Part 3

"Sir, I’ve just received a message about the missing operatives," Birkoff informed Operations.

"Send it up immediately," Operations commanded, "and have Madeline, Northstar and Michael come to my office."

A few minutes later the small group was assembled in the Observation Deck. Operations showed them the message.

"So at least we know they are alive," he spoke. Madeline and Northstar nodded, but Michael remained motionless.

"We don’t know that. There’s no video, no picture, none of their voices. All we have is someone’s word. We don’t know who sent it," Michael voiced his opinion.

The intercom buzzed. "What is it Birkoff?" Operations queried.

"The message has a Freedom League tag. They’ve bounced it off of several satellites, but I’ve back-traced it to a cyber-cafe in Vale, Colorado. The trail stops there."

"Freedom League?" North inquired. "How can that be? Michael destroyed their headquarters and everyone in it. Surely they couldn’t have regrouped quickly enough to pull this off."

Madeline nodded. "That’s a good point, Northstar. And if it is Freedom League, how did they find CLHQ? Or were our people taken somewhere on the outside? We need more information."

Operations was pacing furiously. "If they’ve discovered our location, we’ve got to shut down and relocate. We can’t take the chance that they will hit us."

Madeline turned to look out the window over Comm. "We shouldn’t overreact. We still have some time."

Operations was fuming. "Oh? And just where did you get that intel? From your crystal ball? How do you know we have any time? They could be standing outside our door right now! We can’t take that chance!"

Northstar tried to calm him down. "We’re not certain that it is Freedom League. It could be somebody playing games with you. Maybe this is exactly what they want ... to get you to move. Make us all vulnerable. We’re easier to get to that way."

Operations turned from the group and took a deep breath. "Fine, we’ll do it your way. But when it all comes crashing down around us, it will be your heads that I will be handing to George. Michael get on this immediately. Find out if it is Freedom League. If it is, I want you to take them out. This is your ONLY priority. Do you understand?"

"Of course," was the only response he got. Michael left and headed to his office. Northstar quickly followed him. She knocked on his door and walked in without waiting for permission. Michael was seated at his desk, rubbing his hands over his face. It was the act of a tired, worried man.

"What is it, North?" he asked.

"Michael, you don’t think it’s Freedom League, do you?"

He jammed surveillance in his office and then motioned for North to be seated. "No. It’s too easy. They couldn’t have regrouped well enough to pull this off. Someone is leading us around by the nose. I need to find out who."

"How?" North wondered aloud.

Michael sighed. "I’m not sure. But something is off. We’ve heard nothing for eight days and then all of a sudden we get a message saying that they are alive. No demands, no threats ... nothing. Just a reassuring note to let us know they are alive? I don’t buy it. Are we to assume that they’ve finished abducting people now that they’ve contacted us? Between you and me, it’s beginning to sound more and more like they left on their own."

North nodded. "Okay, I agree. So what do we do about it?" Just as Michael was about to speak, his office door burst open and Xavier came barging in. Michael sat staring at the intruder, waiting for him to speak.

"Xavier," North acknowledged his presence, but he didn’t seem to hear her.

"Michael, if you aren’t going to do something about finding them, we will. Sinjn and I are tired of sitting around waiting for you to decide what we can do. We’re going after them."

"No, you are not." Michael’s words were spoken softly, but the threat was conveyed all the same.

"Just try and stop me. You may be Section’s wonder boy, but I won’t sit back and do nothing while we have people out there who need our help." Xavier was angry and moved menacingly in Michael’s direction as he spoke.

"You mean, SHE needs your help, don’t you?" Michael suggested.

North knew this could quickly get out of hand. But before she could react, Xavier pounced again. "Okay, sure, I mean Brenna. But I also mean Curlly, Joann, Davenport and Sherry. I would think you would at least want to get Sherry back. I mean, she is your fiancée. Or she is simply replaceable too? She just might change her mind about that when she finds out how you are reacting to her disappearance."

Michael clenched his fists, but didn’t bother to acknowledge that last statement. "You will not endanger Section or any of the missing people by going off half-crazed. When we have a profile, then we will move. Until that time you will stay here and follow orders. If you can’t do that, you will be taken to containment."

Xavier bristled. It was all he could do not to jump across the desk and hit Michael. "Tell me something, Michael? Is it really that important for you to be the hero? Do we have to risk all of their lives so you can get a little more glory? I hope it’s worth it to you, because it sure isn’t to me." And then he turned and slammed out the door.

Michael sat back in his chair seemingly lost in thought. North let him sit that way for a few moments and then she spoke. "Michael?"

Pulling out of his thoughts, Michael looked at North. "Do you agree with him?"

"Agree with him about what?" she asked.

"Do you think I need to play the hero? That I am endangering their lives," Michael answered a bit defensively.

"No, Michael, I don’t. Don’t start doubting yourself. You are doing everything you can, we all are. We aren’t sitting around waiting until the perfect scenario comes along so that you can play hero. You’re not like that Michael, and we all know it. Xavier does too, he’s just upset about Bren."

Michael looked out his office window. "Between Xavier and Sinjn, we’re going to have our hands full until we get them back. I’m going to need your help keeping them distracted. Give them something to do ... something that will make them feel they are contributing. I’ve got to see a couple people. I’ll be back as soon as I can. When we have a location and a profile, make sure they are on my team."

North nodded. "Anything else?" Michael gave her a half-smile. "You could keep Operations off my back." North grinned. "I’ll try, Michael." She got up to leave and then stopped.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Operations won’t budge on his deadline. It’s three days and that’s it." Michael nodded. He had expected as much. As North left Michael’s office, she heard him asking Birkoff to bring the communication to his office. She knew he would try to trace it himself. Michael never left anything completely up to someone else when it was this important.