NationStates Jolt Archive

"I'm a scientist," said Dr. Morgan coldly. She didn't like being called a cripple - at all. "I assume you know the Agency's brainwashing techniques. What can you tell me?"

The officers looked in the cell through a small window. If he turned violent, they could be on him in seconds with tasers.

"Nothing." Miles simply stated.

This isn't going well. Dr. Morgan shrugged. She wasn't sure she believed him, but she wasn't a trained interrogator. On the other hand, she was a psychologist, dealing with someone who likely had no wish to cooperate. She'd have to try again when this General Kaselev got out of the inquiry.

"Nothing, as in you don't know, or nothing as in you aren't telling me?" She'd have to know what kind of nothing she was dealing with, or returning with the general would have little point.

"Whatever you want to believe." Miles said coldly.

Now was not the time for her to turn interrogator. Dr. Morgan turned her head toward the guards at the door for them to let her out. They watched her, covering her with a taser in case Miles decided to fly the coop at the same time.

It would be a full day before Kaselev would be able to get away from the inquiry; military intelligence was only a small part of the scope and he had already said his piece. If the inquiry turned up anything he needed to know, they could contact him later with the minutes of the hearings.

A smirk appeared across Miles' face as they left.

After a day of being left alone with three bowls of gruel a day and a rusty old toilet (which still flushed, miraculously), Miles was awakened by a tall, robust man in a black uniform. This man had three stars on his rank badge and several medals, many very high awards. He brought in two chairs and sat across from Miles.

"I guess you are General Kaselev?" Miles asked.

"I am," said the man. "Did you talk to Dr. Morgan, the psychologist? The people at the base told me that you would only speak to me or the President." Of course, Kaselev knew little of neurology, so he would not understand the technical terms used. He carried a notepad in his pocket anyway - maybe what he could get from Miles could be translated by the psychologists.

"First things first, Mr. Mason. I want to know everything about the brainwashing procedure you used on Ms. Hargan." He knew about the footage, but he didn't know anything more than that.

"Honestly General Kaselev. I know nothing. I was rarely at any of the bases. I was just told an assignment, then the next day I was on it. Never had anytime to look around." Miles stated.

"As I said before...I didn't sneak around and try to find out what the Agency was doing. I kept out of their business and just completed missions." Miles yawned for a second.

Kaselev did not show any emotion. "Do you know anyone who would know this information?" he asked. "A scientist, preferably... someone who knows the technical details." He began to think. Maybe there was a way to lure an Agent to the base to be interrogated.

The general nodded. "So you just do what you're told, with no regard for the rights and wrongs of it." He still sounded cold, aloof. While he showed no emotion in his voice, the way he phrased his statement suggested he felt disgust toward Miles.

"Tell me why you and Mr. Kent were sent to kidnap General Sklenova and Lt. Colonel Rhodes," said Kaselev coldly. He could always get back to Molly later. Dr. Morgan would likely be talking to her, though knowing exactly what the brainwashing entailed would be invaluable.

"Because we were sent to capture them. To get to the bottom of that you need to ask Director Hall." responded Miles.

Kaselev nodded. "Where can I find him?" he asked calmly. "In the meantime, I would... find a list of Agents very useful." Someone had to know where Hull was, or at least know someone who did.

---

Christi woke up in the infirmary. A fair amount of tissue had had to be removed from her visibly maimed legs, which now had titanium knee joints and were covered in heavy long-leg weight-bearing fiberglass casts. A nurse lifted her from bed and set her into a wheelchair - it would take some time to get used to moving in those casts, and she'd never be able to walk as well as she would when her legs were healed and she could take them off.

The doctors had managed to extract the bullets and shotgun pellets from Pete, bandaged his wounds, disinfected them, and hydrated him. They were surprised he had not died from the long period before receiving medical treatment, and then the flight. They also ran blood tests on Christi and Pete to make sure they hadn't contracted anything abroad.

"General Kaselev...what you have to understand is that I have been on the run for the past month. There is no possible way that I could know where Director Hall is now." Miles replied. "As for a list...I only know a few men. The rest are a total mystery. It isn't like we become best pals. We try not to see each other, so we don't comprise other agent's missions."

---

When Pete woke up he felt pain all over his body, though he was glad that he was still alive. That means that must have gotten to Kahanistan. Slowly he propped himself up and scanned the room. He wondered what had happened to Christi.

"That will do, for now," said Kaselev. He pulled a pen and notepad from his pocket. "The few agents you do know may be of use, for now." If one of them was a scientist or knew one, it would then be a simple matter of luring the scientist to Kahanistan.

---

"Your girlfriend is in a barracks," said the doctor to Pete. "Are you in condition to walk? Do you have a place you're staying at in this country?"

Miles only wrote down Chester and Scott's name. That was all he knew.

---

"What do you think? I was shot up and barely lived through that. I don't think I will be walking maybe at the earliest until next week." Pete replied. "As for a place to stay...I don't have one."

Kaselev took the pad. "Very well. I'll be back if I need more information." Miles hadn't given him any information he didn't already have. The general stood up and walked out, making for Scott's cell.

---

"Well, you'll want to talk to the guy at the Immigration Ministry office," said the doctor. "They'll help you find low-cost housing, temporary or permanent, political asylum, whatever you need. I could have you escorted, but I thought you'd want to see your girlfriend."

Miles had given General Kaselev all that he wanted to show him, for now.

---

"Yeah...thanks...but for now I want to work on getting better." Pete said as winched. The pain must have be immense within his body. "Seeing Christi would be nice."

Scott's cell door opened, and a large, imposing man entered...

---

"OK." The doctor put Pete in a wheelchair and escorted him to Christi's quarters. She was sitting on a bench, watching TV, her casted legs stretched straight in front of her. A FN FAL sat on a mantle above her, fully loaded, its strap hanging down within her reach.

Scott and saw the man. He was stunned, then remembered what happened. Miles was going to die, even if it was the last thing that Scott did.

---

"What's up with the gun Christi?" Pete asked. "Aren't you finally home?"

The man who entered was clearly not Miles. He was taller, beefier, and a lot... colder... than Miles, at least externally.

"I am Lieutenant General Igor Kaselev," said the intruder, speaking in what seemed like an Israeli accent. "Director of Kahanistan Military Intelligence." He looked Scott up and down, sizing him up. The guard had stripped Scott naked while he was out in order to help weaken him psychologically, but it remained to be seen how effective that would be.

"I need... a list of Agency safe houses, known Agents, a way of contacting Director Hull, and details on the method of brainwashing you used on Ms. Hargan," said Kaselev matter-of-factly.

---

Christi nodded. "The Agency's gone into our bases before," she said. "We require ID checks now, but still operate on a philosophy of letting civilians around, either visiting soldiers or touring the facilities. The classified information, of course, is heavily guarded and not all bases even have any, but I'm worried they'll want to kill me. I've exposed the extent of their depravity. Besides, I'm afraid they might retaliate against my husband. They'd have to get aboard the RKS Minerva to do it, and it's a bit better secured than our bases, being out to sea and all, but they could grab him when he goes on shore leave."

"He knows I'm back home. He also knows about my injuries, and he knows the Agency is responsible. I talked to him earlier today."

Scott simply spit right in front of General Kaselev. For the time being, Scott was not going to cooperate with these damn Kahanistani. He would rather die, than reveal any secrets. For King and Country!

---

"Does he know about me?" asked Pete as he moved along side her.

Torture and abuse were not standard operating procedure, but the general couldn't just let this guy spit at him and not react if he wanted to establish dominance. He slugged Scott as hard as he could, and being 6'3", that was very hard indeed.

"I can wait," he said calmly.

---

"Not yet," said Christi. "Not that he'll care. We have very different values here than in your country."

Scott just started to laugh. "That all you have? What I thought. The Kahanistani are weak people."

---

"Do you still trust me?" Pete struggled to say. "After what Scott told you?"

Part of Kahanistanian basic training was to never show weakness - the Doomani, Questarians, and similar nations with which Kahanistan was often at odds, tended to hold it in contempt. While Kaselev was not dealing with a Doomani, he was a high-ranking officer and couldn't let himself or his people be seen as weak. He grabbed Scott by the neck and shoved him against the wall, leaning his 200 pounds into his throat to squeeze harder.

"I am not a brutal man, Mr. Lang," said the general. "But you must see who is in charge here. If you cooperate with me, and give me information, you will be treated well. Treat me or my soldiers with disrespect and you will be treated the same. If you were thinking of suicide, you've already been checked for suicide pills and false teeth. Now, give me the information I need." Kaselev pushed more of his weight into his hand around Scott's neck.

---

"I don't trust Scott," said Christi. "I'll never trust someone who tries to blow my legs off. I don't think the Agency would just take someone out and shoot them if they were one of them. That said... I also trust Miles, I believe him, but... I still want to see justice."

Scott responded by weakly singing Die Wacht am Rhein, like Miles, Taylor, and Pete had sung a couple of days ago. "Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall!*"

*A call roars like thunderbolt

---

"I'm glad that you do Christi." Pete said, while holding onto Christi's hand. Then he started to chuckle. "If I could, I would take you to bed right now."

Kaselev reached for the taser in his belt. He pulled it out and held it to Scott's head. In the darkness, it might be difficult to tell it from a pistol.

He did not understand the German, nor did he care to. "Very well. Now, give me the information. I know you have knowledge of the Agency's members and its brainwashing techniques."

---

Christi nodded. "I would, too... but my legs aren't working." She smiled weakly.

Scott replied with a boisterous reply. "Lieb' Vaterland, magst ruhig sein!*"

It was pretty oblivious that he would rather die, than collaborate.

*Dear fatherland, put your mind at rest

---

"So I was wondering if I could stay with you? Since I really can't go back to Canadstein, without getting murdered or tortured." Pete started to ask. "And you are the only person I really know here."

Kaselev nodded. He pressed the trigger of his taser and delivered a powerful shock to Scott's head, leaving the taser barbs in him.

"When you see fit to cooperate with me... I'll turn it off."

---

"Sure. The Immigration Ministry won't turn away a refugee."

Scott said nothing, but could feel the pain. He was never going to speak to this scum.

---

"Thank you Christi." replied a relieved Pete.

Kaselev stood impassive, letting the taser work its pain on Scott. He didn't care how far he had to go - if Scott ended up complaining to his government, they would have to admit that they'd had the Agency commit terrorism in Kahanistan. He waited for Scott to break and tell him what he wanted to know.

---

"We should get you processed," said Christi. "Our government's pretty liberal about immigrants - we actually want more immigration, to rebuild our population figures. In the meantime... while we figure out where you're going to be staying, we should be getting you some new stuff. I think the social service department can help you once you've been processed by Immigration."

"Fuck you..." muttered Scott.

---

"So what exactly am I going to have to do?" asked Pete.

The general simply put another pair of barbs in his taser and fired. The more pain, the sooner Scott would crack.

"Miles is probably spilling his guts right now," he said calmly. "I know you're part of the Agency, and that you tried to murder one of my soldiers, and one of your own citizens."

---

"Simple," said Christi. "Just go to the Immigration Ministry, fill out some papers. It would be easier if you had documents from home, but it's not essential. I'll go with you."

Scott started to laugh like a psycho. If General Kaselev pushed him any further, then he would die.

---

"Thank you..." Pete said with a warm smile. His grip on Christi's hand tighten. Painfully he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "But for now I want to rest."

Scott wasn't going to give Kaselev any information at all if his heart gave out. The general turned off the taser, and had the temperature in Scott's cell reduced to ten degrees Celsius (50 degrees F.) He wasn't going to put his source's life in danger, though he had no qualms about making him think he would.

Kaselev left the cell and locked the door, allowing Scott time to rest, if he could fall asleep in the cold.

---

Christi smiled. "Tomorrow, then. I'll have to go out anyway, and get some clothes. Most of mine were left behind."

Once General Kaselev had left, Scott dragged himself to a wall. He had lost all feeling in his legs. Hopefully they would come back. Propping himself up, Scott looked at the door to the jail cell. Scott was going to get out somehow...but for now he needed his sleep.

---

"I think I am going to stay here for a while. All I can feel is pain." Pete admitted.

"These are agents," said General Kaselev in his office to his head of security. "They are presumably trained to resist interrogation, and to escape. I need two guards posted outside each door at all times, and the guards rotated every four hours."

"I see," said Colonel Zach Samson, chief of base security. "Two guards on alternating four-hour shifts. What if I rotate one of them two hours in, so when I rotate one guard there's always the other one watching?"

"Excellent idea," said Kaselev. "I'll also increase shift rotations in the control centre." The last thing he needed was two Agents running loose in Kahanistan - it had been hell tracking two through the jungles of Africa to rescue Nadia.

---

Two guards were positioned across from Scott's cell. One was the big, muscular black guard only called Jamal, who had been the one to strip Scott while he was still unconscious. The other was a young woman, about Molly's size or maybe a little slimmer, and several years older.

Similarly, there were also two guards posted outside Miles' cell. The inquiry that Nadia had been at had wrapped up, so she was going to be at the base in a few hours at Kaselev's request.

---

"Well, I suppose we can get painkillers from the infirmary," said Christi. "Or even over-the-counter here. You can get almost any drug over the counter in Kahanistan, but the stronger ones have all kinds of warning labels on them."

Surprisingly enough both of the agents went to sleep. Both men knew that they were going to need their energy and strength later on.

---

"I would rather let the pain just run its natural course. Plus I don't want a bunch of drugs in my system." Pete commented.

Two civilian vehicles arrived at the base four hours later. One was a technical, a pickup truck loaded with weapons - a machine gun in the passenger's seat and a MANPAD and anti-armour missile launcher in the back. The driver was an elderly woman and she was with a younger one.

The base guards had her stop the vehicle in a parking lot outside the base - they weren't allowing that kind of weaponry to be brought inside, despite the liberal laws on arms possession in Kahanistan. Once the guards recognised the younger woman, it all became clear. Nadia didn't want to travel in a large, conspicuous presidential motorcade, and had asked her mother to drive her. Katriana, who had trusted Miles until he ran off with her daughter, now hated his guts. She wanted a chance to let him have it, but it remained to be seen if she'd get it...

The other civilian vehicle contained Senator Petrova. She had received a letter earlier from Molly's parents asking for her help in retrieving their daughter from the clutches of the evil Agency, and now that Molly was back, she'd offered to take them to her. Her vehicle, not packed with weapons, was allowed in the base. She and Molly's parents were going to reach Taylor and Molly before Nadia and Katriana got where Miles was.

---

Christi nodded. "I'm tired after today. Should we get some rest...?" In her condition, she wouldn't be able to have any fun with Pete, but that was OK. Maybe the pain would be better after a good night's sleep...

Pete simply nodded and then let the attendant roll him back to his room.

In the room where Taylor and Molly were talking, three people walked in - a man and woman in their 50's and a woman in her 30's. The man walked up to Molly and put his arms around her, looking into her eyes.

"I... haven't seen you in so long," said the man. "I... thought you were dead."

Molly had next to no memory left of her old life. "Who...?" she asked softly.

Petrova spoke up. "Ms. Hargan... these are your parents," she said. "I'm Senator Alyssa Petrova."

---

Nadia and Katriana walked into the base. Katriana was dressed modestly, as one might expect a 71-year-old woman to be dressed. She was in a loose-fitting jacket and trousers, and stuffed her greying hair under her hat. Nadia was dressed uncharacteristically immodestly, in a low-cut top and short skirt, pushing her cleavage forward. She figured that when talking to Miles, less was more...

Taylor looked on from the side. Things were moving to fast for Molly. They needed to slow down things or Molly might become mentally unstable. The pressure might be too much and she could crack. That was the last thing that Taylor needed to see. Deciding it was time to inform this little group, Taylor started to speak up. He moved right next to Molly and rested his hand on her shoulder.

"You must be Molly's parents....well..." Taylor felt the lumping forming in his throat. "Molly is not the same person...she has no memory of you."

Then explained what had happened to Molly during her captivity in Canadstein. Taylor suddenly grabbed Alyssa's and took her outside. "Why did you bring her parents? Do you know what that could to her? She honestly remembers nothing of her real life. All she has are these false memories. Who the hell told you that Molly was here?"

---

Miles was scrunched up in the corner to conserve energy, but he was peacefully sleeping.

"I got a phone call from Military Intelligence," said Alyssa. "Her parents had written me weeks ago, to ask me to help them get her back. I thought the least I could do was take them to her."

---

Molly's father looked bewildered. He hadn't been told the details, just that she was back. Her mother took her hand and sat down.

"Don't you... remember us?"

---

The guard escorting Nadia and Katriana knocked on Miles' cell door.

---

The two guards outside Scott's door began talking to pass the time. The woman looked into Scott's cell.

"Bigger than I thought," she said.

"Yeah," said Jamal. "Them Agents be compensatin' for somethin'."

"Well guess what Senator...you thought wrong." said enraged Taylor. "You have put Molly at risk of a mental collapse. There is not telling what this visit is going to do to her. She has already gone through enough in these past weeks. The last thing she needs is to she her parents. Senator, I love her and I will not her get hurt like this..."

---

There was no movement in Miles' cell.

---

When the guards looked back they would find the cell completed dark, except for the small amount of light coming in from the door slit. Scott had disappeared into the darkness.

Petrova had been yelled at many times in her life - by political opponents criticising her for posing nude, by ultra-rightists for pursuing a more moderate course that led to being a Praetonian protectorate, by angry constituents who saw her political positions as treasonous... and by angry young men who were pissed that she'd helped two worried people see their daughter again.

"Nobody wants that to happen," she said. "We all want her to remember who she is. If you are afraid that these revelations will threaten your relationship with her, then you should have thought about building a relationship on lies."

---

The guard opened the door to Miles' cell. Nadia walked ahead of her mother and stepped in.

"Mr. Mason?" asked the guard.

---

The woman peering into Scott's cell grew a little paranoid. He couldn't have escaped, could he? No. He was probably in the corner, where the light didn't reach well.

"Flashlight," she said.

"Here, Malena." Jamal handed the female officer the flashlight. She shined it into Scott's cell.

"Our relationship isn't important right now. I am more worried about your mental health. Right now it is too the breaking point. I don't want to lose you." Taylor with a stern look.

---

"Yes?" Miles called back from his corner.

---

Scott was nowhere to be seen. It is almost if he had disappeared.

"Well, I, for one, would like to see her memories restored," said Alyssa. "I'm sure her parents feel the same way. Has anyone called in a psychologist? The soldier who called me was sketchy on the details."

---

"You've got visitors," said the guard. Nadia sat down on the floor next to Miles.

---

"My God," said Malena. She pressed a button on her radio. "This is Captain Malena Neil. Mr. Lang has escaped," she said.

"How is that possible?" asked Colonel Samson. "There are no air vents going in there, and the only exit is blocked by two guards."

Jamal unlocked the door and stepped in with his pistol drawn. Maybe Scott was simply hidden behind the door. Sirens went off all around the base, and guards in IFV's, helicopters, and APC's, as well as infantry with search dogs, rallied. A soldier in an IFV came out and knocked on the door where Christi and Pete were staying.

"Honestly I think there is only a slim chance of Molly getting back her memories. The damage has been done and we are past the point of no return. Her memories here are gone forever." Taylor replied. "Right now she just needs someone she can trust, that just happens to me, not her parents."

Taylor sighed for a second and wished that he had never agreed to let a Kahanistani see Molly. But he also knew it was for the best. She was finally with her parents, even though she had no idea who they were.

"Who was the soldier?"

---

Miles did not even move an inch. He thought it was that bastard General Kaselev again.

---

Suddenly a pointed elbow came directly into where Jamal's humerus and ulna were located. All of Scott force was in this blow. A smile grew on Scott's face as he heard a satisfying crunch. With ninja like skills, Scott then twisted Jamal's hand to loosen his grip on the pistol. Scott's other hand punched him square in the face, in hopes of knocking him out.

"I don't remember his name," said Alyssa. "Sounded older, I think it was one of the higher officers here."

---

"It's me." Nadia's voice. "I was told you were here."

---

Jamal was a big guy, but he staggered from the blow. He swung at Scott with his left hand. The control centre's video camera picked up the struggle, so they now knew Scott hadn't escaped yet - but the soldiers were still going to get Christi and Pete out of there in case Scott did escape.

Malena pulled out her taser. She held it over Jamal's head and fired it on Scott.

---

Christi moved to the door, steadying herself against the wall to the door, holding her weapon when she heard the knock.

"Well it doesn't matter now." Taylor said as he sighed. "I guess now we have to work together to make sure Molly is safe. Oh forgot to tell you my name...it's Taylor Hall."

---

"Nadia...I finally decided to come back." Miles turned around and leaned against the wall. He remembered the last time he saw her, and how she just stormed off.

---

Scott easily dodged the blow from Jamal, then pushed him into the nearby wall. Picking up Jamal's pistol, he fired it directly into the owner's stomach. As Jamal staggered, because of his wound, Scott pushed him straight into the line of fire of the taser. Once Jamal fell to the ground, Malena would find a pistol pointed in her face.

"Tell them that I have been subdued and everything is all right. Any funny business and you die." Scott with a devilish grin. He made sure that the gun and himself were not in line with the camera. So it would appear Malena would relay the message by her own freewill.

---

Pete was getting back into his bed as the sirens went off.

Alyssa smiled. "Nice to meet you, Taylor. Let's... find out what we can do for Molly."

---

Nadia nodded. "Don't you still want to talk to me?"

---

Jamal had a bullet-resistant vest, which also caught the taser barb, but at that close a range, the impact was like being struck by a hammer. He fell to the wall, and would take a couple of seconds to get back to Scott.

Malena moved around to the side of the door to get time to draw her pistol. If Scott wanted to engage her or escape, he'd have to go through the video camera...

---

The soldier at the door greeted Christi. "We've got to get you out of here. Where's your friend?"

"He's in the bedroom," said Christi. "What's going on?"

"One of the Agents is escaping. We need to get you out of here before he gets here." He went in and shook Pete.

Taylor nodded, then reentered the room.

---

"What is there to talk about Nadia?" asked Miles.

---

Scott reentered the dark cell, and moved Jamal to the corner. Then he clocked him directly in the forehead with all of his strength, to make sure Jamal was of no further trouble. The pistol was now directed at Jamal's head. If the gun was fire it would surely kill Jamal instantaneously.

"Come into the cell or this little blackie gets to have a little present in the head." Scott called out to Malena.

---

"What is it?" asked Pete as he sleepily woke up.

Nadia looked at Miles. "Why did you come back here?" she asked calmly.

---

Jamal's consciousness was somewhat dimmed from the blows he'd taken to the head, but he could still speak. "Don'... go in there. He gon' rape you, Malena."

I could not be there for her. I will be there for him. Malena pulled her weapon and positioned her back against the corridor under the camera, across from the door. If Scott wanted to fire, he'd have to choose between Malena, who was prepared to shoot if he turned his attention away from her and had a bullet-resistant vest, or Jamal, in which case he'd take his attention off of the woman pointing a Glock with 10x25mm ammo in it at him...

---

"Scott's escaping," said Christi. She assumed it wasn't Miles; she'd just been told it was an Agent. "We've got to get out of here."

"To face my crimes..." Miles admitted.

---

"You have the count of five to make a decision or your little friend will die...five...four...three...two..." Scott called out.

---

Pete suddenly became alert. He was not going to let Scott get away, after what he did to Christi and himself. With all his strength he got into the wheelchair. "Where are we going to go?"

Nadia took Miles by the hand. "I see. Were you offered any... leniency?" She could not politically afford to openly help him get off - she'd removed a close friend from her position as Foreign Minister and replaced her with a man known to take a hard line against Canadstein.

Katriana looked shocked as Nadia took the hand of the man who had tried to murder her, and did so dressed in the most revealing way she'd seen her since Nadia was a teenager on the beach. She did not speak.

---

Malena kicked in the door and fired. She didn't care if she ended up killing Scott - she had to save her comrade and Miles would probably be as willing to give information as Scott, if not more so.

---

"Well, we're going to take you to a housing project. The Agency won't look for you there," said the soldier. "Sergeant Alvin Jameson," he said. "Your immigration papers can wait a few days."

Miles smiled weakly as Nadia took a hold of his hand. However Miles did notice how Nadia was dressed, which was odd since she was the President of this country. "None at all...but I don't know if I would accept any..."

---

When Malena would not notice the leg extended across the doorway. As she fired her gun, she would most likely fall to the ground. But course her bullets were of no use. They were no where near Scott or Jamal, since they were right next to the door. Once Malena was on the ground, Scott knocked Jamal out then walked up to Malena. He looked down at the form bellow him. The only visible feature on Scott's face was his smile...that sickly odd devilish smile.

---

"What about Christi?" asked Pete as he tried to wheel himself along.

---

Once Tayor reentered he saw it fit to reintroduce himself to Molly's parents. "I am Taylor Hall, Corporal in the Royal Canadstein Army. I took of care of your daughter while she in Canadstein. We became quiet attached and I grew to love her. I think she did so too. Sorry...I didn't catch your names."

"It's not how I normally dress," said Nadia, catching Miles looking at her breasts. "There is very little I can do to help you. I'd like to know everything you know about the Agency, of course... and if you are truly contrite, you would tell me."

---

When Malena kicked the door open, the moving door cleared the way. She would, of course, see Scott extend his leg to try to trip her up, more easily due to the fact she kept her head low, below the door to avoid presenting a target as she advanced.

Two other guards who heard the shooting came up, one from each side of the corridor. These were armed with FN FAL's and flash-bang grenades.

---

"I'll go with you," said Christi.

---

"Rick Hargan," said Molly's father. "This is Tina Birch, my wife."

"Fine...what do you want to know?" Miles replied after a moment of thinking.

---

Scott tackled Malena to the ground and wrestled the pistol out of her hand. Once the pistol was out of her hand, Scott brought up from the ground. Both of her arms were held by either of Scott's arms. She was going to make the perfect hostage. Then he heard the shuffle and footsteps of approaching people. He whispered into her ear. "Tell them to get an ambulance immediately. Also that Scott has been subdued...do it or I will break your damn neck."

---

"Well lets go Sgt. Jameson." Pete said.

---

"Well...what have you talking about?" Taylor said to try to break the awkward silence.

"The intentions of the Agency with me... the locations of facilities they use. This brainwashing that I heard about from General Kaselev." Nadia turned to face Miles.

---

Malena butted Scott in the chest. She was only 5'4", so her head would probably be at his chest level. She then bent over to pull Scott's weight onto her legs.

A 110-pound woman, even one trained in unarmed combat, will not support the additional weight of an average man. She flipped him over as the approaching guards raised their rifles. One of them threw a stun grenade as the scuffle grew intense. Jamal groaned loudly from inside the cell. Scott was now in plain view of the camera.

---

Jameson wheeled Pete to his IFV. Christi held the sergeant by the shoulder as he walked out to the vehicle.

---

"We've been talking about how much we want to see our daughter again," said Molly's mother, sniffling. "We never thought she'd be this far gone."

"They brought in a lady," said Molly. "A psychologist. She wants to help me get my memories back. Her name's Dr. Morgan. She's really nice, but... we don't know what she'll be able to do."

"I really...don't know their true intentions, but I had a suspicious they wanted to brainwash you, like they did to Molly. They knew that you were running for President and thought they could control you, if you won. I was only chosen because I was close to you...As for facilities. I only known where one is located, the one where they captured Molly. Director Hall has hinted at other facilities, maybe for other agents." Miles told Nadia. "Lastly, I have no idea about the brainwashing. I was a field agent. I didn't do any of the technical stuff."

---

Scott quickly got up and covered his mouth. He shoved the pistol into his belt, then slapped Malena across the face, which made go further into the cell. Furious, Scott threw Malena into the wall, which knocked her out. Going over to Jamal, he found a smoke grenade. It was time to make an escape. Scott went over to Malena and put her limp body on his shoulder. Swiftly he grabbed the grenade's pin, then tossed it into the hallway. Once the smoke poured out, Scott ran into the hallway and went down the opposite way of the other guards.

---

Pete started to talk, to try to relieve some of the tension. "So Sgt. Jameson, what exactly is your job in the military?"

---

"Well Miss Birch, now she is back to her home." Taylor stated as he tried to hold back the tears. "Just know that I took care of her. I made that she was safe...isn't that right Molly?"

Nadia looked angry. The Canadsteiners were trying to control her government from the shadows. She was never one to believe in conspiracy theories, but this one had hit her in the face.

"Why the biological agent, though...? And... Kaselev wanted to talk to Hull, but he hasn't been able to get ahold of him."

---

Covering his mouth proved useless against the stun grenade, which operated by delivering a blinding flash and a massive sound wave. Since there was a guard coming from each end of the corridor, Scott ran smack into one of the FN FAL-toting guards, who clubbed him across the head with his rifle. The control centre continued to send guards to where the cameras told them Scott was.

---

"Base security," said Jameson. "That, and saving people's asses when foreign agents are running loose on the base." He loaded Pete and Christi into the back of the IFV, then stepped into the driver's seat and floored it out of the base.

---

Molly nodded and held her mother's hand. "Yes. I still... want to have my memories back. I'll still be... loyal to Canadstein."

Her father's jaw dropped. WTF?

"Fail safe in case the the mission went down hill, which it did. Awaiting in Canadstein was the cure for the X-Virus. Director Hull is going to be impossible to get. He is a shadowy character. Honestly there is really no chance of getting him." Miles stated. He looked at Nadia, then sighed. His other hand rested on her thigh.

---

"Get the fuck out of the way or this little beautie will die." Scott said as he dug the pistol into Malena's temple.

---

Pete chuckled at the remark when he wheeled into the IFV.

---

Taylor let out a deep breath, then rested his hand on his forehead. Then looked at Molly. "Molly...you have to understand that you are not a Canadsteiner. You never were. All those memories within your head are manufactured. You don't have to be loyal to Canadstein anymore."

Nadia would normally never allow someone to touch her that intimately, but did nothing about it. Katriana walked into the cell, unable to control her anger. Not only was Miles admitting he was willing to murder her daughter for the national interests of Canadstein, but he was taking advantage of her emotional weakness to advance on her sexually.

"I... trusted you," said the woman. "My daughter... trusted you." She looked at Miles like he was the scum of the earth, which to her he was.

---

A cold male voice came up from behind Scott. "Do you actually think I would let a Canadsteiner agent run free in Kahanistan just to save the life of one soldier?"

It was Kaselev. He was holding an FN FAL and looking at Scott dispassionately, as if he didn't care about his comrade. Kaselev was never one to negotiate with terrorists.

---

The IFV floored it onto the highway, to the nearest housing project. Jameson handed Pete some forms to fill out and submit to the nearest Immigration Ministry office.

---

"I know this, cognitively," said Molly. "But... they feel so real to me. I just... don't want the interests of our nations to conflict."

"The Agency was all I had. No one else cared if I died. No one at all. What was I to do?" Miles took his hands off of Nadia, then retreated to his corner. What Miles said was true. His family thought he was dead, and could never return to them. His one true love...all he felt was pain.

---

"You are almost as cold as me General. But you forgot one thing." Scott said as he made sure he had both groups in his line of sight. "Someone actually cares about this women. The higher ups are not going to like an innocent woman dying. Will they?"

---

Pete pulled out a pen out of his pocket and got to work on the papers.

---

"What do you mean our nations?" asked a curious Taylor.

"Nadia would have cared," said Katriana. "She may not have been in love with you, but she liked you. She's just not the kind of woman to fall in love easily. This is the first time in 33 years she's dressed like that... and you betrayed her for 'King and Country.'"

---

"They will not," said Kaselev. "Which is why they will not care if I torture you to death... nutcrackers to the fingers, toes, gouging out the eyes, cutting out the tongue with a rusty knife. If you harm her, I will do it." Kaselev's voice still showed no emotion.

---

"Well, there's a lot of tension... the threat of war," said Molly. "Foreign Minister Karovic is calling for a blockade already. Right now, we don't have the ships, but if that changes..."

Miles simply ignored her, but her words was like a stab in the heart. He wished that he had never listened to Hull. Then he would have never hurt Nadia. None of this would have ever happened. His love for Nadia still remained, but he knew things could never be the same. Miles got up on the ground and formed a ball in the corner. It was pretty oblivious that he didn't want to talk to them anymore.

---

"You speak a lot of crap...General." Scott said. He knew that the Kahanistani would care if Malena died. She was innocent. Just another average girl. "I won't have to harm her, if you just let me by and make my escape. How does that sound?"

---

"You will look like the aggressors. Canadstein is a neutral and shall forever be a neutral country. It will look as though Kahanistan just wants to pick a fight. But hopefully that will never happen." Taylor said as he held on to Molly's hand. "Molly...do you truly love me with all of your heart?"

cool rp

Katriana's face collided with her palm as Nadia put an arm around Miles. While she was normally forgiving, she would never forgive someone who was willing to sacrifice her daughter to the whims of the Agency.

"Miles... do you really believe nobody cared about you? Don't you have a family?" She didn't know how far the Agency went to hide people. General Kaselev, for example, would have no problem contacting his family... if any of them had survived the Doomani invasion, and he cared to see the religious nut of a father who had abused him as a child...

---

"The lives of the people of Kahanistan... are not worth the lives of one hostage and one terrorist," said Kaselev coldly. "My superiors may care about Captain Neil. I doubt they will consider her life worth those of the dozens you will likely kill if you are allowed to escape."

A helicopter hovered over the general's head, and a sniper rifle stuck out...

---

Molly nodded. "I do. I still... want to get married."

---

The IFV arrived at the housing project. Jameson carried Pete over his shoulder. After handing some forms to a clerk, he led Christi to an elevator and an apartment.

"I'll submit your immigration forms," he told Pete.

"Yes. My family believes that I am dead. If I ever went back what would I say? My family would be ashamed of what I have done. It can never happen. Plus I don't want them to get involved. If the agency finds out that I have revealed myself to my parents. Then they will surely kill them. Keeping myself hidden is the least I could to do them." Miles said.

---

A smirk appeared on Scott's face. This General Kaselev was very clever. "So you want Captain McNeil to die. Is that your decision?"

---

Taylor turned toward Molly's parents. "Can you accept that we love each other and will one day get married?"

---

"Thank you Sgt. Jameson." Pete said. Once he had left, Pete looked over to Christi. He badly wished that he didn't feel pain. Pete wanted to be with Christi. Feel her smooth skin. Kiss her lips. He wanted to take her to bed. But right now he was still trying to heal.

Nadia held Miles against her tightly. "I think... that the Agency needs to be stopped. Much of the Senate here wants to see them brought under the control of your government... I think you could convince the naysayers, the ones who don't care as much, to change their minds."

"Your family can be relocated to Kahanistan, given asylum. We're already probably going to do the same with the Canadsteiner who came with you." She knew that a civilian had come with Miles, but didn't remember his name, or that of the other Agent.

---

Kaselev wasn't one to be easily manipulated. "That is your decision," he said calmly. "To let her go, and live... or to kill her, and die."

---

Molly's father shook his head. "I can't give my daughter to someone who wiped her memories," he said fiercely. Her mother was a little more accepting.

"If she is really in love... I can go along with that." She wasn't happy, either, but her daughter's feelings had to come first.

---

Christi picked up her cell phone. "I'll have to call my husband, ask him to have hand brakes put in the car. I can't drive with my legs like this. I need to get some new clothes, and maybe take you out in a day or so to get new ones."

---

The sergeant kept his word. The papers were quickly processed and Pete was allowed to stay in Kahanistan as a refugee. He would receive a letter in another day detailing the requirements to become a citizen - a government and cultural test offered in the four official languages of Kahanistan, these being Arabic, English, Hebrew, and Latin. Most citizens knew English and another official language, as well as one or more other languages. The citizenship requirements also would require him to find a job within six months.

Miles put his arms around Nadia, trying to comfort her. But he knew that he needed to keep his emotions under control. For all he knew, Nadia could be just trying to mess with his emotions. "I can't do that. I have already said too much. I didn't come to Kahanistan to destroy the Agency...I came to face my sentence. Its my penance."

"Nadia...you don't understand. I can never see my family again." Miles stated as he shook his head. "The pain would be too much...."

---

Scott dug the pistol into Malena's temple, so she would let out a cry. "Do you think my life is worth the same as this womens? What is your decision?"

---

"Mr. Hargan...it isn't your decision. Its your daughter's. What more do you want? You have heard it straight from her mouth. Or do you think that is part of the brainwashing?" asked Taylor, trying to keep his angry down.

---

"Are you going to tell him about me? You are going to have to eventually." commented Pete.

"Do your penance by destroying the Agency," said Nadia. "Stop others from following your path." She started crying. If Miles accepted, there might be less political resistance to her trying to help.

---

"Very well..." said Kaselev. He pushed a button on his radio. The helicopter sniper zeroed in a shot on Scott's shoulder. Even with him holding the girl in front of him, she was smaller than the average man. A 14.5mm round zoomed toward the shoulder of the hand holding the gun.

---

"Of course I think it is!" said Mr. Hargan. "The daughter I knew would never marry an enemy." His wife struggled to calm him.

---

"It'll be OK. Like I said, we have very different cultural attitudes," said Christi. She dialed her home number.

Miles wiped away Nadia's tears. He only felt remorse. There was no possible way that he could help her from here on out. Miles was never going to convince any Senators of what the agency had done. They could either believe or not believe. It didn't matter. Miles kissed her cheek, then stated. "Take them away guards. I don't want to talk anymore."

Retreating to his corner, Miles laid back down. Before Nadia and Katriana left, Miles uttered one thing. "Omnia vincit Amor."

---

Scott staggered back, but regained his footing. It was almost if he felt nothing. A look of joy appeared on his face. He raised Malena, so she was covering most of his chest. "Fire again and she will be hit along with me."

---

"Mr. Hargan, I am not the enemy. I protected your daughter. Without me, god knows what would have happened." Taylor shouted.

---

"So what will happen once your husband comes home or when you have to go home?" asked Pete.

The guard answered his radio. "Mr. Mason, we'll have to transfer you to the New Masada City Jail. The other Agent is likely to escape, he's got another officer hostage." He frowned grimly. "Knowing Kaselev, he'll let her die. We'll take your visitors out, too." He proceeded to escort Miles out of the cell, as ambulances came to the base for standby in case anyone was shot.

---

"He's faking, General," said one of the soldiers. "He's hit. He's probably taken a slow-release amphetamine before he was captured. I say we let him bleed out."

"Point taken," muttered Kaselev. But he clearly didn't agree with the private's assessment of Scott's injuries. There was another team behind Scott, with flash and sting grenades, but certainly a trained Agent could resist the sting. A gas grenade seemed nice, as Scott couldn't hold his nose without putting his weapon down, but it wasn't like he stood a chance of missing even if blinded...

Jamal groaned from inside Scott's cell. His taser hadn't been taken from him, and he staggered out with the only weapon he had.

---

"You protected her by wiping her memories, and telling me there's no way to get them back?" asked Mr. Hargan. He wanted so badly to strangle Taylor.

---

"We'll hide," said Christi. "For a few days, stay on the move, see if the Agency tries anything. I think they might retaliate against my husband, or against me."

Miles followed the guard's orders. He didn't want to create anymore problems. But pain resided in his soul. All he could think about was his family, Nadia, and his first love. Turning toward the Nadia, he called out to her. "Do you still trust me?"

---

"I am only giving you a minute before I blow her brains out. Do you understand?" Scott yelled toward the Kahanistan. His other hand, not the one with the pistol, started to squeeze Malena's breasts, then her nipples. He was going to make her scream. To make sure that the soldiers knew that she was a person with a life and a family.

---

"I never did anything that would hurt Molly. Just because I am a Canadsteiner you blame me for brainwashing your daughter. I had no hand in that. Why would I want to hurt the only women I love?" Taylor was ready to storm out of the room.

---

"Christi, I am not going to let them hurt you again." Pete rested a hand on her leg. Slowly his hand started to move upward.

"I do," said Nadia. Katriana was now crying. She could not believe her daughter was going back to Miles.

---

"Get your damn hands off me!" Malena head-butted Scott in the neck. She did not have a problem with being touched sexually, but she did have a problem with being groped openly in front of dozens of people. She was angry enough that she didn't care if she was killed.

Seizing the moment, Jamal came out with his taser and fired. At the same time, two guards in the corridor threw one sting and one flash grenade.

---

"Yeah, right." Mr. Hargan was slightly less tense, but still agitated. "Why do you take an interest in her? Our nations are on the brink of war. I don't care what the Praetonians say, if Canadstein pushes us, we'll eventually push back."

---

Christi smiled. "I just wish I didn't have these damn casts," she said. "I can't bend my legs. He should be here with the car in about ten hours, he drives pretty fast."

"Remember that Nadia. Just remember that." Miles said before leaving with the guard.

---

Scott only seemed to flinch when Malena butted him. He squeezed down on her breast for revenge. Hearing her scream made Scott smile. Scott was making Malena sexual arroused. Just what he wanted. Seeing Jamal fire the taser, Scott positioned himself so Malena got the full force of the shock. Once the grenades were tossed Scott successfully kicked one back, but the other one went off. He covered his eyes with his empty hand, but kept his grip firm on the pistol. Running to the side, he kicked open a door and leaped out a window. It was time for the great escape.

---

"Because I love her. Molly is the only woman for me. I would die for her. A war isn't going to stop me from being with her, Mr. Hargan." said Taylor. "Why don't you just talk to Molly about it. She will give you a clean answer."

---

Pete limped over to Christi and started fondle her breasts. His eyes were filled with lust.

Malena collapsed to the ground. She was dead weight after taking the taser shock and flash grenade. Kaselev and his surrounding guards opened fire on Scott, while one of his lieutenants called for an IFV to pull around to the window to cut off his escape. There was no way he could hold her 110 pounds in one hand...

---

"When she has her memory back," said Mr. Hargan. He was not going to accept that his daughter was lost - she was right there in front of him.

---

Christi smiled and turned off the light.

Scott put Malena over his shoulder, then ran to a jeep. He set her in the passenger seat. Quickly he jumped to the driver's side. Scott did an assessment of the jeep. Starting the car, after hot wiring it, Scott pulled out of the parking space. The chase had begun. Swiftly he zipped down the road. Looking over to Malena, he made sure she was knocked out. Scott did not want her to be a problem right now.

---

"Fine believe what you want. But I know that she love me." Taylor shook his head, then walked out the door. He needed to get some fresh air.

---

As fierce as a wounded man could be, Pete snatched her and started to undress Christi.

The jeep would be immediately chased by two other jeeps filled with military police, in addition to three IFV's and a MCA-7E tank. There was also heli support; the guy who had fired at Scott earlier was now trying to take a head shot on him while the door gunner struggled to feed a belt into the machine guns.

An all-points bulletin was put out for Scott. People were advised to lock their doors. The installation commander put in a furious phone call to Dragomir Karovic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

---

Christi shook her head. "I... can't. My legs are still in these casts. Just... hold me."

Scott rushed past the base's gate. He was going to get out of here. Pushing down on the gas, Scott was going to push this jeep to its limits. It was going to be pretty easy to lose the armored vehicles, but the jeeps and helicopter were going to be his main adversary.

---

Pete nodded his head, but finished undressing Christi. He rested his head in between her breasts and put his arms around her.

Christi shrugged. She decided to let Pete hold her for a few hours, then...

"We should get dressed. My husband should be here any minute with the car. I'd rather not... be seen in flagrante delicto."

---

General Kaselev was commanding the pursuit team from the helicopter. He issued orders to the MCA-7E tank (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=545305), the IFV's and the jeeps from his vantage point near the door gunner.

"Get ahold of the civilian police," he said to the tank driver. "Have the whole city put on lockdown. Spike strips, cruisers, whatever else. Just chase him till he stops or runs out of gas."

Pete kissed her, before handing back her cloths. Upon getting up, Pete went back to his wheelchair and waited.

---

Scott looked through the glover compartment and found a map. Just what he needed. Scanning the map, he finally found his bears. He looked at the surrounding area and formed a plan. Scott was going to lose them, but it was going to take some very fancy driving.

Christi got dressed, and not a moment too soon - a knock came at the door. She staggered to her feet to admit a tall, bearded man of about 30, with dirty blond hair that looked like it hadn't been cut in at least five years. His beard reached his chest, which was wide from constant exercise. He wore a naval officer's uniform with the rank of commander. He'd apparently been promoted while Christi was gone.

The man stepped into the flat. He eyed Pete somewhat quizzically...

---

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i206/Kahanistan/new-republic.jpg

The pursuit team knew that if Scott made it into the jungle, or into the woods, he'd be hell to track from the chopper. The base scrambled four Su-30 MKI's to fly low and track him with their powerful radars. It may have looked like overkill, and maybe it was, but this Agent couldn't be allowed to have Malena. Kaselev, despite his outwardly cold exterior, did care for the soldiers under his command, but had the uncanny ability to make cold, rational decisions in highly emotional contexts. After all, he was commanding the pursuit team...

Pete did a scan of the man, then looked away. So this was the man, who was married to Christi. Pete would have never guessed that he looked like this. Honestly he wondered what Christi saw in him. It must have been something because they were married. Certainly an odd couple.

"I am Pete Amherst and you are?" Pete said extending his arm toward the man.

---

Scott did a slick maneuver to get on the opposite side of the highway. He had just passed the exit going south, but it was on the wrong side. That was a only a minor inconvenience. Hopefully he could lose the Kahanistani in the woods. But he would have to ditch the jeep somehow.

"Robert," said the man. "Robert Anderson." The commander took Pete's hand and shook it vigourously. "So, how did you come to meet my wife?" His voice was deep and sounded somewhat like a smoker's, but more robust.

He did not seem upset, but he was somewhat caught off guard by walking in and meeting another man.

"Christi, the car's outside. My God, you never told me you were in that bad of a shape..." He looked down at her leg casts.

---

General Kaselev informed the National Police, the New Masada Police Department, and the Fort Green Police Department that a fugitive was heading for the woods. While they probably wouldn't get there in time to lay spikes, and if Scott was smart he'd ditch the jeep before it ran out of gas - if he could lose the other jeeps and the tank - police canine units and hostage-rescue squads could be very useful. As long as he stayed in the jeep, he was being tracked by the Su-30's' radar.

Malena had survival training, but Scott's training was unknown. Kaselev assumed he had at least basic.

"Well...on a mission." Pete plainly told Robert. "It was in Canadstein...if you want to hear. It should be from your own wife's mouth."

---

Scott started to notice the scenery around him change to more of a forest type setting. They must be getting to close to the nearby forest. Stealing a glance at the map, he could tell that he was halfway between Highwood and Fort Green. Off in the distance Scott could see a bridge. That must be across the river. They were right no track. Turning around Scott saw no cars following them. Once they got across the bridge and into a more of forested area he would ditch the car. But he needed to take care of something first. Scott started to shake Malena, so she would awake.

Robert shrugged and sat down next to Christi. "So, what happened?" he asked genially.

"Well, I was off in Canadstein, as you knew. I was hanging in a bar because I was looking for someone, one of ours..."

"That wouldn't be Molly Hargan, would she?"

"Yup. Anyway, I met Pete in the bar, we got to talking, then we were attacked by Agents. We escaped, found Molly... and were attacked by more Agents and made it to a safe house, I thought the guys grabbing me were bad guys, one of them was Mason, but he helped me."

"So, how did you get shot?" asked Robert.

"The Agency tracked us down. There was a nasty fight, and they had MP5's and we had World War One gear. We high-tailed it out of there post haste."

"So... Miles Mason's a good guy, now?" asked Robert.

"Seems like it," said Christi. "But with Agents, you can't tell. We managed to take another Agent here, but he escaped. That's why I needed the car, to get around. Pete's going to be in danger. So will you, probably, too."

---

Malena grabbed Scott around the throat with one hand and with the other turned the steering wheel hard to the right, to force the vehicle off the road. She feared she was going to be raped, or murdered, or both.

I can't die here. I must live... to wreak vengeance.

She undid her safety belt and climbed up. Kahanistanian military jeeps were not like civilian vehicles - they didn't have child locks to keep kids from opening the doors, so could be opened from inside easily, and they weren't made for escorting prisoners - that was generally done in IFV's or APC's with superior carrying capacity.

"My guess is that the agent is trying to escape. Killing us is probably at the bottom of his list right now. He has more to deal with than us. I suggest we stay here for the moment. Just give me a gun and I will kill him." Pete said with some coldness.

---

Scott grip on the steering wheel was too strong, it didn't even budge an inch. With his extra arm he grabbed Malena, then slammed her head into the seat to subdue her. Once she was out cold again, Scott rebuckled her into the seat. She was going to be an annoyance, but Scott knew that she would be useful later on.

Once crossing the bridge the jeep entered a heavily forested area. The whole road was almost completely covered by woods. Veering off from the road, Scott then stopped the car. Looking up above, all he could see was the branches of the trees. He grabbed Malena, then rested her against a tree. Now it was time to get rid of the car.

The next thing the helicopter would see was the jeep flying into the bank of the river. There was really no telling if Scott or Malena were inside. Malena could have overpowered Scott and forced him to crash. Deeper in the woods Scott was carrying Malena on his shoulder. The sun was starting to set. That was only going to help him.

Robert nodded. "You've come to the right place for guns," he said. "There's a gun shop about three blocks from here. They sell guns cheap, I get all my civilian weaponry from them. I understand that Canadsteiners have basic firearms training as part of a Swiss-style militia?"

---

"Major," said Kaselev calmly. "Take us over where the jeep went over. I need a volunteer to dive in. In the meantime, have the Fort Green P.D. cordon off the forest."

"I'll do it, sir," said the pilot. "Can you fly a helicopter?"

It's been about ten years, but I'll give it a try. Kaselev took the controls as the pilot turned over his seat and jumped in. He was a very skilled swimmer and amateur skin diver, and his radio was waterproofed for a reason...

---

Carrying one hundred and ten pounds of dead weight tends to tire someone who isn't used to the load. This is not a good thing when the forest one is trying to hide in is teeming with cops and search dogs.

The military jeeps were now chasing around off road in the general area of where the jeep had crashed. The police had roadblocks set up to seal Scott in the forest until he surrendered, and with Malena's weight, he was going to use more energy than the police and soldiers on foot...

"Basically everyone between the ages of 18-45 should be ready and able to shoot a gun." Pete commented. "So would you mind getting me a handgun?"

---

Scott walked across a dirt road, but it wasn't dirt anymore. They must have gotten rain in the past week because the dirt road was now a mud road. Scott started to cover himself, then Malena with mud. Just in case they deployed dogs on them. Scott remembered reading the report over Miles' case when he tried to kidnap Nadia. The Kahanistani deployed dogs to search for criminals. Once down Scott put Malena back over his shoulder.

Walking for a little while longer, Scott decided it was time to bunker down for the night. The sun was a fire red slowly dipping into the western horizon. As his eyes scanned the area Scott found the perfect hiding place. It was a medium size hole next to a massive tree. Scott put Malena, then searched inside. It would barely fit the both of them, but it would be good enough. Coming back out, Scott got Malena and reentered his hiding place. He put Malena off to the side. Sighing all he could was wait.

Robert smiled oddly. "Just a handgun? It has its uses, but if the Agency is smart, they'll go in with body armour." Christi nodded, having shot an Agent repeatedly without him going down.

"I prefer my M-67, or the FN FAL if you're on a budget. My wife prefers the AR-15, rechambered in 6.5 mm Grendel. Handguns are obsolete for the armour they have these days... a P.D.W. like a MP5 or MP7 would be better. Why not come along with us and pick out some weapons?"

---

The man who dived into the river from the chopper swam under to the jeep to look for bodies. If he found anyone, he would save Malena first, then Scott later if he was still alive.

---

Search dogs had been known to locate victims of landslides. Light mud coating would not block them - especially if the girl came to. She was still out, for now...

A National Police officer with a dog came out from behind a tree. Close behind him was another cop, a New Masada PD officer with a shotgun.

Pete looked at Robert with concern. There was something odd about this guy, but Pete couldn't put his finger on it. "Well I just want to get some sleep. I have had a rough day, mostly being shot part. Some sleep will be nice."

Pete started to wheel himself into the next room, so Christi and Robert could have their alone time.

---

To past the time Scott started to search Malena. He found her driver's license, a wallet, keys to a car, and something other stuff. What he suspected would be on an average joe. It seemed like they were going to be safe for now. Scott started to scratch his neck, but it was covered in mud. The agency had told him the best evasion skills in the world. Some cops were definitely not going to find him. His eyes wander back up Malena, he had just found out her name. Scott started to shake her, so she would wake up.

Robert chuckled. "Well, let's see if the sofa unfolds," he said. He pulled the sofa bed out, and there was a larger bed in the other room. "It does!" He sat down next to Christi.

"We'll get some guns tomorrow morning, Pete."

---

Malena moaned, then stirred and woke up. She punched Scott in the nose as hard as she could. Like all Kahanistanian soldiers, she was trained in Krav Maga. She screamed loudly, hoping to attract the attention of a police officer or search dog... and they were very good at sniffing out blood.

Scott quickly covered her mouth. Some sound got out, but barely any of it got out of the cave. As he looked around Scott knew that no one was going to come to her rescue. It was just the two of them. Tearing apart of her shirt off Scott formed a gag. He wasn't going to let her have anymore outbursts. Since she wasn't going to helpful. Scott was going to have to break her down. Within a day she would be totally submissive. This was something he learned on an earlier mission. Once finishing tying up her legs and feet, Scott got to work. His hands sat down on her breasts, then they started to squeeze. He was going to keep doing this until she finally broke. If she didn't then he would have to do more drastic things.

"General Kaselev, there's no body in the jeep. They must have split," said the man who had dived into the water to check for Malena in the water. Kaselev would know that Malena could swim - it was one of the many skills that was taught to special forces officers.

"Yes..." replied the general from the helicopter. "But where...?" He had no way of knowing if she'd escaped, or been carried downstream. The door gunner, scanning with a telescope, had seen nothing. Kaselev received another communication over his radio.

"Sir. This is Sergeant Benson, New Masada Police. I heard a woman scream, or something like that. Could be an animal, but I'll go investigate. There's an awful lot of thumping, and the dog's getting antsy." Forgetting to switch frequencies, the sergeant continued. "We should have the National Police send in horseback units." Some canine units were handled by a police officer on horseback, which afforded greater mobility than slogging through the mud on foot.

"I'll relay your suggestion," said Kaselev coldly. He radioed to the National Police commander to send in horseback units - they would arrive in three hours.

---

Malena felt wet - and it wasn't the mud. She was starting to feel excited having her shirt torn off and being fondled and tied up - even if it didn't make a very strong bond. Rather than having the expected effect, however... it merely intensified her rage. She curled into a fetal position on her back and drove her feet, and most of her body weight, as hard as she could toward Scott's nuts.

Scott easily dodged the kick by grabbing her legs. He set them back down, then he went back to work fondling her breasts.

Malena rolled onto her side. It would be easier for her to get back on her feet from here - "easier" being a relative term. Scott was significantly larger than she was, and he had her weapon, though she didn't know how many rounds he had left. When his hand moved again to her breast, her head collided with his.

---

The cop with the search dog was certain something was up - that thumping sound couldn't be just an animal. Had Malena been attacked by a wildcat? She might be able to fight one off in peak condition, but tired and battered?

"Stay back..." he said to the officer behind him. "That cave... looks suspicious. Where's the damn horse unit?"

---

Malena was not exactly essential to Canadsteiner interests. She was a special forces officer with no background there, who had been assigned to guard and possibly interrogate Scott.

What Scott would likely know about her from looking through her wallet was her age - 27, height and weight if he knew metric (she was 163 centimetres, 50 kilograms, or 5'4" and 110), her rank, and if he was paying attention when he ripped off her shirt, her chest size (86cm / 34B.)

There were two photographs of her in uniform, one alone, the other with her with her arms around a girl about five years younger, with darker hair and a more attractive smile. Some of the photos dated back several years. The same unidentified girl featured in several other photographs, some alone, some with Malena. Numerous anti-Doomani quotations were on a scrap of paper, apparently in Malena's handwriting, however, none of them were hostile to Catholics in general.

---

The search dog let out a loud bark. "Woof! Woof! Woof!" It jerked in the direction of the cave...

Luckily caught her neck and forced her back into the ground. Though his attention was soon turned to the entrance the moment he heard a dog bark. Someone was outside. Scott checked the pistol, a full magazine. He put his arm around Malena and set her down in a dark corner, which was almost impossible to see. Malena was now positioned so well that she was pretty much like the dirt.

Then he aimed the pistol back at the entrance. Hopefully the dumb policeman would check the cave out, then leave. There was no way that the dog could smell them, after being heavily covered in mud. To make sure he was not caught, Scott put himself on the floor, blending in with the ground. His breathing became more controlled and slower.

"Up here," said the officer to his partner about twenty metres behind him. He looped the leash around his wrist (great for keeping the hands free - he needed his gun and his flashlight), drew his weapon and crept in.

"Malena?" He'd gotten her name from General Kaselev. The cop shined his flashlight along the ground and in the corners...

Scott looked on with his glazed eyes. They showed absolutely no fear. If this cop somehow found them, then Scott would simply shot him. But the downside would be that their hiding place would be found. He just kept his head down and watched on. Scott was just glad that Malena could not move and create any problems. All he could do now was wait for the police officer to leave.

The officer came into Scott's view. He was a sergeant with the New Masada Police Department, and carrying a German shepherd. He was scanning the sides and floor of the cave as he advanced, a gun in one hand, a flashlight in the other, pointed in the same direction. If nothing was in there, he'd radio to Kaselev to have it collapsed with explosives if it wasn't too big, to deny the fugitive cover.

A muffled scream, more like a grunt, came from the cave. Sounds female... it's her.

"It's all right. New Masada Police. You'll be all right."

Scott slowly crept behind the police officer by crawling. Making himself invisible by crawling next to the cave's wall, Scott finally got behind the cop. This man's life was up. Suddenly he jumped up and broke the man's neck. With lighting fast reflexes Scott jumped on top of the dog and kept its mouth closed. Then with no second thoughts Scott also killed the dog. Once the deed had been done Scott dragged both of the bodies further into the cave. Scott then searched over the dead cop's body for anything useful.

The dog bit Scott when he pounced on the officer and snarled. He clamped his jaws around Scott's leg and would take a fair amount of clubbing to dislodge.

Malena, busily at work on her bonds, had managed to free her arms. She came up behind Scott and pushed him down, then ran for her life. The cops were on to them...

Scott blindly grabbed and caught Malena's leg. With all of his strength, Scott pulled Malena down to the ground. She was not going to escape from his grasp. Slowly he started to crawl toward her. He looked down for a minute. That damn dog was still biting down on his leg. Scott grabbed the dog's muzzle and started to pull the jaw apart. Finally with all of his strength he broke the dog's jaw. With his leg released he kicked the door away. Trying to regain his breath, he looked up at Malena. Scott continued to crawl toward her.

The cop's partner at the mouth of the cave heard the bark, the snarls of the dog, and then a stop, and ran up to help his comrade. He didn't know what had happened, and drew his gun, assuming that a wild beast had attacked him. As he entered, he grabbed Malena's hand while she was still struggling to get up.

He could barely recognise the woman covered in mud. The woman in the photograph sent to the department was that of a slender, somewhat plain girl next door with light brown hair, blue eyes and a soft smile. This girl had been through hell - judging from her appearance, she'd been sexually assaulted, or worse.

Scott looked up to the man. He raised his pistol and fired directly at his head.

The cop lowered his head as he saw Scott point his weapon. The bullet grazed his scalp as he fired his own weapon.

Malena would have liked to stay and help him, but if they all died in there she would be no use. There were, of course, other dogs - and they would smell the blood from miles off. Help was on the way anyway. She broke, hightailed it out of the cave in the confusion of the struggle, and saw other cops in the distance, heading for them at high speed.

---

Molly's mother gave her their address. "You can come here anytime," she said, hugging her daughter. "Do you have anywhere you're staying?"

---

Christi woke up the next morning. She knew that when Pete and Robert woke up, they'd have to go and get the guns...

Scott took the bullet in the shoulder, but seemed to have not felt anything. He aimed back at the cop's head, which was dead on, and fired. Once the cop fell to the ground, Scott took the deadman's weapon. Pausing for a second, he decided to get the other cop's weapon. Then he fled out of the cave and into the woods. Hopefully the darkness would hide him.

---

"Actually I am leaving. Since I am no longer wanted here." Taylor started to walk out the door.

---

Pete was mysteriously absent from the apartment.

"Sergeant Benson, please respond," said General Kaselev in his monotone for the third time.

"You don't reckon something happened to him, do you?" asked the door gunner.

"Indeed." Kaselev moved the helicopter over a clearing and prepared for a landing.

"The girl..." said the door gunner. "I see her."

Malena's head was far lower than the blades - most helicopters are significantly taller than 5'4". The chopper landed and took the frightened girl aboard. Bandaging her injuries and washing her off took precedence over going after Scott...

One hour after Scott fled, the bodies of the cops and the dog were found, as well as Malena's wallet. An A.P.B. was issued for Scott as having killed two police officers.

---

Molly gave her mother her address in Canadstein. "I'll go get Taylor," she said. She walked out after him.

Senator Petrova shrugged. "It's all right," said Molly's father. "You did what you can for her. Now... it's the psychologists' turn."

---

Robert woke up to Christi looking for Pete. "He's gone," she said.

"You don't think the... Agency did it?" asked Robert. "They'd have taken us, too..."

"To hide suspicion. I think we should call the National Police. If the Agency took us all, they'd A. look too suspicious going in in big enough numbers, and B. get a national manhunt after them if they keep kidnapping officers."

Robert called the National Police to report that a Canadsteiner immigrant called Pete Amherst had disappeared and they suspected the Agency.

---

At Miles' jail cell, a man and woman in their 30's approached him. The man had short blond hair and wore a uniform identifying him as a commander in the National Police. The woman was very familiar looking, wore the same low-cut white dress she had the last time she saw Miles, and had dark hair and blue eyes. She still had a zombie walk to her, but seemed to have improved slightly since their last meeting...

"Mr. Mason," said the man, "I am Commander Adrian Collins of the National Police. I believe you know Andrea, here."

Scott had been pretty much running continuous for the last hour. Yes there was a few breaks, but he wanted to achieve as much distance as possible between himself and his last known location. After running some distance he finally came upon a sign. A grin appeared on his face. Scott was now headed for the city of Highwood. He returned into the dark forest, but continued his journey.

---

Hearing footsteps behind him, Taylor shouted. "What do you want?"

Upon turning around Taylor became stunned to see Molly. He had thought it was either Alyssa or one of Molly's parents. Taylor closed his eyes and only felt pain.

---

Pete was actually on the streets. He thought that it was best just to leave Christi and her husband alone. It was time for him to make his own path.

---

Miles awoke when he heard the footsteps. He thought it was that damn General Kaselev. Preparing himself for another interrogation, Miles closed his eyes. Though as he listened to the footsteps he could tell that it was two people. Opening his eyes half way he could see their feet. One was definitely of a man, but oddly enough the other was of a woman. But who it could be?

This was soon answered by the unknown man. The moment Adrian had said Andrea's name, Miles eyes instantly opened up. The expression on his face turned to warmth and happiness. Though her face brought back bad memories. He remembered back to when Chester and himself had kidnapped Andrea.

Miles got himself off the ground and just smiled. He restrained himself from hugging Andrea, because she probably hated his guts. "Andrea..."

"We should stay here a few days," said Molly. "My parents miss me."

---

A police car pulled up next to Pete, and two officers, one male and one female, stepped out.

"Mr. Amherst?" asked the male.

---

"She is our liaison with Military Intelligence," said Commander Collins. "Mr. Mason, another agent is on the loose. We barely managed to rescue another captive, and lost two officers and a dog trying to capture him, not to mention a jeep."

Andrea continued to show minimal emotion, only slowly recovering with intensive stem cell treatment from the effects of an ill-done lobotomy at the hands of a Whyatican soldier. "Will you help us find Mr. Lang?" she asked without a hint of emotion.

Scott walked a little further and could see Highwood. Looking at himself he knew that he needed some clothes. As he scanned the nearby area he saw some kind of vagrant. Perfect. No one would miss him. Plus no one was around to see his crime.

Scott sneaked up to the man, then coldly broke his neck. He then dragged the deadman's body into the woods. Quickly he stripped the man and tried on the cloths. They were ill fitting, but they were better than nothing. After putting on his shoes, Scott hide the vagrant's body in some bushes. Once the body was concealed Scott took an assessment of what he had. Three pistols and a wallet with some shekels in it. Good enough for now.

He hid the three pistols in the lining of his pants, then continued to Highwood. Scott was going to have a little fun in this town.

---

"Well it seems your parents don't want me to be around. So it is about time I left." Taylor replied.

---

"Nope." Pete said before continuing down the street.

---

Miles just shook his head. So Scott had escaped and had killed two people so far. The body count was grow if they didn't catch him soon. One thing that Miles knew about Scott, he was ruthless. Scott would kill anyone that got in his way, even if they didn't pose a threat. "Why...me? It isn't like I know the game. Sure we both were agents, but that doesn't mean I know where he is."

The people of Highwood, like Kahanistanians in general, were overall very friendly. There was the odd bigot who thought all Canadsteiners should be nuked, of course, but they wouldn't know Scott was one unless he was stupid enough to tell them, or they recognised his face from the latest emergency news broadcast, which most people didn't pay attention to.

The general lack of gun control in Kahanistan also meant Scott could carry his weapons openly if he wanted - many people did. Even the vagrant Scott had killed for his clothes had a buck knife on him - evidently too poor to afford a firearm.

---

"My dad's just... being emotional, I guess," said Molly. "My mom's cool with it, she just wants me to go back to the way I was. I'll go wherever you do."

---

The cop shrugged. He and his partner stepped back into the car. If it was Pete, they hoped he got himself some good guns and cheap housing before the Agents did find him.

---

"We figure you know how to track an Agent better than we do," said Commander Collins. He opened Scott's cell and stepped in, first handing his weapon to Andrea. "I'd like to ask you a few questions, wired to a lie-detector."

Andrea slid a head plate through the bars, plugging it into an outlet across from the cell.

"Mr. Mason, does Mr. Lang have a mission here?" asked Collins.

Scott wandered around for a while before stopping at a bar. Thinking for a second a beer didn't sound that bad. Plus he had nothing to worry about. Obliviously he had lost the Kahanistani that were on his trail. He entered the bar and made his way to the counter. "Can I get a beer? I really don't carry what it is."

---

"Molly it would be for the best if you just stayed with your parents." Taylor replied, but then he looked away from Molly.

---

Miles complied and put on the lie detector. He had nothing to hide. "I wouldn't know, but probably no."

"Sure," said the elderly bartender as he handed Scott a Coors, the cheapest beer in the joint. "70 agorot." One agora was one hundredth of a shekel.

---

"I... still love you," said Molly. "Can I still see you?"

Petrova came out with Molly's parents. She stood next to her vehicle while they said their good-byes to their daughter, at least for now.

---

"Very well," said Collins. "How did you and Mr. Lang end up back here?" The file he'd gotten from Military Intelligence was seriously incomplete and had been heavily redacted. He needed the information to record for the civilian police.

Scott put down a shekel and downed the glass instantaneously. That was satisfying after two days without a single drink. "Do you know where I can find a woman?"

---

"Yes...but now isn't the time for that. Right now you should be with your family, not me." Taylor walked up to Molly and kissed her cheek. "Just know that I love you."

Taylor turned back around and walked down the hallway.

---

"We took him back after we fled from Canadstein." Miles admitted.

"You blind, boy?" asked the old man behind the counter as he gave Scott 30 agorot change. "There're lots of girls around here. 'Course, some of them are a little young, but there're older women here too. When we get to ten o'clock, it gets a bit louder."

---

Molly left crying and went with her parents to their home. Taylor would have her phone number and contact information there.

---

"OK," said Collins. "How did you encounter him?"

"I'm looking for a young girl. The best one you got." Scott said as he slurred his words together. He was trying to make a new persona for himself.

---

Taylor felt bad, but knew it was for the best.

---

"He was trying to kill Major McDaniels, Corporal Hargan, and Taylor, but luckily Pete and I were there to save them. We killed the other agents, but captured Scott. In the spur of the moment we took him too." replied Miles.

"This isn't a whorehouse," said the old man. "Jus' sit down, and wait for a girl you like the look of to come in. Might want to wash up in the men's room first. There's a razor machine in there if you need to shave, too."

---

He seems genuine. "Well, how would you like a chance to get some time out?" asked Collins. "Come with me, and Andrea... and we can try and chase down Scott before he kills again." He was counting on Miles' agent skills to help him find Scott.

"Nadia made a lot of effort," said Andrea. "She is willing to recommend reduction of the charges if you come along."

Scott ordered another beer and decided to take the man's advice. He was going to wait until the right woman came along.

---

"That would be nice...I guess." Miles then thought for a couple of minutes. Weighting the cons and pros. Sighing for a minute, he came to a decision. "I guess I can help you."

At ten o'clock at night, the bar erupted into activity. People danced wildly, strippers took the stage, and people began singing in all four of Kahanistan's official languages, and a few others.

A young girl, maybe high-school age, around 16, went up to Scott. She was stocky, about five feet tall, and dressed in a very short, low-cut black dress.

---

"Very well," said Collins. "We'll go together. Of course, we won't trust you not to run away, so you'll be guiding a group of us. We leave tomorrow."

"Do you want to make some easy money?" Scott asked the girl, once he put down his glass.

---

Miles called out to them before they left. "Do have a general idea where Scott is right now?"

"Sure," said the girl. She handed the bartender two shekels and got a glass of vodka.

---

"Yes," said Andrea. "We think he's in or near the woods south of New Masada."

"We aren't ruling out that he's in a nearby town," added Collins. "But it's unlikely - the local police would let us know if he's spotted. We also have search dogs in the jungles up north."

"Then do you know a private place?" asked Scott as he finished off the rest of his beer.

"Out back," said the girl. "Or in the rear coat closet, nobody uses it much." She took a long drink on her vodka.

"I guess out back. How much do you cost?" Scott asked.

"Cost?" asked the girl. "What do you mean?"

"For your services?" replied Scott, somewhat confused.

"I'm sixteen years old," said the girl. "I don't... know what you mean by my services. I thought you wanted to talk to me in private." She'd taken a few guys home and had sex before, but always used protection and had never thought about prostituting.

"Just nevermind about what I said before. So are we going out back or not?" Scott said.

"Meh." She chugged down the last of her vodka and took Scott by the hand. "Let's go," she said.

A grin appeared on his face as he followed the young girl. "So what is your name?"

"Elizabeth," said the girl. "You?" She pushed her blonde hair behind her neck and pushed out her chest to make her breasts look larger.

"Clint...so I am guess you are still in school?" Scott noticed her breasts and wanted to squeeze them, like he had done to Malena. He was going to make Elizabeth scream in pain.

"Yeah," said Elizabeth. "I'm a junior in high school. When I graduate I want to train for medical school." She smiled widely. "Where're you from?" She stood up.

"New Mazada...so do your parents know that you are doing this?" asked Scott.

"They know I hang around in bars," said Elizabeth. "They don't know how many people I've had sex with here. They know I've done it... most people my age have, but they'd freak out if they knew how far I'd gone. They think I just drink on weekends and sometimes after I do my homework." She headed for the door, absently assuming Scott was following her.

"So do you know a place out back?" Scott asked as he followed Elizabeth.

"Yeah," said Elizabeth. She seemed surprised that Scott wasn't following her. "'Round back, behind the dumpster. Coming?"

"Yes!" Scott called out to her as he quickly caught up to her.

Elizabeth nodded and walked out behind the dumpster. She stood with her shoulders and the back of her head against it and slowly raised the lower part of her dress. She reached into her purse for her protection.

Scott got on his knees and unzipped his pants. While Elizabeth was busy with her protection, Scott proceed to take off her dress and her bra. His hands started to squeeze her breasts, like he had done to Malena earlier. He wanted to hear Elizabeth scream. This was going to be a very rough time for her.

Elizabeth was fairly experienced, but this was too rough for her. She screamed painfully, unused to this kind of rough handling. "You're... hurting me," she said.

Scott acted like he didn't hear her comment. He then took to her like a wolf did to a wounded sheep. This sex was going to be both painfully and enjoyable at the same time. Scott held back both of her arms, so she couldn't escape.

Elizabeth was not like Malena - she did not have advanced Krav Maga training and was not emotionally conditioned to maim an attacker. She had only basic self-defence training that might help her with an average rapist or pickpocket, but it wouldn't do a lick of good against a trained Agent. She screamed loudly, but at a distance it wasn't apparent she wasn't enjoying it.

"What? I thought you wanted to have sex?" Scott stopped for a brief second, then continued, but even harder.

"I do... not so rough," said Elizabeth crossly. "Rough is fine when you aren't trying to hurt me."

"You have no idea..." Scott a grin appeared across his face. His hands continued to squeeze down on Elizabeth's breasts. Surely they were sore by now, but Scott was not letting up. There was no sign of him letting up anytime soon.

Elizabeth began to cry. "You're really... hurting me. Please... let me... go."

Scott slapped her across the face. "Not until I am done, Elizabeth. I am giving you what you wanted..."

This guy's a misogynist, or a sadist, or both. Elizabeth twisted her body and struggled, but she was only five feet tall. She wouldn't have much chance at getting away...

Scott held her in place, until he was satisfied. Once he was finished he zipped his pants back up. He got up and looked down at her with disgust.

Elizabeth pulled her clothes back on and looked back at Scott. She'd never had unprotected sex before, and was scared she was pregnant or infected with AIDS.

---

The next morning, Collins, Andrea, two National Police officers, and two Military Intelligence personnel arrived at Miles' cell.

"Ready?" asked the commander.

Elizabeth hadn't even seen the worse of it yet. He was just getting started. Scott fierce grabbed her and ripped her dress in half. He pinned her down to the ground, holding her arms back. Her tattered dress barely even covered her naked body. His hands ripped off her dress and threw it aside. The vagrant's buck knife was up to her throat.

"Give me all of your money, you dirty slut..." Scott said coldly.

---

"What's up with all the people?" Miles asked as he tried to wake himself up.

Elizabeth handed over her wallet inside her purse. It had forty shekels in it - not a lot, but enough to keep someone fed for a few days if stretched.

---

"Well, we aren't exactly going to take you alone," said Collins. "And risk getting me held hostage. We just need a guide, we already have a general idea of where to look..."

Scott snatched her wallet, then ran off into the alley, leaving Elizabeth naked and alone. Elizabeth was a good fuck, but Scott really wanted her money. Right now he needed more of it. But for now he needed to lay low before he stuck again.

---

"With all of these people its going to be hard to find Scott. More people causes more problems. But hey it isn't my fault." Miles said, getting up and facing the Kahanistani. "So where exactly are we going to start this search?"

Elizabeth took her cell phone out when she was sure Scott was away and called the police. Within minutes, she was in the Highwood police station giving her story to a sympathetic female police officer, as cops hunted for the rapist. They didn't know the rapist was also the agent... yet.

---

"First area to search: the woods between Ft. Green and Highwood," said Collins. He cuffed Miles' left hand to his right.

"Just a precaution," said the commander. "If you try to escape, orders are to shoot you without overriding regard to my safety." He handed his key to Andrea, so disabling him wouldn't enable Miles to escape.

Andrea was holding a search dog. The police and MI personnel were wearing bullet-resistant vests and helmets, and one of them put a vest on Miles, which went over his shoulders, zipped up the sides, and then took a kevlar belt. This design was often used for escorting high-risk prisoners the Kahanistanian police wanted to protect from outraged citizenry as it could be applied to a handcuffed prisoner without removing the restraints, but externally looked like an ordinary vest. They also provided him with a helmet and pistol, but the others were armed with PDW's or assault rifles. One had a sniper rifle.

"Let's go."

Scott wandered around the city, until he found some cover underneath a bridge. It was good enough for now.

---

Miles didn't budge as Collins tried to walk away. "Slow down cowboy. I might have agreed to help you, but doesn't mean I have to follow all the rules. First off get this damn vest off of me. Second, I don't have to listen to any of you."

After tucking the pistol in his pants, Miles threw off his helmet. "Don't think that you are equal to me. I have killed and captured more men than all of you combined."

The police took Elizabeth to a hospital to be administered post-exposure prophylaxis and a morning-after pill before being returned to her parents, and the next morning sketch art of a rapist was posted in the area around the bar.

---

"That vest is to protect you if the guy we're chasing decides to take a shot at you," said Collins. "But if you'd rather be unprotected, suit yourself. Makes you easier to stop if you try to escape. We can't have you running amok and trying to escape - then we'd have two Agents running loose, killing people at will. If we can't stop two Agents, the Doomies will start sending theirs to wreak havoc, and then we will all be in a world of shit. Andrea, take this guy's vest off him."

Andrea did as instructed. She didn't seem to care one way or another what happened to Miles.

Early in the morning, Scott woke up and decided to check out the area. After walking for sometime he decided to get something to eat. The first place he happened to see was a donut shop. Good enough for now. Scott walked in and waited in line.

---

Miles looked at Andrea as she undid his vest. His eyes were filled with sadness and regret. But he knew that he could never change the pass. He just had to hope for a better future. "Andrea...I am sorry...can you ever forgive me?"

A cop sat at one of the tables, a fat guy with a pitcher of coffee and a dozen donuts in front of him, which he stuffed greedily into his mouth. He looked at Scott up and down curiously.

Bum. There were a lot of them now that the country was poor and the economy sucked. But this bum looked odd... he did look like the rapist in the police sketch that had been disseminated.

---

"Maybe," said Andrea calmly. "For now... we have other things to worry about."

Scott ordered a donut and a cup of coffee, then left. He played on learning more about Highwood.

---

"Well this is something I am worrying about Andrea." Miles stated angrily. "I still love you..."

"It's not so easy to believe you," said Andrea calmly. "Agents are professional liars."

"No reason to be overly offensive," said Collins. "Let's head out, the chopper's here."

"Well the same can said about you. You can't even show emotions." Miles turned his back toward her, then followed Collins to the helicopter without saying a word.

"Enough," said Collins. He led them to the chopper and started the flight to the wooded area. Aboard the chopper, he briefed his comrades.

"We'll be looking for another agent. Ideally, we'd take him for questioning and extract information from him, but we're authorised to kill him if capturing him is too dangerous or would put civilian lives at risk. He has equal or superior evasion training compared to those in our forces, but he doesn't have any equipment other than what he was able to take from at least two police officers. He may be in uniform, or disguised as a civilian. He may have reached a city and blended in, or settled in the wilderness. Since foreign nationals here can buy weapons, he may commit robberies to obtain money for equipment."

"A perfect haven for a criminal..." Miles muttered as he somewhat listened to Collins.

"Indeed," said the commander. The chopper landed in a clearing and the team fanned out.

"Let's hunt some Agents."

"You mean agent..." Miles quickly corrected, scanning the area. He had no idea where to start. Every agent was trained to never be caught no matter the cost. If a person had to die, so you could escape. That was perfectly fine. "So where were the bodies of his two victims?"

"In a cave about six hundred metres from here," said one of the National Police. "I found them and some pictures of his captive and another girl. I can take us there, but he's probably miles away."

"Have you searched the entire forest yet?" asked Miles, trying to narrow down the area of where Scott could be.

---

Around noon, Scott took to the streets again. This time trying to find a job. A job meant money and money meant shelter, food, and other pleasures. Hardwood seemed like a good enough town to lay hidden for a while. He was going to keep walking, until he saw a sign offering a job.

"Most of it," said the man who had just spoken to Miles. "UAV's, dogs, all-terrain vehicles, the works. He's probably made for a town. We're not far from the highway up north, so he's not too far. If he's smart, he's hitchhiked out or gone back to Canadstein - we've grounded flights out of the country, and we're suspending civilian shipping out. A loose Agent is considered a national emergency here."

---

The numerous McDonaldses and other fast-food joints were always in need of jobs. There was little in the way of an illegal immigrant problem, so they didn't check documents rigourously.

"What's the closest town?" asked Miles.

---

Scott went into one of the local fast food places. He scanned the area. Clean enough he thought. Scott then waited in line, since it was lunch time. Once he got to the front Scott asked. "Do you have any job openings?"

"We're about halfway between Highwood and Fort Green," said Commander Collins. "There's a report of a girl raped in Highwood, but we don't know if it's related. She said he seemed to be sadistic... sound like anyone you know?" He handed Miles a sketch of the alleged rapist, faxed to the National Police from the Highwood PD.

---

"Sure, we can always use another burger flipper."

Miles looked at the picture for a second. The sketch was very rough. But the closer he looked, the more he noticed that the rapists looked like Scott. The rapists was sadistic, so that definitely matched with Scott. But Miles didn't want to jump the gun and follow a false lead. He needed to think like Scott. Where had he gone. "Let's check out Fort Green."

---

"Okay when do I start?"

Collins seemed uncertain, but went along. "Very well... let's check it out."

---

"You can start now, if you can flip a burger." The manager handed Scott some forms to fill out and documents to sign.

"Tell me about Fort Green." asked Miles

---

Scott grabbed the papers and soon filled them out. He handed them back to the manager. The only thing that was true on the papers were physical stuff. All the rest of it was fake. Scott did not want to leave any trace of his existence behind. On all the papers the name signed was Simon Williams.

"It's built on a hill, the city surrounds a military base, hence the 'Fort.' It's one of the few cities that doesn't depend on foreign investment for its economy, but has a S.E.Z. in it anyway," said Collins. "The soldiers buy up a lot of stuff there, and the government funds the soldiers so the city thrives. Only New Masada does better economically and it has the biggest S.E.Z. in the country."

"Mr. Lang wouldn't think that we'd look for him there, so it'd probably be the smartest place to hunt. 'Course, with his mug plastered all over Highwood, if he's thick enough to stay, it's only a matter of time before he's arrested, if he is the rapist. I hope he is, it'd kill two birds with one stone."

Miles ignored what Collins said. There was something wrong about this whole thing.

"What's wrong, Mason?" asked Collins. Miles didn't seem to be interested at all in what he had to say. The commander led the group to a military 4x4 with two sentries inside.

"They'll take us to Fort Green."

"Alright..." Miles simply muttered.

---

After working his shift Scott went back to walking to the streets. He definitely wasn't going to sleep underneath that bridge again, since he had a flow of money coming in. Scott searched the area around the fast food joint until he found a sleazy motel. Paying for a room in cash, Scott then went up and took a shower. Now it was time to plan. Remembering the surrounding area, he was planning when to strike again. Maybe he could ask a co-worker tomorrow where he could find a prostitute. That seemed like a good idea. Scott decided on that plan, then went to sleep.

Andrea drove the jeep into Fort Green. The city looked like a fortress, with roadblocks still up, as if expecting Scott to try to flee through, although they were now more like checkpoints where ID was checked and drivers allowed through while their vehicles were searched, and jeeps and technicals drove through the streets.

A guard stopped the jeep and asked for ID's from everyone, as another began to search under the jeep in case someone was hiding underneath it, and in the trunk and even the hood in case Scott were willing to take the heat.

"So where is the slums in this city?" Miles asked. It would be the perfect hiding place. No one cared for you, once you were in the ghetto.

"The outskirts," said Collins. "Not much there... they joke that Highwood is their slum. But we do have shacks on the far reaches. This is a military town, basically - a lot of small businesses spring up, catering to the military, and nationalistic citizens are attracted here by the economy and the military, so it's easily the most right-wing city in the whole nation."

The jeep turned down a major road out and passed the outskirts. "Not much to see there," said one of the MI people in the jeep.

"Well if Scott came here, then he would be hiding somewhere here. I just know he would." Miles stated as he looked at the surrounding area. It was certainly somewhere he would hide.

---

Scott went back to work next day, after getting an orange for breakfast. During his break he asked one of his male colleagues. "Where can a man find a woman in this city?"

"I'll have a canine unit here," said Collins, getting on the radio. "We need everything we can get."

---

"Bars are good places," said the burger flipper next to Scott.

"So do you want to look around?" asked Miles.

---

"I'm talking about a prostitute." Scott said, getting to the point.

"Very well," said Collins. He climbed out of the jeep. "Canine'll be here in fifteen minutes."

---

"Prostitutes...?" asked the man. "They generally hang out in bars. The real high-class ones operate out of brothels or as call girls, but you can find them in bars and nightclubs. What kind do you want?"

Miles followed Collins out of the car. This handcuff was restricting and become bothersome. There was honestly no way he was going to find Scott, if he was attached to this idiot. He shook his head, then started to walk off.

---

"I really don't care...do you have a favorite place?" asked Scott.

Collins went with Miles. He'd go anywhere, as long as he didn't get too far from his comrades or out of sight.

"Can't have you capping me in an alley and making off," he said. A jeep with two canine handlers and dogs came up.

"That should be our canine unit..."

---

"I don't generally see prostitutes," said the man. "But sometimes for parties we'll go to a bar and pick up a few hookers."

"And run where?" Miles replied.

---

"So what is the name of a place?" asked Scott.

"Woods, sewers, whatever," said Collins. "I respect the training of an Agent. It is a most formidable task to pursue one... to pursue two is not a task I am up to."

The canines began to sniff around. Andrea held a sock to the dogs' noses to give them a scent so they could look for Scott.

---

"Well, Bill's on the other side of town is a good place," said the man. That was the place Scott had met Elizabeth. "Or, you could go to the Red Dragon bar down the street - not as big, but the drinks are cheaper. Whores cost a bit more, though."

Miles simply nodded and waited for the dogs to begin the chase.

---

"Thanks." Scott responded. So his next target would be at Red Dragon. A thin smile grew on his face. It was only a matter of time...

The canines began to sniff in garbage cans, in alleys, and the like - but didn't seem to pick up a whiff of Scott.

"This is a big city," said Collins. He chained one of the dogs to the Jeep. The other was still held by the handler, in case they sniffed something in an area a jeep couldn't go, like on top of a building or inside one.

"Sounds cruel... but we won't go faster than thirty kilometres an hour with the dog attached." A racing dog could go twice that fast, but this was a search dog.

"Lets us cover more ground faster - it's the next step up from running dogs from horseback." Collins flipped a switch that made the vehicle's governor restrict the Jeep's speed to thirty kilometres per hour.

"If you insist." Miles said lazily.

The jeep drove through the streets, in alleys and even around the military base in the centre of the city. Collins had had to show ID's a few times, and give detailed explanations of why he was allowing a Canadsteiner agent to join him, much to his chagrin and that of the guards who forced him to explain.

"Captain Neil's going to be joining us," said the commander at around five PM. "She's encountered him before... she'll be valuable. She should be here in half an hour or so."

"So what is her connection to Scott?" asked Miles.

Collins took a deep breath. "He ran off with her, it was very difficult for us to rescue her. She's... just out of the hospital. She's really nice, I'm sure you'll like her."

He pulled the jeep over downtown, and the rest of the crew climbed out. "It's time to rest, and... wait for her. Chopper should be here in ten."

"What did Scott do to her?" asked Miles again.

"She isn't talking much about it," said Collins. "I haven't talked much to her. That should be her, coming in..." His gaze moved to a chopper that seemed to be moving closer.

The helicopter landed right next to a deli, its blades nearly knocking down a flimsy sign. A woman in military fatigues stepped out of it, dressed in a Special Forces uniform, body armour, and armed with a combat knife, pistol and a large assault rifle. She looked like she was in her mid or late 20's, and had light brown hair and blue eyes. She was somewhat plain, but had a nice smile. She extended her hand.

"Captain Malena Neil," she said, sounding tired. "I've been... asked to rejoin the pursuit."

"Malena...what did Scott do to you?" Miles said outright. He could tell something was wrong just by looking at her. It was pretty oblivious that Scott had abused her some how. Scott's character just screamed abuse or rape.

Malena sat down next to Miles. The seat was wide enough for three. She sighed deeply.

"He... assaulted me," she said. "He would have raped me if I hadn't gotten away." She didn't seem to want to talk about it much.

"I don't know if you are ready to hunt Scott." Miles commented. "You might lose your hold on your emotions and do something rash."

Malena nodded. "That's a possibility," she said, checking her FN FAL to be sure it was loaded. "What have you found here?"

"Nothing much," said Collins. "There was a girl raped in Highwood by a man whose description is similar to Mr. Lang, but without further corroboration, we can't officially say they're connected."

"They probably are," said Malena. "Mr. Mason... why are you helping us now?" From what she'd heard, Canadsteiner agents were virtually impossible to turn.

"Penances, so I get become enlighten...and her." Miles pointed to Andrea. He still had feelings for her, even though she was devoid of making or feeling emotions. Also he had done it for Nadia. After her visit, Miles felt that he owed her something. "Collins, I think it would be best if we divided the team, between here and Highwood. We should follow the rapists lead. Right now it is the strongest link we have. Maybe talk to the girl."

---

Later that night, Scott scanned the Red Dragon Bar. He looked entirely different from the rapists. After his shift, he had bought some new cloths and cleaned up a little. That mean taking a shower and shaving. But certainly was a task. It seemed like he had an inch layer of dirt on his body. On his face he was starting to grow a beard, but he got rid of that.

A grin appeared on Scott's face. The hunt had begun to find a new target.

Malena smiled. "She is pretty. Do you like her?" She did not recognise Andrea from the news footage from several months earlier.

Collins nodded. "Good idea. We aren't finding a lot here... I'll ask the local PD to pick up the search and let me know if they find anything. We can all head up to Highwood together." Andrea started up the jeep and put it into gear.

---

Scott wouldn't have to wait long. A young woman in a sports bra and tight jeans stood near the bar, talking to a skinny younger man in Western clothes. Unlike Elizabeth, who was quite short and somewhat chunky, this woman was rather tall, almost six feet and very athletic looking. She was about 35, and the man she was with was around 20 and could have passed for a starving Ethiopian if he weren't obviously an Arab.

She seemed to be quite responsive to the younger man's flirting. Even in Kahanistan, most women would not date someone fifteen or so years younger than them - five was OK, but more than ten was quite rare...

Miles ignored Malena's question and turned toward Collins. "Would you mind taking this handcuff off? You know that I am not going to run."

---

Scott gave her signal that he wanted to talk to her, and that he was interested in her.

"My orders come from the Chief of the National Police," said Collins. "If you ran off, disappeared, rejoined Mr. Lang, took a hostage... he'd have my head if I let you go. I can loosen it if it's uncomfortable, or use rubber-lined leg shackles..." He didn't know that Miles wouldn't run, and after many of his people had put their faith in false security and paid for it with their lives, he wasn't about to make that mistake.

Malena looked nervous. She wasn't comfortable with Miles being able to take her hostage, and did not trust the Canadsteiners. She could never trust an Agent.

---

The woman turned around and smiled. She had long dark hair, grey eyes and a warm smile. "Hello," she said. "What're you up to?"

"Okay. Thought that I might ask." Miles said, not really caring at all.

---

"Look for a good time." Scott replied.

Collins nodded. Four hours later, barring any accidents or incidents, they would be in Highwood.

---

The woman nodded. "OK. Do you get high?"

"Time to time." Scott replied downing the rest of his beer.

"That's good," said the woman. She took a pill of Ecstasy and offered one to Scott. With her other hand, she took Scott's hand and ran it over her stomach. She was firm, much like the military and ex-military women that Scott would have encountered in Kahanistan, like Malena.

"Can't have fun without taking mind-altering substances now and then."

Scott put it in his mouth, but made sure he didn't shallow it. He needed to fully alert. You never knew when you might have to make a quick getaway. Being slightly impaired might cause you to slip and fall. Which will lead to your capture. Scott was going to make sure that it never became a reality.

As his hands felt her body, they moved upward until they stopped on her breasts. "So what's your name?"

"Kathleen," said the woman. "Kathleen Donovan. What's yours?" She smiled as Scott touched her breast. "Like them? They're not as big as some women's, but they're firmer and more sensitive."

"Walter Dunham. So you say your breasts are sensitive? Well let's put that to the test." Scott gave her breast a nice good squeeze.

Kathleen squealed. "My God! Not in here, everyone'll want a piece." She started to breathe heavily, a bit surprised at the sudden escalation.

"So... do you drink?" She called to the bartender. "Vodka and watermelon juice," she said, passing him a five-shekel note.

"Time to time. But it is usually just beer." Scott ordered another beer.

"So, tell me about yourself," said Kathleen. She took a big gulp of her drink.

"I work for the Finance Ministry. Not a lot to do for me, given the state of the government's finances after all these damn wars. Mostly, it's just checking over tax forms and spotting the obvious errors, like somebody claiming a houseplant as a dependent. People actually do that."

"Well I am a drifter. I can't seem to stay in one place. Last week I was in Fort Green. The week before that I was in New Mazada. I like it though. Don't have a care in the world." Scott stated.

"We have a lot of them," said Kathleen. "Some people need to live where the jobs are. Luckily, I live within driving distance of a Finance Ministry office, and have a car. So, what brings you here?"

"Saw a sign for the city on the highway. So I decided to give Highwood a chance." replied Scott.

Kathleen smiled. "Yeah, we're pretty poor here. You'd have better luck in Fort Green, or in New Masada, the best jobs are there. As for me... I just took the first housing unit that became available."

She took another drink. "Sick of all these wars. My brother got cut in half by Whyaticans, his body sent back to me in a bag, half of it... and for what? To help the Clandonians who hate our guts now? If the world hates us when we try to do good, what direction should this country take? I wouldn't care if we went isolationist and crawled under a rock." Kathleen sounded frustrated and slammed her glass down. "Refill," she said gruffly, passing another five-shekel note.

The bartender topped her off. "Now, where was I?" said Kathleen. "Ah. We're giving up our homelands, killing off our soldiers for various causes, and what are we getting? We're called rats and worse, we're the subject of more racist propaganda than we were when we had a Jewish majority, and the world treats us like the new Hataria." She drank half her second glass of vodka and watermelon juice in one gulp and went on with her rant until she was interrupted.

Scott zoned out for a while. He didn't really care about this women's problems. She was boring him. The only thing he really wanted was the sex. "Yeah I guess."

Kathleen certainly wanted something to make her feel better. She was half drunk, but not so drunk that she didn't know she shouldn't be driving.

"So... Walter, want to come home with me? I'll give you the directions, but I'm too drunk to drive."

"Yeah...yeah I would like that." Scott said with a smirk on his face.

Kathleen stepped out of the bar, supporting herself against the wall to get out. She managed to reach a navy blue 2007 Allanean Arms DAA-1 (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=529723). Handing her keys to Scott, she moved around to the passenger side for him to let her in.

Scott got in the car and started the engine. "Are you sure you can give me the correct directions?"

"Yeah," said Kathleen. She opened the glove compartment and pulled out a city map. "My house is circled in green, blue is my work, red is the place where I get groceries and petrol." A large green circle was about six blocks north of the intersection where the bar was. Kathleen pointed to the bar's location.

"We're here. My house is over here." She moved her finger to the circle where her house was.

Scott nodded and started to drive toward her house. This was just too easy.

When they arrived, Kathleen walked to a small, one-story house. She took the keys, tried three of them in her drunken state, and then succeeded in opening her door.

The house was a modest, one-room dwelling. A folding sofa sat across from a 600mm television set, with a small desk and laptop computer in a corner. The only interior door was the one that led to the bathroom; a clothes rack was near the entrance and an open kitchen was nearby. On the rack were several pairs of jeans, athletic wear, what looked like a bikini hanging from one hanger, and three colours of lingerie. Despite the spartan nature of the house, it was very neat.

From the look of the house, Kathleen was a low to middle income single woman. She apparently entertained often; despite there being no indication anyone else lived here, two or three men's shirts hung from her clothes rack, and a box of condoms sat on her desk.

Scott had little time to look around before Kathleen grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him against the wall, pushing her body against his. Breathing heavily, she gripped his shirt collar and ripped, as hard as she could. Kathleen had a wild look in her eyes, as if she hadn't had any in months.

Scott was a bit surprised. He had never seen a woman act as fiercely as Kathleen. Quickly he took off the rest of his clothes. It was only a matter of time before he showed his true intentions.

Scott suddenly grabbed her and threw her onto the body. He wasn't going to give her time for "protection". She was going to have to live with having sex with every guy she mean. Ripping off her panties, Scott proceed to have sex with Kathleen. His hands squeezed down on her "sensitive" breasts.

Kathleen pulled off her top and walked over to her desk. She reached for the box of rubbers - a woman in her situation could ill afford a child, or worse, a disease. She rarely knew the sexual history of the men she dated, and most did not ask for hers.

Kathleen pushed up on Scott. She was a strong girl and quite tall, and judging from her recent behaviour, she liked it rough. She seemed to like being squeezed and fondled.

"Put the rubber on first," she said, between breaths. "I... don't want to get pregnant." Kathleen adamantly refused to use the Pill - it was free in Kahanistan, but it caused hormonal fluctuations she didn't like.

"No..." Scott responded with no emotions.

Kathleen lay on her back. It felt good, but she couldn't enjoy it if she was worried about disease or pregnancy. She struggled, harder, twisting her hips away and pushing up on his chest.

"I'm serious. I'm not ready for a child, and not to be rude... I don't know what diseases you have."

"Come on Kathleen live a little bit." Scott said as he tried to pull her back into place.

"I'm thirty-five," said Kathleen. "I've lived. Unprotected sex is just nuts - you never know when the person you're having sex with has a disease. I've never played Russian Roulette before, either, but would you say I hadn't lived?"

She made a grab for her protection - she certainly wasn't going to let him dump... well, whatever he had, into her body.

"I would say not..." Scott grabbed her hand and held it down. With his other hand he retrieved his knife. Also within a second the blade was up to Kathleen's neck. "So are you going to take it or die?"

Kathleen had some military training - her brother had influenced her to join about ten years earlier, but she'd only served as an enlisted soldier for a year after basic was finished, so she did know Krav Maga, even if she never had to use it in military service. Also, prostitutes occasionally attacked her for the same reason the RIAA attacked Napster - she was giving away for free what they charged money for, so she did know how to fight. She was also 5'11", so she could hold her own in a fight against most men and nearly all women who had not had Krav Maga.

Die now, or five years from now with AIDS... Medical care was depending more on Praetonian handouts than the government was admitting, and someone who worked in the Finance Ministry would know this. She would fight - at least she would stand a chance now.

She rolled over onto her side, so the blade was at the side of her neck rather than at a major artery, and hit Scott in the head as hard as she could with her elbow. Her weapons were in her desk and useless in this situation...

Scott recovered quickly and stabbed the knife directly into her side. Laughing he dug it into her skin. Going as slow as possible, Scott pulled out the knife.

Kathleen screamed in pain and bled profusely. She struggled painfully and opened the drawer at her desk by the sofa and pulled out a .38 S&W revolver.

It's him, or me. She pointed the weapon at Scott. She'd have to get him out of her house so she could get medical attention, or she'd bleed to death...

Scott rushed Kathleen like a wild boar. This sugar puff didn't even stand a chance against a trained agent. He tackled her right into the dresser. Scott pinned her up against the dresser and tried to reach for her gun. "LET GO OF THE GUN OR I DON'T LET GO!"

Kathleen squeezed the trigger of her weapon. Obviously, if Scott was willing to rape her, he was willing to lie to her, and she didn't think he'd let her go anyway, and leave a witness. He'd have to get rid of her to avoid prison.

Whether Scott was actually struck by the bullet or not, it was now likely only a matter of minutes before a neighbour either called the police or directly intervened, and most people in Kahanistan owned firearms.

Her hand was pointed up to the ceiling, so naturally the bullet went into the ceiling. With lighting fast reflexes he moved the knife into her chest area, specifically where her heart was located, and stabbed her. Scott loosened his grip around her, then backed away from Kathleen. Moving back all he did was stare. He moved to the phone and threw it against the wall. It shattered into pieces. Looking at his watch he knew that he didn't have that much time before the police came. Scott went back over to Kathleen and retrieved her gun. Now it was pointed at her forehead. "So would you rather die now or of blood loss, Kathleen?"

Kathleen breathed heavily. She seemed to not be in a condition to answer; her breathing was becoming more laboured by the second and she was bleeding even more profusely from her chest than out of her side. She closed her eyes and dropped her head. The revolver fell from her hand, but it was a well-made weapon and did not discharge when dropped.

Scott just shook his head, and left.

Scott encountered a twelve-year-old boy who had heard the shot and come running with his shotgun. He was a skinny Arabic boy, probably less than 75 pounds and five feet tall.

"Freeze, bad guy!" said the boy. He pointed his shotgun at Scott.