Chapter 173(V) -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 03:23:32 07/20/08 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-7-251.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.7.251
Subject: Chapter 173(V)
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued" on 06:16:31 07/06/08 Sun

Chapter 173(V)

Entering the briefing room Operations took his seat at the table then leaning forward, his eyes moved swiftly over the operatives gathered. Jacobs and Jasmine Kwong, Michael�s team members, were assembled around the table with operatives Fitzpatrick and O�Connor who had also been called in to assist in the mission as well. Along with Madeline and Birkoff, Walter too had been asked to attend as he was well versed in Asian weaponry that the teams may need. They all watched their leader as he swung his reading glasses from his fingers and waited for what he was about to say. Determination hardened his features.

Operations surveyed the Briefing Room once more before beginning. �What I�m about to tell you is level one classified which means your panels will not be loaded. What you need to know will be said here.�

He continued. �The details of Michael and Nikita�s mission have been leaked to the Rising Dragons. Nikita has been compromised. They have kidnapped and tortured her and know that she is Section but are not sure of Michael�s role.� Operations� steely gaze skimmed those gathered before turning to face Birkoff. He asked for the holograph to be displayed.

Birkoff typed in the command and a visual, aerial picture of the monastery appeared automatically. Those gathered around peered at the screen as Birkoff relayed the Intel of the location. �This is the Tsz Hsing Monastery in the south-west of Lantau Island. Nikita is being held captive here. The monastery is in an isolated wooded area inaccessible except for one road that is not sealed.�

�A Contingency Three has been enacted. Michael is in retrieval mode but by land. Due to the remote location, he will need backup for this mission ASAP,� Madeline added.

�What progress has he made?�

�We�ve lost contact with him so we must assume that Michael has been able to reach the monastery. He does have a hostage with him ... Karen Ho was seized two days ago at Victoria Peak. Since then, the last communication with Michael has been spasmodic.�

Analysing what had been said already, Jasmine voiced a question. �How do you suggest we proceed then? ... Going overland will take hours.�

�The best mode of rescue is by air. The monastery�s location is about five miles as the crow flies from here ... the fishing hamlet of Tai O,� Birkoff announced pointing to the village. �As there is only one access road and the triad would see you coming, the teams will have to enter from the woods to avoid detection. We know that the monastery has surveillance around the perimeter so you will need to disable the system as well. Approach will be on foot.�

�What about hostiles. How many are there?�

�I have no Intel on how heavily guarded the monastery will be. Unless Michael communicates with us, you�ll all be flying blind. However, once you are on site, if you plant a scanner ... then I�ll be able to give you an accurate body count reading.�

�Even so Birkoff, our chances of getting Nikita and Michael out are no more than fifty percent ... even if we don�t know how many hostiles there are on site.� Jasmine Kwong replied.

To Operations her question was superfluous. �60%, 50, they�re just numbers. We trust that the team will be successful and will get them.�

Continuing their learder laid out his requirements for the mission retrieval. �The Rising Dragons are a Class-A Threat. We�ll Increase density and add backup. I want two-man shadow teams, wide coverage. Fitzpatrick will have point. Once the triad surfaces to engage, he will move his team in and eliminate the faction. If there are any survivors they will be returned to Section One for interrogation. Jasmine and Jacobs will enter and retrieve our captured operatives.�

Section�s leader had obviously seen fit that this mission would be successful and had provided the extra operatives for the two teams to converge on the monastery. There was no room for failure. If they suspected that there could be numerous triad members at the monastery it was important to provide the necessary manpower to capture or eliminate them all. Operations glance at those around the table. �Walter will explain and provide the necessary weaponry for your use. You can pick them up when you leave. That is all.�

A voice suddenly broke the silence in the room. �I would like to volunteer for this mission.�

Everyone glanced over in surprise to the person who spoke.

Walter had been sitting at the briefing table biding the right time to interject. It was his intention to do more than just verse the team on the weaponry they�d need on this mission. He was going into the field and nothing would stop him. It was his intention to be there when his Sugar was rescued.

Operations glanced at Madeline then back at Walter, but before he could reply Madeline interjected. �I think that would be an excellent idea ... especially given the expertise he has with firearms and explosives.�

The look she gave Section�s leader was compelling. �Walter could be a great asset to the team.�

Interpreting her thoughts on this occasion came easy to him. Operations faced Walter. �Very well then permission granted.�

�Thank you,� he replied pleased as punch at his coup. Although he hadn�t been in the field since the Terrogamo mission with Birkoff, Walter felt a rush of adrenalin at Operations answer. Nikita was in danger; he may be older than the other operatives, but Walter knew he had the smarts to be a valued member of the team to rescue her.

�That will be all ... Prepare your teams.� Operations rose and left the Briefing room.

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

Nikita hung from the rafters once more as Eddie and Steven prepared her for another round of interrogation from Andy Koo.

�I�m sorry it has come to this Nikita but you have not yet given us the answers we want.�

�Go to hell!�

Silence stretched between them and Nikita wondered what he would try next.

�Pain is a lethal weapon ... It makes people tell you what you want to hear. Are you prepared to suffer more pain for the sake of an organisation that has abandoned you and a lover who will never find you Nikita?�

Her steely eyes were defiant. Andy was finding it difficult to find a crack in her doggedness. He signalled to the two men to bring forward the display case on the table to the side. Nikita�s eyes followed their movement then rested on the implements he boldly displayed before her.

�I�m sure you are familiar with some of these devices ... but I�m sure you don�t know how the triad uses them to elicit what information we want.�

Nikita watched as Andy picked up a particularly fearsome looking gadget. �Many of these instruments date back for centuries. They were very effective then ... they are very effective still ...� He gave her a wry look, �Need I continue?�

Although weak and suffering from the position they had placed her in again, Nikita looked at Andy with murderous eyes and clenched her teeth with rage. �What is it that you want from me?�

�The truth ... I want the truth.�

�You wouldn�t know the truth if it hit you in the face.� She looked deeply into the emotionless eyes of her captors.

Andy glanced at Nikita then nonchalantly removed a cloth covering one of the objects on the table and revealed a cage full of rats. He picked it up from the table. �I�m told everybody�s afraid of something � something that causes an emotion beyond terror; a horror that defies description or definition. The senses shut down, the mind leaves the body, and � reason is no more. Do you believe that?�

As Nikita saw what he had, she nervously looked away, her bravado quelled temporarily. She avoided eye contact and stared directly ahead at the rats, her face fearful. Nikita�s heart rate began to climb steadily. �I'm not telling you anything ... you�ll have to kill me.�

Well aware now of her trepidation Andy boldly stated. �I know where your fear lays Nikita.�

He stepped to her side and touched her face. �Can�t take your eyes off them, can you?�

Nikita instinctively tried to pull away from his touch.

Andy smiled a pleased, cruel smile, before adding. �This is a very simple technique ...The case fits onto your head. I will remove the wire screen and torch the rats. I�m told they�ll do anything to get away from the fire. Anything � including � eat through you. Their teeth will gnaw through your flesh voraciously ... then leave the bone exposed ... in order to escape. Yes these lovely rodents are very useful indeed.�

He looked at Nikita and saw the way her eyes were transfixed in fear as she watched the cage full of rats. He persisted once more. �Why did Section One send you to Hong Kong?�

�For a holiday.�

�That�s a lie.

�Well ... seeing that you have all the answers ... why ask?�

Irate with her answer Andy yelled at Nikita. �Now ... you tell me what I want to know! Look at me! Tell me what I ask and it stops�

Advancing on her with the cage, he came within a breath�s whisper of Nikita�s face ... something he should never have done. Summoning all her strength, Nikita lifted herself and kicked out; knocking the cage Andy was holding out of his hands. However, unbeknownst to her the force of her kick also activated a tracker in her shoe. They eyed one another, trying to read each other�s next move. Andy bent down to retrieve the cage from the floor, and as he did so, Nikita locked her legs around him tightly, crushing him as hard as she could. He yelled for someone to come and rescue him.

With his gun drawn, Eddie then Steven rushed back into the room and took aim at her. However, Eddie couldn�t get a clear shot as Andy and Nikita were jostling all over the place as they struggled against each other. Nikita was hanging on for dear life. She refused to let go and used her leg muscles to exert greater pressure. Finally seeing a chance, Eddie fired his gun but the shot ricocheted off the wall. Steven managed to free Andy from Nikita�s clasp just as Wang Yu and other triad members entered the torture chamber. Without Andy�s body to protect her, Nikita was left in a vulnerable position exposed to Eddie�s trigger happy finger.

�Hey ... what�s going on?� Wang Yu demanded to know furiously. �Put that gun away Eddie ... I told you we don�t want her dead ... she�s still useful to us.�

Andy came forward and punched Nikita in the ribs. �Bitch ... you�ll keep ... don�t think I will forget this ... because I won�t.�

Nikita tried to relax her body but to little effect. The pain was unbearable especially when Andy gave her another blow for good luck. She endured the first blow but the second was her undoing. Nikita closed her eyes. Her heart pounded, her body tensed, and pain shot through her. She cried out in agony ... �Go to hell ... you bastard!�

�Andy!� Wang Yu admonished leading him away from the hostage. �There is another way ... Come with me ... I will explain.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Play on text from ... Friend, War, AGT and TTBH

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