Chapter 167 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 08:03:03 06/07/08 Sat
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-8-203.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.8.203
Subject: Chapter 167
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued" on 07:57:02 06/07/08 Sat

Chapter 167

I HAVE NIKITA�S LOCATION. SHE�S IN DANGER ...

The communiqu� had shaken Michael to the core. He felt a gamut of feelings course through his body as the meaning of Birkoff�s succinct message finally sank in. Section had Nikita�s location. While this was fantastic news, the fact remained that she was still in acute danger and alarm bells rang loud and clear in his head.

Taking a deep breath and quickly reconnecting his comm. set unit he spoke directly to Birkoff.

�Tell me everything ...�

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

Despite being overcome with relief that Michael had finally got in touch with Section, Birkoff dreaded having to tell him about the disc they had received of Nikita�s torture. But Michael needed to know what the Rising Dragons were capable of and what he would be up against in his retrieval attempt. Birkoff took some minutes to relay all that they knew of Nikita�s kidnapping and whereabouts, then biting the bullet, he finally told him of what they had witnessed on the disc.

�Michael there is one other thing ...�

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

Closing his eyes Michael absorbed the words that Birkoff relayed. It was difficult to hear what he had to say. His heart ached for Nikita and what she had endured at the hands of the tyrannical triad. However, the more he listened the more determined Michael became. He wondered what fate would befall Nikita if he didn�t find her soon, but deep down inside he knew that she was still alive ... she just had to be ... if not then there was no purpose left in life for him. He also knew that he couldn't let the heartache and rage overpower him.

Summoning all the tenacity he possessed Michael�s demeanour quickly changed and the cold face of the menacing Section operative came to the fore. Nikita�s life depended on his cunning and ruthlessness right now. With steely resolve he ordered, �Birkoff, I need you to patch me through all the Intel you have on Nikita straight away.� He paused then added, �... and send a copy of the disc.�

�Done.�

Knowing that Birkoff would have been analysing the disc for any clues to Nikita�s whereabouts Michael asked the inevitable question. �What do you have on her location?�

�I�ve narrowed it down to two monasteries on Lantau Island but I�m still working on it.�

�Which two?�

�Tsz Hsing Monastery in the south-west and Ling Yan Monastery to the north-west. Both of the monasteries are near the village of Tai O ... but the terrain is difficult and mountainous in this area.�

�That won�t be a problem.�

Birkoff was not surprised by Michael�s answer. In fact he expected nothing less for nothing would stop him from finding where Nikita was being held. �Is there anything you want us to do?�

�Keep an open channel. Until then keep working on Nikita�s location. You�ll have to move quickly ... the triad has already moved her once.�

�Will do.�

�I want to be notified the second you receive anything else of significant."

�You�ve got it. What about Karen Ho?�

Birkoff�s off-handed question cut a deep raw nerve. It was even more important to capture her for Michael knew she held the key to where he would find Nikita. �She�s triad.�

�You were right all along about her then Michael. But how was she able to avoid detection as a member of the triad?�

�I don�t know but I�ll find out one way or the other. I have her in play.�

�Looks like she�s your best bet at the moment.�

All he needed was for Karen to follow through with her arrangements for tonight and then he would be waiting. Michael�s eyes hardened with his reply. �Yes ... Karen will lead us to where the Rising Dragons are holding Nikita.�

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

Or else ... Birkoff finished. He released a huge sigh of relief. There was no way of stopping Michael now. If anyone could save Nikita, Michael would and now he would have help to do it.

�I�ll provide tactical ... Just wait a moment until I set it up.�

�Thanks ... When I�ve detained her I�ll call in.�

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

True to his word Birkoff quickly sent the Intel Michael wanted to his PDA. He viewed the disc that the Rising Dragons had brazenly sent to Section and what they had done to Nikita. Not only had they kidnapped her but they�d done the worse possible thing ... they had tortured her. Michael was enraged. The more he watched the more he seethed at the callousness of the treatment meted out to her. When he caught up with Nikita�s interrogators they would pay the price. They would suffer. He had no qualms about killing each and everyone who had hurt her.

Not only had they tortured Nikita, but they also knew about him. It was obvious that their ploy was twofold. They knew that Section One was involved somehow and by sending the disc they�d indicated that they would show no mercy ... well neither would he. Secondly ... if they�d wanted to flush him out knowing that he would come to her rescue then they had succeeded in bringing him out into the open.

Despite the triad�s upper hand at the moment it wouldn�t last for long. The one thing they didn�t know was that this Michael Samuelle was a cold Section One operative. He was a man to be feared. Those who had harmed Nikita would wish they had died because there was no way they would take another breath when he found them. There would be no forgiveness or clemency. Their days were numbered. He wouldn't think twice about it. It didn't matter what Oversight, Operations or anyone thought. He would make them pay and pay dearly.

Having seen enough, Michael switched off his PDA.

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

The sound of movement near the limousine brought him back to the task at hand and when Michael looked up he saw the couple had arrived downstairs. From his vehicle, he watched as the chauffeur hurried to open the door for Karen Ho to enter the luxuriously appointed limousine. She clambered in and the escort climbed in after her.

Before closing the door after the couple the chauffeur announced. �If there is anything you would like Miss Ho, press the button to your left and your message will be conveyed to my cabin.�

�No ... I�m sure there will be nothing I need.�

�Very well then. It will be a short journey until we arrive at our destination.�

With that he closed the door of the limousine and entered into the driver�s cabin that secluded the passengers from the chauffeur by the security partition.

�Birkoff ... the limousine is leaving.�

As Michael watched the white limousine cruise out of the car park, he activated the tracking device he�d planted on the bumper of the vehicle. The beeps registered loud and clear and as the limousine moved along, so too did the dot tracking its journey on the GPS matrix panel inside his car. Once the limo was a short way away, Michael pulled away from the curb and followed at a safe distance behind.

�I�m in pursuit.�

�I have the target in view.�

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

The darkened limousine cruised along the streets of Hong Kong Island as it made its way to the location for dinner. After manoeuvring through the evening traffic for some time the limo soon began to ascend the mountain heading to Tai Ping Shan, the summit of Hong Kong Island and the best place for looking down at the scenery of Victoria Harbour.

�The vehicle is cruising north and seems to be heading to Hong Kong Island�s main residential and picturesque areas of The Peak.�

�Thanks Birkoff ... that�s verified.�

The road leading up to the summit looped around the mountain. At various points along the way, Karen could see The Peak Tram defy gravity as it made its way up the extremely steep incline of mountain. The funicular railway continued up the lush hillside towards The Peak as the limousine cruised smoothly along the road. From the vehicle Karen saw commuters standing upright in the carriage and remembered that the floor of the funicular was angled to accommodate the passengers from losing their balance. She�d found it difficult to keep her balance on the steep incline the first time she�d ridden the tram too, she remembered.

Michael followed behind and soon caught up with the limousine, however as he did, it slowed down. Realising that he may be a little too close he pulled back somewhat and decided to pull into a viewing area where the Peak tram made a stop at the steepest incline at May Road, about 27 degrees to the horizon to avoid any suspicion of tailing them by the driver. As he indicated his intentions to turn into the parking bay, Michael observed what the limousine did. He watched as it increased its speed and turned out of sight around the bend. His hunch had been right. However, it was of little concern as the tracking device was operative and Birkoff had the limousine under surveillance. He would know soon enough when the limousine had reached its destination.

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

The viewing bay was nearly full with sightseers and tourists taking in the dazzling panoramic views of Hong Kong Island, the harbour, Kowloon Peninsula and the hills beyond. Parking his car alongside other vehicles, Michael waited for a few minutes but he too couldn�t help but admire the view. From this lofty vantage point, gazing over central Hong Kong with its towering office and apartment blocks, the harbour with its trademark white and green ferry boats and the surrounding islands was certainly superlative at night.

His thoughts though were elsewhere. Somewhere out there the Rising Dragons were holding Nikita. But where was she? Where had they hidden her on Lantau Island? Would he be too late to rescue her?

The magnitude of the task was suddenly a little overwhelming but Michael remained steadfast. He had a target to abduct.

Suddenly Birkoff�s voice interrupted his musings. �Is everything okay?� he asked as it appeared that the chauffeur had sped off and that Michael was not in pursuit.

�Yes ... but I had to pull back for a while.�

�Okay.�

�The limousine driver was suspicious that I was following them.�

In an attempt at some humour as well as trying to relieve the tension he could sense in Michael�s voice, Birkoff stated �You were!�

Michael ignored his comment.

He finally pulled out of the parking bay after allowing for the limousine to put some distance between them. Michael proceeded to follow the route the vehicle carrying his prime target Karen Ho had taken. He maintained a steady speed around the meandering road that lead to the summit while the tracker beeps continued to flash inside his car.

Then Birkoff announced, �Michael ... The limousine has reached its destination.�

Michael accelerated knowing that the target would soon be his. Karen Ho would not be able to enjoy her dinner or the view from The Peak this evening ... he had other plans for her.

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

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