This story is written for entertainment purposes only. If you're under age, go someplace else. Children's Internet use should be monitored by their parents, not me.
Nap Time
The road to and from Division is moderately traveled and unmemorable to most, but Birkhoff knew better. His intel gathering arsenal included surveillance tapes that were installed under Percy's direction.
'Best to know who's coming to visit or trying to get away.' Division's former leader had declared. He had cameras mounted on the telephone poles and in trees that lined the two lane highway. There was even equipment mounted on the property of unsuspecting homeowners.
After Michael left in search of Nikita, Birkhoff was already downloading the video looking for anomalies. Near road marker number twenty eight, a power company utility van was parked just out of sight. To most, it was what it appeared to be, but to a covert operative, it was a billowing red flag. He studied the footage and saw Nikita's car was a half mile away driving towards it and as she got closer, her front tire blew out.
She swerved and her car skidded to a stop. She got out of the vehicle to inspect the damage and was looking less than happy. Her pregnant belly made it hard for her to bend down and see how bad it was. Nikita had a frustrated look on her face until a black SUV pulled up and Jackson hopped out of the vehicle with a grin.
Birkhoff paused the image and zoomed in. This was no accident, a spike had been planted on the road. He zoomed out and played the tape and watched as three men got out of the utility van. He already knew these guys weren't there to fix a power line or look at junction boxes.
She and Jackson exchanged a few words and Nikita retrieved her computer tablet and purse from her car and walked toward the SUV. She had always been known for her uncanny intuition and Birkhoff could clearly see she was reaching for her gun, when she collapsed and fell unconscious. Jackson went to her aid and the three men from the utility van attacked him. He received a bullet in his chest and a stab wound in his back for his efforts.
He saw no blood or evidence that Nikita had been shot with a conventional gun, it must have been some kind of tranquilizer that knocked her out. The men lifted Nikita up and deposited her into the van and it sped off, but not surprisingly, Birkhoff was able to track the vehicle.
Michael spoke to him over his Com unit. He was always stoic and in control but finding Nikita gone and Jackson clinging to life had clearly affected him. "Birkhoff, I need medical. Jackson's alive, but he needs immediate attention."
"They're on their way, ETA three minutes." Bikhoff answered. Michael knelt next to the young agent and kept pressure on the bullet wound that pierced his chest.
He had left Division and hoped to find Nikita and give her a piece of his mind. Instead he found her vehicle abandoned, her gun, purse and computer tablet left next to her car and the agent he assigned to follow her critically injured.
"Michael..." Birkhoff knew the information he had was either good news or bad news. "The surveillance tape shows the road was spiked and a utility van was hiding in plain sight. Nikita went down, but there was no blood, it must have been a tranq, Jackson intervened and they got him, left him for dead."
"They took her? Did you see or track their vehicle?" Michael demanded.
"Yeah, and I'm sure she's alive. I've got a line on where they were heading. The time stamp on the video shows they have about a twenty-six minute head start on you."
A van pulled up and Division's medical unit, including Dr. Keller converged on the two men.
"No exit wound from the bullet. He's got a deep laceration on his lower back." Michael let them take over.
"Nikita?" The doctor asked as he and one of his medics worked on Jackson. He was clearly concerned for her and the twins she carried.
Michael shook his head, he grabbed a towel to try and clean the blood off of his hands. "I'm going to go get her."
"Deja vu." Sonya whispered.
Birkhoff shrugged. "Not the class reunion I was hoping for. Weird, and not so wonderful."
The two followed Alex, Sean, Nikita and Michael as they headed toward Operations. Three years ago they had left Division to start their lives over. Being back in the underground black ops facility brought them back to their beginnings.
The six of them had left the city just minutes after being told about Amanda's note. A private charter got them to the east coast in record time.
Ryan Fletcher was the first to greet them. "Nikita, Michael, we've started the search in sub level six and haven't found anything. We can't be sure Emma's here."
Birkhoff and Sonya wasted no time and were setting themselves up. Alex and Sean hung back, waiting for more intel and Nikita and Michael's instructions. The little girl's parents looked like the weight of the world was on their shoulders.
"This is where Amanda wants us." Nikita stated, her emotions were pulled taught, and like a rubber band, she felt like she might snap at anytime.
"She brought us back here knowing this was the only way we would come back." Michael's grim scowl relayed more than any words could.
"She's manipulating all of us." Ryan looked contrite. "I can't turn a blind eye to her threat. I'm evacuating personnel on a voluntary bases."
They all knew the search for Emma would be hampered without Division's man power, but no one was surprised by the news.
Sean spoke to Alex quietly. "A toddler doesn't just get dropped off and hidden away without making a huge fuss. You have any idea where she could be?"
"You're right. Emma may be sweet and trusting, but she's not going to let a stranger stuff her in a closet or locker without making a lot of noise."
"Amanda's mole, how long had he been here and what was his assignment?" Sean questioned.
"Ryan punched a few keys and an image and profile came up. He was recruited out of a maximum security prison in Montana a year after Birkhoff and Nikita were brought in. He was trained to work in building maintenance and weapons repair."
"I remember him." Birkhoff chimed in. "He was always kissing Percy and Amanda's ass. The guy was a sheep."
"What was his current assignment? What did he have access to?" Alex could see Sean trying to piece together a psychological puzzle.
"He was security detail, outside of number three mechanical, he would have had access to entry points."
"What's in number three mechanical?" Sean asked.
"That's the HVAC control room among other things." Michael muttered.
Alex looked at Nikita, her eyes wide with alarm. "The air vents..."
Birkhoff suddenly turned a shade of gray. "For the love of... Nikita! Michael! We have another transmission coming in! It's a pre-recorded audio."
"Put it ON!" Michael commanded. "Put it on speaker!"
Each of them felt dread envelop them as the speakers in Division crackled.
"Hay Daadeee! I go see Sam-Man! Mandy sez Tick Tock!" Emma's little voice came over the speaker. The child sounded tired, confused and sad. "Mommy? I wah my Mommy! Momm..." The transmission abruptly ended.
They all looked at each other, a mixture of relief and utter despair at hearing her cry out. Tears streamed down Nikita's face at hearing her baby calling out for her, but knowing she was still alive gave her hope. That contradictory mix of feelings changed to utter loathing when they heard Amanda's sultry voice.
"Hello everyone, we put Emma down for her nap. When she wakes up, she'll want her mommy and daddy. Oh, and by the way, watch the clock, you haven't much time. How much, is for me to know and you to find out."
The crackling sound and smell of burning timbers assaulted her nose and her lungs. Nikita turned away from the rush of hot air coming toward her. Still on her hands and knees she rounded another corner, the sweat ran down her temples as she tried to shield herself from the heat. She coughed as she tried to breathe. She couldn't cover her mouth and nose from the smoke, she needed both hands to navigate herself around.
The smoke was thick enough that it made her eyes water, she rounded one more mirror and placed her palm against a cool surface and she knew she found the outside wall. Nikita got her feet under her and pushed herself up awkwardly. She inched her way along the wall until she found a crack. She ran her fingers up and down it and knew she had found a door and searched for a way to open it.
There was no door handle only a sliding barrel lock. She worked on opening it, but the bolt was stuck. She took her shoe off and used the heel and beat on it. The smoke had become thick enough that she gagged and coughed.
She thought about Michael and her unborn babies. She thought about Alex and Birkhoff and then she thought about Amanda.
"NO!" She gasped. With what little strength and resolve she had, she hit the bolt and felt it move. She continued to hit it... once, twice and on the third try it opened.
She knew the rush of air and oxygen could cause the fire behind her to explode, but she had no choice. She threw the door open and a firey inferno rushed against her back. She swayed back and forth, grabbing the door frame for support. Her head ached with confusion and she could hardly breathe. Fighting to gain her equilibrium, she looked out. There was no landing to step onto, no stairs or ladder to lead her away from the fire at her back. She clutched her belly and cried out when she realized the ground was at least twenty feet below her.