Sydney's dreams were filled with darkness and restlessness. She tossed and turned, unable to escape from the nightmare that plagued her. A thin sheen of sweat moistened her brow. She tossed and turned, murmuring unintelligible words. It was much the same as the dreams she had before.

Sydney was running. She could hardly catch her breath. She saw Sloane, and tried to turn away, but when he spoke, she found herself immobilized.

"You can't run from your destiny, Sydney, you have to face it," said Sloane. Il Dire was beside him, the prints glowing, as if calling out to her. She felt the desire to move to it. She wanted to see what it could do. Instead, she forced herself to move.

She looked right and left. There was no way out. Aidan appeared in front of her. "Thank God," she thought. He can help. He is here to help.

"Sydney, I can help you," Aidan said, as he beckoned to her. "Together, we can make this end."

"But, it's my destiny. How do I escape it?" She stopped and turned to face Sloane, torn in her decision.

"Sydney, I've told you before. You make your own destiny. I'll help you," said Aidan.

Sloane was coming nearer. She found herself walking towards him, towards Il Dire. She wanted this to end, now. She glanced over her shoulder at Aidan, who was watching her, but not moving. She now knew what she had to do. Summoning her courage, she moved to Il Dire, Aidan following her. They stood looking at each other for a moment, then started destroying the machine.

Sloane didn't react fast enough to stop the destruction, but Sydney screamed as a shot rang out and Aidan fell by her side. "NOOOO!"

Sydney sat up, gasping for air, the pain almost unbearable. She was in a darkened room, lying on a metal cot. It took her a moment to get her bearings and realize where she was. Sloane. The Machine. Her parents. Aidan. The last thing she remembered, she was touching Il Dire, seeing things that had happened to her during her missing years. She must have passed out. Where were the others?

She stood, trying to calm herself, and not dwell on the nightmare, but it was hard. It was more vivid than the others. The thought of something happening to Aidan was terrible for her. She knew it was a dream, but it was a dream that bordered on the truth. The situation that they were currently end could very well end up that way. She didn't think she could bear to lose someone else in her life.

Sydney ran into the hall as she heard alarms sound. What was going on? She ran past several guards lying on the floor, and ran into Aidan. She didn't even give him a chance to speak. "What's happening? Why is the alarm going off?" She kept asking questions, as Aidan grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the room she had been in. She looked up at him with curiosity as he pushed her down onto the cot. "What are you doing?"

Sark stood looking at Sydney. He knew they couldn't talk right now, for the room was under surveillance. He knew she realized this when she plastered an angry look on her face. "Miss Bristow, I suggest you calm down. We wouldn't want you to pass out again, would we?" He made his voice cold, but he questioned her with his eyes.

Even though his voice carried his trademark scorn, Sydney realized that he was trying to ask if she was all right. "There is nothing for you worry about, Mr. Sark. I'm quite capable of taking care of myself. Will you kindly tell me what is going on?" She looked at him, silently asking him to tell her.

"It appears that your parents have made an escape, Miss Bristow. I don't know if they will get far, but they managed to take out a few guards. I attempted to immobilize them, but I did not succeed." The last part was for Sloane's benefit. He knew the bastard was watching.

Sydney let a rush of air out and realized she'd been holding her breath. They had escaped! And by the sound of things, it almost seemed like Sark had helped then, even though he had said the opposite. "Well, that is a shame, isn't it?"

********
Allison stood watching the monitor as Sark and Sydney talked. She was getting angrier by the minute. She knew that Sark had helped Jack and Irina escape. And he did it for her. She clenched her fists and turned around as Sloane entered the room, moving to stand near her, watching the monitor.

"You know, Allison, I do worry about you. I've never known you to be a jealous person, but right now, you appear that you would love nothing better than to rip our dear Sydney's head right off. Surely you don't feel that Mr. Sark favors her over you?" Sloane placed a smirk on his face, because he knew that most men would prefer Sydney to anyone. Even if they were her enemy. He surveyed the young woman standing beside him.

When Allison spoke, her voice was icy. "You know, Sloane, one of these days your tongue is going to get you killed. If fact, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already." She looked at the man beside her with contempt. She almost regretted what she was about to do. Almost. "You know, I do have some rather interesting information for you."

Sloane eyed Allison with interest. She definitely was one for getting information. She always had been. It was fortunate that she worked for him. "Well, maybe you should share it and I can tell you whether I find it interesting or not. After all, a lot of your information doesn't interest me in the slightest." He enjoyed watching the flash in her eyes telling him that his comment had irritated her.

"Oh, I think you will find this very interesting." Allison's eyes gleamed with malice. Sark would pay for his betrayal. "It seems that our Mr. Sark has another name. It is one that you will be very interested to know. Aidan Fennelly." She swung around to face Sloane. "I think it is about time that we all be properly introduced."

Sloane stood there, surveying the monitor. "Yes, yes, I think it is time that we were introduced. This will be most interesting." After all these years of thinking the boy was dead, only to have him right under his nose. It was time to make him pay. Rambaldi's work had waited long enough.