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codename: Tabitha
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Date Posted: 21:20:40 06/26/01 Tue
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codename: Tabitha
's message, "Vows Made ( from the top)" on 21:04:31 06/26/01 Tue
I stood there on the perch, looking out over Section 1. I had done so many times before but tonight was different. Adam had turned 18 tonight. Ten years had it really been that
long? It seemed so much longer… but then time loses its swiftness when you have no one to love. Oh sure there had been flings, and their were my friends. The only group that I allowed to see me as other then Operations, those that had known me before that night. But since that day I had not truly loved. Not as I yearned for…
That day I had resigned myself to a life with out Michael. It was worth it Adam would be free, and contrary to what I had told my father. I would stay on in Section if only to ensure that father and son remained beyond Section’s reach. My father had played his last card though and in an act of love and repayment he had given me Michael. Later that day ; however I lost him too. In one day, by one selfless act I lost both of the men I loved. They had both loved me. My father showing me in the only way he knew how and Michael with his every action in those last days. He said there would be a day when Adam didn’t need him, but I know other wise and child always needs a parent. I knew it when he said it, but I agreed anyway.
“ I love you.” Those three little words I had longed to hear when spoken had sealed our fate. Michael walked out of my life. And I, I took that last act buried it deep and became Operations. “ I love you.” Those words had sealed my fate as Operations and my vow never to allow Section to harm them again.
A single tear ran down my cheek before I darkened the perch, no one could see my pain.
“ Sugar.” A gruff old voice called.
“ Walter what are you doing here? Why would you come back?” I had let Walter go into a real retirement years ago. All my operatives knew to allow him access to Section, if he ever came back. And he had, Walter was never going to quit or leave his friends. The old man should be taking it easy but refused to stay at home. So I allowed him to come back to Section when he wanted. The operative that harmed him… died plan and simple.
“ Do you think I could let my Sugar be alone on a night like this? You might be the big and mighty Operations but to me you’re always my Sugar.”
“ Oh Walter!” I said and offered him my chair. He sat down and I sank to my knees beside him. Walter was the only person I could trust to be myself around. I placed my head in his lap and let the tears fall.
“ Let it out Sugar. Its time you let go.” He said drawing a soothing hand over my hair like you might a child.
“ God Walter I miss him so much! I’m tired, tired of being Operations, of killing, of being alone. “
Finally at the end of an enjoyable evening, Adam looked up and saw his father on the swing. Adam sat the towel down and headed onto the porch. His ever-observant calculating father appeared to be staring at nothing. Adam reflected on the day his father had come back to him. He had been to young at the time to know the reason for his father’s pain at leaving the airport, but with the trust of a child he had gone with him. He had trusted his father to make everything all right. His trust was not misplaced. Over the years his father had done everything for him. Had loved him and been there whole-heartedly.
The young man that now stood in the doorway understood what the little boy had not. His father had sacrificed a part of himself, for his son. Now in college and seriously considering marriage himself, Adam knew his father needed closure. He had to confront that part of himself that he had lost. “ You should go to her.”
“ What?” Michael asked not sure he liked where his son was going with this.
“ The woman in the airport, what was her name?”
“ Adam.” Michael warned. His son was not put off though and let the expectant silence stretch, he had learned from the best. “ Nikita.” Michael finally gave in.
In that one word all of Adam’s suspicions were confirmed. His father needed this woman as much one needed breath to live. “ Go to her.”
“ Its not that simple.”
“ I return to college on Monday. Go to her.” Adam entered the house. He looked up as, Michael appeared in the doorway of the living room.
“ Why?”
“ I love you and you need her. You say it’s not that simple, but you have never let anything stop you. Your fear tells me how much you love. Dad you have always taught me that nothing worth anything is simple. Yet love is. It is the most powerful complicated difficult thing in the world, but because of love my Daddy gave up everything for me. Dad, you have given me so much and now I am telling its okay to do something for yourself. I will always need you but its time you took care of yourself for once.”
Michael looked his son with pride and love reflected in his eyes. He had grown so much in some respects these years had flown by and now that they had come to a new chapter, Michael felt sad at leaving the other behind.
“ Thank you.”
Adam shook his head empathically, “ No. Thank you. Now get on a plane and go!”
Michael laughed. Adam was the only one he had known besides Nikita that ever dared to order him around. Nikita she had said he would know where to find her, he did. There was no doubt that Section had moved but like he had told the collective he knew Section better then they knew themselves. He knew the leadership better then he knew Section… it wouldn’t be hard to find them, to find her. But was he ready? Michael knew he had changed since that night. Just like he knew he could and would step into his Section persona to do this. In truth he still found himself using the skills he had acquired there. He was perpetually aware of his surroundings, could still size a person or situation up in seconds, and act accordingly. But am I really ready to go back to that world? Michael asked himself and then knew that if it was required to see Nikita he would.
~~~>>>~~~
Michael entered the B&B and stepped into the mouth of hell. A young man came up beside him. Will you please follow me, Sir?” The gun buried in Michael’s side made him give an ironic smile.
“ Of course.” Michael got up and let him lead him into the room. He entered a room and was pushed onto the floor, before he had a chance to move there was a gun in his face.
Michael decided not to move, yet. He had to know what was going on.
Michael saw the figure enter the room out of the corner of his eyes. The gun cocked and a voice said. “ Leave him alone.”
“ Your crazy, he’s dangerous.”
“ If he had wanted you dead you would be.” The operative said. Smacking the man in the face with the gun. “ Don’t ever question me again!”
“ Hold it!”
“ No.”
“ Drop it!” Three more operatives entered they seemed to be taking sides. A shot rang out and the operative that was starting to enter dropped dead. At the end of the confusion, those who opted for Michael’s death stood in the room but the two on Michael’s side held them at gunpoint.
“ Thanks.” Michael’s original defender said.
The female operative nodded and stared at Michael smiling, “ Welcome back, Michael. Sorry for the inconvience. You surprised us.”
Michael now recognized his two defenders. Jason and Jasmine. “ Of course.” Michael said standing up.
“ We really should-“
“ Shut up! Do as your told.” Jasmine snapped. Another entered and shot at Michael. Michael avoided the shot. “ What do you think your doing!”
“ Operations said-“
“ Operations will have you canceled!”
“ I really think.”
“ Enough.” Jason said and glancing at Michael and Jasmine tapped his earpiece. “ Josephine we have a situation. Can you come to the living room?”
“ Your evil!” Jasmine hissed amused.
~~~>>>~~~
I barely masked the startled look that crossed my face. Had Jason really just called me Josephine? Something was going down, but what was it? I motioned to my two shadows. Operations couldn’t go anywhere with out guards it seemed. Walking down the hall, I noticed the door to the living room was open and I could see operatives with guns out. Narrowing my eyes I stopped to hear what was being said.
“ What part of this are you having trouble with?” Jasmine’s annoyed voice carried out into the hall.
“ But.”
A crash sounded followed by her voice again. “ I will not tolerate insolence on my team!”
“ Operations will-“
“ Operations will what?” I said stepping over the operative in the doorway. My eyes swept the room and took in Michael. Quickly pulling my eyes off him I returned to the business at hand. I knew he had seen the flicker of surprise and longing but prayed he wouldn’t compromise this situation. After all he had told me himself sometimes you have to appear ruthless.
“ Josephine-“
“ Was detained. I decided to deal with this screw up myself! Put those guns away! Pray that the guests have not become aware of your activities.” I said my tone cold. Then I turned to, Jasmine “ Was that necessary?” I asked motioning to the dead operative.
“ Yes.” I nodded satisfied. “ You three get out there, you’re on team 3. You almost compromised one of Section’s best operatives. Do not mess up again! ” The level 1 operatives scattered. “Jackson, Kenneth get out! See that those three don’t mess up again. Jasmine, Jason, stay here.”
When the room cleared of all but the four of us. I turned to them. “ You did fine, however; control these teams!”
“ These cycled operatives are dangerous.”
“ I put them on your teams, deal with it!”
“ Yes, Ma’am.” Those two looked at me and slowly smiled, then decided it was best to beat a hasty retreat. They were right. Jason winked as he went by and closed the door behind him. I shook my head amused some things never changed, I was thankful for it.
Turning to Michael I shade the role of Operations. Nikita stood before him guarded afraid to hope…I summoned my courage and said, “ Michael.” The greeting was full of questions. He said nothing, then approached. I held my breath as he took the microphone from me and sat it on the table. Triggered by body heat it shut off.
“ Nikita.” He said tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “ I told you I’d come.”
“ Michael, we live in two different worlds.”
“ No.”
“ Michael, no.” I said realizing what he wanted. I couldn’t bring him back into Section, back to that hell. What about his life outside of Section?
“ Do you love me?” My head came up at that question. How could he ask that? Didn’t he know the answer?
“ Yes.”
“ Do it.”
“ Michael, you can’t be serious.”
“ Nikita. “
That one word sunk it. With tears running down my eyes, I threw my arms around him. My emotions where he was concerned were always a weakness. “ You don’t have to do this.”
“ Yes.”
“ Why?”
“ I love you.” I was shocked. Michael, had not only said the words, he had said them first. My heart swelled and I didn’t know what to say. I would do it, and somehow I would make sure we were together. This man loved me enough to come back to Section for me, even after he had true freedom. Why should that surprise me? Hadn’t I done same thing? If it weren’t for Michael there was no way I would have allowed “Mic” to recruit me. I said the only thing I could, “ I love you too.” Pulling back from him I said, “ Give me three days to get things ready. I’ll send Jasmine for you if you change your mind don’t be there. We won’t come after you otherwise… welcome back.”
I hugged him again and then placed the microphone back on. I was once again the head of Section 1. “ Jason report.” I said as I headed for the door.
“ Nikita.” Michael called me and I turned back to him. “ I won’t” Five minutes later the well-dressed French guest excited the front of the B&B.
~~~>>>~~~
I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes. The action only succeeded in making me realize the depths of my headache. Today was the day. Michael had would be brought in. It was perfect timing, I needed his influence in Section. Michael had been one of Section’s best operatives and my hope was he would hold up to that reputation…but before I could send Jasmine out there were things I had to get done. I picked up the phone and dialed “I’m on my way in.”
Twenty minutes later I entered the perch to find coffee and breakfast waiting. There was a note on my desk “ It’s a horrible day eat now… or else.” I laughed and sat down. I tended to get these reminders from time to time. Someone was rather protective of me. I never did try to find out who it was, I had my suspicions of course, but didn’t want to ruin the game. I ate the food and penned the obligatory rebuttal note before I turned to the day’s calendar. My elusive mother hen was right I did have a horrible day ahead of me. On top of that Michael was coming in and I still had not resolved the Adam issue.
“ Jason get in here.” I said and waited. With the touch of a button the perch went black
“ You wanted to see me Ma’am?” Jason asked.
“ Well?”
“ I was able to find an ambiguous reference.” Jason said.
“Ambiguous?”
“ Well it all depends on how you want to enforce it.”
“ Jason!”
“ Michael Samuelle is dead to everyone brought into his life before Section, but Adam was a result of a mission. Now since Michael never technically left Section he won’t die again, to come in. Outside life must be and is encouraged thanks to you. Now according to the Charter we protect the innocent who, Adam is: however circumstances have made him a grave potential as a security risk. We can’t just take Michael out of his life that would rise to many questions so Section leaves it alone with one change; Michael is assigned as your Shadow Op. That way father and son stay together and Adam stays protected.
“ Your profile seems sound enough, we’ll consider it.”
“ Will that be all?”
“ Yes.” Jason turned to leave, and I stopped him. “ Oh and Jason, I am reassigning you as head of Com. Your more valuable to us there now then as a field operative.”
“ Have I done something?”
“ No. You’ll just be more effective there.” I said and stared at him. I need someone I can trust there right now, and we both know your better then the operative down there. I thought but of course I couldn’t tell him that, then again I didn’t need to. Jason studied me for a moment and nodding left the room.
I went to the window and looked over, Section 1, waiting. Jasmine looked up and I nodded. The woman continued her conversation with her team member and then slipped out of Section.
Jasmine arrived at the meeting point and parked her car. Grabbing her purse the young woman merged easily with her surroundings. Hmm Nikita had chosen an unusual location. Restaurants, bars Jasmine was use to and it wouldn’t arouse attention to meet Michael but a carnival? Shacking her head she joined the coward well at least I can have some fun while I wait she thought. Jasmine walked around, helped a kid find his mother, and flirted while she waited. Finally she spotted her target and started to approach.
Jasmine took in the situation and quickly revised her plan a young couple had just approached Michael. She recognized Adam and the woman beside him must be his girlfriend. Jasmine reversed course she didn’t want Michael to see her and feel rushed. Nikita would Not be happy and Jasmine knew that with things as they stood in Section she could not push her friendship with her one time mentor. Operations would have to take actions and Jasmine really did not feel like playing the role of the example of what not to be. Especially since she was having trouble with certain members of her team as it was. She did not need her authority lessened before them in any way.
Too late Jasmine realized Michael had spotted her. She shook her head indicating she would wait as long as necessary. “ No hurry.” Jasmine mouthed and when Michael shot her a questioning motion she added. “ Down Time.” She headed over to a stand and ordered herself something. Not that she minded picking up Michael, but if she was going to be here on down time she was going to make the best of it and right now that included Carnival grade junk food.
Michael had been surprised when his son had insisted Michael accompany the two of them on an outing. He had readily accepted though, this was the last time he and his son would be able to do something together outside of Section’s watchful eye. Michael had managed to push the marking of time out of his thoughts and enjoy the mission. So much in fact that he saddened as the appointed time had approached. He had noticed Jasmine as soon as she entered the park and was surprised it took so long for her to find them. The young woman had managed to approach him undetected at first. Causing Michael to at once recheck himself and smile at the same time. No he knew he had spotted her, as he would have in Section. Jasmine had just exceeded his and Nikita’s expectations.
Jasmine surprised him again when she said there was no hurry but he decided to take the gift that she gave him. He was sure Nikita would not use this against him she had taken to much care in the past to do so now. As always though he was prepared for the opposite as well. Michael decided not to worry about it. He would not let Section break him.
~~~>>>~~~
“ Okay so some things have changed since you have been in the field.”
“ Such as?”
“ There is the obvious and then well Jason and are Level 5, but Operations just took him off a field team and made him head of Com. There is this annoying new policy of cycling operatives through the Sections, its suppose to strengthen the operatives allow them to gain skills in other areas and strengthen the ties between the Sections.”
“ It isn’t going to work.”
“ It hasn’t none of the operatives trust each other, they constantly give the team leaders headaches. Team morale and loyalty is lessened. Who wants to trust or connect with someone that comes from another Section and leaves in a few weeks? Resentment arises backstabbing, moles. The Team leaders are becoming dangerous, not the usual ‘ don’t mess with so and so.’ Not the ‘ don’t get on Michael’s bad side’ dangerous. Its bad, Operations on the other hand is great. She’s Operations but she is also Nikita and as such has made changes. These others though well its I don’t know-“
“ Jasmine?”
“ Yeah?”
“ You said your were on downtime. Was that true?”
“ Yeah there’s no hurry.”
“ Pull over.”
“ What?”
“ Pull over.”
Jasmine found herself responding to the tone of authority. She didn’t analyze her actions just moved. Sitting down she started again. “ Michael what is going on? Where are we going? Do you not want to go to Section, because you know we can turn around and go back no big deal. I don’t think you should because Section needs you. We need you Nikita needs you and I think you need her, but you know on the other hand maybe you should go back. There is Adam and all it’s an easier life and-“
“ Jasmine.” Michael’s patented whisper broke through her thoughts.
“ What.”
“ Your rambling.”
“ Oh god- I shouldn’t I know its dangerous- Operations would cancel me!”
“ Jasmine. Lean back and calm down. Operations is Nikita she is not going to cancel you.”
“ But she I mean.”
“ Jasmine listen to me. I am not going to tell her.”
“ Michael?”
“ What?”
“ You’re talking!”
“ I do that now, but don’t worry I will be back to monosyllable Michael when we go into Section, but for now… you need to talk and I am going to listen.” Michael said and Jasmine found herself standing on the steps of a house.
“ Where are we?”
“ An old house I kept now go in, sit down, and relax. I’ll make coffee and we’ll talk.”
Jasmine stood staring at the man before her in utter shock. He was so not Michael and yet… it made sense. She remembered back to the farm when Michael hadn’t wanted to train them, had known they were slated for death but pushed them to gain the skills to live. Jasmine had seen glimpses of this man in him at times a look, a soft tone; something in his eyes and moments with Nikita when he thought no one was around. Mercy given when other would have made sure they had enough bruises to never forget their transgression.
Mildly reassured she said flippantly, “ Yes Dad.”
“ Get!” Michael said in mock anger. He watched Jasmine sit in the living room with concern. She was in no shape to go back to Section now. Michael wasn’t sure what had happened to the confident operative that had come to get him. Where was the flippant Jasmine he knew the woman that had advanced to Level 5 and was now leading a team? Michael couldn’t help filling as responsible for her as Nikita had and he was sure still did. They had made those kids and Michael was not going to desert one of them now.
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Part 1