A/N: thank you SO MUCH to everyone who's reading & reviewing this story! it means a lot to me :)

Nikita curled her legs beneath her on the armchair as she studied the folder in front of her. Kasim was a lot smarter than anyone in the government had given him credit for. She couldn't let him outsmart them now; the stakes were too high. This was her one chance to show Michael that he didn't need Division anymore. He was so close to being free from Percy's clutches.

If only he trusted her.

"What are you really doing here?"

"Same story I told you before, Michael," Nikita answered, not looking up from the folder. She could feel his eyes shooting daggers at her from across from the hotel room.

Nikita felt the air in the room shift as he got up and strode purposefully in her direction. The next thing she knew, the folder was snatched out of her hand. "Well, that was rude," Nikita stared up as Michael towered above her. "I was reading that."

"Enough, Nikita," Michael snapped, tossing the folder with unnecessary force across the room. He sat down across from her on the coffee table and leant forward, his eyes flashing. "I'm going to ask you this again: what are you really doing here?"

Nikita leaned back into the armchair and crossed her arms with a sigh. "Look. I know you don't trust me—"

"Damn straight."

"But I know how much this mission means to you. I want Kasim dead as much as you do. And I'm going to help you make that happen."

Michael's eyes darted across her expression, clearly trying to find some ulterior motive. "Why?" he asked finally, his tone laced with malice. "You got tired of working against Division, so now we're playing for the same team?"

Nikita stood up abruptly, her jaw set. "You know this isn't a game, Michael. I'm here because you need someone." She turned her back to him and walked to the window, "This doesn't change anything. You're still Division, and I'm still—"

"Nikita."

She smiled to herself as she stared out at the scenery, knowing that the way he had breathed her name was a sign of resignation. She turned to face him, "So, are we agreed then?"

Michael narrowed his eyes, "You'll follow my orders, correct?"

Nikita raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips, "You know me. I'm all about following orders."

Michael shook his head, but amusement colored his eyes. "Percy was right…she is a lot like you."

"Who?"

"Just some new recruit," he shrugged off her question. "Percy likes calling her Nikita 2.0."

"Really? I didn't realize he missed me so much," Nikita murmured as she watched Michael closely. "What's her name?"

"Alex," Michael answered, mindlessly flipping through some papers. "Percy and Amanda have definitely got it out for that girl. I think she reminds them too much of you."

"Well, if she's anything like me then I'm sure she'll give them a run for their money."

"She's doing a pretty good job of it so far. She passed the evaluations today, at least."

"Amanda is still running those?" Nikita barely repressed a shudder, "Talk about brutal. Especially the mind simulation one."

Michael looked like he was debating on whether or not to tell her something, "Percy designed some program that allowed us to watch Alex's simulation." Nikita stiffened, but Michael didn't notice. "You were in it."

"I was in it," Nikita repeated, her voice deceptively neutral. "Division is more obsessed with me than I thought. Why would I be in some random recruit's simulation?"

Michael's mouth twitched, seemingly hiding a grin. "Apparently, you're the forbidden fruit. The ultimate temptation."

Nikita took a few steps forward, and Michael's eyes followed her every movement. "Am I?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "How...interesting."

Alex hit enter repeatedly on the keyboard in frustration.

THIS USER IS NOT ONLINE.

"Come on, Nikita," she muttered, "Where are you?" She hit enter again, but there was still no response.

Scowling, she logged off the computer and made her way back up the stairs. She passed the glass panel facing the training room, and she paused to stare out into it. The rest of the recruits were all hard at work, and she could see Jaden furiously pummeling a punching bag. She was probably imagining it was Alex or something.

"Sometimes I miss it," a voice said by her ear, and Alex turned to see Thom standing by her shoulder. "It's so...safe."

Alex nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. Being a recruit was, for the most part, monotonous work. Training, evaluations, more training. It might be boring, but it was definitely safe. "But what you're doing is so much more exciting," Alex glanced at Thom from the corner of her eye. "Don't you like being a field agent?"

"I do," Thom answered quickly, "Of course I do. In fact, I have a new mission for tonight."

"Already? You just went on one last week," Alex frowned. "What is it this time?"

"Percy promised it would be simple," Thom tried to smile at her, "Security detail, I think."

"Oh."

"Come on," Thom slung an arm over he shoulders and led her into the weapons room. "Since you're so bored, you can help me get ready."

Alex rolled her eyes, but she smiled to herself nonetheless.

.

It was much later that night when Alex was back in her room, lying on her bed. She felt tired, mentally and physically. Her mind drifted to earlier that day, and the look on Michael's face when Percy had mentioned the name Kasim. Alex rubbed her hands over her eyes, trying to figure out why the name sounded so familiar. Nikita had definitely mentioned it at some point...

Alex drifted off into a half-sleep, consumed in her own thoughts. She almost didn't hear the faint creak of the door handle turning.

But, she definitely saw the light from the hallway as her door flew open.

"What—!" Alex tried to scream, but a large hand clamped over her mouth. Alex's eyes opened wide as another hand appeared, holding a small syringe. She struggled frantically as the syringe was inserted into her neck, but they were too strong for her.

She fell to the ground, unconscious.

.

Birkoff crossed his arms, feeling slightly nervous. Percy and Amanda sat on either side of him, their eyes glued to the security monitors. "Looks like everything is going according to plan," Percy commented.

Amanda smiled coldly, "Let the games begin."