Chapter 184 -- LFN Storyboard 2

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 03:26:13 10/19/08 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-0-24.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.0.24
Subject: Chapter 184
In reply to: taurus 's message, "The Rising Dragons - continued" on 08:30:04 09/28/08 Sun

Chapter 184

The gas permeating through the room was having a quicker effect on Nikita than on Michael. Struggling to keep alert she felt the heavy weight of her head on her neck as it lolled forwards. Although she struggled to keep her body upright and had little control over her head�s movements, Nikita forced herself to push her head backwards again. However, it was an effort to keep conscious as she felt herself becoming more and more lethargic. Suddenly she fell forward again but Nikita fought the need to go to sleep. What was that noise? Was her mind was playing tricks on her? She could have sworn she heard gunshots. Was she hallucinating? Surely Michael had heard them too?

The sound repeated ... It was gunshots.

Slurring her words somewhat Nikita uttered, �Michael ... did you ... did you hear that?�

Michael�s hand tightened on hers and his body became rigid. �Yes� he replied realising that the team had finally arrived but knowing that they must leave this room as quickly as possible. He�d seen how rapidly the gas was starting to have a harmful affect on Nikita. Her consciousness was deteriorating at an alarmingly accelerating rate. Her words were sluggish and control of her body was diminishing too. There was only one thing he could do.

With acute urgency and one last mighty effort he willed his wretched, bruised body to react. His hands gripped the arms of the chair, then moving about Michael managed to lift his body placing his legs underneath his torso. His thighs bulged as he knelt back then forward on his feet. Flexing his hands over and over then tightly gripping the arms of the chair, Michael stared ahead channelling his inner strength and Section One training. With determination, he pulled his body up with all his might and managed to break the arms from the chair thus freeing himself. Rising from the chair he immediately shook off the wooden arms and once one hand broke free of his restraints, he quickly loosened the rope bonds of his other.

His next thought was to free Nikita.

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

The hiss of the gas unexpectedly ceased. The door suddenly swung wide open and a rush of fresh oxygen filled the room. It was a welcome relief. Michael immediately noticed a difference and breathed deeply into his lungs. The quicker the gas dispersed the quicker both he and Nikita would feel more lucid.

Jasmine Kwong rushed through the door. Her eyes took inventory of the two operatives as she quickly glanced from one to the other. The team had arrived just in time. �Michael?�

He was in the process of freeing Nikita but he turned at the sound of his name and acknowledged her. Then without missing a beat Michael quickly continued in his task of untying Nikita.

Although she opened her glazed eyes, Nikita was oblivious to Jasmine who had just entered the room.

Rushing over to him, Jasmine pulled off her balaclava, so he could see who it was. Laying her weapons on the ground she knelt beside him then assisted him in releasing Nikita by helping to remove the various restraints binding her to the chair. Nikita had not spoken or otherwise indicated that she realized that the team had finally arrived or was in the room. Jasmine briefly examined the two operatives. Nikita appeared to be just holding on. She seemed to be in a very bad way with the effects of the gas. Sweat was pouring down her body and she seemed barely conscious. Her face was bruised from torture but Michael was no better.

Another operative followed close behind on the heels of his leader. He ran into the room his sole purpose in mind to free Michael and Nikita and get them out of this room as soon as possible. He stopped in his tracks though and quietly observed the events taking place. His rescue attempt was not needed as he saw that Michael and Jasmine were already working on freeing Nikita from her manacles.

Nikita also struggled to focus on a kneeling Michael as he worked to free her from the chair. She didn�t move she just looked vacantly around the room seeing but not really seeing at all. Nikita�s lack of cohesiveness worried Jasmine. She appeared oblivious to any sense of danger or urgency. Without hesitation Jasmine reached into her thigh pack and extracted a small cylinder and mask. She quickly attached it to Nikita�s face.

Breathing deeply she coughed as life-giving oxygen filled her lungs. Jasmine and Michael shared a look. The open door had enabled fresh oxygen to seep into the room and displace the gas, so it shouldn�t take long for the essential gas to take its full effect on both of them. Michael had obviously fared better and was more alert but now that Nikita had had a good dose of the precious air, she was showing signs of rapid improvement.

She coughed again. �Where are we?�

Michael reached up and gently touched her face his expression concerned. However, he was not overly alarmed now that she had regained some momentum from the dose of oxygen that Jasmine had given her. �Nikita ... it's me ... Nikita.�

Immediately responding to his touch she smiled. �I�m okay ... just a little groggy.�

�Can you walk?� Jasmine asked.

Nikita broke her gaze with Michael when she saw Jasmine standing there too.

�I think so.�

�That�s good.�

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

Before Nikita was able to get up from her chair she heard a male voice speak from the back of the room. �I�m sure glad to see you both alive.�

Hardly believing what they were hearing Michael and Nikita both looked up and glanced in his direction.

Pulling off his balaclava the Section operative gave them both a cagey smile. �Rough mission huh?�

Whatever or whoever they were expecting; the face that appeared in the doorway wasn't it. They were astonished to see who their rescuer was.

�Don�t look so surprised ... How ya doing Sugar?�

�W ... Walter?�

�Yep ... I'm here, and it's me. It's gonna be okay.�

He looked over to Michael. �Hey man, good to see you. Remember I did say to look after my Sugar.� He saw the recollection of their conversation resinate in Michael�s mind.

Walter�s statement had stopped him in his tracks as he�d walked away, from munitions. �Look after my Sugar,� he had said in all seriousness.

Although he�d kept walking Michael had felt his eyes boring holes into his retreating back. �I will,� he�d answered earnestly.

�Yes ... I do remember,� Michael replied remembering back to his conversation with Walter in Munitions before the start of the mission.

However it was Walter�s parting words of warning, although spoken in jest that had prophetically come to pass ...�I don�t want to have to come after you.�

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

That night, all those months ago, Walter had also unwittingly blurted out his inner thoughts to Michael when he�d handed out the weaponry for the mission to find Tony Wong.

�I must say, however, I am envious of the fact that you will get to use these Michael ... I think that's great.�

He�d watched Walter pensively finger the weapons and knew that he was remembering the old times when he had been on missions.

�Boy! � Wouldn�t I just love to be out in the field with you this one time.�

�Perhaps � you never know Walter,� he�d said in reply.

�Nah! I�m too old for all that field work.�

Yet here he was and Walter�s retort seemed obsolete now. Obviously this was his chance to be out in the field this one time after all. Operations must have agreed to him being on the team ... and under the circumstances they could use all the first-rate operatives they had. Walter was an Asian expert after all ... there was more to him than anyone knew. His time in Vietnam had honed his skills to expert status. Walter was an old master ... and his expertise was undisputed. For Nikita�s sake Michael was glad he was on the team.

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

Nikita�s stumbled words brought them both back to reality. �What ... what ... are you doing here? How did you ... get here? Why are you here?� she uttered surprised to see her friend.

With feigned modesty he answered, �I needed to brush up on my field mechanics and I just wanted to make sure you'd be able to find your way back home ...� Walter winked at her and his face crinkled with mirth. �So how are you doing?�

�I'll be fine.�

He saw Nikita�s battered face but her inner beauty was still radiant. �Mmmmm � You look just as beautiful as ever.�

Knowing that time was of the essence Jasmine issued orders, �Let's go!�

Walter held out his hand and helped Nikita up to her feet from the chair. �I guess you guys want to get outta here, huh?� he asked stating the obvious.

Nikita held his gaze and whispered, �I'm glad you came.�

�I was worried we wouldn�t reach you both in time. I feel better now that we�ve found you both alive.�

Jasmine turned to lead the group out of the room. �Come on hurry ... We need to go. Second team will be placing the detonators around the monastery any moment.�

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

Jacobs stood several feet away keeping guard. Facing the entrance of the antechamber, his rifle was cocked and at the ready to fire should any triads appear unexpectedly. When he heard them all exit the room he glanced over his shoulder briefly but his grin soon turned to shock when he saw Michael and Nikita.

He shot a look at Jasmine but she failed to see it as she spoke to Birkoff on her comm. unit �Birkoff, it's me. We've got Michael and Nikita. How do we get out of here?�

Nothing's secure yet. Can you augment a Tactical?

�No. Michael and Nikita are in a bad way. We�re going to have to keep them close.�

�Okay, let me see if I can create some space for you ... Team Two, increase your wedge by a few degrees and don�t set the detonators until I give the order.�

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

In the woods, outside of the monastery Fitzpatrick replied, �Understood Birkoff.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from ... NW, WOB and TTBH

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies: