Simon Petrikov was a man who appreciated the quiet. The gentle hum of his antique shop was enough to keep him content. Until one day, everything changed. A truck barreled into him, landing him in the hospital.

From the hospital, he was whisked away by dark-suited government officials, who demanded his antiquarian skills for a secret mission. He found himself agreeing, his curiosity piqued.

The mission was risky. Infiltrate a secret Chinese base, scout around, gather enough information for further plans. Simon, scrawny and not much of a fighter, had to rely on his wits.

He was given a brief training period in stealth and evasion before they sent him off, disguised as a Chinese official. His new life was about to begin.

The first few days were a blur of unfamiliar faces, tense glances, and hurried whispers. He absorbed as much as he could, both about the base and his mission.

He spent his days acting as an official, while his nights were reserved for reconnaissance. But the base was vast and time was short.

He relied heavily on his knowledge of artifacts to fit in. He was put in charge of antiquities at the base, which provided a convenient cover for his investigation.

He soon identified key areas of the base and memorized the timings of guards' shifts. He was slowly constructing a mental map of his surroundings.

Despite the tension, Simon had to admire the historical artifacts he encountered. His love for antiques was not lost, even with the mission ongoing.

Simon realized that the critical information he sought was hidden deep within the base, in areas he had no official access to. His mission was far from over.

He needed an ally or at least a diversion. After a few weeks, opportunity presented itself in form of a forgotten storage room filled with ancient relics.

He "discovered" the room and used it as a distraction, sending the base into a frenzy of cataloging and appraisal. During this, he slipped unnoticed into the restricted areas.

In the darkness of the base, he navigated the tight corridors, with only his memory to guide him. His heart pounded in his chest, but he moved forward.

Simon found what he was looking for. A room filled with documents and computer screens. He quickly took photos and copied files, praying he wouldn't be discovered.

Once he had everything, he carefully retraced his steps, making it back to the relative safety of his official duties before anyone noticed his absence.

Before he could escape, he had to ensure the information reached the right hands. He used his antiquarian skills to hide the data in one of the artifacts.

The artifact was shipped back to Russia under the guise of a diplomatic gift. Only Simon knew the secrets it carried within.

Simon's escape was planned next, but things went awry. The base went into lockdown, suspicion falling onto him. His cover was blown.

He fled, utilizing his knowledge of the base to evade capture. Gunshots echoed behind him as he darted through the sprawling complex.

His escape was messy and fraught with danger. He finally reached the edge of the base, gasping for breath, his body aching from the exertion.

A helicopter swooped in, Russian agents providing cover fire. Simon was yanked aboard, his mission done, but at a high cost. He was injured, but alive.

Back in Russia, he was hailed as a hero. The information he had obtained was invaluable. But Simon was changed. He had seen things he could never forget.

His injury took time to heal, and his mind took even longer. He was haunted by the close calls and the danger he had been in.

Eventually, he found solace in his old life. He went back to his shop and his antiques, trying to forget about the mission. But part of him would always carry the experience.

Simon Petrikov was no longer just an antiquarian. He was a survivor, a hero. His life held a secret that he would carry with him, always.