Author’s Notes: This story surround the events portrayed in the la femme Nikita Season 4 episode “Abort, Try, Fail, Terminate”. In this episode, Birkoff had created a computer program which could take over for him if something happened to him. This program would be able to run Section One, just as well as he could. Birkoff had been scheduled for a month’s vacation, however he had been denied it at the last minute. Upset and distraught, Birkoff had learned that his program had started to learn on it’s own, and had taken his pain as it’s own. The program ‘came to life’, and began to hurt the people Birkoff had cared about, all because the computer felt that they had hurt Birkoff. Birkoff had tried to shut down the computer, but was unsuccessful. When the computer had tried to kill everyone, Birkoff had realized that to shut down the computer program, he would have to kill himself. To save everyone within Section, Birkoff committed suicide, which in effect shut down the Program forever.
This story takes place directly after those events, in another part of the world.
Kermit sat down at his computer within the walls of the 101st precinct, gathering information for Peter on a case. Kermit was grateful that things had calmed down since the whole deal with Red Cell and Section One a couple of weeks ago, although he was still unhappy with how somethings had turned out. Kermit had tried to keep Peter in the dark about what really was going on, and he had failed miserably. Thank-god, Paul wasn’t angry with him, Kermit thought. The three had sat down and talked at length about where they would go from there for days. Kermit had felt good about the outcome of their talk, despite the fact that he still felt guilty about his role in the new path of Peter’s life. When he looked at Peter all he saw was another Birkoff and Michael. Two young men, energetic, smart, young, and without care in the world, thrown into a life of death and destruction. He didn’t want Peter to end up like them. Unfortunately things were now out of his control.
Although things were calm now, Kermit knew from experience that things could only be calm for a short time, before all hell broke loose. However, he wouldn’t sit there and worry about things that came his way, and he also knew that whatever it was, it wouldn’t surprise him a bit. After everything he had seen and done in his life, he figured that he couldn’t be surprised by anything anymore. He had seen and done it all.
Kermit continued his search for the information when a knock came onto his door. “Yeah,” he said, without looking up from the screen before him.
Peter popped his head into the room. “Call for you on line two,” he said as he sat down in the chair next to Kermit. “Just waiting for that info,” he said as an explanation. “I have a meeting with the Captain in an hour.”
Kermit rolled his eyes under his sunglasses. Peter had become like and extra body part, almost always wanting to know what Kermit was up to. Peter was determined, now that he knew of Kermit’s extra activities, to keep his friend safe. Kermit didn’t have the heart to tell the kid that he didn’t need his help. At least not yet, anyway. “Somehow, Peter, I don’t think that it’s that type of call,” Kermit stated. Kermit picked up the phone all the while determined to finish the task at hand. “Griffin,” he answered. When no answer was forthcoming, Kermit placed the phone closer to his ear. “Hello?”
“There’s been an incident,” came the voice on the other end.
“Michael,” Kermit asked, knowing full well who it was. Peter sat forward in his chair as if to tell Kermit, ‘see, I told you so.’ Kermit just glared at Kermit as he quickly turned his attention back to the person on the other end of the phone. Kermit knew from the quiet, soft tone Michael was using, that something was seriously wrong. Michael rarely ever showed emotion anymore, unless it was serious. “What’s going on,” Kermit asked as he suddenly began to feel as if the walls were closing in on him.
“Birkoff’s dead.”
With those two words, Kermit felt the world crash in around him. Immediately, he halted his typing and closed his eyes in pain. There were three people within Section that he had felt were a part of his family. Walter was like an uncle--fun, caring, and ready to share a joke. Michael was very much like a younger brother--often reminding Kermit often of his own brother, David, in some ways. And Finally Birkoff was like a son. Kermit felt that he had a better relationship with Birkoff than he did his own son, James. Upon hearing those two words coming over the miles, Kermit felt the same emptiness that he had felt all those years ago when he had gotten word of his brother’s death, fill his very existence.
Birkoff didn’t leave the Section, and he was a vital part of the daily operations of the place. So what could’ve happened to have things end up here, Kermit wondered. Kermit drew a breath and let it out slowly, all in an attempt to calm his nerves so that he could ask the question that was now haunting him. “What happened,” Kermit asked. However, his calm quickly began to unravel, as the anger began to take over. “How the hell did this happen,” he asked again, with his voice rising a level in intensity. “What the hell did they do?”
Michael, Kermit could tell, was taking his friend’s anger and not letting it effect him. Or at least he was not allowing it to appear to effect him. If Kermit felt that the news of Birkoff’s death was unbearable, the next words out of Michael’s mouth would set his world upside down, and shatter his soul into a million pieces. “He committed suicide.”
Kermit couldn’t take anymore. “What? Suicide? I don’t believe it. Is that what they told you?”
Peter sat back in his chair, noting the pain that was now etched on his friend’s face. He knew that something awful had just happened, and Kermit was now reeling. Suicide, he thought. What’s going on? More importantly who?
Kermit, however, was only thinking about revenge as he continued to listen to the explanation Michael was giving him. “Birkoff had created a bridge program to take over for him if something happened to him, or he had some downtime.”
Kermit digested the information wondering what that had to do with the young 23 year old’s death. “Artificial intelligence?”
Michael’s answer was short, and slightly pained. “Yes.”
“So,” Kermit began. “I know that he was supposed to have a month downtime coming up, but what the hell does that have to do with anything. Dammit Michael, what happened?”
“Birkoff had turned the program off,” he began. “However it placed itself back on-line, connecting itself directly into the mainframe.” Kermit listened intently as Michael began to explain Birkoff’s last day of life. “It started to make uncommanded decisions, ordering cancellations, injuring Walter, causing missions to fail. We decided to try and cut it’s power source, but we. . .we were unsuccessful.” Kermit continued to sit there, rubbing his suddenly tired eyes. He could tell that Michael was feeling responsible for Birkoff’s death, just in the way that he had said that they were unsuccessful. The brief pause had told Kermit all he needed to know, but he still wanted to hear of the last few minutes of the young man’s life. Suicide just didn’t seem right. If this program was as Michael said it was, Kermit was beginning to think that the PTB had something to do with it. “Madeline realized that the AI was connected to Birkoff and to deal with the AI we had to deal with Birkoff.”
Kermit began to feel light-headed. They had to deal with Birkoff, he thought disgustedly. After everything that kid had done for them. He kept his thoughts silent however, as he continued to listen to the events as they unfolded before him. “The program activated the self destruct, and Birkoff tried to stop it. Somehow he had linked himself up with the AI, and then electrocuted himself. We tried to stop him, but it was too late. With his death, the AI shut down.” Kermit continued to hear the words as they were spoken, but he didn’t want to believe them. Michael wouldn’t lie to him, but this was just too unreal. Birkoff couldn’t be dead. He had been with Section his whole life, and Kermit had never even imagined the kid gone. Michael’s voice penetrated the fog that had clouded his mind, however. “He gave his life to save all of us.”
Kermit felt the tears of lose begin to threaten him. Birkoff was gone, and Kermit felt that lose deeply. “What’s going to happen now,” he asked. He knew full well that when someone came into Section they had a ‘funeral’ to signify the death of their old life, and birth of their new one. Birkoff however, was different. In essence he was never even born. He never really existed since his mother was an operative, and he was born within Section One.
“I don’t know. I just thought that you needed to know,” Michael answered.
“Thank-you. I really appreciate it,” Kermit stated. “Keep me informed.” Kermit took another deep breath, and sighed. “Oh and Michael. Take care of yourself.” Kermit then placed the phone back on it’s cradle in a daze. Kermit turned to Peter, and gave his best friend’s ‘son’ a small smile. “I’ll tell the Captain that there’ll be a delay. I have something I need to do.”
As Kermit stood, beginning to make his way toward the door, Peter placed his hand on Kermit’s arm. “What did Michael want? What’s going on?”
Kermit couldn’t look Peter in the eye. The last thing he wanted was to see any compassion from someone who didn’t know all the facts. Peter had only briefly met Birkoff a couple of times a few short weeks ago. Kermit however, had known Birkoff for 23 years. “Not now, Peter,” he said with his emotionally filled voice. Kermit removed Peter’s hand from his harm, and made his way toward the Captain’s office. Peter could only watch as Kermit knocked on the door and enter.
***********
Kermit stepped into the office, and shut the door. Captain Karen Simms looked up from the pile of paperwork that had lined her desk to look at her lover. “Is everything okay,” she asked noting the pained look in Kermit’s eyes as he removed his glasses to wipe his eyes, before hiding them again behind the green lenses.
When Karen stood to try and get closer to him, Kermit just slightly stepped back. “First off, Captain,” he said with a slight smile on his face letting her know that he was ‘official’ business. Karen took the hint and sat down on the edge of her desk until Kermit was ready for her to be something else beside his boss. “I just thought that I would let you know that the information that Detective Caine needs will be a little late. It’s not his fault.” Karen only slightly nodded head, knowing that that wasn’t all. “Also I need to take the rest of today off. Something has come up that I just need to take care of.”
“May I ask what it is,” she asked wondering if she could bring him out of his professional role.
Kermit smiled slightly, and shook his head. “I just got a call,” he explained as he sat down in the chair in front of her. “A very good friend of mine is dead.”
Karen, taking the hint that things had changed, knelt down in front of him. Looking into his face, she could see the pain that was being hidden behind his protective shield. If only I can get him to open up, she thought. She knew the easiest way was to remove the shield and take off his sunglasses, but she knew that this time Kermit would have to make the first move. “What happened?”
“It’s a long awful story, and hell I’m not even sure what happened.” Kermit began to explain.
“When’s the funeral,” she asked him.
Kermit shook his head. “He lived in Europe, getting there would take to long. I figured that I’d just take today. You know do whatever. . . I don’t know.”
Karen pulled Kermit into a light embrace, holding him to her, giving him some strength that he was suddenly missing. “Take as long as you need.”
Kermit returned her hug briefly, the pulled away. Grabbing a hold of her hand, he bent down to give it a slight kiss. “Thank-you. I’ll just need today. But thanks anyway for the offer.”
Karen moved so that Kermit could stand, but held his hand for a couple of seconds more. “If you need anything . . .”
Kermit smiled, and squeezed her hand. “I’ll let you know.”
Karen could only stand there and watch the man she loved walk out of her office. She only wished that Kermit would be able to come and talk to her. She hated when he was in pain, however she also knew that there were just somethings about Kermit that he didn’t feel comfortable talking about. Whoever it was, she thought. Obviously meant a great deal to him. Karen was determined to try and help Kermit through this any way he’d let her.
****************
Kermit Griffin sat down at one of the many computer consuls, and began to work on retrieving some information, when he had heard a voice come up behind. “Hey, you’re not supposed to have access to that,” the voice stated.
Kermit looked up and saw the face of a very young man. The kid couldn’t be any older than 13, and Kermit was instantly wondering just what a kid his age was doing there. “Yeah, well I have special permission,” he informed the kid, and went back to work.
The young teen grabbed a hold of the chair Kermit was sitting in and turned it away from the computer. “Not here, you don’t. If you want to check something out, why don’t you go to the library.”
Kermit looked up into the kid’s face, in slight shock. ‘Who the hell does he think he is,’ Kermit thought. “If you don’t like my being here, kid, why don’t you go talk to Operations, and tell him,” Kermit hissed. This kid had a lot of nerve trying to tell him what he could and couldn’t do.
Kermit noticed the kid’s face pale slightly, as his eyes glanced up toward the room overlooking the main section. Kermit took the hint quickly. The kid was obviously afraid of Operations, and rightfully so. However, the kid shook his head. “Fine, but don’t break anything,” he said as he headed over to another consul and began to work on something.
Kermit had to hand it to the kid. He had held his own there for a while. Kermit turned to the kid, and held out his hand. “Name’s Kermit,” he said.
The kid just nodded. “Kermit? What did your mother hate you or something,” he joked, then evidently thought better of it. Shaking his head, he just glanced over at Kermit. “Birkoff.”
Kermit instantly knew just who this kid was. He had been there at the kid’s birth. “Nice to meet you,” Kermit said then turned back to his own work. He would have to get to know this kid better. No one should have to go through what this kid had been through. ‘To be so young, and know nothing else,’ he thought in disgust.
Kermit walked into the small church on the outskirts of town, as flashes of the past flew through his mind. Kermit and Birkoff had been through so much together, both learning from each other. Kermit had learned what he had actually missed with his own son, James, through watching Birkoff grow. He was so grateful that James hadn’t had the same hardships that this young man had been through. Birkoff had helped Kermit realize that sometimes things work out for the best. Kermit wasn’t sure he would’ve wanted things between him and his son any different. Had Kermit been there for James while he was growing up, what would he be like now. Instead, Kermit had left his ex and son to live their life, without the constant threat that he himself had to live through everyday. Sometimes things work out.
Kermit walked up to the small alter in the front of the church, and lowered his head in prayer. May you rest in peace, Seymour. May you finally be able to really live, he prayed for the young soul that had been taken from this existence too soon. Lighting a candle, Kermit began to feel the tears that had been threatening to take hold since that awful call a couple of hours ago, begin to take shape. Kermit knew that life in Section, was a question. How long one lived, if he would ever see them again, was always in question. But some of the things that Kermit had never thought of was that he would have to mourn the three people that he had come to care about. Walter, Michael, and Birkoff were three people he never thought to mourn. He always had felt that he would be a long time dead, before one of them joined him six feet under.
It was a lose that Kermit felt tear through his entire existence. “You weren’t supposed to be first,” he whispered, staring into the flame, vision blurred. Kermit knew that if he had to mourn one it would’ve been Michael. Michael’s job was a great deal more dangerous than Birkoff’s, or Walter’s. But this. . .this was completely a shock.
Kermit didn’t even notice any one else there, until he felt the gentle touch of hands on his shoulder. Kermit fought the urge to snap around and fight back the sudden intrusion. He instead reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes. It didn’t help, since as soon as the tears were gone, more came spilling down his cheek. He knew exactly who’s hands were offering him comfort, and he was grateful. “Want to talk about it,” came the soft, gentle voice.
Kermit stood and turned to face Karen, taking her hands into his own. “I’m not sure where to begin, what to say,” he admitted. He knew he couldn’t tell her everything, or even if he wanted to talk about anything yet. Karen moved Kermit over to one of the pews and sat down next to him. Kermit’s eyes were fixed on the single flame that was burning in honor of the young man who had graced all he knew with his presence. “He was so young. So damn young,” Kermit began. He wasn’t sure at all where his emotions were taking him. He hadn’t felt this lost in a long time, and he had hoped that he never had to feel this empty again. Karen only sat there, holding his hand, while he let the emotions run off of him, a raging river after the storm. “He was only 23, or so.” Kermit closed his eyes briefly, remembering.
It had been years since he had graced these halls, and Kermit was beginning to wonder just what had changed. It was now 1996, six long years since he had last been there. Kermit made his way over to the comm center, knowing that he was on his own personal mission, one that no one was going to stop him from taking. When he reached the area he sat down at one of the computers and began to access the system. One of the young comm personnel walked up to him, and gave him a questioning look. Kermit just ignored her, and continued his work. He was grateful that he had been given full access to Section’s system, a privilege that he had used on many occasions. “You can’t be here,” the woman told him sternly.
“It’s okay, Kris, he’s allowed,” a voice came stated as the body attached came closer. “Still getting into my things, Kermit?”
Kermit turned at the sound of the voice, in shock. Looking at the young man, Kermit knew immediately who it was. Seymour Birkoff. “Birkoff,” Kermit said standing, looking the man over. The last time he had actually seen Birkoff the kid was only a young teen, now standing in front of him was a young man. “You’ve grown,” Kermit said with a smile.
Birkoff lowered his head, in slight embarrassment. “Yeah, well it’s been a while. It’s good to see you again.”
Kermit fought the urge to reach out and hug the young man. All he could think of was that he ‘boy’ had grown up. “Good to see you too, Birkoff.”
Kermit closed his eyes, briefly as he remember seeing the man before him that day, years prior. Birkoff was so much a part of him, in his heart, that to lose him now was almost too much to bear.
Birkoff placed his head in his hands and sighed. “I’m dead.”
Kermit placed his hand on Birkoff’s shoulder. There were times that he forgot that Birkoff was only a little older than twenty-three. “Okay, now we have a couple of names. Let’s start checking into those,” Kermit told him, bringing the young man back to the here and now.
Kermit’s mind played over the last time he had seen the young computer genius. What could I have done, or said differently. Kermit had been amazed by how much Birkoff had grown in the time he had known him. Birkoff, despite his young age, had more heart, and strength than almost anyone he knew.
Kermit smiled, with a thing like this he wouldn’t have to worry about being caught at least. “Okay, here’s a question.” Birkoff once again looked up at Kermit. “How will I be able to get into the system in the first place. I mean you created most of the security Systems that I’m needing to get into. How am I to get past those?”
“Well you already are able to hack into most of the necessary Systems. For the tougher ones, just let me know and I’ll see what I can do to help. I can’t make it too easy for you,” Birkoff said looking over the top of his glasses. Birkoff had a lot of respect for Kermit. Here was a man, without all of the high-tech equipment that Birkoff had, and he could still get into Systems and networks that most people couldn’t. It amazed him just how much Kermit could do. “Besides you always said that you wanted to try and beat me when it comes to this.”
Kermit felt the same about Birkoff. He would go so far as to say that he thought of Birkoff as a son. Kermit was there when he was born. The kid has grown up so much. It was a shame that all he knew was the ways of Section. He would’ve liked to have seen both of the boys have some sort of normal life. The way that kid worked with computers was amazing to say the least. They definitely had a lot to learn from each other.
Birkoff had left him something though, besides the wonderful memories. Everytime Kermit got on the computer, he would remember with pride, who had allowed him to help people easier.
Kermit opened the door, admitting the younger detective in. Peter saw that Kermit had a guest. The younger man stood, and moved toward the open door. “I’ll, ah, see you tomorrow, Kermit.”
“Yeah, see you then, Birkoff.” Kermit walked Seymour to the door and patted him on the back. “Thanks again, kid. If you need anything. . .”
“I’ll let you know,” Birkoff finished stepping outside of the apartment, but stopped and turned back. “Oh and I’ll see what I can find out. If anything else a location at least.”
“Thanks,” Kermit said as Birkoff walked off down the hall. He shut the door and walked over to Peter. “Okay, what’s on your mind?”
Kermit now had wished he had spent more time with the kid. If only he had been there then maybe Birkoff would still be alive. He knew that this line of thinking would only cause him more pain, but he had sworn to protect people like Birkoff from the horrors of Section. He had failed in most cases, but he had hoped he could’ve saved Birkoff from this.
Birkoff had constantly shown Kermit that he wasn’t the little nieve boy that he had looked to be. Birkoff had shown the strength that many in his position could never possess. It was a trait Kermit admired. Show no fear in the face of adversity.
Before Davenport could finish, the lights within Section began to fade. “What the. . .” Birkoff stated. Quickly, Birkoff was in action.
“Birkoff what’s going on,” Operations asked from his position high above Tactical.
“We’re in the middle of a multiple monopoly, sir. The entire system is shutting down. We’ve experienced a power surge of some sort. I’m rerouting the bitstream to prevent corruption.” Birkoff began to work hard on the various consuls before him, as the rest of Comm jumped into action. “We’ve lost all digital progress. Satcom is down. We’re not receiving.” Birkoff pointed to some of the others present. “Get them back now. Reroute all Comms in the thirty-fourth stream to analog. Hook up the back-up power to the fifth stream, and shut down all non-essential processes!” Birkoff was quickly taking charge of the situation, ordering his people to do what they had to do to get their people back safely. Operations had arrived from his office, to stand and watch. Birkoff turned to him. “Someone has placed a bug inside our local transformers, corrupting all Systems, including power.”
“How long until we can find out about our team,” Operations asked, none to pleased.
“In about five minutes, we’ll be up and running. It will be limited until I can sweep the system, but. . .” Birkoff left it hanging.
“Get on it. I want them back, now.” Operations stood off to the side, watching as Birkoff, Kermit and the rest of the Comm crew worked to get the Systems back on-line.
What that kid didn’t know about computers was amazing. The kid had often surprised Kermit, who had prided himself with his own skill and knowledge many times.
Kermit knew that Birkoff was uncomfortable around people he didn’t know. It came from years of being cooped up within Section. Kermit remembered another time long ago, when he had asked Birkoff if he ever went out, left the halls of Section.
“Are you nuts,” nineteen-year-old Birkoff had told him. “Those people are crazy. You go out there, and you could be killed. There’s rapist, murderers, who knows what out there. The world is a scary place.”
Kermit looked at the young man, and smiled. “Have you ever been out there? And what do you think you have here? Everyone here has committed some sort of crime, much like you just said was out there.”
Birkoff looked over at Kermit and nodded. “Yeah, but at least here I know what to expect. Out there. . . You can have your little world. Thank-you.”
“Have you ever been out there, Birkoff,” Kermit asked, suddenly feeling sorry for the kid. To never really experience life, was a thing Kermit wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy, and there were a few. “Besides a mission that is.”
Birkoff nodded. “Once, and trust me that was enough for me.”
Kermit just let the tears fall freely from his eyes. He had always prided himself on hiding his pain from the rest of the world. However, with Karen’s gentle eyes reaching deep within his soul, he couldn’t hold back. For the first time, he had cried. Kermit felt that tears from years of pain and suffering he had caused and seen begin to fall from deep within him. Karen pulled him closer, holding him tightly. “He shouldn’t have died, Karen. He was just a kid,” Kermit sobbed with all the emotion that had overcome him. “Damn it, he was just a kid.”
Karen held him tighter, hoping to offer him some security from the pain he was feeling right now. Karen didn’t ask who, or what, for she knew from the years of their relationship, that there were just somethings that Kermit felt he had to protect her from. One of these days she would be able to let him realize that she wasn’t a frail woman who needed his protection from the evils of the world. But until that day came, she would just have to take comfort in being there when he needed her. She would help him through his nightmares he was often plagued with, offer him a shoulder to cry on, if he needed it. She only wished that she could take away his pain. Karen held him until she felt the man she loved begin to calm.
Kermit pulled back slightly, and took off his sunglasses. The pain was evident in those eyes, she could almost see deep within his soul. “His name was Seymour Birkoff,” Kermit began. “He was like a son to me. I was there when he was born, you know.” Kermit began to tell her, turning his attention back to the flame that still burned brightly. “Life is too short. The world will never know what type of man he was, what good he had done to save so many.”
Kermit then stood, and walked back to the alter. He began to light another candle for all of those who had died before young Birkoff, and for those who were left alive. Those whom Birkoff had saved, and for those who he had been able to, but Kermit mostly lit the second candle for those he had left alive in his life. He couldn’t, nor wouldn’t take things for granted again.
Kermit just shrugged and opened the door. “You guys ready,” Kermit asked as he walked into the room.
“Yep,” Birkoff stated and he grabbed one of his suitcases. Birkoff set it down in front of Kermit and held out his hand. “It was good to see you again, Kermit. I hope we see each other again soon.”
Kermit took the offered hand, and smiled. “You can bet on it, Kid. You take care of everyone there, you hear me. Watch yourself.”
Birkoff just nodded, the said his good-byes to Peter and left the room.
Kermit would never see Birkoff again, but are others in his life whom Kermit knew needed him, and whom he needed just as much. Birkoff would live on in their memories, but Kermit knew that he had to live for those who cared about him, and who he had cared for. There were still things to do, people to take care of. There was still evil to fight, and souls to save, he thought. Michael, Walter, Karen, Marlyn, James, and others still needed him. Kermit wasn’t about to give up yet. He would live for those who couldn’t. He would live. . .
Kermit glanced up one last time to the sky. “Thank-you,” Kermit said to Birkoff’s spirit. “I’ll never forget you. You’re finally free.” Kermit turned to Karen and reached out for her hand. “Let’s go,” he said as he lead her out of the church, without a backward glance. Kermit couldn’t change the past, he learned that from experience. He knew however, that he could only look forward, and remember those who had touched his life, and helped him become the man he was today. The type of man that this wonderful woman beside him, loved and cared for. Someday, he would have to let her know just how much he loved her, and appreciated her. Someday, soon.
FIN.