"The mission is the cipher. The brains of the intersect, the most important piece." General Beckman reported to Agent John Casey and Agent Sarah Walker who stood at attention before an enormous television monitor on which the General via a live broadcast feed was issuing them with their mission briefing.
"If Sasha Benachik has the cipher we have less than twenty four hours max before she unloads it," Agent Casey said with concern.
"What's wrong? Did you find agent Montgomery?" Beckman asked, surprised by Agent Casey's trepidation.
"We did," said Agent Walker, trying to word her comments carefully. It wasn't easy. How could she respectfully report such a situation? "It's just he's having a bit of trouble remaining…upright!" it wasn't perfect but it fit the bill.
While the two agents and their superior officer continued to discuss it, upstairs a large hulking man slammed his feet on the floor as he climbed uneasily out of bed, heading directly for the shower, and making himself a martini…
"We tried everything. Water. Aspirin. The guy's out." Casey stated matter-of-factly. "Bottom line is if we want Sasha Benachik it's up to us. I suggest going old school – torture it out of her!"
"Torture will never work!" came a smooth confident voice from behind the agents. They both turned in time to see their "situation" enter the room, only somehow it seemed within the last few minutes the circumstances had somehow corrected themselves. Instead of the malodorous man neither of them had had any luck trying to awaken, they found themselves looking at a sharp well dressed man of distinction. Gracefully making his way in to the room he made his way down the few steps leading to the floor below in what seemed like slow motion. If ever there was a real life version of James Bond, this was it!
"Hello Diane," He said boldly addressing the woman on the screen by her first name. She outranked him and such an action according to the book was inappropriate, but instead General Beckman smiled and brushed back a strand of her hair, flattered, and said "Hello Rone."
"The only way to get to Sasha Benachik is to seduce her" Agent Montgomery reported. He wasn't as young as he used to be but clearly he still had all the charm, charisma and confidence that had made him a well known name from within the bureau
"Well if duty calls…" Said Agent Casey trying to play it cool.
"Not you Agent Frankenstein, she'll peg you as CIA in an instant," Montgomery quipped bringing a smile to Sarah's face, amused to hear her CIA partner referred to in such a manner. Ever vigilant Montgomery continued "We need somebody innocuous… some one with whom she can let her guard down… essentially the last person in the world she'd ever suspect of being an agent…"
For a moment there was a pause and nobody said anything. Sarah looked at General Beckman to Agent Casey to Agent Montgomery then back again. "Chuck?" she asked hesitantly.
"I' m afraid not!" Agent Beckman was the first to speak. "While Chuck certainly wouldn't be mistaken for CIA, he's inexperienced, and given the importance of this mission we can't leave the important work to an amateur."
"Agent Montgomery?" Sarah asked still uncertain.
"Too old," said Beckman.
"And besides," added Agent Montgomery with a strange flavour to his voice. "I really don't think I'm her type"
Then…!?
Agent Casey leaned over and placed a hand with false reassurance on Agent Walker's shoulder. "Looks like it's up to you."
Agent Sarah Walker suddenly felt a strong sickly feeling in her stomach as she realised that she'd been drafted.