6.03 to choke in the enemy's embrace
Nikita awoke beneath the soft, black silk sheets in The Tower...she didn't know how she got there. Some memories passed through her mind…she remembered the Armel mission, when she pretended to be a psychic and she played the role of Michael's wife. In the past, she had not given too much importance to the rare moments of privacy… but she now felt a terrible lack of them.
Who knows if she will ever see him again? She rolled onto her side and Adrian's words came to her mind, "Swear you'll do everything in your power to keep Section from becoming a place of pure evil."
She got up and went to take a shower with the intention of "washing away" those thoughts.
As always, Section's corridors were filled with operatives…there was some confusion with the new recruits and operatives retrieving assignments and moving between the various levels of the facility.
Nikita started to work with Veytos, Mr. Jones's computer…it was so "alive" that it could be asked anything. It would have given the same answer as Madeline and, even if Nikita didn't approve her methods, she also had to admit that Madeline was endowed with great intuition and solid logic. The first suggestion that the program gave her was to strengthen the level of Section's satellite scanning…by now all of the useful information gained from the satellites and old wire taps was obsolete. She found it to be a good idea and asked Jason's opinion immediately…
JASON: "I agree, Nikita. When information arrives here, I think it's necessary to create a filter to the source."
NIKITA: "How long do you need to create this filter?"
JASON: "Not long, maybe a few hours…but I can't work on two levels right now."
NIKITA: "Well…you'll transfer yourself to Level 5 for the time being."
JASON: "And, what about Comm?"
NIKITA: "Quinn can handle it. She did it before you were recruited."
JASON: "It will only be temporary, right? You aren't choosing Quinn over me?"
NIKITA: "You can go, Jason. That will be all."
Nikita turned her shoulders so as not to be seen smiling. The arrogant methods of her predecessors were never appreciated by her, but a minimum of authority had to be shown to Jason.
DATA RETRIEVAL AND VERIFICATION (DRV) ROOM
Jason arrived in the large room and was immediately fascinated by the technology there.
JASON: "Can someone show me to my terminal?"
EMILY: "Can I help you? You must be Jason," said the assistant approaching him.
JASON: "Yes, I am. And you…you're…very nice," he responded, noticing the delicious girl's short skirt.
EMILY: "Thanks," she responded, blushing. "I'm Emily, your new assistant, and this is your post. The scans are output continuously…I must check some codes, but immediately after that, I'm at your complete disposal to work on the filter…any questions?"
JASON: "Yes, one …are you free for dinner?"
Emily walked away, laughing. Jason was not a timid boy!
Nikita was still working with Vetos. She needed answers…she wanted to know more about Mrs. Giuren; she had a feeling that the anthrax mission had gone too well, even for Section One's more-than-competent operatives. She hoped that Mr. Jones' computer files might help her.
"Nikita…our contact is moving," Quinn told her via the intercom.
Nikita went to Comm…they watched the infiltrator's movements on Quinn's terminal.
"Has he debriefed already?" Nikita asked.
"No, in about 60 seconds…he'll give us the target," Quinn responded quickly.
They moved to the briefing room and Nikita gave the operatives assembled the mission parameters and, as always, the details would on their panels. It wasn't a difficult mission…they had to intercept an information exchange with The Collective and, thanks to their contact, they knew where to find it.
NIKITA: "Mr. Ross has the disk containing the data …in an hour, he'll deposit it in a safe deposit box at the National Bank. In three hours, someone will deliver it to The Collective…we can interrupt exchange at that time."
Horizon prepared the mission plan, submitted it for Nikita's approval and uploaded it to the operatives' panels. The operatives visited Walter to pick up their equipment and departed. The Collective's survivor had furnished interesting information with respect the disk's dates, maybe they could find The Collective's database. The exchange location was an old store to the south of the city. Apparently, Mr. Ross had to deliver the CD to The Collective's delegate. But, the hostage explained, there was no exchange in progress. The Collective had been invited to an auction with two other potential buyers. He was supposed to represent his organization. Mr. Ross wanted to draw a lot from that information and by selling the CD to the highest bidder, his immunity was guaranteed considering that the three clans were ready to kill each other.
Horizon participated in the auction representing The Collective. Josephine and her team covered the perimeter…if Section was not awarded the CD, they would have to attack. Naturally, the auction was a closed ballot...none of the participants had viewed the CD and the offered amounts were kept secret. Mr. Ross opened the envelopes with proposed dollar figures on them, then he invited the men into three different rooms, each with a safe. Ross deposited a CD in each safe with a scanner, explaining to the men that only the winner would have the correct one and that the combination of the safe would be relayed by telephone once he was safely away.
Horizon told the team to prepare to attack. Even if Section does win, it will be difficult to leave with the CD.
A deadly silence reigned in the rooms…the phone finally rang and The Collective (a.k.a. Section One) had been awarded the CD. The other bidders rushed into Horizon's room shooting, but he had already jumped out the window. The back-up team opened fire, allowing Horizon to reach the van safely with the CD.
SECTION ONE, SYSTEMS
Quinn tried to read the disk, but none of her programs succeeded in decoding the files. Then, Nikita brought it into her office… perhaps Vetos could help them. It wasn't an easy job…the software didn't give the desired results. The content had cleverly been protected…only a list of numbers matched some found in Mr. Jones's files.
Nikita lengthened her legs on the table, she bent back her head…she saw those numbers everywhere…on the ceiling, on the walls… she was almost sure they couldn't be anything other than geographical coordinates...perhaps, they pointed to The Collective's location. She called Quinn…she wanted technical confirmation...
QUINN: "Yes, Nikita. I'll have to check, but at first glance, I would say they appear to be geographical coordinates."
NIKITA: "How long do you need for confirmation?"
QUINN: "A few minutes, I believe."
NIKITA: "Call Jason and cross-reference the data."
Nikita took advantage of the opportunity to leave Section a few minutes...she needed a breath of fresh air. She no longer counted the hours she passed inside that building... she didn't even remember the last time she'd eaten a decent meal. Walking down the road, she noticed that she didn't have the same outward view she used to have anymore...where once she saw men, women and children, she now saw hostiles, targets and danger.
She lifted her shoulders with the typical expression of one whom wants to barricade herself against the cold and pulled her long coat tighter around herself, making her impenetrability even more evident. She lifted her gaze and noticed that she was in front of her father's favourite restaurant. She entered, sat a table and relaxed with a glass of white wine. She looked around...it was a quiet room, yet she didn't feel ease...she felt observed. From afar, someone slowly approached her table. "You've finally arrived."
Nikita turned her head and was amazed to find Giuren standing there. "You were expecting me?" she asked.
Giuren, smiling, sat down and said, "Really, we didn't expect you so soon, but if you are here, it means that you need answers."
"'We' didn't expect?" asked Nikita, evidently surprised. When she did not receive an answer, she continued, "And, can you give me some answers? Who are you?"
GIUREN: "Wrong question, Nikita. You always make the same mistake. Everything in time...come on, let's go."
NIKITA: "Where?"
GIUREN: "To find your answers."
Resigning herself to follow, Nikita wasn't sure she could trust Giuren, but there was something reassuring and familiar in her voice.
As the car drove along a tree-lined street, the sun was peeking through the branches of the trees...they arrived in front of an imposing gate with many guards, and caught a glimpse of a large building beyond the gate...where were they going?
They left the car and Giuren invited Nikita to follow her. "I don't know how you have convinced me to follow you, but I doubt I will find anything that concerns me here…if you know me, you should know that I'm a street kid," Nikita told her, underlining that there could be nothing of interest to her in the luxurious villa.
GIUREN: "Are you sure? "
NIKITA: "You remind me of my father."
GIUREN: "Really? How?"
NIKITA: "He was my enemy, yet for some reason I felt able to trust him."
Giuren smiled sincerely. Finally, Nikita didn't pose a threat…her mind was predisposed for welcoming the truth.
They entered the large salon…"You wait here," said Giuren.
Nikita looked around her, the plush furnishings, fragrant fresh flowers and classical music calmed her mind. She moved toward the balcony with its breathtaking view. Two men walked in the park below…they were too far away for her to clearly identify them. Giuren approached one of the men…they spoke and then all three walked toward the house. Nikita stepped back…she didn't want to give the impression that she was spying…she decided to phone Section.
At that moment, Giuren entered, "Come with me, he's waiting for you."
NIKITA: "Who's waiting for me?"
The woman didn't answer, she motioned for Nikita to follow her into a study and then she turned to leave.
"You're not staying?" asked Nikita, somewhat worriedly.
GIUREN: "No, this is your moment…but don't worry, we'll see each other again."
Nikita was standing there, becoming impatient. Why the whole mystery? Who was that woman and what did she want from Nikita?
The door opened and a man came up behind her; Nikita turned around...
"Dad!" she exclaimed, closing her eyes.
MR. JONES: "Hello, Nikita. How ironic…you've never called me that before."
NIKITA: "Oh my God…is it really you?"
She didn't know what to say. Her eyes filled with tears, but her face was tense, almost sulky. She didn't understand what was happening.
NIKITA: "What happened? I saw you get shot on that bridge…I thought you were dead…you exchanged your life for Adam's…Michael!"
Mr. Jones didn't answer and the more questions Nikita asked, the more the situation was clarified for her.
NIKITA: "You deceived me…to make me stay in Section! You knew, didn't you?"
MR. JONES: "Don't you think I would have had to know?"
NIKITA: "That if I had not made that promise to you…"
Nikita swallowed, she didn't even think about what she started to say...
MR. JONES: "What?"
NIKITA: "I would not have left Michael," she admitted to herself, getting up from the armchair.
MR. JONES: "I know, my dear. It's difficult to understand, and I can't explain everything to you now…"
Nikita stood and moved to face her father furiously, "Don't try, Dad, I won't leave without an explanation. I want to know why the farce…WHY didn't you tell me the truth and who is that woman?"
MR. JONES: "You're busy now…you have a job to do, Nikita. I wanted you to know that you can count on my support."
"Your support?" she underlined, sarcastically.
MR. JONES: "On the disk, there are coordinates for The Collective's recruitment facility…"
NIKITA: "And, how do you know about it?"
MR. JONES: "I can't tell you that now, Nikita. I'll explain it to you…all of it, but not now."
She paced around the room one last time in frustration and left with tears in her eyes. The moment had arrived to put aside her innocence, she didn't want to suffer anymore. She had to become impenetrable.
THE END
Hildita for Cynbythesea