Covert Operations - Chapter 100
DISCLAIMER: This is a modern AU crossover story with Outlander and La Femme Nikita. LFN and its characters do not belong to me nor do those from Outlander.
SYNOPSIS: Unbeknownst to the triad, Jamie's team converge on the monastery.Ā Meanwhile Karen Yee, Wang Yu and Jonathon Randall escape by helicopter while Jamie and Claire are left to die.
WOO! HOO! CHAPTER 100. š¤ š¤ š¤ THANK YOU everyone so very much for your continued support of my story over these past 18 months. Ā I canāt begin to tell you how much I really appreciate all of you who have been along for the ride of Jamie and Claire for all of their trials and tribulations of life in Section One.
All previous chapters can be found at ā¦Ā https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations
Ā CHAPTER 100
Lost in his thoughts Jonathon Randall returned to the parlour where Karen Yee and Wang Yu were waiting for him glad that they had seen the last of James Fraser and Claire Beauchamp.
These two Section One operatives had been a thorn in their side for months and their demise would see the end of any more interference in triad business. Having caused great havoc and mayhem to the triad hierarchy, it would now be a time to regroup and take stock. Ā Section One would be on the backfoot as well knowing that the Rising Dragons had eliminated their two operatives and henceforth would think twice about their modus operandi in the future. The triad was resolute and their mantra was ingrained in their ethos. Ā They were prepared for any contingency that others, including Section One or other triad groups who would try and usurp the power of the Rising Dragons could attempt. Those who dared to test their might would suffer the consequences as these two protagonists had with their lives. There was nothing more that the triad wanted from them. Their death was inevitable; it was now only a matter of time.
The rule of the Triad is absolute To the vanquished death it will bring It triumphs over adversaries Then its greatness loudly will sing The Rising Dragon!
Jonathon smirked as his thoughts correlated with the Rising Dragonsā mantra and he was most pleased with how things had turned out for the triad. Ā Sun Yee Lok would be so impressed with his abilities and he would certainly be rewarded for his interrogation methods and for the final demise of James Fraser and Claire Beauchamp. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
All eyes glanced towards him as he entered the room. "Is everything organised Jonathon?" Karen asked. Ā Anticipation of the outcome underlined her question. Ā Had the deed been done and were they free to leave the monastery to report back to Sun Yee Lok of their triumph in dealing with the insurgents? "Yes ... they will be dead within the hour," he gleefully replied. "Excellent! And we got the information we wanted?" Randall was giddy with the result and he couldnāt contain his elation. "Oh yes ... it took a while but Fraser capitulated." Karen raised an eyebrow at his words. "That's surprising ..." "Not really." "... I would have thought that Claire would have given in first." "She may have ... but I didn't give her the choice. Besides ... it gave me great satisfaction to have Fraser tortured." "Yes, I can see why that would please you." Karen replied knowingly. A boastful Jonathon Randall elaborated further to those gathered. "I wanted to see how far I could go without actually killing him ... if he hadn't capitulated then I was going to torture Claire again in front of him." "That would have been interesting ... nonetheless the conclusion would have been the same. Sun Yee Lok will be very pleased," Wang Yu stated looking at Karen. "Let's hope we have put an end to it once and for all and things can get back to normal ... there's been entirely too much externalising of emotion around here lately," she replied. The others nodded in agreement, yet despite the problem of Claire Beauchamp and James Fraser being solved, Karen still had one other urgent problem to resolve. Her thoughts turned to a more personal pressing matter. Ā She turned to Jonathon Randall.
"Well? ... Do you have it?" A slight, satisfied smile crossed his lips as he placed his hand in his pocket and withdrew a small vial of liquid holding it up in triumph for Karen to see. She sighed; relieved that at last she had the extracting agent that could reverse the isotope that Jamie had placed on her hands. Karen held Jonathon's gaze then without looking at the vial she reached out her hands trying not to show how worried she really was.
"I hope this stuff works," she whispered under her breath. She was not sure if James Fraser had been entirely truthful and she feared the outcome should this have been the scenario. Loosening the top, Karen tipped some of the liquid into her palms coating her exposed skin with the agent. She immediately rubbed them vigorously together until all the liquid was absorbed into her skin.
Jonathon sensed her hesitancy and tried to reassure her. "Don't worry ... it will work." Coating her hands with the reactive agent once again, Karen examined her palms and fingers. Time stood still and every second felt like an eternity as she waited to see if the solution had worked. After a short while she began to feel her skin start to soften and return back to its normal colouring. Relief washed over her at the outcome and she slowly released the breath sheād been holding in check. "Is there any damage?" Raising her head, she briefly looked up at Jonathon then back down at her hands pleased that the liquid had indeed worked. "Nothing permanent ... it's been effective." "That's good." Regaining her composure Karen was back to business once more. "Shall we go then ... the helicopter is ready and waiting and we have a meeting scheduled with my father. He will want to know what has gone on." Jonathon laughed, "Oh we can certainly give him the answer to that!" "Yes ... all in all it has been a most successful outcome. I'm sure he will be delighted. Let's go." As they prepared to leave the room, Jonathon Randall turned to his bodyguard and issued his orders. "Robert ... take care of things." "Certainly sir." "You know what to do. We want no trace of them whatsoever." "I understand. I'll clean up and dispose of the bodies." "Good." Satisfied that everything would be taken care of, Karen and the two men all exited the room for their departure back to Hong Kong and their meeting with the leader of the Rising Dragons. It was a meeting that was long overdue, but one at which there would be much to celebrate. They had eliminated their enemy and solved the mystery of Tony Wong and Madame Cheung's deaths. The Rising Dragons' mantra had been fulfilled. The triad had sought its retribution at long last. "An invincible, powerful brotherhood The Triad rules supreme Don't ever try to obliterate For retribution will be extreme The Rising Dragon!" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Jamie and Claire were taken to another room deep in the monastery that was spartan except for two chairs. As the guards ushered them inside, Claire stumbled on the threshold of the doorway but the guard in front of her kept her from falling. Grabbing hold of their captives, the other guards tightened their grip painfully on the two Section operatives' arms, then pushed them towards the chairs indicating that they sit down. "I guess that this is the somewhere more comfortable," Claire flippantly stated to the guard as they were unceremoniously thrust into the chairs. Ignoring her retort, the guards bound both of their wrists to the arm of the chair, then left them alone closing the door behind them as they left with a decisive but ominous click. Except for the beating of their hearts, eerie silence surrounded them. They sat side by side in what appeared to be some sort of execution chamber. Claire looked around the room evaluating their surroundings and searching for anything that might indicate what the triad had in mind for them here in this dungeon like room. Seeing that there was little hope of escape, she stared straight ahead, her mind filled with thoughts that this may indeed be where she and Jamie finally met their demise. James Fraser also surveyed their surroundings glancing around the room like Claire had done. He too had thoughts ... not of their demise ⦠but of what he could do to secure their survival from this place. As he looked around the room, he saw several gas valve outlets. So that was their plan ... he and Claire were to be asphyxiated.
He was determined that this place of incarceration would not be their death chamber. He didnāt want to alarm Claire to the peril they were in although he already knew that she would have figured it out that they were in dire straits.Ā Flexing his sore muscles, he clenched his fists pitting them against the restraints on his hands hoping to loosen them. Maybe he would, by some miracle, be able to release himself from the bonds and free them both before the effects of any gas took a hold. Claire could feel Jamie moving his hand next to hers and knew he was trying to escape from his bonds. Ā She watched her love carefully. Her heart bled for him. She knew he had been tortured repeatedly because of her and she blamed herself for both of them being in this predicament from which there seemed to be no escape. Although she knew that the Team was on its way, would they even arrive in time. Her eyes fixed on his battered face.
"Are you okay?" The sound of her voice cut deep into his thoughts. Jamie looked over to her and met her forlorn eyes. Claire was well aware of the plight they were in, but her compassion also shone through. She felt his suffering. Trying to reassure her of his state of mind, he replied with a voice a little raspy.
"Dinna fash Sassenach ... I'm fine."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Claire knew Jamie wasn't being truthful. His face was covered in welts of congealed blood; a trail of drying blood ran haphazardly down his cheek from the wound on his temple and bruises were evident over his body. He had endured more than anyone should. He must have suffered horrendous torture ... yet James Fraser was not a broken man. Physically he was battle scared but she knew mentally he was as strong as ever and would be trying to find a solution to their dilemma ... even if there was none that she could see. He was Section One's best operative. Jamie would not want her to know he was in pain or was suffering after what heād gone through.
If he could endure what the triad had meted out then so would she.
Claire let his lie go unchallenged for every moment of this incarceration was too precious. In the scheme of things, it was not important ... their lives were in the balance here ... it was more important that she spend their every last moment conveying her feelings for him. She glanced at the door but when no one seemed to be monitoring them, Claire turned her head towards him. "What's going to happen now Jamie?" Her words brought him back to the reality of their terrible situation. His eyes followed the path of hers to the small glass pane in the door of the chamber before returning to meet her gaze.
"What do ye mean Sassenach?" Claire shifted slightly on her seat. "They've had the opportunity but they haven't killed us yet? Why?" Tension centred in her shoulders. She tried to allay the thought of impending doom in which they found themselves. "I dinna ken," Jamie replied trying to reassure her. "Do you think they are planning something?" He lifted his shoulders slightly. "It's possible mo nighean donn." She grasped at straws at anything that might be a plausible explanation as to why they had been left alone. "Perhaps they're going to trade us off for something from Section One." "Maybe." "You think so?" The inflection in her voice was haunting. "They could use us in exchange for any further Intel Section has about the Rising Dragons," Jamie answered trying to dispel her concerns but knowing that his words rang hollow.
"But you know Operations Jamie ... He won't negotiate. He'll pass on any deal."
Her summation of their leader was on mark. Ā Dougal Mackenzie never negotiated with terrorists, and in this situation, not even to try and save his two best operatives. Ā They would be marked off as collateral damage. "Aye ... he will." Jamie lowered his voice echoing the reply that Claire had already announced in her own mind. "Well if that's for real, then we're on our own." He glanced over at her, a telling look in his eyes. "We're going to have to think of something fast if we want to get out of here alive ... or else ..." Claire took a new breath before continuing, "... or else ... we're going to die together aren't we?" she replied softly closing her eyes in despair. Claireās anguish was breaking his heart. Jamie stretched his fingers out towards her. Opening her eyes, she felt the rough but warm touch of skin on skin. His fingers brushed the very tips of her fingers straining repeatedly until he managed to grasp them. Jamie squeezed her flesh in his and the touch was comforting.
"Is that so bad?" He whispered willing his love to look at him and hear the depth of feeling that his words conveyed. Entwining her fingers with his, Claire turned her head to see his piercing gaze wash over her.
"No." His look filled her heart with emotion for his gaze was open, tender and compassionate. Jamie's eyes pierced her soul and revealed his inner feelings. "No ā¦" she repeated, "... I wouldn't want it any other way." Claire held his gaze for a long moment, then bit her lip and turned her head away from him so that Jamie could not see the tears that welled in her eyes. āDinna be afraid Sassenach. I will see ye safe," he said resolutely.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Karen, Jonathon Randall and Wang Yu exited the monastery their helicopter was ready and waiting on the tarmac for its passengers for the return trip back to the mainland. The three people boarded the aircraft in a buoyant mood knowing that they had been successful in ridding the Triad of these two protagonists.
Assisting them into the helicopter, the outside security guards reported that all was well and there was no evidence of any other intruders on the premises. Theyād done a thorough search of the grounds and surrounds and had come up empty handed. With no further ado, the helicopter took off with a trouble-free departure. Jonathon Randal had complete faith in his bodyguard Robert Ling to carry out his orders implicitly. Therefore, the three triad members left the monastery completely satisfied that everything was under control and that they had finally seen the last of their captives James Fraser and Claire Beauchamp. The helicopter travelled back over the hinterland of Lantau Island before flying across the many islands surrounding Hong Kong Island itself to its secret destination the palatial home of their leader Sun Yee Lok who would be waiting for them to return with their good news.
Meanwhile the teams have gathered ā¦
Back at Section One, Fergus Claudel's monitor showed that the parameters of the rescue Mission profile status were set. "Okay, all teams, you're in. Start the sequence. Everyone to second mark. We're closing in. We have a fix on Jamie and Claire's location." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
First team members dressed in black field attire and balaclavas systematically and stealthily approached and made their way to the inner hallway of the monastery. They waited a moment for their team leaderās signal to move forward while second team took care of business on the perimeter of the building. "Let's move!" Geillis Duncan ordered and with a silent nod to each of the team members, the operatives advanced further into the labyrinth of passageways that would lead them to where Jamie and Claire were being held captive. Ā However, as they proceeded along two hostiles approached. The triad guards were caught by surprise and ill-prepared for what was waiting for them around the corner. Opening fire, the team managed to take out the men before they knew they were there or could return fire. "Okay, Geillis. There's a door ten metres to your right, down the hallway." Making their way to the location Fergus indicated, the team ran down a stairway then through closed double doors that opened up to another long hallway. "Keep straight ahead. There is a room to your left." Racing along the passageway the team soon approached the entrance. Making sure that they had clear passage they entered and took defensive positions just inside the door. There they stood and waited for the techieās signal to advance. Watching the monitor, Fergus informed the team when the marks indicated a 'Code Blue.' "Your marks are up. Go!" The Team immediately advanced further into the outpost room. Ā Jasmine Kwong, one of the team members broke away while the others provided cover ready to open fire at any given moment should any hostile appear, however before she could proceed Fergus' warning alerted the team to a problem. "Take cover ... hostiles approaching." They did as ordered. then from their advantage points watched and observed as several Chinese men entered the antechamber. They went over to what appeared to be several tall cylinders with cables and chemical containers that were stacked up against the wall. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Time meant nothing to the two Section One hostages ... it was now all a waiting game. Would the team arrive to rescue them or would they die together? Despite the dire situation they found themselves in, Jamie and Claire still had faith that the team would arrive. They didn't know how long they had been in the chamber but suddenly they heard some activity outside their cell and wondered what was happening. Something was obviously going on, for there was an increase in movement past the glass window. Although they could hear scraping and rattling noises continuing outside the room, the door didn't open. The two operatives watched as a couple of guards passed by. Then Claire saw Jonathon Randall's bodyguard Robert Ling. He stopped and looked in through the glass pane of the door. For one brief second, Claire thought Operations had agreed to an exchange of Intel and that they were to be freed. But just as quickly as he'd appeared, he moved away from the door. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Randall's bodyguard had glanced into the room where the two hostages were seated and had given the woman a dismissive glance before moving away from the door. He had his orders and he knew what he must do. The guards stood to one side as Robert hooked up gas hoses from the cylinder to the room Jamie and Claire were in. The squeak of the lever echoed in the silence as he turned each value in a clockwise direction until a red light came on indicating that the gas was travelling up through the hoses. The sound of the hissing gas from each cylinder outlet was amplified in the quiet of the room but this was music to his ears. With a satisfied smirk on his face Robert Ling took great satisfaction in having carried out Jonathon Randallās orders to the letter. He knew that in next to no time he would have closure for his boss. All that remained was to dispose of the man and woman once the deadly noxious gas had done its work. The decomposition of their bodies would systematically start to occur once the gas had fully permeated the room. They had no hope. His eyes cast a look towards the room where the two captives were shackled with no chance of survival. Turning, Robert and the guards then moved away. A raucous laugh echoed in the room as he left Jamie and Claire behind to face their fate. However, what they did not see as they left the room, were the Section One operatives lying in wait. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Jamie and Claire both turned at the same time as the smell of pungent fumes began to flood their surroundings. Realising what had happened they both began to cough a little as inside the room the result of the vapour suddenly became apparent. The invisible gas was starting to take effect and although they both willed themselves not to succumb to it, they began to feel more and more lethargic. Jamie glanced over to his Sassenach. Claire closed her eyes. So, this was it. The team hadn't managed to arrive and now it was inevitable. Operations had finally got what he wanted. The end had justified the means ... he and Madeline would be finally rid of them. She reached for him, just as Jamie reached out for her. Desperately grasping each other's fingers, they joined hands and intently looked at each other. Jamie's hand tightened on hers. Claire could feel his pulse throbbing under her fingertips; his strong beat matched the pounding in her veins. Meanwhile the odour began to fill the room. So, it had come to this. Would this be their fate ... to die here shackled together in this stark room? He would not let them die unnecessarily if he could prevent it. There were too many tomorrows that they had not yet had and not enough yesterdays to remember. There were still too many things left unsaid, too few nights that they had lain in each other's arms; too few times they had felt free to open up to each other about how they felt. Claire kept her eyes wide open fixed on Jamie's. āDinna be afraid. There's the two of us now.āĀ
She was not afraid to die. On the contrary she was serene. Claire was never more beautiful to him. Jamie felt himself drowning in the gorgeous blue eyes that held his captive. "Jamie ⦠I love you," Claire whispered as she caressed his features before capturing his eyes once more reluctant to sever her gaze. It was as if she was taking inventory absorbing him into her very pores so that when she took her last breath it would be his name on her lips... his face she saw ... his love she felt. They searched each other's faces for a long time then Claire closed her eyes holding on to the moment any way she could. Was it the grim situation they found themselves in or because of it, that they both felt their emotions rise to the fore? Claire's softly spoken words crashed over him like waves on the shore, just like when they had been on Lamma Island all those months ago and they stayed in the bungalow by the sea. Jamie felt as if he'd been hit in the gut with a sledgehammer. His breath suddenly caught in his throat. Although it was entirely possible that their death was imminent, all he could see was her. The guilt he felt for his manipulation of Claire because of Section One as well as the hurt and misunderstanding between them over the years just evaporated. Ā All that mattered was this moment in time. Squeezing her hand Jamie tried to reassure her that he understood while Claire retained hold of his hand unable to let him go. He looked to her again. This time Claire's eyes were filled with tears. Her face crumpled tearfully, she looked down, but when Jamie leaned in; Claire raised her face and looked deeply into his eyes. This did him in as he fought to keep his own resolve. Jamie's voice was thick with emotion. He spoke softly in reply, "I love ye a nighean donn. I have loved ye from the moment I saw ye. Ā I will love ye ātil time itself is done, and so long as ye are by my side, I am pleased wiā the world." The tremor in his voice sounded embarrassing to his ears, but Claire didn't seem to notice. Her tears subsided as a shaky smile bowed her mouth. Her eyes scrutinised his to verify the truth of his words. Her gaze was intense, but just saying the words from his heart had been cathartic. Once those words had left his lips Jamie knew that he wanted more time ... his Sassenach deserved more time ⦠they both deserved more time. Jamie closed his eyes, then opened them again abruptly when he felt Claire's warm fingers brush his. She slid the length of her palm sensuously against his. Her short fingernails scraped along his skin backwards and forwards caressing him all too briefly. Sensation after sensation shot through him making his nerve endings tingle. Claire continued to torture him with her sensual touch as she trailed her fingers lingeringly over his, before finally their hands entwined. They held each other tightly not knowing how long they might have until the gas took its fatal effect. He became more resolute. Jamie willed himself to dig deep to his inner strength. They would not die here. There was too much living to do for both of them. Becoming more positive by the minute, he communicated his thoughts to Claire. Mentally he gave her a shake to keep her alert.Ā
When the day shall come that we do part, if my last words are not, I love you, yeāll ken it was because I didna have time ... but weāreĀ going to live Sassenach. Today is not the day we die. Hold on my love.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ā
Outside in the antechamber, Section One operatives were silently moving into a better position. With stealth movement they edged forward moving from one pillar to another. While the triad members were occupied, they advanced covering each other as they moved to another vantage point. Then one by one they came closer and closer.
They watched as the men hustled back and forth around the small room then stood their ground as another man opened the valves on the cylinders. Once this was completed one of the triads' moved away from the group towards where Jasmine Kwong was taking cover. As he passed by, she quickly stepped out of the shadows and felled him with a karate chop to his carotid artery. The sound of hisĀ "Oomph!"Ā caused the others to look up. They saw him fall to the ground and with guns at the ready, they approached their fallen comrade to see what had happened.
The triad guards didn't even see the Section operatives who lay in wait. Robert Ling and the other guards had not gone far when the team came out shooting. Appearing from behind their cover each operative stood with feet apart as they let fly with a flurry of rapid fire. The triads were unprepared for any attack and although they tried to engage in return fire it was hopeless. One by one the hostiles fell to the ground.
When all the triads had been eliminated, Rupert Mackenzie and Jasmine Kwong kept guard as Geillis Duncan made her way over to the gas cylinders. Turning the lever anti-clockwise the red light disappeared as she shut off the gas supply to the room.
She just hoped they weren't too late.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ to be continued Friday 21st February
For some light relief from this situation that Jamie and Claire find themselves in and because it is Valentineās Day, you may like to read my AU Sam/Cait story I wrote some time ago but which is appropriate for this loversā special day ā¦
ROSES FOR VALENTINEāS DAYĀ -Ā (6 Chapters)
Sam is working in New York and may not make it home forĀ Valentineās DayĀ which makes Caitriona feel very melancholy.Ā
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6Ā
THANK YOU all again for your continued supportĀ of Covert Operations.Ā xox sablelab














