Preface: It's bitter cold and around three am when the moon finds a dark skinned man being pushed on to the grimy streets of a New York City alley. He's being shoved by another man in his early thirties; a killing light glints in his intense green eyes. The icy wind blows into them like the ocean tide slamming into cliffs, whipping the two men's jackets around them.
The green eyed man looks down at the other, now sprawled on his back and struggling to get up. Not an ounce of pity is to be seen. After a moment of admiration for his handy work, the man standing takes out a gun from his holster and points it directly at the others heart. A slow smirk draws across his face right before he pulls the trigger.
Two months earlier:
Percy was pleased. More then pleased actually, something even more rare for Division's mastermind to feel; Percy was satisfied. In his line of work, there was always some sort of latter to climb. Someone to fool, someone to manipulate, something to gain. But the past 48 hours had brought on an aberration to a tricky issue in Division and even more unusually, for the better.
Nikita, Nikita. On a average day, the vile piece of street trash would have made him gag, but it was now because of her own foolish actions that ensured the loyalty of his finest warrior, his second in command; Michael. Minion was not a proper word to describe Michael, although more ignorant and naive fools may have called him that. Michael could think for himself and take the reins as a true leader without instruction, yet refrained from questioning his authority or reasons. It was a rare trait to find amongst his numbers and because of Nikita, Michael was in the palm of Percy's hand yet again.
Was revenge really so sweet and rewarding as to wait over nine years for it? Percy idly wondered to himself while sipping a celebratory drink. Yes thought Percy with the slightest of smirks. Yes it was.
Birkhoff was rambling, again. Alex gave an unobtrusive glance at the clock near the back of the room. Ten minuets left, damn it she thought. Yes learning the functions of a laptop so one could more easily hacked it was rather important. Interesting? Um, no. Well maybe to Birkhoff it was, but Alex didn't care what he thought unless she needed to get something out of him for Nikita.
"And that my young grasshoppers, is how the mother board controls most of the laptop's functions. Any questions? Anyone?"
The whole class was restless, and fidgeting to get out of the lab.
"No one has a question? No one at all?" Birkhoff told the class, mocking astonishment in his voice.
"He's going to give us a pop quiz isn't he?" Although Jaden whispered this to the girl next to her, Alex was the one that responded.
"Yes, yes he is."
Before Jaden could even shoot a snide glare in Alex's direction, Birkhoff continued his sentience.
"Wonderful! This means you won't grumble like the teeny teenyboppers you are, when I give you a pop quiz then!"
Needless to say the whole class groaned. Alex gave a deep internal sigh. Although she pretended to be awful at hacky computerie stuff, she really wasn't too shabby. But in order to keep her cover, some acting was nearly always in high order. One of the many things Nikita had taught her, was how to remain under the radar. No recruit ever started out good in anything, and everyone has to fight, cheat and manipulate everyone else they could, to survive.
Alex looked over her quiz sheet contemplatively, considering each question carefully. The answer's were easy for Alex to conjure up, but left the third question wrong to mislead Birkhoff. Alex finished before most of the class,but pretended to continue working. Alex used her free minuets to think about how to resolve her newest dilemma. The near disaster that had almost occurred in the past two days was yet to be resolved. Right now she needed a plan, one that mostly centered around a way to manipulate Jaden. Alex needed to talk to Nikita.
Light streamed in through the giant windows of Nikita's spacious loft, adding a soft morning glow to the light wood floors. Nikita was already awake surreptitiously cleaning her guns in the early morning light. A few quiet pings alerted her to answer a call from Alex. Nikita worried about her young protege frequently, but this, helping Nikita take down Division was what Alex had insisted on doing.
I have a question for you.
Sure. Is everything OK? Nikita typed quickly, icy fear beginning to trickle into her stomach
Yes and no. To get Michael's tracking number to you, I had to do some risky stuff. Right now I'm in a tight corner. Any ideas? The fear began to drain out of her stomach, but Alex was right about not wanting to be in a tight corner. Nikita considered her answer carefully before entering it into the computer.
Use their weaknesses against them. Any new INTEL?
Not yet. I'll get back to you when I see something. Nikita paused, debating on whether to ask Alex about the thing that had been keeping her up at night.
How's Michael? Nikita couldn't help but ask. She had saved his life, but the man could not see beyond his own pain and guilt to understand why she did it. Nikita was had hoped that once the initial anger faded away Michael that she had done it for him. Or at least that was what she kept telling herself.
Behind closed doors. I saw him taking the shit out of a punching bag earlier though. He doesn't look too good. Nikita took a deep breath to stop the prickling sensation in her eyes. What was she thinking? If Michael's burning desire to take revenge on Kasim had lasted nine years, why should she think he would get over losing the chance to kill the damn bastard in a few days? The tight knot in her stomach proved that she had been hoping anyway.
Thanks. Keep your eyes open, and BE CAREFUL! Nikita couldn't stress that enough to her headstrong partner.
I know, I know. Talk to you soon
User is now off line
Back at Division, Alex continued to stare at the computer screen. Honestly Alex didn't want to be on Jaden's hit list. This was also an opportunity to change that, if Alex could be clever enough. But how to trick Jaden? An idea was already forming her head, and Alex knew it would be her riskiest yet.
AN: Hmm. Thoughts? Should I continue?
-Jaug