It was after hours in the dark recesses of the repair shop. Outside, the snow whipped across the dark New England landscape. In her office, T'nT sat glued to her computer, her desk a rat's nest of purchase orders, invoices and quotations. Because she didn't have a computer at home, she had taken to sitting at work until all hours so she could keep up with the latest postings on the LFN storyboards.

Holy S@#$%, she thought, "I take a long weekend to New York City and I come back and everything's changed! Holly is leaving, the Round Robin boards are moving and Scoo's having a fit! Sheesh!

You need to relax, she told herself, wishing she still smoked. She took a deep breath and popped ZZ Top into the CD player. It was just the soothing 70's sound she needed. Ah, Relief.

In the next room, she could hear the screams of her (all) male co-workers as they blew each other away on the network playing Quake. In the old (Doom II) days, T'nT would have been right alongside them, but she had no time for that now---Mikey was coming!

He'd already visited Lorraine, Nikita507, drb, Deb and Caro-and maybe more! Her heart beat excitedly at the prospect. He could be here any time soon!

Alarmed, she gazed around the office. She had no cheesy puffs, no goldfish! Only the Boss's coffee, which was so strong it had it's own government advisory label and stale, pink Rice Krispy Treats left over from Valentine's Day.

Hurriedly, she ran over to the pile of dirty gym clothes she kept hidden behind her door. Michael was said to be turned on by laundry! She picked some up and draped it casually over her desk and threw a few pieces on the floor, wondering if a sweaty sports bra was too tacky. No, she decided-no sacrifice was too great for Michael! Suddenly she paused. Did it matter whether the laundry was clean or dirty?

A shadow fell across the room. T'nT's heart beat with excitement. She smoothed her disheveled hair and looked up expectantly.

Her face fell.

"Nikita! What are YOU doing here?" she whispered, disappointed.

Nikita flipped back her unbleached locks and smiled.

"I had to come and thank you personally."

T'nT stared in disbelief, hoping against hope it was all a Section trick. A smelly leotard lay silently, mocking her. She inched her foot out from under her desk and tried to slide it under a chair.

"Thank me?" bleated T'nT, "What do you mean? I thought Michael was coming! Is he mad at me because I made him do manual labor? I know he was born to finer things, but I HAD to use the car waxing as a plot device!"

Nikita smirked. "Actually, we liked the part that came after better."

"Well...thanks...but you know Ranma and 'chelle write much better, er, romantic scenes. I get embarrassed and I'm more of an action gal myself."

"I know", Nikita breathed, "That's why I came instead of Michael. I wanted to thank you! You wrote me a friend-a buddy to have adventures with and I didn't need Michael to rescue me!"

"Well," T'nT whined, "I got tired of all those gloomy Section agents. I thought you might like a little fun."

"I loved it!" Nikita said enthusiastically, "Toril was a riot! But could you throw in some music and hipper clothes-I mean, Chanel is soooo not happening."

She paused to shake back her long hair.

"Oh yeah-- I'd like to ride a motorcycle and wear more leather," she continued coolly, lighting up a Cuban. T'nT blinked. Her boss was gonna be PO'd when he saw one of his good cigars was missing.

"I am WOMAN!" shrieked Nikita suddenly, "And not like that pantywaist Patty Ireland and her dreary buddies at NOW! Let's PARTY!"

"But I wanted Michael!" wailed T'nT.

"Oh him," replied Nikita airily. "He's probably at Enjoue's. Or Jusgirl's. Or Ursula's. Or Catsma's. Or Tina's. Or-----

"Ok OK-you don't need to rub it in!" snapped T'nT.

Nikita waved the stogie at her, "But didn't you WANT me to be more than just a fashion model with a little pea brain? Did you think Section didn't know that you went to Wellesley and used to read MS magazine? Now that I have my female friend Toril we can have good, action-filled fun without Michael getting in the way! Loceff made me a Barbie doll but you've written me as a woman who doesn't need to cling to a man to be complete!"

"I did?" whimpered T'nT, cursing the day she ever read Camille Paglia, "This isn't exactly what I had in mind!"

"Hey," grunted Nikita, "Let's go down to the gym and see who can do the most pull-ups."

T'nT stared, appalled.

"Um, well, thanks...but I gotta write my next installment before Ranma and Norma spank me and I think I have to go read Zzoo's fourth chapter…" she stammered.

"OK, T'nT," shrugged Nikita, "But you better make sure you write us a good story with plenty of action----or we'll be back to kick your ass!" With a puff of smoke, she was gone.

T'nT bolted to her door and slammed it shut.

Lord Have Mercy--What a nightmare! She thought. Shaken, a penitent T'nT sat at her computer and began to type the beginning of her new story.

Nikita's Dilemma by T'nT:

"Ooh Michael," squealed Nikita. "Your muscles are SO BIG! You have to help me with this BIG PROBLEM! -I CAN'T open this bag of cheesy puffs!"

Please God, T'nT prayed, let this do the trick.

Sighing, she sat back and waited for Michael.

Send suggestions and comments to ranma.