"Shit," Michael expressed both his and Nikita's thoughts upon hearing Birkhoff's update. Gogol wasn't the only black ops group attempting to steal the dirty bomb. Division just had to involve themselves as well, and they were several steps ahead. Nikita and Michael didn't hesitate before they chased after Voss. The CIA team that had taken him and the weapon into custody was in serious danger. Roan had killed an agent at the initial meet, so there was no telling what Division would do with the bomb actually in their grasps. The rogues had to catch up before there were even more deaths on their hands.
"You sent someone to spy on me?" Alex stormed into Amanda's office, too livid to think clearly. At least she knew better than to burst into Percy's office with her rageful accusation. She could rant to Amanda without too much of a retribution. She could also siphon off her anger somewhat safely and without her fears overcoming her. The implications that someone was watching her when she believed she was safe from Division absolutely terrified her. There had been someone watching her every move, knowing when she got too close to others and when she wasn't home even if she claimed she was. Her deceptions were known, and she could die.
It wasn't the threat of death that had Alex's heart racing. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to complete her mission before she was canceled. As long as Semak was dead, she didn't care what happened to her. But she might not be able to kill him when one of her neighbors was spying on her. She was going to be discovered as a double agent. Everything she was fighting for would be taken away. She refused to let that happen. Though, she had no idea how to scramble out of that situation, besides yelling at Amanda. The other woman took it all in stride. She carefully approached the young agent, ignoring the next person entering her office, "Alex…"
"You!" As soon as she noticed who had also entered Amanda's office, Alex punched him in the face. He recoiled, and she took the opportunity to reach for his gun. She had it cocked and held under his chin in less than a second. Unfortunately, he was able to recover just as quickly. He pulled out his knife and pressed it into her neck. Blue and hazel eyes glared hotly at one another. Except, neither broke from the hold. If anything, the two tightened their grip on their respective weapons and pressed deeper. That pissed Alex off even more. He didn't have the right to be as angry as she was. He wasn't the one who had been violated and betrayed.
Sean (if that was even his real name) didn't appear angry, however. He held his sharp knife to Alex's throat without even a flicker of emotion. Alex, on the other hand, seethed. She couldn't believe he had made her trust him. She couldn't believe that she had had him in her home and had even thought of him as a potential friend. And all he was doing was spying on her and reporting on her to Division. She would've blown his head off if there wasn't a threat he could slit her throat in return. A nearby Amanda attempting to diffuse the situation was only a slight hindrance, "Alex, this is Lieutenant Commander Sean Pierce. I sent him to protect you."
"Protect me? I think I'm doing a fairly good job of that on my own," Alex bit, toying the trigger of the gun with her finger. She didn't take her eyes off Sean. He didn't blink either. In fact, nothing about the situation even fazed him; he wasn't like the awkward man she had met at Nathan's party. He had played her well. She wondered which branch of the military he was in- assuming the rank Amanda had attached to his name derived from the military. Alex didn't know, and she honestly didn't care. It didn't matter where Sean came from or how he got assigned to 'protect' her. She wanted him out of her life either way.
"Then what do you call Nathan, Alexandra?" The smallest smirk broke through Sean's stoic expression. He looked down at Alex, that annoying all-too-knowing glint burning bright in his eyes. He didn't just assume that she had feelings for Nathan- that she had a desire to maybe be more than friends. He knew she wanted to be close to her neighbor, despite her position in Division. She was going to kill him. Diminishing the gap between them, Alex pushed the barrel of the gun so deep under Sean's chin his head snapped back. The blade loosened on her neck.
"That's enough," Amanda snapped. Although her tone of voice wasn't one to mess with, it took Sean and Alex awhile to pull away from each other. He had to put away his knife first before she even lowered the gun. She didn't let go of her weapon, however. Nor did she back up or look away. Her anger (and fear) still had murderous intentions. She had to cling to her chance at revenge as tightly as ever. Sean couldn't be the one to take it away from her. If he ruined things for her, even Amanda's interference couldn't save him, "Sean is assigned to simply watch over you and ensure you complete your mission for us."
Alex uncocked the pistol and took her finger off the trigger, but the weapon remained loaded and in her tight grasp. If Amanda knew about her not being at home whenever her tracker said she was, she didn't show it. She didn't even allude to the fact that Sean had told her anything about Alex's activities. The young agent could be in the clear. At least for the moment. Her safety wouldn't last long with Sean hovering over her. Nor would her freedom, "I don't see how butting into my life is helpful."
"You shouldn't be distracted," Eyes wandering to his gun in Alex's hand, Sean deadpanned. Either he was extremely good at hiding his emotions, or that was just his default setting. He regarded Alex like she was a target, and not the young woman who had made him laugh at the party. She was so close to raising the gun or simply just striking him again. Instead, she matched his blank expression. She regarded Sean for a long moment. Then, she nodded to Amanda and stormed out of the office.
She didn't exactly know what she was thinking or where she wanted to go. She only hoped the others didn't either. Alex remained furious about Sean watching over her every move, even if it was Division's attempt to help her on her mission (more likely to control her on her mission, but that was just semantics). Unfortunately, she couldn't raise too much hell about it. That would truly tip her hand as the mole. She had to accept the soldier in her life and keep being Division's dutiful agent- all the while being even more careful as she assisted the rogues.
Michael and Nikita didn't reach Voss and the CIA team in time. As they raced in their stolen vehicle to where the others had crossed the border, all they were met with was smoke, snow, and debris. Even after the two frantically caught Ryan up to speed, hoping he could do something- anything- to save his fellow agents, they were too late. They only stumbled upon the after effects of a horrific crash and firefight. No one could've survived the flipped and crushed car. Division had already done its damage.
Regardless, Nikita and Michael approached the destroyed vehicle, searching for anything that could help them steal back the weapon. All they found were dead bodies, spent bullets, and blood. Birkhoff and Ryan were running their own respective searches from the safehouse and the office; maybe they could discover another lead. In the meantime, the rogues were useless, helpless, and done for. Michael and Nikita cast one another the same desperate and lost expression. Surrounded by death and destruction, they were grasping at straws. What could they do to stop Division and the dirty bomb, and Gogol who was still on their tail.
Seemingly right at their breaking point, a cellphone rang amongst the wreckage. The two rogues glanced at each other wearily before they searched for the phone. Nikita soon found it and answered it, much to Michael's chagrin. She at least put the call on speaker in time for him to hear Percy gloat. It seemed like such an odd thing for the bastard to do. He wouldn't taunt the rogues when all Division did was one up them. That had happened before, and they hadn't heard from him. Percy must've had something else planned for them. Barely listening to the call anymore, Michael and Nikita tried to look for what the next horror was.
Soon, the two found a bomb underneath the upturned car. It must've been lying in wait for them and was activated as soon as they answered the call. Quickly, the bomb was deactivated and ripped away. Nikita cut Percy off to gloat in return. He couldn't mess with her and Michael that easily. Sure, the two were overwhelmed and distraught from their recent losses. But the bastard couldn't get under their skin as well. Nikita and Michael could rally themselves together to beat their enemy, "And when I take you down, I won't call to gloat first."
Whereas Nikita tossed the burner phone, Michael held onto the deactivated bomb. They could find some use for it. They had to chase after Division and shake Gogol, after all. An explosive could come in handy. The rogues simply had to find a way to utilize it. Michael couldn't come up with anything immediately. Honestly, he couldn't think past the car crash and the terrible turn the mission had taken. He was going to need a moment. Nikita, on the other hand, had a faster working mind, "Any ideas? We can't possibly take both Gogol and Division."
Expelling a long, hot breath, Nikita continued to helplessly search for any leads. That couldn't be it. Division couldn't just take off with the dirty bomb, and Gogol couldn't remain on their tail. The rogues had to be able to do something. Maybe if they had the same resources and force the black ops groups had, they wouldn't feel so lost. The rogues could really use an army. Or, they could use the armies against one another. Excitedly, Nikita whirled around to face Michael. He seemed to perk up at just her expression. They weren't completely done for, "Remember that Dashiell Hammett book you made me read?"
"Yeah," Cautiously, Michael regarded Nikita. There were a few books he had made her read when she was his recruit in Division. He wanted to help introduce her to new thoughts and ideas. He also wanted to give her wandering mind something to focus on other than causing trouble. Giving her books to read had clearly helped her. But at that moment, it backfired against him. Nikita definitely had a new way to think of a plan. All her focus was on something dangerous and potentially stupid. Just because it worked in books and movies didn't mean it'd work in real life. Gogol and Division weren't going to fall for it, "You're not thinking…"
"Let's go," Too late. Nikita grabbed Michael by the hand and dragged him along for the crazy ride. She updated Ryan, Birkhoff, and Alex on the way. Since Gogol and Division both wanted the dirty bomb, the rogues should pit the two against each other. The black ops organizations would be too busy killing one another, they wouldn't notice Nikita and Michael giving Ryan the weapon to transport back to the CIA; Birkhoff providing some technological distractions and Alex some information would also help. Yet another risky and dangerous plan had the strong probability of being pulled off.
Although it took Alex time to get the rogues the information she needed (they couldn't blame her; they knew how hard she was working) the rogues were able to pit Division and Gogol against each other easily. Nikita put on a show to goad Ari into a fight, while Ryan and Michael stalled the Alpha team at the airport they were attempting to exfil from. Everything eventually fell into place in one chaotic mess. Fortunately, the rogues worked well in wild and outrageous situations. They were able to get what they needed without any harm to themselves.
Ryan had the dirty bomb and was well on his way to Langley (taking the backroads) before either Division or Gogol noticed. Hell, they hadn't even stopped fighting. Nikita and Michael struggled to escape the gunfire and a confrontation with Ari. Yet the two were soon on the road (again, taking backroads) to their safehouse. They couldn't help but laugh and smile at their success. It was probably just their giddiness from the rush of adrenaline. Their sorrow for the tragedies that had occurred would catch up to them later. But for a moment, Michael and Nikita could revel in their miraculous victory. They could be relieved and somewhat happy.