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Date Posted: 05:51:49 05/03/08 Sat
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-3-1.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.3.1
Subject: Chapter 162
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 02:14:32 04/06/08 Sun

Chapter 162


Walter observed the comings and goings at Section One from his post in Munitions. Although operatives went on about their duties like clockwork ... something was missing. The halls of Section appeared austere and even colder without Michael and Nikita’s presence. The fact that his Sugar had been kidnapped only exacerbated his feelings of melancholy. As he watched and observed, Walter’s eyes suddenly lit up as if struck by a thunderbolt. It was Nikita’s lightness that was missing. He missed seeing her luminous face and he missed their friendly banter whenever Nikita came over to his station.

Every time he looked up or turned a corner, Walter kept expecting to see her striding purposefully down the hallway coming back from a mission with the target apprehended ... but that hadn’t happened for some time. Walter missed his Sugar for she was the ray of sunshine in his day. He missed her laughter, her smile and her calming presence in this world of ruthlessness. Nikita was in trouble and Michael had gone looking for her, but it was the not knowing if she was alive or dead that was eating away at him. The fact that Birkoff hadn’t been able to make contact with her or her with them was also very worrying. How could they find Nikita’s location, if they couldn’t track her? Nikita could be anywhere in Hong Kong and had probably been transferred to God knows where because they couldn't discover her whereabouts.

Although he hadn’t put much faith in God over the years ... Walter thought it appropriate that he say a few prayers in hope of divine intervention of a miracle. However, even that was of little solace to him. He hadn't realized before how deeply Nikita affected everyone at Section One, even Operations and Madeline had seemed a little more short-tempered since they’d known of her kidnapping and Michael’s request for the fifteen days owing to him. Perhaps they’d realised that they had made the wrong decision ... not that Madeline or Operations would ever admit to that. Their pigheadedness would be their downfall one day. The Rising Dragons’ mission had come to a standstill due to its two main operatives non involvement, and without their participation, things were starting to unravel.

Would Operations and Madeline call a truce and ask Michael to return and offer Section’s resources to help him search for Nikita? Pigs would fly before either of their leaders would change their minds and reverse their decision as far as Michael and Nikita were concerned, Walter thought. If he ever saw that day he vowed that he would run naked through Section.

Walter shrugged his shoulders and looked over towards Tactical to see if Birkoff was there. He was. Knowing how worried that his buddy had been since Nikita’s disappearance, he decided to mosey on over to see if he had made any inroads in his attempt to contact her or if he’d heard anything from Michael.

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

Operations strode through the corridors of Section and made his way to Madeline’s office. He’d been having second thoughts about his decision where Michael was concerned and had been weighing up the conversation he’d had with him in the perch the other day. Michael’s persistence to search for Nikita had goaded him and he’d forbidden him to pursue her citing that the triad was the target and that Nikita was expendable. He realised now, how that must have sounded to his Level 5 operative particularly knowing of their bond. There were obvious similarities to Nikita’s persistence that they retrieve him when Michael was missing in Russia. However, that was where the similarities ended. Madeline had been sent with Nikita to find him, but the retrieval mission was really a hidden agenda to bring in deep cover operative Igran Petrosian.

No doubt Michael been reminded of their subterfuge, hence his reaction to the orders he had given him. His reluctance to do anything about Nikita’s kidnapping had not been well received. In retrospect, had the tables been turned and Madeline was the one kidnapped, he too would have reacted as Michael had. Operations knew that Madeline would be able to be more rational, hence he sought her counsel. However, little did he know but Madeline had gone behind his back and had asked Birkoff to keep her informed on any progress on Nikita’s whereabouts.

Grappling with the wisdom of his decision Operations continued on through the halls of Section and as usual entered Madeline’s office with his normal aplomb to see her working on her computer.

She looked up to see who it was on hearing footsteps enter. “Ah, Paul ... Come in ... What are you doing here?”

“I want some answers.”

“Answers to what?” she asked curiously not being able to make sense of what it was he was after.

“Nikita's status.”

“I thought you had dismissed her kidnapping as a fate accomplis and that Michael was not to go after her?”

“Yes I did say that but in hindsight I feel I may have been a little hasty.”

“Hmm ... yes that may be so, but it’s not the first time you have been a tad irrational in a decision.”

Operations raised an eyebrow at her pointed retort. “Really?”

“Yes ... you were reckless, but fortunately I have made contingencies.”

“Good. I like your surprises.” Operations smiled at Madeline’s forward planning ... she always did play the end against the middle. He knew immediately that Madeline had her finger on the pulse. She knew him well and he was right in his decision to seek her input. “We will need to take care of this soon ... The mission has come to a standstill since Nikita’s kidnapping and Michael going dark to look for her. The Rising Dragons will be able to regroup if we are not proactive.”

“It seems we have a dilemma then doesn’t it?”

Operations refused to give her question credence and merely asked a question in return. “You obviously have your finger on the pulse Madeline ... So tell me ... where are we with locating Nikita then?”

She too refused to be irritated by his words and answered concisely, “Birkoff’s been trying to initiate contact with Nikita but he hasn’t had any success as yet.”

“And Michael? Does he have a next move?”

“I don't know .. but you of all people know what Michael is like.” She paused before continuing, “His level of commitment to Section is extraordinary but Michael’s commitment to Nikita is inimitable. He will leave no stone unturned until he finds her. You saw the lengths he went to with Adrian. I don't think he's finished ... not by a long shot ...This is Nikita after all.”

Operations pondered the wisdom of her words before asking, “Has he tried to communicate with Section at all?”

“There’s been none as far as I know. If Michael doesn’t want to be stopped, he won’t be.”

“Then get Birkoff on to it immediately. I’m sure he has a way of getting in touch with him.”

“Very well Paul ... I’ll see to it. By the way, have you heard from George?”

“Indirectly. They're still monitoring this mission closer than I'd like.”

“At least it keeps his attention away from other things.”

“Yes, but if he gets wind that our two best operatives are missing, all hell will break loose.”

“So far, everything's covered. That's not the problem.”

“What's the problem?”

“Birkoff’s working on a location, but there's been no response whatsoever.”

“George is going to look at anything out of the ordinary as suspicious.”

“Then we’ll need to move quickly to ally his inquisitiveness. I'm sure we can shore this up.”

“I wish I were as optimistic.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are too many variables beyond our control.”

“That's true. But so far, so good. I’m sure things will go exactly as planned.”

“The Rising Dragons members are ruthless, we can’t forget that.”

“Yes ... but Section is more so.”

Acknowledging the wisdom of his statement, Madeline replied. “I’ll have Birkoff come to my office and we’ll set the wheels in motion to contact Michael.”

Good ... I knew I could count on you Madeline. I’ll be in the perch should you need me.”

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

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Birkoff,” Madeline stated when Section’s computer whiz stepped through the door into her domain. She watched as he came and stood in front of her desk, then without any preamble asked, “What are your plans?”

Birkoff raised his eyebrow at her question not quite understanding what Madeline meant. “Plans?” he queried.

“Regarding Nikita.”

“I’m at a quandary as to know what to do. Nikita’s comm. unit is down and I haven’t been able to establish contact. Until it becomes operable, then we have little to go on.”

“I see.”

“Have there been any communiqués with Michael since he left Section?”

“No ... nothing.”

“Then I feel we should try to make contact with him.”

“Does Operations know about this?”

“For the good of the mission, Operations has had a change of heart. He insists that we allow Michael to use Section’s facilities to assist in Nikita’s speedy return.”

“But Michael has gone dark ... it may be impossible to make contact.”

“I’m sure you will find a way Mr Birkoff,” Madeline implied categorically knowing that if anyone could contact Michael then Birkoff could. “It doesn't look good if we can't keep track of our own people.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Good ... Don't worry. Both you and Michael will be protected. I expect to hear something soon. You may go.”

With her dismissal Birkoff turned on his heel and left Madeline’s office and immediately went in search of Walter.

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

The two friends nearly bumped into each other as they each came around the corner into the Common area of Section in search of one another.

“Hmm, you scared me.”

“I didn't think anything scared you, Walter.” Birkoff adjusted his glasses and they briefly held looks until he broke eye contact.

Understanding his tacit meaning Walter replied flippantly for anyone who may be watching, “Get out of here,” then he continued on back to Munitions knowing that the two would get together secretly later on.

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

Fifteen minutes later the two friends met up in the hallway away from the prying eyes of the perch and the common area.

“So what’s up amigo ... what's going on?”

“Operations has had a change of heart about Michael.”

Taken aback by his announcement, Walter was gob smacked. “You’re joking ... right?”

However, by the look on Birkoff’s face, Walter knew he was deadly serious.

“No ... he wants me to contact him.”

“But why? ... Operations never changes his mind. ... It’s set in concrete.”

Walter suddenly had a mild rush of blood to the head as he thought of his earlier musings about a nudie run through Section. Perhaps the day pigs would fly was actually here. I didn't see that coming,he thought. “So what happens now? Have you had any word from Michael yet?

“No ... It's still too early ... it’s only been 2 days. But now, I’ll have to try and contact him on a deep channel.”

“Whoa, whoa Birkoff, not so fast.”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

“No, all I'm saying is that we should put some thought into your next move.”

“Well, the way I see it, I don't have any choice. Operations wants me to contact Michael ASAP.”

“Michael has gone dark and unless we have something to give him about Nikita’s whereabouts he won’t listen ... Operations knows that. You can’t pull off the impossible.” Walter looked at Birkoff for a reaction to his statement before asking the obvious question, “Do you have a location for Nikita?”

“No ... nothing.”

“There ... see what I mean?”

“So this is a waste of time?”

“No I didn’t mean that ...”

“What do you mean?”

“Something's not right. It doesn't make any sense. Operations is cold and ruthless but he's not generous. Does he want to help Michael for ulterior motives?”

“I don’t know ... Look; I've got to go Walter."

“Just keep your head down and your mouth shut, you'll be fine until we figure something out or something happens to force our hand.”

“Okay ... I’ll think of something to put Operations off for a while.”

“Good.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Play on text from ... NR, IB, GOOR, SES and SID

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