Alias

CIA. Syd informs Kendall that the fancy-schmancy camera she swiped last week was a prototype and the actual camera is being sent into space (via a satellite) in 3 days. By none other than the devilishly handsome Mr. Sark. It seems this camera, equipped with "terahertz imaging" can see through matter up to 100 meters. Syd says Sloane tasked her and Dixon with finding out just what it is that Sark wants to find. They are to go to Sri Lanka (where the shuttle's being launched) and hack into the system. Kendall says he'd feel a teensy bit more comfortable if he knew what Sark was searching for before the shuttle launched. Which means...

Syd's gotta talk to Spy Mama. Lena Olin looks fabulous, FYI. After some back and forth, Spy Mama says Sark's looking for a music box, a Rambaldi music box. Said box will play a tune which can be transformed into an equation for zero point energy, a fuel source which, if harnessed, could rake in the dough. Spy Mama says the box will only play if the right code is entered and she's not sure if Sark has the code.

Vaughn gives Syd a circuit board to place on the shuttle instead of the one provided by SD-6. That way both agencies can monitor the satellite. He then brings up the touchy subject of Will and suggests he come in for hypnosis therapy. During his kidnapping, Will saw Sark typing away at his computer and maybe, just maybe, he saw something that could be useful. Syd's not so hot for this idea and neither is Will, but he agrees.

Sri Lanka. All the players arrive. It's 30 minutes to launch. Syd gets to work, calling Dixon on a land-line so he can hack into the system. 23 minutes to go. Syd luges down the rocket duct, stopping before she reaches the launching pad. She radios Dixon with her location so he can shut down the security feed for five minutes while she's on the pad. Sark doesn't like not being able to see his big rocket (dirty!) and asks the controller if there's another way onto the pad. The controller mentions the ducts, Sark figures something's fishy and orders them to move up the launch. Uh-oh!

Dixon warns Syd to get out of there and she does with mere moments to spare, mission complete. Whew!

Will and Vaughn meet and engage in a little "I Like Sydney More" contest. They agree to meet the following day so Will can undergo a little hypno-fun.

SD-6. Marshall informs the gang that Sark has been using the satellite to look at Siberia. Namely, caverns deep in the Siberian ice that form the Symbol of Rambaldi. Marshall pulls up images and they can see a metal object (the music box). Sloane wants the box before Sark can get to it. As the gang disperses, Sloane pulls Spy Daddy aside and asks for a favor. Lately he's been feeling a little "off" and by off I mean, haunted by the fact that he MURDERED HIS WIFE! He wants Spy Daddy to keep an eye on him. Spy Daddy agrees.

CIA. Hypno-fun. Except for the fun part. Will relives his kidnapping and torture, but the session is successful as he's able to remember a list from Sark's computer: a bunch of Russian authors. Is that Sark's required reading for the semester? I know he's young...Syd figures the names are a "cipher text." And she has to speak with Spy Mama AGAIN so Spy Mama can translate the names.

Snowy, snowy Siberia. Dixon does a scan and says no Bad Guys are approaching. He and some SD-6'ers take up their positions at the cavern entrances as Syd prepares to do a little splunking. Dixon warns Syd not to fall through the ice, it'll freeze over in four seconds. "Good to know," she replies. Heh.

Casa de Wife Murderer. Sloane receives a static-y call. He hangs up and traces the call to a B & B. The same B & B where Emily made a reservation for the two of them a day before he MURDERED her. Say it with me: "Cuckoo, cuckoo!"

We catch up with Syd who's made it to the music box. She radios Dixon that the ice looks a little shaky so she's going radio silent.

Back to the soap opera that is Syd's family. The Parents Bristow come face to face. Spy Daddy icily informs Spy Mama that if she does ANYTHING to hurt Syd, he'll kill her. "She's spent most of her life believing you were dead. She'll get used to it again." Brrr! A holding cell in L.A. is now officially colder than an ice cavern in Siberia, 'cuz Spy Daddy? Cold! Before he leaves though Spy Mama asks, "You haven't told her what you did to her after I disappeared, have you?" Oh, Spy Daddy what did you do?!

The ice cavern. Syd unlocks the metal case and takes out the music box. She radios Vaughn, saying she's going to enter the code. As she does, Dixon and the SD-6'ers get a read-out showing Bad Guys approaching, but they can't see anyone. Ooh, invisible Bad Guys!

The music box plays the tune, which is being transmitted to the CIA. Outside, the SD-6'ers get taken out, save Dixon, 'cuz the Bad Guys are under the ice.

Back to Syd. After she confirms that the CIA got the tune, she sprays the music box with some stuff which corrodes it. She FINALLY turns her radio back on only to hear Dixon freaking out. "Sark's here," he cries. Yeah, right behind her. Sark orders Syd to hand over the box, which she does. She also hands over her little hammer and by hand over I mean she throws it into Sark's leg. He falls, shooting off his gun (dirty!) in the process. Syd tries to run, but the bullets have broken the ice and she falls through. She swims to the surface, but Gasp! The ice has frozen over! Oh, no!