"We're stretched as thin as it is.|" "Use the agency." " I know, but they'll have to do.|" " The Premier's on Line 3." " I'll get back to you.|" " White House on Line 2." "Yes, sir." "Are you sure?" "Norwood says we've lost|the entire South African team." "I want a full report before midnight." "Full report on Michael's desk, midnight." "We need a team leader|for the Stark operation." "We're tapped out." "Dual request, highest levels.|" "We'll reassign Kozak." "We're still short." "Grecko, when he returns|from South Africa." "Grecko's not coming back." "Check contingency." "You'll be leading a mission." "Assess, plan, prep, field command." "It's three years ahead of the usual curve,|but it can't be helped." "You'll learn as you go." "We'll give you what help we can,|but in the end... you'll be judged by the same standards|as everyone else." "You understand this is a level|of responsibility beyond anything... you've experienced before." "I can handle it." "It's no secret you tend|to take your own approach to things." "On some occasions it may even work." "This is not one of them.|" "Do things by the book." "They are for a reason." "A man named Peter Stark|has been buying spent fuel rods... from reactors in Eastern Europe." "We want to know his methods|and sources... so take him alive." "I need a mission profile|by 7:00 tomorrow morning." "Staffing." "Logistics.|" "Probabilities." "Contingencies." "You'll have it." "That's all." "She has no idea what she's getting into." "I'm not sure she's ready." "She'll have to be." "This is Stark's compound in the Ukraine." "Cameras, motion detectors... pressure sensors built in the wall." "A direct assault may not be the answer." "Check his movements|over the next 48 hours." "How are you holding up?" " There's a lot to do.|" " Need help?" "Thanks." "I'll manage." "Have you picked your team yet?" "I was just about to." "Taylor, Mentz..." "Vizcano." "Wasn't that Vizcano|you were just talking to?" " Yes.|" " Is she assigned to your team?" " No, she's available.|" " Good." "She's got experience." "I'll take her." "I have a first cut at Stark's itinerary.|" "I'll refine it later." "Great." "Here." "Assemble the team, have them meet me|outside Systems in an hour." "Got it." " Why?" "|" " Why what?" "Why assemble the team?" "Give them a chance to meet.|" "Understand what's going on." "That's a mistake." "Tell them only what they need to know." "Establish dominance." "In other words, treat them like animals." "Animals with guns." "The plan hasn't been finalized,|but we expect heavy action... so arm accordingly.|" "Briefing's in 30 minutes." "Problem, Vizcano?" "The briefing's in 30 minutes|and the plan's not finalized?" "The time frame's very tight.|" "It can't be helped." "The point is, if we all do our jobs... we can accomplish the mission|and come back alive." "But we must work together." "Okay?" "That was beautiful.|" "Excuse me while I go find a handkerchief." "Nikita's mission plan?" "I thought you should see it|before the briefing." " How's she doing?" "|" " She doesn't take advice." " It's risky, promoting her early.|" " You were promoted early." "That was different." "Yes, there aren't many like you." " Vizcano's on the team?" "|" " That's right." "How much does Nikita know about her?" "Not much." "Peter Stark." "A minor player|in the arms trade... but with a rapidly increasing profile." "He's moving a shipment|from storage to a sale point." "You'll intercept and acquire him alive." "Excuse me." "We don't have a point of sale?" "Not a precise one." "Is that an intel failure?" "Given the time constraints, no." "Making an acquisition in transit|is obviously a mistake." " You don't know what you're saying.|" " Quiet, both of you." "The mission is set." "It'll be carried out as profiled." " All set?" "|" " All set." "Did you have a chance|to look over the mission profile?" " Yes.|" " What did you think?" "It doesn't matter what I think." "We'll hit the target site in 75 minutes." "You've all seen the topo maps.|" "I need the Red Team..." "Vizcano, pay attention." "You'll cover southern egress,|and then take out the driver." "Mentz, Taylor, delay." "Engage on command." "Target's in sight." "Take out the driver." "There's a second truck." "Proceed as planned." "This is outside mission parameters.|" "We should abort." "Take out the driver." "Now." "Target out ofrange." "Okay." "Taylor and Mentz, it's up to you.|" "Go." "Now." "Birkoff, target's heading east.|" "We need fallbacks." "I'm on it." "A hostile force was eliminated,|but the target escaped." "Reason for the failure?" "The assault was poorly coordinated." "Obviously." "I'm asking why." "I take full responsibility.|" "It won't happen again." "According to the mission tapes,|" "Vizcano disobeyed a direct order." "She substituted her judgment|for the mission profile." "Do you recommend abeyance?" " No.|" " Why not?" "I don't think an operative|should be cancelled for one mistake." "If you've read her jacket,|you know it's not the first time." "You say you take responsibility,|but the truth is you're avoiding it." "A bad operative is worse than none." "It is possible that the profile was flawed.|" "You questioned it yourself." "Once a profile is activated,|there are no unauthorized deviations." "I won't order a cold-blooded murder." "Even if she'd be happy ordering yours?" " That's right.|" " This is not a scout troop, Nikita." "There are no merit badges for fair play." "Like I said, I'll take responsibility,|whatever it is." "Yes, you will." "That'll be all." "Since the attack, Stark has burrowed|under deep." "There's no sign of him." " Associates?" "|" " This is the most promising:" "Rolf Prager." "He's got three deals|in progress with Stark... he's bound to know where he is." "So we just grab Prager.|" "Hopefully he can help us find Stark." "This is getting complicated." "That's what happens|when the prime mission fails." " What do you have on Prager?" "|" " He's based here." "Looks like an office building,|but security is tight." " Technology or personnel?" "|" " Both." "They have an integral alarm system|that can't be deactivated." "It'll go off the moment|you breach the perimeters." "Pull it up, Birkoff." "Nikita, you can't afford another failure." "I know." "And if Vizcano's the problem,|maybe you should get rid of her." " Did Operations put you up to this?" "|" " He didn't have to." " I saw Vizcano's file.|" " I've seen it, too." "Not the personnel file, the psych file." "What about it?" "She's in love with Michael." "She's fixated on him.|" "She tried to kill herself last year." "You could have told me." "About what?" "You know what." "Vizcano." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I didn't think it was important." "Not important?" "Suppose you knew,|what would you have done?" "I'd have picked someone else." "That's why I didn't tell you." "What?" "The best thing that can happen|to a team leader... is to have a rebellious operative." "Why?" "Because if you control that operative,|you control the team." "That's why I chose you|for so many missions early on." "Because if you kept me in line,|the others would follow." "That's right." "Can I give you a piece of advice?" "Go ahead." "It's best to be ruthless.|" "But if you're not... it's essential to appear that way." "Is that your secret, Michael?" "|" "You just appear to be ruthless?" " Hi, Walter." "Are the new scopes ready?" "|" " Just about." " How are you holding up?" "|" " All right." "Last mission didn't go too well." "All that matters is the final score." "You get the fuel rods, all is forgiven." " And if I don't get the fuel rods?" "|" " All won't be forgiven." "What do you think they'll do to me?" "They'll think of something." "Walter, what do you know about Vizcano?" "Vizcano or Vizcano and Michael?" "She tried to kill herself." "Some people say it was over him." "You don't think so?" "I guess if someone wants to die|one reason's as good as another." "Personally, being in love|always made me want to live." "Even if you knew in the end|you couldn't have the one you loved?" "I guess that all depends|on what you value more... the journey or the destination." "Sometimes I don't know if you're|incredibly wise or just full of crap." "I have the same problem myself." "Get out of here." "Back to work." "We'll be on site in 90 minutes.|" "You've seen the schematics." "The alarm will go off..." " Vizcano?" "|" " What?" "The mission was planned for four,|but if you'd rather stay here... we can get by with three." " Are you coming or not?" "|" " I'm coming." "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure." "When I talk, everyone shuts up and listens." "No one questions the plan... or any modifications I may make|during the course of the mission." "Understood?" "Good." "Let's roll." "Okay, we're going in." "Get out of here." "Prager!" "Prager, hold it." "Is he alive?" "He better be." "Get him out of here." "Gently." "He'll live, but he's still unconscious." "He hit his head." "It couldn't be helped." "The mission tapes indicate otherwise.|" "He was stopped." "Your attention was diverted." "The lives of operatives are secondary|to the success of the mission." "There was no need to choose." "You still don't understand|what you're dealing with, do you?" "You think you're a lonely beacon|of decency in an insane world... or something like that." "Isn't that true?" "The Section isn't me, or Madeline,|or Michael." "It's bigger, deeper, smarter than any of us." " You make it sound like it's alive.|" " Oh, yes." "And we all walk a narrow path|to keep it that way." "A path without feeling... compassion, or hope." "We die so the Section can live." "I can't accept that." "You have no choice, Nikita." "No one does." "Especially me." "Do you understand?" "I understand that you're talking to me,|for once." "You shouldn't have done that|for me today." "So I've been told." "So why did you do it?" "Because you're one of us." "You're on the team.|" "Whichever way you want to put it." "You're crazy." "If that's your way of thanking me,|you're welcome." "I've got a lot of work to do, so..." "What's it like... to be loved by Michael?" "I know I shouldn't ask." "I just...|can't help it." "I don't know." "I was alone... confused, scared." "You know what it's like|when you first enter the Section." "Michael seemed like a god." "He's not afraid of anything." "He knew me better than I knew myself." "Even then,|" "I knew it was just part of the drill." "Section wants you to imprint someone|" "like an animal." "You fell in love." "Sometimes I really thought|that he showed signs of caring." "Then, other times,|it was obvious that he didn't." "And just when I thought|that I was making some progress... you came along." "And that's when I lost it." "If you're smart... you will stay just out of reach." "Michael doesn't need a companion." "He needs a quest." "Why don't you become his quest?" "No, I had my chance." "It's too late." "Although I think I'll always love him." "May the best woman win." "Vizcano, there's no contest." "I'm not playing." "Where's Peter Stark?" "I don't know anybody named Peter Stark." "You got the wrong guy." "I'm just a businessman." "Think of me as an executive|with a career crisis." "And I need your help." "I'm gonna break a bone a minute." "In three hours you'll be a rag doll... except rag dolls don't feel pain." "You will." "All right!" "I do know Stark!" "She's come a long way." "She's learning to stay focused." "I must admit..." "I had my doubts|about her original mission plan." "It would have worked, except for Vizcano." "But it must be said..." "Nikita still has one basic flaw." "Compassion." "Compassion, sympathy... a tendency to care,|call it whatever you like." " It's holding her back.|" " I know." "With most operatives... self-preservation takes over,|compassion is the first thing to go." "She's different." "Have you tried, Michael?" "Really tried to crush out her feelings?" "Of course." "You've succeeded with so many others.|" "Why not her?" "She's strong." "Is that the only reason?" "Yes." "You'll have to keep trying|until you succeed." "I understand." "As for Vizcano, install|the appropriate personnel configuration." "I have a meeting with Nikita|in a few minutes." "She'll fight it." "She'll accept it in the end." "She'll have to." "Stark has a base on the southern border|of Belarus." "He's there now." "These are the coordinates." "Punch up the satellite intel." "Operations wants me to help you|with the mission profile." " It's critical that Stark be taken alive.|" " I'm aware of that." " I don't need any help.|" " Got it." "Level 2 security." "Someone has to backstop." "That's a deathtrap in this setup." "Maybe, but it's necessary." " Then I'll do it.|" " You'll be running the mission." "Taylor and Mentz are the flush team." "It'll have to be Vizcano." "He's right again, Nikita.|" "I'll assemble the packets." "You came here to kill her." "I came here to make sure|the mission profile is correct." "I took your advice, you know,|about pretending to be ruthless." "You don't pretend." "You like it." "She's a marginal performer." "She's lucky she's not in abeyance." "Birkoff says we're going live." "Yes, in an hour." "Maybe after the mission we could go out|for a drink." "What do you say?" " Why not?" "|" " Good." "Michael, you'll make that date.|" "She won't die." "Not on my mission." "We're in position." "Go." "Vizcano, are you all right?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "Vizcano, coming your way." "Taylor, I need cover!" "Mentz is hit." "We're pinned." "Where are you?" "Come on." "I've got your friend." "Stay back or I'll kill her." "Stay back." "Okay." "It's over." "It's over, Stark." "Call your people off." "I want a chopper." "It can land on the roof." "They don't bargain." "Do you want me to pull the trigger?" "Just let her go." "They'll take it easy on you.|" "They just want to talk." "If they wanted you to be dead,|you'd be dead by now." "You gotta take me alive." "Okay." "You know what that tells me?" "Nobody needs to get hurt." "No." "What that tells me is..." "I can do anything I want to." " Stark!" "|" " Boom!" "Sorry." "No!" "Let's not get rough.|" "You've to take me alive." "I changed my mind." " You can't kill me.|" " Watch me." "Wait." "The fuel rods, I can find them." "Shut up!" "That's what this is about, isn't it?" "|" "It has to be." "I can bring you to them,|because I know where they are." "All those innocent people are gonna die." "That's what this is about, isn't it?" "You're gonna go back to Section,|give us what we need." "But after that, you're mine." "Why didn't you interrogate Stark?" " I had Taylor do it instead.|" " Why?" "I didn't think I'd be able to stay objective." "Then you made the right call." "I have a request." "After the interrogation, I'd like to spend|a few moments with Stark alone... before he's cancelled." "The interrogation is concluded." "Where is he?" "He's been released." "Released?" "He has a number of contacts|which will prove useful to us... especially in Eastern Europe." "Your desire to exact some form|of retribution for Vizcano's death... is natural." "We all regret what happened." "But we can't be allowed|to love our friends... or hate our enemies." "Some day you'll understand that..."