6.02 Recovering the bridge of stolen happiness
The days always seemed the same ... despite the fact that everything was different now, Nikita didn't feel better than when she was a simple operative who risked her life continuously.
She went down the staircase and she walked toward Walter's area ... the lesson of the previous day had taught her that a second-in-command didn't necessarily serve her best interests ... it was experience in the field and intuition that were more valid than any prepared tactics.
Nevertheless, she got Walter and Jason to work on Mr. Jones' computer, Veytos. They had to eliminate the firewalls and then Quinn could install Madeline's artificial intelligence program. For the time being, that sophisticated computer will help her to run Section.
NIKITA:"Walter ... how's it going?"
WALTER: "We're almost there, Sugar. There's just one last firewall to circumvent and then Quinn can install the software."
NIKITA: "Well...tell me when it's ready."
WALTER: Sure, I'll let you know as soon as I've figured out the damned password."
NIKITA: "Have you tried 'Nikita?'"
WALTER: "Yeah, I have...but I think that would've been a little easy, don't you?"
NIKITA: "Yeah, probably. Keep me posted."
Nikita continued with sure footsteps toward the White Room, where a prisoner was waiting to be questioned.
Mrs Giuren had been taken from her quiet office in the bank few hours earlier and she now sat on the steel chair, being threatened by Henry and Elizabeth.
Nikita turned around to her. "Your bank manages the account of the pharmaceutical society DANALTO."
GIUREN: "Yes, of course...we handle the accounts of a lot of societies, after all" she responded arrogantly.
NIKITA: "Last week, the Danalto received a payment from an account connected to The Collective...why?"
GIUREN: "I don't know what you mean."
Nikita took the beautiful face in her hands and tightened her grasp, inserting her fingernails into the woman's cheeks.
GIUREN closed her eyes from the pain and Nikita stopped.
GIUREN: "I'll tell you," she finally surrendered, "I have important information, but I won't speak to you without certain assurances."
NIKITA: "Assurances? You don't have any idea where you are, do you? What do you think this is...a police station? The CIA? Listen to me...nobody knows you're here and it will go much easier for you if you cooperate..."
The threat seemed to work and the woman started talking:
GIUREN: "The Danalto produces hidden chemical weapons and The Collective has paid for a shipment."
NIKITA: "A shipment of what?"
The woman hesitated and Nikita's voice became even more threatening "OF WHAT?"
GIUREN: "Anthrax...within two days, the delivery will be made and without me they could become suspicious."
Nikita's blood froze ... anthrax in The Collective's hands...she absolutely could not allow it.
NIKITA: "Where will the delivery take place?"
The woman reiterated that she wanted a guarantee of safety and Nikita gestured to the torture twins to do their job. "You'll tell me" she said, closing the door.
She summoned Horizon to her office and asked him to allocate all of Section's resources to prevent that delivery.
NIKITA: "Who have you called in on Team One? "
Horizon: "I have added Trent, Claire and Jasmine to my team."
NIKITA: "And, who will lead Team Two?
Horizon: "That's a tough call... we don't have enough experienced operatives... but Team Two is only a backup team...so, we have two possibilities...we could request a group leader on loan from Section Five or promote a recruit."
Nikita was easily convinced to promote a recruit...she would not be willing to compromise with another Section.
Horizon: "We have a couple of interesting recruits, Nikita... particularly one who has just finished her training" continued Horizon
NIKITA: "Are you sure that she will be able to run a high priority mission? "
Horizon: "I'm sure that she will be fine running a backup team."
NIKITA: "And who will be in play? "
Horizon: "Quinn and I have selected some operatives in Abeyance... "
Didn't Nikita even let him finish the sentence and she became angry, "I had asked you to suspend all cancellations!"
Horizon: "Nikita, we can't do that...we don't have the personnel to spare and we can't postpone this mission."
Horizon was decidedly right...to her horror, she had no choice but to agree...if the anthrax ended up in The Collective's hands, the casualties would be millions.
NIKITA: "Well..." she resignedly approved, "promise me that the damages we will minimal."
Horizon nodded and went to summon the teams, the panels were uploaded...Walter systematized turned on the receiver to Mrs. GIUREN and then he went to work on the equipment for teams...
Nikita went to get herself ready, disappointed that Walter didn't support her choice to return to the field now that she was Operations...but she thanked him with a kiss on the forehead gave him his motivation, "I've got a score to settle with The Collective, Walter...but I'll be careful."
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOCIETY PHARMACEUTICAL DANALTO
Mrs. Giuren walked confidently toward the offices of her contacts with Nikita shadowing her. Nikita was decidedly very cunning and careful not to lose her. After having made arrangements for the delivery, they both went to the car. Nikita looked at Mrs. Giuren with amazement...she did not look like Section's other prisoners...she did not appear intimidated.
Suddenly, the car stopped...Nikita aimed her gun behind the driver's neck and ordered him to continue moving.
But the car pulled over, the driver got out and Giuren smiled "Our agreement ends here, Nikita...tonight, your operatives will stop the delivery and they will destroy The Collective's team...and I get my freedom."
Nikita aimed her the gun at Giuren, "I can't let you go...how do I know that you haven't betrayed us?"
The driver opened the Nikita's door, inviting her to get out...as always, her mind raced with a series of questions destined to go unanswered...she cocked the weapon...but Giuren's smile convinced her to let her go...why didn't she pull the trigger?
Her damned compassion...indeed, perhaps she didn't have the presence of mind, Operations or Madeleine would have shot her and not given it a second thought...but not Nikita...she couldn't kill another human being in cold blood like that.
SECTION ONE
Walter was passing out gear to the teams and paid particular attention to the new operative who was just promoted...she certainly didn't go unnoticed with her long, chestnut hair and bright, clear eyes...good ingredients to have Walter's complete attention!
CYNTHYA: "Thanks, Walter. You've been very kind," she said.
WALTER: "Think nothing of it, my beautiful Cyn, I'm at you disposal," he replied.
Nikita called everyone's attention...she gave the last directives and they set out to Van Access.
SEAPORT 11
Horizon and his team were in position. No suspicious movements, only some workers preparing some boxes to load on an anchored ship. A jeep drew near...two men with long raincoats approached the two workers, spoke with them and moved on. Two operatives struck the workers and took their places.
A second jeep arrived...Nikita hid behind the boxes, garnering the best view.
Another three operatives replaced as many men...they were almost ready for the final phase.
Nikita ordered Jason to start the sequence.
A van arrived, escorted by another jeep...Nikita recommended they all await the signal...it was essential to recover the material before opening fire. From the van, they unloaded a box, directly delivering it into the hands of the operatives. Horizon began firing. It started a violent shoot-out and someone from The Collective tried to escape...
Cynthya ran after him...Nikita watched her, hoping that the girl's athletic ability would save her...
Cynthya raced like lightning...she felt Nikita's stare and this encouraged her not to let up. Meanwhile, the other operatives counted the casualties and they reported to Horizon on the possible identities of each...Nikita approached, recognizing one of the faces as one of her father's executioners that day on the bridge...she would not have ever forgotten any of them.
Cynthya returned with the fugitive...she had succeeded in picking him up... Nikita looked at her proudly...the combative look of the girl was familiar to her...
Immediately upon returning back in Section, Nikita assigned Horizon to interrogate the prisoner. She didn't think she could remain detached...she would gladly have done him in herself...she went directly to Walter's area.
WALTER: "Hi, Sugar. Mr. Jones' computer is all set for you now! We've just finished installing the software...and it's already up and running."
NIKITA: "Good, Walter...Can you bring it to my office? I would like to work with it calmly."
WALTER: "Sure, Sugar...I'll bring it immediately."
Nikita entered the White Room...Horizon had already badly beaten the boy's face and felt no need to explain why...he left them alone.
Nikita knew he was a possible connection to The Collective, so she didn't want to go too heavy-handed with him, even if he didn't seem too frightened.
PRISONER: "I won't talk to you. I won't betray my people. We are faithful to our own, you won't get anything from me! "
NIKITA: "How grim for you...I only need information...nobody wants to hurt you...but if you won't tell us what we want to know...you won't of any use to us...where is your base camp?"
PRISONER: "You can do whatever you want to me...I won't ever tell you anything! "
NIKITA: "We'll talk again in a couple of hours" she concluded as she left.
Nikita left the prisoner in the hands of the twins...she didn't want to force her hand immediately.
She climbed to The Perch and she went to the computer. She opened a series of documents -- there was the directory, mission files and her own distinct notes...but the day had been very draining and tiredness took over. She laid her head on the keyboard...it wasn't very comfortable, but she only wanted a short rest. However, it soon turned into a deep sleep.
THE END
Hildita for Cynbythesea