It was a good call to run out of the shipping container. The camera spying on them wasn't the only security measure the Guardian had equipped. There were numerous boobytraps that the rogues had tripped by not paying attention. Once they rushed out of the container, the explosion was set off. The rogues were thrown by the blast. They scrambled onto the ground, the wind knocked out of them. It took them a moment to collect themselves. As they staggered to their feet, Michael called out to them, "Is everyone alright? Is anyone injured?"
Shuffling towards her boyfriend, Nikita shook her head. She was fine- a little shaken, but fine. She looked Michael over, ensuring he was alright as well. Although he reached out to her and clung to her, he was okay. The explosion hadn't gotten him; it hadn't gotten any of them. Owen wasn't nearly as okay, however. He was on his feet, yet he clutched his head tightly. He paced around in pain, begging to relieve the agony. Nikita reached out to help, but Owen harshly waved her off, "No, it's just…"
"It's the regimen, isn't it?" Nikita easily assumed. Somehow, Owen managed to nod. Reaching out again and settling him with her touch, Nikita shared a glance with Michael. Things just kept getting worse. The stuff with the Guardian was expected; of course it was going to be difficult and dangerous to capture and kill him. But the regimen proved to be the worst enemy. It was going to destroy Owen before the Guardian could even land a hand on him. Nikita was absolutely certain of it. The team needed to find a way to get him off the regimen immediately, "Yeah. We have to get you help."
"B, I don't have much time, but they're sending me out to London. I'm on the rogue hunt, not Kelly," Whispering harshly into her phone, Alex told Birkhoff what was going on. She had considered calling Nikita first. But since she wasn't certain if the rogue would be able to answer with everything that was occurring in London, she settled on Birkhoff. At least one of the rogues had to know about the change of plans. Alex wouldn't be able to do much to help them if she was assigned to kill them. Her cover was too important to even risk blowing. They needed to come up with a way around that, fast.
"What? Why?" Birkhoff stuttered into the phone. That was not the kind of update he was expecting from Alex. The team in London seemed to have a pretty strong lead on who the Guardian was, but they could still use any information from Division their mole could get. Anything could've been helpful, except that. Kelly leading an Alpha team against the rogues was a standard problem they dealt with. But hiding Alex as their mole while she was supposed to kill them was absolutely something else. How were they supposed to convincingly fake fight each other while actually taking out the Guardian- how was Alex actually supposed to help them.
"Fuck if I know," Alex struggled not to shout. She was already taking a risk ducking into the old target range as she waited on the Alpha team in order to call Birkhoff. She couldn't bring any more attention her way; she just had to state the strange facts and start working on a solution. Why Amanda tapped her to go in Kelly's place still didn't make sense. Yes, she had been successful against the rogues before. But Division didn't like to risk her on those missions- they might not receive their side of her revenge mission deal. Everything was so confusing and definitely not good, "Look, just get in touch with the others. We gotta figure this out."
Owen's headache would not recede. Michael and Nikita had to move him to the car as they sped off towards the safehouse. They were only slightly concerned about the Guardian being able to track them; some basic maneuvers could shake any possible tails just in case. The main focus was on ridding Owen of his splitting headache and making sure the regimen withdrawal didn't drag him under. By the time the rogues made it back to the safehouse, Owen was struggling to stay upright. Michael and Nikita had to drag him inside and give him the rest of the regimen. He finally began to feel better. But it wouldn't last long, "That's the last of it."
"We'll get you more, then we'll find a way to wean you off them," As Owen took a moment to rest, Nikita promised. Although her experience with the regimen told her differently, maybe they could treat Owen's dependency like any other drug addiction. Since quitting cold turkey obviously wasn't working, maybe he could slowly lean off them- take a lesser amount each time. She doubted that'd actually work, however. Regimen withdrawal was drastically different than regular withdrawal. The chemicals that had affected his brain couldn't be regulated by stopping the drug. Owen needed serious intervention, something the rogues couldn't provide.
"Dude, what did you do?" Although Nikita glanced at her boyfriend for help, Michael was distracted by Owen. The former Guardian had removed his torn from the explosion shirt and was moving to grab a replacement. As he did, numerous tattoos on his chest, back, and arms were revealed. The artwork covering his body matched the artwork covering the walls. Both Michael and Nikita stared in shock. Yes, they had their own tattoos decorating their skin. But it was nothing like the ones Owen had. They didn't represent death and destruction.
"I told you, it's so I don't forget," Owen reiterated matter of factly. He threw on another shirt and attempted to move on from the conversation. The three had already discussed his art remembering his victims, and the others had already stated their opinions about it. It wouldn't change his mind. Just drawing symbols for his victims wasn't enough. He needed to carry them around with him. Every minute of every day he had to be reminded of what he did. It wasn't enough to carry the burden metaphorically on his shoulders; it needed to be literal.
Yet another look passed between Michael and Nikita. They couldn't let Owen's tattoos go. His obsession had taken over his life; the regimen had narrowed his thoughts down to that singular point. He wouldn't stop unless he found justice for his victims, or until he had completely punished himself for what he had done. He couldn't keep going down that road. The regimen couldn't control him. Although she was well aware of the reality of the situation, Nikita tried to break him out of it, "Look, I know what you're going through. I feel it too. Everyday. It's what makes us want to do the right thing. But you can't keep punishing yourself. It has to end."
Knowing that Owen wasn't going to listen, Michael shook his head. If what Nikita had told him about the regimen was true, then there wasn't anything they could do for Owen besides get him more pills. And the best way to do that was to take out the Guardian. The rogues needed to track him down and finish their mission. All their problems would work out after that, "We're running out of time. The Guardian knows we're here, which means he's called Percy, which means a Division strike team is on the way."
"If you're in his shoes, what do you do?" Nikita just sighed and went with Michael's suggestion to move on. She had a feeling she'd simply be arguing forever with Owen until they got him more regimen. He might not have reached the stage where he was killing those who tried to stop him. But he certainly wasn't listening to the team. Forcing him to think about anything else might set him off, and there'd be no chance in saving him. The rogues should just stick to the mission from then on. It really was their best chance.
"First thing I'd do is secure the black box," Owen gladly answered. He could think clearly about the Guardian, the black box, and the mission. Too many thoughts about his victims screamed in his head. He could never make them shut up. Drawing helped, as did getting a tattoo. However, it wasn't long lasting. His thoughts always returned to those he had hurt and how he needed to help them. Chasing down the Guardian was the clearest and easiest way for him to do that. It made the most sense. And it gave him a steady path to run down. With the others' help, he should be able to accomplish his goal without further problems.
"So he'll be going to the bank. We need to get there first," Michael and Nikita built off of each other. Whatever bank the Guardian used to hide the black box, the rogues had to race there and destroy the damn thing before Division could catch up with them. Owen helped them narrow down the bank based on how he had chosen which bank to use in Montreal. They had Birkhoff confirm it, then they loaded up on guns and sped towards their destination. After hiding their car a few blocks away, they arrived just as the Guardian escaped with the black box.
As soon as they all saw one another, the rogues and the Guardian attacked. The cars whizzing by on the street was a challenge, but they fought around them. The rogues were lucky to have the odds stacked three against one. Despite the regimen and the heavy blows he landed, the Guardian was soon taken out; he was thrown over the bridge into the frozen lake below. While Michael hurried to the edge of the bridge to see if he could spot him and confirm he was dead, Nikita turned to Owen. He had managed to grab the black box. That was it. It was over. It could end there, "Owen, box on the ground. I'm gonna shoot it, so we can get out of here."
"If you kill the box, the truth dies with it. We gotta release the truth," However, Owen held the black box tightly against his chest. He knew Nikita wouldn't take the shot if it'd put him in danger. The two weren't the best of friends, yet she wouldn't harm someone on her team- someone who was also trying to start a new life. She was trying to be better than how she used to be. She wasn't going to bring pain anymore, just justice. That was what he was trying to do as well- their paths simply looked different. But he'd make her see his way. It was the only way.
"No. We talked about this, remember?" Nikita shook her head. Those secrets on the black box were a death sentence, and not just for those actually named on it. Ryan Fletcher almost died because of a released secret. He had no connection to it, but he was going to die to cover up somebody else's sin. How many others would suffer the same fate if every secret got out. The chaos the world dissolved into would make Chile look like nothing. Michael had been right to warn her all those months ago about the black boxes. They couldn't let the world burn just to get their revenge. How did that make them any better than those they were fighting.
"You said it's time this all came to an end," Owen couldn't believe Nikita wasn't agreeing with him. He could understand Michael's hesitation. And he doubted Birkhoff would side with him on anything. However, Nikita was supposed to be the one that understood him. She was just like him. They had followed Division orders blindly, hurt so many people, and lost loved ones to the very organization they worked for. They had to burn the place down; they had to avenge their loved ones no matter the cost. He saw that clearly. Why couldn't she.
Staring into Owen's eyes, Nikita knew she wasn't talking to the real him. He was lost to whatever the lack of regimen did to his mind. There was no use in trying to reason with him; he'd twist her words around even more in order to justify his actions. The only way to stop him was to physically intervene. With how crazed he was, maybe Nikita couldn't do it on her own. But she had Michael at her back. They could get Owen down, drag him to the safehouse, and destroy the black box. Unfortunately, the former Cleaner was able to read her intentions. As Nikita moved to strike, he pushed her into oncoming traffic. Michael screamed, "Nikita!"
Michael sprinted towards Nikita, completely ignoring the Guardian in the river. She was already struggling to her feet by the time he reached her. The driver who had accidentally hit her was trying to help, but the two rogues waved her off. There was no need to draw extra attention. In fact, they needed to leave the scene as quickly as possible; the Guardian could come back, or Division could crash the scene. Nikita would be alright once they got somewhere safe. At least, that was her thought process. Michael, on the other hand, reached for his gun and began to chase after Owen. His girlfriend had to fight to hold him back, "He's not himself."
Nikita's nails bit into Michael's arm. They needed to leave. They shouldn't hunt anyone down in a blind rage. They needed to escape the scene, hide somewhere safe, and regroup. Begrudgingly, Michael tore his eyes away from where Owen had gone. He glanced at Nikita and quickly realized that her fierce grip wasn't just to stop him; she was using his arm to help her stay standing. Both the Guardian and the car had left her beyond bruised and battered. If she was going to be of any help for the remainder of the mission, she needed to rest and heal, "Let's just get back to the safehouse. We'll find a way to help him and destroy the box."
"I don't think there is a way to help him, not before he destroys the world. And certainly not before Division gets here," Wrapping his arm around Nikita, Michael helped her walk towards their car. Fortunately, Owen didn't take it as he ran away. Unfortunately, the car was still a few blocks from the bank; the two had to limp through the streets for a while. Nikita was making a gallant effort of it. Although a few painful groans slipped past her lips, she wasn't going to complain. Her determination to destroy the black box and to save Owen pushed her on.
"We have to try. Wouldn't you try if it was me?" Softly, Nikita asked. She already knew the answer to that question. She already knew that Michael would go to the lowest circle of hell for her. He had fought hard to help her get clean, and he had helped her find hope again. He never once gave up on her. Sure, his feelings for her helped drive him to keep fighting. Yet that was just who he was; he was so kind and helpful and devoted to seeing the best in people. Owen's past didn't mean he deserved any differently. Michael could be just as caring. The rogues had to work hard to save him, just as they would their other teammates.
Despite the effects of the regimen withdrawal he had just witnessed- and despite the fact that he was ready to kill Owen for hurting his girlfriend- Michael couldn't argue. Of course he'd try for Nikita. He'd also try for Birkhoff and Alex. Owen then couldn't be the exception. The team had to find a solution for him. Hopefully they could do it as they tracked him down and stopped him. Though, that wasn't going to be as easy as it should've been. Just as the two reached the car, Michael got a text update from Birkhoff. There was always something worse- wasn't there, "Alex is leading the Division team. There's a lot we gotta consider."