COMING SOON!

The team informs Philpott of what transpired in Russia. And while he's a bit steamed that you let the bad guys get away, there was some beneficial info to be had from the experience.

There was little in the way of survivors from the train wreck, but MiB3 (the one Koskov KO'd then tied up) was found by the local rescue team after you had left.

After an extensive interrogation by the FSB (the new KGB) some startling information was received. The identity of MiB3 was revealed. His name is Andrew Stewart, a former British SAS operative who was presumed dead in a firefight during the campaign in Bosnia. His name has been associated with Gonzalez and is considered a "lieutenant" in his cause.

Furthermore, the FSB was able to squeeze out the fact that Gonzalez himself was involved in the train operation. He took some serious wounds, which is why I'm talking to you...not yelling at you right now.

On a related note, two days ago Stewart broke out of his detention center and was picked up by a helicopter matching the description you gave of the one at the train incident. Fortunately, the Agency had a team of its own in place to monitor Stewart just in case this happened.

He was subsequently tracked through customs in no less than three countries, but we have narrowed down his flight plan to one final location. Stewart is currently in Hong Kong heading for (of all places) Las Vegas, Nevada. He has to make a connection in Tokyo...this is where you come in. I want you to take over the investigation by getting on the plane with Stewart and see where/what it leads to.

Travel light as you'll have to go through customs. Our U.S. West Coast operative, Brian Aby, will be your contact once you get to Las Vegas.

Questions?

"Two questions: Why Las Vegas? Isn't Hong Kong a lot closer to Tokyo anyway?"

"Are we just supposed to shadow Stewart, or apprehend him at some point?"

Tokyo, 11:05am local time

"There is no time to get you to Hong Kong. Stewart's JAL flight leaves in 20 minutes and should arrive at 4:25pm your time. His plane to Las Vegas (via San Jose, CA) departs Tokyo at 6pm. We've already arranged to have Jess sit next to Stewart with everyone else in the row behind. The flight last 9 hours and I expect her to get to know him. Do whatever it takes to win him over, but do not blow your cover. Here are you assumed identities you will use until further notice."

Jess
Assuming the role of jilted lover Kimberly Westlake. She was left at the altar by her no-good Marine Corps. fiance. She is flying home to her parents who just so happen to live in Las Vegas. Kimberly quit her job as a casino waitress at the Mandalay Bay Casino-Hotel to live with her was-to-be husband who served in the USMC in Okinawa. She is very vulnerable and Stewart should be more than consoling.

Artis
You are Rufis Alexander, dealer of ancient antiquities flying back from Hong Kong after purchasing a few things. (i.e. Ming Vases, pottery, etc.). Your shop is located in the Mandalay Bay hotel in Vegas.

Harry
Robert (Bob) Watley. After an unsuccessful attempt at cornering the market of Sinatra impersonators in Japan, you are flying back to do the Las Vegas circuit. You will be headlining at the Mandalay Bay hotel...at least that's where you're trying out.

Gavin
As Patrick O'Brien, you're Bob's manager. According to Bob, you're a bit of a scumbag, but overall you're an OK guy.

The three gents met eachother in the airport bar and were (ironically) on the same flight bound for Vegas.

(Edited by Dieter at 11:00 am on Nov. 1, 2002)

Narita Airport, Tokyo. 4:00pm local time

The team makes their way through heavy traffic in a rental (Honda Accord) to Tokyo's Narita Airport, Japan Airlines terminal.

While there are numerous non-Asian travelers going to and fro in the airport, the word "subtlety" doesn't refer to the team right now.

You are truly in the land of the "little people". Fortunately, the added height of your Occidental heritage does afford a good view of the terminal. In the mission package you were given the most recent image of Stewart that the Agency had on file.

Andrew Stewart
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian, English.
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Height: 5' 11"

(Edited by Dieter at 12:24 pm on Nov. 4, 2002)

Narita Airport, Tokyo. 4:35pm

Stewart's plane arrives at the gate with the team going into full mission mode. Gavin spots Stewart walking through the security perimeter, apparently heading for the food court area of the airport. Stewart is carrying a duffle bag in one hand and slung over his left shoulder is what appears to be a laptop bag.

Gate 12, Terminal 1: Narita Airport, Tokyo. 5:57pm

The Agency sprung for Business Class seating in order to keep up the subterfuge and to have the team sit near Stewart.

Seating Arrangements (See chart)

Jess: 6A
Stewart: 6B
Artis: 6C
Harry: 7A
Gavin: 7B

(Edited by Dieter at 11:09 am on Nov. 5, 2002)

As the plane taxis out to the runway, Jess does her best impression of Meg Ryan from well...any of her movies...you pick one.

Looking appropriately pouty and depressed, even mustering up a tear or two. Stewart appears irritated that he'll have to spend the next 9+ hours sitting next to some sobbing wench, but then he notices the supa-fine looks of Jess. Doing his best to look like the dashing Brit he is (he's got at least a 16 CHR), he makes his move.

(handing Jess his handkerchief)

"Pardon me, miss. Is there anything I can do for you?"

(Edited by Dieter at 11:05 am on Nov. 5, 2002)

Jess takes the handkerchief, puts up a weak smile and wipes the tears away as she answers with a weak voice.

"I'll be fine. Thanks."

Stewart plays right into Jess' woes, although it is hard to tell whether his intentions are sincere or just a attempt to get Jess to join him in the "Mile High Club".

"There there, love. It seems that you're not just a little bereaved about leaving Tokyo. But before I intrude any further,allow me to at least introduce myself. I'm Andrew Stewart and you are...?"

"Kimberly. Kimberly Westlake."

The smile stays in place.

"But everybody just calls me Kim."

"Kimberly...I'm sorry, Kim. That is a fine English name. Anyway, Kim, (pressing the flight attendant call button) I've found nothing better consoles a wounded heart than a bottle of champagne."

The female flight attendant comes to the row.

"Yes, may I help you?"

Stewart smiles with an exuding amount of charm.

"I hope so. My new friend here is feeling a bit down and I was hoping you'd have a bottle of bubbly for such an occasion?"

The flight attendant nods

"Oh...poor dear...looks like a broken heart. I'll be right back."

Stewart goes to put his arm around Jess,

"There, we'll have you cheered up in no time. Now tell me, what kind of scoundrel would let go of a fine lady such as yourself?"

At this point Artis, Harry, and Gavin are not amused by Stewart's pithy comment and even less thrilled about his forwardness towards Jess.

The thought of planting her elbow in Steward's guts momentarily flashes through Jessica's mind, but is quickly replaced with the next step of the plan. The smile disappears, and she does her best to look like she's about to break down in tears again.

"Joel...his name was...Joel..."

She sobs once, then tries to look like she's stabilizing again.

"I really don't want to bother you with this, but...it's just...he never said Goodbye."

Next, her expression turns into anger.

"He left me standing in the chapel. I waited four hours, but he never came."

Stewart retracts slightly, not wanting to show his hand too soon in the game.

"Oh, you poor thing. Let me guess...he was in the military, am I right?"

The flight attendant comes back with a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

"Kim, please continue while I pour."

"Military...yes. A Marine. Met him when I was on holiday in Tokio. I still remember his voice from the night at the bar. He just seemed like such a nice guy: I cancelled my flight back, and well, rented an apartment there. Went well for a month, but...I think I was just too caught up. He seemed so perfect, strong, yet so unmilitary...none of this gung-ho stuff, just a nice guy who just happened to be a Marine. I was just happy - he was, like, *perfect* for me. Maybe I scared him when I asked him if he wanted to marry me...but why didn't he tell me ? Why couldn't he have said that he didn't think he was ready ? Maybe he really didn't want to hurt me, but leaving me all alone like that...I still can't believe he's really done it..."

Typical fucking jarhead Marine

"Kim...can't you see you were too good for him? (blah..blah..blah...and so on and so forth) Here, have a drink. Trust me, Marines aren't the marrying type. My travels take me to Thailand and the Phillipines and from what I've seen a Marine has only thing when he sees someone of the female persuasion...and that isn't marriage. Too bad we're already on our way, otherwise I would have shown your betrothed how we dealt with dishonor in Her Majesty's military. I would guarantee he'd never get a chance to do this again."

Jess lightens up.

"You didn't strike me as the military type...but then, Joel didn't either. Maybe I just have a poor sense of personality."

"Former military, Her Majesty's Special Air Service. Now I'm a security consultant. It's not as glorious as the Service, but the risks are minimal and dare I say the pay is much better. As for your judgement in character, I'd say you've just had some bad luck."

Andrew holds up his glass.

"Cheers to our new endeavors...whatever they may be. I suppose that would lead to my next question, if I may be so bold as to ask. Are you heading back home...to sunny California?"

"Yeah, cheers."

Jess nips on the glass, then continues.

"It's only the home of my parents, though. How anyone can actually live in Las Vegas is beyond me. In a sense, it's home, but not mine. Too much glitter."

"Really, so where do you call home?...."

Ok, this is getting a bit boring since this is turning into some sort of weird "first date" experience. F-that, we're all here to kill and make shit blow up. So without further ado...the prologue to end this bad discourse in cinematic drama.

During the otherwise uneventful Trans-Pacific flight the ravishing Jess Steiner wins over Andrew Stewart. Despite numerous pleads from Andrew to Jess for a quicky marriage in Vegas, they settle on exchanging phone numbers and agreeing to see eachother again once they get their affairs in order.

*END SAPPY SECTION OF CHAPTER 1*

(Edited by Dieter at 3:23 pm on Nov. 5, 2002)