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Date Posted: 01:31:23 08/21/05 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: wnpp-p-144-134-167-71.prem.tmns.net.au / 144.134.167.71
Subject: Chapter 19
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons" on 11:57:40 08/13/05 Sat


Chapter 19



Michael surreptitiously studied the alluring woman standing next to him in the elevator who had cheekily waved to a stoic Superintendent Zheng as they’d left his office. He quietly applauded Nikita’s bravado in winning him over this morning as her handling of the hardnosed policeman had been effortless. Zheng had fallen under her charm since Nikita had arrived at police headquarters, while her naturalness had endeared her to her colleagues as well. She never failed to spread her charm everywhere it would seem, managing to captivate all kinds of people spontaneously with her compassion. However it was this very compassion that Section One wanted to crush, but Michael knew it was such an integral part of who Nikita was and why she did the things she did.

The lift eventually came to a stop and once outside the building, they made their way to the parking lot where a car was waiting for them. Jimmy Lau directed them to a gleaming, black, Mercedes coupe compliments of the Hong Kong police department parked in the shade of a tree. “Nothing but the best it would seem,” Jimmy stated as he guided them to the impressive car.

“Very nice Jimmy,” Nikita replied as she examined the car.

He looked at Michael warily as he handed him the keys to the vehicle. “We have the highest number of Mercedes Benz's per capita in the world … you’ll just look like any other young millionaire in Hong Kong in that little beauty.”

Michael just gave him a penetrating look, took the keys and made his way to the driver’s side of the car.

Turning back towards Nikita to help her into the vehicle, Jimmy mumbled quietly under his breath. “Sheesh … doesn’t he ever lighten up? That guy’s wound up as tight as a spring.”

“What did you say Jimmy?”

“Ahh! Nothing important,” he said holding Nikita’s door open for her to enter the Mercedes.

“Thank you,” Nikita responded smiling, as she hopped into the passenger seat.

He closed the door after her with a firm hand. “See you when you get back,” Jimmy replied, then looking at her hopefully while leaning on the window frame he added, “You sure you don’t want me to be your driver?”

Impatient to leave, Michael cast another blank look Jimmy’s way as his leather-gloved hand turned on the ignition and the car idled.

“Driving in Hong Kong is a nightmare … you saw that on the way here from the airport.”

“We’ll be fine.”

Unremittingly he continued, “The highway system is complex, with clogged roads and devilish parking.”

“Stop it Jimmy! You’re incorrigible!” Nikita laughed indulgently.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying? Can you?” He winked cheekily. “Good luck.”

Revving the engine with some irritation to be on their way, Michael skilfully manoeuvred the car past Jimmy Lau when he finally stepped away from Nikita’s open window.

“What’s the matter Michael?” Nikita asked as she glanced at him.

Michael merely gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, returning her look with his patent blank stare and concentrated on manoeuvring the Mercedes from the police station car park into the busy morning traffic. His failure to answer her question verbally had itself been Nikita’s answer.

“Hmm ... Patented Michael answer ... the blank stare. I’d swear you were a little jealous…” she thought happily.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Leaving the police station behind them, Michael and Nikita’s destination was the floating city of Aberdeen, the largest satellite town on the southwest side of Hong Kong Island, where the junk obviously originated looking for a proverbial needle in a haystack.

Michael’s driving expertise was surely tested in the congested traffic on the road leading to their entry point. A bewildering plethora of buses, narrow double decker trams and cars clogged the streets as the bustle of people living and working here went about their business. Hong Kong Island, the glitzy big brother of Kowloon was tightly packed with overcrowded housing areas and financial centres towering into the skyline … a paean to market capitalism. Opulence and poverty existed side by side in a country where Chinese culture was assimilated with Colonialism extending back to the Opium War and British sovereignty.

They drove along Causeway Bay heading toward Aberdeen, on the southern side of the island, where 6000 people lived or worked on junks anchored in the harbour. The day was typical of Hong Kong's temperate climate warm and barmy, and Nikita opened her window to let in the breeze as they sped along the motorway. The air whipped her tresses around her face but Nikita didn’t care. She felt free although at the back of her mind the mission was still paramount in her head.

Travelling in relative silence along the motorway, each was lost in thoughts of the other. The atmosphere in the car was relaxed for Section One’s two operatives. Driving along it was so simple for Michael and Nikita to feel that they were two people on an adventurous holiday seeking out exotic locations, just like any other normal couple. Nikita casually glanced over at Michael wishing that last night had ended differently, but knowing that they would have other opportunities to be together. She smiled as if the cat had just swallowed the canary. Yes, she was sure there would be another time and another place and … besides she still had to show Michael the view from her apartment. Pensively, Nikita looked out of the window lost in thought.

Michael cast a look Nikita’s way with similar thoughts running through his mind also. He saw her self-satisfied smile, as nothing about her moods escaped him. Last night had been so similar to other times when they had been interrupted. They had only just begun to get started when … wham! Michael could see the funny side of it however, and a small wry smile crossed his lips at the thought that Birkoff was not the only one who could dampen the mood.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Turning his eyes back to the road, Michael manoeuvred the Mercedes through the busy, Hong Kong Island traffic. Eventually he entered Hardcourt Road and headed toward the entrance to Aberdeen Tunnel on the Wan Chai Side. Jimmy had said that the traffic was a nightmare and how true were his words. Cars and vehicles of all shapes and sizes clogged the roads. The motorway was packed but Michael placed the car in auto drive and settled in for the long haul to Aberdeen. Along the way they passed through many residential and business districts but the steady stream of traffic seemed to follow them with no sight of it petering out.

After some time Nikita saw the exit for Aberdeen and Michael veered the car to the Wang Chuk Hang Side of the Aberdeen Tunnel, knowing that soon as they arrived in Aberdeen they would be looking for a package that would lead them to Sun Yee Lok the leader of the Rising Dragons triad.

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