Into the Dark

Into the Dark is the 18th episode of Nikita's first season, following Covenant and preceeding Girl's Best Friend.

Synopsis
Owen drops in on Nikita and Michael sharing a bed, and while things are awkward, he explains that he's there to get Nikita's help to obtain a black box he's traced to London. Nikita agrees, but because she suspects Owen is acting very oddly, she asks Michael to help keep an eye on Owen in case he goes berserk. Luckily for Michael, Percy is sending him to help protect that self-same black box in London.

Nikita and Owen find the black box guardian's storage unit, but the place is booby-trapped. They manage an escape before the unit is destroyed. Nikita discovers that Owen is acting strangely because he's in withdrawal. She notes by the tattoos on his body indicates that he's pushing himself to make up for his sins. Worse, he's still intending to release the contents of the black box to give the victims of Division resolution. Michael explains to Nikita over the phone that the pills Owen is on, Regiment, was discontinued by Division because of the psychotic efforts on the Cleaners, though Percy kept a stash for the Guardians. The effects are different for each person, with psychological obsession.

The pair track down the Guardian and a foot chase ensues, with Owen eventually managing to take down the Guardian and toss him into the Thames. Unfortunately, the black box will only open with a sample of the assigned Guardian's blood. With the Guardian now gone, the pair have to put together a plan to lure him back. However, it becomes apparent that with the tattoos Owen etched on himself, he has become obsessed to the point that he believes that unleashing the contents of the black box will grant Division's victims closure, forgetting what happened in Chile and to Ryan Fletcher.

Owen contacts Percy, and Division sends a strike team (including the Guardian) to nab him. By the time Nikita and Michael arrive at the same location, Owen has taken down the entire team and gotten a sample of the Guardian's blood. He plans on uploading the information on the box to the internet, but Nikita wants the box outright destroyed. Michael ends up shooting the box, completely destroying it. With the box gone, no one has reason to fight, and they all part.

Meanwhile, Amanda is growing suspicious of Alex's loyalties so she gives the young agent a lie detector test. Unfortunately, Alex initially fails the test, but she manages to partially pass it later, blaming her anxiety on her complex relationship with Thom. Amanda seems to accept that as the truth, but later she marks Alex for cancellation. However, Percy refuses to put out the order, and Alex is safe, for now. Alex calls Nikita, agreeing that they must step up the timetable of her extraction. She then asks Nikita why Michael defended her from Amanda. Nikita then decides to finally tell Alex of Michael's change of heart.

Summary
Nikita and Owen go to London to retrieve one of Division's black boxes, but when he tells Nikita he plans on releasing its contents to the public, Nikita disagrees. Owen turns on her. Meanwhile in Division, Percy finds out that Nikita is in London and sends Michael to kill her. Amanda overhears Jaden arguing with Alex about the esape tunnels and hooks Alex up to a lie detector to get the truth from her once and for all.

Memorable Quotes

 * Owen: "Nikita, I never apologized for Daniel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."


 * Nikita: "Do you realize I'm your nurse a lot? You're unconscious half the time we're together."

Michael: "I still don't like the guy."
 * Nikita: "Thanks for not taking the shot."

Percy: "Perhaps."
 * Michael: "The black box is destroyed. That's the second one she's gotten to. Perhaps you should re think your black box strategy?"

Owen: "Give me your blood." Guardian: "I'd die for no reason."
 * Guardian: "Give me the box."

Amanda: "No." Birkhoff: "Lie."
 * Alex: "Are you still recommending me for cancellation?"

Main Cast

 * Maggie Q as Nikita
 * Shane West as Michael
 * Lyndsy Fonseca as Alex
 * Aaron Stanford as Birkhoff
 * Tiffany Hines as Jaden
 * Melinda Clarke as Amanda
 * Xander Berkeley as Percy

Guest Cast

 * Devon Sawa as Owen Elliot
 * Ray Park as Brandon

Featured Music

 * I will follow you into the dark - Death cab for cutie