Lucas stood in front of a mirror, staring at his reflection in a sleek black tuxedo.
He looked like James Bond... if James Bond had no clue how to tie a bowtie, was sweating through his shirt, and had gum in his hair from earlier.
Behind him, Ava adjusted a tiny earpiece in his ear. "Okay, remember the plan: walk in, blend in, don't say anything stupid, and whatever you do, don't push buttons."
Lucas turned. "That's a little vague. I've met coffee machines with more detailed instructions."
"You're not a real agent. Keep expectations low." She handed him a VIP badge with the name "Leo Forte."
"Who's Leo Forte?" Lucas asked.
"Your cover. Billionaire tech consultant. You invented a device that lets people communicate using their eyebrows. Don't ask."
Lucas blinked. "I'm gonna mess this up so hard."
Ava smiled for the first time. "No doubt."
---
At the Event
The event was held at a glass palace called The Perfection Dome, designed by Dr. Perfect himself. Every surface sparkled. The walls changed colors. Robots served tiny appetizers that looked like edible diamonds.
Lucas wandered in, pretending he knew what he was doing.
A holographic hostess greeted him with a sparkling smile. "Mr. Forte, welcome. May I scan your face for—"
"NO!" Lucas yelped, yanking off his glasses. "I mean, uh, privacy policy. Very important. Tech guy. You know how it is."
The hostess blinked. "Understood." She walked off, confused.
"Smooth," Ava said in his ear.
"I panicked," Lucas whispered. "A robot almost scanned my soul!"
---
Inside, people mingled while sipping bright blue drinks and talking about "bio-hacking" and "neuro clouds."
Lucas spotted a sleek tower in the center of the room—the main server. That's where he had to plug in the USB virus hidden in his cufflink.
Easy, right?
Wrong.
Because just as he reached for the tower, someone stepped in front of him.
Someone tall, tanned, and disturbingly perfect.
Dr. Perfect. In the flesh.
He wore a glowing silver suit, had teeth so white they could blind a bat, and looked like he hadn't aged in 30 years.
"Ah," he said smoothly, "Leo Forte. The eyebrow innovator. I've read your file."
Lucas nearly swallowed his tongue. "Uh. Yes. Eyebrows. Love them. Can't live without them."
Ava sighed so hard it buzzed in his ear. "Abort small talk. Plug in the virus and get out."
But Dr. Perfect was still talking. "I'd love your thoughts on my GlowMind program. In fact… I insist."
Suddenly, Lucas was being pulled onto a stage.
---
The "Demo"
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Dr. Perfect said to the crowd. "Let's show Mr. Forte just how calming GlowMind can be!"
Lucas was handed a glowing headset. Ava was shouting in his ear now: "DON'T PUT IT ON!"
But it was too late. The headset slid over his eyes.
The lights went out. His vision blurred.
A smooth voice spoke in his mind: "Let go. Relax. You are now part of the Perfect World."
Lucas panicked. He flailed. His foot hit the server tower. The tower wobbled. Then he tripped, accidentally jamming his USB cufflink into the port.
Sparks flew. Alarms screamed. People screamed louder. The screens all flickered.
Then—boom! The mainframe exploded in a shower of confetti. Why confetti? No one knew.
---
The Escape
Lucas tore off the headset and ran. Ava was already waiting by a side exit, scowling.
"Did you actually just save the day by tripping over a server?!"
Lucas gasped, "I panicked really well."
They dove into a getaway car just as security bots swarmed the dome.
---
Back at the MAYHEM base, the Spymaster raised a toast.
"To our newest hero," he said proudly. "Lucas Flint: accidental legend."
Lucas held up a juice box someone handed him and whispered to Ava, "Do they know I chewed explosive gum earlier just to clear my sinuses?"
Ava smirked. "You're a walking disaster, Flint. But somehow, it's working."