Same Disclaimer Applies: I'm really sorry this took so long. I did some
research for the last two chapters therefore making it more difficult to
update quickly. I promise to update sooner next time but I need to se
REVIEWS to make it happen. ENJOY!!!!!!
MONASTERY - HIMALAYAS, NEPAL
Complete and encompassing silence filled the beautifully sculpted hallway. Monks, clothed in red robes wandered around them, not making an inclination to speak or acknowledge their new arrivals. Most heads were tilted down and did not venture a look up; however, a small few would peek at the visitors from beneath heavy eye lids.
Sydney was shocked to realize the building was familiar to her. The scent permeated her consciousness causing her steps to falter. Vaughn grabbed her elbow, hoping to steady and reassure her and received a small smile in thanks. All that remained on their backs were smaller packs that carried only the bare essentials.
The group passed by rooms of people involved in yoga or deep meditation without a word. The further they moved through the halls the greater the feeling of déjà vu became for Sydney. Irina glanced over her shoulder and made eye contact with her daughter, sensing her elevated anxiety level.
"Do you know where you're going?" Jack whispered in Irina's ear.
"Most of the monasteries are built similarly in Nepal. The person we're looking for should reside at the end of the hall on the right." Irina moved gracefully.
"Do you think he'll be willing to hand over the device? He did hold Sydney here against her will." Vaughn whispered from behind them.
Irina stopped at two stained glass doors immediately following Vaughn's question. Instead of answering she opened the doors and stalked into the room.
"Can I be of service to you?" The man asked.
"I believe you can." Irina said smoothly. Jack, Sydney and Vaughn walked through the door to the surprise of the monk.
Noticing his surprise Sydney surmised she had indeed been there before. "I was right; you kept me here for almost two years. Why?" Her voice had risen with each word.
"Please keep your voice down out of respect for the others in the temple." The monk attempted to placate the group. "You were ill when we found you and in grave danger. I brought you back here to help you."
"You found me!" Sydney exclaimed. "You just happened to have flown to another continent and found me unconscious!" Her volume had dropped but the anger remained.
Jack placed his hand on Sydney's arm to calm her down before addressing the monk himself. "Arvin Sloane gave you something to keep for him. I want to know where it is." Jack made sure the man heard the threat in his tone.
"I believe you're speaking of the Rambaldi device Arvin gave to me. Has he now sent you to retrieve it for him?" The man seemed to have regained his composure.
"Sloane is dead." Vaughn stated boldly.
"Well then Sydney, you are now safe." The monk bowed slightly.
"You're using the machine Sloane assembled. But I can't determine what purpose it holds for you. Your training has instilled in you the belief in unity and individual empowerment. What value is Rambaldi to you?" Irina's eyes moved back and forth in thought.
"I am a Shakya; one of the only pure lines left. I have made it my life's work to purify the Buddhist faith. For centuries Tantric Buddhism has become increasingly infused with Hinduism. It will no longer be stood for." The monk moved out from behind the low altar. "This is the site of the Great Stupa of Svayambhunath; it was in this location that the self creation of Buddha occurred; and the path to enlightenment spread throughout Nepal." The monk's eyes grew dark.
"What do you mean by purify?" Vaughn asked despairingly.
"Hinduism has corrupted the faith and must be rid of completely." The man said with force.
"The machine can heal but it can also destroy." Jack realized in a moment of clarity. The monk nodded his head in agreement. "And you intend to purify the faith by means of ethnic cleansing." His statement resulted in the measured surprise from his three companions.
"Sydney has been of much help to our goal, without her the machine would not have worked. Nor would I have been able to test it."
"You tested the machine on my liver." Sydney said and touched her side softly.
"It was a western author that wrote the liver is the seat of the soul but it was an eastern mind that formed the thought. By using the machine on your liver, I was able to rid your body of the toxins that would make it difficult for Buddha to accept you." The monk looked genuinely pleased with himself.
"Buddha is a God of understanding and unity. He does not discard people who seek his wisdom." Irina tried to maintain a tight reign on her anger at the man. "Your understanding appears quite skewed; you are willing to kill millions of people for a God that abhors violence."
"It must be done. The others in the temple believe as I do that a new day will don with the abolishment of Hinduism. Buddha shall rise again." The monk raised his arms in a gesture of power.
"We won't allow that to happen." Vaughn narrowed his eyes in disgust.
"You cannot stop me. I am invulnerable." The man lifted an intricate sword from its mounting no the wall and pointed it at the four invaders.
Misleading Sloane had eventually led to his demise but the two men and women before him would have to be killed quickly for fear of them ruining the temple's carefully laid plans.
The sword was drawn up and caught the glint of the falling sun from the large windows behind. With a gush the sword came plummeting down toward flesh...
Please Review (-:
I'm boycotting without reviews because I'm evil. Yes that's right I'm evil and proud of it. And I don't just want reviews for this story, no that would be too easy, I want reviews for all my stories. Yes that sounds good. Mmmuuuhahaha.
MONASTERY - HIMALAYAS, NEPAL
Complete and encompassing silence filled the beautifully sculpted hallway. Monks, clothed in red robes wandered around them, not making an inclination to speak or acknowledge their new arrivals. Most heads were tilted down and did not venture a look up; however, a small few would peek at the visitors from beneath heavy eye lids.
Sydney was shocked to realize the building was familiar to her. The scent permeated her consciousness causing her steps to falter. Vaughn grabbed her elbow, hoping to steady and reassure her and received a small smile in thanks. All that remained on their backs were smaller packs that carried only the bare essentials.
The group passed by rooms of people involved in yoga or deep meditation without a word. The further they moved through the halls the greater the feeling of déjà vu became for Sydney. Irina glanced over her shoulder and made eye contact with her daughter, sensing her elevated anxiety level.
"Do you know where you're going?" Jack whispered in Irina's ear.
"Most of the monasteries are built similarly in Nepal. The person we're looking for should reside at the end of the hall on the right." Irina moved gracefully.
"Do you think he'll be willing to hand over the device? He did hold Sydney here against her will." Vaughn whispered from behind them.
Irina stopped at two stained glass doors immediately following Vaughn's question. Instead of answering she opened the doors and stalked into the room.
"Can I be of service to you?" The man asked.
"I believe you can." Irina said smoothly. Jack, Sydney and Vaughn walked through the door to the surprise of the monk.
Noticing his surprise Sydney surmised she had indeed been there before. "I was right; you kept me here for almost two years. Why?" Her voice had risen with each word.
"Please keep your voice down out of respect for the others in the temple." The monk attempted to placate the group. "You were ill when we found you and in grave danger. I brought you back here to help you."
"You found me!" Sydney exclaimed. "You just happened to have flown to another continent and found me unconscious!" Her volume had dropped but the anger remained.
Jack placed his hand on Sydney's arm to calm her down before addressing the monk himself. "Arvin Sloane gave you something to keep for him. I want to know where it is." Jack made sure the man heard the threat in his tone.
"I believe you're speaking of the Rambaldi device Arvin gave to me. Has he now sent you to retrieve it for him?" The man seemed to have regained his composure.
"Sloane is dead." Vaughn stated boldly.
"Well then Sydney, you are now safe." The monk bowed slightly.
"You're using the machine Sloane assembled. But I can't determine what purpose it holds for you. Your training has instilled in you the belief in unity and individual empowerment. What value is Rambaldi to you?" Irina's eyes moved back and forth in thought.
"I am a Shakya; one of the only pure lines left. I have made it my life's work to purify the Buddhist faith. For centuries Tantric Buddhism has become increasingly infused with Hinduism. It will no longer be stood for." The monk moved out from behind the low altar. "This is the site of the Great Stupa of Svayambhunath; it was in this location that the self creation of Buddha occurred; and the path to enlightenment spread throughout Nepal." The monk's eyes grew dark.
"What do you mean by purify?" Vaughn asked despairingly.
"Hinduism has corrupted the faith and must be rid of completely." The man said with force.
"The machine can heal but it can also destroy." Jack realized in a moment of clarity. The monk nodded his head in agreement. "And you intend to purify the faith by means of ethnic cleansing." His statement resulted in the measured surprise from his three companions.
"Sydney has been of much help to our goal, without her the machine would not have worked. Nor would I have been able to test it."
"You tested the machine on my liver." Sydney said and touched her side softly.
"It was a western author that wrote the liver is the seat of the soul but it was an eastern mind that formed the thought. By using the machine on your liver, I was able to rid your body of the toxins that would make it difficult for Buddha to accept you." The monk looked genuinely pleased with himself.
"Buddha is a God of understanding and unity. He does not discard people who seek his wisdom." Irina tried to maintain a tight reign on her anger at the man. "Your understanding appears quite skewed; you are willing to kill millions of people for a God that abhors violence."
"It must be done. The others in the temple believe as I do that a new day will don with the abolishment of Hinduism. Buddha shall rise again." The monk raised his arms in a gesture of power.
"We won't allow that to happen." Vaughn narrowed his eyes in disgust.
"You cannot stop me. I am invulnerable." The man lifted an intricate sword from its mounting no the wall and pointed it at the four invaders.
Misleading Sloane had eventually led to his demise but the two men and women before him would have to be killed quickly for fear of them ruining the temple's carefully laid plans.
The sword was drawn up and caught the glint of the falling sun from the large windows behind. With a gush the sword came plummeting down toward flesh...
Please Review (-:
I'm boycotting without reviews because I'm evil. Yes that's right I'm evil and proud of it. And I don't just want reviews for this story, no that would be too easy, I want reviews for all my stories. Yes that sounds good. Mmmuuuhahaha.