10506/Setting a Trap...to Catch a Trap

Setting a Trap...to Catch a Trap
Date of Scene:	22 December 2019
Location:	Lake Ngoling, China
Synopsis:	Zhao and Andrew close in on Dr. Jones and Cindy Moon...and get too close.
Cast of Characters:	Indiana Jones, Tombstone

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Indiana Jones has posed:
A quick search (and a little help from Chen, one of the Triad men) revealed Oling Lake was actually Ngoling Lake now, but they knew the area. Rather remote, way out in "hick-land" and, for a bonus, little in the way of PRC army to have to bribe.
"There's only a few towns within a hundred kilometers," Chen said. "The lake itself doesn't see much fishing but some locals use it. And that Land Rover they have will stick out like a sore thumb."

Tombstone has posed:
Andrew and Zhao were currently driving towards the lake. They weren't in exactly the best of moods after their targets got away. Zhao causually looked behind him and saw what remained of their car convoy. Tombstone's China contact really bit into them after smashing up one of their cars. As they approached the Lake, Zhao turned to Andrew and said to him," Remember, keep an eye out for a bullet-riddled Land Rover. If you see them, kill them. Especially that Spider-Bitch."

Indiana Jones has posed:
The lake lived up to the not-hype. The scene itself was picturesque--a large, calm lake, gently-sloping hills, yet surrounded by forests that were far enough away from the hills to keep from obstructing the view. There were a few boats on the river, but small ones. Chen looked up from his iPhone, and smiled mirthlessly. "Like going back in time, right? Like, when Genghis Khan was still a big deal."
Another man pointed. "THAT looks new."
He was pointing to a thin column of black smoke, almost on the other side of the lake.'

Tombstone has posed:
Andrew and Zhao climbed out of their SUV and looked at the scenary. It was quite beautiful, but they weren't here for sight-seeing. As they looked, one of the Triads pointed out the pillar of smoke billowing in the distance. Zhao looked at one of the more skinner Triads and said in Chinese," You, go cjeck that out. Do not be seen and come back after you got a good view and tell me what you see."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Chen frowned as the man ran off at a near-sprint. "There isn't supposed to be any Triad activity out here. OR PRC."
The other men stepped out, looking around warily, rifles at the ready, safeties off. One of them moved close to Zhao. "Boss, I hope Tonn will be okay. You sure you want to send him out into the open like that?"

Tombstone has posed:
As Tonn got closer to the source of the smoke, he suddenly dropped to his belly and started to crawl on the ground, using a patch of dry grass as cover as he slowly inched closer. Meanwhile, Andrew's eyes rolled into the back of his skull again and he started to have another spasm. Right as Zhao and the others noticed this, his spasm stopped and Andrew said with a briefly psnicked voice," Draw your weapons. There is danger near!"

Indiana Jones has posed:
Tonn reached the source of the smoke, radioing back quickly as he took cover behind it. "Boss, it's the Land Rover. Something knocked it on its ass." I'm going to..."

And things then started happening very fast.
Tonn suddenly wasn't going to do anything at all, as something seemed to grab him and slam him against the side of the Rover. Then he dropped.
A series of whipcracks suddenly cut into the morning air as puffs of smoke appeared from the boats. Zhao's men never had a chance. Chen had ducked and was crouched on the ground as gunmen died around him. They were hit primarily in the head, and the sounds were clear.
The boats, impossibly, were crewed by snipers.
Andrew, bless his spooky demeanor, had not been hit. Neither had Zhao. But after the initial volley, they and Chen were the only ones still alive.
Then a megaphone voice issued from the forest further away from the lake shore.

"DROP YOUR WEAPONS OR DIE WHERE YOU STAND!"

Tombstone has posed:
Zhao swore as he dropped his weapon and put his hands up. Great, the PRC military must've caught up with them. He looked around and saw that Andrew and Chen had did the same. Great, this was going to be a bitch to explain to the boss, if he survived long enough to call him that is. He had heard about the PRC's ruthless attitude and doubted he was going to survive in their captivity.

Indiana Jones has posed:
"GOOD."
A moment of silence...and then the thunder. But it was not the thunder of heavy vehicles. It was the sound horses.
And then, as Andrew and Chen looked towards the sound, an entire company of cavalry burst from the forest. At first glance, it evoked images of the Mongolian horde. But this horde packed assault rifles, grenades, and, by the look of it, experienced snipers instead of bowmen.
The horsemen stopped in front of the three men, watching them. Some had rifles at the ready as soon as they stopped.
And then one of them, a broad-shouldered Oriental of unknown origin dismounted. He wore clothing similar to the others, combat gear, scarf, combat boots, rifle. But his face was smiling from behind a Fu Manchu mustache.
"Hello, there!" he boomed. "Are how are you today?"

Tombstone has posed:
Zhao glared at the mustachioed man as he approached. Many thoughts ran through his mind, most of them profanity filled. However, he knew that if he said any of them he would probably die. He then said in Mandarin," You are that warlord they are talking about are you? The wannabe Genghis Khan?

Indiana Jones has posed:
The man grinned. "And you ar Zhao, of the Sons of the Dragon. And this Nubian next to you is named Andrew. I understand you are a man to be very wary of." He nods to them. "I am Tuan Kang."
Then he beckoned to Chen, who walked over dutifully. Chen looked to Zhao, then shrugged to him before kneeling in front of Kang. "As I have promised...Great Khan."

Tombstone has posed:
Zhao and Andrew just look on in shock and in Zhao's case, anger, as Chen bows before the warlord. Zhao snarls and yells in Mandarin," You treacherous bastard! When i get mu hands on you I'll strangle the life out of ya!" Meanwhile, Andrew is trying to contact the Loa himself, but finds that he cannot.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Kang smiles and nods. "Do not worry, Chen. They will never be able to hurt you."
Emboldened, Chen stood up and turned to face Zhao. "Your superiors kowtow to a gaijin monster to curry his favor in America! Well, I serve a TRUE lord and master, and he is a leader who rewards his lowly servants with..."

He is about to say more, but Zhao sees the pistol, a venerable Webley revolver, appear in Kang's hand as it rose. The barrel lifted to point at the side of Chen's head, and then he fired.
Chen's face still wore that triumphant smile, but the eyes went dull and gray immediately. Kang's face had never changed, either, his face calm and placid.
He looked at the pistol and smiled as Chen's body hit the grass. "This is a good weapon." He looked candidly to Zhao. "You can never trust a spy. You never know if he might change allegiances again to suit his desires. And I kept my own word to him. You will never harm a hair on his head."

Tombstone has posed:
Zhao's eyes widened and Andrew let out a choaked sound of surprise as Chen's brains gets blown out. It seemed liked something out of a movie where a genie grants a wish, but twists it at the last moment to make it end in agony. Zhao looks up at Kand and said," What exactly do you want with us? We represent Fa Lao, the Iron Fist of the opium trade. If he finds out you have us, you will pay the price!"

Indiana Jones has posed:
Kang chuckles. "You will be held as royal hostages. Fa Lao will not act quickly enough to stop me." He steps forward. "You are about to see the culmination of years of works, sharpening these ignorant peasants into an army. Because...my ascension to godhood will begin, and I will be a true son of Genghis. And then...I will take China, as Genghis and Kublai have done."

Tombstone has posed:
Zhao says nothing but nods humbly, as if accepting his fate as a hostage. Meanwhile, Andrew was about to say a swear in Creole but suddenly, his eyes roll into the back of his skull again. As his body starts to spasm, it is quite obvious he is having another message from the Loa. This however, was the longest spasm he had yet as he said things like " Sun Wukong, Guanyin, death, and other seemingly nonsensical things". The most disturbing part was that he was saying these things in Middle Chinese, a language he did not know. Suddenly, Andrew collapses on the ground, unconcious.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Kang does not seem impressed as they are led away. But then again, he doesn't speak Middle Chinese, either. He straightened, then clapped once. "Take them. Put them with the others."
Three men moved to handcuff Zhao (and Andrew, after some effort) and marched them up towards the forest, Andrew being hauled like a sack of sand. As they entered the forest, hoods were placed over their heads.
The next couple of minutes were walking blind, but the smell of forest was all around them. After a short while, Zhao heard a fire crackling and people talking, although they hushed the closer he got to them.
One minute later, he was cuffed to a post, and then the hood was yanked off. He found himself against a post, his arms cuffed behind him and connected to the post by a chain. Andrew was to his left, still out of it.
And to his right...

"Well, well, well," Indiana Jones said with a rueful smile. "Look who's joined the party." He looked to his left where a young Korean woman was sitting and scowling. "My partner, Cindy Moon. And you two..." he chuckled. "...are with us in the same damn handbasket."