perfect.place part.six
Tell me your secrets // And ask me your questions // Oh let's go back to the start . . .
"The Scientist", Coldplay
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A Few Weeks Earlier…
"This is Anton Chelnokov," Arvin Sloane announced as the pock-marked face of the Russian mobster appeared on screen. "He claims to have the plans for a nuclear device that the Soviets were working on at the end of the Cold War. Now we don't know just what these plans will build, but we cannot let them go to the highest bidder. Which is, of course, exactly what Chelnokov wants to do."
Sydney shifted in her seat as she watched Sloane pace about with his remote like a king with a scepter. He was playing Lord of the Manor, and it irritated her intensely. Sydney pictured him in Medieval robes with a drumstick in his hand, like Henry VIII. She was tempted to laugh, but then she remembered that Henry VIII killed his wives – and anyone who went against him. Sydney remembered Danny. Suddenly, it wasn't so funny.
"Sydney," Sloane said, making her jump inwardly, like she was that kid in the back row that Mrs. Haisley always caught sleeping during Algebra. "You and Dixon are going to Minsk to negotiate with Chelnokov's middleman, Sacha Nikitin. You will meet Nikitin at a pre-arranged location and exchange signals to verify each other's identities. Sydney, you will be Natasha Prokhorov, a student activist whose parents escaped the USSR in the Eighties…Yes?" Sloane asked, acknowledging the look she was giving him.
"Isn't that a high-profile alias?" Sydney asked. "I'll be watched from the airport on . . ."
"That's the point," Sloane explained. "The KGB is still active in Belarus. They are excellent in their reconnaissance skills. You'll need to first get their attention in order to elude tails."
Sydney nodded, accepting the logic. Sloane moved on. "Dixon, you will be Sydney's technical support, operating out of your hotel room. Marshall will handle OpTech. Marshall…"
The man stood, with his hands characteristically shoved in his pockets to prohibit obvious fidgeting. "You are going to love Minsk. It's so beautiful. The city is, like, 390 years old. If you have time to see the sights, I recommend the church of Mary Magdelene and the Academy of the Arts. Wow, it's fabulous."
"Marshall," Sloane interrupted.
"Yes, sorry, Mr. Sloane. Okay. Well, you, being a student-activist and all, will undoubtly wear something made from hemp. So much stuff can be made from hemp – it's an awesome plant, but, uhh, we won't get into that. So anyway, you'll have this lovely necklace – pretty isn't it?" Marshall asked, holding up a braided length of hemp with clay beads woven into it. "Now here's the really cool part – This little baby," Marshall grinned, pointing to the center bead, "is a camera. So you just put it on and point it at something, and BAM! We can see what you do. So, like we'll be able to help you spot Nikitin when you meet with him. Cool, huh?" He handed the necklace over to Sydney.
"Thank you, Marshall," Jack said, "Now, once you have successfully evaded the KGB, you will meet with Nikitin by the fountain in the park of Janka Kupala. You will be holding a copy of the morning news paper, which you will drop once Nikitin gets close enough. He will pick up the paper and ask you if you are lost. You will reply that you are looking for the opera house. Once both of you have verified each other's identity, the exchange will take place. Any questions?"
Sydney shook her head, mentally writing her letter to Vaughn already.
"Good," Sloane pronounced, a smile lighting his features with a slight demonic taint. "This briefing is over, then."
Sydney, Jack, Marshall, and Dixon stood, ready to leave the conference room and get to their provisioning for the mission at hand. Sydney was about to follow her father out the door when Sloane spoke, making her stop.
"Dixon, could I talk to you for a moment?"
Sydney looked back at Dixon. Her partner was checking his watch. "I'll meet you in Marshall's lab after lunch to go over OpTech, okay, Syd?" he said, flashing her a smile.
"Sure," she replied, returning his smile with one that didn't quite make it to her eyes. She hopped neither Dixon nor Sloane saw the fear that must be there.
"Don't bother rushing back from lunch, Sydney," Sloane said, "this mission is going to be a difficult mission to complete, so take it easy now, while you can."
While you can.
Sydney just smiled and turned away.
Just before the door closed, she looked over her shoulder at Dixon, sitting at the table, with Sloane swooping down on him like a hawk.
Get your mind on the mission, Bristow, she scolded herself, heading over to her desk to gather her bag and papers. There was nothing she could do about Sloane cozying up to Dixon at the moment. And Dixon would tell her all about it later. Wouldn't he?
Sighing, Sydney left SD-6 for the park, in search of a lunch cart where she could get a brown paper bag.
//end part six
A/N: Any place mentioned by Marshall or Jack actually exists in Minsk – yes, I did my homework! And thanks to Karen, cause she's lovely.