Part One

Michael, Nikita, Birkoff, Walter, Mentz and Taylor sat around the briefing table. Operations was speaking. "We have intel that two major terrorist groups in Europe are planning a consolidation of forces. The group ‘Blinding Justice,' which Section has encountered in the past, is uniting with ‘People's Vengeance.'"

Nikita, glancing around the room, noticed how pale Walter became when the group "Blinding Justice" was mentioned. Nikita, however, wasn't the only one to notice. Operations was keeping a close eye on Walter as well. He knew this mission would bring back memories. He just hoped Walter would be able to keep it together until they attained their objective. And if what he suspected was true, it was going to be a very difficult thing for Walter to do.

Operations continued. "The two groups will not be uniting in the normal fashion, however. He hit the button on his remote and a holographic image of a man in his late 50s or early 60s appeared. "This is Palmer Clarkson. He is the leader of Blinding Justice." He hit the remote again and a picture of a woman in her mid 50s appeared. This is his sister Janet. She has never married, and has been taken care of by her brother all her life."

Nikita looked at Walter and his face grew even more pale, if that was possible. Something was definitely up. She would have to ask Walter about it as soon as the briefing ended. She turned her attention back to the briefing.

"It seems that Janet Clarkson has a daughter. She is 25 years old and about to be married." At that statement there was a gasp, barely audible, from Walter. Operations swung his attention to Walter as did the others in the room. Knowing that Walter wasn't going to speak, Operations continued. "No one knows who Jennifer Clarkson's father is, except her mother. She has told no one, not even Jennifer. As I said, Ms. Clarkson is about to be married."

Operations hit the remote again and two more pictures appeared. One was a smiling young woman with dark hair and brown eyes, about 25 years old and the other was a handsome young man in his late 20s or early 30s. "This is Jennifer Clarkson and her fiancé, Jonathan Sandstrom. Jonathan is second in command of ‘People's Vengeance.' The group is led by his father, Vincent Sandstrom. As you can surmise, the groups are being united through marriage. We believe Ms. Clarkson has no idea what her uncle or her fiancé and his father really do. We believe that Janet Clarkson has some idea of what her brother does, but that she is not involved. He would never allow it."

"We cannot allow these groups to unite. If they joined forces, they would become a bigger threat than Red Cell ever was. The objective is to get to these people and destroy any chance of a wedding taking place. Profilers are working up the mission now. Michael and Nikita will be first team. You should have the data in your PDAs in two hours. This is top priority, people." Operations looked pointedly at Walter and said "Nothing and no one will stop us from attaining our goal." Then Operations turned off the hologram and walked out of the room.

Everyone got up to leave and Nikita looked for Walter. He had already made his way out of the room. She would have to go find him. She knew there was something about this mission that was shaking him terribly. As she started for the door, Michael called, "Nikita. Check with Birkoff on any new intel and then report to me. We need to go over a few things. I'm going to see how the profile is coming and get an inventory list for Walter."

Nikita nodded and then headed off to Birkoff's station. As she and Birkoff were going over the new intel they had, Walter walked up to comm. "Sugar, if you have a minute, I'd like to talk to you." Nikita looked up and said "Sure, Walter. I'll be there in a sec. I just have to finish with Birkoff." Walter nodded and then headed back to Weapons.

Having quickly retrieved all the info Birkoff had for her, Nikita made her way to Walter's station. "Hey Walter, what's wrong?" Walter motioned her closer to his desk and, in a voice barely louder than a whisper, said "You've got to do something for me, Sugar. You've got to protect Jennifer Clarkson."

Michael, having checked on the progress of the profile, was making his way back to his office. As he walked down the hallway he happened to glance towards Walter's station. He saw Nikita and Walter with their heads together, discussing something very seriously. He had noticed Walter's reaction during the briefing. He would have to find out what was going on.

There could be nothing getting in the way of the mission objective. The mission would be difficult enough, without having to fight Nikita along the way. He changed direction and headed for Weapons.

Nikita stared at Walter closely and then said "You heard Operations, Walter. Nothing is going to get in his way." Walter sighed. "I know. That's why I need your help. You see, twenty-six years ago I was on the mission that Operation alluded to in the briefing. I was the operative sent in to ‘get close' to Janet Clarkson, get any intel I could about her brother and what he was planning. Anyway, well, one hing led to another and ... you know how these things go. I can't be 100% certain, but I think Jennifer Clarkson may be my daughter."

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Part 2 by Aries

Michael watched the look on Nikita's face change as Walter said something to her. He knew that there was something big involving this mission and Walter. He began to walk a little bit faster towards munitions.

Nikita turned her head and noticed Michael heading towards them. She quickly straightened her posture and looked towards him.

"Hello Michael, I was just getting ready to head to your office." Nikita told him trying to cover the surprise in her voice from the bombshell that Walter had just dropped on her.

"Hey Michael." Walter said and started tinkering with some of the gadgets he'd been working on lately.

"Is there something going on that I should know about?" Michael asked in his usual tone.

"Not at all." Nikita said calmly.

"Nope." Walter replied.

Michael didn't buy Walter and Nikita's calm denials. He'd just have to see if he could work it out of Nikita.

"Was there something you needed Michael?" Walter asked.

"Here's the inventory that will be needed for this mission." Michael replied and handed Walter the pad that was in his hand. It was an easy enough excuse for him to have intruded on Walter and Nikita's tete-a-tete.

"I'll get right on it. Anything else you needed Sugar?" Walter asked Nikita calmly trying to let her know with his eyes that she was the only one he trusted with the matter at hand.

"Nope." Nikita replied and nodded her head slightly to let Walter know that she understood. She didn't know how she was going to do it, but for Walter's sake, she was going to try to keep his daughter safe.

Michael turned and walked out of munitions towards his office. Without saying a word, Nikita followed him knowing that he still wanted to brief her on the specifics of this mission. She also knew that he would try to pump for the information that Walter just shared with her. She just hoped that she was strong enough to keep it from him without giving away there's something going on.

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Part 3 by Shadoe

" Would you like to tell me whats going on? " Micheal asked Nikita quietly as she closed the door to his office. He sat down slowly in his chair, watching her from eyes that seemed to probe into her soul yet never showing any part of himself.

" I don't know what you're talking about Micheal." she smiled coolly, wishing not for the first time that she could perfect that attitude with him. " I thought you wanted to go over the mission with me? "

He was silent, watching her, appearing to be choosing the best way in which to get the information he needed. "I can't help either of you if you aren't honest with me Nikita. " he warned her. "Not you or Walter." She arched her brow slowly at him, surprised that he had chose this method in which to get his information.

"I haven't said I need your help. " she told him quietly, quickly weighing the pros and cons of trusting him. He failed dismally within seconds. "And as far as I know, neither does Walter. "

*******

From the observation deck, Madeline and Operations watched as Walter paced his work station nervously as he prepared the weapons needed for thismission. Madeline had her own inner misgivings concerning how this was being handled. She didn't think Walter would just calmly accept his daughters death if it came to that.

"You're worried. " Operations handed her a cup of tea as he turned back to her once again, and his eyes to Walters work station.

"Of course I am." she said softly, "Walter is a valueable member or our team......."

"One that can be replaced. " he assured.

"Do you think so ?" she turned back to him, a soft question in her expression as she watched him. "Do you think the others can be replaced as well? Those who care for him, and who will see the injustice done in much harsher terms if the girl ends up dead. This could become messy."

"We have taken every precaution. "

"Have we? " once again her question caused him to pause.

"What are you suggesting? " his eyes narrowed at her and she could see the building anger reflected in his face.

"Nothing. " she smiled in a deferring manner. "Excuse me. There are a few things I need to do as well. "

"Madeline. " she turned back as he called her, watching him silently, her face and eyes calm as he paused indecisively. "There shouldn't be much risk to the girl."

Madeline only nodded before turning away and proceeding to leave the room. From the observation deck, Operations watched as she made her way to Walters work station.

"What do you want? " Walter asked as Madeline entered the work station and stood watching him carefully.

"How are you Walter. " she smiled her ever present calm smile.

"Just dandy. " he slapped a handgun on the table and turned back to the shelf that many just like it.

"Thats good to hear. " she nodded smoothly, still watching him as though expecting him to say more. He paused, watching her hatefully from beneath lowered brows as she just stood there, as though waiting for some sign of weakness before moving in for the kill.

She knew damn her, he thought. Knew that Jennifer could be his daughter, and she was just standing there, watching him bleed. He was silent, unwilling, and unable to ask her for anything, knowing as always it would do him no good. "Did you want anything else? " his surliness increased as indecision and worry at him.

"No." she smiled once again. "Nothing else. " clasping her hands behind her back she moved slowly away, and headed to her own office. She hoped he had talked to Nikita, hoped Nikita could help him. She sighed deeply, wishing there was an answer, that there was some way to save the girl in a mission that she knew operations would not aim for her safety.

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Part 4 by A

Walter searched for Nikita. He needed to talk to her desperately. He needed to find out what she had told Michael, and he definately needed to know what Madeline knew. He bumped into her on her way out of Michael's office. She barely had time to collect her thoughts before Walter grabbed her arm and was literally dragging her to egress. They headed to Walter's Bike then decided to take Nikita's car. She quickly turned the ignition on and began to drive.

They had driven for a while before Nikita had collected her thoughts enough to ask wahat was wrong. Walter was very nervous and shaken by Madeline's aproach and needed a drink. He expressed his wish to Nikita who drove to a bar not far from Section she had heard about. They sat and talked, too involved in their problems to notice they had a shadow. The tall man hid in the shadows as he had done many times before but this time he was about to interfere with something that would even get him killed for his daring attempts. So he decided just to listen and drink his milk.