After a meeting with gadget guy, Marshall Sydney was equipped with things for her mission. She met Vaughn, at in the blood donor van and they drove off to the factory to retrieve the painting. As usual Sydney was in disguise. This time she was dressed in black, with a black wig to top it off. They parked near the factory and Sydney prepared her things before deciding the best way into the building.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" questioned Vaughn looking Sydney in the eyes.

"Yes. I can manage. I'll see if I can get through an open window or something. I have my headset switched on so you'll be able to hear me."

"Ok, good luck." Vaughn placed his arms around Sydney and hugged her before they fell into another kiss. Sydney pulled away smiling, departed from the van and headed towards the factory. She disappeared around the building and out of sight. She found a high wall and pulled out her rope with a grappling hook on the end and threw it upwards. It hooked itself on a bar and Sydney tugged it to make sure it was in place. She then began pulling herself up the rope with one end hooked securely to her belt and the other hooked on the bar. She reached the top and scanned the area.

"Boy Scout, this is Red Herring. I am on the roof of the building. I see an open window" Sydney said as she spoke into her headset.

"Red Herring this is Boy Scout I read you loud and clear. Try an open window. Use that device that you said Marshall gave you to unlock things."

"I will, thanks. Over and out." Sydney replied unhooking herself.

She made it along the roof trying to be quiet. She saw some skylight windows, made her way over and peered down. There was a congregation of men to-ing and fro-ning. And then she saw him, Mr Kensington dressed in a dark green suite. He was smoking a long fat cigar and seemed to be chuckling to himself. Sydney couldn't hear what they were saying but by their expressions and actions they seemed to be plotting something. Possibly plotting to exchange the another fake item with the real like Mr Kensington had done to Sydney with the painting. As she looked down at him a sense of anger filled her face. She looked down at her arm. She was lucky she could move her fingers and manage to grip things a bit but she wanted revenge. He had nearly left her mind totally erased and worse had nearly gotten her killed. She was lucky to had her bullet proof vest on so the impact of the lorry wasn't so painful. She spotted the window at the far end that seemed to drop into another room, this one dark. She crept along the titles to the window and noticed one already open. She had never seen a factory with windows on the roof. She didn't know why they were there but they were damn useful. The open window led to the far side of the room where the men were except they had gone, so Sydney made a break to go inside.

"Boy Scout this is Red Herring. I'm going in"

"Ok" replied Vaughn from the blood donor van.

Sydney walked towards the open window keeping quiet in case the men came back. Suddenly a bird flew past and startled her making her move backwards and knock a set of stones into the room.

"Damn it!" she cursed under her breath. She stepped backwards only to find the men back in the room firing at her from below.

"Boy Scout this is Red Herring. I have been made. They saw me!" Sydney shouted and began to make her way back across the roof. Suddenly a bullet shot shattering the glass beneath her and sending her falling down through the roof and into the darkened room. All Vaughn heard was Sydney scream over her headset.

"Red herring do you copy? This is Boy Scout Please respond!"

+++++++++

Sydney's fall was broken by mass of boxes off to the side where she had fallen. She was thankful that the cardboard boxes had cushioned her fall. She scrambled to her feet and began looking around. The room was dark and through the corner of her eye she could see a door with the words 'Private: Restricted Area' labelled on it. She guessed it might the room to where the real painting was. She touched her headset.

"Boy Scout this is Red Herring. Do you copy?"

"I copy loud and clear. What is your position?" replied Vaughn.

"I fell through the glass roof and landed on some boxes. I see a door which I think has the painting in. I am going to attempt to unlock it"

"Good job, but be careful."

"I will."

Sydney quietly made her way over to the door. Pulling out the unlock device from her rucksack she pressed it on the lock and began twisting it to open the door. Suddenly she heard footsteps and turned around to see a man standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing in here!?" He shouted.

Sydney moved forward and kicked the man in the stomach once, twice knocking hum to the floor breathless.

"That's why I'm here. To kick you breathless!" she shouted at him before seeing another man, another one of the guards enter to room. She kicked him also and sent him sprawling across the floor. She hurried back to work unlocking the door. This time she succeeded and managed to open the door, only to find a gun being pointed at her head from inside the open door. Obviously the guards had been informed that there was an intruder in the room and was probably heading for the real painting. Sydney decided to use her good arm to punch him but felt someone grab her arms and hold them backwards.

"Get off me!" she cried, replaying the same words she had said before being hit by the lorry.

"You're not going anywhere. We know what you're up to and we're not letting it happen." said the guard, gripping her arms.

She tried to struggle but soon found her self sinking to the ground after the tranquilliser gun was shot into her neck. She passed out. Vaughn was unaware of the danger Sydney was in.

Sydney meanwhile was being taken to see the Boss, Mr Kensington.

So what did you think of chapter 8? It was so nice to be able to get back to some action scenes. A lot will happen to Sydney in the next chapter and she may or may not survive. I won't spoil anymore so I'll leave you until next time to find out what happens. If you have any suggestions or improvements let me know. Thank you very much for the reviews. Keep them coming!