Kidnap, divide, conquer

[Subtleknifewielder]

OOC: This thread is closed to myself, Sarah Tintagyl, Margrave, and possibly Ranather (if he wishes to chip in). Also, upon further consideration, Sumeragi has permission to post in here as well.

Chronologically, the main portions of it take place after all public state meetings Sarah Tintagyl currently has scheduled for the Hanseatic Commonwealth, so they will not be interfered with by the course of events here.

IC: Two months ago

"Why are you risking your life to give me this information? I don;t understand why the guards haven't already come and gotten you," the unnamed prisoner said quietly, to avoid being heard by the bugs that were surely placed in his cell.

The white-haired man sitting across the bars shook his head. "I've had a jammer with me the whole time. And I'm telling you this because of three things. I know you've lost as much, possibly more, from the outlawing of the Martenist party than I have. Two, it's rumored you came within a hairsbreadth of actually succededing in assassinating the man. Three, I think my current...'partner' may end up betraying me somehow. You're the insurance in the worst case scenario. I know you must have plans to escape..."

The prisoner nodded. "OK. I admit revealing him to the world and THEN killing him would be much more satisfactory. If you fall, I'll take up your shield. I swear it by Loki."

One month ago...

"Espaped? What do you mean, escaped?!" Richard Anderson was in one of his rare tempers. "I want him found, NOW!" The aide, wide-eyed, scrambled to communicate his bidding.

But try as they might, none of his agents could finds a trace of the rogue. It was as if the prisoner had vanished into thin air...

Present...1 AM

At about this time, a call would come through to Sarah Tintagyl via video phone. She would be informed that it was an urgent communication from Anthony Harlem...

Edited March 19, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The emergency phone had a very annoying buzzing sound, worse than an alarm clock could do. At the beginning of the sound, Sarah found herself blasted into the air, coming down in sheer shock and looked around in surprise. The buzzing continued as her fatigued hands crept towards the phone and taking it off the hook. As she held the receiver in her hand Larsa's snoring entered into her ear, Sarah snarled at her husband. "The $@! can sleep through anything." She said quietly turning into the phone and her look of disgust became a look of concern. "Anthony? What's wrong? What happened? Because you do realize what time it is?"

[Subtleknifewielder]

A rather distressed-looking Anthony nodded frantically. His nervousness was betrayed not only by choppy, hesitant speech, but even a little stuttering. "Yes...b-but I don't know, who else I can, t-trust right now. Something's wrong, seriously wrong, and I don't know, who's behind it. I n-need to, speak with you, in person...if I take too long here, they m-might trace, this call." Following that came a series of quiet directions on how to get where she needed to meet him without alerting anyone, delivered in the same broken chatter. Any times he needed to repeat himself, he only seemed to grow more worried at the time wasted, which in turn worsened the quality of his speech. "And d-don't tell anyone...I d-don't know if--if it's s-spread t-t-to your g-government or n-not."

He waited a moment to see if she had gotten the hasty directions, then the line went dead...

At the other end of the call

The moment the phone clicked off, the nervousness on the face vanished, to be replaced by a look of vicious satisfaction. "Sorry, Lady Protector," he said, as he peeled off the mask, revealing the face of the escaped prisoner. As he continued speaking, his voice began subtly shifting to his own tones. He was one of those rare people who, like a parrot, could sound like anyone he wished, and even their own closest family and friends wouldn't know the difference... "but willing or not, you're going to help me bring him down...and then destroy him." His hands clenched into fists, tightly enough that the handle of the phone began to crack and break from his strength...

[Sarah Tintagyl]

There was a reason why most world leaders came to power in their late forties, fifties, and sixites, there was also a reason why citizens often elected men to those positions of power. It was no insult to the reigns of females or young people, but the young and females tended to think with their hearts instead of their minds. Unfortunately for Sarah, she was a young female who had proven time and time again that compassion was more important than logic. It was this state of mind that had her jumping out of bed at one in the morning and causing quite the bit of ruckus around the Solidor Manor. Larsa and many of her servants had told her not to go, that they could send a representative in her stead, but Sarah insisted that considering Harlem was one of her dearest friends that she would see to the situation herself. Ah the mind of a twenty-eight year old!

Loading into a black SUV along with three Hanseatic marines and one of the Lilian Guards, the SUV took off towards Alice Springs at the middle of the continent where she was to meet Anthony and talk about the situation that was happening in his country. For much of the drive Sarah was unable to sleep, only thinking about what could have gone wrong to cause such stress in a man that she had always perceived to be extremely calm in the face of death and destruction. Promised Land had always been one of the most stable countries in the Australasian Coalition and if there was a chance of revolution there were more problems than just it spreading to the Commonwealth. New Cymru, Feet of God, Neo Olympia, and even to the Indonesian nations. What could start as revolution in one country could cause wide spread anarchy across the continent.

It was gray dark day when the SUV arrived outside of Alice Springs as they waited out in a darkened field where the brown grass swayed in the harsh breeze. The marines clicked their guns making ready for anything while Sarah sat patiently, waiting for Anthony to show up so that they could begin solving this new problem that threatened peace in the South Pacific.

[Subtleknifewielder]

For a few minutes, nothing happened. No one appeared, nothing but the wind rustling in the grass making any noise.

Finally, a dark shape peaked up over the tall grass about a hundred yards away, cautiously standing upright when it saw who was there. It held out its hands, showing there were no weapons in them, and advanced cautiously. When it got closer, they would see the face of Anthony Harlem, as nervous as it had been when Sarah had gotten the call.

Though some of that nervousness seemd to ease as he got closer...

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Sarah stared at the odd figure from the tinted windows of the SUV. 'Why had he come alone?' She thought to herself, surely the entire Promised Land government wasn't in such despair that he needed to come without the escort of guards.

"Milady." One of the marines turned to her. "I don't think we should be here, this seems much too odd, to unnatural."

Sarah felt the same way, but there was no mistake that it was Harlem. "Well be prepared for anything, but we're not just going leave him in a god damn field." She turned to the Lillian. "You're coming with me, we'll go get him and bring him back to the car. The rest of you, just be ready in case something doesn't go right according to plan."

Opening the door, Sarah and the Lillian stepped out of the vehicle and onto the brown grass leading up the hill where Harlem stood. "Anthony! What's going on? Why did you make that call? And why didn't you bring any guards with you?"

[Subtleknifewielder]

Sarah stared at the odd figure from the tinted windows of the SUV. 'Why had he come alone?' She thought to herself, surely the entire Promised Land government wasn't in such despair that he needed to come without the escort of guards.

"Milady." One of the marines turned to her. "I don't think we should be here, this seems much too odd, to unnatural."

Sarah felt the same way, but there was no mistake that it was Harlem. "Well be prepared for anything, but we're not just going leave him in a god damn field." She turned to the Lillian. "You're coming with me, we'll go get him and bring him back to the car. The rest of you, just be ready in case something doesn't go right according to plan."

Opening the door, Sarah and the Lillian stepped out of the vehicle and onto the brown grass leading up the hill where Harlem stood. "Anthony! What's going on? Why did you make that call? And why didn't you bring any guards with you?"

He continued to move closer as he spoke. "As I said, I d-don't know who to t-trust. My own s-security has a le--" but he didn't finish the sentence. Right as he came within arm's reach, he jerked forward as if something had hit him from behind collapsing to his knees, then crumpling to the ground. They could clearly see a small dart protruding from behind his left shoulder. He had apparently been tranquilized...or worse.

Before that had time to sink in, several more darts zipped in toward Sarah and the Lillian from multiple directions. At the same time, the SUV had two of its tires blown out, followed a few seconds later by two loud cracks! indicating snipers had hit them from a higher position.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Anthony!" Sarah lunged ahead as his body collapsed to the ground. Sounds of darts or perhaps bullets whizzed around where she stood as she knelt down and grabbed the body. Using every ounce of strength that was in her body she lifted that man up as the sounds of the tires popping sent her turning around. They were surrounded, how could she have been so stupid. The marines barreled out of the car immediately after the tires had been popped, but in their frenzy they had no taken enough time to protect themselves from cover and were immediately picked off by the snipers.

"Milady we need to get-" The Lillian began only to stop short the way Harlem had be silenced only a moment before as she collapsed at the ground near Sarah's feet. Dropping Harlem down, Sarah pulled out a small pistol she kept hidden in her suit jacket, holding it in the air she yelled out to the unseen hostiles.

"What do you want with u-" A dart struck her in the side and immediately her vision began to blur, she stumbled for a minute back and forth. Still trying to hold the pistol and prepare to defend herself, but the weight of her body was too much. Slowly Sarah fell to her knees. "No, no, I-I can't." Her eyes began to close and the last thing she remembered was face planting into the cold hard dead ground.

[Subtleknifewielder]

Upon seeing Sarah herself fall, and the last of her defenders, several of the attackers emerged from the underbrush. It was easy to see now how they had been concealed, as they had attached blades of the long grass to their camouflage uniforms to make themselves look exactly like the background environment. Their faces were obscured by the pain they'd used to further their disguises.

They approached the SUV, covered by the still-unseen snipers. They first made sure there was no one else in the vehicle, then made sure each person was either dead or comletely unconscious before attemting to move any of them.

With a groan, the man who had appeared to be Anthony Harlem sat up, reaching back with his right hand and yanking out the dart. "If I ever do this again, I'm getting thicker padding. That actually pricked my skin." He reached up to his face, and peeled away the mask. "Thank goodness that didn't actually have any knock-out serum in it, or you all would be carting me along with them." He indicated Sarah and the Lillian as he picked up the weapon she'd intended to use to defend herself, and bothe her and the Lillian, despite appearances, were still searched for hidden weapons. Any on them would be removed.

"I'm sure you don't need me to tell you what to do with those..." he indicated the dead marines.

Ten minutes later, nothing would indicate what had happened there except for the abandoned SUV. The dead marines had been carried away, and would be buried about a mile away. The darts were retrieved, the tires removed from the SUV, and even any bullets lying around were picked up.

The next morning...

Two videotapes wopuld be delivered. One to the appropriate members of the Hanseatic government (meaning those in charge of national security), and the other to Promised Land. More specifically, to Subtleknifewielder and Richard Anderson.

Both, upon analyzation, would prove to contain no harmful substances or devices, and prove to be simply what they appeared to be.

On each tape, a masked woman told the viewers that the Lady Protector of the Hanseatic Commonwealth was now in the possession of the Red Guard, and would not be returned until their demands were met. The demand to the Hanseatic people was a sum not less than 10 million Pounds Sterling (or the equivalent in any other single currency), and to put pressure on Promised Land, more specifically, to get Subtleknifewielder to reveal his true identity.

The monetary demand was the same to the Promised Land government was the same. This tape also demanded the revelation of Subtleknifewielder's true identity...but furthermore, it called on him to give himself up in exchange for the Lady Protector's freedom.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Get the $%&@ out of my office then if you don't have anything intelligent to say!" Said Roger McAlpine throwing a thick ceramic cup at one of the National Security Aides. The cup hit him in the face and immediately broke his nose. "That's for saying that we compromise with them and if you say anything else I swear to God I will kill you on the spot." The National Security aides ran out of the Conference Room with their tails up their asses leaving McAlpine, Maximilian Bocke, the foreign minister, and Brian Doyle the minister of finance.

"Paying the terrorists won't be a problem." Said Doyle as he sat back and folded his hands. "We have the money and if we didn't it wouldn't be hard to get the money, in fact we could release this to the public and the outcry might be enough to frighten the terrorists into giving her up. We have a reputation that, well let's be honest gentlemen, not many nations hold in the world."

McAlpine stood up from his chair and lit a large cigar. He was a portly man and the floor shook as he walked around the table. "They'll kill her and then where will be? An election or a take over by a foreign nation? There's a goddamn reason that the title of Lady Protector was created it was because we can't decide on another leader because we're doing pretty good. If she dies then we'll be in deep !@#$."

"Let's be clear here gentlemen." Said Bocke fixing his tie. "The demands for us aren't that high. 10 million marks, that's chump change, we can just take it out of the Humanitarian Fund and if people complain we just say that you would rather see the figurehead for Humanism die in a terrorist depot. The problem is getting Promised Land to announce Subtleknifewielder's true identity, I suggest that we cover all our asses first then we worry about the smaller problems. We need to make an announcement to the Promised Landers to make sure that he comes clean with his identity. This is where we can use public outcry. If he doesn't then we tell the countries of the world that he is essentially putting Lady Tintagyl to death, I don't even think Subtleknifewielder could stand that."

McAlpine and Doyle looked at each other as the portly Minister of the Interior took a long puff on his cigar. "Then send a message out to the dear man telling him what our proposal is and that he had better act fast or he's going to get my foot shoved far up his $@!." Bocke nodded as he ran out of the room. After he had left McAlpine turned to Doyle. "Brian could you go find that DeLuit character and bring him here, we might as well try to get her back without paying a dime and costing whatever Promised Land believes is behind that mask."

--------------

Her vision was foggy when she first opened her eyes, but when she went to move the jerk of the rope tied around her body sent her back. This was when Sarah officially woke up in a panic. "Anthony! Anthony!" She yelled out into the dark, she didn't know where she was at she didn't know what was going on and more than anything she was scared, extremely scared. "Hello is anyone there? Please is anyone there?" The tears began to roll down her face as she dropped her head. "Sarah, why? Why do you always end up in these messes. You should have just retired." She actually chuckled for a moment and turned her head. The Lillian guard was still asleep, knocked out from the dart and so she waited, waited for something to happen, for something to happen to distinguish between life and death.

--------------

To Subtleknifewielder

From Roger McAlpine, Hanseatic Minister of the Interior

I am sure that you have already heard the dire news and therefore I have no reason to repeat it, it pains me too much to do so. But I would like to know what you plan to do about this and realize that this country will not take "no" from you as answer. You have one choice and that is to get our leader back by any means possible. Naturally we will try to do the same, but the minute that these rogues threaten her life. The mask comes off. Or I will pull it off myself.

[Subtleknifewielder]

"How could this have happened?" the real Anthony Harlem said, in the privacy of Richard Anderson's office. It was, of course, routinely swept for bugs, so they had no fear of being overheard. "What could they have possibly done to lure her away from her security forces?" For once in his life, Anthony was at a loss for what to do.

"I don't know. The only clue left behind is an unregistered, abandoned SUV near Alice Springs. No bullets, no bodies--even the tires were taken off. That probably indicates one or more were blown, probably by snipers. This means it is probably the Red Guard..." he trailed off as something occured to him, something Anthony noticed.

"Richard...there's something you're not telling me, isn't there?"

Anderson nodded. "Yes. About a month ago...the rogue agent escaped."

Anthony paled. Neither spoke the obvious--that that was the only possible reason behind the curious demand on Subtleknifewielder's identity. The rogue agent, the would-be assassin, had joined up with the Red Guard to exact his revenge...

Her vision was foggy when she first opened her eyes, but when she went to move the jerk of the rope tied around her body sent her back. This was when Sarah officially woke up in a panic. "Anthony! Anthony!" She yelled out into the dark, she didn't know where she was at she didn't know what was going on and more than anything she was scared, extremely scared. "Hello is anyone there? Please is anyone there?" The tears began to roll down her face as she dropped her head. "Sarah, why? Why do you always end up in these messes. You should have just retired." She actually chuckled for a moment and turned her head. The Lillian guard was still asleep, knocked out from the dart and so she waited, waited for something to happen, for something to happen to distinguish between life and death.

The single door opened, letting in one of her captors and only a little more light. This was actually the woman wh had been behind the mask on each tape--a known Red Guard operative and suspected leader inthe organization, Violet Sherman. Standing at an even six feet, her slender frame towered over the seated captives, and her green eyes peered out from behind the red locks of hair that cascaded down either side of her head. Despite having a slight gleam from the reflection of the single light bulb, they lacked any trace of warmth--neither friendliness nor enmity was shown.

"Ah, you're awake," she said, in a voice as emotionless and coldly calculating as her eyes and face. "Good."

To Subtleknifewielder

From Roger McAlpine, Hanseatic Minister of the Interior

I am sure that you have already heard the dire news and therefore I have no reason to repeat it, it pains me too much to do so. But I would like to know what you plan to do about this and realize that this country will not take "no" from you as answer. You have one choice and that is to get our leader back by any means possible. Naturally we will try to do the same, but the minute that these rogues threaten her life. The mask comes off. Or I will pull it off myself.

To: Roger Alpine

From: Subtleknifewielder

Do not threaten me. Men more powerful than you have fallen beneath my feet. That being said...rest assured we are doing all we can to find her.

Edited March 19, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The single door opened, letting in one of her captors and only a little more light. This was actually the woman wh had been behind the mask on each tape--a known Red Guard operative and suspected leader inthe organization, Violet Sherman. Standing at an even six feet, her slender frame towered over the seated captives, and her green eyes peered out from behind the red locks of hair that cascaded down either side of her head. Despite having a slight gleam from the reflection of the single light bulb, they lacked any trace of warmth--neither friendliness nor enmity was shown.

"Ah, you're awake," she said, in a voice as emotionless and coldly calculating as her eyes and face. "Good."

Sarah's eyed widened in seeing the cold green eyes starting down at her. She had never been used to being attack without words and this woman was especially good at it. Looking up at her, Sarah's eyes like watery crystals. "What do you want with me? What is going on here? I haven't done anything to you so what do you want with me?" She thrust forward testing the strength of the ropes, but they kept her petite frame quite secured in the chair. Sarah sighed as she looked back up at the woman. "What do you want with me?"

[Margrave]

Luis had been a wreck during the evening. He had wept, bitter tears of frustration, as he stood with Clair De Lune and others of his inner circle. They keened for fear, and loss, and the evil that had befallen their lady, and prayed together, away from the prying sight of those who could not understand their dedication...or their fear.

Now he was able, flanked by the best of his officers and NonComs, standing before McAlpine in his dress uniform, a sword hanging bare at his side. None of the Marchar effected to notice that it had a single line of blood on its edge, or the matching blood on other blades, the bandages hidden in their clothing. With the resolution of winter, Luis entered into the room, saluted, brought his people in, and stood before the government officials. "Gentlemen....It is time to discuss the situation at hand."

*Elsewhere, with Sarah*

The Lilian Guard, a Elessandre De Lune by name (her older sister Claire, who ran the guard, called her Elly) kept her body absolutely still, pretending to still be asleep. In truth, she was using the sound echoes in the room to create a mental picture of her surroundings. Internally, she was preparing herself until she would attack anyone who would dare try to harm her Mistress.

Edited March 19, 2009 by Margrave

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Luis had been a wreck during the evening. He had wept, bitter tears of frustration, as he stood with Clair De Lune and others of his inner circle. They keened for fear, and loss, and the evil that had befallen their lady, and prayed together, away from the prying sight of those who could not understand their dedication...or their fear.

Now he was able, flanked by the best of his officers and NonComs, standing before McAlpine in his dress uniform, a sword hanging bare at his side. None of the Marchar effected to notice that it had a single line of blood on its edge, or the matching blood on other blades, the bandages hidden in their clothing. With the resolution of winter, Luis entered into the room, saluted, brought his people in, and stood before the government officials. "Gentlemen....It is time to discuss the situation at hand."

The three officials looked at each other and then back at the Marchar who stood at attention. Chewing on the same cigar that he had since this morning McAlpine stood up and wiped his bald head with a handkerchief. "The reason I asked all you here, Lord DeLuit and your comrades is that we have a national situation. First off, neither the public, nor the international community knows anything about this and I would like to keep it that way, we do not know the inner intentions of these terrorists and if even if we meet their demands, Lady Sarah's life is still in their hands and we can't have that. I do not need to tell you that this country's destiny is intertwined with her own and the Marchar's especially. I don't know much about your history, but I know about your traditions of oath taking and I know you have an oath to protect her from harm. Therefore its simple, gather your small force together and by God get her back." He pounded on the table biting down hard on the cigar. "Use whatever force necessary I don't care, the terrorists are better dead, but you come up with a plan and get her back."

McAlpine picked up the video tape from the table and threw it into DeLuit's hands. "She was abducted in Alice Springs, three marines were killed and one of your own was captured. I suggest you start there." McAlpine turned to DeLuit personally and frowned. "If you don't get her back don't bother returning. None of us will be here anyways."

[Subtleknifewielder]

Sarah's eyed widened in seeing the cold green eyes starting down at her. She had never been used to being attack without words and this woman was especially good at it. Looking up at her, Sarah's eyes like watery crystals. "What do you want with me? What is going on here? I haven't done anything to you so what do you want with me?" She thrust forward testing the strength of the ropes, but they kept her petite frame quite secured in the chair. Sarah sighed as she looked back up at the woman. "What do you want with me?"

"I suppose it wouldn't make it any better to know that this isn't personal? If all goes according to plan, no one gets hurt, we get our money, and you return to your people safe and sound." Again, the cold, unfeeling voice. Those were tones that sent shivers down the spines of many who were under her gaze, whether she intended it or no, whether they were ally or enemy. That was simply the way she was. "You're worth more to us alive than dead."

*Elsewhere, with Sarah*

The Lilian Guard, a Elessandre De Lune by name (her older sister Claire, who ran the guard, called her Elly) kept her body absolutely still, pretending to still be asleep. In truth, she was using the sound echoes in the room to create a mental picture of her surroundings. Internally, she was preparing herself until she would attack anyone who would dare try to harm her Mistress.

At this point, two other persons entered, a man of equal hight to Violet Sherman, with a wiry build and grey eyes that showed at least a little warmth, and a shorter, more heavily-built man with glittering black eyes, and a head shaved nearly bald. This one had a tattoo of a snake on his left forearm, and a small golden-colored earring in his right ear. He glared at everyone in the room--Sarah, Ellessandre, and even his companions, but kept he thoughts to himself.

The first one, who happened to be the escaped rogue agent, spoke to Sarah. "Don't be intimidated by Violet. That's just the way she is. We really do have no intention of harming you." Almost casually, he glanced over at the Lillian Guard, staring intently at her for several long moments. In an aside to his compatriots, he leaned in toward them and whispered something quietly, below audible levels for the prisoners. "Keep an eye on the other one. There's something off about her...she's not asleep, only pretending. There's more to her than meets the eye, I'm sure of it."

The shaved man snorted in disbelief, but still held his peace.

Edited March 20, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"I suppose it wouldn't make it any better to know that this isn't personal? If all goes according to plan, no one gets hurt, we get our money, and you return to your people safe and sound." Again, the cold, unfeeling voice. Those were tones that sent shivers down the spines of many who were under her gaze, whether she intended it or no, whether they were ally or enemy. That was simply the way she was. "You're worth more to us alive than dead."

The first one, who happened to be the escaped rogue agent, spoke to Sarah. "Don't be intimidated by Violet. That's just the way she is. We really do have no intention of harming you."

By this time Sarah had given up trying to escape from the robed binding her to the chair and her defeated head hung down, her blonde hair hanging over her face. "If this isn't personal, would you mind telling me why you have me here against my will? If its money you want, the Commonwealth has money to spare, but taking world leaders prisoner isn't the way to go about this." She lifted her head up and looked at the man who had been kind to her. "Please, whatever it is, perhaps I can talk to the parties involved and we can make this as easy as possible. Believe me I don't want any trouble from you and I'd rather solve this as respectable human beings than as terrorists." She choked back her tears, the less fear she showed the better.

[Subtleknifewielder]

By this time Sarah had given up trying to escape from the robed binding her to the chair and her defeated head hung down, her blonde hair hanging over her face. "If this isn't personal, would you mind telling me why you have me here against my will? If its money you want, the Commonwealth has money to spare, but taking world leaders prisoner isn't the way to go about this." She lifted her head up and looked at the man who had been kind to her. "Please, whatever it is, perhaps I can talk to the parties involved and we can make this as easy as possible. Believe me I don't want any trouble from you and I'd rather solve this as respectable human beings than as terrorists." She choked back her tears, the less fear she showed the better.

The man nodded to his fellow conspirators. They took the hint and walked out the door. Violet didn't look back, but the shaved-headed man did, and his smile was truly--evil, hinting that if he had his way, she wouldn't be dead, but she might wish to be. He didn't linger, however, as vilet reached a hand back and gripped him, hard, by the shoulder. He went with her, loudly protesting and cursing, utntil the door shutting cut him off.

Once they were gone, the man took the sole remaining seat and twirled it around to sit on it backwards, resting his arms on the back of the seat, and his head on his arms.

"Sorry, honey, this is about more than money. They need the money to buy weapons, and to persuade those who otherwise might not listen to their cause. Besides, they were already considered just one level below terrorists, so it's not a big step for them. As for myself...I couldn't care less about the money. No, my reasons for this are more personal. My family is dead because of the man you so admire, the man called Subtleknifewielder. Need I say more?"

He absently stretched the shoulder that had been hit by the dart. It wasn't too painful, but it was still mildly sore.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Before the gray haired man had talked to her Sarah watched the shaven man leave, she saw his smile and she shivered. She had come to death many times already in her short life, but it had been if she had stared the Reaper in the face with that man, her stomach hurt and she wanted to throw up.

After listening to the gray-haired man she turned her head. "So all I am is a bargaining chip then, using the man's friend to get him to reveal his own identity so that you can kill him?" Sarah snarled. "That's really pathetic." Then withdrawing she looked back at the man. "No, revenge is an emotion like any other and I can understand your anger." She remembered Romanov's anger when she was held with a gun to her head at the airport. "If you don't mind me asking sir, what did he do in the past to warrant the death of your family? Unfortunately I do not know much of the past of Subtleknifewielder, what is your history with him?"

[Subtleknifewielder]

Before the gray haired man had talked to her Sarah watched the shaven man leave, she saw his smile and she shivered. She had come to death many times already in her short life, but it had been if she had stared the Reaper in the face with that man, her stomach hurt and she wanted to throw up.

After listening to the gray-haired man she turned her head. "So all I am is a bargaining chip then, using the man's friend to get him to reveal his own identity so that you can kill him?" Sarah snarled. "That's really pathetic." Then withdrawing she looked back at the man. "No, revenge is an emotion like any other and I can understand your anger." She remembered Romanov's anger when she was held with a gun to her head at the airport. "If you don't mind me asking sir, what did he do in the past to warrant the death of your family? Unfortunately I do not know much of the past of Subtleknifewielder, what is your history with him?"

"Well, I wouldn't have put it quite so bluntly, Ma'am," he stated, politely enough, "But yes, you are a baragaining chip. I don't need him to reveal his identity so I can kill him--I already KNOW his identity. I just want him to know a little of what I felt before he dies, to lose something important to him."

He was hardly looking at her at all now, his gaze lost somewhere in the past as he continued to explain. "And to think I once worked as one of his agents...I gave the best years of my life, serving him loyally. Then came the Duestchland conflict. After that, nothing was the same. I saw the nation grow ever more hostile to anyone calling themselves Martenist. The Martensists simply wanted to be left alone, to find their own place in the world. But then the Martenist Party was outlawed, after several severe disagreement with Kaiser Martens' aggressive foreign policies. Oh, you could still be a Martenist, but not politically anymore. Then the persecution really started. You see, the people took the disbandment of the Party as an excuse to shun and fear them, much like most of the world hates and fears communism. My parents, my sister, my niece and nephew, all decided to leave for Duetchland's successor state, Greater Nordland. Not long after...it fell. I received word from a friend that they died in the attack."

He returned to the present, his eyes full of anger and sorrow. "And that is why this is happening. I'm sorry it had to be you, I really am...but not many others would have worked to draw him out of his shell. His children were too well protected, and his wife...his wife is dead, so that wasn't an option. Any other friends he has would have been too suspicious to fall for our tricks."

Edited March 20, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Sarah looked at the man and smiled, it was a pure smile a smile of understanding and compassion that had helped her win the hearts of her people and many of her neighbors. "I cannot imagine that pain that you must feel in loosing your family, you have my heart I promise that, but I must protest to killing the man. My friend, we live in a world of contesting political ideologies, I am and will always be an opponent of Francoism and it is because of Francoism that my country was destroyed. Both that and Martenism should be destroyed, those two philosophies have only caused trouble for the world and it is a shame that the imperialists, whether Martenistic or Francoist couldn't let the world in peace. People will say otherwise, but I refuse to believe anything else. But you must understand that politics does not have a heart and the leader Subtleknifewielder is different from the man Subtleknifewielder and I would ask you to try and search in your heart for forgiveness."

She turned her head down and sighed. "Though I know that forgiveness may near be impossible, I would ask you to please try." Looking back up Sarah stared the man in the eyes. "The stupid little girl was quite easy to lure out of her country wasn't she?"

[Subtleknifewielder]

He sighed at her ideas of Martenism and Francoism. Just like everyone else, she had been misled into believing the ideals were corrupt. "Those two philosophies only seek to put those who are most fitted for it into power, but like Communism, have been corrupted by those who would impliment it. Politics may be without a heart...but it shouldn't be." At that point, he actually offered a tentative smile. "And I wouldn't call you stupid...just naive, like--" he blinked, shook his head, and stood up. "But that doesn't matter. Just rest assured that whatever happens, I won't let undue harm come to you, so long as you do not attempt escape." He removed a knife from a sheath at his belt, and in one quick movement, slashed it across his left palm, which he then clenched into a fist. "I swear this by Odin, by Thor. Please do not make me regret it."

With one quick flick, the knife looked like it had never touched his blood, and he turned around to leave. Looking directly at the Lillian. "I know you're awake and listening. I don't know who or what you are, but the oath extends to you as well."

With that, he shut the door behind him, and they were alone in the room once more.

---------------------------

At the scene of the kidnapping

A few men and women, federal police with high-level security clearance scattered about, were still looking for clues in an ever-widening search pattern, but it was a long shot. No one expected to find anything. Two men stood off to the side,

"Still nothing?" Richard Anderson asked.

The officer in charge shook his head. "Just the van, and a few traces of blood that are probably from whatever guards she brought with her. Not even indentations in the grass to show where the attackers lay, though that's to be expected after this amount of time has passed. "Have the kidnappers made any demands? We may have to consider negotiating with them on this one."

"Yes, they have. But they are not easy demands..."

"Are they ever?" the officer grimaced.

"No, you don't get it. They really ARE difficult demands. Involving top-level classified materials. TOP-level."

A dawning light of comprehension graced the officer's face. "Oh, I see..."

Edited March 20, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Sarah Tintagyl]

He sighed at her ideas of Martenism and Francoism. Just like everyone else, she had been misled into believing the ideals were corrupt. "Those two philosophies only seek to put those who are most fitted for it into power, but like Communism, have been corrupted by those who would impliment it. Politics may be without a heart...but it shouldn't be." At that point, he actually offered a tentative smile. "And I wouldn't call you stupid...just naive, like--" he blinked, shook his head, and stood up. "But that doesn't matter. Just rest assured that whatever happens, I won't let undue harm come to you, so long as you do not attempt escape." He removed a knife from a sheath at his belt, and in one quick movement, slashed it across his left palm, which he then clenched into a fist. "I swear this by Odin, by Thor. Please do not make me regret it."

With one quick flick, the knife looked like it had never touched his blood, and he turned around to leave. Looking directly at the Lillian. "I know you're awake and listening. I don't know who or what you are, but the oath extends to you as well."

With that, he shut the door behind him, and they were alone in the room once more.

Sarah nodded, she couldn't even get out of the ropes, escape was futile at this point. But the man seemed genuine enough that he would keep his promises in not hurting her. The problem was, she didn't trust the other two, especially the one man and she doubted that wiry man could do much to protect her. She was just a bargaining chip after all, killing her wouldn't cause them to lose any sleep, but there were ways that she could play to get them to work for her. The Lillian was still silent in her chair. Asleep or awake it mattered not, there was really nothing that Sarah could say to her, they were in a tight spot and so she tilted her head down and sighed.

She waited once again for life to come into the room or life to spring from the silent Lillian tied up with her.

"Damn my life."

[Subtleknifewielder]

As he exited the room, the agent (who went by the name of Stefán Jóhannson) glanced to the side, where the shaved man stood casually leaning against the wall. The man, upon seeing him exit, leered, and opened his mouth, undoubtedly to make a crude comment.

Stefán stopped, turned toward him slowly, and stared him directly in the eyes. "You harm a hair on either of their heads without my say-so, Wilson, and you can consider your contract...permanently terminated." He casually put the knife away, the meaning perfectly clear to the mercenary, who glared at Stefán's now-retreating back. If looks could kill, he would have been dead before moving away from the door.

Not that he cared, as his mind was on other things at the moment. His trip was down the hall a little ways, then into another door. This room was furnished a little better; though it would still be considered spartan by some, any person with military training and field would consider it the height of luxury. It was already occupied, by Violet Sherman, who sood by the window, staring out into a day that was pouring down rain. "We need to keep an eye on Wilson," he told her. "That man is trouble. He may have already outlived his usefulness."

She nodded, not saying a word. She continued to stand in the position soldiers knew as 'at ease.'

"Has either government shown any indication of readying the money?"

She shook her head without turning. "Not yet. They obviously need a little persuasion."

He frowned in distaste, but didn't disagree. "Fine. But we don't hurt either of them more than necessary."

Now she DID turn, and for once, there was the barest trace of emotion. One would almost think she was...jealous? "Of course not. But what makes you say that?"

He shrugged, sitting down on the cot, and began removing his boots.

She moved up behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Tell, me...please." It almost sounded like she was pained by using that last word.

Pausing in his movements, he rtokk a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Fine. She reminds me of my sister. Happy?"

Her answer was almost in a whisper, as she leaned to place her lips close to his ear. "Yes."

OOC: Hope Margrave or Sumer does something soon, or we're gonna run out of things to do here...

Edited March 20, 2009 by Subtleknifewielder

[Margrave]

: Across the Hanas :

The agents of the Lilian Guard walked silently amongst the masses, using any connection they had to the societies who could have information on this. Several Nordic Daughters were pursuing a genuine line of inquiry, others were still spread out looking for new hints and clues.

Meanwhile, the Keeper's Service forces went about things in a more brutal way...hunting amongst the thugs and thieves, breaking down doors and interrogating vicious criminals and their opulent backers alike. Their fury was great as the wolves of the north, and they would not be denied.

*With Sara*

The sister of De Lune sighed, the first true sign of conscious thought she'd allowed after hours of refusing to move or give any sign of awareness. "It seems I failed to deceive them, My Lady. We will have to resolve this by other means. Are you hurt, or in discomfort?"

OOC: Throw me a bone, I'm dog-tired and I need to know what you'd like me to do.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The sister of De Lune sighed, the first true sign of conscious thought she'd allowed after hours of refusing to move or give any sign of awareness. "It seems I failed to deceive them, My Lady. We will have to resolve this by other means. Are you hurt, or in discomfort?"

Sarah lifted up her head and tried to look at Elessandre. "No, I'm fine. Rather not be tied up, but I don't think that's something that we can do anything about right now." She sighed. "If you were awake, what do you think? Do you think we can trust them? The on man seemed all right, but the others, their intentions seem abysmal at best. I don't think we can escape, but I don't know how long that man can keep us alive or how long it will take for our governments to respond."