Chapter 127 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 08:50:26 09/09/07 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-4-190.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.4.190
Subject: Chapter 127
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 07:49:03 09/02/07 Sun

Chapter 127(V)

Andy Koo�s birthday party was definitely in full swing but his absence from his own celebrations didn�t prevent the evening kicking up a notch or two with much revelry, carousing and festivities. Nikita had not seen Andy since he had been called away by his minders a short time ago. She didn�t know if he would return again this evening or if what he�d said to her still stood, that he would see her tomorrow night for dinner.

Nikita was thankful when Steven led Karen out onto the dance floor and she was left alone. Michael had informed her that the mission had been aborted and he was recalled to Section while they were dancing. Although it was still early in the evening, Nikita had had enough of the nightclub; she was sick and tired of keeping up the charade of her cover, Karen�s small talk, the noise and especially of the groping that had occurred by over zealous revellers. She was ready to leave as well. There was really no need for her to stay longer than necessary and she thought that perhaps she could feign a headache and call it a night when Karen and Steven returned.

As she watched the interplay between the couple her thoughts turned to what Michael had said as to the change in profile. His intonation had suggested that he was reluctant to leave her there alone particularly when he was suspicious of her companions. She thought it strange that she wasn�t recalled back to Section with Michael and the team and was a little apprehensive that she was left here on her own even though she�d confirmed that she�d be okay. Having met the charismatic Andy Koo, she was well aware of how he could charm the birds out of the trees. He had certainly tried to do so with her tonight. She hated the smarminess of these targets ... and she was not looking forward to another meeting with him tomorrow night.

More than likely Madeline would be formalizing the offensive on Andy Koo and Michael would play a vital part in his capture. Although she didn�t like it she accepted that that was the way Section One worked ... you were told to jump and there was no deviation from the orders ... that is unless of course you were Michael. He was oblivious to that rule.

Nikita smiled thinking about the times he had gone against Section only to be triumphant when a profile was altered. Unaware that Karen and Steven had returned, the sound of her voice unexpectedly interrupted her train of thought.

She sat down beside her. �Hey you okay Nik? You seem to be a million miles away,� Karen asked noticing Nikita�s mood.

�Yeah ... I�m fine ... just thinking about tomorrow night.�

�You�re not nervous are you?�

�No ... well maybe a little bit.�

�Don�t worry ... Andy�s a great guy. You�ll have a fabulous time.�

�I hope so.�

�I know so!� was Karen�s emphatic reply. �He�ll treat you like a princess.�

The three friends engaged in animated small talk in the dimly lit nightclub as the replacement band belted out a rock tune. The throbbing cadence of the music was pulsating.

�The music is a bit loud isn�t it?� Nikita stated leaning towards Karen.

�What?� she queried.

A little louder Nikita repeated her statement. �I said the music is a bit loud.�

�Yeah ... it is a bit ...� Karen replied raising her voice to make herself heard too.

�It�s giving me a headache.�

�Do you want to leave?�

�I think I might ... it�s starting to throb.�

�I�ll go with you.�

�No ... I don�t want to spoil your night ... stay ... I�ll be fine.�

However, as they were speaking a commotion suddenly broke out as two young Chinese men started to fawn over the same blonde woman on the dance floor. Voices were raised and there was some pushing and shoving between the two men. The altercation was very intense. Their loud, angry voices reverberated in the room and the noise level was exacerbated more when the music stopped. People around the argument moved well away in case they were drawn into the quarrel between the two men.

Noticing the skirmish, Karen said, �Uh ... oh ... There�s gonna be trouble.�

�What? What�s going on?�

�You don�t wanna know Nik. Trust me.�

�Why?�

�See that guy in the red jacket ... he�s an alleged member of the Black Panthers and the other is from the 14K triad.�

�How do you know that?�

�I�ve seen them here before but it looks as though they want to stir up trouble tonight.�

�How did they get in? Wasn�t this party by invitation only?�

�There must have been a breech in security. Mr Koo won�t like that!� Steven replied alarmingly.

On the dance floor, the two men exchanged blows and people began to scatter away from the melee.

Turning to Karen and then Nikita, Steven announced, �I think you girls should leave. This could get ugly.�

�Yeah! Let�s just get out of here.�

Simon grabbed Karen�s hand. �Come on ... follow me.�

Together they all retreated to avoid the ruckus and chaos that had scattered the frightened revellers in every which way to avoid the fight in the middle of the dance floor. The threesome made their way to the entrance of the nightclub only to find many other panicky partygoers pushing and shoving to get out of the way too.

In the process Karen and Steven got separated from Nikita.

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

Lost in thought Andy Koo replaced the receiver and leaned back in his chair. His orders had been explicit about Nikita Wirth and he looked forward to carrying out his leader�s instructions. However, the sound of a commotion coming from downstairs broke his train of thought as he heard the noise of yelling and shouting. Andy got up from his chair and went over to check his security monitors to ascertain just what was happening to ruin his birthday celebrations. He saw Karen and Steven on a monitor exit through the entrance but was unable to see Nikita with them. Switching to another monitor he managed to spot Nikita was making her way out of the club also. Although thankful that they had fled the melee safely, it only reiterated the danger he was in from rival triads. Looking at his security monitor Andy Koo zoomed in on the dance floor and recognised the faces of the men who were causing all the trouble.

Suddenly a piercing scream broke out and the sound of a gunshot filled the air. One of the men fell to the ground. The blonde woman shrieked at the top of her lungs as blood splattered all over her face and dress. She stood on the dance floor shaking and screaming with fear.

This was going to ruin his business. Murder on the dance floor would not sit well with patrons of his nightclub. The rival triads were obviously out to ruin him or more to the point kill him as well. Andy had heard that Samuel Li was back in town and that the Black Panthers were seeking revenge for alluded misconceptions about the Rising Dragons. He had to think fast and quickly alerted his security team for he needed to secure his safety as well.

Reluctantly but expeditiously, Andy Koo also placed a call to the OCTB. If they took care of this mess then some of the dirt may not stick and he would not be held accountable for what was transpiring. He needed their assistance at the club ASAP before there was any more bloodshed and worst still there was an enquiry that Jiang may not be able to cover up. His name had been associated with quite a few too many incidents of late and if the press got a hold of this ... well then there would be all hell let loose. This may be the straw that broke the camel�s back.

He continued to watch his monitors but they began to strobe, then the picture disappeared altogether and he lost visual. Worried, Andy depressed a secret button under his desk to call for back up from the triad as well.

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

Nikita noticed two Chinese men in black watching what was happening on the dance floor. Turning in time she saw them pull out and draw their guns, then all of a sudden the two men started shooting. In no time at all there was gunfire ricocheting across the crowded room in retaliation for the death of their colleague as the two men shot at the security personnel who had come to intervene in the confrontation. They indiscriminately shot at them and anyone else who moved. As a consequence, sheer pandemonium broke out. In panic people ran to avoid what was happening as a hail of bullets reverberated around the nightclub.

Suddenly, Birkoff�s voice echoed in her comm. unit when he saw and heard the fire fight on the monitor, �Nikita ... What�s going on in there?�

�There�s shooting ... It�s two rival triads.�

She watched as one of the young men drew what appeared to be some sort of small device from his pocket and rolled it across the floor. A smoky mist arose from the mechanism then suddenly there was a loud bang and flames shot up into the air.

�Nikita ... report.�

�They�ve just firebombed the nightclub too.�

Patrons lay on the floor. Nikita counted about seventeen who had died. Quickly surveying what was happening; she chambered a round of ammunition in the gun hidden on her thigh. Taking aim she took out the aggressors, but the gunfire kept on coming from other quarters within the darkened room.

All hell broke loose ... and Andy Koo was nowhere to be seen.

�You�re got incoming hostiles.� Birkoff relayed as his monitor screen alerted Nikita to movement in her vicinity.

�Position and number?�

�There's one heading right for you Nikita.�

�Can you back me out?�

�No. You�re going to have to go through them. Do you need some back- up?�

�I�m fine ... I can handle this myself.�

�There's another one right behind him.�

Suddenly Birkoff was interrupted by a voice he didn�t expect. �I�ll cover her.�

�Michael?� he queried incredulously realising that he had disobeyed orders.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~
Play on Text from ... Soul Sacrifice and TOP

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