The speedboat sliced through the turquoise waters of Talamone Bay, its sleek hull glinting in the late afternoon sun. Kage stood at the helm of the Sunseeker Sovereign 17, his silhouette framed by the golden light. Behind him, the ancient Tuscan shoreline stretched into the distance, the sleepy town of Talamone nestled in the folds of the hills. As the boat rounded a sharp headland, the sea breeze caught Kage's jacket, and his eyes locked on a small fortress-like villa perched on the cliff. It stood defiant, watching over the bay as though it held secrets of its own.
Kage stepped off the boat, the hum of the engine fading behind him, and made his way up the stone path. The scent of saltwater and wild rosemary filled the air as his knock echoed off the heavy oak door. Moments later, it creaked open.
Renee Mathias, the ex-joe operative, stood in the doorway, his face weathered by years of shadowy operations. His sharp eyes scanned Kage but held no surprise. "Got the call from the General," Mathias said, stepping aside to let Kage in. "Figured you'd show up."
Kage offered a rare smile. "Mathis."
"Another boss on your tail?" Mathias asked, his tone casual, but his eyes gleaming.
Kage nodded and entered the house.
The terrace overlooked the sun-drenched bay, with the sea stretching into the horizon, a canvas of blue and gold as the day began to wane. Gemma appeared, carrying a tray laden with chilled white wine, olives, bread, and cheese, the scent of rosemary and thyme carried on the breeze. She moved with the ease of someone accustomed to such tranquility, her bare feet padding across the terracotta tiles. The soft clinking of the glasses on the tray blended with the distant calls of seabirds.
"You know, Mathis," Kage said, accepting a glass of wine with a smile, "I think retirement suits you."
Mathias chuckled, leaning back in his chair, the lines on his face deepening with the memory of past battles. "It's good to be out of that life. But that last mission with you? Cost me four years."
Gemma poured wine for herself and settled beside them, her eyes playful as she teased, "They bought you this villa, Mathias. So really, you owe him, don't you?"
Kage raised an eyebrow, amused. He sipped his wine, savoring the crisp chill of it against the heat of the afternoon. "She's not wrong," he said, glancing at Mathias.
With a wry smile, Mathias waved her off. "Gemma, go work on your tan."
She winked, taking her glass and gliding toward a chaise longue. As she left, the atmosphere shifted, the weight of Kage's presence settling in like a storm on the horizon.
"I've been trailing Mr. Greene," Kage said, placing a small stack of photographs on the table. "He's a member of Quantum. Got some info on them, but I need more."
Mathias's mood darkened. He glanced at the photos, his fingers tracing the edges before picking one up. The man in the image had a clean, featureless face—one that could easily blend into a crowd. "You have hard friends," Mathias muttered. "This guy—he's a facilitator. Fingers in a lot of pies, but never leaves a trace. And these men? Together?"
Kage nodded, the tension between them palpable. "They're buying up oil pipelines. Something called the Tierra project. You know it?"
Mathias flipped through the pictures, then stopped, his face hardening. He tapped one image. "Destroy this. That's Guy Haines. He's a ghost, but close to the Prime Minister. You don't want him on your radar."
Kage's eyes sharpened. "Well, they say you're judged by the strength of your enemies."
Mathias set the photos down, sighing deeply. "What do you need?"
"Bolivia," Kage said, his voice dropping. "You were stationed there, right? Any contacts left?"
Mathias leaned back, staring at the sky as if the weight of his past decisions pressed down on him. "A few. What do you need to know?"
Kage didn't miss a beat. "Come with me."
---
Later, aboard the Virgin Atlantic airliner, Kage sat at the First Class bar, the glass in his hand sweating as condensation trickled down. The gin and vodka mixture sparkled in the low cabin lights. Mathias, having taken a sleeping pill, stirred in his lie-flat seat and walked over.
"Still drinking that poison?" Mathias teased, though his voice was groggy. Kage glanced over, offering a ghost of a smile before raising his glass in mock salute.
La Paz Airport, Bolivia
The noise and bustle of the airport felt like a world away from the sunlit Tuscan villa. Kage and Mathias stood by the luggage carousel, retrieving their bags as they passed through the final x-ray scans. Kage handed over his customs form with a curt nod. "Thank you," he said to the agent, his voice neutral.
From the crowd emerged a young, stern-looking redhead. Strawberry Fields has a bob hairstyle with straight, dark auburn hair that frames her face. Her bangs are cut bluntly just above her eyebrows, emphasizing her youthful yet determined look. Her skin is fair, and her facial features are delicate but expressive, with wide eyes that convey intelligence and subtle vulnerability.
Her stride was purposeful, her expression all business as she locked eyes with Kage. "Mr. Kage," she said, her voice clipped. "I'm Fields, from the consulate."
Kage looked her over, amused. "Of course you are. And what exactly do you do at the consulate, Fields?"
"That's not important," she shot back. "My orders are to help you with your mission."
Kage exchanged a glance with Mathias, then shrugged and began walking toward the exit. "Well then, let's get to work."
Outside, the humid air of La Paz hit them, thick and oppressive. The city sprawled out before them, a chaotic sea of movement. At the curb, Fields stepped in front of Kage, her voice firm. "Mr. Kage, these orders come from the highest authority. Make sure you cooperate."
Kage smirked, spotting a taxi. He flagged it down. "Taxi!" he called, the vehicle wheezing as it pulled up. He handed his luggage to the grizzled driver before turning back to Fields.
"We've got a lot of work to do," he said, gesturing to the backseat. "After you."
Fields raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity flashing across her face before she slid into the back of the weathered cab, Kage following close behind. The mission was far from over.