** I am in no way associated with Alias. The usual disclaimers apply.
PART TWO
MELBOURNE
Sydney was finding it difficult to keep up with Moore as they strode out of Melbourne International Airport. Her steps were determined, fast, and a far cry from the dejected pace Sydney felt like walking at. In what seemed to her a few hours, but what in reality had been two years, Sydney had lost everything she cared about. But most importantly, she had lost herself, and her sense of purpose. She was doing nothing but following orders, not because she wanted to, but because it was all there was to do.
"Hey Bristow!"
Sydney was surprised to hear Moore call her by her last name; after all, everyone she had ever worked with had called her 'Syd'.
Sydney turned her attention to the young woman beside her.
"We rendezvous with our arms man in an hour… you ai'ight?"
Sydney smiled mutedly, tucking her hair behind her ear characteristically. "Yeah… I'm fine".
Moore stopped abruptly, turning into a block of public toilets. Sydney furrowed her brow again. She may have been feeling disconsolate, but she was still a mighty-fine spy, and understood the need for disguise. She stood out the front of the toilet block for a few minutes, arms folded defensively, and her fingers tapping to an unheard rhythm.
After a short while, she saw Moore emerge from the toilet block. It had taken a moment for her to recognize the brash agent. Long, smooth golden legs led to a tartan school skirt a few sizes too small and definitely too short, and to Sydney's surprise, Moore had managed to pour herself into an almost skin-tight blouse, complete with tie and blazer, with enough cleavage showing to stop traffic on the Los Angeles freeway.
Moore saw the look of surprise on Sydney's face and smiled wryly. "Wait until you see your disguise…"
***
Across from the school, Moore saw a car approach. Narrowing her eyes to read the bumper sticker, she smiled. 'Jesus Loves Me'.
From the sidewalk, Sydney also noticed the bumper sticker, and walked into the centre of the road. She held the stop sign up high and with an ironic tilt of her head toward Moore, who bounced across the school crossing jovially.
Moore approached the car slowly, characteristic wry smile planted across her face. The dark window rolled down slowly to reveal a middle-aged man with an amused look on his face.
"Hey daddy…" Moore's eyes grew dark as she leant through the open window.
"You forgot your school bag… darling"
Pulling the zipper open slightly, Moore patted the guns inside affectionately.
"Thanks daddy…" She kissed him on the cheek, her lips lingering.
"Always welcome…"
***
The girls sat on the beach without talking, the sun darkening Moore's already tanned skin, and turning Sydney's into an iridescent vision tangled with the bright red of her life-savers bathing suit.
Moore squinted into the binoculars she held in one hand, while tugging at her lifesavers yellow and red cap with the other.
"Stop fidgeting…" Sydney chastised the younger agent almost maternally.
"I can't, it's a mental predisposition…" Moore murmured as she surveyed the area around the bay. "According to my sources, Rufuso will anchor here near the docks to pick up food… and other supplies."
Sydney rolled her eyes. She hated how Moore always spoke in analogies, even though Syd was perfectly sure Moore knew she was aware of their true meaning. It was like she was attempting to maintain some sort of power over her. Sydney furrowed her eyebrows. Moore chuckled, and for a moment, Sydney thought she had been able to read her mind.
"Bristow, our guest of honour has arrived…"
Sydney squinted into the sun. "Let's move out…"
TO BE CONTINUED
