Chapter 183 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 07:26:20 10/12/08 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-8-47.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.8.47
Subject: Chapter 183
In reply to: taurus 's message, "The Rising Dragons - continued" on 08:30:04 09/28/08 Sun

Chapter 183

First team members dressed in black field attire and balaclavas systematically and stealthily approached and made their way to the inner hallway of the monastery. They waited a moment for Jasmine�s signal to move forward while second team took care of business on the perimeter of the building.

�Let's move!� Jasmine ordered and with a silent nod to each of the team members, the operatives advanced further into the labyrinth of passageways that would lead them to where Michael and Nikita were being held captive. As they proceeded along two hostiles approached. The triad guards were not prepared for what was waiting for them around the corner. Opening fire, the team managed to take out the men before they knew they were there or could return fire.

�Okay, Jasmine. There's a door ten metres to your right, down the hallway.�

Making their way to the location Birkoff indicated, the team ran down a stairway then through closed double doors that opened up to another long hallway.

�Keep straight ahead. There is a room to your left.�

Racing along the passageway the team soon approached the entrance. Making sure that they had clear passage they entered and took defensive positions just inside the door. There they stood and waited for Birkoff's signal to advance.

Watching the monitor he informed the team when the marks indicated a 'Code Blue.' �Your marks are up. Go!�

The Team immediately advanced further into the outpost room. One of the team members broke away while the others provided cover ready to open fire at any given moment should any hostile appear, however before he could proceed Birkoff�s warning alerted the team to a problem.

�Take cover ... hostiles approaching.�

They did as ordered, then from their advantage points watched and observed as several Chinese men entered the antechamber. They went over to what appeared to be several tall cylinders with cables and chemical containers that were stacked up against the wall.

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

Time meant nothing to the two Section hostages ... it was now all a waiting game. Would the team arrive to rescue them or would they die together? Despite the dire situation they found themselves in, they still had faith that the team would arrive.

Michael and Nikita didn�t know how long they had been in the chamber but suddenly they heard some activity outside their cell. They wondered what was happening. Something was obviously going on, for there was an increase in movement past the glass window. Although they could hear scraping and rattling noises continuing outside the room, the door didn't open. The two operatives watched as a couple of guards passed by. Then Nikita saw Andy Koo�s bodyguard. He stopped and looked in through the glass pane of the door. For one brief second, Nikita thought Operations had agreed to an exchange of Intel and that they were to be freed. But just as quickly as he�d appeared, he moved away from the door.

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

Andy Koo�s bodyguard Robert Ling had glanced into the room where the two hostages were seated and had given the woman a dismissive glance before moving away from the door. He had his orders and he knew what he must do.

The guards stood to one side as Robert hooked up gas hoses from the cylinder to the room Michael and Nikita were in. The squeak of the lever echoed in the silence as he turned each value in a clockwise direction until a red light came on indicating that the gas was travelling up through the hoses. The sound of the hissing gas from each cylinder outlet was amplified in the quiet of the room but this was music to his ears.

With a satisfied smirk on his face Andy Koo�s bodyguard took great satisfaction in having carried out his orders to the letter. He knew that in next to no time he would have closure for his boss. All that remained was to dispose of the man and woman once the deadly noxious gas had done its work. The decomposition of their bodies would systematically start to occur once the gas had fully permeated the room. They had no hope. His eyes cast a look towards the room where the two captives shackled with no chance of survival.

Turning, Robert and the guards then moved away. A raucous laugh echoed in the room as he left Michael and Nikita behind to face their fate.

What they did not see were the Section One operatives that lay in wait.

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

Michael and Nikita both turned at the same time as the smell of pungent matter began to permeate their surroundings. Realising what had happened they both began to cough a little as inside the room the effects of the gas suddenly became apparent. The invisible gas was starting to take effect and although they both willed themselves not to succumb to it they began to feel more and more lethargic.

Michael glanced over to her.

Nikita closed her eyes. So this was it. The team hadn�t managed to arrive and now it was inevitable. Operations had finally got what he wanted. The end had justified the means ... he and Madeline would be finally rid of them.

She reached for him, just as Michael reached out for her. Desperately grasping each other�s fingers, they joined hands and looked at each other. Michael�s hand tightened on hers. Nikita could feel his pulse throbbing under her fingertips; his strong beat matched the pounding in her veins. Meanwhile the odour began to fill the room.

So, it had come to this. Would this be their fate ... to die here shackled together in this stark room? He would not let them die unnecessarily if he could prevent it. There were too many tomorrows that they had not yet had and not enough yesterdays to remember. There were still too many things left unsaid, too few nights that they had laid in each other�s arms; too few times they had felt free to open up to each other about how they felt.

Nikita kept her eyes wide open fixed on Michael�s.

She was not afraid to die. On the contrary she was serene. Nikita was never more beautiful to him. Michael felt himself drowning in the gorgeous blue eyes that held his captive.

�Michael � I love you,� Nikita whispered as she caressed his features before capturing his eyes once more reluctant to sever her gaze. It was as if she was taking inventory absorbing him into her very pores so that when she took her last breath it would be his name on her lips... his face she saw ... his love she felt.

They searched each other�s faces for a long time then Nikita closed her eyes holding on to the moment any way she could. Was it the grim situation they found themselves in or because of it, that they both felt their emotions rise to the fore?

Nikita�s softly spoken words crashed over him like waves on the shore, just like when they had been on Lamma Island all those months ago and they stayed in the cottage by the sea. Michael felt as if he�d been hit in the gut with a sledgehammer. His breath suddenly caught in his throat. Although it was entirely possible that their death was imminent, all he could see was her. The guilt he felt for his manipulation of Nikita because of Section One as well as the hurt and misunderstanding between them over the years had just evaporated.

Squeezing her hand Michael tried to reassure her that he understood while Nikita retained hold of his hand unable to let him go. He looked to her again. This time Nikita�s eyes were filled with tears. Her face crumpled tearfully, she looked down, but when Michael leaned in; Nikita raised her face and looked deeply into his eyes. This did him in as he fought to keep his own resolve. Michael�s voice was thick with emotion. He spoke softly in reply, �I love you.�

The tremor in his voice sounded embarrassing to his ears, but Nikita didn't seem to notice. Her tears subsided as a shaky smile bowed her mouth. Her eyes scrutinised his to verify the truth of his words. Her scrutiny was intense. Saying the words had been cathartic. Once those three words had left his lips Michael knew that he wanted more time ... Nikita deserved more time.

Michael closed his eyes, then opened them again abruptly when he felt Nikita's warm fingers brush his. She slid the length of her palm sensuously against his. Her short fingernails scraped along his skin backwards and forwards caressing him all too briefly. Sensation after sensation shot through him making his nerve endings tingle. Nikita continued to torture him. She trailed her fingers lingeringly over his, before finally their hands entwined. They held each other tightly not knowing how long they might have until the gas took its fatal effect.

He became more resolute. Michael willed himself to dig deep to his inner strength. They would not die here. There was too much living to do for both of them. Becoming more positive by the minute, Michael communicated his thoughts to Nikita. Mentally he gave her a shake to keep her alert.

We�re going to live ... today is not the day we die. Hold on my love.

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

Outside in the antechamber, Section One operatives were silently moving into a better position. With stealth movement they edged forward moving from one pillar to another. While the triad members were occupied they advanced covering each other as they moved to another vantage point. Then one by one they came closer and closer.

They watched as the men hustled back and forth around the small room then stood their ground as another man opened the valves on the cylinders. Once this was completed one of the triads� moved away from the group towards where Jasmine was taking cover. As he passed by she quickly stepped out of the shadows and felled him with a karate chop to his carotid artery. The sound of his �Oomph!� caused the others to look up. They saw him fall to the ground. With guns at the ready they approached their fallen comrade to see what had happened.

The triad guards didn�t even see the Section operatives who lay in wait. Robert Ling and the other guards had not gone far when the team came out shooting. Appearing from behind their cover each operative stood with feet apart as they let fly with a flurry of rapid fire. The triads were unprepared for any attack and although they tried to engage in return fire it was hopeless. One by one the hostiles fell to the ground.

When all the triads had been eliminated Jacobs kept guard as Jasmine made her way over to the gas cylinders. Turning the lever anti-clockwise the red light disappeared as she shut off the gas supply to the room.

She hoped they weren�t too late.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from ... ATFEP

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