So It Begins

Episode Number: 1.02

Original Air Date: October 7, 2001

Written By: J.J. Abrams

Directed By: Ken Olin

Summary:
Intent on her mission to bring down SD-6 within a matter of weeks, Sydney learns the true structure of this organization. Vaughn informs Syd that there are more than 200 factions and it will ultimately take a very long time to bring down this structure of evil. Disheartened, but not dissuaded, Sydney will not give up on her goal. In her first counter-assignment for the CIA, Syd travels to Russia for SD-6 to intercept the sale of stolen files on nuclear arms. Sloane discovers information on these files regarding a nuclear device from the cold war that is buried somewhere in the United States. Sydney must now find the atomic device and retrieve it for the CIA. Unfortunately, what she discovers is that in releasing the nuclear device from its grave, she's also activated the timing device. Terrified, she calls Marshall, a master technical wizard with SD-6, and fails in her mission with the CIA. As a result, SD-6 takes possession of the bomb and sells it to Ineni Hassan - a known arms dealer. Because of his inexperience, Vaughn is replaced as Sydney's handler. Sydney, along with a male CIA operative, must now leave on a secret mission to Cairo in order to retrieve the nuclear device. Sydney's personal life takes a twist when close friend and reporter Will Tippin's curiosity gets the better of him regarding the strange events around Danny's death.