Chapter One

One week earlier….

"We have recently received intel concerning the whereabouts of Arvin Sloane. He was last spotted in Schlieren, Switzerland, which is near Zurich," Kendall told the agents scattered around the conference table. "We have reason to believe that he is holding Neil Caplan somewhere in the vicinity. Jack?"

Jack Bristow rose from his seat and cleared his throat. "There are three warehouses in or around Schlieren that could potentially store all of the Rambaldi artifacts Sloane has acquired. We believe Sloane and Sark are operating out of this one."

Jack pressed a key on his computer keyboard, and a picture of a warehouse popped up on the room's main viewing screen. Jack continued with his part of the briefing, but Sydney half tuned him out. The mention of Sloane and Sark's names turned her thoughts to the church in Mexico City. She could feel her stomach turn out of revulsion and hate at the thought of what the two of them did.

So many lives lost, and for what? Sydney thought. Kendall's booming voice jerked her full attention back to the present.

"Agent Bristow and Agent Dixon: you two are on point for this. We want you to go in, confirm whether or not Caplan is there, and report back to a safe house we have set up nearby. There you will receive further instructions. Hopefully--"

"Wait," Sydney interrupted, "What are you saying? We're just going to go in and check the place out, and then leave? Isn't it in our best interests to try to extract Caplan as soon as possible?"

"In our best interests to send two valuable agents in to extract Caplan in a warehouse we no almost nothing about? We have no idea how many people are guarding it, if it is rigged with explosives. We don't know if Caplan is even there. So, no I don't believe that is in our best interests, Agent Bristow." Kendall replied, obviously miffed at Sydney questioning his authority. "All right, that's it. Dixon, Bristow: hopefully you two will fall back into working well together easily."

Kendall walked out of the room, most of the agents following behind him. Sydney, clearly upset, turned to Dixon.

"That's it? We're playing it too safely. If Caplan is there, we should just go in and get him, not sit on our hands and await further instructions. We will never stop Sloane if we continue like this! How many more lives have to be lost?"

"I think he is trying to prevent us from losing ours." Dixon looked at Sydney and sighed. "Syd, I know you are frustrated, but what can we do? We can only follow orders and do our jobs. I have faith in you, Syd. Eventually we will stop Sloane." Sydney looked away from him, crossing her arms and giving the door Kendall left through a stubborn look. Dixon got up and left Sydney alone with her thoughts in the briefing room.

Frustration and anger building up inside of her, Sydney let out a sigh. Sloane had effected in horrible ways not only her life, but so many other lives as well, in the past. She needed to stop him before he could do anymore damage. She had to stop him. After a few moments of sitting in her chair alone, stewing in her depressed mood, she got up. Grimly, she approached the room's exit to head home and pack.

"Well, looks like I'm going to Switzerland. Again."

To be continued…