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Date Posted: 10:41:23 05/14/08 Wed
Author: Mary
Author Host/IP: cpe-69-135-186-204.woh.res.rr.com / 69.135.186.204
Subject: Good and Evil - Chapter 4 and Chapter 5
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Good and Evil" on 10:19:52 05/11/08 Sun

<b>Chapter 4</b>

He moved quickly but not too quickly through the tourist crowd. Blend in, relax, don’t try to hide nor try to stand out. He remembered his own words from not too long ago, words he had taught her, “Hide in plain sight.” The afternoon sun was high and the heat and humidity was stifling, and he did seem like any other tourist making their way through the market, selecting fruits and vegetables, and a few other trinkets.

He was utterly exhausted, having barely slept in the last weeks, and the dark glasses hid the puffy, dark rimmed eyes that continually scanned the crowd – partly out of habit and partly out of a danger he knew was only too real.

Adam lay sleeping in villa that Michael had always kept as a potential refuge. He had thought that one day it might be a needed location for Nikita and him to share. Now his small son lay napping in that villa, in the sleeping room that overlooked the magnificent views of Vina Del Mar through the open windows that allowed the afternoon breeze to cool the house. The nightmares that haunted Adam’s sleep kept both of them nocturnally active much more than normal and the boy’s sleep cycle was completely out of synch.

Of course, moving Adam out of Paris, across Europe and eventually to the western coast of South America had been very hard on the young boy. On top of all the other things that had happened in his life Michael knew that the sooner he settled Adam in one spot and got him the psychological assistance that he would so desperately need, the better off that Adam would be. Yes, it was more dangerous this way, it did put their lives in grave danger staying in one spot already, but Michael had to put Adam’s well being first. And Adam needed this.

He also knew that his young son needed a soft touch in his life, a woman that cold nuture him, as he had so hoped Nikita would do. Michael had made all the arrangements before they arrived and Gabriella had been waiting for them even as they arrived in the dead of night. She was young, and that made Adam more comfortable with her, yet she was old enough to be responsible for her young charge. She asked no questions and would keep Adam safe with her life.

She owed Michael for everything that she had in life, terrorists had taken her family, killed her father and two brothers. Michael was on a mission in Chile when Gabriella was just twelve. Michael was able to save her and her mother, he made sure since that time that they were financially provided for and that Gabriella was well-educated. She thought Michael some sort of angel to her and her Mother. She did not know that Michael had been forced to shoot her father in order to achieve mission closure. That was just another secret that Michael carried in his dark soul.

He took his purchases and headed for the villa, taking several routes in order to cover his tracks. He entered the villa and Gabriella was waiting in the kitchen.

He asked softly, “Adam?”

“He’s sleeping.”

“Good.”

She took the bags from him, “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Yes, thank you.”

He went to check on Adam, even though he was sure that Gabriella was extremely competent, and well trained, he had to see his son with his own eyes.

Gabriella found Michael in the doorway of the sleeping room just where she knew he would be. “Michael? Come, sit down.”

He followed her to the sitting room and sunk into the club chair, she placed the lemonade next to him.

“You need to rest.”

“I know.”

“Michael, I mean it. You look terrible. Please go lie down.”

He paused and considered her words. He was reaching the end of his own considerable reserves and Adam needed him. “Two hours. No more.”

“I’ll wake you.”

Michael checked the perimeter of the house, set the security system and made sure the glock was loaded and under his pillow. He lay down in the room adjacent to Adam’s falling into sleep almost immediately. His body, while psychically exhausted, could not control his mind, which raced through scenes of death and destruction that he had been such a part of over the years. These events began to merge together and his mind created semblances of reality. He saw Simone, Rene, Nikita, and Elena in his dreams, intermixed in situations where he knew they had never been, but his subconscious was trying to sort events out and failing.

Then it was just he and Nikita on the bridge that day, no one else anywhere around. Suddenly Adam raced across the bridge and Michael put out his arms to catch his son when Adam ran to Nikita and hid from Michael behind her legs. Michael could hear his son crying, “Don’t let the bad man hurt me, please don’t let the bad man hurt me.”

Michael watched as Nikita leaned down to the small boy and said, “You are not with the bad men now. They can’t hurt you.”

But small Adam shook his head and with tears running down his face he pointed directly at Michael as said, “Not those bad men. Him. He’s a bad man too and he will hurt me. Please don’t let him hurt me!”

Michael jolted awake from the dream and sat up straight in bed. He took a deep breath, appraised his surroundings, and looking at the clock he had been asleep just over an hour. That would have to do for now, he got up and went to take a shower that he hoped would help to clear his head.

Like Adam, Michael too was damaged. Being able to function was going to be a difficult undertaking after years of tutelage in Section One. He had seen events and performed actions on behalf of the Section that no human being would be able to mentally reconcile and be sane. But not only did he need his sanity now, he needed the strength to be able to help his son.





<b>Chapter 5</b>

Madeline awoke, years of training made her keep her eyes closed and her breathing even as she sensed the room around her. She could just feel that someone else was there, off to the right, just behind her line of sight, standing, female and she knew the smell of the shampoo and lotion that she used. Madeline opened her eyes and swung her legs over the side of the bed grabbing her robe in the process. If her visitor was standing then Madeline would be too, never give an opponent an advantage, and Madeline definitely still considered Myra an opponent.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

Myra studied Madeline carefully. She had gained back a few of the pounds that she had lost and she was no longer nearly as pale. She was gathering her strength and Myra was pleased about that. There was a very large battle ahead and they would need every advantage to make sure that they were victorious. Myra watched as Madeline poured a cup of tea and offered her one.

“No, thank you.” Myra paused and chose her words carefully. “You know, I see Nikita this afternoon.”

“I know.”

“You’re comfortable with the current profile?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Madeline quietly countered the question with a question.

“Good. We’ll be ready to go to the next phase soon. He is almost ready.”

“I am seeing significant signs of the changes to his base metabolism, but we really should allow four more days to let the toxin completely perform in his system.”

Myra sighed, “Yes. I know your right. And you know my impatience.”

“Four days Myra. Then we begin Phase II.”

“And what about Michael?”

Madeline leaned over to the table beside her and flipped on the station monitor, “He’s stationary now. No movement in over 15 days. I believe he has found a respite point.”

“Does he know we are tracking him?”

“No. My indications are that he will assume Nikita will have tracking procedures in place. I’m sure he is also on alert for other terrorist’s seeking revenge, and/or the very real possibility of Center or Oversight monitoring.”

“Are they?”

“No. Jones was very specific in his orders prior to his cancellation. Even though he is personally out of play, he had many allies and they are ensuring that his final orders are seen to.”

Myra sneered, “Bastard. Leave it him to cover all his bases.”

Madeline smiled a small patient smile, “Yes, he was rather good at what he did.”

“I suppose he was. But that does not mean that Nikita is anywhere near as good as he was at playing this kind of politics.”

“No she’s not. She has matured during her time in Section, but her vulnerabilities are deeply rooted in her base psyche. Without Michael there to balance her she is at a grave disadvantage.”

“Just where I want her to be.”

“We need to be careful. Don’t denigrate the relationship between them.”

“There is no relationship now. He’s thousands of miles away.”

“Yes. At least it would appear so. But I have underestimated them before, and I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Madeline, you were not the one misjudging them. That was Paul.”

Myra saw the shiver that Madeline tried to hide at the mention of the name. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“I do not want to talk about it.”

“You’ll have to sometime.”

Madeline attempted to stare Myra down with a look that had frozen many operatives in their tracks for years. But Myra knew Madeline’s tricks and just waited her out. Finally Madeline replied, “We’ll see.”

Madeline then changed tactics, “Is my office ready yet?”

“Would you be more comfortable there?”

“Yes. I think so.”

“Then it is ready.”

“Good. I need to get back to work.”

“I don’t want you pushing too hard.” Myra tried to sound sincere in her concern and kept a consistent tone to her voice, she knew Madeline’s skill with reading people.

“I need this. The routine will help me now, I need to focus.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“I’m not suicidal any more.”

“I know that.” Myra lied, and Madeline knew it.

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