A Higher Echelon

Episode Number: 2.11

Original Air Date: Dec 5, 2002

Summary:
Vaughn contacts Will and lets him know that he passed his evaluation, so he's being hired by the CIA. Will is now a CIA analyst. Marshall is being tortured and forced to rewrite the entire Echelon program from memory after the Taipei Tooth Fairy threatens to kill his mother. Unfortunately, Syd finds out that Marshall managed to send a copy of the Echelon program to SD-6 without Syd knowing, and Sloane could care less about Marshall. As long as he gets the program, that's all that matters to him. Sydney is furious.

The only way to prevent SD-6 from accessing the program is to let Irina gain access to the CIA's central computer, which Jack is thoroughly against. Kendall and Syd feel she's proven herself worthy of a small bit of trust, and with proper safegaurds, it should be okay. Jack thinks they're crazy.

Marshall begins to ping the SD-6 servers with his location and Dixon figures it out. Sydney insists on going after him. Marshall, under heavy torture, reveals that's he's finished the program, but when the dentist goes to open it, it's a Pong program. Marshall laughs in his face and says he'll never betray the US. Syd and Dixon infiltrate the building Marshall's being held in and Syd busts in and kicks ass. But they're ambushed. Marshall still has a parachute lined into his jacket and they jump out of the window to safety.

Ariana Kane is really investigating Jack thoroughly, and Jack is pissed. He has the CIA quickly forge documents and evidence that clears him of any wrongdoing. Ariana reveals that brain matter was found in one of Jack's guns belonging to Haladki. Vaughn overhears this whole conversation and almost lets Jack fry before giving him a cell phone card that could clear him with Kane. But because they did it so fast, the fake ink on the card smears when Ariana touches it, giving Jack away. Jack boots to the van before Kane and her goons catch him, and he and Vaughn share a long stare.

Jack visits Sloane in the middle of the night, hoping Sloane will trust him. He tells Sloane that Ariana Kane is acting suspiciously and to be careful. Sloane promises to help Jack, but as soon as Jack leaves the house, Sloane calls Kane.