Chapter 2
Did he just say that? What about Lauren? she thought.
Sydney stares in disbelief at him, her mind racing. "What?" She stares into his eyes, searching for something, anything.
Sensing her alarm, Vaughn quickly covers his tracks. "Working with you. I missed working with you, you know, while you were... gone." The two of them sit in silence, occasionally catching each other's eyes for the rest of the plane ride.
A loud, slightly garbled voice announces their arrival over the loud speaker. The two buckle up and prepare for landing. Once the plane touches down, the two jump out of their seats, grab their luggage and rush out of the plane to the van waiting for them. As Vaughn jumps into the driver's seat and peels out of the airport runway, Syd sets up the equipment in the back of the van.
Once everything is running, Syd climbs into the passenger seat and slides on the diamond engagement ring. Marshall's voice floats into her head, a memory from their briefing earlier. "This is still a prototype, but it's tested enough to be field ready. It's a ring. You put it-- you know-- on your left hand, sort of like you uh show your friends and be like 'Guess what?! We're engaged'."
The van slows to a halt a few blocks away from a hotel. "Okay, Syd. In that hotel, in the ballroom, is a convention for microphysicists. Marshall hacked in and got you onto the guest list, so no need to worry about that. Your alias is Stacey Cooper. Evan is supposedly meeting with someone to get the details for his next target. The target may be one of the guests, so stay on your toes. You need to just get inside and keep the diamond aimed on Evan, I will be able to hear and see him on the monitor in here."
She reaches for the handle and pops the door open, climbing out. For one last look, she holds the door and faces inside, staring at Vaughn. He smiles meekly and whispers "Good luck."
Did he just say that? What about Lauren? she thought.
Sydney stares in disbelief at him, her mind racing. "What?" She stares into his eyes, searching for something, anything.
Sensing her alarm, Vaughn quickly covers his tracks. "Working with you. I missed working with you, you know, while you were... gone." The two of them sit in silence, occasionally catching each other's eyes for the rest of the plane ride.
A loud, slightly garbled voice announces their arrival over the loud speaker. The two buckle up and prepare for landing. Once the plane touches down, the two jump out of their seats, grab their luggage and rush out of the plane to the van waiting for them. As Vaughn jumps into the driver's seat and peels out of the airport runway, Syd sets up the equipment in the back of the van.
Once everything is running, Syd climbs into the passenger seat and slides on the diamond engagement ring. Marshall's voice floats into her head, a memory from their briefing earlier. "This is still a prototype, but it's tested enough to be field ready. It's a ring. You put it-- you know-- on your left hand, sort of like you uh show your friends and be like 'Guess what?! We're engaged'."
The van slows to a halt a few blocks away from a hotel. "Okay, Syd. In that hotel, in the ballroom, is a convention for microphysicists. Marshall hacked in and got you onto the guest list, so no need to worry about that. Your alias is Stacey Cooper. Evan is supposedly meeting with someone to get the details for his next target. The target may be one of the guests, so stay on your toes. You need to just get inside and keep the diamond aimed on Evan, I will be able to hear and see him on the monitor in here."
She reaches for the handle and pops the door open, climbing out. For one last look, she holds the door and faces inside, staring at Vaughn. He smiles meekly and whispers "Good luck."