They gave me a little room here in Level 4. It's not very large but it's quite comfortable. I have a comfortable bed, a desk and a little bathroom in the room. It's the standard room for all the recruits.

I've been here for almost two years now, I'm not sure how many months exactly- I lost track of time. Actually, it's easy to forget about all the time that's passing when you're in this place, you get used to the day routine- The workouts, the martial arts class, the weapon classes, and computer lessons- my favorite.

I sigh and lay down on the bed. Most of the time- I still can't believe I'm here, in this weird place. I always thought that places like that exist only in books and TV shows. Even the name- "Section 1"... it's like it's taken directly from one of the movies I liked to watch so much. It still seems fictional to me. But it's not. It's very real. And sometimes it scares the hell out of me.

how did I end up here? I ask myself in the millionth time. Well, I guess I know the answer to that. It was all because I was really bored in some afternoon. You see, I'm what so many people call- A "Computer geek". Back home- before Section I used to sit for hours in front of my computer. Usually I was online, chatting with friends and... Hacking into confidential security systems.

I used to do it all the time, it was just a game for me- something to pass the time with. But after that day- it was not a game anymore. I was just taking a peek in the files of the National Security Agency, but then I found something...big. A few minutes later, the system detected me and all the files were locked. Two days later- they found me. I woke up in a white room on a weird bed.

The first thing I saw after opening my eyes was a woman. She had dark brown hair and cold brown eyes. Madeline. She still gives me the creeps sometimes. I close my eyes as I recall that very day.

"Good morning, Miss Walters," she said with a little Mona-Lisa smile.

"Where am I?" I asked. My head hurt, they probably drugged me or something.

"You're in Section 1," she answered pleasantly, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Why am I here?" I continued.

"I assure you, all your questions will be answered soon," she replied, her voice calm, "come with me." With these words she turned her back and walked towards the door. I shrugged and followed her, what else could I do?

We walked through a maze of gray corridors and big rooms stuffed with electronic equipment. My eyes traveled around that equipment, especially the computers. I didn't have the chance to see much, but from what I saw, they had really advanced computer systems. I had no idea that the world has come that far. Well, I guessed that some things only meant to be in weird, undercover, security agencies. I knew nothing about Section back then, it seems so far away now.

We finally reached our destination- Madeline's office. She tapped quickly on a little console near the door and the door slid open. "Please," she motioned me towards the door, "come in."

I stepped in and looked around. This office wasn't large, and was definitely different from any other office I've ever seen. There were a desk, a computer (a pretty cool one, if I might add) and a lot of tiny Bunsai trees. I stared at them for a few seconds. Weird.

"Please, sit down," Madeline said, this irritating smile on her face again.

I open my eyes. I still remember that day as if it was yesterday. Madeline gave me then a lecture (which, as I heard, everybody gets when the come into Section for the first time). It was the first time I understood that I reached to a point of no return. I couldn't go back to my old life, I couldn't leave Section. Ever. I think I took it quite well, actually. I didn't scream or demanded my life back, I just sat there, staring into her eyes blankly. Maybe I was shocked, I don't know. It's not that bad here, actually. All I had back home was my computer and my online friends. The best thing about Section 1 is that they have the best computers I've ever seen.

The morning after my first "chit-chat" with Madeline, my training started. My trainer in a young woman name Judith. I kinda like her. She's not easy on me, but I think she is used to doing her job well, so I'm getting great training. She's not around much, except when we have training sessions. She's a class 5 operative, and she goes out to the field a lot. I usually don't worry about her, she's strong, a survivor; sometimes, I think she's immortal.

I also have sessions with Madeline every once in a while. It scared me at first, I thought I was doing something wrong, but Judith told me that Madeline is composing my Psyche file.

From the beginning I was told that I will not be a field op. My job was doing computer work (it thrilled me to no end).

"So why do they teach me martial arts and using weapons?" I asked Judith one day after an especially exhausting workout.

"As a section operative you must be able to protect yourself," she replied, "this is not a game here. There are a lot of people out there that want to put their hands on somebody who has access to Section 1."

I nodded. I don't mind, actually. I kinda like martial arts. It has given me a great deal of self-confidence I hadn't had before. Besides, I like learning new things. It's one of the reasons that I was so interested in computers. There was always something new to learn, to discover.

There was a brief knock on my door and it swung open. I rose from the bed to look into Judith's eyes.

"Hi." I said casually, wondering if I forgot any important thing I should've been doing.

"I just came by to tell you that your session with Madeline today was postponed to 16:00 o'clock. Be there on time." She finished and turned to leave.

"Leaving so soon?" I called after her. I don't usually do that, but I was really bored.

Judith stopped for a second. "I have to go," she said, "I have a mission in 2 minutes."

"Good luck, then," I replied, suddenly noticing that she was dressed in mission blacks.

She nodded briefly and left.

I sighed. The postponing of my session with The Queen of Ice meant that I had about an hour free left. I decided to drop to comm to pester Birkoff a little. He always makes a face when he sees me, but I noticed his amusement at me sometimes. He always gives me something to do when I'm bored.

I hopped off my bed and headed to comm.

I walked through the gray corridors. In my first months here I hardly knew my way around here. It was like walking in a huge maze. Bu now I'm used to it, and I think that I can find my way around here with my eyes closed (especially the way to comm...).

I arrive into Section 1's main hall. There are always operatives around here, except, maybe, in the middle of the night. I walked into comm, Birkoff's kingdom.

"Hi," I smiled to Birkoff and tapped on his shoulder. He looked busy, he always does.

"Leslie," he acknowledged me, his eyes still glued to the computer screen. I've come to realize a very long time ago that Birkoff's passion to computers is a lot like mine. Like me, he's also fascinated with them and uses every second he can to be near them.

I sat on an empty chair next to him and took a handful from his oreos, ignoring his irritated look. "What are you doing?" I asked, while munching on a cookie.

"Running a program," he murmured, shifting his attention back to the computer screen.

I nodded and reclined back in my chair, watching him working.

"If you're not doing anything..." Birkoff's voice startled me, "can you hand this stuff to Walter?" He handed me two panels.

"Yeah, sure," I replied and took the panels from his hand. I got up and walked towards Walter's workshop. I saw the old man bent over a little device.

"Hey, Walter," I called as I approached him.

He lifted his eyes from the little device, "Hey, baby, what's shakin'?"

I laughed, "Everything's fine. I have something for you." When I caught his impish gaze I started laughing again, "Oh, it's not what you hope for."

"It never is." He said, sighing dramatically, "What's you got for me?"

I handed him the panels Birkoff gave me, "from Birkoff."

"Thanks," he said, his attention snapped back to the little device on his table.

I really like Walter. Underneath all the teasing and indecent proposals there's a sweet, caring soul. I don't know what kind of thing brought a kind man like Walter into Section. But, then again, a lot of people wonder the same about me. I guess things are not always what they look like.

I guess that the thing I love most about Walter is that he still manages having good time despite being in Section. When I feel bad, I can always count on Walter to cheer me up.

I tapped lightly on his shoulder, "Bye, Walter?"

"Already leaving?" he asked.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to get between you and that little toy you have there, and, besides, I wanna annoy Birkoff a little."

He laughed, "Enjoy yourself, babe."

"I will, Walter." I walked back to comm, still smiling.

I sat back in the chair next to Birkoff and snatched some more of his oreos. I sat back and looked around. This was relatively quiet day. There were no teams preparing to missions, and only a few more techs sat in comm.

While observing the place, I noticed to people walking past me. The man was handsome. He had reddish brown hair and unbelievable green eyes. He was dressed in all black, and the color only emphasized his lean figure and strong muscles. The woman was a tall blonde with blue eyes and a model's body.

I recognized then immediately. Michael and Nikita. It was hard not to notice them, actually. I heard a lot about them.

Michael was secretly named "The Angel of Death". I think this description suits him, with his all-black attire and his piercing gaze. And he did have angelic face. Although I haven't actually seen him up-close and personal, it really didn't take much to see that the man is drop dead gorgeous.

Nikita's description is a lot less dramatic. According to rumors, she was a friendly person and very compassionate (a trait that actually isn't too appreciated in Section).

But the most interesting stories are of two of them, as a couple. I've heard a lot. I've heard that were have been crazy about each other since day one and that they're a couple. I've also heard some more... detailed.... stories in the women's locker room (some of them really made me blush... and I don't blush easily).

In the beginning I thought that the rumors were just- rumors. Cheap gossip as a mean to pass the time between missions and workouts. But, when I see them together... it's obvious that there's something about those rumors. Just the looks between them can torch a room. A while ago, when I was walking through the large corridors, on my way to the workout room, I saw them talking in a shadowed corner. My ears nearly buzzed form the mass of sexual tension that hummed between them, I almost felt like an intruder. I walked past them as quickly as possible, hoping that my face wasn't as flushed as it felt.

One time, when I was sitting in comm, I took advantage of the fact that Birkoff wasn't looking to travel a little through Section's files. I found the surveillance files and records, and I started looking at the live video feed from different places in Section. Suddenly, I noticed that one of the cameras wasn't transmitting. I checked its position. Michael's office. In the beginning I thought that the equipment malfunctioned, but then the camera flickered back to action, and I then saw Nikita stepping out of Michael's office. Coincidence? I think not.

"Hey," Birkoff's voice shook me from my reverie, "Don't you have someplace to be?"

I glanced at my watch, It was almost 16:00. It was time to my session with Madeline.

"See ya, Birkoff," I murmured and got up from the chair.

"Bye," he replied and I left.

I walked down the hall towards Madeline's office. My training is almost over, I'll become a full-status operative soon. Life in Section 1 isn't that bad. I feel now that my life finally has a purpose, I'm walking in a certain way. Most people here don't like this place. I understand them, I really do, I just think they should do what I do- make the best of their lives here. I continued walking until I stood in Madeline's door. Madeline's manipulations is just another part of the day for me. Usually, I anticipate her manipulations and somehow manage to run around them. "Beginner's luck," Walter had said when I told him about it. I hope he's wrong, but I have a feeling he's right.

THE END

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