This story is strictly for entertainment purposes, I do not own the characters. This story contains adult themes and is not suitable for children. It is a parent's job to monitor their children's internet use, not mine.
Post-Episode, One Way, with spoilers and borrowed ideas through 1x09.
Friends and Enemies by Mochi-girl
1. Know Your Friends
Nikita stepped out of the taxicab and a gust of wind caught the hood of her short jacket and blew it and her hair back away from her face. Her dress fluttered around the tops of her leather boots and she pulled her hood back over her head, shielding herself against the drops of rain that dotted the pavement. Dodging the people on the sidewalk, she hurried into a large three-story bookstore.
She headed for the stairs and the second floor art section, where she perused the shelves before pulling out a volume on contemporary pop culture. The pages held images of celebrities and personalities from the last fifty years. She chuckled to herself when she saw the portrait of Emma Peel and the small space carved out where her ear was located. She removed the tiny transmitter and discreetly placed it in her own ear.
"Nikita, how lovely to see you, that deep burgundy color looks stunning on you." The voice from the ear bud declared.
Her eyes roamed around the store. "Hello Henry, cute choice of pop icons, so you can see me, but where are you?"
"In my office, I tapped into the closed circuit feed of the store's security system, but don't worry it's secure. Was the information on Kasim Tariq helpful to you?"
"Yes it was, but I need to know what his current status is, where he went after he left Tashkent for Yemen."
Henry seemed almost hesitant to give up the information. "I'll need to confirm and it will likely take a few days, but my understanding is he's in the country. He is heavily guarded and feared enough that his whereabouts and his business are not easily divulged."
Nikita felt startled by the news, knowing he was in the country was disturbing and the possible reasons for it even more so. "Thank you Henry, it is important. I'll wire the funds into your Grand Cayman account today."
"Always a pleasure doing business with you."
She took the book and replaced it on the shelf. She felt an uneasy presence around her and carefully scanned her surroundings. When no one appeared and nothing happened, she shook it off and took the stairs. She left the bookstore for the corner and hailed a taxicab.
Her mood matched the dreary day. It had been a month since she had returned from Uzbekistan and an incredible sense of loss hung over her. Every day that passed, she replayed the events in her head over and over again and each day her regret deepened. Maybe it was time to walk away, not from her quest to destroy Division but from her troubled relationship with Michael, or what was left of it. She damned Percy for his interference and realized, by saving Michael's life, any ties they had between them had likely been severed and the unexplainable connection they shared had been irrefutably damaged.
It may have been foolish but she let her heart make the call. Walking away was not an option, and all it took to convince her was remembering the excruciating pain in his eyes. She would do whatever she could to help him find and kill Kasim Tariq, and maybe in the process, they would find each other again.
The street was busy with mid-day traffic and it only took a minute for her to flag down a passing cab.
At the other end of the block, a man watched her through his pocket-sized binoculars, he sat behind the steering wheel of a dark sedan. He lowered them and pulled a cell phone from his breast pocket and dialed a number.
"Yes, she just left the bookstore... I understand. I've kept my distance, she is unaware... I will report in again, as requested."
He placed the phone back in his pocket, started the car and pulled out into traffic several car lengths behind Nikita's cab.
Alex blocked her opponent's blow and threw a kick at him, when he reacted, she grabbed his arm, turned and used her foot to knock him off balance and he went down with a thud. Their trainer blew his whistle and intervened and she relaxed her stance while her sparring partner was helped to his feet. She felt good, well as good as one can feel in a place like Division, and she recognized it as competence.
Michael stood on the sidelines with a brooding look on his face and his arms folded in front of him. His only comment came with a nod of recognition and three words. "Good job Alex."
She smiled and for once it wasn't forced. "Thanks." She took a seat next to Jaden who tried to hide her resentment with boredom.
"Girl, I know what you think and just 'cause you're his little favorite, it don't mean nothing, especially when you're out there in the real world."
Alex shrugged back at her. "Don't worry, I got your back." She sounded a little condescending and enjoyed tormenting her with a few choice words.
"Jaden" Michael called out. She got up and glared at Alex before taking her place on the mat.
Alex watched from the sidelines but her focus was on Michael. He looked considerably better than a month ago when he had returned from Uzbekistan. His battered appearance and dark mood had shocked her and the other recruits. He was such an enigma, a dedicated Division leader, willing to kill on Percy's command, but he had also lied to protect her. When she asked Nikita about their relationship, she said they had an understanding but their loyalties separated them and made them wary of each other. Alex didn't pry, she knew her mentor's elusive answer had a back-story and she knew something nasty had gone down between them. "Don't ever forget, he can act like a friend, but he's still Division." Nikita's words echoed in Alex's head.
"Hey, earth to Alex, come back." Thom sat down next to her with a friendly smile.
Alex felt genuinely glad to see him, it had been a while since he'd been out in the field and moved into new quarters. "You get kicked back to the curb with the rest of us?"
"Nah, just came down to train… and I wanted to see how you're doing." The last part of his reply surprised her, but Alex liked it.
The trainer blew his whistle, and with a grin on her face, Jaden released the headlock she held her opponent in. She looked over at Alex and Thom and her eyes flashed with jealousy.
"Thom." Michael called out and the new field agent took his place on the mat.
Alex saw the angry look that Jaden had thrown her way. "Listen, don't be a dumb bitch. If we keep working against each other we're screwed. We don't have to be BFF's but a truce might keep us both alive." Alex leaned back, her hands supporting her.
Jaden's smug look was unbeatable. "Who you callin' a dumb bitch? You're already so screwed, you just don't know it."
Alex wasn't surprised at her attitude. "Look, I don't care about Thom, I said it before, he's all yours." It was a bald faced lie, but one she wished they both believed.
"Your trouble is you never had a decent man in your life, and I don't mean a junkie boyfriend. I mean a sweetheart, because if you did, you might feel different."
"I can't miss what I've never had."
They both watched Thom take his opponent down and Jaden gave her a little sneer. "Sure you can."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Michael's low raspy voice. "Alex, you and Thom... come with me, you've been activated for an op.
She stood to the left of Percy, wearing a form fitting red dress and matching stacked suede heels. Amanda was just far enough behind him to be heard. "How do you think it's going?"
"These recruits have the potential of being good operatives, they have the looks for it, let's hope they grow up and soon." Percy nodded and turned to look at her.
She raised her eyebrows at him. "I was actually talking about Michael."
Percy shrugged. "Michael's a soldier and all soldier's need to have a mission and a vision. I believe his has been reinforced since he's returned."
"You know, this could have ended much differently, Nikita saved his life and although he may be resentful and bitter towards her now, he'll come to understand that his revenge will be worth more alive than dead."
"We have time and if it comes up, we'll deal with it." Percy dismissed the train of thought. "So tell me, how are things progressing on your end?"
Amanda looked smug and self assured. "He believes I'm tired of being treated like an inconsequential member of this organization, I'm vindictive and power hungry and the money's a factor because I'm also greedy. They are all valid reasons why I'm betraying Division and you."
Percy smirked at the comment. "I still have reservations, you haven't done field work in years and this is potentially a powder-keg." He looked at her fondly. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you, you're far too valuable."
She raised her eyebrows and looked flattered by the declaration. "I believe a quick and effective extraction on Division's part can put your anxiety at ease." She took a step towards him and reached out to straighten his tie. "Doing fashion makeovers on teenagers and electrocuting prisoners isn't exactly challenging and gratifying. I can do this, I know the intel will be useful to Division and to you."
He nodded and a small smile crossed his face. "You will be a formidable opponent, but so will he. Don't underestimate him. He's ruthless and dangerous, he makes me look like an old softy." Percy sniffed and feigned injury.
She checked her watch with a sly smile. "I need to go, I have another rendezvous scheduled. I believe a few tidbits on the CIA's infiltration of the drug cartel in Mexico should butter him up. Hmm... Not a bad idea."
Percy watched her exit Operations, her red dress suited her and he recognized she was a beautiful woman. He had to admit, this was a good idea, but when she jumped at this opportunity to be the one to complete the mission, there was no doubt in his mind it was an outstanding idea. He stifled the smidgen of jealousy he felt, this after all wasn't personal, it was Division business.
Walking toward her office, Amanda felt exhilarated and she laughed under her breath. It had been a very long time, since she felt this way, and she relished the possibilities. They had so much in common, their manipulative behavior was self serving and both took such a malicious enjoyment watching and playing with other people's lives. This would be more than fun, it would be intoxicating.
At this late hour, only essential personnel were on duty, the security team manned their close circuit cameras and the cleaning crew mopped the floors. Inside Operations, computer technicians monitored incoming satellite transmissions, security footage from hot spots around the world and flash news feeds. They would spend their shift looking for potential hostile situations.
It had been another fifteen-hour day for Michael, yet he still managed to look professional and cool in his dark suit and crisp dress shirt. Spending long hours with his recruits had taken the edge off of his denial and made it easier to bury his feelings. Over the last month, his bruises had faded, the beating his body had taken had healed, and on the surface it appeared he had reconciled the events in Uzbekistan and moved on. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Everything he thought he knew had been challenged. His place in Division, his relationship with Percy and his quest for revenge had left him bitter and confused in more ways than one. And then there was Nikita.
His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor and he turned the corner, stopping in front of a windowless metal door and pressing his index finger on the panel lock. It opened with a definite click and when he walked in, the cool air and hum from the air conditioning units greeted him. He looked around, the underlying buzz of computer servers and their blinking lights winked back at him.
Birkhoff stepped out of the shadows and the white noise in the room muffled his voice. "Over here… I can only jam the security cameras for another couple of minutes."
Michael walked over and stood between a row of tall towers stacked with computer hard drives, relays and switches. His curiosity had been peeked. Why was Division's I.T. guru asking for the secretive meeting? "What's up with the cloak and dagger?"
The alarm in his voice was real and the look on his face substantiated it. "Look man, if Percy knew I was telling you any of this, I'm a dead man."
Michael looked at him through narrowed eyes because Birkhoff had the unique capability to take Division down with a few keystrokes. Percy knew this and kept him under constant surveillance. It was rare for him to share unsolicited information. "Is our conversation secure?" Michael's voice was barely audible.
Birkhoff nodded. "Listen, I know everyone here thinks I'm a slouch and a company man, and maybe I am, but I would only tell this to a friend and I consider you a friend."
Michael listened, he furrowed his brow and his curiosity turned into concern.
"After you got back from Uzbekistan, I picked up some encrypted transmissions for Percy and when I asked him about them, he kinda went ballistic on me. So I got curious and peeled back some hefty layers, I don't have any details but he's trading information and making deals with Kasim Tariq."
At the sound of Kasim's name, the color drained from his face and his eyes grew dark with rage. "Have you told anyone else?"
Birkhoff flinched at his anger. "Hell no."
Michael's low voice grumbled. "Keep it that way."
He looked away and heard Percy say the words, "At least one good thing came from this, now you know who your real friends are." Once again, Michael knew, Percy's objectives were never about him, but always about Nikita.