'I could have prevented all this of course.' The words still rang in Sydney's ears even after the sound of the bullet. After over twenty years, she had met her mother again. Her mother. That woman might be back any moment. She had to get out. She struggled against her bonds desperately, trying to free herself. The wound in her shoulder burned with every movement.

 

She stared around the room and finally spotted a water valve along the wall. She struggled to stand from her position on the floor and managed to get up without falling down. All the while on the verge of crying in pain. Wedging the chair legs against the valve, the flimsy chair finally gave way and collapsed, though the legs were still stuck on her handcuffs.

 

Next came the door. After a quick search of the room's content, she found what she needed: A tank of compressed air and a cement brick. With the compressed air tank leaning on the cement block, she struck at the valve with a wrench. After a few strikes, the valve broke and the tank tore across the room and through the locked door.

 

Taking a hold on the chair legs dangling from her handcuffs, she proceeded through the door and up a small flight of stairs. There, she met the first guard. Before he could move, she kicked him. He came at her again, but she struck him across the face with a chair leg. The guard fell down the stairs in a state of unconsciousness.

 

Sydney continued down the hall only to stop short. Another guard stepped out into the hallway. His gun was trained on her.

 

She jumped at him, but not soon enough. The gun went off and her world became dark. Again.

 

* * * *

 

Jack tried the transmitter again. There was no answer. "Sydney, where the hell are you?"

 

He turned to Will. "We may have to leave them."

 

"Why?" Will asked. His face was a mess of cuts and bruises from his ordeal. "Where is she?"

 

Jack shook his head, but the worried look did not leave his face. "I don't know, but the Taiwanese authorities will be checking this airstrip anytime. We can't risk being found."

 

Will nodded as if he understood.

 

* * * *

 

Darkness was her world, and then suddenly a bright light blared on overhead. Sydney shut her eyes in an attempt to block it out. Her head pounded painfully. She put her hand to her face and her fingers fell upon something on her right temple. At a slight pain she moved her hand away. It was a bandage.

 

"You're lucky the bullet only grazed you."

 

Sydney's blood curdled. She knew that voice. A voice that, until recently, she had not heard since she was a child. She sat up on the cot, holding her left arm to her. Her shoulder still hurt, but not as much as it had.

 

Her mother, Irina Derevko, stood confidently a few feet away. A smile came to Irina's lips, though it seemed like more of a smirk. "Now are you ready to tell me who sent you?"

 

Sydney glared up at her mother with defiant eyes. "Go to hell!"

 

"Sydney . . . " Irina smiled. "I'm your mother."

 

"No. You're only the woman who deceived my father!" Sydney shouted. "My mother was Laura Bristow and she died over twenty years ago!"

 

Irina eyed her coolly. "Laura Bristow may have died, but I am still alive and I am your mother. Now, who sent you?"

 

"I won't tell you anything."

 

A laugh escaped from Irina. "Sydney, you remind me of my own stubbornness. But . . . don't be foolish. Perhaps you need more time to think. The truth takes time." She turned on her heel and stalked away.

 

* * * *

 

Jack stared blankly at the floor as the plane took off. Over the roar of the engine, he could only think of Sydney. She had not returned in time. Neither had Vaughn. They would be able to get back to L.A. on their own though. Still there was the possibility that they had been captured, or worse killed.

If that was the case, then Jack vowed to return after he had gotten Tippin safely back to L.A.

* * * *
Sydney groaned at the raw pain in her shoulder as she awoke. She was rather surprised at her surroundings. She was no longer in the dim concrete room, but rather a small bedroom that appeared to be in a house. Blue curtains were pulled back from the windows revealing a palm tree swaying in the wind. Aside from the curtains and the bed, the room was bare.

Sydney knew that between the different location and the aching in her head that she must have been drugged.

"I'm afraid our last location became a bit too crowded," Irina's voice came from the now open doorway. She went to Sydney's side and sat down on the bed next to her. She reached out a hand and Sydney shrank back against the pillow. "I won't hurt you," Irina said.

Sydney just glared at her. "You already have."

"Sydney," her mother began, "I know our relationship is difficult, but there are some things you are going to have to trust me on. I'm your mother."

"What makes you think you have the right to say that?" Sydney snapped back.

Irina said nothing, but stood and went to the window. She crossed her arms and stared out into the world. After a moment she turned back to Sydney. She glanced at her daughter's clothing. Sydney was still clad in the leather outfit from the nightclub, though her blue wig was long gone. "I'm sure you'd rather wear something else than that," Irina said. "Come with me." She headed for the door.

Sydney spared a glance around the room, but reluctantly followed her mother.

A short distance down the hallway, Irina disappeared around a corner and did not glance back at Sydney.

Sydney weighed her chances. She spotted a staircase a short distance behind her and ran for it. She had only taken one step down before she heard Irina step behind her.

"Sydney, you can't get away now. Don't be foolish."

Sydney did not even bother turning around. "Tell someone who cares." With that she spun around and aimed a high kick at Irina.

Irina easily avoided it and easily kicked Sydney right in her wounded shoulder.

Sydney reeled back and fell down a few steps. She sat catching her breath for a moment, and then stared up at Irina.

Her mother smiled slyly. "Sydney, you're giving me no choice in your treatment," She gazed at her daughter more closely, "You were working for the CIA, right?"

Sydney's gaze did not falter.

Irina nodded. "Well, that question is answered." She took a few steps down the staircase and stood before Sydney. She held out her hand to her daughter. "Come with me and don't try anything."

As much as it pained Sydney, she took her mother's hand.

 

* * * *

 

Sydney had to admit that it felt much better being out of the leather and otherwise see-through outfit. She now wore a pair of blue jeans and an oversized oxford dress shirt loosely buttoned over a smaller T-shirt. Aside from that however, her mother was not treating her any differently really.

After changing Sydney had been led back to the bedroom where she had awoken. After a brief smile and an uttering of the words, "I'll be back later," Irina had shut the door. That sound had been followed by the click of a lock and the footsteps of a few guards apparently being stationed outside the door.

Upon being alone for a few minutes, Sydney took her first opportunity to explore the room a bit more and perhaps find a way of escape. She paced around the small room studying every small detail. After finding no surprises, she turned to the obvious possibility. Going to the window, she stared out at the landscape below.

Outside there was not only the single palm tree she had seen earlier, but rather a row of them continuing seemingly infinitely down a white sand beach.

Her gaze slipped to the window's lock. Though she knew the outcome, Sydney gave the handle a tug and sure enough it had been secured not to open. Curiously, she rapped a fist on the glass. She might be able to break it. If she did it was at least a twelve-foot drop to the ground below though and she wasn't guaranteed a soft landing. That she was willing to risk, however.

Of course, there was really nothing in the room that she could use to break it. Perhaps she could hit it hard enough on her own. She attempted to kick it out with her foot. The glass shattered easily and Sydney pushed aside the remaining fragments of glass hanging in the window frame. As she was doing this, she felt a stinging sensation across the palm of her hand and looked to see that a shard of glass had cut across the palm of her right hand. The blood was now smeared across the cuff of her white shirt.

Trying to ignore it she started to look out when the sound of footsteps outside her door made her freeze. After a few tense moments the sounds faded. For a moment she thought she was safe, then the door burst open.

"Step away from the window!" The voice of the guard thundered across the small room. His handgun was trained on Sydney. "Now!"

Sydney stepped back as she was told. She glared rebelliously at the guard, but did not make any escape attempt. The last thing she needed was another gunshot wound.

"Ms. Bristow, do you know how typical this is of you?" Another man entered behind the guard.

"I never thought this was any less typical of you, Sark." Sydney said defiantly.

Sark grinned mischievously and waved the guard away. "When I heard of your capture I was rather surprised and came to see for myself. Now, I see it is true." He stepped towards her. "So you are not so invincible."

Sydney drew back from the window. "What do you want?"

Sark stayed where he was and smiled. "Nothing from you. I have business with your mother."

"Sark," Irina spoke from the doorway. "Would you excuse us?"

Sark nodded, spared a smile for Sydney and left.

Irina came in and stared at the broken window, then at Sydney. Irina smiled. "I expected nothing less." Her gaze shifted to Sydney's cut hand. "Let me see that," She said with a concerned tone.

Sydney drew back until she felt the wall behind her back. "Leave me alone."

Irina sighed irritably and left the room a moment later returning with what appeared to be a first-aid kit. She looked at Sydney. "I'm not going to hurt you." She beckoned Sydney towards her.

Unable to see any alternative Sydney stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed.

Irina took Sydney's right hand. "You would not have gotten far," She said as she began to clean the blood from Sydney's palm. "I know I've said I won't hurt you anymore, but I can't guarantee the guards won't shoot you. They have orders to stop you however necessary. So I would suggest you stop these attempts before you start anymore." She looked to Sydney for some reply as she took some gauze from the first-aid kit and started wrapping it securely around her daughter's hand.

Sydney only watched silently.

After another moment, Irina finished, spared a glance at her daughter, and departed from the room.

Sydney watched her leave in hope that she would be left alone again, but that was not the case. As soon as Irina stepped through the door a tall guard entered and took a post by the door watching Sydney with a close eye.

* * * *

Jack Bristow was feeling a bit depressed as he stared out the window of the plane. Things in Los Angeles had not gone as planned. After handing Tippin over to CIA custody, he had reported to SD-6. As time had worn on there had been no contact from Sydney or Vaughn. Jack had grown to suspect the worst. She was dead. He was returning to Tai Pei on the slim hope that she was still alive. Captured probably, but still alive. He would find her, he swore to himself.

His cellphone ringing roused him from his thoughts. He answered it, "Hello."

"Jack Bristow," A female voice said sternly. "It's been many years, hasn't it?"

Jack's grip on the phone tightened. He knew that voice all too well. Ten years of being married to its source would do that. "Irina."

"Yes, Jack it's me."

"How did you get this number?" Jack demanded. "What do you want?"

"Oh, I have my sources, Jack," Irina replied. "Need I say more? I know you're heading for Tai Pei. Would there be a reason for that?"

"My current duty involves someone you left behind twenty year ago," Jack said. "It does not concern you."

"You're wrong there, Jack. It very much does concern me," There was a momentary pause, as Irina seemed to consider her next words. "That person is sitting not twenty feet from me."

Jack listened intently. The hatred he had for that voice was momentarily replaced by surprise as he heard her words. Sydney was there. "Put her on the phone."

"No, Jack," Irina replied easily. "I only called to tell you that Tai Pei will not lead you anywhere." At that the line went dead.

* * * *

 

It was late night outside when Sydney awoke. She guessed she must have fallen asleep sometime while trying to figure out a plan. She saw the shadow of the guard against the wall. The window she had shattered remained untouched and a cool sea breeze whipped in off the ocean.

 

Sydney glanced at the guard and sighed in frustration. She stared at the dark ceiling and thought. What was her mother gaining by keeping her? If she had some plan that involved Sydney it had not been revealed yet. Irina had not made any further attempts to interrogate Sydney. Maybe this was her mother's way of torturing her father. Or else, perhaps she was trying to forge a relationship with Sydney out of a twenty-year absence. Whatever it was, Sydney had to admit that she was a bit frightened.

 

Sydney wished she could close her eyes and have it all just disappear. She wished she could simply wake up in her apartment in Los Angeles. Francie would be there, and Will. For a moment, just remembering them made her happy.

 

Then the howl of the wind brought her back to reality. She glanced at the guard by the door. This was her reality now.

 

* * * *

 

Irina closed the door behind her as she entered her study. Automatically, she went to her desk and sat down. She sat for a moment, drumming her fingers on the desktop. After a moment her eyes fell on the framed photo that sat on her desk. Picking it up, she smiled. A six-year-old brunette in overalls smiled up at her from the picture. Irina smiled at the memories it evoked. She remembered the first Christmas she had spent with that little girl, then only an infant. How her eyes had sparkled with delight as Jack had lit the Christmas tree lights.

 

It had only been a mission. That life had been false. Nothing more than a mission, but Irina realized it had been real to Sydney.

 

Irina's thoughts came to the current issue. When she had first learned that an intruder had been captured, she had simply ordered them disposed of. That was until she had seen Sydney's face on the surveillance monitor. Irina had made it a point to meet this daughter of hers and to see if indeed this was the same little girl she had left twenty years before.

 

From the moment Sydney had first looked at her, Irina had known it was true.

 

* * * *

 

"Vaughn?" Jack questioned over the phone. He was driving down a city street towards the nightclub where Sydney had been. "Where are you?"

 

"Somewhere in Tai Pei," Vaughn's voice came back. "I woke up in a back alley somewhere. I don't know what happened."

 

"What street are you on?" Jack questioned.

 

Vaughn told him then said, "How's Sydney?"

 

"Missing," Jack replied automatically. "I'll come pick you up and explain everything. Just stay where you are."

 

* * * *

 

"Good morning, Sydney," Irina's voice filled the air.

 

Sydney opened her eyes to see her mother standing before the window. She sat up stared at her mother. "What do you want now?"

 

"I would presume you would like breakfast, after all it's been a few days since you've had a full meal," Irina said simply. "I'm not about to let you starve."

 

Sydney stood and followed Irina from the room.

 

As Sydney followed her mother down the stairs she saw the beach through a glass door that opened onto a terrace. She could here the waves hitting the land. The water.

 

Suddenly, a memory surged in Sydney's mind. Running from the water as it drew nearer. He was right behind her. She made it through the door, but he was caught. She had seen his eyes as he drifted away. The words she had not said to him. He was gone. "Vaughn..." She whispered.

 

"What did you say?" Irina asked turning around to face Sydney.

 

Sydney froze at the bottom of the stairs. Her hand tightened on the balustrade. "Where is he?"

 

"Who?" Irina asked.

 

Sydney glared at Irina. Don't tell me you don't know, woman! She thought. "The man I was with that night. He was caught in the water." She knew what the answer would be. Dead.

 

Irina smiled. "He was alive when we released him."

 

Those words caught Sydney's attention. "You...you let him go?"

 

Irina nodded as if it was nothing.

 

"How do I know you're not lying?"

 

Irina sighed. "It's like I told you, Sydney. There are some things you'll just have to trust me on."

 

* * * *

 

"So where do we go from here?" Vaughn asked after Jack had explained the situation. "Derevko won't hurt her, will she?"

 

"After seeing what that woman has done, I wouldn't put it past her," Jack replied. "Especially, if she's looking for information."

 

Vaughn let out a long breath of anxiety and pressed his hands against his face. "Well, we need to find her." He looked out the car window, and then glanced at Jack. "What are we doing here?"

 

Jack had stopped the car in a lot behind the nightclub. He spared a glance at Vaughn before getting out of the car. "This is where the search begins."

 

* * * *

 

Sydney stared into the bathroom mirror. She looked far from perfect.

 

The bandage on her right temple was gone, but she was still tentative to touch the flesh there bound by a few miniscule sutures. She pulled back the neckline of her shirt and stared at the bandaged gunshot wound on her shoulder. The pain of it was dulling slowly as the days passed. How many days had it been now? At least two since she had learned of Vaughn's release. She had been moved to a different bedroom. Her mother had taken to leaving her locked up for hours at a time. Irina came by a few times a day with a meal and a few spoken words.

 

Sydney went back to the bedroom adjoined to the bathroom. She sat down on the bed.

I won't hurt you.

 

Sydney shuddered at the memory of those words. Sadly, she admitted it to herself. Her mother had not hurt her any further. She turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face as if in hopes of awakening from a nightmare. As she stared back into the mirror she realized the nightmare was still real.

 

* * * *

 

“Well, this place is vacant,” Vaughn admitted as he stepped into the large room where the Rambaldi device had been.

 

Jack stood silently in the doorway. He was looking around the room with a distant look in his eye.

 

“Jack!” Vaughn said sternly. He stepped towards the older man. “Are you all right?”

 

Jack seemed to snap out of it. He met Vaughn’s gaze. “I was just thinking about Sydney.”

 

Vaughn nodded and let out a sigh. “I hope she’s all right. If that woman has done anything to her…” He stopped talking when he realized Jack was staring at him.

 

“Derevko must have moved her operation elsewhere. She wasn’t lying,” Jack admitted. “Though, why does she keep Sydney? It’s far too late to justify some sort of relationship.”

 

“What’s this, Jack?” Vaughn wasn’t listening. He had knelt down to the floor. His fingers had closed around a small piece of folded cardboard. He stood and studied it. “It’s a matchbook.”

 

Jack stepped closer and took it from Vaughn. Written on the front in faded gold cursive script he could make out the word: GOLDEN. The water had worn away the rest of the writing. He glanced at Vaughn. “Any guesses?”

 

“Another nightclub maybe?” Vaughn replied. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

 

“Perhaps,” Jack said.

 

Vaughn took the matches back and flipped it over. He was able to read some smaller text on the back. “Or maybe we should contact the manufacturer of these and see what companies have requested these monogrammed books.”

 

* * * *

 

Sydney glanced at the guards standing nearby where she sat on the terrace. Certainly they were armed. Otherwise her mother probably would not have allowed her time outside. Her thoughts were distracted by the sound of the door opening. She heard footsteps approaching.

 

“Ms. Bristow, we meet yet again.”

 

It only took Sydney a split second to recognize that voice. “What do you want, Sark?”

 

“Your mother has asked me to escort you to her study. She’s waiting to speak with you,” Sark replied.

 

Sydney glared at him. “Tell her I don’t care to speak with her.”

 

“Sydney, I only deliver messages for those I work for,” Sark added. “Must I force you to come with me?”

 

“There are few people I respect, Sark,” Sydney answered. “You are not one of them.”

 

A smug laugh came from Sark. “I take that as a yes.” With that he seized her left arm and hauled her to her feet.

 

Sydney reacted quickly and aimed to attack him, but Sark was quicker. She was knocked to the ground. She pushed herself up on her hands and started to get up, but froze when she heard a gun cocking only inches from her head.

 

Sark smiled down at her. His aim did not waiver. “Miss Bristow, you should not be so ignorant.”

 

Sydney sat there staring at the gun. Sark wouldn’t shoot her, would he? He might.  But then she didn’t care anymore.

 

“Stand up,” Sark spoke firmly.

 

Sydney did not move. 

 

Sark let out an inaudible sound that could have been a sigh. “Sydney, I’m afraid I’m losing patience with you.” He waved a hand to the guards.

 

The two men came forward. Sydney was hauled to her feet once again. She was not the least bit surprised to feel her wrists being handcuffed.

 

Sark smiled evilly. “Take her to Derevko.”

 

Sydney spared him a disgusted glare as she was led off.

 

* * * *

 

Love conquers all. Sydney was not sure where she had first heard that phrase. To an extent she did believe it was true. But could it be in this case? She stared at the woman sitting across the table from her. As a child she had loved that woman. As an adult, Sydney had learned the truth and had developed a hate for her. Mainly, it was anger. Just anger from being lied to for so long. Also, confusion about how the woman could have left her alone after being her mother for six years.

 

She was still handcuffed, which made sitting in the chair rather awkward.

 

“Sydney,” The woman spoke in a quiet manner. “I heard about your conflict with Mr. Sark.”

 

“And you’re going to tell me to play nice from now on?” Sydney asked sarcastically.

 

“That’s not why I wanted to speak with you.”

 

“I don’t want to talk to you,” Sydney replied.

 

“Sydney, listen me,” Irina stood and walked around the desk. She made it to Sydney’s side. “I’m only trying to help you, sweetheart.”

 

“No, you listen to me, Mom!” Sydney shouted. “If you think that being nice to me to a few days is going to erase thirty years of lies and pain, you’re even more insane that I ever imagined!”

 

Surprisingly, to Sydney, Irina nodded. “You’re right, Sydney. Of course, you’re right. But I’m not trying to do that. I’m your mother. When the day came that I had to ‘die’, I didn’t want to leave you behind, but I had to. I was given no choice.”

 

Sydney glared at Irina with angry eyes. “You should have thought of that before when you chose to take the mission.”

 

Irina smiled. “Sweetheart, you’ve never been on a deep cover mission like that one. You lose your identity and your past. You take on the life of a new person and that person becomes you. Laura Bristow’s life was a lie, but her love- my love for you was not.”

 

Sydney looked away to hide her anger. She spoke in a calm hollow voice, “You are not my mother.”

 

“Sydney, I would have hoped that by this point in your life you’d have learned to recognize the truth.”

 

A moment later the door slammed shut.

 

Sydney looked back and saw the door close. She cried.

 

* * * *

 

Sydney sat in the desolate silence of the room. The sound of door slamming still echoed in her ears. She twisted against the handcuffs restraining her wrists. The metal only dug into her skin more. She shook her head in frustration trying to blink away the tears. She could not help it.

"Vaughn, where are you?" She asked the silence.

* * * *

 

"The Golden Lounge in Jakarta," Vaughn repeated. "Thank you." He ended the call on Jack's cell phone. He turned to Jack who was sitting at the restaurant table across from him. "They were ordered last year so the place should still be there."

"Hopefully," Jack replied blankly. "We can't be certain Derevko is connected to it."

"Well, someone who works for her must have been there and that's enough for me," Vaughn said trying to be optimistic.

Jack nodded. "We'll leave on the next flight."

 

* * * *

 

Sydney’s eyes swept the room for anything she could use to get out of the handcuffs. It was easier than she would have thought. There was a paperclip on the desk. She stood and turned her back to the desk to pick it up. For several moments she fumbled with one of the locks. One side sprung open and she started to pick the other lock when the door suddenly opened.

 

Irina smiled as she stepped inside. “Sweetheart, there is a much simpler way.” She held up a small silver key.

 

Sydney sighed. There was no escape attempt now. Quietly, she let Irina unlock the other cuff.

 

Irina walked around to the other side of the desk. She opened a drawer and dropped in the handcuffs along with the key. She sat down and looked at Sydney. “I hate having the need to restrain you, but it was necessary.”

 

Sydney scoffed and crossed her arms. “I don’t see what’s necessary about keeping me here. You have no right to-“

 

Irina cut her off. “Doesn’t a mother have a right to see her daughter after twenty years?”

 

“There’s a huge difference between seeing and kidnapping,” Sydney snapped. “But then you weren’t around long enough to learn many parenting skills.”

 

Her mother smiled and waved a hand to silence her. Her tone became stern. “Agent Bristow, technically, I captured you as you were attempting to sabotage my organization. If I had dealt with you as I do ordinary intruders, you would no longer be breathing. I could very easily have done so and I still can. Remember that.”

 

“So why haven’t you?” Sydney asked in an impatient tone.

 

Irina sighed and her tone softened. “Because, sweetheart, I’m your mother and I love you.”

 

“How can you speak of love? You’ve killed dozens!”

 

“You’ve killed too Sydney,” Irina replied coolly.

 

“Those were missions! It was self-defense,” Sydney said.

 

“So were mine,” Irina replied. “I was fulfilling the mission objectives.”

 

“Well, we’re not the same!” Sydney shouted.

 

“Sydney, you’re more like me than you realize,” Irina said. She stood and went to the door. “I wanted you to know that I love you.” She opened the door and stepped out.

 

Sydney heard Irina barking orders to the guards. A moment later the guards came in and led her away.

 

* * * *

 

Sydney sat down on the edge of the bed and wiped the tears from her eyes. The home was far from a prison, but it was more a prison for her mind and emotions. She had to get away some how. The place was well guarded, but Sydney knew she could take down the guards given the chance. Feeling her own exhaustion she lied down and tried to sleep. But even sleep was not without tears. 

 

* * * *

 

Jack looked at the sign over the door. Large cursive letters spelled out: THE GOLDEN LOUNGE

Honestly, it did not look like much. It was just a hotel lounge as they had discovered.

Standing besides Jack, Vaughn looked to the older man and sighed. "I guess this is it."

Jack said nothing, but opened the door and went in. Vaughn quickly followed.

The lounge was small with only a bar, a jukebox, a few tables, and even fewer patrons.

Jack was about to walk to the bar to ask something when Vaughn stopped him.

"Who was that?" Vaughn pointed across the room to the back door. It was just closing as a figure slipped out.

"Let's find out," Jack said as they both started after the person.

 

Vaughn was out the door in an instant. Jack was right behind him. The person was still running. Vaughn could hear the footsteps far ahead. They came to an intersection.

Jack nodded to Vaughn and went left, while Vaughn took the right alley.

* * * *

Jack ran. He was not certain he was on the right trail, and then the shadow reemerged ahead. Jack followed it down another alley.

That alley was a dead-end. The shadow became the form of a man in the dim light. A young man Jack had seen before. Sark. (*A/N Wow, it's Sark! If you guessed you were right)

Jack pulled his gun. "Hands on your head!"

Sark turned slowly and raised his hands, not wiping the smug smile from his face. "Mr. Bristow, is it worth it?"

"Where is Sydney?" Jack demanded.

Sark smiled. "With your wife."

"And where is she?" Jack pressed on. "Where is Derevko?"

"I can't say now, but I'm certain you will find out," Sark lowered his hands.

Jack was about to shout at him again when something hit his temple and the world went dark.

* * * *

Vaughn turned back after a few blocks. He traced his steps back to the lounge backdoor. Jack was nowhere to be seen.

 

* * * *

 

"Dad?" Sydney asked. "Daddy?"

Jack took a moment to realize who was speaking. He felt his hopes leap at hearing her voice. But where was he? He opened his eyes and glanced around.

It was a cell of some sort. He was lying on the single bunk.

Sydney stood on the other side of the bars. She wore a t-shirt and jeans. Jack could tell that she had hurt her shoulder somehow, just by the way she tentatively moved her left arm.

Jack stood immediately and went to her. He reached through the bars and took her hand. "Sydney..."

Sydney allowed herself a small smile. "I missed you, Dad." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she always did. That was when Jack noticed the small line of sutured skin on her temple. "My God, Sydney, what did they do to you?"

Sydney forced out a small laugh. "I tried to escape after Mom shot me."

"Your mother?" Jack questioned in disbelief. "She's here?"

Before Sydney could answer another voice came into the conversation. "Yes, Jack, I'm here."

 

Irina stepped into view. She placed a hand on Sydney's shoulder. "Sweetheart, would you excuse us for a moment?" It was more of an order than a question.

Somewhat reluctantly, Sydney left.

Jack watched her leave through a door down the hall from the cell. His gaze swept from his daughter back to his former wife. "What have you done to her?"

Irina smiled. "Sydney's fine, Jack." Her tone remained calm as she spoke.

"Clearly, her injuries would state otherwise," Jack rebuked. He gripped the bars of the cell tightly, wishing he could pull them apart and escape.

Irina grinned even more. "I understand your anger, but there's no reason for it." She turned and left.

* * * *

Sydney heard the door click shut behind her as she left her parents to their conversation. She sighed. This was crazy. She had to do something.

She entered the main living room of the house and saw the usual two guards standing by the walls with their gaze on her. Inside she smiled. Perhaps now was a time to act.

* * * * * * *

Sydney walked towards the sofa as if to sit down. A few steps from sitting down she put her plan into action. She bent over, clutching her stomach to look like she was in pain.

It only took a moment for the guards to notice. One walked over and Sydney reacted quickly by delivering a swift upper cut to his jaw. She then spun around and knocked him to the ground with a high kick. The second guard attacked her from behind and Sydney dealt with him the same way.

She spared herself only a split second to take one of their guns, before running from the house.

In less than a minute she was running through the trees.

* * * *

Irina entered the living room to find two of her men getting up from the floor. She did not bother to wait for an explanation. She knew. Sydney was trying to escape.

* * * *

 

Night was falling as Sydney ran. She shoved her way through the trees, keeping up her pace. Suddenly, the trees ended she entered a small clearing.

 

“It’s an island incase you were wondering, Love.”

 

Sydney recognized that accent immediately. She turned and moved to aim her gun at him.

 

Sark had his gun trained on her instantly. “Drop it.”

 

Sydney’s eyes met his gaze. She tossed the weapon into the bushes.

 

“Hands behind your head,” Sark drawled. He motioned with the gun.

 

Sydney did as he said, but made sure not to stop glaring at him. She was not sure if she could get away. If she were going to try it would be a risk. Sydney took the risk and drove her elbow into his face. She took the following second to attempt a high kick.

 

Sark evaded it and kicked her feet out from under her.

 

Sydney fell on her back.

 

Sark moved to bring his gun across her temple, when Sydney got up and kicked the gun from his hand.

 

For a few moments they exchanged punches and kicks, until Sydney delivered the final blow. Sark dropped to the ground unconscious.

 

Sydney reclaimed her gun and took his as well before running from the clearing.

 

* * * *

 

Irina sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee and staring out at the raging ocean waters. The rain battered against the windows noisily. The sky was dark with the night as well as the clouds.

 

She sighed. Sydney was still gone. And she was out in that storm. Irina felt a sudden surge of motherly concern rise in her heart. She knew the guards would bring Sydney back soon enough. Irina was certain of that.

 

There was no way off the island.

 

* * * *

 

Sydney was exhausted. She had been running for hours it seemed. Oddly, though, no other guard had crossed her path. The moon had risen high in the sky, but was now covered by forming storm clouds.

 

The sound of waves caused her to stop running. She leaned against a tree to catch her breath. Sark had been telling the truth. It was an island. This was not the first time she had found the coastline.

 

A drop of water hit her shoulder. Sydney looked up at the sky to see the clouds closing in and darkening the night sky even more. A few moments later it was pouring down. Sydney took refuge under the branches of the tree and only hoped the rain would stop.

 

* * * *

 

Irina watched her daughter sleep. Though handcuffed Sydney seemed to sleep peacefully undisturbed. She could imagine what Sydney’s reaction would be when she awoke to find that she had not gotten away.

 

* * * *

 

Light filled her vision as Sydney opened her eyes. The window curtains were drawn back to let in the morning sun.

 

Wait. Curtains? Sydney cursed beneath her breath. She had been captured again. Her wrists were handcuffed to the bed frame above her head. She let her head drop back on the pillow as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

 

The door opened and Irina stepped in not surprisingly. She stood there for a moment and smiled at Sydney. “You’ve shown me not to underestimate you, Sydney.”

 

“Why couldn’t you just let me go?” Sydney asked, letting out a small laugh and shaking her head.

 

Irina took a step closer. “Because Sydney I have no desire to see you try to survive in a futile attempt to get off the island.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

 

“What the hell do you want?” Sydney asked. That question had been asked, but her mother had never given her a straight answer.

 

Irina sighed. “Sydney, you know of the Rambaldi prophecy, correct?”

 

Sydney nodded slowly, keeping her eyes on Irina.

 

“Then it it’s time I tell you the truth.”

 

* * * *

 

Irina sat on the edge of the bed near Sydney. “Sydney, you are the woman in the prophecy. You are the one who will ultimately save the world from destruction.”

 

“Destruction from what?” Sydney questioned. “Rambaldi predicted that I would ‘render the greatest power unto utter desolation’. That sounds pessimistic compared to what you’re saying.”

 

“Sydney, Rambaldi did not know whether the ‘greatest power’ would be good or evil,” Irina pressed on. She sighed. “Sloane is that power and is ultimately evil. Only you can stop him, sweetheart. I would have released you, Sydney, but my sources within the Alliance have informed me that Sloane has come to own page 47. He knows it is you and, Sydney, he will kill you if he is given the chance.”

 

Sydney stared at her. “So you’re going to keep me here until Sloane gains this power?”

 

Irina nodded slowly. “It’s the only way, Sydney. If you return to SD-6, even the CIA, Sloane will find you. Sydney, I have given up so much in my life, but there is no way…” She sighed and shook her head. “Sydney, there is no way I am going to give up the life of my only daughter.” She reached out a hand and gently brushed the hair from Sydney’s face. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t have been there when you were growing up. Seeing you again has given me perhaps some glimpse of those years, but I can’t begin to imagine what you were like.”

 

For a moment neither mother nor daughter said anything, but their gaze did not break.

 

Finally, Irina stood and silently left the room.

 

* * * *

 

Jack looked up when he heard the footsteps of Irina approaching his cell. “What do you want?”

 

“Jack, Sydney would be in danger if she returned to the CIA. I can’t let that happen.”

 

“Irina, she doesn’t seem much safer here,” Jack retorted. He walked to the bars and glared her down. “I don’t what you’re scheming, but if you in anyway harm her again, I will kill you.”

 

Irina only smiled. “How, Jack? Use your Jedi powers to strangle me?” She laughed at his straight face. “The way I see it, Jack, you have a choice. You can work with me or you can stay in this cell until you grow old.”

 

“Apparently you haven’t noticed, Irina,” Jack replied. “I’m not exactly young anymore.”

 

“None of us are,” Irina said. “Do you have an answer?”

 

Jack’s cold stare did not waiver as he gave his answer.

 

* * * *

 

The faint hum of loudspeakers could be heard in the background as Vaughn sat astutely waiting for an answer.

 

“You do of course realize what you’re asking me?” Landon Channing leaned back in his office chair and smirked at Vaughn. He spoke with a heavy British accent.

 

“Of course,” Vaughn replied confidently. “Otherwise I would not have come to you.”

 

“Then you must know what it will cost you,” Channing replied.

 

“I believe the last time we were in contact the understanding was that you owed me,” Vaughn replied.

 

“Of course you are right,” Channing said after a moment. “Your people are being held on an island a few miles off the coast. It’s privately owned and as far as records will reveal a wealthy entrepreneur built a mansion there several years back. I can assemble a team to-“

 

“No,” Vaughn shook his head. “I’m going in alone. All I need is a boat and supplies.”

 

“You’re very resolute, Mr. Vaughn. Very well,” Landon replied. “I’ll have them for you tomorrow.”

 

“I want them tonight,” Vaughn pressed.

 

Landon studied him for a moment with a creased brow and then nodded. “Come back in three hours. I’ll have it ready.”

 

Vaughn stood from his chair and with a last glance at Landon jerked open the door and walked into the nightclub atmosphere. He pushed his way through the crowd on the dance floor and exited the building. It reminded him too much of his mission with Sydney right before all of this had happened. He just hoped she was all right.

 

* * * *

 

Sydney sat staring out the window of her room. She wished she had said something to her mother, but words has escaped her. Right now she was not certain what to believe. Other than what she had said, her mother was keeping her in the dark. It had been three days. As far as she knew her father was still locked up in the basement. But where was Vaughn?

 

At least she hoped he was okay. She hadn’t had the chance to question her father about him and she did not trust her mother.

 

“Sydney?”

 

She turned around and smiled at the man standing in the doorway. “Dad!”