“She was not particularly pleased, but we convinced her that our skills had not suffered, nor our determination to accomplish our missions. We were tested severely in the next few years, but we came through each mission with flying colors. We made each other stronger. Our next trial came when Simone became enciente. Again we tried to keep it to ourselves, knowing that it was futile, but not wanting to destroy our child. Strangely enough, Madeline did not try to talk us into aborting. She gave Simone immediate maternity leave. That never made sense to us. There we were thinking one or both of us might be canceled, and Simone was given 5 months before delivery and 3 months afterward to be at home. It was the only time in my life that I ever had any idea of how other men live. I still went on the same type of dangerous missions, but when I went home, Simone would be there her waistline expanding, waddling around showing me baby clothes she had just purchased. Later, after the baby was born, I would come home to find her breastfeeding our son.” Tears came to Michael’s eyes. “Those were the happiest months of my life.”
Therese knew there was more to this story, and she gave him time to collect himself. “You have a son, Michael,” she asked.
“We ‘had’ a son, he died.” Michael’s gray-green eyes gazed in misery at Therese. “We were both on a mission, and he was left with a nanny hired by the agency. It became a very protracted mission. We could not get access to the intel we needed, so it took two weeks instead of the few days expected. When we returned, Simone and I were told that Rene had died from a sudden and severe fever, and that because of the pathogen involved, he had already been cremated. And the reason we were not told while we were on the mission, was that the mission was too important to be compromised by personal concerns of the operatives involved.”
Therese was speechless. She could not believe any government agency could be so cold-blooded.
“Simone went into a depression, and I tore up the Medlab looking for his body, or any evidence that he had been there, because I could not accept than little Rene was dead.
After a time, we put aside our grief and my suspicions. We still had each other, but Simone was never really the same. She insisted on having a sterilization procedure, and I agreed because I didn’t know what else to do. I still have nightmares about my son. I don’t know if he simply died sick and alone without the parents who loved him. I don’t know if my agency killed him, or if he was taken away and given to someone. I tried everything I knew how to do in the next few years to determine what really happened, but I have had no success. Finally, I gave up and concentrated on doing the job. Simone did the same.”
Some years later, about 4 years ago, Simone and I had a simple mission. We were just supposed to go in and retrieve some information. She must have had some flash of intuition, because she wanted us to have a back up team. I told her that it was too simple a mission to involve others. There must have been a leak. I don’t know but they were waiting for us. Many shots were fired. I saw Simone go down, and I could not get to her. You understand, I could not retrieve my wife. I had to leave her there. She did not move after going down, but I had to leave her.” Michael’s anguish reverberated in the office.
I blamed myself for years for her death. I became as near an automaton as one can and still breathe. I would allow no one near me until Nikita came to us.”
“Yes, you told me about Nikita and how her being there began to make a difference in your life.” Therese said encouraging him to continue, because it sounded like he had covered the worst events of his life.
“Shortly after Nikita completed her 2 years of training, she and I were sent on a mission that brought all those feelings again. It was a mission concerning the same terrorist group that had killed Simone. Nikita was sent in first, and while there she discovered that they had a hostage, Simone. She had been kept prisoner and intermittently tortured for 3 years by these terrorists. Nikita and I were able to free her, but in the end she diverted us, and killed the terrorist leader and herself by locking herself in, and blowing the place up. She said she was already dead, and that she loved me. Those were her last words to me.”
“I was prepared to stay there with her and die, as I no longer wanted to live. But Nikita was there and reminded me of the rest of the team. I gave the order to evacuate, and leaned back to await the explosion that Simone had initiated. Nikita started pulling me and pulling me, and the next thing I knew I was running like hell to get out of there. I guess that my will to live is stronger than I thought. I should have stayed there to die with my wife. It would have been a tidy ending to such a tangled life.”
“Do you think that your decision to live had anything to do with Nikita?” Therese asked. Never again would she assume she had heard the worst someone had to tell.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Michael’s voice was hoarse with emotion and unshed tears.
************
“Nikita and I have been through so much in the last year and a half. What started as a very pure friendship after Simone died, was corrupted by the type of life we had to lead. Our agency heads, for want of a better name to call them, continually tested us. O. wanted to cancel Nikita before her two years of probation was over. I argued him out of it, and was told that if she failed, I failed. In other words, if my judgment of her was faulty, then I could not be trusted either, and I would be canceled as well. So you see I had a vested interest in her succeeding at whatever she mission she was assigned. Our first mission together away from the agency was an eye-opener to me. Yes, I had admitted to myself that I was attracted to her, but to her I was only someone who held the power of her life or death in my hands.”
“We assumed the identities of a young married couple, who were mercenaries for hire and apparently intensely in love. It took some doing, but we infiltrated the organization as we were assigned. Nikita totally blew our cover story out of the water about how we met. She has a very playful side, and the next thing I knew she was biting me on the cheek telling this man a wild tale about our meeting in Rio.”
“That bite on the cheek was like an electrical current. It was like I had been sleepwalking for years and was all of a sudden blindingly, terrifyingly awake in the midday sun with every nerve ending exposed to its heat. This man B was rumored to have perverted sexual appetites, and I had already picked up on his vibes that he was attracted to Nikita. After dinner, B and his girl friend started dancing, and they encouraged us to dance as well. I led Nikita to the dance floor to dance to some blues number. I pulled her very close to me, and while I stared into her eyes as we danced, I became aroused. I could not stop looking at her face and lips, and I could see the surprise and suspicion in her eyes.”
“I was beginning to have difficulty focusing on what was supposed to be a mission. I wasn’t sure if I could keep B away from Nikita. The sexual tension in the room could be cut with a knife. B broke a champagne glass and sent his girl away on a pretext, then offered her to me. He also made it very clear that he wanted to have sex with Nikita, which by this time I had decided I would kill him before I let him touch her. I told him the job was done and we wanted our money. Then he decided he would like to see us make love.”
“I could tell from Nikita’s expression that she did not care very much for this suggestion either. We were taken to a bedroom that had a camera in the ceiling, and music began to play. I could tell that Nikita was at a loss as how to proceed, but as always she was impulsive. She turned suddenly and threw her arms around me and began to kiss me. My mind was reeling from her closeness and her mouth and the bed two steps away. I wanted nothing more than to gently lay her there and make love to her all night. But the mission called for a diversion, so that I could get to B’s computer.” He smiled ruefully.
I tore myself away from her and told her to take off her clothes. She started to rip them off, and I told her ‘Slowly, perform for me.’ So she does. I am sitting there in an arm chair with this lovely woman taking off her clothes and dancing for me, and I am going absolutely crazy with desire. She passed me the explosive device that would be our diversion and I managed to get it into the AC vent without taking my eyes off her. It had a 30 second timer and I picked her up and threw her on the bed, covering her body with mine to protect her, and yet knowing B was still watching, we continued to kiss. I told her to get ready. I meant for the blast, but from the look on her face....well, I think she thought I meant something else.”
“I was never the same after that mission. The physical passion I had felt for her would not go away. But it seemed that she had felt nothing. It was back to our old testy relationship. It was just a job, and we did it successfully. I could tell from M’s remark after we came back, about what a convincing couple in love we made, that she would be watching to see if anything developed. B was the source of this intel, since the agency decided to use him for its own purposes. I pulled back a little knowing that Nikita had no interest in pursuing any kind of a relationship with me. I did not dare risk another relationship in the agency. Out of self defense, I began occasionally to have sexual encounters with women I knew outside of the agency. I tried to get Nikita out of my mind. I had thought that this would relieve some of the stress, but it only made me desire her more, not less.”
Therese hated to stop him. “Michael, our time is up for today. Will you be here tomorrow.?” His story was riveting. He had suffered so much, and still suffered.
“As far as I can tell, as far as anyone can tell, I will be here tomorrow.”
Michael turned off the PAS419, and then went about the office removing the two listening devices placed the night before. As he drove to Section, he thought about what he would say to Madeline.
*************
Madeline looked up as Michael walked in. Madeline’s expression was noncommittal as usual. “Yes, Michael, you wanted to see me.?” There was a lot of work on her desk, but this might be more interesting, she thought to herself.
Michael made very certain that the door was shut before he spoke. When he did, his voice was laden with unexpressed emotion. “Here are your listening devices, Madeline. They are an encumbrance to my therapy. You think I need therapy? Then you will just have to do without hearing me “bare it all” to the psychiatrist. What do you think that I will tell Dr. Dupre, that you do not already know. I have been under your personal microscope for the last 14 years. There is very little of my private and personal life in which you have not had involvement. I have been trained, molded, spindled and mutilated for Section One, and I resent this intrusion into my emotional life!” Michael slammed his fist on Madeline’s desk.
He started off softly, but by the end of the last sentence he was shouting at Madeline, who listened with her enigmatic smile. “Is that all, Michael?”
“Damn right, that is all!” Michael whirled around and stalked out of Madelaine’s web.
Madeline smiled at Michael’s back. Hmmm, she thought. This is worth reporting to Operations. “Come down, if you have a minute. I have some progress to report with Michael. Yes,” she said. “He shouted at me at the top of his lungs, banged his fist on my desk, used a four letter expletive and stalked out.” Her eyes were twinkling as she described the recent scene for Operations.
“I definitely have to hear about this,” he said. “I’ll be right down.”
Madeline smiled as Operations said, “Shouted and cursed at ‘you’. Well, something is finally getting some of the rage out. I have to say maybe you were right about this idea of therapy. I wouldn’t like to see this carried too far though. Not a good example.”
“Oh, I know just how far to push him, besides he was very careful that no one was around. The office is sound-proofed, so he felt safe.”
“Well I don’t know that I’d feel safe shouting at you across the desk,” Operations said with a little gleam in his eye.
“Oh, if I remember correctly, we have had a shouting session or two ourselves in the past.” Madeline raised an eyebrow at his comment, but basically did not feel that reminiscences were necessarily a bad thing, if they were only occasional ones.
Operations leaned a little closer to Madeline and said, “In fact, I remember one instance that you were on the desk, and there was definitely some shouting.”
“That’s it. That’s enough. The past is past, no matter what kind of mid-life crisis you seem to be having. I will not be involved.” Madeline turned her back to Operations and returned to her work on the agency quarterly report. “Not if you want George to have these figures on time.”
Operations smiled because he knew Madeline’s predilection for her work. “Well, maybe again after the report is finished.” He smiled again and walked out with a little lift to his step. He just loved to remind her of old times, that could be new times, if she weren’t so ‘dedicated’ to her work.
***********
Michael strode swiftly down the hall. He wanted to hit something or someone, and he knew he’d better get to the workout room, or he would be in trouble. He entered the men’s locker room, stripped quickly and changed into gym shorts and a gray tee shirt.
He knew that if he sparred with anyone, that someone would would get hurt, and that really was frowned on in Section. The weight bag loomed. Perfect he thought, as he donned the leather gloves and began pounding away at the canvas cover. Filled with 200 pounds of sand and rocks, it absorbed some of the punishment he delivered, but his body shuddered in response to each of the powerful blows.
Operatives began to gather in small groups as they watched Michael beating the bag “to death.” Sweat poured from his body, and his long wavy hair was plastered to his head. His breath grew ragged as he continued to deliver blow after blow and kick after kick to its surface. Michael had lost all sense of time and place, and he could no longer see the canvas bag or anyone in the gym. All he knew was the rhythm and the pain. The pain in his heart and mind consumed him, and he continued to pound the bag.
Images of Simone and thoughts of revenge swept his mind. “Be prepared for anything,” was what Operations had said to him. Had Section known she was there all that time? And what about his son? Was he dead or hidden away with some other family? He thought of all the times he had to play a role with Nikita, some by choice to save her life, but many times at the behest of Section One to get the appropriate response from her in order to accomplish some greater goal. Their greater goals, not his. He pounded and kicked the bag not feeling the blows. His mind felt the pain of the betrayal of everyone he loved. He knew he was worthless as a man or friend, as a brother, father, or husband. He was powerless in a world where power was everything, the only thing.
Operations and Madeline watched from his vantage point. “He’s going to be sore as hell tomorrow,” Operations said shaking his head. “He’s been going like this for almost an hour.”
“He needs to get it out. He’s on desk duty for the next six weeks, so let him get it out,” Madeline said as she assessed the scene below. There were now at least 20 operatives and recruits watching Michael. “Good. Let them see the proper way to externalize emotion.”
Nikita, who was planning on a workout herself, wondered what all the commotion was in the gym. “What’s going on, Walter?”
“See for yourself, Sugar. Michael is getting primal with the punching bag.” He stood aside for her to see.
“How long has he been at this, Walter?” Nikita thought Michael looked like he was ready to collapse.
“Almost an hour they tell me.” Walter shook his head.
“Well, why doesn’t someone stop him?” Nikita pushed through the operatives in her way get closer.
“I don’t think anyone wants to be beaten to death, Sugar. Michael doesn’t exactly know where he is right now.”
“I don’t care. This can’t be healthy.” Nikita felt frantic inside. Michael was totally out of control in some inner zone of self-punishment. She approached him slowly. “Michael. Michael.” He doesn’t hear or see me. “Michael! Stop it! Slow down. It’s time to cool down.”
The canvas bag began to rip with the repeated blows and kicks. And as the sand and rocks began pouring out of the bag, Michael felt no resistance, and his emotions began to ebb with the sand and rocks. Nikita caught him as he started to fall to the gym floor.
“No, Michael, you’ve got to walk this out. You just can’t stop and drop.” She put her arm around his shoulder, and together they walked around the track for fifteen minutes until Michael could breathe normally and stand alone.
“Thank you , Nikita,” Michael said as stroked her face and turned to walk shakily down the hall to the showers. His gray-green eyes said more than he ever could aloud.
“Anytime, Michael,” Nikita whispered to his retreating back.
**********
Nikita walked back toward Birkoff’s computer station. He looked up as Nikita stopped. “What gives with Michael? He looked like he wanted to kill someone out there. I’ve never seen him like that. Who rained on his parade?”
Nikita gave no answer, but instead leveled Birkoff a scathing look and left for Madeline’s office. She was determined to give Madeline a piece of her mind. Just how she was going to do that without risking Madeline finding out about her and Michael’s escalating relationship, Nikita was not sure.
Madeline looked up from her computer screen. “Yes, Nikita?” Her expression never faltered, but she could see Nikita’s worried face and her anger in the stiff way she held her body. Nikita had her arms wrapped in front of her, a classic sign of the barrier.
“Madeline, do you think this therapy idea is the way to go?” Nikita tried to keep her question neutral, but she began to pace around the sterile office.
“How is it you are concerned in Michael’s private life, Nikita?” Madeline leaned back to watch Nikita. She wondered if Nikita would tell the truth or continue to try to hide her feelings about Michael.
“I’m his friend, Madeline. I’ve been his material for 4 years. Why wouldn’t I be concerned about his welfare? You should have seen him. He looked like he was going to have a heart attack.” Nikita could feel the tears welling.
“Michael is well able to take care of himself, Nikita, but I am sure he is already aware of your concern for him.” Nikita is learning, Madeline thought. She gave me half truths. It’s far easier to tell a half-truth than a lie.
“I did see him during his workout. He set a good example of how to externalize emotions and aggressions. It’s just that he waited a little too long to do that. Perhaps, next time, he won’t be as rough on the equipment.” Madeline allowed herself a minuscule smile in Nikita’s direction.
“He nearly killed himself, Madeline. Who knows what would have happened, if I hadn’t come along when I did.” Nikita felt herself losing control of the situation.
“Michael is fortunate to have you,” Madeline paused for two seconds and continued, “as a friend, Nikita.”
“What do you mean by that?” Nikita was alert for any implication that Madeline knew that she and Michael were seeing each other outside Section.
“Only what I said, Nikita.” Madeline turned back to her computer screen, and gave Nikita a slight smile of dismissal.
“Yeah, whatever!” Nikita literally flounced out of the room, knowing that Madeline had retained the upper hand once again.
Madeline picked up her com set and called Operations. “Things seem to be progressing. Nikita was just here all concerned about her ‘friend and mentor’ Michael. No, she’s okay, just angry that she showed too much emotion in my presence..... No, tonight will be the real test. Will he be with her or withdraw into himself again...... I’ll let you know......
No, I think I would rather be alone tonight. I have a headache.”
***********
Michael stood in the shower with the running water as hot as he could stand it. He already had a glimmering of how bad he was going to feel in the morning. His thigh muscles still had occasional quivers that told him he had overdone it in his workout. Workout, he thought, kamikaze style. What was I thinking? He knew he certainly hadn’t been thinking about technique. It was a very strange sensation to lose control like that. He had felt pretty calm at the psychiatrist’s office. Yes, he had showed some emotion, but he had still felt in control of himself. It had actually felt good to express those feelings and memories to an objective person.
But back at Section and while talking to Madeline, the memories he had discussed with Dr. Dupre had come roiling through his mind and heart until it felt like volcanic eruption when he first hit the punching bag. Now his hands, especially the knuckles, were already discolored and edematous.
The hot water continued to soothe his aches, but Michael could hear someone knocking on the door. “Michael, are you still in there? Are you okay,” an Australian accented voice asked through the partially opened door.
Damn, it was Nikita. “I’m fine, Nikita.” Michael yelled, hoping she would find his assurances of being ‘fine’ enough to keep her out of the men’s shower room.
Nikita looked up and down the hall outside the shower, and slipped in. The room was full of steam. “Damn, Michael, where are you? No need to hide, I’ve seen it all anyway.” Her tone took a playful note as she reached out in front with her hands to guide through all the steam. “OOPS, sorry, there you are,” she giggled as she stumbled into his solid body.
“Nikita, get out of here,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’m not up to fun and games.”
“Not up to fun and games. That’s really clever, Michael. I didn’t know you had such a funny sense of humor.” Nikita always found it amusing when she had the upper hand with Michael.
“You know what I mean.”
“Actually, I thought you might like to come over for dinner,” Nikita offered. She saw a stricken look pass over Michael’s face at her mention of dinner. “All right, we’ll order Chinese, okay?”
“No, I really need to be alone tonight,” he started.
“No, you don’t! By morning you won’t be able to move, and the day after that will be even worse. I’m going to fill you up with ibuprofen, and feed you and tuck you in bed. And I’ll sleep on the sofa. So there.” Nikita was determined to have her way.
Michael rolled his eyes and gave up.
“By the way, you missed a spot.” Nikita picked up the bar of soap, and gave his butt a good sudsy swipe. She dropped the bar of soap out of his reach, winked and blew him a kiss. Michael could hear her giggling as she left him to finish his shower. Crazy, sweet Nikita, he thought as he looked to see if there were any surveillance cameras visible. There were none he could see, but with Section One technology, one could never tell.
************
Once Nikita had left the shower room, Michael shook his head in a resigned manner.. There were times when he felt totally powerless to control Nikita when she was in her playful and determined mode. This was one of those times. Why not let her cosset him a bit. Heavens knew he had little enough of that. As bad as he felt, he was not unaffected by the sight of her in the shower. She had been fully clothed, of course, but the steam had made her hair start to fall in waves around her face--her lovely face. As much as he was inclined to withdraw and proverbially ‘lick his wounds,’ he wanted to be with her more. They had wasted a lot of time waltzing around the issues of their feelings and trust as well. Even now he could think of no reason why she should trust him, but apparently she did.
Madeline was another problem. There was no denying their conversations about
Nikita's and his relationship and their future had taken place , but he wondered how much of this she had shared with Operations. Michael considered Operations in some ways the father figure he had lost, but in many other terrible ways, he was the enemy to be respected for the power he held over them all. Michael had been a Team Leader for many years, but he had always known he could be canceled, just like anyone else, should he fail in whatever mission he was assigned. There were missions, and then there were missions within missions.
Secrets and manipulations and lies too terrible to confront at times. Things he still could not tell Nikita.
Michael finished his shower hurriedly and dressed in his usual black clothing. He walked slowly to his office. Reports and analyses of more reports awaited him there. Merde, six weeks of paper work, and I 'will' be crazy, he thought to himself. He sat down and booted up his computer. No use delaying the inevitable, he thought. Normally, Michael was compulsive about keeping up with his paperwork, but now that paperwork was all he had to do, he wanted to clear the desk with one swipe of his arm. Eventually, Michael completed all the paper shuffling he could tolerate that day. He looked out his office window and wondered where Nikita was. As far as he knew there had been no briefings, no urgent missions. He dreaded the thought of her being partnered with someone else for missions for the next six weeks while he concentrated on more administrative duties. He knew he had 'control' issues, but someone else might not have quite the same outlook on Nikita's reactions as he did. Since Nikita had come back to Section, she had been much more inclined to just do the job, but she still had a tendency toward to act on her own without regard to the mission profile, when there were innocents involved. He expected this of her, and allowed for it privately in his own interior mission profile. He also knew Operations, while pleased with the end results, was not always pleased with Michael's mode of achieving those results. Operations had always been suspicious of the exact nature of his relationship with Nikita. Michael had always denied that his feelings for Nikita were anything more than trainer and material, but Madeline had always known there was more to how Michael felt about Nikita than that. Madeline had always known him too well.
***************
Michael’s phone rang, and it was Nikita. Michael opened the top right hand drawer of his desk, and punched in a code that would scramble the surveillance equipment in his office.
“Surely you’re ready to call it a day,” she said.
“Yes, I am. What time do you want me to come over?
“Now is fine. I’ve got a big bottle of ibuprofen and a big jug of wine all ready for you,” she giggled. “I checked with Doc down in MedLab, she said it wouldn’t hurt you very much, not like acetaminophen and wine would. That’ll fry your liver she says.”
“Nikita, how much of that wine is left anyway?” Michael asked knowing how wine affected her and hearing the gaiety in her voice.
“There’s a lot left, Michael. I promise there is. And dinner will be here at 7:00PM sharp, ‘cause I know you will want to turn in early.” Another giggle and Nikita said, “Byeee. Then she said, “Michael, what is ‘your’ code name? I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say.”
“And you won’t either, Nikita. Bye. See you shortly.” Michael disconnected, amazed as usual at the turns her mind could take.
Nikita laid down the phone on the kitchen counter. She sipped on her glass of wine. She wasn’t anywhere near drunk, but she did have a nice little buzz going by the time Michael arrived. “Here dear, have some of these.” She held out a bread plate with 800mg of ibuprofen and some breadsticks in one had and a glass of wine in the other.
“Breadsticks? Anything else for dinner, Nikita? I haven’t eaten since breakfast.
“The breadsticks are so you’ll have something in your tum-tum, so the ibuprofen won’t make you sick. Hung Lo’s is delivering at 7PM. I ordered everything you like. You do like Chinese food, don’t you?” She was wavering around having fun watching Michael’s expression.
“Hung Lo’s?” he said incredulously. “That’s the name of a Chinese Food Restaurant?”
“Oh, no. I’m so silly. I got it mixed up. Charlie Chan’s is delivering, and you’re Hung Lo.” Nikita giggled again and gave him a quick kiss on his mouth and a rub where he was ‘hung low.’
“Ni-ki-ta.” Michael was certain he had never seen her quite so silly, but it was charming too. He took the bread plate from her, tossed the ibuprofen to the back of his throat and took a big swallow of red wine.
“Now, Mikey, have a little lie down on the sofa, and take a little nappy, while I set the table. Okay? I’ll wake you when dinner gets here.” Nikita still sounded silly, but she was bustling around like a little haus frau, fluffing the sofa cushion and unfolding an afghan she had picked up at a local flea market.
“Take a nappy? Nikita, I don’t take naps,” he protested, but the idea did have a marvelous sound. His eyelids felt like they weighed 10 pounds each. He decided he would at least sit down on the sofa and watch Nikita finish the dinner preparations. She was wearing her hair pulled back from her face by a white headband, and it was waved slightly to fall on her shoulders. She wore an aqua blouse tied at the waist and white spandex pants. For once she wasn’t wearing some cast-off looking sweater or skirt. She looked about eighteen and lovely.
“Come on, Michael. Lie down,” she ordered him firmly. He obeyed, and she covered him with the afghan. “See there, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
“Mmmm,” was all Michael could say as he fell asleep.
***********
“Mission accomplished,” Nikita said as she smoothed the afghan over his exhausted body. “Sleep well, Michael.” She then turned and really did set the table, but she doubted that he would awaken enough to eat.
Nikita proved to be correct. The Charlie Chan delivery boy came and went, and Michael never stirred. She wasn’t able to awaken him either, but then she didn’t try too hard.
Nikita sat in a chair opposite the sofa where Michael slept. She sipped her wine and thought about the last four years. She didn’t know what the next four would bring, or even if they would have four ‘months.’” She had never had time to just watch him before. He was never still long enough, and she would never have allowed all her feelings to be so visible--at least not until recently.
Nikita adored the bone structure of Michael’s face. Her fingers ached to trace the line from his zygomatic arch to his sensual lips. She was dying to poke his dimpled chin and run her hands through his curling chestnut hair. She sat there and sipped on her wine. She watched him and loved him till she fell asleep.
About 1AM, Nikita awakened. She was a little stiff from sleeping in the chair. I need to get Michael in the bed, she thought, or he won’t be able to move in the morning.
“Michael, Michael.” She tugged on him, but he was dead weight. “Michael, Michael,” she said this time a little louder.
“Um. Ugh.” Michael sat up, but Nikita could tell from the absent look in his eyes that he was not truly awake. He allowed her to guide him up to her bedroom. He moved stiffly, but automatically. With an encouraging nudge from Nikita, he sat down on the bed. He seemed to realize where he was and smiled blearily at her.
“Come on Michael, let’s get your clothes off. You’ll rest better.”
“Good idea,” he said as he raised one eyebrow and pulled her down on the bed with him. His hands started untying and unbuttoning her blouse
“Whoa, fella. You’re in no shape to finish this,” Nikita laughed as she tried to extricate herself from his strong grasp.
“You might be surprised,” Michael ‘giggled.’ He rolled his body over hers, and sat astride her as she continued to laugh. He threw his jacket on the floor and pulled off his shirt in a swift motion.
Nikita ran her hands down his bare muscled chest and started pulling at his belt buckle. “How does this damn thing work, anyhow?” Michael grinned and had it open and off in a second.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’ll be fine, Nikita, if you’ll just stop talking.” He leaned over and kissed her, “Shut up, Nikita. You always talk too much,” he whispered. Then he started pulling the blouse over her head.
“Your pants, Michael, get them off, now.” She began tugging them down over his butt. Bye the time she had them down to his knees, and she could see how ‘fine’ he was...and ready.
“What about yours,” he asked, between kissing her neck and her breasts. He started pulling on the white spandex stretch pants, but they were skin tight. He tried ripping, but the spandex didn’t rip that easily either. “Nikita, help me here, or this isn’t going to happen.” Michael giggled again and started running his hands through her hair and started licking her neck.
Nikita moaned, “Michael, just get off me for a minute. I can get them off. It’s a girl thing. True to her word Nikita rolled them down and kicked them off revealing her perfect body to Michael’s glazed gaze.
He quit giggling, and he moaned hoarsely instead. “Nikita, c’est tu tres belle.”**
Nikita wrapped her long legs around his waist and guided him to her, “Now, Michael!” Nikita arched her back, and he was home. The pace they set was intense, and Michael needed no further briefing to complete this mission profile.
Much later, their bodies were glistening with perspiration. Their breathing had returned to something resembling semi-normal. “I need a cigarette,” Nikita said.
“You don’t smoke, Nikita,” Michael whispered in her ear. He was intoxicated by her presence in his arms and in his life. He still had trouble believing that they were together, and he still feared the consequences in one part of his mind
“I used to, and I think we both did tonight,” Nikita whispered back as she nibbled on his ear. “Michael, are you hungry yet? I am.” She left no doubt to her meaning as she ran her hands down his chest to his thighs. She used her nails to lightly tease him.
“I guess I could eat.” Michael left no doubt to his meaning either.
************
Michael barely made it to Section by 9:30AM. He had a good night’s sleep behind him and a couple of passionate interludes with Nikita. In spite of the aches and pains of the previous day’s workout, he had a spring in his step, and he was in a slight hurry. After all, he still had an appointment today with Dr. Dupre. He walked stiffly to Birkoff's computer station. Birkoff looked up warily. Michael casually placed the PAS unit on Birkoff's desk.
"I need another one fully charged, Birkoff, and I'm going to need one every day at this time for the next 6 weeks. Got it?" Michael said quietly so that Gail just across the station would not hear.
"Got it." After yesterday's display in the gym, Birkoff was not going to give Michael any resistance about anything. Birkoff had always known Michael was the top cold op., but he had never, ever really seen him in action or any state other than one of focused control.
"Good. Then do it."
"I'm going. I'm going." Birkoff jumped to do Michael's bidding. Michael thought it funny. He was still so wiped out by yesterday’s workout... and last nights. Little does he know, that I couldn't swat a fly right now, he thought to himself.
Therese Dupre anxiously awaited the return of the most interesting patient she currently had. She was concerned when he came walking stiffly into her office and sat down slowly into the comfortable leather chair across from her desk. Quietly, he took out the PAS unit and activated it.
"Good morning, Michael. Are you ready to begin? I must say you look a little worn today." She smiled encouragingly. Worn? She thought to herself. He looked like he'd had some kind of major trauma.
"Yeah, you could say I'm a little worn around the edges today. I confronted M. about her ordering the listening devices placed in your office, then went to the gym and basically lost control. All the things we talked about before that re-emerged in my mind and I was hitting and kicking a 200# weight bag until it disintegrated. I lost all idea of where I was and what I was doing. I just lost it. I'm just not used to doing that," he said softly with a puzzled smile.
"One of the purposes of therapy is to bring to the surface the things we have buried and hidden from ourselves and others. Those things need to be faced and accepted and overcome. It sounds like you may have had an extreme reaction, and that is probably because you have done this for a very long time. It has been your survival technique in a very abnormal environment." Therese stopped. He was the one that needed to talk.
**************
Madeline had renewed the surveillance on Nikita's apartment after Michael had started his sessions, and she reviewed the last night's results. She watched Nikita cover Michael with an afghan, and sit down to sip her wine. She fast-forwarded the tape until she saw the start of the activity she needed to see, then broke open the cassette, ripped out the tape and fed it into a shredder. Michael must have been too tired to think of activating whatever scrambling device he was currently using. No need for Operations to know how well the relationship was developing. Contrary to what everyone thought, Madeline kept a large amount of information to herself, filed in her computer-like memory. Madeline had always felt that Operations didn't need to know everything, and her power was based was what she knew, when she knew it , and what she did with the knowledge she had.
Madeline felt that Michael and Nikita had come to some type of understanding in their relationship. Nikita was positively glowing. Michael was still a little difficult, but given that he was in the initial stages of therapy, it was understandable. He seemed to be very relaxed and comfortable with Nikita now. She had always felt that Michael and Nikita belonged together, even more than Michael and Simone had. She had seen the bond that formed between them and had been aware of it long before they had ever admitted it to themselves. She had always known that Nikita would bring Michael out of his depression after Simone's death. That was the primary reason that she had recommended that Operations pair them together in the very beginning. Operations had his own agenda for pairing them, but they were quite different from hers.
The stronger Nikita became, the closer she became to becoming Michael's equal, the balance of power would start to evolve. She knew this would pose some difficulties for Michael with his need to be in control, but he would just have to get over it. Madeline felt he would be able to adjust. He would have to adjust. In time, Nikita would undoubtedly become a Team Leader as well. She had true leadership qualities, but they needed shaping and defining. Her initial stint as Petrosian's 'second-in-command' had given Nikita a heady taste of power before she was really ready for it. Nikita's heart still caused a lot of difficulties, but Madeline did not want to destroy Nikita’s heart, but she did need to learn control it.
Madeline and Michael together still had a lot of work to do with Nikita, but some of that would have to hold while Michael worked through his anger and underlying depression. Luckily, the growing relationship with Nikita seemed to be good therapy, as well. Of course, Madeline could not let Nikita take 6 weeks off just because Michael was tied to administrative duties, but Madeline would be very careful about Nikita’s participation, if she could without jeopardizing the goals of the mission. Section One had been unnaturally quiet for several days, but she knew that would not last.
*********
Michael was becoming more comfortable sitting in Therese’s office and revealing his emotions. He constantly sipped the coffee that she thoughtfully provided. He seemed to need something to do with his hands as he talked.
“What happened there when you ‘lost it,’ Michael?”
“Well, I understand a crowd gathered, but about the time that the punching bag fell apart, Nikita sort of ‘rescued’ me.” Michael’s mouth gave a small twitch as he said this.
“She knew that if I didn’t walk it off and cool down after an intense exercise session, that I wouldn’t be moving at all today. Oh, everyone knew that, but she was the only one brave enough to come within range of me. She made me walk around the gym for 15 minutes or so, until I could breathe again.” He gave a small laugh. “I was in pretty bad shape for a little while there.”
“So Nikita took care of ‘you,’ did she? I thought you were always the one that needed to take care of her. What’s changing? Is she becoming more your equal?” Therese probed gently and waited to see what his response would be.
“Nikita, is a very good operative, and she has saved my life more that once. We are very good partners in that respect and have been for quite a while.”
“What about in other ways, Michael. Do you trust Nikita with your heart, Michael. Does she trust hers with you? You said in an earlier session that you had played a role with her in order for a particular mission to be successful. Tell me about that time.”
“That time? You mean ‘which’ time. I have had to do it more than once, and it is the reason for the tensions that existed between us. One of the reasons that Nikita often had to be manipulated was that her face readily shows what she is thinking Nikita should never play poker. Anyway, so that Nikita could play the role assigned her, she had to be given only the intel that would allow her to play her role convincingly because her life would depend on it.”
“This sounds interesting, Michael. No wonder Nikita would find it difficult to trust you.”
“In one particular mission, she had been set up to play a role with this philanthropist. She was to ‘save his life.” He would be enthralled by her and ask her out. We needed to get access to the computer system on his yacht. He had set up homeless shelters for street kids, and used them as a funnel, shipping the kids to foreign countries into slavery and early deaths. Nikita had been a street kid herself for several years before ending up at the agency. O., M. and I all knew she would not be able to contain her disgust with this man, if she knew the truth, so she was told that he laundered money, and we needed to take him down. She knew she was to get close to him and win his trust.”
“She did get close to him, too close. I first realized how jealous I was as BK listened in on their evening alone on his boat. We had to get the intel on when he was supposed to have the next shipment of kids ready, so she was wired. They were really having a good time, drinking champagne, dancing, and laughing. He was whispering in her ear, and we could hear it all. At one point, she tried to pump him about his upcoming trip, but she got nothing, so she let it drop, and they continued enjoying themselves. Once I realized that she was going to end up in bed with him, I left. I told BK that I was going back to her apartment to ‘debrief’ her when she returned.”
“I sat there in her darkened apartment for another two hours, imagining Nikita and this piece of dung having sex. I tortured myself with the images of her body arching against his and crying ‘his’ name in passion. I would have given anything for it to have been mine that she cried, but I knew I didn’t deserve her passion, much less her love. I had lied to her and sent her to his arms for the mission, and I knew she would never forgive me if she found out the truth.” Michael’s green eyes looked silvery with unshed tears. Were the tears for himself or for Nikita?
“Did she find out?” Therese asked this softly.
“Oh, yes. I was about to interrogate a contact of C.’s when Nikita came in. We had already successfully managed to download his computer system to the agency, but I had to tell Nikita to go to him again and go with him on his next trip. When she found that I was ready to see this man, she insisted on going. I took a deep breath and knowing what would hit the fan, I let her accompany me to the interrogation. I think my jealousy made me want her to know what he really was, in spite of O.’s instructions to the contrary.”
“When Nikita discovered what C.’s real business was, she freaked . She was furious with me for lying to her, and she was even more so when I told her she would still have to go back to him and convince him nothing had changed. She did it willingly because then she wanted to take him down Unfortunately, C. had realized that Nikita was the one responsible for the breach in his computer system. He slapped her, and was ready to send her off as well. ‘Still quite a marked in mature flesh, too.’ is how he put it. She was still wired, and she was able to escape. The agency was able to stop his plans.”
“Nikita killed him at the exchange. We were ready to make a deal with him to get to his higher contacts. He was holding a lighter and threatening to set fire to some barrels of gasoline, while we bargained. Nikita somehow managed to make it to the meet and kicked the lighter out of his hand. He fell, the lighter ignited all the fuel, and he was gone in a flash. The children were saved.”
“O. was absolutely ballistic that Nikita had acted on her own. He gave me absolute hell over it before he even talked to her. My instructions were to keep her from ‘ever’ interfering like that again, or else. She never knew how close she came to being canceled for that night.”
“I went to her place afterwards to apologize, and try to explain, but Nikita pulled a gun on me, and asked me to give her one good reason why she shouldn’t kill me. I knew she wouldn’t pull the trigger, but if she had it would have been a relief because I felt like I deserved it. Instead I told her I couldn’t think of a single one, and I took her hand with the gun and kissed it. Then I turned around and walked out. That is only ‘one’ of the times when I manipulated Nikita in order to obtain certain results in a mission profile. Why Nikita now trusts me with her heart, I don’t know, for I know I have done nothing to deserve it.”
Therese listened spellbound to his mesmerizing voice. “Well, Michael, our time for today has come to an end. We will continue tomorrow.”
Michael gave a half smile and rose from his chair and said with a nod, “Tomorrow.”
Therese watched as he left. His carriage was graceful and powerful, and the image of a large jungle cat with feral green eyes came unbidden to her mind. She picked up her latest issue of the APA journal and fanned her warm face and tried to compose her mind for the next patient.
*************
Operations called Madeline in her office, “We’ve got to get everybody in. Now!” The urgency in his voice was transmitted over Madeline’s comm set. Madeline made the necessary connections on her computer that would initiate the calls.
“What’s happened?” she asked. She had known the peaceful state of affairs would not last indefinitely.
“What about Michael, can we use him? Has he settled down after yesterday’s display?” Operations hated the idea of Michael doing paperwork for six weeks, but his wanted his best operative at his best, not having emotional outbursts in the middle of a mission. In a ‘normal’ fram of mind Operations would never consider cancelling Michael. Too much effort had been expended on Michael’s behalf, and Michael had given incredible performance after performance in return.
“I would recommend against it. He should already be on his way after this morning’s session, so I haven’t seen him yet. He may be fine, but I have no idea at this stage what’s being uncovered. He’s scrambled the communications that we replaced in the psychiatrist’s office, so I’m not as comfortable predicting what Michael will or won’t be capable of doing. I would recommend keeping him out of the field,but he should be able to run tactical from here under my observation. I’ll have a much better idea after I actually see him.” Madeline calmly told him.
“I really need him for this, but--” Operations started,
Madeline interrupted. “Well, since you still haven’t told me what the emergency is, I would suggest you use McClure as team leader. He’s the best all-around TL after Michael,” she suggested. Operations began to explain the reason for the emergency call, and Madeline began to doubt the wisdom of using McClure. Nikita would be needed for this mission as well, and Nikita and McClure had clashed before over Nikita’s improvisational style.
If anything McClure was more rigid than Michael, and he thought Nikita received much more credit than she was due, and he hadn’t minded saying so to her. There was also a rivalry (on McClure’s part) with Michael. He was always anxious to try and show Michael at a disadvantage. Michael, being Michael, gave McClure little opportunity to do so. This was exactly the type of situation she had hoped to avoid while Michael was sidelined. Well, it can’t be helped. The mission is more important than the individual operatives involved, as always, she thought to herself.
*********
Operations paced as he gave the briefing, while Nikita sat slumped in her chair. Black shades covered her red puffy eyes that gave proof to having had too much wine and not enough sleep. Michael sat across the table from her, unable to avoid a tiny smile as he watched her. He knew exactly how she felt, although his face did not show the excesses the way her fragile fair skin did. The slight red rash she had on her cheeks and around her mouth was evidence of a slight case of beard burn as well. He must start shaving at night as well as in the morning, he thought.
Nikita watched Michael as he watched her and resented his apparent good health and spirits. Wine always gave her a hangover, and she felt terrible.
Madeline observed the subtle interchange between Michael and Nikita and would have been amused at any other time.
The holographic display lit up, and a new face appeared on the screen. “This is Ramon Riverra. We have just received word that he and his faction of terrorists known as Freestate have kidnapped the American Ambassador to Colombia, his wife and his two children.” Four more faces flashed up on the screen--a handsome couple in their late forties and two young teenage girls.
“In exchange for their release, he is demanding a ransom of 50 million dollars. He is demanding that the ransom be brought to him by a lone woman. Nikita that’s where you come in. McClure, you and a back up team of twenty will be needed to get the ambassador out of there. The Ambassador has a microdisk that is needed by the agency. The wife and his children will be extracted if possible, but the ambassador is our target. We have to get him out before Riverra discovers he has the microdisk detailing the future invasion plans of Columbia by the United States.”
“Just how did the Ambassador come to possess such sensitive data?” Nikita asked her Australian accent sounding her disbelief. “What about the children and his wife. Surely, we can’t just leave them there?”
“Never mind how, Nikita. That’s on a need to know basis only. The Ambassador’s wife and children are acceptable collateral if need be. The Ambassador and his disk are vital to this country’s interests.”
Michael started stroking his chin and playing with his mouth, a sign that he was upset by this mission. It was a recipe for disaster in the making: Take One Nikita plus 3 innocents, add one McClure and shake well!
Operations hesitated, but after a minuscule nod from Madeline, continued. “Michael, you will run tactical from here.
“From here?” Michael could not believe his ears. He was not going to be allowed to be in any position to protect Nikita from McClure or from herself. This had to be a test of them both, and he dreaded the result.
“Yes, from here, Michael. Is that going to be a problem?” Operations challenged.
“No,” Michael responded hoarsely.
“Good. The mission leaves in one hour. Study the mission parameters closely. There will be no room for errors on this one.” Operations left the briefing area and rushed back to his aerie.
Nikita rose to leave, but was stopped by McClure. “None of this rescue the innocents crap from you, Nikita. Step out of line once, and I’ll cancel you on the spot. Do you get my drift.”
“Perfectly, McClure. Chill out,” Nikita drawled as she gave McClure an insolent smile and blew him a kiss.
Nikita walked off, but Michael grabbed McClure by the arm, “Think of even breathing on her, and I will cancel ‘you’ on the spot,” he said so quietly that no one heard him but McClure. “Are we clear on this point?”
“Ugh, clear, Michael.” McClure hurried off determined to get even, if not that day, then some day.
***********
Nikita dozed throughout the flight to their drop off point in Colombia. She would be going in literally unarmed due to the nature of Riverra’s demands. She would naturally be under suspicion for having concealed weapons. The most minimal of communication devices was concealed in her glasses. She was dressed in fatigues and tee shirt, combat boots. Her blonde hair was clubbed back in a simple braid. She knew she would be frisked within an inch of her life before being allowed anywhere near Riverra or the Ambassador.
The suitcases of money were rigged with explosive percussion devices. They would not be activated until Nikita was well out of harm’s way--provided Riverra decided to let her go. If he did not, she would be left to her own devices to make it to the egress point. Nikita had gone over and over the mission parameters, trying to figure out how to rescue the real victims of this diplomatic nightmare.
Instructions had been given for the ransom to be brought by jeep to the Riverra compound. Nikita drove the jeep over the rutted jungle road. The air was suffocating and hot. Plus, the humidity made it feel like she had stepped into a steam bath. Her tee shirt was already soaked with perspiration. She had just left the northern climes where winter lingered, now south of the equator, summer was in command. Perhaps it would soon be cooler she thought, as she began to approach a more mountainous area. She looked around, but didn’t see Juan Valdez, the famous coffee picker, anywhere. She wondered where McClure and the assault team were. She hadn’t seen any evidence of them, but that was a good sign not a bad one. No one else who might be watching would see them either.
Michael felt very out of sync with Nikita on the mission. He remained in his Section quarters, resting while he knew the flight was taking place. He had left instructions to be called as soon as the plane reached Colombia. After that he knew he would not rest till Nikita was safely on the plane on the way home.
He continued to still be amazed by the depth of his feelings for Nikita. Those feelings were like Pandora’s troubles, once freed from their constraint, there was no putting them back. Her blue eyes, her radiant smile, the firm body, her sense of fun and fair play all were part of the totality of Nikita. That she found it in her heart to love him, amazed him more than did the depth of his feelings for her. She had not done the kinds things to him that he had done to her. She had the audacity to want a life, while he had merely wanted to live. Now, he wanted her and a life with her, but they were both going to have to prove that they deserved to be with each other and could handle whatever assignment Section gave them. This mission was truly a test, and he knew it deep within the marrow of his bones and dreaded it to the depths of his soul.
********
“Nikita, give me a visual on where you are now,” Michael’s voice. “We’ve got a tracker on the jeep, but once you leave it we will have to depend on your visuals to track where you are.”
“Sure, Michael,” Nikita adjusted her glasses in a practiced movement. “How’s this?” She looked around the overgrown terrain. Nothing but lush jungle growth, turning gradually now to a heavily forested hillside.
“Good, Nikita, just don’t lose them.”
“Ha, Ha, Michael. How much farther is it anyway? This is a pretty boring drive if you want to know the truth.” Nikita was anxious, but used humor to hide it.
“You’re about 10 kilometers from Riverra’s compound. He could already have you under observation, so stay sharp, Nikita.” Michael’s voice was music to her ears through the miracles of satellite uplink technology. He sounded like he was in the Section van and right around the corner, except of course he wasn’t. His reassuring voice in her ear kept her from feeling so alone on this mission. In Nikita’s mind, twenty assault operatives were nothing compared to Michael.
“McClure, report.” Michael’s voice lost it’s soft quality.
“We’re about 1 kilometer from the compound, Michael. Just waiting on your girl friend to show up. We had to slog on foot through the rain forest, and she gets to ride in a plush jeep. Go figure.” McClure’s insolent tone made it clear to everyone that could hear that he was not joking.
“Keep your mind on the mission and the target, McClure,” Michael said abruptly.
“Birkoff, report.” Michael’s mind was totally focused on the mission, and he expected personalities to be extraneous and not part of the mission profile.
“We’re at exit point A, Michael. We’re tracking Nikita, and McClure’s assault team. I’m already sequencing. Buehler is at the alternate exit point already. It’s all up to Nikita now.” Birkoff’s fingers flew over his keyboard as he talked, but this mission had him on edge as well.
“Good.” Michael paced as he waited for the next phase of the mission to unfold.
He wanted to be there to back up Nikita, but he trusted her skills and instincts. If there were no innocents involved, he would not have such a feeling of foreboding. He knew Nikita would try to get them out, no matter what the mission parameters were. That was the reason he had insisted on a second exit point. Operations and Madeline conceded that Michael was correct, and that Nikita would attempt to go beyond her orders. Perhaps, secretly, they hoped she would succeed. Michael had known Operations and Madeline long enough to know that they weren’t the heartless robots Nikita thought they were, but he had good reason to know just how ruthless and focused on the greater good they could be on occasion.
“Madeline, uh,” Michael hesitated because of all the ears. He was missing his session with Dr. Dupre today.
“It’s taken care of, Michael. You’re on a business trip. Let me know as soon as Nikita makes contact.”
************
Nikita continued to drive along the winding, now increasingly steep road. The mountains were visible now, and she hoped for the sake of the jeep’s transmission that she would not have to down shift much more as she made the gears grind with greater frequency.
“Nikita, where did you learn to drive anyway?” Birkoff’s flippant voice asked in her ear.
“Same place you did, Seymour. Up yours.” Nikita didn’t mind Birkoff’s harrassing, in fact, she preferred it.
“What’s the matter, Nikita? Are you PMSing?” Birkoff loved to tease Nikita, but this interchange was calculated to keep Nikita relaxed until....
She was suddenly surrounded by five men with semi-automatic weapons. “Whoa, fellows, here we go. Showtime,” she said quietly. The adrenaline kicked in, and Nikita was ready for action.
Another jeep came around the curve ahead with three men, two up front and one in the back. She recognized Riverra as the man in back. The plan was that she would hand over the money as he handed over the hostages, but kidnappers never went by the ‘rules.’ She could see no sign of Ambassador Reid or his family. Figures, she thought.
The leader of the men surrounding her let go with a spurt of Spanish. Nikita knew just enough to know they wanted her out of her jeep and into the other one. What was Madeline thinking sending her to Colombia, when her Spanish consisted of a few obscenities and common phrases. Luckily, Michael was translating for her from Section One. “Nikita they are not going to let you go. Go with them, try to keep the suitcases of money in sight. It wouldn’t do for them to investigate them too closely or too soon.”
“Hey, these go with me,” Nikita yelled. The men laughed at her accent, but they basically understood what she said. Nikita stepped down from her jeep and started yanking on the suitcases of money. $50 million dollars takes up a lot of space, she thought. She lugged the suitcases to the other jeep.
Riverra was a bullish man with thick shoulders and neck. His face was tanned, but pitted, and he favored her with a sickly, wolfish smile. She watched his protuberant eyes travel from her face to her breasts to her hips and back up. He didn’t try to hide his interest or disdain for a woman foolish enough to deliver herself alone into his hands. His gaze made the hairs on the back of her neck quiver.
Through the visual-cam that Nikita wore, Michael could see Riverra and the look he gave Nikita as well. He didn’t have to believe in intuition to know this man would be a major problem for Nikita before the mission was completed. He signaled Madeline that contact had been made. This mission didn’t need both of them, but Michael understood Madeline’s reasons for staying close.
Nikita hauled the suitcases into Riverra’s jeep, and was forced to sit beside him the rest of the winding climb to his compound. His gaze continued to unnerve her. He started to lay his hand on her knee, but halted as she leveled him a very cold look with blue eyes that had turned to steel.
The jeep jogged and bumped along finally coming to the house proper. Nikita wondered how many terrorists lived in the luxurious manner that Riverra did. The house was an old one which appeared to date from the Spanish Colonial era. Graceful columns rose to rounded Romanesque arches. The vegetation was lush and well maintained. Freestate indeed. This pig was lining his pockets by destroying the lives of the people of the country he pretended to be freeing. He was just another opportunist, and Nikita had seen too many of those.
***********
“McClure, report.” Michael barked.
“We’re right outside the compound. We’ve already had to take down a couple of his men that we stumbled across. As soon as it’s dark, which won’t be too long, we will be in place inside the compound ready for Nikita’s signal. It looks like we may be out numbered, but I don’t believe we’re gonna be out gunned. Now if your little pet can manage to stay out of trouble, we oughta be through here in short order.” McClure was confident and he had a high POS. in this type of assault. Michael bit back a reply as Madeline strode to the tactical center.
“Michael, bring me up to date.” Madeline requested as she observed Michael closely. He looked like he was handling the tension well. Good. Madeline felt vindicated in her choice in allowing him this role in the mission.
“Nikita has just been taken to Riverra’s compound. We haven’t seen anything yet of Ambassador Reid. McClure and the assault team are in place and ready for Nikita’s signal. Both exit points are in place and are ready. The rest is up to Nikita.” Michael appeared calm and cool as he gave this update, but Madeline recognized that he was pacing and playing with his chin. The suspense of waiting was wearing on him, but Madeline was not concerned about Michael. He was at his best during a mission, whether leading it physically or doing the tactical from a remote site.
**********
After entering the opulent house, Nikita endured being frisked by one of Riverra’s men, but kneed him in the groin after he finished, just to make a statement. As he rolled in agony on the ground, the other men gave her a larger diameter of clear space. Riverra himself was impressed at her style, and told her in heavily accented English that she barely understood, “Dat wasn verra nice, now was it, chiquita?”
“I wasn’t sent here to be nice, Senor Riverra. I was sent here to bring the ransom for Ambassador Reid and his family. I want to see them now.” Nikita placed her hands on her hips for emphasis.
“Whoa, chiquita, you are inna no position to maka demands. I tink we shoulda get to be friends. What do you tink ‘bout dat?” He moved toward her and made a move to remove her glasses.
She smiled seductively at him. “Please don’t, I’m really blind without those things. You wouldn’t want me stumbling around into things, now would you?”
Riverra came closer. “Sucha pretty blue eyes shouldn be hidden. Don you tink?”
Nikita decided not to make such a big deal about the glasses. If her protesting too much alerted his attention, she might never get them back. This way, she still had a chance. She knew that all the teams were in place, and all she had to do was find Ambassador Reid and his microdisk....and his family.
“Why don’t we stick to business first, then,” she favored him with another seductive smile which gave promise to more pleasurable transactions. Surprisingly, he left her glasses alone. Nikita supposed he was thinking about ‘later.’
“I really need to see the Reids, Senor Riverra. I am told that you are a man of honor and that you will make the exchange as you promised.” Nikita was lying and improvising as she went. He appeared to be flattered by the assessment.
“You are mucha too bizness. Come, I willa show you. He lead her upstairs and down a hall carpeted with lovely Persian rugs. He stopped before a door. An armed guard was in place, but Nikita expected no less. They entered a large suite of rooms. At least they weren’t in a cell or dungeon. Riverra appeared to be taking good care of his hostages. That boded well for his intentions, but Nikita didn’t intend for $50 million dollars to fall into his hands.
Ambassador Reid was a tall man with worry and guilt etched across his face. His wife was petite and dark and she clung fearfully to him. The teenage daughters were tall like their father, but they both affected a disinterested air. Their eyes, however, darted around as they took in Riverra’s entrance with Nikita, and their faces fell as they saw it was just a woman.
*************
Nikita had brought no weapons, but of course she was not without options. She needed to take Riverra out silently and quickly. He was standing beside her on the left. His gun was drawn, but his guard was down due no doubt to her seductive manner. She could see the muscles in his forearm were not tense, and she made her move. She spun to the left with a quick crushing blow to his larynx. His eyes registered shock, as his knees started to buckle, Nikita gave his neck a sharp resounding snap. She grabbed his gun off the carpeted floor and signaled the stunned Reids to be quiet.
“Michael, Riverra’s dead. I’ve located the Reids. We’re all together in an upstairs bedroom, sound the signal for the assault,” Nikita’ voice was drawn and tense.
“The disk, Nikita. What about the disk,” Michael asked.
Nikita pointed the gun at the Ambassador. “Where’s the microdisk, Ambassador? We don’t have much time. We’re going to have an all out battle here in about 1 minute.”
Reid’s wife and children looked at him dumbly. “I-I- don’t know what you’re talking about.” His face was red as he stuttered, and Nikita didn’t believe him for a minute.
“Ambassador, my people say you do. Now I want the disk, or you and I are going out of here alone. My agency doesn’t care what happens to your family. They are expendable! They want the disk. ‘I’ want the disk, and I want it now. Do you understand me?” Nikita’s voice was quiet, but her intentions were convincing. “So choose. Who do I kill first? It’s your choice-the disk or your youngest daughter.”
“You’re crazy,” he hissed. “You’re as crazy as the men out there.”
“With one difference, I can get you all out of here, if you cooperate,” Nikita could see the decision made in his eyes before he spoke. He tried to rush her, and Nikita backhanded him with her gun. It was a enough to make him retreat nursing his bleeding face.
“Daddy!” the older daughter screamed out loudly. The guard outside came rushing in, and Nikita, who had no other choice, shot him. Riverra’s gun was not silenced. The reverberations of the shot echoed loudly through the house. “Michael, I’m compromised, Call the assault now.!”
“The disk, Nikita, the disk.” Michael barked to keep her focused on the goal of the mission.
“Listen, you idiot,” she said to the Ambassador. “We’re all screwed now. Give me the damn disk. We’ve got to get outta heah!” Nikita was already motioning the Reids out of the bed room and down the back stairs, looking over her shoulder and listening for more of Riverra’s guards.
“I don’t have it anymore. Riverra found it and confiscated it when we were taken.”
“Michael, call the damn assault! He doesn’t have the disk anymore. Riverra took it.” She could hear guards running up the stairs. She shoved the Reids into an empty bedroom.
“Find it, Nikita! Forget the Reids. The disk is vital. We have to have it.”
“Okay, okay. Ambassador where were you when Riverra took it?
“We were in the study, he put it in his wall safe. It’s probably still there. He had no idea what it was, just that it was probably important.”
“Michael, did you hear that?
“Yes. McClure, begin the assault. Focus on the study safe, fan out from there.
Nikita, see if you can get them out.” Michael felt the tension mounting in his throat. He could hear the sounds of the assault begin with a large explosion.
“That was the front door, Michael. I’m going out the back with the Reids.”
“Nikita proceed to exit point B. They are moving forward now. You should run right into them.” Michael would not be able to breathe freely until he heard the chopper take off with Nikita and the Reids.
Madeline noted the tension in Michael’s voice, but he hadn’t given in to Nikita’s request for the assault until she had a possible location for the disk. That was good. Nikita was handling herself well. If Madeline had not known of Nikita’s feelings for innocents, she would have been convinced that Nikita was willing to take out the whole family to find the disk. Yes, Nikita was performing quite well.
Nikita rushed the hostages down the back stairs and out the back door, whirled around and took out two more guards. The Ambassador and family weren’t quite sure what to make of Nikita, but for now she appeared to be rescuing them, and they followed her orders without question.
The dense forest growth was only 100 yards from the house. Nikita adjusted her glasses, and received a tracking signal directly ahead. The chopper was moving in now for pickup. “Stay here till the chopper lands. Get your family on board. I’m going back for the disk.”
“Nikita, let the McClure and the assault team find the disk.”
“I’m already on site, Michael, and back in the house.” She picked up guns from the fallen guards she had taken down only a few minutes before. She had that feeling again Her sharp senses caught a blur of movement to her left. Damn, another one. She shot him as well. She stepped over his lifeless body and took his knife to add to her arsenal of weapons. She was feeling better. The more weapons she had, the more in control she felt.
Thank heavens for simm reps, she thought as she ran to the Riverra’s study. A quick perusal of the room and she found the wall safe. McClure ran in at that moment. Section operatives were taking over the house.
“I need a charge to blow this safe,” Nikita demanded. “That’s where the disk is.”
“I’m in charge of this mission, Nikita, not you. Don’t try ordering me around,” McClure asserted. .
“Then blow the damn thing.” Nikita pointed her gun at him. “You think you’re such a hot shot. Do it.”
“Uh, Nikita, I was only...” his reply stopped as Nikita fired twice.
Two of Riverra’s men standing behind McClure fell. Nikita jerked the explosive charge from McClure’s hand, placed it on the safe door and armed it.
They took cover together as the charge blew the safe door. Nikita jumped up and started going through the contents. “Here it is. Michael, we have the disk. Are the Reids on the chopper?”
“Yes, the Ambassador and his wife are on the chopper. Everybody withdraw as quickly as possible. Mission goals are completed. Nikita, get to the chopper with the disk. McClure, finish cleaning up, and get your team back to exit point B.”
**********
“Point B, Michael?” McClure asked in puzzlement. There was no way the one chopper was going to hold the entire assault team.”
“No, no, Point A. Get out of there as quickly as you can.” Michael ran his left hand through his long hair. He could hear the chopper taking off, and the adrenaline rush was gone, and he felt drained of all the previous energy. He wondered if Madeline had heard him give the wrong exit point to McClure. He looked at her to gauge her take on the mission. He received one of her enigmatic glances, but it was followed by a brief nod, so she didn’t consider it a major screw up.
“Nikita, report.”
“We’re airborne, Michael, and leaving the area. We should be back at the airfield in about forty-five minutes.” Nikita’s voice was almost drowned out by the noise of the helicopter.
“Good. Everyone okay? Any injuries among the hostages? Will you need medical?” Michael was more concerned about whether Nikita had suffered any injuries, but he couldn’t ask that.
