The sun shone brightly, but the wind was cold as the four decided to take a
walk on that day in March. Their pace was leisurely, and though their
intent was relaxation, their conversation was hesitant and forced. Vaughn
walked cautiously with an arm around Sydney. Jack and Irina flanked them.
Two separate conversations were going on, but every once and a while
everyone would break into a careful laughter.
The events of the last few days were unsettling, at best. Sydney's parents, and her fiancé worried for her safety, but also for her fragile mental state. She was one of the strongest women any of them had ever known, but her situation weighed heavily upon her. Sydney could feel the tension in the air, though she was unsure of what it completely stemmed from. Vaughn knew only a little more than she did. Jack and Irina, though they thought they knew the truth, were constantly questioning everything. The presence of their daughter made them wonder if they'd chosen the right path.
Jack and Vaughn were politely conversing about matters within the government. They both joked about the unfortunate downfall of the Democratic Party. Irina and Sydney spoke of more domestic things. Sydney complained about her lack of energy, and the fact that she could no longer throw a back kick the way she used to. Their conversation often drifted toward the one subject they were all avoiding. But somehow they all managed to awkwardly and blatantly avoid it.
The mid day sun was at its warmest, and as if ominously the wind had ceased to blow. Sydney paused to look up at the sun, causing the entire party to stop. No one spoke. Irina watched Jack, watch Vaughn, watching Sydney look skyward. She smiled to herself. 'How could things this right, go so terribly wrong?' She thought. She herself glanced at the sun.
As she did so, she failed to notice the car slowly approaching them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Vaughn was the first to notice. After assessing the situation he gave Jack an urgent look, before swiftly turning Sydney around. He began walking quickly, almost pulling Sydney along with him. He had no idea what he was doing, but he thought the situation behind them was best left to Jack and Irina. Sark was one person with whom Sydney did no need to speak, right now at least. Sydney made an attempt at protest, before realizing what was going on. She glanced quickly over her shoulder, only to see Jack and Irina speaking with someone sitting in a black car.
As they neared the house Vaughn picked up the pace a little.
"Vaughn what's going on?" Sydney said pulling away from him and slowing down.
"Sydney let's just go inside the house." Vaughn said urgently, grabbing Sydney's hand. To this, Sydney did not resist, but she looked back one last time to see what was going on. Her vision was again obscured by where her mother and father stood. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sark looked much older, since the last time Jack had seen him. He'd kept his hair short, but had grown a small mustache and goatee. As the car slowed to a stop, Sark rolled down the window. Jack was about to speak, when Irina cut him off.
"What are you doing here?" She said, noticeably angry.
"It's nice to see you too." Sark said with a smile.
"Answer the question." Jack said forcefully.
"Nice to see you as well." Sark said inclining his head toward Jack. "I came with news of Sloane." Sark said, more serious now. He looked to both Jack and Irina, but both were waiting for further explanation. "He's in the process of moving the device. He hasn't told me where yet, but I assume he will be removing it from Europe."
"What could he possibly mean by moving it? There is no need." Jack said looking quizzically to Irina.
"Evidently Sloane has forsaken informing us of his plans." She said answering Jack. She then looked to Sark. "What was the purpose of coming here to relay that message?" She said, the anger returning to her voice. "You have most likely compromised your mission."
Sark smiled knowingly. "I'm afraid I've already been compromised." Irina looked apprehensively at Jack. Irina and Jack stood for a moment, expecting an answer. Sark just smiled. "It's rather cold out here." He said chuckling to himself.
"Look, I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play here. But the sooner you explain yourself, the sooner we can go back inside, and you can be on your way." Jack said curtly.
"That's just it. I don't plan on going anywhere. I've already been red flagged by Sloane's men. I rather think this would be a lovely place to hide out for the time being." Sark smiled knowingly again.
"Sydney doesn't need this. If you stay, things will need to be explained. Things," Jack's voice got a little louder, "that Sydney doesn't need to deal with. So either you leave now or I will make you leave."
Sark laughed. "You are hardly in any condition to be making me do anything. Besides Sydney is going to find out anyway." Irina stood in silence, realizing what Sark was implying that he knew.
"At some point in the future, yes. But now is not appropriate." Jack said, growing more and more annoyed. He was so consumed by his anger, he completely overlooked Sark's words.
Sark paused, his face becoming serious. "Sloane knows. That's precisely why I'm here."
"How did Arvin find out?" Irina said, in complete disbelief.
"Of that I'm not exactly sure. But he didn't hesitate to share the news with me."
Jack paused realizing suddenly. "So now you know."
"Yes, father. The secret's out."
The events of the last few days were unsettling, at best. Sydney's parents, and her fiancé worried for her safety, but also for her fragile mental state. She was one of the strongest women any of them had ever known, but her situation weighed heavily upon her. Sydney could feel the tension in the air, though she was unsure of what it completely stemmed from. Vaughn knew only a little more than she did. Jack and Irina, though they thought they knew the truth, were constantly questioning everything. The presence of their daughter made them wonder if they'd chosen the right path.
Jack and Vaughn were politely conversing about matters within the government. They both joked about the unfortunate downfall of the Democratic Party. Irina and Sydney spoke of more domestic things. Sydney complained about her lack of energy, and the fact that she could no longer throw a back kick the way she used to. Their conversation often drifted toward the one subject they were all avoiding. But somehow they all managed to awkwardly and blatantly avoid it.
The mid day sun was at its warmest, and as if ominously the wind had ceased to blow. Sydney paused to look up at the sun, causing the entire party to stop. No one spoke. Irina watched Jack, watch Vaughn, watching Sydney look skyward. She smiled to herself. 'How could things this right, go so terribly wrong?' She thought. She herself glanced at the sun.
As she did so, she failed to notice the car slowly approaching them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Vaughn was the first to notice. After assessing the situation he gave Jack an urgent look, before swiftly turning Sydney around. He began walking quickly, almost pulling Sydney along with him. He had no idea what he was doing, but he thought the situation behind them was best left to Jack and Irina. Sark was one person with whom Sydney did no need to speak, right now at least. Sydney made an attempt at protest, before realizing what was going on. She glanced quickly over her shoulder, only to see Jack and Irina speaking with someone sitting in a black car.
As they neared the house Vaughn picked up the pace a little.
"Vaughn what's going on?" Sydney said pulling away from him and slowing down.
"Sydney let's just go inside the house." Vaughn said urgently, grabbing Sydney's hand. To this, Sydney did not resist, but she looked back one last time to see what was going on. Her vision was again obscured by where her mother and father stood. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sark looked much older, since the last time Jack had seen him. He'd kept his hair short, but had grown a small mustache and goatee. As the car slowed to a stop, Sark rolled down the window. Jack was about to speak, when Irina cut him off.
"What are you doing here?" She said, noticeably angry.
"It's nice to see you too." Sark said with a smile.
"Answer the question." Jack said forcefully.
"Nice to see you as well." Sark said inclining his head toward Jack. "I came with news of Sloane." Sark said, more serious now. He looked to both Jack and Irina, but both were waiting for further explanation. "He's in the process of moving the device. He hasn't told me where yet, but I assume he will be removing it from Europe."
"What could he possibly mean by moving it? There is no need." Jack said looking quizzically to Irina.
"Evidently Sloane has forsaken informing us of his plans." She said answering Jack. She then looked to Sark. "What was the purpose of coming here to relay that message?" She said, the anger returning to her voice. "You have most likely compromised your mission."
Sark smiled knowingly. "I'm afraid I've already been compromised." Irina looked apprehensively at Jack. Irina and Jack stood for a moment, expecting an answer. Sark just smiled. "It's rather cold out here." He said chuckling to himself.
"Look, I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play here. But the sooner you explain yourself, the sooner we can go back inside, and you can be on your way." Jack said curtly.
"That's just it. I don't plan on going anywhere. I've already been red flagged by Sloane's men. I rather think this would be a lovely place to hide out for the time being." Sark smiled knowingly again.
"Sydney doesn't need this. If you stay, things will need to be explained. Things," Jack's voice got a little louder, "that Sydney doesn't need to deal with. So either you leave now or I will make you leave."
Sark laughed. "You are hardly in any condition to be making me do anything. Besides Sydney is going to find out anyway." Irina stood in silence, realizing what Sark was implying that he knew.
"At some point in the future, yes. But now is not appropriate." Jack said, growing more and more annoyed. He was so consumed by his anger, he completely overlooked Sark's words.
Sark paused, his face becoming serious. "Sloane knows. That's precisely why I'm here."
"How did Arvin find out?" Irina said, in complete disbelief.
"Of that I'm not exactly sure. But he didn't hesitate to share the news with me."
Jack paused realizing suddenly. "So now you know."
"Yes, father. The secret's out."