Maddy: Never mind for now. I just have to make sure of a few things before I say more.

Ops: Fine!!! But do it quickly. Time is of the utmost here.

Maddy: Don't you think I realize that?

Maddy leaves and returns to her office. She paces and then goes and stands in front of her bonsai trees, thinking! Then she turns to her desk and calls for Walter to come see her.

Walter: You wanted to see me?

Maddy: Yes. Come over here please.

Walter: Sure.

Maddy takes Walter's face in her hands and checks out his neck. She is relieved to see no marks.

Maddy: Ok, good. I want you to rig something up for me that will go around my neck and yours so that it will look real but will not be able to be penetrated by anything. Maybe better make a few more just in case too.

Walter: Yeah, no problem.

Maddy: and Walter, no one else is to know of this.

Walter leaves and Maddy calls to Birkoff.

Maddy: Birkoff, any news on Jasmin?

Birkoff: Yes we have her and she is on her way back in.

Maddy: Good, have them take her to the White Room and make sure to tell them to secure her properly this time!!! If she gets away again, they will be canceled!!!! I'll meet them there. Oh and Birkoff I want you to do something else for me too. See if you can trace Operations’ movements from when he left here last night. Report back to me immediately when you have the information and only to me. Is that understood?

Birkoff: No Problem

Madeline is seen standing in the hallway watching as they bring Jasmin back in. She is on her way to the White Room when Birkoff contacts her.

Birkoff: Madeline, I have that information you requested.

Maddy: Fine, I'll be right there.

Maddy: Ok, what have you got for me?

Birkoff: well, from the time he left here yesterday, he went and got his car washed, went to the cleaners, and stopped off at The Wishing Well Restaurant where he stayed for 2 hours and then he went home where he stayed until he left to come in this morning. No stops on the way here this morning.

Maddy: Hmm, 2hrs? He never takes that long to eat. Find out what you can about that restaurant and who owns it. Let me know.

Maddy: Walter, do you have what I asked for done yet?

Walter: On my way now.

Maddy: Stop off at Michael's quarters first and make sure that he and Nikita are outfitted as well. Then meet me.

Walter: okay

When Maddy enters the white room she is outfitted with the neckpiece. She walks over to Jasmin.

Madeline looks at Jasmin and tilts her head.

"Have you seen Operations of late?” Madeline asks firmly.

"No.” Jasmin says firmly.

"Has anyone been able to hold you around the neck?” Madeline asks and Jasmin rolls her eyes back. Madeline stands still for a while until that she sees the seizure that Jasmin is in is real and not a fake.

"Medic to White Room.” Madeline says as she walks out.

*

"Michael.. my neck is soo itchy..." Nikita says as she scratches around the guard. Michael shakes his head and tries to keep Nikita nearby him. He doesn't know what is going on.

Then the lights go off... AGAIN.

"MICHAEL!” Nikita screams out. Michael tries to run to her and only procedes to run into the hall.

"Nikita????” Michael screams out. He doesn't hear anything.

The lights come back on and Michael finds himself alone.

"NIKITA!!!!” Michael screams as he runs into the hall.

Madeline is walking towards the room when she sees Michael. She already assumes the worst.

Madeline: Where is Nikita?

Michael: I don't know, when the lights went out, someone grabbed her.

Madeline: Has Walter been down here yet?

Michael: No, I didn't even know that he was supposed to come down here.

Madeline: Well, we have to find both of them. Birkoff...

Birkoff: Yes???

Madeline: Trace the trackers on Nikita and Walter. Find out where they are and report only to me.

Birkoff: I'm on it!

Michael: Do we know who's behind this yet?

Madeline: No, nothing concrete. I have an idea though.

Michael: Who?

Madeline: I think that George from Oversight is behind this.

Michael: Why? Madeline: Because together, you two pose a threat to Operations and him. Operations has talked of splitting the two of you apart many times. I think that George is trying to get you permanently out of the way.

Birkoff: Madeline, we have a location.

Madeline: We're on our way.

Madeline: What have you got?

Birkoff: They are at Nikita's apartment right now.

Michael: Why would they be there?

Madeline: Someone is trying to lure you there to get you and Nikita out of the way at the same time.

Michael: Birkoff, is there a signal of anyone else in the apartment?

Birkoff: Yes, there are two other people there.

Madeline: Is Operations in his office right now?

Birkoff: No, he left about an hour ago.

Madeline: Did you get the information that I requested about the owner of that restaurant Operations ate at last night?

Birkoff: Yeah, it's kinda strange though.

Madeline: Who is it?

Birkoff: George from Oversight.

Madeline turns to Michael.

Madeline: Michael...we have to get Nikita and Operations out of that apartment alive...and stop George’s plan.

Michael: Yes...but the question is how.

Madeline: We have to come up with a plan...and fast. Its a good thing that Walter somehow got those guards to you...by the way...how did he?

Michael: He sent Jones with them. Jones said that Walter had intended to bring them himself...but had to check into something at the last minute.

Madeline: That must have been when George’s men grabbed him...and then grabbed Nikita during the blackout.

Michael: But, why? What could they possibly want with Walter?

Madeline: Intel maybe...on the collars. Or maybe even leverage...it is no secret to anyone in Section just how fond Nikita is of Walter. Whatever the reason, we must assume that both of them are in mortal danger.

Michael: Which means we need to get them out of there now.

Madeline turns and looks at Birkoff.

Madeline: Is the mission van ready?

Birkoff: Yeah...loaded and waiting.

Birkoff pauses, then looks at Michael.

Birkoff: Michael, if it is okay with you...I would like to run the onsite tactical on this one. Nikita and Walter have always been good to me...and I want to help.

Madeline looks from Birkoff, to Michael, and smiles. Michael looks at Birkoff, then turns to Madeline.

Michael: Tell the driver that we are on our way.

Birkoff gets up from his chair, and he and Michael head for the mission van. As they walk away, Madeline thinks to herself that she hopes to see them all back safe and sound soon.

As the mission van pulls up to Nikita’s apartment building, Birkoff is running every possible sim of the situation. After coming to the same conclusion, several times, he turns to Michael.

Birkoff: Michael?

Michael: Yes Birkoff.

Birkoff: After running all of the available intel, the only logical course of entry on site is that of the fire escape on the north side of the building. It runs all the way up to a window in Nikita’s apartment. You can use it to gain access, without being seen.

Michael, putting on his weapon holster, and making one last check of his equipment, places his comm-link in his ear before heading out.

Michael: Then that is the entrance we will use. Birkoff, I will let you know when I am in, and have secured the situation, and then you relay back to Madeline.

Birkoff: Okay...and be careful.

Michael nods his head, and opening the door to the van, disappears like a shadow into the night.