Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

"About time! Nadeem, my man, I've been so bored!" Abhay tossed his head and swished his tail indignantly when he heard the familiar rumble of his master's truck. "You better have something good for me to eat, too, for making me wait this long." The stallion cantered into the middle of the driveway, standing there stubbornly and forcing the oncoming vehicle to slow to a stop.

"I don't have time for this, move!" Nadeem exclaimed as he rolled down a window. "Abhay!" Several blaring honks from the horn made the stallion snort and pin his ears back, but he wouldn't budge. Not having the time to waste fighting with the needy horse, Nadeem parked his there and sprinted the rest of the way down the long lane until he came upon Conan.

"I stopped at the store..." He was explaining, just as soon as he had reached the teen. "...Long distance communication is going to be a problem, so I picked up a cell for you." After a bit of digging in his backpack, Nadeem flurioushed a cheap cell phone and handed it to Conan, "Do you know how to text?"

Conan

Nadeem's honking also caught Conan's attention, and so he moved back out of the house, coming toward the man with a more friendly look on his face than he'd had before. It wasn't really smiling... but neither did it look like he was sizing up a side of beef.

Because, when one is unable to talk, it gives way to a lot of thinking, and Conan had made a couple of tough decisions while Nadeem was gone, decisions that he'd been putting off until he had the attention to devote to them. Knowing that Raimi was at least safe had given him that small luxury, and now that he had those things taken care of, the shadows lifted partially from the eyes.

So he took the cell phone from Nadeem with a frank nod to answer the question, his motions without the barely-repressed fury they'd contained earlier.

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

He gave a light sigh when this little hurdle had been ressurected for now. He only wished there was some solution just as easy for retrieving Raimi, but unfortunately, he knew that task would require a lot more planning and care to execute.

"Ok, perfect. Do you have any friends or anyone that could help us with Raimi? There are a few people I know that may be able to help, but... no one with any expertice on weapons, if it should come to that." He explained, a little bit hesitant on the last past. He was contemplating whether or not to get a pistol of his own, but figured he was more likely to accidentally shoot himself in the foot than to properly defend himself with it.

Conan

Conan tucked the cell phone away into the pocket of his jeans, thinking carefully to himself before he took up the notepad again and filled it once more with words.

ALL THE FRIENDS I HAVE IN THIS LIFE ARE ARALYN AND RAIMI.

Briefly, his mind had gone to Ben, knowing that this man was a good one to have on your side in a pinch, but the leader of the ATHA hated his guts, and the boy knew that Ben wouldn't help him now that Aralyn was safely in the hospital recovering.

AS FOR WEAPONRY, the next block of ink said, I'M A DECENT HAND WITH GUNS OF ALL KINDS, AND NONE TOO SHABBY WITH HAND TO HAND, NOW THAT I'VE SOME WEIGHT BEHIND ME. He hefted the rifle easily in one hand.

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

Nadeem nodded vaguely, lost in thought over just how they might pull this off. A hand scrubbed at the back of his head for a long moment as he gave thought to a few random ideas, trying to put something of a plan together. "I see two possible options, though I don't like the risk either of them presents." He began after a few moments of silence, "One, we both watch and wait until an opportunity arrises where Raimi is not so heavily guarded and... well, improvise are next move from there. Or..." Even as he went on to speak on his idea, he was shaking his head, "Instigate a gang war and use that as a distraction."

Conan

The teen listened carefully to Nadeem, his face intense with intelligence. And, when he'd finished, silence reigned again as he rested the rifle against the wall once more and began to pace slowly around the room in thought, his eyes on his fingers as they fiddled idly. A solid minute passed in absolute quietude before he moved back to the pad and paper, and, instead of giving Nadeem an answer, asked a question.

DID YOU FIND RAIMI WELL? COMPLETELY UNINJURED? HOW WERE THEY TREATING HIM?

To Nadeem, it might seem that this question had already been answered, but Conan was looking for something else.

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

Leaving Conan to his thoughts, Nadeem emptied the contents of his pack and settled them into desk drawers and filers. It was mainly out of habit, and as busy as he looked, Nadeem's mind was consumed with the notion of the CS and how they were going to get Raimi back.

When the notepad was turned back to him, the young man instantly stopped in his work and read over the question, "Yes, I saw not even a bruise on him. Mind you, I wasn't all that close, but he looked healthy to me." Nadeem assured, "He was sitting with a young lady near the shore-" He stopped himself before saying 'and they both looked content'. While he had seen them laughing and generally looking merry, he wasn't sure how Conan would feel that his little brother was 'content' in enemy hands. "-she was treating him kindly."

Conan

Again Conan devoted all the intensity of his intellect and attention to Nadeem's answer. Parts of the statement hit him like a blow, though the other man didn't mean for them to be so, and even as Nadeem kept the worst of it to himself. He was grateful that he'd turned his face away as the other had started his explanation, because he hadn't been altogether certain he could keep it clear, and he hadn't been able to. The eyes closed tightly for a moment, like a child armed against the dark with a flashlight and the belief that if he can't see it, it can't hurt him. The quiet held tightly-drawn tension that threatened to snap at any moment, but when Conan turned around once more, his face was calm again, and his thoughts collected. His hands, though, trembled as he reached for the paper, and the letters they formed harsh against the whiteness.

IF THEY HAVE NOT HARMED HIM THUS FAR, THEN IT IS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE HE IS MORE VALUABLE AS A HOSTAGE THAN AS A CORPSE. AS SUCH, HE WILL MERIT DEFENSE BY THEM, AT LEAST UNTIL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT.

He had absolutely no idea just how close Raimi had gotten to the three teens, and it was probably just as well, for his calm demeanor, and indeed his sanity, could not have stood against it at this point. There were too many other things tugging at the edges of his attention; he was like a swimmer drowning, with weights on ankles and wrist, with only a single arm free to paddle. Capable to stay afloat, but not for long if there came no relief, and not at all if anything else were added to the pressures.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO START CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GANGS, NADEEM. AND I KNOW JUST HOW TO START IT.

Something terrible and menacing flashed in the blue eyes, pulling out all the kindness and love that had ever rested in them for Raimi and leaving behind only the intent fury and agony of one who had lost far too much. His method of starting the war would be simple, indeed... but possibly a tad self-destructive.

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

'...at least until they get what they want.' Nadeem didn't have much of any background information on the gang, but it didn't take much imagination on his part to figure out what possible benefits they could get from abducting Raimi. Flaunting the kid around town as they were, they were just inviting Raimi's relatives to come at him. And when that happened, there was no doubt in his mind that blood was intented to be spilled. Conan was in serious trouble.

"What do you have in mind...?" Nadeem didn't bother to hide the bit of worry in his question, or the edge of concern on his face. Given the sheer intensity burning in the other's eyes, and the flare of emotion sprawled into his words, Nadeem knew that Conan was prepared to do anything to get his little brother back.

Conan

The teen was lost in a vast darkness that seemed never-ending, drowning in something that was half self-inflicted guilt, and half regret for what was lost. Conan was rescued by the sound of Nadeem's voice, as far off as it sounded, and as much difficulty as it had slicing through the cold.

His mind followed a morbid line of thoughts that showed clearly in his eyes as they turned to meet Nadeem's, and the words that bled onto the paper leaned to the side once more.

NEVER YOU MIND. JUST BE READY, WHEN I SAY, TO GRAB HIM QUICK, GRAB HIM STEADY, AND RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN. LEAVE THE REST TO ME.

That 'said', he had hefted the gun once more and was out of the house in a breath's span, and was halfway across the yard in another breath.

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

The intensity of the teen's emotions were almost palpable as they radiated from his written words and expression. Nadeem was almost reluctant to let Conan run off as he did, but figured that he may just get enough fist in the face if he really put forth the effort to stop to the other.

"Conan! Wait!" But he was already out the door and flying across the yard. With little time to think, Nadeem bolted after him, sprinting hard to keep up. His mind was flying with all sorts of grim scenerios that might play out, which did nothing to help steady his mind and nerves for when he really needed them. At the least, his objective was simple enough. Grab Raimi and run. Fast.

Conan

Strangely, Nadeem's voice stopped him again, making Conan halt in his tracks and turn to look at him,his face still a cold mask, but at least the intelligence was still there, if not the humanity. He didn't need the paper or his fingers to say, What?!

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

Nadeem slowed to a hault, dark eyes searching over the face that was turned to meet him, and almost recoiling at the coldness of it. "I don't think it's a wise thing to approach them right now, if that's what you're planning." He mind was screaming at him to just remain appeasing with Conan, for he doubted the teen wanted to be stopped in his brother's rescue attempt. But at the same time, despite the recent and volatile meeting they had, Nadeem didn't want the other getting her. Nor did he want himself getting shot.

Conan

Despite the reckless abandon that had enveloped the teen, Nadeem's carefully-phrased caution reached him, and it was at that point that he realized that he would have to explain exactly what was going to happen. Had he been more mentally stable, he would have realized that earlier. But a long, wavering sigh left him, and he moved quickly back to the house to get the notepad and pen, writing carefully against the bounce of his walk as he made his way back toward Nadeem. When he reached him, he handed over the pad, which read:

I DON'T INTEND TO CONFRONT THE CRYPTICSILVERS JUST YET. I INTEND TO START A WAR. THOSE ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TOPICS. THE FIRST CONCEPT WOULD BE FOOLHARDY AT BEST, AND DAMNING AT WORST. NO... I'LL FIRE THE FIRST SHOT OF WHAT WILL SOON BE THE GREATEST GANG WAR THIS VALLEY HAS EVER SEEN... AND I'LL FIRE IT AT SOMEONE WHO IS ALWAYS ALONE... BUT WHO WILL REPORT BACK TO CS THAT A RIVAL GANG HAS ATTACKED HER.

That written, Conan moved away into the trees, coming up with his travel-pack, and a long-bow, fledged with red feathers, which were actually goose-flights died to this color, and exactly resembled the arrows of the Akatsuki. There was a veritable store of various weapons in his pack, but he chose to leave Nadeem unarmed for now. Instead, he took the pad back from the man, and wrote some more.

WE'LL MAKE OUR WAY TO CARVER'S BRIDGE ON FOOT. SHE CAN USUALLY BE FOUND THERE THIS TIME OF NIGHT.

Nadeem Tarak & Abhay

He took relief from the explanation, to a point. This plan sounded like a far safer one that the wild schemes that Nadeem was invisioning as his imagination got the better of him, although the ploy wasn't without its dangers. When you tangled with two gangs as aggressive as the CS and the Akatsukis, there was always a heap of danger involved.

Drawing in a quick, deep breath to still his nerves as best as possible, the young man gave a nod, "I'm right behind you." He was tempted to bring Abhay along to provide for a quick means of escape if worse should come to worse, but the stallion had a tendancy to spook easy, and could very well make the situation infinitely worse if he decided to bolt in the wrong direction, or refuse to move at all.

Conan

With a brief nod to confirm his understanding of Nadeem's words, Conan hefted the bow and quiver, and headed out to the bridge.