Title: The Test
Author: Jenn, Jennyfer, Vaughn's Jenn... Yeah
Rating: PG-PG13
Summary: AU (alternate universe) Sydney and Vaughn meet under very different circumstances.

Prologue

"What makes you even think that I will be able to give up an agent as valuable as the one you are asking for? I'm sure that you are aware of the various crisises that are occuring throughout the world... so my question is why are you depriving us of two agents?"

The man bent his head slightly, closed his eyes and momentarily fingered the bunch of skin that appeared between his eyebrows. "What I'm trying to express here is the very need that you are talking about to refute my claim. Yes there are problems in the world. Yes, we need all available agents. But you should also know that last month alone, two of our agents have turned out to be doubles, four have been killed, three are in the hospital because of injuries ranging from minor to critical. These aren't good statistics. You are listening to me saying this and you're still questioning my orders?"

"So what is it that you want to do exactly?"

"You didn't read the report."

"I didn't read the report."

"We have designed a test... short term of course, we can't afford to do anything longer, in order to determine how long it might take an agent to become aware of his surroundings, including the people he is surrounded by."

"So you need two intelligent but green CIA officers... and you are going to pit them against each other?"

The man slapped a pile of files onto the desk. "No. They will not be "pitted" against each other. Both will be put into a situation that they think is real in order to garner as much information as they can on the subject. Because this situation will be simulated but wholly unreal, the real test will be how long it takes for them to realize the existence and true identity of the other."

Agent Kelly scoffed. "And what do you think these games will get you?"

"Ideas for training. Agents not only need to know how to defend themselves and how to evaluate their situations, they also now need to be able to be totally aware of the details that life throws them. We can't afford another Ticonagua disaster, Kelly."

To that, the agent had no answer. They most definitely could not afford another Ticonaugua disaster.

"So I choose two from these files?"

"Negative. You choose one. The other has already been chosen."

"Really? And who is lucky enough to be your test-rat?"

The man smirked. "Sydney Bristow. 22 years old, just graduated from the farm at a pace that's almost unheard of."

Agent Kelly skimmed the contents of the skinny file, eyebrows raising at the list of accomplishments the young Bristow had already accumulated. "She's impressive. Do you want someone who can match her?"

"In total capacity yes but not in the specifics. Rather than pitting two people with the exact same way of thinking and reacting against eachother... Bristow tends to be less controlled. She's been too much affected by whatever hardships that life has thrown her way. I want someone calculating... a strategic."

"Funny how you used the phrase "pitting against eachother"... Freudian slip?"

"Just find me my agent."

"It's done. Michael Vaughn is by far the best strategic mind in this section... and he only graduated from the Farm himself a few years back. Still green... Devlin's been loading him with paperwork until Firdaus retires."

"All right then."

"Okay."

"Kelly?"

"Yeah?"

"Next time... read the file."









tbc...


More?


I know that it's kinda weird you guys... And i'm sorry but it was just an idea i had suddenly while reading my Puritan Colonies handout so i had to get it out... If it's boring, then don't be mean about it, but let me know how i can fix it. I don't really care about the prologue though since the story so obviously begins in this situation with syd and vaughn

Let me know what you think!

-jenn