Welcome to the CIA



Sydney and Sark arrived at the Los Angeles cell of the CIA and went inside together. Sydney swallowed hard as she followed him inside. She was still reeling from the encounter in the park just a few minutes before. Was it possible that she was falling for him? No, she told herself, it's just nerves. I'm in fear of what he might have planned to compromise our objective inside SD-6.

Kendall, Jack, and Vaughn, along with some random CIA employees were standing in a semi-circle as Sydney and Sark walked up to them.

Mr. Sark, Kendall began, after much deliberation, we have finally agreed to allow you to work for us. He extended his hand. Welcome to the CIA.

Sark shook it and Sydney couldn't help but smile. Vaughn saw Sydney's reaction and stiffened a bit.

Thank you, sir—



Kendall, yes, thank you for this opportunity, and I promise that you will not regret this, Sark said, then glanced at Sydney who was still smiling.

Kendall nodded and withdrew his hand. One thing I would like to do is get you reacquainted with Irina Derevko. She's been—

She is here? Sark whispered in disbelief.

Kendall didn't reply but merely nodded. Come with me. He started to walk in the direction of Irina's cell with Sark on his heels and turned around. Agent Bristow, I would like you to join us, he said, gesturing to Sydney.

Sydney nodded and exchanged glances with her father and Vaughn before following Kendall and Sark. The three arrived at Irina's cell a couple of minutes later and they stood for a moment watching Irina's slumbering figure. Kendall gave the glass a forceful and loud tap. Irina practically leapt up from the cot.

Sydney muttered, you could have just knocked lightly.

Kendall gave her a death stare then turned back to the glass. Once Irina saw Sark, she bounded from the cot and pounded hard on the glass.

Sydney began, but was cut off by Kendall.

Ms. Derevko, Mr. Sark has agreed to cooperate with us in our efforts to take down SD-6.

Have you even thought this through? Irina roared, he worked for me, I know what he is capable of!

Mom, really, it's—

Stay out of this, Sydney, Irina snapped, glancing at her daughter for a brief moment to get her point across before turning back to Kendall. The idea that Sark is going to be working this closely with the government of the United States as well as my daughter, is absolutely insane!

Well, I would consider you to be much worse than Sark in terms of capabilities and having you work with us is working fairly well. Albeit, you're in captivity, so we don't have to worry about you—

Stop it, Sydney ordered. Look, Mom, Sark has offered to help us and you know as well as I that we need all the help we can get. She turned to Kendall when she saw her mother's features soften a bit. Kendall, I know you're eager to make this as painless a transition as possible but I will not stand for you making comments like that about my mother.

Kendall nodded slightly and frowned. He stared into Irina's eyes and straightened his back so as to appear somewhat menacing. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. He turned and left, leaving Sydney and Sark behind.

What are your motives, Sark? Irina asked pointedly.

I want to help bring an end to SD-6, that is purely the only reason for wanting to do this, Sark answered.

I don't believe that.

Well, it's the truth. I want to bring down the organization, so I asked Ms. Bristow here— he squeezed Sydney's shoulder, —to help me with getting involved with the CIA.

Sydney shivered from Sark's touch—and not because she was cold. Sark sighed and let his hand fall back to his side. Sydney suddenly ached to be touched by him again. Her lip trembled a bit as she stared at Sark, not really looking at him, but through him, as her mind formed a fantasy she would definitely make sure she delved into later. She was so lost in thought that she barely noticed Sark say something that must have been a good-bye to her and her mother then leave to walk down the stretch of hallway. She watched him go, analyzing every step he took and how his muscles seemed to move so effortlessly in taking those steps. She was aching again.

Irina said in a voice that was gentle yet firm and snapped Sydney out of her trance.

she asked, glancing at her mother for a moment before gazing back at the hallway.

Sark was gone.

Sydney was a bit pissed that she didn't get to see Sark round the corner but she wasn't about to display her annoyance. Instead, after turning back to her mother, she managed a weak smile.

Irina raised an eyebrow at her. Why don't you seem to be the least bit worried about this?

I-I don't kn-know, Sydney stammered, I just want to believe that he wants to help. She shook her head slightly and shrugged her shoulders.

Irina narrowed her eyes at her daughter. Are you hoping to become friends with him?

Sydney said, quickly dropping her gaze to the floor, of course not. He's just a colleague.

Irina rubbed her lip with her fingers. You like him, don't you?

Sydney looked back up and nodded slightly. I know I shouldn't, she said before her mother could comment, but there's something about him that's so intriguing and—I don't know—I just can't stop thinking about him. She looked down again and her shoulders shook a bit.

Irina touched the glass and stared intently at her daughter. She could see why Sydney was so intrigued' by Sark: he was charming, well-mannered, and—among other things—had a captivating pair of ice blue eyes. But with the pros, there was bound to be a con, and—of course—there was: Sark was a cold-blooded killer. She was more aware of that than anyone and didn't want to see her daughter hurt by him, emotionally or physically. She found it hard to believe that Sark could change in an instant and she found it absolutely absurd that the CIA—as well as her daughter—could.

He could hurt you, Irina stated matter-of-factly.

I know.

If you fall too hard and he doesn't feel the same way back... Irina trailed off and sighed. I don't want to see you hurt, Sydney.

I know, Mom. I don't exactly plan on becoming so infatuated with him that he takes up all of my thoughts and I don't plan on going out there right now and telling him I feel something for him but I just— she raised her hands palm-up as she shrugged, then allowed them crash down against her sides, —I just don't know what to do.

Irina nodded, understanding her daughter's predicament. I think for now you just need to focus on the task at hand—taking down SD-6—everything else will come later. I think you know that.

Sydney said with a nod as she shoved her hands into her pockets. She stood like that for a moment, then looked up suddenly and her mother caught her gaze.

It's getting late, babe, Irina said softly.

Sydney removed a hand from her pocket and checked her watch. It was after nine. She nodded.

I like your vocabulary, Irina told her.

Sydney said, not even listening to what her mother was saying. she said quietly, after seeing her mother tilt her head and smile at her. She realized that with the inclusion of the sentence before last, she had used the word yeah' three times in the past minute or less.

You should get going, Irina coaxed.

Sydney replied absently. She laughed suddenly and her mother laughed with her. I'll see you.

Irina nodded and Sydney began to turn and walk away. She stopped mid-step.







Irina nodded again and, with a finger, lifted a tear off of her eyelash as she watched her daughter leave.