#1

Time to Come in From The Cold

Michael, under Section direction, has resurrected L'Heure Sanguine and acted as it's de facto leader for the past two years. His mission profile was simple: Recruit as many real and wannabe terrorists as possible; send them on seemingly real strikes; eliminate them in the field.

All has worked well until recently. The last two L'Heure Sanguine strikes were successful; Section's counter-mission was thwarted and personnel were lost. Has Michael turned? Is there a mole? Has the mission simply run it's course? Posing as a recruit, Nikita must infiltrate and determine the problem. However, shutting down the mission means Michael's cancellation.

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#2

Previously on La Femme Nikita: [Scenes from ep. 622 'The Past Has Left Us Behind', Season 6 cliffhanger] 1. Nikita's in Madeline's office, receiving the assignment of her first "real" material. 2. Michael, looking across to Munitions from his office window, recognizes a recruit with whom Walter is working. 3. Long shot of Michael and Paul in the perch, involved in an animated discussion.

And now, 'My Brother's Keeper and Other Family Issues'

Nikita's material is revealed to be Martine Dian, younger sister of Michael's friend Rene. Martine was convicted of killing a cop during a robbery, while high on drugs. She displays a rebellious nature to all things Section, just as Nikita had. Michael vows to protect her, as he did Nikita.

The episode's secondary plot involves Birkoff's continued contact with twin brother Jason. While their fraternal bond is instinctual, the superficial differences between the two are taking a toll on the closeness they're trying to establish. Secretly, Birkoff yearns to have Jason take diction lessons to rid him of the accent.

THE LITTLE BLUE LASER PRINTER WHO COULD

Waiting to receive Episode701 for printing, the little blue laser printer in the Writers' Room reflected upon LFN's first six seasons.

She felt proud to have rescued 'her' series—first by feigning minor glitches until writers fixed the flawed 415, then by fading-out pages until they rewrote the far-fetched 422. Paper-jamming had almost gotten her cancelled until they revised the 501-508 mess.

Confidently, she scanned Ep701—her pride vanished—this time they had gone so far, she wondered if even *she* could manipulate a change. She got into mission mode.

I think I can…..I think I can…..I think I can…..

“What Doesn’t Kill Us Makes Us Stronger”

“Sir?”

He reached for the intercom. “Yes?”

“Paul Wolfe is here.”

A sudden weariness washed over him. An unexpected visit from Oversight was not a welcome addition to today’s agenda. “I’ll meet him in Committee.”

He turned to his companion. “Care to join us?”

“Not particularly. I’m still recovering from our last meeting.” Their eyes met, his unease mirrored in her gaze. “Any idea why he’s here?”

“No.” Michael touched the back of her hand with his fingertips, the covert caress warming his blood, her skin a living touchstone. “Keep working on the Prague profile.”

Nikita nodded solemnly. “Sure thing.”

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
. . . Carl Sandburg

"Lest someone else spends it for you"

On the eve of her promotion as the head of the newly developed Psych-Ops Section, Madeline, through a series of flashbacks, savors the changes which have made her move possible. With Paul securely ensconced at Oversight, Michael in command of Section One, Birkoff heading the Communications Unit, Walter presiding over his minions in Ammunition, Davenport promoted to Tactical as Operations' understudy and Nikita, her problem child, newly promoted to Level Five, surpassing Michael's reputation of bringing her team members back alive, Madeline is well pleased with the results of her maneuvering and looking forward to finally serving her own needs.

“You wanted to see me?” Madeline stepped into the Perch.

“Yes,” Michael, standing at the aerie window, replied and waited for his second in command to join him. “Nikita’s progress?”

“She’ll be ready for Oversight on schedule,” Madeline, although still smarting from Paul’s betrayal, answered serenely. She’d trained Nikita for her job but when Paul was promoted to Oversight, he had decided on Nikita for his second.

“Davenport?”

“He’s prepared for Tactical Oversight.”

“Good,” Michael commented, not fooled by her calm demeanor. He was sure she was still seething inside. She would bear close scrutiny for a very long while.