Once emotions were calmed and rationality returned to their thoughts, the team was able to plan for their infiltration. Birkhoff pulled up Division schematics for them to work off of, Nikita briefed them about the guards posed as farmers, Michael ran through a list of contingencies, Sean prepared their weapons, Alex secured their equipment, and Ryan left to inform Kendrick of what was occurring. With an actual goal in mind containing things they could control, and preparing for those they couldn't, the rogues felt more sure in their actions. They could handle the situation. It wouldn't be the suicide mission they feared.
That was, if everything went according to plan. So far, it seemed to be going well. The rogues had everything ready before the day was out. They rushed off to New Jersey, intercepted the Division farmers, and began their intrusion. While Nikita and Michael searched for their entry point, Sean and Alex secured the barn. The two bound the Division agents, and ensured there weren't any listening devices or cameras that would alert their enemies to their presence. An overabundance of caution filled their every move. It might've been excessive, but the team knew it was the only way they could save themselves.
Even if they couldn't stop Percy (though, that wasn't a thought they were willing to give into) the team had to make certain they made it out alive. No more loss and no more pain; that was just as important as saving the world. Although he was careful as well, knowing far too well the lengths Percy would go to in order to achieve what he wanted, Sean allowed his mind to wander. His thoughts didn't go far, he just wasn't too focused on the mission. It was all in an effort to ensure his anxiety didn't completely devour him, "Working undercover as a married couple must've been fun."
"Okay?" Alex glanced at her boyfriend in confusion. That was the second time he had brought up a random topic while they were on a mission. She thought Navy Seals were supposed to be topnotch soldiers, always on mission and never distracted. Sean, however, seemed to be somewhere else entirely. He was probably just thinking outloud. The Division agents they had captured had been undercover as married farmers. That was a pretty strange cover for killer assassins. They could've had fun with it, or had been bored as hell. Yet, what did it really matter. It wasn't as though that would affect Sean and Alex's mission.
"I'm just saying. Maybe Nikita's not the only secret agent to risk it all for love," Sean shrugged, closing the gap between him and Alex. Posing as a couple could've caused the Division agents to develop real feelings. There were stories of that happening all the time. Though, he wasn't really talking about the undercover farmers. The Seal beamed at his girlfriend and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Many things were changed and had been risked for just a shot of love. He knew that well.
"Well, no. There's Owen too," Nodding, Alex returned to moving potential weapons out of the unconscious agents' reach. Although Owen had been missing from the action since he helped Ryan hunt down the guardians (despite the team's constant calls), she knew about his story. Nikita had told her and Sean as she brought them into the fold. The former guardian and cleaner had dared to fall in love, and his girlfriend was killed. It was a tragic tale told a hundred times to the Division agents. The fact that the rogues had such strong and close relationships was an act of rebellion all by itself. The black ops group never broke them completely.
"Wow. Those Russian walls are thick," Sean couldn't help but chuckle. Alex was quick with a sarcastic quip or teasing joke. However, when it came to serious emotion, she was a little slow. He didn't blame her for it. She simply had a lot of walls to work through. After the life she had had, who wouldn't. He knew he had his own trust issues to deal with. He wasn't as open or truthful as he should've been at times. But he could work on it. With her by his side, he had the perfect reason to improve himself.
Alex stared at Sean, attempting to figure out just what the hell he was getting at. She was missing something. There were times when the couple could read each other's thoughts, emotions, and movements without a single word spoken between them. Then, there were moments where Alex felt several steps behind her boyfriend. Usually, that occurred when they were focused on two entirely different things. He wanted to discuss relationships, while her mind was rooted firmly on the mission. That was the only thing she could see take precedence, "What? Do you want to play on their emotions when we interrogate them?"
"You're adorable," Pulling his girlfriend back into his arms, Sean's smile illuminated the entire barn. Alex didn't need any longer to understand what he was saying. Realization struck her hard. He laughed brightly as she expressed her shocked 'oh'. He knew she would get there eventually. She just had to remember that he always thought about her, and in the best possible ways, "Yeah, I'm talking about you and me. Love is a powerful thing. It can turn loyal soldiers into rogue agents."
"Technically, I was never involved in an agency, so I'm not a rogue agent. Also, weren't you already toeing that line since you were working for Oversight?" Smirking, Alex clarified. Sure Oversight was a part of the government, Sean was following orders, he wasn't given all the information, and he was protecting his mother. But, that didn't mean he hadn't willingly worked for a corrupt organization. He wasn't more morally superior than the rest of the team. He was already working in the gray area between good and bad when he met them. Following Alex and the band of rebels only solidified that.
"Shh. That's just semantics," Sean simply grinned over the fact, knowing it was better to shrug it off than dwell on it. Although he tried to be a boy scout and the perfect soldier, he knew he had to perform terrible acts for the right reasons. The end justified the means. That was what being a Navy Seal was all about. It was also what drove the rogues on their more reckless missions. The rebels and the soldier were the same, doing everything they could to save others. Thankfully, his eyes had been open to that fact before it was too late. He was able to help them, instead of continuing to hurt them. And that was all due to his lovely girlfriend.
"Mission first, lover boy," As Sean tried to kiss her, Alex squished his cheeks and pushed him away. She could talk about their relationship, and possible plans for their future, and things like that. But she wouldn't distract herself with a kiss. Two unconscious Division agents were behind them, after all. They still needed to be watched and guarded while Michael and Nikita infiltrated the bunker. Flirty affection would simply have to be shared once the day was saved. Then, there would be nothing stopping them from expressing all of their love.
"Yes, please. You're still on the coms," Except maybe their teammates. Birkhoff sighed in an attempt to cover his laughter. He would've been more annoyed with the couple if their shameless flirting hadn't been a great distraction from his anxiety. Ryan was still debriefing with Kendrick. The CIA and the US government were scrambling to figure out what to do against Percy. Even if the team managed to shut down the satellite, there was still the bastard and a bunker full of trained assassins to contend with. It wasn't over just yet.
But that couldn't be the team's complete focus. They had to take it one step at a time. Ryan was informing those with power of the threat. Birkhoff had a watchful eye over the team with his own satellites and coms. Sean and Alex secured the area. And Nikita and Michael were close to the opening to the silo. Those parts of their mission had been successful. As long as they were taking it step by step, the rest would fall into place. They even had room to laugh and smile. Nikita certainly did so as she nudged Michael, "At least we're not the only ones."
Rolling his eyes, Michael chuckled. Birkhoff had claimed the engaged couple were horrible at private conversations over coms, but Sean and Alex might've just beaten them. Though, who could fault the two. Whatever helped ease tension was welcome. The former analyst needed all the help he could at that frightful moment. He and Nikita had finally found the entrance to the silo, and they were about to descend into hell. Or, at least they should've. The ladder that was supposed to be there was gone. All that was left was a dangerous drop, "Shit. Amanda must've taken out the ladder when she turned the silo into Percy's cell."
"Guess you're gonna have to lower me down," Preparing the rope they had brought along just in case, Nikita decided. She was honestly surprised it had taken them that long to run into a complication. They had prepared for so many, and they were used to so many. Maybe the team had finally been lucky. They were due for good things from the universe. A small hiccup in their plans here or there wasn't detrimental to their mission. They still come out on top. They definitely had enough determination and fortitude to not only survive, but also succeed.
"No. You stay. I'll go," Michael tried to take the rope from Nikita's hands. He accepted that they would have to separate to complete the mission, yet he didn't want his fiancée to risk her life. She had done that enough. She had constantly been at the forefront of their war, taking the majority of the hits and bullets. It was his turn to take the risks and put his life on the line. If it was as simple as she said, then he should be fine with just his Navy and CIA training. Besides, though they weren't Division level skills, they were still impressive.
"No, Michael. You're too heavy for me to lower. Not that I'm dissing your girlish figure," Nikita teased, half in seriousness and half in an effort to distract her fiancé. Despite her incredible strength, she couldn't lower Michael down a shaft without one or both of them getting hurt. It was easier for her to go. She was far smaller, and she knew her way around the air vents. As a recruit she had gotten well acquainted with the ducts. She used to sneak around them to escape the torment of training, and as a quiet 'fuck you' to Division. The whole course of them was mapped out in her head. Once she was inside, she wouldn't be lost or stuck.
Michael had to accept what he was hearing. There was no use fighting against it. Nikita had to go inside, not him. If that was the case, however, then he'd make certain she stayed as safe as possible. He helped her secure the rope to her waist, tying it tightly and testing the strength of the knot. Anything he could control before she slipped into hell, he would do. The worst fear she had shared with him couldn't come true. She couldn't lose him, and he could never in a million years lose her, "If anything happens…"
"There'll be two techs in the server room. That'd be like handling Birkhoff. I'll be in and out, no problem," Maybe Nikita downplayed it more than she should've, but a part of her statement was true. She could handle herself in the basement of hell. She could take care of the technicians, plant the charge, blow the server, and escape without anyone knowing she was there. Michael didn't need to be too concerned about her. With him waiting for her on the outside, she would be as fast and accurate as possible. There was absolutely no need for her to linger.
"You scare the shit out of me. But I love you anyway," Holding her still, Michael bore his green eyes into her brown. He refused to let his fiancée go until he had expressed his heart. Despite Nikita's need to play the martyr and the crazy risks she put herself in, he loved her endlessly. He loved her in spite of everything. The way she looked back at him expressed that she felt the exact same. A war hadn't been able to tear them apart. So neither could that operation, or the threat of death.
"I love you anyway too," Nikita smiled softly. The engaged couple kissed gently at first. But as the thoughts of separation and danger seeped into their minds, the kiss grew hungry and desperate. They had to force themselves to pull away, otherwise, they'd be too consumed with the affection to continue with their mission. Slowly, Michael lowered Nikita into the silo and watched her disappear into the hellish darkness. At least she continued to be audible over the coms. He could hear her and know she was alright. Things were going as they should.
To say their missions weren't a rollercoaster of relief and shit hitting the fan would've been a lie. Just as Nikita got down to the server room, something happened in the barn. The farmers had regained consciousness. Yet instead of talking to Sean and Alex, or even trying to kill the two, one of them managed to slip their bonds and killed the other. It was so rash and callous, the rogues didn't know how to react. Until Division's alarm system went off, however. With the farmer's death, the team had gotten caught. Their mission was blown. And Nikita was stuck inside. Michael tried to get to her, but she had gone radio silent, "Nikita? Nikita!"
He couldn't wait any longer for a reply. Driving a stake into the ground, Michael made a makeshift rig to lower himself into the silo with. There was a slim chance of success, yet he didn't care about the danger. He just had to reach Nikita. Sean and Alex were dealing with the fallout in the barn, so it was up to him to save his fiancée and what was left of their mission. As he watched remorsefully from the safehouse, Birkhoff attempted to be a voice of reason to anyone who would listen. Except, it was too far out of control, "Mikey, what are you doing? The rig's not gonna hold your weight. And how are you going to get back up?"
"I don't care. I'm going after her," There was no stopping him. Michael had to help Nikita. The two would figure out a way to escape Division afterwards. All that mattered at the moment was saving their lives. The former analyst dropped into the bunker, and readied his weapon. He had to pause as his eyes adjusted around him, however. So that was what Division looked like. He had always wondered what kind of hell his friends had experienced. It was about time he found out.