"Past Precedent"
March 23rd 2008 13.45hrs, Safehouse 2 Saf had arrived early for her appointment. All the information from the call to her cell phone had given her was to be at SH2 for 14.00hrs to do the preliminary installation of her comms software. When she had arrived at 1403 Post Road, Sewaren, she had made her way to the 2nd Floor and pushed open the door, which had a plate marked `C-Moore Computer Associates'. The receptionist was SIA and recognised Saf, and directed her to a large open office at the rear of the building. There was tea and coffee available and also a water machine, but Saf placed her bag on the bench seat and waited. When the door opened, she wasn't surprised when Joshua walked in. "Good morning Sara," his voice was lacking warmth, but it wasn't cold either. She nodded, finally standing up before responding likewise "Joshua". It was uncomfortable for both of them, Saf felt it more, Joshua seemed more accepting. He poured himself a cup of coffee and offered to pour her one as well, initially she shook her head and then changed her mind, "actually, yes I will" he smiled then "Still contrary?" It was going to be alright, she felt that now despite what had gone on back in Section. Joshua had brought his laptop and Saf took it from him, dismantling it in front of him to his dismay. "It's ok, I know what I am doing," she said gently, and he relaxed a bit. The chips she had programmed, and she had a variety of them to choose from, didn't want to fit into the network card and as she didn't want to damage it, she was taking her time. Joshua had moved to stand behind her, "How are you doing?", her reply was terse, "Fine if this goes in," holding the chip in her hand. "No, I meant outside of Section," he continued, "Despite your `problems' with Section, you were valuable to them, and it is not easy for someone to make it on the outside." Her hands stopped, `please no, tell me that you are not reconsidering', her unvoiced thoughts struck terror into her heart. She didn't know how to respond to his words, and he must have recognised that fact for when he spoke again it was to reassure her, "Section One is not the same as it was, there is no going back. I just wanted to make sure you and the others were doing ok." She felt like a bow, relaxing as the tension was released, looking over at him to see his face. Inside she wanted to believe him, but she knew as well as anybody how much Section could lie to a person and still convince them that they were telling the truth. "How about everyone else who was left behind in Section, would you tell me about them? Mai, Davenport, Liz?," he shook his head, "No I didn't think so, so why should I tell you about Paige or Enola?" It was a funny thing, she remembered later, when she mentioned Paige's name Joshua had tensed, just for a brief moment, but then it was gone as though it had never happened. Joshua moved to the seats in the corner, and she returned to her task, eventually the chip fitted onto the board as though it had been designed. She downloaded the software from a portable drive and ran some pre-checks before starting the application. Some minor tweaks here and there, and she was ready for the iris scan to be done. Standing up she moved to where Joshua was sitting and placed the laptop on the floor beside him, taking out a pair of frames from her bag, she connected them to the port on the network card, and handed them to Joshua to put on. She had tried using hand held devices in her tests, but the glasses worked better, she still had problems with eye movement, but she was going to try something different to improve that. He put them on and she flicked a switch on the frames which turned the glass opaque, "Don't worry, the less you see, the less your eyes will move and to get a good scan you need to keep still for about 5 mins. Ok?" his reply was terse "Just do it." "Right, hold still now," she pressed a button and the iris scanner started to map first one eye then the other, just as it reached the last segment, it threw out an error code. "Sorry, but we are going to have to do that again, it didn't work." Joshua was silent, Saf decided to trial the new glasses she had been working on, these were dark and had side pieces to cut out even more light. She removed the lead from the ones Joshua had been working on and then plugged these ones in. This time it worked, to her relief and she had captured a good image. Joshua sat patiently as she typed in the specifics to customise the programmes, for which she was grateful not to be interrupted. At 3.45pm she had made good progress and had got most of the system working, the tests had been done on a range of hardware, but each had to be customised so it would only activate from an input of a scan and a match on DNA from an individual. She stretched and massaged her neck, which was stiff after sitting for so long, and stood up. "Ready for the next stage," she called out. Joshua walked over, and she gave him the instructions for booting up into the system, there was a slight problem with the test for DNA, but she soon fixed that and then they were into the details. It was another hour before she was finished demonstrating and showing him how to use the system, and she had realised during this process, that a few more updates would be necessary to the programmes, before she would be satisfied. Joshua packed his bags and left before her, without a word, it seemed that having got the installation, she was no longer important, or by the frequent checks on his watch, perhaps he had another appointment to go to. She packed up her bags, and let herself out, the reception area was empty apart from the receptionist, who murmured in passing "Thank you, and please call again." Saf smiled, glad to be done. Next stop would be back to the Baha Bar and the systems, finish the updates and send the updates to Joshua's laptop so that it contained the most up to date information. March 24th 2008, 22.30hrs Simon interrupted her by saying "Sara, you have been working for nearly seven hours straight, don't you think you should take a break?" In response she hit save and then logged out, "Damn right you are, but I have finished, and I am going home right now. You on overnight?" he nodded, "in that case, can you run the Nyoka program at 00.00hrs?" Simon scribbled down a reminder and Saf knew that was one thing she didn't have to consider any more. She took the jeep home, the roads were quiet, the rush hour finished long ago and as the weather was cold, few people had bothered to go out. She turned on the CD and filtered through the discs in the changer, but nothing suited and she flicked it off again. She pressed the button to open the garage door and drove in, shutting it behind her. It felt strange, it didn't feel like home at all. She had stayed at the Baha Bar downtown while Gray was putting the finishing touches to the place, and Saf had enjoyed the secrecy he had surrounded himself with about just what he had done. She walked up the stairs, savouring the moment. The smell of paint was almost gone and the creams and yellows now replaced by cooler tones of whites and blues. The living area, had been replaced and now sported a stripped pine wooden floor with a large white rug, edged by a dark blue greek key pattern. The furniture was white leather, Saf whistled at that, this was no cheap makeover. Fine linen drapes covered the window and when she stepped out on to the balcony, she saw that even that had been made over, with pots of rosemary and sage, while classical wooden furniture was under the shelter of an awning. Upstairs the transformation continued. The spare bedroom now had a queen sized double bed, and was decorated with white and lavender colours, all very tranquil. The master bedroom had been fitted with an elevated bed, so that she could see out of the windows while in it. A colour scheme of ice white and grey, with a light floor made it very airy and she decided that she liked it, it wasn't what she would have chosen for herself, but it was right for the house. Outside on the balcony, she could see the old wooden bench had been replaced with two chairs with a small table between and a couple of small planters. The study had also had new touches, new lights, and a light oak floor with a comfortable chair. The technology was all hidden away under the cupboards and she opened the doors to find that she had plenty of storage space, not to mention a small laptop which she knew was not even available to the general public yet. `Talk about spoilt for choice' she thought, `this was almost too good to be true.' The other door opened onto a small storage closet, both bedrooms had en-suite bathrooms, so this room had been converted for storage. It didn't take her long to find the safe, hidden in the room, somewhere to keep her weapons and not too obvious to someone looking for it. She returned downstairs, and made an omelette in the kitchen, the fridge and storage areas had been filled with food and necessities and there was even a planter on the counter with a note from Gray "Hope you like it." She ate her omelette at the counter, not interested in what it tasted like, just needing sustenance. Afterwards she washed the plates she had used and put them away in the cupboards. At a loss as to what to do next, she debated working on the computer and then shook her head, after all she had spent the best part of a week, just staring at the screen. She opened a bottle of wine, poured a glass and headed for the couch, after an initial coolness, the leather was warm and comfortable. She thought it was strange that Gray hadn't provided a television or video, but she could always get one, she put the glass on the coffee table, and noted the remote controls for the first time. A challenge, she thought, somewhere was a TV, she cast around for a cupboard or a shelf and it was then she noticed the mirror facing the couches, it was a good reflection but not quite good enough when you looked at it closely, and she pointed the control at it and pressed the power button. The mirror refreshed itself and was replaced with a menu, one of which read messages. She pressed option 4 and saw a picture of Gray open up, his image started talking "Hi Sara, guess you found the TV then, there is one more surprise for you, but you would not be in the right position to spot it, if you are listening to this. One more thing, you will have a visitor in a few hours, another communications installation is required. I am sorry about the timing, but it can't be helped. He is your long lost cousin, and he will be leaving in the morning. Goodnight." And the screen blanked back to the menu. It was 1am, and she had been up for nearly 27 hours straight. Another few hours wouldn't kill her and she clicked on the tv options, and scanned through until she found the sports channel, Paige had always watched it and Saf had taken a liking to, though quoting batting averages was not something she intended to do. March 24th 2008 03.00hrs A knock at the door, woke her up, she had pulled an afghan rug over her, and now she stumbled downstairs to answer. Yawning, she looked through the spyhole, to see a familiar figure. Michael. She stepped backwards, and paused, he knocked again. Taking a deep breath, to calm herself, she opened the door. "Michael. What a surprise. Please come in." she held the door open and he walked past her, "Sara, you haven't changed much at all, I am sorry to have arrived so late." His voice was as she remembered, cool and with just a hint of an accent. "How did you know where to find me? She questioned, his reply was amusing and she was hard put not to laugh as she led the way up the stairs, "Uncle George was quite keen that I look you up, and I happened to be in the area," his facial expression was the blank that she was used to seeing on him. She noticed a dark bruised area on his jaw and wondered about it, but from his expression there would be no answers forthcoming. He looked as tired as she felt, but she couldn't feel any sympathy for him, "Do you want coffee? Or shall we get down to business?" her voice had changed, once they had arrived in the living room. More business like and wanting him out, the sooner she got this over and done with, the sooner she could go to bed. The thought of sleep was inviting, more so than she had envisaged. "Oui, let us complete our business." Was his terse response. So she thought, he had not forgiven her, well that was ok, she didn't need his friendship nor his forgiveness. Section was behind her and so was he. Following the same procedures that she had from her experience with Joshua, and with the changes to the programs she had scripted, the installation went more swiftly. She spoke very little, only to give him instructions, he asked no questions and she volunteered no answers. Once the system had been tested it was handed over, and as she had told Joshua, she now explained to Michael that updates would be shipped remotely there would be no need for a hands on update unless it needed re-configuring for a new contact. Michael nodded and put his laptop away, Saf was yawning and it was as she stretched she noticed that the time was now a little after 5am. Standing up, she went to the kitchen and drank a glass of water, as she returned she heard Michael saying "Is she alright?", as soon as he saw her watching him, he said nothing more. Just shut off his mobile phone and stared at her, daring her to ask the burning question he knew she was aching to ask. "Michael, I would like to ask you something..," she started, and she watched him intensely as he was tense ready to avoid her question, but she was careful, "when you `rescued' me from First Light. When did you realise that I was responsible for the acquisition of data?" he wasn't expecting that question. He turned that green-eyed gaze upon her, and hesitated before he replied. He had been given orders to neutralise the organisation's headquarters, when he had seen her preparing to blow up the computers he had first thought that she was under orders. He had knocked her unconscious and checked with Section, who had instructed him to bring her back. Once there and under interrogation, she had admitted as much that she had been involved in setting up the data sources, however she also revealed that she had tried to bring them down, it was that fact that had led Madeline to recruit her. She hadn't known for sure, but he gave her the verification she had sought. Not that it mattered, but she had wanted to know, she turned her gaze on him and asked "Who is she, the one you were talking about on the `phone? Nikita?", the change of topic hadn't thrown him, but his gaze hadn't remained even, so she gambled her next guess "I think you were talking about Paige?, Why?" His response was even, and she knew she was right, "Is it important for you to know?" She smiled catlike, knowing he would be irritated by her response, "answering a question with another one Michael, you are hiding behind words." His glance was of annoyance. Her tones were beginning to get to him, and her access to intel meant he was no longer guaranteed to have control to information, so he was trying to find a way round. "You don't want to tell me who it is, in case I do something to upset the situation," she continued, knowing by his irritation that she had hit the nail on the head. "So why would you want to keep tabs on Paige?" He responded by force, pushing her up against the wall and hissed into her ear "You never knew when to stop pushing. One day, you will go too far, and what is going on is none of your business." She leaned back against the wall, his eyes boring into hers, and the challenge was there for all to see. "Section was good at breaking spirits, and used any and all tactics, fear, pleasure, exploitation. Tell me Michael, it hasn't changed much has it.?" He tensed up, and she knew he was trying to control his temper and not doing a good job of it. He let her go suddenly and stepped back, withdrawing into himself, "You are right, Section must change from the old habits", she was shocked, it hadn't been the reaction she expected, but she couldn't be certain that he was telling it how it is rather than offering her what he thought she wanted to hear. She turned away towards the couch, suddenly tired of the game she had been playing. It was like visiting a sick relative and wanting the dying to be over only to find out they were rallying and would recover. She would contact Paige as soon as he had gone, to find out what had gone on in relation to his call. She lay down, pulled the rug over her and was surprised when Michael sat down near her head, and started stroking her hair, "You are courageous, and talented. Don't look back, instead look forward to the future." She was speechless, she had looked up to him when he was her trainer, he had similar qualities to Gabriel and had given her chances where others hadn't but she had never known what he thought of her. It was strange, just sitting there, the two of them. No sexual attraction existed between them, nor had it ever been so, but sometimes he scared her with his coldness and ability to inflict pain and hurt on other people, now she was beginning to admire him. He leaned back against the cushions and she made herself comfortable; it was too late to go to bed, in a little over three hours she would have to leave and to be honest with herself, she wanted the company. For the past few years she had enjoyed solace, but now, being with someone familiar, was better than being on her own. She knew that she couldn't hold onto the past, but she had changed so much, that just for one short period of time, she needed his presence. March 24th 2008 08.05hrs The smell of coffee woke her up, she stood up in one fluid moment and stretched like a cat, she hadn't felt him leave her side. He was in the kitchen, putting together breakfast of rolls, preserves and coffee, she took a seat at the counter and pulled a mug towards her. He pushed a plate towards her and watched as she helped herself before he took anything from the plate for himself. It felt a little strange, to have him here, in her new life, but in some strange way it was right. She felt that there was a kind of understanding between them; the fighting between them was at an end. Somehow, an unspoken a truce had been called, they were working towards a common purpose, to rid the world of people who were determined to use terrorism to control the masses and co-operation, not battles were required. She didn't know if once he left, she would get the chance to meet with him again. He was right, she shouldn't look back all the time, it was unhealthy, but the people she had met in Section had changed her, she owed them a debt of gratitude. So when it was time to show Michael out, she hugged him close and said "Don't make it too long before you return this way." He said nothing, but his eyes said it all, he waved once, and then mounted the big black bike of his and the last she saw of him was a view of him cutting up the traffic on Bay Avenue. Return