| Subject: Re: Jericho I: Repost, end |
Author:
Anon
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Date Posted: 03:07:33 02/03/02 Sun
In reply to:
Anon
's message, "Jericho I: Repost" on 02:51:08 02/03/02 Sun
Chapter 10
Operations snapped the silver cased lighter closed, slipped it into his vest pocket, then inhaled deeply on the cigarette balanced between his lips as Madeline, raising a brow, took several steps away from him.
"I thought you quit."
"I did," he replied, then slowly blew a long stream of smoke into the air directly before him and changed the subject before Madeline started in on him about his last medical check-up. "So you disagree with my decision to use Nikita on the Gemstone file."
"Not disagree, I'm just surprised," Madeline answered. "I thought you had reservations about her."
"I do, but I also realize that she's the most promising candidate we have so far. Did you watch the video of her performance at the restaurant?" Operations' mouth veered into a smirk. "She didn't shoot a single hostile."
"It's not surprising, considering the circumstances surrounding her recruitment."
"Yes. She's resisting the change, which is good. Her ambivalence will ultimately help us succeed in luring Adrian out of hiding. I saw in your report that one of her operatives has already established contact with Nikita. Is she the same one identified by Kipler?"
"Yes," Madeline replied, recalling the surveillance tapes she had reviewed of Nikita's apartment. The young woman across the hall had been over to Nikita's almost everyday for a week, building a friendship with her. Carla was unaware though that Section had already made her out to be a member of Adrian's organization. They discovered that fact when Kipler, a Section operative who was assigned to the apartment Nikita now occupied, reported he had suspicions about his neighbor's friendliness. The day after he made his report, he disappeared. They found his body two days later face down in the river across town from his apartment.
"My guess is that they're building a file on Nikita. Assessing her suitability."
Operations strolled over to the window and gazed out over the activity below on the main floor. "Now we just have to keep her alive. Not an easy task.."
"Michael will keep her alive. He seems to have taken her under his wing."
Operations snorted. "You'd think he'd have learned his lesson by now."
*
Michael stood at the head of the van, his expression stormy. He should have known Operations wouldn't give up so easily. If they had stayed with the original profile, they would have had Van Vactor by now. Instead, Operations had pulled Nikita in at the last minute and put her on point. It wasn't standard procedure to use an operative with as little field experience as Nikita, especially at point, on a mission as critical as this and Michael had made an issue of pointing this out to Operations.
"She's not a trainee anymore, Michael," Operations replied. "Either she pulls her own weight around here or we get rid of her."
Michael suppressed a sigh and avoided looking at Nikita, though he could feel her eyes on him. The mission had been a disaster. Nikita had panicked and failed to heed his direct command to shoot a hostile. As a result, they had had to abort.
What was Operations up to? Nikita had passed her solo field test. Why was she being tested again? Was Operations looking for an alternate reason to put her in abeyance -- one that could be justified on his report to Oversight?
Michael paused as another thought struck him. Or, maybe it wasn't Nikita being tested here, but him. The van came to a stop, the doors opened, and the operatives began to file out one by one. Nikita sat quietly, her eyes locked on him.
"Return your equipment to Walter, then report to my office," he told her. She opened her mouth as if to say something and he quickly silenced her with a piercing look.
Nikita sank back in her seat. When he didn't say anything else, she bent and picked up her bag and exited.
*
"Michael."
Operations called to him as he was about to enter his office. From the scowl on his face, Michael determined the purpose for which Section's leader wanted to see him was in regard to Nikita. He was right.
"In your office -- now."
Michael stepped to the side, allowing Operations to precede him. Inside, Operations waited till Michael had closed the door then started in on him. "What happened out there?"
"There was an anomaly."
"An anomaly? Is that what you call her refusal to obey an order, Michael? I told you from the beginning that she lacked discipline."
Michael's gaze didn't waver as he stared into Operation's gray eyes. He kept his voice low and controlled. "I still believe she can make a good operative. She just lacks field experience. Given time, she'll improve."
Operations peered at him through narrowed eyes for several seconds. "You have one more chance with her, Michael. If she doesn't come through, you know what to do." He turned then and walked out.
A minute later Nikita arrived. Michael motioned for her to sit down as he paced back and forth. He was going to have to change his tactics with Nikita if he was to keep her alive. He realized he had made a fatal flaw in her training by allowing her to become too comfortable around him. In the early stages of her training it had been important for him to establish that bond of trust with her, but now her survival hinged on his ability to teach her that, above all, she had to recognize him as team leader and obey his every order.
Michael stopped his pacing and looked at her as she sat before him and stared down at her clasped hands. "Get up," he ordered. She looked up at him through her lashes, hesitating. "STAND!"
She jerked, startled at his tone, then rose slowly to her feet. Her mouth clamped shut as she stared straight ahead. Anger rimmed her gaze and, silently, Michael was grateful. If he could get her to feed on that anger rather than her uncertainty and fear, she would have a chance of pulling through
"Section One is the most clandestine organization on the planet. It's our job to bring down the criminals and terrorists that no one else can get."
He saw her anger waver as she said in a tight voice, "I can't do what you want me to do."
His eyes bore into hers. "Mistakes are not an option."
Her voice, still tight, wavered and trembled. "I can't pull the trigger."
Frustration began to well up inside of Michael. He was losing her. "Why not?"
Her answer was unexpected. "Because I'm not who you think I am." She shifted her gaze to look directly into his eyes. "I'm not a killer."
Michael's eyes widened imperceptibly. She was staring right at him and he, who had become so adept at reading her emotions, was left feeling confused. Could she be an innocent? He paused, his mind churning, assessing the truth behind her words. If Nikita was an innocent... then there was no way to save her. Section wouldn't let her go now; she knew too much. Could she be an innocent?
His eyes flickered back and forth as she stared back at him with a gaze that was unwavering. No--Michael refused to accept that alternative. To do so would result in his losing her. He strode over to where she was standing, stopping only inches from her, and whispered hoarsely, "The moment I believe that, Nikita, you're canceled."
*************
Chapter 11
"Hello?"
"Elena -- it's me." Michael paused. He'd done this enough times in the past that Elena would already know why he was calling. That didn't prevent disappointment, though, from filling her voice.
"You're not going to make it home tonight."
"I'm sorry."
She sighed heavily, but said nothing. It was fortunate for him, and Section, that Elena had grown up such a shy young woman, otherwise, she might have been more demanding of his time. Elena, however, accepted his frequent phone calls home saying that something unexpected had come up and that he wouldn't be able to make it back on time. He had, after all, told her during their courtship that his job required a lot of traveling and time away from home.
"How's Adam?" he asked. As he expected, their son's name lightened her spirits.
"He's taking a nap," she answered.
Michael could sense the smile in her voice. "Give him a kiss for me when he wakes up."
"Alright. Hurry home when you can, sweetheart. I love you."
"I will. Bye." Michael returned his cell phone to the inside pocket of his coat, placed his hands down at his sides and waited for further instruction from Madeline.
"How are things between you and Elena?" she asked.
"Fine," Michael answered, holding his gaze steady. Madeline asked him this question every week and each time he gave her the same reply.
"Has she mentioned any desire to find her father?"
"Not yet."
"Keep working on her."
Michael nodded, thankful that this week's interrogation on the status of his marriage to Elena was over. "Is there anything else?" he asked.
Madeline's answer was interrupted by the buzzing of the intercom on her desk. She leaned forward and pressed the speaker, "Yes?"
Birkoff's youthful voice flitted through the air. "We've got a location on Van Vactor. Flash profiles are being distributed on egress. Operations wants to see Michael in Com."
Madeline glanced up, her eyes meeting Michael's. "Looks like you're needed." As Michael turned to leave, she added as an afterthought, "Michael."
"Yes?"
Rising to her feet, Madeline walked around to the front of her desk and stood before him. "Keep an eye on Nikita."
"Of course," he answered, then turned slowly to leave, wondering what subtle message was hidden in Madeline's words.
*
Michael caught up with Nikita as the teams were preparing to leave. Grabbing hold of her arm, he pulled her to the side. Looking into her eyes, he evaluated her state of mind. "There's no room for mistakes, Nikita."
His voice was low and almost soft. She nodded once, pulled her arm free, and headed toward the van leaving Michael to follow. Nikita was on team one, paired with Charlie Brieghton, a veteran operative of nine years. Michael would have preferred to be paired with her himself, but the sequence called for the teams to be out in the open and Van Vactor would recognize him right away.
*
"Damn it!" Birkoff frowned as his fingers tapped away at the keyboard furiously. "We've lost team one!"
Michael swung around in his seat and looked over Birkoff's shoulder at the blank screen in front of him. "Well?"
Birkoff shook his head. "I can't find them. Too much interference," he murmured, as his eyes remained glued on the screen. Behind him, Michael stood and removed his coat, then reached for his gun. Birkoff swerved and cast a questioning look at Michael.
"I'm going in. Monitor the other teams."
"But--" Birkoff fell silent as the van door slammed shut behind Michael. "Great." The young genius turned back to face the screen. "Why didn't he just send in one of the other teams as backup?"
*
Nikita and Charlie had last been seen pursuing Van Vactor into an abandoned warehouse. Michael slipped between the parked vehicles on the street, avoiding the line of fire between Section teams and Van Vactor's men. He bent at a half-crouch, ran across the pavement, and entered the warehouse. Ducking into the shadows, he tried the com unit once more: "Nikita, can you hear me?"
Nothing. A gunshot sounded in the distant and Michael was off running, hugging the shadows. He heard a scream -- male; Charlie.
Michael followed the sound and came to a darkened stairway. He listened carefully as he made his way quietly down the steps. About half-way, he heard voices.
"Go.... to hell."
That was definitely Nikita. Michael didn't know whether to smile at her insolent behavior, or choke her for her foolhardiness. There was scuffling followed by Van Vactor yelling, "Where do you come from!" Michael sprang over the railing. He landed lightly on his feet, gun aimed and killed a hostile who was holding a knife to Nikita's neck. Immediately Nikita sprung into action. Her leg shot out, kicking the gun from Van Vactor's hand, and then she swooped down, picked up the weapon and aimed it at him.
Michael smiled at the look of surprise on Van Vactor's face. He obviously had underestimated Nikita's speed and strength. Nikita turned her head to face him and Michael was surprised to see the coldness that filled her eyes. He was even more surprised when she swung her gun arm to the right, aiming it straight at him. Michael stood unmoving. A hundred thoughts ran through his mind, but one, a question he had asked Simone so long ago, stood out more prominent than the others. And if Christ did know -- did he forgive those who betrayed him?
Michael stared at Nikita. Did she... could she forgive---
The gun exploded and Michael jerked, disbelief ricocheting through him as the bullet blurred past him, just centimeters from his head. Then he heard a soft gasp from behind.
Slowly, he turned and stared as one of Van Vactor's men looked back at him with a glazed, shocked expression. The gun he held in his hand fell harmlessly to the ground. Nikita's bullet, lodged between his brows, had found its mark.
Team two arrived and secured the area. Michael felt someone brush against him and looked up to see Nikita, her eyes wide and unblinking, push past him. He watched as she came to a stop and stared down at the man she had shot. Her fingers, still clasped around the gun, uncurled slowly and the gun fell with a clatter to the ground. In shock, Nikita turned and shuffled away to a darkened corner. She leaned against the wall and, a moment later, hunched forward and retched.
She had been telling the truth. Michael's eyes closed for a moment, then, after everyone had left, and there was only him and Nikita, he walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She stood and wiped her arm across her mouth. Slowly she turned and looked at him with eyes that, for once, he was unable to see past.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Still looking at him, Nikita nodded slowly and replied. "I'm fine."
End of The Road To Jericho I
Note from Anon: I had written a Jericho II before but I didn't like that I jumped too far ahead in the future. Jericho II that is being posted to this board picks up in the same time frame where Jericho I leaves off.
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