AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a WHAT THEY DIDN’T TELL US type of story. It came about because of the last episode called The Horizon when we were all floored by the identity of the voice directing Dr. Burris to interrogate Sydney Bristow, who was soon, very soon, to give birth. It was Irina Derevko, her mother. What happened? She left Jack and Sydney in good terms to make her way back to Moscow, or at least to escape the fate of other still-living Sovogdans…death by the hands of the Russian Military. How did she end up on board a freighter in the middle of who-knows-where with her daughter and Kelly Peyton of all people? Therefore, this is my version and it’s being posted BEFORE the March (maybe) return of Alias.
SUMMARY: This starts in Budapest. When she last left her, Irina thought Sydney would be married. She knew Sydney would take care of Nadia. She still had her mole in place to keep her informed. All she needed was to stay safely hidden for a while to wait for the news that Sydney was married Agent Vaughn. Instead the news she was sent was horrific. Michael Vaughn was dead, murdered by a group called Prophet 5. Sydney was pregnant. Other information supplied by her contacts confirmed it and other news. Irina had to act.
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to JJ Abrams (Bad Robot Productions) and ABC-Television except those I develop, then they belong to me.
RATED: PG-13

BEYOND THE HORIZON
By Lenafan

Part 1

“Good Lord!” Jack stared at the room.

Renee Rienne stood behind him puzzled. It looked to her like a nursery with crib, rocking chair, small chest of drawers, changing table and many other small baby items. What the hell?

“What is wrong?” Renee stepped up beside Jack.

“I think I know who has Sydney.” He turned on his heel.

Renee followed him still puzzled. “Who?”

“My wife…her mother!”

“Irina Derevko?” Renee knew about the Bristows from what Vaughn told her. “But, but how did she…”

“I don’t know…yet. However, I think I will soon.” He walked out of the condemned apartment house knowing it probably wasn’t, but that Irina owned it and had it condemned thus controlling who went in and out of the building. He started to enter the driver’s side of the car when his cell rang.

“Bristow.”

“Jack,” the voice was low, throaty and always tied his stomach in knots.

“Irina, what did you do to Sydney? So help me, I’ll…” His voice was cold steel.

“She’s fine and she’s safe. You were aware that the Prophet 5 group was after her and the baby?”

“Not until Renee told me she’d been kidnapped.”

“The Raven?”

Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “You know her?” He turned around to look at Renee who stood at the passenger side door waiting for him to unlock it.

“Of course.” She paused. “I need to talk to you and I want to take you to Sydney. Bring Renee along also. I understand she has a vested interest in this affair too.”

“Where?” She told him.

Jack snapped the phone shut. “You willing to go on a short trip?”

“I don’t have a passport.”

Jack smirked. “You won’t need one.”

A half hour later, Jack and Renee drove up to what looked like a deserted warehouse outside Budapest. He parked the car where Irina had indicated and the pair waited. There was no activity. In fact, there didn’t seem to be anybody around anywhere. The building was at least ten kilometers outside the last suburb on the northern outskirts of the capitol city. Looking around Jack saw no homes or farms, just a dirt road leading to the small dilapidated building where he was parked. He glanced at his watch. He was a bit early, but then it was not often Jack Bristow was late for any appointment.

His cell rang. “Bristow.”

“Jack, come inside the building. Renee can come with you.”

The pair exited the car and stepped up to the small porch. Jack opened the door to find Irina sitting at a small table with a computer on it. She stood facing him holding a gun, loosely but still gripped. She gave him the warmest smile he’d seen in a long time. He did not smile back. His eyes regarded her coldly.

“What did you do to Sydney?”

“She’s safe. What did you do to Sydney when she was put through the Project Christmas protocols? What else did you add?” Her dark eyes searched his face.

“Why?”

“Because she lied to me. She gave me the wrong information under stimulated hypnosis and that was impossible, at least Dr. Burris tells me it was.”

“What are you talking about?” Jack was confused and upset. “What do you mean stimulated hypnosis? I swear if the baby was…”

“No, the baby was not hurt nor was Sydney. We do have to get to her though.”

“Irina, answer my question.” He reached out and gripped her right arm as concerned as he could be.

Wincing, she put the gun in her waistband. “I learned about the Prophet 5 group several years ago and I had the information on the Mueller device. Jack, they want the Horizon and Sydney knows where it is.”

“The Horizon? Sydney knows?” Jack’s eyes narrowed. “What is the Horizon?”

“A genetic formula that Rambaldi devised and hid in a manuscript. Mueller found it and began experimenting. He hid it when he was being chased by certain governments: both mine and yours were among them.”

Jack eyed her suspiciously. “My government?”

“Well, Dean wasn’t exactly a Russian, now was he,” Irina snapped. “When I returned from Sovogda, I heard about Vaughn…and Sydney. Contacts of mine thought I’d be interested since it had to do with her and they knew she was my…our daughter.” She stared at him hard. “Jack, they were making plans to kidnap and torture her for the information.”

“What information?”

“Let me tell you what I know.” Irina indicated two metal chairs. “When I received the information, I knew I had to get to Sydney first. She was on her way to Hungary with,” she looked at Renee, “her. I gathered my contacts there. We kept an eye on Sydney. We too were in the park, but then we spotted the Prophet 5 van and I had ours pull up behind it. Sydney spotted two men she assumed were after her and Renee. She was trying to escape as Renee shot them down and then she turned to see Sydney pulled into a van.

“Yes, I saw her.” Renee interrupted.

“But as soon as she was inside, my men opened the rear door, shot De Santis and pulled her out into my van, and it drove off, making a left turn down the street, just as you were shooting at the other van. You didn’t find her inside, did you?”

“No, I did not. I thought it funny that she disappears so quick.”

“Who were these men?” asked Jack.

“I don’t know which government or it could be a consortium representing them.”

“Sydney never indicated she knew about The Horizon.”

Irina shrugged, “I’m not sure, but I believe it has to do with something Vaughn told her or showed her. It is a Rambaldi formula.”

“I would kill that man if he was alive,” growled Jack, his face flushed with anger. “But if Sydney doesn’t know about the Horizon, how does she know its location?”

“Vaughn knew something,” interrupted Renee excitedly. “We don’t know what it was, but Vaughn found out the Prophet 5 wanted it, so he kill the man who told him where it was. He insure no one ever find it.”

”Did he write down the location?”

“Yes. He put it on map of SD-6’s genealogy. He showed the map to Sydney for a different reason, when she come to CIA to turn herself in because of what happened to Danny.” Irina looked at them both. “That map disappeared. I think Vaughn burned it…destroyed it, so no one would find it.”

“Why is it so important you get that information and what do you mean hypnotic stimulation?”

Irina glanced at her watch, “We’ve got to get moving. You drive.” She handed him a slip of paper. “That’s the address. We’re due to take off in an hour.”

Once in the car with Irina in the front seat with Jack, she explained. “My father told me that when my mother was pregnant with me, she was given a series of injections. He didn’t know why, but that his KGB bosses wanted to experiment with a pregnant woman. He volunteered Mama, because it would get him a promotion. He didn’t know anything more except that the scientists who were in charge were murdered by Stalin’s orders. There was nothing more about the injections or what they were for was never found, even in old records.” She shrugged.

“Then I heard that R and D of the new SVR were looking for the woman who received certain injections in 1950. I was no longer KGB and was out on my own. I still had friends in SVR. They did not know it was Mama. I start digging for information. It was sparse. Nothing.

“However, I heard about Prophet 5 and learned that five countries were banded together trying to find a formula dealing with genetics and neuron pathways.”

“Did you find it…the formula, I mean.” Jack glanced at her.

“No, but I learned more when I disposed of my father’s papers. The scientist who developed the formula was named Mueller. He escaped Stalin’s wrath and disappeared.”

“Irina, damn you, why didn’t you contact me?”

“Jack, Sydney was on her way to Budapest. What could you do from Los Angeles?”

“Warn her…”

“That would not be enough. Our daughter is stubborn. Once she got it in her head that she was getting close to the people who murdered Vaughn, she would not stop. You know how stubborn she is.” Irina smiled, knowing Jack thought Sydney got her stubbornness from her.

Jack was taking the freeway around the city to the airport. “Where is she?”

“Where she can’t get away until we come for her.”

“Who’s with her? Obviously, you left. Who is protecting her? Is there a doctor on board? She’s about to give birth to our granddaughter and has a wonderful obstetrician back home.”

“The doctor in LA is in the pay of Prophet 5.”

Jack gaped at her. “That’s crazy!”

“No, she is and if they were not successful in the kidnap and Sydney returned, the doctor was to carry out certain instructions.”

“My God, will there be no end to this madness. What … why are you so interested?”

“Prophet 5 has access to a cure for Nadia.”

“Those Goddamn sons a-bitches,” Jack swore. “You were going to trade the information for the cure?”

“Of course. I want my daughter whole again as you should also.”

“Arvin’s back as a consultant. He goes to see her everyday.”

“Why? She is not his.”

Jack nearly drove the car off the freeway.

“Watch out,” cried Renee, who had been listening in fascination.

“Wait…you had another lover?” Jack snarled.

“If you weren’t driving, I’d slap you…hard.” Irina’s face hardened. “What gave you the idea that she was his?”

“He said so…”

“Jack, I was indiscreet, but not an idiot. I knew how to take care of myself! Nadia is your daughter, not his.”

Jack’s face was wet with perspiration. He tried to concentrate on his driving. His mind however, wouldn’t let him. All he could think about was Nadia, lying in a coma at the hospital and knowing he’d only been to see her a couple of times while Arvin was there almost everyday, holding her hand, whispering kind words to the young woman he thought was his daughter. That fact had changed him immensely. It made him feel that his life was at last worthwhile, that he had something, no someone, to live for. Jack groaned.

“What’s wrong?” Irina said.

“You still didn’t answer my original question. Who’s with her?”

“A girl I hired away from the Prophet 5 group?”

“Who?”

“Kelly Peyton…”

“Good grief, Irina, she’s a killer! She caused the deaths of dozens of people in Gordon Dean’s operations…” His voice trailed off, remembering Irina’s own history.

“I know, but then you can’t believe what some people are willing to do for as money…five million, to be exact.” Irina looked smug. “Besides, she thinks I’m part of Prophet 5.”

“She probably could get more for Sydney.”

“She won’t. She has no idea where she is.”

Jack snorted. He sometimes thought Irina believed that money was the answer for everything. He said nothing more because he wanted to get to the airport. The car moved swiftly down the highway. Minutes later, they pulled up to a small hanger opposite the main part of the international airport.

They entered the small hanger to find a sleek powerful helicopter waiting, its engines going. The three entered the cabin as the pilot who was waiting for them received permission from the tower to leave. He moved the machine upwards three feet then flew it through the open doors out and then upward into the late afternoon sky.

TBC
:huh:

I'm so excited, this is a great start! Everything falls into place and seems pretty realistic. Can't wait for more. Loved it!!! :D

Part 2

They flew west and south heading toward the Mediterranean. Two hours later, they were over a slow moving freighter heading toward Turkey. The pilot spoke to the radio operator and then motioned Irina who was wearing headphones also to listen. She went white and turned to Jack.

“We’re going down now. Sydney’s in labor.”

“Damn you, Irina, if anything happens to either of them I swear I’ll…I’ll…” He looked at her stricken face and stopped. “Hurry!” He yelled to the pilot.

Both Irina and Jack were out of the helicopter before the engines geared down. They ran toward a waiting crewman, who led them up stairs and into the forward portion of the ship where Sydney had been interrogated earlier. However, he didn’t stop there, but led them instead down another set of stairs, to a corridor with several doors on either side.

“In here,” he said pushing open the door.

Jack and Irina rushed inside to find the Captain bending over Sydney, patting her hand. Kelly Peyton was nowhere to be seen.

“Sydney,” said Jack and Irina.

Their daughter’s mouth dropped open in astonishment and then she huffed. Jack grabbed her hand as the Captain stepped back. Irina spoke to him quickly giving him orders as to what she would need.

“Where is the woman I left her with?” Irina was angry.

“She was unconscious in a room. I put her to bed in the cabin next to this one.”

“Go, get those things,” she ordered. She didn’t know what happened, but had a feeling Sydney knew. Irina looked at Renee who had entered after they had, but kept out of the way. “Renee, go to the room next door and see what condition Peyton is in. If it isn’t serious, stay with her, until we can speak to her.”

“Oui,” she nearly shouted and hurried out of the cabin.

“Sweetheart, do you know the time between the contractions?” Jack asked. “Did your water break?”

“Yes. What’s Mom doing here? Where did you find her?” Sydney huffed again and groaned as another contraction hit her. “…like thirty seconds…they are coming faster.”

“And so is our grandchild,” Irina said. “Jack, move Sydney so she can brace herself on the bunk rails. Get next to her and keep her going. Sydney, raise your legs so your heels are braced. Are you wearing underwear or did you take it off?”

“Irina…”

“Jack, stop! Sydney?”

“It’s off. As soon as…” she huffed several times. “I took it off when I started to have contractions. Where did you come from, Mom?”

“Never mind! Hurry, I’ve got to see if the baby is crowning.” She looked at Jack. “Did you do La Maze with her?”

“Good lord, Irina…” Jack’s face reddened.

“Don’t be an idiot. She’s going to have a baby and we’re going to deliver it.”

Irina pushed back the outer clothing Sydney was wearing and looked. She was well dilated she could see. It could only be a matter of minutes as she saw the head pushing through. She dropped the dress as the Captain knocked.

“Enter.”

“I have the things you wanted. Do you need any hot water?” Obviously, the captain had seen a few movies.

“Yes…go get us some, but be sure to knock.”

“Of course.” He turned and fled from the room.

Once the door shut, Irina threw back the dress and looked again. “Sydney, brace yourself against the bulkhead and then when I say to…push, push as hard as you can.”

Sydney nodded. Jack held her hand tightly. Ordinarily, he might have been queasy, but somehow with Irina in charge, he was confident he would soon be a grandfather. He watched Irina gather some scissors, string, a large white towel, and a blanket. She went to a chair nearby and dragged it over to the bunk. Making sure first that everything was ready, she looked at her daughter.

“Alright, Sydney. I want you to push and push hard.”

Sydney closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed. Sweat poured off her face. She took another breath and pushed again.

“Good, good Sydney.” Irina’s eyes were shining as she looked up at her daughter. “You did say it was a girl?”

“Y-yes.” Sydney took another deep breath and pushed hard, gripping Jack’s hand hard. He winced. She pushed harder.

“Almost here, Sweetheart,” said Irina. “What did you decide her name will be?” She reached under the blanket she had placed over Sydney’s knees.

“Unh…unh…Isabelle…Isabelle Bristow-Vaughn.” She gave another gasp.

“I believe…,” said Irina grinning, “that Isabelle is here.”

Suddenly there was a tiny cry of a baby squalling. Irina quickly checked fingers, toes everything she could. She proceeded to cut the cord, tying it off first on Isabelle and then on Sydney. She wrapped the baby in the white towel, held her for a brief moment, as her dark eyes studied the child, and then, smiling, gave her to Sydney, who was crying with joy.

“Jack, leave. Go next door and find out what happened to Peyton. I’m going to bathe Sydney and clean up.” As if to punctuate her statement there was a knock on the door and the Captain entered with a large pan. The steam coming from it let Irina know the hot water had come.

Jack followed the captain out, shutting the door behind him. Irina turned to Sydney who was still crying as she looked at her baby. Irina found washcloths and more towels in the small bathroom. She brought them back.

“Sydney, I need to clean you up and change the bedding. It will only take a few minutes. Can you take off the dress and shift. I’ll hold the baby.”

Her daughter did what she was told. Fortunately, the dress had escaped birthing matter, but the shift did not. Irina instructed her to put on the dress while she remade the bed, discarding the bloody sheets, blanket, and Sydney’s shift into a pile near the door.

“I can hold the baby while you wash yourself or you can let me do it for you.” Irina knew Sydney was tired. Giving birth was not a walk in the park.

Sydney blushed, but said quietly. “You do it, Mom!” She held her arms out for the baby.

“Nurse her,” instructed Irina. “That will keep her distracted and you too while…”

Just then Jack burst back into the room. He was furious. He saw nothing but Irina bending over Sydney and the baby. Jack grabbed at Irina, fingers closing over her shirt and jerked her backwards, off her feet, to the floor. He backhanded her hard across the face. “You conniving, lying monster!”

“Dad,” screamed Sydney. Struck dumb for a minute, she placed the baby on the bed and grabbed at him. “Stop. For God sakes, STOP!” She screamed the words, and jumped on his back.

He blinked as he felt her on him and realized it was Sydney. He stood. Irina rolled over onto her knees, still numbed by his sudden attack. As she tried to stand, Jack reached out, grabbing a handful of hair, pulling her to him.

“I want you to tell Sydney what you did to her!” He raged.

Irina looked at the terrified Sydney. “Get back to the bunk. The baby…” Her voice was calm.

Jack let go of her, turning to see Isabelle lying alone on the bunk. She was crying. “Go Sydney. Your mother and I are going to have a little talk. We’ll be back shortly.”

Jack grabbed Irina’s right arm and began shoving her toward the door.

“Stop it!” Irina snapped. “I was about to bathe Sydney.”

Those words defused his anger more and he stopped. “Do it. I’ll wait in that chair.”

“Mom, what…” Sydney’s eyes met those of her mother’s.

“I’ll tell you later after I talk to your father. Sydney,” she leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the forehead, “please relax, while I clean you up. We’ll be leaving soon. I want you at a hospital.”

Jack watched his wife as she gently took care of their daughter. The woman was an enigma. She was manipulative, a liar, and dangerous beyond the comprehension of some, but when it came to her family…to Sydney. He shook his head. Why hadn’t he seen it? Why had he ignored the possibility she was behind it all? But why?

Sydney glanced at Jack, a bit scared at his actions. “Mom, were you the one who…”

Irina looked at her and knew she had to be honest this time. “Yes, but I will explain everything. Please trust me!” She whispered. She continued making the bed. When finished, she nodded to Sydney, who slipped in gratefully. She didn’t realize how tired she was. Irina put Isabelle onto Sydney’s left side. She knew her daughter was very tired and would probably fall asleep.

“Now, Irina!” Jack stood directly behind her. His voice, cold and menacing.

Irina’s right hand touched the right side of her face. It was still sore and probably was going to be for the next few days. She didn’t doubt she’d have bruising. She knew death was near unless she convinced Jack about her reasons.

“Sydney needs to rest.”

“Outside, now!”

“No, Dad,” Sydney opened her eyes. “I want to know why and what changed between us…Mom and me, that she felt the need to kidnap and torture me.”

“Sydney!” Irina gasped. “I—I didn’t torture you…I would never harm you…or the baby.”

“What do you call it then,” whispered Sydney, staring into the dark eyes of her mother.

“Sydney…I needed information. Vaughn had it and unknowingly, shared it with you when you walked in to CIA headquarters that day after Danny was killed and you raided my Taipei headquarters.”

“What information? He showed me nothing but a map of SD-6’s stranglehold on other organizations, men, and women working for it and everyone in a position of strength. He showed me the map, but he didn’t say anything about The Horizon.”

“He wouldn’t!” said Jack.

“He knew though, because he and Renee had been chasing the information for five years. They found it, but did not know what to do with it. Vaughn hid it in plain sight,” answered Irina. She looked at Sydney. “Sweetheart, Prophet 5 knows you have the answer. They were going to kidnap you AND they want the baby too!”

“What?” Jack grabbed at Irina. He was ready to throttle her again. “Why…answer me now…why, goddamn it!”

Irina pulled out of his grasp. “Jack, stop!” She turned to Sydney, but glanced at her watch. “Sydney, we don’t have much time. We have to get you off this ship soon and I’d rather we go within the half hour. You need some rest.”

The last word was punctuated by the intercom. It was the Captain.

“Irina…our radar has picked up fast-moving boats heading this way.”

TBC
:unsure:

Hey

I just posted part 2 of Horizon

http://invisionfree.com/forums/CIA_Headqua...=724&st=0&#last

Read and enjoy.

bev

I loved it! Yay! Hope we'll see more of Peyton though, I like her. I loved that Irina delivered the baby, and that JAck was so embarassed, and that the two of them kept bickering. That's what I wanna see in the show! Great job, looking forward to more.

awesome awesome

jack has to be pretty damn furious to hit irina

wow

and it is a girl'

yeah congratulations Sydney and spygrands

bren

Part 3

“Irina, there are speedboats heading for the ship.”

“Spasibo! Tell the pilot to get the helo ready.” She turned off the intercom.

“What boats,” growled Jack?

“Prophet 5,” answered Irina. “We don’t have anytime now. We’ve got to leave.”

“WHY,” roared Jack, determined to hear her reason?

“I told you. Prophet 5 wants Sydney and Isabelle.” She bit her lip, wondering how to tell them the awful truth. “Jack, go get Renee and Kelly. We all must get off the ship now. I’ll tell you more when we get to shore.”

“Wait a minute; no one is going anywhere until I know exactly why Sydney and the baby are in danger.”

“Because both Renee and Vaughn were genetically altered as well as their neuron pathways were enhanced when they were children. Sydney was born already genetically altered. Isabelle is the product of Sydney and Vaughn’s union.” She looked at Sydney. “How it was done I’ll tell you later. Bill Vaughn and Renee’s father, Luc, were paid by Prophet 5 to test their children with the formula. Then Muller disappeared, taking the formula with him. He destroyed all of the serum before leaving.”

“You are the head of Prophet 5,” Jack was angry.

“No. We’ve got to hurry.”

“Irina,” the Captain interrupted again. “Those boats are a twenty minutes away.”

“Jack…Prophet 5 is government-run by the US, China, Russia, England and Japan. We have got to hurry.”

Jack stared at her, as did Sydney. The implications were vast and it explained a few things including Vaughn’s murder. Without a word, Jack turned and ran out of the cabin. Irina flew about the room, packing a few items up including, to Sydney’s astonishment, the placenta and cord, which she put into a container. That container was put into a small cooler bag. She pulled out some blankets and a pillow. Carrying the container in one hand and the rest in her left, she nodded to Sydney.

“Follow me,” Irina hurried down the corridor, returning the same way she and Jack had come when they landed.

As they went down the stairs, the helo’s engines were whining at full power ready to leave. Jack was helping Renee and Kelly into the rear seat, strapping himself in as Irina helped Sydney and the baby into the seat next to Jack. She jumped into the co-pilot’s seat, strapped herself in, and pulled on the headphones.

Punching the pilot on the arm, she screamed, “GO!”

The helicopter moved off toward the front of the ship, away from the boats, which were coming up fast from the rear. It kept going, keeping the ship between it and the boats until it was a mile away. The pilot pulled back on the stick and the helo moved up and to the right. Looking back, Jack saw the boats getting closer to the ship, but, of course, it was too late.

Jack looked at his wife…or was she? She was an amazingly manipulative woman and his emotions were in conflict with what he thought she was doing here with Sydney. Was she using Sydney and the baby to gain her endgame’s finish….a genetic formula for what? He felt something nudge his knee. He looked up. Irina had headphones for him. She motioned for him to put them on immediately.

As soon as he did, he heard “I need Marshall. Can you reach him for me?”

“Yes…why?”

“In order to escape, we need satellite cameras to go off line for thirty minutes.”

Jack frowned, “Now look here Irina.”

“Jack, I am not lying to you: Sydney and the baby, our daughter and grandchild, are in immense danger. We have to escape and land where no one can find us, at least for a few hours. There is no time to argue. Give me Marshall’s personal number.”

The seriousness of her voice made him decide in her favor. He wrote down the number and handed it to her. Irina smiled, turned, and opened her sat phone.


Marshall was shaving when he heard his cell go off. Being he was on call, he always had it with him. “Hello?”

“Marshall Flinkman?”

“Yes?” The voice sounded familiar to him.

“This is Irina Derevko. We need your help immediately. Do you have your laptop?”

“Always…wait why are you c…calling m…me? Wh…where are you?”

“Marshall, Sydney is with me and her father. She’s just had her baby. We are in desperate need to escape the Prophet 5 who is after her.”

Marshall blinked a few times. “A girl?”

“Yes…can you help?”

“Doing wh…what?”

“We want you to disable some satellites for us for thirty minutes. If I give you the numbers, can you do it from home?”

“I think so, but…”

“Marshall, this is Jack. Do it! Sydney and the baby are depending on you.”

Marshall gulped. His face only half shaved he ran to the dining room, opened his laptop, and opened the program needed. “OK….kay, give me the numbers.”

Irina gave him the information. “How long?”

“S…stay on line.” Marshall was imputing the numbers as he spoke. “H…hitting enter now…”

He watched the computer at work. He was APO’s genius nerd when it came to computers although he liked what Rachel, the new girl, was able to do. He was hoping to get her transferred to his office. She would be a fantastic edition to R and D. “D…done!” He grinned, watching the satellites go down one by one. “It will take those in charge thirty minutes to fix anyway. B…by the way, wh…whose s…satellites are they?”

“Can it be traced back to you?” It was Jack, who asked the question.

“N…no.”

“Then don’t worry. We’ll fill you in when and…if we get back. Meanwhile say nothing and don’t work hard, if they ask you, to bring the US satellites back on line.”

“H…holy h…hollyh…hocks!” Marshall shut his computer off. Jack broke the connection a moment before. Sweat poured off Marshall’s face.


Thousands of miles away, the helicopter turned northward. It crossed over land within minutes. Lights ahead told him the city was close. Irina was busy talking into the mic. She motioned to the pilot, pointing toward something in the distance. Jack who sat behind her could not see. The copter landed on a roof. Jack saw the red cross just before they landed. It was a hospital. Irina told the truth, she was getting Sydney to one as promised.

He glanced at Sydney who looked a bit ill, but she held Isabelle tight to her. She would not give up her child.

“Jack, help Sydney down. The pilot is going to be here for only a few minutes. Hurry, there’s a doctor and nurse waiting. Hand the headset to Renee!”

Renee adjusted them on her head. “Renee, you must not be found either. Prophet 5 is interested in you also. Do you know why?” Irina asked. Renee shook her head. “Because,” continued Irina, “your father took money to let them do to you what they did to Vaughn. You must not fall into their hands. Can you also take care of Kelly?”

Renee nodded, instantly knowing what Irina wanted. “I’ll be happy to…”

Irina handed her the headphones so she could talk to the pilot. “Call on Sydney’s cell. We’ll be with her from now on and let me know where you are.” Irina slipped out of the helo, motioning it to leave.


Jack was with Sydney when Irina entered the room assigned to her. The doctor and nurse were checking Isabelle and another nurse was attending to Sydney. Jack gripped Irina’s arm. He was not sure about her reasons for kidnapping Sydney and the so-called stimulated hypnosis. All he cared about now was that Sydney was all right and that Isabelle was healthy.

“Irina, I think you have some explaining to do…this time in detail!” Jack growled.

She said nothing, watching the doctor finish with the baby. He smiled and gave her a thumbs up sign. Isabelle was healthy and there were no anomalies or visible problems. The nurse finished with Sydney who now wore a gown. The doctor put the baby into her arms, smiled at Irina, and left with the nurses. The room was quiet. Sydney’s eyes closed and she fell to sleep. It had been a very tiring day and it did not seem to be over.

“Irina…” Jack was still angry. “You have a lot of explaining to do. I want to hear it now. Start with where the hell are we?” He pulled her outside the room, not wanting Sydney to hear their conversation.

“We need privacy, Jack. I’m not talking in a hallway.” She looked around and saw a storage room across the hall and down a few feet. “Let’s go in here.” She pulled him inside, locking the door behind her. No one saw them. Glancing about she made sure there was no other entryway or security camera.

Jack repeated his question. “Where are we?”

“Near a mid-size city in Bulgaria…one you probably never seen. This is one of two hospitals in the city. I help maintain it for my employees when they are in need of
Medical help.”

Jack’s eyebrows rose and he stared. “You own the hospital?”

“Well…let’s say I support the staff and they see to it that it’s available to me at any time.”

“Okay, we’re in Bulgaria…somewhere on the coast. What makes you think Prophet 5 won’t find us?”

“They won’t for a while. Sydney will have time to recuperate some of her strength. It’s important for her and Isabelle.”

Jack persisted. “Why won’t they find us?”

“They won’t look for us to be in the obvious place. This city is a secondary headquarters for Prophet 5. They work for Russia from here and their servers are located about ten blocks from the hospital.”

Jack’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Clever. Still, it’s dangerous…”

Irina nodded, but smiled. “Would you look for your prey ten blocks away when you know she has the world to hide in?” She rubbed the side of her face. She glanced at him and then turned to stare curiously at his worn face. “Jack, why would you think I could ever hurt my daughter and grandchild?”

“Irina…” he hesitated meeting her gaze with some little embarrassment. “I was angry that you didn’t inform me. You know I would protect her and the baby at any cost. I might have helped you…”

“Jack, be truthful. I was interrogating her in such a way that you would not have signed on to do. Sydney probably does not remember consciously what she saw, but in her sub conscious, she did. That little extra something you programmed her with made the difference of why she lied.”

“Then now what…you try again?”

She shook her head wearily. “You took care of that during the Project Christmas training.” She walked to the door. “I’m tired and want to sleep.

“And now tell me about what Prophet 5 is after.”


TBC
<_<

What, no France? lol.

I'm not sure what Irina meant about taking care of Peyton but I'm curious to find out. Glad to see IRina realises, at some level, that what she did was bad, since she knows Jack wouldn't have agreed. So now, the question is, how to find 'The horizon'? And is it still important that it be found?

Sorry, no France, yet...

Taking care of Peyton...The Raven is like a young Irina...assassin. 'Nuff said.
Perhaps it should not be found, by anyone. After all, if Sydney is the only one who knows and yet doesn't because of her ability to lie under stress...well....do we want it to be found? I don't think so.
But then I'm not JJ ... who does know...

nice interplay of tension and exchanging information from the spyrents


bren

what no canada!!! LOL no france no canada eyghon she has no respect for us :P

AN: This part is a little racy and tad above PG-13, but not RC-17.


Part 4

“And now tell me about what Prophet 5 is after.”

“I believe they want Sydney and Isabelle to use as guinea pigs. They want to find out just what was in the serum was that was injected.” She shuddered. “They’ll try to duplicate the formula.”

“Do they know about you…your connection to this mysterious and, if you don’t mind me saying so, ridiculous history?” He stared at her. “What do you think the formula was for that they want so desperately?”

“A longer life…and a higher intelligence.” Irina said. “The formula supposedly enhances everything genetically that is passed on to child from the parents.”

“And the enhanced neuron pathways too?”

She nodded. “I suppose they will take them where they can measure electronically the brain’s ability to think…to watch right side and left-side activity.”

“You wouldn’t do it yourself, would you, in order to get a ‘leg’ up on Prophet 5?” Jack did not trust Irina not to take advantage of the fact she was Sydney’s mother. He knew Irina loved Sydney as much as he did, but that wouldn’t stop her from reaching her endgame. Damn her and whatever it was she was looking for in their daughter.

She stared at him thoughtfully and then shook her head.

“Isabelle?”

“Vaughn is her father. As he passed on the enhanced genetics, it makes Isabelle valuable.”

“Do they know about you?” He asked again.

She inclined her head. “No!” She stepped closer to him. “I’ve always been able to keep myself out of their hands. They lost track of the experiment as well as the pregnant woman involved. Papa even forgot, as he was not present when Mama was injected. I grew up, went to school, and recruited by Khasinau for KGB.

“I went to US to marry you. Purges and upheavals continued with each new Secretary exorcising his prerogatives to cleanse any department, including the KGB and it’s own R&D department. Many of the scientists there were relocated in Siberia and others were killed. I escaped KGB’s interference while I was in Kashmir prison. Old records burned, lost, or destroyed. The experiment forgotten, at least I thought so.

“At the same time, the other countries involved in Prophet 5 were embroiled in other projects: space exploration, oceans, and greenhouse effects…scientists working intently on problems more pressing. When they extracted me in ’81 and sent me to Kashmir, no one knew where I was except a few KGB officials who wanted other information. They thought I was a traitor.”

Jack reached out and gripped her right wrist, pulling her closer. “What suddenly kicked the group into action again?’

“…a certain amount of stability in the world, even if for only a brief time, when all five nations were not involved in greater things. Their own DSRs or whatever they called them, became alerted to Rambaldi again when those artifacts were stolen, collected, or bought and his ideas and formulas became objects of interest.” She tried to pull away, but he held her tight and close.

“How did they find out about Sydney?”

“The picture in the manuscript she found and the Prophecy. Word got out and soon the five nations made their connections again. They began making plans to obtain Sydney or to put her away somewhere safe.”

“Safe from whom?” He snapped.

“…from other interested nations and criminal organizations who were not a part of Prophet 5, such as Germany, France, Canada and Argentina as well as The Covenant.” She paused. “Jack, there are a lot of people out there that know about the Prophet 5 and what it is looking for now. Some may not know Sydney is a target, but they will. She won’t be safe nor will Isabelle. We have to hide…disappear…and leave no trace.”

He frowned. “Why haven’t you been targeted?”

“Because no one suspected I was the original project. I, myself, didn’t learn what happened until the interest in Sydney and Vaughn came to my attention and why.”
“Jack, we have to make sure they don’t find us. I think even you are in danger.”

“How about Nadia?”

“She’s safer with Sloane, Jack. As long as they believe she’s his daughter, they won’t touch her. As much as it hurts to leave her, we have to let her be his.”

“Irina,” he said hoarsely, “she’s our daughter. I haven’t even acknowledged that to her. I’m her father.” There was sadness in his voice.

Irina reached up and kissed him. “I know and I’m sorry. However, we have to give her the chance to recover and live. It’s too risky now to involve her.”

“So we must disappear?”

She nodded. “We can’t trust anyone, once they come out in the open or leak our names and pictures. Even you will become suspect if we vanish. You have to be with us.” Irina pleaded. She then noticed how tired Jack was.

They stood together in the storage room, silence surrounding them. Neither spoke as each wrapped themselves in remembrance of their past passion. They had to put some plan in place to escape.

“Jack, we have to find a way.” Irina’s words sharply entered the silence. “It will be almost impossible, especially these days with all the electronic gadgetry…computers, satellites, PDA, GPS...moya boje, they are endless.”

He sighed, dropping his hands away from her back. “How long are we safe here?”

“A few days maybe, but I don’t really know. I can’t guarantee our safety here for long.”

“We both need some sleep. Is there a room here we can use. Sydney needs her sleep for whatever we have to face.”

Irina went to the door, looked out, and then opened it, motioning him to follow. “I’ll ask.”

Jack waited by the desk as Irina spoke to the nurse, who nodded and pointed to the intersecting hallway. Irina smiled and took Jack by the arm. “Come on, there’s a semi-private room that is not in use or needed down around the corner.”

Irina stopped before a door and pushed it open. Jack followed and as the door closed behind him, she turned and putting her right hand on his face, kissed him lightly on the lips. “Sweetheart, I’ve loved you since we met. I loved you more every day we were together.”

He stared at her and instantly knew that this time she told the truth. He could see it on her face and in her eyes. He took her chin in his left hand and kissed her on the side he struck earlier. “I’m sorry about this.” He touched her face. He straightened, saying, “Then tell me how you could possibly do what you did and still love me.”

She walked to the window and looked out, not talking right away. “Jack, I loved you for all the right reasons: you were good, kind, and loyal. You were strong and a caring father. I did not love you because you were CIA. That part of you was my job. The KGB was an enemy of CIA and vice versa.”

“You killed men I knew and more. When I found out…” he paused, joining her, and gripped her shoulders, pulling her to face him. “…my world crashed and burned. I hated you more than anyone should have too!

“I left our six-year old Sydney, who had nothing to do with your acts, in the care of nannies. She only knew you were dead and mourned you. They jailed me two days later, because they believed I was collaborating with you. The only reason they released me from prison was that I promised to train Sydney in the Project Christmas protocols. She was our first test subject. Even then I…I didn’t give her the love she deserved. Your acts devastated the two of us in ways you cannot imagine.”

“It was my job!” She growled, turning away. “I wasn’t so lucky in Kashmir. I was raped and beaten.” Tears fell down her face. “My country’s leaders thought I too was a traitor, yet I did everything they ordered me to do.”

“Why didn’t you get in touch with me? There were ways.” He stepped up behind her.

“They sent me to Central City on the edge of the Urals. I spent ten years working for the KGB until it disbanded in 1991. I had no way to contact you. The city was totally cut off from any outside influence.” She looked out the window toward the city. She pulled his arms around her. “I love you, Jack, and I will until I die, no matter what you think.”

Jack stared at her face reflected in the window. He believed her and yet… “Tell me why you didn’t tell me about Nadia when you did have the chance.”

“The KGB took her. I had to track down the men who were responsible. I killed them all after interrogating them. None could tell me where she was exactly.”

“I could have helped. I would have helped, especially knowing I had another child.” His eyes didn’t leave hers.

“I know, but I was caught up with Rambaldi again. I came across several artifacts and a manuscript. Arvin instilled the desire in me to know more about the man. Then I ran across Mueller. He was trying to get backing to build a model of the machine. I took him to my headquarters in Taipei.”

“I know the story from there.” Jack turned her, enfolding her in his arms. “Irina, I’m sorry I hit you, but you are the most exasperatingly manipulative, secretive, and fascinating woman…” he paused, “…and for some crazy reason, I still love you.” He sighed.” He pulled her chin up and kissed her hard.

Irina gasped as she felt herself give in to the moment. She dropped her head on his shoulder, tears forming in her eyes. God, she missed him. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered.

“Me too!”

“And I’m sorry about…everything.” She stopped. “I do love you, Jack.” She felt him reach down and in a moment, she was in his arms.

“In spite of everything I know about you, I love you too!” He kissed her again. “I’ve missed you more than I can say.” He stopped at the bed. “I need you, Irina. We may not have much more time left.”

“Yes, Jack.” She whispered. “Take off my clothes.” Those were ritual words she used when she was Laura Bristow, so many years ago.

He didn’t hesitate. His hands were pulling her jacket off almost before she finished. Tossing it on the bed, he began unbuttoning her blouse, removing it and dropping it on the jacket. He leaned down and kissed the flesh above the cups holding the breasts he knew so well. He moved behind her and unsnapping the hooks, letting bra fall, kissing her on the neck as he moved around her taut body. Jack nuzzled her under her left ear kissing the area under her jaw line. He finished by taking her face in his and kissed her gently. Irina closed her eyes and tilted her chin.

He looked at her breasts.

“Well…” She whispered, opening her eyes, and watching him.

He bent down and kissed the right, sucking at the nipple, while massaging the left and then tweaking its nipple. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as a pleasurable heat began building between her thighs and up her torso. His lips found the left breast. He sucked and pulled, eliciting a small moan from between her lips. His hands moved to her black leather pants. He unbuttoned the waist; then he slowly pulled the zipper down. He stood for a moment looking at her.

”God, you are as beautiful as the day we met.” He took her head between his two hands, crushing his mouth over hers, sucking at her tongue, and dominating her lips. He could feel the heat in her and in him.

Finished, he ran his hands over her body. He could feel the thin scars on her back, reminders of the beatings she took in Kashmir and, more recently, in Camp Harris. He thought no more about them as his hands reached the top of her pants. He kneeled and as he pulled them down off her hips, his mouth never strayed from her torso. She gasped. Jack knew all of her erotic spots. He never forgot them.

She moaned. “Hurry, moya boje, hurry.”

He saw she was wearing red bikini panties. He kissed her through them. They were wet…with her. He pulled them down to the floor…and kissed her flesh.

“Take your clothes off. Hurry,” she cried.

Jack picked her up and laid her on the bed furthest from the door. He looked at her, smiling. “You are so adorable when you want sex.”

“What?” She growled. “Stop fucking around. Get those clothes off.”

He was still smiling as he removed his jacket, shirt, pants, and boxers. He grinned. “Like what you see?”

“Jaaaackkk!” She panted. “I need you…now!”


TBC :wub:

Translation
Moya boje – My God.

well all of that tension and worrying had to be sated somehow and they do love one another LOL

seriously - an nice way for J and I to reconnect

I love how canada and france are included in the game now - thank you LOL

keep it coming

Bren

Wasn't expecting such...passion from the two of them. Wow, it certainly changes from their previous bickering / all out war. Loved it. Keep on going.

Anything to please two great fans. :)

They are such great characters to write about. That's why so many fans love :wub: them. And mais amie -- now comes the hard part, they disappear. :unsure:

B)