I have to tell ya, I don't know what this place is comin' to. In case you don't know what 'place' I'm talking about, I mean Section One. I've been here longer than anyone, and I outghta know. It's never been exactly a kindergarten, but lately, it's just not the same.

The time was . . . we fought terrorists . . . made the world a little safer. Now, it's each other. I don't know how many times in the last two years that Operations has tried to kill Michael. For a long time, everyone just assumed that Michael was the most likely candidate for taking over as Operations. Guess Operations isn't quite ready to hand over the key to the Tower, not yet, anyway. I mean, who the hell does he think is gonna take over when he's gone, if he keeps trying to kill off Michael? I don't see Madeline hangin' around after Ops moves on, or whatever. She's turned into a damn machine herself. Why I remember a time when she was a fine specimen of womanhood, frisky, too. Wasn't afraid to do the job, either.

Sure, Oversight could send someone, but that's not the way it's been done before. Ya can't expect to build loyalty where there is none. Michael has a history here, with all the so-called rank and file. Some hate him, some envy him, but all of 'em respect him.

And Birkoff. Damn! That kid is so pissed at me, I don't know if he'll ever get over something I did years ago. Tossing a coin to choose between him and Jason. How else? Does Birkoff think I had a choice. Madeline says 'choose,' you choose.

And Sugar. What can a fella say 'bout her, now? I'll never forget the first day I saw her, slumpin' alongside Michael, on her way to meet Madeline. Hair pale as winter wheat, blue eyes a guy could drown in. Somethin' 'bout her hit me, hit me hard. There was somethin' 'bout Michael, too. Next to Nikita, he walked a little taller. Now, I helped him set up that damn blood cover with Elena, and I knew how cut up he still was over losing Simone on that Glass Curtain mission. I knew from the start, the long, lanky blonde was gonna be trouble.

But ya see, I was right–some ways, wrong in others. Sugar was a fast learner, but a big pain in the ass, too. A rebel, yeah. Couldn't much blame her for that, now could I? I'm too much a rebel myself. The best thing sugar did was snap Michael out of his depression over Simone. It wasn't nearly as hard on Michael the second time Simone died. Well, I know you already know about that, so I won't dwell on it, but it doesn't take a Philadelphia lawyer to figure out Operations knew all the time that Simone was a prisoner.

Finally, after all the mess with the blood cover was over, Nikita brought Michael back, again. I was so proud of her. She didn't try to move in and jump his bones. She just offered her friendship–that's the best about Nikita. Sugar makes the best friend in the world. Everybody–well almost everybody--loves her. It's no wonder that Michael fell head over heels for her. Oh, not so's you notice–not right away. Michael risked everything for Sugar. Wooed her, won her–then got his hands smacked for it by Operations . . . and Madeline–can't believe how screwed up she is over the two of them being together. Sure, I know for a fact that she and Michael did the horizontal mambo. I told ya, I've been here a long time. It was a long time ago, I know all the signs. But I'm digressin'.

Back to Michael and Sugar. Once they wiped everything good about Nikita outta her brain, she was a pitiful shadow of the person she used to be. Michael risked everything to bring her back, and I helped him. Nikita wasn't any good to anyone the way she was. Oh, I know Operations and Madeline thought they'd created the perfect operative, but I wouldn't have trusted her to cover my back at a cyber-café, much less on a mission.

For a while it seemed as if Michael had brought our old Nikita back. But ever since the mission where she had to marry that Helmut guy, she hasn't been the same. I know how emotional sugar is, and it was bound to be hard on her, playing wifey to some stranger. So I guess Michael's backed off, and he's givin' her some space. Course, all Nikita does is give Michael the cold shoulder, disgusted looks and precious little else, if I'm reading the guy right. I don't know how much longer he's gonna put up with her actin' the way she is, but I guess Michael's the patient kind, always has been.

I guess I might as well close up for the night. I know I'm tired of jackin' my jaws, and you're bound to be tired of listenin'.

There's just more thing. Don't quite know how to describe it, but this place, Section, has some mighty bad vibes–like the calm before the storm . . .or the shit hits the fan.

Better get my waders out before it gets too deep.

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