theladystouch Fourth Level 2 Assignment

[theladystouch]

Okay, Aussiegirl. I know it's taken me a while, but here is another scene with Steve. I look forward to hearing what you think.

Lady C




Steve lay on his side, hands cuffed behind him, unable to see anything through the heavy black cloth concealing his face. His two captors rode up front, in what was obviously a utility van similar to the one he had seen before—was it only yesterday?

Since he didn’t know where he had been taken, he had no way of calculating how long the drive to the campus might be. And that was all the time he had to figure some way out of this mess.

Keeping Fran safe was the most important thing, and if the only way to do that was to surrender to the slavers' demands, he would do it. But, if there was a way to keep both himself and his sister out of their clutches, now seemed like the best opportunity for it.

Steve’s stomach churned as he thought about the risks. The head of the slaving operation had been very clear. There would be two sniper teams covering the siblings’ reunion, and both had orders to kill Fran if anything went wrong.

Even though Steve’s hands would be released for the meeting, the wire he was wearing would constrain him as though he were bound. No. Steve concluded that the risks of trying to save them both were just too great. He would have to concentrate on convincing Fran that the cover story was true, that everything was all right. That meant sacrificing himself to the slavers, but it was Fran’s best chance to remain free.

Steve took a deep breath and relaxed his neck and shoulders. Now that the decision had been made, he fell into the relaxed readiness he had learned to maintain before a mission in the army.

When the van pulled to a halt, Steve was prepared to do what he must.

One of his captors worked his way to Steve through the equipment littering the back of the van. “Sit up,” Eddie ordered, taking Steve’s upper arm and pulling. Once he was upright, Eddie removed the cloth sack covering his head.

The rear door of the van opened, and there stood Pete. “Let’s do a final com check,” he said. Pete assured himself he could clearly hear anything Steve said, and that Steve heard his orders through the ear bug he wore.

Eddie unlocked the handcuffs, saying, “You know what’s at stake. The sniper teams are already in place. If you fail, your sister is dead.”

Steve nodded. “I know. I won’t fuck this up.”

“Good. It’s time. The quadrangle is around that brick building, on the left. When the mission is completed, you will be instructed to return here to the van. Your sister will remain under the snipers’ sights until I notify them that you are here and properly secured. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Then get going.”

Steve turned his back on the van and his captors. Orienting himself, he recognized Fran’s dormitory. As he headed for the left-hand corner of the building, he reflected on the incongruity of the beautiful, sunny day. And on such a beautiful day—he was going to lose both his sister and his freedom.

Squaring his shoulders and pasting a smile on his face, he rounded the corner. Fran was there, and he must keep her safe.

“Hi, Sis.”

Fran turned and ran to him, putting her hands on his forearms. “I was so worried, Steve. Where have you been? I ran to get help, but when I returned, you were gone. I’ve been calling your cell phone all night.”

“I know, Fran. And I’m sorry. I guess I won the fight, but lost the war,” he grinned sheepishly. “We traded some shots, and then one of them clobbered me in the head. I blacked out. When I woke up this morning, I was at the hospital. It took me a while to talk my way out of there, and get to my phone. I’m sorry I worried you,” he said, placing one arm around her shoulders and squeezing.

“Well,” Fran huffed, “Just don’t do it again. You scared me.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. But the experience did crystallize something for me. Come here. Let’s sit down at the picnic table.”

“What is it, big brother?” Fran asked, an edge to her voice. “I know that tone in your voice. You’ve got something up your sleeve. I’m not sure I can stand any more surprises right now, so out with it,” she demanded, hands on her hips.

Holding up his hands in mock surrender, Steve smiled and said, “Okay. Okay. I’ll give. You see, I’ve had a job offer. I’m been mulling it over in the back of my head for some time, but last night’s adventures kinda made me see things in a different light.”

Fran frowned. “Job offer? What kind of job offer?”

“A good one, Fran. Working for a big company. I’d be a field agent for them, not stuck behind some desk, pushing papers. I hadn’t wanted to mention it to you until I’d made a decision, and, well, now I have. I’m going to take the job.

“You were right, last night. I hate working in an office, with all the oversight and bureaucracy. I need to get back to doing something I know how to do.” Steve paused, a steel band around his heart as he fed Fran these lies. He surreptitiously scanned the area, looking for sniper locations. They were good. Though he found several promising locations, he saw no sign of anyone watching them. Of course, that didn’t mean much.

“Well, then, tell me about it,” Fran said, excited.

“That’s the problem, honey. I can’t. It involves my security clearance. The only thing I can tell you is that this is a good opportunity for me, and it starts immediately. I have to leave tonight.”

“Tonight?” Fran asked, open-mouthed in shock.

“Yes, honey. I know it’s short notice, but that’s the deal. And I’ll be out of touch for about two months, going through some specialized training.”

“But, why now, Steve?” she asked, clinging to him. “You’ll miss my graduation.”

“I know, honey, but it can’t be helped.” Steve damned the whole situation. He was saving Fran, literally, from a fate worse than death. And all he could see was the hurt in her eyes. Her disappointment with him. She felt he was letting her down…and he was. He should have been able to find some way out of this. But his hackles had been at full alert ever since he rounded that corner. He couldn’t see them, but he knew the snipers were there. He could feel their gunsights like a cold trickle down the back of his neck.

“It’ll be okay, Sis. I promise. I’ll come visit you as soon as I have some leave accrued. Besides, isn’t it time you thought about your own life, instead of worrying about your big brother? You’ll graduate in another month. You should be fielding job offers, deciding where you want to live and work. Figuring out what you want to do with your life. Not worrying about your brother.

“Please, Fran,” he said, hugging, then releasing, her. “This is a good opportunity for me. Don’t make me feel bad for taking it.”

“Of course not,” Fran replied, immediately contrite. “I didn’t mean to sound so selfish. Of course you should take it. It’s just so sudden. I haven’t had time to get used to the idea.”

“That’s enough,” said Pete over the ear bug. “Wrap it up and get back here.”

Steve stiffened, then forced himself to relax his muscles. Fran mustn’t suspect anything.

“Well, then, this is goodbye for a while. I’ll write to you when I can, but remember, this is a lot like when I was in the military. I can’t guarantee when you will hear from me. Now, come here, and give me a hug.”

She came into his arms and squeezed him tight. When they finally separated, there were tears in both siblings’ eyes.

There was a catch in her voice as Fran said, “Good luck, big brother. Write to me when you can.”

Steve squeezed her hand one last time, then, turning his back on her, he walked away. By the time he rounded the corner, his pain had turned to a cold, implacable anger. He was walking into slavery, taking Fran’s place, and he was doing it willingly. But those who had made this necessary would eventually pay the price. And Steve vowed he would be there to collect it.