Episode 16: The Prophecy
A hearing
of the Department of Special Research is inquiring into Sydney's
personal connection to the Rambaldi notebook... at which moment
she is in Brazil, running for her life -- pursued by armed
men and snarling dogs. She comes to the edge of a cliff, and
leaps, revealing a para-sail, and descending to safety.
Upon her
return to the States, she is detained by the DSR. As the paranormal
research division of the National Security Agency, they are
searching for an explanation for the image of Sydney on page
47 from Rambaldi's notebook. According to Vaughn, the text
around the drawing has been partially decoded and is now being
referred to as "The Prophecy."
The CIA
is reluctant to cooperate with the DSR, though Haladki does
everything he can to assist the rival agency. After undergoing
a battery of mental tests, Sydney is asked to submit to a
physical exam.
She refuses
and walks away defiantly from the team of DSR researchers.
Meanwhile, SD-6 has identified "the Man" responsible
behind Mr. Sark and McKenas Cole. Using the evidence gathered
in Brazil, Sloane identifies Alexander Khasinau, a dangerous
and well-connected ally of the Russian mob.
The 12
members of the Alliance, the force behind SD-6 and its eleven
sister cells, have called an emergency meeting to discuss
the situation. Will they go after Khasinau and his group,
or shall they vote for détente -- Sloane desperately
hopes that they will vote for war, but he doesn't know where
the votes will fall.
Fishing
for information, he calls Edward Poole, the leader of SD-9.
Poole insists that Alliance member John Briault has been cooperating
with Khasinau. Sloane is reluctant to believe that such a
trusted, old friend could be cooperating with SD-6's latest
enemy... but he finally decides to resolve the situation himself.
In an
act of kindness, Sydney meets with Sloane's dying wife Emily,
who reveals that her cancer might have been treated had she
not denied the truth for so long. With these words as a warning,
Sydney submits to further testing by the DSR.
Later,
Jack reveals that the DSR agents do not have the original
code key to decipher Rambaldi's writings. The original key
is held at the Vatican... In a daring gamble, Sydney persuades
Vaughn to break into the Vatican with her.
During
their adventure, Vaughn flirts and asks her to dinner at his
favorite restaurant in Rome. Engraved into the frame of a
Rambaldi painting - located in the Vatican's subterranean
archive - is the code key. Sydney and Vaughn photograph the
cryptic writing, narrowly escaping Vatican guards and never
making it to dinner.
Meanwhile,
Sloane has discovered that "page 47" of the Rambaldi
manuscript is a counterfeit. He's furious and demands to talk
to Sydney. Does he suspect her?
Before
the Alliance's meeting, Sloane arranges a private rendezvous
with John Briault - the traitor Poole accuses of aiding Khasinau.
Quietly, and without emotion, Sloane assassinates his friend
in a Montreal park at night.
When the
Alliance meets, the decision to retaliate loses... by a single
vote. Sloane realizes that it was Poole - not Briault - who
has been working for the enemy all along and Sloane promises
to "return the favor."
At the
CIA, Vaughn provides the code key to decipher Rambaldi's writings,
which only confirms what the DSR has already discovered...
and he is not pleased. Sydney is taken into custody, plucked
from a nightclub where she has met up with Francie and Will,
and "the prophecy" is finally revealed to her.
According
to Rambaldi, a woman bearing Sydney's characteristics will
appear - she will fulfill the prophecy and "render the
greatest power unto utter desolation". Sydney is driven
away in chains and shackles by the DSR... now a prisoner of
a 15th century prophecy.
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THE
PROPHECY:
"This
woman here depicted will possess unseen marks. Signs
that she will be the one to bring forth my works. Bind
them with fury. A burning anger, unless prevented. At
vulgar cost, this woman will render the greatest power
unto utter desolation."
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- description
from ABC.com
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