The woods were alive with gunfire and the sharp cries of battle. Sydney Bristow fired her weapon with precision, taking down one of Sark's henchmen.

Michael Vaughn and Kate Bishop fought alongside her, their backs against each other as they tried to hold their ground.

Suddenly, there was a deafening explosion. Sydney was thrown to the ground, her ears ringing. She blacked out momentarily.

When she came to, the world was eerily silent. She looked around, seeing bodies strewn across the forest floor.

She could see the lips of a Sark's henchman moving, but there was no sound. He was ordering her to put her hands up.

Sydney's heart pounded in her chest, her hearing still impaired from the blast. She glanced down at the man she had just killed, a grim reminder of the brutality of their situation. Her eyes locked onto the advancing henchman, his lips moving but no sound emerging. She braced herself for the end.

But the shot never came. Instead, the henchman jerked violently before collapsing to the ground, an arrow protruding from his chest. Sydney looked up, her eyes meeting Kate's. The younger woman gave a curt nod, the seriousness of their situation reflected in her gaze.

A wave of gratitude washed over Sydney. She nodded back at Kate, her eyes conveying the unspoken thanks. They were still in danger, but for now, they had a brief reprieve. She stood up, dusted herself off, ready to continue their fight.