These Are Very Dangerous and Difficult Times [dated to 10/31]

[chesspolitik]

By the day of Halloween, Anatoly was completely convinced that danger was lurking around every corner and that no corner of the island was safe. There was simply no telling where Molokov or de Courcey could be and he was afraid that if he stepped outside, even for a moment, that they would find a way to snatch him. He could only begin to imagine what sort of things they would have in store for him and he did not want to find out how the reality matched with his fears.

But as inconvenient as it was, he did need to do things like shower and eat and for that, he had to leave his hut. If Lex had not been there to act as his faithful bodyguard, he would have been content to remain a hungry and rather ripe grandmaster. Their trip to the compound passed without incident and after being reassured several times that Lex would be waiting in the rec room for him, Anatoly went to take a shower.

When he emerged and headed to the rec room, clean (if not exactly clean shaven), he found not Lex but a note in his handwriting. Opened, it simply said that Lex had spotted Molokov lurking about and advised him to leave the compound as soon as possible. He would be waiting outside and then the two of them could go to the IPD.

Without thinking or even stopping to pack up his chess set, Anatoly fled the rec room, heedless of the startled looks around him. He burst outside of the Compound and turned the corner, expecting to see Lex waiting for him. Instead, he found Molokov with de Courcey besides him with a nasty smirk. There was a burst of pain as Molokov's fist connected with his face and then he knew only blackness.

When his consciousness finally returned, he found himself tied to a palm tree on a deserted stretch of the beach. Lex was tied to a tree beside him, looking rather worse for the wear. Molokov and de Courcey weren't in sight but he had no doubt they were near, concocting some devious plan.

"Molokov, you Chekist bastard!" he shouted in Russian as he struggled futilely against his bonds. "What do you hope to accomplish by this?"

Comments

[molokovcocktail]

"It will, I promise you," Molokov reassured her, a small flicker of amusement in his eyes the only outside symbol of the glee he was feeling in seeing his plan come together. She was so much more malleable than Ms. Vassey - it was a pity she had not been present in Bangkok. Things would have gone so much better if she had. "If I may show you the way?"

[chesspolitik]

"They have not said in so many words but I think it is clear this is payback for Bangkok," Anatoly answered. "Why else all of this?"

[lysistrategic]

"Thank you, again." It's ever-so-polite, almost warm. Anyone who knows Joan would tell you that's a danger zone, not quite as close to you getting a new orifice as frosty polite, but definitely a warning sign.

Molokov doesn't know her, however, and she's perfectly happy to walk along with him and let him think she's a helpless if intelligent playmate of Anatoly's a little while longer. "I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new to the island?"

[capable_of]

"I meant specifics. Do we know how they plan on getting their payback?" It took all his patience not to snap at Anatoly with impatience. He couldn't figure out how to get them out of this if he didn't know what was going on and he had just restated the obvious.

[chesspolitik]

"I know nothing," Anatoly answered, leaning his head back against the tree with a sigh. He was useless, worse than useless and now everyone he loved would suffer along with him. "I am sorry. I am so sorry, Lex."

[molokovcocktail]

"I am, yes," Molokov answered, secure in his belief that Joan was not a threat at all. This was so delightfully simple that he could almost sing. "Anatoly has so very kindly taken me in and explained about this place."

[molokovcocktail]

"Are you not a genius, Mr. Luthor?" Molokov asked smoothly, stepping out from behind one of the trees with every sense of theatricality he could muster. "Your dear comrade has done his very best to embarrass me and his own country? What do you think will happen?"

[capable_of]

"I'm genius enough not to underestimate you." Lex spat back, biting back his frustration to keep his voice flat. "And I have no doubt you with waste no expense to get your revenge. I could myself lucky that I can't estimate your every move." While he knew what he would do, and how much did he wish he didn't, he didn't want to risk Anatoly's life by guessing wrong.

[molokovcocktail]

Molokov glanced over at Sergievsky to see if he had some comment to make but finding him sullen, he shrugged and turned his attention back to his young genius. "Now, I think you underestimate yourself. I have heard so many interesting stories of you. I think perhaps you could offer me a bit of a challenge if you put your mind to it."

[lysistrategic]

"He's very kind. He was one of my first friends on the island," Joan tells Molokov, lulling him into a false sense of security with personal sounding tidbits that are meaningless. "Did you know him before or was it just coincidence that brought you and Anatoly together?"

Her gaze scans the path ahead of them, noticing every detail, in case she has to find her way back here or back from here. She just needs him to take her to Anatoly so she can see how he's being held, and then she'll formulate a plan.

[molokovcocktail]

"I did know him before," Molokov answered easily as he kept an eye out for any unwelcome witnesses. "I was honored to be chosen as his second at his chess matches."

It was supposed to have been a cushy job, a stepping stone on his path to power. Instead, it had been the job from hell and had nearly led to his downfall. Oh, Sergievsky would pay.

[capable_of]

Lex was perfectly fine stealing all of Molokov's attention. The less attention on Anatoly the better. "Why? Are you so uninspired that you need a real super villain to think of your plans for you?" He taunted back. "I know what I would do. The question is, how ruthless are you?"

[lysistrategic]

Now she has to be careful, choose a path, and stick to it, and if she's wrong, it will all fall down. Knowing too little could challenge the illusion as much as knowing too much.

Deciding, she lets a small shadow creep into her eyes and her smile turns wistful. "Then you know how hard it's been for him. Everything he went through," she says quietly, but without any implication of recognizing him as part of 'the troubles'. "I'm glad I'll get a chance to know you." That's brighter, eyes warming, and "We'll have to play, if you don't mind winning all the time," is filled with playful self-deprecation again.

[molokovcocktail]

Molokov merely smiled and bent down so he could look Lex straight in the eye. "I think you will soon see how ruthless I am. Perhaps your dear Anatoly will tell you some stories while I go and collect another guest."

[molokovcocktail]

"Oh yes, his very difficult time," Molokov said, managing to hide his sense of outrage. Sergievsky had brought all of his troubles onto himself and he really should not be surprised that he would tell an revisionist version of what happened to others.

"I should be happy to play," he lied effortlessly as he steered Joan over to a more deserted section of the beach. A few more feet and then they would be out of view. "Whenever you would like."

[capable_of]

Lex didn't flinch as he looked right back. "He's told them to me. And I can counter with stories of my own father. So do your worst, I doubt you can shock me." It was bravado at it's best but no one did bravado better then a Luthor.

[molokovcocktail]

"I assure you, Mr. Luthor, I intend to." With that, Molokov straightened up and reminded himself yet again that he could not teach the brat a lesson until everyone was in place.

[capable_of]

"Why wait? Let's get it over with." Lex said simply to keep Molokov's attention on him.

[lysistrategic]

"Another teacher, then," Joan decides with a grateful nod of her head. "Maybe by spring I'll manage to do something Anatoly doesn't anticipate ten moves ahead."

Problematically, even though he knows she's CIA, he's not going to anticipate this move. How could he? He has no idea what she's capable of.

She glances around the beach, expression tightening somewhat, the first hints of suspicion creeping into her face. "Where did you say we were going again?"

[molokovcocktail]

"You are very eager for this, are you not?" Molokov sneered. "It is a pity but you will have to wait."

[molokovcocktail]

"I don't believe I did," Molokov answered smoothly, gripping Joan's arm as a precaution. "All will be explained shortly but you will need to come with me."