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. Michael tried to concentrate on his work, but the words of the profile became a blur. He was tired, but it was more than that. Pushing back his chair, Michael rose to his feet and turned to the window by his desk. He wasn't looking out, but looking in. Deep inside himself. Becoming introspective was new to Michael. But he had no choice any more. No other option, especially since losing Adam. And now there was every chance that he would lose Nikita. Madeline had done something to Nikita. Brainwashed her, cleared her mind and heart of all the wonderful emotions that made Nikita special. She had lost her lust for life and love. She was a machine. Everything that Michael was, everything he had prayed she would never be. The worst part being that Nikita remembered loving Michael, she just didn't feel it anymore. And that's what hurt the most. But Madeline had known it would. Had done this to punish Michael, not Nikita. In the past, Michael had accepted whatever Section One doled out to him. Everything they had done to him had simply made him stronger. But the breakdown had started with Simone. Nikita had exposed Michael to the truth, and the lies. He couldn't walk away from the truth any longer. Couldn't pretend that it didn't matter. Life mattered now, because of Nikita. But Section wanted Michael back the way he had been before the beautiful blond had arrived. No matter that the mistake was theirs. They had arranged for Nikita to come here. But they had never expected Michael to love her. Not body and soul. Heart and soul. To die for Nikita would have been easy, it was living for her that was so hard. But Michael was stronger than Section. They had made him that way, created a monster that they could no longer control. They knew it. Operations had seen it in Michael's eyes. Michael had let him see it. As a warning.  His time would come, sooner than anyone expected. "Michael?" He turned at the sound of the voice and locked eyes with Birkoff. "Yes?" Michael whispered. The computer whiz cleared his throat, feeling nervous in Michael's presence. More so than usual. The *Man in black* had changed in the past few months. Nikita had done that. And now Nikita had changed. "Uh...Madeline wants to see you in her office," Birkoff stated. "Thank you," Michael replied, ever polite, but his voice was toneless. He was a machine now, but one that understood emotion. He would that against them. Turning off his computer, Michael then slipped past Birkoff in the doorway and glided down the hall. "Not good," Birkoff whispered to himself as he watched Michael go. Walter was coming down the corridor and he overheard Birkoff's comment. "You got that right," he agreed. "Not good...for the powers that be." With that cryptic statement hanging in the air, Walter continued on his way. *** Madeline looked up from her computer screen as the doors to her office slid open. She let a smile curve her lips as Michael entered the room. "Have a seat," she invited, but was not surprised when Michael opted to stand. Military *at ease* posture, but with hands clasped in front rather than behind. "Is anything wrong?" Michael queried, taking the initiative. He wanted Madeline to understand that he considered them to be on equal terms now. She had openly declared war between them and Michael was more than willing to do battle. And he had every intention of winning. Nikita's future was at stake. His future. "I felt we should talk, Michael," Madeline replied. "I want to make certain that you understand what we did... and why." Michael locked eyes with Madeline, but he did not let her see his soul. "I understand," he whispered. "Completely." Madeline felt a cold chill brush over her and she had to resist the urge to shiver. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Michael would make a deadly enemy. Knew, in that moment, that Section had crossed the line. So be it. "There's no reason for any of us to make this...personal, Michael," Madeline continued. "Section is not about the individual --" "The end will not always justify the means," Michael interjected, cutting Madeline off. "I know what's at stake, Madeline. I understand the debt that I owe to society. All things considered, it's been paid in full. None of us can relive the past, nor hope for the future." "That's right, Michael," Madeline confirmed. "There is no future in Section." Michael let a cold smile curve his lips. "But there is...hope...Madeline," he whispered. "Nikita taught me that. And you, you taught me how to survive. That's what I do...I survive." It was a warning to her. "You taught me something else as well . . ." Michael continued, even as he turned on his heel and glided towards the door. Madeline was intrigued, in spite of herself. "What is that?" she prompted. "How not to fail," Michael whispered, then he was gone. "Shit," Madeline breathed, when the doors were closed again. She pressed a button on her desk. Operations needed to be warned about Michael. He was truly the enemy now, yet they needed him. More than he would ever need them. *** Michael saw Nikita as he passed by Birkoff's station. She was chatting with a female tech. He wanted to talk to her but knew that now was not the time. Still, he saw her look up as he passed. Saw a smile curve her sweet lips. That smile gave him hope. And hope would be the weapon that he used against Section One. Nikita was the light, Section was the dark, and they were drawing Nikita into their realm. But Michael stood in the shadows now, and he would find away to banish the darkness and bring back the light. 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