A/N – I'm thinking this chapter might be cursed! It took FOREVER to post what with fanfiction.net's problems this weekend and then when I actually uploaded it, there were all these weird symbols all over the document thereby necessitating a lengthy revision. ANYWAY. Thanks to those who have read and reviewed as always. You're the main reason I'm writing this. If I know someone is reading it (and even enjoying it), I feel like I should keep going since I hate being left hanging and wouldn't want to leave others hanging either! Usual disclaimers apply. Keep that feedback coming. :-]

[ ] denotes Sydney's thoughts.

**********CIA Safe House, May 9th Late Evening*********

Sydney took a startled step back, staring at the figure kneeling by the bed. She fumbled in the dark for the light switch and finally found it. Just as she was about to switch it on, her mother called out to her.

"No!"

"What?"

"No lights." Her mother was now on her feet and adjusting her clothes with an air of casual indifference. It was as if Sydney's attack had been nothing more than a stranger bumping into her in a crowded place.

She stared at her mother. Her eyes were used to the dark by now and she could make out certain features of her mother's face. But she could decipher nothing. Even in the bright light of day her mother was a closed, unreadable book. Now, in the dim light of her room in the safe house, her mother's face was even more of a mask.

Her mother looked at her for several long minutes. Sydney had the uncomfortable feeling that her mother was sizing her up somehow, and it disconcerted her. But she forced herself to remain where she was, returning her mother's look with a leveled one of her own.

"You need to leave." Her mother's voice was calm, but firm. It left no room for argument.

"What?"

"You need to leave here, Sydney. Now."

"What's going on?"

Her mother didn't answer her right away but instead, crept to the window and peered out for a few seconds. She seemed satisfied by whatever it was she saw out there because she nodded. A short, curt nod before she turned back to Sydney. "Here. You'll need this."

Sydney looked down at her mother's outstretched hand. In it was a cell phone and a wad of bills. She stared at the objects for a beat before she looked back up at her mother. "What is going on?" she repeated.

"There's no time for me to explain," her mother said impatiently. "They're on their way."

"Who?"

"Counterintelligence."

That single word sent a chill down her back. She had dealt with counterintelligence before. Most recently was when they had suspected Vaughn of being disloyal. That had been an unpleasant experience to put it mildly. She would hazard to guess that whatever counterintelligence had in store for her would make Vaughn's experience seem like a day in the park.

"W-why?" she stammered, even though she already suspected the reason.

Her mother sighed impatiently. "There's no time for explanations. All you need to know is that you have to leave here. Now."

She could understand her mother's attitude. But years of distrust, doubt and hurt caused her to react emotionally. In other words, irrationally. "Then you make time. I'm not going anywhere until you explain." She looked down at the money and cell phone in her mother's hand. "For all I know, you could be setting me up for something."

She stared at her mother defiantly while her mother returned her look with a determined one of her own. For long minutes, neither woman said anything and the only sound in the room was the ragged, stressed breathing of the two of them as they tried to stare each other down. Finally, her mother sighed heavily and moved over to the bed. She sat down on the edge and tucked her hair behind her ear in an all-too-familiar gesture.

"Your test results showed. . .anomalies." Her mother's voice was soft and matter-of-fact.

"Counterintelligence has been involved from the beginning. It's standard operating procedure when an agent suddenly turns up after having been declared MIA."

Her mother looked at her and sighed. "It was a terrible risk. I knew that. But I had little choice. Even given my new position within the CIA."

"What are you talking about?"

There was no response at first as her mother just stared at the window. Finally her mother turned towards her, and even in the darkness, she could see the intensity in her mother's eyes. "You don't belong here do you, Sydney?"

She knew exactly what her mother meant and it shocked her to her core. [Oh my God. She knows. She knows!] "Wh-. . . .I-I. . . ."

"Thirty years ago, your father and Arvin Sloane were partners in the CIA. They were one of the top agents at the Agency and were on some of the Agency's most classified and dangerous missions."

"And you?"

Her mother smiled slightly. "Believe it or not, I was inactive. I became pregnant with you shortly after marrying your father and-"

"Was that a part of some mission? Marrying Dad?"

"Of course not!" Her mother's denial was so vehement and strong that she couldn't help but believe it. "Your father and I met at 'the Farm.' Just like any couple, we fell in love and married."

She couldn't stop from scoffing incredulously. "I don't believe that. You were probably-"

"Sydney!" her mother chided her firmly. "Nothing here is as you remember it. Including me. I don't know what your memories of me are like but I assure you, those memories are not who I am. . .*now.*"

"Then what? Are you saying I've time traveled? Is that why you gave me that clue about H.G Wells and then sent Marshall to implant me?"

A weary nod. "That was another risk. But one I had to take. I knew from our brief meeting that anything I had to say to you would be met with doubt and distrust. So I had hoped that a familiar face, one that you trusted, would enable you to receive the message better."

"Time traveling? That's a little bit of a stretch don't you think?"

"Thirty years ago, I would have said the same thing. I would have reacted exactly as you are reacting now."

"What happened thirty years ago?" she asked slowly, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Your father and Arvin Sloane were sent to Nepal on a routine recovery mission. But that mission changed all of our lives forever." She sighed. "While there, Arvin met a man named Conrad who told him of an ancient prophecy and about a 15th Century inventor and papal advisor by the name of Milo Rambaldi."

"Rambaldi?" she half said, half gasped the word.

"I see you're familiar with the name." Sydney nodded. "Your father thought it was a lot of nonsense at first but Arvin was obsessed, almost from the beginning. He wanted the CIA to devote more time and resources in dealing with the prophecy and Rambaldi but the CIA thought it was a waste of its time. Arvin clashed with superiors and Agency heads frequently over the matter until he finally quit. . .joining the Alliance and eventually becoming the SD-6 director."

"Because of Rambaldi?"

"Yes. It seemed that the Alliance had a great deal of interest in the Rambaldi artifacts. Only in the monetary sense however. They had no idea about the prophecy and the true value of the artifacts that they were trying to acquire."

"And you and Dad?"

"After Arvin returned from the Nepal mission, he was a changed man. Your father saw it, and so did I. At first, we didn't take it seriously but when Arvin started breaching protocols and security in his effort to track down anything and everything he could find on Rambaldi, your father became concerned. When he investigated Rambaldi further, his concern grew into alarm."

"Why?"

"Because what Rambaldi prophesized came true with astounding accuracy. Particularly one terrifying prophecy that hit a little too close to home."

Her mother was staring at her intently as she said the last part and Sydney felt another chill. "M-me?"

"Yes."

She shook her head. "No. I'm not the one in the prophecy."

"Yes, you are," her mother said sadly.

"No! I disproved that prophecy. Even if that doesn't mean anything now, it shows that the prophecy can be disproved so I'm not the one in that prophecy!"

"Disproved it? How?"

"I-I went to Mount Sebacio. In the prophecy it said the woman had never seen Mount Sebacio and I have."

"The painting?"

"W-what?"

"You've seen the Rambaldi painting of Mount Sebacio?"

A feeling of dread was settling in her stomach. "No, the actual mountain."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "No. Sydney, you haven't disproved anything. The prophecy, like any prophecy, cannot be taken literally. Their interpretation is an educated guess at best."

"Then it can be an educated guess that I'm not the one in the prophecy. And how do you know it wasn't the actual Mount Sebacio he was talking about?"

"You're right," her mother said softly. "I don't. And neither do you. But we have uncovered evidence that Rambaldi painted Mount Sebacio with a vividly colorful sky behind it. It was discovered in the 18th Century inside one of his artifacts." Her mother looked at her. "But seeing the painting would fit in more closely with the phrase 'never having seen the beauty of my sky behind Mount Sebacio' wouldn't it?"

She hated to admit it but her mother's interpretation did fit. Perhaps even better than her own. But she refused to accept it. She couldn't. [How can I accept being the one that 'renders the greatest power into utter desolation'?] "T-then I can see the painting. . .it's still possible to disprove!"

"The painting was destroyed Sydney. It was lost in a fire."

She shook her head. "I-I can't. . .it's not. . ."

"Sydney!" Her mother's voice had taken on a hard edge. "Whatever you might have believed about the prophecy, it doesn't change the fact that you are who Rambaldi spoke of. The 'unseen marks' were very precise biological marks, mainly your DNA. The tests you took confirmed that. That's why counterintelligence wants to bring you in."

[Some things never change.] She was genuinely scared now. The last time she was 'brought in' by the feds, she would have never gotten out if not for Vaughn and her father. Now that everything was different, she didn't think she'd stand much of a chance in escaping once in custody again. "B-but I haven't. . .I have nothing to do with what some guy said in the 15th Century!"

"I understand Sydney." Her mother stood up and walked over to the window where she peered out of the blinds again. "We're running out of time. You need to leave."

"But there's still-"

"I can't explain everything now," her mother said, once again thrusting the money and cell phone at her.

"Then just explain how you know about me," she said quickly. "About how you know I don't quite. . .belong."

There was an impatient sigh from where her mother stood before she answered. "As I said, about 30 years ago, Arvin went rogue. When your father and I looked into Rambaldi, we discovered his prophecy and. . .works. Just a few, but enough to make us. . .worried. Your father came up with the plan to join Arvin in the Alliance as a double for the CIA. While he went into SD-6, the CIA discovered that the KGB had acquired quite a few Rambaldi artifacts and were in fact working with the Alliance on that front."

"No," Sydney shook her head. "SD-6 has always worked against the KGB. Against K-Directorate."

"SD-6 has, that's true. But SD-6 is but one appendage of the Alliance. And the Alliance is primarily a mercenary group. It will work with anyone if it furthers their aim of acquiring wealth and power. In any event, this alarmed the CIA. It was then that I offered to go into the KGB, also as a double so that I could handle the Rambaldi case on that front."

"Why you?"

"My Russian heritage. . .and I had some ties within the KGB."

"And Dad knew about this?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes. He was against it at first, but he realized that if what we knew about Rambaldi was true, then it was worth it." There was a long pause and Sydney could feel her mother staring at her. When she spoke again, her voice was heavy with emotion. "You were still so young, Sydney. I. . .didn't want to leave you but. . ." Her mother's voice broke and there was a heavy intake of breath. A few seconds later, her mother's voice was once again calm and matter-of-fact. "It took years to decipher Rambaldi's writings and to understand his many artifacts. We thought we were making a breakthrough when something happened that alarmed both your father and I greatly. To the extent that we both seriously considered abandoning our covers."

"What?"

"Arvin recruited you into SD-6."

Even now, that betrayal by Sloane and all that it led to angered her still. "Then why didn't you and Dad say something to me sooner? So that I'd know?"

"We couldn't," her mother sounded genuinely regretful. "Part of your father's cover at SD-6 was to maintain his friendship with Arvin and that included socializing with the Sloanes. If we had told you, would you have been able to have dinner with them as if nothing had happened?"

She wanted to say 'yes' but it was a lie. If she had been warned about Sloane in advance, she'd have nothing but contempt for him thereafter. Even after being trained by SD-6 and the CIA to lie and deceive, she could barely conceal her loathing of him. How would she have hidden her real feelings with no training at all?

"At first, your father thought that Arvin recruited you as a way to ensure his loyalty," her mother continued. "But when your father uncovered the prophecy, and your role in it, he realized Arvin's interest in you went beyond that of a father figure, and beyond that of someone who needed a bargaining chip."

"We were terrified Sydney. Terrified the entire time you were unknowingly working for SD-6. Your father tried his best to protect you. Our terror grew exponentially when you were cleared for field duty and were sent on missions. Your father had Marcus Dixon assigned to you in hopes that it would provide you with some measure of protection but even his best efforts couldn't protect you. . .or your loved ones."

"Danny."

"Yes." Her mother peered outside again before she continued. "When you learned the truth and went to the CIA on your own accord, we thought that would be the beginning of the end. But then. . .you went missing in Sao Paulo."

"What happened after that?"

"Instead of panicking at your loss and the effect it would have on your father, Arvin instead became more. . .focused. He orchestrated the downfall of not only SD-6 but the entire Alliance as well. And then he. . .disappeared."

"Vaughn told me he's presumed dead."

Her mother gave a mirthless laugh. "Oh, Arvin is very much alive and well. In fact, he's with your father."

"W-what?"

Her mother nodded. "About a month ago, Arvin contacted your father and arranged a meet. Your father managed to get a message to me stating that he needed to go with Arvin in exchange for 'something precious' was his words. Soon after, you turned up."

Sydney's mind was reeling from everything her mother was telling her. "Dad. . .sacrificed himself for me?"

"Yes. When you were declared MIA two years ago, I began the process of extracting myself from the KGB. After the Alliance's downfall, I returned to the CIA and worked with your father on the Rambaldi project. We were convinced this held the answer to your disappearance and to Sloane's as well."

"We still don't fully understand it but from what we could piece together, all of the artifacts, 47 in all, are to be assembled into a device known as Il Dire. 'The Telling.' Il Dire then will allow its creator 'the greatest power'. . .just as it was stated in his prophecy. It was then that we knew of your value. . .and your connection to Arvin."

"I don't have a connection to Sloane!" she exclaimed angrily. Hearing these things sickened her. She wanted nothing more than to be rid of him. Everything awful that had happened in her life had been because of him and now she was finding out that they were connected?

"I'm sorry, Sydney. It's just. . ." Her mother shook her head. "What we have learned about Il Dire is that it allows the person. . .using it. . .to somehow change or alter past events to their liking. And of course, no one else is aware of this. . .alteration."

"But you and Dad are. And I am."

"You are because of your. . .role in the prophecy. How, we do not know. As for your father and myself, we only knew this because Arvin allowed us to see the. . .true reality."

"What do you mean?"

"It was your reappearance. At first, I had suspected that Arvin used Il Dire to alter the events of your disappearance. But when you returned seemingly with no memory, I had my doubts. And then I read Agent Vaughn's report. And that's when I knew something else was at work here."

"Vaughn's report?"

"He made mention of you recalling events that happened after your disappearance. And that's when I knew that Arvin had done more than to simply alter the events of your disappearance. He had altered your life as well."

"But what makes you think this. . .Il Dire is about time traveling?"

"It is, as with much of our work on Rambaldi, an educated guess."

"That. . .doesn't help me!" she blurted out angrily. "I need real answers. Not educated guesses!"

"I don't have real answers, Sydney," her mother said calmly. "Now, we've wasted enough time with explanations. You need to leave. I know you have no reason to trust me but I'm asking you to do so." This time her mother thrust the money and phone into her hand. "Do not use this phone except to receive calls. I've managed to have it altered so as to be untraceable so long as the calls come from a secure phone in my possession. And this should be enough money to get you out of LA for the time being."

"W-what am I supposed to do? Just hide?"

"For now, yes."

Her mother peered outside once more. "They'll be changing shifts in a few minutes. I'll slip out then. I've disabled the locks on the window in the back so you can go out that way."

Her mother came over and stood directly in front of her. She simply gazed at Sydney for several long minutes before she reached out and touched her hair lovingly. Surprisingly, she didn't flinch or shy away from her mother's touch. "How I wish things were different for you. . .for us." Her mother gave her one last look before she turned and walked towards the door. "Be careful Sydney."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**********Santa Monica, May 10th, Morning**********

Technically, she was out of LA. She knew that her mother had something much further away in mind, but Sydney couldn't bare to just simply run and hide. Not when her life was on the line. When apparently millions of lives were on the line if Rambaldi's prophecy was true.

But she also knew she couldn't do this alone. She had no resources other than a 'incoming calls' only cell phone and a couple of thousand dollars in cash. She would have been able to survive on that with no problem if all she intended to do was to hide until her mother told her it was safe to come out. But she intended to do more than that.

Not only because it was her life at stake, but because despite the talk she had with her mother, she still didn't fully trust her. Years of hurt couldn't be undone with one night's explanation, no matter how illuminating that conversation had been.

So she knew what she wanted to do. And part of that was getting help somehow. Unfortunately for her, she didn't seem to have many people that she could trust these days. Except for one person. And she had spent hours debating it. Having just made her decision only seconds ago, she was now at a pay phone, punching in a set of numbers that she still hoped were in service.

She listened to the ringing on the other end and counted each one. One. . . .two. . . .three. . .fo- She felt both relief and panic at hearing his voice.

"Hello?" She didn't say anything. . .her planned speech flying out of her mind completely. It had been one thing to rationalize her plea and his probable response in her head and quite another to be facing the real thing. "Hello?"

She took a deep breath. "Vaughn."