Chapter Text
Location: Phoenix Labs
Timeframe: One Month Later
“Ok I’m done calibrating the first panel. We should be good to go!” Mac said as he walked over to Riley at her workstation.
She was inputting the last few lines of code that would enable Sparky in all the systems at Phoenix HQ.
“That should be it, let's head to the war room.” Riley said, looking very pleased with her work.
Location: Phoenix War Room
Timeframe: A few minutes later.
Patty and Jack were already there waiting for them when Mac and Riley walked into the room and right up to the giant video wall. As she punched in the final go live sequence.
“Jack, Director Thornton, I’d like you to meet Sparky, our new network AI.” Riley said, almost bursting with pride.
“Whoa wait just a minute are you talking about the robot that Mac and Nikki built. I really don’t think plugging him into the network you just built and secured is such a great idea Ri!
Jack almost jumped out of his skin when a pleasant voice with a British accent came over the comms in the room.
“Not to worry Mr. Dalton, may I call you Jack? I am not that kind of AI, there won’t be any T1000 units popping up at your door just yet. Good Morning Director, Mac, Riley. It’s my pleasure to meet you all. How may I be of assistance?”
Jack almost jumps out his shoes his hand instinctively reaches for his sidearm only to grasp handful of air.
“Holy hell Riley didn’t think he’d be so lifelike.” He says slowly looking around the room.
“Oh, he’s so much more than that Jack and he’ll help us be so much more effective in the field.” Riley said pulling up a map of Manhattan the last place they had tracked to Nikki before losing her trail.
“Sparky given our recent intel can you try and find Nikki Carpenter?.” Riley asked sitting on the arm of one the sofas.
“Yes Riley, one moment please. Analyzing all current information and cross referencing that with all images taken from security and traffic cameras on the island of Manhattan within the last 45 days, I was able to track Ms. Carpenter to Tavern On The Green on W 67th Street. She entered the restaurant approximately 30 minutes ago.” Sparky answered.
“Wait! What!?” Mac and Jack both blurted out at the same time.
Mac looked at the screen in amazement. “Riley I knew he was going to be fast but the is phenomenal. We need to get a tac team there asap; we can’t risk losing her again.”
“Thank you for the compliment Mac but I calculate a ninety percent chance of Ms. Carpenter escaping capture given the time needed for an armed response, her skills of evasion, and her proximity to central park and its many points of egress. I recommend continuing surveillance until her capture has a higher chance of success.” Sparky offered.
Patty looked at Riley and smiled widely “Riley this is leaps and bounds above what we were expecting, I’m very impressed and I’m sure Oversight will be as well.”
She then turns to the large screen in front of her not sure which direction she should face when addressing Sparky. “Sparky thank you for your suggestion, please continue tracking Nikki’s movements.”
Patty can see the look of frustration on Mac’s face. “Mac he’s right we need to make sure the next time we go after her we catch her. It’s the only way to make sure she doesn’t go underground.”
Mac runs his hands through his hair. “Patty I understand but I feel like every time we get close we do nothing but hold. If we don’t make a move soon she will go underground, and God knows when she will resurface again.”
“Don’t worry Mac with Sparky’s help she’s going to have hide in a cave to escape us. We’ll get her this time trust me.” Riley says giving him a reassuring smile.
Mac returns her smile and feeling some comfort in her words but can’t help feeling like there was more to it than just tracking Nikki. She was like smoke and if she wanted to disappear without a trace she could.
“Ok so what do we do while Sparky watches Nikki? Jack asks. “We can just sit around twiddling our thumbs.
“We have other operations in the works that I would like Sparky’s assistance on Riley, and Jack there’s still a matter of finding you second in command. Once you do you’ll be heading up the hunt for Nikki with Mac and Riley.” Patty said.
“I actually have some ideas how we can integrate Sparky into our field tech so he can assist us or any tac team while out on a mission. Anything we don’t have I’m sure our resident genius can help me whip up.” Riley says giving Mac a wink.
“Great keep me posted, I have a meeting with Oversight in an hour and I’ll bring him up to speed on what we know so far.” Patty says as she heads out of the war room.
“So, Ri there’s no way that Sparky can overthrow his human overlords right?” Jack said with a chuckle.
“No Jack he can’t but he can hack into your TiVo and delete your entire Bruce Willis collection including your digital copy of the complete Moonlighting series. So, I suggest you be on your best behavior.” Riley said pointing a finger at him.
“Speaking of Moonlighting Jack, the complete series has been released on Blu-ray should you want to secure it from accidental deletion by having a hard copy.” Sparky chimed in.
Mac stifled a chuckle. “I believe you’ve been warned sir.
“Riley you and your robot better stay away from my media collection!” flashing her a look of fake annoyance.
“Well, he’s not really a robot any more Jack he’s an AI.” Mac said
“I’m willing to leave Bruce out if it you keep and open mind about Sparky and no more jokes at his expense.” Riley said in response to Jack.
“Beside Jack I wouldn’t dream of deleting your Die Hard collection. I find the tactics employed by Mr. John McClain against the terrorist that took over Nakatomi Plaza to be quite extraordinary.” Sparky offered.
Riley looked at Mac in surprise. “Wait when did you watch Die Hard Sparky?”
“As apart of my learning algorithms I crossed reference all information available for you, Mac, and Jack to get to know you better. Jack had it listed on his Facebook page as favorite movie.” Sparky answered.
“And that’s why I got off Facebook years ago.” Mac laughed.
“Well Facebook is used mostly by people in Jack’s age range anyway.” Riley joked.
“Whatever you two.” Jack said looking up at the screen “If you thought his moves in part one was good you should definitely see part two. Can you bring it up on the main screen?”
“Of course, Jack.” Sparky replied
“And that’s my cue to get out of here. I’m going to the lab to get some work done, please don’t fill him up on junk while I’m gone please.” Riley said looking at Jack before heading towards the door.
“Hey, I’ll join you, maybe I can get started on the equipment integration. You guys have fun.” Mac said catching up to her.
“Yaa mm hmm” Jack said not taking his eyes off the screen. As an explosion takes out an enemy truck Jack shouts in excitement. “See Sparky that right there is how you take out an enemy transport with style!”
Location: Tavern on the Green, NYC
Timeframe: That Day
Anthony Tremaine is sitting at his usual table waiting for Nikki to arrive. When Nikki called and said she had to speak with him urgently he asked her to join him for dinner instead of meeting at his office because it was being cleaned. Simon was one of his most loyal men; he had been with him since the very beginning. Loyalty aside, a message had to be sent swiftly. He would not tolerate betrayal of any kind. Now he needed Nikki more than ever, she had proven herself to be a very competent agent. He had his doubts when she first approached him to join the organization, something he had promised her mother would never happen. Being quite persistent Nikki had hacked into his servers and found out everything. Her actions left him with only two choices: kill her or bring her on board, the latter being the option his dear departed wife would have rather he chose.
His table was situated with views of all the exits, so he saw her the moment she walked in. The look on her face told him all he needed to know, she was afraid of how he would react to whatever she had to tell him. Contrary to what she believed Tremaine was very impressed with her skills and how she was able to infiltrate DXS, one of the most secure covert agencies on the planet, with relative ease. The maître d walked her over to the table and helped her get seated.
“Thank you Michael, please see to it that we aren’t disturbed. I’ll summon you when we’re ready to order. Oh, and Michael have the bar send over another Macallan 25 neat for me and Grey Goose martini for the young lady.” Tremaine said without looking at the man.
Michael was used to Tremaine’s behavior by now he had been coming to the restaurant twice a week for years with his wife before she passed. He had Tremaine’s routine memorized which was easy because the man never deviated from it. Once a waiter had dared to interrupt Tremaine while he was having a business dinner, the waiter was fired immediately, and Michael was instructed by the owner that he would personally see to Tremaine’s needs whenever he came in.
“Of course, Mr. Tremaine, I’ll have your drinks sent over at once.” Michael said with a slight nod and walked away towards the bar.
“So, what was so important that you had to speak with me tonight instead of tomorrow’s briefing.” Tremaine said his tone even yet commanding.
“I spoke with my contact inside the supermax. Kendrik was able to escape when our men tried to take him out. Not to question your orders, but this is why I wanted to handle myself.” Nikki said, still trying to find a way to break the next bit of bad news.
“He is the least of our worries, increase the bounty on him to half a million, every low life from here to Los Angeles will be hunting him for the reward. Something tells me that’s not all. Out with it I haven’t got all night!” Tremaine said getting frustrated with her stalling.
Nikki cleared her throat and said,
“No, it’s not I’ve heard from one of my contacts in the intelligence community that DXS has been disbanded and the team reassigned. I have been cut off from every back door I had in their system. I have no idea how they found my access. I made sure to set traps that would notify me of any discovery and run a worm program that would cover my tracks as well as copy and wipe all their servers. They must have gotten someone really good to secure their network outside of DXS. The analysts they have are a joke none of them could have broken my encryption.”
She was about to continue when Tremaine held up a finger and gestured for her to stop talking as the waiter approached with their drinks. They watched silently as the waiter set the drinks down in front of them and left. Tremaine picked up his drink and downed it in one shot.
“So, what you're saying is that two years of planning and information gathering is gone?” Tremain said as ran a finger around the rim of the empty glass.
Her nerves had caused her to ramble before, Nikki knew he didn’t want to hear excuses only solutions. Ones that meant his plans were still on track. She knew she had to come up with an answer that would keep her in his good graces if there was such a thing.
“Everything is on schedule, I have all the information that we need. I’m only missing data from the time I left. Which is now useless since DXS has been disbanded.” She said, trying to sound reassuring.
“Good…I’d hate to have another setback. What of MacGyver, do you still think we need to eliminate him, or can he be brought over to our cause?” Tremaine said, picking up a menu.
Nikki breathed an internal sigh of relief when he picked up the menu because it meant he was relaxed enough to not focus on her setback. “Angus MacGyver is a boy scout through and through it would take a complete one eighty in who he was before that happened. That being said if we could turn him, he would put the plan years ahead of schedule, I’ve never met a mind like his. He does have an exploitable weakness, his friends and family.”
Tremaine looked up from his menu and said, “So does everyone else that has a heart my dear. Putting anyone close to him in danger will only drive him away. I need you to think outside of the box if you’re going to be my right hand.”
Nikki almost fell out of her chair. She couldn’t have heard him correctly, but he had actually said those words. One half of her was happy he trusted her enough to take on that responsibility but the other half of her was screaming run. Simon Jones had been his closest confidant and right hand before she was born. There was only one reason he would offer her his position…Simon was dead.
“I’m beyond grateful that you would even consider me, it’s truly an honor. Has Simon moved on or been reassigned?”
Tremain raised a finger catching the maître d’s attention,
“Simon decided to take an early retirement he lost faith in the plan. That above all I cannot tolerate. I’ve worked too hard for nearly three decades to falter right when everything is in my grasp. The dismantling of DXS was just the beginning.”
Nikki looked at him in surprise. “Wait, you wanted DXS disbanded?
“If you only knew the pain that organization has caused me. I’ve kept this from you because I never thought you would be working for me, but DXS is responsible for your mother’s death. Tremaine said with a pained look.
Nikki felt like someone reached into her chest and ripped her heart out. Her mother was the most important person in her life. She had made Nikki her number one priority while Tremaine had all but abandoned her. She was away at boarding school when he called her to tell her that her mom died in a car accident, a hit and run. The other driver was never found which had robbed her of the closure she needed. As tears began forming in her eyes
she looked at him for the first time in her life without any fear.
“Why tell me now you knew what she meant to me? How could you not tell me all this time!” she said her anger rising.
Tremaine saw the pain and anger he was hoping he would bring out by telling her and he smiled to himself at his success.
“I was beginning to question whether your feelings for MacGyver were real and if you could truly do what needed to be done if ever the time came. For the first time I see that was I right for choosing you. As of this moment you will have full access. Anything you need to know just ask me.”
Nikki stared at the man sitting across from her, smiling, taking delight in the pain his words had caused her. She would have her revenge on DXS, and he had the means to make it happen. However, the reality of how treacherous Anthony Tremaine was, was not lost on her. He had no love for anyone not her mother, not her, nor the countless people who served him loyally. They were just pieces on a chessboard each having a role to play in his overall plan. In order to not end up like Simon when the time came she would have to find a way to out maneuver him.
“If it’s the last thing I do I am going to hunt down everyone responsible and personally make them pay for taking her away from me. If Angus MacGyver gets in the way I will kill him myself. Now, start from the beginning and don’t you dare leave anything out.” Nikki said, barely recognizing her own voice.