No more worrying, no more thinking. Austin had gone full-on mission mode, like a machine. He'd signed in the hotel and was busy unpacking his bag.

At first glance, it held regular items; clothes, a mini laptop, a Rubik's Cube, shampoo tube, a swiss army knife, jump rope, sunglasses.

But Austin had had a bit of fun disguising his tools before the trip.

The Rubik's cube was hollow. Every little cube that composed it carefully held specific powders and chemicals. The shampoo also contained more fluids that he definitely wouldn't be utilizing for his hair.

He couldn't have brought arms, or weapons of any sort, because of security. Chloroform was instantly the next best choice. Once any guards were down, he could easily take their guns.

His phone vibrating distracted him from fiddling with the grappling hook/jump rope. Austin picked up.

"Hello?"

"...son?"

His father. Austin tensed. He had rarely seen him in the past years, and hadn't even told him about the mission yet.

"Yeah."

His father's voice was a frantic whisper.

"Operation North Star...you've been sent...already?"

"Yes."

There was a pause.

"Be careful, Austin."

"Of course-"

"You don't understand. You're young and you're not invincible. You have an Achille's heel-"

"No one shoots people there."

"I don't mean the Ironhide. They can kill you with other means. Poison. Gas. Strangling."

"I won't eat their egg rolls."

"Austin, don't be like this."

Austin stayed silent.

"Have you considered what the outcomes of the mission might be? If you die, or are imprisoned, they'll manage to get information out of you-"

"They won't-"

"-to learn that you're from the US. Then bam! World War 3."

"Dad..."

"If you do succeed in killing the dictator, there are countless other greedy powerful people who will take over. The country will be a mess."

"I can kill them too."

"Austin!"

His father's voice contained such fear, horror and despair that it felt like someone had elbowed Austin in the gut.

"Don't be America's personal killing machine. Be a human. Stay human."

"I know. But...the mission..."

Dr Frederic sighed from the other side of the world.

"Son, I can't stop you. No one can at this point...no one but you. Think with your heart, Austin. Remember what I said? You promised, and promises like this have thousands of lives in balance. Okay? Please don't do this-"

"...bye, Dad."