Ok, I had originally intended this to be longer, and actually get into the escape, but I've got limited time, so… yeah.

Before I knew it, 11:00 am had rolled around. I stared at the TV, which was still on, before prompting myself to get up and turn it off. I then headed down the hall and took a quick shower in the small guest bathroom. After getting dressed, I walked towards my fathers room. I still couldn't bring myself to enter, so once again I stood at the threshold and stared in. I became determined to one day see my father standing in that room, making the bed or watching the TV. Finally, I pulled myself out of the trance and headed to the kitchen, where I grabbed some fruit that would pass as breakfast.

Around 11:30, I exited the apartment and, locking the door behind me, began to prepare myself for the coming day. I found my way to his car, and was on my way to the JTF moments later. As I drove, various thoughts passed through my head. I was suddenly afraid; what if it all went wrong? Something else occurred to me… this was bound to get violent. I didn't want innocent people getting hurt. I especially didn't want Weiss and Marshall to be hurt. I resolved to find both of them before I went to see Kendall. I would get them out of there, one way or another.

Weiss was very accommodating; as soon as I had parked the car, he was at my side.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, worried.

"I was about to ask you the same thing. I tried calling- your cell and your dad's home number- at least ten times yesterday, and you never answered." I smiled apologetically.

"Sorry. I just… kinda crashed. I slept until 3 or 4 this morning. But I'm surprised the phone didn't wake me up."

"Me too," Weiss stated, and I could still hear lingering traces of concern in his voice. We started walking towards the entrance, and I began trying to think of a way to get him out of there for the next hour or so. Suddenly, I spotted Kendall not far off, and knew I was out of time to think of something good. I stopped short and sighedmiserably. Weiss gave me his look of worry.

"What's wrong?"

"I just remembered that I need to show Kendall something that's in one of my father's books, but I left the book at his apartment."

"If it's that important, I'm sure he won't mind you taking the time to go back and get it." I groaned inwardly; that was not the response I wanted. I began racking my brain for some kind of excuse to have Weiss go get it instead. He seemed to take my silence as something else; it got the job done.

"Would you like me to go get it for you?" he asked gently.

"Oh, Weiss, you don't have to," I replied, not wanting to set off suspicions by appearing too eager for him to get it.

"It's ok Syd, I don't mind."

"You're a lifesaver," I said truthfully as I handed him a spare key.

"What and where is it?" I paused, running through my recollection of all the books I had seen.

"Uh… Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It's in his study, you can't miss it." Weiss nodded and turned to go.

"Oh, wait!" I called, and he faced me again. "Do you know where Marshall is?"

"Kendall gave him the day off. He's worried that this is all affecting his ability to perform." With that, he left. I stared after him. That was odd; Kendall wasn't known to give days off, and Marshall certainly wasn't known to take them. But as I took a minute to look around, I didn't spot Marshall anywhere, and concluded that Kendall had made it an order. Then, it was time to set the plan in motion. I glanced at a clock to see that it was 11:50; Sark wanted things to get in gear by noon. I hurried over to Kendall.

"I'd like to see my mother." He stared at me for a while, his face unreadable, and I became afraid that he would deny it.

"Fine," he eventually said.

"I'll only be ten minutes. Probably just seven." Kendall gave me a confused look.

"Right. Good to know." As he walked away, I noticed another agent staring at me. He jumped up and hurried off, and I knew that had to be Sark's inside man. I watched his disappear, and then I began the walk down to my mother's cell. Whatever happened next, I knew there was no turning back.