My head was throbbing with pain. All I saw was darkness. Incoherent echoing voices were drifting about in my head; my head hurts. Someone was calling my name. A hand reached out through the darkness - I could feel my reaching out - I had no control; our fingertips were just about to touch barely brushing past...

A deep sounding click had me jolt out of me drowning in my own sanity. I felt the coolness of something metallic pressed against my forehead. As I regained my eyesight, I realised my arm and legs were tied to a chair; my head hung to the side watching my shadow sway below me as the fluorescent lights above me twitches and flickers. Then I looked up warily at my captor: gun in hand.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked in french. Oh, I had forgotten I had the translator gadget fitted on my neck just below my earlobe.

"None of your concern," he wheezed eyeing me from head to toe, "however, I do apologise for disrupting your mission, but I have to deliver a message:- do not tell anyone - if you do, she'll die-"

"Who?" My eyes widened like saucers as I slowly levelled my startled gaze with his obscure one, "Armani Moore."

"Oui, Armani Moore," he held a smug look, "T.O.S has her and they know she has knowledge of your mother's whereabouts and judging by the look you are giving me, she is really valuable."

I scowled at him struggling ferociously.

"I wouldn't move, love. Unless you want a bullet through your head." He pressed the gun harder; the round hole dug into the skin on my forehead.

"Then how long do you intend to keep me here?!" I asked through gritted teeth.

He replied with a grin, "Until your man comes and gets you."

***********************

7 months later...

"Valerio Ungaro, you have got the gadgets needed for the mission correct?"

"Yes, sir." Valerio gestured to his business-like briefcase.

We were in a stockroom with rows of gadgets stashed away in metallic black cases; the shelves reached up to the ceiling with ladders propped up every few metres. Then Elmer turned to me with an identical black case in hand which glistened from the fluorescent lighting rippling across the lid as he opened it to reveal the gadgets: A USB stick disguised as lipstick, a translator device - for missions abroad, a grappling hook attached to a gun, a laser gun, a normal gun etc...

It was given to me swiftly before me and Valerio was ushered down the aisle by an assistant and into the lift where I called out, "What about Libby Hale?"

Elmer replied, "She is on a separate mission; it's none of your concern."

I let out a brief frustrated sigh as the doors of the lift closed causing Valerio to turn and ask, "What's up with you?"

"You obviously know what's bothering me. Why bother ask? You only want to annoy me further just be asking."

As he was standing beside me I could see from the corner of my eye that his face broke into a brief smile before changing the subject, sort of, "At least you know what the mission is about and for once you are mostly in charge. You should be happy about that," then he leaned in and whispered, "and the paycheck."

I just rolled my eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood clearly reminding me that one should not question the detail of another person's mission. But we are supposed to work as a team. Ever since Armani's been kidnapped, Libby was always taken on missions - freelancing, going solo and Elmer has not breathed a word to me nor Valerio. He just shrugged it off and moved on with his life as if this offhanded favouritism wasn't suspicious enough, and I kept reminding him with little success.

I stared ahead at the metallic doors of the lift; the corner of my eye caught glimpses of the red floor numbers on the lift's panel flickering as they changed. Eventually, the lift slowed to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal a hybrid SUV parked at the entrance of the alleyway leading to where it all began. I was snapped out of my trance by Valerio gesturing for me to go first. I muttered a mere thanks and left the building.

As I approached, tall figures in suits emerged from the front doors taking hold of my gadget bag and Valerio's briefcase placing it in the boot of the SUV. While they were doing so, I stood there and admired myself: I slightly raised my foot admiring the sturdiness of the leather ankle boots - the heels containing blades which pop out on activation. I did a mini twirl as the flaps of the midnight blue cashmere coat followed the direction of my body, the buttons being capable of detaching themselves from the coat and flying off as mini drones. Underneath the coat was a relatively thick black turtleneck followed by regular dark blue jeans; my gaze moved to my hair which was gelled back into a bun out of the way. Within my luggage was a crimson long sleeve maxi dress reaching just below the knees having a small slit in the back. Valerio appeared placing a hand on my shoulder to signal he was getting into the car. I gracefully moved out of the way which he thanked with a grateful smile and I watched as his pompadour styled hair shone underneath the lighting of the SUV.

"Aria, aren't you getting in?" He beckoned as he reached to unfasten his dark blue tie which complimented his matching midnight blue suit.

"Ah, ok." I clambered in not so gracefully and one of the suited men closed the door behind me, got into the front and before we knew it, we were heading for Heathrow airport where our private jet awaits us.

The aircon was on slightly fanning my face as I peered out the tinted windows, watching the shiny glass surfaces of the angular buildings and a stream of faces, melt and merge into each other in a passing blur. Everything was brilliantly lit from the early summer's sun where occasionally shadows flicker into visibility from the disruption of drones and birds passing by. At one point, we were on top of a motorway bridge where pretty much the whole of West London shone like a shattered mirror, each fragment reflecting and dazzling; below us cars raced between red traffic lights stubbornly flickering in the grey and the world tilted along with us - bright advertisement thrust into view as the SUV made its descent down the bridge.

*

We approached the building where the jet was held which emerged as we emerged and was given our hand luggage. The men in suits escorted us up the stairs and were welcomed by our air hostess who said, "Welcome on the Alpha Bird, this journey may be short and on behalf of your spymaster, good luck."

Both us politely said our thanks and watched as the SUV drove itself off. Then I entered the passenger area before Valerio and was taken aback. The soft, plush seats seem to follow the shape of the jet facing each other giving the impression of being inside a limo. In the middle was a briefing table perhaps used to discuss details about missions.

"Take a seat." said a voice in my ear which startled me, causing me to elbow him in the rips.

Instantly I turned around and apologised, "I'm so, sorry Valerio."

"It's alright," he murmured nursing his injury with an icepack the air hostess gave him, "Your reflexes were good by the way, as always."

"Er, thanks. But do you...?" I offered him a hand but he declined and I just went to take a seat.

He winced as he sat opposite me, scanned his finger on the table's surface and I also did the same. Then a voice greeted, Good afternoon Agent Valerio Ungaro and Agent Aria Fortescue, how can I help you?

Valerio gestured, "You do the honours."

I nodded and asked, "Alexa, please go over the exact details of the mission."

Email from Spymaster Elmer: It is clear you know where my expectation lies. You are to carry out the mission in Brussels where the Global AI conference will take place, a holographic map appeared above the table showing the venue, observe and simply gather intel. Aria would be assigned to collect information on the MADASI DRONE (MD) store. An image of a man in his middle ages appeared with a hooked nose, angular eyes and high cheekbones his hair streaked with grey, Valerio would keep an eye on the representative of the Russian military, Aaron Kosinov, to confirm the Organisation's suspicions. Aria will be using the USB stick in disguise, Valerio will use the Lip reading contact lens which will be recorded remotely and stored into the Organisation's database. Other investigations for the Alpha Team these past 11 months have little success and would require other members to not intervene. If you have any questions, contact me.

Then the hologram turned off; our watches vibrated notifying us that they were watching. By then we were hurtling down the runway. The jet thundered on, eventually, the wheels went quiet and we felt the tip of the jet lift up into the air.

*****

We arrived at our hotel. Our luggage being carried for us, and the afternoon went by in a blur. Food was offered to us on a silver platter, quite literally, and was constantly surrounded by walls and floors of gold and mahogany. Literally, no privacy was given to us as we were constantly surrounded by men in suits throughout the rest of the afternoon; it has been 11 months of going on numerous missions surrounded by them and still never got used to them. Occasionally, from the corner of my eye, I would catch Valerio stealing glances in my direction at numerous points; at dinner, in the lift, on the way to our individual en suite hotel rooms across each other in the hallway. I couldn't tell whether it was his usual stony-faced glance or a glance of... interest? He really was the definition of a mystery at the time.

I closed the door, slumping against it and took in my surroundings; it was a moderately sized room, pretty far up from street level which also follows the whole mahogany and traces of gold scheme. The windows were also large clearly following the floor to ceiling trend where I saw the sun began to set, burning the sky pink and orange. In the distance, I saw numerous skyscrapers emerge from the faint fog as black pillars in the skyline. I sighed, hung my coat and slipped off my shoes placing them close to my luggage sitting adjacent to the bed. I practically threw myself into it and stared at the blank ceiling for what seemed like long time when a knock suddenly jolted me upright.

I reached into my gadget bag that sat beside my bed, pulling out a gun - the bullet kind. I made my way towards the door; gun behind my back and my finger on the trigger. I opened it wide enough for my head to fit through seeing Valerio standing in the corridor in casual attire, his blonde hair slightly dishevelled and his face wore a somewhat solemn look.

"What do you want?" I almost demanded.

"We need to talk." He hesitated to look around making sure the coast was clear before continuing, "about Armani."

***************************************************************************************A/N The world is going through uncertain times and my exams are cancelled. Apparently. So I have a month's break if not longer, who knows? But I would resume updating this book (slowly) for the time being - if anyone reads this book - and I did put effort into the beginning for the purpose of the Exams so... *Shrugs*

That's all I have to say
P.S it is also a long chapter so I will split it into two parts

~Rayhanah (Rai_Maru)