Everything Kendall said after that, Michael didn't hear. His thoughts all went back to that hour before. He knew he had seen Julian somewhere before, but not as his enemy. And, and...Sydney...
"So, how do you two know each other?" Michael asked.
Julian stood by Sydney and smiled at his tone of jealously. "We work together," he answered. "Yep, all the time, for years now."
Michael sighed. No, he thought, Sydney cannot be involved with SD-6. It's just a mistake. /i iMaybe...maybe that used to work together. He wasn't too convince though. In the pit of his stomach he knew something was wrong. Something he didn't want to confront. Now what he needed was answers. What he needed, was Sydney.
-----------------------
"Okay," Sloane said. "We finally got it. SD-9 was able to locate Casanova's lab and they confirmed that what we call the 'Horizon' is held there."
"What is it for?" Lauren asked.
"This is the missing key," Sloane answered smiling. "What we need above all else to bring forth Rabamldi's endgame. With this and the last remaining Rabamldi artifact, we will have everything we need."
"So, we go to Casanova's lab?" Julian summed up.
"Yes, but it is beneath his lab," Sloane added. "We also have reason to believe that the CIA will have this information as well which is why it is imperative we get there first. Your flight leaves in twenty minutes."
----------
"All right, all right. I'm coming," Francie complained. She sighed as the banging on the front door continued. Francie opened it and rolled her eyes. "Yes?"
"Francie," Michael breathed. "Is Sydney here?"
Francie looked at Michael concerned. "No. Why?"
"Where did she go?" Michael asked, letting himself in.
Francie shrugged and closed the door. "She just left on a business trip. Why?"
Michael looked around then turned to Francie while Will came out from the room. "What's going on?"
Michael turned to Will then back at Francie. "Listen to me, you are in a lot of danger right now if you stay here."
"Danger? From what?" Francie asked.
"I'm not entirely sure. From Sydney, from her job, her enemy's..."
"In danger from Sydney?" Will said. "What the hell is a matter with you?"
"Listen to me," Michael pleaded. "We have to get you out of here because if they know what we know..."
Francie held up her hand. "Okay, hold up a minute. Just what the hell are you talking about?"
Michael sighed heavily. "Sydney doesn't work at a bank. She works with some very bad people posing as the good guys."
Francie stared at Michael as if he were crazy. "Really?"
"Who are you!" Will asked Michael.
"I'm a CIA agent, please. I have to get you out of here. If I'm right, they will kill you to get to Sydney."
Both Will and Francie exchanged a look. Is this guy serious?
--------------
Kendall walked out of the briefing room quickly, and with a mission. "Okay, Jack. I need you and Vaughn to go to Cairo and get that Rabamldi artifact."
"The Horizon," Jack corrected.
"Whatever. Make sure SD-6 does not get their hands on it. By any means necessary, you understand?"
"Perfectly." Jack replied.
"Good. Let's show these son of bitches just who they're dealing with."
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Sydney sighed again and wiped her forehead. She checked her gun and looked around. Both her and Julian were in a Jeep on there way to Casanova's lab. Sydney turned and looked at Julian once more.
"Ninety-nine bottles of beers on the wall. Ninety-nine bottles of beer. Pass one down, and..." Julian stopped singing noting the death glare he was getting from Sydney. "What?" he asked defensively.
"You have been singing that song for the past half hour," she said, gritting her teeth.
Julian shrugged. "Not my fault we couldn't land the plane right near the lab."
"But why that song?"
Julian shrugged once more. "I could sing that song that never ends."
"Now I remember why we stopped dating," Sydney muttered.
Sydney shook her head and felt relieved when the lab came into view. When they reached the front of it both jumped out and held their guns in front of them. Julian signaled to Sydney and she went ahead of him into the lab, with him in tow.
-----------
Both Michael and Jack approached the back entrance of Casanova's lab. "Are you okay?" Jack asked him.
"Yeah...why?"
Jack shrugged. "You seem really tense."
Michael slightly nodded. "I am." Michael looked back at Jack. "Ready?" Jack nodded and Michael kicked in the door. Guns in front of them, both entered the lab
--------------
Sydney and Julian reached the far end of the building and into Casanova's lab. Sydney looked around for another entrance beneath it, but to no avail. She pressed the earpiece in her ear. "I don't see the entrance," she said.
"Hold on," Lauren said on the other end. Julian looked at Sydney concerned that this was a dead-end. Sydney was almost convinced it was until Lauren's voice was heard in the earpiece. "Ok," Lauren said, "There is a secret doorway leading underneath the lab where the Horizon is kept. The map here shows it to be in the far right corner."
Julian looked in that direction. "There's nothing there," he replied. Sydney set down her weapon and walked over to the file cabinet blocking the doorway. "Secret, Julian," Sydney said. "Means people like you can't find it."
Sydney moved the file cabinet then searched the door for a hidden opening, found it and pressed in. The door clicked, then opened, revealed a passage way. Sydney turned at Julian and smiled. "See?"
Julian rolled his eyes and nodded, grabbed Sydney's weapon and threw it at her forcefully. "That's why us men carry the weapons," he replied dryly. Sydney rolled her eyes and entered the passage way, Julian following close behind.
--------------------
Michael and Jack reached the far end of the lab and saw the secret door already opened. Michael turned to Jack. "SD-6 is already here."
"Or maybe they already left," Jack said.
Michael loaded his weapon. "Then I guess we'll find out, either way."
"I'll cover you up here."
Michael nodded, and went down the passage way
------------
"Ok," Lauren said over the comms. "You should reach it within the next 100 meters."
"Copy," Sydney replied. Within minutes, both Julian and Sydney reached the end of cave like tunnel. Sydney shut off her light on her gun and looked around in awe. On the one bare wall directly in front of them was the symbol of Rabamldi. 0 On the side walls were all look alike symbols and drawings of Rabamldi's works. Directly in front of the drawings was a mantle which held a sphere suspended in mid air. Sydney glanced at Julian whose expression masked her own. Disbelief. Sydney stepped near the mantle and the light from above, which Sydney had no idea how it was able to reach into the cave. shined even brighter. Rabamldi's symbol grew bright as Sydney reached for the sphere. "Don't touch it," A voice called out. Sydney and Julian looked over at the direction the voice had come from as Michael emerged into the light. Sydney looked at him in complete shock. Michael trained his gun on Julian.
"Drop it," he instructed. Julian hesitated, but did so, throwing his gun a far distance from himself and Michael. Julian slowly raised his hands and shook his head.
"I knew I recognized you," he said. "You were with Smith, just before we killed him."
Michael nodded his head. "Yeah, nice to officially meet you." Michael looked over at Sydney, who was still compiling her thoughts together. "Sydney, don't touch it."
"You're CIA, aren't you?"
Michael clenched his jaw. "Sydney, step away and throw down your weapon, now."
Sydney didn't move. She only shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "I can't believe this." Was our love even true? ... Or was it all just a lie?
"Sydney," Michael pleaded.
Sydney raised her gun at Michael, and Michael pointed it at her. Julian leaped forward and tackled Michael and both fought to get the gun. Sydney took the advantage and grabbed the sphere and placed it carefully in her bag and strapped it to herself. Julian punched Michael and took the gun, then quickly got up and pointed it at him. Michael looked at the barrel fearfully as Julian smiled at him. "Quite a turn of events, huh?" he mocked.
"Yes," came Jack's voice. He aimed his gun at Julian and Julian frowned at him. "It is."
"Dad?" Sydney nearly screamed.
Julian lowered his weapon. "Well, well. Seems we have ourselves quite a dilemma here." Jack helped Michael up and Sydney walked near Julian, her gun aimed at her father.
"Sydney," Jack said. "You have no idea what you are dealing with. Who you are dealing with."
"And I suppose you do? Right? The CIA does," Sydney spat back.
"Sydney, please." Michael said. "You're not working for the cause you think you are."
"And you know all about that, don't you?" Sydney threw at him.
"It's kind of funny," Julian said. "That two people Sydney trusted are her enemy. Poetic, really." Julian raised his gun at Michael. "So now we beg the question...which one of us will leave here with the Rabamldi sphere, alive?"
"I take it you don't have back up," Sydney said. Jack and Michael didn't answer and Sydney flashed them a smile as more guns cocked on them. "We do."
Both CIA men raised their hands and Lauren took the gun from Jack and walked around near Sydney. "Do you have it?"
"Yes," Sydney answered. "Let's get out of here." They all moved past Jack and Michael to leave.
"You won't get away Sydney," Michael called out. "Next time we'll be prepared."
Sydney turned around and faced Michael. "There won't be a next time."
Michael watched Sydney leave and his heart broke in half. The woman he loved the most in the world was the very woman who had been his sworn enemy for years. His eyes burned for the tears that wouldn't come. When he lost his sight of Sydney, another SD-6 agent walked up to him and the next thing Michael saw was darkness.
