A Different Mirror

 

 

Copyright August 2000

[Contains spoilers for "Four Light Years Farther", and other season four episodes.]

 

Mahleah walked into Munitions and hopped onto one of Walter’s worktables.

"Hey darlin’," he greeted her with a smile. "What’s going on with my favorite level five op?"

She crossed her legs at the ankle and swung them like a little kid. "Nothing much," she replied. "I mean, nominally, I have Michael’s old position, but the truth of the matter is that they don’t know what to do with me. It seems they have trouble trusting me these days. Not that I entirely blame them after a couple of the stunts I’ve pulled, but it’s affecting our efficiency. Without Michael and Nikita, Section’s in desperate need of experienced operatives, but they only have me running the most critical missions. For anything else I’m deemed ‘too valuable’ which is a fancy way of saying that they’re afraid I’ll take off like our long-lost friends."

"I’ve been wondering what the deal is," he admitted. "We’re losing an awful lot of people these days. It didn’t make sense to me that you weren’t used more. So, they think you’ll take off, too?"

"They’re not sure, so they’re keeping me on a tight leash. They’ve also made sure I stay far away from their efforts to locate the fugitives." She shrugged. "I guess they figure that I’m not likely to put my heart into it."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "I don’t think any of us really want to see them caught except the powers that be."

She scrutinized him carefully, "So Walter honey, what are we going to do with you, now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, since all the members of the five percent club seem to be flying the coop, how are we –" she broke off when her cell-phone rang.

"Yes," she answered.

She heard Madeline’s voice say, "Kensei."

She repressed a shudder. There was just something creepy about having Madeline use her code name. She waited for instructions, then put the phone back in her pocket and looked at her friend.

"Flash mission," she reported. "It seems I’m going to see some action after all."

"Be careful," he warned. "They could be up to something."

She patted him on the shoulder, "When are they not?"

Two hours after her team left, Walter noticed a flurry of activity outside his domain. Curious, he went to his computer terminal and scanned until he found the latest breaking news. The discovery made him feel sad and old. Michael and Nikita had been located and captured. Their retrieval team was now on its way back to Section with the runaways. He thought that things couldn’t look any darker for the people he affectionately called the Five- Percent Club…

 

*********

 

A weary Mahleah returned to Section hoping to catch some sleep. Her mission had not been very demanding but it had been a long trip and she was strangely grateful for her enforced stay inside Section walls. She wouldn’t have to go far to find a bed.

Rounding a corner, she ran into Walter. "Hey," she greeted him sleepily. "What’s with the long face?"

He took a deep breath and then told her, "Not long after you left, Michael and Nikita were brought in. Nikita convinced Operations that Michael could survive without her much easier than she could without him and they were just about to cancel her when Mr. Jones shut everything down."

"Mr. Jones? What does he want?"

"No one has ever seen him, so we’re not sure what’s going on."

She waved a weary hand, "Well, I need to get some sleep before I face our possible dissolution as an agency. Wake me when the catastrophe arrives."

When Mahleah woke up, Section One was a completely different place. Madeline was dead, she learned, and Nikita was actually a mole for Mr. Jones. As she reeled from the implications of these events, she was informed that Nikita was ready for her evaluation.

"My evaluation?" she laughed. "Well, this should prove interesting."

 

*******

 

When Mahleah stepped into the interview cubicle, Nikita studied her closely. Her former material was dressed, head to toe, in pure white. Grabbing the chair Michael had discarded, Mahleah settled herself into it and gazed at her interrogator placidly.

"So," she drawled in an uncanny impersonation of Jason’s "Southern" accent, "once again you get to evaluate me, Ni-ki-ta." She saw a muscle twitch in the other woman’s cheek at the way she said her name.

"Yes," the blonde woman responded. "Only this time, my recommendations are much more important."

"More important than whether I lived or died? Hmm, I guess. I must say I approve of some of your decisions so far. Sending Walter to the farm for instance," she smiled. "He’s not very happy about it, but he’s going to make a great teacher. Plus, it gets him out of Section and harm’s way, so I’ll give you bonus points. I assume Jason will remain with you at Center?" At Nikita’s nod, she continued, "Good, so far that’s two for two. Madeline took matters into her own hands and I’ve heard Operations got passed over for promotion and gets to stay here."

Nikita assented, then added, "That’s where you come in actually."

"Me?"

"Yes, Operations has proven that he doesn’t possess the skill-set needed to succeed at Oversight, but George is dead. There is a position there that needs to be filled. You are the best candidate for the job."

Mahleah raised her eyebrows, "I get promoted over Paul? Oh, he’ll love that."

Nikita gave her a little smile, "As I believe you said once, Paul’s old enough that his wants won’t hurt him. Don’t worry, he’ll have time to grow accustomed to the change. You need to put in a little time in the upper echelons of power here first and as it happens we have a vacancy."

"You want me to take Madeline’s place? My, my just how ruthless do you think I am?"

"Ruthlessness is only one of the requirements. You also possess compassion which I think will enable you to bring some much needed balance to this organization."

"Well," Mahleah’s accent changed to a Scottish brogue, "I had verra, verra good teachers you ken. How long will I remain here?"

"For a year, I think," she was informed. "Then we will transition you into Oversight."

"So, Walter’s going to the farm, Jason’s going with you, and I stay here with Operations. What happens to Michael?"

Nikita’s face remained inscrutable. "Michael has betrayed the Section too often. He’s preparing now for an abeyance mission."

Mahleah hardened and she deliberately framed her words in a soft, French accent, "You’re having him cancelled? After all he has done for you – all that he’s underwent on behalf of you?"

Nikita blinked, then answered, "Yes." She looked down at her computer screen, then back up at the older woman. "That will be all, Mahleah." She smiled briefly. "Congratulations on your promotion."

Mahleah rose and stared at the woman she’d thought she’d known, "Goodbye Kita."

"You’ll see me again I’m sure."

Mahleah tilted her head, thoughtfully. "Hmmm, maybe so but I think no one will ever be calling you that again." Her accent changed one last time to a more authentic Southern sound as she stood by the door. "I suppose I should thank you for relieving my guilt, sweetie."

"Guilt?"

 

"Yes, you see I’ve been feeling bad about the rare occasions when Michael called out my name instead of yours." As her dart found its target she added with a polite drawl, "Oh, sorry, but I thought that was common knowledge. Belated congratulations on your promotion, dear. You worked very hard to get it I’m sure."

Mahleah walked out of the door leaving a pensive woman behind her.

 

*********

 

As Mahleah quickly made her way down the hall, she was stopped by a smiling Operations.

"I understand we’ll be working more closely together," he commented.

She looked at him with amusement, "So I’ve been told. I’m sure Madeline is spinning in her grave right now."

Seeing him flinch and quickly repress a cloud that came over his face, she realized that he truly had cared for his second in command. That was a relief to know, as his actions of late had made those feelings seem questionable. Her heart thawed toward him for a moment, and she put a hand on his arm.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so flippant. I know you’ll miss her."

He cleared his throat and shrugged, "Life goes on."

Back to form, she thought. "I’ve also been informed Paul, that my tenure as your girl Friday will be a brief one. I’ve been tapped to replace George at Oversight."

He smiled broadly, "Yes, an interesting twist I must admit. I’m sure though that we can arrange an amicable relationship well before you leave that will prevent the misunderstandings that arose in the past."

Misunderstandings, he’d killed George. Oh well, leave it to Paul to speak doubletalk to the end. She started to leave as she had things to do and someone to say goodbye to and he was wasting valuable time.

He stopped her again to say with all apparent sincerity, "I’m very glad you were chosen Mahleah."

When she started to speak, he interrupted by saying, "There’s no way in hell I could have worked with Nikita after this level of betrayal."

Frankly, she agreed with him for once. She nodded then said, "I’m sorry Paul but I must go. I have to say goodbye to an old friend."

She thought for the briefest moment his eyes became suspiciously shiny as he said, "He was our greatest asset until she came along. Go, then, and Mahleah –" she turned her head once more to look at him. "This was not my decision."

"I know."

 

***********

 

As Mahleah approached the group of men, the briefing had just broken up. The team was still dazed from the shock of knowing that Michael was being asked to perform a kamikaze mission. With sorrow and anger, Mahleah noticed the deeply painful expression in his eyes. She walked up to him rubbing her temples.

When he saw her he asked, "Are you okay?"

She scowled, "I think the pain in my head is almost as bad as the pain in my heart."

He just looked at her and she realized that he truly meant to go through with it. He had survived ten years of Section, but Nikita’s betrayal had broken something in him. She swallowed and said, "Hey could you do something for me for old time’s sake?"

He nodded and she smiled, "Good. Let my hair out of this braid, will you? It seems awfully heavy today."

She saw a ghost of a smile pass fleetingly through his eyes and he turned her away from him, and began gently unraveling the long thick plait. Across the room she saw Walter, with tears in his eyes, watch them. "Fight!" his expression shouted to the man standing behind her, but Michael was oblivious. When he was finished, she turned.

"Thank you, Musashi," she said softly. He still made no reply and her fraying temper began to snap. "Aren’t you going to say anything?" she demanded.

Fingers lightly stroked the side of her face, "Goodbye," he whispered.

His beautiful green eyes were nearly empty of any emotion besides an overwhelming sorrow. She couldn’t bear to look into them and pulled him into a tight hug. He brushed the silky strands of hair, trying to alleviate her pain and it was just too much for her. She turned her head and caught his lips in a fierce kiss, trying to pass some of her own spirit into him. "Fight!" she wordlessly urged. "Live!" For a brief moment, she felt something flare inside him and he responded. "Yes!" she thought. "Don’t give up!"

They broke apart and she saw his eyes glance away from her and his grip tightened. When she followed his gaze, she saw Nikita watching them. Fury boiled up from deep within her and she knew exactly what she was going to do. Stepping away from Michael, she moved to confront his ex-lover.

Michael followed her halfway, a little concerned about the expression on her face. When he’d unbound her hair he’d felt an unmistakable shape on her back and the small part of him left that was still alive enough to care was worried what Mahleah could do with Tora in her present mood.

 

***********

 

Mahleah stopped in front of Nikita saying, "You know, ever since I arrived here you’ve been pointed out to me as the brightest light in Section -- Nikita, the top-notch operative who managed to hang onto her soul. Funny thing is you don’t seem to be shining so brightly today. Your soul seems to have lost its glow."

"I did what I had to do," Nikita responded tightly.

"Oh, is that right? So, you had to pretend friendship, loyalty, and love to the rest of us -- especially since at least one of us nearly got killed on multiple occasions for no other reason than to save your hide. Since he traveled to hell and beyond to ensure that not only were you alive, but that you still retained the will God gave you. It seems rather funny to me that people liked to call him a machine and you the pure one seeing how everything turned out."

Nikita started to speak, but in the blink of an eye, Mahleah had Tora to her throat. From the side of the room, they could hear Walter cry out, "Mahleah, what are you doing?"

Eyes of ocean-blue met unblinking dark ones as the swords-woman replied, "Following Madeline’s example if you can believe it. I’d rather take my own way out of here. You see," she told the woman in front of her, "to me the one unforgivable sin is betrayal."

Behind them, Michael spoke, "Mahleah…" In those three syllables, she could distinguish several emotions: fear for her and fear for Nikita being uppermost.

"Don’t worry, Musashi," she said lightly. "This one’s not worth rusting Tora’s blade over."

Before anyone could stop her, she removed the katana from Nikita’s throat and thrust it into her own chest.

"No!" burst from several throats.

Walter came running over to kneel beside her. "Why?" He cried.

Mahleah could barely speak, "Sorry Walter, but I refuse to waste any more of my time in this godless place."

On her other side, Michael fell to his knees. "Michael," he could barely make out her hoarse whisper, "Au revoir."

He raised her in a tight embrace and stared sightlessly into space.

Nikita stood horrified at the actions of someone she had regarded as a close friend while Walter felt another weight added to his heart when he saw the look on Michael’s face.

 

*********

 

Michael supposed he should have seen the signs earlier. Mahleah was dressed in white, which in some cultures, which she was intimately familiar with, was the color of mourning. She was wearing Tora, never a good sign, and he should have known that she would never harm someone she considered a friend. Her goodbye messages had been double-edged when he examined them closely, including her dying words. Truly, there was nothing left for him in Section. He was touched by Walter’s attempt to help him escape, but it was of no use.

He was genuinely surprised when he arrived at his final mark to discover Nikita waiting for him. Hope arose fitfully in his heart. Maybe she had decided to join him after all. When they made their way outside though, she crushed those hopes. She wasn’t ready to see him die, but she’d never loved him. He reflected on those words for a moment and then carefully and deliberately took his knife and cut his face: turning it into a bloody caricature of a mask of grief. His soul was numb. For three years, she had been lying to him. The very moment that he had declared the happiest of his life, in their lighthearted game of truth or dare, had been contrived.

He handed her back the router and walked away, not caring where he went. At the edge of the forest though, he spotted a familiar figure. He wished he had a smile or a tear left in him to greet her with, but there was nothing. The only person he’d ever known in Section who had never lied to him stepped forward and gently wiped the blood from his face.

"I’m sorry, Michael," he heard her say. "I wish she had decided to come with you."

"Why are you here?" he asked. "You’re free now."

She stroked his hair and lightly kissed his cheek, "My poor Musashi, you didn’t think I’d let you go through this alone? I told you we would meet again. Come."

She took his hand and he let her lead him away – the only person left in the world he trusted.

Back in the forest, Nikita snapped herself out of her trance and began walking in the opposite direction from Michael. Unnoticed, a single tear found its way from the corner of her eye.

 

End

Continue to As Time Goes By – Book One: You Must Remember This