Sydney's head jerked up in surprise. Had he said Allie? As in Allison,
the bitch who killed Francie and lied to her and Will for so long? "What
did you say?" she demanded. She had to have misheard. Allison was dead;
she had killed her. She felt the color drain from her face and as she
looked at Aidan she knew the answer
Sark looked at Sydney, his manner uncertain. He was shocked as it was; he didn't want to have to explain Allie to Sydney. Besides, he knew that Sydney would overreact about his part in all of this. He preferred to avoid that right now, but he knew that she was waiting for an answer and hesitantly said, "Sydney, that is Allison Doren. What she's doing with Sloane, I don't know." His voice held pure surprise and anger. He couldn't believe his eyes. Sloane must have re-created Project Helix. There was his Allie, quite alive. He suddenly felt sickened as he realized that she was still working with the man that he hated most. Why hadn't she tried to contact him? Did she know that he was free?
The tone of his voice made Sydney instantly wary. He had called her Allie. Exactly how well did he know her? She felt a prick of jealousy at his intimate use of Allison's name. Apparently there was more to Aidan's background with this woman than she knew. She grew angry as she thought about all of it. And what was Allison doing alive and with Sloane? She turned her attention back to the monitor as the conversation began.
"Irina, it's so good to see you again." Sloane wore a smirk on his face. "Jack, it's been too long." He moved to sit on the end of the desk in front of where Jack and Irina were seated. He looked as smug as ever. "How is Sydney?"
Jack wanted to cut the man's throat, but contained his temper. His eyes and voice were cold as he spoke. "Wouldn't you know better than us, Arvin? After all, Sydney was in your company for almost two years." Sloane laughed. "You haven't changed, Jack. I'm glad to see that. There is too much change in the world today." He seemed to hesitate for a minute. "Pardon me. I've been rude. This is Allison Doren, Jack. Irina, I believe that you are quite aquainted with her. She used to work for you, if I'm not mistaken."
Irina did not acknowledge Allison. Instead, she turned to Sloane. "What is it that you want? I know this is no social call."
"You wound me, Irina. After all, we used to work so closely together. We both shared such a passion for Rambaldi." Sloane laughed as he saw her features tighten. "I too, am concerned for Sydney's welfare."
Irina slowly stood and moved toward Sloane. Her voice was calm but deadly when she spoke. "I told you once to never speak to me of Sydney again. Yet, here you are, making the same mistake." Her movement stopped as she heard a gun cock behind her. She turned to see Allison pointing a gun at her. "How lovely, Arvin. It's nice to know that you show us such hospitality."
"Irina, I will not play games with you or Jack. I want Sydney. Do you honestly think that I don't know that she is here?" He let his words sink in, observing the two people in front of him.
With this, Sydney gasped and looked at Sark. He eyed her warily, wondering what she was getting ready to do. If he knew her, she would single handedly try to take on Sloane. He moved to place a restraining hand on her shoulder. "We knew that this might be a trap, Sydney. We don't want to do anything rash." He kept his voice steady, but he was worried. None of them had expected Sloane to know that Sydney would be here. They underestimated him once again. He couldn't let Sydney run out into a worse situation. He turned his attention back to the monitor as Jack spoke.
Jack placed a condescending smile on his face as he spoke to Sloane. "Do you really think that we would let Sydney be this close to you?" He calmly surveyed the man across from him. If there weren't so much at stake, he would kill Sloane right now.
Sloane flicked a look at Allison, who lowered her gun. "Yes, Jack, that is exactly what I believe. Knowing you, you would feel that she was much more safe if she were close to you." He smirked, knowing that he had hit the mark. "Since I have her so near, it's a shame to waste the opportunity. He nodded to Allison, who moved behind Jack.
Sydney cried out as she saw what was happening. Allison was holding a gun to her father's head. Her father was sitting there, unable to do anything about it. "Aidan, we have to do something!" Her voice was frantic as her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do. She tried to move, but Aidan's hand was still restraining her.
Sark knew what Sloane was trying to do. If Jack were threatened, Sloane would be sure that it would flush out Sydney. "Sydney, just wait. We can't just barge in there yet." Damn the bastard. This shouldn't be happening. He wasn't going to stand by and see Sydney's family murdered right in front of them. Jack had tried to rise. At this, a new voice spoke. It was one that he recognized very well, and he brought his attention back to the screen.
"I suggest, Mr. Bristow, that you have a seat, if you value your life." Allison pointed toward the chair as Jack did what she said.
Sloane flashed a benevolent smile at Allison. "Thank you, dear. I'm sure Jack and Irina understand where I'm coming from now."
"Sloane, it is so like you to keep secrets. Tell me, how long has Allison been in your employ?" Irina knew that Allison being here was not just coincidence.
"Why don't you ask me yourself, Irina?" Allison moved toward her. "After all, we used to work rather closely. I've been working with Sloane for years. How do you think that I met you? Coincidence? Sloane knew that he needed someone on the inside. Someone to get closer to you. Luckily, in all of that, I met Mr. Sark, which was another plus. It was quite easy for me to gain the trust of you both. After all, I was only a child." Her voice had lost the silky quality and became hard.
Upon hearing Allison's speech, Sydney looked at Aidan, in apparent shock and anger. She had been aware that he was partly responsible for Allison's role in her life, for killing Francie and replacing her, but she had no idea that he had known her that long. She grew angry and jealous at the thought that Aidan had worked with this woman for years. She surveyed him, and as she saw the look of pain on his face, the answer to her unsaid question was apparent. He knew Allison Doren very well. She felt her heart clench as she realized what that meant. .
Sark blanched as he heard Allison's confession. He felt a deep betrayal. It was worse than what Irina had revealed to him. His Allie, the one who had kept him human and who had shown him so much care, had been a traitor to them all along? He couldn't believe it. He had always been such a good judge of character. Apparently he needed to rethink that, as he realized that he was mistaken. She had been using him to get information for Sloane. He felt as if a knife had been twisted into his back. He was pacing the room by this time.
Irina spoke again. "I see. Well, I must say that this doesn't surprise me, Allison. You never did live up to my expectations." She eyed the young woman in front of her coldly. "It stands to reason that you would pit yourself with a worthless bastard like Sloane."
Sydney screamed as she saw Allison take aim and fire. Her and Sark heard the shot ring out over the speakers. Time stood still for a moment while the sound registered to them. Sydney was out of the room in a flash.
Sark cursed under his breath because he was not quick enough to stop her. Damn that woman and her impulses. She was going to get them all killed. He cautiously followed.
Sydney took out the guards in front of the building, running on pure adrenaline. She ran frantically inside at full speed, checking each room as she went. Finally, she found them. She ran to her mother, who was lying on the floor, blood pooling around the wound in her side. "Mom! Mom, are you ok?" Sydney cried, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Please, mom. Hang in there!"
Sloane surveyed the scene in front of him. He was pleased with the turn of events. "Sydney, it's so nice to see you again," he said, amused at her bewilderment.
"You bastard! I'm going to kill you!" Sydney jumped up from her mother's side and aimed her gun at Sloane.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Allison replied. She trained her gun on Jack. "Unless you want your precious father to share the same fate as her." She nodded toward Irina, who was barely conscious on the floor.
"You bitch! I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Sydney screamed. Still, she dropped her gun and moved back to her mother, pressing her hands to the wound.
Allison laughed, enjoying her part in this little drama. "It seems Sydney, that there are a lot of things that you should have done. It's too bad really. One shouldn't have so many regrets in life." She smirked, hitting Jack squarely in the temple with the butt of her gun, causing him to instantly slump over.
At this moment, Sark was watching them. He had carefully made his way into the building unobserved. He took in the sight before him. Jack was unconscious, Irina had been shot, and Sloane and Allison had Sydney at their mercy. His mind was trying to process everything. He knew there was one thing that he could do. Slowly, he walked inside. He drew a deep breath as he started to speak. "Miss Bristow, it's so nice to see you again; and in such good company. I see you've met Allison." He walked over to Allison and spoke to her. "It's good to see that you're alive. I was quite concerned for you, love. You are looking quite well." He turned to look at Sloane. "Mr. Sloane. I congratulate you on capturing the Bristow family."
If Sloane was surprised to see Sark, he didn't show it. "Mr. Sark. I had heard that you had escaped CIA custody with the help of Irina. It appears that you still have your best interests on your mind though."
Sark moved toward Sloane. "I always do. You know very well how flexible my loyalties are. I've been following Miss Bristow here for days. She had no idea." He looked over at Sydney and plastered a smirk on his face. "It appears that once again, she has let her emotions get the best of her."
Sloane was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "Mr. Sark, could I possibly interest you in working for me again? I could certainly use a man with your talents and contacts. I'm sure Allison here wouldn't mind it either. After all, you were rather close before you went into custody." He observed the two as they looked at each other.
Sark looked from Allison to Sloane. "I'd be delighted." It was all he could do to contain his rage, but in order to get the best of the situation he would have to play this game for a while. He glanced at Sydney out of the corner of his eye. She looked angry and hurt. He hoped that she knew him well enough by now to know that he was playing Sloane's game.
What was going on? Sydney's mind raced as she tried to comprehend all that she was hearing. Aidan was acting as if he were Sloane's ally. And, the way he was looking at Allison.. Sydney was filled with rage and jealousy. Had he been deceiving them all along? She shook the thought from her mind. No, she would not believe that. He was trying to lull them into a false sense of security. He had lied and said that he had been following her and that she had no idea. She had to trust in him because right now she had no other hope. Her worries ceased as she felt the sting of something in her neck. She looked up to see Sloane holding a tranquilizer gun. The room grew fuzzy as she struggled to remain conscious. She lost the fight, however, and slumped over.
Sark looked at Sydney, his manner uncertain. He was shocked as it was; he didn't want to have to explain Allie to Sydney. Besides, he knew that Sydney would overreact about his part in all of this. He preferred to avoid that right now, but he knew that she was waiting for an answer and hesitantly said, "Sydney, that is Allison Doren. What she's doing with Sloane, I don't know." His voice held pure surprise and anger. He couldn't believe his eyes. Sloane must have re-created Project Helix. There was his Allie, quite alive. He suddenly felt sickened as he realized that she was still working with the man that he hated most. Why hadn't she tried to contact him? Did she know that he was free?
The tone of his voice made Sydney instantly wary. He had called her Allie. Exactly how well did he know her? She felt a prick of jealousy at his intimate use of Allison's name. Apparently there was more to Aidan's background with this woman than she knew. She grew angry as she thought about all of it. And what was Allison doing alive and with Sloane? She turned her attention back to the monitor as the conversation began.
"Irina, it's so good to see you again." Sloane wore a smirk on his face. "Jack, it's been too long." He moved to sit on the end of the desk in front of where Jack and Irina were seated. He looked as smug as ever. "How is Sydney?"
Jack wanted to cut the man's throat, but contained his temper. His eyes and voice were cold as he spoke. "Wouldn't you know better than us, Arvin? After all, Sydney was in your company for almost two years." Sloane laughed. "You haven't changed, Jack. I'm glad to see that. There is too much change in the world today." He seemed to hesitate for a minute. "Pardon me. I've been rude. This is Allison Doren, Jack. Irina, I believe that you are quite aquainted with her. She used to work for you, if I'm not mistaken."
Irina did not acknowledge Allison. Instead, she turned to Sloane. "What is it that you want? I know this is no social call."
"You wound me, Irina. After all, we used to work so closely together. We both shared such a passion for Rambaldi." Sloane laughed as he saw her features tighten. "I too, am concerned for Sydney's welfare."
Irina slowly stood and moved toward Sloane. Her voice was calm but deadly when she spoke. "I told you once to never speak to me of Sydney again. Yet, here you are, making the same mistake." Her movement stopped as she heard a gun cock behind her. She turned to see Allison pointing a gun at her. "How lovely, Arvin. It's nice to know that you show us such hospitality."
"Irina, I will not play games with you or Jack. I want Sydney. Do you honestly think that I don't know that she is here?" He let his words sink in, observing the two people in front of him.
With this, Sydney gasped and looked at Sark. He eyed her warily, wondering what she was getting ready to do. If he knew her, she would single handedly try to take on Sloane. He moved to place a restraining hand on her shoulder. "We knew that this might be a trap, Sydney. We don't want to do anything rash." He kept his voice steady, but he was worried. None of them had expected Sloane to know that Sydney would be here. They underestimated him once again. He couldn't let Sydney run out into a worse situation. He turned his attention back to the monitor as Jack spoke.
Jack placed a condescending smile on his face as he spoke to Sloane. "Do you really think that we would let Sydney be this close to you?" He calmly surveyed the man across from him. If there weren't so much at stake, he would kill Sloane right now.
Sloane flicked a look at Allison, who lowered her gun. "Yes, Jack, that is exactly what I believe. Knowing you, you would feel that she was much more safe if she were close to you." He smirked, knowing that he had hit the mark. "Since I have her so near, it's a shame to waste the opportunity. He nodded to Allison, who moved behind Jack.
Sydney cried out as she saw what was happening. Allison was holding a gun to her father's head. Her father was sitting there, unable to do anything about it. "Aidan, we have to do something!" Her voice was frantic as her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do. She tried to move, but Aidan's hand was still restraining her.
Sark knew what Sloane was trying to do. If Jack were threatened, Sloane would be sure that it would flush out Sydney. "Sydney, just wait. We can't just barge in there yet." Damn the bastard. This shouldn't be happening. He wasn't going to stand by and see Sydney's family murdered right in front of them. Jack had tried to rise. At this, a new voice spoke. It was one that he recognized very well, and he brought his attention back to the screen.
"I suggest, Mr. Bristow, that you have a seat, if you value your life." Allison pointed toward the chair as Jack did what she said.
Sloane flashed a benevolent smile at Allison. "Thank you, dear. I'm sure Jack and Irina understand where I'm coming from now."
"Sloane, it is so like you to keep secrets. Tell me, how long has Allison been in your employ?" Irina knew that Allison being here was not just coincidence.
"Why don't you ask me yourself, Irina?" Allison moved toward her. "After all, we used to work rather closely. I've been working with Sloane for years. How do you think that I met you? Coincidence? Sloane knew that he needed someone on the inside. Someone to get closer to you. Luckily, in all of that, I met Mr. Sark, which was another plus. It was quite easy for me to gain the trust of you both. After all, I was only a child." Her voice had lost the silky quality and became hard.
Upon hearing Allison's speech, Sydney looked at Aidan, in apparent shock and anger. She had been aware that he was partly responsible for Allison's role in her life, for killing Francie and replacing her, but she had no idea that he had known her that long. She grew angry and jealous at the thought that Aidan had worked with this woman for years. She surveyed him, and as she saw the look of pain on his face, the answer to her unsaid question was apparent. He knew Allison Doren very well. She felt her heart clench as she realized what that meant. .
Sark blanched as he heard Allison's confession. He felt a deep betrayal. It was worse than what Irina had revealed to him. His Allie, the one who had kept him human and who had shown him so much care, had been a traitor to them all along? He couldn't believe it. He had always been such a good judge of character. Apparently he needed to rethink that, as he realized that he was mistaken. She had been using him to get information for Sloane. He felt as if a knife had been twisted into his back. He was pacing the room by this time.
Irina spoke again. "I see. Well, I must say that this doesn't surprise me, Allison. You never did live up to my expectations." She eyed the young woman in front of her coldly. "It stands to reason that you would pit yourself with a worthless bastard like Sloane."
Sydney screamed as she saw Allison take aim and fire. Her and Sark heard the shot ring out over the speakers. Time stood still for a moment while the sound registered to them. Sydney was out of the room in a flash.
Sark cursed under his breath because he was not quick enough to stop her. Damn that woman and her impulses. She was going to get them all killed. He cautiously followed.
Sydney took out the guards in front of the building, running on pure adrenaline. She ran frantically inside at full speed, checking each room as she went. Finally, she found them. She ran to her mother, who was lying on the floor, blood pooling around the wound in her side. "Mom! Mom, are you ok?" Sydney cried, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Please, mom. Hang in there!"
Sloane surveyed the scene in front of him. He was pleased with the turn of events. "Sydney, it's so nice to see you again," he said, amused at her bewilderment.
"You bastard! I'm going to kill you!" Sydney jumped up from her mother's side and aimed her gun at Sloane.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Allison replied. She trained her gun on Jack. "Unless you want your precious father to share the same fate as her." She nodded toward Irina, who was barely conscious on the floor.
"You bitch! I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Sydney screamed. Still, she dropped her gun and moved back to her mother, pressing her hands to the wound.
Allison laughed, enjoying her part in this little drama. "It seems Sydney, that there are a lot of things that you should have done. It's too bad really. One shouldn't have so many regrets in life." She smirked, hitting Jack squarely in the temple with the butt of her gun, causing him to instantly slump over.
At this moment, Sark was watching them. He had carefully made his way into the building unobserved. He took in the sight before him. Jack was unconscious, Irina had been shot, and Sloane and Allison had Sydney at their mercy. His mind was trying to process everything. He knew there was one thing that he could do. Slowly, he walked inside. He drew a deep breath as he started to speak. "Miss Bristow, it's so nice to see you again; and in such good company. I see you've met Allison." He walked over to Allison and spoke to her. "It's good to see that you're alive. I was quite concerned for you, love. You are looking quite well." He turned to look at Sloane. "Mr. Sloane. I congratulate you on capturing the Bristow family."
If Sloane was surprised to see Sark, he didn't show it. "Mr. Sark. I had heard that you had escaped CIA custody with the help of Irina. It appears that you still have your best interests on your mind though."
Sark moved toward Sloane. "I always do. You know very well how flexible my loyalties are. I've been following Miss Bristow here for days. She had no idea." He looked over at Sydney and plastered a smirk on his face. "It appears that once again, she has let her emotions get the best of her."
Sloane was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "Mr. Sark, could I possibly interest you in working for me again? I could certainly use a man with your talents and contacts. I'm sure Allison here wouldn't mind it either. After all, you were rather close before you went into custody." He observed the two as they looked at each other.
Sark looked from Allison to Sloane. "I'd be delighted." It was all he could do to contain his rage, but in order to get the best of the situation he would have to play this game for a while. He glanced at Sydney out of the corner of his eye. She looked angry and hurt. He hoped that she knew him well enough by now to know that he was playing Sloane's game.
What was going on? Sydney's mind raced as she tried to comprehend all that she was hearing. Aidan was acting as if he were Sloane's ally. And, the way he was looking at Allison.. Sydney was filled with rage and jealousy. Had he been deceiving them all along? She shook the thought from her mind. No, she would not believe that. He was trying to lull them into a false sense of security. He had lied and said that he had been following her and that she had no idea. She had to trust in him because right now she had no other hope. Her worries ceased as she felt the sting of something in her neck. She looked up to see Sloane holding a tranquilizer gun. The room grew fuzzy as she struggled to remain conscious. She lost the fight, however, and slumped over.