Chapter 189 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 08:30:15 11/23/08 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-8-101.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.8.101
Subject: Chapter 189
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons - continued" on 04:46:57 11/03/08 Mon

Chapter 189

The retrieval mission by the team had gone off with few hitches except for some unrelenting resistance from triad members protecting the monastery as they made their way out. However, all had managed to escape and despite the injury to Michael, Jasmine Kwong had led the team safely to egress where they had met up with second team. O�Connor and Fitzpatrick were waiting for them signalling for them to go, but as they did so Walter�s explosive devices had detonated. The destruction of the monastery had been complete. There was certainly no way that any Rising Dragon members could have survived the explosion as the impact of the blast had sent them all reeling to the ground for cover from the falling debris. Where the monastery once stood was now just rubble and wreckage.

However, as soon as the dust had settled second team had led the way to where their transport awaited. Now all that was left was to travel back to Section One. Although they hadn�t suffered any loss of life, they were travelling with two wounded operatives. Michael and Nikita were in a bad way but that didn�t let them hinder any movement of the team to the waiting jet. Jasmine saw the way that they were being as inconspicuous about their injuries as possible, but both were in need of immediate medical attention and Section was hours away. This was a worry.

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

Taking their seats once inside the plane was done expeditiously by the battle-worn operatives. There wasn't much inside, just the bare minimum ... two benches on either side of the jet with racks above the seats holding parachutes in case of a quick evacuation. The plane was only meant for transportation but now they had the added problem of two injured passengers, but not just any passengers ... Michael and Nikita were Section�s best. They needed to be seen by a doctor ASAP and unfortunately there were no facilities with which to treat them on board. The trip back to Section One could not have come soon enough. Had they been just a few minutes later, Michael and Nikita would surely have died in that room.

Once they were underway Jasmine began working on her debrief in the aircraft. Operations would expect her report on her return and she wanted to make sure she left nothing out. No doubt he would want Fitzpatrick�s debrief too, to compare and to explain their failure to have 100% containment. Operations would not be happy for although the monastery may have been blown apart, the perpetrators of the crime were still free. Unfortunately the targets, Karen, Andy Koo and Wang Yu had managed to make their getaway in their helicopter before the assault by the two retrieval teams much to their dismay at arriving too late.

However, despite this setback, they�d had success in rescuing Michael and Nikita. They had neutralized the facility without jeopardizing the Teams, so that was a win-win for Section also. Even though it had been beyond the teams� control, Operations and Madeline would still not be pleased with these scenarios. Section One would now need to find a new lead on the triad members and the injuries to their two top operatives would not bode well for the Rising Dragons� mission. Delay in capturing the targets meant Section would have to regroup and re-profile a new mission once Michael and Nikita had recuperated or earlier if they were sighted in Hong Kong. The only positive Jasmine could think of, was that the triad thought they were dead. That may well be the Rising Dragons� Achilles heel.

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

A short while into their return flight Jasmine contacted Birkoff. �We�re on our way back to Section,� she announced. In no time she had a reply from him.

�Well done. Operations will want you to debrief on your return.�

�Yes I know.�

Remembering what they had seen on the tape of Nikita�s torture and knowing that Michael may have been subjected to their barbaric ways as well he asked, �Any change in Nikita and Michael�s status?�

Birkoff held his breath waiting for her reply.

She�d heard his question. Any change in Nikita and Michael�s status? ... Yes there was a great deal of change. Ceasing her debrief for a moment, Jasmine turned off her Comm. unit needing some time before she could answer him.

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

She sneaked a quick peek at Michael, then Nikita. Jasmine looked over at the two operatives they had rescued checking on their injuries. They sat together quietly side by side. Their human cargo was in hand but they were not in a good way. In the light of the aircraft she was able to see better. Casting her eyes over them it was evident that both had suffered horrendously at the hands of the Rising Dragons. To compound things Michael had been shot. Although Walter�s makeshift bandage had done the job to stem the flow of blood � the wound would need attention and soon ... after all he had a bullet lodged in his shoulder. How close it was to his heart was anybody�s guess. Not only that but it may have shattered bone. Michael could have fragments in his shoulder. He looked extremely pale as too did Nikita. Her body was ravaged by bruising and the effects of the triad�s torture techniques were apparent. She was gaunt and her loss of conditioning since her incarceration was obvious. Michael had numerous cuts and abrasions as well as his gunshot wound. They both needed immediate attention and the sooner they returned to Section One the better.

As Jasmine stared at the couple, her attention was focused on Nikita as she rested her head against Michael. Their protective manner towards each other was evident. That was not surprising for both had gone through a lot and having found them alive was such a relief. They had not let each other out of their sight since they had boarded the transport plane and the poignancy of the two wounded Section operatives hit a chord with her emotions. They had suffered much for this mission � would Operations and Madeline cut them some slack when they returned despite the outcome? She knew that when they returned, Madeline would probably order a psych evaluation of the two of them also considering the trauma they had faced. Nikita and Michael would be placed through the wringer once again, but mentally this time ... as if they hadn�t suffered enough. Madeline would want answers and she would wouldn�t care how she got them.

Closing her eyes, a vivid picture emerged in Jasmine�s head of those precious minutes after the charges exploded.

Jacobs and Walter had taken charge of them helping both Michael and Nikita out of the monastery. Once they had exited the building the order for the charges to be set off had been given. They�d just made it out when the building had exploded in a ball of fire. Everyone had been thrown to the ground and lay among the scattered debris. Michael and Nikita though had been the last to get up. It was as if they wanted to make sure that the monastery really was destroyed and that they could bury the memories of their time there.

Jasmine remembered looking up once the cloud of dust had settled somewhat, to see their transport plane waiting for them. They�d managed to make the Section jet for their return flight back to Section One but now time was of the essence. Both Michael and Nikita looked exhausted.

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

Birkoff was getting worried as Jasmine was taking for ever to reply. He checked his comm. Unit ... but it was dead. He entered another code on his computer ... but still there was no reply from Jasmine. She must have turned off her comm. Unit ...Why? He managed a quick glance towards the perch where Operations stood staring down at him. Birkoff could feel shivers race up and down his spine. Why was she taking so long? There was obviously something she was not saying or was not prepared to tell him. Had something happened to Walter?

Birkoff needed a reply to ally his fears that she was not telling him everything. He called her name once more. �Jasmine?�

Suddenly he heard his leader�s voice over his Comm. Unit. �Birkoff? Have you heard from First Team?�

�Jasmine Kwong just checked in but ...�

�But what? ... What's going on?�

�Nothing sir ... We seem to be experiencing some difficulties with communication.�

�What kind of problems?�

�We�ve lost contact with the jet at the moment, that�s all,� he answered.

�Well fix it!�

�Yes sir ... I�m working on it.� His fingers hurriedly tapped on his monitor as he went through the motions while waiting for Jasmine to answer.

�Good. Keep me posted.�

�Yes, sir.�

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

Jasmine heard Birkoff�s worried voice speak her name again. She knew he wanted an answer but she�d needed to procrastinate before responding to him. Breaking her mind from her thoughts, Jasmine composed herself and finally replied, �I�m here Birkoff.�

�Is everything all right? Has something happened to Walter?�

�No he�s fine.�

Birkoff breathed a sigh of relief. �And Michael and Nikita?�

�Have Medical standby � both will need attention. Michael has a gunshot wound.�

�You�ve got it,� he answered and immediately set the ball in motion.

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

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