sable_cloak | Flight south

For the flight to Sayre's island compound, The Shadow had enlisted Crofton to do the flying. If anyone had been privy to seeing him pinch the bridge of his nose as he poured over reports in the back of Cranston's borrowed plane, it would be little wonder why. In the moments he'd had to prepare for the time-consuming trip, he'd already issued orders to his complement of agents, and gathered a healthy amount of data on Khan. For the time being he was able to verify that the mastermind wasn't in the country yet, but even the FBI and the local police were noticing an increase in criminal activity that seemed abnormal. They hadn't connected the dots yet, but they also didn't have the warning that had been provided through Myra and Ming.

In the back of his mind, he was still mulling deeply over the offer from the older Shadow. Khan had certainly become much stronger since their last face-off. From what little, but valuable information he had, he was left with two choices, both equally unpalatable. He had learned of a mystic arriving in the country recently who he knew to be a powerful tulku, but the man, for all his great mind, would need protecting. The Old Tiger, as Myra seemed so fond to reference him, was powerful from decades of practice and schooling the younger Shadow did not yet possess.

There was much to weigh, and indeed, it weighed heavily as he leaned forward, sipping water from a small canteen that sat on the floor next to his chair. He would need to see Ming before he could make the final decision. If Khan had learned of the double presence, or of the Old Tiger, there would be little choice but to bring him into the fray.

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With the warning from The Shadow to have her watched but allowed to recover from her sedated state, Sayre had Ming ready for the appearance of a guest she would probably be shocked to see. She'd already thrown a fit upon finally meeting Sayre, which had puzzled him, and he imagined The Shadow would have no less of an effect on her.

The man that came off of the plane, however, was wearing the face of Cranston as he carried a black coat over one arm, and so he was received as thus. At least, until Sayre and Cranston were left alone in his office. With shades drawn, the room was quickly checked by the visitor before he settled in his chair again, nodding for Sayre to begin.

Ming's recent behavior was summed up as puzzling and comparatively abnormal. She'd managed to be relatively docile over the past few months, but when she had woken from sleep the night that Khan had called, she had become frenzied, and ranted about the return of Khan while she had been carried off of the island. She'd managed to do harm to a few of Sayre's patients and orderlies in the process.

A paper was passed to The Shadow with a copy of the written accounts of her outbursts. He looked over it quickly before pocketing the page and standing. Sayre nodded, leading The Shadow down to where Ming was being kept. All was to The Shadow's orders, and the room was cast into pitch as he stepped within. The cloak and hat were put on and drawn tightly about his face, obscuring all but his eyes; even his characteristically hawkish features were hidden.

"Ming Dwan." A single, small point of light illuminated above the woman and she gave a screech, closing her eyes. "Ming Dwan. Your master calls to you." The light started to blink slowly and methodically.

"My Khan." Years of control had made her defenses poor, and The Shadow's mental suggestion to get her to simply open her eyes and look at the light, was almost effortless. The ease of it was almost disturbing, and he had to wonder briefly if Myra suffered from a similar problem after her experiences with both Khans.

"Khan is returning."

"Yes." The replay was hesitant, but audible.

"He called to you. What did he want?"

"To make ready his arrival."

"What did he learn?"

"I am." She swallowed hard. "Captive." The light above The Shadow blinked a little faster, the brim of his hat protecting him from the direct, hypnotizing effects. The flashing light upon her face though, allowed him to slip into a slight trance that made entering her mind easier. Always though, he was ready in case Khan showed his ugly hand.

"What else did he learn?"

"That..." He could feel her attempting to resist, she wanted to obey the will of Khan so badly, that she was trying to use the brute force of her stubborn willpower against The Shadow to protect him.

"You cannot serve him here."

"I can serve him!" Ming screamed wildly, and The Shadow straightened up, realizing the light was almost strobe-like. He covered her eyes with his hand, realizing his foolish mistake in using the light to augment his own powers. It was a trick Khan had used once before, and was likely using it again. He clamped his own eyes shut, and focused, seeing the tendrils of Khan laced in her mind, and those of the man she had once known as Khan.

The Shadow knew he was no tulku, nor did he have the prowess of the Old Tiger, but still his own powers were formidable as he noted something almost horrifyingly familiar about the lasting presence, but redirected his efforts back to chase out Khan.

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It was another twenty minutes later when a weary Cranston made his way out of the room. Sayre accompanied him to the plane and was surprised when he was invited onto the cabin for a moment.

"A friend will be coming to take her where she can recover from this. Facilities are being arranged, but you will hear from one of us within a few days. Do whatever he asks." Sayre nodded as The Shadow reclined into his seat. He ducked out of the plane and watched from the edge of the small airstrip as Crofton closed the door, and then taxied a short distance before taking off.

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Inside, making certain that Miles was busy with the return journey, The Shadow slipped the PINpoint from within the folds of the coat draped over his arm. He quickly entered a message and sent it off to the Old Tiger. He was nearly at the end of his six hour window, and he owed a belated reply to the old man's offer. With a quiet sigh, he focused on the familiar drone of the plane engines. There was something about planes that always felt comforting, and he let it put him into a light trance that allowed him to recover from the mental fatigue of his earlier efforts. He would need to keep up his strength, it would not be long before Khan made an attempt on his life, and his mind.

Perhaps it was a good thing that Myra was in the Old Tiger's world. It was very possible he may need to call his agents off duty.

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Khan is yours. Expect a full report in two hours.