503. In Through the Out Door
Written By: David Wolkove
Directed By: Rene Bonniere
Transcript by: Christine
SECTION ONE
In Section, we see a man’s black-clad legs walking down a set of stairs, a gun in his left hand. He passes by another man, also holding a gun, standing guard outside a room. The camera pans to show inside the room, and we see Operations and another man, suited and grey-haired but young in appearance, who rises from a desk to take a stand before Operations. The man’s manner and tone is contentious.
AD HOC MAN: It’s true that Centre hasn’t named a replacement for George, but in the meantime there’s an ad hoc committee.
Operations regards the man blandly. It’s clear they have no use for each other.
OPERATIONS: I’m well aware of that
AD HOC MAN: And as part of that committee, I want to assure you that we have no intention of letting any of the Sections relax their standards of performance.
OPERATIONS: Well, as you know we’ve had major personnel changes.
AD HOC MAN: I’m not interested in excuses.
OPERATIONS: Those aren’t excuses. Those are the facts.
AD HOC MAN: So’s this – the Collective has made you look foolish lately, and on more than one occasion. And the prelim from Morocco indicates that your secondary objective wasn’t achieved.
OPERATIONS: We were undermanned.
AD HOC MAN: (snorts) The team is due back in ten minutes. I’ll debrief them personally.
The man moves away to go meet the incoming team. Operations remains, clearly displeased.
We next see the ad hoc man striding down the hallway en route to Van Access, his guards in tow. Operations leaves the room, also heading to Van Access. The ad hoc man takes a stand before the Van Access doors, his hands folded calmly before him. Two guards stand on either side of him.
The door opens. Two operatives lead a handcuffed prisoner out. The lead op stops before the ad hoc man.
OPERATIVE: We have the prisoner.
AD HOC MAN: You failed to destroy the substation.
OPERATIVE: No time. Not with the personnel available.
We now see that Operations is standing to the ad hoc man’s left. He turns to look at Operations as he speaks.
AD HOC MAN: When the leader makes excuses, the subordinates inevitably follow suit.
The two operatives begin leading the prisoner down the hallway.
AD HOC MAN: And that’s exactly what I’m gonna say in my report.
Operations says nothing, but his displeasure is clear.
Down the hallway, the lead operative is leading the prisoner, while the secondary operative walks behind the prisoner. The prisoner looks down at his hands cuffed in front of him, then suddenly swings to the right and behind him, elbowing the secondary operative in the face. As the stunned operative tries to recover, the prisoner reaches down to the operative’s leg holster and grabs the op’s gun. Before anyone has time to react, the prisoner shoots the secondary op and the ad hoc man’s two guards. He then swings and shoots the lead operative. Down the hallway, Operations ducks behind a wall, while the ad hoc man who has dropped to the floor, scurries to safety.
Still armed, the prisoner heads down the hallway, while Operations, with gun in hand, follows calmly in the same direction the prisoner took. As the prisoner makes his way further in, shooting another op, he meets up with the scared ad hoc man, who holds up a hand to the prisoner in supplication. The prisoner points the gun to him.
AD HOC MAN: Please! I’m an important man. We can work something out.
As the prisoner advances on the ad hoc man, operatives begin approaching the scene, guns leveled. Hearing the cocked guns, the prisoner slips his handcuffed hands over the ad hoc man’s neck, holding the gun to the man’s head.
PRISONER: Drop the guns! NOW!
AD HOC MAN: Do what his says!
As the operatives hesitate, we see Operations standing on an overhead catwalk. He is hidden by a wall, however, from his view he can see the ad hoc man and the prisoner. Operations levels his gun toward them. Nobody can see him.
AD HOC MAN: (to the operatives) I’m from Oversight. If anything happens to me, you’ll be sorry! All of you!
The operatives slowly place their guns on the floor, while Operations from his hidden vantage point, watches closely.
PRISONER: Hands where I can see them!
The now unarmed operatives hold their hands up. The prisoner still holding onto the ad hoc man surveys about, while the scared ad hoc man sweats profusely. We see Operations aim his gun carefully, then fire, shooting the ad hoc man in the forehead. As the man slumps down, the operatives rush to take the prisoner, while Operations watches with a satisfied grin. He steps forward so he can be seen. Other operatives approach the scene.
OPERATIONS: The prisoner escaped, he walked into the line of fire. That’s the way I saw it. Anybody disagree?
He looks at the operatives, challenging them to say differently. They won’t, and say nothing. Operations holsters his gun inside his suit jacket. Operatives lead the prisoner off, while two remain to collect the ad hoc man.
OPERATIONS: Dispose of the body.
As the operatives move to do just that, Operations turns to leave.
OPERATIONS: (disgusted) He’s right. This place is falling apart.
MUNITIONS
Walter stands at a computer screen, punching at the keyboard, trying to read a disk. It’s the disk Nikita found in the house before it exploded. Behind him Nikita leans against a wall. She’s wearing a black leather, turtle neck dress, looking tired, as though she doesn’t feel well. She passes a hand over her right eye.
WALTER: I’m sorry, sugar. I’ve tried every crowbar program I’ve got and nothing comes up.
NIKITA: It could have been damaged in the explosion.
WALTER: You know if Birkoff were still around here, he might be able to bring something up, but… I’ve drawn a blank.
Nikita steps away, and Walter removes the disk from the drive. She paces, as though thinking of what to do next. Walter, disk in hand, walks over to her.
WALTER: Do you think it could have been some kind of message from your father?
Nikita takes the disk in her fingers, looking at it, as she flips it around in her hand.
NIKITA: Maybe… Or… someone else.
WALTER: Michael?
She looks up at Walter, then hands the disk back to him.
WALTER: Look. The whole point is the house exploded and someone is trying to kill you!
NIKITA: It could have been booby-trapped, not personal.
WALTER: (wagging his finger) Either way, you better cover that pretty rear end of yours, or it’s gonna get blown off.
Nikita pushes away from the door jam she’d been leaning against, kind of stumbling as she does. She stops, running her fingertips over her right eye. Walter comes up behind her.
WALTER: Are you okay?
NIKITA: Yeah. Just a headache since that explosion.
She begins heading out of Munitions, and Walter, concerned, calls out.
WALTER: Well… Just get out of here, and forget everything and relax.
NIKITA: Yeah, I will.
SYSTEMS
We see a globe holograph, as O'Brien stands behind a seated operative, instructing him.
O'BRIEN: Realign the satellites.
We next see a space shot of the earth and a satellite orbiting in space, as it is realigned.
Next, the holograph changes to a large building structure. O'Brien walks around the table to get a look.
O'BRIEN: Sequence for dark approach.
Operations walks into the area, his face grim, while O'Brien continues to instruct the operative.
O'BRIEN: Good. Debrief in half an hour.
He now turns to Operations.
O'BRIEN: We took out the guidance system in Nicosia.
O'Brien looks back to what he’d been working on.
OPERATIONS: I want it confirmed.
This seems to surprise O'Brien.
OPERATIONS: The Collective’s been running circles around us lately. Ever since you’ve been slotted in for Michael, in fact.
Hearing this, O'Brien turns back to face Operations. His eyes narrow with question.
O'BRIEN: Are you suggesting a connection?
OPERATIONS: Oversight has been getting testy lately, and if they need a sacrificial lamb, it’ll be you.
O'Brien turns away from Operations, thinking about this, while Operations moves to leave, then stops and looks back to O'Brien.
OPERATIONS: O'Brien.
O'Brien looks to him. Operations has that same satisfied grin on his face.
OPERATIONS: Just thought you’d like to know.
Operations then exits the area, leaving O'Brien to think on this.
MUNITIONS
Walter holds a portable drive in one hand, struggling to remove a disk with the other. He manages to yank it out. A voice causes him to look up. It’s Jason, with longer, tousled hair and rectangular, dark-framed glasses.
JASON: I’m gone a couple of months and already this place is falling apart.
Walter looks up, pleasantly surprised.
WALTER: Jas!
He reaches out and hugs Jason.
WALTER: What’cha doing back here!
Jason begins sauntering nonchalantly about.
JASON: Slummin’.
WALTER: Slumming? Boy, it sure is good to see a familiar face.
Jason continues to saunter about the area, touching things absently.
WALTER: This place is changing so fast that you’ve gotta have a program to tell who the players are.
JASON: Well… that’s why I’m here. Centre wants me to help with the transition team.
WALTER: Is that right?
Just then, Jasmine rounds a corner, walking into the Munitions area. She’s carrying a panel. Jason immediately looks interested.
JASMINE: Walter, my panel’s baked. Can you take a look at it?
WALTER: Sure can, beautiful. I’ll get after it right away.
Jason quickly walks over to where Jasmine stands, immediately extending his hand in greeting. Walter looks amused.
JASON: Hey, darling. If you need someone to look under your hood, I’m your man. I’m Jason, from Oversight.
JASMINE: (smiling) Jasmine. From Not Interested.
JASON: (looking crushed) Ohhh.
Walter has been watching the exchange with amusement. He breaks in.
WALTER: I’ll have it done by this afternoon.
JASMINE: Thanks, Walter.
WALTER: Okay, Jaz.
As she walks off, Jason sorrowfully watches her leave. He then turns to Walter.
JASON: Looks like I arrived just in time. That lady needs a man in her life.
WALTER: Just take it easy with that one. She’s a man killer.
Jason looks in the direction that Jasmine just departed.
JASON: God I hope so.
Walter looks at him with amused surprised, as Jason heads out.
WAR ROOM
We see Jasmine and O'Brien striding quickly toward the conference table, joined by Walter, then Operations. Quinn, Jason, and Nikita also arrive at the same time, all taking their seats. Nikita wears brown leather pants, a crimson, suede jacket, matching purse, and black sunglasses. She sits unsteadily, reaching for the table for support as she lowers into her chair. As Operations walks down the length of the table, she removes her sunglasses, looks at him, but what she sees is bright white light.
OPERATIONS: Recent intel shows increased mobilization in the Collective’s forces in the Montenegro region.
Even his words come to Nikita as if in a tunnel. She winces, trying to clear her head.
O'BRIEN: What’s the target?
OPERATIONS: There’s several potentials, but most likely a bio-strike against civilian soil.
He activates the holo-screen, and we see a man’s image.
QUINN: Evan Hoffbauer.
NIKITA: (recognizing him) Glass Curtain.
QUINN: One of their few survivors. Recruited by the Collective about six weeks ago. Specializes in bio-warfare.
O'BRIEN: Do we have a position?
OPERATIONS: We intercepted his schedule for the next 24 hours.
Nikita is feeling strange. She looks down, passing a hand over her forehead. Beside her, Jason notices this, and watches.
OPERATIONS: If we can get him and break him quickly enough, we can at least destroy some of the Collective’s bio-weapons capability. Profiles are on your panels. That’s all.
He clicks off the holo-screen, and the operatives shove out of their chairs to leave. Jason moves more slowly, still watching Nikita, who remains seated. She breathes a little bit heavily, seemingly woozy, as she puts on her sunglasses and unsteadily gets to her feet.
MUNITIONS
Walter stands at his table, readying the mission gear. O'Brien reads his equipment list from his panel.
O'BRIEN: Hollow points, contact charges, anti-thermal togs?
Walter nods.
O'BRIEN: I thought this was a simple grab and bag.
Nikita approaches the two men.
WALTER: The equipment issues were bumped up across the board.
O'BRIEN: Why, because of the Collective?
WALTER: It’s been a while since I’ve seen Operations spooked. He doesn’t like playing catch up.
Nikita has walked up to the table, very quiet, and wobbly. Her vision of Walter and O'Brien sees them through that same white bright light. Walter shoves her equipment pack toward her, not noticing her wobbliness.
WALTER: Sugar.
Seeming a bit dazed, Nikita manages a slight smile, grabs the bag and walks off. O'Brien seems to think her behavior is off. He looks to Walter.
O'BRIEN: What’s wrong with her?
WALTER: (protective) Nothing. She’s fine.
O'BRIEN: (not convinced) Really.
HOFFBAUER RETRIEVAL MISSION
It’s daylight in a busy city. We see a multi-paned, high-rise building. The main door opens and Nikita and O'Brien enter side by side, wearing dark clothes, though not mission apparel. She takes his arm.
O'BRIEN: First team on site.
Back in Section, Quinn mans the situation, as Operations approaches. She zeros in on guards inside the building, using infrared.
QUINN: You’re clear to proceed.
Inside the atrium of the building, it is busy with people just arriving for work. Nikita and O'Brien stride across the center, heading toward a side stairwell door, while a large collection of people are congregated at the elevators
O'BRIEN: Moving to B mark.
QUINN: Hoffbauer’s office is on twenty-three. I’m holding the elevator on the second level. You have a 90-second window.
Obviously, Nikita and O'Brien have taken the stairs to the 2nd floor, where they’ve caught the elevator Quinn held for them there. We see them get out on the 23rd floor. O'Brien removes his sunglasses as they enter Hoffbauer’s offices, which are called IAFG. The come to a locked door, and O'Brien inserts a decoder into the lock pad.
O'BRIEN: (to Quinn) I’m looking for a locksmith.
Quinn smiles, tapping at her computer.
QUINN: You’ve got the best.
Her monitor reads <KEY CODE SEQUENCE FILTER>, and begins to sequence the number code. When it lands on the correct sequence, O'Brien hears the lock unlock and he removes the decoder, before opening the door. Nikita has been very quiet, obviously not feeling well. The moment O'Brien opens the door, he encounters an armed man, who O'Brien immediately shoots. Nikita is slower to follow inside. O'Brien continues to advance, making his way to an inner office where Hoffbauer apparently is. He encounters another guard, taking him out as well.
They now enter a door to the inner office, where O'Brien takes out another guard. At the far end of the room, a guard steps before Hoffbauer protectively, but O'Brien shoots the guard as well. Nikita raises a tranq gun to Hoffbauer, however, she is dizzy again and cannot focus, seeing only flashes of bright light. She closes her eyes and tries to steady herself, but cannot.
Back in Comm, Quinn and Operations are confused by the delay.
QUINN: Nikita, take the shot.
O'Brien stands helplessly beside Nikita, not understanding why she isn’t taking the shot. But, Nikita is breathing heavily, trying desperately to focus.
O'BRIEN: Nikita!
Quinn has released the elevators, and in the main lobby, we see the employees getting inside them. Quinn knows this as well.
QUINN: Window closing.
OPERATIONS: Why doesn’t she shoot?
By this time, Hoffbauer has had time to bend down and retrieve a gun from his fallen guard. He shoots, hitting O'Brien in the left shoulder. O'Brien slams against the door behind him, while Nikita continues to try and focus to get a shot off. She still hesitates and O'Brien using his right arm fires at Hoffbauer, shooting him in the right upper chest area. Hoffbauer falls.
Nikita is wobbly, struggling to stay on her feet.
In Comm, Operations watches, displeased by the foul up.
OPERATIONS: What’s going on?
QUINN: O'Brien’s been hit.
OPERATIONS: What about Hoffbauer?
QUINN: Shot.
OPERATIONS: Is he dead?
Quinn looks at him, as if to say she can’t tell.
Back in the office, Nikita continues to try and get off a shot. O'Brien clutches at his shot arm, looking at Nikita puzzled. Hoffbauer rises, his gun leveled at Nikita and O'Brien. O'Brien raises his gun, ready to take out Hoffbauer just as Nikita fires off a shot, the tranq hitting Hoffbauer in the neck. He falls.
As operatives rush inside to collect Hoffbauer, O'Brien and Nikita rush to head out before they are discovered, leaving through a door that leads outside. Nikita pauses at the door, collecting herself, and gasping with pain.
VAN ACCESS
Hoffbauer is carried into Section on a stretcher. From the overhead catwalk, Operations stands with hands in his pockets, watching as Hoffbauer is carried down the hallway by two operatives.
OPERATIONS: Get him to Medical, then Containment.
Nikita and O'Brien exit the access tunnel and enter Section. They stop as Operations barks from the overhead catwalk. O'Brien looks back and up at Operations.
OPERATIONS: (angry) Mission parameters were specific. He was to arrive unharmed.
O'BRIEN: He’s still alive.
Operations sees O'Brien’s gunshot wound. Nikita stops beside O'Brien, also facing Operations, but saying nothing.
OPERATIONS: Another couple of inches over and you wouldn’t have been so lucky. What happened?
O'BRIEN: It was the tranq. Jammed. We were lucky to bring him in at all.
Nikita is surprised by his excuse, but says nothing, as she looks up to see Operations’ reaction. He levels a look to her.
OPERATIONS: You checked the equipment when it was issued?
NIKITA: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Field stress. These things always seem to fail when you need them most.
Operations looks from one to the other. He is very angry.
OPERATIONS: File the weapons report with Walter, then deliver your debrief. That’s all.
Nikita and O'Brien turn and move away. Nikita glances over to O'Brien uncertainly, while Operations watches them depart, his face set with anger.
MICHAEL’S OFFICE
Michael’s office is now O'Brien’s office. Nikita waits inside, leaning against the wall, as O'Brien enters. His arm is in a sling. She looks at his arm as he enters. He stops abruptly at the sight of her.
NIKITA: How’s the shoulder?
O'Brien moves over to the desk.
O'BRIEN: I got lucky. It’s gonna be okay.
Nikita shuts the door, while O'Brien takes a seat behind the desk. She then moves to stand before the desk.
NIKITA: Thank you for covering for me.
He doesn’t say anything, and she steps over to the door, opening it. Before she can leave, O'Brien stops her.
O'BRIEN: What’s the problem?
She hesitates.
O'BRIEN: What’s wrong?
She glances over to him, re-closing the door.
NIKITA: I don’t know.
O'Brien gets up from the desk and comes over to her.
NIKITA: I get headaches. I see white flashes. I’m disoriented.
O'BRIEN: How long has this been going on?
NIKITA: A couple of days.
O'BRIEN: You should go to Medical.
NIKITA: I don’t want Operations to find out.
O'BRIEN: Well, you’re just gonna ride this out on your own?
NIKITA: I don’t have a choice. He would love any excuse to bring me down. I know this isn’t fair to you.
O'BRIEN: Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. You… you should take care of yourself.
NIKITA: (smiles warily) Thank you.
She opens the door and walks out. O'Brien steps back to watch her departure through the office windows.
OPERATIONS' LOFT
OPERATIONS: Headaches?
He walks over toward someone in his office. We see it is O'Brien.
OPERATIONS: White flashes?
O'BRIEN: That’s what she said.
OPERATIONS: And the tranq gun?
O'BRIEN: Tranq gun was fine.
OPERATIONS: Why did you cover for her?
O'BRIEN: (as if stating the obvious) To get her trust. She’s hiding something. Walter’s helping. Maybe this way I can find out what it is.
OPERATIONS: I glad to see you’re not falling into the same trap Michael did.
O'BRIEN: (snorts) Not likely. If it wasn’t for Nikita, I’d still be living on the outside fat, dumb, and happy. I owe her big time.
OPERATIONS: (nodding) Keep me informed.
Throughout the exchange, both men regard each other untrustingly. But, O'Brien nods, and turns to leave. Operations has a bemused smiled on his face as he presses an comm button.
OPERATIONS: Send Goliac to Systems.
SYSTEMS
Jason sits at a desk monitoring a sim, when he notices Nikita approaching. She walks by him, hands in her pockets, glancing to him.
JASON: Hey, gorgeous.
As she passes by, she whispers.
NIKITA: I need your help.
Jason watches her walk toward a more secluded area, shuts down his program, then stands and saunters over to where she is waiting for him.
JASON: Sooner or later, they all need my help. That’s why I’m called the Love Doctor. Just tell me exactly when…
She looks at him not amused, but hands over the disk she and Walter previously were working on.
NIKITA: (interrupting) I need this decrypted.
JASON: Off book?
NIKITA: Way off.
JASON: (leering) What’s in it for me?
NIKITA: Absolutely nothing.
He goes to take the disk from her hand, but she holds on to it.
NIKITA: Your brother was a good man. I’m hoping you are too.
JASON: I only met my brother once. In the short time we had together, he spent half the time talking about you. I’ll do what I can.
He snatches the disk from her grasp. She let’s go, and he tucks it into the front of his waistband, winking his eyes at her as he does so.
NIKITA: Thank you.
COMM
Operations walks into Comm, going over to where Quinn is working on her computer.
OPERATIONS: Hoffbauer broke. Here’s the intel file.
Quinn take the disk from him in a bland manner.
OPERATIONS: Start verification. Where’s Goliac?
Quinn jerks her head to the side, indicating Goliac’s location.
OPERATIONS: Goliac!
Goliac walks over to Operations.
OPERATIONS: I have a job for you. O'Brien’s keeping an eye on Nikita. I want you to keep an eye on him. Make sure he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. He’s good, so stay dark until you have something to report.
Goliac leaves to do as he has just been told. Operations goes back to where Quinn is still seated. She looks up at him, smiling.
QUINN: So… why don’t you trust O'Brien?
OPERATIONS: (smiling) I don’t trust any man where Nikita’s concerned. She has a way of turning heads…
Quinn casts her glance downward, thinking about this.
OPERATIONS: … Michael, Birkoff, Walter… Thank God there are no other female operatives with that effect.
With that, he turns and leaves. Quinn smiles, having caught his veiled insult.
MUNITIONS
Nikita waits in Munitions for Walter, feeling increasingly disoriented. It’s apparent she is in a bad way. Walter approaches, sees her and looks at her with concern.
WALTER: How’s the headaches?
She jumps and gasps with surprise.
NIKITA: It’s not going away. I think it’s something to do with the house explosion… gas or something.
WALTER: Maybe.
He walks around her, his face frowning with concern.
NIKITA: Who’s behind all of this?
WALTER: (shaking his head) It could be anybody. Anybody at all.
Jason enters the Munitions area. Walter looks up at him.
WALTER: Hey, Jas.
Nikita only mildly glances in his direction, feeling too sick to do much more. Jason stops beside her.
NIKITA: Find something?
JASON: Sure did.
Nikita turns toward him, and Jason leans closer in.
JASON: (flirtatiously) Frankly, I was a little disappointed. Kind of hoping for something juicer.
NIKITA: Well, what was it?
Jason reaches into his pocket to fish out the disk.
JASON: Coordinates, country road south of Bulvey.
Nikita goes to take the disk from him, but Jason snatches it back playfully, smiling. She is not in the mood.
NIKITA: That’s it?
JASON: Like I said, major letdown.
He shoves off from the table to leave.
WALTER: Thanks.
Nikita thinks about this new intel a moment, then stands.
NIKITA: Okay. Thanks.
As she leaves, Walter watches with concern. When he sits down, it’s apparent that he’s worried about her.
COUNTRYSIDE
Nikita drives up to a countryside home. It is the home where Michael last left Adrian to be cared for. She pulls up and gets out, looking around, unfamiliar with the place. The caretaker, who Michael left Adrian with, glances out the front window and sees Nikita approaching. He frowns. Before she can knock, he opens the door.
CARETAKER: Bon jour, Ma’am. Can I help you?
NIKITA: Uh… bon jour. My… my name’s Nikita. Is this a retirement home?
CARETAKER: Convalescent. We care for the indigent and the infirm. Is there someone you would like to see?
NIKITA: Uh… yes… I’m not sure of the name. I was wondering if I could take a look around…
CARETAKER: I’m sorry. That is not permitted.
He is clearly alarmed by her request, and quickly steps back into the house, closing the door firmly on her. Nikita is surprised, and suddenly is overcome by another wave of dizziness. She collapses back against the house wall, steeling herself against the flashes of light that disorient her. She grimaces with pain and begins breathing with an effort. Desperate, she shoves the door open, and grabs the caretaker by the lapels, yanking outside and shoving him against a wall. He is clearly alarmed.
CARETAKER: What… what are you doing?
NIKITA: I want to talk to you!
CARETAKER: (scared) If you don’t leave right now, I’ll call the police!
NIKITA: You won’t call the police. You’ll answer my questions. Vous comprenez?
CARETAKER: Please! Don’t tell him anything! He’ll kill me!
Nikita is as desperate as the caretaker is. She stays in his face, bullying him into answering her.
NIKITA: Who’s he?
The caretaker realizes he has said too much. He looks scared to death. Nikita shakes him.
CARETAKER: A… a man came here a year ago.
NIKITA: How old? Old enough to be my father?
CARETAKER: (panicking) Brother perhaps. He had a woman with him. His mother, I assumed.
NIKITA: When? Last year? August?
CARETAKER: Yeah… August.
She lets the man go as another wave of dizziness assails her. She fights it, fishing out her cell phone.
NIKITA: Walter, are you there?
Back in Section, Walter grabs his phone.
WALTER: I’m here. Any luck?
NIKITA: Can you download a visual of Michael, please? Immediately.
WALTER: (surprised) Right.
He goes to his computer and taps at the keys. We see a picture of Michael appear. He taps more keys, then talks into his phone.
WALTER: It’s on the way.
Breathing hard and steadying herself with one hand against the house wall, Nikita puts her phone away and pulls out her panel. The caretaker watches with alarm, not knowing what is happening. Nikita presses some buttons, and Michael’s image appears on her panel. She holds it out so the caretaker can get a good look at it.
NIKITA: Is that the man?
CARETAKER: Yes. A quiet man, but dangerous.
NIKITA: What about the woman?
CARETAKER: Believe me, I gave her the best of everything, but there was nothing I could do. I hide the body. Please don’t tell him.
NIKITA: How did she die?
CARETAKER: I don’t know. A mystery. She talked of headaches and flashes of light.
Nikita realizes he speaks of Adrian, and she is going through the same symptoms Adrian experienced before she died of them.
MUNITIONS
Walter works at his table, when O'Brien walks around the corner and comes up to him.
O'BRIEN: Have you seen Nikita?
WALTER: No, no… not lately.
Walter doesn’t bother to look at O'Brien, continuing to work at his table.
O'BRIEN: She’s supposed to be in Systems for a pre-mission.
WALTER: Yeah, well, I’m sorry, O.B., I can’t help ya.
O'Brien doesn’t believe him, and walks to Walter’s other side, leans into him, and looks at him intently.
O'BRIEN: Walter? Walter? I know she’s having problems.
Walter resists opening up to O'Brien.
WALTER: Well, that’s her business.
O'BRIEN: Look. I covered for her once on the last mission. If I was gonna bust her, I would have done it then. Now, I wanna help, but you have to trust me.
This seems to appease Walter, who has listened carefully. He makes the decision to trust O'Brien, looking around to be sure they are alone before he talks.
WALTER: Have you heard of the Gelman process?
O'BRIEN: Yeah… it’s some brainwashing type deal, right?
Walter nods emphatically.
O'BRIEN: I never knew it was real or …
WALTER: (interrupting) Oh, it’s real. Wash, rinse, tumble-dry - it’s an ugly package. They did it to her about a year ago.
O'BRIEN: Why?
WALTER: To put a wedge in between her and Michael. What we’re seeing now is just the aftershock. It’s gonna get worse.
O'BRIEN: How do you know?
WALTER: They did it to somebody else. A woman named Adrian.
O'Brien begins to pace as he listens to Walter.
WALTER: Now, the symptoms that she showed are just like Nikita’s.
O'BRIEN: Where is she now?
WALTER: Dead, so if we’re gonna do something, we’ve gotta do it fast.
O'BRIEN: Like what?
WALTER: Adrian died in a retirement home. Nikita found out where she was buried, and she’s waiting there now.
O'BRIEN: Where she’s buried?
WALTER: The Gelman process used chemicals that developed into a neurological virus, so what Nikita needs is a vaccine.
O'BRIEN: And, you know how to do that?
WALTER: I accessed Medical. I downloaded Adrian’s DNA sequence.
Walter shuts off his computer, then stands to face O'Brien.
WALTER: All we need is a tissue sample.
CEMETERY
We see a Section Suburban driving toward a cemetery, rows of headstones, then Nikita waiting in the dark before a mausoleum. As she sits on the step before the mausoleum, she sees the Suburban pull up and Walter get out the passenger side. He carries a small black bag. Nikita sees O'Brien is with Walter.
NIKITA: (suspicious) What’s he doing here?
WALTER: He’s here to help.
Nikita doesn’t argue, but stands and swings open the iron gates to enter the concrete structure. She steps up, then suddenly stops, hesitating. Walter steps beside her, reaching for the key in her hand.
WALTER: You don’t have to go in there if you don’t want to.
NIKITA: No, no. I’m going.
She inserts the key in the door and opens it. There are four stone coffins inside. She passes a hand along the tops of them, trying to discern which holds Adrian’s remains. Walter and O'Brien follow her inside.
NIKITA: Adrian. Adrian?
She stops beside one of the stone coffins, convinced it is Adrian’s.
WALTER: Here?
Nikita nods.
WALTER: How do you know?
Nikita suddenly becomes dizzy, and Walter reaches out to catch her before she collapses. He helps her to sit on a stone bench.
WALTER: Hey! Here. Sit over here.
As O'Brien assists her, Nikita starts gasping in pain, grabbing her head.
O'BRIEN: (to Walter) Run the verification.
Nikita is rocking and moaning with pain. O'Brien is concerned.
O'BRIEN: Hey! Are you all right? Nikita! C’mon, stay with me. Stay with me.
But Nikita is audibly crying out from the pain, clutching at her head. Walter holds up a scanner and passes it over the stone coffin. It reads: Loading Profile: Adrian Skeletal Structure – 98% Match.
WALTER: Give me a hand with the lid.
O'Brien leaves Nikita’s side to assist him. They shove the heavy lid over, grunting with the effort. As they peer inside, they stop short, seeing something inside.
O'BRIEN: What’s that?
WALTER: Huh?
O'BRIEN: What’s that?
WALTER: Huh? Where?
O'Brien reaches inside and takes up a small black cloth bag. O'Brien fishes inside it.
WALTER: What have you got?
O'Brien pulls out a round, silver unit that looks like a stopwatch on a long chain.
O'BRIEN: I don’t know.
Walter takes the unit with surprise.
WALTER: It’s a PF3 communicator! These things haven’t even been deployed yet.
In the background, Nikita is still breathing hard, but has steadied herself and is listening to the exchange. O'Brien is puzzled.
O'BRIEN: What the hell’s it doing in here?
NIKITA: It’s for me.
She reaches for it.
NIKITA: It’s for me. The disk got me to Adrian. This is gonna get me somewhere else.
Nikita clutches the unit her. She’s obviously still in pain.
WALTER: I’ll get the tissue sample.
O'Brien takes a seat beside Nikita, his face full of concern.
O'BRIEN: Listen, Nikita… you’re in over your head. Why don’t you let me take you back to Section?
NIKITA: (grimacing) No!
O'BRIEN: Look, even if Operations knocks you down a peg, you’ll still be alive.
NIKITA: (crying) This is not about Operations!
O'BRIEN: Well, what’s it about?
NIKITA: (tears falling) I need to know who I am and why I’m here. I’d rather die, than not know.
O'Brien watches her, his face looking pained at her desperation.
We next see them exit the mausoleum, O'Brien leading the way, while Walter assists Nikita in walking, an arm around her waist.
O'BRIEN: Walter, you know anything about Spec Ops?
WALTER: Worked there ten years, why?
O'BRIEN: Well, if you had us staked out, where would you be?
WALTER: Hedge behind the fence, six o’clock.
O'BRIEN: That sounds about right.
O'Brien stops walking, then suddenly turns and shoots behind him. We hear a target hit, and O'Brien rushes to see who he has hit. It is Goliac, now dead.
Walter has managed to get Nikita into the Suburban. As she slumps in her seat, holding her head against the pain, Walter watches through the window. She holds the PF3 to her tightly.
Leaving her, Walter heads over to where O'Brien stands over Goliac’s body. O'Brien holsters his gun.
O'BRIEN: You know him?
WALTER: Goliac, Operations’ pitbull. How did you know somebody was around here?
O'BRIEN: I know Operations well enough to know that he doesn’t trust anyone.
WALTER: Mmm.
O'BRIEN: He’d have to have someone following me.
O'Brien turns to go to the Suburban. Walter follows.
MEDICAL
Nikita is lying on bed completely out of it. She is wearing the PF3 unit as a necklace, and appears to be dreaming. Nearby, Walter works on the vaccine for her. O'Brien watches Nikita worriedly, then goes over to check on Walter’s progress.
O'BRIEN: Is this gonna work?
WALTER: We’ll see in a minute.
He removes a vial of blue fluid and attaches it to a syringe gun.
WALTER: Can I ask you a question?
O'BRIEN: Sure.
WALTER: What made you change your mind?
O'Brien looks over to Nikita, lying helplessly.
O'BRIEN: She did.
We hear soft music, the type that is played when Michael or Nikita are thinking about each other, so we know that Nikita is thinking of Michael. Her closed eyes flutter from side to side. Walter walks over to her side and lifts her arm to vaccinate her.
WALTER: Hey. This is gonna make you feel better.
He gives her the shot, and she stirs. He gently rests her hand back down.
O'BRIEN: How long is this gonna take?
Walter gets up and returns the shot paraphernalia to his case.
WALTER: Well, this will work almost right away. We’ll have her back on her feet again… one or two days.
Nikita stirs in her sleep, reaching for the PF3 unit that lies about her neck. Her head moves slowly from side to side, and her lips begin to move as she mouths something.
O'BRIEN: She’s got a briefing in three hours.
WALTER: Good luck.
Nikita’s eyes continue to move in sleep, her head restlessly stirring slowly. Her lips form the words she’s been struggling to say.
NIKITA: Michael.
She weakly grabs at the PF3 unit on her chest, as though communicating to Michael.
NIKITA: Help me.
Her eyes open slightly, but she’s too weak and disoriented to do much else.
WAR ROOM
Operations walks up to the table where the operatives are assembled. Nikita’s empty chair is very noticeable.
OPERATIONS: We’re in Condition Six, consider Recon hot unless advised to the contrary.
He activates the holo-screen, which shows a large chemical plant.
OPERATIONS: The bio-chemical plant is located in this cover facility is southern Kurgastad.
QUINN: We have confirmation from in-house interrogation, as well as satellite surveillance. The Collective acquired the facility last month. They plan to start production within a week. The base is 50 feet below ground and highly secured. It can only be taken from the inside.
OPERATIONS: In four hours I don’t want this plant to exist. Go.
He deactivates the holo-screen, and the operatives move to head out, though Quinn remains seated.
OPERATIONS: O'Brien.
O'Brien goes over to him, and waits to hear him.
OPERATIONS: In Nikita’s absence, you’ll assume field command. I’ll assign a floater to take your spot.
We see Nikita is full mission gear appear at the far end of the table. She looks well.
NIKITA: That’s not necessary.
Operations looks over to her.
NIKITA: Jason sent me the mission parameters. I’m up to speed.
OPERATIONS: Where were you?
NIKITA: My panel was misfiled. I’m sorry that I’m late.
Operations just looks at her for moment.
OPERATIONS: Check in with Walter.
She nods and moves off. When O'Brien also moves to leave, Operations stops him.
OPERATIONS: O'Brien.
O'Brien turns back.
OPERATIONS: You have anything to report?
O'BRIEN: No.
OPERATIONS: You’re sure?
O'BRIEN: Positive.
They both smile at each other, both untrusting of the other.
As O'Brien heads out, Operations looks over to Quinn, who is still seated.
OPERATIONS: Have you heard from Goliac?
QUINN: No. It’s like he dropped off the face of the earth.
Operations nods and walks off.
MUNITIONS
Operatives have been coming to get their mission gear. Nikita walks in, followed by O'Brien.
WALTER: Here.
He hands Nikita her bag. O'Brien is surprised to see Nikita up and about. He goes to her side as she grabs her gear.
O'BRIEN: You’re still in one piece so far. You shouldn’t be in here.
NIKITA: It’s just one mission. Get through this, we’re home free.
She continues to pack up, while O'Brien and Walter watch her, both less than pleased by her choice to join the mission.
O'BRIEN: Blackouts?
NIKITA: Getting better.
O'BRIEN: Really?
NIKITA: Yeah.
Walter sees the PF3 unit in her gear and grabs it.
WALTER: Hey…
Nikita grabs it from him.
WALTER: Sugar, I told you, these transmitters are not operational yet!
Nikita slips it over her head like a necklace.
NIKITA: Well, it wasn’t in the coffin for nothing.
She takes her bag and with a backward glance at the two men, walks out. They say nothing. Walter takes O'Brien’s bag and hands it to him.
CHEMICAL PLANT MISSION
It’s daylight, and we see operatives stealthily approach the plant’s underground entrance. One op takes down a guard from behind, while through a side door another guard emerges only to meet up with more operatives and get shot. They run inside through the door the guard just exited.
Back in Section, Operations stands in his Perch watching the mission play out, as Quinn handles comm.
OPERATIVE: We’ve acquired second position.
QUINN: Second position secured. Diversion team, continue to your next mark.
Back at the plant, operatives enter a stairwell, running down the stairs.
QUINN: I’ve triggered the alarm. Hostiles heading toward stairwell.
We see the hostiles running for the stairs, and the operatives waiting for them to enter. The hostiles are killed.
In Comm, Quinn watches Nikita’s position.
QUINN: Nikita, scanning your level for infrared. Hostile on the catwalk.
Nikita looks to the catwalk, shoots, and takes down the hostile, while nearby O'Brien, making his way down a ladder, shoots down another.
QUINN: Diversion team, three more hostiles approaching stairwell.
They exchange gunfire and the operatives take down the hostiles. O'Brien and Nikita through a large open area.
O'BRIEN: Go to your next mark. Go.
He heads one way to ward off approaching hostiles, while Nikita heads another where she’s supposed to place a charge. She peers around a corner and sees the unit that she is supposed to charge. She pulls out a panel that will set the charge.
QUINN: Trigger, then proceed to egress.
She taps at her keyboard.
QUINN: We’ve got hostiles. Security’s going into lockdown.
Quinn’s monitor reads: SECURITY LOCKDOWN.
O'Brien spies the approaching hostiles and sees he can ward them off.
O'BRIEN: Override.
QUINN: I’m trying.
Nikita is working on setting the detonator, when she suddenly stops, breaking into a sweat.
QUINN: Nikita, you’ve got a three- minute window.
Nikita becomes disoriented and her vision blurs as she sways unsteadily on her feet. She begins breathing hard, fighting the dizziness, but collapses to the ground.
In the stairwell, the operatives have sanitized the area, and begin heading out.
OPERATIVE: Diversion team heading to next mark.
More hostiles enter the stairwell, running up the stairs to head off the operatives.
Nikita is debilitated, unable to proceed. She calls for help.
NIKITA: (frantically) O'Brien!
O'Brien can’t hear her.
QUINN: Nikita, did you set the charge?
Nikita can only gasp with pain from her position the floor. A door suddenly opens and a hostile levels a gun at her. She manages to fire off a shot, which throws him back against an electrical grid, electrocuting him. She cries out in pain.
QUINN: O’Brien, hold your position.
He does, and glances around a corner where more hostiles are incoming. He takes them out, then advances to another wall, from where he can peer around another corner. Two more hostiles await him. He quickly takes them out.
Back in the stairwell, the other operatives have reached their egress location and head out, while in Comm, Quinn follows everyone’s movements. Her monitor reads: TEAM ONE: COMM ERROR. DIVERSION TEAM: EGRESS.
QUINN: Diversion team, egress. Hostiles still in pursuit.
On egress, the operatives shut the door and set charges to it, as the hostiles make their way toward it. Inside, O'Brien throws gas to flush them out. As the hostiles choke and cough, O'Brien moves to his next mark.
At her mark, Nikita is still on the floor, wincing and gasping in pain. Suddenly a robotic voice from her PF3 unit speaks to her.
VOICE: Nikita. Nikita.
She stills and looks down to the unit.
VOICE: Nikita, you have to be strong.
NIKITA: Michael.
She is confused.
NIKITA: Who is that?
VOICE: A friend. Do as I say.
Back in Comm, Quinn is trying to discern what she is hearing, but comm is down, and she can’t make it out.
QUINN: Nikita, what are you saying? Who are you talking to?
Nikita is trying to steady herself, and the voice “hears” Quinn speaking to Nikita.
VOICE: Switch to sub-channel four.
Nikita does this, and now Quinn can hear nothing. She glances up at Operations confused, taps at her keyboard, but cannot establish a line with Nikita.
QUINN: Nikita?
She punches at her keys with frustration, then looks back to Operations.
QUINN: I’ve lost her.
Back in the plant, Nikita is struggling to focus on the voice.
VOICE: You have cycle through the sequence. The black button to the right of the LED. Do you see it?
NIKITA: Yeah.
VOICE: The black button. Long, short, long.
Nikita does as she is being instructed, pressing the button.
VOICE: Now the red button. Press and hold.
She does this and the one-minute countdown appears. She is confused.
NIKITA: Michael?
VOICE: Do it.
She hesitates.
VOICE: Do it!
She presses the red button, and the countdown begins, the LED showing 00:59 and counting… She stands, planting the device.
In Comm, Quinn sees that the device has been activated.
QUINN: She set the trigger sequence.
The LED reads 00:12 and counting, when we see Nikita running through the plant, still disoriented but intent on getting out. The “Voice” continues to guide her.
VOICE: Nikita, three o’clock!
Nikita looks to her right and sees a hostile. She shoots him down, and keeps running. She meets up with O'Brien, and as they run, the charge blows, throwing debris. O'Brien grabs Nikita about the waste, yanking her to the safety of a side outlet.
VAN ACCESS
The operatives file in, with O'Brien and Nikita taking up the rear. Nikita is feeling better. Operations waits for them, his hands folded calmly before him, but he’s angry.
OPERATIONS: The mission had irregularities.
He waits to hear the reason.
NIKITA: Equipment failure.
OPERATIONS: There’s been a lot of that lately, hasn’t there?
Nikita nods. Operations just glares at her.
O'BRIEN: Target was destroyed, we suffered no casualties. That should be enough.
Operations looks over to O'Brien, believing he has fallen for Nikita too.
OPERATIONS: She destroyed Michael. She’ll destroy you, too.
He looks from one to the other, the walks away. O'Brien heads down the hallway in the opposite direction, while Nikita hesitates a moment, touching the PF3 unit. She follows after O'Brien.
NIKITA: I don’t have the words.
O'BRIEN: Thanks’ll do.
He doesn’t look at her or slow his step as he talks, nor when she responds.
NIKITA: Thanks.
As she says it, she caresses the PF3 unit hanging about her neck.
The End.