Disclaimer. As per Chapter One. If you recognise it……etc.
Chapter Thirteen
Friendly Persuasion. Part One.
Xion Cheng allowed himself a warm passive smile as the red headed figure materialised in his chamber. She looked around at the hanging tapestries and statuettes that adorned the walls, pedestals and niches in the room.
"Nice place you've got here." Said Willow.
"I am pleased it pleases you, Ms. Rosenberg." Replied Cheng.
"You know who I am?"
"Indeed, your reputation precedes you. How is your Mr Giles."
"He's very well. Married. Got a daughter. Sends his regards."
"Thank you, please return them when you see him next."
"I will. I'm told you get visions, did you see me coming? I didn't sense any wards or barriers as I came in."
"I felt your presence nearing, yes, but I have no reason to do battle with you Ms. Rosenberg. I am a man of peace where you and your organisation are concerned. However, my nephew's interference in our world, is something that I did not foresee."
"So why did you help him to abduct a US citizen?"
"Because I had an honourable obligation to assist him, and he asked me to fulfil it."
"You owed him a favour."
"An honourable obligation. A debt."
"I see. Is there some way we can negotiate the cancellation of this obligation?"
"You do not wish to have the knowledge of what the cause of the debt was?"
"Not unless you want to tell me. Was it really bad?"
Cheng looked a little embarrased. "I made a mistake a number of years ago. I created a potion that would assist someone to ascend in status or rank. He took it to another unscrupulous mage who increased its potency. My mistake was that I did not foresee that happening. That person used his new found life to persecute those around him and rise in political circles. He would have been very bad for our relations with the west. My nephew was the one who stopped him."
"So, why did he use you to help him kidnap Jack Bauer?"
"Retribution for the Consulate attack and the death of Koo Yin."
Willow was puzzled. "But Koo Yin was accidentally killed by his own security, none of the CTU personnel had any lethal weapons on them."
The mage's eyes widened slightly. Willow spotted it.
"You didn't know?"
Cheng sighed. "When I was told of his death, I suspected that I had not been told everything. The nature of the security in our country allows this factor. Koo Yin was the subject of one of the visions I had had prior to his appointment as Consul. He was a good man, and the vision I had foretold of great things for him in the future. That, alas, cannot now be."
"So your nephew duped you into performing a location spell on Jack Bauer and getting a team in there to extract him…….Hey! .Wait a minute, this took along time to get to the kidnap part. Why so long?"
"I was told Jack Bauer died, my nephew was suspicious, but when I scryed for his physical self, it was not there. Therefore I concluded that it was true."
Willow thought for a moment. Then it came to her. "You couldn't get a fix on him, because he died! Even though he was still alive."
The mage nodded. "Indeed, when a person dies albeit briefly, their spiritual signature alters slightly. They are the same person, but also, they are not. It was only when he reappeared as himself that I was able to identify him and place people close to him to effect my nephews wishes."
"Willow's hand flew to her mouth…"Buffy!"
Cheng tilted his head slightly. "I do not understand? What is a 'Buffy'??"
"A friend. Similar situation. ……Doesn't matter."
Cheng nodded serenely. "As you wish."
"Doesn't this change the debt that you owed your nephew? He did lie to you." She asked.
"I doubt my nephew will see it that way. He has had his revenge. Which was what he set out to do. Mr Bauer was the cause of his pain."
"In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior." Quoted Willow.
"You are familiar with Chinese Proverbs?"
"Nope. That was Sir Francis Bacon. Though there's probably something similar in your culture."
"You are wise for your young years."
"Let's just say that hindsight is 20-20."
"Ah, I see." He said.
Willow sought another angle. "So the three demons who set Jack up with your nephew don't count, or the fact that they told a slayer that he's supposed to save the life of the President sometime in the future. If he's imprisoned, he can't do that."
"That is also true. ……You say demons? This is not right. My nephew would not make deals with demons."
"Maybe not knowingly, they were in human guise. They managed to coerce President Logan into doing what they wanted. Maybe they got to him too."
"I see. That is not acceptable. I believe we should talk with my nephew."
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End of Chapter Thirteen.