<br/>Mikel liked the respect of being invited into a room, especially if done by his father.  He stepped through the door and smelled all the scents that reminded him of his father.  Cigars being the most potent of smells.  His father's taste over the years had never changed.  The best of the best, of course.<br/><br/><br/>"Yes," he answered his father, "that little birdie is correct.  By the way, how many birdies do you have now?"  Mikel let a crooked smile cross his face as he stepped closer to his father's desk.<br/><br/><br/>He lifted the lid to his father's cigar box, and chose a cigar.  He mouthed the tip for a second, while looking for the cutter.  Finding the golden cutter, he placed the tip of the cigar into the cutter, and just clipped the tip off.  He took the lighter off the desk, and gently lit the tip, evenly. He took his time, just as his father had instructed.  The different flavors from a cigar was what Mikel liked most.  That and the scotch.<br/><br/><br/>Mikel knew that he did not quite want to sit down, as he took big strides to his father's liquor cabinet.  Taking a short glass for himself, dropping two ice cubes into the bottom.  He took the Laphroaig 1974 off the shelf, and started pouring.  He knew that he could only handle a small amount, and that is exactly what he poured in.<br/><br/><br/>"Father, honestly, I believe that they have switched strategies," he said before taking a small sip from his glass.  He had not turned around to face his father yet.  He was trying to decide whether or not to leave the scotch out for Marco.  He decided that his father would more than likely be entertaining the idea of scotch, as he puts the lid back on.<br/><br/><br/>"I guess I do not think about whether they know what they are up against.  I just think that they want help, and those that know us, know we will help. I am glad, father, that you were my teacher, and that you aren't that type of human to take over the world," Mikel said and raised an eyebrow to his father.  "Corruption is everywhere, father, here and out there," he said as he pointed out over the ocean.<br/><br/><br/>Mikel sipped his scotch, noticing that it was almost gone.  He needed to ask his father about sending for Julie, the girl from the bottle.  How weird that sounded.  "Father, I got a message, from a woman who has problems with her legs.  She lives in California, where I would send the jet.  I would pick her up, and we would have a new addition to the island.  I am not sure how long it would take to fix her, but I think it would be a great challenge for me.  What do you think?"<br/><br/><br/>His father rose to his feet, and Mikel was sure that his father would say no.  He stood as well to meet his father.  "Sir, your permission would be wonderful," he said as he reached for his father's hand in respect.