David Fanning picked up his equipment for the mission. Instead of heading to van access, he turned toward Comm where Operations and Madeline stood talking with Birkoff. Smiling brightly, Fanning approached the group, removed a gun from his bag and fired three bullets point blank into Operations, killing him instantly.

Momentarily stunned, Madeline was rudely returned to reality by a crushing back hand blow to the cheek. "I'm taking charge of this place," Fanning leered. "Any questions? Good! Bring me that bitch, Nikita." From her position on the floor, Madeline could only nod her assent for Birkoff to summon Nikita.

Gibson hovers in the doorway, his body language wary. I shouldn’t let it bother me, but it does.

“First team has returned, Ma’am.”

“Thanks.”

When he leaves, I darken the windows. The debrief will be harrowing – several innocents lost their lives. Before I leave this room, I need to remember the girl I once was. The girl who looked at the world and believed she could change it, one battle at a time.

That girl is gone, yet the woman in her place still clings to the belief that it can be done.

Because I have to believe in something.

The briefing had just finished when Nikita walked into the room; Operations had insisted she come directly to him upon her arrival.

When the last operative had left the room, he turned his attention directly to the tall blonde. “I assume all went well in Bangkok.”

“Yes, quite well. I was able to make a much better deal than you had anticipated.”

“Really?” he drawled slowly in appreciation.

Nikita reached into her pocket and handed him a small plastic bag.

Opening the bag so he could smell the dried, somewhat sticky leaves inside, he smiled, “Thanks Sugar, you’re the best.”