He sends Sydney to retrieve a computer disk containing compromising info that Irina used for blackmail purpose. For her counter-mission, she's to give the disk to Richard Schmidt, an undercover agent at the Rabat embassy, who will create a bogus copy for Sydney to return to SD-6 - or, Vaughn says, "you could ask your mother for the disk's contents." She refuses.

Vaughn, under pressure from Kendall, speaks to the uncooperative Irina. She bends when Vaughn mentions Sydney's mission to Rabat, saying that Sydney must first pull a fire alarm before opening the safe. Is it the truth or a trick? Vaughn quickly contacts Sydney, who, dressed as an Italian traveller, is about to crack the safe. A suspicious Sydney refuses to pull the alarm but when she snatches the disk, an alarm sounds anyway. Syd escapes but can't transfer the disk to Schmidt.

Once back in LA, Sydney relents and agrees to see Irina, who says Sloane will use the info on the disk to bribe Peter Fortson, the creator of the T-Wave Satellite Camera, a super-sensitive spying device originally meant for use by the Pentagon. She asks for Sydney's trust. Sydney maintains her composure but breaks down after she exits.

Syd and Vaughn travel to Fortson's Helsinki lab to retrieve the camera before Sloane does. Dressed as a Eurobabe in a black wig, she narrowly avoids Sloane and steals the camera. Shortly thereafter, Sloane shoots Fortson in the leg when he discovers the camera is missing.

Back home, Will, who has been doing community service, offers to help Francie set up her restaurant. Sydney goes to Irina again and lays down guidelines for their interaction in order to depersonalise their relationship. "You are not my mother," she says. Irina acquiesces.