Sherry came to rather quickly. She had no idea where she was. Everything was white. The walls, the floor, the clothes she had on... where had they come from anyway? She tried to sit up, but noticed that she was restrained. And she also had one killer of a headache. She finally noticed there was another person in the room. Trying not to open her eyes too widely because the light was killing her, Sherry turned her head towards the person.

"Hi. My name is Nikita." Sherry stared at the woman and wondered what had happened ... was she dreaming?

Finally she answered. "Hi. Where am I?"

Nikita smiled at her. This was not something she looked forward to, but she would have to do it or be canceled. "You are in Section One. This is where you will train. I will be your mentor." Sherry was really confused now.

"Train ... for what? What are you talking about? All I remember is walking down the street ... there was an explosion ... and the next thing I know I wake up here, tied to this table. Please let me up."

Nikita was fairly certain before she had entered the room that Sherry was an innocent, just like herself. Now she was certain of it. She moved to loosen the restraints and Sherry sat up, rubbing her wrists.

"I'm sorry about this. But there's nothing we can do about it now. As far as your family and the outside world is concerned, you are dead."

Sherry stopped rubbing her wrists and looked at Nikita. "What are you talking about? I'm not dead. Okay, let's get real here. Let me out of this place, now."

Nikita knew what Sherry was feeling. She had been through this all herself. Of course, she had acted much more violently at first than Sherry was. She was a true innocent. She hadn't grown up on the streets as Nikita did. She apparently had just turned up at the wrong place at the wrong time. This was gonna be tough all the way around.

"I'm sorry, Sherry. I can't let you go. Section one is the most covert antiterrorist group on the planet and they have recruited you to work for them."

Sherry laughed at that one. "Yeah right, get real. I'm not a spy or an agent or whatever. You've definitely got the wrong person."

This was not going well. Nikita decided she would just have to get through this and move on. "No, you're right. You aren't ... yet. But you will be. That's where I come in. I am your trainer. You will train for two years and then you will become an operative ... if you pass the training, that is.

Sherry was watching Nikita closely. "And if I don't?"

Nikita turned around so she didn't have to watch Sherry's face. "Then, you will be canceled ... killed." Nikita finally turned around and saw that Sherry's face had grown very, very pale.

"I'm sorry, Sherry. If it was up to me, I'd let you go. But no one in Section has free will and no one has much of a life besides the Section. I think you were given to me to train because we are very similar. We were both innocents when we were brought in. From what I understand from the intel we have on you, you also will be a member of our "5% Club."

Sherry was really getting worried now. Not only was her life over, but now they were categorizing her as part of a "5% club?" What in the world was that?

"Okay, I give. What's the 5% Club?" Nikita laughed.

"Nothing to worry about, really. It just means your one of the good guys. You have a soul, you're compassionate ... and you probably won't let them take it from you. It won't be easy, believe me. There might even be times when you want to kill yourself, but I'll help you through it. Now, let's get started."

Sherry and Nikita start down the hallway through Section. Sherry notices several people watching. There is an older man and a dark-haired woman watching them from an observation deck above.

"Boy do I feel like I'm under a microscope. Who are those people and why are they staring at us?"

Nikita laughed, again. "Get used to it. That's Operations. He runs the place. The woman is Madeline, psych profiler, extraordinaire. She will get into your head and try to analyze everything you do. Watch out for those two. They will use everything they can against you. Even our friendship."

Sherry was not liking this one bit. "Wow, this place sounds like the devil's version of Disneyland."

This time Nikita couldn't help it. She laughed out loud. Really laughed. Now even the onlookers were curious as to what was going on. Nikita replied, "Well, I think you've got this place pegged already!"

Sherry wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or cry, but she laughed along with Nikita. They passed the Comm Center and Nikita said hello to a young man behind the computers.

"Hey Birkoff. Sherry, this is Birkoff. He's our resident computer genius. Pretty much runs everything as far as communications and systems." Sherry was impressed. Somebody so young to have such responsibility.

"Hello Birkoff. Nice to meet you."

Birkoff said "Hi." Then he looked to Nikita. "Operations and Madeline want to see you as soon as you are finished."

Nikita replied "Fine" and continued on the tour of Section. Just then Sherry looked over to her left and noticed a very handsome man watching them.

"Oh and who is that guy? The one over there dressed in all black."

Nikita laughed again. Having Sherry around just might be fun, after all. "That is Michael. He's the best operative in Section One. Actually he trained me. And he always wears black ... his choice of color."

There was something about the way Nikita discussed Michael that had Sherry intrigued. "Okay, go on. There's more to it than that. There's something between you two, isn't there?"

Nikita looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Well, there is from time to time. Whenever HE decides its okay. Sometimes, though, I'd just as soon strangle him as look at him. Beware of him, Sherry. He is often used to manipulate the women of Section. I've been manipulated so many times by him that sometimes I don't know if I'm coming or going."

Sherry was fascinated. "But you still care for him ... love him?"

Nikita was getting uncomfortable. Sherry was very perceptive. Maybe too much so. Of course, that could only serve her well in Section. "Yeah, I do," she finally answered. "I can't help it. He's my soulmate, whether I like it or not."

"Duly noted" Sherry replied, "don't fall for Michael. Nikita's property!"

They both laughed again. Then they headed off down another hallway. Sherry noticed an older with long hair, wearing a bandana.

"Hey Walter" Nikita called. The older man looked up and smiled.

"Hey Sugar. Who you got with ya?" Nikita explained to Walter that Sherry was her new trainee. "And Walter, I'm proud to say that she's one of us ... the 5% Club."

"Well, nice to meet you Sherry," Walter replied. "Always glad to have another member of the Club."

Nikita then continued. "Walter, you will be helping me train Sherry. She seems to have an aptitude for equipment and electronic gadgets. So, you'll be teaching her about the equipment and stuff around here and I'll get her the rest of the time. Except, of course, for the computer training, which will go to Birkoff."

Walter had a huge grin on his face. "Great. About time I had some help around here, anyway. Glad to have you aboard, Sher." Walter noticed that Sherry was looking very sad all of a sudden. "Hey, you don't mind if I call you that do you?"

Sherry smiled and said "No, it's just that's what my family always called me."

Walter looked stricken so Nikita decided to take over. She gave Sherry a quick hug and tried to get her to focus on other things. "I know this is difficult, but eventually it will get easier. I'll try and find a way to keep you updated on your family from time to time. Now, off to see your quarters. Bye Walter."

Walter waved and called "By Sugar, Sherry. Look forward to seeing you later."

Nikita proceeded to take Sherry to her new home. "Sorry about the accommodations, they aren't great. But this will be your home for the next two years. Once you are a full-fledged operative, then we will get you a place to live outside of Section. Do you have any questions?"

Sherry shook her head. This was all just a bit too overwhelming. Nikita knew what was going through Sherry's head and felt compassion for her.

"Okay, I'll be back later to check on you. In the meantime, check around your room, see if there is anything you need that you don't have. I have to go see Operations and Madeline and then I'll be back."

With that, Nikita left to meet with Section's chiefs. She knew it would be an adjustment, but Sherry would be fine. And she would get everyone she could to help make the transition smooth ... Walter, Birkoff, Michael (well, at least as much as she could get him to cooperate) and other ops.

Yep, Sherry would be just fine.

The End