Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka & Odos )
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Odos on 07-11-2009, 21:36:32</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odos</strong> on <strong>07-11-2009, 21:36:32</strong>
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				<strong><span class="bbc_u">Preface</span></strong><br><br>The cold, wet and dark streets made the man feel uncomfortable. He was out of place for this area and knew it. The dark blue two thousand dollar suit he wore, the thousand dollar shoes or the silk shirt and tie, all made it plain that he did not belong there. This downtown slum was the home of drug users and down and outs, the dregs of society. Any of those dregs that slowly shambled by the waiting man gave him a predatory hungry look, envy, hate or both plain in their eyes as they passed. The mans nerve was fast approaching it's limit when a stretched limo pulled up directly in front of him.<br><br>A step towards the vehicle was rewarded by a door opening invitingly. The interior of the car was in darkness making it impossible to see who or what it contained. A soft female voice could be heard from the rear seat " Get in ". The man complied, fear of the area over-riding his fear of what may be waiting in that darkness. Relaxing into the plush leather seat, he found that the opposite side of the car was still in darkness. He could make out a form sitting there, a female form but that was all. Silence pervaded the car until it was in motion, then the voice spoke " We need to talk about your request. This man&nbsp; Brian Briggs and his wife, are not as you claim just a simple job ". Confusion reigned upon the face of the man as he responded " I... I don't understand. It's just a normal contract. I was told you could handle it and the price would be $100,000 "<br><br>The woman's voice took on a sinister edge as she turned in her seat to look at the man " We do not take kindly to being played for fools " Although the interior of the limo was air-conditioned, the mans forehead became covered in sweat as fear took a hold of him " I honestly do not understand. I'm not trying to play anyone, it's just a normal contract". Although he could not see her face or eyes, the man sensed the woman was closely inspecting him, seconds dragged by until finally " You just don't understand at all do you " the woman gave a snort of disgust " God save us from amateurs "<br><br>The mans mind was racing, his contact had informed him that this company were the best in the business, he had followed the instructions he'd been given on how to organise the assassination to the letter. This shouldn't be happening, his source had informed him that they never made personal contact. Something was wrong and he had no idea what. "Please tell me what the problem is, why did I have to come here ?" Her voice taking on the tone of a mother explaining to a five year old child " The problem is that Brian Briggs is an NSA asset. If he is killed it will cause waves. My associates and I do not like waves "<br><br>Relief of a sort flowed through the man, it was not too serious after all, he could always find someone else "So you will not take the contract ? "<br><br>" I did not say that. Your here to explain to me why we should take this job. If I like your answers then the contract will be fulfilled and the cost will be $500,000. If I don't like your answers,,,,," The coldness of the woman beside him brought the fear back again, only far stronger, it sent a chill up the mans spine, even though he was sweating he gave a shiver at the implications of the words not spoken. Originally all he had wanted was to get that damned man and his wife out of the way, now a far more important issue had arisen. He feverently wanted to survive this car ride. " I paid Briggs to steal the prototype of a bio chip he was developing and then wipe all the records of the development. He did both but then double-crossed me when he realized he could get more by auctioning the chip."<br><br>"So this hit is just simple revenge ?"<br><br>"Oh no, far from it. He's stored the stolen chip in a federal depository, there's no way I could steal it back from there, but if he and his wife were both dead then I could get power of attorney, which would allow me to just walk in and collect it."<br><br>"Interesting" the silence after the single word response seemed to last an eternity for the man, then relief flooded over him as she concluded " We will accept the contract. You will receive details of the account into which to pay the fee shortly, this must be paid within 24 hours. For your sake we had better not meet again".<br><br>The car slowed to a stop allowing the man to exit without further conversation. He was surprised to find that the distance from where he was picked up was only a few hundred yards. After the atmosphere within that limo, this neighbourhood felt safe and secure. Inside the limo the woman was busy on the phone, her closing words before hanging up " Put Wraith on it, he's been asking for one last job."<br><br>Two days later Brian Briggs was shot as he left the secure compound of the NSA laboratory, a single shot to the head from a high powered rifle. Later that same day the person who had been known as Wraith for the past thirty years, lay prone in the long grass on a small rise. The stock of a snipers rifle on it's tripod rested comfortably in his capable hands. This particular rise overlooked a wide sweeping valley that contained only one homestead. Taking slow deep breaths to ensure a steady hand, he hunkered down to peer through the scope. The house was suddenly large to his view, tracking the rifle slowly to one side a window filled his field of vision. It was obviously a kitchen window, a woman framed within it. Increasing the magnification of the scope confirmed the woman was his intended target, Catherine Briggs.<br><br>Centering the crosshairs on the bridge of her nose, releasing the safety, his finger began to slowly and smoothly increase pressure upon the trigger. A sudden movement at the edge of the scopes field caught his eye. Re-engaging the safety, he panned the rifle to the source of the movement. A small child, a boy possibly six or seven years old sprang into view. Releasing the weapon he turned over the lay upon his back looking at the sky, watching the clouds as they slowly passed, his mind in turmoil. 'Why..... why was there a child there', the thought reverberated around his mind over and over. The past thirty years had seen Wraith climb to the top of his speciality, he had done many, far too many, things considered barbaric by civilised people. One thing he had never done and didn't intend to do now, was to harm a child, either physically or mentally. Sighing to himself he began to dis-assemble the rifle, he would have to find another way. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odos</strong> on <strong>07-11-2009, 21:42:22</strong>
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				The sun was burning down over the Montana plains as the all wheel drive&nbsp; bounced along the road. Adrian sat in the back of the vehicle whilst the two front seats were occupied by lieutenant Chambers from the Bozeman police department and the other man was special agent Argent from the protection program.<br><br>Chambers had been talking non stop since they set out from the court house in Bozeman, what he had been saying Adrian had no idea, he'd not been listening. Gazing ahead of the truck between the two men the road stretched out in front. "Road " thought Adrian, "it's nothing but a track made of compacted soil". He resumed his vacant staring out of the side window. He knew where they were going, he knew the area, he'd scouted it out just a few days before.<br><br>At last the house drew into view and the truck pulled up near the front door. The lieutenant was the first to exit, climbing out, dusting off his cheap suit and straightening his tie. Argent and Adrian existed at the same time, both were casually dressed in trousers shirt and jacket but no tie. Both ignored their appearance, instead they gave the surrounding area a thorough scanning before joining the lieutenant as he climbed the porch steps.<br><br>Chambers gave each of his companions a stare before he rang the door bell. It did not take long before the door was opened by a young woman. A young woman that Adrian recognised immediately but gave no hint of that recognition. Chambers meanwhile had begun talking " Hello again Mrs Briggs. These gentleman are from the Federal protection agency. This handsome fellow on the right is special agent John Argent and the taciturn fellow over there is special agent Adrian Johnson. May we come in ? "<br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>jouzinka</strong> on <strong>28-12-2009, 23:19:21</strong>
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				Her time passed in a blur. If it weren’t for Adam and his almost religious devotion to school she wouldn’t even know what day it was. Strange how not even her motherly instinct wasn’t able to wake her up from the lethargy she felt…<br><br>It’s been a week since she buried Brian. Or maybe two? Who knows? The important thing was that he wasn’t there and wasn’t going to be there to see his son grow up and become an engineer. Or a garbo. The house was already spotless twice over – the floors, the windows (before she had to black them out, that is), the walls, all of which she cleaned during sleepless nights when the house was just too silent and she couldn’t sleep. <br><br>Maybe she could if she just understood at least a bit of what had happened, but the notion of her husband getting shot and “Probably on demand,” to quote the local authorities, was beyond her comprehension. Brian wasn’t important and he wasn’t working on anything important. A government-paid scientist like thousands of others. Then how come her son deserved to be robbed of his dad? <br><br>The boy was so brave she was feeling inadequate in her grief. <br><br>The doorbell had drawn her from her thoughts over the third cup of coffee this morning in the blacked-out kitchen. <br><br>She didn’t even have to take a look at the state of the living room and went to answer the door, hearing the voice of Lieutenant Chambers behind the door. To be honest, even though Chambers was very supportive and overall very helpful, she was fed up with the man, but that may be because she simply wanted to be left alone to deal with the demons. Instead there was the constant nagging and constant presence of some unknown element, all the time someone reminding them that Brian had fallen a victim to a homicide.<br><br>And now they told her they suspected she was a target too. <br><br>As instructed she checked through the looking glass, then opened the door, but stayed behind the bulletproof shield all the time. “Good morning, gentlemen, please, come in,” she said into the door, hoping they would get her words – shouting was never her prime discipline. When they entered and she could close the door behind them she motioned to the room on her right, the blacked-out living room. <br><br>Usually she’d probably shake their hands, but today she couldn’t be bothered; she didn’t even note their looks, nothing. In a way it was a form of protest to their presence, even though rationally she knew that their presence in the house could only help. Leading the men into the living room, she motioned for them to sit down with the trite cliché: “Make yourselves at home, gentlemen, can I offer you something?” <br><br>It was empty. Or at least it all felt so…
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				Title: <strong>Re: Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odos</strong> on <strong>29-12-2009, 18:36:36</strong>
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				Entering into the house, Adrian first noticed the gloominess after the bright sunshine out side. He took just a couple of steps then moved to one side and waited a few moments whilst his eyes adjusted to the lower light level. Argent, like the professional he was, also did the same, moving to clear the doorway and standing with his back facing the opposite wall.<br><br>Watching Chambers blithely entering, made Adrian sick at the mans stupidity. Any assassin would have no trouble removing him from the equation, he never even glanced at his surroundings. Adrian's vision had now adjusted allowing a closer inspection of the lieutenant's face, especially his eyes. ' So thats it, the mans got the hots for her', an item he stored away for future reference.<br><br>As Johnson followed the others into the living room he shifted his gaze to appraise the woman. She was pretty, he conceded, nothing spectacular, fine legs, from what he could see, well defined waist, breasts a little on the small side for his tastes though. Overall she was an attractive woman.<br><br>At her invitation to be comfortable, Chambers made directly for the sofa, seating himself without much finesse. Agrent mirrored Adrian in taking a seat, an upright wooden chair of the dining room variety, which sat against&nbsp; a wall. Both men were alert, yet remained silent.<br><br>When asked if he wanted anything, Adrian responded with a shake of the head and a quiet "Thank you". He did however continue to study Catherine Briggs. Her face displayed no emotion, no life or animation. Shock, he told himself, she must still be in shock.<br><br>Chambers had been talking for a while without Adrian listening, he now started to pay attention ",,,, and so the NSA decided that it would be safer for you to have full time protection. Just for a few days you understand, only until they get to the bottom of this." <br><br>An almost inaudible creak of a floorboard instantly drew the attention of Adrian, glancing across at Argent, he could see that the other agent had also heard the noise. Chambers was still talking to the woman. Neither of them having heard the sound. Rising smoothly and swiftly both agents silently made their way to stand each side of the door. Their automatics appearing like magic in their hands.<br><br>"What's goi,,,,,, " began Chambers as the weapons came into view. His voice was choked into silence by Argent raising his finger to his lips and the deadly stares both men bored into the lieutenant. <br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odos</strong> on <strong>08-01-2010, 14:39:22</strong>
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				Catching Argent's eye, Adrian pointed to himself then the door. Receiving a confirming nod that the other agent understood and agreed, Adrian composed himself, taking a deep breath rolled around the door frame dropping to a crouch on the other side, his weapon poised and ready, pointing at the stairs which were directly in front of him.<br><br>Halfway down those stairs a small boy of around five or six stood wide eyed and fixed to the spot, staring at the apparition that had appeared before him, in his hands he held a small cuddly toy. It took Adrian less than a second to do a full scan of his surroundings and come to the conclusion that this child was the cause of the noise. "Clear" he called, his weapon disappearing back into it's holster as quickly and smoothly as it had been drawn.<br><br>Standing upright Adrian allowed a smile onto his face, stepping forward he held out his hand "Hello, you must be Adam. My name is Adrian, I'm here to help you and your mom "<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>jouzinka</strong> on <strong>17-01-2010, 15:56:26</strong>
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				Catherine smiled at the two agents, who refused to have anything, but seated themselves around the dining table. Subtle but alert presence. To her they were the biggest proof of the danger out there and it somehow didn’t really click until they were in the house.<br><br>It would probably also mean Adam’s schoolvisits would be cut short.<br><br>Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the Lieutenant’s voice as he went over the things that were to happen and how long was the protection going to last and she tried her best to stay focused on him. After all it was only polite to do so – John Chambers has been a great help and support so far and Cath appreciated him for that.<br><br>Suddenly she caught a movement in the corner of her eye and she turned her head to the source. The two agents moved to the door with their guns drawn and unlatched – if she remembered well from the training she was given some time ago when Brian forced her to get a gun license, which went unused anyway. The six gun he had bought her lay in the safe untouched anyway.<br><br>Her attention shifted to the hallway where the danger seemed to be coming from, but from where she was standing by Lt. Chambers she could only see the stairs, holding her breath. <br><br>One of the agents moved to the hallway and the next thing Catherine saw was a pair of snow-white socks, shimmering in the dark. It was her son, coming right into the barrel of a loaded gun... ‘Adam’! she wanted to exclaim, but the world spun with her and the woman fell down on the floor in a rather ungraceful move.<br><br>“Ma!” Adam shouted, cutting the man, Adrian, off. He ran down the stairs and into the living room as fast as he could, dropping to his knees and gliding over the wooden floor good amount of meters before he was at her side. “Wake up, mommy,” he caressed her forehead with a pout on his lips.<br><br>Catherine opened her eyes in a moment, but it took her a while before she recalled time and place and it was only slowly coming to her. Brian, funeral, blackouts, Chambers, agents, Adam coming down the stairs… “Adam!” she exclaimed in horror, sitting up abruptly and looking up to the stairs, only to feel a gentle tug at her sleeve. “I’m here, ma,” he said.<br><br>The woman gasped, quickly inspecting the boy for any injuries with her eyes, but it seemed he was all right. Cath pulled her son into her tight embrace, only then realizing she was shaking, she held him for a few moments, her face buried in his hair. Good grace that was a shot of fear she never wanted to undergo again and she sobbed softly. <br><br>“Ma,” Adam wriggled a little in her embrace, but she ignored it that time, desperate to hold him for one more second. “C, you’re hurting me,” he whispered into her chest and Catherine pushed him from herself immediately, her hands on his little shoulders. “I’m sorry, are you okay?” she placed a completely needless question as he obviously was and confirmed it with a nod. Catherine pulled him to her side, sweeping her hand in the air in the general direction of the two agents, “these men are agents John Argent and Adrian Johnson,” fortunately she was lucky to remember that and not embarrass herself yet again, “they are going to live with us for a while,” she explained to her son.<br><br>Adam pursed his eyebrows, which he always did when he felt his parents were making a complete idiot out of him. “I know that,” the boy said with self-evidence and it was Catherine’s time to lift her eyebrows and ask for explanation. “Adrian told me,” he said in the same tone. “I see,” the woman nodded, looking at her son, then to the other men, “how long was I out?” 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Upon the Edge of a Knife ( Jouzinka &amp; Odos )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Odos</strong> on <strong>18-01-2010, 19:33:07</strong>
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				As the child ran past him into the room and his mother Adrian allowed his arm to drop to his side. Argent looked over to him and gave just a hint of a smile, Adrian responded with just a slight shrug of the shoulders then entered the room just as the woman was coming around.<br><br>Chambers as he expected was standing there dazed, his eyes fixed upon the woman and child. On closer inspection he realized Chambers was looking not at the woman and child but at the woman's legs. Tracking the lieutenants gaze, he was surprised to see a fair amount of thigh was visible due to the child sliding into her, rucking up her dress quite a way. <br><br>Before he could say anything Argent answered the woman's question, his voice neutral but from the ice in his eyes Adrian knew he had also noticed Chambers lecherous stare "Not long at all Mrs Briggs, in fact only a few seconds." Moving over to stand between the lieutenant and the woman Argent locked eyes with the policeman " Don't you think it's time you got back to the station, me and Adrian can handle things now "<br><br>Chambers opened his mouth to say something in protest then it snapped shut as the implicit threat in the agents eyes forced it's way through the thinly veiled lust. He threw a quick glance over at Adrian, possibly looking for some support, but was met with the same icy stare from the other agent. <br><br>"Yes, yes, your right, should be getting back the captain will be wondering where I am " Shuffling to the door he turned his head to call out " Goodbye Mrs Briggs, goodbye Adam " then the door closed behind him. The departure of the police lieutenant was like throwing a switch, the expressions of both remaining men softened at once. Argent offered his hand to Catherine to help her stand, whilst she was doing so Adrian spoke to the child in a curiously soft voice " Sorry if I scared you back there Adam "<br><br>Shifting his attention to the woman he continued " We need to do a search of the building ma'am " without waiting for a response he asked Argent " First or second ? "." First " was the immediate response and Argent was heading out of the door. <br><br>A quizzical look from Catherine prompted Adrian " We have to search the building for two reasons. One to check there isn't anyone her now and second to familiarise ourselves with the layout. We can't both go at once because one of us has to be with you all the time "<br>
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