Bump In The Night

Nikita turns her head in her apartment and stares at the vase. It wasn't there. She looks to the right and finds the vase. Nikita stands up and places it in the middle of the table. A few moments later, Nikita looks to find the vase on the right again.

*

"Hey, Birkoff... how many operatives stayed in my apartment before I arrived?" Nikita asks when she walks into Section.

"Eight, I believe.” Birkoff says as he doesn't move from his computer. He looks down for his twizzlers and finds them and the wrapper gone.

"Hey, Nikita... did you take my twizzlers?” Birkoff asks and Nikita shakes her head as she leans closer to Birkoff.

"Hey, Birkoff... how many died in my apartment?” Nikita asks as she looks away from Birkoff.

"That would be two... why Nikita? Do you have ghosts?” Birkoff asks and Nikita shakes her head.

"Nope, just wondering.” Nikita says as she stands up and walks away.

*

Michael types at his computer and stops as the blinds to his window open up with no prompting. Michael sees Nikita passing and shakes his head. He thinks he hears a whistle, and he stands up and pulls the blinds back down.

Only a few moments later the blinds open up again and when Michael sees Madeline, they snap down. Michael sighs and goes back to his paperwork. He thought that Walter must be working on a new toy or something.

That was until the personal file that he kept on Nikita, hidden in the floor under his chair was gone.

*

"Birkoff, has anyone gone into my office today?” Michael asks as he notices Nikita in the corner at a computer.

“Nope.. no one.” Birkoff answers.

"Even Nikita?” Michael asks and Birkoff turns and points to Nikita.

"Kita's been there all day.” Birkoff says and suddenly the lights go out.

Nikita: Michael, where are we going?

Michael turns in mid stride and faces Nikita.

Michael: WE are not going anywhere. I am going to my office, to finish some file work, and you are going home.

Nikita looks at Michael as if he has gone crazy.

Nikita: File work? How can you think of working on files at a time like this? Something strange is going on around here...and I for one want to know what it is.

Michael: Nikita.. Just go home. Whatever the problem is will solve its self.

Then, without giving Nikita time to reply, Michael turns on his heel and walks away.

As Michael enters his office, he knows that he should not have been so abrupt with Nikita. But, he also knew that she would get over it. He just found it hard to concentrate with her hovering over him, and he would need his complete concentration to figure this out.

As Michael walks around his desk, and unbuttons the button on his jacket, he notices immediately that all was not as he left it. No, not at all.

As Michael looks on in disbelief, Walter comes to the door.

Walter: Michael, Operations is needing you in command central.

Michael doesn't answer Walter. He just continues staring at his desk...or more specifically at what is on his desk.

Walter: Michael...did you hear me?

Michael still doesn't answer Walter. Walter then walks into the room, and walks up to Michael. As he looks at the desk, and what it is that has Michaels undivided attention, a chill goes through his body.

Walter: My god...is this someone’s idea of a joke?

Michael, realizing for the first time that Walter is in the room, looks at Walter with no expression at all.

Michael: If it is a joke.... It is a sick one.

Michael looks back to his desk. Lying on top of the desk, placed neatly and in order, are the personal file pages that Michael keep on Nikita...the ones that until just a short time ago, when they had disappeared, were hidden in his office. Only, now the files had been altered.

The written pages of the files were all slashed and ripped.... and the pictures that the files contained...of Nikita when she first came into Section.... were ripped as well. But that was not all.... they also had what looked to be red paint smeared all over them...as if to symbolize blood.

Michael, getting over his shock, begins to gather up the pages. He then bends over and taking his waste paper basket places it on his desk. He dumps all of the pages into the basket, pausing to take one last look at a picture of Nikita. Taking out a lighter, he ignites it, and lets the flame dance under the edge of the picture. When the picture is burning adequately, he places it in the basket with the rest of the file papers.

Time seems to stand still, as Michael and Walter watch the pages, and pictures of Nikita, burn and turn to ash.

Michael then steps by Walter, and proceeds to head for the office door.

Walter: What.. where are you going?

Michael turns and looks at Walter.

Michael: You said something about Operations needing me...did you not?

Walter: Yeah...but what about this?

Walter looks back at the basket, containing only ashes, and the last embers of the burned pages.

Michael: What about it?

Walter: Aren't you interested in who may have done this...and why?

Michael stands in the doorway for a moment, looking at the basket. Finally, he looks up and makes eye contact with Walter.

Michael: No.

Michael then turns from the office, and heads down the hall to see what Operations wants.

Ops: “What the hell is the meaning of this?!” He demands as he tosses a copy of a picture of Nikita Michael’s way...

This picture like the ones from Michael’s file on her, were all cut up and scrawled with red paint, only on this one it wasn't paint but blood. But this picture you were able to read the writing: The Bitch Dies

Michael: I have no idea what is going on here. I have found similar photos in my office.

Ops: We have a very disgruntled operative here. Find out who it is and have them canceled. I will not tolerate anything of this nature going on here in Section. Do you understand me Michael?

Michael: Perfectly he says as he heads out of the Tower room.

Upon coming out of the Office he runs into a new Section Operative who has just come in from the field.

Michael: Jasmin, what are you doing up here?

Jasmin looking startled to find Michael up here: I am on my way to report to Operations. Wha... What are you doing here Michael?

Michael: I was just in a meeting with Ops. Does he know that you are here? He asks silkily, something wasn't right about this whole episode. He and Jasmin had had a brief fling while Nikita was gone, before she came back to Section. He had known that he had inadvertently hurt Jasmin when Nikita came back and he dumped her like a hot coal. But no one knows the extent to which he would go through for 'Kita. She was his life.

Jasmin not looking Michael in the eyes: Of course Operations knows that I am coming up to see him. He asked for me. Why are you so curious Michael? Is Nikita not satisfying you? Can the IceMan not thaw the Bitch? You really should have stayed with me Michael; it would have been better for all of Section and for Nikita if you had.

Michael's fist lashed out, hitting Jasmin in the jaw and knocking her out. Operations hearing the commotion comes out of the Tower office with Madeline: What is going on here? Why is Jasmin up here?

Michael: She said that you had called for her. Did you?

Operations: No I did not.

Madeline says looking down on the unconscious Jasmin: It seems that all is not what it would appear to be. Look at this mark on her neck. Michael take her down to the White room and call Nikita in. Have her on Standby until further notice.

As Michael takes Jasmin down to the White Room she slowly regains consciousness and starts to struggle.

Jasmin: wh..wha..what is going on here Michael? Where are you taking me?

Michael: To the White room. We need to find out what is going on here.

Jasmin: The Wh.wh.white rrroomm??? No Michael you can't let them put me in there. Please, if I meant anything to you at all, don't do it. I'm begging you!!!

M: I have no choice.

Jas: what did I do?

Michael just looks at her with his usual blank stare as he puts her in the chair and secures her.

Ops: Is Nikita here yet?

Maddy: Yes, she's on her way up here now. We have to get to the bottom of this and soon. I wonder if Birkoff has any news for us. We'll have to move quickly on this if we are to avoid any further incidents like the one just now.

Maddy walks over to the comm unit and calls for Birkoff to come to the Observation deck.

Birky: Right Madeline, I'll be there right away. There is something not quite right here and I can't explain it.

Ops: Yes, I agree There have been some strange things happening in Section the last 24hrs and I intend to know why. Aahhhh Nikita. Ok fill me in on what has been going on with you.

Nikita: I'm not sure exactly what is going on, I just get these feelings that I can't explain, and things in my apartment are different. Moved one minute and back to the original spot the next. What is going on here?

Everyone looks around as Birkoff joins them with a frown on his face.

Ops: We'll have to find out if anyone else is having these problems or if it is just a select few. Birkoff what have you got for me?

Birkoff: Sir, I can't seem to find anything wrong with the power generator but I think it has been tampered with. I am putting it thru diagnostics now. We should know something within the next few minutes.

Ops: Fine. Things are unacceptable as they are.

Maddy: Ok, I want you all to stay at your posts and keep us updated constantly. I am going to see what Jasmin has to say about all this and then I'll have Med find out what the mark on her neck is. Nikita, I want you and Michael to look around and find out if anyone else has been having any problems.

Maddy and everyone leave.

Next we see Maddy in the white room with Jasmin.