Chapter 187 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 02:05:24 11/16/08 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-8-149.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.8.149
Subject: Chapter 187
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons - continued" on 04:46:57 11/03/08 Mon

Chapter 187

It was dark outside and the cold night air chilled their faces when Jasmine and the rest of the team finally exited the monastery at a run knowing that an explosion was imminent at any moment. Thankfully there was enough faint illuminating moonlight to guide their way to the outer limits of the grounds without hindering their escape.

Helping Michael, Walter emerged from the building with his arm around his shoulder supporting him as they too hurried away from the monastery. Michael was grateful for his support but he glanced back over his shoulder to see if Nikita had also managed to exit quickly before the detonation. His eyes darted around until he found her. It was a relief to see that Nikita was safe. He saw that she was following behind with Jacobs and the other operatives.

Once they were all outside Nikita made her way over to where Michael and Walter were positioned.

Indicating that he was fine, Walter relinquished his hold as she approached, but a telling look passed between the two men. Although Walter saw that the makeshift bandage had done the trick and Michael�s wound had stopped bleeding, he was still worried about him. Walter knew Michael was resilient. He�d been wounded on missions before, but until they arrived back at Section One and Michael and Nikita were attended to, Walter vowed he would keep a close eye on the two of them ... just to be on the safe side. If he saw that Michael needed any assistance he was there to give it to him for Walter knew that there would be questions asked when they returned to Section.

He also wanted Michael to know that he was there for him and Nikita too. �I�ll watch your back.�

Walter�s underlying message was understood and Michael responded with, �Thank you.�

Nikita saw that Walter and Michael seemed to be in a silent discussion but when she came nearer their eyes broke contact and both glanced towards her. She had rushed over to them, anxious to see how Michael was faring. Sidling up to his side, her eyes gave Michael the once over.

He watched as Nikita unknowingly bit her bottom lip in a sign of worry and gave him a tentative smile. �Are you okay?�

�Yes.�

She reached out to touch his chest. �How�s your wound?�

Michael didn�t flinch one iota as Nikita�s fingers lightly touched where the bullet had entered. �A bit sore ... but I�m fine.�

Nikita looked so adorable he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless but that was for another time and place. They needed to get clear before the building exploded.

Walter�s concerned voice broke into his thoughts. �Michael ... We've got to get out of here.�

His thoughts exactly. Michael moved. Instinctively he kept Nikita close to his side.

�You ready?� he asked. She had entered the monastery alone; he would damn well make sure that they were together when they left it.

An almost imperceptible nod indicated that she was. Nikita knew that Michael was in severe pain despite denying it. They had both endured suffering at the hands of the Rising Dragons, but together, against the odds, they had managed to survive.

Walter noticed that they were still not far enough away from the monastery when the charges detonated. He had used a new powerful substance to make them more highly sensitive when activated and having tested the devices he knew that the impact would be powerful and memorable.

�Come on lets go,� he signalled again to Michael and Nikita. �Those babies are about to blow any minute. We don�t want to be here when it happens.�

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

First team operatives were heading for the cover of some trees when they heard Jack O�Connor from the back up team call out, �This way � Hurry, we're not safe yet.�

Suddenly a deafening roar of noise abruptly shattered the silence as the monastery exploded into a fireball with a series of blasts that rocked the night. The impact sent everyone tumbling to the ground. Waves of radiant heat and flying cinders crashed down on top of them. Dust and smoke mushroomed out of the building and bits of dirt, debris and rubble rained down. Walter�s detonation devices had blown the monastery to smithereens.

Michael and Nikita fell to the ground with a thump. A tortured moan escaped from Michael�s throat as he landed awkwardly on his injured shoulder, however, the noise from the explosion muffled his cry of pain. Despite his aching body, Nikita felt Michael's arm around her pulling her to his side to shelter her body from the fallout. The feel of his embrace was a solid anchor to the churning inside her stomach. Through his tousled hair, Michael stared at Nikita lying next to him as shared memories rose to the fore. He pulled her closer. They were safe ... yet not safe. The paradox still remained.

In time those who had incarcerated them would meet their demise. However, that was not the issue now. It was important that they get out of here and get the medical It help they needed to physically recover. It would take a little time for the two of them to get back to peak physical condition but they would. When they did ... they would seek out those in the Rising Dragons who had been responsible and bring them in to Section One to meet their fate. In addition, they would also need to be prepared for the psychological evaluation that awaited them on their return to Section. Madeline would see to it that they were both put under the microscope looking for any information that she could use for their psyche profiles. Emotionally, however, they had each other � and that�s all they needed.

Around them the other operatives clasped each other and slowly climbed to their feet when the rumbling stopped and ran for it, but Michael and Nikita remained prone on the ground. Staring at the hazy smoke and dust, they looked at the wreckage that was all that remained of the Tsz Hsing Monastery ... the Rising Dragons� stronghold ... their place of incarceration and Nikita�s and his torture. Staying on the ground for a few moments they looked at one another for several heartbeats communicating shared thoughts, then gingerly they helped each other get up. Michael steadied himself and placed his good arm around Nikita. However, she noticed that his efforts were laboured. She heard the soft muffled groan from Michael�s lips despite his trying to hide it from her.

The two wounded and battle scared operatives had survived and each gave the other the support they needed to make it to the waiting aircraft that would take them back to Section One.

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

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