"Previously on La Femme Nikita:" "One mission only." "Hello, Josef." "I know, your days in the field are supposed to be over." "But Red Cell's becoming active again, and we need to find out why." "Red Cell has called a meeting of other groups with similar goals." "Sort of a terrorist convention." "I've offered to facilitate the meeting." "Nikita, I am formally assigning you to Section." "And you..." "Nikita is your deputy and you will treat her accordingly." "Hello, sugar." "Back in the groove?" "Gettin' there." "What's up?" "I have a question." "I want the truth." "All right, you got it." "You know I was framed for a crime I didn't commit and brought into Section." "Do you know why?" "No, I don't." "Do you know a way I can find out?" "So this is why you talked me into coming back here." "Of course not." "I just didn't know where else to turn." "If they'd have wanted you to know, they would have told you." "So take it from a friend, just forget it and move on from here." "I can't." "But you're in cozy with Mr. Jones now." "You got a little freedom." "Why mess around?" "They brought me back into Section and I can feel the walls closing in on me." "I need to find out why." "And if you're my friend, you'll help me." "There's a search program." "Birkoff wrote it." "Gets you into places you're not supposed to go." "He gave it to me for emergencies." "I" " I guess this qualifies." "Just know, you take it," "and you may be starting down a road that won't come back." "Thank you." "Okay." ""Flavius. "" "I used that search program you gave me." "Partial access, fragmented data." "I did get as far as Level 12." "Level 12?" "Birkoff really was good." "Do you know of a man with the code name Flavius?" "Nope." "He could be my father." "I saw it very clearly on the screen." "Code name Flavius." "Two kids, one named Nikita, the other with the initial "M"." "Both names had a symbol in front of them." "Went like that." "Symbols are part of the cryptology base." "Designed to stop unwanted intrusions." "Take a hint." "You can find out what it means, can't you?" "No." "I'll try." "We've gathered enough intel to confirm that the conference in Baku was bogus." "Some of those who died in the explosion were impostors, made convincing by means of plastic surgery or latex masks." "Nonessential personnel were sacrificed." "So we can assume the major players were attending a genuine conference elsewhere." "But where?" "We're working on it." "We do know we're up against a new enemy." "A coalition of the remains of organizations we've defeated in the past." "The coalition calls itself The Collective." "That's an analysis of what happened." "I need a forecast of what will happen." "Judging from their skill in setting up the false conference," "The Collective has a proficiency level at least as high as any we've ever faced." "Obviously." "Sims indicate an imminent wave of attacks against civilian targets as well as military in the West." "I don't need sims to tell me that." "This is too general, I need specifics." "When, where, sequence, priority, methods." "We're working on it." "I'm getting very tired of that phrase." "If Madeline were alive, this wouldn't be happening." "That's all." "I know this is a difficult time." "I just want you to know, if there's something I can do that I'm not doing, you just have to tell me." "And I'll do anything to help." "You have a way of bringing back the dead?" "Can I ask you a question?" "Is it true you spied on Section for Center?" "Yes, it is." "Thank God." "I was worried it was just a rumor." "So why hasn't Operations had you stuffed and mounted by now?" "Not for lack of trying." "He wouldn't like what I'm about to do right now, either." "What are you doing right now?" "Offering you a life." "It's a pilot program I've been thinking about for some time." "And they're letting you do this?" "A reward, for doing Center's dirty work." "I want to loosen things up a little." "Less surveillance, more down time." "A monthly limit on Class A missions." "Why me?" "Because I think you can handle it." "Handle it?" "Are you joking?" "It'll be fantastic." "No, it won't." "When you're on duty, you'll be under a microscope." "After six months, you'll be a nervous wreck." "But if you pull it off..." "It'll open up things not just for me but for everyone in Section." "That's right." "What do you say?" "Thanks." "This is Vera Mason." "Formerly of Glass Curtain, she now handles financial affairs for The Collective." "At first we thought she'd died at the conference, but satellite tags indicate she's alive and well, and on the move." "She's boarding a plane in Argentina at 1400 hours." "She arrives in Verdun at midnight, local time." "Mason's our best chance to find out about the real conference." "When, where and who attended." "We need her alive." "We also need a 12-hour window, before The Collective realizes she's been taken." "If we can manage it." "We'll manage it." "We'll see." "Who is it?" "Room service." "Say something." "Go to hell." "That'll do." "This is Vera Mason from Room 223." "I ordered room service, but I'm feeling very tired and I'd like you to cancel it for me, please." "Of course, Miss Mason." "And I do not want to be disturbed for the next 12 hours for any reason whatsoever." "Is that clear?" "Yes, ma'am." "Good day." "O'Brien and Nikita are on their way back in with Mason." "They'll be here by 3:00." "And the 12-hour window?" "Acquired." "What is it?" "There's someone waiting to see you in Lab 4." "Who?" "No name was given." "But it seems to be urgent." "Bring him in." "I'm afraid that's impossible." "You'll have to go there." "What is this, a game?" "It's no game." "Quinn..." "Hello, Paul." "Madeline's psychological and analytical profiles were extensively documented." "It was a question of merging them with Birkoff's artificial intelligence program." "She seems so real." "The technology is a step beyond the holographic." "It incorporates atmospheric stimulation, which means she has mobility within a limited range." "You crossed one of the beams." "I can mount the modules in the ceiling." "That won't happen again." "And I'll network her program, so she can be present anywhere in Section." "Madeline, can you..." "Can you see and hear me?" "I don't process data the way a human brain does, but for all practical purposes, yes." "There's also an element of galvanic resistance." "Meaning she's tactile, at least to a degree." "It's remarkable." "I assume the program works whether you're here or not." "Of course." "You can leave." "Your files, you prepared them yourself, didn't you?" "In case I ever needed you." "There was always the chance that something might happen to me." "I've missed you, Madeline." "Quinn downloaded the latest status files into my program." "It seems we're facing a crisis." "Uh, yes." "Uh..." "A coalition, uh, called Th-The Collective." "We just secured a prisoner, Vera Mason." "I've received her file already." "She seems very firmly grounded in reality." "The hardest type to break." "Fortunately, we have a new weapon." "Sharp." "I just stopped by to check in." "There's a tentative mission set in 18 hours." "You need to be back and rested." "Yeah, I saw it on my panel." "This probably goes without saying, but just because you're not under direct surveillance, doesn't mean you're free." "Of course not." "If you bolt, they'll find you sooner or later." "Probably sooner." "Take it from me." "I'm just going to do a little shopping." "Walk by the lake, and have dinner." "That's it." "I'll see you in the briefing in 18 hours." "Okay?" "Have fun." "Hey, Walter, have you had lunch?" "Yeah?" "Have you had lunch?" "I'm not hungry." "Is something wrong?" "The interrogation room." "Just-just look." "We're interested in the conference that was held during the past week." "It was sponsored by Red Cell." "Who's Red Cell?" "Why not kill me now?" "It'll save us both a lot of time." "You won't get anything out of me." "So many people in that chair have said that." "Yet we have 100,000 hard drives full of data." "You expect more pain." "You will, of course, receive it." "But it's your mind that we're interested in capturing, not your body." "My mind belongs to me." "Does it?" "The truth is we already have a good part of your mind now." "It won't be long before we get the rest." "You're as brilliant as ever." "I never thought we'd break her so quickly." "The opportunity to combine physical pain with psychological stress was fortuitous." "The real conference was in Istanbul, five days ago." "Not too many surprises among the attendees." "Do you think it's worth sending a recon team?" "Yes, I do." "So do I." "It's been prelimmed." "I'll make it a go." "It's so good having you back here." "I'm beginning to feel like my old self again." "Let me ask you something." "Does your program include memories?" "Of course." "The database was very complete." "Do you remember the Ukraine, when we first met?" "Yes." "And our nights in the Tower?" "Yes." "And it's all just part of your database?" "Paul, I'm not flesh and blood." "Some said you never were." "But I knew better." "That entity is dead." "I do what I'm programmed to do." "Beta Team is in the van." "We need your preliminary report by 1300." "Have a minute?" "Of course." "Madeline's program is subject to alteration?" "Certainly." "Is there a problem?" "Not at all." "Her performance is excellent." "But?" "I need to feel comfortable in our personal interactions like I did before." "Of course." "See, Madeline has always been detached." "But now she seems distant." "Almost cold." "Is there any way you can make her..." "A little more human?" "Yes." "And a little more feminine?" "Exactly." "I'll try." "Good." "How long will it take?" "Not long at all." "Good." "So, that favor?" "The symbol?" "I'm working on it, hon." "Nothing so far." "Wouldn't be lying to me for my own good, now, would you?" "I am working on it." "Do you know where Operations is?" "Up in the Perch." "Uh-huh." "He should've been in Systems an hour ago." "Two profiles have been approved." "I'm sure he's aware of that." "But that Perch is dark, and I wouldn't go up there if I were you." "* Wish I knew *" "* Why I'm so in love with you *" "* No one else in this world will do *" "* Darling, please save your love for me *" "* Run away *" "* If I were wise I'd run away *" "* But like a fool in love I stay *" "* And pray you'll save your love for me *" "Isn't Jasmine on this team?" "She'll be here." "Should we wait, or proceed with the briefing?" "Nikita, Madeline asked you a question." "That's a computer simulation, not Madeline." "Answer her." "I'm sorry." "This is an abandoned warehouse, located in the outskirts of Istanbul." "While the decoy conference was taking place at Dolmatov's estate," "The Collective held the real meeting here." "There are five points of access." "The most tactically secure is underground, through the utility corridors." "The objective is a complete biosweep." "Supplemented by a Level 2..." "Their conference was held a week ago." "The Collective only used this place that one time." "What's a biosweep going to tell us that we don't already know?" "Who was there." "Who was at the head of the table." "Which organization was most heavily represented." "Who changed seats during the meeting, suggesting a pattern of shifting alliances." "Does The Collective realize that we now know that Dolmatov's summit was a decoy?" "Are you talking to me?" "I'm concerned about the possibility of a trap." "Indications are that The Collective thinks we're still deceived." "But we have to move quickly." "I don't like it." "Neither do I." "The profile stands." "You leave in an hour." "Thank you, Paul." "Where were you?" "I got caught in traffic." "Traffic?" "Yeah, it happens." "I'm only human." "No, you're a Section operative." "Traffic doesn't cut it." "What was I supposed to do?" "Hijack the bus?" "If necessary." "I picked the wrong person." "I'm gonna find someone else." "Nikita, wait." "I'm sorry." "This is new to me, too." "You-you've got to cut me some slack." "I told you before, there is no slack." "It won't happen again." "This mission has to be flawless." "Do you understand?" "I understand." "First team on mark." "Proceeding to B point." "Proceed to B mark." "Hold and confirm." "We have access." "Begin the sweep." "Jasmine, halt!" "Abort!" "Status?" "We're moving out." "Send the van to Egress 3." "Forget it!" "Come on!" "What happened?" "It was a trap." "The profile was flawed." "The profile was perfectly adequate." "The execution was flawed." "I have a double team working forensics." "Were we in there long enough to collect anything worthwhile?" "I think so." "We'll have the answer shortly." "Is something troubling you?" "This was simmed as a cold target." "With an error factor of two percent, as the panels clearly indicated." "The team should have been more alert." "One operative dead, another inoperable." "Was it worth it?" "I believe it was." "These things are all about probabilities, Paul, you know that." "Where probabilities left off, that's where you were at your best." ""Were"?" "I'm sure you still are." "With the pressure we're under lately from Center, partial success may not be enough." "We'll turn it around." "Stay the course." "All right." "You wanted to see me?" "Yes." "Whatever this discussion is, I'd prefer to have it alone." "That's all right, Paul." "Perhaps if you could route me to Forensics," "I can help with the analysis." "All right." "Yes, sir?" "Get me Forensics." "Forensics." "This is Operations." "Is Madeline there?" "I'm here now, Paul." "Good." "Carry on." "Your performance was unacceptable." "So was the profile." "Your protegee, Jasmine, should be disciplined for setting off the alarm." "There wasn't supposed to be an alarm." "We recovered intel and we only lost one operative." "In the circumstances, it's above standard." "She came late to the briefing and underperformed on the mission." "Your experiment already failed." "And that's exactly what I'm going to tell Mr. Jones." "And while you're at it, let's tell him that you're dating an inflatable computer program." "What is it?" "Paul, I think I've found a connection to Cullum Wertz." "Everybody down!" "What's going..." "Shut up." "Don't move." "We're in place." "We're sweeping now." "You know Cullum Wertz?" "Yeah." "I" " I catered his daughter's wedding." "You catered his daughter's wedding." "Get your hands up." "Please." "Get your hands up." "Either he's a new breed of terrorist, or this really is a greenhouse." "Report." "RI, thermo, bioscan, they're all negative." "What are you saying?" "There's nothing here but flowers." "Do you want us to bring you some?" "Abort and return." "It was a worthwhile experiment, Paul." "It failed." "It was my fault for telling Quinn to adjust the program." "I'll have her negate the changes." "I don't think it would matter in the long run." "You know that." "What you're looking at isn't Madeline." "It's stimulated air molecules with a database of her history and experience." "But it isn't her." "And it never can be." "Do you know why I killed myself?" "I was afraid Mr. Jones might have listened to Nikita and spared me." "If he had, I'd have been relocated." "We would've been apart forever." "Yes, that's true." "Neither one of us could've functioned satisfactorily alone, knowing the other was alive." "It would've been a constant distraction." "This place was at its best when it was both of us." "But you're the leader." "The one who makes final decisions, takes final responsibility." "And I can assure you the real Madeline admired you tremendously." "And she, or I, was wrong to take my own life." "It robbed you of the chance to make the call." "You know the codes to my file." "You know what has to be done." "My database has to be annihilated." "Permanently." "This time, the decision has to be yours." "Goodbye, Paul." "Goodbye, Madeline." "I've eliminated Madeline's program." "Yes, I saw that on my panel." "I'm sorry it didn't work out." "Are you?" "What do you mean?" "While you were planning to resurrect Madeline, you must have studied her files very carefully." "Of course." "The log indicates you also studied mine, as well." "It was important to understand how the two of you worked together." "Then you must've realized that I would ask for certain changes." "I knew it was a possibility." "And those changes will lead to problems which will lead to other changes and so on." "Until the whole experiment is stopped." "In other words, this can be seen as an effort on your part to make me forget Madeline." "I would never presume..." "Don't patronize me." "Her memory was holding you back and blinding you to" "other possibilities." "I'm promoting you to Level 3." "Effective immediately." "Thank you." "You got something?" "Yeah." "The symbol?" "It means you were brought into Section." "That's not exactly news." "You're forgetting "M"." "I have a sibling in Section?" "Or had." "You don't suppose Madeline was my sister, do you?" "Not too likely." "Mick?" "Hmm." "But he's undercover as Mr. Jones." "Unless his first initial started with "M"." "Mick didn't change his first name when he went undercover." "You know, you m-might have to face up to the fact that..." "Michael's my brother?" "Oh, no, forget it." "Forget it." "I did dig up something, though." "When I was rooting around, I found an address." "Now, it's like an ordinary street address." "Who lives there?" "File didn't say." "You want it?" "Yeah, I want it." "Interesting."