Chapter 8

Irina was pacing the room. Sydney. Sydney wanted to see her. Nervousness like bile in her throat Again having to atone for her past sins. Explaining why she did what she did to her. Hiding Nadia, Arvin, abandoning her yet again. All the words forming in her mind to explain her actions insignificant unsuitable for what she had to convey. Praying once again that Sydney's life should have been different.

Sydney walked into the room and sat at the conference table.

"Mom, come join me"

Irina walked to the table and sat down. Two whole chairs in reality. But a whole chasm in reality to the problems between them.

"So Sydney, how have you been doing?"

"Lets cut with the small talk. There are things we need to discuss."

"I knew sweetheart, but I don't know where to start."

"How about at the beginning Mom?. How are family ended up like this."

"Fine, if that's what you want.

"It is."

"Okay, I was born on the 22nd of March 1951 on the outskirts of Moscow to Anastasia and Sergi Derevko. I have two younger sister Ekaterina and Yelena.

"I know this. Dad told me, I want to know how you ended up in the KGB.

"I was 18 years old as I told you before. I was working in a small bookshop in the centre of Moscow. When Khasinau approached me. The agency had been watching me since I was a child. You see Sydney like I was precocious. And when they though the time was right they recruited me. You see I was exactly what they wanted, an beautiful intelligent woman. Someone nobody who suspect. I progressed quickly and was sent out on a few missions before I graduated. You know the type, the type where you use your body to get what your superiors want. You see the KGB only female agents as being able to seduce. I was basically a whore for the USSR.

"It couldn't of being like that. You're smart, strong willed."

"I was young Sydney. Scared of what might happen if I'd disobeyed. So let me carry on. I graduated at 21 a full year ahead of my class. After a year of routine missions of the type I had before. This operation was offered to me. A chance to prove myself. I'd thought it would be easy. Manufacture a life with a CIA operative to gain information on a project he was involved with."

"Project Christmas" Sydney spoke out

"Yes Project Christmas. At the start it was easy. You see this was during the cold war, your father was the enemy. We dated for a year and half and the got married. For a few years life carried out as before, me going through his possessions looking for information. But during that time I fell in love with him. He was a loving and generous man, I couldn't control it. Not long after that I fell pregnant with you."

"Why did you have me? Your superiors couldn't of been happy. You were pregnant with a American's baby."

"Sweetheart, you we're an accident I can admit that. But as soon as found out I knew I wanted you more than anything in the world. My superiors took a lot more persuasion. As soon as they found out the ordered me to have a abortion. I begged for you. Persuaded them that having you would cement a stronger relationship with your father. Everything was fine to when you were about a year old. That's when they started to send me on them Jobs. To kill CIA agents."

"I know about them. It still doesn't explain if you were so happy that you had an affair with Sloane."

"Sydney when you were about six, the CIA stopped the project. The KGB recalled me, but as a last ditch attempt I seduced Sloane. He was your father's superior at the time. He bought me awhile. But the FBI was closing in. I faked my death. But it killed me inside. To be separated from you, to cause you pain."

"But this doesn't explain Nadia. Why you hid her even when you were here last time?"

"Nadia. Sydney when I came last time I couldn't revel her without revealing her to Sloane. But with her I discovered I was pregnant soon after I returned where they proceed to throw me into Kashmir. They thought I was a traitor. But they let me carry her. And the day after she was born they took her away. I didn't know at the time that she was the Passenger. I didn't even know about Rambaldi then. Soon after I gave birth the beatings started. They didn't trust me. I had fallen pregnant twice, hadn't wanted to return. So I learned the layout of the mines and sewage tunnels and escaped. Hide myself until the KGB fell. This is when I learnt about Rambaldi. Then a few years ago I meet up with Khasinau, and formed a partnership."

"Mom, I know this part. You turning g yourself, escaping, jumping off the roof the night I disappeared. I want to know what happened afterwards, you and Dad working together. You being put back in Kashmir"

"Well after a few months you father contacted me to get my help. He had discovered proof that you were alive. He wanted my help. So we started meeting up regularly, swapping Intel. Both of us unable to believe the truth that you were actually gone."

"But I don't understand why Dad would work with you. He's said many times before he doesn't trust you."

"At first I was just a means to an end. But over time we learnt to respect each other and even started to get along. We finally had a chance to talk through our problems. The last time I saw him was three weeks before my capture, I knew the NSC has found out about our meetings when the night I was captured he didn't turn up."

"What happened that night?"

"After Jack didn't turn up, I returned home. Katya was there. Nothing unusual about that considering we work together occasionally. But this night turned out to be unusual. She handed me a drink, it was laced with a sedative. I woke up in Kashmir. Cuvee was my warden. I was back in my old hell."

"What happened while you were there?"

"Everyday was torture. Questions about you Nadia, Rambaldi. You see I was important to them. The woman I realise know that had giving birth to two children mentioned in Rambaldi prophecies. No one could understand it. Little did I know that during my time there Katya had assumed my life. And with the Covenant's help was manipulating you into finding your sister. So sweetheart this is my life right up to this moment. Wishing I could change it so I could be a better Mother to you."

Sydney moved by Irina's words stood up and walked to where her mother was sitting, bent down and embraced her. Irina stood up and grabbed hold of her daughter bringing her close to her heart. For only the second time in over twenty years she had held her in her arms.

Irina pulled away and asked "I need to see you father now. Can you sort that for me?"

"Dad's in a meeting with Dixon for the next few hours. But we've arrange a safe house for you and I'm going to be staying with you tonight. Dad's promised to join us tomorrow."