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codename: Tabitha
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Date Posted: 19:16:55 07/22/01 Sun
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Codename: Tabitha
's message, "Vows Made" on 18:55:18 07/22/01 Sun
It had been several days since Michael had come into Section and he was definitely up to it on the mental end, he was also still a wonderful trainer and seemed able to plan profiles in his sleep. That was good the question still remained was he physically able to hold to the demands of Section life? I would soon have my answer. An alarm sounded and glancing at the monitor I unlocked the perch’s door. “ You took longer then expected?”
“ Sorry, had to stop in on Medical.”
“ What’s wrong?” My voice mirrored instant concern at his sharp intake of breath.
“ Nothing, serious.”
“ Never mind that. Sit.” I motioned to the chair my tone booked no argument.
“ What caused this?”
“ Nothing.”
“ Steven.” I raised my eyebrows in warning.
“ I’ll be fine, some minor abrasions and a light sprain.”
“ Hmmm, I can not afford to have you on medical leave.” I said confident this operative would correctly interrupt my comment. “ You’ve evaluated, Michael?”
“ Yes. He’s obviously kept up his training, is in fine shape, and quite capable of handling missions. He could still lay out most of the operatives we have.”
“ But?”
“ With things as they stand right now, I’d like to have him brought up to higher levels.”
“ Who would you suggest as a mentor?” I said my mind running through the lists. The man sitting in front of me surprised me, though with his next comment.
“ None. Michael, skills in all areas at least equal his status.” The man before me studied me. His move was one few dared to take with me. With out flinching he continued. “ Nikita, you can’t leave Michael at Level Five. It’s too dangerous to him and to Section. Look he needs to have more control and more input. People ask, and stories fly. Michael has shown himself capable of fair more. Michael shot through the ranks, faster then anyone. He outsmarted Madeline, Paul, Oversight and Center. Protected Adrian and you, he had the best team in Section1, was herald the best operative we had, and was being groomed for the perch. His material turns out to become what some said was the second best operative in Section, some said she was better, because she had managed to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes including his.” Steven noted my involuntary grimace and ignored it, I thought.
“ But his material was always sensitive and her emotions always go the best of her.” Scratch that thought. His backhanded reprimand caused my eyes to narrow warningly. But the irritating man continued. “ She lets him go and he eventually comes back. Michael plays with Jones and wins. Nikita supersedes her mentor to the perch, but years later he comes back.
“ Are you done boring me with a history of Section?” I cut in more then a little put off by this man’s gall. You did not talk to Operations that way. But then he wasn’t; he was talking to that headstrong blonde who he had pulled out of the fire more times then I cared to remember. He obviously thought I had overlooked something, and the frightening part was he was usually right. Plus he had dared to call me Nikita in the perch. This level of Section One was nearly empty but still, it was a costly gamble. I owed him my life and no small part of my sanity; I could afford to lend him my ear.
“ Are you listing to me? It doesn’t look right. This man should have never been let out of Section for so long. Did you really think you could trust him? Of course you did and I know you were right. Operations never should have. She should have considered him a possible enemy. If she needed and valued him enough to keep him alive then he was good enough to promote. To all appearances that was the case. But now he appears with Level Five status: Michael should have been canceled long ago. Operations appears weak instead of a brilliant strategist.”
“ This is grounds for cancellation.” I said, unwilling to address his concerns. The truth was he had hit on an issue I had been considering for some time. I could not solidify Michael’s place in Section myself and neither could he. Steven brought me back to the present with his next words.
“ My place in a hour?” He said impishly. Taking my lack of reaction for consent he exited the perch. I rolled my eyes at his antics, cherishing him all the more for his slight insubordination. Steven could almost always be counted on for swift and complete obedience when needed, but he also never missed a chance to keep me sane. Sometimes that meant just sticking his neck on the line, he didn’t even hesitate.
The newest Intel to hit my desk, just about made me hit the roof. After all these years all the precautions and now this? Procedure demanded that I order 100% containment. Then again I had never been one to follow the rules as Michael could confirm. Michael why hadn’t he seen this? Handled it or warned us done something! And Jasmine she had some fast and crafty talking to do to get herself out of this one. “ Steven! Have you seen this Intel?”
“ Yes, Ma’am.” He replied wisely steaming his flippant responses.
“ Get Jasmine in here! NOW!” There was no response, indicating the man was already carrying out his orders. With in seconds the black haired young woman hit my office at a run.
“ Is something wrong, Operations?” She asked gasping for breath and I took a second to shot a glare in Steven’s general direction. What had the man said to her? For his part he didn’t even look up form his current place in Systems.
“ Explain this.” Minutes later I silenced her with a glare. “ You have 30 minutes to prepare a profile and assemble a team. Do not be late!”
~~~>>>~~~
I stood at the table as the team took their seats at the briefing. The less self assured of these deadly operatives actually glanced at their watches, as if second-guessing the fact that they were indeed early. I did nothing to reassure them. Satisfied that the team was there Jasmine sat down, she still had a commanding presence but her attitude was subdued.
“ This is the target. You are to bring her in alive.” I stated.
“ Our Intel suggests that access to her ‘job’ will be relatively easy.” Jason said.
“ There are entry points here and here. Egress will be limited to this location only.” Quinn said. The very presence of the woman at the briefing was enough to raise a few eyebrows or would have been if these were less experienced operatives. The table was however staffed with Veterans. No one was below Level 4.
“ This is the ENTIRE Team.” Jasmine stressed and continued to go over the plans.
“ We’ve made some changes.” Quinn said and nodded to me.
“ Jasmine will run the mission, from here.” I said glaring at the woman. “ Michael you will remain here as a consultant.”
“ Why?” A young petite red head asked.
“ Excuse me?” I said.
“ Why us? What is so special about the target?”
“ She’s Section 8.” I said and all eyes turned to Jasmine. The woman returned their gaze unflinching. This was not her usual team. These were all Spec Operatives and or the best.
“ Michael you will be providing consult, because our data shows she’s been in Section from a young age. She was previously an occupant of Section 4.” Jason said. I let this last bombshell sink in too their minds. “ Your on Standby. I want her alive!”
I sat in the perch, going over a projected mission and waited for my operatives to show up. I didn’t have to wait long. Alerted to their approach I crossed my legs and darkened for the perch. Then I reached for my coffee and continued reading. The Four entered my office with in seconds of each other. It did not escape my notice that my best and most dangerous operatives stood before me. These were the heart and soul of my Section and my family. I could not however appear to lose control of the situation. I waited for them to speak.
As I expected Jasmine remained quite, still unsure of her footing in the Section, Michael was his quite intimidating self, and Steven took the lead. “ What aren’t you telling us?”
“ You’ve been informed of all you need to know.”
“ Cut the crap, Operations. We’ve worked together for a long time and if I am telling you I need more information then I had better get it!” Steven said. Alarmed Jasmine put a restraining hand on him.
“ Steven, calm down.”
“ You’ve overstepped yourself.” I said my tone deadly.
“ Operations wait, we’re worried about you.” Jason said.
“ It’s not me you should be worried about.”
“ Really?”
“ Later.” Michael said. And the others collected themselves. Their body language though said this was not over.
“ Tell them.” Jasmine advised.
I glanced at her and then at Michael. He remained unresponsive although he had surely figured out the reason this mission was so important. I glanced around at the other occupants of the room, Jasmine and Jason had been there and Jason already knew having been the one to relay the Intel to me. Steven was well… the one man besides Michael in whom I would entrust myself.
Ours was a relationship that had been forged in the fires of Section: had been cooled and sculpted by truth. Ours was a trust that had grown easily then any other in Section. In him I had found a kindred spirit of sorts, we had each held our secrets and carried out orders but unlike the others in this hell. We had never lied or betrayed each other. Steven had worked in One since months before I was brought in. He had been working for Center (or rather Michelle) the whole time. His mission as mine would be was to evaluate Section One and the leadership, but more important in my Michelle’s mind was keeping an eye me.
Once I came back into the fold, I was told to meet with the Center plant already established. It turned out to be one of the elusive Spec. Operatives. Given the nature of their jobs they were given almost complete freedom from surveillance and the man had managed to pull save my life on more occasions then I had cared to count. He had even helped me to find my father. I was of course suspicious of his reasons after all how many times had I been burned by Section? Plus the fact that he was young for his job made me understandably worried but over time the young man had won me over. Our friendship was real and I know he would give his life for me, as I would do the same. All that withstanding could I tell him about this? My question made me laugh inwardly, this man had more resources then I did.
By the time I had taken over the perch he had been the Senior Spec Operative for some time and had been the natural choice for my Second. Still though his arena as my Second for Section was markedly different then Madeline’s was. Steven preferred to over see the Spec Ops and he often went out into the field with his teams. He handed out immediate overseeing of the profiles to the Level 5 operatives directly responsible for the teams, in collaboration with the head of Com. Some said it was a fool hardy idea and a sloppy way to run an organization and it might have been if this was an ordinary organization. But it wasn’t and the teams were more willing to follow the orders of a man that was willing to shoulder the risk himself. It also allowed the leader of Com and the Level 5’s more control, allowing us to evaluate them more closely with out resorting to mind games as often.
I realized I had made my choice and would wade out the consequences, “ She’s Adam Samuelle’s fiancée.” The silence was defining.
~~~>>>~~~
“ Its weak.” The slight mummer caught Jasmine’s ear and turning to Jason she questioned him as she searched for the source. “ Michael thinks the team’s been detected. Can you give me another sweep?”
“ Yes.” Jason replied keying his terminal. The real question not escaping him, “ I’ve located them, twenty meters from Steven’s current location.” Michael relayed the message, and she exchanged a glance with Jason. Rumors in this place flew like lightening some unfounded. Some useful, “ Thanks Jace.”
“ Don’t mention it, love.” He said deepening his southern droll. Jasmine lowered her eyelids and tucking a bit of hair behind her ear, returned to the mission. Michael watched the interplay with mild amusement, maybe he’d taught these two to well.
“ Monica watch behind you. It’s a standard move.” Jasmine commented. Giving this team her friend’s secrets went against the grain, but so did valentine missions in her mind. Her section had made large error in keeping her out of the loop in this one.
“ We’ve got them. ETA 30 minutes “ Michael relayed to Operations.
Jasmine, Michael and Operations stood at van access.
The doors opened and two operatives pulled another woman into the corridor. “ Take her to detention.” Steve called walking in behind them. The woman lashed out at that and Jasmine heard someone shout “ Five.” Jasmine maneuvered herself in front of the woman while another shot out of the shadows after her. A couple of flawless movements later the duo deposited the unconscious woman at Operations feet. “ Nice to see you again, Jasmine. Michael.”
“ Livia.” She said. Michael nodded.
“ It seems we owe you a small debt, Livia, to that end you will be spared a visit to the white room, provided of course you cooperate.”
“ That shouldn’t be difficult.”
“ Jasmine escort our guest to my office would you?”
“ Of course.” Both women turned as a shot rang out.
“ House keeping to Van Access.” Michael said upon hitting the intercom.
Nikita sighed and said, “ This is why we have disposal.” Steven just looked at her and with a sigh she motioned for him to follow her. Jasmine motioned for Livia to precede her and Michael returned to prepping his mission.
“ Welcome to Section One.” Jasmine said as Livia passed her.
“ And I thought Section Eight was efficient.”
“ Well most of our mistakes don’t make it back from missions.”
“ True.” Livia said with a laugh. “ So who do you want to hear about first?” The women continued their easy banter all the way to Operations office.
Once in Operations office however the atmosphere changed. “ What’s going on Livia?"
“ What does it look like?”
“ I could very easily take you to the white room.”
“ What good would it do?” Livia asked. Jasmine rounded the chair exasperated there weren’t many who could break an Eight operative, but she could think of one. Jasmine was hesitant to get Michael involved though. “ Anywhere else none, but this isn’t the other Sections Livia, and you’d do well to remember it.”
“ What do you want to know Jasmine?”
“ I never thought you were one for Valentine operations.”
“ This isn’t one.”
“ What then a blood cover?”
“ Do you think I could handle that? You wouldn’t even assign me a Valentine if you could get around it!”
“ Your damn right, so what is going on? Why are you involved with Adam Samuelle?"
“ I am not ‘ involved’ with Adam. I’m in love.”
“ What kind of fool do you take me for?” Jasmine said, watching Michael enter the room.
“ What do I possibly have to gain by lying to you? If Operations doesn’t kill me you will.”
“ If she found out you were lying.” Michael said.
“ Oh she would.”
“ I believe you’ve been very well coached.” I said upon entering the room.
“ Operations, You want me to prove I love Adam and I can’t. Anything I do would be contrived as coaching.”
“ How did you come to know Adam Samuelle?"
“ It was on a mission. Adam was at the hospital that day; his friend was sick and sharing a room with the target. So ‘Haley’ approached him. He told me his name and of course I recognized it. There was no way I was allowing a member of the Samuelle family to come into contact with those operatives. I wasn’t stupid and I did not have a death wish. At the time I didn’t know he was Michael’s son all I knew was he was a relation. I aborted the mission, unfortunately he kept turning up, and before I knew it he was a friend. He was no danger to me in fact he helped my cover.
Things started to develop and no one cared as long as it didn’t involve Section, since it deepened my cover it was fine. Then one day I met his father. I thought I would be dead the next day, when it became obvious I wasn’t going to die I thought to break it off. I couldn’t, I told Section Eight it would be messy. If we’re not the best we’re pretty close I located one of the family’s covers and used it when they asked for names. Since none of the pictures and data for Adam matched what I gave them we were safe.
You know me Michael, do you think I am lying to you?”
“ I believe you care for my son.”
“ This is not a mission. Do you really think I’m a valentine operative, do you think I could carry this off?" Livia said looking at Jasmine. “ Look I don’t care what you do to me but leave Adam alone he doesn’t deserve to be hurt anymore.”
“ Why should we believe you?”
“ You shouldn’t but I’m still here and I told you what you wanted to know.”
“ You’ve a date in an hour correct?” Operations said.
“ Yes.”
“ Then you may go for now.”
“ Thank you.”
“ And Livia. Suppose I told you to break things off with Adam tonight?”
All of Livia’s charm was gone. In her place stood a cold operative that just happened to be a very upset young woman. Her response was spoken in a tone Nikita knew well it was one she had used on occasion when her masters had gone to far. She stared at Nikita for a moment and then spoke, “ End Game.”
Watching her leave I turned to the others, my mind already made up. “ Well?”
“ It could be a problem.”
“ I am not prepared to let this get out of control, Michael.”
“ I think we should bring her in.” Jasmine said. I walked over to the counter pouring refreshments for the three of us. Handing one to both of them I perched on the side of my desk and waited for her to continue.
“ She could be a valuable asset. Trained in both Section Eight and Four procedures, she would be an excellent foil.” Jasmine said.
“ I’ve you, Michael and Monica. What do I need with her?”
“ I know her style. You’ve seen her in action, leave her in the Section she has but allow her connections here. She’d be able to protect Adam and we could keep an eye on her.”
“ You believe her then?”
“ I haven’t seen them together, but I’d ask for a help before I’d use her for this.”
“ She that bad?”
“ Yes.” Michael said. Surprised we both turned to him. “ I have reviewed her profile and I’ve spent time with her.”
“ So you believe her?” I asked him. I was unprepared for his next move though.
“ What convinced you?”
I flopped down in my chair suddenly feeling very warn. “ I’ve been there. I’ve used that voice and I recognize that manner.” Michael eyes seemed to sear through me as he nodded. “ She’s telling the truth, Nikita.”
“ I know.”
“ The thing is what do you do now?” Jasmine asked.
“ I know what I won’t do. I won’t tear those two apart there is no reason for it. Jasmine I expect you to stay in the loop and keep me informed. I want to make sure things stay this way.” I pulled the command key from around my neck and walked over to compartment. Inserting it into a slot, a DNA and retina scanner slid out. Going through the motions a compartment slide open. Taking the necklace from the stand, I closed the door and reactivated the security. I placed the necklace on a panel and when it beeped, I took the communicator, now coded to Livia’s DNA and locator and handed it to Jasmine. “ Give this to her.” Jasmine nodded and left. I sighed a little more secure, the communicator was keyed to my personal channels and could only be used while in contact with Livia, if in the event she died thus disabling her tracker, the device would no longer work. It would appear under close scrutiny to be an ordinary necklace.
~~~>>>~~~
“ You heard her didn’t you?”
“ Yeah.” Jason said not looking up from his terminal.
“ Its not good.” Jason didn’t say anything and Jasmine said, “ When’s the next mission?”
“ Not for a couple of hours?”
“ Mine?”
“ You’re not on the board.”
“ 10 minutes?”
“ Sure.”
Steven looked up at the knock on his door. “ Come in.” He said reviewing an evaluation report. He might leave work up to other people but he wasn’t new at this. Steven was just as involved in the inner and outer working of the Section as his predecessor, more so in some respects.
“ Steve, we need to talk.” Jasmine said entering and Jason followed.
“ Have a seat. Have you eaten? This could take awhile.”
“ No.” They admitted.
“ Good then, I’ve sent for something.”
“ You knew we were coming.” Jason accused.
“ Of course, I’ve heard the same stirrings. What I need from you two is the extent and suggestions?”
“ Well… Operations is never going to ask for the backing she needs.”
“ But without it she can’t place him where he needs to go.” Jasmine said. It was obvious she knew how the organization was run. Which was no surprise. “ It won’t be long now.” Steve thought to himself as he watched her.
Hours later he nodded and said, “ Right now, the next thing we need to address is Nikita.” The three were no longer supervisor and subordinate but three friends very worried about another. “ Steve do you think she needs a vacation?” Jason asked.
“ Yes, but she won’t take it.”
“ Your very capable, not to mention others…”
“ I know, but…” Jasmine’s phone rang and she opened it.
“ Hon, I don’t have time to talk…. Yes. Yes. I’ll be right there.”
“ What’s up Jasmine?”
“ You’ll know soon enough.” Jasmine said and left the office at a run.
“ Think she can handle it?” Jason asked.
“ Handle what?”
“ Steve, I worked at Center.” Jason said with a pointed look. He knew very well who Jasmine was.
“ That’s what we’ve got to determine.” Steven said exchanging looks with the man before him. There first loyalties were to Nikita but both knew just how many closed-door Center meetings the other had participated in. And Jason was certain he had just received another assignment. Jason sighed and nodded wondering how long he would last in Section before he was again summoned into the higher reaches of the organization.
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