The Confession

Episode Number: 1.11

Original Air Date: January 6, 2002

Written By: J.J. Abrams & Daniel Arkin

Directed By: Harry Winer

Summary:
Previously on Alias: Sydney was held at gunpoint by her father, who was under orders to kill her by Hassan.

Blinking in Morse code, Jack informs his daughter of a counter plan. Jack and Sydney are able to overpower Hassan and immediately take him to a safe house where Jack takes false photos of Hassan's death.

Vaughn meets with Sydney after she returns to the U.S. He informs her that the Russian code she found in her mother's books were, in fact, Cyrillic code containing orders from the KGB. These codes contained the names of CIA agents who were assassinated by a KGB operative.

Sloane instructs Syd and Dixon on their next mission: They're going to Greece to obtain files regarding a "package" from Minos Sakkoulas, an associate of Hassan's. Syd's counter-mission from the CIA is to give a false set of records to SD-6 while giving the real set to the CIA. Vaughn and Syd meet again to discuss the Cyrillic code. Both agents are convinced that these orders were meant for Jack and that he was a former operative for the KGB. While Vaughn expresses his desire to move forward on this information, Sydney, who has formed a new bond with her father, is less enthusiastic. Suspecting Sydney's reaction, Vaughn secretly records their conversation as possible evidence to be used against Jack. Sydney's counter-mission in Greece is thwarted when she is unable to break into Sakkoulas's office, and Dixon downloads the files to give to SD-6.

After her return to the States, Vaughn meets with Sydney. He reveals that he taped their conversation before she left for Greece. Sydney's shock is apparent, and Vaughn further discloses that one of the assassinated CIA agents was his father, William Vaughn. Saddened, hurt and confused, Sydney seeks comfort from her friend, Will Tippin. Vaughn interrogates Hassan at a CIA safe house regarding "the package." Hassan refuses to disclose any information until the CIA promises to provide safe passage to the United States for his wife and child and provide them with protection. Vaughn refuses. After some lengthy consideration, Hassan finally tells Vaughn that the "package" is in Crete. In order for Sydney to travel to Crete with SD-6's knowledge, Jack tells Sloane that one of his informants gave him information on the "package." In reality, Sydney is to obtain the "package" for the CIA while giving SD-6 false information. Vaughn, Hassan and several other CIA agents are observing Sydney's mission in Crete via satellite. With Hassan's instructions, Vaughn guides Sydney through the underground silo only to discover that Hassan has created a trap for her.

Sydney is locked in a room with an activated detonation device and is being sprayed with gasoline. Hassan refuses to provide the correct code to stop the detonation until the CIA agrees to provide protection to his family in writing. Vaughn and Weiss hasten to cooperate with Hassan's demand, which ultimately saves Sydney's life.

Vaughn and Sydney move forward with the information they have regarding Jack and his alleged association with the KGB. They've arranged a private meeting with CIA Director Devlin, but are surprised when this meeting includes Jack and several other CIA agents. Jack leads this meeting and reveals that the codes found in Sydney's mother's books were assassination orders from the KGB. He further discloses that Sydney's mother, Laura Bristow, was the KGB operative.