Jack & Irina
Irina heard it first. A faint mechanical whir down the hallway. She pulled away from Jack and helped him sit up, reorganizing their clothing. Jack, waking from a light doze, felt suddenly bereft by the loss of the closeness and the warmth. Then he heard it, too, and flashed a look of gratitude at her for not leaving him vulnerable as Cuvee, S&G, and the guards approached. He turned toward them, stone-faced.
Peering at them through the bars, S&G was the first to speak. "Yes, it looks like you did soften him up rather well. On an experienced agent like Bristow, the serum works much better when he is in a weakened state."
"How long?" grated Cuvee.
"The drug's effects start appearing rapidly. Once we inject the drug, it will only take about 30 minutes before we can count on his responses. His inhibitions should have been totally eliminated, and he will tell you what you need to know."
"I need answers in 2 hours, no later. I can not hold off inquiries into our failure with the Rambaldi device any longer. We must know how our operation was penetrated," he snapped.
"A shame," S&G mused. "The old-fashioned methods take a little longer but are so reliable." He peered in at the prisoners. "Maybe another time?" he said hopefully.
"To make sure it's reliable, inject them both. I can tell if it is working by Irina's answers to a couple of choice questions I have for her." Cuvee snapped his fingers at one of the guards who stepped into the cell, grabbed each one in turn, and injected an ampule of clear liquid into the right arm.
"See you soon," hissed S&G, as his wheelchair whirred back down the hall.
Sydney
Sydney stretched. The cabin of the GOFER was large enough to seat two, with an enclosed cargo area behind. It was fitted out with a cot and medical supplies for Jack, as well as mission clothes for Jack and Irina once they were extracted.
People thought the life of a spy was so glamorous - if only they knew the truth. Most of her job seemed to be traveling from one place to another, in a state of constant jet lag. Once a week she'd get 10-15 minutes of action, then have to travel some more.
She checked on the C4 and nerve gas in the front compartment. Still an hour to go. Sydney wondered idly what her parents were up to.
Jack
Jack's mind spun. Cuvee. Rambaldi intelligence. Inevitably the questions would lead to Sydney and her double-agent role. If Cuvee found out she was a double-agent, it would only be a matter of time before the Alliance found out as well - with horrifying consequences for Sydney. He had been trained how to protect critical information during interrogations. He hoped he'd be strong enough to protect this.
And, dear God, what if the serum started working before they returned? Would he be in an 8 x 10 cell with Irina Derevko with no ability to shield his emotions? Or what he truly thought? Exactly what inhibitions would be removed?
Turning, he looked at Irina. And could tell from her startled glance that the same thoughts were going through her mind.
Irina heard it first. A faint mechanical whir down the hallway. She pulled away from Jack and helped him sit up, reorganizing their clothing. Jack, waking from a light doze, felt suddenly bereft by the loss of the closeness and the warmth. Then he heard it, too, and flashed a look of gratitude at her for not leaving him vulnerable as Cuvee, S&G, and the guards approached. He turned toward them, stone-faced.
Peering at them through the bars, S&G was the first to speak. "Yes, it looks like you did soften him up rather well. On an experienced agent like Bristow, the serum works much better when he is in a weakened state."
"How long?" grated Cuvee.
"The drug's effects start appearing rapidly. Once we inject the drug, it will only take about 30 minutes before we can count on his responses. His inhibitions should have been totally eliminated, and he will tell you what you need to know."
"I need answers in 2 hours, no later. I can not hold off inquiries into our failure with the Rambaldi device any longer. We must know how our operation was penetrated," he snapped.
"A shame," S&G mused. "The old-fashioned methods take a little longer but are so reliable." He peered in at the prisoners. "Maybe another time?" he said hopefully.
"To make sure it's reliable, inject them both. I can tell if it is working by Irina's answers to a couple of choice questions I have for her." Cuvee snapped his fingers at one of the guards who stepped into the cell, grabbed each one in turn, and injected an ampule of clear liquid into the right arm.
"See you soon," hissed S&G, as his wheelchair whirred back down the hall.
Sydney
Sydney stretched. The cabin of the GOFER was large enough to seat two, with an enclosed cargo area behind. It was fitted out with a cot and medical supplies for Jack, as well as mission clothes for Jack and Irina once they were extracted.
People thought the life of a spy was so glamorous - if only they knew the truth. Most of her job seemed to be traveling from one place to another, in a state of constant jet lag. Once a week she'd get 10-15 minutes of action, then have to travel some more.
She checked on the C4 and nerve gas in the front compartment. Still an hour to go. Sydney wondered idly what her parents were up to.
Jack
Jack's mind spun. Cuvee. Rambaldi intelligence. Inevitably the questions would lead to Sydney and her double-agent role. If Cuvee found out she was a double-agent, it would only be a matter of time before the Alliance found out as well - with horrifying consequences for Sydney. He had been trained how to protect critical information during interrogations. He hoped he'd be strong enough to protect this.
And, dear God, what if the serum started working before they returned? Would he be in an 8 x 10 cell with Irina Derevko with no ability to shield his emotions? Or what he truly thought? Exactly what inhibitions would be removed?
Turning, he looked at Irina. And could tell from her startled glance that the same thoughts were going through her mind.