As expected, everyone was quite stunned by the highly unusual news. Sydney spoke first.

"Unbelievable."

"I assure you, Ms. Bristow," said a very cool Sark, "it is all quite believable. I have

information that would take the CIA years to discover, and because of that, I am a valued

commodity in your world."

"What information might that be?"

Sark grinned. "Now, Ms. Bristow, like your mother, the information I have is on a need-to-

know basis. Otherwise, I'd lose my value."

Vaughn spoke Agent Vaughn, is not your concern." said Kendall sternly. "Instead, you should be

concerned about Erick Terenkov and Anna Espinosa. Sydney, please update Agent Sark on

the situation at hand and get all the information you can out of him. In the meantime I want

everyone else to keep a sharp eye out. This meeting is over."

Vaughn pulled Sydney into a vacant room as soon as she stepped out of Sloane's office.

gent for the Covenant."

"That, Agent Vaughn, is not your concern." said Kendall sternly. "Instead, you should be

concerned about Erick Terenkov and Anna Espinosa. Sydney, please update Agent Sark on

the situation at hand and get all the information you can out of him. In the meantime I want

everyone else to keep a sharp eye out. This meeting is over."

Vaughn pulled Sydney into a vacant room as soon as she stepped out of Sloane's office.

"You aren't going to accept this are you?"

"Accept, no, but I will sap Sark for all he's worth, and then throw him back in a cell where

he belongs. If I have to manipulate the devil to catch two demons, so be it."

"I can't handle this. This situation is just too insane and preposterous."

"Does this have anything to do with Lauren?"

Vaughn looked at her with his usual expression of sorrow, but didn't say anything.

Sydney was getting irritated. In fact, she was still a little mad about the way he ignored her

after the last mission.

"Don't worry about me; I can handle myself. We'll talk about this later. I have a meeting

with Sark."

She turned and left.

It took Sydney less than five minutes to update Sark on the information the APO had so far.

"Erick Terenkov and Anna Espinosa have combined forces. We believe their objective is to

solve the Rambaldi mystery. We don't know what artifacts they have uncovered, if there

are any at all, or what they are searching for. Do you know anything about this?"

Julian studied her face for a moment.

"Before we start in on this extremely complicated matter, I would just like to say I am

overjoyed to be your coworker once more. I said once before that we were destined to

work togther; I still truly believe that."

She eyed him suspiciously.

"Sark, let's clear one thing up here and now. There is no 'working together'. We are only

talking because you have information that I need. Remember that."

The man in question narrowed his eyes.

"And you, Sydney, would do well to remember that you need me. In case your boyfriend

happens to forget while we are in the field."

It was her turn to narrow her eyes.

"Don't push me, Sark. With the exception of your jaw, I will gladly break every bone in

your body."

He arched an eyebrow.

"What would stay your hand from breaking my jaw?"

"Kendall wants you to remain intelligible."

Julian leaned back in his chair and smirked.

"Well, then, let's get to it."