*Moscow, 1990*
Chandler walked quickly through the unfamiliar streets of Moscow. He was sweating despite the sharp wind that was hitting his face as he walked. It wasn't easy trying to follow in the footsteps of a legendbut he had to nonetheless. He wasn't even sure if he wanted this life for himself; hell, he was only 20. He remembered wanting to be a doctor when he was little, but he didn't really have much choice now. He was already on his way, his first assignment. While he walked, Chandler could feel the rage inside him build. What was he thinking? He couldn't do this. He was continuing a job, a lifestyle that had torn his family apart. Why was he doing this? Chandler silently cursed the answer that had immediately come to his mind, because he was good at it. His grandfather had been good at it, his father had been good at it, his brother was good at it, and Chandler was sure his sister would have been good at it if. Chandler tried not to think of the "ifs" that constantly tortured his life. Chandler finally reached his destination, The Regency Hotel. He walked in while quietly going over the plan in his head.
*New York, 8 Years Later*
"I'm telling you Joey, one of these days you're family is going to figure it out, they're not stupid" Chandler said as he and his friend and co-worker Joey entered the all too familiar building.
"Aw come on Chandler, have you met my family? For all they know, I've been working temp for the past two years. Besides, even if they were to find out, I'd just have to go ahead with the policy plan."
"You'd actually go through with that?" Chandler asked as he stopped in the middle of the entryway, somewhat shocked at his friend's easy-going attitude about the subject.
"Im not saying it would be easy, but I would do it. I've been doing this too long to back out now, I know too much. If I were to just walk away, I would probably end up dead before a year could get by." Chandler nodded sadly at the truth behind his friend's statement as they continued to the elevators. "Besides," Joey continued, "I couldn't put them in harms way like that, and if that means I have to give them up, well.so be it." Chandler remained silent as memories of what had become of his family flooded his mind.
Chandler and Joey entered the same elevator that they entered every day, the third from the right, and punched the code into the number pad. The elevator hummed as it took them to the first of a series of underground floors that not many knew existed. They went through the routine security checks that consisted of an eye scan, fingerprint checks, and a vocal submission of their 6-letter password. "442730" Chandler said mechanically after being asked by the computer, the memories of his past still lingering in the back of his mind. Once they were cleared, Joey and Chandler continued through the thick lead doors into the entrance hallway and continued to their offices as they walked over the emblem that covered the marble floor. Chandler looked at it as he did everyday when he walked over it. "ARES -The Last Line of Defense" Chandler read to himself, it had been a trademark term he had been familiar with since he was a child. A name and phrase that he had grown up resenting despite the fact that he knew he would end up working to enforce and instill it. Chandler silently parted ways with Joey and walked into his office closing the door behind him.