The helicopter's blades whirred to a halt, its echo fading into the bustling sounds of central London. Mackenzie stepped out onto the helipad, his figure casting a long shadow against the setting sun. His clothes, once pristine, were now covered in a layer of dust. His usually immaculate blonde hair was tousled, giving him a rugged look.
He made his way to the MI6 warehouse building. Mrs Ashton greeted him at the entrance. Her usual composed demeanour was replaced with a look of concern. "Where's Mr John?" Mackenzie asked, noticing the  absence of her partner. "He's gone to an important meeting in the city," she replied. They retreated to her office, a room filled with an air of authority. The discussion turned to the recent events at the cottage house, the loss of three of their agents and that Dr Waweski knew of Mackenzie and Aurelia’s location. Mrs Ashton's gaze wandered outside her office, her eyes darting between her colleagues. A seed of doubt had been planted in her mind, growing with each passing second. Could one of them be working with Dr Waweski? The thought was a bitter pill to swallow. Trust, once broken, was hard to rebuild. And in their line of work, it could mean the difference between life and death.
Mackenzie watched as Mrs Ashton wrestled with her thoughts. It was the first time he had seen her so uneasy, her usually unshakeable confidence replaced with uncertainty. Mackenzie asked Mrs Ashton, “How are we going to get Aurelia back?" Dr Waweski now knew Mackenzie's true identity, and just walking back into The Alternates Institute was no longer an option. Mrs Ashton scratched her head, her face etched with worry. The betrayal within her workplace had left her reeling, and answers seemed elusive. It was then that Mackenzie suggested a plan, "What if I wear an Institute guard uniform as a disguise?" His eyes held a glimmer of hope, a stark contrast to the grim situation they found themselves in. Mrs Ashton paused, considering his words. They had retrieved a uniform from one of the dead guards at the safe house cottage. It was a grim reminder of the dangers they faced, but it could also be their ticket into the institute. "That... that could work," she finally said, a spark of hope igniting in her eyes.
She quickly added, "But we can't tell any other agents in the building of our plan. We can't risk it getting out in case Dr Waweski finds out."
Just as Mackenzie was about to leave the office, the ping of an incoming email came through on Mrs Ashton's computer. It was from Mr John. The subject of the email was Dr Waweski. Her eyes scanning the contents of the email, she began to read it out loud.
“Dr Jonathon Waweski, 63, a native of Poland, moved to London forty years ago to pursue his medical studies," she read. The email painted a picture of a man driven by loss and curiosity. His parents had both died at a young age, leaving him with a fascination for technology and science, and a burning desire to stop diseases.
Mackenzie couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "I guess that's why he started the Alternates programme, to stop human mortality. He's become obsessed." Mrs Ashton looked up from the screen, her face a mask of disappointment. "This information isn't exactly groundbreaking," she sighed, her voice heavy with frustration.
But Mackenzie knew better. Every piece of information, no matter how small, was a step closer to understanding the enigma that was Dr Waweski.
"You need to be careful on your mission to rescue Aurelia," she warned him, "You are on your own for this." Mackenzie nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Despite the tension, Mrs Ashton managed a small smile, her gaze softening as she looked at him. "You've become a fine agent Mr O'Connor, despite only being one for a few days," she said, her voice filled with a hint of pride. She paused, then added, "There's a job for you at MI6 if you succeed in this mission if you want it."
Mackenzie was taken aback, flattered by the offer. He had always admired the agents of MI6, their skills, their dedication, their courage. To be considered for a position among them was an honour he hadn't expected. "I'll think about it," he replied, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.
Then, with a glint of humour in his eyes, he added, "That is, if I survive what's coming." His joke, a moment of levity in the midst of the seriousness. But beneath the humour, there was a determination, a resolve to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Mackenzie left the room, the weight of the one man mission to rescue Aurelia and shut down the Alternates Programme dawned on him. The stakes were high, and the risks even higher. But they had no other choice. As he prepared to don the guard's uniform, he knew that the fate of Aurelia and the future of the Alternates Programme rested on his shoulders.