"Nice try," After she had tried a risky move, Michael was able to pin Nikita to the mat. She fought against him, but with his weight pressing into her there was nowhere for her to go. Begrudgingly, she accepted defeat and glared up at him. Although he smirked at his victory, his comment wasn't directed at her technique. She hadn't been talking since Clean Sweep. She'd make a quip or say something out of necessity. Yet when it came to talking about their future or what to do next, she was silent. He attempted to get her to open up while they sparred, but she kept deflecting. He had her at that moment, however. She couldn't escape.
Brown eyes intense, Nikita stared up at Michael. She clenched her jaw, as if that would stop any words from tumbling loose. She didn't want to talk. What was she supposed to say, anyway. The team had made a deal with Madeline: they'd take out Division for good, then they'd receive pardons. It was freedom and a chance to go home for all of them. She just wouldn't talk about home. Nothing he did could get her to speak her mind; she had shut him and everybody else out. If he got through to her then, however, he wouldn't know. Alex interrupted just as he was going to ask her to share with him, "I had to shake two Division tails on my way over."
"Then why come here?" A bit too harshly, Nikita finally managed to shove Michael off of her. He had shifted his weight to get to his feet and pull her up, but she lost her patience. Alex shot Michael a look, wondering what the hell was going on. But he shook his head. Nikita's anger wasn't something to mess with. Later, he'd call Sean again to see if he was free enough to talk her down. That was a long shot, though. Since the publicity of what occurred at the Gates House, he had been busy with the Seals. The siblings hadn't had the time to talk after they had saved their mother.
Michael could only guess that was what pissed Nikita off. She had to save her adopted mother, despite what she had done to her. Yet he assumptions weren't going to get him anywhere. The two of them needed to talk- about her pain, about their future together. It was so frustrating that she wouldn't. He understood, but she wasn't alone; she had friends to help her. Alex recognized Nikita's strong desire not to discuss what she was thinking, so she pushed forward. Hopefully, her information would be a great distraction. It'd give everyone a moment to not drown in their thoughts, "Amanda hasn't done anything with Oversight gone. It's like she's waiting."
"For what?" Michael wondered, readily accepting Alex's change of subject. She was back as a mole inside Division for the team, and it felt great to be working together again. It was also something she was finally doing right. She thought she had made one too many mistakes lately. The fact that she had inadvertently alerted the Guardians to help Percy escape because of her blinding need for revenge, only made her guilt grow. But she was back with her team, and giving them information on Amanda. They could take the bitch and Division down, kill Semak, and live happily ever after. It was all going in the perfect direction.
"Some twisted plan to come together. I know she wants me to announce that Alexandra Udinov is alive," If only they knew what steps to take. Alex had been hopping from one lead to the next, getting swept up by missions on the way. It was about time she settled and actually planned. Maybe since they knew Amanda's scheme, the team could come up with something. Michael didn't like the idea. Who knew what the vile woman had in mind with such a scheme. Things were bound to end terribly. They couldn't give her what she wanted.
"Do it. We can keep tabs on Amanda and Ari. And you can save your mom," On the other hand, Nikita was all for it. The team needed to stay one step ahead if they were going to ever end that damn crusade. Amanda still ran Division, Ari still had a black box, and Katya was still in danger. Sending Alex back to Russia as the heir of Zetrov just might've been the best way to knock down the remaining variables. Besides, the only way of knowing what their enemies were up to was to stick close to them. Alex could do so safely with her team watching her back from the sidelines.
"Look. I know you're upset. But we can't risk Alex's life like that," Michael continued to be against the idea. Nikita had to calm down and think for a moment. Her emotions had been frayed by her recent encounter with Madeline. Although the two hadn't spoken directly, there was still so much hurt. That didn't mean she could jump into something without thought, however. They had made too many risky gambits in the past. For the final stretch of the war, they should play things safe. If Birkhoff wasn't off getting supplies to fortify their safehouse, and if Sean wasn't with the Seals, they would've backed Michael's decision. No more unnecessary danger.
"It's not a risk. It's in Amanda's interest to keep you alive. She wants Zetrov, right? Then you're gonna give it to her," Nikita made her final point to Alex. It was ultimately her choice whether or not to come back to life. The team could create other ways to destroy Division and Gogol, and save Katya. That opportunity simply fell into their laps. Once her opinion on the matter was out in the air, however, Nikita left the room. Alex and Michael could discuss what they were going to do next. She was going to shower and not contemplate her future, instead. Just floating from mission to mission seemed like the more appealing option to her.
"She's right. Besides, I'll have you watching out for me," Stopping Michael from following Nikita, Alex agreed to go along with whatever Amanda was planning. A new operation they could put their energy in would be great for them. The team could make real objectives for how they were going to end the war. Nikita could also be given time and space to process. Alex definitely needed time after reuniting with her mother in Russia; hell, she continued to struggle with her thoughts and feelings on the matter. The rogue, though more pissed than upset, was experiencing the same anguish. The only way they could push past everything was a complicated mission to distract them.
Although he wanted to give her the space and time she needed, Michael had to talk with Nikita instantly. He couldn't stand seeing her so hurt. He felt as though he had to fix things for her, help her be happy again. If only she wasn't being so stubborn and distant. After taking a shower and talking to Alex before she left, Nikita delved into cleaning all of their weapons. It certainly was a tedious and long task to hide behind; she didn't have to discuss things while she took stock of their equipment. Michael sighed and soon joined her. Even if she was shutting him out, he was going to remain by her side.
They worked in silence for hours. Music blasted from the speakers, but it was more or less ignored by the two. At some point, Michael tried to gain Nikita's attention. He wasn't going to talk about serious subjects, just let her know he was there. Or maybe he'd simply suggest they get something to eat. Yet a computer chimed with a message, breaking the moment. The suddenness surprised Michael, and he leapt to answer it. What he read didn't make any sense, however. How was that possible, "It's Birkhoff. You're on the news."
Nikita immediately abandoned the gun she had been working on to check it out. Michael pulled up the link Birkhoff sent, and they stared in shock. Sean had dealt with the media fallout of Clean Sweep. The team shouldn't have been anywhere near the news, especially since they didn't exist anymore. Except there was Nikita's name, spraypainted into the side of a highway patrolman's vehicle. Apparently, the officer had been involved with her 'accident'. He was paid off to ignore certain details, and that corruption was what led to his eventual death. Whoever killed him wanted justice for her.
The fact made Nikita feel sick to her stomach. Not for herself, though, for her sisters. How were they handling everything. First, they had to hear about the assassination attempt on their mother. Then, their dead sister was mentioned on the news. Sean had to have been talking to them, explaining as best he could and calming their fears. Nikita wanted to do that as well. But she couldn't. She still couldn't be in Jill's and Sandy's lives. While Michael messaged Birkhoff back to dig into the matter, she reached for a burner phone. It was time to call her brother. But before she could contact him, a call came in from Madeline's office. She hesitated for a long moment. On the last ring, she finally answered, "Nikki. It's Percy. Can you track him?"
Neither Michael nor Nikita were shocked (though Nikita still didn't say a word to Madeline). Of course Percy would find some way to contact her. His stupid voice had been playing over the newsfeed; he was the one to report the murder. He probably called her adopted mother so he could gloat about whatever shitty plan he was enacting. Nikita gave him that chance. Michael might've been able to track him through Shadownet. Or she could've learned something that would lend a hand in his destruction. Despite those possibilities, she had to listen to the egotistical bastard speak, "I assume you've seen the news by now."
"Congrats. You're shining a light on your own conspiracy," Nikita's snark covered her anxiety. She couldn't stop thinking about her sisters. She hadn't stopped thinking about them since Clean Sweep and the Gates House. She wanted to talk to them so badly. There was no doubt they were freaking out, and she could assure them. But she couldn't. She doubted she could ever talk to them again. The pardons the team were promised didn't guarantee they could go home; it didn't ensure that they'd have their lives back. She could remain separated from Jill and Sandy for the rest of her life.
Was it weird that she was grateful for Percy's call. His annoying threatening was the perfect distraction. Although shining a light on the conspiracy of her 'death' was probably traumatizing her sisters, it at least exposed Percy. He reminded Nikita that other people were at stake in regards to the secret; the exposure could blind them as well. She simply shrugged. The team would do anything to burn the bastard. Who cared about conspiracies. Besides, she'd always protect her family and her team could take care of themselves. Percy couldn't hurt them, "Good thing everyone I love either has a gun, or knows someone with one."
"What about Carla Bennett? Wasn't she the teacher you and your siblings considered a second mother?" Percy's questions caused ice to course through Nikita's veins. How could he have possibly heard about her. And why the hell would he want to hurt a highschool teacher to get back at her. Yet as she threatened him to back off, he hung up. Michael wasn't able to trace the call, but he didn't appear upset about it. He was more concerned with the fear flashing across Nikita's features. She didn't let him approach her, however. Instantly, she was dialing Sean's number on the burner.
Her brother didn't answer. Three more calls and he still didn't pick up- stupid Navy. Nikita had to know what happened to Ms. Bennet after she was recruited. Was she still teaching. Was she safe. She turned to Shadownet for any kind of answer. Michael attempted to get her to slow down and explain what was happening. If he understood, he could help her; they could both protect an innocent from Percy's wrath. But she was spiraling too much to focus on anything else at the moment. She had to ensure everyone's safety. There had already been more pain than anyone should've taken. No more loss. No more deaths of people that got dragged into that fucking war by no fault of their own.
When Shadownet came up with nothing, Nikita grew desperate. That shouldn't have been possible; Birkhoff had his hacking software in everything. Ms. Bennet must've been off the grid, and it must've been Percy's fault. Michael was still trying to calm her, wrap her in his arms and get her to breathe. But she was beyond determined to save a life. She wasn't going to have another person she cared about die because of her. In a last ditch effort to protect her loved ones, Nikita dialed another familiar number on the burner cell. Madeline answered after one ring, worried about the situation. Yet Nikita ignored her and made a demand, "You owe me."
