Q & A

Episode Number: 1.17

Original Air Date: March 17, 2002

Written By: J.J. Abrams

Directed By: Ken Olin

Summary:
In this flashback episode, we begin with Sydney sitting in a car in disguise, staring off the pier she's driven onto. All around her are police cars and she's trying to figure out what to do. She looks around, puts the car in gear, and puts the pedal to the metal, driving straight off the pier into the ocean.

The day earlier, Sydney was taken into custody of the DSR. She's handcuffed to a chair, awaiting questioning. Agent Kendall then comes into the room with a few other agents, and they begin the questioning. They want to know everything from the very beginning. She explains how she joined SD-6. She was approached by a man claiming to be the CIA. All she was told was that she fit a profile, assuming, heightened intelligence, physical characteristics, etc. She was reluctant at first, but eventually agreed, looking for something to give her life meaning. She began as an assistant in the Credit Dauphine building, having no idea what to expect. She knew they were monitoring her, and performing extensive background checks. Finally, after 6 months, she began her training. She excelled at every subject; she was a natural. She had always believed that SD-6, which, translated, meant 'the section that doesn't exist', was a Black OPS division of the CIA. Sydney tells Kendall that she didn't quit school because she wanted to become a teacher eventually, as her mother was before she died.

Then Kendall asked about Danny. Sydney explained that Daniel Hecht was her fiancé, murdered by SD-6 because she told him the truth before they were married. She refused to return to work, which is when Sloane ordered her death. But her father, Jack, had finally told her the truth about what SD-6 really was. It was soon after that she became a double agent for the CIA. Her goal in life was to bring SD-6, and Arvin Sloane, down.

While the panel continues questioning Sydney, Vaughn is back at the CIA offices trying to find out where Sydney is being held. He beats on Haladki just enough to have us all applauding. Haladki lies and says he doesn't know where Sydney is, bit Vaughn doesn't believe him. Vaughn tuns to Jack for help. While Vaughn is worried that Sydney will miss her next meeting with Sloane, effectively blowing her cover, Jack explains that the directive Sydney is being held under means that they could hold her for the rest of her life, without trial. They agree they can't let this happen just because the DSR has a 'hunch' about Sydney. So Vaughn tries to find out more from Haladki. He finds out that Haladki was a former FBI agent, and knows full well where they are keeping Sydney. He questions Haladki again, but with no results.

Back at Sydney's inquisition, we find out more about SD-6 and what its objectives are. The Alliance is made up of, mostly, former intelligence officers. They trade weapons and information to the highest bidder. Kendall questions Jack's motives for bringing Sydney into this life, but she explains he didn't; Sloane did. But Kendall continues his offensive accusations about Jack, and Sydney, for the first time, freaks out on them. She insists on knowing what's going on. She wants to go home. Kendall orders everyone to take a five-minute break.

Back at CIA headquarters, Vaughn realizes that if the DSR is going to take the prophecy so literally, that the quote "this woman, having never seen my home over Mount Sebacio" could work to their advantage. If they could somehow break Sydney out and take her to Mount Sebacio, then she couldn't possibly be the woman Rambaldi spoke of in the prophecy. He talks to Jack, and tells him about Haladki's 'reluctance' to talk. Jack, sexy as ever, warns, "He'll talk to me."

Back to the panel, Sydney discusses how her mother was actually a KGB agent. She was being pursued by and FBI agent and she was killed in a car crash. Back to Jack, who has Haladki over the hood of his car. Haladki quickly tells Jack where they're keeping Sydney, and Jack, Weiss, and Vaughn go and break her out. Sydney's final questions from Kendall are about the prophecy. She's lead to believe she isn't going to be let go in the near future.

Sydney is then extracted by Weiss, Jack and Vaughn, who explain their plan to her. She thinks it's crazy, but has no choice other than to go along with it. She puts on her disguise and drives off, which brings us to the beginning of the episode. Francie and Will are watching the car chase unfold on television. Sydney drives off the pier. Later, Jack gets a call and goes to meet Sydney, who has had a revelation. She explains that she had held her breath underwater by breathing air from the car's tires. She realized while she was down there that she couldn't possibly be the woman in the prophecy, but that her mother had all of the same characteristics. That her mother was smart and could have done the same thing. She realized… her mother was alive.