Part 1
Archive: Tell me where first
Disclaimer: I don't own any Alias characters, those are owned by J.J. Abrams.
Sydney's eyes flash open to reveal her dark room. Nothing could be seen, but Sydney knew she wasn't alone. There was very little light in the room with the blind shut and her door closed. The only light came from the overhead fan above the stove that made it under her door and the bedside table clock with a slight red glow.
"Hello Sydney," A male voice says off to her right, probably from the corner.
"Good day to you, Sloane," Sydney sneered back, her brain trying to figure out how to escape, but there was no way out.
"I hope you enjoyed your last sleep, double agent Sydney. I know you work for the CIA, passing information to them. I cannot allow that to continue."
Soft footsteps could be heard as Sloane came out of the corner, walked to her bed, and jumped up over her. Sydney could tell he was wearing his usual suit.
"You were one of my best agents. You had great potential with SD-6. At least I thought so. I cared for you…"
"Bullshit!" Sydney spat out before she could stop herself. "All you care about is collecting the Rambaldi artifacts at any cost, even lives."
She immediately knew that she pushed his patience too far. With one swift movement, Sloane had a gun in his right hand with a silencer in his left. Less than 2 seconds later they were both connected pointing at her head.
"Die, Bitch," Sloane whispers, he pulls the trigger…
* * *
"AHHHH!!!!" Sydney screams as she sits strait up in bed, a thick cold sweat rolling down her face and onto the sheets. Her brown hair was all over the place with her eyes darting all over the room and a racing heart.
"It was only a dream," Sydney whispers while letting out a sigh of relief.
Even though it was only a dream, she was still worried. Over the past month, the same sort of dream has happened. It started out once or twice a week with a sniper picking her off while she was on a mission. Although over the past two weeks it has quickly escalated to every night with Sloane, Dixon, or anyone else at SD-6 killing her at the office, at home, or a mission, or anywhere. She glances at the time. The bright red numbers shine back 1:52.
Sydney takes another deep breath, closes her eyes, willing herself to calm down.
"RRRRIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!" the phone blasts through the quietness.
Sydney literally jumps out of her skin in surprise, swearing lightly once she realized it was only the phone. She gets to it at the end of the 3rd ring.
"He…Hello?" Sydney sputters out through her sleep-laced voice.
"Joey's Pizza?" the voice on the other end asks.
Oh shit, Sydney thought. It's almost 2am, I'm tired, I want to sleep, forget the bad dreams, what does he want right now?
"Wrong number," She quickly replies, and hangs up the phone.
As quickly and quietly as she could, Sydney leapt out of bed and dressed herself. The only sound she made as she made her way towards the door was her breathing.
"Who was that on the phone Syd?" a very sleep-laden voice said from behind her, startling her already frazzled nerves.
"It was a wrong number Fran, just go back to bed."
"What are you doing up at this hour," Francie asked, suddenly realizing Sydney was up.
Sydney thought quickly. "I couldn't sleep after the phone rang, so I wanted a drink before trying again. Now please go back to bed."
This time Francie heeded Sydney's advice and went back to bed. Not long after Francie left the silence returned. Again she crept towards the door and turned the handle and pushed. Luckily it wasn't locked. She opened it enough to slip out, then quietly shut it behind her.
Sydney slipped from shadow to shadow until she reached her car. With a press of a button on her keychain, she was in. With the key in the ignition the car roared to life, and no sooner than the car had started, it had disappeared into the night.
* * *
Sydney's footsteps echoed eerily around the warehouse as she paced back and forth waiting for Vaughn to show up.
Where the hell is he? Thought Sydney, her pacing getting quicker. He's never been late before, hell, he's always beaten me here. And why such a late meeting?
The sound of footsteps approaching brings her back to reality. From the dim lights she could make out that it was Vaughn with what looked like a big plastic bag in his left hand. Her heart leapt with joy. Sydney rushed forward and gave him a huge hug, but he pulled back quickly.
"What's wrong?" Sydney immediately asks sensing something was wrong.
Even in the low light Vaughn's eyes were focused on the floor and a tear was working its way down his cheek. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
"We don't have much time, so you must listen carefully to everything I say," he began.
"O…Ok…" Sydney was very confused.
"SD-6 has caught up with you, they know you are a double agent."
The news hit her like a bag of bricks. Her mind started working overtime.
How was I? She thought desperately. I covered my tracks flawlessly, unless they bugged my clothes, but not much talking was done in SD-6 issued clothes…
"Sydney?" Vaughn's voice snaps her back to reality.
"Ho…How was I caught?" she managed to stammer out.
"No time for that right now," Vaughn says. "You have to leave immediately. No going home one last time, No…"
"Hang on a second," Sydney almost yells. "I'm not going anywhere without Francie and Will knowing I'm leaving."
"Yes you are. Just before you left your apartment, a CIA agent arrived at your place to make sure you made it out ok. He saw you come out, get into your car, and drive away. However, less than a minute later a black van pulled up and someone armed got out. You are not safe here right now. You MUST leave tonight!"
While Vaughn was talking she could feel her eyes become wetter. The battle to hold back the tears was a fierce one.
"What about Francie?" Sydney asked, tears rolling down her cheek. "And…And Will? Are they still alive?"
"From the reports I have, Yes. The armed man left right away when he saw your car gone. As for the story of your disappearance, the once which they are told will be left for you at a later date to collaborate your story. We have to get you moving, every second counts."
Vaughn hands the plastic bag to Sydney, containing various pieces of clothing, various ID cards, a mirror, some makeup, and a wig.
"Quickly change into these clothes," Vaughn said as he hurried Sydney behind a pile of crates. "The first part of this mission is very simple. You are to drive north for about an hour to a little town called Camarillo. Just inside the town there is a hotel called Sleepy Inn, in which you are booked into room 315."
He paused briefly. The sound coming from behind the crates subsided not long after.
"Almost done back there, Kelly Frasier?" Vaughn smiled widely.
The sound of lips popping came from behind the crates. "I'm done."
Sydney steps back into view of Vaughn, her costume looking perfect on her. Her normally dark brown hair was now an orange-blonde colour that reached half way down her back. Her clothes consisted of a black dress with matching top. The dress was made of a very shiny fabric and almost reached down to her kneecaps with slits. The top was a sleeveless top made of cotton.
"How do I look?" She asks, doing a 360 and allowing her new hair to fall in every direction.
"You look perfect. Now, here are the keys to your car. Do you remember where you're headed?"
"Room 315 in The Sleepy Inn in Camarillo," Sydney quickly recited.
"Good," Vaughn handed the room key to Sydney, and begins to lead her outside. "In the room Wiess has left a change of costume, some food, and most of the information you need."
Sydney glanced at Vaughn and noticed a tear rolling down his cheek, and even she was having trouble holding it back again. Everything was starting to sink in. How her life was in danger, how her friends are in danger, and how she will never work as a double agent in SD-6 again. A cool wind had come up as they stepped outside. The wind blew Sydney's hair in all directions and lifted her skirt slightly. She shivered from the wind. Vaughn put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him gratefully.
"Your car is just over there."
The walk to her new car felt like it took forever, although it took less than 30 seconds. Her car is a discreet Taurus, a beautiful silver outside with a gorgeous sky blue interior.
Sydney turns and looks into Vaughn's eyes, unable to hold back her tears. Unable to restrain herself anymore, she wraps her arms around him.
"I love you," she whispers. "I'll miss you lots."
Vaughn could feel the tears dropping onto his shoulder.
"I love you too, but we will see each other again soon, probably sooner than you think," A tear drops onto her shoulder.
The embrace was quick but the point was made. Vaughn was the one who had to break it off.
"You have to get moving," He said while gazing into her eyes.
The gaze lasted a couple more seconds before Sydney turned away and got into her car.
"Goodbye," she says before the door closes.
"Goodbye," he replies.
The engine roars to life. Sydney throws it into reverse, backs out of the parking spot, and with a final wave, she is gone into the night.