Previously on Alias: Sloane told Lauren that her father, Senator Reed, kept her from being field-rated because it was too dangerous. Kendall told Syd about Project Black Hole, a governmental attempt to collect information about the Rambaldi Prophecies. Sloane told Dr. Nancy that he had an affair with Irina and he might be Sydney's father. Vaughn punched Sark in the face, and then cuffed him. Woo! Hot stuff. Now that Sark's in custody, I'm sure he won't escape or anything.
Chateaudun, France. No push-through on that title card, for those who like to track such things. Sark strolls onto an airplane, surrounded by armed guards. Mr. Julian Sark is wearing a buff-colored strait jacket over an orange prison-style jumpsuit, and it's quite fetching in a "I'm such a dangerous criminal that they are taking no chances with me but you know I'm still going to escape even though sometimes I look like a fourteen-year-old boy" kind of way. The guards force Sark into a seat and then cuff his hands and feet to the chair. I can't be sure, but I think Sark was wearing black Converse high tops, which I find amusing in that I have to assume that normally Sark would not be found dead in such plebian footwear.
Syd uses her cell phone to call Dixon and tell him that Sark's plane should be arriving in two hours, and that she and Weiss are waiting at the Air Force Base for its arrival. Dixon, standing on his front porch, says that Senator "Lauren's Dad" Reed is coming to oversee Sark's interrogation. Syd is curious about the "sudden interest from Washington," and Dixon says that Sark is a key player now. "Now"? Hasn't Sark always been a key player? An SUV pulls into Dixon's driveway and Dixon calls for his kids, Robin and Stephen. The kids start to leave, but Dixon pulls them back so that he can give them kisses on top of their heads. The kids act all embarrassed, but it's a nice moment, and it's nice to see Dixon getting his family life back after his wife's death. So you know that something awful is going to happen to his family any second now. Dixon gets back to Syd, and says that all information about Sark is being "compartmentalized within the Task Force" so that if anything leaks out, they'll know that it came from "inside the Rotunda." Or from inside the CIA. Right? Dixon waves to his departing children and totally just hangs up on Syd without a goodbye. Is he related to the Camdens?
Oops Center. Lauren types the username "Judith_Barnett" onto a screen that says, "Classified U.S. Government System. For Authorized Use Only. Unauthorized use will result in Criminal Prosecution." I'm amused by the words they chose to capitalize there. It's not just criminal prosecution. It's Criminal Prosecution! I kind of wish that they had used an exclamation point at the end. Anyway, Judith Barnett is Dr. Nancy, which it took me a moment to remember. After logging in, Lauren gets to a screen that says, "International Air Traffic Control Database." She types in Sark's flight number and sees a screen that apparently indicates all of the flights currently in the air. Would this information really be that easy to access in today's world? And why is Lauren doing this from work? I have to take Regina's advice and go grab a drink.
Vaughn enters the room and Lauren quickly hits a key, which brings up an innocuous-looking document. Vaughn asks Lauren how things are going, and Lauren lies that she's compiling a list of questions to ask Sark during the interrogation. Vaughn asks, "That's it?" Lauren looks momentarily terrified. How has she not been busted yet? Vaughn clarifies that he thought Lauren's father was supposed to arrive an hour ago. Relieved, Lauren says that her father went "straight into a meeting with Jack Bristow and Director Dixon." Vaughn nods and asks if Lauren's going to be okay while her father is there. Lauren says she's about to find out. I would love to know what Lauren has told Vaughn about her relationship with her father.
Senator Reed at first sounds like Leo McGarry, so I think he must be from Chicago, but then I remember that he's a Senator from Virginia, and then I remember that his daughter has a British accent, and now I think the casting people are just fucking with us. Anyway, Senator Reed says that he had to go to great lengths to get Sark extradited, so he's expecting great results from the interrogation. He adds that said results will also help him to get continued funding for the Task Force. No threat implied there, eh? Dixon thanks Reed and checks his watch before adding that Sark will arrive within the hour, and Syd and Weiss will escort him to the Oops Center. Jack adds that they know that Sark has been "promoted to co-command the Covenant's North American operations," and that it's imperative that they find out the identity of his associate. And hey, Lauren just walked in the door! How ironic!
Lauren coolly says hello to her father and then makes a lemon-sucking face. Dixon invites her to sit and says that upon his arrival, Sark will be prepped for "the Inferno Protocol." Hey, I think Mallory and Christena went through that last week! I realize that the shared audience between this show and the Real World/Road Rules Challenge isn't huge, but I had to try. Lauren appears a little freaked out and she says that she heard that half of the subjects suffer cardiac arrest during the procedure, and "the United States is not in the business of torturing witnesses for information." Ha! Ha ha ha! Tell me another one. Senator Reed points out that Sark isn't a POW, so the Geneva Convention does not protect him. Translation: We can put his nuts in a grinder if we want to. Lauren points out desperately that Sark has been known to sing like a bird on more than one occasion, so they probably won't need to torture him at all. Okay, now the writers are just making the other characters (especially Jack) look dumb when they don't notice that Lauren is frantically trying to prevent Sark's impending torture. Jack interrupts to say that the stakes are higher for Sark now, since he's invested his own money in the Covenant. I love how Jack is condescending to Lauren. Senator Reed tells Lauren to turn over any relevant materials to Jack, because he'll be conducting the interrogation. Lauren looks pissed (worst poker face ever!), and Dixon explains that Langley has requested that questions be included for which Lauren doesn't have the proper security clearance. Lauren says that she understands, and then shoots her father a dirty look. She hands over her files, and Jack promises to review them immediately.
Dixon's phone rings, and he turns to answer it as Jack, Lauren, and Senator Reed continue chatting about Sark. Dixon tells the person on the other end of the line that his kids aren't sick. Lauren looks quickly at Dixon, clearly aware of what Dixon is about to go through. Dixon says that the kids' carpool picked them up hours ago. This gets Jack and Senator Reed's attention. Dixon looks around anxiously.
At the airfield, Syd and Weiss are upset that Sark's plane is late. Do they really not expect Sark to escape after all this time? Syd gets a phone call, and it doesn't even get all the way through Syd's signature Nokia ring tone before she picks it up. Am I the only one who gets a little freaked out now every time I hear someone's Nokia phone ring? I have some students whose phones ring in class (which is a whole other rant) and when they dash out to answer it, I always think they are being sent on a mission. They never are, which is disappointing. Syd listens and then tells Weiss that Sark's plane landed in the middle of the desert, sixty miles away.
Cut to a phalanx of police cars approaching the plane. My husband wonders if it's possible for a plane of that size to land on sand. I tell him to have a drink. Syd and Weiss pull up, and Weiss walks strangely to the plane. It's like he's overswinging his arms or something. Weiss gets a message that the plane is secure, and no one has entered or exited since it landed. A fireman helps Syd and Weiss into the plane. Syd walks into the cabin, gun drawn, and finds the security guards frozen solid, with bullet wounds to the head. They are definitely dead. The oxygen masks have also descended. Weiss bursts into the cabin, which I thought would be a lot harder in today's world. The pilot and co-pilot are also frozen solid, with bullet holes in their foreheads. The inside of the plane's windows are iced over as well. Syd heads toward the back of the plane. She gets to Sark's row, and finds an empty strait jacket. She states the obvious to Weiss: "Sark's gone." Again, are they really surprised about this?
Oops Center, where Vaughn is trying to explain this big oops to Jack. Vaughn says that the plane landed on autopilot, and Sark and one of the armed guards are missing. Jack adds that they have to assume that Sark and his accomplice made it out alive, and all the frozen bodies indicate that Sark parachuted out at high altitude, which made the cabin depressurize. Vaughn says that Marshall is pulling satellite feeds to narrow the search area, and Jack tells Vaughn to put together a team and be ready to go as soon as Marshall has the information. Jack is so hot when he's ordering people around. Did I say that out loud? Dixon walks up to Jack, who says that Syd and Weiss are on the way back with the flight recorders. Dixon totally doesn't care, because his kids didn't show up at school, they're not answering their cell phones, and calls to family, friends, neighbors, and police haven't been fruitful. Dixon's cell phone rings, and relief washes over his face as he tells Jack that it's Robin. Dixon answers the phone, "Where have you been?" and Sark's voice says that they have Dixon's children, and they're safe, and they will remain so as long as Dixon meets the Covenant's demands. A tense violin screams us out of the scene.
Jack gives a lovely multimedia presentation about Dixon's missing children while Dixon just sits there, looking stunned. Jack informs the group that Sark is asking for the release of five Covenant operatives within forty-eight hours. Vaughn points out that different governments are holding the operatives, and Lauren adds that even if they could coordinate their release, it would take days or weeks. Dixon looks like he's going to puke. I would think he would recuse himself from the decision-making here. Syd insists forcefully that they start working on securing the children's release immediately. Senator Reed says that negotiating with terrorists sets a dangerous precedent. Syd retorts that it would be a dangerous precedent if they didn't do everything they can to protect the children. Senator Reed points out that once they find out it works, terrorists might start kidnapping family members of intelligence officers more regularly. Syd says that this isn't a hypothetical family. Senator Reed starts giving a speech about "these hostages," and Dixon speaks for the first time in the scene to remind him that "these hostages" are named Stephen and Robin. Lauren stares at Dixon, perhaps looking a bit chastened. Senator Reed says more quietly that he's only suggesting that they look into alternatives. Dixon has had enough, and he says tersely, "Anyone else?" Vaughn says that Marshall is analyzing the flight recorder for leads. Syd carefully suggests that they open negotiations with the various governments. Jack adds that whether or not it works, they can use the lengthy negotiations to buy time and make the Covenant believe they are "proceeding in good faith." Dixon announces with finality that the negotiations will proceed. He adds that Sark was able to escape because he had information from their office, and he wants the leak identified. And believe me when I say that Dixon's tone indicates that he really, really wants the leak identified. Lauren goes, "Gulp."
Lauren hides in a hallway somewhere and calls Sark. Aren't there surveillance cameras? The writers from this show need to talk to the writers of 24 and get their stories straight about how these things work. Lauren tells Sark that things are proceeding as they expected. Sark gets in an elevator and says it's one of the "advantages of having a predictable adversary." Lauren adds that it helps that they had someone on the inside. What kind of crazy cell phones do these people have that work in elevators and concrete hallways? Although it occurs to me that I've never tried to use mine in an elevator, so maybe it would work. I'm just basing my theory on the fact that mine doesn't work unless I am within ten miles of the New York State Thruway. Sark asks Lauren how she's doing on her task of "securing a scapegoat." Lauren smiles and says it's taken care of.
Cut to Scapegoat...I mean, "Sloane," in his office with Dr. Nancy, who is preparing to go home. Dr. Nancy whines that she doesn't want to go. Sloane tells her to stay. Dr. Nancy says that she's used up all her sick days and excuses, and she has to go back to work. She adds that she's usually very professional. Sloane says that he found their time together "very therapeutic." Ugh. This whole storyline is grossing me out. I hope it has a point soon. Dr. Nancy says that if the agency finds out about them, she'll be discredited. Before she can even finish the sentence, Sloane assures her that they won't find out, and no one will know. He adds, "I give you my word." I feel like that's going to be important later. Dr. Nancy responds, "I wish that were enough." Sloane realizes that he's not going to see her again. Dr. Nancy just smiles sadly and kisses him before walking out.
Marshall plays a recording of the flight's radio transmission for Dixon and Jack. On it, Sark tells the pilot to claim that they are having communication problems, which the pilot does. Marshall mouths the words along with the voices on the recording, adding a little Marshallevity to the scene. Then we hear gunshots, and a man pleading for his life, and then the recording ends. Marshall says that they assumed that Sark bailed out over New Mexico, but then he heard something else on the recording twenty minutes later. Marshall plays it, and we hear Sark make a phone call asking for an extraction team, wondering if they have the hostages, and concluding, "Not if I see you first, love." Marshall explains that this later broadcast means that Sark didn't exit the plane until they were over Arizona. Marshall adds that he used various techniques (do you care, really?) to figure out that Sark headed south and ended up in a warehouse in Nogales, and Marshall thinks that's where Dixon's children are being held.
Dixon and Jack walk out of the room. Dixon hits his mark and spins around. That was weird and ultra-fake-looking. Dixon says that, based on Marshall's intel, he has authority right now to "go tactical" and attempt a rescue. Jack says that Dixon could also continue the negotiations. Dixon wants an honest assessment of his options. Jack reminds Dixon that, previously, the Covenant killed a hostage as a negotiations tactic, and they might kill one of Dixon's children to get their demands met. Dixon asks what happens if they give in to the Covenant's demands. Jack says there's still no guarantee that the children won't be harmed. Dixon realizes that a rescue attempt is equally risky. Dixon thinks it over, and then orders Jack to prepare the tactical option. It's a nice contrast between how Senator Reed and Jack handled essentially the same situation. Senator Reed was all bluster and spin. Jack was forthright, but kind.
Nogales push-through. Syd and Dixon are at the warehouse, disabling the security system with Marshall's help via radio. Vaughn and Weiss have cleared the perimeter. Back at the Oops Center, Marshall looks through various camera feeds from inside the warehouse, and finds one with Dixon's children on it. He gives Dixon the exact location, and everyone hotfoots it into the warehouse. Once they are all inside, Marshall tells Dixon to try the first door on his right. Dixon kicks it in, but the room is empty. Marshall is confused. Syd and Dixon keep scanning the hallways, while Weiss and Vaughn do the same in another part of the warehouse. Weiss hears a beeping noise and shines his flashlight up to reveal an explosive device and timer attached to the ceiling. There is just over a minute left on the clock. Marshall starts checking it out. Syd and Dixon come upon another explosive. Marshall asks for a description, and Syd tells him that it has a wireless receiver. Marshall realizes that the bomb is networked, and there are six other charges. He orders everyone to evacuate the warehouse immediately. Syd passes this along to Dixon, who agrees with Marshall's assessment, except Dixon adds that he's going to stay there and try to find his kids.
Weiss and Vaughn book it on out of there while Dixon takes off down the hallway screaming his children's names, totally running on emotion. Syd follows him. Marshall watches some more footage and realizes that the tape of the children is on a loop, and that the whole thing is a trap. Syd relays this information to Dixon, who is beyond hearing reason right now. Syd gets right up in Dixon's grill and tells him that he'll die if he stays there, and his children need him to find them. Dixon looks completely lost and overwhelmed. Cut to the four agents running out of the warehouse just before it explodes. Dixon has a semi-hilarious screaming face going on. It was a little over-the-top, is all I'm saying, mostly because they showed it in slow motion. Dixon stares sadly back at the warehouse as the explosions continue, until Syd pulls him away.
Jack busts into Marshall's office and orders him to pull up the logs for the FAA database. I don't know what Marshall was working on when Jack arrived, but it involved a giant caulking tube. I don't think I want to know. Marshall asks what they're looking for, and Jack says they need to know everyone who accessed Sark's flight information in the last two days. Marshall pulls up the list, and Jack immediately recognizes that one of the access points is not one of their internal IP addresses. Marshall says that they logged in with Dr. Nancy's account, and notes that the intruder went through several servers to try to hide their initial location. Isn't that how the internet works, though? Right. Drinking. Marshall discovers that the login originated from the Omnifam Foundation in Zurich, and his face falls.
Jack and some other guards enter the Omnifam Foundation building with a warrant. They enter Sloane's office, and the guards slaps the cuffs on Sloane. Sloane asks, "To what do I owe this pleasure?" Jack responds, "I take no pleasure in this, Arvin." I'm just going to fanwank that, because they didn't know that Dr. Nancy was in Switzerland in the first place, they assumed that Sloane was the one to hack the database, and then I don't have to drink anymore. For now.
Dixon is led to the jail cell where Sloane is being held. Dixon angrily dismisses the guard. Sloane looks nervous when he sees the raw anger on Dixon's face. Dixon asks, "It wasn't enough for you that I saw my wife die?" Sloane says he doesn't understand. Dixon says emotionally, "They are children. Children." Sloane claims he doesn't even know what they are accusing him of, and Dixon slams Sloane into the cell wall. Dixon says that Sloane gave information to the Covenant, and now Dixon's children are missing. Sloane starts to speak, but Dixon cuts him off by pistol-whipping Sloane in the side of the head. Dixon trains the gun on Sloane and says that he made a mistake by not killing Sloane three years ago when he had the chance. Syd runs up and tells Dixon not to do this. Dixon tells Sydney to leave. Syd reminds Dixon that killing Sloane will result in a prison sentence. Dixon says that he just wants his children back. Sloane watches Syd with an interesting look on his face. Admiration? Syd promises Dixon that they'll find his children. Dixon cocks the gun and shakily tells Syd to leave again. Syd goes to her last resort, and asks what Dixon's wife would think if she saw him right now, and adds that his kids need him. Dixon starts to cry. Syd concludes, "What would [your kids] want you to do, Marcus?" Dixon lowers the gun and walks out of the cell. Sloane promises Sydney that he didn't do it. Syd just walks away.
Dixon drives to his house and pulls in the driveway. He unlatches his seatbelt, and turns off the ignition. He stares at his house, realizing how lonely and empty it will feel inside. He picks up his briefcase, and then slumps, defeated, and starts sobbing again. Man, that Dixon is really in touch with his emotions. He gathers himself together, and then notices someone walking towards his car. Someone small. Someone related to him. It's his son, Stephen. Dixon sprints out of his car and embraces his son. Dixon asks Stephen if he's all right, and where Robin is. Stephen is strangely silent. A cell phone rings, and Stephen hands it to his father. Dixon realizes that this isn't an entirely happy reunion, and answers the phone while hugging his son.
Cut to Dixon at the Oops Center, explaining the call to the team. Dixon says they wanted him to watch his children die so he would know how it feels, so the Covenant set up the whole Nogales warehouse thing. Dixon adds that the Covenant is now demanding the immediate release of ten prisoners, and if he tries to "outmaneuver them," he'll never see his daughter again. Dixon swallows hard, and everyone around the table looks down to avoid seeing the raw emotion on his face. Dixon continues that he's unable to process that his daughter is in increased danger because of "a failed rescue mission [he] sanctioned." Even Lauren looks a little misty. Dixon concludes that he is temporarily stepping down, and that he wants Jack to take over the task force. Jack nods, and Dixon walks out. Syd looks horrified.
Senator Reed follows Jack out of the conference room and says that he's pulling what strings he can to meet the Covenant's demands. Jack says he appreciates it, and that he thinks there's something behind the boldness of the Covenant's demands. Senator Reed is clueless, and Jack says he hasn't quite figured it out yet, so they should still pursue that government negotiation thing.
Sydney arrives at the hospital, where she finds Dixon sitting in a chair looking at his son, who is lying in a bed. Actually, it might just be a hospital room in the Oops Center. It's also the biggest hospital room ever. Syd knocks on the door and asks how Stephen is doing. Dixon motions Syd into the room and says quietly that Stephen is dehydrated, but he thinks "the damage is more emotional than physical." Syd asks what she can do. Dixon confesses that Stephen came back with a message very different from the one he just delivered to the task force. The Covenant actually wants a Rambaldi artifact known as Lot 45, which is kept at Project Black Hole in Nevada. Dixon says he doesn't know what Lot 45 is. Syd asks why the Covenant made false demands, and Dixon says that they wanted to keep the CIA occupied. The Covenant also knows that Dixon has personal access codes to enter the Nevada facility. Syd points out that those access codes can be traced back to Dixon, who doesn't care, because it might save his daughter's life. Dixon says he can't do this alone, much as he would like to, and Syd responds simply, "Whatever you need." It's good to see a reminder that these two were partners for many years, and trust each other completely. Especially since it probably took Dixon a while to get that trust back after the takedown of SD-6.
Nevada. A dune buggy races through the desert with Syd at the wheel. Everything is very orange in a Traffic kind of way. Syd is stopped by a military guy in a Jeep who tells her that it's a restricted area. Syd, looking hot in a do-rag, shades, and leather jacket, unzips the jacket to reveal her see-through white tank top with bikini top underneath. Syd lies that she got separated from her friends. The military guy isn't having it. Syd plays ditzy and asks the guy to check out her map. She bends over, and I can tell you right now that the guy is checking out something, but it's not her map. As the guy leans in, Syd tasers him. She radios Dixon to say that she's in position. Dixon says he's just arriving at the facility for Project Black Hole.
Dixon enters the facility and meets with Erin, the director. She's hot. Dixon congratulates Erin on her promotion, and Erin thanks him for his recommendation, so these two obviously know each other. Erin says she's sorry about Dixon's daughter, and offers to help. Dixon asks if the term "countershadow" means anything to her, since his son overheard his captors talking about it. I didn't get what he was talking about at first, but I think it was just a ruse to set up Dixon's request, which is to ask for access to a research terminal for an hour. Erin says it won't be a problem. Dixon walks off, and Erin asks if she can tag along. Dixon looks back, and Erin admits that she has to tag along because they are at Code Orange. Dixon understands, since he set up the protocol himself.
Out in the desert, Syd changes into a silver bodysuit and attaches a line to a winch on her dune buggy. She then runs up to some sort of exhaust pipe sticking out of the ground, removes a grate, and climbs in. The line lowers Syd down into the pipe as she checks a thermometer on her wrist. The temperature inside is nearly 200 degrees, so I guess the bodysuit protects her from boiling or something. Syd tells Dixon that she's reached the grate. Dixon is with Erin at a terminal, so he can't respond immediately. Syd tells Dixon that the grate is sealed. Dixon goes through the motions of doing research, and asks Erin if she has any coffee to try to get her to leave the room for a moment. Erin, no dummy (yet), says she'll have someone bring it in. Syd checks her wrist thermometer and says that she's going to have to abort the mission due to the increased heat. Dixon fakes a sigh and claims that he's getting emotional. This guy was a spy? That was horrible. Dixon clasps his hands and asks, "Do you, uh, pray, Erin?" Heh. Erin looks totally gobsmacked as she says that she's agnostic. Syd frantically reports the rising temperature. Dixon lowers his head as if he's praying, and Erin offers to give him a moment. She leaves the room, and Dixon looks out the window to make sure she's occupied, and then unlocks the grate for Syd.
Syd reports that she's through the grate, and then she drops into a room containing multiple Rambaldi artifacts. Dixon sees that Erin is talking to various colleagues outside, and not really paying attention to what he's doing. Which is kind of horseshit, but I'm drunk. Mission accomplished! Syd notices an enlarged version of the page from Rambaldi's journal with the drawing of the woman who looks just like Syd. Around the room are various glass boxes, each with an etched number, and each containing an artifact. Syd approaches the box numbered 45 and sees that it's empty, and she radios this information to Dixon, who's like, "Fuck. Me." Syd asks Dixon what to do, and he says he'll use the computer system to try to find the artifact. Luckily, Erin is taking a phone call outside. Dixon reports that Lot 45 has been moved for analysis, and it's on level eight, quadrant one. Syd takes off to find it.
Oops Center. Jack watches Senator Reed walking around, talking to people, and giving orders. Many people are busy talking on phones. Jack takes this all in, thinking, and then heads down to Sloane's cell. Jack tells Sloane that the negotiations are meant to fail, and he wants to know why. Sloane, lying on his bunk, says he doesn't know what Jack's talking about. Jack says that the CIA is busy trying to meet demands that the Covenant knows are unattainable, so Jack figures that it's just a distraction. Now Jack wants to know what the Covenant really wants. Sloane says Jack needs to figure out why the Covenant targeted Dixon, and what Dixon has access to. Jack is silent. Sloane says somewhat tauntingly that if Jack wants his help, he'll have to trust Sloane. Jack says that Dixon has access to Project Black Hole. Sloane looks...something. I couldn't read the look on his face.
Dixon is still furiously typing away at his terminal. He gives Sydney directions to find Lot 45. Syd has donned scrubs and a surgical mask to fit in with the other scientists. Dixon glances out the window. Erin catches his eye and assumes that Prayer Hour is over, so she walks back toward the room. Dixon quickly waves her off. Dixon unlocks a door so that Syd can enter the analysis room. The number on the door is 74, for you conspiracy types. Inside, Syd finds a small box on a pedestal. Three robotic arms extend from the ceiling, rotate around, and fire lasers at the box. Syd tells Dixon that she sees Lot 45, and she'll try to get to it. Syd slowly approaches the box, and nearly gets clocked by a robotic arm. Syd looks for a pattern in the rotation, and spins her way to the pedestal so that she can grab the box. Once she has the box, the robotic arms start going nutty, in a very cartoonish way. Syd drops to the floor to avoid being taken out, then pulls some wires out of one arm to disable the device. One of the arms comes very close to Syd's face, almost like it's looking at her, and then all three arms retract into the ceiling. That whole scene was really strange.
Syd tells Dixon that she got the artifact and will meet him at the rendezvous point. Dixon heaves a sigh of relief. Syd puts the artifact into a metal briefcase, but not before noticing the word "Irina" engraved on top inside a cross. Syd waltzes out of the facility and exits through the steam pipe. She hops back into her dune buggy and drives out into the orange desert. Meanwhile, Dixon is jogging up the stairs to leave the facility before his unauthorized access is noticed. Erin yells his name. Dixon has to stop, but he clearly thinks he's busted. When Erin catches up, she just tells him that he forgot his hard copy, and hands him a CD. Dixon thanks her and takes off.
Sark calls Lauren and tells her that Dixon made contact, and he's prepared to make the exchange. Sark muses that he wasn't sure Dixon had it in him, and he's impressed. Lauren says firmly, "That man is living through his worst nightmare. You might consider losing the sarcasm." Sark smiles and says that it's touching that Lauren actually cares. He tells Lauren that the meet is the day, and she should make sure nothing interferes. Lauren hangs up and looks a bit disgusted.
Syd and Dixon meet Jack on a rooftop. Syd asks defensively what it's about. Jack says that he knows they removed an artifact from Project Black Hole to trade with the Covenant, because he talked to Sloane. Jack explains that Sloane knew that the Covenant was close to locating a key to activate the artifact. Dixon asks why they should believe Sloane. Jack says that Sloane thinks that the contents of the box could jeopardize Sydney's life, and Jack believes it. Syd reluctantly tells Jack that Irina's name is inscribed on the box. Jack says that they can't give the Covenant the artifact until they know more about what it is. Dixon says he has no other option if he wants his daughter to live. Jack suggests that they produce a duplicate artifact, and apprehend Sark at the trade. Yes, because apprehending Sark has always worked so well in the past. He's a slippery little devil. Dixon angrily retorts that if Sark thinks he's being set up, he'll kill Robin, and Dixon won't take that risk. Jack raises his voice slightly (which means he's pissed!) and says, "I share your concern, which is why I'm committed to finding a way out of this without risking my daughter's life as well." Syd says that Robin didn't choose this life, and she did, so it's her decision to make. Jack looks sad, probably thinking that due to Project Christmas, Syd didn't exactly choose this life. Syd says that the exchange is set for tomorrow. Jack insists on going with them.
Oops Center. Senator Reed is still negotiating the release of the prisoners. A lackey walks up and tells Senator Reed that Project Black Hole has been compromised, and Lot 45 is missing. He hands the Senator a list of all visitors and workers at the facility in the last twenty-four hours. Senator Reed immediately spots Dixon's name on the list and picks up the phone. Lauren watches her father intently. Senator Reed tells someone that he wants Dixon's name added to the watch list, and he wants a tactical team deployed to bring him into custody immediately. Lauren listens to the whole thing.
Lauren walks up to Vaughn and says that Dixon needs their help. Meanwhile, Dixon, Syd, and Jack drive up to the exchange site, which resembles the spot of the drag races in Grease. Look out for that Pink Lady! It's weird to see Jack in casual attire. He's wearing a leather jacket! Meanwhile, Senator Reed has dispatched helicopters to find Dixon. Vaughn and Lauren ask Marshall to help. Marshall takes a break from writing a Good Will Hunting-style formula on a board to say, "Listen, say no more. If anyone ever laid a hand on my mini-Mitch, I swear to you..." Sark drives up to the exchange site. Marshall tells Vaughn and Lauren that he thinks he can screw up the helicopters' GPS system.
Sark parks his car and looks mighty fine in his leather jacket and shades. Dixon grabs the artifact and says that he wants his daughter. I said in the recaplet that the artifact was a fake, but it doesn't seem like they'd have time to produce one. That said, it was never explicitly stated that they handed over the real artifact, so I guess we'll find out later. Sark glances back at his car, where Robin is sitting in the back seat. Sark says that as soon as he has the artifact, his associate will release Robin. The helicopter pilot reports that they are over the contact area, and no one is there. Senator Reed angrily removes his headphones. Marshall happily reports that he was successful, and Lauren thanks him.
Dixon hands over the artifact to Sark. His associate has a gun to Robin's chest. Sark opens the briefcase and sees the artifact, noting the inscription. As he opens the briefcase, Jack and Sydney look nervous, lending credence to the theory that it is a fake. Sark nods to his associate, who pulls Robin out of the car. Sark grabs something from the front seat and says he needs insurance to guarantee that he reaches his extraction point safely. He explains that he's holding a collar containing "a lethal cardiotoxin." He's going to put it on Robin, and they will have two minutes to disarm it. Dixon freaks and starts yelling at Sark, who calmly says that it's "well within [their] disarming capabilities" and "two minutes is generous." Dixon insists that Sark can't put the collar on Robin. Syd steps up and asks Sark to use her instead. Jack tries to stop her, but Sydney insists. Sark looks intrigued. He looks at Robin. Sydney hisses, "She's thirteen years old." Sark agrees and walks toward Syd. Sark places the collar on Syd's neck and explains that if they try to unhook it before disarming it, the toxin will be released immediately. That Sark thinks of everything! They really need to get him working with them instead of against them. Sark nods to his associate, who releases Robin into her father's arms. Sark says, "As always, it has been a pleasure doing business with you." Such a gentleman! A murderous, conniving gentleman, but a gentleman nonetheless. Jack pulls a gun and calls out Sark's name, saying he doesn't deserve to walk out of there alive. Um, hello, Jack? Syd has a poison collar on her neck and the clock is ticking. Sark shows Jack a remote in his hand, and explains that if he releases his grip, the toxin will be injected into Syd's bloodstream. See? He's some sort of tactical genius. Sark reminds them that they have two minutes, and gets into his car and drives away. Syd tells Dixon to get Robin out of there. Jack gets to work disarming the collar, which he does quickly. Syd rips off the collar and hugs her father in relief.
Dixon plays cards with his two children in the hospital room. Syd watches them laughing through the door. She enters the room with a big smile.
Dr. Nancy visits Sloane in his cell. Sloane asks if she'd believe him if he said he was innocent of the charges. Dr. Nancy says no. I can't believe Patricia Wettig's husband is a producer of this show, and he allows her to be shot so that she looks haggard. Although maybe she's not that vain, which would be refreshing. Sloane says that if he wanted to damage her or the CIA, he wouldn't be so careless and leave an obvious trail. Dr. Nancy says that Sloane used her, and she compromised her judgment because she thought he had changed, but he's incapable of doing so. Sloane nods and says that he accepts it if she can't trust him now, but he asks that she "respect the confidentiality of what [he] told [her] regarding [his] affair with Irina." Dr. Nancy doesn't answer.
Oops Center. Lauren walks up to Vaughn, touches his head affectionately, and says that she's going home. Vaughn asks if she's seen her father, and Lauren says that she hasn't. Vaughn says it might be a good thing. Jack walks up and says that he's learned that Senator Reed's attempt to retrieve Lot 45 was thwarted. Vaughn says that he imagines the Senator will want an inquiry, but he doubts there is any concrete evidence. Jack smiles for a fraction of a second and says that whoever intervened to save Robin and Sydney's lives has his deepest gratitude. Lauren smiles and says good night. Vaughn turns to Lauren and says that he'll see her later, and Lauren leans in for a kiss while saying, "Not if I see you first, love." Jack overhears this, and stops in his tracks. You can see the gears turning in his head. I apologize that I misstated this exchange in the recaplet, but now it's been corrected. Also? I can't wait for SpyDaddy to bust Lauren.