Chapter Forty: Another Way Out

"What the hell have you done to her?" Michael demanded as soon as they were out the door. "She's acting like a fucking zombie. If you did anything to her head, brainwashed her--"

"She's not brainwashed, she's simply afraid, as you should be," Sark cut in. "Getting kidnapped tends to make a young lady a little uncertain about her fate."

"And she knows that you're pulling the strings," Sydney murmured. Michael looked at her sharply. She sounded so defeated, the way she'd sounded during so much of their time at the Organization. He hated when she got like that. "What, Michael?" she asked with a sigh, noting his look. "He is, or Mother is, at least. I'm sure they haven't told Emily why she's here, or even where she is, and now the two of us show up and tell her we're not taking her home right away? She's probably terrified of what will happen if she doesn't obey Sark and Mother perfectly."

"You're a smart woman, Sydney," Sark responded. "And I was foolish to allow the two of you to see her before we'd discussed a strategy. Irina will be here soon; we must determine how to orchestrate your return to the Organization, and Emily and Jack's induction into it."

"Oh," Sydney said, some of the old fire returning to her voice. "So you intend to use Jack as more than a bargaining chip, as leverage?"

"But of course, Sydney dear," Sark responded. "You're forgetting that your precious Jack completed almost three years of his elementary education at the Organization school, which means that he's already far ahead of the average adult as far as training goes."

Michael looked away. He would never forgive himself for what they'd subjected their son to as a child. He'd seen what the children at the Organization school were taught, and it was certainly more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Emily had been spared the same fate only because she'd been so young when they'd left.

"That said, the young Mr. Vaughn does make quite the excellent bargaining chip," Sark continued, a small smile playing about his lips. Michael would have loved nothing more than to punch it right off of his face. "He'll make a wonderful weapon, but he's certainly not irreplaceable. Not like your Emily."

Sydney nodded, the defeated look returning to her face. "Just promise me you won't--" her voice cracked, and she looked down at her feet for a brief moment. "Just promise me you won't give her the type of assignments you used to give Banning."

Michael's eyes widened. The thought that they would take his daughter and turn her into a-- oh, God, he could have thrown up.

"Of course Emily will be spared that type of assignment, as were you," Sark said.

Sydney responded with a nod. "And you will let us see our son before we make any kind of negotiations," she said. "If he's going to be used as a bargaining chip, then we need to know that he's alive and well."

"As you wish," Sark said with a nod. "I must say, Sydney, that I'm impressed. I expected you to put up more than a fight."

So did I, Michael thought helplessly. He had to get his wife alone, find out what was going on in her head. He knew that she was terrified for their lives, for Jack's, but for her to just accept their fate…

"Then you underestimated how much I care about my son," Sydney responded.

Michael frowned. Maybe he had, too. Hadn't she sold her soul to Irina once before to be with him? Why would he expect she'd do any less to save their children? Wouldn't he do the same?

Of course you will, a little voice inside his head whispered.

He just couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't another way out.