"Our sources report the development|of a new strain of nerve gas called R-1." "It kills in seconds, has a shelf life|three times that of its nearest competitor." "All prototypes of the gas|must be destroyed." " What's the location?" "|" " We don't know." "We do know it's being funded|by a hostile country... through bank accounts maintained|at an embassy in Brussels." "We'll infiltrate the embassy... and identify the names of the scientists|working on the R-1 project." "Those names will lead us|to the project itself." "The mission is planned|for tomorrow morning." "The embassy is well secured." "There'll be a backup team|of four operatives." " Enough is enough!" "|" " What is it, Kronen?" "I don't need this place." "What's the matter with you?" "|" "You're supposed to be debriefing." "Debrief this." "Get medical, now." " Any word?" "|" " It's still too early." "Is he dying?" "I don't know." "You care, don't you?" "So, what happens now?" "Someone takes his place." "Who?" "Good afternoon,|my name is Egran Petrosian." "I will be in charge|pending Operations' return." "Along with all of you|" "I deeply regret this morning's events." "I will keep you advised|concerning Operations' condition... as information becomes available." "In the meantime, he would not want|our attention to be diverted... from the business in hand." "So, Red Team, please remain." "The rest of you, back to work." "That's us." "I reviewed the mission profile|on the way here." "It is inadequate." "I'm making some changes.|" "Nikita will stand down." "You will replace her with two operatives|of your own choosing." "And you won't leave tomorrow morning,|you will leave tonight." "I'll advise a backup team." "There will be no backup team." "A smaller primary unit|plus backup makes more sense." "That's the way Operations designed it." " What is your name?" "|" " Sykes." "Sykes, in case you dozed off,|" "I have news for you." "Operations is no longer in charge." "I am." "You will be stationed with Birkoff|to provide technical oversight." "That function is mine or Michael's." " Nikita is not cleared for it.|" " She is now." "I suggest you review the mission profile... and use any remaining time to rest." "This is the first action of the new regime." "We will all want to be at our best." "Be careful, Nikita." "Of him or of you?" "I'm sorry but he's not going to make it." "It's just a question|of how long he stays on life support." "Will you be making that decision?" "I already have." "I've decided he's going to recover." "His will to live is very strong." "Your will to save him must be strong, too." "I'll help you." "Go back inside... tell your colleagues to do the possible... then the impossible|and then the unthinkable... until he's out of danger." "Because when you're finished, Doctor... that room will contain|either four living men or four corpses." " Do you understand?" "|" " Okay." "The pattern's complete." "Time to partial window?" " Thirty seconds.|" " Coverage?" " Forty percent.|" " Go." "Michael, 20 seconds." "Five seconds." "Security's pretty tight.|" "Wrapped around a Z-cubed function." " Can you break it?" "|" " I can get you in." "I can delay the alarm,|but I can't disable it." "Go." "Michael, the only thing we know|is that the disk is hidden in a book." "Michael, you're running out of time." "There goes the alarm." " I thought you said we had a minute?" "|" " I said maybe." "Hey, guard, move over." "You've got to get him out of there, Nikita." "Continue to search." " I've got the disk.|" " Withdraw." " Sykes, retrieve Michael.|" " I can't." "There's too much resistance." "I repeat, retrieve Michael, now." "Go." "We're out." " What the hell's going on?" "|" " He's a butcher." "We lost two men today|because we didn't have backup." " Are you all right?" "|" " I'm fine." "Your performance today was superb." "Cool, objective... decisive." "Exactly what I need... for my second-in-command." "What about Madeline?" "Madeline is extraordinary." "She will continue to be useful|in Psych Ops situations." "But she's been|with Operations a long time." "She's versed in his style." "His methods." "What I need is my own Madeline." " I'm not really interested in a promotion.|" " No?" "You prefer to go on living|from day to day?" "Risking your life|on mission after mission... until one day your luck runs out... and you're blown to pieces|in some obscure corner of the earth?" "There is more to life... than briefings and missions, Nikita." "Good." "How's Operations?" "I'm confident the doctors are doing|everything they can." "Has Petrosian offered you my position yet?" " Yes.|" " And what did you say?" "If I say no,|he's going to offer it to somebody else." "That's not the point." "What is the point?" "The point is, you don't have|what it takes to do my job." "And if you try,|you'll only end by destroying yourself." "In addition to taking over for Madeline... you will handle technical oversight until|" "I can find someone I feel I can rely on." " It's double duty, but it can't be helped.|" " No problem." "You will answer only to me." "You will be my eyes and ears|in the Section... and you will carry out|my instructions to the letter." "Our first priority is to ensure that|there is not another Kronen in Section... waiting to go berserk." "So, you will initiate a full review|of all personnel evaluation procedures." " That's already been done.|" " Good." "Next, I want to ensure|that all activities in Section... come under my direct control." "Starting with Walter." "I am told that he likes to work|on his own secret projects." "I want to know what they are." "I don't want to spy on my friends." "Kronen shoots the Section commander|in plain view." "Sykes complains about mission design." "Walter works on unauthorized projects." "Section is out of control." "It has to stop." "I need to feel certain|that Walter won't be harmed." "If you want to protect your friend|" "Walter, you will do as you're told." "You scared me." " I didn't think anything scared you, Walter.|" " Get out of here." "Still thinking about Kronen?" "It bothers me that I didn't see it coming." "Nobody did." "The day before, I was trying to brief him|on the new laser sight... and he kept talking about his mother." "His mother?" "Anytime anyone in this place starts|talking about "Mom"... you know he's got problems." "So what else are you working on?" "I'm in position." "Gufeld should be in the lobby|in about 30 seconds." "Sykes, report." "Sykes?" "I'm in position." "Target in sight." "Sykes, disarm security." "Sykes, you opened the wrong box." "Mr. Gufeld, would you have|a look at this, please?" "This way." "Sykes, hurry up." "It's jammed." "Michael, hold." "Sykes?" "I got it." "Go, Michael." "Damn it." "Security proceed west, immediately." "What's going on?" "May I see your ID?" "Keep walking." "Sorry, gentlemen,|no one's allowed to leave right now." "Everyone get down." " Conference in Paris?" "|" " The briefing's at 9:00." "The meeting with Hurley?" "Bosnian protocols could make|that awkward." "I suggest we push it back a week." " And the Gantzway mission?" "|" " All elements satisfactory, except Sykes." "He failed to disconnect the alarm." "And what about our friend Walter?" "Did you find out what he's up to?" "A remote surveillance mike." "New type.|" "Counter-synchronous." " Seems harmless enough.|" " Excellent, Nikita." "I'm very pleased with your work." "However, I do have one more assignment|for you tonight." "Volare is at the east end of the park.|" "You know it?" "Be there at 8:00." "Dress appropriately." "Someone will be meeting you." "He will know you." "What are you doing here?" "Petrosian sent me to meet someone." "Why?" "I imagine it's part of his full life|that he's promised me if I work for him." "Am I under orders to please you?" "Of course... not." "He can make it easier for us." "We could have a chance to spend|more time together outside Section." "I wouldn't put too much trust in him." "If I'm dealing with the Devil... it's because sometimes the|" "Devil's the only one open for business." "But that's not the problem, is it?" "Michael, it bothers you... that I have so much more power now." "You don't like it." "Maybe it even makes you|a little uncomfortable." "No." "Shall we just have a drink?" "No more games." "No promises, just a drink." "Can you hear me?" "I'm sorry." "It should have been anticipated." "The doctors say your progress is|slow but steady." "Live." "I trust last night's assignment|was satisfactory?" " Yes.|" " Good." "Gufeld is in the white room|ready for questioning." "Interrogate and dispose of him." " Of course.|" " Then report back." "Who are you people?" "You worked on something called R-1." "I want the location of the research facility." "I don't know what you're talking about." "Mr. Gufeld, I'm in a hurry,|so I'll make this quick." "If you don't tell me the location,|" "I'll have to have you killed." "If you do tell me, I'll let you go." "You'll let me go?" "If we get what we need,|there's no reason to hold you." "The people I worked for" "Threatened to kill you|if you ever told what you knew?" "Yes." "No problem." "We'll protect you." "Do you promise?" "Of course." "It's in northern Iraq... near the Turkish border,|just outside Zakho." "Thank you." "I have the location,|mission profile's being developed now." "Good." " So, is that all right?" "|" " Yeah, all right." "You can't have sympathy|with another person's weakness." "You must use the weakness|to control the person." "Of course." "Everyone has a weakness,|whether it is status... love of praise, a lover, a mother... or simply the desire to go on living." "You find a weakness,|you control the person." "You understand?" "I think I'm beginning to." "Good." "Birkoff." "I need a favor." "Personal favors are against regulations." "Walter said we're all living|by the book now." "Even Petrosian's little pet." "Wrong, Birkoff." "Petrosian's little pet gets what she wants." "What they did to Walter|will look like a foot massage... compared to what I'll do to you|if you mess with me." " Now, it's about Kronen.|" " He shot Operations." "I need you to find out everything|you can about his mother." "She lives in Brazil with five kids.|" "Kronen's siblings." "She got thrown out of work|about a year ago, lived on the street." " Then everything changed.|" " Changed, how?" "She moved into a condo|about a month ago." "Nice neighborhood, servants." "The money?" " Legitimate bank accounts.|" " Source of the funds?" "Untraceable." "What's going on?" "As far as you're concerned, nothing." "The mission leaves tomorrow night." "The bio-weapons plant|will be destroyed in 30 hours." " Red Team?" "|" " Michael, Sykes, Pelham, Vronsky." "No, not Sykes.|" "He has been weak for some time now." "I have decided to cancel him." " I'll see to it.|" " No." " You will do it personally.|" " Why?" "I have told you before, Nikita,|compassion is a weakness." "You have to be able to kill|without a moment's hesitation." "But I've killed so many people|that I've lost count." "Yes, in combat." "But this is different." "This is a man whose only crime... has been the failure to live up|to the standards of Section." "I have to know that you can kill him, too." "For me." "Do it the old-fashioned way, face to face." "And, Nikita... don't try to deceive me." "Of course not." "I knew this was coming for a while now." "I never thought you'd be the one to do it." "I always thought|you were one of the good ones." "Do what you have to do, Nikita." "Do it!" "It's time we had a talk." " Petrosian has to be stopped.|" " Why?" "He hired Kronen|to make the hit on Operations." "What makes you say that?" "Kronen's mother was destitute,|" "Petrosian saved her." "The price was the hit." " The mother's now-|" " Living like a queen in Brazil." " I saw the file.|" " Good for you." " It could have been tampered with.|" " By whom?" "Somebody who wants|to turn me against Petrosian." "You, for example." "Petrosian is a murderer and worse." "Why should he be any worse|than Operations?" "Don't be a child." "If Petrosian consolidates|his grip on Section... he will start a reign of terror|" "like you've never seen." " Why should I believe you?" "|" " I'm telling you the truth." "The trouble is, Madeline,|the puzzle palace you created... tends to let the truth|fall through the cracks." "The file you saw was real." "Then use it to bring him down." "It's circumstantial,|his friends are too powerful." "We have to find another way." "Choose, Nikita." "Are you on Petrosian's side or ours?" "I don't take orders|from you anymore, Madeline." " Sykes has been handled.|" " Yes." "I just got a message from housekeeping." "The doctors tell me|that Operations is improving." "I hear he's going to be moved soon,|to a hospital in a Geneva." "Won't be long|before he's back running things." "And I'll be gone." " And I'll be at the mercy of Madeline.|" " Mercy's not exactly her strong suit." "Still, what is to be done?" "Kill him." "Do you have any idea what you're saying?" "Operations built Section with|his own blood and his own pain." "And you want to murder him|in his sickbed?" "He is past." "You are the future." "Yes." "It would be convenient for both of us... if he were out of the way." "Yet not long ago|you were reluctant to kill Sykes." "Now you are ready for this." "There is no choice." "It's now or it's never." "Or perhaps you are setting a trap." "You never lied to me... you made promises and kept them." "That's not true of Operations..." "Madeline, Michael, or anyone else in here." "With you, I have a chance at life." "Without you..." "I have nothing." "In that case... you should be willing|to kill Operations yourself..." " with your own hand.|" " All right." "It would be best if we were not seen|together in the aftermath." "I will have certain arrangements to make.|" "The sooner the better." "It must be done|during tomorrow night's mission... when everyone else is occupied." "Hentgen, report." "The final charge is set." "Withdraw." "Twenty seconds to detonation." "Evacuate." "Evacuation sequence in progress." "That was easy." " Birkoff, what's going on?" "|" " I don't know." "Find out.|" "And don't lose touch with the team." "The team is fine." "The problem's internal." "Looks like the backup matrix might|have bled into the primary circuit... but I don't see how." "I'll go check on Systems." " Do you want the symbol tables?" "|" " Yes." "Hold those." "Raise me another 20%.|" "Somebody turn the alarm off." " What happened?" "|" " I couldn't do it." "He's lying there so helpless." "I was wrong about you, you're weak.|" "I will find someone else." "No, you won't." "You don't understand power.|" "You're finished." "Vitamin B." "You have many influential friends, Egran... but even they won't be|able to explain this away." "We did so many missions together.|" "We were good." "The best." "I often wondered what would happen|if we went head-to-head." "Now we know." "Still, it was close." "Your timing was excellent." "I was overcommitted, careless." "If only Kronen had been a better shot." "I don't suppose for old times' sake... you could find me a deep-cover|assignment in some backwater... never to be heard of again." "I'm afraid not." "If word got out,|discipline would be compromised." "Then let us not prolong things." "Though I do have one last request." "If it is still the custom for one|to be granted to the condemned man." "Within reason." "Shake my hand." "With pleasure." "Hi, Walter." "He'll forgive you eventually." "After all, in the end, you did save Section." "Did I?" "I think it's pretty clear." "Operations is a better choice|than Petrosian." "Better for who?" "If you had doubts,|why did you side with us?" "Petrosian was willing to give me a life... as much as one can have inside Section." "But in order to get it, I lied, I bullied... and, who knows,|eventually I might have even... killed in cold blood." "In other words, I found out what it's like... to be you." "And you didn't like it." "No, I didn't." "Power is addictive, Nikita." "You've had a taste." "It's in your blood now." "You're wrong." "You'll be back." "It's only a matter of time." "But there'll be one difference." "The next time..." "I'll be waiting for you."