Chapter Thirty-six: The Decision
"Well, that's lovely," Sydney said, struggling to keep her cool. "You kidnap my daughter, you summon me here. How considerate of you to tell me why I'm here."
"I'd watch your tone, Sydney," Irina responded. "You never did know your place."
Sydney clenched her fists, seething. Willing herself not to say anything she'd regret.
"You left the Organization something like a decade ago, Sydney," Irina told her. "I think that's a long enough break, don't you?"
Sydney's eyes popped. "Break?"
"Yes," Irina said, nodding as if this all made perfect sense. "Of course, the Organization isn't really the Organization anymore, it's merely an offshoot of SD-6 and the Alliance. But I'm sure you can help me change that."
"Surely you don't expect me to work for you," Sydney said in disbelief. Actually, she was surprised her mother would even trust her to work for her.
"Well, it's only fair," Irina said with a shrug. "You'll help rebuild what you destroyed. I gave you a break, Sydney." She kept saying break, as if Sydney had merely been on an extended vacation the past ten years. "But now your children are old enough to be of use to me--"
"My children will never work for you," Sydney spat. She couldn't help herself.
"Oh, I think they will." Sydney absolutely hated Irina's tone-- as if she were merely relaying information, as if Sydney had no choice in the matter. "And you will, too." Irina's eyes glinted mirthlessly. "And since the little upset you performed on my Organization forced me to team up with an old adversary of yours, you do realize that you'll also be working for Arvin Sloane."
"No," Sydney whispered, but her words lacked conviction. Sure, she'd beaten her mother once, but it had taken her nearly a decade. And who was to say who'd really won that game, anyway?
"Your daughter is brilliant," Irina said, as if Sydney hadn't spoken. "But I'm afraid she'll need a little convincing to do my bidding. I thought of imprisoning you, but that would only make your children hostile towards me. You will work for me," she said, nodding as if the decision had been made. "And you will convince your children to do the same. Convince them that you made a horrible, horrible decision when you left the Organization." Irina smiled a wintry smile. "Which, of course, you did."
"No," Sydney whispered, but this time, her voice was barely audible.
"Yes," Irina responded. She pressed a button on the table, a button Sydney hadn't noticed before, and in an instant, Sark was before them.
"Sark," Irina said, leaning back in her chair with a content smile. "Take Sydney away, please. And bring me Michael."