“Tough day at Section 1,  Ni-ki-ta? “ he asked in the  French accent that pervaded his speech, and drover her wild with passion.  “I don’t know why you can’t come home for lunch like some other wives do.  I get so lonely without you, and only ma petite Nikki to talk to.  Especially now that she’s in the kindergarten.  I don’t know why you won’t let me come down to Section 1.  I could help you with your missions in the mornings when Nikki is in kindergarten.  I could even be a secret agent, if you would just give me a chance, Ni-ki-ta.  I’ve always wanted to be a secret agent, and it’s just not fair that you won’t even let me try.”  Mikey’s  green eyes teared up, and a little Gallic pout appeared on his divine lips.

        Nikita moaned in frustration.  “Mikey, we’ve been through this before.  I don’t want you to work.  I make enough money for us to live quite nicely.  I want you to be here for Nikki when she comes home.   It’s important that she have a stable home life, since I am away so much.   Being a secret government agent may seem very glamorous to you, but  it’s no picnic, believe me.”

        Mikey had heard all this before. and he was prepared.  “Ma cheri, Ni-ki-ta, “ he said as he began to kiss her again on the lips.  Down her neck his tongue  traced trails of fire....

        “Mikey, don’t start this again....ooh,  Mikey.”   Mikey was quick with his tongue (one of two his major weapons in his war with Nikita), for he was already divesting her of her clothes, and going for the tummy lick.  “Ooooh, Mikey,” she groaned.  Where’s little Nikki?”  Mikey had already picked Nikita up and was carrying her to the dinner table.  If Nikita knew anything else from experience with this scenario, Mickey’s other major weapon was ready for battle, too.

        “That nice lady, Maddy, next door is keeping her.  I told her we needed some special time together tonight.”  How he managed to say all this and still continue using his tongue all over her tummy, Nikita could not  understand for the life of her.  At this point Nikita stopped offering arguments and surrendered again to her passionate husband.  It  seemed to her that all their arguments ended this way, and nothing was ever settled.    Her last coherent thought was that “Maddy” had Nikki, and that Mikey had no idea  who Maddy really was.
 

        After lengthy and passionate lovemaking that moved from the dinner table to the floor, and finally to the bed, Mikey was sleeping all curled up against  Nikita.  His soft snore was comforting, and she couldn’t imagine life without him or their child Nikki.  Nikki looked like her with blonde hair, but she had Mikey’s green eyes.   Why he couldn’t be satisfied to stay home with such a beautiful child, Nikita did not understand.

        Ops. and Maddy were living next door!  Ops. and Maddy were Nikita’s and Mikey’s landlords, or at least that is all Mikey knew.   In reality they were Nikita’s overseers in the world of government espionage at Section1.  How they ever talked her into buying a condo in their building, she still wasn’t sure.  Maybe it was the underlying threat that was always there in the background.  Nikita had been well-trained.   Most of the time she did what she was told, and she was told to buy the condo.  Her work life seemed very glamorous to Mikey, and he was constantly barraging her with his desires to fulfill himself professionally as well as personally.

        He wanted to be a secret agent.  Nikita couldn’t think of anyone more unlikely to be a secret agent.  His face was an open book, and simple dissembling was beyond him.   Fortunately, once he made love to her, he would forget about his lack of  professional growth, and go back to being contented with his role in her life--for at least a couple of hours.  Nikita drifted off to sleep herself, and dreamt of a different Mikey.  His name was Michael, and he was a secret agent, and he was her trainer.   “Michael!!” she shouted in her sleep and woke Mikey.

        “What is it, ma petite?  Wake up, you are having a bad dream, no?” he asked with concern in his soft voice.
 
        “Bad dream, no.  It was a $#@%ing nightmare.”  she murmured into his strong shoulder.
 

        The next day Mikey had a plan.  He would take Nikita her lunch, and scope out where she worked.  Since she insisted her work was so secret, he had no idea where she  worked, so he would have to follow her first.   He really wanted company on this little mission, but he knew his best friend Bob could not be trusted to keep a secret like this.   Bob was the only other house husband in the building, and he was a notorious gossip.

        He and Bob had had a lot good times together-taking their children to the park, shopping, and how Mikey loved to shop!  Nikita never wore anything but black, but Mikey had a style all his own.   He really favored a retro style, and just loved the leisure suits of the early 70’s.  He had them in all colors--blue, yellow, tan, even a green one, but no black ones.  He personally hated black, but it suited Nikita somehow.  Of course, Nikita always looked lovely, and he adored his wife in black or in nothing at all.

        Little Nikki was already at kindergarten, because Maddy had offered to keep her all night and take her there this morning.  He dressed carefully for his first secret mission, because he wanted to be discreet and blend in with the people on the street.  Section 1 must be close by because Nikita walked to work most days.  For his ensemble he chose a light blue poor boy sweater and  faded hip-hugger, bell-bottomed jeans.  Three or four chains around his neck, and a red bandana tied around his head, and he was ready for reconnaissance.

        Mikey rushed out  of the condo and gazed up the street.  Ah, there she is swinging along, in her rolling stride, her blonde head held high.    It is good she is so tall and blonde, he thought, or I  would have a more difficult time  following her.

        Nikita turned into a large discount store.   KMart?  Wonder what she’s going there for, he mused.  Maybe to buy Nikki or me a present.  That would be nice.   Mikey ducked behind a column to keep Nikita from seeing him as she turned and looked around at the staff elevator.  Did Nikita work at KMart?  Was all the stuff about being a secret agent, just BS?  Could the love of his heart be this dishonest with him?  Oh, his heart was breaking.  Now he would never get to be a secret agent, if Nikita wasn’t one either.  He watched her punch the down button 3 times, then 2 times, then 1.  Pretty impatient  with that elevator, wasn’t she.  The elevator came and Nikita stepped in, lost to him for the moment.

        Mikey walked over to the staff elevator.  He would just have to see for himself where she worked and what she actually did.  He punched the button once and waited.  “That elevator’s always broken.  Hardly ever works,” a pleasant  man mopping the floor to his left said.

        "But I just saw my wife get on it.  It must work,” Mikey said indignantly.

        “No, buddy, I think you must be mistaken.  I’ve been working here for 5 years, and I’m tellin’ you it don’t work.”

        The man was large and looked fit, but Mikey who spent a lot of time working out to Jane Fonda tapes thought he could take him.  “Dammit!  I just saw my wife get on this elevator, and I’m going after her, you bozo.”  At this Michael shoved  at the man, but he stood firm like a rock.  The pleasant man was no longer so pleasant and made some kind of kung-fu move, which left Mikey on the floor feeling a little stunned.

        “Hey, Birkoff, got a little problem up here at access point A.”  The man was talking to whom?  Mikey could see no one else around.   “Okay, okay, I’ll bring him down.  Are you sure about this, Birkoff?”  he asked in a puzzled voice.

        The large, puzzled, not so pleasant man pulled Mikey to his feet.  “Come on, I don’t know who you are, but they do down there.”   Mikey shook the man’s hands off him angrily.

        “I just wanted to see my wife for lunch, you philistine.  You didn’t have to knock me down.”  Mikey was angry and embarrassed.

        “Yeah, well, I have my orders,”  he said as he punched the elevator button 3 times, 2 times, and 1 time--just as Nikita had.

        Mikey was observant, a special code, “Cool,” he said.  They stepped on the elevator, and there was only one button--S1.    After going down for what seemed like forever, the elevator stopped.    Mikey stepped out, and looked around.  He was amazed.  There were computers, people, graphics.  Mikey had a feeling he wasn’t in KMart anymore.

        Nikita stepped forward to greet him, but she looked really pissed off, like one of those terrible PMS days.   “Ni-ki-ta,” he began.

        “Michael, uh Mikey, what are you doing here?  Have you lost your mind?  How did you find me?”  Nikita the interrogator stood there, tapping her foot.  Then she realized about fifty pairs of eyes were watching this scene.  “Come with me to my office.  We have to talk.  Now.”

        Mikey followed, but he was very energized by the situation.  His walk swaggered, but he could barely keep up with Nikita.  The female operatives did not fail to notice, that in spite of his bizarre idea of style, his butt was primo, he had long curly hair that waved around his handsome face, and he had dancing green eyes.  “Wow, “ said Gail to Angela  “No wonder Nikita keeps him at home.  It wouldn’t be safe to let him out alone. “   Together they laughed, and hearing this laughter, Nikita turned around and gave them her killing look.

        “What the hell are you doing heah,?”  she asked, and her Aussie accent was thick with emotion and some fear as well.  What would Ops. and Maddy  do when they found out Mikey had blundered his way in to Section 1.  Hell, they probably already knew!   She was in deep ca-ca, and she knew it.

        “I just wanted to surprise you for lunch, ma petite, so I followed you this morning to see where you went.  Then you went into KMart, and I was confused.  I saw you go down the elevator, and when I tried, I ended up on the floor, and then here.”  He explained quickly, because he was already trying to undress her.  He started kissing her neck and ear....

        “Michael, uh, Mikey, stop it.  This is not the place to make love.  I’m at work here, and I’m probably in deep trouble now that you have found your way into Section 1.   I don’t know if they’ll let you go,”  she wailed at that thought.

        “What do you mean “let me go?”  he asked.  “Can’t they just let me be a secret agent like you?   I know I could do it,”  he said ingenuously as he started to remove her blouse.

        Nikita had Mikey’s arm twisted behind his back, and his face against the wall of her office before he could cry “uncle.”  “Oh, really, Mikey.  Do you have any idea what I do here?  You have some notion that being a government agent means working 9-5 with weekends off.  I kill terrorists who kill other people for a living, Mikey.  Is that what you want to do?”  Nikita was brutal with the truth.

        “I could kill someone if you or Nikki were in danger, ma pet.  I could do it in a heart--”  Mikey’s answer was cut off by the shrill of Nikita’s phone.

        “Yes, right away.  We’ve  got to go see Operations.  Come on, they’re waiting for us, “  Nikita said grimly as she buttoned her blouse and lead the way to the cat-walk office of Operations.   This time Mikey was dejected as he followed Nikita , but the opinion still reigned among the female ops. that his butt was primo, his hair wonderful, and the sad look on his face made them all want to do something to make him feel better.

         The lights were bright, and Mikey was startled to see Maddy from next door and her husband Fred sitting there looking at him sternly.  “Ni-ki-ta, what is going on?  Why are Fred and Maddy here? “  Mikey was very confused.  The neighbors could be here and HE couldn’t.

         “Mikey,  Fred is really Operations, the head of Section 1, and Maddy is Madeline, his second in command.  They are going to decide whether you live or die, and maybe me too.”

         “Oh.”  Mikey’s green eyes grew troubled.

         “Mikey, God, Nikita, is that what you call him all the time?  How about Mike. That sounds a lot more adult, doesn’t it.  Okay, Mike, “ Operations started.

         “Yeah, that’s fine, he responded, not sure anymore who he or Nikita were anymore.

        “Well, Mike, we have a problem here.  First of all, we’re a secret government agency, the most clandestine on the planet, and it’s up to us to get all the bad guys and criminals that the others can’t.  You shouldn’t even know we exist, much less who and where we are.  Can you see our dilemma here, Mike? “

         Madeline  sat through all this, stoic as always, her brown eyes wide and unblinking.  Nikita could never figure out what Maddy was thinking, but Nikita knew she was already several steps ahead of where ever Ops. was going.

         “Oh, I already knew you existed, Ni-ki-ta told me.  I’ve always known she was a government agent, and I want to be one too,”  he said earnestly.

         Nikita rolled her eyes and sighed.  I am in deep ca-ca again, she thought.

         Operations eyes snapped to Nikita, and if looks could kill, she would be canceled already.  Madeline blinked.

         Mikey was beginning to become a little perturbed and uneasy.  It sounded like these people, his neighbors, were getting ready to play hardball with his Nikita.  Without thinking Mikey jumped over the desk and had Operations around the neck.  “Leave my Ni-ki-ta alone, you a**hole, or I’ll break your neck.”

         Madeline blinked, and a pensive look came over her face.   “Michael, let him go.  We’re not going to hurt Nikita or you.  She is too valuable an operative to let a little misunderstanding get out of hand. “   Operations turned startled eyes to Madeline as if asking what in the hell are you up to now.  As Michael loosened his grip, the color began to come back into Operations  face, and he could breathe again, he said it,  “What the hell are you up to now?”

         Nikita was stunned and frozen in position.  All color had drained from her face as Michael had attacked  Ops.

        Madeline  looked at all of them.  “Michael, sit down.”

        Michael looked around angrily and remained standing.

        “Sit down!!” she shouted.  Tamely Michael sat.

        She leaned over him and stroked his tan cheek.  We can teach you to fight and kill, but your greatest weapon is your sensual masculinity.  We can use him,” she stated simply to Ops and Nikita.

        “Like hell!” shouted Nikita electrified, once she realized Michael wasn’t going to be canceled in front of her eyes.

        “Nikita, it’s that or you know what  the other alternative is......”  Ops began.

        Michael put his arm around Nikita.  “I told you I could kill to protect you or Nikki.  This will be my job now  --  protecting you and Nikki.  I will do whatever I have to do to keep you safe from harm.  Nothing else matters.

        “But what about Nikki, what are we supposed to do about her?  Michael’s going to be in training for 2 years.  What am I supposed to do for child care?  It’s not like Section 1 has a day care center down here.”

        “Reality check, Ni-ki-ta.  My friend Bob can keep Nikki along with little Nina.  It’s not impossible.  We won’t be the only family with both parents working.  We’ll manage.  You’ll see.”  He kissed her cheek.  His green eyes were shining with excitement.

        “But you’ll have to live here at Section for 2 years.  What are we going to do Michael?  They have cameras everywhere!  We won’t be able to be together in private.”

        Michael’s eyes grew big at the thought of no private moments with his Nikita for two years.  He turned and looked at Operations and Madeline.

        “Considering your motivation, Michael,  I think an exception can be made to the living arrangements.  You will continue to live at home.  You will train here, and you will learn here, but you will go home at night to Nikita.  Nikita will NOT be your trainer, since she would have no objectivity  whatsoever in your training.  Nikita will continue in her status as a Level Two Operative.  Any more questions?”  Operations asked.

        “Who will be his trainer?” Nikita asked.

        Madeline smiled her Mona Lisa smile and said, “Jurgen.”
 

        In the training area, Mikey and Jurgen circled each other warily.  Jurgen still had not been able to get Mikey to break through "the wall."  Jurgen was certain that Mikey wanted nothing more than to put him on his butt for good. Jurgen had  baited, insulted and harassed  Mikey for 6 months, and he was beginning to believe it was useless.  Mikey was going to be a washout in hand-to-hand combat, unless he found and pushed the right button.
 
        Jurgen saw Nikita walk past the training area and saw that Mikey's attention  wandered for one second.  Jurgen rewarded his inattention with a hard right cross and Mikey ended up on the floor again, rubbing his chin.  "How many times have I told you to focus?" he yelled.  "Stop ogling your precious wife and pay attention to your opponent. Me!" he again yelled.

        Nikita decided to make a diplomatic retreat, but as she did, Jurgen saw Mikey's face flush hotly.  He had found the button, Nikita.  This was going to be fun, he thought.

        "You know why your wife is so valuable to Section One, Mikey?  Her looks.  She makes a great distraction on deep cover missions.  Have you ever asked what she does when she goes away for protracted missions, Mikey?  Do you know that she sometimes poses as another operative's wife, Mikey?  Do you think she even misses you when she's on a mission, Mikey?"

        With each question and each ‘Mikey," Mikey became more furious, but he was  also smarter than he had been six months earlier.  He knew Jurgen was pushing him into an all-out confrontation, and Mikey was ready to kill Jurgen, figuratively, if not literally.   Mikey pulled himself off the floor and began to circle Jurgen again waiting for him to make the first move.

        "What's the matter, Mikey?  Don't you have the cojones to defend your hot little wife?"  Jurgen made his move and his first mistake with Mikey.  He underestimated him.

        Mikey blocked Jurgen's punch and with a blinding succession of kicks and punches knocked the trainer to the mat.  Michael pounced and pinned him there with his fist drawn back in a ‘held' punch.  Jurgen admitted defeat grudgingly.  "All right, Mikey, you've made your point.  Now get off me."

        "My name is Michael.  Say it!"  Michael demanded fiercely.

        "Michael, get off me."  Jurgen's gritted his teeth with each word he uttered.

        Michael smiled at the sound of his trainer calling him by his proper name.  He
jumped up and offered his hand to Jurgen, who took it with poor grace.

        Michael bowed to his trainer and left the training area with his head held high.
 

        Operations, Madeline and Jurgen were seated in Madeline's office.  Madeline looked steadily at the two men across from her and spoke first, "I've called this meeting to  review Michael's 18 month evaluation and to discuss where we need to go from here with his training.   Jurgen, give me your best case scenario with Michael."

        Jurgen removed his wire-rim glasses and spoke in his best Rambo accent, "My only question with Michael is whether he has the capacity to kill in cold blood.  He is still untested, and I think he takes this still as a game.  He scores extremely high in all areas--martial arts, weapons, explosives and computers.  He is very intelligent, but I have my reservations about whether he will be an effective cold op."  Jurgen solemnly replaced his glasses and nodded at Madeline.

        Operations spoke next.  "As a rule, I don't involve myself in the actual training of raw material, but due to Michael's somewhat unorthodox appearance here nearly two years ago, I have kept a very close eye on him.  He still lacks discipline, and while I would normally recommend cancellation, I would prefer to avoid it in this case.  Nikita is very valuable to Section One, and I for one want to keep her happy.  I have also noted that Michael is brilliant in tactical simms.  We have to find a way to bring him along to the desired status.  He could be the future of Section One, if we can only instill in him the killer instinct.  Madeline, you called this meeting.  You must have something up your psych-ops sleeve."  Operations turned to the auburn-haired beauty with a smile.

        Madeline returned his smile with an enigmatic one of her own.  "Yes, I do.  My plan is two-fold.  Firstly, we must place him in a situation where he will have to kill or be killed.  That is the only way he can be tested."

        Both men nodded in agreement.  "Do you want to use abeyance ops?"  asked  Jurgen.

        "Yes, Michael will hesitate, especially if it is someone he knows, therefore, this will make it a better test.  I will work out the details later, but I feel this should be tested first and soon.  therwise, the second plan would be a waste of my valuable time."

        Operations looked at Madeline quizzically.  "Your time?"

        "Yes.  Michael's charms may be lost on the two of you, but he figures in ninety per cent of  our female operatives' fantasies here in Section One.  Michael's sensuality and looks are perfect for valentine operations."  Madeline gave the two men a genuine smile.

        "Whoa.  Nikita is not going to be very fond of that idea," Operations offered.

        "Nikita will have to get used to it.  I mentioned this to her quite some time ago,   and I fear it has caused a slight rift in our relationship.  She probably assumes I have given  up that plan, but I have not," Madeline pronounced firmly.

        Jurgen spoke again, "What makes you think Michael will be any good in the sack. Valentine operations are often stressful."

        "I have proof of his skills."  Madeline deadpanned her answer and gave blank stares to both men.

        "Jurgen, I will depend on you to set up the kill or be killed scenario.  One proviso, it is not to involve defending Nikita or their child or take place hear their home. I have no doubt that Michael would defend his family or home, but whether he will defend himself is another matter."

        Jurgen nodded and left in his dignified manner to do Madeline's bidding.

        Operations blue-gray eyes sparkled as he looked at Madeline.  "You have proof?  What kind of proof, Madeline?  Have you been a bad girl and put cameras in Michael and Nikita's bedroom?"

        "Of course, I have."  Madeline's brown eyes began to twinkle as well.  "I've been
holding out on you and saving them for an opportune time."

        "Hmm.  Shall we have home movies tonight, my dear?" he asked hopefully.

        "Yes, we shall."
 

        Operations and Madeline lay in bed watching the tape that Madeline had made of Michael and Nikita months ago.  Operations mouth was dry, and he found it difficult to swallow.  At the end of the tape, he turned and looked at Madeline.  "Why don't we have some feathers around this place?" he asked hoarsely.
 

         Madeline smiled as she leaned into his kiss.  "Oh, but we do."
 

        Jurgen sighed as he sat down in his office.  He keyed in his access code and pulled up the list of abeyance operatives.  He needed to choose just the right one to test Michael.  He also needed to set up the perfect scenario, so that Michael would go trusting in his fellow operative.  Michael had gained Jurgen's respect over the eighteen months of training.  He had worked and trained hard, but Jurgen still felt he would ultimately fail as an operative because of his intrinsic nature.  He wasn't a killer, and that ultimately was all Section One wanted from any of them.
 
        Jurgen scanned the list quickly.  There were two ways to go--male or female.  Jurgen considered and decided female.  That would make for a very interesting test, he thought.  Now which female?  There were only four women currently in abeyance.  He wanted to pick someone with whom Michael would be  comfortable -- someone with whom he would not be suspicious  being paired:

        1) Sylvia, tall and rawboned, the strength of a man, former army officer convicted of crimes against humanity in the Gulf War, unable to control her rages.

        2) Tanya, tiny and  petite, very attractive, former druggie, convicted of murdering her pimp, would probably use again, therefore a security problem.

        3) Sharon, average height and weight, intelligent, arrogant, killed her lover in a jealous rage, along with his other mistress, a discipline problem, a very loose cannon.

        4) Dot, older than the rest, convicted of killing her ex-husband and his new wife in their beds. Main limitation, unable to get past her anger at men, affecting her judgment on missions.

        Jurgen eliminated Sylvia and Dot immediately.  Michael would have an easier time relating to Tanya or Sharon.  Jurgen considered further. Michael would have an easier time with Tanya due to her smaller size, so he chose Sharon for the signal honor of testing Michael's killer instinct.  She was larger and the more intelligent of the two, and she was physically excellent.  She would be the better test for Michael.

        Jurgen planned to send them together on a couple of simple reconnaissance missions to let them get used to each other and develop a rapport, then the third mission would be the test.

        Jurgen called Madeline and outlined his scenario, and she seemed pleased at his choices.  "You have a real gift for this, Jurgen.  You may be wasted in training new recruits,  If this plan succeeds the way I think it will, we'll have to think of a way to reward you," she promised.
 

        Michael's mouth went dry at the thought of being on a real mission.  He knew it was only a lower level reconnaissance, and that he and two other operatives would be on site keeping surveillance.  It would be his first time out of Section One on a mission, and it seemed incredibly daunting.  He had long given up his idealistic dream of what a secret agent did and was.  He had seen operatives he talked to in the gym go out on a mission and never return.  No one wasted any time or tears on them.  They were gone--end of discussion.

        Now when Nikita left on a mission, he prayed for her safe return.  He wasn't sure it did any good, but his childhood habit had reasserted itself the first time Nikita came back with an injury.  She had maintained she was ‘fine,' but Michael knew the weeks of intensive rehabilitation that followed and the air of desperation that pervaded Nikita's mood until she was judged ready for operations again.

        Michael waited anxiously for Jurgen to brief them on the upcoming mission.  There were two other operatives waiting with him.  They were both full operatives, and Michael reviewed what he knew of the two of them.  Davis was known to be a temperamental and arrogant operative, but he and Michael had sparred together several times in the past few months.  Michael thought he was probably a pretty good operative, and he certainly liked him a lot better than his trainer Jurgen.

        The female operative, Sharon, was known to be a hot head and a trouble maker, but she was also reported to be very intelligent and good to have at your side when operations turned sour, as they sometimes did.  Michael gave her a smile which she returned freely.  Michael knew that women liked him, and it never failed to amaze him.  He had been so devoted to Nikita for so long, that he had never thought about his effect on the opposite sex until he was around so many in Section One--none of whom were shy about letting him know exactly how they felt.

        It was very uncomfortable to have women ‘lusting' after him.  He guessed that was the right term.  It seemed a little indecent, but then he was kind of old-fashioned in that regard.  He knew he was a one-woman man, and that woman was his Nikita.

        Michael sensed, rather than heard, Jurgen come into the briefing area.  Jurgen's seemingly quiet and peaceful persona gave off a multitude of vibrations, most of which twanged at Michael's nerve endings.  While Michael couldn't offer any logical explanation for the way that Jurgen made him feel, he simply knew anytime Jurgen was near.

        Jurgen  activated the Vid Com.  The face of an oriental man appeared.  "This is John Chin, and you three will be stationed outside his small import business to watch for a shipment of  biological weapons.  Since our intel is unsure of when the shipment is due, the mission may take several nights of surveillance.  Once he receives a shipment of any kind, you will notify tactical, and we will institute an assault.  Any questions?"

        Michael thought for a moment.  "How will we know we have the right shipment?"

        Jurgen looked at Michael in exasperation, "Just follow the mission profile.  You see a shipment, you notify me.  We'll take care of the rest.  Do you understand that?"

        Michael flushed, but  answered, "Of course."

        The trip in the Section van was uneventful.  Sharon had given him a speculative look or two, but he had basically ignored her.  He wanted to focus on the mission at hand.

        "Hey, Davis, we have a newbie with us tonight.  This is your first mission, isn't it?  I can tell.  You look like you're swallowing sand."  Sharon laughed with good humor.

        Michael smiled tentatively and said, "That's exactly what it feels like--from the Sahara no less."

        Davis rolled his eyes and said, "It's gonna be a long night.  I suggest we all get some rest till we arrive on site.  It's pretty cut and dried.  We watch for a shipment.  We call tactical, and they take the heat.  Not much action--kind of a nice break for me.  I guess you're anxious to see the elephant and all that, eh Michael?"

        Michael thought for a moment.  "A test is a test, I suppose.  I'm in no rush, but I guess this is as good a way as any to start going on missions."  He looked around the van nervously as a chill traced its icy tentacles down his spine.
 

First Night:

        It was the night of the new moon and the darkness enveloped the surveillance  team.  Michael  was restless as he sat in the cool night, and he along with the rest of the team had been on watch for at least six hours.  Sharon and Davis were posted at other vantage points so that no opportunity would be missed  for observing  the arrival or  departure of  any vehicles.    Michael could barely see Sharon's dark form from his station fifty feet away, and he could not see Davis at all; however, visuals of  his team members were not necessary given the sophisticated communication devices that they all  wore.

        Sharon's soft voice kept up an easy chatter as they passed the time.   "So, Michael, what do you  think of your first mission, so far?  Pretty boring stuff as these things usually go."

        Michael shifted in position to keep from getting stiff.  "It's okay.  The excitement will probably come soon enough anyway."  Michael was grateful to hear her voice.  It was boring, but Michael knew  what the alternative was likely to be.

        "Okay, children,"  Davis interrupted, "Stop the chatter.  Just because we're bored, we don't need to be running our mouths so much.  Someone may have counter-surveillance measures in place."

        Michael could hear Sharon's sigh of resignation which sounded more like a huff and a puff.  He wished Nikita were there, but she was on a mission in Paris.    He had been naïve to think that they would see more of each other if he became a secret agent, but now it seemed like they saw each other even less.   They had even had to hire a full time nanny to care for little Nikki because of their inconsistent and erratic schedules.  He missed little Nikki as well.  She was almost ready to go into second grade.  He could not believe how the time had flown since she was the tiny pink dynamo that was placed in his arms.  He had always believed in love at first sight, because it had happened that way with Nikita, but little Nikki had an incredible pull on his heart the first time he saw her.

        "Michael," Davis's soft voice warned, "a truck's coming from the southeast.  Give me a visual."

        Michael did as ordered, but the truck was only a tease.  It passed them by without slowing down at Chin's import business.  Michael looked at his digital watch.  The blue numbers read 2:07 AM.  He hoped the expected shipment would come that night, because it seemed as if the night would never end.
 

Second Night.

        The second trip to the site was more high-spirited.  Sharon was flirting shamelessly with both Michael and Davis.  They had passed one night as a team, and it was Sharon's laughing suggestion that they should be a team in more ways than one.  Davis gave Sharon a speculative look, as if to ascertain her level of seriousness, then raised his eyebrows at Michael to see if he were interested.

        Inwardly, Michael was a little shocked at Sharon's meaning.  It was a titillating idea, but not one he would ever be interested in indulging.  On the other hand, he didn't want to insult a  fellow team member.  "You are a very brave woman indeed, Sharon.  Nikita would not take kindly to such an arrangement, and she can still whip my butt when it comes right down to it."  Michael gave a giggle, and Sharon, who was only half-way kidding, laughed delightedly as she pictured Nikita ‘spanking' Michael.

        "Well, maybe you are right about that after all, Michael.  I wouldn't want to get caught tampering with Nikita's property."  Sharon reached over and patted Michael's thigh as if to emphasize her meaning.

        Michael looked into Sharon's brown eyes and laughed as well.  "I may be Jurgen's material, but I am definitely Nikita's property."

        Davis joined in the laughter, for he knew only too well what the beautiful Nikita would be likely to do to anyone caught trespassing with her husband, and it would not be  pretty.

        The second night passed without incident.  There were no shipments and not even a stray truck to tease them into action.  Chin's Import sat there closed and dark.
 

Third Night

         Michael walked into Walter's armory.  "Walter, here's the inventory of what we need for tonight.  They think this is going to be the night the shipment comes in."  He gave the older man a half smile.  Walter was a favorite of his and Nikita's, and he was one of the few people that Michael trusted in Section One.

         Walter gave Michael a speculative glance.   "Think so, Michael?  Usually the intel  is more accurate than what we've been given so far on this mission.  Watch yourself tonight, Michael."  Walter leaned his head closer to Michael's and said softly, "Don't trust anybody, kid."

         Michael raised his thick eyebrows and asked, "Why not?"  He felt Walter was trying to warn him about something specific, rather than something general.

         Walter paused, started to speak, then paused again and shook his gray head.  "It's just a feeling I have.  I get them sometimes.  Watch your back, and don't ...."  Walter stopped, as if to say more, but couldn't.  He waved him on and sighed as Michael left.  He hoped he would see him again and alive.  Walter had always been able to tell when a recruit was going for the ‘test.'  There was a current in the air that was almost an odor, and it emanated everywhere in the stainless steel underground cage that was Section One.  The sensation made his heart beat faster, and it wouldn't stop until he saw the mission return in the morning and who returned with it.

         Michael puzzled over Walter's words as he walked toward van access.  As usual Jurgen stood at the door as the mission loaded.  Again, Jurgen did not enter the van, but would remain to run the tactical oversight from Section One.  Michael nodded to Jurgen as he walked past him.  Jurgen returned the nod.  "Michael."

         His fellow operatives Sharon and Davis were already on the van.  He was the last to enter.  Sharon was busily adjusting her body armor, and Davis was focused on cleaning his 9mm weapon.  "Think this will really be the night?" he asked of neither in particular.

         Sharon glanced up, shrugged and went back to checking her tabs and camera. Davis didn't bother to respond.  Michael's instincts went in to overdrive.  Something was not right.  The other two operatives would not look him in the eye.  The night before Sharon had been ready for a menage a trois, and now he might as well not exist--for either operative.  Michael began to check his gun and clips as well.  He leaned back and rested his head against the side of the van, but his eyes remained alert as he silently watched the other members of his team.

         Nikita's boot heels clicked sharply on the stone floor as she walked into Walter's armory.  She plopped down her 9mm and her remaining shell cartridges on the work table as she always did.  "Walter!" she called loudly.  She knew that Walter had a cot in the back of the area, and that he used it when he expected to be interrupted during the night by returning operatives.

         Walter had not been asleep.  Sleep would not come to him that night.  He was startled to hear the sound of Nikita's voice.  She had been leading a team on a mission in Morocco.  "Sugar, what are you doin' back so soon.  The team wasn't expected till tomorrow."

         Nikita bussed him on the cheek.  "We got lucky.  The weapons buy went down early, so we're back.  "Is Michael around?  There might still be time for us to have a late dinner after I debrief."  Nikita looked around eagerly as she spoke.  The smile on her face froze as she saw the indecision in Walter's body language.

         "No!" Nikita cried as her worst fear came to mind.  "Walter, where is he?  What's going on?  You're trying to keep something from me."  Nikita was in the process of shoving Walter into the wall, when Walter slipped from her grip and had her up against the wall instead.

         "Nikita, listen to me.  Michael's on a mission, maybe a ‘test.'  You can't help him.  He has to do this on his own."

         "NOOOO!"  Nikita's wail of anguish echoed through the emptiness of Section One.  She began to struggle with Walter who kept her pinned.  She beat at his shoulders and chest as she dissolved in tears.  Her legs buckled, and her body slid down the wall until she sat on the floor and sobbed.  Walter kept his arms around her as she continued alternately to wail and sob.  Walter's own faded blue eyes were rimmed with tears, as they sat in the floor together.

        Operations from his aerie was in contact with Madeline.  "Are you watching this?"

         "Yes."  Madeline had been uneasy, since she had learned that the Moroccan mission had an early success.  She feared Nikita's interference in Michael's test.

         "How can Walter know?"  Operations continued to watch Walter as he comforted and prevented Nikita from rushing out to Michael's defense.

         "I don't know, but he always seems to sense it.   He tests very high on the ESP scale, and for that matter, so does Michael."

         "Really?  That's very interesting.  You never told me."  Operations was beginning to have a new respect for the depths of Michael's abilities, and he would certainly take good advantage of them--if he survived the night.

         "I suppose it slipped my mind," Madeline said with her terminal Mona Lisa smile.
 

         "Walter, I have to go to him.  He's not ready for this.  It's too soon.  His two years aren't up.  Why now?"  Nikita continued to sob and sniffle like a child.  "I don't know what I'll do without him, Walter.  I thought two years was a long time.  He's not ready."  Tears continued to course down Nikita's face as she thought about raising Nikki alone. She thought of all the nevers.   Never to look into his green eyes again.  Never to lie in bed with him enjoying his body and his attentions to hers.  Never to hear him speak to her again with French words of love as he kissed her body and moved over her.   Never to hear him cry her name in passion.

         Nikita swallowed and looked at Walter.  "I don't want to live without him, Walter.  I don't think I can!" Nikita surrendered again to despair and sobbed.

         "Shut it up, Nikita.  You can't give up, when you don't even know anything has happened to him.  Give him some credit, Nikita.  How do you think he's going to feel when he comes back and hears how you've acted.  You shame him, Nikita.  He's a man and deserves the respect of a man."  Walter spoke harshly.  He had empathized with Nikita long enough.  She had to straighten up and pull herself together, before there were serious repercussions.
 
         Nikita realized the truth of Walter's accusations, and she made a brave attempt at wiping her eyes and blowing her nose.  "You're right.  I know you are, but...."

         "No buts, Michael has as good a chance as anyone ever did on the ‘test.'  He's fast, smart and well-trained.  He'll be fine."  Walter spoke with an assurance, that he was not sure he felt, but wanted to believe as much as Nikita.

         Overhead a disembodied voice spoke:  "Mission 43AK returning.  Medical and Housekeeping to van egress.

         Nikita gasped as she sprang to her feet and ran to van egress, her heels clicking loudly as she began her journey of desperation.  Time slowed, her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and her breathing grew ragged and burned with each inspiration and expiration.  Finally, she reached the van door as it slowly opened.  Nikita held her breath.

        Jurgen walked  to the access door as it slowly opened.  Nikita shot him a look of utter hatred and mouthed the words, "You son of a bitch!"

        Jurgen nodded as he took off his  wire-rimed glasses, "Nikita.  It was time."

         Nikita's response was to rush through the open access door toward the van.  The van door opened, and a shaken Michael stood there.  Nikita could see that he was covered in blood, and that he was holding his shoulder as if wounded.

         A medic rushed past Nikita and began examining Michael on the spot.  Michael shoved the medic against the corridor wall as he stumbled toward Nikita.

         This sinister Housekeeper, Aaron, strode into the area.  "How many, where?" asked Michael brusquely.
 
         Michael's eyes focused for the first time as he heard Aaron's voice.  "Two, in there," Michael said quietly as he motioned with a slight head movement.

         Nikita's eyes widened as she heard the words "two."  "Michael, let's get you to medical." Over Michael's shoulder she could see Jurgen's wry look of satisfaction, as he nodded at her again.  Nikita's relief that Michael was alive negated any response she might have made to Jurgen for the time being.  She placed one arm around Michael's waist and began walking with him toward the MedLab.

         Michael looked at Nikita as if he didn't know her.  He's in shock, she thought, as he continued to allow her to guide him.  The medic that Michael had shoved aside followed them, but kept his distance at Nikita's warning shake of her head.

         Once the trio made it to MedLab, Nikita was shoved out of the way, which she allowed because she knew Michael's physical wounds needed medical attention first.  His  psychic wounds would be considered later.
 

         Operations entered Madeline's comfortable office.  "Well, I see Michael made it through his ‘test.'  Operations smiled at Madeline as she offered him a cup of tea.  He waved it away.  Tea made him sleep poorly if he drank it that late at night, and she knew it, too.  He wondered why she bothered.

         Madeline nodded, "Michael survived.  Both the abeyance ops. are canceled.  All in all I'd say it was quite a successful mission."  She looked at him with satisfaction.

         "He seems to be a little worse for the experience.  His responses are monosyllabic.  He hasn't spoken to Nikita, even though she was there at access.  I'm a little concerned about his mental status." said Operations with a small frown as he voiced his concern.

         "I knew this would be difficult for Michael, but we still have six months to evaluate his mental status and to polish his attitude.  I don't think there will be a problem. His physical wounds aren't serious.  If fact, he will probably be allowed to go home tomorrow.  Being at home with Nikita should take care of the rest.  She was in much the same state, if you remember, after her test mission.  She managed, and she will be able to help him as well."  Madeline's serene demeanor never faltered.  She was always positive that she knew how everyone would respond in every situation.  After all, that was her job.

         "What about the second phase of your plan?" he asked.

         "That will begin shortly, under the guise of seeing me for therapy after the mission.  Once he is comfortable in my presence, I will initiate that phase."  Madeline said with a smiling determination, that left Operations no doubt that Michael would become a Valentine operative.  He personally thought she was making a mistake, but he would allow her the leeway to discover it for herself.
 

        Nikita paced the hall outside MedLab as the surgeon attended to Michael's wound.  She was more concerned about his state of mind than about his physical condition.  She had seen many recruits come back from their ‘test' mission and had never seen anyone as devastated as Michael appeared to be.  She had seen more recruits come back with a swagger in their step, but she knew Michael was different and always had been.  He was a true innocent who had blundered his way into Section One.

         Even she had not been innocent of the crime that brought her to be recruited by Section One.  She had often wondered why Michael had not pressed about how she came to be in Section, once he had learned the recruitment requirements.  He had asked once, but he never had again insisted she answer.  Nikita thought bitterly of the brutal rapist set free by the justice system.  At the age of eighteen she had hunted her rapist down and killed him in cold blood.  Life in prison had been her reward.  Now Section One was her prison, as well as Michael's.

         More than anything, she wondered at the circumstances of his injury and the deaths of his team members.  What had happened on the test mission?  What kind of fiendish test had Jurgen and Madeline devised to test Michael's worthiness to be an operative, and why so soon?

         Nikita whirled on her heel and strode down the hall to Madeline's office.  Madeline looked up as Nikita entered and waited for her to speak.  Nikita crossed her arms in front of her body as she paced around the cave-like office, but she seemed to have difficulty getting started.

         "How's Michael?" Madeline asked, although she knew his condition down to the last stitch.

         Nikita looked at Madeline with fire blazing in her blue eyes.  "Michael's fine.  I want to know why he was sent on a test mission so early in his training, and I want to know what the mission profile was,"  she demanded heatedly.

         "Nikita, there is no reason I owe you any explanation of our personnel decisions, but I will take into account your previous service here and your emotional connection to Michael and explain what the plan was.  Michael was sent on a primarily surveillance mission with two abeyance operatives, Davis and Sharon.  They were both separately instructed to cancel Michael along with the other operative.  This was a test to see if Michael would number one:  defend himself and two: kill two operatives that he had come to know on surveillance the two previous nights. Obviously, Michael was able to do both.  The mission was a success."  Madeline looked at Nikita with brown eyes would brook no disagreement.

         Nikita's breath came rapidly,  as she tried to maintain control over her mouth. "No.  Thank you.  That's all."  Nikita started to leave, then turned and started to yell, "My ‘emotional connection' is my husband and the father of my child, and don't you ever forget it!"

         Madeline sent Nikita a look that would have stunned many a male operative. "That will be all, Nikita.  You may go now."

         Nikita whirled and left Madeline's office, and as she  strode down the hall, her fellow operatives gave her a wide berth.  She hesitated as she reached MedLab and took three deep cleansing breaths in order to calm her mind. The sent him out on a suicide mission with two abeyance operatives--both of whom had orders to kill him and each other.  It was incredible what Section One did to its operatives.  She knew she had been more fortunate that most, but this was the worst thing they had ever done to her.

         Gathering courage and equanimity, Nikita opened the door and went to Michael's side.  He was sleeping, or at least appeared to be.  As she raised his free hand to her lips and kissed it, his eyes opened quickly.  He shut them again as quickly.

         "Michael, it's me, Nikita.  Don't shut me out.  You can get through this.  I did, and you can too."  Michael's eyes remained shut as Nikita continued to plead.  "You've got to snap out of it, Michael.  They could still cancel you.  Please, don't leave me, not now."

         Michael opened his eyes, but they were blank.  Nikita shivered as she saw that he looked through her.  Nikita quickly made a decision.  She couldn't wait till tomorrow to take him home.  She was taking him home tonight.  He had to connect with the familiarity of home and Nikki.  She had to get him home quickly.  "Nancy, I'm taking him outta here now.  Disconnect all this crap, give me what I need to take care of him, and get outta my way."

         "Nikita, really, don't do this.  He should stay here, where we can observe him," Nancy protested, but she knew Nikita was going to do whatever Nikita wanted to do.

         "If he stays here any longer, he's not going to make it." Nikita proclaimed.

         "Nikita, his wound is not that bad.  He's going to be fine," Nancy protested again.

         "That's not what I mean, Nancy.  I mean emotionally.  He needs to be at home, and he needs to be there now."  Nikita's air of desperation was contagious.  Nancy quickly removed his IV fluids and monitors.

         "There, he's free.  Here are his antibiotics and pain pills--just follow the directions, and call me if you have any questions.  I'll be here all night anyway."  Nancy patted Nikita's shoulder as she handed her the medications.
 
         "Thank you.  I won't forget this ever.  I owe you one," she said with a sad smile to the nurse who was already on her way to find a wheelchair.  "Michael, come on.  We're going home."  Nikita began tugging on Michael to enable him to sit and stand.  Nancy returned with the wheelchair, and together they had him in it and on his way out the door before anyone could stop them.
 
FINI