19 years later

"And they plan to launch an atomic bomb."

That was definitely how I didn't want my morning to start. I look at the Peaceful Nations delegates, who are just as confused as I am, and sip my coffee. Its temp burns my tongue. Have I gone crazy?

"You do understand the actions we are required to undertake," Nel Vala says, his piercing blue eyes freezing my insides as usual, as I try to hold his gaze. In our HQ we call him Nevalja, (or Val for short) as in my language it means unworthy, or not enough. For him, something is always not enough. But overall he's an okay boss, though he's pretty young - 33.

"Michelle, you understand this is a serious issue to consider, right?"

"Yes, sir," the mentioned woman replies and bats her emerald eyes at our boss, watching his every movement, "I understand if we don't act, the bomb could affect our homelands and kill over half a billion people over night."

Val looks away, seeming to let her off for the time being. But the very next moment he turns to me.

"Eleanor, you... you're in charge of the new expedition. You must go to Cairo and learn everything you can about the terrorist attacks. We have heard their base is somewhere in the suburbs and if you could find their whereabouts, you got this in the bag."

"We'll have to let them in through everything - security, pass control, customs, yes?" Egypt's delegate, also invited, clarifies.

But I can't do anything. I can't respond. I can't function.

Am I the leader of our next research mission?!

"Elle? You got that?"

"Yes, I believe," I reply after a second, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The problem is: I didn't get that. I didn't get anything.

Except that I am the leader of the next undercover mission.

Val gives us a bit more orders for the upcoming mission, and finally lets us go.

As the delegates leave so do my colleagues, but my boss stops me at the very last moment.

"Elle, come here.".

My chest heaves as I shyly go towards him. What could he be planning for me this time?