Sark was thinking quickly as he left Sydney alone. He knew that she would have a hard time facing off with Sloane, but hoped that she could handle it. She always had a tendency to let her emotions take over. He hoped this wasn't one of those times. Sloane would not kill her, but he wouldn't put much else past the man. He knew the building was heavily secured, but he also knew how to place security cameras on a loop. He quickly did so and made his way to Jack's room. There were no guards, which made his job easier. The older man looked up he entered. Sark didn't waste any time speaking. "Sloane is with Sydney now. I got him to agree that the best approach with her would be for her to believe that the CIA was responsible for her disappearance. Allison and I altered the videos to appear as such."
Jack looked at the younger man. He knew that he was trying his best to help his daughter, and he was grateful for that, even if he didn't outwardly show it. "I suppose it was one of the only options. How is Irina?" He had to know. Was she still alive? He had to admit he was more than a little worried after seeing her on the floor earlier.
Sark looked at Jack with understanding. "Irina will be fine. Sloane had a doctor attend to her. I'm sure Sloane has plans for you, although I do not know what they are yet. I don't have much time, so listen to me. Later tonight, I will manipulate the feeds on a loop again, giving you more time for an escape. You will have to take out the guards yourself. I cannot help you with that or else Sloane will be more suspicious. You have to take Irina and get out of here. Sydney, Allison, and I will take care of Sloane."
Jack was about to say that there was no way in hell we would leave his daughter here, but he saw the determined look on the younger man's face. He realized that arguing with him would do no good. He couldn't help Sydney while he was locked up, so the best bet would be to get Irina and himself out, then come back. If they stayed, it would be more leverage to use against Sydney. He didn't trust Allison, for she was the one who had shot Irina, but Sark obviously knew what he was doing. He wasn't one to trust a person easily, so he must have some reason for his actions. "Will Irina be able to travel?" was all that he asked.
Sark almost let a sigh of relief out. He had been afraid that Jack would refuse to leave, especially since it would mean leaving Sydney in his care. "Irina is strong. She will make it just fine." Jack should know that better than anyone, but obviously he was not thinking clearly. He almost found Jack's momentary slip into emotion humorous. But, now was not the time for that.
"Of course," Jack said. "What time will all of this take place?" He was already formulating a plan to get around the guards.
"At 11:15 pm there is a shift change with the guards. Sloane will be in his quarters on another floor. It is the best time. I'm sorry that I cannot stay longer. Just be prepared." He took a gun from his shoulder holster and stuck it in Jack's jacket pocket.
"Don't worry. I will be ready," was all that Jack said. He watched the younger man leave the room. For some reason, he had trust in him. He knew that whatever Sark set out to do would be accomplished. Just the same, a warning was in order. "Mr. Sark." He watched the man stop and look back at him. "Just know that if you do anything that puts my daughter in more danger, I will personally hunt you down and make sure that you pay dearly for it. Are we clear?"
Sark placed a smirk on his face. This was the Jack Bristow that he knew. It was also the Jack Bristow that was needed right now. "Crystal." He walked out the door.
*************
Sloane slowly entered the room and walked toward Sydney. He noted that she had been watching the videotapes of her lost time, for one was still on the monitor. She had been crying. He could see the tears drying on her cheeks. "Sydney, I see that you've been watching the videos that I provided for you. I hope that they have answered some of your questions. I'm sorry to see that you seem disturbed by them."
Sydney felt such hatred for the man in front of her that she wanted to kill him. She had hated him for a long time, but after him taking away two years of her life, she hated him even more, if that was possible. "I think anyone would be upset by what those tapes show. I just can't comprehend all of it." At least that much was true, she thought wryly. She could not comprehend the mentally unhinged obsession that Sloane had with Rambaldi. "I can't say that I believe what I've seen. It's hard to understand why the CIA, especially my father and Vaughn would subject me to such things." Her voice choked as she remembered what she had witnessed.
Sloane quietly surveyed Sydney. She was visibly upset and truly unsettled. He realized that the plan was working. There was doubt in her voice. That was a good start. "Sydney, I will do everything in my power to find the answers that you need." He plastered a look of fatherly concern on his face. After all, she was like a daughter to him once.
Sydney realized that he believed that she was doubting what had happened to her. "I don't know what to believe right now. I need time to think about everything." She knew that it would be believable for her to want as much information as possible. She decided to push the threshold. "If this is true, why did you feel the need to seek out my parents and to lock me up here? Why did you have Allison shoot my mother?" It was a reasonable question. She waited for his answer.
Sloane eyed Sydney suspiciously for a moment. Then he decided that it was reasonable for her to want to know. "I wanted to find you. I knew what had happened, and I also knew that you wouldn't listen to me. I assumed this was the easiest way. Now I have your father and mother. You father was partially responsible for what happened to you Sydney. You should be happy that he is here and you can question him at will. As for your mother…I didn't mean for Allison to shoot her. The girl has an itchy trigger finger, especially where the Bristow women are concerned. There is no need to worry though. I have a wonderful doctor looking over her and she will recover just fine."
Sydney did her best to look grateful for his treatment of her mother. It was hard. All she wanted to do was break his slimy neck. She had to get control of her emotions. If she didn't, this would not end well.
"As for you, Sydney, you have no trust in me. I knew you would not stay willingly until I had a chance to give you proof," Sloane lied easily.
"What makes you think that I will stay willingly now?" asked Sydney quietly. "I have no reason to trust you this time either. Besides, I know that you've always had an obsession with Rambaldi. You could just be using me to fulfill the prophecy. As far as I know, you still have Il Dire." She couldn't wait to hear the lie that he would come up with to answer her question.
"Sydney, you've always been like a daughter to me. I would never want to see you hurt. You must know that. As for Rambaldi, I realized that I am not the one that is called. You are. I'm willing to help you fulfill your destiny." Sloane gave her a smile, which turned out to be more of a sneer. "Let me help you, Sydney. You are destined for great things. I do have Il Dire and it holds the key."
Sydney inwardly gasped as she heard Sloane referring to her destiny. She had dreamed of him speaking those words to her. Her mind flashed back to the dreams. Aidan was also in them. He was always the one who had tried to save her. How could she have not thought of it before? She had the dreams before her mother had told them about Aidan's part in the prophecy. How had she known that he would be the one? She directed her attention back to Sloane. "I need time. I will agree to stay, at least until I watch the rest of the tapes, but I do not want to be locked up like a prisoner." She knew it was a long shot to request more freedom, but she had to try.
Sloane almost laughed at her request. He would let her out of the room, but she couldn't get away from the premises if she tried. There was too much security. He had made sure of that. "Fine. I will agree to that. But, I assure you, you will be watched. Follow me." He beckoned her to follow him and took her back to the room that they had been in previously.
Sydney was happy to see that the room had been cleaned. There were no signs of her mother's blood anywhere. Thank God. Sloane motioned for her to sit down. She was thinking of ways to kill the man in front of her. Was it really necessary to wait? Couldn't she just kill him now? After all, she had been trained how to kill a man six different ways with her bare hands. What if she tried all six at once? She was so intent on her thoughts that she didn't realize that Aidan and Allison had entered the room. She jumped as Allison spoke.
"What is she doing here?" Allison spat out. "Surely you don't trust her?" Allison surveyed Sydney. Yes, she had agreed to help Sark, but she wanted as little interaction with the other woman as possible.
Sloane distastefully eyed Allison. Sometimes she was just too outspoken for her own good. "Sydney has agreed to stay. I assume that both of you," he eyed Sark and Allison in turn, "will be hospitable to her."
Sark looked at the man in front of them. His hands itched to wrap their way around his neck. He kept his face placid as he replied, "Of course." He turned his head to look at Allison, his eyes cold. "I trust that Allie agrees with me." Her nod was barely noticeable, but at least she was keeping her mouth shut. "What are we to do now?"
Sydney inwardly blanched as she heard Aidan's use of Allison's nickname again. She shouldn't let it bother her that he had been on such intimate terms with the other woman, but it did. She glanced at Aidan and saw that despite his intimate reference, his eyes were cold as he watched Allison.
Sloane assessed the three in front of him. It was time to set things in motion. "I think it is time for Sydney to see Il Dire."