Chapter 151 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 04:09:36 02/16/08 Sat
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-5-218.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.5.218
Subject: Chapter 151
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 23:47:08 01/19/08 Sat

Chapter 151

Michael was livid.

Without looking back he climbed down the stairs of the perch leaving Operations behind to dwell on his ultimatum. Whenever he came to the perch, Michael knew that there was always a hidden agenda where his leader was concerned. Anticipating Operations� disposition over the years in Section One had taught him that anything was possible, nothing was predictable and to expect the worst especially if it involved Nikita. Today was no exception. He had virtually wiped her off as being of no consequence. It had been difficult to keep his emotionless demeanour in his presence when all he wanted to do was assault Operations for his lack of compassion. His clinical summation of Nikita�s demise was coldheartedly given with not an iota of concern or help.

Damn him ... damn Section too ... Michael knew he would go against his orders and suffer the consequences later.

Michael headed directly to his office seething at Operations� blatant disregard for Nikita�s welfare. But that was nothing unusual. The man had no compassion for either of them. �I know how you must be feeling� ... Bullshit! He knew nothing of how he was feeling. �You�ll have to get over it.� Michael knew he would never get over it. He never did and anytime that Nikita was in danger a little more of him died inside until she was safe again.

Buttoning his jacket Michael walked briskly through the common area, a man on a mission. With eyes fixed and determination written all over his face, he looked straight ahead looking at no one as his footfalls seemed to echo in the quietness of the area. There were now only a few operatives on duty as most had gone home since he�d arrived. Comm. was nearly deserted. Michael looked up to see Birkoff still at his computer. He nodded at him then turned continuing on his way. He nodded his head back in understanding but judging by his demeanour Michael knew Birkoff hadn�t been able to pinpoint a location for Nikita. Closing his eyes deep in thought and some despondency, Michael knew he would need to review their files on the mission to see if there was something he might have missed ... any clue that could lead to knowing where Nikita was being held.

He would not let his emotions cloud his judgement ... he had a clear vision and purpose of what he would do, but Michael knew he would need his wits about him if he was to find Nikita and bring her back. More determined than ever, he rounded the corner then disappeared into the corridor that led to his office.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Operations leaned out over the perch and stood for a long time looking out over Systems and Comm. He watched as those operatives still on duty scurried about carrying out their assignments until the area was practically deserted. Watching from above with narrowed eyes, Operations glowered down from the perch. He looked across the Common Area watching the retreating back of Michael as his Level 5 operative crossed the floor below on his way to his own office.

With a scowl on his face, he darkened the perch to match the mood he was in.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Walter was still in Munitions. He never liked to miss out on anything going on and was just hanging around to see what was happening. When he�d come out of his supply room he had seen Michael come into Section and knew he was a little off kilter tonight. He didn�t appear to be quite himself and Walter could only hazard a guess as to why. He�d noticed that Michael had crept up on Birkoff and they had had their heads together for quite some time before Operations had ordered him to the perch. Since Michael had only just been in Section earlier tonight for Inspector Ng interrogation and now he was back again ... and without Nikita once more ... could only mean one thing. He felt it in his old bones, something was very wrong this time.

Then when he�d seen Michael make his way to the perch, Walter had peered up into Operations' office, trying to see if he could tell whether there was trouble brewing. Obviously, whatever conversation had ensued between the two, something was said that didn�t sit well with Michael. Walter glanced up again and saw Operations standing there just looking down at comm. and now Michael had a thunderous look on his face ... and something else that he couldn�t quite pinpoint. The usual Mr Cool looked anything but tonight. Swallowing a lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, Walter just knew something had happened to his Sugar.

He watched as Michael passed through Comm. before leaving his station to make haste over towards Birkoff. Something had been going down between the two of them and with Operations. His curiosity was peaked and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was getting late. Section had a deserted air to it except for Comm. where Birkoff was racing around trying to do three things at once. Walter hurried over to see his friend and found him in an uncustomary dither. Birkoff looked frazzled and at a loss to know what to do.

�Hey, Amigo ... everything OK with you? You seem distracted. Is something on your mind?�

Birkoff showed a noticeable displeasure at being disturbed even if it was by his good buddy. His head shot up from the computer.

�What do you want Walter? ... I�m rather busy.�

�I can see that.�

Paying no real attention to Walter�s reply and angry at himself, Birkoff raised his voice in frustration as his computer was not forthcoming with what he wanted. �You idiot piece of worthless shit! Don't give me that crap again!�

Walter was shocked by his buddy�s outburst. �Birkoff what�s wrong? What's going on?�

�Sorry Walter but I�m having some difficulty here.�

�Yeah ... You don�t say. It might help to talk about it.�

�Talking won't help.�

Walter knew there was something seriously wrong with his friend. Birkoff was never like this. �If you change your mind, I'm here. Perhaps I can help?�

�Thank you ... but this is something I need to carry out myself.�

Still he persisted his friend for an answer. �Are you sure there�s nothing I can do?�

Realising that Walter should know, Birkoff solemnly replied. �Yeah ... there�s one thing ...�

�What?�

�You can pray.�

Taken aback by his reply Walter pondered the significance of it, but replied flippantly. �Okay ... I can do that! Why?�

Birkoff tiredly removed his glasses, and sat staring at his monitor. Green walls of place names scrolled all over the screen in a never-ending progression. Looking up at the monitor mounted above him, it showed the same images. Birkoff numbly stared at the screen, unable to get a handle on the haywire way the place names were crisscrossing the screen. Restlessly he rubbed his hand over his head knowing he needed a different perspective on what he was seeing. He stared off into space and closed his eyes. Hopefully when he opened them again he would be able to make sense out of what was happening. They needed a fix on Nikita for without one they had little hope of finding her alive. To add to their troubles, her Comm. unit wasn�t functioning as well. They were in a dire situation. Birkoff stared up at the ceiling hoping for some divine intervention. Then he focused back on the screen hoping that miraculously things had changed. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he thought of another way to attack the situation.

Walter watched Birkoff�s manner closely. �Something�s wrong ... what is it ... are you in abeyance?�

�No.�

�Well what�s got you all tied up in knots?�

Birkoff hesitated a moment, then confided in him. �Nikita�s been kidnapped and I can�t find a location on her.�

His reply stopped Walter in his tracks. �Whoa! ... What? ... By whom?� He faltered taken back ... then the implications of Birkoff�s words suddenly hit home. �Www...what are we going to do?�

�I don�t know ... I�ve tried everything I can think of and I�ve come up empty handed.�

�What about her clock frequency and her implanted cesium crystal?�

�We already tried those.� He gave Walter a pessimistic look. �I�ve tried them a hundred different ways and still nothing.�

�I thought you had all the answers amigo.�

�I wish I did ... but this time I don�t.�

Walter watched as the spark completely went out of his eyes to be replaced by misery and fear of what might happen next
Suddenly remembering something else, Walter grasped at the last straw. �There is one other thing.�

�What?� Birkoff asked with a renewed spark in his eyes.

�Nikita has a tracker in the heel of her shoes ... but unless she activates it herself ...� His voice trailed off, �.... we have no way of locating her.�

�Does she know that she has one there?�

�No ... Operations thought it wasn't necessary to tell her ... and I didn�t say anything ...� Walter�s voice was laced with regret realising the consequences of his actions.

Discouraged again, Birkoff appealed for his friend�s wise counsel and support. �Walter, I need you to do something for me.�

�Anything ... just name it.�

�Come with me to Michael�s office.�

�Sure thing.�

�Thanks Walter ... I don�t think I could face Michael alone with what I have to tell him.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Michael had spent the last thirty minutes going over any possibility he could think of to help find a clue as to Nikita�s whereabouts or to the identity of her kidnappers. It was thoughts of the woman he loved more than anything that gave him the dogged determination to leave no stone unturned. He�d gone over the mission tapes with a fine tooth comb and now he was previewing the security tapes from her apartment�s parking area. He would find Nikita ... something would jump out at him soon. He looked at the screen then closed his eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That�s how they found him.

Knocking twice Birkoff and Walter both walked into Michael's office and saw him sitting very still in his chair but he spoke before they had finished entering the room.

�What have you got Birkoff? Have you got a location?�

Birkoff glanced toward Walter for some Dutch courage before answering. �I�m so sorry Michael... but I�ve come up empty handed.�

�Have you found anything Michael? Have you found Sugar?�

When he heard Walter speak Michael opened his eyes, looked up and faced the two men. �I�m working on it now.�

�Do you have anything to go on?�

�Maybe ... I�ve gone over the surveillance tape from Nikita�s apartment building and we just may have a lead.�
Walter gave a sigh of relief. �Thank God.�

�What can we do? What do you need Michael?� they both asked simultaneously.

�I need a DMV trace.�

�Can do ... but not here. I need my computer. I�ll splice off the network and stick a node terminal on the line. No one will even know we were there.�

�Good.�

�Yep ... leave it with me.� Birkoff got up to leave and motioned for Michael and Walter to follow him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Play on text from ... GOH, HHNF and TITB

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