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Date Posted: 14:25:29 05/17/08 Sat
Author: Mary
Author Host/IP: cpe-69-135-186-204.woh.res.rr.com / 69.135.186.204
Subject: Chapter 6 and Chapter 7
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Good and Evil" on 10:19:52 05/11/08 Sun

Chapter 6

Jason arrived at his station and was immediately called to Perch by Nikita.

She wasted no time in telling him, “I have an operational proposal and I would like your feedback.”

“All right.” He took a relaxed stance, open to her idea but guarded.

“Myra will be here from Section Three very soon. As you know we are very lean on operatives and experience is lacking at both Sections. I want to propose that we combine our resources and run both Sections from a central perspective.”

“Interesting. Who would be in charge?”

“A council. Myra, myself, and you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Your corporate training and broader perspective, plus your time at Center, makes you a valuable asset to this approach.”

“And if it’s two against one?”

“Then the one loses. Myra and I will both maintain strategic control of each individual Section, but tactical operations will be run from the council.”

“Will Oversight sanction it?”

“That will be part of your job Jason. The proposal to Oversight is in your hands. I meet with Myra in fifty-two minutes. Give me ten minutes alone with her and then I would like you to join us in committee.”

“I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“Is this a permanent promotion?”

“Yes. You are not my second, as Madeline was before. I don’t want to work that way. I’ll discuss my long term configuration ideas once we have the immediate need addressed.”

Jason knew he had been dismissed and returned to his station, by way of munitions.

“Hey Walter, you here?”

Coming out from the back, “Yeah amigo. What can I do for you?”

“Thought you would want to know we have a visitor coming here this afternoon.”

“Who?”

“Myra.”

“Myra? What the hell is she doing coming back here? I thought she was at Three, permanently.”

“She is. Nikita invited her over for tea time. Seems our Operations has an idea of merging the tactical between the two Sections.”

“I’ll be damned. She didn’t talk to me about that one.”

“Don’t think she talked to anybody about it, not that she has to anyway.”

“Yeah,” Walter paused with a concerned look in his eye. “But she usually comes to me.”

“Well this time she came to me.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“It means that she asked me to confer with her and Myra and oversee all tactical operations.”

“What?”

“I know I am as surprised as you are. Time for Jason to do a little moving up.”

Walter lowered his voice and glanced to make sure that speaking was still safe, “You better be careful. Myra is no one that you want to cross. Did she ever find out about that little ‘file fixing’ that you did?”

“Nope. And I left no trace behind. No way that she can know about that.”

“You’d better hope so.”

“I know so. No worries.”

“Well I am going to steer clear of her. And I’m going to have a chat with Nikita later. See just what is going through that pretty little head of hers.”

“I have to get back.”
“Yeah. Yeah, me too.”

His familiar environment of munitions surrounded Walter and he took comfort from the known venue as he mused to himself about Nikita’s latest initiative. He had learned many years ago that finding a stabilizing point of reference was the only true way to stay sane in Section. Walter always had his inventory. He always knew that no matter what else was happening there was always the respite of munitions for him. Yes, they were weapons, yes they hurt other people, sometimes innocent people. But they were a necessary evil. They kept operatives alive. Walter, in his own way felt that he was also keeping operatives alive.

That was what he determined that he wanted to do at Section, keep people alive. Not kill people, not run missions, not be a field operative. He didn’t want to go out and watch as the missions went bad. He had seen enough of that. He had to find a positive way to impact the dark world that comprised Section One. Freedom was a state of mind, not a place, and Walter was free when he was in his territory. Free to dream, free to design, free to just think. They could never take that away from him. This was his sanity point in the insanity that was Section One.




Chapter 7

Madeline watched from the monitor in her office as Myra entered Section One and took the lift down to the Committee meeting room. Nikita was waiting for her arrival.

“Myra, thank you for coming.”

“You made such an interesting offer. How could I refuse?”

A shiver went through Nikita at her choice of words, “Would you like anything? Coffee? Tea?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Good, then let’s get down to business. You know my proposal on the table, what do you think?”

“Your proposition is interesting. Three is short on resources, as is One after all the unfortunate events and the death of your father. Your inexperience in a leadership role further deteriorates the situation.”

Internally Nikita fumed at the blatant attack, externally she smiled, “Yes I have only done this job for a short period of time. But your direct involvement in running a Section has been limited also until recently.”

Nikita knew she had hit the right nerve when Myra eyes flashed with uncovered anger for just a second and then she recovered her composure, “So you’re indicating that we can use each other’s help?”

“Yes, I believe that is the idea.”

“That will require trust.”

“Yes. I suppose it will,” Nikita commented in a fairly cold tone. “But considering the reality of the situation, I have attempted to minimize that requirement.”

“And how would that be accomplished?” Myra asked with a suspicious tone to her voice.

“A third person, someone who can look at our decisions from a high-level perspective and determine if tactically we are staying within our predetermined objectives.”

“And who do you suggest this third person be?”

“I’ve selected Jason.”

“Interesting choice. Might I ask why?”

“His corporate background and mentality make him a perfect candidate based on the profile that I had drawn up. Would you like to see it?” Nikita asked as she handed Myra the panel.

“No. I’m sure it’s complete. But what if I have my own suggestion for a third person for this council?”

Nikita paused only half a second for effect, “I took that possibility into consideration. I reviewed the files of anyone at Three that fit the profile. I was unable to find anyone more qualified than Jason. If you believe that I am incorrect in that assessment…”

“No, not at all. I believe that Jason is an excellent choice. And as you said, we have to build trust.”

“You will still need to review the panel and all the parameters. I want to maintain overall tactical control from here at One since that is where Jason and I are located. We will pool resources for team assignments, tactical oversight, mission profiling, and DRV. Since both Section’s are weakest in those areas.”

“How will we coordinate?”

“All coordination will be done through Jason, or his second, Quinn. You and I will communicate on a private channel as needed to align resources. I’ve asked Jason to join us in just a moment.”

Nikita watched as the Myra sat down and she could just sense a change in the air, a heaviness fell in the pit of her stomach, “Speaking of resources, what happened to Michael Samuelle?”

As coldly as possible Nikita replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Of course. I just meant that he reappeared here at One as a double agent with the Collective, your father is cancelled and then suddenly Michael Samuelle disappears again. He was one of the best operatives to ever walk through Section, I think it is fair for me to ask where he is.”

It took every ounce of strength that Nikita had to restrain her emotions, “Michael’s files were sunk, his trackers have been disabled. Any information of him ever being back in Section has been destroyed. I will ask that if we are to work together that his name never be brought up again.”

Nikita coldly stared at Myra letting the anger show in her icy blue eyes just long enough to convey her message. Her thoughts were interrupted, “Ma’am. Jason is here.”

“Send him in.”

Jason sauntered into the room and chastely kissed Myra on each cheek, “Myra. You are lookin’ wonderful. It is so good to see you again.”

“And you Jason. Operations tell me that you and I are going to get the opportunity to work together again.”

“Yes. I just finished reviewing the full profile.”

“Then you are a step ahead of me, but that’s not unusual for you.” Myra smiled and Nikita took note of the woman’s tone.

“Why Myra, was that a compliment?” Jason prodded.

“But of course it was Jason. You know how much I appreciate your efforts when you were at Center.”

“All right, we have a lot of work to do and we should get busy. There is a pending level three mission to Hong Kong and we need to pick a team. Jason I would like you and Myra to pull the team and have a recommendation to me for a team leader within the hour. We need a profile in three hours. Don’t be late. I’ll be in the Perch.”

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