Captured for Interrogation

[celestialdragon]

Alexis nodded. "That shift then."

 

[bindingeagle]

Time passed slowly until it was time to deploy. Nikolai drove back to the hotel. "Got that gas ready?" he asked, checking his pistol.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis nodded. "Yep," she said. She pulled a ski mask over her face. "See you upstairs." She got out and began scaling the building on the outside, using the fire escape.

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai took a restaurant bag out and slid his gun inside before heading up the elevator. He waited until he got the word to move.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis soon was sitting outside the consultant's room. "Time check," she whispered.

 

[bindingeagle]

"In position and ready to move on your mark," he said, pulling on his gas mask.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis put her gas mask on as well. "Throwing it now. It should hit the guards, too." She threw the gas bomb in and ducked.

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai opened the elevator and ran down the hallway to the door, where the guards were choking and passing out. He opened the window the rest of the way for Alexis to climb in.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis crawled in and found the woman, passed out on the bathroom floor. "Let Panda know," she said softly, heaving the woman over her shoulder.

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai called in before lowering the woman by rope to the waiting crew below. "Let's get out of here, unless you want to finish the job?"

 

[celestialdragon]

"Let's finish. Panda's girl is almost here."

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai double tapped the two Alexis didn't know, leaving the others for her.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis double tapped the rest of the guard just as Panda showed up with his girl. "Thanks," she said, hugging him. "Let's do disposal."

 

[bindingeagle]

Nikolai tossed the bodies out the window before rappelling down the building himself.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis rappelled down the wall herself and got in the car. "Let's go," she said.

 

[bindingeagle]

The woman they had taken was moaning groggily in their back seat by the time they got back to home base. She startled awake when she saw herself surrounded by strangers. "I knew this would happen if I came here!" she screamed. "Don't put me on the black market!"

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis shook her head. "We're not selling you on the black market," she soothed. "The man you were about to consult for IS a black market dealer, however. We replaced you with another person who can get us information to take him down." She held out her hand. "Once we have the information, we can put you in a safe location."

 

[bindingeagle]

"Who are you working for?" she spat, unconvinced.

 

[celestialdragon]

"American CIA," Alexis said gently, calmly. She understood this woman's fear. "Trust me. I know this man, I know what he's capable of. I am protecting you."

 

[bindingeagle]

"Let me see the badges," she barked.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexa fished hers out. She nodded in Nikolai's direction. "His badge hasn't been issued yet," she explained. "Now do you believe me?"

 

[bindingeagle]

The woman visibly relaxed. "OK, you're the real deal," she said. "I'm Paige."

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexa nodded. "I'm Alexa. That's Nikolai," she said, pointing to him. "I'm sorry we took you like we did, but it was for your own protection. I have a cup of coffee waiting if you need it."

 

[bindingeagle]

Paige drank the coffee and got up for another mug of it. "So what happens now? You guys hold me here until whatever happens, happens?

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexis nodded. "Unfortunately, we have to play this by ear," she said apologetically. "Wu San Tel is a very unstable man, and we have to be ready to strike when we can. We promise we can keep you safe here."