Chapter 7

16:52 hundred hours

Politics, if there was one subject to send him over the edge, it was politics. It always did and always will send Lambert into a tizz. Though the man didn't accept the fact that he was a hypocrite on the matter. Being the man to sort out the paper work and say what needs to be said was his job, he was in fact representing Third Echelon from a political view, admitting only a handful of people know about the agency, it's still politics is it not? No to Lambert politics involved sitting in conference halls shouting at the top of your voice on why the government should pull the troops out of Iraq, only to be yelled over by a bunch of other men wearing fluffy hats. That's one of the things the man loves about his job, Third Echelon is an off the radar agency, in other words no 'red tape'. The only time red tape came in was when a Splinter Cell was compromised or killed, meaning all existence of them is erased; bank accounts, passports, licences, credentials. If captured, all communications are terminated, and it is then up to the agent, to escape and hide from the world, or follow his standing order of suicide. Though this was different with Lambert, he covered the mistake and never left a man behind. If it weren't for Lambert I'd be locked in a cold Georgian prison, fending for myself. Off the record missions have been where I've had to rescue a fellow Splinter Cell. Though with recent international affairs, and officials breathing down Irving's back, choices are harder if not impossible to make without consequences. This is when I felt sorry for the man. A hell of a job. This time I might not get it easy.

My orders were to retrieve the substance and leave. Explaining how the newly anointed President of China was assassinated in the safety of his own country was something that wouldn't go down easy. And with recent relations between China and the US, it wouldn't take much to bind the ties together.

Dan walked slowly step by step towards Bennett, gun in hand, starring gleefully into his eyes. I crawled along the balcony and stopped parallel to the crates, slid under the railings and dropped behind the cover of piping.

"Lambert, permission to use Fifth Freedom."

"Denied, we don't have the authority. I don't have the authority, and the repercussions would be out of control."

"Sir, his is about to execute an American citizen, isn't that enough reason?!"

"I'm sorry but for now we need him alive. Get me viable evidence and I'll see what strings I can pull."

I ran my fingers through my hair then got my bearings. I crawled along to the rail where the crates sat then rose up to the lid. The lid was locked; I unsheathed my knife and went to work on the lid, a second later the lid slid off. I pulled it towards me and placed it on the ground.

"Who are you? And what are you doing?" Dan said placing the gun to Bennett's temple. Crap.

The crate was long, about one and a half meters, and the insides were covered in foam pieces, I shoved the foam to one side and pulled off a blanket which covered the contents of the crate. Just what I thought. A missile. These crates are the missiles we'd been looking for. One Mark-9 Viper. I took a snap shot and sent the image through to Lambert. "Happy birthday."

"Tell me or one of your men dies?!" damn. I was running out of time. Now the substance. I sat there and scanned around me, there was nothing but more crates.

"I will give you five seconds to..." he stopped, paused for a second then continued "Hello Mr. Fisher..." Crap! I snapped up and pulled out my 5-7. "That stunt at the embassy was impressive. I'm surprised, I thought that you would have taken a hint." I stayed silent and crawled over to the next lot of crates and started searching. "How is Brunton by the way? When you get a chance, send him my regards." I didn't let him slow my pace. I opened the crate. Missile. I took photos of each and continued searching. "There is no point hiding, the area is surrounded and crawling with men given permission to shoot on sight." The next crate: empty. "Fisher!" he yelled. He swung his arm to one of Bennett's men and fired. The gun recoiled from the tremendous power, echoing the cabin. The body snapped back and tumbled onto the floor, the blood trickled slowly onto the floor and seeped down a grating. I wanted to kill them man.

"Sir, give me one good reason why I can't terminate?"

"Hold on Sam, I haven't got confirmation."

I searched the other crates only to find the same, until I found a smaller one. "I will give you ten seconds to come out or another will be killed. 10... 9..." I went to work on opening the crate then spoke up "Mr. President. Still using hostages for getting what you want I see?" instantly the group of soldiers turned to my general direction and opened fire. The walls and surrounding sparked up and shards of metal and shrapnel bounced to the floor. The firing stopped as Dan ordered them to. "8... you know, I really didn't want it to come to this, but you forced my hand." I opened the crate and pulled out a metal box then said "Force you to what? Take innocent lives? Hell of a plan for your first week in chair don't 'ya think?" I opened the box to find five test tubes, each filled with a dark red substance, similar to blood. I snapped a shot then sent them to Lambert. "Sam, we'll need it to be tested." Redding said over the radio.

"5..." his seconds were slow. I pulled out a pad from my OPSAT then unscrewed the lid to one of the tubes, placed a drop on the pad and pressed 'test' on the screen. The test would take about half a minute. I tried to stall him. "Your plan won't work? And you know it?"

"And you do? What is it, I'm interested." He said sarcastically.

"Well... umm," the screen showed '26%' damn "well to be honest I'm not sure, but it's just wont work. That's an answer..."

"3..." Crap! "you truly have been a terrific pain in my arse, why didn't you just die like that pathetic friend of yours?!" I was getting pushed to my limit, and so was my time. '56%'. "Lambert, I'm not getting out of this one, send in ESPEC."

"Don't you read comics, the good guys don't die. Normally the bad guys, aka, you, die a slow horrible death." '81%'

"Your sarcasm is not known that well in China, in fact I find it unbearable." He no sooner finished his sentence when a series of muffled gunshots came from the surface, followed by shouting, then, peace.

"They are coming for us, for your sake I'd let..." my sentence was cut short by a gunshot. Another one of Bennett's men fell. Shit. He signalled a few men back to the elevator then pushed the pistol harder into Bennett's head.

"Stop trying to stall me! I am sick of this, I will give you five straight seconds to come out or the Major dies. 5..." '92%' "4... 3... 2... 1..." '100%' I jumped up and raised my hands above my head. "Wait!" He looked at me surprised. Then signaled me over. I walked slowly towards Bennett whilst Lambert came online "Good Lord, Redding says the substance is known as Red Mercury. ESPEC is on its way, you have the authority, take him..." my sight flashed white, before fading to black.

***

My head felt like it had been pounded with bricks, during the worst hangover. My vision was blurry and my mind could not put together the pieces. I felt seriously ill, nauseous, and dizzy. I'd been pounded by one of Dan's soldiers with a rifle butt to the back of my head. My neck was bleeding and felt like someone had slit my throat, behind me ear was also, they'd removed my sub-dermal, I was on my own. Though still dopy, I returned to consciousness, I was in a room, a small room with no light apart from that coming from under the door which sat directly in front of the chair I was tied to. Mouth was gagged with a rag, I tested the bindings, trying to force my way out then slip my way out. Nothing. I sat, tired saw and naked in the cold room, unaware of the world around me. Knowing only that I was in trouble. My bindings were tied so that the more I forced the tighter and the more bruising they became. Muffled voices came from beyond the door, I couldn't understand the words but I knew they were Chinese. One though sounded like weak Chinese, like someone that was foreign to the language. The conversation stopped, then the shadow under the door moved towards me. I tried harder at the bindings but just made it worse. The door rattled from keys followed by a man, Chinese, but too dark and I was too dazed to notice features. He walked over to me and grabbed me by the hair tossing my head back before pounding me in the face. I dazed out for another second then came back. The man was circling me, slapping a belt into his leather gloves. He reached for my gag and pulled it out of my mouth. I spat to the floor clearing my mouth of blood. Then said nothing. He circled me once more before whipping at my chest with the belt. I jolted but swallowed my pain.

He walked around behind me, paused then swung the belt around my neck pulling firmly. I struggled to get free, but he kept it firm; I knew he wouldn't kill me, cause if he was, why here, he could have killed mm before. But that didn't mean it wasn't painful. He continued pulling making me consider the possibility that he probably was going to kill me. I had one chance, it was slim, but a chance. Using his pulling force I pushed the chair back just enough to slip my leg binding out from under the chair legs, landed again then pushed hard with my feet forcing my attacker against the wall. I fell on my back then slipped my arm bindings out from under the chair and in front of my body. I was still sore and still bound. The attacker forced me up and slammed me against the wall kicking me in the stomach. I jolted forward falling onto my stomach, he moved around me then kicked me in the back, the pain was unbearable. I rolled over onto my stomach and levered myself up onto my arms. He brought his foot back preparing for another strike, but catching him in his stride I swung the chair at his legs making him lose balance. I jumped up and hopped quickly towards him using the wall as a stabilizer, then grabbed the chair and pounded him on the head. He got back up, held his head then charged at me. I couldn't side step, so I leant against the wall then leaped into his stomach pushing him flat on his back. The man was the same build as me, but he kept fighting. He punched me again and again, I gave an awkward pound back as my hands were still bound. Rolled to his side then looped the bind around his neck. He struggled and tossed as he tried to break free. But he was unsuccessful. His body slowly weakened, then fell limp on the floor. I rolled onto my back and breathed a sigh of relief as I wasted all my energy. I waited a few moments before searching the man's pockets; by this time my sight had slightly adjusted. In his pocket was a wallet, and a set of keys. I grabbed the keys and slowly cut away at my bindings, five minutes later I broke free, then stripped down the man and put on his clothes. Rubbing my hands I walked to the door and opened it slightly. There was a hallway, empty but lit by a single Chinese hanging lantern. I snuck down the hallway which led to another door. I peered through the door which led outside, outside three men talked. One was a guard, the other the man who was in the hallway; he was dressed in a suit and appeared American, I'd seen him before. And the last who else but Long Dan. I sat at the door and tried to fathom what they were saying. "Has the package been delivered?" said Dan.

"Yes, you'll get it by morning. What about Fisher? We can't risk him messing this up." The American replied.

"He'll be no hassle, I assure you. It's up to you to keep your deal."

"Don't worry, they suspect nothing, and Lambert will be dealt with." I felt confused, and was still sore, but memorized the American's appearance. They then shook hands then were about to enter their cars when the American saw the slit in the door. I closed the door an inch, regretting it immediately as it gives proof that he saw something. He yelled out "There he is, shoot!" they both immediately ran for their cars. I jumped out from the door and ran at the soldier, catching him off guard. Disarming him and forcing him to the ground I held the AK-47 in my shoulder and aimed at the American's black sedan that just sped off. The rifle butted in my shoulder and the shells bounced on the ground. The car kept on driving as only the back window was smashed. Dan on the other hand had just left the gate. I raised the rifle again and finished he clip, having yet again the same result. The soldier on the ground groaned and sat up, I spun round and looked at him. Fear came in his eyes as he held his hands on his head then laid back down. "Good boy." I said before running for a Ford F-100 truck that sat twenty meters away. I hotwired the car then sped off after Dan. It took a while before Dan's lights appeared in the distance. "There you are guv'nor." I said.

Dan had slowed his pace but kept a steady speed. I killed the lights and continued on. Slowly I caught up, I approached his rear and sat at his speed of seventy miles per hour. Then switched on the high beams lighting up his car like a Christmas tree before ramming his rear. He tried to break free but I kept in his boot. The car spun around so I was pushing it sideways up the road. Dan sat there fighting at the steering wheel but I was in control. I flattened the throttle thus moving faster. Dan sat there looking down the road to a bend leading off the valley. "This Mr. Dan, is my little Chaos Theory. This Mr. Dan is for country. This Mr. Dan... Is for Brunton."

Dan's car pummeled into the valley dropping thirty meters before surrendering to a row of trees to rap around. Directly behind was the truck.