It was a new day, and Midas felt quite refreshed after having a good night's sleep and a morning shower.

Finishing his cereal and coffee, he begins making plans of holding a meeting and discussing their next move against Chaos Agent.

"Someone looks happy for once." Oro chuckles in Midas' head, nearly choking on his coffee.

"Ah, god damnit. Again with the surprise visits!" He shouts, the golden king chuckles in response.

"You've been visiting me a lot lately. Care to explain why?" Midas asks, picking up his pen and beginning to write something down on his paperwork.

"Midas. I sense danger up ahead. Something terrible is coming, what it is, I don't know...but it can't be good." Oro tells him.

"Ok. Thanks for telling me Oro. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to hold." He thanks the god, making his way out of his office with his paperwork.

"Wait Midas, the kid, if you're going on a mission take-"

He closes the door on Oro, clearly having not heard him.

"...take her with you..."

*****************************************

"So what you're getting at is a full blown assult against Shadow at the Authority?" Jules asks.

"Yes, exactly." Midas responds.

It was meeting time, and this time Midas made sure that Sophie came along this time, even if it meant he had to throw a couple of glares at the agents he catches muttering to themselves.

"Chaos won't know what hit him. Taking the choppa's and boats, we can launch everything we have at him, AR's, shotguns, rocket launchers you name it." He continues, his confidence rising.

"Bossman, what if they're just waiting for us to come? It could be a trap!" Skye points out, a worried expression on her face.

"Skye, I'm sure they're just expecting us to sit around like ducks and embrace whatever they throw at us."

"So you're saying that this assult will catch them off guard, leaving them defenseless?" Sophie speaks up, tapping on Midas' shoulder.

"Yes exactly! Quick thinking kid." He replies, patting her head, making her smile. A couple of agents roll their eyes at each other.

"ANYWAY..." Midas shouts, a nod to telling them off. "...as I was saying, all agents and a majority of the henchmen will be coming with me for this. So get prepared, ready your pickaxes and weapons, we leave at 1pm. Dismissed."

He claps his hands, signalling everyone that the meeting has ended.

Everyone makes their way to leave.

"Sophie, may I have a word with you in my office?" Midas calls out to the girl, making her worried.

"Did I do something wrong?" She asks.

"What, no! Of course not. I just want to talk to you."

Midas picks his paperwork up with one hand, whilst he takes Sophie's hand with his other. She can't help but blush in embarrassment, looking down at the ground as the two of them walk to Midas' office.

"For goodness sake Sophie your 16! He's your boss and 14 years older than you! Stop blushing!" Her thoughts tell her off.

Sitting down in the chair before Midas' desk, Sophie waits until he's done putting his papers away.

"Right, I didn't want to tell you this, but I don't think I have a choice." Midas sighs, putting his hands together. "Kid, I understand how much you want to be an agent...but I don't think I can do it for you..."

Sophie's smiles falters, laughing painfully.

"Haha, what... what do you mean?"

"And I know you're probably going to ask me about the assult. I'm sorry, but you're not going with me." He confesses, feeling guilty of destroying her dream.

"But...why? Did I do something wrong?" She asks, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm just trying to protect you, kid. Now, we don't need a full discussion about it." He goes to leave, but Sophie stops him.

"What did I ever do?!"

"Enough Sophie, I won't ask again."

"No! I was so happy when you accepted me! Why are you stopping me from becoming an agent? What are you so afraid of?!"

That's when Midas finally snaps:

"I. Said. ENOUGH!!" He turns around, completely gold and walks up to her. She backs up into the wall, scared. "I'm doing this because I love you. You're my friend. What good are you to me if you're dead?! What if Chaos Agent kills you?!"

The girl shivers in fear. Seeing her scared, Midas suddenly realises what he's doing, and breaks out of his sudden outburst.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"

Sophie nods, loosening up as the gold begins to retract.

"So, please. Listen to me when I tell you:

Stay. Here. At. The. Fortilla. Understand?" He requests, holding her by the collar of her shirt.

Tears in her eyes, she nods sadly. Midas sighs, disappointed in himself, putting her down.

"Forgive me for yelling. Just...do as I say please..."

*****************************************

Back at the Authority...

"Chaos Agent, Jules' marker is moving up river. That's our queue." A woman wearing a short black jacket and black clothing announces.

"Wonderful. Sorana, henchmen, let's go." He chuckles, hopping on the choppa with the 5 henchmen and Sorana in the pilot seat.

Flying just out of range for any of team Ghost to see, the small group make their way to the Fortilla, knowing that there will be barely any henchmen, and a little girl left alone.

*****************************************

At the Fortilla...

"Ooh, so your one of Midas' oldest employees." Sophie smiles, finding a fellow henchman good company.

"I guess you could say that...um..."

"Sophie."

"That's it, Sophie. Well, it's nice to make your acquaintance." The henchman chuckles, holding out his hand for a handshake. "You can call me Ryan."

"So how did you end up working at the Agency? What was it like? I bet the building was very glamorous. I've seen the outside, but not inside." She asks, bombarding him with questions.

"Woah, slow down buddy. One thing at a time." Ryan laughs.

"Heh, sorry."

"Well, I was out of a job. And needed a way to earn money, I have a wife and child to take care of after all, so I saw a poster for joining Ghost and..." Ryan begins to explain his history with the Agency, but gets interrupted by the sound of choppa blades approaching.

"Huh? They're back already?" The girl mutters, surprised. Using a telescope from behind him, Ryan takes a closer look at the passengers on board.

"Those aren't Ghost henchmen and agents. Go and hide Soph. We'll try to hold them off." Ryan panics, patting her back. She listens and runs off.

The Ghost and Shadow henchmen begin firing at each other. Sorana hops out the pilot seat and fires a rocket launcher, knocking most of them down, Ryan included. Using his pistol, he fires a few shots at a shadow henchman coming straight for him, who also gets knocked down, landing on top of him.

As his vision blurs, Ryan can make out the figure of Chaos Agent, with the help of 2 henchmen, dragging an unconscious Sophie back to the choppa. The other Ghost henchmen can only watch in despair as they fly away, unknowingly leaving the Shadow henchman on Ryan behind.

"Oh god... M's going to go absolutely spare..."