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ATTENTION: Stories marked with an * may contain material which would be better appreciated by those over 18. Parental Discretion is advised. This is your responsibility, not ours.
with Laura
Nikita found it hard to pay attention. Operations was briefing them on their new assignment, but Nikita was more interested in studying Michael. He was sitting at the end of the table, several chairs away from Nikita. Michael was leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table top, his eyes intent upon Ops. He was paying strict attention to what was being said. That was Michael. He never let anyone, or anything, break his concentration. Especially not Nikita....or so she believed.
Operations was aware of the fact that Nikita was not paying attention to him. He could have forced her to focus on him, but preferred to let it slide. If Nikita didn't listen and learn, then she would have to pay the consequences. So be it. Ops continued his speech by bringing up a face on the holographic vid-screen. "This is Levi Barnaby," he explained. "Levi is short for Leviticus. Not his birth name, but he had it legally changed about ten years ago. He considers himself to be an Apostle, one of God's twelve disciples and it his mission to preach the new faith to those he deems worthy of being saved. He does his primary work in Los Angeles."
"The city of Angels," Michael inflected, softly.
"Exactly," Operations replied, offering a half smile of approval. "Levi Barnaby believes that Los Angeles is the modern day Israel. All the more so due to the fact that the Prime Minister of Israel, Tamar Adeev, is coming to LA for a peace conference. As you know, the Middle East is hovering on the brink of all out war, and the US government would be drawn in to such a conflict. They would like to avoid that, at all costs."
Nikita had finally started paying attention and she had a question. "So what connection does Levi Barnaby have to the Prime Minister?"
Operations pinned her with a glacial stare. "Mr. Adeev has in his possession, a computer disc which contains all the codes for all the nuclear arsenals in all the world..."
Michael was intrigued. "How did he get it?"
"That doesn't matter," Ops replied. "He's willing to hand it over to the resident as a show of good faith, and for safe keeping. And, for good measure, such an act should prevent any future risk of nuclear attack."
"I still don't get the connection," Nikita said, as she pulled a pack of gum out of her pocket. She unwrapped a piece and popped it in her mouth.
Operations resisted the urge to heave a sigh. Instead he explained. "From what we've been hearing, we believe that Levi Barnaby intends to assassinate the Prime Minister and take the disc."
"For what purpose?" Michael asked.
Madeline responded to the question. "It would be a *symbolic* statement, as it were. Levi Barnaby believes a twisted version of what is stated in the bible writings of Leviticus. He believes that the burnt offerings that God speaks of are the Holocaust. Not the one of the past, but the one he foresaw for the present. Levi Barnaby is a genius. Has IQ of 317. He could build a nuclear weapon and, for all we know, he may have. That's going to be part of what we need you to find out, Michael."
At this point Operations interjected. "The Prime Minister will be arriving in Los Angeles in seven days. That's how long you have to find out what Levi Barnaby has planned." He looked deep into Michael's green eyes, letting the younger man see that this mission was of the utmost importance. The lives of millions were depending upon the outcome of this one, and Operations would allow no margin for failure. When he saw the flicker of acceptance in Michael's glance, he said, "The plane leaves in an hour." With that, Operations left the room.
Madeline remained behind to fill Michael and Nikita in on the parts that they would play. She explained that Leviticus and his *disciples* scoured the LA strip in search of lost souls. Those whom they felt were redeemable. Michael and Nikita would play a young couple, unwed, living together and Michael would pose as a male stripper in a sleazy club, mainly to support Nikita's drug habit. Madeline felt that Levi would be drawn to Michael. Nikita agreed and thought it was great. Michael was not so thrilled. He was also surprised.
"Isn't it more logical to assume that Levi would seek out Nikita?"
"Why?" Madeline countered, with a smile. "Because she *appears* more innocent?" She didn't need a response to know that that was exactly what Michael was thinking. She locked eyes with him and shook her head. "No. First off, I've done my homework on Mr. Barnaby. He will be drawn to you for several reasons, Michael. Including your name."
Nikita was intrigued. "Why his name?" she questioned.
Madeline looked at Michael before replying and she guessed that he knew. Then she answered Nikita. "Michael is another name for the son of God. As well as the name of the archangel. That, along with Michael's, physical beauty and his tortured soul...." Madeline paused when she saw Michael flinch at her words. She had struck a chord, for Michael's soul was deeply tortured. But he would never admit it, not out loud. Not to her....or to anyone. For the part he was to play, however, Michael would have to reach deep into his soul and confess his sins. Of course they would be the sins that Madeline had created for him.
"What if Levi doesn't take the bait?" Michael challenged. He could feel Madeline's gaze upon him and would not meet her eyes. So he looked at Nikita. She was smiling at him, no doubt enjoying what would be something of a role reversal for them.
"Oh…he'll take the bait," Madeline replied. She had no doubt about it, given the profile she had done on the man. Levi Barnaby would feel a *calling* to save Michael's soul from damnation. He would be the ultimate challenge. But Madeline wasn't done with the briefing yet.
"I want both of you to keep in mind that you will be pulled into Levi's organization. So you will be under constant surveillance. You'll have to stay in character at all times. Nikita...."
Madeline looked over at the beautiful, young woman. "You lived on the street, so you know how a junkie acts. Play your part well. Be needy and whiny, and anti-god. Do your best to try and pull Michael away from Leviticus, as it were. And Michael, play at being torn. That you want to believe....you want to be saved....but you're not quite sure that you believe what Levi is telling you. In other words, you don't know if you're worthy of being saved, nor if there is anyone who could do it."
Michael and Nikita both nodded their understanding, and then rose from their chairs. "Is that all?" Michael asked.
Madeline nodded. "I've chosen your wardrobes. There's an apartment already set up for you in LA. Michael, you'll start your job as a stripper at the G-String tonight. Levi has a tendency to cruise by there nightly and pops in trying to preach to the dancers. We don't have a lot of time here." Madeline paused to glance over at Nikita, who had dissolved into laughter. "Are you all right?" she asked.
Nikita had to wipe tears from her eyes and take deep breaths before she could reply. "The G-STRING?" she repeated. Then she burst into further peals of laughter. She didn't stop, even when Michael turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. She felt Madeline's eyes upon her, and when she looked up, the other woman was grinning. Nikita managed to pull herself together. "Tell me something, Madeline. Had Michael ever stripped before?"
Madeline's eyes twinkled as she replied, "Let's just say that Michael has what it takes, and leave it at that." And with that, Madeline exited the room.
"I can't wait to get to LA," Nikita whispered, and then she headed out, still bubbling with laughter as visions of g-strings danced in her head.
************
"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit....The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself...Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire......consumed by fire...."
"Michael....Michael? You OK?" Nikita questioned softly, her hand resting lightly on his arm.
He had been sitting in the window seat looking out upon the vast landscape as they were approaching the large city of Los Angeles. The plane was circling slowly overhead and he looked down to find tons of swimming pools and numerous freeways. Only they were not what he saw....he saw death and destruction...especially should they fail on this mission. He turned and looked squarely into her blue eyes.
Nikita had never been to the city of angels, but her excitement was quelled by the intensity in Michael's eyes. She saw something flicker there for a moment...and it almost looked like...*fear.* But it vanished as quickly as it came and he shifted to look back out the window.
"What were you thinking about just now?" she asked, as her hand tightened on his forearm. And she was absolutely shocked when he did not try and push her away.
"I was remembering an old quote from Revelations....about Babylon. You know some say that Los Angeles is the modern day Babylon. In the verses from that chapter it talks about a great city being consumed by fire." Michael shook her arm off then and she was thankful that he could not see the hurt which she knew radiated in her eyes. He was so close to opening up to her....which of course for him, was very rare.
"When did you start reading the bible? What's really bothering you Michael?"
Michael sighed and rolled his head toward her....he gazed into her eyes for a brief moment...but this time she could read nothing within them. "Keep your eye on the ball, Nikita. We cannot allow curiosity to get in the way of our mission. We only have a limit window, understand?"
Nikita shifted in the seats and pulled her eyes away from him. She muttered a silent agreement as the plane landed in the Los Angeles International Airport.
************
"Very interesting choice of automobile. Very....Orange. You know, this reminds me of General Lee...you know that car from the Dukes of Hazard? *laughter* Are we going to have to crawl out the windows to get out? Michael? Oh, come on, I know you can smile," Nikita pressed.
Michael had been almost completely silent since they had left the airport and it was beginning to wear on her nerves a little. Couldn't he take one minute out of his precious schedule just to have a little fun? Her thoughts became erratic as she noticed that they were not heading in the right direction.
"Michael where are we going? We were supposed to go northeast from the airport....you have taken us northwest." Nikita watched as he simply just turned and looked at her and then she could have sworn he....winked...at her as he remained expressionless and kept driving.
She wasn't complaining however. The drive up Ocean Avenue was incredibly beautiful. They drove north for what felt like forever and soon through the cracked windshield she caught glimpses of steep, narrow highway and from time to time a sheer drop to the jagged coastline far below, where water pounded and surged over the rocks. As they went higher and higher up into the mountains, there were also brilliant bursts of color through the trees. After a long while, she felt the car slow and turn off onto a narrow road which zigzagged around the side of the mountains and it continued for several miles.
She sat in the car as he pulled onto a sandy patch of land right beside the highway. He got out and walked over and opened the door for her and she simply sat there...stunned. Since when did Michael act so...chivalrous? After staring out the window for several seconds, she got out and looked over the vast valley.
She gasped as she looked out upon the panoramic view of the San Fernando Valley, and the vast display of trees and mountains which covered the backdrop.
"This is Mulholland Falls...." Michael suddenly spoke from behind her. She could feel his gaze burning into her back, but she was still too amazed in the scenery to care. This was her dream....ever since she was a small girl she had heard about the beauties of this area...and how magnificent this particular view was. "I know....I've always wanted to come here." she whispered, and did not see Michael's small smile curve his lips as he walked up beside her to stand on the edge and looked over. "I feel...free up here. Like I'm flying over this vast area...soaring through the clouds and....listen to me, I sound like a musher."
He turned and shocked her by running one finger along the edge of her jaw. "No, you sound like Nikita."
"What does that mean?" she asked, hating herself for the sharp way in which her words came out. He pulled back his hand and he looked at her as his eyes glazed over once again. "We have to go. I have to be at 'work' in three hours."
She followed him and then got in the car. The mood was broken. Not another word was spoken as he led the car down the winding hill and past the affluent neighborhoods into the smarmy streets which were....Hollywood.
************
Three hours later, they drove from their dilapidated hotel room on the sunset strip and headed out into the sleazy neighborhoods which surrounded the area. Everywhere laid testaments to the decay and filth which permeated the area. Michael guided her around one bum who was lying naked on the sidewalk in a comatose state, and past all the hookers who begged for both Michael and Nikita's attentions.
"You're not acting like much of a druggie."
Nikita looked at Michael after he hissed in her ear and she began swaggering and holding on to him at the same time, all the while swaying the cigarette in her hand and throwing out cuss words for people to move out of the way. She hated her outfit. She wore a tight black leather skirt, with a tacky black leather tube top which barely covered anything at all. She wore three inch heels and her hair was a mess...but it was all part of the job, so she played it to the hilt. Michael even had to stop her when she grabbed his crotch in full view of everybody and shouted, "Have I told you, lately, that I love you? My big meatloaf, you."
"Shut up," he said, as he shoved her inside the grungy joint which called itself the G-String, and looking at the dancer currently up upon the stage, she understood why. "Have fun, lover boy," she said, as she laughed in a 'drunken' stupor. He left her on a bench and cursed his life as he went back to get into his outfit.
As "Niko", his manager, handed him the outfit in which he was to wear to strip in, Michael's face held no emotion. He looked down at the police officer's uniform in his hand and wondered if Madeline and Ops were having a good laugh right about now.
************
Nikita had to stifle a laugh when she knew that it was Michael's turn to perform. She watched the man in the tacky green suit stand up and shout "You're All Under House Arrest," as he pointed at the curtain and stepped back.
Michael's face held no emotion but he was fuming on the inside as he shoved his way through the heavy black velvet curtains and the spotlight struck him. Every eye was drawn to his distinctively handsome features. He was used to having to seduce people in his line of work, but he felt like a piece of meat...and for the first time, he had an inkling of what Nikita must have felt like...that one time.
The majority of the people in the audience held their breath. For the man up on stage almost too exquisite to be in the smoke- filled room but as his body began to move, nobody paid any attention to his face. Except one man....who stood in the back of the smoke covered room and watched as the young man up on stage began swaying to the music....his face etched in shame at what he was doing. This man could sense it....he knew that the man felt sorrow at what he was doing...and he would take it upon himself to save whoever this young man was soul. Michael's hips moved in a tribute to the pounding music around him. While he swayed seductively, he slowly let his shirt fall from his shoulders, revealing strong rounded shoulders, bared for all to see. The shirt slipped to the floor and he shut his eyes, still moving to the pulsating beat. His firm, well-defined abdominals flexed while his hips thrust forward, accenting the throbbing music.
Nikita eyes glazed with lust as she stared longingly at Michael's gyrating hips. Michael eyes suddenly snapped open and fixed on Nikita while his hands went to his pants. He pulled them off in a hustle, his body throbbing in time, while he threw her a lustful look. A look which the sandy haired man in the back did not miss.
The couple’s eyes locked and Michael did a private dance for Nikita. The rest of the loud, smoky crowd vanished into the background. Nikita smiled slightly at the intense look in his eyes, the first sign of acknowledgment he had given her all night long. She knew that this dance was just for her. As his hips swayed gently, Nikita found her own body swaying in time with his.
They began a slow gentle rhythm, their eyes never leaving one another. Even when he turned in a circle. Nikita's eyes slid down his body for an instant, her smile widening. Michael looked over his shoulder at her, knowing her thoughts. They were his thoughts as well as he watched her swaying, a far away look in her eyes. His own eyes reflected the paradise she saw.
The music began to fade. Michael took a slow bow. His eyes fixed on Nikita's face, and for a brief second they flashed to the sandy haired man standing in the back of the room...Michael knew who it was. Nikita threw the strap of the purse over her shoulder and caught a look in Michael's eyes which told her where she should go. She went willingly. And the man in the back followed...his hand thumping the bible in his other hand as he walked behind them.
************
Michael pulled Nikita through the beaded entryway into the dingy dressing room and pulled her in for an intense kiss. She responded....yet only for a split second. Images of betrayal...of the last time he had kissed her swam through her head and she pulled away from him. At that very moment, she felt someone enter in beside them.
Michael stepped back and ignored the flicker of hurt in her eyes. He instead focused upon the man who had walked in on them and stood beside them so patiently. "May I help you?" Michael drawled to the fairly short man standing beside them. Michael knew it was Levi Barnaby....they had the man exactly where they wanted him.
"Yes, my name is Levi Barnaby, and I wish to be your friend. What is your name, my son?"
Michael forced a small smile to come to his face and locked eyes with psycho standing in front of him. "Michael."
************
Levi Barnaby gasped when he heard the young man speak his name. Michael. "The son of god," Levi whispered, his fingers curling tightly over his bible. He studied Michael's face, his eyes looking deep into the other man's soul. The green eyes that stared back at him were filled with shadows and pain. Levi wanted to rid him of those shadows....and ease his pain. He smiled and said, "You don't belong in this den of iniquity, Michael. Let me take you out of here." As he spoke, Levi reached for Michael's arm.
Nikita stepped into his face in full-out, performance mode. "He ain't goin' nowhere with you, mister!" she spat. "Not unless you wanna pay for him." Nikita felt Michael react behind her and a smile almost slipped out.
Michael did start at the implication Nikita was making, that he was for *sale*. But he calmed himself with the rationalization that it fit in with the roles that they were both playing, even though Michael knew that Nikita was enjoying herself. She was getting even with him for all his past....manipulations. The shoe was on the other foot now, and they both knew it. He wouldn't begrudge her that, so long as she didn't cross the line and lose focus. The job came first, and this mission was of vital importance to the Section.
Levi knew what the young, blond woman was implying as well, and he smiled at her as he removed a thick, wad of one hundred dollar bills from his pocket. "How much?" he countered, calmly.
"Uh...." Nikita found it difficult to form words as she stared at the money in Levi's hand. There had to be about five thousand dollars in cash. But Nikita quickly recovered her cool and looked him in the eye. Without blinking she said, "One thousand."
"Nikita!" Michael stepped forward, protesting.
But Levi waved him back. "Deal," he said, peeling off ten, one hundred dollar bills. He held them out to the young woman. When she took them, he turned to Michael. "Are you ready?" he asked.
Michael shook his head. "I'm sorry, but Nikita was only kidding," he countered, reaching out to snatch the money out of her hands, but she shoved it down her top, effectively stopping him.
"Like hell I was kidding!" Nikita shot back, glaring at him. She was gonna play her part to the hilt and Michael be damned. A junkie would kill before giving up a grand of cold, hard cash. She blew Michael a kiss. "See you in the morning....lover."
"It's all right, Michael," Levi interjected, seeing pain flash in the young man's eyes and feeling anger burn within himself. He didn't like the woman....Nikita. Levi smiled gently at Michael. "The money isn't important to me. And you don't have to worry. All I want to do is talk to you. All right?" He also wanted to get Michael away from this place of filth and sin, and away from Nikita.
Michael knew that Levi wanted to separate him from Nikita, but he wasn't about to let that happen. He simply didn't trust her alone. So he pretended to hesitate in regards to Levi's offer. He felt the other man's eye burn into him and wondered what Levi was thinking. Then he shook his head and said, "I won't go without Nikita."
She glared at him, knowing exactly what Michael was doing. It ticked her off all the more because she knew that he was right in keeping them together. They were all the other had for back up. And Nikita had a feeling they wouldn’t be seeing the G-String club or their seedy apartment again. She then looked at Levi. "I don't mind a threesome....if you don't," Nikita drawled, moving over to Michael and letting one hand glide over his bare chest.
Levi watched Nikita's hand as it glided over Michael's hard muscles and he felt a slow burn of anger. The slut was defiling an angel of god. But now was not the time to punish her. That would come later. Levi didn't want Nikita to come with them, but one look at Michael's beautiful face, and he knew he had no choice. Not if he wanted the young man to come with him. So Levi nodded. "Of course. Nikita is more than welcome to join us, Michael. As I said....I only want to talk. And you can keep the money."
"You bet I will!" Nikita hissed. She lifted on hand and swiped at her nose. "So...where we going anyway?"
"To my home," Levi replied. His eyes locked with Michael's. "I'll wait outside while you get dressed. With a smile, he turned and walked out of the dressing room.
Michael gestured for Nikita to watch and make certain that Levi Barnaby was gone, while he quickly slipped into his clothes. A pair of jeans, ripped at the left knee, a black tank top and a sleeveless, blue jeans vest. He was lacing on half boots when Nikita hissed,
"Clear!" She moved to join him. "So....now what, Michael?"
"We go home with Levi," he replied. When Michael straightened up, it was to discover that Nikita was only a breath away from him. He could feel her body heat and it warmed him to the bone. When he would have stepped back, she followed. "Nikita," Michael whispered. But that was all, for her mouth was covering his and her tongue slid between his lips.
Nikita slid her arms around Michael's waist, then down to knead the hard muscles of his buttocks. She felt his body respond and felt her own start to tremble. Michael's hands slipped to her waist and Nikita nearly sighed, but a moment later she found herself set away from him, the kiss....and the moment....broken. Nikita glared at him. "What's the matter, Michael?" she challenged. "Can't take the heat?"
He didn't look at her as he passed by, heading for the door. "Levi is waiting for us," he whispered.
"Guess the next time I'll have to seduce you in the kitchen," Nikita drawled, wincing at her own pun even as she turned to follow Michael out.
************
They rode to Levi Barnaby's home in the back of a cream-colored, stretch limo. He offered them refreshments and played a Mozart CD to 'sooth their souls', or so he told them.
Nikita was still miffed at Michael and so she delighted in the opportunity to get back at him during the ride. She practically undressed him in front of Levi as she slid her tongue in his ear and let her hands caress every hard, muscled inch of his exquisite body. The only drawback being that Nikita was becoming affected by the seduction as well. She also felt Levi's eyes upon Michael and wondered if Madeline had been wrong in her profile of him. Madeline had suggested that Levi Barnaby abstained from sex for he would consider himself above the need of *human* gratifications as a disciple of god. But Nikita recognized lust when she saw it, and it glimmered from Levi's eyes as he stared at Michael. A part of Nikita was amused by the thought. It would serve Michael right to have the shoe completely on the other foot for once.
Michael was oblivious to Levi's stares for he had to focus all of his concentration on keeping control of himself. Nikita's caresses were igniting a fire deep within him but he could not allow himself the warmth....the heat....of the flames of his desire. This was not reality, Michael reminded himself. This was payback....Nikita style. So he accepted her challenge and refused to let his emotions show. All that flickered in his eyes was what Michael wanted Levi to see. What Madeline had told him would affect the other man. Pain, shame and vulnerability. The latter was the most difficult for Michael to project yet, in her own way, Nikita was helping him to play his part. "Where exactly do you live?" Michael asked, refusing to meet Levi's steady gaze.
The other man laughed softly then replied, "In paradise."
Nikita was startled enough to stop nibbling at Michael's ear. "Paradise?" she repeated. "Really? And what does paradise look like?" she challenged.
Levi pointed out the window. "Like that."
Michael stared out and caught his breath as they rounded a circular driveway that brought them before a huge, brick mansion. Madeline and Section hadn't known about this place, or the fact that Levi Barnaby was, obviously, an excessively wealthy man. His wealth, combined with a genius IQ of 203, would make Levi a most powerful and dangerous man. Michael looked over at Nikita. He wondered if she realized the potential of what they were seeing. One look into her blue eyes and Michael was certain that she did. Forcing a smile, Michael met Levi's gaze, "You live here?" At the other man's nod he said, 'It's....beautiful."
"Indeed it is," Levi replied. The limo had stopped and he popped open his door and gestured for Michael and Nikita to follow him. Levi led them up the stairs and a woman in a maid’s uniform opened the door as they reached it. Once inside the marble foyer, Levi turned to the beautiful young man and said, "Welcome home, Michael."
************
"Home," Michael repeated softly.
Levi stared at the young man and was saddened to see the despair in this young man's eyes. He knew that it had been quite a while since this beautiful angel before him had ever felt like he belonged anywhere....much less had a home. That trashy apartment in which he and that...fornicator lived was no home...and he put his hand on the young man in a gesture meant to comfort.
Nikita screwed up her face at this and threw the man's hand off of Michael's shoulder. She was aware of Levi's infatuation with him and it did not please her at all. Instead of calling attention to it, she remembered her role. Tossing her flowing golden strands behind her, she stepped forward and tangled her fingers in Michael's silken strands.
"Yea, whatever. Can you just lead us to our room? We have a lot of...catching up to do," Nikita stuck her tongue in his ear for emphasis.
Levi caught the flush of embarrassment on Michael's face and he had to quell the anger burning within. This slut was not going to come into his house and make a mockery out of everything he stood for. He stepped forward to remove her fingers and locked eyes with her instead.
"Why don't we instead have a cup of coffee in the den?" He said...the tone of his voice signifying that it was not a request.
Nikita felt Michael pull away from her and begin walking to the sunken den off to the side, behind Levi. "I'll just stay here and admire the view!" she drawled from behind them....then she slowly dropped her large bag on the floor and followed them.
"Where are you two from?" Levi asked, his eyes riveted on Michael.
Nikita stopped nibbling on Michael's chin long enough to stop and stare at him and was amazed when Michael came up with a scenario very quickly. And the story in which he told was not the scenario Madeline had told them to give. "Eden, Illinois. Well, I am from Eden originally. Nikita was born abroad yet raised here in LA."
Nikita sniffed and put her fingers on her nose for a second and then warily looked over at Levi. "Yea, in the valley. Where all the good stuff is found....downtown just isn't what it used to be. Use ta could buy some really good dope down there...."
"Nikita," Michael said, softly, his voice showing just enough embarrassment and disapproval to make it believable. But Levi was interesting in Nikita's story, his eyes remained on Michael and he pressed for more of the story.
"But you have an...unusual accent. and tell me, Why did you come back to the city of angels....you're home."
Michael sighed and made himself more comfortable on the couch. When he moved, so did Nikita and he soon found her passed out cold in his lap....or so he thought.
"Let's just say that I was born in Canada...my mother speaks French, my father English. We moved when I was ten. Anyway, are you sure you want to hear the story, it is quite...embarrassing."
Levi felt for Michael and he motioned for the servant to leave. "This is your home Michael, you have no reason to feel ashamed."
"Well, Eden is an old fashioned sort of town. One in which people are still very traditional in their beliefs and they do not tolerate any form of evil or modern society which enters their small town. I used to be like that too...for years I did nothing nor said anything to disappoint them. I was just the average, normal American kid, innocent, and trusting. But then one day....she came into town, and I was never the same again.
Michael sighed for emphasis as he continued. "She was beautiful....and she taught me about the real world and what was out there...and one day she tempted me to try LSD....said it would give me some special knowledge, so to speak. So I did....and unfortunately, we went driving...and I had a wreck. A bad wreck...anyway, we were arrested and within a week, the whole town knew that she had drugs...and they assumed we were drug dealers and were trying to corrupt the morals of their children. So they ran us out...and as we were trying to beg for mercy, they held a bonfire at the edge of town...burning everything we owned. They told us we could never come back...and so we left about three months ago...and we never will go back....I can't go back. As much as I miss it...I am forbidden from ever entering the town again, the place within my heart."
Nikita was feigning sleep through all of this and she had to stifle back a laugh and keep herself from saying "Sure, blame all of it on me." Michael was pretty good, and as she fidgeted, she was comforted by his arm tightening around her waist...he was cradling her like a small child and she had never felt more protected. Especially from the cold stare by the man sitting in front of them.
Levi looked down at the worn bible in his hand and his heart was in tears. Michael truly was an angel...trust from the bosom of his loving Eden by a serpent...by a woman who claimed to love him but only used him for her own lustful pleasures. It was the modern day Adam and Eve....and Levi glared at Nikita as he realized how he would make this 'eve' pay for her sins. And he would fulfill Michael's destiny as the angel of light.
************
"What is he doing?" Ops demanded, slamming his hands down on the steel desk. His eyes flashed with anger and he looked up at Madeline demanding an answer. "This was not the profile we gave him...them....I bet Nikita had something to do with this."
Madeline shook her head slowly...she had an idea of where Michael was taking this, and she felt that it was an absolutely brilliant move. For she knew more about Michael than Ops thought...and she knew that Michael could use this info to allow Levi to think that he had truly gained some ground with this young man.
She smiled softly to herself as Operations continued to pace the room in an angered fit. "At least we still have that damn transmitter in Nikita's watch. So help them, if anything happens to that, then they are truly on their own."
"Only five days remain until Israeli Prime Minister Tamar Adeev is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles for the peace summit. Security measures are being updated around the clock to ensure his safe arrival. This will mark his first appearance in our city and hopefully it will not be his last."
The broadcaster continued with her announcement but everyone situated within the giant living area could not hear it. They were too busy listening to Levi talk about how evil the minister was.
"He is the beast...Why can't people see that? In Revelations 13: 11-17, he is the one mentioned....He has deceived everybody, performing miracles, hah, peace in the middle east is not a miracle...there is no peace. He just wants us to believe it so. I warn you all....we must stop him....the beast shall not tread upon the city of angels and Armageddon shall be fought."
"Armageddon?" Nikita asked, her voice betraying her 'drunken' revere.
"The final battle between good and evil, it shall not be stopped....not by peace, nor by Adeev's plans. Move out of my way Nikita....I will not allow you to be the downfall of....just leave me be." Levi raised his hand to slap Nikita and then looked at the intense expression on Michael's face and instead stormed away.
************
Michael rubbed the back of his neck as he walked out onto the pool deck. It was beautiful, the water tinted a green from the lights on the floor of it and the stars shining down upon him....like mournful eyes which reflected the own disarray within his own soul.
He was exhausted, and he knew that things were not going to get any better. By Levi's earlier outbursts, he knew that the man was a certifiable lunatic. A lunatic who could kill millions and bring about world destruction by one single death. A death who Levi had already hinted that he needed Michael to produce. Feeling that perhaps a swim in the cool waters might soothe his body and help him sleep, he disrobed.
The moonlight shined down onto his silky brown hair and bronzed skin, illuminating him in a soft white glow which showed the young man in all his glory.
He was beautiful...the slight ocean breeze ruffling his silky hair as he stood in the shallow end after having swam several laps across the pool.
Michael snuggled down into the small dip in the shallow end of the pool and allowed the water to come up to his neck. He stayed that way for a good ten minutes until he heard someone enter from behind him. He peeked out of the pool slightly to see Nikita....she was disrobing and had striped down only to her undergarments before she leaped into the pool. He was aware that right before she had jumped in, that she threw her watch down beside her clothes. He was aware that from his spot, that he could not be seen, and he decided to surprise his lovely partner.
Nikita was loving the cool splash of the water around her skin and it cooled her off after everything which had happened. She was remembering the peculiar expression on Michael's face when he talked about the town of Eden, Illinois as she suddenly felt two hands wrap around her waist and pull her to him.
"You never know who might be looking," Michael whispered in her ear as she fought against him, and as he nibbled on her earlobe.
As soon as she recognized his voice, all of her defenses came crumbling down around her. She slowly turned in his arms and nearly bolted when she realized that he was completely naked. Yet, the more she pulled away, the harder he pulled her in, and soon she found herself in his arms, kissing under the soft moonlight.
For a moment, everything floated away. She was not aware of the house, the possibility of Levi walking in at any time, the agency, nothing except the passion which burned in his green eyes. There was only she and Michael....her body and her soul, and the only time was now, under the stars. She felt him lift her and begin dragging her over to the shallow end of the pool, where he laid her gently on the steps as he began kissing a trail down her neck.
Her small world was shattered however, when she felt him pull back and break the moment by whispering "Levi is watching us," in her ear. Was this why he had kissed her like this? Because of Levi? Did he not feel the same tremor of emotion which she did; was this all just another one of his acts?
"Good, I can go tell him to go to hell," Nikita hissed back and she stood up and climbed her way out of the pool. Looking around, she saw nothing...but her anger was all-encompassing...and she stormed up to the luxurious room in which they would be sharing.
************
Two hours later, Michael found his way to 'their' bedroom. The walls were a soft white shade and the entire room was covered in white cloth. He moved past the matching furniture and snuggled up into the huge bed, careful not to disturb Nikita....for fear of waking her.
"It looks like a huge cloud exploded in here doesn't it," Nikita asked, shocking him by the almost repentant sound in her voice. She was trying to make amends....only he could not quite figure out for what.
"More like a marshmallow," Michael quipped, and instead of a laugh, all he got was a shocked stare from Nikita. "OK, so that was bad...I'll admit."
She smiled at him and finally managed to agree, and she managed to laugh a little, a laugh which warmed his heart. But then she turned serious on him. "Michael? What were you talking about earlier...on the plane? Babylon?"
He sighed and made himself comfortable on the bed. As he lay down, he turned to face Nikita and locked eyes with her. He repeated the quote and then asked her if any of it sounded familiar. When she admitted just a little bit, he continued, his voice coming as a whisper....his head just but a breath's away from her own.
"Babylon is supposed to be this great city, built on the sea....and has many great wealthy merchants who prey off the masses. Supposedly, within a single hour, a heartbeat...the city is to be ruined...brought down by a great fire. Nikita, when Madeline gave us the report, it reminded me of this verse in Revelations I remembered hearing as a child. Los Angeles, to some, is the modern day Babylon. We're by the sea; it is the home to both the rich and famous....plus some of the most destitute people in the world. If Levi had read into this...he might think that he is the one to bring the trail by fire down upon this city....that is what he is planning on using the bomb for. To destroy Babylon."
Nikita stared into his weary eyes and was amazed at the depth of knowledge he had about the bible and its readings. She knew that in the short time Madeline had given them to prepare for their assignment that Michael would not have had the time to sit down and read all of it. Much less understand it on such a level in which he did. She found her hand reaching out to smooth the hair off of his face and she found him pulling her close...her head tucked neatly underneath his chin.
"What am I supposed to do? How will we stop him?" Nikita asked hoarsely, and she found herself hating the tears which were trying to break through.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to distract him. I want you to go into his office at 08:00 hours and find something, anything which might help us in our search." Michael said, his voice toneless once again. The only sign of acknowledgment she even received that he knew she was there was by the way his arm was wrapped tightly around her.
"Anything else?" she whispered, right before she allowed the darkness to claim her. She was already asleep by the time he kissed her head and softly prayed. "Be careful."
************
Nikita spent thirty minutes the next morning searching through Levi's vast office. So far, she was finding nothing, only a bunch of religious scribbling on post-its all over his desk. She was amazed that she found no problem getting into his cabinets...as they were not locked.
As she was about to leave to meet Michael out on the veranda, she found something which caught her eye. A large vanilla folder situated in the far corner of Levi's desk was beckoning to her.
She opened the folder and gasped...."Michael."
Her hands picked up numerous old photographs of Michael and she realized that most of these began around when he was ten years of age. Apparently, Levi had kept quite a biography on Michael over all these years. Only there were no pictures earlier than 1977.
She was close to storming out with this info when she found a piece of paper within that caught her eye. It was a biography of Michael, along with some newspaper clippings. A couple in a magazine article, the father looking like a mirror image of Michael....showing how the Rabon family had moved to Eden, Illinois in 1977 because of Michael Rabon, Sr. receiving a fellowship at the local university. A clipping of when his father was killed in a car accident. Clippings of Michael through high school and even some college.
This man knew all about Michael, except that she had not found any recent clippings or photographs. Apparently, or hopefully, Levi did not know that Michael worked for Section One. But that knowledge did not bother as much as the knowledge that....apparently Michael's earlier story about Eden...had been the truth. All except for the woman who....Exactly how much of his story had been true?
That's when she found it....a newspaper clipping from five years ago. A wedding announcement, Michael Rabon, Jr. had been run out of town because of a police incident involving drugs....his wife was with him....his wife....Simone.
************
Nikita returned the files, and then headed out to the gardens to meet with Michael. She found him pacing in front of a fountain that was the image of a tree with a snake coiled around it. She shook her head. Levi Barnaby was a sick man.
When Michael saw Nikita approaching, his eyes flashed. "You're late!" he hissed.
"Sorry." Nikita realized that Michael was worried about her. The thought pleased her....more than it should have. But now was not the time to ponder those emotions.
"Did you find anything?" Michael asked, as his eyes moved over Nikita, making certain that she was okay. As the minutes had ticked by, he had feared that she'd been caught by Levi, and Michael knew that the man would not hesitate to kill Nikita. Levi didn't even attempt to hide the fact that he hated her.
Nikita laughed softly. What a loaded question. "Nothing to help us in regards to the bomb," she told him. "But I found something....interesting." That was an understatement, she thought.
Michael locked eyes with Nikita, sensing her anxiety. "What is it?" he demanded.
"Levi has a file on you, Michael," she explained. "A folder, filled with photographs and clippings."
"What?" In spite of himself, Michael couldn't control his outburst. He hadn't expected this. Why would Levi Barnaby have a file on him? "What kind of pictures?" he asked, in a voice that was now barely a whisper.
Nikita quickly explained about the pictures of Michael from 1977 till the newspaper clipping of him and Simone. His WIFE Simone. She told him that there was nothing of him after that. "So......you and Simone were married before you came to section," Nikita commented. Her curiosity was more than a little piqued.
Michael heard the question, but didn't answer it. He was too wrapped up in the whole of what Nikita had told him. He was caught up in the question as to why Levi Barnaby had a file on him. Michael was desperate for an answer. "What time is it?" he asked, abruptly.
"Um...." Nikita glanced at her wrist and realized that her watch was missing. The watch that contained the transmitter. "Damn...." she muttered. Then she remembered. "I left it at the pool."
"We have to get it back," Michael said, his tone cold. He knew that Operations would be having a fit right now. So he took Nikita by the arm and dragged her off. The file would have to wait.
************
Operations was with Birkhoff. In fact, he was hanging over the young man's shoulder, his eyes locked on the computer screen. It was blank. "I don't hear anything," Operations drawled.
Birkhoff winced. "Sorry. Transmission is dead. There's nothing I can do. Either the transmitter shorted, or...." He didn't complete the sentence. The only other option was that someone had found the transmitter and Michael and Nikita were in trouble.
Madeline was in the background and she offered her opinion. "Whatever has happened, Michael and Nikita will find a way to complete the mission. They're an unbeatable team."
"Really?" Operations growled, his eyes flashing. He knew that Madeline, like Michael, was forever trying to convince him that Nikita was worth keeping around. Ops still didn't like her. Never would. But he didn't argue that point now. He simply turned and stalked off. "Contact me when you here anything!" he called over his shoulder.
"Yes, sir!" Birkhoff replied. Then he sighed, his eyes going to Madeline. "Do you really think that Michael and Nikita are okay?"
She nodded. "Michael will protect Nikita at any cost and she'll do the same for him."
Birkhoff knew that was true, but he had another question. "What about the mission?" He knew that Nikita put people first. But hundreds of thousands of lives were at stake here, if she and Michael failed.
"They'll do what needs to be done," Madeline said softly. Then she, too, walked away.
************
Michael and Nikita searched the entire pool area....no watch. Michael was angry at Nikita's carelessness, but he let it go. It couldn't be helped, and he had other things on his mind. Such as seeing the file. Distracting Levi had turned out to be easy, for after a quick breakfast, Levi had departed, saying he had business to attend to in the city. Michael had asked to go with him, but Levi had declined. So Michael had played *lookout* for Nikita, by making sure no one else came near the office.
Levi had been gone for over two hours, but had told Michael not to expect him back before dinner. "I want to see the file," Michael told Nikita now. "Show it to me."
She didn't argue. Taking Michael by the hand, Nikita led him off. Slipping back in to Levi's office was simple enough. Nikita retrieved the folder, then played lookout while Michael sorted through it. She saw shadows flicker in his beautiful eyes as he studied the photographs.
For Michael, it was like taking a stroll down memory lane, to a time when he had been....happy. A smile curved his lips as his fingers brushed over the pictures of his parents. Both were dead now, and he had no other family. Not that it mattered. Michael Rabon Jr. was dead as well. What affected Michael the most was the newspaper clipping of him and Simone. He had left his whole world behind for her. She had led him down a destructive path. Drugs and violence.... then the couple who had died. He and Simone dragged apart and thrown into prison. Michael had wanted to die then, as he'd sat in his cell. And his wishes had been heard. More or less. One day he fell into darkness only to awaken in a room with white-washed walls and bright light. Section One. And Madeline had smiled at him, saying that he was going to get a second chance at life. But he would have to earn it.
Two years had passed. Michael had finished his recruitment, completed his first mission successfully, and then had been taken to an apartment. And he had been greeted at the door by....Simone. They had spent several years together being the best operatives that Section could ever hope for. An unbeatable team. Then Simone had died. Twice. Then came Nikita. Michael glanced over at the beautiful blond and saw that she was watching him. He forced his lips to curve into a smile as he closed the folder and put it away. "Come on," Michael said, taking Nikita by the hand. "Levi will be back soon." They left the office and headed back outside.
Nikita wanted to talk, but she waited till they were far from the house, and the possibility of being heard to ask, "What do you think that file means?"
"I don't know," Michael replied, with a shortness that was not intended. But he didn't offer an apology. "We can't worry about that now, Nikita. We have to focus on the mission."
"Of course," Nikita drawled. What else could she say? Michael was in his *machine* mode. Concentrate only on doing the job, his feelings be damned. So Nikita hardened her own expression. "What do we do now?"
Michael glared at her. "Whatever it takes! We have five days left, Nikita....before Armageddon."
************
Nikita grinned at the disgusted expression on Levi's face. They were at the dinner table, having a late supper. Nikita was using her fingers to shove roast lamb into her mouth, unmindful of the grease smeared across her face. The more it aggravated Levi, the more she enjoyed doing it.
Michael was ignoring her behavior. Nikita was performing within the parameters of her character, so he cared not if she had a little fun. His own plate of food went untouched. Considering the knot in his stomach, Michael didn't dare try to eat.
As dessert was brought to the table, Levi took pity on Michael. He sensed that the young man was embarrassed by Nikita's atrocious table manners, and rightfully so. Pushing away from the table, Levi invited Michael to join him for a walk in the gardens.
"I would like that," Michael replied, hoping that the opportunity would arise for him to broach the subject of the Prime Minister. Time was running out. The two men walked for a time in silence, and then Levi stopped to look at Michael. The young man was beautiful in the moonlight. Levi had brought him a gift from the city. A brand new wardrobe. Michael was now dressed in black trousers and a silk shirt patterned in black, gray and maroon. He was unbelievably beautiful and Levi felt himself smile as he reached out to tuck a stray lock of dark auburn hair behind Michael's ear. "What are you thinking?" he asked.
The question startled Michael. "I was thinking that....I like it here," he replied. And knew, by the look on Levi's face, that he had pleased the other man.
"I'm glad to hear that, Michael," Levi replied. "This is your home now. I will take care of you....protect you....guide you to your destiny."
"And what destiny would that be?" Michael asked, more than a little curious. For the man had a strange expression on his face.
A smile curved Levi's mouth. Ignoring Michael's question, he said, “I have something to show you." His hand was in his pocket and he pulled it out and held out his open palm.
Michael had to stifle his reaction. In Levi's hand lay the transmitter from Nikita's watch. Keeping his expression neutral, Michael asked, "What is it?"
"It's a transmitting device," Levi replied, his eyes never leaving Michael's face. He saw confusion in the beautiful, green eyes. "Nikita is not what you think," Levi said, softly. But there was a shading of menace in his tone.
"What does that mean?" Michael countered, playing along, pretending to be innocent.
Levi sighed as he returned the transmitter to his pocket. He didn't want to hurt the young man, but he needed to know the truth. "Nikita doesn't love you, Michael. She's just been using you....betraying you. Trying to lead you down the path of sin. You are the son of god, Michael, and she is the devil in disguise. It is for you to bring about the destruction of Babylon, and Nikita would try and stop you." Levi raised one hand and let his palm press against Michael's face. "But do not worry," he said softly. "I have taken care of the serpent."
Michael felt himself grow pale. "What do you mean?" he asked, taking a step back....away from Levi's touch.
"Nikita will die," the blond man replied. He regretted the pain that shadowed Michael's eye, but he had to make him see the truth. "She will die by my hand. Her blood will stain the holy ground, then your light......Michael......it will shine forth and destroy the darkness that threatens Eden. You will kill Prime Minister Adeev, then fire and destruction will rain down upon Babylon!"
"I......" Michael was terrified that Nikita was already dead, but then he remembered that Levi had just said that she WOULD die by his hand, not that she had. He couldn't blow his cover....too many lives were at stake......but he had to do something. "Where is Nikita?" he demanded, his eyes locking with Levi's. It was within his character specs to react this way.
Levi sighed. "Forget her, Michael," he beseeched. "She is not for you."
Michael held his ground, but changed his approach. He let his eyes fill with tears. "Please....I want to see her. To say......goodbye."
"All right," Levi replied, reaching out to take Michael by the arm. It could do no harm to let him see the serpent.
************
Michael felt his insides twist into knots as he walked into the small room where Nikita was. She lay curled up, in a corner and he saw blood and bruises on her face, and more blood smearing her shirt. She didn't look at him as he went to her. Blinking back tears, Michael reached out and carefully drew Nikita into his arms. One hand smoothed her hair as he pressed his lips to her ear and whispered, "I'll find a way, Nikita." Somehow....he would rescue her. Out loud, for Levi's benefit, he said, "I forgive you for your sins, Nikita."
From the doorway, Levi smiled. Michael truly belonged to him now. The son of god had come home.
************
"Michael?" Nikita finally gasped out, and Michael started....he had been holding her for a good half hour and the whole time she had lain motionless in his arms. Her eyes had been glazed over and he had feared that Levi had already begun his torture against her by injecting her with a very powerful drug....however; anger nearly exploded within him once he realized that whatever torture Nikita had been through....it had all been physical torture....by Levi's callused hands.
Michael looked to find Levi still standing at the back of the room and he pulled up parts of an old quote he remembered from the Old Testament. "The lord is compassionate and gracious God...slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished....as shall you be." He flinched at the sound of the cold, unforgiving words and it stuck him like a bolt of lightening......he really hated Section one and all its 'rules.'
Nikita tensed as she heard the words flow from Michael's lips. She knew that he was in *machine* mode once again. Everything which poured from his mouth was for Levi's sake. As the tears stung upon her bruised cheeks, she pulled away from him and curled up in a fetal position on the lumpy mattress.
Michael at that time felt her pull away from him both physically as well as emotionally. He could only imagine the torture which she had been afflicted too and it took every ounce of strength not to go wring Levi's scrawny neck. Instead, he stepped away from the bed and walked over to Levi.
"Give me an hour with her....alone. Please, perhaps I could reach her, she might listen to me. I could save her, if not her mortal life then her immortal soul. Please....our father would not want her to die without a second chance to truly live. Give me time with her....my brother." Michael looked Levi straight in the face and let a single tear roll down his cheek for emphasis.
Levi looked at Michael and back at Nikita. He realized that something was not quite right with her, but he did not want the 'son of God' angry with him. So, he looked Michael in the eye and showed him that he understood his predicament, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy...and for now, I shall have mercy upon her. One hour....then we will meet in my office and discuss your destiny....the time of reckoning is nearly at hand Michael...and you are the angel to deliver it."
"I understand...May I talk to her now.......please?" Michael asked, his voice cracking with just the right amount of emotion needed to make Levi believe that he was truly worried about her soul. Levi nodded and called his men. They slipped out the door, leaving Michael alone with Nikita. He was not worried about Nikita's soul at that moment, no she would be fine....he was truly worried about his own.
"Nikita....look at me" Michael urged. He sat on the floor, his body leaning onto the short bed as he smoothed the light locks away from her forehead. "Nikita....What did they do to you?"
"Why?" she said shakily, her voice trembling with the emotions which she was trying to keep buried. "You need to write up a report to Section of all my injuries? Need to update Operations on my status? Or is Levi watching and you just want to make sure he buys our *act*?" She turned onto her back and covered her forehead with her arm.
"No," he murmured...only it was whisper soft...she was not even sure she had heard it. He climbed into the small bed with her and as she pulled away, he looked around the white-walled room. Flashbacks of how she had first met him...of her first days with the Section...came back to him and he remembered that she had been in a similar state of mind then too.
"Nikita...look at me. Michael....not the operative, not the *machine* as you like to call me, not as *Levi's Michael* but as me...."
His words almost frightened her with their magnitude of his revelation. His voice was deep and husky as he pulled her bloody face towards his and he locked her blue eyes with his green. "I promised to always come after you a long time ago....me, Nikita, not the Section. And I will protect you, I....I have already failed you so many times I understand if you do not believe me...but know this....No matter where you go or what you do...I will be right there, beside you...or watching you from a short distance."
She looked and saw the same *Michael* expression upon his face which he always wore...but his eyes were different. They shone with unshed tears, and they were red from the agony within. A single tear slipped down and she reached up to smooth it away with her hand.
"Scary thing is......I do believe you, Michael. Now....when I know you're being honest with me. I can feel it. Why can't you open like this more often....I'm a big girl, I don't need protection from Levi's goons so much....bruises heal. What I've seemed to need was protection from you...."
"From me? Why?" He gasped, his finger tracing the contours of her face.
"Because every time I open my heart to you....I find you using it for only the Section’s use...and betraying me. Knowing that you never cared hurt me worse than a million jabs to the stomach or cuts by any knife. You hurt me......don't do it again. I'm not so sure if next time I can pick up the pieces and put them all together myself."
"Nikita....I am so sorry, I...I had to...I never meant to hurt you so....Know that your pain is my pain...I can feel your every heartache and I take pleasure in your every joy. Know that you will never have to face picking up those pieces alone...I shall always be there."
Nikita sniffed and found her arms wrapping around his chest. "What about now, Michael? How can you stop Levi and protect me at the same time? You must not risk millions of people who live around this area for me....and it may come to that. Levi is ruthless and he hates me with a passion....he feels I am the Eve who led you into a life of sin and the Delilah who is only out to betray you and destroy your destiny."
"Nikita...I stand by my promise....I will protect you as well as stop Levi's Armageddon. How anyone could ever think you are any of those women is insane. You are the light....the one true innocent at Section One....one of the few truly natural people I know who are just full of light....you are my light, Nikita....I could never let you go. I've only dwelled in darkness before I met you."
She was sure he was on drugs now. Yet, her heart swelled with the knowledge that he truly cared for her...that she was his light. So help him if she found out later this was all a trick. "Don't say that....You have the light within you Michael, you always have. You just buried it....you had too. But it is there, and it shines....especially when you're not being a butthead and you're actually talking like a human being...."
She looked up at him and winked and was rewarded with a half-smile and a wink back. "Kidding, Kidding..." she joked and she soon found both of them laughing....like guilty children who had just stumbled upon an amazing secret...a secret which only they shared and would not bare for all the money in the world.
************
An hour later, Michael was sitting in Levi's plush office and he walked over with his bible in his hand.
"Michael......I have chosen you because from the time you were a young man I have seen the light within you. I knew you when you were small...when you lived in Eden. You probably don't remember me, but I was your father's friend....and I sensed immediately that there was something about you. Your innocence, your spirit...your intelligence, as well as your looks. I knew upon seeing you for the first time that you were the one....the one destined to carry out God's plan."
"What?"
"You Michael....you are the archangel...look here, in Daniel...."
Michael flinched under Levi's intense glare and he wondered if this was what it felt like to be around someone who was truly insane. He looked at the words in front of him...but they all blurred as Nikita's scarred face entered his mind. Yet, he finally forced them out and glanced upon the words...
*At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time, your people---everyone whose name is found written in the book-- will be delivered.*
"You, Michael, will kill the Prime Minister of Israel....and that shall be the beginning of the end. Our people shall be taken up and only those who are sinful and damned for all eternity shall remain here....In two days....Armageddon shall begin."
Michael felt a cold shiver ripple up his spine and he looked into the eyes of a madman....and nodded.
************
Two days had passed and Michael had only been allowed brief visits with Nikita...and each one had been monitored. Nikita acted like a junkie/evil woman in which Levi believed her to be and Michael just tried to hold her in his arms and convince Levi that he was sorrowful to lose such a sacred soul....at least to him.
Michael had convinced Levi to hold off on killing Nikita however....for Michael had promised that after he killed Adeev, that if Levi let Nikita go, Michael would never see her again. She would be left here with the others to die in purgatory with the rest of Babylon.
But first...there was a job to be done. It was the afternoon after the Prime Minister’s arrival. Michael was perched in a small warehouse directly behind the podium in which Adeev was to give his first press conference. Michael chose a small assault rifle with a silencer and told to kill him as soon as Adeev mentioned the Israeli/Middle East oil embargo.
Michael had prepared a special tranquilizer bullet which would knock out Adeev and create minor blood loss yet it would not kill him, nor paralyze him in any way. This was his plan....to only 'knock out' the prime minister and then kill Levi. As Michael had found only the day before the plans which showed how to access the files in Levi's computer, allowing him access to the information showing where the bomb was hidden and the access code to defuse the nuclear device.
Michael had placed the 'fake' bullet inside his gun....there were also extra shells in there should anybody attempt to stand in his way. As he was watching the minister descend towards the podium, he sighed. Showtime....
Yet, he gasped as he saw three individuals come out of the shadows. One had a very bruised and bonded Nikita with a gun pointed at her temple and the other was Levi....grinning wickedly.
"The son of God should not have to use such a ugly weapon...give the gun and use this one....one befitting a king," Levi smirked, and Michael looked at the glittering gold gun in his hand....the handle of the gun had an engraved cross and the word..."Michael."
"Take it..." Levi demanded, shoving the gun in Michael's face. Michael simply stared at it and shook his head. "Take the gun or she dies...here and now." Levi demanded....and he walked over and had the large man drop the gun he was holding to Nikita's head only to take the gold gun in his hand. "Or she will die by the same gun which was meant for the man who vowed to protect her."
************
When he saw the muzzle of the gun pressed to Nikita's temple, Michael reacted. He screamed, "NO!" and ran forward to snatch the gun from Levi's hand. Then he took several steps back. Michael felt the other man's eyes burning into him. Saw the smug smile that curved Levi's thin lips and he felt rage burn deep inside him. It flashed in Michael's eyes like green sparks, but then he reached for calm. Levi's men still had their guns trained on Nikita. Michael couldn't risk her being hurt. So he fell back into character. His own. He raised the gun and held the muzzle point to his own temple as a soft smile curved his lips. "Let Nikita go," he whispered. "Or I'll pull the trigger."
Levi didn't believe him. Not that it mattered. He locked eyes with Michael, and saw something......dark....within the cool, green depths. But he ignored it for the moment. "You can't die, Michael," he said, his tone relaying utter confidence in his words. "You are the son of god." Levi held out one hand. "Now give me the gun."
"Go to hell," Michael replied. And then he moved. A bullet hit Levi right between the eyes, but Michael didn't stop to admire his handiwork. He shifted only his arm, and a heartbeat later the men holding Nikita were dead as well. Michael stared down at Levi for a moment, and then whispered a verse from Romans, his own version of it.
"Satan....I have killed your prophet....and I, alone, am left. And they are searching for my soul." There was a whimpering sound and it shattered Michael's reverie. Stepping over Levi's body, Michael went to her. She had fallen to her knees and Michael set down the gun to untie her. Lifting Nikita's hands, he gently kissed the raw flesh of her wrists. Then he smoothed back her pale hair and his eyes shadowed with pain, as he saw the tracks of tears on her bruised face. "Are you all right, Nikita?" he asked, and then he chided himself for asking a stupid question. How could she be?
But Nikita managed to smile, as her eyes locked on his beautiful face. "I'm fine, Michael," she said, although she couldn't seem to stop shaking. "What about the bomb?" Nikita asked.
Michael glanced over at Levi, and then his eyes locked with Nikita's. "I have the access code, to defuse it," he told her, slipping once again into *machine* mode.
"Do you know where it is?" Nikita questioned. She felt so out of the loop since Levi had imprisoned her.
"It's in the podium," Michael replied, referring to where the Prime Minister was making his speech.
Nikita offered a smile, and then pushed at Michael. "Go," she said, her eyes glinting.
Michael knew he had to leave her, but still he hesitated. She looked so fragile and lost. He wanted to take Nikita into his arms and assure her that no one would ever hurt her again. But Michael knew he couldn't do that. Knew that she would be hurt again, most likely by him. And still he hesitated. "Are you all right?" he asked, repeating himself.
"I am now," Nikita whispered, and she let Michael see, by the look in her eyes, that he was the reason why. "Go on," she urged him. "I'll call Section and have them send housekeeping." Nikita gestured to the bodies scattered about and smiled at Michael, "You've made a rather large mess," she teased.
"I'll be back soon," he told her, not responding to her jest. Michael started to rise, and then he leaned forward to press a kiss to her temple. "Be safe," he said. And then he was gone.
************
Michael and Nikita were in Madeline's office. It was the day after Michael had killed Levi and defused the bomb. Section was able to black out any media coverage about the event. All the world saw was an impassioned speech from Israel's Prime Minister about world peace and prosperity.
Madeline was pleased with them both and said as much. She then dropped a bomb shell. "I want the two of you to take the week end off." As Madeline spoke, she was watching their expressions. Michael's didn't flicker, but Nikita's jaw dropped.
"Are you serious?" the beautiful blond, challenged.
"Very serious," Madeline replied. Her eyes, once again, went to Michael. She saw a shimmer in his beautiful gaze and she was pleased. "Nikita....I want you and Michael to have some fun."
Nikita giggled, and glanced over at Michael. "Well....I think I remember how....but I'm not so sure about Michael."
Madeline laughed as well. "Maybe you could teach him," she countered, softly. Then she rose from her chair and left the room.
Michael watched her go, knowing that Madeline was up to something, and wishing, for the sake of his sanity, that he knew what. Then he felt the heat of Nikita's gaze upon him, and turned to face her. "What?" he asked, his lips curving in response to her infectious grin.
"What do you think that was all about?" Nikita queried.
"I don't know," Michael replied, honestly.
Nikita shrugged. "No matter." She reached for Michael's hand. "Shall we go? Before Madeline changes her mind."
Michael pulled free of Nikita's grasp. "I have something to do," he whispered, not meeting her eyes, because he knew that he would see pain in the crystal blue depths. Pain that he had caused. He walked out in Madeline's wake.
"Damn you Michael," Nikita whispered as she watched him go. Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back. She wouldn't let him affect her, not this time. "Get angry," Nikita told herself. She focused for a moment and felt her emotions change. The pain faded....but didn't disappear. Still....she was able to smile. "Now....get even," she declared. Her eyes flashing, Nikita followed after Michael.
She found him in his office, stormed in, and closed the door. He was staring at a folder file. Nikita stopped at the sight of it, for she realized it was the one that Levi had made up, filled with all the clippings and photographs of Michael. "How did you get that?" Nikita asked. When Michael's head lifted, and his eyes flashed at her, she raised one hand and said, "Never mind."
Michael said nothing. He turned back to the file. Closing it, he reached for the garbage can under the desk. Then he pulled a lighter from his jacket pocket.
"What are you doing?" Nikita challenged. Why are you destroying the file, Michael?" She would have thought he would treasure the memories.
"From the ashes of the past is born the truth," Michael replied, quoting a verse he had heard long ago. And one not from the bible. He was tired of biblical references. Glancing over at Nikita for a moment, Michael nearly smiled, but then he dropped his eyes back to the folder and held it to the flame of the lighter. Once it was burning, he dropped it in the garbage can.
Nikita watched Michael watch the flames. He was beautiful in profile, his soft hair falling over his cheek. Nikita could feel sadness emanate from him and it broke her heart. But she knew better than to call him on it, so she chose another tactic. "Why don't we seek our own truth, Michael?" she invited, holding out her hand....yet again. She was risking her heart, but didn't care.
Michael watched the flames die out, and then he rose to his feet. He turned to face Nikita, saw her outstretched hand, and took a step forward. As his fingers curled about hers, a bible quote came, unbidden, to mind. .......And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free......
THE END
written by Shelly and Laura
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