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Date Posted: 06:44:20 02/03/07 Sat
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: WNPP-p-203-54-36-48.prem.tmns.net.au / 203.54.36.48
Subject: Chapter 96 (V)
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 21:09:02 01/20/07 Sat

Chapter 96(V)


The alleyway was a scene of mayhem, but people gradually came out from their hiding places. Shop owners and sellers surveyed the damage and attempted to right their belongings while others sought to find a quick exit from the alleyway in case something like what had just taken place would happen again.

Stepping over the lifeless man on the ground Michael, however, continued down the alleyway as if nothing had happened. He was a man on a mission and he knew that Madame Cheung would have taken the opportunity to make her getaway in all of the commotion to disappear further into the crowd. Men and women watched the black clad man casually walk away seemingly oblivious to what had just taken place. They stepped aside for him in awe but trepidation also, too frightened to look him in the eye. Everyone gave him a wide berth hoping to avoid his attention in any way.

“Any sign of Madame Cheung Michael?” Nikita asked.

“Not yet. Did you patch this location to the other Teams?”

“Yeah. They’re re-tracking.”

“Good.”

“What now?”

“Stay alert. She's smart. She could be anywhere.”


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


Madame Cheung’s bodyguard’s fatal attempt to halt Michael and Nikita’s pursuit only confirmed that they were getting closer and that she couldn’t be that far in front of them. The alleyway was surrounded by shops so there was no way of escape unless she had hidden in one of them which unfortunately was a possibility. However, given the premise that she would need to exit the alley before she could really make a clean getaway, it was logical that Madame Cheung had persevered with this route.

Weaving his way down the alleyway, Michael ran with a determined stride with Nikita running after him. Ever watchful they continued in the same direction when suddenly he stopped. There not too far ahead of him he saw a woman hurriedly retreating at the end of the alley. She was trying to be inconspicuous and blend in with the people thronging about in the narrow lane but sensing that someone was following her, she turned. That was her mistake. Realising that it was indeed Madame Cheung, Michael set off at a run. She in turn saw who was in pursuit and although surprised at who her pursuer was she bolted.

“Nikita ... Target in sight. Let's go.”

“Where?” Nikita asked finally catching up with him.

“Fifty metres ahead.”

“How do you want to proceed?”

“We’ll take her alive.” Michael responded and motioned to Nikita to follow him down the alleyway at a distance.

“Okay.”

He nodded at her, then Michael and Nikita gave chase. They darted out once more along the street. Taking the lead and resolute in his quest, Michael ran faster and swifter than Nikita whose gangly gait slowed her down somewhat. He raced down the alley like a leopard in full stride in hot pursuit of the target Madame Cheung. He quickly picked up speed. Nikita hurried to keep up with him as they ran quickly down the crowded lane pushing and barrelling their way past fruit vendors, shops and restaurants. People jumped out of their way as they did so cursing in a flurry of Thai at the madman careening down the packed lane and the woman running with him.

With the heels of his feet clipping his backside, Michael ran fast but given her headway, extreme agility and timely diversion by her bodyguard, Madame Cheung soon disappeared around a corner out of sight. Realising that she had no means of escape they continued their pursuit rounding the corner after her. Unfortunately Nikita crashed into a man who didn’t see her coming and she fell to the ground. Michael looked back when he heard her gasp, but Nikita waved him on and he continued with the chase.

Some way ahead Madame Cheung stopped to look back once more to see if she had lost her pursuer, or if he was gaining on her. Wearing a black T-shirt and a leather jacket, with his hair pulled back and wearing sunglasses, Monsieur LeDeaux looked more like a Terminator than the man she had come to know. How could she have been so wrong about his character? She had been well and truly hoodwinked by his charming personality. But why was Jacques LeDeaux chasing her? Who was he really?

Trying to avoid him, Madame Cheung made a dash through the opened back door of the nearest building. She found herself in the kitchen of a restaurant that backed onto the street. Surprise registered on the faces of the staff to see the sight of the well dressed woman apparently in a great hurry scurrying through their working area as if the devil was nipping at her heels. To some it was quite comical. They stopped what they were doing to watch the antics of the woman and the bemused chefs got out of her way not quite realising what was going on.

Realising there was an unauthorised person on the premises, the Maitre-D asked tersely as he came near. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

However, Madame Cheung made no attempt to explain her presence in the kitchen and pushed him away and any other personnel who approached her. Whatever the woman was doing in the kitchen of the restaurant was a mystery to them all.

“Madame you’re not allowed in the kitchen area!”

“Get out of my way,” she bellowed as if she had every right to be there.


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


Déjà vu.

The bewildered staff had little time to recover from the first intrusion when there was another. Each person looked around at the others in the kitchen as they watched what was unfolding. Not only had there been a woman in the preparation area but she was being followed by a black clothed man in hot pursuit. The staff got out of the way when they saw Michael, knowing it was useless to try and intervene. Obviously the woman must have stolen something from this vendor and he was out to make retribution. They shook their heads in disbelief wondering if that was the end if it.


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


Seeing the doors to the main restaurant area Madame Cheung hurried in that direction, however, she nearly fell over as a waiter came through the revolving door and bumped into her. His dishes flew up into the air and fell to the ground with a crash as she pushed him out of the way in her haste to get away. Madame Cheung stumbled nearly loosing her footing. This slowed her down to some extent which allowed Michael to gain on her. She burst through the crowded restaurant as patrons who had heard the crash and noise in the kitchen area looked on wondering what the heck was going on.

Knowing that Madame Cheung had very little chance of escape, Michael reached into his inner jacket pocket and withdrew his laser gun. He followed her into the Chinese restaurant. Standing in the doorway Michael saw Madame Cheung trying to find an escape route but she had very few options. She had taken a wrong turn and now was cornered by the tables in the restaurant. Aiming his weapon, Michael shot above her head. Completely focused on the target he ignored the people scattering to get out of gun range. People began to scream and disperse thinking that the police were raiding the restaurant. People raised their hands in the air while others took coverage under their tables trembling in fright.

Madame Cheung was caught like a rabbit in headlights. She stopped bolting.

Michael casually lowered his gun to his side. With a slow, nonchalant stride he approached her, his gun swinging as he walked towards her. However, the terrified patrons cowered away from the formidable man who still had a lethal weapon in his hand, not knowing if he would use it again.

She turned slowly towards her pursuer. Standing her ground, she watched defiantly as Monsieur LeDeaux moved closer to her. As he did so, Madame Cheung’s face reflected in his sunglasses.

Dressed all in black, Michael stood with legs apart holding his gun at his side, a complete contrast to the character he’d been playing. His eyes were cold, unflinching ... menacing.

“What the hell is this Monsieur LeDeaux? Or is it?”

Michael didn’t reply to her veiled question.

“Who the fuck are you?” she shouted. “And what the hell are you doing chasing me in here? ... Do you have any idea of who you are dealing with?”

Ignoring her tirade, he merely grabbed Madame Cheung by the shoulders and shoved her against the far wall, placing his gun next to her head and quietly requested, “Come with me, please.”

She glared at him in contempt.


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


Nikita soon arrived and stood menacingly at Michael’s side.

Madame Cheung averted her eyes and looked at her. Surprise registered and her pupils dilated. Glancing from one to the other she finally realised their subterfuge and that they had duped her. Shock soon turned to contempt. In her most vitriolic manner Madame Cheung spat at Nikita, “YOU!”

“Yes, me.”

“YOU... You betrayed me!”

Ignoring her outburst, Michael placed his hand on Madame Cheung’s shoulder to lead her away. She recoiled, shaking her body to dislodge his touch, but to no avail. As she moved forward, Madame Cheung looked back at the woman she had trusted. Looking Nikita square in the eye and without faltering, she leaned towards her speaking tersely. “Beware Nikita! The Rising Dragons will retaliate with a rampant vengeance for my capture. Mark my words. Your days are numbered!”

With her head held high she walked out beside Michael with Nikita following behind.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on Text from ... Darkness Visible and Psychic Pilgrim

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