The Box, Part 2

Episode Number: 1.13

Original Air Date: February 10, 2002

Written By: Jesse Alexander & John Eisendrath

Directed By: Jack Bender

Summary:
Previously on Alias: SD-6 is at the mercy of a violent and hostile take-over by former employee, McKenas Cole.

Cole and his high-tech thugs fire upon Sydney trapped inside an air duct. Jack saves the day by sacrificing himself for Sydney. Appearing outside the air duct, Jack surrenders himself to Cole. Sydney quickly makes it back to the surveillance room where she discovers a note left for her by Jack. In his note, Jack explains to Sydney the locations of the failsafe bombs and what she needs to do.

Meanwhile, back in the Hallway of Hostages, Dixon manages to swipe a PDA and sends an S.O.S. (Save Our Sloane) message to the real CIA. Vaughn receives the message from Langley and immediately presents the urgency of the situation to Devlin. Haladki, however, is now over-seeing the SD-6 operation because Vaughn has been temporarily suspended as Sydney's handler. Haladki believes the message is a trap set by Sloane and refuses to do anything until there is confirmation of a take over. Vaughn, determined to find out what's going on at SD-6, decides to check out the situation for himself…despite the fact that he's breeching protocol. Vaughn confirms the break-in at SD-6 and calls Weiss at the CIA. His call is redirect to Haladki, who refuses to comply with Vaughn's request.

In searching the sublevel of SD-6, Vaughn finds Sydney and together they attempt to diffuse the bombs. Cole eventually discovers Sydney presence, and she must surrender in order to save Jack's life. Vaughn again calls the CIA and this time is able to make contact with Agent Weiss. Weiss prepares an extraction team for SD-6.

Back to the Hallway of Hostages. Marshall motions to Sydney that one of her earrings, which is lying on the floor next to her, is actually a flash bomb. Sydney sets off the device, which allows her and several other agents to over power her captures. Sydney goes after Cole, who is now in the vault room. Jack attempts to rescue Sloane from the conversation room, as he is the only one who can override the failsafe procedure. Unable to free Sloane in time, Jack is instructed to cut-off Sloane's index finger in order to stop the bombs. Doing as instructed, Jack takes Sloane's finger and is able to stop the bombs just before detonation. Cole steals a small Rambaldi artifact from the vault room. Sydney fights Cole to prevent him from leaving. Cole overpowers Sydney and makes his way to the parking garage. Once there, Vaughn, Weiss and other CIA agents stop Cole. As Cole attempts another escape, Sydney stops him and Vaughn retrieves the artifact. Vaughn and Sydney discover that the Rambaldi artifact is actually a small vile of liquid. Although the CIA now has possession of the artifact, SD-6 believes Cole's break-in was successful. The question still remains: Who is this mysterious Man Cole is working for? Meanwhile, Will's investigation of SD-6 continues.