Syrina

Chapter Ten

Flight

            The plane ride had been uncannily silent.  Syrina stretched across the plane seats, chomping her gum.  That was one constant sound, the squishy noise.  Sydney stared out the window, watching the fluffy white clouds float by.  Sark, staying true to form, poured over his computer, studying blue prints of the warehouse in Kysokos.  Each hardly moved from their positions as they waited.  The plane landed smoothly on the tarmac and the doors opened.  Sydney thought they'd arrived in Kysokos and made movements towards standing up slowly.  She hadn't expected what she saw come through the door.  Francie, or more accurately, Allison Doren, climbing up the stairs to enter the plane.  Sydney's face fell into utter pain and for a minute, Syrina could almost feel her angst.  Sark watched all three girls carefully and couldn't help but laugh when Allison cracked, "Well, this is going to be a fun plane ride."

Sydney and Syrina, the two women Alli hated most in the world, who despised her with equal passion, crammed together on a six-hour flight.  This was going to be absolutely delightful.  Sydney's pain turned into outrage, outrage towards Sark.

"You son of a…"She couldn't finish.  She tried desperately to compose herself.

"You never told me she was coming."

"It's not my responsibility to keep you informed of the members of this team.  Syrina has accepted Allison's involvement, you would be wise to do so also."

Sydney noticed Syrina's look of disgust and realized it wasn't directed at her.  It was directed towards Allison.  Apparently, the two had a bit of animosity between them.  Something Sydney could relate to.  Allison stepped forward to go to another seat, but Sydney blocked her way.  Her eyes challenged Allison, a challenge Allison was ready to take.  She readied herself to fight, but Sark stepped between the two women before anything could occur.  "Play nice, ladies.  We have a long ride ahead of us and it won't do if you're both weak after fighting each other.  Sit down.  Both of you."

Allison took the chair closest to Sark's previous seat.  Sydney returned to her chair and folded her arms as a sign she did not want any further contact with that woman.  Sark sighed, unable to relax because of the new tension in the plane's cabin.  Syrina blew a large bubble and popped it.  Sydney tilted her head to study the younger girl.  At the moment, she looked like a typical teenager.  She looked completely normal.  There was no sign of what she really did.  She had her eyes closed and she seemed content to chomp on her bubble gum.  Her eyes would peek open and glance dartily at Sark.  She would pink and close her eyes once again.  It was almost methodical.  Sydney enjoyed watching her.  She was like a little girl with a crush on her big brother's friend.  Only there was something different.  It was a bit deeper than a usual crush.  Then again, nothing was usual about this girl, so what did Sydney expect?  Sydney turned her attention to Allison Doren.  She seemed so smug in the chair, her legs underneath her, appearing quite casual.  She leaned closely to Sark as if to prove her possession of Sark.  But to whom?  Certainly not to Sydney.  She wasn't interested in Sark.  Then it dawned on Sydney.  That was why Allison hated Syrina.  She felt Syrina was a threat to her happiness and well-being.  Apparently Sark and Allison had some kind of love affair going on.  Sydney should have suspected it, but she was so blinded by staring at Francie's face to notice.  Perhaps she could use that against Allison, the supposed devotion Allison held towards Sark.  Sydney swiveled her eyes on Sark's form, to decide what she thought about all of this.  He leaned away from Allison, favoring his left side over his right.  He didn't want to be close to her?  He was typing, but occasionally his eyes would flick over the screen to land on Syrina and a look of worry and bliss would cover his face.  Yes, it was pretty obvious whom Sark favored.  The three held such odd relationships, Sydney finally decided. 

            They arrived in Kysokos a few awkward hours later.  The tarmac was empty and from what Sydney gathered, it was a privately owned airport.  Not surprising.  Syrina strode confidently down the steps and met with a tall man in his late 20's.  They shared kisses and Syrina seemed delighted to see him.  Sydney didn't recognize him and decided he must be a new player in the game since she'd last played.  Syrina was whispering excitedly to him and Sark was smiling fondly as well.  Allison even looked glad to see him.  Sydney watched on helplessly as they continued their reunion.

"I'm so glad to see you, Brenny.  I've missed you so much!"  Syrina threw her arms around him, unable to contain herself.  It'd been nearly four years since she'd seen Brennan, just a little before her father had been murdered.  He was a friend of Andrew's.

*Twelve-year-old Syrina ran down the stairs of the mansion steps.  Andrew was coming home from boarding school today.  Irina and Daddy had told her that she could meet up with him this afternoon before she began more training.  She was practically bursting at the seams.  Allison stood calmly next to her on the porch, a pout on her face.  Alli was so boring sometimes.  She was mean too.  She was trying to invade on Syrina's time with Andrew and it made Syrina pretty angry.  The anger was quickly forgotten, though, as Andrew's form came into view. And behind him, another boy stood.  Syrina didn't even acknowledge the other child's presence as she flew down the pathway and launched herself at Andrew.

"Andy!  I've missed you so much!  You've been gone for so long!  I have so much to tell you.  Daddy started my training!  Isn't that absolutely smashing?"

Andrew smiled slightly and nodded.  "I imagine the training is going perfect as well.  You're learning what, Japanese?"

"Of course!  Daddy says that's where my first mission is going to be."

Andrew shrugged slightly.

"Syri, this is my friend, Brennan Mirali.  Brennan, this is Syrina Khasinau, Alexander's daughter."

"It's lovely to meet you, Syrina."  He had a smooth Southern accent that made Syrina want to suddenly swoon.  It was comforting.  He was the same height as Andy with blond hair and green eyes.  He was kind of cute, though not as cute as Andrew, in Syrina's opinion.  She didn't have long to dwell on his looks because Allison had finally walked down the pathway to be introduced.  She never knew who could help her higher her position.  For all she knew, this strange boy would be able to help her. 

"Brennan, this is Allison, the girl I was telling you about."

Syrina's face fell instantly.  Andrew was talking about Alli?  How could he?  She was horrid.  Absolutely horrid!  Brennan noticed right away, "Nice to meet you, Allison.  Now, come, Miss Syrina and show me around your house.  I've heard stories about your tours."

Syrina giggled and motioned for him to follow.*

"Are you ready for this big hurrah, Sweetheart?"  Brennan asked sweetly.  Syrina stared up at him with adoration.  He was her best friend, her favorite brother.  She was his little sister, the little runt he always watched out for.  He'd been forced into a deep cover mission for a while and then The Man's organization had been discovered.  He'd gone into hiding until he heard that Syrina had started her own organization.  He hadn't been surprised; she'd always been unbelievably spirited.  He also hadn't been surprised when Sark had finally contacted him a week ago about the Il Dire.  He'd hurried to Kysokos to do some reconnaissance and found the warehouse to be unguarded.  How ridiculous that a priceless machine be out in the open.  He turned his attention back on to Syrina.

"I suppose I don't have much of a choice, Brennan.  Did Andrew tell you about that absurd prophecy that Milo Rambaldi wrote?"

"Yes, Sweetheart, and I hardly believe that the prophecy is ludicrous.  Has he ever been wrong so far?"

"No."  Syrina admitted grudgingly.  Brennan wrapped a brotherly arm around her and began walking.
"Come along, Allison, Sark.  I've got us a night's lodgings before we head to the warehouse all right.  And I do hope you were planning on introducing me to your friend."

Syrina tossed a look back to Sydney.  "Oh, that's Sydney Bristow."

"The legendary Sydney Bristow has come to help us on our mission?  I'm honored, Miss Bristow."

Sydney sighed.
"Yet I'm not.  And no one has seen fit to introduce me to you."

"I'm Brennan Mirali.  I apologize for my manners."

He winked at Syrina, something that didn't go unnoticed by Sydney.  They seemed to have an interesting relationship.  If he hadn't said his last name was Mirali, she would have thought they were siblings.  The two seemed to float off into their own world as they conversed easily in Irdo, a language Sydney had never mastered.  Sydney sighed as she followed Sark and Allison to a taxicab that was parked at the curb.