Chasing Liberty (closed thread based on the movie)

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser


Corenna Keyser knelt down just outside the Oval Office, bright russet colored ringlets tumbling about her head and shoulders and listened quietly to her parents.

They had been discussing her trip to V.M.I. for the last fifteen minutes and it seemed like the verdict was going to be in her favor. If things went her way, by this time tomorrow she would be driving to Lexington, VA to pick up her brother and she would be doing it ALONE.

Granted it was only a three hour trip, and alone, of course, meant less than three agents tailing her but less than three were better than ten and getting out of this cage that was her life at any point was just fine with her.

“Douglas, I just don’t know.” She heard her mother, Siobhan say in her lilting Irish tenor. “She’s up to somethin’. I can see it there behin’ her eyes. She’s got the Spirit of the …”

“Of the devil in her, I know.” Her father Douglas finished her mother’s favorite saying. “But Aidan seems to think it has to do with one of the Cadets there on campus. Apparently the last time she visited him she developed some sort of crush on one of his friends.”

Corenna rolled her eyes impatiently. True enough, she had a crush on her brother’s friend. Hell, she had a crush on a few of them. Who didn’t love the look of a man in uniform? But that was not the point of this conversation. She wished they would just hurry up and say “Yes” already.

She was repositioning her ear against the door attempting to get optimum sound when she felt a tap on her shoulder. There stood Agent Fitzwallace, dressed in her agency issue black suit jacket and slacks, beckoning for her to get up.

“Just five more minutes.” Corenna begged in a whisper batting the female agent’s hand away.

“Ms. Keyser. Please. You’ve got to go now.” Fitzwallace ordered in a hushed tone slipping a hand underneath Corenna’s arm.

“No!” Corenna turned pleading eyes toward Jackie Fitzwallace, the woman who had been her agent for almost three years now. “They’re about to decide. Just one more minute please?”

Fitzwallace suddenly raised a hand to her ear pressing the earpiece in to hear better and then snapped. “Renn,go now! One of the President’s consultants is on his way up.”

Fitzwallace hauled her up by the arm and Corenna hesitated only a moment before running down the corridor. The last thing she wanted to do was jeopardize Jackie’s job but she needed to know if Operation Freedom was on. That was the title her best friend Viv had given their little plan of escape when they’d hatched it during the last week of school. Jointly they had both decided that her nineteenth birthday was the perfect time to liberate herself since her parents didn’t seem to be in any hurry to do so themselves.

At the end of the hall Corenna turned around with one last plea. “Call me when you know?”

She jogged backwards her Nike sneakers making soft rhythmic pats against the tiled floor until she saw the almost imperceptible nod from Jackie.

“Yes!” She pumped her fist, sprinted up the stairs passed the President’s quarters and ran straight to her room.


Once there she promptly locked the door behind her. She needed privacy for what she was about to do now and privacy was not something easily had in the White House. For starters she had a minimum of five agents ordered by her father on her own personal detail, two of whom were standing just outside her door. All the phones had listening devices in them; she’d found that out the hard way, when one day she’d mentioned liking a guy at school and two days later he confronted her about how his family had been interrogated the night before. He had instructed her not to ever mention his name again nor even look in his direction.

From that point on Corenna had kept her private thoughts to herself. That is until she went to Cheltenham Ladies College in England beginning her tenth grade year. There was where she met Nyssa Viveka Den Beste, the daughter of a Scandinavian dignitary. It was her first glimpse at a life that did not consist of swimming forever more in a fish bowl. And for the next three years the quality of Corenna’s life had greatly improved under Viv’s extremely non-traditional tutelage.


Corenna crossed the room to her English Regency style dresser where she pulled out the third drawer, emptied it of all its contents and then lifted out the false bottom only she knew about. There, along with several other things she kept secret from everyone, was the unsecured cell phone that Viv had smuggled to her right before graduation five weeks ago.

She flipped open the phone, punched the call button and spoke into the receiver. “Call Viv.”

The phone was answered by the second ring. “Are we on yet?” Viv answered not even bothering with hellos because the cell phone she’d answered only had one number programmed in it and that was Renn’s.

“Not yet. But soon, I think. They’re still talking.” Corenna was disappointed but not yet defeated.

“Shit!” Viv cursed and then went off onto a whole string of non-English curses before pulling herself together. “Well, everything here is set. We’re just waiting for you, pal.”

“Everything?” Renn couldn’t believe her ears.

When they’d left school graduation day, they’d had a list a mile long of things that would need to be accomplished in order to pull this off and now Viv was saying she’d finished them all and yet she couldn’t even get this one thing done on her end.

“That’s right pal. I’m a woman of means, power and coercion. How easily you forget. Really Rennie, we have got to get you out of the states.”

 

[renaissanceman3]

*

 

[Leetah]

Viv Den Beste

Viv chatted a bit longer with Renn, and finishing with "Hurry, hurry, pal-o-mine. The sooner we get together, the sooner you start having some fun and living. Talk soon." She hung up the phone, and then cursed again, some in English, but mostly in her native language. She'd been afraid this wasn't going to be as easy as she'd hoped, and it was appearing that Rennie's parents were going to be difficult again. "It's her damn mother again, I'll bet." muttered Viv to herself, scowling a bit. "She's so afraid Renn'll get a taste of freedom, and then she'll never be able to control her again. Good thing she doesn't know how wild I can be!" She laughed, thinking of just how easily she manipulated her father, bodyguards and pretty much everyone else.

Viveka was a beautiful girl, petite and slender, but cury in all the right places. Her Scandanavian heritage shown clearly in her white-blond hair, ice blue eyes and pale skin. She had the face of an angel, and the soul of a devil. Her mother had been killed in a terrorist attack when she was only three, and consequently, her father had tried to make up for the loss over the years, giving her as much freedom as he was able in his political position. Viv always had the handsomest bodyguards available, and she always had them wrapped around her little finger, considering that she shared her bed with most of them, and had been doing so since she was fifteen. She was secretly terrified of dying young, and had made up her mind to experience as much of life as possible just in case that were to happen. She had had both male and female lovers, had tried many exotic drugs and drinks, and done many daring stunts, some of which happened while she and Renn were in school together.

When she had first met Renn, the other girl was so sheltered and so sweet, Viv vowed to take her under her wing and help her to have some quality of life. Renn was not as daring as she was, but she was ready to break free, now that she was going to be nineteen. "I'm going to make certain she has the best birthday of her life!" Viv vowed, picking up the phone to give her bodyguard a call. She was restless and needed a diversion. She decided to go shopping for her birthday gift to Renn. A special outfit for her to wear as they began 'Operation Freedom'. Soon she was in the car and on her way to pick up the outfit she had seen just a few days ago. Imagining the look on Rennie's face when she saw it, Viv laughed and when Tom, her bodyguard glanced in the mirror at her, she gave him a saucy wink.

 

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser

Renn heard the knock on her door just as she’d hung up with Viv. She raced over to the drawer, shoved the cell phone beneath the false bottom and was in the process of tossing her clothes in on top of it when the door opened.

In stepped Jackie Fitzwallace with a grin on her face. “Packing already I see.”

Renn stopped in place her hand full of color panties. “They said yes?” She nearly shouted barely keeping her excitement in.

The grin on Jackie’s face deepened. “Got my orders to escort you as of 15:00 hours.”

Renn watched the pretty woman pace into the room in her sensible black loafers and suit. Jackie stood several inches taller than herself and her hair flattered her oval cream complected face. It was cut in a short pixie style; the dark brown tendrils curling softly around the edges. Renn had always admired Jackie’s hair, it was very cute. She’d even thought about trying out some version of it but she’d never had the guts. Besides there was always the nagging knowledge that her mother would slice her into tiny bits and douse her in rubbing alcohol if she ever pulled a stunt like that. So far, the thought alone had been deterrent enough.

“Yes!” Renn congratulated herself out loud. “Road trip.”

It was time to put her plan into action but she needed some more info. “How many of you?”

Fitzwallace didn’t even pretend not to know what she was talking about. “Three. Wilson, Portroy and me.”

“Cool.” Renn played it off as nonchalantly as she could, reaching under her bed for her overnight bag.

Wilson and Portroy didn’t bother her in the least. They were men, which meant they were easily distractible, they didn’t pay nearly enough attention to detail and they would keep more distance than they should simply because she was a girl and girl things nearly always freaked men out, secret service agents or not. Neither was nearly as vigilant as Jackie who’d been second in her class after completing her training. Despite Jackie’s kindness, she always meant business.

“Isn’t there someone you have to call?” Jackie asked.

Startled Renn shot an involuntary glance over at the drawer. Had Jackie seen? Maybe the cell phone wasn’t secure after all. They couldn’t possibly know about Viv could they? Of course they could who was she kidding? She could feel the panic begin to rise in her throat but she forced it back.

“What do you mean?” She asked in as normal a voice as she could muster, her green eyes plastered to the floor. If she looked up at Jackie now she would be so busted because from the time she was two and could express real emotion her eyes had always given her away.

“The one for who all this hard work and convincing was for,” Jackie laughed and the panic was back. “You know, the man who needs a ride. Your brother.”

The relief was palpable and a nervous giggle burst forth before she could stop it. “Oh! Yea. I’ll call him in a minute. I’m just so excited I want to pack first.”

Jackie regarded her quizzically for just a moment and then said. “Well alright then. I’ll leave you to it. We’ll need to go over the itinerary some time tonight but we can save that for later.”

Renn watched her go and then waited the longest ten minutes of her life to call Viv. She couldn’t risk Jackie coming back and catching her with the phone.

She hit redial and Viv picked up immediately. “It’s a go!”

 

[LittleGary]

Liam crouched quietly on the rooftop, his sole focus the silhouette of the man in the building 100 yards away. It was a risky shot, but all other avenues of dispatching this man had been removed by the ineptness of previous agents who had been given the task of removing this cancer. His name was Torres, and he was the largest dealer of cocaine in Latin America. This was the umpteenth hit attempt that the BSS had ordered, and now it was Liams’ turn. Sniping was not something he enjoyed, preferring instead the thrill of hand to hand combat. But he was the best shot in the British Secret Service, and so had been selected despite his young age.

Liam had grown up in Youghal Ireland. His father was a gifted surgeon, his mother an acclaimed violinist before settling down to teach music upon the birth of her first son Brian. Liams’ childhood had been a happy time, filled with much love. His days were filled with playing with his older brothers and siblings in the woods and fields that surrounded their home. His evenings were spent learning at the fireplace, his mother believing in starting her children early in their appreciation of the arts, spending time every night drawing, and playing musical instruments. His father working with their mother to teach them math and science well before they ever started school.

Liam shook the thoughts of his childhood from his mind. Concentrate Liam. Focus on the target. It was probably the death of his brother Brian that had set him on the road he now traveled. His parents early teachings had paid off well, and Liam had excelled at nearly everything he tried. Although not exceptionally tall, standing 6 foot tall, he was strong and fast, with the grace of a dancer. Learning came easily to him, and he could never quite quench his thirst for more education. When approached by the BSS about a “special” mentorship, he had jumped eagerly. At 24 he was already into his second full year as an agent.

This was not the first man or woman for that matter that Liam had been sent to kill. He was known to be very effective and efficient. Liam knew that the killing the man would be the easy part, getting out of town alive would not be so easy. He had a small plane parked on a runway two miles away in the jungle, now if he could just make his shot, and get to that plane, he could take that long vacation he had been craving.

 

[Leetah]

Viv Den Beste

Viv grabbed her phone on the first ring, and listened to Renn's excited voice. “It’s a go!” Quickly, she rolled up her privacy window, and then said "Yes! That's excellent, Rennie. I can't wait to see you. We're going to have such fun!" The two girls talked a bit longer, then Renn hung up to finish packing and Viv was ready to go into the 'Unique Boutique', a very upscale and ecclectic store that had all kinds of different things. Telling Tom to go get some coffee and she'd call him when she was done, Viv stepped quickly into the store, which had become her favourite, from the first time she'd walked into it. The newest and hottest music was piped in through speakers all throughout the store, and anything you could think of to wear was here. Viv waved to the salesclerk, whom she knew quite well by now, and then walked slowly around, looking for the perfect thing for Renn. She finally ended up buying a black lace bustier, with gold ribbon threaded through it, plus a two piece black leather miniskirt and jacket. "This will look fantastic on her," Viv said, thinking aloud. She also bought her friend a pair of short black boots with a bit of gold trim, to match the bustier. Deciding she deserved a treat as well, the girl picked herself out a red leather mini-dress, with a zipper than ran the length of the front, and could be adjusted to whatever daring depth the wearer chose. She also bought a pair of red pumps with 3 inch stiletto heels, knowing just what they would do for her shapely legs.

After Viv had finished in this store, she stepped next door, to 'MiLady's Whisper', which was a lingerie store. There, she purchased a black lace thong for her friend, as well as one for herself. Grinning, she called Tom on her cell and told him to meet her at the limo. When he walked up, she was leaning against the car, watching him with a devilish look in her eye. "What are you up to, Missy?" he asked, smiling back at her. "Oh, wouldn't you love to know, sweet cheeks?" Viv replied playfully. "C'mon, I've got to get home and pack a few things." When he opened her door, she caught his face between her palms and pulled him to her for a quick kiss on the lips, before settling back in her seat. Shaking his head, he walked around to the front of the car, and climbed in. Viv lowered her window again, and watched the back of his neck. Leaning forward, she said throatily, "You know, if you hurry, we could have a little...private time, when we get back." She watched a slight flush creep over the skin at the nape of his neck, and though he said nothing, she felt the car pick up speed slightly. Smiling to herself, she sat back to enjoy the ride home.

 

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser

It had taken Renn over three hours to pack. Normally she would have had three suitcases full of stuff by now but there in lied the problem. She’d had to figure out how to compact three suitcases down to one over night bag. It hadn’t been easy but she’d finally decided what was necessary.

It had boiled down to three pair of her favorite jeans, some tiny tee’s, some socks, deodorant, a toothbrush , a curling iron, a c.d. player and c.d’s, the diamond crucifix her brother had given her and five pair of panties. Viv would scoff at her choice of under things but frankly she just hadn’t managed to work herself up to the thongs that Viv preferred but they were sheer bikini’s and they made her feel sexy and that was all that counted.

Once she’d crammed all the necessaries into an oversized back pack, Renn headed down the hall towards her parent’s room. They were “early to bed, early to rise” types and she wanted to say good bye tonight because she probably wouldn’t have the opportunity tomorrow. As she shuffled down the richly carpeted hallway in her princess slippers, she slid the scrunchie off her wrist and drew her hands up to gather her heavy red hair up into a pony tail.

She’d just passed Agents Phillip Wilson and Dougie Portroy when she heard a low appreciative whistle. Her head snapped around a blush creeping up into her cheeks but both agents were stone-faced. Realizing that they weren’t going to reveal which of them had done it, Renn smiled shyly at the two.

“Thanks guys.” She whispered loud enough for them to hear and then spun around and jogged the rest of the way down to her parents’ room. She’d never admit it out loud but the whistle had lifted her spirits. Being the president’s daughter didn’t exactly get you dates. In fact it did the exact opposite. No one wanted to get close for the same reasons she wanted to get away. There was absolutely no privacy or anonymity so knowing that at least one…maybe two men, despite the fact that they were agents, found her attractive did her self-esteem a world of good.

Renn was coming up on the sitting room outside the presidential bedroom when she began hearing her mothers’ voice. It was going a mile a minute, the way it did when she was talking to her grandmother, Moira. She was just about to jump into the room so she could say hi to her fun-loving Maimeó Moira but stopped cold at her mother’s next words.

“…she must think we’re crazy Mam but I know her. Somethin’s not right. She thinks she’ll only have the three but I don’t trust it so I’m sending her entire detail under cover. That way if she gets herself into trouble they’ll be there to get her out.”

That did it. If there ever was a straw that broke the camel’s back that was it. Renn turned on her heels and ran back to her room without a second glance. The rules had just changed. Her brother could find his own ride. She would be gone before sunrise.

 

[LittleGary]

Liam

Liam continued to wait. Any time now he thought his eye plastered to the scope. That bastard Torres always came out to the veranda at 10 am unless it rained, and it was 10 now.

Killing hadn't been easy for Liam, it had been a struggle for him to learn to accept what he must do. Luckily for him thus far, everyone he had killed had at least in his mind deserved it. Take Torres for example. The mutilated bodies of the farmer and his wife, who wouldn't give up their daughter to be Torres plaything were just the most recent examples of what this monster was capable of. No killing was easy or fun, but was sometimes necessary.

Judging the wind, noting that it was non-existant right now. waiting....waiting. Patience was one of Liams greatest attributes.

While his mind moved to his impending vacation, lying on a beach, playing his classical guitar, and drinking some good french wine, perhaps a woman, his eye remained focused on his target.

Finally a figure moving through the curtain, and out onto the veranda. Standing still now, turning towards Liam. Sure of his target, pulling lightly on the trigger watching the bullet slam into Torres's head between the eyes, half his head torn away.

Dropping his gun, and moving steadily to the fir escape at the back of the building. Dropping his gloves while walking. Grasping the handrails, and fairly flying down the stairs, estimating he has two minutes to blend into the crowds in the streets below.

Reaching the bottom of the steps, moving quickly out of the small alley, and into the throng, moving steadily now, but not too fast, no desire to draw attention to himself. Smiling at the pretty girls trying to attract his attention, aware of everything around him, his senses on high alert.

The sounds of gunfire behind him. He quickly moves into the crowded market street, slipping past the last of the vendors, and into a quiet side street. His rental jeep still waiting for him. Moving out of town, and into the jungle. Hoping his plane is still ready.

 

[Leetah]

Viv

When the limo reached the mansion again, Viv had Tom carry her packages upstairs to her room and place them on her bed, and then she shut the door and leaned against it, grinning wickedly. He made a half-hearted protest, until she began walking toward him, wiggling her hips and running her tongue over her lips. The last thing he said before she pushed him back onto the bed, was "God, girl, if your father ever finds out..." "He won't," Viv purred, her lips sinking down onto his, and as with all her other bodyguards, Tom was lost in her sight and scent for the next hour. Finally, with a last kiss, she had him clean up and then shooed him out her door, needing to finish her packing. She could hardly wait to see Renn.

She had her things together quickly, and then took a shower and lay down for a bit. She would need her rest while she could get it, for the next few days were going to be as wild as she could manage them for her friend and herself.

 

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser

Renn had many friends in the white house, many of them being cleaning staff, cook staff, guard staff and museum staff. And it had been through a contact in the museum that she’d learned that a group of Islamic women had been visiting the day before for a museum dedication somewhere in D.C. in support of women’s liberation in their country. A large number of those women had stayed as guests in the White House and would be leaving before first light to catch their flight back to Kuwait. If she could only get the garb it would be the perfect get away.

Renn pulled out the cell phone once she was safely ensconced in her room and called Brigitte, the daughter of the museum curator, and asked if there was any chance they had any examples of the Islamic garments on hand. Brigitte, a sucker for a well executed prank, sprang into action and had the Abbayah, the head to toe black dress and veils that the other women would be wearing, to her in less than two hours.

Brigitte even helped her properly drape the clothing on and pointed out two things she would have to remember. “You’ll be perfect, as long as you don’t speak and don’t look up.”

Frowning through the brief slit left for her eyes, Renn asked. “What do you mean?”

“A- none of them speak English. They are traveling with an interpreter. And B- in case you haven’t noticed, your green eyes stand out like northern lights against a night sky. Not the typical mocha of an Islamic woman.”

Renn had whirled then to the mirror. Brigitte was right. “Crap!” Renn began brainstorming immediately. “Sunglasses?”

“Not in that get up.” Brigitte rejected the idea outright. “You’ll have to practice being demure. Watch and learn.”

Brigitte has wrapped one of Renn’s bath towels around her head and face and had glided around the room her eyes never raising further than it was necessary to see the floor.

“Now you try.” She commanded.

So Renn had practiced for more than half an hour after which Brigitte had deemed her passable.

When the clock had struck four a.m. Brigitte had led her safely down the hall to the utility elevator, through the kitchen, up the stairs passed the gift shops and around to the guest quarters where the hall seemed to be filling with a bunch of women dressed like her.

Brigitte yanked her back around the corner and gave her final instructions. “Now remember don’t look up and whatever you do don’t speak. Grunt, moan, nod but don’t speak. Oh and your mother will be seeing them off so keep to the outside of the group and scoot through that door.”

In answer Renn nodded fervently her eyes lowered.

“Good girl!” Brigitte whispered and then shoved Renn into the throng of women moving toward the limousine shuttle that would carry them to the airport.

All in all it had gone relatively well in the end, despite two close calls. One involved her overzealous mother who insisted on shaking everyone’s hand as they were leaving and the other occurring once they were on the bus when her Nike sneakers had peeked out from under the long black garb. One woman had looked at her curiously but had paid no real attention.

It was when the bus pulled out that Renn felt the first pang of guilt over Brigitte. She’d only told Brigitte that she wanted to test the security and see how far she could get, if she could get out at all. She didn’t tell her however that the intent was to get far far away.

It wasn’t until they were at the airport that she experienced any real trouble. For some reason, she’d briefly forgotten the amount of hatred that had come about after 9-11 towards Islamic groups. At one point their whole group of women was being verbally assaulted so badly that a police escort had been called in to get them through check-in and security.

The intenseness of the mob had almost been enough to make Renn blow her own cover but she’d held it together long enough for them to get into a safe place. She was still amazed that Viv had been able to get her a passport and I.d.’s that could get her through but it really hadn’t mattered in the end because once the mob had gotten started, the airport workers had checked them through en masse without checking any of them individually.

The fleeting thought that any of them could have been strapped with explosives underneath all that cloth was a sobering image. Sobering enough that the first chance she got she’d be getting out of this disguise. Boy, if her father knew about any of this he would be so pissed.

Several hours later, she was floating miles above an expansive ocean with a destination of London and a growing anticipation in her heart.

 

[LittleGary]

The trip through the jungle was actually quite uneventful. Strangely there was no pursuit, and Liam had managed to make it to his plane unscathed. Removing the covering that had hid his small aircraft was no easy feat for one person, but something about the quietness of the jungle had Liam on edge, and he quickly prepared his aircraft for takeoff.

The engines had just kicked to life, when he saw what had caused the sudden hush. Pouring out of the surrounding jungle were hundreds of armed rebels. With a roar, Liam kicked the small plane to life. Slowly building speed as it bumped it's way down the makeshift runway, small arms fire screaming all around him. Faster and faster the tiny aircraft sped down the runway, and at last lifted off the ground, barely scraping by the trees that lined the end of the runway. Sweat pouring down his body, Liam turned his plane towards the coast, and a secure airport where he knew he could make his connecting flight to Paris.

Several hours later, Liam took his first class seat, freshly showered and changed, looking every bit the part of a wealthy buisnessman on vacation. His gun safely hidden, but available if needed.

 

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser

Once in London, Renn sat on the plane until everyone else had gotten off. She then pulled her one bag out of the overhead compartment and walked slowly up the gangway, into her gate and down the corridor towards the other airport terminals. She had one more flight to catch to get to the little town in Ireland where her freedom awaited. Youghal.

Halfway down the corridor she tripped over the hem of the Abbayah and was reminded that she needed to get out of this outfit as soon as possible.

It wasn’t soon enough.

“Look there’s another one!” Renn heard a whiny voice say and her natural curiosity made her look around not only for the source of the words but for the object too.

Too late she realized that the woman and two men were talking about her.

She felt two fingers poke her directly in the chest and the dull thump hurt her enough to make her grab the spot immediately.

“You’ve got some nerve you goddamn bomb toter!”

“Yea, you fuckin’ terrorist!”

“You’re all fucking cowards and your suicide bombs killed my brother!”

The threats seemed to come at her all at once and before she had a chance to run they had surrounded her and began backing her up against a wall.

There was a woman, short and stocky who looked to be in her mid-thirties flanked by two younger men with barrel chests. They sounded American and this felt more threatening that she should run into this in a foreign airport. Now that she thought about it, she really hadn’t thought this plan through and it might just get her killed.

The fear and anxiety bubbled up and seemed to paralyze her vocal chords. When she felt her back hit the wall and they were still coming, she tried to look around for help but the Islamic garments restricted her movement and cut off her peripheral vision.

“Why don’t you just go back to where you came from towel head!!” The taller of the men got right in her face and spittle flew at her and dotted the veil.

Renn began sending out silent prayers. Surely all these strangers wouldn’t allow these three people to continue harassing her like this. At least she thought they wouldn’t but all the glances she could see from the others in the nearly empty corridor were disinterested to say the least.

Renn realized this was the first time she’d ever really experienced true fear. She couldn’t remember ever being unprotected and the reality was startling. Her stomach was in knots and she would have given anything in that moment for one of the “suits” to be there. This never would have happened if Fitzwallace, Wilson or even Portroy had been there. Maybe running off like this hadn’t been the best idea.

One of the men’s hands suddenly shot out grabbing Renn by her upper arm, the strength behind his grip both surprising and painful. A cry finally escaped her and before she knew what was happening she was lying in the floor with all three of their faces looming above her.

“Back off!” Renn heard the clipped command come from somewhere behind her and she thanked a thousand gods. The voice was definitely European with an appealing lilt.

Someone had summoned the airport security and she thought she would be safe now. She attempted to lift herself up but her wrist gave out on her as soon as she put weight on it.

“Are you alright?” The well dressed man looked directly at her and his bright blue eyes bore into hers. The attraction was hot and immediate and enough to interrupt his flow for just a second. Then he spoke in another language, probably the one he thought was her native language.

She nodded emphatically in answer and found herself feeling emotionally confused. Everything in her wanted to stay right there with him, learn more about him but she was in no way safe.

The stockier and meaner of the two men made another move toward her and the well-dressed European grabbed him by the hand. It hadn’t seemed like he’d done much but the man instantly called off the attack and then bent at the waist, his face a mask of pain.

“I’m asking you nicely to leave the lady alone.”

The longer she watched this man the clearer it became that he was not airport security but she didn’t understand why he’d stepped in.

The man grimacing in pain nodded and panted nearly to his knees by now.

“Now leave.” He ordered. “You two, go on.”

It was the last of the conversation Renn heard. This was her chance. She scrambled awkwardly to her feet, grabbed up her skirts and took off at top speed down the concourse.

 

[Leetah]

Viv

Viv had laughed to herself as she tooled down the highway to the airport. "Free at last!" She had managed to give everyone the slip, telling Tom she didn't want to be disturbed at all for the rest of the evening, then climbing out her window and down the huge tree outside her window as she had so many times before. She'd never been caught yet, and this time was no exception. With any luck, it would be the next morning, or possibly even early afternoon, before she was discovered missing. Granted, this would be the longest absence and furtherest away she'd been without a bodyguard, but Renn needed her. She'd arranged to borrow another friend's convertible to drive to the airport, not explaining, just saying she needed the car, and letting him know where it would be parked so he could pick it up. Her hair had blown in the wind as she drove along. She'd made certain she had everything she'd need, and she'd brought the trusty cell phone, and her credit cards. She had some that her father didn't even know about, and she used those for these types of adventures. This time, it was even more important that no one know where she'd gone.

As Viv had driven into the lot at the airport, she'd grinned at herself in the mirror. "I hope Rennie is ready for this!" she'd said, thinking aloud. Smoothing her hair down, she'd raised the top to the car and locked it. Her friend had given her his extra key, so she simply took it with her. Now, several hours later, she was sitting in the airport, fuming. There had been all kinds of difficulties with the plane, and they were still not certain when the passengers would be able to take off. With a sigh of frustration, Viv realized she was not going to be able to meet Renn as planned that night. Picking up the cell phone, she made a quick call to the combination pub and hotel where they were to have met, and paid for a room for Renn over the phone, then she called her friend's number. She wasn't terribly surprised when the other girl didn't pick up, not realizing at that very moment her dear friend was in danger of being injured severely, due to her disguise. Viv waited for the tone, then said "Hey, Rennie, it's me. I'm not going to be able to meet you at the Old Dun Cow tonight as we had planned....they're having problems here at the airport. There's a room waiting for you though, and it's paid for, so just go ahead and go there and I'll meet you in the morning. Love you...but hate this damned airport!" She hung up with a sigh. At least her friend would be taken care of for the moment, and she wouldn't have to worry.

Deciding she needed to find a way to pass the time, Viv got herself some coffee and stared out the window, watching the other planes come and go, thinking over their plans again. When at long last they were ready to go, Viv got into her seat and made herself comfortable, dozing off and hardly able to wait to see Renn the next day.

 

[LittleGary]

The rest of the trip was a breeze for Liam. A brief nights stay in Paris, before flying to London. The night in Paris had recharged his batteries slightly, mainly allowing him the opportunity to clean-up, and get a good nights sleep without fear of being shot, or knifed.

One more quick flight, and he would be home for a few days.

Walking at a quick pace through the airport, Liams eyes kept scanning the area around him. Never safe, always on the lookout for things out of place. Up ahead, he noticed a couple of men harassing a woman of apparent Arabic descent. Shaking his head in disgust, he called to the two men.

“Backoff” he commanded in a clipped tone. As he turned his attention to the young woman on the ground, the larger of the two men made another rush at her. Within seconds the man was writhing on the ground in pain, his hand most likely broken.

Liam watched as the two men fled the scene. Turning back to the lady on the ground, he was surprised to see her gone. Looking down the hallway, he could just make out her form, as she darted into a crowd of people.

“Hmmm … fine thank you that was.” He thought to himself, as he made his own way to his plane. Next stop Youghal Ireland, for his long awaited vacation. It had been awhile since he had last seen his family, and he looked forward to their reunion.

 

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser

Renn couldn’t believe the beauty of the country side around her. She had vague memories from childhood when they used to come visit her grandmother but none of those compared to what she could see passing by outside the window of the taxi.

The driver, an old man named Danny, had lit up a vanilla scented pipe shortly after they started their long trek from the Cork airport and despite the sweet smell she’d had to roll down the window within a few minutes because the pipe seemed to quickly eat up all the oxygen inside the rickety car. The car was so rickety in fact that she wasn’t at all sure they would make it to Youghal in one piece but she figured he knew better than she did, so she had settled herself into the back seat and tried to relax.

The fresh scent of water in the air cascaded through the window and Renn filled her lungs and released the tension that had been building since she’d left home. So far, so good.

Somewhere along the way she’d fallen asleep because they were just ten minutes outside Youghal when Danny had woken her up with a boisterous call.

“We’re almost there lass! Now where’d ya say you’d be lodgin’?”

Renn dug quickly into her bag and found her cell phone, hit the power button and waited.

“Ha! You’ll not be gettin’ any signal out here girl. Too far out in the bloomin’ country.” Danny laughed and the lines around his eyes crinkled and made him look like Santa Clause.

“Damn.” She mumbled. She couldn’t remember what the exact name of the place was so she told him, “It was something about a cow. Something- something Cow.”

“The Old Dun.” He replied matter-of-factly. “A fellar by the name of McConaughal owns it. Right nice fellar if ya ask me.”

Renn was reassured by this mans seeming trust and like of the place. Besides, Viv would be meeting her there and then they would be off on an adventure like nothing she’d ever experienced.
As they drove into town, they passed beneath the Old Clock Gate and onto a street lined with building after colorful building all attached in one continuous line on either side. Renn was immediately in love with the town.

“Oh look!” She gasped as several buildings in a row had brightly painted doors a completely different color than the whole building itself. “I love it! Oh that’s so cool.”

Danny laughed and pointed out things along the way. From a distance you could see the lighthouse and the very tip top of Tyntes Castle and she “oooh’d” and “ahhhhh’d” over all of it. Deep down, somehow she knew this was where she belonged. It felt like….home.

Danny took a couple turns on to side streets that were more isolated and then came to a stop where a crowd of people stood seemingly unconcerned in the middle of the street. Most of them were holding heavy pints of beer and gazing rather calmly as gray smoke came billowing out the front door and firemen ran in and out of the building. Suddenly a heavy set man in his late fifties came stumbling out, his face streaked with soot. A heavy set woman came out right behind him, her salt and pepper hair half unfurled from a bun that sat atop her head.

“What the devil!” Danny threw the car into park and he and Renn jumped out of the car just in time to hear an argument ensue.

“What the bloody hell woman!” The older gentleman shouted.

“It’s no more than ya deserve!” She shouted back swinging a frying pan in his direction.

Renn watched the whole scene with wide-eyed amusement.

“What are ya talkin’ about?” The old man dodged the pan with an agility she hadn’t expected. “What is it ya want woman?”

The woman paused, planted her hands on her hips and bellowed. “I think it’d be fittin’ for the Old Dun Cow burn to the ground!!”

“Well I think you fairly got yer wish you blazing header!”

Out of the crowd a big man appeared, heads above the others. “Alright McConaughal, that’s enough. Everyone over to Paddy’s Pub, drinks on the house.”

“Well lass,” Danny turned to her a questioning look on his face. “Looks like the Dun is currently out of business. What are you goin’ to do?”

She sighed deeply. This trip was turning out to be far more work that she’d expected. “I don’t know. My reservations were here.”

Danny watched her contemplatively and then told her to wait. He waddled over to the big man spoke with him for a few minutes and then came back with the big man in tow. “This is the O’Keefe. He says you’re welcome to lodge at Paddy’s. He’ll take over for the Old Dun.”

 

[LittleGary]

Liam quietly ran through the hills behind his parents Inn, and breathed in the fresh air. It was certainly good to be back home again, at least for awhile.

Although he was on vacation, he couldn't let down for a moment. Constantly running, excercising, and working with his weapons, this was no time to lose focus. All it took was one misstep, and he could be dead.

It was unlikely that anyone would ever look for him here, or even know what he really did for a living, but being careful was what kept him alive, and being alive was something he wanted to continue to do.

The Inn was home to Liam now. The large structure could lodge upto 20 guests, which was more than enough room for the few tourists that managed to make it out this far. The lower level contained a large Pub, that had more than it's share of regulars.

The regulars were normally quite subdued, unless a pretty woman were present, which usually set off more than one fight, on who the young lass would prefer to spend time with.

When Liam was home, he spent most of his evenings helping behind the bar, serving drinks, and listening to the local gossip.

Continuing his run, Liam followed the trail through the hills, as it twisted and turned it's way towards the sea below him. Running through a bit of woods, before the trail emptied unto a small rocky beach. Picking his way among the rocks, Liam made his way towards town.

Smoke from the fire at Old Dunn Cow filled the air, attracking Liams attention. Changing course, he arrived at the scene as the large crowd began to break up. Making a mental note to come back later to pick through the debris. Most likely an accident that started the fire, but in his line of work, you could never be to sure.

 

[Flurtayshus]

Renn Keyser

Renn filed into Paddy’s along with everyone else. It seemed to take an overly long time for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the pub interior but she finally realized that most everything inside was made up of a darkly stained wood.

Dejectedly, she slid into a booth with a seat made of pliable leather and ran her hand across the lush red tinted sheen of the wood and sighed. What the hell was she going to do now? She couldn’t get a signal to call Viv and she’d just lucked out that this McConaughal was nice enough to put her up.

She’d been sitting there for about thirty minutes and was ready to give her one hell of a pity party when the front doors burst open and a literal herd of men and a handful of women came roaring in demanding their beer. Some were in overalls and waders, some were in jeans and t-shirts, and some were even in suits and ties. Renn watched the spectacle with the same awe she’d felt when she’d once witnessed the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Clearly Ireland had a rush hour and a happy hour, just like back home. The thought was enough to make her grin.

In the midst of one set of tables, a space began clearing and several local men seemed to collect in a circle of their own accord and then like magic, instruments appeared when there had been none before. One man seemed to silently count off and then they were singing with skill and grace and a beautiful lilt.

Several bars in Renn realized she knew this song and that instantly perked her up in this room full of strangers. Thus far, this crowd seemed to have an “each to their own” mentality and had left her alone. And that suited her just fine. To comfort herself further, she began to sing quietly to herself.

“As I went out through Dublin City, at hour of twelve at night. Who should I spy but the Spanish lady washing her feet by the candle light. First she washed them, then she dried them, over a pile of amber coallllllls. In all my life I ne’er did see a maid so sweet about her soul…..Whack for the tur a lur a laddy Whack for the tur a lur a lay…”

She was enjoying the low rumble of voices along with the upbeat music when a large glass beer mug was thumped down in front of her. Startled, she glanced up to find a slim dark haired, icy blue-eyed Irish man grinning down at her.

“For the lady.” He remarked casually and even bowed a little at the waist.

“Oh,” Renn shook her head. “No thank you.”

“With that auburn hair and those….Eyes…,” The charming smile widened and his hands planted themselves on his aproned hips. “I’d have never figured you for a yank.”

In all her travels in Europe, Renn had heard the derogatory term for Americans plenty of times and immediately took offense. “Define Yank.” She challenged him.

The curly haired Irish man slide into the booth opposite her and Renn groaned inside. She hadn’t meant to make him do that. She thought he’d leave when he couldn’t come up with a good definition but know he was grinning at her with his beautiful smile just oozing with charisma.

“Pompous, bitchy know-it-alls who talk funny.” His calm delivery belied the negative connotations.

Renn narrowed her eyes and tried to control the anger that suddenly welled up into her chest. If there was one thing she had inherited from her grandmother, it was her temper, the remarkable equivalent of a hurricane.

After a moments battle she decided it was too late and leaned forward across the table, both hands splayed out on either side of the beer mug. “You’ve got nerve accusing someone of talking funny. You come waltzing over here with your Irish lilt and think it’s cute to insult me, when you’re people are supposedly famous for their hospitality. A flaming crock of shit that is! You get the hell out of my face before I dump this sludge you call beer all over the candle you think you’re burning for me! I have had a bad day and I don’t need this crap!”

The man’s eyebrows shot straight up and his mouth turned up even further, if it was possible, at the corners.

“That’s right little man,” Renn realized any minute now she would come out of her seat and launch herself across this booth so she decided she better wrap it up. Mid-tirade out of the corner of her eye she saw a slim stealthy individual slip into the pub doors. It looked as if he’d been running. A good idea maybe she’d finish this guy off and take a walk. “ I know you’ve got that hot’s for me. That’s the real reason why you crawled on your belly over here. But I’m not interested. So take your schmoozing and shove off!”

“Blimey,” He laughed slapping a hand down onto the table. “I knew you were Irish.”

Her ebony haired tormentor’s laugh was so attractive that Renn couldn’t help rolling her eyes. He was definitely the kind of man you loved and hated all at once. You wished he’d go away but wished he’d stay as well. It was more than she could take.

Giving up the ghost, Renn wrapped both hands around the sweating mug of beer, it was that big, and brought it up to her lips. After the initial grimacing and throat choking burn, she began to feel the simmer in her gut. A few sips later and this was followed by a slow loosening of all her muscles and the grasp she had on her inhibitions.

“That’s the spirit!” He encouraged.

“Oren!” A bellow came from a big man behind the bar. “Get your arse over here and tend the bar. I’m too old for this!”

“Right!” He shouted back and shoved his hand at her. “Oren Keely McConaughal, at your service.”

Renn answered simply relieved that he would now be going away. “Renn.”

“Now that we’re friends, you can help.”

And with that he drug her by the grasp he still had on her hand behind the bar. “Grab those glasses and fill ‘em with whatever they want.”

Renn tried to slide away but some very big, very loud patrons began demanding service. Orders were being shouted in brogues so thick that Oren eventually had to start calling off the colors of the beer taps. Red for one, Blue for another and Black for yet another.

Between serving the crowd Oren had been offering her swills from his own beer and Renn had begun to feel better and better, not quite aware that she was getting drunk..

“I heard ya singing over there.” Oren shouted over the din of the crowd reaching down for another mug. “You’re quite good ya know?”

“Yea, I know.” She shouted back. “Lead soprano All State six years running.”

“Ya aren’t that good.” Oren intentionally prodded.

“I’ll prove it.” Renn kneed up on the sink behind the bar and nearly tumbled onto bar itself.

“Right!” Oren laughed and then called to the lead musician. “The lass wants to have a go, Aengus.”

The chubby little man looked up at her grinning between all of his four teeth. “What’ll it be lass?”

Renn motioned him over, whispered in his ear and then stood.

Aengus laughed and went back. All the other men leaned forward and then started up a raucous version of “Beggarman” and Renn did her best imitation of the “Coyote Ugly Girls” all up and down the bar. The crowd roared with encouragement and laughter at the Spunky Yank who tackled one of the fastest songs in traditional Ireland.

She was clogging her way down to the end of the bar when a man reached out and grabbed her pant leg. The move wasn’t hard enough to slow her down but it was just enough to throw her off her balance. Two stutter steps later and she was falling off the end of the bar.

The whole place went quiet and a sense of doom filled her and just out of the darkness she landed with a whump against something not nearly as hard as the floor she’d been expecting.

 

[LittleGary]

Liam quickly moved upstairs to his room after his run, and took a quick shower. He made his way back downstairs and watched as Oren enticed the young foreign girl into helping him out behind the bar. He was good that way, he could always manage to attract the girls, he just couldn't keep them around for long.

Liam was well into his first pint when the young woman made her way onto the top of the bar, and began clogging to the wild cheers of the crowd. Liams eyes appreciated the fine curves of her body, and the garceful way she danced despite the fast beat of the music. In a flash Liam recognized the girl, as the one he had seen at the Paris airport. How strange that she would end up here. A coincidence, not likely. She was someone he must keep an eye on.

Suddenly, she was tumbling off the bar, and into Liams arms. Carefully, Liam managed to catch the young woman, and keep his pint from spilling.

Looking into her wild druken eyes, Liam was captivated.

"Liam, the names Liam. And whom do I have the pleasure of holding?"