Hello, readers. Sorry this took so long. I actually had written this chapter a week ago, then forgot to submit it. I then wrote the next chapter before I realised that I had missed this one. So that's what took so long. This chapter's short just so sum up the idea, since I didn't want to take time to re-do the entire thing. I was also on a road trip that took two weeks. Just saying. Don't kill me.

Amy jumped up from her chair on the plane. She was just dozing off when she was started awake by something very alarming. She whirled to face Matt.

"I just felt the plane drop! Are we landing? Why are we landing? We can't be there yet!"

"Relax." Matt put down the book he was reading. "We have to make a stop in Almaty for a quick layover."

"Almaty, is in Kazakhstan?" Amy exploded. "We can't stop in Kazakhstan! We're wasting time! If we have enough fuel, we should just go all the way!" She drew a deep breath, preparing to continue, but Elias Fuer cut her off.

"I've called in my jet to take us to Nepal, which is much faster than this plane. We'll actually save time this way, even if we stop for a couple hours. Plus, my jet is specifically made for stealth."

"But-"

"It's the best way to do this, Amy." Elias told her firmly. "We want to get Mr. Cahill back, and we have to do a good job."

"Alright." Amy sat back in her seat. Nellie offered her a sympathetic smile.

"Hang in there, Amy. We'll get him."

"We're going to have to." Dan said solemnly, his eyes clouding over. "Or the Madrigals are is serious trouble."

...

Nyla Zaviera walked briskly, mindlessly nudging people out of her way. She had to be at the meeting point in a few moments. And those she worked for did not tolerate failure well.

She smirked to herself. Not that I've ever failed. She shifted her shoulders, adjusting the long braid she had under her jacket. And I'd better finish this quickly, so I can leave here and take off this ridiculous outfit.

...

Zai pulled the car up in front of the Chez Castel, glancing out the window at the iconic red-paneled nightclub. There were many cars being parked by valets outside, mostly belonging to Paris' powerful and affluent.

"This is the most absurd thing I've ever had to do." He muttered to himself. It had been years since he had attended a ball such as this one, and it was usually so his mother could drug secrets out of enemy agents. Now, it was his mission. He stepped out of the car, his heels clacking on the pavement. Natalie remained in the car.

Let's go! he mouthed to her. She shook her head impatiently, and gestured toward her door. Zai rolled his eyes and walked around the car, resenting the universe for making him act so...charming. He pulled open Natalie's door for her and helped her out of her seat.

"Thank you." She nodded at him. "Now-"

Zai cut her off by offering her his elbow, accompanied by his most gallant smile. She smiled back and linked her arm through his, and they walked side-by-side up to the front door.

...

The Vesper agent assigned to act as doorman scanned his clipboard, and saw that he had just two names left on the guest list, and he was given very clear instructions who they were. He had been told that those were aliases he was supposed to assign the subjects, as they had been expected. He was just wondering who these guests could possibly be when two teenagers approached the door. A boy and a girl, roughly the same age and arm-in-arm, they looked both professional and severe. They boy had a toffee-coloured, angular face, with full lips and thick, black hair parted on the side and swept over his forehead, which was broadly significant of intelligence. He had a well-defined jawline and dark, narrow, focused eyes. He was dressed entirely in black, save for a dark red shirt under his tuxedo jacket. The girl was wearing a shin-length dark gray dress, her black hair pulled into an elaborate updo, accompanied by diamond earrings, a pearl necklace, a light application of lipstick. They approached the agent, who put on a bright smile.

"Bomjour, guests!" he bowed slightly. "We have been expecting you."

"-Yes, you have." The girl replied. The agent saw a flash of uncertainty flash across the duo's faces. He made a show of scanning the guest list.

"Here we are! Monsieur Alcott and Madamouiselle Wyndsor, non?"

"Yes, that's us." The girl answered. the agent bowed again, sweeping his hand into the club's door.

"Welcome! And enjoy your evening!"

After the two had disappeared inside, the agent let out a sigh of relief.

"Preston to Shadow: They're here." he spoke into his ear-comm, a distinct Kazakh accent emerging."Two teenagers, shouldn't be hard to spot. Is the decoy in place?" The agent nodded after a moment, and switched off his ear-comm.

They won't even know what hit them.