Alex didn't get anything out of the Crimson Resistance operative she had captured. The terrorist was prepared to die before letting any information slip. Division slammed right into another deadend with no other leads to see them out. The weapons and equipment the terrorist left behind in the van wouldn't have been of any help. Amanda had already made sure that there was no way to track any of it back to the terrorists. It was Division's equipment, after all. Anything they found would either lead to themselves or to untraceable encryptions. Stopping attacks before they happened would never get them far. They needed to go for the source.
However, getting information on the leader of the Crimson Resistance was nearly impossible. Michael couldn't make Ari break either. The former head of Gogol wouldn't cave, no matter the amount of torture he received. So after hearing the update from Alex in the field, Michael gave up on Ari and joined Nikita in the hall. They needed another strategy before they moved forward. They couldn't afford any more failure. Unfortunately, Nikita had nothing- just a rant as she paced, "The attacks will keep coming unless we break him. Maybe Owen was right. Maybe Ari is greedier than we thought. He should've broken by now."
"He's not gonna take much more abuse, doesn't matter how much money he thinks he's gonna make," Michael shook his head. He and Nikita couldn't keep torturing Ari. Although he had lasted that long, any more intense beatings and they just might push him too far. The bastard was never going to talk. Just like the terrorist in the field, he'd rather die than give up his secrets without his money. There had to be another way Nikita and Michael could leverage the information out of him. Otherwise, more torture would only kill him.
"What's he holding out for? What'd you hold out for?" Continuing to pace, Nikita wondered aloud. Ari couldn't have been just holding out for money. Maybe he was greedy. Maybe he was a bastard. But there was no way that he took that much abuse just for fifty million dollars he couldn't spend. That much money couldn't buy anyone's silence for that long of a torture session. Ari had to have something else he was fighting for- something in mind that made the hell all worth it. Nikita had absolutely no idea what that could've possibly been, though. Nothing she thought of made sense. But Michael could've had some ideas.
"You," Softly, Michael responded. Nikita's question, although offhanded, was really easy to answer. He'd withstand the amount of torture Ari had suffered and more if Nikita was on the line (or Max, or anyone else he cared about). Any pain was worth it as long as the people he loved most were safe and sound. He didn't know if Ari had someone like that in his life; Amanda could obviously never count as a loved one. So Michael had no idea who could've driven Ari. But he did know who drove him: his fiancée. Nikita was worth everything, including withstanding torture to the point of death.
"Be serious, Michael," Nikita huffed. She had just spent hours dealing with a sardonic Ari. She was not in the mood for Michael to be sarcastic. Even if a joke could lighten the morose tension, she couldn't bring herself to lighten up. She was unable to break Ari. People were dying, and she was unable to break Ari. By that point, Division's only option was to pay the bastard. But that would put them in debt, which would make them collapse in on themselves, which would mean that no one could be free or go home. Nikita had to break Ari, or else that'd be it for everybody. Then wasn't the time to joke around. Nikita had to find a solution.
"I am serious, Nikita. The only reason to hold out is for someone you love," Nearing Nikita and getting her to stop pacing, Michael spoke gently but sternly. She knew that he was always serious; he wouldn't joke about his feelings regarding her. She had asked who he would hold out for, and he had answered. The only reason to do anything was love. That probably didn't help them much when it came to Ari. It was difficult to picture him loving anybody or anything. Yet the fact was still undeniable. Pain was survivable if it was for love.
Taking a deep breath, Nikita tried to listen to what Michael said. A part of her slowly realized that her fiancé was being sweet and sentimental with her. But she was more focused on Ari and the terrorists. How could she break Ari using someone he loved. She wouldn't torture anyone else, and they didn't really have the time for that anyway. And holding another person's life over his head seems cruel- even after everything else she had done to him. So how could she use that information to make him talk. After all, there was no one he loved, "Saying Ari loved Amanda is a stretch. Besides, she betrayed him. So who does he have…"
Realization struck Nikita mid-sentence. There was someone Ari loved. They had talked about him earlier. She had saved the bastard's life because of him earlier. The former head of Gogol actually did care about someone, and he would do anything for him- especially withstand torture. Whereas Michael stood in confusion at her sudden shift, Nikita wasn't willing to present her thoughts. She was on a mission. She burst back into the torture room, marched right up to Ari, and called him out for what he was doing, "The money's for Stefan. That's who you're holding out for. You're holding out for your son."
"I'm trying to give my son a real life- a real life outside of all of this. The money is for his protection. It's to keep him safe from the likes of you, and Amanda," Ari confirmed what Nikita had just thought. He didn't need the money for some sort of convoluted plan or even just to spend. He knew by turning himself in to Division, he'd be trapped there forever. The money had never been for him. Everything he was holding out for, everything he demanded, was for Stefan. And he'd never break unless he knew his son was safe.
"You should've told us. We would've protected him. Trust me. I'm not in the business of using children as pawns in this war," Nikita replied harshly. She wasn't Percy or Amanda. She wouldn't use an innocent to further her own means, especially if they were a child. It didn't matter who their parents were, they shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip, a chess piece, or a tool in someone else's scheme. Too many children had already suffered because of evil bastards trying to gain power- Hayley, Alexandra, Max, Nikita. Stefan should never be added to that list. Nikita would never have added him to that list. Ari should've trusted her from the jump.
"You're my enemy, Nikita. Forgive me for not giving you the benefit of the doubt," Rolling his eyes, Ari mumbled. Although Nikita wanted to argue, he had a point. They were enemies. If a member of her family or one of her friends was in danger, she would never call her enemies for help. She wouldn't trust them even if they were her last resort. She shouldn't have expected Ari to immediately ask her to save his son. But after the terrorist attacks, after all those innocent deaths, he should've said something. Holding out didn't didn't serve anyone, not even his son. How could a world where Amanda wins be livable.
"So you just traded on innocent lives like your son," Crossing her arms, Nikita fired back. It was probably a useless point to argue. Ari would stay silent until he had the money to keep Stefan safe. She should simply tell him that Division was broke and that the only way to save his son was to trust her. However, he wouldn't trust her unless she made her intentions clear. She wasn't going to hurt his son. She wasn't going to go after Stefan to control Ari and finally take down Amanda. He wasn't involved in their war, and it was going to stay that way. No more innocents were getting hurt; she'd make sure of that.
"He didn't ask for this. He didn't choose his birthright," Ari seethed. Nikita couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't out of amusement. There was no way her laughter could be described as something joyful. She was in amazed disbelief. She couldn't believe Ari would try that defense with her. He knew who he was talking to. He knew what she had been through because of her mother. She didn't ask for that life either, yet it was still forced upon her. The sins of the parent always fell on the child. Ari couldn't have saved Stefan from it- no one could.
Though, Nikita could understand why Ari did what he could to protect his son. He loved him, and he didn't want to see him hurt. But they could never trade on innocent lives. It sort of defeated the purpose. Why hurt other people's loved ones just to save your own. What kind of a bleak, cruel world would that be, especially when the truth illuminated other solutions, "Look. Division's not funded by the government anymore. We don't have fifty million dollars. Which means the only thing standing between Amanda and your son is me. So you better start talking, so I can start protecting Stefan."
Ari stared at Nikita for a long while. He was probably trying to determine if trusting her was worth the risk. After another long moment, he finally came to his decision. If Stefan wasn't getting the money, then he could at least have protection. As long as it kept him out of Amanda's hands, then it should be alright, "The terrorist's name is Saalim Nassar. He's a Yemeni-born American citizen. He was visiting his home country when a stray bullet from an American raid struck and killed his only daughter. I don't have his location, but I have his personal phone number. Division should be able to trace it."
"Thank you," As soon as she had the number, Nikita raced out of the room. Michael had remained in the hallway, impatiently waiting to see if she could get Ari to break. When she excitedly crashed into him, he instantly became excited as well. She hastily told him about Stefan and the Saalim Nassar, then took off in a dead sprint towards Ops. He intended to follow, but he soon decided to swing by Medical first. They were done torturing Ari; he didn't have to be in any more pain. While Division stopped the Crimson Resistance, he could receive medical care for his various wounds and breaks.
The instant she burst into Ops, Nikita shouted the terrorist's phone number. She didn't share anything else until Birkhoff and Sonya started tracking the location; she wanted to ensure Saalim was going to be stopped before she explained everything. Once she did, she did so breathlessly, anxiously waiting on the hackers' findings. No one seemed to notice. They were all nervous as they hoped beyond hope that the information paid off. Eventually, it did. Sonya found the terrorist and redirected Alex and Owen, who were on their way back to Division, there. Ryan sighed in relief, "We got him in an apartment in the city. Alex and Owen are on their way there."
"I'm already tapping into the local wi-fi. But we got a problem. News outlets are receiving another broadcast," Once Sonya had the terrorist's location, Birkhoff redirected his task towards hacking the wi-fi around Saalim's apartment. Unfortunately, he was interrupted by another taunting video by the Crimson Resistance. The video was most likely in retaliation for Alex stopping their attack in the suburb. Saalim threatened more random, violent attacks that'd occur the instant the broadcast ended. He refused to be silenced, which only meant that Division had to work harder to shut him up.
"Owen and Alex won't make it in time. Can we stop the broadcast?" Joining everyone in Ops and assessing the situation, Michael asked. There was no way that Alex and Owen could kill Saalim before the end of his broadcast. More attacks Division wouldn't be able to stop would occur unless they found a way to stop the terrorists then. Maybe shutting off the broadcast would delay everything enough for Alex and Owen to arrive. They could take out the leader and cause the followers to scatter. It wasn't the best plan, or the most airtight, or the most controllable, but it was better than sitting back and doing nothing.
"I've got a better idea. Birkhoff, pull the curtain back on the Wizard," Nikita smirked. If Birkhoff was already tapped into the wi-fi, then he could remove part of the encryption on Saalim's video. His disguised voice and face could be revealed to the whole world. Anonymity wouldn't be able to save him anymore. He'd be compromised. And just like with past Division agents, a compromised agent was a dead agent. Amanda would have no choice but to pull the plug on the whole operation and admit defeat.
"You got it, Toto," Way ahead of Nikita, Birkhoff began to clear away the voice effects and blurred features. The best way to stop the terrorist was to take away his terror and control and throw him to the wolves. Saalim Nassar was soon revealed to the whole world. It took him a moment to notice. He continued on his diatribe, oblivious to the fact that the jig was up. When he did realize, however, he didn't have a chance to save himself. From off camera, someone in the room with him drew their weapon and shot him. The broadcast ended.
Ops fell silent. Despite the fact that their terrorist was dead, there wasn't a mood for celebration. Especially when they all knew who had pulled the trigger. Nikita had had the feeling that Amanda would kill Saalim if he was compromised. Yet she didn't think it'd be so cold, detached, robotic. It took her a moment to recover. When she did, she remembered Ari's previous warning. The gun Amanda had used had been visible; that, plus the other weapons and equipment in the apartment would lead back to Division. They weren't out of the woods yet. There was still so much to do to save themselves, "This is the setup Ari was talking about."
"Alex, Owen, you're on cleanup. Erase all traces of Division before the feds show up," Michael quickly updated Alex and Owen. Since Birkhoff had wiped the encryption from the broadcast, the feds could track where Saalim had been. Fortunately, it'd take them a while. Alex and Owen had time to clean the scene and set up a cover story. Nothing would lead back to Division; they could remain safely in the shadows. But that still didn't make Ops feel like they could celebrate. They could relax. Yet too many lives had been unnecessarily lost, and Amanda was in the wind. Sure they had won the battle. But the war was definitely still raging.