Chapter 37: Sydney in Wonderland

Sydney couldn't sleep. She felt torn by the two entities that were beginning to develop within her. The Sydney side of her was dangerous, unpredictable, restless, and ran on instinct. She was more comfortable with the Sarah side, optimistic, curious, less intense about everything, and just enjoyed things without having to analyze it to death. She couldn't understand why Sark was so adamant about bring out the side that was Sydney. He went on and on about her protecting herself from danger. What danger? She couldn't see how she could possibly be in danger, not in this fortress of a mansion.

Since it was plain that she wasn't going to be able to sleep, Sydney slipped out of bed. She opened the door cautiously and smiled tentatively at the black suit wearing security guard posted outside.

"I'm going to walk around for a bit." She explained to him and quickly darted from the room and down the hall. She heard him talk into his communicator as he followed her.

"This is Cerberus, Anastasia is on the move. Requesting new orders..."

Sydney rolled her eyes at the codenames. She grinned mischievously, a game of hide and seek was just what she needed. She rounded a corner and then darted into the second room on her right. She quickly scanned the room noticing the hidden camera. She disabled it quickly. She then stepped outside onto the balcony and out of view just as the door opened.

"Are you sure she's in here?" Security guy Cerberus said as he quickly searched the room.

Sydney quietly jumped from one balcony to the one next to it. Then from that balcony, she dropped to the ledge on the floor below. She slid along the ledge until she found a window that was open and climbed back into the mansion. The room was dark and small. It looked like an office. She scanned the room and was surprise to not find any hidden cameras.

She sat in the executive leather chair, leaned back and put up her feet on the desk. All that was missing was a cigar and a drink. She noticed that there was a humidor on the desk so she opened the lid and grabbed a cigar. She then laid back and pantomimed smoking it. She leaned back into the chair only this time, the walls looked like they were growing higher and the ceiling was moving farther away.

Sydney shook her head wondering if she was more tired then she thought. But the ceiling was getting farther and farther away. She was in an elevator, she finally surmised. Once the room stopped dropping, Sydney got to her feet and walked through the door feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland.

The room she entered was lit by a large fireplace in the center of the room. There were two couches and several armchairs surrounding the fireplace. There were shelves two stories high filled with books. Classical music filled the air softly and the warmth from the fire made the room enchanting.

Sydney stepped toward the books and the shelves lit up as if by magic. Motion censored lighting she thought impressed. She wondered how a person would reach the books on the top shelves. She ran her fingers along the books as she walked along the room. She stopped when she sensed a presence in the room.

"I've been expecting you!" The voice said warmly from one of the armchairs.

"Oh, hello! I hope I'm not intruding." Sydney said automatically feeling like an intruder. Then as her brain digested his words she felt foolish. He'd said he'd been expecting her. "I'm Sarah, or rather Sydney to my friends though at the moment I like Sarah a lot more then I like Sydney." Sydney babbled.

"Sarah, Sydney, it doesn't matter what you call yourself, it's who you are that matters." The voice said wisely though a little cryptically. "My name is Charles."

Sydney stepped toward him trying to make out his features.

"Lights, up 4 point." Charles commanded and the room brightened.

She could now see his features. He was very old and hooked up to several machines. She'd expected someone slightly younger because of his strong voice.

A vague memory surfaced and disappeared. "I know you!" Sydney said trying to regain the elusive memory.

"This is the first time we've met in person, though I've been searching for you all my life." Charles said truthfully.

"Why?" Sydney asked.

"Because you're special and capable of great things." Charles responded eyes smiling.

"Can you tell me who I am?" Sydney asked hopefully. "I know it's a strange question but I can't remember anything."

"Ah yes, the accident, you had us all worried." Charles sadly.

It was just then that Sydney notice that Charles's mouth didn't move when he spoke.

As if reading her mind he explained why. "After my last stroke I was unable to speak, my scientists developed this machine linking to my brain and allowing my thoughts to have a voice. It's the first prototype."

"How do you stop the things you don't want said?" Sydney asked.

"They're still working on it." Charles said eyes smiling.

"So if I asked you a question, you'd automatically answer it?" Sydney asked.

"I see where you're going with this my dear. I have developed my own defense in case I'm interrogated." He warned.

Sydney slumped into a chair. "I knew it would have been too easy." She said frustrated.

"Patience my dear. Truth takes time." Charles said trying to comfort her.

"I would be more patient if people would just leave me alone. They all want something from me and I can't figure out what it is!" Sydney confided. "Sark keeps trying to change me into his Sydney and keeps warning me about danger."

"Mr. Sark wants you to be Sydney?" Charles asked puzzled interrupting her. "I would have thought that he would be trying to turn you into another Sarah.

"Another Sarah? What do you mean?" Sydney asked confused.

"I'm sorry but it's not my story to tell. I do have something that you may find interesting. Library. Search author Radcliff comma Sarah. Title. Diary. Retrieve." Charles ordered. The shelved began to move and shift. After about a minute, a small electronic robot shaped like a dog appeared to Charles right and dropped a leather bound book into his lap.

Sydney smiled as she realized how automated and advanced the room was. It was impressive and someday, she wanted a room just like it.

"This diary was written by Sarah Radcliff. She died before it was her time. I've hidden something within it. When you find it, I recommend you not view it until you've fully recovered your memory." Charles said handing the diary to her with a shaking right hand. "Keep it safe."

Sydney was confused, there was another Sarah Radcliff? And what was her connection to Sark? Sydney yawned involuntarily. She was beginning to get tired and sleepy. "I apologize, I." Sydney stopped talking as she realized that Charles had disappeared.

Two security guards came into the room and escorted Sydney back to her room. Sydney was too tired to argue and once she was back in her room she flopped onto the bed and fell asleep with the journal protectively clutched in her arms.