Chapter 169 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 00:38:50 06/22/08 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-4-126.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.4.126
Subject: Chapter 169
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued" on 07:57:02 06/07/08 Sat

Chapter 169

Peter Li�Wah observed his guest�s reaction to the message his bodyguard had just relayed. Whatever he�d said to Karen had alarmed her for a gamut of emotions crossed her face. He asked in concern, �What�s going on Karen?�

She failed to reply to his question. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

When she�d turned her head to see who it was at the bar, the sight of Michael Samuelle had certainly unnerved her. She couldn�t stop the involuntary reaction that registered on her face. Although surprised she was not overly concerned to that fact that he�d found her. It just proved to her that he was tenacious ... which meant he was good. This man would be a fitting adversary. There was obviously more to Michael Samuelle than met the eye and she wanted to test the waters. She smiled. Her immediate concern for her was to decide how to play out this situation without alarming her client.

Confused with the situation Peter Li-Wah turned to his bodyguard. �Is there�s trouble out front?�

Aware that her client had spoken, Karen had not really heard the words he�d spoken to his bodyguard. Thinking he was speaking to her she uttered, �W-hat?� still somewhat perplexed at his question. Her mind was still processing that Michael Samuelle had found her.

Peter looked at her bemused expression. �There�s a guy in a red jacket at the bar, do you want my men to run him off?�

Turning her eyes towards his, Karen looked at him before replying. �Perhaps, I�m not sure.�

Karen appeared to be in two minds about the situation so he offered, �I�ll have security escort him out if you like.�

�No ... no ... that won�t be necessary. I think I need to see what he wants first,� Karen replied with a reassuring smile. �It�s probably nothing serious. I do know the man.�

�Are you sure that�s what you want to do?�

Having second thoughts about going to meet Michael alone she asked, �Do you think I could borrow your security guards ... just in case?�

�Very well my dear ... My men will protect you.�

�Thank you,� Karen replied as she rose and made her way out towards the bar.

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

Michael was leaning against a column next to the balustrade, looking out into the restaurant when Karen arrived, accompanied by the two bodyguards. She came to a stop when she saw him, her body language at odds with the thoughts in her head. Adrenalin coursed through her body as she came face to face with her foe. It was Michael Samuelle and he was obviously looking for Nikita.

�Hello Michael ... What do you want?�

As soon as he turned, it was apparent to Karen that she was facing a chameleon. She found it hard to read what was going through his mind.

�Why ... To see you of course.�

Karen stood with her hands on her hips, not impressed. She dropped her hands and shook her head slightly. �Why?�

Michael looked behind Karen at the bodyguards. �Can we talk alone?�

She thought for a moment, then replied, �No ... whatever you have to say can be said in front of these men.�

Issuing a counter order Michael demanded, �Guys, give us some space ... and tell you boss that Miss Ho apologises but she won�t be able to stay for dinner.�

The menacing look in his eye that Michael gave the two bodyguards clearly reminded them that he�d already had the upper hand once before. The man�s steely look sent shivers down their spine. Looking at him and then at each other they were fully aware that he still had their gun. Thing that their best plan of action was to do as he requested, one of the men said, �Let's go.�

As the bodyguards filed back into the room, Michael and Karen stared at each other for a moment. A different Karen Ho stood before him. The all-nice-as-pie friendly persona she had shown towards Nikita was gone. In her place was a cold calculating woman, but one who was weighing up her options now that her two protectors had been dismissed.

Karen slowly began to approach Michael with intent but she was not prepared by his quick response.

�I wouldn�t if I were you,� he said realising her attempt at a countermove. As quick as a flash Michael took the gun from his waistband and placed it to the small of her back. �Let�s go shall we?�

Karen tried to shrug off Michael's touch but he twisted her arm up behind her back and dug the gun into her flesh a little harder so that she was under no illusion that he meant business. They walked out of the bar like a couple entwined and walked down the corridor before entering the service elevator unseen by other patrons.

�I'll be missed,� she hissed arrogantly. �People will come looking for me.�

Michael ignored her jibe. Once the door closed, and with his blank demeanour firmly in place, he extracted a small needle from one of his coat pockets and pricked Karen on the upper arm. She made a small gasp of pain before passing out.

The elevator made a swift descent. Michael Samuelle had the one who would lead him to his woman.

�I have the target,� he reported back to Birkoff.

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

Nikita lay sprawled on her bed. The torture techniques had been unbearable. Unable to move her limbs, she ached all over and the pain was debilitating and like none she had ever experienced before. But she hadn�t broken ... and she wouldn�t. Although she had not lost hope, Nikita didn�t know how much longer she could hold on. If this was an example of what the triad could do to solicit information from her ... which was scarce at most ... then would they continue in the same vein if she failed to give them what they wanted? Would she ever be rescued? Where was Michael?

Resolute, Nikita recognized that it would be just a matter of time and someone would come for her. She couldn�t lose hope because that was all she had at the moment ... that ... and faith in Michael to find her. Although trapped in a situation with no obvious means of escape Nikita tried to remain positive. She could see through this. She would.

The vivid picture of piercing green eyes and the honeyed voice of the one person who would never give up on finding her materialized. Nikita closed her eyes. He was on his way ... she just knew it. He would never abandon her.

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

Flying over the rugged west coast of Lantau Island, it was evident to Michael that the location of the monastery where Nikita was being held would prove difficult to find. The landscape was well forested with few, if any pockets of habitation and the terrain looked as if it would be for hiking rather than a wheeled vehicle. Finding the monastery might be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The Rising Dragons had certainly made sure that their location would be difficult to find. In this inhospitable and remote area anyone who came in search of them would face many problems ahead of them. No doubt the area was well protected from the enemy which meant that he would need to be extra vigilant in his approach. Michael, however, was well prepared. He had all the necessary maps of the area and he had Karen Ho on board as a guide to locating the monastery as a back up. Her presence as a hostage could also be to his benefit.

Moaning, her head lolled groggily against the seat. Karen then suddenly uttered, �Oh, oh, my ... my head ... what ...�

Michael glanced sideways and it was evident that Karen was beginning to rouse from the effects of the drug he�d given her in the elevator. �I gave you an injection, it'll clear.� He stated matter of factually as beside him she woke up and stirred back to consciousness.

Sitting up in her seat Karen opened her eyes finally beginning to feel that all her faculties had returned to normal. �Where are you taking me?� She demanded to know.

�Somewhere that I�m sure you�ll recognize.�

Karen looked out of the plane�s window. �That�s funny ... I don�t recognise a single thing.�

Her flippant reply was not unexpected. Michael glared at her in response. His eyes were cold and unmoved.

However as the plane continued on its journey Karen became more aware of her surroundings. Her thoughts though were focused on the man who had abducted and drugged her. How had he managed to fly to Lantau Island when there were considerably more islands surrounding Hong Kong where Nikita could have been held. Why Lantau? How could he have possibly known that this was the island? Had someone in the triad betrayed their whereabouts?

Karen remained quiet alone with her thoughts playing the waiting game. There was nothing she could do except wait and see what Michael Samuelle had in mind.

Sometime later the plane dropped in altitude. Just before Michael was about to land the aircraft, she finally spoke once more, �I won�t help you ... you know that.�

�Oh ... I think you will ... or else I�ll kill you.�

She was under no illusion now that Michael was deadly serious about finding Nikita. �Go to hell!� she spat at him turning her face away from her abductor. Karen was determined. Now that she was forced into this situation she would make it as difficult as possible for Michael Samuelle. If the gods� allowed she may also be able to find a means of escape or alert the triad as to her capture.

Suddenly a clearing appeared below with lights indicating a small landing strip. Nearing the sight, Michael circled the strip then made his approach. Decreasing his speed, he prepared the plane for landing with his unwilling, recalcitrant passenger on board.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Play on text from ... Treason and Double Date

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