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

[loveofmasters]

Florence was staying home. Not only had Jack insisted, but she really had no inclination to go wandering about when people's worst nightmares were supposed to be wandering around. She just knew she wouldn't be of any help and if anything, she'd be in the way. So today, she wasn't doing anything that took her more than a few steps away from her own front door.

Like building up the fire pit outside so she could make something for lunch and dinner. She was getting pretty good at cooking in the rough so to speak, but she was thinking that an actual stove was going to be needed eventually. Maybe she could get Jack to find her one as a wedding present. But for now, she lit the fire and started building it up before she placed the grill top over it, pausing as she thought she heard something in the distance.

[decourceyonrocks]

"Hello Ms. Vassey."

The southern drawl came from just behind Florence, the sound made on purpose as Walter purposefully kicked something in the stand to her get attention. It was no fun sneaking up on someone if they didn't know you were there.

His arms came around her, his hands covering hers, helping her place the grill on the fire. But once it was on, he purposefully didn't let go. "What a cozy little home you have made for yourself."

[loveofmasters]

Letting out a little squeak at the sudden voice behind her, Florence started and almost dropped the grill before she managed to get control of herself again. This was bad. This was very bad. Jack was nearby, but Walter... she didn't know if he was armed, or if he'd really shoot someone who wasn't a part in this. Well, she certainly had her suspicions about the latter but in the moment, the only thing she could think to do was stall.

"I'm fond of it. Care to come inside for a drink, Walter, I imagine we have a lot of catching up to do." She didn't know what he wanted. Why her? Why now? It wasn't as if she were part of Anatoly's life anymore.

[decourceyonrocks]

Having still not let go of her hands, Walter changed his grip so he could turn her around so they were facing. His usual slipper smile was on his face as he tsked softly. "Look at you. The little homemaker. An' for someone not Anatoly. Imagined how shocked I am." It was clear he didn't mean a word.

"Oh, we do have some catching up to do." He added, "Just not here."

[loveofmasters]

Florence had to bite back a retort about his inevitable surprise at Anatoly's living arrangements as her eyes darted around, looking for Jack, looking for anyone. "I like my life here, it's quiet and I'm not a pawn in your games anymore." She pulled her hands from his grip, attempting to take a step back. This wasn't good. Whatever Walter wanted, she wanted no part in it.

"I'm not leaving. If you want to talk we can talk, but we're doing it here."

[lysistrategic]

Since the afternoon she read Anatoly in on her covert status, Joan's been watching for Molokov and de Courcey. She hasn't seen even a hint of them, except in Anatoly's increasingly panicked behavior. Arthur tells her that this is like the amnesia, effecting people selectively, and while she's terribly glad neither of their fears has shown up to haunt them and push her toward the clinic's narcotic stores, she's as concerned for Anatoly as she would be if he were one of her assets. More, because she loves him dearly. Arthur, fortunately, has been a rock, never once questioning the appropriateness of their relationship.

So when Halloween rolls around and the island fills with terrors, some recognizable, some not, it's to Arthur that Joan turns immediately. She's been to see Anatoly this morning and he's not around; there are signs of struggle. This all she tells Arthur and then says, "I have a plan, but you're not going to like it."

[carriesabigstick]

"You know I never like to hear those words." Arthur said with a hint of a smile but it was only a flash, before his concerned gaze met Joan's. "Tell me."

[lysistrategic]

"You remember them, de Courcey and Molokov, from Chess, I'm sure," Joan says in that tactful way wives have of giving information to their husbands who are lost and won't ask for directions. "They're both sadistic bastards. If they have Anatoly, they'll want him to suffer, and the women in his life, his loved ones, have always been his weakness."

She pauses, her hand on Arthur's arm and gaze clear. Anatoly is dear, yes, but Arthur is her husband; there's no conflict here. "If I go in, let them think they've captured me unaware, there's every chance I can get Toly and anyone else they've taken out alive. And, you can work from the outside, in case I can't."

[carriesabigstick]

Joan was right, he didn't like it. Arthur knew that she could handle herself, that wasn't an issue, it was being on her own in an unknown situation with no backup on the inside. He was silent, going into his Director of Clandestine Services mode working through all the details of the intel that he knew. Which wasn't much admittedly.

The only thing he did like about her plan was that he would be on the outside working in.

"And if they've watched you, or Toly talked and they know what you're capable of?"

[lysistrategic]

"Arthur." Joan's voice is warm, despite edging sharp with her impatience. "Toly knows that I'm with the Agency. He's never bothered to ask about my skill set or my training. De Courcey's from a very different era in Agency operations. In addition to that, as far as we've been told, they've not actually been on the island before today, so they probably know next to nothing about me."

There may be two people on the island who know Joan's physical training besides Arthur. Auggie and Ms. Freelander who has an uncanny knack for showing up in the middle of Joan's training. Possibly Auggie has mentioned to Annie that she's skilled with Krav Maga, but beyond them...

"They'll expect talking and tricks, if they know anything at all. Lies, not physical assaults."

[pitythetrumper]

Unbelievable. Anatoly hadn't showed up for their game. Freddie's immediate thought was that it was because he was sick. What other reason could their be for him to miss a game? Though he thought that even sick, Anatoly would at least drag himself to the table if not be entirely coherent. The problem was that there was a chess board in their usual spot. There was Anatoly's board in their usual spot and that just made his stomach clench. No. Impossible. Freddie refused to believe it. As much as he might have wanted Anatoly gone at one point, things were different now and he refused to believe that he was gone for good. Refused.

Steeling himself, he decided to look. It had done a fat lot of good last time, but he wasn't just going to break down without at least a fight. He'd done that once in his life and he wasn't going to do it a second time.

That meant doing the rounds. Unfortunately, he didn't know Anatoly's life as well as he had Prior's. The Compound, Anatoly and Lex's hut, and...and he wasn't sure. Except he was and he just didn't want to risk it. So before stopping off at Florence's, he went to go see if he could find the boyfriend. As much as Freddie didn't want to formally introduce himself, he didn't want to see the look on Florence's face if she was his last resort in finding Anatoly and he wasn't with her.

Now all he had to do was find...what was his name again?

[travellingjack]

Jack was just coming out of their hut, a confused look on his face. He'd checked everywhere, but Florence was nowhere to be found. She'd obviously gotten the fire lit...but it wasn't like her to go far while it was getting ready. He'd checked the rabbit hutch, the beach, then checked the hut again for a note. Nothing. Zip.

He refused to let himself think that she'd....that like Wolf she'd....

With a swift shake of the head, he'd turned towards the rabbit hutch again, thinking maybe they'd just missed each other.

[pitythetrumper]

"You," Freddie called out. Damned if he could remember the guy's name and he didn't want to think hard enough to remember it. He was the man sleeping with Florence and that was all Freddie knew. All he cared to know. A part of him relaxed now that he'd found the man and another part tensed up all over again because damned if he wasn't a little nervous about what it might mean if the guy didn't know where Anatoly was. ...or Lex, come to think of it. Shouldn't he have run into Lex by now?

"Where's Sergievsky?" He folded his arms across his chest and waited for an answer.

[travellingjack]

Jack turned, frowning at the guy. Then the frown turned into an eyeroll; he knew who this was, of course, but he frankly didn't have time for Flore's ex at the moment. It took a lot of effort to not plow a fist into his jaw just on principle. Then he reminded himself that if he hadn't hurt Flore so bad, she wouldn't be his now. Still, he occasionally felt the whole caveman thing in spite of his best intentions.

"Where's who? I have no idea who you're talking about, Freddie. Now if you'll excuse me...?" Jack didn't wait for an answer, just turned back towards the hutch.

[pitythetrumper]

Freddie grabbed his shoulder and stopped him from going anywhere. "Your girlfriend's ex. I'm assuming you know that he's on the island, right? The man who stole her from me and then left her out in the cold?" Most times, there would be a bite to that, but now it sounded more worried than anything. "Maybe if you tell me where Florence is, I can find her and get her to tell me." That was just what he didn't want to do, but he was getting desperate. He couldn't lose another person, he just couldn't.

"So where is he? Or she?"

[molokovcocktail]

With Lex captured and de Courcey off to apprehend the irritating Miss Vassey, there was only one person left to take before Molokov could begin his game in earnest. How Sergievsky managed to draw beautiful women into his spell he did not know but by all accounts, this Joan was certainly his type.

Certainly he would have expected him to drop the little rent boy he was living with and fling himself into her arms but that had always been the problem with Sergievsky. He was completely predictable until something caught his fancy and then he would stick with this person long beyond reason would have said to let her go. Molokov had never quite figured out Sergievsky's critera for his moments of stubborn stupidity but that wasn't a matter of concern any longer. Tonight, he and de Courcey were going to have their revenge.

[lysistrategic]

There's no point, Joan and Arthur decide, to her attempting to conceal a weapon, whether Arthur's ATF stunner or a knife. For one thing, she's never carried one, and for another, it will only tip her hand to de Courcey and Molokov when they apprehend her. Arrogant, overly manipulative, over-confident, yes, but neither stupid nor sloppy.

She also declines to play the damsel in distress when she approaches Lex and Anatoly's hut for the second time today. Joan moves gracefully, with the confidence of power and purpose, striding up to the door to rap sharply on it. "Toly, are you home?"

Normally, she wouldn't call out with the knock, but now, it's important to focus Anatoly's tormenters on her connection to him. "Toly?" she says again, letting tension seep into her voice and raising it in pitch. "It's not like you to miss a chess date."

[carriesabigstick]

Arthur is shadowing nearby, keeping out of sight of anyone that might be watching. His instincts kick in easily despite the length of time since he'd been in the field. It's almost second nature how to handle it. A small smile curves as he listens to Joan's tension in her voice. She was one of the best before she was moved to a Department Head and her skills are still sharp.

There is a tension in Arthur's own muscles but that had more to do with a husband watching his wife going into an unknown dangerous situation than it did with a boss watching one of his own go in.

[molokovcocktail]

"I am afraid that Anatoly has been called away," Molokov said, smoothly stepping behind Joan. "He was very desolated to be missing his game with you, I assure you."

He gave her what he considered his most charming smile. She had no idea of what was going on, he was certain. This would be almost disappointingly easy. "But I can take you to him."

[lysistrategic]

"If he's busy, I can come back later," Joan demurs, looking a trifle uncertain, as though she wants to be persuaded otherwise. As though she's been very much looking forward to their 'game'.

No point in making it too easy for Molokov. It would make her suspicious in his place. And it allows her a moment to pass her hand through her hair to neaten it, imply that the chess game had been something more intimate. The more important she seems to be, the more incautious Molokov is likely to be in reeling her in.

[capable_of]

As Lex started to wake up, he groaned. Not from the fact his head hurt, because it did, but because he hadn't missed the feeling of waking up with a sore head from Smallville. Then, he remembered why he was feeling this way and he sat up, straining against the bonds holding him to the tree.

"Anatoly, are you alright?" He asked in a low voice, his anger growing as he looked around for the damn cause of this mess.

[chesspolitik]

"I am fine," Anatoly answered, his voice rough from all of his previous cursing in Russian. He wasn't fine, not by any stretch of the imagination but the last thing he wanted to do was show Molokov or de Courcey how afraid he really was. "Are you?"

[capable_of]

"Nothing an aspirin and murder can't cure." Lex said with another shake to clear his head. "Where are the two likely suspects of my headache?"

[chesspolitik]

"I don't know," Anatoly said quietly. "I came to and they were gone. I am not sure where they went but I am very much afraid that I can guess."

Florence was almost certainly their target and if Molokov really wanted to hurt him, he could think of a few others that could be in danger.

[capable_of]

So could Lex and he didn't like the thought. The little super heroes Anatoly was fond of came to mind, as well as a few others. He strained to free himself again before slumping back against the tree. "Do we know what they want?"