The room was crowded when Cammie Morgan walked into her mother's office. Some of the people she recognized, her mother, her aunt Abby, and Mr. Solomon, but there were several men and women that she didn't know.

"Cammie," her mother said when she saw her, "come in."

Cammie smiled at the cheerful tone in her mother's voice, but the worry in her eyes made Cammie's stomach tie itself in knots. "What's going on?" she asked, proud of how her curiosity masked the nervousness in her voice.

Before her mother could respond one of the men, the most important looking one, started speaking. "Ms. Morgan," he said, his voice kind and serious, "My name is Joe Byrne, Deputy Director of the Covert Actions Division of the CIA. We realize that you're still in school, but we have a mission we would like you to accept."

"A mission?" Cammie asked, looking between her mother and Mr. Byrne. "What do you mean?"

"There is a situation rising in Japan. We don't have much information on the situation, but MI6 has asked for our help in their investigation." Cammie remained silent, so he continued. "They have an operative that they are planning to send in and we would like you to go in as his backup."

"Why me?" asked Cammie, perplexed. "Of everyone you could send in why me? Especially when I haven't even graduated yet."

One of the man's lackeys stepped forward and, with a nod of approval from his boss, started to rattle off reasons. "There are several reasons we would like you, Cameron Ann Morgan, to accept this mission. 1- For various reasons the best choice of operatives in this situation will be children. 2- You are known to be a successful pavement artist, a skill which will serve very useful in this mission. 3- You have the most field experience, whether sanctioned or not, of any of the students here at the Gallagher Academy. 4- You bear a striking resemblance to MI6's agent. This is important because your cover will be as siblings. 5- You are wanted by the Circle of Caven, and one of the last places they will think to look for you would be in Japan." The man finished off his list and stepped back.

Cammie just stared at them, dumbfounded.

"You don't have to accept this mission if you don't want to Cammie," said her mother supportingly "You're not a member of the CIA yet. You're not even an adult. It's completely up to you whether you agree or not."

Cammie looked back at Mr. Byrne and he nodded. "Your mother's absolutely right, Ms. Morgan. We won't try to force you if you don't want to go. It could be dangerous, I'm not going to lie, but we could really use your help."

Abby looked between her niece and her boss before saying, "Maybe you should tell Cammie what the mission is before you make her decide.

"We don't know much," said Mr. Byrne apologetically. "Italian mafiosi are congregating in Japan, and for the last year or so there has been a drastic increase of unrest among the yakuza there."

"Yakuza?"

"It's the Japanese equivalent of the mafia," said Mr. Solomon, speaking for the first time. "They're generally pretty calm for organized crime. Unrest among them is unnatural, and usually means trouble."

"That's right. MI6 is very concerned, and the Japanese government refuses to answer their questions. They want you and their operative to gather information, that's it."

"Who's their agent?"

"You'll meet him soon, if you choose to accept this mission. He's very young, only fourteen, but he's good. I've worked with him twice and been very impressed with his work. He has a 100% success rate, which is almost unheard of."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Just how many missions has he gone on?"

"I'm not sure," said Mr. Byrne. He turned to another member of his entourage and she consulted a list before saying, "He's been on two for us, and we know know of two for MI6. It's suspected that he's been on another two for MI6 and it's rumored that he's even worked with the ASIS."

Mr. Solomon gave a low whistle. Abby was nodding thoughtfully. "We'd heard his name, of course," she said slowly. "Who hasn't in our line of work? But I'd always thought he was some sort of espionage myth."

"I felt the same way," said Mr. Solomon. "How is it possible that someone so careless as to let his name be known all over the world is so successful at such a young age?"

"I don't know," said Mr. Byrne, "but I can't argue with that success."

Cammie's mother looked at her and then back to Mr. Byrne. "If everything we've heard about this kid is true," she said carefully, "then he has some powerful enemies. Is it wise to send him and Cammie off alone together?"

Mr. Byrne smiled reassuringly. "MI6 is currently working to distract SCORPIA as they sneak him out of the country. I assume the Circle of Caven is watching the school?" he asked. Rachel nodded. "And you have ways to get people out of the school unobserved?" Another nod. "If we can get them to Washington DC unobserved, we should be able to to get them to Japan safely. There they will be under the care of a retired MI6 agent. He'll have measures in place to keep them safe."

"And he's aware of the circumstances?"

"MI6 has assured me that he has been fully debriefed.

"Have you met him?" asked Abby, leaning on her sister's desk.

"I haven't had the pleasure, but I've heard of him and his reputation is good."

"His success rate?" asked Mr. Solomon.

"92%. Not as high as some, but still very good. He has over forty years of experience on his side. And he's never lost a partner. He won't let them get into needless danger."

Rachel nodded and looked at her daughter again. It wasn't until the eyes of everyone in the room were on her did Cammie realize they were waiting for her to say something.

She shifted nervously and fiddled with the truth ring she always wore on her right hand. "Um, I guess I only have one question," she said. "Who is my partner?"