Part 53 Language -- The New Alternate Universe of La Femme Nikita

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Date Posted: 16:57:37 06/21/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Part 53 Language
In reply to: Lila 's message, "The Beginning 52 and up" on 16:53:51 06/21/02 Fri

Part 53

�It shouldn�t be much longer,� Paul said, as he poured himself and Madeline a glass of champagne. The afternoon sunlight magnified the effervescence of the luxurious liquor as Paul admired the bubble stream. �Nothing like a fine champagne,� he added, handing her the glass.

Madeline smiled, brightly for a change, and accepted the glass. These rituals were sometimes soothing, sometimes grating, but always remarkable. The tidbits culled from such experiences added up to her near indispensability. She sipped the bright bubbly and pondered her great fortune. The personal and Operations � almost too good to be true. And here they were, waiting for the final phase, drinking champagne and admiring the view of the Mediterranean.

�Your home is lovely,� Madeline offered.

They were sitting on the rooftop terrace of Operation�s private home in Santorini. Whitewashed, clean lines, it was Paul�s lair.

�I think you�ll like this,� he said, reclining on the lounge chair next to her, �It�s a renovated monastery.�

�It suits you,� Madeline replied. It fit perfectly with his cover as a captain of industry. For a moment Madeline indulged in this dream. Two wealthy individuals taking a respite from their harried lives. �And I approve of the wine thus far.�

�You indulge me,� he said, smiling.

They sat in silence, watching the small waves disrupt the smooth ocean. Sunbeams skipping along the tops of the waves giving an appearance of brushed glass. Madeline appreciated the calm between them, but her nerves were slightly on edge and the lack of information since arriving had been eating at her.

�Is everyone in place?� she finally asked, the irritation with herself apparent in her eyes.

He laughed. �Yes,� he said, �And as much as I wanted to personally be the one to remove Philippe, this really is better.�

�It sounds like you�re trying to convince yourself,� Madeline replied, always the Section psychiatrist.

Operations had lit a small cigar, and inhaled quickly ensuring it stayed lit in the light wind. The smoke blew in a thin steady stream behind him. �Perhaps,� he said, �And perhaps you should trust my judgment.�

�Oh,� she said, finishing her glass of champagne and gesturing to him for more, �I do. What I don�t trust is the heart of a sixty-year-old man and his surrogate daughter. He may surprise you yet.�

Operations obliged, and poured them each more champagne. �I don�t doubt he will,� Paul said, �In fact, I�m counting on it.�

************

�Choice?� Michael whispered, as they readied their equipment. Given what Walter told him about Chabon�s security, there chances of retrieving Nikita were about 500 to one. He�d faced worse.

Walter made sure his equipment was working and said, �She didn�t want you to know.�

The two men slipped into the vineyard flanking the chateau, and began their ascent. The day was nearing its end, but the sun was quite bright, and the going was slow. They were too easily seen. Michael pointed to a dip in the hillside and the two men headed for it. They were welcomed by the site of the remnants of a small shed, three wooden walls, one dirt, the hillside. There was enough remaining of the structure so they could easily hide until sunset.

Michael leaned casually against the dirt wall. �What happens once she pulls the trigger?� he asked.

Walter removed his bandana, wiped his forehead with the back of his arm, and retied the olive drab drug helmet. Walter�s clear, but sad eyes looked into Michael�s. �She saves your ass,� he said.

�I didn�t ask to be saved,� Michael replied. David Fanning�s words had been surging through his head for the last six hours. And all of those words added up to his failing everyone. �I�m not worth that kind of sacrifice,� he whispered.

Walter grimaced. �Do you know how much I love that girl?� he asked. Michael gave him the patented blank stare. �You�re too filled with the arrogance of your own pain to understand any of this!� Walter took a sip of water, swished it around his mouth, and spit on the ground. �You claim to love her, but all you do is feel sorry for yourself! What kind of man are you?!� he yelled.

Michael stood, impassive, eyes focused on Walter as if they were the talons of a hawk swooping down on its prey.

Walter wished he had brought more than water in his flask. He hadn�t intended to rip Michael a new one, but hell, the boy was a pain in the ass, and Nikita loved him. �She was told that if she carries out this mission, your life would be spared.� He paused for a few seconds, considering what to tell him. Oh hell, the truth works. �You were supposed to die, and she couldn�t let that happen. Your death � the beginning of the end game.�

�So this was one big set up,� Michael said, �And I�ve been the fool all along.�

Walter rolled his eyes, using every ounce of strength not to strike the coiled cobra of a man standing before him. �No, you asshole. When I slipped you the mickey, I told her the score. She chose the job over seeing you die. And I�m not saying that�s a good thing, but this guy is bad. Bad news.�

�This is the man responsible for the massacre, the deal, the drugs?� Michael asked. Walter nodded. Michael�s own hands were plenty dirty from his work with Surete, but Nikita killing in cold blood. It wasn�t right. She deserved better. �When?� he asked.

�Tonight,� he said, �I don�t know when. Fanning is there as back up.�

Michael visibly flinched at Fanning�s name. �He won�t live to see the sun come up,� he said emphatically.

Walter nodded again, �That may be so, but he�s the backup. I�m betting he takes him out, and Nikita won�t have to do a thing.�

Michael shook his head. �Makes no sense. If they want her to kill him, it must be done.� It disgusted him that he thought as they did, but he knew that was the only way to stay alive in this game, and for Nikita he was willing to stay alive for another day. �She has to do it.�

�I don�t think so, kid,� Walter replied. �I think it may be enough for them that she�s willing.�

Michael said nothing, knew Walter was hoping for a best that didn�t exist. He looked at his watch, and glanced out to the hillside. �We go in two hours.�

�Agreed.�

************

Nikita took a deep breath and opened the door to her room. �Helloooo!� she yelled, wondering if she was supposed to announce that she had completed cleaning herself up. No one replied so she found her way to the study Fanning had earlier pointed out to her. She entered the room.

�You look lovely,� Philippe said, as Nikita closed the door.

�Thank you,� she replied. She had chosen a simple outfit, something she could easily run in. Blue leggings, matching shirt. Loose, comfortable, enough to hide a gun if necessary. She walked over to the couch and sat down. She crossed her legs, and bounced her foot. �Trying to get the circulation back,� she said.

�I am terribly sorry about all of this,� Philippe said. He was overtaken by a loud rasping cough that took several minutes to subside. �Forgive me,� he said, �I�m quite ill.� Nikita said nothing. �So, you probably would like an explanation for all of this.�

�That would be a start,� she answered.

�I loved your mother very much,� he said, eyes downcast. He looked up at Nikita, �She was a magnificent woman.�

Nikita laughed coldly. �To everyone but me,� she said. �If you loved her so much, why didn�t you help her after she left Thailand?�

�I did,� he answered. �But my assistance was thwarted by Wolfe.�

�The American?� she asked.

He nodded. �I came to Sydney to see your mother. I was going to bring her back to Italy. But things changed.�

Nikita was listening intently. No one had ever talked to her about those days in Sydney. She preferred to forget them, but the revelations about her mother� she needed to know more. �What happened?�

�Wolfe,� he answered. Philippe sighed, �It�s difficult to explain� we both worked� how to say� in the shadows. He made it clear that projects were in jeopardy.�

�What the hell are you talking about?� Nikita asked angrily. �You say you loved my mother, but� what� trying to save your own skin?�

Philippe was overtaken by another round of coughing. �Young lady, there is so much more here than three people and their petty loves.�

�Explain then, because right now, I don�t know who you are, or why I�m here, and why I�ve been nearly killed!�

�What did Walter tell you about the war?� he asked.

Nikita uncrossed her legs, and leaned forward, hands resting on her thighs. �Just tell me who you are and what�s going on. Enough games.�

Philippe nodded. �You are just like her. I�d like to think I�m your father, but I�m not sure. I think we all think we are. I tried to keep tabs on you and your mother, and then� things happen� and Wolfe found you and contacted me.�

�Did you send the money?� she asked.

He shook his head. �I don�t know what you�re referring to.�

�Never mind,� she said. �So why couldn�t you just call me? That�s what most people do,� she said sarcastically.

�Young lady,� he said, voice raised. �You have no idea what risks I have taken to meet you. I lead an organization that is dedicated to making changes for the better in this world!� He stopped for a moment, catching his breath. �It must be obvious to you that I�m not well, and I was hoping to pass along my hard work� all of this� to you.�

They were interrupted by one of the security men. He entered the room and walked over to Philippe. He leaned into his ear and whispered. Philippe nodded, and the man exited. �You�ll have to excuse me,� he said to Nikita, �I�ll be back in a few moments. Please wait here.�

Nikita rose from the couch and walked over to the bookshelf, scanning the titles, searching for the one that contained the weapon. Her mouth was dry, nerves on edge, but she was determined to save Michael�s life. She didn�t understand who wanted him dead, but Walter wouldn�t lie to her. She almost laughed. Right, he wouldn�t lie. Like he�s only known me my whole life and never told me. She found the title, and had her hand on the binding, hesitating. He had lied about so much � why would this be different? She had killed before to protect Michael, but that had been in self-defense, desperation so they could escape. And what of Michael? Could he even function after Fanning�s disgusting description of terror against his family?

�That�s the one, girlie,� Fanning�s voice said, floating across the room. �Now take the gun before he gets back and get ready.�

Nikita whipped her head around to see Fanning�s leering face. �You?� she asked.

�The pay�s better,� he replied.

Under Fanning�s watchful gaze she snatched the gun from the book and tucked it in the loose folds of her clothes. She went back to the couch and sat, waiting for Philippe to return.

************

Michael rummaged through his backpack, searching. He glanced up at Walter and said, �You haven�t told me where this all ends.�

Walter had been sipping water from his canteen. He swallowed, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and screwed the cap back on the container. Every motion unhurried. �We rendezvous in Santorini,� he replied, and told him about Wolfe�s encampment.

�Arrangements?� Michael asked, withdrawing a small object from his pack.

Walter scanned the horizon, and shook his head. �Work in progress,� he replied.

�It�s time,� Michael said, gathering his things. Walter did the same. �Water?� Michael asked, gesturing for the canteen. Walter walked over to him and handed him the container. Michael�s hand brushed against Walter�s.

�Ow!� Walter said, glancing down at his hand. He looked up at Michael, and said, �Tit for tat, eh?� as he slumped to the ground, sedatives quickly saturating his brain.

Michael walked over to Walter�s prostrate body and removed all of his weapons but one. He couldn�t in good conscience leave him unarmed. �Sorry,� Michael muttered, �This is a job for one.�

Michael walked a few yards from the hut and looked back making sure Walter�s body could not be seen. He walked around the perimeter several times, unable to see Walter from each vantage point. Satisfied that Walter was marginally safe, he silently slipped under the brush of the vineyard and stealthily moved towards the chateau, hoping to prevent Nikita from taking one more step towards no return.

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Part 54 - language maybe -- Repost Fairy, 16:59:42 06/21/02 Fri