******

Nikita could taste the tension, the anticipation in the air as theypulled into the abandoned lot. They exited the car in silence and enteredthe building. They sat at a table across from each other; each sensingthe other's fear.

Nikita bit her lip and furrowed her brow. Her eyes widened, like a confusedwounded animal. She leaned forward and touched his face. Running her handdown the side of it, stopping at his chest; where she felt his heartbeat.She felt his heart rate quicken at her touch. A little startled, she removedher hand. Returning it to his face for a moment more, tracing over it onemore time. Then let it fall back to the table. She looked at the surfaceof the table, wishing she could just disappear. He stared at her as hetook his hand and gently brushed it against her cheek. Tilting her headup to his eye level. He was close enough to feel her heartbeat. He brushedback an errant strand of hair and looked into her eyes; showing nothingbut support and understanding. She held her concerned, almost pitiful face.

"What is it?" He asked, brushing away a tiny tear that had escaped thecorner of her eye. " You can trust me, " he took her hand into his.

Her lip trembled as a few more tears escaped. Her eyes dropped backto the surface of the table. She removed her gun from the holster and emptiedthe clip as she sat it on the table.

"You're so real " she broke the silence.

"That's because I am real." Jarod offered an assuring grin.

"I don't want to lose you."

"I'm not going anywhere." Jarod squeezed her hand, holding it tighter.

She looked up at him doubtedly; but her eyes were showing some hope." I don't know who to trust." Nikita's voice quavered.

"I trust you. " his deep eyes penetrated hers.

He removed his gun, took the clip out, and set it on the table nextto hers. " If you wanted to hurt me, you would have by now " Jarod added.

 He put his hand back in hers and waited patiently for a response.She raised her free hand and rubbed her tears away; looking into his eyes.She could see his soul, see that he was a good man. She felt shame andguilt now more than anxiety.

"They sent me to bring you back. " she mustered.

"Who?" he asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to be sure.

"The Centre." She whispered.

" You're project Scorpio?" All the pieces fell in place.

"Yes, and Ms Parker wants to help us, " she added. He recalled the emailfrom the triumvirate to Raines, that made sense.

"Hey " He pulled her closer to him and stared into her eyes. " you hadno way of knowing what they were doing ".

She pulled her hand free, retreating to her side of the table. " I'vehurt innocent people. "

"And now that you are on the outside you can help innocent people. Iwant to show you something " Jarod reached into his briefcase and pulledout his computer.

He showed her a DSA, the one of him doing the Apollo 13 sim. " Theydid the same thing with me." He shut the briefcase.

"But I'm not on the outside. Since you escaped, they implemented severalnew features to the pretender project: a kill switch and a GPS trackingdevice in my skull. " she pointed to her head.

"We can get around that. We're geniuses, remember? I have somethingelse to show you."

He printed out an article on his computer and then a picture. He handedher the article. Tears flooded her eyes as she instantly recognized thearticle- the tragic accidental death of her parents.

"Now look at this picture, " It was of a woman and a man.

"So?" She asked.

"This is your mom and dad, Nikita."

"Thank you." she paused, taking another look at the photo. " I didn'tremember what they looked like. "

"Look at the date. "

Her eyes scanned down to the bottom- 1980. The blood drained from herface. " Are you saying they didn't die in a car crash? Are they still alive?"her eyes were wide with hope and begging for a yes. She had often fantasizedabout them being alive.

"I don't know. I traced back this picture, hoping to find some tie tothe Centre, but I couldn't. Your parents faked their own death."

"To try to rescue me," she finished, the color returning to her face.

"Oh my god, Jarod, how can I ever repay you for this? " She took himinto her arms hugged him tightly. " I was afraid you would hate me, onceyou knew I was connected to the Centre".

"I don't call being their prisoner having connections with them. Andyou won't be theirs any more. " He held her tighter.

She looked up to him, tears still flowing freely from her eyes. " Whatdo we do now?" She asked.

"We play a little game of cat and mouse with the Centre." He said grinning.

"Cat and mouse?"

"We are the cat and they are the mouse." He explained.

"Oh " she revealed a small mischevous grin of understanding.

"Now lets get out of here. You have so much to learn, about . . . Aboutbeing free! After we get that thing out of there, of course". he tappedher head.

He took her arm and led her out of the building.

******

The Centre:
Blue Cove, Delaware:

"You've located Jarod? " Raines asked Ms Parker, Broots, and Sydney.

"Yes. we'll have him back first thing tomorrow." Ms Parker assured.

"There has been a slight change of plans. " Raines grinned, leaningback in his chair." I will deliver Jarod to the Centre." He said, grinning.

"What? " Ms Parker screamed. " Listen, you pathetic little wrinkled,wheezing carcass." She leaned forward into his personal space. " We foundhim, we'll bring him back. 'Kay? " she said in a condescending voice, flippingher hair.

"Triumvirates order." Raines handed her the memo. " Sorry."

"Bet you are." Ms Parker snorted, trying to add as much insult to hercomment as possible.

"Come in Lyle." Mr. Raines responded to the knock.

Ms Parker glared at Lyle as he entered.

"The jets ready." Lyle said to Raines. " Sis" he acknowledged her.

"I'm sorry Raines, I thought we were having an argument." Ms Parkersneered

"Argument's over!" He retorted.

" Come on, let's blow this freak show." Parker replaced her sneer witha smirk.

After they exited the room, Lyle commented. "That was too easy. Do youthink she's up to something?"

"Just in case she is. I want you keeping an eye on her tomorrow."

" Got it." The thumbless man left.
 

feedback : nikita_eve@excite.com
 
 

Part 5