Day 3
MAÇOIS BAY - MILITARY GROUP CAMP
Dawn was falling over the forest. Sydney began to come around slowly. She was still on her cell; that was real, not a nightmare. She was tired but she felt a little better. She tried to get up, she felt a bit sick. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she couldn't afford panic to invade her. It was a difficult task; each time she thought of being in front of Sark and Kreschnik, terror invaded her.
Some food and water had been left next to the bed, and she ate eagerly. As time passed, more difficult would be to find her in that recondite place.
The door was opened and two armed men, she hadn't seen before, came into the room.
"Come with us, please.", they said
Sydney decided not to resist; she had nothing to do given her state. Her eyes were covered and she was brought back to the interrogations room where she had been the previous day. The moment had come and she had to be strong. She was forced to lay in a sort of hollow table and her wrists and feet were handcuffed to its ends. She already knew what that was, she had to go through it before, in Bucarest. The electroshock tub. She tried to think of another thing, but memories, painful ones, emerged in her mind.
A light was turned on near her. She could noticed it through the bandage. She heard nearing steps and someone turned music on. "Typical of Kreschnik", she thought.
"Good morning, Sydney" - Kreschnik's voice sounded sardonic - "It's
been a long time since the last time we met, isn't it? I was really
looking forward to meeting you again."
Kreschnik unbuttoned the top of her shirt and she felt the cold metal of an stethoscope.
"Come on, Sydney. Don't get nervous. This is not new for you.", he said.
She was shaking. She didn't want to feel that again. She wanted to shout, to beg, but she knew it wouldn't be of any use. Sark spoke.
"Bristow, it's a pity you're so hyper-sensitive to penthotal. Things
would have been much easier for you. though less funny for us, of
course. Nobody, listen to me, nobody plays dirty on me and gets his
way. I keep everything in my memory and sooner or later those debts
are paid", he said.
"You're a sadic, Sark", Sydney answered.
Sark grabbed her hair.
"Sydney, Sydney. how many times I've told you not to get me angry", he
whispered, "you're so stubborn, even if you are at a disadvantage you
have to be impertinent and bad-mannered:"
With expert hands, hands which had made the same operation in innumerable times, Kreschnik fixed the little electrodes along Sydney's body.
"It's ready, Sark", he said "The show can start"
Sydney could feel how water was filling the tub. She wished to die that very moment. She knew she had to calm herself down or she would give up soon. Water sound stopped. Sydney tightened her lips, awaiting the shock, in tension. She hadn't to wait for long. The shock covered all her body, making her burst a sob out.
"Well, Sydney, this has been to test the engine. What have it seemed
to you? Maybe you want to tell us something, before we take this
seriously", Sark's voice was ironic, giving her to understand he
wasn't going to renounce to the pleasure of seeing her in her limits.
She didn't answer. A second shock got a pain shout out of her. Her tears joined the tub water. Shocks came into fast succession, one after another, while Sydney lost track of reality. She only knew she was shouting, trying to prevail to the dull pain which covered every single inch of her body. She wanted to tell them to stop, but she couldn't. As if she were in a dream, she could hear Kreschnik's voice.
"You know you can stop this the moment you want to. You only have to
give us a sign and we'll have a friendly talk", he repeated.
Sark was getting nervous. He'd have never imagined she was so strong. That disconcerted him, as he walked up and down the room, as a jailed beast. He stopped besides the tub.
"Stop it, Kresch", he ordered
Sydney tried desperately to recover during that brief rest, but it didn't last long. She was unable to control her trembling body, she breathed with difficulty and she couldn't stop crying. She wished to have been stronger, but it was too much. Sark took her eyes' cover off, catching violently her neck.
"Now listen to me, Bristow. You're getting on my nerves, so please
stop acting the hard one and let's talk seriously right now. You know
you won't bear this much more, but if you make me run out of patience
I swear you'll talk and that what you're suffering now will seem to
you a relaxed massage compared to what you're going to feel. Do you
hear me, Sydney?
She could articulate nor a single word. She felt numb, she wanted to talk, to answer something which could stop torture a while, but she couldn`t. Kreschnik gave his opinion:
"Sark, you should let her rest for a while. I thought she is trying to
tell us something, but her muscles don't respond yet", he asserted.
His words were ignored. Sark increased the power of the engine control. He was out of himself, wondering how someone could defy him so much. No reasons were attended by him. Sydney was still trying to talk when Sark turned again the circuit on. A piercing scream crossed the room and Sydney fainted.
"Are you crazy?!!", Kreschnik asked, "You'll kill her before she gives
us any information. You have to let her rest some minutes to allow her
to recover control over her muscles, or she won't be able to say
anything. Let's go an eat something. You calm yourself down and we'll
try again later, OK?"
"OK", Sark accepted, "But later I'll do it my way"
They untied Sydney and placed her on the floor, wet, motionless, and still trembling. Then, they left her alone.
MAÇOIS BAY - ON THE WAY TO THE CAMP
Michael hid his car as best as he could fifteen miles before the place Weiss had indicated to him. He would do the rest of the way on foot. He couldn't avoid the terrible feeling that everything was lost, but even so, he had to try it. He took his bag and the GPS and began walking under midday's killing sun. Hot was overwhelming. And Weiss had not sent more news.
MAÇOIS BAY - MILITARY GROUP CAMP
After a while, Sydney began to regain consciousness. She was shivering, in her wet clothes, and she didn't feel capable even of standing up. She prayed that all finished, wishing to die. She should give Sark something acceptable enough. But unfortunately for her, she didn't have much information. Lately, SD-6 don't give her much intel.
She didn't know how long had she been unconscious. It seemed that only a few minutes has passed since she was taken out of the tub, but outside it was darker. Sydney looked around, looking for a place to escape through, desperate, but she saw nothing. Who did she want to kid? Neither had she strength to run away.
The door open and Sark came back, with a furious look, without Kreschnik.
"Well, Sydney", he said, "hope you've reconsider your absurd stance
and now you're ready to have an interesting talk with me. I'm really
impressed by you. I'd have never thought you had such a strength, but
believe me. if you think that's been suffering, you're completely
wrong"
Sydney crawled out of Sark's reach, but it proved useless. He grabbed her and beat her face hard. He dragged her to the chair and tied her hands and feet. His eyes were an animal's, without control. But suddenly, he seemed to get his manners back. Sark's voice sounded calm, though threatening. He took a box from his pocket and showed it to Sydney's scared eyes.
"Do you know what is this?", he asked, "I assure you don't want to
taste it. KGB called it 'Hell needles' and every single one makes you
feel as you were burning. It's actually a very effective method.
McKennas told me about these little pins. And I've seen hard, strong
men, crying as girls, with the effect of only two or three of these"
He took one of the needles out of the case and stroked Sydney's face and neck with it. She trembled.
"I'm warning you, darling. Electroshock is child's play compared to a
single one of these pins"
Sydney sighed. She could not put up with torture much more. It has no sense to keep acting the strong agent. After all, she was human and she was not prepared for this. She was almost sure that Sark would eventually use the needle, but if she talked at least there would be a place for doubt. He made as if to pin the needle on her neck, and Sydney broke her silence.
"Wait, Sark... wait a moment, please", she begged, "What do you want
exactly to know?"
"Well, I like it that way, that you be reasonable, Syd", he smiled,
"First of all, what is SD-6 planning now? I truly think Sloane has a
plan ready to get our Rampaldi's artefacts."
"I don't. I don't think I can tell you much about that. I'm out of
that issue, Sark, you have to believe me" was Sydney's answer, "I do
think that they're tracking the artifacts and there rumours that they
are in México... but I don't know anything more, I swear"
Sark looked pensively at her. She seemed to be telling the truth, she was frightened and he could smell her fear, but he had to be sure.
"I want to believe you, Sydney, I really want, but. I don't know if I
can trust you", he said these words while he was pinning her chest
with the needle, "I have to be sure you're being sincere"
Sydney hadn't been wrong. What Sark wanted in first place was to take revenge on her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the needle's effect. She choked a cry, when she felt fire in her inside. Her breathing sped up. Sark's warning was real, it was fierce.
"Sure you don't know any detail about that operation?", Sark asked again.
Sydney, overpowered by pain, couldn't articulate a single word. She shook her head, crying.
"Well. then let's talk about another subject. Who is agent Vaughn?"
Sydney became pale. How did Sark know about Michael?
"You're shocked, my darling. My sources are wonderful, aren't they?"
Sark laughed, satisfied of the driven effect, "I'm going to put it
easier for you. I ask, you move your head, 'cause I think you cannot
say a single word, can you? I said that my little pins were fantastic.
Take it easy, Syd, the effect will disappear in some hours. So you're
working with that mysterious agent, so you're actually a double agent
for the CIA."
Sark smiled. He knew he was wining the game.
She told him almost everything, shaking and nodding her head. Sark didn't need confirmation; it was clear he knew all the story. He only wanted to humiliate her, see how she suffered at his mercy...
Kreschnik burst into the room.
"Sark!", he shouted,"SD-6. They have a convoy nearing our place in
Mexico. Everything has been a trap. She was sent as a lure and we've
swallowed the bait"
Sark slapped Sydney's face.
"Did you know about it?", he asked. He was nervous.
He turned to talk to Kreschnik.
"How many men do we have here?"
"Right now, about. fifteen", Kreschnik answered
"OK. Have the plane prepared. We set off for Mexico, immediately", he ordered.
"What are we going to do with her, Sark? Is she coming with us?"
"Nobody knows her actual location. Maybe the SD-6 but they have more
important things to do than care for a traitress. And she may have a
locator device. better not to take unnecessary risks. We'll leave
three men to keep an eye on her. I don't think she's going to be
useful anymore, but just in case. Her daddy is still with SD-6 and he
can be useful"
Sark called three of the soldiers and told them to bring Sydney back to her cell. He went with them.
"You three, try to keep her alive", he suggested.
Sydney was lying on the bed. She breathed fast, stifled in tears.
"Sloane has played a good trick on all of us", Sark commented.
Sark was taking another needle from the box. Sydney looked at him, scared, begging with her eyes. But he took her arm and pinned her.
"Just in case we never meet again, Bristow. I want your last thoughts to be for me"
Sydney was left alone. She made an effort to avoid shouting, confused, aching. SD-6 had discovered her alibi. Sloane had sent her to the bunker, being sure she would be captured, to get Sark out of Mexico and carry the operative to get the artefacts back. She felt like fainting. Sydney tried to keep her mind clear, to think a way to escape, but pain didn't let her concentrate. Maybe if she was patient and wait for some time, she would find the strength to go out of there. Only two or three soldiers were going to stay at the camp.
"Calm down, relax", she thought. She wanted to remember the warning she was given during her training as SD-6 agent to cope with such situations. Whatever the needles' substance was, its effect would last according blood circulation. She had to increase his blood rhythm to make the effect last the less possible. Sydney took a deep breathe and concentrated on it. Breathing faster and keeping her muscles relaxed, she might get something. But pain was so fierce and so hard the effort, that she was trembling as a leaf. Damn Sark! She'd kill him, someday she'd take revenge for this.
She focused her senses on what can be heard outside; voices, people moving up and down. They seemed to leave the camp for sure. She was the victim, but she had to recognised that Sloane's move had been a masterly one. She heard a little plane nearing the camp.
After a time, the needles' terrible effect seemed to let up a little. But the effort had been excessive and Sydney entered an state of semi- unconsciouness. She tried fruitlessly to wake up, to move, but she felt so tired.
MAÇOIS BAY - ON THE WAY TO THE CAMP
It was 8 p.m. Michael's GPS sent a beep out, startling him. In the middle of the silent forest, it had sounded as an explosion. It was Weiss.
"Vaughn, where are you?", he asked
"I'm two or three miles far from the camp. I hid the jeep hours ago,
and I've made the way on foot, but I cannot advance so fast. There's
no path at all and it terribly hot"
"Move carefully. The satellite has been catching much movement around
the area. Ten minutes ago, a plane has landed in the strip"
"No! - Michael cried out - Don't tell me she's gonna be moved, now
that I'm presumably near. Please, tell me you're joking"
"Sorry, Michael, but I'm not joking at all", Weiss murmured
"Could you access to a thermal scanning?"
"I'll try it but I cannot promise everything. Kendall is gonna contact
you tomorrow in the morning to check your progress. We'll have our
heads nicely cut and packed when he find out what we're doing. So
you'd better solve something tonight, uhmm?"
"Get me that scan, Weiss. I wanna know how many people is on the plane
if it takes off, how many people on the camp. just everything you can
see, OK?"
"Whatever they're doing, it's evident they're in a hurry. That's all I
can infer from the data sent by the satellite. I tried to contact you
before, but you might be in a non-range zone"
"No matter, guy. Even if you'd contacted before, I wouldn't have done
anything to go fast. I'm exhausted. The fear to lose Sydney forever is
the only thing that keeps me stood", Michael admitted, "She's my
priority. not the CIA, the SD-6 or the protocols, Weiss. Did you
manage to contact Jack?"
"That's what I was going to comment now. Bristow contact me half and
hour ago. And I tried to call you but I can't. My suspicions are now
confirmed: your cover has been uncovered. Jack is hidden, he said the
line was not secure so he didn't allow me to give him much details.
He's escaped from SD-6. He sends you a beg: bring Sydney back with
you. He ignores when was that Sloane knew the plot, so he doesn't know
what he can have planned. If you try to go out there, trust nobody!
They know who you are and they are on your track"
"Damn it, Weiss. Any more problems on sight? 'Cause I thought I had
enough" - Michael was getting nervous.
".. Yes, Michael. It's a weird thing."
"What? Tell me."
"I've filtrated two communications to the Credit Dauphine site and."
"And? Come on Weiss, I don't have time to waste!"
"Both comms came from Brazil, from the very zone of the camp."
"But. this is crazy! Do you think the SD-6 has a mole in the Group?
Fuck.."
"If I get any news, I'll contact inmediatly, Vaughn, don't worry. But
be careful. I don't know if he or she is inside, or outside the group"
"I'll take care. Thanks, Weiss"
Michael ended the transmission. He was dazed. Things couldn't go worse. He stopped a minute to drink some water. Now, more than ever, he had to forget his tiredness and make the last effort, for Sydney. He would never forgive himself if he didn't manage to bring her back.
MAÇOIS BAY - MILITARY GROUP CAMP
Night was falling over the silent camp. The plane had taken off an hour ago, and only Sydney and the three warders stayed there.
"Red Bird talking. They've set off for Mexico. I'll begin the last
phase of the operation in an hour. I'll get rid of the two guys and
bring Bristow to the agreed place. Ending transmission"
It was Flavio who was talking, from the darkness of one of the rooms. He was contacting 'Credit Dauphine', because he was the mole infiltrated by the SD-6. Silently, he went towards Sydney's cell.
Sydney was sleeping, restless. Fever had come back, making her delirious. She woke up, startled, when she felt Flavio's hands tying hers to the bed.
"What.?" she started to say
Flavio silenced her words with his hand. Sydney, terrified, saw him sitting besides her. She tried to struggle, it was impossible. A smile appeared in Flavio's face.
"At least we're alone, miss Bristow", he said while he touched her
hair "SD-6 has not played fair on you, has it? Everything is going
according the plan.", he said with sibilant voice.
Sydney looked at her, without understanding.
"Well, it doesn't matter if I tell you.", Flavio explained, "I
actually work for SD-6, my little one. My task was assure you didn't
die here, because Sloane is more than interested in knowing how far
your betrayal has reached. If everything goes well, in two days you'll
be in his hands and I'll be a very rich guy, trust me"
Suddenly, Flavio bent and kissed, with restrained lust. His hands slid along Sydney's body. She, dazed, moaned. That simply couldn't be happening. Once more she wished to be dead. She was completely defenceless and she couldn't avoid what was going to happen. When Flavio's hands went under her clothes, Sydney closed her eyes waiting for a miracle, trying to think of another thing, trying to put her mind far from there.
"No, please.", she cried, "Take your hands off"
No effect. She also tried to think, even more desperately, of something different, when Flavio lay down on her. Nobody had prepared her for such a thing. Nobody could be ever prepared for such a thing. Unconsciousness' mists seized her again.
"Michael.", she whispered in almost unhearable voice before fainting down.
Flavio left the cell with a satisfaction smile in his mouth. It has been a recurrent thought since they captured her two days ago. And he'd done it. He was taking a great risk in this mission, at least he had enjoyed a little reward, a delicious and sweet one. He went to his room and lay on his bed, delighting with the memories of the recent past.
Michael reached the camp's place. Camouflaged under the trees, he observed the darkness. It seemed desert. He became to feel growing desperation. If Sydney wasn't there, any hope to find would die. But he noticed a movement next to one of the buildings. An armed soldier was lighting a cigarette. "Good!", he thought. At least there was someone in the camp. He looked at great length and he realised that there were two lights on in two windows of the camp. One was on the nearest barrack and the other a little further away. GPS's vibration put him out of his thoughts. He connected the written system. It was Weiss again.
Michael read the message. [I]"I send you the results of the thermal scan, from five minutes ago. Hope it is useful. I couldn't do it before, because Kendall has been prowling around here. Another transmission has been sent from your area, so I think the mole hypothesis is more than credible"[/I]
Michael opened the scan file. Sensors had detected two motionless persons, one per barrack, and other two walking around the outer perimeter of the building nearest to him. If Sydney was still there, the logical move was to begin with that one, because there was more security. And it could mean it wasn't too late, that she was still alive. He set about, with renewed spirits. Stealthily, he moved amongst the bushes and took a gun with silencer out of his bag. He got closer, then he pointed at the smoker and fired. With a slight groan, the soldier fell to the ground. Suddenly, Vaughn saw a face in a window which disappeared quickly. He'd been discovered. Vaughn ran towards the barrack.
"Flavio? Flavio? Position 2. We have a visit" - the soldier inside the
building was trying to contact Flavio, who was still in his room.
He got no answer; Flavio had forgotten his talkie in Sydney's cell. So the man went there. He had to know who was attacking them. He burst into the room and got Sydney out of the bed.
"Who has come for you? Who has killed my colleague?
Sydney, still bewildered, didn't know what was happening. The soldier hit her and she screamed. A little snap was heard and the man fell dead to the floor. Sydney looked at the door; she saw Michael. She stopped, surprise. She fell on her knees.
"Vaughn.", she mumbled, bursting into tears.
Michael ran to hug her. Sydney couldn't speak, she was shocked.
"Take me out of here, please, take me out", she repeated
"Calm down, Sydney. I'm here now. It's over", Michael was frightened.
He had never seen her so unprotected, so desperate. He rocked her
softly, trying to calm her down.
Flavio was sleeping when Sydney's scream woke him. Feeling that something was wrong, he ran downstairs and went out the barrack, in silence. He saw the soldier's corpse and he decided to wait outside. That building had only one door, so he only had to be patient.
"Syd. come on, we've got to get out of here. Answer to me, please",
Michael tried to get some information from shocked Sydney, "Are there
more soldiers? I've got rid of two, but I think there's another one"
Sydney was breaking after so much tensión, but she nodded.
"Can you stand up? Come on, please, don't give up now. A last effort,
Syd", he tried to talk tenderly, hugging her to stand up, "I haven't
come here just to lose you now"
Holding her by the waist, Michael managed she stood up. He pulled her outside the barrack, ignoring that Flavio was waiting there.
"We have to find a vehicle, my jeep is too far for you to go walking.
Just wait me here, right? - Michael resting her against the wall.
That was the moment Flavio, hidden in the shadows, was waiting for. He grabbed his gun, pointed carefully to Michael who was turned to Sydney. But she saw him and reacted.
"Michael! Careful!", she exclaimed.
She pushed Michael out of the bullet's path, the very moment Flavio pressed the trigger. An explosion broke the night and Sydney fell, putting her hands to her side. She had been hit by the bullet.
"Noooo!!", Michael screamed.
He rushed at Flavio. Flavio tried to shoot again but the gun jammed. He threw it and began to run. Michael, furious, jumped over him, making Flavio roll to the ground. Anger blinded Michael who, taken by an uncontrollable fury, overpowered him soon, leaving him unconscious. Michael ran back to Sydney.
"Syd! Syd!", he called out her name, almost crying. She was buckled on
the floor, "Why have you done such an stupid thing?"
Sydney breathed hard. The bullet had impacted on her right side, just under the lung. She was bleeding so much.
"Please. resist", Michael repeated it, rocking her in his arms.
With the free hand, he connected the GPS.
"Come on. come on", he said impatiently.
Weiss answered.
"Michael! Wh.?"
"Weiss, listen to me, there's no time. Wake Kendall up, threaten him,
do whatever you want, but I need an extraction team now! Sydney's just
been shot, I. I don't think she'll resist much. I'm going to look for
a vehicle to try to go to Brasilia, or some town with a doctor. I
don't know what I'm gonna do, just call me when you have something",
Michael was deadly worried.
"But Vaughn.", Weiss tried to reply.
Communication was cut.
Michael lifted Sydney in his arms and went crossing the camp, trying to find a jeep.
"Michael.", Sydney was trying to speak.
"Sshhh. Don't speak, not now, please. I'm gonna go and take you out of
here, even if it's the last thing I do"
There were four jeep parked in line. Michael threw away the keys, except for the one they were going to use. Carefully, he lay Sydney along the back sits. She moaned painfully. Michael looked for a bandage in his bag, to cut the bleeding. He covered the wound, trying not to hurt her.
"Hold on, Sydney, please. We've gotta go. Press the bandage over the wound, OK?"
Sydney, deathly pale, nodded.
Michael started the jeep and sped up. He had to reach at least the bunker to look after her properly. The bullet was inside and that was not good. They were forty miles but he knew the way, and he had not to care of noise. Worried, he looked through the rear mirror every few seconds.
In the camp, time after, Flavio recovered himself. He touched his head, still dazed by the beat. He stood up, staggering, and had a look around. They'd gone. And it would be expensive for his. He analysed the situation: if he tried to escape the SD-6, sooner or later, he'd be found, so better if he told the truth. He sent a message to say he was on his way to the meeting point and went to the jeeps. Damn it! The guy had taken all the keys away. In few minutes, he hot-wired one of the jeeps and set off. It would be a long long journey, but he preferred to tell Sloane personally.
MAÇOIS BAY - BACK TO THE BUNKER
They were only five miles far from the bunker when Michael saw they were running out of fuel. It was not possible! Everything went worse and worse! Can't they be a little lucky just for one single time?
The GPS rang and Michael connected the free-hand system. Kendall's voice sounded on the line.
"Agent Vaughn", he said, "You're in a good mess. You've disobeyed a
direct order from me"
"I'm sorry sir, but we'll talk about it later. Now there's no time to
lose. We're running out of fuel. Agent Bristow is severely injured. SD-
6 is also behind our track. Please, sir, I'll accept the consequences
when we're back, but send the team"
"Give your coordinates", Kendall ordered.
"It was risky to stay at the camp, anyone would look for us there in
the first place. So we're going t."
Transmission ended abruptly. Not given credit to his eyes, Michael looked at the GPS screen. Battery was flat. He tried to connect several times, with no results. Weiss had to suspect they were going to the bunker, or they would be completely lost.
LOS ÁNGELES - C.I.A. UNCOVER OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
At Kendall's office, discussion was on.
"We cannot locate him", Kendall spoke, "His GPS is off and the only
thing we have are the last coordinates. Again the same story. And
they were driving, so they're not going to maintain the position"
"Yes, sir, but.", Weiss tried to convince his superior, "Given the
route they were on, and the fact that they were running out of fuel,
their situation is desperate. Their only exit is the abandoned bunker"
"Weiss, I cannot do it. Oh, my God! I'm tired of having the same
conversation once and again. I can't send my men into a confrontation
with the SD-6 without information. Just make an effort to understand
it, agent Weiss. Their cover has been destroyed, so I just cannot lose
men's lives to save two uncovered agents. These things can happen. I
don't like them, but I have to assume that it's possible".
Weiss, feeling helpless, left Kendall's room. He would try to scan the bunker area, but the scanning wouldn't work in the bunker. At least he should try. If it proved useless, there was only a card to play to save them, there was only a person capable to make Kendall change his decision, but he couldn't find him. He could do nothing except waiting, and hoping that Jack Bristow contacted him again.
MAÇOIS BAY - MILITARY GROUP CAMP
Dawn was falling over the forest. Sydney began to come around slowly. She was still on her cell; that was real, not a nightmare. She was tired but she felt a little better. She tried to get up, she felt a bit sick. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she couldn't afford panic to invade her. It was a difficult task; each time she thought of being in front of Sark and Kreschnik, terror invaded her.
Some food and water had been left next to the bed, and she ate eagerly. As time passed, more difficult would be to find her in that recondite place.
The door was opened and two armed men, she hadn't seen before, came into the room.
"Come with us, please.", they said
Sydney decided not to resist; she had nothing to do given her state. Her eyes were covered and she was brought back to the interrogations room where she had been the previous day. The moment had come and she had to be strong. She was forced to lay in a sort of hollow table and her wrists and feet were handcuffed to its ends. She already knew what that was, she had to go through it before, in Bucarest. The electroshock tub. She tried to think of another thing, but memories, painful ones, emerged in her mind.
A light was turned on near her. She could noticed it through the bandage. She heard nearing steps and someone turned music on. "Typical of Kreschnik", she thought.
"Good morning, Sydney" - Kreschnik's voice sounded sardonic - "It's
been a long time since the last time we met, isn't it? I was really
looking forward to meeting you again."
Kreschnik unbuttoned the top of her shirt and she felt the cold metal of an stethoscope.
"Come on, Sydney. Don't get nervous. This is not new for you.", he said.
She was shaking. She didn't want to feel that again. She wanted to shout, to beg, but she knew it wouldn't be of any use. Sark spoke.
"Bristow, it's a pity you're so hyper-sensitive to penthotal. Things
would have been much easier for you. though less funny for us, of
course. Nobody, listen to me, nobody plays dirty on me and gets his
way. I keep everything in my memory and sooner or later those debts
are paid", he said.
"You're a sadic, Sark", Sydney answered.
Sark grabbed her hair.
"Sydney, Sydney. how many times I've told you not to get me angry", he
whispered, "you're so stubborn, even if you are at a disadvantage you
have to be impertinent and bad-mannered:"
With expert hands, hands which had made the same operation in innumerable times, Kreschnik fixed the little electrodes along Sydney's body.
"It's ready, Sark", he said "The show can start"
Sydney could feel how water was filling the tub. She wished to die that very moment. She knew she had to calm herself down or she would give up soon. Water sound stopped. Sydney tightened her lips, awaiting the shock, in tension. She hadn't to wait for long. The shock covered all her body, making her burst a sob out.
"Well, Sydney, this has been to test the engine. What have it seemed
to you? Maybe you want to tell us something, before we take this
seriously", Sark's voice was ironic, giving her to understand he
wasn't going to renounce to the pleasure of seeing her in her limits.
She didn't answer. A second shock got a pain shout out of her. Her tears joined the tub water. Shocks came into fast succession, one after another, while Sydney lost track of reality. She only knew she was shouting, trying to prevail to the dull pain which covered every single inch of her body. She wanted to tell them to stop, but she couldn't. As if she were in a dream, she could hear Kreschnik's voice.
"You know you can stop this the moment you want to. You only have to
give us a sign and we'll have a friendly talk", he repeated.
Sark was getting nervous. He'd have never imagined she was so strong. That disconcerted him, as he walked up and down the room, as a jailed beast. He stopped besides the tub.
"Stop it, Kresch", he ordered
Sydney tried desperately to recover during that brief rest, but it didn't last long. She was unable to control her trembling body, she breathed with difficulty and she couldn't stop crying. She wished to have been stronger, but it was too much. Sark took her eyes' cover off, catching violently her neck.
"Now listen to me, Bristow. You're getting on my nerves, so please
stop acting the hard one and let's talk seriously right now. You know
you won't bear this much more, but if you make me run out of patience
I swear you'll talk and that what you're suffering now will seem to
you a relaxed massage compared to what you're going to feel. Do you
hear me, Sydney?
She could articulate nor a single word. She felt numb, she wanted to talk, to answer something which could stop torture a while, but she couldn`t. Kreschnik gave his opinion:
"Sark, you should let her rest for a while. I thought she is trying to
tell us something, but her muscles don't respond yet", he asserted.
His words were ignored. Sark increased the power of the engine control. He was out of himself, wondering how someone could defy him so much. No reasons were attended by him. Sydney was still trying to talk when Sark turned again the circuit on. A piercing scream crossed the room and Sydney fainted.
"Are you crazy?!!", Kreschnik asked, "You'll kill her before she gives
us any information. You have to let her rest some minutes to allow her
to recover control over her muscles, or she won't be able to say
anything. Let's go an eat something. You calm yourself down and we'll
try again later, OK?"
"OK", Sark accepted, "But later I'll do it my way"
They untied Sydney and placed her on the floor, wet, motionless, and still trembling. Then, they left her alone.
MAÇOIS BAY - ON THE WAY TO THE CAMP
Michael hid his car as best as he could fifteen miles before the place Weiss had indicated to him. He would do the rest of the way on foot. He couldn't avoid the terrible feeling that everything was lost, but even so, he had to try it. He took his bag and the GPS and began walking under midday's killing sun. Hot was overwhelming. And Weiss had not sent more news.
MAÇOIS BAY - MILITARY GROUP CAMP
After a while, Sydney began to regain consciousness. She was shivering, in her wet clothes, and she didn't feel capable even of standing up. She prayed that all finished, wishing to die. She should give Sark something acceptable enough. But unfortunately for her, she didn't have much information. Lately, SD-6 don't give her much intel.
She didn't know how long had she been unconscious. It seemed that only a few minutes has passed since she was taken out of the tub, but outside it was darker. Sydney looked around, looking for a place to escape through, desperate, but she saw nothing. Who did she want to kid? Neither had she strength to run away.
The door open and Sark came back, with a furious look, without Kreschnik.
"Well, Sydney", he said, "hope you've reconsider your absurd stance
and now you're ready to have an interesting talk with me. I'm really
impressed by you. I'd have never thought you had such a strength, but
believe me. if you think that's been suffering, you're completely
wrong"
Sydney crawled out of Sark's reach, but it proved useless. He grabbed her and beat her face hard. He dragged her to the chair and tied her hands and feet. His eyes were an animal's, without control. But suddenly, he seemed to get his manners back. Sark's voice sounded calm, though threatening. He took a box from his pocket and showed it to Sydney's scared eyes.
"Do you know what is this?", he asked, "I assure you don't want to
taste it. KGB called it 'Hell needles' and every single one makes you
feel as you were burning. It's actually a very effective method.
McKennas told me about these little pins. And I've seen hard, strong
men, crying as girls, with the effect of only two or three of these"
He took one of the needles out of the case and stroked Sydney's face and neck with it. She trembled.
"I'm warning you, darling. Electroshock is child's play compared to a
single one of these pins"
Sydney sighed. She could not put up with torture much more. It has no sense to keep acting the strong agent. After all, she was human and she was not prepared for this. She was almost sure that Sark would eventually use the needle, but if she talked at least there would be a place for doubt. He made as if to pin the needle on her neck, and Sydney broke her silence.
"Wait, Sark... wait a moment, please", she begged, "What do you want
exactly to know?"
"Well, I like it that way, that you be reasonable, Syd", he smiled,
"First of all, what is SD-6 planning now? I truly think Sloane has a
plan ready to get our Rampaldi's artefacts."
"I don't. I don't think I can tell you much about that. I'm out of
that issue, Sark, you have to believe me" was Sydney's answer, "I do
think that they're tracking the artifacts and there rumours that they
are in México... but I don't know anything more, I swear"
Sark looked pensively at her. She seemed to be telling the truth, she was frightened and he could smell her fear, but he had to be sure.
"I want to believe you, Sydney, I really want, but. I don't know if I
can trust you", he said these words while he was pinning her chest
with the needle, "I have to be sure you're being sincere"
Sydney hadn't been wrong. What Sark wanted in first place was to take revenge on her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the needle's effect. She choked a cry, when she felt fire in her inside. Her breathing sped up. Sark's warning was real, it was fierce.
"Sure you don't know any detail about that operation?", Sark asked again.
Sydney, overpowered by pain, couldn't articulate a single word. She shook her head, crying.
"Well. then let's talk about another subject. Who is agent Vaughn?"
Sydney became pale. How did Sark know about Michael?
"You're shocked, my darling. My sources are wonderful, aren't they?"
Sark laughed, satisfied of the driven effect, "I'm going to put it
easier for you. I ask, you move your head, 'cause I think you cannot
say a single word, can you? I said that my little pins were fantastic.
Take it easy, Syd, the effect will disappear in some hours. So you're
working with that mysterious agent, so you're actually a double agent
for the CIA."
Sark smiled. He knew he was wining the game.
She told him almost everything, shaking and nodding her head. Sark didn't need confirmation; it was clear he knew all the story. He only wanted to humiliate her, see how she suffered at his mercy...
Kreschnik burst into the room.
"Sark!", he shouted,"SD-6. They have a convoy nearing our place in
Mexico. Everything has been a trap. She was sent as a lure and we've
swallowed the bait"
Sark slapped Sydney's face.
"Did you know about it?", he asked. He was nervous.
He turned to talk to Kreschnik.
"How many men do we have here?"
"Right now, about. fifteen", Kreschnik answered
"OK. Have the plane prepared. We set off for Mexico, immediately", he ordered.
"What are we going to do with her, Sark? Is she coming with us?"
"Nobody knows her actual location. Maybe the SD-6 but they have more
important things to do than care for a traitress. And she may have a
locator device. better not to take unnecessary risks. We'll leave
three men to keep an eye on her. I don't think she's going to be
useful anymore, but just in case. Her daddy is still with SD-6 and he
can be useful"
Sark called three of the soldiers and told them to bring Sydney back to her cell. He went with them.
"You three, try to keep her alive", he suggested.
Sydney was lying on the bed. She breathed fast, stifled in tears.
"Sloane has played a good trick on all of us", Sark commented.
Sark was taking another needle from the box. Sydney looked at him, scared, begging with her eyes. But he took her arm and pinned her.
"Just in case we never meet again, Bristow. I want your last thoughts to be for me"
Sydney was left alone. She made an effort to avoid shouting, confused, aching. SD-6 had discovered her alibi. Sloane had sent her to the bunker, being sure she would be captured, to get Sark out of Mexico and carry the operative to get the artefacts back. She felt like fainting. Sydney tried to keep her mind clear, to think a way to escape, but pain didn't let her concentrate. Maybe if she was patient and wait for some time, she would find the strength to go out of there. Only two or three soldiers were going to stay at the camp.
"Calm down, relax", she thought. She wanted to remember the warning she was given during her training as SD-6 agent to cope with such situations. Whatever the needles' substance was, its effect would last according blood circulation. She had to increase his blood rhythm to make the effect last the less possible. Sydney took a deep breathe and concentrated on it. Breathing faster and keeping her muscles relaxed, she might get something. But pain was so fierce and so hard the effort, that she was trembling as a leaf. Damn Sark! She'd kill him, someday she'd take revenge for this.
She focused her senses on what can be heard outside; voices, people moving up and down. They seemed to leave the camp for sure. She was the victim, but she had to recognised that Sloane's move had been a masterly one. She heard a little plane nearing the camp.
After a time, the needles' terrible effect seemed to let up a little. But the effort had been excessive and Sydney entered an state of semi- unconsciouness. She tried fruitlessly to wake up, to move, but she felt so tired.
MAÇOIS BAY - ON THE WAY TO THE CAMP
It was 8 p.m. Michael's GPS sent a beep out, startling him. In the middle of the silent forest, it had sounded as an explosion. It was Weiss.
"Vaughn, where are you?", he asked
"I'm two or three miles far from the camp. I hid the jeep hours ago,
and I've made the way on foot, but I cannot advance so fast. There's
no path at all and it terribly hot"
"Move carefully. The satellite has been catching much movement around
the area. Ten minutes ago, a plane has landed in the strip"
"No! - Michael cried out - Don't tell me she's gonna be moved, now
that I'm presumably near. Please, tell me you're joking"
"Sorry, Michael, but I'm not joking at all", Weiss murmured
"Could you access to a thermal scanning?"
"I'll try it but I cannot promise everything. Kendall is gonna contact
you tomorrow in the morning to check your progress. We'll have our
heads nicely cut and packed when he find out what we're doing. So
you'd better solve something tonight, uhmm?"
"Get me that scan, Weiss. I wanna know how many people is on the plane
if it takes off, how many people on the camp. just everything you can
see, OK?"
"Whatever they're doing, it's evident they're in a hurry. That's all I
can infer from the data sent by the satellite. I tried to contact you
before, but you might be in a non-range zone"
"No matter, guy. Even if you'd contacted before, I wouldn't have done
anything to go fast. I'm exhausted. The fear to lose Sydney forever is
the only thing that keeps me stood", Michael admitted, "She's my
priority. not the CIA, the SD-6 or the protocols, Weiss. Did you
manage to contact Jack?"
"That's what I was going to comment now. Bristow contact me half and
hour ago. And I tried to call you but I can't. My suspicions are now
confirmed: your cover has been uncovered. Jack is hidden, he said the
line was not secure so he didn't allow me to give him much details.
He's escaped from SD-6. He sends you a beg: bring Sydney back with
you. He ignores when was that Sloane knew the plot, so he doesn't know
what he can have planned. If you try to go out there, trust nobody!
They know who you are and they are on your track"
"Damn it, Weiss. Any more problems on sight? 'Cause I thought I had
enough" - Michael was getting nervous.
".. Yes, Michael. It's a weird thing."
"What? Tell me."
"I've filtrated two communications to the Credit Dauphine site and."
"And? Come on Weiss, I don't have time to waste!"
"Both comms came from Brazil, from the very zone of the camp."
"But. this is crazy! Do you think the SD-6 has a mole in the Group?
Fuck.."
"If I get any news, I'll contact inmediatly, Vaughn, don't worry. But
be careful. I don't know if he or she is inside, or outside the group"
"I'll take care. Thanks, Weiss"
Michael ended the transmission. He was dazed. Things couldn't go worse. He stopped a minute to drink some water. Now, more than ever, he had to forget his tiredness and make the last effort, for Sydney. He would never forgive himself if he didn't manage to bring her back.
MAÇOIS BAY - MILITARY GROUP CAMP
Night was falling over the silent camp. The plane had taken off an hour ago, and only Sydney and the three warders stayed there.
"Red Bird talking. They've set off for Mexico. I'll begin the last
phase of the operation in an hour. I'll get rid of the two guys and
bring Bristow to the agreed place. Ending transmission"
It was Flavio who was talking, from the darkness of one of the rooms. He was contacting 'Credit Dauphine', because he was the mole infiltrated by the SD-6. Silently, he went towards Sydney's cell.
Sydney was sleeping, restless. Fever had come back, making her delirious. She woke up, startled, when she felt Flavio's hands tying hers to the bed.
"What.?" she started to say
Flavio silenced her words with his hand. Sydney, terrified, saw him sitting besides her. She tried to struggle, it was impossible. A smile appeared in Flavio's face.
"At least we're alone, miss Bristow", he said while he touched her
hair "SD-6 has not played fair on you, has it? Everything is going
according the plan.", he said with sibilant voice.
Sydney looked at her, without understanding.
"Well, it doesn't matter if I tell you.", Flavio explained, "I
actually work for SD-6, my little one. My task was assure you didn't
die here, because Sloane is more than interested in knowing how far
your betrayal has reached. If everything goes well, in two days you'll
be in his hands and I'll be a very rich guy, trust me"
Suddenly, Flavio bent and kissed, with restrained lust. His hands slid along Sydney's body. She, dazed, moaned. That simply couldn't be happening. Once more she wished to be dead. She was completely defenceless and she couldn't avoid what was going to happen. When Flavio's hands went under her clothes, Sydney closed her eyes waiting for a miracle, trying to think of another thing, trying to put her mind far from there.
"No, please.", she cried, "Take your hands off"
No effect. She also tried to think, even more desperately, of something different, when Flavio lay down on her. Nobody had prepared her for such a thing. Nobody could be ever prepared for such a thing. Unconsciousness' mists seized her again.
"Michael.", she whispered in almost unhearable voice before fainting down.
Flavio left the cell with a satisfaction smile in his mouth. It has been a recurrent thought since they captured her two days ago. And he'd done it. He was taking a great risk in this mission, at least he had enjoyed a little reward, a delicious and sweet one. He went to his room and lay on his bed, delighting with the memories of the recent past.
Michael reached the camp's place. Camouflaged under the trees, he observed the darkness. It seemed desert. He became to feel growing desperation. If Sydney wasn't there, any hope to find would die. But he noticed a movement next to one of the buildings. An armed soldier was lighting a cigarette. "Good!", he thought. At least there was someone in the camp. He looked at great length and he realised that there were two lights on in two windows of the camp. One was on the nearest barrack and the other a little further away. GPS's vibration put him out of his thoughts. He connected the written system. It was Weiss again.
Michael read the message. [I]"I send you the results of the thermal scan, from five minutes ago. Hope it is useful. I couldn't do it before, because Kendall has been prowling around here. Another transmission has been sent from your area, so I think the mole hypothesis is more than credible"[/I]
Michael opened the scan file. Sensors had detected two motionless persons, one per barrack, and other two walking around the outer perimeter of the building nearest to him. If Sydney was still there, the logical move was to begin with that one, because there was more security. And it could mean it wasn't too late, that she was still alive. He set about, with renewed spirits. Stealthily, he moved amongst the bushes and took a gun with silencer out of his bag. He got closer, then he pointed at the smoker and fired. With a slight groan, the soldier fell to the ground. Suddenly, Vaughn saw a face in a window which disappeared quickly. He'd been discovered. Vaughn ran towards the barrack.
"Flavio? Flavio? Position 2. We have a visit" - the soldier inside the
building was trying to contact Flavio, who was still in his room.
He got no answer; Flavio had forgotten his talkie in Sydney's cell. So the man went there. He had to know who was attacking them. He burst into the room and got Sydney out of the bed.
"Who has come for you? Who has killed my colleague?
Sydney, still bewildered, didn't know what was happening. The soldier hit her and she screamed. A little snap was heard and the man fell dead to the floor. Sydney looked at the door; she saw Michael. She stopped, surprise. She fell on her knees.
"Vaughn.", she mumbled, bursting into tears.
Michael ran to hug her. Sydney couldn't speak, she was shocked.
"Take me out of here, please, take me out", she repeated
"Calm down, Sydney. I'm here now. It's over", Michael was frightened.
He had never seen her so unprotected, so desperate. He rocked her
softly, trying to calm her down.
Flavio was sleeping when Sydney's scream woke him. Feeling that something was wrong, he ran downstairs and went out the barrack, in silence. He saw the soldier's corpse and he decided to wait outside. That building had only one door, so he only had to be patient.
"Syd. come on, we've got to get out of here. Answer to me, please",
Michael tried to get some information from shocked Sydney, "Are there
more soldiers? I've got rid of two, but I think there's another one"
Sydney was breaking after so much tensión, but she nodded.
"Can you stand up? Come on, please, don't give up now. A last effort,
Syd", he tried to talk tenderly, hugging her to stand up, "I haven't
come here just to lose you now"
Holding her by the waist, Michael managed she stood up. He pulled her outside the barrack, ignoring that Flavio was waiting there.
"We have to find a vehicle, my jeep is too far for you to go walking.
Just wait me here, right? - Michael resting her against the wall.
That was the moment Flavio, hidden in the shadows, was waiting for. He grabbed his gun, pointed carefully to Michael who was turned to Sydney. But she saw him and reacted.
"Michael! Careful!", she exclaimed.
She pushed Michael out of the bullet's path, the very moment Flavio pressed the trigger. An explosion broke the night and Sydney fell, putting her hands to her side. She had been hit by the bullet.
"Noooo!!", Michael screamed.
He rushed at Flavio. Flavio tried to shoot again but the gun jammed. He threw it and began to run. Michael, furious, jumped over him, making Flavio roll to the ground. Anger blinded Michael who, taken by an uncontrollable fury, overpowered him soon, leaving him unconscious. Michael ran back to Sydney.
"Syd! Syd!", he called out her name, almost crying. She was buckled on
the floor, "Why have you done such an stupid thing?"
Sydney breathed hard. The bullet had impacted on her right side, just under the lung. She was bleeding so much.
"Please. resist", Michael repeated it, rocking her in his arms.
With the free hand, he connected the GPS.
"Come on. come on", he said impatiently.
Weiss answered.
"Michael! Wh.?"
"Weiss, listen to me, there's no time. Wake Kendall up, threaten him,
do whatever you want, but I need an extraction team now! Sydney's just
been shot, I. I don't think she'll resist much. I'm going to look for
a vehicle to try to go to Brasilia, or some town with a doctor. I
don't know what I'm gonna do, just call me when you have something",
Michael was deadly worried.
"But Vaughn.", Weiss tried to reply.
Communication was cut.
Michael lifted Sydney in his arms and went crossing the camp, trying to find a jeep.
"Michael.", Sydney was trying to speak.
"Sshhh. Don't speak, not now, please. I'm gonna go and take you out of
here, even if it's the last thing I do"
There were four jeep parked in line. Michael threw away the keys, except for the one they were going to use. Carefully, he lay Sydney along the back sits. She moaned painfully. Michael looked for a bandage in his bag, to cut the bleeding. He covered the wound, trying not to hurt her.
"Hold on, Sydney, please. We've gotta go. Press the bandage over the wound, OK?"
Sydney, deathly pale, nodded.
Michael started the jeep and sped up. He had to reach at least the bunker to look after her properly. The bullet was inside and that was not good. They were forty miles but he knew the way, and he had not to care of noise. Worried, he looked through the rear mirror every few seconds.
In the camp, time after, Flavio recovered himself. He touched his head, still dazed by the beat. He stood up, staggering, and had a look around. They'd gone. And it would be expensive for his. He analysed the situation: if he tried to escape the SD-6, sooner or later, he'd be found, so better if he told the truth. He sent a message to say he was on his way to the meeting point and went to the jeeps. Damn it! The guy had taken all the keys away. In few minutes, he hot-wired one of the jeeps and set off. It would be a long long journey, but he preferred to tell Sloane personally.
MAÇOIS BAY - BACK TO THE BUNKER
They were only five miles far from the bunker when Michael saw they were running out of fuel. It was not possible! Everything went worse and worse! Can't they be a little lucky just for one single time?
The GPS rang and Michael connected the free-hand system. Kendall's voice sounded on the line.
"Agent Vaughn", he said, "You're in a good mess. You've disobeyed a
direct order from me"
"I'm sorry sir, but we'll talk about it later. Now there's no time to
lose. We're running out of fuel. Agent Bristow is severely injured. SD-
6 is also behind our track. Please, sir, I'll accept the consequences
when we're back, but send the team"
"Give your coordinates", Kendall ordered.
"It was risky to stay at the camp, anyone would look for us there in
the first place. So we're going t."
Transmission ended abruptly. Not given credit to his eyes, Michael looked at the GPS screen. Battery was flat. He tried to connect several times, with no results. Weiss had to suspect they were going to the bunker, or they would be completely lost.
LOS ÁNGELES - C.I.A. UNCOVER OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
At Kendall's office, discussion was on.
"We cannot locate him", Kendall spoke, "His GPS is off and the only
thing we have are the last coordinates. Again the same story. And
they were driving, so they're not going to maintain the position"
"Yes, sir, but.", Weiss tried to convince his superior, "Given the
route they were on, and the fact that they were running out of fuel,
their situation is desperate. Their only exit is the abandoned bunker"
"Weiss, I cannot do it. Oh, my God! I'm tired of having the same
conversation once and again. I can't send my men into a confrontation
with the SD-6 without information. Just make an effort to understand
it, agent Weiss. Their cover has been destroyed, so I just cannot lose
men's lives to save two uncovered agents. These things can happen. I
don't like them, but I have to assume that it's possible".
Weiss, feeling helpless, left Kendall's room. He would try to scan the bunker area, but the scanning wouldn't work in the bunker. At least he should try. If it proved useless, there was only a card to play to save them, there was only a person capable to make Kendall change his decision, but he couldn't find him. He could do nothing except waiting, and hoping that Jack Bristow contacted him again.