A/N If the spacing drives you nuts (a it did me), please go to will try to rectify this problem ASAP. Until then, please accept my apologies.
A dark-haired head popped around the corner of the open doorway.
"Sydney, we need you in Sloane's office."
The woman behind the desk looked up and smiled.
"I'll be right there, Nadia."
Quickly, Sydney Bristow gathered the many assorted files scattered willy-nilly on her
modern-looking desk. One of the files accidentally slipped from her fingers and landed like
an open book on the floor. A large photograph graced the page as if it were a graphical
title. The framed dirty-dishwater blonde stared back at her with the hint of an inexplicable
smirk. Sark. Grabbing the file, Sydney slammed it shut and unceremoniously placed it with
the others in the cabinet. As much as he annoyed her in the flesh, he was not going to do the
same with a simple picture. Just two days before, Agent Kendall stopped by out-of-the-
blue. As startled as she was, he apparently had clearance. The big red id card monopolizing
the left side of his standard black suit was evident enough. He had gathered the team
together–Sydney, Vaughn, Jack, Dixon, Nadia, Marshall, Sloane, and the newly-acquired
Weiss–and informed them that the Covenant was back after a short hiatus. His had said his
position in the very entangled web of the black operations spy world was top secret, but
they were to follow his orders. He would temporarily have authority over all of the APO,
even over their new boss.
The objective was to find out what the Covenant was up to. The APO didn't have an on-
staff research team, so Sydney was given the assignment of researching previous and
current members. Unfortunately, Sark and Lauren were two of said members. The thought
still nagged at her that she should have known Lauren was part of the Covenant, which, of
course, didn't make sense to anyone else. Heaving a sigh, Sydney went to join the others in
Sloane's office.
"We have just learned that Erick Terenkov", Kendall pushed a button and the ugliest man
in the world popped up on their monitors, "Covenant leader of the European cell, has
teamed up with Anna Espinosa," he pushed another button, "former K-Directorate, and
enemy of the defunct SD-6. Agent Bristow will update you on their activities. "
Sydney spoke up immediately.
"Erick Terenkov, former KGB, now works for the Covenant and is rumored to have ties
with everyone from Hollywood director J.J. Abrams to Osama Bin Laden. Anna Espinosa
worked for K-Directorate before disappearing. She has been assumed dead for over four
years."
Kendall nodded at her in brief thanks. "Apparently she's not. According to our intel, they
are trying to put the last piece in the Rambaldi jig-saw puzzle."
A mental groan went through Sydney Bristow's brain.
"Of course," Kendall went on, "we can't allow for that to happen. So we've arranged for
Mr. Sark to supply us with a little information."
In unison, Vaughn, Sydney, and Weiss questioned with a loud, "WHAT?"
"He's not to be trusted," impressed Sydney.
"He's a freakin' psycho killer," prompted Weiss.
Vaughn simply looked down at the very white table and glowered, saying nothing. Large
wrinkles deepened in the skin above his brow.
"We had eggs," said a confused Marshall with a shrug.
All eyes turned in his direction.
"Well, I...see...all of you left...it felt like a ghost town...he was a familiar face and–"
"Sydney, Vaughn, Nad–heck with it–EVERYONE, your mission is to break Sark from the
CIA facility in Los Angeles. Marshall has the specs and building plans. You leave tonight."
With that, Kendall left the room.
