Before she had to return to Division, the rogues planned what they could with Alex. Then, Nikita and Michael returned to the safehouse Birkhoff and finished the rest of their planning with Birkhoff. It was soon decided that Birkhoff and Michael would stay to oversee the mission, and Nikita would join Alex in the field. She could help incase anything went wrong. And she'd know if it did with the hacker's latest tech, "This is your com unit. Use that device. It'll override Division's channel. Whatever noob they got to replace me won't hear a thing. The three of us and Alex will have a separate frequency during this operation."
"You were right about the weapons lab. The ventilation room up top, just behind the house. You can leave the exfil kit there. I told Alex about it," Hanging up the phone, Michael informed Nikita. Alex had called in her last bit of free time for one final update. Michael told her where to hide during the explosion, how she could contact the rogues through a different channel on her com, and that Nikita would be on site just incase. Michael wanted to go as well, but he and Birkhoff were better suited for running the mission from the safehouse. Besides, having only one rogue on site was safer, especially if it was the one used to slipping past Division's radar.
"Perfect. I'll call you when I'm on the ground," Nikita kissed Michael goodbye. Birkhoff sarcastically asked where his kiss was, so she flicked him off. After she left, it was quiet for a while. That gave Michael and Birkhoff time to set up for the mission. The hacker hacked whatever was needed, and the former handler made sure everything was ready for their mission. It was weird not to actually be running a countermission. They weren't actually trying to stop Division's operation. Subvert it, yes. But, if anything, they wanted the op to succeed. Then, Alex could be free. And, hopefully, one day be happy with her decisions.
For safety's sake, Alex kept the rogues out of the loop for most of the mission. She trusted Birkhoff's tech; Division wouldn't be able to listen in on their private channel. But she didn't want to risk being overheard by Jaden. She would definitely ruin everything if she knew what Alex was really up to. Maybe- emphasis on maybe- she could trust the recruit for the mission, yet certainly not with her life. Fortunately, the rogues had access to her tracker. They could follow her movements without her saying a word, "Alex's in. Nikita's nearby."
"Eyes inside?" Michael asked Birkhoff in reply. Whereas Nikita had called when she landed, Alex had stayed radio silent. The rogues considered that a good thing. She shouldn't be contacting them unless it was necessary. Of course there were risks involved with every mission, especially with the kind of powerful criminals Percy dealt with. Yet that operation had to go far smoother than any of their past ones. The rogues had to control everything. Not only would it let Alex escape, but it'd also keep her alive. So whatever paranoid steps they had to take, they'd take- anything to help the young woman who had risked so much for them.
"No cameras installed. I guess he likes to keep his orgies on the DL. We'll be fine with audio. But if our girls don't get what they need, I can't hack the door on that lab," Birkhoff shared. The audio from the coms and the location from the trackers were enough. Michael had studied the blueprints and surrounding areas; he could locate Alex and Nikita based on their trackers with ease. The only problem came with the laboratory. Once there, Birkhoff couldn't help anyone- especially Alex. At least that meant Division also couldn't interfere.
"They'll get it," Watching the trackers on the screen, Michael answered. Alex was making her way through the target's house, probably acting like the perfect party goer (and hating every single second of it). And Nikita was in the ventilation room. With the glamorous party distracting the guards, she made her way around the grounds easily; also, without any cameras spying on the place, she went completely undetected by Division. Soon, everything was all set for Alex. The rest was up to her.
As Nikita began to sneak back out of the ventilation room and off the grounds, Alex finally made her way to the laboratory. The rogue would be nearby incase there was an emergency. Otherwise, the young agent was completely on her own. She made her report to Division, received instructions that she planned on botching, then she radioed the rogues. She waited a few seconds to ensure her com was set to the right frequency before she spoke. Her whole mission couldn't be ruined because of one little mistake. She was better than that, "Nikita, it's me. I'm on the private com. We're on schedule."
"The exfil kit is in the ventilation room," Nikita replied immediately. She had everything perfect and ready for Alex. Once she blew the charge, she could easily slip free of Division and accomplish whatever she wanted. She'd have to lay low for a while first. Although that wasn't what she wanted, she had to kill Semak as soon as she could, it'd keep her safe. Alex had to remember that she still had a life worth living, "One more thing. Once you're free, you're gonna have to be alone for a while. I know you'll be smart, and I know you'll be careful. But please be strong. For yourself. God knows you've been for me."
Alex paused. She didn't think she had been strong for Nikita. She had helped her when needed. But she had always believed the rogue was stronger than her. Regardless, Alex shook her head clear and continued with the mission. She was about to set the last charge when the target entered the laboratory with guests. She hid just in time. Though, she wished she had made her way up to the ventilation room. Then, she wouldn't have witnessed the nerve toxin kill a guard. Although she had also heard plans of an attack, and was able to warn Nikita once she was alone, what she had seen would haunt her forever, "We need to talk. Meet me in the ventilation room."
The panic and terror in Alex's voice caused Nikita to sprint back to the ventilation room. She feared that something had gone wrong with the explosives or Division. Instead, Alex anxiously told her about what happened with the nerve toxin, the target, and a buyer. Except, as Alex kept ranting about the gruesome, bloody event, Nikita doubted the woman who had met with Division's target wasn't just a customer. Something horrific was about to happen with that toxin- something way worse than what had occurred in the laboratory, "Wait a minute, Alex. Slow down. She wasn't a customer?"
"She's using the toxin. She'll kill his father and make it look like an attack. She's gonna gas all of them," Frantically, Alex repeated herself. What she had seen in the lab couldn't be replicated- ever. It was nightmarish, atrocious, monstrous, sickening, and beyond unspeakable. The image of how the security agent died was burned in her brain forever. They had to save other people from that fate. They had to. But as Alex freaked, Nikita looked as though she was lost in thought a million miles away. She wasn't focused. How could she not be focused on one of the most horrific things in the whole world, "Are you listening? I have to tell Division."
"No. The woman is on her way. If you tell Division, they'll follow protocol and put you and Jaden on the threat. They'll call off the operation. Alex, we are this close to getting you out of Division. You have to blow the lab, and they have to believe you're in it," Shaking her head, Nikita argued. Alex was right to be concerned about the attack. Although the rogue hadn't seen what the nerve toxin could do, the young agent's horrified account left her just as terrified. Someone should stop it from happening. But not Alex. She had her own mission to follow; she had to escape Division. The others could take care of everything else.
"But the attack," Alex wouldn't let it drop. Of course Division would redirect her and Jaden to the nerve toxin attack; she wanted to be redirected to the attack. Well, she wanted Jaden to be at least. She could stop the attack with whatever resources Division could provide while Alex blew the laboratory and herself. It'd be perfect. Innocent people would be saved, and she would escape. How could Nikita want to stop that. The rogues were all about helping others. Wouldn't they want people saved no matter what- even if Division did the saving.
"I'll stop the attack. You stay on mission, okay? Stay strong. Good luck," After a quick embrace, Nikita snuck back out of the ventilation room. Alex was left alone, echoing 'stay strong, good luck'. She knew the rogue had made the best call. Alex could destroy the remaining nerve toxin, and she could actually continue with her revenge mission. Yet she couldn't suppress her anxiety about the attack. If any person could stop it alone, it'd be Nikita. She had the skills, determination, and fury to pull it off. But what if it wasn't enough to stop it that time. What if more people died in a bloody, painful, screaming, tortured mess.
While she sped to the submit where the attack was going to take place, Nikita filled Michael and Birkhoff in on what had happened. They hadn't listened over the coms, not knowing that anything was wrong. However, after hearing Nikita's update, they began to panic just as much as she and Alex were. Birkhoff frantically hacked the cameras around the submit, and Michael attempted to wrap his head around Nikita's decision. She was racing towards the attack alone, despite Alex's offer of help. She didn't need to do that. For once, she wasn't the only hero around; she didn't have to always act like it, "You did what?"
"I told Alex to stay on mission," Nikita repeated. She knew how dangerous (and slightly ill-thought out) her plan was; she didn't need her boyfriend's panic to pile on top of hers. However, it was the right thing to do. With Michael's and Birkhoff's help, Nikita could handle the attack and stop the nerve toxin on her own. Alex and Jaden could then deal with their target and rid the world of the rest of the toxin. Everything would work out perfectly. There was no need to worry or argue. They were all doing the best they could.
"Nikita, if the attack is imminent, all available resources should be on it now," Starting to pace the safehouse, Michael attempted to get Nikita to listen to him. It was a long shot. Just because they were in a relationship didn't mean she listened to him more. In fact, he was fairly certain that the opposite was true at times. But she had to hear him then. Although it was Division, they were more equipped than the rogues. The agents could handle the threat without any loss of life. Alex's escape would just have to wait. She could understand the reason why.
"Yeah. I'm available. I've got the woman's description, and I already put the summit into the nav. I'm ten minutes out," Nikita assured. If she reached the summit in time, she could stop the woman before the toxin was ever involved- at the rate she sped, she could arrive in less than ten minutes. Birkhoff could help her track the assailant down through the cameras. And Michael could instruct her on how to properly destroy the toxin without accidentally killing anyone. The three of them were perfect on missions together. That one wasn't any different. After all, most of their missions were that stressful and time sensitive.
"If Percy finds out, he'll pull Alex off the mission," Michael focused more on the rational side of his argument. He could go all paranoid boyfriend on her, and he could argue that it was too dangerous for Nikita to go alone. He should've gone on the mission with her. He couldn't lose her. If she died, so would he. But that wouldn't change his girlfriend's mind. She'd simply state that she'd be fine, and as long as she could hear him in her ear, it'd all be okay. Only rationality could win him that argument. At least, he hoped it would.
"He won't have time to find out. Alex will call in, pretend she's trapped, blow the lab. She'll die a hero," Countering, Nikita continued to have complete faith in the original plan. Alex's com had been off while she was in the laboratory. Jaden and Division didn't hear what had happened. There also weren't any cameras at the target's place. No one saw a thing. Percy was absolutely clueless to the threat. That meant Nikita could stop it while Alex faked her death. Division would never know the truth. It'd be hidden from them for a change.
Birkhoff bit his lip to keep from saying anything and glanced at Michael. He ignored him. He continued to pace, thinking of anything he could say to make Nikita listen. If Percy didn't worry her, then maybe the target would. What if setting off an explosion makes the nerve toxin attack worse. The target could get scared and kill more people than intended- like the girls at the party. They couldn't take that risk. They had to think about all the collateral damage, not just Alex's, "Look, you can't blow the lab. It'll tip them off. The attack might accelerate."
"Or, he might get spooked and call the whole thing off," Nikita dismissed Michael's concern. She knew what she was deciding. She was putting Alex above the mission. She was still going to save everyone she could. Yet she wasn't going to play it safe. Some things were more important. Besides, although she was more clear on that since she was a rogue, she would've pulled the same stunt in Division, "Michael, let me ask you something. If we were still at Division and this was happening, who'd you put on this? Come on. I'm an agent all over again. Isn't that some kind of fantasy of yours?"
Whereas Michael took a deep breath to compose himself and strengthen his resolve against his girlfriend's stubbornness, Birkhoff chuckled. The hacker tried not to react to the two's argument; he didn't want to be involved in any way. But he did agree with Nikita in some aspects. She also made great, incredibly accurate points. Michael shook his head, attempting to contain his annoyance and just focus on the mission. He and Nikita could have a serious discussion later. There were worse things that needed their attention then, "Alright. I want a report when you're on the scene. Then we'll blow it."
Michael hung up before Nikita could argue anything else. Birkhoff gave him a look like he wanted to say something- probably something sarcastic- yet Michael ignored him. He wasn't in the mood, and they didn't have time. He had to update Alex on the new plan and encourage her to wait. Hopefully, that wouldn't be as difficult as dissuading Nikita. Surely one of them could see sense through their stubbornness, "Alex, do you copy? Finish setting the charges, but don't blow the lab. Not yet. I know how much you want this. I do. But we have to wait."
"Copy," Alex agreed. She assumed that the rogues had talked and that was the conclusion they came to. She also assumed that Nikita urged for Alex to continue her mission, but Michael argued for the stall. Although the young agent wanted things done with immediately, a part of her saw the merit in the stall. The most lives possible could be saved by her waiting to demolish the weapons laboratory- no one would be suspicious, and plans wouldn't change. Alex could wait a few more moments if it meant innocent people were saved. A part of her would rather have that than to be free.