Ambush In Paradise

POSTING ORDER:

1. Angelique

2. John

3. Madeline: Cyn

4. Abeyance Op: Warren

5. Valentine Op: Mary

Intro By Angelique

The cold gray metal hallways of Section One reflected in the icy gaze of Operations, as he gazed out at the briefing table. His eyes briefly passing over Birkoff, Walter, Warren, John and finally settled on Angelique. Angelique looked back into Operation's cold gray eyes and waited patiently for him to start the briefing, knowing that if she dropped her gaze that he would take it as a sign of weakness, and weakness was never to be shone in Section One, not if you wanted to live. Operations smiled at Angelique, but it was not a warm smile more like the smile a snake would give, if snakes could smile, right before it sunk it's fangs into your leg.

John spoke, his voice soft and calm as he met Operations's steely gray eyes, "Would it be better if the members of Nato were to evacuate the building or to set the meeting for another day?

Operations's gray eyes settled on John and he said, "No, John that option is not available to us or to the members of Nato. Imagine if they were not to show up for this meeting, The Midnight Sun and all of the terrorist of the world would see it as a sign of weakness and the strength and unity of all of the countries would start to falter."

John slowly nodded his head in agreement and said, "If evacuation is not an option, how are we to stop the assassination attempt?"

Operations's gaze slide above their heads as Madeline walked gracefully towards the briefing table. A smile lit Operations's face and warmed his gray eyes as he said, "Madeline and I will fill you in on that intel and had out your assignments, but first....Madeline will provide you with the specifics of this mission."

Madeline's dark brown eyes met Operations's gray ones for a second and something passed between them, an intense look that was gone in the space of a heartbeat, but it was there never the less. Madeline smiled her serene smile and began, "Omar Ramando, was raised to believe that women in general were playthings to be used and discarded and he has a long list of women of all shapes and sizes. However, from the intel we have reciently received, it is commonly know among members of Red Cell that he has a roving eye, always on the look out for his idea woman of the moment. Omar has a weakness for women is something that we can use to our advantage." Madeline's brown eyes slid over to Angelique as she spoke with a smile, "Omar Ramando has a weakness for women with black hair and green eyes, even though he will take others to his bed his idea is you....Angelique."

Angelique had felt a sickening feeling when Operations had given her that look, that for this mission she was going to be the bait and she was right. Despite the turmoil that raged inside of her, she calmly met Madeline's gaze and waited patiently for her to continue, refusing to let Madeline a foothold into her fears. Beside Angelique, John's hand that was blocked from Madeline's view by their wide black chairs, reached out and held Angelique's. John's hand sent a feeling of reassurance through Angelique, letting her know that whatever happened he would be there for her.

When Madeline didn't get the response she was hoping for from Angelique, she turned back towards the rest of the group and clicked on the holoscreen to reveal a pretty blonde woman with wide green eyes. "Her name is Barbie Sanders and is Omar's latest conquest. It appears that these lovebirds are taking a weekend getaway to the elite resort, "Island Paradise." This resort caters to the wealthy and provides security and peace of mind to it's elite guests, however this is a Red Cell cover operation and is hostile territory." As Madeline finished she made a barely perceptible nod towards Operations and moved to stand to the side of the table for Operations to pass.

Operations stood from his side of the briefing table and walked passed Madeline, their hands briefly touching as he took his place at the head of the table. "Alright, the mission is straight forward. Angelique and John are to pose as a wealthy loving couple to gain access into "Island Paradise, " once there she will be the bait for our trap. John and the team will monitor the situation and be on the lookout for an opportunity to capture Omar Ramando alive. I need John to play the loving possessive boyfriend to Angelique, because Omar will smell a trap if he is able to take Angelique away from John. Omar's usual methods for obtaining an unwilling woman is kidnap, so be on guard, that will be our chance to grab him."

Madeline stood next to Operations and said, "I need Omar Ramando, alive....he is the only one with the information of the location of the nerve gas bomb and detonation time, failure is not an option."

Operations nodded and said, "The van leaves in one hour, everyone report to Walter for your PDAs and weapons." Operations's eyes settled on Angelique and John and he said with a cold smirk, "Angelique and John, see Madeline first for special instruction." Operations closed the meeting and walked away from the table, heading up to the Perch, while most of the other operatives scattered to do his bidding and reported to munitions.

Angelique and John waited for Madeline to approach them. Madeline's usual serene calm smile spread across her lovely face as she spoke, "Angelique, this mission will involve aspects of a Valentine operation, is that understood? You and John are to appear as Very loving couple or this will not work." Madeline's eyes shifted from one Op to the other and a smile crossed her face, she already knew of the two's closeness and planned on using that to their advantage.

"Yes, Madeline I know what is expected." Angelique replied in an emotional-less voice, even though she was very uncomfortable with the idea of being bait for a man such as Omar Ramando. Angelique thought to herself, 'I'll take the precious moments with John as a special treat, all for the good of the mission, of course.' Angelique smiled on the inside at the thought.

Madeline turned towards John, "John, will you have a problem with this mission?" Madeline's face held a ghost of a smile as she already knew the answer.

"No." Came John's soft reply.

"Good, the two of you will fly by private jet to the island of Malborn, that is where "Island Paradise," is located. Good luck, you will need it, because the bomb is set to go off in three days and we will need to move very quickly to prevent this disaster." Madeline gave a small smile as she turned and walked towards the Perch and Operations.

Part One By Angelique

Thoughts of paradise usually never included terrorists or plots to assassinate members of Nato, but those innocent thoughts and dreams were left to the people who lived outside Section One's walls. Angelique sighed softly to herself as she started to make her way over to Walter and munitions, when a strong yet gentle hand on her wrist stopped her. Turning around, Angelique saw that John was waiting until the lights in the Perch went dark before he spoke.

"Angelique, this mission...will be very dangerous, don't underestimate Omar Ramando." John said as his chocolate brown eyes sought out Angelique's green ones. Angelique nodded her head and said softly, "I plan on taking this very serious, John...after all I'm the bait and I'm going to have to...." Angelique's words trailed off, as thoughts of what she may be forced to do came rushing in unbidden.

"Angelique, I would like a word with you in my office." John said simply.

Angelique nodded her head and followed John into his office, sitting down in the plush black swivel chair and watched John close the blinds of his office window, then place a finger to his lips. John still had to turn on the blocking device that allowed them to speak freely in his office. John walked around to his desk and pressed a hidden button under the desk and then nodded, it was safe to talk.

"Angelique, I promise you that I will not let anything happen to you...." John stated matter of factly as he sat on his desk in front of Angelique, reaching out his hand to lift her chin, drawing her eyes to his. "You believe me, don't you?"

John let his thumb trace across Angelique's lower lip and she trembled slightly and said in a soft voice, "I believe that you will, but what if...." Angelique started to say when John lowered his lips to seal across hers silencing her words. John's soft lips against hers chased the worries that filled Angelique's heart, and she gave herself over to their sweet kiss, after a few precious moments they parted.

"Are you ready, my love?" John questioned as he stood from his desk and held out his hand to Angelique. Angelique nodded her head and took John's hand as she stood up from the chair saying, "I'm ready as I'll ever be, John... let's go and see what toys Walter has in store for us."

Down in munitions, Walter was fiddling with one of his newest toys and happened to look up to see Angelique and John heading his way. A bright smile crossed Walter's face as he adjusted his red bandana on his head and said, "Hey Sugar,....I hear you get to have a vacation...care to take me along with you?" Walter flirted, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

Angelique laughed and playfully gave Walter's cheek a kiss saying, "Walter, you're the only person who could think of this mission as a vacation! Being bait for a egotistical terrorist isn't my idea of having a good time."

"True, but you and John will at least have some time together...if you know what I mean." Walter winked at both Angelique and John.

Angelique felt her cheeks flush and said, "Well, I guess this mission does have it's upside and we will have to be acting like a loving couple." Angelique looked beside her at John and saw a faint smile cross his face before he said, "Walter, what weapons do you have for us today?"

Within moments, Water had given each of them enough weapons, plastic explosives, and detonators to destroy the island, plus one special one just for Angelique. "Here...Sugar, I hate that you are the bait but there is nothing I can do about that, BUT...I can give you this little beauty." Walter held out a small metal disk the size of a quarter and smiled widely.

Angelique took the object and turned it over in her hand asking, "What's this, Walter?"

"That my dear, is a hand held stunner...see right their is a place to slide you middle finger through and hold it in the palm of your hand. All you have to do is to press that little red button on the side with your thumb to activate it and you'll be able to knock ole' Omar out for the count." Walter said very pleased with himself.

Angelique placed the small device with her other weapons and smiled as she hugged Walter tightly to her saying in his ear, "Thanks, you're truly the best, Walter!" Walter actually blushed at Angelique's remark and said, "Sugar, if only I was 20 years younger you'd be saying that to me for another reason." Walter teased with a chuckle.

Angelique laughed and kissed Walter's cheek as she turned to leave saying over her shoulder, "Walter, you say that to all of the girls!" Walter chuckled softly saying, "Yeah, but I mean it with you...." Angelique was already out of hearing range when he said his last remark and shook his head saying to himself, "Be careful, sugar...."

Part Two By John

John, Angelique, and Warren were in the exit tunnel heading out of Section and they were walking to the elevator ready to be shot into the car park. The elevator could hold up to 6 people at once and it was nothing more then a round disk set inside a round tube and it used high pressure air to shoot them up to the garage / exit level of Section.....

They got in and John hit the button for the garage and a whooshing sound greeted them as they were shot up to the garage. There was almost no sense of inertia or momentum from this and it was almost instantaneous. They headed for the large black van which already had Birkhoff and Quinn inside as they were providing comms and tactical support...

Inside the van Birkhoff handed the three Operatives their comm units which they put inside their ears. Quinn looked at John through the side of her eye and John caught the glance. He sidled over to her and they exchanged some private words before he rejoined the others sitting next to Angelique...

The van was headed to the airport where the Section private jet is located. On the island the other agents were in place in various parts of the resort posing as ordinary employees. They would all board the jet get a change of clothes and be on their way...

The ride to the airport did not take long and everyone piled out of the van and headed for the jet which was already parked and ready to go. John walked over to the van and tapped on the driver's side door. He gave the driver the OK to head back to base and the van parted. Everyone boarded the plane first John then Angelique then Warren, Quinn, and Birkhoff. John was going to fly the plane as he was trained well by Section... As the doors closed John settled into the pilot's seat with Angelique sitting in the main part of the cabin. The only other person that could fly the plane was Quinn so she was Co Pilot for this flight.......

John throttled the engines up to full power and gently released the brakes powering the engines down again so they could slowly taxi to the runway.
"Flight Alpha One to control request permission to take off." he said into his headpiece
"Roger Alpha One proceed to runway 45a and good flying."
"Roger tower." John said back to the tower as he closed off the radio channel.

From here on they would be flying with radio silence till they get to the Island and then and only then would they reopen the radio in order to land. As they rolled slowly across the airport tarmac John found runway 45a and they parked at the end of the runway. He then throttled the engines back up to full power and they rolled forwards, moving faster and faster. John then had them taking off and as they rose a soft thud could be heard as the landing gear retracted and locked itself up....

John set the plane on auto pilot on a course for the island and he and Quinn joined the others in the cabin as everyone got changed into their island clothes which for this mission was very neat casual...

Angelique had on a white long sleeved blouse teamed with a pair of maroon dress pants which were form fitting and a maroon jacket which matched. John had a very neat and flashy leather jacket over black dress pants and a dark grey shirt. Warren had a casual armani suit, and Quinn had a long black skirt which was form fitting and a short sleeved top with a jacket which was a dark jade green kind of colour.......

Part Three

The plane arrived safely on the island of Malborn, the team exited the plane, and upon arriving were immediatly surrounded and detained. Soldiers and guards carried sub-machine guns, all aiming towards us. A car arrived, swerved in and stepped out was a personal advisor who instructed that we be taken to their headquarters.
Each of us was then blind-folded, and placed in a van, and escorted .
No one spoke a word. We estimated the time it took, we had traveled nearly 32 minutes in silence. The van stopped, each of us was placed seperate from each other in cells. For the next nine hours we were all subjected to intense interroragations. Birkoff had been beaten severly and layed helpless on the cold damp floor. John had been tied and hung, feet barely touching the ground, soaked in water, they had shocked him severly times. Warren had taken his fair share, but he was determined to survive, and he held strong, he mained integrity, though locked in a cell not far from the others. The smell was rancid, smoked billowed out of some rooms. The cries rang out in the hallway, Quinn had been placed in a cell filled with rodents, her blood curdling screams agonized me completely as she cried that they were biting her, I could'nt reach her, I could'nt help her.
I myself was tied to a gurney, arms and legs strapped with restraints.
There was a heated lamp above my head, sweat trickled down my temples, the heat becoming overbearing.
Suddenly the door swung open, he growled.."what is your name?" This was Omar Ramando himself. I recognized him from the breifing.
Sofely I spoke.."Angelique", he walked towards me, he held a syringe in his hands filled with a blue substance. He imformed me he wanted information, he threatened to insert the drugs into my system, and promised he would repeat the process every few hours till I begged for more.........

Part 4

The resort was more beatuiful than the intel had said, Angelique thought to herself as Vin Strazzen impatiently drug her by the arm, across a small garden area with a stone fountain in the center, heading for another building. The sparkling water of the fountain shot up towards a bright blue sky, making a faint rainbow arch across the top of the fountain, while at the four lower sides of the structure, water poured out from the mouths of angelic winged cherubs.

If it wasn't for the danger that she and her team were in, Angelique would've liked to of stopped to admire the unique looking fountain, but as things were now sight-seeing was not even on her list of priorities....survival was. Still, Angelique took in her surroundings, memorizing in detail the buildings and landmarks, as she was led to another part of the resort complex. The walk itself took about a three minutes from the building she had just left to the new one in directly in front of her.

Vin Strazzen stopped at the entrance way of an identical bungalow that she had just left and absently waved his hand in the direction of the door saying, "While you were in the room visiting your friend, Warren, I had a visitor with a special present for you and new instructions." Vin Strazzen held out a thin gold and diamond bracelet between his index finger and his thumb and commanded, "Angelique, hold out your wrist."

Angelique looked skeptical at the bracelet as if it would bite, but held out her left wrist anyway, knowing that to resist was useless and asked, "What's this for and what are the new instructions?" Vin Strazzen didn't say anything first, only grasped Angelique's arm within his large rough hands and clasped the delicate chain around her wrist. As Angelique tried to pull her arm back from his hurtful hold, she realized with a tremor of fear that Vin Strazzen was holding her wrist tightly as if he didn't intend to let go. "Let go of my arm, you're hurting me!"

Vin Strazzen let his thumb trace over the slender wrist in his large hand and said, "If you were mine, I wouldn't bother with pretty gifts or nice dresses...." Vin Strazzen's cold blue eyes bored into Angelique's green ones as he continued to stroke the soft under side of her wrist. "I'd take you here and now....it wouldn't matter if you screamed, in fact I'd like that much better if you did."

Fear spread out in ripples down Angelique's spine, but she put on her most seductive smile instead of showing her fear. "Oh really, Vin? Then I guess I'm lucky....that Omar is a real man and knows how to treat a woman."

Anger shone brightly in Vin Strazzen's blue eyes as he let go of her wrist and shoved her towards the doorway saying, "I don't have time for your stupid little games! Omar said to let you have free run of the resort and his....gift is also a tracing device, so don't get any ideas.....or on second thought, do try to escape. I'm sure Omar would have no problems in handing you over to me to....punish." Vin Strazzen's eyes caressed Angelique's body in an obviously sexual way, letting her know exactly what his idea of punishment would be, then turned to walk away. Vin Strazzen's cruel laughter filled the air as he walked away, causing the birds in the tropical palm trees to take flight in fear.

Inside the building looking out of one of the side window's was Mary, her short black spiky hair and big brown eyes made her seem out of place, like she should have been a fashion model not just a simple house maid. The mission was in jeopardy if she didn't step in and help Angelique and the others, but how? Madeline had placed her so deep undercover that she had basicly disappeared off the face of the earth, all of her friends had thought she had been canceled, the only ones who knew different were Operations and Madeline.

Angelique shook off the chill the laughter left behind and reached for the door handle of the bungalow, when suddenly the door opened and she saw Mary. "Mary? But...I thought you had been canceled two months ago! How can this be?" As Angelique said the words out loud she realized that it could've been an elaborate trap and she'd just fallen right into it.

Mary saw the thought cross Angelique's mind and rushed to reassure her, after all if a Section Ops felt threatened someone usually ended up dead, and she was on her side. "Wait a minute, Angelique.....this was Madeline's idea! It was supposed to look as if I had been canceled so I could have no way out of taking this assignment. I was waiting for you and the others to get here and to assist you in any way necessary."

Angelique nodded her head slowly saying, "That sounds like something Madeline would do...to back you into a corner with only one way out." Angelique glanced over her shoulder as she closed the door saying, "The rest of my team are somewhere in this building, do you know which room they're in?"

Mary's brown eyes looked concerned as she said, "I saw Birkoff and Quinn being taken to the clinic, they....they look really bad off. Quinn looks like she was nawed on by rats...and Birkoff, he looks like they beat him with a bat, I don't think anything was broken, but he looks really bad."

Angelique swallowed hard and felt tears threaten to spill, but blinked them back as she asked the next question with her heart feeling like it was going to break. "What about, John?" Angelique's words were barely above a whisper, as thoughts of unspeakable tortures that he may have been put through raced through her mind.

Mary caught the unspoken note of love that tinged Angelique's soft words and laid a reassuring hand on on her arm saying, "John's alive....I heard that they had shocked him..." At Angelique's strangled gasp she rushed on to say, "He's alright....he's strong and is recovering in the room at the end of this hallway on your right."

"Thank you, Mary...you don't know how much that means to me, to know that he's alive." Angelique smiled then a thoughtful look crossed her face as she said, "Mary, your a Valentine Op right?"

"Yes...that is my training. I don't know why I was put in deep cover as a maid, there is no one to seduce here but the dustbunnies and they aren't interested." Mary said with a soft laugh. Angelique laughed along with Mary and said, "I wouldn't be so sure....I was supposed to be the bait for Omar Ramando, my team was supposed to capture him and bring him back to Section, for Madeline to get the location and time the bomb that was set to go off, but now....now there is a change in plans."

Angelique and Mary started walking down the long narrow hallway towards John's room and Mary said, "What did you mean that you weren't sure that there was no one to seduce, you have Omar's attention....who else could there be?"

Angelique stopped outside the door that led to John and turned towards Mary and said a name that made them both shudder, "Vin Strazzen."

Mary's doe brown eyes widened in shock and revulsion and she said, "You mean....I have to..." The words failed Mary as to what she would have to do with the handsome, yet cold blooded man.

Turning around Angelique looked Mary straight into her eyes and said, "I know exactly what you are feeling right now, because Vin just informed me of what he'd of done with me before I came into the building."

A look of understanding passed between the two girls and Mary got control over herself and nodded her head saying, "We all have to do what needs to be done, just please tell me that you have a plan." Angelique placed her hand on the door knob and said, "I'll let you know after I talk with John. If only I could get to our bags on the plane, we'd have a fighting chance."

Mary's eyes lit up and she said in an excited voice, "They brought your bags in last night and I know where they are, and more importantly, I have the key to the room!"

"Perfect!....Search the bags for a small metal disk the size of a quarter and bring that to my room tonight before I have dinner with Omar." Angelique said and turned the door knob and started to enter the room, when Mary questioned, "You don't want any weapons...only that...thing?" Angelique smiled and said, "That thing, is a present from, Walter...and you know his kinds of presents." Mary nodded her head saying as she turned to walk back down the hallway, "Angelique, I'll have it to you before you go to dinner tonight, I promise!"

Opening the door, slowly Angelique noticed that heavy curtains had been drawn over the windows and the room was in near darkness. Knowing better than to step unannounced into a dark room with hostiles all around, Angelique cautiously felt along the wall for a light switch when suddenly the lights came on. John had managed to turn on the light beside the bed and was now struggling to sit up against the headboard with agonizing slowness. Angelique rushed to his side, seeing the dark bruises that marred his handsome face and felt her heart ache for him, but she knew that the bruises were the least of the painful souvenires he got in that prison cell.

"John!" Angelique exclaimed, as she sat on the bed and carefully took him into her arms, mindful to be gentle with her hug. "I was so scared that I'd never see you again!" Angelique laid her head against John's naked shoulder and realized that everyone else had been clothed and said, "John, how bad are you hurt?"

John's warm chocolate eyes revealed none of his pain as he said, "My back is sore, that's why I had to remove my shirt, but I'll live. The question is how are you and the others holding up? How did you get in here anyways?" John questioned as he let his fingers lightly caress Angelique's cheek.

Angelique felt her body quiver slightly at John's feather light touch, and closed her eyes leaning her face into his hand as she said, "Warren was beaten badly, his left eye is swollen shut, but other than that he looks okay. Birkoff and Quinn, they are both bad off, they are being kept in the clinic, so I'm assuming that their injuries are severe. I'm surprisingly unharmed....for now anyways."

John raised Angelique's chin with his hand and said in an clipped voice, "Omar's taken the bait, what has he done to you?" Angelique looked up to see anger reflecting in John's usually controled blank look and said, "I agreed to have dinner with him tonight, and he let me see all of you in return. I woke up in this dress, so I have a sickening feeling that Omar dressed me...the thought of his hands on me..." Angelique felt a sick feeling settle in her stomach like a hunk of ice and shivered in John's warm embrace.

"Angelique, we have to get the information from Omar one way or the other...the mission is still the same. I don't want his hands on you, you are mine....is that understood? Nothing he does will ever change that fact, Angelique." John leaned his forehead against Angelique's and said, "Do you have an idea of what you are going to do tonight?"

Angelique nodded and said, "Madeline had thought in advance, placing an undercover Op in the resort....remember Mary?" At John's nod she continued, "Mary is going to get Walter's present for me and afterwards will distract Omar's second in command, Vin Strazzen. So, do you think you feel up to finding Birkoff and Quinn? Warren is in the bungalow across the way just past the fountain, he is in the second door from the entraceway.

John nodded his head and said, "I'll be ready." Then bent his head and passionately captured Angelique's lips in a soul searing kiss, that left them breathless and trembling for more. "John....I wish we had more time." Angelique's soft hand caressed John's cheek and let her thumb lightly brush across his lower lip and heard an answering whisper in response. "So do I..."

Just as they leaned in to kiss once more a loud pounding nearly shook the door off the hinges and Vin Strazzen's voice boomed, "Enough visiting.....it's time for Omar's new toy to be made presentable!"

Angelique drew in a deep breath and started to stand from the bed when John's hand captured her's in his, their eyes locked for a brief moment and he said simply, "I'll see you later."

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PART FIVE

The night was beginning to fall when Vin Strazzen had come pounding on the door, letting Angelique know that the price for her freedom was at hand. As Vin Strazzen led Angelique across the garden past the fountain, back to her room he snickered evilly saying, "Did you enjoy your little time with your boyfriend? Does he know the price you paid to be able to see not only him but your friends as well?"

Angelique refused to talk to him and he laughed out loud, a cold cruel sound. "Ah...so you did tell him the truth....what did he say? That no matter what happens that he'll...alway love you?" Vin said in a sickeningly sweet sing song voice. "No man, no matter what he says, will ever forget that his girlfriend slept with another man, you are fooling yourself, if you think that yours is any different. Mark my words he'll never touch you again!" Vin Stazzen's words held an inhuman glee at the thought of Angelique's pain.

Angelique kept her face as neutral as she could, feeling a sense of relief when her room came into sight, knowing that Vin Strazzen was just looking for a sign of weakness to try and break her spirit. So instead of giving him the satisfaction he wanted by seeing her cry she held her held her head up high, blocking out Vin Strazzen's cruel words with the memory of John's gentle caress, his promise and his sweet parting kiss.

At the door of her room, Angelique stopped and turned around smiling temptingly up at Vin saying with a purr, "If I'm going to get ready for my.....dinner date with Omar, then I'll need some privacy to get my self properly presentable." Vin Stazzen growled menacingly at her but she only smiled wider saying, "Vin, it's not like I will be able to escape past you standing guard at my door."

Vin Strazzen glared down at Angelique and grudgingly nodded his head saying, "Your right, there is no way a mere woman could out smart me. I will be waiting right outside this door for you so don't get any bright ideas." Vin's ice blue eyes slowly slid over Angelique's full figure and he said, "So, go on and make yourself look nice and pretty for Omar, whatever you wear....trust me you won't be wearing it for long." Vin Strazzen laughed coldly as he let his hand caress Angelique's cheek, before he turned to take a guard position directly across from her doorway.

Closing the door to her room, Angelique leaned against the cool surface of the door, as thoughts of what the evening was going to entail raced through her mind. Angelique's jade green eyes filled with worry for not only herself but for her team and especially for John. Sending up a silent prayer, Angelique hoped that Mary had managed to get her hands on Walter's special present and could somehow get it past Vin, standing guard like a watch dog at her door before her 'dinner date' with Omar.

"Well, worrying about this isn't going to get me anywhere..." Angelique sighed deeply, thinking positive, 'Where there is life, there is hope.' Out loud she said to herself, "Let's see what Omar's taste in clothes is like."

Angelique silently walked across the rose colored carpet, towards the large mirrored closet at the other side of the bedroom. Once there Angelique reached out and slid back the white wooden door on it's tracks and gasped out loud, inside the closet were enough clothes to fill her wardrobe at home for a year. Although each dress and outfit was new it was obvious to her and to anyone who saw her tonight, that the dress she chose to wear was not intended to be worn for very long.

A short black sexy fringed dress caught Angelique's eye, and she pulled it off the rack and brought it into the light of the room to get a better look. The dress seemed to shimmer, as the silver thread that was woven into the black stretch knit material, caught and reflected the light back like twinkling stars. The hem was lined with long fringe and the skirt of the dress itself, not counting the fringe would barely skim the tops of her thighs. Angelique held up the dress to her body and posed in front of the full length mirror, it was beautiful and daring, but not something she would normally wear. However, this dress would serve well for her purposes tonight: seduction and distraction.

After Angelique laid the dress out on the bed, she quickly took a shower, then got dressed in the slinky outfit she chosen and slid a pair of soft black silk stocking up her long legs. The shoes provided were meant to not only show her legs to their full advantage, but to make it hard if not impossible to run, since the heels were not only 3 1/2 but stilleto as well. Angelique took extra care in her make-up and lastly did her hair up in a complicated style that accentuated her long graceful neck. A quick dab of jasmine perfume behind her ears, on her wrists and ankles and she was done. One last look in the mirror and she took a deep breath, she was ready....but where was Mary?

Mary had made a quick stop by her room to put on a little extra make-up and some of her favorite perfume on her pulse points. A smile crossed Mary's face as she got herself into her role as a Valentine Op and she slowly undid two of her buttons on her black maid's uniform, so that it hinted at her full breasts. A sudden chill crawled down her spine as she thought of Vin Strazzen's hands on her body, but she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, she had a job to do and Angelique was counting on her getting Walter's present to her in time.

Angelique paced back and forth in her room as the clock on the wall chimed 7 o'clock and she felt her stomach drop, it was show time. With her head held up high, Angelique let herself fall into the well practiced seductress that Section had made her out to be, hiding her true self in a small safe place deep inside of her soul and cringed slightly as she thought to herself, "Please, John be safe....I hope you can forgive me for what I have to do."

Just then Vin Strazzen opened the door and said with a mocking bow, "Your time has finally arrived, Angelique... follow me." Angelique put on her game face and slowly walked across the carpet, letting her full shapely body and hips sway temptingly as she passed beside Vin, his look was a dark a sin itself as she let her hip 'accidentally' brush up against his.

Vin Strazzen growled and his hands clenched at his side as she walked out the door and glanced behind her saying, "Well, aren't you going to....take me.. to him? Angelique let her words purr over the word take me. Vin Strazzen's light blue eyes darken with something dangerous and she heard him say, "If you keep looking at me like that, I'll take you alright, but not to him..." Their eyes locked in a silent battle as neither was willing to lower their gaze from the other. Angelique knew that she was walking a very thin dangerous line with Vin Strazzen, but one that there was no turning back from.

Just then a knock at the door broke the spell and Angelique turned to see Mary standing in her maids uniform looking very alluring. "Sir, Omar is demanding that Angelique come out now, he sent me to tell you to let her come out to him without your escort."

"What!" Vin Strazzen shouted, his voice echoing off of the walls.

Mary instead of looking frightened seemed to blush becomingly, as she looked him into his unusual ice blue eyes saying, "Mr. Ramando also said that, I was to be your reward...for a job well done, to do with as you please."

Mary turned to look at Angelique and said in a very proper maid like fashion, "Miss, follow me to the door and I'll show you the way to get to the main dinning room." Angelique followed Mary to the door, where she was slyly handed the small coin-like weapon into her hand. Mary's hand tightened on Angelique's for a moment, while their bodies blocked Vin's view of their hands. "Follow this hallway to the end and Mr. Ramando will be waiting for you."

Angelique started passed Mary and their eyes locked for a second, dark green eyes looking into doe brown ones as Angelique said for Mary's ears only, "Thank you, Mary....good luck." Mary's eyes held a note of fear, but was quickly hidden as she replied softly, "You too."

The dinning room was enormous, large enough to hold at least a hundred guests. The walls were paneled in a hard dark wood and were decorated with priceless paintings and sculptures. A crystal chandler hung gracefully in the center of the room, it's tear-shaped crystals captured the light and reflected back tiny rainbow prisms that seemed to dance in the air and along the exposed polished wood of the floor. The table was elaborately decorated with tempting dishes of foods and sweets, but it was the deep red of the table cloth that seemed to draw your eyes and pulled you into the room.

"Angelique....you look ravishing!" Omar spoke as his black soulless eyes slowly caressed the young woman standing before him. She had chosen a alluring black dress that accentuated her long legs and hugged her body like a glove. Omar felt a pang of desire and felt his body tighten as he thought to himself, 'She will warm my bed before this night is over!' Out loud he said, "Thank you my dear, for joining me for dinner, I will truly enjoy your company."

Omar walked across the Persian carpet and stood in front of Angelique, letting his black eyes move across her bare skin like a hand, and smiled as he saw Angelique's reaction to his gaze, a tremor of desire passed through her body and reflected in her jade green eyes. Omar reached out his large tanned hand to take Angelique's soft fair skinned hand into his, raising it up to his lips to kiss leaving a moist kiss on the back of her hand.

Angelique looked into Omar's black doll like eyes and thought absently to herself, 'This must be what a shark looks like right before it takes a bite out of you.' Omar had dressed in a black Armani double breasted dinner jacket, with a white Ralph Lauren shirt that was opened two buttons down to reveal his chest in what he thought was a tempting peak at his masculinity. A shiver of revulsion slid throughout Angelique's body as Omar placed a hot moist kiss on her knuckles before she could stop it, but hoped that Omar thought it was a shiver of desire instead, since she never let the true emotion shine in her eyes.

"Come my dear, let us have dinner....you must be starving." Omar said in a deep voice as his desire started to make his voice huskier. At his words, Angelique looked up and asked in a soft voice, "Omar, would you grant me one favor?"

Omar's black eyes twinkled as he led Angelique to her seat across from his and said, "What favor would that be?"

"Would you please let my friends be brought a meal and something to drink? I had thought of this earlier but in my excitement of tonight's dinner with you, I had forgotten to ask." Angelique gave a coy smile and slightly batted her eyelashes at Omar, watching as his smile widened at her remark.

"That can be arranged, my dear...." Omar called out an order to the waiter standing at the far end of the dinning room and said, "Bring some food to our....guest in the bungalows."

The waiter nodded his head and called out behind him for four others to rush out and do their master's bidding, within moments there were trays and bottles of wine being wheeled out of the room and down the hall. Angelique sighed in relief and hoping that her team could not only use the food and drink, but this as a means of escape from their locked rooms.

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PART SIX

Four waiters hurried down the hall towards the 'guest rooms', their carts full of the fine food their master had them prepare for dinner that night and bottles of expensive red wine. The small convoy of waiters moved as one, until they reached the service entrance that connected the two bungalows together and one waiter turned his cart that way.

Warren had been pacing back and forth in his room for hours and still he couldn't find a way out. The windows although they gave a beautiful view of the garden were sealed shut and the door itself was locked, he was quickly becoming frustrated in his attempts to free himself and find the other members of his team.

A loud knock sounded at his door followed by a voice calling out, "Room service, master Ramando sends you food, compliments of his new female friend." At those words, Warren knew Angelique had sent him a chance to escape and moved quickly to the side of the door so that he'd be ready when the waiter came inside the room.

The waiter a dark skinned man of average height, with a long hooked nose pushed the cart inside, loaded with food and wine, as soon as he came into the room he looked up just in time to see the 'guest' swing a hard left hook at his face and his world went black.

Warren's stomach growled as the aroma of the food wafted up to his nose and he lifted the lids of the cart and quickly got himself something to eat before reaching down to 'borrow' the waiters uniform and the code key. Warren looked down at himself and smirked, the uniform wasn't the best fit, but it was going to have to do. Looking down the hallway he watched as one of the waiters exited out of a room three doors down from his and realized that was where they were keeping someone from the team.

The waiter started down the hall and looked towards Warren's room then shrugged his shoulders, a puzzled expression was written across his face because he hadn't seen his friend come out of the room. As he started passed the room the door quickly opened and he was jerked inside, his protests were quickly silenced with a sharp snap of his neck and he slumped to the ground forever silent....dead.

In the other bungalow, the very same scene was being played out, as John overpowered the waiter and broke his neck with a quick turn to the side, the waiter had been surprised so quickly that he didn't even have a chance to call out a warning to the guards. John, let the body slide slowly to the floor and picked up the code key, placing it in his pocket, knowing that it probably could open any door in the resort and he was counting on that. Stepping out into the hallway, John looked towards the direction that the waiter obviously had come and smiled thinking to himself, 'This should lead up to the main building and to the rest of the team....and to Angelique.'

Time was running out and they needed the information that Omar Ramando had in his head to find the nerve gas bomb in the Nato building and to save the lives of the Nato members themselves. The sounds of soft romantic music filled the air as John cautiously made his way up the connecting hallway, when the sounds of footsteps made him press himself flat against the hall as he waited for the people to pass by.

"Oh man....I can't believe we got captured so quickly....this is the reason I don't do the actual missions and just watch from the van!" Birkoff stated as he slowly limped down the hallway with the help of Quinn. From the skin exposed from her white short skirt and navy blue top, it was plain to see the red raw looking wounds the rats had inflected on her body, even though they were scabbed over it looked extremely painful.

Warren turned back towards his team and placed his finger over his mouth to silence their conversations, as the sound of music drifted up to his ears. Warren's Section training told him there was danger nearby and he was correct when a pair of strong arms encircled his neck ready to break it, when he called out, "John, it's me....Warren!"

John instantly released Warren from his grip and said in apology, "Sorry about that, Warren." Looking back at the rest of his team, John smiled slightly saying, " I see that Birkoff and Quinn have made it and are able to walk. Good. Now, we have a mission to complete." John looked down at his watch and said, "We have Eight hours to get Omar Ramando back to Madeline and to stop the detonation of that nerve gas bomb....time is of the essence, there is no room for errors."

Back in Angelique's room: Vin Strazzen's lustful gaze slid over Mary's French maid's outfit and his desire for her shown out in his darkening light blue eyes. "So, Omar has given me a reward for a job well done.....it's 'bout time he appreciated all of the hard work I do for him!" Vin walked across the room and quickly pulled Mary into a rough embrace, his mouth slanting across hers in a crushing kiss, forcing her lips open to his demanding tongue.

Mary wrapped her arms around, Vin Strazzen's thick neck and let her mind go blank as she responded passionately to Vin's forceful embrace. A small warning sounded at the back of her mind, if this was only his kiss then his love making was going to be a nightmare. "Oh, Vin....you are such a wonderful kisser!" Mary let herself moan as they broke apart for a quick breath.

Vin Strazzen's eyes flashed a deep dark look as he said in a growl, "That ain't all sweetheart." Vin quickly scooped Mary up into his arms and carried her quickly over to the bed, dropping her unceremoniously onto the bed and quickly covered her body with his, tearing at her clothes. Mary closed her eyes, hoping that all her training as a Valentine Op would pull her through this mission, but also that somehow someone could save her before Vin took her as violently as he intended on doing.

Quinn heard the sounds of loud moaning coming from the room that the team passed and looked questioningly up at John saying in a horrified whisper, "Is that...?"

"No, thank god! I would know it if it was, I think that is Mary distracting Vin Strazzen. Just then the sound of Mary screaming was heard and it wasn't a sound of pleasure, but one of pain. Warren closed his eyes and shook his head saying, "John, she's one of us....I can't leave her to let that...that...animal to rape her!"

Quinn and Birkoff's eyes all reflected the same thought and John nodded his head saying, "I can't either, follow me and move quickly!" John said as he quietly turned the door knob and opened the room, as soon as he walked into the room he saw Mary underneath of Vin, her hands tied painfully together above her head, while Vin Strazzen rutted over her body.

Quietly, the team moved around the bed, Vin was lost in his own pleasure to notice anything until John slipped the phone cord around his neck and strangled him. Vin Strazzen stopped thrusting into Mary and grabbed in vain at his throat, his face becoming red and was soon followed by the sound of his last gurgling breath. John pulled Vin Strazzen's body off of Mary and untied her hands, gently covering her body with the bed sheet.

"John....thank you...thank you...I've been a Valentine's Op for years, but I've never had a man do the things he...he did to me!" Mary's voice was broken by sobs and she clutched at John's chest.

"Shhh...Mary it's over, Vin Strazzen is dead and will never hurt you again! John looked into Mary's doe brown eyes and said, "I wish I had the time to let you rest after what you've been through....but time is running out. I would definitely say that your cover has been blown, you're coming back to Section with us!"

Mary shakily nodded her head and wiped at the stray tears from her eyes saying, "I want to get as far as possible from this god forsaken place!" Mary started to move and winched drawing a low moan from her lips.

The low sound didn't get passed John as he turned towards Quinn and said, "Quinn, help her and meet us in the dinning room, we are playing this as we go so don't take too long." Quinn took John's place beside Mary and Warren moved to kneel beside the bed taking Mary's hand into his. "Hey, I promise you this....when we get back from this mission, I'll make up for everything you've gone through."

"Warren...you don't have to say that....you wouldn't want to touch me after..." Mary started to say bending her head down, when Warren placed his finger across her lips saying, "No, Mary you're wrong. I don't care what has happened...I still care for you. In fact, I wanted to ask you out before you were supposedly cancelled, you don't know how many times I kicked myself for not asking you out...and being there for you when you needed someone."

John looked back into the room and motioned for Warren to follow him saying, "Warren, Quinn the main dinning room is directly off of this hallway. Looking into first Mary's eyes and then Quinn's he said, "I'll give you 15 minutes to meet us there, we need to do this and fast. Mary, do you know where they've taken our plane?"

Mary nodded her head and said, "I can lead you there, just let me get dressed." John patted Warren's shoulder saying, "Warren, I know you're worried about her, but if we all don't get out of here...." John let his words hang in the air and Warren nodded saying, "We've got one more of our girls to save, so let's get to it!"

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(Back in the dinning room)

Dinner was over and Omar had Angelique dancing in the center of the room, slowly moving them back towards the couch against the far wall. Omar's hands roamed possessively over Angelique's back hand hips, drawing her closer to his ever growing desire for her and he said in a hoarse voice, "Cara Mia, I want you....feel what being near you does to me!" Omar grabbed Angelique by her buttocks and pulled her flush against his straining arousal.

Angelique knew that she had to play the seduction scene to the end, because there was no way of telling if her team had managed to escape and the information Omar held inside his head was worth the lives of thousands of people. "Oh, Omar...I'm speechless....I don't know what to say!"

Omar had already backed them up to the couch when he smiled a cold smile saying, "You should have known that this was the price for your....privileges. Trust me, I plan on collecting...NOW!" Omar roughly shoved Angelique down onto her back on the couch and quickly tore off his jacket, tie and ripped open his shirt. His eyes watched Angelique's terror with sadistic glee as he lowered his zipper and opened his pants and said, "Scream all you like, my sweet one.....no one will come to help you. I've given the servants the rest of the night off."

Angelique tried to quickly slide back away from Omar across the couch, but Omar captured Angelique's legs and pulled her back to him on the brown leather couch. At Angelique's squeal of alarm, Omar laughed evilly and shoved his body between her legs and held both of her slender arms in one hand, while letting his other hand slide between her legs and pushed her panties down and ripped her stockings open.

"Stop...stop...let me go!" Angelique screamed at the top of her lungs. She was starting to panic, if she couldn't reach the weapon, Omar was going to take her there and then and she could already feel Omar's erection between her legs.

Just as Omar started to enter Angelique and she struggled in vain against his painful intrusion, John was there pulling him off of her and tossing him onto the hard floor of the dinning room. "Get the hell off of my woman!" John's anger was at the boiling point when he came into the room at the sight of Angelique being nearly raped met his horrified eyes.

Omar's pants were down around his ankles and he tried to move away from the angry man in front of him, but it was no use as John plumed Omar until he was senseless. Finally, John shoved the unconscious man onto the floor and turned around to comfort Angelique.

"Oh, John....I thought I could do it....that I could let Omar take me...but...but then I couldn't go through with it! I was so afraid, and I couldn't reach Walter's stunner!" Angelique's words were broken by sobs.

John tenderly held Angelique in his arms, thanking the fates that he arrived when he had. "Angelique, the team is okay and...." John looked up as Birkoff and Warren, walk into the room followed by Quinn and Mary. Mary looked over at Angelique and saw the haunted look in her eyes and said, "It's over now for both of us..."

Omar started to come to and Angelique took the hidden stunner out of the secret hiding place and placed it over her finger, scooting off of the couch, waiting patiently until Omar struggled to open his eyes then said in a sing song voice, "Wakie...wakie, Omar. I have to admit one thing, your right, pay back is a bi*ch!" and stunned him with the stunner on his chest, holding it there and watching him twitch.

Until John said, "Enough, Angelique...we have to bring him back alive."

"I wanted him to suffer for what he did to all of us."

Warren chuckled and said, "That's my girl, Angelique....get the last word!" Birkoff, Quinn, and Mary all nodded their heads. John knelt down beside Angelique and gently took the stunner from her stiff fingers. Then, John pulled Angelique back into his embrace letting his hand brush down her long black hair while he said, "It's alright, my love....sshhh...after Madeline gets a hold of him you can rest assured that he will suffer."

"Good." Angelique said, and stood up with John's help and made her way over to Mary asking gently, "Are you alright, Mary?" Mary nodded but didn't say anything for a moment then said, "I'll have nightmares for along time, but I'll live. I'm just glad that Vin Strazzen isn't so lucky as Omar, but knowing Madeline as we all do...maybe, dying quickly was too good for him." Angelique heard the pain that filled Mary's voice and silently wrapped her arms around the other woman, hugging her close for a moment, each relieved that the worst part of the mission was finally over.

Drawing back, Angelique wiped at her green eyes with the back of her hand and said, "Let's get this piece of trash back to Section, and we can put all of this far behind us." Birkoff smiled and limped as quickly as he could over to Angelique and Mary and said, "Mary was able to show us to the room with our weapons and explosives.....this place is set to blow in 10 minutes, so let's leave the emotional scene for later when we have more time."

The team made it away from the resort within moments and watched the fireworks from a safe distance, as the resort 'Island Paradise' was blown from here to kingdom come. As each set of explosives detonated one after another, they blew off a different section of the roof at a time and shattering the windows until nothing was left standing. Angelique smiled to herself as fire and black smoke billowed high into the air, this place would be nothing more than a distant memory that Angelique planned to forget as soon as possible.

John found where the plane was stashed with the help of Mary, and within minutes the team was loaded inside the plane and was headed towards the airstrip. After a short trip down the runway, the plane was airborne, with John at the controls heading back to Section drop off their 'package' into Madeline's waiting hands.

Next....