Disclaimer: I do not own Alias or any of it's characters or themes. This story is intended for my own amusement and no financial gain is involved.

Summary: This is set sometime in the future. I've started writing it after episode 5.13 and I don't think it contradicts the series up to that point. Depending on where the final episodes go it may be set after the series ends or it may be AU after 5.13. As far as pairings and plot go, I'm not real sure where I'm headed. Only 2 things I know for sure and that is that everyone loves Sydney and Vaughn is dead.

"I am so looking forward to this opera," Sydney practically gushed during the drive.

Carlos looked from the road to Sydney, only briefly glancing down from her face, "I am glad."

And Sydney felt a little guilty as she continued to flirt shamelessly. She respected Carlos, but she could not love him. And she was worried he might be falling in love with her. During the rest of the ride Sydney wondered how much further she should pursue their relationship, knowing that she would never love him. But the drive was short and Sydney was unable to make any conclusions. Carlos pulled into the lane for valet parking and cut the ignition. He came around the car and opened Sydney's door and offered her his arm. She smiled softly and took it, removing herself gracefully from the car. And when Carlos handed the keys to the valet who couldn't take his eyes off Syd, he positively beamed. Sydney decided that it was nice to feel so special and selfish as it may be, she didn't want to give this up until she had to.

The inside of the opera house was a stunning conglomeration of ivory and gold. There were marble floors and staircases, frescos on the walls and ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and gilding everywhere. Although Syd had spent much of her career flitting in and out of ritzy places, this was a totally new experience. To be here on invitation, with a charming man and no hidden agenda, made Sydney feel like a princess. And she smiled up at Carlos, thinking nothing could ruin this night.

Sark had arrived at the opera house some time earlier. He had chosen to park himself and then waited in his sedan, watching for Sydney's arrival. He hadn't been waiting long when Carlos and Sydney pulled up to valet in his Porsche and headed for the entrance of the opera house. Sark followed discreetly and still found it amazing that Sydney could relax so completely that she didn't even realize she was being followed.

And in the lobby of the opera house, a single agent watched the arrivals with growing interest.

"Retriever, do you see anything?"

"The target has arrived," the agent replied. "And he's not alone, just as we predicted. He's with a really hot brunette."

Then a moment later, "What is he doing here?" the agent muttered under his breath.

"What's going on retriever?" came the reply in his earpiece.

"Sark just entered the opera house," the agent replied, "and he seems to be following our man."

"We need to get to him before Sark does. Team A move in. Retriever, you know what to do. Cougar you take Sark."

The agent met eyes with another man across the lobby and both began to move.

Sark knew instantly that he was being followed. He discretely worked himself into a position to get a peak at his tail. And he was more than a little shocked to see Will Tippin. "What is going on," he thought to himself. And then he worked his way around the opera house leading Will away from the box where Sydney would be seated in an effort to keep her from being discovered.

Meanwhile, a CIA team began moving toward the same box Sark was leading Will away from. The agents were all in plainclothes and discrete enough not to be noticed. When they reached the doorway to Carlos's box they determined that the area was deserted and then knocked.

"What on earth?" Sydney asked hearing the knock.

"Oh, probably just a business associate," Carlos replied. "This is my usual seat so anyone would know to find me here." And he went to step outside.

"Oh," Sydney muttered feeling a bit silly, but still something didn't seem right about it.

When Carlos didn't return as quickly as Sydney expected she tried to convince herself that all was well, but she couldn't. And Sydney went to investigate. What she found, justified her concern. Carlos was being dragged away unconscious by four men in suits. Sydney took off after them in an attempt to save him. In a flurry of arms and legs and the pure aggression that was typical of her previous life, Sydney took out the four men in a matter of seconds. She was attempting to remove Carlos when another man grabbed her from behind. She was able to free herself, inflicting a substantial amount of pain on her captor, but she was too late. She saw Carlos being dragged away by the agent, Eric Weiss.

And then Sydney ran.

Sark continued to lead Will until they reached a deserted hallway. Here he decided to make his stand. Before he knew what was happening, Will was being held around the neck with a gun to his temple.

"Why are you here," Sark asked in his usual icy tone.

"As if you didn't know," Will replied, "I wonder though why you are here. We hadn't thought Carlos's activities would concern you."

"How did I miss this," Sark thought to himself. But he did not show Will his shock at finding out Carlos wasn't as squeaky clean as he had been lead to believe.

"You are here after Carlos?" he asked Will. "What about the woman with him?"

"We have no intel on her. She attempted to rescue Carlos, but was unsuccessful. And then she escaped our agent."

"Escaped unidentified?"

"Yes, why?" was Will's reply.

But Sark didn't answer. He knocked Will unconscious and left to find Sydney.