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Michael finds out that the terrorist who killed his family is meeting with a money launderer in Uzbekistan. He asks Percy for permission to take a team. Percy's all, "Ooh, too sensitive! I can't have Division involved! But why don't you take a couple of 'personal days' off?" Wink, wink. When Michael arrives in Uzbekistan, he finds Nikita waiting for him. Naturally, he assumes she's there to stop him, but she's actually there to help him. She knows what this means to him, and, thanks to a series of flashbacks to 2001, so do we. Kasim, this informant he trusted in Yemen, gave him a case full of explosives instead of terrorist intel. Michael survived, but his wife and young daughter were killed. That's when Percy steps in and offers Michael a job with Division, and a chance at revenge someday.
Back to the present: Nikita eventually convinces Michael she really wants to help him, and, since he needs the backup, he agrees to a temporary truce and secret team-up. For a brief while, it's like a fun, sexy, buddy flick. Unfortunately, Percy gets wind of the arrangement, and suddenly he's no longer squeamish about sending a team to Uzbekistan. Division agents interfere with Nikita and Michael's plans. Kasim's men kidnap Michael and torture him. Nikita rescues him, but Kasim gets away. When Michael pursues him in what will surely be a suicide mission, Nikita is forced to betray him in order to save him. She calls the Uzbek police, alerts them to Michael's plans, and he's taken in before he can exact his revenge. Division gets him back to the U.S., but Michael is furious at Nikita. Or at least that's what he tells Percy. He may actually be mad at Percy for sending in agents. It's all very interesting and exciting.
In the subplot, Alex is caught snooping around the medical files while helping Nikita. The doctor wants sex in exchange for his silence, so Alex knocks him right the hell out. She enlists Jaden's help (through blackmail) in testifying against the pervy doc so that Amanda and Percy discount his accusations of snoopery.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!We start things off with an aerial view of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Our location thus established, we join Michael inside an airport, where an official-looking man asks him if he's there for business or pleasure. He's there for pleasure, he says, looking pretty shifty. The man checks his passport, which identifies Michael as "Daniel Pope" born sometime in the 1970s. The accompanying photo is so dramatic it's almost come all the way around to funny. Michael goes to his spacious, well-appointed hotel room. His special otter senses (it's in the whiskers) alert him to danger, so he whips out a gun and spins to face... Nikita. "Hello, Michael," she says from the doorway. He keeps his gun aimed at her. "You picked the wrong mission to mess with," he tells her. "Relax," she says. "I'm not here to stop you.
We flash back to 24 hours earlier. Nikita gets info from a contact. "The person you're interested in is coming out of hiding for a meeting," her contact says, identifying the target as one Kasim Tariq. At the same time, Percy is giving Michael similar information in his Division office. An Uzbek money launderer is meeting with Kasim, who is Al-Qaeda's "main bagman." Michael is visibly shaken and struggles to compose himself. Percy says, "Uzbekistan is a touchy subject for the State Department." He talks about the red tape involved in putting together an op. Michael protests. Percy cuts him off by recommending Michael take an "administrative leave" that happens to last exactly as long as Kasim will be in Uzbekistan. "Thank you," Michael whispers.
In her fabulous loft, Nikita is messaging Alex. She needs Alex to look up the individual frequency of Michael's tracker. She tells Alex to get back into medical and look it up on the doctor's computer. Does Division not network their computers? Dumb! Meanwhile, Michael is packing his favorite guns for his "administrative leave" and making his most serious baby otter face. This leads us to a flashback-within-a-flashback. The time is 2001, the place is Yemen. A whiskerless Michael meets with Kasim at an abandoned shipyard. Kasim gives Michael a satchel full of receipts and ledgers. "Somewhere in those numbers are the people who killed your soldiers," Kasim says. Michael worries what will happen to Kasim once his people find out he handed over information to a US Naval Intelligence officer. He tells Kasim to go to the base for protection. They kid and talk like friends. Kasim leaves on his motorcycle as a young woman pulls up in a car. Michael gets into the passenger seat, all smiles. A little girl pops up from the back seat and throws her arms around his neck. "Daddy!" It's all hugs and kisses and then we join Michael back in the present (minus 24 hours).
Medical. The doctor examines Alex's wrist then leaves the room to go find her some nonnarcotic painkillers. She gets Michael's tracker info from the doc's computer and closes the files just as he comes back in with her pills. When she leaves, the doc notices his computer's been accessed. Alex goes to the computer lab and messages Nikita with the tracker codes. The room is full of people and a guard patrols without noticing anything. Division, you're just so awful sometimes!
We return to the hotel where Michael still has his gun trained on Nikita. "I'm here to help you kill Kasim," she says. Michael looks confused, so he takes the opening title sequence to think things over. Having thought things over, he tells Nikita to put her weapons on the ground. He knows her so well that he knows where she's hidden them. They banter about hurting each other and saving each other's lives. Nikita stresses again that she wants to help Michael. "I know what Kasim took from you," she says. Michael doesn't think he needs help, but Nikita points out he has no information and no backup. "At the very least, I think that might be a two-man op," she says. He gives her a charming smile and asks, "Am I at least one of the men?" Hee! They smile at each other and he finally lowers his gun. But he's still hesitant to work with her. They're supposed to be enemies and all that jazz. There are intense looks and wistful pauses. He admits he doesn't trust her. This seems to genuinely hurt her. She thinks for a while, then tells him what she wants: "After we kill Kasim, I want you to take a look at your loyalties." She knows he sees what Division has become. Michael tries to make excuses for Percy, but Nikita's not having it. She tells him he could be free. He scoffs at the thought of joining Nikita, but the intense looks and sly little smiles they're giving each other say otherwise.
Medical. The doc calls Alex in to ask her about the computer. Instead of closing the file, she had only minimized them. Alex looks scared, but the doc says he's not turning her in. "A lot of things go on here under the radar," he says. He reaches up to stroke her hair. She moves to leave, but he starts pawing at her. She shoves him, hard. He picks up the phone to call security. Alex, panicking, grabs a nearby syringe and sticks him with it. He goes down and she runs.
Uzbekistan. Nikita and Michael make plans. Michael doesn't have much to go on, but he has a picture of the money launderer at a football (soccer to us in the U.S.) game. Luckily, Akhmedov is staying in the same hotel. Michael suggests killing his guard and then interrogating Akhmedov. He calls it a "shoot 'n scoot," which sounds pretty adorable for a murder/torture plot. Nikita mulls this over then suggests a way to get the info without Akhmedov ever knowing it. "Okay, so what weapons were you thinking of?" Michael asks, a bit incredulous. Nikita assures him they're perfect.
They are, in fact, her feminine wiles. She walks into the hotel bar wearing heels and a sleek minidress. She's on her cellphone, speaking loudly, in Russian, about football. Akhmedov, sitting nearby, perks up like a dog presented with a T-bone and follows her to the bar. They switch to English and flirt for a bit. She drops her purse. They both reach for it and then she excuses herself to the ladies room. She walks past Michael, slyly handing him the hotel key card she just lifted off Akhmedov. While Michael checks out the hotel room, Nikita copies the SIM card from Akhmedov's phone. Michael copies the drive from Akhmedov's computer. Nikita returns to the bar and downs some vodka with Akhmedov. She sneakily drops his phone on the floor, making him think he dropped it himself. Feeling optimistic, Akhmedov waves his guard over, and tells him to fetch his Viagra. Michael hears over his earpiece that the guard is on his way back up to the room. Once he gives the all-clear, Nikita gets away from Akhmedov by promising to go find her pretty lady friend for a threesome. I almost feel sorry for him at this point, because the schmo totally buys it.
Division. Percy has just gotten surveillance photos of Nikita in Uzbekistan. "What is he thinking?" he asks. "Does he realize the world of pain he's about to bring down on himself?" Amanda thinks he's just being resourceful. Percy sends a team to take out Nikita, even though Amanda points out it will compromise Michael's op.
Alex is having trouble concentrating in surveillance class. She can't put together a camera. Jaden, having vented all her bitchiness off-screen, suggests working together. Alex is feeling less friendly, however. Amanda calls her over and mentions finding Dr. Pervy unconscious in medical. She asks Alex if she knows anything about that. Alex lies that she doesn't. "He'll be awake in a few hours," Amanda says coolly. "We'll know everything then." What is the horrible, shapeless blue tarp they have her wearing this episode? It looks like a pool cover.
Michael and Nikita have learned that Akhmedov's meet with Kasim will take place at a farmhouse outside of town. They stand very near each other as they go over their plans. Michael shows Nikita his big gun. She strokes it appreciatively. No hidden meaning there. They banter about which of them is the better shot. It's Nikita, but she realizes Michael needs to be the one to kill Kasim. Meanwhile, Alex tries to message Nikita for advice but gets no reply. Flustered, she leaves the computer room. Jaden shadows her. Alex goes to a panel in the hallway, tries to open it, but stops when she hears footsteps behind her.
Nikita and Michael have taken up sniper positions in the woods outside the farmhouse. All the terrorists have arrived for the meeting, but Michael can't get a clear shot at Kasim before all the men go inside. Nikita volunteers to draw them out by blasting a propane tank out back. Michael gives her his knife so she can cut the tires on Kasim's car. It's part necessity, part good luck charm. It's his way of being down there with her. Nikita sneaks up to the farmhouse and takes out the first guard. Michael, watching through his rifle scope, grins. "Attagirl." Nikita tells him over her earpiece that she's taken care of Kasim's car. She heads for the propane tank, but another guard stops her. Fisticuffs ensue. When the guard wrestles her to the ground, Nikita breaks his neck using only her calves. Badass. She signals to Michael that she lost her earpiece. About that time, Michael notices a team of Division agents advancing on Nikita. With no other way to warn her, he moves to the farmhouse. The agents shoot at Nikita. Michael joins the fray, shooting at Kasim's men when they scurry out of the house. Then everything goes quiet when he sees Kasim himself. No longer caring about hiding his position, he shoots Kasim in the open. Guards pelt Michael with bullets. He goes down. Luckily, he was wearing an armored vest. That's the good news. The bad news is Kasim and his men capture him and make their escape in Akhmedov's car. Nikita finishes taking out the rest of the Division agents, then runs after Akhmedov's car, but she's too far to shoot out the tires.
We flash back to the Yemen military base in 2001. Michael and his wife drive through the checkpoint. He promises her they won't be there much longer. He'll have his choice of assignments soon. How about Hawaii? She jokes about all the scantily clad women, but he assures her there will never be another woman for him. They park and Michael gets out of the car, giving his little girl a kiss. "I'll be right back," he promises. He gets a call from Kasim. "Are you at the base?" Kasim asks. "Yeah, why?" Kasim hangs up on him. Michael is confused for a moment, then realizes the satchel Kasim gave him must have been rigged. He turns to look at the car just as it explodes with his wife and child inside. The blast knocks him to the ground.
He wakes up in the present, lying on a ceramic table in a dark room. Kasim greets him. Michael wants to strangle him, but he's bound to the table. They have a discussion about faith and violence. Kasim sees himself as superior for fighting in God's name, but Michael calls him on his hypocrisy. Kasim tries to explain that Michael's family was not the target. The bomb was meant for the base. "Collateral damage, that is all they were," Kasim says. Michael damn near hulks out on him, but his bonds hold fast. Michael is briefly waterboarded. Kasim wants to know how Michael found him. Michael's only response: "I swear on the soul of my family, you will die today."
Back in the hotel room, Nikita tries to find Michael by his tracker, but Division must have changed the frequency. She tracks down the location of Akhmedov's car using information from his copied SIM card and Akhmedov's vehicle recovery service.
Charm School. Jaden can't find Alex, so she goes back to the panel in the hallway and it open to an access tunnel. She crawls through until she reaches what looks like the inside of a silo. A ladder leads up to a small opening. "Holy crap," she breathes. "Homegirl made a break for it." She crawls back inside. Alex is in the hallway to snap Jaden's picture coming out of the access tunnel. She threatens to tell Percy that Jaden was trying to escape unless Jaden helps her.
Uzbekistan. Michael is looking pretty crappy. Luckily, Nikita shows up and takes down his torturer before the round can begin. Michael asks for Nikita's gun; she hands it to him. "Where's Kasim?" he asks his torturer, shooting him in the leg. He's gone to the airport. Michael turns away, then turns back and shoots the man twice. Nikita looks stricken, but you know, if someone tortured me I'd probably shoot them, too. Michael drives their getaway car. He makes plans to attack Kasim at the airport, but Nikita points out how impossible that would be. She promises to help Michael find Kasim again and persuades him to let her drive. As soon as she gets out of the car, though, he speeds off without her.
Charm School. Stupid subplot! You're getting in the way of the Michael and Nikita Show! Percy and Amanda question Dr. Pervy. He accuses Alex of attacking him, but Alex shows up with a "witness." Jaden testifies that she saw Dr. Pervy on top of Alex and stuck him with the tranq to save her. "If these two are on the same page, it has to be true," Amanda says. I'd point out how dumb that is, but I just want to get back to the main plot. Dr. Pervy is dragged off by guards.
Out on the road, Nikita flags down a policeman, then takes his car. At the same time, Michael is striding into the airport, looking all bruised and scary. He buys a one-way ticket to Yemen at the counter. Nikita speeds toward the airport. She tries to convince Michael via earpiece to stop. "Revenge is not the answer," she says. He scoffs that she of all people would say that. Michael goes to the men's room, breaks a bottle of vodka and picks up the largest shard of glass. She knows he'll be shot down before he can get near Kasim, but Michael doesn't care. He has to try. "You think you don't have anything to live for," she says, "[but] you do: you have me." He thinks about this for a while, then takes out his earpiece. Nikita calls airport security and warns them about Michael. "Take him alive," she says in Russian. Michael walks out onto the tarmac, shard of glass cutting into his hand, advancing on Kasim. Soldiers tackle him to the ground and Kasim boards the plane unharmed. Michael lets out a cry of anguish.
The soldiers drag Michael back into the airport. Nikita runs toward him. She has a two-way radio; the voice on the other end says the "American operative" has been detained. The look of utter betrayal on his face is just about heartbreaking. He lunges at Nikita, but the soldiers knock him out. We flash back to 2001. Michael is recovering from his wounds at the base. He picks up an unattended bottle of morphine and gets ready to inject a lethal dose into his IV line. That's when Percy walks in and tells him he has options. Michael has no idea who this man is at this point, but Percy offers him both a job with Division and a chance to get Kasim at some future date. "Get even," Percy says. "Get justice."
Obviously, this was a persuasive pitch, because Michael did, indeed, go to work for Percy. In the present day, he returns to Division and meets Percy alone in the training room. "Thank you for the extraction," Michael says. He tells Percy he doesn't blame him for sending in the strike team: "Because you were right about Nikita. I never should have trusted her." Michael stings at his lost opportunity. "You'll get him," Percy says, "and when you do, I'll be the one who helps you." Percy says that Michael knows who his real friends are now. Michael looks down for a moment before agreeing.
Alex messages Nikita. Did she find Michael? Nikita flashes quickly on their time together in Uzbekistan, ending with her necessary betrayal. "Yes," she writes. "But then I lost him." She touches the knife he gave her, the only memento of their partnership. Fade
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to black. Sniffle. In happier news: See you back here December 2 for the return of Hot Owen!
Tippi Blevins has something in her eye. You can reach her at b_tippi@yahoo.com or http://twitter.com/tippib.
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