In The Air Tonight, Part 19
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As much as Michael Vaughn didn't want to believe what Irina Derevko had just told him, his rational mind could not find a way to discount it. Too much of what she'd said made sense: horrible, sickening sense. However, her track record when it came to dealings with CIA officers wasn't exactly encouraging. "How do I know this isn't some sort of elaborate scheme you've created for your own benefit?"
Irina's eyes flashed with sudden anger. "You know what I've told you is the truth, Mr. Vaughn. Don't make this a stubborn attempt to defy me. If there is any chance of preventing Sloane's activation of the device, action must be taken. You cannot waver."
Michael's features hardened as well. "Why do you need me to take that action? Why can't you?"
"Because I've burned my cover in Sloane's organization," she replied. "I no longer have the connections I need to effectively track him. I don't know where he went while he was missing, but when he returned…he was more focused, more determined, more sure than ever before that he would bring forth Rambaldi's greatest work."
"I've known Arvin Sloane for thirty years. He was Jack's superior when they both still worked for the CIA. Arvin always had a soft side, an insecurity that was easy to play once you were aware it was there. It was that weakness that allowed Jack to infiltrate SD-6 undetected for so many years. I'm telling you now that this weakness no longer exists. Arvin Sloane is not the man he once was. His very determination and almost pious assurance of his success is unnerving."
"Somehow he knew that I was going to betray him and used the opportunity to his advantage…and I didn't give away any clues. I've gone over it in my head hundreds of times, Mr. Vaughn. I cannot think of any moment that I tipped my hand to him, yet he anticipated my every move… It's almost as if…as if he knows things…as if someone had given him the answers before we even knew the questions."
Vaughn recalled Jack Bristow's reports detailing his recent dealings with Sloane. Jack had said much the same thing: Sloane was different; he exuded more confidence, and seemed to anticipate his actions in ways he never had before.
"What can you tell me about the Rambaldi device itself? What is its purpose? What will it do once it's activated?" Vaughn asked Irina.
"Il Dire's purpose appears to be two-fold. Its first purpose is to pass on the knowledge acquired by Milo Rambaldi in all his areas of research. The full extent of this information is unknowable, because, as you're aware, Rambaldi had interests in many subjects. For example, we know that Rambaldi experimented with the idea of everlasting life. The orchid revealed in the capsule in Kashmir dated back to Rambaldi's age. The clockmaker, Donato, was also determined to be several hundred years old at the point of death."
Vaughn stared suspiciously at Irina. "How do you know about Donato? And how do you know he was the same clockmaker? He could easily have been a descendant."
"His extended life was prophesized, Mr. Vaughn, as was the moment of his death," Irina revealed. "Once the SD-6 and K-Directorate agents cleared the building, I sent a team in to retrieve Donato's body. His DNA matched the string encoded in his prophecy. We carbon-dated a tissue sample. It revealed he was over 500 years old."
"Dereno was another such experiment of Rambaldi's. He was also several hundred years old at his time of death. It has yet to be determined how Dereno came to possess the heart, since there were no incisions, no scars. Obviously, Rambaldi possessed medical secrets yet to be discovered by modern man. All these secrets and more would be 'told' to the person in control of Il Dire. If Rambaldi truly discovered the secret to everlasting life, Sloane would be in sole possession of that information, as well as any other revelations Rambaldi may have had."
"Il Dire's second purpose is at least as dangerous as its first. The device 'tells' the future; it gives the owner a window into future events. I'm sure I don't need to enlighten you on how devastating it would be for the world as we know it if Arvin Sloane had this ability."
Vaughn shook his head numbly. It was almost too much to fathom. Arvin Sloane, armed with both Rambaldi's knowledge and his ability to see into the future…it made Vaughn shiver just thinking about it.
A sickening idea occurred to him. "What if…he's already in possession of this knowledge? What if he's already activated Il Dire? You said that Sloane was able to anticipate your betrayal and that he appears confident in ways he never was before…"
"No," Irina declared firmly. "The device has not been activated. He was still in the process of assembling the device when he was ambushed in Mexico City. I assure you, when Il Dire is activated, you will know."
"What…?" Vaughn was afraid to ask the question, but needed to know the answer, "What will happen to Sydney once she activates the Rambaldi device? Will she…die?"
"It's not certain," Irina replied. "However, the Prophecy infers that if the One does survive the activation process, that she will be the only person capable of stopping the person that possesses Il Dire's power. 'Unless prevented, at vulgar cost she will render the greatest power unto utter desolation.'"
"If Sydney's fate is sealed, then what is it you think can be done? What is it you want me to do?"
"Maybe Il Dire's activation can be delayed long enough to locate Sloane and destroy the device," Irina replied. "The Prophecy is unclear as to whether the possessor of Il Dire can be stopped only by the One before activation. To my thinking, there are only two things we can do: keep Sloane from inputting the DNA code, and keep Sydney from activating it."
Dubiously, Vaughn asked, "How do you propose we do that? You've already said that the Rambaldi manuscript is encoded with Sydney's DNA, and you've told me that Sydney's anger will activate Il Dire as soon as it's programmed…"
"While the manuscript gives the genetic code of the Prophecy woman, Sloane will need a sample of this genetic material in order to program the code. He will have to get a live DNA sample from Sydney, or have one on file. It has to be derived from living tissue; a hair or fingernail sample will not be enough. You need to make sure that no such genetic record can be obtained. Contact the hospital and have them sanitize any needles that came in contact with her. Make sure they burn any bandages that contain blood. Have them destroy blood samples used for testing. If the CIA has any such records, they need to be destroyed as well. While it would be standard operating procedure, make sure the cleaners remove all blood from the apartment. You must assume that Sloane would find a way to access this information."
Vaughn nodded soberly.
"And second… When you last saw Sydney, was she conscious?"
Not following Irina's reasoning, he studied her speculatively. "No, not yet…why?"
"You must ensure that she does not regain consciousness."
"What!?" Vaughn spit out, enraged at what it appeared Irina was proposing. "What the hell do you want me to do!? Prophecy or no Prophecy… I will not harm Sydney…"
"I'm not asking you to," Irina responded coldly, hackles raised at Vaughn's insinuation that she wanted him to hurt her own daughter. "She simply needs to remain heavily sedated."
"Why?" Vaughn demanded.
"While the suggestion is abhorrent to you, Mr. Vaughn, you must admit it is a valid way to delay the device's activation. If Sydney remains unconscious, she cannot form nor send conscious thoughts to Sloane."
Irina was right…on both counts. While it would keep the activation of Il Dire at bay, the idea of keeping Sydney unconscious for an unknown length of time while the CIA scoured the globe for Arvin Sloane was sickening.
"It is crucial that the information I am providing you not be recorded in any way by the CIA. Sloane used Will Tippin to access classified documents, as well as the KH-11 satellite. I cannot guarantee he does not have other, better placed moles within the ranks of the CIA. Involve only those who you are absolutely certain you can trust."
After a moment of pause, Irina continued, "There is one more piece of information I must pass on to you, Mr. Vaughn. This intel could become vital if we are unsuccessful in preventing the activation of the Rambaldi device."
Vaughn looked at her intently, saying nothing, waiting for her to continue.
"There is a secret society; one that has sought for 500 years to protect the secrets of Rambaldi."
"The Order of Rambaldi," Vaughn supplied.
"Yes," Irina verified. "The Order of Rambaldi is a secret society much like the Priory of Sion and the Knights Templar. Like the Templars and the Priory, the Order of Rambaldi is rumored to protect a very important secret; one that is not mentioned elsewhere in Rambaldi's works, but is of incredible importance. Many criminals have attempted to infiltrate the Order to access this secret information. Knowing this, the Order formed a society within its own ranks, only passing on the most crucial information via word of mouth. According to former and current members I've interviewed, no written version of this information has ever existed."
Vaughn didn't want to contemplate what Irina's "interviews" would have consisted of to ply even that amount of information from members of such a brotherhood.
"However, there is rampant speculation that at any one time, there lies within the Order only one person who carries the secret: a person they call "Il Cassiere di Storia"—The Storyteller. That person's identity and whereabouts, for obvious reasons, is protected with their lives. It is said that The Storyteller holds the key to the mystery surrounding Il Dire, and untold other truths. Legend dictates that even if the Storyteller is found, he or she will only reveal the secret to one specific person."
"Who?" Vaughn asked.
"I don't know," Irina replied. "I'm not sure that anyone besides the The Storyteller knows the identity of that person. The only thing I am sure of is this: the receiver of this knowledge is not the Prophecy woman, nor is it the person that activates Il Dire."
"So, not Sydney and not Sloane…and not you. That really narrows it down, thanks," Vaughn cracked.
Anger lit Irina's features. Rising to a stand, her voice low and menacing, she said, "Do not mock me, Mr. Vaughn. Or have you forgotten who has the weapon and who is chained to the bed?"
Vaughn glared back. "We both know that's an empty threat. Like it or not, you need me. You need me to follow up on your leads and to provide protection to Sydney. I'm sure you wouldn't have come to me if you had any other viable options. It's not exactly as if we trust each other."
Irina holstered her 9mm for the first time during their conversation. "You're right about one thing," she said at last. "We don't trust each other…so obviously you'll understand why I can't unlock your restraint."
This earned Irina an evil look from Vaughn.
Pulling a smaller gun from another holster attached to her leg, she continued with amusement, "Or why I did this…" aiming it directly at Vaughn's neck and pulling the trigger.
Vaughn flinched at the painful prick of his skin. Instantly a feeling of sickening warmth flooded his body and his head suddenly seemed too heavy to hold up. His eyelids drooping, the last thing Vaughn saw was the swirling, smirking face of Irina Derevko float unsteadily in front of him before he finally gave way to unconsciousness.