Story: Beyond All Limits
Author: Steph (stephanie406@juno.com)
Disclaimer: Don't own Alias, or any characters thus portrayed. It all belongs to JJ Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, ABC, etc.
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Spoilers/Summary : post "After Thirty Years"; Vaughn's alive, and Sydney's been captured
Distribution: I'd love it if you would, just let me know where it's going! CD all day any day!
"What do you want?" A weary voice aged with the harsh reality of life, ripe with wisdom.
"No retorts this time? No shouted questions? No accusations to make? Sydney, you disappoint me," Irina said tauntingly, moving from the doorway.
Sydney's eyes flicked towards her mother and her gaze held utter contempt. But she remained silent. She'd had many hours to sit and think since Sark had left. She sensed, rather than saw, his presence in the shadows of the hallway.
"Well then. I do hope you are as cooperative for the remainder of your stay" Irina sneered. She was circling Sydney's chair like a lion about to pounce on its prey.
"Really now" was Sydney's response, heavily laced with sarcasm. This game was beginning to get very old. All she wanted to know was what they wanted from her that was so important that she was here.
Irina motioned, and one of her armed goons came in bearing a chair, which he placed in front of Sydney before quickly retreating. So, even her help was afraid of her. Sydney couldn't blame them.
Sydney watched impassively as her mother sat down and looked at her. Finally, she began to speak again. "I do despise having to place you under such restraints, Sydney, but I'm afraid it will be necessary until you have been transported to your final destination."
That got Sydney's attention. Final destination? Where were they sending her? What did this monster plan on doing with her? Sydney sat up straight and finally looked her mother in the eye and held her gaze.
Irina continued. "I'm quite sure you're wondering why we went through all this trouble" she motioned to indicate the room "to secure you within our operation."
Sydney nodded.
"It's all part of a plan that's bigger than you, bigger than myself, Sydney. Now. I know you're well aware of Page 47 to Rambaldi's journal, what has become known as 'The Prophecy'. Truly, I am sorry that you were mistaken for me in regards to the investigation that took place, yet even that was foretold in the Prophecy. But what your CIA does not know is that Page 47 was only a small portion of this Prophecy.
"Rambaldi was a very ingenious man. He realized the power his visions held, and therefore spread the Prophecy through many of his works. Sketches, paintings, hidden in various objects. I was intrigued with his methods. After discovering a few pieces of the Prophecy, I came to realize that some things had already come true, that I had already fulfilled them. Since then, I have spent my years since I left you and your father collecting the Prophecy and seeing to it that it be brought about as Rambaldi foresaw it.
"The battery and other of Rambaldi's inventions—they are only a distraction." Irina's hand waved dismissively. "True, placed together, they form something, serve some purpose. It amuses me to bring his inventions to life. But finally, after years of searching, planning and manipulation, the Prophecy is ready to be fulfilled."
Sydney was seized by a sudden numbness as the feeling of impending dread settled deep into her soul. She knew with certainty that she wasn't going to like what was coming next.
"Wouldn't you like to know what the Prophecy really has to say Sydney?" Irina's face held a lecherously smug smile.
"Actually, no, not really. I'd much rather you let me go home."
"I'm afraid that's not a possibility Sydney. Not yet, anyway." Her mother's eyes narrowed. She raised her voice a little and called towards the doorway "If you would join us now, Mr. Sark." He walked in, the self-confident smug smile still in place on his face. He came to a stop next to Irina.
"Mr. Sark will accompany you to one of my private homes, a secluded and isolated island that is miles away from any human beings. He too was destined to bring this Prophecy into fulfillment, and you shall do this together."
Sydney eyed him suspiciously before returning her gaze to her mother. "And what exactly is it that you think we'll be doing on this island of yours that will fulfill whatever this Prophecy says?"
"'She who lives for justice and tries to right the actions done by the woman who bore her, will in turn bear the child who will be the greatest force known to all humanity.' That my dear Sydney, is what you are to fulfill. You and Mr. Sark are allotted one year to bring forth the child and deliver it to me."
Sydney's voice was low, and her eyes dangerously dark as she spoke. "You have to be out of your fucking mind, woman! This is a 500-year-old so-called 'prophecy', in which no names are mentioned and it very well could be, and probably is, the invention of a delusional old man. And for that" she spat "you're going to force your own child to have relations with her enemy and bear you a child? Just what about this even seems remotely realistic about this?"
"I assure you, I am perfectly sane, thank you" her mother answered primly (if that were even possible for that woman). "And you will do as you're told, and behave while you're at it, simply because you have no other choice. Especially if you want you loved ones to still be alive when you're released within a year's time."
Sydney slumped in defeat. She'd do whatever it was her mother wanted from her, even if it meant bearing Sark's child, as long as it kept Irina from hurting her father, Will and Francie, and Vaughn. She'd proven well that she knew where to hit where it would hurt Sydney the most.
"What exactly will be stopping me from killing him and preventing your Prophecy from ever happening?" It was a valid question, after all.
"Sydney" she said rather impatiently, quickly standing. "If you ever want to see your Michael Vaughn of the green eyes and longing looks ever again, you'll do exactly as I tell you to. After all, I killed his father, it would be nothing at all for me to kill the son as well."
How did she know what color his eyes were? What looks he sent her way? Sydney closed her eyes, tears burning and threatening to spill down. She inhaled deeply, blinked her tears away, and looked up, her chin turned up defiantly. "Fine. I'll go with him, but don't expect me to give in as easily."
"That doesn't matter to me Sydney, whether you do this the hard or easy way. I alone know the day the child will be born, the sex, the birthmarks. It will happen. Nothing you do will change that. But if you do cause Mr. Sark too much trouble, you will be placed under sedatives that will pose no difficulty to you or the child."
A lone tear escaped down Sydney's cheek. Her mother wasn't playing some cruel joke on her; she really expected her to do this. And she would assuredly take whatever measures necessary to ensure that she got her way.
Sydney caught a fleeting glimpse of her mother's reaction to that lone tear: infinite sadness and sorrow. And maybe even… love? It was a look Sydney recognized from her childhood. But it was gone long before Sydney could be sure she'd even seen it in the first place.
"I'm sorry it had to happen this way Sydney" she said, before quickly turning and leaving, the heels on her shoes clicking, echoing back softer as she got farther away.
When Sydney opened her eyes again, she wasn't surprised to find Sark still standing before her. The lecherous look was gone, and so was the smug smile. He pulled something from his pocket: another syringe. "A sedative" he explained. So you won't give us any more trouble was the implied message. He quickly injected it, and then set about freeing Sydney from the chair, and even kindly rehandcuffing her hands in front of her. And then he pulled her to her feet and escorted her out of the room, out of the pyramid, and towards a waiting helicopter. No time was wasted.
After all, didn't her predetermined destiny await?
AN: well folks, one chapter left…. Review as always *grin* I'm still working on the last chapter, and it goes without saying that the more reviews I get the faster I write (I know that's a terribly cliché incentive to offer, but it's actually true in this instance)… FEEDBACK!!! hehe
