| Subject: Vows Made 9 |
Author:
codename: Tabitha
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Date Posted: 18:08:01 04/08/01 Sun
It had been several days since Michael had come into Section and he was definitely up to it on the mental end, he was also still a wonderful trainer and seemed able to plan profiles in his sleep. That was good the question still remained was he physically able to hold to the demands of Section life? I would soon have my answer. An alarm sounded and glancing at the monitor I unlocked the perch’s door. “ You took longer then expected?”
“ Sorry, had to stop in on Medical.”
“ What’s wrong?” My voice mirrored instant concern at his sharp intake of breath.
“ Nothing, serious.”
“ Never mind that. Sit.” I motioned to the chair my tone booked no argument.
“ What caused this?”
“ Nothing.”
“ Steven.” I raised my eyebrows in warning.
“ I’ll be fine, some minor abrasions and a light sprain.”
“ Hmmm, I can not afford to have you on medical leave.” I said confident this operative would correctly interrupt my comment. “ You’ve evaluated, Michael?”
“ Yes. He’s obviously kept up his training, is in fine shape, and quite capable of handling missions. He could still lay out most of the operatives we have.”
“ But?”
“ With things as they stand right now, I’d like to have him brought up to higher levels.”
“ Who would you suggest as a mentor?” I said my mind running through the lists. The man sitting in front of me surprised me, though with his next comment.
“ None. Michael, skills in all areas at least equal his status.” The man before me studied me. His move was one few dared to take with me. With out flinching he continued. “ Nikita, you can’t leave Michael at Level Five. It’s too dangerous to him and to Section. Look he needs to have more control and more input. People ask, and stories fly. Michael has shown himself capable of fair more. Michael shot through the ranks, faster then anyone. He outsmarted Madeline, Paul, Oversight and Center. Protected Adrian and you, he had the best team in Section1, was herald the best operative we had, and was being groomed for the perch. His material turns out to become what some said was the second best operative in Section, some said she was better, because she had managed to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes including his.” Steven noted my involuntary grimace and ignored it, I thought.
“ But his material was always sensitive and her emotions always go the best of her.” Scratch that thought. His backhanded reprimand caused my eyes to narrow warningly. But the irritating man continued. “ She lets him go and he eventually comes back. Michael plays with Jones and wins. Nikita supersedes her mentor to the perch, but years later he comes back.
“ Are you done boring me with a history of Section?” I cut in more then a little put off by this man’s gall. You did not talk to Operations that way. But then he wasn’t; he was talking to that headstrong blonde who he had pulled out of the fire more times then I cared to remember. He obviously thought I had overlooked something, and the frightening part was he was usually right. Plus he had dared to call me Nikita in the perch. This level of Section One was nearly empty but still, it was a costly gamble. I owed him my life and no small part of my sanity; I could afford to lend him my ear.
“ Are you listing to me? It doesn’t look right. This man should have never been let out of Section for so long. Did you really think you could trust him? Of course you did and I know you were right. Operations never should have. She should have considered him a possible enemy. If she needed and valued him enough to keep him alive then he was good enough to promote. To all appearances that was the case. But now he appears with Level Five status: Michael should have been canceled long ago. Operations appears weak instead of a brilliant strategist.”
“ This is grounds for cancellation.” I said, unwilling to address his concerns. The truth was he had hit on an issue I had been considering for some time. I could not solidify Michael’s place in Section myself and neither could he. Steven brought me back to the present with his next words.
“ My place in a hour?” He said impishly. Taking my lack of reaction for consent he exited the perch. I rolled my eyes at his antics, cherishing him all the more for his slight insubordination. Steven could almost always be counted on for swift and complete obedience when needed, but he also never missed a chance to keep me sane. Sometimes that meant just sticking his neck on the line, he didn’t even hesitate.
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