Chapter One

Operations was especially pleased with himself this morning. He was about to take down Dark Freedom, a terrorist group that had been causing Section One, and the world at large, enormous problems over the past two years. Section had gotten the break they needed to bring down the group quite by accident. On an earlier mission, Michael’s team had brought in Simon Deshane, a member of Red Cell. During Madeline’s interrogation, she stumbled upon the information about Dark Freedom. Now, the profile had been set and, in a few hours, Section, and the world, would be free of the plague known as Dark Freedom.

Section’s chief grinned to himself as he looked down from the Observation Deck, which also happened to be his office. Birkoff was busily coordinating last minute changes to the profile as well as rechecking and corroborating all intel regarding Dark Freedom. Right now, Michael was in his office calling in his team. Only the best would be sent on this mission. And even if he hated admitting it, Michael’s team was the best.

Picking up his coffee cup to take a sip, Operations turned back to his computer to check on a few other missions currently in play. He was getting antsy. He always felt this way when he was about to achieve a major coup. Oversight would definitely be in his debt after this one. That thought made him smile as well. His long-term goal was to one day run Oversight -- to remove George from power and take over himself. Then he would truly rule the world ... or as least as much of it as he cared to.

Taking another sip of his coffee, he knew he needed a distraction to keep him occupied until he could brief Michael’s team one last time for the Dark Freedom mission. He hit the intercom and issued another order. “Birkoff. Have Madeline come to my office immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” Sighing, and wondering why the man couldn’t simply call Madeline himself, Birkoff buzzed her office. She didn’t answer right away, so he tried again. “Madeline, Operations needs to see you in his office right now.” He waited for an answer, but none was forthcoming. ‘Great,’ he thought to himself. ‘Now where is she? I really don’t have time to track her down right now.’ Sighing once again, he commandeered his assistant’s computer and did a search of Section to locate Madeline. Nothing. He ran the search again, with the same result. That was odd. Madeline was in Section almost as much as Operations. Those two hardly ever left.

Deciding that perhaps she had left a message and no one had bothered to tell him, he checked with Security. He hit a few keys on his keyboard and Parker answered. “Parker, did Madeline check in this morning?”

“Just let me review the log, Birkoff.” He waited for a few seconds and then Parker was back. “No. We have nothing on her. Is there a problem?”

Birkoff sighed. “No, I don’t think so. Thanks.” The only thing left for him to do was to call her at home. He hated to do that because, since she rarely went home, Madeline discouraged anyone disturbing her when she did, unless it was an emergency. As far as he knew, this wasn’t one. But, he really didn’t have a choice. Operations wanted to speak with her.

He dialed Madeline’s home number and let the phone ring fifteen times before he gave up. Maybe she’s out shopping or having breakfast or something, he thought. He dialed her cell phone. It didn’t ring at all. Assuming he had misdialed, he tried again. Still no ring ... nothing. This troubled him because it was a hard and fast rule in Section that you did not turn off your cell phone. And you always made sure it had a fresh battery.

Birkoff’s mind raced. Something was up. He tried to think of another way to locate her, but he couldn’t. He dialed each number again, checked with Security one more time and tried Madeline’s office once more. Still nothing. He was getting a very bad feeling. And he really didn’t want to tell Operations. They had been through this once before when Madeline had been kidnapped. Operations practically went berserk.

Birkoff’s mind then wandered to the time they had the virus outbreak inside Section. Madeline had been infected. Operations, who had been secured in his office during the outbreak, was so worried about Madeline that he actually shot out the containment shield to get out and go to her. Yes, the man definitely got way too emotional when things went wrong. And he was clearly over the top when it had anything to do with Madeline.

With another sigh, Birkoff straightened his shoulders, took a deep breath, and then did the thing he had been dreading for the last five minutes. “Sir, we have a problem.”

Operations didn’t want to hear it. This was his day ... he was going to succeed today. Nothing was to get in the way of that. Why didn’t Birkoff understand that? “What is it, Birkoff?”

“Sir, I can’t locate Madeline. I’ve tried all her phone numbers twice, and checked with Security. They haven’t heard from her. I’ve done a complete scan of Section and she’s nowhere to be found. I think we have to assume she’s missing.”

Missing? Madeline? There had to be some mistake. His mind just wouldn’t grasp it. Even though he had heard Birkoff’s answers to these questions, he had to ask again until he could regain his equilibrium. “Are you sure you checked everywhere? Did you try her cell phone and her home number? Perhaps she’s interrogating a suspect or interviewing someone and just doesn’t want to be disturbed.” He grasped at any explanation other than the one he felt, deep in his bones, was the truth ... that she really was missing.

“Yes sir. I’ve tried all the numbers listed. And she never checked in with Security today. Apparently she never arrived.”

Operations’ mind was in complete disarray. He had to find her. She was his lifeline, his mainstay in Section. She was his right hand. But she was so much more than that. She was his friend, his confidante, his lover, his ... well ... he just had to find her. “All right, Birkoff, get Michael in here immediately.”

“Yes sir.”

Five minutes later, Michael walked into Operations’ office. Operations was pacing back and forth like a caged animal. “You wanted to see me?” Michael could tell just by looking at Operations that something was wrong ... seriously wrong. The man couldn’t hide his emotions at all, and he was in a panic.

“Yes, Michael. Madeline is missing. I want you to stand down from the Dark Freedom mission and get your team on finding her. This is top priority.”

Michael watched Operations for a few seconds, then simply replied. “Fine. Do we have anything to go on?”

Operations looked at Michael as if to ask, ‘Why are you still here? Why are you bothering me with such nonsense? Just get to it!’

“No, we have nothing. Birkoff has tried every number we have for her and she doesn’t answer. She apparently never arrived this morning because Security has no record of it. That’s all we know. Now I suggest you get busy. We don’t have any time to lose.”

Michael nodded and turned to leave. Operations called out to him again. “Michael.” Michael stopped and turned back to Operations. “Yes?”

“You know how important this is Michael. Do not let anything sidetrack you or get in your way. Do you understand?”

Michael stared at Section’s chief. The man was frantic. He had always felt that Operations was in love with Madeline, and this behavior only added fuel to his suspicion. And if he felt for Madeline even half of what Michael felt for Nikita, then Michael understood completely. “Yes, I understand.”

Operations nodded and Michael returned to his office.

Michael had contacted everyone on his team but Nikita before he had been interrupted by Birkoff’s call. As they were all on their way in for the Dark Freedom mission, he didn’t have to contact them again. He opened his cell phone and hit speed dial for Nikita. The phone didn’t ring. Thinking that perhaps he had hit the wrong button, he tried again. Still no ring. He tried dialing the number directly, and still there was no sound. He frowned. He had told Nikita over and over again about turning off her cell phone. She knew better. She hadn’t done it, in fact, since she had been involved with Gray a few years ago.

Michael had a sinking feeling. He didn’t acknowledge what it was, he couldn’t. He simply got up and left Section, heading for Nikita’s apartment. He silently prayed the whole way there that she would be in her apartment and the battery to her cell phone was simply dead.

Arriving at her door, he knocked. There was no answer. He tried again, knocking louder and calling her name. Still no one answered. He had a key to her apartment, so he let himself in. Nothing appeared to be out of place. He walked through her apartment, a place he had become quite familiar with in recent months. He started in the kitchen and living room, but nothing was disturbed. He moved to the bedroom. Her clothes were all in the closet and everything was as it should be. Something was definitely wrong. He could find no evidence of anyone having been here ... even Nikita herself. That’s what bothered him the most. If she had simply gone out and didn’t realize her phone was dead, there would be some evidence of her having been there. Breakfast dishes, coffee mug, dirty clothes, something. And there was nothing.

Michael, taking a deep breath, felt as if his heart were being ripped out. Something had happened to her, he could sense it. Now, not only was Madeline missing, but Nikita was too. That was simply too much of a coincidence. Someone had taken them. Someone was trying to get their attention. And he had to admit it ... they had succeeded.

Chapter Two

Michael stood in Nikita's living room allowing the shock and pain to course through his system. He knew that having these emotions was, and always would be, dangerous, but at that moment it didn't matter. Someone had taken the woman who gave him his humanity and he wanted her back. Memories of Nikita in her apartment flashed through Michael's mind: Nikita, her eyes full of tears, bravely holding her wine glass; slow dancing with Nikita; taking a bath with her, and waking up with her.

Wading through the painful emotions of loss he reached inside of himself for the cold, calculating and logical components of his personality. He allowed them to take control, for those were the only parts that could save her. Now the question was, who would want to take her and why?

The irritating shrill of his cell phone ringing broke his train of thought. Flipping the phone open with more force than was needed, he curtly said into the phone, "Yes."

"Michael, its Birkoff. Your team has gathered, except for you and Nikita. Operations is on the warpath and would like to know where you are." Birkoff said in a low, terse whisper.

"Tell him I am on my way." Michael walked out of Nikita's apartment toward the parking area.

"All right, Michael."

"And Birkoff, start a search for Nikita as well. She appears to have disappeared too." With that pronouncement Michael hung up the phone.

A pale gray room with one stainless steel table and four matching chairs as its only furnishings had two occupants. One who was sitting calmly in her chair, the other pacing around the room much like a caged animal ready to pounce on the next unsuspecting victim.

Madeline was tired of watching the younger woman pace. It was distracting to her mental computations. Finally she said, "Nikita, you are merely wasting your energy. You know in situations like this it is best to conserve it for when it is needed."

Nikita paused in her tracks, pulled the stray hair away from her face and looked at Madeline. "I’m sure you realize what is going on at Section by now."

“Yes, I do. By now, Operations is berating anyone who comes near him and he is losing some of his focus. But Michael will pick up the slack in that department. Michael has better control over his emotions. The question is, will they allow the missions currently active to fall by the wayside because of our disappearances?"

“They will find us, but at what cost?" Nikita asked of Madeline.

"Nikita, there is always a price to be paid. You should know that by now." Madeline said calmly as she picked a piece of lint from her suit. "We should just be prepared to take advantage of any opportunity that becomes available to us. Patience, Nikita."

Birkoff was checking for any sign of Nikita, but she seemed to have disappeared just like Madeline. There was no trace of either of them. Damn it, this was going to be bad. Operations and Michael were going to kill whoever did this, if it was the same person responsible for both disappearances.

"Hey, Birkoff. Is what I heard true? Madeline is missing? Maybe she finally decided to leave Section. Nah! I'd expect Nikita to do something like that, not Madeline."

“Walter, Nikita is missing too." Birkoff said in a low voice.

"What?” Walter exclaimed. Other operatives in the area turned to look at Walter. People did not usually raise their voices in Section unless something had gone wrong.

"Keep it quiet. Operations doesn't know yet. Michael is going to tell him."

"What’s going on? How were they both compromised? It’s not as if Madeline works in the field."

Birkoff looked up at Walter who was looking frazzled at the news of Nikita's disappearance. He was going to say something when out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of a head of white hair coming in his direction.

“Walter! Shouldn't you be working instead of gossiping like an old woman? Birkoff! Any word on Madeline? And where the hell is Michael? I want him and his team in the conference room in five minutes!" Operations strode in and out like a steamroller, crushing whoever stood in the way of his goal.

"Oh brother, is this going to be an unbearable place to work until Madeline comes back," said Walter as he stood in the aftershocks of Operations’ temper tantrum. "Birkoff, let me know if you hear anything about Nikita. Okay?"

"Sure Walter," he answered absentmindedly, as his mind had already jumped ahead to calling the team into the conference room. He just hoped Michael got here on time. Operations wasn't going to be too happy if he didn't.

Operatives occupied almost every chair at the conference room table. Operations was pacing in front. He was burning with impatience; Michael was still not here. Did he not understand that finding Madeline was of utmost importance, he wondered.

He decided to commence the briefing without him. "As most of you are aware by now, Madeline is missing. We are assuming that she has been kidnapped. I want all of you to put pressure on your contacts to find information that will lead to her retrieval. I want all…"

Operations paused mid-sentence because Michael had just walked in and took his seat at the table. "Well, I’m glad you could find time in your busy schedule to make an appearance," was the sarcastic greeting Michael received.

"Sir, there is another variable that needs to be entered into the profile," Michael said quite calmly, apparently unruffled by Operations salutation.

"Enlighten us Michael." Operations crossed his arms in front of his chest waiting for the response.

"Nikita is missing as well. I suspect the two disappearances are related. Someone wishes to distract Section."