Chapter 132 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 07:35:59 10/15/07 Mon
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-6-114.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.6.114
Subject: Chapter 132
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 07:09:02 10/06/07 Sat

Chapter 132

Retracing his steps back towards Munitions, Walter went in search of his buddy Birkoff to ask about why Michael had returned to Section without Nikita. As he approached Comm., he stopped in his tracks when he noticed that Birkoff wasn�t alone, so Walter returned to his work station and busied himself in the guise of fixing some equipment. He looked over to Systems every now and again while he bided his time waiting for the right moment to go over and talk to him.

He�d been surprised to see Michael back in Section and the curiosity as to why, was killing him. Not only had his return but the conversation with Michael in the corridor also raised more questions than were answered as far as Walter was concerned. When the rest of his team had returned their weapons to him and Michael hadn�t, he�d just naturally assumed that he had stayed in Hong Kong with Nikita. So what was going on?

Walter walked into his supply room to put away the equipment and returned with another. He looked over to Comm., to see that Birkoff was still engaged in conversation with an operative. Racking his brain, Walter tried to unravel the mystery, however, everything he thought of was sheer speculation and until he spoke to Birkoff he was none the wiser.

Michael had returned alone, Operations wanted to see him ASAP and where was Nikita? The two operatives were joined at the hip. So where was she? Michael and Nikita always watched each other�s back but now he was back in Section and Nikita was God knows where? Had Operations and Madeline found a new way to separate the two best operatives that they had? Their missions were successful and they had made great in-roads into the Rising Dragons� triad so far, so why would they do that? Perhaps the mission had been aborted ... but that still didn�t explain why Michael was back in Section without Nikita.

Walter�s real concern was that if Michael was here ... then who was keeping an eye on Nikita? Her cover was integral and he wouldn�t just leave her to her own devices at this critical stage of the mission. One thing he did know was that Birkoff always had a finger on the pulse. He would know what was going down and explain the mystery surrounding Michael�s recall back to Section once more.

He looked over to see if Birkoff was alone, then when he thought it was clear, he began to hurry over to Comm., but just as he did he saw one of Birkoff�s Techs walk over to him and hand him a disk. Backtracking Walter returned to his work station and impatiently cooled his heels until the coast was clear and the operative had left.

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

�What's this Rebecca?�

�It's the Intel on The Triangle nightclub that you wanted.�

�Thanks.�

�Will that be all?�

�Yeah ... you can go home now.�

�Thanks ... Goodnight Birkoff.�

�Goodnight.�

Birkoff returned to his computer station and sat down to finish working on his summation. He�d already given Operations what he had on tonight�s mission but Rebecca had been working on a different angle for him. He fingered the disk carefully before inserting it into his disk drive. Tiredly he removed his Comm. unit and glasses, and sat staring at his computer watching as Intel appeared on his monitor. Visual images of inside Andy Koo�s nightclub appeared on the screen one after the other. He numbly stared at the computer screen trying to get a handle on the data. Looking up at the monitor mounted above him, Birkoff saw the same images there too. He rubbed his hands over his head; leaned back in his chair then stretched his hands above his head trying to keep himself alert.

Gathering his thoughts he put his glasses back on again a couple of minutes later, leaned forward and began cross referencing the faces to Section�s known triad data base. If he was able to match some of the Intel to their data they could widen their net in capturing Sun Yee Lok. Many of the guests were prominent business people but it was unknown how legitimate they were or if they have ties with the triad or were indeed Rising Dragon members too.

As he worked, his face suddenly lit up with a sense of accomplishment. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place and the faces and names of suspected triad members who were at Andy Koo�s party were corresponding to the Rising Dragons� file. �Seymour Birkoff? Are you good ... or are you good?� he proudly declared out loud pleased at himself now that he was finally getting some results for analysis.

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

Engrossed in his task, Birkoff failed to notice that Walter had finally managed to make it over to Comm. for he was happily piecing together Section� One�s dossier on members of the Rising Dragons and other people of interest from the party. The sudden sound of a voice behind him came as a complete surprise and made him jump.

�Hey amigo ... You still here?�

Because of the hour, Birkoff thought he was here alone until he realised that it was only Walter who had spoken. �Yeah.�

�It�s late. What are you working on?� Walter asked trying to get a look at what it was Birkoff was doing.

�Just stuff.�

�It�s the mission evaluation, isn�t it?� he surmised intuitively.

�Maybe.�

Giving Birkoff a craggy smile, his face lit up, �Come on ... You know you can tell me.�

Birkoff looked around to see who may be watching before replying. This part of Section was eerily quiet now. All the techies who had been assisting him had logged off and had vacated Comm., while he�d been immersed in his own little world going over the data. �Yeah.�

�So how come you�re still here then?�

�I�m still working on something.�

�Yeah ...I can see that. It must be good.� Walter then looked him in the eye to gain Birkoff�s undivided attention and cut to the chase. �Do you know why Michael�s back in Section?�

�Operations called him in.�

�Was the mission aborted?� Walter asked fishing for the information he�d guessed at but wasn�t quite sure of... that is until Birkoff replied and the pieces started to fall into place.

�It was, but Michael asked me to cover for him because of an anomaly.�

�Why? What happened?�

�He broke protocol and didn�t come into Section when ordered. Nikita was surrounded by hostiles after the mission was aborted. He went in to cover her.�

�Sounds like something Michael would do,� Walter laughed. �Is that why he�s back in Section without Nikita?�

�Most likely.�

Noting Birkoff�s reticent reply Walter asked for more clarification, �What about Nikita?�

�Michael arranged for Fitzpatrick and O�Connor to keep surveillance.�

�That�s good.�

Birkoff looked him in the eye and Walter could see that his friend was worried. �I screwed up Walter.�

�Why? What are you trying to say Birkoff?�

�I had to inform Operations what was happening at The Triangle.�

�Hmmm ... that could have caused a problem.�

�Yeah ... it did. Now I�m under the pump. Operations said they�ll cancel me if I fall out of line again.�

�Nah ... you�re too valuable.�

�Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I�m more scared of Michael�s reaction when I see him.�

�Why?�

�I had to tell him that Operations knew he had stayed behind.�

�Hmm ... I see what you mean,� he answered deep in thought.

�Michael will kill me. I promised that I would cover for him�

�Don�t worry, he�ll understand.�

�I�m not so sure ... because of it ... Madeline has profiled a new mission for Nikita.�

�Do you know what?�

�I think it�s similar to the Volker Mission.�

�No! ... You can�t be serious!�

Walter began to pace as a worried look crossed his face. The Volker mission had not turned out well and if Michael knew that something along the same lines was being planned for Nikita ... then he knew there would be trouble brewing for Operations and Madeline if it went ahead.

�Michael won�t like to see Nikita in a cover mission so soon after Madame Cheung.�

�No ... he won�t that�s for sure. What can we do?�

�Nothing ... the final decision is with Ops and Madeline.�

�True ... but I feel somewhat responsible.�

�You can�t blame yourself Birkoff ... you had nothing to do with their decision.�

�Yeah ... but what will I tell Michael? How am I going to get out of this one?�

�I think you might be on your own amigo. Operations has probably already told him.�

�Gee, thanks Walter ... that�s just what I wanted to hear!�

�When are you going to see Michael?�

At Walter�s words they both looked up and saw that Michael was still in the perch with Operations.

�Soon I guess. I�ll wait until he gives me some sign or other.�

Hearing the despair in his friend�s voice, Walter took pity on him. �Don�t worry ... if l think of something I'll get back to you.�

�Thanks ... I�ll owe you one.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from ... Three Eyed Turtle

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