Chapter Twelve:

Showdown With Evil:

St Paul Minnesota: February 13 2002:

Stephan was cold, despite the warm layers he was wearing, it was cold here, far colder than he had expected. He was on a raid to bring in the head of the Red Hand, an organization that had ties to Al Qaida and so as a profiler and an agent of the FBI he was required to be here and help out. He was multi-lingual as well, speaking the usual French, German, Latin and Greek of classical training but also Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Arabic and Farsi along with Spanish. He was listening into a conversation over the radio and leading his team to where the Red Hand was holed up, they had no idea that their plans could be understood but they were going to find out soon enough. Stephan gave the countdown at the door and it was busted in.

Normally an over forty year old man was not on the front lines like this, but Stephan was still considered young for a magical and so he had absolutely no problem keeping up with agents nearly half his age. He threw in a flash grenade and after it went off entered the room to take those inside prisoner. It was over quickly and those inside were taken prisoner. Stephan helped lead them out and load them into a van to take away. It was at this moment his world turned upside down as another agency showed up, the CIA. They were clad in urban fatigues unlike the dark ones that the FBI wore. At the head was cancer man, Stephan felt fear for a moment but squashed that as fear was not going to help in a moment like this. Stephan stepped away from his team and removed his helmet and mask.

"What can we help you with sir?" Stephan asked.

"Stephan Stone?" The smoking man replied.

"Yes sir, that is me."

"You are wanted for questioning."

"Might I ask for what?"

"Under the patriot act I have a right to arrest you as a foreign operative."

"I am an American citizen!" Stephan said, "I have rights!"

"Take him away."

Stephan was searched, his weapons taken and he was bound, hooded and thrown into a van despite the very verbal protests from his team. He had no idea what was going on but he knew he had done nothing wrong. The CIA was out of line, then he realized this was not the CIA and he was back in the power of the syndicate. He forced himself to stay calm as he was driven for what seemed like hours to who knew where. When the van stopped and he was taken out and the hood finally removed, he found himself in a concrete room. Here his armor and jacket was taken and he was forced to remove his boots, he was now in a very bad mood, and he was not about to cooperate with anyone.

He was forced into a metal chair with a light on him, now he was ticked off, he knew he was going to get hurt but really, these people had nothing on the dark lord who really knew how to torture others. The smoking man came in with several other thugs and Stephan really wanted to go for his wand, in a band on his wrist but knew he could not. He was about to get roughed up and he was going to make it work the while. Of course the smoking man made a show of lighting up and taking a drag before he even started to speak. He did love his little theater games after all.

"I want to know where Fox Mulder is." Cancer man said.

"I have not seen him for months, and he never told me where he went." Stephan replied.

"Are you aware of the power I have right now Mr. Stone?" Cancer man said quietly, "what I could have done to you?"

"Are you aware I am a loyal American now and don't give a damn what you do?" Stephan replied so glad that his marriage and children were deep under cover.

"You are a traitor."

"Look in the mirror." Stephan replied, really he needed to stop hanging out with genX so much, "I think you will see what a traitor looks like."

That was not what he should have said but then he was not in a good mood. He was going to get beat up but at least he made it worth his while for that to happen. The smoking man was not happy and ordered his men to start in on him. Stephan managed to protect his head for the most part but was thrown to the floor and beaten badly nonetheless. He actually laughed, which was not smart and got him hit worse than before, he was sure he was going to end up with broken bones before the day was done. He was drug to his feet his arms held behind him so that the men could really work him over. He lashed out with his foot, he was tired of this and was not caring right now what happened. He managed to land a few hits before he was hit with a muggle stun gun. He fell barely conscious to the floor and lay there unable to move as he was beat and kicked.

"Enough of this!" Came a voice he never expected to hear again, "what is the meaning of this?"

"He is a foreign operative and knows where Fox Mulder is." Cancer man said lighting up another cigarette. "I will beat the information out of him."

"Leave us, now!" The well manicured man said and when cancer man did not respond, "now! You have no self control and will kill him before anything is got from him."

"I hope you know what you are doing." Cancer man said walking out with his men.

Stephan tried to get up but was in pain, not as bad as a certain curse the dark lord loved to give but still he was having a hard time moving. Then his world shifted as the last person he expected to see came into the room, Justin Finch-Fletchley himself. Stephan saw the look of worry on the young man's face as he walked over, he was about to take his wand out when Stephan shook his head. He tried one more time to get up and gave up, spitting out blood but nothing else and rolling to his back to lay there. He really hated being beat up but it was less pain than other things, but still it hurt. He was no traitor and had no idea where Fox was, he really did not.

"As far as I am concerned, Severus Snape is dead and buried." The well manicured man said, "but you have a choice to make now."

"What is that?" Stephan asked.

"MACUSA needs help." Justin said, "they need a plausible way to keep the syndicate away from them, they are getting close to uncovering the magical world."

"So where do I come in?" Stephan asked.

"You come with me now, the one you refer to as the smoking man will think I have taken you to the aliens." The well manicured man replied. "Officially Justin will take you to MACUSA."

"Very well, I will go." Stephan replied.

He was drug to his feet and refused to cry out as he was sure he had some broken ribs. Justin had his wand out and healed them quickly before putting it away. He took Stephan out and it was disturbing to see him changed to the guise of the bounty hunter. The smoking man was outside the room and watched as Stephan was taken away. He finished his cigarette and threw it to the floor crushing it out under his shoe.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

So yes, things are moving along here and Stephan is not having a good time of it I am afraid. No I don't like beating him up, but the smoking man does this kind of thing regularly to people he sees as a threat. Stephan is willing to help out and his spying days will be a great help. Besides, he always does want to do the right thing.

Anyway, do review please!