Chapter Four:
Christmas. Woman…Offspring

"Nobody leaves the Covenant," Lisenker replied. "Some get let go- but they are not really free. They are just being put aside. You are Covenant for life."

Sydney was trying her best to keep her face passive. "Put aside for what?"

Lisenker leaned back into his seat. "They had you. They had you and let you go."

Sydney hesitated and then gave a short nod. "Yes."

"Well, now I have a person I can trust," Lisenker said. "You are like me. Not safe until the Covenant is gone."

xxxxx

"Yeah. It just seemed to me that she was taking in every single little detail. It wasn't like she wanted to get to know us, it was like she had to…oh god," she smacked her forehead. "I am sounding so paranoid."

"Hey, your intuition has proven to be pretty spot on," Vaughn said. "But just be really careful with this one."

Sydney looked at him. "Weiss."

"Yeah. I think that he really likes her."

"He does," Sydney agreed. "Which is why I'm going to ignore what I felt tonight. If it happens again, then maybe I'll look into it."

Vaughn leaned across, pressing his lips into hers. "You're an incredible friend, you know."

"And so is he," Sydney replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer. "Which is why I am going to tread carefully."

Lauren stared silently at the lone child working fervently at the puzzle before her. It always amazed her, watching Elizabeth work, but it also concerned her. It worried her to think about how much faith was being put into a child. If things did not turn out as planned, the finger would certainly be pointed in her own direction.

"May I help you Ms Reed?"

Lauren stiffened slightly before turning to face the person behind her. "No, McKenas. I just wanted to see how she was going." She paused. "Just how exactly is she progressing?"

"As we hoped," Cole replied.

"How much longer will she be isolated for? When will she be placed with the others?"

"She won't be…we have already started with them in a separate facility."

"What? But—"

"Now, now" Cole cut her off, his tone annoyingly patronizing. "We have our reasons for keeping Elizabeth alone."

"But surely social stimulation would only advance her progress."

"She is our Patient Zero," Cole replied. "We cannot risk tainting her."

"Patient?" Lauren spat. "She is not even ill."

"Just a figure of speech, Ms Reed," he said. "Now, how did you enjoy the opening? I must thank you for taking my place. I heard that the festivities were rather…bleak."

"You heard correct," Lauren said. "In fact, the only excitement, if you could even call it that, I got was running into her," she nodded towards Elizabeth, "father."

Cole stiffened. "Michael Vaughn was at the function?"

"Yes…is that a problem?"

"Considering that he is back with the CIA, I would say yes," Cole said.

Lauren was stunned. "Michael returned…why was I not informed?"

"You had no reason to know."

"So, then what was the CIA doing at one of our functions?"

Cole was silent for several moments. "Leonid," he finally said.

"What about him?"

"He has gone off the map…he's with them. He has to be."

Lauren's heart skipped a beat. "Does he know anything damaging that could be passed on? Will our cell be compromised?"

Cole shook his head. "He was with another sector- they'll need to be notified." With that he turned and walked away.

Lauren turned back to Elizabeth. It was crazy, she thought, to put one's future in a child. Absolute crazy.

"Good morning!"

Sydney jumped at the loud voice that sounded way too chipper for the morning on a work day. Glancing up she wasn't surprised to see Lilly standing beside her desk.

"Morning Lilly," she said, her conversation with Vaughn from the night before playing on her mind. "How are you?"

"Great," Lilly declared, perching herself on the edge of the desk. "Last night was so much fun."

"Yeah…" Sydney said, her fingers itching to hit the keyboard. She has a tonne of work to be done.

"It felt good, getting to know some new people," Lilly was saying.

Sydney's thoughts on her work suddenly strayed. Lilly had surely gotten to know them, but they knew absolutely nothing about her. She was simply Lillian Wolfe from London.

Sydney leaned back in her seat, a part of her hating herself for being so suspicious.

"We should have coffee one day, Lilly," she said.

Lilly blinked. "Oh, ok…when?"

"How about today. I feel like we didn't really get to know you last night and I really want to."

"You do?" Lilly asked. "Um, well maybe not today. There is still a heap that needs to be done to completely clear me for this office. What about tomorrow?"

Sydney waved a hand. "Whenever- you just let me know when you are free."

Dixon looked up as Jack entered his office. "Where are we at with Lisenker?"

"He's been completely cleared of any surveillance," Jack replied. "No bugs, transmitters and his blood has been transfused to ensure that there is no isotope in his system."

"Have we started on his interrogation?"

Jack paused. "He's stalling."

"Excuse me?" Dixon blinked.

"He is scared, which is causing him to be hesitant," Jack replied. "He'll only talk if he feels safe."

"And just how are we supposed to manage that?"

"Well, he did make one request…"

"What do you think of bowling?" Weiss mused aloud.

Vaughn looked up from his computer. "What do I think of what?"

"Bowling. I'm gonna ask Lilly out- I just need a little first date advice."

Vaughn snorted. "So you come to me? The last two 'first' dates I went on are remembered not for their success."

Weiss was frowning. "What do you mean?"

"My first dinner with Sydney- the one you encouraged me about- ended with the both of us leaving the restaurant under a hail of gunfire. My first date with Lauren which, coincidentally, you also pushed me towards, ended with me seeing my 'dead' girlfriend and resulted in me thinking that I was losing my mind."

Weiss's expression was contemplative. "Hmm…maybe I'll talk to Marshall- nah, he had the whole sweat thing…"

"What?"

"Nothing." Weiss paused. "Hey, what advice do you think I would get from Jack?"

Vaughn could only stares at him, incredulous. "I think that you should just ask her bowling."

"Do you have any ideas as to why Lisenker would request speaking to you?" Jack pressed.

Sydney gave a small shrug. "We got talking on the plane trip home. Maybe he feels some sort of rapport with me?"

"Or maybe this is a trap," Jack pointed out. "Think about who he works for."

"Worked," Sydney corrected. "And what harm could he possibly do to me in a CIA facility?" She paused. "I am sure that he is on my side."

"And how is that?"

"Because we not only want to see the Covenant crippled, we need them to be."

"You're not making a good first impression," Sydney said, as she walked into the small room.

"What can I say?" Lisenker said. "I have few…trust problems."

"We are the CIA, Leonid. We are here to help you, not hurt you."

"I have no problem with CIA. It is Covenant," Lisenker explained. "They have people everywhere. How can I know I was not telling everything to one of them?"

"There is no member of the Covenant within these walls," Sydney said without hesitation.

"How do you know?"

"Well, then why are you talking to me? I could be one of them."

"No. I see look in your eyes on the plane- that was real."

Sydney paused for several moments. "Ok, then talk to me. What is that Covenant doing? What is their aim?"

"Have you noticed they have been quiet over past two years?"

Sydney nodded. It had been a source of great frustration. Occasional acts to let the authorities know that they were still active, but not enough to give them any solid leads.

"It is because their plan is not for tomorrow. Not for next week. Not for next year. They have plan for long future."

"How do you mean?"

"I am not fully sure. I have heard rumours only," Lisenker said. "But have you heard of Project Christmas?"

Sydney felt herself stiffen. "Yes," she replied shortly.

"The Covenant- they have developed program. Taken from Christmas and made it their own. They want to build an army- one that would be unstoppable."

"They're training children?" Sydney asked, trying to ignore the turning of her stomach.

"Yes," Lisenker nodded. "And rumour is Covenant has offspring of an original Christmas woman. The child is being trained to…lead."

After several moments, trying to comprehend what had just been said, Sydney stood up. "Could you excuse me for a moment," she said quietly. As she left there were only three words on her mind.

Christmas. Woman…Offspring.