Nikita watched the total destruction of the castle in open-mouthed shock. If they had proceeded as planned, nearly every operative on the mission would have died or been severely injured. This was a definite trap, pure and simple. A trap laid by Red Cell.

That was uncovered by a recruit.

How the -hell- did Jim know what was going on? Even Birkoff couldn't tell it was a trap. And yet Jim had known. She wondered if Jim was part of Red Cell, but if he was, why would he have warned them about the trap? She looked over at Michael, whose face, as always, betrayed no emotion. If he was surprised by what was going on, he wasn't letting her in on it. "Michael?" she asked, "Did you know about this?"

Michael, for all his apparent lack of emotion, was in truth scared speechless. They had almost walked into a giant trap, and only because Ellison saw something... Madeline's description of Brackett's last words hit him full force. Could Lee Brackett possibly have been right? He shook himself away from his thoughts as he realized that Nikita was talking to him. Not turning his eyes from the remains of the burning castle he told his protege, "All will be revealed in time, Nikita."

When he saw Jim and Blair approaching him out of the corner of his eye he repeated, "All will be revealed in time."

Considering that Operations and Madeline were going to want a full explanation as well, Michael decided to hold off on his questions until after they returned to Section. Sure enough, both Operations and Madeline were waiting for the transport as they arrived. Wordlessly, Michael and Nikita fell in step behind the two Section heads, and Jim and Blair followed behind their mentor. Blair couldn't seem to find a place for his hands, so he finally clasped them together behind him, hoping and praying that his challenge to believe them or cancel them wouldn't end up getting them killed anyway.

The four Operatives filed into Madeline's office and took seats in front of the desk, while Madeline sat down at the desk and Operations began to pace behind her. Finally able to figure out what he wanted to say, Operations stood behind Madeline and coldly asked, "Would anyone like to tell me what the -hell- happened out there tonight?"

Michael was the first to respond. "The castle walls were rigged with explosives. We walked into a trap."

Not good enough. "And there was -no- way you could defuse the bomb?"

To Operation's surprise, it was Jim who answered, "The bombs were keyed into an infrared trigger. If anyone walked within two feet of the device it would detonate the plastique mix that was used as the mortar for the wall sections near each trigger."

Nikita was confused. "Wait a second, if we couldn't get within two feet of those bombs before they blew, how would -you- know their design?"

Jim looked over at Madeline, whom he thought would have been the first one to figure it out by now, if they knew. When he realized that the four Section operatives were still demanding an explanation, it was clear they didn't know. [Guess it's time to let the cat out of the bag...] Sighing, he hoped they wouldn't think him crazy as he answered, "I saw them."

Operations couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You mean to tell me that you saw those triggering devices from thirty yards away in pitch darkness without night-vision goggles? That is the most ridiculous thing I ever-?"

Just before the word 'heard' was about to escape his lips, both Madeline and Operations were hit square in the face by their conversations about Brackett's last words a year earlier. Operations found himself momentarily speechless, and Madeline could only utter in a quiet voice, "Brackett was right about you, wasn't he?"

Jim had heard exactly what she said, and, to be honest, didn't know what to think. "Brackett was one of you?"

"He was actually recruited shortly after your little...incident," replied Madeline, "He didn't mention anything about either of you until just before he died."

Blair had a feeling he knew the answer to this question, but he still asked anyway, "And he died how-?"

Operations replied quickly, "Canceled. For gross insubordination."

[Figures,] thought Blair. Out loud he asked, "So how much do you know?"

Madeline answered him. "Outside of the little incident tonight, very little. Why don't you tell us what's going on here?"

Looking to Jim for encouragement, then turning to Madeline again, Blair explained, "Jim is a Sentinel. Physically, it means all of his senses are heightened at levels far exceeding normal human ability. Psychologically, it is part of his very nature to 'protect his tribe', as it were."

Amazed, Nikita asked, "How heightened are your senses, Jim?"

Deciding a demonstration was in order, Jim directed Nikita and Michael, "Why don't you two go outside these doors and whisper something to each other? Try to keep the conversation brief, though."

Shrugging, Nikita walked out of the room, followed closely by Michael. Once the door had closed, Nikita asked her mentor, "Did you know anything about this, Michael?"

"I had my suspicions when they were first brought in, but I hadn't thought much about it until tonight."

Before they could continue their conversation, though, the door automatically opened, a signal for them to come in. As they sat down again, Jim repeated their brief conversation word-for-word, to both Michael's and Nikita's astonishment. She had spoken so softly that Michael had to strain just to hear her, and apparently Jim had heard her from across the room and through a door made of four-inch-thick steel.

Curious, Madeline then asked Blair, "And what exactly is your role in the scheme of things, Professor?"

"I'm Jim's Guide. I help him control his abilities so that he can he can utilize them to greatest advantage. I'm also a Shaman, and responsible for Jim's health and well-being, particularly since his reactions to things like medications can deviate quite markedly from normal reactions."

"Really? In what way?" asked Madeline.

"Well, one example is that typical over-the-counter pain relievers are pretty much useless to me, so Blair taught me a biofeedback technique to control pain," replied Jim, calmly.

A few tense moments passed as everyone tried to process this information, then Operations asked, "Is there any limit to how far you can stretch your abilities?" Jim shook his head. Seemingly coming to a decision, Operations then ordered the two men, "Very well, then. Considering this new information, I'd like both of you to report to MedLab immediately."

At Jim and Blair's combined looks of confusion and panic, Operations simply continued, "I'd like them to do a full DNA workup on both of you. See what we might be able to learn from a medical standpoint. You're far too valuable in the field to lose you to the idea of being some sort of guinea pig. After that, I'll inform them that you, Sandburg, are to be consulted about any medical care that Ellison here might receive. I'll also allow two hours a day for you to continue to develop your abilities, Ellison, under Madeline's supervision. This will increase your training by six months, but, considering the potential that having such ability brings to the table, I think it is worth the investment. That will be all, gentlemen, you are dismissed."

Jim looked confused, and Madeline picked up on the reaction. "You look like you were expecting something more, Ellison."

"Well, actually, I'm surprised we aren't getting some sort of reprimand for disobeying orders."

Operations tilted his head slightly and warned him, "That's right, you aren't, Ellison. And consider yourself lucky in that regard. Because, if I ever catch you hiding information from us like this again, you'll be in abeyance before you get the chance to tell us the full truth. Is that clear?"

Jim and Blair replied simultaneously, "Yes sir."

Now at least somewhat satisfied, Operations re-ordered them, "Now get out of my sight."

Blair and Jim left Madeline's office markedly relieved, and Jim knew it could have gone -far- worse. Turning the corner back on the way to MedLab, both men leaned against a wall and sighed audibly. To no one in particular Blair commented, "So now they know."

"Yeah, chief," replied Jim, "It was going to come out sooner or later."

"Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?"

Jim shrugged, "I think that, considering the circumstances, it's a good thing. At least it now gives you a measure of security, because they fully understand how valuable you are in the grand scheme of things."

"I hope so, Jim. I hope so."

Madeline and Operations were still in Madeline's office, discussing various issues, when Jim and Blair's DNA workups came in hours later. Knowing that Operations wasn't very well-versed in technical science, Madeline looked over the results first. The more she read, the more she began to realize their incredible good fortune at finding someone like Jim Ellison.

Operations couldn't help but notice the look of fascinated surprise on Madeline's face. He asked her, "What's so interesting?"

Madeline explained, "MedLab just came back with the DNA workups on Ellison and Sandburg." Turning the computer so that Operations could look over the report as well, she explained, "Certain sections of our DNA make each of us unique. We know what many of these sections control, but there are many, many more where we have no idea what they do."

"So could MedLab pinpoint the section of DNA that gives Ellison his heightened senses?"

Madeline shook her head. "No, but they -could- pinpoint something else. Take a look at this." Pointing out a section of the report that seemed to graphically replicate two stretched-out strands of DNA, she continued, "These two strands of DNA are supposed to be unique in every individual. They're often used for DNA typing. Even in identical twins and other close relatives, there are slight variations in the chromosome pairs."

Operations encouraged her to continue, "And-?"

"In Ellison and Sandburg, these two strands are identical. According to the MedLab, that shouldn't be possible."

Operations ran a hand through his white hair and absentmindedly scratched the back of his neck. "So what conclusions we can draw from this?"

"We can't replicate Ellison's senses without actually cloning him. The only thing we could actually replicate would be his connection to Sandburg, but I think that would be a fruitless endeavor."

"Course of action?"

"Keep them together, working as a team. If one dies, be it Ellison or Sandburg, the other would be useless to us."

Sharon was right - three months did go by far faster than Simon would have liked. The good news was that, due to the strict diet and exercise regimen Sharon put him on, Simon felt better than he had in years. Between the marital arts drills and the weapons practice, he felt like he could take on a small army.

The bad news, he knew, was that he was actually preparing to take on a -large- army. A fact which scared the hell out of him.

Teacher and student were facing each other in the workout room, wearing sparring gloves and workout clothes, but outside of that, no other bodily protection. "These aren't the kind of guys you'd normally engage in hand to hand combat," Sharon had said, "But you need to build up your endurance, and be ready for anything."

Those last three words echoed through Simon's mind as Sharon, for the fifteenth time that day, sent him sailing to the floor. [Ready for anything,] he thought, [right.] Noticing Sharon standing above him, waiting to help him off the floor, Simon took advantage of the opportunity, grabbed her legs, and sent -her- crashing to the floor in a matter of seconds.

Surprised, Sharon accepted Simon's help getting up. Pulling her sparring gear off, she complimented her pupil, "Nice shot. Your endurance has gone up considerably since we first started. Let's take a break."

Handing Simon one of the large water bottles that sat next to the training mats, Sharon drew a sip from her own bottle and sighed as she sat down, letting large pops fill the air as she tried to work the tension out of her joints.

After Simon was able to catch his breath, a thought came to mind that he realized he probably should have already asked sometime in the past three months. [Ah well,] he thought idly, [A -few- things did get in the way...] Turning to Sharon he asked her, "So how -did- you meet Jay, anyhow?"

Sharon smiled, and took another long drink of water. She was wondering when that would come up. "Jay had developed a computer code that could decrypt any coded message on the planet. Section wanted the technology, so they sent me in to obtain it. It took me two weeks to gain his confidence, but during that time we became friends. Didn't hurt that he saved my life a couple of times when we were being chased by a terrorist group who wanted the technology."

"Anyway, Section wanted me to eliminate Jay after I obtained the information, but by that point, I didn't have the heart to do it. So I told him about Section and helped him to, for all intents and purposes, disappear. Between the two of us we managed to eliminate all traces of his past life from records around the globe. He offered to help me anytime I needed him after that - which I took him up on after I had been put in abeyance. We've kept in close contact ever since."

Simon was impressed. Both Sharon and Jay had risked their lives to get away from this Section, and now they were risking their lives -again- for his friends. He was honored to be in such courageous company.

Shaking off all the dark memories of the past, Sharon decided to focus on the more important future. "We should be going after them soon. Do you think you're ready?"

Simon shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea. I've memorized those floor plans, and physically, I don't think I've ever been in better shape. But, let's be honest here. If these guys are as powerful as you say they are, do we -really- have enough firepower to go up against them?"

A voice called out behind them, "We do now."

Sharon and Simon wheeled around to see Jay standing in the doorway behind them grinning like an idiot, holding what looked like a cheap toy gun in his hands. Sharon glared at her old friend, knowing he was up to something. Breathing out a warning she called to him, "Jay..."

In response, Jay's smile only grew wider, and he called to his friends, "Come on, I'll show you on the range."

The range, as Jay called it, was a one-booth firing range in the basement, not too far from the workout room they were coming from. As Jay prepared to put a new paper target on the holding clip, he handed Simon the gun, commenting, "Tell me what you think this feels like."

Taking a look at the brightly colored weapon in his hands, Simon felt its weight and whistled, impressed, "It actually feels a bit like a 9mm."

The target now at the end of the available range, Jay replied, "That's because, in a lot of respects, it is." Taking the gun back from Simon, he asked Sharon, "Share, could you do me a favor and move that half-wall of cinder blocks in front of the target for me?"

Confused, Sharon pushed the cart with the half-wall of cinder blocks in front of the target. Coming back to the firing area, Sharon waited for Jay's next move.

Smiling, Jay turned to the wall, and aimed carefully. Preparing for the blast from the shotgun at such close range, Simon and Sharon started to reach for the ear coverings when Jay brought his hands down and stopped them. "You won't need those."

Confused, Simon and Sharon simply watched Jay, then the target as he aimed the weapon and fired. Instead of the loud bang they were expecting though, there was only a slight pop...

...and then the crash of cinder bricks as the bullet traveled clear through the cinder block wall and hit the target on the other side square in the chest.

Beaming with pride over his latest creation, Jay handed the weapon over to Sharon, who was examining it like she would examine a fragile piece of china. He explained to her, "It's a modified semi-automatic 9mm with special bullets. We'll each have three: one with the wall-splitters like these, one with triple- strength tranquilizer darts, and one with cop killer bullets. Each clip holds double the normal compliment, and each gun has its own colorings so you can tell them apart."

The look of surprise on Sharon's face quickly turned into an ear-to-ear grin as she asked Simon, "Think we'll have any problems with firepower now?"

Looking over the gun once again for himself, Simon replied, "Not any more, Share. Not any more."

An insistent beeping interrupted their triumph. Simon and Sharon looked around, surprised at hearing the sound of a pager when neither of them had left the house in three months. The hyperactive device actually belonged to Jay, and he yelped with delight when he realized what the signal meant.

Now confused, Sharon asked, "Jay? What have you got there?"

Looking up from the beeper, Jay exclaimed, "A secure communication line into Section. C'mon."

Jay marched up the stairs and back through 'computer canyon', as they were now affectionately calling it, his bewildered cohorts trailing behind him. Once everyone was in the room, Jay explained, "I knew we couldn't plan any sort of escape without finding a secure way to get a message through to Blair or Jim- that's what I've been working on while you've been pounding Watcher-boy here into shape, Share."

As Sharon rolled her eyes, Jay continued, "Anyway, I worked on trying to monitor who was logged on to the system and where they logged on from, to see if I could figure out who was Jim and who was Blair. It took some doing to cross-check the computer logins with the directory, particularly since most of the directory is so secure that -I- can't even get into it, but I was able to finally find a way to cross-check the logins with the status reports of the recruits. I set a temporary program in motion to do it and beep me when we got a match."

The anticipation building in her eyes, Sharon asked, "And you just got a match?"

Jay nodded excitedly. "Sandburg. I figured we should focus on his login since you would probably find a way to convince him it was you."

Sharon grinned wickedly in response. [Oh, I could definitely find a way...] "So is he logged on now?"

Jay nodded. "And considering the patterns of his computer time, he should be on for at least another hour or so."

"And this is a two-way communication? He can respond back to us?" Again, Jay nodded.

Sharon worked furiously to push her nervousness to the back of her mind as she focused on the task at hand. "So how long a message can we send at one time?"