Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the original scripts and characters for LFN, or any agencies connected to the production or creation.
The characters in La Femme Nikita are WBTV property.
Prologue
This fiction is about Nikita's journey within the LFN universe, from her recruitment by Center, to her meeting with her former mentor, thirteen years later.
To understand the present, it is necessary to know the past. Which were the primary purposes to create such institutions? Therefore, to answer this question, this story tried to describe the reason for the creation of both agencies, the Center and the Sections.
Finally, the author tried to explore more about the past of the protagonists, Nikita and Michael; as well as the purpose of some characters, like the mysterious Mr. Jones.
"Duty, love and fate"
Chapter I
She remembered. It was 5 in the morning and it was dawn. As she enjoyed the warm sunny breeze and her black coffee, she was still there, remembering.
- Are you sure about this?
- Yes, I am...
- But do you understand the difficulties and challenges of this cover mission?
- Is this going to change Section One?
- We can't assure that, but we hope so… in time
- So, I accept the proposal...
It was a dialogue that she would never forget.
Nikita was changing locations again. She had never felt so alone and unprotected as now. The new outcast was always looking over her shoulder, always studying every move, every decision. The motto "Trust no one" was a constant attitude. Now she could understand her mentor when he said to her.
``I can't protect you anymore``
It was during one of her many train trips that it all happened. Nikita had learned that by train, the guards did not ask for any documents. She had few options: bus, train or travel by finger. It all happened in a lost station in Central Europe. It was 2 a.m., while she was waiting for the next train. The perfect time, a frosty night with few people to see what was going to occur. Suddenly, there was no one on the platform, and within seconds, Nikita was surrounded.
Around her, she had eight men dressed in elegant suits. Each of them was armed and with sky masks. They weren't targeting her; they were just showing her she had no choice but to cooperate. She didn't know who they were, but she was sure they weren't from Section. The only thing Nikita knew was that she was at a total disadvantage. Her only option was to surrender and think about her next move. It was one of the scariest moments she had ever experienced. Michael came back to her mind again. With him next to her, she felt no fear.
Instinctively, every detail was memorized by Nikita. The movement of the truck, the softness of the hood that they had been placed on her, the number of turns the vehicle had made, the location of each person inside it, her racing heart, her breathing, everything.
At one point the truck stopped, and it was then that Nikita thought it would all end there, inside a vehicle, tied up and unable to see who was about to kill her. In her mind, her life was going to end in a matter of seconds. She felt her tears flow from the helplessness of not being able to do anything.
``We don't want to hurt you... we just need you to listen to our proposal``
Those were the words of a man unknown to her. His accent was British, as was his manner. Although he made himself known under the name William, she knew she would never be certain about his true identity.
- But I have a hood on my head and my hands are still tied...
- And it will continue like this...
- Why?
- For your sake and... for ours...
Faced with Nikita's silence, the man continued.
- We know who you worked for... we also know that you will not tell us by protocol. They trained you for it... You also need to know that we help with the design of this protocol.
When Nikita heard those last words, that fear returned. It was that same instinctive mechanism that kept her alive. She thought that this was her last day, her last train, her last meal before leaving. What had she enjoyed during the last day? Very little, to be honest. She cursed herself for choosing that new destination. She should have gone south.
- Are you going to kill me…?
- No, Nikita. We want you to listen to our proposal... We think you might be interested...
- Do I have a choice?
- No…
- So, why do you ask for?
- I am a gentleman after all...
It was amazing how she could find a smile amid so much fear.
- We need you to come back...
- What!… why? for what? ... they are going to kill me...
- I understand you lived too many things there... things that you did not like at all... believe me that there are worse things that you did not experience because they protected you from it...
- Did they protect me?!...
- Not them, rather he... and very much ... Your mentor received specific instructions, and he did not follow them... anyway, he trained you well...
William's words surprised Nikita. Now she knew Michael was protecting her from other things. What indications had he received? Just thinking about the possibilities gave her creeps.
- Being here is suggesting otherwise...
- Well, you haven't lost your sense of humor... believe me... We put together this team for something...
- Why do you want me back to that hell?
- I need you there because we believe you can change that place...
- What?!
- I can only tell you that there are other organizations above that place. I am part of one of them...
- Which one?
The man did not reply. Nikita's body language did not suggest confidence. Her body was tense. Internally, she felt ready to fight savagely. But she knew that beyond the struggle she could exert to free herself, she would have no escape.
The silence was tense. He knew Nikita would not collaborate in this way. Someone would have to give her more information. It was then that the man sighed and continued.
- Okay Nikita, I'm going to break certain protocols here so you can understand. The Sections respond to an organization that supervises them...
- Clearly not very well….
The man gives a half-smile and continues.
- But another organization is above and sees all this. Especially Section One.
- What organization...?
There was silence.
- If you want something from me, I have to know what this is all about...
- We know Nikita ... we have your profile ... we have been watching you...
Another chill ran through Nikita's body.
- Everyone out of the truck!
Nikita froze at the leader's exclamation.
No one hesitated, and they all got out immediately. When the doors closed, William removed the hood that covered Nikita's face.
- Very clever ``William``...
Now Nikita could see but not the face of the mysterious William, since he had a ski mask. His identity was still protected. In silence, the agent was showing her a digital screen with the information that he could present. The explanation was only in images.
- This is what I can show you, Nikita...
Nikita had never imagined that the organization's net would be so complex. She wondered if Michael knew about all this.
- We need you, Nikita. Section One has been gaining more and more power in recent years following the change in Chief of Operations...
- Who was there before?
- Someone we are still looking for...
They both looked at each other. Nikita scanned for a moment William's behold. She felt the sincerity in those words, or maybe she just wanted to believe him. She was already exhausted from so many lies.
All the things that Nikita saw in these years were enough to know that Section One was the worst place on Earth. It was even worse than jail. From the beginning, she felt that something was wrong there. It was only a matter of time and facts. She got chills when she knew that all the agents were under surveillance 24 hours a day. She felt sadness and anger every time she discovered she had fallen into the traps of manipulation. There was no day without disappointment.
Nikita could not deny that she had witnessed cunning, deceptive, and unscrupulous actions that were employed to achieve a specific goal, regardless of the means. Sometimes, she thought that Section One was the reign of Machiavelli.
In the end, Nikita was right about this place. Life ends when you walk through Section One's main access door.
William went on with the strategic scheme. The plan included The Freedom League, or was left of it. When finished, the hood returned to cover Nikita's face and the doors of the truck were open.
- This was the proposal we wanted you to hear. You have 24 hours to confirm. In your backpack, we leave you a cell phone... it's safe... if you want to continue with the proposal, dial the only number that is saved... your code-name remains the same as always...
- Why do you trust me?
- We have been watching you Nikita... for a long time and you are not like the rest...
- I don't belong there... I...
- Nobody belongs to that place… but we need someone like you. You are the only one who can change that place...
- Why me?
There was no answer to that question.
Suddenly, Nikita felt someone guide her out of the truck. They walked a few steps. The truck's doors were heard closing as the engine fired up. She felt a horrible chill. In the silence, the bells of a church could be heard in the background. She could feel the icy wind, with a soft scent of grass. Maybe it was her last sensation. Perhaps it was another test, and she hadn't passed it. Nikita could feel the intensity of each step as if it were the last. How long were they going to walk? Was the escape a trap? ... Michael?. Uncertainty flooded her with questions.
- Nikita, just breathe ... this is not a test ... this is real...please breathe...
And these were the last words she heard. In a few seconds, she felt her hands were released. She instantly removes her hood and turns around to discover that she was alone in the middle of a cemetery. At her feet was her backpack. Quickly, she went through the inside of the backpack and saw a couple of fake documents, along with some money and a cell phone.
After reviewing the only thing she had, Nikita realized everything that had happened. She felt that even her breathing was agitated, that her heart was pounding. It was the adrenaline rushing through her entire body. It was the fight-or-flight reaction, a physiological response to the perception of harm, attack, or threat to survival. She collapses on the floor ... the tension of that moment had been so intense that she ended up being exhausted. Instantly, the young woman realizes that her hands were shaking. She felt the wetness of the tears that had slid down her cheeks. It was then that she realized she had been crying. When Nikita put her hands on the grass, she felt the cool damp of the ground. Then she squeezed her hands to feel. If you feel, it is because you are alive.
``This is real ... this is real. ``