Michael sits in the apartment, which he now shares with Nikita. He glances out the window, knowing that when not with Section, he and Nikita could be looking out the same window together. Not a sound is heard as Michael walks slowly around, as if in a trance. Peace. He slumps down on the couch. Then gets back up. He walks out onto the balcony, and wonders how many times Nikita had cried out here by herself. He enters and rubs his hands across the wall. Slowly, he hangs a painting up there, just a small token from his place, other than his clothing. The phone rings loudly.

"Michael." Nikita says in a hurried voice.

"What is wrong, Nikita?" Michael responses to Nikita's voice and tone.

"Better come in. Rita and Rick have been caught during their mission." Nikita says with a calmer voice and hangs up.

Michael walks over to the closet and takes out his coat. Looking around one more time, he shuts the door to their apartment.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

"Birkoff...can I hear that last transmission again?" Nikita asks as she leans over the computer that Birkoff sits at.

Michael walks over next to her. He slides his arm around her waist and listens.

"Nikita...there is a problem...what do we...." Rita says and then the communication goes dead.

"Do we have any idea what happened?" Michael asks Nikita as she straightens out.

"No. They had retrieved the information and were heading out." Nikita said, starting to pace.

"Did they take anyone out?" Michael asks, as he watches Nikita's pacing.

"Yes. Four guards." Nikita responds.

"Birkoff, did it all go well until the end?" Michael asks.

"Yes." Birkoff answers.

"What? You don't trust my evaluation of the situation?" Nikita spits off quickly.

"You were leading them from here. I have no idea what happened." Michael said in a calm voice.

"HERE!" Nikita says heaving a tape at Michael. "That is the entire mission."

"Nikita..." Michael starts to say.

Nikita picks up some folders. "I have some research to do before we brief about this." Nikita says roughly and leaves.

"She did a wonderful job Michael." Birkoff says without looking up.

"I had to ask her." Michael defends himself.

"You're no longer her superior." Birkoff points out. Michael walks away in the other direction.

"Mood swings...mood swings..." Birkoff mutters to himself.

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

Michael sat in the briefing room with Birkoff, Madeline and Operations. They had already sent someone out to get Nikita.

"Sorry, I was still in the middle of some data." Nikita said as she confidently walked into the room.

"I would suspect you would have been in time, since you were leading Rick and Rita through this mission." Operations said angrily.

"WE...trained them...it's both of our..." Michael reacted.

"Michael...I was just following up on some ideas on a retrieval plan." Nikita said as she sat down, placing a pile of papers and files down on the table.

"I believe we have to go and get them out tonight." Operations said as he sat down heavily.

"They'll be expecting it, sir." Birkoff spoke up. "98% chance that they will be prepared for this situation."

"Nikita, I'm interested. What is your idea?" Madeline asked.

Nikita stood up and passed out a paper to everyone in the room. "That is Randy Koppola." Nikita said, as they all looked at a picture of a young male, about 25 years old.

"SO?" Operations challenged.

"He has been identified as part of the Elite Spiritual Males. But he is known as Kelly Ford, George Ranks, and many others." Nikita said.

"Nikita, I don't even understand." Michael said putting his sheet down on the table.

"Randy Koppola shows all signs for having Dissociative Identity Disorder." Nikita said.

Michael, Operations and Birkoff look at Madeline.

"Once known as Multiple Personality Disorder." Madeline says to the confused males.

"We bring Koppola in." Nikita says, looking at everyone.

"And what will that do?" Operations challenges in an angry voice.

"We find the dominated personality...the personality that will tell us all the information we need to take down E.S.M. and retrieve Rick and Rita." Nikita says sitting down.

"Nice plan if we had the time." Operations says, standing up.

"Actually, I think it's a good plan." Madeline said smiling at Nikita.

Michael sits back in awe.

"They won't be doing anything to Rick and Rita. Maybe some torture, but they need them alive, because they want more operatives to come in." Nikita said from her sitting down position.

"It wouldn't take that long, if we both worked on Koppola until we found the personality. With high stress situations, a multiple personality will switch quickly from one personality to another." Madeline said.

Operations sits down hard again.

"This could give us the edge. All other options are running extremely high." Birkoff answers. Operations looks at Nikita.

"Michael, sent out for Koppola." Operations says. Michael quickly leaves, without looking at Nikita.

"Go with Madeline. You will be part of the team." Operations says.

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

"Hey Fred...Can't I just be with her once...show her what an elite man does to women like her?" a huge dirty man asked from outside the tiny cell that Rita sat in. Her hands were handcuffed together and tied with rope. Her legs were badly bruised, but left unrestrained.

"Shut up you damn..." Rita started to scream back, but then the man opened the cell.

She charged him, but he easily threw her against the wall like a rag doll. She rolled her head back up with a rush of pain.

"Rita!" Rick called out from the cell beside hers. The opened bars between the two cells had made it possible for each other to watch the pain afflicted onto each other.

"I'm sure I can find a guy who would like you, Ricky..." the burly man said with a laugh as he pulled at Rita's shirt.

"Harris. I think it is time for your break." Mr. Emoeld said as he entered the cell area in his black suit.

Harris slapped Rita across the face and smiled.

"I hope your friends don't plan on attacking tonight...we are ready." Mr. Emoeld said with a smile. He turned behind him. "Wet them down." He said to someone.

Almost immediately, water fell from the ceiling in heavy drops.

"Rita, are you alright?" Rick asked as he crawled towards the bars that separated the both of them. When they were captured, they took crowbars to Rick's legs, which were still bloody and very swollen.

"I'm fine." Rita said as she stared at the wet water drops falling from the ceiling.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

"Hello, Mr. Kappola. I'm Michael. I was sent to get you." Michael said as he approached the young Mr. Kappola in a department store. Another operative approached from behind him.

"Are you from the E.S.M.?" Mr. Kappola asked as Michael touched a gun to the back of Mr. Kappola.

"No...but you can thank the E.S.M. for this later." Michael said smoothly. Michael started walking with Mr. Kappola out to the exit.

With shutting the door, the Section van appeared.

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

"God, you look young," Michael said as he turned the corner outside the room Kappola was being held in and finds Nikita standing in jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Well, probably the personality we are seeking to bring into consciousness is younger than Kappola." Nikita said as she shoved her hands into her pockets.

"I never realized you had learned so much." Michael says leaning against the wall, looking in the other direction.

"Does this bother you?" Nikita asks, watching Michael's turned away face.

"No." Michael responds, looking back at Nikita.

"Good." Nikita says with a slight smile.

"You look like a college student." Michael comments as he pulls on the pony tail, Nikita's hair is in.

"I have to tell you, I not ready......" Nikita starts as Madeline walks out into the hallway.

"I had two personalities, both were defensive. Your turn, Nikita." Madeline said.

Nikita looked at Michael with wide open eyes.

"You'll do fine." Michael whispers into her ear as he kisses her cheek lightly.

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

"My teacher sent me in to watch you." Nikita says as she drags a bookbag over to the chair in front of Kappola.

"I'm Randy." he huffs angrily.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to study. My teacher hasn't been satisfied with my work..." Nikita says shaking her head.

"That's because your teacher is a bit..." Randy spits out and stops when Nikita starts to cry.

"I wish I had someone to talk to...my own age..." Nikita cries, while out of the corner of her eye watching Kappola. Both her and Madeline suspect that the weaker personality may be a girl, who would be disgusted by the actions of E.S.M.

"Why are you crying?" Kappola says in a higher pitched voice. Nikita notices right away, the rigidness in the body as relax, she smiles inside herself.

"My boyfriend likes to order me around, and doesn't listen to me..." Nikita now says.

"I know...all my brothers are like that." Kappola says. Nikita wipes her tears and walks over to Kappola.

"My name is Nikita." she says as she studies the man.

"My name is Susie." Kappola says staring at Nikita.

"My boyfriend would like to be part of this group called E.S.M." Nikita said, hoping that they have found the right personality.

"Run. Run far away." Susie whispers. Nikita stares into the eyes.

"Why?" Nikita asks while keeping her intense eye contact.

"Randy and Drake, and most of my brothers are in that...bad people...bad people..." Susie says in the whisper again.

"I can barely hear you..." Nikita says as she walks in closer.

"They'll hear me..." Susie says.

"That's enough Nikita. Get out of there." Madeline says from the glass-in observation room above the room.

Nikita, surprised by Madeline, turns around. In that movement, Randy returns and with his chained, but able to move, hand grabs Nikita's pony tail.

"You are the kind of girl I love to see..." Randy rumbles as he starts to turn in his circle, pulling Nikita along. The door to the room opens and Michael runs in. One punch in the face to Randy, and Nikita's hair is let go. More operatives arrive in the room.

"Punish him." Michael says as he leads Nikita out.

Nikita stays quiet in mild shock as Michael shuts the door to the room. Michael looks at her, and Nikita looks back at him.

"You didn't think you were ready." Michael whispers. Nikita's face reacts to the comment, but she says not a word.

"Nikita, you were scared." Michael continues, hoping to get Nikita to respond.

"I'll be glad when this is over." Nikita says, finally looking away from Michael and sees Madeline walking down the hall.

"That was my fault, Nikita." Madeline says from a few feet away. "Are you ok?"

"Yes." Nikita says.

"Good. We'll try again in a few hours." Madeline says, continuing down the hall.

"Take a nap."

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

Lyrics from Caught in a Web by the group DREAM THEATER

Rita sits in the wet cell shivering. Her back is against the bars which separate her from Rick. Her face is badly bruised and bloody. Rick is leaning on the other side of the bars, in about the same shape. With Rita, they have touched her like a play doll, and with Rick they have beaten and broke his body. His legs are terribly swollen and the scrapes now show infection setting in. He is shivering, and wants to reach his bounded hands through the bars to comfort Rita, but when he tried that last time, they walked into Rita's cell, and slammed his arms against the bars, he was sure the right arm was broken also. Their breathe is short and the white cloud out of their mouths show how cold it is.

"They'll come..." Rita mutters over and over again.

SILENCE DISGUISED...
I WATCH YOU...
SHOW ME THE HURT...
THAT HAUNTS YOU

Nikita walks into the room with Kappola again. Her ponytail, now in a bun.

"Hello, Nikita." Susie responds as Nikita sits down.

"Do you know of everything your brothers do?" Nikita questions with her hands folded. She crossed her fingers.

In the observation room, Operations stands with Madeline and Michael.

"She better, we've already wasted 2 days." Operations says standing very close to the window.

"Yes...but its horror..." Susie says.

"Sometimes it's good to talk about the things that are bad." Nikita says moving the chair a bit closer.

Susie rolls her eyes and starts to talk about the torture that her brothers participate in.

WOULD YOU DESPISE THE THRILL...
IF ALL YOU HIDE WERE MINE?

Rita's breath has become very shallow. The cell doors open at the same time. Rita does not move, and neither does Rick. A plate of food is left right inside the cell.

"I can't..." Rita moans as her almost swollen shut eyes look at the plate of food. "You have to..." Rick says. He starts to crawl to the food, moaning with each movement. He slowly arrives at the food, and sits up. "It's good, Rita."

"What if it's poisoned?" Rita asks as she slowly starts to move.

"They're not done with us." Rick says hauntingly.

I CAN'T HOLD ON ANY LONGER...
THESE FEELINGS KEEP GROWING STRONGER...

"They captured a couple...Rick and Rita..." Susie says with tears running down her face.

Nikita looks up at the room. The past twenty minutes, they had heard about everything that E.M.S. does. Nikita had to look away a couple times as it hit too close to home.

"What are they doing with Rick and Rita?" Nikita questions Susie.

"You have to save them." Susie says.

"How? I don't know what they are doing?" Nikita questions.

"In the bottom of the warehouse, there are cells, they want to lure more...I think they call them operatives...especially women in..."

Susie says. Again, she looks up to the room. Operations has moved away from the window. One of his plans had been to attack with a force of all women operatives.

"Rick will be broken... Rita.. emotionally tortured..." Susie says.

Nikita looks at the eyes, and in an instance she stands up.

"SUSIE!!! How dare you!!!! You're no better than any other woman...." Randy hollers.

Nikita steps further away, as Kappola starts to move around violently, the two personalities screaming at each other. The door to the room opens, and Nikita runs out into Michael's arms.

ECHOES THAT DEAFEN THE MIND...
WILL BURY MY VOICE IN THEIR WAKE...

"Kill him." Operations says as he looks down at Kappola screaming over and over again.

"That is giving him mercy." Madeline said looking down at the man. "We can get more information from this man."

"Kill him." Operations says again, not glancing down.

"I think we need him more." Madeline says looking down at the circling man.

"I'll do it myself!" Operations says, running over to a panel in the wall. Pulling off the cover, he pulled a button and a gas settles over the room. Kappola soon stands still.

_________________________________________________

"They should just kill me..." Rita says. You can't tell that her eyes are opened any longer. Her shirt hangs on her body, torn and dirty with the filth of the floor and her blood. All of her fingers on her left hand are extremely swollen.

"They are coming..." Rick said softly.

"One by one they broke my fingers... one after one... one for each time I muttered no... over and over they broke them as they..." Rita said and then curled up in a ball.

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

"So we know where they are...how do we get them?" Nikita asks Michael as they sit together in the briefing room. Michael looks out the door and then back at Nikita.

"They'll be here soon." Michael says as he puts his hand on Nikita's.

"You did extremely well..."

Just as Michael is saying this Madeline and Operations enter, followed by ten other operatives and then Birkoff.

"Walter will be up quickly." Birkoff says as he sits down.

"Good. He'll have plenty to get ready." Operations says as everyone sits down. Just as Operations is about to start, Walter jogs in and stands behind Michael and Nikita.

"Very easy. We're storming the warehouse and taking Rick and Rita back." Operations says plainly.

Nikita looks around quickly, and notices that she is the only lady there. "Why all male?" Nikita questions.

Operations looks at Madeline and then back at Nikita.

"You'll be staying in the communications van with Birkoff." Madeline says.

Nikita jumps up, letting go of Michael's hand. "No. I'm going in." Nikita says with a husky voice.

"Nikita, not long ago, you were held like Rita is probably being held like now." Madeline said standing up also.

"And I would have rather had a lady come in and get me..." Nikita says in anger, and Michael looks at her in shock.

"Nikita...but I saved you." Michael said incrediously.

"You need your best operatives working to get Rick and Rita out. I know Michael, and Michael knows me. We should be the two to get our operatives out." Nikita says intensely.

Michael continues to stare at Nikita from what she said.

Nikita looks at Michael, then Madeline, then Operations, then Birkoff. She turns to leave and sees Walter.

"Nevermind...I'll stay in the van." Nikita says exiting. Her footsteps are heard down the hall, click....click....click...click....

All eyes turn to Operations. He looks at Michael and then down. "Nikita goes in." Operations says. "Briefing done. Walter, all the fighting power you got."

Michael flies out of the room.

"You would have rather had a woman save you?" Michael asks as he enters their office.

Nikita looks up. "I'm glad you saved me... but all the people who had hurt me were men... I couldn't do anything because of the drugs, but without them, I probably would have flipped out if you came towards me." Nikita says with a pale face.

"You know that Madeline was there?" Michael asks as he leans against his desk.

"I was sedated... How would I have known?" Nikita asks.

Michael sits down at his desk. He pulls out a book and jots something down in it.

Nikita looks over as he places the book back.

"What's that?" Nikita asks, with an interested look.

"Nothing." Michael says. Nikita stands up and puts her hands on her hips.

"You're tracking me... Madeline has you tracking my 'recovery'." Nikita says as Michael turns a little red.

"You're going in. Better go see Walter for your weapons and Medlab for some sedatives." Michael says.

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

Song Caught in a Web by Dream Theater starts where left off at.

"RITA!" Rick calls out and hears his voice echo back. He puts his head towards the bars, listening to the gentle shallow wheezes of Rita.

"RITA...KEEP TALKING...RITA...." Rick yells at the shivering body. She moans and turns towards the bars, her face black and blue with bruises, and elsewhere red from fever.

"One by one by one...break...break...Nikita... Michael... are we canceled..." Rita starts to mutter.

Rick takes a deep breath and winces in pain from the bruise ribs. He received them when he threw the plate that the food was on against the bars when another man went in for Rita.

"They'll come." Rick says and he looks up at the ceiling as if praying.

REMOVED FROM THE WORLD...
HANGING ON BY A THREAD

Nikita sits in the van decked out in the black field uniforms. Michael sits next to her.

Both are gripping onto two automatic weapons, plus many more strapped on various places on their bodies. In Nikita's right shirt pocket lays the small syringe of sedative for Rita.

Michael has a similar one for Rick, that is if the other operatives can secure the warehouse quickly.

"Try not to look into her eyes... it will then hit you." Michael says, trying to prepare Nikita for what she might see.

"And if we have to grab and run, don't worry about hurting her more, just go." Michael says slowly. He looks up at Birkoff.

"Team 2 is in position." Birkoff says a few seconds more.

SPINNING THE LIES...
DEVISED IN MY HEAD

Nikita and Michael are running towards the warehouse, with about six operatives ahead of them. Nikita jumps over one of the just shot guards, and continues on to the door.

With guns ready to fire, they enter the door. Seeing the stairs, they start down.

I'VE SEEN THE PATH...
THE ONE YOU TAKE...
SHOWS THE TRUTH...
FOR YOU TO MAKE...

Nikita heads down the stairs first, down to the first landing she turns and shots the man heading up the stairs in a hurry. Michael rushes down towards the next doorway and shots the oncoming three guards.

"Michael, Team 2 has secured the top two floors. How are you and Nikita doing?" Birkoff asks.

"What about floor one?" Michael asks in between breaths. Nikita leans out the doorway, and finally into the hallway.

"Almost secure." Birkoff says.

"Then move all unoccupied operatives down to help with one and then to the basement." Michael says, stepping out into the hallway with Nikita.

THIS TURN OF PHRASE...
WE MIGHT NOT SEE...
IS THE THIRST OF DESIRE...
FOUND SO EASILY...

"Guns..." Rick mutters. He tries to pull himself off the floor to get a better sense of what was happening. He looks at Rita, who is pale as chalk. "DOWN HERE!!! HELP!!! HELP!!! HELP!!!" Rick starts to scream, hoping if it was Section that they could hear him.

TRY TO PUSH ME 'ROUND...
THE WORLD SOME MORE...
AND MAKE ME LIVE IN FEAR...
I BARE ALL THAT I AM MADE OF NOW...
ATTRACTIVE I DON'T CARE

"Now where?" Nikita looks at Michael and at the two directions they could go.

"We must stay together, we're the only ones down here." Michael says. He steps towards the right when Rick's screams are heard from the left.

Nikita looks at Michael quickly and they start jogging towards Rick's screams. Each door they check quickly for E.S.M. people.

"Only basement left." Birkoff says through the com units.

"Bring operatives down to the right side of the basement. Nikita and I have the left." Michael says.

'CAUSE EVEN WHEN I DANCE WITH LIFE...
NO ONE WAS THERE TO SHARE...

Rick hears Michael's and Nikita's footsteps. "Michael...Nikita..." Rick mutters.

Nikita looks ahead and sees the two cells. Michael takes a few steps off to the left and checks another room which is clear.

"Birkoff we are cleared here." Michael says as he starts to work at Rick's cell door.

"Building secure." Birkoff says.

"Then get me some operatives down here." Michael mutters as he opens the door.

"No...no...no... one... by one..." Michael hears Rita mutter through her dried throat and mouth. He looks through the bars as Nikita tries to approach her.

"Just give her the shot!" Michael says firmly as he pulls out his syringe for Rick. Rick looks up and smiles at Michael as the sleep drifts over him.

"Break...break... one... one..." Rita continues to mutter. Nikita is now backing up.

"Give her the shot!" Michael yells and Nikita looks at Michael like a dog in the middle of the street staring down a 16 wheeler.

DOES THIS VOICE THE WOUNDS OF YOUR SOUL?

Running footsteps of soon to arrive operatives are heard as Michael walks out of Rick's cell over to Nikita. He roughly pulls the syringe out of Nikita's hand and stabs it down into Rita's arm. Quickly, Rita is asleep. Michael looks at Nikita as the operatives run in.

"Take them up." Michael says. Three of the operatives pick up Rick.

Nikita starts to pick up Rita.

"You don't have to do it. The others can." Michael says with an authoritative voice.

Nikita just continues to struggle and then another operative picks up Rita's feet.

CAUGHT IN A WEB

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

Song Caught in a Web continues (it is a real long song)

Rita is laying in a Medlab bed asleep. Nikita sits closely. She is already having nightmares.

Rick is laying quietly in Medlab, down the hall from Rita. Michael sits in the room.

"When can I see her?" Rick asks Michael again.

"Nikita will tell you when she is up. Yet, you are still not well yourself." Michael says in a monotonous voice.

REMOVED FROM THE WORLD...
HANGING ON BY A THREAD

Rita starts to moan and lick her chapped lips. Nikita stands up and brings a cup over to her lips. The eyes are barely opened and the bruising has only started. Rita reaches up to help guide the cup with her hand of broken fingers.

"Here..." Nikita says pushing the hand back down as she tips the cup up to let the water run down the girls mouth.

SPINNING THE LIES...
DEVISED IN MY HEAD

Nikita walks into Rick's room. Rick looks at Nikita and slightly smiles. Michael stands up.

"Rick, she may not be kind to you." Michael warns. Nikita walks over.

"She asked for you." Nikita says as she helps Rick move to the wheelchair. The thigh to toe casts are cumbersome, and the cast on his arm hampers things more.

TRIED TO LIVE THE LIFE...
YOU LIVE AND SAW...

Rick is wheeled into Rita's room and their mixed crying is heard.

Nikita walks away.

Michael continues to watch. Rick struggling to touch his bruised cheek to Rita's bruised cheek. Michael looks over his shoulder to notice Nikita had totally left the Medlab.

IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME...
I BARE ALL THAT I AM MADE OF NOW...
ATTRACTIVE, I CAN'T BE...

Michael walks out of Medlab and sees Nikita leaning against the wall. "So does it go in my track book." Nikita mutters as the door swings slightly back and forth.

"Nikita... I tried to tell you what you would see..." Michael says stopping in his path, not inching closer to Nikita.

"Was I that bad?" Nikita asked.

"In Chicago you were. He had beaten you up pretty good..." Michael says softly, watching Nikita for a reaction.

"And with the loving 2000?" Nikita asks bravely.

Michael is still standing in the middle of the hallway. "The drugs were the bad part." Michael says.

"Oh." Nikita says turning and walking away.

INSIDE THE DANCE OF LIFE IS ONE...
I'LL NEVER HOLD TO ME...
YOU CAN'T HEAL THE WOUNDS OF MY SOUL...

Nikita sits in their office, looking at the door, wishing Michael would walk in.

CAUGHT IN A WEB

Michael stands outside their office. Leaning against the wall, waiting to hear Nikita sob.

REMOVED FROM THE WORLD

Madeline looks in at Rick and Rita. Both asleep, kind of like when Nikita was brought back.

HANGING ON BY A THREAD

Operations looks out his glass balcony and sees Michael leaning against the wall to their office. Operations half smiles and walks away.

SPINNING THE LIES...DEVISED IN MY HEAD

Birkoff and Walter walk past Michael and then pass the opened door and Nikita.

Nikita smiles and stands up. She walks to Michael's desk.

CAUGHT IN A WEB

Nikita opens the drawer and retrieves the book out of the desk. She looks at the door, sure Michael is there. She opens to the first page.

REFUSED BY THE WORLD

'Pain is written across her body. It is hard to approach her, wondering if she hates me...wondering if she thinks I hate her... she looks so old...' Nikita reads in the first page.

HANGING ON BY A THREAD

Michael takes a deep breathe and enters the room and sees Nikita with the 'book'. She quickly shuts it and bites her lip. Michael walks over and pulls a chair next to Nikita. He opens the 'book' and reads with Nikita. Her head falls to his shoulder.

SPINNING IN A CAGE

Rita starts to scream in a nightmare. Rick lightly shakes her and immediately Rita slaps him. Slumping in his chair, he waits as Rita falls back to sleep quickly, never touching the stinging face.

DENIED AND MISREAD.

Send suggestions and comments to ranma.
OR
If you would like to send a comment to Nikita507, click HERE!!