The ethereal glow of a full moon shown down upon the city, casting shadows on Nikita’s faintly lit patio, as a gentle breeze floated by like a soft caress. The wind picking up strands of pale blond hair while drying the few tears that had escaped her azure eyes filled with a finality that had never before entered their deep blue depths. An empty wine glass sat alone on the balcony rail--a few clinging drops left to catch the moonlight and sparkle on the rim.

Inside dark, emptiness of the apartment settled the loneliness of death. And yet the radio softly played, its music flowing through the French doors and out into the world.

Nikita stood with her back to the music, gazing at the sleeping city and the people living there, whom she’d sworn to protect. The innocent people and the lives that they were allowed to lead, had become the one thing that kept Nikita alive--believing that she was somehow keeping them safe to live fuller lives instead of mourning the loss of her own life.

Sighing, Nikita opened her eyes to watch the moon play hide and seek behind black clouds that seemed determined to cover the sky. Nikita knew that she was going to die--whether it be on a mission or by some other Section devised method. Operations was not going to let her get away with questioning their entire existence--no, he had been waiting for her to slip up too long to give her any mercy.

The song on the radio changed, and its melody meeting her ears, a new sadness returned. Another tear was allowed to fall, cascading down her cheek to splash warmly against the cold concrete of the balcony’s railing.

Your heart is not open so I must go
The spell has been broken. I loved you so
Freedom comes when you learn to let go
Creation comes when you learn to say no
Walk away
You were my lesson I had to learn
I was your fortress you had to burn
Pain is a warning that something's wrong
I pray to God that it won't be long
Walk away...

Madonna’s song "Power of Good-bye" reminded Nikita of her last meeting with Michael. The words said and the emotions that he allowed to shine within his eyes for her would forever be engraved in her memory.

There's nothing left to try
There's no place left to hide
There's no greater power than the power of good-bye
Your heart is not open so I must go
The spell has been broken. I loved you so
You were my lesson I had to learn
I was your fortress

The words of the song were a reflection of her soul and the many emotions that were Nikita. She would no longer hide. All her life Nikita had been hiding--from her mother, from the terrors of the streets, from her past. ‘No longer’ she thought, no matter how much Michael had asked her to leave, to run away from what ever fate may bring, Nikita could not. For once in her life she would stay, face her fears, and remain strong. She was like the full moon--fighting to be seen, her light shining through the darkness, struggling to push away the past. And like the moon, Nikita would not hide.

There's nothing left to try
There's no place left to hide
There's no greater power than the power of good-bye
There's nothing left to lose
There's no more heart to bruise
There's no greater power than the power of good-bye
Learn to say good-bye
I yearn to say good-bye

When Michael leaned over and pressed his soft, warm lips against the coldness of her cheek, Nikita knew it was good-bye. They had wrapped their arms around each other for the last time. Both had taken in a shaky breath, and let go before Michael walked away. It had been Michael’s way of saying good-bye, and they both knew it. Now Nikita wondered would she ever be able to say good-bye? Could she?

Nikita’s words after Michael had left played over in her head, they were her mantra. She was not afraid to die. Operations thought it would be easy to kill her, but Nikita knew better, she would not give up without a fight. Nikita swore she would leave this world her way, on her own term, and in her own time.

Nikita knew what she had to do. She would shut off her soul to the outside world, if she had to, but she would prove Operations wrong once and for all. Once that was done, and Operations had realized killing her would never be easy, Nikita would say her final good-byes and take her life, on her terms.

Gazing up at the moon--the glowing reflection of her soul--Nikita promised to remember the light that had once shinned from her soul like the full moon. With a sigh Nikita closed her eyes, and said good-bye.

THE END

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