Chapter Three: The Retrieval:

Manzeppi took the airship he had his people create for him. It would not take him very long to get to Cairo, the airship could travel up to sixty miles an hour, so it only took him three hours to fly there. He had got the information from Robert and was on his way to retrieve Mr. West. He did not delude himself in being a good man, he liked to get what he wanted but at the same time he did love America. Loveless was bad for America and so Manzeppi would help as he had seen the secret service as an agency worth working with. He had West's suit and had added a few things of his own, just in case something happened, would be best to have him prepared after all. That and a few healing potions as well, he was not sure what shape he would find the agent in.

"You think this is a trap?" Needles one of his top assassins asked.

"Yes, of course it is, but it is for Mr. Gordon, not me, Dr. Loveless has no idea that I am after him. He simply is bad for business and has no tact at all." Manzeppi replied, "I am going to enjoy this surprise."

"Yea, should be fun." Needles said.

"Not for him, but for me, yes." Manzeppi said smiling.

"What of Mr. West?" Needles asked "how are you going to convince him you are not there to kill him?"

"I have my ways, I think in the end he would rather come with me than deal with Dr. Loveless. After all I do respect him and would not resort to humiliation and all that, no if I were to really kill him it would be quick and painless, he deserves that at least." Manzeppi said "It is a good thing I am not wanting to kill him."

They came on the manor house on the river just outside town and the airship was hidden nearby. Manzeppi stepped out and his Eccentrics fanned out and into the building. Manzeppi had a feeling Loveless would want to keep Mr. West from really knowing where he was and so he probably was now in the top floors not the dungeon that Mr. Freeman had stated. He entered the building and saw Mr. Freeman waiting for him, he was not clad in the servants grab he had been, no he was clad in style. A maroon coat with a gold and maroon silk waistcoat, white shirt, maroon bowtie, brown trousers and boots, this all went very well with his handsome dark brown features.

"Lovely time for lilies." Robert said.

"Yes, spring will bring more." Manzeppi said giving the proper countersign, "but I fear that here they will not bloom, they need a special care that cannot be found in places such as this."

"That is true enough." Robert said.

"Lead on Mr. Freeman." Manzeppi said, say what you will but he was no racist at all. "Let's see if we can rescue a fellow friend."

"He is not going to like seeing you." Robert said.
"Yes I have been a bit heavy handed with him in the past, but we all should let bygones be bygones."

Robert lead him up the back stairs to the top of the manor to the attic and to a room that was set up as a prison. There in the cold bare room with chains on his feet was Mr. West. He was curled up against the wall and clad only in a pair of canvas trousers. Manzeppi saw that he looked roughed up though the lines from the beating and torture were fading very fast. Jim looked up and saw Manzeppi here and wondered if he had sided with Loveless. But then Robert was here and he never would side with anyone who was against the agents or America. Manzeppi waved a hand and a flagon of a healing potion appeared by Jim who looked at it then at Manzeppi.

"Why are you here?" Jim asked.

"I find that certain people surely should not be allowed to be free and reek havoc on the world. That those that wish to bind the world to their will and create slaves are not the sort I wish to associate with. That freedom and gladsome things are the best things in life." Manzeppi said, "that is a healing potion, to heal you and help you rise and escape from this dreary place."

"He is okay Jim, he really is here to help, he has met the president." Robert said, "has all the right credentials and all."

"Very well, I would like to get out of here." Jim said.

He downed the potion feeling warmth and strength come back to him. He got to his feet and was able to walk out. Of course things could not be that easy for him and once more he found himself having to fight. This time he took out two henchmen while Robert took out one more. Then they were outside in the cold and across a frozen lawn to the airship. Jim was impressed, this was not something he ever expected to see and got in to find that Manzeppi had made it back first with a prisoner by the name of Dr. Loveless. He was being guarded well and looked very angry. Jim was led to a small back room and here he was able to get into his suit. Once done he came out to see Manzeppi there with a plate of food. He pointed to another set up for him.

"We should break bread together and you and I should forget the tumultuous past and start anew as allies, and perhaps in time as friends. To fight the evil that festers in this fallen world of ours and enjoy the delights of fine food, drink and friendship." Manzeppi said.

"And you line your own pockets along the way." Jim said.

"But of course, you cannot fault me, such a large family I have to take care of, but not now, I find Dr. Loveless bad for business."

"He was mine to kill!" Loveless shouted, "and you took that from me!"

"My dear Dr. Loveless." Manzeppi said turning to him, "you really need to learn when to call them or fold them, you have no tact and though a brilliant mind you strive for things that are not yours for the taking and cause far too much harm. You do not have honor, not like Mr. West and others like him."

"He tricked me, that is why I despise him now." Loveless countered.

"Ah, well Mr. West did you ever violate the oaths you have taken to protect America even under threat to your own life?" Manzeppi said smiling.

"No, can't say I have or would." Jim said.

"See, how can you be upset at one who has values and honor such as this. Honorable men are so hard to find, his job is to protect America and you and yes even I have been in the way of that, though I am not now. I find I would rather work with Mr. West and Mr. Gordon and Mr. Freeman here than you. You delight in hurting others, I only do so to make a point."

"You did threaten to have me skinned alive." Jim said.

"Yes well that was not my finest hour, but! I respect and admire you, now come sit and break bread with me." Manzeppi said, "even you Dr. Loveless, let it not be said that the great Count Carlos Vincenzo Robespierre Manzeppi is not a good host and there shall be no tricks at this time either."

"Last time you shot me." Jim said taking a seat, "any repeat of that this time?"

"No, that was rude of me, no sup with me, the food is divine, well for being three thousand feet in the air that is."

Jim did dine with him and found the food was really good for what it was and he was very hungry. It's not as if Loveless had offered him more than bread, cheese and water after all. Once done he decided to take a nap as he needed the rest. He woke to find the airship sinking and Manzeppi looking a bit upset. He got up and saw they were about to land next to the river in the dark. Loveless was no-where to be found and Jim had an idea he had escaped, but how? They were in the air after all!

"I seem to have underestimated our esteemed friend." Manzeppi said, "he has proven to be as good at escape as I and alas he has harmed my amazing flying machine."

"So what now?" Robert asked.

"We plan, Loveless has people here, but so do I. We will have to avoid capture and that is always easy enough." Manzeppi said, "are you up for a thrilling fight?"

"Oh I think we both can endeavor to show Loveless we are not out of hope nor are we out of the ability to fight back." Robert replied.

The airship landed on an open space of land and those in the airship managed to leave. It had been an amazing thing to fly Jim mused and hoped to do so again. But for now they had to find a place to hunker down and figure out how Loveless had escaped. They were far from anywhere they knew and what was more there were henchmen of Loveless all around they were sure. Jim was not going to be captured by him again, he knew he would be tortured far worse than he had been and then killed. That he was not going to let happen. He tensed as he heard the sounds of horses hoofs and the creak of a wagon and saw a light coming up on them.

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So there is its, Jim has been rescued, or has he? Loveless is still the escape artist he always has been and Manzeppi has to have some tricks up his sleeve. Manzeppi does respect Jim here and does not like Loveless. Oh and yes the suit Roberts wears is a nod to D'Jango and yes Robert does look a bit like him as well.

Do review please!