In the African country of Sangala, a renegade General named Juma prepares to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister. While Juma leads an army of trained soldiers, his second-in-command, Colonel Dubaku, supplements his ranks with young boys kidnapped from their villages and families. Using a combination of drugs, alcohol, and fear, Dubaku and his men (including his brother Youssou) brainwash the boys until they are ready and willing to join the cause for “freedom,” and take up arms against their own people. At the Okavango School for Orphans, created and run by ex-Special Forces operative Carl Benton, the boys know better than to wander off unattended. Nevertheless, this doesn’t stop two boys — Desmond and James — from ignoring the protestations of Desmond’s younger brother Willie, and going to a local soccer field to play.

Working at the school is Benton’s old friend Jack Bauer. Primarily doing physical labor, but also a mentor of sorts to the orphaned boys, he and eleven-year-old Willie have begun to develop a tight-knit bond. When Bauer catches Willie going through his bags, Jack gives the boy the colorful Indian scarf… but makes sure Willie returns a rebar knife the boy has pocketed. Regular visitors to the school include laissez-faire UN worker Charles Solenz, who transports supplies for Benton; but won’t go so far as to actually help unload his own truck. State Department official Frank Trammel arrives at the school looking for Jack. It seems that no matter where Bauer tries to hide, his past always finds and catches up with him. This time Bauer is being pursued by a State Department subpoena, and a Senate sub-committee that wants him back in Washington to answer questions about his questionable interrogation techniques. Jack refuses to return home: if the bureaucrats want him, they can come and get him.

At the rebel headquarters Colonel Dubaku unloads a new cache of weapons, but tells Youssou they still need more “soldiers” to wield them. Dubaku’s satellite phone rings. On the other end is Washington power-broker Jonas Hodges, General Juma’s chief financier and weapons provider. Jonas offers the Colonel soldiers as well as weapons, but Dubaku declines: his people will fight for his country. Back in Washington, Hodges directs Nichols — his chief financial lackey — to destroy all records of the dealings with the junta. Nichols passes the task to Chris Whitley, a subordinate, pill-popping trader. At the Okavango School, Benton and Bauer have a heart-to-heart in the way only two men who have spent a lifetime killing for their country can. Their friendship is strong. Benton is happy to let Jack stay, but Bauer knows that the longer he does, the worse Trammell will make things for Benton and the school. Jack says he will leave. Later another schoolboy, Thomas, talks about the increasing number of boys disappearing from town; he says the rumor is they’re being taken by Juma. Solenz says Juma is harmless, but Willie gets worried for his brother’s safety, and tells Benton about the soccer game. Benton gets in his Jeep, and drives into town to look for the boys. As a group of boys play soccer on a dusty lot, they are interrupted by the arrival of Youssou and his soldiers in SUVs. The vehicles surround the boys, who scatter but are quickly corralled. A child-soldier recognizes Desmond and James from Okavango School, and tells Youssou there will be other boys there. Desmond and James make a break for freedom. They run toward a tree line but a soldier opens fire, cutting them down. With the other boys as prisoners, Youssou and his men leave the two lifeless bodies behind.

In Washington Roger Taylor, son of President Elect Allison Taylor, prepares for his mother’s inauguration as America’s first female Commander-In-Chef. With him is girlfriend Samantha Ross. Roger’s cell phone rings: it’s his longtime friend (and recovering addict) Chris Whitley. He needs help, and asks to come over. Samantha is less than enthused to see her co-worker, but assuming the problem is drug related, Roger agrees to see him. Meanwhile, in the White House, President Elect Taylor awaits her moment of ascension with her vigilant and supportive husband Henry by her side. Thomas Lennox approaches. Apologizing for President Noah Daniels’ absence, Lennox tells Taylor about the imminent coup in Sangala. Daniels teleconferences with the Sangalan Prime Minister, who provides video of Juma’s soldiers entering the city, and requests military aide. The lame-duck President, not wanting to get involved, says his hands are tied. When Daniels and Taylor meet, she asks him the status of the coup. Daniels says he has given the order to get all Americans out of the region. Taylor thinks the US needs to stay, and help an ally government; and more importantly, the people. Daniels counters that there is no upside to getting involved in a foreign civil war, and no Sangalan resources to make it economically viable. Taylor worries that American abandonment will result in a genocide.

Benton arrives at the soccer field, and after searching, finds his two students. While James is dead, a wounded Desmond clings to life. At the school Jack says goodbye to Willie, who begs to be taken along. As Jack heads off on foot his satellite phone rings: it’s Benton. He tells Jack what has happened, and that the soldiers are headed for the school. He tells Jack to put the kids in the shelter, and directs him to a weapons stash; he’s on his way. Jack tells Thomas to get everyone in the shelter, and tells Solenz that Juma’s men are coming. The UN man stays characteristically neutral and unhelpful… until he spies the dust trail caused by the three incoming SUVs, at which point he prepares a diplomatic solution. Jack tells Solenz to hide inside with the children, which he does. Jack finds Benton’s weapons locker, and arms himself. With the boys well hidden, Jack takes to the offensive. Youssou and his twelve men arrive, and begin to search for the boys. Jack attacks. He moves stealthily, and manages to cut down the enemy’s numbers. Youssou is remarkably well armed, and the insurgents do serious damage to the school structures. Jack however, avoids injury. Out of ammo, Jack continues his assault using his knife, and he further whittles away at the enemy. Finally Jack is locked in hand-to-hand combat, and overpowered by superior numbers in close quarters. A soldier is about to shoot him, but Youssou needs him to locate the boys. Benton arrives, and sees the smoldering school in the distance. He moves in for a closer look, and sees Jack being strung up by Youssou and his men. He contemplates his next move.

At the US Embassy, Trammell contends with the sea of refugees who want to be airlifted out; but he’s taking American citizens only. Benton calls, and asks for help with his eighteen kids. The best Trammell can offer is seats on the last chopper out, which leaves in one hour… but Benton needs to get the kids to the Embassy. Benton can’t wait for help. He needs to rescue the kids himself, but first he’ll need to help Jack. He pulls his gun, and breaks his rearview mirror. Youssou continues to torture and question the bound and already beaten former CTU agent, but Jack won’t give up the kids’ location. Jack sees repeated glints from a mirror in the jungle, and reads the code. Feigning fear of further brutality, Jack agrees to give up the kids: he tells the soldiers they are hiding in the jungle. The last surviving soldiers enter the jungle while Youssou waits with his prisoner. Three single gunshots are heard, and Youssou turns to look. Jack uses the distraction, and seizes the opportunity. He attacks Youssou. Using only his legs and feet, Jack overpowers his captor, and snaps his neck. Benton approaches, and cuts Jack loose. He asks Jack to help him get the kids to the Embassy. Benton says he has sponsorship papers for all the kids: Trammell will get them out of the country, but he needs Jack’s help getting to the city. Jack agrees. After they let Solenz and the kids out of their hiding place, Willie is reunited with his injured brother, and begins to care for him. Benton performs first aid on the boy while explaining the plan. Solenz decides to take his chances, and leaves on his own while the others board the old school bus. Jack takes a two-way radio off Youssou’s dead body.

In Washington, Chris Whitley arrives at Roger Taylor’s residence. Following a pat-down by Secret Service Agent Vossler, he’s allowed access to his friend. After convincing Roger he’s not there for a substance-abuse issue, he talks about some recent dubious dealings at Nichols’ office in which he’s been enlisted to help. He adds that he recently did some digging: he’s learned that his boss has been working with a known terrorist. He tells Roger about Nichols’ earlier request to destroy records. He saved the computer files, and has them at his house. Fearful, Chris wants to turn state’s evidence, and asks Roger to petition his mother for help. Roger agrees to look at the evidence, and Chris says he’ll e-mail the files within the hour. Back in Sambala, the Rebel HQ is outfitted with high-tech gadgetry, ostensibly courtesy of Jonas Hodges. A helicopter lands, and General Juma emerges. Juma and Dubaku embrace as old friends. Their reunion is interrupted by a phone call from a checkpoint patrol that has detained Solenz. In return for his safety, the UN representative offers information; including the fact that the Colonel’s brother has been killed by an American. As Jack, Benton, and the Boys drive toward the city, they hear chatter over the radio indicating that Dubaku’s patrols are searching for them. Jack drives the bus off the road, and they continue on foot.

After their Oval Office meeting, Daniels and Taylor part company. The President Elect and her husband continue on towards the inauguration as they discuss the events unfolding in Sangala. It is clear that she trusts and values her husband’s opinions. She wonders why Daniels made his latest foreign policy decisions without consulting her. In the Sangalan jungle Dubaku’s commandos find the abandoned bus. Unlike Youssou’s child-soldiers, these commandos are professionals. They quickly determine from tracks on the ground how many have fled, and in what direction. The group is headed to the city. Bent on avenging his brother’s death, the Colonel boards a helicopter to go after Jack. In Washington, Chris Whitley arrives at home, and begins to download some files onto a flash drive. He is interrupted by the appearance of two men, Halcott and Quinn, who accuse Chris of stealing confidential files from work. Chris is scared. He admits his theft, but says he showed no one the files. His fear is heightened when Quinn opens a metal case, removing a syringe and several monitoring sensors. They tape him to a chair in preparation for further interrogation. Roger and Samantha arrive via limo at the VIP area in anticipation of the inauguration. Despite prodding, Roger won’t tell his girlfriend why Chris asked to see him. After helping the two out of the car, Agent Vossler speaks via cell phone to Halcott. The files have been recovered, and their interrogation of Chris continues.

In the jungle Jack, Benton, and the boys reach the river, which leads straight to the city. Aware that Jack wants to avoid the Embassy, Benton says they can make it the rest of the way on their own. Benton thanks his friend for all his help. Their goodbyes are interrupted by the arrival of Dubaku’s chopper. As Jack hurries everyone back into the jungle, the chopper begins to strafe the ground. Unable to get a clear shot, the chopper lands, and Dubaku and his men pursue on foot. Running through the jungle for their lives, Jack, Benton, and the boys get out ahead of the soldiers. Then young Willie realizes that the prized Indian scarf he got from Jack has fallen from his pocket. As Willie backtracks for the scarf, Benton sees the boy about to step on a mine. He pushes Willie clear, stepping on the mine himself. Hearing the tell-tale click of the anti-personnel mine, Benton remains still. Jack assesses the situation. Both men know that as soon as Benton steps off the spring-loaded mine, it will detonate. Jack refuses to leave his old friend behind; but Benton begs him to deliver the boys to safety. He will stay behind, and buy them some time. He gives Jack the boys’ transit papers, and they continue towards the town. Minutes later Dubaku and his men arrive to find Benton alone. They question him, but he is cunning: he lures the Colonel and his men closer before detonating the explosive device. Jack and the boys continue through the jungle, and hear the explosion behind them. They only have fifteen minutes to get to the Embassy. Back in the jungle, Dubaku lies on the ground. While his men lay dead around him, it appears he has survived the blast.

After reaching the city, and dispatching three more soldiers sent to kill him, Jack and the boys finally arrive at the US Embassy. At the Capitol Building in Washington, Roger is distracted that he hasn’t received Chris’ e-mail. President Elect Taylor arrives, and greets her son. Elsewhere in the VIP section, Vossler approaches Hodges: the problem with Chris has been handled, and Roger knows nothing. At the Embassy, Jack fights past the crowd of refugees to find Trammell. He tells Trammell that Benton is dead, and hands over the sponsorship papers for the boys. Trammell says the boys need a US citizen to act as their guardian, or he can’t let them board the helicopter. Jack understands: in order to save the boys he must surrender himself to the subpoena, and return to America with them. He agrees. The boys board the chopper as Jack is taken into custody. As they leave the ground in Sangala amidst the panic, and encroaching forces of General Juma, Allison Taylor takes the oath of office in Washington DC. Elsewhere, Quinn disposes of Chris Whitley’s body, and Agent Vossler keeps a close eye on Roger Taylor.