Airdate: Sunday.08.December.2002

At CIA headquarters, Vaughn learns of the PRF ambush on Sydney, Jack and
Irina. Sending a rescue team is impossible, since doing so may instigate
the Pakistanis. To make matters worse, Vaughn receives a memo stating that
the nuclear warheads will be activated the next day at 1700 hours.

The trio makes it to Srinagar and meets Jack's contact. Vaughn contacts
Sydney and informs her of the nukes' impending activation. Sydney jokingly
tells Vaughn that while some families go miniature golfing, her family
hunts for nuclear warheads. Disguised as Pakistanis, they head for the PRF
base in an old truck. Jack, under seemingly false pretenses, makes Irina
hide in a grain bin stowed in the back. The cars stalls 10 miles from the
base and they begin to walk. Irina informs them that the easiest entry
into the base is via a sewage tunnel — beyond a minefield that she can
navigate. Jack is dubious, but they have no choice.

At SD-6, Sark tells Sloane that he's spoken with the leader of the PRF,
Gerard Cuvee, who will upload the "results" to the server after the
operation is done. Sloane then receives another mysterious call regarding
his wife. A voice demands $100 million in bearer bonds within 24 hours. If
Sloane fails to deliver, the voice says, the next delivery will go to the
Alliance.

Nearing the PRF facility, Sydney and company are again attacked. Jack this
time gives Irina a gun and they repel the attackers. Jack, however, has
fallen near a landmine; any movement would set it off. With Irina's
guidance, Sydney defuses the device. Meanwhile, Vaughn discovers that the
Indians have learned about the nukes and will launch airstrikes in 24
hours against the Pakistani rebels.

Once inside the PRF HQ, Irina determines that the nukes will be in a secure
R&D lab, protected by thermal sensors. They must split up, Irina says:
she'll deactivate the security system from Cuvee's office, Sydney will
raise the lab's temperature so they won't be detected when they enter, and
Jack will patch into the voice-recognition system to open the doors. Jack,
still skeptical of Irina, reluctantly agrees to the plan.

Sloane meets with The Alliance, informing them that someone has interfered
with his wife's assassination and is extorting him. He suggests that they
cooperate with the blackmailer and put a tracking device on the bonds.
Later, Sloane drops the bonds, which are being tracked by Marshall, at the
specified location. To Marshall's dismay, the tracking signal is quickly lost.

Jack and Sydney make it to the lab, only to find that the nukes' plutonium
cores are gone. Suddenly, Cuvee enters 3 with Irina alongside! They're
incarcerated, and a fearful Sydney watches Cuvee and Irina confront Jack.
Cuvee says that years ago he gave Irina the assignment to marry a CIA
officer. Irina tells Jack that the PRF has made a deal with Sark. When
Cuvee leaves, Irina reveals to Jack that it's just an act, that she was
caught and had to play along. She pistol-whips him, but secretly gives him
keys to escape.

Vaughn appeals to Indian authorities to delay the airstrikes. He's denied
but is given the use of a helicopter to rescue his friends.

Jack frees himself and Sydney, and tells her that Irina said the plutonium
cores are being used to activate a Rambaldi artifact — one that, through
self-sustaining cell regeneration, proves endless life. They contact
Kendall and are told to vacate immediately because of the impending Indian
airstrikes. Jack disobeys orders and tires to find Irina.

They make it to the lab, where the PRF is using the cores to activate the
artifact. As the airstrikes begin, the artifact opens up — revealing a
flower. Jack and Irina, who was in the lab, overpower Cuvee. Vaughn
arrives in the helicopter and spirits away Sydney, Jack and Irina.

Back at the CIA, Irina returns to her cell and finds her reward — a fresh
set of pillows and blankets. She explains to Syd that she shot her in
Taipei to maintain her own cover. Later, Sydney learns from Vaughn that
the flowers are 400-600 years old. Vaughn hands her something — tickets to
go miniature golfing, which she does with Will and Francie while Vaughn
observes from a distance.