Chapter 2
2018

Sydney said, surprised.

was all Vaughn replied emotionless as he briefly made eye contact with her then brushed passed her and entered the briefing room. He was careful to keep stoic, not wanting to show any feeling.

Sydney took a breath, trying to regain her composure. She wasn't sure why she was there after all these years, but knew she would have to stay focused. Sydney took one more deep breath, turned, and walked into the briefing room herself.

As she walked through the door, more surprises greeted her. Dixon, Kendall's son, Weiss, Marshall, and her father were there, along with Vaughn. Sydney didn't understand why they were all there. What could possibly be happening to have them all gathered again? After Kendall's death five years ago, his son had been promoted to the position of Director. Dixon and Jack had retired. Weiss and Vaughn never saw Sydney anymore. And Marshall hadn't been in a briefing in years. She found her old chair and slowly sat down with a curious expression on her face, yet dreaded knowing why they were all there.

Good morning, everyone, Kendall's son greeted as he rose from his chair in the front of the briefing room. You must all be wondering why you've called in today, and with everyone else in this group. I'm going to ask that you just be patient and I promise all your questions will be answered. He looked down trying to gather whatever information he had to give them.

Sydney wondered if this Kendall was more mellow than his father, but doubted it. She tried to catch her father's eyes to see if he knew anything, but he didn't look up from the report he was reading. Dixon quickly gave Sydney a small smile, and returned his attention to the new Kendall. Weiss and Vaughn purposely avoided eye contact with her, which didn't surprise her. Marshall was the only one who seemed truly happy to see her, as he waved and smiled at her. Sydney smiled back and gave a small wave, then focused her attention back on Kendall.

We have more information on the Circumference, the Rambaldi device that Bristow and Vaughn destroyed in Taipei sixteen years ago. We now know the primary purpose of the device. After recovering what seems to be the last Rambaldi journal, it states the device is a time machine.

Excuse me? Sydney asked in disbelief. She couldn't have heard what she just heard.

You heard correctly, Miss. Bristow, Kendall responded, knowing how everyone would react. Everyone, but Kendall and Jack, was shocked by this news. They were all, at the very least, skeptical of what they heard.

I'm going to let Marshall explain the technical aspect of the device, Kendall stated, as he gestured to Marshall to continue.

Well, thank you, Mr. Kendall, Marshall started as he rose from his chair. Oh sorry it's Director Kendall, isn't it? Of course I'm not sure what to call Mr. Bristow or Mr. Dixon. Are you still agents? And then there is the lovely Miss. Bristow here. Now since you uh, well, uh, left the CIA-

Marshall, could you just explain how the Circumference works? Kendall asked obviously irritated.

Of course, sorry, it's just that I haven't been in a briefing for so long, I'm a little a nervous. I'm not use to talking to large groups of people anymore. I mean-



Marshall stated taking a breath. Alright, the Circumference is a platform to a portal. The portal makes time travel possible. A platform by itself isn't that useful for time travel, because if you layed down on it, you'd just lay there, without going anywhere. But if there were two platforms, in the same space but not the same time, you could time travel between the two times.

Now to actually time travel you'd have to go faster than the speed of light. Which is fast. Which is the downfall of time travel. Going that fast would wreak havoc on your body. Plus there is the gravitational radiation in time travel. Which is what almost killed Agent Vaughn that time he was swimming in what was left over the Circumference. So any time travel would ultimately be suicide for the traveler. I mean it wouldn't kill someone instantly. Someone might be able to last a few months after the trip.

Dixon said, shaking his head trying to let all the information sink into his brain. So the device was a time machine. What does that have to do with us now?

We have built another circumference, Kendall stated.

What? Why? Weiss asked.

Jack stood up and said, We believe that this is our only way of stopping Derevko.

As you all know, Kendall continued, Derevko has the largest collection of Rambaldi artifacts. She has more power than ever, which has limited the CIA's reach. And if we are to believe Rambaldi's Prophecy, Derevko will cause the world's destruction. We must do everything possible to prevent that. This is everything possible.

But the circumference in Taipei was destroyed 16 years ago, Weiss replied. How can you use it now?

Well it was destroyed, Marshall stated, but it was complete before it was destroyed. If one was to go back before it was destroyed, it would work.

Okay, so someone goes back to the past to stop Derevko, Vaughn said, speaking for the first time since the briefing started. How are they going to stop her?

The mission is to go back and kill Dereveko, Kendall answered. She is too guarded now, we can't touch her. And it would be better to kill her before she acquires the majority of the Rambaldi artifacts.

Sydney took a breath. She knew that the only way to stop Derevko was to kill her. She also knew that Derevko had to be stopped. Derevko had caused so much pain to so many people, including Sydney. And she would only cause more pain. Yet there was that six-year-old little girl in Sydney who still longed for her mother. Sydney had to remind herself that Irina Derevko was not Laura Bristow. Irina Derevko would never be Laura Bristow.

Now I should say, Marshall started again, that whoever goes will die in this universe. But going back would create another universe, a parallel universe, and in that universe you, or rather your counter self, would survive. That's been theorized about as well. And parallel universes seem to be what prevent paradoxes. For example, a guy goes back in time and kills his grandmother when she's a little girl. That would cause him to never be born, so then he couldn't go back in time and kill his grandmother. So then he is born, and he goes back in time and kill his grandmother, etc., etc., etc.

What would actually happen in that situation is in one universe the grandmother never dies and the person is born. Then he goes back and kills his grandmother, creating a parallel universe, where he wasn't born. Does that make sense?

Weiss replied, rubbing his forehead as all the information was hurting his head.

This meeting is to ask two of you to volunteer for this mission. Kendall continued. We want two people to go so there is a back up, in case someone gets hurt. I want everyone to give some thought to the mission, and decide if they are willing to do it. We'll meet back here in two days.

Sydney looked over to Vaughn as he looked over to her. They made brief eye contact, trying to read each other's thoughts on the mission. Though time and space had separated them, they both saw hope in each other's eyes for the first time in a long time.

Vaughn looked away, as he got up from his chair and left the briefing room with Weiss. Sydney slowly got up as Jack made his way to his daughter's side. She gave him a small smile and gathered her things.

Can I take you to lunch? Jack asked returning Sydney's smile.

Sure, sounds good.