1Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Alias characters.
Time line: Sometime during the beginning of Season Five, possibly after the episode "Solo."
Summary: As Sydney discovers her mother's side of the family is a bit more extended than she expected, she learns about a new Rambaldi prophecy that involves her unborn child.
Author's Note: Hello everyone. This is only my second fan fiction. I wrote a previous one for Law and Order: SVU. Now it might take a while for the actual plot to arise so don't be disappointed if the first chapters you read don't have to do exactly with the summary. Please enjoy and reviews are appreciated.
Chapter I.
LOS ANGELES
She was awake but kept her eyes closed. She didn't want to get up. She heard the shower running. Despite the cover of her eye lids, she could tell the sun was shining bright. She flipped over to shield herself from the sun but it didn't seem to help. After laying in the bed for about thirty seconds she opened her eyes.
The sunlight lit up the bedroom. She was alone in her bed which she was beginning to get use to nowadays but she still didn't like the feeling. She sat up and remembered that she was pregnant. She smiled when she remembered this and then stepped out of bed.
Sydney Bristow first gazed into her large mirror. Day by day she was getting bigger as the baby grew. And the more it grew, the less she could do with herself. She walked out of her room and down the hall into the kitchen.
Sydney fixed herself a bowl of cereal and poured herself a glass of milk. She sat herself at the counter and began eating as she skimmed through a magazine. It wasn't long until the shower stopped and Rachel Gibson came into the kitchen, dressed and ready for work.
"You're up early," Sydney said to her.
Rachel smiled. "I know, I decided to set an alarm. I didn't wake you did I?" Rachel walked over to the cabinet, grabbed a bowl and a glass.
"Not at all," said Sydney.
Rachel poured herself milk and then filled the bowl with cereal. She then sat herself across from Sydney and began eating.
"Sorry if I'm overstaying my visit," Rachel said.
"You're not. You can stay here as long as you want," said Sydney. "Anyway, it feels good to have some company around the house."
"Your sister stayed with you, right?" asked Rachel.
Sydney paused briefly, remembering Nadia.
"Yeah," she answered.
After finishing her breakfast, Sydney got up and brought her dishes to the sink.
"I better go get ready," she said.
After about thirty minutes, a showered and neatly dressed Sydney met Rachel in the living room of her home. Rachel was sitting on the couch reading. Sydney liked Rachel. She kept seeing herself in her. Sydney felt that she was responsible to take care of Rachel after all she went through.
"Ready to go?" asked Sydney.
Rachel looked up. "Yup." She put her book down on the coffee desk. Sydney grabbed her large purse and Rachel grabbed hers and the two left the house.
The two arrived at APO, a secret Black-Ops division of the CIA. They each went to their own desks, which were not very far from each other. Sydney turned on her computer and waited for it to load.
As she waited Marshall came up to her.
"Good morning Syd," greeted Marshall.
"Morning Marshall," she said smiling. "How's Mitchell doing?"
"Um, he's doing fine. He still wakes up in the night a lot. I can't wait until he learns to talk. I'm trying to teach him the word Dad but it doesn't seem to be working."
Sydney smiled.
"Well, I'll uh, be im my office, where I normally am," he said as he began walking away. He greeted Rachel before entering his office.
Sydney turned to her computer and was about to begin using it when Marcus Dixon came up to her. "Briefing," he said. "You and Miss Gibson are needed." Rachel heard her name and got up with Sydney and followed Dixon to the briefing room. Sydney's father, Jack was already waiting along with Thomas Grace who was sitting. Sloane sat next to Jack. Sydney sat down and Rachel sat next to her. Dixon seated himself across from Sydney, next to Grace.
"Where's Marshall?" asked Jack.
"He should be coming soon," answered Dixon. "I thought he was already in here."
Jack was about to speak when Marshall rushed in.
"Sorry I'm little late," he said as he sat himself a seat away from Rachel.
Jack ignored him and began to speak.
"We have received recent Intel about another Rambaldi artifact which is in Portugal," he said. "Rachel, I presume you've heard of Rambaldi?"
Rachel nodded.
Jack continued. "We are unsure at the moment what this artifact is or does but it has been hiding in Portugal for some time now."
"Are the Portugese the ones in control of it?" asked Dixon.
"No," answered Jack. "They have just recently discovered it is in their country and they are not too happy about it. We are unsure of it's location."
"We think it might be the cure for Nadia," said Sloane with much hope.
"Do we know who is in control of it?" asked Sydney.
"Yes," he answered. "Elena Derevko was the one who was hiding it from the CIA and the Portugese government."
"And Elena didn't tell you about this artifact when you were working with her?" asked Dixon to Sloane.
Sloane paused briefly. He tried to hide the fact that he was enraged that Dixon would bring that up. "Unfortunately no," he answered.
"But Elena is dead now, how is she still in control of it?" asked Sydney.
"She's not," answered Jack.
"Then who is?" asked Sydney.
"Her son," he answered. Jack pressed a button on a computer in front of him that brought up a picture on a large screen behind him. There was a man, getting ready to get into a limo. He had dark sunglasses on and looked to be about Sydney's age. His hair was brown and a bit on the longer side. He had a small stubble on his face. He wore a black suit with white pinstripes. The undershirt of his suit was buttoned open at the top exposing his chest. Two guards were standing on either side of him.
"His name is Christoph Madeira," said Jack. "It was unknown that Elena had a son until now."
Sydney looked a bit shocked. She never knew much about her family and it didn't help that most of her family were criminals. At least on her mother's side.
"Who is his father?" asked Sydney.
Jack pressed another button on the computer in front of him. A picture came up next to Christoph's.
"Emanuel Madeira. He was an agent for the Portuguese government."
"What do you mean, he was?" asked Rachel
"He was murdered by Elena sixteen years ago," answered Jack. "We still do not know why."
There was a short silence amongst the agents.
"You are to retrieve the Rambaldi artifact and take Christoph Madeira into custody," said Jack. "We'll need to learn what exactly this artifact does and if it is dangerous. Sydney, Dixon, Grace, and Gibson I'm sending you all in. This is a very important mission. Now we know Christoph Madeira owns a penthouse in the city of Lisbon. The whole 16th floor of the building is practically guarded with men and a high-tech security system which you'll need to break into."
Marshall stood up taking his turn. "Now Mr. Dixon and Miss Brist...Vaug...?"
"It's still Bristow," said Sydney managing a small smile.
"Yes of course, sorry. Mr. Dixon and Miss Bristow, you two need to get behind the lobby desk which will lead you to a hallway. You have to go into room 3C and take out any guards there. Here in room 3C is the camera shots that Mr. Madeira's men have on the 16th floor."
Dixon and Sydney nodded.
"Mr. Madeira has this building heavily guarded," said Jack. "Think before you act. Agent Gibson you will be going to the 16th floor."
"You need to have Mr. Madeira's trust," said Marshall. "So you'll be going in as a...well...um...a lady friend..."
"A prostitute," interrupted Jack.
"Yeah," said Marshall. "That."
"You are going to be a prostitute who is looking for Christoph because you recently met him in a club. Get the guards to lead you to his room. After the training you've had, this shouldn't be too difficult."
Rachel nodded but didn't really seem to like the idea of being a prostitute.
"You need to find out if the artifact is in his apartment," said Jack. "Now if you can't seem to find the artifact we will send Agent Grace to the 16th floor. Agent Grace you will proceed to his room, take out as many guards as you can if possible all eleven of them."
"Now if Agent Grace has to go to the 16th floor," said Marshall as he handed Dixon a disk. "On this disk it has frozen images of the empty hallways. You, Agent Dixon and Agent Bristow will need to replace the camera shot with the pictures on the disk so the guards on the 16th floor won't be able to see Grace on their cameras and you'll be the only one with the real shots."
"Agent Grace, when you get to the room I want you to interrogate Mr. Madeira. Agent Gibson, act as though shocked when you see Agent Grace but if he is in need of help, assist him. We want this to run as smoothly as possible. Any questions?"
Nobody responded.
"Good," said Jack. "Have a safe trip."
LISBON
Sydney walked in after Dixon, who held the door for her and acted as if he didn't know her. She was wearing a short blonde wig with glasses. She wore a long blue skirt with a blue blazer. Dixon wore glasses as well. He wore a wig of black hair which was longer than his own. He was wearing an expensive suit to fit into the crowd of people in the hotel.
Sydney approached the front desk where a man was standing. He was young and had his hair slicked back. He was dressed in an expensive suit and he looked up at Sydney as she approached.
"Boa vinda a nosso hotel," said the man. "Como posso eu lhe ajudar?"
Sydney understood his words. And she responded, "Você fala o inglês?"
"Yes I do," said the man with a heavy accent.
"Thank god," said Sydney in a British accent. "I'm lost. I was suppose to meet my husband at a certain store but I can't seem to find it and nobody speaks English around here."
The man smiled. "Let me help you."
"Oh thank you," she said.
As she talked, Dixon began speaking to the other man at the counter. Dixon told the man that he was here for a job interview. The other desk manager looked a bit confused and then told Dixon to follow him. Dixon went behind the desk and followed the man. He lead Dixon to a door in the back and he opened it. It lead to a hallway, just like Marshall said. The man let Dixon step into the hallway before shutting the door. He then began leading Dixon down the hall. A couple of steps down Dixon stopped the man. The man turned around, confused but before he could ask anything, Dixon sprayed him in the face with a sleeping gas. The man collapsed but Dixon caught him before hitting the ground. Dixon then put him in a storage closet which he'd lay in for the next several hours. Dixon then began going down the hall and he spoke into his unseen mouth piece.
"I'm heading to room 3C," he said. Sydney heard him, back at the front desk as she explained her travels to the desk manager who was quickly becoming uninterested.
Dixon reached room 3C and as quietly as possible, opened the door. A man was sitting at a desk looking at security cameras which were placed on the 16th floor.
"Desculpe-me?" said Dixon. Excuse me.
The man jumped up and turned around. He pointed his gun at Dixon.
"Eu sou pesaroso que eu procurava o banheiro," said Dixon. The man lowered his gun a bit, but just as he did so, Dixon sprayed the man with the sleeping gas. The man quickly fell unconscious to the floor.
"Damn, this sleeping gas is useful," said Dixon. "Saves a lot of time."
Sydney smiled to herself when she heard him.
"I'm in the room Phoenix, come on down," said Dixon Phoenix was of course, Sydney's code name.
"Um, do you have a bathroom," asked Sydney.
"Yes," answered the man. He pointed over to a bathroom quite a distance away. "We have facilities right over there."
"Oh bloody. They're quite far away," said Sydney. "Are there any closer ones? It's kind of an emergency."
The man looked at her for a moment and then said, "Yes behind that door." He pointed to the door Dixon had gone through.
"May I please use it?" she asked.
He thought for a moment and then came to the decision that she was no danger to the hotel or anything beyond the door.
"Yes you may," said the man. Sydney went behind the counter. "Thank you so much." She quickly went through the door and shut it. She walked down the hall to room 3C.
"I'm coming in," she said into her mouth piece. She opened the door and found Dixon already at the computers. She stepped over the unconscious guard and sat in the seat next to Dixon.
"Oracle, you're ready to go," said Sydney into her mouth piece.
Back at the front door of the lobby, Rachel Gibson walked in. She wore a multicolored skirt that exposed a great deal of her legs. She wore a fur coat over a tube top that exposed a lot of cleavage. She had on high black leather boots that reached just under her kneecaps. Purple sunglasses covered her eyes and her wig was wavy and brown.
She stopped and looked around the large lobby.
"I can't do this guys," she muttered into her mouth piece.
"Yes you can. You did great with your training," assured Sydney. "You can do this."
Rachel began walking to the elevator. She passed a pool and waved at a couple of guys who stared at her beauty. She then entered an elevator and pressed the number sixteen. The elevator began moving upward.
"Is it normal for your heart to be beating five times faster than normal?" asked Rachel into her mouth piece.
"Yes," answered Sydney.
The elevator reached the 16th floor and Rachel quickly got into her character.
"Oracle, two guards are going to be greeting you," warned Dixon.
The doors opened, and as Dixon had said, two men who guns approached Rachel.
"Quem são você e que você está fazendo aqui?" asked one of the guards.
"Honey," said Rachel. "I don't speak Portuguese, I speak English. Now if you could please direct me to Christoph Madeira. Him and I have some business if you know what I mean." She winked at the guards. One guard smiled but the other kept serious.
Sydney and Dixon watched the whole event through the security camera back at room 3C.
"Verifique-a," said the serious guard to the other. The guard who had smiled at Rachel approached her and felt her with his hands for weapons.
"Don't get too frisky," she said to the guard. When he was done he turned to the other guard.
"Nada," he said.
"Siga-nos," said the other guard as the two began walking away.
"You want me to follow you?" asked Rachel as she watched the two guards walking away. The guard who smiled at her, turned around and motioned for her to follow.
"Alright then," she said and she followed the guards. They brought her in front of a door which they knocked on.
"Oue!" a voice called through the door.
"Você tem um visitante," said the serious guard.
"Eu não quero nenhuns visitantes!" the voice called back.
"Você pôde querer ver seu primeiro," said the other guard.
The door opened and Christoph Madeira was standing in entrance.
Sydney saw her cousin for the first time. He looked the same as he did in the picture, only he didn't have sunglasses and he wore a different suit.
"Quem são você?" asked Mr. Madeira to Rachel.
"Sorry hun, I don't speak Portuguese," she said.
"You are American?" he asked her, still with his accent.
"You bet," she said.
"And what business do you have with me?" he asked.
"I've heard rumors, Mr. Madeira," said Rachel.
"Rumors?" asked Mr. Madeira. "Rumors about what?"
"Your sexual pleasures."
Mr. Madeira smiled and then turned to the guards and said, "Vá." The two guards walked away.
"Come in," he said to Rachel. Rachel walked in and looked around the room.
Sydney and Dixon now could not see Rachel. The security cameras were only placed in the hallways of the 16th floor.
"You have a very nice place," she said to him as she looked around the room hoping to find where the artifact was. Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy.
"I've been told that, many times," he said. "Shall I take your coat?"
"Go right ahead," she said. Mr. Madeira removed Rachel's coat. Her top exposed a great deal of her back. Mr. Madeira placed her coat on a coat rack. She turned around to look at him.
"So what rumors have you heard about me?" he asked her smiling.
"Oracle," said Sydney in her mouth piece, "If you ever think you see where the artifact is hidden or if you think you have some clue, cough. If you understand me, start your first sentence with 'honey'.
"Honey," Rachel said to Mr. Madeira. "All in good time. But for now, I was wondering if we could have a drink, maybe wine?"
"Of course," he said. "Right this way."
He lead Rachel to a kitchen. Upon entering it Rachel began looking around for a safe or something of that nature.
"So," said Mr. Madeira. "How do you know of me."
"You don't remember?" asked Rachel.
Mr. Madeira began pouring two glasses of wine.
"I'm afraid I do not."
"At the club, you met me. You said you really liked me and you wanted me to stop by."
The man looked off into the distance, looking as though he was trying to remember the encounter that never happened.
"I don't remember you exactly." He handed Rachel the glass.
"Well you were a bit tipsy." She winked and took a sip.
"What was your name?" he asked her.
"Victoria," said Rachel after swallowing the wine. "Victoria Pierce."
"Well it's nice to meet you Victoria." He took a sip of his wine. "So, do you like the wine?"
Rachel had taken a sip. "It's good. A bit too strong."
"Well that's Portuguese wine for you," he said with a smile of straight, white teeth. He took another sip, as did Rachel. He put the glass down and then said, "Shall we go to the bedroom.
"Of course," he said. She placed the glass on the counter behind her. "Lead the way."
"Right this way." He walked off and Rachel muttered in his mouth piece, "I am not having sex with this guy." She followed him into his bedroom.
The bedroom was well decorated with gold. There was a large king sized bed with red sheets and plenty of pillows. Above the bed was a mirror with a gold rim. There was a plasma television across from the bed on the wall. Rachel walked over to the large gold bedpost that reached the ceiling. "Looks comfortable," she said.
"It is," said Mr. Madeira. "Very comfortable." He approached Rachel and began kissing her neck. Rachel couldn't lie, it felt very good and she enjoyed it. His lips eventually reached hers and they began kissing. His arms came around her's and touched her rear. After about a couple of seconds of the romantic embrace, Rachel stopped.
"May I use your bathroom?" she asked. "To slip into something more...comfortable?"
He smiled at her. "Go right ahead. I think I'll do the same."
"Good," she said. She walked away, carrying her large purse and walked into the master bathroom which came off of the room. She shut and locked the door. Rachel walked far away from the door as possible and then spoke into her mouth piece.
"Outrigger, Phoenix, I don't see any safe where the Rambaldi artifact could be. I think you should send Sidewinder in." Sidewinder was Thomas's Grace's code name.
"Alright, distract Mr. Madeira," responded Sydney.
"So I actually have to change?" Rachel asked. "Into my underwear?"
"Sorry but yes," said Sydney. "I'll tell you when Sidewinder is approaching."
Rachel changed from her skirt into her brazier and underwear. She then opened the door to the bathroom to find Christoph Madeira in nothing but his boxers. He was leaning against the bedpost. He was in very good shape and Rachel became a bit distracted by his body.
"You look very beautiful," he said to her.
"Thank you," said Rachel, keeping her cover. She approached him and pushed him playfully on the bed. She then crawled onto the bed and approached him. Right away she began kissing him. Although he was very good at pleasing her, she tried to keep it in her mind that she was on a mission and that Christoph Madeira was a criminal.
Back in room 3C, Dixon called Grace on a cell phone.
Grace picked up the phone from the phone booth, outside the hotel.
"Hello?" he called into the receiver.
"Is this Mr. Spenalzo?" asked Dixon.
"Nope, wrong number," answered Grace.
"Oh okay," Dixon hung up. This conversation was the signal for Grace to enter the hotel. He walked through the front door of the large hotel and quickly approached an empty elevator. He got in and pressed the button for the 16th floor. While in the elevator he put in his mouth piece and ear piece.
"This is Sidewinder," he said into his mouth piece.
"We copy," said Dixon.
Grace took out his tranquilizer.
"Alright," said Dixon. He put in the disk Marshall had given him. He quickly replaced the camera shots with the stilled photographs of the empty halls. "The security cameras are taken care of. Sidewinder, right when the elevator opens, there will be two guards there."
Right as the elevator opened, Grace shot the two guards. He then put the two guards into the elevator, pressed the emergency stopped button and shut the doors. "Two guards have been taken out," he said into his mouth piece.
Rachel was now laying down on the bed on her back. Christoph Madeira was kissing her on her neck. She prayed that Tom was coming soon. She couldn't take this any longer. It felt good, she couldn't lie about that but the fact that she was romantically engaging with a man she didn't even know made her sick to her stomach, slightly.
Christoph Madeira moved his arms around her back and lifted her from her laying position. The two now were both sitting up on the bed. Rachel felt Mr. Madeira's hands reaching for her bra strap. It was then that she realized he was trying to take it off of her. She quickly back away, towards the head of the bed, and his hands let go of her.
"What's wrong?" he asked her.
Rachel paused not sure of what to say. She then heard Sydney's voice through her ear piece.
Rachel quickly covered. "Not just yet," she said. "You haven't been good enough to deserve that yet." Rachel grinned at Mr. Madeira who returned the smile with a set of bright, white teeth. He then crawled over to her, across the large king sized bed. She waited for him. When he reached her, he bent in and kissed her on the lips. Rachel closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his lips.
Then all of a sudden, his lips came off of hers. For the split second when Rachel's eyes were closed, she thought that Tom had come but she was wrong. As she opened her eyes, she was quickly turned onto her stomach, on the bed. She felt someone on top of her, near her lower back. Soon after she felt the scope of a gun to the back of her head.
Christoph Madeira was now on top of her back, with his knees on either side of her, pressed against the bed.
"Don't you move," he said to her.
Rachel quickly returned to her character and tried not to panic.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm not an idiot," he said to her. "Who do you work for?"
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Don't play dumb with me!" he commanded. "I heard you in the bathroom. Who do you work for and why do you want the Rambaldi Artifact?"
Rachel was speechless. She had been caught.
"Oracle," said Sydney. "Don't panic."
"Who do you work for?" demanded Mr. Madeira who was beginning to lose his patience with Rachel. Rachel didn't answer.
"Sidewinder is coming to the door, hang in there," said Sydney to Rachel.
"I'm growing tired of you," said Mr. Madeira. "Who do you work for?"
"Please don't hurt me," said Rachel beginning to cry. She couldn't keep herself from panicking.
"Tell me who you work for," demanded Mr. Madeira again, "Or I'll shoot you."
Just as he said his last word, Rachel felt the pressure of Mr. Madeira leave her back and the scope of the gun wasn't at her head. She quickly turned over and sat up. Tom was in the room now, holding a heavy coat rack. Thomas Grace had hit Mr. Madeira over the head with the coat rack. Mr. Madeira was now on the floor, on the opposite side of the bed.
"Where's the gun?" asked Rachel.
"Over there on the floor," answered Grace. He put the coat rack down. Rachel looked and saw the gun just a few feet from Mr. Madeira. Tom went over and was about to grab it when Mr. Madeira grabbed Grace's foot. Tom fell to the floor. Mr. Madeira got up and began crawling to the gun. Grace tried to stop him and grabbed his foot but Mr. Madeira kicked him in the face. Madeira continued his crawl towards the gun and went to reach for it. But Rachel managed to get to the gun quickly enough so that she kicked it away from his grasp. He looked up at her.
"You bitch," he said. He stood up and began approaching her.
Rachel tried to think quick. She threw a punch with her right hand. Mr. Madeira dodged the fist and grabbed her arm. Rachel then threw her left fist at Mr. Madeira. She hit him in the jaw and he released his hold on her right arm. Mr. Madeira put his hand to his mouth and discovered that he was bleeding. He then looked at Rachel with a deep, dark, blue glare.
It sent a cold fear through Rachel's veins. He quickly began approaching her. Rachel lifted her right leg and attempted to kick him. But Mr. Madeira grabbed her leg and then put his hand to her throat. He lifted her up and Rachel lost air. He spun her around and threw her against the wall.
Pain flew through Rachel's back as she fell to the floor. She looked up and saw Mr. Madeira approaching her once again. But before he could reach her, Grace had gotten up and grabbed him from the back. Grace threw Christoph across the room. He hit an end table, knocking over a lamp. He collided with the floor.
Tom quickly turned to Rachel.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," said Rachel. Grace looked back at Christoph Madeira. He was now up on his feet. Tom began approaching him and he waited. When Tom reached him he threw his right fist at him. Christoph ducked quickly and swiped his leg, attempting to trip Tom. But Tom, jumped over Christoph's leg. Christoph had gotten to his feet, by the time Tom had landed. Christoph then lifted his leg and kicked Tom in the abdomen. Tom was pushed back a couple of steps and was slightly winded. This gave Christoph another shot. Christoph threw his right fist at Tom Grace. The fist hit Tom in the cheek. He stumbled to the group to one knee. Christoph Madeira then lifted his leg again and sent it aimed at Tom's face. Tom managed to block the leg with his arm. He quickly returned to his feet and backed off. Mr. Madeira gave no time for Tom to recover. He charged at him. With his quick reflexes, Tom turned at an angle, and flipped Christoph over his back. Christoph's back collided with the floor. He rolled over onto his stomach in pain.
"Tom," said Rachel. Tom turned and Rachel tossed him the gun. He caught it and quickly aimed it at Christoph. But his aim didn't last long. Christoph was now on his hands and knees. With his quick speed, Christoph kicked the gun out of Grace's hands. The gun went flying across the room, it hit a wall and landed far away from all three of them. Grace watched where it landed and when he looked back, Christoph kicked him in the stomach again. As Grace stumbled back, Christoph got up. He threw his fist at Grace but Grace blocked it with his arm and then took a swing at Christoph. Christoph shifted to the side, dodging Tom's fist by inches. Christoph then took his turn and attempted to kick Grace in the ribs. Grace pushed the leg away. He took another swing at Christoph, this time aiming for his chest. Christoph jumped back and Grace's fist missed him. Grace stepped towards Christoph and threw an uppercut at Christoph. This shot hit Christoph in the chin. Christoph fell back onto the floor. Grace quickly approached him but Christoph recovered from the shot. He lifted both his legs and kicked Grace in the shins. Grace faltered backwards giving time for Christoph to return to his own feet. As he did so, Christoph threw his fist at Grace's cheek. His fist hit Grace, causing Tom to fall onto the floor. As he began approaching Grace who was lying on the floor, Rachel leaped onto Christoph's back.
Her legs wrapped around his mid-section and she began clawing his bear back, bear chest, and face. He yelled in agony as her nails dug into his skin. Christoph stumbled around the room with Rachel on his back. Christoph then ran backwards into a wall, sandwiching Rachel. This did seem to slow the scratching down but she still was on his back. He did it a second time but Rachel still didn't get off. He then reached for the back of her hair and flipped her over his back. She landed on the floor and moaned in pain. He was about to go after her when he remembered Grace. Christoph turned around and was punched in the face. Grace had gotten up.
Christoph stumbled a bit backward. Grace gave him no time to attack. He grabbed Christoph's shoulder and threw him again. This time Christoph collided with the wall, near the end table before hitting the floor. Grace quickly went over to him but Christoph grabbed the lamp, lying on the floor next to him. He tossed the lamp and hit Tom in the face, giving Christoph time to get up.
Christoph was now completely fired up with anger. He was in plenty of pain because of Rachel and Tom. He quickly approached Tom and threw his fist at Tom's face. Tom dodged the fist barely. Christoph threw his other fist but Tom dodged it again. In much anger and frustration, Christoph lifted his leg and attempted to roundhouse kick Tom. Christoph's leg was aimed right for Tom's head. Tom ducked and the leg missed him. Because of all the force Christoph put into kicking Tom, Christoph did a complete 180 turn and his back was now to Tom.
Tom took this time to his advantage. He got close, right behind Christoph, and wrapped his right arm around Christoph's neck. There was a quick struggle from Christoph. He grabbed Grace's arm and attempted to pry it off his neck. But Tom had a firm lock around his neck and was not letting go. The two pushed each other all around the room. Christoph began to lose his breath and was becoming lightheaded. He attempted to lift Grace over his back. Grace's feet only left the ground briefly before returning. Christoph also tried running backwards into the walls so that Grace's back and head would collide with them but that didn't work either. Grace kept his arm wrapped around.
Christoph began to lose vision but he kept on struggling. Grace could clearly see he was becoming weak. Christoph lost feeling in his legs and then fell backwards. Grace landed on the bed with Christoph on top of him. Grace kept his hold as Christoph continued to struggle but was losing his strength rapidly.
Rachel slowly began getting up in much pain. Her back killed. She saw the two on the bed. It wasn't long until Christoph was knocked out.
When Grace realized Christoph had lost conscience, he removed his arm from around Christoph's neck.
"You okay?" he asked Rachel, putting Christoph on the bed.
"Yeah I'm fine," answered Rachel. "You?"
"Couldn't be better."
LOS ANGELES
Christoph Madeira paced the room of a cell in the APO vicinity. He had just recently woken up. He was still dizzy and his neck hurt terribly. He was going to kill that man. The people at APO had kindly given him a t-shirt to put on along with his boxers but he was still cold.
There were no windows in the cell. Just a bed, a toilet and a clear plastic or maybe glass wall. On the other side of the wall, down a hall, stood a guard with a large gun. He showed no expression on his face. Christoph walked up to the glass and leaned against it. He looked at the guard who made no sign of him noticing the movement of Christoph.
"Hey," said Christoph. "You there."
The guard didn't look at him.
"Where am I?" he asked.
Again, there was no response.
"Hello?" asked Christoph.
The guard continued to ignore him.
"Hey, where the hell am..."
Just then a woman walked through the door. She had brown hair that went past her shoulders. She was pregnant and she wore a dark blue sweater with dark blue pants.
"You're in a cell," she answered Christoph as she walked in. She turned to the guard and nodded at him. The guard nodded once and left through the door she came in.
"Thanks sweetie, I know that," Christoph said.
The pregnant woman approached the glass Christoph was leaning on. The two stared at each other briefly.
"Mind telling me where I am?" he asked. Sydney looked straight at his blue eyes. She never thought of who her cousins might be until this day. She knew so little about her family and wanted to learn more but at the same time she was scared.
"You're being kept under the possession of the CIA," she answered. "That's all I can tell you."
Christoph was about to say something but he stopped. He stared at her as though he was trying remember something. He looked confused for a moment.
"What is it?" Sydney asked.
"Haven't I met you before?" he asked her.
"No," she answered. "We haven't met."
"But you look strangely familiar..."
There was a brief pause between the two as he continued to stare at her. Then it came to him.
"You...you look like my aunt," he announced and he seemed to be slightly filled anger.
"Who's your aunt?" asked Sydney, although she knew the answer.
Christoph looked as though he was going to burst in any second. He walked away from the glass and stared at the wall.
"Her name is Irina..." he said a bit hushed. "Irina Derevko."
There was a brief pause. "I know why you hate her," said Sydney.
"Of course you do, the CIA knows everything," he said in disgust.
"I know what she did to your mother."
Christoph didn't say anything. He didn't move a muscle. Sydney's words clearly brought up a thought or memory he didn't want to remember.
"How do you know?" he asked.
Sydney at first didn't answer. She was trying to figure out what his reaction would be. What would he do when he found out that she was his cousin, the cousin that his mother tried to kill?
"I was there."
Christoph quickly turned around and stared at her. He approached the glass.
"Are you..."
"Sydney, yes."
"The Chosen One..." He looked amazed. "I thought it might have been you..." He looked away in disbelief.
"What do you mean?" asked Sydney.
He looked at her and didn't know what to say. "You, uh, look like your mother," he rushed out of his mouth.
There was another pause between the two as they continued to stare.
"So...Sydney...you're my...cousin."
"Yes," Sydney answered.
"Why did your mother shoot mine?" he asked.
Sydney took a deep breath. "Your mother was trying to kill me."
"But that is impossible," he said. "You, you're the Chosen One and...my mother she was a follower..."
"I know this might seem like a lot," said Sydney. "But you've got to listen. The reason why we came after you is we need the artifact you have."
Suddenly Christoph's disposition changed. He grinned evilly at Sydney and walked away from the glass.
"Did you really think it was going to be that easy Sydney?" he asked. "I know what the CIA wants. My mother told me everything. I knew her end game. And you." He turned back around to look at Sydney. "You and your...family destroyed it. Destroyed her end game. And that Mr. Sloane betrayed my mother. He deserves to be dead."
Sloane, along with Jack, Tom, Rachel, and Dixon were watching Christoph and Sydney through a computer screen which Marshall was sitting in front of.
"And your mother. She shot my mother. Right in the forehead and now she is dead. Your mother is a disgrace. And so is your father, Jack Bristow. To think that Irina was really in love with him." He laughed. "It's almost disgusting."
Sydney didn't say anything.
"Yes, Sydney, I know a lot more than you think. You'd be surprised. I've heard so much about you." He walked up to the clear glass. "And now we get to meet face to face."
They stared again at each other. Sydney was now the one filled with rage. Christoph looked down at her stomach.
"Your baby is fatherless...isn't he?" he asked.
Sydney refused to respond as her jaw tightened Christoph looked back at her.
"You don't know how much danger you're in," he said to her. Sydney tried to keep his words out of her head. She couldn't let him see her weak. But they way he rolled the words off his lips sent chills through her. He was just like his mother.
"You're mother was a bad person," said Sydney. "Don't be like her."
Christoph laughed again. "My mother was a bad person. She was strong."
"She killed your father," said Sydney, hoping that maybe this would change his opinion.
"You think I don't know?" he asked. "My mother fell in love with my father, unlike your parents. My parents loved each other so much that my father was willing to join her and the KGB. He spied on his own government for her. But when he was asked to blow up a building he wouldn't. He proved to be weak. So my mother killed him."
"Can't you see you mother is a dictator? She's a criminal," said Sydney.
"You know nothing about my mother!" he screamed.
"You've been brainwashed by your mother for so many years that I feel bac for you."
"Don't," he demanded. "I don't want your filthy sympathy." He spit at the glass. It dripped down.
Sydney had had enough. She glared at Christoph through the glass. "If you don't tell me where that artifact is, I'll be sure to have you killed, just as your mother was."
"Then I'll take it to my grave."
Sydney stared at her cousin for a little while longer. She then walked away. He grinned as she left the hallway.
Sydney walked up to Jack and the rest of the group who were watching Christoph and her.
"I say we torture the son of a bitch," said Sydney.
"It would be my pleasure but I'm sure Director Chase doesn't want that," said Jack.
"Well what do we do then?" asked Rachel.
"There is a search team back at his hotel," said Jack. "They're looking for any information they can find. We've taken in his guards, maybe they'll say something but it's highly doubtful We'll have the facts tomorrow morning. I'll talk to Chase about Madeira."
"I want all four of your reports tomorrow on my desk," said Jack.
Sydney, Tom, Rachel, and Dixon all went off to start on their reports on the mission. Marshall left to go to his office.
When they were all gone Sloane turned to Jack.
"May I have a word with you, Jack?" he asked.
"Of course," answered Jack.
"In private," added Sloane.
"Does my office sound private enough?" Jack asked.
"Yes, it sounds fine."
The two walk to Jack's office. Jack opened the door, let Sloane in, and shut the door behind him. When the door was shut, Jack walked around to his desk and sat himself down.
"What is it that you want to talk to me about?" asked Jack.
"Jack, I've always considered you a friend," said Sloane
There was a brief pause and Jack guessed Sloane wanted him to respond.
"And I consider you one, as well."
"Good. So, when I begin to tell you what I want to talk about, please do not think I am against your judgement and how you are handling this case with the Rambaldi artifact. I just want to voice my opinion."
"Alright."
"Jack, my daughter's life is on the line. I am in desperate need to get this artifact for her. Not for me because I can tell you all are still thinking of my old obsession with Rambaldi. I can see the way you all look at me when his name is mentioned. But I only have one use for this artifact and that is to use it for my daughter. Now, what I want to say is, I don't think you have your best interests about this artifact."
"My best interests, Arvin," said Jack, "are not your concerns."
"You don't understand the importance of this artifact, Jack."
An awkward silence fell between them.
"What I mean," continued Sloane, "is that this could be the artifact that could save my daughter."
"And what if it's not?" asked Jack. "What if the artifact has nothing to do with your daughter's sickness?"
"But if it does Jack," interjected Sloane. "If it does have to do with my daughter's sickness. If it does cure her then all of our best interests should be focused on this artifact."
Just then Sydney walked in. When she saw Sloane in the office she stopped her walk into the office.
"Oh, I'm sorry," apologized Sydney for barging in. "I didn't know..."
"It's alright," said Jack. "We were just finishing." Jack turned back to Sloane. "Thank you, Arvin, for your thoughts. I'll take them into consideration."
Sloane stared at Jack briefly. "Thank you," he said. He then walked past Sydney and out the door. Sydney shut the door and then turned to her father.
"What was that about?" asked Sydney.
"Nothing," answered Jack. "He just wanted to talk about Nadia with me. He needs some reassurance. Can I help you with something?"
"Director Chase is here," said Sydney. "She wants to talk with you."
Jack got up out of his seat and followed Sydney out of the room. When he walked out Director Chase was standing there, arms folded. Sydney and Jack approached her.
"You have Christoph Madeira?" she asked more declaratively than interrogatively.
"Yes," answered Jack.
"Did you get anything out of him?" asked Chase.
"I'm afraid not," answered Jack.
Chase stared at Jack then at Sydney.
"I know what you two are thinking," she said.
"Excuse me?" asked Jack.
"You want to torture the information out of him."
Jack and Sydney looked at each other and then back at Chase.
"We think it might...help to get the location of the artifact," said Jack.
"I'm sorry but I don't think that is the right plan of action and Langley won't approve of it."
"Director Chase, I..." began Sydney.
"It's out of the question Ms. Bristow," interjected Chase. "If he doesn't give the information in two days he will be exiled. Have a good day." She then walked away.
Sydney turned to Jack.
"How are we going to do this, Dad?" asked Sydney. "He's not going to give up the location."
"I know," answered Jack. "Hopefully, the search of his hotel will help us somehow." Jack stopped and looked as though he was trying to decide something. Sydney was waiting for his decision. He then said, "Would you like to go out for dinner?"
Sydney was a bit taken back and wasn't expecting this question.
"I know a nice small Italian restaurant," said Jack. Sydney didn't make a response so Jack continued. "If you're busy I..."
"No," said Sydney. "I'd love to."
"Good, I'll come by your place at six thirty?"
Sydney smiled. "Sure."
Sydney stood looking in the mirror in her apartment with Rachel behind her.
"As much as I am happy to be having this baby," said Sydney, "I want my stomach back." Rachel smiled.
"When's he coming again?" asked Rachel.
"Six-thirty," answered Sydney.
"Is he normally on time?"
"If nothing comes up he normally is."
Sydney straighten out her dress more and tucked her hair behind her ears.
"I never really noticed this before but I have ugly ears."
"No you don't," reassured Rachel. She walked over to Sydney's bed and sat on it.
The doorbell rung. Sydney looked at her watch.
"6:30," she said. She grabbed her coat and purse. "I'll be home later on."
"Alright," said Rachel, as she followed her to the door.
Sydney opened the front door. Jack stood there and smiled when he saw Sydney.
"Hi Dad," said Sydney.
"Hello," he said. He looked over to Rachel. "Ms. Gibson."
Rachel smiled and said, "Hi."
"Well let's get going," Jack said.
"Alright," said Sydney. "See you later on tonight, Rachel."
"Alright," said Rachel.
Sydney walked out and shut the front door.
Rachel stood there for a moment. It felt weird being in somebody else's home, alone. But she knew she wouldn't be home alone for too long. She had invited Tom Grace over, of course asking Sydney first, to keep her company and protection. She was a rookie agent and Gordon Dean was still after her.
Rachel made sure the front door was locked as well as the windows. She then made her way to the living room and sat in a chair and decided to finish her book. It seemed that she had only read the book for five minutes when the doorbell rang.
She put her book down and got up from the couch. She walked over to the front door and looked through the small hole in the door. Grace was standing outside. She unlocked and opened the door.
"Hey," said Rachel.
"Hi," he greeted.
"Come in," she said. She stepped aside and let him walk into the house. After he passed the frame, she shut and locked the door. "So, um, are you feeling okay? I mean after the fight and everything."
"I've got a few bruises but nothing's broken," he answered. "He punched like a girl."
Rachel laughed. "Yeah but he almost kicked your ass."
"He wasn't even close."
She smiled at him and he returned the warm greeting.
"Would you like something to eat?" Rachel asked. "I'm a terrible cook but we could order something?"
"Pizza would be nice," said Grace. "I haven't had it in a while."
"Pizza it is," said Rachel. "You can go sit down on the couch if you want. Make yourself at home."
"Thanks," he said. He walked over to the couch and rested himself on it. Rachel walked over to the wireless phone which was hanging on the wall. Rachel picked it up and dialed the nearest pizza place.
Quickly, somebody picked up the receiver. Rachel gave the person her order, which was one large cheese pizza. He told her somebody would be over to deliver it in forty-five minutes. Rachel hung up the phone and joined Grace in the living room.
"It'll be here soon," she said.
Just as Grace was about to say something, the phone rang. Rachel got up and walked over to the phone. She looked on the caller ID. It said across the screen "Unknown Number".
"It doesn't say who it is," announced Rachel. "I'm just going to let the answering machine pick up. Rachel walked back over to the couch and sat down. The phone continued to ring but when the answering machine picked up, the person hung up.
"Probably a telemarketer," suggested Grace.
"Yeah," agreed Rachel. "Thanks for coming, by the way."
"It's no problem," said Grace.
The phone began ringing again. Rachel got up and walked over to the phone. Again the caller ID said: "Unknown Caller". Rachel rolled her eyes and walked back to the couch.
"Unknown caller again," she told Grace.
"They never quit, do they?" joked Grace.
"Apparently not," Rachel said. The phone continued to ring and hung up just when the answering machine picked up, once again. "Anyway," began Rachel, "I'm sorry if I'm boring you. I'm not really good at..."
The phone began ringing again.
"Alright, that's getting annoying," said Rachel. She got up and checked the caller ID. Once again, it said: "Unknown Caller". "Should I pick it up?"
"No," said Grace. "Maybe they'll stop after this one."
Rachel walked back to the couch and sat herself back down. Like the previous calls, the caller hung up just as the answering machine picked up. The two began to sit in silence. After a couple of seconds they both simultaneously turned to the phone and then back to each other.
"It's going to ring," said Rachel. "Any second now..."
The two paused again but not ringing came.
"Maybe you were right," said Rachel.
"I once had a telemarketer call my house seven times before giving up," shared Grace. "Normally they stop at three."
Fifty minutes later, the pizza came. Rachel answered the door, payed the pizza man, and then shut the door and locked it, after placing the pizza on the table in the kitchen. Grace came into the kitchen as Rachel opened up the pizza box.
"What would you like to drink?" asked Rachel, as she went to grab paper plates and cups.
"Anything would be fine," said Grace. Rachel handed the paper plates to Grace. She then grabbed two glasses and poured some wine into them. When she put the glass of wine in front of Grace he was already eating. Rachel grabbed a paper plate and a slice.
"Is it good?" she asked.
"Very," answered Grace before taking a sip of his beverage.
The two continued to talk and together they finished the whole pizza except for one slice which they decided to leave for Sydney. After they finished, the two took their wine and walked into the living and continued talking and laughing.
As the laughter died down a bit and they began taking sips of their drinks Rachel spoke up.
"So Mr. Grace," she said, "tell me one thing about you that nobody else knows."
Grace chuckled a bit. "Why?" he asked.
"I don't know," answered Rachel. "Just a random question."
"Hmm," he thought for a moment as he sipped his wine. "I don't know."
"Oh C'mon," said Rachel. "There has to be something."
"I can't really think of one."
"I think you can. I just think..."
The phone began ringing again. Rachel stopped mid-sentence and turned to the phone. Grace did the same. The two then looked back at each other. Both looked like they were about to laugh.
"It's probably not the same person," said Grace.
"I hope not," Rachel said, standing up and putting her glass down. She walked back over to the ringing phone. When she reached the caller ID it said, once again, "Unknown Caller." Rachel stood looking at it for a moment.
"It says it again," said Rachel.
"This guy just isn't giving up," said Grace.
Rachel now was becoming a bit scared. She walked back to sit down and the two listen to the phone ring. As the answering machine picked up, Rachel waited and expected the person on the other line to hang up. But this time, it didn't happen.
After Sydney's voice said the following: "Hi you have reached Sydney Bristow. I can't come to the phone right now but if you'd like to leave your name and number I'll try to get back to you. Have a good day." there was a beep, signaling for the person to begin their message. There was a slight pause and then a voice spoke.
The voice was unknown to Rachel as he began his first words.
"Sydney," the voice began. "Sydney please pick up. Please, I know you're there. Syd, it's Vaughn."
Rachel couldn't believe what she heard. Her eyes widen as the message continued.
"I know you're there, Sydney. Please pick up. I need to talk. I need help."
Then the message ended.
Rachel slowly turned to Grace who seemed to be dumbfounded.
"Was that him?" he asked. "Was that really...Vaughn?"
Rachel turned back to the phone.
"I don't know," she said. "I've never heard his voice."
An hour and a half later, Sydney walked back into her house. She was jovial and had a good dinner with her father. She shut the door and saw Rachel and Thomas Grace sitting in the living room.
"Hi Tom," she greeted.
"Hey," he greeted.
"How was it?" asked Rachel.
"Actually it turned out pretty good." Sydney put her purse down on the counter. "We managed to talk about anything but work."
"That's good," said Rachel. There was an awkward silence between the three that Sydney paid no attention to as she turned off her cell phone. "Um Sydney...?"
Sydney looked to Rachel. "Yeah?"
"There's something you...need to hear," said Rachel.
Rachel joined Sydney in the kitchen. Grace stood up and took a few steps closer to the kitchen but did not follow Rachel.
"There's a message for you," said Rachel. Rachel pushed the button on the answering machine and the message started.
Right as the message began, Sydney had already recognized the voice. She quickly look shocked and speechless and she covered her mouth as a tear rolled down her face.
The message ended and Rachel turned to a silently, crying Sydney.
"...Is it him?" Rachel asked.
Sydney looked at Rachel. She couldn't believe what she just heard. She felt herself shaking as chills ran up her spine.
"It...sounds like him...but it's impossible...I saw him die..."