6.04 FOR EVERY PLUG THERE'S A ROSE
The various department heads were seated for the morning briefing. The climate was very calm. Walter and Jason were chatting amiably about Jason's stint in DRV and especially about his contact with Emily.
JASON: "You've gotta believe me, Walter, she's a fabulous girl!"
WALTER (smiling): "I believe you! I never saw you so happy with Naomi!"
JASON (pleased): "I would like to ask Nikita to transfer her to Comm."
WALTER: "Well then, this IS serious!!! You know that in the past, personal relationships have always been forbidden between operatives…but I don't think that's the case with Nikita in charge."
Quinn and Nikita arrived to begin the briefing. The hologram was illuminated and everyone turned their attention to the new mission.
NIKITA: "The coordinates lead us to a computer company that supports The Collective…among other things, it is dedicated to staff recruitment for the various substations…Quinn?"
WALTER: "Will one of us be recruited by The Collective?"
NIKITA: "Exactly, Walter!"
JOSEPHINE: "How will we get them to recruit one of us?"
JASON: "The recruitments take place on private channels, but thanks to the disc, we now have access to the primary channel."
HORIZON: "We'll pose as computer geniuses…which one of us is lucky enough to be the bait?"
Jason raised his hand and confidently announced, "Not to sound conceited, but I think that I'm the most qualified…so I should go."
QUINN: "No, you don't have enough experience in the field!"
"Just like a woman…Walter, let's go get ready," concluded Jason.
The guys got up and returned to their stations. Horizon and Josephine went to study the sims for a possible raid…they needed to know the schematics, egress points, etc. Quinn and Nikita remained to talk about the importance of the mission.
QUINN: "I'm not sure that Jason can handle the pressure."
NIKITA: "I disagree! He went to Center impersonating Birkoff…he'll be fine!"
Quinn went to coordinate the recruitment and Nikita moved toward Section's archives. She wanted to take a little time to review Michael's file. She already knew all that she had to know about him, but maybe there was a clue to something important…something with which she could begin her search. Later, having known that Mr. Jones was still alive, she felt the hopeless need to be with this man again, but, unfortunately, there was nothing in Michael's file that she didn't already know. There were many years of longing before she had a clear idea of who Michael really was; she often hated his pragmatic way of seeing the things and, above all, the extreme loyalty with which he obeyed Section. However, in the end what counted was that he loved her deeply and that was the only thing that mattered. She had to find him again.
MELIXX COMPUTERS INDUSTRY
Jason arrived on time to the meet with an open comm link to Section. He had a young student's style about him, with no passion beyond that for the computers. His interviewers were already convinced that he was certain to be admitted, but they wanted to test his abilities first. They put him in front of a computer terminal and asked him to show them what he could do. They didn't have any idea of what an operative of his calibre could do…he had to hold himself back a bit, but he decided to surprise them…Jason looked around…both men were indeed surprised that one so young could enter the archives of the CIA!!! They assigned him a position immediately and said he could take a look around before of the briefing. Jason took advantage of the opportunity to communicate with Quinn.
"Go ahead, Jason, you're clear," said Quinn, giving the earpiece to Nikita.
JASON: "This is a fantastic place!!! They assigned me to a satellite research team. They are trying to locate one of their contacts who has been missing for a year. It's a top secret project. They'll tell me more tonight. What I can tell you now is that there are clear traces of cooperation with The Collective!"
"What kind of traces?" asked Nikita, visibly worried.
JASON: "Recruitment and kamikaze training. I don't know much more, but I'll work on it. We'll have to talk later…there's a briefing in a few minutes."
Nikita nodded, approving Jason's request and Quinn responded: "Okay, Jason, the next link-up will be in three hours. You'll be disconnected in five seconds…four…three…two…one…Comm out."
Nikita retired to her office…it was a very intense few hours. There had been a lot of work to do on that mission. She was very tired; she'd been undertaking a lot lately. She wanted to show everyone that Section had not lost its polish. Nikita didn't care how she appeared to her superiors, but when the success rates were high, her operatives were secure. The professional support of Quinn and Jason was enough to guarantee that things would go smoothly, yet nothing could lighten the heavy load of her thoughts. Another mission was taking precedence in her mind over everything else…find Michael!
Any spare moment she had to sit down, someone seemed to need her. Nikita slipped her hand into her pocket to take out her ringing cellular phone and answered it. It was Mr. Jones, who wanted information about Jason's recent communiqué. "How did you know about that?" Nikita was astonished. Her father explained that he knew about all of Section's missions, even without Center's resources.
NIKITA: "Why don't you want them to know that you're still alive?"
He answered that keeping it hidden a little while longer was better for everybody, and that he will reveal himself at the opportune moment. "You aren't doing it to keep me in command of Section One, are you," she asked sceptically. Mr. Jones reserved the right not to answer and Nikita understood that, insisting that it would not be an issue.
Mr. Jones supplied some very useful intel to his daughter. He told her that he knew a man able to give Section invaluable help for this mission. "I know a man who can help you. He's a Level Five Operative who has worked with The Collective as a mole."
NIKITA: "Where I can find him?"
MR. JONES: "At Center, he was working for me. His code name is PolS1."
Mr. Jones reminded her then of the importance of her role…that she could not allow any distractions. "I won't," answered an irritated Nikita. "You'll have to accept that Michael is not a mere 'distraction' for me. He never was and never will be!" She ended the call with a disgusted grimace.
Newly arrived in Section, PolS1 reached Quinn's station and she updated him on the details of the mission. Nikita approached them and introduced herself… she and PolS1 could have been brothers… also PolS1 had blond hair and clear eyes!
Later having read the file concerning everything learned by Section up until now, PolS1 told Quinn it was necessary to find a man named Viktor Lazlo.
Section One's operatives had already located Lazlo. Josephine and Jasmine were ready; they were waiting only for signal. Horizon and Trent were holding position to cover their backs. Viktor Lazlo was in the company of his friends in a far corner of the Morgan Wine nightclub, a very chic hotspot a short distance from the airport. The customers were usually strictly selected, but the doors were decidedly open to beautiful women for the entertainment of the Lazlo party. Josephine with her silver dress and Jasmine in black made an entrance and received a series of admiring glances.
HORIZON: "Josephine, report!"
JOSEPHINE: "I don't see him, Quinn. Give me his position."
QUINN: "I see him on my monitor. He's moving toward the bar."
JOSEPHINE: "Ok, I'm on it."
QUINN: "Horizon, be prepared to come in. There are too many guards…"
Josephine approached the bar and ordered a drink. Then, she turned toward Lazlo, moving to the rhythm of the music. He looked at her appreciatively, smiled beautifully at her and then moved away toward the stairs.
Josephine hurried to follow him and as soon as he realized it, he turned on a dime, pushed her shoulders to the wall and asked her: "Why are following me?"
JOSEPHINE: "It seemed to me that you were celebrating your departure, and I wanted to say hello to you in a private room."
Lazlo was charmed by Josephine's eyes. He took her by the hand and led her into a back room of the club.
JASMINE: "Horizon, you have to intervene immediately…I don't see Josephine!"
Lazlo caressed Josephine's bare shoulder, delicately kissing her. Josephine was pleasantly astonished…taking into consideration that he was a terrorist, she was waiting for a wilder approach.
For a moment she forgot the mission, moved her face closer to Lazlo's and closed her eyes, waiting for a kiss that never came.
HORIZON (to Josephine): "You could have neutralized him. Why didn't you?"
JOSEPHINE: "I didn't want to risk it. I knew that you were coming…"
HORIZON (via radio): "Target captured, we're on our way back."
On her way to The Perch, Nikita noticed a group of people hovering around Munitions. She wandered over to make sure nothing had happened to Walter.
NIKITA: "What's going on here?"
The operatives hastily left and Walter, with his usual smile, raised a glass to Nikita. On his table there was a tray full of munchies.
NIKITA: "Walter, are we celebrating something?"
WALTER: "Yes, Sugar. Today is my birthday and I haven't celebrated one for at least 30 years!"
NIKITA (laughing): "Then, it's probably better if I don't ask you how many there have been!"
WALTER: "There have been a damned lot, Sugar… but the important thing is how I feel…and I still feel like a young bull around you!"so I should go."
NIKITA (still laughing): "You never change! What are you gonna do this evening?"
WALTER: "Tonight?"
NIKITA: "I imagine that you have a special evening planned."
WALTER: "No, nothing at all…it's not my night off."
NIKITA: "Are you sure?"
WALTER: "Sure, I'm sure…I'm not yet so old that I can't remember that!"
Nikita was insisting, "Are you REALLY sure," moving closer to his face and winking, "I say that it is!"
WALTER: "Are you serious? That's fantastic! Thanks, Sugar! You're the best!"
A train travels along the rails of the French countryside…a train that brings a load of ghosts and, maybe, also a mystery.
THE END
Hildita for Cynbythesea