Author's Comments: Okay, everyone, this is where things turnaround. You're going to have to read on to find out if your thoughts are what you think they are. Please keep reading and reviewing. I'm very happy about all the reviews I've gotten so far. Thank you all so much!

Chapter 6

Vaughn had been staring at the files of his new agent for the past four hours, and if anyone had approached him and asked him to give the name of the agent, he'd have to say that he had no clue. Everything seemed to remind him of Sydney, and he meant everything. Just looking at the documents that Kendall had given him on his new agent reminded him of the documents he had found in the manila envelope the night Sydney had been shot.

Vaughn shook his head slightly and tried to get himself to focus on the words in front of him. He still had to contact this agent and give her the counter mission. It would seem simple enough, but there were two problems. One, she was female, and two, she was a replacement. The idea just wasn't going over well.

* * *

Sloane bent back in his chair, smiling to himself. Jack Bristow had reacted just as he had thought he would to Sloane's request to speak at the service. He could see the emotional struggle within him as he called Sydney his "daughter." The look had been priceless, and Sloane didn't think he'd ever forget it.

The next sign of triumph was when Jack had thrown his flower off of Sydney's casket. Though he was a little miffed at Jack's actions, Sloane knew he was getting to the impenetrable Jack Bristow.

"Sir?" Sloane's intercom announced the presence of an officer from security section.

"Go ahead," Sloane requested.

"We've got Agent 3471 all ready."

Sloane smiled. "Good, I'll be right down." Sloane turned off the intercom and proceeded to his door. He walked down the hallways of SD-6 seeing a mournful Dixon and a grave Marshall. Jack Bristow was no where to be seen, just as Sloane had expected.

Sloane continued to the elevator of the Credit Dauphine building. He removed a card from his pocket and slipped into the electronic slot inside the elevator next to the floor keypad numbers. After clearing him, he pushed the "BB" key on the elevator pad and the elevator began to move downwards. All the SD office cells analyzed elevator occupants upon reaching the floor. The basement however, was restricted. Only designated employees could access it, and in doing so they need the key card that Sloane possessed.

Once Sloane reached the basement, the elevator stopped and Sloane walked out and stopped. The room turned red and then white, and the doors before him opened.

"Right this way, Sir," one of the guards addressed him upon reaching the floor. The basement was made to hold agents, assassins, and prisoners, all of which were made use at the disposal of the Alliance. The agents held down here were among the best in the business. All of them had loyalties or were forced to have loyalties purely to the Alliance, and knew of whom they were working for.

Sloane followed the guard down the cinder block hallway past the many iron doors that held the agents to the Alliance. Many would wonder how it was possible for Alliance agents to be loyal when they were cooped up in the basement and secluded from society, but the truth was that behind the heavy iron doors, agents received anything they wished. For, behind these doors were rooms often furnished extravagantly. Hot tubs, pools, and beautiful women were common among these highly paid agents.

They continued down the corridor until the guard stopped in front of the door labeled 3471. Each agent of the Alliance was given a number not a name. For these agents did not exist in society, and needed not to be addressed by anything but as a soldier.

The guard reached for the keys and opened the door. Sloane stepped into the room and looked around for the newest agent to the Alliance. He watched as she stepped out of her bedroom and stopped dead to look at Sloane.

She pushed her blonde hair behind her ear, and stood still, watching him. She at this moment was not following protocol. Whenever Sloane was to walk in the room, agents were to be at attention, and Agent 3471 was disrespectfully not at attention. Sloane nodded at the guard who pulled a small detonator from his pocket. He pushed the button and the agent began to shake violently until he let go.

"At attention!" The guard yelled. The woman glared at Sloane but grudgingly assumed the attention position with her feet together, hands at her side, shoulders back, and chin up. Sloane walked up to her and glanced at the right side of her neck. The spot still had a bruise on it, but it should disappear soon enough.

"You've been informed of the admission procedure?" Sloane asked. Agent 3471 did not answer.

"Agent," Sloane threatened.

"Yes, Sir," she answered.

"So you realize that all your conversations are monitored, and your locations traced?"

"Yes, Sir," Agent 3471 answered through clenched teeth.

"And you realize that all of your actions are punishable as just demonstrated?" Sloane asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"Good," Sloane said nodding satisfied. "Then enjoy your stay, Agent 3471, as that is to be your name from this stance on. We'll contact you when we need you. The phone," Sloane said pointing to the one located on the far table near the leather couch, "we'll connect you directly with an Alliance official who will get you what ever you request. Have a good day." Sloane turned away and left the room. The minute Sloane closed the door, Agent 3471 picked up the nearest object, which happened to be a vase, and threw it against the wall. Tears fell down her cheeks, away from her blue eyes.

Agent 3471 was one of those agents who were forced in their loyalties. There was nothing more she wanted than to see the Alliance fall and then rub it Sloane's face. However, the SOB had put the damn transmitter in her neck before she had had a chance. In actuality, she didn't care about her life, but it was those from her past that Sloane threatened, and it was those people she couldn't live without. In other words, she was forced to work with the very people she had always wanted to work against.