The 47th Piece
- Thread starter verdantheart
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verdantheart
Guest
A long time ago, Jack invited the Sloanes to a small dinner party at his house. Irina served dinner on the deck and as Jack showed Emily how their roses were coming along, Arvin Sloane stepped casually over to Irina on the deck. As they watched their spouses admire the roses, Arvin said, “I’m ready for your answer now, Laura. What will it be? If you won’t cooperate, I’ll be forced to take action.”
“I’ve had to take time to think over the ramifications, Arvin. You know that.”
“And attempt to get more information.”
“We all do what we have to, Arvin.”
“And?”
Irina thought for a remaining split second. She still didn’t have complete information. Sloane had the manuscript she needed--and it wasn’t in a location she could penetrate--at least, not so far. Even if she could get it, Rambaldi’s formula had never been tested according to Sloane. But if she were to begin going forward with her plans, Irina would have to take this first step, take this risk. Put her faith in Rambaldi. “I’ve decided to accept your offer,” she said with a warm smile.
“Excellent!” he said, but there was something in his demeanor that indicated that the positive nature of Irina’s response made him uneasy. She felt more cheerful already.
Irina called out to Jack and Emily. “Don’t be too long! Dinner’s almost ready!”
Jack came up the steps almost immediately, smiling, a spring in his step. He presented Irina with a red rose, fragrant and perfect, freshly cut. “Nights like this,” he said, “are like roses. They are ephemeral--but precious. It’s their memory that lasts.”
:throb: :throb: :throb:
She wanted to run to him, but he was at work. You didn’t just burst in there unannounced. She had to wait all day for him to come home. So she took all those empty hours to do herself up. As long as she was going to expand like a damn melon she might as well use these final hours to give Jack something to remember.
She was not going to tell Sloane yet. Jack would be first. Sloane would get his chance soon enough. Rambaldi would get his chance too. But tonight would be theirs. Too little of their lives belonged to them--too little.
After an eternity, Jack came home--actually, he came home a little early. When he saw his Laura rushing to meet him dressed to the nines, he looked stunned. “Wow!” he said, looking a tiny bit worried. “What’s the occasion? I haven’t forgotten your birthday? No . . . wait . . . are you . . . ?”
Laura grinned broadly and said “Yes, Jack,” and tears began streaming down her cheeks. She hadn’t expected that--but it worked for Laura. “Look, now I’m ruining my make-up.”
“You don’t need make-up,” Jack said, pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiping her cheeks. He enfolded her into his arms. “Laura, have I told you how much I love you lately?” he whispered into her ear and then kissed her tenderly.
“Just all the time, that’s all,” she said, laughing through her tears.
“I do. Eternally. I can’t say it enough.” Jack broke his embrace and grinned. “We’re having a baby!”
:throb: :throb: :throb:
“I’ve had to take time to think over the ramifications, Arvin. You know that.”
“And attempt to get more information.”
“We all do what we have to, Arvin.”
“And?”
Irina thought for a remaining split second. She still didn’t have complete information. Sloane had the manuscript she needed--and it wasn’t in a location she could penetrate--at least, not so far. Even if she could get it, Rambaldi’s formula had never been tested according to Sloane. But if she were to begin going forward with her plans, Irina would have to take this first step, take this risk. Put her faith in Rambaldi. “I’ve decided to accept your offer,” she said with a warm smile.
“Excellent!” he said, but there was something in his demeanor that indicated that the positive nature of Irina’s response made him uneasy. She felt more cheerful already.
Irina called out to Jack and Emily. “Don’t be too long! Dinner’s almost ready!”
Jack came up the steps almost immediately, smiling, a spring in his step. He presented Irina with a red rose, fragrant and perfect, freshly cut. “Nights like this,” he said, “are like roses. They are ephemeral--but precious. It’s their memory that lasts.”
:throb: :throb: :throb:
She wanted to run to him, but he was at work. You didn’t just burst in there unannounced. She had to wait all day for him to come home. So she took all those empty hours to do herself up. As long as she was going to expand like a damn melon she might as well use these final hours to give Jack something to remember.
She was not going to tell Sloane yet. Jack would be first. Sloane would get his chance soon enough. Rambaldi would get his chance too. But tonight would be theirs. Too little of their lives belonged to them--too little.
After an eternity, Jack came home--actually, he came home a little early. When he saw his Laura rushing to meet him dressed to the nines, he looked stunned. “Wow!” he said, looking a tiny bit worried. “What’s the occasion? I haven’t forgotten your birthday? No . . . wait . . . are you . . . ?”
Laura grinned broadly and said “Yes, Jack,” and tears began streaming down her cheeks. She hadn’t expected that--but it worked for Laura. “Look, now I’m ruining my make-up.”
“You don’t need make-up,” Jack said, pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiping her cheeks. He enfolded her into his arms. “Laura, have I told you how much I love you lately?” he whispered into her ear and then kissed her tenderly.
“Just all the time, that’s all,” she said, laughing through her tears.
“I do. Eternally. I can’t say it enough.” Jack broke his embrace and grinned. “We’re having a baby!”
:throb: :throb: :throb:
AllTheBest
Cadet
That was fantastic! You do such an amazing job with the dialogue and the details. Wonderful!
Please update again soon! This is by far my favorite fanfic. Keep up the great work!
Please update again soon! This is by far my favorite fanfic. Keep up the great work!
V
verdantheart
Guest
It was just a hospital. The setting, clinical. But Jack was looking decidedly comical all papered over to minimize the odds of infection--dressed in greens, his hair and shoes covered with those silly paper fiber things. Irina could barely keep from laughing. She was so glad he was there.
She’d had her whole pregnancy to prepare for this, but she’d never intended on having a child--in a way, she was terrified. But Jack was beaming. He couldn’t conceive of anything possibly going wrong. Whenever she looked into his face and saw that sweet smile of his, she felt that everything was going to work out--so she kept looking over to him, again and again, for support. It seemed ridiculous--she was supposed to be absolutely strong. It wasn’t the pain. There were tortures that she was prepared for that were worse. But this had absolutely nothing to do with her, didn’t it? It was out of her control. If there were something wrong with her child--the thought was suffocating.
And she couldn’t help thinking about what Sloane was doing to her child--with all of his tinkering. It was some sort of chemical mixture that she had to inject on a regular basis--so regular a basis, in fact, that Sloane had to trust her with the formula itself so that she could inject herself with it. She had reserved the tiniest of samples for testing by her first priority in her new organization--a biochemical expert. But what if there were something wrong? She had been filled with anxiety for weeks over it. It was so hard to know--she had never been pregnant, so she had no idea of what felt natural or not. But nothing really felt wrong to her.
Jack had noticed her nerves of course, but fortunately, he had written it off to a healthy set of hormones. He had been incredibly attentive and couldn’t do enough to ease her anxiety, offering massages and trips to pick up items to satisfy any cravings--and on--Irina felt almost guilty.
But lying back on the delivery table with her feet in the stirrups, she felt anxiety that was worse than any of the labor pains washing over her.
It seemed to go on forever. The contractions, the pain--and then, the doctor announced he could see the head emerging. Irina pushed with all her might.
Finally, it was over. There seemed to be a dead silence in the room. Irina couldn’t see the baby--the doctor had turned his back. She jerked her attention to Jack. He appeared to be sobbing. Her heart seemed to stop.
“Tell me. Why isn’t it crying?!” she finally blurted out, horrified.
“Oh, Laura! I’m sorry!” Jack said. “She’s fine!--Wonderful! We have a daughter . . . the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen in my life.”
The doctor presented Irina’s daughter to her. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “She seemed perfectly calm. Funny . . . it was almost . . . I’d swear it was like she knew what was happening. She seemed to look right at me and take her first breath, calm as you please.”
Irina couldn’t believe it. She looked at her daughter like an inspector--what did she expect? An extra arm perhaps? Sloane had promised perfection. She knew of Rambaldi’s potential. Why hadn’t she trusted it? “She’s so incredibly perfect,” she said.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Jack said. “Just like her mom. Look at me,” he laughed, drying his eyes. “Some tough guy I turned out to be. Can we name her Sydney?”
“OK, but I get to name the next one,” she said.
:throb: :throb: :throb:
She’d had her whole pregnancy to prepare for this, but she’d never intended on having a child--in a way, she was terrified. But Jack was beaming. He couldn’t conceive of anything possibly going wrong. Whenever she looked into his face and saw that sweet smile of his, she felt that everything was going to work out--so she kept looking over to him, again and again, for support. It seemed ridiculous--she was supposed to be absolutely strong. It wasn’t the pain. There were tortures that she was prepared for that were worse. But this had absolutely nothing to do with her, didn’t it? It was out of her control. If there were something wrong with her child--the thought was suffocating.
And she couldn’t help thinking about what Sloane was doing to her child--with all of his tinkering. It was some sort of chemical mixture that she had to inject on a regular basis--so regular a basis, in fact, that Sloane had to trust her with the formula itself so that she could inject herself with it. She had reserved the tiniest of samples for testing by her first priority in her new organization--a biochemical expert. But what if there were something wrong? She had been filled with anxiety for weeks over it. It was so hard to know--she had never been pregnant, so she had no idea of what felt natural or not. But nothing really felt wrong to her.
Jack had noticed her nerves of course, but fortunately, he had written it off to a healthy set of hormones. He had been incredibly attentive and couldn’t do enough to ease her anxiety, offering massages and trips to pick up items to satisfy any cravings--and on--Irina felt almost guilty.
But lying back on the delivery table with her feet in the stirrups, she felt anxiety that was worse than any of the labor pains washing over her.
It seemed to go on forever. The contractions, the pain--and then, the doctor announced he could see the head emerging. Irina pushed with all her might.
Finally, it was over. There seemed to be a dead silence in the room. Irina couldn’t see the baby--the doctor had turned his back. She jerked her attention to Jack. He appeared to be sobbing. Her heart seemed to stop.
“Tell me. Why isn’t it crying?!” she finally blurted out, horrified.
“Oh, Laura! I’m sorry!” Jack said. “She’s fine!--Wonderful! We have a daughter . . . the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen in my life.”
The doctor presented Irina’s daughter to her. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “She seemed perfectly calm. Funny . . . it was almost . . . I’d swear it was like she knew what was happening. She seemed to look right at me and take her first breath, calm as you please.”
Irina couldn’t believe it. She looked at her daughter like an inspector--what did she expect? An extra arm perhaps? Sloane had promised perfection. She knew of Rambaldi’s potential. Why hadn’t she trusted it? “She’s so incredibly perfect,” she said.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Jack said. “Just like her mom. Look at me,” he laughed, drying his eyes. “Some tough guy I turned out to be. Can we name her Sydney?”
“OK, but I get to name the next one,” she said.
:throb: :throb: :throb:
AllTheBest
Cadet
fantastic!!! it's so good! magnificent!!! 
V
verdantheart
Guest
(I guess she's changed, hasn't she?) I'll leave that to you; it wasn't part of my story!lenafan said:
:lol:
V
verdantheart
Guest
“Jack! You’re insane!” Irina said, jumping up. “She--she’ll bring you in.”
“That’s not what you’re worried about,” he said.
“And what if I’m not? You don’t know where she’s been.”
“I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“And you trust them?”
“Not particularly,” Jack said. “You’re not going to fill me in on it, are you? But I’m not going to hide from my daughter for 20 years. I can’t live like that. Maybe you can. I can’t.”
Irina ignored his implication. “You haven’t given me your final answer to my proposal,” she objected.
“Ask me again later,” Jack said. “Hurry. Oh--you haven’t touched your vodka. Do you mind--?” and he reached for Irina’s glass.
Irina moved into the alleyway and up the fire escape onto a nearby roof--an escape route that she had already thought out. She pulled out her scope and looked around the street. CIA forces moving in.
Jack was maddeningly calm at the table, taking a swallow of vodka. As Sydney and Dixon approached, one of the CIA assets approached Sydney and whispered into her ear. She gave him a quick, terse, nod. Irina’s heart sank.
Jack downed the rest of the glass, stood, and moved into the courtyard, drenched in sunlight.
“Freeze!” Dixon shouted.
“I have no weapon,” Jack said, stopping and raising his hands slightly.
Sydney moved toward Jack now, holstering her pistol. “Cover him,” she said to Dixon. There was something odd about her, Irina thought, but Jack seemed not to notice. When she got near, he stepped to her and embraced her tightly.
“Jack, let her go,” Dixon said in a warning tone.
“You’re found, Sweetheart,” Jack whispered to Sydney. “I looked for you . . . such a long time. I had to see you. I--I’m so sorry. For everything.”
But Sydney seemed frozen. When she began moving, her movements were as swift and seamless as those of a snake. Even Jack didn’t realize what had happened until it was too late. Her hand slipped to her belt and came up holding a hunting knife. She gripped her father’s lapel and carefully placed the knife against the base of his sternum. Dixon shouted, “Sydney, what are you doing?!”
Jack took his daughter’s chin and looked into her blank eyes. “Sydney,” he said quietly, “Wake up . . . No? Then try to remember--” and a tear ran down his cheek “--it’s not your doing.” He leaned over slightly and kissed her on the forehead as he felt his daughter's shoulders tighten.
:throb: :throb: :throb:
“That’s not what you’re worried about,” he said.
“And what if I’m not? You don’t know where she’s been.”
“I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“And you trust them?”
“Not particularly,” Jack said. “You’re not going to fill me in on it, are you? But I’m not going to hide from my daughter for 20 years. I can’t live like that. Maybe you can. I can’t.”
Irina ignored his implication. “You haven’t given me your final answer to my proposal,” she objected.
“Ask me again later,” Jack said. “Hurry. Oh--you haven’t touched your vodka. Do you mind--?” and he reached for Irina’s glass.
Irina moved into the alleyway and up the fire escape onto a nearby roof--an escape route that she had already thought out. She pulled out her scope and looked around the street. CIA forces moving in.
Jack was maddeningly calm at the table, taking a swallow of vodka. As Sydney and Dixon approached, one of the CIA assets approached Sydney and whispered into her ear. She gave him a quick, terse, nod. Irina’s heart sank.
Jack downed the rest of the glass, stood, and moved into the courtyard, drenched in sunlight.
“Freeze!” Dixon shouted.
“I have no weapon,” Jack said, stopping and raising his hands slightly.
Sydney moved toward Jack now, holstering her pistol. “Cover him,” she said to Dixon. There was something odd about her, Irina thought, but Jack seemed not to notice. When she got near, he stepped to her and embraced her tightly.
“Jack, let her go,” Dixon said in a warning tone.
“You’re found, Sweetheart,” Jack whispered to Sydney. “I looked for you . . . such a long time. I had to see you. I--I’m so sorry. For everything.”
But Sydney seemed frozen. When she began moving, her movements were as swift and seamless as those of a snake. Even Jack didn’t realize what had happened until it was too late. Her hand slipped to her belt and came up holding a hunting knife. She gripped her father’s lapel and carefully placed the knife against the base of his sternum. Dixon shouted, “Sydney, what are you doing?!”
Jack took his daughter’s chin and looked into her blank eyes. “Sydney,” he said quietly, “Wake up . . . No? Then try to remember--” and a tear ran down his cheek “--it’s not your doing.” He leaned over slightly and kissed her on the forehead as he felt his daughter's shoulders tighten.
:throb: :throb: :throb:
It's great!! I just read the whole thing! What's wrong with Sydney?
About having a whole story written before posting it, I sometimes think of my stories out of order too. It's really fun.
About insulting the Irina fans, if you haven't noticed, most of the people who've replied here are huge Irina fans. I don't think you're offending them. But then again, what do I know?
If it's not too much trouble could I get a PM? As always, feel free to tell me to jump of a bridge. Lots of people do that. (Goes to jump off her bridge.) Bye :groupwave:
About having a whole story written before posting it, I sometimes think of my stories out of order too. It's really fun.
About insulting the Irina fans, if you haven't noticed, most of the people who've replied here are huge Irina fans. I don't think you're offending them. But then again, what do I know?
If it's not too much trouble could I get a PM? As always, feel free to tell me to jump of a bridge. Lots of people do that. (Goes to jump off her bridge.) Bye :groupwave:
AllTheBest
Cadet
Wow! That was an amazing update (as usual)! What's going on with Sydney?!?! Please update again soon so we can find out!!!!
Patomac Posted on Aug 12 2003, 10:16 AM
What's wrong with Sydney? is right. Probably Sloane's doing.h34r:
Writing the story offline is something I do always. You can revise, edit and tidy up stories before posting. -_-
Insult Irina's fans? Never. All of my stories deal with her and Jack. She has been one of the strongest characters (along with Jack) on Alias this season. If you write you can go anywhere with her in your imagination.
I think VH is the best character driven writer on the site. Writes a damn good story! I'm glad others have discovered it too.
This PR announcement is heartfelt.
What's wrong with Sydney? is right. Probably Sloane's doing.
h34r: Writing the story offline is something I do always. You can revise, edit and tidy up stories before posting. -_-
Insult Irina's fans? Never. All of my stories deal with her and Jack. She has been one of the strongest characters (along with Jack) on Alias this season. If you write you can go anywhere with her in your imagination.
I think VH is the best character driven writer on the site. Writes a damn good story!
I'm glad others have discovered it too. This PR announcement is heartfelt.
Sarah Vartan
Cadet
Okay, *deep breath, I don't wanna make this the world's longest reply here, but <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>OH MY GOSH!!!!</span> I could just say, good job, please update me like some ppl do but, no no no!! This story is so fantastic, I just got caught up i've been reading for almost 45 minutes now (my brothers are trying to get me off the computer) and I had to finish it! Please oh please keep going! I bet I know what's up with Syd, I bet somehow the device is controlling her or something to hurt Jack. But I hope she doesn't hurt him. Please tell us what's wrong with Syd soon, although you have been updating tons lately, I don't know how you find the time!
Okay, here are all my favorite quotes so far, it will most definitely add later, oh and did I mention that you are the BEST writer on allalias? Cause you are, you're dialogue is just FANTASTIC!
okay fav quotes:
It’s not because it makes them feel good. It’s because it numbs them.”
Irina had always been able to manipulate men with ease, but she had always attributed it to sexual obsession. These men had wanted to possess her--an impossible goal that made it all the easier to move them.
All games, all about winning and losing--and she always won.
You’re the woman who enters the casino and lays everything she has on one number on the roulette table. Big games, big risks, big wins.
This rose won't last more than a few days. Does that make it worthless? Or precious?”
It has something to do with a Rambaldi theory that human consciousness is based on principles of quantum mechanics--and that this allows the human mind to be harnessed as a sort of crystal ball to predict future events--under the right circumstances, of course. Apparently Rambaldi made any number of prophecies
finish off this bottle of wine and watch the sun set.”
Jack loved her so much. Irina was sure he would follow her into hell if she asked the right way--but she would see that light extinguished forever.
You have to hold all the cards. This is the kind of man you raised.”
“I don’t want my children to sacrifice themselves for the innocent. I want them to live."
It’s like water--it flows, it has currents. There are things that are like eddies, that are very hard to change, but there are other things that shift constantly. But even the things that seem almost inevitable can be prevented.”
“That’s always the solution? When in doubt, take them out?”
“Nights like this,” he said, “are like roses. They are ephemeral--but precious. It’s their memory that lasts.”
**And there's much more where that came from! This story is too wonderful, Please continue ASAP!!!
~Your -1 fan
Okay, here are all my favorite quotes so far, it will most definitely add later, oh and did I mention that you are the BEST writer on allalias? Cause you are, you're dialogue is just FANTASTIC!
okay fav quotes:
It’s not because it makes them feel good. It’s because it numbs them.”
Irina had always been able to manipulate men with ease, but she had always attributed it to sexual obsession. These men had wanted to possess her--an impossible goal that made it all the easier to move them.
All games, all about winning and losing--and she always won.
You’re the woman who enters the casino and lays everything she has on one number on the roulette table. Big games, big risks, big wins.
This rose won't last more than a few days. Does that make it worthless? Or precious?”
It has something to do with a Rambaldi theory that human consciousness is based on principles of quantum mechanics--and that this allows the human mind to be harnessed as a sort of crystal ball to predict future events--under the right circumstances, of course. Apparently Rambaldi made any number of prophecies
finish off this bottle of wine and watch the sun set.”
Jack loved her so much. Irina was sure he would follow her into hell if she asked the right way--but she would see that light extinguished forever.
You have to hold all the cards. This is the kind of man you raised.”
“I don’t want my children to sacrifice themselves for the innocent. I want them to live."
It’s like water--it flows, it has currents. There are things that are like eddies, that are very hard to change, but there are other things that shift constantly. But even the things that seem almost inevitable can be prevented.”
“That’s always the solution? When in doubt, take them out?”
“Nights like this,” he said, “are like roses. They are ephemeral--but precious. It’s their memory that lasts.”
**And there's much more where that came from! This story is too wonderful, Please continue ASAP!!!
~Your -1 fan
V
verdantheart
Guest
Well, it's because I've 1) already written the story; 2) have a job that gives me Internet access and (sadly) a certain amount of boredom--I need to take breaks, especially when editing and doing other of the more mundane tasks (and the kind that can lead to repetitive movement injuries . . .)! and 3) I also have excellent Internet access at home thanks to a husband who is a programmer who works from there--so we have broadband cable. So I can get in & update quickly & often.Sarah Vartan said:
Thanks for your support! It's very encouraging. Boy, I'm even getting quoted!
But, I don't think I'm going to update again until tomorrow--
yes, I'm that mean--I have a good cliffhanger going, after all.^_^
Sarah Vartan Posted on Aug 12 2003, 03:34 PM
I am her #1 fan (who do you think told her she could wrote good fiction (she says she's not a fiction fan).
I do know her #2 fan is K. Ackles...
So I guess that makes you a pronounced #3. But that's OK, she's got a lot more that just haven't made the list yet.
Welcome aboard to the Verdantheart fan club.
Sorry Sarah, too late.
I am her #1 fan (who do you think told her she could wrote good fiction (she says she's not a fiction fan). I do know her #2 fan is K. Ackles...
So I guess that makes you a pronounced #3. But that's OK, she's got a lot more that just haven't made the list yet.
Welcome aboard to the Verdantheart fan club.
Sarah Vartan
Cadet
I know you're her #1 fan, that's why i said i was her - 1 fan.
V
verdantheart
Guest
Just then, a shout carried across the courtyard. “’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe! Abort!”
Sydney jerked suddenly, as though struck with a taser, her eyes flying open. “Dad? What?” she said, dropping the knife. Bewildered tears began streaming down her face and she hugged her father tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I was going to . . . cut it out . . ."
The shout was followed by gunfire as Irina began picking off CIA assets. Dixon shouted, “Retreat!” and dove for cover.
Jack pulled Sydney toward the shelter of the alleyway, where Irina was clambering down the fire escape to join them.
“‘Jabberwocky’?” Jack asked.
“What, did you expect something Italian?” asked Irina. “The Order has members from many nations. You’ve done it again, Jack,” she said through clenched teeth. “You’ve potentially exposed an asset of mine. Keep your weapon holstered,” she warned Sydney, raising her gun.
“It’s your choice. They want me dead. It’s you who keep ruining their plans.” Jack gave her a wry look that was almost a smile. “Your stubbornness is the force that is causing Rambaldi’s prophecy to hold true. You are the eddy in the flow of history. But thank you. I wouldn’t want Sydney to have to live with that--or become Sloane’s next ‘partner.’”
“Dad, what are you talking about?” asked Sydney, letting go of her father.
“Sorry, Sweetheart, we’re running out of time, but basically, it looks like you were with the Magnific Order of Rambaldi--and I’m out of favor with them.”
“Jack, are you coming?” Sydney could hear a desperate edge in Irina’s voice. “He doesn’t have a duplicate heart.”
“I haven’t heard overwhelming evidence why I should,” he said.
“You know what I’ll have to do then. And Sydney has to come for Sloane, you know that.”
Sydney stared at the two of them. “You’re coming back with me, Dad,” she said.
“Sorry, Sweetheart. I can’t. Not if I want you safe.” He looked at his watch again. “Time to go,” he said.
Irina frowned. “You know when Sloane’s forces are going to show up, but you didn’t know what would happen?” she asked.
“There’s only so much you can see in flashes--and the outcome in this case kept changing,” he said simply. “You’d better go. Sloane would like to capture you as much as the CIA would. More, maybe.”
“Why would you want to stay with Sloane over--over me?” Irina pressed. “I know we’ve had--differences--but I always thought--felt--an understanding--beneath everything--”
“When has that been a priority for you, Irina?” Jack asked, a hint of irony entering his voice. “We had a partnership. Marriage is a partnership. Ours is a broken one. And there’s a huge problem. Sloane. You can give me no guarantee that he cannot obtain and complete negotiations with Mr Sark before we can make sure that he is secured. And I don’t dare use Il Dire to attempt to see how it would turn out. But the idea of a partnership between Sloane and Sark is absolutely intolerable to me.
“I know Sloane. I know him better than his wife did. I know what moves him; I know how to do this. Do you know how dangerous he is? How subtle? He out-maneuvered even you, didn’t he? Somebody has to be there. Someone who understands him, his potential.
“And then there’s this. He could still go after Sydney--or--” Jack stopped himself, glancing at Sydney, “as a hostage. He knows I’d have to come back for them.” Jack’s eyes saddened. “And I’d be a slave, not a partner. I can’t go with you.”
Irina regarded Jack, her mouth set. “You know what I have to do, then,” she said.
“You’re going to seek out your former associate’s help, are you?” Jack said. “You know how I feel about that.”
“You don’t want to be my enemy, Jack.”
He looked at her with a wistful sadness. “But isn’t that what we’ve always been?”
“I wish you’d reconsider--there’s so much we could do--” She considered for a long moment. “Sydney, if you’d join me, convince him--we could all be together. We could be together in this.”
“You expect me to--” Sydney began. “I don’t know who you are.”
“Well then,” She said. “We’ll see. We’ll see who I am.” She turned to go.
“Truth takes time, huh?” Jack said. Then, “Wait, I almost forgot.”
“What now? Need the last word?”
“Something like that,” he said, and held out a rose.
Irina took it, concealing her expression, and quickly headed toward her escape route.
“Sark,” Jack said. “Is he still in CIA custody?”
“Yes, but, why--” Sydney began.
“Irina will want to get her hands on him. She’s building a duplicate of Sloane’s machine. He’s an alternate resource . . . for the role I play.”
Sydney stared at him, her eyes wide. “That requires a genetic type,” she said.
Jack gripped her by the arms. “Think about the implications later. We only have a few minutes. You need to make sure that the security around him is especially tight.”
“OK.” Sydney started to move away, then paused. “Dad--I have to go after Sloane. What--”
“If I get in the way, don’t hesitate to kill me. It’s my job--even if I don’t get paid for it anymore. The reason I’m here--the only reason--is to keep him from you, Sydney. He wanted to put you in this role. He thinks he made you.”
“He--What?”
“Irina told me. When she was pregnant, Sloane forced her to undergo a treatment formulated by Rambaldi.”
“When--He forced her to get pregnant, didn’t he? He found out that she was a spy--” She was shaking violently now, tears streaming down her face. It was too much.
“Yes, I’m sorry Sydney. I didn’t want to put it that way--and it doesn’t mean your mother has no feelings for you. She could have asked for extraction. But you have to go!” He took a last lingering look. “I missed you,” he said, barely holding his expression. “I-I love you.” And he slipped around a corner like a ghost.
Sydney suddenly realized she hadn’t heard her father say he loved her in more than 20 years and raced to the corner. He was gone.
“I love you too, Dad,” she whispered into the shadows.
Dixon appeared at the mouth of the alleyway. “Sydney! I think I have a way out!” he called.
:throb: :throb: :throb:
Sydney jerked suddenly, as though struck with a taser, her eyes flying open. “Dad? What?” she said, dropping the knife. Bewildered tears began streaming down her face and she hugged her father tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I was going to . . . cut it out . . ."
The shout was followed by gunfire as Irina began picking off CIA assets. Dixon shouted, “Retreat!” and dove for cover.
Jack pulled Sydney toward the shelter of the alleyway, where Irina was clambering down the fire escape to join them.
“‘Jabberwocky’?” Jack asked.
“What, did you expect something Italian?” asked Irina. “The Order has members from many nations. You’ve done it again, Jack,” she said through clenched teeth. “You’ve potentially exposed an asset of mine. Keep your weapon holstered,” she warned Sydney, raising her gun.
“It’s your choice. They want me dead. It’s you who keep ruining their plans.” Jack gave her a wry look that was almost a smile. “Your stubbornness is the force that is causing Rambaldi’s prophecy to hold true. You are the eddy in the flow of history. But thank you. I wouldn’t want Sydney to have to live with that--or become Sloane’s next ‘partner.’”
“Dad, what are you talking about?” asked Sydney, letting go of her father.
“Sorry, Sweetheart, we’re running out of time, but basically, it looks like you were with the Magnific Order of Rambaldi--and I’m out of favor with them.”
“Jack, are you coming?” Sydney could hear a desperate edge in Irina’s voice. “He doesn’t have a duplicate heart.”
“I haven’t heard overwhelming evidence why I should,” he said.
“You know what I’ll have to do then. And Sydney has to come for Sloane, you know that.”
Sydney stared at the two of them. “You’re coming back with me, Dad,” she said.
“Sorry, Sweetheart. I can’t. Not if I want you safe.” He looked at his watch again. “Time to go,” he said.
Irina frowned. “You know when Sloane’s forces are going to show up, but you didn’t know what would happen?” she asked.
“There’s only so much you can see in flashes--and the outcome in this case kept changing,” he said simply. “You’d better go. Sloane would like to capture you as much as the CIA would. More, maybe.”
“Why would you want to stay with Sloane over--over me?” Irina pressed. “I know we’ve had--differences--but I always thought--felt--an understanding--beneath everything--”
“When has that been a priority for you, Irina?” Jack asked, a hint of irony entering his voice. “We had a partnership. Marriage is a partnership. Ours is a broken one. And there’s a huge problem. Sloane. You can give me no guarantee that he cannot obtain and complete negotiations with Mr Sark before we can make sure that he is secured. And I don’t dare use Il Dire to attempt to see how it would turn out. But the idea of a partnership between Sloane and Sark is absolutely intolerable to me.
“I know Sloane. I know him better than his wife did. I know what moves him; I know how to do this. Do you know how dangerous he is? How subtle? He out-maneuvered even you, didn’t he? Somebody has to be there. Someone who understands him, his potential.
“And then there’s this. He could still go after Sydney--or--” Jack stopped himself, glancing at Sydney, “as a hostage. He knows I’d have to come back for them.” Jack’s eyes saddened. “And I’d be a slave, not a partner. I can’t go with you.”
Irina regarded Jack, her mouth set. “You know what I have to do, then,” she said.
“You’re going to seek out your former associate’s help, are you?” Jack said. “You know how I feel about that.”
“You don’t want to be my enemy, Jack.”
He looked at her with a wistful sadness. “But isn’t that what we’ve always been?”
“I wish you’d reconsider--there’s so much we could do--” She considered for a long moment. “Sydney, if you’d join me, convince him--we could all be together. We could be together in this.”
“You expect me to--” Sydney began. “I don’t know who you are.”
“Well then,” She said. “We’ll see. We’ll see who I am.” She turned to go.
“Truth takes time, huh?” Jack said. Then, “Wait, I almost forgot.”
“What now? Need the last word?”
“Something like that,” he said, and held out a rose.
Irina took it, concealing her expression, and quickly headed toward her escape route.
“Sark,” Jack said. “Is he still in CIA custody?”
“Yes, but, why--” Sydney began.
“Irina will want to get her hands on him. She’s building a duplicate of Sloane’s machine. He’s an alternate resource . . . for the role I play.”
Sydney stared at him, her eyes wide. “That requires a genetic type,” she said.
Jack gripped her by the arms. “Think about the implications later. We only have a few minutes. You need to make sure that the security around him is especially tight.”
“OK.” Sydney started to move away, then paused. “Dad--I have to go after Sloane. What--”
“If I get in the way, don’t hesitate to kill me. It’s my job--even if I don’t get paid for it anymore. The reason I’m here--the only reason--is to keep him from you, Sydney. He wanted to put you in this role. He thinks he made you.”
“He--What?”
“Irina told me. When she was pregnant, Sloane forced her to undergo a treatment formulated by Rambaldi.”
“When--He forced her to get pregnant, didn’t he? He found out that she was a spy--” She was shaking violently now, tears streaming down her face. It was too much.
“Yes, I’m sorry Sydney. I didn’t want to put it that way--and it doesn’t mean your mother has no feelings for you. She could have asked for extraction. But you have to go!” He took a last lingering look. “I missed you,” he said, barely holding his expression. “I-I love you.” And he slipped around a corner like a ghost.
Sydney suddenly realized she hadn’t heard her father say he loved her in more than 20 years and raced to the corner. He was gone.
“I love you too, Dad,” she whispered into the shadows.
Dixon appeared at the mouth of the alleyway. “Sydney! I think I have a way out!” he called.
:throb: :throb: :throb:
twinzz2003
Cadet
Great story. I'm totally jealous of your ability to understand this stuff to the extent that you do.
