Story note: I have written up to 56 chapters to date. However i have 3 new characters that I will be introducing soon and I've been writing about them instead of moving the story along. For this reason i will be sticking with the once a day update until i think I'm falling behind.
I've been told that my attempt at giving you the website for Kate's dress did not work out, SORRY! This website seems to HATE links to other sites.
CH44
They spend their time waiting for General Reed to wake by searching the surrounding area. They wanted to get a feel for the area and assure themselves of what Castle told them. It certainly looked like a deserted location. No one found anything that looked like anyone had been here for a long time. Most of the buildings were in worse shape than the building housing there, guest.
Upon returning they find him awake and walking around checking out the walls and gate holding him in.
"Who are you? How did I get here?" He sounds mad.
"I demand that you answer me. Do you know who I am?" Thinking he can command himself out of this.
Javi is ready to sound back with some choice words, but is poked by Rick who simple shakes his head slightly.
"Who's in charge around here? Release me! You have no idea what game you are playing and are going to get burned playing it." Somehow thinking the sound of his voice would get them to comply.
At this time Kate steps out from behind everyone and comes closer, but not within arm's length. This got them all a look of recognition from him. Though he covered it quickly.
"I see you know who I am. You are my guest now. Bracken and your men are not here to help you." Kate gives away a little information without care.
"You can help yourself by telling us what you know." But Reed remains silent.
"Fine, keep your secrets. But know this. You are not 20 years old anymore. You've gotten soft in your old age."
"A few weeks here as our guest and your body that has become use to all the soft creature comforts you have grown accustom to, will start to hit you."
"Let's go guys." Kate starts to walk away.
"This is kidnapping. You are now a criminal." Reed states trying to get under Kate's skin.
"This is self defense, and you are a murderer. With no statute of limitations." Kate counters.
"We'll see you in a couple of weeks, Enjoy your stay." Kate growls at him.
They move outside and over to another building out of sight from the one they just left and Castle opens another Transmat wall and everyone walks thru and back into Castle's living room.
"You're back!" Lanie tells them hapily. "How did it go?"
"He was self centered, obnoxious, and full of himself. He didn't tell us anything. Not that I expected him to spill everything we would like to know." Kate tells her honestly.
"We will give him a couple of weeks to himself and then see if he is more willing to talk."
"Question to ask, is what do we do now?" Kate asks everyone.
"Detective?"
"Yes, Lucile."
"I can tell you were everyone involved in this is presently located at this time. In your history, it was once said, a good defense is a good offense."
"You mean go after them?"
"Yes, detective. If we sit back and wait for them to come to us. They could conceivably damage this building and possibly gain entrance to it."
"The reason your friends are here, is that Bracken may use them to draw you out." Lucile states trying to make a point.
"If you remain in hiding here, he may decide to take innocent hostages and offer you a choice. Turn yourself in or kill innocents that are not part of this.
"The logical conclusion is to take the fight to them. While each group is separated from each other, only relying on communication with each other.
"It is a risk, but less risk than taking them on all at the same time."
"I'm not a killer, Lucile. I will not take part in a criminal act. I have to think of myself as better than that."
"I understand detective. However we can stun them and hold them in isolated locations just like General Reed. There are several remote locations just like Bokor Hill Station. They will remain unharmed so long as they do not bring attention to themselves.
"I understand your hesitation detective, however Bracken is using military forces. So from a certain point of view, you are at war. And wars are a very messy business. A very messy business."
Kate remains silent. Is she crossing a line? Is she selling her morals or her soul if she does this? If she uses only the stun setting and not her service weapon, no one should get hurt or be killed. But what if the unknown happens and the people they are after get shots in. They may have the technology that Castle has given them, but they are not invincible. But with Lucile they have the Intel that the people that are after them lack. The element of surprise could be on their side.
Suddenly Kate has an idea. "Lucile?"
"Yes detective."
"Do you have information on the site in Afghanistan that is processing the poppies into opium and heroin?"
"Yes, detective. I have it under surveillance 24 hours a day. I also have floor plans of every room. Why?" Lucile sound curious.
"We could Transmat there in teams of 2 in different areas and plant explosives and take away some of Bracken's access to earning him more money. Money he needs to use to hire people to do his dirty work for him."
"The processing plant is operational 24 hours a day. However there are times when fewer personnel are present." Lucile advises.
"There are also guards stationed at various places at all times." Lucile adds.
"Perhaps we have time to wait and watch for the most opportune time to strike at it." Kate is talking to herself.
"Getting rid of it has the bonus of keeping drugs off the street. Drug teams are always trying to get to the dealer not just the seller or the buyer. This would give us a chance at getting to the maker." Kate continues.
"Lucile?"
"Yes Richard."
"Keep your eyes on that site. Let us know when the fewest personnel and guards are on site. And we will need something to launch the site into space in the hopes of a moon landing." getting a giggle from Lanie and Jenny.
"You think I'm joking? Don't you?" Rick teases.
"Castle, at this point in time. I'm not sure about a lot of things anymore." Lanie tells him, still not sure if he is serious.
"Well how about that tour I promised yesterday?" Getting nods from everyone.
"Well, you've seen the living, dining and kitchen. Been up to the roof already, seen the projection TV system."
"Most of you have slept in the guest rooms downstairs. Each is roughly equal in size. However the décor in each is different." Rick lets them take a look at each room.
"Next level down is the duplex master suites. Each is the same size with nearly identical bathrooms. As you will note the décor is different in each."
"In between the master suits is my office where I do a lot of my writing. It's my favorite room in the house."
"And down here, on the left is the half basketball court. Through the glass over there is the Pool table and Foosball table. Hidden in the wall, which you can pull out, is a volleyball net that can double as a badminton net. And behind these doors that you tip down are the balls and equipment for the games. And through the glass door in the glass wall next to the pool table room is the handball court.
If you had turned right instead of left, you would be in the three car garage. There is also some storage space in there. And if you had gone straight ahead you would find the laundry facilities. As well as the mechanical room. Six Rheem tankless water heaters, Lennox AC/Furnace with filter and humidifier, as well as the Rain Soft water softener.
"Oh, and if you feel the need and don't just want to ask for someone by talking to open air, which Lucile would forward to who you want. You can walk over to one of these video touch screens. There is one in every room of the house."
"Lucile?" Kate calls
Lucile shows herself "Yes, Kate."
"Where are you in this house? Or are you even located in the house?"
"I'm located in the basement area below the basketball court. There are a number of access panels in the floor that require DNA and/or voice recognition to open, to gain access to my main processor unit(s)."
"Lucile, what if Bracken decides to send all his men to take out this house and bury us all in it." Kate asks a little concerned.
"The windows are bullet proof and also have a type of prism in them. Meaning anyone that has the capability to see in, since from the outside the windows have a golden reflection, the people they see inside are actually one foot off to one side or the other from what they perceive."
"Snipers." Kate states softly.
"Correct. Also the exterior walls are fire resistant and bullet proof to anything of .50 caliber or less. And the damage from something like an RPG rocket would be less than what the person firing it would expect."
"There are also stunner guns buried in the landscape that can pop up and fire using my targeting system. There are similar stunner guns recessed into the roof that can also pop up and fire. The glass on the roof is similar to the floor to ceiling glass wall in the living room. Each panel where the roof stunner guns are located will pivot on their center to allow firing."
"Also the large telescope on the roof has a built in EMP/logic bomb launcher for any aircraft that decide to make a strafing or bombing run. It will also work on helicopters that may be attack helicopters or are being used to transport troops. The EMP affect along with the logic bomb will shut down their electronics and force them down before reaching the house."
"Also the colored glass corner you see near the 3 car parking garage houses multiple smaller EMP launchers, meant to be fired at any motorized vehicles that approach the house."
"I'm Impressed Lucile. Everything is like a stun setting. Nothing is meant to kill." Kate states happily.
What Lucile doesn't tell Kate or Rick is that there is a bomb under her that is big enough to take out several city blocks should 'The Silence' believe that Lucile is in danger of being captured. But then Lucile can't tell them what she doesn't know.
"Killing is something not meant to be taken lightly. We've had enough killing in our history. We've already lost a lot of people due to the war." Rick explains with just a little sadness. That Kate does not miss noticing.
"Let's relax some. Time to play!" Rick suggests enthusiastically.
And is interrupted by the sound of a baby crying over the speaker system. "I'll go." Ryan tells his wife. Who gives him a kiss as a thank you.
"Javi, up for a game of Handball?" Rick asks.
"You're going down, bro!"
"Ladies, Jim, make yourself at home. Pool, foosball, pull out the net if you like. Or just grab some basketballs. There is a mini-fridge in the pool room with water in it."
"Guy's ENJOY! … Javi, I'm going to make you cry."
"Oh, you are going to feel pain and cry for me to stop, bro!"
Javi and Rick head for the handball court. Jim grabs a basketball while Lanie, Jenny, Kate and Alexis head for the pool table.
(Let the games begin!)
