Hey guys, I'm back with a new part. Vacation to Disneyland is over and we're in the middle of our move. Our computer is still fried but I have reliable internet access so I should be able to update regularly on Friday's again.
PART 8
‘I’ll make you a deal. I will come and work for you on the condition that you help me carry out vengeance on Natasha.’
Irina’s eyebrow rose in query and interest at her daughter’s proposition. It held appealing prospects as well as showed a vindictive streak that she had previously not seen in her. It opened a whole knew aspect of her character, one that reminded Irina very much of Sydney.
Irina felt a surge of pride and satisfaction at the thought of how strong of women both her daughters were. She had seen it in Sydney at an early age and in some part with Yelizaveta. Even at an infantile age, she had been as self-sufficient as a child almost two years old could be. Irina remembered when she was learning how to walk. When Veta had toppled over before taking so much as a step Irina had tried to help her but Veta had cried and had not stopped until Irina withdrew. Then she stood up and tried again. Veta had not wanted help; she wanted to do it herself.
But after growing up in such a different circumstances, was her daughter strong enough to carry out her plot? “Are you positive about this?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Liz nodded vigorously.
“I want you to understand what it is that you would like to do. You are suggesting that you voluntarily hunt down and murder someone.” Irina clarified.
“I am talking about killing a woman who murdered the only parents I’ve ever known because they were there. Who destroyed nearly everything in my life with the stroke of a match. I know exactly what I’m doing.” Liz stated coldly. “The question is, will you help me to do it?”
Irina considered her for a moment before answering. “I told you previously that I would give assistance to you in anyway that I could to begin your life again. If this is how you choose to accomplish that task, then you have my support as well as my resources to achieve it.”
“Then we have a deal.” Liz verified unsure if she understood Irina correctly.
“Yes, we have a deal.” Irina confirmed. “Nevertheless you must understand that this is not something that will come about overnight. For you to confront Natasha you will have to be educated and that will take time.”
Liz nodded. “Fine. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll work every hour of the day if I have to so that I can learn that much quicker.”
Irina studied her daughter’s determined face and stance. She was throwing herself full force into her decision and would take nothing short of complete concentration to be satisfied. It made Irina reevaluate her design in regards to her training. She had planned to administer it herself but now she was thinking of something more evasive.
“If that is your thoughts, then I have a suggestion. A man, Vladimir Pograski, who I have had prior dealings with, is a notorious ex-KGB assassin. But he also does intense covert training at a underground training facility of sorts.” Irina explained.
“Like a boot camp?” Liz asked.
“Precisely.” Irina answered. “The training will be very rigorous and demanding, both physically and mentally. From the reports I have heard, Vladimir is a very firm teacher.”
Liz heard the implied inquiry of whether she herself thought that she would be able to handle what she would find if she were to go to this camp. And she knew she could, she would if it killed her. She held her chin up confidently as she replied. “I said I would do anything and I meant it. I can handle it.”
“I’ll make the arrangements.” Irina nodded before asking. “I do have a question before I do. You are determined to seek vengeance on Natasha, for this I do not blame you, but what do you intend to do after?”
“What do you mean?” Liz asked confused.
“At some point in time, you will meet face to face with Natasha and if you come out the victor, what will you do then?” Irina inquired. “Your objective will have been finished and you will have no new goal to reach, what will you do with your life after that?”
Liz thought about what her mother was asking her. What would she do? Revenge burned so brightly within her at the moment that she could think of nothing else. “Maybe keep working for you, maybe try to go to college somehow under another name. Would you let me do that…stop working for you?”
“Possibly.” Irina answered. “It would be dependent on the circumstances and whether you are able to live that life without endangering me or my organization.”
“Which means yes if I keep my mouth shut.” Liz clarified.
“Correct.” Irina agreed. “Now it is late, or very early depending on your viewpoint and the next few days will be laborious and you need your sleep.”
Liz nodded, trying not to notice the maternal manner in which the comment was made before rising from her seat. “Thank you, for everything.”
“You are welcome.” Irina said before Liz left her office to retreat to her room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
It took several days for Irina to make the necessary arrangements for Liz to leave. She first had to contact Pograski to confirm that he would train Liz, although Liz gathered that phone call was more for courtesy sake than anything even if the conversation was in Russian. Irina seemed to command submission from all those around her. Sark did not ask questions when he was informed that Liz would be leaving the Cyprus house. Liz did not know if it was because it didn’t concern him or because he figured that what Liz was doing had already been a forgone conclusion given her family history.
Liz did what she could to try and learn more about the strange new family and life she found herself in. Irina shared a little more with her, mostly about her time when she was in America and Sydney. Liz learned a great deal about her sister, their mother had kept track of her after having to desert her. Sydney was quite a bit older than her, almost nine years in fact but Liz felt like she could relate to her. They had both gone through a great deal of pain and lived to talk about it.
Once everything was authorized and approved, Irina finally told Liz where she would be going, Vyborg Russia. Vyborg was a port off the Gulf of Finland in Northern Russia, not far from the Artic circle. Liz researched the area on the Internet. The weather was cold, much colder than Liz was used to even in the summer, which it was now. Liz had a feeling she was going to find out what it felt like in the winter as well. The city itself looked to be quite beautiful, with antiquated buildings and other interesting culture but where she was going was in the Russian countryside.
The plan was for Liz and Irina to take her private plane to about sixty kilometers outside of the city where Pograski had his compound. Then the plane would leave again and go back to Cyprus, without Liz. Liz did not know how long she would be there; she would only leave when it was determined that she had learned all that she could from Pograski. Irina would return occasionally to evaluate her progress as well as add her own training.
But before they landed in Russia, they stopped over in Poland to get some necessary supplies for Liz. She needed warmer clothes, boots, and other essentials. It was unlike any other shopping spree Liz had ever participated in. There was no trip to the mall, or talk of fashion, only what was indispensable for survival. As soon as they were done, they were back on the plane to Vyborg.
The sky was overcast as they approached the compound, but as they landed the cloud cover fell away and Liz got a good look at the place she would live for the next few months. It looked very inhospitable, just a collection of half a dozen buildings. A few looked like small warehouses while other ones looked like tool sheds. The pilot taxied the plane up along side one of those buildings and the door was open.
As Liz approached the door, a blast of cool air hit her. Not the frosty wind of winter but much cooler than Liz was used to in Roswell or even Cyprus. She descended the small flight of steps and followed Irina towards a small group of men standing on the perimeter of landing strip. Without anyone pointing him out, Liz could tell which one was Vladimir Pograski. He was tall and a broad beefy build, black hair fell over coal black eyes that focused directly onto her as she approached. He only took his eyes off of her as he greeted Irina before turning his attention back to her.
“So this is my newest student.” Pograski stated. “She does not look like much.”
Liz held her head up proudly. “I am stronger than I look.”
Pograski grinned maliciously before saying, “We shall see.”
Before anyone asks, I will not be showing Liz's actual training. I thought that might be a little boring and so I am going to skip ahead to when she returns to Cyprus. But we will find out little details of it along the way. Hopefully I make up for it in the next part where there will be quite a bit of Sark in it, including some of his POV.
Vengeance (Alias,XO,ADULT,UC) Part 38 6/4/09 [WIP]
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LittleBit
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If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
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Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
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See I told you that I would get back on schedule. I hope you enjoy.
PART 9
Seven Months Later:
Sark made his way to the front door to greet Irina after her trip. He himself had just returned the day before from Graz following up on a possible sighting of Sydney Bristow, to find a note from Irina that she had to run an errand and would be back soon. While the note sounded ordinary in it’s text, the meaning was not. It was not some simple errand that Irina would be accomplishing nothing was ever so straightforward. Sark understood that although he was not certain where she had gone. As soon as security had informed him that Irina was at the front gate, he had begun to make his way downstairs.
Sark waited on a few minutes before he saw the large black BMW that Irina used as a limousine while on Cyprus pull out of the tree covered lane and to the front. Once the car came close enough, Sark was able to see that Irina was not the only occupant in the vehicle.
The young woman that stepped out of the vehicle looked very different from the one who had left seven months ago. The air of innocence that surrounded her was gone and what was left was a mature beautiful woman. Her eyes were covered by dark shades so he was unable to see if the maturity had reached them but he was confident that it did
She wore her hair longer, so much so that the tight French braid that it was styled in skimmed her waist. The unusually warm day allowed her to dress in a flimsy fashionable sundress with matching sandals and the dress allowed him to see well-developed arm and leg muscles. Although she lacked sufficient height, her overall stature reminded him very much of her mother and perhaps her sister as well.
She and Irina noticed his presence just then and Irina nodded in his direction in greeting. “Sark, I was told that you had returned early.”
“It appears that I am not the only one.” Sark stated. “How are you Elizabeth?”
“Very well although I should inform you that I no longer go by Elizabeth. I’ve decided to change my name to a shortened version of my given name.”
Sark nodded and held out his hand. “Understandable. It is a pleasure to see you have returned.”
“It is nice to be back, although I have a feeling that it won’t be for long.” Liza declared with a smile, her head tilting towards Irina as a hint that her mother would soon be sending her out on a mission. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to retreat to my rooms and unpack.”
Irina nodded slightly. “Of course, I’ll have your bags brought up to you.”
Liza went through the main doors and into the house, Sark watching her the whole time. Although he had yet to see her in action, the subtle changes he could see in her during their brief exchange was remarkable. Irina had made mentions of receiving progress reports from Vladimir Pograski over the months and he knew full well that she had visited her daughter a number of times to aid in her training but it was quite different seeing the result in the flesh. In a way, Sark felt as if he was looking at a much younger Irina.
Sark noticed that Irina was aware of the attention he was giving her daughter and explained his actions. “Vladimir has done high-quality work.”
“Yes, I am quite pleased with his training. However Vladimir is not solely responsible, he informed me that she was an exemplary student. She worked hard and learned quickly. Almost too quickly.” Irina explained as she led him inside and to her office. She took her seat behind the desk while Sark made himself comfortable in the chairs across from her.
“It appears that you were correct in her assessment of her potential.” Sark stated.
“Yes,” Irina agreed but appeared deep in thought for a moment. “However even I am surprised at the magnitude of change in her attitude. She is quite different than the girl who left here months ago. ”
“The brutal life she has resided in over the past months would harden even the most resilient of people.” Sark observed. “It is a trait that she will need if she is to become involved in our business.”
“Indeed.” Irina said although she felt remorseful about her part in her daughter’s transformation. She had not anticipated such a drastic change in her; she was almost completely different than when she had left Cyprus. And it had happened so quickly.
After leaving her in Vyborg, Irina did not come back to visit for almost three months. When she had returned she found her daughter a skilled and talented young operative who promptly announced her name change. While it was not the pet name she had always called her daughter, it was a variation of the name she had given her and therefore pleased her.
Sark saw Irina’s inner contemplation and couldn’t help but inquiring. “I’m assuming that despite the glowing reports you received, you’ll want a final trial?”
“Certainly, Liza and I have discussed it and she knows the grounds that it is based on.” Irina said. “Now tell me about your trip to Graz.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*
To familiarize herself once again with it’s layout as well as make note of any changes during her absence, Liza toured her mother’s house before going up to her room. She couldn’t help but recall the first time she had done so although at that time, it had been with eyes full of awe while now her eyes were full of guardedness. Her training had pulled away the veils from her eyes and Liza now noticed small things that she did not see before. Such as the cameras or the listening devices hidden from the casual observer.
Once done with her exploration, Liza headed up to her suite of rooms. When she entered, she saw that her luggage had already been brought up. After Irina had arrived to extract her from Vyborg, they had gone to Venice for a few days for a holiday. Irina had treated her to more clothes and other items.
After months of being covered from head to tow in layers, Liza had to admit it was nice to indulge in more lighthearted clothing. It was during those days that Irina had explained that she had set up several bank accounts in her name and a few aliases. Despite the fact that her father Alexander’s wealth had been requisitioned by her mother’s organization, Irina had set aside a sizeable amount as a type of inheritance. Liza would then add to her nest egg through funds she would acquire. Liz switched her attention away from her thoughts and to her surroundings. She looked around the room and noticed that besides being cleaned, nothing else had been done to the room. Even her pictures were in the same place.
Liza ran her fingers gingerly over the subjects of the pictures. The moments in time that the pictures captured seemed like a lifetime ago, mostly because they were. As she looked at the frozen images of her parents, Grandma Claudia, and Alex, her loved ones that had died, Liza looked at the younger version of herself. It was like looking at someone else and that person was dead. Liz Parker had died months ago and Liza had been reborn in her place.
Liza’s gaze switched from her pictures to the mirror above them, scrutinizing how her appearance had changed while she was in Vyborg. Time spent near the Artic Circle had paled her skin but not to an unhealthy color, and her hair had grown long. Through hard work and exercise, Vladimir had burned off the lingering baby fat she had after she arrived, leaving her with a much more physically powerful body. But the physical changes were only a small part of her transformation.
The differences to her character were far greater. She no longer looked at the world through rose tinted glasses, but with the cold bleakness of reality. It was a characteristic she could see when she looked into her own eyes. There was no happiness in them, only hardness that had even tinted the brown orbs darker.
Liza viewed her time spent with Vladimir as both a benefit and a torment. He had taught her so much that she would need to know. Hand to hand, weapons, exceeding in knife handling, computers, lock picking, and disguise, she had even learned to speak fluent Russian. Months of being surrounded by the language had helped her learn it quickly. But where that was the positive, she couldn’t forget the negatives.
There had been times when she thought that she would die, that she had begged for the release but she had survived. She had found reservoirs of strength within her that she never knew she had. She didn’t know if it was because of her parentage or if it was from the need for revenge, but she had endured and worked hard. Now it was time to take the next step.
However at first Liza would have to comply with her part of the bargain, working for her mother as an operative. Her mother and her had discussed a final test, and once she had fulfilled the requirements, she would be granted full operational status and all that came with it. She wondered if she would be assisting in the search for her sister Sydney. Her mother had informed her that the CIA had officially declared her sister dead. It appeared that several bodies had been found in a warehouse that had been converted into a lab in Versailles, France, one of the bodies tested positive with her sister’s DNA. That was four months ago. But her mother had not given up and had managed to find a few leads that she was indeed alive.
Liza opened the doors to the veranda, allowing the sunlight and sea air to come inside. She had forgotten how beautiful the view was from her terrace. She backed back into the room, leaving the doors open and popped the locks on her luggage and got to work on making her suite more her own. Cyprus was the closest thing she had to a home now and the base of her mother’s operations so she might as well make herself comfortable.
**NOTE: So far, a year has passed since Sydney went missing in Alias time, as for the Roswell universe, it would be about mid S3. But since Liz isn’t there, S3 isn’t happening in my story. **
PART 9
Seven Months Later:
Sark made his way to the front door to greet Irina after her trip. He himself had just returned the day before from Graz following up on a possible sighting of Sydney Bristow, to find a note from Irina that she had to run an errand and would be back soon. While the note sounded ordinary in it’s text, the meaning was not. It was not some simple errand that Irina would be accomplishing nothing was ever so straightforward. Sark understood that although he was not certain where she had gone. As soon as security had informed him that Irina was at the front gate, he had begun to make his way downstairs.
Sark waited on a few minutes before he saw the large black BMW that Irina used as a limousine while on Cyprus pull out of the tree covered lane and to the front. Once the car came close enough, Sark was able to see that Irina was not the only occupant in the vehicle.
The young woman that stepped out of the vehicle looked very different from the one who had left seven months ago. The air of innocence that surrounded her was gone and what was left was a mature beautiful woman. Her eyes were covered by dark shades so he was unable to see if the maturity had reached them but he was confident that it did
She wore her hair longer, so much so that the tight French braid that it was styled in skimmed her waist. The unusually warm day allowed her to dress in a flimsy fashionable sundress with matching sandals and the dress allowed him to see well-developed arm and leg muscles. Although she lacked sufficient height, her overall stature reminded him very much of her mother and perhaps her sister as well.
She and Irina noticed his presence just then and Irina nodded in his direction in greeting. “Sark, I was told that you had returned early.”
“It appears that I am not the only one.” Sark stated. “How are you Elizabeth?”
“Very well although I should inform you that I no longer go by Elizabeth. I’ve decided to change my name to a shortened version of my given name.”
Sark nodded and held out his hand. “Understandable. It is a pleasure to see you have returned.”
“It is nice to be back, although I have a feeling that it won’t be for long.” Liza declared with a smile, her head tilting towards Irina as a hint that her mother would soon be sending her out on a mission. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to retreat to my rooms and unpack.”
Irina nodded slightly. “Of course, I’ll have your bags brought up to you.”
Liza went through the main doors and into the house, Sark watching her the whole time. Although he had yet to see her in action, the subtle changes he could see in her during their brief exchange was remarkable. Irina had made mentions of receiving progress reports from Vladimir Pograski over the months and he knew full well that she had visited her daughter a number of times to aid in her training but it was quite different seeing the result in the flesh. In a way, Sark felt as if he was looking at a much younger Irina.
Sark noticed that Irina was aware of the attention he was giving her daughter and explained his actions. “Vladimir has done high-quality work.”
“Yes, I am quite pleased with his training. However Vladimir is not solely responsible, he informed me that she was an exemplary student. She worked hard and learned quickly. Almost too quickly.” Irina explained as she led him inside and to her office. She took her seat behind the desk while Sark made himself comfortable in the chairs across from her.
“It appears that you were correct in her assessment of her potential.” Sark stated.
“Yes,” Irina agreed but appeared deep in thought for a moment. “However even I am surprised at the magnitude of change in her attitude. She is quite different than the girl who left here months ago. ”
“The brutal life she has resided in over the past months would harden even the most resilient of people.” Sark observed. “It is a trait that she will need if she is to become involved in our business.”
“Indeed.” Irina said although she felt remorseful about her part in her daughter’s transformation. She had not anticipated such a drastic change in her; she was almost completely different than when she had left Cyprus. And it had happened so quickly.
After leaving her in Vyborg, Irina did not come back to visit for almost three months. When she had returned she found her daughter a skilled and talented young operative who promptly announced her name change. While it was not the pet name she had always called her daughter, it was a variation of the name she had given her and therefore pleased her.
Sark saw Irina’s inner contemplation and couldn’t help but inquiring. “I’m assuming that despite the glowing reports you received, you’ll want a final trial?”
“Certainly, Liza and I have discussed it and she knows the grounds that it is based on.” Irina said. “Now tell me about your trip to Graz.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*
To familiarize herself once again with it’s layout as well as make note of any changes during her absence, Liza toured her mother’s house before going up to her room. She couldn’t help but recall the first time she had done so although at that time, it had been with eyes full of awe while now her eyes were full of guardedness. Her training had pulled away the veils from her eyes and Liza now noticed small things that she did not see before. Such as the cameras or the listening devices hidden from the casual observer.
Once done with her exploration, Liza headed up to her suite of rooms. When she entered, she saw that her luggage had already been brought up. After Irina had arrived to extract her from Vyborg, they had gone to Venice for a few days for a holiday. Irina had treated her to more clothes and other items.
After months of being covered from head to tow in layers, Liza had to admit it was nice to indulge in more lighthearted clothing. It was during those days that Irina had explained that she had set up several bank accounts in her name and a few aliases. Despite the fact that her father Alexander’s wealth had been requisitioned by her mother’s organization, Irina had set aside a sizeable amount as a type of inheritance. Liza would then add to her nest egg through funds she would acquire. Liz switched her attention away from her thoughts and to her surroundings. She looked around the room and noticed that besides being cleaned, nothing else had been done to the room. Even her pictures were in the same place.
Liza ran her fingers gingerly over the subjects of the pictures. The moments in time that the pictures captured seemed like a lifetime ago, mostly because they were. As she looked at the frozen images of her parents, Grandma Claudia, and Alex, her loved ones that had died, Liza looked at the younger version of herself. It was like looking at someone else and that person was dead. Liz Parker had died months ago and Liza had been reborn in her place.
Liza’s gaze switched from her pictures to the mirror above them, scrutinizing how her appearance had changed while she was in Vyborg. Time spent near the Artic Circle had paled her skin but not to an unhealthy color, and her hair had grown long. Through hard work and exercise, Vladimir had burned off the lingering baby fat she had after she arrived, leaving her with a much more physically powerful body. But the physical changes were only a small part of her transformation.
The differences to her character were far greater. She no longer looked at the world through rose tinted glasses, but with the cold bleakness of reality. It was a characteristic she could see when she looked into her own eyes. There was no happiness in them, only hardness that had even tinted the brown orbs darker.
Liza viewed her time spent with Vladimir as both a benefit and a torment. He had taught her so much that she would need to know. Hand to hand, weapons, exceeding in knife handling, computers, lock picking, and disguise, she had even learned to speak fluent Russian. Months of being surrounded by the language had helped her learn it quickly. But where that was the positive, she couldn’t forget the negatives.
There had been times when she thought that she would die, that she had begged for the release but she had survived. She had found reservoirs of strength within her that she never knew she had. She didn’t know if it was because of her parentage or if it was from the need for revenge, but she had endured and worked hard. Now it was time to take the next step.
However at first Liza would have to comply with her part of the bargain, working for her mother as an operative. Her mother and her had discussed a final test, and once she had fulfilled the requirements, she would be granted full operational status and all that came with it. She wondered if she would be assisting in the search for her sister Sydney. Her mother had informed her that the CIA had officially declared her sister dead. It appeared that several bodies had been found in a warehouse that had been converted into a lab in Versailles, France, one of the bodies tested positive with her sister’s DNA. That was four months ago. But her mother had not given up and had managed to find a few leads that she was indeed alive.
Liza opened the doors to the veranda, allowing the sunlight and sea air to come inside. She had forgotten how beautiful the view was from her terrace. She backed back into the room, leaving the doors open and popped the locks on her luggage and got to work on making her suite more her own. Cyprus was the closest thing she had to a home now and the base of her mother’s operations so she might as well make herself comfortable.
**NOTE: So far, a year has passed since Sydney went missing in Alias time, as for the Roswell universe, it would be about mid S3. But since Liz isn’t there, S3 isn’t happening in my story. **
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
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- Posts: 347
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
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I know I know, I"m like way late. But I have a good excuse, of course I always do. Anyway this excuse is trying to get ready for school, uniforms and supplies to buy you know. Not to mention that I didn't really have a lot of access to the internet. Anyway, I'll stop complaining and get on with the update.
PART 10
Less than a week later, Liza was assigned her first mission and her final test. She had been relaxing in her quarters when a maid had summoned Liza to Irina’s office, where her mother had been waiting patiently for her.
Flashback
Liza entered her mother’s office and saw her mother seated patiently behind her desk. She moved to sit at one of the guest’s chairs and waited for her mother to speak. Irina directed her gaze directly at her daughter before speaking. “With your training completed, I know you are anxious to begin work. And I have an assignment for you.”
Liza smiled. “Where am I going?”
“Monte Carlo.” Irina answered her. “You leave early tomorrow for Monte Carlo, and once you are on your way, you’ll be briefed on the mission perimeters. Take basic gear with you, whatever else you may determine you will need can be purchased after you are fully briefed”
Liza knew that her mother was withholding the information as part of a test. A test to see how easily she could adept to a situation. The whole mission would be a test so she would have to anticipate obstacles in her path. “Will I be meeting a contact in Monte Carlo or will you or someone else be accompanying me?”
“Sark will be traveling with you. However he is not to interfere in anyway with your assignment, he is only there for observation.” Irina explained. “Any questions?”
Liza had asked no questions, only because she knew that Irina would not answer them and that the more she asked, the more it would count against her. So she had simply talked of other things before retiring to her room to pack the few things she would take with her. She did not know how long that she would be gone so she packed two pair of clothes along with one of her guns, and a few other weapons that she thought would come in handy. The next morning she had boarded her mother’s private plane again with Sark and was on their way.
And now Liza was standing in the entryway of the Casino in Monte Carlo, fully informed as to what she was supposed to be doing. True to what Irina had told her, Sark had given her the specs to her mission once they were flying over the Mediterranean. On the evening of the day that they arrived, she was to proceed to the Casino where she was to search out a man by the name of Rance DeNeige.
Rance DeNeige was one of the CEO’s for DeNeige International, which was a major designer of computer software for both lawful and unlawful businesses. But it wasn’t his computer skills that she was interested in acquiring. Rance DeNeige was also a collector of rare antiquities. She was to get the man alone on his yacht before forcing him to open his safe and relinquish a necklace that was within, and then eliminate him. He would have security personal surrounding the yacht, but they would not be a problem. There were no call buttons for the personal on the yacht, so they would not be alerted to their bosses’ situation. She could simply slip off the back of the boat, into a waiting raft and escape. Of course there was some difficulty with it all, she had been assigned three hours to complete the mission. She had to move quickly.
DeNeige would not be the first person she killed however it would be her first solo assignation. Vladimir had always been nearby before. And while she knew that Sark was in the vicinity, watching her through the security cameras in a secure location. He couldn’t be in a more public location because if he was sighted, it could tip someone off and Rance DeNeige might run. She moved out onto the floor and towards her target.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From his hiding place, Sark watched Liza through the cameras move around the Casino. For her first time out in the field, she had chosen well in her costume. She blended in perfectly with the other guests but also stood apart from them because of her allure. She had chosen an elegant black dress that clung to her as she moved. The neckline was that of a V and gave the barest hint of flesh along the top of her breasts, and the hem skimming her thighs in a way that framed her legs stunningly.
While weapons were prohibited in the casino, Liza nevertheless concealed several on her person and not just in the small evening bag that she carried. No these were in plain sight yet seemingly harmless looking ornaments that could be used with deadly outcome. A gossamer black scarf fluttered around her throat, down her back that would work as a noose if needed and her hair was secured loosely in a twist with two onyx sticks that he speculated were sharp enough at the ends to stab through the flesh of a person. He smirked, she was her mother’s daughter and he had to nod in approval. She did her family pedigree proud.
Sark sat back as he continued to watch the screen. Liza was proceeding to accomplish her mission just as she was supposed to. He knew because he had laid out the perimeters himself to her. And she had listened without protest. She was too intent on proving herself to dispute any of the particulars. He remembered when he had been in a similar situation when had first begun his association with Irina, although it had been years before.
As he studied her movements on the screen, Sark found himself oddly attracted to Liza. She had proven to have a survival instinct within her that mirrored his own and a willingness to do anything she had to get what she wanted. In that regard, they were birds of a feather. He had always found himself attracted to forceful woman, including Liza’s own sister Sydney. However Sydney had possessed a righteous streak in her that could not be overcome.
But with Liza, he saw no such trait. It made him think more on the subject of seduction. After all, not since Allison’s death had he thought of becoming involved with someone who was in their profession. Such associations were very complicated; instead he had chosen affairs that were one-night arrangements.
Perhaps if the night proved successful, he would set about seducing the young Derevko. It could prove to be an interesting pursuit. However Sark was unsure of what Irina would think his actions. He did not want to make his employer angry but she had not advised him against a liaison with her daughter, at least not thus far. Perhaps in the beginning, it would be more advantageous to conduct the whole affair with discretion, not that he thought he could evade Irina’s attention for too long. Her observation expertise would make her aware of his intentions.
Sark contemplated what Liza’s reaction would be to his attentions. Irina had informed him that her daughter had been educated in the fine art of seduction. After all it was one of the essential resources of an agent. Many people were too trusting and often susceptible to desires of the flesh. In view of that training, she might recognize his intent but Sark doubted it. She maybe qualified but she was still inexperienced. But first he would wait to see how events would play out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Despite the fact that she was playing her role as a mindless gold digger to perfection, Liza was bored. With some work, she had managed to obtain access to the high rollers room where DeNeige was gaming. Once inside, she had planted herself strategically among the other women so to make DeNeige notice her. The strategy had worked and it wasn’t long before he had invited her to sit next and slightly behind him so to cheer him on. She had done so as well as engaging him in conversations as to make him believe she was interested in him.
But now she was ready to move her plans to the next step. But she knew that to get him out of the casino, a certain amount of finesse was required as her mother might say. And by the lustful looks DeNeige kept giving her, she was handling him quite nicely.
Liza leaned forward, making sure to press her breasts up against his back invitingly before murmur low into his ear. “Rance, it is late and I believe you promised me a tour of your boat.”
“It is a yacht, my lovely Sophia.” Rance replied slurring her alias with his thick French accent.
“Oh yes, silly me.” Liza giggled nauseously. Men like Rance DeNeige liked to feel that they were more intelligent than the women around them and found it best to play that up.
“It is but a simple mistake.”
“But one I shall make up to you.” Liz purred.
DeNeige turned then, releasing her intentions before turning back to the table. “Sorry gentlemen, but I must call this evening to a close.”
Many of the men grumbled but did nothing to stop DeNeige from collecting his winnings and departing. None were stupid and knew that DeNeige was planning an intimate interlude with the newest conquest. Several of the men were possibly planning to do the same thing if the sea of women behind them were any indication.
Liza took DeNeige’s proffered arm and allowed him to lead her out of the room and towards a private exit of the casino. While not letting her head move in the direction, Liza did allow her eyes to seek out one of the cameras and wondered if Sark had witnessed the completion of the first part of her mission. It was an asinine thought; Sark naturally would be watching and mostly likely would follow them outside to the docks. However she pushed the thought aside and concentrated on her own job.
PART 10
Less than a week later, Liza was assigned her first mission and her final test. She had been relaxing in her quarters when a maid had summoned Liza to Irina’s office, where her mother had been waiting patiently for her.
Flashback
Liza entered her mother’s office and saw her mother seated patiently behind her desk. She moved to sit at one of the guest’s chairs and waited for her mother to speak. Irina directed her gaze directly at her daughter before speaking. “With your training completed, I know you are anxious to begin work. And I have an assignment for you.”
Liza smiled. “Where am I going?”
“Monte Carlo.” Irina answered her. “You leave early tomorrow for Monte Carlo, and once you are on your way, you’ll be briefed on the mission perimeters. Take basic gear with you, whatever else you may determine you will need can be purchased after you are fully briefed”
Liza knew that her mother was withholding the information as part of a test. A test to see how easily she could adept to a situation. The whole mission would be a test so she would have to anticipate obstacles in her path. “Will I be meeting a contact in Monte Carlo or will you or someone else be accompanying me?”
“Sark will be traveling with you. However he is not to interfere in anyway with your assignment, he is only there for observation.” Irina explained. “Any questions?”
Liza had asked no questions, only because she knew that Irina would not answer them and that the more she asked, the more it would count against her. So she had simply talked of other things before retiring to her room to pack the few things she would take with her. She did not know how long that she would be gone so she packed two pair of clothes along with one of her guns, and a few other weapons that she thought would come in handy. The next morning she had boarded her mother’s private plane again with Sark and was on their way.
And now Liza was standing in the entryway of the Casino in Monte Carlo, fully informed as to what she was supposed to be doing. True to what Irina had told her, Sark had given her the specs to her mission once they were flying over the Mediterranean. On the evening of the day that they arrived, she was to proceed to the Casino where she was to search out a man by the name of Rance DeNeige.
Rance DeNeige was one of the CEO’s for DeNeige International, which was a major designer of computer software for both lawful and unlawful businesses. But it wasn’t his computer skills that she was interested in acquiring. Rance DeNeige was also a collector of rare antiquities. She was to get the man alone on his yacht before forcing him to open his safe and relinquish a necklace that was within, and then eliminate him. He would have security personal surrounding the yacht, but they would not be a problem. There were no call buttons for the personal on the yacht, so they would not be alerted to their bosses’ situation. She could simply slip off the back of the boat, into a waiting raft and escape. Of course there was some difficulty with it all, she had been assigned three hours to complete the mission. She had to move quickly.
DeNeige would not be the first person she killed however it would be her first solo assignation. Vladimir had always been nearby before. And while she knew that Sark was in the vicinity, watching her through the security cameras in a secure location. He couldn’t be in a more public location because if he was sighted, it could tip someone off and Rance DeNeige might run. She moved out onto the floor and towards her target.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From his hiding place, Sark watched Liza through the cameras move around the Casino. For her first time out in the field, she had chosen well in her costume. She blended in perfectly with the other guests but also stood apart from them because of her allure. She had chosen an elegant black dress that clung to her as she moved. The neckline was that of a V and gave the barest hint of flesh along the top of her breasts, and the hem skimming her thighs in a way that framed her legs stunningly.
While weapons were prohibited in the casino, Liza nevertheless concealed several on her person and not just in the small evening bag that she carried. No these were in plain sight yet seemingly harmless looking ornaments that could be used with deadly outcome. A gossamer black scarf fluttered around her throat, down her back that would work as a noose if needed and her hair was secured loosely in a twist with two onyx sticks that he speculated were sharp enough at the ends to stab through the flesh of a person. He smirked, she was her mother’s daughter and he had to nod in approval. She did her family pedigree proud.
Sark sat back as he continued to watch the screen. Liza was proceeding to accomplish her mission just as she was supposed to. He knew because he had laid out the perimeters himself to her. And she had listened without protest. She was too intent on proving herself to dispute any of the particulars. He remembered when he had been in a similar situation when had first begun his association with Irina, although it had been years before.
As he studied her movements on the screen, Sark found himself oddly attracted to Liza. She had proven to have a survival instinct within her that mirrored his own and a willingness to do anything she had to get what she wanted. In that regard, they were birds of a feather. He had always found himself attracted to forceful woman, including Liza’s own sister Sydney. However Sydney had possessed a righteous streak in her that could not be overcome.
But with Liza, he saw no such trait. It made him think more on the subject of seduction. After all, not since Allison’s death had he thought of becoming involved with someone who was in their profession. Such associations were very complicated; instead he had chosen affairs that were one-night arrangements.
Perhaps if the night proved successful, he would set about seducing the young Derevko. It could prove to be an interesting pursuit. However Sark was unsure of what Irina would think his actions. He did not want to make his employer angry but she had not advised him against a liaison with her daughter, at least not thus far. Perhaps in the beginning, it would be more advantageous to conduct the whole affair with discretion, not that he thought he could evade Irina’s attention for too long. Her observation expertise would make her aware of his intentions.
Sark contemplated what Liza’s reaction would be to his attentions. Irina had informed him that her daughter had been educated in the fine art of seduction. After all it was one of the essential resources of an agent. Many people were too trusting and often susceptible to desires of the flesh. In view of that training, she might recognize his intent but Sark doubted it. She maybe qualified but she was still inexperienced. But first he would wait to see how events would play out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Despite the fact that she was playing her role as a mindless gold digger to perfection, Liza was bored. With some work, she had managed to obtain access to the high rollers room where DeNeige was gaming. Once inside, she had planted herself strategically among the other women so to make DeNeige notice her. The strategy had worked and it wasn’t long before he had invited her to sit next and slightly behind him so to cheer him on. She had done so as well as engaging him in conversations as to make him believe she was interested in him.
But now she was ready to move her plans to the next step. But she knew that to get him out of the casino, a certain amount of finesse was required as her mother might say. And by the lustful looks DeNeige kept giving her, she was handling him quite nicely.
Liza leaned forward, making sure to press her breasts up against his back invitingly before murmur low into his ear. “Rance, it is late and I believe you promised me a tour of your boat.”
“It is a yacht, my lovely Sophia.” Rance replied slurring her alias with his thick French accent.
“Oh yes, silly me.” Liza giggled nauseously. Men like Rance DeNeige liked to feel that they were more intelligent than the women around them and found it best to play that up.
“It is but a simple mistake.”
“But one I shall make up to you.” Liz purred.
DeNeige turned then, releasing her intentions before turning back to the table. “Sorry gentlemen, but I must call this evening to a close.”
Many of the men grumbled but did nothing to stop DeNeige from collecting his winnings and departing. None were stupid and knew that DeNeige was planning an intimate interlude with the newest conquest. Several of the men were possibly planning to do the same thing if the sea of women behind them were any indication.
Liza took DeNeige’s proffered arm and allowed him to lead her out of the room and towards a private exit of the casino. While not letting her head move in the direction, Liza did allow her eyes to seek out one of the cameras and wondered if Sark had witnessed the completion of the first part of her mission. It was an asinine thought; Sark naturally would be watching and mostly likely would follow them outside to the docks. However she pushed the thought aside and concentrated on her own job.
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
-
LittleBit
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 347
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
- Location: My Imagination
- Contact:
PART 11
**WARNING: This next part contains an extreme act of violence, several in fact. Remember, Liza (Liz) has been severely changed because of the experiences in the past year of her life and is not quite the same Liz she once was. Her anguish had made her turn to the dark side so to speak. Oh, and there is a bit of language in the last line.**
The weather made the walk to DeNeige’s yacht a pleasant one but Liza was more concerned with committing her surroundings to memory. It could help her if she needed them to. So she took note of the entrances to the docking slips, not to mention the amount of distance between the slips themselves.
When they came to the slip where DeNeige’s boat was tied, they encountered two bodyguards working as sentries. They nodded at DeNeige but stepped in front of Liza so that she could not go any further. Liza knew why but she feigned innocence. “What is wrong? Why can’t I come on board?”
“We must check all boarders for weapons, for security reasons.” One of the guards stated. Liza handed over her handbag for search. He opened it but only saw a cell phone and some money inside before handing it back to her. “Now you.”
“If you think I’m going to let you search me just so you can cop a feel, you’ve got another thing coming.” Liza said as she turned around to display her clothing. “Where do you think I could hide anything on this dress?”
The security guards looked to DeNeige for directions on what to do, and was relieved to see their boss smile at them. “I suppose we can make an exception to protocol, for my guest is right about her clothing and I do not believe she has anything concealed on her persons.”
“Thank you.” Liza said in to him gratitude before taking DeNeige’s offered arm again and allowing him to guide her onboard.
The gangplank was only wide enough for one person to walk at a time so DeNeige allowed Liza to go first. But once they were on the yacht’s deck, DeNeige maneuvered her towards the back. They went through several doors and a short hallway before coming to the yacht’s large salon. The room was nice and decorated with entertaining in mind but Liza ignored it, instead looking elsewhere to see if there would be any interference for what she was there for.
Liza looked around before asking. “Are you not going to give me a tour?”
“Later perhaps, right now I thought we might like a little refreshment.” DeNeige said as he opened a bottle of champagne. “Do the accommodations not suite you?”
“Of course not, I was simply curious to see more.” Liza said as she watched him pour two flutes of champagne. “Such as your office.”
“My office? My dear, I assure you that there is nothing inside my office that would interest you.” DeNeige stated as he returned the bottle to its holder before turning back to face her.
When he did, DeNeige found himself looking at the end of a firearm, one that Liza had slipped out of her thigh holster while he wasn’t looking, and Liza’s unfriendly gaze. “I insist.”
DeNeige’s face twisted in shock. “What…”
“Rance, you are an intelligent man, I would think it is obvious what is going on.” Liza stated coldheartedly “Now take us to your office.”
DeNeige glanced from the gun to Liza’s face then back at the gun, Liza could see him gauging the danger she posed to him. To emphasize her point, she moved her thumb up to cock the gun. DeNeige acknowledged the threat and started to lead them back down the hallway they had traveled through to the salon and down a flight of stairs. They passed several doors before DeNeige stopped, pulled a keycard from his pocket and slipped it into the lock.
The light turned green without delay and the door was opened. Liza pushed him inside before she slammed and locked the door behind them. “Go to your safe and open it.”
Rance nodded and began to step forward or at least act as if he was but it quickly became apparent that he was not as submissive as he appeared. He attempted to swing his left hand up to knock the pistol away while he used his right fist to throw a punch. But Liza was faster then his pathetic attempt and quickly ducked away. As she did, she grabbed the flying punch and twisting it behind his back while simultaneously delivering a blow to the back of his knee, sending him flying forward.
Before he hit the floor, DeNeige reached out to the nearby desk to catch himself. As he hit the top, he grabbed an elaborately decorated letter opener that was discarded on the desk. It might look like an ordinary object but Liza knew that it would be sharp and could do damage in the right hands. While she knew that DeNeige was not skilled with weapons, Liza knew he could possibly still do damage. She quickly changed tactics and took on offensive instead of defensive. As he swung the blade around widely, Liza took advantage of his lack of control to get inside the boundary of his arms and use her elbow to strike him in the ribs then a punch to the face.
Even as the punch sent Rance falling backwards, Liza tried to kick the letter opener out of his grip, but Rance grabbed his ankle and tripped her. With a quick roll, Liza got her feet back underneath her legs so that she could stand again. Angered that she had allowed him the small victory, Liza brought her gun down hard on the side of his face before slamming the stiletto heel of her shoe down onto his hand, causing him to finally drop the letter opener to the ground.
Liza brought the gun down again, but instead of hitting him with it, she aimed it between Rance’s eyes. “I’m going to say this just one more time. Open your safe.”
“And if I don’t?”
Liza knew that her time was running out and she was going to have to take immediate action to reach her deadline. She had to prove herself to her mother so that she could be considered an active operative and achieve her goal of finding Natasha. So instead of taking the time to deal with Rance, she simply pulled the trigger. The shot hit its target efficiently and Rance’s body slumped backwards onto the floor. One part of her mission completed, now she had to finish it.
Liza stepped around the body, quickly picked up her handbag where it had been dropped during her struggle with DeNeige and hurried to his safe. She was unsure how soundproof the walls were and the shot could have alerted the guards. She pulled the cellphone quickly from her purse and placed the earpiece next to the dial before placing what looked like a hand free headset in her ear. It was not a simple cellphone; it had been rigged to crack the safe’s combination.
The optech was something Liza had acquired from one of her contacts. She had several through her mother’s organization but Vladimir had taught her to cultivate more than a few of her own as well. She spun the dial quickly, the phone picking up the subtle clicks that revealed what the combination of the safe was. Memorizing the numbers, Liza quickly put the cellphone away before spinning the dial yet again, this time stopping it on the numbers of the combination.
When she had the entire combination entered, she yanked on the handle and the door swung open. There were several objects inside, and Liza had to dig through the various shelves to find what she was looking for, a velvet pouch. Just to make sure that it contained what it was supposed to, she pulled apart the strings and turned it upside down. The necklace landed in her hand and Liza knew it was indeed her objective.
Liza put the necklace back in the pouch and tucked it into another holster on her leg just as she heard the lock click on the door. The door swung open just as she heard one of the guards voice. “Monsieur DeNeige, we heard a gunshot…”
Liza didn’t allow him to finish his sentence; instead she ripped out one of the sticks in her hair and threw it at the guard. It caught him by surprise and he was unable to block the blow to his throat. It pieced straight through the skin and into his windpipe. He clutched his throat as he fell to the floor. Liza could have easily shot him but this way was easier for the reason that it was quieter. The other guards would not hear the shot nor any alarm the guard she had just killed could have yelled.
Now that she had what she came for, Liza slipped out of the office and into the corridor. She headed in the opposite direction of the way Rance had led her, knowing that there would be another staircase at the other end. Any yachts or boats of considerable size had more then one stairway for safety reasons. And luckily these were the stairs that led to the rear of the yacht and to the escape raft that would be waiting for her. But when she reached the top, she realized that something else was waiting for her.
Liza knew that the guards were on the alert and she would not be able to lie her way off the boat, so she did not attempt to hide her gun as she reached the top of the stairs. As she reached the deck, the first shot zoomed past her head. Liza squeezed off several rounds in the direction that the shot had come from before turning in the direction of the back of the yacht.
After exchanging gunfire, Liza was able to determine that there were four guards, five including the one she had killed below. That was three more then when she had came on board, which meant that they had sounded the alarm when they had heard the gunshot even as they sent someone to check it out. And more security would be coming, she needed to leave and she needed to leave now. She felt a vague sense of uneasiness suddenly but she brushed it off. Taking off at a run, Liza covered the remaining distance to the rear of the yacht quickly. She stayed behind the various chairs and pilings that were strung out along the deck, trying to use them for cover. Luckily the guards were on the move and their aim was not as efficient. However hers was and she managed to kill one of the guards on her way.
As Liza reached the rear railing, she grabbed onto it and prepared herself to hurdle over it but she first looked over so to see where exactly the escape raft was. Except when she looked at the water, she saw nothing. There was no raft, she was trapped. Liza stared at the water for a minute before exclaiming. “Son of a Bitch.”
**WARNING: This next part contains an extreme act of violence, several in fact. Remember, Liza (Liz) has been severely changed because of the experiences in the past year of her life and is not quite the same Liz she once was. Her anguish had made her turn to the dark side so to speak. Oh, and there is a bit of language in the last line.**
The weather made the walk to DeNeige’s yacht a pleasant one but Liza was more concerned with committing her surroundings to memory. It could help her if she needed them to. So she took note of the entrances to the docking slips, not to mention the amount of distance between the slips themselves.
When they came to the slip where DeNeige’s boat was tied, they encountered two bodyguards working as sentries. They nodded at DeNeige but stepped in front of Liza so that she could not go any further. Liza knew why but she feigned innocence. “What is wrong? Why can’t I come on board?”
“We must check all boarders for weapons, for security reasons.” One of the guards stated. Liza handed over her handbag for search. He opened it but only saw a cell phone and some money inside before handing it back to her. “Now you.”
“If you think I’m going to let you search me just so you can cop a feel, you’ve got another thing coming.” Liza said as she turned around to display her clothing. “Where do you think I could hide anything on this dress?”
The security guards looked to DeNeige for directions on what to do, and was relieved to see their boss smile at them. “I suppose we can make an exception to protocol, for my guest is right about her clothing and I do not believe she has anything concealed on her persons.”
“Thank you.” Liza said in to him gratitude before taking DeNeige’s offered arm again and allowing him to guide her onboard.
The gangplank was only wide enough for one person to walk at a time so DeNeige allowed Liza to go first. But once they were on the yacht’s deck, DeNeige maneuvered her towards the back. They went through several doors and a short hallway before coming to the yacht’s large salon. The room was nice and decorated with entertaining in mind but Liza ignored it, instead looking elsewhere to see if there would be any interference for what she was there for.
Liza looked around before asking. “Are you not going to give me a tour?”
“Later perhaps, right now I thought we might like a little refreshment.” DeNeige said as he opened a bottle of champagne. “Do the accommodations not suite you?”
“Of course not, I was simply curious to see more.” Liza said as she watched him pour two flutes of champagne. “Such as your office.”
“My office? My dear, I assure you that there is nothing inside my office that would interest you.” DeNeige stated as he returned the bottle to its holder before turning back to face her.
When he did, DeNeige found himself looking at the end of a firearm, one that Liza had slipped out of her thigh holster while he wasn’t looking, and Liza’s unfriendly gaze. “I insist.”
DeNeige’s face twisted in shock. “What…”
“Rance, you are an intelligent man, I would think it is obvious what is going on.” Liza stated coldheartedly “Now take us to your office.”
DeNeige glanced from the gun to Liza’s face then back at the gun, Liza could see him gauging the danger she posed to him. To emphasize her point, she moved her thumb up to cock the gun. DeNeige acknowledged the threat and started to lead them back down the hallway they had traveled through to the salon and down a flight of stairs. They passed several doors before DeNeige stopped, pulled a keycard from his pocket and slipped it into the lock.
The light turned green without delay and the door was opened. Liza pushed him inside before she slammed and locked the door behind them. “Go to your safe and open it.”
Rance nodded and began to step forward or at least act as if he was but it quickly became apparent that he was not as submissive as he appeared. He attempted to swing his left hand up to knock the pistol away while he used his right fist to throw a punch. But Liza was faster then his pathetic attempt and quickly ducked away. As she did, she grabbed the flying punch and twisting it behind his back while simultaneously delivering a blow to the back of his knee, sending him flying forward.
Before he hit the floor, DeNeige reached out to the nearby desk to catch himself. As he hit the top, he grabbed an elaborately decorated letter opener that was discarded on the desk. It might look like an ordinary object but Liza knew that it would be sharp and could do damage in the right hands. While she knew that DeNeige was not skilled with weapons, Liza knew he could possibly still do damage. She quickly changed tactics and took on offensive instead of defensive. As he swung the blade around widely, Liza took advantage of his lack of control to get inside the boundary of his arms and use her elbow to strike him in the ribs then a punch to the face.
Even as the punch sent Rance falling backwards, Liza tried to kick the letter opener out of his grip, but Rance grabbed his ankle and tripped her. With a quick roll, Liza got her feet back underneath her legs so that she could stand again. Angered that she had allowed him the small victory, Liza brought her gun down hard on the side of his face before slamming the stiletto heel of her shoe down onto his hand, causing him to finally drop the letter opener to the ground.
Liza brought the gun down again, but instead of hitting him with it, she aimed it between Rance’s eyes. “I’m going to say this just one more time. Open your safe.”
“And if I don’t?”
Liza knew that her time was running out and she was going to have to take immediate action to reach her deadline. She had to prove herself to her mother so that she could be considered an active operative and achieve her goal of finding Natasha. So instead of taking the time to deal with Rance, she simply pulled the trigger. The shot hit its target efficiently and Rance’s body slumped backwards onto the floor. One part of her mission completed, now she had to finish it.
Liza stepped around the body, quickly picked up her handbag where it had been dropped during her struggle with DeNeige and hurried to his safe. She was unsure how soundproof the walls were and the shot could have alerted the guards. She pulled the cellphone quickly from her purse and placed the earpiece next to the dial before placing what looked like a hand free headset in her ear. It was not a simple cellphone; it had been rigged to crack the safe’s combination.
The optech was something Liza had acquired from one of her contacts. She had several through her mother’s organization but Vladimir had taught her to cultivate more than a few of her own as well. She spun the dial quickly, the phone picking up the subtle clicks that revealed what the combination of the safe was. Memorizing the numbers, Liza quickly put the cellphone away before spinning the dial yet again, this time stopping it on the numbers of the combination.
When she had the entire combination entered, she yanked on the handle and the door swung open. There were several objects inside, and Liza had to dig through the various shelves to find what she was looking for, a velvet pouch. Just to make sure that it contained what it was supposed to, she pulled apart the strings and turned it upside down. The necklace landed in her hand and Liza knew it was indeed her objective.
Liza put the necklace back in the pouch and tucked it into another holster on her leg just as she heard the lock click on the door. The door swung open just as she heard one of the guards voice. “Monsieur DeNeige, we heard a gunshot…”
Liza didn’t allow him to finish his sentence; instead she ripped out one of the sticks in her hair and threw it at the guard. It caught him by surprise and he was unable to block the blow to his throat. It pieced straight through the skin and into his windpipe. He clutched his throat as he fell to the floor. Liza could have easily shot him but this way was easier for the reason that it was quieter. The other guards would not hear the shot nor any alarm the guard she had just killed could have yelled.
Now that she had what she came for, Liza slipped out of the office and into the corridor. She headed in the opposite direction of the way Rance had led her, knowing that there would be another staircase at the other end. Any yachts or boats of considerable size had more then one stairway for safety reasons. And luckily these were the stairs that led to the rear of the yacht and to the escape raft that would be waiting for her. But when she reached the top, she realized that something else was waiting for her.
Liza knew that the guards were on the alert and she would not be able to lie her way off the boat, so she did not attempt to hide her gun as she reached the top of the stairs. As she reached the deck, the first shot zoomed past her head. Liza squeezed off several rounds in the direction that the shot had come from before turning in the direction of the back of the yacht.
After exchanging gunfire, Liza was able to determine that there were four guards, five including the one she had killed below. That was three more then when she had came on board, which meant that they had sounded the alarm when they had heard the gunshot even as they sent someone to check it out. And more security would be coming, she needed to leave and she needed to leave now. She felt a vague sense of uneasiness suddenly but she brushed it off. Taking off at a run, Liza covered the remaining distance to the rear of the yacht quickly. She stayed behind the various chairs and pilings that were strung out along the deck, trying to use them for cover. Luckily the guards were on the move and their aim was not as efficient. However hers was and she managed to kill one of the guards on her way.
As Liza reached the rear railing, she grabbed onto it and prepared herself to hurdle over it but she first looked over so to see where exactly the escape raft was. Except when she looked at the water, she saw nothing. There was no raft, she was trapped. Liza stared at the water for a minute before exclaiming. “Son of a Bitch.”
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
-
LittleBit
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 347
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
- Location: My Imagination
- Contact:
PART 12
Liza had only a moment to reflect on the fact that the escape raft was not moored to the back of the yacht before she had to duck down and seek a place of safety. As she ducked behind a nearby lounge chair, Liza contemplated her situation. Her escape plan was null and void, and she had a sneaking suspicion that it had never even existed. A little ‘test’ courtesy of her mother and Sark, to see how easily she could adapt when the variables changed. Something she should have taken into account before this point in time. Well, she knew now and would learn from her mistake.
The guards were still firing at her, so to keep them at bay, Liza fired off the rest of the bullets in the clip of her gun. She saw one of the guards take a hit and fall into the water, while she disabled another’s shooting hand. She quickly pulled her spare clip from the bodice of her dress and slammed it into place. As she did, her eyes caught something above her.
A cable strung above DeNeige’s yacht that ran the length of the wharf, used to power the large outdoor lights that illuminated the pier. If she could reach the top deck, she could use it to escape. If she could keep her grip, then she could slide down the cable to the end of the dock. The cable would take her to another yacht or even to the maintenance area. So that gave her a second option. It was either that or to take a dive in the cold ocean water and swim for it. She had to choose one because as long as she stayed there Liza knew she was a sitting duck.
Choosing to chance the height rather then hypothermia, Liza bolted again, this time for another stairwell. This one was exterior one, made of metal that led to the bridge then the sundeck. The metal guardrail helped to shield her from the remaining guards and once she reached the sundeck, she was high enough up that she was out of range so she to move about without being concerned at being shot, at least for the moment.
Being two decks higher allowed the added height Liza would need to be able to reach the cable. Well once she climbed up on the railing, and held her hands over her head, she could reach it. The problem would be to hang onto the cable without burning the skin on the palms of her hands off.
Thinking of her scarf, Liza quickly loosened the knot before yanking it off. She tossed one end up so that it came down on the other side of the cable, creating a harness for her to use to slide on. Liza tugged on it hard, testing its strength before tucking her cell phone into the part of her bodice where her spare clip had been tucked away and slipped her gun back in her thigh holster. She waited for half a minute, until she heard the guards clamoring on the decks below. If they were on the higher decks rather then the lower ones, she would make a harder target because the cable would take her away from the yacht rather then over top of it.
Once she heard the guards where she needed to be, Liza kicked as hard as she could. The kick launched her forward and slid her down the cable. The smoothness of the cable allowed the scarf to glide easily but the weight of her body pulled a lot on her arms and wrists. She hung for as long as she could, not allowing herself to relinquish her hold on the scarf until she was far enough away from the yacht. She released the scarf and dropped to roof of a small cruiser.
Luckily the boat appeared to be empty so no alarm was sounded to alert the guards that she had left DeNeige’s yacht. She scurried off the roof and onto the deck then to the gangplank. As she crossed it to the dock, she fixed her appearance. Except for the lack of scarf and purse, she appeared the same as when she had entered the casino.
As she reached the end of the wharf, Liza veered off course and around the casino, being careful to stick close to the shadows. As soon as she was far enough away from the casino, Liza retrieved her cellphone and dialed the number she had memorized earlier.
“I’ve completed the mission and am requesting a pickup.”
“Give me your location.” Sark instructed.
Liza relayed her coordinates and shortly after, she spotted a car pulling up behind her. She was sure it was Sark but had to be positive as well as safe. She withdrew her gun, aiming at the driver as the car stopped. The tinted window rolled down, revealing Sark’s smirking face. “Is this the gratitude you give to someone who is doing you a favor?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of this is what I do to someone who set me up for a trap.” Liza declared but lowered her gun and walked around the car before getting into the passenger seat. “However, I will tolerate the deception because I know that it was just another part of my mother’s test.”
“You are correct.” Sark concurred as he shifted the car into gear and took off. He had to admit that Liza had bravado, openly threatening him like she did. But he did not condemn her for it, he would done the same thing. “You did acquire the necklace, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Liza answered, “However I am not surrendering it to anyone but my mother.”
“Liza, you act as if I am your adversary rather then your colleague. Do I have to remind you that we work for the same side?” Sark declared although he would do the same thing in her situation.
“No, you don’t. But that does not mean that I trust you. I don’t trust anyone absolutely.” Liza declared. “You run less of a risk getting burned.”
Sark nodded in agreement as he drove them to the airport. Not the public one but a smaller private airfield a few kilometers south of Monte Carlo. Private airfields were much easier to deal with then the large commercial ones, easier to buy confidentiality when it was needed. Irina’s pilot had been on alert since they had exited the plane and was waiting for their arrival so when they appeared they immediately boarded the plane.
Sark watched Liza acknowledge the pilot with a quick greeting in Russian before proceeding to the rear of the plane where the sleeping cabin was. He knew she was most likely changing so he took the opportunity to make a quick phone call. Irina answered on the second ring. “Yes.”
“I wanted to notify you that the mission has been completed.” Sark stated.
“Is our man in place to confirm DeNeige’s execution?” Irina asked.
“Yes, although I believe it to be unnecessary. She performed brilliantly and I doubt that she would allow herself to fail.” Sark explained.
“I agree, however we still need the confirmation for the mission to be deemed a success.” Irina acknowledged. “I will have the report by the time you arrive.”
Sark recognized the dismissal and disconnected the call. The pilot announced then over the intercom that they were taxing off. Liza had not returned from the rear of the plane but he knew that there were safety harnesses in the cabin so it was not mandatory that she return to the main area. She had spent a majority of the trip to Monte Carlo in the cabin so he was not surprised that she had returned to it.
Once they leveled off, Sark released his belt and proceeded to the rear of the cabin. He rapped his knuckles on the door but received no response so after a few minutes he opened the door. As he did, music erupted from the opening, explaining why his knock had not been answered.
Liza had traded the evening dress for a pair of wool slacks and a cashmere sweater with her hair hanging in loose waves around her shoulders. She sat in the lone chair in the cabin, her legs curled up underneath her, with a book in her lap. She looked elegantly beautiful as well as totally relaxed. An outside observer would never have guessed that she had killed several men a short time ago. At his arrival, she raised her head in query as she muted the music with the remote.
“Excellent choice in literature.” Sark motioned to her book, The Count of Monte Cristo. He was familiar with the book and it showed that she had similar taste in literature.
“I’m enjoying it, I find myself relating to Dantes.” Liza explained truthfully.
“Edmund Dantes had a thirst for revenge that appears to match your own,” Sark commented. “Your patience and preparation certainly rivals his.”
“You think I am seeking revenge?” Liza asked.
“I am on familiar terms with your agreement with your mother so I am aware of what your endgame is.” Sark replied, allowing her to know how informed he was.
“I should have known that my mother’s minion, excuse me, ‘director of operations’ would know the guidelines behind any new employee’s contract.” Liza said snidely.
“I must admit that yours was a unique agreement.” Sark said. “But as they say, everyone has their price. However foolish and precarious it maybe.”
Liza’s eyebrows knitted together in question, “You think wanting justice is foolish?”
“But you aren’t wanting justice, you are wanting revenge. Most likely excruciatingly painful revenge for the recipient, am I correct?” Sark asked.
“And if I do?” Liza asked. “I don’t see why you are so concerned anyway, I would think you would be pleased by it. If I am concentrated on Natasha, I won’t be trying to unseat you in my mother’s organization.”
Sark smirked, “If I believed that you were a threat to my position, I would deal with the challenge. However, I do not believe that is true, regardless of the fact that you are the heir apparent of the organization. You may inherit your mother’s organization if something was to happen to Irina, but that does mean you are prepared to operate it. That gives me solid job security.”
“Then why are you so interested in what I am doing?” Liza asked.
“Not interested per se, merely offering advice.” Sark answered cheekily. “In our occupation, one does not embrace their weaknesses. You should relinquish your need for revenge, it will get you killed.”
“You consider my desire for revenge a weakness? I would think that it would be regarded as a strength, a stimulus to push me.” Liza stated.
“An ambition that could consume you so entirely that you would willingly risk anything to achieve it, thus putting yourself in jeopardy.” Sark explained in warning.
“Speaking from personal experience?” Liza questioned.
“Your sister Sydney was also consumed by her thirst for payback. It caused her to take rather dicey chances,” Sark answered in reply instead of answering her inquiry.
Liza recognized the avoidance tactic, but knew that it was pointless to try and press the subject; instead keeping to what Sark was talking about, although altering it slightly. “Tell me about her, my sister. I’ve heard my mother’s portrayal, and read her dossier when working on my own research but I want to hear your thoughts about Sydney.”
“Why does my opinion matter?” Sark asked curiously. “Sydney and I were no more then professional adversaries, not more then acquaintances.”
“But you saw her in the field, interacted with her in intense situations. In some ways that would give you better insight then the people closest to her.” Liza explained.
Sark nodded; he understood her line of reasoning. “Sydney was almost the embodiment of the perfect operative. Intelligent, resourceful, beautiful and daring, the only negative feature she had was her belief in the inherent goodness in people, well most people. There were several, myself included that Sydney believed were simply evil. But despite that fault, she was everything anyone could hope to find in another person, let alone a woman.”
“You sound as if you’re in love with her.” Liza stated.
“Love? No. I admired her for the agent she was.”
“Was? You don’t share my mother’s belief that she is still alive?” Liza asked curiously.
“I believe that the possibility exist that she is still alive. Although the longer she is missing, the greater the odds that when she is seen again, she will no longer be breathing.” Sark stated honestly.
Although Liza knew that he spoke the truth about the likelihood of Sydney’s condition but she didn’t like hearing it. She someday hoped to meet Sydney but she knew that the probability wasn’t great. Switching her thoughts to another subject, she asked. “Why did you come in here anyway? Bored?”
“No. Just to inform you that we will be arriving in Cyprus shortly and that I have already informed Irina of our status, she is waiting for our impending arrival.” Sark stated.
“I’m sure she is.” Liza said thinking of the necklace she had concealed on her person.
Sark decided that now was the time to make a graceful exit. “Well I will leave you to your book. But remember, if you fancy conversing more, I will be in the main cabin.”
“Be careful, I may take you up on your offer.” Liza declared. She had thoroughly enjoyed the chat with Sark, it was refreshing.
“I look forward to it.” Sark said smoothly before exiting the room. He had accomplished his objective, opening a friendly line of communication with her. It would help plant the seeds for her visualizing him as something more then her mother’s employee. And then the fun would begin.
I know that some of you are thinking why didn't she just swim for it? Well what fun would that be if she took the easy way out? I hope you guys enjoyed.
Liza had only a moment to reflect on the fact that the escape raft was not moored to the back of the yacht before she had to duck down and seek a place of safety. As she ducked behind a nearby lounge chair, Liza contemplated her situation. Her escape plan was null and void, and she had a sneaking suspicion that it had never even existed. A little ‘test’ courtesy of her mother and Sark, to see how easily she could adapt when the variables changed. Something she should have taken into account before this point in time. Well, she knew now and would learn from her mistake.
The guards were still firing at her, so to keep them at bay, Liza fired off the rest of the bullets in the clip of her gun. She saw one of the guards take a hit and fall into the water, while she disabled another’s shooting hand. She quickly pulled her spare clip from the bodice of her dress and slammed it into place. As she did, her eyes caught something above her.
A cable strung above DeNeige’s yacht that ran the length of the wharf, used to power the large outdoor lights that illuminated the pier. If she could reach the top deck, she could use it to escape. If she could keep her grip, then she could slide down the cable to the end of the dock. The cable would take her to another yacht or even to the maintenance area. So that gave her a second option. It was either that or to take a dive in the cold ocean water and swim for it. She had to choose one because as long as she stayed there Liza knew she was a sitting duck.
Choosing to chance the height rather then hypothermia, Liza bolted again, this time for another stairwell. This one was exterior one, made of metal that led to the bridge then the sundeck. The metal guardrail helped to shield her from the remaining guards and once she reached the sundeck, she was high enough up that she was out of range so she to move about without being concerned at being shot, at least for the moment.
Being two decks higher allowed the added height Liza would need to be able to reach the cable. Well once she climbed up on the railing, and held her hands over her head, she could reach it. The problem would be to hang onto the cable without burning the skin on the palms of her hands off.
Thinking of her scarf, Liza quickly loosened the knot before yanking it off. She tossed one end up so that it came down on the other side of the cable, creating a harness for her to use to slide on. Liza tugged on it hard, testing its strength before tucking her cell phone into the part of her bodice where her spare clip had been tucked away and slipped her gun back in her thigh holster. She waited for half a minute, until she heard the guards clamoring on the decks below. If they were on the higher decks rather then the lower ones, she would make a harder target because the cable would take her away from the yacht rather then over top of it.
Once she heard the guards where she needed to be, Liza kicked as hard as she could. The kick launched her forward and slid her down the cable. The smoothness of the cable allowed the scarf to glide easily but the weight of her body pulled a lot on her arms and wrists. She hung for as long as she could, not allowing herself to relinquish her hold on the scarf until she was far enough away from the yacht. She released the scarf and dropped to roof of a small cruiser.
Luckily the boat appeared to be empty so no alarm was sounded to alert the guards that she had left DeNeige’s yacht. She scurried off the roof and onto the deck then to the gangplank. As she crossed it to the dock, she fixed her appearance. Except for the lack of scarf and purse, she appeared the same as when she had entered the casino.
As she reached the end of the wharf, Liza veered off course and around the casino, being careful to stick close to the shadows. As soon as she was far enough away from the casino, Liza retrieved her cellphone and dialed the number she had memorized earlier.
“I’ve completed the mission and am requesting a pickup.”
“Give me your location.” Sark instructed.
Liza relayed her coordinates and shortly after, she spotted a car pulling up behind her. She was sure it was Sark but had to be positive as well as safe. She withdrew her gun, aiming at the driver as the car stopped. The tinted window rolled down, revealing Sark’s smirking face. “Is this the gratitude you give to someone who is doing you a favor?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of this is what I do to someone who set me up for a trap.” Liza declared but lowered her gun and walked around the car before getting into the passenger seat. “However, I will tolerate the deception because I know that it was just another part of my mother’s test.”
“You are correct.” Sark concurred as he shifted the car into gear and took off. He had to admit that Liza had bravado, openly threatening him like she did. But he did not condemn her for it, he would done the same thing. “You did acquire the necklace, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Liza answered, “However I am not surrendering it to anyone but my mother.”
“Liza, you act as if I am your adversary rather then your colleague. Do I have to remind you that we work for the same side?” Sark declared although he would do the same thing in her situation.
“No, you don’t. But that does not mean that I trust you. I don’t trust anyone absolutely.” Liza declared. “You run less of a risk getting burned.”
Sark nodded in agreement as he drove them to the airport. Not the public one but a smaller private airfield a few kilometers south of Monte Carlo. Private airfields were much easier to deal with then the large commercial ones, easier to buy confidentiality when it was needed. Irina’s pilot had been on alert since they had exited the plane and was waiting for their arrival so when they appeared they immediately boarded the plane.
Sark watched Liza acknowledge the pilot with a quick greeting in Russian before proceeding to the rear of the plane where the sleeping cabin was. He knew she was most likely changing so he took the opportunity to make a quick phone call. Irina answered on the second ring. “Yes.”
“I wanted to notify you that the mission has been completed.” Sark stated.
“Is our man in place to confirm DeNeige’s execution?” Irina asked.
“Yes, although I believe it to be unnecessary. She performed brilliantly and I doubt that she would allow herself to fail.” Sark explained.
“I agree, however we still need the confirmation for the mission to be deemed a success.” Irina acknowledged. “I will have the report by the time you arrive.”
Sark recognized the dismissal and disconnected the call. The pilot announced then over the intercom that they were taxing off. Liza had not returned from the rear of the plane but he knew that there were safety harnesses in the cabin so it was not mandatory that she return to the main area. She had spent a majority of the trip to Monte Carlo in the cabin so he was not surprised that she had returned to it.
Once they leveled off, Sark released his belt and proceeded to the rear of the cabin. He rapped his knuckles on the door but received no response so after a few minutes he opened the door. As he did, music erupted from the opening, explaining why his knock had not been answered.
Liza had traded the evening dress for a pair of wool slacks and a cashmere sweater with her hair hanging in loose waves around her shoulders. She sat in the lone chair in the cabin, her legs curled up underneath her, with a book in her lap. She looked elegantly beautiful as well as totally relaxed. An outside observer would never have guessed that she had killed several men a short time ago. At his arrival, she raised her head in query as she muted the music with the remote.
“Excellent choice in literature.” Sark motioned to her book, The Count of Monte Cristo. He was familiar with the book and it showed that she had similar taste in literature.
“I’m enjoying it, I find myself relating to Dantes.” Liza explained truthfully.
“Edmund Dantes had a thirst for revenge that appears to match your own,” Sark commented. “Your patience and preparation certainly rivals his.”
“You think I am seeking revenge?” Liza asked.
“I am on familiar terms with your agreement with your mother so I am aware of what your endgame is.” Sark replied, allowing her to know how informed he was.
“I should have known that my mother’s minion, excuse me, ‘director of operations’ would know the guidelines behind any new employee’s contract.” Liza said snidely.
“I must admit that yours was a unique agreement.” Sark said. “But as they say, everyone has their price. However foolish and precarious it maybe.”
Liza’s eyebrows knitted together in question, “You think wanting justice is foolish?”
“But you aren’t wanting justice, you are wanting revenge. Most likely excruciatingly painful revenge for the recipient, am I correct?” Sark asked.
“And if I do?” Liza asked. “I don’t see why you are so concerned anyway, I would think you would be pleased by it. If I am concentrated on Natasha, I won’t be trying to unseat you in my mother’s organization.”
Sark smirked, “If I believed that you were a threat to my position, I would deal with the challenge. However, I do not believe that is true, regardless of the fact that you are the heir apparent of the organization. You may inherit your mother’s organization if something was to happen to Irina, but that does mean you are prepared to operate it. That gives me solid job security.”
“Then why are you so interested in what I am doing?” Liza asked.
“Not interested per se, merely offering advice.” Sark answered cheekily. “In our occupation, one does not embrace their weaknesses. You should relinquish your need for revenge, it will get you killed.”
“You consider my desire for revenge a weakness? I would think that it would be regarded as a strength, a stimulus to push me.” Liza stated.
“An ambition that could consume you so entirely that you would willingly risk anything to achieve it, thus putting yourself in jeopardy.” Sark explained in warning.
“Speaking from personal experience?” Liza questioned.
“Your sister Sydney was also consumed by her thirst for payback. It caused her to take rather dicey chances,” Sark answered in reply instead of answering her inquiry.
Liza recognized the avoidance tactic, but knew that it was pointless to try and press the subject; instead keeping to what Sark was talking about, although altering it slightly. “Tell me about her, my sister. I’ve heard my mother’s portrayal, and read her dossier when working on my own research but I want to hear your thoughts about Sydney.”
“Why does my opinion matter?” Sark asked curiously. “Sydney and I were no more then professional adversaries, not more then acquaintances.”
“But you saw her in the field, interacted with her in intense situations. In some ways that would give you better insight then the people closest to her.” Liza explained.
Sark nodded; he understood her line of reasoning. “Sydney was almost the embodiment of the perfect operative. Intelligent, resourceful, beautiful and daring, the only negative feature she had was her belief in the inherent goodness in people, well most people. There were several, myself included that Sydney believed were simply evil. But despite that fault, she was everything anyone could hope to find in another person, let alone a woman.”
“You sound as if you’re in love with her.” Liza stated.
“Love? No. I admired her for the agent she was.”
“Was? You don’t share my mother’s belief that she is still alive?” Liza asked curiously.
“I believe that the possibility exist that she is still alive. Although the longer she is missing, the greater the odds that when she is seen again, she will no longer be breathing.” Sark stated honestly.
Although Liza knew that he spoke the truth about the likelihood of Sydney’s condition but she didn’t like hearing it. She someday hoped to meet Sydney but she knew that the probability wasn’t great. Switching her thoughts to another subject, she asked. “Why did you come in here anyway? Bored?”
“No. Just to inform you that we will be arriving in Cyprus shortly and that I have already informed Irina of our status, she is waiting for our impending arrival.” Sark stated.
“I’m sure she is.” Liza said thinking of the necklace she had concealed on her person.
Sark decided that now was the time to make a graceful exit. “Well I will leave you to your book. But remember, if you fancy conversing more, I will be in the main cabin.”
“Be careful, I may take you up on your offer.” Liza declared. She had thoroughly enjoyed the chat with Sark, it was refreshing.
“I look forward to it.” Sark said smoothly before exiting the room. He had accomplished his objective, opening a friendly line of communication with her. It would help plant the seeds for her visualizing him as something more then her mother’s employee. And then the fun would begin.
I know that some of you are thinking why didn't she just swim for it? Well what fun would that be if she took the easy way out? I hope you guys enjoyed.
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 347
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
- Location: My Imagination
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Hey everyone, I'm back again. And not only did I get a new modem for my laptop, I got a new flashdrive too. So I am all set to update some more. And I'm really looking forward to more updating because I'm in an Alias mood. My wonderful husband got me the first season on DVD for my birthday today.
So I'll shut up now and get on with the story.
**Disclaimer: The information on Rambaldi in this next part is pulled directly from transcripts of the show and are not mine.**
PART 13
A car and driver were awaiting Sark and Liza’s arrival so there was no delay in their return to Irina’s compound after they landed in Cyprus. The sun was coming up over the ocean horizon as they walked through the front door and faced the courtyard where Irina met them. “It is pleasing to see you return with no ill effects from your trip.”
“Despite your challenges.” Liza answered, not allowing any resentment to leak in her tone.
“A necessity, however unpleasant.” Irina stated. “I had to assure myself that you were as capable as you are expected to be.”
“Perhaps the fact that I am alive is not sufficient proof,” Liza stated before retrieving the pouch from her pocket. “Maybe this will assure you that I am.”
Irina caught the bag as Liza let it drop from her grasp. Gently she untied the strings before dumping the contents of the bag into her hand. Despite it’s age and tarnished surface, the necklace sparkled faintly in the light. The links were heavy looking and the details on the pendant extravagant, not exactly Liza’s style of choice but she had to admit that it was beautiful. But as she saw the look in her mother’s eyes, Liza knew that she wasn’t simply admiring the necklace as a piece of jewelry.
“So I’m curious, why was I sent to retrieve this particular piece?” Liza asked. “What makes it so invaluable?”
Irina studied her daughter for a moment, determining whether it was time to inform Liza of another part of her family history. And she deemed that it was. “If you will follow me, I have something to show you.”
Liza was mildly confused by what was taking place but followed her mother as well as Sark as she was lead into Irina’s office. Once inside, Irina removed a cluster of books and behind them laid a large keypad. She entered a code that Liza was unable to see before placing her hand on a pad next to which scanned her handprint. The red illumination switched to green and the bookcase swung away from the wall revealing an opening in the wall. Past the opening was a metal spiral staircase but instead of leading up, it went down into an opening the floor.
Sark went first down the stairwell, with Liza next and Irina taking up the end. The stairs seemed to spiral eternally but Liza knew that was because there was no source of light to illuminate their route. At last, the stairs ended and her feet landed on firm ground. She heard a faint click and a dim light appeared above them, showing them to be in a small anteroom in front of yet another door. This one looked like it might belong in bank vault and had a much more elaborate security pad.
Her mother stepped forward, and initiated the security sequence needed. A new scan of her handprint at the same time as a retinal scan was performed. Finally a loud clink echoed through the heavy door and Sark spun the handle. The door made no sound as it was swung open and Liza could see that the door opening triggered the lights to come on inside.
Irina motioned for Liza to step through first the doorway, and studied her reaction carefully as she caught her first glimpse of the treasures inside. The reaction she got was exactly what Irina had been anticipating, even without knowing the full magnitude of what was inside, Liza appeared to be awed, perplexed, as well as fascinated.
Liza stared at the relics that were displayed throughout the room. Various pedestals displayed their wares; it was like being in a museum. The largest exhibit was a large portrait, what looked like the page of an old text blown up for display. And in the middle of the page was what looked like a sketch of a woman, a woman that looked very much like the pictures she had seen of her half sister Sydney. “What is all this?”
“These are the priceless works I have collected by a man by the name of Milo Rambaldi. He was a man of many talents, a painter, sculptor, architect, and some say industrial prophet.” Irina answered.
“Industrial prophet?” Liza repeated questioningly. “I don’t understand, they simply look like works of art.”
“They are, Rambaldi always placed his work inside priceless works of art. This necklace you retrieved, a gift from Rambaldi to his one of his mistresses, is a beautiful piece of jewelry but it is also a small piece to one of his larger objects. Esthetics were not the reason behind it, but camouflage. In Rambaldi’s time, the mid to late fifteenth century, his theories and masterpieces were too radical and revolutionary despite the fact that he was Pope Alexander the fourth’s architect. Archdeacon Claudio Vespertini was his chief adversary and succeeded having Rambaldi excommunicated for heresy, which led to his workshop as well as Rambaldi himself to be burned in 1496. But not all was lost because another workshop was located and his work spread throughout the world.”
Liza walked around one of the pedestals, scrutinizing the object before looking back up. Her mother was focused on her while Sark roamed around the room, studying the various artifacts very much like she herself was. But she could tell that his attention was focused on them despite the aloof impression that he gave off. He was trying to read her reaction to what she was hearing and she knew that there was more to come. “It is an interesting history story, but there are several other figures, Nostradamus, Galileo to name a few who have similar stories. Why is Rambaldi so fascinating?”
A furtive smile spread over Irina’s face as her eyes flickered to Sark, whose face mirrored hers with his own smirk. It was like they shared some inside knowledge. Liza was about to say something but Sark spoke first. “While the aforementioned men were pioneering, they do not begin to compare with Rambaldi’s achievements.”
“Five hundred years ago, Rambaldi envisioned and created samples of technology that scientist and engineers have only discovered within the last century, and a number of those solely in theory. Zero point energy, cell phone and transistor radio technology, binary code, not to mention complex diagramming of the human heart and complete mapping of the DNA strands.” Irina explained.
Liza’s brow creased in puzzlement. “If what you’re saying is true, why is this the first I’ve ever heard about it?”
“His work remains unpublished, therefore unknown due to an international ban on his name. The conspiracy to keep Rambaldi’s work buried is wide and vast but since the 15th century traces of Rambaldi's work have turned up in various places around the world and therefore could not be completely hidden.” Irina explained.
Liza stepped away from the artifact that she had been looking at and walked over to the large picture that resembled her sister. “Why does this drawing look so much like Sydney? Rambaldi couldn’t have drawn it.”
“But he did. And it not only looks like Sydney, but many believe that it is Sydney herself. This portrait was found in one of Rambaldi’s manuscripts on page 47. The page speaks of a prophecy that reads…"This woman here depicted will possess unseen marks. Signs that she will be the one to bring forth my works. Bind them with fury. A burning anger, unless prevented. At vulgar cost, this woman will render the greatest power unto utter desolation. This woman, without pretense, will have had her effect, never having seen the beauty of my sky behind Mt. Subasio. Perhaps a single glance would have quelled her fire."
“So what does it all mean?” Liza asked.
“The full meaning has not yet been revealed. To escape detection Rambaldi divided his artifacts into pieces, the end result could only be realized once they were gathered together and assembled. The prophecy appears to be no different, however to this point the end result has not been realized.” Irina explained. “I believe that this prophecy is why your sister disappeared.”
“Do you have any information as to who would know about the prophecy as well as have the means pull it off?” Liza asked. She didn’t believe in the rantings of a madman from five centuries before, even if his work did seem eerily prophetic but she knew that others would and they were who they should be worried about.
“Yes, I do. There are several but the foremost suspect is Arvin Sloane. He is obsessed with Rambaldi, believing himself to be the one chosen to bring Rambaldi’s work to fruition.” Irina stated before filling in the details for Liza that she did not know about Sloane. She had made sure that Liza had been educated in the major players of the espionage business so her daughter was already familiar with his work but not about his fixation for Rambaldi. She told her that when Sloane had been in charge of SD6 that he had repeatedly ordered Sydney to retrieve Rambaldi artifacts before moving on to explain her own alliance with Sloane and their later parting.
“So by telling me all of this, I assume that you want me to investigate the newest leads to find Sydney?” Liza asked.
“Yes, before your return from Vyborg, I went to Graz. A contact of the organization passed on a report of a sighting of woman matching Sydney’s description, however once I arrived there, the witness had disappeared.” Sark stated.
“Most likely he or she is dead, killed to silence what they had to say.” Liza declared.
“Correct. I have several other leads that need pursued; however Sark and I are needed to much here for an extended mission of this magnitude. I need you to step in and take over that part of our search.” Irina explained.
“Am I to be completely solo on this mission?” Liza asked.
“More or less. Sark or I will contact you often for progress reports but otherwise you will be unaccompanied.” Irina answered. “It should only be a matter of days. You are to search out a man name Simon Walker. I received a report that he was seen with a woman matching Sydney’s description several different times, they were working together. I want you to shadow him and relay any findings.”
Liza nodded. “If I’m going to do this, not just this mission but be included in the search, I need all the information possible. Everything having to do with Rambaldi and the search for his works, including how it’s supposed to pertain to Sydney, plus the Intel on all of the players in the scavenger hunt.”
“I will upload it all to the computer in your suite.” Irina said in agreement. The three of them departed the private gallery at that moment and started on the next leg of the search.
So I'll shut up now and get on with the story.
**Disclaimer: The information on Rambaldi in this next part is pulled directly from transcripts of the show and are not mine.**
PART 13
A car and driver were awaiting Sark and Liza’s arrival so there was no delay in their return to Irina’s compound after they landed in Cyprus. The sun was coming up over the ocean horizon as they walked through the front door and faced the courtyard where Irina met them. “It is pleasing to see you return with no ill effects from your trip.”
“Despite your challenges.” Liza answered, not allowing any resentment to leak in her tone.
“A necessity, however unpleasant.” Irina stated. “I had to assure myself that you were as capable as you are expected to be.”
“Perhaps the fact that I am alive is not sufficient proof,” Liza stated before retrieving the pouch from her pocket. “Maybe this will assure you that I am.”
Irina caught the bag as Liza let it drop from her grasp. Gently she untied the strings before dumping the contents of the bag into her hand. Despite it’s age and tarnished surface, the necklace sparkled faintly in the light. The links were heavy looking and the details on the pendant extravagant, not exactly Liza’s style of choice but she had to admit that it was beautiful. But as she saw the look in her mother’s eyes, Liza knew that she wasn’t simply admiring the necklace as a piece of jewelry.
“So I’m curious, why was I sent to retrieve this particular piece?” Liza asked. “What makes it so invaluable?”
Irina studied her daughter for a moment, determining whether it was time to inform Liza of another part of her family history. And she deemed that it was. “If you will follow me, I have something to show you.”
Liza was mildly confused by what was taking place but followed her mother as well as Sark as she was lead into Irina’s office. Once inside, Irina removed a cluster of books and behind them laid a large keypad. She entered a code that Liza was unable to see before placing her hand on a pad next to which scanned her handprint. The red illumination switched to green and the bookcase swung away from the wall revealing an opening in the wall. Past the opening was a metal spiral staircase but instead of leading up, it went down into an opening the floor.
Sark went first down the stairwell, with Liza next and Irina taking up the end. The stairs seemed to spiral eternally but Liza knew that was because there was no source of light to illuminate their route. At last, the stairs ended and her feet landed on firm ground. She heard a faint click and a dim light appeared above them, showing them to be in a small anteroom in front of yet another door. This one looked like it might belong in bank vault and had a much more elaborate security pad.
Her mother stepped forward, and initiated the security sequence needed. A new scan of her handprint at the same time as a retinal scan was performed. Finally a loud clink echoed through the heavy door and Sark spun the handle. The door made no sound as it was swung open and Liza could see that the door opening triggered the lights to come on inside.
Irina motioned for Liza to step through first the doorway, and studied her reaction carefully as she caught her first glimpse of the treasures inside. The reaction she got was exactly what Irina had been anticipating, even without knowing the full magnitude of what was inside, Liza appeared to be awed, perplexed, as well as fascinated.
Liza stared at the relics that were displayed throughout the room. Various pedestals displayed their wares; it was like being in a museum. The largest exhibit was a large portrait, what looked like the page of an old text blown up for display. And in the middle of the page was what looked like a sketch of a woman, a woman that looked very much like the pictures she had seen of her half sister Sydney. “What is all this?”
“These are the priceless works I have collected by a man by the name of Milo Rambaldi. He was a man of many talents, a painter, sculptor, architect, and some say industrial prophet.” Irina answered.
“Industrial prophet?” Liza repeated questioningly. “I don’t understand, they simply look like works of art.”
“They are, Rambaldi always placed his work inside priceless works of art. This necklace you retrieved, a gift from Rambaldi to his one of his mistresses, is a beautiful piece of jewelry but it is also a small piece to one of his larger objects. Esthetics were not the reason behind it, but camouflage. In Rambaldi’s time, the mid to late fifteenth century, his theories and masterpieces were too radical and revolutionary despite the fact that he was Pope Alexander the fourth’s architect. Archdeacon Claudio Vespertini was his chief adversary and succeeded having Rambaldi excommunicated for heresy, which led to his workshop as well as Rambaldi himself to be burned in 1496. But not all was lost because another workshop was located and his work spread throughout the world.”
Liza walked around one of the pedestals, scrutinizing the object before looking back up. Her mother was focused on her while Sark roamed around the room, studying the various artifacts very much like she herself was. But she could tell that his attention was focused on them despite the aloof impression that he gave off. He was trying to read her reaction to what she was hearing and she knew that there was more to come. “It is an interesting history story, but there are several other figures, Nostradamus, Galileo to name a few who have similar stories. Why is Rambaldi so fascinating?”
A furtive smile spread over Irina’s face as her eyes flickered to Sark, whose face mirrored hers with his own smirk. It was like they shared some inside knowledge. Liza was about to say something but Sark spoke first. “While the aforementioned men were pioneering, they do not begin to compare with Rambaldi’s achievements.”
“Five hundred years ago, Rambaldi envisioned and created samples of technology that scientist and engineers have only discovered within the last century, and a number of those solely in theory. Zero point energy, cell phone and transistor radio technology, binary code, not to mention complex diagramming of the human heart and complete mapping of the DNA strands.” Irina explained.
Liza’s brow creased in puzzlement. “If what you’re saying is true, why is this the first I’ve ever heard about it?”
“His work remains unpublished, therefore unknown due to an international ban on his name. The conspiracy to keep Rambaldi’s work buried is wide and vast but since the 15th century traces of Rambaldi's work have turned up in various places around the world and therefore could not be completely hidden.” Irina explained.
Liza stepped away from the artifact that she had been looking at and walked over to the large picture that resembled her sister. “Why does this drawing look so much like Sydney? Rambaldi couldn’t have drawn it.”
“But he did. And it not only looks like Sydney, but many believe that it is Sydney herself. This portrait was found in one of Rambaldi’s manuscripts on page 47. The page speaks of a prophecy that reads…"This woman here depicted will possess unseen marks. Signs that she will be the one to bring forth my works. Bind them with fury. A burning anger, unless prevented. At vulgar cost, this woman will render the greatest power unto utter desolation. This woman, without pretense, will have had her effect, never having seen the beauty of my sky behind Mt. Subasio. Perhaps a single glance would have quelled her fire."
“So what does it all mean?” Liza asked.
“The full meaning has not yet been revealed. To escape detection Rambaldi divided his artifacts into pieces, the end result could only be realized once they were gathered together and assembled. The prophecy appears to be no different, however to this point the end result has not been realized.” Irina explained. “I believe that this prophecy is why your sister disappeared.”
“Do you have any information as to who would know about the prophecy as well as have the means pull it off?” Liza asked. She didn’t believe in the rantings of a madman from five centuries before, even if his work did seem eerily prophetic but she knew that others would and they were who they should be worried about.
“Yes, I do. There are several but the foremost suspect is Arvin Sloane. He is obsessed with Rambaldi, believing himself to be the one chosen to bring Rambaldi’s work to fruition.” Irina stated before filling in the details for Liza that she did not know about Sloane. She had made sure that Liza had been educated in the major players of the espionage business so her daughter was already familiar with his work but not about his fixation for Rambaldi. She told her that when Sloane had been in charge of SD6 that he had repeatedly ordered Sydney to retrieve Rambaldi artifacts before moving on to explain her own alliance with Sloane and their later parting.
“So by telling me all of this, I assume that you want me to investigate the newest leads to find Sydney?” Liza asked.
“Yes, before your return from Vyborg, I went to Graz. A contact of the organization passed on a report of a sighting of woman matching Sydney’s description, however once I arrived there, the witness had disappeared.” Sark stated.
“Most likely he or she is dead, killed to silence what they had to say.” Liza declared.
“Correct. I have several other leads that need pursued; however Sark and I are needed to much here for an extended mission of this magnitude. I need you to step in and take over that part of our search.” Irina explained.
“Am I to be completely solo on this mission?” Liza asked.
“More or less. Sark or I will contact you often for progress reports but otherwise you will be unaccompanied.” Irina answered. “It should only be a matter of days. You are to search out a man name Simon Walker. I received a report that he was seen with a woman matching Sydney’s description several different times, they were working together. I want you to shadow him and relay any findings.”
Liza nodded. “If I’m going to do this, not just this mission but be included in the search, I need all the information possible. Everything having to do with Rambaldi and the search for his works, including how it’s supposed to pertain to Sydney, plus the Intel on all of the players in the scavenger hunt.”
“I will upload it all to the computer in your suite.” Irina said in agreement. The three of them departed the private gallery at that moment and started on the next leg of the search.
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
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- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
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I'm switching things around a little for this next part, it's not from Liza's POV nor is it from Irina's or Sark's. It's Jack's. I thought it was about time to see what the CIA was up to. Hope you enjoy.
PART 14
Assistant Director Kendall walked into the briefing room in the Joint Task Forces facility, full of energy despite the fact that it was so early in the morning to address the agents he had gathered, Agent Eric Weiss, Agent Jack Bristow, Agent Marcus Dixon and Senior Analyst Will Tippin. He could tell that they had prepared themselves for his usual callous briefing and he was not going to disappoint them.
Kendall tossed a file folder down in the middle of the black tabletop. The edges of several photographs could be seen but not enough to identify the subjects of the photos, but the men in the room were able to examine them on the large viewing screens behind Kendall. The first picture was of a man; early to mid thirties dressed in a stylish suit.
“The man you see here is Rance DeNeige, CEO of DeNeige International. Or he was until he was found dead in Monte Carlo aboard his yacht where it was moored five hours ago.”
“Who was responsible for his death?” Jack Bristow asked interrupting Kendall’s briefing.
“Witnesses which include the two surviving members of DeNeige’s five man security team identified this woman as DeNeige’s assassin.” Kendall explained as another picture appeared on the screen behind Kendall.
They could tell that the photo was from surveillance footage most likely from the casino. The picture showed a woman along side DeNeige, engaging in lighthearted conversation. The woman was elegantly dressed and appeared to be a member of the casino’s wealthy clientele. Multiple shots showed her at different spots in the casino but the majority were at one of the gaming tables seated next to DeNeige.
“Cameras have her entering the casino and seeking DeNeige out almost immediately. We believe that she enticed him into inviting her to a more private location with the intention of killing him. The last amounts of footage we have shows the two were seen leaving the casino and walking along the wharf until they boarded DeNeige’s yacht.”
“A short time later, a shot was heard and one guard was sent to investigate, he was later found in the main office stabbed through the throat with a silver stick similar to a stiletto alongside DeNeige who himself was shot in the head.” Kendall described as he pushed the button again and the photo changed to crime scene photos that illustrated what he had just told them.
“Shortly after the first guard was charged with checking out the shot, the woman in question appeared on the deck armed with a firearm. Shots rang out and a fire fight ensued, in the end two more guards were dead, one injured and the woman had escaped.” Kendall finished.
Taking the moment to interrupt, Eric Weiss asked, “Sir, how does this connect with our current work? It appears to be a simple homicide.”
“For the reason that the casino’s surveillance footage also captured brief but identifiable footage that places Sark in the casino. Which makes this very much our concern.” Kendall said in explanation.
“As you know, we confirmed five months ago that Sark has reestablished his employment with Irina Derevko, if he ever left her employment. Intelligence confirms that the information he provided us given to assist in capturing Sloane might have been was to sidetrack us. As well as remove him from his partnership with Derevko. And if this woman is connected with Sark then she is with Derevko as well.”
“How do we know that the two are connected at all? Couldn’t the woman simply be a rival of Sark’s who simply beat him to the punch?” Will asked.
“That viewpoint is possible, however Intel we received several months ago does indicate that this woman does have some type of association with Irina Derevko. The woman, who we have yet to identify, was seen in the company of Vladimir Pograski in St Petersburg.”
“It is known that Pograski is ex-KGB. When Agent Vaughn was still with the agency, he was able to link Pograski to Derevko. I have been in contact with Agent Vaughn and have all of his information however it is out-of-date and we no longer have recent information. It is not known if when the unidentified woman was spotted with Pograski if she was already working for Derevko or if this is a new arrangement.”
“Regardless, she appears to now work more directly with Derevko and Sark. So gentlemen, it appears that there is a new player in the game and those of you in the field should be cautious of her.” Kendall announced.
“And there is no information on her?” Jack questioned as he reached forward and removed the photos from the dossier so that he could study them closer. He knew that he would be asked to create a profile on the new operative but that assignment was hard to accomplish when little to no information was known about the subject. But he would still create a preliminary report that they could add to as information was gathered.
“No, we have next to nothing. As I said before, we have yet to positively identify her. Bystanders overheard DeNeige call her Sophia but no confirmation can be found that the name is valid. We are working on the assumption that the name is false and that it is an alias.” Kendall stated. “All details about her are a mystery.”
“Just like Sark was when he first appeared on our radar three years ago.” Dixon commented as he spoke for the first time since the group had entered the room.
“Yes, but at least at that previous juncture we had a name we were confident was a part of his actual epithet.” Jack remarked matter of factly.
“We are not yet completely clear on her motivation to travel to Monte Carlo. We presume it was possibly to simply execute DeNeige but his safe was also open and the contents rivaled through. It is not yet known what was taken but we will have that information soon. That is all for now gentlemen.” Kendall said in dismissal.
Everyone rose and left the room aside from Jack who continued to study the photographs. While her attire and makeup made her appear older, Jack could tell that the woman was young, most likely in her early twenties. So young yet so deadly. He wondered what had attracted Irina’s attention. She would a talented operative, Irina would accept no less. But there had to be more then just talent. If Irina was involved, there had to be more to this woman then met the eye.
Jack brought his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose to hold back the faint headache he felt coming on. Or he should say returning. They were a constant irritation to him as of late, stemming from exhaustion and stress. But that did no mean that Jack would relent in his search for Sydney. The agency might have declared his daughter dead but he had not. However he had to admit that after a year, the leads from his contacts were going nowhere.
After Sydney’s disappearance, Jack had initially believed that Irina could be behind it. He wanted to believe that his former wife would not hurt their daughter, not a viewpoint he would have assumed a year ago. But Jack had witnessed a few times that Irina did whatever possible to ensure that Sydney was safe and so he believed that despite her faults, Irina did have maternal affection for Sydney’s well being.
But while Jack believed this, he also knew that Irina had been a Rambaldi follower for several decades and was entranced by the man’s work. She would do anything; risk anyone to discover what Rambaldi’s true purpose was and the potential for his theories and inventions. And Sydney was by all accounts was a significant part of Rambaldi’s work, at least that was what was believed in the prophecy.
However as time went on and the CIA as well as Jack tracked some of Irina’s movements, it was apparent to him that she had not been responsible for Sydney’s disappearance. So he began to pursue other possibilities, Sloane was one of his top suspects after Irina of course. The man definitely had the ambition, the ruthlessness and the resources.
In the year since he had abducted Jack, Sloane had become extremely enigmatic. Sightings of him were small, but his domination had not decreased a bit. In fact it was greater than before. Sloane had a new organization, one that was bigger then SD6 and without its restrictions of working under the pretense that they were the CIA. Instead they worked with no morality. It was mostly comprised of agents that had found themselves unemployed when FTL, K Directorate and the Alliance was were brought down. That coalition was a very dangerous group.
Jack was sure that Irina would be conducting her own search for Sydney, perhaps if the search continued on the path that it was now, he would contact her and they could combine their resources. Under any other circumstances, Jack would rebel against the idea but this was about Sydney. He appreciated Irina’s added resources and would make a pact with the devil if he had to to find out what happened to his daughter.
PART 14
Assistant Director Kendall walked into the briefing room in the Joint Task Forces facility, full of energy despite the fact that it was so early in the morning to address the agents he had gathered, Agent Eric Weiss, Agent Jack Bristow, Agent Marcus Dixon and Senior Analyst Will Tippin. He could tell that they had prepared themselves for his usual callous briefing and he was not going to disappoint them.
Kendall tossed a file folder down in the middle of the black tabletop. The edges of several photographs could be seen but not enough to identify the subjects of the photos, but the men in the room were able to examine them on the large viewing screens behind Kendall. The first picture was of a man; early to mid thirties dressed in a stylish suit.
“The man you see here is Rance DeNeige, CEO of DeNeige International. Or he was until he was found dead in Monte Carlo aboard his yacht where it was moored five hours ago.”
“Who was responsible for his death?” Jack Bristow asked interrupting Kendall’s briefing.
“Witnesses which include the two surviving members of DeNeige’s five man security team identified this woman as DeNeige’s assassin.” Kendall explained as another picture appeared on the screen behind Kendall.
They could tell that the photo was from surveillance footage most likely from the casino. The picture showed a woman along side DeNeige, engaging in lighthearted conversation. The woman was elegantly dressed and appeared to be a member of the casino’s wealthy clientele. Multiple shots showed her at different spots in the casino but the majority were at one of the gaming tables seated next to DeNeige.
“Cameras have her entering the casino and seeking DeNeige out almost immediately. We believe that she enticed him into inviting her to a more private location with the intention of killing him. The last amounts of footage we have shows the two were seen leaving the casino and walking along the wharf until they boarded DeNeige’s yacht.”
“A short time later, a shot was heard and one guard was sent to investigate, he was later found in the main office stabbed through the throat with a silver stick similar to a stiletto alongside DeNeige who himself was shot in the head.” Kendall described as he pushed the button again and the photo changed to crime scene photos that illustrated what he had just told them.
“Shortly after the first guard was charged with checking out the shot, the woman in question appeared on the deck armed with a firearm. Shots rang out and a fire fight ensued, in the end two more guards were dead, one injured and the woman had escaped.” Kendall finished.
Taking the moment to interrupt, Eric Weiss asked, “Sir, how does this connect with our current work? It appears to be a simple homicide.”
“For the reason that the casino’s surveillance footage also captured brief but identifiable footage that places Sark in the casino. Which makes this very much our concern.” Kendall said in explanation.
“As you know, we confirmed five months ago that Sark has reestablished his employment with Irina Derevko, if he ever left her employment. Intelligence confirms that the information he provided us given to assist in capturing Sloane might have been was to sidetrack us. As well as remove him from his partnership with Derevko. And if this woman is connected with Sark then she is with Derevko as well.”
“How do we know that the two are connected at all? Couldn’t the woman simply be a rival of Sark’s who simply beat him to the punch?” Will asked.
“That viewpoint is possible, however Intel we received several months ago does indicate that this woman does have some type of association with Irina Derevko. The woman, who we have yet to identify, was seen in the company of Vladimir Pograski in St Petersburg.”
“It is known that Pograski is ex-KGB. When Agent Vaughn was still with the agency, he was able to link Pograski to Derevko. I have been in contact with Agent Vaughn and have all of his information however it is out-of-date and we no longer have recent information. It is not known if when the unidentified woman was spotted with Pograski if she was already working for Derevko or if this is a new arrangement.”
“Regardless, she appears to now work more directly with Derevko and Sark. So gentlemen, it appears that there is a new player in the game and those of you in the field should be cautious of her.” Kendall announced.
“And there is no information on her?” Jack questioned as he reached forward and removed the photos from the dossier so that he could study them closer. He knew that he would be asked to create a profile on the new operative but that assignment was hard to accomplish when little to no information was known about the subject. But he would still create a preliminary report that they could add to as information was gathered.
“No, we have next to nothing. As I said before, we have yet to positively identify her. Bystanders overheard DeNeige call her Sophia but no confirmation can be found that the name is valid. We are working on the assumption that the name is false and that it is an alias.” Kendall stated. “All details about her are a mystery.”
“Just like Sark was when he first appeared on our radar three years ago.” Dixon commented as he spoke for the first time since the group had entered the room.
“Yes, but at least at that previous juncture we had a name we were confident was a part of his actual epithet.” Jack remarked matter of factly.
“We are not yet completely clear on her motivation to travel to Monte Carlo. We presume it was possibly to simply execute DeNeige but his safe was also open and the contents rivaled through. It is not yet known what was taken but we will have that information soon. That is all for now gentlemen.” Kendall said in dismissal.
Everyone rose and left the room aside from Jack who continued to study the photographs. While her attire and makeup made her appear older, Jack could tell that the woman was young, most likely in her early twenties. So young yet so deadly. He wondered what had attracted Irina’s attention. She would a talented operative, Irina would accept no less. But there had to be more then just talent. If Irina was involved, there had to be more to this woman then met the eye.
Jack brought his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose to hold back the faint headache he felt coming on. Or he should say returning. They were a constant irritation to him as of late, stemming from exhaustion and stress. But that did no mean that Jack would relent in his search for Sydney. The agency might have declared his daughter dead but he had not. However he had to admit that after a year, the leads from his contacts were going nowhere.
After Sydney’s disappearance, Jack had initially believed that Irina could be behind it. He wanted to believe that his former wife would not hurt their daughter, not a viewpoint he would have assumed a year ago. But Jack had witnessed a few times that Irina did whatever possible to ensure that Sydney was safe and so he believed that despite her faults, Irina did have maternal affection for Sydney’s well being.
But while Jack believed this, he also knew that Irina had been a Rambaldi follower for several decades and was entranced by the man’s work. She would do anything; risk anyone to discover what Rambaldi’s true purpose was and the potential for his theories and inventions. And Sydney was by all accounts was a significant part of Rambaldi’s work, at least that was what was believed in the prophecy.
However as time went on and the CIA as well as Jack tracked some of Irina’s movements, it was apparent to him that she had not been responsible for Sydney’s disappearance. So he began to pursue other possibilities, Sloane was one of his top suspects after Irina of course. The man definitely had the ambition, the ruthlessness and the resources.
In the year since he had abducted Jack, Sloane had become extremely enigmatic. Sightings of him were small, but his domination had not decreased a bit. In fact it was greater than before. Sloane had a new organization, one that was bigger then SD6 and without its restrictions of working under the pretense that they were the CIA. Instead they worked with no morality. It was mostly comprised of agents that had found themselves unemployed when FTL, K Directorate and the Alliance was were brought down. That coalition was a very dangerous group.
Jack was sure that Irina would be conducting her own search for Sydney, perhaps if the search continued on the path that it was now, he would contact her and they could combine their resources. Under any other circumstances, Jack would rebel against the idea but this was about Sydney. He appreciated Irina’s added resources and would make a pact with the devil if he had to to find out what happened to his daughter.
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 347
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
- Location: My Imagination
- Contact:
PART 15
In view of the fact that she arrived in Cyprus at dawn and not having slept the night before, Liza decided to sleep. Another hidden ability she had discovered in the last few months was that she could run for days with limited amounts of sleep. Furthermore even when she did sleep, she slept efficiently and only needed around six hours before she was fit again. So after some sleep and something to eat, she tackled the large amount of Intel that was transmitted to her computer. And she was glad that she did because it took Liza the better part of the remainder of the day to read through all of it.
Before she had left for Vyborg, Liza thought that the briefing her mother had given her on the world of espionage and her family’s positions in it had been thorough, but after reading all of the information that was provided to her, Liza found that it was not. True, in her time in the field with Vladimir during her training she had learned of the reputations of her mother, her father and even her sister but nothing as specific as what she read in the files. After analyzing all of the data, Liza left her room in search of some place where she could reflect on all that she had read. That was where Sark found her.
Sark watched as Liza threw several different knifes at several moving targets inside the workout/shooting gallery. The targets were a recent acquisition for the gym, used for target practice on moving objects instead of stationary ones. Sark had yet to make use of it but it looked as if Liza had taken full advantage of it.
As a matter of fact, Liza seemed to so focused on her exercises that Sark was not positive that she noticed his presence so he approached cautiously. A smart choice in view of that when she did hear his approach from behind, Liza reacted instinctively and threw her weapon at who she thought was an intruder. Luckily Sark was prepared and was able to catch the blade before it could do its damage.
Liza watched Sark as he snatched her knife out of the air and it snapped her out of her daze. “I’m sorry. I did not intend to injure you.”
“I believe that your aim says something different.” Sark commented as he flipped the knife so that he was holding the hilt rather then the blade before offering it back to her. “I believe this is yours.”
“Thank you.” Liza said as she took the offered knife and watched as Sark strolled over to the targets that she had just been using to examine them.
“Skillful use of the blades.” Sark commented. “You seem to be accomplished with a dagger.”
Liza nodded. “Knives are simplistic weapons but effective when necessary. While I do like the benefits of a gun, the breathing space that it gives you as well as the power behind them, I am partial to knives. They don’t jam on you.”
“Your mother is quite proficient with knives as well however I have never known Irina to be partial to any particular weapon, your sister preferred a less lethal weapon, a club. But I myself prefer guns.” Sark remarked. “Of course I guess I should be relieved that you do not otherwise I might have had to dodge a bullet rather then catch your knife.”
“I did not expect anyone to be joining me down here so I naturally thought you were an intruder.” Liza stated. “You would assume the same thing if someone imposed in your private space. What are you even doing here?”
“I sought you out because I assumed you had finished reviewing the information you had requested and was curious as to your opinion of it.” Sark stated in defense. While the words he spoke were genuine, and that he was curious as to what Liza thought about the newest information she had studied, Sark had mostly sought her out to talk to her privately in the hopes of furthering his own agenda along.
“Honestly?” Liza asked, and when Sark nodded slightly she answered his inquiry. “Truthfully I think it’s a bunch of bullshit.”
Sark was so taken aback by Liza’s remark that he could not surpass the laugh that bubbled out of him. It was not the observation he had been expecting, she had surprised him. Not something many people could admit to doing and he felt himself enjoying the phenomenon. I’m sorry; I do not mean to laugh at you. It is just that I have never heard anyone refer to Rambaldi in that manner. I’ve heard amazement, wonder, admiration and disbelief but never contempt. It caught me unaware.”
“You asked my opinion and I gave it to you. It is not my fault if our opinions differ.” Liza stated.
“I have never declared to be a follower of Rambaldi but I must admit that the works of his that I have come into contact have been extraordinary. So you might say I have a certain respect for what he accomplished without being overcome by the obsession.” Sark rationalized.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have admiration for a lot of Rambaldi’s inventions. If all that I read is accurate, he was most definitely an inventor way ahead of his time. But the prophetic element of his works I find hard to believe.” Liza clarified her meaning.
“You do not believe that something can be predestined to happen?” Sark inquired, noticing that Liza’s body became rigid as he asked the question. As if the words themselves caused the reaction.
“No, I do not believe in preordained destiny. I believe in that the circumstances of our lives and how we deal with them are what lead us, not a set path.” Liza stated firmly. She had learned from her experience that time manipulation was possible, but it was also that experience that gave her confidence in what she had stated to Sark. After all by changing Future Max’s timeline, she had changed events that had ultimately led to Alex’s death and Tess’s pregnancy. So if one alteration had changed significant events over one year, how could Rambaldi possibly be able to accurately foresee the future centuries before?
“Then how do you explain the foresight of his inventions?” Sark asked.
“A combination of genius, imagination, and a number of other thing not to mention a touch of insanity. More than a touch if his ‘prophesies’ are any indication. I have seen and experienced too much to believe in prophesies made by a man hundreds of years ago. There are too many variables that could change over the years that would alter the prophecy…” Liza explained until she saw that Sark was staring intently at her. “What?”
“Nothing, merely listening to your conjecture, it is intriguing. However I am curious what you meant by your experiences influencing your opinion.” Sark stated.
“I bet you would,” Liza remarked knowingly. She knew many people would pay a lot of money for the aliens’ secret, and in knowing this Liza kept it secret. It could be contingency plan if she would need it at some point, if things got sticky. So to get Sark off of the subject, she mischievously said. “You can’t expect a girl can’t give up all of her secrets can she? It could cause someone to grow bored.”
“No, I do not believe you should.” Sark commented as a small smirk twitched on his lips at the teasing tone in Liza’s voice. It was the most personality she had displayed since arriving back in Cyprus aside from the plane trip from Monte Carlo. While Sark admired professionalism in an agent, he did not believe in living solely for business. What good were the luxuries they acquired if they did not enjoy them? Perhaps he would have to show her how enjoyable they could be. “Although you have no need of secrets to keep someone’s interest, you achieve that on your own accord.”
“Why Sark, if I didn’t know better, I would think you were buttering me up for something.” Liza observed guardedly after his flattering remark.
“No, merely complimenting you. Can I not do so without having an ulterior motive?” Sark inquired.
“Yes, but considering you are a handsome man who has no doubt used his appearance and charm to the best of his advantage, I have to be skeptical.” Liza answered.
“An astute observation.” Sark remarked truthfully. “One must use whatever resources one has available when acquiring information.”
“I agree.” Liza stated. She had not been oblivious to Sark’s attractiveness, it would be impossible to do so considering that the waves of sexuality that came off of the man in waves. Thinking of it now, Liza knew that it must be a combination of a handsome face, a well-formed body, charm, and an air of danger created a magnetism that surrounded him. A magnetism that even she found herself not immune to. But before she could probe more deeply into it, she had a job to do.
“Speaking of assignments, I should be going upstairs and packing. Simon Walker was last spotted in Paris two days ago, he’s been known to run his operations out of there. So I want to get there and locate him, see if there is any truth behind the report of Sydney.” Liza stated.
“With any luck, the Intel your mother acquired will lead to a productive reconnaissance.” Sark stated truthfully.
As Liza slipped out of the room, she called to Sark over her shoulder. “Perhaps I’ll see you when I get back.”
“It maybe sooner then you think.” Sark said softly, too softly for Liza to hear. Which was his intention because he had no plans to inform her that he would be the one to be checking on her progress on her assignment. Irina had intended to do it herself but business would keep her too busy to do so so Sark volunteered. He did not think that Irina was aware of his reasons behind it but he would make sure to continue watching his footing, with Irina and her daughter.
In view of the fact that she arrived in Cyprus at dawn and not having slept the night before, Liza decided to sleep. Another hidden ability she had discovered in the last few months was that she could run for days with limited amounts of sleep. Furthermore even when she did sleep, she slept efficiently and only needed around six hours before she was fit again. So after some sleep and something to eat, she tackled the large amount of Intel that was transmitted to her computer. And she was glad that she did because it took Liza the better part of the remainder of the day to read through all of it.
Before she had left for Vyborg, Liza thought that the briefing her mother had given her on the world of espionage and her family’s positions in it had been thorough, but after reading all of the information that was provided to her, Liza found that it was not. True, in her time in the field with Vladimir during her training she had learned of the reputations of her mother, her father and even her sister but nothing as specific as what she read in the files. After analyzing all of the data, Liza left her room in search of some place where she could reflect on all that she had read. That was where Sark found her.
Sark watched as Liza threw several different knifes at several moving targets inside the workout/shooting gallery. The targets were a recent acquisition for the gym, used for target practice on moving objects instead of stationary ones. Sark had yet to make use of it but it looked as if Liza had taken full advantage of it.
As a matter of fact, Liza seemed to so focused on her exercises that Sark was not positive that she noticed his presence so he approached cautiously. A smart choice in view of that when she did hear his approach from behind, Liza reacted instinctively and threw her weapon at who she thought was an intruder. Luckily Sark was prepared and was able to catch the blade before it could do its damage.
Liza watched Sark as he snatched her knife out of the air and it snapped her out of her daze. “I’m sorry. I did not intend to injure you.”
“I believe that your aim says something different.” Sark commented as he flipped the knife so that he was holding the hilt rather then the blade before offering it back to her. “I believe this is yours.”
“Thank you.” Liza said as she took the offered knife and watched as Sark strolled over to the targets that she had just been using to examine them.
“Skillful use of the blades.” Sark commented. “You seem to be accomplished with a dagger.”
Liza nodded. “Knives are simplistic weapons but effective when necessary. While I do like the benefits of a gun, the breathing space that it gives you as well as the power behind them, I am partial to knives. They don’t jam on you.”
“Your mother is quite proficient with knives as well however I have never known Irina to be partial to any particular weapon, your sister preferred a less lethal weapon, a club. But I myself prefer guns.” Sark remarked. “Of course I guess I should be relieved that you do not otherwise I might have had to dodge a bullet rather then catch your knife.”
“I did not expect anyone to be joining me down here so I naturally thought you were an intruder.” Liza stated. “You would assume the same thing if someone imposed in your private space. What are you even doing here?”
“I sought you out because I assumed you had finished reviewing the information you had requested and was curious as to your opinion of it.” Sark stated in defense. While the words he spoke were genuine, and that he was curious as to what Liza thought about the newest information she had studied, Sark had mostly sought her out to talk to her privately in the hopes of furthering his own agenda along.
“Honestly?” Liza asked, and when Sark nodded slightly she answered his inquiry. “Truthfully I think it’s a bunch of bullshit.”
Sark was so taken aback by Liza’s remark that he could not surpass the laugh that bubbled out of him. It was not the observation he had been expecting, she had surprised him. Not something many people could admit to doing and he felt himself enjoying the phenomenon. I’m sorry; I do not mean to laugh at you. It is just that I have never heard anyone refer to Rambaldi in that manner. I’ve heard amazement, wonder, admiration and disbelief but never contempt. It caught me unaware.”
“You asked my opinion and I gave it to you. It is not my fault if our opinions differ.” Liza stated.
“I have never declared to be a follower of Rambaldi but I must admit that the works of his that I have come into contact have been extraordinary. So you might say I have a certain respect for what he accomplished without being overcome by the obsession.” Sark rationalized.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have admiration for a lot of Rambaldi’s inventions. If all that I read is accurate, he was most definitely an inventor way ahead of his time. But the prophetic element of his works I find hard to believe.” Liza clarified her meaning.
“You do not believe that something can be predestined to happen?” Sark inquired, noticing that Liza’s body became rigid as he asked the question. As if the words themselves caused the reaction.
“No, I do not believe in preordained destiny. I believe in that the circumstances of our lives and how we deal with them are what lead us, not a set path.” Liza stated firmly. She had learned from her experience that time manipulation was possible, but it was also that experience that gave her confidence in what she had stated to Sark. After all by changing Future Max’s timeline, she had changed events that had ultimately led to Alex’s death and Tess’s pregnancy. So if one alteration had changed significant events over one year, how could Rambaldi possibly be able to accurately foresee the future centuries before?
“Then how do you explain the foresight of his inventions?” Sark asked.
“A combination of genius, imagination, and a number of other thing not to mention a touch of insanity. More than a touch if his ‘prophesies’ are any indication. I have seen and experienced too much to believe in prophesies made by a man hundreds of years ago. There are too many variables that could change over the years that would alter the prophecy…” Liza explained until she saw that Sark was staring intently at her. “What?”
“Nothing, merely listening to your conjecture, it is intriguing. However I am curious what you meant by your experiences influencing your opinion.” Sark stated.
“I bet you would,” Liza remarked knowingly. She knew many people would pay a lot of money for the aliens’ secret, and in knowing this Liza kept it secret. It could be contingency plan if she would need it at some point, if things got sticky. So to get Sark off of the subject, she mischievously said. “You can’t expect a girl can’t give up all of her secrets can she? It could cause someone to grow bored.”
“No, I do not believe you should.” Sark commented as a small smirk twitched on his lips at the teasing tone in Liza’s voice. It was the most personality she had displayed since arriving back in Cyprus aside from the plane trip from Monte Carlo. While Sark admired professionalism in an agent, he did not believe in living solely for business. What good were the luxuries they acquired if they did not enjoy them? Perhaps he would have to show her how enjoyable they could be. “Although you have no need of secrets to keep someone’s interest, you achieve that on your own accord.”
“Why Sark, if I didn’t know better, I would think you were buttering me up for something.” Liza observed guardedly after his flattering remark.
“No, merely complimenting you. Can I not do so without having an ulterior motive?” Sark inquired.
“Yes, but considering you are a handsome man who has no doubt used his appearance and charm to the best of his advantage, I have to be skeptical.” Liza answered.
“An astute observation.” Sark remarked truthfully. “One must use whatever resources one has available when acquiring information.”
“I agree.” Liza stated. She had not been oblivious to Sark’s attractiveness, it would be impossible to do so considering that the waves of sexuality that came off of the man in waves. Thinking of it now, Liza knew that it must be a combination of a handsome face, a well-formed body, charm, and an air of danger created a magnetism that surrounded him. A magnetism that even she found herself not immune to. But before she could probe more deeply into it, she had a job to do.
“Speaking of assignments, I should be going upstairs and packing. Simon Walker was last spotted in Paris two days ago, he’s been known to run his operations out of there. So I want to get there and locate him, see if there is any truth behind the report of Sydney.” Liza stated.
“With any luck, the Intel your mother acquired will lead to a productive reconnaissance.” Sark stated truthfully.
As Liza slipped out of the room, she called to Sark over her shoulder. “Perhaps I’ll see you when I get back.”
“It maybe sooner then you think.” Sark said softly, too softly for Liza to hear. Which was his intention because he had no plans to inform her that he would be the one to be checking on her progress on her assignment. Irina had intended to do it herself but business would keep her too busy to do so so Sark volunteered. He did not think that Irina was aware of his reasons behind it but he would make sure to continue watching his footing, with Irina and her daughter.
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
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Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
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- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
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PART 16
PARIS, FRANCE
While the majority of the population of Paris, both natives and tourists, were asleep, Liza was still wide-awake. Besides the fact that she wasn’t tired, she also had business to take care of. Her mother was sending someone to check on her progress. She had been in Paris for just over two weeks and despite the fact that she had been sending encoded emails on her progress or lack there of, her mother wanted the information she had accumulated studied. Something about a fresh eye giving another perspective on the data she had collected.
A part of Liza actually wished that instead, this contact would just switch places and take over but the other part didn’t want to leave this to one of her mother’s employees. After all Sydney was her sister, and she did not want someone else working on it. But she hoped something of benefit would appear soon, otherwise her time would be wasted.
A quiet but firm knock resounded through the room and Liza stood up to answer it. Some might say that it was risky to meet in her room but she found it far less chancy if they met in the privacy of her room rather then a public place. She checked the peephole to see who it was and was only mildly surprised when she saw who it was. She swung the door open but barred entry from the person. “I knew my mother would send a lackey, I did not know she’d send her finest.”
“Despite the affront to my high ranking position, I do hear the compliment in your words so I shall let it pass.” Sark stated. “Are you going to invite me in?”
“If I must.” Liza said as she stepped back, pressing her back against the door to allow Sark to move inside. But she didn’t turn her back on him; she wouldn’t turn her back on anyone.
Once they were inside, Liza went to the desk and table where she had laid out the information she had gathered on her surveillance subject. “Simon Walker, freelancer who had been linked to be the point man at the Damascus Armory robbery in 1999, and at Vector in 2002. He’s cold-blooded and merciless contact guy but he does seem to have some type of allegiance to other freelancers because he’s only ever known to use freelancers.”
“Recently he’s been working with three men, Javier Perez, a munitions expert and tactical advisor, former Cuban Special Forces; Avery Russets, the broker for weapons and other equipment; along with Laszlo Bogdan who does security. And according to my mother’s file a possible fifth member Sydney if the report is to be believed.”
“You have still not uncovered any evidence to prove that Sydney is involved with Walker’s group?” Sark inquired as he looked over the Intel. The amount of information was plentiful, Liza had added a lot to the thin report she had received at the beginning of the mission.
“Not as of yet, I’ve been following this man for two weeks and the only women I have seen in his company are the ones he’s met for recreational reasons.” Liza explained knowing that he would get her meaning. “Walker likes to play hard and live well off the money he gets off of his jobs.”
“Don’t we all?” Sark remarked, a hint of humor in his voice.
Liza ignored him as she went on. “He is currently staying in a suit in the Four Seasons Hotel George V one floor down and across the alleyway from here. The hotel is the most exclusive not to mention expensive hotel in Paris and its security is high so I chose this room for surveillance.”
“The arrangement causes patchy information does it not?” Sark asked.
“It would but on the second day, I posed as part of the housekeeping staff and gained access to the suite where I planted audio and visual surveillance devices. I’ve been monitoring them ever since.” Liza stated. “However Walker is not a recluse and goes out frequently, all pricey places. I’ve trailed him to restaurants like Laurent, Ledoyen, Pierre Gagnaire, and he frequents a club called L’Etoile, very trendy. He visited there tonight and from what I have been able to gather, will be there again tomorrow or the following night.”
“Then I am to assume that we will be tailing him there once again.” Sark stated.
“We?” Liza asked, “No, that’s where you’re wrong. Irina informed me that you would be here to examine the data I had gathered and then if necessary observe. She said nothing about you tagging along with me. I wouldn’t have agreed to you coming here if she did, I don’t work with partners.”
“We worked together in Monte Carlo, rather well I think.” Sark stated.
“If I recall, I did the work while you watched. An arrangement that I believe works far better.” Liza explained.
“But I have always preferred a more active role rather then that of a voyeur.” Sark declared.
The sultry tone in Sark’s voice as he made the comment threw Liza off a little. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was flirting with her. The thought was preposterous, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t play along with his teasing. “I never assumed anything different, you have always seemed to crave dominancy. Something I’ve heard that men who are lacking in other important areas always need.”
Sark’s eyes shot up in bafflement at Liza’s brash statement. “If you continue to attack my virility perhaps I shall have to demonstrate it to you.”
Unexpectedly, Liza was finding the idea of Sark doing just that not all that appalling. Feeling bold, she replied. “Perhaps you shall, but first we have work to do.”
“A woman after my own heart, business before pleasure.” Sark smiled, “Since you are the one ‘in charge’, how do you feel it would be best to proceed?”
“Continue to follow him,” Liza answered. “Through various conversations I’ve overheard, a meeting will be taking place between Simon and another, a woman sometime within the next two days.”
“And you believe that this woman could be Sydney?” Sark inquired.
“It is possible, after all if the information we received previously is to be believed, they have been seen together before and it could be likely that it is her. But I have no evidence to back up my theory; he has not mentioned her by name or any other identity.” Liza declared. “And no specifics for the meeting have been set, the woman simply stated that she will find him when she wants to meet him.”
“Sounds vaguely like something Sydney might say.” Sark commented.
“I certainly hope you are right. But it brings up the question that if it is Sydney, is she acting on her own or under another’s influence?” Liza presented the question. “But we won’t find out anything until tomorrow, I will contact you in the morning as soon as Walker stirs.”
“There will be no need for that.”
“Typical, you want to be partners yet have me do all of the work.” Liza snapped.
“That is not what I meant, I was simply stating that it will be unnecessary for you to contact me because I will be here when Walker rouses.” Sark explained.
“And how do you intend to do that? Awaken at the crack of dawn?” Liza asked.
“I intend to dwell here with you and therefore I will be close to the equipment.” Sark clarified.
“No.” Liza replied.
“No?”
“That is what I said.” Liza stated. “This is my room and I have no intention of sharing it. You have plenty of money and contacts if you need them to get another room, there is no reason to stay in mine.”
“Except for the fact that you have the equipment needed to complete the mission I was sent here to do.” Sark reminded her. “You have an entire suite here, plenty of room for the two of us to cohabitate. Unless you do not believe that you can control yourself in my presence.”
“I do not believe that will be a bit of a problem.” Liza retorted as she went into the adjoining bedroom and retrieved a blanket, which she brought back in and tossed onto the couch. “Since you are so insistent and were not invited, you can sleep on the sofa. That way you are closest to the equipment you are so worried about watching. Good night Sark.”
“Goodnight Liza.”
PARIS, FRANCE
While the majority of the population of Paris, both natives and tourists, were asleep, Liza was still wide-awake. Besides the fact that she wasn’t tired, she also had business to take care of. Her mother was sending someone to check on her progress. She had been in Paris for just over two weeks and despite the fact that she had been sending encoded emails on her progress or lack there of, her mother wanted the information she had accumulated studied. Something about a fresh eye giving another perspective on the data she had collected.
A part of Liza actually wished that instead, this contact would just switch places and take over but the other part didn’t want to leave this to one of her mother’s employees. After all Sydney was her sister, and she did not want someone else working on it. But she hoped something of benefit would appear soon, otherwise her time would be wasted.
A quiet but firm knock resounded through the room and Liza stood up to answer it. Some might say that it was risky to meet in her room but she found it far less chancy if they met in the privacy of her room rather then a public place. She checked the peephole to see who it was and was only mildly surprised when she saw who it was. She swung the door open but barred entry from the person. “I knew my mother would send a lackey, I did not know she’d send her finest.”
“Despite the affront to my high ranking position, I do hear the compliment in your words so I shall let it pass.” Sark stated. “Are you going to invite me in?”
“If I must.” Liza said as she stepped back, pressing her back against the door to allow Sark to move inside. But she didn’t turn her back on him; she wouldn’t turn her back on anyone.
Once they were inside, Liza went to the desk and table where she had laid out the information she had gathered on her surveillance subject. “Simon Walker, freelancer who had been linked to be the point man at the Damascus Armory robbery in 1999, and at Vector in 2002. He’s cold-blooded and merciless contact guy but he does seem to have some type of allegiance to other freelancers because he’s only ever known to use freelancers.”
“Recently he’s been working with three men, Javier Perez, a munitions expert and tactical advisor, former Cuban Special Forces; Avery Russets, the broker for weapons and other equipment; along with Laszlo Bogdan who does security. And according to my mother’s file a possible fifth member Sydney if the report is to be believed.”
“You have still not uncovered any evidence to prove that Sydney is involved with Walker’s group?” Sark inquired as he looked over the Intel. The amount of information was plentiful, Liza had added a lot to the thin report she had received at the beginning of the mission.
“Not as of yet, I’ve been following this man for two weeks and the only women I have seen in his company are the ones he’s met for recreational reasons.” Liza explained knowing that he would get her meaning. “Walker likes to play hard and live well off the money he gets off of his jobs.”
“Don’t we all?” Sark remarked, a hint of humor in his voice.
Liza ignored him as she went on. “He is currently staying in a suit in the Four Seasons Hotel George V one floor down and across the alleyway from here. The hotel is the most exclusive not to mention expensive hotel in Paris and its security is high so I chose this room for surveillance.”
“The arrangement causes patchy information does it not?” Sark asked.
“It would but on the second day, I posed as part of the housekeeping staff and gained access to the suite where I planted audio and visual surveillance devices. I’ve been monitoring them ever since.” Liza stated. “However Walker is not a recluse and goes out frequently, all pricey places. I’ve trailed him to restaurants like Laurent, Ledoyen, Pierre Gagnaire, and he frequents a club called L’Etoile, very trendy. He visited there tonight and from what I have been able to gather, will be there again tomorrow or the following night.”
“Then I am to assume that we will be tailing him there once again.” Sark stated.
“We?” Liza asked, “No, that’s where you’re wrong. Irina informed me that you would be here to examine the data I had gathered and then if necessary observe. She said nothing about you tagging along with me. I wouldn’t have agreed to you coming here if she did, I don’t work with partners.”
“We worked together in Monte Carlo, rather well I think.” Sark stated.
“If I recall, I did the work while you watched. An arrangement that I believe works far better.” Liza explained.
“But I have always preferred a more active role rather then that of a voyeur.” Sark declared.
The sultry tone in Sark’s voice as he made the comment threw Liza off a little. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was flirting with her. The thought was preposterous, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t play along with his teasing. “I never assumed anything different, you have always seemed to crave dominancy. Something I’ve heard that men who are lacking in other important areas always need.”
Sark’s eyes shot up in bafflement at Liza’s brash statement. “If you continue to attack my virility perhaps I shall have to demonstrate it to you.”
Unexpectedly, Liza was finding the idea of Sark doing just that not all that appalling. Feeling bold, she replied. “Perhaps you shall, but first we have work to do.”
“A woman after my own heart, business before pleasure.” Sark smiled, “Since you are the one ‘in charge’, how do you feel it would be best to proceed?”
“Continue to follow him,” Liza answered. “Through various conversations I’ve overheard, a meeting will be taking place between Simon and another, a woman sometime within the next two days.”
“And you believe that this woman could be Sydney?” Sark inquired.
“It is possible, after all if the information we received previously is to be believed, they have been seen together before and it could be likely that it is her. But I have no evidence to back up my theory; he has not mentioned her by name or any other identity.” Liza declared. “And no specifics for the meeting have been set, the woman simply stated that she will find him when she wants to meet him.”
“Sounds vaguely like something Sydney might say.” Sark commented.
“I certainly hope you are right. But it brings up the question that if it is Sydney, is she acting on her own or under another’s influence?” Liza presented the question. “But we won’t find out anything until tomorrow, I will contact you in the morning as soon as Walker stirs.”
“There will be no need for that.”
“Typical, you want to be partners yet have me do all of the work.” Liza snapped.
“That is not what I meant, I was simply stating that it will be unnecessary for you to contact me because I will be here when Walker rouses.” Sark explained.
“And how do you intend to do that? Awaken at the crack of dawn?” Liza asked.
“I intend to dwell here with you and therefore I will be close to the equipment.” Sark clarified.
“No.” Liza replied.
“No?”
“That is what I said.” Liza stated. “This is my room and I have no intention of sharing it. You have plenty of money and contacts if you need them to get another room, there is no reason to stay in mine.”
“Except for the fact that you have the equipment needed to complete the mission I was sent here to do.” Sark reminded her. “You have an entire suite here, plenty of room for the two of us to cohabitate. Unless you do not believe that you can control yourself in my presence.”
“I do not believe that will be a bit of a problem.” Liza retorted as she went into the adjoining bedroom and retrieved a blanket, which she brought back in and tossed onto the couch. “Since you are so insistent and were not invited, you can sleep on the sofa. That way you are closest to the equipment you are so worried about watching. Good night Sark.”
“Goodnight Liza.”
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
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LittleBit
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 347
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 5:03 am
- Location: My Imagination
- Contact:
Here is the new part:
PART 17
Despite the fact that she had an uninvited guest who was a well-known assassin in her room, Liza slept well. Of course that was most likely because she slept with a gun under her pillow and a knife strapped to her leg in a fastened sheath around her thigh. That would make anyone feel safe.
So when she woke the next morning, Liza felt invigorated and re-energized. She donned a robe and went out into the sitting room to see if there had been any updates on Walker but when she entered the room, she found it completely empty. Sark was nowhere to be found. There was evidence that he’d been there, the blanket lay on the foot of the couch, folded in a different way then it had been and a few other little disturbances but that was it.
Deciding to check the one other room that Sark could be occupying, Liza headed towards the bathroom. The hotel was the second best in Paris aside from the Four Seasons, which meant that the soundproofing was first rate and virtually no sound could be heard between the rooms so he could be within and she not know it. But she didn’t make it to the bathroom because the door opened when she was still five feet away.
Regardless of the fact that she had been trained to mask her feelings, it took Liza a few seconds to veil the surprise she felt at seeing Sark standing in front of her in nothing but a fluffy white towel tied around his waist. It was obvious that he had just gotten out of the shower despite the fact that his body as well as his short hair was dry. It was the slight pinkness to his skin and the clean scent that surrounded him. However he acted as if was fully dressed as he smiled at her. “Good morning. It is good to see that you are finally awake.”
After regaining her composure, Liza retorted. “And I see that you are taking full advantage of the amenities of my room. Enjoy yourself?”
“Thoroughly.” Sark said nodding.
“And can I ask why you seemed to have forgotten your clothes?” Liza inquired.
Before Sark could answer, a knock thudded against the door. Liza withdrew her gun from the large pocket of her robe but Sark stayed her hand. “No need for that, this visitor is expected.”
“You invited someone here?” Liza exclaimed. “What part of covert surveillance do you not understand?”
Nonetheless Sark ignored her and instead answered the door. On the other side stood a concierge employee holding a large garment bag, which he handed over.
"Voici votre nettoyage à sec Monsieur Baum, notre blanchisserie a travaillé aussi rapidement que possible. J'espère qu'il rencontre votre approbation." (Here is your dry cleaning Mr. Baum, our laundry worked as fast as they could to press it for you. I hope that it meets your approval.)
"Je fais confiance à cela." (I trust that it will.) Sark assured him before handing the man a tip and excused the man by shutting the door. Then he looked at Liza. “What it does to the wardrobe is one of the hazards of travel that I am not fond of. The suits I brought are a mess.”
“So glad that the hotel was able to accommodate you.” Liza said as she rolled her eyes at him. “Now that you are done primping, I am going to get ready myself. Walker will be up and moving soon.”
“Just shout if you need assistance.” Liza heard Sark’s parting words as she shut the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liza was wrong in her estimate of when Simon and his group would rise for the day by several hours leaving Liza and Sark to each other’s company. They made idle small talk, nothing substantial mostly in regards to Simon Walker and how it played into the other information that Irina had gathered about Sydney.
“Well it’s obvious that whoever took Sydney was working with Allison Doran. They knew the situation they were coming into, she must have notified them as soon as Tippin discovered her true identity.” Liza hypothesized.
“There were only three breathing individuals including myself that knew of her assignment to take on the identity of Francie Calfo. Sloane and Irina were the others.” Sark stated.
“And from what I heard, Sloane couldn’t possibly be malicious enough to take Sydney for his own agenda.” Liza commented sarcastically.
“Which is why Sloane is one of the prime suspects, but as of yet, there has been no solid evidence to link him to Sydney’s disappearance.” Sark reminded her.
“Whose idea was it? To duplicate Sydney’s friend and send in Doran?” Liza asked.
“Sloane’s.” Sark answered. “Your mother was against it and sought after another method to keep surveillance on her daughter but Sloane implemented his plan before she found a solution.”
“And you had nothing to do with it?” Liza asked as she began to run a systems check on her equipment to ensure that nothing was wrong with it. She was sure that there wasn’t a problem and that it were functioning properly but it was something to keep her hands busy.
“I set up the meeting between Sloane and Allison. I knew Allison from previous work and knew she would be ideal for the assignment. At the time though, we did not anticipate the procedure to be permanent. Moreover we knew that there was a risk but did not believe that she would be killed; we planned to extract her before that could happen. However we failed in that aspect and Sydney shot her.” Sark explained. His memory fluttered back to the last time he had seen Allison. She had known that things were getting precarious and had wanted to be extracted but she had been ignored and that had lead to her death.
“So back to my original theory, if we assume that Sloane was not the one to take Sydney, then that means that Allison had other help. Either she was working as a double all along, which would explain why she was so willing to do what Sloane wanted or she was approached later and decided to use her circumstances to the best of her advantage.” Liza hypothesized.
“I do not doubt that Allison would do just that.” Sark agreed. “She was always…ambitious and would do whatever she could to ensure her own goals.”
“You sound as if you knew her well.” Liza inquired.
“One does not need to be on familiar terms with someone to be able to read their intentions, only observe their behavior and actions.” Sark stated.
“Were you sleeping with her?” Liza asked casually, not taking her eyes off of the equipment.
“And if I was? What does it matter?” Sark inquired.
“It matters a good deal if you were sleeping with her and feel the need for revenge if and when we find Sydney. I prefer not to have her killed if it’s all the same to you.” Liza clarified.
“Then let me assure you, I do not intend to hurt Sydney in any way if she is found. However I cannot say the same for Sydney, she does not have a good opinion of me.” Sark stated.
Liza nodded. “Good to know that if you must have women in your bed that you don’t allow romantic entanglements to interfere with your occupation.”
“When I do have an association with a woman, it is purely for physical pleasure and not for romantic nonsense, although still highly enjoyable.” Sark confirmed. “Something you yourself should apply to your own life.”
Liza’s body tensed at Sark’s advice. “How I have dealt with previous relationships is my business and mine alone and even if it wasn’t, it is in the past and long over. I am not as stupid or naïve as I once was and would not involve myself in such a relationship again.”
“But you should not shut yourself off completely from all associations. It makes one very bad-tempered and irritable.” Sark recommended. “A beautiful, intelligent, wealthy woman such as yourself could easily have her pick of men to have one night affairs with.”
“And worry about if one of them is attempting to use me as an asset? I think not.” Liza remarked.
“Then perhaps you should consider a man who you know to have the same ambitions as yourself, a liaison based on respect sexual attraction.” Sark stated.
“Perhaps.” Liza said as she turned up the volume on the microphone inside Walker’s suite. After listening to the conversation, Liza said, “We should get ready, they’re on the move.”
And here are the spoiler I promised for the ten or so parts.
Liza could only see the back of the woman, but was able to see that she was tall and slender, with long brown hair. Just like her sister Sydney.
~*~*~*~*
The trap was further sprung when both vehicles stopped and CIA agents piled out, clad in black combat gear and black leather gloves armed with standard CIA issue .45s. And they were all aimed at Liza and Sark as one of them called out. “This is the CIA, throw away any weapons that you have in your possession and surrender.”
~*~*~*~*~
Their tongues dueled in a passionate fight for dominance. Liza moaned as his tongue lashed hers. He breathed deeply taking in her sweet scent, the smell of her perfume, her shampoo. His hands roamed down her back, pulling her dress down as he went, causing her to groan at the sensation of the feel of his hands on her bare skin.
~*~*~*~*
“Sark, do you know who that man is meeting with my mother?”
“Why Liza, I am surprised that you do not recognize your own stepfather.”
~*~*~*~*
Liza rose from her chair and removed the tumbler from Sark’s limp hand and set it next to the bottle on the table. Next she retrieved the comforter from his bed and laid it over top of him before she snuck out of his room. It was not the night she had planned but it had been interesting.
~*~*~*~*
Liza wanted to follow Sydney, to try and find out where she was going or maybe even talk to her but she had already disappeared into the shadows.
~*~*~*~*
“I was not aware that I needed an excuse to undress you, only the suggestion.” Sark acknowledged.
~*~*~*~*
Irina and Liza stared at each other for several minutes, struggling for dominance over the situation. Both were tenacious and stubborn, and unwilling to back down.
~*~*~*~*
“Hong Kong.” Sark replied as he directed her to the waiting car. The driver held the door open for them before retreating to the driver’s seat. Sark nodded to him to signal for him to proceed to the airport.
“And what prey tell is in Hong Kong?” Liza asked in an irritated manner.
“Sydney.”
~*~*~*~*
She does know about me doesn’t she?” Liza asked but when Jack’s jaw clenched tighter, she couldn’t help but smile at what it told her. “You haven’t told her have you?”
“Sydney has enough issues on her plate at the moment without discovering a new twist to her already complicated family life.” Jack stated.
PART 17
Despite the fact that she had an uninvited guest who was a well-known assassin in her room, Liza slept well. Of course that was most likely because she slept with a gun under her pillow and a knife strapped to her leg in a fastened sheath around her thigh. That would make anyone feel safe.
So when she woke the next morning, Liza felt invigorated and re-energized. She donned a robe and went out into the sitting room to see if there had been any updates on Walker but when she entered the room, she found it completely empty. Sark was nowhere to be found. There was evidence that he’d been there, the blanket lay on the foot of the couch, folded in a different way then it had been and a few other little disturbances but that was it.
Deciding to check the one other room that Sark could be occupying, Liza headed towards the bathroom. The hotel was the second best in Paris aside from the Four Seasons, which meant that the soundproofing was first rate and virtually no sound could be heard between the rooms so he could be within and she not know it. But she didn’t make it to the bathroom because the door opened when she was still five feet away.
Regardless of the fact that she had been trained to mask her feelings, it took Liza a few seconds to veil the surprise she felt at seeing Sark standing in front of her in nothing but a fluffy white towel tied around his waist. It was obvious that he had just gotten out of the shower despite the fact that his body as well as his short hair was dry. It was the slight pinkness to his skin and the clean scent that surrounded him. However he acted as if was fully dressed as he smiled at her. “Good morning. It is good to see that you are finally awake.”
After regaining her composure, Liza retorted. “And I see that you are taking full advantage of the amenities of my room. Enjoy yourself?”
“Thoroughly.” Sark said nodding.
“And can I ask why you seemed to have forgotten your clothes?” Liza inquired.
Before Sark could answer, a knock thudded against the door. Liza withdrew her gun from the large pocket of her robe but Sark stayed her hand. “No need for that, this visitor is expected.”
“You invited someone here?” Liza exclaimed. “What part of covert surveillance do you not understand?”
Nonetheless Sark ignored her and instead answered the door. On the other side stood a concierge employee holding a large garment bag, which he handed over.
"Voici votre nettoyage à sec Monsieur Baum, notre blanchisserie a travaillé aussi rapidement que possible. J'espère qu'il rencontre votre approbation." (Here is your dry cleaning Mr. Baum, our laundry worked as fast as they could to press it for you. I hope that it meets your approval.)
"Je fais confiance à cela." (I trust that it will.) Sark assured him before handing the man a tip and excused the man by shutting the door. Then he looked at Liza. “What it does to the wardrobe is one of the hazards of travel that I am not fond of. The suits I brought are a mess.”
“So glad that the hotel was able to accommodate you.” Liza said as she rolled her eyes at him. “Now that you are done primping, I am going to get ready myself. Walker will be up and moving soon.”
“Just shout if you need assistance.” Liza heard Sark’s parting words as she shut the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liza was wrong in her estimate of when Simon and his group would rise for the day by several hours leaving Liza and Sark to each other’s company. They made idle small talk, nothing substantial mostly in regards to Simon Walker and how it played into the other information that Irina had gathered about Sydney.
“Well it’s obvious that whoever took Sydney was working with Allison Doran. They knew the situation they were coming into, she must have notified them as soon as Tippin discovered her true identity.” Liza hypothesized.
“There were only three breathing individuals including myself that knew of her assignment to take on the identity of Francie Calfo. Sloane and Irina were the others.” Sark stated.
“And from what I heard, Sloane couldn’t possibly be malicious enough to take Sydney for his own agenda.” Liza commented sarcastically.
“Which is why Sloane is one of the prime suspects, but as of yet, there has been no solid evidence to link him to Sydney’s disappearance.” Sark reminded her.
“Whose idea was it? To duplicate Sydney’s friend and send in Doran?” Liza asked.
“Sloane’s.” Sark answered. “Your mother was against it and sought after another method to keep surveillance on her daughter but Sloane implemented his plan before she found a solution.”
“And you had nothing to do with it?” Liza asked as she began to run a systems check on her equipment to ensure that nothing was wrong with it. She was sure that there wasn’t a problem and that it were functioning properly but it was something to keep her hands busy.
“I set up the meeting between Sloane and Allison. I knew Allison from previous work and knew she would be ideal for the assignment. At the time though, we did not anticipate the procedure to be permanent. Moreover we knew that there was a risk but did not believe that she would be killed; we planned to extract her before that could happen. However we failed in that aspect and Sydney shot her.” Sark explained. His memory fluttered back to the last time he had seen Allison. She had known that things were getting precarious and had wanted to be extracted but she had been ignored and that had lead to her death.
“So back to my original theory, if we assume that Sloane was not the one to take Sydney, then that means that Allison had other help. Either she was working as a double all along, which would explain why she was so willing to do what Sloane wanted or she was approached later and decided to use her circumstances to the best of her advantage.” Liza hypothesized.
“I do not doubt that Allison would do just that.” Sark agreed. “She was always…ambitious and would do whatever she could to ensure her own goals.”
“You sound as if you knew her well.” Liza inquired.
“One does not need to be on familiar terms with someone to be able to read their intentions, only observe their behavior and actions.” Sark stated.
“Were you sleeping with her?” Liza asked casually, not taking her eyes off of the equipment.
“And if I was? What does it matter?” Sark inquired.
“It matters a good deal if you were sleeping with her and feel the need for revenge if and when we find Sydney. I prefer not to have her killed if it’s all the same to you.” Liza clarified.
“Then let me assure you, I do not intend to hurt Sydney in any way if she is found. However I cannot say the same for Sydney, she does not have a good opinion of me.” Sark stated.
Liza nodded. “Good to know that if you must have women in your bed that you don’t allow romantic entanglements to interfere with your occupation.”
“When I do have an association with a woman, it is purely for physical pleasure and not for romantic nonsense, although still highly enjoyable.” Sark confirmed. “Something you yourself should apply to your own life.”
Liza’s body tensed at Sark’s advice. “How I have dealt with previous relationships is my business and mine alone and even if it wasn’t, it is in the past and long over. I am not as stupid or naïve as I once was and would not involve myself in such a relationship again.”
“But you should not shut yourself off completely from all associations. It makes one very bad-tempered and irritable.” Sark recommended. “A beautiful, intelligent, wealthy woman such as yourself could easily have her pick of men to have one night affairs with.”
“And worry about if one of them is attempting to use me as an asset? I think not.” Liza remarked.
“Then perhaps you should consider a man who you know to have the same ambitions as yourself, a liaison based on respect sexual attraction.” Sark stated.
“Perhaps.” Liza said as she turned up the volume on the microphone inside Walker’s suite. After listening to the conversation, Liza said, “We should get ready, they’re on the move.”
And here are the spoiler I promised for the ten or so parts.
Liza could only see the back of the woman, but was able to see that she was tall and slender, with long brown hair. Just like her sister Sydney.
~*~*~*~*
The trap was further sprung when both vehicles stopped and CIA agents piled out, clad in black combat gear and black leather gloves armed with standard CIA issue .45s. And they were all aimed at Liza and Sark as one of them called out. “This is the CIA, throw away any weapons that you have in your possession and surrender.”
~*~*~*~*~
Their tongues dueled in a passionate fight for dominance. Liza moaned as his tongue lashed hers. He breathed deeply taking in her sweet scent, the smell of her perfume, her shampoo. His hands roamed down her back, pulling her dress down as he went, causing her to groan at the sensation of the feel of his hands on her bare skin.
~*~*~*~*
“Sark, do you know who that man is meeting with my mother?”
“Why Liza, I am surprised that you do not recognize your own stepfather.”
~*~*~*~*
Liza rose from her chair and removed the tumbler from Sark’s limp hand and set it next to the bottle on the table. Next she retrieved the comforter from his bed and laid it over top of him before she snuck out of his room. It was not the night she had planned but it had been interesting.
~*~*~*~*
Liza wanted to follow Sydney, to try and find out where she was going or maybe even talk to her but she had already disappeared into the shadows.
~*~*~*~*
“I was not aware that I needed an excuse to undress you, only the suggestion.” Sark acknowledged.
~*~*~*~*
Irina and Liza stared at each other for several minutes, struggling for dominance over the situation. Both were tenacious and stubborn, and unwilling to back down.
~*~*~*~*
“Hong Kong.” Sark replied as he directed her to the waiting car. The driver held the door open for them before retreating to the driver’s seat. Sark nodded to him to signal for him to proceed to the airport.
“And what prey tell is in Hong Kong?” Liza asked in an irritated manner.
“Sydney.”
~*~*~*~*
She does know about me doesn’t she?” Liza asked but when Jack’s jaw clenched tighter, she couldn’t help but smile at what it told her. “You haven’t told her have you?”
“Sydney has enough issues on her plate at the moment without discovering a new twist to her already complicated family life.” Jack stated.
If you like Liz and Dean, check out this community on lj:
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ
Drifter Love
Like my stories and want to hear more about ideas? Visit me here: My LJ