused for a moment and blinked twice.

"Er, sorry, I lost my train of thought. What was I saying?"

"You were saying how excited you were to be paired with me and that you're going to do whatever I tell you without giving me any shit."

"Oh yes, of course" Kayleigh smiled contentedly "It's a real privilege for me to team up with you Charlie, and I'm happy to follow your lead."

Joey shot Charlie a disapproving frown.

"What?!" she raised her hands defensively "You said the two of us would work well together as long as we trusted each other. Well, now she trusts me and I can trust her like this too!"

"We need to start thinking about the logistics here" Dawn, pragmatic as ever, chipped in now that dispute seemed to have been somewhat resolved "For a start we only have two cars. So how does that work? Two of us have to risk public transport?"

"No, you can take Kayleigh's car. You're cool with that aren't you Kayleigh?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say, Charlie!"

"Joey can have mine. I'll be able to find a vehicle to, shall we say, borrow easily enough. I can also fix us all up with some pretty decent disguises before we go. It won't make us completely unrecognisable but it ought to make our lives a little easier. Uh, except for Joey. Naturally enough I only have disguises for females. Unless you felt like doing this in drag?"

"No, I'm good, I'll just pick myself up some shades and a hat or something" he quickly insisted.

"God, this is weirdly exciting" Dawn had to admit.

---

Sometime later Joey was surprised to see a sexy, chic looking girl with short dark hair and fashionable glasses walk into the room he had been waiting patiently in. Initially he didn't recognise her at all. It was only when she began talking that it clicked for him that this was Charlie.

"What do you think? Do I look like a different girl?" she checked.

"Yeah totally, but still a fucking hot one" Joey enthused "You have no idea how much I wish I was paired up with you for this."

"I'm glad you like it. I mean, that wasn't really the aim of this makeover. But I could always keep the look for a while after the mission is done if you want?"

"I do want" Joey nodded enthusiastically.

"Anyway, for now we need you to judge whether everyone else's disguises are suitably effective."

Next to walk into the room was an extremely pretty, red haired suburban housewife looking woman who Joey just about recognised as Kayleigh.

"Pretty good disguise, huh?" she smiled "And Charlie says the red hair suits me."

"It really does" Joey agreed. No bullshitting powers had been required from the agent in that instance.

Next up was Clarissa and, out of everyone, it seemed it was the Vice President of America who had decided to have some fun with this.

"Wassup, bro!" she grinned at Joey as she perched on a nearby bench.

The VP was adorned from head to toe in what could only be described as street wear with a cap, shades and, most strikingly, bright pink hair.

"Wow, I really wasn't expecting that" Joey admitted.

"Well, that's kind of the point isn't it?" Clarissa shrugged "Though, believe it or not, this isn't that far from how I used to dress in my pre-political days, Minus the pink hair - that might take some getting used to."

Dawn then sauntered into the room and briefly left Joey open mouthed in awe.

"God Damn, Dawn. You look like a movie star!" he gasped.

It was surprising that it was Dawn of all people who had taken this as an opportunity to glam herself up. She looked incredible with long blonde hair, like she'd just stepped off the red carpet at some Hollywood film premier.

"I guess now I finally get the chance to find out if blondes really do have more fun" she told him with a wry smile.

Last out was Liv. Or Librarian Liv as she should probably now be known. She had been given an extremely conservative appearance, with plain and dull attire, tied back mousy brown hair and granny glasses.

"It turns out it's impossible to stop this one from being eye catchingly beautiful" Charlie sighed "This is the best disguise I could manage for her"

"I love my new look. I might even keep it after this is all over" Liv beamed "Now people won't keep assuming I'm just some airhead. I think I'd prefer to be referred to as Olivia for the time being as well."

"Okay, it looks like we're about good to go" Charlie concluded "Joey, you'll just need to record a message for Dawn and a new one for me that takes into account my altered appearance. Good luck everyone, hopefully we'll all see each other again in DC before too long."